Yom-el-Ard – Day of the Land: Symbol of Palestinian Resistance

On the 46th anniversary of Land Day

This article from our archives provides essential information on the vital issue of land and the rising of 1976, when the Palestinian citizens of Israel revolted against the Israeli government, which had just announced new and extensive land expropriation plans in the Galilee.

Flashback: The day the war broke out

Halifax, March 20, 2003. Hundreds upon hundreds of people take to the streets to condemn the U.S. invasion of Iraq the night before.

In this article from our archives, TONY SEED chronicles the response of Haligonians – and authority – to the first day of the U.S. war against Iraq. Similar demonstrations take place in Shelburne, Wolfville and Antigonish and a silent vigil in Sydney, Cape Breton, as well as in Fredericton, New Brunswick (see below), across Canada and around the world. History shows the correctness of this just stand. The war and ensuing occupation, endorsed and supported by the Chrétien government and every daily newspaper in Canada, caused a terrible tragedy for the people of Iraq and West Asia (Middle East): the number of Iraqis slaughtered is an estimated 1,455,590 people. From reports submitted to Shunpiking Magazine and TML Daily.

(HALIFAX, 20 March 2003) – TODAY a mass democracy meeting broke out at Dalhousie University on Canada’s Atlantic coast against Bush’s barbarous war against Iraq, beginning a day of mass opposition and upheaval that swept across the nation, from east to west, continuing a wave of protest unfolding around the globe, first Oceania, then Asia, the Middle East and Europe and onto the Americas as surely as the earth travels around the sun.

Halifax Symposium on Palestine, 2003

HALIFAX (March 24, 2003) – The first HALIFAX SYMPOSIUM ON PALESTINE – A LAND, A PEOPLE – A HISTORY, A FUTURE was successfully held on the weekend of March 15-16 at Dalhousie University. Over 30 people registered for the Symposium and, including the social function “An Evening with Palestine,” more than 60 people participated from four areas of Nova Scotia in all the proceedings and events.

The atmosphere at the venue of the Conference was warm and lively. Everyone listened with rapt attention as representatives, from eminent historians to student youth, shared their knowledge and experience with the participants. There was a feeling amongst that something new, something very positive, was beginning to take shape, and they are participating in the creation of this new.

The Symposium, initiated by Shunpiking Magazine with the support of six other political and educational organizations including the Canada Palestine Association, was held to broaden the understanding of Palestine at this critical period on the basis of elaborating and discussing themes from the recently-published, book-length Dossier on Palestine.

Halifax Symposium on Palestine, 2003 – Opening Remarks

TONY SEED, March 15, 2003

Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

ON BEHALF of the different sponsoring groups*, we are convening this morning the HALIFAX SYMPOSIUM ON PALESTINE – A LAND, A PEOPLE – A HISTORY, A FUTURE. It will deal with one of the most pressing issues confronting the world today – Palestine and the right of the Palestinian people to self determination, the ceaseless striving of the Palestinian people to exercise control over their own lives which lies at the epicentre of the entire resistance of humanity to imperialist war and subjugation.

This Symposium is open to everyone who wishes to address their concerns or hear the views of others, regardless of their ideological opinions, political affiliation, national origin or any other consideration. Designated speakers who are knowledgeable in their field have been invited to address central issues through presentations or a panel and to provide information for discussion. Several Palestinian student youth have also come forward to come and speak about the problems they are facing as students in defence of their rights.

Report on Iraq: Calgary physician addresses Halifax meeting

(Halifax, February 5, 2003) – OVER 100 PEOPLE attended a forum on February 5 to hear Dr. David Swann report on his recent visit to Iraq. Dr. Swann is former Chief Medical Officer of Alberta’s Palliser Health Authority. He was fired for being in favour of the Kyoto Protocol; after public anger, he was offered his job back, which he turned down. Dr. Swann subsequently went to Iraq as a member of the Iraq Peace Team, to investigate the current situation facing the Iraqi people. He has been on a speaking tour of Canada and spoke the previous evening in New Glasgow. The meeting was organized by the Inter-University Coalition Against the War and held in the FASS Building in Dalhousie University. 

Why Iraq? Oil and U.S. foreign policy

By ISAAC SANEY*

This essay is the text of the paper “Why Iraq?” given on January 29, 2003 to inaugurate the Halifax Political Forums held at Dalhousie University from January to May on the theme “Peace & Nations in the 21st Century: Understanding the Causes of War.” One hundred and three people attended, filling the lecture room to overflowing.

This eleven-part series was aimed at “meeting the widespread demand for analysis of the contemporary situation, combating the massive disinformation about the nature and causes of war, providing clarity, and a venue for discussion.”

Halifax Political Forums inaugurated, hall packed for ‘Why Iraq?’ lecture

THE Halifax Political Forums inaugurated its series of weekly public discussion on January 29 on the topic “Why Iraq? Oil? Weapons of Mass Destruction? U.S. Dictate?” The Series is organized on the overall theme, “Peace & Nations in the 21st Century: Understanding the Causes of War.”

“An estimated 200 million people died in two world wars and 500 regional wars in the 20th century alone,” said Tony Seed, editor and publisher of Shunpiking magazine, pincipal sponsor of the weekly series, as he inaugurated the forum on behalf of its steering committee.

“Yet today mankind is faced with new destructive conflicts and deepening economic and political crises. Who is responsible for the threats to global and regional peace? Is it really ‘outlaw regimes’, an ‘axis of evil’ or ‘failed states’ and nations? How can a genuine and lasting peace be achieved? Who will decide?

“This in-depth public series is aimed at meeting the widespread demand for analysis of the contemporary situation, combating the massive disinformation about the nature and causes of war, and to provide clarity and a weekly venue for discussion.

Halifax Political Forums – a weekly political-academic discussion series

“Peace and Nations in the 21st Century: Understanding the Causes of War”

Public Forums in Halifax every Wednesday evening, 7pm, on the theme “Peace and Nations in the 21st Century: Understanding the Causes of War,” from January 29 to April 2, 2003

PLACE: Dalhousie Student Union Building, 6136 University Ave., Halifax. Room: check at front desk.

January 29: Why Iraq?! Weapons of Mass Destruction? Regime Change? Oil? U.S. dictate? – Isaac Saney, Henson College, Dalhousie University. Specialist in international political economy; author Cuba: Revolution in Motion (forthcoming from Zed/Fernwood, fall 2003)

Halifax People’s Voice resumes publication

ON THE occasion of the January 17-19 International Days of Action Against War on Iraq, the People’s Front-Halifax relaunched its newsbulletin Halifax People’s Voice, which appeared regularly through the 1980s. The six-page-bulletin highlighted the Canada for Peace Petition Campaign, announced the launching of weekly political forums to be held every Wednesday until mid-April on the theme “Peace and Nations in the 21st Century: Understanding the Causes of War” and opposed the concrete war preparations taking place in Halifax, whose harbour is a strategic U.S. and NATO port.

The issue regarding Iraq

By TONY SEED

WHAT IS THE ISSUE REGARDING IRAQ? The U.S. imperialists, their camp followers and the media would have it that the issue is whether there exists concrete evidence that Iraq has “weapons of mass destruction.” If so, the rhetoric goes, then Iraq is in violation of resolutions passed by the United Nations, is a danger to the rest of the world, and should be militarily attacked by the U.S. and whoever else wishes to participate. One hoped-for consequence of such an attack is the overthrow or even death of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Strangely, all the reasons that the U.S. trots out as justifications for attacking Iraq could be used as justification for attacking the United States.