PSC news

[Clive_]

In this email:

- Free Gaza Boats Now Leaving Gaza
- BIG Relaunch September Actions
- PSC Petition online now
- McCartney in Israel: Take Action Now
- Upcoming events in the UK

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

Gaza Boats Update
FREE GAZA & LIBERTY TO LEAVE FOR CYPRUS WITH PALESTINIANS ON-BOARD
(GAZA CITY, 28 August 2008) - After having shattered the Israeli
blockade of Gaza earlier this week, the Free Gaza and Liberty will
depart Gaza for Cyprus at 2pm today. Several Palestinians who have
previously been denied exit visas by Israel will join international
human rights workers on the journey. Among the Palestinians leaving
are Saed Mosleh, age 10, of Beit Hanoun, Gaza. Saed lost his leg due
to an Israeli tank shell and is leaving Gaza with his father to seek
medical treatment. Also on board are the Darwish family, who will
finally be reunited with their relatives in Cyprus.

“I can’t believe we’re finally able to leave for medical treatment,”
said Khaled Mosleh, Saed’s father. “This is a miracle of God.”

Nine international human rights workers will remain in Gaza to do
longer-term monitoring and accompaniment, and one, Dr. Bill Dienst of
Omak, Washington, will attempt to cross over into Israel later today
via the Erez crossing.

By freely traveling to Gaza, on Saturday, August 23rd, in two, small,
wooden boats, the Free Gaza Movement forced the Israeli government to
issue a fundamental policy change regarding their military and
economic blockade of Gaza. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign affairs
publicly announced that humanitarian and human rights missions to Gaza
will no longer be stopped or threatened by Israel. With the end of the
Israeli siege of Gaza, Palestinians should be free to exercise their
rights without fear of being stopped or killed by the Israeli
military.

Yvonne Ridley, a journalist and member for the Free Gaza Movement,
summed up her experience in Gaza by saying, “I missed the start of the
Berlin Wall coming down by just a few days, but now I know how people
felt when they tore down those first few bricks. This has been a huge
victory of people over power.”

Since the organizers of the Free Gaza Movement will not be entering
Israeli territorial waters, and since they will request an inspection
from both the Gaza Port Authority when they depart, and the Cypriot
authorities upon their return, they expect no interference on the part
of the Israeli authorities when they leave Gaza. By Israel’s own
admission, it has no authority to inspect the boats or the passengers
when they leave Gaza.

With the collapse of the Israeli blockade, the Free Gaza Movement will
quickly return to Gaza with another delegation, and they would like to
encourage the United Nations, Arab League and international community
to organize similar human rights and humanitarian efforts. The Free
Gaza Movement will continue to work to ensure that safe passage
between Gaza and the outside world will remain free and open.

For More Information, Please Contact:

(Gaza) Paul Larudee: +972 598 765 370
(Gaza) Huwaida Arraf: +972 599 130 426
(Cyprus) Osama Qashoo: +357 97 793 595 / osama...@gmail.com
(Jerusalem) Angela Godfrey-Goldstein: +972 547 366 393 /
ang...@icahd.org

###

www.anis-online.de/office/events/FreeGazaSong.htm
www.flickr.com/photos/29205195@N02/
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aUPA0z2zRHQ
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=C-DGBHPMe5c

For further information and to receive boat updates: www.freegaza.org
TAKE ACTION – WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Keep informed: please keep checking the www.freegaza.org
website and the PSC website for regular updates on the progress of the
boats
- Alert your local media: contact you local papers, TV and
radio stations and ask them to report on the Breaking the Siege
Campaign - Boat to Gaza initiative
- Contact your MP: write to or call your MP (also in the
constituency offices) and raise the attempt to break the siege with
them, especially if the boats are stopped by the Israeli Navy.
http://www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm
- Emergency: in case the boat is stopped or detained by the
Israeli authorities please contact the FCO and ask them to intervene.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/feedback - http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/contact-us
- (Or if the passengers and the boats are detained by the Israeli Navy
call 020 7008 1500).

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

BIG Relaunch September 2008

Dear PSC members, supporters and friends

We would like to call on all our members and supporters to join in the
Boycott Israeli Goods Campaign's activities for the relaunch of the
boycott campaign in September. We plan to carry out a week of action
that will be noticed by the public, the press, Israel and the
Palestinians.

The aim of the campaign is to show Israel that its continued
oppression of the Palestinian people is not condoned by the British
public and also to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The boycott of Israeli goods will continue until Israel respects
Palestinian human rights, abides by international law and ends the
occupation. Boycott was an effective tool in helping to end South
African apartheid, and it is hoped it will be as effective against
Israeli apartheid. The boycott was called for and is supported by
Palestinian civil society organisations.

We also encourage activists to contact local shops and mosques about
Israeli medjoul dates which are being imported in large quantities
this Ramadan from 1st to 29th of September approximately.

For resources and campaign material please visit the BIG website:
www.bigcampaign.org
*****
Planned Activist Actions:

September 1st-7th
• PSC office will send letters to the Head Quarters of all major
supermarkets in the UK. The letters will also be published on the PSC
website. Responses from the supermarkets will also be posted on the
website.

• PSC office will contact government ministers from DEFRA, BERR, FCO
and The Treasury.

• This week is the beginning of Ramadan and branches are encouraged
to campaign in their local Muslim communities to boycott Israeli
Medjool dates. Fliers and sample letters will be available from the
PSC office and the BIG Campaign website.

September 8th-14th
• Send letters to supermarket branches and other local shop managers
who sell Israeli goods. Sample letters will be made available to
branches and on the BIG Campaign website.
• Write to your local media as well as national media about your
actions and the reasons for the boycott. Local media are always
looking for interesting stories and are more likely to take notice.
• Contact local trade organisations, council offices, trade unions,
community and faith groups and encourage them to support the boycott.
• Contact prominent local individuals (celebrities, public
representatives, faith leaders) and ask them to endorse the BIG
campaign, and speak at meetings.
• Speak to local market traders about the origins of their products.
• Contact other providers such as delivery veg box schemes.
• Join your local branch of the Co-Op and have your say. This can be
done through their website.
• Organise a local public meeting to mobilise for the BIG campaign.
Contact PSC office for suggested speakers and to advertise the meeting
on the PSC website.

September 21st-27th — Week of Action
• Street Actions: Set up stalls outside supermarkets. Urge shoppers
not to purchase Israeli produce. This includes produce labeled West
Bank as it is almost definitely from a settlement. Politely inform
shop staff about why you are protesting. Please contact your nearest
branch of the PSC to volunteer.
• Arrange a meeting with the supermarket manager.
• Complete shop feedback forms.
• Continue contacting local media.

Materials for stalls and new flyers will be available from the PSC
office.

Please keep the PSC office informed of actions taking place and send
in action material, reports and photos as they happen. Copies of
letters/emails and responses should be sent to head office or
in...@bigcampaign.org.

==========================================
PSC Petition online now
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index5b_petition.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=3&l2_id=17

Please sign and circulate the petition below, already signed by among
others: Harold Pinter, John Pilger, Miriam Margolyes, Mike Leigh,
Benjamin Zephaniah, Emma Thompson, Ilan Pappe, Nigel Kennedy, Juliet
Stevenson, Bella Freud, Mark Thomas, Keith Sonnet, Tony Benn, Michael
Rosen and more…
1948 – 2008
60 Years of Palestinian Catastrophe (Nakba) Must End
End Israeli Occupation
We the undersigned, believing that a just solution for the
Palestinians is the only way to secure peace for all, call for full
realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people as
affirmed in UN General Assembly resolution 3236:
• the right to self-determination without external interference;
• the right to national independence and sovereignty;
• the right of Palestinians to return to the homes and properties from
which they have been displaced and uprooted.
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/Index5b_petition.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=3&l2_id=17

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

Urgent action is needed - Please write to Sir Paul

Paul McCartney to perform in Israel
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3586599,00.html

PACBI letter to the Beatles:
http://www.pacbi.org/press_releases_more.php?id=655_0_4_0_C

For more info and sample letter please visit:
http://www.palestinecampaign.org/index7b.asp?m_id=1&l1_id=4&l2_id=25&Content_ID=182

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

UPCOMING EVENTS
==========================================
==========================================

Eating Ice Cream on Gaza Beach

at Soho Theatre London

until 11 September 2008

7.30pm

It's sixty years since Israeli independence. Good news for some, not
good for others. While one side celebrates, the other mourns.


http://sohotheatre.com/fromhomepage/pl1524.html

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

Brighton Public Meeting on Israeli Medjoul Dates

4th September 2008

Meeting on the boycott of Israeli Medjoul Dates with speakers form
Zaytoun, Brighton-Tubas Friendship and Solidarity Group and Brighton
and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Thursday 4th Sept @ 7.30pm

Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton

Brighton and Hove Palestine Solidarity Campaign
www.brightonpalestinecampaign.org

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

18 September 2008

Veolia and supermarkets involvement in illegal Israeli settlements

Public meeting in Portsmouth organised by the Portsmouth Network for a
Just Settlement of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

7.30pm, Arts Centre, 3rd Floor, Central Library, Guildhall Square,
Portsmouth PO1 2DX. (Venue is 4 minutes walk from Portsmouth &
Southsea station. The 2124 train from Portsmouth & Southsea gets you
back to Waterloo at 2318)

Public meeting with talk by Angus Geddes, coordinator of the
Portsmouth Network for a Just Settlement of the Arab-Israeli
Conflict. Veolia has a contract to operate the tramway that will link
illegal settlements in east Jerusalem with Israel, supporting Israel's
violation of the Geneva Convention. A campaign has been started to
stop local authorities and businesses in Hampshire and elsewhere in UK
making waste management contracts with Veolia. Supermarkets excuse for
selling settlement produce is customer choice, but they mislead
customers by labelling produce "West Bank".

www.pnetwork.page.tl/

=======================================
National Demonstration at Labour Party Conference
12 30pm. Saturday, 20th September, central Manchester
When Gordon Brown opens the Labour Party conference we will march to
demand .. Troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan! - Defend Civil
Liberties! We want Welfare not Warfare!
Join the march called by Stop the War Coalition & CND in Greater
Manchester
Transport is being organised to the demonstration from across the
country. For details see
http://tinyurl.com/696px8 or call the Stop the War office: 020 7278
6694.

More: www.stopwar.org.uk

=============================================
The Disappearance of the Holy Land

Monday 22 September 2008 10am - 4pm

A day conference addressing the crises of the diminishing Christian
presence in the Holy Land

With: Sami Awad, Jeff Halper and Garth Hewitt

Venue: All Hallows on the Wall, 83 London Wall, London EC2M 5ND (Tube:
Liverpool St & Moorgate.)
To book a place on this day conference, please email sarah@amos
trust.org, or call 0207 588 2638 - Please send a cheque for £20
payable to Amos Trust to Amos Trust, 83 London Wall, London EC2M 5ND

More info: http://tinyurl.com/5zospa

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

Screening of the documentary film Gaza Strip

Tuesday September 23
7.30pm followed by a Q and A

Brixton St.Vincents Community Centre, Talma Rd. Brixton
Directions: left out of Brixton tube, walk past the Ritzy cinema along
Effra Rd then left into Mervan Rd. when you come to Talma Rd. turn
right. The centre is on the corner of Probert and Talma Rds.
Suggested donations at the door £5/£4

Organised by Lambeth and Wandsworth PSC

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

Reem Kelani Live

Thursday 25 September, 8.30pm
LSO St Lukes, London

Live performance with band as part of the Barbican's Ramadan Nights
http://www.barbican.org.uk/music/event-detail.asp?id=7861

=============================================
PALESTINE ALOUD
A cultural celebration in support of Palestine
The Cadogan Hall, London
Wednesday 22 October, 7.30 pm
Musicians, writers and actors come together for a cultural celebration
through music and words in support of Palestine.
Classical, jazz, and Palestinian music from John Williams, John
Etheridge, Reem Kelani with Bruno Heinen on Piano, the Choir of
London, Marwan Abado with Peter Rosmanith, and Tala Tutunji.
And words: Victoria Brittain, Colin Firth, Kika Markham, Hanan Al
Sheikh, Corin Redgrave and Juliet Stevenson that reflect and comment
on Palestinian life today.

The performance will be directed by Samuel West.

2008 is the 60th anniversary of the 'nakba' (the catastrophe) when
thousands of Palestinians were forced to flee their homes in the wake
of the establishment of the state of Israel and this concert is
dedicated to them.

(All artists are subject to availability)
The Cadogan Hall, 5 Sloane Terrace, London, SW1X 9 DQ
Tickets: £40, £35, £25, £20
Tickets are available through the Cadogan Hall box office. Visit
www.cadoganhall.com for details.
=====================================
OCCUPIED SPACE 2008
31 OCTOBER - 15 NOVEMBER 2008

A.M. Qattan Foundation, Tower House, 226 Cromwell Road, London, SW5
0SN


An exhibition of work by artists from Palestine, the Arab world and
the UK
Including: Craigie Aitchison - Maliheh Afnan - Nabil Anani - Chant
Avedissian - Jake and Dinos Chapman - Jeremy Deller - Antony Gormley -
Maggi Hambling - John Keane - Laila Shawa and more

Further information is available from PSC:
020 7700 6192
in...@palestinecampaign.org
www.palestinecampaign.org
www.occupiedspace.org.uk


=====================================
National Lobby of Parliament for Palestine
Wednesday 26th November 2008
To coincide with the UN International Day of Solidarity with the
Palestinian People on 29 November
House of Commons, Parliament, London
For more information: in...@palestinecampaign.org and www.palestinecampaign.org

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

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
Fax: 020 7609 7779
Email: in...@palestinecampaign.org
Web: www.palestinecampaign.org