Discussion & Planning Event for Palestine

Wellington Palestine Group presents: Palestine in the New Arab World The 'New Arab Spring' has emerged - Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and beyond - grassroots popular movements overthrowing oppressive state regimes. Yet we are not hearing much from Palestine, despite Palestinians being under perhaps the most oppressive and heavy handed regime - the state of Israel. What's going on in Palestine now? What are the likely ramifications of recent uprisings for Palestinians? What can we do? Come along to this Wellington Palestine Group organised event to hear and discuss more and most importantly figure out how we can all use the skills we have to contribute to raising awareness for Palestine. Discussion and planning event for Palestine Saturday 16th April Top floor, 13 Garrett St (off Cuba St) 2pm to 4pm - light afternoon tea will be provided Contact for the event: Tali Williams tali.williams@gmail.com or 0212044087

ANNA BALTZER VISITS WELLINGTON

Wellington Palestine Group, Vic Students for Palestine &
Aotearoa Jews for Justice present:

Award-winning lecturer ANNA BALTZER
In Wellington for her only presentation:

Is Peace in the Middle East Possible?

CHAIR: Dr. Ramon Das

Senior Lecturer, Victoria University School of History, Philosophy, Political Science & International Relations

Thursday 4 November – 6.15pm
Old Government Buildings, 15 Lambton Quay, GBLT1.

Anna Baltzer, Jewish American award-winning speaker, author, former Fulbright scholar, and granddaughter of Holocaust refugees is coming to town with her acclaimed presentation about the conflict, and what you can do to bring peace and justice to Israel/Palestine.

Raised with traditional views, Baltzer’s perspective changed when she moved to the West Bank to work with nonviolent Palestinians and Israelis. Her courageous voice for coexistence and insistence on honest reporting has led to lectures at universities, churches, synagogues, mosques, and policy institutes around the world.

“Baltzer sheds light on the important political, historical, and emotional complexities of the challenges facing Israel and Palestine.” - Jim Doyle, Governor of Wisconsin

“Even those who are familiar with the grim reality of the occupied territories will quickly be drawn into a world they had barely imagined by these vivid, searingly honest, intensely acute portrayals.” - Noam Chomsky, Professor Emeritus & Middle East Specialist

Baltzer will also be selling and signing copies of her book: Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories.For more information visit http://www.annainthemiddleeast.com/

KIA ORA GAZA - KIWI AID TO GAZA

KIA ORA GAZA

Kiwi Aid to Gaza

U P D A T E - 17 July 2010

OUR MISSION

The mission of Kia Ora Gaza is clear: to send Kiwi aid and volunteers to join the international humanitarian convoys leaving for Gaza on 18th September.

Three land convoys will leave from London, North Africa and Doha. The truck columns will rendezvous at Egypt's Rafah crossing into Gaza on the same day as a large sea flotilla heads for Gaza's shoreline.

These convoys of peace will be staffed by many hundreds of volunteers from around the world. Among these heros of social justice will be our very own Kiwi team.

OUR TARGET

To fund our Kiwi team, Kia Ora Gaza's target is to raise $100,000. We have only ten weeks to do so. Our success depends on the generosity of spirit of humanitarians like yourself.

To support our Kiwi team, go to our website kiaoragaza.net for details about our bank account, PayPal facility and Automatic Payments.

Kia Ora Gaza is a not-for-profit coalition whose entire funds go to the sole benefit of the people of Gaza. All our accounts are subject to audit by a professional auditor (donating his services free) who is independent of our Board of Trustees.

FALLEN HEROS

On 31st March, nine civilian aid workers on the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza were shot to death by Israeli commandos. Our fallen heros made the ultimate sacrifice.

Your financial sacrifices over the next ten weeks will support our Kiwi contribution to the international convoys aiming to breach the prison walls of Gaza and deliver aid to its suffering people.

Your financial sacrifices will honour the ultimate sacrifice of our fallen heros.

CASH & PLEDGES

After being in public existence for less than a fortnight, Kia Ora Gaza has received cash and pledges of more than $20,000.

That is a mighty first step. Yet we need a large flow of donations every week for the next ten weeks to reach our target of $100,000. We can only make it with the financial support of people like yourself.

To donate, go to kiaoragaza.net

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

We invite you to become an Official Sponsor of our Kiwi team to Gaza:

A Golden Fern Sponsor is an individual or family or network or organisation contributing $1,000 or more to Kia Ora Gaza.

A Silver Fern Sponsor is a contributor of at least $500 but less than $1,000.

Talk with your family and your networks about becoming an Official Sponsor.

KIWI VOLUNTEERS

To date, sixteen courageous Kiwis have put up their hands and said: "Yes, I'm ready to become a volunteer with Kia Ora Gaza." They know they could be putting themselves in harm's way to help people on the other side of the world.

If you want to apply to become a Kiwi volunteer, email Kia Ora Gaza co-organiser Grant Morgan: grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz.

The number of volunteers we send will, of course, depend on how much money is donated by humanitarian Kiwis.

MEDIA COVERAGE

The world's media will be all over the international convoys when they leave for Gaza on 18th September.

Even at this early date, media in New Zealand are showing interest in the story of Kiwi volunteers going to Gaza.

Among the media already reporting on Kia Ora Gaza, or lining up to do so, are Radio Live, The Dominion (Wellington), Southland Times, Stuff, Central Leader (Auckland), Capital Times (Wellington), The Aucklander and a broad array of websites.

HOW TO HELP

Go viral: forward this Update to all your friends, and ask them to do likewise.

If you are with the media or have a blog, get the story out.

If you want to apply for our Kiwi team, email grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz.

DONATE GENEROUSLY OVER THE NEXT TEN WEEKS. Go to kiaoragaza.net.

Talk with your family and networks about becoming an Official Sponsor.

Yours in solidarity,


Grant Morgan
Co-organiser of Kia Ora Gaza
021 2544 515
grantmorgan@paradise.net.nz
kiaoragaza.net

PROTEST MARCH: SATURDAY 5 JUNE 12 NOON

PROTEST VIGIL: Israel Murders 16 Aid Workers taking Humanitarian Supplies to the beseiged people of Gaza

EXPEL THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR
PROTEST VIGIL
Wednesday 2 June 12pm
Israeli Embassy
Greenock House (39 The Terrace)
Organised by Wellington Palestine Group
P.O.Box 642, Wellington - wpgnz@clear.net

Press Release – 1 June 2010

New Zealand Must Condemn Israel’s Brutal Crimes

The Wellington Palestine Group has called on the New Zealand government to summon the Israeli ambassador for a reprimand over the Israeli commando raid on the humanitarian flotilla sailing for Gaza.

Spokesperson, Omar Hamed, says it's convenient that Israel has just appointed a new ambassador to Wellington.

"We protested at the time Mr Tzur arrived here, but now he's here, he needs dragging along The Terrace to get a dressing down at parliament for an act of international piracy", Mr Hamed says.

"The flotilla was still on the high seas on a mercy mission to bring vital supplies to the civilian population of besieged Gaza. The Gaza Palestinians are mostly refugees from Israeli occupation and have endured years of suffering under a brutal Israeli blockade. Now, when a shipload of good Samaritans try to help, the Israelis send their commandos out to murder the good Samaritans."

Mr Hamed says the Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, may historically be a friend of Israel. But Mr Hamed says Israel's illegal and brutal attacks on defenseless humanitarians have outraged even Israel's friends.

Mr Hamed says calling in an ambassador for a reprimand is a well established diplomatic action, and cited the New Zealand government calling in the French ambassador every time the French conducted a nuclear bomb test in the Pacific, as an example.

Mr Hamed says Murray McCully should join the rest of the international community and demand that the Israeli ambassador convey a message that Israel must lift its siege on Gaza and cease illegal settlement building elsewhere in occupied Palestinian territory.

For further information contact:
Omar Hamed - 029 455 5789
Serena Moran - 021 115 6685

ANTONY LOEWENSTEIN - 22 MAY - 6pm