Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC) advocates on behalf of victims of armed conflict, and works to ensure they receive recognition and assistance from the warring parties who harmed them.
CIVIC persuaded the US Congress to establish programs for war victims in Afghanistan and Iraq, helps victims get assistance, and lets the world know about the human cost of war. We are advocating a new global standard of conduct that warring parties should help where they have hurt.
In 2005, CIVIC's founder Marla Ruzicka was killed in Iraq by a suicide bomber while advocating for families injured and killed in the crossfire. CIVIC honors her legacy and strives to sustain her vision.
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Who I'd like to meet:
People who are interested in making a difference!
So here's the story... Imagine you donated $1 today. And then you told 10 of your friends about CIVIC's work and they donated $1 tomorrow. And then imagine they told 10 of their friends and they each donated $1. By next week, you would have raised over $1 million for war victims. Now THAT is a revolution!
Start your revolution today! Donate to our cause below, then tell all of your friends!
CIVIC - you are amazing! Thank you for all you are doing to help people. Marla is and will always be my hero! Even in a short time, she brought so much good!! Thank you for continuing her brave efforts and compassion!
- Heather
~peace love kindness~
EXCERPT
There was once a war and many people died. There was also much collateral damage. The people were the collateral. And everyone saw who bothered to look, but pretended they didn’t. But there was one girl, a shining, sprite pixie of a blond with an amber smile who DID notice. And DID something. Not at the time — she was too young — but later, the next time she saw it happening...
I've recently started running with some very conservative friends of mine. I decided that we needed a passionate reason to keep running together and not get lazy.
We try to meet every morning and run a preset number of miles. For every mile that I run, I will donate $2 to CIVIC. If they don't show, they will each donate $1 for every mile that they don't run to CIVIC. (They will donate $1 for every mile they run, and $2 for every mile that don't, to the soldier-support group of their choice. I told them I'm going to donate to the ACLU to get them motivated since they hate the ACLU... I told them they should donate to the Dick Cheney and Friends Gun Safety Course)
I'm just posting this so that I will follow through... and to let you know that WE CARE!
"If there is light in the soul, There will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, There will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, There will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, There will be peace in the world." ~ Chinese Proverb
"One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was
walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the
sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he
noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one
belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When
the last scene of his life flashed before him, he
looked back at the footprints in the sand. He
noticed that many times along the path of his life
there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed
that it happened at the very lowest and saddest
times in his life. This really bothered him and he
questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, You said that
once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all
the way. But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life, there is only one set
of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed
you most you would leave me." The Lord replied,
"My son, My precious child, I love you and I would
never leave you. During your times of trial and
suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it
was then that I Carried You."
Marla you carried so many people in your lifetime. Your footprints will never disappear.
Marla Ruzicka December 31st 1976 - April 16th 2005 RIP
I still have a hard time not crying whenever I see her picture... Your adding me made me want to mourn all over again.
I never knew her, and I am not a fanatic by any means, but her death has affected me in such a way that I can't explain. She is more than an inspiration; she is a reminder of who I aspire to be, who I want our posterity to aspire to be. She represents hope and change in an era of looking the other way. She made people see others as people again in a world of desensitization and selective statistics.
She didn't care about material things or political lines; she was above all that. She sincerely cared about people... and I am just one of the many, many people who will never forget her for that. RIP Marla, we love you.
keep up the good work sister. Marla Inspired me to write this song:
Bullies.
You bullies of the world, you push and you pull
In your games fuelled by oil played by those born again few
You steal the lives of our children to fight with god on their side
But when Jesus comes back he’s gonna burn you alive
And I hope that I’m there and I hope that I see
The emptiness inside of you burn as deep as can be
Do you think I don’t know? or just incapable to see see?
As you rape and you pillage my world around my children and me
You Corporations of Nations, Kofi knew of your gains
And he told you the truth, that you should all be ashamed
As you pulled on the wool of a war bound disguise
We all saw through the shining of those watershed lies
So I hope that you’re happy with the blood stained papers you earnt
From the death and the suffering, of which you don’t seem to learn
And hide in your buildings to feel immune to it all
As the world around you drifts and you start your free fall
You Clowns of the Circle, your audience, the're drifting apart
Cause we can’t find a light in your world full of dark
So as you stand be conscious, as we all stare at you
That we know what you know and hate what you do
Cause you tell us of democracy then give us no choice
Of freedom of speech but of not using our voice
Just don’t think that you fool us, and don’t think that we'll run
We're just waiting in the wings to see you run rabbit run
Please tell me the answer it still blows in that wind
Cause I can feel it’s gentle breeze, but it don't ever come in
Cause I want it, And I need it, just please let it be
But to know the make of your handcuffs won’t ever make you free
So what happens now? What is it you see?
Is it a world run by them , struggling we?
Is it a joining of people with a purpose to be?
Or voices with reasons trying to feel just that little bit……..free
……
The reason I think Marla Ruzicka is a hero is because she didn't just talk about innocent people being hurt like so many of us do; she took action and dedicated her life those people--and the inconvenience obvious danger did not overpower her convictions. She's a role model for EVERYONE.
