cultural boycott

American poet, activist and teacher Adrienne Rich passed away yesterday at age 82.

Batsheva Dance Company, identified by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs as “the best known global ambassador of Israeli culture,” has faced protests throughout its ongoing US tour.

The Embassy of Israel in Washington, DC and PFLAG (Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays) will host Anat Avissar, the foreign policy director of The Israeli Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Association (The Aguda) for an “informal conversation” this Wednesday on the topic of “equality” and “the cultural differences that impact support, education and advocacy in Israel.”

US boycott campaigners encourage colleagues to refuse complicity with Cornell University’s partnership with Israel’s Technion Institute, Veolia loses yet another contract in London, dozens of musicians refused to perform in Israel in 2011 while the cultural boycott campaign gears up for a new year, and more.

Punk musicians and activists declare that “racism ain’t punk!” and officially launch their new boycott activism network.

The Palestine Solidarity Group-Chicago recently protested the opening night of the Israeli film festival — dubbed the REAL Israel Film Festival. Protesters highlighted how Israel uses culture to try to whitewash its war crimes, occupation and apartheid.

In a new article made available today by the journal Jerusalem Quarterly, activist and The Electronic Intifada contributor Hannah Mermelstein discusses a lesser known part of the ethnic cleansing of Palestine — the attempted annihilation of the Palestinian nation through cultural theft and destruction.