Inspire us! Mondo Awards 2011, a call for entries

An international demonstrator finds inspiration, in Bil’in

Here we are in our new Mondoweiss digs but some things are staying the same, the Mondo Awards are back for a second season! We know some of you have been preparing all year (snark), but seriously, we had a blast last year and we are all excited about a new round of awesome Mondo Awards 2011 entries arriving very soon.

Last year our Mondo Awards season segued with the Gaza Two Year Later series, which culminated in a cross section of writing that swept us off our feet. We also became acquainted with new writers, many of whom have continued to grace our front page over and over throughout the year and have become contributing MW writers, which is one of the things I value most about this site, the collection of contributing authors that keep expanding our minds, our reach, and our community.

We’re sticking with the same themes because they worked.

All submitters are urged to try and answer one or more of these questions: How I came into the struggle or alternately How the struggle came to me? Which event or person in our movement for freedom inspired me over the last year? What gives me hope about the future of Israel and Palestine? What gives me hope about the future of American foreign policy? What book did I read, event did I attend, or fact did I learn that opened my eyes? Did a religious experience play a role in my engagement on these issues? How does my family feel about my engagement? What did I learn about my own religious/social identity this year, and how?

Entries will be judged upon the following criteria: They inspire. They inform. They amuse/entertain. They are beautiful. They will bring peace to the Middle East and sanity to American foreign policy.

We’re expanding our contest this year to include a video category (because they are important and we all love the movies). Our new formatting also includes a graphic for each and every post so please include one that resonates with your entry .

Can you indulge me just a little while I share with you a few of the entries that rocked me over the holidays last year? How many of you recall Bruce Levy’s Deborah Fink of J-BIG? What about  Why I argued with the ambassador by Leila Abdelrazaq…..Nancy Kricorian’s  For taking the profit out of occupation– Dalit Baum and Merav Amir….. The roof of my house by Sarah Ali and these are just a drop in the bucket from our first season.

This can be thrilling, heartbreaking, fascinating, devastating, fun, and introspective. And it gives us all an opportunity to get to know each other in ways we wouldn’t ordinarily.

So this is your wake up call! If you want to embed yourself over the holidays reading personal stories and on the scene accounts of such a wide range and variety from members of our activist community from all corners of the globe start writing today!

Mail your entries to mondoawards@gmail.com beginning today. Entries will be closed by midnight December 30th. Tick-tock!

(P.S. It is with total egg on face we must admit Rawan Yaghi, Top Prize Mondo Award Winner, Gaza Series: ‘From Beneath’, has still not received her award of books. If anyone is going to Gaza..please contact us ASAP, otherwise alternatives will have to suffice via wire. We have not forgotten you Rawan!)