Greens EBulletin 7 Jan 2009

Greens e-bulletin
7 January 2009


1. Coming  events to protest the Israeli invasion of Gaza
2. Australia’s climate action summit
3. Greens parties speak out on Gaza
4. What you can do to help the people of Gaza


1. JOIN THE PROTESTS – CALL FOR ISRAEL TO WITHDRAW FOR GAZA

Women's Silent Vigil for Peace in Gaza
5.30 to 6.30 pm Thursday 8 January 2009
Sydney Town Hall steps
o    We invite all women to join a silent vigil of mourning.
o    We condemn the ongoing military attacks on Gaza.
o    We stand with thousands in Israel and around the world who seek peace  with justice for Palestinian.
The vigil is initiated by representatives of Women in Black-Sydney. www.wibsydney.org

Rally for Palestine
7 pm Thursday 8 January 2009
All welcome
Sydney Town Hall Square

2. AUSTRALIA'S CLIMATE ACTION SUMMIT

Canberra
Saturday 31 January to Tuesday 3 February
http://www.climatesummit.org.au/ 

Sat 31 Jan, Sun 1 Feb: facilitated meetings and workshops will focus on campaign development, movement building, skills workshops, and information and discussion sessions.

Mon 2 Feb: dynamic training in climate campaigning skills for taking action, facilitating climate action groups, effective lobbying and more.

Tue 3 Feb (opening of Parliament): peaceful, community action demanding immediate action for a  safe climate the launch of a  national campaign.

Everyone welcome (especially Greens).

For more info or transport help – call the Greens office on 02 95190877

3. GREENS PARTIES SPEAK OUT

Greens parties around the world are adding their voice to the growing international condemnation of Israel's invasion of Gaza and are calling for an immediate cease-fire.

Greens Party USA
Greens candidate in the presidential election and former Georgia congresswoman Cynthia McKinney joined a boatload of activists to deliver medicine to war-torn Gaza. An Israeli patrol boat rammed their boat. Read Cynthia's account - http://www.gp.org/index.php 

European Green Party
EGP Co-Spokesperson Philippe Lamberts said: "We call for an immediate and unconditional end to the spiral of violence which is reported to have caused the deaths of over 320 people, including many innocent civilians."
http://www.europeangreens.org/cms/default/dok/263/263896.egp_condemns_escalation_of_violence_in_g@en.htm 

New Zealand Green Party
Green Party MP and foreign affairs spokesperson Keith Locke speaking at a rally in Wellington stated, "I ask Murray McCully [NZ FM] how many bodies of children sticking out of the ruins, how many homes being destroyed, does it take till he will criticize directly what the Israeli government is doing to the people of Gaza".
http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/locke-challenge-govt-over-its-middle-east-response-39409 

Australian Greens
Australian Greens leader Bob Brown told ABC radio he is appalled at the Australian Government's failure to condemn the bombing of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. He has called on Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard to immediately add Australia's voice to calls for Israel to abandon the Gaza invasion.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/03/2458565.htm?section=australia 

More than 100 Australian Jews, including NSW Greens MP Ian Cohen, have condemned Israel's incursion into Gaza as "inhuman, superfluous and abominable".
http://www.theage.com.au/national/gaza-invasion-over-the-top-jewish-group-20090105-7aiw.html

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called for Israel to end its assault on Gaza and for a cease
fire to be immediately implemented.
http://lee.greens.org.au/index.php/content/view/2780/50/

AAP News - Greens call on the govt to condemn Gaza bombing
ADELAIDE, Jan 7 AAP - Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said it was abhorrent that a UN school had now been bombed, despite the UN providing the Israeli military with the GPS coordinates for all its facilities. "No child should ever be used as a weapon of war, nor should they be subjected to violence and forced to flee their homes in fear."


4. WHAT YOU CAN DO ON GAZA

Key points to make –
·    Immediate steps must be taken to end the Israeli attacks on Gaza and the brutal, immoral, and illegal siege of Gaza. 
·    Urge President elect Barack Obama to enforce the US Arms Control Export and Foreign Assistance Act, which prohibits aid to countries that abuse human rights or use weapons purchased from the US for offensive purposes. 
·    Urge the United Nations to ensure Israel respects the Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
·    There will be no peace in the Middle East until the plight of the Palestinian people is recognised and resolved.

1) Write to Mr Stephen Smith Foreign Affairs Minister
House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600
Email: Stephen.Smith.MP@aph.gov.au

2) Contact local media. Write letters to your local papers and to blogs and other online forums - usually 100-150 words.

3) Organise and join demonstrations.

4) Hold a teach-in, seminar, public dialogue, documentary film viewing. The Greens can help to arrange speakers.

5) Pass out fliers with facts and figures about Palestine and Gaza in your community