A POEM FOR RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN OUR WORLD!

" TO LORRAINE "
( A POEM INSPIRED BY UNSADDLED YIGAL'S STATEMENTS
CONCERNING RELIGION )



Must we argue which church is greater than the world?
Should you say that the Qur'an is not GOD's Word?

Faith is like justice; it can see in the dark.
Faith can bark, that is if you make it bark.
Religion? I see it as a device:
A lamp that can guide a human to be wise;
A sparkling guide towards personal salvation
In a world that needs illumination.


Should a human worship the device as the DEITY?
A human can use the device to worship the DEITY.
The worth of the device is rightly measured
In the ways and means that it can be used.
Faith treats a human being in a manner
Or in a way that a human is treating her.
Religion? Yes, faith can really make it work righteously,
Only if a human uses her or his religion properly.

By RUMMEL PINERA

HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN!

This is a message comming from "Mission for Establishment of Human Rights in Iran"
(MEHR IRAN ). I hope that the wise citizens of this world who have blogs can paste this message at their web pages. I hope that the readers of this message can pass it to other readers. Thanks.

"A Mockery of Human Rights"


The news of participation of Amnesty International (AI) and Human Rights Watch (HRW) in an event in Washington, DC on July 26, 2007, arranged by National Iranian American Council (NIAC), has become a source of profound distress among the freedom loving Iranian and Iranian-American community: a community supporting the legitimate aspirations of the Iranian people for a democratic and secular leadership.

What is greatly shocking is that one of the four sponsors of this event formed under the title, “Human Rights in Iran and U.S. Foreign Policy Options”, is Amnesty International. It is shocking because NIAC is an organization that has been lobbying for establishing the unconditional relations between the U.S. and the Islamic Regime of Iran (IR) since its inception, and has not shown any concern whatsoever about the human rights violations in Iran. We don’t need to go far to prove these claims about NIAC.

At a time when terrorist activities of the Islamic regime of Iran (IRI) against the Iranian people and the entire world has been documented, the participation of AI and HRW in an event promoted by an organization that openly announces its support for unconditional relations between the US and a terrorist regime, raises serious questions. This is in complete contrast to the mission and mandates of the Amnesty international and HRW.

AI and HRW are touted as a supporter of human rights and democratic values and should not participate in the events organized by the Islamic Regime’s lobby groups that are trying to manipulate the American Political System to legitimize the Islamic Regime.

Everything that this organization does whether it is an event for youth, forming a conference, supporting the anti-war movements, dealing with Iranian/American issues or local politics, it is all directly or indirectly designed to serve one and only one purpose: Establishing relations between the United States and one of the most brutal violators of human rights, the Islamic Regime of Iran. A careful look at the NIAC website, its public statements, public events, and its nonpartisan support of the U.S. political figures who share NIAC vision in dealing with the Islamic Regime, would be enough to show you what NIAC really stands for. Not only does NIAC not deny this, but like all other lobby groups declares very proudly that it does so because of its love for Iranian people!

On the issue of human rights, we have challenged the AI and HRW to find one statement issued by NIAC since its formation in condemning the Islamic Regime for violating the basic human rights of Iranians. Not even one single sentence has been issued by NIAC in condemnation of IR for stoning, torture, execution of political prisoners, or the treatment of women and religious minorities. One cannot find any reference to human rights in NIAC’s mission statement, goals, programs or anywhere else. None of the many urgent actions issued by Amnesty International to stop imminent execution of political prisoners or stoning of men and women to death, has been acknowledged or distributed by NIAC.

Dr. Trita Parsi, the President of this group was ex-congressman Bob Ney’s advisor who is serving now a 30-month jail term for bribery and lobbying for the Islamic Regime among other things. NIAC was promoting Bob Ney for years as a friend of Iranian people!

It is so ironic that the event organized by NIAC is going to discuss the human rights situation in Iran . This event is a mockery of human rights and an insult to all those who have paid dearly in Iran for standing for their rights. It should not be promoted by the Human Rights organizations.


P.O. Box 2037, P.V.P. , CA 90274
Tel: (310) 377-4590 ; Fax: (310) 377-3103
E-Mail: mehr@mehr.org ; URL:

http://mehr.org/

ON DARFUR_ PART THREE!

For Immediate Release: 01/08/07

Amnesty International today welcomed last night's unanimous vote by the UN Security Council to send a newly strengthened African Union-United Nations force to Darfur in Sudan but warned that the force must be deployed urgently, resourced effectively and be given the full support of the Sudanese Government.
"Hundreds of thousands have died because of the conflict in Darfur and more than two million people have been driven from their homes. The truth is the people of Darfur are living in the midst of a massive humanitarian and human rights crisis. They can wait no longer for protection: it must be delivered immediately, effectively and with a full mandate to protect civilians from further violence," said Amnesty International's Secretary General Irene Khan
Yesterday's adoption by the UN Security Council of resolution 1769 gives some long awaited hope to the millions of Darfuris. But it is now essential that UN member states provide the resources necessary to swiftly deploy an effective force with a strong human rights component. This must include the capacity and authority to monitor and investigate human rights violations, including all cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence, and to report publicly on all human rights abuses.
Deployed in a region awash with arms, the United Nations must ensure the forces can oversee the disarmament and demobilization of government supported Janjawid militia. The new resolution only allows the force to monitor "whether any arms or related material are present in Darfur" and urgently needs to be strengthened.
Amnesty International also urges the UN Security Council to ensure that the current arms embargo is effectively enforced.
"Given the Sudanese Government's past record of obstructing such deployments, we urge the Government to facilitate the rapid deployment of the new force," said Irene Khan "The people of Darfur have been offered too many words and too many resolutions. Now is the time for effective action."

A NEWS ARTICLE BY: GLOBE FOR DARFUR

ON DARFUR_ PART TWO!

For Immediate Release: 02/08/07

Human Rights First welcomes the adoption of Resolution 1769 establishing the AU/UN Hybrid operation in Darfur (UNAMID) by the Security Council this Tuesday afternoon.

By acting unanimously, the members of the Security Council have demonstrated their strong commitment to end the ongoing violence in Darfur.
It is particularly important that the resolution gives the Hybrid operation a clear mandate for the protection of aid workers and civilians against armed attacks. The fact that UNAMID has been established under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter and is expressly authorized to take the necessary action to prevent such attacks means that the Hybrid force will have the power to use armed force, including preventative force, should it prove necessary to implement that mandate.
HRF also welcomes the ambitious timetable fixed by the resolution for the deployment of UNAMID. The resolution, however, will not automatically change the bleak reality on the ground in Darfur, as it most likely will take more than a year for the Hybrid force to be fully deployed.
In the meantime, violence continues. The parties have yet to cease hostilities and respect their commitments to past ceasefire agreements. The Sudanese government has also failed to live up to its obligation to disarm its proxy militia, the Janjaweed. This is particularly problematic because the resolution fails to authorize the Hybrid operation to undertake such disarmament together with that of other rebel groups.
Therefore, it is critical that the international community exert forceful pressure on all parties to the conflict to engage fully and immediately in the peace process initiated by the UN and AU Special Envoys and to comply with resolution 1769 and all previous Security Council resolutions concerning the situation in Sudan.
The test of any resolution is its implementation. HRF will closely monitor the efforts of the United Nations and the Members of the Security Council to make it more than another empty promise to the people of Darfur.

A NEWS ARTICLE BY: GLOBE FOR DARFUR

ON DARFUR!

For Immediate Release: 06/08/07
Human Rights First welcomes the conclusion of the Arusha consultations, a three-day meeting ending today, in which rebel leaders and other important stakeholders came together to discuss how to advance the Darfur peace process. Coming on the heels of last week's U.N. Security Resolution committing to the deployment of peacekeeping troops in Darfur, the Arusha meeting was a useful next step in what promises to be a long road to peace in Darfur.
The purpose of the consultations was to allow rebel groups, particularly non-signatories to the Darfur Peace Agreement, to discuss their concerns and hopefully agree on a common pre-negotiating position. This meeting culminated in an agreement by rebel leaders to present a common platform at upcoming peace talks, to allow new participants to join the common platform, and to support ongoing U.N. consultations with affected groups.
While, according to the meeting summary released by special envoys from the U.N. and A.U., Jan Eliasson and Salim Salim, there is reason for renewed optimism, the foundation for a successful peace process has by no means been completely established.
Human Rights First welcomes the positive developments coming out of the meeting, but also has a number of concerns that must be addressed in order for the peace process to be effective:
A common platform among rebel groups on the issues of greatest concern-power-sharing, wealth-sharing, security arrangements, land/tribal land ownership rights and humanitarian issues-must be sufficiently detailed and concrete so that it does not fall apart upon closer examination;
Suleiman Jamous, humanitarian coordinator for the SLA and respected leader among a number of rebel groups, must be able to participate in the peace talks. Currently detained at a U.N. hospital in Kadugli, Suleiman Jamous must be freed and the Khartoum government must guarantee that they will not arrest him once he returns to Darfur;
Rebel groups and leaders who did not participate in the Arusha talks must be drawn in, including field commanders and various important factions such as the SLA/AW;
Violence between Arab factions constitutes a significant part of the killings on the ground recently, which means that there must be a strong effort to include Arab tribes in the consultation process.
A peace process that is not fully inclusive is destined to fail. Human Rights First will continue to monitor develops and advocate for concrete solutions leading to a sustainable peace in Darfur.

A NEWS ARTICLE BY: GLOBE FOR DARFUR