'Just World News' with Helena Cobban: New horizons ahead!

New horizons ahead!

Posted by Helena Cobban
October 19, 2009 5:43 PM EST | Link
Filed in Writing and publishing

Check out my big news here.

It will be quite the lifestyle change for me, working with the excellent people at CNI/CNIF to put some real organizing oomph into the campaign for fair US policies in the Middle East -- and fair discussion about those policies, here in the US.

As you can see, one of the first things I'll be doing at CNI/CNIF is co-leading a "political pilgrimage" tour that's leaving October 30 for Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, and Egypt.

I'm looking forward to maybe meeting JWN readers who live in those countries!

I am planning to blog as much of this tour as I have time for-- and I'm planning to get other members of the group to do some blogging about it, too.

We have a new, CNI/CNIF blogging venture in the advanced planning stage, and ready to unveil soon. So from Wednesday, when I officially go on board at CNI/CNIF, that's where I'll be doing all my blogging on all matters related to to Arab-Israeli peace issues.

I don't have any immediate plans for JWN. But it does seem to me that as of Wednesday, I need to stay aware that my public voice will be that of the organization, not of me personally. So the main thing I'll be using it for is to (hopefully) build CNI/CNIF to new heights of organizational effectiveness.

Of course I'll keep the readers here posted about the new blog. I'll miss the kind of intimacy and excitement we've had here. But I have to say I'm really excited about what we can all achieve together, organizing-wise, at CNI/CNIF.

You know, folks, I've never put a Donate button here at JWN. But if you appreciate what I've done here over the past nearly-seven years and support what I'm planning to do over at CNI/CNIF, then I urge you to donate everything you can-- money, volunteer hours, organizing ideas, etc-- over there at CNI/CNIF.

Here's the page for online monetary donations. And here's the contact page, for you to write in with organizing suggestions, offers to do some volunteer work for us, or yes, even a nice handy check. Write us into your will, or whatever... You can be assured I'll do everything I can to make every donated dollar go a long way.

More, soon...

Comments

Comment from... Craig, at October 19, 2009 06:08 PM:

Very impressive. Congratulations on your new position!

Comment from... Don Bacon, at October 19, 2009 06:56 PM:

My congratulations to CNI/CNIF on their wisdom. They couldn't have made a better choice!

Comment from... Dan, at October 19, 2009 07:33 PM:

Congratulations, Helena!

Comment from... Qifa Nabki, at October 19, 2009 08:12 PM:

Mabrouk, Helena! Great news.

Looking forward to seeing you at the helm.

Comment from... Pirouz, at October 19, 2009 09:06 PM:

Splendid news, Helena. I only wish your group was also visiting Iran. Hopefully some day in the not so distant future.

Comment from... anonymous, at October 19, 2009 10:23 PM:

Congratulations, Ms.Cobban I am happy for you. Hopefully the CNI will become a household name and be a counterweight to the wineps of this world

Comment from... scott h., at October 19, 2009 10:53 PM:

Mega Kudos Helena.... ironic that just as you're writing of the evolution of Thomas Dine, there's a featured comment on the CNI web site by one of those (Findley) that Dine once brought down.... but who never stayed down. May your independent works be fruitful, your wise voice heard more widely and carefully.

Comment from... Frank al Irlandi, at October 19, 2009 11:47 PM:

Helena

I echo Scott H's words.

As I read today's news and realise that the spirit of General Ripper lives on, I understand the importance of the work.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1122321.html

Interesting views of whether USAF would hold the IAF back from an impromptu assault.

Vaya con Dios

Comment from... John Collins, at October 20, 2009 02:38 AM:

Warmest congratulations from a loyal reader!

Comment from... Christiane, at October 20, 2009 06:19 AM:

Hi Helena,

Warm congratulations for getting this new high level position. I'm sure that the fundation which hired you will really benefit from your competencies and from your energy.

Best wishes for your future actions there.

BTW, we will certainly miss your "more intimate" style at JWN.

Christiane

Comment from... Scott McConnell, at October 20, 2009 11:27 AM:

Helena,
You're a great choice for this job, and I think you can do a lot to raise CNI's profile, and sharpen and improve their message. The good guys are so outnumbered and outfunded on Capitol Hill, but perhaps that's beginning to change.

Comment from... Fouad Moughrabi, at October 20, 2009 12:03 PM:

Mabrouk Helena. You can count on me to be helpful whenever you need it. Best. F.M.

Comment from... Howard, at October 21, 2009 03:24 AM:

Will you be continuing on the HRW board while doing this advocacy work?

Comment from... Marian, at October 21, 2009 06:20 AM:

Big congratulations, Helena -- I look forward to seeing you during your visits to the region.

Comment from... Tony Litwinko, at October 22, 2009 02:07 AM:

Congratulations and best wishes for the work ahead.

Please add your own comments that are courteous, fresh, helpful, and to the point. Be aware that comments might take a minute or two to post because of the extensive filtering we need to use. Comments that contain a number of links may be delayed so that I or my tech advisor can give approval for their publication. Generally this should not take too long. ~HC