Launch of Irish Ship to Gaza fundraising campaign on Monday

PRESS RELEASE, 26/8/10
EVENT NOTICE FOR PRESS CONFERENCE
Launch of Irish Ship to Gaza fundraising campaign on Monday
A press conference will be held in central Dublin on Monday to launch the broad-based Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign, which is aiming to raise funds to buy an Irish ship to participate in the Second Freedom Flotilla. 
Preparations are well underway internationally for the Second Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, which is being organised by the same groups who were behind the Freedom Flotilla in late May: the Free Gaza Movement, IHH (Turkey) and the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza. 
Between 10 and 15 ships are expected to take part in the flotilla and a coalition of Irish pro-Palestinian organisations – from both north and south – has now come together to ensure that a large Irish contingent and an Irish ship participates in this effort to break the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza. The flotilla will include cargo vessels but the primary aim is to break the siege. The flotilla organisers see the ending of the siege of Gaza as a short-term objective.
The organisations affiliated to the Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign will be represented at Monday’s press conference, where plans for Irish participation in this international effort will be outlined. Irish participants from the previous flotilla will also be in attendance to support the campaign.

PRESS RELEASE, 26/8/10
EVENT NOTICE FOR PRESS CONFERENCE
Launch of Irish Ship to Gaza fundraising campaign on Monday
A press conference will be held in central Dublin on Monday to launch the broad-based Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign, which is aiming to raise funds to buy an Irish ship to participate in the Second Freedom Flotilla. 
Preparations are well underway internationally for the Second Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, which is being organised by the same groups who were behind the Freedom Flotilla in late May: the Free Gaza Movement, IHH (Turkey) and the European Campaign to End the Siege of Gaza. 
Between 10 and 15 ships are expected to take part in the flotilla and a coalition of Irish pro-Palestinian organisations – from both north and south – has now come together to ensure that a large Irish contingent and an Irish ship participates in this effort to break the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza. The flotilla will include cargo vessels but the primary aim is to break the siege. The flotilla organisers see the ending of the siege of Gaza as a short-term objective.
The organisations affiliated to the Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign will be represented at Monday’s press conference, where plans for Irish participation in this international effort will be outlined. Irish participants from the previous flotilla will also be in attendance to support the campaign.
Time: 11am, Monday, 30 August.
Venue: Gresham Hotel, O’Connell Street, Dublin.
The following organisations have come together to form the Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign: the Free Gaza Movement, the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Irish Anti-War Movement, the Derry Friends of Palestine, Ireland to Gaza, the Palestinian Rights Institute and the Trade Union Friends of Palestine.
PRESS RELEASE ENDS
For further information, contact Fintan Lane (National Coordinator of the Irish Ship to Gaza Campaign) at 087 1258325.