WALTHAM FOREST PALESTINE SOLIDARITY CAMPAIGN - For latest news, join PSC - http://bit.ly/ieoJf8
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Nearly the second Monday of the month again!  Join us next week for:

Mon, 08 October 2012
7.30pm-9.30pm
WFPSC Branch Meeting
Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, E17 9AH

Agenda

1. Apologies

2. Feedback on actions from last meeting

3. 'No to Veolia!' - further updates on this vital local issue, planning the next steps and local campaign activities

Due to this campaign's importance in this borough, a number of visitors may attend this branch meeting from national PSC Exec, Friends of the Earth, PInkham Way Alliance, NO2VAG, Council of Mosques, WF Councillors and others.  Please come along too, to help out with this cross-community campaign to dump Veolia.

4. Updates on other local and national issues

PSC Branch Forum (13 Oct, for PSC paid-up members only); We Are Waltham Forest protest against the EDL (27 Oct); Palestine Lobby of Parliament and protest against Bathsheva (end of Nov); WFPSC churches event (Christmas).

5. AOB

Please note - meeting on 18 June has been postponed.

Sat 23 June @ 12pm noon

Please take action on Saturday against Veolia

Walthamstow Town Square, gathering initially under big TV Screen

Alongside our colleagues from London BDS, please join us to gather urgent petition signatures for the anti-Veolia campaign.  Stop criminally-liable international conglomerate Veolia, a financially-discredited company thoroughly complicit in Israeli Occupation malpractice and countless human rights violations against Palestinians, from spending your hard-earned taxes on questionable processes turning our homes' recycling into fuel.  Kick international criminality out of Waltham Forest: don't let Veolia get our taxes.  See our "Say No to Veolia!" page on this site for the legal and moral submission sent to North London Waste Authority in preparation for their Board meeting happening at the end of this week on Friday 22 June.  If you get a chance, join the protest outside that meeting at Camden Town Hall, Judd Street, just opposite the British Library near Kings Cross, from 9am on Fri 22 June.

Mon 16 July @ 7.30pm

Rescheduled - WFPSC AGM

Hornbeam Centre, 458 Hoe Street, E17 9AH

- Reports on WFPSC activity over the last year

- Elections for officer roles

- Social gathering, a chance to catch up

Other vital campaigns

Please also check the PSC website (http://www.palestinecampaign.org) for all the latest campaigns that need your urgent support, including petitions and ways to lobby your MP on Hunger-Strikers including renowned footballer Sarsak, Child Prisoners and much more.  Your support and simple contribution of time and thought to help Palestinians at this particular juncture is vital.  Please also note WFPSC is supporting an important Waltham Forest community campaign to remove racism, anti-semitism and fascism from our borough, "We Are Waltham Forest", and would urge you to participate as well.

Many thanks

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

London events: update  Solidarity with Khader Adnan & Palestinian prisoners Special emergency meeting to hear from Adameer prisoner rights organisation this Monday, 27th February 2012 - 6.30pm - 8pm   ULU Malet Street, London, Room 3E     Murad Jadallah from Adameer, Palestinian prisoner human rights group, is coming to the UK.  Adameer has been leading on the campaign to free Khader Adnan. They work on issues of Palestinian prisoner rights. They campaign to end imprisonment without charge or trial. Currently there are at least there were at least 309 administrative detainees in Israeli prisons. This number included 24 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.  Murad is also a member of the Herak Shebabi, the emerging independent Palestinian youth movementhttp://stopthewall.org/youth This meeting is organised jointly by PSC and Israel Apartheid Week UK  Chair Hugh Lanning, Chair, Palestine Soldarity Campaign Speakers Murad Jadallah, Adameer, Prisoner Rights and Human Rights Association  Kiri Tunks, Action for Palestinian Children and Palestine Solidarity Campaign  Rafeef Zadiah, Secretariat Member of the the Palestinian BDS National Committee  Support PSC today            If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe to our PSC updates please click here>>  Beats Against Apartheid  Israeli Apartheid Week 2012 Social Event – Friday 24 Feb at SOAS, London 8pm - late   https://www.facebook.com/events/345729655457317/ A night of music, dance, food and poetry.  Featuring Lowkey and hip hop artists: Awate, Sekina, Nkez, Melissa Melodee, and spoken word: Rafeef Ziadah and Jody McIntyre, Sanasino, singer Emily Churchill, Soufian - Oud virtuoso and much more…

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

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

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!

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!

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!

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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

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 >> Sponsored walk Fundraising tool kit >> Leave a legacy for Palestine >>

WFPSC activities for November 2011

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

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.

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

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