December 29, 2009

Gaza Freedom March, Jan. 1, 2010 - Manhandled at US Embassy In Cairo!




BREAKING: U.S. Citizens attacked by Egyptian Riot Police in Cairo in front of
U.S. Embassy
Call the U.S. Embassy to demand the release of those detained/that permission
is granted for the March to cross into Gaza: Telephone: (202) 2797 3300.


by Cindy Sheehan

One of my friends, Joshua Smith, just texted me from Cairo and said that some
U.S. citizens of the Gaza Freedom March went to the U.S. Embassy today there to
try and implore the staff there to intercede on behalf of the March to help get
them into Gaza--they were not so warmly welcomed.

Recently, almost 1400 people from around the globe met in Cairo to march into
Gaza to join Gazans in solidarity and to help expose their plight after years
of blockade and exactly a year after the violent attack in what Israel called
"Operation Cast Lead" that killed hundreds of innocent Gazan civilians. So far
the Marchers have been denied access (Egypt closed the Rafah crossing) and
their gatherings have become increasingly and more violently suppressed.

In my understanding of world affairs, embassies are stationed in various
countries so citizens who are traveling can seek help in times of trouble, but
this doesn’t appear to be so, right at this moment in Cairo.

Josh reports, and I also just got off the phone with my good friend and
Veterans for Peace board member, Mike Hearington, that about 50 U.S. citizens
were very roughly seized and thrown (in at least one case literally) into a
detention cell at the U.S. embassy. We are talking about U.S. citizens here
being manhandled by Egyptian riot police. According to Josh and Mike (who both
just narrowly escaped), it appears that people with cameras are especially
being targeted. Another good friend of mine, and good friend of peace, Fr.
Louis Vitale is one of those being detained. Fr. Louis is well into his
seventies!

Josh posted this on his Facebook wall about his near-detention experience:

We just got away. They were trying to drag me in but we kept moving... And most
were dog piling another guy. Then they drug him into the parking lot barricaded
riot police zone, lifted him up and threw him over the police and down into the
zone. And attacking those taking pictures or attemptingto.

When I was talking to Mike he said that an Egyptian told him that all Egyptians
are in solidarity with the Marchers and with the people of Gaza/Palestine, of
course, but the “Big Boss” (the U.S.) is calling the shots.

Egypt is third in line for U.S. foreign aid (behind Iraq and Israel) and its
dictator for life, Hosni Mubarek, is a willing puppet for his masters: the
US/Israeli cabal. Israel could not pursue its apartheid policies without the
U.S. and it’s equally important for this cabal to have a sold-out ally as its
neighbor.

Today also happens to be the anniversary of the 1890 U.S. massacre of Native
Americans (Lakota Sioux) at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. It is sad enough that
we are also living on stolen land, but also that the Israeli government had
good teachers in disposing of its indigenous population!

What are the Israeli settlements on the West Bank, if not stolen land from the
indigenous population and what is Gaza if not a mega-reservation? As at Wounded
Knee 119 years ago, the Israeli siege and attack on Gaza is nothing more than
big bullies shooting fish in a barrel.

Call the U.S. Embassy to demand the release of those detained/that permission
is granted for the March to cross into Gaza: Telephone: (20-2) 2797 3300. (US. Embassy in Cairo)

UPDATE; ALL , WHO WERE DETAINED, HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY NOW!!

Please re-post this alert and spread the word.

Was things not supposed to “change” in the Age of Obama?

Links; Huffington post Article, - Freedom March 2010 Latest news and background-

December 28, 2009

Gaza Still Under Siege




Just a short explanatory video - to explain what's all about! -
Take some time out and see for your self......

A light for Gaza



December 27, 2009

Press release from "Ireland to Gaza" convoy -





International Hunger Strike Press Release

Sunday December 27th marks the anniversary of the attack on Gaza by Israel, which left over 1,400 people dead, and over 5,000 injured in 22 days.
At 11 35 am, the time of the first attack, a group of humanitarians on the “Viva Palestina Convoy” will embark on an International Hunger Strike in the main square in Aqaba, Jordan.

The International Hunger Strike will aim to highlight the ongoing illegal siege imposed on Gaza, and to remember the victims of the attacks who died during the 22 day bombardment by Israel.

This International Hunger Strike will also highlight the refusal by Egypt, under Israeli pressure, to allow the humanitarian aid to reach the people in Gaza.
The convoy has been stranded in the city for 3 days now, having been refused permission to enter Egypt on their way to Gaza. There are 500 people from no less than 20 different countries in 250 vehicles loaded with charitable humanitarian aid. The convoy is been led by leading international politician George Galloway, having left London on December 6th.

Embarking on the International Hunger Strike are 15 people from different continents across the world. Among those taking part are Fatima Mohammidi from the United States, John Hurson and Caoimhe Butterly from Ireland, Ahasan Shamruk from Palestine, Nidal Hajaj, Hanan Chehata and Mohammed Shakiel from England, plus Kamal Mashni from Australia among others.

Each day, 15 more people from the convoy will join in the International Hunger Strike, and they will go without food until the convoy is allowed to enter safely into Egypt, and through the Rafah border to Gaza.

Speaking from Aqaba, Ahasan Shamruk, said, “I am joining this Hunger Strike to draw attention to the fact that the siege is a form of collective, sustained, and devastating punishment of 1.5 million civilian people. As we commemorate the first year anniversary of the massacres, it is important to remember, that for my brothers and sisters living under siege in Gaza, the war has not ended.”

John Hurson, from Tyrone, who travelled on the first “Viva Palestinan Convoy”, decided to join the International Hunger Strike to draw attention to the fact that nothing has changed in the past year following the attacks.

John said, “from my time spent in Gaza, to think that in the year 2009, people are denied all the basic essentials in life, like water, electricity, medicine, blankets, books, and even footballs for the children, is just unbelievable and unacceptable.

“For Egypt to prevent this compassionate and charitable aid, donated by ordinary caring people from all over the world, unnnecessarily adds to the hardships currently endured on a daily basis, by the besieged and distressed people in Gaza.

I am hopeful that the leaders of the West will exert their influence, put pressure on Egypt, the United States, and Israel to end this inhuman blockade forced upon Gaza, and allow for the safe passage of this essential humanitarian aid. Enough is enough, this has to end now, for the sake of humanity.”

Links;

"Viva Palestina", "Ireland to Gaza "- Facebook Group

December 26, 2009

Gaza Mourning - 1 year after the war



Go to "Pics uncensored" for photos ....

Join
Facebook Group;
"The first annual commemoration of the war on Gaza"

PLEASE Invite your friends to join our group.

من فضلك أرسل دعوة لأصدقائك للانضمام إلى المجموعة


Breaking; 26 Dec. 2009 ; Six Palestinians killed in West Bank, Gaza attacks by IDF - Israeli Armed Forces

December 18, 2009

Make Peace not War

Maybe it's time to rethink the war in Afghanistan..Join the movement to stop the war

Follow the link and become a Peacemaker.


"Rethink Afghanistan War" is still a U.S. organization only, but Denmark as an active ally in Afghanistan, would be an ideal place to bring the movement across the ocean.

The tale that our soldiers are fighting, dying, loosing limbs and livelihoods in order for America/Europe/world to be "Safe" is wearing a bit thin....

It's now painfully obvious that at no point, before or during this war, has the Al Qaeda been severely hit nor impaired. The elusive Al Qaeda is not one group, orderly organized in a hierarchy with Osama Bin laden as the all mighty "Capo di tutti capi"- This is not the Cosa nostra, where the promise of Witness Protection will make some high ranked Captain wanna sing his heart out, later to be viewed as dramatised documentary on National Geography; This is not about money, the good life nor macho pride nor glamour- This is a deep, deep felt conviction of "Us Vs Them", Right Vs wrong, Divine Simplicity Vs Mundane Pleasures - This is a myriad of cells spread all over world - Bombing/shooting an already extremely poor and "underdeveloped" country into Smithereens or somewhere way beyond the Stone age, will not stop a group of fanatics in Bali/Paris/Helsinki/Moscow/Copenhagen nor Kansas from doing whatever they intend to do....

Europe is playing along on the "Us Vs Them song" - In Denmark we even help the extremists by condoning the ever growing hatred, isolation and division, by voting a xenophobic party into government....

So instead of war faring and a lengthy siege of a sovereign state, we should start to unify and integrate in our home countries; In Denmark i.e. Build Mosques worthy of worship of God, Cleanse the Media of apparent and subliminal discrimination and/or full blown racism, stop in the name of all our "freedoms"; Forcing all foreigners to be Danish with a big, bombastic, capital D.... instead of embracing and welcoming diversity....

Maybe if we started to do these few things; the recruitment of young men, willing to die for the cause, would dwindle in numbers..... Maybe not... But I can't say what it does to people to be left outside of the community all their life. All I know, is that I would huddle up with my own kind as well and build a wall in order to defend my "Homies" - instead of venturing out into a world, where I'm not in the very least welcome and when a trip "behind enemy lines" is inevitable, I would never go "unarmed"one way or the other..... Oh, but ain't that exactly what our troops are doing in Afghanistan.... !!?!