Archive for June, 2009
The Outrage Continues…
Posted in politics, theology, visceral gazpaucho on June 30, 2009 by skulz fontaineFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
30 June 2009
For more information contact:
Greta Berlin (English)
tel: +357 99 081 767 /
friends@freegaza.org
Caoimhe Butterly (Arabic/English/Spanish):
tel: +357 99 077 820 / sahara78@hotmail.co.uk
www.FreeGaza.org
[23 miles off the coast of Gaza, 15:30pm] – Today Israeli Occupation Forces attacked and boarded the Free Gaza Movement boat, the SPIRIT OF HUMANITY, abducting 21 human rights workers from 11 countries, including Noble laureate Mairead Maguire and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (see below for a complete list of passengers). The passengers and crew are being forcibly dragged toward Israel.
“This is an outrageous violation of international law against us. Our boat was not in Israeli waters, and we were on a human rights mission to the Gaza Strip,” said Cynthia McKinney, a former U.S. Congresswoman and presidential candidate. “President Obama just told Israel to let in humanitarian and reconstruction supplies, and that’s exactly what we tried to do. We’re asking the international community to demand our release so we can resume our journey.”
According to an International Committee of the Red Cross report released yesterday, the Palestinians living in Gaza are “trapped in despair.” Thousands of Gazans whose homes were destroyed earlier during Israel’s December/January massacre are still without shelter despite pledges of almost $4.5 billion in aid, because Israel refuses to allow cement and other building material into the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that hospitals are struggling to meet the needs of their patients due to Israel’s disruption of medical supplies.
“The aid we were carrying is a symbol of hope for the people of Gaza, hope that the sea route would open for them, and they would be able to transport their own materials to begin to reconstruct the schools, hospitals and thousands of homes destroyed during the onslaught of “Cast Lead”. Our mission is a gesture to the people of Gaza that we stand by them and that they are not alone” said fellow passenger Mairead Maguire, winner of a Noble Peace Prize for her work in Northern Ireland.
Just before being kidnapped by Israel, Huwaida Arraf, Free Gaza Movement chairperson and delegation co-coordinator on this voyage, stated that: “No one could possibly believe that our small boat constitutes any sort of threat to Israel. We carry medical and reconstruction supplies, and children’s toys. Our passengers include a Nobel peace prize laureate and a former U.S. congressperson. Our boat was searched and received a security clearance by Cypriot Port Authorities before we departed, and at no time did we ever approach Israeli waters.”
Arraf continued, “Israel’s deliberate and premeditated attack on our unarmed boat is a clear violation of international law and we demand our immediate and unconditional release.”
###
WHAT YOU CAN DO!
CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Justice
tel: +972 2646 6666 or +972 2646 6340
fax: +972 2646 6357
CONTACT the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs
tel: +972 2530 3111
fax: +972 2530 3367
CONTACT Mark Regev in the Prime Minister’s office at:
tel: +972 5 0620 3264 or +972 2670 5354
mark.regev@it.pmo.gov.il
CONTACT the International Committee of the Red Cross to ask for their assistance in establishing the wellbeing of the kidnapped human rights workers and help in securing their immediate release!
Red Cross Israel
tel: +972 3524 5286
fax: +972 3527 0370
tel_aviv.tel@icrc.org
Red Cross Switzerland:
tel: +41 22 730 3443
fax: +41 22 734 8280
Red Cross USA:
tel: +1 212 599 6021
fax: +1 212 599 6009
###
Kidnapped Passengers from the Spirit of Humanity include:
Khalad Abdelkader, Bahrain
Khalad is an engineer representing the Islamic Charitable Association of Bahrain.
Othman Abufalah, Jordan
Othman is a world-renowned journalist with al-Jazeera TV.
Khaled Al-Shenoo, Bahrain
Khaled is a lecturer with the University of Bahrain.
Mansour Al-Abi, Yemen
Mansour is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera TV.
Fatima Al-Attawi, Bahrain
Fatima is a relief=2 0worker and community activist from Bahrain.
Juhaina Alqaed, Bahrain
Juhaina is a journalist & human rights activist.
Huwaida Arraf, US
Huwaida is the Chair of the Free Gaza Movement and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.
Ishmahil Blagrove, UK
Ishmahil is a Jamaican-born journalist, documentary film maker and founder of the Rice & Peas film production company. His documentaries focus on international struggles for social justice.
Kaltham Ghloom, Bahrain
Kaltham is a community activist.
Derek Graham, Ireland
Derek Graham is an electrician, Free Gaza organizer, and first mate aboard the Spirit of Humanity.
Alex Harrison, UK
Alex is a solidarity worker from Britain. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Denis Healey, UK
Denis is Captain of the Spirit of Humanity. This will be his fifth voyage to Gaza.
Fathi Jaouadi, UK
Fathi is a British journalist, Free Gaza organizer, and delegation co-coordinator for this voyage.
Mairead Maguire, Ireland
Mairead is a Nobel laureate and renowned peace activist.
Lubna Masarwa, Palestine/Israel
Lubna is a Palestinian human rights activist and Free Gaza organizer.
Theresa McDermott, Scotland
Theresa is a solidarity worker from Scotland. She is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Cynthia McKinney, US
Cynthia McKinney is an outspoken advocate for human rights and social justice issues, as well as a=2 0former U.S. congressperson and presidential candidate.
Adnan Mormesh, UK
Adnan is a solidarity worker from Britain. He is traveling to Gaza to do long-term human rights monitoring.
Adam Qvist, Denmark
Adam is a solidarity worker from Denmark. He is traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.
Adam Shapiro, US
Adam is an American documentary film maker and human rights activist.
Kathy Sheetz, US
Kathy is a nurse and film maker, traveling to Gaza to do human rights monitoring.
ten thousand
Posted in politics, theology, visceral gazpaucho on June 30, 2009 by skulz fontaine
ten thousand
twenty thousand
thirty thousand churches
across our land and
at the appointed hour
they each and every one
slammed their doors shut
closed and
your kind can’t come in here
because and simply
jesus can’t love you
see?
because unequivocally
you’re not good enough
as we!
Germane to the Iran “situation.”
Posted in politics, theology, visceral gazpaucho on June 24, 2009 by skulz fontaineFormer Pakistani Army General Mirza Aslam Beig claims the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has distributed 400 million dollars inside Iran to evoke a revolution.
In a phone interview with the Pashto Radio on Monday, General Beig said that there is undisputed intelligence proving the US interference in Iran.
“The documents prove that the CIA spent 400 million dollars inside Iran to prop up a colorful-hollow revolution following the election,” he added.
Pakistan’s former army chief of joint staff went on to say that the US wanted to disturb the situation in Iran and bring
to power a pro-US government.
He congratulated President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his re- election for the second term in office, noting that Pakistan relationship with Iran has improved during his 4-year presidency.
“Ahmadinejad’s re-election is a decisive point in regional policy and if Pakistan and Afghanistan unite with Iran, the US is screwed.”
An extract from of’n the web.
Father’s Day…
Posted in politics, theology, visceral gazpaucho on June 21, 2009 by skulz fontaineI received an email from Michelle Obama. No, really. Stop laughing I’m NOT making this up. The First Lady of the United States of America sent me an email. Holy moly!
The First Lady wishes me, ME, a Happy Father’s Day. Wow and go figure. Hell, I figured the only White House list I’d be on would one by the Secret Service. You know, the SS. I’m fairly certain that I’m on at least a half dozen “watch lists” used by our ever so ‘democratic’ government and that’s more than a little creepy. I’m a dissident wise-ass, not a terrorist. However, I’m thinking that the ass-wipe that heads up the Catholic League would beg to differ. What a clown. The Catholic League ass-wipe.
You know, I am a father. Not a good one. Not even marginally so. Failed that drill comprehensively. Drugs see. Cocaine and heroin. Mercy, that was a long time ago. I still to this day carry a mountain of regret. Addiction will do that. However, I’m clean now and that’s to be sixteen years and five months and eighteen days today. Father’s Day. Wow and go figure.
Anyway, I got an email from Michelle Obama and I don’t care if that was some sort of White House mistake or just a ‘bulk mailing’ or whatever. I got an email from the First Lady. Wow and go figure. Might not seem like any sort of big deal but, it’s a damn big deal for me.
I am ACTUALLY on a mailing list for Michelle Obama. DAMN and wow and go figure!!
Oh crap, you know what that means? I’ll be getting those irritating solicitation emails from the White House. You know how like when you get on some damn email list and the sender sends you an annoying number of emails asking for money? Yeah, those email lists. Like from Moveon.org or Amnesty International or whatever. Hell, I haven’t any money and told the bozos exactly that.
But on this Father’s Day, I got an email from Michelle Obama. Damn, go figure.
Happy Father’s Day to me! Yup!!
convergence
Posted in politics, theology, visceral gazpaucho on June 20, 2009 by skulz fontainea convergence of dreams for
freedom
yeah dreams
precious sweet
dreams interrupted by
the convergence of
iron boots
on necks and
backs and
heads broken and
leaking the stuff
of dreams
all over the killing field
for dreams of
freedom to be
free of the convergence
of iron boots and
batons and
goons that
stomp large on
the dreams of
precious sweet dreams
of life without
repression
