US: Americans to Light a Candle to Stand Up for the Bullies of the Gun Lobby for there is No Season of Peace from Gun Violence

Dennis A. Henigan: No Season of Peace from Gun Violence: "No one who hears the stories of the victims -- those who survived the gunshots and those who did not -- can possibly believe that gun violence is an issue to be determined by the politics of the moment. No one who hears these stories can escape the conclusion that the unnecessary loss of life and untold suffering from easy access to deadly weaponry presents not a political issue but a moral issue. The politicians are not hearing, because they are not listening.

That's why, on Jan. 8, 2012, a year to the day after the Tucson shooting, Americans will join together to ensure that the voices of the victims are honored and are heard. From San Francisco to New York, from Austin to Duluth, Americans will light a candle in remembrance of those struck down, and in protest against the callous inaction of those in power who seem able to find every flimsy excuse for national policies that guarantee that the deadly drumbeat of gun violence will go on and on. The Too Many Victims Candlelight Vigil campaign allows ordinary Americans to make a simple yet powerful statement that our country deserves more than cowering politicians afraid to stand up to the bullies of the gun lobby."

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Israel: Palestinians offer to renew Israel peace talks without settlement freeze, official says

Palestinians offer to renew Israel peace talks without settlement freeze, official says - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News: "PA reportedly submits new Quartet offer to restart negotiations, demand Israel releases 100 Palestinian prisoners; Israel rejects offer fearing renewal of only low-grade talks."

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Vatican: Pope expresses sadness over ‘senseless’ violence against Christians in Nigeria

Channel 6 News » UPDATE 1 — Pope expresses sadness over ‘senseless’ violence against Christians in Nigeria: "According to Nigerian media reports, the Boko Haram Islamist militant group has claimed responsibility for the deadly Christmas Day attacks. The group has been blamed for most of the region's terrorist attacks and seeks the imposition of an extremist stance of the Shariah law, which is a Muslim code of conduct. The group's name, in the local language of Hausa, roughly translates as 'Western religion is sacrilegious' or 'non-Islamic religion is a sin.'

In early November, a series of bomb and shooting attacks targeting police stations, mosques and churches in northeastern Nigeria left at least 82 people killed and more than 100 injured. The attacks, also claimed by Boko Haram, happened just before the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha."

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EU: Moments of Margaret Thatcher in Meryl Streep Film and EU Debates

Meryl Streep Film and EU Debates Bring Maggie Thatcher's Moment - The Daily Beast: "A British Prime Minister, splendidly isolated, faces down a phalanx of scowling European leaders, all harrumphing censure in accents that are German, French, Italian. We've witnessed the scene before. Decades ago Margaret Thatcher warred with her European counterparts just as David Cameron did this month in refusing to yield control of national budgets to Brussels. The difference is that the Iron Lady did not speak softly when she wielded a big stick. She lambasted ambitious bureaucrats; the artificial Utopian megastate you want to build, she told them, will be a "tower of Babel" dominated by Germany and riven by economic crises. Though she was ousted in 1990 over her refusal to join the monetary union, her skepticism seems to be vindicated with every euro crisis. December 2011 is very much Maggie's moment, and with serendipitous timing, she's there on the big screen in a biopic, The Iron Lady, portrayed with preternatural realism by Meryl Streep."

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Guatemala & El Salvador: U.S. government suspends training for new Peace Corps volunteers while it assesses security concerns

US Nixes Peace Corps Class For Guatemala, Salvador - From the Wires - Salon.com: "A Peace Corps statement says a training course for volunteers scheduled for January will not take place, but those already serving in the two countries are “safe and accounted for.” The corps said Wednesday that “due to ongoing security concerns, the agency is enhancing operational support to currently serving volunteers.” Corps spokeswoman Kristina Edmunson says the corps will try to place volunteers who planned to serve in Guatemala or El Salvador in other countries. Both countries have suffered waves of violent crime and drug-related violence."

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India: Parenting is no kidding- We have moved fr joint families to nuclear families & single parenthood, leaving young parents w/more responsibilities

Parenting is no kidding : North News - India Today: "Family structures have changed over the years. "We have moved from joint families to nuclear families and single parenthood, leaving young parents with more responsibilities," says Komal Mathur, counselor, transaction analysis. "Juggling between careers and home makes it increasingly difficult for parents to keep tabs on their children," admits parent-child counselor, Jessina Merchant. The multiple distractions and options available to kids these days make a parent's job even harder. The influence of the peers is not limited to school and neighborhood any more. "While parents want to keep track of their kids' activities at school, they don't want to intrude too much either," says Reena Nath, family therapist. "

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North Korea: China continued to express support for Mr. Kim's son and apparent successor, Kim Jong Un

Clinton: North Korea Should Follow ‘Path of Peace’ Following Kim’s Death « VOA Breaking News: "In New York, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered condolences to the North Korean people and reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to peace and security in the region. The official gesture came as the U.N. General Assembly condemned human rights abuses in North Korea – a vote taken annually by the world body.
In London, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Mr. Kim's death could be a turning point for North Korea. He also said Pyongyang's engagement with the international community offers the North its best hope for improving the lives of ordinary North Koreans.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said France is wary about the consequences of a power transfer in the secretive communist state. He voiced hope that North Korean citizens will gain expanded freedoms."

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Pakistan: Pak critical to peace talks in Afghanistan as it’s Taliban’s hub: Karzai | Firstpost

Pak critical to peace talks in Afghanistan as it’s Taliban’s hub: Karzai | Firstpost:

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Facebook Makes Peace With Greenpeace - Hardware - Data centers - Informationweek

Facebook Makes Peace With Greenpeace - Hardware - Data centers - Informationweek: "Greenpeace in April rated Facebook's data the second dirtiest in a group of IT companies that also included Akamai, Amazon.com, Apple, Google, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Twitter, and Yahoo. Apple's energy usage was deemed to be the most reliant on coal (the source of 54.5% company energy usage) and Facebook followed, with 53.2% of its energy coming from coal. Yahoo fared best in the report, with only 18.3% of its energy usage supported by coal.
Faced with the objections of some 700,000 Facebook users, not to mention petitions, videos, and even an airship above its headquarters promoting renewable energy sources, Facebook has agreed to collaborate with Greenpeace. The social utility, as Facebook refers to itself, will be giving serious thought to how it uses electric utilities."

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UN chief, Security Council urge Cypriot rivals to accelerate peace talks - The Washington Post

UN chief, Security Council urge Cypriot rivals to accelerate peace talks - The Washington Post: "In a resolution extending the U.N. peacekeeping force in Cyprus until July 19, 2012, the Security Council also called on Cypriot President Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu to intensify the momentum of negotiations and try to resolve key outstanding issues before the meeting.

Ban noted that Cyprus takes over the EU presidency in July 2012 and will be heavily involved in other European issues, “so the window of our opportunities for further progress in negotiation is very much limited.”"

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Syria: Death toll mounts as the international community stalls over what to do with Bashar al-Assad

"The United Nations' human rights commissioner says that more than 5,000 people have now been killed by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. That number, which includes civilians, army defectors, and soldiers executed for refusing to follow orders, comes as clashes between Syrian security forces and civilian protesters continue to claim casualties today, with at least 11 killed and 26 wounded in a fight in the city of Iblis. The 5,000 is also a sharp revision from the 4,000 offered just last week by Navi Pillay, the rights commissioner, suggesting that violence in the Middle Eastern country is only ramping up nine months into the uprising. The Syrian government says an additional 1,100 soldiers, police, and other regime members have been killed in the clashes. Pillay has urged the UN Security Council to issue war crimes warrants against Assad and his regime, but the council has been reluctant to pass harsh measures against Assad due to opposition from Russia and China." 'via Blog this' Canada News, Commentary, Analysis, Blogs | The Mark:

Norway & Swededen: "Peace prize helps grow the community of peace makers and "give them a platform that is just as strong as the corrupters"

Royals, Mirren honor Nobel Peace Prize winners - Celebrity Circuit - CBS News: "The concert honored this year's Nobel Peace prize winners, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and women's right activist Leymah Gbowee, also of Liberia, and democracy activist Tawakkul Karman of Yemen. Together, the three have boosted the number of women who have received the peace prize from 12 to 15. Sweden's Queen Silvia, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria attended the Nobel Prize ceremony at the Concert Hall in Stockholm on Saturday. Also attending the Nobel Peace Prize events were Norway's King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon. British actress Helen Mirren co-hosted the Nobel Peace Prize concert on Sunday with actress Rosario Dawson. Performers included David Gray, Jill Scott, Evanescence and Sugarland."

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Yemen: On Friday of Dignity, people marched saying “peace, peace”, even though they were being shot at, they did not stop but continued marching...

Yemen's Alsaidi: We cannot follow Atatürk's secular model: "Yes, about 1,200 civilians were killed. There is a supposition that (a revolution) in Yemen would have been bloodier than in other (countries) because Yemen is heavily armed and the Yemenis are tribal people. Yes, there are a lot of arms in Yemen, but this issue of tribalism is questionable. Those people have one definition of tribalism and apply it to every case. Yemen went through different stages in history. And don't forget that Yemen is older than the Roman Empire. Yemenis are law-abiding citizens. They are not tribal people who like fighting. There are tribes, but they do not fight among each other, as is wrongly perceived. They intermarry and live in harmony with one another; they rarely clash. On the “Friday of Dignity,” held on March 18, when 52 people were killed by sharpshooters, people marched saying “peace, peace.” Even though they were being shot at, they did not stop but continued marching and at the same time said “peace, peace.” You'd cry if you had seen that scene from the protest. They did not resort to arms." said, Abdullah M. Alsaidi

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Abdullah M. Alsaidi, Yemen's ambassador to the UN who quit from his post after the regime killed peaceful protesters.

Currently a senior fellow at the New York-based International Peace Institute (IPI), Ambassador Alsaidi was the permanent representative of Yemen to the United Nations from 2002 until his resignation in March 2011 in response to the killings of dozens of demonstrators by pro-government forces in Sana'a. He held important government positions, including deputy minister for foreign affairs from 1999 to 2002 and member of the National Arbitration Committee with Eritrea over the Hanish Islands from 1996 to 2002. He received his BA degree in political science from Long Island University in 1975 and his MA in political science from Columbia University in 1982. Ambassador Alsaidi was also a co-chair of the IPI's task force on strengthening multilateral security capacity in 2008.

In his words: “He [Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh] used to call me at night to ask for my opinion, and when I disagreed with him -- about Iraq and Kuwait -- he said: ‘You know what? I think you're right.' Around 2005, that sort of thing stopped. Last year, when I wrote in a report to him that the UN was thinking of contingency plans for Yemen in the event of an uprising, the administration phoned me five times to say, ‘The president is not happy with your report because it isn't true'.”

US: District of Colombia: Tops Peace Corps rankings @ 8.4 Peace Corps volunteers per 100,000 residents, the highest rate of any area

"DC-Arlington-Alexandria vicinity has 372 Peace Corps volunteers, which means it trails only the New York-New Jersey-Long Island metro area (with 393) in the sheer number of folks who serve in the corps. Peace Corps volunteers even rank among the town’s boldfacers. Former Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), who now heads the Motion Picture Association of America; and California Democratic Reps. SamFarr , Mike Honda and Steve Garamendi are among the organization’s alums."

'via Blog this'D.C. tops Peace Corps rankings - In the Loop - The Washington Post

Durban, South Africa: Nobel-Winning IPCC Chair Rajendra Pachauri Urges Obama to "Listen to Science" on Global Warming

"Pachauri is chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize along with Al Gore. "What we have done is we have increased the concentration of these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere far beyond what has taken place over the last 650,000 years," Pachauri says. "As a result, during the 20th century, we had average warming of about 0.74 degrees Celsius, sea-level rise of about 17 centimeters, and a whole range of impacts, as I mentioned, on human health, on agriculture, on ecosystems... The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report had clearly brought out that if we want to limit temperature increase to two degrees or thereabouts, two to 2.4 degrees Celsius, and if we want to do it at least cost, then emissions will have to peak no later than 2015. And we are now talking about 2020. That means the world will incur a much larger expense in reducing emissions. And in the meantime, we’ll also suffer far more serious impacts of climate change." "

'via Blog this'Nobel-Winning IPCC Chair Rajendra Pachauri Urges Obama to "Listen to Science" on Global Warming:

Colombia: No more war! Yes to life, yes to peace

"President Juan Manuel Santos, who backed the march, is facing increased pressure from Colombians to seek an end to the conflict that has killed tens of thousands over the decades. Responsible for some of the harshest blows against the FARC, including killing the group's leader Alfonso Cano last month, Santos has expressed willing to hold peace talks if the Marxist rebels stop kidnapping, lay down their weapons and cease attacks on civilians and the military. While the FARC has refused, Cano had hinted before his death that dialogue was the only way forward. "It's not just the government calling for peace, it's all of Colombia," Santos said at the start of the demonstration. "The people are sick of violence." More than a decade of U.S.-backed strikes against the FARC has severely weakened the rebels and limited their ability to launch attacks on the nation's economic infrastructure, attracting billions of dollars in foreign investment. But the group remains a formidable part of the conflict, which strips as much as 1 percent from the economy each year."

'via Blog this' read more: Colombians protest at FARC executions, call for peace | Reuters:

Update: Afghanistan: French human rights activist trying a new way to break the cycle of violence thru yoga and meditation

""In thirty years of war, we've tried everything and nothing has worked," said Amandine Roche, who believes it is better to try to rid the mind of vengeful thoughts than to disarm a fighter at gunpoint. Her organization, the Amanuddin Foundation, aims to promote nonviolence by teaching techniques of calm. Volunteering since February as she searches for funds, she has given classes at which she demonstrates yoga and meditation to men, women, children, police officers, soldiers and former Taliban insurgents. "It's a new solution to an old problem. War starts in the minds of men, so peace starts in the minds of men. You cannot bring peace with the means of war, it's as simple of that." The most recent conflict, which started with the U.S.-led overthrow of the Taliban government in 2001, has killed thousands of soldiers and civilians, and cost tens of billions of dollars. According to United Nations figures, 2011 is the most violent year since the war began: all signs, Roche argues, that the Western military and diplomatic effort isn't working."

'via Blog this' Can yoga and meditation help bring peace to Afghans? | Reuters:

Philippines: It is Mindanao where the barangay justice system is most important

At the gathering called BJP End of Congress held the other day in Davao City, the LGUs of Maguindanao, Tawi-tawi, Davao del Sur, Cotabato, Saranggani, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga Sibugay have donated almost P8 million pesos for the expansion of BJP activities, especially in the barangays where the impact is still not felt. BJP is a 2-year program under the Mindanao Peace and Development Program of US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and is implemented by the Gerry Roxas Foundation. It aims to reduce violent conflicts in Mindanao barangays and strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in the barangays. After two years, the program was able to train and mobilize not less than 3,000 barangay justice advocates all over their target municipalities and cities, and have resolved roughly 11,000 community conflicts. Gloria Steele, USAID Mission Director expressed her appreciation for the commitments made by the LGUs representatives to sustain and replicate the program."

'via Blog this'[PIA News] Mindanao LGUs commit to bring community peace in more barangays:Gloria Steele, USAID Mission Director expressed her appreciation for the commitments made by the LGUs representatives to sustain and replicate the program.

“I have worked for USAID for almost 30 years, and we have always wondered if anything that we have started will ever be sustained. This is the first time that I hear, straight from the officials that they will continue a project,” Steel said.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo also noted during the congress that in the entire Philippines, it is Mindanao where the barangay justice system is most important.

“A peaceful nation can move forward faster, we hope that more barangays can benefit from this kind of program,” he added.

One of the highlights of the congress is the oath taking of the Mindanao Consortium for Barangay Justice Advocates, which serves the sustainability strategy of the BJP program. This consortium was organized by the Gerry Roxas Foundation in partnership with the 8 LGU partners.

“Let us rally behind each other to achieve piece. They have already started something, let’s continue it,” encouraged MinDA Chair Luwalhati Antonino.

Antonino said that programs such as BJP is a beautiful legacy that people, especially government officials should support and replicate. (MinDa)

UN: Security Council will hold Session on Kosovo and Metohija in New York on Tuesday; it will be attended by Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić

"In the report released early November, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed concern over the deterioration of the security situation in Kosovo, stressing that the number of violent incidents affecting Serbs increased after the attempt by Kosovo authorities to assert control at the administrative crossings in north Kosovo. He said that the Kosovo authorities attempted to deploy their unit ROSU at two administrative checkpoints in northern Kosovo, "Gate 1 (Jarinje) and Gate 31 (Brnjak)", adding that this attempt was not coordinated with the international presences. The developments in northern Kosovo during the reporting period serve as a strong reminder that the underlying, unresolved issues constitute a threat to the region's peace and stability. I am concerned not only about the deterioration of the security situation on the ground as a result of the recent developments, but also about the deterioration of inter-ethnic relations throughout Kosovo, the polarization of political positions and the widening of the gap between the communities north and south of the Ibar River, the UN secretary general said. "

'via Blog this'B92 - News - UN Security Council to discuss Kosovo: