Mr. Cwerman began the program with an overview of HDI’s past and present landmine programs in Southeast Asia and Africa, with an emphasis on HDI’s holistic approach to landmine clearance. Ms. Brusseau followed with a presentation on the history and work of PeaceTrees Vietnam with a personal touch as the organization was founded shortly after the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam – a goal that was always in the back of Ms. Brusseau’s mind after her brother perished in the Vietnam War in 1969.

Ambassador Giang concluded the program and reminded the audience that this year marks both the 15th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations and the 35th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. The Ambassador described the course his country has taken since the end of the war, painting a picture of development, challenges and determination. Ambassador Giang also touched upon HDI’s “Mushrooms with a Mission” project and hailed the program as “the right project at the right time.”

The audience was engaged during the two and half hours presentation and raised a number of questions for each speaker. Ven. Hui Chi, Ven. Yi Kung and trustees from the University of the West also participated in this lecture and raised great interest in hosting this event in the campus in the near future.

Welcome to Hsi Lai Temple

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Jerilyn Brusseau, Ralph Cwerman, Ven. Yi Kung and Ven. Tzu Chuang

Mr. Songkane Luangmuninthone spoke specifically about the landmine and unexploded ordinance (UXO) problem in his country. He shared with us a tragic story of a friend who lost both feet because he accidentally set off a landmine while farming. His is a story shared by countless children and adults in Laos. Mr. Takuto Kubo spoke about the work UNMAS is doing in landmine removal, mine risk education and victim assistance. Mr. Steve Ginther reviewed the HDI’s many outstanding programs in Southeast Asia.

You can view their presentations and videos right here (below)! We highly recommend you give all three a once over. The presentations and videos are extremely informative, and there’s no better way to learn more about this very important cause.

Guest Speakers

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Mr. Steve Ginther, HDI Program Manager for Mine Action; Mr. Songkane Luangmuninthone, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the United Nations; and Mr. Takuto Kubo, Planning Officer for the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). (From L to R)

Presentation by Mr. Songkane Luangmuninthone

UNMAS Presentation by Mr. Takuto Kubo

HDI Presentation by Mr. Steve Ginther

UNMAS video:

Doing good deeds means cultivation of our bodies. This means not killing, not stealing, not committing sexual misconduct and not harming others. It means doing kind acts to benefit others, performing virtuous acts, beautiful acts and beneficial acts. This is how we use our bodies to do good things.

Speaking good words means cultivation of our speech. This means not lying, not using double-tongued speech, frivolous speech or harsh speech. It means speaking compassionately, rationally, wisely and truthfully. A person who cultivates speech speaks words of goodness, and a truthful speaker, a realistic speaker, who tells it like it is, does not say anything fantastic and is not a liar.

Thinking good thoughts means cultivation of our minds. This means not having suspicious, jealous, greedy, hateful or ugly thoughts. It means having thoughts that are compassionate, joyful, determined, kind and devoted. This is how we use our minds to think good thoughts.

We would like to thank all our special guests and our volunteers for making this beautiful event possible. We hope to continue interfaith dialogue to spread understanding and cooperation. After all, the message behind the Three Acts of Goodness is common to people of all faiths – to show love and compassion to all people.

Apostle Queen N. Varick

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The details of Mr. Cwerman’s visit is described on HDI’s website: The Buddha’s Light International Association invites the HDI to Taipei to celebrate Buddha’s Birthday

Grand Master Hsing Yun’s and Mr. Cwerman’s remarks can be seen below.

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BLIA President Grand Master Hsing Yun

These are her thoughts and photographs:

“I would like to thank The Humpty Dumpty Institute for inviting me to join the Congressional Staff Delegates trip to Port-Au-Prince, Haiti on April 16, 2010. The trip was informative, inspirational, well organized, and a good learning experience. I think HDI deserves a lot of credit for putting this trip together. I especially appreciate the professionalism of Capera Clement, HDI’s Program Manager for US/UN Relations.

Although we are all aware that Port-au-Prince was badly damaged by the massive earthquake this year, I went to Haiti to learn firsthand how bad the damage is and to see it with my own eyes. I also wanted to witness the recovery activities that so many countries and people are participating in with compassion and love in order to help this country.

Everyone should know that the U.S. government and the American people are working hard to assist this country in rebuilding. First aid supplies, food, medical professionals, security, transportation, schools – all are being provided by someone in the U.S. This is something all Americans should be proud of.

Additionally, the UN is doing a remarkable job of coordinating the aid that is coming from so many different countries to help the victims of the earthquake in so many different ways. The work the UN is doing is something that all of us should be proud of.

After visiting Haiti, I realized what a tremendously tough job this is going to be. Everything in Haiti is damaged. And one of the worst things is that before the rebuilding can begin, the old, damaged structures need to be removed. The amount of rubble and debris is, well, I’m not sure what words can describe it, but maybe depressing and discouraging gives you an idea. I don’t know how they are going to get it done, but I do know they need our help.

Why did this happen to Haiti? I don’t know. But I do know that the damage is not just to buildings and roads. The damage is also to the Haitian people. The despair and fear in children’s eyes is something we can’t ignore.

Haiti needs our help. Haiti needs our compassion.”

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An aerial view from American Airlines flight approaching Aeroport Toussaint L'Ouverture Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

In the earthquake’s immediate aftermath, emergency relief workers could not quickly get to victims through roads littered with rubble and stacked with corpses. Help could not reach the people who needed it most with no central authority to coordinate relief efforts. Haitians could not get basic necessities with an economy that had ground to a halt. They had nowhere to seek medical care when hospitals had crumbled and doctors and nurses had perished inside them.

This means that rebuilding Haiti is not simply a matter of clearing rubble, paving roads and building homes, a tall order in themselves. It will also require restaffing government positions, training medical professionals and restarting Haiti’s economy.

While the task of rebuilding Haiti seems daunting, it is one shared by millions of Haitians and thousands of aid workers and NGOs from all over the world. Programs like the United Nations’ cash-for-work program can help Haitians build roads and homes while earning a living. NGOs must work together with each other and with Haitians to help the country build a better future and reach their potential.

With this spirit in mind, BLIA Canada has made a CAD100,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross. In addition, BLIA Taipei, working with the Taiwanese government, has donated medical supplies and hygiene kits. We anticipate continuing to partner with other NGOs to support Haiti.

Presented below is a record of our donations and daily events from the day the earthquake struck to the end of May 2008.

While this shows our work during the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, our efforts to help rebuild destroyed communities continues to this day.

Thank you for your compassion and support!

Epicenter

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The epicenter of the earthquake, Wenchuan, is about 90 miles from Chengdu.

Donations as of May 2008:

1. Changming Middle School in Jiangyou, Sichuan: RMB$12,000,000-13,000,000
2. Muyu Township Junior High School in Qingchuan County, Sichuan: RMB$10,000,000-$13,000,000
3. Qingchuan County Muyu Township Medical Center, Sichuan: RMB$7,000,000-$8,000,000
4. Rebuild a Buddhist temple in major disaster area: RMB$7,000,000
5. Mobile clinics as temporary medical care stations

Daily report to May 2008:

While many ideas were shared, everyone agreed that education and accessibility to technology were key to women’s rights. We are proud to be part of a global group of NGOs who are steadfastly moving forward to create a better world for all people.

As you may have noticed, our website is also social networking enabled, so please share our stories!

Finally, in the spirit of sharing, we thought we’d post what Ralph Cwerman, the President and Founder of The Humpty Dumpty Institute, had to say about our new website:

“I had very little understanding about BLIA’s expansive humanitarian work around the world. The new website is very informative and projects a much more modern, caring and contemporary face of the organization. The photographs are spectacular and the narrative is engaging. You have harnessed the power of the internet and are making sure that the western world sees BLIA through a different and equally compelling “light”.”

Thank you very much for your kind words Mr. Cwerman!