An unmissable message to Mbeki from Avaaz
This banner, measuring 278m², was flown over the UN by the advocacy group Avaaz, while Thabo Mbeki a special Security Council meeting inside. I doubt even he missed the message this time.
Why not email Avaaz and thank them for doing such an amazing job? Writing a ‘thank you’ email is infinitely more pleasurable than writing one begging people to help. Contact details here.
There are more images of the banner in action in this flickr photoset. I particularly like the one with the Statue of Liberty in it. Symbolic.
April 17th, 2008 13:27
Let’s fly our own banners in our own streets
Gain the momentum: grab the initiative : be positive
The People of Zimbabwe have won
democracy in Zimbabwe
MDC government in parliament
President Morgan Tsvangirai
Now to establish
law and order
patriotic people-oriented police and army
a trustworthy judiciary
independent news media
minority opposition party Zanu-pf
There’s a good article on http://thezimbabwetimes.com/page963.htm
April 17th, 2008 13:49
How can Mbeki see the banner, much less the message, if he is and always been deaf, dumb and blind to the plight of the people of Zimbabwe? The situation in Zimbabwe is much bigger than Mbeki. It’s now time for the world to demand action against the failed rulers of Zimbabwe in order to protect its people from further injustice, suffering and human rights abuses.
It’s now time to act swiftly and responsibly to protect Zimbabwe…
April 17th, 2008 15:28
Awe-inspiring. I had no idea Avaaz.org had that in mind along with their petition.
April 17th, 2008 20:51
I am writting Beira in Mozambique where many Zimbabwean have fled to. The circunstances under whuch they are living are just terrible and here comes Thabo Mbeki saying that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe.Now if a man does not listen to his consciency he would hardly listen to any one else.
April 18th, 2008 04:30
This is a game of chess indeed. If the presidents of Zambia and Botswana can persuade South Africa to join them to display a united front to deny Mugabe the legitimacy that he craves personally, and needs politically, this strong rejection of his actions, more than anything else, could very well lead the military and internal security forces, which are propping him up, to fracture their support for him.
South Africa will be forced to do this by virtue of the fact that it was precisely this kind of undemocratic activity, at which Mbeki’s ANC now thumbs its nose, which they condemned as anti-Apartheid activists. Therefore by going against the very democratic values upon which it was founded would not only make South Africa a laughing stock, but would seriously damage its regime as a fair and constructive government.
June 23rd, 2008 19:38
Its sad that South Africa doesn’t have the courage to condemn the violence in Zimbabwe. South Africa has always been quick to call western white countries racist yet doesn’t have the courage to criticize the violence against Tsvangirai and add there support for free elections.
China it seems only lives off of other peoples pain and also has know respect for the rights of others including there own people.
Its time to stop supporting governments that make life miserable for others. The best way is not to buy goods and also add your voice to others protesting.
Unfortunately this is a site dedicated to speaking out against what is going on in Zimbabwe thus others who we need to help in the struggle most likely will never see these thoughts.
June 23rd, 2008 23:16
Once Bishop Desmond Tutu described Mugabe as another EXAMPLE of the typical caricature of tne negative African despot. This was when he started raiding the farms impulsively and murderously without any planned and orderly manner of land redistribution or balanced political debate. Zimbabwean people, then had refused to sanction his 2000 constitution. What do we still have now? A stuborn dictator disregarding everything that is dignified, like a dry turd stuck on the African veil of democracy.
June 24th, 2008 00:38
I have been reading Stephen Gowan’s article entitled Zimbabwe’s lonely fight for justice flighted on the Global Research website. It is an academic analysis of Zimbabwean politics and Mugabe’s intended philosophy. Unfortunately it reflects the distance the writer is from the reality on the gound. I will comment on only 2 issues.
It is a fact that the war for independence addressed inequalities and also that the DRC needed a peacekeeping force. I speak and ask this question as an African: What has happened to the land in Zimbabwe why has it suddenly gone unproductive has the west stopped the rains? Why are the best farms owned by those closest to Mugabe. As for the DRC who benefitted from the Zimbabwean presence there. Definitely not me or my fellow country men. I know and have read some investigative reports on the results of Zimbabwe’s presence in the DRC. zanu pf capitalised from this and individuals in zanu looted the DRC we did not benefit or are benefiting from this. Mr Stephen Gowans is one of those scholars who argue convincingly yet lose sight of the basic principles of portraying revolutionaries. I’d like to remind him of NGUGI Wa Thiongo’s ADVICE in his ‘Decolonising the mind.’ He says Africans need to destroy all that which represents the colonialist Mugabe has not, he lives at state house, can’t and has never freely walked the streets of his native land, he has taken the best of the crumbs that colonialism left and in that comfort has the audacity to oppress and starve his people using myopic debates backed by the likes of Gowans I am sorry Stephen I can’t buy your line. It is very loud and meaningless.