----- Original Message ----- From: sari kassis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, November 13, 2000 11:52 PM Subject: [solidarity_palestine] Latest Political Developments Union Aid Abroad - APHEDA Australian People for Health Education and Development Abroad Inc Humanitarian Aid Agency of the ACTU Chairperson T.I. Bull NEWS RELEASE Tuesday November 14, 2000 ACTU Aid Agency Condemns On-Going Violence And Attacks On Australian Aid Program The ACTU aid agency APHEDA Union Aid Abroad has condemned a weekend attack by the Israeli army on an humanitarian aid project promoting improved living conditions for Palestinians, which has resulted in its substantial destruction. The Marda Sustainable Development Centre was established by the local community, with funds and technical help from APHEDA - Union Aid Abroad, AusAID and a range of permaculture centres in Australia from 1993 to 1998. Condemning the attack, APHEDA's Executive Officer stated "This is a senseless attempt to destroy the moral of the community and another example of the unnecessary force being used by the Israeli military" he said. "The project has been hugely successful in building use of sustainable agriculture techniques and recycling scarce water resources and was a source of great pride in the community." he said "We have direct and reliable reports that at 5:00 am November 11th 2000, Israeli soldiers raided the Marda Sustainable Development Centre in Marda, situated near Nablus in the West Bank. Soldiers tore hinges off the doors, smashed the windows and then they forced their way into the centre" he said. The Centre included a two-hectare permaculture site that used traditional terrace systems, integrated water systems, multi-level crop systems and shade structures, integrated pest management, composting and plant nursery management. There was also intensive household gardening demonstration areas. Once inside, the soldiers reportedly destroyed most of the contents of the center. This included destroying the nursery irrigation system, damaging the shredder used for the production of compost, the photocopier and overhead projector. Also damaged were seedlings, sprouts, propagation trays, and saplings used in the nurseries. The attack lasted for approximately two and a half-hours, and the soldiers finally left at around 7:30 a.m. The ACTU is calling on the Australian Government to protest this attack on the Marda Development Centre to the Government of Israel and to request compensation be paid to the Marda Sustainable Development Centre by the Government of Israel for the damage sustained to this AusAID supported project. For further information, please contact :- Phillip Hazelton Executive Officer APHEDA - Union Aid Abroad on 0409.047.353 Alan Matheson International Officer ACTU on (03) 9664 7335 _________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. -------------------------- eGroups Sponsor -------------------------~-~> eGroups eLerts It's Easy. It's Fun. Best of All, it's Free! http://click.egroups.com/1/9698/2/_/_/_/974159859/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------_-> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
