Women's visit 2008

Great - this is from Rawan

2008-11-13T02:01:00.000-08:00

http://khadoori.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23335

Visiting Exeter 7th March

2008-04-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

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

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15-year old taken to prison

2008-04-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

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

2008-04-10T14:20:00.000-07:00

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

Music in Camden

2008-04-01T11:23:00.000-07:00

Photos! Who has photos?

2008-03-31T06:35:00.000-07:00

Lots of us had problems with our cameras, and relied on others - who had problems with their cameras... Please if you have any good photos of the tour, forward them to us or put them on this blog!

From Carmel (Camden-Abu Dis)

2008-03-31T06:31:00.000-07:00

I thought it was really impressive to see a whole panel of women talking so knowledgeably and passionately as they did at the event I attended (W's Day at Ossulston st). They also seemed to be invigorated by it all.

I think there were a few new faces who I hope will be inspired by the quality of the speakers to get more involved with CADFA and help organise another such tour!

Carmel

From Cynthia (West Lancs - Al Walaja)

2008-03-18T15:52:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad we were able to meet at last even though it was a brief meeting! The two days with our visitors was rather tiring for me too even though they were doing most of the hard work. Thankyou so much for organising this event. It was a huge task and it all worked so smoothly.

I think I have learned a lot in the process and am doing a lot of hard thinking about what we can do in the future as a group.

I'm afraid I wasn't able to get any photos though Rana was very busy with her camera and the press came along to several events and took photos. So if we get any of those I hope we can send them on and I'd really love to see photos from others.

Please do email when you have news of their safe return and also in due course about Rana's baby.

From Miriam (Tower Hamlets-Jenin)

2008-03-18T15:33:00.000-07:00

Well done, it was a great experience and as u say the women met so many people and allowed us to reach out to new people and fresh contacts for future activities.

Attached are 1 photo of arrival heathrow, 2 of event of March 8th when over 80 people heard the women speak at the brady arts centre E1, and two of the event in St. Barnabas church Bow E3 where they spoke to (and read qu'ran) the congregation of Father Brian.

Will send on photos of Sharifa at the STW demo soon.

U probably need a good rest!

From Mike (Watford-Salfeet)

2008-03-16T18:12:00.000-07:00

Thank you for organising the Palestinian Womens International Womens Day trip--it must have taken huge amounts of time. Both our visits yesterday went very well.

Keith and I met Shatha and the other 2 students with Hayet for lunch, which was pleasant and very interesting. The contact with Shatha in particular will be very useful for Keith during his forthcoming visit to Salfeet.

The evening meeting was also very good. We had around 55 people--much the biggest attendance we've ever had, including a higher proportion of women than usual. We served a meal to most of them, and Rawya's talk was well received with many questions. She also visited a local secondary school during the afternoon, partly to see the school and partly for a question and answer session with some sixth formers. That also went really well. Rawya was ideal for us with her good command of English, and I think real friendships may result from her visit.

So from our point of view, well done and thank you.

Sharifa's speech at the demo on 15th March

2008-03-16T18:08:00.000-07:00

Look at (www. leninology.blogspot.com)
and then go down to the video under Sunday 16th March
and about 2 minutes in

We loved the sea at Dawlish...

2008-03-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

From Sharifa

2008-03-16T06:34:00.001-07:00

I really think the jmost important thing is that we had the understanding from people, they listened to us, they thought about us – I am so pleased about that: it will make a lot of people think about our problems. The most important thing is the schools and the universities, they are the new generation this means the new generation will think in a new vision of our stories and our plans….. maybe one of them (like little Liam) will have a decision in the future to make our state come up…

In some of the meetings I was disappointed because there was no reaction from people but then I learned that English people think a lot before they react and I think it’s good.

It’s good that there are a lot of us from different places and with different fields, health, education etc, these different things make our journey more useful.

I discovered how much work it was to bring us here and really thank you.

But even then 10 days is a ver short time to get to see the whole of England! We are just starting to get to know England/

EXETER

Exeter seemed a very quiet place and also so clean and shining everywhere. Her people who are living there seem so kind and generous and sensitive specially Lizi. I appreciate her putting her dog outside for me! I am really grateful for that.

I noticed an important thing, that school classes contain only 15 to 17 students whereas ours can go up to 50. Also in the university they are organised, they have a union for students. We have that but it is not so completely organised. You have in your education all your rights and duties, you really learn them good but in our education we don’t have that. I mean your students know exactly what they need to do, they can go university to have elections to have parties to have some fun as well as study, in our universities they just go to study.

Some of you are really interested in politics.

When we went to the London Eye and the River Thames I felt that you wanted us to enjoy ourselves and I really appreciated that. I remember going up the hill and seeing the rainbow – that was a very strong memory.

From Shatha

2008-03-16T06:28:00.001-07:00

We profited a good deal from the journey, our personal experience was great, the other thing was this journey made some things true that I had only dreamed of

Always I wanted international support for the Palestinians and on this trip I talked about Palestinian life and so that people could know about our life and how we live under apartheid worse than South African apartheid. We helped the students here to strengthen their understanding of the issue. Our experience here gave us a feeling of responsibility to go ahead with the twinning work and we really understood how useful it is to us.

I really loved the sea at Dawlish and I loved SOAS because there was a really strong relationship between us and the people there, and I felt that there was a genuine link. Because there were people with us and also people against us, it was honest.

Sometimes I didn’t believe that people would listen to me, but their reaction was positive. I feel that we did something serious and useful.

I want to talk about the people we stayed with, all of them are great.

From Rawan

2008-03-16T06:26:00.001-07:00

This was a new experience and the first experience for me, there were so many new things in it, specially leaving Palestine. The communication with people was very helpful in improving my English language, the new links that we made with people are going to be useful in the future because we will be able to exchange experiences and we will be able to talk together about activities in Palestine and things they will do here. I have got to know people and new friends who are really lovely.

The places we went to, each had a different character. But the one I liked best was Exeter and specially Dawlish where we went to the sea. I want to talk about the fish and chips - really tasty - but also the atmosphere was new to us.

We got to know someone called Pablo and he is very interested in our place and can speak Arabic He came to two of our meetings and said he was very interested in what we had to say.

I also liked the meeting at SOAS: the atmosphere was very good Lots of students, the room was very crowded They showed a video about children in schools in Palestine. After we finished the meeting, students asked many questions - more than in the other meetings. There were Zionist students among them among them asking about Gilad Shalit. They said that Palestinian prisoners can have their families visit them but no one knows about Gilad Shalit for a year and a half. In fact he is the only Israeli prisoner held by Palestinians, and the families of Palestinian prisoners very often can’t see their children, and if their families can see them, they are held up for ages at gates and checkpoints first. Also this is an unequal comparison between one Israeli and all the Palestinian prisoner (about eleven thousand) and it isn’t fair.

Another thing about the SOAS meeting it was very special because there was Palestinian food and Palestinian dancing, which is dabke, and we got to know Palestinian students studying in the university and we danced together.

The meetings in general are fruitful because there were things we said about our lives and situation that they didn’t know We felt proud because we could do something for Palestine. At the same time there was a good reaction from the other side.

From Imtethal

2008-03-16T06:21:00.000-07:00

I want to talk about the places we’ve been to - I really liked the places we’ve visited. The journey was very useful to us. Everywhere we’ve been, we’ve learned something new. Also I’ve learned a little more English (a little!) The meetings we went to were very fruitful and useful.

OXFORD

Oxford is a beautiful town. Our first meeting in Oxford was very hard, we were scared, but the people who were there, the students, encouraged us. We really liked Nandita and Najla. The place we had supper in was very beautiful and traditional, it looked like a church. The place we stayed in was also beautiful. It was the nicest town out of the ones we’ve visited. I really liked the museum we visited (the Ashmolean). I would have liked to have stayed for a long time.

I really liked the people we met in England, they were really kind. There was always a link between us.

There are twinning links between my university An Najah and Manchester. I am ver ykeen on the idea of twinning between universities, it will be very useful to the universities in Palestine

women's visit

2008-03-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

I went back to work this morning after seeing the Palestinian women off at Euston some on their way to Birmingham others to Manchester and Leeds. They seemed full of energy and spirit wanting to get on to the next round of the tour. Rana and Thureya have both been staying in Haringey. They have been into Highgate Wood School to a Year 10 lesson on conflict where the citizenship teacher Niall was thrilled to have these two fantstic women telling the students what it is like to live in occupied country on a day to day level. The students asked many questions and were fired up about the injustice but also they realise that they knew so little aboutthe history of palestine and the conflict in the middle east. They met the headteacher and apparently invited him to Palestine.

Both Rana and Thureya visited a community centre in Northumberland Park Tottenham, London and joined in dancing with the women in a project called hundred women under one flag. The women were welcoming and wanted to know about the situation. Many were aware of the injustice but chatting to our guests made it real . One woman was so overcome she had to stop talking as she was crying. They went to the local college CONEL and went in a lesson and the nursery. Rana loved the nursery reminding her of her own two who of course are following her every move back home with Dad and grandma.
They had a brief rest - not very much. Thureya sampled the delights of shopping in Turnpike Lane and Rana got the chance to go to the Whiteman Rd Mosque in haringey something she hopes to do next week and meet the committee at the mosque.

A short but fantastic visit. Every one who meets them is drawn to them . They are so warm friendly and articulate but above all it is their stories and their understanding and analysis of the situation in palestine which people want to hear about. Even on sunday night when i had a small group of friends rounds Rana was quietly talking and explaining as she showed her power point presentation.
haringey justice 4 palestinians had a meal with both of the visitors in the Turkish bookshop Kimet and they made very moving speeches. Simon responded from us saying how he felt such respect for them and their struggle and saying that next week at the stop the war demo the Palestinian flag will be flying.

You are all very special and I look forward to meeting you all again(except Thureya as she will be with her daughter in Durham) next week. have a great time. My father is from Pendle , Brierfield so I would love to know how that visit went . thanks again . I am still reeling a little from the exhilaration. you have brought it all alive telling us all the details and educating.
I am fullof respectand hope Love Lynda

Exeter report

2008-03-10T20:36:00.000-07:00

Thurs 6th 9.20pm

Sharifa, Rawia, Rana Wasfia,Thureyah and Manal arrived with Pauline as planned 9.20pm on Thursday. All were exhausted and laden with huge bags!! It seems most had not slept for 2-3 days.

Three of us Exeter women were armed with the duty of swiftly dispatching the women around the town to their respective houses. We also had the unenviable task of breaking the news to them that we had arranged school visits the next morning. We felt terrible and wished that we had not got quite so over excited with booking so many visits in the day. The women were very gracious and insisted they were happy to get up early for the visits but I am not sure I would have!

The logisics of organising the 6 then 10 women (Imethal, Rawan,Shatha and Nandita were arriving later that day) over a 24 hour period should not be too hard - in theory, in practice I reckon it ranks for me one of the hardest planning exercises. Beaten only by organising the walk outs and demos in Exeter on the day the Iraq war started

Sharifa and Manal visited my daughters primary school, year 5 have a link with Qurdaba school in Hebron. This was my personal favourite event of the day. In the one hour we had with the class we had the kids (aged 10) writing their names in Arabic, listening to Arabic music, drawing Palestinian flags in their books etc. The poignant theme running through the hour was the fact the kids kept saying “where is your country on the map?” “why can’t we find your flag?” etc . Manal and Sharifa seemed to really enjoy the visit to and connected brilliantly with the kids. We left with Manal doling out handfuls of Zartar to the kids and telling them to eat it up- which they did with scrunched up faces!

We then went on to a meeting at the University. Unfortunately room details etc had been finalised at the last minute by the students organising the meeting leaving little time to advertise the meeting. I felt there was a poor turn out but I think Shaifa and Manal were ok about it.

In the mean time Rana and Thureya visited a school outside Exeter for the morning talking to 60 forteen year, and then about twenty 6th formers who were studying the Palestine/Israeli conflict.

Wasfia and Rawia visited two schools, one outside and one in Exeter to meet similar kids. All four were escorted by people involved with the Global Centre in Exeter. This centre has funding from Devon Development Education to run a “Coping with Conflict “ programme – it uses Hebron as one of the “Conflict” areas.

I only found out the day before that one of the schools Wasfia and Rawia were visiting was having a non uniform day to raise money to help build a school in Malawi. The theme of the day was cops and robbers! – and seeing the kids coming out of the school at the end of the day - fishnet stockings and suspenders seemed to be very popular – goodness knows what Wasfia and Rawia thought of it!!!!!

We all met at the uni for a quick lunch and photos with local press. Sharifa and Rana then came with me to the Mosque. As I raced Rana to my car, only then did I find out she was actually 6 months pregnant! The others headed on to the sea.

After prayers at the Mosque we met with some of the people attending and talked about the situation in Palestine. It was in the middle of this Nandita called to say the others had missed the train. My military style planning looked like it was about to unravel!! I tried to put Nandita off from bringing the new arrivals to the sea if they were going to be very late as we had a tight schedule to keep!!!! Nandita and the students were having none of it and so we arranged to somehow meet at the sea, though feeling slightly anxious as we didn’t know when and our phone batteries were dying on us.

I managed to get lost on a diversion whilst taking Sharifa and Rana on to meet the others at the sea. As I was flapping about getting late and apologising for having to drive all over the place Sharifa calming pointed out that diversions and getting to places late was something they were more than used to – good point! I nearly gave up on the sea, but thank goodness I didn’t because I will never forget the image of Sharifa and Rana running into the sea –yes in to the sea on a cold March day! I found myself screaming with excitement with the womenas they saw the sea – I held back from running into it! Sharifa told me she wanted to let her family smell the sea on her trainers!

We caught up with the others who by now had been at the sea for ages and were getting cold. Nandita and the students arrived and it became obvious that we were not all going to make the 7pm meeting we had planned back in Exeter. After grabbing some fish and chips we went back to Exeter leaving Nandita and the students at the sea.

Our evening event had been planned to coincide with an exhibition being opened the following day by Devon United Women. It was entitled “Challenging Negative Borders”. Thankfully Wasfia and Manal and Rawia made it there for the beginning, so started off without the others. We had a full room with at least 60 people there. It actually worked really well because the others arrived at almost perfectly staged intervals. It looked like we were bringing the women on one at a time to talk (so no one guessed that I had no idea who was where and at what time they might turn up!)

We concentrated on the “wall and borders” and had various activities for people to do including a wall (simulating the separation wall) for people to write their comments on. It was truly moving to hear the 9 strong women speaking about their experiences as women living under the occupation.

On Saturday there was a mad dash to the train and it looked like Nandita might be cursed with a train missing habit – they finally made it with a minute to spare. The Three Exeter women who had met them only 36 hours before waved goodbye – we felt honoured to have been involved and to have met them. We gave each other a hug and three hours later were on a 100 strong protest over Gaza in Exeter City centre!

Lizi Allnatt

Tourism in London and International Women's Day

2008-03-10T12:52:00.000-07:00

We spent the morning around south bank and enjoying the sites of London via a river cruise and the London Eye. Our women quests very much enjoyed this and spoke about how they do not have similar things in Palestine, say for example the architecture as the occupation stifles cultural growth. Following our morning down by the Thames, we headed off to Camden for an International Women’s event which included great food, music and interesting talks about what life under occupation is like for our guests. Many people in the audience found these talks to be very moving. We were able to gain some idea of what occupation was like for our quests by listening to their stories. One of the recurring themes was the arbitrary abuse of power, especially exercised at checkpoints and the grave consequences of this. For instance we were told how many woman are forced to give birth at checkpoints and how this if often dangerous for the new born. We also heard from a female student that the soldiers’ moods would determine whether they were able to go to university on a particular day and how personally she had to miss a final exam as she was not allowed to pass through the checkpoint. Following our public meeting, we headed of to Primrose Hill, but just as we headed for the top of the hill, we accompanied by a sharp shower, however, once we had made it to the top, the women enjoyed the panoramic view of London which was set against a golden sunset and double rainbow!

Gaza Demo

2008-03-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

Meetings all over the place

2008-03-10T12:12:00.000-07:00

Palestinian students

2008-03-10T12:08:00.000-07:00

Students from An-Najah University (Nablus), Al Quds University (Abu Dis), Al Quds Open University (Salfeet) are on a tour of university campuses from south to north England as part of the women's tour

Palestinian women at Trafalgar Square

2008-03-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

This is the International Women's Day demo, Million Women Rise - Our Palestinian guests spoke about Palestine and the violence of the Occupation against Palestinian women (to great applause)

2008-03-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

Travelling....

2008-03-10T11:58:00.001-07:00

THANK YOU

2008-03-10T09:58:00.000-07:00

So far, just a few days in, this women's visit has already been great - It is a really good group of women who have complementary experiences and they have become an effective team. They are meeting people in many places, formal meetings, schools, mosques, churches etc. They seem very encouraged by the work they are doing and they are really interested in the visit.

I also want to say a big THANK YOU to all the many many people from Britain who are helping this visit to go like clockwork - None of us knows all of the people involved but there are so many.... THANK YOU!!

From Pauline C (South-East London)

2008-03-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

Ethnic Cleansing in Action
One of our Palestinian women friends buying a sim card at Paddington Station on the way to Exeter to speak in schools and at the uni
"What country do you want to phone?"
"Palestine"
Minutes pass while the assistant looks for Palestine on the list. "I can't find it - You look please"
"I cant find Palestine"
"It is not on the paper"
"Try Israel"
"Yes Israel is here - Our country is not here, phoning our country is not on the list !!!!!!"
Pauline

Oxford meeting

2008-03-06T15:36:00.000-08:00

2008-03-06T15:17:00.000-08:00

About 25 people came to hear Imtethal, Shatha and Rawan speak tonight at Wadham College, Oxford ... although they were tired after two days of travelling from Palestine, they gave a really interesting talk to an audience of students and members of the local twinning network (Oxford Ramallah Friendship Association) about the life of students under occupation and the effect of checkpoints, arrests and military incursions on their studies, as well as talking about women in the resistance movement and the effect of the Israeli occupation on the natural environment in the West Bank.

Off to meet our visitors

2008-03-06T04:50:00.000-08:00

I'm off to Heathrow to get the visitors along with Pauline from SE London and Miriam from Tower Hamlets. People from twinning groups across the country are waiting and really excited to meet them. In a couple of hours all will be different - after three hard months' preparation, we will actually meet each other!
Before that happens, I want to say two things
(1) to all those who have worked hard to set this up, from all the different groups - I love you! What a lot of good people there are, and given the horrible world we are living in, that is so encouraging. Really looking forward to meeting lots of you at lots of things.
The second is this and not so cheerful - but this is what we are talking about. This whole visit, with people from the West Bank and people from Britain, we will be remembering what is happening in Gaza, to women, to men and to children and babies. I want to paste here a letter that was written to someone in Sheffield from someone in Jabaliya, during the past week. - Nandita, Camden

Two weeks ago , Hassan Abu Safi , aged 20 , one of my relatives visited my house to invite us to his wedding party . I asked him to have a drink , he replied :" I am busy , I have to invite other people" . I went with my Family to his party and it was wonderful in which he was so happy , dancing with people . One week later of his Party , Israeli occupation army had invaded the eastern Part of Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip where Hassan lives with his family . His neighbors' house had been bombed earlier that day, and Hassan had been shuttling the neighbors to the nearest medical care. When Hassan returned home, he went to his bedroom and was talking on the mobile phone on the balcony when an Israeli soldier aimed and shot him in the head. The ambulance faced difficulties to take him from the house .Even the Israeli tanks surrounded the house , Hassan's mother with her sons put themselves in danger and went to the hospital , they found Hassan in Death freezer .Hassan's family cannot bury him, because they were sequestered in one room in their house. The Israeli army has taken over the rest of the house to use as a sniper base.Finally Hassan's father called his wife and sons : " wait until tomorrow afternoon , If I cannot come , go and burry him " . What a pity , the Israeli still took over the house and they couldn't participate in his funeral . Hassan was buried and his wife , Father were still sequestered in one room .
Mohammed Al Borie , 5 months , he was born after 5 years of his parents got married . He was killed when Israeli aircraft shelled the area where he was with his parents , their house is a simple one that cannot carry out the fragments of Israeli rockets . Mohammed , the alone son was killed in Israeli Holocaust .Hassan and Mohammed are two of 118 were killed , One third of the victims were children , 320 were injured in this militant operation .
Adham Khalil Social worker Gaza strip _
E blog : http://nagyelali.blogspot.com/A blog http://adhamkhalil.blogspot.com/

Programme for the women's visit

2008-03-04T07:29:00.000-08:00

Thursday 6th March
Oxford University 8pm, Wadham College,
Friday 7th March
Exeter University 11-12 M&D Room, Devonshire House
Friday 7th March
Exeter 7pm, Phoenix Arts Centre
Saturday 8th March
London Million Women Rise, Trafalgar Square
Palestinian women on the platform at 4pm
Saturday 8th March
Bromley – 2pm contact us for address
Saturday 8th March
Tower Hamlets 6-10 pm, Brady Arts Centre 192-196 Hanbury St (Vallance Road end) nr Whitechapel tube
Sunday 9th March
Camden – 1pm Somers Town Community Centre, Ossulston Street NW1 .
Monday 10th March
London School of Economics 1pm in room S50
Monday 10th March
University College London - 3pm in lecture theatre 1, Cruciform Building, UCL, Gower Street
Monday 10th March
School of Oriental and African Studies, 5pm London
Monday 10th March
Luton -7pm – Bury Park Community Centre
Monday 10th March
Watford - 7.30 – Trade union hall, Woodford Road, WD17 1PB
Tuesday 11th March
Staffordshire University, Stoke on Trent -12 noon, Boardroom, Students’ Union
Tuesday 11th March
Manchester 6.30 venue tbc
Tuesday 11th March
Birmingham – 7pm Council House
Wednesday 12th March
Nottingham – 7pm Bass Management Centre Nottingham Trent University Goldsmith Street
Wednesday 12th March
Leeds University –12 noon, mtg room 2, ARC Students’ Union
Wednesday 12th March
Walsall time and venue tbc
Wednesday 12th March
Leeds 7.30 venue tbc
Thursday 13th March
Manchester University
1-2 pm, Gender research network- Humanities Centre Bridgeford Street 1.69/1.70
5pm Biko’s Café, Steve Biko Building, Manchester Student Union
Thursday 13th March
Blackburn – meeting at Blackburn College
Thursday 13th March
Pendle - 7.30 pm Brierfield Community Centre,
Friday 14th March
Ormskirk 7.30 Church Hall (contact 01704 889069 for details)
Friday 14th March
York 12.00 noon at the Spurriergate Centre
(at the Ouse Bridge end of Coney Street)
Friday 14th March
Pendle – meeting at Nelson and Colne College
Saturday 15th March
Manchester twinning meeting and lunch
10.30 am – 2pm Safad Restaurant, Whitworth Street,
behind coach station.

Palestinian women speak out in Oxford

2008-03-02T10:52:00.001-08:00

Three of the Palestinian women visiting as part of the twinning network delegation will be speaking at a public meeting in Oxford (8pm at Wadham College), about life as women and students in the occupied West Bank... all welcome!

** The Twinning Network Women’s Visit 2008 AIMS

2008-03-02T10:35:00.001-08:00

The visit has the following aims:
To spread awareness of the human rights situation in Palestine - in other words to tell as many people as possible what is going on in Palestine, and specially to encourage people who are new to this issue to be active about it
To bring women from twinning groups in Palestine to meet with their partners in the twinning groups in England so they can work with them to build and extend the Britain-Palestine twinning work in England and to discuss together next steps in their twinning links
In particular to develop women's links between Britain and Palestine as part of wider twinning links
To promote twinning/ friendship links between Britain and Palestine including encouraging the development of new twinning links
And to help bring the twinning network work together.

Public meetings
We hope each public meeting will include
a chance for a number of women to speak about their experiences, including telling about life under Israeli occupation and the human rights situation for Palestinians.
a speaker to talk about the local twinning links and/ or a speaker from the Twinning Network to explain what twinning and friendship links can do.

Women's visit 2008 - starting this week

2008-03-02T00:57:00.000-08:00

Really looking forward to meeting the women from Palestine
احلاً و سحلاً بكم
and also lots of twinning people from all over Britain I've spoken to on the phone but never met.