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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

Sunrise in Libya.


Well folks, following the success of the last "Viva Palestina" convoy of aid to Gaza, another one in making it's way
to Gaza as we speak. It left London 2 weeks ago, and is currently at the Turkey/Syria border.
I will be flying out to Jordan on Tuesday in order to meet up with them, and travel through Jordan and Egypt,
and on December 27th, we hope to cross through the Rafah Border into Gaza.

December 27th marks the 1st anniversary of the attacks, and over 400 people in 250 vehicles will attempt
to mark this date by delivering humanitarian aid to the stricken region. The aid I brought earlier this year remains
the only Irish aid to have reached Gaza this year. Containers from Cork and Galway have been refued entry,
2 seperate boats with Irish aid have been denied. One was rammed, and the other diverted to Israel and all
21 people on board arrested and deported. Politicians, Michael Martin and Proinsias De Rosa have been refused.
Plus, 4 Irish men cycled to Gaza, and yes, you guessed it, they were refused.

This folks is totally unacceptable. People still live in tents and in the ruins of their old homes, aid lies piled
up on the borders of Egypt and Israel. Recently, 200,000 tonnes of food was dumped in the Siani desert.
What we will be carrying is only a sticky plaster in relation to what's really needed, however, our actions will
highlight the current situation, and let the people in Gaza know that they are not forgotten, one year on.

There is an ambulance from Derry with 5 volunteers, and 2 people in one from Cork. From Tyrone, David Callander
is in a truck carrying 10 tonne of aid. On Davids truck, I have GAA goalposts, footballs, dvd's, books, and training
equipment for the 1st Gaza GAA Club that I am establishing. I have Peter Canavan, and Professor Noam Chomsky
as Honouray Presidents. This folks, is some combination, as Noam wouldn't be too well known in Gaelic circles!
Peter has donated a full set of jerseys from his school, Holy Trinity College, Cookstown. We are very lucky indeed
to have his support on this project. Hopefully he will be playing a game there in the not to distant future.
(Que smart ass remarks from the board...........)

So, this Christmas, take a moment and think of the people in Gaza, who are still trying to deal with the incredible loss
they suffered a year ago. Keep them in your thoughts during the anniversary of the attacks, and in small way,
this will let them know that they are not forgotten.

Tyrone To Gaza

John Hurson

Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=541019313#/group.php?gid=238347355199



The "Ireland To Gaza" team in Turkey.

Well Folks, this tonight was just one incredible evenings craic, and what a laugh.
I have written a press release, so have a read.......

There was incredible excitement and tension this evening at the Oaks Centre, Dungannon, where a new  "Human Mattress Domino" world record was set. With 130 the record to beat, 145 people lined all the way from the back of Sainsbury's store, out into the mall, then right down to the main doors, and back up to the front of Home Furnishing Solutions, where 6 FM DJ, Malachi Cush, was last one set to fall.

8 weeks ago when Barry Mc Guinness from HFS decided to make an attempt at breaking the world record, it stood at 80. During this time, the record got broke 3 times. Blue Peter held the record at 100, and then it went to 121, and the most recent one was 130, set 10 days ago. Not deterred by the rising numbers, Barry just kept adding mattresses and got the assistance of Sainsbury's to use their main aisle to start the attempt.

So, on November 12th, World Records Day, 145 people lined up holding a mattress at their back. On the stroke of 7, Barry give the first one a shove, and one by one, the domino effect just gathered speed and momentum,  hurtling down through the chill section, and on past the fruit and veg, narrowly missing the potatoes! Gathering speed,  it raced into the mall, and with flashbulbs going off like fireworks, the human domino's took their first turn when they turned left, and raced towards the exit doors. Coming up to the doors was going to be the trickiest part, as it had to turn 180 degrees!!

Rapidly approaching the doors, over 80 people had successfully dropped, and without a hitch, the turn was negotiated, then,  like a steam train, another 60 people dropped down along the home straight as a new World "Human Mattress Domino" record was set, when Malachi Cush dropped onto a double bed. All in a time of 56 seconds!

The roof nearly lifted of the Oaks Centre as 145 people started crawling out from under mattresses to incredible roars from the hundreds of people who had turned out for the event, realising they had set a new record. The scenes at the finish was like nothing ever witnessed in Dungannon in a long time.

Presenting a grinning Barry Mc Guinness with a certificate confirming the new record, Patricia Mc Gill, from "Guinness World Records", confirmed that they had broken the record, and everyone involved, can rightly claim to be a "World Record Holder".
She praised everyone involved, and as it was "World Records Day", breaking the record had an even sweeter feel, and everyone involved can feel proud of their recording breaking achievement.

Taking part in the record attempt, were members of Dungannon Swifts and Rugby Clubs,  local GAA clubs, Clonoe Boxing Club, the Ren Bu Kan Judo club, as various other sporting individuals also took part.
Sainsbury's staff, together with staff from all the other shops in the Oaks Centre, teamed up with other volunteers from not only Dungannon, but right across Europe.

Keeping time on the night was international boxing coach Frank Gervin, and former world Judo champion, Harry Mc Guigan. Keeping an eye on them were Rev. Foster, and Fr. Mc Anenley, who both backed out at the last minute citing back problems!!

All the Mattresses were sponsored by local business's and individuals, and together with a collection on the night, local charity "Marie Curie", will be benefiting from the new world record set!! Pat O' Kane from Marie Curie reckons he has seen a lot of charity events, however, he has never witnessed anything like this! Pat took part himself, and if his laughter at the end when he crawled out from under a mattress was an indication of how much he enjoyed it, then Pat will be smiling for a few days to come!

A lot of hard work went into this event, and in the space of a minute, not only was a new record set, but 145 people went home holding a certificate confirming they were "World Record Holders". There will be many a story to be told regarding this event for a very long time to come!

Many thanks go out to a lot of people, not least the people who took part, the people who sponsored a mattress or donated, all the staff and business's in the Oaks Centre, and for all those who helped in handling the mattress's.
Special thanks to Sainsbury's for the use of their aisle and for providing refreshments during the evening. Entertainment on the evening was provided by Brian "Disco" Nicholl, and the ever popular Malachi Cush kept the crowd entertained and informed with his duties of MC.

This event couldn't have happened without the mattress's, so to Mark at Honey B, thanks for making this happen.

Barry Mc Guinness and Deirdre Crowe

Home Furnishing Solutions
The Oaks Centre
Dungannon. 

 

Folks, if any of you are handy and competent in the design of a web site please send me a PM and
I will get back to you with more details. Please include a phone number and I will chat it over with you..

I need a site set up for our upcomming mission to sail a cargo ship from Ireland to Gaza,
filled with hundreds of tonnes of building and medical equipment.
Already, the Quinn group are behind this project and are supplying the cement.
Noam Chomsky took time out to record a fantastic interview with myself giving us his full support.
Kila are comming along and are to play a concert in Gaza when we arrive.
There are other high profile people who are behind us, and I will reveal all in good time.

There isn't a big budget, however, it will be the most rewarding job you will have ever undertaken,
as this voyage has the potential to be the biggest story in Ireland this christmas.
It will make Band Aid look like amatuers...................................


John

Well folks, I'm heading to the Noam Chomsky lecture tonight in the Whitla Hall,
and I was wondering if anyone else is going along?
No doubt it will be an incredible experience, and one to remember.
Sure if anyone is going, maybe we could meet up afterwards for a few scoops?

Well folks, I think I need to start a new thread on this one.....

Following the success of the last "Viva Palestina Convoy", another convoy has now been planned to depart on October 4th to Gaza. This time, it will travel through Europe, then Turkey, Jordan, Syria and Egypt. Again, it will travel through the Rafah border into Gaza. This journey will take 16 days approx, and 4,000 miles.

Already, over 200 people in the UK have signed up, and I'm trying to recruit as many from Ireland as possible to go. In Derry, a group are putting together vehicles to go, and in Belfast and Dublin groups are also working on vehicles. On top of that, Cork, Galway, Mayo, and Leitrim are putting together vehicles. So far, we are looking at 15 vehicles filled with aid to join up.

Caoimhe Butterly from Dublin is a medic in Gaza, and recently she has been doing a few speaking events in Ireland. Together, we have been recruiting people for the next convoy, and she has compiled a list of medical items that are needed badly in Gaza. So, each vehicle leaving Ireland will contain medical aid that is urgently needed. Caoimhe has been in Gaza for 8 months, including the war, and she is one very brave woman.

If anyone is interested in joining the convoy, send me a message and I can give out more information. I can then put you in touch with a group from your area to join up with. It will require 3 weeks commitment which for some is too much, however, if you can spare a week, why not fly to Cairo and meet up with us and travel into Gaza along with the convoy.

The last convoy was an incredible experience, and this time there will be an even greater Irish presence. So, whatever level of support anyone can provide, please get in touch with me. Plus, very soon, the 1st GAA club in Palestine will be formed. I will keep you posted on that development as soon as I have it firmed up. So, if we have enough Irish people on the convoy, we might play the 1st Gaelic match in Palestine.........

The support and generosity from the board on the last convoy was incredible, and it really inspired me before and during the convoy. This time around, I know you can all pull together again and make a significant difference to the people in Gaza who live in the worlds largest prison. So whatever suggestions anyone has, please feel free to put it out for discussion. Lets see if we can have someone from each of the 32 counties and this time make it "Ireland To Gaza"..........................................

Ireland To Gaza
John Hurson

Well folks, if anyone is available tomorrow evening in Belfast, come along to St. Marys on the Falls road to hear
Caoimhe Butterly speak about her work in Gaza, and what it was like during the 22 day war in December and January.
She was with me at the weekend, and she spoke in Sandino's in Derry on Saturday.
This is an event not to be missed as she is one very brave and remarkable woman.


In a world of self-importance and stage-managed fakery, meet a genuine heroine.   Caoimhe Butterly is an Irish human rights co-ordinator and frontline worker in Gaza.  She has been shot by Israeli occupying forces when rescuing a disabled Palestinian child from their gunfire, beaten up by Israeli border guards, and in 2002 occupied Yassar Arafat's Ramallah compound to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.



Butterly is currently doing a talking tour of Europe to raise awareness of the situation in Gaza, grimmer than ever since the Israeli occupying forces destroyed it last January – unlike areas of natural disaster, Gaza cannot be rebuilt because the Israeli government keeps Gaza under siege, allowing only food and some medicines in.    There are currently 250,000 tons of humanitarian aid waiting for Gaza in Egypt, detained by the Egyptian government in compliance with Israeli government wishes.   



Caoimhe Butterly, born in Dublin in 1978, has been living in the Jabaliya refugee camp since last November, and has been resident in Gaza and Lebanon for several years.  Before this she worked with AIDS sufferers in Zimbabwe, the homeless in New York, and Zapatistas in Mexico.  In 2003 Time magazine made her one of their Europeans of the Year.   

 

A fluent Arabic speaker, she currently volunteers with the Palestinian ambulance service, and several other frontline relief projects in Gaza, such as working with families of political prisoners.  There are now over 5,000 orphaned children in the region,  which is the most densely populated place in the world, with 1.5 million people, half of whom are under 18.  Three quarters of the population are refugees.

 

Butterly is co-ordinator of the Free Gaza Movement, whose latest project is a flotilla of ships wishing to bring aid to the besieged area.   This organisation has high levels of support.  Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, President of the UN General Assembly, recently said "From the groundbreaking work of Gandhi and King to the ongoing example of the Free Gaza Movement, we can discern the transforming power of non-violence at a crossroads in our history."

 

Butterly is clear and concise about what has happened, and what needs to happen.    "I worked during the war [in January] and its aftermath as a volunteer with the Palestinian ambulances service," she says.   "There was a systematic and deliberate targeting of our colleagues – the Israelis killed several medical workers, including 13 Palestinian paramedics and 3 ambulance volunteers.   There were 29 Palestinian medical workers injured, and 27 Palestinian medical institutions including hospitals, field clinics and rehabilitation centres were attacked – shelled, bombed and shot up.  Also, 23 ambulances were damaged.

 

"One of the objectives of me being here giving talks is to try and encourage the twinning of  Irish ambulance services with their Gazan counterparts, which would serve to raise awareness and break isolation, provide solidarity and facilitate future exchanges."

 

She continues, "A number of human rights organisations have reported [these attacks on Palestinian medical workers and institutions],  but the problem is the double standards within international law.   Human rights conventions look great on paper, but there is a lack of implementation and political will.  There is also a lack of prosecution of any Israeli generals, which strengthens the culture of impunity and inaction."

 

Then there's the issue of all that undistributed aid, held up by the Egyptian authorities at the behest of the Israeli government.  "There needs to be concerted effort from human rights organisations that the tens of thousands of tons of aid, donated by humanitarian good will, gets into Gaza," she says.   "The Egyptian government must allow this to pass through Rafah."

 

But what can be done?  As an ordinary person reading this, what on earth can you do to make any difference?  After all, we've seen the bombardment of Gaza on telly, watching in horror as world leaders stood back and did nothing.

 

"It's very easy to feel overwhelmed and disempowered by the scenes of massacre and siege in Gaza," says Butterly calmly.  "But ordinary people can unite and challenge what is going on."    This can be achieved, she says, by people participating at grassroots level – taking part in a consumer boycott, educating their families about the situation, taking part in protests and demonstrations, becoming involved in twinning projects to alleviate the sense of isolation and abandonment felt by ordinary Gazans, encouraging children to get involved with pen pal projects, as well as donating humanitarian aid. 

 

"Then pressure the Irish government to pressure the Israeli and Egyptian government to let the aid through," she says.  "Millions of euros have already been donated to Palestinian institutions which have then been bombed and rebuilt, bombed and rebuilt.  Gaza is subject to a hermetic siege.   The sea route is the only realistic route for rebuilding.  On passenger ships, we can only bring symbolic aid.  We hope to bring cargo ships, which would be far more effective as each could bring 1,000 tons of aid.  But maritime law is very bureaucratic."  She pauses.  "And we could be attacked again by the Israelis.  Two aid ships have already been attacked, and one threatened."

 

Caoimhe Butterly returns to Gaza on June 7th to continue her work.  She remains tirelessly unconcerned for her own safety.  Instead she shines a light on one of the most socially unjust places on earth – let us take her lead, and offer our support in any way we can.   

How do we get in on the panning for gold in Armagh? Any answers Tony?

http://www.rte.ie/business/2009/0205/conroy.html

Conroy says Armagh gold find big

Exploration company Conroy Diamonds & Gold has made a new gold discovery in County Armagh, sending its shares up by more than 40% on the AIM market in London.

The company has already discovered gold at Clontibret, Co Monaghan, where a resource of more than one million ounces have been identified.

Conroy says the latest find at Clay Lake - 7km from the Clontibret site - has come across gold-in-soil values twice the average recorded at Clontibret.

The Armagh site is named after a nugget containing 28g of gold found in a stream bed in the 1980s.

Conroy is exploring a 50km-long area which straddles the north-south border.

[Lifeline for Gaza aid convoy]

Folks, like so many people here in Ireland, and all across the world, the scenes from Gaza over the past month have been horrible.
I have decided to do something about it, and I am planning to join George Galloway on his "Lifeline for Gaza aid convoy", which will be leaving London on Saturday February 14th.
I have only decided to make the journey today, so the planning has just begun. I will need as much help and support as possible to make this come together in 2 weeks.
First off, I need a large van, which will be left in Gaza, so if anyone is in the "van sales trade", or knows of a van that can be bought dirt cheap, let me know. I will be contacting a few dealers around home as well.
What is mostly needed, are blankets, and clothes for children.  
As this is day 1 of the planning, please feel free to suggest ways and means of support. The total cost of the trip will be £3,000, which will cover ferries, fuel, and other expenses.
I have ideas whereby people can purchase a blanket, which I have sourced for bulk purchase, for a price of say £10. That way, if I sell 300 blankets, the cost is covered.
Also, I plan to have people write a message of support on the van for the people of Gaza for say £5.
I will try and keep the fundraising as simple as possible, and maybe visit a number of towns locally on certain days at certain times to give people the chance to support the trip.
Again, please feel free to come up with any idea's of support.


Here is the letter from George Galloway, and the link to "Viva Palestina" who are organising the trip.   

http://www.vivapalestina.org

Lifeline for Gaza aid convoy leaving on Saturday 14 February 2009

Send a Valentine to Palestine

A message from George Galloway

More than 1,300 dead – more than 400 of them children – and still they are dragging bodies from the ruins.

The death toll in Gaza is rising, while the world's leaders and media look away in search of a new story.

We will not look away. The Palestinians in Gaza need our help now, just as they did when Israel's bombs and illegal weapons were dropping.

Thousands of people have contacted me to say that they have marched, cried at the television pictures and feel helpless in the face of the suffering.

That's why I have launched a major initiative in response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I will be leading an aid convoy from London to Gaza leaving on 14 February and travelling through France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and through Rafah and into Gaza. It will bring material aid and raise the banner of Palestine in all the countries that we visit.

The convoy will be led by a British fire engine, ambulances, and many trucks full of practical aid given by the various communities in Britain.

It is quite an undertaking, which I anticipate will have a high public profile throughout its journey and on its arrival in Gaza, god willing, some 30 days later.

The convoy is already supported by the Stop the War Coalition – which organised the largest demonstrations in British history – as well as the Anglo-Arab Organisation, several British trade unions and a large number of Muslim organisations. Fundraising for the convoy is taking place all over Britain.

We urgently need your help

1) Secure a vehicle, fill it with aid and get sponsorship to cover its costs to Gaza (approximately £3,000 for fuel and expenses). Many people are donating vehicles to leave there.

2) Money: please organise fundraisers, collections, donations which the convoy will get directly to the people of Gaza.

Cheques should be made payable to "Lifeline for Gaza" and sent to

Lifeline for Gaza c/o Flat 6, 1-2 Bowling Green Place, London SE1 1YL. (Account numbers and bank details to follow.) For more details email sally@vivapalestina.org or phone her on 07545 181 079.

3) Collect new clothes for children and adults alike. Please email sally@vivapalestina.org or phone her on 07545 181 079.

Tune in folks for what should be a fantastic insight into Gaza.

It has surprised me that there hasn't been a thread started on "Thatcher In Hospital"?
Maybe we are too worried about Patrick Swayze?
Anyway, the old bat has since returned home, and we will have to hold out on the street party for another while...........

Has anyone any information as to what cinema is showing the new U2 movie in Belfast or surrounding towns?

Has anyone changed their attitude towards buying and eating chicken after watching the fantastic shows regarding chicken production by Hugh from River Cottage?