"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
Lights of peace become circles of peace.
Circles of peace become communities of peace.
Communities of peace become a peaceful world community."
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
GLOBAL MINUTE FOR PEACE DAY - CELEBRATE! - DEC. 22, 2006
It's amazing how many different views are expressed about the issues which separate us. Too often we reject those who differ with us. Everyone can agree that we need peace on Earth, and uniting in support of a Minute for Peace Day will stimulate minutes for peace every day on radio and TV worldwide. This is the way to change the global state of mind from fear to faith, from despair to hope.
Let each individual who believes in the power of prayer, of goodwill, join with others on Minute For Peace Day -- December 22, conscious of being linked with others throughout the world on that day, as they pray for peace, talk about the way to peace, and purpose peace in their hearts and minds.
To people of every religion it will be a means to realize the potentials of their faith, that if they agree at the same time, for the same purpose, they can ask what they will and it will be done. On Minute for Peace Day they will ask, in love, for peaceful progress in their lives and throughout the world. To humanists, this will be a time to ponder peace, to celebrate peace with a new awareness of our common humanity.
Minute for Peace History
The first Minute for Peace was observed globally by people of every creed and culture. We urge world leaders to speak out for this event. This will result in new hope and a new beginning for the whole human family.
Minute for Peace Day occurs at the time of the Winter Solstice (in the northern hemisphere). In ancient history the Winter Solstice was a time for rejoicing. The days before that kept getting shorter. There was fear this would continue and leave the world in darkness. But on the December Solstice the days started getting longer. Now people knew the dead leaves on the trees would yield their place to new leaves in the spring.
On this great day of opportunity a new faith, hope and love can replace the dead leaves of the past and inspire cooperation for our common good. Together we can provide a new beginning for the human family -- a time to forgive, forget and start a new.
A Minute for Peace exhibit at the 1965 Worlds Fair increased interest and resulted in daily Minute for Peace broadcasts on many radio stations. These featured the ringing of the UN Peace Bell, a statement by a world leader about ways to foster peace and understanding. This was followed by a request that listeners add their prayer and commitment to help foster peaceful progress on our planet.
To obtain maximum unity in participation, the time designated was 0300, 1100, and 1900 GMT. Stations could program any one as their Minute For Peace and know they were aiding a global turn toward peace..
The idea of Minute for Peace became popular and played a role in ending the war between Pakistan and India in 1966. United Nations Delegates from both sides publicly joined in silent prayer as they were asked to meditate on peace and good will with determination to overcome hatred and injury with the power and benefit of reconciliation and cooperation. That night, in a UN Security Council special meeting, they declared peace.
Minute for Peace became the centerpiece of Earth Day, when we invite people World-Wide to join in two minutes of silent prayer or reflection as the Peace Bell at the United Nations is rung to celebrate the beginning of spring.
Peace begins in the mind. The repeated participation by friends and adversaries, in heartfelt thoughts and silent prayers for peace when the Peace Bell was rung each year on Earth Day, helped end the Cold War.
Spread the word to every church, synagogue, mosque and school and let people everywhere know of this opportunity to tap the best of their religious values; to join hearts and minds in loving faith that wherever there is hate, fear or conflict, peace will prevail. Together we can make the new millennium a new and better future for the human adventure.
A call by world leaders and heads of government could persuade TV networks and others to promote Minute for Peace Day -- followed by a daily Minute for Peace all over the world.
MINUTE FOR PEACE POEM
It was three days before Christmas - And on valley and hill
A Minute for Peace - Joined hearts in good will.
We are one human family - Was the message brought
By the pictures on TV - Where before people fought.
This day then began - A Campaign for Earth
To eliminate poverty - Pollution and dearth.
For when people and groups - Seek a goal all can share
They will treat neighbor and nature - with heartfelt care.
Our planet is suffering - From shortsighted greed
But as Trustees of Earth - We'll meet our Earth's need.
MY MESSAGE FOR PEACE AND HARMONY by S. A. Rehman
Dear brothers & sisters,
We all need to pray for one another, and to love one another. We should always pray for the safety, peace, love and brotherhood for people all over the world. Too bad we can't have an independence day for the entire world, a day of freedom from ignorance, hatred, war, illusions, power and control. A day where we can all love each other as human beings and toss away the weapons of war, and cast out our fears and hatreds from our hearts into the graves. We must mourn the graves of the innocents all over the world, and give the children of the world the hope of a peaceful, loving and beautiful world.
A world is full of love and without hatred or fear we can join hands together and accept one another regardless of our skin color, ethnic divisions, religion or nationality. If we don't unite as a human race, then we have condemned the future generation of children a dark and very grim future.
Think of love, compassion and peace always...
MY PRAYER FOR PEACE AND HARMONY
Merciful God, You made all of the people of the world in Your own image and placed before us the pathway of salvation through different Preachers who claimed to have been Your Saints and Prophets. But, the contradictions (made by us) in the interpretation of Your teachings have resulted in creating divisions, faith based hatreds and bloodshed in the world community. Millions of innocent men, women and children have so far been brutally killed by the militants of several religions who have been committing horrifying crimes against humanity and millions more would not be butchered by them in the future, if You guide and help us find ways to reunite peacefully.
IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL,
look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the controversial teachings of arrogance, divisions and hatreds which have badly infected our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; reunite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish Your purposes on earth; that, in Your good time, all nations and races could jointly serve You in justice, peace and harmony. (Amen)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Injustice and Talibanisation By Dr Tariq Rehmen (DAWN Thursday, 30 Apr, 2009)
There is no doubt that there is gross injustice in Pakistan. Individuals and groups who are weak and in a minority are discriminated against and denied justice whether they are women, poor people, religious minorities or ethnicities.
But the argument that the Taliban are welcomed by the people because they promise speedy justice or distribution of the elite’s land and industrial resources among the poor is flawed. Yet, this argument is made again and again by sympathisers of the Taliban. And because it would have been a forceful argument had it been true, it should be refuted.First, the question of speedy justice. The Taliban ruled in Afghanistan and they have been exercising their influence in parts of Pakistan. All accounts from these areas - whether in the form of memoirs from Afghanistan or stories from Pakistan - suggest that certain minor disputes revolving around property are settled quickly. However, whether they are settled justly is not clear at all. Moreover, if a powerful Talib is involved in a dispute he gets away with murder - quite literally. There is simply no appeal against the Taliban, even against a completely arbitrary or whimsical judgment.
Secondly, they introduce new rules forbidding music, painting, sculpting, singing, dancing, theatre etc. Therefore, the possibility of getting on the wrong side of the powerful increases for all inhabitants. Indeed, it is not peace and security that beckon but the fear of punishment that looms large. There is no concept of a peaceful life as a free citizen in areas dominated by the Taliban.If one happens to be a woman then there are extra rules to contend with. There are rules against showing one’s face, arms, ankles, hair, wearing jeans etc. Even if one is male there are problems: one can’t wear shorts (as this will excite men) and can’t play most games (dubbed a waste of time). In fact, one can’t do many other things which boys do all over the globe. But being a woman means forgetting about living. Indeed, women may well be wishing for the good old ‘justice delayed’ of Pakistani courts than the Taliban’s ‘quick justice’.
Now let us deal with the distribution of wealth attributed to the Taliban. The fact is that the wealth was never divided equitably among the Afghan citizens during the Taliban’s rule although Taliban soldiers originally from poor families did get a large share of the spoils. More to the point, the Taliban did not draw foreign investment nor did they exploit domestic resources in a rational, sustainable manner. As such the total wealth of the country declined and poverty increased.In Pakistan, especially in Swat, the Taliban started expropriating the property of landlords. Even if this is class hatred, and it might well be, the distribution of this land is said to have benefited Taliban supporters, hangers-on and sympathisers in addition to the fighters themselves. There is no evidence of a principled policy of the equitable distribution of wealth. The money from logging, mining and toll tax on vehicles goes to increase the income of the Taliban commanders and not of the ordinary citizens who remain displaced or live in fear in their homes.In Buner, for instance, the Taliban took over a marble factory and displaced the owner who narrated his traumatic story to the media later. This, by all accounts, is part of the pattern and not an isolated incident. Moreover, among the booty are also women whose families cannot refuse the marriage proposal of a Talib. This kind of redistribution of wealth is not exactly what Marx and Engels ordered, so any leftist, romantic idea that the Taliban’s is a revolution of the dispossessed is simply wrong. More to the point is the fact that one cannot survive for long cutting down trees and selling precious stones. Development is not possible under draconian and medieval regimes so the total number of people under the poverty line will increase in any Talibanised state.Yet there is a connection between speedy justice and the equitable distribution of goods and services and all violent movements. I pointed out years ago that if there is a revolution in Pakistan it will use the idiom of Islam. Talibanisation may not be that revolution but the gap between the poor and rich has kept increasing, and frustrated young men are available to join private militias.These militias use the idiom of Islam and legitimise their raiding operations through an appeal to the sacred. In this sense, our denial of economic rights has increased the possibility of violence in this country. And this violence is not only in the name of religion, it is also in the name of ethnicity and sub-nationalism. The Baloch, having been denied their rights, are also fighting the state. Thus, it is good policy to redistribute wealth rather than wait for armed vigilante groups to do so.As for speedy justice, the vigilante groups can never give it to us. Only the state can. But the state will have to get more courts, especially speedy ones. Rules will have to be made to settle disputes within a certain number of hearings. This is not a peripheral matter; it is a matter of life and death for this country. And the sooner we dispense justice fairly and in a speedy manner, the better it will be for all of us.Meanwhile, we must be thankful for small mercies. This time, because the Taliban did not show patience but started advancing into Buner and Dir almost immediately after their victory in Swat, the press turned indignant. Judging by letters, columns, the statements of political leaders and opinion-makers the public is ready to oppose the Taliban.But the electronic media, unfortunately, starts opposing military action almost as soon as it starts. This time, if people have realised that they will never get justice of any kind under Taliban rule, then it is something we can build upon and win our war against the Taliban. Are we ready for that?
SOURCE:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/16-injustice-and-talibanisation-03
But the argument that the Taliban are welcomed by the people because they promise speedy justice or distribution of the elite’s land and industrial resources among the poor is flawed. Yet, this argument is made again and again by sympathisers of the Taliban. And because it would have been a forceful argument had it been true, it should be refuted.First, the question of speedy justice. The Taliban ruled in Afghanistan and they have been exercising their influence in parts of Pakistan. All accounts from these areas - whether in the form of memoirs from Afghanistan or stories from Pakistan - suggest that certain minor disputes revolving around property are settled quickly. However, whether they are settled justly is not clear at all. Moreover, if a powerful Talib is involved in a dispute he gets away with murder - quite literally. There is simply no appeal against the Taliban, even against a completely arbitrary or whimsical judgment.
Secondly, they introduce new rules forbidding music, painting, sculpting, singing, dancing, theatre etc. Therefore, the possibility of getting on the wrong side of the powerful increases for all inhabitants. Indeed, it is not peace and security that beckon but the fear of punishment that looms large. There is no concept of a peaceful life as a free citizen in areas dominated by the Taliban.If one happens to be a woman then there are extra rules to contend with. There are rules against showing one’s face, arms, ankles, hair, wearing jeans etc. Even if one is male there are problems: one can’t wear shorts (as this will excite men) and can’t play most games (dubbed a waste of time). In fact, one can’t do many other things which boys do all over the globe. But being a woman means forgetting about living. Indeed, women may well be wishing for the good old ‘justice delayed’ of Pakistani courts than the Taliban’s ‘quick justice’.
Now let us deal with the distribution of wealth attributed to the Taliban. The fact is that the wealth was never divided equitably among the Afghan citizens during the Taliban’s rule although Taliban soldiers originally from poor families did get a large share of the spoils. More to the point, the Taliban did not draw foreign investment nor did they exploit domestic resources in a rational, sustainable manner. As such the total wealth of the country declined and poverty increased.In Pakistan, especially in Swat, the Taliban started expropriating the property of landlords. Even if this is class hatred, and it might well be, the distribution of this land is said to have benefited Taliban supporters, hangers-on and sympathisers in addition to the fighters themselves. There is no evidence of a principled policy of the equitable distribution of wealth. The money from logging, mining and toll tax on vehicles goes to increase the income of the Taliban commanders and not of the ordinary citizens who remain displaced or live in fear in their homes.In Buner, for instance, the Taliban took over a marble factory and displaced the owner who narrated his traumatic story to the media later. This, by all accounts, is part of the pattern and not an isolated incident. Moreover, among the booty are also women whose families cannot refuse the marriage proposal of a Talib. This kind of redistribution of wealth is not exactly what Marx and Engels ordered, so any leftist, romantic idea that the Taliban’s is a revolution of the dispossessed is simply wrong. More to the point is the fact that one cannot survive for long cutting down trees and selling precious stones. Development is not possible under draconian and medieval regimes so the total number of people under the poverty line will increase in any Talibanised state.Yet there is a connection between speedy justice and the equitable distribution of goods and services and all violent movements. I pointed out years ago that if there is a revolution in Pakistan it will use the idiom of Islam. Talibanisation may not be that revolution but the gap between the poor and rich has kept increasing, and frustrated young men are available to join private militias.These militias use the idiom of Islam and legitimise their raiding operations through an appeal to the sacred. In this sense, our denial of economic rights has increased the possibility of violence in this country. And this violence is not only in the name of religion, it is also in the name of ethnicity and sub-nationalism. The Baloch, having been denied their rights, are also fighting the state. Thus, it is good policy to redistribute wealth rather than wait for armed vigilante groups to do so.As for speedy justice, the vigilante groups can never give it to us. Only the state can. But the state will have to get more courts, especially speedy ones. Rules will have to be made to settle disputes within a certain number of hearings. This is not a peripheral matter; it is a matter of life and death for this country. And the sooner we dispense justice fairly and in a speedy manner, the better it will be for all of us.Meanwhile, we must be thankful for small mercies. This time, because the Taliban did not show patience but started advancing into Buner and Dir almost immediately after their victory in Swat, the press turned indignant. Judging by letters, columns, the statements of political leaders and opinion-makers the public is ready to oppose the Taliban.But the electronic media, unfortunately, starts opposing military action almost as soon as it starts. This time, if people have realised that they will never get justice of any kind under Taliban rule, then it is something we can build upon and win our war against the Taliban. Are we ready for that?
SOURCE:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/16-injustice-and-talibanisation-03
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