Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Citizens speak out. Standing up for their own lives and those of fellow citizens, people
in countries such as Chile, Germany, Libya, Palestine, Sudan, Syria, United Kingdom, and
Yemen continue to rally for greater respect, basic freedoms and a representative voice
in government.
SUDAN - An estimated 197 African refugees are feared drowned after their boat caught
fire in Sudanese waters while they were being transported to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Officials
in Port-Sudan report that three have been rescued with a search that is still ongoing,
while four Yemeni nationals who owned the boat have been detained.
PALESTINE - Israel's Ynet News reported on Wednesday that the Swedish flotilla boat,
Juliano, became the second to set sail to Gaza, Palestine after it was allowed by officials
to depart from Greece once it had been repaired. A spokesperson for the Free Gaza movement
stated there were plans for the Juliano to meet up with the French flotilla vessel Dignite
al Karama, which had set sail the previous day.
UNITED KINGDOM - A rally was held on Monday, July 4 outside the Royal Air Force base Menwith
Hill, the site of a large ongoing US-run intelligence and surveillance operation. The protesters
objected to the US presence at the base, which has never been made accountable to the people
of the United Kingdom as they called for the removal of all such operations from British
soil. Meanwhile, the British Parliament held an emergency session on Wednesday regarding
allegations that tabloid press News of the World, owned by media giant Rupert Murdock's
News Corporation, had hacked into and tampered with messages on the cell phone of an abducted
girl who was later found to have been murdered. Prime Minister David Cameron has called for
a government investigation into this and other similar allegations against the news agency,
while several international corporations have pulled their advertising from the publication
pending the investigation results.
GERMANY - After a report published on July 3 in Spiegel magazine released information
about a planned sale by Germany of military tanks to Saudi Arabia, Parliament members
called an immediate debate to demand an explanation from the government. Many expressed deep concern
as this would be the first heavy weapons sale in 20 years to Saudi Arabia, whose troops
have been supporting the violent crackdown in Bahrain. They said that this would go against
the national policy of banning arms sales to repressive states as well as Chancellor
Angela Merkel's previous expressions of support for pro-democracy movements.
CHILE - Following mass protests by tens of thousands of students, Chilean President Sebastián
Piñera issued a proposal on Tuesday for US$4 billion in education reforms to address students'
demands for high quality, affordable and accessible education available for all.
SYRIA - Activists reported that at least 22 citizens died Tuesday and 23 Wednesday, with
80 wounded and hundreds who were arrested in the central city of Hama after security
forces surrounded the city with tanks, where despite citizens' efforts to block their advance,
they also raided houses and vandalized shops. In a statement on Tuesday, the US government
expressed deep concern about the unprovoked violence as it urged the Syrian government
to withdraw its troops from Hama.
YEMEN - Protests were renewed Tuesday across Yemen as citizens continued to call for the
resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported that another
military unit has defected to join the activists, with one former military official saying that
they feel they must support the uprising inspired by the country's youth and not let them down.
LIBYA - Libyan government forces shelled the city of Misurata both Monday and Tuesday,
killing at least 11 people and wounding over 50 more.
In sadness for the lives lost and all who have been injured or otherwise afflicted,
we pray for the turmoil in every country to cease and that global citizens may purposefully
share peaceful, free and dignified lives�