Friday, August 11, 2006

Call for Action

Call for Action
August 7th, 2006
‘Lebanon: An Open Country for Civil Resistance’
Civilian Resistance: Call For Action & Solidarity For Lebanon


Website for more info, official press release, media contacts, and language versions:
http://www.lebanonsolidarity.org/

Endorse this call for nonviolent action!

We, the people of Lebanon, call upon the local and international community to join a campaign of civil resistance to Israel’s war against our country and our people. We declare Lebanon an open country for civil resistance.

In the face of Israel’s systematic killing of our people, the indiscriminate bombing of our towns, the scorching of our villages, and the attempted destruction of our civil infrastructure, we say NO!

In the face of the forced expulsion of a quarter of our population from their homes throughout Lebanon, and the complicity of governments and international bodies, we re-affirm the acts of civil resistance that began from the first day of the Israeli assault, and we stress and add the urgent need TO ACT!

We urge you to join us in defying Israel’s aggression against our country and in defending the rights of the inhabitants throughout Lebanon, and particularly in the South, to live on their land. When the United Nations, created to preserve peace and security in the world, is paralyzed; when governments become complicit in war crimes, then people must show their strength and rise up. When justice and human rights are scorned, those who care must unite in their defense.

Building on our belief in our country, the efforts of the civil resistance, and on the arrival of the internationals coming to Lebanon for solidarity, we declare that Lebanon is an open country for civil resistance, starting from August 12.

On August 12 at 7 am, we will gather in Martyrs’ Square to form a civilian convoy to the south of Lebanon. Hundreds of Lebanese and international civilians will carry relief as an expression of solidarity for the inhabitants of the heavily destroyed south who have been bravely withstanding the assault of the Israeli military.

After August 12th, the campaign will continue with a series of civil actions for which your presence and participation is needed. Working together in solidarity we will overcome the complacency, inaction, and complicity of the international community and we will deny Israel its goal of removing Lebanese from their land and destroying the fabric of our country.

To sign up to join the convoy, send an email to one of the following addresses:

If you are in Lebanon
Email Rania Masri: rania.masri@balamand.edu.lb

If you are an international
Email Adam Shapiro: internationals@lebanonsolidarity.org

If you are Spanish speaking
Email Alberto Arce: nonviolenceproject@gmail.com

If you are outside Lebanon and want to sign up and join the convoy, you should know:

You need to obtain a visa for Lebanon and for Syria if your plan is to enter Lebanon from Syria.
We don’t have the funds to cover for the cost of your travel, however we can help with finding accomodations.
Please check the website of this campaign regularly: www.lebanonsolidarity.org

This campaign is thus far endorsed by more than 200 organizations, including:
The Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND), International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Cultural Center for Southern Lebanon, Norwegian People’s Aid, Lebanese Center for Policy Studies, Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections, Frontiers, Kafa, Nahwa al-Muwatiniya, Spring Hints, Hayya Bina, Lebanese Transparency Association, Amam05, Lebanese Center for Civic Education, Let’s Build Trust, CRTD-A, Solida, National Association for Vocational Training and Social Services, Lebanese Development Pioneers, Nadi Li Koul Alnas, Lecorvaw, Samidoun, and The Cultural Movement-Antelias.

20 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Excellent!

Now we are talking Zena!

with best wishes and hope for better days

3:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I found the following on
http://lebanonheartblogs.blogspot.com/

Peaceful Rallies to Protest Ongoing attacks on LEBANON

"The darkest places in Hell are reserved for those who
maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis."
--Dante
Every Night

Lebanon, Beirut - (8:00pm) Candle-light Sit-in at Martyr's Square
France, Paris - (4 to 8PM) DAILY SIT IN : Place de La Sorbonne until WAR STOPS. The slogan is CEASE FIRE NOW.
France, Paris - (18h à 21h) Place de Trocadéro
Friday August 11, 2006

Canada, Montreal - (12 to 1pm) Vigil at Israeli Consulate - NW corner of Peel and Réné-Lévèsque. Contact: 514 961 3928.
Canada, Toronto - (8:00pm to 10:00pm) Candlelight Vigil - Corner of Dundas Sq. - Dundas & Yonge St.
USA, Cleveland OH - (7:30PM) 11555 Lorain avenue by AACCESS Ohio and National Arab-Amer. Medical Assn
USA, Dallas TX - (1:30 PM) silent vigil infront of the Ferris Plaza in Dowtown Dallas
USA, Philadelphia PA - (4:30 - 6:30 pm) March for a Cease Fire and Israeli Withdrawal from Lebanon & Gaza. Gathering on the west side of City Hall (15th & Market Sts.) at 4:30pm. Start of March at 5:30pm. Ending at the Federal Building btwn 6th & 7th Sts on Market.
Saturday August 12, 2006
International Day of Protest against Israeli Aggression

Lebanon, Beirut - (7 am) Martyrs Square, to form a civilian convoy to the south of Lebanon
Australia, Sydney - (12 noon) Sydney town hall
Canada, Montreal - (7pm) Fundraising concert for Lebanese Red Cross/Red Crescent. 1455 de Maisonneuve W., Concordia H110. Contact: 514 690 7412 or 514 804 3510 or lsa.concordia@gmail.com.
Canada, Ottawa - (11:00am) Parliament Hill
Canada, Toronto - (1:00pm) Rally at Israeli Consulate - 180 Bloor St. West - March to US Consulate
France, Paris - (3:30pm)Place du Chatelet - Manifestation de solidarité pour le Liban contre l'agression d'Israel.
Scotland, Edinburgh - (2:00pm) Foot of Middle Meadow walk on the Meadows and march to City Centre
Switzerland, Geneva - (TBA) Place Neuve
USA, Atlanta - (12:00pm) In front of CNN Headquarters - Marietta Street.
For more info. on the US marches below, check out: A.N.S.W.E.R.
USA, Los Angeles - (1:00pm) Olympic and Broadway - Downtown
USA, San Francisco - (11 AM to 1 PM) Civic Center
USA, Seattle - (12:00pm) Federal Building - 2nd and Marion
USA, Washington DC - (12 noon) NATIONAL EMERGENCY MARCH ON WASHINGTON at the White House

4:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Zena,
Although I can not be present in the physical sense, at your Campaign for Civil Resistance, I will be with your country in spirit. I pray that this will make a difference and that you will all be safe. We, here in America, are so far removed form your suffering but we are learning. We are learning from you, your people and our own desire to have a better understanding of the Middle East.

4:57 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are not alone... You are in my heart.....I wish you better days

"I'm beliving in you
& I'm giving you extra strength
to become stronger"

joltur

5:01 PM  
Blogger Helen E Cosmetics said...

I am so sorry that Lebanon is going through this again,I should be there myself now but obviously we couldn't get there.
Your blog and others like it help me to feel a little closer to Lebanon,thank you.
Caroline x

5:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Linda

please note above the "Peaceful Rallies to Protest Ongoing attacks on LEBANON"

yes YOU can make a difference

5:18 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Zina
What a wonderful idea!!!Bravo!!!
Please let me suggest another cause. Let's rally against Hezbollah army section to urge them to put down their arms and to join the Lebanese people as a political party where they can do more for Lebanon instead of destroying it!!
This goal and the protest against Israel can be the turning point for Lebanon freedom and democracy
Go Zina Go

5:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

LEBANON!

5:34 PM  
Blogger Vance Stevens said...

I am reading your blog from Kyrgyzstan, mid August. It's been some weeks since I've had any real news though all this started before I came here. I just wanted you to know that I am tuning in. You have known my feelings about the Israel USA relationship for some time. I am very sorry for the USA complicity in this situation and you know that it is not the will of the American people, and that the majority surely side with Lebanon and I hope the minority will soon wake up to what is going on there and the grave damage caused by skewed US policy in the region. If any country but Israel were the aggressor, the world has seen how America has helped in many such situations the past. With Israel it's the opposite. We need regime change in several countries asap.

Vance

5:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To Emil, and "Abu Yaha, Merkova,proud jew, etc." who post abusive and preposterous and harassing comments to Zena’s blog.

Please stop your abusing psychological torture.

Your hateful objectionable messages with intent to annoy, verbally abuse, and harass Zena are NOT going to be tolerated any more.

Remember there are internet laws.

5:58 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Larry

this is for you:

What can you do? Take action now!

1. Call for all conscientious objectors to be released
Write to the Israeli authorities calling for the immediate and unconditional release of conscientious objectors.

Imprisoned for refusing to attack, Israeli conscientious objectors include pacifists and those opposed to implementing Israeli policies in the Occupied Territories and now also include those opposed to participating in the conflict with Lebanon.

2. Light a candle in your window until there is an effective ceasefire in place
Following the global Ceasefire vigil on Monday 7th August, activists around the world will be lighting a candle in their window every evening in solidarity with the victims and survivors on both sides of the Israel/Lebanon conflict, until there is an effective ceasefire in place.

We call for a ceasefire;
We demand that all governments stop the supply of arms to the conflict; and
We stand in solidarity with the victims and survivors on both sides of the Israel/Lebanon conflict.
3. Spread the word about this conflict
We will keep posting information and actions on this conflict on amnesty.org so link to our pages!
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/lebanonisrael-index-eng

7:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"ISRAEL IS CALLING FOR A CIVIL WAR IN LEBANON and preparing for it the world public opinion.
The same logic of destruction has been applied and extended to a wider growing circle of Lebanese communities, villages, towns and cities. By bombing various infrastructure, polluting the sea, blockading the country even for medicine, food and fuel, bombing and terrorizing other Sunni Muslim and Christian neighborhoods, Israel wants all Lebanese to know that killing your countryman entails a much lower cost than fighting Israel. Israel wants them to know that it’s not acceptable for them to even live 100 Km away from someone who opposes Israel.

This collective punishment technique is not new, it was practiced all over Palestine before 1948, it is widely used on the 1967 occupied territories (Gaza and the West Bank) and it was already inflicted on Beirut once in 1982! (and on Beirut Airport in 1968)

Despite the regular hypocrisy of covering up its crimes by saying they’re directed at the terrorists and their aids. The arrogance and impunity of the Criminal State is exceeding itslef. Today, and to cover up for their growing failure to win the real war against Hizbullah in the south, and in a flagrant tone, the CRIMINAL STATE rained leaflets declaring war on more neighborhoods of our capital, threatening to kill and dispossess more of our people and destroy more of our city. The Indiscriminate Destruction Forces -simply- declaring that this time, they will target “Everybody”.

This new fornication and screaming arrogance that don’t give a F*** about the International Laws of War or more essentially basic moral values are providing another documented crime against humanity which will unfortunately fall on the deaf eyes of the majority in our world!

We’re talking the same world that comfortably transitioned in one week from watching the world cup to watching the finals declared on our country and our people.


And we’re not talking here about a calamity caused by an act of God! But by a calamity caused by a handful of criminal minds and that could be stopped by making certain presidents and prime ministers of this world step on other prime ministers heads!

Israel is making a joke of your opinion and indignation, SHY PEACE RALLIES DON’T WORK!"

from
lebanonheartblogs.blogspot.com/

7:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Zena, I am following your posts and admire your tenacity, your continuing belief in the good of people, despite most difficult and disheartening circumstances. I applaude your commitment to the dispossessed and suffering people in Beirut and elsewhere in Lebanon and to the protection of the beautiful environment.
But help us understand what the call for "resistance" is about.
I just heard in the news that the Israeli and the Lebanese governments agreed to the UN ceasefire plan, I understand that the Israeli army will evacuate the South as the legitimate Lebanese army will move in with the support of UN troups. I hope sincerely for the true souvereignity of the State of Lebanon and the end of the threads of rockets and bombs on both sides of the Southern border.
I dream of neighbourly relations between the Lebanese and Israeli people, of traveling along the coast north from Haifa and visiting Beirut, seeing Baalbek and crossing to Metulla.
Are we in need of more resistance ? Yes - but, against intolerance, generation-long hatred and brain washing, against false mythos and ideologies, against the call for fighting and the adolation of "martyrdom".
The Middle East is desperate for people who reach out, after so much suffering, who can build trust, practice tolerance, who encourage openness and creativity. Even after last month's horrors.
Salaam, Shalom, Peace, Paix.

6:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Zena

I want to send your blog to our politicians (in Australia) so they can personalise you instead of you being another number. I want them to feel the agony, pain and misery and i want to scream in their faces your silence. You being your people, the lebanese people, and my people the Palestinian people. I pray this will end soon. Keep your spirits up.

With Love
Sally

4:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is to Merkova

I have an idea for you, read history, and then tell me who is to blame, and before shooting your mouth off, learn a little respect for humanity. I would like to see you survive what Israel has done in the middle east. And if you dont want to respect the dead, at least respct this person's blog. She is the one who is experiencing this, and not you.

4:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To so called "Merkova" (and all other alias you hide your ugly face).
Whose passport have you stolen this time. You did not serve enough for your crimes.

You will get no converts here.

חברה תיסתלקו
----------------

5:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

to merkova, could be lack of reading, little knowledge, racist and prejudice.

5:34 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Zena,

My thoughts and prayers are with you today and in the coming weeks. I hope and will pray the transition to a cease-fire is a peaceful as possible.

6:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

My American Jewish friend says that in actuality, the Nazis actually killed the real Jews and destroyed the true Jewish culture. And left in their place, a mirror-image of itself -- namely, Israel.

9:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The people of the Republic of Somalia are with you and your country of Lebanon. No airplanes,No tanks and No ships can wipe out the spirit of the people of Lebanon. I ask allmighty Allaah to keep you safe and for those who were viciously massacre I prey to Allaah that they will end up in Janna. Insha-allaah.

Keep up the good spirit Zena, better days will come to your way Insha-Allaah.

May Allaah keep the people of Lebanon safe and guide them to a better times. Aamiin.

Abdalla
from Somalia now living in Canada.

4:42 AM  

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