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In this newsletter:
This Saturday: Nakba demonstration in London; Info stall in Hastings
Sunday 1pm: Zoom meeting with Al-Mawasi
Thursday 29 May - Evict General Dynamics protest
Reports: Gaza and the State of UK 'democracy;' "Flush it away" Coca Cola amnesty; L3Harris Mayday Shutdown
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION - NAKBA 77
Saturday 17 May 12.00 Embankment tube, London.
It is the 77th anniversary of a Nakba that never ended. Israel's systematic slaughter in Gaza was this week stepped up to unimaginable proportions. Hundreds have been killed in days and the starvation of the entire population continues unchecked despite famine warnings from the UN and aid agencies. We are watching the erasure of a people in real time. Join us in London to demand an end the ongoing ethnic cleansing, genocide and erasure of Palestinians.
Catch
the
10.31 Hastings train to London. If you would like to go but need help towards the cost of a ticket, contact us directly. We match donors with
marchers.
SATURDAY'S INFORMATION STALL
Saturday 17 May 12.00 noon until 2pm Town Centre. For those who can't get to Saturday's London demonstration, please visit our information stall. All the usual information, petitions, plus keffiyehs, books, badges, boycott and General Dynamics stickers and Palestine Cola.
NEXT ZOOM MEETING WITH AL-MAWASI
Sunday 18 May 1pm.
The situation in Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza has deteriorated seriously. Israel continues to bomb the civilian population. After more than two months of Israeli total siege, the lack of food is at a critical level. So far the supply of both meat and vegetables has run out. Join us in our meeting with members of the Al-Mawasi community to find out the latest. Please register for free on eventbrite and you will receive the zoom link by email on Sunday morning.
EVICT GENERAL DYNAMICS - PROTEST AT GENERAL DYNAMICS
Thursday 29 May. 7.30am - 9.00am 100 Castleham Road, Hastings, TN38 9NJ.
Join our protest against genocide profiteer General Dynamics, starting at 7.30am; then at 9am we will be serving our own 'Eviction Notice' on the company.
The site at Castleham Road is leased by Hastings Borough Council. The lease contains a clause which states that it can be revoked by the Council if the company engages in "illegal or immoral activities" on its premises.
General Dynamics develops and manufactures parts for weapons and aircraft which are used by the Israeli military against the Palestinian civilian population of Gaza and the West Bank.
The Human Rights Council of the UN has called on all countries, "to cease the sale, transfer and diversion of arms, munitions and other military equipment to Israel" and that a number of listed companies, including General Dynamics, are, by sending, "weapons, parts, components, and ammunition at risk of being complicit in serious violations of international human rights and international humanitarian laws."
General Dynamics is clearly engaged in "illegal or immoral activities." Therefore we call on Hastings Borough Council to immediately evict General Dynamics for carrying out illegal and immoral activities.
Sign our online petition calling on Hastings Borough Council to evict General Dynamics. A printed version of the petition is available at our stalls and meetings.
GAZA AND THE STATE OF UK 'DEMOCRACY'
A recent guerilla poster campaign highlights the frustration of constituents to get a straight answer from the MP.
There is clearly a democratic deficit when it comes to the Gaza genocide. We are continually being told to use the democratic levers to hold our representatives to account but what happens when those levers are broken? When the representative refuses to listen, engage, meet, respond or be held accountable? Gabriel Carlisle was keen to speak to MP Helena Dollimore at the PSC's national lobby day in Parliament. According to the piece he wrote in Hottie, Gabriel wanted to "Look her in the eye and ask her if she would publicly call on her government to abide by UK and international law and stop supplying F35 components to Israel, either directly or indirectly." He was disappointed not to have that opportunity.
Felicity Lawrence also registered for the Lobby Day and after many emails, calls and messages to Ms Dollimore's office - and attending the online lobby briefing - she was contacted the day before to be told, unequivocally, that the MP definitely would not see her as her diary was totally full. However, on the morning of the lobby itself, she was contacted by email to be told Ms Dollimore actually might have the time to see her after all. By this time it was too late for Felicity so she replied by email that while she could no longer go, Gabriel Carlisle would be there instead. However, nothing more was heard from Ms Dollimore's office. Felicity said: "I feel that as a representative of a thoughtful, deeply informed and compassionate group (HJJ) and as a constituent, I and all those whose voices Helena refuses constantly to acknowledge and, in this case, listen to in person even for just 10 minutes, have been treated with serious contempt."
It is abundantly clear that the UK is a direct participant in the worst crime of the modern age - a live-streamed genocide - and yet genuine efforts at accountability are too easily dismissed. Is it time for a Chilcot style inquiry of the type that Corbyn is calling for, direct action or something else? Let us know your thoughts
REPORT: "FLUSH IT AWAY" COCA COLA AMNESTY
 
Lots of folk paid us a call at our 'Flush it Away' Coca Cola Amnesty stand in Hastings town centre. Coca-Cola is a priority target of the BDS movement as it operates a distribution centre in an illegal Israeli settlement, meaning it is helping to entrench Israel's military occupation and colonisation.
Thanks to everyone who came to take part and support. It was a busy day for us - we found it was an action that drew a lot of engagement from ordinary folk who would not otherwise stop to look. A short video of the day on Facebook and on Instagram.
'Why would anyone buy Coca Cola when there are so many good alternatives such as Palestine Cola?' Local stockists of Palestine Cola: Bullet, White Rock Hotel, Dark Circles and Dove Café.
Thanks to everyone who supported the protest at L3Harris in Moulsecoomb. We were able to shut down the genocide profiteer for the day. L3Harris makes the bomb release mechanisms for the F35 fighter jets that are responsible for dropping the bunker bombs on Gaza. Big respect to the organisers StopL3Harris (Instagram). Short videos of the day on Instagram. and .on Facebook
ONLINE WELLBEING SESSIONS
Clinical hypnotherapist Chris Dindar is running 30 min relaxation sessions to help decompress, process our emotions, and find a moment of peace and deep relaxation amidst the chaos. Chris is offering his services for free, as a token of his solidarity, to help nurture the well-being of our local group and maintain our collective resolve.
Please email Chris directly if interested in taking part. The sessions are the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month at 12 noon.
BOOKS AVAILABLE AT OUR STALLS AND MEETINGS
 
 
 
Now available at our stall, a number of great books to deepen our knowledge of the history of Palestine and Israel. We're grateful to Lee at Printed Matter in Hastings, for generously discounting the price for us in support of the work of PSC. Thanks to Kay Green for providing us with Marilyn Garson's Jewish not Zionist.
PALESTINE - ISRAEL: FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Much of the 'information' in the corporate media is misleading. Here are some useful sources:
Middle East Eye. Electronic Intifada. Al Jazeera. Middle East Monitor.
Mondoweiss. Palestine Chronicle. Al Mayadeen. Mintpress. The Grayzone.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor. Jonathan Cook.
The Cradle. MediaLens. Declassified UK. The Hind Rajab Foundation.
Rania Khalek.
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Hastings and District PSC online membership and donations
Becoming a member of Hastings and District PSC is an important way of supporting our work.The annual subscription is £10 waged, £5 unwaged. We now have an online membership payment form. It can also be used to renew membership. If you would rather not use Paypal, you can pay directly to our bank: please contact us for the details. Or alternatively pay at one of our events.
The work of Hastings and District PSC could not continue without the donations from members of the public. If you would like to support our work without becoming a member please visit our shop page here and see the right hand column:
Donate to Hastings and District PSC.
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