ATUC issues statement about the Brand Israel Shalom event

Aberdeen Trades Union Council has issued the following statement about the Shalom - A taste of Israel event organised by the Confederation of Friends of Israel Scotland and StandWithUs UK at the Aberdeen Hilton Treetops Hotel on Wed 2nd November.

"Aberdeen Trades Union Council condemns the decision by the Aberdeen Hilton Treetops Hotel to host a "Shalom - A Taste of Israel" event, on 2nd November 2016 organised by the Confederation of Friends of Israel Scotland and StandWithUs UK.

Although it is dressed up as a cultural event, we believe the "Taste of Israel" event is nothing more than an explicit attempt to whitewash the crimes of the Israeli state. The organisers of the event have strong links with the state of Israel.  For example, StandWithUs UK work in close partnership with the Israeli embassy to counter pro-Palestinian advocacy and campaigning work.

Aberdeen Trades Union Council has a strong legacy of fighting for the rights of the Palestinian people and opposing their oppression and occupation by the State of Israel.

We support the Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign's call on politicians of all parties to boycott this event and have urged our members to join the protest."

Aberdeen Trades Union Council

Kate Ramsden, ATUC President said, "ATUC has a proud history of standing up for human rights and against oppression and occupation. We are fully behind the Palestinian call for Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and we call on Aberdeen Hilton Treetops Hotel to cancel this Brand Israel event."

Sign the petiton against the "Brand Israel" Shalom event in Aberdeen and write to your MPs and MSPs

Following on from our previous post (see below), SPSC Aberdeen has started a petition to urge the Hilton Treetops Hotel to cancel the  “Shalom – A Taste of Israel” event, organised by the Confederation of Friends of Israel Scotland and StandWithUs UK, on Wednesday November 2^nd.

Please sign the Coordin8 letter here: http://bit.ly/2eOWiFW

Please also send a letter to Aberdeenshire MPs and MSPs, asking them to support Palestinian rights and oppose the 'Brand Israel' event: http://bit.ly/2dQJrGD

If the event is not cancelled the demo will go ahead on Wednesday 2nd November at 6pm, Hilton Treetops Hotel, Aberdeen (161 Springfield Road) Please get along if you can.

Please also sign both letters and share as widely as possible!!

Protest Brand Israel Shalom Festival

Scottish Palestinian Solidarity Aberdeen is calling for a protest against the International Shalom Festival on 2nd November from 6-8pm at the Hilton Aberdeen Treetops Hotel.

The event is partly organised/funded by the Israeli Embassy to counter advocacy and campaigning work in support of Palestinian rights and has been described by SPSC as "no more than an explicit attempt to whitewash the crimes of the Israeli state," and "another PR stunt for apartheid Israel."

If any delegates or associates can get along to join the protest before the ATUC Meeting at 7.30pm that same night, please get along and oppose the whitewash of human rights abuses in Aberdeen.

Click here for more information

Next ATUC Delegates' Meeting on Wed 2nd November at 7.30pm. Please get along.

The next ATUC Delegates' meeting will be held on Wednesday 2 November 2016 at 7.30pm in ATUC premises, John Londragan House, 22A Adelphi, Aberdeen.

In addition to the usual packed Agenda, the short film "Nae Pasaran" will be shown. This tells the story of group of former factory workers in a small town in Scotland. They are reunited to tell the story of how they played their part in standing up to the military coup in Chile in 1974 while carrying out their job. The ATUC played a small part in backing the film through a donation to the funding of it.

Kate Ramsden, ATUC President said, "It was an amazing act of solidarity by Scottish workers to oppose the coup in Chile. The film is well worth a watch."

There will also be discussed the arrangements for St Andrew day parade and rally including the 80th Anniversary commemoration events for the Spanish Civil war. We hope as many Delegates as possible can attend.

Sign Hope not Hate's petition to keep nazi band out of Scotland

UPDATE: The concert was cancelled after huge outcry of protest against it taking place.

We have just heard that on Saturday 22nd October over 500 nazis will descend on a club in Falkirk to hear America’s most notorious white power band, Bound for Glory. It is scheduled to begin at 2pm and last till 10pm.

This has been changed from the original plan to hold the gig in Edinburgh.

This will be the largest white power concert ever to take place in Scotland. Coming only a month after police ‘allowed’ an Ian Stuart Donaldson gig in Cambridgeshire, attended by over 600 skinheads, it reflects a resurgence in interest in nazi music in the UK.

But we can stop this.

HOPE not hate is calling on the Home Secretary to refuse the band members entry to UK and for the Scottish Government to ban the gig. Sign the petition Please also write to your local MP and ask them to intervene. Bound for Glory (BFG) is the world’s leading white power band. The band members have a long history in the neo-Nazi movement, including active involvement with the two most notorious and hardline nazi networks, Hammerskins Nation and Blood and Honour.  BFG is dedicated to spreading its message of hate message overseas – after a previous attempt to play in the UK failed during the 1990s, the leader singer blamed a ‘Jewish-controlled government’. The band boasts: “All our music has a racial theme that is 100% White”. Stop these haters from playing in Scotland. Please sign the petiton to Home Secretary, Amber Rudd and write to your MP.

Huntly meets Syria Night Saturday 15th Oct. All welcome

Please get along if you can to Huntly meets Syria, a ceilidh on 15 Oct at 7pm, in Stewart's Hall, Huntly to welcome the 50 refugees who have been relocated in Aberdeenshire

There will be people of all ages there and so everyone is welcome - tickets are £7, with the money going to the Syrian new Scots, but free for under 16s. The entry fee can be waived in exchange for bringing a dish on the night. This must be either halal or vegetarian - please phone me in advance if you want to cook something!

Organisers, Deveron Arts are also looking for any volunteers to donate raffle prizes and help out on the night.

More info here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/huntly-meets-syria-tickets-28397534791https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/huntly-meets-syria-tickets-28397534791