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Threats to Humanitarian Aid in Sudan
Sponsored by: US Fund for UNICEFThe Government of Sudan has revoked the licenses of 16 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that account for more than half of the humanitarian work in Darfur.
In Darfur, where approximately 2.7 million people (half of which are children) are displaced from their homes, NGOs play a pivotal role in providing lifesaving humanitarian aid such as food, shelter, clean water, vaccines, healthcare, education and more.
Currently, groups such as UNICEF and the remaining NGOs are working to fill in the immediate gaps, but if the licenses from these revoked agencies are not restored, it will have immediate and long lasting impacts on the well-being of millions of Sudanese citizens.
In the meantime, it's important to show support for UNICEF and their increased relief activities in Sudan.
Sign Petition see who signed this
We signed the “Threats to Humanitarian Aid in Sudan” petition!
# 9,923:
8:18 pm PST, Feb 9,
Name not displayed, Australia
# 9,922:
7:13 pm PST, Feb 9,
Connie Richardson, Arkansas
# 9,921:
5:15 pm PST, Feb 9,
Valerie Lemke, Michigan
# 9,920:
5:03 pm PST, Feb 9,
Lenee Lirette, Florida
# 9,919:
3:51 pm PST, Feb 9,
Michael Doyle, United Kingdom
# 9,918:
3:09 pm PST, Feb 9,
Claire Lacey, Alaska
# 9,917:
1:42 pm PST, Feb 9,
Jessica Garfinkel, New York
# 9,916:
12:03 pm PST, Feb 9,
Isma Whitewolf, United Kingdom
# 9,915:
10:28 am PST, Feb 9,
Maria Fontanella, Florida
# 9,914:
8:24 am PST, Feb 9,
Lisa R, Germany
# 9,913:
8:18 am PST, Feb 9,
Mardi Gause, North Carolina
why would you refuse help? it makes no sense. these poor people need as much halp as can be offered!
why would you refuse help? it makes no sense. these poor people need as much halp as can be offered!
# 9,912:
7:54 am PST, Feb 9,
Misha Mazor, New York
# 9,911:
7:42 am PST, Feb 9,
Roland Treichel, Germany
# 9,910:
11:10 pm PST, Feb 8,
Gwendolyn Mims, North Carolina
# 9,909:
5:56 pm PST, Feb 8,
Name not displayed, Wisconsin
# 9,908:
5:38 pm PST, Feb 8,
Nolene Wimmer, Australia
I feel that the country would take a step back 10 years if they do not restore the licenses. These poor people have done nothing wrong to deserve such treatment and I believe that the countries and organizations involved are doing a wonderful job and should be allowed to continue.
I feel that the country would take a step back 10 years if they do not restore the licenses. These poor people have done nothing wrong to deserve such treatment and I believe that the countries and organizations involved are doing a wonderful job and should be allowed to continue.
# 9,907:
2:00 pm PST, Feb 8,
May Agar, United Kingdom
# 9,906:
1:55 pm PST, Feb 8,
Jean Mclaren, Michigan
# 9,905:
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12:02 pm PST, Feb 8,
Vasiliki Skepetari, United Kingdom
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# 9,904:
11:26 am PST, Feb 8,
Tiffany Adams, California
# 9,903:
9:07 am PST, Feb 8,
Name not displayed, Minnesota
# 9,902:
6:04 am PST, Feb 8,
Dell James, United Kingdom
# 9,901:
2:33 am PST, Feb 8,
Elizabeth Oehrn, Sweden
# 9,900:
5:10 pm PST, Feb 7,
Monique Musialowski, Michigan
# 9,899:
4:21 pm PST, Feb 7,
Nathaniel Perry, Virginia
# 9,898:
3:43 pm PST, Feb 7,
Kari Dennis, Florida
# 9,897:
2:45 pm PST, Feb 7,
Angela Rose, Virginia
# 9,896:
1:12 pm PST, Feb 7,
Marta De la fuente, Spain
# 9,895:
9:57 am PST, Feb 7,
Allen Swift, California
# 9,894:
9:14 am PST, Feb 7,
David Weiser, New York
The effort of UNICEF must be continued (and even strenghthened) for the sake of our neighbors in Sudan.
The effort of UNICEF must be continued (and even strenghthened) for the sake of our neighbors in Sudan.
# 9,893:
8:58 am PST, Feb 7,
Brenda Wagner, Colorado
# 9,892:
7:15 am PST, Feb 7,
Marlene Patino Rangel, Mexico
# 9,891:
6:07 am PST, Feb 7,
Donna Cranford, North Carolina
# 9,890:
2:00 am PST, Feb 7,
Brett Dunn, Oregon
# 9,889:
8:57 pm PST, Feb 6,
Name not displayed, Iran, Islamic Republic Of
# 9,888:
6:08 pm PST, Feb 6,
Name not displayed, New York
# 9,887:
6:04 pm PST, Feb 6,
Amy Tharp, Colorado
When my friend was in Sudan a few years ago he was touched by the kindness of the ordinary people. When he got on a bus one day and was reaching for his money a man stepped up and paid the fare for him. When asked why, the Sudanese man said, "You are a guest in our country and so it is our job to take care of you while you are here." When things like that happen to you time and time again in a place that seems so evil to the outside world it creates a sense of urgency to help the innocent people who are being victimized by this crisis.
When my friend was in Sudan a few years ago he was touched by the kindness of the ordinary people. When he got on a bus one day and was reaching for his money a man stepped up and paid the fare for him. When asked why, the Sudanese man said, "You are a guest in our country and so it is our job to take care of you while you are here." When things like that happen to you time and time again in a place that seems so evil to the outside world it creates a sense of urgency to help the innocent people who are being victimized by this crisis.
# 9,886:
5:59 pm PST, Feb 6,
Sherri Hamilton, Kentucky
# 9,885:
1:08 pm PST, Feb 6,
Nancy Perry, Arizona
# 9,884:
12:52 pm PST, Feb 6,
Emmi Ollila, Finland
# 9,883:
12:18 pm PST, Feb 6,
D Beene, Texas
# 9,882:
11:35 am PST, Feb 6,
Adam Pence, California
# 9,881:
9:45 am PST, Feb 6,
Jamie Poe, Colorado
# 9,880:
9:36 am PST, Feb 6,
T S, New York
# 9,879:
8:14 am PST, Feb 6,
Daniel Axelrod, North Carolina
# 9,878:
7:23 am PST, Feb 6,
JUAN O RODRIGUEZ, Puerto Rico
# 9,877:
6:30 am PST, Feb 6,
Ted Szostak, North Carolina
# 9,876:
3:38 am PST, Feb 6,
Carol Winder, United Kingdom
# 9,875:
9:50 pm PST, Feb 5,
David Wickre, Minnesota
# 9,874:
9:21 pm PST, Feb 5,
Susan Hubbard, California
# 9,873:
6:45 pm PST, Feb 5,
Dael Devenport, Alaska
# 9,872:
4:50 pm PST, Feb 5,
Izbase Loredana, Romania
# 9,871:
4:08 pm PST, Feb 5,
Katherine Fletcher, Washington
# 9,870:
12:15 pm PST, Feb 5,
Megan Speight, Canada
# 9,869:
11:51 am PST, Feb 5,
Vanessa Tercero, Pennsylvania
# 9,868:
11:44 am PST, Feb 5,
Name not displayed, Arizona
# 9,867:
11:37 am PST, Feb 5,
Michael Moros, Massachusetts
# 9,866:
11:05 am PST, Feb 5,
KELLE PEEPLEZ, Arizona
# 9,865:
9:39 am PST, Feb 5,
Zena Rockowitz, Florida
# 9,864:
8:49 am PST, Feb 5,
Therese Viitkar, Estonia
# 9,863:
7:53 am PST, Feb 5,
Faith Staggs, Florida
# 9,862:
7:51 am PST, Feb 5,
Kathryn Lemlow, California
# 9,861:
7:37 am PST, Feb 5,
Name not displayed, Oregon
# 9,860:
7:19 am PST, Feb 5,
Elise Tyrie, New York
# 9,859:
7:14 am PST, Feb 5,
Name not displayed, France
I support the work of UNICEF in their efforts to meet the immediate needs of people throughout Sudan including drilling new wells, building latrines and distributing a wide range of vital supplies such as vaccines, medicines and surgical equipment that work to save hundreds of thousand of lives.
I support the work of UNICEF in their efforts to meet the immediate needs of people throughout Sudan including drilling new wells, building latrines and distributing a wide range of vital supplies such as vaccines, medicines and surgical equipment that work to save hundreds of thousand of lives.
# 9,858:
6:01 am PST, Feb 5,
Lynna Mustapha, Malaysia
Buddha taught many very different methods for removing the cause of suffering, methods appropriate for the very different types and conditions and aptitudes of suffering beings. For those who had the capacity to understand it, he taught the most powerful method of all, a method based on the practice of compassion. It is known as the Mahayana, or Great Vehicle, because practicing it benefits all beings, without partiality. It is likened to a vast boat that carries all the beings in the universe across the sea of suffering. "The mantra Om Mani Päme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful, because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. When you say the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience. Pä, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom. "So in this way recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas of the three times. What could then be more meaningful than to say the mantra and accomplish the six perfections?" — Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones Buddhists believe that saying the mantra (prayer), Om Mani Padme Hum, out loud or silently to oneself, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, is the bodhisattva who most embodies compassion. The name Avalokitesvara has its root meaning as "he who observes the sounds of the world". The great vow of Avalokitesvara is to listen to the supplications, and cries for help from those in difficulty in the world and to provide them with aid, whatever expedient means are needed to help people most effectively. Those who recite and hold the Great Compassion Mantra will obtain these fifteen kinds of good birth. All gods and people should constantly recite and hold it, without carelessness. Those who recite and hold the spiritual Mantra of Great Compassion will not suffer any of these fifteen kinds of bad death and will obtain the following fifteen kinds of good birth: 1. Their place of birth will always have a good king 2. They will always be born in a good country 3. They will always be born at a good time 4. They will always meet good friends 5. The organs of their body will always be complete 6. Their heart will be pure and full in the way 7. They will not violate the prohibitive precepts 8. Their family will be kind and harmonious 9. They will always have the necessary wealth and goods in abundance 10. They will always obtain the respect and help of others 11. They riches will not be plundered 12. They will obtain everything they seek 13. Dragons, gods, and good spirits will always protect them 14. In the place where they are born they will see the Buddha and hear the Dharma 15. They will awaken to the profound meaning of that Proper Dharma which they hear. People and gods who recite and hold the Great Compassion Mantra will obtain fifteen kinds of good birth and will not suffer fifteen kinds of bad death. The bad deaths are: 1. They will not die of starvation or privation 2. They will not die from having been yoked, imprisoned, caned or otherwise beaten 3. They will not die at the hands of hostile enemies 4. They will not be killed in military battle 5. They will not be killed by tigers, wolves, or other evil beasts 6. They will not die from the venom of poisonous snakes, black serpents, or scorpions 7. They will not drown or be burned to death 8. They will not be poisoned to death 9. They will not die as a result of sorcery 10. They will not die of madness or insanity 11. They will not be killed by landslides or falling trees 12. They will not die of nightmares sent by evil people 13. They will not be killed by deviant spirits or evil ghosts 14. They will not die of evil illnesses which bind the body 15. They will not commit suicide Nīlakantha Dhāranī (The Blue Necked Dhāranī) Namo ratna-trayāya (Adoration of the triple Gem) [edit] I. Initial Salutation Nama āryāvalokite-śvarāya bodhisattvāya mahā-sattvāya mahā-kārunikāya (Adoration to the noble Lord who looks down, the enlightened sentient being, the great being, the merciful one!) [edit] II. Name of Avalokiteśvarā Om sarva-bhaya-śodhanāya tasya namaskrtvā imu Ārya-valokite-śvarā tava namo Nīlakantha 2 (Om! Having paid adoration to One who dispels all fears, the noble Avalokiteśvarā, adoration to the blue-necked one!) [edit] III. śloka enunication of the merit of the hrdaya-dhāranī Hrdayam vartayisyāmi sarvārtha-sādhanam śubham 3 ajeyam sarva-bhūtānām bhava-mārga-viśodhakam 4 (I shall enunciate the heart dharani which ensures all purpose, is pure and invincible for all beings, and which purifies the path of existence.) [edit] IV. Dhāranī Tadyathā: Om Ālokādhipati lokātikrānta (Like this: Om! Lord of Effulgence, the World-Transcending One. Ehy mahā-bodhisattva sarpa-sarpa smara smara hrdayam (Come, great bodhisattva, descend, descend. Please remember (smara) my heart dharani. Kuru-kuru karma dhuru-dhuru vijayate mahā-vijayate (Do, do the work. Hold fast, hold fast, Victor, the great Victor) Dhara-dhara dhārinī-rāja cala-cala mama vimalā-mūrtte (Hold on, hold on, King of the Dharani. Move, move onto my spotless image.) Ehi ehi chinda chinda aras pracali vaśa-vaśam pranāśaya (Come, come, the vow, the vow of the admantine king, destroy, destroy every poison.) Hulu-hulu smara hulu-hulu sara-sara siri-siri suru-suru (Quick-quick, please remember, quick-quick. Descend-descend, descend-descend, descend-descend) Bodhiya-bodhiya bodhaya-bodhaya maitriya Nīlakantha [dehi me] darsanam (Being enlightened, being enlightened; enlighten me, enlighten me. Merciful Blue-necked One appear [unto me].) Praharāyamānāya svāhā siddhāya svāhā mahā-siddhāya svāhā siddhayogīśvarāya svāhā (To you who sees us, hail! To the Successful one hail! To the Great Successful one hail! To the Successful Lord of the yogis, hail!) Nīlakanthāya svāhā varāha-mukhāya svāhā narasimha-mukhāya svāha (To the Blue-necked one (Nīlakantha) hail! To the Boar-faced One hail! To Man-Lion faced One hail!) Gadā-hastāya svāhā cakra-hastāya svāhā padma-hastāya svāhā (To one who bears the mace (gadā) in his hand, hail! To the holder of discus in his hand, hail! To One who sports a lotus (padma) in his hand, hail!) Nīlakantha-pāndarāya svāhā Mahātali Śankaraya svāhā (To Blue-necked One smeared (with holy ashes), hail! To the mighty auspicious one, hail!) [edit] V. Final Salutation Namo ratna-trayāya Nama āryāvalokite-śvarāya bodhisattvāya svāhā (Adoration to the Triple Gem, adoration to the noble Āvalokiteśvarā (Lord who looks down), the enlightened being, hail!)
Buddha taught many very different methods for removing the cause of suffering, methods appropriate for the very different types and conditions and aptitudes of suffering beings. For those who had the capacity to understand it, he taught the most powerful method of all, a method based on the practice of compassion. It is known as the Mahayana, or Great Vehicle, because practicing it benefits all beings, without partiality. It is likened to a vast boat that carries all the beings in the universe across the sea of suffering. "The mantra Om Mani Päme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful, because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. When you say the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience. Pä, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom. "So in this way recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas of the three times. What could then be more meaningful than to say the mantra and accomplish the six perfections?" — Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, Heart Treasure of the Enlightened Ones Buddhists believe that saying the mantra (prayer), Om Mani Padme Hum, out loud or silently to oneself, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of Chenrezig, the embodiment of compassion. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, is the bodhisattva who most embodies compassion. The name Avalokitesvara has its root meaning as "he who observes the sounds of the world". The great vow of Avalokitesvara is to listen to the supplications, and cries for help from those in difficulty in the world and to provide them with aid, whatever expedient means are needed to help people most effectively. Those who recite and hold the Great Compassion Mantra will obtain these fifteen kinds of good birth. All gods and people should constantly recite and hold it, without carelessness. Those who recite and hold the spiritual Mantra of Great Compassion will not suffer any of these fifteen kinds of bad death and will obtain the following fifteen kinds of good birth: 1. Their place of birth will always have a good king 2. They will always be born in a good country 3. They will always be born at a good time 4. They will always meet good friends 5. The organs of their body will always be complete 6. Their heart will be pure and full in the way 7. They will not violate the prohibitive precepts 8. Their family will be kind and harmonious 9. They will always have the necessary wealth and goods in abundance 10. They will always obtain the respect and help of others 11. They riches will not be plundered 12. They will obtain everything they seek 13. Dragons, gods, and good spirits will always protect them 14. In the place where they are born they will see the Buddha and hear the Dharma 15. They will awaken to the profound meaning of that Proper Dharma which they hear. People and gods who recite and hold the Great Compassion Mantra will obtain fifteen kinds of good birth and will not suffer fifteen kinds of bad death. The bad deaths are: 1. They will not die of starvation or privation 2. They will not die from having been yoked, imprisoned, caned or otherwise beaten 3. They will not die at the hands of hostile enemies 4. They will not be killed in military battle 5. They will not be killed by tigers, wolves, or other evil beasts 6. They will not die from the venom of poisonous snakes, black serpents, or scorpions 7. They will not drown or be burned to death 8. They will not be poisoned to death 9. They will not die as a result of sorcery 10. They will not die of madness or insanity 11. They will not be killed by landslides or falling trees 12. They will not die of nightmares sent by evil people 13. They will not be killed by deviant spirits or evil ghosts 14. They will not die of evil illnesses which bind the body 15. They will not commit suicide Nīlakantha Dhāranī (The Blue Necked Dhāranī) Namo ratna-trayāya (Adoration of the triple Gem) [edit] I. Initial Salutation Nama āryāvalokite-śvarāya bodhisattvāya mahā-sattvāya mahā-kārunikāya (Adoration to the noble Lord who looks down, the enlightened sentient being, the great being, the merciful one!) [edit] II. Name of Avalokiteśvarā Om sarva-bhaya-śodhanāya tasya namaskrtvā imu Ārya-valokite-śvarā tava namo Nīlakantha 2 (Om! Having paid adoration to One who dispels all fears, the noble Avalokiteśvarā, adoration to the blue-necked one!) [edit] III. śloka enunication of the merit of the hrdaya-dhāranī Hrdayam vartayisyāmi sarvārtha-sādhanam śubham 3 ajeyam sarva-bhūtānām bhava-mārga-viśodhakam 4 (I shall enunciate the heart dharani which ensures all purpose, is pure and invincible for all beings, and which purifies the path of existence.) [edit] IV. Dhāranī Tadyathā: Om Ālokādhipati lokātikrānta (Like this: Om! Lord of Effulgence, the World-Transcending One. Ehy mahā-bodhisattva sarpa-sarpa smara smara hrdayam (Come, great bodhisattva, descend, descend. Please remember (smara) my heart dharani. Kuru-kuru karma dhuru-dhuru vijayate mahā-vijayate (Do, do the work. Hold fast, hold fast, Victor, the great Victor) Dhara-dhara dhārinī-rāja cala-cala mama vimalā-mūrtte (Hold on, hold on, King of the Dharani. Move, move onto my spotless image.) Ehi ehi chinda chinda aras pracali vaśa-vaśam pranāśaya (Come, come, the vow, the vow of the admantine king, destroy, destroy every poison.) Hulu-hulu smara hulu-hulu sara-sara siri-siri suru-suru (Quick-quick, please remember, quick-quick. Descend-descend, descend-descend, descend-descend) Bodhiya-bodhiya bodhaya-bodhaya maitriya Nīlakantha [dehi me] darsanam (Being enlightened, being enlightened; enlighten me, enlighten me. Merciful Blue-necked One appear [unto me].) Praharāyamānāya svāhā siddhāya svāhā mahā-siddhāya svāhā siddhayogīśvarāya svāhā (To you who sees us, hail! To the Successful one hail! To the Great Successful one hail! To the Successful Lord of the yogis, hail!) Nīlakanthāya svāhā varāha-mukhāya svāhā narasimha-mukhāya svāha (To the Blue-necked one (Nīlakantha) hail! To the Boar-faced One hail! To Man-Lion faced One hail!) Gadā-hastāya svāhā cakra-hastāya svāhā padma-hastāya svāhā (To one who bears the mace (gadā) in his hand, hail! To the holder of discus in his hand, hail! To One who sports a lotus (padma) in his hand, hail!) Nīlakantha-pāndarāya svāhā Mahātali Śankaraya svāhā (To Blue-necked One smeared (with holy ashes), hail! To the mighty auspicious one, hail!) [edit] V. Final Salutation Namo ratna-trayāya Nama āryāvalokite-śvarāya bodhisattvāya svāhā (Adoration to the Triple Gem, adoration to the noble Āvalokiteśvarā (Lord who looks down), the enlightened being, hail!)
# 9,857:
2:43 am PST, Feb 5,
Katarzyna Gornicka, Ireland
# 9,856:
2:26 am PST, Feb 5,
Lisa Ragland, Wisconsin
# 9,855:
11:07 pm PST, Feb 4,
Albert Mah, Australia
# 9,854:
11:02 pm PST, Feb 4,
Nicole Rooth, Canada
# 9,853:
8:04 pm PST, Feb 4,
Kathy Thornton, California
# 9,852:
7:03 pm PST, Feb 4,
Sarah Ash, California
