Tuesday, 8 June 2010

EDINBURGH: THOUSANDS DEMAND END TO GAZA SIEGE
By George Connelly, Glasgow Stop the War Coalition

Thousands of people took to the streets of Edinburgh on Saturday in disgust at Israel’s murder of the Gaza flotilla peace activists.
Led by an End The Siege Of Gaza banner, around 5000 demonstrators marched to the US embassy and then to First Minister Alex Salmond’s official residence, twice passing through the city’s main shopping route.
Protesters chanted “Victory to the intifada” and “In our thousands and our millions, we are all Palestinians”, drawing crowds of shoppers who stood cheering and clapping. Many people joined the protest as it passed.
Several hundred people symbolically blockaded the entrance to Israeli goods retailer Marks & Spencer, with a chant of “Boycott; sanctions; free Palestine!” ringing out.
This was soon followed by a short rally outside Salmond’s Bute House residence.
A letter was delivered demanding that the Scottish Government breaks its relationship with Israel, and pressures the UK government to stop selling weapons to the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East.
From the steps of the house, Glasgow MSP Sandra White said every local authority in Scotland must now refuse to stock any Israeli goods and end all relations with the country.
The demonstration made its way to The Mound precinct for the main rally – but not before staging a sit-down in Princes Street, blocking traffic in one direction.
People linked arms and sang: “Gaza, Gaza don’t you cry, we will never let you die.”
Leading campaigners, trade unionists and politicians made short speeches at the closing rally, co-chaired by STUC deputy secretary Dave Moxham and Scottish Friends of Palestine's Waelid Shawish.
Edinburgh postal worker Theresa McDermott, who was part of the flotilla, described the brutality of the Israeli soldiers who boarded her 25-foot motor yacht, and how hyped up they seemed.
At least 20 commandos stormed the boat of just 10 women and five men, among them a female ex-US military colonel, two Australian journalists, and five crew.
The commandos used stun guns at point-blank range. One of them fired a round straight at the face of a female aid worker.
After being arrested, “for illegally entering Israel”, the aid workers were held from 4.30am in the morning to 5pm that night without food or water, five hours of which were in a “meat wagon” in the baking heat.Theresa said all of them were harassed and intimidated by Israelis in the airport while they were about to be deported. Badly injured people were forced to walk through passport control alone, carrying their own medical drips and drainage bags.She added that the experience has made her all the more determined to fight for justice for the Palestinians.
Scottish Fire Brigades Union organiser Jim Malone called for the expulsion of Israeli Zionist trade union Histadrut from the International Federation of Trade Unions, and that a boycott of Israel is launched by workers’ organisations around the world.
“We must take the fight against Zionism into the 21st century,” he said, and pledged that his union will have nothing to do with Israel.
Representatives from the Green party and the Labour party made contributions, including Pauline McNeil MSP, convenor of Scottish Parliament cross-party group on Palestine.
Mark Lazarowicz, Theresa McDermott’s local MP, reiterated the main slogans of the day: “End the siege of Gaza, freedom for Palestine.”
Barry Levine, speaking on behalf of Scottish Jews for a Just Peace, said: “No deaths or injuries would have happened on the flotilla if Israel did not attack it. And the aid ships would not even have been needed if Israel was not enforcing an illegal blockade of Gaza.
“More Jews need to stand up and speak up for Palestine.
“More Jews need to help force Israel to end the siege of Gaza.
“Everyone must fight for justice. We need to fight to ensure the land of Palestine is a land for Jews, Christians and Muslims to return to living in peace, in the one country.”
Stop the War Coalition’s Angela McCormick told the crowd that Israel had managed to make the “unbelievable believable” with its premeditated murder of peace activists on aid ships.
To huge cheers, she said: “The Israeli embassy in London should be shut down now.
“Every Israeli diplomat and ambassador must be expelled from Scotland and from the rest of Britain now.
Referring to vague words of condemnation of “violence” from the new Tory-Lib Dem government, what our elected politicians say is not that important. It’s what they do that’s important, she said.
“We need to ask our government ministers: When will you shut down the Israeli embassy?
“When will you expel all the diplomats?
“And when will you place economic and military sanctions on Israel?”

Demonstration called and supported by Pauline McNeil MSP (convenor of Scottish Parliament cross-party group on Palestine), Sandra White MSP, Stop the War Coalition, Scottish Jews for a Just Peace, Scottish Friends of Palestine, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Glasgow Lebanese community, Scottish Afghan Society, Scottish CND, Scottish Green party, Cairde Scotland and many others.

Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpFcf6DfsKM and http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncanbrown/sets/72157624210728154/ for images of the demo.

The Sunday Herald newspaper printed Theresa’s account of what happened to her:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/world-news/fear-pain-and-propaganda-an-activist-s-story-1.1033113
Sunday Herald report of the demo:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/thousands-take-to-streets-in-protest-over-israel-s-actions-on-gaza-aid-ships-1.1033095?localLinksEnabled=false

Other media reports:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh/2010/jun/07/edinburgh-protest-party-cramond
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/10246953.stm
Freed Gaza activists arrive back in Scotland:
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/tayside/181300-gaza-flotilla-prisoner-to-return-home-to-dundee/
Scots protest over Palestinian aid convoy killingshttp://news.stv.tv/scotland/180523-fears-for-scots-onboard-palestinian-aid-convoy/

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LONDON: 20,000 PROTEST ON 5 JUNE AGAINST ISRAEL'S GAZA FLOTILLA ATROCITY
Speeches at Gaza Flotilla demonstration: 5 June 2010

On 5 June 2010, 20,000 protestors marched to the Israeli Embassy in London to protest against Israel's attack on a peaceful flotilla bringing aid to Gaza, shich left nine humanitarian activists dead. Speakers at the demonstration rally included George Galloway, film maker Ken Loach, flotilla survivors Sarah Colborne and Kevin Ovenden, Salma Jaqoob and Caroline Lucas MP. The videos below of speeches at the rally were filmed by Fourman Films. full coverage here www.stopwar.org.uk
Speeches at Gaza Flotilla demonstration, London: 5 June 2010 View here: http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1927/27/

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‘Thistles in the Middle East’

6 pm on June 10th 2010

Glasgow Caledonian University

Space is limited! Register here for your free ticket - http://thistles.eventbrite.com/
Book your free place now for Thistles in the Middle East, a fascinating account of how a 6000km cycle journey from Ireland to Gaza by the Pathways to Palestine team raised awareness and funds for medical shortages in Gaza. The students who completed the epic journey – cycling over 100 miles a day for 42 days – recently gave a short and highly engaging presentation on their journey at the Scottish Parliament and received a fantastic reception. This is a great opportunity to hear and see more about their journey – an event not to be missed! The free event is being sponsored by Glasgow Caledonian University The charity social will be held in the Deeprose Theatre at GCU's city centre campus on Thursday 10th June with further speakers and a short film premier of the epic trip, followed by a drinks reception and photo exhibition of the cyclists’ photos. Photographs will be available to purchase and all proceeds will go to educational scholarships in the Gaza Strip.
Wine and canapés will be served after the event in the Garden Café. To register for free, go here

FULL INFO AT: http://pathwaystopalestine.com/

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CONFERENCE ON ISLAMOPHOBIA: REPORT The conference entitled 'Stop Islamophobia: defend the Muslim Community' also took place on 5 June in London, on the morning of the Gaza flotilla demonstration। Despite having to be curtailed to enable people to attend the Gaza protest, over 300 attended, including a large number of Muslims, to hear a range of speakers from trade unions, campaign groups, Muslim organisations and the media, who while examining Islamophobia from different perspectives, were all united in wanting to campaign against it. The final session was chaired by Shamiul Joarder, from Friends of al Aqsa, who made a number of proposals for campaigning nationally and locally and for the setting up of an all-party parliamentary group against Islamophobia, more details to follow when we have them. A statement on Islamophobia was adopted by the conference, and can be downloaded here:
http://tinyurl.com/3x9bnbb Video of speeches at the conference will be available on the Stop the War website soon।


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MAKE A DONATION TO GLASGOW STOP THE WAR COALITION
Help fund the costs of demonstrations and campaigning materials by making a donation at:
www.glasgowstopwar.express.iristickets.co.uk
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Tuesday, 1 June 2010


END THE SIEGE OF GAZA

FREEDOM FOR PALESTINE

ALL SCOTLAND DEMONSTRATION

SATURDAY 5 JUNE
ASSEMBLE 2.00PM - THE MOUND, EDINBURGH

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Please read & forward this information to networks, post it up on websites, get your trade union or group to email it to other members, join the facebook group and invite others to do the same, text 07869 306 483 for a text that you can forward to others – lets spread the word and make this demonstration massive.


1 - ALL SCOTLAND DEMONSTRATION - END THE SIEGE OF GAZA - END ISRAELI TERROR
2 - THE INITIAL RESPONSE - DEMONSTRATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY

3 - FIRST EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF ISRAEL'S FLOTILLA ATROCITIES
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1 ALL SCOTLAND DEMONSTRATION - END THE SIEGE OF GAZA - END ISRAELI TERROR

LEAFLETS NOW AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD AT:

GLASGOW - EDINBURGH - GLASGOW bus tickets and donations at: http://glasgowstopwar.express.iristickets.co.uk/

IF YOU CAN HELP LEAFLET - POSTER FOR THIS PROTEST CALL 07869 306 483
The killing of at least 19 people and the injuring of many more on board the flotilla taking aid to Gaza is the latest in a series of crimes which should see Israel condemned under international law. The 600 protesters were on a peaceful mission and unarmed.Israel has repeatedly flouted law and public opinion worldwide in its treatment of the Palestinians. Its bombing of Gaza in 2009 and its continued blockade has caused outrage round the world. The flotilla was an attempt to bring aid to the blockaded population of Gaza. It was supported by many organisations and individuals internationally.The decision by Israel to attack the flotilla with such loss of human life shows its arrogant and deadly intent in opposing any aid to the Palestinians.The British and EU governments should immediately condemn this act of terror and break all links with Israel.
BUSES LEAVE GEORGE SQUARE - 12 NOON - 5 JUNE 2010
GLASGOW BUS TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT http://glasgowstopwar.express.iristickets.co.uk/

Tickets are priced at £5.00 for the return journey
Free tickets are available online for refugees, asylum seekers and those of no or very low income.

MAP TO ASSEMBLY POINT:
DEMONSTRATION CALLED AND SUPPORTED BY: Pauline McNeil MSP (Convenor of Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Palestine), Sandra White MSP, Stop the War Coalition, Scottish Jews for a Just Peace, Scottish Friends of Palestine, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Glasgow Lebanese Community, Scottish Afghan Society,Scottish CND, Scottish Green पार्टी, Cairde स्कॉट्लैंड
and many others to be confirmed.
If your organisation would like to support this protest please email glasgowstopwar@gmail.com
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BUILDING THE DEMONSTRATION

We want to maximise the turn out on Saturday in Edinburgh to send a clear message to the government that we want action taken now against Israel for this horrific atrocity.

We have leaflets and posters now available for you to use.

Email glasgowstopwar@gmail.com and we’ll send them over or can deliver bulk leaflets to you.

Why not get a few friends together and leaflet your local street, train station or any other busy place.

If you are free anytime morning to night Thursday or Friday then please get in touch and we can link you up with other activists who also wish to poster/leaflet.

We will be leafleting Glasgow Central Station & Queens St Station on Thursday 4.30pm – 6.00pm.

Please call 07869 306 483 if you are free anytime on Friday and we will have activities for you to get involved with. We are especially looking for volunteers to leaflet every mosque in Glasgow – 2 pm – Friday 4 June.
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2 THE INITIAL RESPONSE - DEMONSTRATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY

Demonstrations took place around the country last night against the Israeli massacre. They include:
Manchester: up to 2,000 marched to the BBC offices to demand proper coverage of the killings by the Israelis and the pro-Palestinian cause.
Protesters tried to enter the BBC but police forced them back. However, a protester did mange to fly the Palestinian flag from the BBC mast. Fighting broke out when police later tried to seize the flag-flier. They failed, but grabbed someone else. Police used dogs later against the crowd.
Birmingham: around 500 protested.
Preston: over 200 demonstrated.
Brighton: around 200 people protested
Edinburgh: Up to 400 marched
Glasgow: Around 500 protested.
- Protest pictures at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/duncanbrown/sets/72157624176520232/
- Four part video of speakers and demonstration in Glasgow George Square - http://www.youtube.com/deryckdemainebeaumon?gl=GB&user=deryckdemainebeaumon#p/u/3/t-czZWEoFFk
Dundee: Around 250 protested.
Video from dundee - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2W-dpDz9Y4
York: Around 150 protested.
Bolton: Over 200 protested
Portsmouth: around 70 people protested
Aberdeen: Around 40 protested

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3 - FIRST EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS OF ISRAEL'S FLOTILLA ATROCITIES

Watch this video and know why, if you can, you'll join the national demonstration in Edinburgh on Saturday 5 June and encourage everyone you know to be there too.

Some of the first accounts emerged Tuesday from eyewitnesses who were aboard several boats stormed by Israeli forces as they approached Gaza the day before.
Hanin Zoabi, a member of the Israeli parliament, was on board the Miva Marmara, the ship that was the scene of a confrontation between activists and Israeli soldiers. That clash left at least nine people dead.
LISTEN TO THE ACCOUNT HERE AND READ THE FULL STORY…. http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1914/1/

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Full updates and reports, pictures and videos at http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

Share this info on your Facebook, Bebo, Etc. – The online version of this email can be viewed at http://www.glasgowstopwar.blogspot.com/
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Monday, 31 May 2010

ISRAELIS KILL 10 STORMING GAZA FLOTILLA EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION

ISRAELIS KILL 10 STORMING GAZA FLOTILLA EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION

TODAY -MONDAY 31 MAY 5.00PM – GLASGOW - GEORGE SQUARE.

Called by: Pauline McNeil MSP, Convenor of Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Palestine; Sandra White MSP; Scottish Jews for a Just Peace, Stop the War Coalition, Scottish Friends of Palestine, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign and others.

SPREAD THE WORD

Yet another act of Israeli barbarism as its forces storm one of the seven shipson the international flotilla taking aid to Gaza, where Israel's illegal seigeis starving Palestinians of essential resources. At least ten activists onboard have been killed by Israeli forces. Please join the emergency demonstration today if you can. Publicise it aswidely as possible. See video of Israeli assault from Turkish televison: http://bit.ly/aKExFf

For updates see: http://bit.ly/bg5gIu CONTACT FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE & YOUR MP PROTEST TO FOREIGN SECRETARY WILLIAM HAGUE: EMAIL: msu.correspondence@fco.gov.uk AND/OR private.office@fco.gov.uk AND MSU.PublicIn@fco.gov.uk

LETTER TO: William Hague MP, Foreign Secretary, King Charles Street, London, SW1A 2AH CONTACT YOUR MP: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk Ask him/her to contact Hague on your behalf

CONTACT DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER NICK CLEGG EMAIL: cleggn@parliament.ukLETTER TO: Nick Clegg MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA


Gaza aid flotilla attacked - George Galloway responds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUBcoB-oy6U

PROTEST TODAY after at least ten killed as Israel attacks Gaza aid convoy
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=21370
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Thursday, 27 May 2010

Don't let the EDL divide our communities!

Don't let the EDL divide our communities!

The EDL have targeted Muslims and mosques, whipping up hatred, division and violence where they have been allowed to march. EDL supporters stabbed a man in the evening after the EDL demonstration in Bolton in March. EDL supporters ran riot in Stoke-on-Trent earlier this year, smashing shops and cars, and attacking local Asian people and police.

EDL supporters have paraded their violence on You Tube and have been caught on camera giving Nazi salutes during their rallies and marches.

DEMONSTRATE - NEWCASTLE - Saturday 29 May

Assemble 12 noon at Barrack Road by St James Park. More details at http://www.uaf.org.uk/

We would urge all our supporters to support this demonstration and attend if you can. To get a seat on the Glasgow bus to Newcastle (8.30am George Square, Glasgow) for the demonstration - email uafscotland@gmail.com or call 07920 403 766.

Stop Islamophobia: Defend the Muslim Community

One Day Conference Saturday 5 June 10am to 5pmCamden Centre London WC1H 9JE

Speakers include:
Daud Abdullah Muslim Council of Britain • Tony Benn president Stop the War Coalition • Mohammed Ali Islam Channel • Anas Al-Tikriti British Muslim Initiative • Moazzam Begg former Guantanamo Bay prisoner • Lindsey German convenor Stop the War Coalition • Muhammad Habibur-Rahman vice-president Islamic Forum of Europe • Kate Hudson CND • Imran Khan solicitor • Dr Robert Lambert former head of Scotland Yard’s Muslim Contact Unit • Jeremy Corbyn MP • Nina Franklin vice president NUT • Seumas Milne journalist • Peter Oborne journalist • Salma Yaqoob Respect Party

REGISTER HERE - http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1860/1
OR CALL 020 7801 2768

Muslims are under attack in this country as never before. Government policies and the media have created an atmosphere in which all Muslims are portrayed as reactionary and anti-western.

Young Muslims in particular are subject to surveillance in colleges, schools and mosques in the name of combating "extremism". Those who exercise their right to demonstrate peacefully have been subject to arrest and heavy sentencing.
Meanwhile, the racist "defence leagues" have been focussing their attacks on Muslim communities, with provocative marches in towns and cities inciting racial hatred and bigotry.

From its founding in 2001, Stop the War has been committed to combating racism. We recognise that Islamophobia is a direct consequence of the "war on terror". We believe it is vital that the anti-war movement acts in conjunction with other campaigns and organisations to stem its tide.

The Stop Islamophobia: Defend the Muslim Community conference on Saturday 5 June, organised by Stop the War and the British Muslim Initiative, will bring together a wide range of opinion united in concern over the escalating demonisation of Muslims in our society.
Organised by Stop the War Coalition and British Muslim Initiative

Supported by CND, Cordoba Foundation, Federation of Student Islamic Societies, Islam Channel, Islamic Forum of Europe, Islamophobia Watch, London Muslim Centre, Muslim Welfare House, National Union of Journalists, North London Central Mosque, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Unite

Articles, Pictures & Anti-war Song of the Week

(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding by Elvis Costello - http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1886/186/

Pictures from tbe ‘Refusing to serve the occupation! Public meeting with Or Ben‐David—one of the Shministim. - http://www.shministim.com/

This is what "democracy" looks like: Brian Haw arrested http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1893/1/

US cost of 9 years war in Iraq & Afghanistan reaches $1 trillion http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1897/27/

Gaza aid flotilla to set sail for confrontation with Israel
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1896/27/
and updates from http://gazafreedommarch.org/cms/en/home.aspx

Palestine Solidarity Campaign have organised a petition against the UK-Israel arms trade and a ride on (mainly) vintage Royal Enfield bikes to deliver it. Please sign the petition and support this initative.
The details of the ride and links to the petition are at: http://rideforpalestine.blogspot.com/
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Friday, 23 April 2010

Rebuilding Gaza - Saturday the 1st May-Scottish Action for Gaza

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1) Rebuilding Gaza - FUNDRAISER - Saturday the 1st May-Scottish Action for Gaza

2) Children of Gaza - FILM - watch it online

Rebuilding Gaza
Saturday the 1st May-Scottish Action for Gaza

Garage, G2 Sauchiehall Street, Doors open 7pm ,
Tickets £5.00

2 great Glasgow bands, and some supporting speeches Redshift -8pm – covering Kings of Leon- Cold Play – Kaiser Chiefs Red Scot Chile Peppers -9pm Raffle -10.15pm

The Project- “Homes for Gaza”:A pilot project to rebuild 10 homes in the poorest parts of Gaza.Following a successful delivery of medical aid last year (under the name "Scottish Medical Aid for Gaza") the group is now investigating how it can help Gaza rebuild. The people of Gaza themselves have found a way to rebuild in spite of Israel and Egypt’s restrictions on building materials. The rubble from destroyed buildings is ground up, and mixed with a very little cement is reconstituted into building blocks!Scottish Action for Gaza will send a delegation to Gaza soon, to lay the groundwork for a pilot project to rebuild 10 homes. This will requires substantial funding - around £200,000. If successful, the group will apply for major funding from international donors for a significant number of houses, in districts where the poorest people live and the worst destruction occurred.

Contact :pauline.mcneillmsp@scottish.parliament.uk on 01415897120Carrah Nimmo on carra.nimmo@scottish.parliament.uk

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Children of Gaza
Directed by Jezza Neumann

In January 2009 over 1300 Palestinians were killed in Gaza. Around 300 of them children. When the ceasefire was declared, film-maker Jezza Neumann arrived to follow the lives of four children over the course of a year. Through their eyes, and in their words, Children of Gaza gives us a unique insight into the impact of war on vulnerable young minds. Despite the horrors they witnessed, Amal 9, Mahmoud & Omsyatte 12, and Ibraheem 11 still have hope and humour whilst living in the ruins of the Gaza Strip. Increasingly isolated by a blockade that prevents anyone from rebuilding their homes and their lives, Children of Gaza is a shocking, touching and uniquely intimate reflection on extraordinary courage in the face of great adversity.

WATCH THE FILM HERE: http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1810/268/

Please cut and paste the following link to your facebook, twitter etc. http://www.glasgowstopwar.blogspot.com/ and spread the word.
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