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The Elders in the Middle East
Peace in the Middle East is fundamental to international stability and development. The Elders, an international group of statesmen, wants to show visually the huge support that exists around the world for a peaceful settlement in the Middle East. The Elders have travelled to the region to listen to the concerns of all sides and to offer their support to those working for peace. As an independent group, they hope that by directly interacting with ordinary people affected by the conflict and supporting those working for peace and reconciliation at the grassroots, they can help to connect the concerns of the people with the diplomatic process. To learn more and to send your own “message of peace,” visit http://www.theelders.org/middle-east for background and blog. Click here http://www.theelders.org/ to view the video of the Elders’ webcast “Connecting the Elders, Palestinians and Israelis: 28th August 2009, Jerusalem - Ramallah - Tel Aviv – Gaza.”
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The election of the first-ever fascist representatives to a major parliament from Britain following the European Elections has sent a shock wave through our society. Almost one million people in the UK voted for an openly racist party, which bans non-whites from membership, has called for an “all-white Britain”, and whose leader Nick Griffin has been convicted of Holocaust denial. A racist and fascist political party, the British National Party, has recorded record levels of electoral success for a fascist party in Britain – with two MEPs and almost 60 local councillors. What would our record shops look like if the racists got their way? The fascist British National Party wants to see an "all white Britain" and wants to eliminate black and Asian people from this country. Here's a glimpse of the sort of life the Neo-Nazis are trying to force on us. The Love Music Hate Racism campaign shows that every vote can count and can help stop racism and division within our society. Learn how you can help at http://www.lovemusichateracism.com |
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The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.
It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.
We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.
We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.
To learn more about this initiative and to sign in affirmation, click here. |
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Shministim—a resistance with a twist “Shministim” means “twelfth-graders” in Hebrew. Military service is mandatory after high school for young Jewish Israelis. The Shministim are Israeli youth who refuse to serve in the Israeli army. An Israeli peace activist reports “It is hard to convey, and impossible to overstate, just how completely saturated Israeli culture is by the heroic image of the Israeli Army. In school, advertisements, marketing campaigns, store discounts, discussions with neighbors, every way you can imagine, the Army is portrayed as the ultimate form of service to the country. When I took my daughter, who is five, to the doctor recently, the doctor began her explanation of how vaccines worked in this way: ‘you know how Israel has an Army that protects us? Well the vaccines are your body's army…’
It is simply everywhere.
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That is what makes the shministim all the more remarkable. These are young adults, just out of high school, who have managed to break through all the myths that they have been immersed in and figured out for themselves what the Army actually does. Having reached the conclusion that being in the Army would force them to commit immoral actions, they have taken the next obvious---but in no way easy---step of taking action by refusing to serve. All in the face of family pressure, peer pressure and societal pressure that is absolutely intense. They are willing to pay the price, which can and does include jail time, for standing up for what they know is right.” |
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Lebanese Campaign for a Senate Most Lebanese agree that the current political framework in Lebanon— with its confessional quotas in parliament, gerrymandered districts, and archaic electoral law—is in urgent need of reform. The establishment of a senate in Lebanon would represent an important step towards dismantling the structures of political sectarianism. Both the Lebanese Constitution and the Ta’if Agreement (which ended the civil war) call for the establishment of a senate. The Lebanese Campaign for a Senate is a civil society initiative aimed at building grass-roots support for the establishment of a bicameral legislature in Lebanon. The site serves as a source for relevant policy news and interviews with legislators and opinion-makers, and a forum for discussions about the merits and challenges of establishing a Lebanese senate. |
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38 Degrees—People, Power, Change.
38 Degrees is the angle at which an avalanche happens. In the UK, 38 Degrees is a new organisation which will enable people to act together, to create an avalanche for change on the issues that matter. 38 Degrees believes that the government and powerful organisations who make decisions that affect us all should listen and act for the people. It will provide its members with simple and effective tools enabling them to speak up for what they believe in and take action. 38 Degrees provides some simple means to defend fairness, protect constitutional rights, promote peace, preserve the planet and deepen democracy. 38 Degrees is completely independent from any political party. It is driven by issues and outcomes, and judges all politicians by the same standards.
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Avaaz Campaigns Avaaz.org is a community of global citizens who take action on the major issues facing the world today. The aim of Avaaz.org is to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people shape global decisions. Avaaz.org members act for a more just and peaceful world and a globalisation with a human face. Click here to learn more http://www.avaaz.org/en/
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Goldstone Facts Introducing a useful new website containing videos dramatising various sections of the Goldstone Report as well as links to a number of important articles and analyses relating to it. In 2009 the U.N. Fact-Finding Mission led by Justice Richard Goldstone released its report (executive summary can be found here) on the Israeli invasion of Gaza. The report concluded that there exists strong evidence indicating the 22-day war saw serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. The aim of the www.goldstonefacts.org project is to make more accessible the report’s salient findings and conclusions and to support the struggle of the Palestinian people. An excellent resource tool. |
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Ride for Palestine 2010 The first Ride for Palestine was a success. The send-off in Southport was well supported and extensively reported in the local media. Fourth from the left in the photo below is Chris Davies, Liberal Democrat MEP, who sent us off with an excellent speech. But it's just the start. In 2011 there will be a 2nd annual Ride for Palestine, with the new year focusing on the sale of goods produced in illegal settlements.
For a full report and more information on how to get involved, visit http://rideforpalestine.blogspot.com/p/stop-arming-israel-ride-for-palestine.html
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