<html><body bgcolor="#ffffff"><P><FONT size=2><FONT size=3><STRONG>Campaign of Civil Resistance to Reclaim the South</STRONG></FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2><FONT size=3>Good evening,</FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2><FONT size=3>There's a convoy of 100 or more cars driving down to the south of Lebanon</FONT></FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=2><FONT size=3>on </FONT></FONT><FONT size=2><FONT size=3>Saturday, August 12th, which marks the one-month anniversary of the<BR>Israeli<BR> bombing of Lebanon. To defy the Israeli order that all cars south of the<BR> Litani river will be considered legitimate targets (including in and<BR>around the<BR> port city of Tyre), and the forced displacement of 1 million Lebanese from<BR> their homes, the convoy will carry Lebanese citizens, foreigners from all<BR>over<BR> the world and food, sanitary and medical supplies; all aid to the south<BR>has<BR> been suspended, and tens of thousands of people and many hospitals remain<BR> trapped without access to basic necessities.<BR><BR> The Lebanese Ministry of Energy is supplying fuel for the convoy,<BR>Norwegian<BR> and Swiss NGOs are donating funds for food and medicine. Lebanese TV<BR>stations<BR> will accompany the convoy; we are trying to get American and European<BR>media<BR> outlets to do the same, to ensure our safe passage, which of course is not<BR> ensured. The Israeli government will not be directly contacted nor asked<BR>for<BR> permission or safe passage, but the Israeli media (Haaretz) has already<BR> reported on the upcoming event.<BR><BR> Please forward widely to individuals, protest organizers who wish to<BR>coordinate<BR> their events by livefeed with the convoy, and media outlets.<BR> The success and safety of the operation depends on it.<BR><BR> If you are in Lebanon and want to sign up and join the convoy, contact<BR>either:<BR> Rasha Salti. Email: </FONT><A href="mailto:convois.citoyens.sud.liban@gmail.com"><FONT size=3>convois.citoyens.sud.liban@gmail.com</FONT></A><FONT size=3>. Tel: +961 3 970<BR>855<BR> Rania Masri. Email: </FONT><A href="mailto:rania.masri@balamand.edu.lb"><FONT size=3>rania.masri@balamand.edu.lb</FONT></A><FONT size=3>. Tel: +961 3 135 279 or<BR>+961 6<BR> 930 250 xt. 5683 or xt. 3933<BR> See the press release below.<BR><BR> Please distribute as widely as you can. Thank you.<BR><BR><BR> Press Release- Lebanon: An Open Country for Civil Resistance<BR> Beirut August 7, 2006<BR><BR> Press Contacts:<BR> Rasha Salti, +961 3 970855<BR> Huwaida Arraf, +961 70 974452<BR> Samah Idriss, +961 3 381349<BR> Wadih Al Asmar, +961 70 950780<BR><BR><BR> On August 12, at 7 am, Lebanese from throughout the country and<BR>international<BR> supporters who have come to Lebanon to express solidarity will gather in<BR> Martyr's Square in Beirut to form a civilian convoy to the south of<BR>Lebanon.<BR> Hundreds of Lebanese and international civilians will express their<BR>solidarity<BR> with the inhabitants of the heavily destroyed south who have been bravely<BR> withstanding the assault of the Israeli military. This campaign is<BR>endorsed by<BR> more than 200 Lebanese and international organizations. This growing<BR>coalition<BR> of national and international non-governmental organizations hereby<BR>launches a<BR> campaign of civil resistance for the purpose of challenging the cruel and<BR> ruthless use of massive military force by Israel, t he regional<BR>superpower,<BR> upon the people of Lebanon.<BR><BR> August 12 marks the start of this Campaign of Resistance, declaring<BR>Lebanon an<BR> Open Country for Civil Resistance. August 12 also marks both the<BR>international<BR> day of protest against the Israeli aggression .<BR><BR> "In the face of Israel's systematic killing of our people, the<BR>indiscriminate<BR> bombing of our towns, the scorching of our villages, and the attempted<BR> destruction of our civil infrastructure, we say No! In the face of the<BR>forced<BR> expulsion of a quarter of our population from their homes throughout<BR>Lebanon,<BR> and the complicity of governments and international bodies, we re-affirm<BR>the<BR> acts of civil resistance that began from the first day of the Israeli<BR>assault,<BR> and we stress and add the urgent need to act!," said Rasha Salti, one of<BR>the<BR> organizers of this national event.<BR><BR> After August 12, the campaign will continue with a series of civil<BR>actions,<BR> leading to an August 19 civilian march to reclaim the South . "Working<BR> together, in solidarity, we will overcome the complacency, inaction, and<BR> complicity of the international community and we will deny Israel its goal<BR>of<BR> removing Lebanese from their land and destroying the fabric of our<BR>country,"<BR> explained Samah Idriss, writer and co-organizer of this campaign.<BR><BR> "An international civilian presence in Lebanon is not only an act of<BR>solidarity<BR> with the Lebanese people in the face of unparalleled Israeli aggression,<BR>it is<BR> an act of moral courage to defy the will of those who would seek to<BR>alienate<BR> the West from the rest and create a new Middle East out of the rubble and<BR>blood<BR> of the region," said Huwaida Arraf, co-founder of the International<BR>Solidarity<BR> Movement and campaign co-organizer. "After having witnessed the wholesale<BR> destruction of village s by Israel's air force and navy and having visited<BR>the<BR> victims (so-called displaced) of Israel's policy of cleansing Lebanese<BR> civilians from their homes," continued Arraf, "it is imperative to go<BR>south and<BR> reach those who have stayed behind to resist by steadfastly remaining on<BR>their<BR> land."<BR><BR> If you are in Lebanon and want to sign up and join the convoy, contact<BR>either:<BR> Rasha Salti. Email: </FONT><A href="mailto:convois.citoyens.sud.liban@gmail.com"><FONT size=3>convois.citoyens.sud.liban@gmail.com</FONT></A><FONT size=3>. Tel: +961 3 970<BR>855<BR> Rania Masri. Email: </FONT><A href="mailto:rania.masri@balamand.edu.lb"><FONT size=3>rania.masri@balamand.edu.lb</FONT></A><FONT size=3>. Tel: +961 3 135 279 or<BR>+961 6<BR> 930 250 xt. 5683 or xt. 3933<BR> If you are outside Lebanon and want to sign up and join the convoy, you<BR>should<BR> know:<BR> 1) You need to obtain a visa for Lebanon and for Syria if your plan is to<BR>enter<BR> Lebanon from Syria.<BR> 2) We don't have the funds to cover for the cost of your travel, however<BR>we can<BR> help with finding accomodations.<BR> For questions and help for all internationals please contact Adam Shapiro<BR>at:<BR> </FONT><A href="mailto:adamsop@hotmail.com"><FONT size=3>adamsop@hotmail.com</FONT></A><BR><BR><BR><FONT size=3> You can also sign up on our website: </FONT><A href="http://www.lebanonsolidarity.org"><FONT size=3>www.lebanonsolidarity.org</FONT></A><BR><BR><FONT size=3> This campaign is thus far endorsed by more than 200 organizations,<BR>including:<BR> The Arab NGOs Network for Development (ANND), International Solidarity<BR>Movement<BR> (ISM), Cultural Center for Southern Lebanon, Norwegian People's Aid,<BR>Lebanese<BR> Center for Policy Studies, Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections,<BR> Frontiers, Kafa, Nahwa al-Muwatiniya, Spring Hints, Hayya Bina, Lebanese<BR> Transparency Association, Amam05, Lebanese Center for Civic Education,<BR>Let's<BR> Build Trust, CRTD-A, Solida, National Association for Vocational Training<BR>and<BR> Social Services, Lebanese Development Pioneers, Nadi Li Koul Alnas, and<BR> Lecorvaw.</FONT></FONT></P></body></html>