If you read articles, it seems as if the conventional wisdom is that Southern Africa is the only bloc with the power and leverage to negotiate with Mugabe.

But Thabo Mbeki shows no signs of pushing Mugabe. Mbeki has no credibility with me on this front.

Bush calls for sanctions, but as this story suggests, unless the sanctions hit Mugabe personally, I can't imagine they'd do any good. What does Mugabe seem to care for his people or his country?

For stories, photos, and information about what's really going on in Zimbabwe, click here for friendsofzim.com

I just don't trust our leaders right now at all, so I'm going with big, fat NO on a unilateral US response (sanctions or otherwise). I think we'll make a bad situation worse. And I agree with Morra that sanctions probably won't make much of an impact on Mugabe. I'm hoping for a collective response from the UN (that is NOT US led) with increased pressures on Zimbabwe's neighbors to respond. 

Lara

Notions of Identity

Well, I am not sure what the U.S. should do on a policy level I do want to support people in Zimbabwe to have freedom of speech and freedom from violence. So I will throw my support behind Sokwanele with donations and an offer to do a little volunteer work, even if it's just posting a few times, or doing research for bloggers or journalists when they need support.

When I was a stay at home mom, and a blogger, I had more time to offer for this kind of Internet activism. I supported a war journalist with research, and spent months doing remote support for disaster relief. Though I have less time now, I can still pass on the word, through blogging, and can pay attention and call attention to what the people who are in Zimbabwe say that they need.

I'd like to donate to help WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise) . Truthhugger recommends donating to big NGOs but I want to try to find smaller and more direct activists and bloggers to support. For instance I would happily pay an individual's mobile phone costs so they can upload photos and keep on blogging. Anyone got contact info for bloggers who are supporting WOZA leaders Jenni Williams and Magadonga Mahlangu, who are still in prison, I would appreciate it!

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Liz Henry
lizzard@bookmaniac.net

Composite - tech & poetics

Badgermama - personal & mommyblog