Short Summary
(To contribute, scroll to the bottom or click on a perk button on the right)
Hi everyone, likely some of you reading this or watching the video know me but for those who don't, my name is Amal Rana.
I've start this campaign on Indigogo to raise funds to travel from Vancouver to participate in the World Social Forum Free Palestine in Port Alegre, Brazil from November 28th - December 1st, 2012.
This is happening just 2 weeks from now and I need your help urgently to get there!
What I Need From You & What You Get
I need $2000 to make this happen. Airmiles contributions would also be really welcome!
The majority of this is for airfare as flights from Vancouver to Porto Allegre, Brazil are super expensive. The rest would be to cover shared accommodation and other minor travel expenses such as visas.
In return, I may not be able to offer you a cd or something fancy, but I can offer you my most heartfelt, massive thanks and all my love and my committment to making sure that I use this opportunity to further support Palestine and the work of our various communities.
I am also committed to providing a detailed update/reportback to everyone who contributes and sharing resources and information.
This is the first time ever that I am asking for funds for myself to attend a conference/event.
For More Infomation
For more information & snazzy photos, watch the video or you can also read below.
Background
As a member of Queers Against Israeli Apartheid Vancouver (QUAIA), I'm honoured to be invited to the forum for a Queer Visions stream that will bring together queer Palestine solidarity activists from around the world to share resources, learn from each other and build connections. There will be thousands of activists from around the world gathering in Brazil for this mass mobilization. This is the first time a World Social Forum on Palestine has been held, so it is a historic occasion!
So why send me?
Because my path of activism and community organizing has I think naturally led me to this point.
I've been involved with Palestine solidarity work for some time. Recently, I've been priviliged to work with QUAIA Vancouver in a glitter flled campaign against pinkwashing at our local queer film festival. We made big inroads at the festival with our creative signs and props and are planning some great events for the near future.
I'm also involved with the Puppet Liberation Front, making giant political puppets and other street art/creative resistance tools. Many of these have been used for Palestine related events and campaigns.
Pakistan solidarity work is also hugely important to me as a Pakistani and I'm also involved with labour organizing, interfaith solidarity and many other things.
Central to all of my work is deepening the connections between these struggles within an anti-oppressive framework that also includes my own role as a settler on indigenous land.
This forum would be an incredible opportunity to deepen these connections, learn from each other and support Palestine. I'm humbled to be invited and would be so very greatful for your help.
I am pitching in myself too, but I am in between jobs, and cannot cover all the expenses.
This is where you, my/the community, come in!
This is such an important and much needed opportunity for me to bring back some incredible knowledge and resources from the World Social Forum to Vancouver so we can continue to build on our absolutely critical work as QUAIA Vancouver in n partnership with others.
Every contribution you make, no matter how small or big, will help make this happen.