Brunel students' union passed a motion on 30 October 2014 to
implement a boycott of Israeli and international companies which are deemed to
"profit from the violation of Palestinian rights".
http://www.kingdombrunel.com/campus/in-depth-brunel-braces-for-bds-motion-challenge/
We believe that the Union's primary purpose must be student welfare within the
university. This issue is both controversial and divisive. Both Jewish and
Israeli students will feel less than welcome anywhere accepting that the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict is tantamount to apartheid, or as easily solved.
This motion is in contravention of the Union's own constitution -
"The Union will seek at all times to:
(i) pursue its aims and objectives independent of any political party or
religious group;
and
(ii) pursue an active equal opportunities and diversity policy to ensure
that equal access is available to all members of whatever origin or orientation
and to prevent any members from being disadvantaged through direct or
indirect discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, race, sexuality,
disability, religion, religious belief, HIV status or political belief."
[Emphasis by the author].
When students wish to campaign on any issue, there is already a forum for them to do so: societies. The Union should support both the Friends of Palestine and a Friends of Israel society when they campaign about issues, rather than taking sides and alienating students.
Boycotts are also an ineffective method of achieving lasting change. They cause
disengagement with the international community and promote isolation and desperation.
Engagementwith both sides, taking care to consider all points of view, is
the only way to build a lasting peace, or makes steps towards this.
A motion of this type suppresses debate and by its very nature excludes
students from the place they should feel most welcome and able to raise their
voices. We ask that the BDS motion be reversed at the earliest opportunity.
Updates
November 4, 2014
The feedback I have received from students reflects a genuine concern regarding the current direction of the Union. I am currently reviewing the governing documents to prepare a formal submission that highlights the contradictions within the recent motion.
November 4, 2014
The momentum behind this petition highlights a significant desire among our community to return the focus of the Union to student welfare. It is heartening to see so many individuals advocating for a neutral space where all students feel welcome regardless of their heritage or political perspective.
10 Comments
I'm signing this because it very evident if you scratch just below the surface that the BDS is primarily motivated by hatred of Israel not by any sense of actually wanting to really help Palestinians.
boycotts divide. The whole of university is freedom of expression. Why should those who want the choice to buy Israeli goods be stopped on an unrepresentative vote which most students didn't have a say in. Also the best solution for peace is for Israelis and Palestinians to work together, boycotts work against this as they are divisive.
boycotts do nothing for or help the palestinians
BDS creates a toxic climate in which attacks of the nature that happened recently in Glasgow will become commonplace. End BDS.
A boycott didn't bring an end to apartheid in South Africa...
This motion is in contravention of the Union's own constitution - "The Union will seek at all times to: (i) pursue its aims and objectives independent of any political party or religious group; and (ii) pursue an active equal opportunities and diversity policy to ensure that equal access is available to all members of whatever origin or orientation and to prevent any members from being disadvantaged through direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, race, sexuality, disability, religion, religious belief, HIV status or political belief." [Emphasis by the author].
There is no vioation of a country or people who do not exist.
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Brunel students' union passed a motion on 30 October 2014 to
implement a boycott of Israeli and international companies which are deemed to
"profit from the violation of Palestinian rights".
http://www.kingdombrunel.com/campus/in-depth-brunel-braces-for-bds-motion-challenge/
We believe that the Union's primary purpose must be student welfare within the
university. This issue is both controversial and divisive. Both Jewish and
Israeli students will feel less than welcome anywhere accepting that the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict is tantamount to apartheid, or as easily solved.
This motion is in contravention of the Union's own constitution -
"The Union will seek at all times to:
(i) pursue its aims and objectives independent of any political party or
religious group;
and
(ii) pursue an active equal opportunities and diversity policy to ensure
that equal access is available to all members of whatever origin or orientation
and to prevent any members from being disadvantaged through direct or
indirect discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, race, sexuality,
disability, religion, religious belief, HIV status or political belief."
[Emphasis by the author].
When students wish to campaign on any issue, there is already a forum for them to do so: societies. The Union should support both the Friends of Palestine and a Friends of Israel society when they campaign about issues, rather than taking sides and alienating students.
Boycotts are also an ineffective method of achieving lasting change. They cause
disengagement with the international community and promote isolation and desperation.
Engagementwith both sides, taking care to consider all points of view, is
the only way to build a lasting peace, or makes steps towards this.
A motion of this type suppresses debate and by its very nature excludes
students from the place they should feel most welcome and able to raise their
voices. We ask that the BDS motion be reversed at the earliest opportunity.
Updates
November 4, 2014
The feedback I have received from students reflects a genuine concern regarding the current direction of the Union. I am currently reviewing the governing documents to prepare a formal submission that highlights the contradictions within the recent motion.
November 4, 2014
The momentum behind this petition highlights a significant desire among our community to return the focus of the Union to student welfare. It is heartening to see so many individuals advocating for a neutral space where all students feel welcome regardless of their heritage or political perspective.
10 Comments
This motion is in contravention of the Union's own constitution - "The Union will seek at all times to: (i) pursue its aims and objectives independent of any political party or religious group; and (ii) pursue an active equal opportunities and diversity policy to ensure that equal access is available to all members of whatever origin or orientation and to prevent any members from being disadvantaged through direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, race, sexuality, disability, religion, religious belief, HIV status or political belief." [Emphasis by the author].
I'm signing this because it very evident if you scratch just below the surface that the BDS is primarily motivated by hatred of Israel not by any sense of actually wanting to really help Palestinians.
boycotts divide. The whole of university is freedom of expression. Why should those who want the choice to buy Israeli goods be stopped on an unrepresentative vote which most students didn't have a say in. Also the best solution for peace is for Israelis and Palestinians to work together, boycotts work against this as they are divisive.
boycotts do nothing for or help the palestinians
BDS creates a toxic climate in which attacks of the nature that happened recently in Glasgow will become commonplace. End BDS.
A boycott didn't bring an end to apartheid in South Africa...
This motion is in contravention of the Union's own constitution - "The Union will seek at all times to: (i) pursue its aims and objectives independent of any political party or religious group; and (ii) pursue an active equal opportunities and diversity policy to ensure that equal access is available to all members of whatever origin or orientation and to prevent any members from being disadvantaged through direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, race, sexuality, disability, religion, religious belief, HIV status or political belief." [Emphasis by the author].
There is no vioation of a country or people who do not exist.
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This motion is in contravention of the Union's own constitution - "The Union will seek at all times to: (i) pursue its aims and objectives independent of any political party or religious group; and (ii) pursue an active equal opportunities and diversity policy to ensure that equal access is available to all members of whatever origin or orientation and to prevent any members from being disadvantaged through direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, race, sexuality, disability, religion, religious belief, HIV status or political belief." [Emphasis by the author].