“I am an Iraqi Child” (Video) Posted
June 3, 2008 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Check out the new video and share it with your friends as a way of advocating on behalf of Iraqi children in need! Thanks for your support!
Embed this video on your blog or website:
Preemptive Love Art Exhibition.
May 8, 2008 by cody · Leave a Comment
If there’s one thing I’ve learned out here, it’s this: Always love. It doesn’t matter what it looks like or how it appears to those around you…just love. Maybe that’s because I’ve been exposed to so much hate here and I’ve grown to learn where that leads us as people. I say “us” because it’s in all of us. It’s not confined to Baghdad or terrorists or anybody else we label as a “bad guy.” We’re all affected by it. Another thing we have in common is the ability to love. Love isn’t contained in a building or in the “good guys” either. If you’re breathing…you can love.
Artists here in Northern Iraq recently pulled together to do exactly that. On top of all being able to breath, they are all extremely talented at creating art. Over thirty artists created and donated art to be displayed in Zamwa Gallery to show their support and advocacy on behalf of the children of Kurdistan. Instead of just being hung on a wall, their art is driving out complacency and hate and ushering in love.
When I first arrived here there were around 700 registered children with heart disease. Being registered isn’t a bad thing unless you’re lost in a list of 700 names waiting your turn to be send abroad for urgent surgery. Waiting in line isn’t a bad thing unless your heart needs to be treated immediately in order to survive. Just a few weeks ago we found out that the list of 700 kids has grown to a list of over 2,800.
If I’m completely honest then I’ll tell you that this is way too big for me. It’s way to big for you. It’s too big for an artist and even a doctor. But…if we’re still being honest, then I’ll tell you that all of us together CAN create change. We CAN help raise awareness. We CAN be a voice for these children. We CAN love. By “we” I mean painters, bloggers, doctors, writers, singers, students, business men, street sweepers, and anybody else that can breath.
So love. It may manifest itself in a piece of art, be shouted from a soap box or go completely unnoticed. It’s up to you. Just love.
All of the art from the gallery along with some of Buy Shoes. Save Lives.’ photography has been compiled into a book that can be purchased on our on-line store. Get one before they run out! All of the proceeds go to help fund heart surgeries. It’s simple.
BSSL On The Radio
May 3, 2008 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
The kind people over at World Vision Report (a division of the incomparable World Vision) have put together what will hopefully be the first of two pieces on Buy Shoes. Save Lives. The first one - airing on 1,800 radio stations across the country last week - is a two minute interview by Peggy Wehmeyer (ABC World News Tonight, 20/20, Good Morning America) with one of our co-founders. 
Push Play Below to hear the two minute interview!
Trip to see Aras in Halabja
March 25, 2008 by ruth · 2 Comments
Last week I made my first visit to one of ‘our kids’ - Aras, the start of what I hope to spend much time doing here as ‘Director of Rehabilitation & Family Relations’ for BSSL.
Aras was the first kid that was mostly funded for his surgery through BSSL . When we arrived in his neighborhood we first spotted him out playing on the street with his friends - running around, laughing, having fun! It was my first time to meet him and I definitely would not have suspected that he had been through so much in the past few months!
I had a wonderful time with Aras and his family. They thanked us over and over again for all that we had done to help Aras. His mom had put together an extensive photo album telling Aras’s story during his time in Israel. It was fun having Aras talk me through all the photos from him lying on his bed immediately following surgery through all the various stages of recovery. He’s a real sweet kid!
Thank you for making it possible for kids like Aras to have the life saving operations that they need! Arya and Rebar just returned on Saturday so I’m also hoping to be able to visit them soon. This week I’ll also be visiting Baveel so check in again soon to see an update on how he’s doing.
Delshad Now Fully Funded!
November 19, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Delshad, 5 years old
Delshad has a hole between the ventricles of his heart, and was singled out by Israeli doctors at the October screening in Jordan as a child who needs surgery in the near future, before pulmonary hypertension would leave him inoperable. His visa for travel has already been approved, and thanks to your continued advocacy and purchases, BSSL contributed almost 40% of the necessary funds and he will be headed to surgery this week! Sometimes we cannot believe this is actually working!
Anonymous Donor Partially Funds Two Children for Buy Shoes. Save Lives.
November 6, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Hedi, 8 months old
Thanks to an anonymous gift directly to our partner organization on behalf of Buy Shoes. Save Lives., Hedi will be able to have the operation he needs to fix the hole between the ventricles of his heart. Your advocacy among your friends is apparently working! Keep it up!
Hussein, 3 years old
Hussein is from one of the few Arab (non-Kurdish) families who made it safely to the October screening. Doctors singled him out as urgent, as he periodically runs out of breath and cries. Our partners at Shevet Achim took him across the Jordan River Monday with Hedi (above), and thanks to an anonymous gift on behalf of Buy Shoes. Save Lives., his sponsorship was completed at three minutes to midnight the same day!
Aras Now Fully Funded!
October 29, 2007 by Jeremy · 1 Comment
Aras, 12 years old
Halabja, Iraq
Aras should have had surgery as an infant, and thanks to your thoughtful buying practices and great compassion Aras will now inshallah, LORD willing, get that surgery he needs. This surgery was co-sponsored by Buy Shoes. Save Lives. and other private donors with BSSL paying over 68% of the $7,000 base. With surgery Aras is expected to lead a normal life! Israeli doctors have accepted him as a surgery candidate, and we will attempt to send him as soon as possible.
BSSL in Los Angeles Fri/Sat Oct 19 & 20
October 19, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
We’re boarding a plane for Los Angeles. We are standby for a flight to Los Angeles. In a quick turn of events we are planning an impromptu gathering in Los Angeles on Saturday to promote Buy Shoes. Save Lives. and call people to ACTIVATE LOVE on behalf of Iraq’s beautiful people.
Even if you don’t live in Los Angeles, you might know someone who lives within 2 hours. Would you mind calling them and alerting them to this important event? Send out a Facebook message. Blog about it. These degrees of separation are smaller than ever and the info could get out there fast enough for us to have a significant small group of people.
We really need pockets of passionate people in major cities and at major campuses around the States. As details come together I will post again, but immediate action on your part via phone or web could help us mobilize a group of people who are ready to step up, move beyond eloquent inactivity or blithe optimism about the war in Iraq, and actually make a difference.
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP! Even if you don’t know anyone in LA and know for certain that no one who reads your blog is in LA, you never know that someone who reads your blog doesn’t know someone in the area… ! Gotta love the web…
Saturday, Oct 20th, 2007
1 p.m.
Buy Shoes. Save Lives. ACTIVATE LOVE (Small Group Event)
Information drop only - no commitments or cover charge.
FINAL LOCATION T.B.A.
Repeater Tshirt Added to Store - $12 PREORDER SALE ENDS SOON!
October 17, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
Top 5 Reasons We Added Another TShirt to the Store
1. Some people don’t look good in baby blue!
2. Text based shirts don’t engender conversation as much, but they convey the message more immediately.
3. We almost ran out of the other shirt and needed a new shirt immediately.
4. We love activists like you who want to continue to support the movement toward a peaceful Iraq by serving her people.
5. We are close to two major articles being published and our first full heart surgery and thought we’d help you celebrate with us!
Cool New Web Banners Added
October 16, 2007 by Jeremy · Leave a Comment
User submitted artwork… we love it! Thanks again to designer Carissa Phillips for her superrad, simplistic design on these web banners. If you haven’t grabbed a Buy Shoes. Save Lives. viral marketing web banner in awhile, go grab one and attach it to your face - I mean your Facebook - myspace, blog, and email. Because ultimately only you can tell the people we can’t reach about the stuff you now know that they don’t know regarding the ways in which together we can make a more peaceful Iraq by wearing clothing that builds bridges and tears down misconceptions.
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