Did you lost anyone, a friend to AIDS and AIDS related caused of death?  Tell me how many or their names and I will add a candle to this shrine.  Today is World's Aids Day.  Let's commemorate them.

You are all love, loved!

Thank you I may not know some of you I pray for your highest transcendence and rest in peace.  I am honored to have known your friends here in Gaia.  You are with us in spirit. 

I don't know why it took me so long to do it, but I left the group/pod MFA (Marvelous Free Art) because unbeknownst to me the Camp Happiness pod where I used to belong was merged with MFA to increase its memberships.  Nowadays I am glad we got rid ot the most famous pod category. 

Thank you,
Samme

ALL ABOARD!!!

Five Things That I Don't Know About Myself;

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.


The five people I am tagging are;
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

"Know thyself." ~ Plato

1.  A lot of people will be in peace.
2.  A lot of people will be happy.
3.  A lot of people will care.
4.  A lot of people will settle differences.
5.  A lot of people will spread joy.
6.  A lot of people will live in harmony.
7.  A lot of people will be proactive and constructive.
8.  A lot of people will be understanding.
9.  A lot of people will be joining global peace.
10.  A lot of people will give love on Christmas day. 

Are we gonna be one of those?  Let's make the prophecy come true!  : )

Some of you may remember that I gave a teaser that I have an idea for us for the December Holidays, Christmas, etc?  I first mentioned it here. 
And now it is time to share the secret.

We are going to have a "GAIA GIFTGIVING"!  We are going to give gifts to one another.  But you don't have to spend money on this nor go out and go shopping.  We will give gifts to our friends of "links" of pictures representing what we would like to give them for our Gaia Holiday Season.  Try to give gifts of pictures that you think the person will love and you can try to find this out by reading the person's profile and interests.

Those who would like to participate in this should create their own blog for others to be able to comment on and place their gift of a link to you.  And remember to tag your blog with the word "gaiaholiday", one word.  So that when we click, for example this, gaiaholiday, it will show who would like to participate in this giftgiving.  So everytime you click on the tag "gaiaholiday" you would see who just participated and if you like you can give gifts to everybody even if they are not your friends yet.  When you see somebody on your comments section who gave you a gift, give them a gift also.  You can give anything even the moon and the stars and spread love, joy and peace.  Try to give gifts to everybody if you feel like it in the pool for peace, camaraderie and friendship and FUN!!!

This is my official blog for this giftgiving so you can place comments of what you think about this and also come back and then place your gifts for me.  Now I have a request to everyone who will participate.  You can read the comments to your own "giftgiving blog" but do not open your gifts until Christmas eve or Christmas day, meaning do not click on the links until then.  Then you can thank them afterwards in email, grapevine, comments to photos, and comments to their blogs. 

I suggest you decorate your blog with any holiday decorations you wish to put up.  You can write whatever you like on your blog but everybody who will participate to please copy and paste the "asterisks and the message underneath it" and place it at the bottom of your blogs. 

You can place your gifts to me underneath my Christmas tree.  Happy Holidays everyone.

Peace, love, joy, oneness,

Samme







*********************************************************************************************
For those who wants to participate copy and paste everything underneath the asterisks so other people who chanced upon your blog will know what's going on.  Hi, this is my Gaia Holidays Giftgiving blog.  You can give gifts to me for the holiday season by posting your gift on the comments section.  For more information how you can set up your own, please read Samme's blog.  Don't forget to tag your blog with "gaiaholiday".

This is for my U.S. friends as I don't know if they do this in other countries.  If you have young ones, you can have them write their own letter to Santa Claus.  Help them seal it in an envelope.  Have the young ones write on the outside of the envelope

Samme just thought of another idea.  The idea goes like this, I will introduce to you one person from my network and those who are not friends with the person I will introduce can invite them to be friends.  Then those who are not friends with the one I introduced and who ask for an invite will post a link to a blog that they will set up introducing one person from their network and whomever are not friends with them can invite the person introduced, and so on and so forth.  I am sure you all get the idea.  Just make sure those who send invitations to the person being introduced in "any" blogs will make up their own blog and introduce one from their own friends network.  On your "tag box" put the tag "gaiafriends".  Let's see how this will swarm all over.  Will the friendship chain be broken or will the love, peace and friendship chain will go on forever?  Those who are doing this blog can copy and paste the first paragraph of this blog to their blog and then introduce somebody else from their network.  


The person I am introducing to you to consider inviting for a Gaia Friend network is;
Meenakshi ~ you can read her profile if you are not friends yet with her at
http://meenakshi.gaia.com/
 

love and friendships,
Samme

I just had this ideas for us for December, the Gaia giftgiving extravaganza and as I am writing this I just finished talking to somebody outside my door.  Here's the scoop!  I have to move out because the bank now owns the property.  They are offering us a sum of money if the tenants move within 21 days, then lesser after that and after that eviction.  Okay I know I got to ride the wave of change.  My challenge is I have lots of stuff.  It will be a challenge to move them and store them or how they would fit in my "next" living place.  If I have to move in with my brother for the meantime in his house, there is no room there for all of my stuff.  Yes I know they are just "stuff".  They are loan from the universe, they can be replaced.  I have lots of books and have collected lots of other stuffs and again it will be a challenge to decide what to do with them.  Before when I moved I only brought what I can carry.  The heavy ones have to be donated like sofa, dining table, you name it and then I just start from building up again. 
I want to be here with you all in this holiday season "more".  I want to be able to go to Obama's inauguration.  Now that may seem unlikely.  I have to take care of lots of stuff.  This weekend I want to start sorting thru my things.  I know some important ones that I love to stay with me; some clothes to wear, computer so I can Gaia, my car so I can move stuff to and fro.  I am going to be doing lots of donations again soon which I don't mind.  I always donated stuff.  Wish me luck please!

Thank you,

Samme

There was a survey that the reason why people do not sign online petitions even though they feel strongly for the causes is because they are weary of spam emails.  But there are temporary/disposable email boxes services out there that one can have and the email expires soon, some after 15 minutes.  Here are some such services:

Top 20 Temporary Mailbox services

Collected below is a list of best temporary/disposable email services that provide you give you a temporary email inbox which is totally spam free and needs no registration or sign up:

1. Mailinator is one of the best and top rated disposable email services that gives you a temporary mailbox on the following address format e.g. something@mailinator.com
2. MyTrashMail is another good temporary mail service that gives you a mailbox in the address format e.g. something@trashymail.com and also gives you secure temporary mailbox if you signup
3. MailExpire stands out in the crowd by giving you the option to have a temporary inbox ranging from 12 hours expiry to as long as 3 months
4. TemporaryInbox is yet another simple and easy to use temporary email service that gives you an email address in different formats
5. MailEater gives you a free temporary email inbox in the format e.g. something@MailEater.com
6. Jetable not only allows you to set the life span of your temporary email inbox but also allows you to forward the mails in your temporary inbox to your real email address
7. SpamBox gives you a temporary email address in the format e.g. something@spambox.us and also allows you to set the lifespan of your inbox
8. GuerillaMail lets you generate a temporary email which expires in a time of 15 minutes and also tell you how to offer a temporary email service on your site.
9. SpamHole provides you a 2 hour long temporary email inbox at the address format e.g. something@spamhole.com
10. 10MinuteMail generates an easy 10 minute email inbox for your temporary email needs
11. DontReg is one bigger, better, faster and safer temporary email inbox solution
12. TempoMail is one new temporary email inbox services that give you spam-free mailbox
13. TempEmail aims to give you a fast, anonymous yet secure temporary email inbox
14. PookMail is a multi-language temporary email inbox service that gives an email address in the format e.g. something@pookmail.com
15. SpamFree24 is a new multi-domain temporary email inbox service which is growing rapidly
16. KasMail requires registration, allows up to 25 aliases, can set aliases to expire after a certain amount of time.
17. SpamMotel requires registration, provides mail forwarding, mail can be accessed through desktop e-mail clients, can reply to e-mail from your real e-mail address using SpamMotel e-mail.
18. GreenSloth requires no registration, receive-only, e-mail expires automatically after a week
19. AnonInbox requires no registration, simple, no frills.
20. Spam.la is a fast disposable email service which requires no registration, no frills. You can see all spam being sent to all Spam.la accounts, or just your own.

What is the benefit of signing online petitions?  The more people sign up it gives awareness and may ignite or inspire other people to take action about different social, environmental, political issues.  It can help in shaping public policies or be included in the ballot for election and such. 

A man signs up for a self-help program based on one simple principle: say yes to everything... and anything.  At first, unleashing the power of "yes" transforms his life in amazing and unexpected ways, but he soon discovers that opening up his life to endless possibilities can have its drawbacks.

Tagline: One word can change everything.

Plot:  A guy challenges himself to say "yes" to everything for an entire year.

The movie is taken from the book by Danny Wallace.

Synopsis of the book

"I, Danny Wallace, being of sound mind and body, do hereby write this manifesto for my life. I swear I will be more open to opportunity. I swear I will live my life taking every available chance. I will say Yes to every favour, request, suggestion and invitation. I will swear to say yes where once I would say no.'

Danny Wallace had been staying in. Far too much. Having been dumped by his girlfriend, he really wasn't doing the young, free and single thing very well. Instead, he was avoiding people. Texting them instead of calling them. Calling them instead of meeting them. That is until that one fateful date when a mystery man on a late-night bus told him to 'Say Yes more'. These three simple words changed Danny's life forever.

"Yes Man" is the story of what happened when Danny decided to say yes to everything, in order to make his life more interesting. And boy, did it get more interesting.

 

 

The Twelve Days of a Gaian

Christmas

Some of us have grown into Christian families and as we grow older have been introduced and practiced other spiritual traditions.  What are some of your early childhood Christmas memories?  When did you stopped celebrating Christmas?  Have you celebrated Christmas at all ever since you were a child? 



                       

Christmas is big in the Philippines.  You can feel it and smell it in the air.  We have a "misa de gallo" where for 9 days starting December 16 culminating on the 24th, during which Filipinos attend dawn masses, usually starting at around 4:00-5:00 a.m. This practice started centuries ago during the Spanish colonial period when priests held early dawn masses for the farmers who wanted to attend Christmas mass but could not leave their fields. These masses were held before daybreak, hence the Filipino term "Simbang Gabi" (Midnight Mass). Even today, Filipinos wake up very early in the morning to attend the Misa de Gallo as an expression of devotion to God. It is also an expression of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.  I used to be a church choir member. 




One of the customs related to the Philippine Misa de Gallo is the selling of traditional Philippine food, such as puto bumbong (a purple colored rice pastry, seasoned with grated coconut and brown sugar), tsokolate (a hot cocoa drink), bibingka (flour and egg cakes cooked on top and under), and salabat, or ginger tea, which are sold by vendors outside churches to the faithful.



Groups of kids go house to house to go "carolling" singing Christmas carols.  Then afterwards they are given money.  Families gather together for "noche buena". 





I used to hang a sock tacked to the wall by my bedside and on Christmas morning when I woke up, I got what I wished for from Santa.  One time I wrote to Santa I wanted Sanrio products which are novelty cute items from Japan and "Santa" not knowing what Sanrio products were gave me Snoopy products instead.  It is only at Christmastime when we had apples and grapes as they are very expensive.  Apples are cheap here in this country. 

Then I grew up and as years passed, have lost the magic and wonder that Chrismastime brings.  This season I am befriending Christmas again and celebrating other holiday traditions as well. 

Dancing Fantasy (Featuring Ustad Habib Khan - Sitar, Pandit Swapan Chaudhuri - Tabla) - Ustad Habib Khan

Salam!  Khosh Amadid!

سلام  

خوش آمدید  

Blogging in Iran operates under special circumstances because the government restricts certain views. Blogs in general tend to be unregulated compared to other forms of expression in Iranian society. This characteristic can account for the huge popularity of blogs especially among Iranian youths. As of October 2005, there are estimated to be about 700,000 Iranian blogs (out of an estimated total of 100 million worldwide, of which about 40,000-110,000 are active, mostly written in Persian, the Iranian language).

There are also many weblogs written by Iranians in English and other languages. Most of them, though, belong to expatriates who live in North America, Europe, Japan, etc. Iran is the third largest country of bloggers.

I am blogging this so that they may get a chance of seeing this blog while net surfing or doing a search and then join us here at Gaia.com. 

WWRB?  What Would Rumi Blog? 


Iran: A Nation of Bloggers by Aaron Chiesa, Toru Kageyama, Hendy Sukarya, and Lisa Temes, students the Vancouver Film School.





There is a way to be good again.



Thank you,
Mamnoon  ممنون
Peace to all!

love,
Samme
For you a thousand times over

 

Nothing at all!  I am glad to move forward.  The love is inside me not outside of me, so I will always have that with me wherever I go.  Thank you Siona for a timely question.
I am love,
Samme

Human rights set out in the Declaration

The following reproduces the articles of the Declaration which set out the specific human rights that are recognized in the Declaration. (Notes in parentheses are mine)

Article 1 

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.  (If I can change this, instead of brotherhood, I would use oneness)

Article 2 

Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, (I would include "love preference" instead of sexual preference) language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.

Article 3 

Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.

Article 4 

No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.

Article 5 

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 6 

Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law.

Article 7 

All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.

Article 8 

Everyone has the right to an effective remedy by the competent national tribunals for acts violating the fundamental rights granted him by the constitution or by law.

Article 9 

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.

Article 10 

Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.  (Why can't they avoid masculine pronouns?  This is how I will rewrite this:  change the "his" to "their" and the "him" with "them".)

Article 11

1. Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence. (change "he" to "everyone" and the "his" to "their")
   
2. No one shall be held guilty of any penal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a penal offence, under national or international law, at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the penal offence was committed.

Article 12 

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

Article 13 

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each state.
2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.

Article 14 

1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
2. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 15 

1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Article 16 

1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution.
2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.
3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Article 17 

1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property.

Article 18 

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. (change "his" to "one's")

Article 19 

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Article 20 

1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.
2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 21 

1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. (change "his" to "their")
   
2. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.  (change "his" to "their")
3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

Article 22 

Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality. (change "his" to "their")

Article 23 

1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.
2. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.
3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. (change "himself" to "themselves", "his" to "their")
   
4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests. (change "his" to "their")
   

Article 24 

Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay.

Article 25 

1. Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. (change "himself" to "any one", change "his" to "their")
   
2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.

Article 26 

1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.
3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

Article 27 

1. Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits.
2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author.  (change "he" to "one")
   

Article 28 

Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.

Article 29 

1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible. (change "his" to "their")
   
2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.  (change "his" to "people's")
   
3. These rights and freedoms may in no case be exercised contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.

Article 30 

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein.

Have your human rights been violated?  I would like to see the inclusion of "marriage equality" in this declaration.  If this declaration says "everyone has the right to change their religion" then marriage equality is not a "religious right" but a "civil right".  I have blogged about marriage equality rallies and is campaigning for marriage equality.  A lot of our brothers and sisters have been denied their rights for centuries.  Is yours next?
More human rights blogs and celebrations coming up...,

Thank you,

Samme

December 10--International Human Rights Day--marks the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. You can honor this important day by participating in Amnesty International's Global Write-a-thon--the world's largest letter writing event. Write letters on behalf of prisoners of conscience and human rights defenders at risk of severe human rights violations. Join thousands of people across the United States and around the world for this monumental event.

Whose life will you change? Write-a-thon cases now available!

Click here to read about last year's inspiring Write-a-thon successes.

How To Get Involved:

Everyone can participate. It's easy! Follow the 5 simple steps below:

1. Register for the write-a-thon as an individual or as a group. Watch as your pledges help light up the Amnesty candle.
2. Spread the word! Encourage your friends and family to get involved by texting or emailing them the link to register: www.amnestyusa.org/writeathon
3. Check out the write-a-thon resources online. This site will provide you with everything you need to participate, including case sheets, sample letters, a checklist for how to plan an event, and promotional materials. For hard copies, please email us at writeathon@aiusa.org
4. Write and mail lots of letters from December 5-14.
5. After the Write-a-thon be sure to report back to let us know how many letters were sent. You can either fill out our online evaluation or send us an email at writeathon@aiusa.org. Remember to upload your Write-a-thon pictures

read the Q & A or email us with any questions you have at writeathon@aiusa.org.

Save the Date. Save a Life. Register Today!

Be a part of Amnesty International's Global Write-A-Thon--December 5-14! Your letters can save a life! » Register today!

Find a write-a-thon event in your region:

 

"Dangerous Living: Coming Out In The Developing World" is a documentary about the homophobia that was experienced by the LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender) community around the world and what they have been experiencing day to day continuously trying to live in this world.  This is part of my human rights awareness for Human Rights Day on December 10, 2008.  The theme for this year's Human Rights Day is "Dignity and Justice For Us All."  Please read my other 2 blogs before this about human rights.  More will come.  Check out my Gaia bookmark links for human rights.  Please watch this video and see and hear for yourself how others are suffering from violations of their basic human rights. 

http://www.genepax.co.jp/en/
Have you ever wondered why H2O/Water powered cars have never been marketed by U.S companies? Maybe the word OIL comes to mind!

Now the Japanese are marketing H2O cars. Please don't tell me that America will be buying H2O cars from Japan, when this simple technology has been available for decades!!!

Stan Meyer Killed for Water Powered Car:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?doc...

His story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8stApC...

Stan Meyers was threatened and eventually poisoned, Andrija Puharich mysteriously fell down a flight of stairs. Carl Cella died in prison!!! Get the picture yet - the OIL picture!!!

And this following video is about the STEEL picture



When are the people going to demand their government for suppressed technologies that offer cheap energy consumption and the like?

I saw on Akbar's status that he is "celebrating Bakrid".  So I did a search for Bakrid and read all about it.  I would like to honor our friend Akbar with this blog and all the other people not just in India but throughout the world who are celebrating Bakrid.  I have several friends who are celebrating Bakrid.  For the Muslims, if you want how to cook bakra Filipino style ask your Filipino friends for a different style. 

Id-ul-Zuha or Bakrid is one of the most celebrated festivals among Muslims of India. The festival of sacrifice, when the Muslims of all over India sacrifice 'Bakra' (goat), is observed to commemorate the great sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim who was so devoted, faithful and obedient to God's will that he unhesitatingly agreed to sacrifice his only son Ismail at His behest. It is said that it was to test him that Allah asked him to sacrifice his son on the altar at the mount of Mina near Mecca. Ibrahim, moved by his paternal feelings and yet determined to follow Allah's instructions blindfolded himself before sacrificing his son and only removed the blindfold after performing the act. When he opened his eyes, he found his son alive and smiling to his great joy.

On the altar, a slaughtered lamb could be seen instead. The festival is to celebrate the strong faith of those devoted to Islam. It coincides with the Haj pilgrimage in Mecca and people offer prayers in mosques. The sacrificial meat is distributed after the Eid prayers to the family and friends. Special delicacies and sweets are prepared on the occasion. The festival is observed on the tenth day of the month Dhu'l Hijja, according to the Islamic calendar. According to the Quranic text, the sacrifice of Abraham marked the end of the human sacrifices for the Semitic race and that surrendering one's will and purpose completelt and unconditionally is the only sacrifice that Allah requires.

Recipes for observing Bakrid:

Chicken Makhani

Chicken Mughlai

Chicken Pepper

Chicken Tikka

Fish Kebab


Eid al-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى Urdu: بقرعید) or the Festival of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims and Druze worldwide in commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah.

Eid al-Adha annually falls on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja (ذو الحجة) of the lunar Islamic calendar.

Eid al-Adha is also called
The Festival of Sacrifice,
Sacrifice Feast,
عید قربان Eyd e Qorbán (Iran),
Kurban Bayramı (Turkey),
Qurban Bayramı (Azerbaijan),
Kurban Bajram/Курбан бајрам/Курбан байрам (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Bulgaria, Republic of Macedonia, Russia, Ukraine),
ঈদ-উল-আজহা Id-ul-Azha or কোরবানী ঈদ Korbani Id (Bangladesh),
Lebaran Haji (Indonesia),
Hari Raya Aidiladha, Hari Raya Haji, Hari Raya Korban (Malaysia)
Kurban Ait (Kazakhstan, Xinjiang),
Loy Akhtar, لوی اختر (Afghanistan-Pashto),
عید قربان Eid-e-Qurban Afghanistan-Dari),
Hari Raya Haji/Lebaran Haji/Iduladha/Aidiladha/Qurbani/Qurban (Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore),
Eid el-Kbir (Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Libya)
古尔邦节 gú ěr bāng jié (China),
Tfaska Tamoqqart (Berber language of Jerba),
Jejhni Qurban(Kurdistan)
Tabaski/Tobaski (parts of Africa),
Babbar Sallah (Nigeria and West Africa),
Ciidwayneey (Somalia),
Bakra Eid (India, Pakistan, South Africa),
Opferfest (Germany),
Offerfeest (Netherlands, Belgium)

Dates
2007 date December 19 to December 22
2008 date December 8 to December 11 (calculated)
2009 date November 27 to November 30 (calculated)

 

You're the star of your own holiday show, so you definitely need a theme song to uplift you, deeply move you and keep you dancing throughout the season. Click on the titles next to your astrological sign and watch and listen to the song in Youtube appropriate for your astrological sign this holiday season as we move toward 2009!

ARIES: "Miss Independent" by Ne-Yo

You've made your plans and you're completely in control of how they play out. Though you don't have to be the boss in every situation, you sure appreciate the people who recognize your stellar leadership ability. So let the funky, hip-hop groove of Ne-Yo's "Miss Independent" be your soul's song this season!

TAURUS: "I'm Sticking With You" by The Velvet Underground

You're loyal. You're the one who brings everyone together and, for better or worse, makes them feel included. The sense of belonging you cultivate is a priceless gift to your people. This timeless tune has staying power, just like you -- it has been revived in four decades, including the wonderfully headstrong movie, "Juno."

GEMINI: "New Soul" by Yael Naim

Sometimes even well-meaning loved ones don't behave as they should during the holidays. But why take offense when none was offered? With a light heart, you presume them innocent. It's easy for you because you're rather innocent yourself, Gemini. This sing-along pop song captures the breezy good mood you'll want to wear into the New Year.

CANCER: "My Moon My Man" by Feist

This is a groovy and mysterious track that urges you to take it slow and easy -- especially during this season's stress. When in doubt, just breathe and wait for wisdom. The magic voice of Feist will remind you to let your guiding luminary, the Moon, "shed some light" on any situation -- be it the in-laws or the in-sane!

LEO: "Pocket Full of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield

Here's a feel-good message from your ruling body, the Sun. No matter what stress you might encounter throughout the season, you can always escape to the paradise of your imagination to rejuvenate. Turn up the volume on this energizing dance hit, and let the beats air lift you away like Santa's sleigh!

VIRGO: "Until The End of Time" by Justin Timberlake w/Beyonce

Yes, you are the master, and no one is better than you at pulling together the fine details that will make the holidays truly special. When you get stressed, remember that it's really about the love you feel, and that is all that matters. This duet by two of the most successful artists in pop music speaks to your heart -- all year long.

LIBRA: "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz

You feel more able to open up and be a part of a "great big family" when one central relationship is in good shape. This infectious tune will whisk you into the spirit of not only the holidays, but relationship harmony as well. So, what are you waiting for? Do-do-do-dod-dod, skooch on over and surrender to love!

SCORPIO: "Forever" by Chris Brown

With so many social engagements this season, it certainly seems as though every day is a celebration. Maybe that's the way it should be all year long. This realization makes you want to move your feet to the music and dance, as pop hottie Chris Brown suggests, "4-eh-eh-eh-ver, oh, eh-eh-eh ver …"

SAGITTARIUS: "Song For a Winter's Night" by Sarah Mclachlan

In an ideal world, you would be around all the people you love during the holidays. Alas, it's not always possible. Warm the winter nights by holding an open-heart space to bridge the distance of miles and time. This lovely, poignant tune by the queen of the Lillith Fair says it all.

CAPRICORN: "Fearless" by Taylor Swift

This season, you'll be with the people who fascinate you to the point that you forget yourself and are suddenly willing to drop your guard and let life get a little messy. That's when the fun starts! The babe of country music, Taylor Swift, knows exactly where you're coming from with this upbeat track.

AQUARIUS: "A Girl Like Me" by Rihanna

You're an original. You imprint your unique-style stamp on everything you do -- from what you wear to the office holiday party to the toast you make to your family to the gifts you give. There is no other girl like you, and this tuneful celebration by the ever-hip Rihanna helps you remember that.

PISCES: "Winter Birds" by Ray LaMontagne

Here's a musical tribute to the cold season that puts you back in touch with your sense of romance. There is someone who thinks of you in a profound and poetic light, and you'll regard this person with special appreciation as you play this soulful love song over the holidays.


What do you think  of your horoscope and your song?  Come to think of it why is the title of the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" has twelve days?  Could it be the 12 constellations or the 12 astrological signs?  Remember there was a huge star that guides the shepherds and the three Magis to Bethlehem.  We are affected by the moon and stars and earth.  The horoscope was taken from Yahoo but they have no links to the songs so I made this blog with the links.  Thank you!

We are one,

Samme

P.S.  Do I have your birthday yet?  Check out whose got birthdays coming up.

We are love!  We are peace!  We are one!  Although not a lot of people know that or do not realize that what I want most right now is everyone's "full enlightenment" (anuttara-samyak-sambodhi).  Then love, peace, happiness and oneness will prevail. 

Please listen to what the wombat have to say, it will only take one minute of your time.

click here to listen to the wombat

Nations around the world are marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The 30-point document was adopted by the UN in the aftermath of WWII and emphasises rights and freedoms that are held to apply to everyone in the world.

The Declaration has come to form the basis of much international law and has provided moral and legal backing for UN action against human rights violators.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said it was needed now as much as in 1948.

"The challenges we face today are as daunting as those that confronted the Declaration's drafters," Mr Ban said in a statement. (from  BBC NEWS)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7774689.stm

By Mary Robinson
Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

On this International Human Rights Day, which marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, two women are on my mind.

One is a leader of the past who still inspires because of what she helped achieve so many years ago.

The other is a leader in her community today, who struggles against the odds for a more just society in the midst of ongoing crisis.

Eleanor Roosevelt remained a tireless campaigner throughout her life

The first woman is Eleanor Roosevelt. Her leadership in 1948 as the chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights was critical in bringing the nations of the world together to create the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - the single most important global statement of the inherent dignity and equal rights of all people.

Eleanor famously said that human rights would mean nothing unless they matter "in small places, close to home."

The Universal Declaration has inspired millions fighting for freedom and justice over the past six decades and continues to be a beacon of hope for people around the world.

The other woman on my mind is Jestina Mukoko. Jestina is director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, a civil society organisation, working at the grassroots and community level on peace building. She is a contemporary human rights defender, trying to make Eleanor Roosevelt's dream of human rights a reality in her nation.

The struggle continues

Jestina was abducted from her home in the early hours of Wednesday, 3 December, 2008 by a gang of plainclothes men armed with guns. They took her from her home in the outskirts of Harare in an unmarked car.

She has not been seen since. Friends, family and colleagues are still trying to ascertain her whereabouts.

Jestina was working for a more democratic government in Zimbabwe which would ensure respect for human rights for all its people.

Her story and so many others like it remind us that the struggle for human rights continues.

Jestina Mukoko has not been seen since being abducted (photo courtesy of Tonderai X)

Over the past year, The Elders - a group inspired by the example of Nelson Mandela - have sought to reintroduce the Universal Declaration to millions of people around the world through the Every Human Has Rights campaign.

We wanted new generations to know that 60 years ago, nations were able to look beyond their moment - which was fearful and uncertain, much like ours - and shape a vision of a more just and equitable future for all.

We wanted to reinforce principles that are central to the Declaration, but too often forgotten in our day, that "every individual and every organ of society" has responsibilities for human rights as the Declaration puts it, and that we all have duties to our communities.

You can get involved and make your commitment to upholding the Universal Declaration at www.everyhumanhasrights.org.

There is still so much to do.

• For women around the world, domestic violence and discrimination in employment are a daily reality;

• Minorities still suffer stigma, discrimination and violence in developed and developing countries;

• The right to information is denied to millions through censorship and media intimidation;

• At least one billion very poor people, 20% of humanity, are daily denied basic rights to adequate food and clean water.

While such violations of rights persist, we cannot claim to be making adequate progress towards fulfilling the ambitions set down in the Universal Declaration 60 years ago.

The best tribute we could make to Eleanor Roosevelt, and to human rights defenders of our day like Jestina Mukoko, is to summon the leadership, resources, and commitment needed to ensure that the rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration are not only recognized universally, but implemented as well.

A Dream Of Eleanor was broadcast on Friday 5 December at 1100 GMT on BBC Radio 4. You can also listen to it for seven days after that on the BBC iPlayer.

 

Check out my other blogs for Human Rights that you might have missed

My Gaia Human Rights bookmark

Join us for an online Rally for Human Rights!

December 10th, join us for a digital Every Human Has Rights Rally! Whether by text message, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, your blog, or even email, show your support by declaring that Every Human Has Rights! Here are a few suggestions for how you can participate







              

A protest against California's Proposition 8 that banned same sex couples marriage goes nationwide today.  Thousands of gays and lesbians "called in gay" today as oppose to "calling in sick" from work today.  Lesbians and gays also are not buying anything today which some analysts are saying that it is counterproductive to the ailing economy.  The nation is depending on the buying power of 17 million gays and lesbians according to the video link below.

Watch video here.

A Day Without A Gay is organized to coincide with the Human Rights Day, 10Dec2008.



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Martti Ahtisaari delivered his Nobel Lecture on 10 December 2008 at the Oslo City Hall, Norway. He was introduced by Professor Ole Danbolt Mjøs, Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Watch the Nobel Lecture by Martti Ahtisaari here

Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari (born 23 June 1937) is a former President of Finland (1994–2000), 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner and United Nations diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work. Ahtisaari was a UN Special Envoy at the Kosovo status process negotiations, aimed at resolving a long-running dispute in Kosovo, which declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. In October 2008 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts".  He was Finland's Ambassador to Tanzania, Zambia, Somalia and Mozambique.