Theos-Talk Archives (August 2010 Message tt00053)

Dear John, Erica and All

Thank you for your responses and actions.

Thanks to the internet and its popularity these issues are now being aired throughout the broader community.
Similarly, migration and asylum seeking are bringing certain cultural differences to the attention of powerful western forces through community outrage and protest. 
Already there are broad based, community discussions on highly sensitive cultural and religious practices. From female circumcision to the wearing of the burka in all its forms, and from certain kinds of torture to stonings, all these matters are now being discussed internationally with many human rights groups increasing the task of community education and action.
Community action equates to votes and it will eventually take a foolhardy western politician to ignore the voices of their local constituents.
The west can then bring greater pressure to bear on recalcitrant regimes.

Of course politics and economics are powerful forces and yes, these are very early steps, but with the use of the internet and its opportunities to act I can see the early signs of a broad based, international shift in consciousness, such as we have never seen before. 

Kind regards
Nigel





--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, Augoeides-222@... wrote:
>
> Nigel, 
> There are even video's of stoning online on Google and Yahoo video's. There have been numerous articles in the last few years about retrograde 6th century abominable punishments according the the conventions of Sharia Law of Islamic faith . One was a young teenager who had relation with a boy and they stoned her to death for the family "honor". There are Islamic fundamentalist Personal Channels on Justin.tv ("Raah") and a few others that show poor victum's having their fingers cut off while being tightly held by several men, Men being led to a grassy area for decapitition and the head proudly displayed sitting on the chest of the dead body. I posted a few of the 'Family honor" murder articles on this forum a while back. I find these idea's, concepts, rationalizations and practices abhorrent, abominable and psychotic abberation in this modern world of today. The Taliban are perfect example of terrorist suppressive degenerate religionism and the Wahabi of Saudi Arabia was a mentor to them. In England they are requesting the right to install Sharia Law parelell and eqeal to the British Justice Institute itself. people never studied the History of conquest by "perfusion" and "suffusion" and population displacement that is evidenced in History as a social passive technique long established and practiced. A best present time is China and Tibet where China is actively practising this historic method with a vengeance. One morning in a future we may wake up to a dreadful reality that slowly insidiously pervaded our social space and beingness, beware my friends of greeks bearing gifts. 
> 
> John 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Erica L. Georgiades" <eletzerich@...> 
> To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Thursday, August 5, 2010 7:50:53 AM 
> Subject: Re: theos-talk Action needed 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Dear Nigel, 
> 
> Death by stoning because of adultery also exists in Afghanistan and Somalia. 
> From time to time I am signing petitions against such barbarism, this is not the 
> first. I remember some years ago a similar case in Somalia, her name was Aisho 
> ...dont remember the surname. And now Sakineh... the poor women has a son and 
> a daughter and is only 42 years old. Also I just read that in Iran there is 
> also another 10 women waiting death-roll sentence, for the same reason. 
> 
> Erica 
> 
> ________________________________ 
> From: nhcareyta < nhcareyta@... > 
> To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com 
> Sent: Thu, August 5, 2010 5:21:19 PM 
> Subject: Re: theos-talk Action needed 
> 
> Dear Erica 
> 
> In spite of the considerable political considerations you mention, all of which 
> are accurate, there have been some quite remarkable social and political changes 
> over recent times. Avaaz is one organisation making real headway in some similar 
> situations, so all may not be lost. 
> 
> In any event, if we do nothing then certainly nothing will happen! So thank you 
> for contacting some of your fellow members. If everyone on t/talk does the same 
> a snowball reaction may occur. 
> 
> Kind regards 
> Nigel 
> 
> --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com , "Erica" <eletzerich@> wrote: 
> > 
> > Dear Nigel, 
> > 
> > This is most barbarian thing, which is unacceptable. I think the matter is in 
> >fact an international matter and not only of influence of one country or 
> >another. 
> > 
> > The United Nations could also interfere if they want. Such kind of law should 
> >be completely abolished. Today is Sakineh imprisoned and condemned to death, 
> >tomorrow will be another Sakineh and the thing will go on and on. 
> > 
> > If there is not a strong international interference, I consider almost 
> >impossible a diplomatic solution for this problem to be found. If Iran opens one 
> >exception, eventually they would need to change their law. And when one has to 
> >do with Islamic laws, is as if someone puts the hand in a "bag full of cats". 
> > 
> > So such a hope regarding Brazil and Turkey to find a diplomatic solution, are 
> >vain in my opinion. In my opinion all the international community should raise 
> >their voice and interfere, also stating that such a law should be abolished. 
> >But unfortunately this wont happen, because there is no oil or money involved. 
> > 
> > See the case of Aung San Suu kyi, years imprisoned by the military regime or 
> >Burma. Nothing was done to help the people of Burma or to release her, except 
> >endless diplomatic talks which resulted probably in the fact that she is still 
> >alive. 
> > 
> > Anyway I will send some e-mails to some members of the Brazilian Section I 
> >know. 
> > 
> > Erica 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com , "nhcareyta" <nhcareyta@> wrote: 
> > > 
> > > Dear Erica 
> > > 
> > > Yes, that is correct. That is why I asked whether there are some wealthy 
> >Adyar Society Brazilian members able to bring extra influence on their 
> >President, perhaps to make another, more strident attempt. 
> > > 
> > > That would surely be Theosophy in action. 
> > > 
> > > Regards 
> > > Nigel 
> > > 
> > > --- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com , "Erica L. Georgiades" <eletzerich@> 
> wrote: 
> > > > 
> > > > Yesterday I read on Washington Post that, Lula the Brazilian President, 
> >already 
> > 
> > > > requested to the President of Iran to release her and give her asylum in 
> >Brazil. 
> > 
> > > > The request of the President of Brazil was denied. 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Erica 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > ________________________________ 
> > > > From: nhcareyta <nhcareyta@> 
> > > > To: theos-talk@yahoogroups.com 
> > > > Sent: Thu, August 5, 2010 3:32:23 PM 
> > > > Subject: theos-talk Action needed 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Dear All 
> > > > 
> > > > Perhaps some wealthy Adyar Society Brazilian members can bring additional 
> > > > pressure to bear on their President to address this outrageous issue? 
> > > > 
> > > > "Dear Friends, 
> > > > 
> > > > Global pressure on Iran has saved Sakineh from death by stoning, but within 
> >days 
> > 
> > > > she could still be hanged. More pressure from leaders in Brazil and Turkey, 
> > 
> > > > Iran's allies, are Sakineh's last hope. Donate below to fund an emergency 
> >ad 
> > 
> > > > campaign in Brazil and Turkey in the next 72 hours: 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Sakineh Ashtiani could be executed for adultery in Iran in the next few 
> >days, 
> > 
> > > > but two men could still save her -- the leaders of Brazil and Turkey. 
> > > > 
> > > > President Lula and Prime Minister Erdo&#287;an are powerful allies and 
> >mediators 
> > 
> > > > with Iran who enjoy great respect there, and both countries have condemned 
> >the 
> > 
> > > > case. Now, we need to push them to deploy all their diplomatic forces and 
> > > > persuade Iran to free Sakineh and stop stoning forever. 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > Avaaz is launching an emergency ad campaign in influential newspapers in 
> >Turkey 
> > 
> > > > and Brazil urging them to press Iran for clemency and justice. The ads will 
> > 
> > > > deliver our half-million strong petition, reach political circles and 
> >directly 
> > 
> > > > appeal to Lula's and Erdo&#287;an's leadership and moral authority. If 
> >5,000 of 
> > 
> > > > us donate even a small amount in the next 72 hours, we'll make a powerful 
> > > > statement before it's too late. This may be Sakineh's last hope -- click 
> >here to 
> > 
> > > > chip in: 
> > > > 
> > > > https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_sakinehs_life/?vl 
> > > > 
> > > > Sakineh's sentence is a farcical travesty of justice. She was sentenced to 
> >death 
> > 
> > > > by stoning for allegedly having relations with other men -- years after her 
> > 
> > > > husband had passed away, despite stoning having been outlawed in Iran, and 
> 
> > > > despite her not being able to speak the language of her trial. Her two 
> >children 
> > 
> > > > launched a campaign to save her life, and generated a worldwide uproar, 
> > > > including over 554,000 Avaaz members. Feeling the pressure, the Iranian 
> > > > government revoked the stoning, but the execution sentence stands. 
> > > > 
> > > > Tension has been rising in Iran since the Sakineh case gained attention -- 
> >the 
> > 
> > > > regime has threatened to arrest her children for speaking out and has 
> >issued an 
> > 
> > > > arrest warrant against Sakineh's lawyer. He has now gone into hiding and 
> >his 
> > 
> > > > family-members have been rounded-up. 
> > > > 
> > > > But Lula and Erdo&#287;an have great respect in Iran and can influence the 
> 
> > > > regime. And they listen to us. Lula had said that he would not get involved 
> >in 
> > 
> > > > this case. But after an aide brought his attention to the massive online 
> > > > campaign, he changed his mind, offering Sakineh asylum and prompting 
> >Iranian 
> > 
> > > > authorities to announce that the case would be quickly resolved. We know 
> >Lula 
> > 
> > > > listens to Avaaz campaigns -- in the last year, despite powerful 
> >opposition, 
> > 
> > > > members in Brazil have helped persuade Lula to sign off on a law to protect 
> >the 
> > 
> > > > Amazon and a bold anti-corruption law. 
> > > > 
> > > > During the last two weeks, over 554,000 of us have signed the petition to 
> >Save 
> > 
> > > > Sakineh and end stoning in Iran. We only have days left to persuade Lula 
> >and 
> > 
> > > > Erdo&#287;an to act -- and it may be our last chance to save Sakineh. Let's 
> >each 
> > 
> > > > pitch in a small amount and make sure they hear our call to leadership: 
> > > > 
> > > > https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_sakinehs_life/?vl 
> > > > 
> > > > Sakineh's case has outraged the entire world by the sheer scale of its 
> >brutal, 
> > 
> > > > nonsensical injustice. But in our fight for one woman we make a powerful 
> > > > statement about women, and people, everywhere. In standing up for one 
> >person, we 
> > 
> > > > stand up for everyone's right to justice. 
> > > > 
> > > > Sakineh's children's have sent out a last plea: "Do not allow our nightmare 
> > 
> > > > become a reality, Today, when nearly all options have reached dead-ends, we 
> > 
> > > > resort to you. Please help our mother return home!" Click here to answer 
> >their 
> > 
> > > > call, and get Erdo&#287;an and Lula to do the same: 
> > > > 
> > > > https://secure.avaaz.org/en/save_sakinehs_life/?vl 
> > > > 
> > > > With hope and determination, 
> > > > 
> > > > Alice, Pascal, Alice W, Ricken, David, and the Avaaz Team 
> > > > 
> > > > SOURCES: 
> > > > 
> > > > The Guardian, "Iran stoning woman offered asylum by Brazil's President 
> >Lula": 
> > 
> > > > http://www.avaaz.org/guardian_sakineh_article " 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 
> > > > 
> > > 
> > 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 
> 
> 
> 
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