Grow to Strength Inc Humanitarian Relief Organization

International Humanitarian and Peace Recognition Ball.  Saturday April 9, 2011.  This year we decided to do something different and we went INTERNATIONAL.  What does that mean for us?  Well it means that we went in  search of people to Honor that left a positive impact on the world around them.  They did not need to do something internationally it simply meant that we got the word out internationally that we were looking for people who made a difference in a positive way simply because they could and decided to.

We received 54 nominations world wide.  That is when the work began, most of the 54 nominees were deserving of recognition based on what we were told but we had to take it a few step future and we needed to interview and find out for ourselves about these people.  A few declined and did not want anyone to know what they do and others  could not tell us enough.  It has been after many hours of research, meetings, interviews and searches that we have names 9 people who we believed to be within what we were looking to recognize as true Humanitarians.  Please click on our  International Humanitarian and Peace Recognition Ball area to see who we chose and maybe next year it will be YOU!!!.

Details ...

Honorees for 2010/2011 International Humanitarian and Peace Recognition Awards Are:
Wednesday, 21 September 2011

our annual international humanitarian and peace benefit ball will be held on November 18,2011. At Giandos on the water.

Giando on the water
400 Kent Ave
Brooklyn, NY11211

Directions
From Manhattan
By Boat contact:  East River Water Taxi for time and locations

DRIVING

Take the FDR Drive South to the Grand Street exit. Make a right turn and proceed to North Fork. Make a right turn onto the Williamsburg Bridge (stay in right lane) and make the first right to Broadway. Take Broadway to Kent Avenue.

From Queens, Brooklyn & Staten Island
Take Brooklyn/Queens Expressway South to Wythe/Kent Avenue exit. Make right onto Kent Avenue. Proceed one mile. Giando will be on the left. From Brooklyn & Staten Island take the Brooklyn/Queens Expressway North to Flushing Avenue exit. At the second traffic light (Kent Avenue) make a left and proceed one mile. Giando will be on the left.

From the Bronx, Westchester & Connecticut
Take the FDR Drive South. Follow Directions for Manhattan.

From New Jersey
Take the George Washington Bridge to the FDR or Harlem River Drive South. Follow Directions for Manhattan.

Giando On The Water
400 Kent Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211
Tel  718.387.7000

President Barack Obama

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

February 22, 2013

Dear President Obama

I as a citizen of America have lived in great privilege by the rights that our forefathers fought for many years ago. Those very rights that you safe guard on a daily bases.  I am a very proud American. I serve my community and people wherever I am invited to give of myself.  I do this because I believe that it is my right and responsibility to freely and humbly service where asked. As well as it is my responsibility to walk in the imagine a likeness of GOD in my life.

In my entire life i have never felt the need to take pencil to paper and write any sitting president.  Yet I do so now.  As I write this letter I am foolish enough to think that any letter from me will change the course of history; however it is my hope that as a fellow America what I write will be read and factored into the thoughts of the powers that be.

I have been following the recent news of Sri Lanka. I have read many articles as well as the many demands regarding the US in bringing a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC over the alleged human rights violations during the war. I wanted to share my first hand experience of my time spent in Sri Lanka.  I have traveled to Sri Lanka a few time post war and those times I personally have seems such great improvement in the country, services and spirit of the people as well as the nation.  My first trip to Sri Lanka I wanted to travel into the north however, as a foreigner I was not permitted due to landmines and over all safety concerns.  Today those areas are safe, landmine free and open to visit.  I have traveled into and all around Colombo where there where many people living in shacks and clearly displaced, today those people have been relocated and provided with stable lovely housing. Better than I am sure many dreamt of.  While in Sri Lanka I can honestly say that only one time did I feel uncomfortable and afraid of my surroundings so I removed myself to a safer area.

America is a blessed nation, a nation that is built on the greatness and shoulders of many strong powerful people.  We have been lucky that we are not a nation of war.  We are a tolerate nation, a nation that has and continues to assist other countries in their time of need. We are often called upon and even over the opinions of some we are guided to serve in and assist others in need. We are America and this is how we respond.

Sri Lanka as you are aware is a country that until slightly over 3 years ago was a country at war with its own people.  What a truly tragic time.  During that war time they were forced to deal with the LTTE one of the worst terrorist groups of our time.  Sri Lanka survived that war. Putting to what they pray is an end to the LTTE efforts in Sri Lanka, just as I believe you would so any terrorist group or individual on our soil. When Terrorists act in America, America puts an end to the action, justice is served.  Such acts will not now or ever be tolerated here on our soil or where American live, work or serve.  This is fact and the world knows this by example.

Mr. President, I can tell you first hand that the people of Sri Lanka are thinking and believing in you as the Leader of the free world the head of a super power need to assist them.  I do not know if you have ever been to Sri Lanka but as I stated I have had the honor of going and the honor of seeing the great strives that they have made in the short time since the end of the war. The Sri Lanka war was  raging for over 30 years which is the better part of both of our lives.  Imagine had we spent much of our childhood within our country while it was in a full blown war.  Would we be the same people we are today had we grown accustomed to the sounds of gun fire, would we have become the parents we have become had we had to hide our children in fear of them being taken or made into child soldiers.  Would our children be able to laugh at silly stories and funny dog trick or simply attend school and know college is theirs to experience?

I know that there are many questions that may not ever be fully answered regarding the facts around the war and the end of the war.  The reality is every war has a few things in common, fighting, guns, killing and the tragic death of innocent civilians.  This is not ever good but always a fact of war.  I am sure that when you gave the Order to go into Pakistan under cover of darkness with no apparent permission or conversation with the powers of Pakistan you hoped and prayed for the best.  Well, people were killed, a man who under American law had the right to confront his accused was denied that right by his death.  A death that happened in front of his children and wives.  No man, husband and father should be shot to death in front of the people that loved him and believed in him. As unfortunate it happened and we moved to get past it.   No one is calling for a UN investigation or pointing a finger at you or your camp for crimes against humanity.  What is the difference here?  President Mahinda Rajapaksa gave the order to take steps to finally end the war that was destroying the people of Sri Lanka on the island of Sri Lanka.  People died, innocent people most likely also died.  This happening saved the lives, minds and spirit of Sri Lanka.  Often as in the case I am sure that the leaders and people making the soon to be very famous call fear for the worst but knowing and seeing a far bigger picture of what is happening still pray for the best as they make what I am sure is a very difficult decision.  Yet, at time those decisions must be made.

I believe that Sri Lanka has taken great strides in bettering their country.  It cannot be easy and might never become easy to make sure changes.  The government feeds the people who are hungry, is building housing for the displaced and for the first time in history the Tamil people are free to move around the country freely.  This is an interesting time for the people of Sri Lanka, after years of negative they are forging their own personal journey in new things, new thoughts, new directions.  They are learning how to make this happen. Just as in American there are bumps in the road, some people want to stand still and not move forward they do not want to see change even if it is improvement.   Some people are comfortable in the violence, some people are scared and these people will come together and think that the old ways were better.  Many of the people of Sri Lanka have lived their entire lives within their own country at war.

Please President Obama, PLEASE be an example here.  Extend our long American hand and assist where and when asked, but most importantly give Sri Lanka and the government time to be together and continue to heal.  If the war was over 30 years long then why would the world think in a few short years they were be settled and have no issues. It has been less than 4 years in peace surely it takes longer to correct over 30 years of war and the thinking that surrounds living during that war more than 4 years to heal and make drastic change.  If we as American can stand up and stand alongside of Sri Lanka then other countries will also assist where asked. The people of Sri Lanka need assistance not negative press and judgment at this time. The energy that goes into defending the news articles and the shaking free from the negative judgment is taking away the energy needed to become a great nation and provide and ensure the rights and liberties of their own nation.  Surely, America Government is able to stand strong alongside the Sri Lanka Government and listen to what they are saying and assist is way they are asking to be assisted.  Sri Lanka is not America and I am sure they are not looking to become a smaller America but they do love their nation and their people and need support.  More support than the wonderful new hospitals and the positive things the Embassy offers.  They need a visible friend and a powerful nation to do the right thing and stand next to them.

Mr. President, I did not vote for you but I have faith in you.  I have watched you shed a tear for the children of Sandy Hook, I have seen you stand before us and make what I would imagine to be positive announcements but wrapped in the situations very painful announcements.  I believe that if you would open your heart to the children of Sri Lanka and see them just as you saw the children of Sandy Hook, or the children ripped from the arms of their mother on Staten Island during hurricane Sandy then others will also see the great possibility for the future of Sri Lanka.  There is NO difference in any of these children or my children or even your children.  They deserve the best also.

In closing Mr. President I pray that this letter in some way opens your heart the reality of what I witnessed in Sri Lanka and that you can find it in your cause to stand tall with them and lend a much needed strength and voice.  Your voice is in the position to be heard throughout the world please let it be heard now for the positive of Sri Lanka.

God Bless America, God bless Sri Lanka and may the powerful leaders of both come together to show everyone that in time healing time all will be well.

Peace,

Amy Poirier