| |
/http%3A%2F%2Fenglish.pnn.ps%2Ftemplates%2Fmadeyourweb%2Fimages%2Fblue%2Fbg_logo1.png){kind=logo}
Bristol-Gaza-Link launch event at Council House as part of series of demonstrations and events
23.09.09 - 11:13
The launch of the new Bristol-Gaza-Link association will take place at a public meeting on Monday 28th September in the Main Hall at the Council House, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR.
The guest speaker will be a representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to the UK. The meeting will be chaired jointly by Anira Khokhar of the Bristol Muslim Cultural Society and Glen Burrows Branch Secretary of the Bristol RMT Rail Union.
Speakers will include Cllr Barbara Janke (Lib Dem) Leader of the Council, Cllr Faruk Choudhury (Lab), Hasina Khan, and Mohamed Elhaddad. Messages of support will be read out from Cllr John Kiely (Lib Dem), Cllr Helen Holland Leader of the Labour Group, Stephen Williams MP, Kerry McCarthy MP, and the Mayor of Gaza.
The event will commence at 6.00pm with refreshments and time to browse stalls of a wide range of organisations. The Red Notes Choir will perform at 6.45pm and the speeches will start at 7.00pm.
Cllr John Kiely Lib Dem Easton ward, says: "We were all shocked at the brutal way Israel used its superior force against defenceless civilians and even the UN. Here in Bristol people were determined to try and do something practical to assist the people of Gaza and to show our solidarity with their plight. I am therefore delighted to be associated with the efforts of this group who have worked tirelessly to create a link with the Palestinian people, I wish it every success."
People from across Bristol took part in large numbers in protests, vigils, demonstrations, meetings and occupations to show their support for the people of Gaza during Israel's attacks in December & January.
Stephen Williams, Lib Dem MP for Bristol West says, “Shocked by the human rights atrocities I braved the snow and ice to join hundreds of Bristolians at the Stop the War demonstration in February to support the people of Gaza. Pressure must be put on the Israeli Government to make them behave in a responsible manner. This is an incredibly important issue. I receive hundreds of letters every year about foreign affairs and human rights and have raised many issues with the Foreign Office”.
Over a hundred thousand pounds was collected in the city to be sent as aid to Gaza. Mohamed Elhaddad and Sakir Yildirim went from Bristol to join the 100 vehicle Viva Palestina! Convoy which drove to Gaza with aid collected in Britain. On their return they gave eyewitness reports of conditions in Gaza.
Out of this grew the idea of building links between Bristol & Gaza City.
The Bristol-Gaza-Link Association will be launched at the event. Its aims and objectives will be to build humanitarian, cultural, educational and social links. These links will be with similar groups and organisations primarily in Gaza City. However links with Palestinian populations both in the West Bank and the Diaspora are also possible.
Historically, Bristol has had a large number of connections with Palestine, both Gaza and the West Bank. These have ranged from faith groups to peace campaigners, from medics to footballers to circus-performers. Even Bristol’s own graffiti artist Banksy has visited Palestine! Bristol-Gaza-Link aims to build on these foundations and is already encouraging a growing number of groups and organizations to explore links with Gaza.
The meeting will include a number of stalls and exhibitions which showcase these connections. There will also be a practical workshop session for people to learn more about how new grass-roots links can be developed.
Bristol-Gaza-Link has produced a video of the convoy to Gaza last winter which is available on YouTube (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RjAfuluos4 - 3 parts). The group is starting fund-raising for a second convoy to Gaza this winter which is due to depart from Bristol on Friday 4th December.
Kerry McCarthy Labour MP for Bristol East says: “I welcome the formation of the Bristol-Gaza-Link which aims to build further links between Bristol and Gaza city and develop a deeper understanding between the two areas, both socially and culturally, whilst also demonstrating the widespread empathy felt by many in Bristol for Gaza’s problems. Having spent time in the region (although not in Gaza) a few years ago with CAABU and as an election observer for the last Palestinian Authority elections, and having visited community groups I have seen the positive impact such projects can bring. I know that Bristol people have already made sterling efforts to show solidarity with, and support for, the Palestinian people, from helping out with the olive harvest, to collecting computers for Palestine, to making films about the scale of the problems there.”
Cllr Helen Holland, leader of the Labour Group says: "Bristol's strength lies in our diversity and the internationalism that this reflects. Friendship and twinning links bring huge benefits to Bristol, and over many years cultural, economic and education links have developed between our city and our partner cities, between organisations here and abroad, and many personal friendships between Bristolians and citizens of other countries. The Labour Group and I have been very supportive of this new association, which builds on the bridges that have been built between Bristol and Gaza, and we wish every success to the association. Bristol and Gaza have much to learn from each other, and with these links comes better understanding."
/http%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2Fu%2F0%2F%3Fui%3D2%26ik%3De3c913b5a6%26view%3Dfimg%26th%3D15d35ada620ccb10%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Demb%26realattid%3Dii_15d3208a17f98ec4%26attbid%3DANGjdJ_dGgEqYDf8LnJND3LoZYxd7oJx8fGieXeFobt1I2U5gAEwIlUvvZNic5dHPCVvt5yrpytTT43lCSvjFOZoPbPUTl0EXJ6sdWM5xKk9a842xh3IbS6Zdrge7ho%26sz%3Dw400-h268%26ats%3D1499844362391%26rm%3D15d35ada620ccb10%26zw%26atsh%3D1)
/http%3A%2F%2Fci3.googleusercontent.com%2Fproxy%2FW9wmSLBjsx8PSi2VpFFM_WU9KhMaPgOrxG8bCxUVwz8_s2M1v3pDZ-6SevZqjo8KPQaTCBDpUhBddGqwdq4f5I074KlhWK_W8Vz21qiA5vOt2fZcsQxB2KxpzaZn6o1fSCiiz-GPRGzouVEA2T9uCypZfSfIKA%3Ds0-d-e1-ft%23http%3A%2F%2Fwww.france-palestine.org%2Flocal%2Fcache-gd2%2Fdb%2F2d0e889e8e1678d8a2def7a8fc59cc.jpg%3F1499419277)
/http%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com%2Fmail%2Fu%2F0%2F%3Fui%3D2%26ik%3De3c913b5a6%26view%3Dfimg%26th%3D15d17ee48526d3b7%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Demb%26realattid%3Dii_15d1770ac02fa115%26attbid%3DANGjdJ9-lMNse8OaIo_FV3HBsCNR_1CMgMg33Qr4toMI5vfU7k_pr2BrGl18evCzh7YCW9EFmxpMAfHJSRbZI-_owhOdZfZ0VfyZS1Y2Fhg2nEiThJaHPd2S-pzeGAo%26sz%3Dw400-h268%26ats%3D1499408092340%26rm%3D15d17ee48526d3b7%26zw%26atsh%3D1)
/https%3A%2F%2Fassets.over-blog.com%2Ft%2Fcedistic%2Fcamera.png)