UK Film-makers Ken Loach & Paul Laverty Statement Of Solidarity With Zim Picket In Oakland

UK Film-makers Ken Loach And Paul Laverty Statement Of Solidarity With Zim Picket At Port Of Oakland On September 27, 2014
"We are heartened to hear of the wonderful support for the people of Palestine by the trade unión movement in the Port of Oakland. The task of exposing Isreal´s crimes against the civilian population of Gaza in particular has never been more important. We have just returned from hearing horriific eye witnesses accounts presented to the Russel Tribunal on Palestine held in Brussels on the 24th of September. We heard evidence of summary executions, collective punishment on a grand scale, the willful destruction of schools and hospitals, and perhaps most worrying of all, calls by important religious and political leaders in Isreal of support for mass murder which constitutes the crime of incitement to genocide. It is clear that the Isreali Government has no intention of respecting International law. As in South Africa of old the work of international solidarity at a grass root level, particulary through the trade unión movement world wide, is more vital than ever. We will pass on details of your support to our colleagues in the solidarity movement here in Europe and together we hope we can build a worldwide network of stinging and effective work on meaningful boycott and disinvestment. Your direct action in the Port of Oakland gives us great inspiration."
Very best wishes,
Ken Loach and Paul Laverty, film-makers.
Russell Tribunal finds evidence of incitement to genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza
http://www.russelltribunalonpalestine.com/en
September 25th 2014
For Immediate Release
The Russell Tribunal on Palestine's Emergency Session on Israel's Operation Protective Edge held yesterday in Brussels has found evidence of war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of murder, extermination and persecution and also incitement to genocide.
The Jury [1] reported: 'The cumulative effect of the long-standing regime of collective punishment in Gaza appears to inflict conditions of life calculated to bring about the incremental destruction of the Palestinians as a group in Gaza.'
'The Tribunal emphasises the potential for a regime of persecution to become genocidal in effect, In light of the clear escalation in the physical and rhetorical violence deployed in respect of Gaza in the summer of 2014, the Tribunal emphasises the obligation of all state parties to the 1948 Genocide Convention ‘to take such action under the Charter of the United Nations as they consider appropriate for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide.’
The Jury heard evidence from eyewitnesses to Israeli attacks during the Gaza war 2014 including journalists Mohammed Omer, Max Blumenthal, David Sheen, Martin Lejeune, Eran Efrati and Paul Mason, as well as surgeons Mads Gilbert, Mohammed Abou Arab, Genocide Expert Paul Behrens, Col Desmond Travers and Ivan Karakashian, Head of Advocacy at Defence for Children International.
In terms of the crime of incitement to genocide, the tribunal received evidence 'demonstrating a vitriolic upswing in racist rhetoric and incitement' during the summer of 2014. The evidence shows that such incitement manifested across many levels of Israeli society, on both social and traditional media, from football fans, police officers, media commentators, religious leaders, legislators, and government ministers.'
The Tribunal also found evidence of the following war crimes:
Willful killing
Extensive destruction of property not justified by military necessity
Intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population and civilian objects
Disproportionate use of force
Attacks against buildings dedicated to religion and education
The use of Palestinians as human shields
Employing weapons, projectiles, and material and methods of warfare which are of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering which are inherently indiscriminate
The use of violence to spread terror among the civilian population
The Tribunal further stated: 'It is recognised that in a situation where patterns of crimes against humanity are perpetrated with impunity, and where direct and public incitement to genocide is manifest throughout society, it is very conceivable that individuals or the state may choose to exploit the conditions in order to perpetrate the crime of genocide.'
It further noted: 'We have a genuine fear that in an environment of impunity and an absence of sanction for serious and repeated criminality, the lessons from Rwanda and other mass atrocities may once again go unheeded'.
The Tribunal calls on Israel to fulfill its' obligations under international law and for the state of Palestine to accede without further delay to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, fully cooperate with the human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry and fully engage the mechanisms of international justice.
The Tribunal also reminds all states to cooperate to bring to an end the illegal situation arising from Israel’s occupation, siege and crimes in the Gaza Strip. In light of the obligation not to render aid or assistance, all states must consider appropriate measures to exert sufficient pressure on Israel, including the imposition of sanctions, the severing of diplomatic relations collectively through international organisations, or in the absence of consensus, individually by breaking bilateral relations with Israel.
It calls upon All states to fulfill their duty ‘to take such action under the Charter of the United Nations as they consider appropriate for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide’.
The Full and detailed findings and recommendations of the Russell Tribunal on Palestine can be found here:
The Tribunal presented its findings in the European Parliament today.

[1] Jury members: http://www.russelltribunalonpalestine.com/en/sessions/extraordinary-session-brussels/meet-the-jury
[2] Witnesses: http://www.russelltribunalonpalestine.com/en/sessions/extraordinary-session-brussels/witnesses
CONTACT
Email: pressRTOP [at] gmail.com
Ewa Jasiewicz 0032 487 384 948 (English, Polish and Arabic)
Katarzyna Lemanska 0032 489 04 48 22 (French and Polish)
http://www.russelltribunalonpalestine.com/en/
Film Director Ken Loach Slams BBC Over Gaza Invasion
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-3cb7-Ken-Loach-slams-BBC-over-Gaza-invasion#.U9vNhzm5JUQ
JUL
2014Thursday 31ST
posted by Luke James in Britain
LEADING British filmmaker Ken Loach slammed the BBC yesterday over its biased coverage of Israel’s invasion of Gaza.
Mr Loach accused Britain’s public broadcaster of “completely omitting the Palestinian perspective” from coverage watched by millions of people and instead presented “Israel as being under threat from the Palestinians.”
He said the BBC “fails to report that Israel holds the civilian population of Gaza under occupation and siege” in its day to day reporting.
Mr Loach is among 45,000 who signed an open letter to BBC bosses calling on them to report the reality of the siege on Gaza.
The criticism will have an extra sting for BBC bosses as Mr Loach began his long film-making career at the corporation.
Responding to the director, a BBC spokeswoman defended its “accurate, fair and balanced” coverage of “fast-moving events.”
She said: “Our role is to explain what is happening and why and we endeavour to reflect a range of voices, amid deeply held views.”
Mr Loach issued the message in support of Palestinian solidarity activists who have been occupying the lawn in front of BBC Bristol for the last week.
Organisers had expected to be evicted but their camp is now in its eighth day and gaining more public support.
Protester Ed Hill told the Star: “Lots of people have been bringing us food.
“One person went to buy a load of pizzas and when the owner heard it was for the occupation, he gave them for free.
“We’re hoping people around the rest of the country will start knocking their tent pegs into BBC grass.”
Welsh activists are set to stage a protest outside BBC Wales headquarters in Cardiff today to protest over its “biased” coverage.
Comedian Mark Thomas has also offered support to the Bristol occupation.
He said: “The BBC reporting of the Israeli military assault on Gaza has failed time and time again to contextualise the violence refusing to explain the occupation of Palestine and the siege of Gaza.
“Ironically the occupation of the BBC in Bristol seems likely to be the only time an occupation is commented on.”
9/27 Picket Of Zim Ship In The Port Of Oakland
End the Siege of Gaza!
Picket the Zim Shanghai Starting September 27 at the Port of Oakland!
Israel and Hamas agreed to a set of conditions for a ceasefire on August 26th, after Israel had killed more than 2,100 Palestinians in Gaza - mostly civilians, more than a quarter children - and destroyed much of Gaza's infrastructure, housing, hospitals, schools and water supply.
Israel claims it does not “occupy” Gaza, yet it has complete control of Gaza's land crossings, seacoast and air space. Israel severely restricts Palestinians' movement and their access to food, medical supplies, and construction materials.
In 1984, protesting against South African Apartheid, the Bay Area longshore workers union, ILWU Local 10, went on strike for 11 days against the Nedlloyd Kimberley, a ship carrying South African cargo.
In 2010, responding to the deadly Israeli attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, Local 10 honored a picket of an Israeli-owned ZIM ship by 1,200 community and labor activists, refusing to unload the ship for 24 hours. In August 2014, Palestinian, community and labor activists, in an historic victory, blocked the Zim Piraeus for five days and forced it to leave the Bay with most of its cargo still on board.
We ask the ILWU to carry on its long historical tradition of opposing injustice and honoring community picket lines. Let’s keep the pressure on and continue this tradition of labor blockades against oppression.
Please come to a sustained community and labor activist picket beginning on September 27th to stop the Zim Shanghai from unloading or loading any cargo - from when it arrives in Oakland until it leaves. This will also send a message to stevedoring companies such as Stevedore Services of America (SSA) who are pushing for concessions right now against longshore workers who are working without a contract.
Picket Lines Mean Don't Cross!
An Injury to One is an Injury to All!
Solidarity with the Palestinian people!
Stop ZIM Action Committee
================
Text “Join” to 88202 for alerts on ship location and picket status
Twitter: @StopZIMOak
Webpage: http://www.facebook.com/StopZIMActionCommittee
Inquiries: stopzimoak(at)gmail.com / (415) 282-1908
A “sustained picket” means we will picket the Zim Shanghai from when it arrives until it leaves the Bay.
Morning assembly: 5am, West Oakland BART (starting September 27th)
Afternoon assembly: 4:30pm, West Oakland BART
Carpools will be available. The ship is expected at the SSA terminal in the Port.
Typically, each picket will last only a few hours until longshoremen decide not to cross the picket. It may last longer depending on the situation. Volunteers are need for all shifts, but especially morning shifts and the first day (morning of September 27th).
Please check your phone/Twitter/FB for updates on the ship location and picket status, particularly the day before. ZIM may delay the ship's arrival to avoid picketers.
======================
Unions around the world, including the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (Gaza) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) have called for action against Israeli Apartheid.
We are asking that longshore workers honor this picket line as they have done before for the Zim Piraeus, and other ships such as the Nedlloyd Kimberley which carried cargo for the oppressive and discriminatory Apartheid regime of South Africa in the 1980s.
We understand the ILWU is currently in contract negotiations with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and that there is no contract in effect at this time. Further, SSA is one of the most aggressive stevedoring employers in the PMA going after the ILWU on work rules and concessions. ILWU longshore workers in the Pacific Northwest have been fired for work stoppages over health and safety violations despite the fact that there is no contract in effect. Working now under no contract as negotiations continue, there is more opportunity and reason to take action on behalf of workers and the community.
There is no arbitration procedure without a contract and longshore workers cannot be compelled to cross a labor and community picket line to comply with a contract. Honoring a picket line of the Israeli shipping line ZIM actively supports the Palestinian people, and shows that union members care about what happens to others who suffer discrimination and oppression. Supporting the community in this struggle further strengthens community support for the ILWU in fighting to keep the hiring hall, work rules, and other benefits union members have.
ILWU members should be aware that Israeli unions actively discriminate against Palestinians - who make up a significant portion of the labor force within Israel. As many of you are well aware, longshore workers in San Francisco and the entire West Coast established the hiring hall after the strike in 1934 to end discrimination in hiring based on union membership and race.
======================
Endorsed by:
BDS National Committee (Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee)
Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists - Social Justice Committee
Coalition of Lebanese Civil Societies
CodePink, Golden Gate Chapter
CodePink, SF Chapter
East Bay Veterans for Peace
14 Friends of Palestine - Marin
Free Gaza Movement
Free Palestine Movement
Global Campaign for the Return to Palestine
Global March to Jerusalem
International Bolshevik Tendency
ISM - NorCal
Justice for Palestinians (San Jose)
Lake Merritt Neighbors Organized for Peace (LMNOP)
NorCal Friends of Sabeel
Muslim American Society
Palestinian Association (Hamilton, Ontario)
Palestine Solidarity Committee/ISM, Seattle
Palestinian Solidarity Committee Stuttgart, Germany
Socialist Organizer
Transport Workers Solidarity Committee
United Public Workers for Action
Voices for Palestine
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
Like