adjective: having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future.

noun: latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.

In physics, potential refers to the amount of work necessary to bring something from A to B, A and B defined by what you are measuring. (This is a very LOOSE definition).

THE CHALLENGE:

Anyone observing humanity will note that humans have GREAT potential. This sounds like a positive trait until we look more closely at this potential. Humans have a great capacity to create. We have a limitless imagination, which allows us to constantly break beyond limits that were previously considered inviolate. This is a good thing. However we have an equal capacity to destroy, with the same backing of that limitless imagination.

Our potential can be quite dangerous.

Having potential and converting that potential to something of practical value are two different things. Physically, potential is how much work is needed to achieve a specific goal, but until that work is applied, the goal remains nothing more than a possibility. This applies to the human condition as well; we have great potential both for the good and the not so good, but unless we put the work in that potential will never really mean anything to ourselves and our world. If, and how, we use our potential is a matter of choice. We each have to decide if we are WILLING to do the best we can do. We also have the choice of HOW we use our abilities. Until we make those choices, our potential will remain in the realm of the imagination.

The HOW choice is often the most difficult one, especially when it comes to who benefits. This is the issue that really divides us. On one side we have those who think that all our actions should ultimately benefit ourselves … the rest of humanity … and even the world … be damned. The flip side of this is those who believe that the needs of the many far surpass the needs of the few or the one, and that should guide our actions. The ongoing conflict in our world is a direct result of these deferring extremes.

Unfortunately, those who lean towards selfishness tend to run the show for one simple reason  … they are willing to do what is necessary to achieve their goals. To such people, compassion is a weakness. Those who work for the many are driven by compassion, which means there are actions they simply will not take for success. How can someone who has moral limits actually stop someone who will do anything that meets their needs?

That is the uphill battle that those who seek a compassionate world continually face. Sometimes the climb can seem so difficult as to be not worth the effort.

THE SOLUTION:

I don’t have a specific answer to the above question. The dark turn humanity has taken in recent years damaged my own resolve. I failed to live up to my OWN potential of late, which does no one any good. How do we fight for compassion when those who have none are in charge; when a majority of people WILLINGLY let such people make choices for them because it is so much easier than actually making their own choices? Thus this project, and others I have started, aimlessly drifted.

Until I was reminded that the only way to FIND a solution is to focus on finding solutions. If we focus on the problem we will never get anywhere. Not doing anything is as good as admitting defeat. The heartless will always win if the compassionate simply roll over and let them. If we want the world to become a more compassionate one, we have to continually remind people WHAT compassion is. But we have to also remind OURSELVES that being compassionate does NOT mean letting others with no limits do as they will. Oppression can only exist if the oppressed let it. The same applies to tyrannical rule. We have to recognize that sometimes we must do what is necessary ourselves. Hoping someone who has no compassion will suddenly come into it if we ask enough times is nothing more than naiveté. We have to recognize that SOMETIMES we may have to do things that we do not like to get anywhere. But we also need to remember such choices should always be a LAST resort.

That said, there are a few things we can focus on:

• Cooperation – the best chance to overcome selfish individuals who have a strong power base is COOPERATION. They only have a strong power base because others support them. Therefore we have to support each other in opposition. If we create a larger and stronger compassion based community than change WILL happen.
• Do what you can do – when we constantly find the ‘bad’ guy winning, it is easy to feel that our efforts are wasted, so why bother. The simple truth is that nothing can be achieved if not at least ATTEMPTED. Don’t focus on what we can not do, but rather on what we CAN do.
• Be flexible – don’t lock on one path. If one thing does not seem to work, maybe we need to approach it from a different angle. Don’t give up. Just rethink.
• Educate, don’t pontificate – the only way to teach someone who does not want to be taught is to demonstrate. Don’t try to convince someone who does not want to be convinced. Just show them they are wrong. Either they will open their eyes, or they will suffer the consequences of their own willful blindness. Either way, don’t waste your energy on them.

When darkness threatens, a single candle will provide light. A single candle can also light other candles. If enough candles are lit, the darkness will no longer be there.

The post Be a candle! Chase away the darkness … first appeared on thrumyeyes.

What We Do

Our Vision

We envision a Country and Continent where all people are equally empowered and living free from discrimination, invisibility, violence and isolation.

Our Mission

To empower, equip and liberate all those at the margins of the society through education, capacity building, vocational skills in order to resist dependence-syndrome while defending their rights in this volatile situation where the community conspires to make them misfits or second-class citizens.

As indicated above, part of EHA’s target group are persons doubly marginalized in that the few who manage to escape often find that conditions in their countries of transit are not much better than those they fled. They are often targeted for violence by local authorities or civilians. The scant survival resources normally available to other refugees are often closed off to them. Therefore, the Organization affirms the need to ensure that any official body handling the beneficiaries who choose to is able to understand the myriad issues and manage these cases sensitively and appropriately.

It has become evident that most refugees, sheltering in UNHCR camps, despite the difficult conditions, think that at least they can find solace in the fact that they have escaped the persecution that sent them there in the first place, but sometimes they discover that the reality is quity different. In some cases they find themselves living in deplorable conditions; sick, beaten down, fed unsustainable food, and their bleak existence exacerbated not only by a slow resettlement process (it seems that the process can take from 2 to 3 years), but by enduring persecution at the hands of the general camp population.

EHA in full sight of this humiliating situation, networks line groups, agencies and NGOs working with refugees in Uganda and Kenya to share examples of good practice through our portal in the hope it will help others to improve approaches and lead to safety for the many beneficiaries/ refugees currently fighting for their survival.

The Multifaceted Goal Of EHA:

• To ensure full realization of fair treatment and overall acceptance of all humans beings
• To provide and cultivate support, resources and advocacy to the victims of discrimination, hate and isolation.
• We are committed to every person’s right to live in violence free home and have a specific focus towards addressing the cultural hiccups in determining gender equality and equity.
• To restore and recover the lost hope of all victims of discrimination who are currently invisible in Uganda and Africa in general.
• To recognize and avert the absence of accessible emergency services for the victims of rape and defilement
• To educate, motivate, and mobilize youth to improve their own lives and communities so as to become subject-experts of their own problems, challenges and solutions to overcome them.
• To provide preventative and educational programs to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and other STDs among the key populations……hence improving their health status.
• To challenge and end all forms of discrimination, bullying and isolation.
• To create, maintain and sustain an equal society.

We would like to thank you for your precious time shared with us when you chose to visit our site and indeed success will always stay in our hands once we are committed to detect and completely decimate or destroy all forms of discrimination. Such a commitment, is the only entry point to a sustainable and equitable society that we all long for, fellow citizens of this universe.[/featurebox][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/3″][vc_empty_space height=”48px”][vc_cta h2=”” h4=”Show your support!” style=”3d” color=”orange” add_button=”bottom” btn_title=”Go to the site.” btn_align=”center” btn_i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-sign-out” add_icon=”left” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-ambulance” btn_add_icon=”true” btn_link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fwww.equalityhealsafrica.org%2F||target:%20_blank|” btn_button_block=”true” btn_custom_onclick=”true” i_on_border=”true”]Do you believe that all people have a right to live productive and healthy lives whatever their circumstance, free from discrimination and hatred? Would you like to find out more about these issues in Uganda, and show your support for ending them? Visit Equality Heals Africa now![/vc_cta][blockquote align=”center” width=”full”]

 We Want A Place Where All People Are Empowered, Live Free From Discrimination, Violence & Isolation

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Let’s focus on compassion and empathy. Empathy directly effects how we relate to others. If we have no empathy, we cannot truly relate. Some are born without it, some have it stripped from them. Conversely, compassion is a potential we all carry within us. Even those who lack empathy can show compassion. Compassion is a CHOICE we are all offered. When our priorities are compassion driven, they are inclusive; life affirming. When we remove compassion from our choices, then they risk becoming selfish and divisive. Sadly, this happens all to often in the world. Many think that THEIR priorities are more important than others, based on criteria they defined themselves. People with this mindset will often force their priorities on others who do not agree without any consideration of how it might effect the other people. It is this kind of mindset that essentially causes ALL the conflict in the world. It is this kind of mindset that PAX Nation opposes.

Compassion is the driving force behind PAX Nation. Compassion is essentially what drives ANY individual or group that wishes to bring unity to the world instead of the persistent division that currently exists. But what exactly IS compassion? It is much more than just being kind or forgiving. Some see compassion as weakness … proving they do not truly understand the concept. How can we embrace it if we don’t UNDERSTAND it? Enter The Charter for Compassion:

The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.

The Charter for Compassion was developed by an organization that is devoted to reeducating the world in the true meaning of compassion. To this end, they created a document that clearly sates what compassion really means to each of us. By signing The Charter, we commit ourselves to not only upholding these concepts … but actively spreading them throughout our communities. Since this is the ultimate goal of PAX Nation, we have just officially signed The Charter, and created a partnership that will hopefully blossom as we rewrite our future.

Whether you are a citizen of PAX Nation, or just passing through, compassion is definitely part of your makeup. If you want to show your commitment to creating a compassionate world, SIGN THE CHARTER. Take it one step further, and get your community involved! Together, we can truly make a difference!

The post The Charter for Compassion first appeared on thrumyeyes.