Our Commitment to PACBI

Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel

At shado, we know that decolonisation is not a metaphor. 

With this spirit, in complete solidarity with the people of Palestine - who have continued to resist the genocidal violence of Western imperialism and Zionism for over a century - shado magazine is proud to adhere to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).

Initiated in 2004, PACBI is a founding member of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement’s National Committee. An extremely useful FAQ on PACBI has been made available by Writers Against the War on Gaza here. 

We commit to this boycott understanding the material impact it has in the struggle for Palestinian liberation. We know that Israeli academic and cultural institutions play a key role in normalising the Zionist entity and its genocidal regime of occupation, settler-colonialism, and apartheid.

Whether it is the universities participating in developing weapons systems or military doctrines for Israel, or cultural institutions whitewashing Israel’s colonial subjugation of Palestinians through the arts, we, as a global community of artists, activists, and writers, refuse to accept that any cultural or academic development should come at the cost of Palestinian freedom, justice, and equality. 

Just as South African anti-apartheid activists called on international artists, writers, and cultural institutions to culturally boycott South Africa, PACBI urges international cultural workers and cultural organizations - including unions and associations - to boycott and/or work towards the cancellation of events, activities, agreements, or projects involving Israel, its lobby groups or its cultural institutions. 

By endorsing PACBI, shado therefore commits to its guidelines, which include the following:

• Boycotting cultural products & events commissioned or funded by official Israeli bodies

• Refusing to participate in projects with Israeli institutions complicit in the normalisation of the occupation of Palestine.

• Refusing to participate in projects that normalise the occupation of Palestine + dispossession of Palestinians, drawing a false symmetry between oppressor and oppressed. 

• Advocating for other collectives, groups, and individuals to engage with BDS and PACBI. 

To learn more about PACBI and sign on, click here.