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

Getting organised to go
January 17th 2003

Published in TNT Magazine, London

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
-- Margaret Mead

Man, what a week! I don’t think I've ever been so deprived of sleep. We scared the shit out of an office worker at the office we’ve been dossing in the other morning. She arrived at work to find two of us asleep on the floor and another still taping away hunched over the computer screen.

This call to action of a mass migration of westerners to Iraq has grown beyond anyone's expectations. If we are able to capitalise on the overwhelming enthusiasm for this action I truly think we have the ability to stop this pending crime against humanity. We have more human shield volunteers than we have seats on buses at this point! Inspiring to say the least.
There’s little doubt in my mind that we are on the verge of something big. And I don’t think it’s a world war. I think the world is on the verge of a second renaissance… a collective change of attitude. There are many interrelated reasons for this, among them being the internet, but, crucially, the complete transparency of the motivations of war-makers, and ordinary people’s subsequent and growing non-acceptance of so-called democratic governments.

People are hungry for the truth. I’m hungry for the truth. We’re sick of so-called liberal politicians pussy-footing around trying to sugarcoat the world and hide the truth for fear of offending people, disrupting the buying environment and losing votes.
Ken, the instigator of this particular action, came to London for the week to talk to the media but has been forced to stay until we leave because of the intense interest. BBC, CCN, Sky News, numerous papers. You name it he’s been on it… and he’s been saying things that I have never heard on these programs. (You can see the clips on the website humanshields.org and www.uksociety.org). This guy tells it how it is and for that I respect him.

Speaking of Ken… I’m sorry but I’m going to have to cut this piece short. Ken has just walked to tell me he’s gained funding for six buses and more to come if we can fill them! Wanna change the world? Don’t believe anyone fool that says you can’t… volunteer@humanshields.org

I’m gonna have a pint…
Kia kaha,
Christiaan Briggs