GAZA: STOP THE BLOODSHED, TIME FOR PEACE

[Madalena Lobao_Tello]

Avaaz.org

http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_time_for_peace/?cl=161524409&v=2605

With already 370 dead and continued shelling of civilians in southern Israel, now is the time to issue a demand to world leaders that the spiralling violence that has characterized the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must come to an end.

Sign the petition below calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza - and for peace to be achieved between Israel and Palestine in 2009.

Petition to the UN Security Council, the European Union, the Arab League and the USA:
We urge you to act immediately to ensure a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, to protect civilians on all sides, and to address the growing humanitarian crisis. Only through robust international action and oversight can the bloodshed be stopped, the Gaza crossings safely re-opened and real progress made toward a wider peace in 2009.

Hi,

I've just heard about this emergency campaign urging for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Already 370 people have been killed in this escalating conflict. Now is the time to issue a demand to world leaders that the spiralling violence that has characterized the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must come to an end. In 2009 let's push for real peace to be achieved between Israel and Palestine. To learn more and to take action, read the email below:

---------------------------------------------
Dear friends,

As we watch the Gaza bloodshed with horror, appalled at how the crisis is spiralling further out of control, one thing is clear -- this violence will only lead to further civilian suffering and an escalation of the conflict.

There must be another way. Over 370 are dead and hundreds more injured -- rockets are striking Ashdod deep inside Israel for the very first time, and the sides are mobilising for invasion. A global response has begun, but it'll take more than words -- the immediate violence won't end, nor will wider peace be secured, without firm action from the international community.

Today, we're launching an emergency campaign which will be delivered to the UN Security Council and key world powers, urging them to act to ensure an immediate ceasefire, address the growing humanitarian crisis, and take steps to build real and lasting peace.1 Follow this link now to sign the emergency petition and send it to everyone you know:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_time_for_peace/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

After eight or more years of ineffective US and global diplomacy -- and now Gaza's bloodiest day in recent memory -- we must issue a global outcry demanding that world leaders do more than make statements if they're to bring peace to this region. The UN, the European Union, the Arab League and the USA should now act together to ensure a ceasefire – which includes an end to rocket attacks into Israel and opening the checkpoints for fuel, food, medicine and other humanitarian aid deliveries.

With a new US President taking office in less than a month, a real opportunity exists to breathe new life into peace efforts. These latest hostilities require not only an immediate ceasefire but a commitment from Obama and other world leaders that resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is at the very top of their agendas. As the whole world is impacted by this ongoing conflict - we should demand nothing less.

In 2006 we mobilised for a ceasefire in Lebanon. For years we've worked to encourage a just and lasting peace, taking out billboards and ads across Israel and Palestine. Now as we head into 2009, we need to come together again to demand a peaceful and lasting resolution, instead of a further escalation of violence. Follow this link to put your name forward for peace:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_time_for_peace/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

All sides to the conflict will continue to act as they have in the past if they believe that the world will stand by and allow them to do so. 2009 is a year that things can be different. As we face this crisis, and the possibilities of a new year, it's time for us to demand a ceasefire and work together to finally put an end to this cycle of violence.

With hope and determination,

Brett, Ricken, Alice, Ben, Pascal, Paul, Graziela, Paula, Luis, Iain and the whole Avaaz tea

[Madalena Lobao_Tello]

URGENT! Israeli Navy Attacking Civilian Mercy Ship! TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY!
FreeGaza.org



December 30, 2008

The Dignity, a Free Gaza boat on a mission of mercy to besieged Gaza, is being attacked by the Israeli Navy in international waters. The Dignity has been surrounded by at least half-a-dozen Israeli warships. They are firing live ammunition around the Dignity, and one of the warships has rammed the civilian craft causing an unknown amount of damage. Contrary to international maritime law, the Israelis are actively preventing the Dignity from approaching Gaza or finding safe haven in either Egypt or Lebanon. Instead, the Israeli navy is demanding that the Dignity return to Cyprus - despite the fact that the ship does not carry enough fuel to do so. Fortunately, no one aboard the ship has yet been seriously injured.

There are 15 civilian passengers representing 11 different countries (see below for a complete list). At approximately 5am (UST), well out in international waters, Israeli warships began surrounding the Dignity, threatening the ship. At 6:45am (UST) we were able to establish brief contact with the crew and were told that the ship had been rammed by the Israeli Navy in international waters, and that the Israelis were preventing the ship from finding safe harbor. We heard heavy gunfire in the background before all contact was lost with the Dignity.

It is urgent that you TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION!

URGENT! Israeli Navy Attacking Civilian Mercy Ship! TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY!

The Dignity, a Free Gaza boat on a mission of mercy to besieged Gaza, is being attacked by the Israeli Navy in international waters. The Dignity has been surrounded by at least half-a-dozen Israeli warships. They are firing live ammunition around the Dignity, and one of the warships has rammed the civilian craft causing an unknown amount of damage. Contrary to international maritime law, the Israelis are actively preventing the Dignity from approaching Gaza or finding safe haven in either Egypt or Lebanon. Instead, the Israeli navy is demanding that the Dignity return to Cyprus - despite the fact that the ship does not carry enough fuel to do so. Fortunately, no one aboard the ship has yet been seriously injured.

There are 15 civilian passengers representing 11 different countries (see below for a complete list). At approximately 5am (UST), well out in international waters, Israeli warships began surrounding the Dignity, threatening the ship. At 6:45am (UST) we were able to establish brief contact with the crew and were told that the ship had been rammed by the Israeli Navy in international waters, and that the Israelis were preventing the ship from finding safe harbor. We heard heavy gunfire in the background before all contact was lost with the Dignity.

It is urgent that you TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION!

CALL the Israeli Government and demand that it immediately STOP attacking the Dignity and endangering the lives of its passengers!

CALL Mark Regev in the Prime Minister's office at:
[phone] or [phone]
- [e-mail]

CALL Shlomo Dror in the Ministry of Defence at:
[phone] or [phone]
- [e-mail]


BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Dignity departed from Larnaca Port in Cyprus at 7pm (UST) on Monday 29 December, bound for war-devastated Gaza with a cargo of over 3 tons of desperately needed medical supplies donated by the people of Cyprus. At our request, the ship was searched by Cypriot Port authorities prior to departure, to certify that there was nothing "threatening" aboard - only emergency medical supplies.

TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY TO STOP THE ISRAELI NAVY FROM ENDANGERING THE DIGNITY AND ITS PASSENGERS!

Civilians aboard the Dignity being threatened by the Israeli military:

(UK) Denis Healey, Captain
Captain of the Dignity, Denis has been involved with boats for 45 years, beginning with small fishing boats in Portsmouth. He learned to sail while atschool and has been part of the sea ever since. He's a certified yachtmaster and has also worked on heavy marine equipment from yachts to large dredgers. This is his fourth trip to Gaza.

(Greece) Nikolas Bolos, First Mate
Nikolas is a chemical engineer and human rights activist. He has served as a crewmember on several Free Gaza voyages, including the first one in August.

(Jordan) Othman Abu Falah
Othman is a senior producer with Al-Jazeera Television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.

(Australia) Renee Bowyer
Renee is a schoolteacher and human rights activist. She will remain in Gaza to do human rights monitoring and reporting.

(Ireland) Caoimhe Butterly
Caoimhe is a reknowned human rights activist and Gaza Coordinator for the Free Gaza Movement. She will be remaining in Gaza to do human rights monitoring, assist with relief efforts, and work on project development with Free Gaza.

(Cyprus) Ekaterini Christodulou
Ekaterini is a well-known and respected freelance journalist in Cyprus. She is traveling to Gaza to report on the conflict.

(Sudan) Sami El-Haj
Sami is a former detainee at Guantanamo Bay, and head of the human rights section at Al-Jazeera Television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.

(UK) Dr. David Halpin
Dr. Halpin is an experienced orthopaedic surgeon, medical professor, and ship's captain. He has organized humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza on several occasions with the Dove and Dolphin. He is traveling to Gaza to volunteer in hospitals and clinics.

(Germany) Dr. Mohamed Issa
Dr. Issa is a pediatric surgeon from Germany. He is traveling to Gaza to volunteer in hospitals and clinics.

(UK/Tunisia) Fathi Jaouadi
Fathi is a television producer and human rights activist. He will remain in Gaza to do human rights monitoring and reporting.

(USA) Cynthia McKinney
Cynthia is a former U.S. Congresswoman from Georgia, and the 2008 Green Party presidential candidate. She is traveling to Gaza to assess the ongoing conflict.

(Cyprus) Martha Paisi
Martha is a senior research fellow and experienced human rights activist. She is traveling to Gaza to do human rights work and to assist with humanitarian relief efforts.

(UK) Karl Penhaul
Karl Penhaul is a video correspondent for CNN, based out of Bogotá, Colombia. Appointed to this position in February 2004, he covers breaking news around the world utilizing CNN's new laptop-based 'Digital Newsgathering' system. He is traveling to Gaza to report on the ongoing conflict.

(Iraq) Thaer Shaker
Thaer is a cameraman with Al-Jazeera television. He will remain in Gaza to report on the ongoing military onslaught.

(Cyprus) Dr. Elena Theoharous, MP
Dr. Theoharous is a surgeon and a Member of the Cypriot Parliament. She is traveling to Gaza to assess the ongoing conflict, assist with humanitarian relief efforts, and volunteer in hospitals.
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[Madalena Lobao_Tello]

War is not a children game !

We only will be able to concern the nature, to protect our animal brothers if you are able to concern the rights of our human brothers. And the life is an elementary right.
I don't worry about which has the reason in a war without reason in both sides.
I don't defend states neither regimes but yes the rights of people, of men, women and children of both sides are my most important concern.


War is not a children game !

[Michal Ashkenasi]

No , you are right , War is not a game !! Have you ever thought about living for 1 Week in Sderoth or in the surroundings of the Gaza Strip ? I invite you to do so ; you will learn how to live under constant terror , with Scaads and Graads rockets falling every day and night !!
And you can try to come to an agreement with the terror group Hamas ! (If you can find someone to talk with about an agreement !) After you find someone willing to make an agreement , ask him if he intends to keep it !!
We made an agreement with Hamas about ceasefire but the rockets kept falling !!
Maybe you have a solution we don't know about ; if you have , please tell us about it .

[ernestine]

i want to remember to the possibility of helping the palestinians people.
IFOR organize each year a meeting in palestina in order to help to pick the olives from the trees on their land.
otherwise they can't get the olives.
with the help of the strange international people they are more save.

ich möchte an die action von IFOR erinnern. jedes jahr organisiert der versöhnungsbund das olivenpflücken in palestina. durch die internationale hilfe können sie ihre eigenen oliven pflücken und sind mehr geschützt.

[FreeSpiritRunning]

Salaam to all,

Shukran my beautiful sister of light Mada for having this most important & caring discussion, you are blessed sister.

I am praying to the Great Spirit, to Allah to spare these innocent peoples lives, for all peoples of this Earth are connected, "Mitakuye Oyasin" {We are all One}...

It is important to know that not all Americans agree with what is going on in any of our countries right now, I care about all of the nations of the world, I pray for PEACE....not War...and so, for all the children of Gaza, my prayers go out to them deep from my heart from the bottom of my soul I will pray to Allah...Inshallah.

I will pray for food, clothing, a place to live and for their lives to be spared with no more bloodshed! Leave these people alone! How much can innocent people of this world suffer?

Assalumualikem...My candles are lit in my heart & here on Earth for Peace...

DoHiYi {peace} to us all in the Universe,
FreeSpiritRunning...xxxooo

[FreeSpiritRunning]

Salaam all,

I just wanted to let Mada know that I am a member of Avaaz, I signed this petition, I support all of it! Shukran again Mada! Your a wonderful soul for caring my sister!

Peace to all,
FreeSpiritRunning...xxxooo

[MONKA BLANKE]

i signed up the online- petition (avaaz), stop the jewish settlements so we come closer to peace....blessings from monka

[David Moore]

When they stop and grow up about what god is what god than there will be peace and not until than

[Zhenlian]

What God is? This is another insane war, when both sides claim that the right is with them? When both sides claim that they are heros, in fact both sides claim that they are gods! But the civilians suffer, they shed bloods when the gods are at war. May be we have to wait for the day when people learn to become humble , not to pretend that they are gods, then such kind of insane wars will stop. When will people become humble? Let's pray that one day people will become humble.

[Louis]

Is this the petition?
Stop the violence!

Louis

[Aviva Beigel]

I am an iSRAELI CITIZEN , that want to live in peace also in my little land,
without the endless bombing of the Hamas,
you forget that we as Jews don't have any other place to go in this world!

[Madalena Lobao_Tello]

Aviva
If you justified war is because you believe that the solution to conflicts is the war.
I disagree with this.