Saturday, October 31, 2009

Michael Jackson

Here's a link to the video that has been copied and pasted the lyrics into this email. This is just an example of what his music is about, especially indicative of the songs he continued to write in the years that followed.

Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBos1XjcDg0 (unlike other musicians, Michael was the first musical artist to use a music video for a cause, meaning, not showing himself or his band or anything about him--the music video was completely devoted to getting the point across to his fans and anyone willing to watch that something needs to be done. I haven't seen videos of his latest work but i can only assume they're similar, paricticularly when a song he wrote is intended to make a point. Anyway...hopefully you enjoy this. This is one of my favorite pieces from him).

Lyrics:

Ooh ooh ooh aahGotta make a changeFor once in my lifeIt's gonna feel real goodGonna make a differenceGonna make it rightAs I turned up the collar onA favorite winter coatThis wind is blowin' my mindI see the kids in the streetWith not enough to eatWho am I to be blindPretending not to see their needsA summer's disregardA broken bottle topAnd a one man's soulThey follow each otherOn the wind ya' know'Cause they got nowhere to goThat's why I want you to knowI'm starting with the man in the mirrorI'm asking him to change his waysAnd no message could have been any clearerIf you wanna make the world a better placeTake a look at yourself and then make a change, yeyNa na na, na na na, na na na na oh hoI've been a victim ofA selfish kinda loveIt's time that I realizeThere are some with no homeNot a nickel to loanCould it be really pretending that they're not aloneA willow deeply scarredSomebody's broken heartAnd a washed out dream(Washed out dream)They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see'Cause they got no place to beThat's why I'm starting with meI'm starting with the man in the mirrorI'm asking him to change his waysAnd no message could have been any clearerIf you wanna make the world a better placeTake a look at yourself and then make a changeI'm starting with the man in the mirrorI'm asking him to change his waysAnd no message could have been any clearerIf you wanna make the world a better placeTake a look at yourself and then make that changeI'm starting with the man in the mirror(Man in the mirror, oh yeah)I'm asking him to change his ways, yeah(Change)No message could have been any clearerIf you wanna make the world a better placeTake a look at yourself and then make the changeYou gotta get it right, while you got the time'Cause when you close your heart(You can't close your, your mind)Then you close your mind(That man, that man, that man)(That man, that man, that man)(With the man in the mirror, oh yeah)(That man you know, that man you know)(That man you know, that man you know)I'm asking him to change his ways(Change)No message could have been any clearerIf you wanna make the world a better placeTake a look at yourself then make that change(Na na na, na na na, na na na na)OohOh yeahYeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah(Na na na, na na na, na na na na)Oh noOh no, I'm gonna make a changeIt's gonna feel real goodSure mon(Change)Just lift yourselfYou know, you got to stop it yourself(Yeah)OhMake that change(I gotta make that change today, oh)(Man in the mirror)You got to, you got to not let yourself, brother ohYeahYou know that(Make that change)(I gotta make that make me then make)You got, you got to moveSure mon, sure monYou got to(Stand up, stand up, stand up)Make that changeStand up and lift yourself, now(Man in the mirror)Make that change(Gonna make that change, sure mon)(Man in the mirror)You know it, you know it, you know it, you know(Change)Make that change

Friday, October 30, 2009

Monday, October 26, 2009

Veggies Links and Aricles

Lab grown meat-- Ari Levux
http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/143887

Thomas A. Edison on Food and Medicine
http://rizvisite.blogspot.com/2009/11/thomas-edison-on-food-and-medicine.html

John McDougall, MD
http://rizvisite.blogspot.com/2009/11/john-mcdougall-md.html

Neal Barnard, MD
http://rizvisite.blogspot.com/2009/11/neal-barnard-md.html

Michael Klaper,MD. Lectures and Interview
http://rizvisite.blogspot.com/2009/11/michael-klaper-md-lecture-parts-1-to-6.html

Forbes Magazine (Nov. 2009) Animal Farming is an ecological disaster.
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/1130/thought-leaders-mcdonalds-global-warming-drop-that-burger.html

Eating animals is making us sick
http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/10/28/opinion.jonathan.foer/index.html

Why don't I drink milk?
https://secure.peta.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2515

Climate chief Lord Stern: give up meat to save the planet
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6891362.ece

Make meat-eaters pay: Peter Singe proposes radical tax
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2009/10/25/2009-10-25_make_meateaters_pay_ethicist_proposes_radical_tax_says_theyre_killing_themselves.html
World Watch Institute Nov-Dec 2009 on Climate Change
Cows, pigs, and chicken: the key actors in the climates change
http://www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf

Meet Your Meat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIjanhKqVC4

Earthlings
http://rizvisite.blogspot.com/2009/10/earthlings-movie.html

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Khamosh Pani -another progressive film from Pakistan

Khamosh Pani -another progressive film from Pakistan

This movie focuses on start of fundamentalism in Pakistan by General Zia ul Haq. Directed by Sabiah Sumar, Starring Kirron Kher, Amir Ali Malik, Shilpa Shukla, Fareeha Jabeen, Salman Shahid, Khursh



Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpRVKuEf19g

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjnl2RfyzVE&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v27-TItKwl8&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDTbY3BjZNw&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GZntUg70MM&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlPNNg754Dk&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs_WYLUHL2w&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alGQLu2ksLg&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAIMlJ-JYYY&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 10 (Last)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cim3n3cjQc&feature=related

The End

Khuda Ke Liye -a very progressive film from Pakistan

Khuda Kay Liye parts 1 -15 plus three scenes that were deleted presumably because of the protests from the Mullahs in India.


Khuda Kay Liye 1 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I53_YUYYU_I&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 2 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFh05zKSngM&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 3 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXsZYDavCVA&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 4 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjVwP_Cxvfc&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 5 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0jjJWMVXWY&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 6 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEc5x36eEeI&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 7 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q1SoVg2sTw&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 8 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh_uKotsGfc&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 9 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0oPh8mR-C4&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 10 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLo4M7zlTh8&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 11 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeHdwd9tdgQ&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 12 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLuaOeOx0to&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 13 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBChYxiHQ2M&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 14 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52AUFFgNyck&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye 15 (Full EU.DVD release)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbhWdl9A9s8&feature=related

Here are some scenes that were deleted because of the protests form the Mullhas in India (as I was told)

Khuda Ke Liye Deleted Scene 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44qHsZm0_Ew&feature=related

This was the heart of the filme
Khuda Ke Liye Deleted Scene 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIJxWNMGzc4&feature=related

Khuda Ke Liye Deleted Scene 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-rXZpQGuno&feature=related

The End

Thursday, October 22, 2009

The Genius of Charles Darwin

The Genius Of Charles Darwin Episode 1 Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKcrqvOF0Uc&feature=related
The Genius Of Charles Darwin Episode 1 Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8EPBmqzLVY&feature=related
The Genius Of Charles Darwin episode 1 part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggpLvioI39Q&feature=related
The Genius Of Charles Darwin episode 1 part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POmiaGsALkM&feature=related
The Genius Of Charles Darwin episode 1 part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJsaWMWC57A&feature=related

The Genius of Charles Darwin 2-Parte 1 (v.o.s.e.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFtA4FIdc4M&feature=related

Singer - The Genius of Darwin: The Uncut Interviews - Richard Dawkins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYYNY2oKVWU&feature=player_embedded


The Genius of Charles Darwin 2- Parte 2 (v.o.s.e.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZPkQv-2efo&feature=related
The Genius of Charles Darwin 2- Parte 3 ( v.o.s.e.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De1GuQTWtK8&feature=related
The Genius of Charles Darwin 2- Parte 4 (´v.o.s.e.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBxUtXsWXAA&feature=related
The Genius of Charles Darwin 2- Parte 5 (v.o.s.e.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHwZvmkM1P8&feature=related


The Genius of Charles Darwin 3- Parte 1 (v.o.s.e.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt6ECx4AWig&feature=related
The Genius of Charles Darwin 3- Parte 2( v.o.s.e.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx30KKoZKSQ&feature=related
The Genius of Charles Darwin 3-Parte 3 (v.o.s.e.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_siMPViLx20&feature=related
Genius of Charles Darwin 3- Parte 4 (v.o.s.e.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWvlAdW6mKA&feature=related
The Genius of Charles Darwin 3- Parte 5 (v.o.s.e.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDD_NBoAtl0&feature=related
Genius of Charles Darwin 3- Parte 6( v.o.s.e.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrR1wCrnYsk&feature=related

Peter Singer - The Genius of Darwin: The Uncut Interviews - Richard Dawkinshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYYNY2oKVWU&feature=player_embedded

Steven Pinker - The Genius of Charles Darwin: The Uncut Interviews
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIMReUsxTt4&NR=1

Kuttay - Poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz

Kuttay - Poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEbUvlaf-Ag&feature=related

Nine Hours to Rama - A film about Gandhi (1961)

Nine Hours To Rama Parts 1-9 - a film about Gandhi (1961)

Nine Hours To Rama 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMpyKAkx6NI&NR=1

Nine Hours To Rama 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwnqRAfa0tg&feature=related

Nine Hours To Rama 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDE5QkiIrck&feature=related

Nine Hours To Rama 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdc0GsqHeBI&feature=related

Nine Hours To Rama 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytDRT9tB82E&feature=related

Nine Hours To Rama 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-0DKIxtuwc&feature=related

Nine Hours To Rama 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWWnQ2tLO74&feature=related

Nine Hours To Rama 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf4mFTYbIL4&feature=related

Nine Hours To Rama 9 (END)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtxRUXo9Wjo

Nine Hours To Rama 9 Drum Ensemble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEmYK2FqxfA

Anna Balzer - Life in Occupied Palestine (Parts 1-6)

A


http://annainpalestine.blogspot.com/2005/04/reflections-on-zionism.html


Life In Occupied Palestine (1 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGO9wToP7D4&feature=related

Life In Occupied Palestine (2 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T52xQg7Eiw8&feature=related

Life In Occupied Palestine (3 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA6NwbrmQUw&feature=related

Life In Occupied Palestine (4 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGnmH3dtbxE&feature=related

Life In Occupied Palestine (5 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAJRJjI9zcY&feature=related

Life In Occupied Palestine (6 of 6)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcaHX9plCKI&feature=fvw

Khamosh Pani (Silent Water) A Pakistani Film

Khamosh Pani (Silent Water) A Pakistani Film


Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpRVKuEf19g

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjnl2RfyzVE&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v27-TItKwl8&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDTbY3BjZNw&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GZntUg70MM&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlPNNg754Dk&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs_WYLUHL2w&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alGQLu2ksLg&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAIMlJ-JYYY&feature=related

Khamosh Pani (Silent Waters) Part 10 (Last)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cim3n3cjQc&feature=related

Dawkins- Viruses of the mind

Dawkins- Viruses of the mind
http://www.cscs.umich.edu/~crshalizi/Dawkins/viruses-of-the-mind.html

Earthlings - A Movie

Earthlings - A Movie


Earthlings Parts 1-10

Earthlings - Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NghzqtqP50Y

Earthlings - Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXhbSgRIUKI&feature=related

Earthlings - Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThNFONI3yuo&feature=related

Earthlings - Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVKGcgrtiC8&feature=related

Earthlings - Part 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8o7zl7owYk&feature=related

Earthlings - Part 6
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp8D5vJjdPA&feature=related

Earthlings - Part 7
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjMd8PR8ZOo&feature=related

Earthlings - Part 8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtKxhEa7ccs&feature=related

Earthlings - Part 9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o66m3LicBo8&feature=related

Earthlings - Part 10 (Last Part)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qD_4b1CU7Is&feature=related

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Al-Hafiz BA Masri's letter to Syed Rizvi Oct.1991


Gul Agha's review on Al-Hafiz B.A. Masri's book

A book-review written by Gul Agha and published in the Animals’ Agenda Magazine , 1987

ISLAMIC CONCERN FOR ANIMALS Al-Hafiz B.A. Masri The Athene Trust, 3A Charles Street Petersfield, Hants, England GU32 3EH, published (simultaneously in English and Arabic) 1987
This book, written by a fundamentalist Islamic theologian, examines the issue of animal rights from an Islamic perspective. The author has the right credentials to write a book of this nature: Masri served, until his retirement in 1968, as the Imam (religious head) of a large mosque and Islamic center in England. Incidentally, the title Al-Hafiz means that he has memorized the entire Holy Qur'an.
The book intermingles a factual account of animal suffering with religious injunctions against it. The first chapters lay out the theoretical foundations in terms of Islamic teaching on the relationship between humans and (other) animals. The later chapters apply these principles to specific areas such as vivisection, factory farming, and hunting.
Quoting from the Holy Qur'an Al-Hafiz Masri begins with the assertion that ``Man is the apex of creation.'' Following his fundamentalist beliefs, he argues that this is true because of the `psychical potential' in man---namely, the ability to differentiate between good and evil. Masri then states that Man is God's vicegerent on earth. Thus man's claim of superiority over the other species is circumscribed by moral limitations in the exercise of his power. As the holy puts it: ``Certainly, We created man in the best make. Then We reduced him to the lowest of the low.''
The Islamic view is that unless a human follows the `path of righteousness', his moral status is degraded even lower than that of the animals. ``Verily, the vilest of all creatures ... are those who do not use their rationality.'' In the Qur'anic world-view, ``All creatures are like a family of God: and He most loves those who are the most beneficient to His family.''
This notion of family is elaborated upon by many examples. The animals and humans are supposed to worship the same God: as the Holy book puts it, all beings celebrate Allah, every bird sings its prayer and psalm to Allah. In fact, God even communicates directly to the animals. ``And the Lord revealed to the bee, saying: `make hives in the mountains, and in the trees, and in [human] habitations'.'' It is important to realize that the Hafiz, like most Islamic theologians, is a literalist. The book contains a number of anecdotes from the Hadith (a body of literature describing the life and teachings of the Prophet) which is distinct from the revelations in the Holy book. One incident described by the Prophet relates to what happened to another prophet in ancient history. This prophet was stung by an ant and ordered the ants' nest to be burned. At this God is supposed to have reprimanded the prophet, ``Because one ant stung you, you have burned a whole community which glorified Me.'' Fortunately for the animals, I suppose, salvation in Islam is by deed, not creed.
Masri then proceeds to examine in some detail the treatment of animals in modern society and argues that it is against Islamic law. He strengthens his argument by making analogies to the specific injunctions laid out by the Prophet of Islam, for example, one against killing animals for pleasure, another against branding. Sometimes, in order to apply a specific injunction to a modern problem, the Hafiz uses analogy and inference. He concedes that the use of interpretation has been been historically controversial in Islamic jurisprudence since it allows self-serving liberties with the spirit and intent of the original law. (Shades of the Robert Bork controversy). However, Masri defends the use of analogical reasoning because the results are obviously not self-serving, and furthermore, they conform to general Islamic principles.
The Hafiz's general conclusions can be summarized as follows. Forbidden on religious grounds: hunting (for pleasure); furs for vanity; intensive factory farming; slaughterhouses (the slaughter of an animal in the presence of another or in circumstances where it may anticipate its death is proscribed); circuses and rodeos; inhumane transportation; disturbing wildlife habitats or otherwise interfering with the ecological balance; experimenting on animals for commercial profit, `idle' curiosity, or to find cures for preventable diseases; and genetically engineering animals. Masri makes note of the issue of vegetarianism but states that it is too involved a question to discuss in the current context. What is the significance of this book? First of all it is important to realize that Islamic fundamentalism is a rising force in a large portion of the world. Even more critically, there are no accepted sects in the Islamic world that reject fundamentalism. (Sufism, often regarded as a heresy, being a notable exception). The open question remains: what impact can a well-written book such as this one have on the societies undergoing radical upheavel? And let us not forget, the small but influential Black Muslim community in this country.
Unfortunately, I am rather pessimistic---notwithstanding a contentious Imam Khomeini who sometimes preaches against consuming meat. It is my assessment that believers often settle for ritual over personal sacrifice. Thus a method of `kosher' slaughter, which was supposed to be more humane, has resulted in the mass shipping of live animals to Islamic countries by the West (especially by Australia and New Zealand). En route, these animals suffer from hunger and thirst, crowding, lack of movement, and heat exhaustion from a scorching sun (as a consequence, there is a significant mortality rate).
On the other hand, I think it would be unwise to ignore the belief structures of others, particularly when these beliefs provide a rationale for reducing animal suffering to such an extent. We have to be cautious that we do not ourselves develop an intolerant attitude that recognizes only one `Truth' and seeks to impose it on the rest of the universe. At least for me personally, converting people to an idea is less important than modifying their behavior. If their own beliefs can provide a basis for change, the task becomes so much more realistic.
---Gul Agha, Ph.D. New Haven 1987. The reviewer is a scientist at Yale University and President of the Cambridge Committee for Responsible Research.

The following notes are from Syed Rizvi: (October 2009):
Currently, Gul Agha is a professor of Computer Science at the University of Chicago Champaign-Urbana.
The Animals’ Agenda Magazine, where the above article first appeared, used to be published by the Animal Rights Network (ARN) established in 1979. ARN later was transformed into a think tank, Animals and Society Institute (ASI). The institute publishes position papers on animal issues and the publication of the magazine is now discontinued. More on the institute can be found on its web site http://www.animalsandsociety.org

End of note

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Current issues in Muslim Countries

ReThink Afghanistan Website
Film in all six parts is posted here

http://rethinkafghanistan.com/videos.php

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Love vs. Faith,

Love vs. Faith,

The "Islamic" countries where people pray and invoke God a lot, are among the most corrupt in the world, while the Scandinavian countries where hardly anyone prays or goes to Church and almost no one invokes God in ordinary conversations, are among the most honest.. If you don't sin, what would be the point of praying for forgiveness or asking for guidance to save yourself? Your sinning gives real meaning to your prayers! Be grateful for your sins, they help you remember God. Besides, God also provides a handy alibi in justifying exploitation and domination of others, whether you want to steal some other sentient being's home (habitat) or slaughter them or enslave (confine) them -- an additional perk of faith over love as a guide.
Posted by Gul Agha on the Facebook


The only true lover is Satan
Others mere pretenders are
For his passionate longing

Shah Latif Bhati (1689 - 1752),
a Sufi from the province of Sindh in the Indo-Pak Subcontinent

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Beliefs, disbeliefs, and Neural Science

The Neural Correlates of Religious and Nonreligious Belief
http://www.samharris.org/site/full_text/the-neural-correlates-of-religious-and-nonreligious-belief/

This paper just published has also been been cited in Newsweek. ,
"New study of the brain shows that facts and beliefs are processed in exactly the same way"
http://www.newsweek.com/id/216551?tid=relatedcl

Discussion of Islamic Philosophy on Pakistan TV

The links in this article are equally important to widen the reader's horizon of knowledge.

Syed Rizvi


http://blog.dawn.com:91/dblog/2009/10/01/the-backwards-forward/