Ram Navami Greetings

mar 28th, 2010

i am simply forwarding this mail i got. i am in agreement with the sentiments expressed below, but this is not to be construed as an endorsement of the organization. i simply have no opinion about them, as i know nothing about them.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Save Ram Sethu of Ramayan <ramsethu@ramsethu.org>
Date: Sat, Mar 27, 2010 at 12:46 AM
Subject: Ram Navami Greetings
To: 

Happy Ram Navami

Rama's Army Crosses the Ocean to Lanka, Ca 1775 from Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas (1532-1623) Credit: Royal Paintings of Jodhpur

The above painting tells the story of Shri Rama crossing into Lanka to rescue his beloved wife Sita who is being held captive in the palace of the evil Ravana, King of Lanka. When Shri Rama and His army of volunteers reach the strip of ocean between India and Lanka (now known as the Gulf of Mannar) they are faced with the challenge of how to cross. Thus, Shri Rama built Ram Sethu with the help of an army of volunteers. It is believed that the entire creation came together to construct Ram Sethu which, although partially submerged today , stands as a reminder of Sage Valmiki's Ramayana where he had decreed that so long as the mountains and the rivers last on planet earth, the name of Shri Rama and His glory will continue to spread in the Universe. Yavat sthasyanti girayah Saritascha Mathitale I Tavat Ramayana lokeshu Pracharishyati II

Ram Navmi 2010 marks the 5th anniversary of Save Ram Sethu Campaign. As we observe this occasion let us bear in mind that Ram Sethu continues to face grave threats from Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project (SSCP), a Government of India initiative that aims to create a ship channel in the Gulf of Mannar. Save Ram Sethu Campaign, supported by concerned citizens across the world continues to oppose the ill-conceived initiative. We are calling for the cancellation of the SSCP and to nominate the Gulf of Mannar as a World Heritage Site. Due to the gaping irregularities of the initial Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which our campaign has repeatedly opposed, the Government of India has now commissioned a new EIA. We have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to express deep concern at his intention to carry out a second EIA. We see this as a precursor to pushing ahead with the scheme to excavate a shipping canal in the environmentally and religiously sensitive Gulf of Mannar. We feel that the plans to continue SSCP with the project are a "crime against the planet," one that flies in the face of "unanimous agreement among political, religious and scientific communities in India and abroad that the SSCP is an ill-conceived venture with the potential to destroy permanently the unique and fragile marine ecology of the Gulf of Mannar." As well as being a site of exceptional biodiversity, the Gulf of Mannar is home to the ancient pilgrimage site of Ram Sethu which has great religious significance to the people of India and millions of Hindus worldwide. We urge your continued support of the campaign to save Ram Sethu. Here is what you can do to help the campaign: * Call or fax Indian Government representatives, Embassies and High Commissions in your area and Editors of major newspapers and register your opposition. * Please donate to Save Ram Sethu Campaign. We need your financial support to sustain our effort. Thank you for your continued support. Save Ram Sethu Campaign Contribute Online Contribute by mail Make check or money order payable to Save Ram Sethu Campaign Mail to: P. O. Box 842595 Houston, Texas 77284-2595, USA Save Ram Sethu Campaign is a project of Esha Vasyam, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization incorporated under section 501(c) (3) in the United States of America. IRS Tax ID- 11-3729319 www.ramsethu.org

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