Solidarity: A new movement for socialism in Scotland

[Red Dawn]

1. Scottish boycott campaigners in political show trial for 'racism' (Fri 7th Aug)

“Anyone who stands up for Palestinians is automatically accused of being ‘anti-Semitic’. I am Jewish and proud to be Honorary President of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, an anti-racist group that opposes Israeli apartheid.”
Marion Woolfson

Five SPSC members are facing trial on Friday for boycotting Israeli state-sponsored cultural ambassadors, the Jerusalem Quartet. The Israeli musicians, in the words of their admirers, believe that 'a rifle in one hand and a violin in the other is the ultimate Zionist statement.'

In the wake of the Israeli massacres in Gaza early this year, the original Breach of the Peace charge was dropped and new charges of “racially aggravated conduct” were issued.

Boycott helped end South African Apartheid, and can do likewise with Israel. The STUC is one among many pushing for boycott of Israel until it stops its crimes

Help us fight the move to criminalise boycott of criminal Israel. The same British authorities who support the siege of Gaza are working to stifle Israel's critics here. The five accused are confident this trial will see the Israeli State and its British allies in the dock of the real supreme court: the court of public opinion.

Even if you can only be there for 10 minutes to show your support, please meet outside the court at 9.30am on Friday, and stay for as little or as long as you can.

Fri 7th Aug 9.30am
Sheriff Court, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LB
Map: http://tinyurl.com/EdinburghSheriff-Court

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2. Israeli ethnic cleansing - Scots witness brutal 'business as usual'
Sunday 2nd August, East Jerusalem
• Scots witness police protection of new illegal settlement in Sheikh Jarrah, East Jerusalem.
• Following violent eviction by Israeli police of nine Palestinian families, settlers occupy homes within minutes.
• Fifty-five Palestinians, including 20 children, are left homeless.

After less than 24 hours of their Scottish delegation to the Occupied Palestinian Territories seven Scots from Edinburgh and Glasgow heard first-hand how Israeli police and soldiers forced their way into the homes of the Hanoun and al-Ghawi families, beating children, one son had his leg broken. The furniture and family possessions were loaded into trucks and Israeli police are demanding payment in order for them to be returned.

These actions by the Israeli state authorities were carried out in order to make way for Jewish Israeli settlers who under police protection moved into the Palestinian families homes within the hour. Eleven internationals, many from the International Solidarity Movement, who have been living in solidarity with the Palestinian families were arrested during the eviction.

The Israeli Alternative Information Centre reports that “the Hanoun and al-Ghawi families have been battling the Israeli legal system at every level since 1972 for the right to remain in their homes, which originally were provided to them by UNRRWA. The families are all registered refugees, having initially fled from Mandate Palestine, including West Jerusalem, in 1948, leaving behind their land and other property. The Israeli courts have repeatedly ruled in favour of groups of settlers laying claim to land and property in occupied East Jerusalem, often on questionable grounds, at the same time as Palestinian refugees are unable to regain possession of property left behind in 1948.”

Sofiah MacLeod of Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, reporting from the site of the eviction, said “there has been a lot made about Obama’s push against settlement expansion by Israel but the evictions, beating and violations of human rights take place every day. The settlement building and displacement of Palestinian families can only continue because Obama and the EU continue to turn a blind eye and take no action to protect Palestinians.”

Supporters of the Palestinian families visited Sheikh Jarrah today, including members of the anti-Zionist orthodox Jewish community Neturei Karta.

The seven Scots will be meeting Palestinian and Israeli activists struggling against Israeli occupation and aggression. They will be available to give a report-back from their visit to meetings from September.
They are maintaining a blog during the visit http://delegation2009.scottishpsc.org.uk/
END

Contacts:
Sofiah MacLeod 00 44 7931200361 or 00 972 542173360
&
Nasser al-Ghawe 00 972 522347313

3. Weekly Street stalls in Edinburgh and Glasgow
As well as a continued focus on raising awareness and promoting the boycott amongst locals, the tourist season being in full swing provides an opportunity to spread our reach. The more the merrier, so please come along and take part.

Edinburgh:
Saturdays 12 to 2pm, Top of the Mound/Market St
Map: http://tiny.cc/J8LRt )

Glasgow:
Saturdays 12 to 2pm, Sauchiehall Street pedestrian area (corner of Hope St)


4. Recent Articles on Scottish PSC website

Israeli moves to stop Gaza war crimes revelations
These paranoids have nuclear weapons, courtesy of the West
Is it really not time for cultural boycott of Israel?

Join Scottish PSC - we are all volunteers with no paid staff - or make a financial donation to help us continue campaigning work:
Send a cheque to:
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
c/o Peace & Justice Centre
Princes Street
Edinburgh
EH2 4BJ
www.scottishpsc.org.uk
SPSC is affiliated to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (UK) www.palestinecampaign.org

[Red Dawn]

12 August 2009

"Scottish Nationalist, Labour hypocrisy over Diageo job losses"...

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/aug20 ... -a12.shtml


"Thousands March in Defence of Jobs at Johnnie Walker"




"They came in their thousands to send a message loud and clear to the bosses at Diageo – No job cuts to pay for corporate greed! The “Striding Forward Together” March and Rally in against the bosses at Diageo’s decision to close the Johnnie Walker plants in Kilmarnock and other operations in Hurlford and Port Dundas galvanised the community who responded in their thousands"...

http://www.solidarityscotland.org/content/view/658/2/

[Red Dawn]

September 1, 2009

"Karl Marx and the Global Economic Crisis
Are we getting good Marx? I think not"

"This is a far cry from today’s left organizations where decision-making is made by the very same people who formulate programmes and policies and thus they have a vested interest in making sure that their view dominates, if for no other reason than ego."

"Yes, I know it’s all very small potatoes, a veritable storm in a teacup but this top-down approach has dominated the left for decades. It stifles debate, it leads to never-ending splits as the ‘real’ revolutionaries depart for their chosen barricade. All in all, it’s a very depressing situation that if we are to stand a chance of saving what’s left of the planet, we surely have to change."...

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php? ... &aid=14999


"The Left Must Unite, by Tommy Sheridan"...

http://www.solidarityscotland.org/content/view/604/66/

[Red Dawn]

"A Conspiracy to Hide the Truth about Lockerbie"...

http://www.solidarityscotland.org/content/view/659/2/

[Red Dawn]

24 September 2009

"Scottish National Party prepares deep spending cuts"

"The SNP, led by First Minister Alex Salmond, have attempted to lay the blame for any budget cuts on the Labour government in London."

"Far from representing “the best outcome for Scotland”, the SNP’s programme speaks to sections of the regional business elite who view Scotland’s separation from the UK as a means for their own self-enrichment at the expense of the working class"...

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/sep20 ... -s24.shtml


The SNP...The party of BIG Business.

[Red Dawn]

Tommy Sheridan confirmed as Solidarity Candidate

Solidarity, Scotland’s Socialist Movement can today confirm that our Co-Convenor Tommy Sheridan, has been selected by the Glasgow membership to stand as our candidate in the forthcoming Glasgow North East by-election...

http://www.solidarityscotland.org/content/view/671/

[Red Dawn]

Elect a socialist MP on a workers wage
Make the bosses pay for the economic crisis
Defend our public services

[Red Dawn]

Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign
The trial of 5 Scottish Paleatinian Solidarity Campaign activists has been adjourned until January.

The 5 were charged following a non-violent protest during a performance by the Jesrusalem Quartet in Edinburgh in August 2008.

Unbelievably the 5 were charged with “racism” for their actions. At the trial in Edinburgh this week, the Sherriff heard evidence from the defence that criticism of Israel is not racist, and that the charge is not competent.

The trial was adjourned until January after the BBC refused to hand over their audio recording of the concert (and the activists interventions) without a court order.

See press release from SPSC below: ...

http://www.solidarityscotland.org/content/view/678/2/

[Red Dawn]

"Airgun ban plea"...

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/video/21999/ne ... -ban-plea/











Campaign Photos...

http://www.solidarityscotland.org/conte ... tion/5/34/

[Red Dawn]

Thanks Ed

http://tinyurl.com/ylp67g8