The flag of Chinese activists supporting the Green Movement
When I joined the ‘Twitter Revolution’ more than six months ago, all I cared about was letting people know just what exactly was happening in Iran. I would not have joined had the mainstream media done their job of reporting the situation accurately and without bias. I really had not much of a stake personally in Iran. I am not Iranian. I have no family in Iran. I had not followed Iranian politics as intensely before. It wasn’t really my job to do anything either.
However, over the course of the past several months, I have met individuals who are in about the same situation as me. They are not Iranian. They don’t have a stake in Iranian politics. They don’t have relatives in Iran. What is astonishing is that many of these have not even been as avid about following news before as they are now. They all participate in the Twitter Revolution as avidly as Iranian.There is little organization. Everyone does what they can on their own time.
However, recently, what started to astonish me more was the organized participation of citizens of other countries that are ruled by dictators.
The usual hashtag for news, events and activities related to Iran is #IranElection. But I started to notice a new hashtag – #CN4Iran along with the usual hashtag on Twitter. I tried ignoring it for a few days, but I just couldn’t stop myself after a while. Soon it became clear to me that hundreds of Chinese dissendents and activists had joined hands with Iranians and non-Iranians to fight for the same goal – human rights for Iranians.
And no sooner had my amazement diminished when I realized that there were dozens of Venezuelans on Twitter doing just the same – spending hours upon hours translating English tweets to Spanish and letting the Spanish-speaking world know of the horrors that have befallen the people of Iran – in an organized effort.
All this is happening while Hugo Chavez of Venezuela is taking smug pictures with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and China’s Hu Jintao is selling equipment to Iran to quell the Green Movement. But while the leaders of these countries are sharing the blame for the spilt blood of Iran’s children, the citizens of the two countries are quietly, but firmly coming out and supporting the same youth.
To see them work for spreading news about Iran and lending support to the Green Movement is not just heartening. It gives us a glimpse of what we as human beings can achieve if we truly felt for each others pain. That quality – humanity – that we ascribe to ourselves on a daily basis without much thought demands us to do the very same thing – care about other humans. Know about what is going on with other members of our species. And finally, to support them when they are need of it.
The effort by the Chinese and Venezuelans supplants efforts by citizens of other countries who have for the past six months spent several hours of their day attempting to get justice for their brothers and sisters in Iran. These efforts truly give meaning to one of the most popular slogans used by the Green Movement in Iran – “Ma Hame Ba Ham Hastim!” (We are all together!).
As a member of the Twitter Revolution and a humble outside supporter of the Green Movement, they have my heartfelt thanks and appreciation for what they are doing and I promise that when the time comes, they can count on my unconditional support.
(Consider this a first installment about this issue. I will write more about this in the coming days.)
You can follow CN4Iran on Twitter under http://twitter.com/cn4iran or visit their website at http://www.cn4iran.org/
我们支持伊朗人民！
绝大多数人不知怎么破网。否则，哼……
And we the Iranian people thank you and all other non-Iranian supporters from the bottom of our hearts. This would not have been possible without the heartfelt support and care the people of the world have shown us. Not only do these efforts give hope and courage to the kids fighting the evil regime on the streets in Iran, it also nullifies the regime’s claims that this movement is anything but a grassroots movement held together by the hearts and minds of humans all over the world.
Nite Owl, thanks a lot for your excellent interpretation of Moussavi’s statement on EA, hugs and kisses for this one
pirouz bashid!
Hi Josh, Nice write up and I too am glad to have the Chinese aboard. Venezuelans have been here since June and Hondurans joined in also, after the June 28 coup in their country. We have Africans, Egyptians, Australians, Koreans, Turks, Kurds, The America’s and even Israelis with us in the fight against the regime. Not since World War II has there been this diverse an assemblage of people against dictators. We won then and we will win now. In Iran, Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Burma, North Korea and even on to China. The world will be free from these wretched and oppressive dictators. Human Rights and Freedoms for all is the call. Azadi!!
dorood Josh. Do you know what’s happened to enduringamerica.com? Doesn’t seem to exist anymore.
it’s back up again
Wow, this is great!
We Iranians would like to thank our Chinese brothers and sisters for this beautiful and noble gesture! Your culture is rich with wise thinkers and noble philosophers, and one day, we hope to share songs of freedom and liberty with you.
We will spread the news to the people in Iran – they will be very happy to see this.
Once again: THANK YOU.
This is great, Iranians, Chinese and Venezuelans need to unite to fight brutal regimes. Iranians are with you!
http://www.petitiononline.com/Iran2500/petition.html
To: The United Nations
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
His Excellency Ban Ki-moon
Secretary-General of United Nations
The United Nations
New York, N.Y 10017
Dear Mr. Secretary-General,
It is our understanding that the role of the United Nations is to “bring peace and prosperity to the people of the world.” The UN, in this age of terror and horrendous human rights violations (i.e. such as Burma, China, Sudan and Iran,) has failed miserably, to meet its obligations and its purpose under your tutelage. Hence, we the undersigned, emphatically request, Mr. Secretary General, that you submit your resignation based on the following points:
• Your loud silence, continuing to ignore the ongoing, blatant and insidious violations of human rights in Iran, is completely inexcusable. Where is the moral voice and authority of the Secretary-General?; missing in “inaction.” During this critical period in history, you continue to exhibit counter-productive and pathetically weak leadership skills. The absence of wise leadership and fortitude during your tenure, allows terrorist groups and treacherous Mullahs to thrive. Your complete incompetence and lack of character, Mr. Secretary General, fuels the flames of terrorism, brutal dictatorships, and acts of genocide. Most importantly, your behavior betrays the Iranian people and places the rest of the world at risk.
• Starting June 12, 2009, Iranians have signed and submitted numerous petitions, to the UN. Each time, our petitions fall on deaf ears. Our pleas need to be heard by a more socially responsible individual, one who speaks up for injustices and honors the code of this influential position.
• Despite the Charter of the United Nations, the UN walks away from the men, women and children being beaten, brutalized, raped, run over and shot throughout Iran. Your “quiet diplomacy” and appeasement, is not working! Amnesty International proclaims that human rights violations in Iran, are as deplorable today, as at any time in the past 20 years
• Discontent with your performance echoes throughout the civilized world. The Economist’s scorecard, rates you an unacceptable, three out of ten, based on your handling of civil wars and “speaking truth to power”. Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, states “The main image people have of him is sitting down with the bad guys and getting nothing.” Norway’s U.N. ambassador, Mona Juul refers to you, in her memo to Norway’s foreign minister, as a “spineless and charmless” leader, who fails to convey the U.N.’s “moral voice and authority.” Your own civil servants and diplomats increasingly portray you as an ineffective administrator, whose reluctance to hold outlaw leaders to account for bad behavior, has undercut the United Nations’ moral authority.
We do not feel you reflect the integrity and vision nor the resilience, requisite for the position of the Chief of the United Nations. On behalf the severely oppressed Iranians and in the best interest of the free world, we ask you to resign.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
That letter was sent by us to the Iranian bloggers. This is the twitter and blog of the Venezuelan Student Movement! Lets hope we can keep in touch!
when can stop this , i agree with you !!
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