News: Irish activists test out the latest in blogging technology in their quests to reach Gaza

Waves PR: 26 June, 2009

The Free Gaza Movement will today set sail in two boats loaded with essential supplies from Cyprus hoping the break the blockade that has been imposed on Gaza for the last two years. On board are a handful of Irish citizens who will be in touch with cyclists from Pathways to Palestine, which will be broadcast to the web using ipadio. The Pathways to Palestine release follows:

By Land and By Sea: Irish activists test out the latest in blogging technology in their quests to reach Gaza.
France and Cyprus June 26, 2009:

The recent clamp down in Iran of web media and mobile phone networks has revealed a new breed of activism and alternative ways of exercising the virtues of citizenship. Web technologies have positioned the individual at the heart of the information empire and the average activist can now videos, tweet or blog his or her way to the broadsheets or TV screen. All the time new forms of technology and software are pushing the limits and empowering individuals in ways unimaginable just a decade ago. For one group of Irish activists they will be experimenting with a new form of blogging as they cycle their way from Ireland to Gaza raising money for medical aid.

The group, called Pathways to Palestine, have even been commended by the Scottish Parliament for their “innovative use” of what is referred to as ‘phlogging’.[1][1] Team member[2][2]

Gearóid Ó Cuinn explains:

“We teamed up with a group called ipadio.com to turn our bikes into broadcast stations; through our mobile phones we can connect and record live to our website, or we can text our access codes to anywhere so they can broadcast for us”.

The team have messages from politicians, a Nobel Prize Winner,[3][3] live musicians and even a human rights worker on the ground in Gaza record on their site. Cyclist John Maher (30) a trainee doctor from Waterford added:

“It allows us to compile real-world messages and insights in an accessible manner… all you have to do it press play!”

Team member Eoghan Quinn is also a type-1 diabetic:

“My condition helped me relate to the situation in Gaza and we also want to convey the human aspect of the effect of a siege and the effects caused by restricting medical supplies”.[4][4]

In demonstrating the power of ‘phlogging’ the team will broadcast on their site a conversation with a group hoping to reach the same destination: the Free Gaza Movement (26th June). Today they will set sail in two boats loaded with essential supplies from Cyprus hoping the break the blockade that has been imposed on Gaza for the last two years. On board are a handful of Irish citizens who will be in touch with the cyclists.

“We hope our audio blog shows what we are about and will inspire people to give a euro or two to the good work of our charity” said pharmacy student Ronan Sheehan.

The four cyclists directly support the charity ‘Medical Aid for Palestinians’ through their online donation system. The funds go to an emergency appeal to provide for neo-natal care and medical resources for burn victims in Gaza. The cyclists are currently travelling across France and hope to reach Gaza in early August passing through another 13 countries. They can be tracked live on through their website www.pathwaystopalestine.com.###

ENDS
1. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/businessBulletin/bb-09/bb-05-28f.htm [Ipadio note - extract here}

2 Team members Eoghan Quinn (21), student of town planning and also a type-1 diabetic; John Maher (30), medical student; Ronan Sheehan(21), pharmacy student and Gearóid Ó Cuinn (29) law student, set off on their arduous journey from Ireland on June 22. The support vehicle travelling with the four cyclists will be driven by trainee physiotherapist, John Lyttle (23), from Derry and Tom Watts (21), from Sheffield, who studies psychology.

3. http://pathwaystopalestine.com/2009/05/irish-leg-kicks-off-in-belfast/

4. http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=15725

More information from Gráinne Quinn,
Tel: (Ireland) 00-353-872181545
(UK) 00-44-7726466211
Support vehicle: 00-44-7751859836 / 00-44-7785350890
Email: info[at]pathwaystopalestine.com
www.pathwaystopalestine.com

Useful resources collated by ipadio on reporting from troubled zones available here

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Other Links to this Post

1. WavesPR » Irish activists test out the latest in blogging … | Cyprus today — June 26, 2009 @ 11:35 am

2. WavesPR » Irish activists test out the latest in blogging … | France Today — June 26, 2009 @ 4:44 pm

3. WavesPR » Irish activists test out the latest in blogging … | Cyprus today — June 28, 2009 @ 5:29 pm

4. WavesPR » Irish activists test out the latest in blogging … | France Today — June 28, 2009 @ 9:15 pm

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