Sunday, February 19, 2012

February update

Thanks to those who came to attend the weekly protest at Science Oxford
Live this week and last. We hopefully have some momentum, and although the
Oxford Times/Mail are so far studiously ignoring us, we did have an
article and photo in the Oxford Journal.
http://www.oxfordjournal.co.uk/news/events/5894

Please continue to support this action!
The protests have been a really good way of informing people about the
occupation and raising awareness about the situation in Palestine as
well as telling them about Veolia. Science Oxford Live is
strategically situated by the traffic lights where St Clements meets
Headington Rd and Morrell Avenue, so as well as people going to the
exhibition and people passing by we get a lot of interest from people
on buses or in cars (with many people in cars winding down windows -
or opening doors! to get leaflets)

What you can do

1. Attend the weekly protests while the exhibition continues.(until
and including March 10th)
Every Saturday, 2-4pm Science Oxford Live, 1-5 London Place, St Clements
videos of the action on Saturday January 28th
http://youtu.be/iGT7QFWzrYY
http://youtu.be/hfQR-zTA3ck

2. Give feedback to Science Oxford. info@scienceoxford.com
They have put an item on their website about Oxford PSC and Veolia and
are asking for feedback, so PLEASE GIVE IT.
web link to their statement.
http://www.scienceoxfordlive.com/whats-on/veolia-the-natural-history-museum-oxford-palestine-solidarity-campaign-and-science-oxford

3. Write to the Oxford Times who are still totally avoiding any
mention of this issue in their newspaper. If lots of us write (and I
send a slightly different letter each week) they are less likely to go
on trying to avoid the issue. letters@oxfordtimes.co.uk

4. And finally, don't forget to give feedback to the Natural History
Museum. Click on the link below, and go to Feedback and Complaints,
and click on the online visitor feedback form
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/contact-enquiries/index.html

Thanks! And hope to see you outside Science Oxford Live, Saturdays 2-4pm

Take action now and ask your MP to sign this cross party EDM on Proposed EU legislation on financing of illegal activity in the West Bank at the earliest opportunity.This EDM is particularly important as it links up with our ongoing, and so far successful, campaign against Veolia’s involvement in the West Bank and the illegal Israeli settlements, as well as all other companies complicit in the occupation.
http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2717

Khader Adnan - Hunger Strike update

Khader Adnan, a Palestinian baker from Jenin aged 33 has been held in
administrative detention in Israel since December 17th. To protest at
his treatment and at being held without charge or trial (The Israeli
Authorities will give neither Khader or his lawyer any information as
to why he has been imprisoned), he started a hunger strike the
following day.
Khader is now in the 64th day of his hunger strike. Israeli
Physicians for Human Rights who were allowed to examine him on
February 15th report that he is close to death.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION TO TRY TO SAVE KHADER ADNAN'S LIFE
Please sign the petition here (it will take 2 minutes)
http://signon.org/sign/khader-adnans-life-at-1?source=c.fwd&r_by=2447156

Please also write to your MP

For more information see the websites below
http://www.phr.org.il (Physicians for Human Rights Israel)
http://www.addameer.org (Addameer, the Palestinian Prisoners Rights organistion)
www.samidoun.ca (there has been a problem using this website, but if
you are able to access it there is a letter to send to the Israeli
Authorities)

Local university palsoc members were out in Cornmarket to highlight the situation.
http://www.oxfordtimes.co.uk/news/9539356.Students_highlight_prisoner_s_plight/
http://972mag.com/randa-adnan-wife-of-hunger-striker-discusses-her-husbands-struggle/35756/



Upcoming Events: Local


Tuesday February 21st 6:0 clock. Oxford Town Hall, Oxford Ramallah friendship Association This meeting will take place earlier so as not to clash with the PSC meeting on Jerusalem. There is much to plan. All welcome.
Tuesday February 21st Oxford Town Hall, 7:30 Meeting on Jerusalem with a panel of speakers who are from Palestine or have recently returned from Jerusalem.
Building Peace and Justice in Jerusalem


The future of Jerusalem is vital for the future of a state of
Palestine. Jerusalem is at the heart of Palestinian economic,
religious and social life for Muslims and Christians as well as Jews.
Israeli Settlement development, house demolitions and the eviction of
many Palestinian Jerusalem residents threaten the possibility of a
viable and just peace.
Speakers Naime Baidoun, Robin Watson, Kate Targett
.



Cancelled !Thursday 1st March Oxford Town Hall. Off Record: the West's input in Israel and Palestine.
This event has now been cancelled in favour of a much bigger one later in the year.

From Nikki:
I am writing to let you know about a trip to Palestine that is taking place this Summer.

Come to our meeting to find out more on: Saturday 3rd March at 1.30pm at Brookes University - Room G301, Gibbs Building, Gypsy Lane Campus. Please ask at main reception for room.

I have attached information about the trip but a brief outline is as follows:
• The visit continues and builds on the friendship and solidarity links that have been built since 2003. We have organised and funded visits to Oxford by young people from Al Amari Refugee Camp in Ramallah and visits (self funded) to Ramallah. Good friendships were made last Summer in Oxford and we have been invited to visit.
• This is a younger persons visit 20+ - aimed at studentish age range but, of course, you don't need to be a studying. (If you would like to go with a group but are no longer a 'younger person' please let me know as other options for an olive picking trip later this year may be available.)
• Dates: June 15th Friday to Fri 29th June (to be confirmed).
• The visitors will meet with young people from the camp and make a short film together (this continues the work of an ongoing video project which is supported by ORFA) provide some English conversation, learn to dance Dabka, learn a little Arabic, visit oganisations and learn about the situation, visit villages, Bethlehem, Nablus, East Jerusalem, Jericho. Gain a broader understanding of the impacts of the occupation on everyday life for Palestinians.
• The visit will be educational, informative, useful, friendly and, as well learning about the difficulties, you will have the opportunity to build friendships and enjoy a really warm welcome. Many of the visits/trips will involve travelling with young Ramallans.
• Sara Chaudhry is key to organising this, with ORFA support, Sara's details are on the attached leaflet and you are welcome to e mail Sara (sara.sara92@hotmail.com) or this address to find out more/discuss the project.
Please forward this e mail to any younger person that you think might be interested in finding out more about the trip.

Warm wishes
Nikki Marriott
for Oxford Ramallah Friendship Association
www.oxford-ramallah.org Sara_jan_2012.doc, 2012_Palestine_trip_poster.JPG


Every Saturday 11.30-1.30pm: OXFORD PSC STALL in Cornmarket by St Michael at Northgate church:
Saturday street stall: The OPSC Saturday street stall on Cornmarket Street is one of the main ways we use for raising the issue of Palestine with the public at large. It is an important activity for offering information leaflets to the public, inviting them to join PSC or leave their email for Oxford PSC updates. Generally we are there 11:30 to 13:30. Always a minimum of two people on shift. Please consider volunteering for a shift: it’s an opportunity to meet other PSC members, those wanting information and occasionally those wishing to challenge our views, even volunteering for one shift a year would help. Please email ali at OPSCstall@gmail.com if you're able to help.
PS ... If you can only do an hour or so, then that’s good too, email us for information and turn up on the day. Thank you to all who volunteered for vacant slots
Any help is much appreciated. Cheers, Ali

Labels:

Thursday, February 09, 2012

Every Saturday 2-4, Science Live

Thanks to those who braved freezing temperatures (to say nothing of
the wind chill factor) to attend the weekly protest at Science Oxford
Live last Saturday.. We hopefully have some momentum, and although the
Oxford Times/Mail are so far studiously ignoring us, we did have an
article and photo in the Oxford Journal.
http://www.oxfordjournal.co.uk/news/events/5894

Please continue to support this action!
What you can do

1. Attend the weekly protests while the exhibition continues.(until
and including March 10th)
Every Saturday, 2-4pm Science Oxford Live, 1-5 London Place, St Clements
videos of the action on Saturday January 28th
http://youtu.be/iGT7QFWzrYY
http://youtu.be/hfQR-zTA3ck


2. Give feedback to Science Oxford. info@scienceoxford.com
They have put an item on their website that is somewhat evasive, and
only gives partial information about Veolia. However, they are also
asking for feedback on this issue, so please give it! The argument
they make about having no control over who the Natural History museum
chooses as a sponsor just doesn't hold water. You can always say no,
and disassociate yourself. ( Otherwise it's in line with the "just
following orders" argument). They also need to be reminded that as
well as being a political and human rights issue, it is also an
environmental issue - Landfill sites on Palestinian land are used to
dump waste from Israel and Israeli Settlements, and the actions of
Veolia in supporting settlement development has a major impact on the
lives of the Palestinians as well as their rights.
web link to their statement.
http://www.scienceoxfordlive.com/whats-on/veolia-the-natural-history-museum-oxford-palestine-solidarity-campaign-and-science-oxford

3. Write to the Oxford Times who are still totally avoiding any
mention of this issue in their newspaper. letters@oxfordtimes.co.uk

Thanks! And hope to see you outside Science Oxford Live, Saturdays 2-4pm