Rev. Danny Fisher

Just a Buddhist Minister Trying to Benefit Beings
July 14, 2009

Japan Lifts Ban on Children Donating Organs

The Associated Press reports that Japan has “lifted a ban on organ donations from children, reversing a restriction that created such a dearth of small organs in the country that young patients were forced to seek transplants abroad.” The report states:

    The law will allow children, defined as those under 15, who are brain dead to donate their organs – a sea change in this country, where organ donation is sensitive because of Buddhist beliefs that consider the body sacred and reject its desecration.

Earlier this year, I wrote a lengthy post about similar beliefs in Taiwan that the Tzu Chi Foundation has taken the lead in addressing so as to benefit medical science.

July 14, 2009

Shaquille O’Neal Visits Shaolin Temple


“NBA Cleveland Cavaliers center Shaquille O’Neal (R) receives a Buddha statue, a gift from Shi Yongxin (not pictured), abbot of Shaolin Temple, during his promotional tour in Shaolin Temple, central China’s Henan province, July 13, 2009.” Image via Xinhua.

Our main man Rod Meade Sperry over at The Worst Horse has the story.

July 14, 2009

Obon in Utah and New Jersey

“Named plaques of the members of the Buddhist temple who died since the last Obon are displayed in a place of reverence near the ‘Onaijin’ inside the Buddhist Temple. This plaque recognizing Shaku Kakugyo Kay Kiyoshi Terashima is one of seven at the front of the temple know as the Onaijin. The Salt Lake Buddhist Temple is celebrating the annual Obon Festival, the period of praying for the repose of the souls of one’s ancestors, Saturday 7/11/09.” Photo by Scott Sommerdorf for The Salt Lake Tribune.
Items in the Salt Lake City Tribune and the Daily Journal offer a glimpse at Obon festival celebrations by Japanese-American Buddhists in Utah and New Jersey, respectively. Take a look.

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July 14, 2009

Burma News (7.14.09)

“Activists from Myanmar shout slogans during a rally demanding the release of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in front of the Myanmar embassy in Seoul, July 7, 2009.” Photo by Jo Yong-Hak for Reuters.
[This post has been updated as of 5:05 p.m. P.S.T. on 7.14.09.]

Here’s the latest on what’s happening Burma:

  • The Associated Press reports that the last defense witness has been called in the ongoing military trial of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace laureate and Prime Minister-elect of the country.
  • United Press International reports on Suu Kyi as she awaits the results of her trial.
  • The AP also reports that Kyaw Khaing, an elder member of Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party, has been sentenced by the ruling military junta to a two-year prison term for alleged defamation.
  • The Agence France-Presse reports that “UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday pressed Myanmar to free political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, to ensure ‘credible and legitimate’ polls next year as the country’s UN envoy dangled the prospect of an amnesty.”
  • The Wall Street Journal reports on Secretary-General Ban, the U.N.’s “invisible man,” following his visit to Burma.
  • Reuters has more on the planned amnesty.
  • The AFP reports that the National League for Democracy is skeptical of the junta’s claims on this matter.
  • The AFP also reports on the Karen rebels who vow to continue fighting in the country.
  • Finally, the New York Times reports that “aid, and perhaps more, [is] spreading in [Burma's Irrawaddy Delta region].”

    • July 14, 2009

    "Motorcades and Dictator Disneyland"

    The New York Times offers a video report from U.N. Bureau Chief Neil MacFarquhar, who “shares his ambivalence about covering the exotic global travels and diplomatic efforts of Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, particularly to closed nations like Myanmar”: