Lifeline to Gaza: The Return

September 5th, 2010 • Action, Events, Film & Documentary, News
Tags: convoy, film, hassan ghani, presstv, viva palestina

Hassan Ghani’s Press TV documentary following Viva Palestina’s third convoy which started in December 2009.

[6-part playlist - direct link]

BDS: Criticisms of Israel not anti-Semitic

August 6th, 2010 • 1 comment Action, Awareness, News
Tags: BDS, boycott, concert, johnny rotten, leeds, picket, protest, PSC

Letters published in the Yorkshire Evening Post in response to the Leeds PSC picket at Johnny Rotten’s concert:

IN response to Kevin Hartley’s letter (below), Palestine solidarity supporters do not demonise Israel – there is much that Israelis should be duly proud of. This does not mean there are not criticisms of Israel and that these are anti-Semitic.

The criticisms are that Israel violates international law and human rights as recognised by the UN – by continued expansion of its settlements in the Palestinian West Bank (as commented on by Barak Obama re: East Jerusalem), the blockade on Gaza (which even David Cameron described as a prison) and the system of check points, lack of freedom of movement and the apartheid wall that makes Palestinians’ lives and livelihoods acutely difficult in the West Bank and in Israel.

Many of the most active Palestine campaigners in the UK are Jewish and we are clear that it is the Israeli State (and not Jews) that we are critical of.

This anti-apartheid boycott campaign is the peaceful one, in which we can all take part, to collectively pressurise Israel to stop the above violations and to start a peace process with Palestine.

Whilst John Lydon may or may not boycott Israel, many other artists have (Carlos Santana, Elvis Costello, Ian Banks etc).

For Mr Hartley’s information, I do campaign and support campaigns against injustice and poverty here and abroad and don’t just boycott Israeli goods. I also promote fairtrade and buy fairtrade products, including Zaytoun Palestinian olive oil. I believe we can use our consumer power by supporting and boycotting and hope others will consider doing the same.

– C MacDonald, Leeds (Published Date: 05 August 2010)

in response to:

Further to your report of July 22 regarding the Palestinian supporters’ campaign to boycott Israel and urge entertainers like rocker John Lydon not to perform, this is saddening.

Israel is not an “apartheid” state as was suggested; all of its citizens have equal rights under the law regardless of race or religion despite what these misguided campaigners say.

Israel’s situation is totally unique and her need for security is paramount.

The attempt by these campaigners to demonise Israel and portray it as malign is an obvious form of distasteful anti-semitism which we can do without.

I suggest these campaigners turn their attention and efforts to far more worthwhile causes, such as the real poverty and injustices that exist right here in the UK.

– Kevin Hartley, by email (Published Date: 28 July 2010)

Original July 22 YEP report on the planned protest.

The cultural boycott and the outraged artist

August 6th, 2010 • 1 comment Action, News
Tags: artists, BDS, boycott, cultural, mondoweiss

Our fellow BDS activist has a piece published on Mondoweiss:

The cultural boycott and the outraged artist

When you arrive in Israel as an internationally-renowned artist to give a concert or accept a cultural award, it is only natural that you not be spat at and knee-capped by Jews. I say this apropos of the odd comments made over the last couple of months by Margaret Atwood and Suzanne Vega regarding their crossing of the BDS picket line.

In Israel, it is no surprise that people will be polite to you: “Recently I was in Israel. The Israelis I met could not have been more welcoming” (Atwood). You might even meet with excellent Israeli human rights organizations: “I went to Israel, I played two concerts there. I also met with B’Tselem” (Vega). And the general public will discuss politics with you: “I’d been told ahead of time that Israelis would try to cover up the Shadow, but instead they talked about it non-stop” (Atwood). All that is encouraging – after all it is some ‘shadow’ to live under!

Read the rest at Mondoweiss.net…

Liverpool Rotten Picket – UPDATE x 2

July 25th, 2010 • Action, News
Tags: apartheid, boycott, friends of palestine, israel, johnny rotten, liverpool

UPDATED report and video of the protest

We had a good turn out, 20+, despite short notice, the secretary of Bolton PSC came up to support as well.

At least one person didn’t go in on the basis of him playing Tel Aviv and a number of people took Palestinian flags inside. Academy staff told us the gig was not even close to sold out, indeed, the amount of people going appeared to be quite poor.

A couple of our activists had the bright idea to hit the pubs where the fans were drinking and generally the mood was supportive. Many people were unaware he was going to Tel Aviv and agreed that he shouldn’t go.

Socialist Singers & Friends of Palestine protest (& sing!) outside O2 Academy, Liverpool - 24 July 2010

The picture above shows the picket singing two home-produced songs, you can download the lyrics here:

Oh no, John, no…. & When Johnny goes out to Palestine

Mr Rotten had something to say about the protestors outside the gig too(!): [video contains swearing]

“… To think that Mr Rotten would be backing Apartheid, that’s really f*ckin’ dumb c*nts for ya.

Yes I fully intend to go to Israel. I support no f*ckin’ government anywhere – never have, never will.

And here’s a nice little fact for the fools in the wooly t-shirts: Jews are people too…”

You think we’re getting to him yet?

Keep up the great work! Glasgow on Monday!

Yet Another Rotten Picket: Glasgow 7pm Mon 26 July

July 24th, 2010 • Action, Events, News
Tags: boycott, cultural, glasgow, johnny rotten, O2, O2 ABC, public image limited, scottish psc

Grab the Lyrics! Oh no, John, no…. & When Johnny goes out to Palestine

Scottish PSC Glasgow will be picketing at the Johnny Rotten/Public Image Ltd gig at the O2 ABC, 300 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow on Monday 26 July 2010.

Doors open 7pm, so get there around 6.30pm to join the picket!

Download the press release here…

Get some ideas from Leeds PSC’s picket on Friday:

Spread the word to your Scottish friends!

Another Rotten Picket in Liverpool

July 23rd, 2010 • Action, Events, News
Tags: BDS, boycott, concert, friends of palestine, gig, johnny rotten, liverpool

From Liverpool Friends of Palestine:

Protest at O2 Academy on Saturday evening

Liverpool Friends of  Palestine will be leafleting outside Liverpool’s O2 Academy on Saturday evening. Public Image Limited are playing there that evening.  The band is headed by John Lydon, formerly and better known as Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols.

The protest is held because the band’s tour culminates at the end of August with an appearance in Tel-Aviv (Israel’s capital city). This is in violation of the cultural and economic boycott which Friends of Palestine supports. The group say that PIL and other bands should not visit Israeli venues until there is justice for the Palestinians.

A growing number of artists have decided to observe and support the cultural boycott. Last month Friends of Palestine leafleted Elvis Costello’s Liverpool concert to thank him for cancelling his planned gig in Tel-Aviv. Other artists who have taken this stance include Gil Scott-Heron, The Pixies, Carlos Santana and the Klaxons.

The attitude of John Lydon has been quite unrepentant. There have been protests at earlier concerts on this tour, most recently in Bristol on 20 July.

Tom Bimpson, chairman of the Friends of Palestine group, said “There is something rotten in the state of Israel even before Johnny gets there. He should stay away and show some support for the Palestinians. If he thinks his ‘one-man army’ will bring about change in Palestine he is sadly mistaken”

A copy of the leaflet is here… (pdf)

end of release

Cultural BDS: Leftfield Cancel Israel Tour

July 23rd, 2010 • Action, Events, News
Tags: artist, BDS, boycott, Carlos Santana, cultural, Diana Krall, elvis costello, gig, Gil Scott-Heron, israel, Jethro Tull, LCD Soundsystem, Ozzy Osborne, show, The Gorillaz, The Klaxons, The Pixies

Following pressure from fans and BDS campaigners (FB) Leftfield have cancelled their planned gig in Israel citing:

Cancellation of Israel show
Unfortunately Leftfield will not be able to perform at the Heineken Music Conference, Israel on the 31st August due to unforeseen production problems.
– Leftfield Blog

This adds to the growing list of artists who have made similar decisions, including: Gil Scott-Heron, Elvis Costello, The Pixies, The Gorillaz, Carlos Santana and The Klaxons.

In addition to the Johnny Rotten protests occurring around the UK, a number of Facebook pages have been setup to pressure other artists:

• Diana Krall – please don’t break the Palestinian call to Boycott Israel

• Ozzy Osbourne : Please don’t play apartheid Israel

• Jethro Tull : Respect the Palestinian Call to Boycott Apartheid

• LCD Soundsystem: Please don’t play for Apartheid Israel

• Johnny Rotten you ain’t no human being if u play the Israeli fascist regime

We are working on a calendar to highlight UK gigs and events where artists who plan to visit Israel will be performing: bds.readingpsc.org.uk/calendar

Johnny Rotten Protest by Leeds PSC – 7pm 23 July

July 22nd, 2010 • Action, Events, News
Tags: BBC Radio Leeds, boycott, cultural, elvis costello, israel, johnny rotten, leed, O2 Academy, PSC, sex pistols

UPDATE! BBC Radio Leeds interview:

Former Sex Pistols frontman John Lydon/Rotten and his group Public Image Limited will be the focus of a protest by Leeds PSC tomorrow.

This comes ahead of his planned concert in Tel Aviv and comments in The Independent about objections to the Israeli leg of his tour:

I really resent the presumption that I’m going there to play to right-wing Nazi jews, if Elvis-f*cking-Costello wants to pull out of a gig in Israel because he’s suddenly got this compassion for Palestinians, then good on him.

But I have absolutely one rule, right?

Until I see an Arab country, a Muslim country, with a democracy, I won’t understand how anyone can have a problem with how they’re treated.

Reaction to those comments: John Lydon’s rotten politics & ‘Rise’ against Racism

Events in Leeds on Friday July 23:

• Andy Brown from Leeds PSC will be interviewed live on BBC Radio Leeds at 7am:

• Protesters will gather from 7pm in front of the venue: O2 Academy, 55 Cookridge Street, Leeds

Leeds PSC group have also taken out a half page in Yorkshire Evening Post and on the Guardian Leeds site: Lydon/Rotten: Palestine protesters set to demonstrate at Leeds gig Friday 23 July

Check out the Cultural Boycott page at Leeds PSC & Johnny Rotten you ain’t no human being if u play the Israeli fascist regime on Facebook.

Food Co-Op in Rachel Corrie’s Hometown Boycotts Israeli Goods

July 21st, 2010 • Action, Awareness, News
Tags: apartheid, BDS, boycott, Co-op, divest, israel, sanctions, south africa, supermarket, The Olympian Food Co-op, USA, washington

A small but important step in the BDS campaign. The Co-op has had a boycott process/policy since 1993, they have used it to boycott Norwegian and Chinese goods in the past. Their statement on the Israeli boycott reads:

Boycott Announcement

The Board of Directors has decided that the Olympia Food Co-op will boycott Israeli made products and divest from any investments in Israeli companies. The Co-op would stop carrying the Israeli products it currently sells and would not stock new products from Israeli companies. If the Co-op has money invested in Israeli companies or bonds, we would terminate those investments. We would refrain from dealing with non-Israeli companies that sell products or services to Israel that are used to violate the human rights of the Palestinians.

Members requested that the Co-op honor the international call for boycott. The Board made the decision while following the Olympia Food Co-op Boycott Process (available at the Co-op website at www.olympiafood.coop/boycott). The Board consulted and used the Co-op Mission Statement and the By-Laws to guide in making this decision:

• From the Mission Statement: Support efforts to foster a socially and economically egalitarian society
• From the By-Laws: Adopt policies which promote achievement of the mission statement and goals of the Cooperative

Read the full statement here (pdf) – includes: Why boycott?, Why an Israeli products boycott?, Isn’t this “anti-Israel”?, What ends the boycott? & Why should the Co-op honor the boycott?

Please take a moment and email the Olympia Food Co-op’s board to congratulate them on their decision: board [at] olympiafood.coop – or on Facebook

Natasha Mozgovaya’s op-ed in Ha’aretz:

In some places the mainstream Jewish community has reacted vigorously against boycott attempts, but many Israel supporters are worried that the battle “might be already lost at the campuses.” – Read more at ISM…

Local paper, The Olympian, reports:

Olympia Food Co-op members will get another chance next month to discuss a controversial board decision to boycott Israeli products at its two stores.

Nine of the co-op board’s 10 members voted Thursday to participate in the international boycott. Harry Levine, a staff representative to the board, said he didn’t take a stand on the issue.

Not everyone on the co-op staff agrees with the decision, Levine said. He said that outside of his role as a board member, he supports it.

“My personal view is that boycotts can be effective tools in changing governments,” he said. “I personally support it, and I’m an American Jew.”

The board voted to boycott Israeli products as a way to “compel Israel to follow international law and respect Palestinian human rights,” according to a statement the board released. The boycott announcement has been posted on the co-op’s website, www.olympiafood.coop, as well as at its two stores.

Israeli products removed from the stores include gluten-free crackers, ice cream cones and a moisturizing cream, Levine said.

This is not the first time that the 33-year-old co-op has taken part in a boycott, he said. It has boycotted products from Norway and China in objection to whaling and human rights violations. – Read more…

Mentioned in the comments of The Olympian article is a US “Antiboycott Law” which:

.. discourage, and in some circumstances, prohibit U.S. companies from furthering or supporting the boycott of Israel sponsored by the Arab League, and certain Moslem countries, including complying with certain requests for information designed to verify compliance with the boycott.

This ‘law’ appears to apply only to exports, but definitely only applies to Israel.

Rotten Picket in Bristol

July 21st, 2010 • Action, Events, News
Tags: BDS, boycott, Bristol, bristol PSC, concert, gig, johnny rotten, PiL

Bristol PSC’s press release about their protest at Johnny Rotten’s Bristol gig:

Rotten Picket in Bristol

Palestine supporters maintained a vigorous picket throughout the evening outside the O2 Academy, in Bristol on Tuesday 20th July.

Chanting “Johnny Rotten, Johnny Rotten, Gaza must not be forgotten” they waved flags and placards.

They spoke to fans attending the gig and handed out fliers and cards.

Accompanying the picket were two eight-foot high stilt-walkers.

These were dressed as Johnny Rotten in his punk-rock era garb of union-jack jacket and spiked hair, plus a machine-gun armed Israeli Soldier.

Former Sex Pistols frontman, Johnny Rotten is currently embarking on a European Tour which culminates with a headline appearance in Tel Aviv at the end of August. Campaigners throughout the UK are appalled at his decision and are aiming to get their message across to fans urging them to appeal to Johnny to cancel his Israel date.

Several hundred fans attended the gig from all across the South West.

Some weren’t interested in talking to the protesters, and a few obviously misunderstood the issues.

Read more »