Action Item: Thank the TUI for passing a motion calling for an academic boycott of Israel!
UPDATE 11/04/2013: We know many of you have already taken the time to thank the TUI for their principled stance, but their has been a lot of negative messages from the usual sources too. If you have not done so, please take two minutes to send a short message of support; showing our solidarity with the TUI and the Palestinian people is really of the utmost importance right now. Thank you!
At its Annual Congress last week, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) became the first academic union in Europe to endorse the Palestinian call for an academic boycott of Israel. The motion, which passed unanimously, refers to Israel as an “apartheid state” and calls for “all members to cease all cultural and academic collaboration with Israel, including the [institutional] exchange of scientists, students and academic personalities, as well as all cooperation in research programmes”.
Palestinian academics, teachers and writers have already expressed their support for this motion, but it is important that you do so too. Why? It’s probable that the TUI will face a massive backlash from domestic and international apologists for Israeli apartheid for taking this principled stand in solidarity with Palestinians, and messages expressing support for this move are important to counter this.
HOW DO I THANK THE TUI?
We ask you to go to the TUI website and use the contact form there (use a valid email address, put your location or union where it says ‘branch/area’, and your message where it says ‘request’) to send a short message of support – even something as simple as
“I am writing to thank the TUI for taking a principled stand for peace and justice in Palestine and Israel. You have my full support for your stance in favour an academic boycott of Israel.”
It will only take one minute to do – so please take the time to do so! Many thanks.
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