MAY 3: Organize a Vigil to Mourn Civilian Casualties of War
As you know, our colleague and friend Marla Ruzicka and her Iraqi colleague Faiz Ali Salim were killed in Iraq a week and a half ago, while working to document civilian casualties resulting from the Iraq war and occupation, and get compensation for Iraqi families.
Marla¹s organization, CIVIC, is trying to bring more attention to the issue of civilian casualties by asking communities to hold vigils next Tuesday, May 3. Please forward this to people who might be interested or people who already are do ongoing vigils and might want to use next week¹s vigil to highlight the issue of civilian deaths and injuries caused by war.
Thanks for your help in spreading the word and all of your efforts to honor and call attention to the issue of civilian casualties.
Best,
Global Exchange
ACTION ALERT: MAY 3 ORGANIZE A VIGIL TO MOURN CIVILIAN CASUALTIES OF WAR
The Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC), the organization founded by Marla Ruzicka, the 28-year-old aid worker who was killed in a suicide bombing in Iraq last week, is calling on people throughout the United States to honor and promote Marla and her Iraqi colleague Faiz Ali Salim¹s work by taking action on behalf of civilian casualties of war.
CIVIC is asking people in communities throughout the United States and the world to hold vigils on Tuesday, May 3, to bring attention to civilian deaths and injuries caused by war. Please create the most beautiful vigils possible, including candles, flowers, and photos in an effort to bring attention to the immense scale of human suffering that war brings.
For more information about how to organize a vigil, go to http://www.civicworldwide.org/content.jsp?content_KEY=513
Please visit CIVIC¹s website, http://www.civicworldwide.org, to host or participate in a vigil on May 3 in your community.
Honoring Marla Ruzicka and Faiz Ali Salim means carrying on the heartfelt work they began.
In Memory of Marla Ruzicka 1976 - 2005
Bay Area activist Marla Ruzicka spent her 28-year life fighting tirelessly for justice. She began organizing and educating her peers about social and environmental issues when she was in high school, bringing in speakers to her school and volunteering her time with various organizations. Marla later worked with AIDS victims in Zimbabwe, refugees in Palestine and campesinos in Nicaragua.
Following the US invasion of Afghanistan, Marla traveled there with Global Exchange and was so moved by the plight of the civilian victims that she dedicated the rest of her too short life to helping innocent victims of war in both Afghanistan and Iraq. She created an organization, Campaign for Innocent Victims In Conflict (CIVIC), to count casualties, provide assistance, and pressure the US government to take responsibility for the innocent civilians harmed by US forces. She was on such a mission in Iraq when she met her untimely death on Saturday, April 16, 2005 in Baghdad.
Marla will be remembered for her pioneering work, and also for her unyielding zest for life, remarkable capacity for joy, and deep loyalty to friends and family. Marla's smile stopped people in their tracks and her optimism inspired all those around her. Everyone whose life touched Marla's is richer for the experience, and her spirit will leave an indelible mark in the world.
We also remember and honor the work of Faiz Ali Salim, Marla's Iraqi colleague, who was killed with while working to bring attention and comfort to civilian victims of the Iraq war.
Marla¹s organization, CIVIC, is trying to bring more attention to the issue of civilian casualties by asking communities to hold vigils next Tuesday, May 3. Please forward this to people who might be interested or people who already are do ongoing vigils and might want to use next week¹s vigil to highlight the issue of civilian deaths and injuries caused by war.
Thanks for your help in spreading the word and all of your efforts to honor and call attention to the issue of civilian casualties.
Best,
Global Exchange
ACTION ALERT: MAY 3 ORGANIZE A VIGIL TO MOURN CIVILIAN CASUALTIES OF WAR
The Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC), the organization founded by Marla Ruzicka, the 28-year-old aid worker who was killed in a suicide bombing in Iraq last week, is calling on people throughout the United States to honor and promote Marla and her Iraqi colleague Faiz Ali Salim¹s work by taking action on behalf of civilian casualties of war.
CIVIC is asking people in communities throughout the United States and the world to hold vigils on Tuesday, May 3, to bring attention to civilian deaths and injuries caused by war. Please create the most beautiful vigils possible, including candles, flowers, and photos in an effort to bring attention to the immense scale of human suffering that war brings.
For more information about how to organize a vigil, go to http://www.civicworldwide.org/content.jsp?content_KEY=513
Please visit CIVIC¹s website, http://www.civicworldwide.org, to host or participate in a vigil on May 3 in your community.
Honoring Marla Ruzicka and Faiz Ali Salim means carrying on the heartfelt work they began.
In Memory of Marla Ruzicka 1976 - 2005
Bay Area activist Marla Ruzicka spent her 28-year life fighting tirelessly for justice. She began organizing and educating her peers about social and environmental issues when she was in high school, bringing in speakers to her school and volunteering her time with various organizations. Marla later worked with AIDS victims in Zimbabwe, refugees in Palestine and campesinos in Nicaragua.
Following the US invasion of Afghanistan, Marla traveled there with Global Exchange and was so moved by the plight of the civilian victims that she dedicated the rest of her too short life to helping innocent victims of war in both Afghanistan and Iraq. She created an organization, Campaign for Innocent Victims In Conflict (CIVIC), to count casualties, provide assistance, and pressure the US government to take responsibility for the innocent civilians harmed by US forces. She was on such a mission in Iraq when she met her untimely death on Saturday, April 16, 2005 in Baghdad.
Marla will be remembered for her pioneering work, and also for her unyielding zest for life, remarkable capacity for joy, and deep loyalty to friends and family. Marla's smile stopped people in their tracks and her optimism inspired all those around her. Everyone whose life touched Marla's is richer for the experience, and her spirit will leave an indelible mark in the world.
We also remember and honor the work of Faiz Ali Salim, Marla's Iraqi colleague, who was killed with while working to bring attention and comfort to civilian victims of the Iraq war.
Starmail - 28. Apr, 23:39
