Ten Thousand Things
Multicultural Webfinds

"Ten Thousand Things" is a Buddhist expression representing the dynamic interconnection and simultaneous unity and diversity of everything in the universe.

Beauty, Creativity, & Freedom of Expression: The 2006 Right Livelihood Awards – Honoring Indian Dalit activist Ruth Manorama, Daniel Ellsberg, and the International Poetry Festival of Medellin

It is necessary that stones speak, that walls shout and that trees express the poetry of all humanity.

We appeal to you to poetize public spaces in the big and small cities of the world. This will be our massive and loving manner of communication with “the others”, who are also us.

Clear examples are the photos you can see, which can be shaped as you like by just a click of your mouse.

It is necessary that we develop a great movement of globalization of freedom of conscience and freedom of speech through the serene, clear and revolutionary language of poetry.

– Managing Committee of the International Poetry Festival of Medellín

On September 28, 2006, the senate of the world's most powerful nation has rubber-stamped the latest in a long list of its administration's attacks on universally held values and standards regarding human rights and dignity set forth in the Geneva Convention, and assaulted the concept of habeas corpus, the right to a speedy and fair hearing for prisoners:

Amnesty International is deeply concerned that today's passage of legislation by the U.S. Senate calls into question the United States' commitment to fundamental principles of justice and fair trials. The "Military Commissions Act," first approved by the House on Wednesday, fails to provide clarification of basic standards for treatment of persons in detention. Instead the bill adds more confusion where illumination was sought.

"Many have looked to the United States, as the world's sole superpower, to set the standard for human rights," said Larry Cox, Amnesty International USA Executive Director. "However, today Congress has sent the wrong message by refusing to affirm basic, universal standards recognized under human rights and humanitarian law. Rather than steering a clear course to uphold established standards of U.S. and international law, the bill creates new standards that appear to fall short and raise questions about the U.S. government's commitment to American values of due process and integrity.

"Amnesty International commends the Senators and Members of Congress who voted against this legislation. They took a principled stand by casting an important vote in favor of human rights, the rule of law and our nation's standing in the international community," added Cox.

The Road to Guantanamo, a Channel 4 production, released this year, tells the story of the "Tipton Three," and demonstrates the horrors the U.S. "War on Terror" brought upon innocent Pakistani-British citizens who were traveling to a wedding in Pakistan and got lost in Afghanistan.

The situation of Syrian-Canadian Maher Arar, more recently in the news, shows us that the kidnapping and torture of innocent people are not isolated events.

Today we also heard the announcement of this year's Right Livelihood Award winners who bring us inspiration, showing us examples of those who, against all odds, have worked for human rights and dignity; to expose state abuses of power; and to powerfully assert "the human values of beauty, creativity, freedom of expression and community work, in opposition to the fear and violence that prevail" in the world today.

They remind us not to give up hope and to not stop speaking out against the spread of an anti-human rights culture.

Dalit human and women's rights activist Ruth Manorama was named one of the winners of this year's Right Livelihood Award ("alternative Nobel"), along with Daniel Ellsberg, the former U.S. Defense Department official who leaked secret Pentagon documents during the Vietnam war, and the International Poetry Festival of Medellín.

the XVI International Poetry Festival of Medellín

Anti-corruption campaigner Chico Whitaker Ferreira of Brazil won the honorary award. They will receive their awards at a ceremony at the Swedish Parliament on Dec. 8, two days before the Nobel Prizes are handed out, according to an Associated Press report published at Commondreams.org:

"They are all representatives of personal courage," said philanthropist Jakob von Uexkull, who founded the award in 1980 to recognize work he believed was ignored by the prestigious Nobel Prizes.

In giving the prize to Ellsberg, the award committee partly wanted to highlight parallels between the Vietnam war and the war in Iraq.

"It is quite clear that decisions are being taken by governments behind our back, where the argument of secrecy is being misused," von Uexkull told The Associated Press. "We are facing the same situation, I think, in Iraq. People have been lied to about the reasons for this war."

Ellsberg, 75, became famous for his release of the Pentagon Papers, which indicated the U.S. government had deceived the public about whether the Vietnam war could be won and the extent of casualties.

The award citation recognized him "for putting peace and truth first, at considerable personal risk, and dedicating his life to inspiring others to follow his example."

Manorama was honored for her work to achieve equality for dalit women in India. Dalits, or untouchables, belong to no caste and have faced centuries of discrimination. (More on Dalit issues here )

"I think this award will hopefully inspire other young Dalit women to say 'Look what we can do,'" said von Uexkull, who sold his valuable stamp collection to fund the awards...

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