Genocide and Ecocide, an indigenous apocalypse; An ever-rising tide of violence, oppression, and surveillance under the capitalism and colonialism of the empire of the global north- Is the mental health crisis a shock when every day we scroll past images of genocide? Are we on a run-away train? What roll have any of us got to play in what is happening in Israel?

What roll have any of us got to what happens in the world anymore?

It can feel impossible not to feel hopeless and become numb to the state of the world when it feels the very fabric is ripping apart. But it’s a luxury to feel hopeless; because for the people of Palestine they are at the knifes edge –

• At least 54,084 people in Gaza have died, including 16,854 children

• 470,000 people are facing starvation

• Over 123,300 have been injured

• Only 18 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza are functioning

• 90% of Gaza’s 2.1million population has been displaced

Amnesty International’s Statement-

“Amnesty International’s report demonstrates that Israel has carried out acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. These acts include killings, causing serious bodily or mental harm and deliberately inflicting on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction. Month after month, Israel has treated Palestinians in Gaza as a subhuman group unworthy of human rights and dignity, demonstrating its intent to physically destroy them,” said Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

On the 30th of September I am lucky enough to begin my summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Kilimanjaro is Tanzania and Africa’s tallest peak at (19,341 ft). This will be the highest and longest expedition of my life following the Machame route over 8 days; this will surely test me mentally and physically to my limits. However compared to anything anyone has gone through in Palestine this – is well literally nothing- It’s a huge privilege to get to do this hike – Its just a stunt, and hopefully this stunt will grab your attention and get you to press donate.

I thought long and hard about this hike what this could be about; what good I could make come out of this. What good could I do anyway? After much reflection I’ve decided to do this hike for International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement’s Gaza Crisis Appeal.

What a donation will do –

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have been on the ground since conflict escalated and continue to save lives, distribute aid and give hope.

The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has:

• provided over 1.6 million relief items

• almost 1,500 staff and volunteers working

• supported over 900,000 people with health services

• provided psychosocial support to more than 131,000 people

• reached over 100,000 people with emergency medical services

• operated 29 medical points and clinics

• set up 27 camps for displaced people in Gaza

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has:

• supported the operation of the Red Cross Field Hospital in Rafah, providing medical care for 300 people a day. Since its opening, the hospital has treated over 80,240 patients and carried out more than 3,400 surgical procedures

• provided one cooked meal a day to almost 100,000 vulnerable people in Gaza, as well as ready-to-eat food parcels to over 35,300 people and nutritional food bars to almost 200,000 people

• provided essential items to almost 1.8 million internally displaced people in Gaza and helped more than 1.5 million people access clean water

A donation will not solve the systemic issues behind this conflict.

A donation won’t change what happens in the world. Or what happens in the coming months in Gaza. It will be a tiny drop in the ocean. But with your help in a small but tangible way we will have taken action.

Aid will get in, and that will help someone- and that is something.

Please Donate.

Thanks Harry