Getting through the King Hussein crossing into the West Bank from Jordan took approx 1.5 hours and at least six different checks – but no problems. This evening (Saturday) was quite eventful. After being dropped off at our hotel by the Canadian office representative from Ramallah, the six of us (three MPs, and three from Code Pink) walked down the winding street towards the old city.

Without realizing it at first we walked through a small area where 67 Palestinians were recently “evicted” and Jewish settlers moved in immediately. Sabbath was almost over and the settlers were leaving prayers, in their long black robes. A young American woman told us of the daily events unfolding as three Palestinian families try to hold onto their homes(the latest in a number of ongoing evictions). The Hanoun family is sleeping on the street, a few short paces from their family home of many generations. Police and border guards arrive as tensions rise. You can feel the tension as settlers gather in small groups and the evicted families and supporters say one of them has been attacked. The police appear to push back the settlers from getting too close. We observe quietly and listen to the young woman whose family is now on the street. She explains that they were forcibly awakened in the early morning and put out of their homes. No time to gather belongings, and personal items. It seems lawless here – and the sense of uncertainty is all around.

We also learned that Mohammad Khatid and five others have been arrested from the village of Bi’lin for incitement to “damage the security of the area”, http://palsolidarity.org/2009/08/7982 .

These are the villagers that have employed creative, non-violent strategies, against the barrier of the wall that dissects their village and land. We will be visiting the village. It seems hard to believe that Mohammad, who visited Parliament Hill and spoke with a few MPs, including me, in June is now in jail.

As you enter Jerusalem from the Allenby bridge the vista of illegal settlements on just about every hill top is surreal.

We will be visiting the village tomorrow.

Today, as I stood in the grand, marble hall of the Supreme Court of Canada, awaiting the decision on Insite, my thoughts were back at Main and Hastings, knowing that many folks were gathered there, very early in the morning, to await this important decision.

When we heard the decision I felt an enormous sense of relief and victory. I listened to Dean Wilson, one of the two original plaintiffs, who went before the assembled media and poured his heart out about what Insite meant to him and drug users, former and current. He told quietly about how Insite helped him in his recovery. He spoke about the years of struggle it has taken to reach this important decision.

I also thought about the thousands of people who have died needlessly of drug overdoses and the people who helped the campaign to get Insite open and stay open.

It is a great victory legally. It is also a victory for the rights of drug users and the huge challenge they took on to speak out with courage, hope, and for access to basic health safety and support.

I remember the day in 1997 when 1000 wooden crosses were put up in Oppenheimer Park to symbolize the deaths of so many people who have died overdoses. I came to Ottawa that summer as a newly elected MP with the knowledge and responsibility of the impact of these deaths and the criminalization of drug users who were being left in misery and distress.

It became a mission to take this issue on and challenge the status quo. Always, it was the voice of the drug users themselves, who propelled the issue forward. People like Bud Osborn, Ann Livingston, Earl Crow, Melissa Eror, Mark and Liz, Dr. Montana, Evan Wood, Thomas Kerr, Donald McPherson, and so many more, who dedicated themselves to the idea that human rights, and decency was the first order, thus challenging conventional views on archaic drug laws.

I will remember this day – and know that when people are together, things can change and at the highest Court in Canada, those who are least heard were heard.

Libby

It has been a raucous week in Parliament, and now we have a Prime Minister who is desperately clinging to power at any cost.

I’ve had emails from many people – across the country and of course, from East Van. A few have been vicious, regrettably – but many people seemed to be encouraged by the idea of a new coalition, focussed on real change and help for people, especially given the economic recession and lack of action from Harper’s government.

In Vancouver, even before the election, many people raised the possibility of a progressive coalition to defeat Harper’s agenda. The opportunity arose last Thursday, when the Finance Minister delivered a Economic and Fiscal Update that was completely unsupportable for the NDP and the two other opposition parties.

I want to see an economic package to help local communities and people facing job loss. We desperately need housing and an end to homelessness. We need public transit, a new green economy, and good jobs. Childcare is badly needed, and also reform to EI so people can access support when they need it.

In these exceptional circumstances, we need leadership that is willing to rise above partisanship and name- calling. So to me, it is responsible and legitimate, within our Parliamentary system, to seek to work with other parties to find strong common ground for the broader public interest.

I know not everyone agrees with that, and certainly Harper’s desperation means he is striking out to create fear and panic that the “separatists” are taking over etc. Of course we are used to Harper’s politics of fear – he relies on it. To be clear, the BQ are not part of the proposed coalition – though they are willing to support it, on the basis of a common program to help people.

It’s ironic that Harper himself has relied on the Bloc to support two of his budgets in the past. It was ok then, but now that it’s going the other way – it’s suddenly an “evil” thing!

All in all, I try to keep my focus on what needs to be done to help people in the community, who are facing hardship and uncertainty. Sometimes that means forging new coalitions to prevent something bad from happening.

It has certainly been an intense week – and it’s not even finished yet! Thank you for all the feedback – all points of view, respected.

Libby