The game changer would be the release of prisoners, including 21 activists. That is not going to happen anytime soon. Britain and America make clucking noises but are just as cynical as the Bahraini royal family itself. Strategic alliances trump human rights. What is the difference between Bahrain and Syria? In two words, Saudi Arabia, which sees the trouble on its doorstep as its own Cuba. Nor is al-Jazeera, under new direction, interested in Bahrain. They are not being broadcast all over the Arab world, but Bahrain’s deep problems are still there. And they will not be drowned out by the roar of engines today.

‘Bahrain: chequered flag’— editorial @ The Guardian

The problems in Bahrain finally stole a little media attention thanks to the F1 situation but this is again one of those situations where we must pay and seek sustained media and individual attention to the situation over there because it’s not getting any better. I like The Guardian’s coverage a lot (they have a liveblog here, with summaries of what’s been going on in Egypt and Syria too) but obviously just read as much as you can and widely and pay sustained attention.

Fifteen years ago generations of ethnic hatred culminated in 100 days of killing in which over a million people died. Two days ago I was on the phone with a woman who is from Rwanda and whose entire family died during those 100 days. She had recently been able to go to Canada to start school and was aware every day of what was going on in her country, but when she watched the news most of what she saw was one asshole in one white suburban running away from the police. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of assholes were killing hundreds of thousands of people, and no one even talked about it, let alone did anything about it. … As horrible as it was that these people knew that their friends were dying, and that they might very well be killed soon as well, what was worse for them was the complete feeling of abandonment, as if no one in the world cared what was happening to them, which, frankly, was the case.

- “Lighting Candles for Rwanda” (March 2009) - Hank Green

***

Let’s not let it happen again, okay? Or do everything we can to not let it happen again. I’m infinitely grateful to be surrounded by people who care and listen and think and talk and want to help, but even some of my closest friends have no interest in this situation. People ask me why I care about everything going on and all I can reply is how can you not care? I don’t mean to sound pious, but honestly, I don’t understand it.

Had to make a video. Thought I might as well put it here. Back to midterm essays.