peace: [mpen-dayton4] Munsup's Announcements for GMVCSC, GMVMC and OMC, and more

Announcements for GMVCSC, GMVMC and OMC

Dear Miami Valley Residents,

We first note that the Greater Miami Valley Computer Science Circle (GMVCSC), with students, parents, and faculty from all over the Greater Miami Valley, will celebrate the last class of its first semester on December 5, 2015. Topics for this first semester included: an introduction to problem solving, computational science education, iteration, recursion, sorting, etc.

Secondly, the Greater Miami Valley Math Circle (GMVMC) is now in its second year and has three groups: Beginning (Grades 5-7), Intermediate (Grades 7-9) and Advanced (Grades 9-12 plus successful completion of Algebra I or the equivalent). We offer again this year the American Mathematics Contest (AMC) 8^th Grade Test from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) on Saturday, November 21.

If your child is interested in joining one of our circles, if you know of a child who would be interested in one of our circles, or if you are interested in helping with them or giving a talk/workshop this Spring (beginning Saturday, January 9), please email me at munsup.seoh@wright.edu.

Thirdly, as many of you are aware, the annual Ohio Mathematics Contest (OMC) is organized by the Dayton Branch of the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA) hosted by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and awarded by President David R. Hopkins at the Wright State University (WSU). The next OMC will be held on April 9, 2016. Please mark your calendar if your children are interested in participating in the event, which offers not only challenging tests for grades from three to eleven but also seminars/ workshops/ demonstrations at proper levels to parents and students of various grades. We began last year offering Physics exam for high school students and we will add first time the exam for the third grade in elementary schools.

Please email me at mseoh@siscom.net if you are interested in presenting a seminar/workshop/demonstration.
If you need more information on time blocks and durations of your presentation, please visit this page:
http://iis.stat.wright.edu/OMC/2015volunteer%20Schedule.htm (This is 2015 schedule and 2016 schedule would be very much similar!)

Thank you very much for your attention to this letter,

Munsup Seoh, Ph.D.
Co-founder with Mr. Jason Knapp & Ms. Lining Qi
Greater Miami Valley Math and Computer Science Circles
163 Mathematical and Microbiological Sciences Building
Wright State University
3640 Colonel Glenn Highway
Dayton, OH 45435
munsup.seoh@wright.edu

P.S. Please reply back to me with ‘unsubscribe’ on the subject line if you no longer want to receive my e-Newsletters. The convenient link to unsubscribe is no longer available due to security reasons to protect my email servers.
P.P.S. "He who dares not offend cannot be honest" - Thomas Paine
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· FW: Muslims Stand With Paris: 4 things Muslims must do right away

· FW: Ben Norton: "Our terrorism double standard: After Paris, let’s stop blaming Muslims and take a hard look at ourselves" | Salon.com

· FW: Attacks in Paris

· FW: Top mass murders of 2015 by abagond

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From: Khurshid Ahmad
Subject: FW: Muslims Stand With Paris: 4 things Muslims must do right away

Saturday | Safar 3, 1437 AH | November 14, 2015

Assalamu alaikum,

Muslims stand in solidarity with Paris and the people of France. We are profoundly saddened and shaken by the attacks that have taken place.

Many of us used to say terrorists are not Muslims, now we wonder if they are even humans. Period.

Muslims condemn terrorism all the time.

However, our voices of peace must be louder than the voices of terror. Hence, our engagement with our local communities, as well as media at all levels is crucial and urgent.

As Paris reels from today's tragedy, please take following actions right now:

1. React from a position of strength, not weakness

The only way we can make our message of peace louder than the one of violence used by extremists is by interacting and engaging with our communities and our neighbors in the broadest sense of the word.

For example, share your thoughts on your personal Facebook and Twitter feed (see more info about this below).

Even more important, encourage Muslims in Paris, especially if you have family and friends there, to assist in the efforts to help the injured, to open their doors to the lost (see the #porteouverte campaign on Twitter), and help with counseling traumatized victims.

Masjids, Islamic centers, and Muslim organizations must also be part of this effort. If you have contacts with any in Paris, please encourage them to do this.

The Prophet, peace be upon him, was a man of compassion and a man of action, as is our faith. Show your compassion and action, not just your reaction in the face of these attacks.

2. Respond to the media

Personally monitor your media. Ensure that coverage of this developing story is fair and balanced. If you see a story featuring Islamophobes bashing Islam and Muslims in general, please call or email them. Ask them to be objective and to not label Muslims as terrorists. If you come across a positive story, please do call or email both the journalist and the publication to express appreciation.

3. Call the French Embassy

Let your French embassy know that you are a Muslim and want to share your condolences with the people of France. Emphasize that Muslims stand in solidarity with Paris in this horrific tragedy.

French Embassy in the United States; Email: info@ambafrance-us.org, Phone: (202) 944 6000
French Embassy in Canada; Phone: (613) 789 1795,
French Embassy in the UK; Email: presse.londres-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr, Phone: [+44] (0) 207 073 1000

4. Express your solidarity and sorrow on social media

The world needs to know that Muslims genuinely care for the people of Paris. Please use both the following hash tags:
#MuslimsStandWithParis #PrayForParis

Dear sisters and brothers in humanity, the bigots have already started labeling and blaming immigrants as the root cause of all violence and chaos in France. Keep an eye out for them and counter them in a civilized manner.

We pray that France follows the example of Norway, where 77 people were gunned down by a right-wing Islamophobic terrorist in 2011, yet, the Norwegian government didn't introduce draconian laws unfairly targeting its innocent immigrants or citizens.

May God keep us and our neighbors safe in this global village.

May God guide humanity to be kind and compassionate.

May He transform the hearts of the terrorists, war-mongers, and the hate mongers.

Tips on Countering Terrorism & Extremism

· Muslim Voices Against Extremism & Terrorism

· Muslims fighting hate & extremism: A concrete plan of action

· “Why Don’t Muslims Condemn Terrorism?”

· An Islamic response to ISIS Revival of Slavery

· What the Sharia says about the embassy attacks

· Terrorism: What is it accomplishing?

· Talking to children about terrorism

· 9 things Muslim families can do to curb Muslim youth extremism

· 9 tips on curbing Muslim youth extremism

Tips on Safety & Countering Hate

· 47 Safety Tips for Muslim Women

· Masjids Between Hate and Fear: A Reflection on Houston’s Islamic Institute of Quba Fire

· Security tips for individuals and Masjids

· Muslims Respond to Hate with Wisdom and Grace

· 8 Ways Interfaith Partners can Fight Islamophobia

· Hate Crimes Against Muslims: Report, Report, and Report

From: Judy Burnette
Subject: Ben Norton: "Our terrorism double standard: After Paris, let’s stop blaming Muslims and take a hard look at ourselves" | Salon.com

"We must mourn all victims. But until we look honestly at the violence we export, nothing will ever change" VIDEO
http://www.salon.com/2015/11/14/our_terrorism_double_standard_after_paris_lets_stop_blaming_muslims_and_take_a_hard_look_at_ourselves/?source=newsletter

From: James Lucas
Subject: Attacks in Paris

Yesterday It Was Lebanon, Today It Is France; Terrorism Has No Boundaries
By Saswat Pattanayak
http://www.countercurrents.org/pattanayak141115.htm
Like religion, terrorism too knows no boundaries. Yesterday it was Lebanon, today it is France. The only reason why deaths in France will be mourned much more is because of the racist Eurocentric media that are deeply Islamophobic. While what is happening in France is intensely tragic, retaliation based solely on Islamophobia will only strengthen the conviction of abusers. Terrorists are symptoms. Not roots

We Are All France! Though We Are Never All Lebanon or Syria or Iraq!
By David Swanson
http://www.countercurrents.org/swanson141115.htm
We are all France. Apparently. Though we are never all Lebanon or Syria or Iraq for some reason. Or a long, long list of additional places. We are led to believe that U.S. wars are not tolerated and cheered because of the color or culture of the people being bombed and occupied. But let a relatively tiny number of people be murdered in a white, Christian, Western-European land, with a pro-war government, and suddenly sympathy is the order of the day

Paris Bombing (13 November 2015) And Western "Terrorism" Policy
By Jon Kofas
http://www.countercurrents.org/kofas141115.htm
Three bombings within a remarkably short span of time demonstrate the reach of ISIS that was once backed by US allies in the Middle East, and possibly by the US indirectly in the war that the US started to bring down the Assad regime, all in the name of freedom and democracy, just as the US has been delivering freedom and democracy in Libya. The US and its European and regional allies have managed to create a new force that has some appeal at least with the radicalized Sunni Muslims not just in Syria and Iraq but across the Middle East and beyond

Beirut’s Explosion: The Sunni-Shia Bellum Sanctum
Returns To Hezbollah’s Security Zone
By Franklin Lamb
http://www.countercurrents.org/lamb141115.htm
At least 46 confirmed deaths as families claim the bodies of their departed loved ones and nearly 250 wounded, many seriously, are being treated at the three Shia run hospitals, Al-Sahel, Bahman and Al-Rassoul Al-Aazam in this observer’s south Beirut neighborhood of Haret Hreik. All are victims of the 6 p.m. rush hour terrorist bombings deep inside Hezbollah’s security zone on 11/12/2015 that targeted civilians who were shopping at street markets or gathering at the local Husseiniyeh (Mosque) for the fourth of the five daily prayers, Salat al-Magrib, held in the early evening just after sunset

From: khalfani718@cs.com
Subject: Top mass murders of 2015 by abagond

Top mass murders of 2015
Sun 15 Nov 2015 by abagond

With the attack on Paris on Friday the 13th making huge headlines, here are the top mass murders so far for 2015.

Counted: I count massacres, wars, insurgencies, police killings, armed conflicts, and terrorist attacks, those that killed at least 100 people so far in 2015. I do not count suicides or homicides by individuals, unless coordinated (a la Jonestown).

Note that if an attack is part of a larger conflict, the name of that conflict is given in parentheses.

As of November 14th:

· deaths – nation(s) – name

· 46,191 – Syria – Syrian Civil War

· 33,165 – Afghanistan – War in Afghanistan

· 13,509 – Iraq – Iraq War

· 10,882 – Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, Chad – Boko Haram insurgency

· 6,028 – Mexico – Mexican Drug War

· 5,720 – Yemen, Saudi Arabia – Yemeni Civil War

· 3,724 – Somalia – War in Somalia

· 3,376 – Pakistan – War in North-West Pakistan

· 3,112 – Ukraine – War in Donbass

· 2,624 – South Sudan – South Sudanese Civil War

· 2,465 – Libya – Libyan Civil War

· 2,436 – Egypt – Sinai insurgency

· 1,139 – Sudan – War in Darfur

· 1,131+ – Turkey, Iraq – Turkey-PKK conflict

· 1,080 – Sudan – South Kordofan conflict

· 993 – US – police killings

· 839 – Nigeria – communal conflicts

· 837 – Burma – Internal conflict in Myanmar

· 713 – Sudan – Sudanese nomadic conflicts

· 540 – D.R. Congo, Burundi – Kivu conflict

· 334 – Colombia – Colombian conflict

· 355 – CAR – Central African Republic conflict

· 320 – Mali – Northern Mali conflict

· 300 – D.R. Congo – ADF insurgency

· 300+ – Brazil – police killings (yearly average)

· 264+ – Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia – US Drone War (yearly average)

· 262 – Egypt – Post-coup unrest in Egypt

· 246 – Pakistan – Sectarianism in Pakistan

· 236 – India – Insurgency in Northeast India

· 232 – Algeria, Tunisia – Insurgency in the Maghreb

· 224 – Egypt – Metrojet Flight 9268, most likely downed by the Islamic State (Sinai insurgency)

· 204+ – Burundi – Burundian conflict

· 204 – India – Naxalite-Maoist insurgency

· 167+ – Ethiopia – Ogaden insurgency

· 155 – Pakistan, Iran – Balochistan conflict

· 150+ – Nigeria – 2015 Baga Massacre (Boko Haram insurgency)

· 150+ – France – Islamic terrorism crisis in France

· 147 – India, Pakistan – Kashmir conflict

· 147 – Russia – Insurgency in the North Caucasus

· 147 – Kenya – 2015 Garissa University College attack by al-Shabaab (War in Somalia)

· 146 – Syria – Kobani massacre by the Islamic State (Syrian Civil War)

· 145 – Nigeria – Kukawa shooting by Boko Haram (Boko Haram insurgency)

· 137 – Yemen – 2015 Sana’a mosque bombings by Islamic State (Yemeni Civil War)

· 128+ – France – 2015 Paris attacks (Islamic terrorism crisis in France)

· 126 – China – Xinjiang conflict

· 123 – Israel, Palestine – Israeli-Palestinian conflict

· 117 – Nigeria – September 2015 Maiduguri suicide bombing by Boko Haram (Boko Haram insurgency)

· 102 – Turkey – 2015 Ankara bombing

· 100+ – Iraq – Khan Bani Saad car bombing (Iraq War)

Here is the map (click to enlarge):

Dark red countries have over 10,000 deaths, red ones have over 1,000, and pinkones over 100.

By the end of the year, the US will probably be red, and possibly Burma too. Till last night, France was grey. Now it is pink. All it takes is one bad terrorist attack. Burundi could turn red or dark red: the US fears a genocide. Yemen could also turn dark red.