Bloggers Unite For Human Rights

May 15 is the day that Bloggers Unite has designated "Bloggers Unite for Human Rights", and I almost missed it! I've been busy with school and various life events, and almost forgot about it. Thankfully they emailed me a reminder.

When I first heard about this day I had in mind an article I wanted to write, but I don't have time to do it justice today, so it will wait for another day. Instead, I thought I'd talk about Amnesty International.

I first learned about Amnesty International when I was in high school, and my English teacher started up a group in the school. Later, I joined a local group and have been involved off and on for many years. I have had the opportunity to meet many inspirational people as a result of this involvement, including people who have been helped by Amnesty's work. The idea that one person writing a letter (or signing a petition) can make a difference has been proven - because with the help of an organization like Amnesty, one person's efforts are joined by the efforts of many others, and the weight of all those letters can and does get the attention of those we write to. If you would like to write a letter, or to see some recent calls for action, click here. If you need help with letter writing, here are some letter writing tips. They also just released a press release about the worsening situation in Zimbabwe.

In some countries, I could be thrown in jail for writing this blog. I write it for those who don't have that luxury. And I thank Amnesty International for inspiring me to educate myself about events happening around the world as well as in my own backyard, and for giving me the belief that yes, one person CAN make a difference.

Pangea Day Update

They just put up a 1-hour highlight compilation. A couple of hours after I finished posting, I'm still saying "wow" - this was a powerful broadcast. I highly recommend visiting PangeaDay.org and checking out all the inspirational films and information that is there. Many of the profiles contain multiple links for further investigation.

Pangea Day

Today was/is Pangea Day. Pangea Day is the brainchild of filmmaker Jehane Noujaim, who won the 2006 TED Prize, which included the granting of a wish to change the world. As a result of her wish, the world came together today to watch 24 short films from filmmakers around the world, as well as to listen to inspirational speakers and musical performances. It was broadcast in 7 languages to millions of people around the world through the internet, television, and mobile phones.

I missed the first hour and a half, but was enthralled by what I was privileged to witness. Rwandan singer-songwriter Jean Paul Samputu, who lost several family members to the genocide, spoke about forgiveness. "Forgiveness is a weapon against violence." He encouraged us to build an arsenal of it.

The film Encounter Point tells the story of the Middle East from a different point of view than is shown on the nightly news. It ends with a quote from an Israeli father. "If we who have lost what is most precious can talk to each other, and look forward to a better future, then everyone else must do so, too." (Tzivka Shahak) After watching the film, Robi Damelin, an Israeli woman whose son was killed by a Palestinian sniper, read a letter she wrote to the sniper's mother, calling for reconciliation. She is active in an organization called Bereaved Families Forum which unites Israeli and Palestinian families who have lost loved ones to the conflict. Another member of this organization, Ali Abu Awwad, a Palestinian peace activist, appeared on stage with her and also spoke.

Ishmael Beah was a child soldier in Sierra Leone until he was rescued by UNICEF. In his words: "We have a responsibility to expose ourselves to our world, to see our common humanity, to learn about other people -- not only in times of war, but in times of peace."

Laughter Club is a film, directed by Neil Davenport, about a phenomena which began in India, created by Dr. Madan Kataria whose goal is to have 1,000,000 laughter clubs around the world. It is already in 60 countries, although he didn't say how many clubs there are so far. After the film was shown, Dr. Kataria got his global audience (including myself, watching it at home over the internet) to stand up and "laugh for world peace."

An Iranian film, Sili (The Slap) directed by Ehsan Amani, tells this story: "A soldier, a young woman, a colonel, and an old woman board a train. Nobody, save one of them, can explain what happens next." I hope they put the film up for this one (as I type this, they haven't yet) because the ending was hilarious.

Scholar and writer Karen Armstrong spoke about compassion. "Every single one of the world's major faiths believes that it is not sufficient to just extend your compassion to those in your own group; you must take it to out to others as well." She said something else which I tried to note down quickly and I apologize if I didn't get it quite right, but this was her elaboration on The Golden Rule: "Look inside yourself and see what it is that causes you pain, then absolutely refuse, under any circumstances, to cause that pain to someone else." If anyone captured this quote more accurately, please feel free to post it in the comments here.

These were just a few of the highlights. If you missed it, don't despair. Visit the website. Many of the films are available for viewing, and you can read tons of comments that people have posted. If you click on the side link "Act: Make a Difference" there are links to many participating organizations who have posted calls to action. I feel so blessed that I heard about this event just in time to take part in it. It was phenomenal!

Humanitarian Crisis in Burma

With the death toll in the tens of thousands and expected to hit 100,000, the situation in Burma is devastating. But the problems go beyond those killed in the cyclone itself or its immediate aftermath. This article in today's Globe and Mail spells it out: the rice crop is gone along with the seedlings they need to plant a new rice crop; the water supply is contaminated across the region, which will lead to outbreaks of diseases; 1.5 million people have been left homeless; 24 million people are without electricity and running water; hospitals are overrun and schools are destroyed; many areas are only accessible by boat.

This article in the NY Times discusses some of the challenges faced by aid agencies, which include the problems of accessing remote locations as well as having to deal with a military government which hasn't been fully cooperative with their efforts, although there are signs indicating that this may be changing. There are also concerns that the aid will be siphoned off by the military and won't reach those who need it most. A sidebar in this article also includes a list of American organizations accepting donations.

Avaaz sent me an email about this crisis. They are collecting money for the International Burmese Monks Organization (for an article about the formation of this group click here). The money will be distributed by this organization directly to the monasteries in Burma, through their own grassroots network. Unfortunately this morning as I type this, none of the links to the Avaaz site are working, so I cannot check them, but I will post them in the hopes that later on in the day they will be back up:

To donate: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/burma_cyclone/3.php?cl=86139302

For information about the work Avaaz has been doing for Burma:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/burma_report_back/

One More Reason Not to Buy "Made in China"

A short news item in my local paper sent me on a web search. The caption on the photo read "Child labour probe" and the photo showed a couple of young girls who had just been rescued from a factory in China. There's plenty of news articles covering this issue out there - do a search for "China Child Labour Probe" and you'll find them. Most of them quote allegations of over 1,000 children having been sold to factories over the past five years. The first article I read was this one, which is from China's official English language newspaper. One comment that gave me pause:

The Dongguan government had investigated more than 3,600 companies that employ 450,000 people between Monday and Wednesday, but found that only a few small companies and workshops had hired children, a local government official said.

Now, it doesn't say how many inspectors were sent out, but they investigated more than 3,600 companies in only 3 days? No wonder they didn't find much.

This is the article I thought offered the best range of coverage, with a good bit of background to balance out the latest news. It puts the number of children rescued in these raids at 167.

Keep The Promise China

Amnesty International (Canada) has put together a blog for the countdown to the Beijing Olympics. This is a good place to look for:

- information regarding Amnesty's human rights concerns in China
- action opportunities
- information about what other activists are doing
- background documents and activism support materials

The blog is titled Keep The Promise China, so-named because of the promise China made when it was granted the 2008 Olympics Games:

“By allowing Beijing to host the Games you will help the development of human rights”
- Liu Jingmin, Beijing 2008 Olympics Games Bid Committee

There's a sidelink to subscribe for email updates. This is an excellent resource which I highly recommend that you visit often.

James Orbinski

Since hearing Romeo Dallaire speak a couple of months ago, and reading his book, I've been wanting to learn more about the Rwandan genocide. Yesterday's Globe and Mail had an interesting interview with Dr. James Orbinski, former president of Medicins Sans Frontieres (Doctors without Borders), who worked alongside Dallaire during the genocide. He had the following to say about how he dealt with the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) he suffered:

In contemporary Western culture and, most particularly, in North American culture, there's a deep tendency to medicalize what are, in fact, political and existential questions. Which is not to say that there aren't medical dimensions to the traumatic experience. … But the real question is what do you do with what you now know, and for me, the choice was very clear: that I will do everything I can to confront a political system that allows for a genocide to take place.

The article further quotes him as saying:

This thin veneer of civility that allows for relative peace and prosperity here, is kept alive by people who … constantly challenge and reassert the very basic ideas – that you respect people, that even your enemies you will not torture, that you have a duty as a human being to ensure that civilians who are suffering as a consequence of a war that you are engaged in have basic humanitarian rights.

He is currently promoting his book An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action in the 21st Century and will be speaking on the following dates:

- May 1, Toronto, Church of the Holy Trinity (presented by Pages Books and Magazines), 10 Trinity Square, 416-598-1447.

- May 4, Vancouver, Capilano College Performing Arts Theatre, 2055 Purcell Way, 604-990-7810.

- May 13, Waterloo, Ont., Knox Presbyterian Church (presented by Words Worth Books), 50 Erb St. W., 519- 884-2665.

I'm kicking myself that I can't make it to see him in Waterloo (or even Toronto) but if you get the chance, please consider going. I'm sure it will be an informative evening for anyone interested in humanitarian work.

South African Dock Workers Refuse to Unload Arms

In South Africa, dock workers refused to unload a Chinese shipment of arms headed for Zimbabwe. They were joined in these efforts by church leaders and other organizations. The ship is now expected to head for Angola in an attempt to unload the shipment and have it flown to Zimbabwe. Levy Mwanawasa, the president of Zambia, has spoken out and encouraged countries in the region not to allow the ship to dock. China has said it may have the ship return to China. (News story)

Avaaz has put together a petition which will be launched at a press conference in Johannesburg later this week. This is the text of the petition:

Petition to SADC leaders and governments throughout Africa and the world: We, the undersigned, call for your support preventing any weapons shipments from reaching Zimbabwe until the crisis is resolved. We believe that, if delivered, these weapons would likely be used to violate the human rights of Zimbabweans, and we support the efforts of ordinary citizens and African trade unionists to prevent their transit through neighbouring countries. This shipment highlights the urgent need for a strong international arms trade treaty, and the continuing violence demands that all regional and global leaders act to protect human rights.

The dock workers have given Zimbabwe a ray of hope. All it takes for you is a click to show your support. While I was writing this, the number of signatures doubled, from around 76,000 to 156,147. Please sign the petition now.

Today's Tip from My Daily Peace

My Daily Peace is a newsletter I subscribe to, put out by Mir Movement which sends out daily tips on how to increase peace in the world. I wanted to share the tip I received today:

The world will not get to be more peaceful if we wait for everyone else to make it that way.

There is always *something* each of us can do. For me, one thing is this blog, where I can share my ideas and concerns with others. Watch for more suggestions on what *you* can do.

Update on Zimbabwe Petition

Today's post is a copy of an email I received from Avaaz this morning:

Dear friends,

The Zimbabwe crisis is spinning even further out of control, but the international response is gaining steam.

In less than a week, more than 120,000 people from 215 countries and territories--including thousands from across Africa--have signed the Avaaz petition demanding the release of the election results. On Wednesday, as world leaders enter the United Nations for a special summit chaired by South Africa, a plane hired by Avaaz will soar above them pulling a massive aerial banner reading "MBEKI: TIME TO ACT--DEMOCRACY FOR ZIMBABWE."

To make this message count, can you help us reach 150,000 signatures by the end of the day? Forward this email to your friends and family, and urge them to sign the petition at this link:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/democracy_for_zimbabwe/20.php?cl=76881680

Yesterday, the Zimbabwe High Court ruled against requiring the immediate release of the results of the March 29 Presidential election. In response, opposition called for a nationwide strike, and Mugabe deployed police throughout the country.[1]

All of this came just after South African President Thabo Mbeki--who, more than anyone else in the world, could influence Mugabe's actions--said on Saturday that "there is no crisis in Zimbabwe."[2]

But Mbeki isn't off the hook just yet. Tomorrow (Wednesday), he will chair a special United Nations Security Council meeting, where diplomats have promised to raise the Zimbabwe crisis.[3] If he looks up as he enters the United Nations headquarters, Mbeki will see a 280 square metre (3000 square foot) banner amplifying the voices of Avaaz members around the world--and if he doesn't see it then, you can be sure he'll see it in the newspapers the next day. International press have already begun to report on the planned fly-over of the banner.

Throughout the day, Avaaz will update reporters in Southern Africa and at the United Nations on the growth of the petition. If all of us forward this email to friends, co-workers, and relatives, we can add tens of thousands of new signatures in one day, and show Mbeki and Mugabe that the world is watching--and supporting the people of Zimbabwe as they demand democracy.

It's easy to sign at this link:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/democracy_for_zimbabwe/20.php?cl=76881680

This Friday, the 18th of April, marks Zimbabwe's Day of Independence from colonial rule. Amidst the worsening poverty and danger, civil society organisations across Zimbabwe are gearing up for nonviolent resistance to Mugabe's regime, calling for local actions and urging supporters to wear white in solidarity. And Zimbabwean media organisations--many now operating outside the borders--are broadcasting news about the international support that Zimbabwe's people are receiving.

Mugabe was once the hero of Zimbabwe's liberation. Now his own people embody the principles he once championed. For those of us around the world, it is our privilege and our responsibility to stand with them.

With hope,

Ben, Ricken, Galit, Paul, Milena, Graziela, Pascal, Iain, and Milena--the Avaaz.org team

Blogging in Support of Tibet

A fellow blogger, Miladysa, posted the other day about what people can do about the situation in Tibet. She suggested that bloggers post this flag in support, which I encourage you to consider doing as well, if you have a blog of your own. Be sure to send her a comment so that you can also stand up and be counted along with the others that are joining her.

While I'm on the subject of supporting Tibet, I ask you to check out Boycott Made In China. There's a lot of information there. If you have questions about why or how to get involved with this boycott, this FAQ page has a long list of well thought out answers. I've been trying to at least increase my awareness of where things are made, and where a choice is available, I choose not to buy those made in China. Or ask myself if I really need the item.

Avaaz Petition: Have you signed this petition yet? I've posted the link a couple of times, but thought I would include it here as well. They are currently at 1,633,284 signatures, with goal of 2,000,000. Please sign if you haven't already!

Petition for Zimbabwe

Avaaz has put together a petition calling for the results of Zimbabwe's March 29th election to be released, verified, and peacefully honored. They have been collecting thousands of signatures this week from their African members, and are now asking the rest of the world to join in. This petition will be delivered through diplomatic channels, media--and an event on Wednesday, April 16, when South African president Thabo Mbeki travels to the United Nations to chair a special meeting of the UN Security Council.

The letter they sent me included the following quote, which captures perfectly my reasoning for posting petitions like this on my blog:

In a crisis like this, a petition is just a small step--but it's something all of us can do, to raise our voices and call for what's right. And as history shows, international solidarity can be a powerful thing.

So please, I ask you to take a moment and join me in this small step. Sign the petition. They already have almost 85,000 signatures. Please help them get to their goal of 100,000.

Violence in Zimbabwe Increasing

I've been following the news of Zimbabwe's recent elections. President Mugabe is still fighting to hold onto power. The presidential election results have still not been released, although he is already making demands for a recount, claiming that votes for him were tampered with. Several election officials have been arrested by police under suspicion of tampering with election results in the opposition's favour, according to the ruling party (more). There have been attacks on white-owned farms as well (more).

Another interesting source of news is The Zimbabwe Situation which has batches of news articles from various sources.

Stay tuned - I'm not getting a very good feeling about how things are going to develop over the coming days and weeks. Please send Zimbabwe your prayers and hopes of peace.

(edited to fix bad link - sorry, I don't know what happened there!)

Tibet Update

The Avaaz.org petition has passed 1.5 million signatures, and is hoping to reach 2 million. If you haven't already signed, please take a moment now to add your signature. Scroll down the page for picture's from Monday's Global Day of Action for Tibet, as well as other ways to help.

Amnesty International Canada is currently campaigning on behalf of 15 Tibetan monks who have been detained. Please add your voice to those who are asking for their release as well as for others who have been detained.

Another Petition for Tibet

This one comes from the people at care2.com. The text reads:

Stop China's Crackdown on Tibet

To: Louise Arbour, High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations
Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee
Lassana Palenfo, Intendant General, Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President of the Olympic Council of Asia
Patrick Joseph Hickey, President of the European Olympic Committees
Richard Kevan Gosper A.O., President of the Oceania National Olympic Committees

Dear Human Rights Commissioner and Olympic Games Officials:

We are outraged by the abuse of power displayed by the Chinese government to suppress the protests in Tibet.

Violence against protesters, monks and civilians in Tibet is quickly escalating as the deadly crackdown continues. Only a few months away from the Beijing Summer Olympics, the Chinese government's violent attacks have already caused the death of around 100 people, while hundreds continue to be shot at, beat up and detained by China's security forces.

We demand that you urge China to end the crackdown immediately. The protesters grievances should not be addressed through the use of force but with an open and peaceful dialogue. Freedom of expression is a basic human right that should be respected and not punished with violence.

In addition, the UN should visit Tibet as soon as possible to carry out an investigation into the security forces' attacks and make the findings from that investigation public.

We can't remain silent while these abuses are taking place. We urge you to speak up and take urgent steps to end the crackdown and protect the people of Tibet.

Sign the petition here.

Two petitions for Tibet

I woke up this morning to two emails asking me to sign petitions in support of the Dalai Lama's call for a dialogue with China. I've signed both of them, and I invite you to do the same.

The first petition is sponsored by Avaaz.org, and reads as follows:

Petition to Chinese President Hu Jintao:

As citizens around the world, we call on you to show restraint and respect for human rights in your response to the protests in Tibet, and to address the concerns of all Tibetans by opening meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Only dialogue and reform will bring lasting stability. China's brightest future, and its most positive relationship with the world, lies in harmonious development, dialogue and respect.

The second petition focuses on the Olympics to be held in China. Note: This petition requires you to click on an emailed link to confirm your signature - don't forget this important second step! It reads:

I DECLARE THAT I WILL NOT WATCH A CHINESE-HOSTED OLYMPICS, AND I WANT THE MEDIA TO KNOW.

Thank you for joining me in protesting China's responses so far to the peaceful protests of the Tibetan monks.

I Met a Real Canadian Hero

Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire spoke in Waterloo last night, and I was privileged to be part of the audience at this sold-out show. If you're wondering where you've heard that name before, he was the head of the UN forces in Rwanda where he watched powerlessly as 800,000 people were murdered and the world did nothing. His award-winning book Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda "is an eyewitness account of the failure of humanity to stop the genocide, and the story of General Dallaire's own struggle to find a measure of peace, reconciliation and hope." (from the book cover)

His message that he kept coming back to was that no one is more human than another - we all share the same basic human rights, regardless of the colour of our skin or what country we live in. No one wanted to help Rwanda because, he was told, there was nothing there but people, and there were too many of them. In other words, no oil, no vested interests to protect, and no one wanted to risk their necks for a bunch of Africans. And yet they were people, the same as any of us, and they were being slaughtered and it could have been, should have been, prevented.

When asked what can be done in a country like Rwanda to help them rebuild, he had three pieces of advice. First, empower the women. Second, educate the children. Third, eradicate poverty. And do these in a sustainable manner.

The evening went by too quickly, and it will take me a long time to sort out all the tidbits of advice he shared with us. He urged us to consider what our vision for Canada was, and what our place in that vision is. He talked about the necessity of nuclear disarmament, and the challenges of dealing with issues such as child soldiers and the proliferation of small arms. He talked about the failings of the United Nations, but also gave it a strong endorsement as the best organization available for the work it needs to do.

The evening wouldn't have been complete without a call to action - the current situation in Darfur is not unlike what happened in Rwanda, and again the international community lacks the political will to do anything about it. Please contact your local politicians and tell them "never again" - let's do the right thing and stop this one.

More Trouble in Gaza

Back in January, I posted a link to a petition for a ceasefire in Gaza. Once again, the violence has escalated and is threatening to turn into all-out war. Please add your voice to the 18,000+ who have already signed this new petition. It reads simply this:

We call for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal to stop the bloodshed and agree to an immediate ceasefire, and for the international community to engage constructively and help broker a fair deal for the safety of civilians on both sides.

Sign here!

Today's Quote: Quit quarreling!

Today's quote is from Don Marquis, an American journalist who lived from 1878-1937.

When chickens quit quarrelling over their food they often find that there is enough for all of them. I wonder if it might not be the same with the human race.

You could exchange "food" in this quote for just about anything people quarrel over. When we let go of our fear of there not being enough for ourselves, and cooperate with each other, not only do we find that there really is enough for everyone, we increase the amount of peace in the world.

Smiles That Make My Day

I love surfing the net, particularly when it comes to searching for blogs to share with you. Today's find, Smiles That Make My Day came from blogcatalog, a great resource to check out what other bloggers are doing. It is a collection of smile photos, and the creator has set the goal of collecting one million smiles. In his words:

"So I want to create the happiest blog in the world, which hopefully to inspire, motivate, encourage millions people. I want to collect million smiles on this blog. I want to share happy stories and happy smiles. I want to make this blog a place to give people a bright future and have a happier life. By sharing your happy smiles and happy stories, you are helping out others and encouraging others to forget about the sadness and move forward on their happy life. You are showing a great example of motivation, encouragement."

Smiles are contagious. Have a look at this blog, maybe subscribe to its news feed (as I did), consider sending in your own smile and story, and most importantly, go out there and share your smile with the world. We need you!

Happy Birthday!

Today is the 50th birthday of the Peace Symbol. The following is taken from the Peace History Newsletter:

The peace symbol was first conceived in 1958 by Gerald Holtom, a Christian conscientious objector to World War II, as the logo for the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Holtom had originally designed the symbol as a cross inside a circle to be carried during a protest march against nuclear weapons to Canterbury Cathedral on Easter weekend. Some Church of England clergy complained about the use of the cross in a protest rally, so Holtom slightly altered the sign, allowing the arms of the cross to dip in resignation.
" I was in despair. Deep despair. I drew myself the representation of an individual in despair with arms outstretched outwards and downwards in the manner of Goya's peasant before the firing squad. I formalized the drawing with a line and put a circle around it."

Love, Yourself

I spent some time today looking around at other people's blogs. It's a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, reading other people's thoughts and ideas, particularly when there are other jobs in dire need of being performed. Yes, I did some of those other jobs, too, but I broke up the monotony of it with blog-surfing.

I bookmarked a few blogs that I may share with you another time, but for today I'd like to introduce you to Love, Yourself - aside from liking the title, I enjoyed the current post titled I choose... very much. It's about the difference your choice of words makes.... saying "I choose" rather than "I have to."

So, I choose to make posting to PeaceRipples a more regular part of my routine. Heaven forbid it should ever feel like a "have to" - I love this blog! The only challenge I've had is figuring out what to talk about. Suggestions are always welcome.

Happy Valentine's Day

As the song says, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love" or as another song says "All you need is love."

Take a moment today to reflect on all the people in your life, past and present, who love you and are loved by you. Don't forget to say, "Thank you!" for all of them.

Feed a Child With Just A Click

For any Facebook users here, I found this group I'd like to recommend. Feed A Child With Just A Click has over 1,000,000 members and counting. In addition to a list of sites which donate money to hunger-related charities for you to click on each day, there are lots of other suggestions for ways each of us can help out.

While you're at it, please add me to your friend list - please include a note saying you're a PeaceRipples reader.

New Songs For Peace

I stumbled across this site, New Songs For Peace the other day. From their website:

"This UNESCO-endorsed "New Songs for Peace" project is intended to encourage people to think about peace, talk about peace, and write a new song that we will collect and self-publish in a book. These new songs will promote peace, cultural acceptance and understanding for those who work towards peace throughout the world."

Over 100 free downloads of independent artists. I had a lot of fun looking around on this site. For Chumbawamba fans, they have a couple of songs on the list.

Know any song writers? Send them here - they can add their (peace) songs to the list.

Ripples of Peace

I've added a new section to this blog, titled "Ripples of Peace." It is meant to be a visual reminder of various "hot spots" around the world which need our attention. I ask that you take a moment, whenever you visit here, to have a look at this list and say a prayer or send some healing energy or whatever you choose, in the direction of these places.

At the moment, it's a short list, but I will be adding to it as news items catch my attention. I will probably be turning the place names into links once I decide on suitable pages to send you to for more information. You are invited to email me with your suggestions of places you would like to see added.

While you're at it, you can also email me any suggestions you have for what "peaceripples" means to you, and what you'd like to see discussed here. I welcome contributors!

Peace be with you.

GAZA RED ALERT

Have you seen the news about Gaza? I just signed a petition calling on the international community to help end the blockade and reach a ceasefire, take a look and add your name if you agree:

GAZA PETITION

Here's the letter from the organizers:

Dear friends,

Gaza’s southern border has broken open, 350,000 Palestinians are crossing it and Israeli retaliation is expected. The world must step in urgently to prevent an explosion – so let's call on the United Nations, European Union and Arab League to oversee the opening of borders, and to help broker the ceasefire which civilians on all sides desperately need. Please click below to sign the emergency petition -- we'll deliver it when we reach 150,000 signatures -- sign now and forward this email to your friends and family:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_end_the_siege/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

The months-old border blockade of Gaza by Israel has finally hit crisis point. This week's blackouts caught the attention of the world, now the situation is slipping out of control -- militants have blown open Gaza's southern border with Egypt and Israel could act by force to close it.

The world can stop this crisis, and help save civilians on all sides. This isn't about taking sides in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: it's about 1.5 million human beings locked up in the biggest prison on earth. The blockade must be lifted and the border opened properly, with international controls to prevent weapons smuggling. The missile war between Israel and Gaza can only be stopped by a reciprocal ceasefire that Hamas stands ready to negotiate.

While Israel and the US remain committed to the failing siege, the UN, European Union and Arab League could step in to end this blockade, oversee open borders, and help broker the ceasefire which civilians on all sides desperately need -- so sign the petition and spread the word:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_end_the_siege/98.php?CLICK_TF_TRACK

The humanitarian crisis of Gaza is only getting worse, as patients die in hospitals for lack of care, and clean drinking water runs low. Palestinian militants are still launching missiles at the Israeli town of Sderot, and Israeli missiles claimed 35 Palestinian lives last week -- many of them civilian.

No genuine peace talks will be possible while this crisis continues. In the Israel-Lebanon war of 2006, we saw how global pressure and assistance can stop such a crisis and protect civilians from harm -- we cannot stay silent about the crisis in Gaza. Please add your name now at the link above, and forward this message widely.

With hope and determination,

Ricken, Paul, Galit, Esra’a, Pascal, Ben and the whole Avaaz team

Meditation Poem

I received this poem in my inbox this morning, and wanted to share it:

Meditation

To meditate does not mean to fight with a problem
To meditate means to observe.
Your smile proves it.
It proves that you are being gentle with yourself,
that the sun of awareness is shining in you,
that you have control of your situation.
You are yourself,
and you have acquired some peace.

by Thich Nhat Hahn


If you'd like to receive inspiring daily quotes, and a weekly poem, you can get them from the Daily Inspiring Quotes Newsletter. I've been a subscriber for quite some time now, and they send out some truly wonderful quotes.

A Belated Happy New Year

We're almost 2 weeks into the new year. How has it been for you so far? Have you broken all your resolutions yet? I've broken the one about exercising every day, but I'm standing firm on the "not buying sweets" resolution I made. If it survives the month, I'll be impressed.

Generally I don't really make resolutions, but I do like to think about how I'd like to approach the coming year. This year I expect to be quite busy with a variety of activities. I want to approach this busy-ness with a sense of peace. In other words, I don't want to get caught up in the motions and forget the reasons for what I've chosen to do with my time. I don't want to panic and get stressed, and in particular, I don't want to let panic and stress affect how I relate with others. Ideally, and I'm nothing if not an idealist, I want to bring a sense of peace to everything I do this year.

Wish me luck!

And in return, I wish you luck with whatever goals and resolutions you have made this year.