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Target: U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Sponsored by: Friends of Thich Nhat Hanh Geoff Livingston

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A difficult, immediate situation in Vietnam, has arisen. Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Thich Nhat Hanh's Vietnam-based Bat Nha monastery is under severe economic, violent, and governmental pressure to abandon the monastery by September 2. The cause: Two statements supporting religious freedom, a core principle of democracy.

For that, they have been harassed day and night with loud speakers, threatened that they would be killed on July 5th by 400 tribal people with metal sticks or sickles, had their electricity and water cut off, their homes robbed, and have suffered innumerable verbal abuses. The monastery serves as a training and practice center in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh's home monastery, Plum Village in France.

These 400 Monastics who practice  Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings  are all Vietnam citizens. These gentle, peaceful creatures seek to sooth the world's ills, bridge understanding between all faiths, and spread greater world, human and environmental peace. The love they bring to the table is simply amazing to behold.

The Vietnamese government cannot point to one specific reason for the nuns and monks to be evicted from their home. They have cited ownerships issues,  failure to  pay the electric bill  and a myriad of other manufactured reasons.

The nuns and monks, all Vietnam citizens .As of  26th of August 2009, they are approaching their 9th week without water and electricity

Please act on behalf  of global human rights and Viet Nam and peace. Please stop this violence and help save Bat Nha Monastery now. We are hoping that US political pressure and community activists who are being mobilized online will  help them keep their home. At a minimum, they believe an extension beyond the Sept. 2, 2009 deadline will support them in taking peaceful, non violent action to work with local officials.

As you know, Vietnam has a troubled  history. The best thing we could possible do for this country is fight to keep this soothing salve in place, quietly working its magic of openness, peace and tolerance. And let's try to prevent another horrific act of violence and bloodshed in Vietnam's history.

Please act on behalf global human rights and Viet Nam. Please stop this violence and help save Bat Nha Monastary now.