November 11, 2001

Norm and I release these words to the world. Thanks! Sarah.

WTC 3: OUR world, not Bush's

Look. I'm a nobody. A twenty-something-year-old. Canadian, Iranian, Chinese, a citizen of the earth. A sister, a daughter and future (I hope) mother and grandmother. A simple little person among six billion.

But I believe.

I was in Pakistan and Afghanistan this summer, living with Afghans. I laughed and ate and slept with them and held their warm hands before leaving. I guess I fell in love with them - their spirit and struggle. I delighted in their life and beauty.

But now we're bombing/starving/disvaluing that beauty into nothingness. I am amazed at how easily and quickly we're doing that.

I visited a rural village in Spain about a month ago. I was privileged to witness a community celebration of traditional music - several villages joined to share and dance and feast together.

And as I sat at the back of the crowd, smiling and clapping and murmuring comments to my neighbour like everybody else, my eyes were drawn to the puffs of smoke spiralling upward from smokers sitting in the crowd - beautiful mesmerizing carcinogenic white, dancing to traditional Spanish music, twirling above the heads of mothers children fathers lovers.

My god! How bizarre. Puff here, puff there - little smokestacks were spewing their poison quietly unobtrusively to the left, to the right, up ahead...with little girls, proud grandparents, the unblinking dark-eyed baby laughing, enjoying, relaxing.... And breathing poison.

Something clicked in my mind.

There are many things that we get used to because of their forever presence. Why question the commonplace? We've all read the surgeon general's warning, and we all know that smoking is bad for health, that second hand smoke is worse. But it doesn't seem to matter anymore. (SMOKING CAN KILL YOU. Well it hasn't yet, wheezes the asthmatic forty year old.)

I had a tremendous urge, in that smoke-filled room, to leap up and starting fanning the air around the pretty young pregnant woman, to gently take the old man's cigar away (look, I respect your choosing to smoke - but please do it when your granddaughter isn't sitting on your knee) and instead I sat there, feeling like I must be a little bit crazy.

Now I watch CNN, I read the newspaper, and I feel that I must be a little bit crazy again:

We talk about justice, then begin bombing in a month, without going through established channels in a court of law.

We talk about combating terrorism, then gang together and terrorize the children mothers grandfathers of a weak, crippled nation.

We talk about honour, and then fight the coward's fight, dropping bombs from the air and hurting/displacing civilians instead of going in by land and meeting face to face with the terrorists we are after.

How does this make sense? How are we not poisoning the very air we breathe with this hypocrisy?

The whole worth of having values comes when it is difficult to hold to them - in the strength of will and soul it takes to hold on to truth and integrity when it's inconvenient, when it hurts like crazy and you're screaming inside. I think values are being warped and twisted disturbingly fast in our upside down world.

Supposedly Christian countries are dropping supposedly Christian bombs on the weak and defenceless. Few religious leaders have stood up to vigorously denounce the violence of the world (where is the Pope? The Dalai Lama?). Bush has asked US citizens to ensure that their country's values prevail, and in the same speech asks them to return to watching movies and leading normal lives - as if the US-caused death and destruction and pain in Afghanistan and its neighbours don't exist, or as if the love and warmth and compassion of Americans doesn't extend to suffering people beyond their borders.

As I've said earlier, I believe.

I believe very strongly in the US and Canada's values of freedom and democracy, truth and justice, honour and respect. I believe in them with my whole being, so much so that it almost resonates.

I believe in the power of people to see and act. I'm convinced that many of us are not willing to enclose ourselves in safe and secure little bubbles, divorced from the reality that exists around us. And I believe that we are ready to question, to search, to think, and to take responsibility in the face of painful truths and injustices.

I believe in the power of individuals for making a lasting and concrete change. I believe in the power of individuals for standing up and speaking out against injustice and violence. And I believe in the power of individuals to opening themselves up to a greater vision, to becoming part of a movement, and working to make the world a better place for everyone.

I'm in Pakistan now, wanting to go into Afghanistan to live, hurt, and if necessary die with Afghan civilians in celebration of their beauty and importance and in protest of the aggression of my government. Maybe I'm a little bit crazy. Or maybe I'm a little bit wise. Either way, it doesn't really matter.

People are dying here. This is no joke. Can we all please commit to working together, to mobilizing movements, to taking on responsibility and leadership (no fear - just act from the heart and from your beliefs and TRY) to stem this bleeding? I need to know that more people are rooted in the principles of non-violence and believe (soul-believe, not mouth-believe) in the beauty of all human beings. I need to know that people act on their beliefs and are willing to take on burdens and hurt to uphold those values.

Attached below is my friend Normand's framework for action (it will be strengthened and expanded upon in the weeks ahead - please email oneworld@unitycode.org if you would like to receive updates) and I invite you to take on pieces of that action.

I feel so alone sometimes. I don't want more people to die in Afghanistan or in the US, and I want to do something that will contribute to a healthier world.

I hope we hear from you.

Sarah

------- Normand's framework for action ----------

Empowering, healing journey

There are a variety of needs and a multitude of actions that we can undertake as individuals, as a community/network of people to show our disapproval of the incessant confused violent reactions of our allied leaders against the innocent people of Afghanistan and our solidarity with these displaced/victimized people. Your help would be appreciated in any of the "works" listed below

1. Witness/observe;
2. Collect, reflect, analyse and share information;
3. List needs, resources (equipment and human), invite to action;
4. Commit and be present (non-violent actions).

WITNESS/OBSERVE

Sarah is in the Middle-East. She will live with the people, listen/speak to them. Her presence amidst the Afghanistan people, the victims of our allied aggressions (on hand, on heart experiences) will allow her to share the daily bread, get a closer look at their lives, the violence, the hurts, the deaths. She will report/share her stories, wise reflections and be a guiding light for our non-violent concerted actions around the world.

All of us are witnesses! Let's share with one another!

COLLECT, REFLECT, ANALYSE AND SHARE INFORMATION

A website (http://www.globalcitizenthinktank.com/) was created to share all information, stories, questions, needs, resources, alternative solutions, possible non-violent actions. It wants to be a space where people can share/exchange yet be respectful of people's differences (opinions, responses, commitments).

Sarah's brother, Ramin, has worked extremely hard at the website. We hope that people will really use this global think tank.

LIST NEEDS, RESOURCES, INVITE TO ACTION.

We feel that it is important that as many of us know the needs of the Afghanistan people (within the country and as refugees, displaced, homeless in the Middle East) as it should call us to action in answering these needs. Most urgently, we are called to individually and jointly oppose the confused re-actions of our allied leaders in order to protect these defenceless people (need for and right to a secure, peaceful land).

We would hope that EntreMundos based in Guatemala would take the leading role in creating these lists, informing and inviting people to non-violent resistance action:

• list of needs;
• list of people/groups: grandfathers, elders, parents, children, leaders, groups and communities. These people would mostly share, request information!
• list of committed people/groups. These people are committed to non-violent actions!take up responsabilities or leadership roles.

The list of resources, both equipment and human, are of utmost importance. We hope to inform, educate people, share the needs of a suffering Afghanistan people and invite them to much needed solidarity action.

COMMITMENT (NON-VIOLENT ACTION)

All people should read, listen, inform self/others, reflect, analyze then ACT justly, humbly, non-violently! Self/people-empowerment! We have eyes to see, ears to hear, voices to speak ( announce your truth and values, denounce lies and non-values), minds to think and make wise decisions then hands, feet, bodies to act. This is your life, this is your world!

With this said, we invite you to invest yourself in one or many of following actions.(If you do write, phone, demonstrate, a different stronger message/option will be sent out!)

1. WRITE. Invite your family members, your friends, leaders (political, religious) to write to their member of Parliament, to their Prime Minister/President, to Mr. Bush, president of the United States of America, to Mr. Annan - secretary general of the United Nations.

   Note: Give a short, clear message (Stop violence/war on innocent people NOW! Find alternative peaceful solutions). Write "slow mail" letter (worth much more than group letters). Send it registered mail if at all possible. Insist on a reply! Be assertive! Be respectful and non-violent! Announce your solidarity, your commitments! If possible send a copy to the website (http://www.globalcitizenthinktank.com).

2. PHONE. Invite your family members, your friends, leaders (political, religious) to phone their member of Parliament, their Prime Minister/President, Mr Bush, - president of the United States of America, Mr. Annan - secretary general of the United Nations.

   Note: Inform yourself beforehand of name of personal secretary, close advisors of leaders you choose to visit, contact. Give your name, other info, message. Ask them to repeat message. Request/insist on a reply or a return call. Be assertive, yet respectful, non-violent! Announced your solidarity, your commitments! If possible, let the website know (http://www.globalcitizenthinktank.com )

3. FAST and/or DEMONSTRATE your disagreement.

   Your physical presence has a powerful, grounded language of its own. It has more value than a letter, a phone call. It calls for a greater involment/commitment on one's, your part!

   Twinned with non-violence and fasting, your actions become not only a practical, rooted tool but proclaims a new way of life, peaceful, enriched with a spirit.

   FAST. In solidarity with the Muslim people all around the world and most of all with the displaced, often starving people of Afghanistan (millions have taken refuge away from their endangered homes and cities in other parts of Afghanistan or the Middle East), we hope to fast during sunlight hours for the month of Ramadan which starts on Saturday, November 17, 2001.

   If you choose to fast, please let us know! Let other people know (especially believers of other faiths), invite them to participate in this simple gesture of solidarity .

   DEMONSTRATE. Rest well the night beforehand. Eat well. Renew your commitment to peace for the people of Afghanistan, to your values (and values of your family,country), to live your day in a non-violent way. Bring water, blanket, rain gear, tent, i.d. Attach, pin the symbol to yourself (a circle, any circle). Bring a poster (No more violence, war!) on one side and pictures of Afghanistan people (dying, hurt refugees) on other side.

   • For residents of capital cities
     • WALK in direction of Parliament at sunrise. If you can fast, do it! (do drink water). Ask for a rendez-vous with your member of parliament, with the Prime Minister/President. Have letters ready beforehand. Deliver them!

     • WALK in direction of Prime Minister/President's home at sunset. (you can eat now). Ask to meet him. Have letters ready, deliver them!

   • For residents of non-capital cities
     • WALK in direction of your member of Parliament's office/residence. Deliver letters and also accompanying letters to the Prime Minister.

   I would like to invite you to "the One World, One People demonstration" on Nov. 17, in solidarity with the Muslim people (beginning of Ramadan) and more specifically in solidarity with the people of Afghanistan. Demonstrate all around the globe!

   In Ottawa, Canada, I/we would start walking at sunrise. Others would start from home, church, temple, mosque, then slowly we would wind our way through the city (in a zen fashion, presence to the moment) and meet around 12 (noon) at Peace fountain and flame on Parliament Hill to attempt meeting with members of Parliament and the Prime Minister at the Parliament buildings then at their homes. If you decide to join me, please let me know (normandpellerin@yahoo.fr)

   Other suggestions would be to fast all month and to demonstrate every saturday (sunrise to sundown) . This would give us ample time to organize a super demonstration if we so choose on December 25 in Washington at the White House.

4. EXPRESS SOLIDARITY: water, food, shelter. Fundraise.
   • Write to Afghanistan pen pal. Save some time to learn about Islam, about another culture, another language.
   • Fundraise. Collect meds, eyeglasses, wheelchairs but mostly money (most things are available in markets. One just needs money.) and transfer(return) to established organizations (Hawca, Rawa, ...)
   • Ask forgiveness, start a process of healing, rebuilding
   • Volunteer in Afghanistan (and Middle East) for the peace, reconstruction, healing process.

Most important values in these actions: respect of differences, non-violence.

We want to be seeds of hope, of peace in our troubled world.

Our symbol is the circle: cell/earth/universe/womb/creation, space/humanity/ relationship, community, commitment/alliance, life, growth.

As you can see, many needs! Do share your energies! Thanks! Much peace!

Amities,
Normand