Skip to main content

More empty words from Carney; another plea

 This letter comes from Kairos with additions from me.

Israel’s blockade is pushing Gazans deeper into famine.

On May 20, you joined leaders from Britain and France in stating that “the level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable,” promising further action if Israel failed to halt its offensive and lift restrictions on aid. You have since made similar public statements and promises with other countries and allies, stating that you are prepared to take further action.

We welcome your words and intentions.

But where are the actions? An ultimatum means nothing when it is not followed up on. You cannot keep using “strong words” with no action and think history will absolve you of complicity in war crimes.

The bombardment, displacement, blocked aid and the deaths of civilians – desperate for food and water – continues. 

Now is the time for action, including the use of all  diplomatic, political, and economic measures to:

  • Secure an immediate and permanent ceasefire
  • Ensure food, water, fuel, and humanitarian aid are delivered unhindered 
  • Achieve the release of all captives, both Israeli and Palestinian  
  • Impose a comprehensive, two-way arms embargo on Israel, including closing loopholes such as exports via the U.S.  
  • End Israel’s military occupation and annexation of Palestine, paving the way for a just peace. 

If you don’t believe me, please listen to Alex Neve, formerly of Amnesty International, and his full-page ad in the Toronto Star.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It's a girl!

I awoke this morning to the sound of my phone ringing. It wasn't the first time the bells and whistles had attempted to pull me from my slumber so I knew it meant one of two things: either I'd overslept and my boss was calling to find out where I was, or the much anticipated baby had announced her intention to make an entrance. Felicitously, it was the latter. After a lightning fast labour lasting a mere 2 hours, Mai-Anh Esther made her entry into the world at 8:35 am (the preferred interval for Braun babies. Jon, Rebecca, and I were all born between 8 and 8:30 in the morning while Lien was born around 8 in the evening.) She is a hearty 9 lbs 2 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. "She's already got more hair than Lien does!" was the first comment made by both Jon and me. She's a perfectly contented, sleepy little girl who's hardly opened her eyes once, even to let mommy see them, and she had no objection to being passed from person to person all evening, nor to Li...
3 comments
Read more

entering the blog world

I've finally given in to the lure of blogging. Actually, if it weren't for Cameroon, I probably wouldn't be doing this; my excuse for succumbing to the pull of popular culture is that a blog is a very pragmatic way to keep in touch with people at home while I'm gone. Thus the title -- the focus is on my journey to and experience in Cameroon. So you likely shan't see much here till things heat up a bit more.
2 comments
Read more

Deep breaths, just relax

I am immensely relieved to have my visa application in the mail...except I won't be free of trepidation until I have my passport back, visa approved. Sending my visa makes me realize it's actually going to happen -- sooner rather than later. Just one more day of work at the newspaper, 2 1/2 more shifts at the bookstore. Training the new guy today went well for me; I hope it went well for him as well! Thankfully, I have news that I will not be wandering around Douala by myself upon my arrival in Cameroon. (Okay, not that that was going to be the case, but it sounds more dramatic.) The original plan was that I'd meet Dan and Lisa at Charles de Gaulle and continue with them from there in on. Just the way I like it -- being "adventurous" within the safe parameters of responsible and experienced oversight. However, the U.S. government got in the way of those plans with delay after delay with Joshua's paperwork. To say I was worried about arriving in Douala all alo...
5 comments
Read more