Haleema Ali - Inspiring Social Change

Use the power of your . You may have seen my last posts - my Ode to the Hopeless Voter. But we don't need poetic words to know that change is needed. Don't be complacent or apathetic. Your voice matters. Your vote matters, so use it wisely. No one party or individual will have all of the answers, but tomorrow is about sending a message, loud and clear: WE DEMAND CHANGE. Sadly, that change will not come from a Labour government under their current leadership. We've heard a tonne of excuses over the past months of those who chose to stay within the party - that's their choice and some may have good intentions. But for those who claimed they were staying to "create change from within", where is that change? When did you call out Starmer for giving the green light to genocide?

We've suffered years of austerity & harm to our communities under a Tory rule, but now the opposition, a Labour government under Starmer, is Tory-lite. We'll suffer further harm if we are led by a man who made some of the most atrocious remarks in history.

So what's the alternative? If we lived in Scotland, Wales or Ireland, the answer to that may be easier, but in England it's tougher. This is why we all need to do our homework. Read manifestos and party policies and pledges from candidates. 

Galvanise. Mobilise. Get your aunties and uncles, brothers and sisters, parents and friends down to vote. Do it for the NHS. Do it for the asylum seekers, seeking safety here after fleeing from untold horrors that we, Britain, created. Weapons funded by us. Do it for the carers, those with disabilities, the single parents & the "key workers" who our country relied on. Do it because you pay water bills that line the pockets of millionaires and leave our waters filled with raw sewage. Do it because you're tired of juggling 3 jobs to make ends meet. Do it because you had to stay at home whilst our leaders were together partying. Do it for those who are no longer here, unable to. 

We're living in times which will make history books. What will your chapter be? Did you choose to endorse the most documented gen.cide in history or did you stand firm against it?

An ode to the hopeless voter (see previous posts of videos of it)
Here's to all the, "It won't make a difference"
To every, "We'll be kicked out of the country if we say anything"
But how does one kick down a body already trampled on, whose soul will keep fighting?
Here's to all the, "We're powerless" folk
To the, "Nothing will ever change"
But does a droplet not form a tsunami?
To every, "Shhh"
We can't say that
You'll get arrested for speaking the truth
To every tax payer who despairs, "I can't get an appointment!"
Scared of the unknown, whilst waiting years for a diagnosis
Call on those in power to replace clapping for our nurses with a proper pay
To those who lost loved ones in an "unprecedented" age
Social distancing whilst politicians were morally distancing
Dancing their way to parties, singing the tune of inequality
To every "vulnerable" family like mine who shielded at home
Will we be shielded from further years of austerity?
To every broken promise of being, "...committed to reaching net zero"
When they can't even commit to providing affordable public transport
Tell me - why is the train from Luton to the Midlands more expensive than a flight to Barcelona?
We can't speak of "emissions" when the only thing politicians emit are lies
For every immigrant parent holding down two jobs,
To the child of the diaspora who filled out their forms
The unpaid translators
It's time to take our pens to the ballots
Here's to the,"They won't give me a job because of my accent"
Ashamed of the tongue which holds decades of culture and tradition
Here's to the brother forced to take the dangerous journey here
The daughter whose dreams drowned away
Let's send a message to those who created a "hostile environment"
This is for all of the, "Go back to where you came from"'s
Maybe if they really wished to, "Stop the boats".
They should stop funding the weapons which cause the refugee crisis
To every, "They'll steal our jobs"
When the real thief stares back at them in the mirror
Stealing dignity and compassion
By Haleema Ali

(Continued in the comments as character limit reached!)

I was heading back from an art workshop in Marsh Farm, Luton, today and noticed what looked like God's name written in the sky. I've tried to draw over it in the image at the bottom to show you where it looks like it says Allah in Arabic 😍.

Unprecedented. A word we all heard when Covid hit. Now, yet again, the world is going through unprecedented times, with the ICJ to deliver their ruling on the South Africa case against Israel shortly. Friday 26th will be a date etched in history and will cause ripples throughout the world. 

With the pandemic, although vast gaps in society were exposed, with disparities laid bare, of certain communities being disproportionately affected by the negative implication of the pandemic than others, as a whole, to a basic level, there was a shared sense of going through bad times together. However, when it comes to the most widely documented genocide this world has ever seen, things couldn't be more different. There are those who support the genocide, and those who oppose it. The world is split. 

Let us be clear: the ICJ ruling does not prove if the atrocities Palestinians are enduring is indeed a or not. There could be no more clear cut genocide than this - the world already knows it is. 

This ruling is a legal matter. Just as rapists and murderers who have r***d or killed often get off scot free, it does not mean that they did not commit their crime.  In the case of South Africa vs Israel, the strongest arguments Israel pushed were those from a technical standpoint. In layman's terms, they have argued on the basis of whether there was a 'dispute' and if the very grounds of the case were legitimate. As an educator, it reminded me of a school exam. You may get all the answers correct, but don't get any marks assigned as you didn't put your student number on the front page. Whichever way the ruling goes, there will be huge repercussions.

Jesus taught to love thy neighbour. Not genocide thy neighbour.

At the very time his life is being celebrated, his birthplace and those who live in the holy land are being destroyed.

What a strange time we are living in.

How can you mark Jesus's life, whilst staying silent when the children of the land, which you believe was his birthplace, are being massacred?

How can you celebrate whilst staying silent on the destruction of the holy land?

Did you forget that Jesus is Palestinian?

"Jesus was born among the occupied," says the pastor. In Bethlehem, Christmas is cancelled, in solidarity with Gaza. Yet in the West, the very essence of Christmas is destroyed by those who ignore the annihilation of the holy land and it's people.

Whilst you dress up your child for a Nativity play
A Palestinian mother covers her child for the last time
Whilst you set up the stage of the holy land
The real holy land is being obliterated
Whilst you do your Christmas shopping
Christmas is cancelled in Bethlehem

Gifted this beautiful kufiya by my sister, made in the last remaining kufiya factory in , . If you can, rather than buying one elsewhere, support a Palestinian business. Fashion can be a form of . Wear your . They have many colour variations. Mine is their design, symbolising Gazans joyful nature, zest for life and resilience. I love wearing colourful clothing, but wearing something with a deeper meaning makes it even more beautiful. I'd love to see others sharing their . 

The full description was:

"This Palestinian Keffiyeh features a captivating pattern in green, yellow, rose, and bordaux, creating a dynamic and eye-catching design. The red laces that surround the vibrant Shemagh pay tribute to the Gazans’ love for spicy food, where chilli is a staple ingredient in their flavorful cuisine. Immerse yourself in the joyful nature of the Gazans as you embrace this unique and meaningful Keffiyeh, a symbol of their resilience and zest for life. Despite enduring centuries of bitter contestation by various powers throughout history, Gaza, known as “Gazza Ard el-Izza” (the glorious city), remains at the forefront of Palestinian history. It is here that the Israeli occupation is repeatedly challenged, showcasing the unwavering spirit and determination of its people".