Thank UNESCO for Recognizing Palestine!

December 4, 2011

Will you support UNESCO’s call to protect Palestinian heritage and culture? 

Your action is especially important because opponents of Palestinian freedom in the US are emailing UNESCO with messages of opposition.

One month back, Palestine was accepted as a full member to the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in a landslide vote. Out of 173 total votes, 107 votes supported the move, 52 abstained, and only 14 voted no.

In response, laws written by Congress were immediately triggered that cut off US funding to the UN organization.  US law currently requires a cutoff in aid to any UN organization that recognizes a Palestinian state.  Until the aid cut, US funding for UNESCO accounted for 22% of the agency’s total annual budget — $80 million a year.

Why is UNESCO being punished for recognizing the right to freedom for the Palestinian people?

Please thank UNESCO for its vote.   Palestinians deserve freedom and international recognition.  Congress should stop standing in the way.

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Will Egypt’s military hear the vote of the people?

November 28, 2011

Egyptians deserve the democracy they’ve been struggling for. Our own US government should not stand in the way of their progress.

Unfortunately, the US is providing over $1 billion a year in military assistance to an Egyptian military that continues to violate its people’s rights.

As the US Congress debates budget cuts at home, the US Senate has considered new language that would restrict $1.3 billion in aid to Egypt until the Egyptian government completes democratic elections and ensures its citizens’ rights.

Please urge Congress to end US taxpayer support for Egypt’s military regime. The Egyptian people deserve democracy, not another unelected government.

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US Authors Urge Sec. Clinton to Stand Up for Bahraini Freedom

November 18, 2011

In a  Freedom Forward letter released today, prominent US writers Khaled Hosseini, Nafisa Haji, Aisha Sultan, and Susanne Pari are urging US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to support Bahraini activists who have faced a government crackdown.

The authors urge Secretary Clinton to secure the freedom of Bahraini poet Ayat al-Qarmezi and other peaceful Bahraini reform activists.

The authors state, “We are concerned that the US military relationship with Bahrain’s unelected government may be coming at the expense of our support for democracy activists in the country.  The sentencing of Ayat al-Qarmezi and countless others requires us to take a stand for their freedom.

The letter is signed by:

  • Khaled Hosseini, Author of The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
  • Nafisa Haji, Author of The Writing on My Forehead and The Sweetness of Tears; Freedom Forward Boardmember.
  • Aisha Sultan, Journalist.
  • Susanne Pari, Author of The Fortune Catcher).

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Thank ESPN.

November 14, 2011

ESPN has done a hard-hitting piece on Bahraini athletes who were allegedly tortured because they protested against their US-backed dictatorship.

The 12-minute video is worth watching:

ESPN:  The Athletes of Bahrain

Not only does the video talk about the crackdown on protestors, but it also reports on the US military alliance with Bahrain’s dictatorship. ESPN even covers the pending $53 million US arms sale to the Bahraini government — as well as Congressional efforts to stop that sale.

Please take a moment to thank ESPN for this important piece.

We will send a formal thank-you letter to ESPN that includes your name.


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