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ACTRESS SINEAD CUSACK and TD Richard Boyd Barret are among the high profile figures joining the call for support for the MV Saoirse, the Irish ship which will set sail for Gaza in the next few days.
The boat is part of an aid flotilla hoping to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Twenty-five Irish activists and politicians will be on board the ship.
The Irish Anti-War Movement has called on the Foreign Minister Eamon Gilmore to ask the Israeli Government to allow free passage of the MV Saoirse to Gaza, where the movement says people are “being slowly starved and deprived of their human rights to live in dignity”.
Dr Fintan Lane, co-ordinator of the Irish Ship to Gaza has asked the Israeli Navy Commander to go to the country’s cabinet and ask them to reflect on what happened last year, when nine Turkish activists died when the aid flotilla was intercepted by Israeli forces.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that while he would prefer to block this latest aid shipment by diplomatic means, force will be used as a last resort if necessary. Lane says that nothing was achieved by last year’s violence, and that it drew international attention to Israel.
The Mavi Marmara, which was the flagship of last year’s convoy will not be part of this year’s flotilla. The ship was the scene of the clashes between Turkish activists and Israeli forces in 2010.
Freedom Flotilla II is due to set sail in the next ten days and it will consist of 11 ships from the US, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland and elsewhere. Several hundred people will accompany the flotilla. Former Leinster rugby player Trevor Hogan, Paul Murphy MEP and former TD Chris Andrews are all members of the Irish contingent.
Jim Roche of the Irish Anti-war Movement says he’s not particularly nervous about the trip because there is no need for violence. He told TheJournal.ie that preparations are coming along well. He and his fellow Irish activists will meet up with the MV Saoirse in the Mediterranean early next week and will then join the rest of the flotilla.
Roche says he believes that Israel’s actions depend on what the rest of the world do, which is why he’s written the letter to Eamon Gilmore asking him to speak directly to the Israeli government.
Dr. Fintan Lane sends a message to the IDF Navy commander
Actors and TDs issue a call to support Irish Ship to Gaza
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If we do not pay full price for our clothes in the west others are compelled to pay it for us.
@Martin O’Rourke: ta luv, Penney’s
How these people live and die- it’s horrific. I am ashamed to admit that sometimes I feel sorry for myself when I think my life is hard. These people do slave labour and their lives are worthless. Hardly anyone has read this article even though it is posted 45 mins ago. And only 1 comment. That says it all don’t you think? Bet nobody will be held accountable for this.
@Annette Hunter: What about this guy?
The building’s owner, Rihan, who goes by one name, was detained on suspicion of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Mr Mittal said.
May they all rest in peace
It’s a horrible place, no value on life. That other story about that poor girl who was raped and on way to court to testify she was burnt, animals.
Horrific life and horrible death, all to make others money.
Got a whole lot of things for Christmas…..
Keep going to the big shops for cheap clothes, dont worry about the deaths.
Why do we remain complicent to these deaths? Shop for bargains, but check the country of origin tags.
Detaining the building owner is not enough. Brands hiring places like this, with no regard for human life, only to increase their margin profits must be held accountable. Supporting modern slavery is NOT ok, and companies who do need to be exposed.
In gods name what can you say another factory again destroyed by a fire .How sad So who owns it and what are the shops that uses this factory…
@Angela Godfrey Maher: there is a solution much closer to the site. Where are the regulations and enforcement orders in new Delhi? Surely if this type of thing is not illegal then it should be. If it is, why wasnt this place closed down? A govt’s first job is to protect its people. That isn’t Penney’s job or any other retailer buying clothes.
@lambda sensor: yes it is. All clothing sellers need to source products that are ethical. It’s a duty of care.
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