Israel Social TV mission statement

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Social TV: Letter of Inquiry

Organizational Overview

Social TV is a none-partisan Israeli social change initiative, using strategies of public education and independent media (mainly video articles), aims to empower civil society and the peace and social change movement in Israel as a whole. Founded in 2006 as an Israeli project, Social TV has been operating under the Syncopa Community framework. Social TV has already produced over 250 short video programs for its website, building a video library that includes coverage of demonstrations, direct actions, lectures, and alternative cultural events, etc'. Daily, there are hundreds of visitors to Social TV’s website, and an additional 12,000 are reached through weekly e-mail updates. Run by an entirely volunteer staff, Social TV has also become a platform for other non-profit organizations in Israel (please refer to last page of the letter of inquiry).

Mission Statement

Social TV was founded to give visibility and evoke awareness and sympathy to issues of social justice in its broader sense. Thus, Social TV seeks to break the monopoly of privatized neo-liberal media, by providing alternative media that is created and maintained from below, through the grass-roots efforts of the citizens. Social TV aims to become a cooperative media organization which promotes democratic values and foster active participation within civil society, raising awareness about the political and social issues within Israel, and within the increasingly globalized world.

Social TV’s seeks to become a model of socially responsible communication throughout Israel and the Middle East, which is able to be duplicated and reproduced.

Thus Social TV seeks to impact the current reality, as a social change organ striving to promote human rights, social justice, equal distribution, and political co-operation between diverse groups in society.

Background and Needs

It is well-established that mainstream media is shaping the mindset, political and social consciousness of the next generation, and constructing reality through the select material presented and disseminated. Increasingly, through an accelerated series of mergers in the news media, this situation has been compounded, enabling a few large commercial conglomerates to dictate the media agenda, creating a close fit between big government and commercial interests.

The situation in Israel, a small, highly industrialized and developed country, has reached a crisis point. For years a hegemonic historical and political outlook has dominated Israeli society, perpetuated by a few large institutionalized media outlets (radio, newspaper, and television), and by the interconnected process of educational and military which every Israeli youth undergoes. Facing increasingly intense political, social and environmental conflict, including 40 years as a foreign occupier, Israel is also concurrently within the grasp of an intense push towards privatization.

Privatization has meant that Israeli media is increasingly controlled by a number of large commercial conglomerates, and thus nearly all of the country’s media is filtered through the institutionalized commercial interests of a few select individuals and families (appendix 1). This is a process of inter-locking ownership, where the owners of financial and commercial enterprises (who control all the means of production), also control all the modes of communication that reach the public. This situation is dangerous because it limits the spectrum of issues and viewpoints presented in the media, threatening the basic tenants of a democracy.

Social TV’s program is designed in response to this situation. By providing critical news and information that is detached from corporate agendas, Social TV is putting media back into the hands of the public, reaching a target audience of adept internet users who are held captive by mainstream news.

Aims

Social TV’s mandate is to provide an alternative internet TV platform to promote equality, justice, civic education and culture which stands in contrast to institutionalized commercial media, breaking the link between capitalism and media. Social TV’s target population on the electronic internet community, a confident population of youth and adults who are computer literate and active citizens involved in activities and outreach events through social justice organizations. Social TV’s aims to:

 Promote civil and political awareness in place of commercial consumption and strengthen Israeli democracy by highlighting the plurality of alternative events, organizations, and agendas within Israel.

 Create a platform for Israeli social change organizations to exhibit and advertise their educational, social, and cultural events, which are often neglected by mainstream media.

 Redefine the value scale, by targeting the standard values represented and disseminated by mainstream media, in order to implement a fundamental shift in the central values and beliefs of society.

Activities

Each of Social TV’s projects have two components: I) educational seed training stage, and II) creation and production stage. These two stages will enable Social TV to build an enduring framework, ensuring the organization long-term trajectory through creating a solid infrastructure. The list of Social TV projects for the upcoming year includes:

 Project: ‘Spotlight on Social Change’ an alternative talk-show, will run on a bi-monthly basis throughout the year. Each show would be comprised of a conversation between a featured guest and the host.

 Theme Articles Project providing a stage for evolving issues marginalized in the mainstream media, themes includes privatization and centralization within Israel, alternative Israeli-Palestinian initiatives towards cooperation, and the struggle for worker’s rights.

 Non-online channels of distribution - mainly mastering high quality Educational DVD Library, containing Social TV’s articles collection, for distribution throughout Israel to learning centers and schools, academic institutes, youth movements, social change groups etc'…

 Mobile Social TV - is a project designed to actively bring the organization’s materials to the general public by screening at outdoors public spaces, focusing on communities in social and geographical periphery. This will be done in the context of debate-oriented social events, as to strengthen the sense of civil society.

Accomplishments

Since its establishment in 2006, Social TV has becoming a leader of alternative media in Israel, producing groundbreaking reports on events, lecturing at locations throughout Israel, and increasing their coverage in the mainstream media. A sample of the Social TV’s accomplishments thus far includes:

 Early and exclusive coverage of non mainstream Israeli citizens who organized massive protests against the war in Lebanon in July of 2006.

 Educational lectures and seminars which have been given at academic institutions throughout Israel including The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and colleges in Tel Aviv and Akko.

 A diverse range of articles written about the organization in the mainstream media, signaling the growing recognition of Social TV as a vital force for media advocacy in Israel.

The growing numbers of organizations which have presented their content on Social TV’s website include:

The Coalition Against Trafficking | B’Tselem | Gush Shalom | Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) | Gush Shalom | Yesh Gvul | Coalition for the Promotion of Animal Rights | Zochrot | New Israel Fund | Shatil | The Workers Hotline (Kav Laoved), and others.

Contact Information

Ehud Shem Tov Director, Social TV Tel: +972 (0)52-5433100 Fax: +972-(0)3-5187793 ehud@social.org.il www.tv.social.org.il

Evidence of the tends for ethnic cleansing?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Under cover of announcing humanitarian relief for injured Palestinians, it is now emerging that

Israel is planning the transfer of tens of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza into Egypt.

Evidence of the Israeli transfer plan has been sent to London based Islington Friends of Yibna** [IFY]. Earlier today, Sat 17 Jan 09, IFY received a photo of tents [see attached] outside the main hospital in Egyptian Rafah, near the border with Gaza.

The white tents with no markings are being erected by the Egyptian Army, starting last night, Fri 16 Jan 09. The photo was taken this morning [Sat 17 January 09]. The soldiers stated that 5,000 tents were planned for refugees from Gaza.
Further information is available from our contacts in the Egyptian side of Rafah [Rafah was divided by Israel after it occupied Gaza and Sinai in 1967; Israel divided Rafah when Sinai was returned to Egypt].

From our contacts in Yibna Refugee Camp in Gaza we have learnt that, in the north east of Rafah, near the Egyptian border, Israeli tanks have surrounded and sealed off the Al Sarayh neighbourhood, for more than the last 48 hours. There are many injured people trapped there, the Israelis are not allowing access for the Red Cross and many people are dying of their wounds, isolated and with no medical treatment.

We have grave concerns that Israel will target the Al Sarayh neighbourhood to be the first to be transferred and that this might be within the next 24h.

While Al Sarayh is completely isolated, with no access even to the Red Cross, Israel can prepare and carry out its plans without any witnesses from the aid agencies to alert the international community. While preventing Al Sarayh from accessing any medical treatment, Israel would portray a transfer as an Israeli humanitarian gesture to allow them access to medical treatment in Egypt. Given that Israel has been bombing Al Sarayh non-stop Israel would portray a transfer as a humanitarian gesture to allow them to escape the killing fields of the constant Israeli bombardment [thus claiming they will be safer in Egypt and giving them the “choice”].

Israel is NOT on a mercy mission. While presenting this transfer as a humanitarian gesture, allowing injured Palestinians and their families out across the Rafah border crossing for hospital treatment, the Israeli plan to ethnic cleanse Gaza and transfer Palestinians to Egypt is not new. This is an advanced stage in the Israeli plan to ethnic cleanse the 1.5 million Palestinians out of Gaza [e.g. see the video interview in English of the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, a year ago, on 18 Jan 08, calling for the Palestinians in Gaza to be transferred to the Sinai desert as a humanitarian gesture]. Those forced now to leave, under the pretext of a humanitarian gesture, will never again be allowed back [just like they have never been allowed back to the homes from which they were ethnic cleansed in 1948]. The Palestinian refugees, ethnic cleansed from Gaza, would continue to be hunted down by Israel, even if they would be later transferred further into the Sinai desert.

It appears that the ceasefire agreement with Egypt [part of the Israeli “unilateral” ceasefire due to start on 17 Jan, 2400 GMT] paved the way to the erection of the tents by Egyptian forces and that Egypt agreed to allow Israel to ethnic cleansed dozens of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza into Egypt, under the pretext of a humanitarian gesture.

Earlier this afternoon, PM Gordon Brown announced that injured children would be taken out of Gaza for medical treatment and food aid would be stepped up. IFY spoke with medics in the Egyptian Rafah,and they said that today the Egyptian soldiers rejected ALL the food they provided for Gaza, while on other days they allowed some food in [though in no way proportionate to the needs of 1.5 millions]. As for the medical treatment, that could be the cover story for the ethnic cleansing of dozens of thousands, especially as the tents are near the hospital

By last week, more than 40,000 people in Rafah have already been forced out of their homes by the day and night Israeli bombardment, making transfer easier as there is now no need to get them out of their houses, many of which are now bombed ruins. There’s nothing left for the Palestinians in Gaza [even the cemetery in Rafah was bombed] and they have been terrorised for so long, that it is hard to estimate how much more violence Israel would need to exercise to force them to leave Gaza

It is not anticipated that Israel would immediately ethnic 1.5million Palestinians in Gaza, but that it would pursue its completion when it feels there are international circumstances that would allow it.

Photograph of the tents attached.

For further information and updates please contact Yael Kahn on +44 (0)7880 731 865 or Rob Langlands on +44 (0)7977 490415

Regards,
Yael Kahn, Chair of IFY: +44 (0)7880 731 865

Rob Langlands, Secretary of IFY: +44 (0)7977 490415
Islington_Yibna@yahoo.co.uk

National NUS President et al play more dirty tricks...

Here are the series of emails and other shocking behaviour from the NUS NEC with regards to the Black Students campaign.

The first is an email from Bell (NUS Black Students' Officer) that she was attempting to send to every sabbatical in the country.  Liberation Officers do not have the authority to send emails to the whole of the NUS directory, but Bell has taken the time to copy and paste all the emails from the directory into a word document - a task that is perfectly legitimate.  It is her right to communicate with students' union sabbaticals and especially when she is communicating the policy of the Black Students' Campaign.

- Please read email 1 (below) -

You will see that several highly respected political figures have joined the campaign to defeat the NUS Governance Review.

However, only a third of the way through sending her emails, Bell discovered that her email account had been BLOCKED.  Bell's email window on her computer literally vanished before her eyes.  Maintenance of the NUS email service had been planned, but not as early as the messages were being sent.

Shortly after this happened, email 2 from Wes was sent to every delegate from last term's Extraordinary Conference.

- Please read email 2 (below) -

The sending of this email raised Bell's suspicions that the NUS email was not down. Infront of her very eyes her blackberry displayed something along the lines of "verifying web settings... Password changed".  She had been LOCKED OUT OF HER BLACKBERRY.  She immediately called IT services who did not pick up, and so was fast realising that somehow she had been blocked from sending any emails at all.  A direct violation of the Black Students' Campaign's autonomy, and their right to send emails that are IN LINE WITH THEIR POLICY.

Yesterday (Friday) morning Bell went into NUS HQ to sort out the problem with her services...  She went to the IT dept and was told to "speak to Wes" regarding her lack of Blackberry services, and blocking of her email account.  After a phone conversation it was revealed that Wes had authorised both of these actions to occur.

Emails 3 and 4 that are also shown below are emails from Bell to Wes, please read them.

This disgusting behaviour from the National President is indicative of the tactics of the Pro-Governance leadership in stifling the debate.  To suggest that Bell has "misled" respected political figures including LABOUR MP DIANNE ABBOTT is frankly offensive to not only Bell, but also the signatories of Bell's original statement.

To over-ride the autonomy of the Black Students' Campaign and to act in these ways is so unbelievably underhanded and corrupt it defies belief.

This comes just a day after the announcement during an NEC meeting of the National President that he will be "writing to the LGBT Campaign to register his disgust" at LGBT's vote to be anti-Governance Review, because, in his words, the committee is "unrepresentative".  Shocking and ridiculous words from a man who believes that two extraordinary conferences is representative of students' wants.

1) BELL'S ORIGINAL EMAIL

Doreen Lawrence, Benjamin Zephaniah and Diane Abbott are among those who have united to express concern about the National Union of Students (NUS) proposed new Constitution.

The NUS Black Students' Campaign has launched a statement calling on NUS to delay adopting the new Constitution until an Equality Impact Assessment – which would identify the new Constitution's impact on Black, disabled, lesbian gay, bisexual and trans students (LGBT), and women – has been conducted and reported.

Founding signatories of the statement include Doreen Lawrence OBE, Dr Benjamin Zephaniah, Diane Aboott MP, Cllr Salma Yaqoob, Keith Vaz MP, Operation Black Vote (OBV), Lester Holloway, Editor of The New Nation and Lee Jasper.

In November NUS made a commitment to conduct an Equality Impact Assessment, after being mandated to do so by delegates at NUS Conference. NUS has now announced that the new Constitution will be voted on at a Conference on January 20th, despite the fact that the Equality Impact Assessment has not yet even been commissioned.

The new Constitution would reduce the influence and authority of elected representatives of Black, disabled, LGBT and women students, by removing these Officers from the most powerful decision-making body in NUS. Diversity of participation in the events that determine NUS' policies and priorities would also be undermined by the new Constitution.

Doreen Lawrence OBE said: "I am disappointed to hear that as the 10th anniversary of the Lawrence Inquiry approaches, NUS is planning to roll back Black students' representation. I was proud to support the creation of a Black Students' Officer in NUS, the position is vital in ensuring NUS properly represents Black students and challenges institutional racism. Undermining the Black Students' Officer's powers and influence would be disastrous for Black students. I urge the leaders of NUS to reconsider their proposals."

Dr Benjamin Zephaniah said: "After years of struggling to get young Black people represented at all levels of higher education the NUS should be respecting and supporting Black students who are facing racism, harassment and prejudice in schools, colleges and universities. It saddens and disappoints me to see that instead of encouraging representation they are sidelining the Black Students Officer, which in real terms means that many of the needs and concerns of Black students will be ignored. This is a step backwards."

Diane Abbott MP said: "NUS should be actively encouraging more Black students to participate in its activities, but instead these proposals will shut out many Black students from key decisions in NUS. With Black people shockingly under-represented in Parliament, and in other powerful positions in society, NUS should be acting to strengthen, not weaken the position of Black students in its leadership."

Simon Wooley, Director, OBV said: "On the day that people around the world will be celebrating the inauguration on the first Black US President, Barack Obama, the NUS leadership are showing scant regard for Black representation."

Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy, NUS Black Students' Officer said: "We are extremely concerned at NUS' refusal to wait for the findings of an Equality Impact Assessment before adopting a new Constitution. In November NUS made a public commitment to conduct an impact assessment, but now it is backtracking by scheduling a vote on the new Constitution before an Equality Impact Assessment has even been commissioned. The concerns of Black students about a reduction in our representation and participation in NUS have been ignored as the leaders of NUS seek to rush through this fundamental decision without proper consideration."

The full text of the statement is copied below:

"We are deeply concerned at the National Union of Students (NUS) decision to proceed with adopting a new Constitution before an Equality Impact Assessment on the proposals has reported.

The NUS Black Students' Campaign has expressed strong concerns that Black students' representation and participation in NUS will be reduced if the new Constitution is introduced. The LGBT Campaign has also expressed concern at the proposals. Both have called for an Equality Impact Assessment to be conducted to identify the impact of the new Constitution on Black, Disabled, LGBT and Women students.

Equalities legislation, including the Race Relations (Amendment) Act, Gender Equality Duty and Disability Discrimination Act, recognises the need for regular Equality Impact Assessments to identify any discrimination in an organisation's policies and procedures.

NUS has announced that an Equality Impact Assessment on its proposed Constitution will be unable to report until March or April 2009, but it still plans to take a decision to implement the new Constitution in January 2009. This would make it impossible for the impact assessment to influence the proposed Constitution before it is adopted, and so would render the entire process almost meaningless.

We call on NUS to ensure no decisions are taken about the proposed Constitution until a full Equality Impact Assessment has been conducted and its findings reported."

2) WES' RESPONSE -

Dear all,



Please find below our official response to an email that we are aware that was sent to many of you earlier today.



Best wishes,



Wes



NUS President Wes Streeting said:

"Claiming that NUS' reform proposals should not be debated until an equality assessment is completed is a cynical political ploy, which has nothing to do with equality and diversity and everything to do with blocking changes which the majority of NUS members have been requesting for years. It is disappointing that some respected political figures have been misled about the intentions of these proposals.

"If the changes to NUS' constitution are passed next Tuesday, they would not be implemented until the summer, which gives plenty of time for an equality assessment to be completed and acted upon.

"The fact remains that the reform proposals actually double the number of dedicated Black Students' representatives on the NUS National Executive, and improve support for our Liberation campaigns. They would also give the Black Students Officer the opportunity to be elected to sit on the management committee of NUS for the first time."

3) BELL'S RESPONSE TO WES -

Dear Wes,


I write to express in the strongest terms my objection to your claim that the Black Students' Campaign's call for an Equality Impact Assessment is, in your own words, "a cynical political ploy."


As you will know, Equality Impact Assessments are recognised by equalities legislation as crucial in identifying and challenging inequality. To suggest those who wish to challenge such inequality and discrimination are engaged in "a cynical political ploy" is offensive.

Your suggestion that those who have voiced their concerns - including Doreen Lawrence OBE, Dr Benjamin Zephaniah, Diane Abbott MP, Cllr Salma Yaqoob and many others - must have been misled is insulting and inaccurate. They, like hundreds of Black students, are expressing legitimate concerns about the rolling back of Black students' representation in our national union.


You will also be aware that published guidance on Equality Impact Assessments stresses that it is important for impact assessments to be conducted, and those affected consulted before a proposed policy is introduced. Your claim that an Equality Impact Assessment can be conducted after a decision on the new Constitution has been taken directly contradicts such advice. In addition, your suggestion that changes will not be implemented until the summer is quite simply false - the proposed schedules would lead to some changes (for example the abolition of regional conferences and nominations for the new National Executive Council) being implemented just days after the Extraordinary Conference meets.


Further, I requested an impact assessment was conducted when I took office in July. My committee made the same request. Clearly a request made in July, when no extraordinary conference had been called to discuss the proposals, cannot be dismissed as an attempt to 'block' changes being made on Tuesday.


Your decision to bar my access to my email account while I was sending this statement to my contacts was reprehensible. You then followed this by sending your statement to what I believe may have been a list of all sabbatical officers in the country and people who attended the last extraordinary conference. Your claim to want a proper debate on the proposed Constitution rings hollow when you act to block me from communicating with students, while using the powers of your office to send a statement rubbishing the concerns of the Black students' campaign. If you are truly interested in a full and fair debate, why not send the Black Students' Campaign statement to the contacts who have received your statement, and allow them to make up their own minds?


I have copied this email to my committee. We feel that your actions show complete contempt for our concerns about the new Constitution. It is your right to disagree with us, Wes, but to accuse us (and the LGBT committee, who also advocate an Impact Assessment) of 'a cynical political ploy' when all we are doing is asking for a procedure designed to challenge institutional discrimination, is disgraceful and brings NUS into disrepute. Expect many members of the Black Community to be furious at your comments.


Bell

4) BELL'S SECOND EMAIL ABOUT THE SCANDALOUS BLOCKING OF HER EMAIL ACCOUNT AND BLACKBERRY SERVICES

Dear Wes,


Further to our telephone conversation, I write to convey my strongest possible objection to the action you have taken to suspend my access to my NUS email account and my Blackberry service.


You have acknowledged this was in response to my sending out an email - which outlined Black students' concerns at the governance review - in accordance with Black students' campaign policy.


Such actions constitute a direct attack on the autonomy of the Black students' campaign. As Black Students' Officer I am accountable to Black students, and for you to disrupt my work in carrying out Black Students' Campaign policy is absolutely unacceptable and a violation of our autonomy as a liberation campaign.


It is also completely unacceptable for you to take such action without following any formal procedure. I was not even informed that this action had been taken until I telephoned!


I have copied my committee into this email and the rest of the NEC, and ask that you explain to myself and the committee why you believed it was appropriate to disconnect my email account. Please note that sending an email to contacts I have collected and those which are publicly available in the NUS Directory, does not constitute grounds for barring my access to my email account or for claiming that I have broken any protocols. Moreover any issues could have been dealt with by giving me a phone call. To say that you did not have the time to do this is an unacceptable response when you had the time to call IT services to suspend my accounts and to send a write and send a statement to a wide database of people.

I ask that you give your assurances that this will never happen again, and you issue a written apology for these reprehensible actions.

Bell

Continued: NUS Black Students' Officer condemns the failure of the NUS National Executive to condemn the slaughter in Gaza

please circulate widely

NUS Black Students' Officer condemns the failure of the NUS National Executive to condemn the slaughter in Gaza
 
As Israel's overwhelming military attack on the people of Gaza continues with devastating consequences, NUS should do all it can to support those working to end the military onslaught.
 
Unfortunately, at an NUS National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Wednesday, a majority of NEC members refused to clearly oppose Israel's overwhelming acts of military aggression and commit NUS to taking action to bring an end to the violence in Gaza.
 
Instead NUS NEC has adopted a policy that fails entirely to acknowledge the disproportionate, brutal slaughter of the people of Gaza, the fact that over 1000 Palestinians, including at least 322 children, have died since the conflict began, and the humanitarian crisis that has developed in Gaza with its borders sealed imprisoning the population and reducing supplies of essential medicines, fuel and food to far below the minimum necessary.
 
The NES NEC has also failed to support any of the protests called in opposition to the war in Gaza, failing to represent the views of the great majority of British students who are horrified by the carnage they see every day on TV. 
 
Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy, NUS Black Students' Officer said: "The position of the NUS NEC is in stark contrast to the views expressed by United Nations officials, British MPs, the British trade union movement, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, UNICEF and numerous aid agencies.
 
On Wednesday the UN special rapporteur for the Palestinian Territories, Richard Falk, stated that "There is a well-grounded view that both the initial attacks on Gaza and the tactics being used by Israel are serious violations of the UN charter, the Geneva conventions, international law and international humanitarian law."
 
Over 100 MPs have signed a motion which "expresses outrage at Israel's overwhelmingly disproportionate use of force in Gaza which continues to inflict massive civilian casualties, particularly amongst children and which has involved strikes on aid convoys, United Nations schools and medical personnel." MPs have called for meaningful action to be taken – including calling for an arms embargo, and for the EU to demonstrate that its trade agreement with Israel is conditional on Israel respecting human rights.
 
The European Union has also taken action, suspending further negotiations on upgrading its relations with Israel, as the head of the European Commission delegation to Israel suggested it was "not appropriate" to continue discussions while Israel was "using its war means in a very dramatic, in a powerful way in Gaza."
 
Over 570 Jewish signatories have placed an advert in The Times, calling for action, including an immediate ceasefire, end to the blockade, investigation into possible war crimes, the suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement and an arms embargo to Israel.
 
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. Yesterday the headquarters of the United Nations refugee agency (UNRWA) in Gaza was bombed by what UNRWA believe to be white phosphorus shells.  The use of white phosphorus as a weapon is prohibited under international law.
 
Already a majority of Gaza's residents have no clean water, electricity supplies are limited, and meagre supplies of food and medical equipment are being exhausted.
 
I do not believe the NUS NEC is representing the views of the great majority of British students when it blankly refuses to condemn the slaughter of civilians by Israel and demand their withdrawal and an end to the blockade of Gaza. Any student, student union or society opposed to NUS NEC's position on this issue should email Wes Streeting, NUS National President (wes.streeing@nus.org.uk), and urge him to ensure NUS reconsiders its approach.
 
Students should also participate in local protests being organised across the country every weekend, including on Saturday 17th January, and many other occasions bringing their banners to show where students really stand on this issue. They can also pass motions in their students' unions calling for an immediate ceasefire, the lifting of Israel's blockade and for NUS NEC to adopt this policy and support public protests."
 
 Please find below copies of the motions discussed at Wednesday's NEC meeting – the first motion is the one submitted by myself and two other NEC members, which was rejected. The second motion is the one adopted by NUS.
 
End the humanitarian crisis in Gaza for an immediate ceasefire and end to the siege [This motion was rejected by NUS]
 
NEC Believes:
1. Over 770 Palestinians have been killed during the first thirteen days of Israel's military offensive in Gaza, and over 3000 more have been injured. 4 Israelis have been killed and 32 injured by Hamas rocket attacks.
2. On Tuesday 6th January over 40 Palestinians were killed when an Israeli air strike hit a United Nations school. Earlier that day three people were killed when another UN school was attacked. On Sunday 28th December the Islamic University of Gaza was attacked, destroying buildings housing laboratories and other educational facilities and severely disrupting the education of over 20,000 students.
3. Israel's air-strikes and ground invasion have created what the International Committee of the Red Cross has described as a "full-blown humanitarian crisis". The United Nations, and several aid organisations have also warned of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Over a million Palestinians are denied access to electricity and clean water, and Save the Children has reported a "severe shortage of food." The World Bank has warned of a public health crisis, as almost the entire population of Gaza has been left without clean water, and the sewage system is on the brink of collapse.
4. This humanitarian crisis currently faced by the Palestinian people of Gaza is exacerbated by Israel's blockade of Gaza that has continued for over eighteen months. The blockade prevents people moving freely in and out of Gaza, and prevents vital supplies including food and medicine from reaching the people of Gaza.
5. The UN relief agency Unrwa has been forced to suspend its aid operation, as according to their spokesperson: "Our installations have been hit, our workers have been killed in spite of the fact that the Israeli authorities have the co-ordinates of our facilities and that all our movements are co-ordinated with the Israeli army."
6. The basis for a settlement to the immediate conflict is clear, Israel must end its military attacks, withdraw from Gaza and end the blockade of Gaza allowing normal movement of goods and people and Hamas must ensure that all rocket attacks from Gaza cease.
7. The Universities and Colleges Union has called for an immediate ceasefire, and for Israel to lift its blockade of Gaza.
8. Tens of thousands of people protested against the attacks on national demonstrations supported by the Northern TUC, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Tony Benn, Ken Livingstone, Annie Lennox, Alexei Sayle, Brian Eno and many others.
 
NEC resolves:
1. To call for an immediate ceasefire - an end to Israel's attack on Gaza and an end to Hamas rocket attacks – and for an end to Israel's siege of Gaza.
2. To support the demonstrations calling for an end to Israel's attack on Gaza, and circulate information on these demonstrations to Constituent Members.
 
Supporting our members in international conflict [This motion was passed by NUS]
 
NEC Believes:
1.            The ongoing crisis in the Middle East is a tragedy which must be stopped through peaceful resolution and an end to violence.
2.            Although the Middle East conflict is one of the most complicated and difficult in the world there are peace initiatives in place which could bring about an end to the violence with enough commitment from all parties.
3.            The victims in this conflict are the moderate innocent civilians on both sides who overwhelmingly support peace based on a two-state solution. 
4.            The conflict in the Middle East stirs up great emotion across the world and that is often translated onto campuses across the United Kingdom. 
5.            No international situation should result in a racist backlash in this country and we have a responsibility to protect our members from any such racism. 
6.            NUS President Wes Streeting was correct in saying that "we shouldn't pretend that NUS can speak with one voice on the complexities of this conflict." 
7.            The situation in Gaza is changing on a daily basis
8.            This conflict should not be characterised as Jewish people versus Muslim people
 
 NEC Further Believes:
1.            There must be an immediate ceasefire including an end to Hamas rockets and the Israeli military operation with the aim of re-starting the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
2.            The loss of innocent life on both sides of this conflict is tragic and world leaders have a responsibility to ensure that this senseless loss of life is brought to an end in both the short and long term.
3.            Both sides should do all they can to ensure the right to education
4.            Education can and should play a vital role in bringing about a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
5.            That Hamas is a terror organisation as defined by, amongst others, the European Union, and that is has consistently opposed peace initiatives in the Middle East preferring instead the path of violence based on vicious anti-Semitism. They are banned by the UK Government
6.            There has been an unacceptable rise in anti-Semitic incidents during the current round of fighting
7.            NUS must do all it can to avoid any sort of racist backlash or deteriorating relations between groups of students as a result of an international conflict. 
 
NEC Resolves:
1. For the NEC to officially endorse the statement on the NUS website and the comments made by National President Wes Streeting. It reads
We call for an immediate ceasefire - an end to both Israel's military operation and to Hamas rocket attacks. 
NUS also condemns the significant disruption to education that has been caused by the conflict to both Israelis and Palestinians. The right to education is a human right as stated in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and it's a right we must defend. Education will be central to finding a peaceful resolution in the Middle East.
Deeply concerned
Wes Streeting, NUS National President said: "We are deeply concerned with the escalating violence in the Gaza strip and Southern Israel and the devastating impact on the innocent Palestinians and Israelis who have lost friends and loved ones and those who live in fear. World leaders must pull out all the stops and pile on the pressure to bring peace and security to the region in both the short and long term.
We stand in solidarity with Israeli and Palestinian students in calling a for an immediate ceasefire - an end to Hamas rocket attacks and the Israeli military operation and a fair, just and lasting peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people."
Support
If you are an Israeli or Palestinian student at a UK institution affected by this crisis, please contact your local students' union for support or contact NUS to seek further guidance and support. 
2.            To re-affirm our commitment to a peaceful two-state solution in the Middle East and doing all we can as a national union to support those involved in dialogue and negotiations and to oppose those who try to derail them.
3.            To publicly condemn incidents of anti-Semitism and support those students who have been affected.
4.            To support our members who are directly affected by the conflict either through their inability to leave the region or who face a backlash on campus because of their nationality, religion or race.
5.            To write to the President of the Stop the War Coalition, as a fee paying affiliate, and express our concern over some of the anti-Semitic actions, chanting and placards which we have witnessed at recently organised StWC demonstrations

Further response to Wes from Bell

I write to express in the strongest terms my objection to your claim that the Black Students' Campaign's call for an Equality Impact Assessment is, in your own words, "a cynical political ploy."

As you will know, Equality Impact Assessments are recognised by equalities legislation as crucial in identifying and challenging inequality. To suggest those who wish to challenge such inequality and discrimination are engaged in "a cynical political ploy" is offensive.

Your suggestion that those who have voiced their concerns - including Doreen Lawrence OBE, Dr Benjamin Zephaniah, Diane Abbott MP, Cllr Salma Yaqoob and many others - must have been misled is insulting and inaccurate. They, like hundreds of Black students, are expressing legitimate concerns about the rolling back of Black students' representation in our national union.

You will also be aware that published guidance on Equality Impact Assessments stresses that it is important for impact assessments to be conducted, and those affected consulted before a proposed policy is introduced. Your claim that an Equality Impact Assessment can be conducted after a decision on the new Constitution has been taken directly contradicts such advice. In addition, your suggestion that changes will not be implemented until the summer is quite simply false - the proposed schedules would lead to some changes (for example the abolition of regional conferences and nominations for the new National Executive Council) being implemented just days after the Extraordinary Conference meets.

Further, I requested an impact assessment was conducted when I took office in July. My committee made the same request. Clearly a request made in July, when no extraordinary conference had been called to discuss the proposals, cannot be dismissed as an attempt to 'block' changes being made on Tuesday.

Your decision to bar my access to my email account while I was sending this statement to my contacts was reprehensible. You then followed this by sending your statement to what I believe may have been a list of all sabbatical officers in the country and people who attended the last extraordinary conference. Your claim to want a proper debate on the proposed Constitution rings hollow when you act to block me from communicating with students, while using the powers of your office to send a statement rubbishing the concerns of the Black students' campaign. If you are truly interested in a full and fair debate, why not send the Black Students' Campaign statement to the contacts who have received your statement, and allow them to make up their own minds?


I have copied this email to my committee. We feel that your actions show complete contempt for our concerns about the new Constitution. It is your right to disagree with us, Wes, but to accuse us (and the LGBT committee, who also advocate an Impact Assessment) of 'a cynical political ploy' when all we are doing is asking for a procedure designed to challenge institutional discrimination, is disgraceful and brings NUS into disrepute. Expect many members of the Black Community to be furious at your comments.

Wes's response

Dear all,
Please find below our official response to an email that we are aware that was sent to many of you earlier today.

Best wishes, Wes

NUS President Wes Streeting said:

"Claiming that NUS' reform proposals should not be debated until an equality assessment is completed is a cynical political ploy, which has nothing to do with equality and diversity and everything to do with blocking changes which the majority of NUS members have been requesting for years. It is disappointing that some respected political figures have been misled about the intentions of these proposals.

"If the changes to NUS' constitution are passed next Tuesday, they would not be implemented until the summer, which gives plenty of time for an equality assessment to be completed and acted upon.

"The fact remains that the reform proposals actually double the number of dedicated Black Students' representatives on the NUS National Executive, and improve support for our Liberation campaigns. They would also give the Black Students Officer the opportunity to be elected to sit on the management committee of NUS for the first time."

BELL'S ORIGINAL EMAIL

Doreen Lawrence, Benjamin Zephaniah and Diane Abbott are among those who have united to express concern about the National Union of Students (NUS) proposed new Constitution.

The NUS Black Students' Campaign has launched a statement calling on NUS to delay adopting the new Constitution until an Equality Impact Assessment – which would identify the new Constitution's impact on Black, disabled, lesbian gay, bisexual and trans students (LGBT), and women – has been conducted and reported.

Founding signatories of the statement include Doreen Lawrence OBE, Dr Benjamin Zephaniah, Diane Aboott MP, Cllr Salma Yaqoob, Keith Vaz MP, Operation Black Vote (OBV), Lester Holloway, Editor of The New Nation and Lee Jasper.

In November NUS made a commitment to conduct an Equality Impact Assessment, after being mandated to do so by delegates at NUS Conference. NUS has now announced that the new Constitution will be voted on at a Conference on January 20th, despite the fact that the Equality Impact Assessment has not yet even been commissioned.

The new Constitution would reduce the influence and authority of elected representatives of Black, disabled, LGBT and women students, by removing these Officers from the most powerful decision-making body in NUS. Diversity of participation in the events that determine NUS' policies and priorities would also be undermined by the new Constitution.

Doreen Lawrence OBE said: "I am disappointed to hear that as the 10th anniversary of the Lawrence Inquiry approaches, NUS is planning to roll back Black students' representation. I was proud to support the creation of a Black Students' Officer in NUS, the position is vital in ensuring NUS properly represents Black students and challenges institutional racism. Undermining the Black Students' Officer's powers and influence would be disastrous for Black students. I urge the leaders of NUS to reconsider their proposals."

Dr Benjamin Zephaniah said: "After years of struggling to get young Black people represented at all levels of higher education the NUS should be respecting and supporting Black students who are facing racism, harassment and prejudice in schools, colleges and universities. It saddens and disappoints me to see that instead of encouraging representation they are sidelining the Black Students Officer, which in real terms means that many of the needs and concerns of Black students will be ignored. This is a step backwards."

Diane Abbott MP said: "NUS should be actively encouraging more Black students to participate in its activities, but instead these proposals will shut out many Black students from key decisions in NUS. With Black people shockingly under-represented in Parliament, and in other powerful positions in society, NUS should be acting to strengthen, not weaken the position of Black students in its leadership."

Simon Wooley, Director, OBV said: "On the day that people around the world will be celebrating the inauguration on the first Black US President, Barack Obama, the NUS leadership are showing scant regard for Black representation."

Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy, NUS Black Students' Officer said: "We are extremely concerned at NUS' refusal to wait for the findings of an Equality Impact Assessment before adopting a new Constitution. In November NUS made a public commitment to conduct an impact assessment, but now it is backtracking by scheduling a vote on the new Constitution before an Equality Impact Assessment has even been commissioned. The concerns of Black students about a reduction in our representation and participation in NUS have been ignored as the leaders of NUS seek to rush through this fundamental decision without proper consideration."

The full text of the statement is copied below:

"We are deeply concerned at the National Union of Students (NUS) decision to proceed with adopting a new Constitution before an Equality Impact Assessment on the proposals has reported.

The NUS Black Students' Campaign has expressed strong concerns that Black students' representation and participation in NUS will be reduced if the new Constitution is introduced. The LGBT Campaign has also expressed concern at the proposals. Both have called for an Equality Impact Assessment to be conducted to identify the impact of the new Constitution on Black, Disabled, LGBT and Women students.

Equalities legislation, including the Race Relations (Amendment) Act, Gender Equality Duty and Disability Discrimination Act, recognises the need for regular Equality Impact Assessments to identify any discrimination in an organisation's policies and procedures.

NUS has announced that an Equality Impact Assessment on its proposed Constitution will be unable to report until March or April 2009, but it still plans to take a decision to implement the new Constitution in January 2009. This would make it impossible for the impact assessment to influence the proposed Constitution before it is adopted, and so would render the entire process almost meaningless.

We call on NUS to ensure no decisions are taken about the proposed Constitution until a full Equality Impact Assessment has been conducted and its findings reported."