Lao Tzu, the Father of Taoism, said,

“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.”

Dear friends,

The group, numbering at least 31, included a teenager whose older brother and sister were already in South Korea, a father with his daughter, a mother and her two children, an elderly woman of 70 years old whose daughter was waiting for her in Seoul, and a child of just 5 years old. 

Our North Korean refugee friends consistently tell us that they fear for their lives when they leave the country, but they do so in the hope of escaping extreme impoverishment and government repression, and for some, to have the chance to reunite with their family members in South Korea. 

We know from our partners on the ground that security has recently been heightened on both sides of the North Korea-China border. This has made it even more dangerous for North Korean people to try to escape the country and has also made it more difficult for North Korean refugees hiding in China to travel on to countries where they can safely resettle. 

The relatives of the repatriated refugees first tried to secure their release through quiet diplomacy. It was only when it became apparent that the Chinese authorities would imminently be sending the refugees back that the issue was publicized in a desperate last ditch effort to save them. What started as a small campaign in South Korea quickly grew and garnered an unprecedented level of attention from the international community, and over 175,000 people from around the world joined to voice their support for the ‘Save My Friend’ campaign. Despite this, the Chinese government decided to side with the leadership in Pyongyang and repatriate the refugees. 

We are extremely saddened that the Chinese government has taken this course of action. The North Korean people are currently suffering from even more restrictions during the transitional period and the new leadership is reportedly ordering even harsher punishments for attempted defectors and their relatives. By actively cracking down and forcibly sending North Korean refugees back to face severe punishment, the Chinese government is making itself complicit in North Korea’s horrific human rights abuses. 

We have been moved by the strength of compassion that has been shown around the world for the North Korean refugees. We believe it is more important now than ever to come alongside the North Korean people, to advocate for them, and to demonstrate to the Chinese authorities that people and governments all over the world are increasingly concerned and are willing to stand up for the basic human rights of North Korean refugees.   

In our dedication to the North Korean people, we will also continue to work directly with our partners and staff on the ground to help North Korean refugees leave China and make it safely to countries that will protect them.

With hope,  

http://www.isn.ethz.ch/isn/Current-Affairs/ISN-Insights/Detail?ots736=0c54e3b3-1e9c-be1e-2c24-a6a8c7060233&lng=en&ots627=fce62fe0-528d-4884-9cdf-283c282cf0b2&id=138363&tabid=138344&contextid734=138363&contextid735=138344&dynrel=0c54e3b3-1e9c-be1e-2c24-a6a8c7060233

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHr3Gt0vTN4

http://vimeo.com/38044020

I’m noticing how pissy i’m getting these days. At commuters. At work. Work colleagues. Annoyed and pissy. Stressed stressed stressed. You can see it in the air too. People are noooottt happy. We are all bundled up in our coats, hating the cold and the darkness. For example, a crowd of us are waiting at the bottom of the escalators, waiting for our turn to get the heck out of the metro station. A man with dark glasses hits this other man with his shoulder-swing briefcase. The other man gives him the stare of death, even after the dark-glasses dude smiled and apologized because it was an accident. We are not happy, people. 

My yoga teacher was right. There is something funky going on during this time of year. People are not themselves. 

Anyways, today, I decided I’m sick of feeling this way. I know I have a choice to be happier and more at peace. Today, I decided to force a grin on my face. i forced it. and my walk to the metro station was not as bad as yesterday’s. I focused on smiling instead of the million things that could be stressing me out. 

It helps. Try it. It couldn’t hurt.

I’ve been listening to guided meditations on the metro ride to work too. It helps so much. This morning, I was thinking, what if.. on the metro train speakers, there was a guided meditation playing in the mornings and everyone can just calm down and be at peace. Wouldn’t that be nice. haha

Go for more bliss, less stress.

Don’t wait for vacations to tame tension. Both high anxiety and lack of sleep mess with the absorption of blood sugar. Getting less than 6 hours of ZZZs a night doubles diabetes risk, as does a high-stress job. Ease your angst by turning in early, exercising to blow off steam, and finding a stress-reduction technique, such as meditation or yoga, you love.