We have decided to go green. No not for the Earth, though that is a good cause too. We are going green to show solidarity with the people of Iran, struggling for their freedom in the face of great and treacherous obstacles.
Going Green for the People of Iran
June 22nd, 2009 .Iranian Protesters Take on Basij and Win
June 22nd, 2009 .This is a great video showing everyday people taking on their oppressors. Now I believe that non-violent protest wins the day, but you can’t help but smile at seeing these peoples bravery and success.
To be clear I have no idea what part of the state apparatus these protesters are taking on in this video, I’m just assuming these are basij because they are seemingly so poorly organized.
Today is World Refugee Day
June 20th, 2009 .Using technological advances and popular Internet tools, the United Nations Refugee Agency is bringing a live video stream of real refugee camps from all over the world to participants of this year’s World Refugee Day.
In hopes of spreading awareness and education, the site hosting the live footage also has a live chat available, as well as social networking tools to share the event and its message. Other pre-recorded videos, some featuring U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie, are also available. Read the rest of this entry »
Shirin Ebadi Calls for Peace in Iran
June 19th, 2009 .Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi isn’t intimidated by police force. When her human rights group’s office was shut down by Iranian police last year, she told them, “You might have closed my apartment, but you can’t shut my mouth.”
Ebadi, 61, has kept her word. In light of the recent controversial Iranian election, she has called for peace, saying that she expects “the international community to prevent the pursuit of violence by the government.” Read the rest of this entry »
UN Seeks to Cut Natural Disaster Death Tolls in Half by 2015
June 18th, 2009 .Following a week-long major disaster risk reduction conference this week, 1,800 people from more than 300 organizations and governments came together to ask world leaders to reduce the number of human deaths by natural disasters by 50%. They are requesting that this goal be met by 2015.
Given that last year alone saw 300 natural disasters taking the lives of 236,000 people, the goal is a vital one to be met. Read the rest of this entry »
Thousands March for Child Abuse Victims
June 13th, 2009 .Six decades of victims of sexual and physical abuse took to the streets this week after the recent Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) report came to light in Ireland. After nine long years of hearings and investigation, an enormous five-volume, 3,000-page account of these sadistic practices in Irish religious schools now bears witness as proof of the horrors thousands of children have undergone at the hands of those they were supposed to be able to trust. Read the rest of this entry »
The World Stands with People of Peru
June 9th, 2009 .Remember the old bumper sticker, “Sure you can trust the government; just ask a whale or an Indian”? As much as we’d like to think that the adage no longer applies, sadly, it still does in many places worldwide–including America.
And the United States doesn’t perpetuate land consumption and culture elimination simply within its own lands; no, it does so around the world as well, through many means. In the case of Peru, it’s through a free trade agreement.
President Obama Calls for Action Against Genocide
June 5th, 2009 .Though following the Holocaust the world proclaimed “Never again,” while heartfelt, the sentiment has been proven to be untrue. Genocide is far from dead in our world. Rwanda, Congo and Sudan are just three modern-day examples of genocide–the latter two of which are still engaged in destruction this very second.
And now, following the declaration of “peace” that was made in May, Sri Lanka has been added to this list.
Peace Corps Applications Up
June 3rd, 2009 .When President Obama asked Americans to start giving back–to their country, to their planet–in order to foster a climate of community service, he mentioned the Peace Corps as a viable and effective vehicle for such efforts. And it seems that his words did not fall on deaf ears.
Peace Corps applications are up 40%, and officials are saying it’s because of the “Obama Effect.” Enrollment itself is up 16% as well–7% of which is coming from people over 50, a demographic that typically accounts for only 4% of volunteers. Read the rest of this entry »
Nationwide Party to End Global Warming
June 1st, 2009 .Normally, house parties bring to mind shattered glass, stained sofas and unidentified stomach contents regurgitated into houseplants. The mess, destruction and waste combine to create the opposite of environmentalism. This isn’t one of those parties.
Today people all across the country will be holding house parties to end global warming. And as President Obama tries to push new global warming legislation forward–while being met with criticism–the time has never been more ripe for action. Read the rest of this entry »