Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe and the lack of response from the Global Community.

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Permalink Reply by Jock Scott TheVoice on February 5, 2009 at 3:41pm

Kumi Naidoo's fast for Zimbabwe

Shared 5th Fabruary 2009
Today at 2:33pm end January for February FASTING.

Dear friends,

Our fast has nearly begun. From sunrise to sunset on Sunday, February 1, more than 33,000 of us, from 190 countries, will eat no food as a demonstration of solidarity for the people of Zimbabwe. Thanks for pledging to be a part of this moment!

Here is a message from Kumi Naidoo, the South African activist who recorded the video appeal for the fast:
We are stunned by the response of Avaaz members around the world. I have not eaten a bite of food for eleven days, but when I speak to the African Union summit tomorrow, I will be fortified by your hope and energy. The press and leaders I address will know that they are contending with a serious global movement that will not settle for anything less than bold action. You are making a difference for millions of Zimbabweans. Thank you.

*** Yesterday, Zimbabwe's opposition "Movement for Democratic Change" signed on to a unity government with Mugabe in order to help resolve the crisis—with monitoring and safeguards from both sides and other Southern African governments. It was a risky and difficult decision. Now, other African and international leaders must commit to ensuring that Mugabe follows through on sharing power, releasing prisoners, and ending political violence. If this happens, and the unity government holds, then the urgent work of restoring Zimbabwe can begin. Our fast could not come at a more critical moment.

During the fast, we all can read messages from Avaaz members around the world and post them ourselves--as well as see a global map—at this link:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/zimbabwe_fast_map

Here are a few comments previously posted there by Avaaz members who have pledged to fast:

Ghandi used fasting as a peaceful way to win us our freedom. I do hope that our Zimbabwe brethren are able to overthrow a despot using the same method. This Sunday, I will join you in your protest. – Piu Lahiri, an Indian living in Cairo
With the hope that this will represent one of the steps to breathe truthful change into Zimbabwe. I pledge to fast as a peaceful way of protesting to the injustice that it is done to the people. – Teodora, Romania
This is a crusade of people around the world to condemn inequality and the neglect of governments to their people, we will turn it around!
much strength Kumi Naidoo, you are not alone. – Féliz Rosales, Peru

While fasting, please be mindful of your health. Rest and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avaaz cannot accept any responsibility for injury or negative effects of fasting—so if you are pregnant, living with a serious illness, or have any other concerns, please consult your doctor before going without food. Avaaz members are fasting from Argentina to Albania, from Burkina Faso to Burma, from Palestine to Papua New Guineau. Here again is the link to the comments page and global map:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/zimbabwe_fast_map

In Zimbabwe,
hope can be as hard to find as food and medicine.
But today, through a simple action, each of us around the world is showing that the people of Zimbabwe are not alone.

With hope,

Ben, Alice, Iain, Paula, Ricken, Graziela, Pascal, Paul, Luis, Brett, Milena, Veronique, and the whole Avaaz.org team
_____
ABOUT AVAAZ Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in Ottawa, London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Buenos Aires, and Geneva. Call us at: +1 888 922 8229 or +55 21 2509 0368 Click here to learn more about our largest campaigns. Don't forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace and Bebo pages!
You are getting this message because you signed "Stand with Tibet - Support the Dalai Lama" on 2008-04-30
please add avaaz@avaaz.org to your address book.
write to info@avaaz.org. You can also call us at +1-888-922-8229 (US)
or +55 21 2509 0368 (Brazil) If you have technical problems, please go to http://www.avaaz.org
originaly
posted on Facebook by Beverly Anne Jones { Facebooks 5th Birthday!}

also tagged as involved are

Jock Scott . Gordon J Millar , David Califa , David Gould , Leah DiMaria ,
Addissional;
I say indeed I am on Hungar Strike since Noon 31st January I'm over 120 hrs now Zero FOOD. The World is Watching Zimbabwe!
Jock.
All People are My People. ' PEACE & Freedom.' soon

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Permalink Reply by John Fisher on February 5, 2009 at 4:11pm

I was not aware of this problem, I am very sorry. I invite you to share more information about this injustice. Injustice anywhere in the world is unacceptable and needs to be addressed in a civilized manner.

As far as the Rev. Wright and his speaking out against injustice other than America's racism, I would not expect him to. His meal ticket is punched on a continuation of the racial divide in the USA. As far as everyone else we tend to solely focused on Israel and Palestine. I try to be consistent in my opinions from around the world but I spend most of my time pointing out the hypocrisy of those people who want the destruction of Israel. There are no Palestinians killed in Zimbabwe so most people here will not care about it.

I am sorry

http://truthinjustice.ning.com

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Permalink Reply by John Fisher on February 5, 2009 at 4:43pm

No Ru I do not

I point out that this has been on here since September 2008 and you do not take time to address the issue until I make a comment here like you are stocking me. I am not inciting hatred I am making a point. The point is that you and Tatiana and others are not interested in addressing injustice unless Palestinians are invoked.

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Permalink Reply by Elaine Friedland on February 5, 2009 at 4:31pm

Only people in southern Africa have been taking concrete action against Zimbabwe. These actions started last spring with the local unions preventing the debarking of Chinese arms shipment to the Zimbabwean government.

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Permalink Reply by rspwan on February 5, 2009 at 7:22pm

See, that's why in the context of "free trade" and "globalization", labor unions are considered to be trade barriers.
Now in Africa these unions have ruined a perfectly good opportunity to make a profit over the backs of dead people. /sarcasm

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Permalink Reply by rspwan on February 5, 2009 at 7:15pm

"Are our leaders selective in where they pay their human rights attention?"

Yes they are.

It is not exclusive to the US, but the US is the prime example when it comes to supporting governments that are willing to play economic ball with the US on terms set by the US (benefiting US corporate interests at the expense of local populations), and subverting/overthrowing governments that prefer to have the wealth of their nation to benefit its people instead of US corporations.

Since World War 2 there are some 50 cases of overt and covert intervention by the US to overthrow a foreign government (most of which were democratically elected), and the list of right-wing dictators supported by the US is quite long.

Killing Hope: US Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II
http://www.killinghope.org/
http://www.amazon.com/Killing-Hope-Military-Interventions-Since/dp/...

Overthrow: America’s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq
http://www.democracynow.org/2006/4/21/overthrow_americas_century_of...

Friendly Dictators
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/US_ThirdWorld/dictators.html
to mention a few:
Idi Amin (Uganda)
Botha (S Africa)
Duvalier (Haiti)
Franco (Spain)
Marcos (Philippines)
Somoza (Nicaragua)
Pinochet (Chile)

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Permalink Reply by David Califa on February 5, 2009 at 6:10pm

We would like to remind all of you some of our guidelines here in iPeace:


- Engage without prejudice.
- Encounter one another with respect
- Engage in discourse not insults
- Endeavour to celebrate diversity
- Enter into different cultures and life perspectives with an open mind.
- Entrust your mind and hearts to new friendships


I - international cyber community like no other
P – personalize your community
E – end conflict by sharing your vision
A - afford a stranger your time and attention
C - compassion expresses your truest inner grace
E - envelope your world and others with magic


Please do your best to adhere to these guidelines

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Permalink Reply by Todd Olson on March 1, 2009 at 10:52pm

Believe me I do hear you. I do my very best to get threw to comgress to tell them directly. No one, No One on this Planet has the right to take another ones life ever. I now get emails dicrect from Senators offices Because I don't want to let one second go by where it could have saved a humans life. If for some reason I don't get back to you or someone else it's is because I am replying to a email from them or someone in need. I really do pray that finally some day that everyone can finally put aside all of the things that everyone give's as excuses for not working things out. Just like our leaders. But I'm here & I really believe in you & are fight. I really believe the time has come & we can not afford to loose sight of that.

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