Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Simple ways to support Yemen from abroad

Here are a few ideas for how you can help Yemen from abroad.  These are very broad and general ideas, but any effort is helpful and much appreciated. Once the Support Yemen website is running, it will include more detailed information regarding each point.

  • Read more about Yemen, understand it, and talk to your friends about it. (ask us for book recommendations if you like).
  • Know that it's ok to say I don't understand Yemen, after all it's a VERY complicated country.
  • For people on twitter, don't RT information on numbers of deaths or injuries without a source, because that could unintentionally contribute to misinformation which could be harmful to the cause. 
  • Show a film about Yemen and hold a discussion after wards. You can invite activists to speak via skype. 
  • Write about Yemen in your blog, website or on your facebook wall.
  • Add a book on Yemen to be read and discussed in your book club.
  • Hold a march to support Yemen and pass out leaflets and information about the events in the country.
  • Circulate information from various parts of Yemen, not just the capital. 
  • Circulate local blogs.
  • Lobby your government using reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International on Yemen.  In addition, to reports by local human rights groups and independent coalitions. 
  • Link Yemeni revolution to broader issues of social equality, freedom, and justice throughout the world.
  • Circulate information about the humanitarian situation, daily life, power outages, increase in prices, and economic disaster. 
  •  Circulate as many videos and photographs as possible. 
  • Help us consolidate all websites on the Yemeni Revolution.
  • Help raise funds for local humanitarian organizations to help alleviate ongoing crisis. 
  • Help set up a photography exhibit on the Yemeni Revolution. 
  • Help raise funds for Yemeni activists to come speak at an event in your school, organization, or community.
  • Create a supportYemen group in your community and join the Support Yemen campaign.  People in Yemen can provide the information, videos, photographs, and people abroad can do awareness raising, hold events, and campaign for Yemen.  (website coming soon: http://supportyemen.org/)
In the end, I would like to thank any of you, who took a moment to help Yemen.  Our struggle is a struggle for freedom and humanity, and you are an important part of the movement.

2 comments:

Peggy said...

Thank you! I adore Yemen and try to make that known wherever I am.

Eda said...

Hello,

I would like to invite an activist to speak to a select group of US peace activists via web based video conference (we have the platform). I would imagine showing your wonderful video, having an activist give some kind of presentation about what's happening on the ground, what we should know, what kind of support you need, and then time for Q&A. Most of the activists would be coming as representatives of major or historical or highly active Christian peace groups. I am not sure if this would have a negative impact on your decision to participate. We have worked broadly with Afghan and Iraqi (Muslim) activists as well in similar programs. Thank you for considering our request. If you would like to be in touch, you may reach me at eda@hopesem.org or eda.uca.dorn@gmail.com.

Peace,
Eda