How long will it take to forget? 9th April 2003 Of all the scenarios! 13th March 2003 Some Human Shields asked to leave Iraq 10th March, 2003 Letter to Prime Minister Christiaan Briggs Implores his Prime Minister to Inspire 6 March, 2003 Better than a 9-to-5 5th March, 2003 Response to false reports of Iraqi control 5th March, 2003 Christiaan deploys to power station in Baghdad 4th March, 2003 Christiaan responds to U.S. administration 26th February, 2003 Intent on standing with the Iraqi people 25th February, 2003 Finally in Baghdad 20th February, 2003 Getting organised to go 17th January, 2003 Why a Small-town New Zealander is Heading for Iraq to be a Human Shield 1st January, 2003

Finally in Baghdad
February 20th 2003

Published in TNT Magazine, London

I’m finally in Baghdad. I feel like I’m on holiday. The city is beautiful, living is cheap, the weather is fantastic and the Iraqi people greet us with smiles and friendly gestures every place we go. I was told to expect a great deal of generosity and friendliness but what I didn’t expect is the very gentle nature of Iraqi people. Somehow a people devastated by war and 12 years of economic sanctions has managed defiance in the face of such oppression and remains one of the gentlest peoples I know.

Iraqi minders do not follow us, as we were lead to believe. The city is not dysfunctional, as we were lead to believe (I am sending this article from a large internet café). In fact apart from the incredibly friendly and generous locals it is much like any western city. If the U.S. starts bombing just imagine any densely populated western city with around 5 million people and lots of children.

It has certainly been one hell of a journey and the goal of a mass migration to Iraq is very much in progress. Hundreds of Human Shields from around the globe are converging here in Baghdad and within the next few days we will be deploying to strategic sites that are key to avoiding mass civilian casualties. Most important are the water and electrical supplies that were directly targeted by allied forces in the last Gulf War. If these targets are hit once again it will be the spreading of disease and lack of water that will so shamefully hit the children and poor yet again. We are soon to announce the number of Westerners at these sites along with upward facing signs to ward off the murderers from above.
Book your flight to Amman, Jordan now, we will bus you to Baghdad from there.