[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