Drive by update on life, Iran

Heya guys. This is K, reporting in from Supremely Burnt Out Tired Land. Work is really taking it out of me - the last month has just been this mad rush of getting things done for the office, or being zoned out in the office. UNHAPPY FACE. Friends have also been kinda \o /o as we flail towards university; everyone's jittery, and we try to go out and support each other as much as possible, but that's taken most of my days off and turned them into huge social exercises that, while really cool!, have left me feeling sort of like a Swiss roll that's been run over by an 18-wheeler. So I'm really sorry if I haven't been keeping up with fic - especially the original stuff that people are posting! - or entries down here on DW; even keeping my brain in order on LJ has been bleaaaaaaargh. I hope everyone's been doing good! ♥

In other, more important news:

If you are reading this right now, you have more luxury than someone in Iran could ever hope for right now. If you are watching TV or a video on youtube, updating your status on Facebook, Tweeting, or even texting your friend, you are lucky. If you are safe in your home, and were able to sleep last night without the sounds of screaming from the rooftops, you need to know and understand what is happening to people just like you in Iran right now.

They are not the enemy. They are a people whose election has been stolen. For the first time in a long time, a voice for change struck the youth of Iran, just as it did for many people in the United States only seven months ago. Hossein Mousavi gained the support of millions of people in Iran as a Presidential candidate. He stands for progressiveness. He supports good relations with the West, and the rest of the world. He is supported with fervor as he challenges the oppressive regime of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

On Friday, millions of people waited for hours in line to vote in Iran's Presidential election. Later that night, as votes came in, Mousavi was alerted that he was winning by a two-thirds margin. Then there was a change. Suddenly, it was Ahmadinejad who had 68% of the vote - in areas which have been firmly against his political party, he overwhelmingly won. Within three hours, millions of votes were supposedly counted - the victor was Ahmadinejad. Immediately fraud was suspected - there was no way he could have won by this great a margin with such oppposition. Since then, reports have been coming in of burned ballots, or in some cases numbers being given without any being counted at all. None of this is confirmed, but what happened next seems to do the trick.

The people of Iran took the streets and rooftops. They shout "Death to the dictator" and "Allah o akbar." They join together to protest. Peacefully. The police attack some, but they stay strong. Riots happen, and the shouting continues all night. Text messaging was disabled, as was satellite, and websites which can spread information such as Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and the BBC are blocked in the country. At five in the morning, Arabic speaking soldiers (the people of Iran speak Farsi) stormed a university in the capital city of Tehran. While sleeping in their dormitories, five students were killed. Others were wounded. These soldiers are thought to have been brought in by Ahmadinejad from Lebanon. Today, 192 of the university's faculty have resigned in protest.

Mousavi requested that the government allow a peaceful rally to occur this morning - the request was denied. Many thought that it would not happen. Nevertheless, first a few thousand people showed up in the streets of Tehran. At this point, it is estimated that 1 to 2 million people were there. Mousavi spoke on the top of a car. The police stood by. For a few hours, everything was peaceful. Right now, the same cannot be said. Reports of injuries, shootings, and killings are flooding the internet. Twitter has been an invaluable source - those in Iran who still know how to access it are updating regularly with picture evidence. People are being brutally beaten. Tonight will be another night without rest for so many in Iran no older than I am. Tonight there is a Green Revolution.

For more information:
PICTURES:
here and here
NEW INFORMATION:
Here - near constant updates
Here - ONTD_political live post
ON TWITTER:
@StopAhmadi, @IranElection09, @persiankiwi, @NextRevolution, @Change_for_Iran

دنیارابگوییدچطورآنهاانتخاباتمان دزدیده اند
Tell the world how they have stolen our election

- original post by one_hoopy_frood

To the flist in general--

I just wanted to say ♥ and that I love you guys for being the caring, insanely talented and heartfelt people that you are. ♥ It's always blown my mind away how a shy girl who talks too much from this corner of the globe has been able to get to know all you crazy and fantastic people from all over the place - you guys have been a bright damned light, full of lessons of life, politics, writing, love, joy. I'm honoured and lucky to call you guys my friends. ♥ ♥ And will always look forward to getting to know you guys better, regardless of how much we talk right now.

Also, a huge thank you to anyone who's dropped a word for me over the last few days of epic crap-time, and hearts out to everyone who's been going through hard times or Workfail or tiredness. As Ocean's 12 the movie said, HANG TIGHT.

♥

/public service announcement

(ALSO ellynx CHECK YOUR EMAIL THERE IS GREAT HILARITY WITHIN)

( Additionally, DETOX - a genfic commentfic thinger! :D Highly recommended for anyone who struggles with pr0n *guiltycough* )