NaBloPoMo stands for National Blog Posting Month. It is a month where bloggers try to post each day of the month. My reasons for doing this, without someone putting a gun to my head, may seem ridiculous to those of you who have absolutely no interest in blogging. But since I hope you will stick with me during my effort this month, I thought that I should forewarn you.
Blogging can be a very solitary profession. Most days I am alone, with my computer and my dog, perhaps some good music or sometimes even the television as background company. I do this because I like what I am doing. It’s great to be able to talk about things I believe are important. Of course I have learned that what I think is important may be vastly different from what you choose to read. So I do not take you for granted. I know that it’s better to try to write about what you want to read. The problem is if you do not comment, I have to become a detective to learn what you are reading.
So except to say, I will try to make the posts useful this month — rather than accost you with some fleeting thought that has set me off the evening before— I will say, we are now off. I will try my best to offer specific solutions to everyday problems for living well, aging young, doing good.
Today I am focusing on doing good.
This story offers you a chance to help someone without leaving your home. It happens to be someone I know who would really appreciate you signing this petition. Some things happen to other people. But imagine my surprise when I learned the Australian woman and her 4 year old daughter who are trapped in Cairo are my friends’ family.
The rather long and circuitous story of how an Australian national, Amaal Finn and her daughter find themselves unable to leave Cairo is a mother’s nightmare.
There is a long version of this story. But the short version is that Amaal Finn and her daughter Zareen went to Egypt to visit her husband’s family. While there her husband, whose name is Mazen Baioumy, tricked her into signing a document in Arabic that was a travel ban barring her or her daughter from leaving Egypt; and NOT a request for Egyptian residency as she had been led to believe by her husband.
This entrapment began in August. My friend and her family in Australia are at their wit’s end. Because they have not been able to get help from either the Australian or the Egyptian governments to resolve this. It is clearly a case of deceit. Proof of that is the child’s father, Mazen Baioumy who is an Australian national, has gone missing so as not to be pressured by either government to lift the travel ban or to address the deceit involved. So the family was quite happy for the coverage today by ABC.net/au
The network reported that “Amaal Finn’s family is begging Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to intervene and [has] asked the Egyptian government to overturn the ban, so that the two can come home.”
A petition has been created and the family is asking for you support. Please sign the change.org petition here and help bring Amaal and Zareen home to Australia.
Ruth Curran says
I just love your “what can I do to make it better” attitude and am so looking forward to hearing more!!
Patricia A Patton says
Thanks Ruth. I do work to be positive. And I am certainly trying to find real ways to be useful. Was thinking about craniumcrunches today. I need to do more
Lois Alter Mark says
Great post, and I just signed the petition. Glad to be spending this month with you.
Patricia A Patton says
Thanks Lois and thanks for signing the petition. I will be seeing lots of you.
Patricia A Patton says
Thank you so much for this scoop it. It is my first.