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Whistleblower Ordered Silent
Ben Griffin, the ex-SAS trooper who this week revealed the extensive British collaboration with US rendition and torture, was served with an injunction immediately after speaking at the London World Against War rally 28 February 2008. The government is trying to gag Ben to prevent any more revelations about British involvement in the US policy of kidnapping people and sending them to secret centres for interrogation and torture. Listen to his speech at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb50-ouA-IA. Why is he being silenced by the UK government? Read his whistleblowing statement here http://www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=533&Itemid=27.
Ben’s statement on the government’s gag order: “As of 1940hrs 29/02/08 I have been placed under an injunction preventing me from speaking publicly and publishing material gained as a result of my service in UKSF (SAS). I will be continuing to collect evidence and opinion on British Involvement in extraordinary rendition, torture, secret detentions, extra judicial detention, use of evidence gained through torture, breaches of the Geneva Conventions, breaches of International Law and failure to abide by our obligations as per UN Convention Against Torture. I am carrying on regardless.”
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Avaaz: Petition for Gaza
The people of Gaza are being squeezed to death. This week's blackouts have finally reached the attention of the world -- and the international community could help end the blockade. Our obligation is clear. This isn't about Israel vs Palestine or Hamas vs Fatah: this is about 1.5 million human beings locked up in the biggest prison on earth. The siege of Gaza is a collective punishment violating international law, and far from ensuring Israel's security, it is only stoking rage and desperation. Please sign your support for Gaza
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Leeds Postcards Leeds Postcards - satirical & campaign press since 1979. With a wide selection of postcards and greeting cards, the extensive catalogues will speak for themselves. http://www.poptel.org.uk/leedspostcards/index.htm. |
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The Irish Lebanon Project
A charity since 2005, The Irish Lebanon Project came about when it was noticed how the local village populations had become dependent on the Irish UNIFIL Battalion for all of the medical needs during the period 1978 to 2001. In 2001 when the Irish Mission ended, the local villages missed the medical care that was given by the Irish Contingent. It was then decided to form a Charitable Status Company and build medical centres in Lebanon. Because of the July 2006 War, the Project was extended to include additional humanitarian activities. The Irish Lebanon Project endeavours to build and staff medical centres in Lebanon. The Project also provides Irish teachers for Lebanese schools and provides ambulances, school and medical supplies. The Project is also involved in humanitarian work in Lebanon by making up pack rations for families and paying for rented accommodation for displaced and homeless families. You can learn more about this charity and how you can donate to their work at http://irishlebproject.com/. |
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US Election: Time to Change Course The outcome of the US election will affect the entire world, and every issue we campaign on. But will the next US president continue to be a major part of the problem, or change course? Global citizens may not be able to vote in the election, but we can still have a voice. You can join together in signing a letter drafted by Avaaz (its main points - climate protection, human rights and peace not war, points decided in an online poll of Avaaz members). The letter will be published prominently in US newspapers and delivered to the leading presidential candidates. You can add your support at http://www.avaaz.org/en/us_change_course/8.php.
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Just Imagine--Peace instead of war. |
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Time to Retire Tony The European Tribune has created a petition against the nomination of Tony Blair as President of the European Union. In essence it states “We, European citizens of all origins and of all political persuasions, wish to express our total opposition to the nomination of Tony Blair to the Presidency of the European Council.” Plenty of compelling reasons are stated in the body of the petition. http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stopblair.html
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Right to Campaign Campaigners for the rights of Palestinians must often face attempts to silence, discredit and defame their campaigns. A petition has been developed to support the freedom to campaign for the Palestinian cause. Redress Information & Analysis is a media service dedicated to exposing injustice, disinformation and bigotry; it provides thought-provoking interpretations of current affairs. Its petition urges all peace loving supporters of the freedom of thought, against all racism and Zionism and dedicated to the just Palestinian Arab cause as well as Iraq and all occupied Arab lands, to sign the petition calling for an end to the defamation campaign and a focus on the issues that are important to the Palestinian and Arab peoples. To lend your support, please notify Redress at palestinesomoud@yahoo.fr. A list will be made public. Website - http://www.redress.cc Newsblog - http://redressnewsblog.blogspot.com/
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The one basic thing: we, not me. “We are, in the end, truly all in the same boat. And that no matter our differences we sink or swim together. That’s how it seems to be everywhere else. They take care of each other. No matter what their disagreements. You know when we see a good idea from another country we grab it. If they build a better car, we drive it. If they make a better wine, we drink it. So if they’ve come up with a better way to treat the sick, to teach their kids, to take care of their babies, to simply be good to each other, then what’s our problem? Why can’t we do that? They live in a world of we not me. We’ll never fix anything if we don’t get that one basic thing right. And powerful forces hope that we never do.” --Michael Moore, in his documentary film Sicko. http://www.michaelmoore.com
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Guantanamo Case in Crisis Abdel Al-Ghizzawi, prisoner in US custody at Guantanamo Naval Base, suffers from tuberculosis, hepatitis B and liver damage. This fact has been known to the US Government--his captors--for over a year, yet he has not been given proper medical treatment for his ailments. Instead, the US government has deliberately chosen to give out false information about his medical condition. Abdel al-Ghizzawi is no "enemy combatant." He was surrendered to US custody in Afghanistan by bounty hunters, and has never been tried or convicted in any court of law of any crimes against the US or anyone else, either in Afghanistan or in the United States. The lack of medical care for Al-Ghizzawi is a death sentence on this unjustly imprisoned man. The fate of Al-Ghizzawi is not only a private tragedy, but a symbol of system gone wrong: a system that defies Geneva conventions and chooses to perpetuate crimes against humanity. To read more, visit http://freedetainees.org/archives/19. To sign the petition to be delivered to the US District Court Judge who holds the fate of Al-Ghizzawi in his hands, see http://www.petitiononline.com/saveabdl/petition.html.
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Early Day Motion 1099: Gaza (3 March 2008) MPs call on UK government to “ensure international compliance with humanitarian law.” Please encourage your MP to sign in support of this call for a peaceful solution to the Gaza crisis.
“That this House expresses its revulsion at the mounting death toll in Gaza caused by Israeli military strikes; notes that around half of the 108 Palestinians killed in the six days between Wednesday 27th February and Monday 3rd March 2008 were civilians; also condemns the rocket and mortar attacks from Gaza which have killed one Israeli civilian in southern Israel in the last nine months and which, according to figures supplied by the British Israel Communications and Research Centre, have been responsible for the deaths of 24 Israelis since 2001; further notes that Israel's military strikes and its economic blockade of Gaza are achieving the opposite of their stated aim of deterring such rocket attacks; further notes that the strikes and blockade are causing widespread humanitarian suffering and, by collectively punishing the entire people of Gaza for the actions of those firing rockets, Israel's actions are contrary to international law; further notes the UN Security Council statement of 2nd March, and the statements from the United Kingdom Foreign Secretary and the EU Presidency dated 2nd March and 3rd March respectively; and therefore calls upon the international community to press for an immediate ceasefire in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank and adherence to international law by all parties, including requiring Israel to abide by its legal obligations as an internationally recognised state, and emphasises the United Kingdom's particular responsibility to ensure international compliance with humanitarian law as a High Contracting Party to the Fourth Geneva Convention.” http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=35307&SESSION=891
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Lebanon: In their own words Before the 2006 war, the individuals who make up MATs (Mine Action Teams) in Lebanon were working in a variety of normal civilian occupations. Lebanon has traditionally welcomed many tourists to experience its scenery and nightlife, and many of MAG’s searchers and deminers previously worked in hotels or restaurants. Others were university students or taxi drivers. None thought they would find themselves trained in the search and removal of cluster bombs and other deadly remnants of conflict.
Learn more about MAG’s work in Lebanon and meet the MAG team members at Lebanon: In their own words.
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The Arab: New Magazine The Arab is a new bi-monthly English language magazine on Middle Eastern and North African current affairs. Although not Arab states, Turkey and Iran will be covered from time to time, as they are neighbouring countries. And although the Arab world has a Muslim majority, The Arab is not an Islamic magazine. It will cover issues related to any faith in a secular manner. The primary focus of the magazine is politics and social affairs, with a secondary focus on culture and business. The format includes human-interest features, regional analysis, interviews, first-person reportage, short, quirky items and counterpoint articles on a topical issue. Articles aim to be thought-provoking and erudite. The Arab takes an objective, apolitical stance and has no editorial policy-line or ideology. It is independently owned and privately financed by a British publisher. The magazine is published in London and distributed internationally to globally-based subscribers. The Arab aims to be accessible to the reasonably educated reader with no more than a general interest in international current affairs, but assumes some familiarity with the politics, recent history and culture of the Arab world. http://www.the-arab.com/
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