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Dear Prabhus,

 

PAMHO. AGTSP.

 

As organizer of this conference since its inception in 1993 I have a few

comments to make.

 

First, I have kept the conference public from the beginning because I didn't

want it to be just an ISCOWP agenda. I wanted an exchange of thoughts that

would be diverse. I did this because I feel that free exchange, although

troublesome at times, is better than secrecy and things being run by just a

few persons.

 

However, when it starts to get "hot" and the exchange of ideas becomes an

exchange of criticisms, I usually step in and play the authority, which is

what I am doing now. I would prefer that no one quit the conference. But I

would also prefer that our texts be constructive. I also allow a certain bit

of bitterness and complaining, we are all human. But when it gets into

making personal attacks on each other i have to draw the line.

 

So, to make something positive of all this, I think it is a good idea to

state the facts in bringing about serious complaints and dissatisfaction

with our leaders, temple authorities, etc. Now, this is only to be done with

cow protection issues. We need not handle the whole movements problems. Then

amongst the members of this conference an investigation team can be formed.

This is in the Standards, that if a cow abuse complaint has been made and

the GBC investigation is not satisfactory then an investigation team will be

appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cow Protection.

 

We have received numerous reports of cow abuse, we then write to the GBC and

then usually nothing really happens. We have no budget to send Balabhadra

into investigate and make a report. We made a grant request to ISKCON

Foundation who told us to go to PETA. We have made a request to the GBC for

funding, it is now being presented at the GBC meetings in Mayapur.

Kalakantha Prabhu said that the GBC funds are caught up with defending the

RITVIK case in Calcutta and don't expect too much. So we are waiting.

 

We are convinced that if there was an investigation team and/or funds to

send a qualified person to investigate the trouble spots alot could be done

to ascetain whether the reports are valid , who is responsible, and what is

to be done. Remember the authority to do this is already there. It is ISKCON

Law.

 

In one incident in South Africa, Ekadasi das was in the area and he

investigated, reported, and then made recommendations. He kept in contact

with us so we could agree on his action. All good has come from it. The

situation has been rectified and steps have been made in the right drection.

 

We have persons who are qualified to investigate, but no funds do they have

nor do we have to send them. In some cases it may be possible to form an

investigation team of persons within the area where the report of cow abuse

has been made. This, likely, would take less or no funds. In my opinion it

would be most productive if there were both a person who is knowledgable in

cow care and an investigation team working together at the site of accused

cow abuse.

 

But let us work together to correct in a positve way. Let us bring out the

facts and deal with it in the open and positively.

 

Any volunteers for an invstigation team? Any volunteers for funding to send

a qualified person to investigate?

 

Your servant,

Chayadevi

 

 

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