Sign petition to release shoe thrower from prison!

Here is a post that my brilliant friend and coworker, Kate, wrote yesterday about the journalist who threw his shoes at GW. Please read her post which was originally posted on Of Peace and Politics (the FCNL intern blog) and then sign the petition to release Zeidi from jail.

12.16.2008
SIGN PETITION TO RELEASE SHOE THROWER FROM PRISON!

Perhaps the world's most famous shoe-thrower, Muntadhar al-Zeidi is in prison in an "undisclosed location", not authorized to talk to press, and could face seven years in prison for what the White House calls an "audience interruption".

Al Baghdadiya, the TV channel that Zeidi worked for, has reported that an Iraqi parliamentarian has confirmed that Zeidi's hand was broken in jail. (Thanks to Raed Jarrar for the translation. Check back on his blog for more updates.

As to that previous anonymous question asking "what was he trying to accomplish?". The simple answer is in every major paper in the world...when has the U.S. media ever given so much attention to an act of protest by an individual Iraqi?. Iraqis have held countless nonviolent protests, many million person marches, and the vast majority have lived in silent non-violent resistance everyday for almost six years--but of course nothing has ever consumed the headlines like this.

This is the story of an Iraqi journalist reporting from Iraq--one of the few brave souls who would dare to do so in the country where according to Reporters without Borders, more journalists have been killed than other country in the world since WWII.

Zeidi reported from the U.S. onslaught of the air bombing of Sadr City last spring. Sadr City is roughly half the size of Manhattan, or the same size as Southeast DC. Unlike either, this area of Baghdad houses more than 3 million Iraqis. It is one of the most densely populated areas on the planet--denser than Calcutta, Gaza, Rio, or some of the other world's worst slums.

Now imagine you are in such a place and you watch bombs falling from the sky. How do you make sure that no civilians get killed when bombs are dropped on six story buildings with tight alleyways?

You don't.



This two year old boy was killed from an air strike in Sadr City. More than 900 civilians were killed in 6 weeks of clashes between the U.S. backed Iraqi army and the anti-occupation militia of Moqtada al-Sadr's--that's about 150 each week. (Pretty average death toll for the whole of Iraq per week these days.) The official U.S. response to the child's death: “The sole burden of responsibility lies on the shoulders of the militants who care nothing for the Iraqi people."

There is absolutely no way to avoid killing civilians when bombing such a heavily populated area--I don't care how "smart" your bombs are. When Zeidi was reporting from this area of massive civilian casualties, friends of Zeidi said it "emotionally influenced" him. Other experiences that made a lasting impact on his political views included being kidnapped twice--once by a Sunni militant group and then later detained by American soldiers.

"He hates the American physical occupation as much as he hates the Iranian moral occupation," Dhirgham said, alluding to the influence of pro-Iranian Shiite clerics in political and social life. "As for Iran, he considers the regime to be the other side of the American coin."

If you don't think that someone should face potentially seven years in prison for throwing a shoe at Bush, if you believe that there is a good reason why journalism is the only career protected by the U.S. Constitution, if you believe that a journalist's hand--the most important tool of freedom of speech--should not be crushed join Noam Chomsky in signing this petition to the Iraqi embassy to free Zeidi. (No joke--not a forgery).

Raed Jarrar will be hand delivering the petition to the Iraqi embassy, so in the meantime spread the word far and wide to gather more signatures to protect the freedom of speech in Iraq.

Thanksgiving in pictures

Outreach International's video

Outreach International has their new campaign out and it's amazing. Check it out.

Now build a movement

A week has gone by since the election and it seems like everyone is settling in to the idea that we actually have a competent president for the next four years.

As someone who works to get politicians to help and protect the poor and downtrodden, I sincerely hope that the momentum that got Obama elected doesn't slow down. We still have a lot of work to do. And it makes a big difference when society is not indifferent to the many problems we still face in our society. The Friends Committee on National Legislation has their annual meeting this weekend and the front of their program has a big quote from FDR that says "You've elected me. Now build a movement to keep me accountable."

What a remarkable statement. And so true.

It's just an election, what could happen?

ok, i know that i haven't posted in FOREVER. But I cannot go without posting on this historical election. I'm so excited to be in DC with friends who work along side me with our members of Congress. This is one of those days that everyone will remember where they were on this election. Where will you be?

Here's the post I've posted on two other blogs before this one.

Today is a big day. Lines of people are weaving in an out of polling places. "I voted" stickers are the newest fashion accessory of the day. Radio stations, news channels, and blogs are all talking about the election non-stop. Websites like www.fivethirtyeight.com obsessively count and recount the polls and are predicting the winners of the various campaigns throughout the country. This is a pretty big deal (understatement of the year.)

I was watching the Daily Show the other night and Bill Kristol, conservative op-ed writer for the New York Times, muttered (jokingly?) “It’s just an election.” Jon Stewart looked flabbergasted and replied, “Yeah, it’s just an election, what could happen?” Truth is, the person in the White House for the next four years will have a lot of power. And yes Bill Kristol, a lot can happen.

What would I like to see happen, you ask? It would be great if the United States triple its aid to poorer nations and cancel their debts. I'd also hope for a decrease in those little foreign escapades of ours (un-fair trade, war, arms trade, etc) that come with "unintended" effects such as displacement, refugee camps, poverty, disease, civilian deaths, lack of education, lack of water, unfair labor practices, well....the list goes on. Oh, and lets just throw in justice for Native Americans as icing on the cake.

These just happen to be the issues that I live my life for -- and as I stood in line to vote the other day, I touched the name of the person on the computer screen who I thought would be more sympathetic to these issues.

The thing is -- I'm quite the realist and I doubt that whoever the next president will be, he will do enough for the poorest billion people. It would be political suicide for any U.S. politician to give so much time and effort to those who need it most.

That's why it's up to those of us who have no political aspirations to take part in the political process by making our leaders as accountable as possible. If you voted in this election, you took the first big step in the process -- but it's only one step.

Shenandoah Valley

Jeff and I decided to check out the "other" mountain range this past weekend. After three years of hiking in the Rockies we were excited to experience something different but were skeptical of the wow-ness factor we felt these last three years in the west. Nonetheless we were excited to get out in nature. For both of us it is a means of renewal, a time to celebrate the simple things and reevaluate our goals and priorities. (It also makes the futon we're sleeping on this year that much more luxurious.)

After driving about an hour and a half west we reached Shenandoah National Park and began our 12 mile trek. The next several hours Jeff and I talked about our past week and wondered how old these mountains were and how a spider makes that first string of web from one tree trunk to another at least a foot away -- wind? But mostly we walked in silence -- lost in our own thoughts or just zoning, not thinking about anything, just putting one foot in front of another, subconsciously breathing in the fresh air. Each step I took felt like I was walking on something hollow-- the dull and deep sound that comes from stepping on hundreds of years of decomposing leaves and trees and animals. These mountains far exceeded my expectations -- the Rockies felt like a rebellious teenage boy compared to the wise, grandmotherly nature of the Appalachians. The rocks were smooth and rounded and discolored with growing moss. They've witnessed the beavers and deer and the Cherokee. They've witnessed the civil war and the Great Depression. They've witnessed the thousands of people meandering through the trails -- coming from all walks of life -- contemplating their lives -- just the way I was doing. In the Rockies, I felt awed by the expansive views. In the Appalachians, I felt hugged by a wise old woman -- comforted and loved unconditionally.

I was once again reminded how we are all connected. How life can be really simple and complex at the same time. How we live in absolute paradox -- so much so that we can only leave it to mystery. And how I'm fully satisfied with mystery-- one of my gifts....

Then we saw the bear. Actually we heard it first. It took a quick look at us and we took a quick look at it and then it ran away. After a full minute we started walking again clapping our hands, shouting out "hey bear".... just in case he had other family members close by. It was exhilarating.

When we got to the camp site we realized that I forgot to pack our duffle bag full of clothes and our tent poles. (oops) Jeff showed just how amazing of a husband he was by rallying (he was seriously thinking about driving home right then) and ignoring the fact that I forgot some of the most important things we need for a camping trip (it turns out tent poles are critical to tent formation.) After a great supper of grilled salmon and green beans and hot chocolate we played with the fire for an hour or two. (This is when Jeff reverts to his 11 year old boy phase.) Then we ended up sleeping under the stars with only the sleeping bag separating us from our bodies and the dirt, our bodies and the stars.


This was just before we saw the bear about 20 feet to the right of us.


Great view...




I was stupid and thought it would be fine if I hiked 12 miles with just my chacos. I was wrong. You can see my anticipation of pure bliss right before I put my feet in the cool water



We grilled salmon and fresh green beans for dinner. yum.



our camp site



Not only did I forget our duffle bag of our clothes, toothpaste, and extra shoes, but I also forgot our tent poles. Thank goodness it was a beautiful night so we had a great night sleeping under the stars

Thanksgiving at our place!

I know it's a bit early to be thinking of Thanksgiving but my family (Mom, Dad, Andrea, and her boyfriend Rene) just purchased tickets to fly out to our place for the holiday.

And did you see our apartment? Yep -- it's still tiny. And yep -- we still don' t have a table to eat at. And nope -- our stove and fridge and dishwasher are not as big as normal kitchen appliances. But that makes it all the more exciting. It will be romantic and cozy and fun. We'll all sit around our coffee table -- some of us on the floor. But there will be candles and good wine (provided by the parents) and amazing company. At least that's what I imagine....