After the great success of the Dec. 16th "Days of Listening" international conference call with Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers, in which Americans and Afghan youth talked to each other via a global conference call, another call is scheduled for tonight, New Year's Eve. It was quite amazing when their voices started coming through, Afghan young people wishing Americans peace and sharing their feelings about the war, in all innocence relating that in the past year things have gotten worse in the past months, contrary to Obama's rosey reports of progress. As well, how well-spoken and sensitive the budding peace activists at Tracy High School Peace Club in California were, with their new young friends on the other side of the globe, filled me with hope. Individuals and peace groups around the world shared their feelings. There was some sort of electricity in the air as the connections were made and everyone realized we were all just people.
Tonight, New Year’s Eve, consider staying in, staying sober, and doing something different: striking a blow for world peace. From 7.05 pm Eastern Standard Time on the 31st of December 2010 to..
7.05 pm Eastern Standard Time on the 1st of January 2011, from wherever in the world, you can call from your mobile or home phone by dialing (661) 673-8600, enter access code: 295191#. Place your phone on mute by pressing *6. This unmutes it as well when you want to speak.
Or you can join the Livestream webcast HERE.
The Afghan youth are attempting to build a world movement which bypasses governments and has people reaching out to each other as individuals to break the war cycle. They are using technology in very creative ways. They will keep doing it and it will get bigger and bigger. Join. Speak your heart. It is amazing. As you realize what you are participating in, you will have the incredible feeling that you are part of history, and that, if this catches on, this could be the beginning of a wonderful new era. The Afghan youth write in their Open Letter to World Leaders:
If the world could listen, they would know how much we detest the violence of the Taliban, our warlords, any warlord, or any bullet-digging finger-trophy troops.
And who is financing the Taliban, in large part? Your taxpayer dollars. The proof is in that this war has nothing to do with security, but about keeping lucrative military contracts going. The absurdity could not be any clearer now ("US Taxpayer Dollars Killing American Troops in Afghanistan," Truthout.org)
The young Afghans cannot disclose their full names. At their age, they are already risking it for peace. We have failed, and miserably, to make a better world. In the New Year, let's follow the young people.
"Dear Afghanistan" : A New Year’s Call for Peace