iPeace.us2024-03-28T18:50:58ZApoloniahttps://ipeace.us/profile/Apoloniahttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/63686963?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://ipeace.us/group/voicefropeace/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=3d87zb2mw0a1z&feed=yes&xn_auth=noVoice For Peace Launches Project For IDPs Settlementtag:ipeace.us,2009-08-06:2217368:Topic:19212622009-08-06T14:57:11.649ZApoloniahttps://ipeace.us/profile/Apolonia
The Voice For Peace is going to launch a project for settlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border.<br />
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Millions of people have been forced to leave their homes after the Pakistan Army launched an operation against the miscreants in tribal areas. The United Nations has launched a relief operation for the IDPs, but so far the UN officials have failed to reach the areas. Lives of millions of people mostly women and children are still in danger.<br />
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The…
The Voice For Peace is going to launch a project for settlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) of tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border.<br />
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Millions of people have been forced to leave their homes after the Pakistan Army launched an operation against the miscreants in tribal areas. The United Nations has launched a relief operation for the IDPs, but so far the UN officials have failed to reach the areas. Lives of millions of people mostly women and children are still in danger.<br />
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The Voice For Peace will provide all the facilities to the IDPs, which are required for their resettlement in their respective areas. The Voice For Peace will not accept any help from any government including Pakistan and the United States. It will accept help from any individual, but any official help will not be accepted.<br />
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The Voice For Peace will recruit both paid staff and volunteers for making the project a success. All the corrupt officials of the Pakistan administration and United Nations will asked to leave the areas as they have lost the confidence of the people. So far the UN has collected billions of dollars on the name of IDPs, but that amount never reached to the IDPs as usual it has been embezzled in the mid way. All the peace loving and honest people will be requested to support the project. The Voice For Peace will never tolerate any corruption at any stage. Women And Children As Usual Are Victim Of Violence, Acts Of Terrorismtag:ipeace.us,2009-07-07:2217368:Topic:18238902009-07-07T05:44:16.257ZApoloniahttps://ipeace.us/profile/Apolonia
Women and children have been facing the brunt of violence and acts of terrorism committed by security and forces and terrorists in tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border. The women and children have been running with tears in their eyes to save themselves. According to a rough estimate thousands of women and children either been killed or maimed during the fighting. Thousands have been living in the camps waiting for a savoir.<br />
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According to a newspaper comment, the battle for Swat is taking…
Women and children have been facing the brunt of violence and acts of terrorism committed by security and forces and terrorists in tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border. The women and children have been running with tears in their eyes to save themselves. According to a rough estimate thousands of women and children either been killed or maimed during the fighting. Thousands have been living in the camps waiting for a savoir.<br />
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According to a newspaper comment, the battle for Swat is taking longer than expected. A month ago we were told that it was all over bar the shouting, that there were just 'pockets of resistance' and it would 'soon' be safe for the IDPs to return to their homes. Some have, but the majority have not and they remain marooned in the camps and schools and private homes. There is still no date for their return apart from a vague suggestion that it will be 'this month.' As the battle for Swat grinds on, the battle for Waziristan is slowly gathering pace and that will produce its own fresh crop of IDPs. Resources are stretched dreadfully thin, the aid agencies are struggling and running out of food and money; and the monsoon fast approaches. In the midst of all this misery life goes on – indeed new life in the form of babies is a daily occurrence for the IDP communities.<br />
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There are about 35,000 pregnant women who will give birth within the next seven months among the 3.5 million displaced. The majority of them have previously lived their lives in the seclusion of purdah. Despite multiple pregnancies and births many of them have never received medical attention during pregnancy nor given birth anywhere other than in their own homes. Giving birth in a tent is not an option anybody would choose, and pregnant women in droves are now attending the mother-and-child centres set up in the camps; paradoxically benefiting from their misfortune. Treatment is free at point of need, more babies are being delivered safely, mothers are being correctly advised about vaccination, and the M+C centres are close to their patients. This (relatively) bright spot must be balanced against health workers reporting that women are chronically depressed, fearful, experiencing difficulty with lactation, have a high incidence of urinary infections and many are malnourished. As military operations continue to deny them a return the plight of this group can only worsen, as will the pressure on the medical services that already are barely able to cope. They will eventually return to lands ravaged by war. Even more sadly, the basic services they can avail now are unlikely to be available on their return home; and women remain the eternal losers in the battles fought by men.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=186759">http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=186759</a> Bajaur Agency Witnesses Unprecedented Deaths and Destructiontag:ipeace.us,2009-07-06:2217368:Topic:18214192009-07-06T05:49:12.120ZApoloniahttps://ipeace.us/profile/Apolonia
Bajaur Agency, tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border, which was the home of peace, has witnessed unprecedented deaths and destruction in the present war on terrorism. Thousands of people have either been killed or maimed during the operation carried out by both the US and Pakistani troops.<br />
According to a report, Bajaur Agency is atop the list in terms of human and material losses, while Khyber is the least affected agency in the ongoing war against insurgency, says a report recently…
Bajaur Agency, tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border, which was the home of peace, has witnessed unprecedented deaths and destruction in the present war on terrorism. Thousands of people have either been killed or maimed during the operation carried out by both the US and Pakistani troops.<br />
According to a report, Bajaur Agency is atop the list in terms of human and material losses, while Khyber is the least affected agency in the ongoing war against insurgency, says a report recently released by the Fata Secretariat.<br />
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Without mentioning a specific period, the 21-page report titled ‘Cost of Conflict in Fata’ says a total of 3,205 tribesmen died, 2,160 seriously injured, 1,520 slightly injured and 205 were disabled in seven tribal agencies and six Frontier Regions.<br />
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The report, prepared in April 2009 by the Planning and Development Department of Fata Secretariat, does not properly identify as to when, how and by whom the data was collected. Bajaur Agency, with a population of 595,227 as per 1998 census, had witnessed the longest military operation started on August 6, 2008, but the loss of human lives shown in official report is 600 with the same number of seriously injured persons. Similarly, 50 people sustained minor injuries, while 25 were disabled in Bajaur Agency where more than 40 people were killed in recent suicide attack on a tribal jirga in Salarzai tehsil.<br />
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If the report is to be believed, Khyber Agency is the least affected tribal area where some 50 people were killed, five seriously injured and 45 received minor injuries during what it called war against insurgency. A brief operation named ‘Sirat-e-Mustaqeem’ was launched against local militants in June last year while another crackdown in the name of ‘Daraghlam’ was conducted a few months ago.<br />
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Likewise, hundreds of people were killed and injured in clashes between two rival groups — Lashkar-e-Islam and Ansarul Islam — in Khyber Agency in the last four years. In North and South Waziristan agencies, the most troubled areas and hub of all terrorist activities in the country, some 1,000 tribesmen died (500 each in North and South Waziristan) and 900 seriously injured (400 separately in both tribal agencies). Sixty tribal people got crippled in North Waziristan and 45 in South Waziristan Agency where the first-ever military operation was launched in the name of war against terror.<br />
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Kurram Agency, with population of 448,310, is stated to be another unfortunate region where the human losses were reported 500 and seriously injured 400 while 50 people were disabled.<br />
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No military operation has been launched in Kurram Agency where sectarian clashes have claimed thousands of lives since 2002. In the adjacent Orakzai Agency — the smallest agency — 150 people were killed and 30 seriously injured. Similarly, 400 people were killed and 300 seriously injured in Mohmand Agency where the security forces intermittently launched operation against militants.<br />
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Among six Frontier Regions, FR Kohat, having population of 88,465, can be called the most “bereaved region” where 450 people died, 25 seriously injured and five were disabled. In FR Peshawar, 10 people were reported killed while in each of FR Bannu and FR Tank 20 people died. In FR Lakki, five people were killed while in FR Dera Ismail Khan no human casualty has been reported.<br />
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A total compensation for casualties is estimated Rs4.405 billion at the rate of Rs500,000 for dead, Rs250,000 for seriously injured, Rs100,000 for minor injured and Rs250,000 for a disabled person.<br />
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As for material losses, Rs8.270 billion for infrastructure; Rs9.505 billion for economic cost; Rs88.725 billion for social cost; Rs15 billion for environmental cost and Rs45.766 billion for security and IDPs cost, have been estimated by the Planning and Development Department of Fata Secretariat in its report.<br />
<a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=186624">http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=186624</a> Voice For Peace Celebrating American Day With Tearstag:ipeace.us,2009-07-05:2217368:Topic:18184822009-07-05T07:37:37.858ZApoloniahttps://ipeace.us/profile/Apolonia
The Voice For Peace is with all the Americans in their celebration of July 4, but with tears in eyes. Today I have received a message from US President Barack Obama informing me about the celebration in the United States. Through this forum I just want to request US President Barack and all other Americans to please remember the innocent people of tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border during their celebration. Please come forward and help the innocent tribesmen in their struggle for…
The Voice For Peace is with all the Americans in their celebration of July 4, but with tears in eyes. Today I have received a message from US President Barack Obama informing me about the celebration in the United States. Through this forum I just want to request US President Barack and all other Americans to please remember the innocent people of tribal areas situated on Pak-Afghan border during their celebration. Please come forward and help the innocent tribesmen in their struggle for attaining the peace. The following is the letter of US President sent on my address.<br />
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Muhammad --<br />
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This weekend, our family will join millions of others in celebrating America. We will enjoy the glow of fireworks, the taste of barbeque, and the company of good friends. As we all celebrate this weekend, let's also remember the remarkable story that led to this day.<br />
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Two hundred and thirty-three years ago, our nation was born when a courageous group of patriots pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the proposition that all of us were created equal.<br />
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Our country began as a unique experiment in liberty -- a bold, evolving quest to achieve a more perfect union. And in every generation, another courageous group of patriots has taken us one step closer to fully realizing the dream our founders enshrined on that great day.<br />
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Today, all Americans have a hard-fought birthright to a freedom which enables each of us, no matter our views or background, to help set our nation's course. America's greatness has always depended on her citizens embracing that freedom -- and fulfilling the duty that comes with it.<br />
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As free people, we must each take the challenges and opportunities that face this nation as our own. As long as some Americans still must struggle, none of us can be fully content. And as America comes ever closer to achieving the perfect Union our founders dreamed, that triumph -- that pride -- belongs to all of us.<br />
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So today is a day to reflect on our independence, and the sacrifice of our troops standing in harm's way to preserve and protect it. It is a day to celebrate all that America is. And today is a time to aspire toward all we can still become.<br />
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With very best wishes,<br />
<br />
President Barack Obama<br />
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July 4th, 2009 Women And Children Must Be Sparedtag:ipeace.us,2009-07-03:2217368:Topic:18134402009-07-03T08:42:04.118ZApoloniahttps://ipeace.us/profile/Apolonia
The Voice For Peace is making an appeal to all the factions including US troops, Pakistan Army and terrorists to spare the women and children, who have been living in the war zone in tribal areas they have committed no crime. If the United States, Pakistan and other stakeholders have taken a decision to kill all the tribesmen so they should do that as no one can stop them, but at least we will be making an appeal to them to at least spare the women and children as they have committed no crime.…
The Voice For Peace is making an appeal to all the factions including US troops, Pakistan Army and terrorists to spare the women and children, who have been living in the war zone in tribal areas they have committed no crime. If the United States, Pakistan and other stakeholders have taken a decision to kill all the tribesmen so they should do that as no one can stop them, but at least we will be making an appeal to them to at least spare the women and children as they have committed no crime. They must be given the chance to live in this world. God the Great is watching the whole situation and is fully aware who is doing what. On the name of God the Great I am making an appeal to all the parties to spare the women and children, who have been living in the war zone. Please spare the women and children. Please.<br />
According to an AP report, U.S. missiles struck a training facility allegedly operated by Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud and a militant hide-out Friday, killing 15 people and wounding 27 others, intelligence officials said.<br />
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The two attacks by drone aircraft took place in South Waziristan, a Mehsud stronghold close to the Afghan border, two officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.<br />
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They were the latest in more than 40 such strikes by the United States against militant targets in the border area since last August. Washington does not directly acknowledge being responsible for the attacks, which kill civilians as well as militants.<br />
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The strikes came as the Pakistani military prepares for its own offensive in South Waziristan to eliminate Mehsud, who has been blamed for a string of deadly suicide attacks across the country that have killed more than 100 people in the past month.<br />
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One attack targeted an abandoned seminary in the village of Mantoi that was allegedly being used by militants from Mehsud's group for training, said the officials. The other struck a hide-out in the nearby village of Kokat Khel, they said.<br />
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In total, 15 people were killed and 27 others were wounded, they said.<br />
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The U.S. has increasingly targeted Mehsud, who is viewed in Islamabad with increasing alarm, with missiles fired from unmanned drones. Last week, the Taliban leader narrowly escaped a strike on a funeral for militants killed in an earlier drone attack. Eighty people died in the strike, although Mehsud escaped unharmed.<br />
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Also Friday, Pakistani warplanes bombed suspected militant hide-outs in neigboring North Waziristan, killing at least four insurgents and wounding seven others, intelligence officials said.<br />
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Those airstrikes hit targets where Taliban fighters killed 16 government troops in an ambush earlier this week, two more intelligence officials said, also speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.<br />
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Washington strongly supports Islamabad's campaign against militants along the Afghan border, which it says cross into Afghanistan and attack US and NATO troops.<br />
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On Thursday, some 4,000 U.S. Marines launched a fresh offensive in southern Afghanistan against the Taliban. Friday's missile strikes were not related to that operation.<br />
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<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan">http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090703/ap_on_re_as/as_pakistan</a> Voice For Peace Is Facing The Danger And Threattag:ipeace.us,2009-06-30:2217368:Topic:18061472009-06-30T06:55:31.832ZApoloniahttps://ipeace.us/profile/Apolonia
Today I am going to request all members of Voice For Peace to keep this voice alive in case I may not remain in this world. At the moment the Voice For Peace is facing threat. Some forces, who want the war to remain continue in the world want to make the Voice For Peace silent.<br />
Though at the moment I am prepared for the worst, but I have only concern as what will be the future of Voice For Peace after my departure from this world. Someone among you has take the reign of Voice For Peace. Please…
Today I am going to request all members of Voice For Peace to keep this voice alive in case I may not remain in this world. At the moment the Voice For Peace is facing threat. Some forces, who want the war to remain continue in the world want to make the Voice For Peace silent.<br />
Though at the moment I am prepared for the worst, but I have only concern as what will be the future of Voice For Peace after my departure from this world. Someone among you has take the reign of Voice For Peace. Please spread the message of peace to the whole world. I have been receiving threats daily to keep my mouth shut as the war-mongers have been fearing that they will lose the chance of accumulating money in case peace returns to the world. My wife and my children have been facing the same threats.<br />
I am just asking this question from the whole world. Is speaking in favour of peace a crime?<br />
<a href="http://www.opednews.com/articles/OEN-Pakistan-Correspondent-by-Jan-Baumgartner-090316-995.html">http://www.opednews.com/articles/OEN-Pakistan-Correspondent-by-Jan-Baumgartner-090316-995.html</a> Peace is under threat, needing immediate helptag:ipeace.us,2009-06-29:2217368:Topic:18037112009-06-29T06:22:51.793ZApoloniahttps://ipeace.us/profile/Apolonia
Today I want to appeal all the peace-loving people in the world to come forward for saving the peace from total annihilation. At the moment war-mongers have been trying their best to give a blow to the peace. Unabated deaths and destruction in and around Bajaur Agency have been posing a serious threat to the whole world. So now this is the responsibility of all the peace-loving people to save this world from further deaths and destruction.<br />
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Twenty-two soldiers were killed and thirty-five others…
Today I want to appeal all the peace-loving people in the world to come forward for saving the peace from total annihilation. At the moment war-mongers have been trying their best to give a blow to the peace. Unabated deaths and destruction in and around Bajaur Agency have been posing a serious threat to the whole world. So now this is the responsibility of all the peace-loving people to save this world from further deaths and destruction.<br />
<br />
Twenty-two soldiers were killed and thirty-five others injured in two separate attacks by militants in North and South Waziristan agencies on Sunday. Also a same number of militants were killed in the day-long blitz and retaliatory attacks by security forces in the restive region.<br />
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20 Pakistan Army soldiers, including a senior officer, were killed and 35 others sustained injuries, several of them seriously, when dozens of militants, affiliated with Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, ambushed a military convoy in Madakhel area of North Waziristan Agency on Sunday.<br />
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Also, 12 militants and two soldiers were killed in the ongoing offensive in neighbouring South Waziristan Agency.Ahmadullah Ahmadi, a spokesman for the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led Taliban in North Waziristan claimed responsibility for the attack on the military convoy and warned to continue similar attacks on the security forces in the region till the US drone strikes were not stopped.<br />
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Ahmadi phoned The News from Miramshah and claimed 60 soldiers were killed and 15 vehicles were destroyed in the ambush.Pakistan Army spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas confirmed the attack and said 12 soldiers were martyred and 10 others seriously injured.<br />
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When reached by telephone, Athar Abbas told The News that 10 terrorists were later killed when the Pakistan Army gunship choppers pounded positions of the terrorists where they had ambushed the military convoy.<br />
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Official and tribal sources told The News from Miramshah that the military convoy was travelling from Madakhel to Wocha Bibi area near the border with Afghanistan when ambushed by the militants.<br />
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The convoy came under attack when it was passing through a narrow road surrounded by mountains.Almost in the same place earlier, militants had ambushed a military convoy and killed 16 soldiers in 2007.<br />
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The militants first attacked the military with an improvised explosive device (IED) and then started firing with heavy weapons.They said the militants used heavy weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades, mortar shells and AK-47 assault rifles.<br />
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After the attack, the militants reportedly took away weapons and other items from the slain soldiers.The area is away from main Miramshah town and it took some time when senior military officials came to know about the incident.<br />
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Almost two hours later, two military helicopters — a gunship and a transport — were sent to the troubled spot. The chopper shifted 20 bodies of the soldiers and 35 injured to Miramshah. Military officials, who airlifted the injured troops, said a majority of them were in a critical condition.<br />
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Some of them were later sent to Bannu and Peshawar in choppers and admitted to military hospitals. Maj Gen Athar Abbas said gunship helicopters later pounded militant positions in the area. It was the second attack on military convoy by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur-led militants in North Waziristan in a week. In an earlier attack near Miramshah, four soldiers were killed and 20 others injured.<br />
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Gul Bahadur, who was considered a pro-government Taliban commander after he signed a peace accord with the government on February 17, 2008, has suddenly changed his stance. The tribesmen fear after the attack the government might launch a military operation in North Waziristan.<br />
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Elsewhere in South Waziristan, 12 militants were killed and seven others sustained injuries as jetfighters bombed the suspected hideouts of the Taliban. Also, two soldiers were killed and four injured seriously in different parts of the tribal region.<br />
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The tribal sources said the gunship helicopters and jetfighters bombed hideouts of the militants at 10:00 am in Saam, Kacha Lungerkhel, Kuram Garhi, Ladha Serai, Tangi Budenzai, Makeen, Janata, Srarogha, Kotkai, Garhagah and suburbs of Ladha Tehsil, killing 12 militants and injuring seven others.<br />
<a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=22986">http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=22986</a> Imagine Peace: International Children's Peace Activitytag:ipeace.us,2009-06-28:2217368:Topic:18006712009-06-28T01:52:55.535ZApoloniahttps://ipeace.us/profile/Apolonia
Hello, everyone,<br />
<br />
I wanted to invite anyone here who is interested to participate in a simple peace project in partnership with children in Pennsylvania, USA.<br />
<br />
Next week, a group of children attending a Peace Camp in Pennsylvania, USA, will be writing coded messages to share with children living around the world, particularly places that have known systemic violence. If we send you copies of our children’s messages, would you be interested and able to share them with children near you? Any…
Hello, everyone,<br />
<br />
I wanted to invite anyone here who is interested to participate in a simple peace project in partnership with children in Pennsylvania, USA.<br />
<br />
Next week, a group of children attending a Peace Camp in Pennsylvania, USA, will be writing coded messages to share with children living around the world, particularly places that have known systemic violence. If we send you copies of our children’s messages, would you be interested and able to share them with children near you? Any group of children can participate, and decoding the messages of peace from friends across the globe is a fun, simple activity that we hope will be accessible to individuals or programs working in a wide variety of circumstances.<br />
<br />
Also, we have designed this project with an understanding of many of the risks faced by people working in areas where there has been systemic violence, and done what we can to avoid increasing that risk in any way. One way we've done that is to make the project very flexible, so that participants can use their understanding of their home areas to adapt the activity as needed.<br />
<br />
If you’d like to receive our children’s messages of peace to share with children in your area, please let me know. If so, I'll send more details about how exactly everything works, and if you choose to participate, I'll also send our messages at the end of next week.<br />
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Thank you all for reading this post. I hope to hear from one or more of you soon! Please feel free to ask me any questions, either here in this discussion thread or privately via e-mail: sterghe@gmail.com .<br />
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Thank you very much for working toward peace,<br />
Weavre Cooper<br />
Director, Peace Camp for Kids 2009<br />
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA What can those of us outside Pakistan do to help the most?tag:ipeace.us,2009-06-21:2217368:Topic:17784942009-06-21T19:30:56.334ZApoloniahttps://ipeace.us/profile/Apolonia
Hello, Muhammad and everyone else,<br />
<br />
Thank you for sharing the information and videos that are posted here. They're enlightening--and motivating. I'd like to help in some real, effective way. What might that be?<br />
<br />
I'm an adult educator by profession (math, various computer skills, test prep including GED/SAT/NTE/GRE and others, life skills--taught in university, community, and office settings). Currently, I devote a great deal of energy to the Peace and Justice Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA, where I…
Hello, Muhammad and everyone else,<br />
<br />
Thank you for sharing the information and videos that are posted here. They're enlightening--and motivating. I'd like to help in some real, effective way. What might that be?<br />
<br />
I'm an adult educator by profession (math, various computer skills, test prep including GED/SAT/NTE/GRE and others, life skills--taught in university, community, and office settings). Currently, I devote a great deal of energy to the Peace and Justice Center in Wilkes-Barre, PA, where I serve on the board of directors. I'm also the Director for Peace Camp 2009 in Wilkes-Barre, PA. I speak and write enough Spanish to get by, but no Urdu or other language useful in Pakistan. I would send financial support to Voice for Peace if I could, but I can't in my family's present circumstances. I do make an effort to distribute Muhammad Khurshid's writings and story as widely as possible.<br />
<br />
So, how could I best contribute to Voice for Peace, beyond what I already do? What is most needed, that perhaps I could do? What can others like me, living far from Pakistan but wanting to help, do?<br />
<br />
Any suggestions are welcome. I'm sure I'm not the only one willing to take concrete action if there's something to be done to help alleviate the suffering of the IDP in Pakistan, to help educate children and adults there, to help bring about peace.<br />
<br />
Many thanks to everyone already doing what can be done. Voice For Peace Wants To Help Peopletag:ipeace.us,2009-05-21:2217368:Topic:16412822009-05-21T10:52:52.282ZApoloniahttps://ipeace.us/profile/Apolonia
The Voice For Peace wants to help the people who are in the conflict region. At the moment the people of tribal areas are in great trouble and needing urgent help. The tribesmen are being killed without any reasons. There is no justification for the killing of women and children as they have committed no crime. They must be spared in the battle. I am needing your advices as how the Voice For Peace will be able to play a role for ending violence in tribal areas and other parts of Pakistan. I am…
The Voice For Peace wants to help the people who are in the conflict region. At the moment the people of tribal areas are in great trouble and needing urgent help. The tribesmen are being killed without any reasons. There is no justification for the killing of women and children as they have committed no crime. They must be spared in the battle. I am needing your advices as how the Voice For Peace will be able to play a role for ending violence in tribal areas and other parts of Pakistan. I am just sharing the editorial of a leading Pakistani newspaper with you.<br />
The UN has described Pakistan's humanitarian crisis as massive, possibly one of the biggest in the world. An agency accustomed to all kinds of human distress seems genuinely over-whelmed. The nature of the crisis is in many ways unique. Within days, over two million people have had to leave homes, often only with the clothes on their backs. They have been displaced into a hostile situation, with high heat, poor sanitation and sickness at camps adding to the misery of those already traumatized by conflict. Many homes have been destroyed, standing crops devastated. In a bid to save them and escape the inhospitable climatic environs of Mardan and Swabi, a few hundred families have been attempting to venture back. To add to the complications, only about 15 percent of the IDPs are based at camps. The remainder are scattered in many locations, often with host families who themselves struggle to cater to their needs. The world now seems to be waking up to the scale of the crisis. The US has pledged $110 million for the displaced and made an eloquent appeal for more donations. The cash-strapped UN agencies are doing what they can; so too are many local groups. But the reality is that the mass displacement represents a kind of nightmare. The situation, like the one that immediately followed the 2005 earthquake, is almost impossible to deal with. There are far too many people involved, far too few facilities.<br />
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But the Pakistan government must remember that it is us who will live with the consequences of events currently unfolding within our country. We can only meet disaster by losing sight of this reality. The government, therefore, must take a primary role in deciding what is to be done and how the awful misery of the displaced can at least be eased if not eliminated. We need to think along innovative lines: the possibility of moving camps up to cooler climatic zones, possibly in the Murree area, should be considered. Urgent needs, such as that for safe drinking water must too be identified and made a priority. This step alone could help combat disease such as the outbreak of diarrhoea reported from Jalozai.<br />
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Other measures too are needed. One is the question of law and order at the camps. There have been reports of gangs involved in robbery or extortion operating at some of them. Surely it is not beyond our capabilities to police these settlements better. The fact that the IDPs live in fear of criminals is unacceptable. They fear too that the Taliban who many believe will linger on in their areas. Confidence needs to be built on this point too. Other accounts speak of NADRA teams seeking Rs50 to look up details of their record for IDPs, who while fleeing aerial shelling and bullets neglected to bring their NICs with them. This is absurd. NADRA can do without the money and displaced persons need to be rescued from the added burdens of this kind placed on them as a consequence of a decision taken in some air-conditioned office. Schemes to support 'host' families too need to be implemented.<br />
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The task is a gigantic one and expands beyond the camps. Scenes of widespread devastation have greeted IDPs who have returned to Buner and parts of Swat. These people will need help to re-build lives. Pakistan must persuade the world and its own people to help deliver this. It must also step up its own efforts and do what it possibly can. Otherwise IDPs who are today helpless victims will return home with anger in their hearts. We must remember similar frustrations have contributed to the rise of the Taliban. This reality alone should be enough to compel us to gear up aid efforts.<br />
<a href="http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=178655">http://thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=178655</a>