Today marks the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The whole world was prepared for massive demonstrations by Iran's Green movement. The result of today's protests, however, were underwhelming.
What happened?
Despite what Ahmadinejad or his puppeteer Khamenei might like you to think, today's seemingly lax amount of protests were not at all the result of apathy on the part of the Iranian people. Rather, today's events were the result of the sheer fear Iran's government has of its own people.
A CNN article chronicling the protests showed that, by around noon, reports were already circulating that Mehdi Karroubi, an opposition leader, was attacked while on his way to meet with protestors. Similar attacks occurred around the same time, with many opposition leaders being the victims of tear gas attacks and other violence. A witness in Iran said that he had "never seen so many Basij militia in the area."
My friend Maryam confirmed these reports. Maryam's contact in Iran said that she felt like a prisoner in her own country and stated that "the streets were lined with tanks, Basij, and anti-riot vehicles."
This is just one example of the great lengths Iran's leadership is willing to go to silence Iranian citizens. The CNN report also documents loud speakers being set throughout Tehran to drown out any potential protests and to attempt to indoctrinate the masses of the supposed legitimacy and benevolence of the Government. All this just days after two men were hanged for "waging war against God."
All this overcompensation is a key sign of something huge going on in Iran. It is a sign of the cracks which are slowly breaking down Iran's theocracy. The Green movement is far from dead. Like the Persian phoenix, the protestors will once again rise from the ashes of defeat and prove their indefatigable spirits to the world.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
STAND Spread the Love Sponsorship in Full Swing, We're Talkin' Babe Ruth Status
Alright, so for the first month of STAND meetings we have been preparing things for an event called "STAND's Spread the Love Sponsorship" which is based on an idea I had after talking to Nicholas Kristof. Kristof told me (and described quite well in his book, "Half the Sky") that the best way to get people involved is to get things down to a very, very specific and personal level. So, instead of having an event where we say "this money will go to help Kenyan children" we instead have an event where we say "this money will go to this Kenyan child." This, of course, is a lot more work than saying everything in third person, but Kristof believed quite strongly it would make a difference.
Fortunately, with Cameron and Gina's trip to Kenya this December we were able to have pictures of specific children, complete with a list of facts about them and their dreams. For the event, we have been showing people specific children they could sponsor and have been asking them for 20 dollar donations, which is just about enough money to send a Kenyan child to school for a year.
I am happy to say that Kristof has thus far been very, very right!
We have just finished our first day of the sponsorship and we have already earned 300 dollars! This is enough to send 15 kids to school for a year- which is pretty freakin' glorious for a 3 hour period! Simple math tells me that we made 100 dollars an hour, which is about 93 dollars more an hour than I'll ever get paid.
Jest aside, this has been a very successful day, and I hope the rest of the week yields similar results!
Fortunately, with Cameron and Gina's trip to Kenya this December we were able to have pictures of specific children, complete with a list of facts about them and their dreams. For the event, we have been showing people specific children they could sponsor and have been asking them for 20 dollar donations, which is just about enough money to send a Kenyan child to school for a year.
I am happy to say that Kristof has thus far been very, very right!
We have just finished our first day of the sponsorship and we have already earned 300 dollars! This is enough to send 15 kids to school for a year- which is pretty freakin' glorious for a 3 hour period! Simple math tells me that we made 100 dollars an hour, which is about 93 dollars more an hour than I'll ever get paid.
Jest aside, this has been a very successful day, and I hope the rest of the week yields similar results!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Iranian-Americans to Protest Chinese Influence in Iran
Beginning February 5th, Iranian-Americans from 6 cities will launch a campaign in solidarity with the Democratic protestors in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The protests will be taking place outside the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC as well as the Chinese Consulates to the United States in Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York.
The Iranian-American community has organized these protests due to the increasingly apparent involvement the Chinese have had in Iran’s post-election crisis. The Chinese have recently signed a 25 year contract with Iranian oil companies worth an estimated 100 billion dollars. In exchange for oil, the Chinese have agreed to increase their trade with the Iranian regime. Notably, it has increased its trade in riot-control equipment and crowd control vehicles. The Iranian government uses this trade to fund and equip its Basij militia and to maintain its stranglehold over the peace-seeking protestors in Iran.
The protestors gathering at the Chinese Embassy and Consulates are calling on China to 1) Cease its support for Ahmadinejad, 2) To cease arming and supplying the Basij militia and Revolutionary Guards, and 3) To cease its support for tyranny and terror. In addition, they ask for the Chinese to support the peaceful protestors in Iran in their call for 1) Human rights for all Iranian people, 2) the immediate release of all political prisoners, and 3) Free and fair elections which can be monitored and verified by an independent observer.
The timing of the Iranian-American protests is paramount. February 11th is the anniversary of the Islamic Republic of Iran and many speculate for large-scale protests to be taking place in Iran at that time. As such, Iranian-Americans wish to express their solidarity for the peaceful protestors within Iran while calling for international support for their struggle.
The Iranian-American community has organized these protests due to the increasingly apparent involvement the Chinese have had in Iran’s post-election crisis. The Chinese have recently signed a 25 year contract with Iranian oil companies worth an estimated 100 billion dollars. In exchange for oil, the Chinese have agreed to increase their trade with the Iranian regime. Notably, it has increased its trade in riot-control equipment and crowd control vehicles. The Iranian government uses this trade to fund and equip its Basij militia and to maintain its stranglehold over the peace-seeking protestors in Iran.
The protestors gathering at the Chinese Embassy and Consulates are calling on China to 1) Cease its support for Ahmadinejad, 2) To cease arming and supplying the Basij militia and Revolutionary Guards, and 3) To cease its support for tyranny and terror. In addition, they ask for the Chinese to support the peaceful protestors in Iran in their call for 1) Human rights for all Iranian people, 2) the immediate release of all political prisoners, and 3) Free and fair elections which can be monitored and verified by an independent observer.
The timing of the Iranian-American protests is paramount. February 11th is the anniversary of the Islamic Republic of Iran and many speculate for large-scale protests to be taking place in Iran at that time. As such, Iranian-Americans wish to express their solidarity for the peaceful protestors within Iran while calling for international support for their struggle.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Urgent Iran Action Needed!
Read this link on Dalian Eagle Sky Company's actions in regard to Iran
This report is as of yet unconfirmed in the mainstream media, but the pictures of these anti-riot vehicles and equipment have been circulating from Tehran for a few weeks now. The trucks are equipped with two high-powered water cannons which are controlled from inside the vehicle and are capable of firing teargas and other chemicals great distances. From the reports I've read, Iran has been amassing these trucks and other anti-riot equipment, likely in preparation for February 11th, which is the anniversary of the collapse of the Shah's rule, which was essentially the beginning of Iran's shift to an Islamic Republic. Presumably, the street protests and civil disobedience which began last year on June 12th will continue in full force on this important date.
With the Iranian regime spending so much on these vehicles and equipment (the trucks alone are said to cost $650,000- mainly due from their rush order from China) it is clear that those in power are afraid- afraid of the power of justice, liberty, and freedom which has awakened the Iranian citizens. This in a way is good news, because it shows that Khamenei and his puppets are losing their grip around Iran's throat. However, this is also bad news because Khamenei is no where near prepared to back off without a fight. And if we've learned anything from the brutal crackdowns of the past half a year, any continued protest will likely result in the injury, imprisonment, and death of many Iranian citizens. February 11th may become Iran's version of what June 4th is for the Chinese- this could very well be a Tienanmen square-like disaster.
Though success in Iran will ultimately be won through the Iranian citizens themselves, we should not feel helpless and apathetic everywhere else in the world. We need to let Iran know that the whole world is watching, and that we believe the Iranian people are fighting the good fight for justice and freedom. We must support them through solidarity- through sending our letters and calls and dissent to Iran's current despots, and by sending our love and support and kindness to those in Iran who fight for the truths we hold to be self-evident: that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. The Islamic Republic of Iran has failed to protect the rights of its citizens in any way, shape, or form. It is therefore time for the severance of the bonds between them.
This report is as of yet unconfirmed in the mainstream media, but the pictures of these anti-riot vehicles and equipment have been circulating from Tehran for a few weeks now. The trucks are equipped with two high-powered water cannons which are controlled from inside the vehicle and are capable of firing teargas and other chemicals great distances. From the reports I've read, Iran has been amassing these trucks and other anti-riot equipment, likely in preparation for February 11th, which is the anniversary of the collapse of the Shah's rule, which was essentially the beginning of Iran's shift to an Islamic Republic. Presumably, the street protests and civil disobedience which began last year on June 12th will continue in full force on this important date.
With the Iranian regime spending so much on these vehicles and equipment (the trucks alone are said to cost $650,000- mainly due from their rush order from China) it is clear that those in power are afraid- afraid of the power of justice, liberty, and freedom which has awakened the Iranian citizens. This in a way is good news, because it shows that Khamenei and his puppets are losing their grip around Iran's throat. However, this is also bad news because Khamenei is no where near prepared to back off without a fight. And if we've learned anything from the brutal crackdowns of the past half a year, any continued protest will likely result in the injury, imprisonment, and death of many Iranian citizens. February 11th may become Iran's version of what June 4th is for the Chinese- this could very well be a Tienanmen square-like disaster.
Though success in Iran will ultimately be won through the Iranian citizens themselves, we should not feel helpless and apathetic everywhere else in the world. We need to let Iran know that the whole world is watching, and that we believe the Iranian people are fighting the good fight for justice and freedom. We must support them through solidarity- through sending our letters and calls and dissent to Iran's current despots, and by sending our love and support and kindness to those in Iran who fight for the truths we hold to be self-evident: that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. The Islamic Republic of Iran has failed to protect the rights of its citizens in any way, shape, or form. It is therefore time for the severance of the bonds between them.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Videos From Iran
Here are just a few videos I found while researching Iran at work. These are often sad and distressing, but overall I think they convey a message of hope for the brave citizens of Iran. Watch these videos, think about what you see, and then please act in solidarity for the people of Iran! They deserve no less.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The Women of Kibera
A quality video from Amnesty International about one of the world's largest slums- Kibera, Kenya. For firsthand info, I would recommend reading my friend Cameron's blog: ahimsainutah.blogspot.com
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