Robert Fisk: “Lies, Misreporting and Catastrophe in the Middle East ”

with Khalil Bendib

Sunday September 26, 2010

7:30 p.m. Rio Theatre

1206 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz

Presented by the Resource Center for Nonviolence

For tickets- scroll down for details on 7:30 event, special seating and Reception following event;  contact the Resource Center for Nonviolence, 831-423-1626, www.rcnv.org by PayPal or e-mail to robertfiskinsantacruz@gmail.com

Robert Fisk is Middle East Correspondent for the Independent and one of Britain’s most distinguished journalists. Educated in Britain and Ireland and based in Beirut for more than three decades, Fisk holds more journalism awards than any other foreign correspondent. His reporting has covered major revolutions and wars in the Middle East and North Africa, from the Iranian revolution and civil wars in and invasions of Lebanon, the Iran-Iraq War, Gulf Wars I & 2, Kosovo, and Algeria. Fisk won the 2000 Amnesty International award for his reports from Serbia on NATO’s bombardment of Yugoslavia and received numerous awards for his reporting from the Middle East, including the 2006 Lannan Prize for Cultural Freedom. His books include  “The Age of the Warrior: Selected Essays”  (2008), “The Great War for Civilization: The Conquest of the Middle East “ (2007),  “Pity the Nation: The Abduction of Lebanon”  (2002),  “In Time of War: Ireland, Ulster and the Price of Neutrality”  (1996).

Fisk brings unparalled insight into and encyclopedic knowledge of history and current events, keen analysis, engaging story-telling, and razor-sharp wit to bear on events in the Middle East.

Khalil Bendib is an Algerian American, a widely syndicated cartoonist, radio talk show host, and commentator. Bendib s radio program  Voices of the Middle East and North Africa,  appears on KPFA Radio in Berkeley, Fresno, Tampa and other cities. VOMENA is distinguished by its scope, magazine format, authenticity, philosophy and perspective. VOMENA consistently brings listeners deeply informed and authentic voices that take listeners beyond the headlines into the richly diverse and fascinating world of culture and politics of the Middle East and North Africa, exploring the complex web of class, gender, ethnic, religious and regional differences which separate and distinguish the ways of life and political and ideological perspectives of people in that part of the world.

Sponsored by the Resource Center for Nonviolence and Palestine Israel Action Committee. FMI: 831-423-1626. Organizational cosponsors welcome!

7:30 p.m. Presentation on  “Lies, Myths and Catastrophe in the Middle East  featuring Robert Fisk, with Khalil Bendib. “

Tickets:

General Seating $10.00 -$20.00 sliding-scale ($5.00 for unemployed, seniors, & students available in advance from RCNV).

Preferred Seating $25.00  $50.00 (sliding-scale): Preferred Seating at 7:30 program & Special Reception at 9:00 p.m.

One person- $75.00  $100.00 sliding-scale donation, includes preferred seating and the post-event reception, one Fisk book of your choice (see below) for author s signature and two complementary tickets to  Little Town of Bethlehem  screening at Del Mar Theatre on Tuesday October 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Two people- $125.00  $175.00 sliding-scale donation, includes preferred seating and the post-event reception for two, one Fisk book of your choice (see below) for author ‘s signature and four complementary tickets to  “Little Town of Bethlehem”  screening at Del Mar Theatre on Tuesday October 19 at 7:00 p.m.

Organizational Sponsors $100.00: Groups and organizations are encouraged to become cosponsors of Robert Fisk s visit. Cosponsorship includes being listed on advertisement as cosponsor, 4 preferred seating at 7:30 p.m. program and two tickets to the reception.

When making your reservation or purchasing your ticket, please let us know which book you want, either:

-The Age of the Warrior: Selected Essays by Robert Fisk  (2008);

-The Great War for Civilization: the Conquest of the Middle East  (2007); or

-Pity the Nation: The Abduction of Lebanon  (2002).

For tickets contact the Resource Center for Nonviolence

831-423-1626, www.rcnv.org by PayPal or e-mail to robertfiskinsantacruz@gmail.com

Title: Thursday, July 22: Gaza Teach-in! The Peace Flotilla: What Happened & What’s Next?
Location: Louden Nelson Center 301 Center Street, Santa Cruz
Description: 6:00 p.m. Soups and bread
6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Teach-In. $5.00 – $25.00 suggested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)
Speakers include:
Paul Larudee, co-founder of the Free Gaza Movement to Break the Israeli siege of Gaza; kidnapped and beaten by Israeli forces in May 2010 assault on the Gaza Peace Flotilla. Spokespersons from Jewish Voice for Peace on the growing movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions to end the Israeli occupation. Dr. Amer Araim, former Iraqi diplomat & former UN Secretariat Official, professor at Diablo Valley College on diplomatic options to lift the siege. Scott Kennedy, Coordinator of Middle East Program, Resource Center for Nonviolence.
All proceeds beyond costs of event will support nonviolent actions to break the siege of Gaza. Sponsored by the Resource Center for Nonviolence & the Palestine Israel Action Committee. For more information, call 831-423-1626.

Olive Harvest Delegation
to Israel and Palestine
October 31 – November 13, 2010
Co-Sponsored by Interfaith Peace Builders and
the Resource Center for Nonviolence
Delegation Leaders: Ilise Cohen and Scott Kennedy
IFPB delegations expose participants to perspectives that are not readily available in North America. Meetings with diverse representatives of Palestinian and Israeli society focus particularly on those working nonviolently for a resolution to the conflict and an end to the occupation. Delegates see the Wall, checkpoints, and demolished homes and learn how these and much more affect Palestinians. Likewise, delegates hear from Israelis about the effects of the conflict on Israeli society. Co-leaders: Ilise Cohen is a Sephardic Jewish Scholar-Activist and has been a Middle East peace and justice activist for 20 years and has led Middle East delegations to Israel and Palestine. RCNV staff member Scott Kennedy has traveled to the Middle East more than 30 times and led numerous delegations.
For more information, contact Scott Kennedy 831-457-8003, kenncruz@pacbell.net or www.ifpb.org/del35/default.html

A statement by Scott Kennedy, Coordinator of the Middle East Program of the Resource Center for Nonviolence

Since its founding in 1976, the Resource Center for Nonviolence and I have supported and advocated for a secure and thriving State of Israel –

~ within internationally recognized borders,

~ at peace and enjoying normal relations with neighboring Arab states and with other Middle Eastern countries and the international community,

~ and free of undue influence by outside powers such as the USA and the debilitating effects of an ongoing state of hostility with its neighbors and a war economy.

I therefore extend my greetings and support to members of the local Jewish Community and others who will be celebrating Israel’s birthday this week.

Created in 1948, Israel is a young state still in many regards in its formative years. I look forward to progressive forces in Israel finally winning public approval for adoption of a constitution for Israel that will guarantee equal human, civil, religious, economic and cultural rights to all of its citizens.

I likewise look forward to Israel, the Palestinians and neighboring nations ending the state of war and reaching a political accommodation to end decades of conflict. That political resolution must be founded on international law and respect for the human and national rights of all people in the region, including both Israelis and Palestinians.

The then newly founded United Nations gave birth to two states in 1947: the State of Israel and the State of Palestine. One cannot give birth to twins and have one twin legitimate and the other twin illegitimate. Creation of Israel and the Israeli War of Independence had a devastating impact on the Palestinian population of that area. It is no wonder that Palestinians call the flight or expulsion of 750,000 – 900,000 refugees and destruction of more than 400 Palestinian villages within the boundaries of the new Israeli state “al Naqba” or “the catastrophe.”

Israel’s 62nd birthday not only is a time for many to celebrate the many accomplishments of Israel. It must also remind us that establishment of a Palestinian State is long overdue. There is a broad international consensus that supports creation of a Palestinian State alongside Israel enjoying the same rights, responsibilities, security and hope as the State of Israel.

US support for Israel should adamantly and consistently further the goals of reenforcing democracy and equality for all citizens of Israel and bringing about a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian-Arab conflict and creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. These remain my personal goals and the purpose of the Middle East Program of the Resource Center for Nonviolence.

Scott Kennedy

April 19, 2010

Title: Militarization and Resistance in Honduras – An Eye-witness Account
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 7:30p.m.
At the Resource Center for Nonviolence, 515 Broadway (near Ocean St.)
Link out: Click here
Description:
Patty Adams is one of two US citizens working with the DC-based Quixote Center and the Hemispheric Social Alliance to coordinate a permanent international presence in post-coup Honduras. Since the June 28 coup, civil society resistance has been vibrant, nonviolent, and tenaciously persistent, even in the face of violent repression. Come hear Patty speak about life under the Honduran coup regime, the goals of the grassroots social movements, and what U.S. citizens and other internationals can do to support Hondurans’ struggle for democracy. The event is free; donations accepted.

Co-sponsored by IF, Resource Center for Nonviolence, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Santa Cruz Cuba Caravan, Redwood Nonviolence Community
Information: 831.426.6537.

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Patty Adams has over a decade of involvement in nonviolent direct action and global justice activism/campaigns, including 8 years in Central America where she coordinated dozens of international delegations. She is an experienced nonviolence trainer, and she has worked in trauma healing and transformation.

The Honduras Accompaniment Project was organized in response to the call from popular movement groups in Honduras, especially the National Front of Resistance to the Coup (El Frente), for ongoing presence, support, accompaniment, and information gathering and dissemination. Her visit to Santa Cruz will come on the heels of leading the seventh post-coup international delegation to Honduras. Additional delegations are being planned for late October and beyond. These delegations have accompanied marches in an attempt to diminish the risk of violence, documented violent repression of popular protests throughout the country, used that documentation in advocacy work with national and international power-holders to hold them accountable, and shared information with the public at large to overcome the media blackout on the protests and on the severity of the ongoing political crisis in Honduras. Some additional work that is emerging in response to social movement appeals includes providing resources, training and support in active nonviolence and its applications in Honduras.