Commit to Taking a Stand
Think about Taking a Stand?
How do you take a stand and begin to change the world? Well maybe not the entire world, but perhaps the place where you live. At the very least your might change the minds of your friends and colleagues just because you brought up your concern. Who knows, maybe hundreds, thousands, and even the lives of tens of thousands of people may be different because of your deciding to do something. We want this page to be your page--a page that is generated by the concerns of the members to the Charter for Compassion. Let us know of your concern and we'll get it up on this page for others to note. Just contact us and follow the format below by giving us a description of the issue, some background information and point us to the ways others can get involved. If you can't find everything you feel you want to include, don't hesitate from letting us hear from you. We'll jump in and help.
If you need some impetus to get started we would recommend going to the website: How to Take a Stand. Don't overlook clicking on the links provided because there are some great suggestions for helping you deepen your commitment to make a difference in the world. For example, here is a piece on "How to do the Impossible":
What does impossible really mean? Is anything truly impossible?
Humans can’t fly, but the Wright brothers proved an airplane could get us close enough. We can’t defy physics and teleport from one side of the world to another, but the internet made it possible to instantly bring the other side of the world to us.
What is impossible?
When I think about the impossible, I don’t really worry much about the undoable. I know I can’t jump off a cliff and start flying. I know I can’t close my eyes and teleport to China. What I worry about is the extremely unlikely – the problems that are solvable but so few people are willing to work on. Bringing peace to the Middle East might be a good example. Or, how about getting astronauts back to Earth without a space craft?
These are things that obviously aren’t impossible, but because either:
So many people have tried and failed, or no one is brave enough to give it a shot, and they inherit the label impossible.
Picture, for a second, your own life and your own dreams. What are those things that you’ve always wanted to do that seem completely impossible. Hold that thought for a second. Is it actually impossible or does it just feel impratical because you don’t think you can do it. Possible for someone else, perhaps, but not for you.
There’s the problem. And the solution, believe it or not, isn’t all that complicated.
It’s commitment.
The #1 thing you must have in order to do the impossible is commitment. It comes before planning and action and everything else.
It’s the hardest thing to come by, but without it, all else is wasted. Learn more. We regularly publish issues upon which you can act.
Pope Francis said it best. We've got to stop abusing the Earth's resources and make the courages choices we need to protect our planet. If we don't, we'll face the grave consequences that will put all human life at risk. With the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris coming up fast, it's time to stand with Pope Francis and send a strong mesage to our world leaders: We demand bold action against climate change.
Five practical ways you can help refugees trying to find safety in Europe
As the crisis affecting thousands of people worsens, here's what you can do
Victoria Richards, Shehab Khan, Aand dam Withnall
Monday 07 September 2015
More than 350,000 of you have signed our petition for Britain to take its fair share of Europe's refugees, and it looks like David Cameron has listened.
But there is still a huge amount of work to be done before desperate people fleeing war and persecution will really feel there is a safe place for them in the UK.
As European leaders continue to disagree over the best way to deal with the growing humanitarian crisis, here is what you can do next to help at home.
Keep making your voice heard
● The Independent's petition for Britain to accept its fair share of refugees
● Accept more asylum seekers and increase support for refugee migrants in the UK
● 80 Syrian war refugees are waiting in Calais for their rightful and legal asylum in the UK
● Create a compassionate Euro-wide policy to deal with refugee migrants
● End the Calais crisis
● We are willing to house Syrian refugees
● Refugees Welcome (split by postcode into local petitions)
● Resettle Syrian refugees in the US
A displaced Syrian child is viewed in a makeshift camp for Syrian refugees only miles from the border with Syria in the Bekaa Valley A displaced Syrian child is viewed in a makeshift camp for Syrian refugees only miles from the border with Syria in the Bekaa Valley
Volunteer, donate, collect
● International Rescue Committee: US-based charity with opportunities to volunteer around the world including mentoring refugee families and helping them find jobs
● Refugee council: looking for Therapeutic Casework Volunteers in to support their assessments, casework and referrals to asylum seekers and refugees presenting mental wellbeing needs
● Citizens UK: a scheme where people can volunteer as much of their time or resources as they want, but especially to lobby local councils on behalf of refugees
● Calais Migrant Solidarity: organising aid from the UK to those stranded in Calais. Includes details to find local groups for clothes collections and donations here and a UK-based Facebook group
● Doctors of the World: providing care to vulnerable people, advocating for rights to health
● Music Against Borders: appealing for people to donate musical instruments to Calais
● The Jungle Library: makeshift library set up at the camp at Calais. They need more books
● 'Childhood bags': fundraising to take books, toys and warm clothes to children
● Folkestone United: organising protests, taking donated goods to Calais in September
● Avaaz.org: lobbying local councils, providing language support, housing refugees
● Migrant Offshore Aid Station: dedicated to preventing loss of life at sea
● Sawa for development and aid: working with Syrian refugees in Lebanon
4 million Syrians have fled their country since the war began 4 million Syrians have fled their country since the war began
Make a donation
Make a financial donation to a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that is doing related humanitarian work overseas. These could include:
● Save the Children: distributing essential items such as nappies, hygiene kits and food
● Red Cross Europe: providing emergency health services at central train stations
● Migrant Offshore Aid Station: dedicated to preventing migrant deaths at sea
● International Rescue Committee: improving living conditions by setting up camps
● The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR): providing water, mosquito nets, tents, healthcare
● Refugee Action: advice about claiming asylum, the asylum process, asylum support
● World Vision: providing food, water, shelter, education and psychosocial care
● Médecins Sans Frontières: humanitarian agency which has three rescue ships in the Mediterranean
● Aylan Kurdi Fund: named in honour of the drowned child and set up within 24 hours of the horrific pictures circulating around the world. All proceeds are going to charity Hand In Hand For Syria
● Asylum Aid: provides free legal advice and representation to refugees and asylum-seekers seeking safety in the UK from persecution. They also campaign for the fair treatment of refugees in the UK
● The Aire Centre: provides information and advice throughout Europe on international human rights law, including the rights of individuals under the provisions of European Community Law
Germany has been more welcoming to refugees Germany has been more welcoming to refugees
Support grassroots groups
JustGiving has received more than 2,500 donations from 32 countries for Calais migrant fundraising efforts. Here are just a few of them:
● The Worldwide Tribe in Calais: Travel blog documenting the story of the people in the Calais 'jungle' is also connected to a crowdfunding site
● Glasgow Solidarity with Calais Migrants: Diane and Bob are driving to Calais with supplies
● North East Solidarity with Calais Refugees: Buying food, bedding and warm clothing
● Association Salam: 19-year-old Tom McElholm is driving to Calais with supplies
● Hummingbird Project: Driving regularly to Calais with nurses, legal aid, food kitchens
● Coach and Horses Soho: raising £5,000 to give the Calais migrants a decent meal
Source: The Independent
Nepal Relief: Seeds of Hope
Whole hills swept down over the beautiful and delicate rural villages of Nepal on Saturday. Thousands were crushed, more are missing and the country is crying out for water, food, and shelter. It’s devastating and in the middle of it all this one brave local organisation is using everything they have to put up tents in the hardest hit remote areas.
Aid experts say before the disaster they were doing some of the most impactful work in the country, and that they’re one of the best ways to get crucial aid to rural communities fast. That’s because this is their home.
We can make all the difference for this incredible group, and many others across Nepal, literally multiplying their relief budgets by 10, empowering them to build for the long term and keeping their emergency work funded in hard-to-reach places.
And by donating to local leaders ready for the hard years of rebuilding to come, seeds if hope will be planted for a sustainable and safe future in Nepal’s poorest villages.
Click here to pledge now and Avaaz (Avaaz is organization with which the Charter works with to issue new petitions) will only process donations if they raise enough to change the game for local heroes.
Corruption and organized crime steal as much as 90% of international aid in Nepal, and a divided government means that civil society is likely the best chance citizens have of survival and support.
Abari, and many organisations like them in Nepal, have been at work in the some of the worst hit regions, building water tanks and housing, and making the connections aid workers need to navigate the remote areas and bypass corruption. The best part is that they are set up to take international donations directly right now
Sources:
Nepal’s relief effort must reach the rural poor (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/nepals-relief-effort-must-reach-the-rural-poor/article24135973/
Nepal earthquake: authorities struggle to cope despite international aid efforts (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/27/nepal-earthquake-authorities-struggle-to-cope-despite-international-aid-efforts
Villages Near Nepal Earthquake’s Epicenter Are Desperate (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/28/world/asia/nepal-earthquake.html?_r=0
Nepal earthquake: Relief starts reaching remote villages (BBC)
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32507783
Abari Adobe and Bamboo Research Institute
https://www.facebook.com/abari.nepal/
Afghanistan: On the great challenges facing Afghanistan now
Afghans are not begging, are not coming with their begging bowl, give us, give us. But they need support. And this is probably what Americans [and others] can do is ... show their support, especially to the Afghan women, but also to all the population. This is a very important time in the history of Afghanistan. We could be getting to a turning point where security might be established, economy might get much more flourishing and people might eventually get a much better life. Don't leave us right now. Be there. Help us, but don't pity us. We are strong, we are a very determined people. And we're going to try and make it. [from interview with Rula Ghani, Afghanistan's First Lady by NPR Morning Edition host Renee Montagne.]
Ways to Act
Afghanistan Women Council (Pakistan): Afghanistan Women Council (AWC) is a non- governmental, non-political, non-profit, non-sectarian Charity Organization founded in Peshawar, Pakistan to support the Afghan Refugees in 1986 by the efforts of a group of Afghan women led by Ms. Fatana Ishaq Gailani. It's aim is to assist Afghan women and children. The predominant objective of the organization is to empower women by building their capacity, improving their health, education and living conditions and by strengthening their socio-economic status in society by their multi-lateral involvement in developmental activities. AWC has worked in Afghanistan since 1992.
Afghan Women's Organization (Canada): Afghan Women's Organization's Mandate is to provide settlement services to all newcomers, with a special focus on women, their families, refugees and people who have experienced war and persecution. Its Mission is to improve newcomers' quality of life and to promote their social and economic inclusion in order to enable them to become contributing members of society and to live in dignity.
Organization of Promoting Afghan Women's Capabilities (OPAWC) (Afghanistan): OPAWC was established in 2003 by a group of women eager to do something proactive, concrete and achievable to empower Afghan women. They volunteered their time and expertise to affect lives as soon as possible while building a framework for long term, sustainable opportunities for women to escape the vicious cycle of dependence and victimization in a male dominated and fundamentalist social structure. On three fronts they knew they had to simultaneously act: literacy, practical wage earning skills and health. They realized that if a significant number of women could have access to these basic human rights they could have a foothold on the journey to achieve their constitutional right of equality and even address areas of redress yet to be written into law.
Women for Afghan Women (USA): Women for Afghan Women is a grassroots, human rights organization. They are dedicated to securing and protecting the rights of disenfranchised Afghan women and girls in Afghanistan and New York, particularly their rights to develop their individual potential, to self-determination, and to be represented in all areas of life: political, social, cultural and economic.
Raif Badawi, the Saudi Arabian blogger whose punishment of 1,000 lashes has prompted international condemnation, may now face the death penalty.
Mr Badawi’s wife, Ensaf Haidar, told The Independent in a series of messages that judges in Saudi Arabia’s criminal court want him to undergo a re-trial for apostasy. If found guilty, he would face a death sentence.
She said the “dangerous information” had come from “official sources” inside the conservative kingdom, where Mr Badawi has already been sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes – administered at a rate of 50 per week – for criticising the country’s clerics through his liberal blog. In 2013, a judge threw out the charge of apostasy against the 31-year-old blogger after he assured the court that he was a Muslim. The evidence against him had included the fact that he pressed the “Like” button on a Facebook page for Arab Christians.
The news that the charge may now be re-examined will come as a bitter blow to Mr Badawi’s family and supporters, who had hoped that the international pressure over his case would prompt Saudi Arabia to reduce his sentence.
Way to Act
Sign the Petition: As citizens around the world who are deeply concerned about imprisoned blogger Raif Badawi, we urge you to do everything you can to secure his swift and unconditional release and permission to exit the country. As a major arms exporter to Saudi Arabia, we call on you to cancel exports if countries do not uphold internationally recognised human rights. Your leadership now could both free Raif and champion an era of principled trade relations.
China: Persecution of Falun Gong
Charter member Fran Pauze after having witnessed a protest regarding the extracton and sale of body parts apparently from followers of Falun Gong.
The Falun Gong Human Rights Working Group at the United Nations records that nearly 4000 members of the organization have been killed by the Chinese government. The UN's Falun Gong website appears to be dated but provides a good overview of Falun Gong, its history, practices and the Chinese government's response to their practice. The website also provides a "How Can You Help" section.
Background Information on Falun Gong
Why China Fears the Falun Gong: (Los Angeles Daily News)
[Canada's Prime Minister] Harper's Trip to China Could be Good News for Falun Gong Practitioners: (Huffington Post)
Ways to Act
Amnesty International: Keep in touch with Amnesty International on their defense of Falun Gong members who are being persecuted, such as the case of Falun Gong practitioners Wang Xiaodong and his sister Wang Junling.
