AFOPA Past Events and Projects
2010
October 8th 2010 - Friday Night (6pm-7pm) Seacret Boycott in Adelaide Myer Centre - See the YouTube! Includes participation by Tariq Ali!
October 15th 2010 - Friday Night (6pm-7pm) Seacret Boycott in Adelaide Myer Centre - See our second YouTube!
October 9th 2010 - Annual Edward Said Memorial Lecture - Click Here for further details
The ESML is AFOPA's showpiece event. This year's Guest Speaker, Tariq Ali, took us on a journey of intellectual re-evaluation of where we morally stand as human beings in regards to the oppression of people worldwide, the political and historic context surrounding the Israeli Apartheid Regime, and how the distinction between oppressor and oppressed, in the Occupied Territories of Palestine, is a clear today as it was during Al-Nakba in 1948.
Edward Said Memorial Lecture - A History
Edward Wadie Said was a Palestinian-American literary theorist and one of the most articulate and visible advocates of the Palestinian cause. He taught English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. Before his death in 2003, Professor Said was seen as one of the leading literary critics of the 20th century, and described by many as an 'Intellectual Superstar' in the United States.
11th August 2010 - Documentary Presentation - 'Hope in a Slingshot' by Inka Stafrace - Click Here
Mercury Cinema, 13 Morphett Street, Adelaide, 6:30pm, Entrance Fee $10 - All proceeds went towards AFOPA's ongoing humanitarian projects in Gaza/West Bank.
A documentary by Inka Stafrace as she journeys through Israeli military incursions in the West Bank to discover for herself some of the human truths behind this devastating issue that holds the world in divide.
Decision to broadcast by the ABC was inexplicably reversed.
21 July 2010 - AFOPA Annual General Meeting - Click Here
20th July 2010 - What's going on in Gaza - An eyewitness account - Click Here
An eyewitness account of conditions in Gaza: the effects of the blockade, the 2009 invasion and why all this is happening.
Special Guest Speaker: Constantine Dabbagh. Constantine Dabbagh is an Executive Director of the Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees in the Gaza Strip run by the Middle East Council of Churches.
2nd June 2010 - Candlelight Vigil outside SA Parliament House in protest of deadly Israeli Flotilla Attack - Click Here
20th March 2010 - AFOPA Annual Fundraising Dinner - Click Here
17th March 2010 - 7th April 2010 - Life in Gaza Today Art Exhibition - Click Here
PROJECTS
1. 26th May - 5th June 2010 - GUPW (General Union of Palestinian Women) Baby Massage Implementation Program in Lebanon - Click Here
Location: Ein al-Hilweh, or 'sweet spring' in Arabic, is the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon with over 70,000 refugees, located on the outskirts of the port of Sidon.
Participants: Community Based Rehabilitation Centre for persons with disability (CBRC), General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW), Merlin Nathan (Occupational Therapist, AFOPA member)
Merlin Nathan, an Occupational Therapist, recently arrived back in Adelaide from a mission helping Palestinian mothers develop techniques to massage their disabled children.
2. 25th - 28th May 2010 - Saida eye surgery mission
Dr Francis Nathan, Senior Visiting Ophthalmologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, travelled to Saida, Lebanon, to perform eye surgery on a number of Palestinian Refugees.
As stated by Dr Nathan in his report (attached) there were unfortunately some logistical problems which resulted in fewer operations being performed than were hoped for. Having said that 22 operations in 3 days is a marvelous achievement. AFOPA extends its sincere thanks to AFOPA member Dr. Nathan, as well as Dr Amal al Sayyed from Jordan and Dr Hassan Manana from Saida, Lebanon, in performing this wondering work.
As stated by Dr. Nathan in his report, additional AFOPA funds are desperately needed to refurbish the Eye Clinic with new equipment. You can donate via PayPal or via our Donation Form
Picture: Dr. Nathan with 2 patients, husband and wife, post operation.
2009
1. 21st - 25th March 2010 - PCRF Surgical Eye Mission in Nablus - Click Here
This mission was conducted by Dr. Francis Nathan, along with Dr. Anan Matar, Eye Surgeon at Rafidia Hospital, Nablus.
Mission Achievements
1. Fifty cataract operations completed 48 with lens implants.
2. Scan Optics microscope, donated by AFOPA, worked well during operations, after AFOPA financed repairs in Adelaide, organised by Dr. Nathan, managed to correct the focusing mechanism.
3. $1000 donated by Dr. Nathan, on behalf of AFOPA, to the PCRF Eyeglasses project - half to West Bank and half to Lebanon.
Picture: Dr. Francis Nathan during an operation during the mission.