Jain Digest 1999 04

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 17

COMMITTEE NEWS
Jiv Daya Committee The Committee urges every Jain Centre to keep a collection box for Jiv Daya. The proceeds from this collection will go towards medical care and sterilization of animals at panjrapoles caring for animals, which is one of the major tenets of Jainism. Anyone interested for more information please call, Mr. R N Shah at 8171 430-8638.
Membership Committee JAINA's strength is growing every week, every month and every year. At a executive committee meeting held on May 8th in Philadelphia, JAINA has approved one more member center.
Please join us in welcoming - Jain Sangh of Hudson Valley, NY LO JAINA family. For learning more about benefits of becoming a new member center and application requirements, please contact Kamlesh Shah, Committee Chairman 301/838-9778.
Patrons Committee Please stop by at the Jaina booth at Philadelphia JAINA Convention and pick up your patron badge and lapel pin, if you have renewed 1998-99 Patron Membership. The patron badge will allow you and your spouse to sit in one of the front rows of the plenary session. You can renew or become a new member, by signing up at the same booth. Anop Vora, Committee Chairman
World Community Services Committee
NOWISTHETIMETO HELP. Pictures on the TV are not pretty. The images are reminiscent of the most disastrous humanitarian crisis of this decade. Thousands and thousands of refugees are fleeing their homes into uncertain and dark future. History and the politics of the conflict in KOSOVO are difficult to understand. But the cries of babies, tears of women and sadness on the faces of men are all too real to ignore.
According to the United Nations inter-agency donor alert, 50% of the 650,000 refugees as of April 16, are under the age of 18 and 85% of adult population are female. WFP (World Food Program agency of the UN) has sufficient food supplies in the region for only 100,000 persons for the first three months. Nutritional status of refugee children will rapidly deteriorate. These children have been in war situation for about a year before their exodus. UNICEF will deliver emergency food items specifically targeted at young children as every fifth child is found to be stunted.
We, the followers of Lord Mahavir, steadfast followers of Ahimsa (Non-Violence) and Anukampa (Compassion) cannot sit idly, plug our ears or shut our eyes in the face of mounting tragedy. We must do our share to reduce the burdens of these refugees. Just as we did for refugees in Rawanda and cyclone hit Kandala, JAINA, has set up an emergency relief fund for Kosovo. JAINA is appealing each of you to donate what you can for this looming crisis. Time to act is now. Refugees are facing starvation, shortage of drinking water and threats of epidemics like cholera. Let us try to win over hatred by providing hope to those who have lost everything including family members. As a Jain, it is our highest moral obligation to respond to the needs of helpless victims of this tragedy. Your taxdeductible (in USA) contribution will make a remarkable difference in the lives of these innocent victims.
In case of Rwandan refugees, we worked with the American Red Cross. In case of Kosovo, we plan to work with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees. Please send your check payable to JAINA and mail to Bachubhai Ajmera, 1502 Univ. Blvd. Langley Park, MD 20783. Time to act is today. There isn't a moment to waste.
Pilgrimage Committee First ever JAINA Pilgrimage to Samet Sikhar last October has received praise from a lot of people. The next pilgrimage is planned for some of the most important temples of Rajasthan and Gujrat. Preliminary itinerary calls for visits to temples of Ranakpur, Jesalmer, Aabu, Sankheshwar and Palitana. We will also visit many other temples on the way. The 16-day pilgrimage will most likely begin on January 20, 2000. Complete details will be announced at the 10 JAINA Convention in Philadelphia. If you have suggestions or would like to help with this pilgrimage, please call Dilip V. Shah, Committee Chairman at (215)561-0581
JAINA Donates Mammography Machine World Community Service of JAINA is sending a mammography machine to V.S.Hospital Ahmedabad, Gujarat to help the needy people of Gujarat for early detection of breast cancer. Machine was donated to Jaina by Dr.Dhiraj shah, President of JAINA. Machine will be shipped to India within a few days by Bhadresh Dhila, co-chairman of World Community service at no cost to JAINA. This is the second mammography machine which JAINA has sent to India. Since JAINA is registered under Indo-U.S. bilateral agreement no custom duty is involved.
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