One Girl can Change the World ...

Beoming the Beloved

2010-04-28T22:16:00.003-04:00

An exerpt from my journal:

Tuesday, 6-October, 2009
Cantabrigia, 1:24 PM

I sit in this magical place, by the DeWolfe footbridge, on the banks of the Charles, in the warm embrace of a huge oak tree which is sending me love from Mother Earth, Godess Gaia herself. Her roots firmly planted here; my roots firmly planted here as well - in this magical land of Cantabrigia.

I have spent the morning flooding my brain with powerful, positive energy - Deepak, Osho, Shazzie - and now feel reconnected to all the beauty and loveliness both within and without my body. This is a marvelous moment; I am right here in each and every second - fully conscious, fully aware - FULLY- feeling fully alive. So often I do not experience this lately. It is the thing that I need always.

I have decided I must find another way to sustain myself. A way that reinforces the beauty and essence of me; the life force running through my veins and without of my physical body; from the earth, Godess Gaia - through all her wisdom, wonder and magic; up through the sky, across the sun and the stars and throughout the universe; the sustainance and nourishment of humanity and of every sentient being - I feel this very same life force coursing through my veins, now inspiring me to go on.

I feel this so strongly and so surely as I sit here today, in Mother Nature's womb - this big, old oak tree.

I have watched myself in these last few months, the waves of emotions and low vibrations wash over me, and have noted my response to these. My involvement with B. has become a very interesting learning tool for me - it brings up such a variety of these experiences in me, from foolish and fool hardy infatuation and delusion to disappointment, anger, sadness and sometimes, even grief. I watch these arise. I typically react immediately without thought, and only later see the reaction for what it is. Rather than taking more of a stoic or meditative approach to these low vibrations: puffy white clouds, dark ominous gray clouds floating slowly across my bright blue skies and sunshine, why do I so often take a finite and fatalistic approach to all of these temporary things? As I see more clearly as the clouds move along, I reconnect to my blue sky; all else falls away.

I have come to realize that I truly do love B., in a very pure and genuine way. It is beautiful and illuminated, when I am not deceived by low vibrational passing clouds. I love who he is! What a glorious experience!

I have come to realize too, that I very much love myself as well. I love this curiousity left over from childhood. I love my innocence and my vulnerability. I love my niavity. I love my creative genious and my intellectual genious. I love my body, that has served me so well; my beautiful face with all its crinkles and flaws. I love my gentle, compassionate and kind approach to life! I love my endless hopefulness and my boundless enthusiasm. I love myself and value who I am so very much. I will be true to myself and honor all that I am: love, joy, beauty, flowing, open - and I will accept nothing less in my life or for myself - only these. All else will simply fall away.

So here, on this day, in this magical land of Cantabrigia, in the womb of this marvelous oak tree, with the Godess Gaia as my witness ... I have become my own beloved.

Who will save Sri Lanka?

2010-02-09T21:12:00.003-05:00

9 – Feb – 2010, Cambridge, Massachusetts

I have watched Sri Lanka, the days leading up to her presidential election of January 26, and now sit in disbelief in its aftermath, eerily reminiscent of the post election days in Iran several months ago.

I write a friend to inquire about the reports I am hearing. She writes back to say that she is not comfortable discussing politics; she is not certain if her internet postings are being monitored; Sri Lanka’s present state feels to her, more like that of Myanmar and she does not want trouble for herself and her family.

Today she leaves this comfort behind in her shock and fear resulting from the events of these last few days: the arrest of General Fonseka and of many of his associates, the forced retirements of other high ranking army officials, the dissolution of the parliament. She worries that anyone who identified with the opposition will now be a target, and this, then, will include her:

"I know I said I will not meddle in politics anymore but things have gone from bad to worse. They arrested the independent presidential candidate of the opposition and are holding him in military custody. He was the general who fought the thirty year long war; now all his contemporaries are arrested too. He's a man who risked his life three times for his country, but yet they're depriving him of his medicine and holding him captive, violating all human right laws in the whole world. In time to come they may just annihilate the members of the opposition, us, as they did to the Jews in Germany. I'm very upset, this country need not be like this, I cannot stand to watch all this.

Twelve top army officers including three Major Generals have been asked to retire from the service with immediate effect over a ‘political conspiracy’ while serving. Among these officers, there were two Brigadiers and Colonels, Lt. Colonels and Captains.

Last Friday the CID arrested Brigadier Duminda Keppetiwalana, a serving officer who is the Commandant of the Army Training School in Ampara. He held the position of Military Assistant when General Fonseka was Commander of the Army.

Accordingly, more than twenty other retired officers and soldiers are now in custody and more are due to be arrested. Another source said that a large number of senior and junior officers, who have been transferred to the office of the Chief of Defense Staff are to face inquiries in connection with the alleged ‘political conspiracy.”

I do not know what to say, what to write to my friend. How do I reassure her? There is no one – no entity stepping forward to prevent the M. Rajapaksa administration from proceeding to take what ever action they wish: arrest, detention, perhaps execution? With no clear mandate, the international community sits by and watches yet again as another potential tragedy unfolds, hands tied from taking any meaningful action.

Now, I read an Amnesty International report on the arrest of General Fonseka. It claims the General was preparing to offer testimony of war crimes against this current administration. This has been reported only following the General’s violent arrest yesterday.

(http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/arrest-sri-lankan-opposition-leader-escalates-post-election-repression-20100209 )

Other reports indicate the arrest is to prevent a coup d’état. This has been generally reported leading up to the arrests - but one man’s coup d’état may be another’s assumption of his legitimate position had it not been for a rigged election. One cannot know what to believe.

I opt to believe the words of my friend. The question now is – what does one do? What action can I possibly take that will any impact at all? I cannot think of anything; all I can do is write.

Writing and publishing – exposure of humanitarian crimes – can sometimes create the line which is drawn between outrageous action taken by a desperate dictator and heinous crimes against humanity committed when despotism is left entirely unchecked.

And so today I write and hope that others will join me.

Hail the New Year!

2009-12-30T13:19:00.007-05:00

Here we sit in the twilight of 2009 shadows, revelling and reminiscing, while awaiting the dawn of the bright and shiny new year at this, the cusp of yet a new decade.

I can remember the ringing in of this previous decade as if it were yesterday ..Y2K .. do you remember? And here we find ourselves now in this familiar position once again - how very quickly this decade has unravelled and revealed itself! How very much it has shown to me.

"Fast away the old year passes... hail the new year lads and lasses."

I sit, I breathe, I collect my thoughts .. my accomplishments and my failings; my dear friends and countless drifters; my dreams, hopes and aspirations, as I look ahead to the opportunities - the possibilites - waiting for me down the path of this new year. For always, every where in life, there are endless possibilities.

I feel grateful for all that has come before: my family and intimate relations, the transient people I have met on this great journey, the joy I have felt, all the choices I have made, the experience I have lived through, the knowledge I have realised - for all of it has brought me to this beautiful place in my history, to this very moment in time, to me - for all of it has brought me .. to me.

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth; 5

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same, 10

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back. 15

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
-Robert Frost, 'The Road Not Taken.' 1920

I look ahead, down the long narrow path, to what awaits me - my future - with no fear, but rather only great excitement and enthusiasm.

I have so very much left on my 'to do' list of life!

How very fortunate I am to have this shiney new year; to own this healthy body, this sound mind, this adventurous spirit so as to carry on in my travels, my journeys .. though this lifetime called Katarina!

Bright beautiful blessings to you my lovely friends and fellow travellers, as we embark on another glorious year and a million new adventures!

Peace.

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
- Robert Frost, 'Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening' 1923

A New Beginning: And the Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-09T09:54:00.006-04:00

(Repost from Jun 13: Demonstration of WHY Obama is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize - click on the title to view his CAIRO SPEECH: A NEW BEGINNING)

It is early morning on Saturday, Jun 13, in Harvard Square. The sun has not yet made its appearance, but I can hear the birds happily awaiting its arrival. I await this also!

I am preparing for a run along the Charles, and hope I make it in time to witness the sun rise...

A friend writes from Iran. The votes are in, they have been counted: Ahmadinejad will remain in power.

I feel a small disappointment - the energy surrounding Moussavi's campaign was simply tremendous. I thought perhaps Iran would be sharing our experience of 'change you can depend on' ... riding on its green revolution. Still, this election was incredible in its both participation and enthusiam.

Speaking of change you can depend on, I know you have heard about President Obama's speech in Cairo, and you have probably read reviews and criticisms. But have you watched the speech? I attach the link here (click on 'A New Beginning' the blog title to connect) so you may do this and draw your own conclusions.

It is a fairly long speech- almost an hour - so grab your coffee, sit back and relax, and take in all he has to say. Write me with your thoughts .. I am very interested to hear!

I personally, found this to be a brilliant approach to establishing dialogue with Middle Eastern countries. Upon my first viewing, I was both filled with excitement and joy, and moved to tears. I feel incredibly hopeful at possibilities for new relationships abroad. In fact, I found myself watching a second time... and a third. Change we can depend on .. Bravo, Mr. President!

As President Obama has already made overtures to Iran (the Naruz greeting and the commitment to conversation with Iran), and Ahmadinejad has himself made overtures to Washington (an invitation to debate global issues at the UN), I am hopeful these conversations will now begin. Certainly there remains great animosity between our governments, but dialogue is the first step to resolution!! Dialogue is the first step to world peace. I am glad our new President knows this and takes this action.

World Peace: What an exciting prospect!

World Peace through Dialogue ... what a revolutionary concept!! :) Imagine....

You can say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

Cheers to you my lovelies as you begin your day - to you and to world peace - and may all light, beauty, joy and love flow to you on this, one of the last beautiful spring mornings of June 2009!

Einstein's Theory on the human being...

2009-08-28T12:21:00.003-04:00

"A human being is part of a whole
called by us
'UNIVERSE'
.... a part limited in time and space.

He experiences himself ...
his thoughts and his feelings ...
as something seperated from the rest...
a kind of optical delusion of his consiousness.

This delusion is a kind of prison for us
restricting us to our personal desires and
to affection for a few persons nearest to us.

Our task must be to free ourselves
from this prison
by widening our cirlce of compassion
to embrace all living creatures
and the whole of nature in its beauty."

Albert Einstien

IRAN AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY - PLEASE SIGN AMENSTY INTERNATIONAL PETITION

2009-07-10T09:10:00.004-04:00

(Please click on title to access AI Petition, thank you!)

SHOULD THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TAKE ACTION?

As I sit down to write today, I am filled with incredible wonder and admiration for the tenacity of the Iranian people and their unwavering commitment to secure the life they deserve for themselves and future generations within the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I am filled also with overwhelming sorrow that in this 21st century of humanity and its modern age of civilization, any group of people should have to incur such suffering and loss to secure their rights and their dignity as human beings.

There is an unbelievable escalation in violence and savagery each day toward these protesters on the streets of Iran. I am filled with tremendous sadness at my apparent total inability to do anything of substance to be of aid to my fellow human beings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkScOfYaQKQ

Could it be that it is time for international intervention - for there are many flagrant violations of individual rights as well as heinous crimes being committed against the Iranian people.

Iran's current illigitimate regime must remember that there exists international laws within the boundaries of which they have fully agreed to operate - they are in violation of these laws.

The unequivocal right to exercise one's freedom in political and civil matters are codified in the United Nations Convention for Civil and Political Rights.
(You may read this here: http://www.hrweb.org/legal/cpr.html)

The Islamic Republic of Iran has signed onto this convention. The current regime is therefore accountable to practice the principles within - those principles that the Iranian people now attempt to apply as they gather together.

In this regard, the Iranian government is failing miserably. It must be held accountable.

There exists also international laws which protect citizens against the mass brutality which we have witnessed in these past few weeks.

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
The International Criminal Court, to which the Islamic Republic of Iran has also signed on, in its "Elements of Crimes,"Article 7, "Crimes Against Humanity," states that ...
(Read document in its entirety here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_against_humanity)...

Article 7 Crimes are "among the most serious crimes to the international community as a whole;" they constitute a serious attack on human dignity.

These crimes contain the following elements: the acts have been inflicted upon one or more civilians, and they are "committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed at the civilian population, and the perpetrator knows that the conduct is part of or intended the conduct to be part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against the civilian population." These violations include such actions as (1)murder, (e) imprisonment or other sever deprivation of physical liberty, and/or (f) torture, whether physical or mental, or some combination of the same.This seems to summarize what is occurring these past ten days in Iran.T

As we have all witnessed, CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY have been and continue to be committed against the people of Iran by order of the current controlling regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in retaliation of the exercise of citizen's political and civil rights as secured under the UN Convention for Civil and Political Rights, to which the Iranian government is a party.

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY HAVE BEEN PERPETRATED UNDER DIRECTION OF THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 7, SECTIONS 1(a), 1(e) AND 1(f) OF THE ICC 'ELEMENTS OF CRIMES' (in accordance with the ROME STATUTES).

The United Nations should step in and the ICC should issue arrest warrants for government officials and all responsible parties.

LET THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES BE CHARGED ACCORDINGLY!

And let the Iranian people get on with their daily lives in peace, in liberty, and in dignity.

UPDATE JUN 25: I have just come across this information as reported by Al Jezeera afew days ago: Payam Akhavan, former UN War Crimes Prosecutor atThe Hague and co-founder of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre, is working on a petition to send to the UN Security Council and The Hague to look into cases of crimes against humanity in Iran.

WATCH HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hvHja_yi8w

Revolutionary Road...: Iran: Doctors denounce terror in the hospitals, Le Figaro International, France (translation)

2009-07-07T17:34:00.001-04:00

Revolutionary Road...: Iran: Doctors denounce terror in the hospitals, Le Figaro International, France (translation)

Letters from Tehran ...
Dear Katarina;Here in Iran, news is not true. They say that nobody is killed!!! They say that we don’t know who shoot people!!! They say that people shoot each other and destroy stores!!!

But you can watch the films below carefully and you will find the truth. You can see in the film that the guards come on the roof and shoot people.You see in films when they shoot people and kill someone, others take him and shut "I will kill, I will kill, the one who killed my brother"!

"Moosavi" and his wife were arrested at home but now are not. But lots of close friends are arrested and it is not known where they are.

Some of the members of parliament of Iran have requested to visit the arrested people, but they are not allowed yet.I think other countries especially UN must do something. If not may be more than thousands of people will be killed.

Response to George Galloway's Clearly Uninformed Opinion

2009-06-26T11:58:00.010-04:00

(CLICK TITLE TO HEAR GALLOWAY'S POSITION FOR YOURSELF)

Because you seem to lack awareness in what is taking place around the world in regard to Iran, I feel compelled to more clearly spell this out for you:

The results of the elections in Iran are not of the greatest concern to world citizens, sir.

What is in fact of greatest concern to world citizens is the fact that the Iranian people have expressed concerns about their election results.

AND as is their right via peaceful and legal means*, contest the announced results. (*by exercise of their civil and politcal rights guarnteed via the UN Convention for Civil and Political Rights and Art. 27 of the Iranian constitution) these citizens are being met with military brute force:

murder, torture, arrest and forced disappearances, in example.

THESE ARE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, SIR, AS CODIFIED BY THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, WHICH HAVE BEEN COMMITED BY A MILITARY COUP IN IRAN, TO PREVENT THE LEGAL AND LEGITIMATE EXERCISE OF THE IRANIAN CITIZENS' HUMAN RIGHTS and THE INSTITUTION OF THEIR LEGITAMATELY ELECTED PRESIDENT!

AND THIS , SIR, IS WHAT IS OF GREATEST CONCERN TO WORLD CITIZENS.

GET WITH THE PROGRAM!!

Letters from Tehran ...

2009-06-25T08:43:00.005-04:00

Dear Katarina;

Here in Iran, news is not true. They say that nobody is killed!!! They say that we don’t know who shoot people!!! They say that people shoot each other and destroy stores!!! But you can watch the films below carefully and you will find the truth. You can see in the film that the guards come on the roof and shoot people.

You see in films when they shoot people and kill someone, others take him and shut "I will kill, I will kill, the one who killed my brother"!

"Moosavi" and his wife were arrested at home but now are not. But lots of close friends are arrested and it is not known where they are. Some of the members of parliament of Iran have requested to visit the arrested people, but they are not allowed yet.

I think other countries especially UN must do something. If not may be more than thousands of people will be killed.

Love….A!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNogGT_kCJk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsHE_uUJJdw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8aKsXaMPNg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNStzr9n5Ww&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFNgCwlS_b8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-wAqphAngI

TODAY'S MASSACRE IN BAHARESTAN SQUARE (click here for link to video report)

2009-06-24T13:33:00.011-04:00

SHOULD THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TAKE ACTION?

As I sit down to write today, I am filled with incredible wonder and admiration for the tenacity of the Iranian people and their unwavering commitment to secure the life they deserve for themselves and future generations within the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I am filled also with overwhelming sorrow that in this 21st century of humanity and its modern age, any group of people should have to incur such suffering and loss to secure their rights and their dignity as human beings.

Today's events in Iran appear to have become even more tragic. There is an unbelievable escalation in violence and savagery toward these protesters on the streets of Iran this day. I am filled with tremendous sadness at my apparent total inability to do anything of substance to be of aid to my fellow human beings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkScOfYaQKQ

Could it be that it is time for international intervention - for there are many flagrant violations of individual rights as well as heinous crimes being committed against the Iranian people.

Iran's current regime must remember that there exists international laws within the boundaries of which they have fully agreed to operate - they are in violation of these laws.

The unequivocal right to exercise one's freedom in political and civil matters are codified in the United Nations Convention for Civil and Political Rights.
(You may read this here: http://www.hrweb.org/legal/cpr.html)

The Islamic Republic of Iran has signed and ratified this document. The current regime is therefore accountable to practice the principles within - those principles that the Iranian people now attempt to apply as they gather together. In this regard, the Iranian government is failing miserably. It must be held accountable.

There exists also international laws which protect citizens against the mass brutality which we have witnessed today.

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
The International Criminal Court, to which the Islamic Republic of Iran has also signed on, in its "Elements of Crimes,"Article 7, "Crimes Against Humanity," states that ...
(Read document in its entirety here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_against_humanity)

... Article 7 Crimes are "among the most serious crimes to the international community as a whole;" They constitute a serious attack on human dignity.

These crimes contain the following elements: the acts have been inflicted upon one or more civilians, and they are "committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed at the civilian population, and the perpetrator knows that the conduct is part of or intended the conduct to be part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against the civilian population." These violations include such actions as (1)murder, (e) imprisonment or other sever deprivation of physical liberty, and/or (f) torture, whether physical or mental, or some combination of the same.

This seems to summarize what is occurring these past ten days in Iran.

TODAY'S MASSACRE IN BAHARESTAN SQUARE
Crimes against humanity have been committed against the people of Iran by order of the current controlling regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in retaliation of the exercise of citizen's political and civil rights as secured under the UN Convention for Civil and Political Rights, to which the Iranian government is a party.

CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY HAVE BEEN PERPETRATED UNDER DIRECTION OF THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 7, SECTIONS 1(a), 1(e) AND 1(f) OF THE ICC 'ELEMENTS OF CRIMES' (in accordance with the ROME STATUTES).

The United Nations should step in and the ICC should issue arrest warrants for government officials and all responsible parties.

LET THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES BE CHARGED AS ACCORDINGLY!

And let the Iranian people get on with their daily lives in peace, in liberty, and in dignity.

UPDATE JUN 25:
I have just come across this information as reported by Al Jezeera afew days ago: Payam Akhavan, former UN War Crimes Prosecutor atThe Hague and co-founder of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Centre, is working on a petition to send to the UN Security Council and The Hague to look into cases of crimes against humanity in Iran.

WATCH HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hvHja_yi8w

How Can I Help??

2009-06-23T20:02:00.000-04:00

My dear friend:

Here is only what I have found so far.

1. I am not very tech savvy but if this would be helpful I am happy to make purchase.. you tell me. Additional info below...
http://www.sharewareupdate.com/search/proxy+site/

SAMPLE:
Complete Anonymous Web Surfing 3.3
Complete Anonymous Web Surfing is an internet utility to hide your IP address while you are browsing the web. IP address is your internet identification number which is detectable by any web site that you visit. Complete Anonymous Web Surfing is fully...

Publisher:
PC Mesh
Size:
1.5 MB
Price:

2. I also have a domain name which is hosted on GoDaddy which I intended for a website. Nothing is set up right now. If this may be helpful, anyone is welcomed to it! Please let me know ..

I continue searching.
** As I use my laptop from work, I am unable to set up a proxy server with this because I do not have admin privileges, but if there is something I can do that I am unaware of - please tell me and I am happy to.

Thinking of you and hoping all the best!!!

In Peace,
k.

Human rights and the Iranian situation

2009-06-23T10:06:00.001-04:00

JOIN TONIGHT ... Standing in Solidarity with the Iranian People...

Host: Amnesty International [MIT Chapter]
Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Kresge Theater (main)
Street:48 Massachusetts Avenue (rear)
City/Town: Cambridge, MA
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/event.php?eid=93640627229&ref=nf

The situation In Iran has been in the news recently.
In this panel we discuss the situation in Iran mainly from the perspective of human rights.

Come and bring your friends and your questions.

Schedule of the event:

1800-1805 - Welcome and opening remarks by Ms. Jasmine Park (MIT Amnesty)
1805-1810 - Mr. Alex Hamilton Chan president of the MIT Graduate Student Council will introduce the speakers.
1810-1900 - Panel discussion by Dr Haghighatjoo and Ms. Nazanin Afshin-Jam.
1900-1940 - Q&A moderated by Mr. Alex Hamilton Chan.
1940-1945 - Silent walk to 77 Mass Ave.
1945-1950 - In Remembrance of Neda - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neda_(Iranian_protester).
1950-1955 - Silent candlelit vigil.
1955-2000 - Introduction and singing of "Ey Iran" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ey_Iran)

My letter from Tehran

2009-06-23T09:44:00.006-04:00

I am filled with joy to receive news from my friend in Tehran! I wonder what we can do to most fully support their efforts. I rally, I tweet, I post.. but nothing feels like enough ...

I believe in my heart Obama's approach is correct. The U.S. cannot officially interfer - this would likely delegitimize any progress made by the work and sacrifice of the Iranian people, and likely would only make things worse in the end. Still, I feel like we each can be doing more to be in support of this movement. But what can that be?

Should there be action on the part of the U.N.?

Should we be thinking in terms of technological support?

What can we do?

Please send your suggestions in additional ways to support this movement for political and civil human rights for all Iranians! Let's post those here!

JUN 22

My dear Katarina;

I will be your friend forever!!!

Thanks because of everything; your news, your links and specially your own website and your letter to me! It was so exciting for me.

But unfortunately the government of Iran has blocked "youtube", "facebook", and other sites like this. Almost all political and international channels which were available by satellite are blocked! Some political newspapers are closed!!!! Even mobile phones SMS!!! The speed of internet is so slow here and most of the time even "yahoo" is not available. That’s why I could not check my email for 3 days. But be sure I try to check my email many times during the day just to hear from you dear!!

"youtube", "facebook" and lots of sites will not be available unless I have an free ANTIFILTER program (like freegate which I used it, but it is not working because of traffic in usage in Iran) program or I know any ANTIFILTER site. If you have any, please send it to me!
Dear, ……. don’t be worry for me. I try to remain alive!!! May be we can meet each other soon or maybe………!!!!!!!!!

I wish all the people in the world have freedom, secure and peaceful life.

Love and best regards, A! ....

A Letter to my Friend in Tehran

2009-06-20T12:48:00.000-04:00

Hello my friend,

By now I imagine the big rally for today in Iran has concluded. We are hearing reports of terrible things and many deaths. I worry for you and your friends and family.

I have read the news reports, the facebook reports and the twitter reports, and any other information I can find, in attempt to get accurate informtion and understand what is happening there in Iran today, and what you must be going through. I am in awe of the bravery and courage and determination of the Iranian people and wish there were more I could do to lend my support to your efforts. All my thoughts, meditations, prayers and energies are with you now.

I head out the door shortly to attend the Boston rally in support of the green revolution. It seems like nothing, almost meaningless, and yet I go because it is all I can do!

I await anxiously news of your safety, my dear friend.

- Standing in solidarity with the Iranian people!

GLOBAL RALLIES TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE IRANIAN PEOPLE SAT, JUN 20

2009-06-19T19:20:00.002-04:00

There is a rally scheduled for tomorrow at 3 pm, in Boston, (as well as around the world) organized by the Iranian Diaspora, to show solidarity with the Iranian people who have been demonstrating to protest last Fridays announced election results, to demand free and fair election and thus self determination of government, in keeping with their political and civil rights.

I forward this information in case it may be of interest to you.

There are such rallies scheduled world wide tomorrow (please see below for listing).

Stand With The Iranian People
Show of Solidarity
Location:Copley Square
Time:3:00PM Saturday, June 20th

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=99467841716&ref=nf
Host: Iranians of the Greater Boston area
Type:
Causes - Rally
Network:
Global
Date:
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Time:
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Location:
Copley Square
Street:
Boylston Street
City/Town:
Boston, MA

Description
In Boston, (for other rallies, please see below. Note: You can find the individual rally sites on Facebook) in conjunction with cities around the world, we are gathering on Saturday in solidarity with the Iranian people inside Iran.

We do not recognize Ahmadinejad as the president-elect of Iran - we are asking the other governments to do the same - and the Iranian election needs to be run again.

We will meet in Copley Square, on the Boylston Street side. PLEASE BE ON TIME.
This event is only as strong as its supporters.

We ask that all the supporters who wish to create a large sign (which is highly encouraged) to stick to the following slogans:
"Where is My Vote?"
"Where is Our/Their Vote?" (the word 'Our' is crossed out and replaced with 'Their')
"Stop the Brutality"
"Solidarity with the Iranian People"
"Iran Election Fraud!"
"Ahmadinejad is Not Our President"
"Our Voices Count, Even if Our Votes Don't"
"Don't Fight Ballots with Bullets"

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON SATURDAY AT 3:00PM.

GLOBAL-WHERE IS MY VOTE?
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=495405&id=1085817211&comments=#/event.php?eid=91376554583&ref=nf
WE GATHER AROUND THE WORLD ON SATURDAY IN SUPPORT OF THE PROTEST IN IRAN
Host: WHERE IS MY VOTE?
Type: Causes - Protest
Network: Global
Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009
Time: 10:00am - 10:00pm
Location: ALL AROUND THE WORLD
Email: SETADEMA88@GMAIL.COM
Description
WE (IRANIANS AND NON-IRANIANS AROUND THE WORLD) ARE GATHERING ON SATURDAY AROUND THE WORLD IN SOLIDARITY WITH MILLIONS OF IRANIAN PROTESTERS WHO ARE SILENTLY PROTESTING THE FRAUDULENT ELECTION OF JUNE 12 AND TO CONDEMN THE VIOLENCE.
1. WE WILL GATHER AT EACH CITY'S MAIN SQUARE
2. WILL TAKE A GROUP PHOTO WITH OUR SIGNS
3. EMAIL 1 PHOTO FROM EACH CITY TO STADEMA88@GMAIL.COM
4. MAKE A PHOTO ALBUM IN AN EMAIL THAT INCLUDES ALL THE CITIES
5. SEND THE PHOTO EMAIL TO OUR FRIENDS IN IRAN (since most websites and social networks are filtered and their internet access is mostly limited to Email)
-------------------
USA
- Washington
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Boston
- Philadelphia

CANADA
- Toronto
- Montreal (Nassim Noroozi)
- Ottawa

EUROPE
- EU Parliament in Brussels
- London
- UN in Geneva
- UN in Vienna
- Paris
- Berlin
- Delft- Sweden (Hanif Babazadeh)
AUSTRALIA
JAPAN
MALAYSIA
SINGAPORE

-- In peace and metta!
ONE GIRL
Well behaved women rarely make history :)

EMBRACE OUR COMMON HUMANITY...

2009-06-16T14:44:00.002-04:00

Support our Iranian human family in their struggle for political and civil rights!

From Iranian Artists in Exile:
Open Letter to the World

"Human beings are members of a whole, In creation of one essence and soul."

EMBRACE OUR COMMON HUMANITY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwKVLwckDYw

7 die killed dead in Iran protest in Tehran saving riot police cought in crowd IMAGINE PEACE

2009-06-16T11:41:00.001-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQQ_GFzS_lA&feature=channel

A New Beginning

2009-06-13T05:17:00.006-04:00

(Repost from Jun 13: Demonstation of WHY Obama is awarded the Nobel Peach Prize - click on the title to view his CAIRO SPEECH: A NEW BEGINNING)

It is early morning on Saturday, Jun 13, in Harvard Square. The sun has not yet made its appearance, but I can hear the birds happily awaiting its arrival. I await this also!

I am preparing for a run along the Charles, and hope I make it in time to witness the sun rise...

A friend writes from Iran. The votes are in, they have been counted: Ahmadinejad will remain in power.

I feel a small disappointment - the energy surrounding Moussavi's campaign was simply tremendous. I thought perhaps Iran would be sharing our experience of 'change you can depend on' ... riding on its green revolution. Still, this election was incredible in its both participation and enthusiam.

Speaking of change you can depend on, I know you have heard about President Obama's speech in Cairo, and you have probably read reviews and criticisms. But have you watched the speech? I attach the link here (click on 'A New Beginning' the blog title to connect) so you may do this and draw your own conclusions.

It is a fairly long speech- almost an hour - so grab your coffee, sit back and relax, and take in all he has to say. Write me with your thoughts .. I am very interested to hear!

I personally, found this to be a brilliant approach to establishing dialogue with Middle Eastern countries. Upon my first viewing, I was both filled with excitement and joy, and moved to tears. I feel incredibly hopeful at possibilities for new relationships abroad. In fact, I found myself watching a second time... and a third. Change we can depend on .. Bravo, Mr. President!

As President Obama has already made overtures to Iran (the Naruz greeting and the commitment to conversation with Iran), and Ahmadinejad has himself made overtures to Washington (an invitation to debate global issues at the UN), I am hopeful these conversations will now begin. Certainly there remains great animosity between our governments, but dialogue is the first step to resolution!! Dialogue is the first step to world peace. I am glad our new President knows this and takes this action.

World Peace: What an exciting prospect!

World Peace through Dialogue ... what a revolutionary concept!! :) Imagine....

You can say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

Cheers to you my lovelies as you begin your day - to you and to world peace - and may all light, beauty, joy and love flow to you on this, one of the last beautiful spring mornings of June 2009!

New Blog, Day One: In the beginning - there is only me...

2009-06-06T06:29:00.012-04:00

I once read, quite some time ago in fact, a very interesting opening line:

We are all born alone and we all die alone ...

I don't know if I quite remember the book - I believe it was 'The Cinderella Complex.'

I have always loved Cinderella .. One shoe can change your life .. her famous quote :) I know this to be true for me!!

Cinderella .. The Ella of Cinders ... out of the ashes .. what an inspiration!! It has been one of the great inspirations in this my collective impetus to change!

Anyway, I digress ... We are all born alone and we all die alone.

Some see this quote as sad and even tragic. In our oh-so-connected world, how disheartening .. how totally devastating .... to think that in the end .. ... we merely die alone. This is all there is ....

BUT WAIT!! To me, these words are words of power. I would learn years later that these words are the words of the Buddha. I would learn this through my journey into Buddhism.

We are all born alone and we all die alone. These are, in fact, some of the most powerful words I have ever heard, some of the most liberating words I have ever experienced. These words sparked the beginnings of my discovery of the path to the end of loneliness!

It is not that I am antisocial or some type of recluse. Oh! No!! I LOVE PEOPLE!!

I love the diversity and the richness of all different peoples, different traditions, different cultures. I love the warmth in the closeness of the other. I love the sound of laughter. I love big bright beautiful smiles bursting with sunlight and heaven. I love being mesmerized by the windows of the soul, into which I can sit and stare for hours on end and never grow tired...

I LOVE PEOPLE!!

And since the world is jammed packed with people, 6.x (x = some odd) billion of us.. I LOVE THE WORLD!

But anyway, I digress! We do not simply die alone - oh no, beautiful heart .. we are also born alone! We are born into a perfect world.. into a perfect universe. And in that perfection, we come alone. Alone and perfect. We come alone because this is all we really need!

The Beatles will tell you that all you really need is love .. well yes, this is so! But you ARE love, my beautiful silly!! And so yes, YOU are all you really need.

We come into this world fully prepared for our journey. This is the truth. We can do this.. and we can do it alone.

If this be the case, and I am certain that it is so, then onegirl CAN truly change the world ... at least my world and the worlds of those I impact! But then, when I stop to think more completely on this, I realize that I impact everyone! All 6.x billion of us!

Everything in life is the sum of its parts: my body, the sum of a collection of atoms which create a collection of cells which in turn create a collection of organs ... which create my body. The universe, a collection of atoms, which create a collection of mass, which create a collection of heavenly bodies, which create a collection of constellations, of galaxies.. which create the universe. The earth, a collection of atoms .. but wait - are we noticing a theme here? Hey, is this quantum physics? hmmm.. I don't know for sure because what the * bleep * do I know anyway? But I do know this one thing: This is a blog for another day....

And so, anyway, if everything in the universe is the sum of its parts, then surely this applies also to our world: The world is merely a sum of its parts. I am a part of the world .. and so are you. And so in this way we each contribute to the world .. to the state of the world .. at any given moment. I personally contribute on a moment by moment basis to a state of a world at peace or a state of a world at war. And in this way, I impact every single person on the planet. And so do you!

We each contribute to the state of the world, therefore, we each create the world. I create the world - I am powerful! And so are you. We human beings are so very powerful! We own so very much power - each of us - P O W E R F U L !!!

.... and this is all we really need!

*************************************************************************
This, the first day of my blog. My first post. How thrilling! I am so very excited this morning to be talking with you! I had intended to write from the center of Harvard Square - Au Bon Pain - the center of activity from early morning until .. early morning :) Harvard Square - the center of my universe.

But instead, I write you at the crack of dawn, from my bed, because it feels right. In my nightgown and wrapped in my Tibetan meditation shawl with its beautiful deep greens and ecrus, which is exuding and radiating love and joy both from my morning meditation and from the hands of those on the other side of the world who created it; it is enveloping me in warmth and beauty.

Outside my morning bed, the birds sing a delightful serenade. A cool, fresh breeze with sweet top notes of an early morning late in spring, flows softly through the open window. The sun is just beginning to stretch its golden tendrils in and onto the edge of my bed.

Ahh.. another magnificent day has begun.
What a lovely morning to create a lovely world!

Thank you for being here and sharing this with me.

All peace and love and light to you as you journey through your day, my lovely. Please do send a post and let me know how it goes...

Signing off from my first exciting blog from the incomparable Harvard Square in the magical land of Cantabrigia .. Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Thank you for reading, my dearest heart, and please stop by to visit me again.