Letter to President Ahmadinejad – Co-Directors, Aprovecho

H.E. Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President, Islamic Republic of Iran
Palestine Avenue, Azerbaijan Intersection
Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

August 20, 2010

Dear President Ahmadinejad,

It is with great distress and utmost concern that we urge the release of our past co-director and friend Josh Fattal and his two traveling companions Sarah Shourd and Shane Bauer.

Our organization, Aprovecho, a Spanish word for “I make the best use of,” has been involved in providing technical aid to the world’s poor and empowering education on our 40 acre site for over 30 years. Among other things, we are credited with designing the world’s most fuel efficient cook stoves, advancing energy efficient building methods that require only local materials, and promoting sustainable agriculture methods. These technologies and techniques are extended around the world in an effort to support and empower individuals everywhere.

Josh was recently a long time staff member of Aprovecho. His work took him to Chiapas, Mexico, and Guatemala where he helped villagers develop fuel efficient and low particulate cook stoves for their kitchens. He was also an invaluable member of the team on our Oregon campus where he led and organized educational programming. His enthusiasm for life, his un-yielding optimism, and devotion to a better more equitable and peaceful world has always been absolutely outstanding.

We have watched with hope for a noble and affirming resolution to Josh, Shane, and Sarah’s captivity. Holding out hope that you will at once transcend the political posturing between our two governments and make the moral and humanitarian example you are currently in your power to make. Show the world that justice and mercy are a greater force than power and politics by releasing the hikers.

Josh, Shane, and Sarah have been in prison for nearly 13 months. We are extremely concerned for their mental and physical health. It has been reported that Sarah has a serious untreated gynecological condition while Shane is having digestive disorders. Because of their sense of isolation, and lack of due process under the law, they have begun to consider a hunger strike as a means of action on their own behalf. In their state, we are concerned this will only bring about greater harm to their wellbeing.

The toll this has taken on the families of these three is incalculable. As a father and doctor we beseech you to consider the human ramifications of this isolation on the part of the hikers and the relentless absence of knowledge of their own children’s wellbeing on the part of the parents and siblings.

Finally, the incarceration of Josh, Shane, and Sarah is utterly disproportionate to their crime. Iran has set a horrible example by denying the hikers access to legal representation, allowing little family communication, limiting their access to proper medical care, and parading them as American spies. This last element is completely baseless and ridiculous given the history of these three individuals. In short, these past 12 months have been 12 months too long for these innocent travelers who at worst passed across a vague national boundary.

We urge you to hasten the return of our friend Josh and his two companions. Allow them to be in the embrace of their families and friends. They must be able to get on with their lives and to blossom once again. Let them get back to work making the world a more wonderful place.

Sincerely,

Abel Kloster, Tao Orion, Jeremy Roth, Christopher Foraker, Rosemary Kirincic, and Michael Hatfield
Aprovecho Co-Directors