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Bristol school sends postcards to Gaza Students at the City Academy School in Bristol have been writing POSTCARDS TO GAZA. On Monday 30 th November, they were handed to the convoy which will deliver them to a school in Gaza. The youngsters also donated boxes of stationery together with sacks of cuddly toys. Dr Ray Priest , Principal says: “ Our young people, of all faiths, have been enthusiastic about the Viva Palestina convoy right from the start. We all feel that no children anywhere should suffer like those in Gaza, Palestine. ” Sakir Yildirim , driver of the truck on the convoy, says “ The aim of our convoy is not only to take humanitarian aid to Gaza, but also a message of hope. These postcards are a great way for young people to form links between our two cities. I delighted to be a POSTIE TO PALESTINE! ” BACKGROUND INFORMATION The convoy leaves Bristol on Friday 4 th December joining the main UK convoy of some 100 vehicles in London. This convoy, the VIVA PALESTINA convoy will leave London on Saturday 5 th December. It will travel across Europe and the Middle East, arriving at the Rafah crossing into Gaza on 27 th December – this is the one year anniversary of the start of the attack on Gaza. FFI on UK Viva Palestina see www.vivapalestina.org/ Money to buy the vehicles, fuel, cargo and to pay for the trip are been raised by local faith and campaign groups. However the group still has a long way to go to reach its target of £25,000. People can help the Bristol2Gaza convoy with donations in various ways:- Post cheques payable to Bristol-Gaza-Link (Viva Palestina Convoy) to BRISTOL-GAZA-LINK Box 3, c/o 82 Colston Street, Bristol BS1 5BB UK By Bank transfer to Coop Bank Account name Bristol Gaza Link Account number 65360523 and Sort Code 08 92 99 Donate on-line at www.BristolGazaLink.org and http://bglink.ning.com Donate £3 from your mobile phone now - text “VIVA” to 84424
29th November 2009
The Bristol contingent of the Viva Palestina Convoy paraded their massive 44 ton truck around their shopping centre on Saturday. Accompanied by musicians and marchers with placards they drew attention to the plight of the people in Gaza and collected donation for their trip. In true Bristol tradition, the sides of the truck have been painted with impressive murals. One side shows the people of Bristol people loading aid into the truck and in the distance the people of Gaza eagerly awaiting its arrival. The back of the truck is painted with the cartoon character Handala – the icon of the Palestinian struggle. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naji_al-Ali ). On the other side of the truck is a representation of the Palestinian flag mixed with Bristol graffiti street art. Nick Park , of Bristol-based Aardman Animations, has recently given permission for the much-loved characters Wallace & Gromit to be included on the vehicles. This coincides with the 20year celebration of these characters who are strongly associated with Bristol and the local Children's Hospital. Banksy has visited Palestine twice and painted political graffiti on the Separation Wall in the West Bank. A selection of these Banksy's pictures have been included on the truck. A spokesperson for Bristol-Gaza-Link says “ When people hear we're taking aid to Gaza they've been very keen to help. All the more so because this is a local grass-roots project. Support has come from all across the communities of Bristol - this is a cause that unites everyone. The response has been fantastic! ” Tony Benn (former Bristol Labour MP for East Bristol) has said:- “I would like to express my full support for the Viva Palestina convoy which leaves in December. The ongoing siege of Gaza is a crime against humanity, as was the Israeli attack last year. British support for the relief efforts is a contribution to the solution of a human problem. I wish the convoy all success.” Sakir Yildirim , driver of the 44 ton truck says “ The people of Bristol are magnificent, they have made this happen. But we're still short of money to fill up the massive fuel tanks of our truck. Not only to get us across Europe but also we want them to be filled up again before we cross into Gaza where supplies are in desperately short supply due to the blockade.” People are encouraged to support the convoy with donations:- Post cheques payable to Bristol-Gaza-Link (Viva Palestina Convoy) to BRISTOL-GAZA-LINK Box 3, c/o 82 Colston Street, Bristol BS1 5BB UK By Bank transfer to Coop Bank Account name Bristol Gaza Link Account number 65360523 and Sort Code 08 92 99 Donate on-line at www.BristolGazaLink.org and http://bglink.ning.com Donate £3 from your mobile phone now - text the word “VIVA” to 84424 (Terms and conditions available on our website) The Bristol contingent leaves Bristol this FRIDAY (4 th December) after speeches from local dignitaries at the town hall and prayers at the local Mosque. Information about Bristol-Gaza Link is available at www.BristolGazaLink.org and an innovative “social-networking” website http://bglink.ning.com enables people in Bristol to link up directly with their counterparts in Gaza or Palestine.
Around 5O people gathered at the Mosque in St Mark's Road this morning Friday 13 February to send off our friend, Mohammed Alhadeed, on the convoy to deliver a 4X4 vehicle and goods as part of the UK Lifeline to Gaza.
Bristol
march for Gaza - 07/02/2009 |
