The Alternative Information Center (AIC)
invites you to the
SPRING EDITION
12th International Seminar &ldqu o;Bridges instead of Walls”
Link in italia no: http://www.alternativenew s.org/italiano/index.php/aic-eventi/seminario-internazionale
26th April – 1st Mai 2012
After the success of t he 11th International camp during past Christmas, we are glad to invite you to the Spring edition of the International Political Field Seminar "B ridges instead of Walls" – taking place from the 26th of April t o the 1st Mai 2012 in Palestine!
The seminar is organized by The Alte
rnative Information Center (AIC), an internationally oriented, progressive,
joint Palestinian-Israeli activist organization. The has been founded in 1
984 by Palestinian and Israeli activists believing in the joint struggle fo
r the end the Occupation and the respect of the Palestinian Nation and Huma
n rights. The AIC is engaged in dissemination of information, political adv
ocacy, grassroots activism and critical analysis of the Palestinian and Isr
aeli societies as well as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It strives to p
romote full individual and collective social, economic, political and gende
r equality, freedom and democracy and a rejection of the philosophy of sepa
ration.
- - -
The AIC is based in Beit Sahour/Bethlehem. The gro
up will move every day departing from Beit Sahour and come back every night
to the guesthouse right next the AIC Center. The seminar includes lectures
, interactive meetings with several civil society actors, political figures
and partner organizations as well as tours in many different locations of
the West Bank and Israel. During our 6 full-program days the participants w
ill get an intensive and critical overview of the political and economical
aspects of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as well as of the Palestinian a
nd Israeli societies. We try to cover all the crucial issues to understand
the roots of the conflict and the current developments: the history of the
conflict and the peace process, the political strategy of the occupation an
d its economic effects, the structure of the Israeli society and the big ch
allenges of Palestinian society such as the economic development and the re
sistance under occupation, as well as issues such as the political repressi
on, the human rights and the role of the international community.
- -
-
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 13th April 2012
FEES: 40
0 € (2000 NIS) including the whole program, local transport, full boar
d & lodging in double or 3 beds rooms in a local Guesthouse
If yo
u have any question, don’t hesitate to contact us, and please forward
this announcement to potential interested friends, colleagues or family me
mbers
More info on ww
w.alternativenews.org
FB: Alternative Information Center
or:
Beit Sahour's Office: 00972 2 2775444
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per vederlo.
----------------------------------------------- --
SPRING EDITION:
International Political Field Seminar
Bridges Instead of Walls!
Organized by the Alternative Information Ce nter
Introduction
In an increasingly globalized world, it is oft
en the case that quantity of information is privileged over quality. We oft
en deal with cultures without knowing their histories or the things that we
have in common with them. We generalize about "East" and "W
est" forgetting that we have several traditions, experiences, and valu
es to share. Talking about a cultural conflict, or a "clash of civiliz
ations", is an overly simplistic way of characterizing differences, le
aving historical facts, experiences, and common desires for interaction far
from consideration. Mutual understanding is the basis on which relat
ionships have to be built, because all "sides" share values such
as respect, tolerance and peace. Stereotypes should therefore not prevent p
eople from approaching the "other" world, nor limit a constructiv
e dialogue about values, ideals and our common future on this planet.
The idea to organize these international field seminars under the slogan &l
dquo;Building Bridges Instead of Walls” came from these firm beliefs.
The seminar program proved its political, social, and practical importance
through the action of the participants, who collectively described it as a
very rich experience.
We at the Alternative Information Center will m
ake the necessary efforts to continue developing the seminar experience. In
this context the ideas, suggestions and encouragement of the participants
and their commitment play an essential role. Let us unite our social, cultu
ral, humanitarian, and political efforts as peoples from many nations in or
der to end the walls of occupation, aggression, discrimination and racism.
Let us build the bridge of justice, peace, equality, human justice and resp
ect.
HOSTING ORGANIZATION: The AIC
The Alternative Inform ation Center (AIC) is an internationally oriented, progressive, joint Pales tinian-Israeli activist organization. The AIC has been founded 1984 by Pale stinian and Israeli activists believing in the joint struggle for the End o f the Israeli Occupation and the respect of the fundamental human rights an d the National rights of the Palestinians. The AIC is engaged in disseminat ion of information, political advocacy, grassroots activism and critical an alysis of the Palestinian and Israeli conflict. The AIC strives to promote full individual and collective social, economic, political and gender equal ity. Freedom and democracy, as well as rejection of the philosophy and prac tice of separation, are aims that the AIC pursues.
GOALS
The goal of this field seminar is to provide participants with eleme
nts crucial to deeply understanding the context and society of Palest
ine and Israel, thus enabling them to better advocate on behalf of a just p
eace in the region.
Directly experiencing the effects of
the conflict, as well as the living and political conditions in the Occupie
d Palestinian Territories, will provide a unique, on the ground experience,
as opposed to an understanding based on media, propaganda or rumors. This
is a necessary step in the process of understanding the factors that have l
ed to the present situation. Comprehensive knowledge is the necessary
starting point for building bridges.
The Palestinian voice is often
ignored or accused of extremism. As a joint Palestinian-Israeli organ
isation founded in 1984, the AIC aims to create spaces in which the P
alestinian people themselves explain their struggle and give direct w
itness to their life under occupation.
During the seminar we will also
conduct interactive meetings and workshops with Israeli experts and associ
ations that share the same values of the AIC and are deeply engaged in prom
oting a just peace and social justice for both Palestinians and Israelis. <
br />The networking of individuals, associations, political parties, inform
ation and media workers is fundamental in building a pressure group able to
encourage governments and economic groups to act responsibly, without igno
ring the consequences of their actions or non-actions.
TOOLS <
/p>
The tools that will be used to achieve the aims described above inclu de:
- Tours throughout the West Bank, Jerusalem and Jaffa to view fir
st-hand the living conditions of Palestinians under occupation
- Meeti
ngs with progressive Israeli social and political groups
- Lectures b
y Palestinian and Israeli experts about topics including economics, human r
ights, politics, social issues, international law, history and gender
- Meetings with politicians, social institutions and grassroots association
s
- Cultural events (concerts, meeting with Palestinian families, etc)
- Open discussions
- Reflection moments
PROGRAM
&
bull; The first on the ground experience will be a visit to the Aparth
eid Wall and refugee camps in the Bethlehem area.
• During
a visit to Hebron, where human rights violations occur on a daily basis, pa
rticipants will meet an association for the monitoring of settlements in He
bron
• During our weekly event at the AICafé, partic
ipants will meet different representatives of the Palestinian and Israeli c
ivil society
• A visit to Jerusalem is scheduled to see the
reality of the Israeli settlements, both in and surrounding the Old City
• A tour of Ramlah and/or Lod and then Jaffa (in Israel) will
highlight the ongoing dispossession of the Palestinian population there, an
d will include meetings with Palestinian and Israeli social activists
• In Ramallah we will explore the topic of detention and politic
al prisoners with an association of specialized lawyers and activists, and
will have meetings with Palestinian politicians
• Together w
e will explore the economic dimensions of the Israeli occupation, in additi
on to women and gender issues within both Palestinian and Israeli societies
• A lecture about Israeli society will offer elements for u
nderstanding critical dynamics; the participants, moreover, will meet Israe
li women and men who refuse to serve in the Israeli military
T
he participants will be hosted in double or triple-rooms in a guesthouse in
Beit Sahour(Bethlehem) right next to the AIC-Center. All the tours will be
one-day tour. The local transportation will be guaranteed by bus. All lect
ures will be in English.
The draft program is attached. Some ch
anges are possible, although the aforementioned structure and topics will b
e maintained.
You can find more info, pictures of the p revious editions and past participant experiences at:
M
inimum participants for the seminar to take place: 10
For more inform
ation please contact:
Alternative Information Center
Bethlehem +9
72 2 277 5444
Or send an email to Questo indiri
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vederlo.
The cost is EUR 400 (2000 NIS)
- EURO 100 deposit and EURO 300 upon arrival
It includes all meals, a
ccomodation, transportation, workshops, visits and lectures. This cost does
not include transportation to the region or health insurance for the perio
d of the field seminar.
The AIC cannot accept any responsibility for any injury or damage that you may cause to yourself, others, or property d uring the field seminar.
Glad to see you soon here!
The AIC Team
POB 31417 Jerusalem 91313 Israel
http://www.alternativenews.org
email
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Building 111 Main Street, Beit Sahour
Que
en Shlomzion Street 4, Jerusalem
Tel 972-2-2775444 Fax 972-2-2775445&n
bsp;
Tel 972-2-6241159 Fax
972-2-6253151