Posted by Sadie from ? (160.129.27.22) on Monday, September 08, 2003 at 9:05PM :
It's a movie (requires QuickTime). Click the link below to see the movie.
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Dear Friends,
This email is to inform you of a new video clip that is available on our
website. http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw/pages/newPages/movie1.html
This clip will provide images and voices of two of our members currently
in Iraq as they talk about the recent OFAC lawsuit against Voices in
the Wilderness. It also has new footage from Iraq. To view this clip,
you will need Quicktime software which is available for free on the
internet.
Read up-to-date stories from Iraq from our web page. Two stories are
included in this email, right below this text! When you browse through
our website, you can find journal entries from John Farrell, Kathy Kelly,
Ramzi Kysia and others. Bookmark this section as it changes
frequently. http://vitw.vitwmedia.org/weblog/
These stories contain information about ordinary Iraqis living under US
led sanctions, and US occupation. Hear how our team members
respond to and report what they see and hear in Baghdad, Basra, and
other cities in Iraq. Stay informed and read the reflections of our team
members as you get to know more Iraqis and understand their plight.
Voices in the Wilderness has been traveling to Iraq in the effort to
educate US and global citizens about the devastating effects of
economic sanctions since 1996. Now we go to continue the
educational work and to unmask the truths of US led occupation.
We are still collecting funds for medical relief to Iraq. We are also
maintaining a list of names who are signing on to oppose the OFAC
fines. See our appeal for 20,000 Voices. Please sign the petition and
join in our struggle.
http://www.petitiononline.com/usvvitw/petition-sign.html
Sincerely,
Voices in the Wilderness-Chicago
Voices in Iraq
Taxi Cab Diaries
September 07, 2003
Baghdad, Iraq
John Farrell
Voices in The Wilderness
Here in Iraq there is so much to learn that I feel overwhelmed. There are
so many things that I do not understand about this place, which is just
one reminder to me of how much the United States government does
not understand about this place and about ordinary Iraqis. I read that
Donald Rumsfeld was in Iraq today, telling US troops that their work
here, while difficult, is succeeding and will continue to succeed. From
where I sit, looking out at Karrada Dakhil street from this Internet Cafe
in the cool of the evening (that is, when the cool of temperature below
100 degrees)it could very well be the case that everyone is happy and
content here. The Iraqis that I have met are very resilient and are used
to enduring great calamity and hardship, not to mention corrupt
government officials. However, when you talk with people and more
importantly when you listen to people, then you get a different opinion
of what's going on here under US occupation.
So here's my suggestion to Donald Rumsfeld while he is here in Iraq.
Mr. Donald, leave the comfort of the former Republican Palace, where
Iraqis were not allowed to go freely under Saddam and where they still
are not allowed to go freely under the Coalition Provisional Authority
(unless accompanied by a foreigner), and take a ride around Baghdad
in a taxi cab. Hail one of the rickety cabs, the ones painted white and
orange, not the cabs that someone at a hotel would call for you. Take
an interpreter with you, and introduce yourself as someone from the
United States. Don't tell them that you are Donald Rumsfeld. For the
full effect, take a cab during the hottest part of the day, anytime from 10
am to 5 pm, when temperatures inside these tin boxes on wheels can
easily reach a stuffy 130 degrees Fahrenheit. I guarantee you that you
will get a different view of the situation than you are getting from the
safety of your squadron of helicopters, cruising overhead.
Continue reading "Taxi Cab Diaries"
http://www.vitw.us/archives/000015.html#more
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News from Baghdad
September 02, 2003
Baghdad, Iraq
Kathy Kelly
Voices in The Wilderness
Dear Friends,
It's hard to believe that a full week has gone by since our group of four
arrived in Baghdad, raising Voice's numbers in Iraq to eight. As I lie on
the roof (so much cooler than inside) gazing up at the stars or watching
the sun come up over the city, I sometimes wonder if I am dreaming.
Gunshots in the night, however, and the sounds of helicopters overhead
and periodic tanks roaring down the road help to remind me of where I
am. In terms of the many visits with Iraqi friends, conversations and
stories too numerous to relate, events in the house and in the country,
New York city seems like another lifetime.
Tomorrow Ed, Kathy, John and I plan to go south to Basrah for a couple
of days. Here the heat is blessedly dry, but in Basrah we will be hit with
the humidity, something I’d rather not think about. Before we depart, I
am hoping today to get something more off to you all. Caoimhe, Ewa
and Michael will head to Hilla where tomorrow there is to be an official
ceremony to turn over power to the Polish troops there. They represent
the 3rd largest contingent of foreign troops in the land, 2,500, I believe.
Ewa, who is Polish/British herself, is especially knowledgeable about
that country's own history of occupation. It is because of her presence
among us that some are going to Hilla to do some sort of symbolic
action at the ceremony to raise awareness that a formerly occupied
country is now occupying Iraq.
Continue reading "News from Baghdad"
http://www.vitw.us/archives/000011.html#more
-- Sadie
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