Dear All,
While we applaud Human Rights First efforts to "educate the next
administration about the need to put in place a comprehensive plan for
addressing the needs of the many Iraqi men, women and children who have
been displaced from their homes and are at risk of persecution..."
we must remind you that you can actually help these people now!
Send a donation to us and we will see that 100% gets into the hands of
needy families, widows and thier children, in Baghad who have been
displaced from their homes.
Make the check payable to Bruce Wallace and mail it to:
121Contact
523 72nd Street
Brooklyn NY 11209
This donation is not tax-deductable. We are just a small set of people who
have figured out how to give immediate aid to people in dire need.
In loving kindness,
Bruce and Noor
[email protected]
P.S. If you live in NYC we can connect you with Iraqis who recently arrived here and
need your help with language, resumes, jobs, and general assistance in
navigating the complex support systems.
Write us at [email protected] and we'll make the connections.
Here's the Human Righs First mass-mailing that promted our response:
>
>
> Dear Friend,
>
> I am writing to share with you an important development in our effort to
> protect Iraqi refugees.
>
> As the New York Times reported today in a front page article, the U.S.
> embassy in Baghdad has just announced that it is expanding tenfold its
> program for helping Iraqis who are in danger because of their work for
> the United States government. The US will make 5,000 visas available
> each year for these individuals at risk, with additional numbers
> available for their spouses and children.
>
> We have been pressing for this visa program to get off the ground in
> Baghdad since it was established by law in Washington this January thanks
> to the leadership of Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Gordon Smith (R-OR).
> Human Rights First, working with Iraq veterans, Iraqi refugees and a
> bi-partisan coalition of faith-based and refugee advocacy groups, has
> played a leading role in shining a light on the plight of these and other
> at-risk Iraqi refugees and in securing passage of this important
> legislation.
>
> This new development is encouraging and will give hope to many Iraqis
> whose lives are in danger. But, as Human Rights First's Amelia Templeton
> points out in today's New York Times article, we have to keep the
> pressure on. Our Lifeline for Iraqi Refugees team is working to ensure
> that the administration lives up to its promises. And we are preparing
> to educate the next administration about the need to put in place a
> comprehensive plan for addressing the needs of the many Iraqi men, women
> and children who have been displaced from their homes and are at risk of
> persecution.
>
> We look forward to keeping you informed of our progress. Thank you for
> your continued support of this vital work.
>
> Best,
>
> Elisa Massimino
>
> Washington Director
>
> Human Rights First
>
>
>She has based her letter on the NYTimes story:
> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/world/middleeast/25visa.html?_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
>
> July 25, 2008
>
> U.S. Expands Visa Program for Iraqis
>
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