| Just for your edification: The Taleban government has not
limited itself to Hindus. It unabashedly discriminates against women and almost any group that is not fundamentalist Muslim, to the point of arresting relief workers on charges of preaching Christianity (which can result in a death sentence), forbidding females to go to school or work, and restricting access to health care for women. This is not just about religion; this is about basic human rights. Please take a minute to read this and send it on. ~Sarah Begin forwarded message: Please take a few minutes to read and act on this email. On May 23rd 2001 the Taleban authorities in Afghanistan confirmed that all Hindus will be required to wear a strip of yellow cloth sewn onto a shirt pocket in order to identify themselves. They claim that the measure is for their "protection". The world has faced this before, in 1939 the world was required, at great cost, to rid itself of Hitler's tyranny, it is not hard to spot his child. Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to relive it. The Taleban's record on respecting other religions gives great cause for concern that their ultimate aim, upon which they are intent, is "religious cleansing". They have already demonstrated their disdain and intolerance for other religions and traditions by the desecration and destruction of the ancient Buddhist statues, our collective heritage, within Afghanistan. Whatever your religion, even if you have none, we hope that you will agree that this fundamentally wrong. Remember, "All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing". Please do not do nothing, add your voice. DIRECTIONS: PLEASE COPY this email on to a new message, add your name and those of your household who wish to participate to the bottom and forward it to everyone on your distribution list. If you receive this petition and you find that you will be the 251st name on it, please e-mail a copy of it to: [email protected]. It will then be forwarded to the UN. Please then delete all the names, add your own as the 1st and pass it on. Even if you decide not to sign, please be considerate and do not kill the petition as you will be denying your friends, and theirs, their legitimate voice. Instead return it to [email protected] To The Secretary General, Security Council and General Assembly of the United Nations. We the undersigned are appalled by the decision of the Taleban government of Afghanistan to require all Hindus to wear a piece of yellow cloth sewn onto a shirt pocket in order to identify themselves. An individual's communion with God, however they find him, is a matter of personal conscience and must not be the subject of intimidation or persecution. The right of everyone to worship as they wish is fundamental and inalienable. The United Nations was founded in order to defeat Hitler and his henchmen who required the same from another religion with all its horrific consequences. It is completely unacceptable that nearly 60 years later history is repeating itself. We ask the following: 1. That the Taleban government is made aware in the strongest possible terms that the world will not countenance this perversion of human rights. 2. That prior to the United Nations and/or it's constituent members granting recognition of the Taleban government this obscene policy is reversed. 3. That the United Nations widen the terms of the trade sanctions currently in force. 1. Alastair Mitton - London UK 2. Robert Mitton - London UK 3. Paulette Budd - London UK 4. Andrew Peake - London UK 5. Pippa Howell - London UK 6. Cecile Kusters - Arnhem, the Netherlands 7. Sarah Malpas - London UK 8. Susan Donnelly - Newcastle UK 9. Paul Donnelly - London UK 10. Pauline Bartholomew - London UK 11. Is0bel McMillan London UK 12. Fiona Adamson 13. Minka Emina Kulenovic La Jolla, US 14. Cath Dolan, London, England 15. Liz Murphy, Murcia, Spain 16. William M. Rueter, Wisconsin, US 17. Jaclyn A. Knapper, Tennessee, US 18. Louise Morris, Tennessee, US 19. Joe Stoud, Matsuyama, Japan 20. Keiko Stroud, Matsuyama, Japan 21.Larry Asher, Nepal 22. Phyl Asher, Nepal 23. Reiny de Wit, Nepal 24. Helen Johnston, Nepal 25. Isaac Thompson, Northern Ireland 26. Anne Thompson, Northern Ireland 27. Paul Carter, Vancouver, Canada 28. Lois Carter, Vancouver, Canada 29. Bronwyn Short, Vancouver, Canada 30. David Short, Vancouver, Canada 31. Mark Calder, Sydney, Australia 32. Graham Wintle, Surbiton, UK 33. Geoff Chivers, Surbiton, UK 34. Derek Nathan New Malden UK 35. Mary Nathan New Malden UK 36. Rosalind Preston, London UK 37 Marlena Schmool, UK 38 Ephraim Borowski, Glasgow, UK 39. Ruth Warrens, London, UK 40. Anthony Warrens, London, UK 41. Ian Goodman, London, UK 42. Liz Lightstone, London, UK 43Elizabeth Simpson, London UK 44 Robert Lechler 45. Gary Young London UK 46.Paul Young London UK 47.Imogen Moore London UK 48.Charles Adams London UK 49. Elizabeth Green London UK 50. Adam Adams London UK 51. Philippe STROUN Paris F 52. Evi Blaikie, New York City 53. Judy Mandel, San Diego CA 54. Elliot Garfinkel 55. Catherine G. Perolman 56. Timothy David Seldin, Rockville, MD USA 57. Joyce St Giermaine, Derwood, MD USA 58. John Moncure, Camden, SC USA 59. Alice Clark, Lugoff, SC USA 60. Sarah Clark, Charlotte, NC USA ---cut here If you read the whole damn thing, and have decided you want to take part, cut and paste everything minus this text to the email addy listed above. |