Saturday, April 2, 2011

What you Can Do...


What you can do to to support the real witches and accused witches in the world:

South African Pagan Rights Aliance Page - go here to download a letter to sign and send to "South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) between March 29 and April 27."

Mrs. B of Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom fame is hosting a fundraising here. Less than £50 to go to reach her goal of £200.

Post your own blog to raise awareness.

Follow Touchstone Advocacy on Twitter.

Tell all your friends about witch hunts going on in the world.

Hold a wake with your friends for people who have died in these ongoing witch hunts.

Light a candle each day for the people who had died and people who are in trouble.

--Information from The South African Pagan Rights Alliance Page.

--Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom for inspiration and information.

--Again please give thru Mrs. B to the Stepping Stones of Nigeria.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Witches in India?


From what I can see the 2 most known areas for abuse in the name of witchcraft is in Africa and India. I have been hearing a lot about Africa, so I decided a momentary spotlight on India was in order.

The best targets are the widowed, poor and even ugly women. Women are still 2nd class citizens in India. You will see many cases of the witch in question being a widow refusing to give up her husband's land, or a single woman refusing a neighbor's advances. Or simply an older woman who simply uses up more resources than she creates...especially in times of famine.

Ramond Fisman is quoted in an article in the Times that creating a pension for elderly women would eliminate the limited resources cause of witch accusations...it would give these women some protection.

Bhuri Bai was accused by an Ojha (kind of a preacher/wise man) of the village of being responsible through witchcraft for the death of a young boy. During the burning of the funeral pyre the villagers came together to attack her. She was a lucky one to have her husband to save her, but they were forced to leave their home.

Changes in the law unfortunately do more to punish the accused than stop the attacks. If a woman is accused of witchcraft, they want to remove her to a prison for up to 5 years for her own protection. While the Ojha receive nothing in punishment, and the actual attackers, if arrested at all receive less than a year or nothing but a warning. Clearly some humanitarian work needs to be done here.

Between 2001-2006 about 700 women have been killed after being accused of witchcraft, and that is only in East India. Police rarely step in to help, telling people to work it out for themselves. How terrifying to live in a place where those whose jobs are to protect offer no protection. Keep these women in your thoughts and prayers.

Global Giving has numerous charities in India. Recently they raised over $8,000 in legal aid. Click here to see what you can do.

Resources:
BBC News
Religious Tolerance.org
The Times Online
The Women News Network
RT Question More

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Witch Discrimination OK?


Carol A. Smith was allegedly fired from TSA for being a witch. I've read a couple articles on this topic and basically her coworkers were uncomfortable with her religious preference. Her firing was based on her refusal to go to mediation to defend and discuss her religion. She is quoted as saying "would have I have to go to mediation if I were jewish?" And that is a good point. Everyone would be up in arms if she were part of a "recognized" religion. Since she is a witch, we should just accept it.

What I find hilarious about these stories, is that by saying she was casting spells on co-workers, they are announcing their own belief in witchcraft. What I don't like is that if a person is having a bad day - and we all do at some point - they feel justified in blaming someone they know who practices witchcraft. How lovely to no longer have to take personal responsibility. I'm sure now that Carol is gone, her co-workers never have anything bad happen.

I hope she wins this lawsuit. Discrimination of any kind really need to stop now. We have bigger problems in this world than what religion someone practices, what sexual orientation they have, or any disabilities or race.

Again I want to send you all to go see Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom as she has really great posts for the 30 days of Advocacy Against Witch Hunts.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Witch Hunts???


Today begins 30 days of advocacy against witch hunts. I see quite often from Mrs. B (of Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom fame) articles about honest to god, real witch hunts still going on. A lot of them are in Africa, but there are still problems here. Not much of a surprise considering you are still encouraged to hide if you are gay, jewish, islamic or anything out of the "norm" - god forbid you are pagan, you'll have everyone after you.

Today I want to share a couple of great blogs that are featuring articles on this topic.
These are great blogs that I enjoy reading on any given today. Today they are especially deep articles that will tug at your heart and make you think.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday Stealing: The 5000 Question Meme, Part Two

Cheers to all of us thieves!



26. Who has done something today to show they care about you?
Dick bought the weight watchers dark chocolate raspberry ice cream bars that I like.

27. Do you have a lot to learn?More than I can even imagine


28. If you could learn how to do three things just by wishing and not by working what would they be?
make jewelry, paint with acrylics, and how to write computer code

29. Which do you remember the longest: what other people say, what other people do or how other people make you feel?
how they make me feel.

30. What are the key ingredients to having a good relationship?
honesty, love, trust and commitment

31. What 3 things do you want to do before you die?
travel across the ocean, see my grandkids, drive across the country

32. What three things would you want to die to avoid doing?
cleaning my bathroom, cleaning up animal poop, watching the world end in a fiery storm.

33. Is there a cause you believe in more than any other cause?
Early childhood education-you can't say education is key with one hand and take away funding with the other

34. What does each decade make you think of:
that's a lot of decades. 40s&50s nostalgia, 60s free love, 70s ass ugly colors, 80s big hair, 90s big hair bands, 00s wish they were the 90s, 10s wishing it was the 80s.

35. Which decade do you feel the most special connection to and why?
40s & 50s, just love the movies and the ideal of the housewife and family unit. Like everyone knew what their lot in life was, it wasn't so hard with limitless choices we have now.

36. What is your favorite oldie/classic rock song?
Too much time on my hands - by Styx.

37. What country do you live in and who is the leader of that country?
United States and Wal-Mart...wait I mean Obama.

If you could say any sentence to the current leader of your country what would it be?
I wish I could trust you.

38. What's your favorite TV channel to watch in the middle of the night?
Used to be TVLand, now netflix Roseanne reruns.

39. What Disney villain are you the most like and why?
I can't think of one, because they all have crazy ambition and I don't have any.

40. Have you ever been a girl scout/boy scout?
no, we couldn't afford it.

41. If you were traveling to another continent would you rather fly or take a boat?
Boat! Let's go on a cruise and drink lots of alcohol, eat lots of food and soak up lots of sun.

42. Why is the sky blue during the day and black at night?
the sky is blue due to something about refracting sunrays. The night sky is dark cause the earth is in the way of the sun and our side is in shadow.

43. What does your name mean?
Angel - lol not real difficult.

44. Would you rather explore the deeps of the ocean or outer space?
Ocean

45. Word association - What is the first word that comes to mind when you see the word:

Air:water
Meat:cleaver
Different:me
Pink:panther
Deserve:money
White:black
Elvis:presley
Magic:wand
Heart:beat
Clash:titans
Pulp:fiction

46. If you could meet any person in the world who is dead who would you want it to be?
Henry VIII

47. What if you could meet anyone who is alive?
John Saul

48. Is there a movie that you love so much you could watch it everyday?
Waitress, The 10th Kingdom, SuperTroopers, The Other Guys and the Invention of Lying

49. You are going to be stuck alone in an elevator for a week. What do you bring to do?
Bag full of books

50. Have you ever saved someone's life or had your life saved?
No I have had a blessedly calm life.
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