Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace, joins our host Chris Orme for the first episode of Season 3. Mae and Chris discuss different forms of advocacy, as well the spiritual formation that takes place through advocacy.
The following is a transcript of Season 3 Episode 1 of the Do Justice podcast. It has been lightly edited for clarity. Listen and subscribe on your favourite listening app.
A few weeks ago, the Jerusalem District Court ruled that at least six families must vacate their homes in Sheik Jarrah by Sunday, May 1, 2021. In total, 58 Palestinians living in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, including 17 children, are being displaced so that Jewish settlers may take possession of their homes. The ruling of the court was the culmination of the decades-long struggle for Palestinians to stay in their homes that I witnessed on that tour bus back in 2009.
Join CMEP’s Director of Communications and Tim McHugh from Friends Committee on National Legislation for a media training where you’ll learn tips for getting your letter to the editor or oped published in your local paper.
An LTE amplifies your voice, moving others to act. They can reward a member of Congress or raise objections. Either way, officials take notice when mentioned in their local paper.
Learn The Simple Tips To Getting Published with Tim McHugh from FCNL.
Tim McHugh leads organizational efforts to communicate about issues, victories, priorities, and updates through all available news channels – specifically the major media outlets. He is responsible for providing FCNL staff with opportunities to convey our message – in print and through the airways – to the public and throughout the country. He keeps FCNL issues and staff on the collective radars of reporters and journalists nationwide. Lastly, he runs FCNL several media-focused social media channels.
Tim joined FCNL in the spring of 2018. He has been working in Washington on environmental policy-based communications and issue advocacy for over 15 years.
*Why is CMEP asking for donations for these events?
Due to Covid-19 all of our in-person programming has been canceled since March 2020 and this will continue to be the norm until at least Fall 2021. As a nonprofit advocacy organization, our advocacy summits and other events are one of the main streams of income we have as an organization. CMEP Journeys is our attempt to offer creative and interesting opportunities to our community. We understand that the cost can be prohibitive for some which is why we are asking for “suggested donation” amounts as we do not want to exclude anyone.
Join CMEP and OneVoice for a discussion on the Israeli political system with an emphasis on the upcoming Israeli election. Israel will hold its fourth election in two years on March 23.
The Israeli Political System & Political Map webinar covers the parliamentary and electoral system, the current make-up of political parties, what they each stand for, and how that takes shape on the ground. This program serves as a timely tool to better understand the Israeli political landscape, as Israel will hold elections for the fourth time in two years this Spring.
Speaker bio:
Hela Lahar is currently serving as the Acting Executive Director of the OneVoice Movement. Born and raised in the US and having lived half of her life in Israel, and studying Diplomacy and Security Studies at Tel Aviv University for her Master’s degree, Hela has a first-hand understanding of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Prior to working at OneVoice, Hela was the founding director of the Center for Israel Education at Columbia/Barnard Hillel, designing and leading the entire Israel education curriculum, including but not limited to annual programs, with diverse target audiences, and delegations to the region, leading education on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Hela has been in senior roles as a Jewish educator for over 15 years, across the East Coast and Israel and is a certified facilitator with Resetting The Table.
*Why is CMEP asking for donations for these events?
Due to Covid-19 all of our in-person programming has been canceled since March 2020 and this will continue to be the norm until at least Fall 2021. As a nonprofit advocacy organization, our advocacy summits and other events are one of the main streams of income we have as an organization. CMEP Journeys is our attempt to offer creative and interesting opportunities to our community. We understand that the cost can be prohibitive for some which is why we are asking for “suggested donation” amounts as we do not want to exclude anyone.
The first event in our CMEP Journeys programming is a Day of Action calling on the Biden Administration to restore US funding to UNRWA and bilateral assistance to humanitarian programs in the West Bank and Gaza. The Biden Administration has affirmed its plan to reinstate this aid, but we need to raise our voices now to ensure they move beyond words and take swift action to reinstate this critical aid.
We aim to get the Biden Administration’s attention with a unified focus on tweets calling on them to reinstate funding to UNRWA and bilateral assistance as soon as possible. There will also be an Action Alert for people who do not have Twitter available on Tuesday, February 9.
Let us know if you will #CMEPRaiseYourVoice with us!
Join CMEP on Twitter as we call on the Biden Administration to restore aid on Tuesday, February 9, from 1-2 pm EST! Please make sure to tag @POTUS, @VP in all your tweets and use #CMEPRaiseYourVoice.
Sample Tweets:
With COVID adding to the problems brought on by the occupation, @POTUS and @VP quickly need to release the funds they promised to those in the West Bank and Gaza. Make that move today! #CMEPRaiseYourVoice #fundunrwa @WhiteHouse
I stand with @ChurchesforMEP calling on @POTUS and @VP to restore humanitarian aid to West Bank and Gaza immediately. @UNRWA needs those funds that were promised! #CMEPRaiseYourVoice #fundunrwa @WhiteHouse
Prior to the election, @VP asserted a Biden-Harris admin “will take immediate steps to restore economic, humanitarian assistance to Palestinian people.” With COVID causing extra stress, we call on @POTUS to take those steps now! #CMEPRaiseYourVoice #fundunrwa @WhiteHouse
Under Trump Admin, U.S. ended assistance to the West Bank, Gaza and all funding to @UNRWA – agency providing emergency medical, food, and educational services to over 5 million Palestinian refugees. @POTUS @VP we call on you to restore that aid immediately! #CMEPRaiseYourVoice
The Biden Administration affirmed its plan to reinstate aid to humanitarian programs in the West Bank and Gaza, but we need to raise our voices to ensure they take swift action! @Potus and @VP please restore funding to @UNRWA and other programs quickly! #CMEPRaiseYourVoice
I’m calling on @potus and @VP to restore funding to @UNRWA and bilateral assistance to humanitarian programs in the West Bank, Gaza. The Biden Administration affirmed its plan to reinstate aid, but we need to raise our voices to ensure they take swift action! #CMEPRaiseYourVoice
