Friday, October 12, 2007

MOVED

I've moved to the new address for my blog which is avoiceoftwocities.blogspot.com

Time to unpack now!

But before I go "unpack," I'd like to thank the Lord, my family, and my dear beloved neighbor's dead dog (;)) for being there for me in hard times and for laughing with me in the good. I hope it's been a great experience for myself and that I can see myself as moving onto my new project, my life and my blog and my hope for implementing them through communication and exchange.

I think it's time to say goodbye to this beloved blog that was linked to by some as being http://say-no-to-crack.blogspot.com while I was in Iran, then sea-of-angels or something of that nature, and now the final move.

I've linked my homepage on the other blog page to this blog page so it's my unofficial archive.

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

My Position?

I recently scoured the articles on Nema Milaninia's weblog community Iraniantruth and I found his article about his views on Iranian opposition groups in the disapora (not inside Iran).

I don't know what's wrong with opposition groups outside of Iran. It seems we may be looking at the wrong groups, or seeing the wrong faces. For instance, opposition groups that have powerful lobbying skills may be seen as negative and having a bad effect on the Iranian diaspora in the eyes of Iranians inside Iran but there are also many opposition groups that don't do that because they aren't interested in power politics for money or fame...they actually want to HELP the people and the workers. There are many individuals, small groups, and communities that are trying their best to have a positive impact on Iranians and it's hard when you don't live inside Iran. I expect the greatest change to come from within Iran, but some of the smaller steps can be taken outside too. It's not simply a matter of borders and boundaries at this day and age when we just connect through computers and have our worlds connected.

Many revolutionaries affected change on society from the guarded, and "foreign" interior of a jail-cell. They might as well have been camping on K2 for all they were worth inside their country, but they still held their ground and achieved their goals and they are respected. I'm totally in agreement that evil, conniving a-holes should be hung from their shorts but that's rare (duh).

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Now, I've been thinking more and more about the Persian Green Relief Institute. I've found a few other organizations that I'll list soon, and hopefully I can get a couple of email correspondences going between here and there and post what I find out here.

Would it be possible to actually go to Iran and work with these organizations? I don't know...I'm not even sure where to start or who to ask, it seems almost frivolous of me I've been asked a few times if I was crazy or if I needed to see a therapist...because I want to see if I can work in one of these organizations for at least 6 months.

If anyone knows of any place that I can contact, let me know because I need to know hopefully soon before I go to Tehran in the winter.

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While I spent a year in Iran for high-school, I used to practically eat up the following blogs:

BroodingPersian
Scaniranic
Webgardian
Opip

They've all stopped blogging for at least a while now. I don't know what anyone else felt, but these blogs were practically the only connections I had (besides my favorites in American culture, media, entertainment, cooking, etc...) to explain and help understand what I was seeing and hearing while in Iran. I hope they're all doing what they want to do and I also hope they all come back to join in a dialogue again. Everyone counts.

Saturday, October 06, 2007

Riding the Metro in Tehran

I remember

This summer I decided to start taking the Metro to visit family near Karaj. Before, I would pay around 10 dollars to get a taxi to drive me about 40 miles to see them. Then, gas prices went through the roof (I was out that night when it happened-long story) and I realized how much 10 Iranian tomans is really worth (to me).

So, I took the metro from Tehran through a transfer center in Sadeghiye and to another metro to Karaj.

The metro was cool when it first came in, and besides the occasional stares (because I dressed like a hippy)
All was super.

Then, I saw the deluge of females in black swooping down the aisle from another transferred metro to join mine...and my world came to a sudden too-hot-and-stuffy-to-breathe end.
Fortunately, I didn't require any CPR because the women around me were complaining so much about the heat and just looked like death I had to hold myself back from totally ripping my scarf to shreds....instead, I just took it off.

People stare when you do things like that...they don't smile at you most of the time, or give you nods of encouragement but they just stare. I felt a little uncomfortable, but it felt wonderful having the scarf off and I wondered if anyone else felt that they too should take it off because you don't have to take it. You don't have to.

One other girl ended up taking her scarf off...it felt sort of like the girls who took their manteaus off in the park




to see what it would feel like? ahhhhhhh.....free at last!

Persian Green Relief Institute

I'm still learning how to read formal Farsi, and websites are making that much easier. I was searching for any NGO opportunities in Iran for myself in the future when I plan to visit.

If anyone has the inkling of an interest in going there and contributing their skills to being a humanitarian in Iran the greatest opportunities are found through civil organizations that help build the foundations of a healthier society.

In my search, I actually found an exciting group that I never knew existed! (sad, but true)

The Persian Green Relief Institute


Because their concentration is on Disabled citizens of society as well as HIV/AIDS infected members of society this particular NGO caught my eye. Iran definitely needs to start planning for those infected with HIV/AIDS and those in danger of being infected...I believe the country has only one sequencing PCR Machine in Tehran for mass DNA replication and for research of AIDS/HIV and that's unfortunate.

Perhaps University of Tehran can fix that someday...which I've heard is happening. :)

Have I Said Too Much or Not Enough?

I always have to wonder to when what I've said is too much or whether I should have said more. It's important to be demanding of your words since they give meaning to your little world, your "Persona".

During the past 170 posts, I spent most of my time of it writing from my little white-washed, paint-chipped room in Tehran. I always sat in front of the window because I could let the breeze in during the hot summer and hear the people outside (which could have been anyone from the guy screaming and yelling things about vegetables and used fridges or a couple of kids beating each other up). Sensory overload made me happy.

In fact, the entire experience was a sensory overload, until I slowly felt myself giving way to that little existence that I had. Slowly seeing myself as living within the society, rather than on the outside and only fluttering in to do my groceries, or get my hair done. That feeling isn't gone, but I am back home now. Or, rather, one of my homes.

You know the song-of course you do!- "I left my heart in San Francisco"? Well...I did...but I left my Soul in Tehran.

Apparently, this isn't a good thing, but it can't be helped. I'll be studying for at least two more years and then I'm free as a bird (or a plane, to be more precise). Hopefully, I'll have learned enough during the two or so years with blogging, media, and film to be able to pass my time chronicling events while I'm in Tehran again.

But I was in Tehran recently, over the past few years, and it was some of the most inspiring experiences I've had there. My first time in Tehran was mind-boggling, I didn't understand a thing and I always got jipped at the stores and was afraid to even step near anyone for fear that they'd all of a sudden start screaming Koranic verses at me for thinking that I didn't like to wear a scarf in 100 degree weather and I didn't want to believe in the Newspapers or the Religious Elite (is Elite a good word here? It would be more acceptable to say the Religious Majority).

I should write more later. Hopefully, I'll be able to do justice to my experiences here. And, in a way, I think many of the bloggers here are all Edward Shirleys...except that they are a chorus of Shirleys and the lead role is missing. But, in time, I think people will realize that we don't need someone to save Iran, or someone to lead Iran to the gates of golden-washed glittery "Democracy Express Mail". Rather, Iran needs lead ROLES. Leaders. Many of them, and one day I can go back there without having to worry about the length of my manteau but rather the virtues of my actions!

Anyway. Back to the books and I'm glad I can finally write down all that I went through. Should be interesting to read it,myself, even if it sounds corny.

:)

Friday, January 19, 2007

Hazara Archives

The archives and news from the Hazara website has reports of interest to everyone involved in the past affairs of Afghanistan's Hazara's and anyone concerned for its present state of affairs. The website includes links to articles outlining the increasing violence between Taliban factions in the South and NATO/Afghan forces. Apparently, Pakistani officials are not exactly holding up their end of the bargain with the U.S

Friday, January 05, 2007

Rants n Raves

Check out the Rants n Raves page on Craig'slist:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/rnr/

Thursday, December 07, 2006

The Muddled East

That was a long time not to post on here (the anticipation was killing you, right?), but I've been a little busy with the load of work/research. Hope you've all been surviving the brink of the Holiday shopping and having things to look forward to like a week long break for winter!!!


Yes, I know what you'd say, "That's EXACTLY what I was thinking!" which at times doesn't seem the least bit ironic to me. However, this map was taken from the archives of uncyclopedia.org.

If you've been the frequent user of wikipedia.com, you probably would not know much about this other website but it's full of idiosyncratic images/texts of people who write simply to entertain others on serious subjects such as the war in Iraq, Immigration in the U.S, the threat that is Iran, Japanese porn, and other such subjects.

Now, onto more important events like this article posted by the Middle East Forum (Some things never change) regarding an interview they did with James A. Baker III (re:Iran). Pay attention to the difference emphasized between Saudi Arabia's Islamic fundamentalism (U.S ally) and radical Islamic fundamentalism(U.S enemy) that the ME Forum points out- Of course,I would call it "the same difference," but there are advantages to being white smurfs sitting on a heap of Gold (Saudia Arabia, case in point).









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Thursday, July 27, 2006

"Snow Leopard"- "Palang-e-Sefid" (Uncia Uncia) Filmed For the First Time...

Just a few days ago a camera crew was out in a remote mountainous region in Northern Iran filming the habitat and searching for wild animals native to the area when suddenly a white, large cat was spotted through the camera lens.

The camera crew immediately recognized this beautiful creature as a Snow Leopard, scientifically named Uncia Uncia, which had not been captured on film for almost a decade or more inside Iran.

The best part about seeing this animal, although scrawny and underfed in the film, was that I was discussing their plight with a friend just yesterday. I remember reading about the hunting parties that drove their species to near extinction and the disorganized, underpaid state of the environmentalists and animal activists within Iran being unable to control poaching of these animals. Because of their prized fur, and their small numbers, most of these Snow Leopards have been transferred to wildlife parks where they are bred and have grown in numbers but still suffer in the wild because of the lack of protectionism.

The strangest aspect about these Snow Leopards is their inability to roar or purr, leaving them in complete silence; however, I hope that there will be changes in policy and more money sent to the national parks to protect what is left of them for future generations to enjoy.


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Because my other blog has exceeded its bandwidth usage on eponym.com I've continued to work on this one, and I hope everyone watches VOA's Rountable tonight, with Nazanin Afshin-Jam!

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Lebanon's Cedar Movement

It may have rallied an entire Nation, to or against its movement but it surely held a significant place in the hearts of many Iranians that I heard from and especially those young students who believe that one day they would be able to echo the calls of the Lebanese youth in the streets of Tehran; however, I would like to salute this site for its quirky approach to the movement, and consider Iran a hopeful Babe of the future.

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