Interfaith Conference in Kazakhstan (Photo: GPO)

During his address today to the Interfaith Conference in Kazakhstan, President Shimon Peres called upon King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia to come to Jerusalem, or to meet with him in Riyadh, to initiate discussions that would enable the implementation of their shared vision – the realization of a comprehensive peace between Israel and all the Arab states.

In his address before some 150 leaders of all the world's religions, including a large delegation of imams led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, Secretary General of the World Moslem League and Sheikh Muhammad Sayyid Tantawi, the Grand Imam of Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque, the Chief Rabbis of Israel and senior Church officials, President Peres called on leaders of the world's religions to separate religion from terror and to condemn religious leaders, who, in the name of God, advocate murder, warfare and bloodshed. The President appealed to his audience to promote peace, both around the world and in the Middle East, and emphasized that Israel's course was one of appeasement and peace with all its neighbors.

It should be noted that all the Arab and Moslem delegates at the conference listened attentively to President Peres' address, and only the Iranian delegate, Mehdi Mostafavi, senior advisor to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left the hall, returning only after President Peres had finished his address.

In response to questions by reporters regarding the departure of the Iranian from the conference hall, President Peres stated that "There were times when Israel remained alone in the conference halls. This time, Iran was alone, while the Islamic religious leadership remained with Israel."

The conference was also addressed by Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who raised a picture of Gilad Shalit and called on the attending religious leaders to assist in the efforts to return him home, and by the Secretary General of the World Moslem League, Abdullah bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, who stated that "I take this opportunity to call upon all religions to unite, to tear down the walls that separate us, and together promote a world of peace, tolerance and appeasement between all nations and all believers."

Shortly after the session's conclusion, President Peres conducted a prayer ceremony attended by hundreds of members of the Rahel Synagogue in Astana, and participated in a farewell event for members of his entourage, which included cabinet ministers and senior Israeli executives.

At the conclusion of the four-day visit to Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, President Peres noted that the visit was very successful. "It was an historic visit to two Moslem nations who have stood with Israel and have officially declared their intent to raise the level of their diplomatic relations with Israel. The official instructions of both presidents, Aliyev and Nazarbayev, to their heads of government, directing them to conclude the business transactions with Israel and to expand political and security cooperation with it, opened a tremendous opportunity for Israel to strengthen its position in the world."

Shraga Brosh, chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Israel, advised the president that during the visits, large-scale contracts between Israeli, Kazakh and Azerbaijani corporations had been signed, and that the high technological level of the Israeli companies made them extremely attractive for economic cooperation between Israel and these countries.

During the visits, a space technology agreement and an agreement on establishing unified industrial standards were signed with Kazakhstan, and a communications, cultural and scientific agreement was signed with Azerbaijan.

rewanda become reborn and sing my children

World: Africa
Rwanda: Churches protest new law on religion
Leaders of various churches wrote to the government of Rwanda with concerns about stipulations in a new proposed law on religion. Freedom is at issue.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
By Spero News
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Religious leaders from different denominations have protested at certain clauses in the Religious Bill saying they are an upfront to religious freedom.

In a letter presented to the Local government minister, the prelates led by Bishop Emmanuel Koline of the Anglican Church last week said that the bill is putting churches in the category of NGOs and associations yet they differ from the two.

“Articles; 21, 32, 36 make it difficult to start a religious organization and their proper functioning, they said in remarks published by the Times, "the bill articulates that for someone to start a church, one must have at least 100 associates to sign in your statute while he/she must be a graduate."

While arguing that starting a church does not require someone to be academically upright but integrity, the leaders accused the state of handling churches like NGOs.

"Actually, I think if this law is passed, it is likely to cause tension," said bishop Koline.

Rewanda is still trying to heal from the Genocide of 1994. Now missions are started to help heal the hurt of the perpetrator s and victims. A hospital was recently built for mothers who had to walk to get maturnity care

FM Liberman said that the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is not an isolated event, but rather part of a larger struggle between extremists and moderates taking place in the Middle East which must be resolved through a comprehensive plan that involves the Persian Gulf states, Saudi Arabia and other states.

Regarding Iran, FM Liberman said that if the talks between the West and Iran fail, then the approach must be more aggressive and include harsher sanctions against Iran. In relation to Syria, he said that Israel is ready to begin negotiations immediately, but without any preconditions.

At the meetings, FM Liberman and his hosts discussed Israeli-Russian relations and agreed to continue promoting economic ties between the two states and cooperation in the realms of space technology and hi-tech, cultural cooperation, and the international law for the protection of investments. Ministers Liberman and Lavrov signed a Protocol on Consultation between the two foreign ministries for 2010

Good morning to the fish king. He raised his face from the soil to say hello and to tell you that he is a she and that she is in pain

Freedom never comes voluntarily, it is never given up it comes about through percistice and revolt. Martin Luther King



Non violet positive action—it is free. Always fight with love

A Message for all women

THIS IS MOVING. HOW QUICKLY WE FORGET.....IF ....WE EVER KNEW......

WHY WOMEN SHOULD VOTE

This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; they lived only 90 years ago.

Remember, it was not until 1920
that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed
nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking
for the vote.

And by the end of the night, they were barely alive.
Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing
went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of
'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'


(Lucy Burns)
They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above
her head an d left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping
for air.

(Dora Lewis)
They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her
head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate,
Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack.
Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging,
beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917,
when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his
guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because
they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right
to vote.

For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their
food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

(Alice Paul)
When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks
until word was smuggled out to the press.
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/suffrage/nwp/prisoners.pdf

So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because-
-why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work?
Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining?

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new
movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle
these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling
booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.

All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the
actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote.
Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege.
Sometimes it was inconvenient.

My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history,
saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk
about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought
kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said.
'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use,
my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger
women, but those of us who did seek to learn.' The
right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.'

HBO released the movie on video and DVD . I wish all history,
social studies and government teachers would include the movie in
their curriculum I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere
else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing,
but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think
a little shock therapy is in order.

It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade
a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be
permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor
refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy.

The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.'

Please, if you are so inclined , pass this on to all the women you know.

We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so
hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote.

History is being made.

"Let the World Know"
Report of a Seminar on Human Rights and Disability
Almåsa Conference Centre (Stockholm, November 5-9, 2000)
Published by the Office of the Special Rapporteur on Disability
of the United Nations Commission for Social Development © 2001
e-mail: un-spec.rapp@telia.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface and Acknowledgements *

I Introduction *

II Background to the Seminar *

III Timing of the Seminar: An Opportune Moment *

IV Purpose of the International Seminar: From Rhetoric to Reality *

V Organization of the Seminar *

VI General Directions for Mainstreaming the Human Right of Persons with Disabilities *

VII Developing an Overall Structure for Reporting Violations of the Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities *

VIII Understanding What Amounts to an Infringement of Human Rights *

IX Building a System for Dealing with Infringements of Human Rights *

X Making it work: Developing Instruments for Documenting Infringements of Human Rights: The Five Working Groups Report *

Documenting Individual Cases *
Documenting Legal Cases/Jurisprudence *
Documenting the Media *
Documenting legislation *
Documenting Programmes, Services and Practices *
XI. Additional General Recommendations to Strengthen the Use of International Instruments on Human Rights of Persons with Disabilities

XII Concluding Remarks: From little acorns great oaks grow *

ANNEX A: List of Participants (including observers, and support staff)

Annex A:
List of Participants (including observers and support staff)
Participants List
Adalsteinsson, Ragnar, Iceland

Attorney at law, chairman of the Icelandic Human Rights Centre
Klapparstigur 25-27, 101 Reyjkavik, Iceland
Phone: 354 511 1206, Fax: 354 511 1207
e-mail: ragnar @ adalsteinsson.is

Aleksandrova, Lyubka, Bulgaria

Teacher, Regional Society for Support of People with Mental Handicaps, branch of Bulgarian Association of People with Intellectual Handicaps
Bulgaria, 3700 Vidin, Sadebna palata, et. 4, st. 53, P.O. Box 118, Information Centre of the Open Society Foundation and the American University in Bulgaria
Phone: 359 94 41913, fax: 359 94 37159
e-mail: osaub_vd @ medianet.bg, lubka @ medianet.bg

Bach-Jensen, Karl, Denmark

Consultant dealing with social development issues and teaching, co-chair of the Danish Association of Users and Ex-users of Psychiatry, LAP (home-page: www.lap.dk)
Langelinie 7, DK 6000 Kolding, Denmark
Phone: +45 7550 2696 or +45 2342 7243
e-mail: karl @ lap.dk

Byrnes, Andrew, Hong Kong

Associate Professor and Director at the Centre for Comparative and Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Hong Kong
Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
Phone: 852 285 92 942, fax: 852-255 93 543
e-mail: abyrnes @ hkusua.hku.hk

Carlsson, Barbro, Sweden

Former secretary-general of SHIA
Åsögatan 77, 6th floor, S-118 29 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: 46-8 669 1557
e-mail: barbro.cn @ telia.com

Fefoame, Gertrud, Ghana

Special educationist, vice-chair at the women´s wing of the Ghana Association of the Blind, vice chair of the World Blind Union Committee on the status of blind women, and member of her District Parliament in Ghana.
Ghana Association of the Blind, P.O. Box AC-496, Accra, Ghana
Phone: 233-21-22 09 04, fax: 233-21-233 442
e-mail gab @ africaonline.com.gh,

Frieden, Lex, Rehabilitation International – USA

President Rehabilitation International, senior vice president TIRR – The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research, Professor, Baylor College of Medicine
TIRR, 1333 Moursund, Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 1-713 797 5283, fax: 1-713 799 7095
e-mail: lfrieden @ bcm.tmc.edu

Ito, Akiko, United Nations (New York)

Social Affairs Officer, programme on disability,
Division for Social Policy and Development
United Nations
2 United Nations Plaza, New York 100 17, NY (USA)
Phone: 1-212 963 1996, fax: 1-212 963 3062
e-mail: ito @ un.org
Homepage: www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable

Kabbara, Nawaf, Lebanon

President of Arab Organization of Disabled People. President of the Human Rights Committee of the SocioEconomic Council in Lebanon. Professor of Political Science in Balamand University, Lebanon.
P.O. Box 113-5157 Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon
Phone/fax: 961 1 738296/7
e-mail: nawafk @ cyberia.net.lb

Kallehauge, Holger, Denmark

High Court Judge, president of the Danish Society of Polio and Accident Victims (PTU)
Fjeldhammervej 8, 2610 Rodovre, Denmark
Phone: 45-36 73 90 00, fax: 45-36 73 90 01
e-mail: ptu @ ptu.dk

Kauppinen, Liisa, World Federation of the Deaf, Finland

President World Federation of the Deaf
P.O. Box 65, SF-00401 Helsinki, Finland
Phone: 358 9 58031, fax: 358 9 580 3770
e-mail: wfd @ kl-deaf.fi

Lachwitz, Klaus, Germany

Past secretary-general of Inclusion International, coordinator of Inclusion International´s task force on human rights, managing director of Lebenshilfe Germany; department of laws, social policy and ethical questions
Bundesverinigung für Menschen mit geistigen Behinderung
Raiffeissenstrasse 18, D-35043 Marburg, Germany
Phone: 49-6421491159, fax: 49-6421491213
e-mail: Recht @ Lebenshilfe.de

Leal Ocampo, Roberto, Nicaragua

Director General, Padre de Familia, Inclusion Interamericana, Secretary-General of Confederacion Centroamericana y Caribe de Padres (Concapad),
P.O. Box J-127, Managua, Nicaragua
Phone: 505 265 1810, fax: 505 265 1694
e-mail: rleal @ nicarao.org.ni

Light, Richard, United Kingdom

Lawyer and director of research at Disability Awareness in Action
Disability Awareness in Action (DAA), 11 Belgrave Road,
London SW1V 1RB, United Kingdom
Phone: 44-20 7834 0477, fax: 44-20 7821 9539, minicom: 44 20 7821 9812
e-mail: research @ daa.org.uk

Lindqvist, Bengt, UN Special Rapporteur on Disability, Sweden

P.O. Box 16363, S-103 26 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: 46-8 453 4022, fax: 46-8 24 88 47
e-mail: un-spec.rapp @ telia.com

Lööw, Lars, Sweden

Lawyer, national disability ombudsman
Handikappombudsmannen, P.O. Box 8009, 104 20 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: 46-8 20 17 70, fax: 46-8 20 43 53
e-mail: info @ handikappombudsmannen.se

Mac Aodha, Eamonn, Permanent Mission of Ireland, Geneva, Switzerland

Diplomat, responsible for human rights issues at the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in Geneva
Rue de Moillebeau, 58, 1211 Geneva 19, Switzerland
Phone: 41-22 9191950, fax: 41-22 9191951/2
e-mail: eamonn.macaodha @ iveagh.irlgov.ie

Malinga, Joshua, Disabled People´s International, Zimbabwe

Chairperson International Disability Alliance, DPI chairperson
P.O. Box 2213, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Phone: 263-9 66764/65392/74133, mobile: 11704104,
fax: 263-9 66764/68023/74398
e-mail: pafod @ telconet.co.zw

Mohit, Anuradha, India

Deputy chief commissioner (for persons with disabilities) at government of India.
e-mail: nabdelhi @ del2.vsnl.net.in

Mukasa, Florence Nightingale, Uganda

Sign Language Coordinator, Uganda National Association of the Deaf
Chairperson of Deaf Women Association (Uganda), treasurer of National Union of women with disabilities of Uganda
P.O. Box 7339, Kampala, Uganda, Fax: 256-041 272 563

Nkeli, Jerry, South Africa

Attorney, national commissioner for disability
South African Human Rights Commission,
Private Bag 2700, Houghton, JOHANNESBURG, 2041
Phone: (011) 484 8300, fax :(011) 484 8403
E-mail: jnkeli @ jhb.sahrc.org.za, smserv @ mweb.co.za

Nordström, Kicki, World Blind Union, Sweden

President World Blind Union
c/o SRF, S-122 88 Enskede, Sweden
Phone: 46-8 39 92 55, fax: 46-8 725 99 20
e-mail: kino @ iris.se

O´Hagan, Mary, World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry, New Zealand

Mental health commissioner in New Zealand, founder and committe member of the World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry
Mental Health Commission, P.O. Box 12479, Thorndon,
Wellington, New Zealand
Phone: 64-4 474 8900, fax: 64-4 474 8901
e-mail: mohagan @ ihug.co.nz

Rioux, Marcia, Canada

Rapporteur of International Seminar on Human Rights and Disability, research associate Robarts Centre for Policy Studies, York University, advisor on disability policy to the Victoria Government, Australia, co-chair of the National Resource Centre for Inclusive Project, Mumbai, India
York University, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
Phone: +-416 736 5499, fax: 1-416 929 3539
e-mail: mrioux @ interlog.com

Rosenthal, Eric, United States

Founder and executive director of Mental Disability Rights International (MDRI)
MDRI, 1156 15th St. NW, Suite 1001, Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: 1-202 296 6550, fax: 1-202 728 3053
e-mail: Eric.rosenthal @ erols.com

Tebourbi, Myriam, United Nations, Geneva

Human Rights Officer – In charge of the issue of disability in the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson, Geneva, Switzerland,
UNOG-OHCHR, CH-1211 Geneva 10
Phone: 41-22 917 93 30, fax: 41-22 917 90 10
e-mail: mtebourbi.hchr @ unog.ch

Wahlström, Victor, Inclusion International

Past President of Inclusion International, UN and human rights coordinator – Inclusion International
Tantogatan 67, S-118 42 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: 46-8 84 51 06, fax: 46-8 84 42 33
e-mail: victor.wahlstrom @ swipnet.se

Observers
Aquiline, Carol-lee, Secretary-General, World Federation of the Deaf

P.O. Box 65, 00401 Helsinki, Finland
Phone: 358-9 580 31, fax: 358-9 580 3576
e-mail: Carol-lee.Aquiline @ wfdnews.org

Burdekin, Brian, special advisor to the High Commissioner for Human Rights

Palais Wilson, Geneva, Switzerland,
UNOG-OHCHR, CH-1211 Geneva 10
Phone: 41-22 917 91 26, fax: 41-22 917 90 21
e-mail: bburdekin.hchr @ unog.ch

Ekman-Aldén, Malin, Secretary-General, SHIA

P.O. Box 4060, S-102 61 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: 46-8 462 33 60, fax: 46-8 714 5922
e-mail: shia @ shia.se

Granström, Mette, officer in charge, Swedish Committe for Rehabilitation (SVCR)

P.O. Box 510, S-162 15 Vällingby, Sweden
Phone: 46-8 620 17 00, fax: 46-8 739 21 52
e-mail: mette.granstrom @ hi.se

Gussing, Nils, consultant International Disability Foundation

P.O. 3337, CH-1211, Geneve 3, Switzerland
Phone: 41-22 793 9393, fax: 41-22 793 3939
e-mail: gussing @ gussing.ch

Jokinen, Markku, World Federation of the Deaf, Finland

President of the Finnish Association of the Deaf, Vice President of the European Union of the Deaf, Project Coordinator, University of Jyväskylä,
e-mail: markku.jokinen @ kl-deaf.fi, majokine @ edu.jyu.fi

Parker, Susan, board member, International Disability Foundation

Senior adviser in rehabilitation at ILO, Geneva.
120, rte de Ferney, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
Phone/fax: 41-22 733 7183
e-mail: sparkerski @ aol.com

Seminar secretariat
Berg, Susanne, Sweden

Frödén, Anne, Sweden

Ohlsson, Erica, Sweden

Staaf, Erik. Sweden

Åkerberg, Annica, Sweden

Personal assistants, interpreters, and support staff
Abou Khalil, Jahda (assistant – Kabbara)

Brodie, Malcolm, (assistant - Frieden)

Malinga, Ronia (assistant - Malinga)

Marjanen, Kati (sign language interpreter – Liisa Kauppinen)

Nantongo, Prossy Suubi (interpreter – Florence Mukasa, Uganda)

Nordquist, Kaj (translation service)

Ruuskanen, Sirpa (sign language interpreter – Liisa Kauppinen)

Sagström, Eva (office of the UN Special Rapporteur)

Sigander, Noemi (assistant – Susanne Berg)

Many people don’t realize how much is involved in being an Ambassador or public servant. Many takingitglobal members have questioned me about going into public service or international diplomacy or working for the United Nations. The United Nations has many openings and has several departments and job responsibility depending on the department or agency you work for. You need to sharpen your skills in several areas in management, cultural diversity journalism, literature, writing and communications. The most important instrument you will use is your voice and your ability to persuade many people to your cause or what you are fighting to change to be a change agent. If you are in the government sector you will be working for many people and delivering a product to the government. Change takes sometimes many years to happen and sometimes the change agent does not see the change result he or she started. Sometimes only speech is the ultimate weapon and really not your piece of paper. This will probably give you the clout but ultimately it is what you say that will determine along with your actions which will make you a good or poor leader. Advocates act has a wind of change so try not to fight against the current but ride with it

http://www.osce.org/odihr/item_1_28319.html

Have you ever wondered how art can be used to improve community change? I am calling artist to join with me to help improve community change

If anyone is interested in establishing an employment program for persons with disabilities in Costa Rica please contact me

cpgraces@juno.com

Hello Everyone. I hope you will support this cause; A Better Community for ALL is a group of humanitarians who want to see change in the world. Check out the website at http://abc4all.net, and make sure to show your committment!

Zach K.,
Partner and Youth Coordinator,
A Better Community for All

Ahh... How I wish I would keep this blog updated! Well, I'll try :) Let see.. my life..

First off; I got first place in a 50 meter backstroke competition! I beat the guy by only 1 second, but the most important thing was that I beat my own time. I also beat my time in the 50 meter freestyle, and got 2nd place. This was definately my best swim meet so far, and I hope I get better and better :-)

Also, I won a scholarship to attend a saxophone lessons. I was flabergasted because I had no idea I would get it :) The lessons start tomorrow, so wish me luck with the new teacher. I've never had a "private" lesson teacher before, so this ought to be interesting.

Hmmm... Well thats about it. I'll try to post here more often, and maybe I'll get in a habit of it :-)