Citizens speak out. Across the world, people continue risking their safety and even their lives in an effort to improve living conditions for themselves and future generations. Countries where pro-democracy demonstration continue include Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Greece, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Swaziland, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkish Cyprus, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela and Yemen.

Libyan state television reported on Sunday, March 20 that 48 people have lost their lives and 150 were wounded in the airstrikes from the UN-sanctioned coalition forces. US Vice Admiral Bill Gortney stated, however, that there are no signs of civilian casualties as he also emphasized that the coalition forces are not targeting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates meanwhile affirmed the importance of upholding the principle of the UN Security Council resolution, which is to disable Libyan air defense capabilities to prevent new military attacks on Libyan citizens.

As two countries that abstained from the UN Security Council vote, Russia and China expressed regret over the military actions resulting from the decision, the Russian Foreign Ministry calling for the US, France and the UK to halt any attacks on non-military targets such as those reported to have caused civilian casualties. Arab League Secretary- General Amr Moussa also criticized the UN- sanctioned airstrikes for causing civilian deaths, stating that the no-fly zone is to protect from fatalities rather than to cause them. Affirming that the no-fly zone operations were meticulously planned to avoid civilian casualties, a British Foreign Office spokesperson said the government would continue to work with its Arab partners in enforcing the resolution for the good of the Libyan people.

US Secretary Gates added that, as informal leader of the operation, the US is already in the process of transferring control to the coalition of countries helping enforce the no-fly zone, which currently include Spain, Belgium, Denmark and Qatar in addition to France, the US and the UK. In response to a ceasefire announced by Libyan armed forces that was schedule to begin at 9 pm on Sunday, a spokesperson for the office of British Prime Minister David Cameron stated that the no-fly zone resolution would remain in place until the actions of the Libyan government showed that the resolution was being truly honored.

At the same time, numerous media reported that Libyan gunfire continued throughout the evening on Sunday. A diplomatic gesture was presented by Mohamed Sharif, a tribal official affiliated with the Libyan government, who invited the people of Tripoli to join in a symbolic march to Benghazi for peaceful reconciliation talks.

In Italy’s Potenza, tens of thousands of people protested against organized crime and marched in honor of its victims’ lives. The African kingdom of Swaziland saw around 7,000 people marching peacefully for better wage opportunities as well as political reform. The event remained peaceful and was followed by an announcement from the Prime Minister that the defense minister was being removed from office.

In Yemen, photojournalist Jamal Al-Sharaabi of the newspaper Al-Masdar lost his life covering protests on Friday, while a second journalist was reported as having been wounded. Yemen’s state news agency reported Saturday the government had expelled two journalists from the news agency Al Jazeera.

Human Rights Minister Huda al-Bann and Ambassador to the UN, Abdullah Al-Said, both resigned in protest of the violence that most recently resulted in over 50 people being killed during a demonstration. Meanwhile, tribal coalition leader Sheikh Sadiq al-Ahmar released a statement signed by several religious leaders calling for the nation's president to step down peacefully in accordance with the will of the people.

After police in Gaza, Palestine approached yet another media member, taking his materials and equipment and then breaking the hand of a Reuters news agency cameraman filming demonstrations calling for national reunification, a delegation of journalists met with Palestinian Interior Minister Fathi Hammad and government press officers. Hamas party spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri released a statement saying that aggression against journalists was unacceptable as it issued a call for government investigation of the incidents along with future assurances that journalists would be allowed to report freely.

Syrian security forces acting against protesters sealed off the southern town of Daraa Saturday and used tear gas canisters to disburse thousands of people who had come to mourn colleagues who had lost their lives during the previous Day of Dignity’s protests. Tribal groups representing the southern region demanded the departure of the government troops and the release of all those arrested.

In spite of a Saudi ban on protests as well as being outnumbered by police, a few dozen people gathered once again outside the Interior Ministry in Riyadh on Sunday, calling for the release of relatives who have been detained without trial by the government.

In Bahrain, King Hamad announced his intention to continue reforms as members of the protest movement renewed their commitment to peaceful pro-democracy demonstrations despite the government’s demolition of Pearl Square, a national landmark and a focal point of protests.

Thousands of people in Bahrain gather to mourn the death of Issa Radhi, a protester who had gone missing last week when government personnel attacked during a demonstration. His body was returned to his family with signs of severe abuse as one of approximately 100 people who went missing at that time. 

Our sorrow for the loss of fellow humans, as we pray that the conflicts cease, wishing peace and protection for all lives, and that harmony may reign within and among all nations.

Supreme Master Ching Hai: Only love can convert people, only love can touch people’s heart, unconditional love. Brotherly help will touch people’s heart. Where do the terrorists come from? Where does the resistance come from? Because people are in want. And the more we frighten them, corner them, the more they resist.

In Âu Lạc (Vietnam), we say, even the earthworm, if you step on him, his head would turn around against you. This means that even harmless people, sometimes if they are cornered, they would become more aggressive, more resistant, yes.

And sometimes in anger, people do all kind of things which they themselves may also regret. We have to stop the killing of animals, and of course, of our own people at any cost, because killing will beget killing again, again, and again. Heaven is not pleased when we treat each other, or treat the animals or any lesser beings in an unmerciful way. If we want mercy, we have to be merciful. If we want a bright future, we have to offer that to others.