Dear Friends,
Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) is hosting a two day
event in Ottawa in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the
massacres in Sabra and Shatila. They are trying to reach every related
organization in at least Quebec and Ontario in order to mobilize people
for the September 27-28 events. Details are outlined below.

Please join this effort by attending the events September 27-28, or by
organizing bus loads from your cities. If you would like to
participate, if you have any questions, and if you know any other
interested activists, could you please contact SPHR executive committee
member Asseil Ben Jamel at [email protected]

Events will include information kiosks, huge rally, documentary movie,
artisitc presentations, and 2000 candles vigil on Parliament Hill.
Thank you !! Towards truth, justice, and peace, Susan.
______________

End the Occupation. Boycott Israeli Products:
http://www.inminds.co.uk/boycott-brands.html
___________________________________

Susan Howard-Azzeh, Consultant, Anti-racism/Human Rights Research,
Policy, Training and Advocacy, Suite 112, 111 Fourth Ave., Ridley
Square, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada L2S 3P5 905-984-6515
[email protected]

Proposal for the event of the 27th - 28th of September, 2002
End Israeli Colonialism - Unite for Justice

June 2002 - Abstract
Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights is forming a coalition of
different activist groups to hold an event on September 27th in the
city of Ottawa, in commemoration of the Sabra & Shatila massacre that
took place in 1982.

The goal of this event is to raise awareness about the plight of the
Palestinian people as well as to call for the right of return and
proper compensation for the refugees and an end to The Occupation.

The two day event will begin with kiosks lined up alongside Wellington
Street in front of Parliament Hill, in which all the participating
organizations may take part. On the second day, a demonstration would
assemble on Parliament Hill where people would chant slogans and hear
speeches. During this time, a concert by English and French Canadian as
well as Palestinian artists would be held.

The second day would end with a candlelight vigil where people would be
able to plant a candle on the lawn of Parliament Hill in protest of the
loss of innocent Palestinian lives. The target number is around 2000
candles.

Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights
What is SPHR?

SPHR is a non-profit student organization based in Montreal with the
aim of educating the public about the human rights situation of the
Palestinian
people.

SPHR was established in September 1999 as the result of the merger of
two student associations that were based in Concordia and McGill
University. In less than two years SPHR was able to expand to six major
universities in Ontario and Quebec. SPHR with its large number of
members and the activities it organizes, is considered one of the
largest and fastest growing organizations operating out of Montreal.

Within the past two years, SPHR has been able to organize more than ten
lectures, featuring such prominent figures as Norman Finkelstein, Azmi
Bishara and the late Faisal al-Husseini.

Within that period, SPHR organized dozens of information tables and
movie nights on the university campuses. It also presented three plays
which were very well attended.

SPHR has also held five rallies in the streets of Montreal with a total
attendance of 10,000.

SPHR was successful in pushing for a referendum on the following
resolution, which would mandate the Concordia Student Union to send
copies of the resolution to the Canadian government, other universities
and the press:

"We the students of Concordia call upon the Canadian government to put
pressure on the Israeli government to respect all international laws,
in particular U.N. Security Council resolutions and the 4th Geneva
Convention on Human Rights. The pressure should include cutting
diplomatic and economic ties with the Israeli state. We also call on
the Canadian government to pressure the state of Israel to grant the
Palestinians an economically viable state and the right of return of
all Palestinian refugees to their homeland."

This was one of the SPHR's most important achievements.

SPHR also introduced a motion to the PGSS (Post-Graduate Student
Society of McGill) and CSU (Concordia Student Union) which condemns
Israel for its closure of Birzeit University and calls for free
education. The motion passed unanimously at both the PGSS and the CSU
councils.

SPHR continues to expand and work with other organizations to further
the cause of the Palestinian people.

Details of the Event
Objectives of the event:

The main objective of this event is to bring attention to the plight of
the Palestinian people by bringing together a wide range of activist
organizations and communities in North America, in the city of Ottawa.

…To inform the public and attract media attention to the continued
human rights abuses perpetrated by the Israeli Occupation Forces
against Palestinians.

…To Inform the Canadian public of the discrimination against
Palestinians living under Israeli law.

…To pressure the Canadian government to support
the Palestinians right to self determination.

…To pressure the Canadian government to recognize
and take action to facilitate the right of return
and proper compensation for all Palestinians.

…To provide a forum for the communication of ideas.
Demands of the event:

…End the Israeli occupation of occupied Palestinian, Syrian and
Lebanese lands.
…Right of Return for all refugees with just compensation.

…Dismantling of all settlements.
…An end to all human rights abuses against Palestinians in the occupied
territories.

…Implementation of the 4th Geneva Convention and of all the UN
resolutions pertaining to Palestine and the Palestinians.
…Demand that the Canadian government sever all ties with the Occupier
until they stop their continued violation of International Law.

…Demand that Ariel Sharon and all war criminals be brought before an
International tribunal to be tried.

Organization of the event

One of the objectives of the event is to promote all the different
organizations that will participate at the event. In order for each
organization to be able to demonstrate their support for the
Palestinian people and the event in its own unique way, and to give the
organizations enough space to advertise about themselves, the
demonstration will have the following structure:

…All organizations participating in the event will be able to
participate in the preparation of the event.
…Each organization will be made up of their own block. Each
organization is responsible for its block.

…Organizations which wish not to organize a block may join the SPHR
block. They may join any other block after co-ordinating with the block
organizers.
…Every block must maintain its own security for its demonstrators

…Each organization is responsible for bringing their own banners,
provided that the banners follow the guidelines. (The SPHR will provide
banners if asked.)
…The SPHR will provide general security for the event as a whole.

.Participation could be in one or both of the following forms:

1. Supporting the event and its objectives. The organization officially
endorses the event and adds its name to the list of supporting
organizations.

2.Attending the event and help promoting for it. The organization helps
getting more attendance to the event by advertising the event amongst
its members.

Event Guidelines:

… No racist material will be tolerated.

… Participants in the demonstration will be from diverse backgrounds
and communities. We ask that all actions that endanger other
participants, such as provoking police retaliation, or flag burning (a
fire hazard) be avoided.

Date: September 27th - 28th 2002 -Time: 10:00 a.m.
Place: Parliament Hill, Wellington Street
Details for kiosks (27th September)

On September 27th, the kiosks will line Wellington Street. Here, all
the participating groups will have an opportunity to have their own
information kiosk where people can come and learn more about each
organization. All interested organizations will be able to display
their own opinion regarding the Palestinian issue through the following
methods:

…Each organization will have a kiosk to display its material.

…Each organization will be able to provide a letter explaining the
reasons behind participating in the event, which will be read on the
podium by a pre-Selected person.
…Each organization will have full control over their kiosk.

Kiosks Guidelines:
…No racist literature.

.Start time: 10:00 am
.End time: 5:00 pm

Details for (28th September)

On September 28th:
…The day will start with Info tables on Parliament Hill.
…Between 1:00 to 2:00 people will start gathering for the Rally that is
to take place in downtown Ottawa.

…2:00 the rally will commence.
… 4:00 the final statement and the list of demands are read.

… 5:00 a cultural and Artistic presentation would start. (The
presentation would be organized by different organizations. The
presentation would include Arabic, English and French artists.)
… 7:00 a Movie Documentary presentation during which people would be
planting candles on the lawn in front of Parliament Hill. The candles
would reflect the number of Palestinians killed in the 2nd Intifada up
to that date.

This is a rough outline of what would like to see happen during these
two days in Ottawa. For any suggestions please donít hesitate to
contact us.

Organizational meetings

All groups participating in this event will have the opportunity to
meet every two weeks until the date of the event. SPHR will organize
meetings in Ottawa and Montreal. If an organization is unable to attend
any particular meeting, all necessary information will be provided
through e-mail or by the most convenient form of communication. This
will create the opportunity for everyone involved to:

… Offer ideas and make any necessary adjustments.

… Ask for any assistance in any part of the process.
… Clarify any ambiguities.
… Give feedback on progress being made.

All groups are encouraged to come up with innovative ideas to attract
attention by eye catchers such as puppets, blown up figures etc. We
hope that this demonstration will consist of many different creative
and original ideas.

Conclusion

SPHR calls on all organizations to take advantage of this rare
opportunity, as it provides the following:

…A chance to show how important this cause is for your organization.
…A chance for your organization to get in touch with many other diverse
organizations that share the same concerns as yours regarding the
Palestinian issue.

…A chance for you to advertise and promote your organization to the
participants and general media.
A chance for you to make important new contacts with people and
organizations of different backgrounds.

…A chance for you to gain rare experience on the organizational and the
public relations level, which would be hard to gain elsewhere.
…A great chance to promote a humanitarian cause.

…Organizations which reserve kiosks would have a chance to fundraise
through the sale of their materials.
…An opportunity for organizations to voice their positions to the
Canadian public and most importantly to the Canadian government.

Contact Information for the Rally

If there are any questions, comments or suggestions you would like to
make, you may contact any of the following people:
Montreal

SPHR Head office:
1118 St-Catherine West, suite 300
Montreal (Quebec) H3B 1H5
Tel: (514) 905-5101
Fax: (514) 905-5102
E-mail: [email protected]

Ottawa
Laith Al-Masri
Tel (613) 266-5850
E-mail: [email protected]
Rima Alhajj
Tel: (613) 755-9766
E-mail : [email protected]

Toronto
E-mail: [email protected]

Or Visit website: http://www.sphr.org
To add your organizationís name to the list of sponsors, please send an
email to [email protected] .

The email should include the name of the organization, and the name and
contact information of at least one representative.

To reserve a table for the 27th, please send an email to
[email protected]. The email should include the name of the organization,
and the name and contact information of at least one representative.
The cost for the table would be $20.

SPHR Contact Information

Montreal Head office:
1118 St-Catherine West, suite 300
Montreal (Quebec) H3B 1H5
Tel: (514) 905-5101
Fax: (514) 905-5102
E-mail: [email protected]

Concordia University:
2020 Macay St. #307
Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8
Tel.: (514) 848-7418
Fax: (514) 848-7444
E-mail: [email protected]

McGill University:
3480 McTavish, #412
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1X9
Mail Box B84
Tel.: (514) 398-3001 Ext. 09950
E-mail: [email protected]

Universite du Quebec a Montreal:
320 sainte Catherine Est.
Local Ds-3164
c.p. 8888
succ. Centre-ville
MontrČal (QuČbec) H3C 3P8
TČl: (514) 987-5688
E-mail: [email protected]

UniversitČ de Montreal:
E-mail: [email protected]
Ottawa Region:
Tel: (613) 567-0995
Fax: (613) 562-5969
E-mail: [email protected]

Carleton University:
401 Uni-Centre Building
1125 Colonel by drive
Tel: (613) 567-0995
E-mail: [email protected]

Ottawa University: -C/o SFUO
85 University Room 07 Box 45
Ottawa, ON K1N 5J6 Tel: (613) 567-0995
Fax: (613) 562-5969 E-mail: [email protected]