It's Israel Apartheid Week - What can we do as an Individual?

"Overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Like Slavery and Apartheid, poverty is not natural. It is man-made and can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. Sometimes it falls on a generation to  be great. YOU can be that generation. Let your greatness blossom..." ~ Nelson Mandela

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Beneficient

Hello readers.

It's Israel Apartheid Week. I am doing my bit for my angel Aisha. So I shall spread awareness on products that sources and helps Palestinian SME's.

First, I am going to take you to Canaan Fairtrade Palestine website.

The page provides information on what products are available directly sourced from Palestine and Palestinian farmers and SMEs.

It also provides information on what companies have been brave enough to partner with Palestinian SME's as source ingredients for their products.

Lastly, but also most importantly, it provides which shops carry products from Palestine SME's around the world.

Your next question would be of course, are there any companies in Malaysia brave enough to openly support and sell products from Palestine, right?

YES, there is. I list down these links for your benefit:-

1. Canaan Fairtrade Malaysia; and

2. Al-Masoud Trading FB page [if the link does not work, type Al Masoud Trading in FB search].

Remember friends, other things that you can do are:-

1. Support the products that are supporting the Palestinian SMEs;

2. Do not buy products that contribute to apartheid [Go to buycott where you can scan barcodes to see how the products you are choosing fare on the international human rights scene]; and

3. Focus on helping our own local homegrown products in Malaysia. With the signing of TPPA, our local SMEs need our help more than ever. New restrictions and/or requirements and the future influx of our already foreign flooded market shelves will make them almost impossible to survive in time.

A lot of people say that one person will never make a difference. This is simply NOT true. I was ONE person who chose to sponsor angel Aisha's education and life in Gaza, and I made a difference in HER life until she was killed.

Can you imagine if 100 people sponsored a child? 100 children's lives will be different. 

YOU can do this by making minor changes in eating and shopping and dressing habits .

Baby steps.

I have practised my BDS lifestyle since Aisha died in 2012. 

I have not looked back since.  

Join me. Join us. Join the movement.

Gravity

"I have dreamt in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the colour of my mind. And this is one; I'm going to tell it - but take care not to smile at any part of it..." ~ Emily Bronte

In the name of Allah, the Benevolent, the most Merciful.

At the outset, I must say that this post is about Akif and Aisha...

I have not written about them in so long. And I find not writing makes it heavy. The weight of keeping everything inside, its heavy.

I stumbled along this song, and it immediately gave me flashbacks of my angel son and angel daughter. Sometimes, how you feel, words just fall short. And it takes a song, or its melody to express it for you.

Something always brings me back to you

It never takes too long

No matter what I say or do

I still feel you here until the moment I'm gone

You hold me without touch

You keep me without chains

I've never wanted anything so much

Than to drown in your love and not feel your rain

Set me free

Leave me be

I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity

Here I am and I stand so tall

Just the way I'm supposed to be

But you're on to me and all over me

You loved me because I'm fragile

When I thought that I was strong

But you touch me for a little while

All my fragile strength is gone

Set me free

Leave me be

I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity

Here I am and I stand so tall

Just the way I'm supposed to be

But you're on to me and all over me

I live here on my knees

As I try to make you see

That you're everything I think I need

Here on the ground

You're neither friend or foe

Though I can't seem to let you go

One thing that I know

Is that you're keeping me down

Keeping me down

You're on to me

On to me

On to me

All over

Something always brings me back to you

It never takes too long..

Mama misses you Akif

Ummi misses you Aisha

More than anyone could know or imagine...

Boycott Israel 2014 - Part 2

"Despair is typical of those who do not understand the causes of evil, see no way out, and are incapable of struggle" ~ Vladimir Lenin

My dearest angel Aisha,

My heart bleeds for you and for the land you call home. Sacred to many it is. So much so, it has caused endless bloodshed. So much so, it cost you yours. When you died, a portion of my heart was taken away, broken by grief, never to be the same again.

You taught me that I can love a child, not of my flesh and blood as much as I would love my own. You taught me never to be afraid of death, because you said it was inevitable and because there is a life beyond it. You taught me to love, cherish and appreciate my country and home because you and your brethren in Palestine would give up everything to have what people in Malaysia take for granted, and that is 'peace'.

It was a sleepless night for me yesterday because I knew that it was rumoured that 3 Israeli soldiers have gone missing. They blame the Palestinians. 

The Israelis have vowed to kill a Palestinian every hour until these 3 are found. 

4 hours ago, the attacks have not ceased. I bite my nails and wait for news on the websites I follow. Electronic Intifada, Aman Palestin, Palestine Solidarity Campaign. 

My boycott remains strong Aisha. It has become my way of life. I check labels, read updates on the boycott in the BDS Campaign. 

Your blood runs in my veins, you are my family, the ties I have made and vowed to keep and I will not rest until your land is free. 

I remember asking you 'what do you want most from Ummi for your birthday?' to which you replied 'Your doa Ummi. Your doa. It is the most powerful weapon wielded by people here. I am not afraid to die. No one here is. I embrace it. It is a dream to me. What awaits me on the other side is 1000 thousand times better than whatever I have here. But I am not dead yet. So I shall live Ummi. Pray for my life, my land and pray for a glorious death for me if I should die'.

My family, my friends meet me and say 'Idza you are strong' after what I have been through. But you Aisha, you were courage personified. I was in awe. I felt ashamed. But most of all, I felt immense and overwhelming love towards you and the land you were willing to die for.

Readers, please join us. Here is where you can help:-

 www.palestinecampaign.org/join 

https://www.facebook.com/AmanPalestinOfficial?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/electronicintifada?fref=ts

https://www.facebook.com/harryfear?fref=ts

http://www.inminds.com/

http://www.bdsmovement.net/

Aisha, I will  never forget.

Palestine will be free. On my blood and yours.