Leaving Gaza, Day1, August 28, 2008 The SS Free Gaza and SS Liberty left port in Gaza at 3:40 PM, and have begun their long voyage back to Cyprus. Aboard the ship are seven Palestinian passengers, including several children. We were able to speak with Paul Larudee on the SS Liberty just a few minutes ago:
"We're a little over an hour into our return trip to Cyprus and, unlike when we came in, there are several Israeli naval vessels in sight. We seem to be the focus of their activity, the center of their attention so to speak. However they're keeping a careful distance, not really approaching us. We expect to reach the twelve-mile limit around 7 PM this evening, and then cross over into international waters. "When we arrived in Gaza last Saturday, it was the first time in forty-one years that anyone has freely entered Gaza. But our leaving is in a way even more significant. Last Saturday, two of our Palestinian members came into Gaza on these boats. Today, seven more Palestinians are leaving with them. They got exit stamps from the Palestinian government, they boarded the ships, and soon they'll be in international waters, and then in Cyprus. This is the first time, ever, that Palestinians have been able to freely enter and leave their own country. It's an incredible step forward, and a sign of greater things to come." --Paul Larudee, aboard the SS Liberty, freely leaving Gaza. - - - FREE GAZA & LIBERTY ARRIVE IN CYPRUS WITH PALESTINIANS ON-BOARD For more information, please contact: Cyprus: Greta Berlin: +357-9908 1767 - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cyprus: Osama Qashoo: +357-9779 3595 - [EMAIL PROTECTED] Jerusalem: Angela Godfrey-Goldstein: +972-547366393 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: www.freegaza.org FREE GAZA MOVEMENT announces the arrival at 20:30 (10:30am PDT), Friday 29 August, 2008 of the FREE GAZA and LIBERTY vessels, in Larnaca Harbour, returning from Gaza, and a successful end to this first of such missions. The historic return voyage represents the first time ever that Palestinians have been able freely to enter and leave their country. The Free Gaza Movement will mark this historic moment with a reception at Larnaca Harbour, as will Palestinians in Gaza, as both boats return safely from Gazan and international waters after a calm and uneventful crossing. Organiser Paul Larudee: "This endeavour has been a huge success, far more significant and wide-reaching than anyone ever dreamt it could be. It has had obvious beneficial effects on the Palestinian people, but also on Israel. In fairness, credit must go where credit is due -- despite threats or obstacles, a responsible decision was made by Israeli authorities not to interfere with our mission and this is a model for the future." As reported by the world press, news has travelled worldwide of the Free Gaza Movement. Supportive messages have come in, including from UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the OPT, Richard Falk, who wrote: "The landing of two wooden boats carrying 46 human rights activists in Gaza is an important symbolic victory. This non-violent initiative of the Free Gaza Movement focused attention around the world on the stark reality that the 1.5 million residents of Gaza have endured a punitive siege for more than a year. This siege is a form of collective punishment that constitutes a massive violation of Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The siege, the coastal blockade, and overflights by Israeli aircraft all bear witness to the fact that despite Israel's claimed 'disengagement' in 2005, these realities on the ground establish that Gaza remains under Israeli occupation, and as a result Israel remains legally responsible for protecting the human rights of its civilian population. By severely restricting the entry of food, fuel, and medicine the economic and social rights of the people of Gaza have been systematically violated. There is widespread deafness among the people of Gaza that is blamed on the frequent sonic booms produced by over-flying Israeli military aircraft. For this reason the peace boats brought 200 hearing aids to Gaza." Mr. Falk strongly urged the international community to take action to uphold human rights in the Gaza Strip. "Above all, what is being tested is whether the imaginative engagement of dedicated private citizens can influence the struggle of a beleaguered people for basic human rights, and whether their courage and commitment can awaken the conscience of humanity to an unfolding tragedy." Or, in the words of Palestinian voyager, Musheir El-Farra, originally born and raised in Khan Younis in Gaza but currently living in Sheffield, UK: "For the first time in my life, I went to Gaza without being humiliated, without having to ask Israel for permission. We did it. We finally did it. And now others must join us and do it as well." www.freegaza.org www.anis-online.de/office/events/FreeGazaSong.htm www.flickr.com/photos/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ Huwaida on Al Jazeera Intnl. vs Israeli spokesman: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=aUPA0z2zRHQ and Part 2: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=C-DGBHPMe5c ----- From: "Karin Pally" * Palestine Aid Society * *Invites you to a * *Celebration of the Life and Works * *of Palestinian Poet and Hero * *Mahmoud Darwish * *1941 ^ 2008 * *Saturday, August 30, 2:00 p.m. * *Glendale Public Library Auditorium 222 E. Harvard St., Glendale, CA -- 2nd Floor* * * * * *Violin Performance * *Dr. Nabil Azzam will premier his new composition* * "Elegy for Mahmoud Darwish" * *Comments by:* ** * Historian Dr. Mahmood Ibrahim, Cal Poly Pomona* *Professor Gabriel Piterberg, UCLA* *Professor Hamoud Salhi, CSUD* *Professor Bice Harris, Occidental College* *Rev. Darrel Meyers* *Donald Bustany of KPFK's "Middle East In Focus"* ** *and many more* *Poetry Readings by:* ** *Egyptian-American actor/activist Nasser Faris* * Hip-Hop stars Nizar ("Ragtop") Wattad* * and Omar ("Offendum") Chakaki* ** * **Program in English* ** *Admission Free* * * * ----- Original Message ----- From: Skylight Books To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 8:02 AM Subject: Skylight Books 1814 Grand Opening Aug 30!! Join us for our Grand Opening Aug 30! Our bookstore expands into new next-door location Join Our List Skylight Books open 10am to 10pm daily 1818 N Vermont Ave (and 1814 N Vermont) (between Hollywood & Franklin; next to the Los Feliz Cinema) Skylight Staff Blog www.skylightbooks.com JOIN US FOR GRAND OPENING ON SAT AUG 30 Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Party begin at 3pm As you know by now, WE'VE EXPANDED to a new space next door, SKYLIGHT BOOKS 1814, a special place for books on art, photography, architecture, design, fashion, film, theater, graphic novels, and magazines, allowing us to rearrange and expand many of the other book sections in the original store. Now it's time to celebrate! Join us and Los Angeles Councilmember Tom LaBonge, as we hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and "christen" the store with a bottle of champagne. We'll drink a toast together and cut the special Grand Opening Cake made by Kate Steffens of Straightouttachocolate rock 'n roll cakes. The ceremony will be followed by a performance by Skylight Juice, a band created by Skylight staff members exclusively for this occasion. The festivities will begin at 3:00 p.m., outside the Skylight Books 1814 location. ALL-DAY CELEBRATION IN BOTH STORES! Prizes! Discounts (18.14%)! The fun doesn't begin or end with the ribbon-cutting. All day long, a discount of 18.14% will be given on all books at both locations, and light refreshments will be served. Balloons, prizes and giveaways! Skylight Books 1818 Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90027 (323) 660-1175 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.skylightbooks.com Forward email This email was sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] by [EMAIL PROTECTED] Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribeT | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by Skylight Books | 1818 N. Vermont Ave (between Hollywood Blvd & Franklin) | Los Angeles | CA | 90027 *** Sunday August 31, 2008 2-5pm the First EVER Annual Poetry in Motion Poetry Festival at The Coffee Gallery Backstage 2029 Lake Blvd. Altadena, CA (626) 398-7917 Featuring Award Winning Poets Sharmagne Leland-St. John Sherman Pearl ellen Abel Salas and Michael Pliskin on Guitar *FLYER ATTACHED* or check out the Coffee Gallery's Calendar http://www.coffeegallery.com/showsat.htm ************** It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here. (http://information.travel.aol.com/deals?ncid=aoltrv00050000000047) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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