Amos Trust

Defying Racism: A Palestinian musician’s ordeal at Ben Gurion Airport
"Before packing my suitcase the night before, I made a packing list to make sure I didn’t forget anything. I managed to cross everything off the list and be at the airport on time. But there was one thing I forgot to write down… one very important detail that I simply forgot to think about… I am Palestinian!"
Nai Barghouti, a Palestinian singer, flute player and composer studies music at the Amsterdam Conse...rvatory of Music.
https://mondoweiss.net/2019/…/defying-p alestinian-musicians/
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Angela Davis is the latest Black target of Israel lobby
The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has cancelled its annual gala at which iconic Black scholar and activist Angela Davis was to receive a prestigious human rights award.
Randall Woodfin, the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, expressed his “dismay” at the decision, which he said came “after protests from our local Jewish community and some of its allies.”
... Full story: https://electronicintifada.net/…/angela -davis-latest-black-…
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We love this – a nice bit of recycling spotted just before Christmas. We approve!

We ❤️ This... 🇮🇳

Experiences of a lifetime – join us in 2019
We love bringing people together to meet our partners from around the world, visiting the communities they work with, seeing their projects in action and giving you the chance to get your hands dirty.
Each year we organise guided trips that enable people to spend time with our local partners to really grasp first-hand the issues they face and better understand the unique ways they are choosing to respond to very difficult circumsta...nces.
Follow the link to find out what trips we have taking place in 2019 and join us as we challenge injustice, build hope and create positive change.
https://mailchi.mp/amostrust.org/travel-w ith-us-in-2019
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Quite a day in Washington!

Wishing all our friends around the world a very happy and peaceful 2019 🙏

Wishing all our friends and supporters around the world a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year. The Amos office is now shut until Monday 7th January – thank you.https://mailchi.mp/amostrust.org/merr y-christmas

Gaza on 'Today' – BBC Radio 4 There was extensive news coverage from Gaza this morning as BBC Radio Four's Mishal Husain reported from the besieged strip.
She spoke to Palestinians from Gaza as well as Israeli's living along the border. Scroll to 09:36
... https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0001mm m
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Our friends from Choir of Bethlehem checking out the photos that @markkensett took of them last week in Bradford. #changetherecord

A gallery of images from the Amos Trust Bethlehem carol service at Bradford Cathedral on 9th December 2018. Photography: © Amos Trust/Mark Kensett

Mark Thomas The acclaimed 'Walking the Wall' and 'Showtime From The Frontline' shows are now available in one box set with additional footage of Mark's journey along the route of the Israeli wall.
Here's a clip (with a little bit of bad language) – https://vimeo.com/304806813
... https://markthomasinfo.co.uk/store/…
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On Her Terms
Girl, living in the swell of my belly I sense you sobbing as I sway And wonder what grief and knowledge... Fill the knots of your body like the crusts or boiled grass we ate to survive
Let the girl speak, On Her Terms, When she’s ready Let the girl live, let history move through her, Stand steady
Girl, when I nurse you You kick like a mule, a spasm moves Through you and I jump like we did When they took us at random Lined us up against walls Punishing us for existing at all
Let the girl speak, On Her Terms, When she’s ready Let the girl live, let history move through her, Stand steady
Girl, I’ll take you to school, stiff in your first uniform and when we’re pushed hard onto the bus Your eyes might widen in fear as if you’re being stolen, stuffed in a truck Straw-strewn and stinking
Let the girl speak, On Her Terms, When she’s ready Let the girl live, let history move through her, Stand steady
Girl, when you wake from bad dreams Saltwater streams from your eyes You don’t know the words for machetes or genocide, rapist or waterboard, Let me hold you, as my mother held me Like Russian dolls, all of us live One inside the other inside the other Girls on the street bearing our history
Let the girl speak, On Her Terms, When she’s ready Let the girl live, let history move through her, Stand steady
Let the girl speak, On Her Terms, When she’s ready Let the girl live, let history move through her, Stand steady
Victoria Field – December 2018
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Amos Trust's 'Smile' Christmas Appeal for Wi'am Every year the Amos Trust Christmas Appeal raises money for grassroots projects in the West Bank and Gaza. It’s been a difficult year for Palestine — more so than usual. Please support and share our Christmas appeal.
https://www.amostrust.org/give/christmas- appeal-2018/

This is just lovely – a Palestinian refugee from 1948 who now owns a Chess shop in New York.
https://youtu.be/eh8U6SLvNgs

The Amos Bethlehem Carol service tour arrives in Canterbury tonight (7pm start), then London (St Luke's, Holloway) on Friday, Cambridge on Saturday, Bradford on Sunday (note: 4pm start), and finally Manchester on Monday.
Full details can be found on the Amos website: https://www.amostrust.org/christmas-2018/

Here's some sweet soul music for a grey, cold Thursday. You're welcome.

Nativity – 2018
One year, will it slip away? Will the meaning finally be lost? Will the annual cycle of
... Readings Carols Prayers for peace And a light shining in the darkness – Finally, give up the Ghost?
But each year The characters take me somewhere unexpected. Not just to a stable in Bethlehem.
The confusion, Steeliness and faith of a teenage mother-turned protest-singer Gets below my skin. When I hear the words she sung – How could I doubt she’s Jesus’ mum?
I can’t help but see myself in Joseph. Gabriel is too far out of reach for me. The shepherds - I know I’d run like them and stand there open-mouthed. The Magi – well, I would need no encouragement to follow a star and travel on foot to Jerusalem.
But I don’t know if I could make Joseph’s choice. Is there any way I’d believe Mary? And even if I did, Would my pride get in the way?
And then I come across The everlasting Father, Wonderful Counsellor, Prince of Peace, the Mighty God. I’d prefer everlasting parent but that’s not the point. Surely by now he or she should have chosen another role. How much heartbreak can one deity take?
In my mind, the Wonderful Counsellor is backed up by the heavenly choir. They sing a melody whose words elude me Yet whose refrain keeps drawing me in: “Believe, love, dream, trust, forgive” “Believe, love, dream, trust, forgive” – repeat.
And each Christmas I find myself begging That the Prince of Peace Would let peace reign. That Peace would come in Palestine, and to so many other places. And yet, each year there is a deafening silence, And my prayers seem in vain. Dear God, don’t people in Yemen desperately need peace this Christmas?
But this is the Prince of Peace. A tiny baby who can’t even hold the finger of the hands that held him. Just like ten billion other babies The Mighty God, Reliant on us.
And this year, I know That peace depends on us. The Prince of Peace is the baby born in Bethlehem.
If peace is to reign It will only come through us. And it will only come when we See the world Like that newborn child.
© Chris Rose 2018
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Tareq Alzoughbi from the Choir of Bethlehem speaking at Amos Trust's Bethlehem Carol Service at St James's Piccadilly in London last night, filmed by the Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, H.E. Husam Zomlot.

I’ve just come back from a trip to the Holy Land with Amos Trust, visiting some of the projects they have been involved with. It was a life changing experience, and I hope and pray that I will be able to visit again some time.

I’ve just come back from a trip to the Holy Land with Amos Trust, visiting some of the projects they have been involved with. It was a life changing experience, and I hope and pray that I will be able to visit again some time.