Contact: Tom Haig                                                                  For Immediate Release

Tel: (03)545 7321

Cell: 021 101 4312

peaceinpalestine.nelson@gmail.com

Nelson Musicians Raise Money for Palestinian Victims of Shelling

No Fences: Festival for Peace and Justice in Palestineto be held at FairfieldHouse in January with Speakers, Musicians and Exhibitions

Nelson musicians are uniting to aid a Palestinian family who were innocent victims of a shelling attack while picnicking on a beach near their home earlier this year.

On January 28, Nelson Anniversary Weekend, musicians and speakers from Nelson and around New Zealand will come together to call for a peaceful solution to the ongoing violence and dispossession in Palestine. Money raised will assist the medical bills and continuing care of injured members of the Ghalia family.

The Ghalia family came to world attention tragically on June 10 this year when they were caught in the explosion of an Israeli shell while picnicking on a beach near their home. The surviving family members have had to pay tens of thousands of dollars for the continuing care and rehabilitation of the survivors.

"What is going on in Palestine is a sad statement about the whole world," says organiser Tom Haig.

"Nelson people have done their bit in the past against apartheid and in support of a free Tibet, and here's a chance to do something about another massive injustice."

Nobel Peace Prize nominees Ghassan Andoni of the International Solidarity Movement and Jeff Halper of the Israeli Campaign Against House Demolitions will join the festival by video link to speak of their experiences in Palestine.

Musicians playing include Nelson reggae crew One Vibe, Battle of the Bands winners Manicanne, vocal group Octapella and Wellington artist Grayson Gilmore.

Green MP Keith Locke will talk about what New Zealand can do on the world stage to help the situation in Palestine, and what we can do as New Zealanders to make sure this will happen. Christina Gibb, who recently returned from four months in Gaza with a Christian Peacemakers team, will be talking about what life is like in the "open air prison" that is the Gaza strip.

© Scoop Media