FIDA- Pakistan

The mission statement of the Foundation for Integrated Development Action is:

"To mobilize and build the capacity of existing political and social structures and to act as a link between civil society and marginalized communities, thereby empowering all stakeholders to achieve their identified development goals in a sustainable and replicable manner."

They have an impressive number of projects and programs such as the Youth Activist Development Program, which you can read more about here: http://fidapk.org/programs/reports_assets/AR-Youth%20Activists.pdf

I'm particularly impressed with the social and political views of the chairman of this organization, Faiysal Alikhan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s1cKuyOznk

I'm very interested in this organization and the projects it is carrying out. When I have more time I will dig up some more, but if you too are interested in learning more about FIDA please visit their website at http://fidapk.org/

Of Summits and Retreats

I haven't had time to do a lot of updating to this blog since arriving on campus, we've been very busy with the Summit and the Retreat. On top of that I have had multiple research papers in the past five weeks to complete. I promise I will be updating once this current class and the craziness of work are over, or when I read about something that really irks me and causes me to act. That's another problem, I haven't been reading or watching the news. I've just been too busy. I crash in bed at night and as soon as I wake up in the morning I'm out the tent flaps and starting my day. This is one of the few rare moments I have to zone out and check my emails and blogs...

An Article About Mukhtar Mai from PulseWire 2010

A Letter from Mukhtar Mai

The following letter was sent to me from Mukhtar Mai. I have decided to publish it here in order to help readers connect to Mukhtar on a human level.

Dear Amanda,

Hope this mail will find you in the best of your health.
I am really very upset due to supreme court judgement. We were not expecting such a cruel decision. In 2002, a local ignorant Punchaeyt (a non-government local body deciding over issues headed by elders of the village) decided for that inhuman action happened to me, and now in 2011, the most learned institute of the country, headed by the most capable and learned persons of the country, decided to release those animals who have ruined my honor and self respect. This is not fair. For me, there remained no difference between the Punchaeyt and Supreme Court (with my due apology). Its just the beginning of a new war against this system. I always fought against injustice and inequality but now I myself have become a victim of that. I will not quit and will fight till my last sighs. No matter whatever it takes. The acquitted persons are now a life time threat for me but I am not afraid of them anymore.

I have working on my goals to uplift the social status of women and the education of girls for years. With the grace of God, I am running a girls high school, a shelter home for victim women, a mobile unit, and a resource center for victim women successfully. Now these projects are in need of expansion. We seek some help and participation for these good causes. We are motivated in improving our school and education level up to college or degree level. So that girls completing their 10th class could have the opportunity to get further education because many of them stop their education due to non-availability of some nearby college. Most of the parents do not keep the capacity of sending their daughters to college. And in this way, 10th class proves to be a dead end which is more dangerous than having no education.

Thank you very much for your solace and support in this dilemma. It seems to be a source of encouragement and a sense of defense for me. Be blessed and smile always.

Regards.
Mukhtar Bibi

Please visit Mukhtar Mai's website: http://www.mukhtarmaimmwo.com/index.html
Or write to her directly to show your support: mukhtarmaimmwwo@yahoo.com

You can also donate money to her organization by visiting the website.

Bahraini Forces Rape, Kill Female Poet

Here is the link to the story from PressTV:

http://www.presstv.com/detail/175790.html

According to reports, 20-year old Ayat al-Ghermezi, a Bahraini poet and political commentator was kidnapped by police, and raped several times until unconscious. Her family learned of these events when an anonymous phone call came in telling them that their daughter was in a coma at an Army hospital. Despite doctors' efforts to revive her she died in the hospital.

"Collateral Damage" Is Not Real

The following article illustrates an unfortunately common result of our over-militaristic culture:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-kill-team-20110327?page=1

A 15-year old Afghani boy was murdered by U.S. soldiers. There was no reason this young man died, he was not posing a threat to the soldier. He was simply working in the fields outside of his family home. After he was murdered the commanding officers of the brigade proceeded to mutilate his body by kicking it and shooting it posthumous. To add insult to injury the United States Military and government then denied claims that this murder was unfounded, stating that the unarmed 15 year old posed a threat to the soldiers.

How many young men and women must lose their lives in order for the corporations that own this planet to profit further? How much more money and indentured debt slavery can be acquired before we wake up and realize that we are free, that the corporations have no power over us when we use our democratic vote?

Generation 'Y' (Why?) is not THE FUTURE, we are THE NOW! There is no time but now. Let's make it count, stand up for human rights!

Mukhtar Mai: Pakistani Women's Rights Update

Originally from my personal blog:

Nine years ago a Pakistani woman named Mukhtar Mai was gang raped by 14 men. This was a legally sanctioned punishment carried out because of a crime her 12-year old brother allegedly committed. When a woman is gang-raped it is seen as an act of dishonor and the woman is then expected to kill herself for creating such dishonor. Mukhtar Mai refused to kill herself, however, and she challenged the Pakistani government, initially bringing six of her attackers to justice. In the wake of her struggle for women's rights she created an organization that now safely harbors other women who have endured similar trauma, Mukhtar Mai Girls Model School, which later expanded to become Mukhtar Mai Women's Welfare Organization.

http://www.mukhtarmaimmwo.com/index.html

Recently, however, it was announced on DemocracyNow! that five of the six men convicted of raping Mukhtar were let go on grounds of insubstantial evidence. This means that five of the 14 men who were involved in gang-raping her will now be set free and allowed to do as they wish. Mukhtar Mai has expressed concern over their release, stating that she fears for her life now that they are free.

As I read this I wondered what we could do to help. First of all, I wrote to Mukhtar Mai's ogranization in order to express my support of her human rights and my desire for her to remain safe. In addition to this I am going to research any petitions in support of Mukhtar, or the legislation of Pakistan's tribal laws that lead to such acts as gang-rape. If you would like to show your support for Mukhtar Mai and the women of pakistan please blog, tweet, and inform others of her story. You may also want to read the book 'Half the Sky', which contains the stories of many women internationally who have been and are subjected to gender-based crimes. In addition to this you can visit the website of Mukhtar Mai's organization, read her memoir, and write to the organization to show your support.

Thank you to everyone who makes the decision to support women's rights. What you are really supporting are our collective human rights.