Cyd Ho Sau-lan – Hong Kong, China

Linked with Cyd Ho Sau-lan’s letter to Hong-Kong, and with the Centre for Comparative and Public Law.

Cyd Ho Sau Lan, born 1954, was a full-time legislative councillor of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council LegCo, elected from the geographical constituency of New Territories East from 1998 to 2000 and Hong Kong Island from 2000 to 2004. She is a founding member of The Frontier, a local pro-democracy political group. She is well-known for promoting universal suffrage, rule of law, human rights, and equal opportunity, as well as advancement in the interests of women, homosexuals and other minority groups. (full text).

She says: « It’s a long way to democracy. More hurdles of interpretation might be ahead of us. The trio from the NPC surprised us with meeting the democrats, gentle words and crack of joke. However, political gestures, no matter how sophisticated to sweeten, cannot heal the wound after damage is done. The skillful lobbying is meaningful only before the interpretation when amendment to or withdrawal of the resolution is possible with interactive dialogue. The hard fact left behind the trio is, the interpretation lifted the threshold to democratization. The positive change comes only in form but unfortunately not in substance ». (full text).

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Cyd Ho Sau-lan – Hong Kong, China

She works as chairperson for the Human Rights Monitor in Hong Kong and she is the co-convener of the Project Civil Referendum.

Listen to her speach on YouTube.
Listen to her audio or/and video on South China Morning Post.

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Nina Simone / Eunice Kathleen Waymon – USA (1933 – 2003)

The Diva, born February 21, 1933 in Tryon (North Carolina/USA) – † April 21, 2003 in Carry-le-Rouet, France).who was as well an Honorary Doctor in Music and Humanities, has an unrivalled legendary status as one of the very last ‘griots ». She is and will forever be the ultimate songstress and storyteller of our times.

Listen to many of her songs on YouTube of 1962, as for example:

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Nina Simone / Eunice Kathleen Waymon (02-21.33 – 04-21-03)

Read on BBC: Jazz legend Simone dies.

Bio, by Roger Nupie, President « International Dr. Nina Simone Fan Club« : Excerpts: … Eunice Waymon was born in Tryon, North Carolina as the sixth of seven children in a poor family. The child prodigy played piano at the age of four. With the help of her music teacher, who set up the « Eunice Waymon Fund », she could continue her general and musical education. She studied at the Julliard School of Music in New York. To support her family financially, she started working as an accompanist. In the summer of 1954 she took a job in an Irish bar in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The bar owner told her she had to sing as well. Without having time to realize what was happening, Eunice Waymon, who was trained to become a classical pianist, stepped into show business. She changed her name into Nina (« little one ») Simone (« from the French actress Simone Signoret ») …

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Marilyn Waring – New Zealand

Linked with DEV NET – AOTEAROA New Zealand.

She is one of the 1000 women proposed for the Nobel Peace Price 2005.

Upcoming LecturesMarilyn Waring: ‘Money, Gender and Equity’, Wednesday, April 25, 2007, 07:30 PM – Marilyn Waring will change your perceptions of justice, economics and the worth of your own work forever. David Suzuki has said that she penetrates to the heart of the global, ecological and social crisis that afflicts the world … Lecture is held at 7:30pm in the First Congregational Church, 1126 SW Park Ave., Portland. Doors open at 6:30pm. (full text).

Marilyn challenges the assumption that international business systems are adequately meeting the needs of both local and global communities. Using plain language laced with ironic humour, she makes it clear that classic economics work to benefit one particular group, while the rest of us – the vast majority – pay the price … Marilyn was one of 40 « visionaries » chosen by the BBC World Service from throughout the English-speaking world for their series of hour-long millennium interviews, and one of the 1000 Women nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. She has worked as a multi lateral development consultant in Asia, Africa and the South Pacific, and conducted the Ministerial Review of NZAID in 2005. (full text).

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Marilyn Waring – New Zealand

She works for the Massey University.

She says: « One of the joys of getting older is being able to see the victories: nuclear-free New Zealand, the collapse of the Berlin wall, Mandela, hopefully soon a Palestinian nation state ».

She says also: « What keeps me going and gives me strength? The amazing stories every day of people defying the odds. I can get a buzz out of thousands of people in the Ukraine protesting on the streets in the middle of winter, people picketing Mac Donalds, when Wangaari wins the Nobel Prize or when one US Congress woman refuses to go to war against Iraq. At the same time I can go to staggering pieces of theatre like David Hare’s Via Dolorosa; I have never forgotten Judy Chicago’s Dinner Party. You just feed off all of that, just the extraordinary creative network of defiance ».

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Zakari Tata Askira – Nigeria

Linked with European banks and Africa’s wealth, with Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons FRCS, and with LIMITING DOCTORS AND LAWYERS – WRONG ANSWER.

He is a doctor, MD, but also thinks and writes about poverty, behavior of banks, education and development for Africa.

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Sorry, I can not find any photo of Zakari Tata Askira, Nigeria in the internet, but some good texts.

He writes: ”The gap between the poor and rich countries of the world today is extreme. Living standards in Africa can greatly be increased if European Banks stop facilitating African corruption. Africans should realize that they have only themselves to blame for underdevelopment. We cannot look to Europe to develop us, and the moral obligation for African development is ours. We must individually face up to our responsibilities. An underdeveloped Africa means persistent poverty and dependency with attendant lack of social, economic and physical security. The battles for independence have become ancient battle cries with no substance as we still live in dependency. Our wealth is sitting in European banks for free while our continent languishes » … (Found this article on 3 other websites: First on News from Africa, 15 September 2006, by Zakari Tata Askira -Source: Global Afrikan Congress /Homepage-, and slightly different on Nigeria World, July 2006, also by Zakari Tata Askira, on AfricaFiles, but also an excerpt on our Economy and Society-Blog).

Read: MINERAL WEALTH, VENEZUELA and THE HONDA CIVIC, LESSONS FOR NIGERIA, March 7, 2003 – one;

Read: MINERAL WEALTH, VENEZUELA AND THE HONDA CIVIC, LESSONS FOR NIGERIA, March 7, 2003 – two;

Read: MINERAL WEALTH, VENEZUELA, AND THE HONDA CIVIC, LESSONS FOR NIGERIA, October 15, 2003 – three;

Read: AREWA’S LOSS, by Zakari T Askira – January 10, 2007.

He writes: … Northern Nigeria has always lagged behind in western style education that is relevant in today’s world. The only way that the North can develop is for Northerners to look beyond selfish interests and join its great minds together for purposes of growth. The other regions of Nigeria that were more advanced educationally at time of independence today have developed their banking and finance structures. The North would do well to learn from them as to how they developed these structures even when they did not wield presidential power. The North has enough wealth and manpower to develop into a World class economy. We are blessed with a simple common language and a culture that does not split us into small clan groups. We are more unified as a people than most but for reasons best known to us we have been unable to use this great asset for growth. What we need today is for Northerners to start a non political dialogue with a view to developing the North. There should be a group that can give advice on rationalizing the resources that we have. We have to stop duplicating structures in the various Northern states that only serve to dilute our limited Human Capital. Advice should be obtained from professionals in other parts of the country where significant strides have been achieved. A poorly developed Northern Nigeria is not good for Nigeria. As we strive to recapture Sardauna’s essence, there has to be a meeting of minds that is selfless. The creation of states has only further served to stagnate Northern development for there is really no difference in the aspirations of a man from Sokoto versus one from Bauchi. We should take an honest assessment of the situation. There should be no place for blame or name calling. The goal should be progress. Every single Northerner with ability should take responsibility for our current state of affairs. We cannot blame the leaders for they are a reflection of us. The time is ripe to forget and rebuild.There should be no competition with other parts of the country. Rather, the goal should be mutual coexistence and sharing of developmental resources. If National development is the goal, we cannot fail. (full text).

mail.

TERRAVIVA.

Paul Beersmans – Belgium

Linked with Association for Solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir BASJAK, with JAMMU AND KASHMIR, A SMOULDERING CONFLICT, and with again Kashmir. Added later: linked also with Conclusions, with BASJAK’s report on Jammu and Kashmir, and with Meetings.

He says: (Excerpt):  » … Our Association urges the Governments of India and Pakistan to respect conscientiously the mutual commitments and to continue bilateral and meaningful negotiations over Jammu and Kashmir. India and Pakistan will not achieve real security until they find a way to resolve their tensions. We appeal to all parties concerned, including the Kashmir leadership, to respond to the desire of the common man for peace and a chance to earn his livelihood to restart his life. Responsibility must take the place for jingoism. The most compelling need of the hour is the protection of life in the homes and on the streets of Kashmir. The Kashmiris have the right to enjoy all their Human Rights, including economic, social and cultural rights …  » (full text: statement at Commission on Human Rights, 57th SESSION, GENEVA, 25 JULY – 12 AUGUST 2005).

Remark also the New Updated Photo Gallery, scroll down and click on one of the many links.

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Paul Beersmans – Belgium

He works with the Belgian Association for Solidarity with Jammu and Kashmir BASJAK.

Bio:

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Irina Mutsuovna Khakamada (Hakamada) – Russian Federation

She is one of the 1000 women proposed for the Nobel Peace Price 2005.

She says: « My idea is to transform Russia into a new country of freedom and social justice, in which human life is the primary concern and the supreme value ».

Irina Mutsuovna Hakamada (Ири́на Муцу́овна Хакама́да) (born April 13, 1955) is a Russian politician who ran in the Russian presidential election, 2004. Irina Hakamada was an elected representative in Russian Duma from 1993 to 2003. She is commonly regarded as a democratic politician who is in a moderate opposition to the Russian government. (full text).

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Irina Mutsuovna Khakamada (Hakamada) – Russian Federation

She works for Nash Vybor (in russian), a new political movement (english text).

She says also: « The tragedy of the Chechen people, and of the Russian people as a whole, results from the fact that after the military operation in Chechnya [during the second campaign], a profoundly erroneous path of peace settlement was chosen. The following mistakes were made:

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Abbot-Pra Acharn Phusit (Chan) Khantitharo – Thailand

(Thai Version)

Linked with Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery (Tiger Temple).

Deep in the heart of the Kanchanaburi province in Western Thailand there lies a Buddhist temple with a difference. For not only is this temple home to monks who spend their time in prayer and meditation, over the last 7 years it has become a sanctuary for tigers. When villagers found an orphaned tiger cub, they went from place to place seeking help. Upon arrival at the monastery, the cub was welcomed out of compassion and saved from certain death. Since then many more orphaned tigers have found refuge under the abbots loving care. (text)

He says: « Why can’t we live together … afterall we all have the same blood … and it’s red », on the documentary filmed at Tiger Temple, in Dec.2003.

Read his poem ‘Compassion nurtures the world‘.

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Abbot-Pra Acharn Phusit (Chan) Khantitharo – Thailand

He says also: “Buddhism belongs to the Lord Buddha. The Principal Buddha Image: we see is Phra Buddha Kanchanaphisek (Golden Jubilee Buddha Image). This is the Buddha Image built by His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, our gracious king. The merits made by you all or any contributions to this monastery belong to those who make it. No one can take that away from you even when you die. The heart still enjoys the fruits of the action incessantly until attaining nirvana. So, as we were born, don’t waste the time. Make merit for yourself and others, as well as the beings. Don’t let defilement lead the heart to trouble”.

Key Areas of the Monastery.

Thai-Newspaper.

Beside teachings, Monks do not speak about themselves, but much about their work. So it is normal that the presentation of Abbot Pra Acharn Phusit tells mainly about his beloved tigers.

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Richard Douthwaite – Ireland

Linked with Three Key Steps to Sustainability, and with Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability.

He says: ”Sustainability needs to be achieved in two time-frames. One is short-term and largely economic. We need to eat tonight. Employees have to be paid at the end of the week. Interest has to be paid at the end of the half-year. The second time-frame seems less urgent but is no less important. The natural environment has to be preserved. Capital equipment, buildings and infrastructure have to be kept up. Health has to be maintained. Knowledge and skills have to be preserved and passed on. And social structures such as families, friendships and neighbourhoods have to stay strong ». (full text).

Read: Short Circuit.

Download and read in pdf: the economy of money, by Richard Douthwaite.

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Richard Douthwaite – Ireland

Link to some of his articles about sustainable energy.

Richard Douthwaite is an economist and writer with special interest in energy issues and local economic development. He was born in Sheffield in England. He worked as a Journalist, before studying economics at the University of Essex and the University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. He was a former economic advisor to the governments of Jamaca and Montserrat before moving to Westport in Co. Mayo in the early 1970’s. He has made a special study of rural sustainability and his book Short Circuit (1996) gives examples of currency, banking, energy and food production systems which communities can use to make themselves less dependent on the world economy. He was a founder of Feasta, the Foundation for the Economics of Sustainability, a registered charity which aims to establish the characteristics that an economic system would have to possess to be truly sustainable.

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Josie Tankunani Sirivi – Papua New Guinea

Linked with The Bougainville Women for Peace and Freedom BWPF.

She is one of the 1000 women proposed for the Nobel Peace Price 2005.

She says: « Having lived and witnessed the suffering, I decided to do whatever I could to help our own unfortunate mothers and children ».

Read: Thinkin Peace, Making Peace, a 96 page pdf.

Read: Women taking action locally and globally, a 218 pages pdf.

Read: Can Rationality Embrace the Uncanny? New Ways to Manage Conflict in the South Pacific.

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Josie Tankunani Sirivi – Papua New Guinea

She works for Bougainville Women for Peace and Freedom BWPF.

WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY RESOURCES, BOUGAINVILLE.

Read: Bougainville’s inspiring tribute to survival by women of peace.

Hunted by the Papua New Guinea Defense Force as bait to capture her husband, Josie Sirivi took to the jungle during the Bougainville crisis. She saw women and children suffering and organized local women to earn income and assist other families in need. She lobbied and obtained relief supplies from NGO agencies to distribute through women’s groups. She founded and was the first president of Bougainville Women for Peace and Freedom and led a women’s team to conduct a peace awareness campaign, and to explain the peace process, especially to outlying community groups. . She was a key negotiator representing women in the peace process that started in October 1997.

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Dulcy de Silva – Sri Lanka

Linked with Mothers and Daughters of Sri Lanka.

She is one of the 1000 women proposed for the Nobel Peace Price 2005.

She says: “The most important thing actually is to give time for every one to participate in the discussion. Everybody’s voice must be heard and we have to respect all the ideas. We may be a great expert on some issues but giving others a chance will be greater”.

They say about her: « Even at 71, an indefatigable Dulcy traverses the country talking to people on both sides of the ethnic concertina, often risking life and limb ».

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Dulcy de Silva – Sri Lanka

She works for Mothers and Daughters of Sri Lanka (see on WomenWarPeace.org).

She is the co-ordinator of National Anti-War Front Women’s Sectio, Cofounder of the Mothers and Daughters of Sri Lanka, Dulcy de Silva (born 1933) is convinced that because women are the most severely affected by conflict, they are also the key to peace efforts. She has founded a dynamic peace movement that has gained in influence and recognition. At 71, an indefatigable Dulcy continues to travel throughout the country, braving personal danger. She is known in all of Sri Lanka, respected by Tamils and Sinhalese alike as an honest negotiator, and talks to people on both sides of the ethnic divide. She has been politically active since her school and university days.

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