Wednesday 16 April 2008

Visiting Exeter 7th March

All these seven photos were taken in Exeter on the first full day of the Tour.
I was really pleased to meet the group, and felt privileged to take some of them into Devon schools, so that children could hear first hand how life is in the West Bank. It was great to be with them as many of them saw the sea for the first time.
Their personal stamina is striking - they had only arrived into the UK late the day before, had very little sleep, and then had an incredibly long day in Exeter. Which is only the first day of the tour. There's a nice contrast seeing some of them at the beach huts - such a British institution...

So many fond memories and poignent images remain for me from your visit - and I am so glad I got the chance to meet you all!

Richard









Thursday 10 April 2008

15-year old taken to prison

This happened after Rana returned to Palestine.

"after that my husbands nephew was impresioned , he is only 15 years , that night was horrible for all of us , how cruel they were destroying the gates, they line in the neighbouring flat , they took him from his bed , he was preparing himself to go on a hourney with the school to Jericho , but sadly it was along far way to prison ."

From Rana from Aizariyeh

The women`s visit to Britain March 2008

I had the great honor and high privilege to be a member of the Palestinian delegation who visited the United Kingdom in March 2008.

It was a great opportunity to practice my human rights being free from the check points , the wall which are abused as a result of the Isreale occupation ., to express my feelings and attitudes.
We were surrounded by louds of angels during all the visit ,they were all kind and generous , they were supporting , helping offering us their valuable time , they weaponed us with security, self confidence and freedom during all the time they were accompanning us .
We hope that we have achieved our aim of the visit that is increasing the awareness of the people of the importance of the solidarity with us in Palestine , and in giving a clear picture of what is happenning on reality . .
Even the long distances we will continue what we began , to develop the twinning work as much as we can.
We went back home carrying with us strong emotions an sympathy from people in England , with strong desire to work hard to develop our life .

Thursday the 6th of March
( Nandita , Pauline , Miriam )
we arrived Heathrow airport , London sky was shining celebrating the arrival of the Palestinian delegation ,
Warmly we were welcomed with tears of pleasure , waiting us for a long time , as our Palestinian habits Arabic reception were prepared for us , a tea with meramieh , fruits cake with the colors of the Palestinian flag .
We truly forgot being exhausted after two days traveling , meeting generous and kind people around us , we felt as we are in our home land and more .

We were hosted the first two days in Exeter, Janetka was really a fantastic woman, she offered us love sympathy, support and a motherhood feeling .
( lizi, jane , Helen )

Friday the 7th March
( lizi, jane , Helen )
we started our day by visiting Okehampton school .
It was a wonderful experience for me to visit school, to see the building , the classes to meet students different ages , to talk with the teachers about education , and about our daily life in Palestine .
We met two groups; the first was age 15-16
They were not informed about our visit, they were just listening .
The second group was children age 11-13, they were informed by their teacher about our visit, the aim and a little about our life in Palestine .
I felt that They were very interested in our speech, they asked many questions about the politics , the land , the transportation , the wall ,the heath care . their teacher presented pictures to support the discussion .

Then we visited the Exeter University , we met the other groups , we had tea , some photos , there was no activity to our group there .
I remembered myself when I was in University .

I went to the mosque , it was Friday ,it was a good chance to pray in a mosque, I felt more secure , and self confident ,praying for God to succeed in our mission during this trip , seeking from God to give us the strength to achieve all the objectives we came for , protect my Family and my baby , and to have a safe return to my home .

At 4.00 we went to the sea Dawlish , Even the weather was very cold , but we were warmed watching amazing views of the nature that God created , praising the Lord who gave us the chance to stand next the sea , which we are prevented to reach , even it is very close to us ,

The last activity was a meeting in the Phoenix Art Center , we met all the group , had a nice discussion with people there .
I talked about my own experience (my suffer in the Amino fluid test).

Saturday the 8th of March
Nandita , Lynda
we had lunch in the green nature of Hide Park.

We met the Palestinian General Ambassador Prof Hassassian at the Palestinian trade fair at the Arab British chamber of commerce , we had a nice talk , then a tour in the exhibition of the Palestinian products , that we are proud of.

4pm, a person can’t imagine the strong feeling of self confidence and high esteem and freedom to express our thoughts and feelings in the Trafalgar square, participating in the speech at the international Women’s day and participating in a demonstration to Gaza.
We have the great honor to have this chance to talk freely in front of thousands of participants in this event, and millions watching TV. It was realy as a dream , if we were to practice such activity in Palestine , there could be a disater , curfew and we would have been imprisoned .

6pm , we had a meeting and a meal in Tower Hamlet , Manal , Wasfeya and Rawyia had spoken that night . we had a nice meal full of pepper……. .

Sunday 9th
Clare , Shuma
A day of refreshment and relaxation in London Eye and river times , watching amazing views from the sky .
Then we had a meeting in Somers Town , we had a meal and all the members of the group talked about themselves and the aim of the visit , answering people’s questions . Two films were showed by Dr Nandita about Ama`ary camp and a village in Ramallah .
We returned back to Haringey .

Monday 10th
Clare ,Philip
We visited the Collegeof north east London , we attended an English lesson for students who learn English as a second language , we exchanged talk about our life , we discovered that there are people who share us the same problem ( people feom Areteria , Kurdish lady )
We visited the nursery , I was very interestd there , I liked the way they work , I liked to take ideas to implement in our orphanage .
I asked for some photos , the answer was to have a permissiom from the parents of the children , it is the child protection law ,,, I really felt astonished and jealous in the same time comparing the life of our children with children in British , our children are completely abused , deprived from all their rights . I hope one day we can return back out rights to live in dignity .
We also visited a women’s community center , I shared the women their in a dancing lesson , to feel refreshed and to be empowered to the other activity , we had a meal their with the women .
The last activity was visiting Highgate wood school in Haringey ,
We were told that we have only 10 minutes to talk , but to the surprise the talk lasted for 1.10 one hour and ten minutes , one of the students descibed a her own daily life , in comparison with a palestinian student daily life , they themselves understood our suffering , the students wanted us to stay more and hear more , in that meeting we were invaded by tens of questions about the situaion in Palestine , I guess it is prove of achieving our aim of the visit . we were welcomed by the principle of the school , offering future cooperation .
We had Dinner with the twinning group in a Turkish restaurant , we had a nice talk and a nice meal .

Tuesday 11th

Birmingham Nilly , Dr Kamel , Caroline and Cristine
When we first arrived we went directly to a Radio interview,we were not informed about the kind of questions we were going to be asked , the questions were more about the government , the negotiations , the president .
But it went good .
Birmingham event Council House we met the Mayor , it lasted for 45 minutes full of warm reception and welcoming ,we introduced our selves , talked about our aim of the visit , we were encouraged overcome our problems , to continue our work in the twinning projects , he was supportive to us .
After that there was a Public meeting , well organized by a member of the council , full of questions and answers about the Palestinian life under occupation .

Wednesday 12th

Lunch with Palestinian family , discussing the aim of the trip , the importance of the unity of the Palestinian people in Britain , illustrating on the group work to achieve aims to benefit us as palestinians ,and to increase the people`s solidarity with us .

The last activity was a Meeting in walsall , a group of Muslims from Bakistan it was the largest number of people , more than 60 .it run well questions and answers about our daily life .

Thursday 13th
Ormiskirk
Cynthia dereli / Charles lomas / Sylvia cottle / Clare Gillard
We met the Council leader chairman of west lankshire , there was a warm welcome and a nice discussion , he was supportive to us .
Followed by a Meeting with the Mayor of Southport , he was kind , welcomed us , but he refused to listen to us in a( polite way ) telling us that he knows everything going on in palestine .

We moved to a Radio interview , Dune FM , it was better than the previous one , we talked about our own experiences and about stories of suffering in the educational and medical side .
Having dinner with Charles , Justice for Palestine movement .


Friday 14th
We started our day with a nice cup of coffee in a bookshop , we met a lady who interviewed us , she is an advertizer in local daily newspaper .
Followed by Meeting with a staff in Edge Hill university , thanks for them who gave us the opportunity to talk to them in their rest time , it was a good meeting ( the talk was like the previous meetings ) it was successful .
Again, to the green nature , 3 hours of refreshment , watching nice creatures white as snow , gave me a peacful feeling , a sense of security and relaxation in Martin mere
We had Dinner with justice for palestine group .
The last activity was a Public meeting reception in a church hall in ormiskirk . we met more than 25 person .
The meeting was well organized by Charles , we were divided into three groups , each persos talks to a group, then we exchange the groups , all the people heard all of us .


Saturday 15th
Nandita
Meeting other groups in Manchester ,each group talked about its journey , mentioning all what happened with us .followed by evaluation , lunch ,and then back to haringey meeting others

Sunday 16th

Haringey Erica , Clare
Shopping ,followed by praying in the mosque ,and finally dinner at Erica`s house , preparing the luggages for leaving .

Monday 17th

Unfortunetly it was the last day , the hardest day saying goodbye for london , for generous people , saying goodbye for freedom ,having lunch with a representative of the palestinian ambassador , going to Heathrow , and back to Jordan .


I wish you can put this in the blog , I don’t know how to use it

Tuesday 1 April 2008