The Moon for Palestine
What is The Moon for Palestine?
The Moon for Palestine is an astronomy-based fundraiser to provide desperately-needed aid to the people of Palestine in the face of ongoing genocide. Appropriate for all ages, and including not only the science but also the art and culture of the moon, The Moon for Palestine aims to drive material support and attention to the right of the Palestinian people to live and thrive under the sky we all share, without threat of state violence.
Want to sign up? Click here!
FAQ:
How does it work?
During the month of Ramadan (beginning march 11), I’ll be sharing a variety of fun astronomy content, mostly centered on our nearest and dearest celestial body: the moon! The program will include skygazing tips for the month, as well as astronomical, artistic, and cultural info about (and inspired by) the Moon.
How do I sign up?
It's easy! Make a donation to one of the organizations listed on the sign up form, and submit your donation receipt by filling out this form. When i receive your receipt and info, i will send you info on how to access credentials, and then you're in! New things post all month long, so you can sign up any time within the month to access everything posted up until then, as well as new content as it comes out!
What organizations does the Moon for Palestine benefit?
I've chosen to focus fundraising on the following three orgs (please note, I have no personal relationship with these organizations, I just think they do good work). You can read about each of them here:
Heal Palestine: https://www.healpalestine.org/
GLIA: https://glia.org/products/tourniquets-for-gaza
Palestinian Childrens' Relief Fund: https://www.pcrf.net/
Why during Ramadan? Do I have to be Muslim?
First, no you do not need to be Muslim, or religious at all, to participate in the Moon for Palestine! I chose Ramadan because it's happening now, with the sighting of the new crescent moon (Islam is based on the lunar calendar, with Ramadan being the holy month in which Muslims believe the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the prophet Muhammad)
Ramadan (and particularly this Ramadan, which takes place during a genocide and without a ceasefire) is a fraught time for Muslims in Palestine: during Ramadan, Palestinian Muslims need access to the al-Aqsa mosque, located in al-Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem, for prayers that are only performed during Ramadan. Access to al-Haram al-Sharif is controlled by Israel, which restricts access to the mosque. In addition, Ramadan is typically observed by fasting, and with many Palestinians on the brink of starvation already, there is particular danger for Palestinian Muslims for wish to observe their religious customs under these desperate circumstances. Read more here.