January 2010

United States Casualities in Afghanistan the Week of January 17, 2010

In Memoriam

 

January 17, 2010     Sgt. 1st Class Michael P. Shannon (Army Headquarters, 7th Army and U.S. Army Europe,

                                   Heidelberg, Germany

                                   Home Town: Canadensis, PA; 52 years old

 

January 19, 2010     Captain Paul Pena (Army, 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment)

When is the Right Time to Talk with the Taliban?

Picture appears on the Afghan Appeal Fund: Hope, hearts and minds in Afghanistan

Tomorrow's Toussaints

Last evening on the telethon for Haiti actor Morgan Freeman read an excerpt from New Orleans poet Kalamu ya Salaam poem, Tomorrow’s Toussaints.  The full text is offered below.   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB_trjPHoyY

 

Kalamu ya Salaam

 

Tomorrow's Toussaints

this is Haiti, a state

slaves snatched from surprised masters,

its high lands, home of this

Humanity Compassionately Rallies to Help!

E a R t h Qu a k e


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTlDkh_b79k

 

PoeMS about the Qu a k e

Haitian Earthquake

Kashkin

As the earth shifts its burden
From one end to another,
The story of few seconds
Caught in between
The old and young
The women and children
The poverty and its recipients
Knows no bounds
The pain and the damage

Lessons from Haiti

 

If Paul Collier's recommendations in his book "The Bottom Billion" were followed

Haiti would not be in it's current predicament. There are lessons to be learned

from this strategy and ways to prevent this from happening elsewhere.

 

A Witness Speaks through Pictures

I have been a witness, and these pictures are my testimony.

A Humanist Photographer and Journalist

People like James Nachtwey inspire us to answer the call for non-violent conflict resolutions.  The links below contain some of the best photographs of atrocities in wars by Mr. Nachtwey.

http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/ 

http://www.ted.com/talks/james_nachtwey_s_searing_pictures_of_war.html

A True Sing-Along

It's a new year.  It seemed that most people gave a sigh of relief when we ushered in 2010.  There is no endorsement of Starbuck's in posting this blog.  However, their effort to get people to sing out--156 countries responded to the invitation of singing John Lennon's "All You Need is Love" on December 7, 2009 at 1:30 p.m.  Folks in this Starbuck project are singing-out to help fight AIDS in Africa,  Most certainly they could be singing out for goodwill, acting more compassionately, and or promoting peace. Viewing this short clip is a great way to start the New Year.