Intergalactic Summit

SHOCKED WHEN I SHOULDN'T BE

Since my original post that I had labored on disappeared into cyberspace, I decided to treat it as practice and start over on the events of the last few days. It started when we rescued another group of slaves. This time, when I looked up the registry of the container, it belonged to a Vherokior. I was shocked, so I contacted the pilot and asked why he had jettisoned 38 humans into space to die. He responded with two messages, one daring me to cross the border with those slaves and the other threatening to stick a weapon up a certain area of my body. Why was I shocked that a Minmatar would be engaged in the slave trade? Perhaps it is because I have known Vherokior who I would describe as noble, honest, brave, principled, and faithful. Perhaps I would assume no Vherokior would trade in slaves, much less kill them like they are bugs under foot. What a wrong assumption.

SURPRISE WHEN I SHOULDN'T BE

That leads to some other wrong assumptions. One of the slaves we rescued was a young man named Tobias. He will be in my memory as long as I live. Long story short, he expressed the desire to be given to a benevolent Holder so that he could further his enlightenment in the faith. He was sure of his conviction and he asked for my help. I thought immediately of Ms. Goldcore and her family. Arrangements were made and Tobias has become a servant in their household. Ms. Goldcore was gracious to give me a choice to tour any of their facilities on their home planet. This I did. I am confident that Tobias will freely live the life he wishes to live. I would not be surprised to here that the Goldcore family may one day offer him his freedom; a freedom he would say he already has; a freedom to serve and pursue faith. Not all holders are the same. While most understand this, we need to say it now and them. Prejudice comes in many forms.

I wish to thank Tobias for bringing and abolitionist and a Holder together in a shared purpose, to honor the wellbeing and life wishes of a slave rescued from death in space. It is quite humbling.

Lesson: Let us hold our opinions just a little lighter than we think we should. And, beware lest our convictions lead us to prejudice and false judgment. Surely I have been guilty of that.

My gratitude to the Goldcore family. Your hospitality was open and cordial. I believe you to be honest people.

PILOTS, WE NEED YOUR HELP

We would like a list of Amarr border systems where slaves are Jettisoned and abandoned. We want to rescue as many as we can. If any of you have the names of these systems and willing to share them with us. Please respond to this post. We would be very grateful.

Manwe, I will try very hard not to "go native" as you say. But, I am vulnerable in that area as you know. I sometimes blur the line between optimism and naivete. I am sure you will call me to the carpet when I do.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

I am now working in Ston's place in rescue operations for awhile. I decided to make a direct appeal to experienced pilots to provide information on which systems slave traders commonly jettison their slaves. I started a separate thread to reach as many pilots as possible. I hope we will get some response and hopefully gain information that we do not already have.

I believe that even the "Faithful" Amarr should want to help in this endeavor. I don't think it is inconsistent with their beliefs. So, please give us assistance if you can. Thanks

Thanks Mr. Galente,
That is where we are searching. We were hoping to save some time. We were hoping experienced pilots would have some system names where they have seen this happen frequently. We would be very grateful and so would those we rescue.

AND THE LEAVES OF THE TREE ARE FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS

That is the motto of our revised Corporate logo. Manwe came up with it, though he claims that it is not his wording, but some very ancient reference. No matter, I really like it and it captures our values well. Today, I performed a double cremation ceremony. There are places of peace and dignity even in the bustle and avarice of Jita. I appreciate Manwe picking up the rescue work. I do hope that you have success in expanding your search, but don't get too far away from where successful rescues have already occurred. We are too few in number to spread out too thin.

I continue to pick up the bodies left over from the violence of the Jita system. I will need to take a group of bodies back to Korama soon. Perhaps there I will take some time to rest and meditate.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace.

P.S. Ms. Goldcore, if you happen to read this, I remember a question I forgot to ask you. Do you sing as part of your worship? If so, is there room for unique adaptations within acceptible forms of singing for those who serve your household? I know you are busy, but if you have a chance, give my greetings to Tobias. Thank you.

Ironically, as founder and CEO of the Disciples of Ston, I am not myself a Disciple. I cannot or rather am not willing to espouse the total lack of violence and also am not quite attuned to shunning the accumulation of wealth. That said, I "feel" more like a Disciple these days than since our organization began. I think it is the slave rescue project that has me motivated. Have you ever noticed that work that is usually interesting can become dull when the vision of a significant contribution presents itself? So it is with me now. I have been engaged in a business project related to the expansion of mining and refining activities. Now, the work seems a bit slow and tedious. I am finishing my current work but it is taking a long time.

I am anxious to begin work establishing a planetside facility for those former slaves that are willing and desire to establish transitional communities. These communities will be shaped by the members, not by those from the outside. We await a couple things. First, for the Governments of the Federation, Republic, and State to get off their collective posteriors and provide legal means to change the status of rescued, escaped, an otherwise freed slaves. As it is, this is the main limitation and danger in our work. It is ironic and something the "free governments" of this Cluster should be ashamed of. These rescued slaves will have their first real taste of liberty within Amarrian space, because the Gallente, Caldari, and Minmatar refuse to legally and permanently acknowledge that they are anything but slaves.

For this reason we are also encouraging those who sojourn through these pages to also support an initiative ((here)) In essence, we need to squeek the proverbial wheel with the powers that be if we want to see change happen.

MORAL DILEMMA

Tonight, Manwe rescued 39 former slaves from death in the cold of space. In the process, he also detained 5 slavers (slave traders). While patrolling Jita for the Clone Body Return service, I asked for advice on the Summit. Mr. Thassalonia recommended that the slave traders should be brought to the MIO for trial and appropriate justice or to the Matrai security officials for the same. We appreciate Mr.Thessalonia's advice. We never expected this to happen so we never prepared for it. We would appreciate more advice and information.

Here is our concern. The Disciples of Ston are against capital punishment and cannot hand anyone over if that is even on the table. Our problem is, we don't know what the punishments are in either Amarr Justice or Minmatar Justice. Sometimes, the Amarr punishments include multi-generational slavery. We are opposed to this. We have heard that the Minmatar may execute them. We are opposed to this as well. What to do?

We will speak to the former slaves that were rescued and who were the ones really responsible for the capture of the slave traders. (See Manwe's account). Their input is important as well. Pilots who have insight on this are asked to please help us out with sound advice. This presses another issue for us as well; that is the need to include some rudimentary justice and law enforcement mechanisms in our matriculation communities even if they are temporary. We believe that there are those among the rescued capable of putting a plan together.

The Disciples of Ston bid you peace

I'm not certain that slavers would be under the jurisdiction of the Gallente Federation, but if you could get them arraigned in a Federal court, they would receive just yet merciful sentences.

I am sitting here with a bottle of water, a nutritional ration, and 97 recently freed Minmatar sharing the same with each other and with me. Gladius has just given thanks and we are eating drinking together. Soon, other Matriculants will be welcoming these into this new community. Already, Gladius has asked to visit with the other Elders. I am jotting these notes on my data pad while they are fresh in my heart, but I just realized that these things must be felt and cannot merely be written with any accuracy.

Welcome to freedom, my friends.

I am continually haunted by a persistent thought that will not go away. This thought? "How many men, women, and children die in the cold of space, because we cannot get to them before their containers disintegrate in the radiation and cold of space? What are they thinking about as death approaches. How are the Mothers and Fathers comforting their children as death creeps in? How are the Elders strengthening the group as they face death together." The Disciples of Ston are too few in number to rescue every group of slaves jettisoned into space, but that does not stop these haunting thoughts.

We challenge other pilots to take the time to check those containers at border jump gates. Rescue those those former slaves you find. We are willing to take them into one of our centers. Please!