Will this be open to all ? For example someone who thinks (and can prove) how life is better in Iraq that in the past under Saddam. Or do you weant the usual "The USA is responsible for everything" rant followed by the standard anti Jewish filth ?

"Will this be open to all ? For example someone who thinks (and can prove) how life is better in Iraq that in the past under Saddam. Or do you weant the usual "The USA is responsible for everything" rant followed by the standard anti Jewish filth ?"

No racist or otherwise abusive, including anti-semitic, behaviour will be tolerated. This would include being aggressive and refusing to listen and respond to specific questions without good reason.

Beyond that, divergent opinions are very welcome.

Personally, as a Jew proud of my heritage (although frequently ashamed by what the Israeli government claims it does in my name) with Israeli cousins I would not accept any anti-Jewish sentiment to go unchallenged; I have always done so within the Palestine solidarity community, as I have challenged anti-Palestinian sentiment within the Jewish community (which has frequently been a lot more difficult, frustrating and upsetting).

I do not believe that "the USA is responsible for everything" - imperialism, colonialism and power is a lot more complex than that, and the UK state has played an important role in Iraq, as have a number of other governments, including those situated in the Middle East and Asia. However the USA government has been more able than most (due to military and economic dominance) to be able to act in its own capilalists' interests and the rest are just scrabbling around trying to do as best they can.

Would be happy to discuss this, and other issues, in depth and width.

Regards.
alice

For the last eight months Ewa Jasiewicz has been living in Baghdad and Basra, supporting human rights groups, womens organisations, families, workers, trade unionists and Palestinian refugees. She also lived for 6 months with communities of resistance in Jenin and Nablus in Occupied Palestine, volunteering with Paramedics at the Red Crescent Society, monitoring checkpoints, delivering food and medicine, accompanying council workers, teachers and children during curfew, and organising demonstrations. She has written for Red Pepper, Electronic Iraq, Z-Net, Counterpunch, Infoshop, Occupation Watch and The Socialist Review in the US.

Ewa will be in Scotland for several weeks in April

PROVISIONAL SPEAKING TOUR DATES:
Wednesday 7th April: 2pm Glasgow Women’s Library*; Evening FALKIRK *
Thursday 8th: 7pm FOREST CAFÉ, 3 Bristo Place, EDINBURGH EH1 1EY
Friday 9th: CLYDEBANK
Saturday 10th: Glasgow Media Arts Centre, 34 Albion Street, GLASGOW, 4pm
Sunday 11th: - tbc
Monday 12th: CND Demo’ FASLANE
Tuesday 13th: Pm PITLOCHRY
Wednesday 14th April: INVERNESS*
Thursday 15th: Lunchtime ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY*
Thursday 15th: Evening: DUNDEE*
Friday 16th: KIRKCUDBRIGHT/DUNDRENNAN DU Range.
Saturday 17th: Kinning Park Complex, GLASGOW, 1pm
* to be confirmed

If you can help publicise any of these please get in touch

Here's Ewa's revised Speaking Tour programme: Please pass on and try to get to one of the meetings:

APRIL 2004
Thursday 8th: 7pm FOREST CAFÉ, 3 Bristo Place,EDINBURGH EH1
Friday 9th: 7pm CLYDEBANK, venue to be confirmed, 077514 77628
Saturday 10th: Glasgow Media Arts Centre, 34 Albion Street, GLASGOW, 4pm

Monday 12th: 2.30pm CND Demo’ FASLANE 0141 423 1222
Tuesday 13th: 7pm The Tryst Centre, Church Rd PITLOCHRY
Wednesday 14th: 7.30 pm, St Modan's Parish Church, High Street, FALKIRK

Friday 16th: DUNDRENNAN DU Range 7pm Old Town Hall, Kirkcudbright
Saturday 17th: 1pm Kinning Park Complex, GLASGOW (Afternoon workshop & discussion session)

Monday 19th: 7.30pm, The Ceilidh Place ULLAPOOL
Tuesday 20th: 7.30pm The Spectrum Centre INVERNESS
Wednesday 21st: Lunchtime ABERDEEN University*
Evening DUNDEE venue to be confirmed
Thursday 22nd: Glasgow Women’s Library GLASGOW*

* Details to be confirmed

079630 25578 or email:  fleabite@riseup.net
www.tramping.org.uk/ewa