Monday, November 26, 2012

Rais Bhuyan: Journey of Hope Profile

here

Rais Bhuiyan

Rais was shot in the face by Mark Stroman, who was on killing spree after 9/11 due to a vision of he was seeking revenge. When Stroman was facing an execution date Rais helped collecting signatures on a petition asking the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to commute Stroman's sentece into life in prison without parole.
Facts

Journey Board member since 2011

Find links to the following:

Rais story at Execution Chronicles

A victim of 9/11 hate crime now fights for his attacker's life

The Hated and the Hater, Both Touched by Crime
Quotes

I was raised very well by my parents and teachers. They raised me with good morals and strong faith. They taught me to put yourself in others' shoes. Even if they hurt you, don't take revenge. Forgive them. Move on. It will bring something good to you and them. My Islamic faith teaches me this too. He said he did this as an act of war and a lot of Americans wanted to do it but he had the courage to do it -- to shoot Muslims. After it happened I was just simply struggling to survive in this country. I decided that forgiveness was not enough. That what he did was out of ignorance. I decided I had to do something to save this person's life. That killing someone in Dallas is not an answer for what happened on Sept. 11.

To click on the above links, simply GO here

Thanx for coming by...

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Postive Update from Death Penalty Focus


I'll be honest, these past few days haven't been easy. Last week, California's Proposition 34 lost by a narrow margin at the ballot box. I know you have shared in our disappointment, but now we're dusting ourselves off and getting back to work.

Though the results were not what we hoped for, I cannot express strongly enough just how far we've come. In 1978, California reinstated the death penalty with 71% of the vote. This time, that number was less than 53%. What's more - over 4.5 million people voted to replace the death penalty! This dramatic shift in opinion happened because of the fabulous volunteers who spent so many evenings and weekends knocking on doors, calling voters, and talking to friends and family about the death penalty. You are the reason that we have changed so many minds and gained so much support. Thank you!

This campaign ended with very strong momentum, and now we must grow that momentum even more. That's why we need your continued support in this effort. We know what it takes to win, and we're ready to continue educating every person we can about the risks and costs of the death penalty. Are you in?

In solidarity,

Ana Zamora
Program Director

Friday, November 09, 2012

Why we should execute gun violence -- NOT people



This topic is meant to be a discussion starter...so let's talk about this here on the Journey blog...

comment below...anonymous will be accepted as long as courtesy is shown to the reader...

Also, plz see the post just below for a starter...

Thanx,

Connie

Help End Gun Violence (Mayors Against Illegal Guns)




received 9 November 2012

Demand a Plan:


Now that President Obama has won a second term, I am waiting to hear his plan to stop Americans from being murdered with guns.

At the second presidential debate, I asked the candidates how they would keep dangerous people from getting guns. At the same time, Officer Arthur Lopez was on duty at the debate venue -- protecting the candidates.

Exactly one week later, just before his 30th birthday, Officer Lopez was shot and killed in the line of duty with an illegal gun.

If I could ask the President another question, I’d ask what he is going to do to keep illegal guns out of the hands of dangerous people like the one who killed Officer Lopez.

Please forward this email...

I’m asking for your help. For our mothers, our sisters, our daughters – and for the millions of American women who have looked at a loved one past the barrel of a gun.

Officer Lopez was the kind of man who lived to serve. He shoveled snow for his elderly neighbor and baked apple pies to welcome new people to the neighborhood. He was even decorated, twice, for saving lives in the line of duty.

Tragically, heroes like him are gunned down far too often in this country. For the first time in many years, more officers are being shot in the line of duty than killed in car accidents.

President Obama has the power to do something about it and save untold lives. Please join me and call on him to close the loopholes that let felons buy guns with no background checks and no questions asked.

Share Officer Lopez’s story ...and Demand A Plan to end gun violence.

Thank you for honoring Officer Lopez and all those killed with illegal guns by taking action.

Sincerely,
Nina E. Gonzalez


Sunday, November 04, 2012

Support California Now!



The following graph may help readers in & out of California? Send to your California Contacts. Write your OWN letter to Editor in one or several of these news sources? Or use as a guideline for other states?

For an important article on California and the Death Penalty GO here
( Even for those who are on the fence, this article shows that voting to repeal the death penalty could save the state of California as any other state a HEAP of money.)

This just came in from Consumer WatchDog dot org via email...may not be on main website? Maybe you could send a letter to editor in these newspapers, call, or vote where appropriate?

Election Day is now just 2 days away. As a public service, we are sending you the positions of the major newspaper editorial boards on all the California ballot measures. Consumer Watchdog does not endorse these editorial positions. We are simply offering them to you, along with links to the original editorials, so that you can do your own research and make your own decisions.

Some of our supporters have asked if Consumer Watchdog has taken positions on any measures...

Ballot Measure Scorecard: Editorial Board Positions On CA Propositions
Newspaper Prop
30 Prop
31 Prop
32 Prop
33 Prop
34 Prop
35 Prop
36 Prop
37 Prop
38 Prop
39 Prop
40
LA Daily News Y Y Y N Y Y Y N N N Y
LA Times Y N N N Y N Y N N Y Y
North County Times N N Y N Y Y Y N N Y
OC Register N N Y Y N Y Y N N N Y
Press-Enterprise N N Y N N N Y N N Y Y
Sac Bee Y N N N Y N Y N N Y Y
SD Union Tribune N Y Y N Y Y N N N Y
SF Chronicle Y Y N N Y Y Y N N N Y
SJ Mercury News Y Y N N Y Y Y N N Y Y
Ventura Co. Star Y N N N Y N N N N N Y

November 2012 Statewide Ballot Measure Titles

Proposition 30
Temporary Taxes to Fund Education. Guaranteed Local Public Safety Funding. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

Proposition 31
State Budget. State and Local Government. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.

Proposition 32
Political Contributions by Payroll Deduction. Contributions to Candidates. Initiative Statute.

Proposition 33
Auto Insurance Companies. Prices Based on Driver's History of Insurance Coverage. Initiative Statute.

Proposition 34
Death Penalty. Initiative Statute.

Proposition 35
Human Trafficking. Penalties. Initiative Statute.

Proposition 36
Three Strikes Law. Repeat Felony Offenders. Penalties. Initiative Statute.

Proposition 37
Genetically Engineered Foods. Labeling. Initiative Statute.

Proposition 38
Tax to Fund Education and Early Childhood Programs. Initiative Statute.

Proposition 39
Tax Treatment for Multistate Businesses. Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Funding. Initiative Statute.

Proposition 40
Redistricting. State Senate Districts. Referendum.

We hope this is helpful to you. Good luck sorting through this year's lengthy ballot, and thanks for all your support.

Best wishes,

Jamie Court
President, Consumer Watchdog