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Friday
Jan152010

Iran: Anger, Pain, & Fear --- The Funeral of Professor Ali-Mohammadi

Agh Bahman offers an emotive and insightful portrayal of yesterday's events. Hat tip to Pedestrian for the translation:

What is really important to note is that the Islamic Association of the University of Tehran [pro-reformist], released a joint letter with the Basij of the University of Tehran [pro-government] not only condemning the death but the circumstances under which the funeral was held. Part of the letter reads:
After the barbaric terrorist attack which killed Professor Ali Mohammad, the funeral of this esteemed scientist was held in the most unfortunate manner. Professors, students and friends of the professor were only heard shouting laa-elaaha-ellalah and were mourning his loss in silence, but unfortunately, some only wanted the atmosphere to become tense and violent. But they did not reach their aim, with the calmness and silence with which the students reacted.

We find it necessary to mention a few points:

It is quite unfortunate that the body of this esteemed martyr was buried under an environment of fear and panic, with the presence of both police forces and militias.

We strongly condemn the beating and harassing of students and professors who were peacefully attending the funeral of a colleague by the hands of ununiformed militias.

But...if you want to know what happened during the day, go to Ahmad Shirzad’s weblog or the weblog Dreams of Awakening:
After running away from the funeral [because of the tight security, tear gas, violence, etc] and returning to the Physics Department, we all gathered in the auditorium, startled and numb. If I try to give you an approximation of the catastrophe, I only need to tell two stories:

Everyone was gathered in the auditorium, crying and weeping. They [security forces] had sprayed into the face of Professor Fatemeh Shojaii, for trying to save one of the students who was being beaten. Professors Moshafegh, Nouri, Ghorbanzadeh, and … had all been beaten badly. Professor Vaez Alaie was weeping so hard in the auditorium. Professors and students were going up and talking for a bit, one by one. Professor Tavakoli went up first. In between his talk, one of the students shouted: “professor! don’t speak”. We were all surprised. Then the student continued: “we can’t bear to lose you too…”

The entire auditorium was swept with tears.

Professor Ejtehadi came to speak with a very tearful face. He told the story of how when he was accepted into Sharif University’s Ph.D. program, Ali Mohammad was defending his thesis. He said that Ali Mohammad was a role model for them all, since he’d been the first one to graduate. He said that they saw him as their future. And then he stopped … and continued: “Who knows? He may still be our future.” [We too may be killed.]

Again, you could hear the entire auditorium crying.

The university will be a great big funeral until the students [who were arrested during the funeral] are released. But we think that disseminating this statement [by Basij and Islamic ASssociation] is important and we must spread word of the disrespect and violence inflicted on the professors and students today.
Friday
Jan152010

Afghanistan "Hearts and Minds" Special: Take a Photo, Win a Camera!

The NATO Joint Forces Command in Afghanistan announces a photo contest: "Why Afghanistan Matters". From the website:
Here’s your chance to let the world see “Why Afghanistan Matters” through your lens!

Send us your original photos and compete for the chance to win one of FIVE digital cameras! The public will be asked to choose a winner in one of the following four categories, with a panel of judges selecting an overall winner from the top three in all categories.


Here are some examples, in NATO's eyes, of photos you might want to submit.



Here, EA suggests, are photos that might not get you that "brand new *Nikon D90 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera plus a Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S ED VRII Telephoto Zoom Lens":






Friday
Jan152010

Haiti: Josh Shahryar's News LiveBlog (14/15 January)

We are mirroring two LiveBlogs that EA's Josh Shahryar is maintaining on the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. He is covering the humanitarian efforts, and this entry brings the latest news:

06:39 GMT

As images and footage from the Haitian capital comes in in trickles, Google has stepped in to help concerned citizens get a better view of what the destruction has brought upon the people of Haiti.

They have updated Google Earth so that the damage to buildings in Port-au-Prince is visible from a bird’s eye view. You can visit Mashable’s link and learn how you can use the tool to view the updated version.

05:46 GMT

FOX News speaks with an American missionary Joel Tremble in Haiti and shows videos and images from Haiti’s capital. (Images are very disturbing.)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz4-556tAR8&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Haiti: Josh Shahryar’s Humanitarian LiveBlog (14 January)


05:24 GMT

Hundreds of pictures from the calamity that has struck Haiti on Yahoo News!

(Caution is advised. Some of the photos are EXTREMELY disturbing. Do not pass them on without a stern warning.)

Please click here to go to their page.



04:38 GMT

Haitian tweeter @ RAMhaiti tweets news:

Started to do some shopping today to feed journalists.Someone opened a market for us.one of few not damaged.



Communication is frustrating.Can’t reach people in Jacmel to get news.Can’t reach people around PauP.People are still remarkably calm

Workers trickling in,so many have lost their homes,all their belongings.How many have lost family,home,job,neighbors? Now what? Stay?

I’m hearing that they’re stacking up bodies along Nazon.I saw picture of a morgue and it was a blanket of bodies.Got some help at St Gerard!

if you send people to the stadium,they’re going to need some basics.if you send people to ChampMars,they’re going to need some basics.Water?

I’m finally able to get to my office.many journalists.internet is getting a bit slow.Bodies in piles.bodies along the road.body committees..

I don’t hear as much singing and praying tonight but I do hear planes in the distance. Help is on the way. There were approx 2 million in PauP  [Port-au-Prince]

04:19 GMT

Twitter user @TroyLiveSay reports that people are still being found alive under the rubble. He reports that some people have been found alive in Port-au-Prince’s market. There is no news yet of other survivors from other sources. Hopefully, more will be rescued soon.

Read rest of LiveBlog....
Friday
Jan152010

Haiti: Josh Shahryar's Humanitarian LiveBlog (14/15 January)

EA's Josh Shahryar is covering Haiti on his website with not one but two LiveBlogs. One is for latest news while this entry will be for updates on humanitarian efforts:

06:27 GMT

Brazilian NGO Viva Rio also has a page on Haiti now in Portuguese. Please check their website and see how you can help if you are in Brazil.

The Embassy of Haiti in Brazil is also taking donations:

Nome: Embaixada da República do Haiti
Banco: Banco do Brasil
Agência: 1606-3
CC: 91000-7
CNPJ: 04170237/0001-71



05:36 GMT

Reuters reports:

Hollywood stars have opened up their hearts and pockets to help the people in Haiti. Here’s how much each star has donated or pledged and those who have asked for donations:

Haiti: Josh Shahryar’s News LiveBlog (14/15 January)
Haiti: Josh Shahryar’s LiveBlog of Latest Developments (13 January)


- Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated $1 million to Doctors Without Borders

- Alyssa Milano has donated $50,000 to UNICEF

- Actor George Clooney will host a telethon on MTV next week to raise funds for Haiti

- Shakira asked her fans for donations to help rebuild Haiti to be channeled through UNICEF and Wyclef Jean’s foundation, Yele.

- Coldplay musician Chris Martin called for donations through Oxfam

- Scarlett Johansson, a global ambassador for OXFAM, also appealed for contributions for Haiti

- Oprah Winfrey got involved on Wednesday by asking viewers of her popular show to donate to the Red Cross

- Ben Stiller also made an appeal on Larry King Live for $10 donations charged to phone bills by texting “Haiti” to 90999

- Cycling superstar Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong Foundation also pledged $250,000 to Doctors Without Borders and Partners in Health, and will be used in Haiti

04:23 GMT

According to Business Wire, JP Morgan Chase will be offering $1 million in for relief works in Haiti:

JPMorgan Chase will provide a total of $250,000 for urgent relief care from humanitarian aid organizations The American Red Cross and CARE. This will assist with efforts such as setting up temporary shelters, offering medical assistance, helping with sanitation and handling the most pressing issues immediately following the disaster.

The bank will donate an additional $500,000 for future recovery and rebuilding efforts, split between CARE, The American Red Cross and aid organization World Vision. Exact allocations will be determined in the coming weeks following a full assessment of the earthquake’s damage and the country’s needs.

04:16 GMT

In order to aid in finding survivors or loved ones inside Haiti, ICRC has developed a page and list of names of Haitians. If you have a friend or relatives in Haiti that you are worried about, you can try their page. Let us hope everyone finds their loved ones and that not too many lives are lost in this catastrophe.

Click Here for ICRC’s page.

03:21 GMT

Heartline Ministries, Inc. is also accepting donations and would like to receive from those who want to. They have been working inside Haiti for the past 20 years and money donated to them would go where it is most needed. You can follow their efforts or donate by checking their website here.

Read LiveBlog....
Friday
Jan152010

Israel: A Government Divided over Turkey and "The Ayalon Crisis"?

The Israeli Government is still in some confusion after Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon's full apology over his "undiplomatic" attitude towards Turkey's ambassador Ahmet Oguz Celikkol. Israel's President Shimon Peres said that Ayalon's treatment reflected the "mistake of one man, not of the state":
It was not diplomatic... and it's good that he apologized. This should not be connected to the whole state or to all diplomats. We must learn not to do this again.

However, the Israeli Foreign Ministry slammed a group of 17 members of Parliament who sent a letter of apology to Turkey over Ayalon's treatment of the ambassador. A member of Ayalon's staff told Israel Radio:

Israel and Turkey: “Ayalon Has Nothing to Apologize For"
Israel & Turkey: A Reset in Relations?



Ayalon respects the MKs who apologized, but where were they over the past two years of anti-Semitic broadcasts in the Turkish media and unbridled criticism of Israel from Ankara? After two years in which Turkey has failed to get the diplomatic message, we had to start making a noise one official told Israel.



Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Israel does not want a confrontation with Turkey but will not tolerate anti-Semitic remarks and incitement against Jews.

In contrast, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his satisfaction with Ayalon's apology. So, could the ambassador crisis, possibly planned by Lieberman and played out by Ayalon, bring an advantage to the Prime Minister?

Netanyahu could use the incident to diminish, if not neutralise, the influence of Lieberman's Israel Beiteinu party. He couldameliorate Israel's image in the eyes of  the international community, bringing credibility in the approaching round of peace talks. And, in case of another crisis with Ankara, he could walk the line that apologies will be offered if any mistake is made but Turkey's continuous criticisms is an unwarranted expression of anti-Semitism.

In the short term, the Israeli Prime Minister has kept talks with Ankara on track. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared, "Israel must put itself in order and it must be more just and more on the side of peace in the region," but given Ayalon's apology, Erdogan was ready for discussions.

That process is well under way. Before Defense Minister Ehud Barak's visit to Ankara on Sunday, Ministry official Udi Shani returned from an official visit in which the March delivery of 10 Heron drone aircraft to Turkey was confirmed.