Environmental Humanities Scholars Statement on Palestine

[The following statement was issued by Environmental Humanities scholars from around the world in solidarity with the Palestinian people.]

As Environmental Humanities scholars we are compelled to call on the Israeli government and the international community for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the killing in Gaza. We stand in solidarity with Palestinians under attack in Palestine/Israel, and those in the diaspora, who live with fear, grief, and the pain of exile. We extend our support to the families and friends of those killed or kidnapped by Hamas, and to the Israelis who endure harassment and threats for speaking out against the war. We commit ourselves to concrete actions, now and into the future, in pursuit of a just peace for everyone in Palestine/Israel.

We acknowledge that war kills the environment and erodes its capacity to support human life in Palestine/Israel and worldwide. The toxic remnants of Israel’s weapons, including white phosphorus, and the rubble from the destruction of more than half of the buildings in northern Gaza will linger in the soil for years to come. Israel’s destruction of Gaza’s critical infrastructure has made it impossible to find clean water. Gazans risk dying of thirst or catching typhoid or cholera from drinking polluted water. Livestock in Gaza are starving to death and farmers are being forced to abandon their fields. Israel’s attacks are making Gaza unliveable.

We recognise the violence being perpetrated by settlers in the West Bank while the world’s eyes are on Gaza. This is olive harvest season — a crucial time of year for the Palestinian economy and Palestinian communal life. But armed settlers are harassing and attacking Palestinian farmers, preventing them from reaching their olive groves. Settlers have evicted hundreds of Palestinian Bedouin shepherds from their lands. Israeli human rights activists correctly warn that this is a ‘silent annexation’.

We affirm that everything we see taking place today is part of a longer process: of the dispossession of Palestinians of their land, water and natural resources since 1948. As humanities scholars, we know that Palestinian art and literature offers a distinctive window on this history of environmental injustice, and into the dedication of Palestinians to maintaining their culture in the face of sustained violence, displacement, and the denial of their existence.

To Palestinians under fire: we have not forgotten you. We extend our solidarity to our colleagues in Gazan universities, who have seen their institutions bombed and destroyed. We also express our support for staff and students in the West Bank, living under a heightened threat of violence for trying to teach or learn. We extend deep sympathy to relatives and friends of those killed or kidnapped by Hamas in the devastating October 7 attacks, whose voices have been marginalised in Israel’s national debate, yet who speak with eloquence of the need to disavow revenge. Israelis who oppose the war suffer harassment and victimisation. But we hear their voices and recognise the crucial role they have to play in Palestine/Israel’s future.

Our commitments

- We commit to learning and teaching about the history of Palestine/Israel, including the lives of all peoples in this land, and the roles of our own countries and institutions in creating and maintaining the injustices of the present. 

- We commit to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, a non-violent form of resistance led by Palestinian civil society since 2005. We will not accept funding from the Israeli government or from Israeli academic, arts or cultural institutions.

- We commit to pressing our institutions for scholarships for Palestinian staff and students, and to seeking out partnerships that deepen international collaboration with Palestinian artists, scholars, universities and cultural institutions.

- We commit to lobbying our government representatives for a ceasefire, support for Gazan refugees, and international aid to rebuild Gaza, including an end to the blockade. Gaza must be rebuilt and Gazans will return.

- We commit to reading and sharing art and literature that shows the beauty and resilience of Palestinian life and culture, not just Palestinian suffering.  

Many of us have had our own lives and thinking immensely enriched by Palestinian art and literature. We make these commitments in recognition of all that Palestine has already given to us. 

Thanks to the Mosaic Rooms for inspiration: https://mosaicrooms.org/wp-content/uploads/2021-Call-for-Solidarity.pdf 

Signatories

(Listed in alphabetical order, by first name. Those listed below have signed only in their individual capacity and do not represent the organisations or institutions with which they are affiliated)

Aadita Chaudhury, PhD Candidate, Graduate Program in Science & Technology Studies, York University, Canada

Adam Bobbette, Lecturer, University of Glasgow

Adrian Deveau, PhD Student, Art History, Concordia University

Adrienne Mortimer, Postdoctoral Reseacher, University of Leeds

Alexandra Campbell, University of Glasgow

Alice Would, Lecturer in Imperial and Environmental History

Alycia Pirmohamed, Teaching Associate, University of Cambridge

AM Kanngieser, Research Fellow, Royal Holloway University of London

Amul Gyawali, , Early career researcher

Amy Clukey, Associate Professor of English, University of Louisville

Andrew Whitehouse, Lecturer, University of Aberdeen

Angeliki Balayannis, Associate Professor in Knowledge Technology and Innovation, Wageningen University & Research

Anna Selby, Schumacher College, Lecturer

Annie Webster, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of Edinburgh

Antonio Ortega Santos, University of Granada.Spain

April Anson, Assistant professor of English, American studies, Native and Indigenous studies, University of Connecticut

Asfand Bakht Yar, Assistant Lecturer and PhD Scholar, TU Dublin

Ash Bond, GTA Scholar

Ashley Cahillane, Postdoctoral Scholar

Associate Professor Sharae Deckard, Director of UCD Environmental Humanities, University College Dublin

Astrida Neimanis, UBC Okanagan

Athira Unni

Barbara Franchi, Teaching Fellow, English Studies, Durham University UK

Billie Gavurin, Lecturer, University of Bristol

Blaise Sales PhD student, University of Leeds

Brennan McCracken, PhD student, English, Concordia University

Bruno Seraphin, Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut

Burc Kostem, McGill University

Bushra Mahzabeen, PhD Researcher, University of Warwick

Caitlin Stobie, Lecturer in Creative Writing, University of Leeds

Caleb O’Connor, PhD Candidate at University College Dublin

Camilla Nelson, Visiting Research Fellow, Bath Spa University

Camille Cole, Assistant Professor, Illinois State University

Camille-Mary Sharp, Faculty Fellow, New York University

Caroline Holland, PhD Candidate, University of Toronto

Caroline Hovanec, Associate Teaching Professor, University of Tampa

Carys Hughes, PhD Researcher, University of Nottingham

Catherine Kearns, University of Chicago

Catherine Oliver, Lecturer

Charlotte Wrigley, Researcher, University of Stavanger

Christian Henderson, Assistant professor, Leiden University

Christie Oliver-Hobley, Teaching Associate in Contemporary Literature, University of Sheffield

Claire Lagier, Independent scholar

Claudia Dellacasa, University College Dublin

Corbin Hiday, Visiting Lecturer, UIC

Daniel Bowman, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Stavanger

Daniel Eltringham

Daniel Hartley, Associate Professor, Durham University

David Farrier, Professor of Literature and the Environment, University of Edinburgh

David Higgins, Professor of Environmental Humanities, University of Leeds

David Shackleton, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, Cardiff University

Deborah Ashfield, PhD researcher, University of Exeter

Deborah Schrijvers, PhD student, University College Dublin

declan wiffen, Lecturer in Contemporary Literature and Critical Theory, University of Kent

Diego Molina, British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow, Royal Holloway, University of London

Dom Davies, Senior Lecturer in English, City, University of London

Dominic O'Key, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of Sheffield

Éireann Lorsung, Lecturer/Assistant Professor, School of English, Drama and Film, University College Dublin (IE)

Eline Tabak, PhD researcher, University of Bristol

Emily Herbert, MA Student, Bath Spa University

Emma Blackett, PhD candidate, Communications Studies, McGill University

Emma Davies, PhD Researcher, Bath Spa University

Erica Fudge, Professor of English Studies, University of Strathclyde, Director of the British Animal Studies Network

Erika Hanna

Erin Robinsong, Poet & PhD student, Concordia University, Montreal, Canada

Evelyn Reilly

Faisal Hamadah, Assistant Professor of Postcolonial Studies and Transnationalism

Fizza Batool, PhD, University of Augsburg

Flora Mary Bartlett, Postdoc at Linköping University

Francisco Bustamante, Universidad de la República, Uruguay

Fred Carter, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Glasgow

Gabrielle McLaren, Concordia University

Gerry Kearns, Professor, Geography, Maynooth University, ireland

Gert Van Hecken, UAntwerp

Giovanna Gioli, Senior Lecturer, Bath Spa University

Giulia Champion, Research Fellow, University of Southampton

Graeme Macdonald, Professor of Energy/Environmental Humanities, University of Warwick

Hannah Boast, Chancellor's Fellow, University of Edinburgh; co-convenor of Edinburgh Environmental Humanities Network

Hannah Tollefson, PhD Candidate, McGill University

Heather Alberro, Senior Lecturer, Nottingham Trent University

Helen Moore, PhD candidate

Hugh Dunkerley, Professor of Literature and Environment

Hui Wong, MA Student, McGill University

Irma Allen, Independent scholar

Jade Munslow Ong, Professor of World Literatures in English

Jake Breadman, PhD Student, Queen’s University

Jane Poyner, Associate Professor in World and Postcolonial Literatures, University of Exeter, UK

Jared Margulies, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and the Environment, University of Alabama

Jayson Porter, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Brown University

Jeff Diamanti, Assistant Professor of Environmental Humanities (University of Amsterdam)

Jennifer Baker, Adjunct Professor (LTA), University of Ottawa

Jessica DeWitt, Network in Canadian History and Environment

Jo Walton, University of Sussex

Joan Passey, Lecturer, University of Bristol

Joanna Allan, Associate Professor, Northumbria University

John Bingham-Hall, Co-director, Theatrum Mundi / Associate Lectured, CSM

John Miller, University of Sheffield

Jonathan Skinner, Reader in English and Comparative Literary Studies, University of Warwick

Jonathan Vicente dos Santos, MPH Ferreira, University of Sao Paulo

Jordan Kinder, Assistant Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University

Josephine Taylor, Northeastern University London

Kai Bosworth, Assistant Professor of International Studies, Virginia Commonwealth University

Kapil Yadav, PhD Student, King's College London and Leverhulme Centre for Wildfires

Karen Till, Maynooth University, Department of Geography

Kári Driscoll, Assistant Professor, Utrecht University

Kat Caribeaux, PhD Student, Northwestern University

Kat Waters, PhD Candidate, University of Leeds

Kate Lewis Hood, Postdoctoral Fellow, Royal Holloway University of London

Kate Tomas, Philosopher and activist

Katherine Arnold, Director of Academic Programs, Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society

Katie Ritson, Rachel Carson Center, LMU Munich

Keili Koppel, PhD student

Kyle Sittig, PhD Candidate. Michigan State University

Lakshmi chithra Dilipkumar, PhD student, University of Augsburg

Laura De Vos, Assistant Professor in American studies, Radboud University, Netherlands

Laura Pannekoek, PhD Candidate, Communication, Concordia University Montreal

Leila M. Harris, Professor, University of British Columbia

Leila Walker, Queens College, CUNY

Lisa Tilley, Senior Lecturer, SOAS

Lisa Yin Han, Assistant Professor

Lori Lee Oates, Department of Sociology, Memorial University

Lucy English, Professor of Creative Enterprise Bath Spa University

M Murphy, Professor, University of Toronto

Malcolm Sanger, PhD Student, McGill University

Maria Sledmere, Lecturer at University of Strathclyde

Marianna Dudley, Senior Lecturer, University of Bristol

Mark Griffiths

Martin Savransky, Reader and Director of the Centre for Critical Global Change, Goldsmiths, University of London

Martin Schauss, University of Edinburgh

Matt Barlow, Independent Scholar

Matt Henry, Early Career Researcher

Matt Whittle, Lecturer in Postcolonial Literature, University of Kent

Mattin Biglari, Lecturer in Asian and Middle Eastern Environmental History, University of Bristol

Maya Weeks, Independent scholar and artist

Melanie Ashe, PhD candidate, Monash University

Melanie Ebdon

Mia You, Assistant Professor, Utrecht University

Michael Malay, Lecturer, University of Bristol

Mike Hannis, Programme Leader, MA Environmental Humanities, Bath Spa University

Milo Newman, PhD researcher, University of Bristol

Mo O'Neill, PhD student, University of Sheffield

Moira Marquis, PEN America, Prison and Justice Writing Program

Molly Volanth Hall, Lecturer, Rhode Island School of Design

Muhammad Ali Farooq, Researcher

Nadeen Dakkak, Lecturer in World and Postcolonial Literatures, University of Exeter

Nat Muller, Independent scholar

Nicholas R. Silcox, PhD Candidate, New York University

Nick Lawrence, University of Warwick

Nigel Clark, Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University

Noreen Masud, Lecturer, University of Bristol

olga mikolaivna, eco- poet / UCSD grad student

Olivia Arigho Stiles, Lecturer, Latin American Studies, University of Essex

Olivia Mason, Vice-Chancellor's Fellow, Northumbria University

Owain Lawson, Lecturer, Cardiff University

Pamela Banting, Associate Professor

Patrick Bresnihan, Maynooth University

Patrick Brian Smith, University of Warwick

Patrick Brodie, Assistant Professor, University College Dublin

Paula Gilligan, Senior Lecturer in Film and Cultural Studies, IADT

Penny Hay, Professor of Imagination, Bath Spa University

Peter Adkins, University of Edinburgh

Peter Sands, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of York

Poulomi Choudhury, IRC Scholar and Environmental Humanities PhD Student, University College Dublin

Rachel Murray, Lecturer in Literature and Environment, University of Bristol

Rachel Webb Jekanowski, Assistant Professor, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Memorial University - Grenfell Campus

Ramya Swayamprakash, Assistant Professor

Rangga Kala Mahaswa, Philosophy lecturer

Rebecca Macklin, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow, University of Aberdeen

Rebecca Tamás, Lecturer in Creative Writing, City University

Rebecca Zorach, Mary Jane Crowe Professor of Art and Art History, Northwestern University

Rory Rowan, Geography, Trinity College Dublin

Roxani Krystalli, Lecturer, University of St Andrews

Rupert Alcock, Bath Spa University

Ruslana Lichtzier, PhD Candidate, Art History, Northwestern University

Sam Le Butt, PhD Researcher

Sam Solnick, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, University of Liverpool

Sam Spiegel, Senior Lecturer, University of Edinburgh

Samantha Hind

Samantha Walton, Professor of Modern Literature, Bath Spa University; President of ASLE-UKI

Saowapark Khanman, PhD candidate in Folklore and Cultural Studies, Chulalongkorn University, BKK Thailand

Sara Shahwan, PhD researcher, Goldsmiths, University of London

Sarah Bezan, Lecturer, University College Cork, Ireland

Sarah Fox, Author, PhD Candidate University of British Columbia

Sarah Irving, Lecturer, Staffordshire University

Sean O’Brien, Lecturer in 20th and 21st Century American Literature, University of Bristol

Sevgi Mutlu Sirakova, PhD student

Shazia Rahman, Associate Professor, University of Dayton

Simon Van Schalkwyk, Senior Lecturer, English Studies, University of the Witwatersrand

Sophia Brown, Postdoc, Freie Universität Berlin

Sourit Bhattacharya

Sri Chatterjee, University of Pittsburgh

Steven Swarbrick, Assistant Professor of English, Baruch College, CUNY

Subarna De, University of Groningen

Susanne Ferwerda, Assistant Professor, Utrecht University

Tanya Matthan, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics

Terry Gifford, Visiting Research Fellow, Bath Spa University

Tessa Bolsover, Poet and PhD student, Duke University

Thomas Waller, Postdoctoral Fellow, University College Dublin

Timothy C. Baker, Personal Chair in Scottish and Contemporary Literature, University of Aberdeen

Tom Western, Lecturer in Cultural Geography, UCL

Treasa De Loughry, Lecturer/ Assistant Professor, School of English, Drama, and Film, University College Dublin, Ireland

Tyrone Williams

Ursula Glendinning, MA English Literature, University of Bristol

Utkarsh Roy Choudhury, PhD Candidate, University of Alabama

V'cenza Cirefice, PhD Researcher, University of Galway, Ireland

Wangui Kimari, African Centre for Cities (ACC)

William Welstead, Independent scholar

Xiaoxiao Ma, PhD candidate, School of English, University of Leeds

Zahra Moloo, PhD Candidate, Geography, University of Toronto

Zeynep Oguz, Lecturer, University of Edinburgh

Zhang Haohao, Sichuan University