UN Human Rights Council initial unedited report has just been published of "the international fact-finding mission to investigate violations of international law, including international humanitarian and human rights law, resulting from the Israeli attacks on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian assistance" please see http://bit.ly/FlotillaReport . The report will be debated by the Council on Monday 27th September.

We are engaged with our legal advisers regularly and supported by Human Rights Legal Aid Fund . The lawyers have provided great support to the flotilla participants and worked with us on all aspects of the fact finding mission just carried out. We have several more irons in the fire on the legal front as well. Some states are above the law thought aren't they?

Other news... Viva Palestina 5 set off over land leaving the Embankment in London on Saturday. It was a bright sunny morning and we heard short speeches by Kevin Ovenden, Zaher Birawi, Ruqquya Collector and George Galloway. The convoy members were determined and optimistic. George said he was appealing to Egyptian authorities to let him pass through to Gaza but would not try to insist and would not come with the others if he was not able if it would jeopardise the mission. An Egyptian spokesman has said he would not be allowed in and he has again appealed through issuing a statement.

Meanwhile work is steaming ahead on the Road to Hope convoy. People are busy buying vehicles and getting organised. I have picked up around a quarter of a van load of aid including patient monitors, peripheral equipment such as tubing, masks, syringes, physiotherapy aids, crutches, tracheotomy pipes, sutures and more. I have also been helped in pricing music recording and performance equipment that we hope to use to set up a Fairtunes project.

Road to Hope is departing from the UK on 10th October with a further delegation leaving on 16th October to join them in Libya for the final week of travel to the Gaza Strip.

I hope to join Road to Hope now as I have been accepted on to a law masters degree in International and Commercial Dispute Resolution Law so I will be busy studying this year.

In the past two weeks I have attended meetings in Ipswich, Southend, Devizes and Birmingham to talk about the flotilla and Gaza. For three of them I was accompanied by Sameh Habeeb who returned from Gaza a couple of weeks ago. He has been able to describe the conditions in Gaza which have not changed positively despite the arrival of some more Israeli consumer goods in the strip. Part of the effect of this has been to undermine some of the market for the few locally manufactured goods with no significant change to the living conditions, opportunities or economy in evidence. Sameh describes how some of the people attempting to leave the strip are being refused unless they bribe the Egyptian immigration officials, sums ranging from $1000 to $3000 in some cases.

At the moment there is an exhibition of photographs taken by journalist Pennie Quinton in Freedom Gallery (Above Freedom Books next to Whitechapel Gallery). Highly recommended. It runs until 5th October and if you can catch Pennie there you will get a great talk and a recital of her poem.

Pennie introduced me to members of CAMPACC (Campaign Against Criminalising Communities). It was fascinating to learn about campaigns by Baluchistani people whose tribal area spans across the borders of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan and whose people are politically oppressed at present. I also learned about the current campaing for peace and justice for Kurdish people and about activities of those supporting individuals in Britain who have been subjected to conditions and actions under the UK terrorism legislation - control orders, house detentions on bail without charge, cases fighting deportation to countries with human rights abuse records. Some families under detention at home are being placed in sub-standard accommodation, moved often and controlled under curfew for extremely long hours. I am interested to find out about these sorts of cases.

Good news is that the 9th October fundraising event is gathering momentum and there are many wonderful people getting involved, so come on down - if you're mad enough to the Electric Circus, Scala Kings Cross, 9th October, info follows:

The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum...
......
9th October 2010
10pm-6am
@ SCALA Kings X, London: www.scala-london.co.uk

Tickets : £10 advance LIMITED!! £15 otd
www.wegottickets.com/event/91555

or... haggle with us! we accept circus kit as payment... !!

Oh my goodness….The Electric Circus is back in town…..

After intrepid exploring we have found the murky world of the Asylum that lurks below the Scala... and it looks like the Lunatics have taken over; so extract and dust off your most mental personality and run away with the circus...

We bring you THE indoor festival of (L)unity……..

This is a musical MASH-UP event - leave your preconceptions at the door!

All the treasure our clowns and badgers gather from you will be used to support a circus mission to Gaza! We also support grassroots projects in Gaza too:)

We do not give our money to a third party, we deliver directly to the people; its the only way...

We will also be giving a portion of the money to Fairtunes.org - check out the wicked stuff they do!

Basically, get involved.

***************************
On the Operating Table for your aural delight…….

The Main Theatre;

www.Fairtunes.org, Skandalous! & Fluorotrash + lots of our mates...

*THE FREESTYLERS SoundSystem*!!!
+ TENOR FLY + MC SURREAL
www.freestylersmusic.co.uk/

*ATOMIC HOOLIGAN*
www.atomichooligan.com

*MOLOTOV JUKEBOX* (Live)
www.myspace.com/molotovjukebox

*FLUOROTRASH* Psychedelic Acrobatic Cabaret (FULL SHOW)
www.fluorotrash.org.uk

*SUBSOURCE* (Live)
www.subsource.co.uk

*HIGH TALES AERIAL*
www.hightales.co.uk

*MC XANDER*
www.myspace.com/mcxander

*RUBY BLUES* Angle Grinding

*ATOMIC DROP*
www.myspace.com/atomicdropmusic

*LOSERS* (Live)
www.myspace.com/losersuk

*THE EQUALIZERS* (ATG)
www.myspace.com/theequalizersuk

hosted by: *BASS6* (5th Element)
www.myspace.com/rhythmandbass

*yasSon + Maria* (beatbox + vocals)
www.myspace.com/yasson

*LIQUID ROSS*
www.liquid-records.com

*FERRET POLE DANCING*
www.FerretWelfareSupporters.org

Random Acts of Lunacy from:

*HERNANDEZ****VIRGINIA* - Coffee Enema!

*CAN CAN***HIGH TALES AERIAL

Boylesque:Freakery!

***************************
Upstairs in the Attic: The Peppermint Hippo Rehab Clinic

The original *ELECTRO SWING CLUB*
www.myspace.com/electroswing

*LAZY HABITS*
www.lazyhabits.co.uk

*NEW GROOVE FORMATION*

PLUS:

*DJ MOODIE*(REGGAE ROAST)
www.reggaeroast.co.uk/

*NOEMIE*

MC WILDEYE, ENRESET & DJ MUSKUT (BASSLINE CIRCUS)
www.myspace.com/mcwildeye

*DICK TREVOR*
www.myspace.com/dicktrevor

*THE SPANGLEBOOTH*

*DJ BASHMENT BISH*

Badger Racing

+ MORE MORE MORE!

***************************

The SLUMBARAVE SANITARIUM:
www.myspace.com/slumbarave

Lie back and try to relax on our bespoke beds whilst our team of entropic beauty technicians preen and polish you in the unlikeliest of ways...

Physco-theraputic treatments include:
Manic-cures, Foot & Hand Relief and Fakeovers.

Supplying a musical medley of lobotomised lullabies fused together with rare disco gems will be...

*CHARLIE McFARLEY*
www.charliemcfarley.com

*MR NEEDLE & GROOVE*

*NACHO*

*D'JUNSEI*
www.djunsei.com

*MARY MISS FAIRY VS SIMON PIEMAN*
www.marymissfairy.com

***************************

In the Padded Cell:

KOLLEKTIVE DUBS
www.musickollektiv.org

with:

*BOYSON* (VAGABONDZ)
www.myspace.com/boysondub

*THE DUB ZONE*

N.D.E. Subtek & The mighty HIGH GRADE ROCKERS SOUND SYSTEM
www.myspace.com/subtekrecords

*WINSTON DREAD* (Earthquake Studios) LIVE SET!
*DUBZONIC* (live) with Sarah Kay-Live vocals,
*ROCKET HI FI* [Liverpool ],

*NICK MANASSEH* - Highgrade Rockers ,
www.myspace.com/manassehsound

*DARYL* - Highgrade Rockers,
*Tiny Tim* - Northampton

SUBTEK RECORDS SHOWCASE (free CD's!):

*N.D.E*

*JAK A TRON*
www.myspace.com/jakatron

*LIAM LOGIK*
www.myspace.com/logikaudio

*LUSHMAN*
www.myspace.com/lushmanbeats

*MR BRISTOW*
www.myspace.com/mrbristowdj

***************************

Around the various Consulting Rooms we have……

*THE DRUM MONKEYS*

THE REALITY TEST (first implemented at Secret Garden Party, tweaked and modified specially for us)
www.urcollective.org

PSYCHEDELIC KIDNAP EXPERIENCE

LOCKS OF FUN BEAUTY SALON

BADGER RACING

***************************
Last year we sent half the money with Lorty on the convoy, the other half we attempted to send via egypt, and then via the flotilla, and we all know what happened there...

The good news is we have Lorty, and the money, back and we will add it to all of your treasure my lovely lil nutters (not Lorty, the money)………and then we'll be taking it to Gaza - along with a Circus. Yippeeeeee! Boarder regulations have relaxed a little, so we have a much better chance….

SO you see……

YOU WOULD BE CRAZY TO MISS IT! YOU MUST BE EVEN CRAZIER TO COME……

Dress Code: Straight Jackets, Lobotomies: The Lunatics have taken over the Asylum…


AND HAVEN'T THEY JUST……………………………………..


peas n love
the Skandalous crew

www.skandalous.org
www.fluorotrash.org.uk
www.myspace.com/electriccircusforgaza
www.fairtunes.org