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Journalism of Courage
Candle light vigils, human chains, prayer meetings to mourn the dead and art exhibitions dedicated to the victims. The city reacts and mourns the loss of life and the terror attacks that ravaged the city for three days non-stop.
On Friday night a group of concerned citizens, NGOs got together to meet in Goregaon, under the umbrella name Mumbai For Peace. Consisting of many organisations the plan is to stage an action to forge solidarity and unity amongst the people of Mumbai. 8220;We plan to form a human chain across the city, like people did during the 8216;93 riots in the city,8221; says Cubby Sherman, an activist and documentary filmmaker who attended the meeting.
While the plans are still being set in place and final organizing decisions need to be made, the Human Chain will stretch across the city on December 10, which is recognised as International Human Rights Day.
8220;Let8217;s show them how many we are and how tired and frustrated we are. Let8217;s all come together at the Gateway of India, this coming Wednesday at 6 pm. Let8217;s ask for what is our right: to live fearlessly,8221; so reads an SMS forwarded by concerned citizen Nakul K who walked out of Leopold ten minutes before the terror attacks broke out.
8220;One must express the wave of emotion that is surging through us now. Everybody is raging with anger. We are a broken people now; we are at an all time low now and not feeling resilient,8221; says Nakul who has also put up the message on Facebook.
Besides the public demonstrations and SMS chains that are being sent around, the internet is another avenue for spreading a positive message and keeping the peace.
Avaaz.org, one of whose trustees is Gerson Da Cunha of AGNI, is a new global web movement that has a simple democratic mission: to close the gap between the worlds we have, and the world most people everywhere want. The movement is sending a forwarded message to all those on email.
8220;The attacks were aimed at our people, our prosperity and our peace. But their top target was something else: our unity. If these attacks cause us to turn on each other in hatred and conflict, the terrorists will have won. Let8217;s deny them that victory,8221; reads the mail.
Be proactive and be there for the marches, human chain and sign the online petition at avaaz.org/en/india_undivided/98.php/?cl_tf_sign=1
