Home Blog Page 62

‘The Clash’ and Coming Home: Commentary on the Premier Youth Council’s Media Advisory

Madilyn Miller
-
0
‘The Clash’ and Coming Home: Commentary on the Premier Youth Council’s Media Advisory

“Should I stay or should I go?” The age-old question, posed poignantly by The Clash, continues to apply to several situations. In this case, we can apply it to Newfoundland: a province that seems to be having trouble getting young people to stay in the province after graduation. 

At the Premier’s Youth Council media advisory, Jenna Reid posed some questions for those attending. One of which revolved around the idea of tuition rates and international students and why students choose Memorial. Premier Andrew Furey replied by explaining that we shouldn’t “attach a price tag to it [the university]” because Memorial University has its own merit as a “world-class institution.”

Therefore, I asked some students why they went to Memorial University.

Some engineering students explained that they liked the program’s prospects and the cheap tuition. Other students said the price. In conversations with humanities students, most said it was also low tuition rates. 

If the Premier doesn’t believe we should attach a price tag to the university, it seems that many students disagree. 

This is not to say that the education quality at Memorial is bad. On the contrary, there are many great professors at the university. Plenty of who have aided students’ ambition to learn and gather knowledge. But even the good professors do not change why most students come to this university in the first place.

Now to address leaving Newfoundland, there are several reasons why someone might do so.

Firstly, I find that many students don’t want to get “stuck” in Newfoundland––that is, it’s hard to leave once you stay for too long. For others, they want to go somewhere with a better reputation, like Dalhousie or the University of Toronto. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of scholarships or wanting to go somewhere away from home.

Others choose to stay in NL because it’s close to family, cheap, or because they don’t want to leave. So it’s not to say that Newfoundland does not have good qualities, but does it have the best? Probably not.

To summarize, not even the Clash can answer their own question for anyone in NL; they decide why they should stay or go. Many students attending MUN seem to have a good idea of their answer, though…

A Newfound Crisis: Tuition Hikes, Inflation, & NL Youth Retention 

Jenna Reid
-
0
A Newfound Crisis: Tuition Hikes, Inflation, & NL Youth Retention 

Newfoundland youth are wondering if it is worth it to stay in NL long-term.

Despite steep tuition increases starting this fall and the rising cost of living, the Premier’s Youth Council believes young people in Newfoundland and Labrador will still attend Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador (MUNL) and stay in the province to work after graduating. But some MUNL students are pouring cold water on that belief.

Benjamin Oates, the Premier’s Youth Council Co-Chair, agrees there are issues but thinks they can be fixed.

“People who want to stay in Newfoundland and Labrador and those who want to come will,” Oates said.

288517682 3242006549407739 1249454391347321896 n
Photo Credit: Jenna Reid

22-year tuition freeze

Last summer, Memorial University announced the end of its 22-year tuition freeze.

First imposed in 1999, under the freeze, full-time students from Newfoundland and Labrador paid $2,550 per year in tuition– the lowest rate in Canada. 

Canadian students from outside the province paid $3,330, and international students paid $11,460 for a year of full-time studies. Amounts do not include additional fees and residence costs.

The Muse 1999
Front Page of The January 22nd,1999.
Photo Credit: Screenshot of MUN Digital Archives

However, in Fall 2022, this will change for Memorial’s upcoming students.

For full-time NL and Canadian students starting in Fall 2022, rates will triple as full-time tuition rises to $6000/year.

For international students, tuition will rise to 20,000/ per academic year. Both Canadian and International students will see 4% increases each year until 2026.

MUN Fees
Photo Credit: Screenshot of Undergraduate Course Rates (via MUN’s Website)

Premier Furey notes such rates are still below international standards- something that could positively affect youth retention in Newfoundland and Labrador, rising tuition rates will cause upcoming students to consider other options.

Cheap tuition undervalues MUNL

Meanwhile, Premier Furey believes cheap tuition undervalues MUNL.

“I think it diminishes the value of the university if we just attach a price tag to it. You have to hit the sweet spot of recognizing the value of the university while also attracting people to it,” said Premier Furey.

Student Perspective

Disclaimer: By request, each student mentioned will remain anonymous.

During COVID, one student described their incentive to leave Newfoundland after finding the support at MUNL to be little to none- after being discouraged from pursuing nursing and speech therapy due to their 3.0 GPA. 

Since leaving Newfoundland and Labrador and relocating to Quebec, the student has been accepted into Nursing at Vanier College: a three-year program with an exchange in Malawi.

“Even with the language barriers, it felt so much more prosperous than Newfoundland,” they said. 

While the student would love to return to Newfoundland in the future, 

“For now, it is much easier to prosper and excel in an environment where you have the support, the job opportunities and other necessities lacking at MUNL and in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

Cost of Living

On June 22nd, 2022, Statistics Canada announced that Canada’s inflation rate climbed to 7.7%. The most significant yearly increase since January 1983. 

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the consumer inflation rate was 8.0% in May 2022, marking the highest year-over-year increase since April 1983, according to the Government of NL.

The government claims such increases “were mostly influenced by higher energy and food prices.” 

Food prices were up 9.1%—the highest 12-month increase since 2009. Combined with increasing tuition, students are feeling the effects. 

One student says the tuition hike will hurt international students more than Canadian students. 

“To attract and retain immigrants and domestic students to the province, the university must prioritize making education accessible and affordable for all students. Adding additional courses, books, housing, and food expenses to this, it is clear that there is a price tag to education at this university (contrary to what Premier Furey commented), and it is getting too high for students to pay”, said the student.

Most full-time international students are only eligible to work 20 hours a week (according to the Government of Canada) while studying full time and were attracted to Newfoundland and Labrador for MUNL’s cheap tuition. 

“The only thing that draws people to MUNL is the cheap tuition; we do not have a quality campus, we are not in the top universities in Canada, and all we have is cheap tuition which is currently rising compared to the schools that are on these lists,” said one student.

“It diminishes the value of the university if we just attach a price tag to it.”

While Premier Furey believes MUNL’s value is diminished by its association with cheap tuition rates, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has forced tuition to rise.

51352940736 5931eb7368 c
Photo Credit: Memorial University (via Flickr)

In April, it was announced that MUNL’s Core Operating Grant would be cut by $13.6M, with additional cuts equating to $68.4M from Memorial’s budget over the next five years in Budget 2022.

President of Memorial University, Dr. Vianne Timmons, described Budget 2022 as “tough” for the university, while students are questioning why to stay in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The History of Pride Month

Anuja Thapa
-
0
The History of Pride Month

Have you wondered how Pride month came to be? Pride month is celebrated every June to honour the LGBTQ+ community and commemorate the Stonewall Uprising of 1969. The month is dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ culture, rights, and voices while honouring activists who have tirelessly sacrificed so much to secure basic human rights in the community. It is pertinent to understand the history behind pride month and why it is so significant.

On June 28th, 1969, police raided The Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Manhattan. While these storming’s were deemed normal at the time, what made this raid different was the pushback the police faced from thousands of protestors who took to the streets. While the police barricaded themselves in the bar, the protestors attempted to set the bar on fire but were ultimately stopped by the fire department. The protestors continued rioting for five more days.

The Stonewall Uprising is often credited with invigorating the gay rights movement and led to the establishment of notable organizations such as the Gay Liberation Front and GLADD. The uprising led to the first pride march the following year to demonstrate against the centuries of abuse and discrimination faced by members of the LGBTQ+ community, and approximately 4000 marchers were present.

Larry Fink photo 1000x1400 2
Photo Credit: Leonard Fink, via The LGBT Community Center National History Archive

Previously the phrase “gay power” was used in place of “gay pride,” to highlight the division and combat between the police and the LGBTQ+ community. Activist L. Craig Schoonmaker is credited with devising the phrase: “A lot of people were very repressed, they were conflicted internally, and didn’t know how to come out and be proud. That’s how the movement was most useful, because they thought, ‘Maybe I should be proud.” He further explained that the term pride “makes people more self-assertive,” by allowing them the right to assert their rights. The six colours on the rainbow pride flag signify life, healing, the sun, nature, art, harmony, and the soul.

toronto pride police 20180402
Photo Credit: Mark Blinch, via the Canadian Press

Canada is lauded for its progressive stance on LGBTQ+ rights and has seen a continuous expansion of rights. Homosexuality was decriminalized in May 1969, with the passing of Bill C-150. Although this bill was ahead of its time, it is often referred to as “partial decriminalization”– as members of the LGBTQ+ community still faced discrimination. In 1973, pride week emergence was held in several Canadian cities, and this event is credited with highlighting the concept of gay pride.

In February 1981, Operation Soap, a raid by the Toronto police against four gay bathhouses, took place. The police raid resulted in the staggering arrest of 300 men subject to atrocious conditions while in custody. One day after the raid, over 3000 protestors decided enough was enough and stormed the streets of Toronto. The protestors made their way across the city, and the police were overwhelmed. The protesters almost broke down the doors of the provincial legislative building before police pushed back. This event is frequently referenced as “Canada’s Stonewall.”

bathhouse raids protest scaled 1
Photo credit:  Barrie Davis, via The Globe and Mall

While members of the LGBTQ+ community have faced discrimination since Operation Soap, it is notable that same-sex marriage is legal all over Canada. Today, at least 70 countries around the world still treat homosexuality as a crime. Newfoundland legalized same-sex marriage in 2004.

However, more work needs to be done. For example, in December 2021, Bill C-4 passed an Act to amend the Criminal Code. This bill ensured that conversion therapy, a dangerous and widely discredited theory, was banned nationwide. The bill has been praised for being so comprehensive. Still, it is somewhat disheartening that this was Canada’s third attempt at banning the practice nationwide when it is evident that conversion therapy is a highly harmful practice.

Some members of the LGBTQ+ community argue that one month out of twelve is not enough to celebrate the rich history of pride and advocate for further equality. It is paramount we appreciate the significance of pride month and never forget how arduous the journey has been.

5 NL Student Seats Added at MUNL School of Medicine

Shreya Hande
-
0
5 NL Student Seats Added at MUNL School of Medicine

On Tuesday, June 7th, NL Premier Dr. Andrew Furey was joined by the Dean of the MUNL Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Margaret Steele and second-year medical student Georgia Darmonkow. They announced the addition of 5 seats at the MUNL School of Medicine for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador for fall 2023.

Screenshot 2022 06 22 192529
Photo Credit: Darrell Roberts (via CBC)

There are a total of 80 seats at the school. Previously, 60 seats were reserved for NL residents (with 3 of those for Aboriginal students), 10 for students from New Brunswick, 4 for students from PEI, and 6 for international students and those from other Canadian provinces. As the government of New Brunswick will not continue to reserve ten seats, 5 of these will be redirected towards NL residents, with a provincial investment of $100,000 per year (per seat). Of the remaining 5, 1 seat will be reserved for an Aboriginal student. The province is discussing with the military to fill the four vacant seats. “It’s an investment that pays dividends not in economic returns, but in returns to the health of the people of the province,” Premier Furey commented.

Of the 17 medical schools in Canada, the MUNL School of Medicine has the second smallest class size in the country and the smallest in Atlantic Canada. With the province facing a severe shortage of physicians today, this announcement raised several questions about the efficacy of this plan in alleviating the urgent crisis.

According to Premier Furey, “We recognize that there is an immediate need, and we’re looking at creative solutions for the acute term, but we also need to divert a case to how we can change long term. An opportunity like this to ensure that we’re educating more Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in medicine since they’re statistically more likely to stay here helps solve the problem for future premiers and Ministers of Health as well, so this is an important step. It will not pay dividends tomorrow, but it will pay dividends for the people of NL in 6 to 10 years and beyond. We have to build for the future today.”

Constructing additional measures to increase the number of qualified physicians in the country is also essential to addressing the shortage.

The premier cited changes in medical training and working styles and the opportunity to train and certify immigrant physicians to practice in NL as important factors in solving this issue. “We want to make sure that we’re having a multi-tiered approach to deal with the physician crisis,” Premier Furey commented. “Training more, changing how people practice, and looking at recruiting more are three elements of how we’re trying to deal with the doctor density issue.”


Changes and Additions to the Endangered Species Act of NL

Becky Martin
-
0
Changes and Additions to the Endangered Species Act of NL

The Provincial Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has announced the changes to two species’ statuses, and the addition of seven more specifies under the Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Act is an Act in Newfoundland and Labrador to protect animal species in our province that are considered vulnerable, threatened, endangered or extinct. Within the Endangered Species Act, there are currently 65 species under the Act. There are 28 Endangered species, 18 Threatened species, and 19 Vulnerable species. 

Down-Listing of Two Species

Two species have been down-listed from being classified as Endangered to Threatened. These species are the bird, Red Crossbill percent subspecies, and a herb, Mackenzie’s Sweetvetch.

The Red Crossbill percent subspecies found in the Anticosti Island of Quebec and Newfoundland were down-listed due to an increase in population in the Anticosti Island. The population is estimated to increase in the future further. 

Screenshot 2022 06 22 162648
Photo Credit: Elaine R Wilson (via Department of Environment and Conservation NL)

The herb, Mackenzie’s Sweetvetch, is a small, boreal-Arctic perennial herb found in small areas in Newfoundland and Labrador. Recent provincial surveys have revealed a larger population size. The survey also indicated that while human activities affect the species, they do not expect it to affect them rapidly.

Screenshot 2022 06 22 162842
Photo Credit: Nathalie Djan-Chekar (via Department of Environment and Conservation NL)

Two Species added to “Threatened” Status

Two species have been added to the identification of being Threatened. This includes the trees known as Red Pine’s Natural Populations and the bird known as a Bank Swallow.

The Red Pine’s Natural Populations can be found in Newfoundland and Labrador. A fungal disease known as Scleroderris canker threatens the natural populations along with lesser threats such as squirrels, changes to fire regimes, and habitat alterations.

Screenshot 2022 06 22 163015
Photo Credit: Department of Environment and Climate Change NL

The Bank Swallow‘s population has declined by 98 percent within the last 40 years. Its population is threatened by loss of breeding and foraging habitats, destruction of nests, collisions with vehicles, pesticide use, and climate change.

Screenshot 2022 06 22 163102
Photo Credit: Government NL

Five Species added to “Vulnerable” Status

Five species have been identified as vulnerable. This includes some birds (the Evening Grosbeak and the Red-Necked Phalarope), a fish (the Mummichog), and some insects (the Yellow-Banded Bumble Bee and the Transverse Lady Beetle).

Editors Note: All images come from the Government of Canada or the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

jeremy hynes pyFq3KczWeg unsplash 1

The Evening Grosbeak is a stocky songbird identified by its bold yellow, black and white colour and sizeable green-yellow bill. The Evening Grosbeak has declined from 77 to 90 percent since 1970 due to threats such as: feeding on road salt and grit on winter roads, a reduction in mixed-wood and conifer stands, and collisions with windows.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Hynes via Unsplash

1637600312008

Meanwhile, the Red-Necked Phalarope: a small, blue-grey, white shorebird, is threatened by climate change and associated habitat and food effects.

Fish

The Mummichog species is a small fish found in Newfoundland and Labrador. It has become vulnerable due to threats such as being accidentally included in by-catch in eel fisheries and possible predation by an invasive green crab.

1642191233145 1

The Yellow-Banded Bumble Bee is a medium-sized bee with distinctive yellow and black abdominal band patterns. The Yellow-Banded Bumble Bee’s population has significantly declined since the 1990s due to diseases, pesticide use, climate change, and habitat loss.

Screenshot 2022 06 22 161651

The Transverse Lady Beetle is a beetle with a distinctive black band and four elongate spot patterns. The Transverse Lady Beetle has the main threat to other non-native lady beetle species due to competition, predation, and the introduction of pathogens, along with the danger of agricultural pesticides.

Importance of the Endangered Species Act

“Conserving biodiversity continues to be a key priority as we work to ensure the sustainable management of our province’s wildlife resources, and I am encouraged by the improvement in status for two of our protected species. By listing these species – which include a diverse group of birds, bees, fish, beetles, plants and trees – we are initiating an important, collaborative process of recovery and management planning to help ensure the future conservation of all wildlife species.”

The Honourable Derrick Bragg, the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture of Newfoundland and Labrador

The Endangered Species Act 16 highlights the prohibitions that Newfoundland and Labrador citizens must abide by, which include not harassing, harming, killing, or disturbing the species identified by the Act. This is why those in the province need to know and identify the species covered under this Act to help preserve the species and potentially allow the species to be down-listed, such as those previously identified.

Read more of The Endangered Species Act

Stranger Things: Generation Z’s Harry Potter?

Madilyn Miller
-
0
Stranger Things: Generation Z’s Harry Potter?

Photo Credit: Charles DeLuvio via Unsplash

I’m sure we’ve all seen the hype surrounding volume one of the fourth season of the Netflix show Stranger Things. Undoubtedly, this is the most intense and mature season so far, shocking fans from the first episode; the stakes have always been high, but it feels more real now that the characters (and audience) have grown.

The main characters were around eleven to twelve years old when the show came out. As is expected, younger people in that age group were delighted to see kids like them defeating monsters from another dimension. The audience was able to project themselves onto these characters, allowing them to experience the adventures more personally than an adult watching the middle-schoolers in season one.

Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, Eleven, and Max take on high school in the latest season. Like in the first season, much of the original audience is still close to the same age as the Stranger Things kids or close enough to relate to their struggles. We may never fight Vecna or the Mind Flayer, but we do understand things such as loss, drifting friendships, and love, which helps us to feel for these characters more deeply.

Has there been a similar phenomenon of viewers and/or readers growing up alongside their franchise? We may all recognize the pattern with the Harry Potter franchise, which is still getting updated today in spin-off/prequel projects. Eleven-year-olds facing certain death, magic, and going on adventures that we would never be able to go on––these things were massively appealing to the original audience of Harry Potter. This sparked feelings of empowerment and captivated young viewers with the idea of kids their age doing such incredible things. Some readers still speak fondly of having a connection to the characters that others who came after them cannot claim. It was like growing up alongside your friends, something that fans of Stranger Things have said as well.

Seeing the impact, this show has had on pop culture in six years makes it a promising candidate for a staple in entertainment in Generation Z’s lifetime.

MUN beautification: St. John’s campus launches legal street art wall

Jenna Reid
-
0
MUN beautification: St. John’s campus launches legal street art wall

The first of its kind at a Canadian university.

This past weekend, Memorial University launched a legal street art wall (Saturday, May 27th, 2022). 

The brick wall- now covered in lots of colours, is between Macpherson College and the Childcare Centre on St. John’s Campus. 

282298434 5143587165748079 8411647310887569306 n
Photo Credit: Jenna Reid

Apart of MUNL’s Beautification Committee, Memorial highlights two aspects of the initiative:

  • An outlet for artistic freedom

 The wall is open to all artists of all skill levels who wish to use it. The wall is self-regulated, and community managed. Previous designs may be painted over by other users- in a respectful manner. 

  • An artist will be commissioned to create an original mural on the wall twice a year.

Memorial University Gazette states: “an artist will be commissioned to create a mural on the wall. Artist proposals will consider the historical significance of Memorial, the St. John’s campus community and its contemporary and emerging contexts”.

The first to create a mural was street artist Jordan Burton. 

282204943 418812639831715 1698020879304637610 n 1
Jordan Burton’s Art. Photo Credit: Jenna Reid

Grenfell Art Gallery, Western Newfoundland & Memorial University’s public art gallery, attended to support the event. 

Benjamin Moore Paint Shop provides all paint. 

Air Canada refunds MUNL professor two years later

Jenna Reid
-
0
Air Canada refunds MUNL professor two years later

Dr. Barry Stephenson, Associate Professor and Head of Religious Studies, believes Air Canada is committing fraud after failing to obtain fair and proper refunds. This issue dated back to March 2020.

COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic on March 11th, 2022, which sent the world into freefall- bringing much of the airline industry’s business with it. 

As lockdowns commenced and travel advisories were issued, Dr. Barry Stephenson and his wife lived in Prague for a sabbatical. Dr. Stephenson held a research fellowship at Charles University. 

However, when Prime Minister Trudeau advised Canadians abroad to return home, the two booked two flights home with Air Canada.

Photo Credit: The Hill

Initially booked on March 18th, 2020 and set to depart on March 29th, 2020. – Stephenson’s two plane tickets totalled $2425.26, but the flights were subsequently cancelled as the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic developed.

 ­­The Stephensons returned home at 2 AM on March 24th, 2020. They then received an email notification of the cancellation for the March 29th flight.

The amount charged for the ticket shown was $1647.82 despite the original booking costing $2425.26. The booking reference was the same, but the ticket numbers had changed, resulting in a discrepancy of CAD 777. 

Timeline of Inquiries

Dr. Stephenson contacted Air Canada by phone around March 30th, 2020, to inform them of the issue. 

He was told there was general chaos, to be patient, and that they (Air Canada) were working through the cancelled flights. 

After no change or contact, he filled out an online complaint regarding the situation one month later. 

Air Canada responded on May 5th, 2020, stating:

Air Canada is currently working on a self-serve option that allows customers to redeem the remaining value. Unfortunately, it is not ready yet. If you want to make a booking before the self-serve option is available, please let me know, I will be happy to help you create this manually.”

Credit: Dr. Barry Stephenson

Stephenson then called Air Canada again to explain the discrepancy between the price paid and the price shown on the cancelled ticket. He wanted to make sure the total value of the ticket would be recognized. 

Air Canada’s response was the same: they are working as fast as they can.

On January 7th, 2021, Air Canada sent a voucher for the Stephenson’s cancelled ticket, not in the original amount of $2425.26, but only $1647.82. 

Federal Government forms liquidity agreement with Air Canada

In April 2021, Air Canada and the federal government agreed to allow Air Canada to access up to $5.879 billion in liquidity through the Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) program. 

In the media release, Air Canada agreed to several commitments: service to regional communities, restrictions on the use of the funds provided, employment and capital expenditures, and the agreement were also expected to speed up customer refunds. 

As a result, Air Canada would reimburse passengers for cancelled flights due to the previous year’s lockdowns and convert their flight vouchers to cash.

Dr. Stephenson made an application for this and received a refund of $1647.82 on May 10th, 2021.

However, over a year later and over two years since the original flight cancellation, he was still out $777, despite countless efforts to get fully refunded. 

Fraud?

Stephenson believes Air Canada is committing fraud.

toa heftiba mlS3q6skaeQ unsplash 2
Photo Credit: Toa Heftiba (via Unsplash)

He says, “given the number of people having trouble obtaining fair and proper refunds. This is especially disturbing, given that some of the public money given to Air Canada to deal with refunds of cancelled flights went to boosting compensation packages.”

The Oxford Languages Dictionary defines fraud as wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. However, whether the issue can be determined as fraud on legal grounds depends on if it will reach a courtroom.

As reported on Global News, Members of Parliament from all parties voted unanimously to condemn Air Canada for paying millions of dollars in executive bonuses following their LEEFF Agreement. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the situation “unacceptable,” as 25,000 employees were laid off. The airline has refused to compensate Canadians for flights cancelled because of the pandemic.

CAD 777 is not pocket change for the vast majority of individuals in today’s economy.

Coincidentally Refunded

The Muse reached out to Air Canada’s Media Centre regarding the matter on May 16th, 2022, and has yet to receive a response.

In the meantime, Dr. Stephenson received an email from Air Canada on May 18th, 2022. It stated that his refund of $777 was being processed- this notice came one year and eight days after the previous refund of $1647.82.

A couple of days later, the refund was made on his credit card, promptly settling his case with Air Canada. 

However, Dr. Stephenson believes media intervention may have had something to do with it.

Stories of Palis (Issue I)

Munpal Gazette
-
0
Stories of Palis (Issue I)

 Photo from: The Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Stories of Palis

In 1948, Al-Malha was on the villages in west Jerusalem to sign non-aggression treaties with the zionist militias. However, everything has changed after the zionist militias broke the agreements and committed horrific massacres in the neighbouring villages, especially in Deir Yassin.

On April 12th, 1948 following the wake on Deir Yassin massacre where over 100 native Palestinians were murdered including women, children, and elderly-many of native Palestinians in Al-Malha have fled the village after panic and fear broke out. Eventually, the zionist militias attacked Al-Malha on July 14th, 1948 and completed ethnic cleansing of the native Palestinians.

The treacherous attack on Al-Malha and the neighbouring villages added Al-Malha to a long list of fully ethnically cleansed Palestinian villages. The houses remained, the trees remained, and the rocks remained, but who is residing in these houses and watching these trees has changed. Since I opened my eyes on this life, I could see the heartbreak and grift in my family’s eyes. It is hard, it is hard to visit your ancestral village with a permit, knock on the door of you childhood home, and a stranger opens the door instead of you.

Seventy-four years after, thousands of Palestinians originating from Al-Malha still live in the refugee camps in Bethlehem that is less than 5km away from their ancestral village. Although, they were forced to leave Al-Malha, Al-Malha has never left them until this day. Their eyes yearn for Al-Malha and their souls never stopped dwelling Al-Malha, hoping for the happily ever after to come.

Ali Salman

Third Generation

Al-Malha

Al-Malha is a village located in southwest Jerusalem. The village was built by the Canaanites around 2000 years BC. In 1948, Al-Malha was inhibited by ~2500 native Palestinians until their forced displacement after hundreds of generations living in this village.

Be sure to check out: Pali Fact (Issue 1) from the MUNPAL GAZETTE.

Pali Fact (Issue I)

Munpal Gazette
-
0
Pali Fact (Issue I)

Photo by: Ali (via Middle East Institute)

PALI FACT

Handala

Handala–the Palestinian child who remains 10 years old–is a national symbol depicting the Palestinian struggle and quest for justice. Cartoonist Naji Al-Ali, forcibly expelled from his village at the age of 10, created the character in 1969 to represent his experience as a refugee.


Evidently, Handala became an icon of Palestinian refugees in the ongoing Nakba. A national , then a global symbol, Handala remains relevant to this day to elucidate the resilience, dignity, and bitterness of the Palestinian people.


Naji Al-Ali’s signature character appears in most of his cartoons. With his back turned and hands clasped behind his back, his posture invites us to witness the unjust western solutions for Palestinians. Naji was assassinated on August 29, 1987 but his work remains a potent reminder to carry on the Palestinian message.

“Handala was born ten years old, and he will always be ten years old. At that age, I left my homeland, and when he returns, Handala will still be ten, and then he will start growing up.”


Naji Al-Ali
handala on the wall munir alawi

Handala: a Symbol of Palestinian Resistance

Photo by: Ali (via fineartamerica for Munir Alawi: Handala on the Wall)

MUNPAL EVENTS

Nakba: The Palestinian Catastrophe

May 15, 1948 marks the Nakba or “catastrophe”. It commemorates the forced displacement and ethnic cleansing of more than 600 Palestinian villages, towns and cities; resulting in the largest refugee crisis with more than 750,000 Palestinian refugees. Seventy-four years later, the ethnic cleansing of Palestine continues.

“We have triumphed over the plan to expel us from history.”


Mahmoud Darwish
Screen Shot 2020 05 21 at 3.45.36 PM
Palestinian Nakba Survivors fleeing the ethnic cleansing in 1948

Photo by: Ali (via Middle East Monitor)

Be sure to check out: Stories of Palis (Issue I) from the MUNPAL GAZETTE.

1...616263...101Page 62 of 101