CNN estimates 100,000 people were killed in the cyclone in Myramar. Moveon.org is recomending Avaaz.org for donations. The donations will be handled by Buddhist monks. The government is not trustworthy.

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/burma_cyclone/77.php

CrossLeft community,

Tomorrow the Chicago Tribune will be interviewing a few of the founders of the Sanctuary in anticipation of a larger scale launch.

The Sanctuary (http://thesanctuary.soapblox.net/) is an online community that is pro-migrant, pro-humanity and pro-social justice. It is a safe space for organizing, sharing information and stories and discussing this issue which is crucial to us as a nation and a world.

This space has been created from the grassroots by a handful of volunteers who have been working on the concept since last year. I feel honored to be among this group as I believe that this space will truly make a difference in the immigration debate in the days, weeks, months and years to come. I write you this note to invite you to be one of the voices speaking on behalf of change.

Please note that the site is still in beta and there are still bugs being worked on. The success of this initiative will come from the passion of the community that is built thus I wanted to invite you to join in the conversation from the start. Please stop on by, sign up now and begin posting your own diaries.

CrossLeft community,

I thought you would enjoy this- I am re-posting the following article for Stefanie C.--- Frank C's daughter. This piece (her first published piece) is beautifully written. We are indeed blessed to have such gifted writers such as this father & daughter duo in our midst.

-K

Frank C.
By Stefanie C., Staten Island, NY

When I get off the bus, I’m usually greeted by the sounds of news on CNN and taps of a keyboard. My father welcomes me, and I help him with the usual things – changing the channel, getting seltzer, bringing him his keyboard, and some other tasks. Why doesn’t he do this himself? Well, he can’t. My father has muscular dystrophy, a disease that has eaten away at his muscles to the point where he can’t walk. Of course, this doesn’t seem strange to me. I’m used to it. But the fact that my father can live just about as normally as any other parent, caring for his family, is all I need to believe in him as a role model.

I was taught never to judge people by their appearance. It’s unfair, and I could miss out on a potential friend. I learned that when I see someone of a different race or stature, I am equal to them, no matter who they are. My dad is a modern-day Atticus Finch. He read to me from infancy, and made sure I had a sense of morality and intellect.

I offer these notes to provide some insights into the energy four of us shared during last Monday's Theology Panel conference call. As these are just my notes I invite Rev. Roger, Rev. Jim and Rev. Nancy to add their notes to these.

Rev. Roger noted that he was from the Prince of Peace congregation in Anniston, AL. Raised Baptist he moved to the Anglican Church, but due to internal church politics in their first church where I believe he said his wife was unsuccesfully nominated for Bishop, he and his wife left and joined a progressive Anglican church. He's now part of the creation effort building The Progressive Christian Alliance, a "non-denominational denomination"! He does enjoy a good social justice campaign and a good theological discussion.

The Rev. Jim Ramelis, who lives "way out in the sticks" of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, has a degree in Religious Studies. His studies in A Course in Miracles lead to his ordination. He's prime interest is in the basics of social justice; would like CrossLeft to push for basic universal progressive themes such as immigration reform, universal healthcare for all and the like.