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Bahrain activist Al-Khawaja to end hunger strike
28 May 2012
Bahraini human rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja is to end his 110-day hunger strike on Monday evening, his lawyer Mohammed al-Jishi says.
His daughter Maryam AlKhawaja said that Alkhawaja confirmed that he will be stopping his hunger strike while continuing to boycott the court sessions which he believes are not just nor fair. Alkhawaja confirmed that the main goal of his hungerstrike had not been achieved (freedom) but the overall purpose of helping activists shed light on the ongoing human rights violations happening in Bahrain. Alkhawaja said he has been forcefed since the 23rd of April and due to continuous requests from friends and colleagues he decided to end his hungerstrike. The forcefeeding was/is considered torture according to international standards. Alkhawaja said he will comply with program to return to normal eating conditions and he thanks his family and all those who supported him.
Urgent appeal: Abdulhadi Alkhawaja may be on his deathbed (100 day on hunger strike) 18 May 2012
Human rights defender Abdel Hadi Khawaja, on hunger strike for more than three months, is well but still continues his fast to protest a life sentence, his lawyer said on Thursday.
"Abdel Hadi can walk. He is conscious and moves around normally," the lawyer, Mohammed al-Jishi, told AFP after meeting with his client for the first time in more than 45 days.
"He is pursuing his hunger strike and subsides on liquids for his survival," said Jishi.
He said he met Khawaja at Jaw prison, south of Manama.
Khawaja was taken to Jaw on Tuesday weeks after being kept in a military hospital for observation.
"His health has slightly improved because he was force fed," the lawyer said of Khawaja.
13 May 2012 The wife of AlKhawaja said his condition appears better, but he is still only taking water and juice in his protest against government crackdowns in Bahrain.
Khadija al-Musawi says she visited her husband, Abdulhadi al-Khawaja, for about two hours Sunday.
08 May 2012
Alkhawaja's wife said that the activist did not call on Saturday because "he couldn't speak and was weak".
He could not go to court, where he is facing allegations of "setting up terror groups to topple the regime and change the constitution", because he could not stand still.
"The doctor asked him yesterday to take some IV and ensure liquid so he will be able to go to court but he refused," Khadija Almousawi tweeted. "He will continue his hunger strike. I know that he is getting weaker and weaker but I know also that his spirit is very high and he has strength of a nation in his weak, skinny body. He asked me to be strong. He asked me to be happy. I am strong for the sake of my family and I am happy for him to be able to continue his struggle for freedom."
Read more: ibtimes.co.uk
07 May 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja hasn't called his family since Friday when he announced he was stopping IV.
04 May 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja informed his wife that he will only be taking water in protest of ongoing violations. Since his force feeding he had accepted to take IV only when necessary.
02 May 2012
The BBC's Frank Gardner had five minutes to meet with Bahraini hunger striker Abdulhadi al-Khawaja.
"He is walking and exercising but is still visibly thin, having lost around 25% of his body weight.
We had the strong impression that this is a man who wants to make a stand but does not want to actually die (suicide is haram, forbidden, in Islam)."
Full BBC report: bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17933393
BBC photo.
29 April 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja finally had a family visit today. He had been drugged, tied to the bed, forcibly fed with a nasoenteric tube. Alkhawaja said he considered the force feeding and the solitary confinement as torture and will hold the doctor, hospital and Ministry of Interior responsible. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja told his family the doctor's name is dr Ebrahim Zuwayed, and that he is continuing his hunger strike.
Khadija al-Musawi says she saw Abdulhadi al-Khawaja for about an hour in a prison hospital Sunday. Other relatives also visited.
Al-Musawi says her husband is weak but in good spirits.
25 April 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, on 77th day of hunger strike, did not call his wife today as he usually does. Both the Ministry of Interior and the Bahrain Defense Force hospital refused to give his wife any information when she called to inquire about him. His family fear the worst. His lawyer was not allowed to have any contact with him in last 3 weeks despite repeated requests. The Danish Ambassador hasn't been allowed 2 see Alkhawaja lately nor talk to him.
His daughter Zainab who was arrested two days ago is to be held for 7 days by order of the public prosecution.
22 April 2012
The wife of detained human rights defender Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, on Day 74 of his hunger strike, has said "The Danish ambassador visited AlKhawaja to convince him with taking IV saline but he refused." AlKhawaja's lawyer still unable to get a visit to see him.
20 April 2012
Human Rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, now on 72nd day of hunger strike, stopped drinking water along with all fluids and IV on Thursday. He asked to see his lawyer to write his will, but both lawyer and Danish ambassador have been attempting to see him all day, but denied access. His wife said that his voice sounded weaker than any time before.
He said, if they won't allow the lawyer to see him, he has three things he would like everyone to know: 1st: he is completely convinced in what he is doing, and that he has chosen this path and would choose it again if time goes back. 2nd: he asks that nobody attempts to go on a similar strike till death. and 3rd he said: "If I die, in the next 24 hrs, I ask the people to continue on path of peaceful resistance, ... I don't want anybody to be hurt in my name."
18 April 2012
Abdulhadi AlKhawaja called his family today and informed them that he had only water. His blood pressure & sugar dropped as he is on day 70 of hungerstrike.
The wife of Alkhawaja accused Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone of ignoring her husband's plight ahead of Sunday's controversial grand prix in the troubled country. she said the 81-year-old F1 boss had missed a chance to do something to help the pro-democracy movement and her husband Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. "I am not angry with the government...it's their future at stake. What makes me angry is people like Ecclestone who decides to come to Bahrain because he thinks everyone is happy," said al-Mousawi, one of whose daughters was at a large protest in Manama later in the evening.
"I can assure you that I am not happy. My family is not happy."
17 April 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja called his wife today, informed her that starting dawn tomorrow he will stop accepting IV and any fluids other than water.
15 April 2012
The family of detained human rights activist Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, was finally allowed to see him in a military hospital on Day 67 of his hunger strike. Zainab Alkhawaja, also a prominent activist, describes the visit:
We were allowed a 1 hour visit to see my father today.
We were escorted by police and soldiers into a small hospital room, where we were searched thoroughly several times. My father was brought to us, or a skeleton version of my father. I didn't think he could look worse than the picture we saw, but he did. He's so skinny I was surprised he could sit up to speak to us. I can't use the word skinny, or thin. My father looks like someone who is in the final days of a long fight with a terminal illness. But as usual, he was the happiest person in the room, greeted us with a big smile. "Why do u all look so sad?" he asked.
My father's eyes were not normal, not focused. One eye looked lower than the other, he told me it's because of low blood sugar. I held my fathers hand, and they were ice cold. "Do you feel cold baba?" [I asked] He said, "Yes, always cold, but that's normal at this stage."...
He said, "I'm taking some juice & water, as this is my agreement with the Danish ambassador who tells me there's hope. I told the doctors here that this is the exception, if nothing changes in 2-3 days, I will go back to refusing liquids."
My father has spoken to doctors & told them in the chance he goes into a coma, he does not want an IV....Mum said, "Docs who saw you say you are in imminent danger of death." Dad smiled & said, "Whatever happens is in the interest of the people."
12 April 2012
Prominent human rights activist Abdulhadi Alkhawaja called his family, and said that his health deteriorated last night and he was informed by doctors that he might go into a coma. He was given IV, which has kept him conscious but weak. His family and lawyer are still not allowed to visit him. His wife said he was allowed just a brief call in exchange that he will drink little water.
Listen to Zainab Al-Khawaja interview on CBC
10 April 2012
Bahraini authorities continued to turn down repeated requests to contact AlKhawaja by his family and lawyer. The last time lawyer Mohamed AlJishi contacted Khawaja was on Saturday, a day after he was moved from the Interior Ministry hospital into a military hospital in Manama.
Denmark's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Christian König Feldt, visited on Tuesday night the hunger strikers Abdulhadi al-Khawaja in Bahrain. visit lasted 20 minutes, and the ambassador has asked for another visit on Wednesday. "It is clear that he is very weak after the long hunger strike. But I can not say anything more about his health, because it's something we tell the family, and we've secrecy action," said Ole Egberg Mikkelsen, a Danish Foreign Ministry official. Al-Khawajas wife, Khadija Almousawi said that the ambassador told her that her husband is conscious, and that he still has "his sharp intelligence intact."
Danish PM Statement
"Denmark demands that Danish-Bahraini citizen and human rights activist Khawaja be freed," said Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt at a press conference.
"According to our information, Khawaja's condition is very critical," she added.
A Danish Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Khawaja was alive on Monday according to "credible independent sources" who saw him that day.
Danish ambassador to Bahrain Christian Koenigsfeldt was not allowed to see the prisoner on Sunday or Monday, as he has done daily, the spokesperson told AFP.
09 April 2012
The Times: JAILED hunger-striking dissident Abdulhadi al-Khawaja was feared to have died, his lawyer said last night, after Bahraini authorities turned down repeated requests to contact him.
Lawyer Mohammed al-Jeshi said nobody had been allowed to see Mr Khawaja, who has been on hunger strike for 60 days, since Saturday, the day after the 50-year-old was transferred from the interior ministry hospital into a military hospital in Manama. "Authorities have been refusing since yesterday (Sunday) all requests, made by myself and by his family, to visit or contact al-Khawaja," Mr Jeshi said.
"We fear that he might have passed away as there is no excuse for them to prevent us from visiting or contacting him."
Mr Jeshi said that no information was available on the health of Mr Khawaja, who has shed 25 per cent of his body weight.
Video: Bahraini hunger striker's daughter speaks out
However, government spokesman Abdulaziz bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, a member of the royal family, earlier said Mr Khawaja's condition was stable, he was being monitored by three doctors and receiving water and nutrients.
Yesterday, Bahrain reportedly rejected a Danish request that Mr Khawaja, who holds Danish nationality, be flown to that country.
Danish papers quoted the head of the foreign ministry's consular service, Ole Engberg Mikkelsen, as saying "a reply will come through diplomatic channels and not via a news agency or Twitter".
Mr Mikkelsen said he did not know when Manama would send its official reply.
"Unfortunately, there is not much time. It is a case where the clock is ticking," he said.
"We are continuing our efforts to convince Bahrain that it is in everyone's interest that he be extradited."
Front Line Defenders, a Dublin-based NGO, warned that Mr Khawaja could now die in jail, while Bahrain's largest opposition movement, al-Wefaq, condemned that decision, saying it amounted to having "signed his death" sentence.
Mr Khawaja's plight has become a rallying point for the latest demonstrations. His daughter Maryam, who was in Cairo, said: "My sister visited him and said he was so weak he could barely breathe. He says if he dies, he will die with dignity."
08 April 2012
The family members of AlKhawaja are still not allowed to see him since he was hospitalized on Apr 3, 2012. They also have received no calls from him today. They received a call to go to visit him in the military hospital, but when they got there they were told to go back and that there are no orders to allow them to see him.
Doctor of AlKhawaja who is now on his 60th day of hunger strike said hospital IV drip "won't be enough to keep him alive".
Bahrain said today it will not hand over Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja to Denmark as requested. The Supreme Judiciary Council announced today that the provisions of Criminal Procedures Law stipulating the handing over of accused and convicted persons to foreign countries does not pertain to the case of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, and thus he will not be transferred to Denmark.
Bahraini authorities also charged Al-Khawaja's daughter with assaulting a public employee after she tried to visit her father. Zainab al-Khawaja was charged and released Saturday after her arrest Thursday outside ministry of interior where her father was receiving care. She was arrested again Saturday at the military hospital and detained for around 6 hours then relased without allowing her to see her father.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Bahrain to show support for the hunger striker Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja: collection of videos and Photos
07 April 2012 23:00
Abdulhadi AlKhawaja called his family. According to his daughter Zainab AlKhawaja (who was released this afternoon after getting arrested on Thursday night) he can hardly speak, and he can hardly breath. He took very long pauses between every word, as he told his wife about the mistreatment he is receiving from the military hospital staff and the guards. He said that when they treated him badly he said to them "I will not accept this. I lived free and proud outside your prison and I live free and proud inside." He told them if they didn't improve their treatment and allow him to talk to his family he will stop drinking water as well. He also said he will not stop his hungerstrike and he has told the guards "if I die, I die with dignity."
According to his lawyer, Mohamed AlJishi, AlKhawaja has asked to be transferred to another hospital because of the mistreatment he is receiving at the military hospital.
07 April 2012 18:00 The wife of Abdulhadi AlKhawaja said today that she has received news that Abdulhadi is being mistreated by the nurses and the guards at the military hospital. Despite his critical stage his family was not permitted to visit him or to receive phone calls from him.
06 April 2012
Human Rights defender Al-Khawaja has been transferred to the Military Hospital after further health deterioration.
05 April 2012
This is an urgent appeal to save the life of prominent human rights defender Abdulhadi Alkhawaja. His wife was told that his pulse is so weak he may go into cardiac arrest at any minute. Time is short and Abdulhadi Alkhawaja may die at any time. His lawyer Mohammed AlJishi released this picture today which he took in the hospital yesterday:
Zainab AlKhawaja is protesting since around 10:30pm (Bahrain time) in front of Ministry of Interior (MOI) building to demand the release of her father HRD AbdulHadi Alkhawaja. Police surrounded her and tried to make her move away. They shot tear gas on the other activists who were there, and detained representative of FIDH for half an hour for interrogation. The road leading to that gate of the ministry was closed.
My Father is Dying, by Maryam AlKhawaja
Read Zainab Alkhawaja's poem about her father, "The Sultan Digs my Fathers Grave"
04 April 2012
Latest updates from the lawyer of Alkhawaja, Mohamed AlJishi:
"I was able to visit the human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja this evening at the hospital of the ministry of interior where he was transferred since yesterday. He told me that his health has further deteriorated last night to the level that he was completely unable to move. At this stage the doctors gave Al-Khawaja IV as he was not able to move. While I was there, blood sugar and blood pressure checks were done for Al-Khawaja and it was very low. The doctor told me that it's not possible for a human to survive more than this period even with the aid of IV and it doesn't substitute real food."
03 April 2012
Prominent human rights defender Abdulhadi Alkhawaja who is on his 55th day of hunger strike is entering a critical phase where his life is at stake. He had two doctors accompanying him at all times last night, and today he is being moved to the fort prison due to lack of the necessary medical equipment in the central Jaw prison. This is due to fears that he may go into a coma at any time, as his blood sugar and blood pressure have both further dropped. Alkhawaja and the other 13 prominent leaders had their case taken to the Court of Cassation yesterday, where lawyers requested that they be released pending court decision. The judge refused the request, and announced that the decision will be read on the 23rd of April.
The BCHR urges the Bahrain government to immediately release Abdulhadi Alkhawaja on humanitarian grounds as his life is in serious danger, and getting to a situation where there might be an unrepairable damage to his physical well-being, if he survives. We urge the government to take into consideration the deteriorating health condition of Abdulhadi Alkhawaja that cannot wait until the court's decision. Any damage to the health of Abdulhadi Alkhawaja is the responsibility of the Bahraini government, including keeping him alive.
April 03, 2012 55th day of hungerstrike: Human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja hospitalized
Because of deteriorated condition, the jail administration decided to move Al-Khawaja this morning to the main prisoners' hospital at the ministry of interior's headquarter (The Fort) to stay under supervision.
On April 2, Bahrain's Court of Cassation refused to release Al-Khawaja and another 13 detained activists, and it refused to include the BICI report in the case records. It said it would announce on April 23 its verdict in the case. After the hearing session Al-Khawaja called to inform his family and lawyer that he will stop glucose intake.
According to his lawyer, Al-Khawja will sustain from any IV intake in case his health deteriorated.
Bahraini activist Zainab Alkhawaja has posted a heart-shaped letter from her father Adbulhadi, the detained human rights activist who is on Day 54 of a hunger strike:
My dear & beloved family, from behind prison bars, I send to you my love & yearning. From a free man, to a free family. These prison walls don't separate me from you, they bring us closer together. Our connection & determination is stronger than ever. We take our strength, from beautiful memories. Remembering every trip, every meal we ate together, all the conversations, remembering every smile, all the jokes & the laughter. The distance between us disappears, thru our love & faith.
It's true: I am in here, & you are out there. But, you are in here with me, and I am out there with you. Our pain is made more bearable when we remember we chose this difficult path & took an oath to remain on it. We must not only remain patient thru our suffering, we must never allow the pain to conquer our souls. Let our hearts be filled with joy, and an acceptance of the responsibility we have been given for in the end, this life is about finding a path of truth towards God.
Also check this interview with Nabeel Rajab and Zainab AlKhawaja on democracynow.org
March 31, 2012
Human rights defender Abdulhadi Alkhawaja's family went to visit him this morning and were told that he has been hospitalized since last night and is not in the prison. They were not allowed to get access to him at the military hospital.
Yesterday his blood sugar had dropped to 2.1. After collapsing, he was taken to the military hospital, then returned to prison. He then collapsed again and was taken to the prison hospital. According to AlKhawaja's family, his color has turned greyish, his eyes have fallen deeper into their sockets and he has lost around 25% of his weight. It is important to note that Alkhawaja was not in good health when he started his hunger strike due to being subjected to severe torture during his detention. The doctor informed Alkhawaja that "he might fall asleep and not wake up", that the continuation of his hunger strike could cause him to go into a permanent coma.
March 29, 2012 Human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja enters 50th day of hunger strike
Latest info received from his lawyer Mr Mohamed Al-Jishi after a visit this morning:
Today a Danish doctor visited AlKhawaja to checkup on his health. Results showed his blood sugar has dropped significantly to 2.1. Doctors (Danish doctor and prison's doctor) stated that AlKhawaja's situation is very critical and worrisome. They expect his health to deteriorate any moment in the coming days. Doctors stress that he needs glucose intake to stay alive. Yesterday AlKhawaja stated that in coming days he'll be giving up glucose too, in protest of Bahrain regime claiming that it's not a hunger strike if he is taking glucose.
His lawyer Mohamed AlJishi says although AlKhawaja has lost more than 15 kg he's more determined than ever.
Also see this:
Front Line Defenders Press Release – HUNGER STRIKE FOR FREEDOM- Human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja enters 50th day of hunger strike
Andrew Anderson of Front Line defenders: My fears and Abdulhadi Alkhawaja's courage after fifty days on hunger strike
March 14, 2012
DUBAI (Reuters) - The condition of a jailed Bahraini activist who has been on hunger strike for over a month is deteriorating.
Khawaja is drinking a liter a day of salted water and glucose but prison authorities may intervene to force-feed him if the hunger strike continues, said Mohammed al-Jishi, a lawyer who visited him this week.
"He can't go on like this, but he refuses absolutely to go back to eating. He says 'I take my freedom or die'," he said, adding Khawaja had stopped drinking water for several days last week. "Since Sunday he started drinking liquids again and got back strength and could talk and move."
Khawaja stopped drinking in protest after a visit by Bahraini rights group official who Khawaja had believed was a journalist, Jishi said. He said the group, viewed by Khawaja as pro-government, gave a false impression of his condition.
"We believe that his hunger strike is not exposing him thus far to imminent danger," the group called Mabadi said in a statement published in the pro-government al-Ayyam daily.
Supporters of Khawaja have started a Twitter campaign to raise awareness under the hashtag #KillingKhawaja, which has trended on the social network. Read more on ibtimes.co.uk
March 11th, 2012
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) has recently learnt that on the 6th of March, two individuals who only identified themselves as Dr. Fatima and Mohammed met with Human Rights Defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja in prison. The doctor told him she will be administrating a checkup and consequently Mr.Alkhawaja allowed this. The results were, low blood pressure, low blood sugar and low temperature. When they started asking him questions unrelated to his health, Mr.Alkhawaja asked them to identify themselves properly or he would refuse to answer their questions. They refused and walked out.
Mr.Alkhawaja was surprised to see a press release days later based on the testimony of a Mr. Mohammed Alahmad – Pro-government journalist- from the GONGO organization, stating that his health was fine and the that he was being treated well. The press release was released by the Ministry of Human Rights.
In protest to the manner by which the prison and the Ministry behaved, Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja decided to end cooperation with the hospital clinic by refusing medical check-ups, starting Saturday 10 March. He insisted that they either be honest in relating information regarding his health or he would refuse to do the routine checkups. This further endangers his life as now his blood sugar and pressure will not be monitored.
Mr.Alkhawaja also started refusing water and glucose which resulted in the deterioration of his health and he was unable to concentrate. After three days, Mr.Alkhawaja started drinking water and taking glucose once again.
On a different note and in contrast to what the Ministry of Human Rights alleges, the Danish foreign Minister stated to a Danish Newspaper that he was worried about Mr.Alkhawaja's health after a representative of the Danish embassy met with the activist last week.
The BYSHR demands that:
1. The international community exerts more pressure in order to secure the immediate and unconditional release of human rights defender Abdulhadi Alkhawaja before there is any further deterioration in his health 2. That the Ministry of Human Rights allow credible, international human rights organizations who have repeatedly requested to see the activist access to him in order to be able to adequately evaluate his health situation 3. That the Ministry of Human Rights refrain from using GONGO's in order to discredit claims made by credible human rights activist 4. That the Ministry of Human Rights release accurate and precise information regarding human rights defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja's health situation.
05 March 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja was moved to the hospital last night after the doctor insisted to do so, due to his deteriorating health. After several attempts to insert the IV needle, Alkhawaja's arm started swelling up and they had to remove the needle. He was given water and glucose and returned to prison.
29 Feb 2012 URGENT ACTION: As he enters 20th day of Hungerstrike: Lawyer warns that Alkhawaja's health is entering a dangerous Phase
Prison CLINIC can no longer administer IV Fluids as Activists Veins are too weak
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) calls on international human rights organizations to urgently intervene to secure the release of human rights defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja (Previous President and acting director of the BCHR) who is to enter his 21st day of hungerstrike tomorrow. Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja had began the hungerstrike demanding "Freedom or Death" on the 8th of February which followed a 1 week hungerstrike just 2 days before which aimed at highlighting the continued human rights violations taking place in Bahrain. According to Mr.Alkhawaja's wife, the activist can no longer tolerate sitting for longer than 10-15 minutes in the sun due to fatigue and spends most of his day lying down. Mr.Alkhawaja's wife also states that the activist needs a hot water bottle to keep his body warm.
The activists lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Aljishi had previously stated that the hospital clinic can no longer administer IV fluids as the activists veins are too weak.
Mr. Abdulhadi Alkhawaja's daughter, Human Rights Defender Ms.Maryam Alkhawaja, Head of Foreign Relations of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights(BCHR)as well as the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) , had previously stated that Mr.Alkhawaja was exhibiting symptoms of a person on his 60th day of hungerstrike as his Kidney had already started to get affected. He also shows signs of increasing fatigue and lack of concentration in addition to having difficulty in moving.
The activist, even in accordance to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI) that was commissioned by the King , was subject to severe torture. Numerous international human rights organizations have called for Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja's release such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights First as well as Frontline Defenders and questioned the trial procedures through which he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The BYSHR once again calls for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja and places full responsibility for his well being on the Bahraini authorities.
Update - 28 Feb 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja is now on his 19th Day of open hunger strike for freedom at the central prison of Bahrain. According to his family, Alkhawaja is not able to go out for more than 10/15 minutes, and cannot sit up for a long time. He spends most of his time laying down as his health continues to deteriorate. Prison's medics have stopped giving him IV completely as they can no longer insert the needle into his veins due to how small they've gotten.
A sit-in took place in Al Wefaq Head Quarter on Feb 27, 2012, in soilidarity with Abdulhadi Al Khawaja. Large numbers of people were present in the event including human rights and political activists. (Photos here)
Online activists planned for several days to tweet about AlKhawaja on twitter using certain hashtags at certain times aiming to make it trend worldwide and thus shed light at the plight of the country's detainees. It sounded impossible considering the small population of Bahrain but the international tweeting support helped in making it happen. The manged to do it three times so far and to appear on World wide trending topics using #HelpKhawaja , #Hungry4BH (also documented here) and #Bahraini4Freedom. If you are on twitter you can follow @khawajastrike and join next campaign!
Update - 23 Feb 2012 - As Received from AlKhawaja's lawyer, Mr Mohamed AlJishi:
In a one-hour private visit, I met Abdulhadi Al Khawaja today in Jaw Central Prison. Signs of fatigue were clearly shown on Al Khawaja. He was pale and lost lots of weight. I sent him all the people's plea to stop the strike as they need him alive to struggle for Bahrain, and for his own risk.
Abdulhadi Al Khawaja told the lawyer: "I thank who ever stand in solidarity with me and people of Bahrain outside and inside the country. The case is not only about me. It's about all wrongfully detainees in Bahrain. My hungerstrike is a part of my Human rights defence inside jail. It's very important to focus on all detainees as I'm just a part of them. I will continue with my hunger strike till I reach my demands despite the consequences. I'm aware that freedom is expensive and we must sacrifice to gain it."
According to the lawyer, although Al Khawaja is really tired after 2 weeks of hunger strike, he is still holding his head high and smiling.
His wife, Mrs Khadija AlMousawi said that after a urine checkup to Abdulhadi, there was blood in his urine. The doctor asked him to drink juice and he does now to avoid kidney failure.
AlKhawaja is now on his 15th day of Hunger strike for Freedom or death.
During a sit-in protest in front of the UN office organized by the political societies on Feb 22, 2012 to condemn the international community's silence towards the human rights violations in Bahrain, a group of youth wore T-shirts with photo of Abdulhadi on it in support to his strike. At the night, a number of protests took place in solidarity with Alkhawaja. (see more photos here)
Imprisoned HRD AlKhawaja Calls EU to stand to their obligation to protect humanrights defenders
On a letter that he wrote to the Danish Forieng Minister, Danish-Bahrini human rights defender Alkhawaja called EU member states to take action as per the EU-Guidelines to protect human rights defender.
"As a human rights defender, regardless of being a Danish citizen, I am entitled for protection by EU member states in accordance with the EU Guidelines on the protection of human rights defenders around the world. Hence, I would suggest that the Danish authorities kindly put more efforts, in coordination with the other EU-State members, to take whatever possible action at the regional level as embassies, in Brussels institutions ad at the UN in Geneva, to address my case and the cases of other detained activists, calling for release, repartition and protection for human rights defenders in Bahrain. "
Read AlKhawaja's letter from prison here
Update - 21 Feb 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja is now in his 14th day of Hunger Strike for freedom. He has lost 9 kilos, and suffered an internal bleeding due to kidneys damage.
Andrew Anderson, Front Line Defenders Deputy Director, wrote on his blog:
I know that Abdulhadi does not seek death. He is a person full of hope and love for his family and his community. But I know that he will be hugely frustrated by the ongoing death toll which has seen a teenager tortured to death and many others die from tear-gas inhalation. It seems he is seeking to force the issue in the most desperate way a prisoner can. read th full blog post here
Update - 18 Feb 2012 Alkhawaja: "The hungerstrike allows me to shed light on human rights violations from my Prison Cell"
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) has learnt that Human Rights Defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja (51 years) is determined to continue in his hungerstrike until he secures his release. Family members have informed the BYSHR that although Mr. Alkhawaja was in high spirits, he looked thin and weak and had obvious problems concentrating.
Mr.Alkhawaja also confirmed that he had collapsed last Wednesday and was transferred to the Bahrain Defense Force Hospital after a sharp drop in his sugar and blood pressure. He was first transferred to the Jaw Prison clinic but when medics saw his condition they quickly called for an ambulance. He was semi unconscious when he was transported via an ambulance to the hospital where he suffered from muscle spasms. He received treatment but refused to end his hungerstrike.
It is important to note that this is the second hungerstrike the activists engages in with only 2 days in between, the first which was with the other 13 detained activists in protest to the ongoing human rights violations and which lasted for 1 week. The activist is currently in his 10th day of his second hungerstrike. This has contributed to the deterioration in is health condition.
Mr.Alkhawaja stated that he was on hungerstrike because as a human rights activist he needs to play a role in exposing human rights violations, whether he be on the inside or the outside of a prison cell. The hungerstrike aims to secure his release, but more importantly allow him the opportunity to do something inside prison to shed light on the deteriorating human rights situation in the country. He said that those who claim to defend human rights need to be prepared to make sacrifices, and that he was prepared for all possible consequences of this hungerstrike. He also wanted to highlight the plight of those prisoners of conscience still detained and shed light on their cause.
The BYSHR supports and respects Human Rights Defender Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja's decision to continue his hungerstrike and calls on the international community to stand behind him in order to secure his release and support his plight in highlighting the human rights violations happening in the Kingdom of Bahrain. byshr.org
Update - 15 Feb 2012
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja collapsed last night due to Hunger strike "freedom or death" in continued detention. He was admitted to hospital and was given IV without his consent. According to his lawyer Mohamed AlJishi who was able to meet him today, Alkhawaja has difficulty moving, talking and seems extremely exhausted. He is continuing on his Hunger strike. The lawyer expressed worries about Abdulhadi Al Khawaja's health condition after yesterday's setback.
14 Feb 2012
The Bahrain Youth Society for Human Rights (BYSHR) has learned from Human Rights Defender Mr.Abdulhadi alkhawaja's family that his health has deteriorated today as he enters his seventh day of hunger strike for freedom. Mr.Alkhawaja began the hungerstrike on Wednesday the 8th of February, and demanded "Freedom or death" as a condition for ending his hungerstrike. He has been taken to hospital more than once in the past days due to a drop in his blood sugar.
In a phone call to the family, Mr.Alkhawaja's brother, Mr.Salah Alkhawaja (also sentenced in the same case as Mr.Abdulhadi Alkhawaja and serving 5 years) informed them about the health condition of Mr.Abdulhadi and his intention of starting a hungerstike tonight in solidarity.
The BYSHR calls on the international community and human rights organisation to pressure the Bahraini government for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr.Abdulhadi alkhawaja. byshr.org
Open Letter to Danish Foreign Minister
Open Letter written by Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja to Danish Foreign Minister on the eve of his hunger strike in which he demanded his freedom and that of the other detainees.
12 Feb 2012 - Abdulhadi Alkhawaja : Freedom or Death
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja has entered his 5th day on hunger strike for freedom. He was hospitalized two nights ago (Feb 10, 2012) because of his deteriorating health due to the hunger strike. On Feb 11, 2012 He refused IV and is only drinking water with glucose. Alkhawaja almost went into a coma and was admitted to the hospital on the 31st of January due to low BP and blood sugar during his earlier hunger strike. Family members and colleagues are concerned about his continued detention and hunger strike as well as his previous history with torture, and believe that his rapidly deteriorating health will be fatal.


text: Their is the mag or items, I see dings on props, skews cracked and hulls with gouges and deep scrapes. The steering is off and wrong prop. I adjust my weights and yes some pad detail has been done. Other things and trying several prop of same type, some are better than others. Also make sure the motor is tuned and full throttle movement. The biggest is weight in boat. Properly stored like the heavier stuff to center line of boat. Seats up slow u down, high mounted graphs slow u down. Another thing is driving abilities, takes time to learn feel of each hull. Takes time to learn 70 to 80 to 90 to 100. As u get faster more things can happen faster. RR is dead own. Believe it or not a clean boat that's smooth runs faster.

subset: commoncrawl


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Roberta Robots teaches kids how to design, construct, program and test mobile robots.
Impact in our communities
We support local nonprofits that are having a positive impact in our communities.
Code for America
Thanks to the rapid advancement of technology, people expect more from the services they use every day. Unfortunately, governments are often slow to embrace technology. This limits access to key services for those who need them most, wastes taxpayer resources, and fuels a lack of trust. Google.org has helped Code for America tackle this problem by providing $3 million of funding since 2011. With that support, Code for America has grown its Fellows program, hired an internal technology team, and developed open data standards for civic data. With an additional $1 million grant from Google, Code for America will build new tools to help its Fellows, product managers, and volunteers collaborate on the development of civic technology solutions in three focus areas: safety and justice, health and human services, and economic development.
Roberta - Learning with Robots
Robots are an ideal educational tool for teaching children the basic concepts of today's technical systems. In 2002, Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems established the Roberta Initiative to give kids - especially girls in technology and science - a fun, hands-on way to design, construct, program and test mobile robots. In 2011, Google funded Fraunhofer with a multi-year grant that was used to develop a simple drag-and-drop technology in the MIT App Inventor to program and control robots using a smartphone app.
Learn more about Roberta Robots
Programming Education Gathering
For the last half-century, Japan helped lead the world in consumer electronics and engineering. Yet in a recent survey, only 20% of Japanese junior high students wanted a career related to science — compared to an international average of 50% — even though Japan's junior high school had the fifth-highest math scores in the entire world. To help bridge this gap between ability and potential, Google donated 5,000 credit-card sized Raspberry Pi computers to make it easier for kids to take the first steps towards a career in computer science. In partnership with local non-profit organization, Canvas, these Raspberry Pis will provide computer and programming education for more than 25,000 kids in Japan, while providing training sessions for teachers as well.
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park, located a short train ride from London, played a pivotal role in computing history. During World War II, it was the site where Colossus—the world's first electronic programmable computer—helped the military crack enemy codes, reputedly shortening the war by two years. The extraordinary achievements of Colossus and its veterans remained secret until they were declassified in the 1980s. Google donated more than $850,000 to the Bletchley Park Trust to support the restoration of this important site.
Learn more about Bletchley Park
The High Line
The High Line is a public park atop a historic 1930s elevated freight railway on Manhattan's West Side that was saved from demolition through the efforts of a community nonprofit group. Snaking its way through neighborhoods that run a few short blocks from Google's New York offices, the High Line is one of the best and brightest examples of successful urban renewal in the country. To show support for both green construction and our Chelsea neighborhood, Google donated $1 million to the High Line in 2010, helping preserve the final eastern section as public open space.
Learn more about The High Line
Raspberry Pi
Many kids in the UK lack access to computer science training that can give them fundamental skills for education and life. Our $1 million grant will provide a free Raspberry Pi, a low-cost microcomputer, to 15,000 UK kids who are enthusiastic about computer science. CoderDojo, Code Club, Computing at School, Generating Genius, Teach First and OCR will each help identify and support eligible students. OCR is also creating 15,000 teaching and learning packs to distribute alongside the Raspberry Pis. The project will provide an opportunity for thousands of young people across the UK to learn to code by increasing access to computers. The ultimate goal is to inspire the next generation of British computer scientists.
Trinity College Dublin
Students in Irish schools have limited exposure to computer science and technological learning. This has created a digital divide that limits the digital literacy of young people - especially those in disadvantaged communities. The three year Google grant will help transform computer science education in Irish schools through teacher training programs and improvements in computer science and STEM capacity. Funding will scale high-quality computer science education across Ireland's secondary schools, providing training to 1,000 teachers and sponsoring the introduction of Teach First in Ireland.


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25+ Best FREE WooCommerce WordPress Themes 2020
Undoubtedly, WordPress is the lion of CMS universe. Used by over 20% of all websites, this small blogging platform has risen its voice all over the web… And its popularity has been constantly higher than other platforms. If you are looking for a professional web design, these 25 WordPress themes is where you can start.
Among various ways of using WordPress, an eCommerce website is a highly practiced one. WordPress is an open source framework, therefore, a rich community as well. WordPress has fine solutions for each issue from its nerdy members around the world. Yes! For instance, WooCommerce is a boon for an eCommerce solution.
WooCommerce is a plugin for excelling eCommerce and it powers over 30% of all online shops . The amazing WooCommerce and WordPress together make a perfect platform for the large and small storekeepers anywhere. Not only that, you will get such incredible framework for FREE.
There are tons of free WordPress themes available on the web with WooCommerce integration. But I can't guarantee you that they all are of good quality for use. It may be a little bit difficult for you to sort out the nice ones from the dense network. If you are looking to build beautiful pages for your website then check out Gutentor. It is entirely based on Gutenberg editor and contains awesome blocks for designing exciting webpages. If you search for themes, you will find various beautiful and cute themes in the market. You can easily build a beautiful site like this with these themes.
So, I have listed 25+ best FREE WooCommerce WordPress themes for your convenience. However, you would better learn well about them before switching in your project.
- Zigcy Lite
- StoreVilla
- ShopIsle
- Astra
- Online Shop
- eStore
- WP Store
- EightStore Lite
- TheShop
- Sold
- eCommerce Gem
- Orchid Store
- Storefront
- Free Shop
- Mystile
- Virtue
- Shophistic Lite
- AccessPress Ray
- Emmet
- Make
- E-Commerce
- Fruitful
- Kraft Lite
- Vantage
- Shopera
- TopShop
- iTek
- Store
- eSell
- Mesocolumn
- MaxStore
- discover
- Seller
- Corsa
- Shopper
- Are you looking for WooCommerce Hosting?
- Wrapping Up
Zigcy Lite
Zigcy Lite is a customizer based responsive free WooCommerce WordPress theme. It has been created especially for building great eCommerce sites that can bring business to you. This theme is creative, stylish and has tons of configuration options. Also, it is a theme with deep WooCommerce integration. A feature that lets you use all the advanced features of WooCommerce in the most brilliant and satisfying way possible.
Major features of Zigcy Lite :
- Deep WooCommerce Integration
- Easy to configure slider to promote your products and shop
- 2 WooCommerce archive layout
- 4 unique page and post layouts
- Beautiful product and checkout pages
This theme is also fully optimized with SEO, clean codes and is also translation ready. And the product, content search through this theme is the smoothest. To top it all off, Zigcy Lite has been built with the live customizer. So now, configure any aspect of your website by simultaneously seeing the live changes by your site.
StoreVilla is a free responsive eCommerce WordPress theme for creating online stores and shops. It is built with a powerful WooCommerce plugin and its extensions to let you enjoy the eCommerce features at the ultimate level. It integrates YITH WooCommerce Wishlist, Quick View, Compare, and Ajax Search by YIThemes to add all the eCommerce features. It is a feature-rich theme as well as very easy to use – even the beginners can easily create a complete online shop using this theme.
Major features of StoreVilla:
- Next generation WooCommerce theme
- Elegant responsive design
- Fully SEO optimized
- unlimited slider options
- Multiple page/ post layouts
The theme is a fully responsive and fluid layout that adapts well to any device. Based on Live WordPress Customizer, it allows you to customize most of the theme settings instantly with live previews. It features 10+ custom widgets, background configuration options, multiple category display layout, sidebar options, etc. It is compatible with all major plugins and optimized for SEO and speed.
ShopIsle is a free eCommerce WordPress theme for building beautiful online stores. It has a brilliant WooCommerce plugin integration that lets you easily create an online shop of your own and sell your products wisely.
Major features of ShopIsle:
- Clean and validated code
- Responsive design
- WooCommerce ready
- Theme options panel
- Localization ready
It is simple, easy to use and fast loading. The responsive design that fits well with any type of device and the fastest loading time may ensure the best browsing experience. It comes with the cool one-page design.
Astra is a responsive, highly customizable, super clean and lightweight theme for a faster loading eCommerce store. This theme can be used to build any kind of an online store with WooCommerce. With Astra you can customize the shop page, single product page, cart page, container settings, etc. to make things look much more attractive and appealing to boost sales. You can read an article to understand the various customizations Astra offers with WooCommerce.
Major Features of Astra
- Faster loading online store to boost sales
- Fully customizable with easy-to-use options
- Responsive layouts
- Color and typography options
- Customizable product pages, sales bubbles, etc
Astra takes this even further by offering some premium features in the Astra Pro add-on. You can use this to get distraction-free checkout, off-canvas sidebar, etc. Having said this, the free theme does have a lot that you will love. With the ready-to-use website demos, Astra is making things even faster and easier for anyone to build an effective, highly converting eCommerce website.
Online Shop
Online Shop is an awesome WooCommerce theme made for building your eCommerce website. With this theme, you can instantly open your online store and start selling your products online. You can use the amazing functionalities of WooCommerce to set up the store.
Major Features of Online Shop:
- Awesome Featured Section
- Translation Ready
- Browser Compatibility
- Layout Controls
- Responsive Slider Image
The theme also offers many flexible features that enhance your site. The theme responds well to all the latest smartphones and tablets. So, people will have no problem in checking your website easily in their hand-held device. You can modify each section of the theme comfortably as desired. Maintain your site's look and advance its appearance by adding widgets.
eStore is a full-fledged free WordPress eCommerce theme, perfect for building any kind of online stores and web shops. The theme is fully compatible with WooCommerce, YITH WooCommerce wishlist, template collection plugins that allows you to use peak eCommerce features. Besides, the theme includes 4 different layouts, 3 custom menu locations, background color/image options, 14 custom widgets and much more.
Major Features of eStore:
- Fully WooCommerce Compatible
- 14 Custom Widgets
- RTL Support
- WMPL Compatible
- Primary Color Options
eStore is a responsive WooCommerce theme with lots of customization options – you can configure most of its elements as per your choice. It is ready to go theme for selling product and services online.
WP Store
WP Store is a beautifully crafted feature rich WooCommerce theme that gives you a platform to create the most convenient and organized shopping experience. This theme is perfect for all types of e-commerce stores – fashion, interior, food, clothing or anything. With advanced typography options, full optimization of SEO, compliance to latest WordPress standards, multi-browser and multilingual support, WP Store is the perfect theme for you to start your e-commerce shop.
Main Features of WP Store :
- Multi-web layout
- Fully based on customizer
- Option to enable/disable ticker for products promo/news
- Powerful eCommerce functionality
- Highly configurable homepage
EightStore Lite
You won't believe if somebody offers a premium-like product for FREE but it's real; feature-rich eCommerce WordPress theme EightStore Lite is available FREE! It is a brand-new modern responsive WordPress theme for creating a complete online store instantly.
Major features of EightStore Lite:
- Fully Customizer based
- Deep WooCommerce plugin integration
- YouTube video on popup banner
- Multiple category display layouts
- Product and post search
It is an ultra-responsive theme, which looks stunning on all types of devices ranging from the mobile devices to the desktops. Beautiful deign with the highest level of customizing flexibility ensure a great opportunity for you to show off your creativity.
TheShop is an elegant free eCommerce theme for WordPress. It is quick and easy to set up the theme so that even the beginners can instantly create an online shop on their own. It is compatible with popular WooCommerce plugin and enables the eCommerce features.
Major features of TheShop:
- Fully responsive design
- WooCommerce support
- Custom front page
- Color options
- Sliders
Download FREE TheShop and easily create your own shop. Make use of awesome Google fonts and spread your words through blogs.
Sold is an elegantly designed free WooCommerce WordPress theme loaded with powerful eCommerce features. It comes with clean and minimal design, that looks great on any kind of online store. The theme has got intuitive interface – that any noncoder can easily use. It comprises all the essential features to let you design a complete eCommerce site in no time.
Major Feature of Sold:
- Responsive Slider
- Theme Options
- Menus Capability
- Search Engine Optimized
- Valid XHTML + CSS
- Responsive layout
Sold is a mobile friendly theme that is optimized to work flawlessly on any device, platform, and browsers. It is well tested across all major browsers including Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc. It is based on the current WordPress version and keeps on updating.
eCommerce Gem
eCommerce Gem is an elegant free multipurpose theme, ideal for building eCommerce websites of any stores like mobile, jewelry, book, cosmetics, clothing, construction material, etc. This theme comes with many eCommerce specialized features and also is integrated with best-ever WooCommerce plugin lets you create a perfect online store in no time.
Major Features of eCommerce Gem:
- Responsive Layout
- WooCommerce Compatible
- Latest & Featured Product Carousel
- Advertisement Sections & Banners
- SEO Friendly
- Fast Loading
- Elegant Design
- Cross-browser Compatible
eCommerce Gem includes alluring design with lots of customization options that help to make your website a unique one. Based on Customizer, Widgets, and Add-on – you can configure the theme as per your preference. It is an intuitive, user-friendly and best-optimized eCommerce WordPress theme.
Orchid Store
Orchid Store is a clean, stylish, and flexible e-commerce WordPress theme which is fully based on WooCommerce WordPress Plugin. It is suitable to build online store like cosmetic shop, jewelery, store fashion accessories store, furniture store, home decor store, grocery store, mobile &gadget store, and many other kinds' of online store. Orchid contains many built-in features compare to other WooCommerce WordPress themes like primary and secondary color options, responsive, live customizer, compatible with page builder Elementor, Megamenu, one click demo import, RTL supporter, and multiple widgets.
Major Features of Orchid Store:
- 100% Media responsive
- Fully compatible with WooCommerce plugin
- Compatible with page builder, Elementor
- Megamenu at primary navigation
- Special menu at the header
- Primary & secondary colour option
- One-click demo import
- RTL support for Arabic scripts
- 3 variations of WooCommerce product widget
To recommend you this theme, a single sentence would be enough. " Storefront is a perfect theme developed and designed by WooThemes" . Yes, it is a complete theme solution for your eCommerce website from the makers of the greatest plugin- Woocommerce.
Major features of the Storefront:
- Deep integration with market leading WooCommerce plugin
- Several layout & color options
- Multiple widget regions
- Lean and extensible codebase
- Beautiful responsive design
This great theme is obvious to transform your shop into a standard modern store. The homepage with product categories, recent, featured, on-sale and top-rated products will be an attraction to your customers and reason to engage in it. No matter where you reside, it is fully localized, i.e. ready for translation.
Free Shop
Free Shop is one of the newest free WooCommerce themes in this article. It will impress you with its clean design, well balanced layout and intuitive navigation. From the homepage to category pages and product pages it looks elegant and stylish. Free Shop is a great thing that will help you do business online. Check it out if you love minimalism and whitespace.
Major features of Free Shop:
- Fully Responsive
- Minimalist Design
- Grid Style Layout
- Interactive Feel
- Theme Options
- Search Engine Optimized
Free Shop is a flexible and easy-to-edit WooCommerce theme that highlights your products and allows you to build a stunning eCommerce website. And yes, you can it get free.
Another amazing free WordPress theme by Woo Themes, Mystile has the best WooCommerce goodness. Making use of all of the WooCommerce features, it gives you a complete eCommerce solution. It is simple and lightweight free theme for WordPress.
Major features of Mystile:
- Responsive design
- WooCommerce goodness
- Customisability
- Custom homepage
- Shortcodes available
Download Mystile theme FREE and create an eCommerce website on the stunning WooFramework.
Virtue is yet another free WordPress theme for building an eCommerce website. It is an extremely versatile theme with tons of options and great features. It is a fully WooCommerce supported theme to enable you to design an awesome online store.
Major features of Virtue:
- Clean and modern design
- WooCommerce support
- Powerful mobile responsive
- Slider options
- Custom fonts
I must admit the amazing design and powerful options of Virtue, which thousands of WordPress lovers have loved. In addition to that, it is very easy to use for the ones with less coding knowledge. You can use it for other purposes too, like a normal business, portfolio, personal, photography etc because it is versatile.
Shophistic Lite
Simple yet a unique design that website visitors may love, Shophistic Lite is a perfect shop theme for WordPress. With complete WooCommerce plugin integration and beautiful code, it has become a great WordPress theme for eCommerce websites.
Major features of Shophistic Lite:
- eCommerce support
- Responsive design
- Retina ready
- CSS animations
- Translation ready
Get this feature-rich free WordPress theme and build your own online store. Take no time to start selling your products online.
AccessPress Ray
AccessPress Ray is a beautifully designed feature-rich WordPress theme and one of the most loved themes at WordPress.org. It is a modern theme compatible with WooCommerce, bbPress, RTL, multiple browsers and ready for SEO and translation. This multipurpose theme is highly used for eCommerce websites due to its great support for WooCommerce.
Major features of AccessPress Ray:
- Responsive multipurpose design
- Multiple page layouts
- Extensive theme option panel
- Easy configuration
- Custom CSS/JS
This powerful theme is easy to use and fast loading. You can set up, customize your website within some minutes, and assure your customers better user experience. Creating a nice business website/ online store is super easy with it.
Emmet has a professional look that suits corporate business and portfolio websites. It is a multipurpose WordPress theme with a clean responsive design. With deep WooCommerce plugin integration, Emmet makes it easy to create n eCommerce website.
Major features of Emmet:
- Responsive design
- WooCoommerce compatible
- Customizer
- Visual page builder
- Unlimited colors
Feature your work in an amazing way and sell your products massively online. First, build an eCommerce website with Emmet!
Make an eCommerce website or simply a business website, you can use free WordPress theme 'Make'. Make is a multipurpose free responsive WordPress theme. You can design your site any way you like with drag and drop page builder and tons of Customizer options available.
Major features of Make:
- Responsive design
- WooCommerce integration
- Google fonts
- Fast and smart
- Fully compatible with popular WordPress plugins
Make is fully responsive that looks amazing on all screens regardless of the quality and size of browsing devices. Make a complete eCommerce site with Make theme.
E-Commerce is a free responsive eCommerce theme for WordPress. It is built carefully to work with awesome WooCommerce plugin and provide users with a complete eCommerce solution. It has a simple and clean layout for a shop with featured products on the homepage.
Major features of E-Commerce:
- Responsive Design
- WooCommerce ready
- Custom menu
- Custom CSS
- Cross-browser compatible
Download E-Commerce FREE and build your own eCommerce site in no time. Create a professional presence of your brand with a professional website.
As its name reads, Fruitful is a free responsive WordPress theme that enables you to create a fruitful website. By fruitful, here I mean a store from which you can do a good business. The theme is WooCommerce compatible for the eCommerce purpose. Besides, it has a powerful theme options panel and clean front end design.
Major features of Fruitful:
- Responsive design
- Easy setup
- Multiple Google fonts
- jQuery slider
- Social media integration
The theme has many other great features to list here like localized language translator, SEO friendly, custom shortcodes etc. Above all, an attractive shopping cart is what you need to have for your store, which is right here.
Kraft Lite
Another great theme in the web for eCommerce is Kraft Lite. It is a simple multipurpose WordPress theme with broader WooCommerce compatibility. The theme can be used for various industries like online shop, general business, corporate, personal, blogging, restaurant photography etc.
Major features of Kraft Lite:
- Simple, adaptable and free multipurpose theme
- Fast loading
- Multiple slider options
- Great WooCommerce compatibility
- Compatible with Nextgen Gallery and Contact Form 7
There are much more features of this theme to be listed. Kraft Lite is very beautifully and carefully crafted so it'll give your website a perfect look. Above all, great WooCommerce support will let you open a shop anytime anywhere.
Vantage is one of the heavily downloaded themes from the WordPress.org theme directory. It is a flexible multipurpose theme with tight integration to some powerful plugins. It is integrated to WooCommerce, MetaSlider, and Page Builder, therefore it has become one of the finest themes.
Major features of Vantage:
- A highly flexible and powerful theme
- Integration with some fine plugins
- Responsive page layouts
- Beautifully designed
- Multipurpose
This amazing theme can be used for multiple purposes than for an eCommerce website. It will help you create anything from a simple blog to a complete business website. With its deeper WooCommerce integration, you can pick it for your new shop.
Shopera is a free responsive WordPress theme for creating a beautiful shop online. With slider and blog options on the home page, you can let the customers know the details of the products on sale. With awesome WooCommerce support, Shopera is a complete theme for building shops.
Major features of Shopera:
- Responsive design
- Advanced theme options
- Retina ready
- WooCommerce ready
- Translation and multilingual ready
Shopera is mobile ready that adapts well to all types and sizes of screens. Create an amazing online shop with Shopera and build your own brand!
TopShop is probably the right WordPress theme for those willing to build a top-level online shop. TopShop is a perfect eCommerce theme for anybody and everybody to build a website for an online store due to its great integration with WooCommerce.
Major features of TopShop:
- Free responsive theme
- Integration to some of the finest plugins like WooCommerce, Widget bundle, Meta Slider etc.
- Multiple page and blog layouts
- Unlimited color options
- Social links friendly
It's indeed a complete theme for constructing an eCommerce website. Easy customization with the customizer, support for great plugins and amazing functionality will leave you and your website visitors at the wonder.
Here is another free WordPress theme designed keeping business/shop at the centre-iTek. It is a complete WooCommerce theme ideal for building eCommerce/business websites.
Major features of iTek:
- Parallax header effect
- 4 Menu locations
- 2 widget areas and 3 custom widgets
- Cool transition effect
- WooCommerce, bbPress support
With the parallax header effect, your website looks beautiful and modern. You can build an aesthetically pleasing website and develop your business with iTek.
Store is a feature-rich store theme for WordPress. It is a complete theme with awesome WooCommerce features. It has a fully responsive layout that looks stunningly beautiful on all types of devices including cell phones, iPhones to desktops.
Major features of Store:
- WooCommerce ready
- Responsive design
- Advanced menu and navigation system
- Google fonts
- Slider with 3D effects
Easily create a complete online store with Store theme and start earning money!
There is another awesome theme built specially for eCommerce website- eSell. With the full support of WooCommerce and bbPress plugin, you can build a website for selling your product through 'electronic media' i.e. online.
Major features of eSell:
- Unique and interactive design
- Powerful option panel
- Responsive design
- Cross-browser compatible
- SEO optimized
This WooCommerce theme would be the ultimate solution for an eCommerce website with custom checkout pages, user registration template, and fast responsive style. You can easily reach the mobile users and provide them an awesome experience of browsing.
Mesocolumn is a feature-rich responsive theme for WordPress and a good choice for eCommerce. It supports BuddyPress, bbPress, jigoshop and WooCommerce that make it a perfect theme for creating an eCommerce website.
Major features of Mesocolumn:
- Responsive design
- 600+ Google web fonts
- Unlimited color options
- Logo and favorite icon uploading options
- Featured category layouts
With the most popular plugin WooCommerce, JigoShop is also integrated into this theme making it ideal for eCommerce. You can choose grid based product layout and start your shop in no time with this theme.
MaxStore is another awesome WordPress theme for eCommerce websites. It is a FREE theme with a clean responsive design that suits perfectly for fashion store, sports store, digital shop etc. WooCommerce plugin integration makes it ready for eCommerce.
Major features of MaxStore:
- Responsive layout
- SEO optimized
- Theme options
- Wishlist support
- Homepage styles
Here is a decent orange and white colored business theme– discover. It is a fully responsive clean free WordPress theme with WooCommerce compatibility. You can create a perfect online shop using this theme in no time.
Major features of discover:
- Featured slideshow with effects
- Theme options panel
- Widget ready sidebars
- Threaded comments
- Compatible with all major browsers
You can build an elegant website using the simple and neat typography it offers. You can start a new business using the lowest effort with this free theme.
Seller is one of the finest free WooCommerce compatible themes for giving your website a professional look. The theme is free however it has premium like features stored in for creating a complete online shop.
Major features of Seller:
- WooCommerce compatible
- Professional slider
- Showcase area
- Footer widgets
- Page layouts
With this fantastic theme, you can instantly build a website and reach your customers effectively. It is indeed a fine eCommerce theme with all the stunning features.
Corsa is a free responsive theme with flat design in bright colors. Corsa is a powerful theme with the premium theme features like WooCommerce integration, PageBuilder integration, Google fonts, shortcodes and much more.
Major features of Corsa:
- Multiple layout options
- Clean code and design
- Instant sample data
- WooCommerce and PageBuilder integrated
- Responsive
With many other features, Corsa is a very useful theme for the business owners. However, it can be also used for many other kinds of websites. Switch Corsa in your next project for its clarity and usability.
Shopper is a clean, minimal and elegant WooCommerce theme. This theme has a responsive layout and design coupled with easy configuration options. The most unique aspect of this theme is the beautiful grid layout that makes the presentation of all your products impressive and tempting to the visitors.
Major features of Shopper :
- Custom Background Border
- Menus Capability
- Valid XHTML + CSS
- Chrome Compatible
- Safari Compatible
- Firefox Compatible
- IE10+ Compatible
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In the list above, I have listed the "25+ Best FREE WooCommerce WordPress Themes 2020".
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If you are anyone who is looking forward to creating a blog/newspaper/magazine website, VMagazine can be immensely helpful for you. With VMagazine you can create your website in the easiest and simplest way possible.
VMagazine is a blog and magazine WordPress theme that is :
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Here is a brief glimpse of one of the theme's demos :
So, this was just a short description of this blog and magazine WordPress theme – VMagazine. If you would like to know more about this theme, please kindly check the links below :
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Wrapping Up
We live in the 21st century and everything has changed. We want ourselves and everyone around us upgraded with the trend. Yes, we no longer want to visit any shop physically. So, if you are a shop owner, it's high time to begin an online store with WordPress using the themes above. They will surely help you create a professional website.
These are some of the finest WooCommerce themes I have come across. However, that's not all for sure. You can find BEST Free Business Themes in another post.
If you have any theme in mind that suits this list, feel free to mention them below in the comment section. 🙂
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and more...
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Thank you!
What a beautiful collection of themes!
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Please switch to their customer support service: https://thethemefoundry.com/support/


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Hubby and I have had a tough weekend, mentally that is. Primarily because Little Red's MRI is later this week. We're worried sick about the general anesthetic she'll be having and anxious about the results. We've also both admitted to having a certain fear about the future, namely because we already know what some of it with entail. Seeing a spinal specialist is the priority, along with continuing the other stuff (physio, occupational therapy, pediatrician, ophthalmologist) that we already do.
We know that at the very least Little Red will require a back brace. We're already noticing how her body is changing and giving in to the scoliosis, and with that comes lot's of other issues. (You can read more about her scoliosis by clicking here).
Our pediatrician has somewhat prepared us for the fact surgery will be in her future before we had initially hoped. Since her actual back bones are malformed and thus not really able to support her, it's not just the curve we need to be concerned about.
We chatted about it all quite a lot, which was good. I told him we need to band together and tell the other when we're feeling down or like we're not coping with the looming procedure. It's not just that though, that is weighing heavily on our minds.
Throughout the talk we realised that it's not actually all about the MRI, it's the fact that it's probably all going to get much, much harder after it. I don't think I can properly articulate the mental stress everything has had and is going to have on us just yet. So, I may have to dig really deep one night when the kids are in bed and write a post then. Or maybe I could even wait until I'm having an emotional outburst in public and jot down my thoughts then!
Seriously, we are so very fortunate to have lot's of family and friend support. Honestly, we always have an ear. But physically, it's still really, really demanding. Especially when some things are on a shorter notice or can eat up a whole morning. We already navigate a lot of her health stuff by ourselves and not being able to ask a grandparent or Auntie to watch the other kids for an hour or two makes it all the more difficult.
As I write this I actually feel tears come to the back of my eyes. I probably need to have a big cry, at least before the big day. Maybe that's when the words will flow and I can let loose how tough it's really been. I feel like I keep a lot of it in because I have to. Those with children know they don't really give you a break and the reality is I'm rarely alone. I try to enjoy my children when they're up, I like playing with them and by the time feeds and changes are done it's almost time to do it all again. If I constantly crumble I simply don't have the strength to do what needs to be done.
Mentally I need to keep my eye on the ball; and that is managing medical appointments, applying for the NDIA and keeping the home running so that Hubby can at least concentrate on work while he is there. I think I have an inner strength keeping me going too though, and that comes from Little Red. As her mother there isn't anything I wouldn't do to get her the help she needs and that's all the energy renewal I need some days.
K x


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It is Time
You respond to His call;
It is Time
You open the Gates To Your Heart,
and It is Time
You Embrace the Divine Caller.
Don't delay any more;
Don't think any further.
Go by Faith and Surrender to the Call.
PrashantAdvait Foundation, after organising 28 Self-Awareness Retreats,
is all set for another one.
29th ADVAIT LEARNING CAMP
An opportunity to spend time with Acharya Prashant and read the rarest of rare scriptures, this camp will be held in Shivpuri, Rishikesh, from 24th to 27th of February
The foothills of the Himalayas await you!
Celebrate life at The 29th Advait Learning Camp
To participate: write an email to: firstname.lastname@example.com
For any queries, feel free to contact:
Shri Anshu Sharma +91-8376055661, or Shri Kundan Singh +91-9999102998
Glimpses from the 28th ADVAIT LEARNING CAMP
Memoirs from previous Camps:
Priyanka Kaushik,
a participant of 26th Advait Learning Camp, in the presence of Acharya Ji, was relieved of the false notions that she had in her head. The camp came to her as a shock, a pleasant one!
At first, I was very sceptical that whether I should come or not. This whole structure of sessions and then the camp, has been a big shock to my system! I am so much used to 'planning' and 'controlling' things that what is going to happen next would really stress me out. Things do happen here but without any control. It was a very pleasant shock, though I am still getting used to it. It was a much-needed jolt, I am glad that I got it!
Read her full memoir here: The camp came as a shock, but a pleasant one!
Rohintan Talati,
joined 25th Advait Learning Camp, all the way from Gujarat.
He is amazed how this camp has calmed down the tussles of his relationship.
Each and every moment here at the camp was different and relaxing. Even when we are not doing something, then too, there was no boredom or emptiness of any kind. I was feeling alright. That is the one thing that I am certainly taking out of this camp, especially with the grace of Acharya Ji. He motivated me a lot and the way he sees things, was amazing and that triggered my understanding as well.
Read his full memoir here: He gave me the answers without even saying a single word
Advait Learning Camps:
The Advait Learning Camps, led by Acharya Prashant, are rare and blissful experiences, giving one the unique opportunity to come close to the Saints, the Scriptures, nature and in the process to the Self. Held in the lap of the Himalayas, twenty-five Learning Camps have been held till now.
To read more about Advait Learning Camps, visit: Advait Learning Camps


text:
View 5 day forecast
Click here to view
Funeral Directors
Passed Away :
Emily was born at Wanganui Hospital at 6am weighing 6lb 5oz and she is doing well.
Hayden, Amaria, Sara & Scott are proud to announce the safe arrival of Sophia.
Jack, Devon and Fletcher welcomed a very healthy baby girl Charlotte Leigh Georgia Hodges on 27/12/2016. 7lb 3oz. All home and well.
Crystal and Rob are delighted to announce the arrival of their new son, Mason. A wee brother or Zoe.
6lb 3oz Born at 12:04am 14 February.
A darling wee boy arrived at 4.49 am after a quick labour, weighing in at 4.1kgs (9lbs) at Hutt Hospital on 31st Dec 2015!
Proud Mummy & Daddy, Steven & Ria Burney, formerly of Whanganui.
Mummy & Baby doing really well and Daddy is floating on cloud 9! Extended whanau are all ecstatic to welcome Logan into the whanau :-)
Jimmy Forrest & Mel Walker are thrilled to announce the arrival of their beautiful wee daughter, Demi Mae, born on Tuesday 21st July, weighing in at 5 pound 8.
A huge thank you to the On Call Surgical Team, Maternity Staff (You guys have all been amazing!), and to our wonderful Midwife Jacqui Paine for her support & ongoing care.
Also to 'Super Nanny Linda', you have been our rock.
SPICER; Chrissy, Sam and proud big brother Keegan are happy to announce the arrival of Macey Miquel Spicer, born 14/05/2015 and weighing 8lb 8oz.
Date Of Birth: Christmas Day, 25th December 2014
Kate and Simon are proud to announce the arrival of their beautiful little daughter Evelyn Grace, 7lb 9oz,
May God bless her on her life's journey.
Damien Wood and Paula Goudie welcome the arrival of their son Alexander Paul Wood born 23rd January 2014, at 7.15 am. A little brother for Hamish, Dargen and Morgan.
Bevan and Natalya welcome their beautiful son Blake to the world. Bevan was born on 15th January at 9.12 pm, 8 days early, happy and healthy.
To Caroline and Sam at Christchurch, on 15 February, a son - "Robbie George"
Webquest Ltd
47 Taupo Quay
New Zealand
e: firstname.lastname@example.com
p: 06 347 2700


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Scrolly and fun to wear, these playful heart hoop earrings are entirely hand crafted by me from sterling silver wire.
Each heart is unique, but I match them closely and "book match" them so one turns one way and one the other. Earrings hang down approximately 1 1/8 inches past the end of the ear wires.


text:
You value your privacy above all else, right? Well so do we! We value all of our Bananas for Bingo patrons and have their best interest at heart, so naturally we do all that we can to make sure that their details are kept all nice and safe!
Naturally we respect your privacy and wouldn't dream of giving your details to a third party website who may spam you with rubbish – we purely as for your info in order to bring you the very best of goodies from the bingo world. We have set up all the necessary virtual and physical precautions to ensure that your details are kept firmly under our hats! This is all we ask:
• Your name
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• Your country
We may even ask for a few more details like birthdays and sex but even these trivial pieces of information are kept firmly under lock and key at Bananas for Bingo! We are absolutely committed to maintaining this policy for as long as you wish to keep receiving our very handy mailers. If you ever want to stop the mailers, all you have to do is let us know and we will be happy to erase your details from our records, though we might think that YOU have gone bananas for cancelling our subscription to the biggest and best bingo treats in the industry!


text:
You are hereHome ›
Community Thread offers free tax filing assistance
Community Thread will be offering free tax-filing assistance to low- and middle-income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and older.
Trained AARP Tax-Aide volunteers, certified by the Internal Revenue Service and Minnesota Department of Revenue, will explain tax requirements, answer questions and electronically file income tax returns.
The AARP Tax-Aide program, sponsored by the AARP Foundation, is offered in conjunction with the IRS and the state of Minnesota.
Appointments can be made by calling 651-439-7434 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Appointments will be offered on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from Feb. 8 to April 13. All appointments will be held at Community Thread, 2300 W. Orleans St., Stillwater.
People will need to bring applicable tax-related documents listed on the Community Thread website at www.CommunityThreadMN.org.


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5 June 2009
In a recent course I took from Karen Clifford, A.G., she conveyed several common laws of genealogy. Of them are:
• Start with 'what you know' and move back in time.
• Have a research plan before visiting a repository.
• Be polite and respectful of the staff.
I know these rules. I follow these rules — at least in the U.S. Today I broke all of these rules.
I had found out almost at the last minute that I was going to the Czech Republic for work. I quickly remembered the Czech genealogy project in my back pocket, waiting for me to have time to work on it.
I quickly started my research, but only have the family in question traced back to the late 19th century – and still in the United States. At this point, it would be futile to do research during my brief free time in Prague. Despite this, I decided to go visit the Czech National Archives. I figured I would just see what it was like — and perhaps poke around if they had a browsing library.
I prepared by reading the website for the archives. I also took a chance and entered my client's last name in the database, but got no results. Since I only speak the bare minimum of tourist Czech, I found a list of helpful vocabulary words at FamilySearch.org.
The archives are housed in a beautiful, new building in the southern part of Prague. Like any archive, you really need to know what you're looking for, in order to ask the staff members, who then bring you the book, manuscript or microform.
Staff members there at the time did not speak much English, but were eager to help me. I felt a little guilty about wasting their time, since I was only there to look around. Fortunately a Czech genealogist who speaks English (thanks, Karel!) was there and helped me out. He explained the purpose and how to use the county/parish books I had randomly picked up. This helped me do a little exercise of looking at the county/parish formations and then finding them on the map. Basic, but at least I learned something!
Was my trip a waste of time? I don't think so. I made contact in case I need to hire a genealogist in the future. And I now know the rules of the archives if I ever go back. I've come to the conclusion from my recent trips that genealogists are nice all over the world.
© Corey Oiesen and Genealogy Heroes 2009.


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Community Voices Heard
THE ORGANIZATION: Community Voices Heard (CVH) organizes low-income New Yorkers (predominantly women), many of whom have been on welfare, to build their political power and improve the lives of their families and communities.
CVH came to Cause Effective for help diversifying its fundraising base and increasing its support from individual donors. "We were starting to get frustrated with the fact that our programming was being dictated by external funding sources," explains CVH director Sondra Youdelman. "We wanted to expand our individual donor pool to give our organization more autonomy."
OUR WORK: Cause Effective worked closely with CVH's staff and board members to develop a plan that involved everyone in fundraising. Staff began to reach out to their personal and professional networks, while board members grew more confident in making direct asks and took more responsibility for collecting membership dues from their peers. We also coached CVH to form a solidarity board to extend its fundraising reach.
The group tried out its new fundraising techniques in a successful drive to raise funds to enable community members to attend a key social action conference out of town. "We learned how to look differently at resource development" Sondra reflects, "not to just think about it as trying to get a check from someone but really trying to think about the network of people who could support us in so many different ways."
THE RESULTS: As a result of help from Cause Effective in expanding CVH's base of supporters, CVH raised over $110,000 from its 15th anniversary celebration from 225 individuals (more than 4 times its original $25,000 goal). According to Sondra, "We transformed the way that the staff, board and members see the potential of fundraising and relationship-building for the benefit of the organization. Our board has stepped up its asking, and we formed a solidarity board that is now asking for us. Cause Effective inspired people to realize the potential of what we can do together – and to keep fundraising on their radar screen."
Cause Effective's work enabled CVH to focus on what they do best; as Sondra notes, "By raising resources from – and with – the community we're fighting for, it frees us to fight the battles and win the causes most critical to low income families."


text:
Our Missionaries
Andy and Lindsey Messmer
Serving in Madrid, Spain
Lloyd and Athena Peace
Serving in Amazonas, Brazil
Tom and Beth Peace
Retired from active service with ABWE
Kay Lamb
Retired from active service with
Baptist Mid-Missions
Baptist Mid-Missions
Served with Campus Bible Fellowship
Bill and Mary K. Grimes
Retired from active service with
Baptist Mid-Missions
Baptist Mid-Missions
Dr. Nell Collins
Hope in Crisis
Ministry to Cancer Patients
Nick and Krista Rachevsky
Helping missionaries by teaching their children and assisting church planters in Portugal.
Nate and Karol Watkins
Baptist Mid-Missions
Serving Liberians in New York City
Alan and Tara Mayhak
Serving in Australia
Robert and Jody Frye
European Baptist Fellowship
Ministry to the Romanian People
Barry and Ellen Farlow
Baptist Mid-Missions
Training Brazilians to reach Brazil and beyond through theological education and church planting.
Ken and Sharon Davis
Project Jerusalem
Church Planting and training church planters in the Northeast.
Seth and Darla Curtis
Faith Global Ministries


text:
*Never underestimate anybody; Stay Humble.*
After the Temple Darshan at the Kapaleeswarar Koil at Mylapore, we entered the "Giri Trading stores"
and started searching for this Book on "Thatva Bodha".
We found many people buying various Books and CDs and from their smart walks and accumulation of CDs
from Abhang to Aruna Sairam and Bhajans to Bombay Jaishree, sent a nice feeling in us, that we have come to
the right place indeed.
I was looking for this Book while my wife started collecting Bharathiar's songs and MS's Music. I searched
everywhere for this Book.
There was this Girl, standing next to the Cashier, sincerely watching all our movements – a dark complexioned Girl, should be from a nearby Village, might be 17 or 18, should not have crossed 8th Std., might be out of poverty she is here.. All my Journalist's brain unnecessarily calculated about this Gullible Girl..and tho' she was repeatedly
watching me, I ignored her and started searching for "Thathva Bodha".
I saw many books from "Sandhya Vandanam" to Swami VIvekananda's "Chicago Speech" but having spent a
good 40 minutes. I looked at her, she also looked at me curiously.
I did not asked her, knowing fully well that such a girl cannot have any idea of anything, leave alone "Thathva Bodah".
"Sir, may I help you?" (in Tamil)
"Yes. I am looking for 'Thatva Bodha' "
"Sanskrit Text or English/Sanskrit?"
God..she knows. "Sanskrit & English"
"Do you like to have the Publication from Chinmaya Mission or Indu Publications or by Ramakrishna Mutt?"
"I don't know..I just want to only Learn you see.. I don't really know indeed"
"Do you read Tamil Sir?"
"Yes I am a Tamilian " (thinking to myself how most of mylife time I like to act in most Other places that I am not)
"Then Sir, you can take this"..she ran to the shelf where I had searched for 30 minutes, removed the books in
the front and came out with a Book in Tamil.
"This one in Tamil by N.Sivaraman by Indu Publications infact is simple and wonderful. You have the Sanskrit Text too inside."
My God! Why did I under estimate such a Genius. Just because of my Arrogance that I am an NRI. Or Just
because I presumed such a Black, dark complexioned, gullible girl, who would have come for this job out of absolute
poverty, wouldn't have any idea of "Thatva Bodha".
I decided to change my attitude and realized that I am absolutely an 'Idiot' at this moment in front of this
wonderful girl and submitted myself in all humility. "Madam, I really don't have any idea of even who wrote 'Thatva
Bodha' till yesterday. I just attended a lecture on this subject and was fascinated by the lecture and hence….."
"Did you attend Goda Venkateswara Sastri's lecture in Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan?"
"Oh God. How did you know?"
"He regularly takes classes on such subjects. In fact he is one of the best Sir, in the city on such subjects."
"You are interested in such subjects?"
"Yes Sir, I read a lot about Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna and Thathva Bodha incidentally is my favourite Subject"
"Do you mean to say you have read Thatva Bodha?"
"I have read this one by Sivaraman. Once you read it you won't feel like keeping that book on the table at all."
"Why what is so great about this Book?"
"Sir,you must be joking that you don't know about 'Thatva Bodha'."
"Really. I accept my ignorance."
My wife was watching from the corner, admiring all her CD collections.
"Sir, according to me, if you read this it gives the entire Vedanthic Saramsam and to say it in-one-word you become a bit more humble in life, leaving Ahamkaram once for all."
"Is it a fact that reading this simple book one would get so humble?"
"Of course one should be involved totally into the text. Needs a lot of conviction and devotion."
My wife joined the conversation and she felt this girl is indeed a very very talented intelligent girl, so she told
me, "Why don't you interview her for Washington Post? Why at all you should think of Paris Hilton?"
I also felt that I owe something to her.. So, I asked her whether she can spare sometime for an interview.
She politely refused saying "My boss is to give me permission. Besides, many people are looking for guidance
or help, like you and hence I have to go."
"What is your name?"
My wife's admiration for her devotion to duty and her total involvement in her work, made her go direct to the Boss and said, "Sir,that girl Kalaivani."
"Yes very hard working Girl."
"This is my husband Viswanath."
"Nice meeting you Sir"
"He is the Senior Journalist in Washington Post."
The Boss stood up." Washington Post?"
"Yes Sir. I would like to interview this girl. I am highly impressed with her ethics."
The Boss called her. Time was 5:45 Pm. "Kalaivani, they have come all the way from USA., They would like
to spend some time with you. Can you?"
"Sir, there are so many customers waiting for some guidance. as it is a rush time. If they can come again
"OK. I can come again tomorrow."
I came back next day morning leaving all my appointments with 'Times of India 'and "Madras Press Club " just
to see this girl. It was no rush hour.
My wife and myself found out. Kalaivani is from a small village near Arcot. She has 5 sisters, she being is the eldest. Her father was a drunkard and he died a few years ago caring for none of them. Her mother used to work as
a helper in Masonry and passed away two years back, leaving all the 6 on the streets.
This girl who had completed her 9th std decided to search for a job and 'Giri Trading' came forward to help her out. She brought up all her 5 sisters with her and with her meagre salary she is taking care of them. All the 5 sisters
are going to a nearby Chennai Corporation School.
"Kalaivani. But when did you get this enthusiasm to learn about 'ThatvaBodha'?"
"Sir after joining here, I decided that the best way to be of help to the customers is to know the Subject first.
I took small Books on Ramana, Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda and started reading. I found the subject so fascinating..
I decided to read other books in Tamil like Bhagavad Gita, and Viveka Choodamani. Thats how…."
"What is your salary?"
"Rs 2,500/ a month, Sir."
"Are you able to manage all your expenses with the 5 sisters?"
"Not at all Sir, but the Boss helps me a lot."
"What is your aim in Life ?"
"I want all my sisters to get education. Then they would easily get employment. Is it not Sir?"
"If I give you Rs 10,000 per month, for meeting all your expenses, would that suffice?"
"It is indeed too much, but I would accept it only through my Boss."
We took her to the Boss and told him that we would like to send Rs.10,000 every month so that all her sisters' education would be completed.
The Boss said "She deserves it Sir. You can trust me – I will hand over the amount to her every month
or alternately you can open an account in her name and start transferring to the account."
My friend John Paul, who is the Regional Manager of 'Times of India' had also come with me. He said, "You have done a good thing."
My wife said, "I pray that 'Karpagambal' helps Kalaivani to become an expert in 'Vedantha' and start giving lectures in USA . We can arrange for her lectures."
We left wonder struck! If we go into the interiors of India, how many more 'Jewels' like Kalaivani can be found!!
I really became humbled!
Really the above incident teaches you an important lesson. Be humble and open always. Never underestimate others without knowing them. It can be misleading.
Wont be surprised if tears welled while reading this!!


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TheItch: Dude, funniest thing ever!
TheItch: I walk into the bathroom at work, walk up to a urinal, and get ready to... you know.
TheItch: From one of the stalls, I hear a low rumble, which escalates to a groan, and then to a roar.
TheItch: What follows can only be described as the most vile and putrid sounds of human excretion in history. This man apparently pooped out his intestines.
TheItch: Moments later, I hear from the same stall, "Oh god! Someone CALL AN AMBULANCE!"
TheItch: Now, this is an executive restroom at a private bank, and the door has a number lock on it, so it's not some kid trying to be funny. And the man sounded genuinely distressed.
TreesSneezing: lmao! What did you do?
TheItch: Suppressed my laughter as best as I could, zipped up and got the hell out of there.


text:
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Learn more about the programs and majors offered across the state, along with admissions and other valuable information.
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- Learn about transferring – Whether you're coming from another UW campus or the Wisconsin Technical College System, we can help you learn how your credits will transfer.
- Apply online to a UW System campus – Take a formal step toward becoming a University of Wisconsin student.
Degree Options
The UW Flexible Option is a smart new way for working adults to earn a University of Wisconsin degree.
eCampus is your gateway to online education programs offered throughout the University of Wisconsin System.
Student Information and Resources
Student Advocacy Resources
- Student Representatives
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- Reporting Waste, Fraud & Abuse
Student Diversity
- Multicultural Students
- American Multicultural Student Leadership Conference
- LGBTQ+ Resources
- Disability Resources
UW Systemwide Resources
Learn more about the 2020FWD strategic framework, including budget priorities and initiatives.