somewhere between asia and south america

Friday, June 12, 2009

"Not a Band" at open mic!

Ross and I started playing together in the beginning of the year. Actually, there was a good month and a half where we were a band, but still hadn't played music together yet. I was pretty sure we needed band photos (for our not yet created album cover), band drama, and name before we could play together.

The banjo, dulcimer, guitar, and harmonica had never all played together. Just variations of the group... it was great though! We played 3 songs...

another thank you for the donations gathered by the Vagina Monologue Performance

Hola UPAZ! Just received another note from Yanar, the Director or OWFI, and wanted to pass along her deep thanks to all of you as well as the stories of the two women in their safe house that directly benefited from your donation. The two women are around the same age as the students at UPEACE.---------- Forwarded message ----------From: Yanar MohammedDate: Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 1:58 PMSubject: Response: Donation from the University for Peace, VDAYTo: elempereur@gmail.com, campaign@vday.orgDear Ellen & Friends in VDAYThank you for your donation towards our Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq - OWFI. We received the amount of 518 Canadian dollars in our account on May 31st.We found that the best way to use it would be in supporting some of the new residents of our shelters, especially those who are the same age as the students raising the funds for us.Please read the notes from our sheltering team below and browse into a recent PBS short documentary of one of our temporary shelters in Baghdad.yours in feminist struggle,Yanar Mohammed----------Beneficiary: OWFI – Organization of Women's Freedom in IraqIndividuals who benefited from the fund: two residents of OWFI's sheltersHala, at 18 year old, is already divorced and lost her baby to illness. When she could not bear the beating from her father at home anymore, she begged two Iraqi female soldiers to find her a safe house where she can be respected. The soldiers brought her to OWFI and we took her into the Baghdad transitional house. News reached later that her tribe are ruthless butchers and have slaughtered other female relatives for honour related reasons.OWFI used part of the fund to send Hala to a safe place in a far away city, where we know she will stay alive.Assal, 17 year old, from a southern city, had lost her mother at an early age. The step mom did not care for her and her sister's well-being. Beatings and sexual assaults became regular occurring. Her sister escaped and was eventually exploited and tricked into gangs of trafficking who took her to the emirates. People have seen her dance in tv shows, which means that she is stuck in the sexual slavery market there.Assal spoke to one of OWFI supporters in her city and found her way to us in May 2009. She resides in one of our smaller and more quiet shelters.Assal has a strong personality and an ability to learn computer programs. She dreams of becoming an actress. OWFI is looking for ways to help Assal find her way in this second chance at life. The fund from VDAY was used to support Assal's current needs.Thank you VDAY for continuing to support our safe houses in Iraq Big thanks to the student of UPEACE class in Costa Rica. Our friends in the outer world made our survival possible since the war on Iraq started in 2003. Thank you.Note: we had to make slight changes to the names of the girls as we can never be careful enough against the threats of honour killings.Recently, two brave American journalists were allowed into one of our houses. Anna Badkhen wrote and Mimi Chakarova filmed a short piece which shows some of us:http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/pakistan802/video/video_index_baghdad.html OWFI Sheltering team June 7, 2009