| Posted 8/21/2011 at 10:11 PM by Jaala H (jaala) | |
|
 We are on the brink of watching the fall of the 41-year old Gadhafi regime in Libya. I would not be surprised if we saw it within the week. I truly hope that we don't see a hugely bloody coup (bloodier than it has already been, that is), and I hope that once the rebels take over, they decide they want to rule the country justly and in accordance with the wishes of the people.
Read more here. |
|
|
|
| Posted 8/22/2011 at 8:13 AM by Tori M (ToriM) | |
|
 I can't quite believe the news every time I hear it. A former PeaceJam UK team member (Val) is in Benghazi right now and says "It's raining celebratory bullets". I guess we hold our breaths and cross our fingers that as few people as possible get hurt. |
|
|
|
| Posted 8/22/2011 at 2:35 PM by Jaala H (jaala) | |
|
Oh wow! Do you know why he's there?
I think you're right about one of our courses of action being to hope that as few people as possible get hurt. |
|
|
|
| Posted 8/23/2011 at 7:25 AM by Dawn E (Dawn) | |
|
 I watched the news last night, and I was riveted by the scenes from Libya! |
|
|
|
| Posted 8/24/2011 at 3:04 PM by Jaala H (jaala) | |
|
This article serves as further proof to me that most people are trying to do what they think the right thing is. Though I think the cause of supporting Gadhafi is sorely misguided, it's clear that they were explicitly being lied to by Gadhafi and his regime.
I sincerely hope that the rebels figure out a positive cause, rather than just anti-Gadhafi sentiment, and do the right thing, in the will of the people, rather than just amassing the power that will be left in the vacuum Gadhafi is leaving.
Here's a picture of the journalists at the Rixos Hotel before they were finally freed. |
|
|
|
| Posted 8/25/2011 at 7:27 AM by Dawn E (Dawn) | |
|
| I really appreciate all of the postings on this subject, Jaala! |
|
|
|
| Posted 8/30/2011 at 2:32 PM by Tori M (ToriM) | |
|
Jaala - I'm not sure why Val is there really. I know he's working with a French NGO, but I never find out what he's actually doing!
My cousin is a a freelance cameraman and is currently out in Libya too. You can follow him on Twitter on @verdycam. Earlier today he posted "Eid Celebrations in Martyr Square. Minimal celebratory gunfire and total carnival atmosphere. So many happy faces! #Libya #Feb17". Surely positive! |
|
|
|
| Posted 8/31/2011 at 2:55 AM by Tori M (ToriM) | |
|
In this article Shirin Ebadi is quoted as saying "I think it is too early to use this term 'Arab Spring,' because I don't think it's enough to topple a dictator". She uses the case of Iran to argue that until we see a democracy in which all people, including women, have equal rights, we should not consider the situation in countries such as Libya as a full-gone conclusion.
I think this is something that we seem to have forgotten about here in the West. It seems to me that everyone is worried about "Islamic extremists" getting into power in these fragile states because that could be a threat to the West. What seems to only just be being discussed is how the potential new regimes will affect the lives of the people within those countries.
You can read the full article here. |
|
|
|
| Posted 8/31/2011 at 6:40 AM by Dawn E (Dawn) | |
|
This is an excellent point, Tori. Shirin Ebadi is right -- the new regime can sometimes be even worse than the old one. Many countries around the world are still struggling under 'democrotatorships', pseudo democracies ruled in fact by the military and the elite.
|
|
|
|
| Posted 8/31/2011 at 9:39 AM by Kate C (katecumbo) | |
|
 Yeah I have been watching this and it really makes you nervous to see how things will emerge...I really hope Val is safe! Tori do you know if he is posting anywhere...it would be great to get a PeaceJammers perspective on what is happening on the ground.
I too am hopeful that the rebels can transform from "rebelling against something" to "leading and finding common ground"
Let's think about what we can be doing to support these efforts...we do have PeaceJam folks around the world..and in Libya. Any ideas? |
|
|