Fear is the problem. In an age when wealth and power have thoroughly corrupted the machinery of democracy, civil disobedience is one of the few strategies that offer any hope of advancing the cause of social justice.

The system, however, does not take such disobedience lightly. Karen DeVito, a Canadian member of the flotilla that tried to break the siege of Gaza in the summer of 2011, knew this before she joined the Tahrir in Greece.

The Freedom Flotilla II: what happened and what’s next?

Let us welcome back the B.C. delegates from the Freedom Flotilla – Stay Human, as they tell the story of the Canadian Boat — the “Tahrir.”

Five B.C. residents tell the story of the Tahrir with stories, photography and a short film. Hear about their motivations for participation, their interpretation of the Greek government’s actions, and how the Tahrir almost managed to set sail for Gaza. There will time to ask questions and share ideas.

Join us for snacks afterwards.

Free parking available, Bus #49, #17

FREE ADMISSION

At this event, we will symbolically "launch" a boat to show our solidarity with the people of Gaza and our support for the participants in the Freedom Flotilla II and the Canadian Boat, The Tahrir.

Several organizations will place a symbolic item on or in the boat to illustrate their support. (We suggest making a box with text or images indicating its contents and identifying the organization.) Individuals will be invited to put in messages. The idea is to represent the actual Canadian boat to Gaza. You may find ideas for what to place in the boat at www.tahrir.ca.

We will also take this opportunity to collect donations in food items for the Ottawa food bank.

- Everyone is welcome -

It's time to send a Canadian Boat to Gaza

Canadian civil society has a responsibility to fight the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza and to expose the Canadian government's unjustified support for Israel.

The time has come to send a Canadian boat to challenge the blockade of Gaza, in coordination with similar international efforts.

We need to raise $300,000 (cost of boat and crew, not including aid to carry to Gaza) over the course of the coming months. We need to approach Canadian public figures to be on the boat.

The time has come to send a Canadian boat to challenge the blockade of Gaza, in coordination with similar international efforts.

The blockade of Gaza goes two ways, it restricts bringing materials into Gaza and it does not allow anything to leave Gaza either. This, in addition to starving the population, denies the Palestinians of Gaza the ability to trade with the world, further suffocating them.

The Canadian boat, working with the Palestinians in Gaza, will aim to carry exports out of Gaza. Thus asserting their right to export, trade and provide for themselves rather than be at the mercy of international aid.
together we'll break the siege

It's time to send a Canadian Boat to Gaza: