There’s still no guarantee that the Egyptian government will let us in to Gaza anytime soon so keep their Embassy email addresses at the ready!

We’ve spent the last few days in a Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian city of Latakia where the hospitality from all the families has been unbelievable. It’s crazy that as Europeans we can go relatively freely to their homeland but they have absolutely no right to do so.

Hopefully next time we update we’ll be in Gaza!

Loading the vehicles on to the ship at Latakia port in Syria.

One day after Christmas and one day before the anniversary of the Israeli assault on Gaza which left over 1,400 people dead we are stranded in the Jordanian port town of Aqaba along with over 500 other people trying to get to Gaza and over 200 vehicles loaded with aid for the people there.  We were informed late on Christmas Eve that the Egyptian authorities would not be letting us enter Egypt and have now come up with three unacceptable conditions:

1. We hand over the vehicles and aid to UNRWA
2. We must try and find a way to get to the Egyptian port of El Arish on the Mediterranean coast rather than Nuweiba which is 4 hours from us here in Aqaba.
3. We coordinate with Israel our crossing in to Gaza.

• The ambulance, aid and money donated is for the people of Gaza, we intend to deliver it to them. To say we must hand it over to UNRWA proves that despite many protestations to the contrary, Gaza is under siege.  The people of Gaza deserve more than to be drip-fed their water, fuel, electricity and medical supplies. They have a right to freedom of movement, dignity and life.

• Even if all the convoy members somehow manage to get the money together to pay for the ships needed to bring us through the Suez canal to El Arish adding over 450 nautical miles to our journey and using funds that would otherwise be given to people and organisations in Gaza that need it badly there is no guarantee that no last minute unforeseen circumstances would see the Egyptians changing their minds and refusing us entry again.

• To say that we must coordinate with Israel is finally an open admission that it is Israel that controls the borders of Gaza. We will not collaborate with nor ask permission from the occupying power to enter Gaza.

Please contact the Egyptian Embassy, politicians and media as shown below. If you can do only one then contact the Egyptian embassy but it’s easy to contact a lot of politicians at the same time using the website below and media contact is also important especially as tomorrow (the 27th of December) marks the anniversary of the 22 day assault on Gaza – if you don’t think you have the time to contact them or don’t think it will make any difference just remember how you felt when you saw what was happening in Gaza one year ago. Every email you send helps and works!

• We are asking you to contact the Egyptian Embassy by email and phone (every day if you can) asking them to assist fully the delivery of aid to Gaza. Don’t let them tell you that the convoy is welcome under their conditions, it is a delaying tactic employed as they know convoy members will have to return home eventually. Below is a draft email, please personalise it, send it on, respond to any replies then contact them again!

Dear Sir / Madam,

I would like to express my hope that you will help the Irish and other citizens who have driven ambulances and other vehicles filled with medical supplies to enter your country and complete the journey to Gaza. The Viva Palestina Aid Convoy has enjoyed the support of all the other countries on their long journey across Europe and the Middle East. The convoy’s objective is to deliver medical items, such as ambulances, bandages and wheelchairs to your brothers and sisters in Gaza. Please let this convoy cross the border in a timely fashion. Please do not redirect or hinder the convoy to make this long journey even more difficult for the hundreds of volunteers on a journey of aid and goodwill.

Regards

Egyptian Embassy in Dublin: +353-1-6606718 / +353-1-6606566 / consular@embegyptireland.ie

Egyptian Embassy in London: 0044-20-7499-3304 / eg.emb_london@mfa.gov.eg / consulate.london@mfa.gov.eg

• That you contact your local politicians asking them to do everything in their power to pressure the Egyptians to help us. The website http://contact.ie allows you to easily email, TDs, Senators, MEPs and the press officers of the main political parties. Be sure and put your home address in the body of your message as many politicians delete emails which contain no address.

• That you contact as many media outlets as you can letting them know about the situation of the convoy and asking for more information. At the moment there are nine Irish people travelling on the convoy and there has been little, if any media awareness. We spent our Christmas day in a car park in Aqaba, which is nothing compared to the dire situation of the Gazans and are now sitting of millions of Euro worth of aid. Please contact us with the contact details of more media outlets and we will add them here. We know there’s a lot of contacts here but you can copy and paste the email addresses and put them in the “To:” part of the email so as to email them all at once.

RTE: (edit – RTE has started to pick up the story: http://bit.ly/rtegypt, please keep emailing them to make sure it gets more attention)

newsdesk@rte.ie

Morning Ireland: morningireland@rte.ie

News At One: newsatone@rte.ie

Drivetime: drivetime@rte.ie

World Report: worldreport@rte.ie

This Week: thisweek@rte.ie

http://www.rte.ie/news/contacts.html

Prime Time: primetime@rte.ie

The Frontline: thefrontline@rte.ie

Nuacht: nuacht@rte.ie

Newstalk:

info@newstalk.ie,

garrett@newstalk.ie (Station Editor – Garrett Harte),

johnkeogh@newstalk.ie (News Director – John Keogh)

by phone: 1890 453106

by text: 53106 – (Cost 30c)

TG4:

01 476 3030

michael.lally@tg4.ie

nuacht@tg4.ie

Today FM

01 8049064

http://www.todayfm.com/News/Contact-the-Newsroom.aspx

Finally, click on the share button below to post this to your facebook profile etc. amd let as many people you can know about it!

FREE GAZA MOVEMENT, IRISH BOAT SAILS TO GAZA: Turning Military vessels into Peace Boats. In January 2010 the Free Gaza Movement will launch its 9th vessel to break the blockade of Gaza. This voyage is particularly significant as its passengers will include Irish Musicians, Politicians and Human Rights Activists who will bear witness to the war crimes committed and support the people of Gaza by transporting humanitarian aid and medical supplies. Your financial support would be welcome. Donate online at www.freegaza.org.

THE INTERNATIONAL GAZA FREEDOM MARCH: On the 1st of January 2010 the people of Gaza, Human Rights Activists and concerned citizens of the world will converge and break the blockade by crossing the border on foot as an act of defiance against the Israeli Occupying Force and to show solidarity with the Palestinian people of Gaza. This action requires large numbers to be effective and to ensure the safety of the marchers. You are welcome to join the march or alternatively participate through funding a Cork activist to break the blockade. For further info contact info@corktogaza.com.

• Wednesday 18th November – Ringo: Music Bingo in Spalpín Fánac

Everyone’s favourite music intro based comedy game

A festival favourite at Greenman and End Of The Road, Ringo Music Bingo is a spot the music intro game with a twist.

Basically it’s like normal bingo except instead of calling numbers i play the Intros on my iPod and instead of you marking off numbers on yer sheets you mark of the names of the bands. And instead of a bingo caller you have a unique blend of clues varying from music trivia to great puns (there’s no such thing as bad pun) and music jokes. Everyone gets their own sheet and gets to play along. it’s brilliant fun and unlike a table quiz, there’s no way to be good or bad at it. Instant craic guaranteed

Note it starts at 9.00pm. with three games each lasting about 30 mins.

Please tell yer buddies, housemates and family. even your exes if you still have feelings for them and have been looking for a reason to meet up with them again.

€2 for a Ringo card. Buy as many as you like!
Click here for more info.

Wednesday 14th October – MC Lowkey & Psymonok in Spalpín Fánac Lowkey is a Poet, Playwright, Political Activist and award winning Hip Hop Artist who has received airplay on numerous major radio stations including BBC Radio 1, Capital FM, Kiss FM, Choice FM and BBC 1Xtra and toured internationally performing to crowds everywhere from Glastonbury and Trafalgar Square to Germany and Amsterdam. Doors at 8.30 €8/€6 Click here for more info.

Lowkey & Psymonok

http://vpcork.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/new-upcoming-events/ http://vpcork.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/new-upcoming-events/#comments Fri, 11 Sep 2009 16:18:24 +0000 Viva Palestina Cork http://corktogaza.com/?p=90 ]]> Run or Walk the Cork City Women’s Mini Marathon for Viva Palestina Cork on Sunday 27th September 2009. If you would like to take part and raise funds for Viva Palestina Cork please contact us at info@corktogaza.com and we will sent you a sponsorship card and t-shirt. You will also need to register for the mini-marathon. Online registration is available at www.corkminimarathon.com

There will also be an electronic music gig at the month with details to come in the next few days, the venue is the Infirmary (part of the Mardyke complex) and a massive Halloween fancy dress in the Mardyke. Follow us on twitter, join or facebook group or check back to keep updated.

]]> http://vpcork.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/new-upcoming-events/feed/ 0 Viva Palestina Cork

http://vpcork.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/d-day-5-december/ http://vpcork.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/d-day-5-december/#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:31:16 +0000 Viva Palestina Cork http://corktogaza.com/?p=79 ]]> Viva Palestina Cork will now be leaving from London with the rest of the UK convoy on the 5th of December to arrive in Gaza on the 27th of December – the anniversary of the beginning of the war which cost 1,417 Palestinian lives. This will also allow time for Viva Palestina to coordinate with other groups to ensure a much bigger group to arrive at the Gaza border. More information is also available on the Viva Palestina UK website.

]]> http://vpcork.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/d-day-5-december/feed/ 0 Viva Palestina Cork