The Tide Is Turning.....

In honor of all those who remain brave and never give up, such as the groups and individuals mentioned in the following post:

I used to think the world was flat
Rarely threw my hat into the crowd
I felt I had used up my quota of yearning
Used to look in on the children at night
In the glow of their Donald Duck light
And frighten myself with the thought of my little ones burning
But ooh, the tide is turning
The tide is turning

Satellite buzzing through the endless night
Exclusive to moonshots and the world title fights
Jesus Christ imagine what it must be earning
Who is the strongest, who is the best
Who holds the aces, the East, or the West
This is the crap our children are learning
But ooh, the tide is turning
The tide is turning
Ooh, the tide is turning

Now the satellite's confused
'Cos on Saturday night
The airwaves were full of compassion and light
And his silicon heart warmed
To the sight of a billion candles burning
Ooh, the tide is turning
Ooh, the tide is turning
The tide is turning Billy

I'm not saying that the battle is won
But on Saturday night all those kids in the sun
Wrested technology's sword from the hand of the
War Lords
Ooh, the tide is turning
The tide is turning Sylvester

The tide is turning.

International Women's Day In Gaza.....

HOPE
You and I come from different worlds
But living under one big sky
We’re not so different, you and I

Don’t you think it’s quite absurd
That we keep fighting over nothing
Always pushing, always shoving

But you see, together we’ll be
Stronger than you, stronger than me
Cause we’ll always be
The hope we’re losing
The hope we’ll always need
The hope for you and me

And you know, it’s not too late
Life is only what we make it
Sometimes fate can use some help

In Celebration Of International Women's Day.....

March 8
Gaza City

Today we arrived in Gaza. It is very hard to believe and it is very hard to describe how I am feeling. We left Al Arish this morning around 9a.m. and made the 40 minute drive to Rafah. This morning Medea and the group told us that at their meeting last night with the Red Crescent, they received greetings from the wife of President Mubarak and an assurance that we would be getting into Gaza today. This was really hard to imagine since so many have been waiting for days to get in and humanitarian aid is rotting at the border. It is obvious that the Egyptian government does not want the negative attention that would come from not letting our group in. Our group is full of journalists and activists that would be sure to get the message out that a humanitarian mission is being denied entrance into Gaza. It is hard enough to get a sheet of paper into Gaza and we got not only 59 people but a bus as well.

When we arrived at the border, there was a lot of confusion as to what would happen exactly. We were out of the buses waiting when in true CODEPINK fashion we started singing songs of peace. There are a lot of talented people with us and we actually sounded pretty good. We had our large pink banners out. Inside the terminal took a lot of time – passports were taken and counted and stamped- misplaced, found, more confusion……..and finally after many hours we were on the buses and on our way to Gaza City.

Once we cleared the Egyptian side, we were greeted by the mayor of Rafa, journalists and other Palestinians. They told us of how the bombs destroyed their infrastructure and that there is nothing to rebuild with. They told of us how many women and children were killed. They told of the civilian men that were killed. They greeted the Corries warmly and with much enthusiasm. Rachel Corrie is truly a hero in Palestine. We heard actual bombing nearby during this period. The mayor talked about the tunnel s and said that without them, they would have nothing. He said it is so sad that they have had people die in the tunnels but it is the only way that they can survive. He said that no other country has had to live under a siege of this magnitude or for this duration – now it is almost 2 years.

Seeing my first bombed out buildings, flattened homes, destruction…..was shocking and horrifying. Can you picture a building destroyed beside a playground that still stands. Police stations, government buildings, offices, homes…….destroyed. This is only what we saw on our short drive to Gaza City. I cannot even imagine how much more we will see in days ahead. I hope that we have the strength and the wisdom to hear the stories, witness the devastation and be able to bring these stories home with us. The children walk without joy, there is an obvious sadness in their eyes….I could see it on the bus. They didn’t return our waves or our smiles. I am so anxious to meet women and children over the coming days and especially tomorrow on International Women’s Day.

Our UN orientation was quick and simple. The UN representatives have worked hard to arrange our itinerary and our accommodations. We were warned not to walk in the rubble. We were warned about unexploded ordinance – warned about the dangers of white phosphorus that burns to the bone in seconds. The UN employees are in a Level 4 state which means they cannot be out after dark, they have to call before moving locations, they have to travel in armed cars and this is the final level before evacuation. We also had a question and answer period with 2 Palestinian men about the political situation. I am now in the Al Quds hotel in Gaza City and this will be my home for 4 days. I have a wonderful roommate from Tacoma, Washington near Seattle

Source
Congratulations everyone, perseverance and determination pays off, yet again. What an amazing way to celebrate International Women's Day. I'll be wearing my Code Pink ribbon around my neck today at work in celebration and honor of all those amazing women out there who have and will make a difference in this world. Get your boots on girls!

International Women's Day.....

March 8, International Women's Day, is a time when people around the globe focus on the needs and contributions of women. This year, on Sunday, March 8, 2009, women and men worldwide will commemorate the day by highlighting the plight of the women of Gaza and sending an international delegation to Gaza to hand-deliver humanitarian aid. See list below of CODEPINK-supported groups in Gaza.

The women of Gaza are living with grace and resilience under incredibly stressful and dangerous conditions; for $10, you can brighten their day and remind them that the women of the world are with them in solidarity. Your $10 gift basket, designed to be both utilitarian and "pampering", will contain contain vitamins, first-aid materials, and food items, but also sweet-smelling soaps and shampoos, a beautiful pink head scarf, sweets and tea.

In honour of International Women's Day visit my sisters over at Code Pink and Donate to Have Humanitarian Aid Delivered to the Women of Gaza. Please show the women of Gaza that you care.