Two days ago, I received a text message from my father. It was a forwarded message that he had received from his friend Mads, a Norwegian doctor currently in Gaza. The message made a very strong impression on me, and after pondering on it a few days I feel I have to share it with as many people as possible. The text message is obviously in Norwegian, but I've translated it for you.

"They bombed the central vegetable market in Gaza city two hours ago. 80 injured. 20 killed, everything is coming to Shifa. Hades! We are up to our knees in death. Blood and amputated parts. A lot of children. A pregnant woman. I have never experienced anything this horrible in my life. We are now hearing tanks. Spread the message, forward the message, shout it out. DO SOMETHING! DO MORE! We're living on the pages of history right now.
Mads G. 3.1.09 13:50 Gaza, Palestine"

He has also been interviewed by CBS, this turned up in my RSS reader today:
http://www.juancole.com/2009/01/its-hell-in-here-they-are-bombing-15.html

Another interview with Mads:
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=80685§ionid=3510302


I hope you understand why I can not sit here with these messages from my father's friend and not show everyone. I'm safe and comfortable in my own home, and it's so easy to close your eyes and ears to what is going on out there. Don't close your eyes. Read. Watch. Listen. And most importantly - talk about what's happening. Don't let it be ignored.

I wish you all a safe 2009.