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#2236
General discussion / Re: Haiti
January 21, 2010, 01:28:07 AM
Folks, right now I feel so angry about what is happening in Haiti, and the lack of aid that is getting through to those who need it.
The US have taken over, and colonised it all over again. How is it that they can land 9,000 troops on the ground, and hospitals are performing amputations without any pain killing drugs?
How can field hospitals be refused landing permission?
Why is there no shelter, blankets, food, water etc being air lifted?
Why after 7 days are 2 million+ people without these basic requirments in Haiti today?
How can cruise ships dock, and aid ships can't?

In todays world, this level of in action is just unacceptable.
I have been in contact with 3 of the major charities in Ireland. I have offered to donate tents and sleeping bags for the homeless in Haiti. They have all refused to accept them. They keep insisting on recieving money.
They say they will buy tents and blankets, but will not accept free ones! This, I can't get my head around.

I also offered my time and knowledge to work voluntary for them either in Haiti or in Ireland, and they have refused my offer. What is going on here? Why are they refusing aid for free? Aid they are going to buy anyway?

I know Gaza is different, however, last year millions was raised in emergency relief. One year on, hardly one penny has been spent in Gaza. Trust me, in one year from now, Haiti will not have a whole lot done either. I just hope i'm wrong.

I have been exploring ways into getting tents and blankets together. I have a company in Scotland who are willing to do an incredible offer on tents and sleeping bags for this cause.
I am working on a way for people to be able to buy a tent or sleeping bag through paypal, thus making it easy for people to purchase. I have also been donated a large marque that could be used for a field hospital or other use.

I don't know how many I will sell, however, i'm determined to do something practical for the homeless, and not wait around for others to fail.

So, hopefully in the next 24 hours, I will have details on how people can help the homeless in Haiti.
#2237
General discussion / Re: Haiti
January 21, 2010, 01:08:15 AM
For a more in depth insight on Haiti by Noam Chomsky, this is an excellent read:

http://books.zcommunications.org/chomsky/year/year-c08-s01.html
#2238
General discussion / Re: Haiti
January 21, 2010, 01:05:49 AM
Below is an excellent piece on Haiti by Noam Chomsky.
It is as relevant today as it was when it was first published.


The "Noble Phase" and "Saintly Glow" of US Foreign Policy
Noam Chomsky March 9, 2004 from the book
Getting Haiti Right This Time

The U.S. and the Coup

Noam Chomsky, Paul Farmer, Amy Goodman
Common Courage Press, 2004, paper

p1
Those who have any concern for Haiti will naturally want to understand how its most recent tragedy has been unfolding. And for those who have had the privilege of any contact with the people of this tortured land, it is not just natural but inescapable. Nevertheless, we make a serious error if we focus too narrowly on the events of the recent past, or even on Haiti alone. The crucial issue for us is what we should be doing about what is taking place. That would be true even if our options and our responsibility were limited; far more so when they are immense and decisive, as in the case of Haiti. And even more so because the course of the terrible story was predictable years ago-if we failed to act to prevent it. And fail we did. The lessons are clear, and so important that they would be the topic of daily front-page articles in a free press.

Reviewing what was taking place in Haiti shortly after Clinton "restored democracy" in 1994, I was compelled to conclude, unhappily, in Z Magazine that "It would not be very surprising, then, if the Haitian operations become another catastrophe," and if so, "It is not a difficult chore to trot out the familiar phrases that will explain the failure of our mission of benevolence in this failed society." The reasons were evident to anyone who chose to look. And the familiar phrases again resound, sadly and predictably.

There is much solemn discussion today explaining, correctly, that democracy means more than flipping a lever every \ few years. Functioning democracy has preconditions. One is that the population should have some way to learn what is happening in the world. The real world, not the self-serving portrait offered by the "establishment press," which is disfigured by its "subservience to state power" and "the usual hostility to popular movements"-the accurate words of Paul Farmer, whose work on Haiti is, in its own way, perhaps even as remarkable as what he has accomplished within the country. Farmer was writing in 1993, reviewing mainstream commentary and reporting on Haiti, a disgraceful record that goes back to the days of Wilson's vicious and destructive invasion in 1915, and on to the present. The facts are extensively documented, appalling, and shameful. And they are deemed irrelevant for the usual reasons: they do not conform to the required self-image, and so are efficiently dispatched deep into the memory hole, though they can be unearthed by those who have some interest in the real world

They will rarely be found, however, in the "establishment press." Keeping to the more liberal and knowledgeable end of the spectrum, the standard version is that in "failed states" like Haiti and Iraq the US must become engaged in benevolent "nation-building" to "enhance democracy," a "noble goal" but one that may be beyond our means because of the inadequacies of the objects of our solicitude. In Haiti, despite Washington's dedicated efforts from Wilson to FDR while the country was under Marine occupation, "the new dawn of Haitian democracy never came." And "not all America's good wishes, nor all its Marines, can achieve [democracy today] until the Haitians do it themselves" (H.D.S. Greenway, Boston Globe). As New York Times correspondent R.W. Apple recounted two centuries of history in 1994, reflecting on the prospects for Clinton's endeavor to "restore democracy" then underway, "Like the French in the 19th century, like the Marines who occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934, the American forces who are trying to impose a new order will confront a complex and violent society with no history of democracy."

Apple does appear to go a bit beyond the norm in his reference to Napoleon's savage assault on Haiti, leaving it in ruins, in order to prevent the crime of liberation in the world's richest colony, the source of much of France's wealth. But perhaps that undertaking too satisfies the fundamental criterion of benevolence: it was supported by the United States, which was naturally outraged and frightened by "the first nation in the world to argue the case of universal freedom for all humankind, revealing the limited definition of freedom adopted by the French and American revolutions." So Haitian historian Patrick Bellegarde-Smith writes accurately describing the terror in the slave state next door, which was not relieved even when Haiti's successful liberation struggle, at enormous cost, opened the way to the expansion to the West by compelling Napoleon to accept the Louisiana Purchase. The US continued to do what it could to strangle Haiti, even supporting France's insistence that Haiti pay a huge indemnity for the crime of liberating itself, a burden it has never escaped-and France, of course, dismisses with elegant disdain Haiti's request, recently under Aristide, that it at least repay the indemnity, forgetting the responsibilities that a_ civilized society would accept.

The basic contours of what led to the current tragedy are pretty clear. Just beginning with the 1990 election of Aristide (far too narrow a time frame), Washington was appalled by the election of a populist candidate with a grass-roots constituency just as it had been appalled by the prospect of the hemisphere's first free country on its doorstep two centuries earlier. Washington's traditional allies in Haiti naturally agreed. "The fear of democracy exists, by definitional necessity, in elite groups who monopolize economic and political power," Bellegarde-Smith observes in his perceptive history of Haiti (Haiti: The Breached Citadel); whether in Haiti or the US or anywhere else.

The threat of democracy in Haiti in 1991 was even more ominous because of the favorable reaction of the international financial institutions (World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank) to Aristide's programs, which awakened traditional concerns over the "virus" effect of successful independent development. These are familiar themes in international affairs: American independence aroused similar concerns among European leaders. The dangers are commonly perceived to be particularly grave in a country like Haiti, which had been ravaged by France and then reduced to utter misery by a century of US intervention. If even people in such dire circumstances can take their fate into their own hands, who knows what might happen elsewhere as the "contagion spreads."

The Bush I administration reacted to the disaster of democracy by shifting aid from the democratically elected government to what are called "democratic forces": the wealthy elites and the business sectors, who, along with the murderers and torturers of the military and paramilitaries, had been lauded by the current incumbents in Washington, in their Reaganite phase, for their progress in "democratic development," justifying lavish new aid. The praise came in response to ratification by the Haitian people of a law granting Washington's client killer and torturer Baby Doc Duvalier the authority to suspend the rights of any political party without reasons. The referendum passed by a majority of 99.98%. It therefore marked a positive step towards democracy as compared with the 99% approval of a 1918 law granting US corporations the right to turn the country into a US plantation, passed by 5% of the population after the Haitian Parliament was disbanded at gunpoint by Wilson's Marines when it refused to accept this "progressive measure," essential for "economic development." Their reaction to Baby Doc's encouraging progress towards democracy was characteristic-worldwide-on the part of the visionaries who are now entrancing educated opinion with their dedication to bringing democracy to a suffering world-although, to be sure, their actual exploits are being tastefully rewritten to satisfy current needs.

Refugees fleeing to the US from the terror of the US-backed dictatorships were forcefully returned, in gross violation of international humanitarian law. The policy was reversed when a democratically elected government took office. Though the flow of refugees reduced to a trickle, they were mostly granted political asylum. Policy returned to normal when a military junta overthrew the Aristide government after seven months, and state terrorist atrocities rose to new heights. The perpetrators were the army-the inheritors of the National Guard left by Wilson's invaders to control the population-and its paramilitary forces. The most important of these, FRAPH, was founded by CIA asset Emmanuel Constant, who now lives happily in Queens, Clinton and Bush II having dismissed extradition requests-because he would reveal US ties to the murderous junta, it is widely assumed. Constant's contributions to state terror were, after all, meager; merely prime responsibility for the murder of 4-5000 poor blacks.

Recall the core element of the Bush doctrine, which has "already become a de facto rule of international relations," Harvard's Graham Allison writes in Foreign Affairs: "those who harbor terrorists are as guilty as the terrorists themselves," in the President's words, and must be treated accordingly, by large-scale bombing and invasion.

When Aristide was overthrown by the 1991 military coup, the Organization of American States declared an embargo. Bush I announced that the US would violate it by exempting US firms. He was thus "fine tuning" the embargo for the benefit of the suffering population, the New York Times reported. Clinton authorized even more extreme violations of the embargo: US trade with the junta and its wealthy supporters sharply increased. The crucial element of the embargo was, of course, oil. While the CIA solemnly testified to Congress that the junta "probably will be out of fuel and power very shortly" and "Our intelligence efforts are focused on detecting attempts to circumvent the embargo and monitoring its impact," Clinton secretly authorized the Texaco Oil Company to ship oil to the junta illegally, in violation of presidential directives. This remarkable revelation was the lead story on the AP wires the day before Clinton sent the Marines to "restore democracy," impossible to miss-I happened to be monitoring AP wires that day and saw it repeated prominently over and over-and obviously of enormous significance for anyone who wanted to understand what was happening. It was suppressed with truly impressive discipline, though reported in industry journals along with scant mention buried in the business press.

Also efficiently suppressed were the crucial conditions that Clinton imposed for Aristide's return: that he adopt the program of the defeated U.S.-backed candidate in the 1990 elections, a former World Bank official who had received 14% of the vote. We call this "restoring democracy," a prime illustration of how US foreign policy has entered a "noble phase" with a "saintly glow," the national press explained. The harsh neoliberal program that Aristide was compelled to adopt was virtually guaranteed to demolish the remaining shreds of economic sovereignty, extending Wilson's progressive legislation and similar US-imposed measures since.

As democracy was thereby restored, the World Bank announced that "The renovated state must focus on an economic strategy centered on the energy and initiative of Civil Society, especially the private sector, both national and foreign." That has the merit of honesty: Haitian Civil Society includes the tiny rich elite and US corporations, but not the vast majority of the population, the peasants and slum-dwellers who had committed the grave sin of organizing to elect their own president. World Bank officers explained that the neoliberal program would benefit the "more open, enlightened, business class" and foreign investors, but assured us that the program "is not going to hurt the poor to the extent it has in other countries" subjected to structural adjustment, because the Haitian poor already lacked minimal protection from proper economic policy, such as subsidies for basic goods. Aristide's minister in charge of rural development and agrarian reform was not notified of the plans to be imposed on this largely peasant society, to be returned by "America's good wishes" to the track from which it veered briefly after the regrettable democratic election in 1990.
Matters then proceeded in their predictable course. A 1995 USAID report explained that the "export-driven trade and investment policy" that Washington imposed will "relentlessly squeeze the domestic rice farmer," who will be forced to turn to agroexport, with incidental benefits to US agribusiness and investors. Despite their extreme poverty, Haitian rice farmers are quite efficient, but cannot possibly compete with US agribusiness, even if it did not receive 40% of its profits from government subsidies, sharply increased under the Reaganites who are again in power, still producing enlightened rhetoric about the miracles of the market. We now read that Haiti cannot feed itself, another sign of a "failed state."

A few small industries were still able to function, for example, making chicken parts. But US conglomerates have a large surplus of dark meat, and therefore demanded the right to dump their excess products in Haiti. They tried to do the same in Canada and Mexico too, but there illegal dumping could be barred. Not in Haiti, compelled to submit to efficient market principles by the US government and the corporations it serves.
One might note that the Pentagon's proconsul in Iraq, Paul Bremer, ordered a very similar program to be instituted there, with the same beneficiaries in mind. That's also called "enhancing democracy." In fact, the record, highly revealing and important, goes back to the 18th century. Similar programs had a large role in creating today's third world. Meanwhile the powerful ignored the rules, except when they could benefit from them, and were able to become rich developed societies; dramatically the US, which led the way in modern protectionism and, particularly since World War II, has relied crucially on the dynamic state sector for innovation and development, socializing risk and cost.

The punishment of Haiti became much more severe under Bush 11-there are differences within the narrow spectrum of cruelty and greed. Aid was cut and international institutions were pressured to do likewise, under pretexts too outlandish to merit discussion. They are extensively reviewed in Paul Farmer's Uses of Haiti, and in some current press commentary, notably by Jeffrey Sachs (Financial Times) and Tracy Kidder (New York Times).

Putting details aside, what has happened since is eerily similar to the overthrow of Haiti's first democratic government in 1999. The Aristide government, once again, was undermined by planners, who understood, under Clinton, that the threat of democracy can be overcome if economic sovereignty is eliminated, and presumably also understood that economic development will also be a faint hope under such conditions, one of the best-confirmed lessons of economic history. Bush II planners are even more dedicated to undermining democracy and independence, and despised Aristide and the popular organizations that swept him to power with perhaps even more passion than their predecessors. The forces that reconquered the country are mostly inheritors of the US-installed army and paramilitary terrorists.

Those who are intent on diverting attention from the US role will object that the situation is more complex-as is always true-and that Aristide too was guilty of many crimes. Correct, but if he had been a saint the situation would hardly have developed very differently, as was evident in 1994, when the only real hope was that a democratic revolution in the US would make it possible to shift policy in a more civilized direction.
What is happening now is awful, maybe beyond repair. And there is plenty of short-term responsibility on all sides. But the right way for the US and France to proceed is very clear. They should begin with payment of enormous reparations to Haiti (France is perhaps even more hypocritical and disgraceful in this regard than the US). That, however, requires construction of functioning democratic societies in which, at the very least, people have a prayer of knowing what's going on. Commentary on Haiti, Iraq, and other "failed societies" is quite right in stressing the importance of overcoming the "democratic deficit" that substantially reduces the significance of elections. It does not, however, draw the obvious corollary: the lesson applies in spades to a country where "politics is the shadow cast on society by big business," in the words of America's leading social philosopher, John Dewey, describing his own country in days when the blight had spread nowhere near as far as it has today.

For those who are concerned with the substance of democracy and human rights, the basic tasks at home are also clear enough. They have been carried out before, with no slight success, and under incomparably harsher conditions elsewhere, including the slums and hills of Haiti. We do not have to submit, voluntarily, to living in a failed state suffering from an enormous democratic deficit.
#2239
Fair play Hardy for your offer. A Cork collection point will be fantastic.
Sure why dont you stick up details for a collection point.
I have a facebook group started for additional information:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=541019313#/group.php?gid=270890298648&ref=mf

Right now, shelter and sleeping bags are in big demand in Haiti, and everyone, please pull together and send out some much needed shelter and warmth to Haiti.

John
#2240
Folks, the crisis in Haiti just gets worse by the hour, and I feel it's time to do something practical for the people left homeless following the Earthquake that has devastated the country.

For the past 3 days I have been on the phone to the main Irish aid charities, and all they want is money. I have volunteered both my time, and the ability to collect tents and sleeping bags for them. Unfortunatley, they have refused my offers of help, and instead just want cash.

Having been in Gaza last year just after the attacks, the one thing that was most precious was shelter and blankets.
Having just returned from Gaza last week, people are still living in tents and are so grateful to have them as rebuilding work will take years. The same applies to Haiti. Re building there will also take years.

So, in light of this, I have decided to launch an appeal for tents and sleeping blankets. The tents can be any size, and must be in good condition. Make sure to check that it is in good shape, and contains all the poles and hooks.

Sleeping bags can be in any size, and due to the warm climate there, they can be any season.

I have no idea as to how we will get them out to Haiti just now, but believe you me, we will get them out one way or another. Even if they don't reach Haiti for a couple of weeks, they will be badly need when they do arrive.

So, this is where you all come in. Can anyone help me out and arrange a collection point somewhere in your county? It can be a business, sports club, or even your garden shed. Together, we can all fill a container at least to send to Haiti.

I will have no problem arranging for collection of the tents and sleeping blankets, so don't worry on that front. We just need to get them....

So folks, lets take a break from Robinson and Woods stories, and put our energy into doing something worthwhile for the greatest humanitarian crisis the world has seen in a long long time. We can all do something great together.

John

#2241
Just a quick reminder folks about the event tonight in the Bank Hotel in Dungannon.
I will be talking about the recent trip to Gaza, the Gaza GAA Club, and of course, the situation
on the ground in Gaza right now.
Mickey Coleman will be singing a few songs, including his anti war song "Mothers Lullaby".

Doors open at 8, so come along for what is sure to be a great event.
#2242
Please click onto this link to view photo's from the trip to Gaza.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=541019313#/album.php?aid=173529&id=541019313&ref=mf


Below is a few to wet your appetite......



Another fan in Gaza


Israeli gunships keep an eye on the children playing


Convoy parked up in Gaza


Sunset on the Gaza Strip


Derry To Gaza


Holy Trinity Cookstown jersey hand over.
#2243
Ireland To Gaza

Well folks, the great news to report to you all is that the "Viva Palestina" Humanitarian Aid Convoy safely reached Gaza and delivered all their aid. On January 6th, 517 humanitarians from 20 countries, in close to 200 vehicles, crossed through the Rafah Border into Gaza. The scenes greeting us as we made our way to Gaza city were unbelievable. Over 100,000 lined the roads and streets as we took 3 hours to drive 20 kilometres. They had waited patiently on us for us for weeks, and their outpouring of excitement and gratitude was the most humbling experience in my life. They are the real heroes, not us.

Having left London on December 6th the convoy made its way through Europe, and then crossed the sea into Greece. From there, they arrived to a hero's reception in Turkey, and to add to the convoy, another 200 people in 70 vehicles loaded with aid joined the already swelling numbers on the road. Turkish charity, I.H.H. provided the vehicles and volunteers. This particular charity is one of the leading Turkish charities, and at various times, upwards on 12 Turkish M.P.'s were on the convoy. Their involvement brought with them some serious political clout that was to prove invaluable when we faced some serious difficulties later in the journey.

From Turkey, the convoy rolled into Syria, where as expected, the reception was huge. From Syria, the convoy crossed the border into Jordan on December 22nd. It was at this point that I flew to Amman in Jordan and met up with everyone. It was fantastic to meet up with loads of my old friends from the last convoy, and to listen to the many wide and varied stories from the trip thus far. Everyone was in top form, and the end of the road was in sight, at least on a map anyway, as we were all to find out later.......

The following day in Amman, thousands showed up for a rally in honour of the convoy. There were a few hours of speeches, as each speech had to be translated into 3 languages each time someone spoke! As you can imagine, it got boring after a while... Upon our return to our hotel, 3 local women had appeared waving an Irish flag. They had been following my "Ireland To Gaza" facebook group, and having found out what hotel we were in, came to show some support for the Irish on the trip. Their mother was from Dublin, and all 3 had lived in Ireland until 15 years ago. They were just so excited to catch up with us and show support, and needless to say, we were inspired by their efforts. Plus, there was great banter as the hotel lobby was full of other convoy members looking on at our fan club!

December 24th, we travelled from Amman to the port city of Aqaba in southern Jordan. It was an amazing drive, as 70% of the trip was driving through the desert. In soaring temperatures, driving for hours with nothing but a desert landscape to look at was mind-blowing. From the previous convoy, driving through the desert was my favourite part of the journey, and to be driving through the desert again was special indeed.

We rolled into Aqaba around 6 pm, and all the vehicles were parked up in a compound. From here, a 2 hour sail and a 4 hour drive would see us at the Rafah Border. Busses took us into town where we all met up to hear the latest news. George Galloway and others came back from a meeting with Egyptian Government, and announced their new conditions of travel to Gaza. Everyone was shocked, and totally dismayed by Egypt's new rules.

1.   We were to hand over all our vehicles and aid to the United Nations Relief Agency.

2.   Drive back up to Syria, put all our vehicles on a boat and sail it to El Arish Port. We were to take a ferry or fly.

3.    We were to ask Israel for permission to cross from Egypt into Gaza.

Now, on the 1st point, there was no way that we could hand our aid over to the UN. Everything would have to pass through the Israeli border, and there was no chance that they would allow everything to cross. Plus, the UN are continually shouting about the lack of aid Israel is letting in, as they are not getting anything close to what they need to distribute in Gaza.

Secondly, by driving up to Syria, the boat crossing would be 18 hours, and cost a fortune.

Thirdly, and this was the crucial point, that we ask permission from Israel to cross into Gaza from Egypt. This was their 1st public declaration that they were been controlled by Israel and the US. At this point, the whole of the Arab media arrived in Aqaba and started covering the convoy to over 100 million viewers. There was outrage at Egypt for not only coming out with such a statement, but with their refusal to let us cross from Aqaba into Egypt.

At this point, the Turkish Prime Minister got involved in diplomatic negotiations, and the Queen of Jordan called to offer her total support to everyone. She appealed to Egypt's deaf ears, and to no avail.

The next couple of days were spent in negotiations, and on December 27th, to commemorate the 1st wave of attacks on Gaza, a special vigil was held. Everyone observed a 3 minute silence, and the names of 16 medics killed in Gaza were read out. It was a very sombre moment, as Caoimhe Butterly read out their names. Caoimhe worked in Gaza during the 22 day   attack, and most of these medics were friends and work colleagues. Following this we marched to the Egyptian embassy and held a peaceful protest at their gates.

Plus, 30 of us joined is a hunger strike along with many others in Cairo who were part of a Gaza Freedom March that was banned from entering Gaza. Over 1,300 people from all over the world had arrived in Cairo only to be told they would not be allowed in. Among the hunger strikers in Cairo, was Hedy Epstein, a 85 year old Holocaust survivor.

Together we fasted for 40 hours until word came through that a deal had been struck. Egypt was going to allow the whole convoy a safe passage into Gaza if we travelled from Syria.
We would not have to hand it over to the UN, and we would not to ask Israel for permission to cross. (Like we were going to...)
To everyone assembled, this came across as a good compromise, and everyone was in favour of getting back on the road and getting to Gaza.

So, on Tuesday 29th, everyone packed up and hit the road again. A long days driving saw us cross the border into Syria, and on to Damascus where we stayed the night. We stayed here the following night as well, as plans were been made to secure a cargo boat to transport our vehicles. The Turkish government came to the rescue and paid £250,000 for a cargo boat large enough for the job.  Plus, the commander of the Turkish Navy stated that they would protect their vessel from any "hostile attack". Now that is diplomacy eh?

On the 31st, the convoy made the final leg of its journey to the port city of Latikia in northern Syria. Here, all the vehicles were parked in a compound at the sea in a large Palestinian Refugee Camp. Almost 7,000 live here, with no chance of ever returning to their homeland in Palestine. This was a chilling reminder to everyone about the reality of the displacement of Palestinians from their homeland. People were showing us deeds for their houses, which they have been expelled from and will never see again. It felt sad in a way that we were going to get permission to go to Palestine, but for these natives, they had no chance of ever seeing their homeland again.

So, on Sunday January 3rd, we loaded close to 250 vehicles onto a Turkish Cargo ship and it set sail for the Egyptian port of El Arish. The following day, the Syrian Government chartered a plane to fly over 500 people to el Arish. It was going to take 4 flights to complete the job.

The 1st flight got away on time, and when they reached El Arish, the Egyptians had moved the goalposts again. They were insisting that the 155 people who had just arrived go straight to the port and drive all the vehicles up to Rafah and then leave. They were stamped with entry and exit visas at the same time, which is illegal. Needless to say, a stand off ensued and 9 hours later, the Egyptians relented and agreed to everyone been present to go to Rafah.

The 2nd flight left, and mid-air developed an engine fault. It landed safely in Damascus, where everyone was very relieved to have landed without incident. Another plane was chartered from Greece, and it flew to Damascus to collect and fly those stranded to El Arish, and then it returned to Latikia, where the remaining 197 passengers boarded to fly to El Arish.

Having arrived at El Arish airport, a full scale commotion was going on as the airport officials "lost" 5 passports. As our noise got louder, 1 by 1 the passports mysteriously re appeared...... After 8 hours in the airport, we were bussed to the compound at the port where all our vehicles and all the convoy members were gathered.

Little did we all know what was in store for us later on that night. During discussions with the head of the I.H.H. charity, a Turkish M.P. representing the Government, and George Galloway, Egyptian officials reneged on their previous deal, and where now denying entry to 59 vehicles. Then, they stood up and walked out to make a phone call. 15 minutes later they looked out the window and the compound was surrounded by 2,000 riot police and soldiers. This was developing into a very tense situation.

Hundreds of convoy members went to the main gates and staged a peaceful protest. We all linked arms at the front, and at various times, sat down for long spells. The Muslim men gathered in deep prayer, and the atmosphere was very calm.
However, things changed for the worse after a few hours whenever we were attacked by stone throwers from behind police lines. They fired tear gas on us, water cannoned us, threw sand in our faces, and then baton charged us. It was a very scary moment, and I was lucky enough to escape any blows. As everyone was getting pushed back into the compound, stones and bricks followed after them from the police lines. A full scale riot raged for the next 10 minutes as stones and bricks rained from both sides of the wall.

When calm had been restored, 60 members were injured, and 15 had to go to hospital to receive stitches. It was a long night as tensions took as while to calm down. 7 people were held by the authorities over night in a police truck. The mood among everyone was total shock as to what had just happened.
People were very frightened, and with just cause. The sight of people injured was not a pretty one, believe me.
Press TV News Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gObPx_3NOWA

After a few hours sleep, we awoke to see about 40 police men now guarding us, and a new line of discussions opened. The Turkish Prime Minister was dealing directly on our behalf, and he had negotiated a new deal. The 40 new cars that had been bought by US volunteers in July and had been refused then, were now the only vehicles not allowed to cross. It was decided that these vehicles would be shipped back to refugee camps in Syria and Lebanon rather than send them to the Israeli border. Plus, the 7 people detained from the previous evening were returned without any charge.

Then, at 4pm, vehicles started to get ready to pull out of the port. As darkness fell, the 1st group of twenty vehicles started the 40km drive to the Rafah Border. I was in the 2nd group, and at 7pm on Wednesday 6th January I crossed over the border into Gaza for the 2nd time in a year. Instead of a 5 hour crossing, we did a 13 day roundabout to reach this point. It was an emotional crossing, and all the hardships faced along the way just faded into a distant past. We had done it. We had crossed every hurdle put in our way, and together we stood tall for our principles, and broke the siege on Gaza.

Press TV report on our arrival: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2M3yUhk5eU

It was a different feeling from the last crossing, but equally important. Inside the gates I got to meet several friends from the last trip, and to see the emotion and joy in their faces was another humbling experience. Our crossing meant so much to them, and living in a prison, they don't get to see many moments like these. We were a symbol of hope, love, solidarity, kindness, humanity, and peace.

Following a reception at the border, we set off for Gaza city. Thousands and thousands of people, young and old, lined every step of our way. They were leaning over each other just to get touching a vehicle. Taking pictures with their mobile phones, shouting messages of thanks, and generally giving us a hero's welcome. It was one long humbling experience. What the residents in Gaza have to live with on a daily basis makes them all the real heroes in our books.

After a good nights sleep, I awoke to hear loud booms out at sea. Looking out from my window, I could see Israeli gunships patrolling the waters a few miles out. This is a constant reminder that their presence is close, and to stop fishermen from going out far enough to fish. Not a pretty sight to see on a daily basis.

At mid day, everyone met up at the compound, and we officially handed over all our vehicles and aid to various charities and NGO's working in Gaza. Anyone with specific deliveries, got to hand over their aid personally. There were emotional scenes as people packed up their belongings and said good bye to their vehicles that had become their home for the past month. It had been a long hard journey, and this final act, sealed a job well done. Everyone could hold their heads high and say that they delivered their aid to Gaza in one piece.

I went off in the afternoon to the Al Jazeera studio and appeared on one of their main shows. I was on a panel along with an Egyptian spokesman, and a Turkish journalist. We were all filmed from various locations, and needless to say, the Egyptian hadn't good legs to stand on!!

Link for the show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnyfL453sOU

That evening, I went to the Gaza Sporting Club. This is the club I presented jerseys to before, and this evening I was back with more! This also marked the occasion where I formally established a Gaza GAA club within their structures. I presented them with a set of jerseys that had been donated by Peter Canavan's school, The Holy Trinity in Cookstown.
It was a very proud moment, and one for the history books.
They presented me with a plaque, and 3 club jerseys. It was a fairly emotional meeting for sure.  Very soon, children in Gaza will be playing Gaelic football, and will be kicking points like Peter!!

During our meeting, a loud explosion was heard in the distant.
The curtains in our room blew in and then out with the blast. At this point, our evening was cut short and we returned to the safety of our hotel. It was a very tense feeling, and word came through that it was a F16 attack and that 1 man had been killed. In another attack near the border, 2 more were killed in F16 attacks. This was a cold reminder to all about the daily fear everyone lives with in Gaza. These attacks are designed to keep on letting everyone in Gaza know that they can be hit at anytime, for no reason at all. Just living in Gaza makes you a target.

The following morning, we were all advised to head straight to the border. Everyone packed up, and after many tearful farewells, 517 people made their way to the Rafah Border.
We were made to wait for 8 hours, and then when we had passed through immigration, we were all loaded onto buses and taken directly to Cairo Airport. Here, each and every one of us was "Deported" from Egypt. This was our final thanks for having brought humanitarian aid to the suffering people in Gaza. For all of us, it is a badge of honour. Where else in the world would you be deported for having completed an act of charity? The mind boggles........

Egypt can hold their heads in shame for what they did to us. Making us endure a 13 day detour, attacking us, and then deporting us, was some reception from a supposed friend of the west. Then, they announce that they will never allow another convoy of aid to pass through their land for Gaza. They have a big heart, and their generosity knows no bounds.

At Cairo airport, our passports were held and only returned when stepping onto a flight. The British Embassy in Cairo did nothing for their citizens, and the US did even less. The Irish Embassy did more than every other Embassy put together. From the moment we landed in El Arish, they were making up to 5 calls a day to us to make sure we were all ok. They also made several calls for our safety to the Egyptian Government.
Michael Martin also called to offer his support. Once again, Ireland stood up for its citizens and for the Palestinians. We were truly grateful for this support and constant contact.

I had a flight to Istanbul at 1 45pm, and when that plane left the ground on take off, I let out a big sigh of relief. Boy was one happy man to have seen the back of Egypt. That's twice Egypt have attacked us and made our journey difficult, and following my deporting, I never want to see that country again.

Now that I'm back, I will continue to champion the cause of the Palestinians living under siege in Gaza. What is happening to them is one of the biggest crimes against humanity going on in the world today, and it must stop soon. I truly believe that with the wide coverage the convoy received in the Arab world, very soon the screws will tighten further on Egypt and Israel/US to lift the siege illegally imposed on Gaza. The situation has to change soon, and very soon. I know that by playing my small part, it can help make changes in time.
I am eternally hopeful that common sense will prevail very soon.

So please pass this story on to anyone you feel would read it. This is a brief account of what we went through, and what the Palestinians live with on a daily basis. The more people aware of the situation there, the sooner it changes.

This Friday night in The Bank Hotel in Dungannon, a sort of homecoming is planned for me. Particia Campbell, Mickey Coleman, Tommy Mc Kearney, Bernadette Mc Aliskey, and  Peter Canavan have organised it. They had a meeting of solidarity for the convoy on Jan2nd, and it was inspiring to receive their support. So if you can make it, come along at 9pm. I will talk about the trip, and the panellists will have a discussion. Mickey Coleman will be singing his new anti war song, "Mothers Lullaby". Evening to be finished off with music and a few drinks for sure......

For all the support shown to myself, and to the convoy as a whole, thank you all so much. In moments of despair, your message of support would lift the spirits. Each and every one of you all played a role in making sure the aid reached Gaza.
Together, we all made it happen, and the people in Gaza love and respect everyone for having shown the courage to speak up for them. They will never forget this convoy, that's for sure......

Tyrone To Gaza

John Hurson


#2244
Well folks, I will take a bit of time today or tomorrow to write up a detailed report on the past 3 weeks.
Now, i'm in the airport at Istanbul in Turkey having flown here yesterday.

When we left Gaza, all 517 of us were bused straight to Cairo airport and deported. What a way to treat humanitarians eh?
We were not allowed our passports until we had boarded our flights, and anyone going to the toilet were under gaurd the whole way. The treatment was unreal, and everyone had to buy their own ticket, at an inflated rate, to get home.
Anyone flying out of a different airport were not allowed to take a transfer to it. You just had to leave Cairo and that was that. Over 40 people are still in Cairo airport waiting on flights, having been there for over 30 hours now.

Egypt have now become the new Israel, whereby they don't give 2 fiddlers about how they behave, as they can get away with it. They have been so horrible, and yesterday they issued a statement saying that NO more convoys of aid will be allowed to enter Gaza through Egypt, no matter who it is that is bringing that aid.

The way they treat the Palestinians in Gaza is just as bad as the Zionist state of Israel, and I suppose that is how they earn their $1.7 billion in US aid each year. However, the worm is gradually starting to turn, and the world is taking notice of the way Israel/Us/Egypt are behaving towards the Palestinians. Very very soon, the world will say "Enough Is Enough".

Gaza was just incredible once again, and believe me when I tell you that they are without a doubt the most beautiful and friendly race of people I have ever met in the world, and I have done my fair share of travelling. Their dignity and resilliance in the face of incredible obstacles has to be seen to be believed. They are a proud nation, and the welcome we got was just incredibly humbling. It was a very emotional visit, and I can't wait to get back to there very soon.

I fly into Dublin today at 1 30pm, and I can't wait to get home and see my family and friends. I might even venture out to Mc Aleers tonight for a pint or 7.......... The Sunday World are doing a 2 page spread today on the convoy, so if you can, please buy and have a read.

As soon as I get a chance, I will write up a better report and fill you all in. I might add in some extra marital affairs in order to get people to read up on Gaza, as a bit of scandal in someones personal lives seems to be the only thing people are interested in reading these days................

Tyrone To Gaza

John Hurson
#2245
Folks wrote this press release earlier. However, while in the Gaza City Sporting Club, we heard a loud explosion. It turned out to be a F 16 attack which has left 4 Palestinians dead.
It was a scary experience, as the attack was only half a kilometre from where we were.
Needless to say, the meeting was wrapped up on the spot, and we were returned to our hotel.
This was about an hour ago, and word on the street is that they are preparing for more attacks.
On the anniversay of the massacres, this is very worrying.
Israel just knows no bounds when it comes to Palestine.

On Wednesday 6th January 2010, 517 members from 20 different countries in 200 vehicles crossed through the Rafah Border into Gaza to amazing scenes of celebration. Close on 100,000 people lined the streets into Gaza city to welcome the "Viva Palestina" Humanitarian Aid Convoy.



The convoy left London on December 6th, and had travelled through Europe, then Turkey, Syria and Jordan. They reached the port city of Aqaba, Jordan on December 24th, however, they were refused permission to continue to Gaza, a journey of 5 hours. Instead, they had to make their way back up to Syria, a journey of 700kms in order to ship all our vehicles to El Arish. From there, 4 flights were required to fly all the volunteers to El Arish to meet up with their vehicles.



On Tuesday 5th, everyone was reunited with their vehicles in the port of El Arish. At 5pm, the Egyptian Government reneged on their witten deal and refused to allow 59 vehicles to proceed into Gaza.

They walked out of a meeting, and instantly, over 2,000 riot police surrounded the compound containing the vehicles and volunteers. Hundreds of volunteers staged a peaceful protest at the gates, and after a few hours, they were attacked by the police with tear gas, bricks, stones, and baton charged. 60 people were injured, and 20 needed hospital treatment.



The following morning, tensions had been reduced and a decision was made to send all the banned vehicles back to Syria and Lebanon to Palestinian Refugee Camps. At 4pm, the 1st of the vehicles started to roll out of the port to make the 40 km journey towards the border, and at 7pm, the gates at Rafah opened and the convoy completed it's final leg of their trip into Gaza.



Following a reception at the border, the "Viva Palestina" convoy rolled into Gaza City. A distance of 20 kms took over 3 hours as upwards on 100,000 Palestinians lined the streets to welcome the Convoy.

This was the 3rd "Viva Palestina Convoy" to break the siege on Gaza inside 1 year.



Today, all the vehicles and aid was handed over to various charities and NGO's. There were very emotional scenes as people said goodbye to their vehicles which had become their homes for the past month on the road. The appreciation from the Palestinians is very hard to put into words, such was the emotions they displayed. For people from all over the world to travel to Gaza in order to deliver aid, really means so much to the stricken region. This was solidarity on a grand scale.



Tyrone man, John Hurson, delivered Gaelic goalposts, jerseys, footballs, DVD's and books to the newly formed Gaza GAA club. Very soon, children in Gaza will be kicking points and scoring goals, and trying to emulate the skills of their President, Peter Canavan. In an offical hand over, the club were delighted to recieve all this support, and are looking forward to seeing Peter visit Gaza very very soon. Lets hope his Co President Professor Noam Chomsky pays a visit as well.



Tomorrow, the convoy members will leave at lunchtime, and return home to their families. The convoy has been an incredible success, and today in an official reception, they were told that a street in Gaza is to be re named "Viva Palestina Street". This indeed is a great honour, and a lasting tribute to the success of the convoys.



#2246
Well folks, tonight, for the 2nd time in a year, I crossed into Gaza with the "Viva Palestina" Humanitarian Aid Convoy along with the Cork and Derry teams.

517 people in 180 vehicles crossed through the Rafah Border in Gaza.It was one incredible feeling, and to see thousands and thousands of Palestinians line the streets to welcome us was very humbling. They are the true heroes for what they have ...to live with on a daily basis.

I am shattered, however, I will fill you all in later.

Viva Palestine
#2247
Only 1 plane has landed in Egypt, 2nd one diverted to Damascus with an engine problem. Another plane will take the remainder of us at 6 am to El Arish. Egypt now not letting in 50 vehicles, and have beeen trying to send the 155 people there to Gaza with the vehicles, and not letting us in. However, everyone there protested, and are staying put until we all arrive. They took over the arrivals lounge, and are staging a massive protest.

These Egyptians are been shown up in the headline news right across the Arab World as every media outlet is following our story and exposing Egypts role in the siege, and their closeness with Israel/US.

More news as it unfolds.
#2248
Well folks, the good news to report to you this morning is that our boat has docked in El Arish, and every vehicle has cleared customs.

At 4pm today, the 1st of 4 flights will start to take the 515 humanitarians to El Arish, and hopefully, tomorrow we will all cross through the Rafah Border into Gaza.

Everyone is excited, and really motivated about our progress. Lets hope everything goes to plan.

Wish us well, as we have one final hurdle to cross.

Tyrone To Gaza

John Hurson
#2249
Well folks, the latest news to report to you today is that all our vehicles have been loaded onto a cargo ship, and are currently sailing to El Arish in Egypt. You can track the boats progress via the following link:

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?oldmmsi=271000751&zoom=7&olddate=1/3/2010%205:25:33%20AM#

Before sailing, the Israeli's informed us that they were carrying out "Military Operations" in international waters, and they streched "their Exclusion Zone" from 20kms to 45kms, adding 7 hours onto the boats journey.

However, we are determined that no obstacle will stand in our way in our attempts to reach Gaza and deliver this aid.
Enough is enough, and the Egyptians have been shown up this past 10 days to be the complete puppets with their strings been yanked by Israel/US Governments.

The story of the convoy, along with the story of the "Gaza Freedom Marchers" in Cairo has been the headline news all over the Arab world. Everyone is now aware of the reality of the situation in Gaza, the treatment of those who dare to help, and the role of Mubarak in blocking our progress. For the 1st time, Egypt have owned up to been controled by Israel/US.

Last night in Dungannon, a large crowd of supporters came out to show their support for the besieged people in Gaza, and for the efforts of the "Viva Palestina Convoy". They spoke over the phone to a doctor in Gaza who detailed the current situation in Gaza, and then they spoke with myself. It was an incredible show of support, and a massive thank you to all who attended. The plight of the Palestinians needs to be highlighted at every opportunity we get, as what's happening to them is one of the biggest crimes against humanity in the world today. When will the leader's of the west speak up and put an end to this misery?

Below is a press release I sent out last night, so if any of you have any contacts in the media, please forward it on. Plus, if any of you can spare 10 minutes, please write a letter to the main papers outlining your disgust at the role Egypt is playing in not only blocking aid, but enforcing the illegal siege imposed on Gaza for nearly 4 years now.

John Hurson

Tyrone To Gaza



Today, Saturday January 2nd, the 250 vehicles that make up the "Viva Palestina Convoy" were loaded onto a Turkish cargo ship in the port city of Latikia in Syria. The ship will set sail tonight for El Arish port in Egypt.

The crossing will take 26 hours, having had a futher 8 hours added to it's journey time by Israeli pressure. On Monday, over 500 members of the convoy will fly to El Arish and meet up with their vehicles.



A plane has been charted by Viva Palestina, the Turkish and Malaysian Governments, and it will make 3 trips in order to fly everyone to Egypt.



Having arrived in Aqaba, Jordan on December 24th, the convoy has faced numerous difficulties in the intervening time.

The humanitarian aid convoy could have crossed from Aqaba and reached the Rafah Border with Gaza in 5 hours. Now, 7 days and 600 miles later, they are still not over the line. The Egyptian Government has placed one obstacle after another on the convoy, however, as everyone is determined to deliver this aid to Gaza, they will do whatever it takes to reach their final destination.



The convoy has been on the road for 4 weeks now, having left London on December 6th. They have travelled through Europe, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, and then back to Syria. Convoy members have travelled from 20 different countries, and from Ireland, 10 humanitarians in 3 vehicles form part of the large international delegation.



No one is sure how things will turn out once they reach Egypt, as the goalposts have been changing on a daily basis. It is essential that the Egyptian authorities allow for a safe and speedy passage, and that they get to deliver their humanitarian aid to Gaza without any futher delay.

They appeal to everyone to contact the Egyptian Embassy to ask for their help in delivering this aid without any futher delay.

#2250
Well folks, the convoy has now moved towards the port city of Tarbus where all 250 vehicles will be loaded onto 3 boats for shipping to Al Arish.
The convoy members will either take a passenger ferry on Friday, or fly on Sunday.
It has been one major detour, however, as long as we reach Gaza with all our aid, it will have been worth it.

If I dont get the chance before midnight, Happy New Year To You All.
Raise a glass in honour of the people on the convoy, and most importantly, to the besieged people in Gaza.

Latest TV report from Press TV:
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=115010

Click on the blue camera icon above picture.

John