Generation Climate Rising

Letter to the editor: Bowdoin Justice Coalition

To the Editors:
I am a member of the Bowdoin Justice Coalition. This is our mission statement:
The Meeting in the Union was our first effort to bring to light some of the issues that plague our world and pervade our campus. Going forward, it is our mission to facilitate a continued dialogue between members of the community about these issues, and work together toward concrete change—toward equal opportunity and equal treatment at Bowdoin. With increased communication between students, administrators, faculty, and staff, we are optimistic that BJC will promote self-reflection, respect, a desire to learn, and a more urgent desire for progress. We envision a more integrated and inclusive culture here, and believe that real, institutional change is possible.
If you would like to get involved or have any questions, please email me at embsimon@gmail.com.
Emily Simon ’17

Letter to the editor: SJP petition is anti-Semitic

To the editors:
For the second time in as many weeks, Orient contributors have published articles as agents of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a movement that has called for an “academic and cultural boycott of Israeli institutions.”
Israel is not a perfect nation, and there are certainly aspects of its domestic and foreign policy that are open to criticism and debate. But make no mistake, the “Petition for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel” that has been circulated by SJP, is deeply anti-Semitic and should be labeled as such.
I make this claim within the framework of our State Department under former Secretary Clinton and President Obama who adopted the “Three Ds” test for identifying twenty-first century anti-Semitism
1. Demonization: SJP and its agents consistently and unfairly demonize Israel and compare its “genocidal practices” to those of the Nazis during the Holocaust or South African apartheid. Such comparisons are, of course, illegitimate and false.
2. Double Standards: The petition notes “Israel’s systemic violation of fundamental human rights.” The multitudes of nations with significantly worse human rights records than Israel (China, Russia and Saudi Arabia to name a small few) are left unmentioned.
3. Delegitimization: The petition questions Israel’s fundamental right to exist as a Jewish state and SJP’s agents label Zionism (the movement articulating the principle of Jewish self-determination) as racist.
SJP and their boycott petition fail the test.
In 2011, the State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Hannah Rosenthal said, “When all academics and experts from Israel are effectively banned or their conferences boycotted, or individual Jews are held responsible for Israeli policy—this is not objecting to a policy—this is anti-Semitism.”
Rather than boycotting Israel, Bowdoin should strive to invite those from all viewpoints to campus and expand debate towards the shared goal of a peaceful two-state solution.
Sincerely,
Alex Linhart ’06

Letter to the editor

April 3, 2015

To the editors:

In the fall, 100 Bowdoin students travelled to NYC for the People’s Climate March, a historic collection of people in support of a greener future. Now, another movement is starting in our own state of Maine, and it could be the perfect opportunity to unite different perspectives under the shared goal of protecting the environment and our future. If you have an opinion on how to solve the climate crisis, come to Generation Climate Rising and make your voice heard!

Governor Paul LePage is failing to protect Maine and its residents by vetoing policies that aim to make the state more sustainable. Maine citizens are currently at risk from warming waters and record snowfall which disproportionately affect indigenous groups and those who rely on Maine’s natural resources for income and industry. The burden of climate change will be passed to our generation. This is not just an environmental issue. This is an issue of justice.

Hundreds of students and citizens will march on the Blaine House in the biggest climate action in Maine’s history. Join Green Bowdoin and Bowdoin Climate Action as we march in Augusta. Let us remind our governor what our state motto—“Dirigo,” (I lead)—really means.

The march will take place on Saturday, April 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Contact mlemalbr@bowdoin.edu about transportation.

Come protect the common good. Come preserve Maine’s natural wealth. Come make history!

Sincerely,
Maddie Lemal-Brown ’18
Ellie Mersereau ’18

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