Salem-News.com World-peace articles Page 9

The Pete Seeger I Knew: Against Injustice, Dedicated to Dialogue

The iconic folk singer and social activist supported a just peace and a dialogue with others with whom we disagree, whether Israeli Jews or Palestinians.

(TEL AVIV Ha'aretz) - As a child of the 1960s in America, I grew up (as did my parents) on the music of Pete Seeger. “If I Had a Hammer,” popularized by Peter, Paul and Mary, became one of the iconic songs of that decade.

“Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” is a powerful, haunting lament to the young people sacrificed in wars. He even popularized “We Shall Overcome.” Often called “America’s conscience,” Pete Seeger embodied a plain, common-sense opposition to injustice of every sort.

New BIG THINK for the Middle East Announced

They will consist of influential international peoples who care about our collective global future. Finally, this is brand new peoples thing so any ideas you may have to further the ideals, bring it. It’s all about we-the-people... and that means everyone!

(WASHINGTON, DC) - I know you care deeply about what’s going on in the Middle East, thus I cordially invite you to check out our new BIG IDEA think tank called the MIDDLE EAST UNION CONGRESS.

Yes some are actually laughing at the idea saying it will NEVER work. So yeah, you know we’re on TO SOMETHING BIG!

Human Rights Ambassador Congratulates Parties in Philippines on Negotiation of Peace Agreement

"I congratulate President Aquino and the courage and sincerity of the Leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front" - William Nicholas Gomes

(WASHINGTON, DC) - A comprehensive peace agreement between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front has been reached.

Human Rights Ambassador, William Nicholas Gomes, said, "This is a significant step towards lasting peace and development for Mindanao. This peace process ending the long-running conflict will not just benefit the region, but is vital for the security and economic development of the Philippines as a whole."

`Storm Over Morocco,` by Dr. Frank Romano, Author Event Jerusalem, Jan. 27

It happens Monday, Jan. 27, 9 pm, Tmol Shilshom Bookstore Café, 5 Yoel Salomon St., Jerusalem.

(JERUSALEM) - Storm Over Morocco is a true story about the author; who was wrongly accused of being a Zionist spy in 1978 and tried for sabotage, a capital crime, by an extremist Islamic group in Morocco.

While traveling across Africa searching for a universal religion, he was invited to study Islam in a mosque in Casablanca, Morocco; it turned out to be controlled by a militant Moslem group which promptly imprisoned him.

Saga of a Dropout Doper

He inhaled lightly, tendrils of air curling into a vast space behind his closed eyes. As the sound continued, his mind became a darkness full of light, an emptiness that seemed to contain everything. Happiness welled up within him and he laughed.

(OLDENBURG, Germany) - At the age of 15 I decided I was going to be a writer. I loved books, and writing them seemed to be the greatest thing in the world to do. Now after eight books it still does.

But at first I had a terrible time writing. My thoughts were all jumbled up. I couldn't concentrate. I did poorly in school because I couldn't hold my mind on the assignments. I was too caught up in my psychological stress and subconscious conflicts to be able to really write or study.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

Week after bloody week, the chart of killings lengthens. And in Afghanistan, while war rages, a million children are estimated to suffer from acute malnourishment as the country faces a worsening hunger crisis.

(KABUL) - This month, from Atlanta, GA, the King Center announced its "Choose Nonviolence" campaign.

It is a call on people to incorporate the symbolism of bell-ringing into their Martin Luther King Holiday observance, as a means of showing their commitment to Dr. King's value of nonviolence in resolving terrible issues of inequality, discrimination and poverty here at home. The call was heard in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Conscientious Objector Omar Saad Sentenced to Prison for the Third Time for His Refusal to Join the Israeli Army

Omar is a young guy belonging to the Palestinian Arab Druze community.

(TEL AVIV New Profile) - Omar Saad, 18 years old from Mghar, a village in the Galil, arrived, Monday 13.1.2014, to the Induction Base in Tal Hashomer where he declared his refusal to serve in the Israeli Army. Omar was sentenced to 20 days of imprisonment for his refusal, in the military prison No. 6 near Atlit.

Omar is a young guy belonging to the Palestinian Arab Druze community. This community, in contrast to Arab society in large, was the target of a decision by Prime Minister Ben Gurion in 1956 that forced them to serve in the Israeli army.

Brilliant Thoughts by Great Thinkers

My choice of quotable thinkers hasn't been to those best known but to writers and speakers that many miss. Their ideas are all worth thinking about.

(MANAMA, Bahrain) - A favourite pastime of mine involves reading brilliant thoughts of wise men and women. I see their words, think about them, and save their messages when I believe they're worth keeping, rereading and sharing.

Sometimes these thoughts provide healthy advice for personal development, like this observation by Mohandas Gandhi: "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."

650 Inmates Released from Bagram Prison

While nearly one year ago the Afghan government took over Bagram prison and there were 3,000 inmates, including 50 foreign inmates.

(KABUL Tolo News) - The Investigating Fates of Prisoners Committee (IFPC) on Tuesday revealed that 650 inmates previously housed in Bagram Prison have been released. The IFPC said that in total over 760 inmates at Bagram are being vetted for possible early release.

The committee said that most of the inmates were accused of involvement with the Taliban and the Hezb-e-Islami group led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, both anti-government groups, but there was insufficient evidence to hold them on those charges.

NATO Forces Casualties in Afghanistan Lowest in Six years

At least 1,788 US troops have been killed and some 19,541 in various incidents since the start of the U.S. invasion in 2001 through Dec. 30 in Afghanistan, according the US Defense Department.

(KABUL) - The US-led coalition security forces suffered the lowest number of casualties in Afghanistan in 2013, as compared to the past six years, the Associated Press reported.

However, Afghan national security forces casualties have significantly during the year, as Afghan forces took security responsibilities and combat lead across the country.