For the children of Gaza - Onslaught Press

I am very honoured and privileged to be included  in this new book published by Onslaught Press, http://onslaughtpress.tumblr.com/trade for the children  of Gaza, with a poem published under my actual name in  an anthology of poems and art work. Great to be part  of a project that has been released so quickly, with  some well chosen  poems, all powerful and moving stirring in their own way. You can  contribute yourself by buying a copy here.http://onslaughtpress.tumblr.com/trade

Below is the preface written by the editors, Mathew Staunton and Rethabile Masilo.

preface

Operation Protective Edge, described  by US Secretary of State John Kerry as "Israel's  appropriate and legitimate effort to defend itself" from Hamas rocketeers and tunnel builders, is now in its fourth week. Unfortunately for the  civilian population of Gaza, however, there is little  in this operation that could reasonably be considered  defensive. The destruction of Gaza's civilian infrastructure and its only power station, the targeting of schools, hospitals, mosques, fishing boats, orchards, and the beach  is more about making life intolerable for Gazans than it is about ending  rocket attacks.
The civilian death toll, and the number of child casualties in particular, make  it difficult to see this as anything other than collective punishment. And yet we  are asked everyday to believe that these casualties are ' legitimate, 'unavoidable', appropriate', 'justified', 'necessary', and 'reasonable' and that children are dying because they are being used as 'human shields'.
Suffering is increasingly mediated by diplomats, official spokespeople, broadcasters, news corporations, community leaders, spin doctors, and legal tams, but  usually with no more than a passing commentary. We see more and more pictures of dead children on our screens and in our newspapers but the texts and speeches  that accompany them are  full of ambigious and misleading words, or words with no meaning at all. Sometimes there are so many dead children that it is more expedient to forget about words alltogether and simply use numbers.
The contributors  to this book are  telling the story of our anger and disgust and horror. You will not be surprised to discover that there is darkness in many of the texts that follow. But there is also joy and beauty. Its aim is much less to  accuse than to paint a correct picture of what most of the world seemingly does not see,  or chooses not to see, and we think that a right recognition of the reality  of Gaza today needs to be accompanied by the right remedial action. Such action is in the hands of all of us, even if the leaders of the world, who are indeed in the best position  to act, do not.
What is at stake in Gaza goes well beyond the politics of sides and enters the consideration of crime and of killing. There are many accomplices on both sides and as in any crime, they, too must be held accountable. Bishop Tutu has said that "if you are neutral in situations of injustice you have chosen the side of  the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." The work presented here  by many artists and writers from all corners of the world attempts, unlike the non-actions of those who actually have political clout and power, to choose the side  of the oppressed.
Suddenly in the face of these killing, it does not matter that tunnels have been dug, or that rockets are being launched at Israeli cities. Even if you are right; what suddenly matters is choosing to kill your opponent, who is weaker.

Mathew D. Staunton & Rethabile Masilo

You can see much more on their facebook page

 https://www.facebook.com/onslaughtpress

I can send a PDF too anyone interested.

Link to poem of mine included, originally posted here on this blog:-

The Night is Long Faced

http://teifidancer-teifidancer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/the-night-is-long-faced.html

The Case for Cultural & Academic Boycott of Israel with intro by Ken Loach

Solidarity with all those marching for Gaza and Palestine today.
Silence is complicity. The chance to be a force for good in the world is there for the taking. I hope more join Ken Loach and others willing to  speak their minds - movement and momentum is everything.

Long March on Newport

In September 2014 (4th and 5th) NATO will bring its summit to Wales. Throughout Wales  opposition grows, peace activists and members from a wide section of our communities are  already spreading an alternative  message across our land, with campaigners starting  of on a 192-mile Long March  On Newport  inspired by the Chartist Uprising.
We have a long proud tradition of standing up for peace, against injustice, this is what I hope the walkers will bring to mind. Ordinary people reflecting a different view, another path. Against militarism and institutions that perpetuate violence on a global scale. As heads  of governments from 60 countries head  to Newport, at Celtic Manor Resort I sincerely hope that the people of Wales, are joined in solidarity from people from all walks of life who  want to see an end to aggression perpetuated by alliances forged with imperialistic agendas, that seem to serve only their own self interests, profiteers of war and poverty, with the added obscene  costs of this summit in these austere times, a clear message of defiance and resistance must be delivered. To demand a world without bosses or bombs.
Marchers  plan to  start from the Eisteddfod in Llanelli today to arrive in Newport on August 29 ,the day  before a planned  demonstration in the city, I hope to make the journey at some later stage too.

More Details here:-

http://notonatowalk.org.uk/

https://network23.org/StopnatoCymru/en/whats-planned/

B.B.C Censorship at Welsh National Eisteddfod

While everyone  is crying for Peace and crying out for Justice and crying out for justice, heard about this worrying incident at the Welsh National Eisteddfod yesterday, a choir called Cor Seingar from Carmarthenshire was wearing pro-Palestinian badges and the BBC told them take the badges off or the BBC would not broadcast their performance.
The BBC has said that this was just a misunderstanding but the choir disagrees, and the choir is taking it further. All they were doing  is wearing badges as a gesture of support and solidarity.http://www.golwg360.com/newyddion/Cymru/158944-bbc-yn-rhwystro-perfformwyr-rhag-dangos-bathodyn-palestina
I'm not sure if I can  trust the Beeb at moment, because  this is the same BBC where Lyse Doucet said that the ceasefire in Gaza means that the Arab fishermen can go back fishing on  the sea normally again. What she or the BBC do not say is that  the Palestinians are not allowed to go out beyond 250 metres off the beaches, and have not been allowed to do this since 2007, because of the illegal blockade thrust upon them. Its all reported as if nothing  was wrong in Gaza prior to 4 weeks ago, and the same  BBC  that uses its news services to spread its messages of jingoism in support of things that only readers of the Daily Mail would want to hear about.

The Ballad of Rivka and Mohammed - Leon Rosselson

Leon Rosselson has written a powerful new song about Gaza. A song from the heart for all of us, which you might like to share.
A song which tells the story of two children in different wars.

We Never Forget

Contribution to letter to Unknown Soldier Project

http://www.1418now.org.uk/letter

We build anniversaries, to remember horror,
as genocide still brings its daily misery,
we should never forget, anybody's senseless slaughter,
all those tragically killed  in patriotic disguise.

The innocent victims, the fallen, the walking wounded,
all those that do not return home, those that mourn,
the many  voices, silenced and stilled,
their names and stories forever  touch and live.

We remember as long as dead names are coughed out,
as time moves on, locomotive  tracks of destruction still created,
as days stretch,  we  do not follow complicity with silence,
remind ourselves  of senses of humanity, left scattered and slain.

We remember too, all those who refuse to fight,
branded cowards, treated like an enemy,
as they battle for a world of peace,
against brutal threads that leave us numb.

With these memories, we continue to share,
spreading the fever  of anger, across many lands,
all loss  is  like a ruined tunnel of light,
a centenary later, we again chant words of peace,
swimming together, desperately under dangerous sky.

HUG A TERRORIST

In a video  meant to draw attention to innocents killed in Gaza violence.Two Canadian schoolgirls, described as Palestinian Syrians  are warmly embraced by Toronto strangers, when they hold up a sign saying ' HUG A TERRORIST'.
As Gaza and Palestinians   resist the  continual terrorist  attack  and brutal emotional and physical abuse, that has resulted in  a toll  of 1000  plus deaths, thousands  injured, nearly  all of them civilians,  and mostly  women and children,  the full destruction of the City, the world is finally experiencing a  rude awakening.
This war on  Gaza has been justified under the pretext of fighting terror, yet children are the main victims.
Only yesterday Israel  shelled  a U.N school in Gaza, killing 16. Where Palestinians had been sheltering after being told to  evacuate their homes. Women and children, killed while sleeping.
Clearly a crime against humanity.
Let me ask you,WHO ARE THE REAL TERRORISTS?