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
Sunday, 27 December 2009
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
On the Road to Gaza
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
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
Friday, 27 November 2009
We're going to Gaza in an ambulance!
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!
Monday, 16 November 2009
Saturday, 14 November 2009
Chingford Morrisons and South Woodford Waitrose taken over by Boycott Israeli Apartheid Protestors on Sat 7th November
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.
Thursday, 5 November 2009
WFPSC Boycott Action against Waitrose, South Woodford - Saturday 7th November 2009
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!
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 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
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!
Monday, 26 October 2009
Monday, 19 October 2009
Friday, 4 September 2009
Also, come and see us at our WFPSC stall at Leytonstone "Car Free Day", Sun 20th Sept
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!
Saturday, 29 August 2009
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Bank Holiday weekend - things to do in Walthamstow
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!!
Monday, 24 August 2009
Netanyahu, Israel's dodgy Prime Minister, in the UK today - picket Netanyahu Tuesday lunchtime, and fax/email Gordon Brown with your views
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.
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
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
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
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
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Friday, 17 July 2009
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
Israeli Apartheid confirmed by South Africans
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....
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