When Surya, the orangutan, meets a hound dog by the river, the two carry on like long lost friends. We humans often cannot get along with other humans because the tone of their skin differs from ours. How much can we learn from these two species, whose love for each other spans across species lines? Click on 'read more...' and watch the beautiful National Geographic video. You just can't miss this amazing story.

Some 5 million Baha’is throughout the world, from Andorra to Zimbabwe, hold a special place in their heart for Iran, as it is the birthplace of their religion. The following are a few prominent examples:

Story by Bryce Longton, October 16, 2009 - Forget the High Line -- go check out the newly opened Poughkeepsie Bridge's Walkway Over the Hudson this weekend. After decades of disrepair, the bridge has finally re-opened and holds the honor of being the longest pedestrian bridge in the world.

Omid Djalili: 'I'm cast as the Arab scumbag'. The comedian and actor has a new film in which he plays a Muslim taxi-driver who discovers he's a Jew. But, generally, he says...  ['The Infidel' is released on 9 April 2010. - Watch trailer below]

"The Most Holy Prisoner"

Whatever is done for God is done in joy!

Why was I spared the bitter cup of many
Perhaps to render this strange account?
From the day the sweet
Youth yielded ardour,
A storm broke over us with fury

"The Casting Down of Turquoise"

If it’s to the Land of Roses you’d aspire,
Know that all roads lead across a bridge of fire!

They told me it would be like Stillbirth to the expectant queen
To discard the fruit of well-established pride:
How could I, proud trader in precious stones and gems—
Opals and amethysts for in-lays, and rubies red as grapes,

"Lines Written Upon the Moor"

On the poetic right to passion       
I hike upon the sultry moor
where heather tufts abound
And clustered berries grow
in profusion all around.
Rolling fields are broken, here
by crags and rocky spurs

Obama, introduce Esperanto as a Second Language subject in schools. Ideas for Change in America is a crowd-sourcing competition that empowers citizens to identify and build momentum around a diverse range of ideas for addressing the challenges our country faces. From January - February 2010, more than 2,500 ideas were submitted and voted on by 100,000 people across the country. The top three rated ideas from each issue category, listed below, qualified for the final round. Final round voting begins on March 1 and ends on March 12. The 10 most popular ideas will be presented to relevant members of the Obama Administration, and Change.org will subsequently mobilize its full community to support a series of grassroots campaigns to help turn each idea into reality. Sign this Pledge here.

Welcome to the February 2010 Treasures of Wonderment Newsletter, an online magazine promoting positive change through creative living. A collection of stories, presented in ENGLISH and in FRENCH, from people around the world who help us think outside the box, become innovative people and take us beyond our limits to make a difference. During the first months of this year, Treasures of Wonderment will continue to bring you up-to-the-minute coverage of the Iranian Bahá'í Trial because it concerns us all.

IN THIS ISSUE:  

UNITED IN CELEBRATION
The Bahá'í way: Ayyam-i-Há, a time of giving and hospitality between sunset of February 25 to sunset of March 1. Happy Ayyam-i-Há!' celebration of World Music, Song & Dance - see below a video by Josian Dholah of Mauritus Island. Read more...

LEND US YOUR WINGS

February 29 - The Bahá'í way: Ayyam-i-Há, a time of giving and hospitality between sunset of February 25 to sunset of March 1 as a preparation for the annual Nineteen-Day Fast: a time of spiritual purification, which begins March 2 and ends March 20. During Ayyam-i-Há, Bahá'ís perform acts of charity, give small gifts to friends, neighbors and family, and attend social local community gatherings. A holiday that comes near the end of the Bahá'í calendar, which is composed of 19 months of 19 days each, totaling 361 days.  Happy Ayyam-i-Há!' celebration of World Music, Song & Dance - see below a video by Josian Dholah of Mauritus Island.

Oh hummingbird, mankind was waiting for you to come flying along. (video below)
Heavenly songbird, we were so wrong. We've harmed you.
Oh hummingbird, lend us your wings.
Let us soar in the atmosphere of Abha.
Lift us up to the heaven of holiness,
oh source of our being, oh hummingbird.

February 23, 2010 (HRW) New York - The Iranian government should immediately stop harassing and arbitrarily detaining members of the Baha'i community, Human Rights Watch said today. The detention of 13 Baha'is on February 10 and 11 follows the arrest of 13 others in early January. The government alleges that those arrested in January helped to organize recent anti-government demonstrations but has not made public any charges against those detained in February. These arrests come during a broad government crackdown on opposition activists.

TW:  The Secret Peace is finally here! What inspired you to write such a book, Jesse? Tell us more about your research and message. 

JR: "Over the past decade, I increasingly began to sense trends that were not made explicit in the media. I would read articles here and there that seemed to indicate positive trends in the world. Once I started to look for that pattern, I focused on seeing the big picture. I learned that the story of history is one of advancing peace - in the areas of health, technology, equality, democracy, and more. I think the message of the Secret Peace - that world peace is inevitable, and close - is an important message to get out there because the media often misses the forest for the trees.

GENEVA, 22 February (BWNS) – The third court session for seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran is scheduled for 10 April, a day earlier than originally announced. Diane Ala'i, representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations in Geneva, said attorneys in Iran have now received written notice of the court date, confirming it as 10 April, a Saturday. The earlier notification was oral.

GENEVA, 19 February (BWNS) – A third court date has been announced for seven Baha'i leaders imprisoned in Iran, the Baha'i International Community has learned. The trial proceedings – begun on 12 January after the seven had been incarcerated in Tehran's Evin prison for 20 months – will continue on Sunday, 11 April, according to information conveyed orally to their attorneys. There are today more than 60 innocent Baha'is in detention in Iran.

Genève, Suisse, 19 février 2010 - La Communauté international bahá’íe a appris qu’une troisième date de comparution avait été annoncée pour les sept dirigeants bahá’ís emprisonnés en Iran. Les audiences du procès – commencé le 12 janvier après que les sept responsables ont été détenus 20 mois dans la prison d’Evin à Téhéran – continueront le dimanche 11 avril, selon les informations données oralement à leurs avocats. Il y a actuellement environ 60 bahá’ís en détention dans différents villes d’Iran.

The 25th Anniversary recording features over 80 artists and performers. The recording of We Are The World 25 For Haiti embodied the same enthusiasm, sense of purpose and generosity as the original recording 25 years ago. Every one of the artists who participated, regardless of genre or generation, walked into the room with their hearts and souls completely open to coming together to help the people of Haiti. Damage From Haiti Quake Expected To Surpass Country's GDP. The cost of rebuilding Haiti is expected to be at least $8.1 billion. (Watch Video "We Are The World 25 Haiti" below)

During the first months of 2010, Treasures of Wonderment will continue to bring you up-to-the-minute coverage of the Iranian  Bahá'í Trial because it is about Justice and Human Rights for all our friends in Iran and around the world. 

February 17, 2010 - #1 song on TW billboard:  Chelsea-Lyne Heins with Nabil Moghaddam and Karim Rushdy dedicating their song "This Love" to The Baha'is in Iran, especially the 7 Baha'is on trial, and their families. Sing along with them... (Lyrics and Music Video below)

Professor Randy Pausch made a surprise return to Carnegie Mellon University to deliver an inspirational speech to the Class of 2008 at the Commencement ceremony on May 18, 2008. "The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something" said Randy Pausch. (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008)