Thursday, May 20, 2010

“Sailing to say you are not alone” -MV Rachel Corrie sets sail for Gaza with humanitarian aid

On May 14, 2010, the MV Rachel Corrie pulled out of the docks in Ireland and began her long journey down the coast of Europe to the Mediterranean. She is named after the 23 year old American, Rachel Corrie, who was killed in Gaza by an Israeli bulldozer as she was protecting the home of a Palestinian doctor. She will join seven other vessels in the Mediterranean and sail to Gaza to deliver vitally needed construction, medical and school supplies to the imprisoned population of Gaza.

“Sailing to say….. you are not alone”

• Take two minutes to watch a video telling about the purpose of their trip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKaAWwgo8BY&feature=related

• And another three minutes to watch a video of the launch and the material aid they are taking to Gaza: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkNmwohwSeE

• And a four-minute video of an interview with Rachel Corrie, on March 14, 2003, two days before Israeli Defense Forces killed her with a bulldozer that was demolishing another Palestinian home. The really sad part of watching this interview is that NOTHING HAS CHANGED in the seven years since her death: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3JI-axaRF4&feature=related

Another three and a half minutes to see what materials are being denied under Israel's blockade of Gaza: http://www.youtube.com/gazafriends#p/a/u/0/o2s_v-DHv0Y

Check out their web site to follow the progress – Israel apparently is planning to prevent the ship from breaking the blockade with these supplies. http://www.freegaza.org/

1 comment:

Arthur Miller said...

Thank you for these links, especially the last that helps us keep up with developments after the brutal overreaction by Israel.

When one thinks of all the other ways that ships could have been corralled or herded into an area where airport like searches could have been done, the attack on open waters seems a flagrant disregard for world and certainly U.S. opinion. Friends of Israel, who want to see her safe and secure, mourn this terribly counterproductive step. The U.S. cannot ignore this action and the attitude it reflects toward Israel's captive residents.

Arthur Miller