Rugby players get political

Tim Robbins

Fair play to Trevor Hogan, D'Arcy, Fogarty and Reddan for doing this. Great to see this sort of stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WV9ixJD_yg

CatFromHue

seemingly trevor hogan is going on one of the ships.

whats the stroy with darcy were they shining a bright light in his face!

ive no probs with these guys doing this....as long as they are donating themselves

ormond lad

Interview with trevor from a few weeks ago. Well done to Tevor, at least he went off and studied the conflict before making a judgement
Former rugby star to join Gaza aid flotilla
By Barry Duggan

Thursday May 19 2011

AS thousands of Leinster rugby fans begin the exodus to Cardiff for this weekend's Heineken Cup final, one rugby star is preparing for a far more formidable journey.

Trevor Hogan (31), who played over 100 games for both Leinster and Munster, will next month be one of 30 Irish people on a major flotilla hoping to break through an Israeli sea blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The Nenagh man said that the Irish vessel, Saoirse, will be one of 11 ships hoping to provide much needed humanitarian aid to Palestinians next month. The flotilla departs for Gaza just over a year after an Israeli raid on the first Freedom Flotilla resulted in the deaths of nine passengers.

Hogan, who played four times for Ireland, was forced to retire from professional rugby because of a knee injury last January. While playing for Leinster, he studied Arab-Israeli conflicts in UCD with his former coach -- Michael Cheika.

"The injustices there are something I slowly became aware of. I can see the parallels with Palestinian history and Irish history," Trevor explained.

"What has happened to the Palestinian people is unjust and we are hoping to provide humanitarian aid as part of a peaceful mission next month."

He also compared being selected as a crew member of the Irish ship to his rugby days.

"It's like being picked for a major game. We don't know what port we are leaving from just yet, but it is going to be twice the size as the flotilla from last year," Trevor said.

"My family were a bit surprised when I told them but we are optimistic we will reach our destination.

"It is a completely humanitarian mission. I am not not trying to get involved in politics. It is about trying to reach out to people on a human level -- people who need our assistance," Trevor added

RMD

Fair play to them, good to see them doing something. Unfortunately, I don't see it making any difference though. The Israelis are a stubborn bunch of pricks when it comes to this.

Badgermonkey

Crouch, touch, pause, engage.

Final Score:

Israeli Defense Forces: 28 Flotilla: 3

Tim Robbins

@CatFromHue

Human rights work is more about awareness than money. It's about putting political pressure on Israel to treat the Palestinians like human beings.

I prefer when celebs get involved in this type of charity work. I was on a flight recently and had Ryan Tubirdy telling me to give to unesco, needless to say I felt like punching him in the face.

JustinDee

My family were a bit surprised when I told them but we are optimistic we will reach our destination"

This is what I find puzzling. If it is truly a non-political effort and solely aimed at delivering aid and supplies to Gaza, then why take this route?

To ensure the safety of all aboard and involved and that the supplies reach the destination, they should be docking in Egypt and entering Gaza easily and far more safely via Rafah, which has been opened by the Egyptians.

If this is purely a humanitarian effort as claimed, there is no need to unnecessarily put lives at risk.

CatFromHue

Tim I dont have access to sound on this computer to check but I thought at the end of the clip they asked for a donation.

Justin I'd imagine they are trying to gain as much publicity as possible for the Palestinian cause. By choosing the route they are taking, as opposed to the route you mention, they will highlight the situation better. This is very much a political effort.

durkadurka

Bit of double speak, he speaks of injustices, and then says its humanitarian only. `

I believe it is a abit political in that it is making a statement - this isnt a criticism, but to say its not at all political would not be fair.

Fair play to him, for having the guts to do it.

Badgermonkey

CatFromHue wrote: »

By choosing the route they are taking, as opposed to the route you mention, they will highlight the situation better. .

They are seeking to draw the Israelis into a confrontation for the purposes of propaganda and will then cry foul when the inevitable engagement occurs.

However well intentioned, it appears to me a somewhat cynical and foolhardy endeavour.

Badgermonkey

Badgermonkey wrote: »

They are seeking to draw the Israelis into a confrontation for the purposes of propaganda and will then cry foul when the inevitable engagement occurs.

However well intentioned, it appears to me a somewhat cynical and foolhardy endeavour.

Would thank twice tbh. Absolutely spot on.

For a country that had horrific troubles over land for so long, you think we'd be wise to this sort of **** stirring.

Of course "they should be allowed" make the trip.

But real life is real life, they're intentionally dragging feet through murky waters instead of taking the safe and open option, exactly what has been said above.

JustinDee

CatFromHue wrote: »

Justin I'd imagine they are trying to gain as much publicity as possible for the Palestinian cause. By choosing the route they are taking, as opposed to the route you mention, they will highlight the situation better. This is very much a political effort.

They should say that then. Instead of the hogwash about being just humanitarian aid workers.
Why am I not surprised that the likes of George Galloway and co. can sit back and send people into harm's way when they don't even need to?

Tim Robbins

CatFromHue wrote: »

Tim I dont have access to sound on this computer to check but I thought at the end of the clip they asked for a donation.

Justin I'd imagine they are trying to gain as much publicity as possible for the Palestinian cause. By choosing the route they are taking, as opposed to the route you mention, they will highlight the situation better. This is very much a political effort.

You're correct. But giving Palestinians all the money in the world won't change the fact they can't even import cement into their country.

Amnesty International also ask for money but they work by trying to change the political dimensions of problems.

I never knew about a lot of this sort of stuff until recently I started reading more Noam Chomsky, John Pilger and the likes. When most people find out what goes on Israel, they are shocked. What changes things is when the international community wakes up and puts the pressure on. A la South Africa, we didn't need money to get Mandella out of jail it was political pressure.

Monty Burnz

Badgermonkey wrote: »

They are seeking to draw the Israelis into a confrontation for the purposes of propaganda and will then cry foul when the inevitable engagement occurs.

However well intentioned, it appears to me a somewhat cynical and foolhardy endeavour.

Indeed. The Israelis would never, ever stoop to propaganda (or mass murder).

chunkylover4

That doesn't mean that Palestinian groups aren't spewing out propaganda either!

RuggieBear

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