South London March for Palestine
Balham Mosque to Tooting Mosque, London. Sat 28 Feb, 2009
The front of Saturday's march leading down Balham High Road
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Saturday's South London March for Palestine, called by Wandsworth
Stop the War Coalition and supported by many other organisations including
the Lambeth & Wandsworth Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Wimbledon
CND and Lambeth STWC was the first such major event in south
London.
Around three hundred people, mainly Muslims, gathered outside Balham Mosque
and after a short address formed up and marched along the main road south
to Tooting, led by a lively group of children in white t-shirts with a 'blood-stained'
red handprint and some of the women. The route led through some of south London's
busiest shopping streets and marchers attracted considerable encouragement
from shoppers.
As the march neared Tooting others joined in, swelling the numbers for the
rally at Tooting Mosque, where speakers were expected to include local MPs
Sadiq Khan and Martin Linton, Lindsey German of
Stop the War, Tooting Imam Sulayman Gani, Ismail Adam Patel
of the Friends of Al Aqsa, a representative from Jews for Justice for Palestinians
and other Muslim and Christian leaders. Unfortunately I was unable to stay
as I had agreed to go to Kennington.
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Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty
City of London. Friday 27 Feb, 2009
Getting ready for the start of the march from Bank around the city
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Almost 300 people turned up for a march around the City of London, SHAC's
'City Shakedown' to protest at the continuing support by banks for Huntingdon
Life Sciences (HLS) which they say kills 500 animals every day. Recently published
pictures from inside HLS have increased concerns about the mistreatment of
animals there. They were also protesting at the extremely heavy sentences
given to some animal rights activists in recent court cases.
The continued campaign against HLS has persuaded some to withdraw the support,
but it relies heavily on the banks. The march convened outside the Bank of
England, which the government has obliged to give HLS banking facilities.
There was a very heavy police presence here and elsewhere around the route
of the march; the City of London police were perhaps taking no chances having
been rather caught unprepared by the 'March
on the City' against the bankers last October.
Of course this march was - as expected - entirely peaceful. Animal rights
demonstrators are unlikely to behave illegally on the streets of London when
surrounded by police, and a much smaller force would have sufficed. As the
pictures show there was a great range of people on the march of all ages and
although loud and spirited there was never any likelihood of trouble.
From the Bank of England the march went on to a Barclays branch in Wormwood
Street, where it stopped for a few minutes to make its views known. Barclays
are the largest shareholders in HLS and also support NYSE Euronext.
Police stopped the march on the pavement a little distance from H P Morgan
on London Wall for the next protest stop. Morgans are also shareholders in
HLS and supporters of NYSE.
On the corner of Newgate Street and Warrick Lane the march stopped again
to demonstrate against Merrill Lynch and AXA Investment Managers, again both
shareholders in HLS and NYSE. The next stop, rather briefer, was at Condor
House, opposite St Pauls Cathedral, where Barclays Plc have an office on the
fourth floor.
The final destination was NYSE Euronext (and NYSE Liffe) where the marchers
massed at the bottom of Dowgate Hill, in front of barriers around the office
entrance and a line of security men and police. NYSE still list HLS shares
although they don't meet their normal minimum listing requirments. The shares
are doing even worse than most, with many organisations apparently deciding
they do not want to be involved with experimentation on animals.
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Ash Wednesday Liturgy of Repentance
Ministry of Defence, Horseguards Ave, London. 25 Feb 2009
Black
and purple ribbons were tied to a cross and prayers offered for victims of
war and violence.
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Pax Christi and Christian CND have held an Ash Wednesday
Liturgy of Repentance and Resistance at the Ministry of Defence in protest
against the continued reliance on nuclear weapons every year since 1982. Around
70 Christians, including members of Catholic Peace Action attended,
forming a circle in Embankment gardens where sticks of charcoal were blessed
and the heads of those taking part marked with a cross of ashes.
The group then processed to the Old War Office for a short service there,
where black and purple ribbons were tied to a white cross while prayers were
said for those killed in wars. There was a large police presence and the group
were kept away from the wall, preventing those carrying the charcoal from
using them to mark the wall at this time, though I think they may have done
so after I (and most of the police) left.
The group then processed to cross the road at Whitehall and back on the other
side to the pavement in front of the Ministry of Defence, closed off by barriers
and again with a strong police and security presence. Here there was a longer
service, in which sackcloth was laid on the pavement and the letters R E P
E N T marked out on it with ashes. Others taking part came and added more
ashes.
Police kept a narrow passage clear through the centre of the worshippers
throughout the event so that people could enter and leave the MoD. So far
as I am aware none of those entering or leaving took the leaflets they were
offered as they passed through. In the middle of the service the peace was
shared by people (including this photographer) shaking hands with those around
them, including with the police close to the barrier.
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National Student Demonstration
Malet St - Kings College. Wed 25 Feb, 2009
Listening to the speakers at the rally outside SOAS
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The National Student March was rather smaller than on previous
occasions as it was not supported by all student organisations, but with around
750 students it was still a fairly large event, with students from around
the country, and in particular many of those places where occupations had
taken place - some continuing - over Gaza.
Going to university is now an expensive business, with few students qualifying
for an help with maintenance or fees, and most expecting to graduate owing
£20,000 or more. Unlike in my day, when as my parental income was low
I got a grant almost large enough to live on for the whole year and fees were
paid by the local authority for all UK students. Times have changed, but I
would not have been able to go to university without that financial support.
The marchers demanded an end to fees and a living grant for every student,
with the public education system being based simply on need and not on the
market. Before the march there were several speakers, giving support from
school students, the youth parliament, university teachers and others as well
as from students.
At the junction of Sotuhampton Row and Theobalds Road there was a short sitdown
on the road. After a few minutes, a steward came to inform those on the ground
that the police intended to surround and remove them off the road, holding
them and possibly arresting them. Some of the students then got up, leaving
mainly those in the autonomous block without support from the rest. A few
minutes later when a large and vigorous looking squad of police approached,
they too got up quickly and the march moved on. At this point I left to photograph
another event.
more pictures
March of the Corporate Undead
Oxford St, London. Tuesday 24 Feb, 2009
Skull and Crossbones and a bone, Oxford St
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A Zombie Shopping Spree took place on Oxford Street starting from Oxford
Circus, complete with coffins, a dead 'banker', posters, various members of
the undead and a rather good band. Police watched in a suitably deadpan manner
(I did see one or two occasionally smile) as the group assembled and applied
large amounts of white makeup before making its way along the pavement of
Oxford Street, to the astonishment (and often delight) of late shoppers and
workers rushing home.
We stopped off at Stratford Place, opposite Bond Street Station to toss some
fried bankers brains in the frying pans and then there was a pancake race,
holding up a Rolls Royce that was prevented by the police from driving through
while we were there.
The parade continued, stopping for a minute or two under the bright lights
of Selfridges before continuing to Tyburn, or at least Marble Arch, with more
zombies joining all the time.
Hanging the already dead banker seemed a great idea, but getting a rope up
over the arch was tricky. Eventually a severed hand gave sufficent weight
to enable a rope to be thrown over the ornamental iron-work and the banker
was soon hoisted up to dangle over the continuing revels below.
But then I had to leave those delightful zombies and go to a bloggers meetup
- which did have the advantage of free drinks thanks to Bacardi. The blue
and green Breezers seem to me just right for zombies, though I'm afraid after
tasting one I went for the beer instead.
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Olympic Site Report
Stratford Marsh, London. Tuesday 24 Feb, 2009
Lock house, Bow Back Rivers, Stratford
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Having started to photograph the London 2012 Olympic Area in the 1980s, long
before there were any thoughts about the games, I'm trying to keep up with
the developments in the area. I'm not sure my picture of this lock is any
better than those I took over 20 years ago, but it is interesting to compare
the images.
When I photographed it then, what interested me was not the lock cottage
but the unusual lock gates. Not ony were they of decaying wood, complete with
ferns growing in them, but there were three of them. As you can just about
see in the picture above, this gate was a double gate, with one pair of gates
angled for use at low tide when the water in the lock was higher than the
Waterworks River, and the other angled in the opposite direction for when
the tide was higher and the tidal Waterworks River was higher than the lock
- at the constant level of the Lea Navigation. My older picture below - one
of around a hundred that are now in the Museum of London collection - shows
the lock more clearly.
The lock in 1990
One of the landmark buildings on Stratford High Street, more for its lavender
mosaic than the actual structure is Warton House, once owned by the Yardley
company. A friend tells me it is to be demolished for an Olympic approach
route, but so far I've only found a planning application for demolishing a
part of the rear of the building - which had already been done. I do hope
he is wrong as this would be an unforgiveable loss to the area.
Anyway, here are my February images for this continueing project.
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London Olympic site panorama
Stratford Marsh, London. Tuesday 24 Feb, 2009
One
of two panoramas from the Greenway.
see both larger
These panoramas were made using the 'Vedutismo' projection available in the
latest version of PTGui, which preserves all straight lines through the centre
of the image.
Compare them with January's
panoramas
Keep the Post Public
Westminster, London. Tuesday 24 Feb, 2009
Postal workers and banners at Parliament Square
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Postal workers held a rally at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster on Tuesday
to protest at government plans to part-privatize the postal service. The government
argue that this is necessary to protect pensions and to modernise the service,
but it seems likely that any company taking over mail deliveries would only
do so if the government picked up the pensions bill in any case.
The real problem with the post is that earlier measures allowed private companies
to cream off the easily delivered profitable parts of the service, while leaving
the Royal Mail to continue the expensive universal delivery service - including
the delivery of its competitors post at regulated prices.
To provide a level playing field, these should have properly reflected the
fact that the competitors were not required to provide a universal service.
After the rally, I photographed the postal workers - including the Deputy
General Secretary (Postal) of the Communications Workers Union Dave Ward,
and CWU General Secretary Billy Hayes, as they came out into the street and
walked down for a short demonstration in Parliament Square.
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Worshipful Company of Poulters Pancake Race
Guildhall Yard, London. Tuesday 24 Feb, 2009
Four pancakes being tossed in a race
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It's a shame that the Pancake Race is unlikely to feature in the London 2012
Olympics, because it's perhaps the one sport in which Britain still leads
the world, and we seem to have plenty of talent in training. I had decided
to give pancakes a little of a rest this year (and I've never been a great
fan of eating the things) but couldn't resist a couple of pancake-related
events, the first of which was the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race organised by
the Worshipful Company of Poulters, and held - with the permission of the
Chief Commoner, in the Guildhall Yard.
This is a highly organised event with a large number of timekeepers and other
officials, who ensure that the rules are kept and time penalties are levied
for those who toss their pancakes outside the prescribed zone or fail to toss
them at all, and for ladies whose dress is above the knee.
This is a charity event, run in support of the Lord Mayor's Charities, but
despite a great deal of fairly reserved fun, the truly competitive nature
of the city emerges in these inter-livery races. Although the rules are old-fashioned
- in the masters race those taking part wear their badges and robes and skirts
or dresses are required for the ladies race, the times are impressive.
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Al-Haq Sue UK Government
Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London. Tuesday 24 Feb, 2009.
Protesters outside the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London
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The Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq filed a claim for judicial review
before the High Court of England and Wales challenging the government's failure
to fulfull its obligations with respect to Israel’s activities in Palestine.
They call upon the government to publicly denounce Israel's actions in Gaza
and in the continuing contstruction of the wall, to suspend arms related exports
and government, military, financial and ministerial assistance to Israel and
to UK companies exporting arms and miliatary technology and to insist the
EU suspends preferential trading with Israel until that country complies with
its human rights obligations.
They also ask that the government should give the police any evidence of
war crimes committed by any Israelis who intend to come to the UK.
A small group of demonstrators were outside the court to support the application
on Tuesday and a press conference was held including solicitor Phil Shiner
of Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) and Gaza Legal Aid Fund trustee
Mary Nazzal-Batayneh.
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3rd Runway - NO WAY!
Whitehall, Westminster, London. Thursday 19 Feb, 2009
A
strong Green Party presence among the 500 or so protesters opposite Downing
St
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The pen opposite Downing Street was fairly tightly packed with demonstrators
when I arrived halfway through the protest and there were so many it was hard
to count, but the organisers estimate of 400 was rather lower than mine. It
was a much more varied crowd - as well as perhaps fifty times larger - than
the counter-protest taking place at the same time in Parliament Square, with
people from the Green Party, Greenpeace, and others, and including many local
residents from Sipson, Harlington and Harmondsworth, as well as from the large
area of London that will be affected by increased aircraft movements.
There were several MPs present, including Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park
and North Kingston and Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, John McDonnell
(who apologised for not bringing the mace with him) and London Green MEP Jean
Lambert. Other speakes included John Stewart of HACAN, Anna Jones from Greenpeace,
Phil Thornhill for the Campaign Against Climate Change and Linda McCutcheon,
a resident of Sipson village and Secretary of NOTRAG.
Not surprisingly it was a far noisier and lively demonstration, with all
those present wanting to make their opposition to airport expansion heard.
If any government try to go ahead with building a third runway at Heathrow
it will be a long and hard-fought process at every stage - and it seems unlikely
to ever be completed.
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Plane Stupid Modern Movement
Parliament Square, Westminster, London. Thur 19 Feb, 2009
'Down With the Ice Caps' and '99% of scientists can
be wrong'
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A small group of 'Plane Stupid' activists turned up to point out the absurdity
of the so-called 'Modern Movement' and its antecedents. It springs - if limply
- from the old Revolutionary Communist Party, that once published a monthly
magazine, 'Living Marxism'. As it lurched from its authoritarian Trotskyist
left outpost to an extreme right free market platform, the name of the magazine
was changed to 'LM' before ceasing publication after it lost a libel case.
The former editor of LM founded a web site, and others associated with the
RCP set up various organisations to oppose any restrictions on the applications
of science, biotechnology or business. In particular they set out to oppose
(or rather to try and eradicate) the environmental movement.
It's hard to know how many of the 20 or so people who turned up for their
demonstration were motivated by these kind of ideas and how many were simply
head in the sand enthusiasts for cheap flights. But clearly the lack of support
suggests that most people have more sense than to be taken in by the 'Modern
Movement.'
Frankly, if I hadn't read more about the Modern Movement on associeated sites
on the web - such as Spike - I would really have assumed the whole thing was
a spoof dreamed up by Plane Stupid. But although I find it hard to take them
seriously I find that some of the lunatic frings bodies associated with LM
have actually been taken seriously in government consultations and there are
at least two cases where seniot figures have acted as advisors to government.
Which is totally scary and perhaps explains some of the otherwise inexplicable
positions and actions that have been taken by ministers.
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Bring Binyam Home
US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, London. Tuesday 17 Feb, 2009
The demonstration outside the US Embassy
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Despite a new president who pledged to shut down Guantanamo Bay, two former
London residents remain held there, along with several hundred others. Binyam
Mohamed has been pronounced fit to travel, although as a result of his years
of torture and imprisonment, and his own hunger strike he will need special
care. Our government claim to have sought his release, but their efforts seem
extrememly half-hearted. The problem appears to be that both MI5 and the US
security services are implicated in his illegal rendition and torture and
the inevitable revelations that will follow his release would be deeply embarassing
to them.
Unlike my last visit to the US Embassy when I was approached as soon as I
lifted a camera in its direction and told I must not take pictures, police
adopted a more relaxed attitude to
Protesters demanded an end to this covering up of torture with an admission
of British complicity and an end to government lies. Binyam has been held
for six years without trial and should be released and brought home without
delay. As I wrote in a short article on >Re:PHOTO
last week, all it would take are three little words from President Obama,
"Release Binyam Mohamed." It's time for Obama to live up
to his promises.
more pictures
Protest at Silence over Congo Genocide
Westminster, Monday 16 Feb, 2008
The march moved slowly along Victoria Street
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There were perhaps 50 people in the march organised by International Congolese
Rights against the continuing violence in the DRC. It was a short march, starting
opposite Westminster Cathedral and ending in Parliament Square, but walked
at a funereal pace in memory of those killed in Congo in the fighting since
1996.
Capitalism at its rawest is fighting for the mineral wealth of the country
- particularly coltan, an ore containing niobium and tantalum, essential for
mobile phones and other electronic devices, of which the Congo has 80% of
known world reserves and cobalt - of which it is the world's largest producer
- but also diamonds, copper, and gold.
Competing interests trying to grab these riches have led to over 6 million
people being killed in the Congo, and unimaginable atrocities against the
people there - some of which were shown in the pictures that some of the demonstrators
carried.
The Congo is a corrupt police state ruled by Laurent Kabila, with large areas
occupied by forces backed by neighbouring states and criminal syndicates,
including the Rwandan army. Rwanda, under President Paul Kagame has supported
the National Council for the Defense of the People loyal to former General
Laurent Nkunda. The UK government is accused of supporting Rwanda.
The procession was attended by roughly the same number of police, who were
continually harassing them to go faster, while they continued to walk at a
very slow pace. Police also harassed me for standing in front of the march
at one point, though I was clearly not slowing them down. As well as an excessive
number of police on foot there were also around 5 vehicles in front or behind
the marchers, although the FIT were leaving the march as I met it at New Scotland
Yard. Everything was being recorded by a camera mounted on an unmarked white
van being driven in front of the march.
At Parliament Square the marchers were herded into a pen on the west side
of the square facing Westminster Abbey and St Margarets, although clearly
they intended to demonstrate to Parliament rather than the Church of England!
One of their representatives was still arguing with police about this when
I left.
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Media Protest at Terror Law
New Scotland Yard, Monday 16 Feb, 2009
Around
400 photographers came to protest at New Scotland Yard against further restrictions
on photography
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Section 76 of the Counter-Terrorism Act which came into force today
makes it an offence to photograph members of the police, armed forces or secuirty
services, or at least to do so if the photographs are "likely to
be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".
It's a blanket approach that could be applied to almost any photograph of
the police and could seriously inhibit the freedom of the press as well as
the normal liberties of all citizens.
Journalists who have protested against this carelessly drafted and draconian
measure have the support of the Metropolitan Police Federation, who beleive
the law is unworkable and could well inhibit the freedom of the press.
Many photographers see it as yet another law which increases the climate
of fear felt by anyone using a camera on the public streets. Many of us have
experienced questioning by the police when working; photographers have already
been detained and searched under existing anti-terrorist laws and other acts
when covering demonstrations, travelling close to airports or even photographing
weddings.
Although various ministers have been eager to say we are still free to photograph,
they have also madce clear their support for various restrictions on this
right. Police have often applied existing laws in an arbitrary fashion and
are likely to do the same with this new law. You can read a useful feature
on it on David Mery's
web site.
Around 400 photographers, including many leading press photographers turned
up at Scotland Yard on Monday for a 'media event' designed to highlight the
dangers to our freedom of expression and action this new law presents. Many
wore badges or stickers proclaiming "I'm a photographer... not a
terrrorist."
The event was covered widely - on the BBC and in newspapers - and the day
after I talked to a couple of police while photographing another demonstration
who both spontaneously commented on it. Perhaps working through the media
is more effective than through police training that never quite seems to include
the agreements between the police and press.
It also of course was covered in photographic publications including the
professional's weekly, the British Journal of Photography, who apparently
sent two people to the event. It was just a pity that - judging by the pictures
the magazine published - that neither of them seemed to be a photographer!
more pictures
Arbaeen Processsion of Imam Husain
Marble Arch, London. Sun 15 Feb, 2009
The procession begins from Marble Arch
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The Husaini Islamic Trust UK was formed in 1982 and since then has organised
an annual Muslim Arbaeen procession, the first such procession in Europe and
America. This year was the 28th and included several replicas of shrines (Shabbihs)
and the cermemonial horse (Zuljanah) of Imam Husain and the cradle of Hazrat
Ali Asghar, along with several thousand men and women with many flags, placards
and banners.
The event starts with prayers and speeches, including some in English, before
a matami procession up and down Park Lane. This year there were many more
explanatory placards in English, and the beating of chests as an expression
of mourning was in general more ceremonial and less physical than on some
previous occasions apart from a few small groups.
The event ends with more recitations and refreshments, but I was unable to
stay for these.
The Arbaeen procession marks the 40th day of the annual commemoration of
the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of Mohammed, who along with his
72 companions were martyred at Karbala (now in Iraq) in 61AH (680 AD.)
Shia Muslims regard Husain as the true successor to the prophet and his example
in standing for justice against tyranny and oppression continues to inspire
them, and has also inspired many non-Muslims over the ages, including Ghandi.
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Demonstration for a Secular Europe
South Kensington to Italian Embassy, London. Sat 14 Feb, 2009
Peter Tatchell and another Outrage! supporter on the
march
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I joined the march as it came up Piccadilly, with around a hundred people.
It was an event to show solidarity with the considerably larger march taking
place at the same time in Rome, protesting against the Vatican and its intervention
in Italian, European and world-wide politics.
Quite a few of the marchers carried 'Outrage' placards, including Peter Tatchell,
protesting at the bigotry of the Catholic church. The main banner called for
a "clean Italy" and said "NO" to corruption, racism, homophobia
and sexism.
more pictures
Reclaim Love 6
Piccadilly Circus, London. Saturday 14 Feb. 2009
Dancing with red roses at Eros
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This was the sixth annual Valentine Party at Piccadilly Circus, around the
statue of Eros, organised by Venus to celebrate "to celebrate the
Greatest thing on Earth and the Greatest thing we have inside…Yes, Love!!!"
and it was the largest yet, filling the area around with people.
As well as the party at Picadilly Circus, at least 15 similar events were
taking place around the world, in Ireland, France, Luxembourg, Iceland, Finland,
Italy, Spain, india, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand ...
The climax to the event was when all of those present formed a giant circle
linking hands in the "Historic Annual Earth Healing Circle."
But for several hours we all enjoyed ourselves, dancing to the samba rhythms
of resistance and other music, and enjoying the company of other people and
remembering what is really important, not just on Valentine's day but the
whole of the year.
Eros may be dominated by those huge neon advertising hoardings the other
354 days of the year, but for one day at least it was surrounded by people
dedicated to showing that the best things in life really are free.
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Oxford Street Intifada!
Edgware Road, London. Saturday 14 Feb. 2009
A young girl calls for freedom for Palestine
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This rolling demonstration against the support given to Israel and the Israeli
war machine by the sale of Israeli goods in British high street shops started
at the Edgware Road branch of Marks & Spencer, where protesters held banners,
handed out leaflets, collected signatures for a petition and talked to passers-by
for around half an hour before moving to their next location, Waitrose, a
few hundred yards down the road.
Many of those who passed the stall were Arabs and there were many who supported
the demands for a free Palestine and an end to Israeli occupation. I left
the demonstration just over an hour after it started, and it was planning
to move on to other shops on Edgware Road and Oxford Street, including Marks
& spencer, Starbucks, Sainsbury's and more.
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Steam at Staines
Staines Station, Staines, Middx. Saturday 14 Feb. 2009
60163 Tornado pulls into Staines station.
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Instead of the few dozen people waiting to get on the train like me to go
into the centre of London, when I arrived on Saturday there were several hundred
spectators waiting for the arrival of a train hauled by the first steam locomotive
to be built in the UK for almost 50 years - and the design of the Peppercorn
class A1 Pacific engine dates from 1948. The footbridge was so crowded it
took a while to make my way across it to buy my ticket. And as I was there
waiting for a train I joined the hundreds of others waiting to take pictures.
I probably wouldn't have bothered to make a special journey to the station,
but I did deliberately go ten minutes early to see it.
So I was at the end of the up platform as Tornado steamed in, then wandered
down the crowded platform for a few more shots, although the low sun and the
10.38 on standing at the up platform made it hard to photograph until it steamed
out, neatly in time for me to step on to the 10.38.
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Children Demonstrate for the Children of Gaza
Downing St, Whitehall, London. Sunday 8 Feb, 2009
Whitehall demonstration for the children of Gaza and
for all children of Palestine
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Many children were killed and injured in the Israeli attacks on Gaza and many
others have been killed over the years in other Israeli raids and military actions
in Palestine.
On Sunday afternoon, children, together with their parents, came to Whitehall
for a protest opposite Downing Street organised by the Islamic Human Rights
Commission and the Palestinian Forum of Britain. There, with
banners and slogans they forcefully called for an end to the fighting and
killing of innocent civilians and for a free Palestine. The captions for the
pictures are text from their placards, some of which also carried horrific
images showing children injured and killed in the attacks.
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Carmel Agrexco - Boycott Israeli Goods
Carmel Agrexco UK, Hayes, Middx, London. Sat 7 Feb 2009
It's
kosher to boycott Israeli goods - Jews for Boycotting Israeli goods banner
outside Carmel Agrexco, Hayes
more pictures
Carmel Agrexco, an Israeli state company recently part-privatised,
imports flowers, fruit and vegetable grown in Palestine as well as Israel.
The Israeli occupation and seige denies Palestinian farmers decent prices
on an open market for their carnations, cherry tomatoes, strawberries and
other crops and Carmel Agrexco profits from this, as well as crops grown in
Israeli settlments on Palestinian Land.
Most of this produce sold in the UK comes in by air to this warehouse close
to Heathrow, which has been a target for a number of demonstrations. On Saturday
it was heavily protected by police who outnumbered the 60 or 70 demonstrators.
Police stopped them from also protesting outside another company on the estate
also involved in this trade, aspects of which are illegal under international
law.
It really is time for the international community to start a concerted campaign
to force Israel to open the borders of Palestine, in particular to bring about
the rebuilding of Gaza. Our government promised a warship to help enforce
the blockade when it should have insisted it escort help into Gaza. An international
economic blockade of Israel could bring results, but until our government
and others act it's up to us to do what we can by boycotting Israeli goods.
Unfortunately, although some Israeli products have a bar code starting '729'
not all do.
Although the protest only lasted around three hourse, the police had closed
activities there the previous evening, maintaining an overnight guard on the
site. More about the event in Boycott
the fruits of apartheid on >Re:PHOTO,
which is a slightly corrected version of an article about it I posted immediately
after the event on Indymedia.
more pictures
Snow in Staines
We had a little snow in Staines and I rushed out to walk through it.
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Peter Marshall 2009; to buy prints or for permission to reproduce pictures
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