za3tar

***UPDATE #1:*** A Facebook event for this initiative has been created. Please join the event and pass the message on to your friends (more info here).

***UPDATE #2:*** A list of possible topics to write about can be found (here and here).

***UPDATE #3:*** A small list of bloggers who are participating in the event is published here.

***UPDATE #4:*** A sample harvest list of blog posts contributed to this event has been published here.

Dear all,

May 15th of this year is the 60th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba –which marked the beginning of the modern age Palestinian plight and suffering. This date is remembered annually on local, regional, and global levels.

I am certain that many in the blogosphere will dedicate some posts to commemorate this tragic event. However, inspired by the success of the “Blog About Jordan Day” initiative, i would like to start a formal initiative to encourage everybody to dedicate one post on Thursday, May 15th, to talk about Palestine or the Palestinian Experience.

There are no restrictions on what you can write, or the language that you can use. Really, anything that talks about Palestine, or the Palestinians; in the past, present, or future; political, social, economical, or any other aspect is welcomed. The goal of this event will be to share thoughts, and raise awareness about the Palestinian situation. Hopefully, with everyone’s support, this will be such a spectacular event that it will catch the eye of the mainstream media (specially that the Palestinian situation is inadequately and incorrectly represented in most of the western media outlets).

FAQ:

• Do I have to be Palestinian / Arab to participate ?
  No, everybody is welcomed to join in on this effort.
• Does it have to represent the Palestinian point of view (or be a positive article) ?
  No, you are free, and encouraged, to write whatever you want.
• Does it have to be about the Nakba precisely ?
  No, you can talk about the history of the Palestinian plight, current internal and external affairs, or outlooks for possible future resolutions to this conflict and how do you think can we achieve and maintain peace.
• Does it have to be a political article ?
  No, you are free to talk about any aspect of the Palestinian life inside and outside Palestine. You are free to talk about whatever you want.

I would appreciate it if you could help me spread the word about this event. For your convenience, i have created some simple counters and banners for this event. You can find their code below:

Thank you in advance for your help and support.

**UPDATE:** Thanks to Qwaider for mentioning that blogs *hosted* on Wordpress.com (and possibly other engines) might face some trouble embedding JavaScript code as is done above. If this is the case for you, you can use the following image banners below:

<a href="http://www.za3tar.net/2008/05/01/blog-about-palestine-day/"><img id="countdownimage" src="http://files.za3tar.net/pal-day/buttons/pal-day-en.jpg" border="0" alt="Blog About Palestine Day" style="background-color:#000"></a>

<a href="http://www.za3tar.net/2008/05/01/blog-about-palestine-day/"><img id="countdownimage" src="http://files.za3tar.net/pal-day/buttons/pal-day-ar.jpg" border="0" alt="Blog About Palestine Day" style="background-color:#000"></a>

<a href="http://www.za3tar.net/2008/05/01/blog-about-palestine-day/"><img id="countdownimage" src="http://files.za3tar.net/pal-day/buttons/pal-day-en-big.jpg" border="0" alt="Blog About Palestine Day" style="background-color:#000"></a>

<a href="http://www.za3tar.net/2008/05/01/blog-about-palestine-day/"><img id="countdownimage" src="http://files.za3tar.net/pal-day/buttons/pal-day-ar-big.jpg" border="0" alt="Blog About Palestine Day" style="background-color:#000"></a>