Speaker: Rania Masri
Associate Director of the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at the American University of Beirut
Title: Dismantling Racism and Colonialism
Wednesday 4 March 2015, 6.00-8.00
Lecture Theatre C0.14, John Dalton Building, Manchester Metropolitan University, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13
“The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign has become a powerful, global, and de-centralized movement in a relatively short time period. The goals are clear: (1) end the occupation of Palestinian lands occupied since 1967; (2) end the discriminatory apartheid laws imposed on Palestinians within Israel; and (3) secure the right of return for Palestinian refugees. In response to the growing victories and strength of the BDS movement, the Israeli government and its Zionist supporters have been launching their own campaigns, particularly against the academic and cultural boycott of Israel. Meanwhile, critical within this struggle are two essential frameworks: the recognition of the ideology of Zionism as a racist, colonialist ideology, and the recognition of the right of oppressed people to resist their occupation. This lecture will explore these dynamics, and raise the challenges — and possibilities — still ahead in the struggle for liberation.”
Rania Masri is a social-justice and anti-war activist. Her writings and activism have centered on the occupation of Palestine, and the struggle against apartheid and racism. She has also written and organized extensively on the sanctions on Iraq, and civil and environmental rights. She has spoken at literally hundreds of public events and media appearances. A partial listing of her writings and talks can be found on her personal website: http://greenresistance.wordpress.com/my-writings/. Rania holds a PhD in Forestry from North Carolina State University (2001), and a Masters in Environmental Management (MEM) from Duke University (1995). Throughout her career, Dr. Masri has worked to bring a holistic, interdisciplinary lens to the environmental sciences, and a recognition that environmental management must encompass a human rights and social justice practice. She is currently Associate Director of the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at the American University of Beirut. She joined AUB in September 2014 after nine years as professor and Chair of the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Balamand (2005-2014). Prior to her move to Lebanon in 2005, she was the Director of the Southern Peace Research and Education Center at the Institute for Southern Studies in North Carolina, USA (2002-2005).
Tom Hurndall was a student at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU). He was fatally wounded by the Israeli Defence Force whilst protecting Palestinian children in Gaza. He died on January 13th 2004. Since 2005 MMU has hosted a Memorial Lecture which has attracted prestigious figures willing to speak out against what was done in 2004 and what is still being done now by the Israeli State. For more details about this lecture and previous lectures, visit the Tom Hurndall Memorial Lecture page on Facebook. The organising group for the lecture is from universities in the North West of England.