Hugh's Sharebook 

Thank you to all of you who commented and wrote to me about my last share. Here's more on the same theme, well worth knowing about. Several years ago I heard an American nun being interviewed on radio. She, Sister Diana Ortiz, had been kidnapped and tortured while working in Guatemala. She was freed and returned to the U.S. where she set out to have her experience recognized by Congress. Sister Diana also started an organization to support international victims of torture. All the while she was experiencing psychological challenges unimaginable to those of us who have never been tortured. There are more details on a website I began years ago http://athousandarms.com/index.html  If you have the interest you might follow the link to the report of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Sister Diana allowed a correspondence with me for a short time and later permitted me to dedicate the site to her. There are other things on the site of interest to us all but some are now out of date. Perhaps now you have inspired me to bring it up to date and expand it further.

It has been hard for me for a time to bear the pain that is presented to me through Care2 and my friends here so I ran away inside. However, I feel the fierce but gentle Peace Warrior rising again. The horrors we face won't triumph.

Love you all,

                                         Hugh

Activism can be more than signing petitions and voting for the person we think will most support our causes. People all over the world are putting their lives at risk to help the powerless. Follow this link to find out what happened to Emilia Quan in Guatemala in the first week of December. She was an activist in support of victims of torture.

http://www.irct.org/Default.aspx?ID=3843&PID=13717&M=NewsV2&Action=1&NewsId=2971

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/domestic-economic-abuse/

My friend Koty is part of a group of women in Israel who are working to support new legislation aimed at improving the government response to domestic economic abuse. At this time there is little that the government does that is effective against that kind of domestic violence. Economic abuse occurs when one spouse has control of the money in a relationship and uses that to take power over the other, often forcing them to beg for money for even basic needs. I see it as related to the patterns of enslavement. The consequences can be very serious psychological damage and even physical conditions.

The group Koty is part of is a victims' (survivors') action group. Let's support Koty and her friends by signing her petition and passing on the message.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/domestic-economic-abuse/

There is a real threat to the world's most important breeding grounds for the Humpack Whale, with both the state government and multi-national corporations planning to build a major port for gas exports in the area that is most sensitive. The state government is even talking about repossessing land held under native title, so the aboriginal people are also to be affected. Read about the amazing results of the latest survey trip to assess whale activity, then go and sign the petition. Tell the money crazed corporate bosses and West Australian Premier what you want them to hear.

http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley/copy_of_kimberley-whale-survey-trip-2010-new-nursey-areas-identified

Hi friends. Human trafficking practices in Tenessee by a company subsidized by the U.S. government! Please read and note. Even legal immigrants can be the victims if government fails to supervise the rights of immigrant workers. Is there anything you can do to protest this?

Love and Peace,

                                                  Hugh

I signed this laughing. This is just the spirit we need. Why shouldn't the official residences of national leaders have solar panels on them to set an example to the rest? Let's ask him to lead by example. What an opportunity for him. Go to this site and sign, friends.  Pass it on too. http://putsolaron.it/whitehouse/

Dr. Emoto is a Japanese man who has become famous for his photos of water crystals, revealing that when a blessing or a beautiful thought is projected into water in a controlled way the water will crystallize in a more beautiful way than if more negative ideas or thoughts are projected into it. His idea of water spirituality is interesting and different but my reason for sharing this is that a beautiful prayer concerning the Gulf Oil disaster has come from him. Please go to the link and read at least the bottom of the page where he recommends a prayer that will have you sending beautiful energy to the Gulf to lessen the disaster and heal what can be healed. If we all do it together the power will be awesome. Translate it into words that reflect your own sense of Spirit, if you wish.

http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/dr.emotos_message_2.html

There is a video on the page that is also of interest to many of us as it demonstrates using water as a renewable energy source.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/30/oil-spills-nigeria-niger-delta-shell

Oil leaks in Nigeria are worse than the Gulf of Mexico spill. Local thieves and terorists are blamed by the oil companies but where true that makes no difference to the duty of care those companies have to the planet and the people of Nigeria and everywhere else that must be affected by the terrible leakages originating in Nigeria. The U.S. buys 40% of its oil from Nigeria so must take responsibility for ensuring it is produced in a safe and responsible way. There is a huge and wonderful response to the disaster on the doorstep of the United States so why is the Nigerian situation which is taking a constant toll of human lives virtually ignored in the U.S.? Is this selfishness or ignorance?

For me it was ignorance but now just give me something to sign. Please read the article and if you have the capacity to create an effective action please do that. We are one world and one people.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/may/30/oil-spills-nigeria-niger-delta-shell