PHOTO OF THE WEEK // 65th Anniversary of the Nakba (catastrophe / cataclysm)
The 15th of May traditionally marks the Palestinian Nakba; when in the 1948, during the Palestine War, approximately 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled, and hundreds of Palestinian villages were depopulated and destroyed by Israeli forces.
These refugees and their descendants number several million people today, divided between Jordan (2 million),Lebanon (427,057), Syria (477,700), the West Bank(788,108) and the Gaza Strip (1.1 million), with at least another quarter of a million internally displaced Palestinians in Israel. The displacement, dispossession and dispersal of the Palestinian people is known to them as an-Nakba, meaning “catastrophe” , “cataclysm” or “disaster”.
PHOTO CREDIT: UNRWA - ‘Palestinian refugees in 1948’
PROJECT MANAGER INTERNSHIPS IN HEBRON, OPT
POSITION OUTLINE:
The Building Sumud Project is currently inviting applications for two internship positions (minimum of 3 months) for its office in Hebron in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The selected candidates would need to be available 5 days a week. This position will provide interns with an opportunity to obtain first-hand knowledge and experience of project management, fundraising and data analysis as well as the chance to work directly with the project beneficiaries.
BUILDING SUMUD PROJECT ON openDemocracy.com AND arenaofspeculation.org
Building resistance in Hebron.
In the face of growing spatial securitisation and colonisation of Hebron’s occupied old city, a set of community initiatives have emerged which seek to build resilience, protect human rights, and counter the economic and social decline of the area.
Read the full article at : http://www.opendemocracy.net/cities-in-conflict
Co-published by Arena of Speculation : http://arenaofspeculation.org/
BSP PRESENT AT THE COLLECTIVE SPACES WORKSHOP
The lecture given by Elisa Ferrato from the PLUG In Hebron team included an overview of the Israeli land planning system, showing key examples of the architecture of occupation and its influence on the lives of the occupied population. Moreover, the lecture highlighted the work of the Building Sumud Project and the design concept of Plug in Hebron in the bigger frame of the popular movement for the re-appropriation of Palestinian space.
The Collective Spaces Workshop in the Turin School of Architecture is part of the Masters programme in Habitat Technology and Development, focuses on the crossover of community planning, participation, sustainable urban regeneration, emergency reconstruction, self-building, and development policies.
PLUG In Hebron TO FEATURE IN ARHITEXT MAGAZINE
PLUG In Hebron (People Liberated Urban Gaps in Hebron), the proposal to create a BSP action research centre in Hebron is to feature in Arhitext magazine’s ‘enclave + exclave’ edition. The theme of this edition is based on Lefebvre’s classic “right to the city” and tackles the issues of military urbanism in several of its forms from segregation, isolation, separation to interdiction.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK // WEEKLY SHUT DOWN
Each Saturday, the Old City is partially sealed as Israeli settlers and Israeli Defence Force (IDF) soldiers facilitate a weekly tour of illegal settlers and settler solidarity groups from Israel through Old City neighbourhoods and the souk. The IDF removes Palestinians from the streets through which the tour progresses, block entrances to shops and prevent residents from traveling whilst the group makes their way through the narrow enclosed souk and residential streets. Heavily armed soldiers patrol with dogs and snipers watch from Palestinian rooftops along the tour route. Palestinian families and children are forced to use side streets, families are unable to access their homes, and shopkeepers are unable to conduct business during the tour which can consist of groups of over 100. The highly symbolic shutdown of the Old City typically lasts from one to two hours.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK // AL-SHUHADA PROTESTS IN HEBRON
The 22nd of February is marked as the anniversary date of the closure of Al-Shuhada Street in Hebron, which has been sealed by the IDF since the 1994 Hebron Ibrahimi Mosque massacre by Baruch Goldstein. On the 22nd of February 1994, Goldstein, who was an illegal Israeli settler killed 29 Palestinian worshippers and wounded another 125.
More info about the effects of this closure can be found HERE
BSP TO PRESENT AT THE HUMANITARIAN HUB
Hosted at London South Bank University by the Humanitarian Hub, this event will showcase the work of members and collaborators of ASF-UK as a series of short and energetic presentations, describing work within and inspired by the organisation.
Former ASF-UK associate Mick Scott will present the work of the Building Sumud Project. Come say hello!
WHEN: Wednesday 6th February 18.30 – 20.30
WHERE: LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY, Lecture Theatre A, The Keyworth Centre, Keyworth Street, SE1 6NG
HOW MUCH: FREE
RSVP: mkinnear@asf-uk.org
BSP PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE OLD CITY OF HEBRON
*FOR CIRCULATION*
The Building Sumud Project is inviting applications for a number of placements in the Old City of Hebron (Occupied Palestinian Territories).
Placements will be offered for a minimum of 3 months, starting in February - March 2013. Successful applicants will contribute to vital research, action, and advocacy projects in the Old City - more information about our programmes/projects can be found by clicking the following links:
OBSERVATORY OF SYMBOLIC VIOLENCE
These placements are offered on a voluntary basis.
Applicants are requested to forward a CV, motivation letter (500 words), and reference letter to contact@buildingsumud.org
The deadline for the first call is Friday 8th of February 2013.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK // A growing ambivalence to the occupation?
This week’s photo coincides with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
This date observed on the 29th of November each year is a time to remember and reflect on the consequences of 45 years of Israeli occupation on the West Bank, the blockade of Gaza and the Palestinian refugees spread across the world.
THE BUILDING SUMUD PROJECT DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT Design Like You Give a Damn: LIVE!
The Building Sumud Project has delivered the keynote opening address at Design Like You Give a Damn: LIVE! - the preeminent design event for global social impact design, organised by Architecture For Humanity
Mick Scott from the PLUG In Hebron Team - [People Liberated Urban Gaps] outlined the BSP’s proposal which is based on reclaiming military space through civic action and the creation of a research - events space in the occupied Old City of Hebron. Mick also spoke about how the design process and design agenda has evolved to engage with the challenging context of Hebron in the Occupied Palestinian Territories since winning the 2012 Open Architecture Challenge.
DLYGADL: LIVE! gives design experts, enthusiasts, activists, and industry leaders across disciplines the opportunity to come together to address the challenges and lessons learned in humanitarian design and community development. Panel topics address cutting-edge topics and small-group workshops allowed participants to gain hands-on knowledge from expert panellists.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Venice Biennale visitors explore the BSP’s proposal for a research centre in Hebron.
SUMUD AMBASSADORS PROJECT
The Building Sumud Project is currently on the ground in Hebron working on the “Sumud Ambassadors Project”. The project aims to support and develop local capacities based on the notion of Sumud [non-violent steadfastness] in order to strengthen the effectiveness of resilience, solidarity and unity within the local population. These relationships are form of social capital which constitutes as an asset against the occupation. By enhancing and strengthening the concept of Sumud among teenagers, the project aims to strengthen the capacities of young people in Hebron to cope with the occupation which is an obstacle to the development of both their personal and professional lives.
BUILDING SUMUD PROJECT TO EXHIBIT AT THE 2012 VENICE BIENNALE
The Building Sumud Project is delighted to announce that we will be exhibiting at this year’s Venice Biennale! We will be hosted by Architecture for Humanity at the Palazzo Bembo after being awarded first place in the international [un]restricted access competition in our category.
Over the last 6 months, in a long and intense judging process we made it through to the final 5 of 508 teams from over 70 countries. The international jury panel came from a wide range of backgrounds, from the actress/environmental campaigner Patricia Arquette to designer of the London Shard - Renzo Piano.
The competition design, titled ‘PLUG-In Hebron - People Liberated Urban Gaps In Hebron’ was developed by Building Sumud Project team members Elisa Ferrato, John Lewicki and Mick Scott.
The design is based on reclaiming military space through civic action and the creation of a research and events space in the occupied Old City in Hebron. With our partners we look forward to making this project a reality in the near future.
We will post more info about the design soon.
The competition design, titled ‘PLUG-In Hebron - People Liberated Urban Gaps In Hebron’ was developed by Building Sumud Project team members Elisa Ferrato, John Lewicki and Mick Scott.
The design is based on reclaiming military space through civic action and the creation of a research and events space in the occupied Old City in Hebron. With our partners we look forward to making this project a reality in the near future.
We will post more info about the design soon.
BUILDING SUMUD PROJECT SHORTLISTED
The Building Sumud Project has been shortlisted in a major international architecture competition. Our proposal is now in the final 23 teams after being selected out of 508 teams from 71 countries. The judging continues for another week and the anonymity of the process must be respected so we cannot announce what the proposal or prize is yet!
