whitebeard

Don't curse the darkness, light a candle.

election night

For anyone who would be interested in participating on election night at La7, they have asked for five young, student-aged American volunteers who could answer questions and/or comment in Italian.  You would be asked to stay at the TV station on November 4 beginning at 11:00 p.m. and remain there until 5:00 a.m. 
 
Stephanie is trying to gather more information for those of you who would like to volunteer.  Meanwhile if you think you might be interested in participating, please contact us at: info@peaceandjustice.it
 
Thanks.

posted by: Whitebeard at 18:06 | link | comments |
us, elections

Gaza Strip

Rome, 29th October 2008

 Wonderful! "Dignity" the second boat arrived to Gaza and broke the siege!

 International solidarity and commitment are fundamental for peace and human rights respect.

Luisa Morgantini will be in Gaza on 3rdNovember with an official delegation of the European Parliament

 Rome, 29th October2008

 SS Dignity is the name of the boat with twenty-seven crew and passengers from 13 countries that this morning, at 8 am, arrived to Gaza defying and breaking the Israeli siege on the Strip.

This represents an extraordinary success and a strong message sent by the representatives of the Free Gaza Campaign, who organized the trip in collaboration with International activists, including 1976 Nobel prize winner Mairead Corrigan McGuire, all on board in order to call on Israel and on the International Community for the immediate end of Gaza blockade.

Some of the activists, who were also carrying half-ton of medical supplies and other humanitarian aid, hardly to find because of the Israeli closures of the Strip, will try now to reach Ramallah and others will stay in Gaza for a month.

Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative and PLC member, Mustafa Barghouthi, who was on board SS Dignity and entered to Gaza Strip, recalled the need of unity for the Palestinian people and Territory: "Despite the injustice against the Palestinian people we believe in justice and will keep on trying to break Israel's siege. The occupation has divided the Palestinians, but our non-violent resistance has united us", Barghouti said.

It was the second time in three months, that a boat arrived to the Strip despite of the Israeli siege.

Many people supported this action and we should thank all of them, including the Greek and Cypriote Authorities who didn't accept any pressures by Israel in order to impede the boat to sail towards Gaza where against all humanitarian and international law 1.5 million people are suffering under an Israeli-led blockade since June 2007, with restrictions on vital goods, food, fuel and medical supplies. Of course in Gaza civilians are also suffering for the responsibility of the leaderships who are not able to put an end to their division and it is very grave that while the UN declared a world moratorium on death penalty, a Court in Gaza condemned 4 people to death. 

But the tragedy and the suffering for population in Gaza seem not to have an end and in these days they are increased because of the heavy showers and violent rainwater that in different areas of the Strip flooded and destroyed many houses, a great part from refugee camps. Dozens and dozens of people became homeless and in need of more aid and assistance, as declared by Al Mezan Center that urged immediately the end of the siege.

The European Union must immediately intervene in order to help the homeless and ask also to the Egyptian Government  for the freedom of movement for Palestinians.

I am deeply convinced that the right way to follow is a great movement of non violent protests against all violations of human rights and legality for Palestinians from Gaza Strip but also from the West Bank: they need a strong  International solidarity and the commitment of all Governments and diplomacy, to put an end to the siege and to the Israeli military occupation on 1967 Territories. 

Dignity of life must be a legitimate and respected right for Palestinians in Gaza Strip: the Israeli siege must end.

>From 30Th October till 4th November 2008, Luisa Morgantini will participate to an official EP delegation to the Palestinian Territory. She will also visit the Gaza Strip.  

For further information, interview and statements please contact  Luisa Morgantini 0039 348 39 21 465 or 00972 54 72 71 742 (Palestinian mob.)
or

Office in Rome 00 39 06 69 95 02 17

luisa.morgantini@europarl.europa.eu; www.luisamorgantini.net;

posted by: Whitebeard at 18:01 | link | comments |
israel, gaza

End the Siege of Gaza

In un cammello dalla bocca legata

ho sentito l'urlo di Gaza mai domata.

In a camel from the mouth linked

 I heard the cry of Gaza never quelled.

Dear all,

In support of the global day of mobilization `End the Siege of Gaza,´ we´re
taking our protest to the internet. With one simple click, you can send a fax
from our web site to Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, calling for an end
to the siege, which has for over a year now effectively imprisoned more than
1.5 million people and denied basic human rights in violation of
international law.  (http://www.peaceandjustice.it/gaza/ - see below for the
full text of the fax)

Adding insult to injury, the Israeli Defense Ministry has also denied access
to Gaza to over 120 health professionals from around the world who had
been invited to the international conference `Siege and Mental
Health...Walls vs. Bridges´, organized by the Gaza Community Mental
Health Program and the World Health Organization and long-scheduled to
be held October 27-28.

Let´s flood Minister Barak´s offices with our condemnation of this unjust
obstruction of free access for those working to find solutions to alleviate the
suffering, as well as our calls for an immediate end to the siege.

Send your fax today! Making your voice heard is just a click away!
http://www.peaceandjustice.it/gaza/

For more information on the effects of the siege, see the Amnesty
International Report: The Gaza Strip: A Humanitarian Implosion
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/uploads/documents/doc_18343.pdf
As well as the End the Siege web site: http://www.end-gaza-siege.ps/

Anna, Becky, Gene, Maria Chiara, Rose and Stephanie
U.S. Citizens for Peace & Justice - Rome
info@peaceandjustice.it
http://www.peaceandjustice.it

Mr. Ehud Barak
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense
Ministry of Defense
Fax: +972 3 691 6940

Dear Minister Barak,

Today marks the beginning of the international conference `Siege and
Mental Health...Walls vs. Bridges´, organized by the Gaza Community
Mental Health Program and the World Health Organization. This
conference represents an opportunity for academic discussion among
health professionals concerning the impact of the Gaza siege as well as an
open exchange of ideas between Palestinian and international experts for
the development of appropriate mental health and social services.

I am writing to express my outrage at the decision of the Israeli Defense
Ministry to deny entry to Gaza to the over 120 international participants just
two weeks prior to a conference that has been in the works for more than a
year. Denying entry to international experts is to deny academic freedom,
cultural dialogue and understanding. It is to deny support for solutions to
alleviate the suffering of the people of Gaza, and in particular, the most
vulnerable members of their community. And the conference certainly
represents no threat to the security of Israel.

I applaud the efforts of the organizers and international participants in their
determination to go ahead with the conference in Ramallah. The work of the
Gaza Community Mental Health Program provides a source of hope,
reconciliation, and in the long run, a mutually beneficial relationship
between Israelis and Palestinians.

I am also writing to call for an immediate end to the siege, which has
effectively imprisoned one and a half million people, including half a million
children, without proper food or medical care since June 2007. The siege
has significantly increased malnutrition, poverty and unemployment and led
to a decline in education and health services. Without sufficient fuel and
electricity, water treatment plants are shut down and hospitals are unable to
provide medical care. Restrictions on movement and access in and out of
Gaza further deny residents the opportunity to seek employment or health
care elsewhere.

Not only are targeting civilians and collective punishment both prohibited by
international law, but they also represent an immoral act in violation of basic
human rights that is utterly indefensible.

Israel, which has demonstrated its complete control over Gaza, has both a
legal and moral responsibility to guarantee residents access to food, clean
water and medical care. Furthermore, the people of Gaza are also rightfully
entitled to live a dignified life, free of despair.

I join people all over the world in calling on Israel to end this suffering. A call
to end the siege is an appeal for justice, a message of peace.

Sincerely,

 

_______________________________________________
USC4P&J Announce mailing list

posted by: Whitebeard at 11:09 | link | comments |
israel, palestine, gaza

Citizens' Debate Commission

North american people, wake up

http://www.opendebates.org/yourrole/petition

Text of Petition:
"We, the undersigned, support Open Debates' campaign to reform the
presidential debate process. We believe that the presidential debates
should serve the American people first, not political parties. We
support replacing the bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates
with the nonpartisan Citizens' Debate Commission, so that inspiring
formats can be employed, pressing national issues can be addressed,
and popular independent and third party candidates can be included."

posted by: Whitebeard at 14:59 | link | comments |
us, democracy

2008 Peacemaker Award

 Luisa Morgantini,
Vice President of the European Parliament, is the  2008 Peacemaker Award by Rebuilding Alliance. 

 A Palestinian Mayor and an Israeli architect will also awarded   4th October - Red Rock Chateau, Silverado, Orange County CA, USA

 Rome, 1stOctober 2008

  On 4th October, the EP Vice President Luisa Morgantini will be awarded with the 2008 Peacemaker Award by the Rebuilding Alliance, an US non-profit organization -progressive American Jews are a part of it- committed for the respect of human rights and international law and in rebuilding homes and communities in regions of war and occupation.

 The Award represents a recognition of Luisa Morgantini's work and commitment for peace, justice and human rights' respect in particular concerning the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

 Sami Sadik Sbaih, the Palestinian Mayor of the West Bank village of Al Aqabah, and the Architect Shmuel Grolik, cofounder of the Israeli human rights group BIMKOM: Planners for Planning Rights, will be awarded, too.

 In fact, the Rebuilding Alliance's aim is to create alliances among peace activists and supporters and those who suffer injustice and violence, to establish projects able to rebuild shattered communities and to offer people around the world immediate ways to make peace, starting with the tangible support of a family's right to a home: a particular focus is on bringing Palestinians, Israelis and the world community together to rebuild Palestinian homes and schools in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

 That's why Rebuilding Alliance decided to award Luisa Morgantini and her efforts and commitment year after year, inside the European Parliament such as among civil society's movements, for a just and sustainable peace between Palestinians and Israelis and for justice and human rights respect everywhere in the world.
 The ceremony will take place at the Red Rock Chateau in Silverado, Orange County, California on October 4th during the 1st Annual Peacemakers Dinner.

 Further information:

 Luisa Morgantini  + 39 348 39 21 465 or Office + 39 06 69 95 02 17

 luisa.morgantini@europarl.europa.eu <mailto:luisa.morgantini@europarl.europa.eu> ; www.luisamorgantini.net <https://webmail.europarl.europa.eu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://webmail.europarl.europa.eu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.luisamorgantini.net/>

posted by: Whitebeard at 22:13 | link | comments |
peace, palestine

New thinking on the climate crisis

The link below is Al Gore's new presentation

given for the 1st time, as he says, at the TED Monterey Conference this Spring.

Very informative and I recommend watching it. 

Can also be downloaded as MP4 or Podcast

 And, this is Dr. James Hansen's June 23rd, 2008 address to the US Senate
Energy Committee, on the 20th Anniversary of his 1988 address to
Congress on Climate Change & Global Warming.  James Hansen has been the
director of NASA's GISS (Goddard Inst. for Space Studies) for over 20
yrs. now.

In short, he says we have already passed an acceptable level of CO2 in
the atmosphere and now must address the issue of reaching the tipping
point (of no return, ie runaway climate change).

http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5798

Guest Opinion: Global Warming Twenty Years Later by James Hansen on June
23, 2008

posted by: Whitebeard at 22:00 | link | comments |
culture, democracy, environment, world trade

The Great Refusal of Dante Alighieri

For video click the picture (Italian,  by Stefano Masetti, Castle of Poppi, Arezzo's county, the 14th june 2008, when my little book was preferred )

Dante was never again to return  to Florence.  Not even when Guido da Battifolle as podestà of the city promulgated an ordinance which seemed tailor made for him. 
The date was May 1315;  the city was weary of riots and revenges; the feast of Saint John, patron saint of Florence was only a month away.  Dante had received insistently repeated encouragemet from friends and relations, good people with much influece.  Before him llay many letters and messages from them.  Among them perhaps a message from a Franciscan monk whom he had known in the days he frequented Santa Croce, or a Dominican from Santa Maria Novella.
Might it really be possible to return, find again all he holds most dear, wander through the silvery steets along the sweetly scented Arno, see again his wife Gemma, their children Pietro, Iacopo, Antonia, his brother Francesca, his sister Tana, the friends from his youth, musicians and poets?...
Dante must have sat some several hours in torment at his desk, perhaps even a whole sleepless night: a first draft, soon torn up, then re written and again rejected.  At last he penned this answer which has come down to us in its entirety:

To a Florentine friend, May 1315
[1]. In your letters received with affectionate due respect, I have learned with grateful and careful consideration how much my return to the motherland is of great concern to you, and thus the more tightly you have obliged me as the more rarely happens that exiled find friends.

 But the answer to the content of those letters, even if perhaps its tenor is not what the cowardice of some may wish for, I cordially request that before any judgement, be assessed under the scrutiny of your wisdom.

3 [2]. Here is therefore what from yours as well as from my nephew's letters, and from those of many other friends, has been reported to me concerning the resolutions made in Florence on the acquittal of the disbanded: should I want to pay a certain amount of money and be prepared to face the shame of the offer, I might be acquitted and immediately return.

4 Concerning such acquittal, oh father, two things are laughable and badly advised by those  who have written such things, since your letter, phrased with different understanding and wisdom, contained nothing of the kind.

5 [3]. Is this the tone of the call with which Dante is being asked to return home after having been sent into exile for almost fifteen years?  Has innocence, obvious to anyone, this deserved? This, the  incessant sweat and hard work in studying?

6 Far from this man, familiar with philosophy, such baseness of mind to the point of irrationally accepting, while almost in fetters, such an offer as Ciolo and  other wretched ones had received.

7 Far from this man, who is a herald of justice, the payment, after suffering from such abuses, of his money to the  wicked as if they were benefactors.

8 [4]. This is not the way back home, oh father; but if a different way is found, either soon by you or later by others,  which will not undermine Dante's fame and honour, that, not at a slow pace, I will accept; since  should I not enter Florence in such a way, I shall never enter Florence.

And what then? Perhaps will I not see the light of the sun and the stars anywhere? Perhaps will I not meditate upon the sweet truth anywhere under the sky, if first I do not return to my city, without glory, but to the shame of the Florentine people? I certainly will not go without bread.

Latin original text:

1  In litteris vestris et reverentia debita et affectione receptis, quam repatriatio mea cure sit vobis et animo, grata mente ac diligenti animadversione concepi; et inde tanto me districtius obligastis, quanto rarius exules invenire amicos contingit.
2 Ad illarum vero significata responsio, etsi non erit qualem forsan pusillanimitas appeteret aliquorum, ut sub examine vestri consilii ante iudicium ventiletur, affectuose deposco.
3  Ecce igitur quod per litteras vestras meique nepotis nec non aliorum quamplurium amicorum, significatum est michi per ordinamentum nuper factum Florentie super absolutione bannitorum quod si solvere vellem certam pecunie quantitatem vellemque pati notam oblationis, et absolvi possem et redire ad presens.
4 In qua quidem duo ridenda et male preconsiliata sunt, pater; dico male preconsiliata per illos qui talia expresserunt, nam vestre littere discretius et consultius clausulate nichil de talibus continebant.
5  Estne ista revocatio gratiosa qua Dantes Alagherii revocatur ad patriam, per trilustrium fere perpessus exilium? Hocne meruit innocentia manifesta quibuslibet? hoc sudor et labor continuatus in studio?
6 Absit a viro phylosophie domestico temeraria tantum cordis humilitas, ut more cuiusdam Cioli et aliorum infamium quasi vinctus ipse se patiatur offerri!
 7 Absit a viro predicante iustitiam ut perpessus iniurias, iniuriam inferentibus, velut benemerentibus, pecuniam suam solvat!
 8  Non est hec via redeundi ad patriam, pater mi; sed si alia per vos ante aut deinde per alios invenitur que fame Dantisque honori non deroget, illam non lentis passibus acceptabo; quod si per nullam talem Florentia introitur, nunquam Florentiam introibo.
9 Quidni? nonne solis astrorumque specula ubique conspiciam? nonne dulcissimas veritates potero speculari ubique sub celo, ni prius inglorium ymo ignominiosum populo Florentineque civitati me reddam? Quippe nec panis deficiet.
( From There Romena Lies Dante  the Casentino (1289, 1302-1313), of Whitebeard, translated by Francesca White,  forthcoming).

( Ici la tradution Francaise de Lola Poggi, forthcoming aussi elle)

Le grand refus

Dante ne reviendra  plus jamais dans « la vallée fermée », et ne reverra plus Florence. Ni même quand Guido da Battifolle, devenu Podestat de la ville du lys, promulgua une ordonnance qui semble avoir été faite pour lui  en mai 1315, peu de semaines avant le 24 juin,  fête de Saint Jean Baptiste. Le nouveau Podestat avait été appelé pour ramener la paix et la sérénité à Florence, ville désormais lasse des rixes et des vengeances.  L’ordonnance permettait le retour des bannis, à la seule condition de reconnaître leurs propres erreurs, et  de suivre la procession, en habit de pénitent, parmi le peuple convié à la fête.  Dante fut à plusieurs reprises sollicité par ses parents et amis. Il reçut de nombreux messages et lettres d’amis, de neveux, de gens influents et bons. Parmi eux un moine, un franciscain de « Santa Croce » et un dominicain de « Santa Maria Novella ». Qui sait ?

Pourrait-il réellement revenir parmi les siens, retrouver chaque chose si chèrement aimée, se promener dans les rues de Florence « pavées de cristal », contempler l’Arno  « fin baume pour son âme », retrouver Gemma, ses fils Pietro, Jacopo, Antonia, son frère Francesco, sa sœur Tana, ses amis de jeunesse, musiciens et hommes de lettre, poètes et rimeurs…

Après des heures tourmentées devant son pupitre, peut être une nuit sans sommeil, une réponse esquissée, déchirée et puis réécrite et encore détruite, enfin, voici celle qui est parvenue à nous dans sa totalité : sa dernière lettre aux Florentins.

Lettre à l’ami florentin, mai 1315

[1] Par votre lettre, qui a suscité en moi les sentiments affectueux et admiratifs qu’elle mérite, j’ai appris, avec gratitude et attention, à quel point mon retour dans ma patrie vous tient à cœur ; vous m’avez d’autant plus obligé qu’il est rare pour les exilés d’avoir encore des amis. Toutefois, je vous prie cordialement de bien vouloir, avant de me juger, soumettre ma réponse, qui ne sera pas celle que la pusillanimité de certains souhaiterait, à l'examen de votre sagesse.

[2] Voici donc ce que votre lettre, celle de mon neveu et celle de plusieurs amis m'ont appris sur le décret qui vient d'être promulgué à Florence au sujet de l'acquittement des exilés : si j’acceptais de verser une certaine somme d'argent et de me soumettre à la honte de l' "offrande ",  je pourrais être acquitté et rentrer immediatement. Dans cette proposition, deux choses sont risibles et mal méditées, mon père : mal méditées par ceux qui ont formulé de telles conditions, car votre lettre, inspirée par bien plus de sagesse et de discrétion, ne contenait rien de tout cela.

[3] Est-ce donc là la grâce accordée à Dante Alighieri afin qu’il puisse rentrer dans sa patrie après avoir souffert l'exil pendant  presque trois lustres? Est -ce donc là la récompense d'une innocence qui est évidente pour tout le monde, la récompense de tant de travail, de tant de temps alloué aux études? C'est une humiliation indigne d'un familier de la philosophie d'accepter d'être « offert", presque en chaînes, à la manière d'un Ciolo quelconque ou de tant d'autres infâmes. C'est indigne pour un homme qui prêche la justice et qui a été victime de l'injustice de récompenser les auteurs de l'injustice avec de l'argent, comme s’ils étaient des bienfaiteurs!

[4] Non, la voie du retour dans la patrie n'est pas celle-là, mon père; toutefois, si, par votre intermédiaire ou par celui de quelqu'un d'autre, on peut trouver une autre voie qui ne porte pas préjudice à la renommée et à l'honneur de Dante, je l'emprunterai sans tarder; car, si on ne peut pas retourner à Florence par une telle voie, jamais je ne retournerai à Florence. Quoi donc ? ne pourrai-je pas contempler partout la lumière du soleil et des astres? Ne pourrai-je pas m'adonner, partout sous le ciel, aux méditations sur la douce vérité, sans auparavant devoir me rendre, avec déshonneur et ignominie, à la cité et au peuple de Florence? Ce ne sera certainement pas le pain qui me manquera.

posted by: Whitebeard at 19:24 | link | comments |
dante, casentino