🍉 VanGran4Pal Community Newsletter
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**Neighbours and Friends, **
This holiday, like the last, is tinged with grief and anger. Our thoughts are with the people of Palestine who continue to face relentless attacks by Israel and its backers. But while the people of Gaza resist and persist, we cannot let up. They deserve our constancy, solidarity, and perseverance until Palestine is free.
This edition brings you a special community reflection on the beloved Palestinian grandfather, Khaled Nabhan, who was martyred on Monday. This edition also highlights several upcoming actions and events. We remind ourselves and each other that every action counts, no matter how big or small.
To support your advocacy, do check out a few critical reports that have been published this month. Amnesty International has published a new report confirming what we all know to be true - it is genocide. Doctors Without Borders’ recent report has documented how Israel has engaged in total destruction of the conditions for life in Gaza. Human Rights Watch’s recent report has documented Israel’s genocidal actions of deliberately depriving Palestinians of water.
Action Updates
Reminder to Boycott and Shop Your Values!
Just a reminder to shop your values as best as you can this holiday season.
- Shop from Apartheid-free businesses. Check this list for ideas.
- Educate yourself about who to boycott by clicking here. Check for blacklisted brands on Disoccupied or the BDS list of shame.
- Tell all your friends & family to give up Indigo!
- Visit the local events listed below to shop from Palestinian and anti-apartheid vendors!
Here’s a quote from Omar Barghouti to motivate us to do what we can:
“In response to this fatal alliance of savage capitalism in the West with Israeli racism, exclusion and colonial subjugation, the global movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel presents not only a progressive, anti racist, sophisticated, sustainable, moral and effective form of civil non-violent resistance, but also a real chance of becoming the political catalyst and moral anchor for a strengthened, reinvigorated international social movement capable of reaffirming the rights of all humans to freedom, equality and dignity and the right of nations to self determination.”― Omar Barghouti, Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions: The Global Struggle for Palestinian Rights
Support our Friend Mohammed and His Family in Gaza
Please support this locally-organized GoFundMe Fundraiser for a friend in our community and his family.
Moe's mom and brothers have lost everything - their home was bombed last October and they have been displaced since then and on the go from one "safe" zone to another but as you know nowhere is safe in Gaza. Moe's dad and brother have been separated from the rest of the family in Jordan. Being apart from loved ones as they continue to be in constant danger caused his dad to have a massive heart attack. During heart surgery, he suffered a stroke and lost his speech, ability and memory. We are raising funds to support them all.
A local group has been fundraising for Mohammed’s family since last year, and all of the funds raised have gone to support his family to survive the horrors. Thank you to all who have donated and who continue to offer support. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us!
Upcoming Events
Pancakes and Storytime for Palestine - Sat Dec 21
Saturday Dec 21
**Grandview Church, Vancouver **
1803 E 1st Ave, Vancouver, BC V5L 4B8 CA🕑 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
While you and your family enjoy a cozy morning of pancakes, storytelling for 🇵🇸 and arts and crafts , visit our incredible vendors and get your ethical holiday shopping done🎄🌟 This family-friendly event celebrates community, culture, and connection, with amazing local vendors adding extra magic to the day.
Slip into your comfy pajamas and bring your whole family for a cozy community event filled with:
- Delicious Free Pancakes Fresh Off The Griddle
- Kids’ Stories About Palestine
- A Special Visit from Santa
- Local Vendors
✨ Everyone is welcome! Pajamas encouraged! We cant wait to see you!
Santa Meet & Greet - Sat Dec 21
Saturday, December 21 @ 1-3pm
Vancouver Art GallerySanta is coming back to "Vancouver"! 🎅 Bring your family and friends down to the Vancouver Art Gallery for photos with Santa and help us raise funds for E-Sims for Gaza as well as locally for our community in Crab Park.Come down and learn more about the @boycottindigobooks campaign and how to support local businesses.Click here for event details.
See you there!
Solidarity Solstice: Queer Artist Market - Sat Dec 21
December 21, 2024. 1 pm - 6 pm
**Wildfires Literary Lounge, 712 A 12th St, ‘New West’. **Looking to spend time this holigay season with rad queers organising for collective liberation? Want to support people in 🇵🇸 & 🇱🇧? Join QUAIA & friends for a Solidarity Solstice Market & fundraiser!! We’ll have amazing queer vendors & beautiful art making led by a queer Colombian artist. Plus some other surprises!
*Update: the 2 fundraisers we’ll be donating to are now linked in our bio: @egnalegna & a fundraiser for a local Palestinian family that recently arrived here seeking asylum.Stay tuned for more details about the wonderful queer artists who will be joining us!The market will be set up to ensure accessibility and space for people using mobility devices. There is a large comfy couch that can accommodate fat bodies & anyone needing to rest and be cozy.
Masks Required. Some N95 masks will be provided. HEPA filters will be running in the space. Please come scent reduced. 😷 Click here for details.
Vancouver United for Palestine - Sun Dec 22
📢 SUNDAY, DEC 22, 2 PM • Every Sunday!
📍 Olympic Cauldron - 1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver(Dec 22 rally will be held on the east side of the Vancouver Convention Center.)
🇵🇸 Metro Vancouver United for Palestine (MVUP) is inviting groups and individuals of all faiths, backgrounds, and ideologies to join in united, consistent action for Palestine. Click here for details.📢 Bring your Palestinian flags, signs, and banners to show your support.📚 Learn more through educational resources, speeches, and solidarity networks at the rally.✊ Together, we stand against genocide, colonialism, and oppression. Together, we stand for Palestine.
Little Artists for Palestine: Painting Poppies - Sat Dec 28
📅 Date: December 28, 2024
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
📍 Location: Solid State, Surrey
**Tickets $30. **Click here to reserve.
Join us for a creative art workshop designed for young artists to explore Palestinian nature and culture through painting. All funds raised from this workshop will go to support the Gaza Water Project, providing clean drinking water for families in North Gaza @gaza.waterproject on Instagram.
Kids ages 4 to 6 years old will paint a beautiful landscape featuring a poppy field set against the backdrop of hills and trees. Learn about the poppy's significance as a flower indigenous to Palestine while exploring basic painting techniques.
All materials are provided. Parent participation is optional.
Community Spotlight
Reem and Khaled Nabhan Remembered
This week we felt the heaviness in our hearts with news of the martyrdom of Khaled Nabhan. The occupation killed Khaled after an airstrike hit the Nuseirat camp in Central Gaza.
It was a year ago that our hearts were both touched and broken as we all witnessed Khaled holding his granddaughter Reem’s body after being killed, calling her “soul of my soul.”
For over a year we’ve been seeing men, women, children, and the elderly murdered by the IOF. We’ve witnessed the horror that has unfolded in Gaza and to the Palestinian people. Although it’s been tough to bear witness and mourn the loss of so much life, losing those we have come to know and care for is difficult to endure.
We saw Reem as our own child who didn’t get a chance to see what this world can offer. We saw a grandfather who we adopted as our own uncle. We saw the humanity of a person and their dedication to honouring his loved one. His kin.
It’s been a hard week, just like last week, and the week before, and the week before that. The occupation doesn’t stop, and neither can we as we continue to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Local actions are still happening all around us in Vancouver - a number of which are listed in this newsletter.
Our hearts are with both Khaled and Reem this week, as their souls finally get to meet again.
- Hussain
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With gratitude and in solidarity,
Your Neighbours
Van Gran 4 Palestine
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