From: Sue Garner <su_garner@...>
Subject: [psclancaster] MEETING WITH BEN WALLACE THIS FRI 11.30
To: psclancaster@...
Date: Wednesday, 20 May, 2009, 1:04 PM

Hello all of you. I have arranged meeting with Ben Wallace during his surgery hours this Friday 22nd May at 11.30 am. Please let me know if you can come (my number's 07814 295570). It would perhaps be good if we could meet for tea beforehand to prepare - propose 10am at Whaletail.   What I suggest is that (in line with PSCs call to UK government) we ask him to support: urgent action re crisis in Gaza (ref national demo 16/5) end Britain's support for the siege on the Palestinians demand the release of elected representatives respect Palestinian democracy press for EU sanctions on Israel until the illegal occupation ends end Britain's arms trade with Israel   as well as the following Early Day Motions:   EDM 698, 15th Jan 08: Hospital supplies in Gaza EDM 624, 18th Dec 2007: Civilians in Gaza EDM 305, 19th Nov 2007: Humanitarian situation in Gaza EDM 1484, 6th May 2008: Anniversary of Palestinian Nakba EDM 732, 21 Jan 2008: Humanitarian situation in Gaza    I'm not au fait with how the whole MP/parliamentary thing works - maybe some of you are - but I think its ok to approach as follows: inform Ben Wallace of the existence of the local & national PSC, what it does and what it calls on UK gov to do, to ask his position and whether he is willing (and how) he can represent our requests - and how the EDM thing works and whether he will sign them. Comments and support please :-)   Sue x   --- On Wed, 5/6/09, Sue Garner <su_garner@yahoo. com> wrote: From: Sue Garner <su_garner@yahoo. com> Subject: PSC MEETING 7TH MAY - LOBBYING INFO To: psclancaster@ yahoogroups. co.uk Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2009, 4:22 AM THOUGHT MORE LIKELY TO BE READ IF I PUT BETTER SUBJECT HEADING X --- On Wed, 5/6/09, Sue Garner <su_garner@yahoo. com> wrote: From: Sue Garner <su_garner@yahoo. com> Subject: Re: [psclancaster] PSC Meeeting, 27/9/2007, 19:30 To: psclancaster@ yahoogroups. co.uk Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2009, 4:19 AM Dear all   am hoping to make PSC meeting tomorrow but its not definite. Anyway, at the last meeting I committed to take on some work re lobbying:   Firrst of all, there is strong focus at the moment by PSC on lobbying MEPs as follows:   ask to support suspension of current EU trade agreement and delay adopting new agreement UNTIL ISRAEL COMPLIES WITH ITS HUMAN RIGHTS RESPONSIBILITIES   ask to oppose any arms trade with Israel   ask to call on EU Commission to ensure any new action plans will contain human rights clauses, as is standard practice, and will include a clause enabling the suspension of the agreement where human rights violations occur   We can lobby in person or by letter. We have 9 MEPs in Northwest and can lobby any or all of them.  The one based in Lancaster is Mr John Whittaker, UKIP (!!!): 7 King St, e-mail northwest@ukip. org.  But there is also Chris Davies (based in Stockport), LibDem who has been very vocal in support of Palestine and against policies and actions of Israeil government   PROPOSED ACTION: WE SEND THE ATTACHED LETTER FROM LANCASTER PSC (should we collect signatures?) TO ALL OUR MEPS   There is also activity around the EU elections 4th June. PSC are asking members to lobby candidates. Candidates will be published on EU website after 7th May. There will be 8 for Northwest. PSC also asking to use local media, which we could do when we know more.   Re lobbying MP Ben Wallace:   His next surgery is Friday 22nd May. How about we book an appointment collectively? (I can do that if there's agreement).  I suggest our approach is based on PSC campaigning: First thing is there's a national demo 16th May (Remember Gaza. End the Siege Now. Free Palestine) so we could refer to this. Second thing is, PSC website calls for the UK government to take urgent action on the crisis in Gaza and:   end Britain's support for the siege on the Palestinians demand the release of elected representatives respect Palestinian democracy press for EU sanctions on Israel until the illegal occupation ends end Britain's arms trade with Israel   so these could be our specific requests to Ben Wallace (but we should be well brushed-up on what these mean and the current situation)   We can also ask whether BW has signed/will sign relevant Early Day motions. EDMs are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons (though few are actually debated). Mainly, they make public the views of MPs, draw attention to events/campaigns and demonstrate the extent of parliamentary support for particular cause/point of view.  Relevant EDMs (as far as I can see they are still alive though initiated a while ago) are   EDM 698, 15th Jan 08: Hospital supplies in Gaza EDM 624, 18th Dec 2007: Civilians in Gaza EDM 305, 19th Nov 2007: Humanitarian situation in Gaza EDM 1484, 6th May 2008: Anniversary of Palestinian Nakba EDM 732, 21 Jan 2008: Humanitarian situation in Gaza    ok, thats it, hope its helpful (meant I found out more about lobbying and what an EDM is!)   Sue --- On Thu, 9/20/07, psclancaster@ yahoogroups. co.uk <psclancaster@ yahoogroups. co.uk> wrote: From: psclancaster@ yahoogroups. co.uk <psclancaster@ yahoogroups. co.uk> Subject: [psclancaster] PSC Meeeting, 27/9/2007, 19:30 To: psclancaster@ yahoogroups. co.uk Date: Thursday, September 20, 2007, 11:31 AM Reminder from:   psclancaster Yahoo! Group   Title:   PSC Meeeting   Date:   Thursday 27 September 2007 Time:   19:30 - 20:30 Next reminder:   The next reminder for this event will be sent in 6 days, 22 hours, 4 minutes. Street:   Friends Meeting House, Porch Room Notes:   Just to let everyone know there will be a planning meeting on Thursday 27th September at 7.30pm in the Porch Room, upstairs in the Friends Meeting House (next to train station). Come along & get involved in local Palestine solidarity events   Get reminders on your Yahoo! Messenger or via email. Edit reminder options Copyright © 2007  Yahoo! All Rights Reserved | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy