July 19, 2011

Deltaport action protests ZIM, in solidarity with the Gaza Freedom Flotilla

VANCOUVER -- Twenty activists from throughout the Lower Mainland gathered
early today at Deltaport for an information picket targeting a major Israeli
shipping company, ZIM. The action was in solidarity with the Freedom
Flotilla to Gaza, which included a Canadian Boat and which has been
prevented from sailing to the occupied and blockaded Palestinian territory.

Irene MacInnes explained, "While Gazans cannot travel or ship exports by
sea, massive Israeli companies like ZIM are able to freely do business
around the world despite their connection to the unjust policies that bring
so much suffering to Palestinians." MacInnes was one of more than 30
Canadian delegates on the *Tahrir*, one of the aid flotilla ships prevented
by the Greek government and Coast Guard from sailing from that country’s
ports to Gaza in June and July of this year.

At Deltaport, activists passed out information for over an hour to
dockworkers and truckers coming to and from the port, one of the largest
container terminals in Vancovuer, Canada’s largest shipping port. They held
signs and banners supporting the flotilla and the campaign for boycott of
ZIM and other Israeli-owned companies and products. The educational action
delayed traffic to the port and accomplished its aim of reaching out to
workers handling ZIM cargo.

ZIM is by far the biggest Israeli shipping company, and one of the 10
largest in the world, with 60 weekly services to 180 ports worldwide,
including Deltaport. This year's Freedom Flotilla was a follow up to a
similar effort in May 2010, when Israeli armed forces raided a Turkish aid
ship, the *Mavi Marmara*, killing nine activists.
Following that massacre, a number of Palestinian labour organizations issued
a call for international solidarity. Dockworkers in the USA, Sweden, Turkey,
India and South Africa have responded with support actions. Media outlets
covering the morning picket action included CTV, CityTV, GlobalTV, CKNW
radio (AM 980) and both local newspapers, the *Delta Optimist* and the *South
Delta Leader*. The event was also documented by the organizers. Photos and a
video report on the action will be available shortly.

Police attempted to stop or curtail the protest. One activist was arrested
and later released, with a court appearance scheduled for September. We will
keep people posted if further legal support is needed for this person.

Also today, a small French boat that is part of the Freedom Flotilla, the *
Dignity*, attempted to sail to Gaza but was boarded in international waters
by the Israeli navy and forcibly taken to the port of Ashdod. Canadian Boat
to Gaza activist Stephan Corriveau was on board and remains in Israeli
custody. Solidarity actions are taking place tonight in Ottawa, Toronto and
Montreal (for more information on support actions visit http://tahrir.ca/).

The Deltaport action was organized by activists from the Boycott Israeli
Apartheid Campaign (BIAC) and the Vancouver committee of the Canadian Boat
to Gaza (CBG).

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