Darfur Genocide Video

It is never enough to remind.............

Week to raise awareness about censorship

Banned! Libraries focus on free speech
Week to raise awareness about censorship
Jim WilliamsThe Arizona RepublicSept. 25, 2006 12:00 AM








Michael Ging/TheArizona Republic
Lisa Gallegos, who works at the Tolleson Library, wraps crime tape around shelves of book titles that have been banned in the U.S.

Lisa Gallegos stretches yellow crime tape across a library bookshelf. Crime tape? Library? Looks can be deceiving.Gallegos, a library assistant at the Tolleson Library, helped create a display that brings attention to National Banned Books Week, which runs through Saturday. The American Library Association, which has been sponsoring the event nationally for 25 years, estimates that nearly 9,000 books have been banned or challenged in the past two decades. The group believes more than a book a day faces expulsion from free and open public access in schools and libraries.

Read the entire story!

Druid Accuses Oxford 'Grave Robbers'

Druid accuses Oxford 'grave robbers'
Sep 25 2006
Robin Turner, Western Mail

A WELSH druid spent the lightning-lashed weekend in a Gower cave to highlight his claim that academics from Oxford are "grave robbers".

Retired engineer Chris Warwick, who became a druid some years ago, wants an ancient skeleton known as the Red Lady of Paviland returned to its burial place in Gower's Paviland Cave.
Despite being uncovered on Gower, the remains have been on show at Oxford University's natural history museum for decades.

Read it all!

The Goddess Video

I have received this link in an email today, I thought I might share it with you. It is a beautifull video by Burnt Page containing beautiful Goddess images and music by Delerium.

Check it Here !

Earth May Be At Warmest Point In 1 Million Years

Earth may be close to the warmest it has been in the last million years, especially in the part of the Pacific Ocean where potentially violent El Nino weather patterns are born, climate scientists reported on Monday.This doesn't necessarily mean there will be more frequent El Ninos -- which can disrupt normal weather around the world -- but could well mean that these wild patterns will be stronger when they occur, said James Hansen of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York City.The El Nino phenomenon is an important factor in monitoring global warming, according to a paper by Hansen and colleagues published in the current Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.El Ninos can push temperatures higher than they might ordinarily be. This happened in 1998 when a so-called "super El Nino" helped heat the Earth to a record high.

Read the complete story

Happy Mabon!

May you have a happy Mabon. I will take this special time to get to know my darkest side better, for this is the time when the days are short and the nights are long. Let us all meditate and learn from our darkest thoughts. Let us now enjoy the lessons form our Dark Mother while we await for the Sun God to rise again.

Unfinished Tolkien work to be published

I could not believe when I read this news in yahoo!news today. I am such a fan of Tolkien and I must say his son, Chris, has won my admiration by putting together the giant Silmarillion. I cannot wait till nex Spring to read this new tale of the Middle Earth.

You can read the complete news here

Wiccans, others celebrate pagan pride

By Elaine JarvikDeseret Morning News

MURRAY — Gretchen Faulk is, as she says, "not in the broom closet." This is a bit of pagan irony about witch stereotyping, but it's also the truth. Unlike some people who are witches, Faulk isn't afraid to be public about her beliefs.

Faulk is a Wiccan and founder of The Order of Our Lady of Salt, one of three Wiccan churches that participated in the fifth annual Pagan Pride Festival on Saturday at Murray Park. The festival drew Wiccans, druids, pre-Viking Asatrus and other groups that fall under the umbrella of pagan. It was cold and occasionally gloomy, but the atmosphere was cheerful as pagans held workshops on color divination, rune magic and shamanic healing. In the early afternoon, there was a Norse ritual led by Eagles Kindred of Utah and Hart's Hearth Clan.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Witches Weekly Qs & As

I have just joined the wicthes weekly Qs & As, so...I will start by answering the first question. Once a week they will send the members a new question and we will post the answers in our blogs.

Question:
What is one thing relating to your spiritual path that you’ve always wanted to do, but haven’t due to lack of money, time, etc. (Examples could be….creating your own altar room, going to visit a historical monument related to your spirituality, etc).

I have always wanted to spend a couple of days in the Findhorn Foundation, having a community living experience in such environment. I have also always wanted to visit the Monroe Institute for OBE research and visit the Dolphin Star Temple in California...

Those are the places where I would go and study at in order to improve my spiritual studies.

Traditions of Magic in Late Antiquity

Awsome online exhibition with text fragments, from the University of Michigan LibraryUniversity of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
DOO take a LoOk !!!

Traditions of Magicin Late Antiquity

MIMI.hu occult encyclopedia online

why have I never came accross this web site? It is amazing, a completely volunteer based occult encyclopedia...I think I might give it a try and volunteer to edit some of those categories. Check it out!

MIMI

Wake up bloggers to the Darfur crisis

This is an interesting wake up call I have received from a mailing list I belong too.

"Wake up bloggers to the Darfur crisis
One way to get the slumbering masses thinking about the huge Darfur crisis is to wake up blog owners.Suggestion: go to Technorati and search Darfur -- it might help knock TV and pop celebs off the top searches. Ask your friends and email lists to do the same. Another method is to post information on your websites and blogs. Time is running out!Darfur news. Track new stories about Darfur – create an email alert. Darfur news by RSS.

Pip Wilson
Emerald Beach, NSW, Australia
Website: http://www.wilsonsa lmanac.com
Blog: http://wilsonsalman ac.blogspot. com

Light A Million Candles- STOP Internet Child Abuse

The innocent victims of Internet child abuse cannot speak for themselves.
But you can.
With your help, we can eradicate this evil trade.
We do not need your money. We need you to light a candle of support <http://www.lightamillioncandles.com/>.
We're aiming to light at least One Million Candles by December 31, 2006.
This petition will be used to encourage governments, politicians, financial institutions, payment organisations, Internet service providers, technology companies and law enforcement agencies to eradicate the commercial viability of online child abuse.
They have the power to work together.
You have the power to get them to take action.
Please light your candle at lightamillioncandles.com <http://www.lightamillioncandles.com/> or send an email of support to light@lightamillioncandles.com.
Together, we can destroy the commercial viability of Internet child abuse sites that are destroying the lives of innocent children. Kindly forward this email to your friends, relatives and work colleagues so that they can light a candle

State Says Nevada Soldier's Plaque Can Include Wiccan Symbol

The widow of a Nevada soldier killed in Afghanistan a year ago won state approval Wednesday to place a Wiccan religious symbol on his memorial plaque, something the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has refused to do."I'm just in shock," Roberta Stewart said from her home in Fernley, about 30 miles east of Reno.Sgt. Patrick Stewart, 34, was killed in Afghanistan last Sept. 25 when the Nevada Army National Guard helicopter he was in was shot down. He was a follower of the Wiccan religion, which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does not recognize and therefore prohibits on veterans' headstones in national cemeteries.The new development came Wednesday when state veterans officials said they had received a legal opinion from the Nevada Attorney General's Office that concluded federal officials have no authority over state veterans' cemeteries.

Read the entire story

Research Paper on Human Rights

From : Guinevere

"I am an undergrad pursuing dual majors in religious studies and history. I graduate in December and I am taking a senior seminar human rights course. I am required to write a 15-20 page paper for this course about a human rights issue. I have decided to write about modern day religious persecution of pagans (or pagan groups) . I am looking for viable news sources, books, or articles about documented cases of modern day pagan religious persecution. I feel very strongly that I need to write this paper so that people will better understand the pagan community and what some of us have to go through. Any help would be much appreciated. Blessed be,
Guinivere
email: popkissme@yahoo.com"

Vatican exorcises Harry Potter!?

Devil in the detail: Vatican exorcises Harry Potter
Linda Morris Religious Affairs WriterSeptember 1, 2006

THE Vatican has never been a fan of Harry Potter, but its chief exorcist has gone one step further and condemned J. K. Rowling's fictional boy wizard as downright evil.
"Behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of the darkness, the devil," says Father Gabriele Amorth, the Pope's "caster-out of demons".
The books contained numerous positive references to the satanic art, falsely drawing a distinction between black and white magic, he told the Daily Mail in London. In the same interview, Father Amorth said he was convinced that Joseph Stalin and Adolf Hitler were possessed by the devil.

Read the entire story

ACTION ALERT: Dominican Republic

ACTION ALERT: Dominican Republic

Manati Park in the Dominican Republic (DR) is the worst captive dolphin swim program we have ever seen. It's the worst one on the planet. A great many dolphin have suffered and died there since it opened in 1995, exact number of dead dolphins is not known for obvious reasons.We finally have a chance to close this hell-hole once and for all.

We need your help to do it.In 2002 eight more dolphins were captured in the Dominican Republic to replace the ones that were dying on a regular basis at the amusement park. These eight were known as The Eight Dolphins of the Virgin Mary: http://dolphinproje ct.org/?pageid= 22282

Our colleague, Eva Schandl who first launched the campaign to close the park was there in 2005, she reports that only two dolphins were still alive at that time. The latest update is that these two survivors are now dead. In only four years, all eight are dead. Now Manati Park wants to get more dolphins from Cuba to replace them. Disposable dolphins for our disposable society.Good News and Bad News:
The bad news is that Manati Park has applied to import at least four more dolphins from Cuba. The good news is that Mr. Pax Puig the minister of environment in the DR has not approved the permit -- yet -- to import more dolphins from Cuba.
This is our chance to finally shut down Manati Park once and for all. Please write a short message to Ministry of Environment, Mr. Pax Puig. Tell him that you support his decision not to not allow the importation of anymore dolphins for Manati Park.Your message can be one sentence long. Please do it. You are the only hope.

Here's the address: Mr. Pax Puig: mortiz@medioambient e.gov.do

Thank you,
Richard O'Barry
Marine Mammal Specialist
One Voice-FranceMiami, Florida, USA OfficePhone 305-668
ricobarry@bellsouth.net
www.OneVoiceDolphinProject.com

Pagan Awareness

From the Witches Vox
All practitioners of Earth religions, Wicca, Shamanism, Druidry etc, are being encouraged to wear a purple ribbon as a way of promoting religious tolerance and to potentially raise awareness: On Sept. 21st to 22nd all Witches are going to wear little purple ribbons so everyone will know Who Else is a witch/wiccan/pagan/.... But no one can do this if they don't know about it, so pass the word along! This message goes to all Witches, Wiccans, Pagans from all sorts of traditions.

We can make a day for Ourselves!! Actually, two days!!! You can buy a purple ribbon anywhere, Dollar store, wal-mart, shoppers drug mart, anywhere...Wear it in your Hair, or pin it up to your shirt. Make it public!!!

I am a Blogging Chick!

Stop the Idaho Wolf Massacre

Tell U.S. Fish and Wildlife to deny Idaho's request to kill 75% of the wolves in the Lolo District of Clearwater National Forest and in an area where they are now protected as an endangered species.

Sign the petition here

"The Wicker Man"- A Primer on Paganism

Witch Movie Opens This Weekend: Know Before You Go

Article source: ABC NEWS

Sept. 1, 2006 — Nicholas Cage and Ellen Burstyn — some serious star power for the remake of an odd, cultish (figuratively and literally) low-budget '70s British horror film — but that is what's opening this weekend at theaters nationwide.

The rough plot of "The Wicker Man" is a very Christian policeman who investigates a missing girl on a very remote island.
The locals are very secretive, and practice a very twisted version of pagan rituals — and I don't want to give away the end of the film, but suffice it to say that the policeman is in for a surprise.

The movie plays on a tension between Christianity and Paganism, throws in some sexually provocative scenes and, voila, you've got a "classic." Pagan, in Latin, means from the country or rural citizen, so before you get the idea that it is all about animal sacrifice and devil worship, realize that most indigenous religions are by definition pagan — the word doesn't carry any of those stereotypes in its definition.

Read the Complete Story!

Freedom of Religion Means ALL Religions !

• Look at this resource, it is one of the most helpful pages around.

"This page is dedicated to the concept that Freedom of Religion Means ALL Religions. The material found here and on the carefully chosen linked pages will assist you and/or your attorney in most any case involving genuine religious discrimination against Wiccans/Pagans."

Visit Here

Some Day You May Be Harassed Because of Your Religion.

• Someday you may be fired from a job because someone doesn't like your religion. You may have co-workers who constantly harass you, or try to convert you to their religion. Perhaps a supervisor will express disapproval of your religion or make it clear to you that you would get better treatment if both of you shared the same faith.

• If this or any other form of religiousdiscrimination or harassment ever happens to you, then you will be faced with a difficult set of decisions, starting with this: what do you want? Do you just want the harassment to stop? Do you want a transfer?

Read on!

Protest is Good for You

Protest is Good for You
By Donna Henes, Urban Shaman*
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
—Jewel, from "Hands"
The media likes to portray peace, environment and human and animal rights protesters as a fringe element of whining malcontent sickos teetering on the margins of proper society. The truth is that those who step forward to speak their mind are happier and healthier folks than most.Protesting is not complaining nor is it sending out negative messages.
Pro means "for," "in favor of." Test means, "to speak," as in testify and testimony. So, protest actually means, "to speak for."
Protest is a completely positive endeavor.
Albert Einstein said, "The world is dangerous not because of those who do harm, but because of those who look at it without doing anything…Nothing that I can do will change the structure of the universe. But maybe by raising my voice I can help the greatest of all causes -- goodwill among men and peace on earth."

A new study by John Drury, professor of social psychology at the University of Sussex in England, shows that it is good for you to protest. Even though protesters may be depressed about the state of the world, their physical and mental ailments improve dramatically as a result of taking part in a group effort for change and the betterment of conditions.
Involvement in social causes and participation in political demonstrations banishes sensations of isolation, discouragement and impotence and replaces them with an exhilarating awareness of connectedness, well-being and empowerment.
When people participate in large-scale protests they get swept up in a communal mood of optimism that feeds their feelings of hope. They believe that their actions can help to change the course of history.
"Collective action can therefore be a life-changing, uplifting and life-enhancing experience," concludes Drury.
A small body of determined spirits
fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission
can alter the course of history. —Mahatma Gandhi

So let's get out there this crucial week and shout out our disapproval of the deadly policies of this administration. Let us project, instead, our own healthy, positive vision of the possibility of peace, justice, and the true American Way. And may we each manifest this vision in the purity of our thoughts, words, and deeds every minute of every single day.
Join us in spirit and support from where ever you are.
With utmost blessings of Peace,Mama Donna*

(c) Permission is granted to copy, reproduce, re-print or promulgate in any manner this copyrighted material so long as correct attribution and contact information is included.
*******************************

Donna Henes, Urban Shaman, is a contemporary ceremonialist specializing in multi-cultural ritual celebration of the cycles of the seasons and the seasons of our lives.
She is the author of The Queen of My Self, The Moon Watcher's Companion, Celestially Auspicious Occasions, and Dressing Our Wounds In Warm Clothes, as well as the CD, Reverence To Her: Mythology, The Matriarchy & Me. She is also the editor and publisher of the highly acclaimed quarterly journal, Always In
Email: CityShaman@aol.com
http://www.DonnaHenes.net
http://www.TheQueenofMySelf.com

UN embassadors email address list

As an activist, I find the information very usefull. Please feel free to share this United Nations Embassadors email list

US: usa@un.int
Australia australia@un.int
Austria austria@un.int
Canada canada@un.int
Denmark nycmis@um.dk
Finland sanomat.yke@formin.fi
Germany germany@un.int
Greece greece@un.int
Iceland thorsteinn.ingolfsson@utn.stjr.is
Italy italy@un.int
Japan mission@un-japan.org
Luxembourg luxun@undp.org
Poland polun@undp.org
Portugal portugal@un.int
South Africa sacg@southafrica-newyork.net
Spain spain@un.int
Sweden sweden@un.int
Switzerland Vertretung-UN@nyc.rep.admin.ch
Turkey turkey@un.int
Ukraine mail@uamission.org

You Have A Pagan Student In Your School

You Have A Pagan Student In Your School
A Guide For Educators

" Image Copyright © Robin Wood 1997, Used with Permission"

A student in your school practices a religion with which you may not be familiar. This leaflet is simply to give you information you may need to understand the different experiences this student may share with you, and answer any questions you might have.

What is a Pagan student likely to practice and believe?
Because Pagans generally follow a non-credal, non-dogmatic spirituality, there may be even more variants between Pagan religious beliefs than there are between denominations of Christianity. The most commonly practiced types of Paganism are Wicca, Asatru, Druidry, or simply Paganism, just as a Christian can be Catholic, Presbyterian, or simply Christian. All of these are somewhat different from each other.

Because of this, the following statements may not be true for every Pagan you encounter. However, there are some practices that are generally common among Pagans; the student or his parents will tell you if their practices differ significantly from the following:

• A Pagan student will celebrate a nature-based, polytheistic religion
• A Pagan student will honor Divinity as both God and Goddess, sometimes with a feminist emphasis on the Goddess. One effect of this is that the student is likely to treat gender equality as an assumption. .....

Read the entire article, by Cecylyna Dewr

Christianity, Jesus and the Pagan Connection

Christianity, Jesus and the Pagan Connection

by Ellen LloydAuthor of Voices from Legendary Times

For www.ufoarea.com

Copyright © Ellen Lloyd

Did Christianity arise from ancient mystery Pagan religions? Did the early Roman Church deliberately adopt a vast number of Pagan rites, festivals, and beliefs? If this was the case, what motivated the priests to copy specific aspects of Pagan mythology? What is the connection between Jesus and certain Pagan gods? Is it possible that Christianity and Paganism have more in common than our Christian authorities are willing to admit?

A majority of us associate Paganism with idol worship, blood sacrifices, and witchcraft. We were taught to believe that Pagans are primitive people, who in some way worship the devil. So, how can a pure, sacred, and unique religion as Christianity be based on such occult concepts? Surely, this assumption can only be dismissed as absurd.

To write off something as "impossible" is an easy and quick process. Still, before we reject the Christian/Pagan connection, we should first ask ourselves a couple of questions. Could it perhaps be that we have a totally wrong and twisted image of old traditional Paganism? Were the mystery religions maybe more spiritually developed than we realize? What was the true reason for painting followers of the mystery religions in such black colors?

Read the entire article