The Truth

Kalama Sutta

Kalama Sutta

• Do not simply believe what you hear just because you have heard it for a long time.

• Do not follow tradition blindly merely because it has been practiced in that way for many generations.

• Do not be quick to listen to rumors.

• Do not confirm anything just because it agrees with your scriptures.

• Do not foolishly make assumptions.

• Do not abruptly draw conclusions by what you see and hear.

• Do not be fooled by outward appearances.

• Do not hold on tightly to any view or idea just because you are comfortable with it.

• Do not be convinced of anything out of respect and deference to your spiritual teachers. You should go beyond opinion and belief. You can rightly reject anything which when accepted, practiced and perfected leads to more aversion, more craving and more delusion.

• They are not beneficial and are to be avoided. Conversely, you can rightly accept anything which when accepted and practiced leads to unconditional love, contentment and wisdom. These things allow you time and space to develop a happy and peaceful mind.

• This should be your criteria on what is and what is not the truth; on what should be and what should not be the spiritual practice

THE BUDDHA

MMM Volume 1 Issue 1

U.S. Africa Command Home

LISBON, Portugal - The ceremonial key to the first of five refurbished C-130H aircraft is handed back to the Nigerian Air Force January 26, 2011 after more than a year in depot maintenance. Seventeenth Air Force (Air Forces Africa) is orchestrating the capacity-building activity with its partner nation, which includes an extensive maintenance process to upgrade their fleet. (Courtesy photo)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany, Feb 4, 2011 — After more than a year of major repairs and maintenance, the U.S. Air Force helped return to operational service the first of five C-130 Hercules aircraft to Nigeria January 21, 2011.

Seventeenth Air Force (Air Forces Africa) is orchestrating the capacity-building activity with its partner nation, which includes an extensive maintenance process to reconstitute their fleet.

In February 2009, the Nigerian government requested assistance from the U.S. to reconstitute five of their eight C-130H aircraft to support peacekeeping operations on the continent, said Lieutenant Colonel David Mackenzie, 17th AF's deputy director of the Strategy, Plans, and Programs directorate. The first aircraft then went through an extensive process called Programmed Depot Maintenance (PDM), and was readied to be accepted back into the Nigerian fleet. To help with the process, 17th Airmen joined with a team from the 118th Air National Guard Unit, Tenn, and Warner-Robins Air Logistics Center C-130 Program Office. Together, they partnered with their Nigerian counterparts.

"The Nigerians and U.S. military members were very eager to partner up to improve their Air Force, and specifically their C-130s and training aircraft," Colonel Mackenzie said. "The U.S. crew flew to the depot facility in Lisbon, Portugal, and went over the process to reintegrate the aircraft back in Nigeria's hands after being gone for more than a year."

The process, he explained, included $9.2 million of periodic depot maintenance, engine overhauls, propeller overhauls, and cockpit and avionics refurbishments. U.S. Air Force members provided the Nigerians a breakdown of what went on during the maintenance process and how to maintain the aircraft afterward. This included upcoming maintenance requirements, preventative maintenance and scheduling, and bookkeeping.

"We're just helping them out with the whole acceptance of an aircraft from PDM, and then how to maintain it once they get home," said Lieutenant Colonel John Sapp, 118th ANG Stand Evaluations pilot. "We also showed them how to go through a [Functional Check Flight] to make sure that everything is working properly."

U.S. military C-130s go through an extensive PDM process every five years, and with the Nigerians becoming well versed with the practice for their own aircraft, the West African nation gained valuable experience for future PDM deliveries, Colonel Mackenzie explained. Ultimately, a healthy, well-maintained C-130 fleet means increased capacity for Nigeria to take part in peacekeeping operations, humanitarian relief and increased security.

"Both sides learned a great deal through this partnership which will help make the following three PDM efforts smoother, more productive and hopefully quicker," he said. "As a result of this effort, 17th AF and US Africa Command will move forward with plans to help continue the partnership and ensure the Nigerians are able to logistically support their fleet in the years to come."

Source: http://www.17af.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123240766
By Staff Sergeant Stefanie Torres

Call for the Protection of Civilians and Respect of the Population's Fundamental Rights

PRESS RELEASE

Very concerned about the current political and security situation in Ivory Coast, our organizations firmly condemn acts of violence against civilians and constraints to their fundamental rights and liberties. We fear an escalation of violence during the marches scheduled for Thursday 16 and Friday 17 December 2010 and urge Ivorian political leaders to call on their supporters to remain calm and refrain from acts of violence.

On 3 December 2010, the Ivorian Constitutional Council announced the victory of Laurent Gbagbo, thereby invalidating a previous announcement from the independent electoral commission naming Alassane Dramane Ouattara as the winner of the election. Since then, Ivory Coast has found itself in an unprecedented political and institutional gridlock, leading to many illegal acts of violence against civilian populations and constraints to their fundamental rights and liberties.

It is estimated that acts of violence in the whole country so far may have already caused the death of dozens of people, with several hundreds more being injured. Approximately 3700 people have fled Ivory Coast to take refuge to neighboring countries, in particular in Liberia. Intimidation and threats against groups perceived as supporting one party or the other as well as information about the presence of militias, including some coming from outside the country, and the flow of illegal weapons are also matters of serious concern.

Public liberties are seriously threatened. On 2 December 2010, under the pretext of 'maintaining social peace', the national council of audiovisual communications decided to censor international medias, thereby depriving the Ivorian population of their right to information. Some journalists have been subjected to intimidation, thereby constraining their freedom of expression. A curfew was put in place on the eve of the presidential election and has just been extended by a week, constraining freedom of movement of civilians. The economic situation, marked by a sharp increase in food prices, might deteriorate further, first hurting civilian populations once again.

Guillaume Soro (Alassane Ouattara's Prime Minister) has announced that he will march onto the headquarters of State television on Thursday 16 December and that he will chair a council of ministers in government buildings the following day. Marches around these events may lead to acts of violence. Indeed, on 13 December, Ouattara's army ('Forces nouvelles') as well as UN forces had to fire warning shots to disperse Gbagbo forces who had barricaded the hotel where Ouattara's government is currently taking refuge.

Our organizations therefore urge:

Political leaders of both parties to manage the current political and institutional crisis responsibly, taking all necessary measures to prevent an increase in violence and guarantee the security and physical integrity of the civilian population in Ivory Coast. More specifically, our organizations urge political leaders to call on their supporters to remain calm and avoid any acts of violence.

Military leaders, in particular leaders of the Garde Républicaine, Marine Nationale (national navy) and the Command Centre for security operations, as well as armed troops of the Forces nouvelles, to take all necessary measures to prevent any illegal acts of violence by security and defense forces, as they could be held accountable for these acts.

Political and military leaders to guarantee basic rights and liberties of the Ivoirian population, including by ending censorship of international medias.

Media outlets able to operate in the whole country to act responsibly by avoiding any appeals to hate or violence.

ONUCI to implement its mandate "to protect [...] civilians under imminent threat of physical violence" and to "collect [...] arms and any related materiel" circulating illegally in the whole country.

Our organizations further remind that the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has urged supporters of both opponents and security forces to refrain from violence and has indicated that "All reported acts of violence will be closely scrutinized by the Office."

[i]Signatory organizations :

Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) - Ivory Coast

Association mauritanienne des droits de l'Homme (AMDH) - Mauritania

Association nigérienne pour la défense des droits de l'Homme (ANDDH) - Niger

Convention de la société civile ivoirienne (CSCI)

Groupe Lotus - Democratic Republic of Congo

Human Rights Watch

International Federation for Human Rigths (FIDH)

International Federation of the Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (FIACAT)

International Refugees Rights Initiative (IRRI)

La Voix des Sans Voix pour les droits de l'Homme - Democratic Republic of Congo

Ligue des électeurs (LE) - Democratic Republic of Congo

Ligue burundaise des droits de l'Homme (ITEKA) - Burundi

Ligue ivoirienne des droits de l'Homme (LIDHO) - Ivory Coast

Ligue sénégalaise des droits humains - Senegal

Ligue tchadienne des droits de l'Homme (LTDH) - Chad

Ligue togolaise des droits de l'Homme (LTDH) - Togo

Maison des droits de l'Homme du Cameroun - Cameroun

Mouvement burkinabé des droits de l'Homme et des peuples (MBDHP) - Burkina Faso

Mouvement ivoirien des droits humains (MIDH) - Ivory Coast

Organisation guinéenne pour la défense des droits de l'Homme (OGDH) - Guinea-Conakry

Observatoire congolais des droits de l'Homme (OCDH) - Republic of Congo

Rencontre africaine pour la défense des droits de l'Homme (RADDHO) - Senegal

Union interafricaine des droits de l'Homme (UIDH)

[i] Cf. Communiqué de l'Agence des Nations unies pour les réfugiés, Des réfugiés ivoiriens continuent à fuir au Libéria, http://www.unhcr.fr/4d077e083.html