myMADRE

New MADRE Resources - On Progressive Activism and More

While we’re responding to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, celebrating the repeal of the Global Gag Rule, and building our new women’s human rights agenda, we’ve continued the conversation—launched right here on this blog—about how progressives should relate to the new Obama administration.

I have a piece on this topic posted today on Common Dreams. It’s called "'Organizing for America' Means Fighting for Human Rights Worldwide." Let us know what you think and, if you like it, share it with friends.

A Whole New Way to Tell Us What You Think

Some of you may have noticed that we added a nifty new navigation bar to the top of the blog.  We’re hoping that it makes it easier for our readers to move through the different sections of the blog.

But we especially wanted to point out a brand new addition to the blog!  We’re calling it “Build a New Agenda” and you can find a link to it in that same navigation bar.  I hope you’ll take a look at this project and that you’ll participate in it.

Here’s the idea: click on one of the topics, and you’ll see some starting ideas on Obama’s positions and how we can advance human rights in that area.  Agree?  Disagree?  Have other ideas?  Let us know in the comments section, and we’ll update the entries to showcase the most innovative and exciting ideas.  Together, we’ll build a strong position to promote women’s human rights internationally.

Quick Post: 60 Minutes Features Mustafa Barghouthi

Last night on 60 Minutes, a US news television show, there was a segment on Israel and Palestine, with a special focus on the West Bank. Mustafa Barghouthi, founder of MADRE's sister organization Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS), was a key commentator featured in that segment, and you can see the report below.

Watch CBS Videos Online

Message from Colombia about the Obama Inauguration

Many of our sister organizations have been sharing their thoughts with us about the new Obama administration, and we want to pass along some of those ideas to the readers of this blog.  Here is something that we received from Taller de Vida, one of our sister organizations in Colombia.  The Spanish message is below, followed by the English translation.

Que esperamos del gobierno Obama nosotros los Colombianos que  trabajamos por  la paz  con justicia social en nuestro país?

Esperamos que no se firme el TLC con Colombia por que este se ha impulsado sobre la vida de muchos sindicalistas y dirigentes indígenas y campesinos y esta rodeado solo del deseo de quienes esperan hacer mas pobres a los pobres  de nuestro país.

Esperamos se  exija a nuestro gobierno el cumplimiento con las victimas de paramilitarismo por que no es simplemente que! PASO!,  y hay una reparación económica, quedan tantas tristezas acumuladas, todo un tejido social destruido, multitudes de familias en situación de desplazamiento forzado en condición de vulnerabilidad y exclusión social  y ESTO TIENE QUE CAMBIAR .

Esperamos avanzar hacia acuerdos de paz que permitan una salida negociada al conflicto armado para que nuestra infancia un día pueda ver que terminan los días de esta guerra que no es suya y la estamos perdiendo.

Esperamos que se fortalezcan los alzos de solidaridad y se manifieste una constate preocupación y seguimiento al tema de derechos humanos en Colombia

Como lo ha mencionado el Presidente de EEUU Barack Obama esperamos pasar  del  miedo a la esperanza de una convivencia en Paz y con dignidad  que nos una  a los del norte y a  los del sur.

-Taller de Vida

English translation:

As Colombians working for peace and social justice in our country, what are we to expect from the Obama administration?

We hope that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Colombia is not signed, given that it has come at the cost of the lives of many union and indigenous leaders and farmers, and it represents the desire of those who wish to further impoverish the poor of our country.

We hope that that the Obama administration demands our government make reparations to the victims of paramilitarism. The repercussions are not only economic; they leave much accumulated sadness, a destroyed social fabric, multitudes of families forcibly displaced in conditions of vulnerability and social exclusion. This must change.

We hope to advance the creation of peace accords that permit negotiated disarmament so that our children may one day see the end of this war, which is not theirs and which we are losing.

We hope that the bonds of solidarity are fortified and that this manifests itself as constant concern over the status of human rights in Colombia.

As stated by the President of the United States Barack Obama, we hope to move beyond fear and towards hope for a peaceful and dignified coexistence that unites the North and South.

-Taller De Vida

Message from a MADRE Sister Organization on Inauguration

Here is a message that we received from Silvia Martínez, the National Coordinator of REDTRANS, a Latin American and Caribbean network to promote the rights of trans people (transvestites, transsexuals and transgendered people).  The Spanish is first, followed by the English translation.

Compañeras De la  Organización Pro Derechos  de la  Mujer “MADRE”

A través de la presente Deseamos  opinar   con la Administración   del señor Presidente  de  los  Estados  Unidos de  América, como  Referente en Nicaragua  de  la REDLACTRANS (Red Latinoamericana y del Caribe de  Organizaciones  y  Personas Trans) y siendo  la  coordinadora nacional de la RED DE PERSONAS TRANS (REDTRANS) .

Queremos  opinar  sobre  esta  nueva  administración nuestros  sueños  y  esperanzas  como personas que en muchas de  nuestras  naciones sufrimos  discriminación , odio  ,violencia  y  crímenes .

La  comunidad  trans ( de  Hombre  a Mujer y  de Mujer  a  Hombre ) tiene muchas  esperanzas  en  esta  nueva  administración  entre  ellas

1 – Justicia (donde  los  crímenes  que  se han cometido  en muchas de nuestras  naciones sean  esclarecidos).

2-Paz ( por  que  mucho  del  dinero que se gasta  en  armas  podría ser  usado  para  Mejorar la salud ,  la educación por  ende  los países  se   podrían desarrollar  mejor ).

3- Inversión en la prevención de  la violencia de Género( para  que  ya  no  haya  mas  violencia a  nosotras  las  mujeres )

4- ejercer  la sexualidad sin  riesgo(  que  exista  acceso  a métodos  de  planificación  familiar  adecuados  para  cada  mujer  y  que  seamos  dueñas  de  nuestros  propios  cuerpos).

5- derecho  al  asilo (  por  que  a veces  somos  perseguidas  por  nuestra  identidad, preferencia sexual ó de  género).

6- que los  gobiernos de  América (Latinoamericanos)  y  de  Gobierno  de los  Estados Unidos  de  América  firmen  y  ratifiquen los  acuerdos  relacionados  a derechos  Humanos  de  las  mujeres  , contra  el  racismo  y  formas  conexas de  discriminación  e  intolerancia  , convención  de   Belén do Para  para prevenir   y  sancionar  la  violencia a  las  mujeres , etc.

En  fin  son Muchos  sueños  los que tenemos  como  comunidad  Trans  para  ser  reconocidas   como  ciudadanas  con derechos  y  sabemos  que  Estados  Unidos  de  América  y sobre  el  Nuevo  Presidente Obama  podrá hacer  un cambio  tanto  en las  políticas  de la  Nación Norteamericana   como  en  la de  los  países  de la  región  de  América  latina  y  el caribe.

“No  somos  el Problema ….  Somos  Parte  de  la Solución”

Atentamente
Silvia Martínez
Referente  RED LAC TRANS
Coordinadora Nacional  REDTRANS

English translation:

Friends of the women's rights organization "MADRE"

By means of this letter, we'd like to voice our opinions on behalf of the REDLacTrans Community.

We'd like to state our hopes and dreams for this new administration as people from many nations who have suffered discrimation, hate, violence, and crime.

The trans community (men to women and women to men) have much hope in the new administration, including:
1. Justice (where light will be shed on the crimes that have been committed in many of our nations)
2. Peace (because much of the money that is spent on weapons could be used to improve health, education for the better development our countries).
3. Investment in the prevention of gender violence (so that there will be no more violence towards us women)
4. Exercise sexuality without risk (that there exists access to adequate family planning methods for every woman and that we are owners of our own bodies)
5. Right to asylum (because at times we are persecuted for our identity, our sexual preference or gender).
6. That the Latin American governments and the government of the United States sign and ratify the agreements related to women's human rights, against racism and connected forms of discrimination and intolerance, from the Belen do Para convention to prevent and impose sanctions on violence against women, etc.

To finish, there are many dreams that we, the Trans community have, to be recognized as citizens with rights, and we know that the United States of America and the new President Obama will be able to make a grand change in the politics of both the North American nations as well as the nations of Latin America and the Caribbean.

"We aren't the problem...we are part of the solution"

Sincerely,

Silvia Martinez

MADRE's Inauguration Day Live Blog

To find out more about the MADRE bloggers, click here.

Event Announcement: MADRE's Inauguration Day Live Blog!

Join MADRE's live-bloggers on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, January 20th!

We'll be hosting a lively discussion about our expectations and demands for the future of women's human rights during the Obama administration. Visit our blog during the ceremony, and let us know what you think. What do you want to see from President Obama? How can we work together to advance women's human rights under the new & improved US administration?  

Come back to this blog on Tuesday between 11am to 2pm EST and join the discussion!

Letter to the Editor of the New York Times

Earlier this week, the New York Times published an article on January 12 titled “Israelis United on Gaza War as Censure Rises Abroad.”  Struck by the complete erasure of dissenting Israeli voices on the war, I submitted the following letter to the editor.  It has not been published, but I thought I would share it in this space.

The article, "Israelis United on Gaza War as Censure Rises Abroad," implies that there is no Israeli opposition to the Gaza war. Yet, on January 3, as Israel's army was initiating its ground offensive against Gaza, 10,000 Israelis protested in Tel Aviv. That figure is proportional to a demonstration of nearly half a million people in the US. Even some Israelis in the towns being hit by rockets from Gaza have signed a petition calling for a ceasefire.

By ignoring the Israeli peace movement, the Times gives the impression that there is no alternative to war in Gaza. That view does a disservice to all people in Gaza and Israel who must find a way to move from being enemies to becoming neighbors.

More Perspectives on the War on Gaza

Much has been written about the war in Gaza in the nearly three weeks that it has been raging.  We have seen writers documenting the impact of the assault on civilians in Gaza, the prospects for a negotiated solution, the role of US foreign policy, and more.  Here are just a few of those perspectives from the past days.  The first entry is from MADRE’s partner organization in Gaza.

Palestinian Medical Relief Society: Israeli military operation advancing towards PMRS head office in Gaza (January 15, 2009)

The Israeli military operation and bombardment is now a mere 400 meters away from the PMRS head office in Gaza, which directly threatens the lives of PMRS teams and jeopardizes their efforts to secure emergency response to constantly growing numbers of innocent Palestinians, among whom women and children, who are the targets of incessant attacks from the air, the sea and the land. PMRS teams might now be forced to look for alternatives or to move to safer places to continue their work, thereby leaving behind people in life threatening situations without life-saving medical help.

A Good Resource on Four Myths about Israel’s War on Gaza

When it comes to talking with people about Israel’s war on Gaza, it can be difficult to move beyond the myths and misinformation that often pass for the final word in mainstream media.

I came upon this short piece that might help. It offers some ways to respond to a few central myths about the conflict.

One is that after Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, it was rewarded with rocket fire by Hamas, proving the need for Israel to dominate the region with force. Another is that since Hamas is committed to Israel’s destruction, negotiations with the group are out of the question.

It’s hard to respond cogently to arguments like these if your only source of information is the mainstream media. Consider the New York Times, the US “newspaper of record,” that is regularly accused of “liberal bias.”

On December 30, the paper’s first editorial about the war began with this distortion: “Hamas must bear responsibility for ending a six-month cease-fire this month with a barrage of rocket attacks into Israeli territory.”

Yet, we know (in part because the New York Times reported it) that it was Israel, and not Hamas that ended the cease-fire by going into Gaza and killing six militants on November 4. (Yes, the day many people were paying attention to nothing but the US election).

How are people supposed to advance a conversation about truly complicated political issues when the major media doesn’t even provide the basic facts? One option is to visit the “Gaza in Crisis” page of MADRE’s website. We’ve tried to sift through alternative media and other sources we know to be reliable so that you don’t have to. We’re also posting e-mails and reports from our partners in Gaza, the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, including an update that we received from them on Saturday, January 10.