We are a group of book-lovers who truly believe in the power of words to shift hearts and minds.
 

With the RWAG merchandise our focus is the most distilled and powerful form of language: the poem. The original RWAG series showcased three different poems on the reverse of the items, written by superb Australian poets in response to the genocide unfolding in Gaza. The poems are ‘Algo in the genocide’ by Omar Sakr; ‘Footnotes for Gaza’ by Sara M Saleh; and ‘One day the books will count the dead’ by Evelyn Araluen.

The second RWAG series highlights work by poets and writers who are living through the genocide in Gaza. These are: Mahmoud Alshaer, Nour Abdel Latif, Batool Abu Akleen and Dr Ezzideen Shehab. There are full poems and also short extracts from their work, which are reproduced with permission. The extracts appear in both Arabic and English.

We have also added the work of five UK-based writers and poets. The poems are: ‘G’ by Zaffar Kunial, ‘I want to be the moonlight on Gaza’ by Zain Rishi, ‘This is not a war’ by Max Porter; ‘Call it a famine’ by Hollie McNish, and ‘For Palestine’ by Clara-Læïla Laudette.

All of the proceeds from Australian sales are divided between mutual aid for the 4 Gazan writers and three Palestinian organisations: PARA (that helps Gazan families who resettle in Australia), Olive Kids (a Palestinian Australian children’s charity) and APAN (Australia Palestine Advocacy Network).

[RWAG original logo and poems designed by Kirsty Wilson; Arabic versions designed by Maria Speyer]