Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Yet another day without Hope
Who can believe
There’s still no reprieve
Lives on hold
Stories untold
Of futures erased
And dignity debased
No glimmer of hope
No ways left to cope
The bombings continue
All at the same venue
For Gazans young and old
There is no pot of gold
Yet another day without
A seemingly endless drought
Things we take for granted
Are so dearly precious and wanted
Water, electricity and gas
A basic need for all enmasse
Liberty, dignity and freedom
Lost to this forsaken Kingdom
A child’s right to dream
Crushed in a violent stream
Shattered illusions everywhere
When will the world wake up and care?
(c) Rula Zein-Iddin
~ Dedicated to the Children of Gaza
#Gaza #gazaunderattack #gazablackout #children #warfare #war #illegal #humanrights #humanrightsabuses #humanity #human #occupation
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Enough is enough
There is no place like home & for those who have never known a home or felt they belonged anywhere then yes, this is our hour and we have paid dearly for it. Enough already. We have *all* had enough.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVwPW9zCUYo&feature=colike
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Arab Emancipation
Gleaming pride
No fear to hide
Heads held high
Reaching the sky
Hear them roar
From shore to shore
The Egyptians have spoken
All chains forever broken
Who could have thought
Such an end to the drought
Freedom & Liberation
The birth of a Nation
A role model for all
That dictators must fall
The true emancipation
Of a proud Arab Nation
No fear to hide
Heads held high
Reaching the sky
Hear them roar
From shore to shore
The Egyptians have spoken
All chains forever broken
Who could have thought
Such an end to the drought
Freedom & Liberation
The birth of a Nation
A role model for all
That dictators must fall
The true emancipation
Of a proud Arab Nation
The Re-Birth of Arab Pride
Sheer elation. Indescribable admiration. A sense of pride. But most of all, awe.
They pulled it off. And how!
If you ever doubt that you can make a difference, take a leaf out of Egypt's latest papyrus. They have irrevocably changed the course of history in the Middle East!
For the past 18 days we watched, cheered & cried in desperation & frustration as the fortitude & resilience of the protesters was challenged time & time again.
The culmination of their sheer determination & national pride was inspirational.
That people of all walks of life could be so united & connected helped renew our faith not only in humanity but in our very ethnicity.
Long reputed to be Om il-Donya (Mother of the World), Egypt delivered. They have reunited Arabs with their essence and more importantly reminded us that human dignity & freedom are basic rights that we are all entitled to.
People power in the age of social media is no longer a myth. We can make a difference. Small ripples lead to huge changes.
"Yes we can" has been usurped by "Yes we did!" . Egyptian's have walked the talk and set a role model not just for Arabs but for people everywhere.
Clearly the road to Egypt's liberation from 30 years of regime abuse & corruption will take time but when 80 million people share the same vision & aspirations, they can move pyramids, literally.
They pulled it off. And how!
If you ever doubt that you can make a difference, take a leaf out of Egypt's latest papyrus. They have irrevocably changed the course of history in the Middle East!
For the past 18 days we watched, cheered & cried in desperation & frustration as the fortitude & resilience of the protesters was challenged time & time again.
The culmination of their sheer determination & national pride was inspirational.
That people of all walks of life could be so united & connected helped renew our faith not only in humanity but in our very ethnicity.
Long reputed to be Om il-Donya (Mother of the World), Egypt delivered. They have reunited Arabs with their essence and more importantly reminded us that human dignity & freedom are basic rights that we are all entitled to.
People power in the age of social media is no longer a myth. We can make a difference. Small ripples lead to huge changes.
"Yes we can" has been usurped by "Yes we did!" . Egyptian's have walked the talk and set a role model not just for Arabs but for people everywhere.
Clearly the road to Egypt's liberation from 30 years of regime abuse & corruption will take time but when 80 million people share the same vision & aspirations, they can move pyramids, literally.
Freedom Calls!
Sout Al Horeya صوت الحريه
Amir Eid - Hany Adel - Hawary On Guitar & Sherif On Keyboard
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Israeli soldiers fire on Al Jazeera Correspondent
sraeli soldiers have fired tear gas on Palestinians protesting against the Israeli separation barrier which cuts through their West Bank village.
The soldiers also fired tear gas at Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's correspondent who was covering the event live from near the village of Bilin.
The soldiers also fired tear gas at Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's correspondent who was covering the event live from near the village of Bilin.
Justice for Palestine
An idea whose time has come....in fact...which is very much overdue. Palestine. It is time.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Gaza children shatter world record
It was an unlikely place to shatter a world record, but the beaches of the Gaza Strip were the venue for thousands of Palestinian children who flew the largest number of kites simultaneously from the same place.
The record that once stood at 713 has been broken, thanks to the efforts of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and about 6,000 kite-flying children.
The event is part of the Summer Games programme run by UNRWA - an activities and curricular programme set up for students during their break from the academic school year.
More than half of Gaza's 1.5 million people are under the age of 18 - so there is no shortage of potential record-breakers.
Popular programme
Although only 200,000 are actually enrolled in UN-operated schools, there are nearly 240,000 children who participate in the Summer Games, proving that the UNRWA programme has been a popular activity during the summer break.
Thousands of teachers give up their summer holidays to partake in the programme each year that is aimed at fostering a positive summer experience for Gaza's children.
But unlike elsewhere in the world, the children and the people of Gaza are now entering their third year under an Israeli-imposed siege and blockade, and are still reeling from the devastating war just seven months ago.
While the summer programme helps students who have fallen behind during the school year to catch up academically, the kite-flying event was a genuine world record attempt.
Clear guidelines
The Guinness Book of World Records was invited to verify the attempt, but due to a security advisory by the UK government warning against any travel to the Gaza Strip, they instead sent event organisers very clear guidelines in order for the record to be considered.
More than 119 schools were allotted open areas along the beach for their students.
Independent observers organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross supervised each school’s area. Every child’s name was registered.
The kites had to remain in the air for 30 seconds all simultaneously - and when it came time for the record - the media, fans, and above all the children were not disappointed.
UNRWA officials say they are confident the record has been broken with some estimates putting the number of kites flown to around 4,000.
Message to the world
International media, including Al Jazeera English, witnessed the record-breaking event.
The world record event, however, was not just about records, say organisers.
Gaza's children have been suffering from three years of Israeli siege
They say it sends an important message to the world.
"There is a glorious symbolism about thousands of children in the world's most locked down community heading to the beach with beautiful kites they have created themselves and showing the world that they are able to have fun like kids anywhere and indeed, be number one in the world," Chris Gunness, the UNRWA spokesperson, said.
"Thousands of kites, soaring skyward with kids gazing upward allowing their thoughts to rise up from the grind they confront on the ground: it is a symbol of the quest for happiness, freedom and human fulfilment," he added.
The event's organisers say they have succeeded in inspiring the children of Gaza to gaze into the skies above, whether the Guinness record is shattered or not.
So as Gaza’s blue skies turned into an array of coloured paper kites, the sounds of children laughing and paper flapping served as reminder to the youth of Gaza that they, too, can be among the world's best despite the odds.
The record that once stood at 713 has been broken, thanks to the efforts of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and about 6,000 kite-flying children.
The event is part of the Summer Games programme run by UNRWA - an activities and curricular programme set up for students during their break from the academic school year.
More than half of Gaza's 1.5 million people are under the age of 18 - so there is no shortage of potential record-breakers.
Popular programme
Although only 200,000 are actually enrolled in UN-operated schools, there are nearly 240,000 children who participate in the Summer Games, proving that the UNRWA programme has been a popular activity during the summer break.
Thousands of teachers give up their summer holidays to partake in the programme each year that is aimed at fostering a positive summer experience for Gaza's children.
But unlike elsewhere in the world, the children and the people of Gaza are now entering their third year under an Israeli-imposed siege and blockade, and are still reeling from the devastating war just seven months ago.
While the summer programme helps students who have fallen behind during the school year to catch up academically, the kite-flying event was a genuine world record attempt.
Clear guidelines
The Guinness Book of World Records was invited to verify the attempt, but due to a security advisory by the UK government warning against any travel to the Gaza Strip, they instead sent event organisers very clear guidelines in order for the record to be considered.
More than 119 schools were allotted open areas along the beach for their students.
Independent observers organised by the International Committee of the Red Cross supervised each school’s area. Every child’s name was registered.
The kites had to remain in the air for 30 seconds all simultaneously - and when it came time for the record - the media, fans, and above all the children were not disappointed.
UNRWA officials say they are confident the record has been broken with some estimates putting the number of kites flown to around 4,000.
Message to the world
International media, including Al Jazeera English, witnessed the record-breaking event.
The world record event, however, was not just about records, say organisers.
Gaza's children have been suffering from three years of Israeli siege
They say it sends an important message to the world.
"There is a glorious symbolism about thousands of children in the world's most locked down community heading to the beach with beautiful kites they have created themselves and showing the world that they are able to have fun like kids anywhere and indeed, be number one in the world," Chris Gunness, the UNRWA spokesperson, said.
"Thousands of kites, soaring skyward with kids gazing upward allowing their thoughts to rise up from the grind they confront on the ground: it is a symbol of the quest for happiness, freedom and human fulfilment," he added.
The event's organisers say they have succeeded in inspiring the children of Gaza to gaze into the skies above, whether the Guinness record is shattered or not.
So as Gaza’s blue skies turned into an array of coloured paper kites, the sounds of children laughing and paper flapping served as reminder to the youth of Gaza that they, too, can be among the world's best despite the odds.
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