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Posts from the ‘News’ Category

Israel – Arms Embargo Petition

A while back, there was an e-petition carried out via the 10 Downing Street website. The petition stated the following:

We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to do everything in his power to impose an arms embargo on Israel in light of the recent Israeli offensive in the Gaza strip and to apply pressure on countries supplying Israel with arms that breach international agreements with the intention of restoring lasting peace to the region.

Submitted by Yusuf Ibrahim – Deadline to sign up by: 27 January 2009 – Signatures: 38,382

More details from petition creator

This petition recognises that the government has taken positive steps to tighten weapons exportation to Israel since 2005. However, only a complete arms embargo will send a clear message to Israel that this government will not accept the prolonged armed conflict which is aggravating existing tensions in the region. Additionally this will ensure that the government adheres to the UK Export Control Act of 2002 and the EU “consolidated criteria” governing the export of military equipment. Equally such a stance would set a precedent showing that this government is committed to establishing peace in the region. This precedent will have a far reaching impact in terms of marginalising the ideologies of radical extremist groups.

As you can see there were 38,382 signatures in total, one of which being mine. Earlier today, I got an email in my inbox, stating that there has been a response made to this petition. The response was as follows:

A recent Amnesty International report confirmed that Britain is not a major arms exporter to Israel and, as Foreign Office Minister Bill Rammell said to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 4 March, the UK regularly turns down arms requests from Israel.  Each export licence request is assessed on a case-by-case basis and conduct in recent conflicts is always taken into account.

We do not believe that the current situation in the Middle East would be improved by imposing an arms embargo on Israel.  Israel has the right to defend itself and faces real security threats.  However, we will not grant export licences where there is a clear risk that arms will be used for external aggression or internal repression.

More generally, the government is fully committed to the implementation of a two-state solution.  There must be a viable Palestinian state existing, in peace, alongside a secure Israel.  We have been clear that for this to be achieved Israel must not only cease all settlement activity, but also ease restrictions on the Gaza crossings for aid, trade goods and reconstruction materials, as well as flows of people.  As well as regularly raising these issues with Israel we have also pledged nearly £50million to help the people of Gaza.  This follows our pledge of December 2007 to provide up to £243million to assist the Palestinian Authority and people over three years.

We will continue to work with our international partners, including the new US Administration, to pursue vigorously a comprehensive and just peace in the Middle East.

There’s a few things I’d like to make of this statement. Firstly, major or not, the fact is that Britain is providing arms to a nation that is commiting genocide and ethnic cleansing. A country that is killing countless innocent people, defenseless men, women and children. A country that continues building illegal settlements in Palestinian land, continues demolishing the homes of innocent people, a country that has made life for the Palestinians almost unbearable. A complete arms embargo is in order in my opinion and the opinion of at least another 38,381 people.

“Israel has the right to defend itself and faces real security threats.” – And the Palestinians do not have this right? Losing your home is not a threat? Losing your life is not a threat? Losing your children, parents and siblings is not a threat?

Now for my final point, I’m glad that it is recognised that a two-state solution is the answer. I’m glad it is also recognised that the illegal settlements must stop, however, I think it should go even further and settlements that have been built illegally be removed and the land given back to their rightful owners, the Palestinians. Recognition is one thing however, action is another.

So, in short, the petition was a failure, arms trade with Israel will continue, a pity.

Those damn evolutionists are yapping again.

The 47m-year-old primate, named Ida.

The 47m-year-old primate, named Ida.

Here is a story that has hit our media a few hours ago, and has got the evolutionists jumping up and down with excitement. Claims are being made that this new primate species is one of our ancestors, and as a result provides some insight into our ancestry. The media have even gone as far as to claim that this find is the “missing link” in human evolution, although, most evolutionists will tell you that there is enough evidence for evolution, and thus there is no missing link.

My views on this are quite simple, it’s just another species of a primate, nothing more, nothing less. Originally discovered in 1983, Ida has been kept a secret for 20 years by the amateur fossil hunter until he decided to sell it through German fossil dealer, Thomas Perner. Perner approached Dr Jørn Hurum 2 years ago, a palaeontologist from Oslo Universitiy’s National History Museum, who subsequently became the buyer of the fossil, taking a risk in buying just from pictures provided by Perner. Hurum assembled the scientific team to begin analysis of the fossil. Hurum chose the name of the fossils as it was at the stage of development equivalent to that which his daughter named Ida currently is.

More information regarding the discovery and research can be found at:

Complete Primate Skeleton from the Middle Eocene of Messel in Germany: Morphology and Paleobiology and

Complete Primate Skeleton from the Middle Eocene of Messel in Germany: Morphology and Paleobiology (PDF).

On to the actual title, evolutionists. This discovery, as mentioned earlier, has got the evolutionists around the world very excited. To be honest this discovery in no way adds to the validity of the theory of evolution. All these evolutionists have done is got various species of primates, placed their heads in order of size, and claimed this is an evolutionary process. Well, let’s argue science with science.

Momentarily delving into physics, the second law of thermodynamics, a scientific fact, states that the universe is unavoidably proceeding towards increasing entropy. Entropy, in Lehman’s terms, is a measure of disorder. So, according to the law, the universe is heading towards a more disordered and disorganised state. In the theory of evolution, the proposed mechanism is understood as evolution to more complex, more ordered and organised structures, thus a more ordered universe. This theory therefore completely contradicts the second law of thermodynamics. Furthermore, a look at human evolution and fossil discovery and dating has led to the understanding that our so called evolutionary acenstors had at one point co-existed on earth.

So, evolutionists, calm down and let us “creationists” as you call us continue to do what we believe in. This discover is in no way a challenge to my faith, and should be no challenge to the faith of others. Just another addition to the evolution propaganda. I hope you are happy accepting a theory that, quite clearly, is contradicted by the very thing you rely on, science.

National Demonstration 16 May – Remember Gaza – Free Palestine! – Update

A protester waves the Palestinian flag

A protester waves the Palestinian flag

So, the demonstration went well today, was a peaceful demonstration. As always a wide variety of people at the demonstration. The march lasted approximately an hour starting at 12:30 and arriving at Trafalgar Square at 13:30, and I think received a lot of attention in a busy London day. Very important points made by the speakers today, regarding the continuing oppression in Palestine, Avigdor Lieberman’s visit, and the current situation in Sri Lanka. I’ve uploaded a few photos of the event, enjoy!

American Folk Singer, forgot his name! American Folk Singer Outspoken Sister from Gaza George Galloway showing his support for Palestine LowKey reciting the poem tears for laughter LowKey reciting the poem tears for laughter LowKey reciting the poem tears for laughter LowKey performing his poem, Tears to Laughter.

Click through to see larger images.

National Demonstration 16 May – Remember Gaza – Free Palestine!

There is a national demonstration planned for Saturday 16th May, 2009. I will almost certainly be attending. I often get asked, why demonstrate? Then I get told it makes no difference whether you demonstrate or not. That is quite wrong in my opinion. Protests can offer a sense of clarity on an issue that was previously not so clear. Demonstrations attract media attention, it allows the opinions of like minded people to be expressed indirectly in the media. Repeated attention in the media about the crimes occurring in Palestine will bring in more supporters to our cause, with enough people the government will have no option but to intervene and make comments in order to retain public confidence.

So, with my reasons justified, on to the details of the demonstration:

Assembling 12noon in Malet Street WC1 London, Followed by Rally in Trafalgar Square. The map is shown below:

View Larger Map

To commemorate the Palestinian 1948 Nakba

Lowkey MC, Mecca 2 Medina, Jeremy Hardy and more will join speakers from Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, along with Jeremy Corbyn MP, Martin Linton MP, George Galloway MP, Daud Abdullah – Deputy Gen Sec Muslim Council of Britain, Jean Lambert MEP, Jenny Tonge MEP, Manuel Hassassian – Palestinian General Delegate to the UK and speakers from PSC, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, CND, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Viva Palestina, Jews for Justice for Palestine, Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights and others

Called by: Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative, Palestinian Forum in Britain and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

Supported by:

Action Palestine, Amos Trust, Arab Media Watch, Arab Women’s Association, Association of Palestinian Communities UK, Britain-Palestine Twinning Network, The Council for Arab-British Understanding, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Christian Peacemaker Teams UK, Fire Brigades Union, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Friends of Lebanon, Friends of Birzeit University, Friends of Sabeel UK, The Green Party, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions UK, Jewish Socialists’ Group, Jews for Justice for Palestinians, Labour Friends of Palestine, Liberation, Midlands Palestinian Community Association, Muslim Association of Britain, Muslim Council for Britain, NUS Black Students Campaign, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Respect, Pax Christi, Public and Commercial Services Union, Rail Maritime and Transport Union, UNISON, UNITE, Viva Palestina, War on Want, Zaytoun Ltd.

Download the leaflet here.

Leaflets are also available from the PSC office – please save the date and start organising transport now!

Details of coaches here!

They are looking for plenty of volunteers on the day, please contact us if you can help!

Please contact the PSC office for more information:

Tel:   020 7700 6192

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.palestinecampaign.org

Venezuela and Palestine establish diplomatic ties

The Venezuelan foreign minister Nicolas Maduro and his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Al-Maliki signed agreements formally creating diplomatic ties on Monday in Caracas. This comes as tension between Israel and Venezuela grows. A palestinian embassy was also inaugerated in Caracas.

“The people of Palestine can count on our eternal and permanent solidarity with their just and humane cause”
Nicolas Maduro
Venezuelan Foreign Minister

The Israeli massacre of Palestinians left over 1,300 dead, prompting Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan leader, to cut off ties with Israel.

Caracas expelled Israeli diplomats in January as protest against the Gaza offensive. Israel responded by dismissing Venezuelan envoys. There are plans for 10 more embassies in Latin America as stated by Al-Maliki.

This is good news for Palestine in establishing more international support as well as establishing themselves as a state that is here to stay.