2022 Theme: End racism. Build peace. The UN General
Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals
of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. But
achieving true peace entails much more than laying down arms. It
requires the building of societies where all members feel that they can
flourish. It involves creating a world in which people are treated
equally, regardless of their race.
Amgalan, a Buriat Doctor, Speaks about Buddhism by Valerie Sartor
Buddhism is a great social and cultural tradition. Buddhism
has the power to impart to the ordinary people its own characteristic
values and attitudes and has a profound influence on the values of the
home as well as the nation. Ling also asserts that Buddhism has promoted
an unusually high rate of literacy in Asia. The philosophy of Buddhism
encourages social opportunity without economic competition.
When I interviewed Amgalan, a doctor trained in Mongolian and Tibetan
traditional medicine, he told me that Buddhist practices reflect a
“respect for the environment. They also contain a realistic attitude
toward the value of material things. This attitude criticizes plundering
and extravagant waste. Also, Buddhist cultures are peaceful; they do
not encourage ideas of dominance.”
Buddhism is essentially a non-theistic religion, but several types of
Buddhism, over the centuries, have evolved and created deities;
Bodhisattvas, and gods, including Tibetan and Mongolian Buddhism. For
Buddhists, more reliance on heavenly powers means less reliance on
earthly factors, less reliance on man’s supreme need for sustained moral
effort and mental discipline.
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Love of my life #poem by Dr. Lawrence Nannery
“If the fights were only playfights
Then what was the lovemaking?
Our hearts just below our breastbones,
We were yes particular friends, puffing our plumage,
And here is our true story, with the texture of cotton candy.”
Continue reading HERE!
A Day of Deeper Peace by Rene Wadlow
21 September is the U.N. sponsored International Day of Peace
chosen to mark the annual start of the U.N. General Assembly. The
General Assembly touches upon all the armed conflicts and tension areas.
It can highlight the peace missions of the U.N. peacekeeper troops at
work in different parts of the world. Often, there are informal talks
behind the scenes among the representatives of States in conflict.
However, there is little or no avenue for talks with non-State armed
groups such as ISIS. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have no
direct standing with the General Assembly. Consultative status is
granted by the Economic and Social Council. However, NGO
representatives are active in the hallways and coffee bars during the
General Assembly, and government representatives become aware of their
suggestions.
However, a deeper approach to peace building is necessary, and the
Day of Peace is a moment when these deeper approaches can be expressed.
Thus, the Association of World Citizens has stressed the peacebuilding
approach of Louise Diamond.
Continue reading HERE!
A fistful of cactus #036 #cartoon by Thanos Kalamidas
For more A fistful of cactus HERE!
For more Ovi Cartoons, HERE!
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