Hadrian’s Wall Sponsored Walk: 3-7 August 2011
17th July 2011
Raising funds and awareness for Plant-a-Tree in
From August 3rd to 7th, the Aberdeen branch of Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign will be walking 84 miles along the path of Hadrian's Wall, raising funds for the Plant-a-Tree in Palestine project. The route of the walk has been selected because of symbolic similarities with Israel's Separation Wall in the Occupied Territories, and Roman efforts to contain a rebellious Scots population during the Roman occupation of Britain. Emperor Hadrian ordered the construction of the wall between Wallsend on the east coast and Bowness-on-Solway on the west coast in 122 AD. According to Aelius Spartianus, writing in the 3rd century AD, Hadrian wanted to “separate barbarians and Romans”.
On the 9th July 2004 the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that “the construction by Israel of a wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and its associated régime are contrary to international law”. The Wall has a huge negative impact on Palestinians in the West Bank, destroying the livelihoods of tens of thousands of people by eradicating agricultural land and separating farmers from their crops and resources. The Wall, 85% of which lies within the West Bank itself, also blocks access to health services, schools and neighbouring communities. Israeli NGO Bimkom found that the Wall's route “almost totally ignores the daily needs of the Palestinian population”. The 2004 ICJ ruling further noted that Israel was obliged to abide by international law, and therefore to stop construction of the wall and destroy the sections which have already been established.
By choosing to walk this route, campaigners aim to raise awareness of the injustices that are caused by the construction and continued existence of the illegal barrier that separates Palestinians from their families and land.
The walk will be raising funds for the Plant-a-Tree in Palestine project. This initiative seeks to support the on-going struggle of Palestinians to sustain and rebuild their land by providing resources for villages to plant trees that are indigenous to Palestine's natural environment and agricultural life, and is part of the wider Stop the JNF campaign. The JNF owns 13% of land in Israel, and leases it only to people of Jewish heritage. Human Rights Watch has said that Israel's close involvement with the JNF "makes the state directly complicit in overt discrimination against Arab citizens in land allocation and use". The JNF enjoys charitable status in 50 countries across the world, though its status in the UK is currently being challenged by a motion to parliament, EDM 1677. The JNF was recently dealt a blow when David Cameron became the first Prime Minister in 110 years to not be a patron of the organisation.
If you'd like to sponsor us please write a cheque made out to Aberdeen SPSC and send it to M Martin, SPSC Aberdeen, Aberdeen, 21 Broadfold Drive, AB23 8PJ or by Paypal below:
If you'd like to join us on the walk and help us raise money and awareness just let us know by emailing us at Aberdeen@ScottishPSC.org.uk Please find the itinerary for the walk below:
Day 1 (Wednesday 3rd August) Walk from Wallsend to Harlow Hill (approx 17 miles)
Day 2 (Thursday 4th August) Walk from Harlow Hill to Old Repeater Station, approx 2 miles west of Brocolitia Fort (approx 19 miles)
Day 3 (Friday 5th August)
Walk from Old Repeater Station to Greenhead (approx 17 miles)
Day 4 (Saturday 6th August)
Walk from Greenhead to
Day 5 (Sunday 7th August)
Walk from
For information on possible accommodation options send us an email and we'll get back to you.