I want to help the protesters in Iran

[tavalon]

Other than to keep their situation in front of the world, which I can help with, but only a little, I'm stumped. I would be willing to send money but I don't know to whom or what group. Does anyone here have any suggestions?

[SoCalDem]

1. There is probably nothing you can do, except find an Iranian ex-pat

you trust, and give money through them.

Immediately following, and certainly during, unrest, things are always sketchy. people move to safer places, leaving no forwarding address..phones get cut off, jobs are lost, businesses closed.

Imagine a 9.0 earthquake, or a Cat 5 hurricane that lasts for a couple of weeks, unrelenting..., but instead of people coming to help, they arrive with guns and try to kill you or throw you in jail.

The only thing people can "do" there right now, is keep a low profile, stay off the streets..become invisible, anonymous, and just hunker down for a while..

Wasn;t it Shakespeare that said something to the effect of: "If you attack the king, you must be prepared to kill the king"?

unfortunately, the anger demonstarted by the people in the streets will have to subside, and their fight will have to continue underground, subversively..you know in an insurgent fashion.. They will have to do what the Iraqis have been doing for half a decade now, but they will have to do it against their own government, and that's a lot harder,.

[tavalon]

2. I only know one Iranian and I don't think she is even political

I was thinking about giving some to Reporters Without Borders.

[SoCalDem]

3. I doubt that any reporters will be allowed in for quite a while

The regime has managed to "rid themselves of those pesky news people", and they will be very selective and reprressive when they start letting any back in.

[Hannah Bell]

5. don't be a schlub; they get what they need from the ptb.

http://www.counterpunch.org/barahona05172005.html

[grannie4peace]

4. you can wear green every day til they are heard & released. they

caught one of the tweeters yesterday... they are being tortured. there are petitions you can sign. i talk to everyone i meet about it ,trying to increase awareness of it. post comments of encouragement on youtube & other sites. i've made some friends ( a heartfelt side effect. ) there are many things you can do. call people & complain. call iran & bitch!!! and PRAY ALWAYS FOR THEM. there is more you can do .... you will find ways if you really want to help!:bounce: :hi: :grouphug: :cry: :pals: :patriot:

[napoleon_in_rags]

6. Did you march in the anti-Iraq war protests?

I mean not the happy ones before the war, but the scary ones after? In Seattle there were helicopters overhead, plain clothes individuals brandishing loaded M-16s behind the police lines, shooters positioned on roofs etc. Now I'll tell you one thing: It would not have helped our cause for the creepy bearded plainclothes dudes with assault rifles to hear that we were getting funded by mysterious sources in Iran. Similarly, it will not help the cause of Iranian protesters if the basiji (or whatever their creepy plainclothes people are) to find out they are getting funded by mysterious sources in America.

[stray cat]

8. Scary? How many people were murdered for protesting?

Iranians protesting show vastly more courage and risk in their protests than those who protest in the US

[napoleon_in_rags]

9. Was I talking about who's protests are scarier?

I'm talking about the fact that law enforcement was actively investigating protesters, including for "anti-terrorism" reasons and would be ALL over some protest group getting funded by Iran, all the MORE reason to not send money from America to Iran protest groups.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tavalon]

14. While it was snarky, I fully get what the person is saying

I'm not looking to make things worse for them. I want to help, not hurt. Luckily, I have a lead further down this thread for what I can do, rather than why I shouldn't do money.

[tavalon]

13. I get your point

Someone further down gave me a better idea, rather than just shitting on the one I had.

[napoleon_in_rags]

15. Snark apology.

I've been upset at some of the things I've seen put out on the news, when I think of the dangers the protesters are in. It wasn't about you. Sorry. :(

[tavalon]

17. Apology accepted. I'm hopeful I will be able to use my medical training long distance to help in

some way.

[AlphaCentauri]

16. Don't miss the May Day 2007 rallies in Los Angeles

Thanks God the only fake thing in those videos are the bullets.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTtMO4yrP_8

[Aloha Spirit]

7. Hmm, ideas

http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?id=ENGMDE130532009&lang=e

http://www.avaaz.org/en/

http://www.justiceforiranianworkers.org/?page_id=11

If you belong to a union, they might be joining in tomorrow's day of solidarity

http://matadorchange.com/6-ways-the-western-world-can-support-iranian-activists/

[juno jones]

11. Anonymous has a website up with info concerning Iran

Including ways to help out.

The biggest requests I've seen is for bandwidth to keep communications going and for medical personnel to help with consultation for first aid, etc. but I'm sure there are other things one could do to help.

http://iran.whyweprotest.net/

[tavalon]

12. Medical personnel?

I will go there. Thanks muchly.

[woo me with science]

18. kick nt