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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-CA link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Allan thank you for the link. I have also signed…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Tedd<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US> craic <craic-bounces@lists.integralshift.ca> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Allan Baker via craic<br><b>Sent:</b> April 27, 2021 9:28 AM<br><b>To:</b> Assisting virtual Craic <craic@lists.integralshift.ca><br><b>Cc:</b> Allan Baker <allan.baker7878@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Craic] PayPal's discrimination<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Greg;<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Every action counts.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Also, it is like making decisions - not to decide is to decide.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>May your day go well;<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Allan<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><blockquote style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Apr 26, 2021, at 7:37 PM, Greg Gillis via craic <<a href="mailto:craic@lists.integralshift.ca">craic@lists.integralshift.ca</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thank you Allan for this. I signed the petition. Hopefully, they feel the heat.<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>Greg</span><o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Mon, Apr 26, 2021 at 7:29 PM Allan Baker via craic <<a href="mailto:craic@lists.integralshift.ca">craic@lists.integralshift.ca</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0cm'><div><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>Friends;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>I just discovered that PayPal refuses to do business with Palestinians.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>The United Church of Canada, offering support to the Palestinian people, is asking PayPal to change their policy - and more information on this is below.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Stay hopeful;<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Allan<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='margin-bottom:12.0pt;text-align:center;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>Support The United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ’s efforts to end PayPal’s discrimination against Palestinians.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style='margin-bottom:15.0pt;box-sizing:border-box'><div><div><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'><dspr-computer-training.jpg><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>Women in a computer and secretarial skills class in the Vocational Training Center in Gaza City. The center is sponsored by the Department of Service for Palestinian Refugees of the Middle East Council of Churches; DSPR is a member of the ACT Alliance.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style='border:none;border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm;box-sizing:border-box'><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><i><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>Credit: Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #DDDDDD 3.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 14.0pt;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#555555'>The only remaining hope is in the churches’ prophetic voice and action. Today, gathered here in Palestine, in the city of the Prince of Peace, we tell you: Do not be afraid. Do not fall in the "fear" of the world political powers. Do not abdicate. Do not silence in yourselves the voice of God, who is a God of love, not a God of war. (Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah, Latin Patriarchate, Holy Land)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></blockquote><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #DDDDDD 3.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 14.0pt;margin-top:12.0pt;margin-bottom:12.0pt;box-sizing:border-box'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#555555'>A harvest of justice is sown in peace for those who make peace. (James 3:18)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></blockquote><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #DDDDDD 3.0pt;padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 14.0pt;margin-top:12.0pt;margin-bottom:12.0pt;box-sizing:border-box'><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:13.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#555555'>Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6)<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></blockquote><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>As consumers buy more and more online, PayPal has seen a rise in its market share. Its invitation to use its services states, “From everyday purchases to running a business, people around the world rely on us to pay and get paid.” PayPal is popular, well-known, and convenient, and is used by entrepreneurs, businesses, and non-profits in over two hundred countries around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>But PayPal has refused, so far, to contract with Palestinian businesses and banks in the West Bank or Gaza. Settlers, banks, and merchants in the illegal settlements, however, can freely access PayPal individual and merchant services in the same territory, using Israeli bank accounts. Palestinians are unable to establish bank accounts in Israeli banks, and are therefore excluded, which may demonstrate complicity in a discriminatory status quo in a region still struggling to resolve deep conflict. This hurts PayPal, hurts Palestinians, and supports the Israeli occupation because<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#424242;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;box-sizing:border-box;list-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"'>it is an obstacle to Palestinian tech sector growth<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#424242;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;box-sizing:border-box;list-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"'>it prevents Palestinian entrepreneurs and non-profits from receiving payments and contributions<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#424242;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;box-sizing:border-box;list-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"'>it forgoes an opportunity for PayPal’s expansion into a profitable Palestinian market, which could be easier to enter than some other countries PayPal has already entered<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#424242;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo1;box-sizing:border-box;list-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"'>it provides services to illegal settlements that sustain the occupation<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:15.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:21.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#575757'>Take Action<o:p></o:p></span></h2><ol start=1 type=1><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#424242;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"'><a href="http://www.globalministries.org/action_alert_help_urge_paypal_to_open_up_to_palestinians" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D9230F;text-decoration:none'>Join The United Church of Canada and the United Church of Christ(opens in a new tab)</span></a> in requesting PayPal to <o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><ol start=1 type=1><ul type=circle><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#424242;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box;list-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"'>extend services to West Bank and Gaza Palestinians; and<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#424242;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box;list-style:inherit'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"'>cease extending services to the illegal settlements.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul></ol><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;margin-left:36.0pt'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>There is a sample letter for you to use and adapt under <a href="https://united-church.ca/social-action/act-now/urge-paypal-extend-its-services-palestinians#downloads" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D9230F;text-decoration:none'>Downloads</span></a>, below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start=2 type=1><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#424242;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"'>E-mail us to let us know if you are acting on this Take Action. Let Christie Neufeldt ( <a href="mailto:cneufeldt@united-church.ca" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D9230F;text-decoration:none'>cneufeldt@united-church.ca</span></a> ) or Patti Talbot ( <a href="mailto:ptalbot@united-church.ca" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D9230F;text-decoration:none'>ptalbot@united-church.ca</span></a> ) know if you are avoiding using PayPal, are writing to PayPal, or have signed the Petition to PayPal.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#424242;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans"'>Get more informed about PayPal and Palestine by reading the fact sheet, under <a href="https://united-church.ca/social-action/act-now/urge-paypal-extend-its-services-palestinians#downloads" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D9230F;text-decoration:none'>Downloads</span></a>, below.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><h2 style='mso-margin-top-alt:15.0pt;margin-right:0cm;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0cm;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:21.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#575757'>Background<o:p></o:p></span></h2><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>The United Church of Canada has a long history of working with others seeking peace with justice in Israel and Palestine. This work is rooted in the gospel mandate to be peacemakers and in response to the calls of Palestinian and Israeli partners. Violent acts such as the killing of both Palestinian and Israeli civilians, use of excessive force by Israeli police and army against protesters, extrajudicial killings, and collective punishment are obstacles to a just and lasting peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>The 41st General Council in August 2012 called on United Church people to take concrete actions to support the end of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Unsettling Goods invites congregations and individuals to “Pray, Choose, Speak for Peace in Palestine and Israel” by engaging in a range of actions that support a just peace.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>International law prohibits an occupying power from transferring its own civilians into occupied territory, and the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice have ruled that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories are a violation of the <a href="https://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/faq/occupation-faq-051010.htm" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D9230F;text-decoration:none'>Fourth Geneva Convention(opens in a new tab)</span></a>. Both the United Nations (“<a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46485&Kw1=israel&Kw2=&Kw3=#.WVU4doTyvct" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D9230F;text-decoration:none'>Settlement plans threaten renewed hopes for Israeli-Palestinian peace, UN envoy warns(opens in a new tab)</span></a>”) and the Canadian government (<a href="http://www.international.gc.ca/name-anmo/peace_process-processus_paix/index.aspx?lang=eng&_ga=2.88062928.915008584.1498756837-1628003206.1498756837" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D9230F;text-decoration:none'>“Canada and the Middle East Peace Process”(opens in a new tab)</span></a>) state that the settlements are a serious obstacle to peace in the region.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>The United Church of Canada has identified the occupation as a major contributor to the injustice that underlies the violence in the region, and is encouraging its members to take a range of actions to support the end of the occupation, including avoiding products produced in or related to the settlements. Companies that operate in settlements provide economic support for the government of Israel’s practice of establishing settlements in Palestinian territory. That’s why the United Church is joining other churches and non-governmental organizations around the world to support peace in Israel and Palestine by taking economic action against products made in or related to Israeli settlements.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>For more information about current activities, see <a href="https://united-church.ca/node/10486" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D9230F;text-decoration:none'>Unsettling Goods: Choose Peace in Palestine and Israel</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>For more information, please contact:<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Open Sans";color:#424242'>Patti Talbot<br>Team Lead Global Partnership<br><a href="mailto:ptalbot@united-church.ca" target="_blank"><span style='color:#D9230F;text-decoration:none'>ptalbot@united-church.ca</span></a><br>416-231-7680 x4018<br>1-800-268-3781 x4018<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></div><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>craic mailing list<br>To send message: <a href="mailto:craic@integralshift.ca" target="_blank">craic@integralshift.ca</a><br>To manage Subscription: <a href="http://lists.integralshift.ca/listinfo.cgi/craic-integralshift.ca" target="_blank">http://lists.integralshift.ca/listinfo.cgi/craic-integralshift.ca</a><br>To Unsubscribe: "<a href="mailto:craic-unsubscribe@integralshift.ca" target="_blank">craic-unsubscribe@integralshift.ca</a>"<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal>_______________________________________________<br>craic mailing list<br>To send message: <a href="mailto:craic@integralshift.ca">craic@integralshift.ca</a><br>To manage Subscription: <a href="http://lists.integralshift.ca/listinfo.cgi/craic-integralshift.ca">http://lists.integralshift.ca/listinfo.cgi/craic-integralshift.ca</a><br>To Unsubscribe: "<a href="mailto:craic-unsubscribe@integralshift.ca">craic-unsubscribe@integralshift.ca</a>"<o:p></o:p></p></div></blockquote></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>