Waltham Forest PSC

WFPSC Branch Meeting - Mon 16 Jan, 7.30pm at Hornbeam

2012-01-12T01:18:00.000Z

WFPSC Branch Meeting

Monday 16 January, at 7.30pm

Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 9AH

Two special presentations followed by open floor discussions on:

1) "West Bank Update" - with Rada Daniell

Rada has just returned from three months in the West Bank with International Women's Peace Service, supporting Palestinians under occupation. WFPSC is delighted to get an exclusive look at her short presentation on her recent findings and open a discussion on the dreadful situation for occupied Palestinians in the West Bank at present. In December, during a memorial protest to Mustafa Tammimi (murdered by the Israeli military) Rada, along with several Palestinians and other international demonstrators, were arrested. Alarming pictures of her violent removal into military custody were distributed around the world.

2) "A debate about Zionism" - with Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi

Naomi will lead a discussion on this issue, preceding a national debate on the subject at PSC AGM on 21 Jan (see Motion 9, submitted by various PSC individual members, below).

PSC AGM Motion 9 - BUILDING AN ANTI-RACIST, ANTI-COLONIALIST, PALESTINE SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT - ANTISEMITISM AND HOLOCAUST DENIAL

One of the most potent weapons of Zionism is the accusation that those who support the Palestinians and oppose Israel’s settler-colonial practices are antisemites who want to see a new Holocaust against Jews.

The Zionist movement deliberately blurs the distinction between the ‘Jewish state’ and Jewish people, in order to discredit Israel's critics and cause confusion among the growing number of people whose humanitarian and anti-racist instincts make them eager to support the Palestinian cause.

Both racism and antisemitism are features of Zionism. Virtually all far-right and neo-Nazi parties today in Europe are Islamophobic and support Zionism (while often remaining antisemitic).

The Palestine solidarity movement, by its very nature, is anti-racist. To allow antisemitism or any other form of racism to gain a foothold would be to undermine the very cause that we support.

PSC AGM therefore:

1. Welcomes the statement on the PSC website explicitly asserting its commitment to building a mass solidarity movement, in which expressions of racism or intolerance, or attempts to deny or minimise the Holocaust, have no place.

2. Confirms that support for the Palestinians and opposition to Israel's policies is an anti-racist campaign

3. Calls on the EC to reinforce these principles by:

a) organising a series of forums to build understanding of Israel as a settler-colonial, apartheid state.

b) publishing educational material to develop understanding of:

- Israel’s status as a client state of US imperialism;

- aspects of Zionist history, including the non-Jewish origins and Jewish opposition to Zionism, and Zionism's collusion with antisemitism

- the growing alignment between the Israeli state and openly racist and fascist groups in Europe, including the English Defence League (EDL) and the British National Party (BNP)."

SOCIAL GATHERING - MONDAY 19 DECEMBER 7-10PM

2011-12-15T00:05:00.000Z

You are warmly invited to enjoy our social night, getting in gear for the festive holiday season!

A time to catch up and relax properly over wonderful halal food and drink with your campaigning friends:

MONDAY 19 DECEMBER, 7pm-10pm

Dinner at D'Gaf Restaurant! - http://www.d-gaf.co.uk/

11 Leytonstone Road, Stratford, E15 1JA

£20 for a delicious three-course meal including soft drink

PLEASE RSVP - LET US KNOW YOU ARE COMING ON MONDAY!

EMAIL wfpsc@yahoo.com with your name and number of guests.

We really look forward to seeing you!

URGENT ACTION - TELL OUR COUNCILLORS: 'NO' TO VEOLIA!

2011-12-12T22:31:00.002Z

TOMORROW on Tuesday 13 December at 9am, councillors from seven North London boroughs (Camden, Barnet, Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Islington and Waltham Forest) will gather at Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, WC1H 9JE opposite St Pancras Station to hold a North London Waste Authority Board meeting (NWLA), making crucial decisions about whether or not to award contracts worth more than £4 billion to crisis-hit international services conglomerate VEOLIA.

PLEASE URGENTLY CONTACT Waltham Forest's representatives on the NWLA Board:

- CLLR CLYDE LOAKES - cllr.clyde.loakes@walthamforest.gov.uk

Mobile 07812 160124

- CLLR AFZAL AKRAM - cllr.afzal.akram@walthamforest.gov.uk

Mobile 07799 417418

TELL THEM "NO" TO VEOLIA!

DON'T TRASH OUR BOROUGH:

BIN VEOLIA INSTEAD!

As No2VAG campaign puts it: "Join hundreds of residents from across the 7 boroughs who have already communicated their concern about Veolia's appalling practice history, for example guilty of explosions in 2007 that put residents in other parts of the UK in considerable danger, closing the M6 & M55; to Veolia's grave misconduct in aiding and abetting the Israeli violation of international law and human rights of the Palestinians. No one must be able to say that the NLWA awarded these contracts in ignorance of the complicity of one of the bidders with flagrant and ongoing war crimes."

Tell Clyde and Afzal you want Waltham Forest to have nothing to do with Veolia because:

- Local government regulations allow councils to exclude companies from public contracts if they are guilty of 'grave misconduct'. Veolia operates the Jerusalem Light Rail, the purpose of which is to consolidate the link between the illegal Israeli settlements with Israel. The Jerusalem Light Rail has been criticised as illegal under international law by the UN Human Rights Council.

- When Veolia advertised for drivers for the Jerusalem Light Rail, it stipulated that applicants must have served in the Israeli military and be able to speak Hebrew to mother tongue standard. This blatant form of discrimination, which excluded Palestinians, including those who are citizens of Israel, from applying for the jobs, is not compatible with the anti-discrimination policies of UK local authorities.

- Veolia operates the Tovlan landfill for rubbish from inside Israel in an illegal Israeli settlement in Occupied Palestinian Territory. Interviews with the Palestinians working at the landfill have revealed terrible working conditions - below minimum wages and a lack of safety equipment and procedures (more info available on request).

- Veolia subsidiary YARV Sherutei Noy 1985 was recently awarded a contract to collect waste from Israeli military bases in occupied Palestinian territory. Veolia has now partnered with the Israeli military - which stands accused of committing gross violations of international humanitarian law - and is assisting it to continue its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.

- Veolia operates bus services along settler-only roads in occupied Palestinian territory. When the Palestinian Freedom Riders boarded a settler-only bus earlier this year, they were dragged off and arrested, simply because they were Palestinians.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED YOU COME ALONG!

2011-11-20T01:36:00.001Z

MONDAY 21 Nov @ 7.30pm

Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 9AH

We are incredibly privileged to have two fantastic guest speakers joining us to focus on Jerusalem - Al-Quds al-Sharif, the capital of Palestine

ARTHUR NESLEN

Acclaimed author of Occupied Minds: A Journey Through the Israeli Psyche and columnist for the Guardian, Aljazeera, Haaretz and others, Art is flying in especially to revisit his local London borough roots and speak exclusively to WFPSC about his latest book of compelling interviews with Palestinians — In Your Eyes A Sandstorm: Ways of Being Palestinian — http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520264274

As the publisher says: "Neslen reaches beyond journalistic clichés to let a wide variety of Palestinians answer the question for themselves. Beginning in the present with Bisan and Abud, two traumatized children from Jenin's refugee camp, the book's narrative arcs backwards through the generations to come full circle with two elderly refugees from villages that the children were named after. Along the way, Neslen recounts a history of land, resistance, exile and trauma that begins to explain Abud's wish to become a martyr and Bisan's dream of a Palestine empty of Jews. Senior Fatah and Hamas figures relate key events of the Palestinian experience — the Second Intifada, Oslo Process, First Intifada, Thawra, 1967 War, the Naqba, and the Great Arab Revolt of 1936 — in their own words. The extraordinary voices of women, children, farmers, fighters, drug dealers, policeman, doctors, and others, spanning the political divide from Salafi Jihadists to Israeli soldiers, bring the Palestinian story to life even as their words sow seeds of hope in the scorched Palestinian earth."

“In this wonderful collection, one can hear the Palestinians speaking for themselves and not through others who may distort or dim their messages. Very few collections have brought home to us so vividly and authentically what it means to be a Palestinian today.” — Ilan Pappe, author of The Rise and Fall of a Palestinian Dynasty

"This highly original work is an important contribution to Palestine literature, especially in the way that personal narrative interacts with and enriches collective-national and public memory." — Nur Masalha, author of Expulsion of the Palestinians: The Concept of "Transfer" in Zionist Political Thought

ANDY SIMONS

Indefatigable local human rights activist and fine jazz musician, Andy curates jazz recording collections and writes extensively for many leading journals and specialist publications, as well as writing his own book Black British Swing. He will be presenting his personal experiences of and reflections on the West Bank, following his visit there in the summer.

Please bring family, friends and colleagues to support this exclusive event.

Free entry. Donations for halal/kosher refreshments, Palestinian Zaytoun produce and PSC merchandise. Wheelchair access. ALL WELCOME!

Sat 19 Nov: Boycotting! Mon 21 Nov: Art Neslen book launch!

2011-11-18T01:16:00.001Z

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Boycott Divestment & Sanctions - ACTION ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON!

Sat 19 Nov

Join us for our exciting Waltham Forest borough day of action, picketing a supermarket and persuading customers to back the successful international campaign to stop buying illegal Israeli settlement goods. People of all abilities, ages and backgrounds very welcome. Please email wfpsc@yahoo.com as soon as possible before Saturday morning to join in.

We will be meeting on Saturday at 12noon in an undisclosed location in the borough. CONTACT US NOW TO JOIN IN!

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Jerusalem speaker event - EXCLUSIVE WRITERS' EVENING ON MONDAY!

Mon 21 Nov @ 7.30pm

Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, E17 9AH

All welcome on Monday to our fascinating speaker event, focussing on Jerusalem. Bring your friends, families, colleagues - everyone!

Special guest speaker and locally-raised author ART NESLEN will be giving an exclusive insight into his new book "In Your Eyes A Sandstorm: Ways of Being Palestinian" allowing many different Palestinians recount their little-known history of land, resistance, exile and trauma. University of California Press (the publisher) says: "The extraordinary voices of women, children, farmers, fighters, drug dealers, policemen, doctors and others, spanning the political divide...bring the Palestinian story to life even as their words sow seeds of hope in the scorched Palestinian earth." We are also delighted to have local campaigner ANDY SIMONS speaking who has recently returned from visiting the West Bank. It should prove a fascinating evening. Free entry. Donations for teas/coffees. ALL WELCOME!

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Thank you for supporting PSC

2011-10-31T13:55:00.000Z

Thank you for supporting PSC

A special message from Jeremy Corbyn

Do you remember what first motivated you to support Palestinian rights?

Was it your outrage against the injustices meted out against Palestinians?

Your support for international law and justice?
A desire to show solidarity with an oppressed people?

Because you recognised this is the anti-apartheid movement of today?

Most of us get involved because we want to make a difference.

Thank you for your support. Now we need your help again.

PSC needs funds urgently. At a time when many of us are tightening our belts the Palestinians need our support more than ever.

PSC is campaigning to:

End the siege on Gaza

Stop ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Jerusalem

Build the movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions

There are several ways you can help:

give regularly by standing order >>
make a one off donation >>
Fundraise for PSC >>
get involved in events and activities >>
And if you aren’t already a member, join us today! Join PSC >>

This is the anti-apartheid movement of our time. It is vital that we stand up and speak out for Palestine. Help us make a difference. Donate today >> >>

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign exists to build a mass solidarity movement on Palestine. PSC campaigns for self-determination for Palestinians, and for Israel to abide by international law, including an end to its illegal occupation and for the right of return of Palestinian refugeees. It is founded on principles of justice, human rights, and opposition to all forms of racism. To find out more about our aims click here>>

This is a message from Palestine Solidarity Campaign. If you have any problems with this message or wish to unsubscribe please email info@palestinecampaign.org

a message from Jeremy Corbyn

Find fundraising ideas on our website >>

Swim for Gaza >>

Why not hold a dinner party for Palestine? >>

Walking the Wall >>

WFPSC activities for November 2011

2011-10-26T23:02:00.001+01:00

Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign - November 2011

For latest news, events & campaign resources, join national PSC - http://bit.ly/ieoJf8

Stalls - local action!

Sat 12 Nov & 26 Nov

Wrap up warm, and volunteer to get some fresh air between 11am-2pm, helping with our successful street stall in Walthamstow Town Square. Email wfpsc@yahoo.com to say which day you can do. Experienced team members will be on hand to train you up, organise the coffees and have a great chinwag!

Songs of Freedom - music, food & spoken word event!

Sat 12 Nov

Pilar Awa is very kindly hosting an amazing evening for us at Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, E17 9AH in aid of WFPSC and freedom for Palestinians. Enjoy exciting performances from acclaimed poet Rafeef Ziadah with songs from Pilar Awa plus other special performances during this convivial and cultured evening that will make you think. Doors at 7pm, performances from 8pm. Food & drink available, plus Palestinian Zaytoun products and more. Entry £5 or £3.50 concessions. All welcome!

Boycott Divestment & Sanctions - local day of action!

Sat 19 Nov

Join us for our exciting Waltham Forest borough day of action, picketing supermarkets and persuading customers to back the successful international campaign to stop buying illegal Israeli settlement goods. People of all abilities, ages and backgrounds very welcome. Please email wfpsc@yahoo.com to express your interest in participating!

Jerusalem - speaker event

Mon 21 Nov

All welcome to our special speaker event focussing on Jerusalem @ 7.30pm at Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, E17 9AH. Guest speakers include local campaigner Andy Simons who has recently returned from visiting the West Bank and others to be announced. It should prove a fascinating evening. Free entry. Donations for teas/coffees. All welcome!

Lobby of Parliament - national action!

Weds 23 Nov

Take part in this important national PSC lobby of Parliament from 2pm-6pm, focussing on Jerusalem. In the past we have had some success meeting our local MPs at the heart of Westminster and persuading them of the facts about Palestine. Follow the instructions on this link (http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index5b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=3&l2_id=20) to set up a meeting with your MP and coordinate with PSC centrally. Take this opportunity to exercise your democratic rights in full, in person, at the House of Commons.

Boycott Divestment & Sanctions - national day of action!

Sat 26 Nov

This year targeting Tesco, join in with this huge national campaigning day when thousands of people from all walks of life will lobby Tesco in any way possible to disassociate itself from illegal Israeli settlement produce and work with Palestinian producers instead. See PSC's advance information (http://bit.ly/rNGlLc) and get involved - your participation will make a difference!

Remember there are dozens of Palestine events taking place in London and nationally every week. Check PSC's useful listings page http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index8b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=99 and join in!

Next Meeting - Thursday 15 Sep 2011, 7.30pm - Quaker's Meeting House

2011-09-10T13:51:00.000+01:00

WFPSC Branch Meeting

Thurs 15 Sept at 7.30pm

Quaker Meeting House, 1a Jewel Road, Walthamstow

Agenda

1) Welcome back!

2) Fundraising gig for national campaign on 23 Sept at Bell Pub

3) Veolia lobby on 22 Sept

4) Finance ratification

5) Stall on 17 Sep

6) Lots of other interesting stuff to get you involved.

From October Branch meetings will revert to the 3rd Monday of every month.

2011-09-10T13:48:00.003+01:00

WFPSC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - tomorrow, Friday 08 July - 7pm onwards

2011-07-07T10:21:00.000+01:00

Everyone welcome to attend our annual meeting at which we review the year and look forward to the next. In order to vote, you must be a current member of PSC. We'll have lots of products on sale too - Zaytoun oils, couscous, olives, and PSC t-shirts, keffiyehs, and lots of other good stuff. Come along for the short admin meeting, followed by plenty of time to chat and catch up at the social, participating in Hornbeam's "open mic" night!

Friday 08 July

Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe St, Walthamstow, E17 9AH

AGM 7pm-8.15pm (upstairs)

Social at the "Open Mic" night 8.30pm (downstairs)

AGM Agenda:

i) Apologies

ii) Minutes of last AGM

iii) Reports from Chair, Treasurer and other Officers

iv) Elections

v) Dates for next year's branch meetings and AGM

vi) Any other business

Looking forward to seeing you all! And BUY THE SINGLE (see below)!

Best wishes

WFPSC team

Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Patrons: Neil Gerrard, Jean Lambert MEP, Prof Nur Masalha

Facebook: www.facebook.com/walthamforestpsc

Twitter: @wfpsclondon
Web: http://wfpsc.blogspot.com

Post: WFPSC c/o Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe St, Walthamstow, E17 9AH

Email: wfpsc@yahoo.com

WFPSC - upcoming things to do, from Sat 18 June 2011

2011-06-17T03:17:00.000+01:00

Hello everyone!

1) Sat 18 June - weekly stall
2) Fri 08 July - AGM and social
3) Sat 09 July - PSC national's one-day Summer Conference
4) OneWorld's single "Freedom For Palestine": pre-order it today!
5) Veolia's rubbish: bin it!
6) Ramadan: don't buy Israeli medjoul dates!
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1) THIS WEEK'S STALL
Saturday 18 June - Walthamstow Town Square, nearish the big screen!
11am-2pm
Please volunteer! Can you spare an hour or two on Saturday? We need you to help with our stall. It's one of our most important and productive activities. Contact wfpsc@yahoo.com

2) WFPSC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Friday 08 July - Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe St, Walthamstow, E17 9AH
AGM 7pm-8.15pm (upstairs) followed by
Social 8.30pm till late (downstairs) at the "Open Mic" night!

AGM Agenda:
i) Apologies
ii) Minutes of last AGM
iii) Reports from Chair, Treasurer and other Officers
iv) Elections
v) Dates for next year's branch meetings and AGM
vi) Any other business

3) PSC SUMMER CONFERENCE
Saturday 09 July - University of London Union (ULU), Malet Street, WC1E 7HY
10am-5pm
Represent your organisation at this important coordinating conference. To attend, please register by emailing info@palestinecampaign.org with the following details: Name, Organisation you represent, Mobile phone number, Email address

4) PRE-ORDER THE PALESTINE SONG!
Support the "Freedom for Palestine" single by pre-ordering it today!
Download it right now for £1.29 from iTunes (http://tinyurl.com/3bbp4g8or) or HMV digital (http://tinyurl.com/5u3t227). Features singers Maxi Jazz (Faithless), Dave Randall (Slovo/Faithless), LSK, the Durban Gospel Choir, Jamie Catt (1 Giant Leap) and musicians from around the world. Official release date is 03 July, but it needs radio airplay before that, especially on the BBC that has already censored lyrics that feature the word "Palestine", so phone your local radio station and get them to play it! It's a HUGE campaign: be part of it - http://www.waronwant.org/freedomoneworld/

5) BIN VEOLIA!
Veolia, the French conglomerate that is bidding for a stake in our borough's fuel-from-waste services (which is a massive multimillion pound, up-to-35 year contract) is the focus of a long-running international campaign to curb its activities due to its well-documented involvement in Israeli apartheid practices daily damaging thousands of Palestinians' lives in the West Bank and Jerusalem. We don't want Veolia anywhere near our borough! If you are as concerned as us, contact Lorty Philips (novag@hotmail.co.uk) to join the North London wide No2VeoliaActionGroup campaign. Please volunteer for our Waltham Forest's local "No2Veolia" working group by emailing us (wfpsc@yahoo.com) and finally, sign this petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/say-no-to-veolia-in-north-london

6) THIS RAMADAN - DON'T BUY THE WRONG PALM DATES!
This Ramadan, which takes place in August, make sure your friends and family are eating ethical palm dates. Whatever you do, don't help Israeli apartheid against the Palestinians! So, read the 'country of origin' label on the box. If it says ANY of the following, it's trouble: "West Bank" "Israel" "Jordan Valley", and it will be contributing to the oppression and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. If none of the hundreds of other international palm dates available catch your fancy, buy real Palestinian dates produced by Zaytoun and distributed locally through us at WFPSC - wfpsc@yahoo.com.

For the range of other Palestine events and interesting ways to get involved all around London and beyond, keep your eye on our "walthamforestpsc" Facebook page, or Twitter @wfpsclondon!

Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Patrons: Neil Gerrard, Jean Lambert MEP, Prof Nur Masalha
Facebook: www.facebook.com/walthamforestpsc
Twitter: @wfpsclondon
Web: http://wfpsc.blogspot.com
Post: WFPSC c/o Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe St, Walthamstow, E17 9AH
Email: wfpsc@yahoo.com

For latest news, events & campaign resources, join PSC - http://bit.ly/ieoJf8

PUBLIC MEETING - WED O8 JUNE @ 7PM - HARMONY HALL, WALTHAMSTOW

2011-06-03T16:40:00.000+01:00

Latest meetings - Branch on 12 May * AGM on 8 July * Stalls on Saturdays

2011-05-08T12:22:00.001+01:00

THURSDAY 12 May @ 6pm (NEW TIME - 6PM)

Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe St, E17 9AH

WFPC Branch Meeting

We will be discussing:

+ No2Veolia in WF campaign (Israeli-Apartheid-supporting French company bidding to run North London's recycling-to-recreate-fuel system), and other Boycott Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) activities in WF

+ Nakba (catastrophe) memorial events 14/15 May

+ Gaza activities - forthcoming convoys, Freedom Flotilla II, friendship links

+ West Bank activities - supporting IWPS

+ Delayed public event on Mid East

+ Weekly Saturday stall in Walthamstow Town Square

+ Zaytoun produce sales

Everyone very welcome!
At 8pm, we'll debunk to a local pub to carry on chatting.

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Advance Notice (first advertised in September 2010!)

FRIDAY 8 July @ 7pm

Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe St, E17 9AH

WFPSC AGM

This year we will be holding a short administrative meeting to oversee the annual accounts, report back on the year's activities and hold elections. Everyone welcome to attend and join in. To be eligible to vote or be elected, however, you need to be a paid-up member of PSC national by clicking here.

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SATURDAYS!

Would you help with our weekly info stall? Happening each Saturday lunchtime in Walthamstow Town Square, it's really easy to take part. So why not join us to chat, hand out leaflets, receive donations, and enjoy engaging with the local public in the fresh air? Choose an hour that suits you (from 11am to 3pm) and click here to make your offer!

New WFPSC facebook page

2011-04-02T14:53:00.003+01:00

Not to be suppressed for long, WFPSC has set up a brand new 'Facebook Page'. Click here to hook up to it. You can also see Facebook link on the left of this Blogspot. However you get there, please hit "LIKE" as soon as you can, so you can keep in touch.

We had over 500 Facebook friends, which we hope to top now that those trying to scupper Palestinian hopes have very kindly drawn attention to us! We look forward to seeing you on the Facebook platform, and on this Blog, in person, on the phones, and by email. Communication rocks!

Stronger, bolder and very cheerfully, we go on - Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea. And Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be right there alongside all Palestinians throughout the Just campaign, and when freedom comes.

Lorra luv

All the team at WFPSC

2011-04-01T21:53:00.002+01:00

WFSPC's page on Facebook has been shut down 'for being under an assumed name' (QUE?!) which is well odd, because the page has been ambling along genially for over two years, and recently we were hardly using it at all! LOLOLOL

We imagine some really deranged idiots, probably racist and probably against anything 'Arab' and definitely against anything pro Palestinian, had a little go at Facebook out of pique because, as racists, they are irrelevant losers. Just shows how incompetent and sad the 'destroy Palestine' lobby are.

Anyway, we're back, live and loud to stake out Walthamstow Town Square tomorrow, Saturday 2nd April - so see you all there!

Boycott Divestment and Sanctions against the illegal Apartheid occupation of Palestinian lands is really beginning to work - and at the forefront of the BDS campaign to free Palestine are a vast array of Jewish groups alongside whom we are extremely proud to stand.

Love, your very own, proud to be pro-Palestinian, WFPSC team XX

2011-01-02T13:05:00.000Z

WFPSC Branch Meeting

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Hornbeam Café, Hoe Street, E17 http://www.hornbeam.org.uk/find-us

7pm -9pm

With guest speaker Ann Wright, on the situation in East Jerusalem.

Come along to the first WFPSC branch meeting of 2011 to hear about upcoming activities and campaigns in solidarity with the Palestinian people, and how to get involved in the borough.

Our guest speaker Ann Wright, has gained expert knowledge of the situation in East Jerusalem while volunteering in the area and will give an account of the ongoing house demolitions and expulsions Palestinians residents face daily.

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Fundraising Dinner for our Friendship Projects with Gaza

Wednesday 23^rd February 2011- 7pm

At Cinar Restaurant, Opposite St James Street Station E17

Join us for a marvellous fundraising meal with entertainment to raise funds for our friendship links and twinning projects with communities in Gaza. Make sure to book in advance to guarantee a place for you, your friends and family!

Advance booking only: £20 per person, including full Turkish meal.

Cheques to PO Box 64002, London, E17 0HD

For more info (send text to) 07791107865 or email wfpsc@yahoo.com

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Other events:

Rally for Gaza, to mark 2 years since the end of the Israeli attack on Gaza.

Tuesday 18 January 2011

7pm Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn

And more on the PSC website: http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index8b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=99

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Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Patrons: Neil Gerrard, Jean Lambert MEP, Prof Nur Masalha

Email: wfpsc@yahoo.com

Web: www.facebook.com/wfpsc

Blog: http://wfpsc.blogspot.com

Address: PO Box 64002, London, E17 0HD

WFPSC Boycott Action and Lobby of Parliament

2010-11-11T16:04:00.001Z

WFPSC Boycott Action Saturday 13 November

Join us on Saturday the 13th November at 12.30pm at the Café Rio in the High Street in Walthamstow for a boycott stall and leafleting action at local supermarkets.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=536623&y=188929&z=0&sv=e17+7db&st=2&pc=e17+7db&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf

Please email us if you are coming: wfpsc@yahoo.com

More info about BDS: http://www.bigcampaign.org/

Sainsbury's petition:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/sainsburys-boycott-israel/

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Lobby of Parliament 24 November - WFPSC is organising the lobby of our local MPs

Please get in touch with us urgently if you are available on Wednesday the 24^th November from 2pm onwards to join us in Parliament to lobby our MPs for Palestine .

We are especially interested to hear from members and supporters who are constituents of John Cryer MP (Leyton/Leytonstone) and Ian Duncan-Smith (Chingford)!!! Please get in touch with us if you can come and lobby them on the 24^th…

Email: wfpsc@yahoo.com

For more info on the lobby: http://www.palestinecampaign.org/lobby-2010/

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End of Year Get Together

We would like to invite all our members and supporters to join us for a social night out on Wednesday the 8^th December 7.30pm at a Restaurant, in St James Street , Walthamstow http://www.e17foodanddrink.co.uk/Cinar_2.htm

Please RSVP before Friday 3^rd December to: wfpsc@yahoo.com

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Boycott Israeli Goods Week! All welcome to WFPSC Branch meeting, Mon 8th Nov, 7pm-ish, Hornbeam Centre, Walthamstow

2010-11-05T19:34:00.003Z

Lots of exciting and productive "Boycott Israeli Goods" activities going on around the country this week.

WFPSC wants to do its bit delivering the Boycott Israeli Goods message to the Waltham Forest public. We've got a good track record of jumping up and down in local supermarkets, and we want to make our next activity even more interesting and effective.

To join in, attend our Branch Meeting on Monday evening, at Hornbeam in Walthamstow (see details, across this blog page, on the right).

Offer your time to become a loud, proud, boycotter for your borough! Join our law-abiding, non-violent, peace-able but visual, verbal and emphatic action.

WFPSC really looks forward to seeing you on Monday evening at Hornbeam in Walthamstow. Tea/coffee and cake will be provided!

DEMONSTRATE! TODAY, 5pm - Support the 'Jewish Boat to Gaza'!

2010-09-28T15:19:00.001+01:00

URGENT - TODAY - 5pm - DEMONSTRATION
AT UK FOREIGN OFFICE, DOWNING STREET, LONDON

= JEWISH AID BOAT TO GAZA ILLEGALLY SNATCHED BY ISRAELI MILITARY =

Jewish Boat to Gaza - on a highly publicised humanitarian aid mission to the besieged and embattled people of Palestine in Gaza, and supported by many Jewish organisations and celebrities from around the world - has been boarded illegally in international waters by Israeli armed forces off the Gaza coast of Palestine.

Two British Citizens on board - the captain, Glyn Secker, and photojournalist Vish Vishvanath - have been siezed and their whereabouts and welfare are unknown. The Israeli military have stated that the boat, the Irene (a british flagged vessel) is being towed to the Israeli port of Ashdod. However, this has not been confirmed by the boats' supporters since all communication with the boat's passengers and crew has been cut by the Israeli military.

The British Foreign & Commonwealth office has been alerted to the plight of the two British citizens by UK supporters, and are now in liaison with Mr Secker and Mr Vishvanath's next of kin.

However, as yet, no official comment from the UK Government has been made. This despite the thorough and detailed news coverage in the UK and international media throughout the day, and the substantial knowledge of the current situation by UK diplomats. This latest act of piracy is a further grave insult to international law by the Israeli Government, and yet another instance of UK Citizens' rights being violated by that belligerent foreign power.

We call on the British Government to:

* ensure full consular access by UK diplomatic staff to the two British citizens currently being kidnapped by Israel.

* ensure the health, safety and well-being of the British citizens is made of paramount concern to their Israeli kidnappers.

* ensure none of the British citizens' possessions or personal effects of any kind are stolen by Israeli kidnappers, including ensuring that passports are left untampered with and identities are protected.

* uphold international law* actively defend the rights of its own UK citizenry to champion human and civil rights in accordance with international law wherever those rights are violated anywhere in the world

* enact its own policies of redress for previous violations and protection from current violations of humanitarian and civil rights for all Palestinians

* formally and actively hold the Israeli Government to account for its countless examples of blatant disregard and disrespect of international law.

The UK Government has long stated its humanitarian and civil rights commitments both to the Palestinians and its own British citizens.

Now is the time to act on those commitments to the full, and bring the Israeli Government to book. Enough is enough.

Further information:
Jewish Boat to Gaza - http://jewishboattogaza.org/
- Vish Vishvanath, Freelance photographer and reporter.
- Glyn Secker, from the UK, is the boat’s captain and a member of Jews for Justice for Palestinians Executive Commitee.
Jews for Justice for Palestinians - http://jfjfp.com/

WFPSC wishing the Jewish Boat to Gaza every success!

2010-09-27T10:35:00.002+01:00

Everyone at WFPSC is excited and proud that Jews for Justice for Palestinians, the excellent UK-based civil and human rights organisation, in collaboration with a broad range of other Jewish groups from around the world, has launched the good ship Irene from Cyprus - on her peaceful mission of aid and solidarity to the Palestinians in Gaza. Click here to read Jewish Boat to Gaza's team updates and wish all the passengers, crew and its many supporters a safe and successful journey!

WFPSC - New Season Calendar

2010-09-09T18:09:00.002+01:00

EVENTS - ON OUR WEBSITE

http://wfpsc.blogspot.com

On WFPSC website, find the list of regular WFPSC meetings (in right-hand column). WFPSC will keep this on-line calendar updated, so you will always know about meetings well in advance. Please take a moment to copy the current entries into your diaries! But remember to check back, regularly, for changes/additions/cancellations. Here is a sneak preview:

FUTURE BRANCH MTGS

(all at Hornbeam Centre, Walthamstow, 7-10pm)

Sat, 8 January 2011

Tues, 8 March 2011

Sun, 8 May 2011

Fri, 8 July 2011 - AGM

STALLS - VOLUNTEER AROUND WALTHAM FOREST

The biggest, most important contribution, you can make to WFPSC is to take a turn staffing WFPSC's information & merchandise stalls. If enough of you volunteer throughout the year, you'll only be needed once every six months, or fewer times than that!

WFPSC has come to learn that our stalls are VITAL in the borough - we have more enjoyment, hilarity, intense argument, persuasion, learning, bonding, selling, teaching, fundraising, political epihany-ing, community spirit building, cake and coffee consuming at our stall tables than at any other time or place. Our stalls are THE place for your friends and family to recognise your efforts, brimming with pride. They are extremely easy to run, and you'll be trained up. Please fill in your details below:

NAME:

POSTCODE:

MOBILE PHONE:

EMAIL ADDRESS:

(Delete as applicable:) YES, I HAVE CAR. | NO, SORRY, NO CAR.

Choose date(s) from the lists below, by typing "YES" next to them

CURRENT CAMPAIGN - UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION

We need to safeguard our right, as UK citizens, to arrest foreign war criminals when they visit the UK, and other important legal measures that enable us Brits to undertake the mammoth task of holding to account war criminals, human and civil rights abusers. Erosion of these vital rights must not be allowed to happen by any of our Governments, current or future, whichever political party happens to be in power at the time.

WFPSC's simple, local, task is to pin all our local Waltham Forest political representatives, at any level and of any hue, into a political corner and forbid them from allowing our rights to be removed. We need them to help us retain our legal rights to bring to account those who willfully perpetrate war and other crimes against Palestinians but who are not being held to account in their own countries.

In practice, this means letter writing - to all your relevant MP (one of Ian Duncan Smith, Stella Creasy or John Cryer); to any relevant prospective MP candidates from any political party (although we don't really know who they are now, so maybe we just write to your local party chairmen and women?); to all your local councillors; and to your London Assembly and EU Parliamentary member as well. To find out who these political folks are, discover them at:

http://www.writetothem.com/

For detailed info on what Universal Jurisdiction is about, take a look at:

http://bit.ly/cAZCBM - note the PDF briefing MPs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2010/jul/27/universal-jurisdiction-law - Michael Mansfield's letter to the Guardian

Enjoy your letter writing!! Palestinians are relying on your every word. No pressure, then....

All the team look forwards to your deluge of volunteering replies!

Best wishes

Ellie Merton

Chair, WFPSC

Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Patrons: Neil Gerrard, Jean Lambert MEP, Prof Nur Masalha

Facebook: 'Wfpsc London'

Email: wfpsc@yahoo.com | wfpsclondon@gmail.com

Web: http://wfpsc.blogspot.com

Post: WFPSC, PO Box 64002, Walthamstow, London E17 0HD

Waltham Forest PSC encourages you to Boycott Israeli Goods. Instead BUY PALESTINIAN fairtrade organic goods from our local Zaytoun distributor - lizzygentilcore@yahoo.co.uk

WFPSC and JBIG covered by Israeli Channel 10 news documentary

2010-09-01T16:31:00.002+01:00

Click here to see the documentary, the visuals of which get going a few seconds after the sound!

WFPSC/JBIG feature at the beginning, focussing on our Leytonstone Tesco's direct action.

Big Lunch, Walthamstow - Sun 18 July 2010, from 3pm

2010-07-17T13:43:00.004+01:00

It's tomorrow!! EVERYONE WELCOME!!!

We are all SO excited! What are YOU going to bring??

A pudding? cartons of orange juice? a bowl of tabouleh? a mountain of pakora? a heap of samosas? some cobbled-together paperchains? a handful of balloons? fairy cakes? houmus and olives? greek salad? mini vine leaves? a stonking bowl of eton mess? bowls of raspberries? apple cake? armfuls of fresh flatbread? hunks of cheese? anything with pistachios?

And don't forget the WFPSC AGM will take place at 4pm for all those interested but it won't get in the way of the fun, frolics, and street celebration of Walthamstow's unique diversity!

Hurrah for our bonkers borough, Waltham Forest! Yay!

Big Lunch, Walthamstow & WFPSC AGM - Sunday 18th July, from 3pm

2010-07-15T16:27:00.004+01:00

Everyone welcome!

with special guest speaker, Press TV’s Gaza reporter
YOUSEF AL-HELOU

3pm onwards

please feel free to bring along:

Food (felafel, humus, bread, dips, murg tikka, vine leaves, tablouleh, samosas, pakora, greek salad, anything palestinian, cakes, puddings, strawberries, raspberries, other fruit - healthy delicious food you like to eat!)
Drink (anything soft, eg. orange, cranberry, raspberry, apple juice)
Jolly decorations - balloons, posters, paper chains - whatever takes your fancy!!

Liz will have her Fair Trade stall there, with Palestinian organic olives, dried tomatoes, olive oil....

To coordinate what to bring, contact wfpsc@yahoo.com
or sign up at the “Big Lunch” website:
http://www.thebiglunch.com/map/event.php?id=b432c048c48e9b6d72aa315f0bca0799
venue is outside in the parking lot next to
FRESH‘A’LICIOUS CAFE
152b Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 4QR
(from Walthamstow tube: north up Hoe St, left into Hatherley Rd)

Location - http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=537173&y=189434&z=110&sv=537173%2C189434&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=693&ax=537173&ay=189434&lm=0

An “Eden Project” idea, put into action by Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Email: wfpsc@yahoo.com
Web: http://wfpsc.blogspot.com/

Friday 9th July - "Boycott Israeli Goods - national day of action!"

2010-07-08T17:57:00.002+01:00

If you can't quite make it to the WFPSC/WFSTW meeting about Gaza tonight, nothing can stop you taking part in the Global BDS Day of Action tomorrow, because you don't have to set foot outside your front door to join in!!!

BOYCOTT ISRAELI GOODS – “BIG national day of action”
Friday 9th July, all day long

Spend a happy Friday jamming telephone/fax/email lines around the country, writing hard-hitting letters to clog up in-trays, and dressing to impress.
Extremely effective way to campaign, something the whole family can get involved doing – young and old - and so easy to do from the peace and quiet of your office/home computer, your mobile/landline, your desk or a handy coffee shop: whatever takes your fancy!
This year we’re targeting Morrisons and Sainsburys:

BY PHONE

Morrisons – 0845 611 6111 (lines open 7.30 a.m. – 6.30 p.m).
Sainsbury - 0800 636 262 (lines open 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.)

Demand answers to the following queries:
· “Why is your supermarket sourcing produce from a country that repeatedly violates international law?”
· “Why is your supermarket sourcing produce from companies that operate on land where Palestinians cannot live or work? (the Jordan Valley)”
· “Why are you sourcing produce from companies that operate in illegal settlements and which benefit from an Apartheid system inside Israel?”
· “Why are you sourcing produce from companies which are all benefiting from the illegal theft of Palestinian water and the theft of Palestinian land?”

IN WRITING

You could go online, or snail mail – whatever you prefer! Contact the national headquarters addressing your comments to Customer Services, or pick your local store addressing your comments to the store manager:

Morrisons on-line Comments Form - click here
Morrisons Store Finder – click here

Morrisons HQ address – Morrisons, Hilmore House, Gain lane, Bradford, BD3 7DL

Sainsbury's on-line Comments Form – click here
Sainbury's Store Finder - click here
Sainbury's HQ address - Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd, 33 Holborn, London, EC1N 2HT

Challenge the supermarkets about the following:
· "supermarkets are known to be trading with Israeli companies, because the labeling on products tells us so."
· "you must end business with Israeli companies that are profiting from Israeli occupation of Palestinian land, and Israel’s apartheid policies."
· "Israeli export companies known to be supplying British supermarkets like yours include: Carmel Agrexco, Arava and Mehadrin Tnuport Export (MTEX)."
· "All these Israeli companies are profiting from Israel’s violations of international law, making its UK trading partners such as your supermarket complicit."

FINALLY...

Wear your “Boycott Israeli Goods” badges with pride! Keep on wearing them! Israel has been in the news so much recently (for murdering civilians on the Gaza Flotilla, etc. etc.) that the general public are noticing badges, and now is the time to tell people about the boycott, in whatever way we can. Wear badges; give out badges on the street; call on all your supporters to wear badges!

2010-07-06T18:06:00.000+01:00

WFPSC Branch Meeting - Tues 22/6/2010, 7pm

2010-06-15T16:34:00.003+01:00

Tuesday 22nd June 2010

7pm (tea & cake) - for 7.30pm (start)

WFPSC BRANCH MEETING

Hornbeam Centre

458 Hoe Street, Walthamstow, E17 9AH

Click here for map

Vital and vibrant meeting - planning, working out how to do things better. Nitty, gritty, constructive stuff. There will be tea/coffee, and cake, to soothe/bolster tired minds...

However, we want to hear from you BEFORE the meeting, to get the ball rolling:

1) FEEDBACK

We need to hear detailed feedback from you about what you have personally been up to for the last few months in relation to Palestine. For example, some of you have been letter writing to MPs - how did you get on? What kinds of responses did you get? Have you been attending Palestine-related events out of the borough, or even in the borough, that you think we would benefit from hearing about, or liaising with organisations that we should be in contact with? Have you been raising money for palestine-related charities and want to gain our support and backing for your work? Please, please tell us - we'd love to hear from you.

2) PREPARING FOR NEXT EVENTS

To make sure our discussions will be interesting, WE REALLY WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU NOW, so we can create a really zappy list of potential work:

What actions, what letter writing campaigns, what street stalls, what speaker events, cultural experiences, sports events, schools visits, language classes, overseas trips, EU and MP lobbies, banner making, art exhibitions, UK palestinians liaison, direct Gazan palestinian support, and so on, do you want to participate in? What would really float your boat and be of real interest to you to do? What would your children be interested in doing, and what would your work colleagues, who probably know nothing about Palestine, find of use? So, how about a "Palestine for Dummies" presentation we can bring down to your office one lunchtime? What else might work?

3) OFFERING TO HELP OUT

A key aspect to ascertain is what people feel comfortable doing, physically. Of course your time is precious, limited and already over-committed - that's a given for everyone. But if anything really grabs your attention as being interesting, would you actually offer to help organise it and bring it to fruition? Can you actually imagine your pet idea happening without you helping to organise it?

4) OUR SYSTEMS

With all this potential development, do we have the right systems in place as as branch to support all your work and ideas? What should we be changing in the way we run the branch to accommodate and expand on what we want to do?

Please do EMAIL wfpsc@yahoo.com with your suggestions as soon as you can! The Officers group would really like to hear from you BEFORE the meeting if at all possible, so we can put together an exciting and dynamic evening of discussion and idea sharing. Thank you!

WFPSC & J-BIG successful boycott supermarket sweep in Leytonstone

2010-06-14T17:30:00.002+01:00

A dozen pro-Palestinian activists and an Israeli film cameraman recording material for a news documentary faced aggressive store security staff during a peaceful protest about Israeli goods in a Tesco in Leytonstone, northeast London on Sunday June 13.

“I was shocked at the behaviour of Tesco’s security staff towards our relaxed, cheerful and totally unthreatening action,” said Ellie Merton, chairwoman of the Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign (WFPSC).

“We were holding up examples of produce from illegal Israeli settlements and stolen Palestinian land, chanting to urge shoppers to join the boycott campaign. Then out of nowhere two burly security guards pounced on the Israeli Channel 10 cameraman, seized his equipment and then attempted to confiscate all cameras being used by us and members of the public.”

Protesters calmly stood their ground, stressed the peaceful nature of their protest and insisted on being allowed to present a letter to the store management asking them not to stock Israeli goods. Other members of staff intervened and accompanied activists, now singing a boycott song led by professional soprano Deborah Fink, to the customer services desk.

Walthamstow resident Josephine Tyrconnell-Fay said: “I didn’t think much of the duty manager’s customer service. I had to ask her repeatedly to accept our letter, in contrast to other supermarkets around the country where managements have been much more willing to understand what campaigners are doing and why.”

After Israel's latest display of criminality, killing nine international humanitarian aid workers and peace activists on a boat taking aid to the beseiged Gaza Strip, WFPSC got together with Jews for Boycotting Israeli Goods (J-BIG) to hold Sunday’s action.

Campaigners say the sale of goods produced in Israel or its illegal settlements legitimises Israel's criminal occupation of Palestinian lands.

By stocking these goods supermarkets are complicit in supporting the economy of a violent apartheid state that disrespects international law and undertakes ethnic cleansing.

“As consumers and activists we are proud to be part of the non-violent global campaign to hold Israel to account for its continual war crimes against Palestinians,” said Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, secretary of J-BIG.

For footage of the protest, please click here and view on YouTube "WFPSC"

WFPSC - tonight and the weekend - ACTION!!!

2010-06-09T15:38:00.001+01:00

Hello dear WFPSC members and supporters

Many of your branch officer group has been heavily involved in the support work for the survivors of the Gaza Flotilla, and local branch business kinda got pushed onto a back burner for a short while. However, most of the survivors are home now and we can turn our focus back onto making a difference through our local work in Waltham Forest and by participating in the national campaigns, effort which is crucially important. We just want to mention that Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, has been extremely helpful and kind to the Gaza Flotilla survivors from Waltham Forest and her efforts on their behalves are much appreciated by all of us.

TONIGHT - WEDS 9TH JUNE

Waltham Forest local branch meeting is postponed. Suggested alternative dates are: Weds 16, Thurs 17, Fri 18, or Mon 21, Tues 22 June. Please let me know, by email to wfpsc@yahoo.com asap, which you would prefer.

INSTEAD - this evening, please get the tube/train/bus into central London, to Holborn, and attend the PSC/Viva Palestina rally in support of the Gaza Flotilla Survivors - 7pm, Weds 9th June, at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square. You will hear first-hand accounts from survivors, and learn about plans for future convoy and flotilla projects. Please do go if you can.

BRANCH FORUM - SAT 12TH JUNE

On Saturday, PSC national is holding their regular feedback session for PSC membership associations like ours, called Branch Forum. It's in Birmingham. Ellie will be going to it on behalf of WFPSC. If you would like to accompany Ellie to Branch Forum, your involvement would be tremendously useful. Please emailwfpsc@yahoo.com asap if you can come along, so Ellie can arrange travel.

During Branch Forum on Saturday, representatives from each PSC branch will get a chance to discuss the "Wfpsc London Fund". WFPSC still needs to canvass your views about how to break the fund up. Instead of discussing the proposal at our now postponed branch meeting tonight, instead, please would you read the proposal (below) and make your views known to us by email (wfpsc@yahoo.com). Any serious concerns will be discussed by email among the officers group and decisions taken before Saturday's Branch Forum:

Approximately £2,000 left in the WFPSC London Fund kitty. For disbursing these funds, WFPSC officers make the following recommendations:

1) the money gets split three ways

2) it goes towards further Gaza relief and humanitarian aid missions to break the siege on Gaza

3) In line with the Free Gaza Flotilla that still requires funds for fuel and other necessaries to continue to take aid to Gaza, the money is split between IHH, Free Gaza Movement and people/projects we are already supporting in Gaza.

SUPERMARKET SWEEP - SUN 13TH JUNE

Whoop Whoop! Loud, dynamic, flourescent protest, inside a large supermarket in the borough!! Yes, we are going ahead with this major, exciting and energetic piece of direct action. Please get involved. Email wfpsc@yahoo.com to confirm your involvement and we'll email you the details. Unlike last time, we won't be broadcasting where we are going, or when, so you need to email wfpsc@yahoo.com to know more. Thanks!

Best wishes

all at WFPSC

Waltham Forest groups heading to Gaza Flotilla Demonstration on Saturday, meeting Walthamstow Town Square at 12noon,

2010-06-04T17:29:00.003+01:00

URGENT URGENT URGENT - DISTRIBUTE THIS AS FAR AS YOU CAN. WE NEED EVERYONE TO BE THERE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND POLITICAL HUES!!

WALTHAM FOREST PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN

URGENT - gather tomorrow, Saturday, at 12 noon in Walthamstow Town Square in order to go down to the massive STW/PSC/everyone else demo to support the gaza flotilla in central london.

WALTHAMSTOW GATHERING POINT: 12 noon, tomorrow Saturday, in Walthamstow Town Square

bring banners, placards, anything to express who you are and why you're upset...

we'll have a couple of speeches, and hear from family members of

* Chingford resident: Tauqir Sharif (Tox)

* Walthamstow resident: Mohammed Abid Mahi

who were on the Mavi Marmara IHH boat that had the serious injuries and frightful deaths. Both guys are safe and well, still in Istanbul, condoling with family and friends of those murdered, and also the injured.

After our informal gathering, we'll all jump on the tube and go, everyone in solid

arity together:

NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION - IN SUPPORT OF THE FREE GAZA FLOTILLA

Tomorrow - Saturday

1.30pm, Downing Street, Whitehall in Westminster

[Martial of PSC Central also asks - can you help hand out PSC information and sell merchandise? When you get down to central London tomorrow, would you be willing to help him? If Yes, please do contact Martial asap at head quarters on 020 7700 6192.]

Best wishes

Ellie Merton

Chair, WFPSC

Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Patrons: Neil Gerrard, Jean Lambert MEP, Prof Nur Masalha

Email: wfpsc@yahoo.com

Web: www.facebook.com/wfpsc

Blog: http://wfpsc.blogspot.com

Address: PO Box 64002, London, E17 0HD

Stella Creasy MP makes strong moves to support Waltham Forest residents on Gaza Flotilla - very welcome news

2010-06-01T14:22:00.001+01:00

" Hello everyone

I've actually already been in touch with the Foreign Office and Mr Mahi's family (as well as that of the other local resident we know is out there Tauqir Sharif) since they were first reported missing and can confirm as of the last few hours that the Foreign Office report they are both accounted for, alive and currently in detention. I will continue to work with both the consulate and their families in trying to ensure their safety and freedom as we try to find out more about what is happening in Israel in the coming hours. I will also be working with other Labour MPs to raise concerns about the events of the last few days when we return to parliament tomorrow. I'd be grateful if you could share this information with other local residents who are also concerned about Abid and Tox.

Stella "

Two residents from Waltham Forest on the Free Gaza Flotilla - what YOU can do to help them

2010-06-01T12:52:00.002+01:00

WALTHAM FOREST PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN - FREE GAZA FLOTILLA NEWS

There were two Waltham Forest residents on the flotilla:

Tauqir Sharif (Tox)

Mohammed Abid Mahi

Tox's MP is Chingford's (Conservative) Ian Duncan Smith.

Mohammed Abid's MP is Walthamstow's (Labour) Stella Creasy.

Family and friends of both men are working flat out to talk to the media, talk to the Foreign Office and these MPs. We're all exhausted, sleep deprived and desperate. Our job is to do what we can to support them as much as possible, whilst also campaigning for every single person on those boats, and to free the people of Gaza. It's a big job, but worth every ounce of energy.

YOU TOO CAN HELP FLOTILLA PARTICIPANTS, RIGHT NOW:

Depending on where you live in the borough, please contact Tox's MP or Mohammed Abid's MP (as appropriate to your home address). Please express your personal thoughts on the situation, your concerns for the boyz, your hopes for the MPs to do their utmost to help in international efforts to locate/ascertain the safety of the boyz and censure the Israeli Government. Use this link for how to email your MP:

http://www.writetothem.com/

Likewise, please also contact the Waltham Forest newspapers and London specific media to express your concerns about Waltham Forest residents on the flotilla and your feelings about the situation. It is important everyone in the borough realises the impact of this horrific massacre on all of us in the borough. Please remember there is a very large Turkish population in the borough, who must be very unhappy.

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/contactus/getintouch/

http://www.walthamstow-today.co.uk/tn/contact.cfm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3035310.stm

http://www.metro.co.uk/home/9454-contact-us

Go for it - you know you can!

LATER TODAY - DEMONSTRATION - IN SUPPORT OF THE FREE GAZA FLOTILLA

Tonight, and every day until the situation improves

5.30pm, Israeli Embassy, High Street Kensington.

I will be leaving to go down there at 5pm-ish from Walthamstow Central Station. Please, please do join us.

Needless to say, paramountly we are all extremely worried about Tox and Mohammed's safety. See BELOW for a statement about all the flotilla participants' legal situation.

Best wishes in exhaustion, concern and real worry...

Ellie Merton

Chair, WFPSC

Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Patrons: Neil Gerrard, Jean Lambert MEP, Prof Nur Masalha

Email: wfpsc@yahoo.com

Web: www.facebook.com/Wfpsc London

Blog: http://wfpsc.blogspot.com

Address: PO Box 64002, London, E17 0HD

DEMONSTRATE in support of the Free Gaza Flotilla, today, Monday 31st May - at 2pm - opposite Downing Street

2010-05-31T00:12:00.001+01:00

- URGENT - DEMONSTRATION today, MONDAY 31st May, at 2PM, opposite DOWNING STREET, Whitehall, London, in protest at the treatment by the Israeli Navy of the humanitarian aid relief FREE GAZA FLOTILLA

Israeli Navy threatening Gaza Freedom Humanitarian Aid Flotilla, full of non-violent peace and humanitarian aid activists in International Waters

2010-05-30T22:26:00.002+01:00

We have all just heard live from Hassan Ghani, Sarah Colborne and all the other national spokespeople on the IHH Boat that the Flotilla has got rada contact showing 3 Israeli warships approaching, with one visible to IHH boat eyes. There are drones flying overhead. The flotilla is between 90 and 120 miles out at sea. That is far outside the 68 mile exclusion zone Israel has today (illegally) declared. The ships are clearly in international waters. The flotilla passengers all have life belts on, clearly anxious, but organised and determined.

Watch the IHH deck live (Blood Pressure Warning: the stream keeps freezing, buffering and pausing for obvious reasons):

http://www.livestream.com/insaniyardim

I have already spoken to the Foreign Office Emergency Response team, who are not in the position of doing anything pro-actively (they never are, it's just not their job). They are acutely aware of the flotilla's situation and ready to assist as appropriate any UK citizens abroad, or their direct relatives, "who need or request consular assistance".

The people we really have to hammer away at are our elected representatives. We HAVE to email/phone/text our Government Ministers - AND YOUR INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENCY MP - to get them to support the convoy and tell the Israeli Navy to bugger off:

1) PHONE - the BBC and SKY and ask them WHY there has been virtually no coverage of the Freedom Flotilla which has 40 British passengers and crew on board (in total across all the ships) and is being threatened by the Israeli Navy with armed attack? Contact them on BBC 020 8624 9111 and SKY 020 7705 3000.

2) EMAIL - WILLIAM HAGUE
private.office@fco.gov.uk
AINAGCorrespondence@fco.gov.uk
haguew@parliment.uk

3) EMAIL or PHONE - NICK CLEGG
TELEPHONE Nick Clegg at the following numbers:
Sheffield Hallam constituency office - 0114 230 9002
House of Commons - 020 7219 2371
EMAIL ADDRESSES:
cleggn@parliament.uk,
libdemleader@parliament.uk,
nickclegg@sheffieldhallam.org.uk,
leader@libdems.org.uk

Please do your utmost to raise support and lobby for safety for the flotilla.
There are moves to hold a DEMONSTRATION AT DOWNING STREET AT 2PM, TOMORROW MONDAY 31ST MAY whatever happens this evening. As soon as I get more information about this you'll know!!

Best wishes
Ellie Merton
(Friend of Tox on the IHH boat,
Viva Palestina Convoy 3, a driver of ambulance F5,
Chair, Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign)

LATEST FLOTILLA UPDATE!! and some branch news...

2010-05-30T09:38:00.002+01:00

Latest news (Sunday 30th May, 0900 BST) is that the Flotilla has probably got going to leave Cypriot international waters, but I have the impression the MV Rachel Corrie hasn't quite caught up yet, although all the other ships/loads of VIPS have. Not sure.... but it seems that way. The Flotilla's path to Gaza will take something like 22 hours, or longer since they are rather crawling along, and many of us are guessing that the Israeli Navy will try to attack the convoy during Sunday night (if that's still on the cards for them tactically - there again it may not be now....) or there will be some kind of standoff on Monday morning, near Gazan waters, possibly something like 25 miles out which is the limit of Israel's (illegal) patrolling zone. PSC central are considering a London demo on Tuesday, but this may be moved depending on what kind of standoff might occur.... It's all, as they say, fluid!

Best wishes

Ellie

Chair, WFPSC

REMEMBER - see FACEBOOK: Wfpsc London

FOR THE MOST UP-TO-DATE POSTS!

**********************************************************************

sent: Sat 29 May 2010, lunchtime

WALTHAM FOREST PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN

Ahoy Sailors!

FREE GAZA FLOTILLA - off the coast of Cyprus

At present, as far as Ellie can work out (lunchtime, Saturday 29th May) the extraordinary humanitarian aid relief Free Gaza Freedom Flotilla is still gathering in international waters off Cyprus. Onboard is Tox, from Walthamstow along with lots of WFPSC friends who went on the Viva Palestina Convoy Dec 09/Jan this year. Greek cypriot authorities banned the boats from going through Cypriot waters. As a result of all this, MV Rachel Corrie has taken a long time to catch up with the IHH ships and the rest of the Free Gaza Movement boats. One of the Free Gaza little boats has broken down so all those passengers have been transfered onto the big IHH passenger boat now. There may be other problems going on as well, but it's hard to tell at this juncture. It is possible Israeli Government is already jamming the communications links to some extent, but that is uncorroborated.

Meanwhile, more concretely, the Israeli Government is threatening the usual military action, preparing the Navy to assault the boats and take ships and passengers to Ashdod, in order to ransack/steal the aid, and deport/imprison the 750 activists (and crew?). But the threats are hollow at the moment, because the flotilla hasn't really set off yet!

In terms of WHEN we demonstrate in London (because of course we will...) there has already been a demo outside the Israeli embassy. PSC and Stop the War Coalition are coordinating to back a second demo ONCE the flotilla is properly underway (which it isn't yet) and Israeli government is genuinely about to enact their threats. I'll let you know soonest once we have that news. My sources on the boats, and at Free Gaza and PSC doubt anything will happen today (Saturday), but it might later in the Bank Holiday weekend.

HOWEVER, there is much action to be taken now - using computers and telephones - to lobby politicians and media to get them to support the flotilla.

1) PHONE - the BBC and SKY and ask them WHY there has been virtually no coverage of the Freedom Flotilla which has 40 British passengers and crew on board (in total across all the ships) and is being threatened by the Israeli Navy with armed attack? Contact them on BBC 020 8624 9111 and SKY 020 7705 3000.

2) EMAIL or PHONE - NICK CLEGG

TELEPHONE Nick Clegg at the following numbers:
Sheffield Hallam constituency office - 0114 230 9002
House of Commons - 020 7219 2371

EMAIL ADDRESSES:
cleggn@parliament.uk, libdemleader@parliament.uk, nickclegg@sheffieldhallam.org.uk, leader@libdems.org.uk

LETTER TEMPLATE:

Dear Mr Clegg,

I am writing to you to ask for you to show support for the International Flotilla of ships that is currently sailing towards Gaza. 750 people in 8 ships, loaded with 15,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid are due to dock in Gaza on Sunday afternoon.

However, the Israeli Government has issued serious threats, and the safety of all the passengers and crew is in substantial danger. Both passengers and crew pose NO THREAT, and should be allowed to sail safely into Gaza without incident, backed by international law, humanitarian law and maritime law. 35 passengers and crew are British nationals with further passengers being British residents, so you have a moral obligation with regards all their safety.

May I take this chance to remind you of your statements concerning Gaza and the illegal Israeli "Siege" quoted from your own article in the Guardian newspaper last year?

"The legacy of Operation Cast Lead is a living nightmare for one and a half million Palestinians squeezed into one of the most overcrowded and wretched stretches of land on the planet. And as Israel and Egypt maintain a near total blockade against Gaza, the misery deepens by the day."

You then went on to say:

"And what has the British government and the international community done to lift the blockade? Next to nothing. Tough-sounding declarations are issued at regular intervals but little real pressure is applied. It is a scandal that the international community has sat on its hands in the face of this unfolding crisis."

Mr Clegg, you yourself are now part of the British Government. What are you going to do? Are you going to call for an immediate end to the siege, or are you going to do what the previous Government did, which was nothing? This time, the buck stops with your administration, Mr Clegg.

So as you can see, it is now your turn to step up to the plate and be counted. In the last two days, the EU has called for an immediate end to the siege, and for the flotilla to be allowed a safe passage into Gaza. John Ging from UNWRA has even called for aid agencies to use Gaza port because the roads are blocked by Israel and Egypt. UN HQ has asked for the flotilla's safe delivery. Will you join these voices? Will you say "Enough Is Enough"?

I look forward to your response since time is of the essence.

Yours sincerely
........................

Remember, keep your eyes open for new emails/text messages calling for your attendance at a Demo in Central London!

WFPSC BRANCH NEWS

WEDNESDAY 9th JUNE - evening!

WFPSC BRANCH MEETING!

All about how we function, get things done: your time to come up with ideas

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET FULLY INVOLVED!

You will all be asked to volunteer yourselves to help arrange activities of your own choosing, get involved in the nitty gritty, and suggest your own activities that you would like to see come to fruition over the coming months. There are some great opportunities coming up; we want to hear your suggestions for how we tackle them best, and get them achieved. There is so much to be done and with your contribution, however small, we can do so much more. Please come along and take part - tell us your thoughts and offer us your time, your expertise, your enthusiasm and your willingness to make life better for Palestinians through our work in the UK and Palestine.

Report on fascinating foreign affairs discussion with MP candidates in Waltham Forest

2010-04-24T01:55:00.005+01:00

Making Palestine the issue at the General Election!!

Thanks heaps to everyone who made it to the pre-Election foreign affairs discussion at Fresh'a'licious on Fri 23rd April 2010, particularly all those who haven't been to one of our knees-ups before! It was a joy to welcome yet more new faces to the WFPSC fan-base! Three hours later and we were still talking and debating and swapping experiences.... A fascinating evening.

Thanks to Cath Arakelian (Chingford - Labour candidate) for her amazing work at distilling foreign affairs, and particularly palestinian policy, from all the party manifestos, and giving us an insight into her trip to the West Bank in January. Cath also brought us news from Stella Creasy. Through Cath, Stella made assurances about her support for Palestine, although she felt least in favour of the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions campaign (which, to our audience was interesting, as that is the principal part of the Free Palestine campaign that is having internationally positive effects for Palestinian support). Cath did a brilliant job at answering everyone's questions on a range of international issues, pledged her support for all the PSC initiatives and concerns, and proved herself yet again a strong defender of Palestinian rights.

Thanks also to the Lib Dem candidate for Walthamstow, Farid Ahmed, who eventually made it to the meeting having extricated himself from "helping the police" about the Lib Dem office's unusual 'visit' from four members of Islam4UK. Farid managed to answer a lot of questions about what Nick Clegg was up to, and point at some very positive moves by the Lib Dems in relation to Palestine, and perhaps a more rational policy-making mentality than other parties. That remains to be proven once the count is done. However, unusually, the group thanked Farid for his honesty and humility in his answers, and were pleased he openly promised to visit Palestine sooner rather than later whether or not he got into power and that Palestine would be one of his key interests as an MP. He also signed, in ink (!) all the PSC pledges and Cath filmed him doing that so we have evidence! Farid, it has to be acknowledged, has been the most upfront and forthcoming with his Palestinian support since we very first set up WFPSC so we're pleased that, over a year on, he's still treating Palestine as an important issue, and one of upmost relevance to Waltham Forest residents.

The Conservative candidate for Leyton (Ed Northover) was not able to be at the meeting in the end, since he had another engagement at 7.30 that we knew about. He had hoped to come along afterwards and it would have been good to hear how he is getting on with putting foreign policy in the spotlight in Leyton but, nonetheless, it still stands that Edwin has engaged in Palestinian issues and bothered to support our twinning efforts with Beit Lahiya, and engage in the debate on ways to bring about a stable Palestinian state, where his political colleagues don't have such integrity.

Inevitably, however, our main focus of discussion revolved around the intransigence (and ineptness) of British Foreign Policy, irrespective of which political party was in power. To a certain extent, it was felt, foreign policy was a constant that was untouched and unaffected by temporal shifts in political leadership. Most felt foreign policy was pretty much in hock to the US, and thereby (currently at any rate) being pro Israel, whatever UK politicians might wish for otherwise and irrespective of what the rest of the international community might think is wise. We discussed China, Syria, the US, the EU (particularly the dreaded EU/Israel Association Trade Agreement), the African states, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan but all very much from the viewpoint of how UK policy in those countries affects how we then treat Palestine. We discuss BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) and particularly the arms trade: what level of arms trade in the UK is really having an effect on UK foreign policy. In particular we discussed how the UK could view Israel as a "friendly" country now in the wake of the Goldstone report, the passports fiasco and all the flouting of international humanitarian, civil rights and criminal law. Would any party be so bold as to change it's mind on the "friendly" country tag? Would any party "dare" to recognise Israel as the Apartheid state it so categorically has been proven to be?

Most importantly we had people at the meeting who were either Palestinian, or had lived in Palestine or had Palestinian connections. To us, this focus on what Palestinians think and how the UK comes across to them is extremely important and gives us a legitimacy in our work which is vital to WFPSC's well-being. For political candidates to be cross-questioned about Palestine by Palestinians, as opposed to anyone else, is key.

There is much more to do to engage our local politicians in understanding the importance of Palestinian sovereignty to the stability of the Middle East and the diffusing of many of the world's conflicts, not least make Waltham Forest's very diversely international community more at ease with each other. However, we really welcome the time taken by Farid, Cath and Edwin to make the effort already. If only all politicians were so thoughtful and willing.

You can still play your part in making Palestine the issue at the General Election: SEND OFF THE PSC 'PLEDGES' LETTER "PALESTINE IS THE ISSUE" to all your local candidates, and make sure they respond!!

Best wishes

Ellie

Chair, WFPSC

07770 376701

Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Patrons: Neil Gerrard MP, Jean Lambert MEP, Prof Nur Masalha

Email: wfpsc@yahoo.com

Web: www.facebook.com/wfpsc

Blog: http://wfpsc.blogspot.com

Address: PO Box 64002, London, E17 0HD

Your chance in Waltham Forest to discuss Foreign Policy before the Election. FRIDAY at 7pm !!!

2010-04-22T20:01:00.002+01:00

Make Palestine a massive issue at the General Election!

2010-04-22T19:45:00.000+01:00

GENERAL ELECTION 2010:
Make Palestine the Issue

LOBBY YOUR PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES

We’ve had a fantastic response to our lobby of parliamentary candidates, with thousands of emails sent and over 1200 candidates lobbied. With only two weeks left until election day use our campaigning tool to contact your candidates and let them know the strength of public feeling for a just resolution for Palestine.

Over 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza are now into their fourth year of living under a horrific and brutal siege, and Israel’s continuing illegal settlement building programme throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem is further entrenching its illegal occupation. It is vital that MPs in the next Parliament understand they have a responsibility to act to end Israel’s violations of international law.

Ask them to show their support by signing up to PSC’s six election pledges:

Call on Israel to end its violations of international law, including ending its illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza
Oppose any attacks on universal jurisdiction and support bringing those responsible for war crimes to justice
Work to end the siege on Gaza
Call on the government to ban the import of settlement goods
Call on the government to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement
Call for an end to Britain’s arms trade with Israel

It only takes one minute. Just click here to find out who your Parliamentary candidates are and start lobbying. Please send replies to elections@palestinecampaign.org – candidates can also directly sign the pledge by sending their name, constituency and party to this email.

Find out if your local candidates have sign the pledge here:www.palestinecampaign.org/elections You may want to download our election briefing to send to your candidates with more in-depth information about the pledges.

In solidarity,

Hugh Lanning
Chair, Palestine Solidarity Campaign

P.S. please forward this email to your friends, family and colleagues and share our lobbying link on facebook and twitter!

THURSDAY!! Rich Wiles speaking in Walthamstow at 7pm, Hornbeam Centre

2010-03-24T17:53:00.005Z

Join us to hear about Rich Wiles' work in the West Bank - and his moving new book: "Behind the Wall"

(http://www.amazon.com/Behind-Wall-Life-Struggle-Palestine/dp/1597974390/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1%29)

Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Branch meeting

Thurs 25th March, at 7pm

Hornbeam Centre

458 Hoe Street, E17 9AH

How to get to "Women & Palestine" mtg at Quaker Mtg House, 1a Jewel Road, Walthamstow. Today, 5th March, at 7pm. See you there!

2010-03-05T04:55:00.001Z

Women making a LOT of Noise - because we can. Do come along and bring some men with you to hear what us women have to say!!!

2010-03-02T19:24:00.003Z

Girls and boys have returned from Gaza - the Viva Palestina convoy delivers strong results

2010-01-23T16:59:00.011Z

With huge apologies for the delay in updating you, it is with great delight we can say that WFPSC and Lost Voices of Gaza contingents on the Viva Palestina convoy have successfully delivered their aid and visited Gaza!

Jo, Rada and Ellie, along wit

h Tox, Hamza and Sa'id arrived in Gaza with the rest of "F team" (show in the group photo) in the early hours of the morning of 6th January, or was it 7th January. Time had merged into one long day by then and the date was pretty immaterial. The fact is, we had arrived!

Although we had no idea when we arrived, in the end, we only had a fleeting 36 hours in Gaza - basically one day - to do everything we had arranged, including seeing families and friends of Gazans back in the UK, and making links with local community groups. So, basically, we only got the tiniest fraction done of what we had planned.

That said, we did manage to get out and about, rushing to see as much of Gaza as we could. The Lost Voices boys made it to a hospital and other community organisations, Rada and Jo attended two enormous receptions and spent quality time with our host family and Ellie made it to an archeological museum and then met a family living in tents/makeshift housing near the Eretz crossing.

Despite the difficulties we had with the Egyptian authorities, the riot at El Arish and the deportation fiasco, we had a brilliant time in Gaza, and the Gazan people made us so welcome we all have homesickness for Palestinian hospitality! At every turn, even though the Palestinians have barely enough to feed themselves, we were pressed with food, tea, coffee, more food, more tea, more coffee, delicious puddings, sweets, more coffee - we had to beg not to eat at 1.30am... And all the time huge amounts of merry talking - about anything and everything - a real exuberance for life and love of other people: a deeply cultured, humane and mature way of life which we adored.

We all have heaps of photos and stories to tell. With any luck we will get a branch meeting together (1st or 5th Feb?) for WFPSC members and onlookers, just to sort out what we, as WFPSC need to do next. There is the PSC AGM coming up on 6th Feb, at which we need to speak up and with any luck there will be a formal VP Convoy feedback session (later in Feb?), to help us plan better for future such convoys and siege-breaking activities. But what we really want to do is hold a public meeting for your Waltham Forest convoy members to share their stories with you, so you can learn how we coped, how we nurtured and protected your aid that we were carrying, how we made hundreds of Palestinian friends along the way in all the diaspora countries and how we handed over the aid and whatever cash we had to families and community groups on arrival in Gaza.

We've had some media coverage, both on the way and on our return. Buy the Waltham Forest Guardian Newspaper - we're in this week's (Thurs 21 Jan) edition! Also, the same paper did an on-line article on us. Jo and Rada have appeared in a couple of international newspapers, we've all appeared on lots of Press TV bulletins, IHH (turkish NGO) broadcasts and Al Jazeera. Ellie's also done a live Radio Johannesburg interview and a live TV debate for Medi1stat, Moroccan 24-hour news. So we have not been silent!

In the meantime, if you have any questions, get in touch on wfpsc@yahoo.com

Anniversary of the Gaza attacks

2009-12-27T16:43:00.002Z

Today, on the anniversary of the attacks on Gaza beginning with the killing of hundreds in the first few hours, Jo, Rada and Ellie from Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign are still stuck on the beach at Aqaba, Jordan, waiting with the Viva Palestina Convoy for Egypt to allow humanitarian aid through its borders into Gaza.

We need you, our supporters, to write to the UK Foreign Office and to the UK Egyptian Embassy, to lobby them to drop their conditions and allow the Viva Palestina Aid Convoy through to Gaza.

Why must the people of Gaza continually be punished for existing? Why must the humanitarian efforts of a few hundred international peace volunteers be sneered at by Egyptian officials?

In Aqaba today, we have been demonstrating as much as we can. 20 members of the convoy have gone on hunger strike today, with further people joining up in the coming days. We held a jolly demo on two boats, making an attempt to take Palestinian flags and Gaza support banners over the water to wave at Eilat, the deeply disturbing and flashing Israeli holiday resort on the Red Sea (why does Israel need so much "aid" when it has such huge income generation of its own?). There was a demo in town to mark the hunger strike beginning and this morning a group of convoy volunteers climbed a local mountain overlooking Aqaba and flew an enormous Palestinian flag and VP Convoy banners for all to see. This evening we have a rally at our basecamp compound and a candlelit vigil to honour all 1,400 killed in the attacks on Gaza last year.

We remain steadfast and determined to get our aid to the people of Gaza. We will not be stopped. There is no reason at all why the people of Gaza should be denied our voluntary humanitarian assistance. The families of Gaza are waiting for us to arrive: we get text messages from our friends there every day wishing us well and looking forward to our imminent appearance.

Please help us by contacting the Foreign Office today and reading the riot act to them, to get them off their Christmas backsides and into action to persuade Egypt that Egypt must allow humane behaviour towards the people of Palestine and particularly the people of Gaza. Why does Egypt feebly do the bidding of Apartheid Israel? Does Egypt have no backbone of its own, that it is too wimpy to be strong and caring to its fellow man?

We will wait in Aqaba, clogging up the streets with demos and bashing away on the keyboards of every internet cafe in town for hours at a time until we are allowed to take our aid to Gaza.

Ellie

On the Road to Gaza

2009-12-23T15:31:00.003Z

Hello from Amman in Jordan!

Rada, Jo and I are still alive, our ambulance is almost still on one piece and your aid is totally intact. Rock on!

It is a huge relief to be able to blog for the first time during the convoy. Getting to an internet cafe has been tough work in most of our overnight destinations (which at the beginning of the trip were entirely petrol stations and sports halls but are now hotels and hostels) and those convoy members that do have internet on their laptops are so busy emailing and blogging themselves they understandably have not had much time to offer to those of us without instant access.

Currently I am sitting in an internet cafe down the road from a press conference/demonstration at the Jordanian Union Complex somewhere in Amman. We are tired, but happy to be here. On the road last night we encountered our first real authority difficulties, with the police blocking our path after crossing the border into Jordan. We had a sit-in, with all convoy ambulances blaring every single horn and flashing every light, and eventually the police gave up, probably due to being deafened (chortle chortle).

Our welcome from normal people in the street throughout Turkey, Syria and now Jordan has been phenomenal. Turkey has been the most overwhelmingly exuberant with clutches of supporters standing in the middle of motorway central reservations in the pouring rain and at 2am just to wave and cheer us on. It is overwhelming to have such heartfelt support.

It is a massive blessing to get a morning off today, only our second bit of time off in over two weeks of solid driving at painfully slow speeds, or break neck races after waiting around for hours at a time. We are all quite stressed because we never know what is happening each day from one hour to the next. There is a lot of justifiable criticism about VP convoy organisers from the convoy members, but it has to be said the resourcefulness of the drivers and the team leaders means we have succeeded in all we have needed to do in spite of anything the organisers fail to fix or arrange.

We are now bracing ourselves for Egypt. We need your support for this. Please contact your MP by email or fax, and also send messages direct to the UK Foreign Office, demanding that Egypt allow safe passage for the convoy and facilitate its entry into Gaza. Egypt must let us in.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas over the next few days, and please do tell your friends and families that we are living up to your support so far, but we will do our utmost in the time ahead of us to get through Egypt, get into Gaza and give the Palestinian people your support, money, aid, good wishes, solidarity and love. Watch us on Press TV (Sky Channel 515) to keep up to date on our progress from now on....

Hugs all round and "Viva, Viva Palestina!!"
Ellie

We're going to Gaza in an ambulance!

2009-11-27T19:16:00.003Z

WFPSC members will be joining the "Viva Palestina!" convoy (departing London on Sunday 6th December travelling across Europe to go to Gaza) in an ambulance. We're SOOOO excited and nervous all at the same time. It is not too late still to donate, so we can buy extra aid to take out. We hope to take education aid in our ambulance, as well as some basic medical materials.

Our ambulance will look similar to the one pictured above - we don't get to pick ours up until Wednesday! Once we've got our ambulance, we'll put photos of it up for you to see and admire. Thank you SO MUCH for your amazing support, very generous and kind donations and for showing how much you care about Gaza one year on from the dreadful attacks.

DON'T FORGET TO COME TO THE ASIAN CENTRE, WALTHAMSTOW ON SUNDAY 29th November, all AFTERNOON! Help the Lost Voices of Gaza boys raise their final funds for their ambulance too!

We need your DONATIONS for a special WFPSC LONDON FUND to help us join the "Viva Palestina!" convoy to Gaza

2009-11-16T00:58:00.001Z

Chingford Morrisons and South Woodford Waitrose taken over by Boycott Israeli Apartheid Protestors on Sat 7th November

2009-11-14T23:44:00.007Z

WFPSC and J-BIG protestors being politely evicted from Waitrose in South Woodford

Shopping in Morrisons, Chingford

Impressively few lines of Israeli Apartheid Goods - but all the usual ones, like Grapefruit, Oranges and Dates.

A light bit of relevant stickering to get the gentle message across.

WFPSC Boycott Action against Waitrose, South Woodford - Saturday 7th November 2009

2009-11-05T14:26:00.004Z

1) Gather at 2pm at the Little Woodford Cafe, just along the road from South Woodford Station

2) At 3pm, set off for Waitrose

Waltham Forest PSC mobilising for Boycott Israeli Apartheid week of action!

2009-11-05T14:11:00.004Z

SATURDAY 07 NOVEMBER

WFPSC STALL - WALTHAMSTOW TOWN SQUARE

11-1.30pm - come to rally everyone to the cause. Get your latest merchandise and info leaflets and catch up with everyone.

SOUTH WOODFORD WAITROSE ACTION!

Roll up! Roll up! Tell local South Woodford Waitrose "Enough is enough! No more Israeli Apartheid goods on your shelves!" Join in with lots of hearty pacifist resistance and noble non-violence: protesting, leafletting, singing, stickering, sitting on the ground, piling up illegal goods! Something for all your intrepid friends and family to do. Bring along loud hailers, banners, digital and video cameras!

2pm: Meet for briefing at the Little Woodford Cafe, George Lane, South Woodford (short walk from South Woodford tube station - Central Line)

3pm: Walk to South Woodford WAITROSE (http://www.waitrose.com/branches/branchdetails.aspx?uid=231)

5pm: Depending on how we get on, we may visit another supermarket nearby...

For further info, please email wfpsc@yahoo.com

THURSDAY 11 NOVEMBER

NATIONAL TELEPHONE/FAX/EMAIL SUPERMARKETS DAY OF ACTION!

You can do this any time of day, from home, your office, on the train, on a bus, walking along...

WAITROSE

Waitrose CEO Mark Price: mark_price@waitrose.co.uk

Waitrose Customer Service Freephone: 0800 188 884

Email: customer_service@waitrose.co.uk

Waitrose Customer Service Dept, Waitrose Ltd, Doncaster Rd, Bracknell, Berks RG12 8YA

MORRISONS

Morrisons' CEO Marc Bolland: marc.bolland@morrisonsplc.co.uk

Morrisons Customer Service: 0845 611 6111
Head Office - 0845 611 5000

Registered office - Hillmore House, Gain Lane, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD3 7DL

SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER

WFPSC STALL - WALTHAMSTOW TOWN SQUARE

11-2pm - Join us to distribute more information to Waltham Forest's residents about the importance of boycotting.

WALTHAM FOREST & REDBRIDGE GREEN PARTY BAZAAR - United Reformed Church, Nightingale Lane, Wanstead (off the High St)

11-3pm - Join Liz and the fair trade gang selling Zaytoun produce. Turn up early to avoid disappointment because Liz's stuff sells VERY FAST!

Donate today after our amazing concert for Viva Palestina!

2009-10-26T17:45:00.001Z

Amazing concert for Viva Palestina - this weekend!

2009-10-19T18:35:00.003+01:00

Also, come and see us at our WFPSC stall at Leytonstone "Car Free Day", Sun 20th Sept

2009-09-04T11:54:00.002+01:00

Join us also at our WFPSC Palestinian goods and merchandise stall in Leystonstone for Waltham Forest's "Car Free Day" - click here for a link to the council's website to find out more!

Buy Palestinian goods at our WFPSC stall at the Fair Trade event in Leytonstone on Sat 12th Sept!

2009-09-04T11:34:00.005+01:00

Tuesday, 7pm, Harmony Hall - and bring iftar food for all to enjoy! See you all there!

2009-08-29T21:52:00.001+01:00

Bank Holiday weekend - things to do in Walthamstow

2009-08-26T14:40:00.005+01:00

Friday 28 August - leafletting Waltham Forest's mosques with "Don't buy illegal Israeli medjoul dates during Ramadan" fliers. If you can help us leaflet your local mosque in Waltham Forest on Friday lunchtime (12.30-2.30pm or any part thereof!) please email wfpsc@yahoo.com

Saturday 29 August - WFPSC stall in Walthamstow Town Square, 11am-3pm. Another jolly stall, with lots of local life popping by to see us, joining up, geting fliers for the meeting on 1st Sept and nosing through merchandise. It's a great place to meet your friends and do some good all at the same time! Do email wfpsc@yahoo.com if you can help set up/take down.

Tuesday 1st Sept - Our fanastic public meeting, with Iftar in the middle of it for not just those observing Ramadan but for everyone to be able to enjoy. Three amazing speakers - don't miss it! All welcome!!

Netanyahu, Israel's dodgy Prime Minister, in the UK today - picket Netanyahu Tuesday lunchtime, and fax/email Gordon Brown with your views

2009-08-24T19:26:00.005+01:00

TUESDAY 25 AUGUST

GATHER OUTSIDE 10 DOWNING STREET

1.30pm to 3pm

Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of one of the most right wing governments in Israel for many years, is coming to London to meet Gordon Brown.

Stop the War and PSC have called a picket of Downing Street during his visit. Come and support the palestinian people.

Netanyahu has refused to stop Israeli settlement building on the West Bank. Palestinians are stil being evicted from their homes. The settlements are illegal and should be dismantled.

The seige of Gaza remains. Essential food and medical supplies are still being denied to the people of Gaza. The blockade should be lifted immediately.

Come to the picket on Tuesday to tell Gordon Brown that this is what he should be asking Netanyahu to do.

IF YOU CAN'T COME TO THE PICKET, WRITE/FAX GORDON BROWN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in London and Berlin on a four-day visit, and is meeting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Please take two minutes to contact Gordon Brown urgently, asking him to convoy these issues in his meetings with Netanyahu:

Israeli settlements block peace – they must be dismantled, not just frozen
End Israel’s siege on Gaza
End Israel’s ethnic cleansing in East Jerusalem

And remind Gordon Brown that real peace means delivering justice for Palestinians. The British government must act to ensure Israel ends its violations of international law – this includes an immediate end to Israel’s illegal occupation and respect for the right of return of refugees. The government must also act to uphold the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people.

You can:
Fax your letter to 10 Downing Street: 020 7925 0918.
Twitter Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street
Email David Miliband at the Foreign Office and ask them to convey your message to the Prime Minister: msu.correspondence@fco.gov.uk

Please circulate this call widely and copy us any replies.

=====================================

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) aims to raise public awareness about the occupation of Palestine and the struggle of the Palestinian people. PSC seek to bring pressure on both the British and Israeli government to bring their policies in line with international law. PSC is an independent, non-governmental and non-party political organisation with members from communities across the UK. Join PSC today!

Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Box BM PSA
London
WC1N 3XX
Tel: 020 7700 6192

Amazing Public Meeting on 1st September, Harmony Hall, Walthamstow at 7pm - bring your friends and colleagues, all welcome!

2009-08-20T18:11:00.007+01:00

New Zaytoun produce order form - get your Medjoul dates from Palestine today!

2009-08-20T18:04:00.002+01:00

A bit of publicity...

2009-07-17T18:14:00.002+01:00

Join in with us today! Come and help Palestinians regain their civil and human rights

2009-07-17T13:07:00.003+01:00

Buy Palestinian fairtrade goods from our local distributor!

2009-07-17T12:50:00.005+01:00

Israeli Apartheid confirmed by South Africans

2009-06-02T18:24:00.005+01:00

South Africa's Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has published a detailed and uncompromising legal reading on whether Israel's behaviour equates to colonialism and apartheid in Palestine. Click here to read the report, which should be obligatory reading for every MP, MEP, UN representative and so on. It puts the UK in a very sticky position....

A snapshot of daily Israeli Colonisation Apartheid behaviour

2009-05-31T18:06:00.006+01:00

Palestine Literary Festival is blocked from opening in Jerusalem by Israeli Apartheid soldiers but it carries on anyway. Eventually, on 26th May, Michael Palin has a 'road to Bethlehem' moment.

Meanwhile, Palestinian farmers in Safa try to tend their land with international peace activists for protection, except Israeli Apartheid soldiers enforce their colonisation goals by thugging up both Palestinian farmers and peace activists, on a whim - they were probably bored.

Things to do this weekend!

2009-05-28T13:48:00.003+01:00

Hello lovely WFPSCers

We had an excellent pre-EU elections meeting on Tuesday - squashing a good turn-out into Hornbeam and grilling both Jean Lambert (Green MEP) and Jonathan Fryer (Lib Dem EU candidate).

It was tremendous to see so many new faces from our group, and to have such a hearty discussion followed by Rada Daniell's moving photographs of her recent two-month West Bank tour.

You've given us a lot of feedback recently about the national agenda for PSC, as opposed to how we do things at branch level. If you are happy or unhappy at the way PSC national runs affairs, now is a good time to speak up at the forthcoming gathering on Saturday. Come along and speak your mind, but remember to be a paid-up member of PSC to participate:

Saturday 30th May

PSC Branch Forum in London

11am–5pm

University of London Union, Malet St , London WC1

(nearest tubes Goodge St/Euston/Russell Square )

Waltham Forest will have a group leaving Walthamstow Central at about 10.15am getting to Russell Square at 10.45am. Please call Ellie Merton (WFPSC chair) on 07770 376701 if you have any questions. We really hope you can join us for this important national debate.

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If you haven't done your bit to 'block the bloody BNP' there are plenty of other opportunities, like leafletting tube stations on Friday (tomorrow) morning or leafletting around Chingford on Sunday for you to help Unite Against Fascism (a group that we are grateful to say actively supports WFPSC). Please contact our excellent local UAF branch by email uaf@waltham-forest.org.uk, phone 07017 401951 or 07905 258133 or see Mike Barton, Dean Harris or anyone from UAF to help them out.

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Finally, don't forget our bumber-packed "WFPSC Annual General Meeting" on Saturday 4th July, 2pm, at Quakers Meeting House, 1a Jewel Road, Walthamstow, E17 4QU. (It's extremely easy to find - Quakers is at the top of Jewel Road opposite Hoe Street's Rose & Crown pub - but do note, despite the building being fully disability accessible, parking is frightful and 'single yellows' go up to 6pm). Speakers, elections, debates, unveiling new initiatives, announcing new Patrons - lots of interesting material for you to get your intellectual and campaigning teeth into. Please do come along, but make sure you join PSC to be able to vote.

Stoke "Love Music Hate Racism" Festival on Sat 30th May

2009-05-28T11:16:00.005+01:00

There are just two days left to get your tickets & coach seats for Stoke-On-Trent's "Love Music Hate Racism" Festival on Sat 30th May.

To purchase tickets contact uaf@waltham-forest.org.uk, phone 07017 401951 or 07905 258133 or see Mike Barton, Dean Harris et al from UAF.

At £20 (£10 entry + £10 coach seat), our trip package is a steal for a great day out: lots of top live acts, and a huge show of unity against the BNP with joint headliners Kelly Rowland and Pete Doherty. Our Waltham Forest UAF coach leaves Walthamstow Central Station at 8.30am Saturday morning, returns at 10.30pm.

"It's a great opportunity for a day of unity and a fantastic concert. Contact us for tickets today, and join us on the coach!" say Dean and Mike.

WFPSC Pre-Euro Elections Meeting, Tues 26th May at 7.30pm

2009-05-22T16:20:00.003+01:00

Join us at the Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street E18 9AH

Come and talk about EU Elections with local politicians, hear from recent Palestine visits and discuss Twinning.

2009-05-14T15:08:00.000+01:00

Interpal fundraising event in Leyton on 4th May, at which we will have a stall:

2009-04-28T15:01:00.002+01:00

As part of our anti-racism remit, we encourage you to support UAF:

2009-04-28T14:55:00.004+01:00

Would you help out over next few days?

2009-04-23T11:34:00.005+01:00

1) Two people to volunteer to help with Stall this Saturday (25th April), 12-2pm at Tesco, Leyton High Road just along from Baker's Arms. If you can do this, please let us know asap (wfpsc@yahoo.com). You would be encouraging the public to come to our film night, join in with various fantastic community events (like the Interpal Football Match on 4th May) and come to the big national Palestine rally in May. We have a couple of people already but it's more fun and effective to have a lot more.

2) Join in fundraising shop-hop this Sunday 26th April! We're popping in and out of local shops collecting donations and support in Palmerston Road area. Please email us (wfpsc@yahoo.com) asap if you can join in with this - should be very entertaining and there's already 3 people but the more the merrier. All funds go to political campaigning by WFPSC.

3) This coming Tuesday 28th "Film Night" at 7.30pm at the Hornbeam Centre, Hoe Street (near Baker's Arms) - flier downloadable on the post below. We're showing "The Iron Wall", a documentary film from 2006 about the illegal Israeli Settlements and the building of the illegal segregation Wall to protect the illegal colonisations which are systematically destroying indigenous Palestinian lands. Do come along with your friends and family. We'll have a discussion and enjoy refreshments. Small donation to cover costs.

4) Twinning is go! If you are interested in participating in any way, building friendship links initially with Beit Lahiya (in north east Gaza) and moving towards formal council twinning gradually, please let us know (wfpsc@yahoo.com) and we will respond to you about how you can join in. First meeting in early May.

2009-04-21T13:47:00.001+01:00

Lots to do

2009-04-17T18:24:00.004+01:00

Welcome back after the holiday break! Read the whole spiel (lots to join in and think about...)

First section is dedicated to our branch activities in Waltham Forest. Second section contains some of the interesting things being put on by PSC central or other organisations, like STW, the Welfare Association, Palestine Film Foundation and so on....

Quick update: ongoing Waltham Forest political pressure is continuing with our "Letter To The Foreign Office", which we are asking local WF Cllrs to sign. Many Cllrs have not signed yet. We have spoken to several who say they agree wholeheartedly with our sentiments, but won't put pen to paper where there is no "clear and direct link with Waltham Forest itself". So we have more work to do on this to point out there is enormous relevance to Waltham Forest, as hundreds of residents keep telling us. In the meantime, we are incredibly grateful to all those who made donations to WFPSC at the last meeting on 30 March at which we witnessed a harrowing insight into the real situation in Gaza. Your donations paid for the hall hire, the leaflets and other information resources. That fascinating evening ended our hard-working boycott campaign weekend when many of you turned out in grim weather to interact good naturedly with Tesco and local shoppers. We are making consistent headway with the Boycott Campaign, raising awareness of goods Waltham Forest residents might like to avoid buying, since those goods help fund the oppressive behaviour of Israeli military forces and illegal settlements occupying Palestine. One of the events we visited that weekend was the excellent Sisters' Bazaar to fundraise for Islamic Relief. It was an inspiring community effort and we continue to work towards helping other local community groups understand why Palestine as an issue - (the use of the scarf/keffiyeh, many independent fundraising attempts for Gaza, militant radicalisation of local youth) - is playing out in the borough and why our concerned local residents want practical and positive means of applying their energy to support Palestinians, not alienation and disregard.

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FIRST SECTION

WFPSC BRANCH MEETING
Mon 20 Apr * 7.30pm-9.30pm
Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, London, E17 9AH

Concentration on Twinning activities and fundraising - we'll hear how the Twinning group is getting on with ideas, and then crack on with a fundraising action plan to pay for our activities!

WFPSC FILM NIGHT - THE IRON WALL
Tue 28 Apr * 7.30pm-9.30pm
Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, London, E17 9AH
Tickets £4 waged, £2 unwaged/concessions. tea & coffee provided.
"The Iron Wall" (with discussion afterwards)

Directed by Mohammed Alatar - Documentary Length: 52mins, 2006
In 1923 the prominent Zionist ideologue Vladimir Jabotinsky, wrote that,“Zionist colonization must either stop, or else proceed regardless of the native population. Which means that it can proceed and develop only under the protection of a power that is independent of the native population – behind an Iron Wall, which the native population cannot breach.” From that day these words became the official and unspoken policy of the Zionist movement and the state of Israel. Settlements were used from the outset to create a foothold in Palestine. After 1967 and the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, the settlement project was revived to create “facts on the ground” and make the creation of a Palestinian state there impossible. There are now over 200 settlements and outposts throughout the West Bank blocking the emergence of a contiguous Palestinian territory. The Iron Wall exposes this phenomenon, following the timeline, size, and population of the settlements, and their impact on the peace process. The film also touches on the latest project to entrench the settlements as permanent “facts on the ground” – the wall.

We'd also like to encourage you to pop down to the Palestine Film Festival at the Barbican Centre (details further down this email...).

WFPSC AGM

Sat 4 Jul * 2pm onwards

Please mark this date in your diary! Elections and policy making, with cultural event in the evening. We are still negotiating on location because we want to get some outside space to have breathing space and room for people to take bored small children out into a play area. More about this very soon.

===============================================

SECOND SECTION

PALESTINE SOLIDARITY TRADE UNION CONFERENCE
Sat 18 Apr * 10am Registration for 11am-4pm Conference
Quaker Meeting House, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BT
Speakers – Sameh Habeeb (Gaza photojournalist); Manawel Abdel-Al (Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions - PGFTU); Eamon McMahon (Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign); Greg Dropkin (Liverpool Friends of Palestine), Hugh Lanning (Deputy General Secretary PCS).
Fees – branch delegates £10; individuals £5/3 (concession low-waged/unemployed)
Lunch – Middle Eastern (mainly) food available at a small cost. Crèche available.
Organisers – Liverpool Friends of Palestine & Merseyside Association of Trades Union Councils –tbnw16268@blueyonder.co.uk

CHARITY CRAFT FAIR FOR GAZA
Sun 19 Apr * 11 am - 4 pm
The Mosaic Rooms, Tower House, 226 Cromwell Rd, London SW5 OSR
This one day event in the heart of central London is your opportunity to purchase some of the finest handmade craft and gift items including Islamic silver jewellery, handbags, shawls, scarves, clothes, embroidery, ceramics, pottery, silverware, crystal gifts, objets d'art, greeting cards, soft toys and much more.

Also featuring work by Internationally renowned calligrapher Dr Nassar Mansour who will be introducing pieces from his new silver jewellery collection plus paintings by Charles Foster Hall, Ghada Habib and Najia Karim. A tombola offering quality prizes and light refreshments will also be available. Come and enjoy a fun day out with family and friends or just relax over a coffee and soak up the beautiful surroundings of the mosaic rooms. The mosaic rooms provide full disabled access and facilities.

All proceeds from entrance fees, tombola, refreshments and stall hire will go toward the Welfare Association's Gaza Emergency Appeal. The Welfare Association (UK) is a Registered Charity (No. 1020238) which supports humanitarian and development projects in Palestine and in Palestinian Refugee Camps in Lebanon (http://welfareassociation.org.uk ). For more information please contact Rajai Al-Jehani raljehani@hotmail.com or Rima Abboushi Rimaabboushi@yahoo.co.uk

ROUTE 181, FRAGMENTS OF A JOURNEY IN PALESTINE-ISRAEL
Tue 21 Apr * 7pm for 7.30pm-9.30pm
Passing Clouds (behind the Jazz Bar), Richmond Road, Dalston, London E8 4AA
Filmmakers Michel Khleifi and Eyal Sivan, a Palestinian and an Israeli, travel together from the south to the north of their country of birth, taking the viewer on a disorientating road trip across this tiny territory with vast ramifications. Encounters along the way with Palestinians and Israelis young and old, suggest a radical counter-history to the founding myths of the state of Israel. Frontiers have been built on the hills and in the plains, on mountains and in valleys but above all inside the minds and souls of these two peoples and in the collective unconscious of both societies.

Organised by Hackney Palestine Solidarity Campaign - Catastrophe Club screens films from and about Palestine

10TH LONDON PALESTINE FILM FESTIVAL
Fri 24 Apr to Fri 8 May
Barbican Centre, Silk St, London EC2Y 8DS or SOAS, Thornhaugh St, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG
http://www.palestinefilm.org/festivals.asp?s=next/

Fri 24 – 19:30 Laila's Birthday + Q&A (Barbican, Cinema 1) (Opening)
Sat 25 – 16:00 Divine Intervention + The View (Barbican, Cinema 3)
Sat 25 – 18:15 Laila's Birthday + Q&A (Barbican, Cinema 3)
Sat 25 – 20:30 To My Father + John Berger Reads Ghassan Kanafani + Q&A (Barbican, Cinema 3)
Sun 26 – 17:00 NAKBA:Palestine 1948 + Panel (Barbican, Cinema 2)
Sun 26 – 20:15 Introduction to the End of an Argument + Palestine Remembered + Sedition (Barbican, Cinema 3)
Mon 27 – 18:30 R-Existence + Smile! You Are in South Lebanon + Welcome to Shatila (Barbican, Cinema 3)
Mon 27 – 20:45 Shadow of Absence (Barbican, Cinema 3)
Tue 28 – 18:15 State of Siege (État de Siege) (Barbican, Cinema 3)
Wed 29 – 18:30 This Way Up + Open Heart (Barbican, Cinema 3)
Wed 29 – 20:30 Friendship's Death + A Space Exodus + Q&A (Barbican, Cinema 3)
Thu 30 – 18:30 House Salad (Salata Baladi) (Barbican, Cinema 3)
Thu 30 – 20:30 Salt of This Sea + 60 Units of Time + Q&A (Barbican, Cinema 3)
Fri 1 May – 18:30 My Land + Recognized (SOAS, KLT)
Sat 2 May – 16:00 Edward Said in Conversation with Salman Rushdie – 1986 (SOAS, KLT)
Sat 2 May – 18:00 Edward Said:The Last Interview (SOAS, KLT)
Sun 3 May – 16:00 We Like Life Tomorrow + Take Me Home (SOAS, KLT)
Tue 5 May – 18:45 La Terre Parle Arabe + Arthur Balfour and Me + Q&A (SOAS, KLT)
Wed 6 May – 18:30 Memory of the Cactus + Stranger in My Home (SOAS, KLT)
Thu 7 May – 18:30 A Summer Not to Forget + Panel (SOAS, KLT)
Fri 8 May – 18:30 5 Minutes From Home + Easy, Easy (SOAS, KLT)

STOP THE WAR COALITION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Sat 25 Apr * 9am Registration for 10am-6pm Conference
South Camden Community School, Charrington Street, London, NW1 1RG
Nearest tubes Euston and Kings Cross.
Speakers – Tony Benn, Ken Loach, Karma Nabulsi, George Galloway, Rose Gentle, Anas al Tikriti, Andrew Murray, Sami Ramadani, Lindsey German, Jeremy Corbyn and Kate Hudson.
Sessions – Obama and the War on Terror; troops out of Afghanistan; Palestine; Muslims and civil liberties; Iraq briefing; building Stop The War.

Waltham Forest Stop the War branch may be sending a delegation to the conference – get in touch with them via us if you want to be included. Or you can register independently with the Stop The War office as a delegate if you were a member before 1st Jan this year, or an observer if you are a new member (you can join at the conference). Phone 020 7801 2768 to book your place. Entry is £10.

CAMDEN ABU DIS FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE

Sat 25 Apr * 9.20am-6.20pm

SOAS, Thornhaugh St, London WC1

Camden Abu Dis conference will have speakers and film from Abu Dis and information on the situation there, information on the last year's work in CADFA and practical workshops on taking our work forward. In the afternoon, the theme will be educational and academic links and school twinning, with lots of information, speakers and time to exchange ideas. We will finish with music from ATTAB HADDAD (oud) and KEITH FORD (piano) + a social.

Camden Abu Dis members and others all welcome.

Fee for pre-booked places is £2.50 for CADFA members and £7.50 for non-members.

For more info contact 08454 581167 or email contact@camdenabudis.net

OBAMA AND IRAN
Mon 27 Apr * 7pm onwards
Room G2, SOAS, Russell Square Campus, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG

Chaired by - BARONESS PROFESSOR HALEH AFSHAR Prominent Iranian academic

Speakers - JON SNOW Channel 4 news journalist and presenter; MEHRI HONARBIN-HOLLIDAY academic and writer, leading member of Campaign Iran; ALI FATHOLLAH-NEJAD Political scientist and academic councillor of CASMII; JOHN REES Stop the War Coalition

With the election of Barak Obama as US President the world is asking what will his foreign policy be? In particular towards Iran. A few weeks ago, Obama addressed the 'Iranian people' via a new years broadcast. He spoke of peace, yet in practice thus far all we've seen is a continuation of the warmongering policies of his predecessor.

LE TRIO JOUBRAN TOUR – TAITH CYMRU 2009 WALES TOUR
Sat 2 to Sun 10 May
This is the second visit to Wales by a remarkable trio of oud virtuosos from Palestine: Le Trio Joubran. Samir, Wissam and Adnan Joubran are three young brothers who proudly represent the extraordinary cultural heritage of Palestine, and are the only professionally performing oud trio in the world. On this tour they are joined by percussionist Yousef Hbeisch.
02.05.09 @ 8.00pm – Aberystwyth ARTS CENTRE: 01970 623232
03.05.09 @ 7.30pm – Cardigan THEATR MWLDAN: 01239 621200
05.05.09 @ 7.30pm – Cardiff ST DAVID’S HALL: 02920 878444
06.05.09 @ 7.30pm – Pontardawe ARTS CENTRE: 01792 863722
07.05.09 @ 7.30pm – Milford Haven TORCH THEATRE: 01646 695267
08.05.09 @ 7.30pm – Caernarfon GALERI: 01286 685222
09.05.09 @ 7.30pm – Harlech THEATR HARLECH: 01766 780667
10.05.09 @7.30pm – Brecon THEATR BRYCHEINIOG: 01874 611622

YALLA TO GAZA: HOPE FOR GAZA CONVOY
Sat 2 to ? May
Organised by Palestine Return Centre, Palestine Telegraph and European Save Gaza movement [not to be confused with Free Gaza Boat Flotilla which is happening later in the month, or the Viva Palestina attempts also happening later in May and during the summer], on the 2nd of May a big convoy of hundreds of trucks is leaving Milan, Italy to Gaza. They Convoy would move to Alexandria in Egypt by the sea and then to Gaza. The trip itself would not cost you anything, but you have to fund yourself to get to Milan and then return from Gaza. If you are interested, if you have more questions you can reach us by the contact info below:
يلا علي غزة
سوف تنطلق قافلة تضم مئات الشاحنات من ميلان بايطاليا مروروا بالإسكندرية بمصر ثم غزة في الثاني من مايو 2009. هذه فرصتك الذهبية للذهاب لغزة في رحلة لن تكلفك أي شيء, فقط كن في ميلان وستصل غزة في بعدها مباشرة.
للانضمام يمكنك الاتصال علينا من خلال معلوماتنا بالأسفل:
Direct Link: http://www.savegaza.eu/
Direct Link: http://www.paltelegraph.com

CAMDEN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL ON ISRAEL'S ATTACK ON GAZA
Sat 9 May * 11am-5pm
KLT, SOAS, Thornaugh St Russell St, London WC1H 0XG
Opening address by Jenny Tonge, with witness-preparation groups, cross-examination of eyewitnesses by Tribunal Panel, "verdict" and reports on war crimes campaign. David Miliband will be called to account for his statements during the attack.

FREE PALESTINE! END ISRAELI OCCUPATION! END THE ARMS TRADE!
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
Sat 16 May * 12 noon Assemble for 1-4pm March and Rally
Central London to Trafalgar Square
Called by – Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Stop the War Coalition (STW), British Muslim Initiative (BMI) and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).
Supported by – Amos Trust, Arab Media Watch, Association of Palestinian Communities UK, Britain-Palestine Twinning Network, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Friends of Lebanon, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions UK, Jewish Socialist’s Group, Midlands Palestinian Community Association, UNISON, Pax Christi, PCS, War on Want, Zaytoun.

For further details, merchandise, leaflets or posters and volunteer opportunities, contact PSC national office – 020 7700 6192 and info@palestinecampaign.org or keep an eye on the website:www.palestinecampaign.org

TWO PLAYS FOR GAZA
Thu 21 May * 7.30pm-10pm
Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street London, E8 1EJ
Barebones production of staged readings directed by Tom Platten to raise funds for the Gaza Music School & Stop the War Coalition. Introduction by Tony Benn and performers include Tim Pigott-Smith, Corin Redgrave, Janie Dee, Jana Zeineddine, Kika Markham, Roger Lloyd Pack (tbc) and others. Plus music by Reem Kelani and Eugene Skeef.

1) Seven Jewish Children – Caryl Churchill's 10-minute play about the attack on Gaza was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre in February 2009: in seven scenes parents, grandparents and relatives debate how much children should know and not know from the Holocaust to the foundation of the state of Israel, through the many Middle East wars, up to this year's invasion of Gaza.

2) The Trainer – is a surreal comedy about the ‘terror’ laws as they descend into farce. Composer Keith Burstein sues the Evening Standard after being accused of 'glorifying' terror in his opera, Manifest Destiny. When his case goes to the Appeal Court, the judges go to a gym to exercise between court sessions. The gym trainer is Leila, a young Palestinian woman.

Tickets £15 Book online: Book Online or call the Box Office on 020 8985 2424
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1169/1/

GAZA 100 - FUNDRAISE FOR SAVE THE CHILDREN IN GAZA

Sat 23 May and Sun 24 May * 12 noon each day
Mile End Stadium, Mile End, London

Organised by Friends of Jews for Justice for Palestinians who hope 4,000 participants will put this event into the Guinness Book of Records for the most people running a relay in 24 hours, and raise £400,000 for Save the Children’s projects in Gaza at the same time.

JfJfP signatories and supporters are invited to take part - you should be willing to run 100 metres in about 20 seconds and raise £100 for Save the Children in Gaza. The minimum age of entry is 11 and those under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Registration and details are on IF charity’s website at http://www.ifcharity.com/gaza100.html (including FAQs and planning for the event)

As we would like all participants pledged by your organisation to run at the event together*, we have devised a coding system. This is simply that each person you refer to register would enter a code to enable us to identify them. Your personal code is JFJFP. This isn’t fixed so if you observe Shabbat - or can only run on Saturday - please choose the time that suits you. Whatever time you choose, please enter JFJFP in the referral box.

Sophie Waterhouse has kindly agreed to liaise with the organisers for JfJfP’s participation, so please also email sopwat6@yahoo.co.uk to let her know you’ve registered.

Once each person submits their registration form they will receive a unique ID number and confirmation of their chosen time slot. They will also be able to download the sponsorship form and event guide, containing general information about Gaza 100.

Finally, we are encouraging all participants to set up a FREE online fundraising page with Justgiving (after registering for the event) details of which are available in the event guide as well as on our website. Alternately you can click here to set up an account: www.justgiving.com/if/raisemoney

Register for this event via: http://www.ifcharity.com/gaza100.html
Inform JfJfP via Sophie Waterhouse: sopwat6@yahoo.co.uk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHBVklnH67U&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR4GfCGIUw0&feature=channel

PSC BRANCH FORUM
Sat 30 May * (times tbc)
London
Details for follow about PSC Branch Forum, for branch delegates, this time taking place in London.

EUROPEAN UNION ELECTIONS
Thu 4 Jun * all day
Happening all over the country – your chance to vote to make the EU/Israel Association Trade agreement null and void.

PSC ANNUAL SPONSORED WALK
Fri 3 to Sun 5 Jul
Postbridge, Dartmoor, Devon
Join in much needed PSC fundraising event and meet other PSC supporters over a fun weekend. Wide range of walks available for various abilities. Social event with BBQ and music on the Saturday night.
Accommodation at local Youth Hostel booked out exclusively for PSC. Basic joining fee will cover accommodation, meals and admin costs.
To sign up contact PSC office – 020 7700 6192 and psc.admin@palestinecampaign.org

PSC DAY CONFERENCE
Sat 11 Jul * Morning registration, ending late afternoon
Birmingham (location tbc)
• 1948 and after: ethnic cleansing and the refugees
• The Reality of Occupation: Politics, Economy, Health, Education, Land
• Lessons from the Anti Apartheid Movement
Confirmed speakers: Karma Nabulsi, Rita Giacaman, Samia Botmeh, Daniel Machover, Victoria Brittain. For more information, see www.palestinecampaign.org

Waltham Forest Unite Against Facism - Quiz Night

2009-04-02T17:05:00.004+01:00

WFPSC has recognised the threat that having the British National Party grubbing around for votes in Chingford and Wanstead may pose to local community cohesion, racial and religious tolerance in Waltham Forest. Although we do not campaign on these issues ourselves - we concentrate solely on Palestine - we hope people will support any local activities that promote racial tolerance and mutual respect, which the sadly hate-driven BNP certainly does not.

Waltham Forest Unite Against Facism (WFUAF) Quiz Night!

Friday 3th April 2009, 7.30pm for 8pm quiz kick-off

Caliente Tapas Bar, 24 Hatherley Mews, Walthamstow, E17 4QP

Click here for map.

Get a team together, or just come along anyway to the WFUAF seriously entertaining Quiz Night at the yummy Caliente Tapas Bar just off Hoe Street. Tickets are £5 and the event has been organised by Waltham Forest Trades Council. "Good Luck and may the best team win!" says Dean from the organising group, quickly sneaking a peak at the answers....

Palestine: to exist is to resist

2009-04-02T16:57:00.002+01:00

This interesting article about the psychological effects being suffered by Palestinians under intense occupation by Israeli military forces and illegal Israeli occupation settlements was, for a short time, removed by the British Association for Psychotherapy and Counselling from their website due to concerted anti-Palestinian pressure. In the end, the editorial team reviewed the article and replaced it on their website. Click here to read it in full, with comments.

Israeli exporters forced to slash prices due to boycott

2009-04-02T16:44:00.002+01:00

Bethlehem – Ma’an – Israeli exporters have been forced to cut prices in part because of a worldwide boycott of Israeli products in protest of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land, a leading industry association reported this week.

Israeli exporters have been “losing foreign markets and customers because of the global economic crisis and a growing anti-Israel boycott of locally made products following Operation Cast Lead.”

The findings were made available by the Israel Manufacturers Association on Sunday, and published in the Jerusalem Post the following day. According to the report, 21 percent of Israeli exporters face difficulties selling abroad, particularly to the UK and “Scandinavian countries.” The boycott and the financial crisis were cited as the issues behind a forced price cut by 66 percent of Israeli exporters.

The report emerged as boycott campaigners announced that they are stepping up their efforts in Palestine and internationally.

On Monday in Ramallah, a press conference was held by the Palestinian National Boycott Committee (BNC) in Ramallah, which urged local and international parties to continue their boycott actions. They called the boycott a “tool to realize long-denied Palestinian national rights.” Representative of the BNC and the Palestinian NGO network Allam Jarrar called Land Day an appropriate time to call a Boycott and Divestment Day because both events shared the same goal.

“In Palestine the boycott of Israeli products, institutions and companies is once again gaining ground. Increasing numbers of students, women and ordinary people see the boycott of Israel as an effective form of resistance and are beginning to make it a part of their daily lives,” Omar Asaf, another representative of the BNC and a member of the National Higher Committee for the Defence of the Right of Return said. “In the last month,” he continued, “regional and local committees have been formed to promote the boycott of Israeli products and an end to ties between Palestinian organizations, and their Israeli counterparts.”

According to BNC more than 75 demonstrations, protests and festivals were held in 19 countries to promote the Global BDS day of action.

Successful branch hard at work!

2009-03-29T22:35:00.002+01:00

Boycotting Activities on Saturday 28th March in Waltham Forest

2009-03-25T12:38:00.010Z

* PICKET - from 12 noon

Tesco, High Road Leyton (just along from Baker's Arms junction). For the vocally minded who want to encourage customers not to buy Israeli/illegal settlement goods.

* STALL - from 12 noon

Walthamstow Town Square (over from bus station, near to High Street market). Another way of encouraging people to join the Boycott but in a more general location.

* LEAFLET - from 2pm

Islamic Relief fundraising event "Gaza: we won't abandon you" (Al Badr Health & Fitness Centre, 453 Lea Bridge Road, E10 7EA). Please note this is a women only event run by Islamic Relief volunteers. Join in encouraging the ladies present to engage in discerning shopping.

Next week in Waltham Forest

2009-03-20T18:00:00.004Z

** WALTHAM FOREST ACTIVISTS BRANCH MEETING - ON MONDAY!!!

ALL WELCOME!
MON 23rd March
7.30pm
Harmony Hall, Truro Road, Walthamstow
Agenda:
a) BOYCOTT and other activities - who will do what?
b) BIG public meeting on Mon 30th March - get people to come along
c) WFPSC branch infrastructure
d) AGM on Sat 4th July - preparations
e) BRANCH meeting - next on Mon 20th April

** LEAFLET LEAFLET LEAFLET
TUES 24th-THURS 26th March
Evening rush-hour at your closest borough tube/railway station.Please come to the Branch meeting on 23rd (see just above) to pick up handfuls of fliers and leaflets to distribute. Or contact Ellie. WE NEED YOUR HELP LEAFLETTING!

** WALTHAM FOREST SUPERMARKET SWEEP!
SAT 28th March
12pm all afternoon
Throughout the borough. Come to Branch meeting on 23rd (see just above) to learn more about the details of the day. The Massed Supermarket Sweep will be extremely entertaining, emotional and pertinent.

** BOYCOTT INFORMATION SESSION
SUN 29th March - (possibly...tbc).
To give the basic information to everyone about what to avoid buying, and why it is an effective way to help Palestinians, every day.

PSC London-based Activists Dayschool - also on Sat 21st March

2009-03-20T17:50:00.004Z

12-4pm, University of London Union, Malet St, WC1

This day is designed for new PSC members based in London, who wish to find out more about PSC and get involved in building the fastest growing movement in Britain today – but all members, old and new, are welcome! Campaigning to change government policy and build a mass solidarity movement:
12.00 - Welcome and introductions – PSC’s aims
12.15 - Report from Gaza – Sameh Habeeb: photojournalist from Gaza, discussion and questions
12.45 - Workshops focusing on our campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions:
a) Working with the media
b) Lobbying MPs and MEPs
1.30 - Lunch (food can be bought in the cafe, or please bring your own)
2.00 - Answering the critics
2.40 - Two practical workshops:
a) Organising and speaking at meetings
b) Working with other organisations –eg trade unions and students
3.30 - Plenary session, discussion, campaigning to build a mass movement

Palestine Solidarity Campaign Student Dayschool - Sat 21st March

2009-03-20T17:44:00.003Z

"After the University Occupations, Campaigning for Palestine"
Saturday 21st March
11am - 5pm
University of London Union, Malet Street, London

10.30am – 11am: Registration

11am – 12.30pm: After the onslaught on Gaza, building a mass movement for Palestine
* Rob Hoveman, Viva Palestina
* Sameh Habeeb, Photojournalist from Gaza
* Jeremy Corbyn MP
* British Muslim Initiative speaker
* Betty Hunter, Palestine Solidarity Campaign

12.30pm – 1.30pm: Lunch

1.30pm – 2.30pm: Learning from Occupations
* Ken Livingstone
* Representatives from university occupations, including:
- University of East London
- University of Manchester
- London School of Economics
- University of Oxford

2.30pm – 4pm: Workshops
* Campaigning for Palestine on your Campus
- Bryony Shanks, Student Officer, Palestine Solidarity Campaign
* Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
- Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi, Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Committee of Palestine Solidarity Campaign

4pm – 5pm: Building student campaigns for Palestine
* Richard Kuper, Jews for Justice for Palestinians
* Khaled AlMudallal, Let Palestinians Study Campaign
* Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy, NUS Black Students’ Officer
* Oussama Mesoui, Head of Campaigns, Federation of Student Islamic Societies
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index5b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=7&l2_id=35

For more information contact us on students@palestinecampaign.org, 020 7700 6192, or facebook

2009-03-19T17:48:00.000Z

Imagine this photo was Scotland not Palestine

2009-03-17T18:49:00.005Z

It's about as logical for the Israeli Defence Force to tramp through the heather fields of Scotland as it is for them to stomp all over the thyme fields of Palestine.

Taken By Radamila Stojanovic of Waltham Forest, WFPSC supporter and member of the International Women's Peace Service, at the peaceful protests near Burin, Palestine on 13th March 2009

Samouni family massacre

2009-03-17T18:28:00.005Z

Stewart from Stop the War Coalition, in Gaza, being a journalist. Watch and weep as he documents the destruction of Zeitoun in Gaza, and the death of 48 members of one family during the 22-day Israeli bombardment of the Gaza strip.

See you at the Israeli Embassy, 3-7pm on Weds 18th Mar

2009-03-17T12:56:00.001Z

Welcome to Waltham Forest's home of Palestinian support

2009-03-16T17:51:00.001Z

Welcome to Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity Campaign's blogspot!

Visit this site frequently to find out what we are doing in the London borough of Waltham Forest to support the Palestinian people.

Although Gaza is uppermost in our thoughts today, we haven't forgotten the West Bank and the millions of Palestinians spread around the Middle East particularly in Lebanon and Jordan hoping, waiting to return home. And we bring to mind the millions of Palestinians living inside Israel, disenfranchised, threatened.

We recognise the diverse beauty of Palestinian backgrounds - Christians, Muslims, Jews, Athesists - once living their abundant, elegant Mediterranean life in harmony with the landscape.

And we know the indignation and frustration we feel today here in London, daily witnessing the breathtaking injustices meted out to Palestinians in front of the world's embedded press pack. We gawp in stunned silence as TV packages and column inches alike frenziedly promulgate trite stereotypes born from disinterest, prejudice and scant research; or worse, say nothing at all, stonily silent as if Palestine and Israel had suddenly vapourised into thin air. We can spot those editors and producers with hallucinatory personal agendas, from zionist racial cleansers to jihadist over-throwers via ecstatic evangelistic armageddonites, workers revolters, communist utopians, and anarchic nirvana-seekers. Or whatever they are pushing. And we search desperately for real Palestinian voices and cling to them like lifejackets in the ever drowning, stormy Mediterranean sea.

We know half the battle for Palestinians is simply daily recognition. Palestinians exist, have done so largely unmoved for thousands of years and will do so far into the future. They can be illegally shoved out of their homes but they won't leave their land. Wake up to today: recognise Palestinians and respect Palestinians. The UN does - and so should you.

And here we are ourselves: recognisable, firm, strong, supporting Palestinians in all they do. UK's Palestine Solidarity Campaign has been around since our political grandmothers founded it. PSC's been friends with Rafah and Khan Yunis and Hebron and Bethlehem and Jerusalem and Ramallah and Nablus and Nazareth and Jericho and Jenin and Tyre and Beirut and Jerash and Damascus and Amman and the hundreds of other towns and cities in between, brimming with displaced Palestinians bulldozed from their homes by Israeli military forces, for generations.

And it's been friends with Gaza all along. Ancient Gaza city. The Israeli Government dumping ground of today: a prison camp, a hostage centre. But their attempts will never work to make every inhabitant some kind of neolithic refugee to be fed by the UN, paid for and kept alive by the world's tax payers, locked inside those impregnable walls laced with thick barbed wire and denied all forms of basic civilisation.

Because Palestinians have been civilised for longer than all of us, and mere genocidal imprisonment and malnourishment won't get in the way of centuries of learning and cultured love of life. You can't stop a Palestinian from offering you hospitality, even in a refugee camp.

Waltham Forest PSC

WFPSC Branch Meeting - Mon 16 Jan, 7.30pm at Hornbeam

SOCIAL GATHERING - MONDAY 19 DECEMBER 7-10PM

URGENT ACTION - TELL OUR COUNCILLORS: 'NO' TO VEOLIA!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED YOU COME ALONG!

Sat 19 Nov: Boycotting! Mon 21 Nov: Art Neslen book launch!

Thank you for supporting PSC

WFPSC activities for November 2011

Next Meeting - Thursday 15 Sep 2011, 7.30pm - Quaker's Meeting House

WFPSC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - tomorrow, Friday 08 July - 7pm onwards

WFPSC - upcoming things to do, from Sat 18 June 2011

PUBLIC MEETING - WED O8 JUNE @ 7PM - HARMONY HALL, WALTHAMSTOW

Latest meetings - Branch on 12 May * AGM on 8 July * Stalls on Saturdays

New WFPSC facebook page

WFPSC Boycott Action and Lobby of Parliament

Boycott Israeli Goods Week! All welcome to WFPSC Branch meeting, Mon 8th Nov, 7pm-ish, Hornbeam Centre, Walthamstow

DEMONSTRATE! TODAY, 5pm - Support the 'Jewish Boat to Gaza'!

WFPSC wishing the Jewish Boat to Gaza every success!

WFPSC - New Season Calendar

WFPSC and JBIG covered by Israeli Channel 10 news documentary

Big Lunch, Walthamstow - Sun 18 July 2010, from 3pm

Big Lunch, Walthamstow & WFPSC AGM - Sunday 18th July, from 3pm

Friday 9th July - "Boycott Israeli Goods - national day of action!"

WFPSC Branch Meeting - Tues 22/6/2010, 7pm

WFPSC & J-BIG successful boycott supermarket sweep in Leytonstone

WFPSC - tonight and the weekend - ACTION!!!

Waltham Forest groups heading to Gaza Flotilla Demonstration on Saturday, meeting Walthamstow Town Square at 12noon,

Stella Creasy MP makes strong moves to support Waltham Forest residents on Gaza Flotilla - very welcome news

Two residents from Waltham Forest on the Free Gaza Flotilla - what YOU can do to help them

DEMONSTRATE in support of the Free Gaza Flotilla, today, Monday 31st May - at 2pm - opposite Downing Street

- URGENT - DEMONSTRATION today, MONDAY 31st May, at 2PM, opposite DOWNING STREET, Whitehall, London, in protest at the treatment by the Israeli Navy of the humanitarian aid relief FREE GAZA FLOTILLA

Israeli Navy threatening Gaza Freedom Humanitarian Aid Flotilla, full of non-violent peace and humanitarian aid activists in International Waters

LATEST FLOTILLA UPDATE!! and some branch news...

Report on fascinating foreign affairs discussion with MP candidates in Waltham Forest

Your chance in Waltham Forest to discuss Foreign Policy before the Election. FRIDAY at 7pm !!!

Make Palestine a massive issue at the General Election!

GENERAL ELECTION 2010:Make Palestine the Issue

THURSDAY!! Rich Wiles speaking in Walthamstow at 7pm, Hornbeam Centre

How to get to "Women & Palestine" mtg at Quaker Mtg House, 1a Jewel Road, Walthamstow. Today, 5th March, at 7pm. See you there!

Women making a LOT of Noise - because we can. Do come along and bring some men with you to hear what us women have to say!!!

Girls and boys have returned from Gaza - the Viva Palestina convoy delivers strong results

Anniversary of the Gaza attacks

On the Road to Gaza

We're going to Gaza in an ambulance!

We need your DONATIONS for a special WFPSC LONDON FUND to help us join the "Viva Palestina!" convoy to Gaza

Chingford Morrisons and South Woodford Waitrose taken over by Boycott Israeli Apartheid Protestors on Sat 7th November

WFPSC Boycott Action against Waitrose, South Woodford - Saturday 7th November 2009

Waltham Forest PSC mobilising for Boycott Israeli Apartheid week of action!

Donate today after our amazing concert for Viva Palestina!

Amazing concert for Viva Palestina - this weekend!

Also, come and see us at our WFPSC stall at Leytonstone "Car Free Day", Sun 20th Sept

Buy Palestinian goods at our WFPSC stall at the Fair Trade event in Leytonstone on Sat 12th Sept!

Tuesday, 7pm, Harmony Hall - and bring iftar food for all to enjoy! See you all there!

Bank Holiday weekend - things to do in Walthamstow

Netanyahu, Israel's dodgy Prime Minister, in the UK today - picket Netanyahu Tuesday lunchtime, and fax/email Gordon Brown with your views

Amazing Public Meeting on 1st September, Harmony Hall, Walthamstow at 7pm - bring your friends and colleagues, all welcome!

New Zaytoun produce order form - get your Medjoul dates from Palestine today!

A bit of publicity...

Join in with us today! Come and help Palestinians regain their civil and human rights

Buy Palestinian fairtrade goods from our local distributor!

Israeli Apartheid confirmed by South Africans

A snapshot of daily Israeli Colonisation Apartheid behaviour

Things to do this weekend!

Stoke "Love Music Hate Racism" Festival on Sat 30th May

WFPSC Pre-Euro Elections Meeting, Tues 26th May at 7.30pm

Interpal fundraising event in Leyton on 4th May, at which we will have a stall:

As part of our anti-racism remit, we encourage you to support UAF:

Would you help out over next few days?

Lots to do

Waltham Forest Unite Against Facism - Quiz Night

Palestine: to exist is to resist

Israeli exporters forced to slash prices due to boycott

Successful branch hard at work!

Boycotting Activities on Saturday 28th March in Waltham Forest

Next week in Waltham Forest

PSC London-based Activists Dayschool - also on Sat 21st March

Palestine Solidarity Campaign Student Dayschool - Sat 21st March

Imagine this photo was Scotland not Palestine

Samouni family massacre

See you at the Israeli Embassy, 3-7pm on Weds 18th Mar

GENERAL ELECTION 2010:
Make Palestine the Issue