kind of political alert

[be_themoon]

When I first started this journal, I made a firm decision to remain un-political in statements as far as I could. I've broken that decision once, to comment on Obama's election, and I'm going to break it again today. I would apologize, but I think that this is important.

Most of you have probably already heard about the Iranian election protests going on, so I'm going to keep this short and simple, just a very basic breakdown of events.

The Iranian presidential election was last Friday. Ahmadinejad, the incumbent, was challenged by Mousavi, a candidate on a reform platform. Iran's ballots are handwritten and handcounted, a process that takes a long time, but all of the millions of ballots were counted within a one-day frame, with Ahmadinejad winning by a large lead. Suspicion of fraud ran rampant around the world. Iranians took to the streets Monday in peaceful protest, and things have only gone downhill from there. The official Iranian death count was 7 not long ago, but it is very likely it is higher than the government is giving out. The Iranian government has blocked Google, Youtube, Yahoo, and many other networking sites, but many Iranians have been able to get on Twitter and are giving updates of the situation as well as they can.

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

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

- links and pictures from one_hoopy_frood

Comments

[lizzie-marie-23.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting this. You're right, this is a really important issue. I hope the situation doesn't turn too dangerous.

[be-themoon.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. Situations like these worry me to no end. *bites nails*

[katakokk.livejournal.com]

Thanks for posting this. I wasn't entirely sure what the issue was about and your summary was very helpful.

[be-themoon.livejournal.com]

I hadn't found out about it until just yesterday, which is a little scary, because I do keep an eye on the world news. So yeah. Things like this depress me and also make me really really mad.

[katakokk.livejournal.com]

I know, these kind of issues are just so incredibly frustrating. However, it was very heartening to see the awareness and stuff about it on my flist. :)

[be-themoon.livejournal.com]

That's been the only thing that hasn't made me want to slam my head on my keyboard in complete frustration. gnarrrr.

[animus-wyrmis.livejournal.com]

I've been following it online for the last couple days--I am just amazed. I don't know if I would be brave enough to protest there!

[be-themoon.livejournal.com]

It's been pretty shocking for me too. I'd like to think I would be, but I really don't know. :/

[turkeyish.livejournal.com]

thank you for posting this. as a politics student, it's so easy to become disheartened and cynical...but it's always good to know that people do take note, and that people do care.

it's also amazing to see how powerful the internet is!

[be-themoon.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, I can see how it would be easy to get disheartened. *winces* People do care!

I know, really... it's almost scary. O.o