(source)

Religious liberty or the freedom of religion and belief is a human right. It is the right to be protected against coercion in matters of religion, to be free to practice and profess a religion of your choice, in private as well as in public, to change your religion, or to practice no religion at all.

Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states:

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

This right is closely linked to the right to free expression and the right to free association:

(source: http://kansasadvocacy.com/Religion___Spirituality.html)

The First Amendment of the US Consitutiton states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

It protects the freedom of religion in the US. It's made up of two parts. The Establishment Clause prohibits the government from passing laws that will establish an official religion or preferring one religion over another. The courts have interpreted the establishment clause to accomplish the separation of church and state and have held that the clause extends to the executive and judicial branches as well.

The Free Exercise Clause prohibits the government from interfering with a person's practice of his or her religion.

Here is a country ranking of religious freedom. And here are some examples:

Religious liberty is an important value because it protects religious diversity and plurality and hence counteracts religious persecution and coercion. It makes a monopoly of one religion impossible - except when culture and demography are such that there is a de facto monopoly which is not contested - and it guarantees the coexistence of different and publicly competing beliefs. In this way, it also guarantees publicity, debate and diversity in general. If there is publicity, debate and diversity on the level of religion, then why not on other levels? On top of that, religious liberty guarantees tolerance: if people can be tolerant - or are forced to be tolerant - in the field of religion, then they will probably be tolerant in other fields as well.

This shows that religious liberty can be of interest to non-religious persons, not only because it protects them from the imposition of a religious belief, but also because it allows them to live in a world of tolerance, publicity ad diversity. Religious liberty is therefore an integral part of a democratic society and a system of human rights.

However, there is a downside to the concept of religious liberty. Anyone can call their personal insanity a religion in order to try to get government protection. There is no easy answer to the question of what is or is not a religion in the proper sense of the word, but it is obvious that any belief or practice which is part of a religion or claimed to be part of a religion, and which provokes violations of human rights, should not be protected under the right to freedom of religion. Every human right is limited and has to be balanced with other rights.

Freedom of religion is no exception. In particular, the right to absence of discrimination, although closely connected to religious liberty (one should not be treated badly as a consequence of one's religion), can be a problem if everything can be labeled a religion and if every imaginable theological ideology can enjoy an absolute level of protection granted by the freedom of religion. The equal rights of women should be balanced with the right to practice a religion which provokes discrimination of women. Limiting one right for the sake of another is a normal practice in the field of human rights. This is even more evident in the case of terrorism based on religion.

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Religious liberty implies that the state (but not only the state) should not interfere with the religion of its citizens, should not favor or discriminate a particular religion or religions, and should not attach benefits or penalties to any religious affiliation or lack thereof. Religious liberty therefore limits the power of the state and creates a difference between state and society by granting some measure of religious independence to society.

However, religious liberty not only means that the state should avoid interfering in religious matters. It also means that the state should be absolutely neutral as regards religion. There has to be a separation between state and religion (but not necessarily between politics and religion) in the sense that there can be no official state religion. The state should not link itself to a particular religion but should stand above the plurality of different religions. One and the same person cannot be both head of state and head of a church (or an important functionary of a church).

Without this kind of neutrality, certain religions as well as atheists and agnostics will be worse off compared to the adherents of the official religion, if they are allowed to exist at all. Religious liberty means religious equality and the equal treatment of all religions. This equal treatment is impossible if there is some kind of link between the state and a particular religion. If adherence to one religion brings more advantages than adherence to another - and this can be the case when the former is an official state religion or is in any way favored by the state - then there is no real religious liberty. The choice for one religion rather than another will not be a free choice. Even if non-official religions are not actively persecuted or discriminated against, they are worse off when there is no separation between the state and religion because they have less means to influence the public as the official state religion. They are not as free as the official religion.

Another reason why religious liberty implies the separation between state and religion is the need for an impartial judge to mediate between different religions. If different religions are allowed to exist together, we need a non-religious law which regulates their coexistence. It is very unlikely that people adhering to one religion will accept laws which are inspired by another religion. The fact that a religiously neutral state with its religiously neutral laws allows many different religions to exist and to coexist, makes it acceptable to many people. A state which only allows one religion or favors one religion, will only be accepted by the adherents of that particular religion.

The historical fact that religious communities tend to become more and more intertwined within the borders of states, will enhance the attractiveness of this kind of state. A democracy is by definition such a neutral state, because a democracy respects human rights. Once you respect human rights, you also respect religious liberty, and religious liberty leads to religious neutrality on the part of the state.

Just as the state is kept out of religion, religion is kept out of the state. The claims of religion are restricted. A particular religion cannot claim to be the religion of the country in order to take possession of the state or the law and thereby achieve more power than other religions and impose itself on individuals. The state, for its part, is not allowed to prohibit, persecute, discriminate or impose a religion, and it should also avoid using a religion as a means to enhance its authority, as a kind of transcendent confirmation. If you stand close to something glorious, you may hope that something of the glory shines on you as well. You may even hope to become godly, which, historically, has been an enormous advantage to states in pre-modern times. The representative of God on earth is godly as well, and he who is godly is eternal and escapes contestation, which is of course anti-democratic. It is equally unacceptable for a state to use certain religious texts to justify or enforce authoritarian measures.

Separating state and religion may cause some problems. It will for example make it more difficult to universalize human rights. Many cultures, for example Muslim cultures, see this separation not as an advantage but as a problem because religion - unified religion, not the freedom of religion - is still very important in their societies and is considered to be the foundation of politics.

However, state neutrality in religious matters does not imply that democratic politics is necessarily a-religious or atheistic. A democracy executes the will of the people and not the will of God, but if the people believe that their will equals the will of God, then this does not pose a problem as long as the religious rights of the minority are respected and as long as the religion of the majority does not acquire unjustified privileges and does not become the official state religion.

This already indicates that the separation of state and religion is not identical to the separation of politics and religion. Religion does not have to remain silent when it comes to politics. It can be a source of inspiration for politicians and it can enhance ethical consciousness and behavior. Therefore, it should not be excluded from politics. It is important to make the distinction between politics and the state. The fact that freedom of religion and the separation of state and religion do not imply the separation of religion and politics can make it easier to impose religious liberty and state neutrality. Religious people obviously and justifiably fear the separation of religion and politics.

The religious neutrality of the state does not necessarily lead to a religious neutrality of politics. A religion is not allowed to infiltrate the institutions of the state, otherwise it would acquire more power than other religions and therefore destroy religious liberty (a choice for a religion is not free if one religion has more power of persuasion than another). But a religion is allowed to try to convince a majority, at least as long as it respects human rights and the liberty of other religions.

More posts on religious liberty or the freedom of religion.

In my next posting I will publish some advises on using that new release.

Ouverte et pluraliste, l'Association Maurepas Ensemble constitue une force d'analyse, de réflexion, et de propositions dans le débat politique local. Face à un conseil municipal conservateur et sans ambitions, notre équipe soutien les élus d'opposition dans leur action au quotidien. Alors que de nombreux projets en discussion à tous les échelons risquent de modifier profondément le visage de Maurepas et des communes proches, nous saurons défendre avec les Maurepasiens, un projet de ville raisonné et respectueux du cadre de vie. Enfin, en lançant dès aujourd'hui débats et réflexions sur les sujets de fond, Maurepas Ensemble s'affirme comme la seule véritable alternative pour demain.

A la suite de l'assemblée constitutive du mardi 1^er juillet, le bureau de l'association est composé de :

-          Président : Grégory Garestier (Centre),

-          Vice-présidentes : Hélène Clauzier (Marnière) et Nicole Malaquin (Village),

-          Secrétaire : Johann Dantant (Malmedonne),

-          Trésorier : Daniel Ravard (Bessières).

Si vous êtes intéressé par notre action, et si vous souhaitez rejoindre notre équipe, contactez-nous sur contact@maurepas-ensemble.net pour plus d'information. Vous pouvez aussi télécharger le bulletin d'adhésion (Fiche d'inscription Maurepas Ensemble.pdf) et nous prendrons contact avec vous.

I was 27, married with a son when the NHS was born. Previously I had to takings for a nursing internal when my son was born and I received no pre-natal care. I welcomed this wonderful unusual subject scheme wholeheartedly.

It brought peacetime of mind to so many, especially those unable to pay for a doctor or to contribute to a hospital savings association. In my childhood, the panel poison looked after the health of my family when we were really ill. He would smite the house, but minor illnesses, cuts and bruises were dealt with by mother in the home.

We inhaled friars balsam under a towel if we had a cough, we gargled with relish water. Iodine was applied on our cuts and bruises when we cut over. A lump of washing soda would corn a mosquito bite.

In the 1930s I would go with my mother, once a month, to the local institute in the London suburb where I lived and she would repay a small sum into the hospital saving association. This would liberate care of some of the fees for any necessary hospital treatment. My father, as an indentured cabinet-maker, was not immensely paid and during the Depression was on half-time – but he always paid his monthly contribution to the Pearl Friendly Society which would aid in times of sickness. There were many who were too poor to pay the panel doctor’s minuscule fee or join a hospital saving association.

There were also those who were not prudent enough to put money aside for this. The National Health Service secured better fitness for all of them. Over the years, I have seen it evolve. More life-threatening conditions are treated successfully, more preventative drugs are discovered and surgical techniques developed. I have trusted it to treat my origin suffering from breast cancer and my founder with lung cancer and to relieve their pain.

My husband was cared for when he had a heart attack. I have relied upon it for healing for chronic bronchitis, caused by war service, and in emergencies. I have been X-rayed and diagnosed by ultra-sound.

I am continually thankful for the peace of mind it can give. The bad thing today is that devolution has brought inconsistencies to our great NHS. Despite everyone paying taxes on the same dandruff to central government, the way money is allocated to health needs depends clearly on where in the UK you reside – and even in which town your home is.

Video:

Esteemed opinion article: link

As friends know, I move in a circle of associations and nonprofits. Hence the title of this entry. In associations, it's not usually tech vs. better tech, but how to move straight to rockets from the horse and buggy. Even the largest organizations with the biggest budgets operate with frugal constraints, and it can be hard to convince a volunteer board why it will cost XXX (often topping a million dollars) to create a new website that will enable dynamic order processing, event registration, member interaction, etc. Boards are active in their organization and don't always think like the "average" member, so they don't realize the scope of problems encountered by members navigating a site that has evolved organically from its 1995 origins. They don't realize the encumbrance placed on an eager new member when they have to download a form, fill in a credit card, and fax it back, so a human can hand-capture the purchase. (Hint: the fax better be in a locked room to comply with bankcard requirements.) There are organizations that don't even allow that ....you apply, and a staff member or committee decide how much you should pay, and then send you a bill, and then you send in the payment, maybe, or maybe you postpone that part until 3 or 5 months go by and you get the journal for free in the meantime perhaps, and then you decide not to pay, and then maybe someone takes you off the rolls but you probably still get the enewsletter because frankly, there isn't enough staff or any updated management system to coordinate all these efforts.

Then someone calls me because the membership retention is down...

I think the hardest pill for association executives to swallow is believing that things can change, that a business case can be made for improving processes. Because Board members and other volunteers are an organization's greatest evangelists, they deserve to envision their organization as the modern center of its field. Once in a while, at least once a year, help them overcome gravity by painting a picture of what it would look like...before a competing organization does.

With that in mind, look forward to the launch of the Social Networking and Media Association, which promises to set an example of just how far into the stratosphere associations will need to go in order to trump what the internet can do without them. Kudos to Andy Steggles for giving legs to the vision.

...The Yamaha "Vino" always puzzles me as a name choice for any vehicle.

Vino, of course, being the Italian word for "wine" ... does naming a scooter after alcohol strike anyone as a good idea?  Sure, it's not going to immediately inspire riders to start swilling down hooch while driving, but there are still things that should not necessarily have name association, and I'm pretty certain that drinking & driving are exactly such things.

- Adhérer c'est s'impliquer : votre adhésion donne du poids à l'association dans ses discussions avec les responsables du dossier TGV et TER. Notre association va devoir faire face à de nombreux combats dans les semaines et mois à venir (comme la suppresion du premier TER du matin ou les nouveaux horaires d'hiver) et toutes les voiex comptent
- Une information régulière sur les actions en cours et l'avenir de la desserte Montbard-Paris
- Accès à une veille d'information permanente sur vos préoccupations de transports ferroviaires
- Accès à une revue de presse
- Une assistance dans le traitement d'éventuels litiges particuliers avec la SNCF

Enfin, adhérer c'est aussi la possibilité de donner votre avis et de faire valoir vos arguments.

Pour adhérer, c'est simple, il vous suffit de remplir l'un des deux bulletin ci-dessous et de le renvoyer à l'adresse de l'association (AUTTMP, Maison des Associations, 1 route de Chatillon, 21500 MONTBARD)

Merci à vous

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Bulletin d'adhésion - Particulier

M.* Mme * Melle* NOM…………………………….PRÉNOM……………………………………..

Adresse…………………………………………………………

CP…………….. VILLE…………………………………………..

Renseignements facultatifs pour mieux vous connaître et bien vous informer

Téléphone

Domicile ………………………..Liste rouge

Travail ou mobile………………………,

E mail…………………………………………………………..

Age…………Profession………………………………….

O Usager TER O Usager TGV O Usager Grandes Lignes

O Abonné TGV O Abonné TER O Étudiant O Militaire O Handicapé

O Senior  O Grand Voyageur O Élu local  

Je règle ma cotisation 2008 soit 5 € (en espèces auprès du trésorier ou par  chèque à l’ordre de l'AUTTMP)

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Bulletin d'adhésion - Entreprise

Entreprise ………………………………………………………

Adresse…………………………………………………………

CP…………….. VILLE…………………………………………..

Secteur d’activité ……………………………………………………..

Taille ……………………………………………………..

Contact

NOM…………………………….PRÉNOM……………………………………..

Téléphone  Bureau ou mobile………………………,

E mail…………………………………………………………..

Fonction ……………………………………………………..

Cotisation 2008 par  chèque à l’ordre de l'AUTTMP

O organisme de – de 50 personnes = 50 €
O organisme de + de 50 personnes = 100 €

Doudou, biberon, voilà des mots multi sensoriels porteurs immédiats de sens.
Des mots qui ne sont d'abord que des bruits, vite associés cependant à des images, des images présentes, mais aussi des images évoquées dans les moments d'absence, de perte, de manque affectif, d'insécurité. Alors cette seule pensée (l'image souvenir du doudou oublié, du biberon qui tarde) agit comme un baume apaisant.
Le doudou, pour un tout petit, n'est beau que parce qu'il sent bon, et son passage à la machine à laver – au nom de l'hygiène – lui fait perdre l'essentiel de ses vertus. Les doudous les meilleurs, les plus puissants, sont souvent d'affreuses guenilles qui font trembler les adeptes de l'hygiène la plus rigoureuse.
Quant au « biberon », nous lui ferons l'honneur du prochain billet.

Un tout petit qui n'a plus de désirs ne pense plus, n'a plus de « projets » en images.
Les mots qu'il entend ont été galvaudés, ils ont perdu leur sens, leur charge affective positive, leur pouvoir de déclencheur de désirs.
Ces mots « détériorés » font désormais peur par leur perte de sens, leur non-sens.
Imaginons un malheureux tout petit qui entendrait le mot biberon, associé parfois à un cortège de sensations agréables, comme se doit d'être escorté tout bon biberon qui se respecte, et qui, dans d'autres circonstances aberrantes (maladie mentale, crise éthylique…, serait lié à des cris mêlés à des rires, à des coups alternant sans raison avec des câlins…). Il est évident qu'alors, ce bruit « biberon », cette image-biberon, cette pensée-biberon n'aurait plus aucun sens, aucun sens rendu prévisible par un contexte habituel positif ou négatif. Ce bruit habituellement si précieux sera craint, fui, banni, parce qu'ambivalent, douteux, à double sens. Il ne parle plus vrai, il n'est plus qu'ambiguïtés et mensonges et il entrainera dans sa perte tout le cortège des bruits du langage de Maman, ou de Papa, toute cette musique langagière, tout ce « doux ramage humain » si naturellement bénéfique, apaisant, sécurisant, et cependant pas autrement compris par Bébé que nous adultes ne comprenons, sentons, le ramage des oiseaux, les tendres gémissements d'une chienne allaitant et toilettant ses bébés.
Pourquoi alors continuer à réagir à leur écoute ? Pourquoi les intégrer, les mémoriser avec chacun tout son cortège, son halo, de sensations, d'impressions, d'états affectifs?
Le tout petit trompé serait alors pour longtemps un infirme de la communication.

Nous allons essayer dans le prochain billet de symboliser ce qu'est pour un tout petit, dans sa pensée, dans ce qu'il perçoit, sent, ressent, éprouve…, le mot biberon.

• D'abord, une de leur dernière activité, une matinée de sensibilisation à la conduite en vélo, avec l'aide de la gendarmerie de Sainte-Maure, a eu les honneurs de la "nounou" (la NR) : voir l'article en cliquant ici.
  Allier prévention et animation renforce, si c'était nécessaire, l'intérêt pour Sainte-Catherine d'accueillir cette association, composée de parents d'élèves qui se sont mobilisés au moment de l'adoption de la semaine de quatre jours pour notre école, afin de proposer des temps ludiques pour les enfants le samedi matin.

• Justement, deuxième raison de les mettre à l'honneur : les responsables de l'association ont annoncées que, malgré le passage national à la semaine de quatre jours, et donc la fin de la "spécificité locale" de notre calendrier scolaire, ils décidaient de continuer leurs activités l'année prochaine.
  Merci ! Voilà qui va faire plaisir aux enfants qui ont pris l'habitude de se retrouver à la salle de motricité le samedi matin... et qui devrait, nous l'espérons, donner envie aux nouveaux !

• Enfin, l'association a offert récemment un verre de l'amitié à tous les parents présents lors de la dernière activité de l'année, et un cadeau souvenir à chaque enfant ayant participé, même à une seule activité de l'année (un beau set de table reprenant les réalisations de l'année, avec une photo de chaque enfant !).

Merci encore aux parents qui prennent sur leur temps de week-end pour permettre à nos enfants et petits-enfants de se retrouver dans une ambiance différente de celle de l'école, et de renforcer la convivialité de ce village.

www.albandaci.blogspot.com

Studio Ligjore "Daci"

www.daci-lawfirm.com

“Daci” Law Firm, operates in the area of legal practice focus mainly but not only to: Legal Consulting, drafting of legal documents especially such as international contracts, foundation’s documents for companies, associations, trade unions and other forms of association. Legal representation before all the First Instance Courts, Appeal Courts of Albania, Supreme Court of Albania, Constitutional Court of Albania and before other public and private legal and natural persons, including international arbitration tribunals, European Court of Human Rights etc. “Daci” Law Firm, offers its services also in Kosovo, Macedonia, Italy, United States of America through the cooperation with its associates and partners. This website is designed to serve as an overview information about the firm, people working for the office and services offered. Furthermore, the sections of publications and for students will offer to law practitioners, students and other people concerned, legal reading materials, legal texts, case law and academic works written by peoples of the office and other selected publications. The website, is designed also with the aim to contribute to the education of people with the principles of justice, human rights and values of democracy.

Kontakt:

Av.Jordan Daci, MA (Ph.D Candidate)

Rr. "Islam Alla", Pallati, 67, Shk, 2, Kati,2 Tirana , Albania
Phone: 00355692310229
Email: jordan.daci@gmail.com

A model funeral home: Barton Family Funeral Service states its philosophy well in keeping down Funeral Cost.

"Barton Family Funeral Service is founded on the belief that there is a better way to deal with death than the expensive offerings of the corporate funeral industry. We urge a return to traditional values, beliefs, and cultural practices that are often compromised when traditional funerals cost too much. The growing trend toward personalized last rites is really just a return to the ways our ancestors faced the reality of death."

http://bartonfuneral.com/

By contrast this Funeral Home promotes it's fancy facility and hides it's prices behind a flash opener of it's upscale facility.

http://www.calvertmemorial.com/

This flash is designed to take your funeral cost cash. Worse yet from our family to yours is actually quite a chain of funeral homes with expensive costs.

Not to mention it is an IFDA Preneed Trust Funeral Home and NPS (national prearranged services) funeral home. Two Preneed Scandals that have rocked Illinois and the USA! Beware national prearranged services and the Illinois Funeral Directors Association

Flash always takes your funeral cost cash!

More information on lowering the average funeral cost can be found here:

Rest in Peace: Insider’s Tips to the Low Cost Less Stress Funeral by R Brian Burkhardt and Matt Bacak. #1 International Best Selling Author Jason Oman also gave thumbs up to this book. This book is published by Morgan James Publishing.

Your Funeral Guy, R Brian Burkhardt, Funeral Director, Author, Blogger, State of Illinois

The “Google Books Search” give a look inside the book.

http://books.google.com/books?q=r+brian+burkhardt&btnG=Search+Books

Alla skräppostprogrammen har blivit förryckta!! Ännu ett bevis, på min ära! Och dessutom - har någon tänkt på vad dessa skrynkliga ordkombinationer ställer till med för en inte bara dyslektisk, utan oxå infallsmässigt challanged liten tant som jag??!?

Associationerna står som spön i backen. Man kan inte skriva de världsomvälvande inlägg man hade tänkt. Man blir avledd

Bilden?? Men den föreställer ju naturligtvis det första man får upp om man bildgooglar "Pink Virgin". Inte det värsta. Men det första.

Läs även andra bloggares åsikter om Anna-Karins ofullbordade, skräppostprogram, association, jungfru skär

VECA is a social - professional organisation of businesses and agencies operating in the area of exhibition and convention. It currently consists of 70 members.

The association is expected to help prevent unhealthy competition in the field, which now sees hundreds of players.

If you are in need of locating a good attorney, one who specializes in family law, then you need someone who can look after your interests as well as the interests of your children. I have listed five options to help you find the attorney who is right for you.

1. Check with Friends, Family – People you know can be an excellent resource to help you locate a family law attorney. Somebody you know probably has been through a similar experience; their advice and support can be useful to you.

2. The Bar Association – A local or state bar association can be a wonderful resource as they will tell you which of their members specialize in Family Law. Get a hold of that list, contact the attorneys directly, and interview them. Typically, your first visit is free so that you can learn what the family law attorney will do for you, their fee structure, and much more.

3. Legal Aid Societies – Your state or county should have a legal aid society. If you find that the cost of retaining counsel is prohibitive, consider contacting your local chapter for help. Some will offer their services for free or “pro bono.” Some attorneys will charge you based on a sliding scale, taking into consideration your ability to repay. For parents with limited means, this can be a terrific option.

4. Research – Your library has legal directories featuring all kinds of legal professionals, while the internet is an excellent resource for accurate and up to date information. Forums, list servs, ads, and articles like the one you are reading now can be good sources to help you find attorney related information.

5. Check the Phone Book – One of the most popular places for attorneys to list their availability is with an old stand by: your phone book. Right smack dab in the yellow pages you will find scores of attorneys featured with all the of their contact information listed, including web sites.

Divorce certainly isn’t fun, in fact it is downright painful. Your children will suffer, but you can help ease the transition for them and you by finding an attorney who is compassionate and caring. For additional support and spiritual guidance, arrange a visit with your pastor today.

Dyski są wytwarzane zgodnie ze specyfikacją Blu-ray Disc Association. Poza długim okresem żywotności, charakteryzują się możliwością nagrywania z prędkością 4x, co pozwala na nagranie 25GB danych w 23 minuty.

Jedna płyta Archival Gold Blu-ray kosztuje 27$.

Źródło: 4press.pl