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I get a pile of invites and email from campaigns I might cover.......... or organizations attempting to interest me in photographing their mission activity or campaigning politics....... right now I have nearly 2000 emails..... I've been falling behind on deleting half this stuff....... consequently I still have some of the old stuff still lying about....... For instance... I still have email inviting me to go with the flotilla to break the blockade of Gaza.......
I did not really actively consider going..... I hate stories where you are trapped on a ship..... I once took a ship with Algerian leader Ben Bella when he was returning from France to Algeria after years in exile.... for a bit it looked like we would be trapped on the ship at anchor in the bay outside Algiers....... because at first it appeared he would be refused permission to come ashore....... I've done other stories where I am on ferries and ships..... they make news pictures but none seemed to really make anything significant ........... well not in the way of making images of lasting value..... the images that speak about the desperation of Gaza will be shot in Gaza..... not on a ship heading for Gaza.........
So that was that......
But suffice to say...... I was as shocked as anyone on hearing the tale of slaughter that is now emerging from the Israeli Commando strike on the flotilla.
Tragic...... Totally tragic........ Clearly its a disaster for all ....... for the people in the Free Gaza Campaign and the families of the dead....... and for the Israelis...... a total PR disaster.
Here below is part of the latest email I received about the flotilla:
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\"......................“Cultures of Resistance†film director Iara Lee is part way through her itinerary to Gaza with 700 people from 40 countries. It is a flotilla of 9 ships carrying 10,000 tons of reconstruction, medical, school material to be delivered to Gazans who live under heavy Israeli illegal blockade. They hope to break the siege!!! Major confrontation with Israeli navy is anticipated but, no matter what, the flotilla will try to make it through to Gaza!!!
Follow development of the mission via iara lee: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000928581236&v=wall&ref=search#!/profile.php?id=100000928581236&v=wall&ref=search
Check Iara’s OP-ED on THE HILL: End the blockade in Gaza By Iara Lee - 05/25/10 11:24 AM ET - http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/99705-end-the-blockade-in-gaza ..................................... \"
I hope Iara is OK..... I've never met her....... but she seems like a nice well meaning woman............
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
PS........... Maybe Matt can come up with the Ben Bella images? or maybe other stuff more relevant ? I have pictures from Gaza Beach somewhere :-/ ........... but right now........ I only have pictures that I shot over the weekend........ so here is a Banksy piece that found in a quiet corner in East London on the river....... come to think of it...... I don't know if this image has actual relevance...... ?
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