Legal Activists of Color: Ethiopians, Sri Lankans, Nepalese and Filipinas: The forgotten victims in the Middle East conflict

COMING UP ON DEMOCRACY NOW!

Friday, August 11, 2006:

* Israeli Arabs: The forgotten victims in the Middle East conflict

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http://www.democracynow.org/

Democracy Now!

Lebanon Facing its Worst Environmental Disaster Ever: Oil Spill From Israeli Strike Still Untreated After One Month

Scientists are scrambling to control what is being described as the worst environmental disaster ever to hit Lebanon. An Israeli attack on a power station last month has leaked 15,000 tons of oil into the Mediterranean. The spill has gone untreated for the past four weeks. We go to Beirut to speak with Lebanon's environment minister and an environmental activist working in the area.

AMY GOODMAN: Hi. Wael is joining us from Beirut. Can you describe the situation of the oil spill, where it stands now?

WAEL HMAIDAN: Well, where it stands there, it's a complete catastrophe. And I'm not exaggerating here. We're in a state of total devastation of our marine environment. The oil spill, which has happened more than three weeks ago, it is -- no one has started the cleanup process yet. It has spread over 100 kilometers of Lebanese coastline. It has reached Syria, contaminated several kilometers in Syria, and there is the possibility it will reach Turkey or Greece...

...YACOUB SARRAF: It goes without saying that the area where potentially we have a spread spill is a huge area, spanning approximately 140 kilometers in length and up to 20 kilometers in width. Unluckily, we haven't had yet, until now, any security clearance to approach the waters...

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Headlines for August 10, 2006

12 Lebanese Killed in Israeli Strikes

A dozen Lebanese civilians were reported killed in the latest Israeli airstrikes. Lebanon's death toll is believed to be more than 1,000. Thousands have been wounded and an estimated one million people displaced.

Fuel Shortage Worsens Lebanese Humanitarian Crisis
Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in south Lebanon is growing. The UN is warning many villages have been cut off from aid deliveries and are completely without food and water. The British charity Oxfam says Israel's hold over south Lebanon has created a "logistical nightmare" in reaching the victims. Hospitals are feeling the effects of Israel's bombing of power stations and fuel supplies. The Lebanese government is warning a fuel shortage could shut down several hospitals within days.

Bilal Masri, Assistant General Director of the Rafik Hariri University in Beirut: "We are not running on full capacity now. We are running only on 25% capacity of the hospital. We are saving on energy. There is no air-conditioning except in the important wards, like the ICU, OR, CCU and the emergency room."

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ZNET - - http://www.zmag.org/weluser.htm

Fisk: Crocodile Tears
Bennis: Lebanon and UN

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Filipina Domestic Workers: The forgotten victims in the Middle East conflict

http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/pbnAF/cache/offonce?entryId=9831

Africa & Middle East

More Funds Needed to Evacuate Stranded Migrants

Posted on Tuesday, 08-08-2006

Ethiopian workers in Beirut are evacuated to Syria by IOM coaches. © Steve Bent/IOM 2006

Lebanon - IOM is appealing to donors for more funds to help the increasing numbers of stranded migrants in Lebanon in need of evacuation.

An IOM appeal last month for US$12 million to evacuate 10,000 undocumented and poor migrants from Lebanon and Syria met a swift response from the European Commission and the US government, which donated 11 million euros ($13.8 million) and one million dollars respectively.

However, with little sign of the conflict in Lebanon ending soon, IOM has seen increasing numbers of migrants seeking evacuation assistance. At least half of those being helped are escaping without their papers or salaries from employers who don't want to let them go. Many more are still trying to get away...

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courtesy Yahoo News

Lebanon OFW hurt after escape try

ABS-CBNNEWS.com - Aug 09 10:45 AM

A Filipina remained in critical condition at a hospital in Beirut after jumping off her employer's building in a bid to escape the war in Lebanon, ABS-CBN's Bandila reported Wednesday.

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...One of those who returned was in a wheelchair, Priscilla Ronato, 42, of Pasig City, who fractured her right leg after jumping from her employers' house because they refused to let her go...

Escape route bombed

INQ7.net - Aug 04 11:59 AM

EVACUATION by sea emerged yesterday as the only possible option for thousands of Filipinos trapped in Lebanon after Israeli forces bombed the bridges the Filipinos had been using to escape from the war-devastated country.

Brion confirms death of 2 OFWs in fall from Lebanon apartment building

Manila Bulletin - Aug 04 9:49 AM

Labor Secretary Arturo D. Brion confirmed yesterday the deaths of two Filipina domestic helpers who reportedly fell from apartment buildings in Lebanon.

COMING UP ON DEMOCRACY NOW!

Friday, August 11, 2006:

* Israeli Arabs: The forgotten victims in the Middle East conflict

================================================================================

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Published on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 by the Progressive

Israelis, American Muslims for Peace

by Ruth Conniff

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0809-26.htm

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Civil Resistance in Lebanon

http://www.lebanonsolidarity.org/

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Published on Monday, August 7, 2006 by the Independent / UK
Campaigners Arrested 'for Boarding US Plane'
by Lucy Christie

Seven anti-war protesters were arrested today after campaigners
boarded a plane at a British airport to search for US weapons being
transported to Israel.

Two men and a woman were in custody after getting on what's
understood to be a military plane at Prestwick Airport, Ayrshire, in
the early hours.

Police confirmed a further four people - two men and two women - were
also arrested at the airport at around 3.30am.

Anti-nuclear campaign group Trident Ploughshares said its activists
had boarded a US plane while carrying out an investigation into the
British government's involvement in the transport of arms to Israel.

The group named the members involved in this morning's action as
Marcus Armstrong, 46, from Milton Keynes, Chris Bluemel, 35, from
Southampton, and Angie Zelter, 55, from Norfolk.

Sarah Lasenby, 68, from Oxford, Douglas Shaw, 56, and Jean Oliver,
48, both from Biggar, South Lanarkshire, and Matt Bury, 50, from
Somerset, also took part in the investigation, it said.

They were expected to appear in court tomorrow.

Four people were arrested at the airport yesterday after breaking
through security fencing and running onto the main runway.

It follows protests last weekend when two flights carrying hazardous
material were diverted to RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the body responsible for policing
the transit of the flights through civilian airports, said yesterday
that it had given permission for the two US flights to stop at
Prestwick last weekend but no others.

"We have not issued permission for the carriage of any dangerous
cargo to Israel," a spokesman said.

David Mackenzie, of Trident Ploughshares, said that protesters had
accessed the plane by cutting through a perimeter fence at the airport.

They found the military area and a US plane with its door open.

One protester was sitting in the pilot's seat when police arrived.

Mr Mackenzie said: "There was an engineer there and they entered into
a conversation with him.

"They were on the plane for around half an hour. Marcus said he was
sitting in the pilot's seat when the police arrived."

No weapons were found by the group, who said the plane appeared to be
carrying personnel only. Its destination was not known.

Mr Mackenzie said: "We've been told that Prestwick is no longer being
used by the US military to transport hazardous materials, but we
suspect that this is not true."

He added: "Unless citizens take it into their own hands to find out
what's going on then no one will really know."

Strathclyde Police said no damage had been done during what the force
described as a peaceful protest.

The use of Prestwick Airport by weapons flights has also been
condemned by politicians and members of the Lebanese community living
in Scotland.

A series of possible legal actions against the Government's
involvement in Israel's Middle East offensive were unveiled by
campaigners on Wednesday.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said previously that US military
planes en route to the conflict zone could land at UK airfields "as
long as the proper procedures are followed".

A spokesman for Prestwick Airport said: "Two separate incidents
occurred early this morning which resulted in a total of seven people
being arrested.

"Glasgow Prestwick Airport is investigating the incidents, as are the
authorities, and additional security resources have been in place
since we became aware of a similar incident on Sunday morning which
led to four arrests.

"We are satisfied that our security measures are working effectively
as these people were apprehended very quickly.

"Aviation security is tighter than that of most other industries and
security at Glasgow Prestwick Airport is consistent with the measures
in place at other major airports in the UK."

© 2006 Independent News and Media Limited

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International blockade of Belgian nuclear weapons base at Kleine
Brogel draws
significant support

Photos available, free from copyright:
http://www.motherearth.org/photo.php?album=v/2006/bike/block