Ariel University barred by Spain from participating in US Department of Energy competition

The Europeans are ramping up their repulsiveness.
And, quite possibly, breaking US law.


West Bank university disqualified from competition
September 22, 2009

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- A Spanish government ministry disqualified an Israeli university from an international competition for being in "occupied territory."

The Spanish Housing Ministry, in a letter sent last Friday to the Ariel University Center, said it was disqualifying the architecture department from competing in the finals of an international competition in Madrid next month to build a house that runs on solar power.

"The decision was made by the Spanish government based on the fact that the university is located in occupied territory in the West Bank," read the letter signed by Sergio Vega, project manager of the Solar Decathlon, Ynet reported. "The Spanish government is committed to uphold the international agreement under the framework of the European Union and the United Nations regarding this geographical area."
[CUT]
The disqualification comes in the wake of an inititative by the Britian-based group Architects and Planners for Justice in Palestine, Ynet reported.

Organized by the U.S. Department of Energy, the competition until this year had been held in Washington.

Source:
http://jta.org/news/article/2009/09/22/1008040/israeli-university-disqualified-from-competition



This action by the Spanish government would co-opt the US government into their odious anti-Israel jihad -- the competition is in great part an American affair.

Quote:
The international and biennial event is sponsored by the United States Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
End quote.

Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Decathlon

[NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC http://www.nrel.gov/]


The event itself proudly advertises that it is sponsored by the United States Department of Energy.


"The Solar Decathlon is an educational project of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). "
http://www.solardecathlon.org/


The EUROPEAN Solar Decathlon lists these sponsors:

Ministerio de Vivencia
http://www.mviv.es/es/index.php

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
http://www2.upm.es/institucional

El Ayuntamiento de Madrid
http://www.blogger.com/www.munimadrid.es

The United States Department of Energy (DOE)
http://www.energy.gov/

Solar Decathlon USA
http://www.solardecathlon.org/


Hmmmmm?

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In conflict with U.S. interests.....


At the very least, this action goes against the ideals of the event, and injects a note of rank provincialism into the competition. Which is quite European, and possibly criminal.


Please note:
http://www.bis.doc.gov/complianceandenforcement/antiboycottcompliance.htm

U.S. Department of Commerce - BIS/Office of Antiboycott Compliance
Room 6098
1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
(202) 482-2381

Department of the Treasury - Office of the General Counsel
Room 2004
Washington, D.C. 20220
(202) 622-1945

Quote:
Conduct that may be penalized under the TRA and/or prohibited under the EAR includes: Agreements to refuse or actual refusal to do business with or in Israel or with blacklisted companies.
End quote:

Source:
http://www.bis.doc.gov/complianceandenforcement/antiboycottcompliance.htm#whatsprohibited


US Department of Commerce trade rules prohibit the participation of US citizens in embargoes or economic boycotts, and apply to "all persons and every aspect of commerce".

Methinks the Spanish action may interfere with ANY participation at all by US companies and government agencies in this competition.

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If you wish to let the Spanish government know what you think.....


Embajada de España
Ambassador: Jorge Dezcallar
Embassy: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037.
Telephone: 202-452-0100, 202-728-2340
FAX: 202-833-5670
http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Embajadas/Washington/es/home/Paginas/Home.aspx


Consulado General de España en San Francisco
Cónsul General: D. Manuel Pradas Romaní.
Consulate: 1405 Sutter Street, San Francisco, California 94109.
415-922-2995
http://www.maec.es/subwebs/Consulados/SanFrancisco/es/home/Paginas/Home.aspx


If you write be polite and to the point, and please abstain from reminding the Euries of their reprehensible past - both the brutal history of colonialism and the institutional racism of Europe are not entirely germane.
And apparently they no longer torture religious dissidents and heretics over there.