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"If we take the full meaning of the term society into consideration, it will be seen that till now human beings have not been able to form a real society. If India builds a society for only Indians, Pakistan for only Pakistanis, and England for only the English, then these three separate societies will exist, but we cannot look upon them as the society of humanity. Because humanity is divided into groups, one society will naturally try to thrive by exploiting the vitality of others. �You will notice that efforts are being made to establish so-called societies in some particular part of the world, for some particular section of the people, and based on some particular 'ism" or faith. A social consciousness based on such divisions lies latent in the minds of the people, whether they are Indian, Pakistani or English, so they remain absorbed in thoughts of their smaller groups." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar


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"Human beings have still not been able to form a human society, and have still not learned to move with the spirit of a pilgrim. Although many small groups, motivated by self-interest, work together in particular situations, not even a small fraction of their work is done with a broader social motive. By strict definition, shall we have to declare that each small family unit is a society in itself? If going ahead in mutual adjustment only out of narrow self-interest or momentary self-seeking is called society, then in such a society, no provision can be made for the disabled, the diseased or the helpless, because in most cases nobody can benefit from them in any way... in that case there always remains the possibility of some people getting isolated from the collective. All human beings must attach themselves to others by the common bond of love and march forward hand in hand; then only will I proclaim it a society." - Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar

"Power concedes nothing without a demand.' The struggle for justice must never be adjourned. The forces of injustice do not take vacations. Societies are not static in this regard. They await the political and civic energies of individuals who engage the arenas of power, multiply their numbers and emblazon in deeds and institutions the immortal principle that "Here the People Rule." - Ralph Nader

BLAIR SISTER-IN-LAW & AMERICAN PHYSICIAN TRAPPED IN GAZA


Gaza stands on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe, with its population confined in a crowded area to which land, sea and air entry are all controlled by the Israeli military. Israel claims Gaza is no longer occupied, yet it denies the vast majority of the population access to jobs, travel, visitors, commerce, education, medical care and basic necessities. Since last fall, in a form of collective punishment of Gaza's entire civilian population, Israel has tightened the screws on the territory by restricting the importation of food, fuel and medicine. This cutoff has resulted in a desperate situation, as Gazans are unable to pump water, run hospital equipment or even process sewage, which is now being dumped into the Mediterranean by the millions of gallons. - Alison Weir

For more info: Alison Weir 202-631-4060
Gaza phone numbers supplied upon request

Tony Blair's sister-in-law Lauren Booth; Dr. Bill Dienst, an emergency room physician from Washington state and three other human rights workers are being prevented from leaving Gaza to return home. They have attempted to leave Gaza by land on three occasions, both through Israel and through Egypt, and have been prevented from doing so.

They are now effectively trapped in Gaza--like the other 1.4 million people who live there--and are calling for help from their respective governments (which include the US, the UK, Ireland and Australia). Dienst's Congressional representative Cathy McMorris-Rogers and Senator Maria Cantwell are attempting to help Dienst return home.

Booth, Dienst, and 4o+ other international human rights workers sailed from Cyprus to Gaza in two small, rickety boats -- the "Liberty" (named after the USS Liberty, which was attacked by Israel in 1967, whose forces killed and injured over 200 American servicement) and the "Free Gaza" on August 23 with the goal of "breaking the Israeli siege of Gaza." For more information see http://freegaza.org/index.php

Nine of the "Free Gaza" Movement human rights workers remained behind in Gaza when the boats departed, in order to do more human rights work and in order to make space aboard the boats for the departing Palestinians. Several of those internationals, including two Americans, have been continuing to accompany Gazan fisherman on fishing expeditions in Gazan waters. Israeli naval vessels are now firing live ammunition at the fishing boats, and four Gazan fisherman have been arrested illegally by Israel (www.freegaza.org).

Now five of the internationals, including Dienst, are attempting to return home but are prevented from leaving Gaza by Israeli and Egyptian officials who claim that they entered Gaza illegally. However, Dienst points out that an official statement by the Israeli Defense Ministry on August 25th declared that the Free Gaza Movement did not violate any laws, and that the Movement's sailing two ships from Cyprus to Gaza posed no "security threat" (Ha'aretz). Israel did not intervene in the sailing by the "Free Gaza" and "Liberty", or in their return to Cyprus. In addition, Cypriot authorities approved the sea voyage, a journey that did not need approval from Egypt or Israel under international law.

BACKGROUND

Gaza stands on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe, with its population confined in a crowded area to which land, sea and air entry are all controlled by the Israeli military. Israel claims Gaza is no longer occupied, yet it denies the vast majority of the population access to jobs, travel, visitors, commerce, education, medical care and basic necessities.

Since last fall, in a form of collective punishment of Gaza's entire civilian population, Israel has tightened the screws on the territory by restricting the importation of food, fuel and medicine. This cutoff has resulted in a desperate situation, as Gazans are unable to pump water, run hospital equipment or even process sewage, which is now being dumped into the Mediterranean by the millions of gallons.

The California-based Free Gaza Movement is made up of nonviolent human rights activists and workers from 17 countries including Israel, and has been endorsed by Desmond Tutu of South Africa and the Carter Center, among many others. (For more information, see www.freegaza.org
.)

The purpose of the Free Gaza Movement's extremely successful sailing from Cyprus to Gaza and back was to call the world's attention to the ongoing and illegal Israeli siege of Gaza by defying Israeli restrictions and breaking that siege. Given the huge amount of international media attention that the unprecedented sailing received, the Israeli government was apparently afraid to detain or fire on the boats during the sailing. Now that the boats have returned to Cyprus, Palestinians and international human rights workers left behind in Gaza are being punished individually for the bold actions of the group.

The cash-strapped Free Gaza Movement states that this is only the first of many sailings that ought to occur between Cyprus and Gaza in order to ensure the free flow of goods and people to and from the beleaguered territory. Through intimidation, the Israeli government is clearly trying to ensure that nothing of the sort happens in the future and that the siege of Gaza is maintained.


CONTACT INFORMATION:

Feel free to contact me for more information:

--
Alison Weir
202-631-4060

Last Updated September 7, 2008 11:09 PM

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and
do not necessarily reflect those of the World Prout Assembly.

The World Prout Assembly is a non-profit organization affiliated with
Proutist Universal Global Headquarters, Kolkata, India.