The flag pole stands
outside the casitas:
once used to house guests
(I have stayed there),
now home each summer to
the college staff.
Other years I remember not
what, if anything, flew there,
but in the summer of 2011
this flag proudly waved
in the warm breezes
that caress Ghost Ranch.
15 July 2011
Filed under Ghost Ranch Views
With Wild Mountain Thyme in the background, I wrote for a friend:
Peace to you this day,
grace to you this day,
faith to you this day,
courage to you this day,
hope to you this day,
love to you this day,
peace to you this day
and every day.
11 December 2011
Shire on the Hudson
Filed under Poem
Electrical lines cross the ranch
to bring the electricity that
affords light to read at night;
recharges batteries;
works computers;
and powers coffee makers.
1 August 2009
Filed under Ghost Ranch Views, Photo
Today’s letter in the Amnesty International’s Write for Rights Global Write-a-thon focused on two student leaders in Iran: Majid Tavakkoli and Behareh Hedayat. Amnesty reports that they have been imprisoned simply for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and association. Amnesty notes:
Majid Tavakkoli was arrested and reportedly beaten, after speaking at a university rally in Tehran to mark National Student Day in December 2009. Behareh Hedayat was arrested later that same month after a video recording of a speech she gave was widely circulated on the internet.
The letter asked for the immediate and unconditional release of Majid Tavakkoli and Behareh Hedayat. It further asked that they should receive access to adequate medical care, including assessment and treatment by an independent specialist outside of prison if necessary. Finally it reminded the Head of Iran’s judiciary of the country’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
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See you along the Trail.
Filed under Human Rights
It comes in many forms at Ghost Ranch:
opportunities,
people,
classes,
vistas,
sometimes even the trees
and the moon
reflect the diversity
God creates.
26 October 2009
Filed under Ghost Ranch Views
Image via Wikipedia
Today’s letter in the Amnesty International’s Write for Rights Global Write-a-thon addressed the situation of Filep Karma, who was arrested in December 2004 for his participation in a peaceful flag-raising ceremony in Papua province of Indonesia. Karma is serving a 15-year sentence on charges of treason. Amnesty International considers him to be prisoner of conscience and is calling for his immediate and unconditional release.
My letter asked Amir Syamsuddin, Indonesia’s Minister of Justice and Human Rights to release Filep Karma and to make a public commitment that there will be no further arrests of individuals purely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of expression, assembly, or association. It included a request that the Minister ensures that laws concerning “rebellion” (Articles 106 and 110 of the Criminal Code) are not used against people who have engaged only in peaceful activities. The request was rooted in the right to freedom of expression includes the right to peacefully advocate referenda, independence, or other political solutions.
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Filed under Human Rights
Found in many places,
often appearing in the food,
chile spices life at Ghost Ranch.
13 July 2011
Filed under Ghost Ranch Views, Photo
Today’s letter in the Amnesty International’s Write for Rights Global Write-a-thon focused on teachers which comes close to my heart since my family contains a number of teachers over the generations.
Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi ‘Issa Mahdi Abu Dheeb, leaders of the Bahrain Teachers Association, appear to have been imprisoned because of the association’s calls for strikes during the protests earlier this year.
Amnesty International reports that authorities first arrested Jalila al-Salman on 29 March 2011, and reportedly ill-treated her in detention. Mahdi Abu Dheeb was arrested on 6 April and reportedly suffered torture and solitary confinement. Although civilians, the two teachers were tried before a military court, in breach of their right to a fair trial. In September, Jalila al-Salman was sentenced to three years in prison, and Mahdi Abu Dheeb was sentenced to ten years. Their appeal is to be heard by the High Criminal Court in December.
The request to the King asks for an investigation into the case and the allegations of torture and ill-treatment. It asks that any who are found responsible for ill-treatment be held accountable. It further asks that if the investigation shows that Jalila al-Salman and Mahdi Abu Dheeb were arrested because of their leadership of the Bahrain Teachers Association and their peaceful exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, should be immediately and unconditionally released, and all charges against them should be dropped. The King is asked to ensure that their appeal hearing meets international standards and that any evidence obtained through torture or duress not be used against them. The King is also asked to uarantee that they receive appropriate medical care and are protected from ill-treatment.
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Filed under Human Rights
Colors fill Ghost Ranch.
Diverse shades of green and
multiple hues of red
appear and evoke amazement.
Blues do too.
29 October 2009
Filed under Ghost Ranch Views, Photo
Today’s letter in the Amnesty International’s Write for Rights Global Write-a-thon focused on Liu Xiaobo, 2010 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, who was given an 11-year prison sentence in December 2009 for calling for political and legal reform in China. The letter went to Premier Wen Jiabao of the People’s Republic of China.
Amnesty International notes that Liu Xiaobo’s imprisonment is a clear attempt to prevent him from carrying out his peaceful and legitimate human rights activities. Amnesty further notes that the detention, restriction, and harassment of peaceful human rights activists has increased in recent years, running counter to promises made by officials in China’s National Human Rights Action Plan 2009-2010.
My letter, guided by Amnesty, asked the Premier to release Liu Xiaobo immediately and unconditionally and to lift the surveillance and severe restrictions currently placed on his wife Liu Xia. It called the Premier to see that Liu Xiaobo has access to his family and lawyers. It further addressed the systemic issue of the use of broad and vaguely defined charges to arbitrarily detain and prosecute activists, journalists and internet users.
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Filed under Human Rights
Along the Graybeard Trail 