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United in Sorrow and Hope Following the tragedy of September 11th, iEARN students and teachers from around the world have shared their feelings. Below are a few of those messages. They are shared with you in the hope that we can strengthen a global community committed to combatting hate and intolerance and to building a more peaceful and just world. If you would like to read all the messages, they are in a number of iEARN discussion forums. Access to these forums, in which students and teachers engage in collaborative project work, is password protected. If you would like to join this non-profit global educational community, which connects youth making a difference in the world, write us iearn@iearn.org Africa: Greetings all IEARN Colleagues On behalf of SchoolNet Africa, I would like to extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to all of the IEARN colleagues based in the USA who may have been affected by the tragic events that occurred last Tuesday. We are as shocked as the rest of the world by the attacks that occurred and we too will pray that you overcome the pain and grief that bears so heavily on the US right now. Our thoughts are with you. Kind regards Shafika Isaacs Executive Director SchoolNet Africa
Argentina: Dear friends in the US, There are no words to express the pain at the terrible images the TV shows, so much hatred and destruction is unbelievable. We are thinking and praying for all our friends in NY, Washington and in the whole country. We wish we could do something else, you are in our thoughts and our hearts. With a warm hug, Rosy On behalf of I*EARN Argentina Argentina: Queridos americanos: Creo que sufrimos todos por los acontecimietnos acaecidos el pasado 11/09, pero especialmente sufrimos por la tristeza del terrorismo por el solo hecho de SER. Este que se implanta sin saber de donde viene ni a quien esta dirigdo pero que de alguna manera nos involucra a todos. Sepan que desde todo el mundo, por mas estadísticas que se abran rogamos por un planeta en PAZ. Reciban nuestro mayor anhelo de FE y ESPERANZA Creo que lo que mas puede atormentar a estos dementes es seguir con nuestras actividades, nuestra forma de vida, nuestro cotidiano y silecioso SER, trabajando desde cada puesto por un mundo mejor para nuestros hijos y sus hijos. Creo que es la respuesta mas revolucionaria que podemos darle, aunque nos cueste, aunque tengamos que hacerla tragándonos las lágrimas por los caídos, y mordiéndonos los labios por la incomprensión de sus actos, pero seguir adelante si claudicar, porque eso es lo que buscan, poder quebrar los intereses desde lo mas sencillo a los mas complejo. Empecemos desde lo simple...................... que es lo que más les molesta............. Que cada uno por separado rompa su única vara, asi podremos romper el gran haz, como nos enseña el evangelio.....pero para eso hay que ponerse de acuerdo y que cada habitante del planeta, la rompa en su interior. Margarita Alonso Azerbaijan: Dear all American friends. I deplore for all that happened in your country. I knew about that just yesterday and was very sad. I feel for you and hope that the causers of this terrible story. The lessons of history did some people good and taught others nothing. Nuclear weapons have become dangerous toys in the hands of bad students of history. That is why it is important to have peace in the world. To have peace is our success. Our success is our happiness. So peace is our happiness. ìTHE PEACEFUL AND SECURE FUTURE WAITS FOR US!î Condolences, Nigar from Azerbaijan Cambodia: Dear American people, On behalf of Cambodian Youth, we present our great condolences and extend our deepest sympathy to the families and relatives of those who were killed or injured in and to the American citizens. We at Khmer Youth Association strongly condemn all such cowardly acts of Tuesday's tragic attack, and our hearts go out to the people of the United States during this difficult and painful time. With best regards, Yong Kim Eng President Khmer Youth Association Egypt: To all friends in the U S A...... To all lovers of peace,freedom,democracy and humanity ; don't let these coward and evil acts change you. Good people are still found on our planet[EARTH]. It's a great struggle against evil and I am sure you will pass these sad and hard times.[condolence for the victims and quick recovery for the inujured]. ELGOHARY, EGYPT. Germany: As I told you yesterday there was a known feeling of sorrow, helplessness and lack of understanding when we became aware of what had happened to the American people, especially in New York and Washington. An act of barbarism carried out with never know brutality killed thousands of people. Many of my students have friends, relatives and even parents who work in New York these days and all of these people could tell my students they were o.k. One father of a student was on the same flight that crashed into the towers, only one day earlier. And I, myself spent have a week in New York with my students this spring visiting the World Trade Center and other sites, staying at the Chelsea International Hostel, not far from the scene of terror. Are you alright, everybody? Our school - like tens of thousands of other German schools - held a quiet ceremony today thinking of and praying for the victims and their relatives. We lit candles in their memory. And the students expressed their thoughts on a black wall. But, as Ed Gragert put it, let's continue to work on international, intercultural and even inter-religious dialogues to do something for a, hopefully someday, brighter future. Warm regards, Hans G. Henkel, I*Earn Germany coordinator Ghana: Dear Friends in America, I write to express my sympathy and condoleneces for the victims of the 11th September, 2001 attack on our Dear Country, USA. I had the news with great shock and I could not believe it when the whole scene was shown on CNN. The whole thing looked like an acted film. I support the stand of President Bush to track down on the perpetrators of this wicked act to mankind and the nations who harbour them. It is my prayer that the perpetractors will be track down as soon as possible and justice metted out to them. Let us stay in touch with our friends in US in this time of tragedy. Edward India: In view of the terrible attacks and resulting disasters in the United States, I would like to express my condolances to all our US friends and contacts on behalf of both myself and all my colleagues. From this distant place I would like to wish everyone who is (or will be) directly or indirectly involved in the rescue in Washington DC, New York City and Pittsburg all the strength and all the best during the coming hours, days, weeks and most probably years. We at iEARN India and Exlnc Informatique Pvt. Ltd., are with you in this hour of crisis, Sincerely, Parag Iran: Salam, Dear friends, members, students, teachers and all American people, Unfortunately yesterday we heard some shocking, unbelievable news from America,a horrible tragedy. As we ourselves in Iran at this period of time had some bitter,and bad events in our country and we are completely familiar with such events in our history and our people and government has suffered lots of these acts up to now, but really this one in your country was a shame to the people who are animals or beasts in the shape of human beings. We Iranian Muslims condemn the terrorist attacks what are apparently vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism against innocent civilians and offer our great condolences and extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those who were killed or injured in and to the American people over this shocking attack, specially iearn and goodhopes members. We believe that this is evil, pure evil. We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political cause could ever be assisted by such immoral acts No beliefs or convictions can justify this act and we all should do something to prevent such events in the future for anybody or country. We all pray for all dead ones in this bitter event and also are ready to help our friends anyway that is possible by us. Please inform us more about the situation and also your safety. With the best wishes and peace. Israel: We are all stupified by the hatred one people can have for another, enough to create such a magnitude of disaster and loss of innocent human lives. We have opened a new forum called Israel sympathizes >with America in iearn forums. We will ask our students to go and express themselves. Can you give us a connection with a specific school in New York that we can contact on a more personal level? Hoping you and your family are well. With you more than ever, Tallya, Rachel and ALiza from Blich High School, Israel. Jordan: Dear friends, I was so shocked to hear the news about the brutal attacks on thousands of innocent Americans.I hope you are all safe.My heart goes out for the families of the innocent victims.May God give them strength to cope with this tragedy. Swap(The Jubilee School) Amman, Jordan Jordan: ALL MY Dear American Friends, I hope all of u are fine,My deepest regrets over the incident of 11th Septemeber. May God bless you all and all of you remain safe.I hope that all your friends and family members and loved ones are safe. We all over here are deeply sorry for what happened and we feel the pain you experienced . I wish when you rebuild the WTC twins again very soon , and bring it back to life, your children will regain their security and consider what happend as a movi or bad dream. I know that you all have the courage to over come this pain. Praying for the safety of all the people residing in the U.S from all nations. U.S was and always will be the caring nation for every one on earth. May God bless you all. Ilham, Amman, Jordan Lebanon: I present you all my cordial condolences for the victims fallen for the attack of today and I hope that no one of your parents and your friends was among the victims. This extraordinary crime ho touched the international conscience. I know that the words can not be sufficient to repair your loss. I hope that God bless your people and your nation. Cordially Abdou Yammine, Chief Coordinator, Implementation, Ministry of Education - Beirut, Lebanon Latvia: The events on Tuesday happened in New York, Washington and other American cities made me write this letter with very hard heart and thoughts about our world. We are shocked by what we saw on TV and heard in news. We cant understand it and we can`t express our condemnation and anger and pain. Here in Latvia people feel for the people of America, for those who have lost their relatives and who are injured during the attack. Today in entire our country is the day of mourning. Yesterday every lesson we started with the discussions about what we got to know. And these were our students who started these discussions. They said that it was terrible feeling, because they knew it was not a film. We are really very shocked. We are with you these days. With honour and sorrows Velga Blaua and Aija Cunska (as well other our teachers at Smiltene gymnasium) New Zealand: This is a message to all my American friends in the U.S.A. We here in New Zealand were absolutely shocked and appalled to learn when we woke up this morning of the tragedy and the scale of the terrorist attack against your nation. This morning at my workplace, so many of our staff and students were moved by what you have faced as a nation during the past day and night. We have family members who are travelling in the U.S.A. at this time. Before we commenced our working day, we bowed our heads in prayer and also a moment of silence for the victims of these dastardly deeds. In our country, there has been continuous news coverage on the main television stations, normal programming being transferred to other channels. People here find it quite shocking and are concerned about what will happen next in the U.S.A. and other countries if there is further terrorist attacks. Ed, just to convey to you and your staff, our heartfelt sorrow and also outrage of the cowardly attacks upon innocent civilians. Kindest regards to you all, Zeny Palestine: Dear All I thank God to hear that all of you including your staff and families are safe. At the same time I feel glad about you, also I feel sad and sorry for the victims and their families who now feel as we suffer every day here. I heard in the News that this day Friday is a pray day in USA. I share you from hear with all my feelings and my heart your pray. And I hope the peace will take place some day . Here in Palestine , students in the schools stopped one minute of silence before the the work day for USA victims. Your work in SOL, World-Links and I*EARN is the best way from which people can learn and understand many things that lead to peace. I put both my hands with yours. Philippines: I offer you my prayers in this terrible time for The United States of America. It just beggars belief. How desperately we need the youth of the world to develop a deep sense of concern for their fellow man overriding any prejudices of religion, race or political persuasion. My thoughts are with you in the time of terror. Take care, Laurence Poland: Zapal Swiece! O godzinie 19.00 w pi±tek zapalimy wieczki jako symbol naszego wspÛ„czucia dla AmerykanÛw. Jest to Europejski DzieÒ Solidarnoci z Ameryk±. Polska Akcja Humanitarna, Polski Czerwony Krzyø, Stowarzyszenie na rzecz Forum Inicjatyw Pozarz±dowych i inne organizacje pozarz±dowe apeluj± o w„±czenie siÍ do tej akcji. ProszÍ o przekazanie tej wiadomoci jak najwiÍkszej liczbie osÛb. Light up a candle On Friday at 7 p.m. we light up candles as a support to American Nation. They call it European Solidarity Day with America. Forward this message please. The action is announced in Poland but any other nation may share the solidarity and join. Romania: I am very sorry I couldn't express my feelings for the terrible shocking tragedy your country went through, but I was not connected for a while so I couldn't write you earlier. I don't think there can be found words to express what I felt when I saw what was happening a week ago; I was in front of the TV changing the channels when I suddenly saw the WTC burning and the next moment I saw the plain hitting the other tower. I don't think I will ever be able to forget that image and the feeling of terror I had. I went through the same feeling only once again in my life, in 1999, during the Romanian Revolution against Ceausescu and the communism, when we could on TV how people were killed in Timisoara, then in Bucharest, Sibiu, Cluj and other towns. It was awful to see how teenagers and students together with other hundreds of people were facing the communist forces and how many of them lost their lives. I cried and I felt sorry for what happened in New York and Washington and I would like to send my compassion and sympathy for all the families of the victims that died or were injuried in this awful act of terrorism. I can tell you that all my colleagues and students were shocked and indignated about it and everybody here would like to do something to help; unfortunately we are too far to really be able to help somehow, but I still hope that our prayers to God will be listened. All my best to you and your family, Love, Nelly Cornelia Platon - teacher of English I*EARN Coordinator for Romania Russia: Dear All, We were trying to call you these terrible days. All our thoughts are about our friends in the USA. We share your pain and feel it because here we know what terrorism is. We suffer with you and hope it will never happen again. All teachers and students send their love to you. teachers and students at Moscow School # 689. Russia: Our American friends, We are so happy that everyone in the I*EARN-USA office is OK. We do hope that students and teachers at Stuyvesant High School are all well. I learned about the tragedy after coming home in the evening. All Russian teachers and students join in expressing the sympathy and understanding to the American people - dozens of whom we know personally for many years. I especially admire the people of New York which are handling this disaster with admirable courage and discipline. So many nations and cultures live quite well together in this city - one almost starts to think that this was one of the reasons while those disseminating hate and intolerance have chosen it as a target. The tragedy was covered live on all main Russian TV channels and the regular programs were cancelled. Many people came to the US embassy during late evening and night and brought flowers and burning candles. We must do everything possible to gain more ground in the hard task of bringing people together and reducing hate, intolerance and injustice in the world. We have seen terrible images of devastation in lower Manhattan on our TV. Victor Sierre Leone: Dear IEARN USA, My heart is with you all! This terrorist attack on major US cities, on World Trade Centre, on America, on US citizens is a horrifying attack on all of us, all people who believe in democracy and human rights, justice and peace. It is really an unbelievable, catastrophic scene to see the explosion on Capitol, and the collapse of major Towers and numerous Federal office buildings in NY. I pray that this terrible extraordinary events never happens again in all humanity and that those murderers who are found wanting are brought to justice, and purnished severely, and that the wounded victims are healed and begin to breath alive, and that the the souls of those who departed in this dangerous terrorist onslaught, rest in perfect peace, and that those left to mourn for them are assuaged when justice is meted out, and that 'Peace Prevails on Earth'. Be consoled, we are with you! I*EARN SIERRA LEONE, Andrew Somaliland: I would like to extend my condolences on behalf of all Somaliland citizens across the globe to the American citizens, victims and families of victims. Our prayers are with you all. We are shocked by what happened and words can not describe the shock and terror that is still in our hearts. This is not only an American issue but it is about world and humanity issue. We are all bonded by humanity and such a shock is surely felt with pain in all our hearts. Humanity is about hope and surely such hope is shattered to pieces today. Please visit the following url from our president's condolences: http://www.somalilandnet.com/somaliland_news/somaliland/sept/9715.shtml Suriname: Hello everyone, As the news flashes of the consequences of the terrorist attacks on the WTC in New York and the pentagon in Washington DC come out more and more we are also getting more aware and horrified by the enormous tragedy and disaster that has struck the USA an d human mankind. Still unbelievable that this could happen in this day and age. As iEARN all over the world we must condemn this senseless and inhuman act of terrorism on innocent human lives. There are really no words we as humans and as iEARN community especially can express our disgust of this terrorism. As one of the ultimate goals of iEARN projects around the world is to have a peaceful world where people live and work together peacefully, this terrorist attack lets us know that we have still a lot of work to do with our projects for especially our yout h in the world for reaching this goal globally and together, stretching that we have to live and work together peacefully accepting eachothers differences in culture, way of life and global views . Only then we can help create the peaceful world we all w ant and what iEARN projects strive to do. At this moment our hearts and thoughts go out to the victims and those who lost family and friends in this horrible act of terrorism. Keeping in mind what Martin Luther King once said and quote : "darkness can not be driven out by darkness. Only light can drive out darkness. Hate cannot be driven out by hate, only love can drive out hate," we must keep on working with renewed hope on helping establishing the goals of iEARN internationally by work ing in iEARN projects in full peaceful cooperation now and in the future more then ever. Dave Abeleven IEARN Suriname country coordinator On behalf of the iEARN Suriname coordinating team Trinidad and Tobago: We in Trinidad and Tobago are quite concerned in light of the absolutely terrible event in the US. It is important to note that September 11 was also the United Nations Day of Peace and the beginning of The Culture of Peace Week. We note a culture of dialogue can shift the current culture of violence where the stakes get higher and the acts more extreme each time. Violence is a crime against humanity and life itself,a crime against each one of us wherever we are in the world: We share in the deep sorrow: and that God in his wisdom will grant Peace, let your strength be in Him! We will continue to work together to create global understanding and tolerance. Gia. Gia Gaspard Taylor President Port of Spain/Atlanta Sister Cities: Yugoslavia: Dear friends, we are both so sorry for what has happened in US. We are worried about you and hoping that you are all as fine as you can be. Know that we are thinking of you and let us know how you are, All the best, Tijana, Miki and all the Balkan Voice-ers from Yugoslavia Zimbabwe:
Dear all at IEARN
I have just seen the horrific pictures of what has taken place in New
York and in Washington this morning! As you know New York and Washington
people are very dear to me and to see the Twin Towers come down knowing
how many people would have been inside is a painful experience despite
the distance between our continents. I trust that you are safe and that
these terrible events will not lead to further trouble and loss of life
not just in the US but the world over. My family and I and the whole
World Links and IEARN family in Zimbabwe will be thinking and praying
for the victims of this terrible event. God Bless Eli
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