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Day of Action to tackle obsessive compulsive disorder

My name is Paul and I am a volunteer press officer for the UK charity OCD Action. Since 1991 OCD Action has been promoting recovery, awareness and understanding of obsessive compulsive disorder. We have a day of action on November 22 at Imperial College London to show those who are affected by OCD how to fight back against their tormenting thoughts and secret rituals.OCD is a clinically recognised condition in which people experience repetitive and upsetting thoughts (obsessions) and use rituals (compulsions) to control the anxiety these thoughts produce.OCD can affect anyone at any time and it can hit hard. Do you know what it's like to try and rein in the uncontrollable anxiety that surges through your body when your mind is awash with obsessive compulsive disorder, and neither fight nor flight can defeat this invisible enemy?If you do then please come to OCD Conference 2008Date: Saturday, 22 November 2008Time: 9:30am – 5.30pmPlace:  Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZFees: £20 / £30 for members or supporting charities and £75 for professionalsPhone OCD Action to book your ticket on 0870 360 6232.www.ocdaction.org.ukOCD Action helpline 0845 390 6232 Professors, mental health experts and people who suffer from obsessive compulsive disorders will join forces in a series of presentations and workshops to raise awareness, increase understanding and share methods of how to treat the biological disorder that affects an estimated 1.8 million people in the UK. Read about ticket details on www.ocdaction.org.ukThere will be workshops for young people, adults and families on how to treat fears on contamination, hoarding, checking and reassurance, as well as Tourette syndrome, body dysmorphic disorder and skin-picking. 

Paul Carter ● 6573d0 Comments ● 6573d

An Open Letter to Ed Balls

An Open Letter to the Secretary of State for Education Ed BallsThe debate over the trajectory of the western sociopolitical system and its strained relations with Islam is the most pivotal of our time.  Muslims are in one of the most difficult phases of their history when malicious attacks including allegation of terrorism are being made on Islam and Muslims all over the world. The malicious campaign against Muslims is politically motivated. The world is obsessed by Islam. Anti-terror measures are ruining lives of Muslim youths. If you go around arresting young Muslims, you are going to find that you are going to ostracise this community. Young Muslims don’t need to be ostracized, they need to be engaged. According to the Arch Bishop, Rowan Williams, acceptance of some facets of Sharia not only “seems unavoidable”, but could actually improve social cohesion. Muslims should be able to choose to have marital or financial matters dealt with in a Sharia Court. Such courts should therefore be incorporated into the British legal system as a constructive accommodation with Islam.  Schools are being asked to help “win hearts and minds” in the battle against violent extremists on both sides. British born Imams should go into schools to supplement the teaching of RE, PSHE and Citizenship so that all pupils can learn about the Holy Quran and Islam in the context of a multicultural society. OFSTED must make sure that their services should be fully utilised by the schools, otherwise, it will be waste of public money. The British Establishment is wrong to assert that Imams and Masajid have been radicalising Muslim youths.  The roots of extremism are in the British society and schools where institutional racism is at its peak. The racism within schools has got little media coverage. The school attended by 7/7 bombers in a part of Leeds known for its history of racial tension between British Asians and native Brits. Leeds council was so worried about the violence that it had to call in Foundation for Peace, a government funded peacekeepers who were used to keep Catholics and Protestants from killing one another in Northern Ireland. True message of Islam should be promoted because British media and society have always portrayed Islam in a negative way since Crusades and the siege of Vienna in 1683.  School Curriculum should be used to convey a deeper understanding of Islamic faith, history and culture. Prison is not the answer of those who are vulnerable to, or are being drawn into violent extremism unless they have clearly committed an offence. The greatest challenge to humanity is learning to live in a crowded and interconnected world that is creating unprecedented pressures on human society. The rector of Oxford’s largest Anglican Churches has called a Muslim call to prayers from the main Masjid “un-English”. This is a clear case of intolerance. Gibraltar is a British colony. Five Pound currency note has a queen image on one side and on the other side there is an image of the Muslim Conqueror with a sword in his hand. There is more hatred of Muslims seduced by the Western media, education system and church leaders like Bishop Nazir Ali. Catholic nuns have worn veils for centuries, with no public controversies arising. There is no reason why any girl’s school uniform can not now be modified to include a veil. Wearing a veil to school or to work must be a matter of choice for all. Iftikhar Ahmadwww.londonschoolofislamic.sorg.uk

Iftikhar Ahmad ● 6585d6 Comments ● 6582d

Teachings of Zen!

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me for the path is narrow. In fact, just piss off and leave me alone.2. Sex is like air. It's not important unless you aren't getting any.3. No one is listening until you fart.4. Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.5. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.6. If you think nobody cares whether you're alive or dead, try missing a couple of mortgage payments.7. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.8. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.9. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.10. If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was probably well worth it.11. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.12. Some days you are the bug; some days you are the wind screen.13. Don't worry; it only seems kinky the first time.14. Good judgment comes from bad experience and most of that comes from bad judgment.15. A closed mouth gathers no foot. 16. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.17. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.18. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.19. We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our ass ... then things just get worse.20. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night. Handle every stressful situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or hump it. Piss on it and walk away.

Carol Burge ● 6585d1 Comments ● 6585d