What is "Dar
al Janub"? Short Briefing: Goals and Activities
of Dar al Janub
The Austrian NGO "Dar al Janub
- Union for Antiracism and Peace Policy"
was founded in October 2003 by Austrian,
Turkish and Arab students.
Its main goals are to push forward
the authentic understanding of the
developments in the southern countries
(so-called "Third World Countries")
and particularly with regard to the
Arab World, to inform the European
public, about the humanitarian and
political reality there, and above
all in Palestine.
Therefore the goal is to improve the
relation between Europe and the Arab
world, by analysing and criticizing
the colonial attitude of Europe.
Regarding the European history of
colonialism and the current relation
between Europe and the Arabic world,
the association mainly focuses to
overcome this cleavage relation and
create an atmosphere of real dialogue
on equal eye-level.
We consider as necessary to show the
authentic viewpoint of the Palestinians
in Europe. The unconsciousness of
the backgrounds and reasons about
the conflict in Palestine, the extent
of the public desensitisation because
of the warped and fragmentary reporting
and the medial underrepresented fate
of the Palestinian People, especially
the Palestinian refugees induce a
contradictory situation:
The European Union appears currently
as an international force, which is
in principal also respected as neutral
and objective on the part of the Arabic
side, but at the same time there are
big gaps within the European public
and the European foreign policy as
for the knowledge of the Palestinian
Society.
Dar al Janub sees its main field of
work to fill this gaps within the
European society.
The developments in Palestine are
strongly influencing our work. Dar
al Janub is trying with his work to
give a contribution to ensure and
push forward the legitimate rights
of the Palestinians, especially the
right for an independent state and
the right for return for the Palestinian
refugees.
On the other side we also want to
give a contribution to the participation
and political empowerment of immigrants
(mainly of Arab origin) in Austria.
The work of Dar al Janub includes
a broad spectrum:
Cooperation with other NGOs and institutions,
conferences, exhibitions, cultural
events talking with and connecting
politicians, decision makers and scientists,
launching petitions, publishing scientific
analyses, writing articles, publishing
books and the journal "Perspektive
Sued", sharing manifestations,…
Examples of Activities
refering peace policy and the Arab
world
June 2010
Panel discussion
in the context of project “Open
Sesame!”:
Racism: Social
structures, scientific constructs
and political practice - a dialog
from different perspectives
Guests:
Araba
Evelyn Johnston-Arthur - Institute
for Political Science - University
of Vienna
Gabriele
Dietze – Institute for cultural
studies, Berlin
Hossam
Shaker - Journalist and author
Photo:
(from left to right) Hossam Shaker,
Gabriele Dietze, Katrin Oberdorfer,
Araba Johnston-Arthur
*
March,
April, June 2010
Project "Open
Sesame!", grant aided by
the Municipal Department 17 for Diversity
and Integration of the City of Vienna.
The main aspect of this project is
the interaction between migrants and
non-migrants in Vienna, to come to
know each other and learn more about
"the others".
Activities among
others:
- Historical Sightseeing
tours in Vienna, history of migration,
racial exclusion and discrimination,
historical places of colonial past.
- Meetings and cultural
activities
- workshops
*
January
2010
"Gaza 2010
- Reports, expertises, analysis: One
year after the Israeli attack on Gaza
strip"
Panel discussion
Guests:
Dr.
Helga Baumgarten – Writer,
political scientist, University
of Birzeit/Ramallah
Hadeel
Ghazzawi – Nutrionist, University
of Vienna
MSP
Pauline McNeill - Member of Scottish
Parliament, member of a delegation
to Gaza, Glasgow
Dr.
Muneer Deeb – Chairperson
of PalMed Germany, Surgeon, Kassel
Hospital
Erwin
Lanc – Former Austrian Home
Secretary, Honorary President
of the International Institute
for Peace, Vienna
Live
connections, interviews and video
messages from the Gaza strip and
the West Bank (inter alia Maryam
Saleh – Palestinian parliamentary
deputy)
Joining "Hope
Convoy" -
Part of The European Campaign to End
the Siege on Gaza - an humanitarian
Convoy of Trucks trying to pass through
Rafah/Egypt
An exhibition about
Palestinian diaspora, historical information
about the Nakba, the project of Palestinian
woman in Lebanon, the humanitaria
*
March
2009
Excursion to Palestine - Westbank
and Israel
Visting Israel's
Palestinian community in Um El-Fahem,
the Palestinian Refugee Camp in Jenin,
the University of Birzeit, ...
Among others we
met Raed Fati, Director of Islamic
Center in Um El-Fahem, Dr. Fawaz Hammad,
Director of Al-Razi Hospital in Jenin,
Mariam Saleh, Member of Palestinian
Legislative Council, Sheikh Hamid
al-Bitawi.
We also tried to enter Gaza-Strip
via Checkpoint Erez and negotiated
unsuccessfully with officials of the
Austrian representation in Ramallah
to assist.
*
December
2008
"The
Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine"
- A Lecture by Dr. Ilan Pappe and
Dr. Roger Heacock
Guests:
Dr.
Ilan Pappe - professor of history
at the University of Exeter in
the UK
Dr.
Roger Heacock - Professor of History
in University of Birzeit
*
April
2008
“Cultur in
Exil” -
Exhibition, lectures, panel discussion
An exhibition about
Palestinian diaspora, historical information
about the Nakba, the project of Palestinian
woman in Lebanon, the humanitarian
situation and the meaning of Palestinian
culture in exil.
Guests:
Dr.Daud
Abdullah - Deputy Secretary General
of the Muslim Council of Britain
Dr.
Andrea Komlosy - Professor of Economic
& Social History, University
of Vienna
MEP
Dr.Hannes Swoboda - Social Democratic
Party of Austria
Dr.
Ali Hweidi - secretary general of
the Palestinian NGO “Thabit”
Anas
Shakfeh - President of Muslim Community
in Austria
Fritz
Edlinger - Society For Austrian
Arab Relationship
Paula Abrams-Hourani
- Jewish Voice for Peace Vienna and
Women in Black Vienna
Marwan
Abado - Musician
Details: Palestinian
Woman Center for Embroidery and Handicrafts
- A Project of Thabit»
*
September
2007
Lecture “The
Situation in the Palestinian Refugee
Camp Naher el Bared” humanitarian
situation and political valiation
of the developments in Lebanon
Lecture by Dr. Ali
Hweidi - secretary general of the
Palestinian NGO “Palestinian
Organization for the Right of Return”
*
March
2007
Symposium „Bridges
to Palestine” – On the Humanitarian
And Political Situation After The
Imposed Sanctions On The Palestinian
People.
More than one year after the imposed
sanctions against Palestinian people
the humanitarian situation in Palestine
is disastrous. The USA and European
Union blocked all humanitarian aid
and implemented a collective punishment
against all Palestinians because of
their democratic choice. While Israel
continued its policy of occupation,
committed humanitarian crimes, killed
innocent people the USA and European
Union demanded at the same time to
recognize the politics of a state
that is constantly breaking international
law. The continuation of the policy
of boycott is targeting the Palestinian
people and undermines the institutions
of civil society which stands by its
side. Palestinians still have hope
that European Union will change its
policy and pursue another course than
the USA. In the focus of the symposium
"Bridges to Palestine" were
possible new perspectives and ways
of development cooperation with the
Palestinian society, which should
open new ways of dialogue between
European Union and Palestine and by
this not letting the Palestinians
be isolated behind walls.
Guests:
Dr.
Ali Hweidi - secretary general of
the Palestinian NGO “Palestinian
Organization for the Right of Return”
Dr.
Ahmed al Kord (via Telephone conference)
- Major of Deir al Balah, Gaza strip
Dr.
Helga Baumgarten - Professor of
Political Science in University
of Birzeit
Ramzy
Baroud - Author, Editor of Palestine
Chronicle, member of Palestinian
Return Center
Gleanings:
Report of the Symposium "Bridges
to Palestine" »
*
December
2006
"Imagine
Palestine …." - presentation
of Palestinian cities. The idea of
this project is to give an impression
about the historical, cultural, agricultural,
economical development in Palestine.
The first represented city was Bethlehem,
a city with a special meaning for
all world religions. During the presentation
of Bethlehem also the problem of the
occupation and the building of the
Wall was exposed. Future planned city-presentations
are Gaza and Ramallah.
*
November
2006
Colloquium
“A Society
behind Bars – The Palestinian
Prisoners in Israeli Jails” about the
humanitarian situation of Palestinian
prisoners
*
April
2006-June 2007
Project “Palestine
– Development Behind Walls”,
grant aided by the Austrian Development
Agency (ADA). The main aspect of this
project is to picture Palestine -
the development inside Palestine and
in the Palestinian Refugee camps,
the political and social aspects of
the Palestinian question - within
Austrian society and show the authentic
viewpoint of Palestinians to the European
public.
*
April
2006
Searching Palestine – Continuity,
end or new beginning of the relations
between the European Union and Palestine
after the governmental change
Considering the
authentic presentation of the present
political reality in Palestine and
respecting the situation, the demands
and the rights of the Palestinian
refugees is a must to define the responsibilities
of the European Union for an active
and just peace and development policy
regarding the Palestinian people.
In the frame of the democratic change
of government in Palestine in the
conference the question was discussed
which tasks the European Union can
take in the dialogue with the Palestinian
Institutions, acknowledging the rights
of the Palestinians and therefore
give a contribution to the stabilization
of the region and the creation of
an independent Palestinian state.
Guests:
MEP
Dr. Hannes Swoboda - Member of European
Parliament
His
excellency Dr. Zuhair al Wazir -
Ambassador of Palestine in Austria
Dr.
Ali Ahmed Hweidi - Palestinian Return
Center
Mag.
Gerhard Pulfer - Austrian Development
Agency
Fritz
Edlinger - Society For Austrian
Arab Relationship
Gleanings: Report
of the Symposium "Searching Palestine"
(Palestinian Return Center)»
*
March
2006
"Damals im Heiligen Land"
(Once upon a time in the Holy Land) Lecture of
the book about Palestine before Nakba
by Klaus Pohlken (Berlin), writer
of the book. In Cooperation with the
Society for Austrian Arab Relations
(www.saar.at)
*
March
2006
The Right on Water - the monopolization
of water resources as part of the
dominance over the Arab World with Dr. Sahar
Haridy (University Cairo) and Klaus
Polkehn (Journalist), talking about
the water problem in Palestine
*
August
2005
Delegation to the Palestinian Refugee
camps in Lebanon in Cooperation
with the Palestinian Return Center,
London.
Among others we
met Sultan Abu Alaynen, representative
of PLO in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, representative
of Hamas in Lebanon, Richard Cook,
Director of UNRWA in Lebanon, Quassam
Aina, Beit Atfal Assumud, and Marwan
Faris, Member of Lebanese Parliament.
The experiences, photos and information
have been published through several
presentation events in Vienna, Linz
and Hamburg. The articles and interviews
of the delegation are collected in
the German language publication. "…and
where is Palestine? A delegation to
the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon"
(ISBN: 3-9502184-0-8)
Related Link: Palestinian Return Center
(arabic)(english)
*
July
2005
The Arab World in the contradictions
of present world policy Orientalism,
Globalization and development in the
Arab world Shadows over
Lebanon Dangers, Perspectives
and the situation of the Palestinian
refugees
Seminars with Prof. Karam Khella
*
June
2005
The White House and its black dungeons
- Panel Discussion
about the systematically torture and
violating international law in the
worldwide US-war
Guests:
Dr.
Yvonne Schmidt - University Graz
Dr.
Leo Gabriel - Ludwig Boltzmann Institute,
Vienna
Dr.
Andrea Plaschke - Psychologist,
Klagenfurt
*
May
2004
Manifestation remembering the anniversary
of Al Nakba in Vienna
*
April
2004
Aidun! Life and hope of the Palestinian
refugees
Exhibition and conference
in cooperation with the Palestinian
Immigrants Union in Vienna (Exhibition
from pictures of refugee camps, edited
by Palestinian Return Center, London)
Guests among others:
Dr.
Helga Baumgarten - University of
Birzeit
Dr.
Arafat Madi, Palestinian Return
Center, London
Dr.
Mahmoud Issa, Al-Awda-coalition,
Denmark
In addition Dar
al Janub is organizing courses for
German language for immigrants, courses
in Arab language, showing films, organizing
cultural events and ceremonies, which
should push forward the participation
of immigrants and the dialogue between
the different cultures living in Austria.
We are pleased to
answer any further questions about
our NGO or to get in contact
Contact:
Dar al Janub - Union for Antiracism
and Peace Policy
Kleistgasse 8/3
A-1030 Vienna
Austria
+43 (0) 676 / 78-93-413
Website: www.dar-al-janub.net
e-mail: union@dar-al-janub.net
