Spreading Love, Gratitude, And Oneness Through Music

Nimo and some of the children who toured together in 2012.

He's as American as any one of us, received an Ivy League education, then went straight to Wall Street. He was living the American dream, the son of parents, who grew up in India and immigrated to the US. He even had his opportunity for fame and fortune, becoming an MTV rap star, this man, "Nimo", Nimesh Patel.

But there was still something missing. He abandoned the life he had established in the US and headed into the foothills of the Himalayas. There, he meditated and was guided into a simpler life, a life of service to others. He moved into the Gandhi Ashram and devoted his life's work to the children of the slums.



Rather recently, he reconnected with his talent and roots in Hip Hop music, but in a different way, emphasizing kindness, gratitude, service, and joy. He provides this gift of love, oneness, and peace through song, in a sacrifice he calls EMPTY HANDS MUSIC. "Empty hands" refers to the way everyone arrives and leaves this life, both times with empty hands. The emphasis is on how we choose to live the life in between.

Nimo took his music on a pilgrimage through the UK and the US, which lasted for seven months. He was spreading his message to various communities, a message of selflessness, planting seeds of goodness and opening hearts to service. Two years before that tour, he had traveled with 16 children from India's slums, with the same message.

Yes, Nimo is still traveling and bringing his message to others. It's not just English-speaking communities where he stops now. In September his music and his message of kindness and gratitude to a small town in Germany, at a local school. Although the songs were in English, they were translated into German, with a spirit of love. And, yes, the teachers and the families, who were also present, received that message with open arms, bringing them closer together, and also closer to others around the world.

In May there was a visit to the community of Infinite Love, part of the town of McAllen, Texas, near the border between Texas and Mexico. The community of Infinite Love started out of tragedy, founded by four mothers - three sisters and a cousin, Two members of the family had died from cancer, a nephew became paralyzed from the waist down by an accident, and the marriage of one of the women had ended after 18 years. That caused them to ask some deep questions about life, and they were able to struggle through the difficulties, beginning the process of healing. The experience caused a shifting of views into seeing the entire world as family and a wish to serve that enlarged family with love, thus the formation of their charity, Infinite Love.

Nimo (rear, center) with German schoolchildren he visited.

Invited by this wonderful group of human beings, Nimo stopped by for a visit. Here, he found an example of that message that he's been spreading around in his travels, an outreach of love, an ability to turn darkness into light. Deeply rooted in the concept of service, these women, these families are transforming McAllen through their example, one heart at a time.

Nimo presenting before an audience in McAllen, TX.

Thanks for information from this article by Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/nimo-empty-hands-music-tour/; this article on Empty Hands Music: http://www.emptyhandsmusic.org/about/; this post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emptyhandsmusicnimo/posts/1794669320774561; this post on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emptyhandsmusicnimo/posts/1747174812190679; and the above link.

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Nation-Building Out Of A Complex Past

A lecture on macroeconomics.

One of the newer nations on this planet of ours happens to be Bangladesh. Along with the nation came an organization, CENTER FOR BANGLADESH STUDIES (CBS), a citizens' initiative and institution, that is pledged to conduct advocacy, research, advocacy, and public education specifically focused on the area known as Bangladesh. By knowing the historical background and culture, it is thought that a more progressive Bangladesh will be the result.

One of the highlight events of the year is the upcoming CBS Bangladesh Conference, slated to occur in December. The nation of Bangladesh arose out of the massive struggle among the peoples of East Pakistan or East Bengal, in the midst of complex regional and local conditions. The vision of what Bangladesh was to become for its people never really was truly realized. Yes, a nation-state was formed, but were all the ethnic groups, religions, and classes able to be liberated, too? What does history say?



If the envisioned Bangladesh never happened, then why, and what is getting in the way? Given the conditions that exist, what kind of Bangladesh can happen in the future? How should Bangladesh be envisioned and how can it happen? This conference is being organized around this type of discourse and planning future work on what kind of vision on Bangladesh is possible for the future. Some of the issues include the economy and how production is related to it, socio-political history, politics, the current state and system of government, environment and ecology, agriculture and food, education, heath, people's locations and living conditions, the nation itself and the concept of liberation.

The various issues will be viewed during the conference through exhibitions, memorial lectures, open discussion, and paper presentations. The conference schedule has yet to be released.

A tv program on a thermal energy project

The issue of nuclear power has become more personal in Bangladesh. The State government has set about establishing the country's first nuclear power plant. It is planned to utilize two Russian-made VVER 1000 nuclear reactors; with the entire plant being built in the Rooppur area in northwest Bangladesh. Various experts have expressed concerned about the safety of the operation and some have even questioned whether nuclear power was necessary for the country. With that in mind, CBS has started a campaign to educate citizens about nuclear safety and renewable energy. They have published a booklet, titled The Problem of Nuclear Energy, Rooppur Project, and Bangladesh, edited by Arup Rahee and Abdullah Nadvi, now being distributed, and obtainable from Aziz Super Market.

The booklet about nuclear safety and renewable energy by CBS.

Thanks for information from this article on CBS: http://www.cbsbd.org/2016/08/13/%e0%a6%ac%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%82%e0%a6%b2%e0%a6%be%e0%a6%a6%e0%a7%87%e0%a6%b6-%e0%a6%b8%e0%a6%ae%e0%a7%8d%e0%a6%ae%e0%a7%87%e0%a6%b2%e0%a6%a8-%e0%a7%a7-%e0%a5%a4%e0%a5%a4-%e0%a7%a8%e0%a7%a6%e0%a7%a7/; and this article on CBS: http://www.cbsbd.org/2016/08/13/the-problem-of-nuclear-energy-rooppur-project-and-bangladesh/; and the above link.

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Life-Saving Assistance For Border Crossers

Peaceful protesters at the border.

Those who make the trek from a Latin American nation across the southern US border don't face an easy crossing. Because there is a border wall in easier-to-cross areas and border patrols are increasingly more vigilant, these immigrants wanting refuge here are forced to use the more difficult routes. Those routes present a great deal of danger to these refugees, crossing forbidding desert areas, where they can easily die.

TUSCON SAMARITANS, an all-volunteer group of citizens, provide a lifeline for these border crossers. They regularly undertake expeditions into the desert, rescuing anyone with whom they come in contact. They also set up relief stations, which contain the all-important water that can prevent dehydration in those who are crossing the desert. The group members also carry out nonviolent protests at border checkpoints to protest harsh treatment of those who seek safety here.



Tucson Samaritans works closely with a similar organization, GREEN VALLEY-SAHUARITA SAMARITANS, although the latter also has projects independent from the former. Every month, Tucson Samaritans holds a workshop for those interested in helping either organization. The program includes a history of both Samaritans, a short history about the border, and what to expect if you join a Search group. Once trained, attendees can sign up for any scheduled Search.

Just recently, a federal judge provided a ruling that benefits undocumented immigrants. Essentially the ruling called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to stop asking local jails to hold prisoners due to be released while the agency determines immigration status. Since the ruling was made in the Midwest, Bob Libal, director of Grassroots Leadership, believed that the rule would initially apply only to six Midwestern States. But he expected that it would eventually apply everywhere.

Mr. Libal said, "We're not entirely sure what that's going to mean for some of the detainers that are issued here in Texas. We also believe that the underlying assertion of the court is correct and that will have the impact of affecting other courts around the country."

Usually these detainers issued by ICE are only good for 48 hours, but many legal advocates are holding that these detainers violate the law, especially if issued when someone is accused of a minor violation. The controversy over these detainers has even made its way into political contests in Texas. Mr. Libal stated, "In Dallas County, the sheriff said she wouldn't be honoring some detainers, and in Houston, there's been a very active campaign to try to convince elected officials there to end detainers. We do believe that there seems to be growing momentum against these things."

Tucson Samaritans out in the desert with relief supplies.

Around the US, there are some 400 communities that have ended cooperation or limited their response to immigration detainers. Any legislation seeking to penalize or punish these communities has so far failed to obtain traction.

Tucson Samaritan help can even extend to helping those with blistered feet.

Thanks to information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/tucson-samaritans/; this article by Mark Richardson on Public News Service: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2016-10-10/social-justice/federal-judge-bans-ice-detainers-on-immigrants/a54395-1; and the above links.

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Acceptance Of Self And Differentiation

Each individual is separate and different from the other.

Eric Bowers has written a book, Meet Me in Hard-to-Love Places: The Heart and Science of Relationship Success. He shared a small section of it with THE CENTER FOR NONVIOLENT COMMUNICATION, in a blog post. As part of its work, the Center provides training in nonviolent communication to professionals in a variety of settings, or on an individual basis.

Mr. Bowers discussed differentiation, a process that for adults means that each individual - "is separate and different from the other, has their own needs and emotions, has their own preferences and dreams, has their own character and truth, has their own 'yes' and their own 'no', is autonomous and takes responsibility for choices and actions, is not responsible for the needs and emotions of the other."



Differentiation goes on for a person's entire life, as the individual continues to refine whom he/she is. That enables the person to stretch out and reach for more of his/her potential, making life richer as it unfolds.This process can also be referred to as individuation.

Also, as individuals grow into adults, they have developed parts of themselves which are hidden, that are disowned, because in childhood, their parental figures have not accepted or loved those parts of self. But unless the adult comes to terms, reincorporates, and makes peace with that part of self, that piece becomes projected onto others.

Those buried pieces don't stay buried. People usually make judgments about those aspects, condemning, loathing, being ashamed, even denying their existence. When we project those qualities onto others, the judgment of those aspects of self are often part of the projection - becoming condemnation, rejection towards what is seen in the other.

Thus, any aspect of yourself that was not allowed to be expressed when you were a child becomes disowned. It is useful and helpful for you to examine which parts of yourself that you have rejected. Mr. Bowers looks at some of the emotions that can become disowned. They fall into such areas as strong emotions, vulnerable emotions, masculine or feminine traits.

When these aspects of self become disowned, the person tends to develop compensating emotions and traits, such as perfectionism, to hide vulnerability. The process of compensation often takes a trait or emotion that was supported and acceptable and over-expresses it. These adaptations help the child deal with the loss of these pieces that haven't been loved or accepted.

Within relationships, projection becomes transference, that is, aspects of the parental relationship becomes projected onto adult relationships. Again, the process of overcompensation may have you actually rejecting your own needs in the rush, for instance, to take care of everyone else's needs. However, at the relationship level, the original issue of feeling one's needs aren't met becomes what the person ends up doing to self.

How do you know that you are projecting rejected parts of yourself or expressing old relationship dynamics in current relationships? There are some clues. For instance, you notice that you become upset or shut down, you can't converse with someone else about your own feelings and needs, or you can't empathize with another person's feelings and needs, The stronger your reaction, the more likely that you are projecting, or engaged in transference.

If you are unable to build a relationship with your rejected parts, then they will continue to haunt you, leaving you unable to fulfill your potential or have satisfying relationships. On the other hand, if both you and your other are building a relationship with those disowned parts, then both of you are able to confront difficulties with greater empathy and awareness.

Thanks for information from this blog post by Eric Bowers on The Center For Nonviolent Communication: http://www.cnvc.org/blog/2016/10/06/devil-differentiation; and the above link.

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IT Company Employs Military Veterans

Innoplex was awarded GovConnects Government Contractor of the Year.

A small, growing company in Columbia, MD, occupies a unique niche, telling more about its ownership than what it does. When the company started out in 2005, it was known as Intelligence Solutions For Information Systems LLC. But as it has grown, it has taken on a new identity. It is still considered a service-disabled veteran/minority-owned small business, which provides important services to the Federal Government, but now it goes by the name of INNOPLEX, LLC.

The still-distinguishing feature of Innoplex is that most of the employees have been on military deployment, giving the company a unique advantage of having staff who are intimately familiar with locations around the globe, and also being ready, willing, and able to respond quickly. The company has particular expertise in developing and supporting collection hardware for the Department of Defense and individual intelligence missions, both inside the US and around the world.



Innoplex (the managing member), Columbia Technology Partners (CTP), and COMSO, had joined together into BELLATOR Joint Venture, in order to combine the strengths of the three companies in delivering the expertise needed for more complex systems engineering, cyber security, and information technology work.

In April, BELLATOR JV received a contract for more than $60 million for an IT contract with a major Central Maryland enterprise. The contract represents a four-year project to provide highly specialized Enterprise IT support. This project includes architecture, systems engineering, along with maintaining and sustaining a collaborative systems environment. It allows the BELLATOR collaborative to provide support to cutting edge IT engineering and systems integration in order to operate complex network infrastructures, data centers, and Enterprise software solutions.

Approximately a year ago, Innoplex acquired Anduril Engineering, a wireless telecommunications systems engineering company. This acquisition enhanced Innoplex's ability to stand out within the commercial and federal cybersecurity and vulnerability analysis arena and added expertise in the new area of wireless cybersecurity products and service capabilities.

Innoplex even sponsored a golf tournament.

The plan involves making Anduril a fully-owned subsidiary of Innoplex, enabling the company to work with a broader customer audience. For instance, this addition would give Innoplex the ability to access highly specialized contracts and customer directed opportunities at Fort Meade in the wireless signal processing and telecommunications area.

Additional capabilities Anduril provides to Innoplex.

Thanks for information from this article by Jason Servary on Innoplex: https://inno-plex.com/blog/bellator-jv-wins-60-million-enterprise-it-contract; this article by Jason Servary on Innoplex: https://inno-plex.com/blog/innoplex-strengthens-sigint-cyber-and-software-engineering-presence-through-acquisition-anduril; and the above link.

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Online Connections Benefit Teachers And Students In Deprived Areas Of The World

A professional education session with teachers at Roshan Learning Center.

It was the inspiration of a young educator, this international program connecting teachers globally, PINK ELEPHANT INTERNATIONAL. Now a fully qualified teacher, with a background in elementary and special education, Lauren Vining was a student teacher at the time she founded this organization in 2013. It was her passion for international education that led her to start outreach to both educators and students in Nakuru, Kenya.

Lauren discussed what led her to create Pink Elephant and its Teacher Outreach Program, "I decided to start this project after I participated in a university-sponsored service learning trip to Botswana, May 2013. I learned that many teachers in disadvantaged locations lack the support and continuing education opportunities that are necessary for quality education to occur. Some of the teachers didn't even have 4-year degrees, thus they were not adequately prepared to keep up with the ever-evolving world of education. Once I recognized this need, I decided to take action and provide teachers with the support they desperately needed; support for which the students deserved."



So far, this organization is supporting schools in Nakuru, Kisumu, and Pokot areas, including the Pangani Special School, where the pilot program was established, all in Kenya: and three sites in Indonesia, at Refugee Learning Center, Refugee Learning Nest, and Roshan Learning Center, all located around Jakarta.

The website has a Teacher Portal, which is the conduit connecting teachers around the world. That is further divided into the Resource Library, Global Teachers Lounge, and Professional Development Library. Since these resources rely upon the knowledge of contributing teachers, participants don't have to be from the target locations, but from anywhere around the world that has access to the types of materials needed. So, these Contributing Teachers add critical information to the portal's database, so that the teachers and students in the targeted locations can have access to this information.

This is why teachers who have better resources are needed to join the Teacher Portal.

In 2015, Pink Elephant added the Saidia Mama Maasai project, based in the small town of Mali Tisa, on the border between Kenya and Tanzania. It focuses on the women of the Maasai tribe and provides them with skills training and economic opportunities. The project enabled these women to establish an online shop, where customers can buy boutique-type jewelry and other accessories, crafted by these women. Women who buy the items offered are providing a source of income for these women and mothers, enabling them to avoid selling their children and engaging in female genital mutilation (FGM). Whenever women of an area become economically empowered, it means their children and other family members benefit, preventing them from being exploited.

A teacher in Kenya celebrates the Teacher Portal reaching 100 resources for target locations.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/lauren-smith-teacher-outreach-program-pink-elephant-organization/; Pink Elephant International's homepage; and the above link.

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Art Bridging The Chasm Between Cultures And Religions

The poster for the exhibition at Riverside Church.

When you see a chasm of misunderstanding between those of different cultures, what do you do? One thing you CAN do is to build bridges of understanding. In reality, there is that type of chasm between the peoples and faith traditions of the Middle East and those of the West. An organization, CARAVAN, was started in Cairo in 2009, with a mission to span that chasm, using arts as the building material.

Every year, CARAVAN holds the CARAVAN Exhibition/Festival of Arts, but not held at a specific location. The organization can choose a venue based on world events or at the invitation of a location, usually in a public location or "sacred space", rather than a designated art space. Besides this flagship event, though, the group also holds a variety of programs and services that feed off the spark from the annual event.



Let's take a look at a current exhibition, THE KEY. The exhibition opened in March in Cairo. It uses the Egyptian symbol of the Ankh as the basis for a hopeful message of peace, harmony, and tolerance around the world.

This exhibition showcases the works of 40 star and debuting artists from Egypt, the Middle East, and the West. The centerpiece is a three-dimensional fiberglass depiction of the Ankh, known as "The Key of Life", measuring 1.2 meters tall. The Ankh itself means "life". Its the oldest known symbol of tolerance, pluralism, and harmony. Essentially, the pieces in the exhibition address the idea that the key to peace and harmony in the world is found in the relationship between the Middle East and the West. So, the Ankh represents a powerful way of uniting the people of different religious backgrounds and cultures.

One of the art works, more in the background at Riverside Church.

As the exhibition has been traveling to different cities, any money raised is being donated to an Egyptian charity that provides creative learning opportunities to the poorest children. Just last month, this exhibition moved into NYC at the historic Riverside Church. It arrived and opened just in time for the UN International Day of Peace being commemorated at the UN General Assembly. Visitors can still stop by and see the works until November 6.

Some public high school students taking notes at "The Bridge" exhibition  in Lander, Wyoming.

Thanks for information from this article on Charter For Compassion: http://www.charterforcompassion.org/index.php/caravan; this article on CARAVAN: http://www.oncaravan.org/the-key; this article on CARAVAN: http://www.oncaravan.org/the-key-photos-new-york-city; and the above link.

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