Tariq Shadid - Surgeon, musician and activist for the Palestinian cause

Can you tell us about your political activism?

Well, I understand that what I have been doing over the years is likely to be termed activism. However, in my view it was more a matter of trying to actively participate in the democracy I was born and raised into. I believe it is upon us, the Palestinians in exile, the ones who are citizens of democracies, to do our utmost within the framework of those democracies to champion our cause, simply because it is a possibility that should not be left unutilized, and a responsibility that cannot be left untaken. There are so many ways to help, like lecturing, writing, debating, artistic expression, and many other ways that create awareness about the injustices befalling the Palestinian people. Perhaps doing that, is called political activism? It is what I did, on a fairly visible scale in Holland, and what I believed was the right thing to do, being a Palestinian with citizenship in a Western democracy.

What type of activities did this involve?

Next to my full-time job as a surgeon, I devoted the larger part of my spare time to supporting the Palestinian cause in any legal way I could think of. I started writing articles for the Palestine Chronicle in 2001, the same year in which I started a website called the 'Musical Intifadah'. Being a self-taught hobbyist musician, I wrote and recorded, in my home-studio, songs about the Palestinian situation, and published them online, and made an online collection of songs, also by other artists, about Palestine. At that time, I did not believe that speaking up for the Palestinian cause was a feasible or useful thing to do in the Netherlands, so I saw the internet as a useful means to reach out on a more global level. However, then Gretta Duisenberg, wife of the then president of the European Central Bank, did a very courageous thing here. She hung a Palestinian flag from her balcony for several weeks, which caused a small international row, so I started believing there was yet hope for the Dutch situation. I wrote a song about her brave deed in Dutch (my first song in Dutch ever), which brought me into contact with her. When I joined her on her delegation to Palestine, a visit that was followed by the Dutch media on a day-to-day basis, it threw me right in the middle of the Dutch discourse on matters of the Middle East. After this, I volunteered with various NGO's and committees involved in the subject, and did several media appearances on TV and radio to advocate the Palestinian cause.

Do you believe art, or more specifically music, can play a role in this?

Yes, I do believe so, but it does take more people who also believe so, in order to make it really happen. The interesting thing we see in our modern societies, is that the corporations that finance (control) the media and entertainment business are very aware of the importance of artistic expression. They are always sure to propel their own symbolisms and stereotypes into the minds of people, whenever they get a chance to. Hollywood is one of the best examples of this, and who can deny its world-wide influence?  On the opposition side however, the disagreeing side, you find that many people lose themselves in angry discourse, and make themselves victims in the discussion, by falling into the defensive position. I believe art is one of the ways to reverse this dynamic, since art makes a statement that can not easily be responded to by verbal discourse. If those who are unhappy about the statement in your art try to attack it with their rhetoric, they often unwillingly aid in enlarging the message it is sending out. This way, I believe, art can be more powerful for a cause than any intellectual form of expression, be it a speech or an article. Nevertheless, I have noticed that people who propagate human rights causes often underestimate this effect, and don't utilize it enough. They should support the efforts of artists who engage in 'Creative Resistance', more than they already do.

Can you tell us something about your upcoming CD?

Yes, indeed, my debut CD, under my handle 'Doc Jazz' will hopefully come out in June, coinciding with the commemoration of 40 years of Israeli occupation. It is called 'Front Door Key', this being a symbol for the right of return in the hearts of many Palestinians. Many Palestinian refugee families cling to the front door key of their original home in Palestine, as an invaluable family heirloom. It is also the most tangible symbol of the Nakba, which is the catastrophe of 1948, in which around 800,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes, and from their country. The cover is based on a painting, specially made for the album by the Palestinian artist Jamil Junedi, who lives here in the Netherlands. The songs on the CD are a mixture of political and 'ordinary' songs, in a soulful and funky style that people of most ages and from most backgrounds can appreciate, and all in the English language. I am fortunate to have my album produced by Forrest Thomas, a very experienced and accomplished American musician and producer who resides here in the Netherlands, and to have another great array of professional American musicians participating in the recordings, ensuring that the quality of the music will be of a seriously professional level. It looks quite promising, and I hope 'Front Door Key' will please many ears, and open many hearts to the story of the Palestinian people.

For more information about the CD, check out www.docjazz.com

Kristin Smeral - Political activist and retiring chairperson of Democrats Abroad-Austria

How did you get involved in DA?

Five and a half years ago found me well-integrated and feeling at home here in Austria. I felt comfortable with my circle of friends, although I did not know many Americans in Vienna. That changed for me substantially on September 11th 2001. Shortly after the planes hit the WTC, as I was hurriedly leaving work to try to find out what was going on, I met an Austrian colleague of mine at the bus stop. He suspected that the culprits behind the attack might be anti-globalization terrorists or some other radical group. I answered that, no matter who ultimately was responsible, the biggest problem was that it had occurred while the Bush administration was in power and that this made me very fearful. I became aware that my experience and perception were quite different from my Austrian friends. I also felt, as an American, ashamed and somehow responsible as the ensuing events unfolded over the next days, months and - now - years.

A particularly terrible feeling of powerlessness came over me as I sat in my parent's kitchen in Vermont in October 2002, home for a visit, watching C-Span. My mother and I both were speechless with disbelief as we witnessed the legendary Senate vote occur, authorizing Bush to use force in Iraq. The rest of the milestones towards war are well known. I continued to helplessly watch from a far as we slid down the slippery path towards the Iraq war.

When we actually did attack Iraq, I was distraught for days. The violence seemed so inevitable, so unstoppable. No one was willing to take a stand against the machinery set in motion. When, in June 2003, Howard Dean announced his candidacy for the 2004 presidential race, telling his Burlington fans that they "had the power", I was one of the thousands upon thousands of Americans around the country and, indeed worldwide, who felt someone was finally saying what I needed to hear.

As the Dean campaign took to the internet, the virtual community of all the activists coming together was very inspiring. I could no longer passively look on - my frustration and anger was too great. The only Howard Dean Meet-Up to have taken place in a classic Vienna coffeehouse over cups of "Melange" occurred in early September 2003, attended by myself and one other determined American.

This fledgling group grew to a dozen or more. We toyed around with the best way to have impact at home from overseas. The clearest plan that we came up with was to offer voter registration assistance. A "fact-finding" trip to Washington by one of the group's members brought us in contact with Democrats Abroad (DA), an organization that had been instrumental in getting overseas citizens the right to vote more than 40 years ago and which is recognized as a "state" Party by the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This small initiating team decided to found a country committee of DA in Austria.

When our start up chair rather suddenly announced that she had move to Paris barely a month after our inception in December 2003, we were uncertain how best to proceed. Our well-meant initial solution to run the organization collectively by consensus quickly became unwieldy. After some discussion, I was asked to be chair. By this time we were already well into the 2004 primary season.

What has been the highlight?

I have been constantly amazed and humbled by the wonderful, concerned and thoughtful people who have come together to work as volunteers for this dynamic, vibrant committee here in Austria - to work together for the America that we believe in.

What has been the downside?

Yes, well, it's not all roses. At some point it became clear to me that many people needed our committee to be their lightning rod for personal anger and frustration - and I, as "Chair", was now on the receiving end. They were not interacting with me or the committee or our beliefs and goals, but rather with my role as they perceived it. A lot of destructive, negativity aimed at the Democratic Party or towards a particular candidate was channelled directly towards me and the organization. As someone new to the political arena, I was simply not prepared. It was frustrating to spend time and energy dealing with this rather than working on positive, meaningful activities. Other individuals were more interested in using our local committee to further their own personal goals. Sometimes this worked out fine, other times, less so. It is a tricky challenge.

What activities has Democrats Abroad-Austria focused on recently?

In 2006, we concentrated our efforts on getting out the vote for the mid-terms. Voting in US elections is no easy task for overseas citizens: voting law is state law and there are truly 50 different, if somewhat related, processes out there. We have helped people to negotiate these processes and to find answers to confusing questions. This past election, the new voter registration internet wizard from Democrats Abroad http://www.votefromabroad.org simplified our task significantly.

In June, Bush came to Vienna to attend the U.S. - EU Summit. We set up an Action Tent near the final protest rally to offer voter registration and petition signing. We also provided a translator for Cindy Sheehan who attended the protests.

We have also organized and co-sponsored a number of speakers focusing on issues relevant to Americans living overseas. In the opening week of "An Inconvenient Truth"; we put together a panel of speakers to talk about the potential impact of climate change. And our own resolution on torture was adapted by DA international leadership and ultimately adopted by the DNC in August 2006.

In 2007, off-election year, we plan to focus on community building activities for our members as well as issue discussions with an eye on 2008.

How can US citizens abroad make an impact before 2008? I strongly urge people to:

• find a group of inspiring, like-minded, dedicated people, to work cooperatively together with them, to choose clear achievable goals and to stick to them

• be willing to form coalitions as needed to reach goals

• realize that sometimes compromise is necessary and to do it well is an art

• to respect your fellow/sister activists

• to motivate fellow/sister citizens abroad and home to do likewise - to be more politically aware and active

• and to NOT dedicate political responsibility up the line. Each and every one of us must do what we can to take back our country. Don't ever expect that someone is going to do this for you.

To learn more about Democrats Abroad, visit www.democratsabroad.org

Herb "Sarge" Phelps - Activist and reporter focused on post-Katrina issues

Can you give us a little background about yourself?

I am a Vietnam Era Disabled Veteran who served in both the Air Force, and the Navy. Born in New Orleans and grew up in South Mississippi where I also went through Camille as well as Katrina.

Can you tell us about your work in the aftermath of Katrina?

I have taken up money to help storm victims, given weekly or more often updates to Mike Malloy, Bob Kincaid, as well as other talk show host. Currently, Nova M Radio Network, Head On Radio Network, and my site, UnreportedNews.Net is teamed to get materials and money to the Jackson County Community Services Coalition to help the victims in Jackson County Mississippi.

Also working with Nancy Pelosi's, and Representative Cliburn on the Katrina Recovery situation.

What is happening now?

The mission to get materials to Jackson County, and investigating the situation in the stricken area. This takes up a good deal of time talking to the ones in the worse situation.

Bob Kincaid and his Head On Radio Network, plus Shaun Ryan of Nova M Radio Network with my site Unreported News Network are taking donations from a list of 15 items furnished to us by Jim Yancey. We will be collecting the goods, and money that can be donated through the Jackson County Community Services Coalition website, http://www.jccsc.org, from Jan 5 to Feb. 11. 3 trucks donated by U-Haul will make the trip from Phoenix Az. to

Pascagoula Ms. to be given to Jim Yancey to pass out to the people who are need of them. Bob Kincaid's network will also have goods coming from that area.  We will try to have some broadcast from the area on the networks when we arrive in Pascagoula.

Here is a list of the 15 items we most need in Jackson County. This list came from our survey assessments and from people on the ground that have been working in the storm surge areas for the past 16 months.

1. Sheet rock 
2. Roofing shingles and felt 
3. 2 x 4 studs 
4. Refrigerators 
5. stove, gas or electric 
6. washers 
7. dryers 
8. Furniture, Chairs and/or couches for living rooms 
9. Microwave ovens
10. Standard size doors (Inside)
11. Tennis shoes for children and youth 
12. Queen/double size mattresses 

Funds to purchase: 

13. Groceries for senior citizens and families that have both or if there is only one parent on disability.
14. Turn on electricity in rental units, (costs between $90 - $140 per household) landlords require a down payment before a renter can move into the property.
15. Medications for senior citizens on fixed incomes and families with parents that have both or if there is only one parent on disability.
The Community Coalition is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit and we can purchase any of the above items locally and distribute to those in need if individuals or groups want to send financial support instead of paying the freight charges to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Whatever you may decide, thank you for your support and help. For those considering on supporting these efforts for your information the Community Coalition has an independent audit completed yearly by a CPA.

What can people do to help?

Donate to Jackson County Community Services Coalition, http://www.jccsc.org, call your senators and representatives asking them to support the investigation into Katrina issues.

Read Herb "Sarge" Phelps' blog at  Unreported News, where you can also see Rey Hinckley's photos of the Gulf Coast region, 14.5 months after Katrina here.

Aria is a female business consultant living in Tehran. We asked her about her country and living under the threat of military intervention.

What's it like in Iran?

Iran is a country of four seasons, with a beautiful landscape and diverse ethnic makeup. 

A large proportion of the population of 70M lives in the capital Tehran, a bustling mega-city surrounded by mountains, where young and old spend the weekends hiking and picnicking by the many fresh water springs.

In winter, one can drive for about two hours east or west of Tehran to reach a busy ski resort, where wealthy uptown kids whiz down the slopes in the latest ski or snowboard gear. Summers are when city-dwellers flock up north to the Caspian Sea beaches and forests or down south to the Persian Gulf islands. Tourists can visit the numerous historical sites gracing the country, or alternatively spend a reflective weekend in the desert.

The capital's art and café scene is thriving, with the many privately-owned galleries regarded as the trendiest venues to see and be seen and the international film festivals the hottest tickets in town. One can take refuge from the rush hour traffic in any of a number of cool downtown cafes, with a cup of frothy cappuccino accompanied by a warm croissant or a slice of freshly-made cake.  

Traffic and pollution are the main problems in Tehran, together with major issues such as high inflation and unemployment. Towering property prices have resulted in owning a home to become an impossible dream for most, with many of the recently-built luxury apartments (e.g. parking ramp spiraling all the way up to the front door of your 1000m2 apartment) remaining unoccupied.

On a lighter note, the city is reputedly becoming a top contender for the title of the plastic surgery capital of the world! With women's hair needing to be partly covered, attention has been focused on their faces and bodies. Miniature noses, excessive makeup and figure-hugging outfits are all the rage. And guys have followed suit! It is now a common trend for men to have nose jobs and groomed eyebrows.

How would you describe the Iranian people?

Iranians are a warm-hearted and hospitable people, proud of their ancient heritage and history of scientific achievements and discoveries, continually striving to keep abreast of the latest technological and scientific developments.

Higher education is the predominant concern for the young.  Students compete in the national entrance exams for the highly coveted university places. More than 60% of these places are each year won by women, some of whom move on to become university professors, senior directors in government organizations and even members of parliament.

Years of social restrictions and economic pressures, resulted in the public to catapult reformist Mohammad Khatami to power more than eight years ago. Unrealistic and excessive expectations and frustration with what was perceived as a slow pace for social and economic reforms however resulted in widespread public disillusionment. Cheered on with calls from LA-based "Persian" satellite stations, this manifested itself in a mass boycott of the recent presidential elections, leaving the field wide open for a relative unknown to be voted into power by about 35% of eligible voters, mainly on trumpeted promises of economic reforms and fighting corruption.

The consequences have been catastrophic on all fronts. The economy is in tatters, social and cultural reforms are under threat, unemployment is on the increase and prices have further rocketed. Most painful of all perhaps, has been the complete unraveling of all that Khatami had painstakingly achieved towards improving the country's international image. While Khatami himself is continuously being showered with international accolades as an independent cultural figure, his country is facing ever-increasing isolation yet again on the international scene.

Bush and other US politicians have placed Iran in their "axis of evil" and alluded to military intervention. What are your feelings about that?

People here generally see this as a ploy to further strengthen the military adventures of the US government in the region. Originally, a few seemed to actually believe the Bush promise of "bombing the country into freedom"! Seeing the Iraq version of history however, these no longer seem to be so certain.

Following the latest Iranian presidential elections, many had become genuinely apprehensive for the fate of their country. The hardline stance of the incumbent president was seen to so squarely play into the hands of the neocons in Washington and their proclaimed "Greater Middle East" plan, that it seemed as if a US invasion might be imminent.

The fears however have been gradually replaced with the prevailing notion that the two countries' presidents seem to in effect be emboldening one another, through a similar language of rhetoric and threats! It might be interesting to know that university students here had been asked by the current Iranian president to "expose liberal academics" just a few months after students on some US campuses had reportedly been asked for the same by figures close to the Bush administration!!

For now, the Iranian public has just grown bored and tired of the topic and wants to get on with life and concentrate on more pressing issues, such as personal relationships and the latest must-have mobile phone for some and simply making ends meet for most of the others.

America Votes is the largest grassroots voter mobilization and education effort in America today. It works at changing politics as usual by marshalling and uniting the voices, efforts and resources of the most powerful progressive organizations in the country, including ACORN, AFL-CIO,  American Federation of Teachers, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence united with the Million Mom March, MoveOn.org, NAACP, National Education Association, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Sierra Club. These groups represent more than 20 million Americans and are the leading advocates for the environment, civil and human rights, reproductive rights and labor.

Instead of a field of different players with disparate messages, America Votes brings together progressives and coordinates their resources with the latest information technology to  ensure information is shared instead of wasted. The results are effective campaign strategies. Tens of thousands of volunteers are mobilized. Swing votes are secured. And previously inactive voters are motivated to turn out on Election Day.

Katherine Ely has graciously agreed to act as a spokesperson for America Votes and to answer some questions about how America Votes is working at this crucial period of American history.

Could you tell us a bit about what you and America Votes are doing concerning the election?  

America Votes is coordinating a campaign with over 100 progressive groups nationwide. We are doing a great amount of phone banking to thousands of people across the country telling them about issues such as the war in Iraq, national security, the economy, women's and human rights issues.  We are telling them where their polling locations are and offering support to help get them to the polls on Election Day.

A lot of Americans seem to feel powerless as a result of the elections in 2000 and 2004. How do you feel about that response?

I see the 2006 elections as hopeful because of the events that took place in previous elections.  It is evident from our country's recent history that people are ready for a change and are ready to work for that change. Even though it seems hopeless to some progressive individuals considering the events surrounding 2004, I truly believe that 2006 is an entirely different cycle. We are in a midterm election in 2006, and historically less people get out to vote in non-presidential races, but we have seen from our work and from several polls that people across the country are ready for a change and have a strong anti-incumbent feeling that will drive them to the polls this year.

What, in your opinion, would be the ideal way to conduct an election in this electronic age? Should we return to the hand-marked?

Personally, as a democratic operative, I feel that electronic ballots are safe and effective. I would like to see a system in which the electronic ballot machine is connected to a server and the voting results are saved and sent to a central office location every so often. I feel as though a hand marked ballot and hand counting are very ineffective ways of conducting elections and are the surest way for someone to cheat. We have come to a point that our technology can be used effectively to safeguard against human error and against fraud. Of course there is no perfect way to conduct elections and that is why we still need election observers at every polling place, from all political parties, to ensure that the election is truly fair and every vote is counted. I find it a vital part of what Americans call democracy that we have  poll monitors from all political ideologies as part of the process.

Is America Votes doing anything toward ensuring that legitimate voters will not be  disenfranchised? For example, People for the American Way have reminded us of the   voter intimidation that occurred  in 2004, when the nonexistent "Milwaukee Black Voters League" circulated a flyer that said:

If you've already voted in any election this year, you can't vote in the presidential election. If you've ever been found guilty of anything, even a traffic violation, you can't vote in the presidential election. If anybody in your family has ever been found guilty of anything, you can't vote in the presidential election If you violate any of these laws you can get ten years in prison and your children will get taken away from you.

 I am appalled at the previously mentioned occurrence in 2004 and it is events such as the aforementioned which cause the American public to feel disenfranchised with the political process.  America Votes is doing everything that we are capable of doing, legally, that will inform the voters about the election process.  For example, in Denver Colorado this year they have changed their polling procedures from a traditional precinct polling place to polling centers.  They have reduced the number of polling places significantly and have not fully informed the voters of the change.  America Votes for Fair Minimum Wage (a ballot committee separate from America Votes 2006) is creating literature to drop at houses around Denver, is working on a public service announcement, and is calling each house to ensure that voters know where to go to vote.  Not only that, we have set up phone lines for voters to call in if they have questions about the election or if they need a ride.

For more on America Votes, visit  http://americavotes.org

(Interview conducted by Lucinda Hilbrink)