121 Contact

Dec 11 2009 The Parents Circle, Palestine, Israel, Iraq and the USA

Remember The Parents Circle?

They are still working hard at reconciliation. Last night I went out in the dropping temperature to see their exhibit, "Cartoons in Conflict" and got to hear Robi Damlen (Israeli) and Marzan Faraj (Palestinian) speak of transforming the pain of losing their loved ones into works for peace. Their new focus on getting into classrooms and reaching out to young Palestinian/Israeli children is obviously dear to my heart.

I heard them speak through their tiredness, coming off a flight from London, I think. The calendars they are selling make excellent holiday gifts and all of the monies collected go to their youth education initiative. At only twenty bucks a pop it's a nice way to send a gift in two directions at once.

How long will it be before reconciliation comes? to Palestine/Israel, to Iraq's population, to the many factions that split our world into fragments of discord? 

The exhibit will run Thursday to Sunday, 12pm – 7pm December 10 through Dec 23, 2009

6 West 26th Street
New York 
NY  

Please support the efforts of The Parents Circle. Visit the exhibit and let them know they are not alone.

In loving kindness,
Bruce and Noor

June 11 2009 Iraq's 5 million orphans: You can help!

5 million orphans, about 15% of the Iraqi population consists of orphans. About 5 million of these children have little or no support other than the kindness of neighborhoods, mosques, and families. There are about 15 government orphanages housing around 500.
[click to enlarge]
The trauma of losing their parents is often compounded by the fact many witnessed their deaths. Six years of carnage have left many of them with serious sleep disorder, PTSD, depression and anxiety disorder, social phobia, and an inability to function successfully.

[See the video from Al Jazeera on URUKNET]
As people return to their homes many children who have occupied them illegally are forced into the streets. Some 5 million are now homeless, making do in night-by-night shelters in abandoned buildings, alleys, and the like. Garbage collection is one of their major occupations. Living day by day they seek sustenance, shelter, and safety.

Decades of problems will follow. Thos social services burden will persist. The current burden is beyond what the government is capable of handling, and don't forget: Al Qaida in Iraq finds these children good recruit candidates since having no family makes them amenable to offers of membership in the larger family of Al Qaida.

                                                        YOU CAN HELP
                                         BY SUPPORTING THESE ORGANIZATIONS

International Rescue Committee has several programs for orphans and students in Iraq.

UNICEF's work in Iraq includes health and nutrition programs for young children and mothers along with water and sanitation, psycho-social care, and early learning. UNICEF supports a program for the reintegration of street children and children deprived of caregivers in Baghdad -0 including orphans and runaways. See complete information about how to contribute to UNICEF's work in Iraq at www.unicefusa.org/iraq.
Or you can call them directly at 1-800-4-UNICEF.
Or write them at:
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
333 E. 38th St., 6th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10016

No More Victims is an independent non-profit organization that works with children in Iraq.

Childhood Care and Sponsorship Organization in Iraq also works with children in Iraq.

USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State and does some work with Iraqi orphans.

May 13 2009 America: why you put islamist iranian occupation in Iraq?

Sometimes I am stunned by the clarity of the words that come out of Iraq. Here is a concise view, held by many Iraqis, that puts the American troop occupation in perspective. It is not the most important factor in this man's life. He is more affected by the rise of Islamists in his previously secular nation.

He knows that the U.S. troops will leave sooner or later. He knows that the imposition of Islamist terror will keep his beloved Iraq from progress. He knows the violence will continue because of the puppet government we installed, and its bent toward violent suppression of dissent.

And yet he is willing to open dialogue between his students and ours. Maybe we haven't driven all the hope out of Baghdad.
b

i saw your blog and i like the idea. I am Iraqi professor, I will give your contact to my students.

i would like to ask americans why they attacked us while iraqi had no role in 11th sept? And the terrorist who blowed themself in innocents in USA and world wide were not Iraqi, most of them were saudi and from egypt and UAE.

why america did not take revenge from saudi and came to take revenge from poor iraqi people?

and they still till now.

another question; after fall of saddam why modern america brought us islamists to govern us and they convert us from modern secular state to islamic stupid state on iranian model. they told us that they will bring us democracy and freedom but they put us in big jail under stupid islamic parties who believe in stupid myths and believe in killing language.

only that is iraq today under 2 occupation one of them is USA military stupid occupation and the other is more dangerous which is islamic iranian occupation.  we may get rid of US army sooner or later but it is very hard to get ride of iranian and islamic parties who threat by killing any one who resist them-because they call him infidel so any one who refuse to cooperate with islamists considered as enemy to god and you know what that is means.

that is the biggest not mentioned problem that america put us in and all americans should know it. we don't need democracy but we need secularism because by secularism most of developed countries get their development.

regards

--
Reported Security incidents, May 12, 2009:

Baghdad:
#1: A mortar round hit the Green Zone at 5 a.m. Monday. No casualties were reported.

Taji:
#1: A roadside bomb targeted the Head of Sahwa in Taji area, northern Baghdad killing him and injuring two civilians who were with him in the car. Some reports said that they were his sons but Iraqi Police did not confirm it.

Diyala Prv:
Khanaqin:
#1: Six Iraqi servicemen on Tuesday were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted their patrol vehicle near Baaquba city, according to a local security source. “Today, an explosive device targeted an Iraqi army infantry patrol in Naft Khana area of Khanaqin district (155 km northeast of Baaquba), wounding six patrolmen,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

A roadside bomb targeted an Iraqi Army foot patrol in the town of Naft Khana 120 km to the northeast of Baquba at 1 p.m. Tuesday injuring six servicemen, three of whom are in a critical condition.

Mandili:
#1: The body of a 13 year old girl who was kidnapped two days ago in the town of Mendili was found by Iraqi Police Tuesday. She had been shot several times. No ransom had been demanded.

Tikrit:
#1: Fires on Tuesday ate U.S. fuel tanker when a roadside bomb targeted a U.S. convoy north of Tikrit city, said a source from Salah al-Din police. “The attack took place on the highway, 5 km north of Tikrit,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “The destiny of the tanker’s driver is unknown,” he said.The U.S. forces have not commented yet on this issue.

Kirkuk:
#1: A suicide bomber aboard a small pick-up truck slammed into an Iraqi police patrol in the tense northern city of Kirkuk on Tuesday, killing six people and injuring 14, police said. The attack in the southern district of the oil rich city killed at least three policemen while three policemen were also among the injured, local police major Salam Zangana said.

#2: A car bomb went off on Monday targeting a police vehicle patrol in southern Kirkuk, killing two civilians and injuring eight, the chief of the Kirkuk police said. “A car crammed with explosives, parked near al-Adl mosque in al-Asra neighborhood in southern Kirkuk, went off, killing two civilians and injuring eight, including three policemen,” General Tourhan Abdulrahman told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

Mosul:
#1: A former army officer was killed on Monday by unknown gunmen in northeastern Mosul, a security source said. “Unknown gunmen killed a candidate of al-Hadbaa list of the recent local elections when they shot him in al-Muthanna neighborhood in northeastern Mosul,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq news agency. “The victim, Rakan Aziz, a former army brigadier, took part in the recent local elections held last January in he province, but did nit succeed,” he added, noting that he was assassinated while he was leaving al-Arqam mosque on Monday afternoon (May 11).

#2: Gunmen killed a policeman in Suq Al-Maash neighborhood in Mosul while he was in his off-duty.

#3: Gunmen on foot opened fire upon the guards of the Governorate building in Ghazi Street, central Mosul Monday morning killing one guard and injuring another while they were on duty.

Mar 13 2009 Let American students know how you feel.

Are you a student in Iraq: Do you know students?

WRITE TO US AND WE WILL READ YOUR WORDS TO AMERICAN STUDENTS In the next 3 weeks we will speak at 3 New York City Colleges about “Reality of Life Under U.S. Occupation.”

Is now better than under Sadaam?

What is your day like?

What are your hopes?

What do you want American students to know about your life?

Let American students know how you feel.

If you are a student in Iraq or you know a student in Iraq:

Send your words now:  mail@121Contact.org and we’ll read them to New York City students, and then let you know what the students thought.

 

Please write soon so we can have time to prepare the presentations.

Shukran gazeelan,

Bruce (NY Peace Worker)  and Noor (Baghdadi School Teacher)

Mar 9 2009 Making music, not war, in Baghdad

[full artcle: From Agence France-Presse]

An Iraqi student practices on an oud, an oriental string instrument similar to the western lute © AFP/File Ali al-Saadi

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The Baghdad Institute of Music once again hums with activity after years of silence enforced by fear. Students hasten along corridors, lute in hand, as others laugh and gossip on a sun-bathed patio.

Hazar Bassem, 20, is wearing a denim skirt and high-heeled court shoes as she practises patiently on the hurdy-gurdy, or wheel fiddle.

During the "events", as many Iraqis call the wave of murderous sectarian slaughter that followed the US-led invasion of 2003, Bassem was one of the few students to keep turning up for classes.

"We made jihad (holy war) with music. This year is the first time the institute has returned to normal," says Bassem who lives on Haifa Street, once the most notorious and deadly thoroughfare in Baghdad.

Feb 4 2009 A Baghdad bath party-a tub of tears

Feb 1, Baghdad phone call:
How happy we were to hear the splashing! The water was on for over 3 hours and Mahmood had called his brother and sisters, "Come. Bring the children. We will give them all a bath."

"I think this is because of the elections," he said, with one hand on the phone and another on the slippery wrist of the youngest squirming little one. "They want to show how they help us. But who cares why."

The little ones went in first, and it was their laughter that provided the background music to our ears as they played in the tub. Pots of hot water came from the stove each 10 minutes, and there was much soaping and scrubbing and laughter, and laughter, and laughter.

Then came a knock on the door. A neighbor of Mahmood's oldest sister came crying. "They have taken Hakeem."

It was a little over one year ago that Hakeem's father was kidnapped from his job as an electrian. No one has heard from him since. No ransom call, no threats, no nothing.

And now this. Hakeem is 15 years old. He was on the way to school with his friends and a car came. Men with guns came out and took him. No one knows anything more.

The bathwater is salty with tears.
b

Jan 31 2009 Baghdad high school: Americans feel happily when they see us killed

I was talking yesterday with Mahmood, a Baghdad high school student. The conversation left me feeling like the path to Iraq/US reconciliation  is going to be long and difficult.

heyn't retrieve chat historym-hey h r u?

b-good, but a little cold.

m-ok then put some cloths on

b-lol. You ready for elections?

m-lol i am under 18

b-You are in high school?

m-thats rit

After a few minutes of this light talk I asked Mahmood if he wanted to join 121Contact…if he wanted me to find an American student to pair with him in email.

m-why i need to these people

b-what do you mean?

m-no thanks. i get enough from the american

b-i think i get it.

m-good. then did u see in the movie how they distroy the beautiful Baghdad. I hope they will live what we live from them & see what we see.

I told him how 121Contact tries to show these things to young Americans so they will know the truth of the occupation. I told him of the work of 121Contact.

m-ok its a important things u do but its not punish who did these things. who distroy a country with out a reason. and wat they will say to their god

b-i think they have no god but money. How else could the not care how many die?

m-i dont think the only reason is the money i think they feel happily when they see us killed. if u and the american people read wat the islam and the perhept mohamed say that will solve alot of wrong ideas. all the islam says about foregivinas and pease with the other religions.

and if u read the history of islam u will see the cristian & jews are living in peace with muslims. we see in the cristian countrey the muslim get hert from the non muslim becouse of the american fredom

b-i hope you do not think all American think like the bushmen.

m-yes i think that. who u think vote for bush to be the presedant? the iraqian people?

At this point the connection was lost and Mahmood’s words were left ringing another sad truth of the results of our occupation; another young Iraqi who believes, in his heart, that Americans want to kill, enjoy killing him and the Iraqi  people.

It will take an enormous effort on the part of caring Americans to heal these wounds. You can help by sending a check made out to Bruce Wallace to:

Bruce and Noor

121Contact

523 72^nd Street

Brooklyn NY 11209

 

We will see that 100% of your donation gets put into the hands of a Baghdad widow and her family. It will help change perceptions and help heal the wounds we have inflicted.

 

 

 

Dec 12 2008 Engineers Without Borders: Iraq without water

After the Iraqi engineering students and I were talking about a non-profit water treatment business in Iraq I remembered Engingeers Without Borders. They might be able to help…

 

So I went to a meeting of EWBNY to find out what they were about. “Sustainable engineering projects”. Coo! These engineers seemed a nice enough bunch of folk. They travel around the world on their vacation time, or when taking a break from looking for a job, doing stuff.

 

Most of what I saw was little stuff: a school in Kenya, a breached levee’s redesign and repair in Cambodia, a medical clinic in Peru, a water distribution pipeline in El Salvador; stuff like that.

 

They help a village here, a neighborhood in some large city…and they do it on their own time.

 

I stuck around to meet people after the meeting. I wasn’t assaulted with extroverted energies, for sure. And even when they were describing their projects they didn’t display that ego-laden ‘I’-driven anecdotal style prominent in so many peace workers. They were a subdued bunch of good cheer. There was little talk of attacks of droves of voracious mosquitoes and more of exotic food, the good times had with the locals, and the great feelings that come up when projects begin to function.

 

It is the locals that bear the brunt of the labor and on-site management and maintenance. EWB volunteers try to work only at high levels of project management. Most of their input is at the analysis/design end of things. They do training and education so that projects are not left to rot when they leave. They have extensive follow-up plans that ensure sustainability.

 

They seem to have their ship in order. They’ve chunked the volunteer work loads so that even the Project Lead needs only about 10 hours a week. There are site trips as time and money permit.

 

They do small things in small places, and each moves the world toward more peaceful tomorrows. Inshallah.

 

b

Nov 7 2008 Iraq views: A'hd of Baghdad says...

Here's a piece of an email, from last Friday, that I'm making part of my presentation at LaGuardia College on Monday, 11/10. I don't know A'hd very well. We've only written back and forth a couple of times. He seems sincere to me...an 18 year-old college student in a city far away...

Yeah. 9/11 was the worst. AlQaida was created by usa by the way, but they don’t say that. So you can thank your government for 9/11; for creating alQaida.

I was up all night. It is 5 AM now. I was too scared to sleep. Not anything happened, just scared of…Yeah, scared every day of a usa raid and of crazy alQaida. I still go to school sometimes. Sometimes is too risky.

  ..have to go..candle time soon..

 usa need to re-build everything they broke soo badly. And they need t oleave saddam palaces. They are swimming in the pool like they are on vacation; not to work.

usa is 100% responsible. They came here to protect us, not kill us. And they are soo rude to us. They are not keeping their word and we are not terrorist cuz we are muslem. We are terrorist to protect our lands from un-wanted people. They are not welcome. Yeah, Inshallah.

Bush=devil     Bush sr.=bigger devil    Reagan even bigger devil    Hah

They are resistance. In Germany WWII, when Germans fight usa they were not terrorists. They were resistance.

The only thing I like from usa is hip hop music. Now usa wants to build a usa base in Iraq. We don’t want them.

Unless they help us, and not bomb, and respect us like people equal to them, then they can stay. They are soo rude and no feeling what so ever.

You can use my words but not my name.

A’hd

Nov 6 2008 Iraq: Sadr City 'school children' without schooling

The Raad brothers, and tens of thousands of children like them in this poor walled-in Shiite Muslim district, have been shaped by war, honed by poverty. They are witnesses to sectarian violence, Shiite militias, angry sermons echoing through mosques, Humvees gurgling through streets and pictures of religious leaders and wanted men hovering on billboards. These children may not know grammar and punctuation, but they know what to do when the bullets come, how to take cover, to hide from the kidnappers, the militants and the soldiers.

Bloodshed and years of unrest are harsh teachers, especially in Sadr City, where 30% of children have quit school, according to a Baghdad human resources office. That estimate is probably low. A United Nations report found that 94% of boys in Iraq attend elementary school, but that drops to 44% by high school. For girls, 81% start elementary school; 31% go on to high school.

By Jeffrey Fleishman and Raheem Salman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers