Dear One and All
The Brunswick Heads Fun Sand Castle Competition presented a fantastic opportunity to make an entry of a sand mock-up of Bi'lin. Every week for 6 years the people have peacefully protested against the Israeli wall which the International Court of justice has condemned as illegal. Two years ago the Israeli Supreme Court stated that the wall's route should be altered but the Israeli military maintains the status quo. Bi'lin's peaceful protests are met with military violence particularly through the use of high velocity tear gas canisters which are aimed directly at protesters. Two years ago Bassem Abu Rahma was killed in this way and one year ago, Abdullah Abu Rahmah, Coordinator of the Bil?in Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, was dragged at night from his family by the Israeli military who smashed their apartment. He was convicted of ?organizing illegal demonstrations? and ?incitement? against the Wall. On New Year?s Day (last Saturday) 36 year old Jawaher Abu Rahma, was killed in her own home from tear gas asphyxiation. This action is a salute to the brave people of Bi'lin and to the people of the Palestinian Occupied Territories in the hope that by raising public awareness the plight of Palestine can be moved out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
Seminars On The Sand (SOTS)-what an appropriate accronym!- plans to replicate this event on the beaches around Byron Bay which has more than a million visitors each year. Key objectives are to set up a permanent Palestinian voice and to influence as many people as possible and to get Byron to emulate Marrickville in Sydney which has twinned with Bethlehem; we could twin with Gaza, for example, as we share a beach environment.
The organisers of this event, the Brunswick Heads Progress Association, tried 3 times to get me to remove the flags because they said they had had complaints from Australian military personnel. The Vice President said she was "pissed of" because I had "hijacked" their event which was a family fun day and we would get all the press attention. She said she would "have a word" with the media. I pointed out I was having fun and, as a grandfather, I also represented family values. The Northern Star carried 5 pictures of sand castles but ignored Bi'lin; the last paragraph of the report gave brief mention to it. My exhibit was disqualified even though it complied with the published rules and I regard this as an act of political censorship.
Please watch the tubby bloke video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ3hS1OuIkA
and check this link: http://theonlydemocracy.org/2011/01/horrible-start-to-a-new-year-palestinian-woman-killed-by-tear-gas-at-protest/#comments
Gareth Smith
14 Cumbebin Park
Byron Bay
NSW 2481
Australia
Tel: (61)02 66858410
MOB: 0422 298 165
Email: maxigar@gmail.com
"The sleep of reason produces monsters" Goya
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities" Voltaire
"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." Dom Helder Camara, Brazilian Archbishop
The Brunswick Heads Fun Sand Castle Competition presented a fantastic opportunity to make an entry of a sand mock-up of Bi'lin. Every week for 6 years the people have peacefully protested against the Israeli wall which the International Court of justice has condemned as illegal. Two years ago the Israeli Supreme Court stated that the wall's route should be altered but the Israeli military maintains the status quo. Bi'lin's peaceful protests are met with military violence particularly through the use of high velocity tear gas canisters which are aimed directly at protesters. Two years ago Bassem Abu Rahma was killed in this way and one year ago, Abdullah Abu Rahmah, Coordinator of the Bil?in Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, was dragged at night from his family by the Israeli military who smashed their apartment. He was convicted of ?organizing illegal demonstrations? and ?incitement? against the Wall. On New Year?s Day (last Saturday) 36 year old Jawaher Abu Rahma, was killed in her own home from tear gas asphyxiation. This action is a salute to the brave people of Bi'lin and to the people of the Palestinian Occupied Territories in the hope that by raising public awareness the plight of Palestine can be moved out of the shadows and into the spotlight.
Seminars On The Sand (SOTS)-what an appropriate accronym!- plans to replicate this event on the beaches around Byron Bay which has more than a million visitors each year. Key objectives are to set up a permanent Palestinian voice and to influence as many people as possible and to get Byron to emulate Marrickville in Sydney which has twinned with Bethlehem; we could twin with Gaza, for example, as we share a beach environment.
The organisers of this event, the Brunswick Heads Progress Association, tried 3 times to get me to remove the flags because they said they had had complaints from Australian military personnel. The Vice President said she was "pissed of" because I had "hijacked" their event which was a family fun day and we would get all the press attention. She said she would "have a word" with the media. I pointed out I was having fun and, as a grandfather, I also represented family values. The Northern Star carried 5 pictures of sand castles but ignored Bi'lin; the last paragraph of the report gave brief mention to it. My exhibit was disqualified even though it complied with the published rules and I regard this as an act of political censorship.
Please watch the tubby bloke video :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQ3hS1OuIkA
and check this link: http://theonlydemocracy.org/2011/01/horrible-start-to-a-new-year-palestinian-woman-killed-by-tear-gas-at-protest/#comments
Gareth Smith
14 Cumbebin Park
Byron Bay
NSW 2481
Australia
Tel: (61)02 66858410
MOB: 0422 298 165
Email: maxigar@gmail.com
"The sleep of reason produces monsters" Goya
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities" Voltaire
"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist." Dom Helder Camara, Brazilian Archbishop
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