-Caveat Lector- Hi peoples, This is forwarded to me by my friend Roger Bunn, in London. Roger is a key man in Music Industry Human Rights Association, http://www.mihra.org/2k/ and is involved in such human rights campaigns as the attempt to dislodge Burma's Military Junta- which is deeply involved with opium, heroin, methamphetamine production- using indigenous peoples as slave labor, and destroying their abilities to subsistence farm. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is legally elected leader of Burma, under house arrest by Military Junta. http://www.mihra.org/2k/burma.htm Please take a moment to read what follows, if it resonates with you, please share with your affinity groups. kind regards, Dave Hartley http://www.Asheville-Computer.com/dave ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spirit In Action: WorldDharma's Free Monthly Newsletter ~~~~~~ New Millennium Inaugural Issue ~~~~~~ In Commemoration of International Human Rights Day December 17, 1999 Year 1 Volume I By Alan Clements for WorldDharma.com *** located at: http://www.WorldDharma.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fearlessness may be a gift but perhaps more precious is the courage acquired through endeavor, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing to let fear dictate one's actions, courage that could be described as grace under pressure. Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's Nobel Peace laureate, and leader of her country's nonviolent struggle for freedom Dear Friend, Please accept a complimentary issue of Spirit In Action - a free monthly newsletter service offered by "WorldDharma." Spirit In Action is a non-sectarian broadcast dedicated to exploring the link between our 'inner' journey and engagement with the 'outer' world through freedom, service and activism. If you feel so stirred, please tell others about our Web site, subscribe to our newsletter and or forward your copy of Spirit In Action to friends, colleagues and associates. We're just starting and our ability to continue depends on the support from those who care.Thanking you in advance for your help. The Awakening of Conscience On December 10th people from around the world gathered in support of International Human Rights Day. Of course, everyone of good heart can appreciate the value of freedom and dignity. But imagine if we could not speak openly, travel freely, or practice our form of spirituality? What if "expressing freedom" was a punishable crime against the state? Nearly 42 percent of the world's governments are not democratic. The following statement appeared in the Bangkok Post 10 December, 1999. "I have run away from Burmese soldiers five times in my life, as a child, a teenager, a young bride, a mother of two, and last year when I lost my husband and youngest daughter. I don't have the energy to run any more. It's best for me to stay here. I'll probably stay here until the day I die." This woman is not alone. She is in each of us, in part. "...the Burmese expression for refugee is dukkha-the, 'one who has to bear dukkha, suffering.' In that sense, none of us can avoid knowing what it is to be a refugee. The refuge we all seek is protection from forces which wrench us away from the security and comfort, physical and mental, which give dignity and meaning to human existence." Aung San Suu Kyi Freedom and dignity are the life blood of democracy, while the bed rock of freedom is founded upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This document of only one page, (contained at the end of this broadcast) is perhaps the most important Declaration ever conceived, and arguably one of the most neglected and abused. Few people even know about it, and far fewer know what is contained within it. As a tiny gesture of support for the millions of oppressed people, we will devote our first broadcast to the 'essence meaning' of the Declaration. Beyond the words, we encourage everyone to allow their hearts to be stirred and do all that we can to elevate the hope, happiness and general well-being of those who are suffering. "Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity, without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere." Eleanor Roosevelt, 1948 What is the 'essence' of the Declaration of Human Rights? Even though the theme of one generation's sacrifice for the next has been constant throughout time, it wasn't until after the epic horror of World War II that humanity felt it could no longer trust in the certainty of tomorrow. An urgency swept the globe, and from the "crisis of conscience" an awakening occurred, as leaders of the world realized the necessity of establishing an international body whose main purpose was to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" by reaffirming "faith in fundamental rights." In 1946, shortly after the establishing of the United Nations, representatives from the majority of world governments took an even more visionary step forward, proclaiming that "human rights must be protected and promoted for the sake of our survival." This pivotal moment in history represented the first stirring of a new vision: what we think of today as the Global Village or the Family of Man. Eleanor Roosevelt, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, was selected to head the newly formed Commission on Human Rights to determine the constituents of mankind's inalienable freedoms. She and other members of the commission were determined to write a document that would live and last, a document that would protect and empower men and women, irrespective of color, creed or culture. Their goal was to establish a universal framework for all beings to realize their highest potential and live in freedom and dignity. Thus, on December 10, 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN Generally Assembly stating that "freedom from fear" was mankind's highest aspiration. Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, leader of her country's non-violent struggle for freedom, and 1991's Nobel Peace laureate, has stated: "What is the quintessential meaning of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? The essence of this Declaration can be found in understanding the meaning of just one word - conscience. In the preamble we can read ' disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind.' In Article One we see the word again: 'All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.' The key is in the awakening of conscience for the betterment of humankind." May all beings act for the welfare of others Alan Clements "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression..." Robert Kennedy The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Thirty Articles of Freedom Article 1: We are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Article 2: We are entitled to freedom without discrimination. Article 3: We have the right to life, liberty and security. Article 4: No one shall be a slave or held in servitude. Article 5: No one shall be tortured. Article 6: We have the right to recognition before the law. Article 7: We are entitled to equal protection by the law. Article 8: We have the right to legally challenge acts violating our rights. Article 9: No one shall be arbitrarily arrested, detained or exiled. Article 10: We are entitled to a fair and public hearing. Article 11: We are innocent until proven guilty. Article 12: No one shall be subjected to interference of his privacy, Nor attacks upon his honor and reputation. Article 13: We have the right to freedom of movement. Article 14: We can seek in other countries asylum from persecution. Article 15: We have the right to a nationality. Article 16: We have the right to marry and found a family. Article 17: We have the right to own property, nor shall it be arbitrarily taken. Article 18: We have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Article 19: We have the right to freedom of expression. Article 20: We have the right to peaceful assembly. Article 21: We have the right to take part in government of our country. Article 22: We have the right to security, including economic, social and cultural rights. Article 23: We have the right to work and receive fair compensation. Article 24: We have the right to rest and leisure. Article 25: We have the right to adequate food, clothing, housing, medical care and social services. Article 26: We have the right to education. Article 27: We have the right to freely participate in culture and the arts. Article 28: We have the right to live in a civilized society. Article 29: We have the right to participate in community. Article 30: Nothing in this Declaration can be interpreted by anyone in such a way that its aim is to destroy the rights and freedoms set forth herein. "When you live on the edge of the mountain, you see very far. You see the abyss, but you see very far. And so, because never in human history have people had more reasons to despair, and to give up on man, and God and themselves, hope is now stronger than ever before." Elie Wiesel Clearly, there's no greater gift than the gift of freedom. As we enjoy our freedom, let us do all that we can to elevate the freedom of others. If so stirred, please take action. Send this broadcast of Spirit In Action to friends, family and associates and subscribe yourself at: http://www.WorldDharma.com *************************WorldDharma News*********************** WorldDharma is an emerging non-sectarian community that bridges the often separated realms of spirituality, politics, human rights, art, science, sex, service, ecology and activism. Like World Music, WorldDharma is an experience created anew, again and again, from the synergy of different truths, and not a standard, fixed ideology to follow and or practice. During our first month we have received numerous e-mails asking "how can we get involved?" At this point, it's simple: we are inviting spiritual seekers, activists, artists, writers, creators, musicians and journalists, everyone really, who have interest in forming an open non-sectarian community dedicated to a deeper, more full understanding of the link between our 'inner' journey and engagement with the 'outer' world through love, service and activism. Of course, visit our revised Web site, subscribe to our newsletter and become a founding member. *********************************************************************** We will have our first WorldDharma TeleForum at a date to be announced in February, 2000. During this presentation Alan Clements will give a short presentation on the role of consciousness in relation to freedom, service and activism. This will be followed by audience comments and questions. The WorldDharma TeleForum is a free service offered by WorldDharma. The only cost to a participant is the actual long distance fee charged by the telephone company to link with the WorldDharma TeleBridge number, approx. 5 - 20 cents a minute. The access # will be listed in January's Newsletter. ************************************************************************ WorldDharma is located on the World Wide Web: http://www.WorldDharma.com ************************************************************************ If you have any questions or comments, please send them to [EMAIL PROTECTED] We'd love to hear from you! ************************************************************************ Feel free to forward your copy of Spirit In Action to anyone you think might enjoy participating! We request that you keep the newsletter as written, including our contact and copyright information. Thank you! *********************************************************************** To unsubscribe to the WorldDharma newsletter at anytime, simply send an e-mail to us at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ******************************************************* Copyright 1999 Alan Clements @ WorldDharma.com All rights reserved WorldDharma.com 2906 West Broadway Suite 166 Vancouver, B.C. V6K 2G8 Canada tel: 604-251-1781 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. 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