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Loss of Innocence: An Exhibition of Children’s Art from Gaza

Posted in Uncategorized on August 5, 2010

On 5 August 2010 Tony Lloyd visited Loss of Innocence: An Exhibition of Children’s Art from Gaza at Manchester Cathedral.

The exhibition has been collected by Rod Cox in March and April 2009 and displaying the work in the UK is the result of a promise made to the schools and youth groups in Gaza that he visited. The work is intended to educate us in the West and provide a psychological boost to those living in Palestine, helping them to believe that they are not as isolated and restoring some self-esteem. The project is supported in this regard by Gaza Community Health, the Gaza Ministry of Education and UNESCO.

The Children are very excited about their artwork even though a van, painted over by a Gazan school and intended to carry the project from Gaza to the UK, was not permitted to leave Gaza. The exhitiion can be viewed at www.rodcoxandgaza.blogspot.com

I visited Gaza myself in February 2009 following the Israeli invasion. The level of destruction and loss of human life made the invasion an unacceptable tragedy.

To an outsider the scenes were shocking but for the children who drew and painted the pictures in this exhibition this is what they actually witnessed and what is really shocking is knowing an estimated 300 children were killed.

Petition: Tony Lloyd MP calls on Lib Dem MPs to vote against the unfair VAT rise

Posted in Uncategorized on July 6, 2010

Tony Lloyd MP is calling on Lib Dem MPs to vote against the unfair VAT rise.

Tony said, 'People deserve to know who is supporting this unfair increase in VAT. It would be wrong for the Tories and Lib Dems to make this change without a vote in Parliament so that they can avoid public scrutiny.

'I want a vote on this issue so that I can oppose this change which would hit so many people in Manchester especially pensioners and those on middle and low incomes. I know that the budget deficit needs to be reduced but I don’t think that the most vulnerable groups in our society should pay the highest price.

'The Lib Dems campaigned against a VAT increase but the party leadership have now abandoned their principles. It’s time for Lib Dem MPs to decide if they want to turn their backs on the people they claim to represent or vote against this increase which both David Cameron and Nick Clegg agreed before the election was regressive, hitting poor people the hardest.

'I am today launching a petition to be delivered to Manchester Lib Dems to let them know how people in Manchester feel about the proposed increase. Please show your support by signing my petition against the unfair VAT rise. You could also contact your local Lib Dem MP or councillor directly their contact details can be found at: http://manchester-libdems.org.uk/contact/'

You can also sign up to Labour's national online petition at: www2.labour.org.uk/vat

KAMIL SARIYER,

Deanne Santini,

Liam Ronan,

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kamil sariyer,

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karen taylor,

Amanjit Khaira,