Rowena my twin sister, older by 8 minutes, passed away after complications from diabetes on October 3, 1996.

I cherish my memories of our time together that we were so Blessed to share. Her love & Light so embedded in my soul are celebrated with my every breath.

Rowena was a published poet in the American Poetry Anthology 1990 publication.Copyright. We used to dream of publishing together...

                  The Heart Takes Flight  

Ode to White Rock, British Columbia, my home

                                                by Rowena Susan Wilcox

      I ambled the beach ...

      You soared the sky ...

      We moved together... You and I !

      Below speckled stones... lay at my feet...

      Above clouds glistened like fresh- fallen snow !

      It was a blustery day... and the "White Horses" * rolled high !

      I beheld "Your Creation" and gazed and sighed !

      The sky was now half blue ... half grey...

      As though depicting the duality that day!

      The Blue ... the Peace ... the Grey ... the Fight...

      The Love ... the Life ... the Dark ... the Night !

       But the sun shone through in spite of it all

       And lit the " Path "  I knew to be " True " !

       For " Love " will " Survive" ... and " Loneliness " be " Lost " !

       The " Sea gulls " and  " I " ... " Soar High ... Soar High " !

 [ *  " White Horses " : waves ]

Credits to Gordon J Millar who created this group at: http://www.ipeace.me/group/gandhimanofpeace

          Happy 140th Birthday Bapu

We will not let the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi without paying our tribute to this great soul.

"Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth." Albert Einstein

 Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2nd 1869 in Porbandar in Gujarat.

Known as 'Mahatma' (great soul), Gandhi was the leader of the Indian nationalist movement against British rule, and is widely considered the father of his country. His doctrine of nonviolent protest to achieve political and social progress has been hugely influential.

On January 30th 1948, he was assassinated in Delhi by a Hindu fanatic.

Throughout his life, Gandhi was voracious defender of peace through the principles of non-violence and non-cooperation. Was with them that Gandhi fought for all people in India live in harmony, cooperating with each other for a strong and united India.
The legacy of Gandhi is a reference to date worldwide. Cover of numerous magazines, the subject of studies, books and movies, some reference in many political speeches, street name in many cities in tribute statues, Indian on the ballots, and in museums and memorials, and notable absence among the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize, Gandhi deserves to be celebrated and remembered! It is no coincidence, therefore, that one of only three national holidays in India is named after him.

     Gandhi,helped lead his nation of India to freedom, by first uniting the people, who were of all different religions. Those being Muslim,Hindu and Sik. The people were the only way which they could fight the British. By uniting to create one strong force, which was the goal of freedom. If they weren't united then the British could easily defeat them, which was what they had been doing to the Indians all along. They used their weaknesses to take power.
The biggest thing that Gandhi was known for was fighting using civil disobediences. He never encouraged his people to fight back. He taught them that violence was not the answer to solving their problems. Fighting using civil disobedience made the British look really bad. They tortured them, killed and arrested the Indians. After a while the Indian people grew tired and started to fight back. One of the major things that symbolized the outbreak of violence was the massacre at the field which killed many people, including children and women. The people responded using violence. All over India reports of Indians killing or beating guards came through. Gandhi became very disappointed. From the beginning all he ever taught his people was to protest using peace. He responded to these outbreaks of violence by going on a hunger strike.
Soon reports of Ghandi dying, scared the people into stopping the violence. Ghandi's acts of civil disobedience, formed the center of many civil leaders in America. One being DR. Martin Luther King Jr. Ghandi became the voice of the people. Do to his leadership and courage, India is now free. Of course it would have happened eventually but thanks to Ghandi, this happened using non violence. Which later spoke more than words. At the end Ghandi died, fighting for what he knew was right. Ironically, one of his own people killed him. Not the British but a Hindu extremist. Because of Ghandi India is what it is today.

              In Loving Memory of Gayle Hoenig

                    Rescue Without Borders

           http://rescuewithoutborders.org/id280.html

"Gayle Hoenig owned and operated the Bravo Bend Wildlife Sanctuary in Peyton, Colorado and was hospitalized after suffering a stroke in January of this year.  Gayle had been a friend to all creatures and belonged to Bat Conservation International and the Humane Society of the United States.  She supported the Zimbabwe Conservation Taskforce, Sea Shepherd Society, and numerous other organizations helping wildlife in Africa and other parts of the world.  Gayle passed away on September 20 of this year.  Our condolences go out to her family and friends. -- S. Byron Gassaway (Executive Director -- Rescue Without Borders). "

though i did not know Gayle well i admired her so very much. her loving compassionate giving heart and spirit will be terribly missed by everyone who knew and loved her.

as an activist and advocate for the 'voiceless'  all that Gayle accomplished will forever be cherished. may we follow her example of courage and tenacity and keep her legacy a living example as we continue to take action on behalf of all animals... we are their voice!

Our heartfelt condolences go out to Gayle's mother and her family and to those who loved her.

Gayle you are in the arms of the angels now ... may you find comfort there and eternal peace in our Heavenly Father's Love.

You are invited to sign the Guest Book to convey your condolences to Gayle's family. Here is the link:

http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookID=6159116442653&page=2

IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER

  PRAYERS TO COMFORT THOSE WHO GRIEVE

        THE LOSS OF THEIR LOVED ONE(

    HONORING THOSE WHO SACRIFICED FOR ALL

Leslie Haskins:

Survivor of 9/11 author of: Between Heaven and Ground Zero             

http://www.wordserveliterary.com/Authors%20on%20index/Haskins,%20Leslie/Author%20Leslie%20Haskins.html

may we always be inspired by the soulful reflections that rise up from another

Credits:  links below located at:

            http://www.visionantics.co.uk/brushdance.htm

            http://www.visionantics.co.uk/brushdance_18.htm 

            http://www.visionantics.co.uk/brushdance_26.htm

            http://www.visionantics.co.uk/brushdance_9.htm

Album: Art Credits @ links on http://www.visionantics.co.uk/brushdance.htm by Rosemary AWAY NO FWDS PLS (294)

               IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS :  APPEAL

FUNDS NEEDED TO RESCUE THE BUFFALO ON CATALINA ISLAND AND RELOCATE TO PROTECTED SOUTH DAKOTA

https://secure2.convio.net/ida/site/Donation2?1760.donation=form1&idb=1061171759&df_id=1760&JServSessionIdr001=gbqfkzmm95.app43b

video >  http://www.blip.tv/file/2485551/

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In Defense of Animals is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We welcome your feedback and appreciate your donations. Please join today! All donations to IDA are tax-deductible.

In Defense of Animals
3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901
Tel. (415) 448-0048 Fax (415) 454-1031
idainfo@idausa.org

Friends please join this worldwide march for peace and support the september 11 families for peaceful tomorrows

Starting in New Zealand, the march will cover 6 continents. Endorsed by hundreds of organizations, the World March is "a call to all people to unite efforts and take responsibility for changing the world, to overcome their personal violence, and to work in their immediate environments, and as far as their influence may reach."  Plan or participate in events in your area.  Please, let us know what you are doing so we can share the good news with other members and the wider world. Walking a way on the path to peace will bring courage and hope to all of us.  Whatever you do, please,  spread the word! Details at: www.theworldmarch.org

http://www.change.org/september_11_families_for_peaceful_tomorrows/actions/view/join_the_world_march_for_peace_nonviolence

Started by September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows

http://www.theworldmarch.org/

http://www.change.org/september_11_families_for_peaceful_tomorrows

modern slave trade

Started by james m nordlund

Help reveal the modern-day slave trade  

LAUNCHED: Free your Inner Abe!  

Modern-day Abolitionists, it is time to let your inner Abe shine through. Hop onto Facebook

http://apps.facebook.com/inner_abe/

and you too can don a beard as you partner in the global fight for freedom.
Snap a photo or upload your own. Then stretch and turn the iconic beard until it's perfectly fit to your noble visage. Set as your profile pic, save to an album, or print and frame it for Mom's birthday. 
And then show your friends, so they too can join the movement of modern-day Abe's.



Slaverymap.org,

http://www.slaverymap.org/

a wiki-style database of international forced labor and sexual slavery cases has hit a major milestone with the post of its 500th case. These cases are a glimpse into the dark world of involuntary servitude, a situation into which more than 27 million people find themselves confined. The website, a digital community outreach created by the Not For Sale Campaign (NFSC), allows users to post documented cases of slavery from any computer with a link to the Internet. These cases are then vetted by NFSC staff and used to educate the politicians, law enforcement, healthcare professionals, educators and the general public about this hidden crime.

"Thousands of cases of human trafficking are in existence and Slaverymap.org is our key vehicle of bringing those cases into the public domain," said David Batstone, founder and president of NFSC. "Through thissite, we are allowing people to transform from bystander to investigator as they research cases of modern-day slavery in their own backyard. Many of the listings on the site point to cases in the United States."
Slaverymap.org was soft-launched in mid 2008 to fill one of the key gaps in the battle against modern-day slavery: the lack of information. NFSC began dedicating resources and personnel to the project in late 2008 and in 2009, data collection for the site has increased dramatically. With partners in countries such as Nepal, Uganda, Cambodia, Peru, Thailand, and Ghana, NFSC has investigators working to bring the cases from the files of international agencies into public view. NFSC staff expect to see the site surpass 1,000 cases logged by the end of 2009.

Partner with us to reach our goal of 1,000 posts by the end of this year!

Click HERE

http://www.slaverymap.org/

to create your free account, and become an investigator that helps us expose the modern-day slave trade.



Sarah Sweeney has been lighting up Washington state to mobilize modern-day Abolitionists throughout the faith community.
Sarah is signing on churches to participate in Freedom Sunday, February 21st, 2010 -- so they can join a nation of faith united to end human trafficking. Sarah will be teaching a workshop, "Mobilizing Your Church Community in Fighting Modern Slavery" for the upcoming Seattle Missions Fest, as well as teaching a community awareness class on fair trade in September and early October.

These are just a few highlights of Not For Sale Washington's ongoing work. To connect with Sarah and plug into the movement, email sarah@notforsalecampaign.org.

To learn how your church community can join the Underground Church Network and participate in Freedom Sunday, contact UCN Director Brant (brantm@notforsalecampaign.org) or John (johnb@notforsalecampaign.org).

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Not For Sale Campaign | PO Box 37035 | 122 Seacliff Court | Montara | CA | 94037

1. This is an ongoing pledge that should be fulfilled as often as possible between Aug 03, 2009 and Aug 06, 2012.