❧❧❧ Whatever you can do or dream, you can BEGIN IT. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Goethe ❧❧❧
❧❧❧ You were born whole, not broken. Sandra Hammel ❧❧❧
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
MIDDLE CLASS FEDERAL TAXES HAVE GONE DOWN WITH OBAMA - REPUBLICANS PLAN TO RAISE THEM WTIHOUT SAYING SO
Know What Your Candidate and/or U.S. Senator and Representatives want to
do
In 2011, the state of Rhode Island lost all itemized
deductions, including local property taxes, mortgage interest, medical
expenses, donations.This amounts
to a tax increase.It is NOT said
to be a tax increase.But that is
what it is in reality.My RI
income tax in 2011 went up 40% though I had less income than the year
before.Home owners, middle income
tax payers, real estate agents, brokers, home builders and home sellers all
suffer from this. In the end, it hurts the economy.In RI, our tax tables were simultaneously changed to
allow the rich to pay less and the low and middle class to pay more. Ryan’s tax
reform bill, which Romney has said he is for – want these very same things for
all – so what Rhode Islanders have in our state now is coming to everyone on
the federal tax form 1040.ALEC
and the Koch brothers are supportive of this.If you don’t want this to happen, being
a silent bystander won’t serve you well. A vote for taxes to be higher would come more likely from Republicans than Democrats for low and middle income tax payers. This is because they refuse to raise any tiny bit for the rich. The Republicans aren't telling you that the Republican tax reform means this, because they are counting on our ignorance, our lack of getting involved enough to go behind what their words say and read their tax reform bill. Being knowledgeable is in your best interest.
Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney
Like
Romney’s Tax Plan, House Republican ‘Tax Reform’ Would Mean A Major
Middle-Class Tax Increase
By Seth Hanlon,
Director of Fiscal Reform at the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
August 2, 2012 at 3:30 pm
The House of Representatives will likely vote today
to establish a fast-track process for enacting the tax plan outlined in the
House Republican budget, which was authored by Budget Committee Chairman Paul
Ryan (R-WI). Ryan’s tax reform plan would guarantee massive tax cuts for the
wealthy and for corporations, while purporting to hold revenues constant.
Therefore, the only way it adds up is with a major
middle-class tax increase.
The “tax reform”
that Ryan and House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) will try to
fast-track through the House is almost the same as presidential candidate Mitt
Romney’s tax plan. It slashes tax rates paid by the highest-income Americans
and corporations, while protecting the tax preferences for investment income
that result in people like Romney paying
a lower tax rate than many in the middle-class.
It also gives millionaires a tax cut of a quarter
of a million dollars. It cuts corporate taxes by more
than $1 trillion and gives them new
incentives for offshoring jobs. And it purports to be “revenue-neutral” —
which means that the middle-class is left to meet the cost of rich people’s tax
cuts.
As a study
from the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center revealed yesterday, Romney’s plan would
raise taxes on middle-class families with children by an average of $2,000 and
raise taxes on all taxpayers with incomes under $200,000 by an average of $500.
(Those estimates are conservative: In filling in missing details, TPC bent over
backwards to make Romney’s plan as kind to the middle class as possible, given
the hard promises he has made on tax cuts for the rich and corporations.)
A middle-class tax increase is inevitable under Romney’s plan because it’s
impossible to pay for Romney’s tax cuts for the rich by reducing their tax
breaks. As a result, the TPC study finds, Romney’s plan “mathematically
necessitates a shift in the tax burden of at least $86 billion away from
high-income taxpayers onto lower- and middle-income taxpayers.”
Ryan and his Republican colleagues use the same sleights of hand that Romney
used in trying to hide their middle-class tax hike, including refusing to
disclose any information about fundamental elements of their plan like what tax
benefits would be eliminated. But the math doesn’t lie: Any tax plan that
purports to hold revenues steady while massively cutting taxes for the rich
must make up the lost revenue by raising
taxes on people who are not rich.
FOR SALE: BACKBONES (MADE IN USA) FOR DEMOCRATS, INCLUDING PRESIDENT OBAMA
For one week running up to the very important New Hampshire primary, I was in New Hampshire volunteering for the campaign titled: Obama for America.Not my comfort zone to make the phone calls, go door-to-door, but I did it because I felt Barack Obama genuinely had a backbone. Because I was promised to be able to get into him speaking one day that week, and then getting there after going door-to-door right up to the time of the event, I was unable to get in, because the room was full and I had to sit in a room with the national press instead. I talked with Richard Wolffe briefly and had my picture taken with him by his friend. I watched Barack speak on a TV screen, while I sat with the press core which was reporting the campaign and rode the bus with Barack Obama.
So as a result of this broken promise by the campaign leader, I was given a hard copy ticket for this night in the Nashua, NH gym and sat right where Barack and Michelle entered that night. The spirit of promise in the “Yes We Can” speech that night has been buried. The poor, the middle class are the sacrificial lambs.General Electric is paying no taxes April 15, 2011. Hope and Change? Certainly hope free.
As someone who used to support President Obama, I write to express my feelings of disappointment in the latest news.
Mike Elk has a nice companion piece to the New York Times story on General Electric paying no taxes after making $14 billion in profits, and in fact getting $3 billion in returns from the government. At the same time that the corporation isn’t giving one penny to the government for use of the commons, they are trying to exact wage and benefit cuts on their own workers.
Why are we middle class and poor being asked to compromise and do more than our part when the corporate USA "rich" get bail-outs from us, and pay NOT their fair share in taxes?
It is my understanding the poor women of D.C. just got not only the short end of the stick, but no "stick" at all in this latest "compromise". The short speech given by President Obama tonight didn't ring true for me. The Washington Monument in the background of the President's speech tonight was "theatre" that was forced and felt “un-genuine”.
From the President’s speech: "Largest Spending Cut in History" is not a cause for pride.Very sad to see President Obama lose his passion for justice.
Sandra Hammel
Use Your Voice to Stop Genocide RI
Genocide will only stop with us demanding it - Our leaders have taught us this
"The most important things belong first, not last or never."
Words of the Earth by Cedric Wright
If you want peace, work for justice
إذا كنت تريد السلام ، أعمل من أجل العدالة
President Obama: 202-456-1111 or 1-800-GENOCIDE
Call President Obama's Comment Phone Line 202-456-1111
A moral compass and Christianity need to go hand in hand. So many politicians say that they are Christian. If they don't tell "me", I wouldn't have any idea. Actions say it all.
Top 10 Worst Things about the Republicans' Immoral Budget
The Republican budget would:
1. Destroy 700,000 jobs, according to an independent economic analysis.
2. Zero out federal funding for National Public Radio and public television.
3. Cut $1.3 billion from community health centers--which will deprive more than three million low-income people of health care over the next few months.
4. Cut nearly a billion dollars in food and health care assistance to pregnant women, new moms, and children.
5. Kick more than 200,000 children out of pre-school by cutting funds for Head Start.
6. Force states to fire 65,000 teachers and aides, dramatically increasing class sizes, thanks to education cuts.
7. Cut some or all financial aid for 9.4 million low- and middle-income college students.
8. Slash $1.6 billion from the National Institutes of Health, a cut that experts say would "send shockwaves" through cancer research, likely result in cuts to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's research, and cause job losses.
9. End the only federal family planning program, including cutting all federal funding that goes to Planned Parenthood to support cancer screenings and other women's health care.
10. Send 10,000 low-income veterans into homelessness by cutting in half the number of veterans who get housing vouchers this year.
5. "Obama and the GOP's Spending Cuts: Where's the Outrage?" Mother Jones, February 18, 2011 http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/obama-spending-cuts-gop
This week, Congress could cut a deal on the budget. And if Republicans get their way, billions will be cut from vital programs that millions of Americans count on—while tax cuts for the richest are protected.
But most people don't have any idea what's at stake—and how devastating these cuts would be to their communities—even though the cuts could take effect within weeks. So we're launching an emergency campaign to spread the word. Republicans want to gut programs with enormous public support, and hope no one notices. So it's up to all of us to spark a public outcry before it's too late.
The devastating impact these cuts will have on our country—and on your community—is unprecedented. Check out the list below. If we can get it out to a million people, we can start to sound the alarm and stop the GOP. Click here to post on Facebook and Twitter, or simply forward this email.
Thanks for all you do.
Click to share this on Facebook Tweet it -Twitter, and email a copy to your friends
See below for the United States Senators' names and which way they voted for allowing gay people to serve in the military without fear of losing their jobs
But first~
This is a quote from the article Why is Obama leaving the grass roots on the sidelines? at www.washingtonpost.com
“…Obama needs a senior adviser whose job is to be a liaison to the movement that elected him…Obama needs twice as much grass-roots support in the next election - and he's not going to get it by sidelining his supporters…”
Why is Obama leaving the grass roots on the sidelines?
By Sam Graham-Felsen
Friday, December 17, 2010
In the wake of President Obama's deal to extend the Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, pundits have focused on how Obama has alienated the left. But the issue isn't the left - it's the list. Read the article by clicking the link: www.washingtonpost.com
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Of course, I don't believe that President Obama is reading all the letters that I have sent to him. But surely some staff members are calculating the subjects being addressed in our phone calls, letters and emails. I have addressed mostly Darfur. But also, other things, such as Health Care Reform. And most recently I addressed the very issue that I won't be joining his campaign next time around, stating the reasons. I am one of those who never had gotten engaged in the election process before. It is definitely not in my comfort zone to knock on doors, which I did for him in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. I am not in the demographic that he won: older generation, white, female. I will vote for him next time. But it is more that I will be voting against his opponent, than for him, as I stated in my email. And this is the very "list" that Sam Graham-Felsen is talking about.
Tonight the "list" received this email:
Sandra --
Moments ago, the Senate voted to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
When that bill reaches my desk, I will sign it, and this discriminatory law will be repealed.
Gay and lesbian service members -- brave Americans who enable our freedoms -- will no longer have to hide who they are.
The fight for civil rights, a struggle that continues, will no longer include this one.
This victory belongs to you. Without your commitment, the promise I made as a candidate would have remained just that.
Instead, you helped prove again that no one should underestimate this movement. Every phone call to a senator on the fence, every letter to the editor in a local paper, and every message in a congressional inbox makes it clear to those who would stand in the way of justice: We will not quit.
This victory also belongs to Senator Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and our many allies in Congress who refused to let politics get in the way of what was right.
Like you, they never gave up, and I want them to know how grateful we are for that commitment.
I will make sure these messages are delivered -- you can also add a comment about what the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" means to you.
As Commander in Chief, I fought to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" because it weakens our national security and military readiness. It violates the fundamental American principles of equality and fairness.
But this victory is also personal.
I will never know what it feels like to be discriminated against because of my sexual orientation.
But I know my story would not be possible without the sacrifice and struggle of those who came before me -- many I will never meet, and can never thank.
I know this repeal is a crucial step for civil rights, and that it strengthens our military and national security. I know it is the right thing to do.
But the rightness of our cause does not guarantee success, and today, celebration of this historic step forward is tempered by the defeat of another -- the DREAM Act. I am incredibly disappointed that a minority of senators refused to move forward on this important, commonsense reform that most Americans understand is the right thing for our country. On this issue, our work must continue.
Today, I'm proud that we took these fights on.
Please join me in thanking those in Congress who helped make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal possible:
I did click the link and thank those who worked toward repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, while adding my own little message:
To Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Pelosi, and all those who fought for repeal,
Thank you for your leadership in making sure "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is repealed before the end of the year.
Because of your commitment, gay and lesbian members of our military will be able to serve equally and openly. We are proud to stand with you.
I would like to specifically thank US PA Representative Patrick Murphy for his dedicated effort regarding this bill. And also for being the stalwart person that he is. (Please find a way to keep him working for America in D.C.) If I were gay, I would want to live my life in truth and this bill finally allows that to happen while being in the service.
Sincerely,
Sandra Hammel
I sat beside Patrick Murphy in New Hampshire, while we both made phone calls on behalf of Barack Obama's Presidential campaign during the primaries. Patrick ordered a sandwich as it was during the evening. And he gave me half his sandwich. Listening to him make the phone calls, was a treat. He was relaxed, unlike me who wasn't, enthusiastic and talked from the heart. He put you at ease just being around him. I am sorry that he lost his seat in the House of Representatives. The country needs people like Patrick Murphy in Congress.
The following is confusing and the "Measure" and "Title" below certainly makes for confusion, but I believe this is the Don't Ask, Don't Tell vote. Click on H.R. 2965 and I think it becomes clear that this is exactly what this vote is for. Briefly, this is what you read when you do click H.R. 2965 ~ H.R.2965 Latest Title: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 Sponsor: Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (9)
Here is the breakdown~
H.R. 2965 (SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009 )
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session
as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate
Vote Summary
Question: On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2965 )
Vote Number:
281
Vote Date:
December 18, 2010, 03:02 PM
Required For Majority:
1/2
Vote Result:
Motion Agreed to
Measure Number:
H.R. 2965 (SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009 )
Measure Title:
A bill to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, and for other purposes.
The House voted 250 to 175 to repeal the 17-year-old law; 15 Republicans voted for the bill, and 15 Democrats voted against it.
Washington Office
Patrick Murphy 1609 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4276
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About The DREAM Act
S.729 - Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2009
A bill to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to permit States to determine State residency for higher education purposes and to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children, and for other purposes.
Over three million students graduate from U.S. high schools every year. Most get the opportunity to test their dreams and live their American story. However, a group of approximately 65,000 youth do not get this opportunity; they are smeared with an inherited title, an illegal immigrant. These youth have lived in the United States for most of their lives and want nothing more than to be recognized for what they are, Americans.
The DREAM Act is a bipartisan legislation ‒ pioneered by Sen. Orin Hatch [R-UT] and Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL] ‒ that can solve this hemorrhaging injustice in our society. Under the rigorous provisions of the DREAM Act, qualifying undocumented youth would be eligible for a 6 year long conditional path to citizenship that requires completion of a college degree or two years of military service.
This bill would have given states the authority to repeal the denial of an unlawful alien’s eligibility for higher education benefits, which have been previously tied state-residency. Additionally, it allowed for the adjustment from status of alien to conditional permanent resident and outlines the criteria for such an adjustment by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The bill and its equivalent in the House, H.R.1751, is just as controversial as most other immigration related bills, such as, H.R.1868, the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2009.
............................................................... Uploaded by ResolveUgandaDC
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, especially the powerless, the unheard, the forgotten. Being human needs to be more than being called a human being. Congratulations to ResolveUgandaDCon all the hard work to get our elected officials to do what is right and not what is politically safe.
I received this email message today
Sandra --
After more than a year of inspired lobbying by activists across the nation, last night Congress passed the LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act with flying colors.
The final vote came in the House after a series of Representatives, at your urging, delivered statements of support that had our team here both tearing up and cheering out loud. Now passed through both chambers of Congress, the bill sits on the President's desk and awaits his signature.
Think for a moment: just a few short years ago, the response from our leaders in Congress to this crisis -- to the abductions of thousands of children and attacks against innocent communities across an entire region of Africa -- was resounding silence.
Now, President Obama has a historic mandate for action from Congress and the American people. This highlight video (above) we put together from last night says it all.
We are deeply grateful to the tens of thousands of you who have written letters, called, donated, joined lobby meetings, and slept on Oklahoman sidewalks to make this happen. Without your tenacity, the passage of this bill would not have been possible. This victory is yours.
With such concrete and historic results shown from our efforts together, we are strengthened in our resolve to keep going until communities across central Africa no longer fear the threat of attack and abduction by the LRA. And we look forward to working with you to help make it happen.
In the meantime, we hope you join us in celebrating this major milestone! We'll be back at you soon, with news on the signing.
--Michael
Resolve Uganda is the campaign to permanently end the conflict in Uganda, made up of people and organizations who believe that peace is possible and that together we can make it happen.
Joseph Kony’s brutal insurgency has outlasted four U.S. presidents and 11 straight sessions of Congress. It is now Africa’s longest-running conflict and it’s time for it to be over. By taking action now, U.S. policymakers can put a stop to the LRA’s atrocities across central Africa and help put northern Uganda and the surrounding region on track towards lasting peace. Use the links below to learn about how the conflict has evolved and what specifically can be done to resolve it.
After decades of neglect, peace could finally be on the horizon for the people throughout central Africa who have been caught in the crossfire of this conflict for so long. Click here to read about how this conflict has developed and why urgent action is needed to ensure that it is finally ended. For more in-depth information on the history of the war and what has been happening recently, use the links in the right sidebar.
For peace to have a chance, there will have to be more action from the international community, especially the U.S. Government. Engagement from world leaders could lead to the end of LRA violence in central Africa and help war-affected communities in northern Uganda rebuild and heal the wounds of war. But this won't happen without increased political pressure from citizens. Click here to read about what needs to be done to end this crisis once and for all, and use the menu on the right to access our latest policy briefs and information on what specifically our leaders should do.
The Roots of Violence: Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without morality, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice, Politics without principles.
I Carry The Torch for Darfur Torch Relay as a part of the Dream for Darfur Providence, Rhode Island
These Darfuri children are holding messages for people of the Unites States.
It seems people think we will help.
These picutres were all taken by Katie-Jay and Gabriel of Stop Genocide Now You can see more of their pictures from the many trips to the Darfur region: www.flickr.com/photos/stopgenocidenow
********************** ************
The President was on Tonight Show with Jay Leno March 19, 2009
Pictured: President Obama going by the DARFUR tent in his car while leaving the NBC studios in Burbank, California. President Obama waved to tent side of the street - fifteen yards away. A crowd and the media gathered for Mr. Obama's departure. Big picture of Darfuri girl pinned under red-lettering of "DARFUR" on the tent.
Remember what campaigner Barack Obama said?:
"Let's Go Change the World." Well, let's!
He also liked to say: "Yes, We Can" and I was there in Nashua High School's gym to hear that very speech in New Hampshire.
And we CAN.
He also liked to say: "Fired Up and Ready to Go" It feels like we have to light that fire and get him charged ready to go regarding the dying of Darfuris by our complicity.
There is no better time to act about a genocide than when it is going on.
Father Vazken Movsesian speaks at an Emergency Rally for Darfur that was held in front of the Federal Building in Los Angeles on March 17, 2009. Link to the video Uploaded by stopgenocidenow ...................................................
................................................... Brian Steidle, author of "The Devil Came On Horseback" talks with Gabriel Stauring of Stop Genocide Now. Link to the video Uploaded by stopgenocidenow
Follow Gabriel Stauring or Katie-Jay Scott while they are in Chad talking with the Darfuri people while literally going to their deaths - by not only the Sudanese-government supporting genocide, but supported by our complicity: http://twitter.com/iact or http://stopgenocidenow.org - Stop Genocide Now.
................................................... Darfuri delegation from Arizona Link to the video Darfuri delegation from Arizona Uploaded by stopgenocidenow
Ffteen Darfuri men come to the L0s Angeles, California Federal Building. They drove from Phoenix, Arizona. All have families inside of Darfur. One mans mother was forced to journey to Camp Djabal in East Chad, where Gabriel and Katie-Jay will be March 23, 2009, and then into witness protection in Europe. Another Darfuri only hears news from Khartoum. His family is spread through displacement camps and no one in his family has a phone.
................................................... Photos all from Stop Genocide Now's trips to the Darfur region, including Chad Source: www.flickr.com/photos/stopgenocidenow
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We Are All the Keepers of Justice.
In Sudan, there is an emergency.
Silence kills in its complicity to killing by treachery.
ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO STAND BY AND DO NOTHING MORE THAN CONDEMN WITH YOUR WORDS?
WHAT A HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT!
THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE "SAME OLD WINE IN A BRAND NEW BOTTLE":
"The Government of Sudan’s disastrous decision to expel humanitarian relief organizations leaves a void that will be filled by deprivation and despair and they will be held accountable for the lives lost."
JUST WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?REALLY!
Throw we citizen humanitarians a "bone" or two.
Talk to us.
It looks and sounds like the same old lies....
We want to believe you are different. ........................................................
........................................................ The Same Old Wine (in a Brand New Bottle) Loggins and Messina Uploaded bylarinyx
Sudan's president says warrant is conspiracy
By SARAH EL DEEB – Mar 5, 2009
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Sudan's president, wanted by an international court on war crimes charges, denounced the tribunal, the U.N. and aid agencies on Thursday as part of a new "colonialism" that aims to destabilize his country.
President Omar al-Bashir danced and waved a cane defiantly before thousands of supporters, as the arrest warrant had its first repercussions on the ground. Sudan ordered at least 11 aid agencies to leave Darfur and cease operations in retaliation for the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant. The groups started the process of moving out Thursday.
Aid workers warned that the expulsion order could spark a humanitarian crisis for up to 2 million people in Darfur who are directly served by the agencies, receiving food, shelter and medical supplies.
In Zamzam Camp, one of the largest Darfur refugee camps, residents said aid workers who operate daily in the camps did not show up on Thursday. Refugees said they were now feared what will happen when their most recent monthly delivery of food and other supplies run out if aid workers don't return. Particularly worrisome is the pullout of health workers, and the possibility of disease outbreaks in the upcoming rainy season.
"After God, we only have the organizations" to help us, said Zamzam camp resident Ibrahim Safi, 34. He called the expulsion order a "catastrophe."
Speaking for the first time since the warrant was issued Wednesday, al-Bashir told a Cabinet meeting that those agencies, the U.N. and the tribunal are "tools of the new colonialism" meant to bring Sudan and its resources under control.
Al-Bashir accused the aid organizations of trying to disrupt peace efforts in Darfur, profiting from the conflict and interfering with foreign investment. He said his government ordered them out of Darfur because they violated the law.
"We in Sudan have always been a target of the U.N. and these organizations because we have said, 'No,'" al-Bashir said. "We said the resources of Sudan should go to the people of Sudan."
Hasabo Abdel-Rahman, the head of the government agency coordinating humanitarian affairs, also accused the aid groups cooperating with the ICC and offering the court "false" testimonies.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The following is from the Stop Genocide Now www.stopgenocidenow.orgKatie-Jay Scott. The button in my heading will take you to their website. They will blog and video message (vlog) daily from Chad. Check it out. It is an invaluable source for on-the-ground and up-front-and-personal information.
Dear Activist Leaders for Darfur,
This past week, our team camped out at the LA Federal Building and co-organized a huge emergency rally for Darfur on Tuesday. We hoisted a Darfur tent on the roof top as Obama flew over after a local town hall meeting. Secretary Clinton received over 1500 text messages in the past week and half for Darfur. Finally, they appointed a Special Envoy to Sudan. But this is only the beginning of renewed activism for Darfur. There have been emerency rallies in New York, Boston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Texas, and I know more are being planned.
Now, this Saturday, I depart once again with the i-ACT team of Stop Genocide Now for the Darfur refugee camps in Chad. The situation on the ground is terrible, as we all know. Many believe that those who escape this slow genocide will be forced to walk for days across the desert - a story we have heard before - to Chad and Central African Republic. Now more than ever, the Darfuris need you to step up and speak out for them. Take action like you have never before.
To meet the survivors in grave danger and hear their stories, please follow us and join the community of i-ACTivists as we journey to the region. 10 Consecutive days of i-ACT begin March 23rd - video web casting, daily journals, photos, and ACTION items can be found at our site! Please spread the word:
Download the attached flyer - post at your school, workplace, community, place of worship, everywhere and anywhere!
We have a button for your to publish on your site (feel free to also download any materials while we are out there and embed them - all under Creative Commons)
Please share this brief paragraph with your group, and add a personal invite to them from you:
Over the last few weeks the situation in Darfur has grown exponentially dire. President al-Bahsir indicted. 16 aid agencies expelled. Food, water, medicine, and shelter supplies will run out soon, if not already. Hundreds of thousands may die if we do act urgently for the people of Darfur.
For 10 consecutive days, i-ACT (interactive-activism) will connect you with the faces and lives of Darfur refugees who escaped, for now, genocide in their homeland. Watch videos from the field team; read journal entries and add your comments; take action daily that will change the way the world responds to genocide. The violence and insecurity in and around Darfur has escalated since the ICC announced an arrest warrant for Sudan's President al-Bashir. Thirteen aid groups providing life saving services have been expelled from Darfur, leaving 4.7 million without help. Visit Stop Genocide Now i-ACT (www.stopgenocidenow.org/iact) to join the community, learn what Darfuris are saying about the ICC and justice and personally connect with a child who needs your voice and action. Many may die in the next weeks, and your voice and action is needed now more than ever.
We depart in less than 2 days for the field but I will be available until then for questions etc. After that please post your questions and comments on the website! If you have daily action items you want to suggest we use - please send them my way and we will try to incorporate them!
With much hope for Darfur! ktj
-- KTJ Scott Director of Community Programming Stop Genocide Now www.stopgenocidenow.org i-ACT (interactive-activism)
I uploaded it twice - here is the one I was trying to improve upon. Didn't really, but I'm still on a huge learning curve. Only my second video.
Text at my Youtube posting:
Music Selections: "Autumn Leaves " performed by Eva Cassidy Live at Blues Alley
"Dark of the Moon" - performed by Libana - Night Passage
"Ise Oluwa" performed by Libana - Night Passage From West Africa's Yoruba culture. The translation: That which the Creator has made can never be destroyed.
Music selections are available at www.amazon.com and iTunes
The letter to President Obama was written March 12, 2009 and sent through the White House website contact form, as well as, a letter the old-fashioned way through the United States Postal Service.
Although the government of Sudan (GoS) denies it (just like former President Bush denies he condoned illegal torture. However, neither denial makes it any less the truth): 2003 - through to present: Genocide of unarmed Darfuri families is supported by the government of Sudan
March 4, 2009 Judges at The International Criminal Court ordered the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir with war crimes and crimes against humanity for playing an essential role in the murder, rape, torture, pillage and displacement of large numbers of civilians in Darfur. However, the judges did not charge him with genocide as the prosecutor had requested.
The Sudanese government has long vowed to resist the court, and it summoned several humanitarian organizations to a meeting almost immediately after the warrant was announced.
The British charity Oxfam said that the government had revoked its license to operate, a decision the group said could affect more than 600,000 people. Doctors Without Borders from Holland, which provides health care in one of the worlds biggest camps for displaced people, in South Darfur, was ordered to leave the country.
One aid official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, because of negotiations to persuade the government to back down, said the following; It happened right after the announcement. The connection was clear.
The government of Sudan began expelling humanitarian aid agencies from Darfur (March 4, 2009). Thirteen to sixteen agencies have been forced out of the region. This expulsion leaves one million Darfuris without water, food and medical assistance.
Call the USA Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 202-647-6575
The USA State Department public comment line 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Obama chooses Sudan envoy, to announce Wednesday Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:33pm EDT
March 18, 2009 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama is set to name retired Air Force General Scott Gration as his special envoy to Sudan, where he has warned of a worsening crisis following the expulsion of foreign aid organizations.
We Are All the Keepers of Justice.
In Sudan, there is an emergency.
Silence kills in its complicity to killing by treachery.
March 18, 2009
Meningitis is spreading through Darfur IDP camps. Now more than ever immunization is needed in all camps: 1- New cases climbed to 38 cases in Kalma IDP camp (South camp). 2- Nine cases in Kassab IDP camps (North Darfur).
Situation in Zamzam IDP camps is deteriorating rapidly. 1- There are 63,000 new comers since January without any services or registration. They gather on the bare ground of the Camp. They are the first casualties of NGOs expulsion. 2- Water problem is getting worse. some women and children spend close to 11 hours at the pump just to fill one 4-gallon plastic container. 3- Clinics are closed in the camp. Only God knows how acute the health situation in the camp in the absence of NGOs.
The government of Sudan ordered banks in Sudan to freeze bank accounts of 15 NGO's, of which 12 of them were expelled.
The NGO's are:
1- International Rescue Committee - U.S.A. 2- CARE - U.S.A. 3- Save The Children - U.S.A. 4- Save The Children - UK. 5- Development & Rebuilding Org - U.S.A. 6- TATCO - U.S.A. 7- Refugees Council Org.- Norway 8- Khartoum Center for Human Rights- Sudan 9- Solidarity Organization - France 10- Anti Starvation Org. - France. 11- Doctors -Without - Borders- France 12- OXFAM - UK. 13-MERCY - U.S.A. 14- SUDO - Sudan 15- AMAL Sudan
I love my life. I love where I live. And I am passionate about my passions. I love to dance. Necessary to live: music, piano, singing, writing, acting, painting.
I have been fighting for and supporting the arts all my adult life. Since 2004, I have been working with other activists to end the Darfur genocide.
I have traveled to Europe many times since my early twenties. Places I have been: many USA states including Hawaii, Montreal, Canada, Barbados, France, Spain, Luxembourg, England, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Germany - and have wonderful memories.
My last trip was in May - June 2013 to Spain.
I would like to travel to Europe and Kyoto, Japan.
I love the southwest where I have visited Hopi, Navajo, Zia and San Idlefonso potters.
Life is exciting and I intend to live it full-out to the end.
B.S. and M.M., both in music
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Khartoum, Sudan Stop Genocide Time
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RAFA NADAL -BRING BACK LONG PANTS - SLEEVELESS TOPS
Double Click on Videos to Enlarge
Darfur - The Abandoned Genocide - a video by Sandra Hammel
Want to help? Call 1~800~GENOCIDE
"May I Suggest" by Susan Werner
Satchita - Playing for Change
Stand By Me ~ Playing for Change
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Genocide is not only a word,
it is crying of the whole human race.
There is nothing redeeming about being silent
when speaking up is the humane thing to do.
The honor and integrity of the human race is at stake.
