Israeli
Checkpoint
Picture of the apartheid wall
Israel is
constructing
Picture of the
York
PSC Saturday Stall
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BBC's refusal to air the Disaster Emergency Committee's appeal for Gaza
The BBC has blocked airtime for the DEC humanitarian Gaza appeal - please flood the BBC with complaints
As you will no doubt be aware, the humanitarian situation in Gaza
following the Israeli onslaught is appalling. Over 1300 people,
including over 400 children, have been killed, over 5000 injured and
people are still being dug out the devastated buildings. The amount of
destruction to the infrastructure is vast - 22000 buildings in Gaza
have been destroyed or badly damaged. Half a million are without clean
water, public health is threatened by untreated sewage, the hospitals
are crammed with people who have suffered horrific injuries without
enough basic medical supplies for them to get the treatment they need.
When the UN Secretary General visited Gaza this week, he was
visibly shaken at the destruction he saw. The United Nations, the Red
Cross and all other aid organisations are saying that it is vital that
massive humanitarian assistance is brought into Gaza immediately.
So, the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) (
http://www.dec.org.uk/)
has launched an emergency appeal. Brendan Gormley the DEC Chief
Executive said: “DEC agencies have a humanitarian mandate. We are not
proposing to attempt to rebuild Gaza – that is not our role. But with
the public’s support we can help relieve short-term needs. Agencies are
already providing food, drugs and blankets as well as delivering clean
water. But we will soon reach the limit of what we can do, without
more money. For Gazans struggling to survive, receiving urgent
humanitarian aid will help them take the first step to recovery".
Usually, the BBC and all other broadcasters would give free
airtime to a DEC appeal. This has been the practice since 1963.
However, in the case of Gaza, the BBC is refusing (
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jan/23/bbc-refuses-gaza-appeal). They say they wish to be "impartial". But how can one be impartial in the face of so much suffering in Gaza?
It is vital that we flood the BBC with complaints about this
disgraceful decision. You can do so using the link or details below:
Phone: 03700 100 222
Textphone: 03700 100 212
Write: BBC Complaints, PO Box 1922, Glasgow, G2 3WT.
The people of Gaza stand to lose many millions of pounds that the
generous British public would otherwise have given, if only the BBC was
prepared to let DEC have publicity for their appeal. This evening even
the Government has criticised the BBC. Please complain to the BBC and
spread the word about the DEC appeal, so that it will at least get some
publicity and some money.
Peace
and Justice in the Middle East - York Declaration 2007
ISRAEL’S
WAR AGAINST GAZA
Show
York’s
support for the
victims in Gaza
1040 Gazans
killed, over 4850
injured - and the total
is rising
(see Palestine
Red Crescent site for latest data)
·
The besieged and
starving people in Gaza are NOT the aggressors.
·
Palestinian
rockets are NOT the cause.
·
The REAL cause is
Israel’s attack on the right of Palestinians to their own
state
Don’t
be deceived by Israeli
propaganda.
Hamas has been trying to
negotiate for
peace ever since they were democratically elected in 2006.
Hamas provided a truce but all
Gaza’s
people got in response was exclusion from peace talks, sanctions from
Western
governments and siege
and starvation
from the Israelis.
We demand
an end to Israeli
attacks, pressure upon Israel from the UK Government and the European
Union to
end the siege, and proper negotiations for a just peace.
What you can do:
1. Write to your MP
and MEP
www.writetothem.org
2. Write to the
Foreign Secretary David
Miliband MP,
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/contact-us
3.
Join
the vigil in York, Saturday 3rd
January, 1 – 3pm in St. Sampson’s Square, York
No.10 Petitions for sanctions on Israel and Arms embargo
The following petition is on the No.10 website about sanctions:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Israel-Sanctions/
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Introduce
sanctions against Israel.
Israeli must be punished for its failure to adhere to the Geneva
convention concerning the collective punishment of the citizens of
Gaza. Israeli tactics are cruel, malicious and demonstrate that Israel
is not interested in the peace process or a Palestinian State. They are
creating the ideal breeding ground for extremism, sabotaging peace
efforts and squandering the good will they have been given.
This petition is really gathering momentum, currently the 7th largest
on the No.10 website.
The following petition is on the No.10 website about sanctions:
http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Arms-embargo/
We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to do everything in his
power to impose an arms embargo on Israel in light of the recent
Israeli offensive in the Gaza strip and to apply pressure on countries
supplying Israel with arms that breach international agreements with
the intention of restoring lasting peace to the region.
This petition recognises that the government has taken positive steps
to tighten weapons exportation to Israel since 2005. However, only a
complete arms embargo will send a clear message to Israel that this
government will not accept the prolonged armed conflict which is
aggravating existing tensions in the region. Additionally this will
ensure that the government adheres to the UK Export Control Act of 2002
and the EU “consolidated criteria” governing the
export of
military
equipment. Equally such a stance would set a precedent showing that
this government is committed to establishing peace in the region. This
precedent will have a far reaching impact in terms of marginalising the
ideologies of radical extremist groups.
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The
Nakba - A Cause For Shame not Celebration
Branch Meetings
Branch meetings are held at
7:30pm every
2nd and
4th Thursday of the month. None members are welcome to attend.
Meetings are held in the Clementhorpe Room at York Priory
Street.Centre. Click here
for directions.
Every Saturday 1-3pm
Weekly stall in Parliament Street near Marks & Spencers
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Palestine News is the PSC's bi-monthly
magazine. Available from
our Saturday stall (1-3pm outside Marks & Spencers, Parliament
Street), priced £1.50. Alternatively, join
the PSC
and have Palestine
News delivered directly to your home as part of your membership fee.
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