American Friends Service Committee

When I was just out of college, in grad school, my boyfriend, who was a very devout Catholic, started working for the American Friends Service Committee as a "draft counselor."

This was right during the hottest point of the Viet Nam War, and because we lived close to Canada there were people coming up there, checking out what it would take to get across the border, and what they would lose by doing it, and what other options they had.

I lost track of Joe, and don't know how he fared. He had a applied for "conscientious objector" status and there weren't many of those being handed out.

But I bring it up as just another example of the great work the Quakers do.

Before the eighteenth century, very few white men questioned the morality of slavery. The Quakers were among these few. The doctrines of their religion declared an issue such as slavery to be unjust. By 1775, the Quakers founded the first American anti-slavery group. Through the 1700s, Quakers led a strong-held prohibition against slavery. The Quakers’ fight inspired
growing numbers of abolitionists, and by the 1830’s abolitionism was in full force and became a major political issue in the United States.

The American Friends Society is still very much alive and involved in progressive and humanitarian work.

Here's a great blog that links to many other Quaker blogs.

Volunteer Ministers of Gabarone

I was really impressed by this story on Scientology Today - the Church's news site.

Several members of the Volunteer Ministers team spotted a fire in a dump in Gabarone, Botswana, and stayed for 6 or 8 hours to put it out, even after the fire department came to take care of it.

That is certainly going the extra distance!

Salvation Army Prevails Before the EU Court of Human Rights

In a precedent that portends the fair treatment of religions throughout Europe, the Salvation Army prevailed over the Russian law, passed in 1997, that restricts the practice of religion.

Although this case is about Russia, the EU Court has jurisdiction over all European countries, and those such as Germany, France and Belgium will have to wake up to the fact that they too are not above the law as regards freedom of religion.

Congratulations to the "Army," and may they continue to win their wars!

The Council of Europe press release gives the full details of the case:

The Red Cross

Begun as a humanitarian activity on the battlefield, to save the lives of soldiers no matter which side they were on, the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies encompass help in times of need in all kinds of forms.

Whether it is blood drives, or assistance during floods, earthquakes, you name it, they are there and their volunteers are on the front lines.

The world would be a much colder, less forgiving place without their familiar symbols showing up when people need it most.

The Dream of Martin Luther King Jr.

I look forward confidently to the day when all who work for a living will be one with no thought to their separateness as Negroes, Jews, Italians or any other distinctions. This will be the day when we bring into full realization the American dream -- a dream yet unfulfilled. A dream of equality of opportunity, of privilege and property widely distributed; a dream of a land where men will not take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few; a dream of a land where men will not argue that the color of a man's skin determines the content of his character; a dream of a nation where all our gifts and resources are held not for ourselves alone, but as instruments of service for the rest of humanity; the dream of a country where every man will respect the dignity and worth of the human personality.

The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs

In December 1991 the UN General Assembly established the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) to strengthen UN response to emergencies and natural disasters.

Its 2005 budget was $10 million, mostly received directly from UN member states.

OCHA is headed by the Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, currently Mr. Jan Egeland.

Lauareates

The definition of Laureates is quite intersting:

1. Worthy of the greatest honor or distinction: “The nation's pediatrician laureate is preparing to lay down his black bag” (James Traub).
2. Crowned or decked with laurel as a mark of honor.
3. Archaic. Made of laurel sprigs, as a wreath or crown.

n.

1. One honored or awarded a prize for great achievements especially in the arts or sciences: a Nobel laureate.
2. A poet laureate.

[Middle English, from Latin laureātus, adorned with laurel, from laurea, crown of laurel, from feminine of laureus, of laurel, from laurus, laurel.]

A laurel wreath has been the symbol of excellence since Ancient Greece, where the wreath was awarded to great scholars, artists, soldiers, and those athletes who won in competitions such as the Olymic Games.

It is also awarded to those whose humantarian efforts have brought us all closer to peace.

I think that may be the most important laureate of all.

Definition of "Humanitarian"

"One who is devoted to the promotion of human welfare and the advancement of social reforms; a philanthropist."

It is a belief of the Scientology religion that all men and women, in an unaberrated state, are humanitarians -- that they seek the welfare of all humanity, as well of that of themselves, their families and their groups.

Great Quote

I found this great quote on the Artists for Human Rights web site.

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of their skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."

Nelson Mandela

International Peace Day

It is days like the International Day of Peace that turn us all into humanitarians.

It is so heartening to see the incredible response people all over the world have to this day.

There is a great web site that has photos of events done by people of all religions, races, ethnicities and beliefs all of whom share one dream - world peace.

Anne Archer

Anne Archer could have been satisfied with just being an accomplished actor and a stunning woman, but she is committed to human rights and has been an ardent advocate of the rights of others for many years.

She recently created a group called Artists for Human Rights.

Last night she was the presenter in Washington D.C. of the Human Rights Leadership Awards of Freedom Magazine.

thecommunity.com

There is a really terrific web site on the Nobel Laureates.

It has great information on what the Laureates are doing today to bring about world peace.

And Peace is such a precious commodity.

Having been recognized as humanitarians, these men and women do not stop there. They carry on.

TheCommunity.com, in partnership with Alex Kitman Ho (producer of Hotel Rwanda), is producing a series of interviews for television with Paul Simon, Michael Douglas, Bono and other artists interviewing the world's peacebuilders. Scheduled for completion in 2007, the series will bring the lives and wisdom of these leaders -- seen through the eyes of some of the icons of today's global culture -- into homes across the globe.

Commemorating 9/11

While we all recall the tragic events of five years ago, there is another aspect of any commemoration of 9/11, and that is remembering the heroes -- the rescue workers who risked their lives in the desparate home of saving a few more lives -- and the many volunteers who helped the rescue workers, including the Scientology Volunteer Ministers.

Mr. David Miscavige in his keynote address at the grand opening of the Church of Scientology of New York paid tribute to the courage and dedication of these New York Scientologists.

Scientology News

There are so many constructive projects being done by Scientologists - projects of a really humanitarian nature.

Now there is a beautifully redesigned new Scientology news web site at www.scientologytoday.org.

A real must-see.

Churches of Scientology support and contribute to a variety of other established community programs such as the Red Cross, the March of Dimes, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and local community groups in cities the world over. This support ranges from broad participation in drug-free blood drives, to city-wide collection of holiday toys for needy children, to donations of food and clothing for under-privileged families. Every year, for example, Scientology churches around the United States are drop-off points for toys donated for the United States Marine Corps popular "Toys for Tots" campaign. Similar toy drives are held wherever there are Scientology churches and missions.

I am completely incensed with the Washington Post's latest pandering to big pharma.

Here's the latest quote disorder invented by the American (ha!) Psychiatric Association to make money for the drug pushers.

First we get stuffed full of meds, our genetically engineered foods don't provide adequate nutrition, and then when we feel awful and try to find out why they cover their tracks by creating a new disorder -- "somatization disorder."

Hey. I have an idea. Instead of taking drugs and costly ineffective "therapy" how about eating a diet that's got adequate nutrition?

And if you are in pain and want help right way, pick up a copy of the Scientology Handbook (or read it online) and learn how to give an assist to someone and get one in return. In other words -- get some REAL help and not pseudoscience.

Motivation

Humanitarians are motivated by the desire to help their fellow man.

In today's materialistic society some have a hard time conceiving this. In fact they twist true humanitarian work to fit with their view of life - a perverted view where people are trying to rip one another off and profit by the pain and suffering of others.

But the Scientologists I know, who volunteer in one or more of our programs are truly motivated by the desire to help.

I thought I'd put in the actual definitions of humanitarian, seeing that this is what this blog is about.

1. Concern for human welfare, especially as manifested through philanthropy.

2. The belief that the sole moral obligation of humankind is the improvement of human welfare.

Of interest - seeing I am a woman - is an article put out by Forbes Magazine called "Most Powerful Women Humanitarians." I found it fascinating to see what power these ladies weild, while also dedicated to helping others.