Seva: Noteworthy Blogs and Sites

Here are some blogs and sites that discuss seva in its various forms. Whether capturing these images through photography, discussion of health and human rights issues, documenting abuses against humanity, making a film on post-9/11 discrimination, fighting for justice, or assisting in the rebuilding of communities -- we are each motivated in our own way to continue the Guru's teachings of seva. These blogs are one example of documenting this continued movement of seva.

This list only briefly touches upon seva in our community, so please let me know if you come across any others of interest, and i will add them to this post.

ਇਤੁ ਤਨਿ ਲਾਗੈ ਬਾਣੀਆ ॥ ਸੁਖੁ ਹੋਵੈ ਸੇਵ ਕਮਾਣੀਆ ॥

"It tan laagai baanee-aa, sukh hovai sayv kamaanee-aa"

"This body is softened with the Word of the Guru's Bani, you shall find peace, doing seva (selfless service)."

- Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Page 25.

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Labour of love (Gallery 1/Khar Seva):
http://www.labouroflove.org.uk/

Punjab & Health and Human Rights:
http://punjab-healthandhumanrights.blogspot.com

Amritsar AIDS Awareness Group (AAG):
http://aagamritsar-bharti.blogspot.com/

Ensaaf News Blog:
http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/jaskaran/

Sewa:
http://sangatdeseva.blogspot.com/

Into the Worldwind:
http://valariekaur.blogspot.com/

J.Korps:
http://jakara.blogspot.com/

SevaCentral:
http://www.sikhnet.com/s/seva

Seva:
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Sewa

The Sikh Coalition:
http://www.sikhcoalition.org/default.asp
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Also, make sure to check out the link below on 1984 / Sikh Genocide which profiles more organizations doing seva.

Sikh Genocide :: 1984 :: Human Rights

"We Should Feel Sad If Someone Dies of Injustice" - Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Genocide has been defined as the "Deliberate and systematic destruction of a Racial, Political, or cultural group". The Sikhs have experienced three major genocidal massacres from 1764 to 1984.

Here are some sites that provide education, insight, and activism for those of us interested in learning more about our history and taking a stand for what we believe is right. Please let me know if you come across other pertinent sites.

Fateh.

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Sikhs Against Genocide: http://www.sikhsagainstgenocide.com/

Sikh Genocide Project: http://www.sikhgenocide.org/index.htm

Ensaaf - Punjab Human Rights: http://www.ensaaf.org/punjabhr.html

Carnage84: http://www.carnage84.com/

The Widow Colony: http://thewidowcolony.com/

1984 / Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1984_Anti-Sikh_riots

Never Forget 84: http://www.neverforget84.com/

Witness 84: http://www.witness84.com/

Today is World Refugee Day

The UN Refugee Agency says people who flee persecution are forced to leave behind their most precious relationships and belongings. But, the UNHCR says the one thing all refugees carry with them is the hope that they can return home one day. The UNHCR has chosen the theme of hope to mark this year's World Refugee Day.

World Refugee Day is a day of celebration for millions of refugees who have had their hopes fulfilled. The UN refugee agency reports over the past four years, an estimated six million refugees have gone home. This brings the number of refugees worldwide to 8.4 million, its lowest level in 26 years.

But, along with the good news, comes the bad. As more refugees are returning home, the UNHCR reports increasing numbers of people are becoming refugees within their own countries. It says civil wars have caused up to 25 million people to become internally displaced (IDP).

In London, UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner Wendy Chamberlin was due later Tuesday to formally launch a year-long global campaign called ninemillion.org, which aims to deliver education and sports programmes to nine million refugee children around the world through awareness- and fund-raising.

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www.ninemillion.org
www.worldrefugeeday.us/
www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/home

India 'has most people with HIV'

India now has more people living with HIV than any other country, a UNAids report has revealed. The report shows that India now accounts for two-thirds of HIV cases in the whole of Asia. An estimated 5.7 million Indians were infected by the end of 2005, overtaking the 5.5 million cases estimated in South Africa.

However, While 18.8% of South African adults were living with HIV, the figure in India was 0.9%. Estimates of total deaths in India since Aids was first identified in 1981 range from 270,000 to 680,000. Most of the infections there were caused by unprotected heterosexual intercourse, according to UNAids.

States in southern India have traditionally been the hardest hit by the disease. A study of prostitutes in Tamil Nadu found 50% had been infected with HIV. However, UNAids said these regions had made progress in combating the spread of infection. In contrast, little or no progress had been made in cutting infection rates in the north of the country, where injecting drug use is thought to be the main driver of infection.

The UN agency estimates that only 7% of Indians who needed antiretroviral drug therapy actually received it last year. In addition, only 1.6% of pregnant women who needed treatment to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission were receiving it. UNAids also sounded a warning about neighbouring Pakistan, where around 85,000 people were estimated to be infected with HIV by the end of 2005.

It said the country would have to improve its prevention efforts if it is to avoid a more serious situation.

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/5030184.stm
Published: 2006/05/30 15:02:54 GMT