SIYE DLAMINI

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Written By Weave News

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Siye Dlamini grew up in the beautiful Kingdom of Eswatini and at 20 years old moved to the USA to pursue a Bachelor's degree. She graduated with an honors degree in Political Science. Storytelling is a big part of Siye’s identity. She always says that she grew up in theatre, and throughout her life, she has used it for her storytelling. Siye is currently exploring a career in digital content production, which she is finding to be an extension of her passion for storytelling. Siye has experience in video and audio content production, branding, and marketing.

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Life is Already Serious: A Report from the Madrid Student Encampment
Life is Already Serious: A Report from the Madrid Student Encampment

John Collins and Derek Sherrange report from Madrid, Spain, where students are turning up the heat on universities that remain complicit in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Interweaving with Jorge Ramos Tolosa: Spain’s First Student Encampment for Palestine
Interweaving with Jorge Ramos Tolosa: Spain’s First Student Encampment for Palestine

To learn more about the first encampment in Valencia, I reached out to Dr. Jorge Ramos Tolosa, who teaches contemporary history at UV. In addition to his scholarship and teaching, he is a longtime activist with BDS Valencia and the Red Solidaria contra la Ocupación de Palestina (RESCOP), a network of Spanish organizations working in solidarity with Palestine.

A Response to Forced Assimilation in the Hadzabe Tribe
A Response to Forced Assimilation in the Hadzabe Tribe

My name is Fousani Hamidou, and I am a senior at St Lawrence University (Canton, NY, USA), majoring in Global Studies with a minor in African Studies. Last semester, I studied abroad in Kenya and had the opportunity to travel to Arusha, Tanzania, as a part of my program. We lived for a week alongside the Hadzabe tribe, one of the last surviving hunter-gathering tribes in the country. Throughout the week, we hunted hyraxes and made arrows with the Hadzabe men, and we gathered tubas (a tree root) and made beads with the Hadza women. On the last night, we all gathered with members of the tribe on a large rock by the camp to discuss their lifestyle, the Tanzanian government, education, and forced assimilation.

War, War, and War
War, War, and War

In his latest column, economist Fernando Luengo writes ot the warlike climate that is growing in Europe and how it directly shapes a range of problems facing people across the continent and beyond.

This Europe, No
This Europe, No

From June 6-9, elections for the European Parliament, the only genuinely democratic institution in the community’s institutional framework - its members are directly chosen by the citizenry, whereas the rest are intergovernmental in nature - will be held. It is a good moment to think about the challenges facing the European Union (EU) and, I would say, the entire planet.

Humans, Not Numbers: Gaza’s Agony Through the Eyes of a Palestinian in Denmark
Humans, Not Numbers: Gaza’s Agony Through the Eyes of a Palestinian in Denmark

'We have two options now: dying or dying.'

This was a text message that Salahaldin (Salah) Eleyan received from his brother from Northern Gaza, Palestine.

Boycott en el Barrio: Spanish Protesters Reject Israeli Propaganda Efforts
Boycott en el Barrio: Spanish Protesters Reject Israeli Propaganda Efforts

On an ordinary Wednesday morning in the calm, well-to-do Chamberi district of Madrid, a group of about 150 Spaniards stood on the street corner opposite a large cultural center, with riot police watching on intently, and chanted:

“Murderers! Murderers! Shame! Shame!”

The People of Buffalo Remember Those Lost in the Buffalo Blizzard of 2022
The People of Buffalo Remember Those Lost in the Buffalo Blizzard of 2022
Manal Tamimi on Life and “Resisting Alone” in the West Bank After October 7
Manal Tamimi on Life and “Resisting Alone” in the West Bank After October 7

On March 3, more than 100 people showed up in Madrid, Spain, to hear a first-hand report from Manal Tamimi, a Palestinian activist whose family has been at the center of resistance efforts in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh. In a talk that was both moving and sobering, Tamimi spoke passionately about the ongoing struggle of West Bank Palestinians at a time when the Israeli state’s machinery of violence appears to be more emboldened than ever thanks to the active and passive support of governments the world over.

The Numbing Language That the Left Cannot Accept
The Numbing Language That the Left Cannot Accept

It’s very necessary to focus on the terms that are habitually used in economics - and the so-called social sciences in general - and that are often taken for granted. Because these terms almost always have a purpose, which can be difficult or even annoying to uncover. In other words, language, seemingly innocuous, defines a playing field and also, in a way, the rules of the game as well as the possible explanations and alternatives. And this is no small thing.

The Scarcest Resource is Wilderness: A Call to Oppose the Copperwood Mine Project
The Scarcest Resource is Wilderness: A Call to Oppose the Copperwood Mine Project

Lake Superior — or Gichigami, as the Anishinaabe call her — is a mighty spirit. She has cast a forcefield around the Upper Midwest, protecting it from development by bestowing us with atrocious farming soil, and indeed I have dented my shovel trying to dig a four-inch hole. But this is where the plot thickens. Because Lake Superior’s protection is not absolute, and rich geology doesn’t just attract agate hunters…

It also brings mines.

Interweaving with Somdeep Sen: The ICJ’s Investigation of Israel and the Possibilities and Limitations of International Law
Interweaving with Somdeep Sen: The ICJ’s Investigation of Israel and the Possibilities and Limitations of International Law

On December 29, 2023, South Africa brought a case against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, arguing that Israel was committing genocide against the Palestinian population in Gaza. On January 11-12, 2024, the ICJ held public hearings on South Africa’s request for provisional measures of protection for the people of Gaza and eventually ruled that Israel was responsible for taking all necessary measures to prevent “acts of genocide” in Gaza. The ongoing ICJ case has been the subject of significant debate. To explore the issue further, I reached out to Dr. Somdeep Sen, a frequent Weave News contributor and a professor at Roskilde University.

“The Human Tribe” from Naples to NYC
“The Human Tribe” from Naples to NYC

One of the most incredible aspects of street art is that it can take many forms and mean many things — from a small sticker pasted onto a trash can to graffiti found in a subway car to paste-ups adorning a fence. Being from Mexico, I have always felt strongly connected to murals and their powerful messages. Murals are big. Murals are vibrant. Murals are captivating. In this third installment, I am excited to share my journey of leaving New York City to start the second half of my off-campus year studying in Italy, and to share my experience with Jorit, an internationally known Italian urban artist.

“Everyone has an obligation”: Madrid Panel Highlights Urgent Calls for Israel Arms Embargo
“Everyone has an obligation”: Madrid Panel Highlights Urgent Calls for Israel Arms Embargo

How can international governments justify continuing to maintain arms sales to and from Israel at a time when Israel is actively carrying out a genocide in Gaza? And what will it take in order to change this intolerable reality? These were the central questions animating a panel discussion held recently in Spain, where grassroots pressure for an arms embargo on Israel continues to grow.

Ghassan Hage: Statement Regarding My Sacking from the Max Planck Institute of Social Anthropology
Ghassan Hage: Statement Regarding My Sacking from the Max Planck Institute of Social Anthropology

On Feb. 9, 2024, renowned anthropologist Dr. Ghassan Hage released a public statement on the decision of the Max Planck Institute to sever its relationship with him because of his public statements regarding Israeli violence against Palestinians. We are republishing this statement here with Dr. Hage’s permission.

Goodbye to Economic Globalization?
Goodbye to Economic Globalization?

I headline this article with a question that, given the economic, political, and also military divisions that are shaking the international scene, might appear to have an obvious answer: in effect, globalization is behind us. But there is another, earlier question that turns out to be quite revealing and, in my opinion, is necessary to pose: which globalization are we talking about?

Yolanda Díaz Says Labor Is Not a Commodity: A Serious Mistake
Yolanda Díaz Says Labor Is Not a Commodity: A Serious Mistake

In the capitalist system, writes Fernando Luengo, “Workers offer their labor power to the owners of the means of production, who buy it in exchange for a wage. This is the essence of capitalism; far from being a peripheral or irrelevant issue, I would say that it constitutes one of the keys that explain the operation and reproduction of the system.”

Deconstructing Colonial Narratives in Spain
Deconstructing Colonial Narratives in Spain

As I wheeled my luggage into the John F. Kennedy airport terminal in New York City, the air was filled with a symphony of sounds that blended the murmurs of conversations in different languages, the echoing announcements over the intercom, and the occasional distant rumble of airplane engines. My heart raced, erratic beats echoing in my chest as I waited for my plane to board. It was my first time traveling abroad as a first-generation Latina, and I was filled with excitement as I embarked on my journey to Spain. Prior to my departure, I knew that I wanted to learn more about decolonization, and I believed that Spain was the perfect place for this pursuit.

Malaga for Palestine: “The generations surge together in resistance to meet the reality of power”
Malaga for Palestine: “The generations surge together in resistance to meet the reality of power”

I woke up this morning in Malaga with the knowledge that today was an important day in Spain: a day of nationwide demonstrations calling for an end to Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza. At a time when European leaders continue to fail to meet their basic moral obligations vis-a-vis the Palestinian people, more than 70 Spanish cities from Alacant and Albacete to Zamora and Zaragoza were scheduled to host actions under the common banner of stopping the genocide, ending arms sales to Israel, and cutting off diplomatic relations with the apartheid state.

Something You Might Not Know About: Blackstone’s Champlain Hudson Power Express
Something You Might Not Know About: Blackstone’s Champlain Hudson Power Express

The Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE), a transmission corridor owned by a subsidiary of private equity group Blackstone, is designed to import hydroelectricity from Canada to Queens. A closer look at the situation, however, reveals that the project represents an effort by a leading fossil fuel profiteer to augment its fossil fuel profits with greenwashed imported hydropower as a false climate solution.

Byte the Bullet: NYT Takes on Tech Titans in a Copyright Showdown Over AI
Byte the Bullet: NYT Takes on Tech Titans in a Copyright Showdown Over AI

In a seismic collision of technology and journalism, December 2023 witnessed The New York Times (NYT) thrusting the issue of artificial intelligence (AI) into legal and ethical crossfires. The NYT lodged a lawsuit against tech giants and AI-industry leaders Microsoft and OpenAI, pinpointing their ChatGPT language model for alleged copyright infringement. The charge is weighty: ChatGPT purportedly harnessed millions of NYT articles, even those shielded behind paywalls, to mold its language learning capabilities.

Interweaving With Vonetta T. Rhodes: “Child care is a civil right and a public good”
Interweaving With Vonetta T. Rhodes: “Child care is a civil right and a public good”

When I started studying New York State child care policy in spring 2023, I met Ms. Rhodes, co-founder of Western New York Child Care Action Team, while supervising a qualitative study of Erie County child care providers. Ms. Rhodes introduced me to local providers and coached me through the ins and outs of a complicated industry seeking concrete reforms at the State level. Now, I am embedded in the Child Care Community of Erie County and remain inspired to effect political change, beginning with workforce compensation reforms which will improve wages for child care workers. My passion for this work is largely influenced by Ms. Rhodes’s mentorship, helping me understand the nuances of early childhood education and care, as well as connecting me to other researchers, advocates, providers, and parents who are impassioned about child care policy reform. I had an opportunity to interview Ms. Rhodes, and to publish the interview here with the support of Weave News.

Child Care and the New York State of the State Address 2024
Child Care and the New York State of the State Address 2024

No one seems to be talking about how criminally underpaid child care professionals are in New York State. A coalition of child care providers, advocates, and parents, the Empire State Campaign for Child Care, has announced that child care workforce compensation and development are the top policy priority for the industry. There is consensus about this priority among providers, advocates, and parents outside of the statewide coalition as well. Child care professionals rank among the lowest paid professions in New York State. As the workforce behind the workforce, child care professionals facilitate the working lives of millions. If they remain underpaid and abandon the industry, which they have been over the last few years, the collapse of the child care industry would create unimaginable social ruptures. The child care community wants better pay and government support to achieve it. Will Governor Hochul say anything about child care? Will she invest in workforce compensation for child care professionals?

Child Care: Underreported and Underappreciated
Child Care: Underreported and Underappreciated

On Wednesday, December 13, child care advocates from across New York State gathered in front of the midtown Manhattan building where the Governor stays on New York City trips, 633 Third Avenue. There were close to 30 activists huddled together holding signs, speaking into mics, and demanding that Governor Hochul sign the Decoupling Bill. The Empire State Campaign for Child Care, led by Dede Hill, Executive Director of the Schuyler Center, hosted the rally. I was there, too.

The Anti-Zionist Generation: Gen Z Demands an End to the Israeli Occupation Despite Widespread Repression
The Anti-Zionist Generation: Gen Z Demands an End to the Israeli Occupation Despite Widespread Repression

On Thursday, November 16, I attended a “huelga estudantil” (student strike) held in Madrid, Spain, in support of Palestine. I was amazed to look out at the crowd and see such a diversity of young faces ranging from middle school students to university-age young adults. It was a truly diverse coalition of young people who were all there for the same reason: to condemn the current Israeli assault on Gaza and call for an end to the Israeli occupation. The fact that such a large group of students left their classrooms vacant to take to the streets in support of Palestine gave a strong sense that Gen Z is fiercely challenging the normalization of Israeli oppression.

Ione Belarra: To Stop Genocide in Palestine, We Must Use Our Heads and Our Hearts
Ione Belarra: To Stop Genocide in Palestine, We Must Use Our Heads and Our Hearts

s part of my commitment to bringing justice-oriented voices from Spain to a broader audience, especially in the context of the ongoing struggle for justice in Palestine, I am providing this English translation of remarks made by Ione Belarra, leader of the leftist Podemos party and Minister of Social Rights in the Spanish government between 2021 and 2023. Belarra spoke at a Podemos-organized event at the Circulo de Bellas Artes in Madrid marking 76 years since the beginning of the Palestinian Nakba.

Netanyahu, Collateral Language, and the Gaza Effect
Netanyahu, Collateral Language, and the Gaza Effect

When Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke with international media on October 30, he ostensibly sought to clarify Israel's objectives in its ongoing military assault in Gaza. In doing so, he revealed yet again how language grounded in colonial denial serves to clear the way for the most extreme, even genocidal forms of violence. He also revealed, however, that Israel's brutal bombardment of Gaza may be providing an opening for us to revive a different, more liberating kind of language, one that survives the propagandistic weapons of colonial discourse as embers in the rubble of generational trauma.

‘Much more than a bathroom’: NGO Battles Argentina's High Inflation in Mission to Support Hygiene and Public Health
‘Much more than a bathroom’: NGO Battles Argentina's High Inflation in Mission to Support Hygiene and Public Health

This year, the children of two families outside Buenos Aires celebrated a simple yet essential pleasure for the first time in their lives: the warmth of a shower inside their own home. This sea change resulted from the work of a group of volunteers who undertook bathroom construction in 48 hours under the auspices of Módulo Sanitario, an Argentinian non-governmental organization (NGO) that provides bathrooms for those without access to them.

Massacre of the Soul
Massacre of the Soul

It’s been more than a month since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. In that month, I carried on with my day-to-day activities albeit with a heavy heart for the victims of the war. The officials and military combatants are not at the center of my thoughts and worries – the civilians are. Before the attacks, they bore the brunt of the war and terror in the region, and for decades after they will, too.

Colonization in Palestine is an Objective Reality, Not a Talking Point
Colonization in Palestine is an Objective Reality, Not a Talking Point

As recently as a few years ago, it would have been very unusual to see an article in a major US publication openly trying to refute what much of the world knows: that Israel’s project in Palestine is a settler colonial project. The standard practice was simply to ignore the colonization issue. Yet in recent months, we are seeing more and more pieces seeking to debunk the “decolonization narrative,” all the more so since Israel began its genocidal assault on Gaza after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks. This is a welcome sign that the colonizers are losing control of the narrative.

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