One Arab World

I have been swept into the flurry of activity that comes with a proper Cairo reception; exotic everything, nauseating smells, and the never-ending family obligations.  

I have met a few people that enjoy or hate this blog and have had very interesting conversations with complete strangers. Its something I would like to build on; if you read this thing and would like to debate a particular issue over a shisha give me a call on 0101 19 2244. I will be here for another couple of weeks.. You are my intended readership, the reason I started this log, so I would certainly love your advice or criticism and I live for heated debates.

The second opportunity I want to take advantage of is to set up a meeting with as many Egyptian bloggers as possible; especially the ones I frequent. I am going to try to get as many of them together in one spot as I can and perhaps make a post for Global Voices out of it.

Karim Elsahy

I would like to point out and acknowledge a wonderful duo in Dahab, a small resort renowned for its Red Sea Diving about 50km from Sharm Elshikh; Astrid and Detlef Westerburg, proprietors of www.dahab.net. This German couple moved to Dahab three years ago and are involved in helping the local small hotel owners gain a wider audience through the internet and special events.

The reason I have chosen to mention them is because they took it upon themselves to not only donate generously to Sharm Relief but for also collecting donations from other individuals in their community through their site (not to mention the amount of traffic they passed on to SharmRelief.com.)

To Astrid and Detlef, the families of the victims of terror thank you not only for your generosity but for your time and effort as well.

Also, we are transferring the first batch of funds collected as donations by SharmRelief.com to Pray4Peace.org's special account with the Egyptian Red Crescent (ERC). The ERC will handle the distribution with our supervision and has agreed not to subtract any maintenance and upkeep fees. We have requested of the ERC to distribute the money equally to the twenty-two families of the confirmed breadwinning victims. This will amount to approximately 1000Le each (aprox $165) and is 1/5 our total goal of 5000Le (equal to the official governmental payment).

Here is a summary of the donations collected thus far excluding donations from Egypt.

I am considering setting up a fundraiser through Pray4Peace.org to collect donations to buy computers and books for Palestinian schools in Gaza. I feel this could be an effective way to help directly in this their critical time.

Pray4Peace.org managed to collect about 1000 Le ($175), through Sharm Relief for each breadwinner's family that perished in the Sharm attacks so far. This is only in the first payoff and though it may not seem like much to you it certainly goes a long way (complete governmental compensation is about $840).

Inspired by UNRWA's actions as a way to offer relief by direct means and provide alternatives to violence, my fellow directors and I are entertaining this idea of computers and books for Palestinian schools as Pray4Peace.org's next endeavor and we would like your feedback. Also if you are interested in helping let us know.

Karim Elsahy

I am going to begin contributing round-ups pieces on Arab blog posts for Harvards Global Voices.

Global Voices is “an international effort to diversify the conversation taking place online by involving speakers from around the world, and developing tools, institutions and relationships to help make these voices heard.”… Basically a personalized aggregator that happens to get upwards of 7k unique hits a day and is currently the 200^th most influential blog in the world (not bad considering there is a new blog created every second).

So if you have an Arab blog, let me know when you have a particular post you feel is especially important to you and I’ll compare it to others featuring the same topic and link to you from GV.

I am considering starting with further round-ups discussing Israel’s Disengagement plan (though they are so few I have considered just posting about its predominant absence on the Arab Blogosphere) If you have a post I may have missed on the disengagement email me the link.

Karim Elsahy

The recent terrorist attack by a Jewish settler in the West Bank has demonstrated, once again, a theory I have entertained for a while.

A good friend and a man I look up to tremendously once told me that people are broken up into an 80% mid norm and 10% on each side that are basically, no pun intended, abnormal. I have since then broken it up further. Beyond the 10% that are too left or right to hold a conversation with, there is also an extreme case on either side, perhaps less than, say 0.1%, which, given the right circumstances and atmosphere, will go beyond annoying and enter dangerous.

I am sure most would agree that every culture or people have their fair share of psychopaths that are capable of deplorable acts. Everything from abortion clinic bombers, hate groups like the KKK, rebel dissenters and militias, and, of course, terrorists.

There is one common factor shared between these factions; one catalyst that fuels these extremities into action. Public dissent.

Regarding the KKK for instance, as we distance ourselves in time from white/black racism and slavery they continually weaken and become less acceptable socially. There has to be some public outrage for these groups to fester. The 9.9% on their side, at least, has to sympathize with them. Sure they, the 9.9%, wouldn't set fire to a cross themselves but they understand why it's done. As these ideals become more and more unacceptable this group sympathizes less and less. The 0.1% is still crazy, but they don't act, they whisper. They are the old white man that hates blacks or the German grandfather that hates Jews but will only tell you in secret (drunk too). Guess who they become when they see a gathering of sympathizers.

That is why you only see Jewish terrorism during peace deals. What else would motivate these factions in the Israeli population into this kind of action? The status quo before gave these Jewish extremists everything they wanted and more. Control of the West Bank and Gaza with the Palestinians packed into neat little corners. Now with the disengagement these extremist are pushed over the edge with the discreet support of 10% of the population, the ultra religious settlers, even though the majority of Israelis support the disengagement and the desire for peace.

But all of these stated factions above combined do not cause a threat even remotely close to Islamic Terrorism.

Why?

Because unlike the worlds 15 million Jews, there are 1.5 billion Muslims. 0.1% of 1.5 billion is one and a half million potential crazies, not just fifteen thousand, and they are just as pissed.

The solution? Target the minds of the reasonable and empower the masses.

The reasonable have the capability of change, while the unreasonable stay irrational, and hence, a waste of time and effort. What sometimes is viewed as flip-floppy is often intelligent response to circumstance. Likewise, what can be deemed as steadfast can often be nothing more than stubborn ignorance.

Start at the source.

Most will agree the epicenter of civilizations tensions are in its cradle, and as a further, and very current, microcosm in Gaza. The rapid economic growth and establishment of Palestine in Gaza is the ENTIRE world's responsibility if for no other reason than for the logical insurance of the world's dynamic growth and the flourish of humanity. 

Do what you can, and there is much to do. The new motto for blood donations is "consider yourself asked" and I will blatantly plagiarize that now.

There are literally hundreds of means and organizations by which you can help the Palestinians get on their feet regardless of your background. Look into it and do some homework. Find out which angle best suits your ideals. Post your findings at my site and I will make another post out of the best ideas.

There is one constant unquestionable; jobs. If you can find a way to get one job to Gaza you will have fought this "War on Terror" better than any army.

Here is a great example; those heroes are humanities saviors and the entire world is indebted to them.

Again I reiterate, I am willing to do my part right here, right now. I have two positions to fill in one of my start up companies. I will begin taking resumes for Architecture and Visualizations positions from Architects and Architectural Designers in Gaza that have access to a computer with a decent connection and a good mastery of English. If you live in Gaza or have someone there that would be interested please apply though our site.

Karim Elsahy

It is rare when I find the same constructively naïve mindset I try to maintain reflected in the media. This bit from CNN did just that, so I thought I’d share it.

This is the heroism I feel should be promoted and emulated.  Click Read More below to read the whole piece.

A shortlist of the victims of the Sharm Elshikh attacks is now available here at  SharmRelief.com

                            
                This post is for the Palestinians of Gaza.

We are on the dawn of disengagement. This step, though taken unilaterally and without your interests in mind, is half of what you, and your supporters, have been fighting for since I can remember. It is not all of historic Palestine nor is it the UN's partition plan; it is not even the 67 boarders.

The amount of land, at this point, is irrelevant. It is enough to build a viable state upon. That, for now, is enough.

Care about your lives and the lives of your children enough to alter your methodology. Grasp this one chance and let no one else mutter the phrase "the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity" again. On behalf of your supporters worldwide, the ones that were present at every march and protest, the ones that want nothing more in life than to see you thrive, I beg you; do not let this great opportunity turn into your worst catastrophe.

From a strategic and a negotiations perspective you could not have asked for more. Israel will end is 38 year occupation of Gaza, in its entirety and unconditionally for nothing; no accords limiting "the right of return", the status of Jerusalem, or the boarders of the rest of Palestine. Netanyahu even admitted so in his resignation letter. 

"From the first conversation when you (Sharon) presented your plan to me, I told you that I oppose unilateral withdrawal without anything in return…..To my sorrow, the security fence has not been completed around the settlement blocs, the Philadelphi Corridor will be handed over to the Palestinians, and worse than that, we will allow the Palestinians to open a sea port that will be open to the terror boats."

Read his entire letter, because if his doomsday prophecies come to light it will do nothing but help him win the next election, just as the second intifada did for Sharon, and with all the settlers out of Gaza by then, wreck havoc on your lands with his next invasion.

And for what?

Unite now. Step up and take the harder route of building up your lives. If this disengagement is met with a long period of quite two things will happen. There will be an outpour of foreign aid; schools, homes, facilities, hospitals, and eventually… jobs. At that point some international credibility and a track record will be enough to muster real international support and pressure on Israel to give up the West Bank as well.

Stand up to those that would sabotage your chances regardless of their intentions.

I, for one, will do my part right here, right now. I have two positions to fill in one of my start up companies. I will begin taking resumes for Architecture and Visualizations positions from Architects and Architectural Designers in Gaza that have access to a computer with a decent connection and a good mastery of English. If you live in Gaza or have someone there that would be interested please apply though our site.

Karim Elsahy

There is an ad on TV these days that I really like. It’s a dozen people standing around a piece of litter complaining about the audacity of some people until some kid walking by just picks it up and tosses it in the trash.  

Take the initiative. Just get out there and do it. We need all the help in the world with SharmRelief.com and those families need us.

So on behalf of those families I am going to ask of you something. I don’t want you to donate. I want you to get a few others to. Take the initiative and make a fundraising event of your own.

Ideas….

Use the 50 bucks you would have donated to buy chips and dip for a fund raising party at your house. At the apex of the party have everyone get in line in front of your computer and donate.

Hold an auction of your artwork or unwanted sports gear. Have the winner donate their fees to sharmrelief.com.

Offer discounts at your store with receipt of donation to SharmRelief.com

Get a minute with the mic at your place of worship.

Get creative and have fun with it. You will feel absolutely high on life if you get just a few people to shed their apathy and work towards a common good.

Thank you in advance and keep me posted with your fundraising idea and I will mention the most creative ones here.  

Karim Elsahy

I am pleased to announce that we are in final talks with the Egyptian Red Crescent to sponsor, supervise, and assist our fundraising and distribution in Egypt. Collections may commence as early as this Sunday. We will have collection booths available in Marina and Sharm Elsheikh as early as next Thursday.

We are also setting up a few lavish fundraising events with 1,000LE to 5,000LE covers over the next few weeks. In all cases the venues and resources used such as food, adverts, and staff are the donations of the locations and are not overhead from donations collected so that 100% of the donations go directly to the families.

As of this writing we have collected, in under a week, approximately $2,500 and have pledges for 30,000LE pending the Red Crescent deal.

We have also signed up renowned Plastic Surgeon Dr. Nabil Elsahy (yeah, pops) to take on a few of the more severe cosmetic, primarily facial, injuries pro bono. Selection of these patients will be at the discretion of the Red Crescent and will be determined by both the complexity of required surgery and financial need.

If you or anyone you know is interested in helping within your needed professions such as long term medical assistance or structural and engineering services please contact us immediately.

Below is a copy of our latest correspondence with the Secretary General of the Egyptian Red Crescent

Prof. M. Gabr

Secretary General of the Egyptian Red Crescent

CC:

Dr. Magda Sherbini

            It was a delight and an honor speaking with you this morning Mr. Secretary. Your accomplishments and efforts are a beacon to humanity.

            To recap our discussion in writing we, Pray 4 Peace, proprietors of SharmRelief.com, are requesting cooperation with the Egyptian Red Crescent in the collection of local donations as well as logistical support. You have graciously agreed to open a separate Red Crescent account in which donations collected on behalf of Pray 4 Peace or SharmRelief.com may be stored untouched until a time of our choosing, most probably in early September 2005, and distributed in conjunction with donations collected though SharmRelief.com directly through us to the next of kin of the families of the local victims of the Sharm ElShiekh attacks with your supervision. We are also inviting a representative from the US Department of State to join in the supervision process. 

            We also request a representative or volunteers from the Egyptian Red Crescent join our, as of this writing, sixteen volunteers in the collections process in order to collect the donations on our behalf. We are in the process of securing donations booths in Marina and Sharm El Shiekh. We are also in talks with the Rotary to develop fund raising luncheons and in talks with high end restaurants such as the Cairo Capital Club to hold fundraising events. We request that a representative from your organization be present at all of these events. We will provide them with all travel expenses and accommodation. We also request the use of any advertising material you may have for the booths and permission to add a sponsored by the Egyptian Red Crescent banner on our web site.

On behalf of Pray 4 Peace I thank you for your efforts and kindness.

Karim Elsahy M.A.

Director of Pray 4 Peace

(Pray 4 Peace is a non profit organization pending articles of incorporation due August 8^th 2005)