WAWA/WeAreWideAwake is my Public Service to America as a muckracker who has journeyed seven times to Israel Palestine since June 2005.
WAWA is dedicated to confronting media and governments that shield the whole
truth.
We who Are Wide
Awake are compelled by the "fierce urgency of Now" [Rev MLK, Jr.] to raise
awareness and promote the human dialogue about many of the crucial issues of our
day: the state of our Union and in protection of democracy, what life is like
under military occupation in Palestine, the Christian EXODUS from the Holy Land,
and spirituality-from a Theologically Liberated Christian Anarchist
POV.
"Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all...and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave...a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils." George Washington's Farewell Address - 1796
"My aim is to agitate & disturb people. I'm not selling bread, I'm selling yeast." Unamuno
"Imagine All the People Sharing All the World." John Lennon
"If enough Christians followed the gospel, they could bring any state to its knees." Father Philip Francis Berrigan
"You can stand me up at the gates of hell, but I won't back down." Tom Petty
"If I can't dance, it's not my revolution." Emma Goldman
"We have yet to begin to IMAGINE the power and potential of the Internet." Charlie Rose, 2005
Only in Solidarity do "We have it in our power to begin the world again" Tom Paine
"Never doubt that a few, thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead
"You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
DO SOMETHING!
Photo of George shown here and in web site banner courtesy of Debbie Hill, 2000.
We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights; that, among these, are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; that, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; and, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it. -July 4, 1776. The Declaration of Independence
WAWA Blog January 14, 2008:When
Leaders Fail; People Will Lead:
On
January 26, 2008, nonviolent, justice and
peace activists distressed over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza will not offer them cake;
but clean water...updated with PRESS RELEASE 9PM EST Jan. 13, 2008
UPDATED 9 PM EST Jan 13th:
PRESS RELEASE
GAZA: LIFT THE BLOCKADE!! A protest convoy to Erez checkpoint
Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 13:00
Parallel Palestinian demonstration expected on the other side
Saturday,
January 26th, relief convoys will depart from Haifa, Tel Aviv,
Jerusalem and Beer Sheva, bearing signs “GAZA: LIFT THE BLOCKADE!”
Converging at Yad Mordechai at 12 noon, the rally will be at Erez
Checkpoint at 13.00. On the other side will be hundreds of Gazans,
organised by The Palestinian International Campaign to End the Siege on
Gaza (www.end-gaza-siege.ps), including psychiatrist and human rights
activist, Dr. Eyad Sarraj.
The
convoy will carry vital supplies, with an especial focus on water
filters, since the water of Gaza is an undrinkable cocktail of brine,
sewage, pesticides and oil, with levels of nitrates ten times higher
than those set by the WHO, and coliform eight times higher: denial of
filters to Gazans is an unacceptable violation of basic humanitarian
standards. We will insist that the military authorities allow the
goods entry into Gaza, are prepared for prolonged stay near Erez, and a
public/judicial campaign.
January
26, 2008 is an International Day of Action, when worldwide peace groups
will hold protest actions against the danger of war in the Middle East.
For further details please contact the Coalition’s media team: ADAM KELLER, Gush Shalom:
- 0506-709603 ADI DAGAN, Coalition of Women for Peace:
- 0508-575730 ANGELA GODFREY-GOLDSTEIN, ICAHD:
- 0547-366393 DR. EYAD SARRAJ:
- 0599-408438 MARWAN A. DIAB:
- 0599-462037.
Participating:
Gush Shalom, Coalition of Women for Peace, New Profile, Combatants for
Peace, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, Physicians for
Human Rights (Israel), Hadash, Balad, Adalah, Tarabut-Hithabrut, Bat
Shalom, Bat Tzafon, Anarchists Against the Wall, Follow-up Committee of
the Arab Population in Israel, Alternative Information Center,
Psychoactive, ActiveStills and Student Coalition – Tel Aviv Univ.
Background:
Despite unilateral evacuation of 7,000 settlers, the Gaza Strip remains
Occupied Territory. Israel continues to control its airspace,
territorial waters, population registry, tax system, supply of goods,
freedom of movement and access to healthcare. Last week, Israel
strongly reprimanded Egypt for having dared to let a single group of
Palestinians go in and out of the Strip without subjection to Israeli
security checks. Moreover, recently Israel has re-established military
control over more than a quarter of the Strip’s total territory as
“border security zones”. Israelis are led to believe “We gave back
Gaza” – but this is simply not true.
We
sympathize with Sderot’s residents, exposed to traumatising years-long
Qassam rockets, but siege and collective punishment are no answer:
although 1.5 million men, women and children are denied basic
necessities, driven to the edge of starvation, the Qassam attacks
continue. Nor has the constant military offensive (1,000 Palestinians
were killed in 2007, including many civilians), stopped the rockets.
Whilst Sderot suffers, few ask why several Palestinian ceasefire offers
have been rejected out of hand by the Israeli government. We’ll go to
the Gaza border, in co-operation with Palestinian partners inside Gaza,
to show there’s a peaceful alternative to siege and rocketfire.
On January 12, 2008 I received an email alert from The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs:Gush Shalom Seeks Funds for Water Filters for Gazans
People concerned about the deteriorating conditions in Gaza can help Gush Shalom buy water filters. The lack of fuel has severely damaged the provision of drinking water, and Gazans have to make do with extremely bad quality water. Therefore there is an enormous need for water filters, but there aren't any more available, they are blacklisted as part of the collective punishment by the Israeli government.
By Saturday Jan. 26, a truckload of filters and a lot of Israeli citizens and (hopefully) a lot of media will join Gush Shalom as they pass the filters through the checkpoint to Palestinians on the other side. Gush Shalom thinks they can make it extremely inconvenient for the authorities to refuse them permission to pass the filters to Gazans. If they can't get through, they plan to campaign, and hopefully all the international donors will then protest by phone and fax and snail mail and through the embassies worldwide until the convoy is let through. It looks as if with such a basic necessity Gush Shalom would also stand a good chance with the Supreme Court on this matter.
One reason why Gush Shalom decided to buy water filters is they won't deteriorate if their struggle to get them into Gaza takes some time. The water filters will ultimately get to Gaza, however hard Gush Shalom may have to struggle. As a result of it all, they hope also to have raised the awareness about the Gaza plight.
The Gaza Relief Convoy campaign is gaining momentum. It's not yet too late to make a donation earmarked for "Gaza Convoy Jan. 2008" Gush Shalom PO Box. 3322 Tel Aviv 61033 Israel.
In the U.S. and Canada tax-exempted donations can be made for the Gaza Relief Convoy through the charities listed below, which will pass it on to Gush Shalom.
Write to
for details on tax-deductible charities in U.K., Holland and Germany. Please, advise Gush Shalom by e-mail that you sent any of these charities a check for the Jan 2008 Gaza convoy including the sum, so that they can include it even when it arrives later.
U.S. Donors
In the U.S. tax-deductible donations for Gush Shalom (checks) are to be written to: Eschaton/Gush Shalom
Eschaton Foundation 515 Broadway Santa Cruz, CA 95060
In Canada tax-deductible donations earmarked for Gush Shalom can be made out and mailed to:
La Galerie Fokus Specify: Gush Shalom-Food & Medicines Fund 68, av. Duluth East Montreal, QC H2W 1G8 Canada
The list of Israeli sponsors so far:
* Gush Shalom * Coalition of Women for Peace * Combatants for Peace * Committee Against House Demolitions * New Profile * Hadash * Balad * Adalah * Tarabut /Hitahbrut * Alternative Information Center * Bat Shalom * Anarchists Against the Wall * Physicians for Human Rights-Israel * Follow-Up Committee of the Arab Population in Israel * Psychoactive
Gazan partner:
* End the Siege Campaign
For more information about what happens to your donation see: www.gush-shalom.org
Although we assume you know about the situation of the one and half millions inhabitants of Gaza, we added a link to a Dec 19, 2007 Sky news video, which gives some sharp insight in daily life under siege:
A little background from: November 2006, while in Beit Jala/West Bethlehem I met the Mayor and he said:
“Between
2000 and 2004 Israel built 15,000 units and 28 settlements in the West
Bank. In 2005 Israel evacuated 2,000 from Gaza but added 6,000 new
units in the West Bank. Currently there is no Israeli military presence
in Gaza but they still control the air and sea borders. So Gaza is not
occupied but it is controlled. Gaza is the largest prison on earth. Our
children suffer a sense of alienation. 93% of the children of Palestine
have fears of the future. 54% have witnessed trauma or have themselves
been victims.
Also in November 2006 I attended Sabeel's 6th International Conference in Jerusalem.
Sabeel's Founder and a 21st century prophet, Rev. Naim Ateek spoke to over 900 ecumenical justice and peace seeking Christians:
"Israel
will not survive unless it does JUSTICE! The situation is deteriorating
and we must frustrate Israel's plans and action because they are not
built on JUSTICE! All we are asking for is honoring International Law!
Israel is afraid of International Law and this proves something is very
wrong with Israel. We want Israel to live in peace and with security.
The only way is honoring International Law. This is the bottom line.
This is what we work and pray for."
International
Law states that occupation is to be temporary and maintain the status
quo. Forty years of occupation and the building of the illegal wall
which does not follow the Green Line, but divides Palestinians from
their families and steals their land and water is apartheid.
During that conference a Power Point presentation was shown and one of the photographs was of eight smiling children in Gaza.
Three
flashed an upright Peace sign, but the fourth's 'V' had been turned on
it's side. It reminded me of the image of the Caterpillar bulldozer
that was painted on the BEIT ARABIYA home/ Peace Center that I visited
on Nov. 1, 2006. Upon the wall of the home is a mural donated by the
North American Workers Against the USA occupation of Iraq and the
Israeli occupation of Palestine. The mural depicts Rachel Corrie, the
American who was run over and killed by a Caterpillar bulldozer in Gaza
when she stood up to defend the home of a pharmacist and where five
children had lived. A pregnant Palestinian woman of ten who was also
killed in Gaza is depicted too and the angelic images of the two women
float above the painting of a USA made Caterpillar bulldozer tipped to
one side and flanked by tanks and weapons of destruction. On both sides
of the weapons of destruction are many people. A railroad track reminds
the viewer that prior to 1948, Jews and Palestinians once worked
together in peaceful solidarity to build a railroad.
In November 2006, I read an article written by Father Manuel, the parish priest at the Latin Church and school in Gaza who wrote:
"Gaza
cannot sleep! The people are suffering unbelievably. They are hungry,
thirsty, have no electricity or clean water. They are suffering
constant bombardments and sonic booms from low flying aircraft. They
need food: bread and water. Children and babies are hungry...people
have no money to buy food. The price of food has doubled and tripled
due to the situation. We cannot drink water from the ground here as it
is salty and not hygienic. People must buy water to drink. They have no
income, no opportunities to get food and water from outside and no
opportunities to secure money inside of Gaza. They have no
hope...Without electricity children are afraid. No light at night. No
oil or candles...Thirsty children are crying, afraid and
desparate...Many children have been violently thrown from their beds at
night from the sonic booms. Many arms and legs have been broken. These
planes fly low over Gaza and then reach the speed of sound. This shakes
the ground and creates shock waves like an earthquake that causes
people to be thrown from their bed. I, myself weigh 120 kilos and was
almost thrown from my bed due to the shock wave produced by a low
flying jet that made a sonic boom...Gaza cannot sleep...the cries of
hungry children, the sullen faces of broken men and women who are just
sitting in their hungry emptiness with no light, no hope, no love.
These actions are War Crimes!"
By the sixth century before Christ, the conflicts in the land were already old news, and Jeremiah warned the people that all God could see was violence and destruction. Sickness and wounds were all around...For every misunderstanding, every condemning thought, every negative vibration, every tear torn from a heart, every time one grabbed and wouldn't let go, and they only did it because they did not know. The Divine is within all creation and within all women and men.
And every tiny kindness you have ever done, every gentle word spoken, every time you held your tongue, every positive thought, every smile freely given, every helping hand that opens, helps bring in the kingdom. And the kingdom comes from above and the kingdom comes from within.
IMAGINE a kingdom of sisterhood of all creatures and all men.
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"HOPE has two children.The first is ANGER at the way things are. The second is COURAGE to DO SOMETHING about it."-St. Augustine
"He who is not angry when there is just cause for anger is immoral. Why? Because anger looks to the good of justice. And if you can live amid injustice without anger, you are immoral as well as unjust." - Aquinas
Everyone has the right to freedom of
opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions
without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and
ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
" In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway."-Mother Teresa
“You cannot talk like sane men around a peace table while the atomic bomb itself is ticking beneath it. Do not treat the atomic bomb as a weapon of offense; do not treat it as an instrument of the police. Treat the bomb for what it is: the visible insanity of a civilization that has ceased...to obey the laws of life.”- Lewis Mumford, 1946
The age of warrior kings and of warrior presidents has passed. The nuclear age calls for a different kind of leadership....a leadership of intellect, judgment, tolerance and rationality, a leadership committed to human values, to world peace, and to the improvement of the human condition. The attributes upon which we must draw are the human attributes of compassion and common sense, of intellect and creative imagination, and of empathy and understanding between cultures." - William Fulbright
“Any nation that year after year continues to raise the Defense budget while cutting social programs to the neediest is a nation approaching spiritual death.” - Rev. MLK
Establishment of Israel
"On the day of the termination of the British mandate and on the strength of the United Nations General Assembly declare The State of Israel will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel: it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion it will guarantee freedom of religion [and] conscience and will be faithful to the Charter of the United Nations." - May 14, 1948. The Declaration of the Establishment of Israel
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