Due to being in Iraq at the time I missed this interview with Saddam Hussein. Fascinating.
There’s a documentary drama on the UK’s Channel 4 tomorrow night at 9 PM, telling the story of Thomas Hurndall’s murder by an Israeli sniper, and his family’s fight to uncover the truth.
I met Tom on the human shield action to Iraq in 2003. He left Iraq when war became inevitable and travelled on to Gaza where he was eventually shot in the head by Hayb, an award-winning Israeli marksman, while trying to save Palestinian children who were having pot shots fired around them by Israeli snipers.
No parent should have to see their child die, but if you were my son, Gordon, I would be immensely proud that you lived every minute of your allotted time to its utmost. A gentleman and a scholar, farewell brother.
While rummaging through one of my drawers today I came across a small memory card for the digital camera I took to Iraq in 2003, and it held photos that I’d forgotten I had.
After a long battle by Tom’s family Wahid was convicted yesterday for killing Tom Hurndall, a friend of mine I met in Iraq.
To keep the wheels rolling while I attempt to balance work and other commitments with this blog I’ve decided to start posting some writing I did back when I became politicised in the early days, which got me wondering how I did become politicised…
I watched Baghdad or Bust the other night, a BBC 4 documentary on the human shield action to Iraq, put together with a heap of footage provided by the numerous film crews we had with us.
Dear Prime Minister,
Hundreds of Human Shield volunteers from over 30 countries are converging in Baghdad. This week we started deploying to strategic sites that are key to avoiding mass civilian casualties in the event of a U.S. lead bombing campaign.
I am writing to inform you and the New Zealand Government that I have voluntarily stationed myself at the Daura Electricity Plant in central Baghdad.
I read a book recently that changed my life. The door opened just wide enough for me to get a foot in and go on to learn the most important lesson of my life. This is a little story of the lead-up to that lesson and the point beyond: becoming part of the Truth Justice Peace Human Shield Action Iraq.