Hi everyone,

I've been spending much of this week blogging about the events unfolding in Iran, on my Tumblr page (http://caraobrien.tumblr.com). In case anyone is following the news, you might be interested in some of the items I post.

I'm trying to find the best articles, pictures, videos, etc., so if you come across anything that is related to Iran (or other news/human rights issues), feel free to send it my way and I'll post it as soon as I can.

Thanks!

http://caraobrien.blogspot.com/



1. When I was a kid, I wanted to be an astrophysicist. Then I realized that I suck at algebra, and I'm even worse at chemistry, so I gave up on that dream.

2. I've never been to a club. At least, not a dance club. The idea of bad music and sweaty drunks gyrating all over each other doesn't appeal to me.

3. I was a really obnoxious kid. And I can sometimes be an obnoxious adult.

4. I'm allergic to spinach. Apple juice gives me migraines, but I can still eat apples. Same goes for pineapple juice and pineapples. I have no explanation for any of it.

5. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favorite movies. When I first saw it, I was 9, and I remember being amazed and relieved that there was someone out there that made movies for weird kids. Frankenweenie is also pure genius.

6. Elaborating on the above, I was the weird kid that was into ghost stories and horror movies from a very young age. And I kinda looked like the little girl from Poltergeist, so I was extra creepy.



7. I love watching hockey. It's easily the most entertaining sport out there.

8. Fashion and fashion magazines are a guilty pleasure. I subscribe to InStyle, have a style.com account, and check bluefly.com every day to drool over all the clothes I can't justify spending obscene amounts of money on. I'm in love with these Christian Dior pumps at the moment.

9. I love pumpkin pie scented candles, but hate the taste of pumpkin pie. My house constantly smells like Thanksgiving.

10. I make a damn good turkey chili.

11. I'm a huge Dave Matthews Band fan. I try to see them every summer on tour, but missed last year because we moved to the middle of nowhere.

[11b. I've never done any illegal drugs--ever. I may be the only DMB fan that hasn't.]

12. Two of my favorite words are "pfeffernüsse" and "doppelgänger". Germans come up with fun words.

13. My IQ is (or at least, was) 131.

14. I was a vegetarian for 8 years. And then I got bored eating the same old crap, so I started eating meat again, with the exception of red meat. Mostly because I'd love to have a pet pig and it just feels wrong.

15. I only drink at family gatherings, out of necessity. And I used to drink during finals week while I studied to deal with the stress. It wasn't exactly healthy.

16. There's nothing that baby bunnies can't cure.


17. I read a lot of Little House on the Prairie books when I was a kid. And I was a member of a Goosebumps fan club that met at Barnes and Noble when I lived in Charlotte. I wish I still had those books.

18. Peonies are my favorite flower. Chanel Chance is my favorite perfume. Black and white cookies are my favorite dessert. My birthday is next month. ;-)

19. I have one tattoo, a small treble clef on the back of my right calf, just above the Achilles. I want more, including a "42" and "Don't Panic".

20. I'm frugal to the point where it's almost a personality flaw.

21. My younger brother was born on my second birthday. And Pluto was discovered on my birthday, in 1930. Then a bunch of scientists took that away from me by demoting Pluto to "dwarf planet". In conclusion, my birthday has been epic suck.



22. I'm terrified of spiders. I can't even get close enough to them to kill them, so I throw things from across the room.

23. I have questionable taste in movies. I don't hate M. Night Shyamalan, I think he has great ideas, just poor execution. And The Fountain is one of my favorite films, which boggles the mind for some people.

24. I went to Florida State University, but never attended a football game. I also never went to any parties. Mostly, I went to class, work, and Strozier library.

25. I hate the feeling of corduroy. I'll gag if I touch it. True story.

So I'm sure everyone was watching the inauguration of our new President Barack Obama, and I'm probably not the only one that was kind of an emotional mess during the whole thing. A few of my favorite parts of his speech:

"As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals." [insert resounding "Hallelujah!" from civil rights and human rights activists!]

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."

"Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage."

"For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate."

Here's the full text on BBC.co.uk


I just wish I could have been there. I remember watching Obama give the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention back in 2004, sitting in a bed and breakfast in Savannah, and being blown away by his words. I was immediately an Obama supporter, and I'm glad to have been a itty bitty part of the campaign. I'm always proud to vote, but I doubt I will ever feel the kind of elation I felt when I voted on November 4th, being a part of history.




Anyhow, it's a marvelous day for America, and I'm excited to see where this goes. Oh, and who else thought it was kinda adorable that Barack totally messed up on the Oath of Office? I don't know how anyone could get through that sort of thing without being a nervous wreck. But it's always nice to see that our leaders are human.

Now we will be hearing of the closure of Guantanamo, and hopefully, a more open and honest dialogue about torture and human rights.

An interesting campaign from Human Rights First: How Hollywood glorifies the use of torture. Please watch!




More information from Human Rights first here.


Well, I've used up most of my day watching the Inauguration, so I need to go get to work.

It's a new era, let's celebrate!!

I have no idea what I'm going to be doing with my life. Total quarter-life crisis. All I know is that I want to do a lot. I just have to figure out how I'm going to be able to accomplish everything...

I think having more faith in the goodness of people can make a big difference. I know that I have been a little too wary of others at times, feeling like there are so many threats out there that I have to avoid, but that just keeps you from meeting new people and having new experiences. Compassion comes with interacting with others, hearing their stories and finding commonalities. It's all about making a connection.

Myself. I only have one life to live, so I have to live it for me.

Rita Golden Gelman. I just finished her book, Tales of a Nomad Woman: Living at Large in the World, and was really inspired to have more faith in humanity and not be so paranoid. She's traveled the world alone, always relying on the kindness of strangers, and it's kind of nice to hear about someone having positive experiences out there, rather than all of the negitivity that is usually written about.
She also had the courage to do what I've always wanted to do- live simply and travel the world as a writer. It's an excellent book about following your dreams, and I highly recommend it to everyone I know.

Take a stand with Amnesty International!

 

Back in 2001, China promised the Olympic Committee that it would improve its human rights record in return for the honor of hosting the 2008 Olympics. Instead, China's human rights violations have increased in the months leading up to the games. Their actions have included the worst crackdown on peaceful dissent in Tibet since the Cultural Revolution, the rounding up and jailing of prominent human rights activists, and increased censorship of the media. These violations make a mockery of their Olympic promises.

With President Bush's announcement that he will attend the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics, it is critical that he pressures China to clean up its act. Help make this happen by getting as many signers as possible to our China Olympic action.

Thanks for helping us spread the word!

http://takeaction.amnestyusa.org/site/lookup.asp?c=jhKPIXPCIoE&b=4009303

****This was imported from my main blog: http://haverights.blogspot.com/ ****


The crisis in Darfur may not be blaring across TV screens, but it is still ongoing. Although out of sight and largely out of mind for most people, there is no ignoring the fact that innocent civilians are still dying, rebels are still at war, and a corrupt government is still standing on the sidelines, aiding and abetting in genocide.

It has been felt that the international community has its hands tied; without an international police force to bring in genocide perpetrators (like those that have warrants issued from the ICC), little can be done without the cooperation of the Sudanese government. But sadly, cooperation is not something they're considering. So what can be done by us on the outside?
It's easy to give up and say it's out of our hands, and maybe, to a certain extent, it is. But we should still try. Lives depend on the will of the international community, on international governments and leaders that are unwilling to continue shielding their eyes from the violence. Until our leaders get involved, we have no hope of seeing peace in Darfur.

So how can we get our leaders to speak out, to push harder against a government that has done everything in its power to allow the genocide to continue? We act as good citizens. We get involved in the decisions our government makes, we let our opinions be known. I know that it seems like an impossible feat to be heard by the government on these issues and be taken seriously. But there is truth to the idea of strength in numbers.

Plenty of organizations exist to make congregating and supporting a worthy cause easier and more convenient. Save Darfur has been on the front lines from the beginning, and through their website, activists can voice their concern to the American government.

Today, you can send letters and emails to President Bush, asking him to support the mission in Darfur and try to find ways to get much-needed helicopters to the peacekeeping troops. We're not asking for the US to just send the 24 helicopters requested; we're asking our government to find a way in the international political arena to make it happen. Cooperation amongst governments is the key to solving crises like the genocide in Darfur, and through these actions we can encourage our own government to become the leading moral voice in that arena.


To learn more, visit these links:


Amnesty International: Stop the Violence in Darfur

Human Rights Watch: Crisis in Darfur

Save Darfur

Africa Action: Campaign to Stop Genocide in Darfur