Search Buddhist Channel
Peace activists arrested for Iraq War protest
The Buddhist Channel, Nov 17, 2005
Trial of Cindy Sheehan and 371 Iraq War Resisters, including Buddhist Peace Activists, Arrested in Unprecedented Civil Disobedience at the White House
Washington, DC. (USA) -- Anti-war activists from around the country are traveling to DC this week to take part in a historic trial, which will begin on November 16, 2005, of those arrested at the White House on September 26, 2005. The 104 defendants face charges of up to 6 months in jail and 0 fines.
They went to the White House to request a meeting with President Bush or his representative, were denied that meeting, refused to leave the premises and were removed by the police. This was the largest mass civil resistance in DC in over a decade. The event was organized by United for Peace and Justice, nationwide coalition of more than 1,000 peace groups.
Two groups, Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq and Military Families Speak Out, were in the forefront of the September action, which was carried out in the spirit of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., as a moral witness and in obedience of higher laws than the law that restricts demonstrating without a permit at the White House.
The Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF), a nonprofit organization comprised of Buddhists and others seeking peaceful means to end the war, also formed an “affinity group” to take part in the nonviolent direct action at the gates of the White House. Twelve of the group’s members were arrested, including John Barber of Boca Raton, Florida.
He said, “I was honored to have carried the letter from BPF to the gate of the White House. As I sat in meditation waiting arrest, I held a place for each and every being that has suffered because of this war: George Bush; his administration; all in Congress who sit in silence as this atrocity continues; the soldiers; their loved ones; and the men, women, and children of Iraq.”
These groups will be represented on Wednesday in court by the following people, who are available for interviews in advance as well as on the day of the trial.
Clergy and Laity Concerned about Iraq
Rabbi Arthur Waskow - 215/844-8494, 215/805-5283. Awaskow@aol.com John Barber, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, 561-445-1548,
dodger8mo@hotmail.com
Also see Cindy Sheehan's statements about her civil disobedience to stop the
war: www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/views05/1026-29.htm
www.commondreams.org/cgi-bin/print.cgi?file=/views05/1027-20.htm
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)
For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:
Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118
Note: Please indicate your name in the payment slip. Thank you.
Dear Friends in the Dharma,
We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.
Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:
One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.
How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.
For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:
Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB
The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118
Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.
Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.
Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.
Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.
Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.
Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!
May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,
With deepest gratitude,
Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team
Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau
We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.
If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv