Peace Cycle
Campaign to the European Parliament
In March 2009 the Peace Cycle organised a
bicycle ride from the International Courts of Justice at The
Hague, to the European Parliament in Brussels.
Cyclists from several European countries took part and the event
culminated with a presentation and media event, hosted by the
Green Party, inside the Parliament Building to a large audience
of MEPs and journalists.
Past Peace Cyclists spoke about their experiences in Israel and
Palestine and how they had witnessed the occupation destroying
any chances of peace in the region.
A petition calling for the suspension of the EU-Israel
Association Agreement, signed by a lmost 20,000 EU citizens, was
presented to the EU Petitions Committee.
The Peace Cycle will continue to press the EU to suspend
preferential trading agreements with Israel until it abides by
International Law and respects human rights.
"Protest to
the European Parliament"
The EU-Israel
Association Agreement allows Israel preferential trading terms
with EU countries.
However, article 2 of the terms of this agreement states that
all parties must respect human rights.
Israel is clearly in breach of these terms and our petition
calls for an immediate suspension of the agreement.
We will be presenting the petition to MEPs at the European
Parliament in Brussels at an event hosted by the Green Party on
Tuesday 31st March.
As part of this event there will be a public demonstration in
Brussels including a bike ride in the city - more details soon.
So please sign this petition and forward it to all your contacts
in the UK and across Europe, and let's make this something the
EU has to take notice of!
Palestine Peacemakers - UK
Speaking Tour - 19th to 29th April
The Peace Cycle is proud to host a UK
speaking tour featuring two prominent speakers from
Palestine:
George Rishmawi is a
Palestinian Christian from the Bethlehem area. George is Co-ordinator
of the Siraj Center for Holy Land Studies in Beit Sahour,
and is board member of the Network of Christian
Organisations in Bethlehem.
George has toured the USA speaking to churches about the
indigenous Christians in Palestine, and encouraging
Christians to visit the Holy Land. His talk and presentation
is combined with a film showing and displays of traditional
Palestinian crafts - olive wood carvings, embroidery, etc.
- which have provided an income for Christians in Palestine
for hundreds of years.
Eyad Burnat is a Palestinian Muslim from
Bil'in. He is founder of the Movement for Freedom and
Justice in Bil'in - one of the most highly respected and
well known non-violent movements in Palestine. Bil'in is a
small village north of Jerusalem and is directly in the path
of the Separation Wall being built by Israel - the wall has
been declared illegal in the International Court, and the
residents of Bil'in are joined by many Israelis in a
peaceful weekly protest which has become synonymous with the
non-violent movement against occupation in Palestine. Eyad
will be showing the film Bil'in Habibti (Bil'in My Love),
which won Best Documentary at the Jerusalem International
Film Festival in 2006, as part of his UK tour.
