Regular rabble readers and listeners know that the Canadian Boat to Gaza and the international Freedom Flotilla is something we think it’s important to cover each year. We’ve done some outstanding coverage over the past 8 years that the Flotilla has sailed. In 2011, the Canadian boat the Tahrir was seized by the Israeli military and we are proud that we were able to do interviews with participants who were part of the delegation as the story was unfolding.
There hasn’t been a Canadian boat every year, and there won’t be one in the fleet this year. But there will still be Canadians participating. The Freedom Flotilla boat, the Al Awda (The Return) left the Norwegian port of Bergen on Monday April 30, with hundreds of well-wishers on the dock to bid her farewell. This marks the beginning of her 75 day voyage to Gaza, to challenge and break the illegal Israeli blockade.
More ships will be joining it along the way. Fundraising to support the mission is important.
The members of the organization The supporters of Canadian Boat to Gaza, are committed to paying part of those costs, as well as part of the costs of acquiring of this hard-working former fishing boat. The Canadian Boat to Gaza share of the international Freedom Flotilla budget this year is $30,000.
rabble will be hosting a kick off online event tomorrow night to launch this year’s Canadian campaign. Join rabble on Tuesday, May 15 at 7 Eastern Daylight Savings Time for a special livestream, with special guests former NDP member of Parliament (and now Member of the Order of Canada) Libby Davies and retired U.S. Colonel Ann Wright.
Victoria Fenner talked to David Heap, one of the long time Canadian Boat to Gaza organizers about the event and what’s happening with this year’s Freedom Flotilla.
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Image: rabble.ca – The Tahrir – from 2011 Canadian Boat to Gaza
