Feminist International Radio Endeavour -
FIRE

August 2006

The solidarity action continues

We continue the marathon, we continue in solidarity, making an impact toward the end of the war, said María Suárez of FIRE-RIF.  This same sentiment was expressed by the general coordinator of the Global Petition for a Ceasefire in a recent press release, who said, "The campaigns against the war are working, the global pressure is working.  

The UN Security Council has been working day and night on a proposed resolution, because the pressure has been mounting from the solidarity actions from around the world. 

Join the campaigns for solidarity and that call for an end to the armed conflicts.  FIRE is continuing its call for messages of solidarity with women affected by the Middle East conflicts.

The solidarity action continues

Send your email to: oficina@radiofeminista.net or  Kata@radiofeminista.net 

 

MOMENTUM CONTINUES FOR VOICES OF RESISTANCE CAMPAIGN: 
CALLING FOR AN END TO THE WAR AND THE BLOODSHED
 

By Katerina Anfossi/RIF /FIRE
August 12 2006

The “Voices of Resistance” Marathon organized by FIRE generated numerous messages of solidarity and support for women who are affected by the recent armed conflicts with calls from around the world for an immediate ceasefire.  Interviews with women in the armed conflicts helped encourage listeners to send messages via phone and email as part of the Solidarity Action organized by FIRE with MADRE and supported by the Urgent Action Fund.   One main objective of the campaign was to support women’s organizations that work for human rights for women and also for those of their communities in the war zones.  

Patricia Villavicencio from Spain opened the channels of feminist solidarity on August 4 in the FIRE marathon by calling for an end to the armed conflict "to stop this war that is guided by patriarchal minds with the ultimate goal of destroying a people."  These aggressive actions "are creating great suffering among our Lebanese, Palestinian and Israeli friends," declared Villavicencio to the FIRE web radio audience.


Peace demonstration calling for an end to the siege on Lebanon, August 2006

(Photo from lebanonundersiege.gov.lb)


Demononstration against the Israeli occupation of Palestine, August 2005
(Photo by FIRE/RIF)

 

 

BRIDGING THE MEDIA DISINFORMATION AND ISOLATION GAP

In an interview from Lebanon during the FIRE marathon, Lina Abou-Habib, executive director of the Center for Research, Training and Action (CRTA) in Beirut expressed her deep concern for the nearly one-fourth of the Lebanese population who are displaced and have sought refuge to escape from the escalating conflict in their country.  She talked about how mainstream media is focusing primarily on the military action and ignoring the voices and perspectives of people, particularly the poor.  She issued a call for an unconditional and immediate ceasefire as a means to break the vicious cycle of violence and to enable negotiation of strategies to resolve the conflict.

Palestinian Arabyya Mansour of Women in Black talked about the mobilizations that her organization has sponsored involving both Palestinian and Israeli women who oppose the escalation of the war and aim to push for a two-state resolution in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.  She called to the international community “to get involved and create more pressure for a solution to the conflict that will stop the destruction and the crimes.  There has to be a ceasefire and a return to the negotiation table.  Savage power does not solve anything.  We must continue to maintain the international pressure.”

Feminist peace activist Lily Traubman from the organizations Women in Black and Bat Shalom of Israel told the audience about the numerous peace actions that the women’s movement has mobilized in the region as a joint effort between Arab and Israeli women.  She highlighted that ever since the beginning of the present conflict they have organized daily manifestations against the war in cities such as Haifa, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Nazareth and Galilee. 

Lily Traubman echoed concerns by Lina Abou-Habib that “media have not given enough coverage to these peace actions because [the coverage] is concentrated on military actions and conflict." 

According to Lily Traubman the conflict is linked to the international context, to the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, to the politicies of the Israeli governmental and those of the Bush Administration that favor the war industry and globalization of markets.

Through FIRE’s venue, Lily Traubman of Israel sent a message to women in Lebanon, “I want you to know that I think of you often, that there are women and men here who think differently, that every day of the week there is at least one demonstration against the war, against what the government of Israel is doing in our name.  I hope that someday we can talk but first let’s end this war, to be able to make peace that can give us a vision of the future, a vision of hope.  I wish that we could start a dialogue above the war and the bloodshed.”

Vivian Stromberg of MADRE in the United States called for a political solution to stop the violence and said that the United Status is blocking possibilities for a true and just peace agreement.  She highlighted the importance of political solidarity and concrete assistance that will help the women in the Middle East by showing them that they are not alone, because it is of vital importance to make that solidarity effective.  Vivian discussed the causes of the conflict, and relates it to ethnic cleansing in the region and she called attention to the necessity of not forgetting the situation in Gaza where violence continues.

Algerian Marieme Helie Lucas of the organization Women Living Under Muslim Laws discussed the role of media in ignoring the profound anger that the crisis is producing across the Middle East region.  She talked about the demonstrations for peace held by women in Israel, who “have the courage to protest against the war inside an aggressor country,” withstanding the mocking, insults and in some cases violence.  And yet the mainstream media have produced little or no coverage of these activities.  The “war produces more war for women, not only related to military violence but also domestic violence.”

For Marieme Helie Lucas, the escalation of the military violence in the Middle East will concentrate more energy in the hands of fundamentalists so “we should give a voice to all women and reject the theory that what is happening amounts to a ‘clash of civilizations’” (a well known argument by Samuel Huntington about the causes of conflict in today's world).

Noeleen Heyzer, executive director of UNIFEM told FIRE that "women must be part of the solution," in talking about the important role being played by Israeli & Palestinian women in the International Women's Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian-Israeli Peace (IWC).  Heyzer also outlined a five-part plan developed by the IWC for achieving peace, and emphasized the importance of utilizing women's leadership, expertise and resources to achieve a  resolution of the armed conflicts.  Again, however, the mainstream media has provided little coverage of this work for peace by Israeli and Palestinian women leaders. 

 

Some of the nearly 1 million displaced persons
due to the military siege on Lebanon

Photo by lebanonundersiege.org

VOICES IN SOLIDARITY

Power outages during the FIRE broadcast did not stop the calls and email messages of feminist solidarity.  Among the messages received during the broadcast were the words sent by Paola Brenes of Costa Rica saying, “I send my solidarity with women who live the consequences of a conflict they did not create.”

From Guatemala, the radio program Voces de Mujeres (Voices of Women) sent a message that said:  “Once again, the reasons for the conflict given by the state justify aggression and violence.  Once again, force is prioritized over reason and dialogue.  Our Voces de Mujeres join the Voices of Resistance for peace in the Middle East.  We deplore the loss of lives of children, women, men, and elders due to the inability of patriarchy to preserve life.  We stand in solidarity with those who are resisting in the middle of the violent insanity unleashed in the Middle East, and say yes to life!”

Barbara Millman of Lakewood, Colorado, United States that she enjoyed listening to the broadcast of women who are deeply committed to finding a peaceful resolution in the Middle East and to make a just world for all, that it gives her hope.  "These days it is more important than anything to have faith in a peaceful future," said Barbara.  "Please know that the women's groups in Lebanon and Gaza are not alone.  Thank you for all of your important work in Costa Rica.  Hello to my friends Margarita and Maria."

From Puerto Rico:

“Women united in defense of the victims of the armed conflict call for a ceasefire and negotiations for peace.  Thank you FIRE for your constancy, for mobilizing us, and for making our voices be heard in support of women in Palestine, Israel and Lebanon in light of the aggression of the military powers.” 

In solidarity from Puerto Rico, Sara Benitez Delgado, Professor at the University of Puerto Rico-.

 

Women of Peru send their solidarity:

Dear friends, The women and men at the Institute of Support for the Autonomous Movement of Women Peasants (IAMAMC) of Peru stand in solidarity with your cause, for peace in the Middle East and for a political solution to the conflict.


 

The SOLIDARITY ACTION CAMPAIGN CONTINUES

Until August 19, FIRE has asked that people keep sending emails to support the Solidarity Action Campaign, “Voices of Resistance.”  For each email with a message of solidarity, FIRE will donate $5.  The funds, provided by the Urgent Action Fund and feminist philanthropists will be sent through Madre to women’s organizations that work for human rights and with communities in the armed conflict zones in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel.

Send your email messages to: oficina@radiofeminista.net.  

The marathon VOICES OF RESISTANCE is joined with other solidarity initiatives around the world, including actions by:

Amnesty International

Global Ceasefire Petition

Code PINK

VOICES OF RESISTANCE TRANSCENDS BORDERS

In addition to linking to other campaigns, FIRE has connected through its Voices of Resistance Campaign to other media venues around the world.  The 8 hour-webcast in English and Spanish was rebroadcast by radio stations and networks, and reproduced or covered in other media and communication centers enabling them to amplify the voices of the women in the Middle East in their own venues.

Other media venues who reproduced or rebroadcast our material include: the City Radio of Buenos Aires, the Women’s Media Center (womensmediacenter.com) in the United States, and Radio Novoa in Italy, where the journalist Isabella Manicinni listened to the FIRE marathon in order to produce reports the following day.  Likewise, the World Association of Community Radios (AMARC) distributed the initiative to all their members.

This marathon is designed to generate international solidarity with the feminist and women’s movements in the Middle East and demonstrate respect for the courage of the women struggling for peace. 

For more information visit Voices of Resistance.

Add your voice to the messages we have received by writing an email to: oficina@radiofeminista.net.

Sound files and photos:  Feminist International Radio Endeavour (FIRE)
You may use the information from FIRE (www.radiofeminista.net ) citing FIRE as the source