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Jul 11, 2010 at 10:51 PM |
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FREE PUBLIC FORUM Recent history, current reality, & the struggle for justice
Monday, July 12, 2010
7:00 – 9:00 pm
GCBC, 1803 East 1st Ave, Vancouver |
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MP Libby Davies Under Attack |
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Jun 16, 2010 at 11:52 PM |
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Today, the House of Commons formed a virtual lynch mob demanding the resignation of NDP MP Libby Davies' resignation for saying that the Israeli occupation began in 1948. She was punked by a phoney blogger who was trying to trap her into saying something unacceptable. Libby has been an outspoken critic of Israel since she visited Gaza and saw the horrors that Israeli is inflicting on the people there. In her usual quiet courageous way, Libby is one of the few members of Parliament speaking for Palestinian rights and representing the thousands of Canadians who believe that Israel does not deserve the support of Canada. |
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Vancouver & District Labour Council BDS Resolution |
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Jun 18, 2010 at 02:17 AM |
VDLC resolution passed on Tuesday, June 15, 2010
MSC that the following recommendation of the VDLC Executive Committee be adopted:
Subject: Blockade of Gaza
BECAUSE the state of Israel has been imposing an illegal blockade on the Palestinian people in the Gaza strip for the past three years, and
BECAUSE the International Committee of the Red Cross has documented the resulting deterioration in the health and living conditions for the 1.5 million Palestinians resident in Gaza, and
BECAUSE a peaceful relief convoy was attacked and boarded by Israeli Defence Forces resulting in the killing of nine civilians on board the relief ships, and
BECAUSE the action by Israel is illegal under international law and the blockade itself is tantamount to "collective punishment" which is illegal under the Geneva Conventions, and
BECAUSE governments and trade union organizations around the world have condemned Israel for these actions and are calling for a boycott and divestment from Israeli companies until these conditions are lifted,
THE VANCOUVER AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL WILL: - condemn the Israeli attack on the Gaza relief ships in international waters on May 31 which resulted in the deaths of nine civilians on board the ships; and
- call for the total lifting of the illegal blockade of Gaza by Israel; and
- support the call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel in support of these objectives.
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Libby Davies speaks out on attack on humanitarian aid ships |
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May 31, 2010 at 12:00 AM |
May 31, 2010 I wish to express my sympathy and outrage for the families and friends of those who lost their lives and those who were injured in the horrendous attack today by Israeli Defence Forces against the Freedom Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.
This deadly assault on peace activists, who only wanted the people of Gaza to receive the basic necessities of life, is shocking and unconscionable and demands an immediate investigation and response by the International Community. The illegal siege on Gaza, now in its 3rd year, must be ended. The Government of Canada must speak out and make it clear that Canada condemns all such actions against innocent people who are peace activists.
The hundreds of participants in the Freedom Flotilla who have now been detained by Israel must be released. As someone who has visited Gaza twice, mostly recently in August 2009, I have witnessed first-hand the devastation of the siege on Gaza and its 1.6 million inhabitants.
Like Rachel Corrie and other internationals who have given their life for justice for Palestinians, we honour their life’s work and will continue to work for peace and justice in the Middle East. Libby Davies, MP Vancouver East |
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What about the Turkish charity’s alleged links to terrorists? |
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Jun 04, 2010 at 12:00 AM |
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly argued that the Turkish Islamic Charity IHH that owned the ship Blue Marmara has been linked to various networks of terror. Many journalists reiterated the claim; at times referring to former French judge Jean-Louis Bruguiere’s statements about the links between IHH and Al Qaeda. Previously, Judge Brugiere had reached erroneous judgements that attracted critique from both the left and right establishment of France, a position difficult to reach. In his controversial report that came out in 2006, he accused politicians in Burundi for acts of terror by consulting only two sources, who were established political enemies of the man the judge accused. Both Liberation and Le Figaro, the ideological poles that are hard to bring together, had joined forces to discredit the judge’s previous accusations of terror. This time by consulting no source at all, Mr. Brugiere points a finger at another alleged source of terror, IHH. According to the former judge, now a professional politician who has ran for office with Sarkozy’s conservative coalition, the Islamic charity is linked to networks of terror. He is wrong, again. This time for three solid reasons: Read full article... |
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CALL FROM GAZA FOR GLOBAL RESPONSE TO KILLINGS ON THE FREEDOM FLOTILLA |
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May 31, 2010 at 12:50 PM |
PRESS RELEASE
GAZA, PALESTINE
31.MAY.2010
We Gaza based Palestinian Civil Society Organizations and International
activists call on the international community and civil society to pressure
their governments and Israel to cease the abductions and killings in Israel’s
attacks against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla sailing for Gaza, and begin a global
response to hold Israel accountable for the murder of foreign civilians at sea
and illegal piracy of civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza.
We salute the courage of all those who have organized this aid intervention and
demand a safe passage through to Gaza for the 750 people of conscience from 40
different countries including 35 international politicians intent on breaking
the Israeli-Egyptian blockade. We offer our sincerest condolences to family and
friends who have lost loved ones in the attack.
By sailing directly to Gaza , outside of Israeli waters, with cargo banned
illegally by Israel , such as the 10,000 tonnes of badly needed concrete, toys,
workbooks, chocolate, pasta and substantial medical supplies, the flotilla is
exercising international law and upholding article 33 of the Geneva Convention
which clearly states that collective punishment is a crime against humanity.
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Canadian Union of Postal Workers letter regarding Israeli attack on Gaza Freedom Flotilla |
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May 31, 2010 at 12:42 PM |
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By email and mail May 31, 2010 Prime Minister Stephen Harper Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0A2 Dear Prime Minister Harper, I am writing to you on behalf of the 54,000 members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. You will be aware that the Israeli navy, in an act of piracy in international waters, has hijacked the international flotilla of ships which was attempting to deliver essential humanitarian aid to Gaza. The aid includes construction materials which would enable the people of Gaza to rebuild the homes destroyed by Israel in Operation Cast Lead in 2009.
There are nearly 700 people on board the boats, all of whom are civilians from around the world, including Members of Parliament from a number of nations, eminent writers and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. They have undertaken this mission out of concern for the people of Gaza, who are now entering their fourth year under siege, without access to basic necessities. They pose no threat to Israel, and are completely unarmed.
Despite this, the Israeli navy has attacked the flotilla outside of international waters this morning resulting in fatalities estimated by the Israeli military itself as 10 and by news sources at possibly in excess of 20 with another large number injured. Israeli news sources say that hospitals around Ashdod have been told to prepare for many injured people arriving.
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Gaza and the "New" Anti-Semitism |
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Sep 30, 2009 at 03:24 AM |
THE CAMPAIGN TO SUPPRESS FREE SPEECH (PART ONE)
Mordecai BriembergRemember the Israeli bombardment of Gaza in December and January? It seared the conscience of millions around the world. Reports from numerous human rights organizations and United Nations commissions continue to document the horrors meticulously. Human Rights Watch just released a report on the unarmed Palestinian women and children who, holding up white flags, were shot down by Israeli soldiers.
Libby Davies, part of a three-person group of MP’s in August, was able to enter Gaza for only 24 “intense hours”. She wrote in her blog what took her by surprise, something that will hit home with many working people.
“You never know in advance what it is that will get to you, so I am surprised that for me, it’s the Karni industrial area. It’s not the parliament building, a cascading wreck of concrete, nor the shelled and bombed houses, nor the horrendous refugee camps (800,000 of Gaza's 1.5 million population are refugees) that have existed for ever. Nor is it the garbage, dead animals here and there, and the vacant empty buildings with broken windows and doors hanging off. It’s this industrial area in the north-east part of the city - flattened and obliterated by exiting forces of the IDF. In the last 48 hours of the war they left via this area and destroyed it on their way out. There were 4000 factories and industries. Now there are 250. Gaza was famous for its furniture making. There were biscuit factories, ice cream factories, and machine and industrial enterprises, to name a few. Almost all gone, almost as a parting shot on their way out. It’s only then that I begin to get it - we are so used to the messages that the war was about destroying terrorists. But this was about destroying the economy and livelihood of the whole of Gaza society.” Read full article... |
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