Everything's Fine. How are YOU?

Why does this: http://beta.news.yahoo.com/flood-berm-collapses-nebraska-nuclear-plant-174718311.html

Remind me of this:

WikiLeaks
Mirror Sites

Ramadan Mubarak

May this time be filled with blessings and peace.

(photo by P-M Heden)

In Tribute

Today is the sixth anniversary of the bombing of the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad; on that day, 22 people lost their lives, among them Sergio Vieira de Mello of Brazil, Special U.N. envoy to Iraq. Today is also the first ever World Humanitarian Day, a day to honor aid workers. The United Nations notes that 770 aid workers have died since 1997. Others have been kidnapped for ransom or thrown out of their host countries for political reasons. They have been shot at, harassed and threatened. Some of them have traveled thousands of miles to help others; some stay home, or in what is left of home, to give aid. Responding to natural disasters or to the suffering caused by their fellow human beings, these people represent what is best in our species. They are the ones who actually did do as Mahmoud Darwish urged:

And as you think of distant others--think of yourselves and say: I wish I were a candle in the darkness

Today, some of these special people were killed in Baghdad, some of the 100 or more killed, 600 wounded in multiple bombings. The loss of their light makes the world a darker place tonight.

If you are so moved, please light a candle to honor those, living and dead, who have given so much of themselves to help humanity. If you can, please consider a gift in their honor. Here are a few organizations that do much good. If you have others to suggest, please leave links in the comments.

International Federation of Red Cross, Red Crescent Societies
Oxfam International
UNICEF
Doctors Without Borders

Thinking of Others

Truck and car bombs in Mosul and Baghdad killed at least 48 people and injured over 230 in early morning explosions today. Thinking of those who have died, who are suffering and mourning.

August 6

(Photo by NationalGeographic)

Love abides.

It's time, past time, to disarm.

And while we're at it, how about a constructive alternative:



(I'm sorry for the brevity. All the words I know are not enough to encompass the darkness of that day nor that of the days that will follow if we fail to stop following the path of destruction our species walks now.)

Free as the Breeze (for a little while)

They may not have more than a tent over their heads; odds are they're malnourished. But today, thousands of children in Gaza gathered to prove they can still dream big. Their aim: a new world's record in mass kite flying. The UN helped them do it.

Global Day of Action for Iran, San Francisco 7/25/09

People who love freedom stood in front of San Francisco's City Hall today, joining others around the world in solidarity with the people of Iran. Everyone has a story about why they're there: seeing Tibetans and Uighurs here was especially moving to me.

Global Day of Action in Support of Iran, 7/25/09

More info: United4Iran

Can We Face the Truth? If Not, Who Are We?

This is ugly, but hiding or looking away is uglier yet. Physicians for Human Rights makes a strong case that the Bush Administration deliberately thwarted investigations into the massacre of at least 2000 people in Afghanistan in 2001. The Pentagon lied about it; the CIA abetted it; the FBI ordered a Special Agent to shut up about it. At the highest levels of the Bush Administration, officials worked to hide the truth, and, possibly, assisted in the destruction of evidence. When, oh when will enough of us demand an investigation into these acts, these crimes against humanity, these war crimes? And if we don't demand a thorough investigation, who the hell are we as a nation? Please take a look at this very informative video. PHR also made this timeline of events. You can sign the petition to Attorney General Holder here

Persepolis 2.0

If you've seen Persepolis, it's impossible not to recall its scenes, watching events in Iran these days. Now there's this (the illustrations are all from the graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, edited by two Iranians living in Shanghai):

Madadian and Bon Jovi Standing By Iran

"We are one," is their message. And may I boldly add my hope that this same message also reaches the people of Gaza and the OPT, the people of Iraq, of Burma, Tibet, and Darfur? And out and out, to all people, everywhere, who suffer, work and hope for justice and peace.



This link leads you to a free download.

Remember the Displaced on International Refugee Day

(Photo by Ahktar Soomro of Reuters)
Nearly 45 million people across the globe have been displaced from their homes, but, unless they have crossed a border and left their countries, they are not considered refugees, and thus are not entitled to international protection. Their governments, which may or may not be hostile to those displaced, are responsible for protecting and assisting IDPs. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres notes: "it's a very difficult situation in some countries where the government has a very harsh attitude in relation to any attempt ... to deliver protection and assistance to these people." In Sri Lanka, for example, there is growing concern that government camps for IDPs are fast becoming "internment facilities."
A recent survey indicates that there are about 13.6 million refugees in the world--twice that number and more are internally displaced. The same survey finds that Gaza is one of the worst places in the world to be a refugee; Palestinians also comprise the "largest national group that has been displaced for the longest period of time." I hope you've been following Laila El-Haddad's fantastic blog: see her recent photo essay of Palestinian refugees here.

Take AlertNet's Refugee Week Quiz to test your knowledge of refugee issues world-wide. But before you do, go to Gorilla's Guides to learn how to download an album created by 3 Iraqi musicians (and refugees). The proceeds benefit programs serving other refugees in Iraq. You can listen to your new music (as I am, while typing this) and re-experience the interconnectedness of our world.

I Can, You Can; Why Yes, We All Can

million-can-quad
Originally uploaded by Tengrain

The folks at Les Enragés have come up with the great idea of countering the right-wing July 4th Weak-as-a-Tea-Bag demonstrations with a Million Can March, the cans being food cans, donated to your local food bank. Donations to food banks nation-wide are down this year, and demand is way up. Please click on the link for a list of ideas of what to donate and ways of encouraging others to do likewise. I'm in. Will you join too? (Special thanks to Tengrain for the can badge.)

In Memoriam

And so it goes. Someone goes to work or off to the market, maybe remembers to hug a loved one on the way out the door, maybe shares a laugh or mutters a little apology. Maybe a scent lingers in the air, or a list or a jacket is left behind. And then, before you know it, they're gone. The bomb goes off and the children are gone. The killer walks into the museum and the son you bore or the brother you looked up to Just. Isn't. There.

How odd it is, whenever we lose people we love; that awful process of discovering their absence by repeatedly imagining we've found them, just whisking around the corner, or passing in that battered old car they were so proud of. How odd those first few days, when it seems as though, if we try hard enough, we can make time stop; and then, reverse. If we just strain hard enough, we can alter the curve and turn of the world and make everything whole again. If we could just....

Tonight, the family and friends of Stephen Tyrone Johns mourn. And so do families and friends of the men and women and children of the town of Bathaa. And so do others of us in this little village called Earth. The world is too small a place to admit hatred; life is too precious, too fleeting to allow the upper hand to those who wish to divide us by sowing confusion, anger and hatred. They can cause pain; they will not win.

Change is Going to Come

Marriage is a Human Right

I love being married. My better half and I have been together for nearly 27 years and are still going strong. We've bought houses together, reared children together, gone through medical emergencies and financial hardships and--mostly--fun together. His job brings in the health insurance; mine makes the house payment. We're partners. And there is nothing, but nothing about our marriage that would be harmed or threatened if same-sex couples were allowed to marry in our home state of CA. Indeed, a bigger threat to our happiness is the fact that these men and women--our neighbors, colleagues and friends-- are being forbidden the right to enjoy what we've been able to celebrate so freely. During the last election, an infusion of out of state money and right-wing christian churches were able to strike fear in the hearts of a narrow majority. Today, the state Supreme Court upheld the initiative, but has also decided that same-sex marriages performed prior will be honored. Today, too, is the day we start the new fight to ensure that all adults share the right to share their lives and loves in marriage. Here's to marriage equality.



You can go here to sign a petition of support and to donate to fund the fight for marriage equality.

5/28/09: National Day of Resistance to U.S. Torture

Time for our civil society to demand a return to civilized society. You can find information on actions taking place here.

Come Clean for Congo

What do tin, tungsten and tantalum have to do with social justice and violence against women? Take a look and see:

Josefin's Waltz

A bit of beauty from Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas on Sunday night, for no special reason. Only that I was thinking of the miracle of friendships, laid brick by brick, word by word, question by question. Through years, through the ether, through the wonder of the internet, through generations, wonder piled on wonder, no? Here's to you, Tom. To you, Sami, Sahar, Haider, Laith and Mo and Hamed. To you Magda, and you, Hanna. And you, Sri Lanka, whose name I don't know (thanks for stopping by so often. I hope peace flourishes soon in your country).