Just a quick note to say I've been in Bristol today and have had a fantastic day. Went to the RWA, spent a bit of time in Clifton listening to beautiful piano music (thanks Jimmy) and the afternoon in Stokes Croft with a group of the most self effacing people I've ever met. I'm sure many people on here know Slammer and Mike from Art El and know what laid back generous people they are. It was a great day where hopefully true lasting friendships were made and I can't thank the lads more than enough.
Thanks to Adam, Helen. Matt, DJ, Sam and the Falafel King for adding to a truly enjoyable day and to Bristol the city for being such a unique, inspiring place to wander around.

A great day.

Thanks again to everyone involved.

Nice one Cocteau. I have been lucky enough to spend some time with Slammer in Bristol too, very generous with his time and considerable knowledge.
c

thanks guys. it's been a pleasure meeting both of you.
i had a really good time yesterday and that Falafel was really nice, but i have a bit of a dodgy tummy today.

was there 2 weeks ago, a really inspiring place, didnt pass a post office while you were there by any chance!

Some great pieces down by the Docks in Bristol -

Feek's character's are awesome. One of the other pieces is by 3Dom. Think these were done for the launch of Children of the Can.

Bristol Street Art 2006

Stokes Croft - Bristol's Cultural Quarter

Stokes Croft : Flats or Culture? PRSC interviewed

www.paltelegraph.com/newsflash/2398-uk-bristol-city-twins-with-the-besieged-gaza

UK Bristol City twins with the besieged Gaza

Gaza, September 27, 2009 (Pal Telegraph) - Organisers of the forthcoming launch event for the new BRISTOL-GAZA-LINK association are delighted to be receiving support from all across the political spectrum.

The idea of the Bristol-Gaza-Link association has been supported from the start by both the Liberal Democrats and the Labour group on the City Council. Further support has come this week from Adeela Shafi, the PPC for Bristol East and from Cllr Charlie Bolton for the Green Party. See additional quotes below.

A spokesperson for Bristol-Gaza-Link says "Messages of support and goodwill have been flooding in all week. Groups and organisations have been picking up on the idea of linking with their counterparts in Gaza. People have even been thanking us for suggesting the idea! We sense that linking up at a grass-roots and people-to-people level is enthusing Bristol. We're really delighted to be receiving strong support from all across the political spectrum - this is a real vote of confidence for the project."

The launch of the new Bristol-Gaza-Link association will take place at a public meeting on Monday 28th September in the Main Hall at the Council House, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR.

The guest speaker will be a representative of the Palestinian General Delegation to the UK. The meeting will be chaired jointly by Anira Khokhar of the Bristol Muslim Cultural Society and Glen Burrows Branch Secretary of the Bristol RMT Rail Union.

Speakers will include Cllr Barbara Janke (Lib Dem) Leader of the Council, Cllr Faruk Choudhury (Lab), Hasina Khan, and Mohamed Elhaddad. Messages of support will be read out from Cllr John Kiely (Lib Dem), Cllr Helen Holland Leader of the Labour Group, Stephen Williams MP, Kerry McCarthy MP, and the Mayor of Gaza.

The event will commence at 6.00pm with refreshments and time to browse stalls of a wide range of organisations. The Red Notes Choir will perform at 6.45pm and the speeches will start at 7.00pm.
Background:

People from across Bristol took part in large numbers in protests, vigils, demonstrations, meetings and occupations to show their support for the people of Gaza during Israel's attacks in December & January. Over a hundred thousand pounds was collected in the city to be sent as aid to Gaza. Mohamed Elhaddad and Sakir Yildirim went from Bristol to join the 100 vehicle Viva Palestina! Convoy which drove to Gaza with aid collected in Britain. On their return they gave eyewitness reports of conditions in Gaza.

Out of this grew the idea of building links between Bristol & Gaza City.

The Bristol-Gaza-Link Association will be launched at the event. Its aims and objectives will be to build humanitarian, cultural, educational and social links. These links will be with similar groups and organisations primarily in Gaza City. However links with Palestinian populations both in the West Bank and the Diaspora are also possible.

Historically, Bristol has had a large number of connections with Palestine, both Gaza and the West Bank. These have ranged from faith groups to peace campaigners, from medics to footballers to circus-performers. Even Bristol's own graffiti artist Banksy has visited Palestine! Bristol-Gaza-Link aims to build on these foundations and is already encouraging a growing number of groups and organizations to explore links with Gaza.

The meeting will include a number of stalls and exhibitions which showcase these connections. There will also be a practical workshop session for people to learn more about how new grass-roots links can be developed.

Bristol-Gaza-Link has produced a video of the convoy to Gaza last winter which is available on YouTube (see - 3 parts). The group is starting fund-raising for a second convoy to Gaza this winter which is due to depart from Bristol on Friday 4th December.

Quotes:-

Adeela Shafi, the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bristol East says

"I welcome the launch of the new Bristol-Gaza-Link association. The people of Gaza have suffered greatly as a result of conflict. I hope the association will be able to offer support to those trying to achieve the two-state solution which is the only hope for lasting peace in the region, as well as those working to rebuild Gaza and alleviate human suffering there. I am especially proud of the efforts being made by Bristolians to make specific links with Gaza and would be pleased to offer my support and sentiment to this endeavour."

Green Party Cllr Charlie Bolton says

"Congratulations to the Bristol-Gaza link for their excellent work on this vital issue. It is great to see them building links between organisations here and in Gaza. I am very happy to offer my support to them, and look forward with interest to them making a real difference."

Cllr John Kiely Lib Dem Easton ward, says

"We were all shocked at the brutal way Israel used its superior force against defenceless civilians and even the UN. Here in Bristol people were determined to try and do something practical to assist the people of Gaza and to show our solidarity with their plight. I am therefore delighted to be associated with the efforts of this group who have worked tirelessly to create a link with the Palestinian people, I wish it every success."

Stephen Williams, Lib Dem MP for Bristol West says,

"Shocked by the human rights atrocities I braved the snow and ice to join hundreds of Bristolians at the Stop the War demonstration in February to support the people of Gaza. Pressure must be put on the Israeli Government to make them behave in a responsible manner. This is an incredibly important issue. I receive hundreds of letters every year about foreign affairs and human rights and have raised many issues with the Foreign Office".

Kerry McCarthy Labour MP for Bristol East says

"I welcome the formation of the Bristol-Gaza-Link which aims to build further links between Bristol and Gaza city and develop a deeper understanding between the two areas, both socially and culturally, whilst also demonstrating the widespread empathy felt by many in Bristol for Gaza's problems. Having spent time in the region (although not in Gaza) a few years ago with CAABU and as an election observer for the last Palestinian Authority elections, and having visited community groups I have seen the positive impact such projects can bring. I know that Bristol people have already made sterling efforts to show solidarity with, and support for, the Palestinian people, from helping out with the olive harvest, to collecting computers for Palestine, to making films about the scale of the problems there."

Cllr Helen Holland, leader of the Labour Group says

"Bristol's strength lies in our diversity and the internationalism that this reflects. Friendship and twinning links bring huge benefits to Bristol, and over many years cultural, economic and education links have developed between our city and our partner cities, between organisations here and abroad, and many personal friendships between Bristolians and citizens of other countries. The Labour Group and I have been very supportive of this new association, which builds on the bridges that have been built between Bristol and Gaza, and we wish every success to the association. Bristol and Gaza have much to learn from each other, and with these links comes better understanding."

Bristol-Gaza-Link

Graffiti in Stokes Croft - Bristol