Dear friends,
Here's an update written July 2nd from the Tahrir:

Here's a link to footage of the blocking of the Tahrir and our Canada Day march to the port authorities (harbour master is a woman in scenes with Sandra Ruch)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofkvVidE2Js

And here is footage of the inside of the Tahrir, of the delegates, and of the medical aid we are carrying:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFMOBkoW6LA&feature=related

Jim Rankin covers daily events in his blog. http://mobile.scribblelive.com/Event/Aboard_the_Gaza_flotilla  Today the excitement was a canoe initiative with Bob Lovelace and Nick from
Australia attempting to head out to sea.  And another march to the port authorities.  Last year port authorities were very helpful to a flotilla ship that left from this port, the Challenger.  But this year they are ordered not to.  Perhaps the most significant part of the day was a visit from Opposition MPs in the Greek parliament who will ask a question on our behalf on Monday.

I spent much of the day sleeping.  It was extremely hot and that march took it out of me.  I feel much more rested now and my toothache (abscess) seems to be responding well to treatment with antibiotics so that is good.

It's very satisfying to actually be staying on the boat now rather than having to be in the hotel. We had a nice lunch of chickpeas, greek salad, and for dinner the addition of humus and toast with tomatoes and feta thanks to our cook, Miles Howe, of Halifax.  Miles has also launched a trade initiative for linking with Palestine.

 I am feeling quite attached to this boat of ours, and hopeful that we might find a way, still, to move forward with our mission.  We have a full meeting tomorrow am on the boat.  Thanks for your support from home - your letters, phone calls, and demonstrations are equally important to what we are doing here.

all the best,

Lyn

And here's a video link you may want to circulate about the US boat - 'The Audacity of Love'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9s7JuEceNI
The Audacity of Hope boat remains stuck in a naval shipyard after attempting to leave without approval.  After 25 minutes the coast guard cut them off and then after a long standoff, dragged them in.

Hi everyone, We are still here because there is 'one more paper' that we have to have (this goes on).  Today will tell us if it is going on ad infinitum or if we can now get on the boat and go.  Last night I was on security detail on the boat - we are all on 4 at a time 24 hours a day PLUS our staff. The boat crew are all divers and Alex on our crew checked several times last night that noone was below the boat.  We are concerned about potential sabotage as now two boats have been sabotaged, and the US boat remains moored it seems rather permanently in an Athens harbour.  Their delegates are now staying on the boat round the clock.  Yesterday we held a photo shoot with all of our 'chemicals' displayed on a table - sunscreen, hand lotion, toothpaste, etc - made for a nice photo!  This because some in Israel are claiming that we will have 'chemical weapons' on board.   Here's a report on Press TV, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nky0bjH7x0
and also a bit on youtube by my room-mate and fellow Canadian Soha Kneen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nG-SVEze19s&feature=share   I am not in this news coverage - there are 47 delegates, so we can't all be in every story.  But I do suggest getting tomorrow's Toronto Star, because if we launch today it will have Jim Rankin's 'launch story' in there, and he did interview me before the dinner way back on June 9th.   It continues to astound me how little the governments of the world are prepared to do on behalf of the beleaguered Palestinian population.  It goes against our value of protecting the vulnerable, therefore there seems to be widespread grassroots support for our flotilla and for ending the blockade.   I am here because I want to support the Palestinian nonviolence movement which is growing, and which needs to see some success - and needs the solidarity of the international community to achieve this.   that's it for now, thanks for all your support!   - Lyn