PROTEST IN FRONT OF GREEK CONSULATE Monday July 4/11 at 12 noon

CALL TO ACTION IN VANCOUVER

PROTEST IN FRONT OF GREEK CONSULATE

We will be delivering letter to the consul and petition signatures collected from rally yesterday

WHEN: Monday 4 July 2011 – 12 noon
WHERE: Greek Consulate
688 W Hastings (near Granville)
Vancouver, BC V6B 1P1
Greek Consulate: (604) 681-1381

The blockade of the Freedom Flotilla II continues

We continue our resolve to break the blockade of the flotilla and Gaza non-violently!

Update

The “Tahrir” is still blocked by Greek authorities from leaving port although all papers are in order. You can see the action on the ground here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=375t8FQFxhE

The delegates from the U.S. boat have now started an open-ended fast at U.S. Embassy in Athens.

A march in support of the flotilla has been organized by Greek activists who have been protesting the government’s austerity measures in Syntagma Square. The march will include a demand on the Greek government to let all of the boats in the Freedom Flotilla 2 sail to Gaza and to free the captain of the U.S. ship, who has been held in jail.

This all suggests that the flotilla continues under a blockade and that we must continue and strengthen our actions.

Our message to the Greek government

- The Greek government needs to know that world public opinion does not want them to succumb to Israel’s coercion. Tell the Greek government they must let the Tahrir go on our mission to break the illegal blockade of Gaza. They have a responsibility to allow this, in both domestic and international law.

· We will work to end the blockade no matter where it is enforced – be it in Gaza, in International waters or in Greece.

· The “Tahrir” and the whole of the Freedom Flotilla 2 is already making a difference in weakening the Blockade. We shall continue to break the blockade totally.

· We have broadened support for the Flotilla globally. Greek civil society, even with all the challenges they are facing have committed to supporting the Flotilla and holding the Greek government accountable for their actions.

· We shall continue educating and bringing people to action and knowledge about the illegal actions of Israel. We expect the Greek government to do the same.

· We shall continue bringing loudly to the world the truth of the experience and realities of the people of Gaza and Palestine. We expect the Greek government to do the same.

· We demand that the Greek Government let all our boats sail to Gaza.

· We will demand that the Canadian government and all other governments stand on the side of human rights and international law by putting pressure on the Greek government.

· We expect the Greek authorities to “STAY HUMAN”, as the name of our flotilla calls for.

Further contact info for the Greek Embassy (you can phone in):
Greek Embassy, OTTAWA http://www.greekembassy.ca
76- 80 Maclaren Street
Ottawa, ON
Canada K2P OK6
Tel: (613) 238-6271(3)
Fax: (613) 238-5676
Press Office: (613) 232-6796
Email: embassy@.greekembassy.ca

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*Please circulate widely*

Peace Picnic to Support the Canadian Boat to Gaza

Wednesday July 6, 11:30am – 1:30pm

As you may well know the people of Gaza are currently under siege by an Israeli blockade which makes their daily survival very difficult. A number of courageous people from around the world- as part of the Freedom Flotilla II stay human campaign- have put themselves on the line in an attempt to break this blockade and deliver much needed supplies to Gaza.

Their mission is both humanitarian and political. The Israeli blockade amounts to a collective punishment of Gaza’s 1.5 million population. The Canadian Boat to Gaza is currently in Greece and is being held up by Greek authorities. The US boat to Gaza is also being held up and the Captain has been arrested for attempting to set sail.

The crews of the Freedom Flotilla II campaign are committed to non-violently confront the blockade and to continue to work to see its end! In support of these brave people and on behalf of all the men, women and children of Gaza let us gather and show our support for their courage.

PEACE PICNIC! Bring some food to share! Bring an instument to play! Or just come and show your support! (If you make your own signs please keep the focus on Support for the Canadian boat to Gaza, free Gaza or Support for the Freedom Flotilla II)

When: Wednesday July 6th at 11:30am – 1:30pm

Where: Seaforth Peace Flame Park (South end of the Burrard Street Bridge)

Not only is the Israeli blockade cruel it is also illegal. For more info visit www.tahrir.ca

URGENT: Vancouver RALLY Sat 2PM – Gaza Flotilla Boats stopped in Greece

URGENT: Call to a RALLY in Vancouver
Authorities in Greece have stopped flotilla boats from sailing
Greek and Canadian governments complicit in Gaza blockade
Stop War: stopwar-l@lists.resist.ca

You might have already heard the news coming from Greece that the Tahrir together with the US ship have been prevented from leaving the Greek port and that one Canadian has been threatened with being arrested. You can see our press release below.

Rallies are being organized across Canada to protest against the actions of the Greek government that is obviously giving in to Israel’s pressure. Of course the Canadian government is complicit by not guaranteeing the safety of Canadians.

The date for the rally:
Saturday July 2
2 pm
In front of the CBC at Georgia and Hamilton

Other suggested actions include:

Write to our MPs. The Canadian Government needs to know that they are complicit in the coercion. And that they have a responsibility by international convention, to protect the Canadians on the Flotilla. We have a letter template for you to use to send to MPs reminding them that the Canadian government has obligations under the Geneva Convention.

Write to Greek officials. Greek government officials are to be asked to clarify whether a political decision has been made by the Greek government in response to Israeli and other governments’ pressure. We will ask that they not be complicit in the massive human rights violations by Israel against the people of Gaza. We will ask them to defend human rights and not fall to the pressure of Israel and other governments – who are playing with the lives and livelihoods of Greeks and Palestinians.

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For Immediate Release
July 1, 2011
The blockade of Gaza reaches the shores of Greece!As it attempts to sail, the Canadian Boat to Gaza, the Tahrir, blockaded in Greece

Greek coast guard are now on board the Tahrir attempting to arrest Sandra Rush, Jewish Canadian member of the Canada boat to Gaza Steering Committee, who is refusing to surrender boat’s registration papers.

Efforts to stop Freedom Flotilla 2 – Stay Human from sailing have included diplomatic pressure and manipulation, economic blackmail, bureaucratic obstacles, baseless and slanderous allegations against the flotilla and the delegates, and sabotage of at least two vessels.

“The world watched as an intensive campaign to prevent the Tahrir and the entire Freedom flotilla II from sailing was underway. We have been unjustly and duplicitously treated.” said Irene MacInnes of the Tahrir organizing committee. “The government of Israel, shamefully with the tacit support of the Harper government, is doing everything in its power to maintain the blockade. Today, as a result of the concerted efforts of the 4th largest military power in the world and its backers, we have been prevented from sailing to Gaza. Yet we will persevere in our attempts till the blockade is lifted.”

“Israel has in effect extended the illegal blockade of Gaza to Greek ports, using the Greece’s economic difficulties to influence the government’s position”, said David Heap of the organizing committee.

“We remain absolutely clear that the Canadian Boat to Gaza has not been, is not, and has no intention of, breaking any laws. It is the blockade of Gaza that is illegal under international law. We have a legal and moral obligation to challenge the blockade, given the failure of the international community to act”, said Dylan Penner of the organizing committee. “This is why we must continue our attempts to sail to Gaza: to challenge the illegal and immoral blockade and to equally challenge the Canadian federal government’s support for it.”

Meanwhile the US boat to Gaza, The Audacity of Hope, is at a standoff with the Greek Navy boats, refusing orders to return to shore.

For biographies of delegates aboard the Tahrir visit:
www.tahrir.ca/content/delegates-board-tahrir
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