Archive Page 2
If his holiness’s visa is refused, then I won’t take part in the coming 2010 World Cup-related peace conference. I will condemn government’s behaviour as disgraceful, in line with our country’s abysmal record at the United Nations Security Council, a total betrayal of our struggle history
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Read more – IOL Sunday Tribune
So much for freedom of speech and association in South Africa
SA sucks up to China by refusing a visa to the Dalai Lama – who was going to take part in peace conference in JHB this Friday.
Shame on South Africa
The Mayor of Cape Town was criticized for voicing her comments on corruption in the country – being told it will scare investors off
Not giving the Dalai Lama a visa is really going to spell it out to investors and the tourists – init
Grrrrrrrrrrrr
Spineless wimps – what happened to freedom of speech and association for all?
Who will be next?
STOP PRESS!
UPDATE – 1st APRIL [this might be an april fools thing?]
Buthelezi’s Dalai Lama application set for Thursday
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA Mar 31 2009 17:18An urgent application by Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi to force the government to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama will take place in the Western Cape Division of the High Court on Thursday afternoon, Buthelezi’s advisor said on Tuesday.
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-03-31-buthelezis-dalai-lama-application-set-for-thursday
.
Filed under: PEACE | Leave a Comment
Tags: CHINA, Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, International Relations, SOUTH AFRICA
Outstanding coverage of the reasons behind the violence in May 2008 [South Africa]
http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=297984
Refugees: City goes to court
http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4877984
‘I tried to hang myself twice’
http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4877960
The case of De Doorns is indeed the early warning of recurring xenophobia in South Africa and should serve as a wake-up call.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/ASAZ-7PYGEQ?OpenDocument
One-stop 72-hour process to legalize Zimbabweans
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=83350
Zim refugees face bleak future
http://www.citizen.co.za/index/article.aspx?pDesc=91246,1,22-
Arrested foreigners fret about deportation
http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4881330
links & articles sent to me by Tracey Saunders
peace4africa@gmail.com
Filed under: XENOPHOBIA | Leave a Comment
Tags: REFUGEES, SOUTH AFRICA, XENOPHOBIA
●Ikeda: on Success & failure
.
Failure is an instrumental part of every success. Whether our life has been a triumph or tragedy can only be judged at its very end.
● Quote by Buddhist Philosopher Daisaku Ikeda
LINK – Daily Quotes
LINK – Success
Photo by Ann J P
click on image to see her magnificent work
Filed under: IKEDA, PEACE | Leave a Comment
Tags: abundance, Buddhism, DAISAKU IKEDA, failure, IKEDA, JOY, PEACE, PHOTO, phylosophy, power, SGI
The place where you are now is vital. Never avoid what you must face. Challenge your circumstances and steadily persevere. The path toward victory opens from where you stand.
● Quote by Buddhist Philosopher Daisaku Ikeda
LINK – Daily Quotes
Photo by Ann J P
click on image to see her work
Filed under: Buddhism, IKEDA | Leave a Comment
Tags: Buddhism, culture, DAISAKU IKEDA, education, PEACE, PHILOSOPHY, QUOTE
boo whoooooo – they’ve switched it off!
could have been contributing to the green house effect – processing power required
13 January 09
Happy marvellous brilliant abundant joyful pivotal new year to you!
Just discovered that the snow angle direction is determined by your mouse’s position on the page!
Filed under: PEACE | Leave a Comment
Tags: animation, PEACE, snow, WORDPRESS
It is the function of evil to divide, to alienate people from each other and divide one country from another. The universe, this world and our own lives, are the stage for a ceaseless struggle between hatred and compassion, the destructive and constructive aspects of life. In the end, the evil over which we must triumph is the impulse toward hatred and destruction that resides in us all.
Daisaku Ikeda
● Quote by Buddhist Philosopher Daisaku Ikeda
LINK – Daily Quotes
…factors that can create a “perfect storm” which leads good people to engage in evil actions. This transformation of human character is what I call the “Lucifer Effect”, named after God’s favorite angel, Lucifer, who fell from grace and ultimately became Satan….Although it is often hard to read about evil up close and personal, we must understand its causes in order to contain and transform it through wise decisions and innovative communal actions. Indeed, in my view, there is no more urgent task that faces us today.
Dr Philip Zimbardo – Stanford University – Psychology
.
LINK – Download podcast [mp3] or see or listen to Zimbardo’s facinating, enlightening lecture on The Lucifer Effect given at the TED conference
Many thanks to JAX 60, for your beautiful photograph
LINK – original photo [& find out more about this 50m high sculpture - Angel of the North?]
● A few of the things mentioned in Zimbardo’s talk on, The Lucifer Effect that were eye openers for me
- Power lies in the system, that corrupts people.
- The Lucifer Effect – It’s about the crimes against humanity – Its about power, the key is power – perpetrating of evil acts against humanity/people.
- Anonymity – uniforms make one anonymous - make many capable of terrible things [behind closed doors - domestic violence]
If someone else takes responsibility for our actions we can seriously harm or even kill others if told to do so – eg the electric shock experiment and the fake jail experiment – fascinating stuff
- Evil – that people can BECOME, not ARE.
- and what we can do to change it – education of children [& adults] in taking responsibility/deciding to be a hero in waiting
LINK – Zimbardo’s web site on The Lucifer Effect
LINK – To join Zimbardo’s HERO PROJECT – Exploring And Encouraging Our Inner Heroes – to create an international organization to promote heroism as an antidote to evil and as a celebration of what is best in human nature.
LINK – Every day heroes site – Who will be the heroes of the 21st Century? What is heroism in the digital age? These are a few of the questions this site seeks to understand and explore.
LINK – 10 questions answered by Zimbardo re The Lucifer Effect
……
Image left
Original courtesy of Malachi Lopez
Image right
Phil Zimbardo
Photo courtesy Skeptic
LINK – EVIL google search – result – about 223,000,000 [223 million] in (0.19 seconds)!!
LINK– GOOD Google search – result – about 2,210,000,000 [two thousand two hundred and ten million] in (0.15 seconds) – pheeeyou!
Google YES – Results of about 857,000,000 for YES [definition]. (0.05 seconds)
[857 thousand million]
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=opera&rls=en&q=+yes+&btnG=Search
Google NO – Results of about 7,510,000,000 for NO (0.06 seconds)
[7 trillion 510 thousand million] interesting!
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=opera&rls=en&q=+no+&btnG=Search
VIVA! PHIL ZIMBARDO VIVA!
Filed under: PEACE, WORLD | 1 Comment
Tags: 照片, DAISAKU IKEDA, el mal, evil, 邪恶, 英雄, foto, héroes, heros, lucifer effect, PEACE, Philip Zimbardo, PHOTO, QUOTES, Respect
Look to this day
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities
Of your existence
The bliss of growth
The glory of action
The splendour of beauty
For yesterday is but a dream
And tomorrow is only a vision
But today, well lived, makes every yesterday
A dream of happiness
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Look well, therefore to this day
Such is the salutation to the dawn.
Kālidāsa [600 - 1200 AD ]
[Sanskrit poet and dramatist]
LINK – more about Kālidāsa
LINK – Dale Carnegie [1888 - 1955]
LINK – How to Stop Worrying and Start Living 1948 [!] [excellent & funny & charming - an other amazing person - Dale Carnegie]
LINK – Photo Webcam – Cape Town dawn – South Afreeka – November 5ish
Filed under: PEACE | 1 Comment
Tags: Dale Carnegie, INSPIRING, Kālidāsa, PHOTO, photogrph, poem, worry
Abdi Sirej from Ethiopia was murdered in Masiphumelele on Friday the 7th November. After the initial xenophobic attacks in May he sought refuge at Soetwater.
After overtures from the community he returned to Masiphumelele. He appeared in a documentary ” Baraka”. The words he spoke during his interview “No answer, no safety.no guarantee” have turned out to be chillingly prophetic.
The interview can be seen at:
http://www.vimeo.com/2204139
by Tracey Saunders
Email: peace4africa@gmail.com
Mobile:084 561 9131
Fax: 086 611-7167
LINK – The Genocide List
.
Filed under: XENOPHOBIA | Leave a Comment
Tags: CAPE TOWN, GENOCIDE, MASIPHUMELELE, REFUGEE, SOETWATER, SOUTH AFRICA, XENOPHOBIA
Your brain will pay attention to what you are thinking and saying to yourself and others and make sure that’s what you get!
Rather than focusing on how terrible things are try focusing on what is wonderful in your life! What you are greatful for.
What have we got to be grateful about?
Our health, family, friends, partners, pets, animals, our job, employer, food on the table, roof over our heads, running water, chocolate cake, great teachers, blue sky, the sun, rain, thungderstorms, forrests, art, music, litrature, food, singing, the wind etc
Rather than being concerned about poverty and the financial uncertainty which the media are having a humungous field day with….
We need to be concerned about abundance for all!
If we focus on poverty we give it more ‘power’ ‘energy’ ‘force’[?]
We might then get fearful and slip and slide all the way into a jolly depressing powerless place which also adds to all the others who are thinking similarly to you which then becomes the general trend and guess what? it happens – its called a self fullfilling prophesy
Top Photo by © Miguel Ángel Horcajada – LINK – to their stunning work
So what can we do?
What we need to do is focus on how we want things to BE – according to the ‘law of attraction’ & deal with NOW – not worry about what has been or what might happen
FEEL the feelings of how you want things to be.
Not on how you are being told things ARE or how things MIGHT be
Yes? Are you with me?
For example – instead of being ANTI WAR – which keeps one focused on war, violence, destruction etc
Rather we must focus on PEACE – fulfilment – tranquillity – well being – our community – fun – laughter – caring – all the goooooooood stuff we love and want around us and in our communities
After all this is what makes us feel gooood and safe and secure and happy – all we can really be ‘in control of’ and influence – our immediate community
We must not focus on the things we do not want
We must not focus on the things we do NOT want
WE MUST NOT FOCUS ON THE THINGS WE DO NOT WANT!
WE MUST NOT absolutely NOT FOCUS ON THE THINGS WEDO NOT
WANT
FOCUS ON WHAT YOU
DOOOOO WANT
ONLY!
It took me a while to get that one!
So what are some of the gooood powerful words we can start to use and focus on no matter how under whelmed we feel?!
Abundance …. Vitality … Relaxed Enthusiastic … Caring … Joyful … Loving … Patient … Considerate … Listening … Sharing … Generous Prosperous … Invincible … Keep on till it’s sorted … Finding Solutions … Seek the positive aspect in all challenging situations … being energised … See The Bright Side Of Life … Laughing … Smiling!
A friend told me they saw a graffito that said
Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty!
Anthony Robbins [The power with in] encourages us to turn the volume of harsh angry destructive words down and turn up the intensity of the good things or ordinary things!
Lets say you’re fuuuuuuuming and steam is coming out of yr ears…..
“I’m feeling a tad irritated” ! [& and a smile would be excellent too!]
Did you know that your brain can’t tell the difference between you smiling or laughing and faking a laugh or smile?!
So if laughter makes you feel good then if yr feeling seriously miffed, a tad concerned about the sate of affairs
Try laughing or even just hold a smile – fake it
Smile at everyone – and see what happens!
The muscles that we use to smile tells the brain that we are happy and it releases the appropriate feel good chemicals – endorphins i think they are called
The power of smiling
We are wired up to feel good when we see one and when we use one!
[even if yr feeling a smidging under the weather]
Smile Smile Smile
Try it!
I found out that there are laughing clubs!
Hooo hoooo hooo haaaa haaaa haaa hooo hooo hooo haaa haaa haaa
See if there is one near you or start yr own!
I’m going to get the neighbours in for a good laugh and maybe a tipple too!
Here’s a brilliant site that tells you where to find one and if there isn’t one near you how to start yr own and how to do it!
How generous is that?!
heee heee
LINK – to laughter groups in your area!
.
Sources & Enourmous Thanks to:
Daiskau Ikeda
SGI Buddhism
Dale Carnegie [1888 - 1955]
Anthony Robbins – Feel good expert
Gregg Braden – Scientist
Filed under: HEALTH, JOY, PEACE | 5 Comments
Tags: depression, doom, gloom, HEALTH, JOY, PEACE, power, WORDS, worry
My sense of gloom about the states’ administration & modis operandi has lifted – Obama is going to need all the help he can get
I just watched Obama’s first speech – to listen to someone who talks so fluidly and who speaks like a normal person is bloody marvellous! At last a person who seemingly listens to others and uses the technology of the day and gets the ideology of the politically powerful
LINK – Acceptance Speech
Now, what did he do to raise all that loot over the internet? – must go to his site to take a look – the way to success is to copy those that are already successful. [Anthony Robbins] – Image by Ron English -
[If you are using INTERNET EXPLORER 6, for some inexplicable reason - which hasn’t been identified yet by the wiz kids at WordpPress support – there is an image in the blank space – pls click on it or on the title of this post to see the brilliant drawing of Obama]
The first thing Obama needs to do is change the horrendous 2 yr lead up to electing a president that those of us who don’t live in the states are subjected too!
Electioneering has to be a multi billion dollar industry!
The fickle world of politics…..
PS.
Well done campaign chief – a brilliant production & it wouldn’t have been possible with out the internet!
Viva! the internet viva!
Obama it is said has a 7 to 8 million mailing list – nice
the obama blog – not powered by wordpress!
LINK – Obama website
.
Filed under: PEACE, POLITICS | 2 Comments
Tags: america, barack obama, INTERNET, PEACE, PHOTOS, POLITICS, speech, TECHNOLOGY, USA
LATEST information on the South African xenophobia refugee status of affairs – articles and URLs to articles on the ongoing dreadful saga.
I am entering them as I receive them [via email] I wish there was a website I could give you where you can find all the following info if I find one i will post it here as many of the entries do not have links. All articles like this will be entered at the bottom of the URL links so you can read them some of the documents are PDF files so unfortunately I am unable to copy and paste them here.
● Many thanks to Tracy Saunders for keeping us updated
If you wish to contact her peace4africa [at] g mail [dot] com
Mobile: +27 084 561 9131
Fax: 0 8 6 6 1 1 -7 1 6 7
● At pains to leave SA Mail & Guardian Online [4.5.09]
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-05-01-at-pains-to-leave-sa
● South Africa countering xenophobia with help of UN refugee agency [4.5.09]
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30659&Cr=xenophobia&Cr1=#
● Xenophobia: the bill By Anel Powell – 27th Nov 08 The City of Cape Town spent at least R108-million on relief to victims of xenophobia, but so far has only been reimbursed R17-million by the provincial and national governments. City chief financial officer Mike Richardson said the R91-million shortfall, which had to be siphoned from various council departments, would affect their budgets. Housing mayoral committee member Dan Plato said the money used for xenophobia relief measures were needed for other projects…….
● [Scroll down on next page to see all entries - there are lots unfortunately] Continue reading ‘●South Africa: Xenophobia refugee related information – URLs [if available]‘
Filed under: UPDATE, XENOPHOBIA | Leave a Comment
Tags: articles, cape times, CAPE TOWN, Helen Zille, HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE, pretoria, REFUGEES, TAC, the times, tranquility, URL's, XENOPHOBIA
From a healed, peaceful heart, humility is born; from humility, a willingness to listen to others is born; from a willingness to listen to others, mutual understanding is born and from mutual understanding, a peaceful society will be born. Nonviolence is the highest form of humility; it is supreme courage.
● Quote by Buddhist Philosopher Daisaku Ikeda
LINK – Daily Quotes
.
[If you are using INTERNET EXPLORER 6, for some inexplicable reason - identified by the wiz kids at WordpPress support – there is an image in the blank space to the right of the text – pls click on the title of this post if you wish to see it]
Filed under: IKEDA, PEACE, QUOTES | Leave a Comment
Tags: IKEDA, PEACE, PHILOSOPHY, QUOTES, society
UN Body To Probe [their] Staff In Sout Africa
The Geneva head office of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) has launched an inquiry into complaints made against its local staff.A three-member panel will fly to South Africa to conduct the inquiry, the UNHCR’s Antonio Guterres said yesterday.
In the wake of the xenophobic attacks this year, civil society organisations, including the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), the Aids Law Project and displaced people’s representatives, last month demanded the UNHCR set up a commission of inquiry.
They alleged that “the UNHCR observed horrific conditions in the camps over several months without appropriate intervention”.
They say that the UNHCR failed to advise the government that some sites in Gauteng were unsuitable for setting up camps.
“One site, Wadeville, had to be closed due to poor planning, and another, Vickers Road, was never utilised because it was unsuitable and unsafe,” says TAC .
They also allege that the UNHCR “supported camp closure, with no reintegration plan”.
The UNHCR’s Olivier Beer said: “It is good and we will be able also to respond to the allegations. ”
by Anna Majavu - 15 October 2008 THE sowetan
http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=863268
Filed under: ACTIVISM, AFRICA, XENOPHOBIA | Leave a Comment
Tags: CAPE TOWN, PEACE, probe, REFUGEES, TAC, UNHCR, United Nations, XENOPHOBIA
“South African civic organisations are demanding an inquiry….”
●UNHCR ‘failed’ S Africa migrantsby Martin Plaut
South African civic organisations are demanding an inquiry into the United Nations refugee agency’s response to May’s xenophobic violence.
The UNHCR has not fulfilled its mandate to refugees and displaced people under international law – Lawyer Fatima Hassan
LINK – to article(Story by Martin Plaut – from BBC NEWS – Published: 2008/10/13 13:34:50 GMT)
.
● Eight foreigners killed, claims volunteer
By Craig McKune
Eight of the people from the Soetwater camp alone had been murdered since returning to communities, Saunders said.She said the work the facilitators were doing needed to be made visible to refugees in the camps who feared for their lives.
LINK – to article
(This article was originally published on page 3 of The Cape Times October 13 ‘ 08
Published on the Web by IOL on ‘08-10-13 05:35:00)
.
LINK – Excellent blog for up to date news on xenophobia situ in SA & else where
.
Filed under: UPDATE, XENOPHOBIA | Leave a Comment
Tags: BBC, UNHCR, xeonphobia
Sherwood Forlee
New age thinker - brilliant problem solver & excellent photographer says,
Stealing your co-worker’s lunch is a downright contemptible act…. if you’ve ever had your lunch stolen, you know the frustration and anger it causes. You know the revenge and ill-will it inspires. And you know that no matter how well you try to hide your lunch bag at the back of the refrigerator, something’s gonna be missing when you open it. Well, lament no more…
The Anti-Theft Lunch Bag
to the rescue
. . .
. .
.
.
.
.
.
Touch this & you’ll get seriously sick don’t you think?
YES!
Just put your lunch in this and your lunch wont be going anywhere
. . .
. .
.
.
.
Such ingenuity!
If you need help get in touch with fellow sufferer @
skforlee [at] gmail [dot] com
LINK – For more infomation
“If you’re interested in getting your hands dirty with these bags,
please send an email to
moldybag [at] gmail [dot] com
and I’ll let you know when they become available” – Sherwood
photos by Sherwood
.
Filed under: FOOD, photography, proaction | 1 Comment
Tags: FOOD, HUMOR, HUMOUR, photography, proaction, THEFT, WORK
-
-
-
Recent Comments
Ken on ●NON TOXIC DEODORANT & TOO… konnio on Cape Town Stadium – Live… teenoie on ●Dinner with ANC president … sanxiago on ●NON TOXIC DEODORANT & TOO… Anton Fourie on ●Green Peace needs YOU! Sign t…
