February, 2010

Oh hummingbird, mankind was waiting for you to come flying along. (video below)
Heavenly songbird, we were so wrong. We've harmed you.
Oh hummingbird, lend us your wings.
Let us soar in the atmosphere of Abha.
Lift us up to the heaven of holiness,
oh source of our being, oh hummingbird.

TW:  The Secret Peace is finally here! What inspired you to write such a book, Jesse? Tell us more about your research and message. 

JR: "Over the past decade, I increasingly began to sense trends that were not made explicit in the media. I would read articles here and there that seemed to indicate positive trends in the world. Once I started to look for that pattern, I focused on seeing the big picture. I learned that the story of history is one of advancing peace - in the areas of health, technology, equality, democracy, and more. I think the message of the Secret Peace - that world peace is inevitable, and close - is an important message to get out there because the media often misses the forest for the trees.

GENEVA, 19 February (BWNS) – A third court date has been announced for seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran, the Baha'i International Community has learned. The trial proceedings – begun on 12 January after the seven had been incarcerated in Tehran's Evin prison for 20 months – will continue on Sunday, 11 April, according to information conveyed orally to their attorneys. There are today more than 60 innocent Baha'is in detention in Iran.

The 25th Anniversary recording features over 80 artists and performers. The recording of We Are The World 25 For Haiti embodied the same enthusiasm, sense of purpose and generosity as the original recording 25 years ago. Every one of the artists who participated, regardless of genre or generation, walked into the room with their hearts and souls completely open to coming together to help the people of Haiti. Damage From Haiti Quake Expected To Surpass Country's GDP. The cost of rebuilding Haiti is expected to be at least $8.1 billion. (Watch Video "We Are The World 25 Haiti" below)

Professor Randy Pausch made a surprise return to Carnegie Mellon University to deliver an inspirational speech to the Class of 2008 at the Commencement ceremony on May 18, 2008. "The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something" said Randy Pausch. (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008)

15/02/2010 - Geneva - Shirin Ebadi : « Punir le pouvoir iranien, pas notre peuple » Par Carole Vann, Tribune des droits. L'Iran passe lundi son « examen » des droits de l'homme au sein de l'ONU. Vendredi à Genève, l'avocate et prix Nobel de la Paix Shirin Ebadi appelait la communauté internationale à plus de cohérence à l'égard du régime de mollahs.  Invitée par des organisations de défense des libertés, entourée d'un important dispositcenpeif de gardes du corps, l'avocate iranienne s'est adressée à une salle comble de journalistes, demandant à la communauté internationale d'aider à « éteindre l'incendie » dans son pays.

Canada - (No. 67 – February 14, 2010 – 5:45 p.m. ET) The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding reports that Iran has arrested another seven members of Iran’s Baha’i community:

“Canada deplores Iran’s detention of seven more members of the Iranian Baha’i community today. Alaeddin Khanjani, Ashkan Bassari, Maria Jafari Ehsani, Bashir Ehsani, Romina Zabihiyan and Houtan Sistani were arrested this morning. Mona Misaghi was arrested on February 10, 2010. These individuals appear to have been detained on the basis of their faith. This is unacceptable. We call on the Iranian authorities to ensure the immediate and safe release of these individuals, as well as all other members of the Baha’i community currently in detention, without delay.

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:

Mercredi 10 février 2010 - Le Progrès - Les représentants de cette religion indépendante née au XIXe siècle en Perse, et qui compte aujourd'hui plus de sept millions d'adeptes à travers le monde (plus d'une centaine dans la région), « s'inquiètent » du sort de sept Bahá'is, qui ont comparu dimanche pour la deuxième fois dans la capitale de ce pays. Ils sont notamment accusés d'espionnage pour le compte d'Israël, le bahá'isme comptant l'un de ses principaux lieux saints à Haïfa. (VIDEO : Il était une fois )

GENEVA, 7 February  – Seven imprisoned Baha'i leaders appeared in court today in Iran for a second session of their trial.  The session was once again closed, and family members were not permitted in the courtroom, the Baha'i International Community has learned. The hearing, which lasted just over one hour, does not seem to have gone beyond procedural issues. No date was given for any future sessions.

Kandovan (bees nest)  is a beautiful and unique historical village in the northwest of the country of Iran located in Iran's East Azerbaijan province, between Tabriz (Iran's fourth largest city) and Osku.  It is a small tourist village situated at an altitude of 1288 metres on the slopes of Mt Sahandkuhthat and is famous for its extraordinary caves and cone-shaped houses carved inside rocks and are thought to be older than 3,000 years.  Although some of the homes are still inhabited, the village itself has been abandoned for over 700 years. Legend has it that the first inhabitants of Kandovan arrived in the 13th century to escape the invading Mongol army. They dug hideouts in the volcanic rocks and eventually decided to settle in the caves. [Photos below]

Speech delivered by Imam Abdul Jalil Sajid at a meeting on International NGO Rights and Humanity on 10th December 2001 - "I am honored to speak to you this evening on the very important topic promoting respect for human rights and global ethics in the response to recent acts of terrorism especially to give my views on Religious Extremism and Fanaticism. From the very outset I wish to give my personal and on behalf of the Muslim Council of Britain's congratulations to your organisation Rights and Humanity for its fifteenth birthday and very valuable work it has done which has been very much recognised by international agencies.