Hussein Al-alak: Palestinians in Sheffield
“The largest Palestinian event outside of London”
On Saturday 12th May 2007, the British city of Sheffield, is going to play host to what is being described as “the largest Palestinian solidarity event outside London for many years”.
The “Northern Rally” is being organised by the North of England branches of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which was founded in 1982 after the Massacre of Palestinian refugees in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.
The Sheffield rally will feature exceptional speakers, representing the breadth of support for the Palestinian cause. Already lined up, includes a member of the Palestinian General Delegation to the United Kingdom and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign‘s own chairperson Ms Betty Hunter.
There will also be speeches from Clare Short, who is a member of the British Parliament, along with the film maker Haim Bresheeth.
Alongside the political rally, a days long carnival is also being organised, where members of the public will be able to directly engage with the Palestinian situation and take part in the celebration of Palestinian culture and resilience.
Special features of the carnival will include Palestinian dabke dancing, a “fake checkpoint“, at least “two Apartheid Walls“, Palestinian food, a variety of stalls and photographic displays.
There will also be a marquee situated in the Sheffield city centre, which is hoped to ensure “the day catches the attention of local shoppers“ whilst “the march and rally will be entertained by samba bands and the ‘Cyclists for Palestine”.
Apparently, other activities may also include a Boycott Market Stall, featuring the “forbidden fruits and vegetables”, as part of the Boycott Israeli Goods Campaign and a display about Palestinian football, which will also promote the boycott campaign against Israel’s inclusion into the Euro 2008.
The rally has been stimulated by the growth of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign around the north of England, with support for the event generating enough interest, that the Campaign has organised various means of transport for those further out to participate.
Support for the Palestinian cause has grown over the past few years, with recent media coverage reporting that “46 per cent of Gaza and West Bank households are "food insecure" or in danger of becoming so”, according to a UN report which was published in Feb 2007.
The report had been set against a 2004 study by the UN, which claimed a "slow but steady" growth in actual malnutrition - as measured by reduced growth, vitamin deficiencies, anaemia and other indicators.”
Concern has also grown in response to statements from the Palestinian Health Ministry, which reported in October 2006, that there has been an increase in people suffering from “severe depression” inside the West Bank, with “much higher levels of depression being found by those living in extreme poverty.”
For more information check out the Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s website: http://www.sheffieldpsc.org.uk/drupal/events
Hussein Al-alak
The Iraq Solidarity Campaign
http://www.iraqsolidaritycampaign.blogspot.com
Please also see:
Paul V. Rafferty: The Fifth Conference of Palestinians in Europe
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=3481&blz=1
“The largest Palestinian event outside of London”
On Saturday 12th May 2007, the British city of Sheffield, is going to play host to what is being described as “the largest Palestinian solidarity event outside London for many years”.
The “Northern Rally” is being organised by the North of England branches of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which was founded in 1982 after the Massacre of Palestinian refugees in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.
The Sheffield rally will feature exceptional speakers, representing the breadth of support for the Palestinian cause. Already lined up, includes a member of the Palestinian General Delegation to the United Kingdom and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign‘s own chairperson Ms Betty Hunter.
There will also be speeches from Clare Short, who is a member of the British Parliament, along with the film maker Haim Bresheeth.
Alongside the political rally, a days long carnival is also being organised, where members of the public will be able to directly engage with the Palestinian situation and take part in the celebration of Palestinian culture and resilience.
Special features of the carnival will include Palestinian dabke dancing, a “fake checkpoint“, at least “two Apartheid Walls“, Palestinian food, a variety of stalls and photographic displays.
There will also be a marquee situated in the Sheffield city centre, which is hoped to ensure “the day catches the attention of local shoppers“ whilst “the march and rally will be entertained by samba bands and the ‘Cyclists for Palestine”.
Apparently, other activities may also include a Boycott Market Stall, featuring the “forbidden fruits and vegetables”, as part of the Boycott Israeli Goods Campaign and a display about Palestinian football, which will also promote the boycott campaign against Israel’s inclusion into the Euro 2008.
The rally has been stimulated by the growth of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign around the north of England, with support for the event generating enough interest, that the Campaign has organised various means of transport for those further out to participate.
Support for the Palestinian cause has grown over the past few years, with recent media coverage reporting that “46 per cent of Gaza and West Bank households are "food insecure" or in danger of becoming so”, according to a UN report which was published in Feb 2007.
The report had been set against a 2004 study by the UN, which claimed a "slow but steady" growth in actual malnutrition - as measured by reduced growth, vitamin deficiencies, anaemia and other indicators.”
Concern has also grown in response to statements from the Palestinian Health Ministry, which reported in October 2006, that there has been an increase in people suffering from “severe depression” inside the West Bank, with “much higher levels of depression being found by those living in extreme poverty.”
For more information check out the Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s website: http://www.sheffieldpsc.org.uk/drupal/events
Hussein Al-alak
The Iraq Solidarity Campaign
http://www.iraqsolidaritycampaign.blogspot.com
Please also see:
Paul V. Rafferty: The Fifth Conference of Palestinians in Europe
http://www.unobserver.com/index.php?pagina=layout4.php&id=3481&blz=1