strathclyde News From the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Palestine

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gabrielle verdier

Lucy Brown 28 fvrier 2010 18:07

: "[email protected]"

Lots coming up in Glasgow this month...________________________________________From: Tony Grahame [[email protected]]Sent: 28 February 2010 17:04Subject: News from the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Palestine

Next Meeting - 14th April. 5.30pm in the Scottish Parliament

Tony Grahame, secretary

________________________________OTHER NEWS________________________________

1. Behind the Wall: Life, Love, and Struggle in PalestineRich Wiles, respected photographer resident in Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem will speak on his new book ofphotographs and stories of daily life in Palestine. Some of his photographs will be exhibited at each venue from6.30pm on the day, and for an extended period at a later date to be confirmed.

Event is part of Israeli Apartheid Week.

Edinburgh- 1 March, 7.30pm, Lecture Theatre 2, Appleton Tower

*note that this is a change of venue from the previously advertised Roxy Art HouseView exhibition from 6.30pm

Dundee - 2 March, 6.30pm, Dundee University, Tower Building, Room T9, DD1 4HN (Map: http://tinyurl.com/DundeeUniTowerBuilding)Organised by the following DUSA societies: Action Palestine; Islamic Society; Stop The War;Supported by: Friends of Al-Aqsa, Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Tayside for Justice in Palestine

Glasgow- 3 March, 7.30pm, STUC, 333 Woodlands Road, G3 6NG(Map: http://tinyurl.com/GlasgowSTUC)View exhibition from 6.30pm

2. International Womens Day: Resistance against WarHaifa Zangana, Hedy Epstein & Palestinian speaker to be announced

Edinburgh - 8 March, 7.30pm, St Columba's by the CastleGlasgow - 9 March, 7.30pm, Boyd Orr Building, Glasgow University

Hedy Epstein also speaking at:Dundee - 10 March, University of Dundee, Dalhousie Lecture Theatre 1 (time to be confirmed)

Haifa Zangana, an Iraqi-Kurdish novelist, artist and activist was imprisoned by the Baath regime for her politicalopposition. She later worked for the PLO before coming to live in the UK in the 1970s. Haifa remains activelyopposed to the occupation of Iraq. She is author of 'Women on a Journey: Between Baghdad and London' and

'City of Widows: An Iraqi Womans Account of War and Resistance'.

Hedy Epstein was born in Germany in 1924. Hedy survived the Nazi Holocaust having escaped in 1939 on achildren's transport. Her parents and family members were murdered in the Nazi death camps. Hedy later

ail - [actionpalestine-strathclyde] FW: News from the Scottish Parl... https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=edcbd23413&view=pt&search...

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worked at the Nuremberg Medical Trial which tried the doctors accused of performing medical experiments onconcentration camp inmates. She soon became involved in civil, human rights and social justice issues, whichincluded issues of fair housing, abortion rights, and antiwar activities. In December 2009 Hedy joined the GazaFreedom March and took part in a hunger strike in protest of Egypts complicity in the siege and blockade ofGaza.

3. Israeli apartheid: the Case for BDS

Speakers: Jeff Halper, Director, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, and Dr Ghada Karmi, Palestinianacademic, British Committee for Universities for Palestine (Bricup)

March 17th:Student meeting - 1:00pm - Glasgow University, Boyd Orr Building, Room 507 (Lecture Theatre C)Public Meeting - 7:30pm - Glasgow University, Boyd Orr Building, Room 611 (Lecture Theatre E)

March 18thStudent meeting - 1:00pm - University of Edinburgh, Lecture Theatre 270, Old College, South Bridge (hosted byStudents for Justice for Palestine)Public Meeting - 7:30pm, Augustine Church, George IV Bridge

4. Edinburgh University Right to Education Week - 22nd to 26th FebruaryPalestinian students and staff still face day to day obstacles and struggles to reach their universities andcontinue their education. Our Students' Association is twinned with Birzeit University's Student Council. R2E is aweek of events in support of the fundamental right to education of the Palestinians and of every studentworldwide whose access to education is denied.

Tuesday 23rd February: "The story of Israel and Palestine: back to basics" A workshop with Dr. AnthonyGorman. 2pm - 3.30pm. Chrystal Macmillan Building, seminar room 4. free

Wednesday 24th February: Video-link with students at the University of Birzeit, Palestine. 2pm. Appleton Tower2.11. free

"Night of Resistance - an evening of world music for Palestine" Middle Eastern, Latin and African soundscourtesy of the NO BORDERS dj collective and special dance performances from our Edinburgh societies, all ina bid to raise funds to help Palestinians in their struggle for higher education. 10pm - 01.30am, Teviot Debatinghall, Bristo Square. 4 students, 5 non-students

Thursday 25th February: International Day of action to re-open Shuhada street. Come occupy Guthrie street(just off Chambers street). On this day, activists and organizations from around the world will join together insolidarity with the Palestinian residents of Hebron. Bring music, eat food and party for Justice in Palestine! 12 -2pm.

Film night! Followed by free food and discussion. Venue TBA (see website). free"A Caged Bird's Song" - stories of Palestinian students and teachers in their struggle to continue education

"To shoot an Elephant" - an eye witness account from The Gaza Strip. December 27th, 2008, Operation CastLead.

All week -"Behind the Wall" - exhibition of photos by Rich Wiles, depicting the plight of Palestinians living in andaround the refugee camps of the occupied West Bank. 4.30pm til midnight, The Roxy Arthouse, 2 RoxburghPlace and

Monday 1st March - Rich Wiles will be speaking at the Roxy about his new book. Time 7.30pm (arrive 6.30pmfor viewing before the talk) - see details above

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=478263095143http://sjp.eusa.ed.ac.uk/

For other Palestine solidarity events taking place in February/March please see: http://www.scottishpalestinianforum.org.uk/SPF/Events_Diary.html


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________________________________

From: Palestinian General Delegation

Sub: Lift Visa Ban On Palestinian Farmers

3 PALESTINIAN FARMERS DENIED VISAS BY THE UK GOVERNMENT FOR FAIRTRADE FORTNIGHT

These farmers, whose olive oil is the only one in the world to carry the Fairtrade mark, have been invited by aUK social enterprise, Zaytoun, and were to be accompanied by a leading British NGO.

The shocking refusal to allow those producers from newly certified Fairtrade Cooperatives into the UK to attendevents across England, Wales and Scotland, comes exactly one year after this:

Gordon Brown said he was "delighted" by the launch, marking the start of Fairtrade Fortnight, the annualcampaign urging people to buy goods with the internationally recognised mark designed to ensure producersfrom poorer countries get a fair price and long-term security.

Brown said: "Olive oil production provides an essential part of the West Bank economy. In buying this oil, Britishshoppers wil be helping the farmers of Palestine to make a living."

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO TELL THE FCO TO ALLOW THESE FARMERS TO ATTEND FAIRTRADEFORTNIGHT.

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fairtradefarmersfrompalestine/

These farmers, whose olive oil is the ONLY fairtrade certified olive oil in the world, should have been here with

us today celebrating the launch of Fairtrade Fortnight.

But it isn't too late! We still havel 2 weeks to go, and thousands of supporters around the country are expectingthem for talks and events. So please help us overturn this decision by the UK government by:

joining our group and inviting others:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=info&ref=ts&gid=340606424461

signing this petition and passing it on to your networks:http://www.facebook.com/l/6e182;www.ipetitions.com/petition/fairtradefarmersfrompalestine/

YOUR VOICE COUNTS.

________________________________Dear Tony,

I'm writing to you as the chair of the Scottish Palestinian Forum. We are organising two events in March that wethink members of the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on Palestine will also be interested in, and we'dbe grateful if you could help us with publicising the details on your mailing list/network. The workshop on 6.March should be especially useful to people wanting to lobby their politicians and others more effectively,particularly in the run up to the general election; we have secured the involvement of party candidates to help runthe workshop. The website for these events is at: http://www.scottishpalestinianforum.org.uk/SPF/Events_Diary.html

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Date: Tuesday 2nd March


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Event: Palestinian Monologues (sponsored by SPF as part of the Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace-MESP festival)

Venue: St. Johns Church, Princes Street EH2 4BJ

Time: 7.30 pm

Scripted for the IceandFire Theatre Company and performed by the outreach group of the Actors for Human

Rights, this is based on the real stories of Palestinian, Israeli and Internationals caught up in the Israeli/Palestineconflict at a time of life-changing experience leading them to new understandings and direction. It portrays thepressures and pains of their situation as well as giving glimmers of hope for a different future. Download the flierhere: http://www.scottishpalestinianforum.org.uk/SPF/Events_Diary_files/Palestinian%20Monologues%20A4%20flyer.pdf

Tickets: 5 available at the door from 7 pm or by e-mailing the SPF Secretary at [email protected].

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Date: Saturday 6th March

Event: SPF Election Year 2010 Lobbying Workshop Day

Venue: St. Georges West Church, Shandwick Place, EDINBURGH

Time: 9.30 am - 3.30 pm

This workshop will provide practical activities and experience in how to raise issues effectively with your MPsaround the general theme of Land -- the basis of most injustices occurring in Israel and Palestine. With JohnBradley and Ewan Aitken. Cost 10 (includes a light lunch). ALL WELCOME. Download the flier here:http://www.scott ishpalestinianforum.org.uk/SPF/Events_Diary_files/SPF%20%20lobbying%20w%27shop%20flier.doc

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We look forward to seeing you at these events!

All good wishes,

Michael MartenScottish Palestinian Forum - Chair________________________________BBC NewsEU: Settlement goods not Israeli

The European Court of Justice has ruled that Israeli goods made in Jewish settlements in the occupied WestBank cannot be considered Israeli.

This means goods made by Israelis or Jews in the West Bank cannot benefit from a trade deal giving Israelpreferential access to EU markets.

EU import duties on Israeli goods from the settlements may now be imposed, making them less competitive.

Jewish settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law.

The EU has agreements with both Israel and the Palestinians that end customs duties.

Israeli companies based around settlements manufacture a host of products including confectionery, wine,cosmetics and computer equipment.

Some of the companies employ Palestinian workers, who are restricted from working in Israel.


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Palestinians have long argued that Israeli goods made in settlements should not receive trade privileges, assettlements are not part of Israel.

Pro-Palestinian campaigners have also regularly protested that European supermarkets stock goods with Israelilabels on farm products from the West Bank.

German dispute

The ruling on Thursday by the EU court in Luxembourg stems from a case brought by the German drinkscompany Brita.

It imports products from an Israeli company based in Mishor Adumin in the West Bank and was refusedpreferential trade treatment by the German customs authorities.

On appeal, a German court asked the European Court of Justice for its decision.

European Court of Justice rulings are binding on member states. The decision reflects what has been thegeneral policy of the EU on the issue.

In December the UK government said that food labels would distinguish between goods from Palestinians in theoccupied territories and produce from Israeli settlements.

Israel has yet to formally comment on the court ruling.

"The European Union takes the view that products obtained in locations which have been placed under Israeliadministration since 1967 do not qualify for the preferential treatment provided for under [the EC-IsraelAgreement]," the judges said.

"As it is, despite a specific request from the German authorities, the Israeli authorities did not reply to thequestion whether the products had been manufactured in Israeli-occupied settlements in Palestinian territory.

"The Court notes in this respect that, under the EC-Israel Agreement, the Israeli authorities are obliged toprovide sufficient information to enable the real origin of products to be determined."

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strathclyde News From the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Palestine