Atrocities upon Gaza. Ongoing response of Totnes, Devon, England

A Campaign of Radical Compassion

Dear Subscribers

This post to you reveals details of a collective email in Totnes area on the ongoing campaign to stop the attrocities ordered by the Israeli government taking place in Gaza week after week.

The email goes out mostly to residents in Totnes and surrounding environments.

There are other campaigns, meetings, vigils, protests also taking place in Totnes.

Please consider developing a campaign in your area to stop the suffering in Gaza and elsewhere in the region

1. Weekly Agenda Meeting. Tuesday 29 October 2024 6.30pm in Totnes.

2. Action Points

3. Raffle for Gaza.

4. The Last Sky. (Documentary on the war on Gaza)

5. Children’s Art under Occupation (Drawn by children in Nablus, Palestine)

6. Totnes Council meeting on Divest campaign (Campaign to get companies to divest from investing in Israel)

7. The Teacher (a political activist/love drama set in Palestine)

8. A Christmas event for Gaza in Totnes Civic Hall. Music, poetry, stories, film and conversation.

9. Letter sent to Caroline Voaden, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Totnes.

10. Facebook link to Friends of Palestine.

Films
Nov 11th - St. Johns TFoP film night The Last Sky -https://www.thelastskyfilm.com/
Nov 25th - Totnes cinema
https://totnescinema.co.uk/wp02/event/the-teacher-12a-1hr-55m/#tribe-tickets__tickets-form - last cinema event we did tkts sold out VERY QUICKLY- book now.
ART exhibition
“Children’s Art Under Occupation “
created by the children in Nablus, is now up and running in Kommune, at the top of the town.
Nov 30th Civic Hall- Amos Event see poster
Dec 5th 2.00pm Devon CC pension Divest campaign - rally important council meeting

Raffle for Gaza

Divest campaign - Jacqi Hodgson is meeting the chair of the pensions committee next week.  Her divestment motion will be discussed at the pensions committee meeting in December and at full council on Dec 5th - Please come to the rally / lobby in Exeter!

You are warmly invited to our next Palestine Film Night with a screening of THE LAST SKY. Totnes Friends of Palestine will be screening this bold new documentary on Monday 11th November. Doors open at 7pm, film starts at 7.30pm. St John’s Church, Bridgetown, Totnes, TQ9 5AD

Come and enjoy tea, cakes (please bring cash) and browse/find an inspiring book to read at the Palestine Book exchange stall before the film starts.  Doors open at 7pm, film screening starts at 7.30pm.
⁣Tickets at https://tinyurl.com/thelastsky
Proceeds to Medical Aid for Palestinians.
Please do join us and share with friends and folk - thank you

THE TEACHER (12A) 1hr 55m

Mon 25 November - Totnes Cinema @ 8:00 pm

Dir: Farah Nabulsi

Cast: Muhammad Abed Elrahman, Nabil Al Raee, Mahmoud Bakri, Imogen Poots 

Genre: Drama

A Palestinian schoolteacher struggles to reconcile his risky commitment to political resistance with the chance of a new relationship with volunteer-worker Lisa and his emotional support for one of his students Adam.

“A debut feature’s eye-opening dramatization of life in occupied Palestine” The Hollywood Reporter

“Gripping and full of tension, The Teacher not only makes for a wonderful cinematic experience, but poses some all-important questions the wider world has seemingly avoided answering for too long.” Little White Lies

25% of your ticket price will be donated to a charity that is providing aid in Gaza

WATCH TRAILER HERE

STEAL ALL THE FLOWERS - A CHRISTMAS EVENING FOR GAZA

TOTNES CIVIC HALL - SATURDAY 30th NOVEMBER, 7.30pm (Doors 7pm)

To book your tickets, please visit - amostrust.org/christmas-2024

Amos Trust’S Christmas tour stops off at Totnes Civic Hall,
at the end of November for an evening of music, film, poetry and conversation with special guests from
Palestine. Hosted by Totnes Friends of Palestine. please join us.
Proceeds from the evening will go towards Amos Trust’s Christmas Appeal supporting our work in Gaza.

Letter sent to Caroline Voaden, MP

Dear Caroline,
Totnes Friends of Palestine would like an answer to the following question on the UK provision of arms to Israel.
Why is there still a UK validated licence for F-35 Fighter Jet components to be sold to Israel?

We understand that one of the reasons given was that these parts were also made for other countries and exemption for one specified country was not possible. We now know that this is not true. It is possible to exclude Israel in this licence.

“War on Want “ reported that an F-35 plane was used by Israel in an attack in September 2024, on Al-Mawasi in the Gaza Strip, killing 90 Palestinians and injuring at least 300.

Amnesty International also noted the illogicality of the UK governments decision not to suspend this particular licence.
“Exempting the F-35 fighter jet programme …. [ F35 fighter jet components], despite knowing that F35s are being used extensively in Gaza, misses a clear obligation to hold Israel accountable for its extensive war crimes and violations “

Layla Moran, in response to the government’s decision to suspend only some licences commented that :
“Liberal Democrats welcome this announcement as a step forward from the government. Liberal Democrat MPs will now carefully scrutinise the details of the Foreign Secretary’s announcement, including those export licences which the government has not suspended”

Presumably that scrutiny will have now taken place and included the F-35 components sales .

TFOP therefore asks if you can find the answer to our very specific question please.

We are sure you share our horror at the UK’ s complicity in the ongoing slaughter of civilians including so many children. Furthermore, the terrible number of life changing injuries and amputations as a result of so much bombing and violence will have lasting consequences for the future of Palestine and the Middle East as a whole . It is sickening to know that the UK is complicit in such destruction of lives. While we often feel so powerless at least we can seek answers from those in power who are making life and death decisions in our name.

We hope , as our elected representative, you can find a way to answer our very simple and specific question on the F-35 licence.

Thank you
Totnes Friends of Palestine

https://www.facebook.com/TotnesFriendsofPalestine/

May all beings dissolve the divisions of us and them.

May all beings engage in actions to stop suffering

May all beings live with compassion