We are starving. We will eat your tear gas.
The title of this blog is what activists from the Zimbabwe chapter of the International Socialist Organisation (ISO) said recently.
The police in Zimbabwe often use tear gas to break up demonstrations so I thought I’d give a bit of information on how to deal with “tiger” on the streets.
Breathing in tear gas, or getting it in your eyes, is not fun. This, obviously, is the whole point. But there are things you can do to mitigate the effectiveness of tear gas, and allow you to keep on fighting the good fight.
The first thing to remember about tear gas is that it is primarily a fear weapon. Yes, the gas hurts. But the fear caused by tear gas grenades is a much more effective means of crowd dispersal than the gas itself. So rule number one is to calm down.
Tear gas is most often delivered to its target in the form of grenades. These fit onto the end of gas guns and are fired with blank shotgun cartridges. So, when tear gas is being used you will hear gunshots. Don’t worry: you’re not being shot at.
After you hear a shot, look up. The grenade will be arcing toward its destination trailing white smoke. The grendade will explode. This usually happens while it is in the air, but not always. Again, this can be scary until you get used to it. After the explosion, a small gas emitter remains. It is metal and will be hissing and spewing out tear gas.
The wind is your friend. Move upwind of the gas. This will blow the majority of the gas away from you. Do not panic. Do not run. Panic is precisely what the police are trying to create.
Go to a protest or demonstration with a scarf to protect your face. It will allow you to breathe long enough to escape the gas. It is useful to have soaked your scarf in vinegar. Cider vinegar is less harsh-smelling and is recommended. Breathing in vinegar is not pleasant, but compared to tear gas it’s like fresh air. Unfortunately, the vinegar’s protective effect does not last long (minutes), and your scarf will be saturated with gas afterward. So bring several. Retying a gassy scarf around your face is not a good idea. Make sure the scarf fits tightly around your nose and mouth. You could also wear goggles. Goggles which are air tight. It is one thing to have severe upper respiratory pain. It is another to have that and also have burning, watering eyes.
DO NOT wear contact lenses to any event where there is even a possibility of tear gas usage. The contacts will trap the gas against your eyes which, aside from being painful, will eventually damage your cornea.
My description of what tear gas feels like is this: it feels as if the inside of your head is being dissolved by acid. There is a burning pain and a liquefying feeling as mucous, tears and saliva all begin flowing. Spit, blow your nose, rinse out your mouth, gargle. If necessary, do an eyewash by squirting water across your eye from the inside to the outside with your head tilted to the side.
Different people react differently to the gas. I’ve seen totally unprotected people go up against cops and gas for hours by sheer force of will. However, don’t expect that you will be able to. You may be pleasantly surprised, though.
Finally, diffuse tear gas lingers in the air for a long time. Expect eye, nose and throat irritation for several hours after tear gas has been used in an area, especially if the use of gas was extremely liberal.
Source: http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1026851
Friday, March 23rd 2007 at 1:54 am
EMPOWERED WOMEN OF ZIMBABWE International
EWOZ calls for International Intervention In The Removal And Trial Of Mugabe.
EWOZ is categorically condemning Mugabe and his regime for the mass brutalisation of the people of Zimbabwe. EWOZ is calling on Mugabe to be tried for his part in the mass murder of the countless children of Zimbabwe. EWOZ is calling on the International Community to intervene and let democracy take its course.
As a people of Zimbabwe we believe the world must now look at the atrocities in Zimbabwe and stop ignoring the call of the powerless. We have suffered far too long while the whole world looks the other way. What will it take for the International Community to look and say this is not acceptable? If Saddam Hussein could be executed on suspicion of weapons of mass destruction what about the despot Mugabe who has single handedly destroyed the people, economy and freedom? Mugabe should be brought to justice and this should be done immediately without further delay.
Canada, United States of America and the United Kingdom can no longer afford to play dumb whiled people are being displaced, murdered and starved to death. What does it take for these superpowers to admit that Zimbabwe needs intervention? If its noise they want, we will make it. If its prayers, we will pray. If it takes more killings, please do not worry; Mugabe is doing that without much encouragement.
Is the international community waiting for another Rwanda to happen in Zimbabwe? Is the UN paralyzed to act? Indeed what are the OAU, SADCC, ECOWAS and NEPAD doing? Do not these organizations stand for the welfare of all Africans? Are we expecting too much when we ask them to help Zimbabwe? Should Zimbabweans not expect any help from anyone? There is not a country that does not know what Mugabe has done to a once vibrant country.
So why is the world mum on the dictatorship that has been the staple of Zimbabwe. Long have we striven under a regime that is hell bent on mass destruction. When will our public cries be heard? Should more blood be shed? Should more bullets be fired into a praying crowd? Long have we been scattered in lands that are foreign with threats of deaths if we return home. We have been separated from our beloved with no home of reunion. Those abroad suffer trauma while those in Zimbabwe die daily. What is the required number of murder cases by a despot before the International Community can do more than report this on the six o’clock news.
Save Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe has the right to demand intervention from the International Community. We do not need another Darfur or Rwanda. We do not more need sanctions. They are not effective. The rich despot and his cronies can afford to live with sanctions because they have never depended on the economy to amass wealth. Sanctions do nothing but make life unbearable for the poor while the rich fly out of the country to dine and wine on the best locations in Africa.
EWOZ is calling for freedom and basic human rights for the people of Zimbabwe. We want progress and prosperity to thrive in Zimbabwe. We want the empowered children of Zimbabwe to chart their own destiny. We want education, freedom of speech and the right to land and shelter. We want a chance to build a Zimbabwe that was once the pride of Africa. We demand life. We have cried far too long and enough is enough.
We, the Empowered Women Of Zimbabwe International stand in solidarity and empathize with the suffering people of Zimbabwe who are being refused freedom in education, free enterprise, food and shelter. We stand with our fellow Zimbabweans as we rally for a future without Mugabe and his oppressive regime.
EWOZ stands in support of ZINASU, WOZA and MOZA. These are students, mothers and fathers of Zimbabwe whose cry is not being motivated by political ambitions but the basic need to survive. Together with these brave sons and daughters, we seek to build a Zimbabwe for our children who currently have no hope.
EWOZ demands the removal of Mugabe and his subsequent trial for murder and human rights violations. To leave Mugabe to continue his atrocities is to tell the children of Zimbabwe that their cry for freedom is not important. The time is now that the world should take note.
We, the women of Zimbabwe, will continue to support the children of Zimbabwe through prayer, awareness campaigns, lobbying and raising of our voices. Children of Zimbabwe let us rally together. The time has come to unite all Zimbabweans abroad and back home to fight for our national heritage. Zimbabwe must be freed.
Long Live the Save Zimbabwe Campaign. Freedom is around the corner. We will overcome. Faint not. Gift Tandare, and all those killed in the struggle, rest in peace.
Students of Zimbabwe, you are our children, brothers and sisters, our hope and our future. You make us proud and we will continue to stand by you. Zimbabwe needs a new breed of heroes. Stand firm and freedom will be delivered. As your sisters, wives and mothers we fight with you. Do not bow to dictatorship.
EWOZ Chair
Mazvita Mlambo
ekhaya101@yahoo.com
EWOZ Secretary General
madlamini@yahoo.com
EWOZ International seeks and promotes the empowerment and development of Zimbabwean Women through unrestricted access and provision of education, information technology, enterprise, land and health. When women are empowered the nation prospers.