Tag Archives: war

A Tranquil Space

P__ and I went to Turn Up for Gaza at The Colour Factory. The venue is very cool. The line up was great, hosted by Jen Brister, and including JJ Bola, the repeat beat poet, Rozi Plain, Robyn Rocket and more. A highlight was Donna Thompson who made magic with her voice and a looper. And of course, my all time favourite Hollie McNish, who made me cry, as always. The event was in support of All Our Relations, supporting families displaced by conflict and violence, providing them with the financial, organizational, and emotional aid they need to rebuild their lives with dignity. I hope the event raised a lot of money. You can donate here or use the QR code.

There has been heavy rainfall in Khan Younis and other areas of Gaza. Osama tells me that conditions have deteriorated. There is no infrastructure. There is no shelter. Everything, everywhere is cold and wet. They worry that tents will be flooded and destroyed. I got paid, so I sent his family more money. Please help with whatever you can. I am matching all donations between now and Friday* so whatever you give will be worth double!

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Haunted

Since October 4th, at least one child has been killed and 10 injured daily by Israel in Lebanon. Fifty children were killed in Northern Gaza yesterday. Gaza’s children are not merely ‘collateral’ which would be horrific enough, but are targets of genocide, of erasure, of extermination. The Palestinian people have been so completely dehumanised that the world continues to stand by, spectators to the horror show. I sent more money to Osama and his family in Khan Younis, but they need much more than I can give. Osama is one of 8 siblings. His youngest sister Haya is just 11 years old. She has been robbed of her childhood. His father Sobhi has diabetes, and a deep foot ulcer, as well as heart disease. They cannot afford the escalating price of medications and there is no functioning health service.

It is too awful.

There was some hope this week as Barclays divested from Elbit systems after a direct action campaign. Until recently, Barclays owned over 16,000 shares in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons company, worth over $3,400,000. For over a year, Palestine Action activists have targeted Barclays premises, smashing branch windows and spraying them in blood-red paint. This has put Barclays sites out of operation for weeks, raising the costs associated with dealing with Elbit. Palestine Action’s broader campaign against Elbit systems and its’ financial and industrial partners aims to make the cost of dealing in genocide, occupation, and apartheid exceed the potential to profit from it. 

The CEOs of these corporations have no conscience, but hit their bottom line and they act.

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Every day I pray for love

I was off work this week, but somehow found myself even more busy than usual. Being off work I had more time to watch the live streamed horrors in Gaza and Lebanon. I signed more petitions. I stepped up my boycott of companies profiting from Israel’s crimes. I sent money directly to a family in Khan Younis. Osama is 22, the oldest of 8 siblings, trying to keep his displaced family safe. His father needs medication, but with Israel’s military targeting hospitals and killing healthcare workers, leaving no functioning health service, very little is available. Almost no aid is entering Gaza. I can’t watch. I can’t not watch. I feel hollow.

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