Report # 1
November 2002
The Campaign
Information Collection and Research
The Campaign has noted from its inception that the information that currently exists regarding the Apartheid Wall and its immediate and long-term consequences is scattered. It is therefore no surprise that the Campaign itself is the coordinated efforts of those NGOs that have been most active in various efforts surrounding the Apartheid Wall. For this report, the Coordinating Committee members, who have all individually been working on particular aspects of the Apartheid Wall, have brought their information together. This report therefore was an important, initial exercise in bridging information and, consequently, of discovering where there is a need for further information collection.
The role of information collection has direct bearing on the ability to campaign successfully against the Apartheid Wall and on behalf of the families, landowners, and villages affected by it. The inability to access basic information from Israel and the military surrounding the Apartheid Wall only increases the need to be prepared and aware, in order to know what to expect. In order to answer to various local needs, the Campaign, through direct contact, must have knowledge of what those needs are and what present and future problems the Apartheid Wall will produce. Generally stated, information has direct bearing on the Campaign strategy.
Currently, a questionnaire is being circulated to the inhabitants of the areas affected by the Apartheid Wall to assess the actual losses in terms of water resources and land.
On the level of international advocacy, there is a fundamental need to provide people with updated information on what is taking place on the ground, to ensure their appreciation for what is actually taking place. Ultimately, the facts are so disturbing that they play an important role in emphasizing the urgency of the Campaign.
The Campaign’s Research and Information subcommittee is responsible for overseeing the efforts of Campaign researchers and field officers, most of which are employees of the participating organizations. The subcommittee outlines a work plan and time table for information collection, provides guidance and support for the methodology and questionnaires, and ensures that the information is accurate and comprehensive. This report, and any following reports, are the overriding responsibility of the subcommittee.
The Emergency Centers are also filling an important role in information collection.
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