One year ago, everything that comprises CLP today was just an idea in the hands of a small group of authors and volunteers. It was a rough, urgent idea, constrained by the fragility and uncertainty of life in Gaza, but insistent upon existence. We had no name, no logo, no physical or digital architecture, and the obstacles facing us were formidable: starvation, displacement, bombardment, and the obliteration of society and ecology in the strip. The community held strong, believing in the power of trust and connection to break the siege and uphold the rights of the oppressed against occupiers. Of utmost importance was the principle that the initiative should be Gaza-led.
Now as we gaze upon a catalogue of more than forty titles written by authors in or recently evacuated from Gaza, and hundreds of community members around the world, we can’t help but believe that rough, urgent, uncertain ideas about how to sustain life and provide care are the seeds of humanity. All they need are places to grow.
To celebrate this important milestone, volunteers Carina Zidan and Louis Bruekner have stitched together this beautiful video. We hope you will spread it widely and find inspiration in the stories and testimonies our authors have shared through Zines from Gaza.