Gaza: Two more protests, call your representative and other actions
Below is an important alert concerning the ongoing devastation in Gaza from Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights (AUPHR), a member group of PDX Peace. See below for two upcoming protests, info on calling congress and other actions you can take to make a difference.
Dear AUPHR Supporters -
A line is being drawn in the sand: do you support human rights, justice, and calls for a ceasefire or do you support the military madness of the Israeli and U.S. governments!
It is time to let our new President and this new Congress know that we are fed up with the Bush way of doing things and fed up with one-sided support for Israel's policies.
Call your representatives, consider attending the Thursday protest of the Multnomah county Democrats and a Saturday demonstration in downtown Portland!
If you want to help the people of Gaza financially, Palestinian Robert Massoud, founder of Zatoun, has recommendations of organizations, see below.
Also included is the statement by Earl Blumenauer calling for a Ceasefire and a BBC report just in about Israel's bombing of a U.N. School.
Sincerely,
Peter Miller
Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights
Call your representatives and tell them to call for an immediate ceasefire!
Thank Earl Blumenauer for his call for a Ceasefire and Engagement!
Senator Jeff Merkley 1-202-224-8845
Senator Ron Wyden (202) 224-5244 (503) 326-7525
Congressman Earl Blumeanuer (202) 225-4811 (503) 231-2300
Congressman Peter DeFazio (202) 225-6416 (541) 465-6732
Congressman Greg Walden 202-225-6730 541-776-4646
Congressman Kurt Schrader (202) 225-5711 (503) 588-9100
Congressman David Wu (202) 225-0855 (503) 326-2901 toll free Oregon (800) 422-4003
PROTEST: Thursday, January 8th 6pm, Multnomah Democrats Central Committee Meeting
Confront Oregon Democrats over the Democratic leadership's shameful support of this carnage against the people of Gaza.
Thursday, Jan. 8
Gather at 6pm.
Multnomah Democrats Central Committee Meeting/Election of Officers
Social hour at 6 PM, meeting begins at 7 PM
Hollywood Senior Center, 1820 NE 40th Ave., Portland 97212
PROTEST: Saturday January 10, 3pm at Pioneer Square
Our Palestinian brothers and sisters in Gaza need us to take to the streets and demand an end to the massacre.
This morning, we woke up to the news that the Israeli military has
slaughtered 30 and wounded 55 Palestinian civilians taking refuge at
the U.N. School. The bombardment from land, air and sea is continuing
and the death toll nears 600 Palestinian men, women and children and
over 2,500 wounded.
Come down to Pioneer Square this Saturday, January 10 at 3:00 p.m. and make your voices heard.
Bring your Palestinian Flags and Signs, and tell your Friends and Neighbors
Called for by Americans United for Palestinian Human Rights, Portland
Peaceful Response Coalition, Sabeel North America, American Jews for a
Just Peace and other organizations.
For further information, contact Hala Gores at Hala@goreslaw.com or (503)307-9339 or Peter Miller at Pmiller@auphr.org or (503)358-7475.
Statement by Earl Blumeanuer: A Call for Ceasefire and Engagement
Oregonians have long watched the momentous changes in the Middle East with hope and concern. One fundamental lesson has emerged: without political processes that aim for peace, violent events and the acts of extremists can overpower the desire of people across the region to live in security.
With daily rocket attacks ever deeper into Israel and hundreds already killed in what Israel calls the start of a multi-stage offensive, forceful U.S. diplomatic re-engagement to support peace is critical. Yet, nearly a decade of failed Bush policies has left America in a weakened position abroad. I was particularly discouraged that the U.S. did not try to broker an extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas or improve the humanitarian situation on the ground. An out-of-touch U.S. leadership has made America, Israel, and the region less safe.
The Bush administration should use its remaining days to renew our commitment to this region and forcefully advocate for a path towards peace.
Although a secure Israel and an independent Palestinian state living side by side seems less likely at the moment, I have high hopes that the new Obama administration will exhibit a strong reversal of course and re-engage the region. To make this path ready I strongly urge all parties to usher in the New Year with a renewed ceasefire agreement. We must continue to work for a peace process that recognizes the legitimate needs of both Israelis and Palestinians. This is the only hope for a better future.
Strike on Gaza school 'kills 40'
At least 40 people have been killed in an Israeli air strike on a United Nations-run school in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources have said.
A number of children were among those who died when the al-Falluj school in the Jabaliya refugee camp took a direct hit, doctors at nearby hospitals said.
People inside had been taking refuge from the Israeli ground offensive.
Earlier, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned of a "full-blown humanitarian crisis" in Gaza.
Speaking on the 11th day of the Israeli assault, a senior ICRC official, Pierre Kraehenbuhl, said life in Gaza had become intolerable.
Palestinian medical sources say up to 600 people have been killed since the attacks began, and Mr Kraehenbuhl said much more needed to be done to protect civilians.
At least 70 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday, while four Israeli soldiers were killed by fire from one of their own tanks.
Read the story from BBC NEWS.
A Message fro From Zatoun
Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2009 8:25 PM
Subject: Gaza and Help for Gaza
"Every Palestinian has become a prisoner. Gaza is surrounded by an electrified fence on three sides: imprisoned like animals, Gazans are unable to move, unable to work, unable to sell their vegetables or fruit, unable to go to school. They are exposed from the air to Israeli planes and helicopters and are gunned down like turkeys on the ground by tanks and machine guns. Impoverished and starved, Gaza is a human nightmare.
Hope has been eliminated from the Palestinian vocabulary so that only raw defiance remains.
Palestinians must die a slow death so that Israel can have its security, which is just around the corner but cannot be realized because of the special Israeli "insecurity." The whole world must sympathize, while the cries of Palestinian orphans, sick old women, bereaved communities, and tortured prisoners simply go unheard and unrecorded. Doubtless, we will be told, these horrors serve a larger purpose than mere sadistic cruelty. After all, "the two sides" are engaged in a "cycle of violence" that has to be stopped, sometime, somewhere. Once in a while we ought to pause and declare indignantly that there is only one side with an army and a country: the other is a stateless dispossessed population of people without rights or any present way of securing them. The language of suffering and concrete daily life has been either hijacked or so perverted as, in my opinion, to be useless except as pure fiction deployed as a screen for the purpose of more killing and painstaking torture - slowly, fastidiously, inexorably.
That is the truth of what Palestinians suffer."
The late Edward Said wrote these words in August 2002. How can it be that his words remain accurate six years later?
The week's events in Gaza have overshadowed whatever joy or peace one can have at this special time of year. However the resounding demonstrations around the world have helped give us some relief from helplessness. Apart from these acts of public outcry at the terrible suffering in Gaza, we in North America feel powerless, without means to oppose the moral bankruptcy of bombing densely-populated areas with impunity or our governments who positively approve of it with similar disregard for civilians and ongoing suffering.
Zatoun has been sent direct donations for Gaza and received inquiries for organizations able to lend immediate aid in this most recent crisis. Zatoun is not setup to accept funds for emergency humanitarian aid and has no means to get them to Gaza, quickly and efficiently. Zatoun's work is of a different kind with a long time horizon. One that has to do with trees, farmers and livelihoods - things that grow slowly and build enduring roots for genuine understanding towards peace.
Our mission is to create experience, awareness, and healing in North America using olive oil from Palestine. Necessarily this focus keeps us outside the daily fray - however horrible the events might be. Zatoun may be silent at the level of direct advocacy however we support the people of Palestine and especially in Gaza at this time.
To help Zatoun supporters wishing to donate directly at this time of dire need, we offer the following organizations for your consideration. They are ready to accept your contributions (and provide a receipt for income tax purposes) and able to direct funds to humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Many offer online, telephone and mail options.
In the United Sates:
- American Near East Refugee Aid (www.anera.org)
- United Palestinian Appeal (www.helpupa.com)
- Islamic Relief (http://www.irw.org)
In Canada:
- The Canadian Red Cross (www.redcross.ca) - no specific Gaza Appeal page online - donors can specify "ICRC Gaza Response" at the end of donation form.
- Islamic Relief (www.islamicreliefcanada.org)
- UNWRA - United Nations Works Relief Agency (www.un.org/unrwa). Revenue Canada recognizes donations made to UN agencies even if outside Canada.
In Canada, the Palestinian Child Sponsorship Program (www.cpfq.org/child)supports children in Gaza. Established in 1999, it provides desperately needed financial assistance and hope to needy Palestinian children and their families living in the West Bank and Gaza. The program operates similarly to "Foster Plan" providing updates and communication with the child and their family. Donations are tax-receiptable in Canada.
You may like to know that Zatoun has been helping in Gaza for the past three years. Zatoun has sold about $8,000 of small embroidery items and pottery made by people living in Gaza. These items have been sold mostly at fairs and event tables (not available for online ordering). The beautiful items (bracelets, bookmarks, glass cases, sachets, etc.) are made by the parents and students attending The Atfaluna School for Deaf Children (www.atfaluna.net) which provides sign language schooling, hearing aids and services as well as vocational training to the deaf in Gaza.
In closing, Zatoun wishes immediate relief to the people of Gaza and a peaceful future for all.
experience ~ learn ~ share
ZATOUN : fair trade olive oil from PALESTINE
info@zatoun.com; www.zatoun.com