Rev. Danny Fisher

Just a Buddhist Minister Trying to Benefit Beings

Month: June, 2009

June 29, 2009

Burma News (6.29.09)

Here’s the latest Burma-related news:

  • Laura Bush exhorts readers of the Washington Post: “Do not forget Burma.”
  • The Post also reports that “out of fear that history might repeat itself, the authoritarian governments of China, Cuba and Burma have been selectively censoring the news this month of Iranian crowds braving government militias on the streets of Tehran to demand democratic reforms.”
  • The BBC reports that “UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari has left Burma after a two-day visit aimed at paving the way for a possible visit by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.”
  • Secretary-General Ban’s spokesperson confirms today that he will visit Burma soon, according to the BBC, the Agence France-Presse, and Reuters.
  • Finally, the BBC also reports that “Burma’s highest court has rejected an appeal by lawyers for opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to allow two prominent dissidents to testify in her defence.” Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace laureate and the democratically-elected Prime Minister of Burma, is currently standing trial before the country’s ruling military junta.

    • June 29, 2009

    L.A.P.D. Names Its First Muslim Chaplain

    “Sheik Qazi Asad prays five times each day. The Pakistani-born immigrant, who is now a U.S. citizen, first got involved with law enforcement after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, working with the Sheriff’s Department.” Photo by Jake Stevens for the Los Angeles Times.
    The Los Angeles Times reports today on the appointment of the Los Angeles Police Department’s first Muslim chaplain:

      Sheik Qazi Asad, 47, will serve as a reserve chaplain at the LAPD’s North Hollywood station.

    Warmest congratulations and As-Salāmu `Alaykum, Imam!

    June 29, 2009

    Buddhist Teacher Shot Dead in Southern Thailand

    Reuters is reporting that suspected insurgents in southern Thailand have murdered a female Buddhist teacher.

      Two gunmen riding a motorcycle fled after killing the 38-year-old victim on a road in Narathiwat province.

      [...]

      Two other militants managed to get away, even though the house they escaped to was surrounded by 200 police and soldiers.

    June 28, 2009

    Michael’s Shikoku Pilgrimage

    The sister of our departed friend in the Buddhoblogosphere, Michael of One Foot in Front of the Other, posts some more of his work at the blog, writing:

      One of the recurring themes of Michael’s photography and poetry is the felt presence of the spirits of the departed. Michael’s spirit, which inspired so many people, is still very much alive in his work, nowhere more so than in his account of his Shikoku Pilgrimage and in his photographic Slice of Japan.

    Take a look.

    1 comment
    June 28, 2009

    Today is the 14th Anniversary of National HIV Testing Day

    Find out more at http://www.hivtest.org.