To Shoot an Elephant – Free Screening – Sunday 2nd May 8pm – Bristol

A Free Screening of  To Shoot n Elephant at the Classics Free Shop, Stokes croft, Bristol. A film by Alberto Arce and Muhammad Rujailah documenting life and death in the Gaza strip during ‘Operation Cast Lead’.

“…afterwards, of course, there were endless discussions about the shooting of the elephant. The owner was furious, but he was only an Indian and could do nothing. Besides, legally I had done the right thing, for a mad elephant has to be killed, like a mad dog, if it’s owner fails to control it”.

George Orwell defined a way of witnessing Asia that still remains valid. “To shoot an elephant” is an eye witness account from The Gaza Strip. December 27th, 2008, Operation Cast Lead. 21 days shooting elephants. Urgent, insomniac, dirty, shuddering images from the only foreigners who decided and managed to stay embedded inside Gaza strip ambulances, with Palestinian civilians.

Screening starts 8pm – The film is free but any donations will go to support the Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign in their attempt to send a thousands bags of concrete to help rebuild Gaza, find out more at www.bglink.ning.com

The film is also being shown to raise awareness of the decommissioners court case, starting May 17th 2010. If you haven’t already sign the decommissioner petition demanding an immediate arms embargo with Israel.

A Message From Elijah ‘James’ Smith

A short while ago some of our supporters at Bristol Abc recieved a letter from James that he asked to be published on the decommissioners blog. The Judge referred too is the one from the hearing in early March who considered our right to put our defence forward. Here it is

Dear Jedi’s

At last the trial is nearly here, jobsagoodun, time to expose the wrongness of the wronguns. The Judge was a cross between the fonz from happy days and a master yoda, the prosecutors arguements unsustainable. He was dressed like a ninja too i want one of those suits! The opinion of my neighbours is that he is the fairest judge of all the possibilities, all good so far!

Thanks to everyone whose written to us and supported to us. I enjoy writting back to people so please put an address on every time. I’ve been looking for an address to write back too for two weeks and can’t find one so can’t reply. Whats worse is i keep looking cos its doing my head in!

Yeah lily postmark gatwick its all your fault i’ve designed panniers for your bicycle out of materials for zero dinero. I shall try send them telepathically. Ommmmm-Uh!!!

May The Force Be With You All. Thanks For Your Support

Elijah Smith

As you can see, despite 15 months on remand, found guilty without a trial. Elijah’s spirit is still strong and he can’t wait for the trial to begin.Please continue to write to him, Elijah Smith, A3186AM , HMP Lewes , 1 Brighton Rd,Lewes, Sussex, BN7 1EA ENGLAND please include a stamped addressed envelope so he can write back to you easily.

Bristol supporters are continuing to send Elijah a donation every week to make prison life remotely bearable. If you’d like to contribute funds to the support campaign then please send cheques made payable to the ‘Decommissioners’ to the decommissioners,  Booty Shop, Po Box 6, 82 Colston Street, Bristol. BS1 5BB

Put Palestine On The Agenda – Lobby Your Candidates – Bristol Election Debate Protest

The issue of justice for the Palestinians has never been more urgent. 1.5 million Palestinians living in Gaza are now into their fourth year of living under a horrific and brutal siege. And Israel is continuing its illegal settlement building programme throughout the West Bank and East Jerusalem, further entrenching its illegal occupation.

Use the palestine solidarity campaigning tool to contact your candidates and let them know the strength of public feeling for a just resolution for Palestine, and make them aware that this is a key election issue.

Bristol Election Debate – Demonstration – Thursday 22nd April 2010

A number of groups have already called for protests – Bristol Stop War, Bristol IWW, and others. The decommissioners add our voice to the autonomous call for action and we call for the three party leaders to put Palestine back on the agenda. We call for them to make steps towards putting an end to Israel’s violations of international law. For more information about planned protests read www.bristol.indymedia.org.uk

Also for those who haven’t already, sign the decommissioner petition calling for an immediate arms embargo with Israel.

Support The EDO Six, Putting Arms Exports To War Criminals On Trial

The EDO Decommissioners always intended to go to trial – now set for May 17th – as the accusers not the accused. Please support the decommissioners in there attempt to uphold International law, by preventing the supply of weapons being used to kill innocent civilians.

If you haven’t already please sign our petition calling for an immediate arms embargo with Israel. Please also take a minute out of your day to write a letter of support to Elijah Smith on Remand now for 15 months, still without trial. Elijah Smith, A3186AM , HMP Lewes , 1 Brighton Rd,

Lewes, Sussex, BN7 1EA ENGLAND. For those who can visiting times are 2pm-4pm daily, he welcomes visits.

And finally if you can afford a small donation, it will be gratefully recieved.  Please make cheques or postal orders payable to the ‘Decommissioners’. Send to: The Decommissioners, Booty, PoBox 6, 82 Colston Street, BRISTOL. BS1 5BB

Reports From The Verge Out Now

A new collection of twelve SchMOVIES covering the Smash EDO/ITT’s campaign efforts to shut down the Brighton based bomb factory since the company sought its draconian injunction against protesters in 2005. This series of films illustrate what lengths EDO and Sussex Police will go to stop the campaign and how Smash EDO hit back.