Smaller than a Mouse- a poem by Naomi Shihab Nye published in her most recent book "Sidekick" 2026

                   Smaller than a Mouse

We demonstrated on a steaming day,

carrying signs,

five hundred thousand people 

in the streets of New York

saying no to war,

gathering crowds for blocks and miles,

crush and press of world's religions

and secular codes, multi-flavored

WE SHALL NOT KILL

and the next day our story,

the story of saying no to war,

was written up in a three-sentence news item

on the back of the front section of the New York Times

smaller than the story of a mouse found

in a chain restaurant soup.

This is the truth.
 

    Poem by award winning Palestinian American poet Naomi Shihab Nye published in her most recent book "Sidekick" 2026  

 https://boaeditions.org/book/sidekick/

Praise for Naomi Shihab Nye

“On every page, Shihab Nye's insistent call is the same: people, all people, deserve to live safe and healthy lives, free from fear and violence. She mourns, rages, takes politicians to task, but always lands on the side of compassion.” —Shelf Awareness

 

Naomi Shihab Nye is the author and/or editor of more than thirty volumes including six collections of poetry from BOA Editions: Sidekick (2026), Red Suitcase (1994), Fuel (1998), You & Yours (2005), Transfer (2011), and The Tiny Journalist (2019). She has been a Lannan Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow and a Witter Bynner Fellow. Her numerous awards include a Lavan Award from the Academy of American Poets, the Isabella Gardner Poetry Award from BOA, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, the Patterson Poetry Prize, four Pushcart Prizes, the Robert Creeley Prize the Betty Prize from Poets House for her service to poetry, and the Lon Tinkle Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Texas Institute of Letters. She served on the Board of Chancellors of the Academy of American Poets from 2010–2015, and in May 2019 she was named the 2019–2021 Young People's Poet Laureate by the Poetry Foundation. 

[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes or watch videos) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

Social network UpScrolled sees surge in downloads following TikTok’s US takeover: "The app was founded last year by Issam Hijazi, a Palestinian-Jordanian-Australian technologist, with the aim of giving users a place to “freely express thoughts, share moments, and connect with others,” according to the app’s website. The team behind the app says they’re “building a platform that belongs to the people who use it — not to hidden algorithms or outside agendas.”"

 story by

Aisha Malik

12:11 PM PST · January 26, 2026 

 

In the wake of TikTok’s U.S. ownership change last week, some users are seeking out alternative platforms. One app gaining traction is UpScrolled, a social network that pledges to remain impartial to political agendas. The app currently ranks 12th overall in Apple’s App Store and second in the social networking category.

UpScrolled blends familiar features from Instagram and X, letting users share photos, videos, and text posts, discover new content, and send direct messages.

The app was founded last year by Issam Hijazi, a Palestinian-Jordanian-Australian technologist, with the aim of giving users a place to “freely express thoughts, share moments, and connect with others,” according to the app’s website. The team behind the app says they’re “building a platform that belongs to the people who use it — not to hidden algorithms or outside agendas.”

“UpScrolled is the foundation for a digital ecosystem that puts power back into the hands of the people — not the corporations,” Hijazi said in a statement on UpScrolled’s website. “It’s more than just an alternative to Meta, X, or TikTok — it’s a reimagining of what social media should be: a space where creators, communities, and businesses thrive independently, with real control, transparency, and accountability.”

The app, available on both iOS and Android, is grappling with a surge of new users but says it’s scaling to keep up with the demand.

According to data... READ MORE  https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/26/social-network-upscrolled-sees-surge-in-downloads-following-tiktoks-us-takeover/

AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]  

"On this new year, let’s resolve to get our priorities straight. A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars. Peace must prevail. It’s clear the world has the resources to lift lives, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice.In 2026, I call on leaders everywhere: Get serious. Choose people and planet over pain. And I urge everyone who hears this message: Play your part. Our future depends on our collective courage to act. This new year, let’s rise together: For justice. For humanity. For peace. "

United Nations

@UN

“As we turn the page on a turbulent year, let’s resolve to get our priorities straight in 2026.” Wishing people around the world a Happy New Year, @antonioguterres urges: 

 

“Let’s rise together: For justice, humanity and peace.”

 

https://x.com/UN/status/2006712385688711420 

 

 https://un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statements/2025-12-29/secretary-generals-new-year-message

 

Statement by António Guterres, Secretary-General of The United Nations

As we enter the new year, the world stands at a crossroads.

Chaos and uncertainty surround us. 

Division. Violence. Climate breakdown. And systemic violations of international law.

A retreat from the very principles that bind us together as a human family. 

People everywhere are asking: Are leaders even listening? Are they ready to act.

As we turn the page on a turbulent year, one fact speaks louder than words:

Global military spending has soared to 2.7 trillion dollars, growing by almost 10%.

That is thirteen times more than all development aid, equivalent to the entire Gross Domestic Product of Africa.

All, while conflict rages at levels unseen since World War II.

On this new year, let’s resolve to get our priorities straight.

A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars. Peace must prevail.

It’s clear the world has the resources to lift lives, heal the planet, and secure a future of peace and justice.

In 2026, I call on leaders everywhere: Get serious. Choose people and planet over pain.

And I urge everyone who hears this message: Play your part.

Our future depends on our collective courage to act.

This new year, let’s rise together:

For justice. For humanity. For peace. 

 https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statements/2025-12-29/secretary-generals-new-year-message

AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine, or at least fair and just laws and policies]

24-country median: 62% unfavorable towards Israel VS 29% favorable towards Israel ... "Another survey confirming opposition to a genocidal state and society. The fact that these figures dont correspond to state policy reflects how supporting Israel necessitates authoritarian rule & that it is a matter of time/generation before the pendulum swings." Noura Erakat

Noura Erakat

@4noura

Another survey confirming opposition to a #genocidal state and society. The fact that these figures dont correspond to state policy reflects how supporting Israel necessitates authoritarian rule & that it is a matter of time/generation before the pendulum swings.

24-country median:  62% unfavorable towards Israel VS 29% favorable towards Israel

Hanan Ashrawi "We are the only people asked to guarantee the security of our occupier... while Israel is the only country that calls for defense from its victims..."

 

1915 Jenin, Palestine

From Mike on Facebook: #Jenin, #Palestine...Circa 1915!