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Monday, June 25, 2012

WIMBLEDON 2012 - RAFA NADAL

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WIMBLEDON 2012
June 25, - July 8, 2012
Wimbledon, England is 5 hours ahead of USA/EST
NOTE: Updated, Thursday, June 28, 2012, 11:20 p.m. USA/EST


Round 2 - Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his Gentlemen's Singles second round match against Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic on day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2012 in London, England. Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe. Click on image to enlarge.  Unfortunately Rafa lost: 7-6(9), 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6.

Round 1
Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2] defeated  Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 
7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Round 2
Rafael Nadal (ESP)[2] lost to Lukas Rosol
7-6(9), 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6
Thursday, June 28, 2012 
Centre Court

TV - USA
ESPN2, ESPN

ABC will air some replay matches

The Tennis Channel 
at night and all through the night - match replays

Replay streaming is available approximately one hour following completion of the match.
 


NOTE: Thankfully for those of us, who love tennis or one special player, and have more than access to USA TV network stations, the coverage this year is exclusively live with ESPN2, and not with NBC Sports.
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Pictures of Rafa - Wimbledon 2012

Before Round 1



Spain's Rafael Nadal sits at the side of the court after a practice session on the eve of the start of the Wimbledon Championships tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 24, 2012. Photo credit: Getty photographer. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.


 Training Before Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on in a practice session during previews for the Wimbledon Championships 2012 at Wimbledon on June 24, 2012 in London, England. Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe.  Click on pictures to enlarge the size.

Training Before Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain participates in a practice session on the outside courts during previews to The Championships at Wimbledon on June 23, 2012 in London, England. Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe.  Click on pictures to enlarge the size.

Training Before Round 1 - Rafa Nadal of Spain participates in a practice session during previews to The Championships at Wimbledon on June 23, 2012 in London, England. Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.

 Round 1 



Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain (shoe detail) in action during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England. Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.


Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts to a play during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England. Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.


Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts to a play during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England.  Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.


Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts to a play during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England. Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.


Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts to a play during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England. Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe. Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.


Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England. Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Europe. Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size. More pictures of Round 1 below.

Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England.  Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.


Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain during a break during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England.  Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.



Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain during a break during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England.  Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.


Round 1 -Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England.  Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.



Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain lines up a shot during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England.  Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.


Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England.  Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.


Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a backhand return during his his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England.  Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.


Round 1 -Rafael Nadal of Spain in action during his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England.  Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.



Round 1 - Rafael Nadal of Spain waves to the crowd after winning his Gentlemen's Singles first round match against Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil on day two of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 26, 2012 in London, England. Score: 7-6(7-0), 6-2, 6-3. Click on pictures to enlarge the size.

Rafa practicing Wednesday, June 27, 2012

UK Eurosport

Round 2

Zimbio - Round 2




Round 2 - Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his Gentlemen's Singles second round match against Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic on day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2012 in London, England. Source: Clive Rose/Getty Images Europe. Click on image to enlarge.

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Fan Support Sites ~ Great sources of information


Vamos Brigade


Rafa's Babolat-sponsored Forum

Join me at ~

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posted by ilovemylife @ 10:50 PM   0 Comments

Sunday, June 13, 2010

1950 - THE GAME OF THEIR LIVES ~ 2010 - WORLD CUP in SOUTH AFRICA

This post is inspired by a World Cup soccer match Saturday, June 12, 2010, in South Africa between England and USA. Score: 1 - 1. Lucky USA in that England's goalkeeper, Green, dropped the ball, then it went into the net. I know nothing about soccer, except the little I see in bits on TV and the movie, starring Gerard Butler, The Game of Their Lives.

About the 1950 USA Soccer Team


United States
UNITED STATES:


GK
Frank Borghi
DF
Harry Keough
DF
Joe Maca
MF
Walter Bahr
MF
Ed McIlvenny (c)[N 1]
MF
Charlie Colombo
FW
Frank Wallace
FW
Gino Pariani
FW
Joe Gaetjens
FW
John Souza
FW
Ed Souza
Manager:
Scotland William Jeffrey

John Souza and Ed Souza (not related) are from the area where I presently live.
Above click on each 1950 member's names and learn a bit about each one. Here is just a portion of John Souza's and Ed Souza's page information:

John "Clarkie" Souza-Benavides (b. July 12, 1920 in Fall River, Massachusetts) is a former soccer player who earned 14 caps and scored 3 goals for the United States men's national soccer team, and played in the U.S. team's historic 1–0 victory over England in the 1950 FIFA World Cup. He was selected for a World Cup All-Star team by the Brazilian sports newspaper Mundo Esportivo, and remained the only American player ever selected to a World Cup All-Star team until Claudio Reyna in 2002. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Edward Souza-Neto (Born: September 22, 1921 - Fall River, Massachusetts; Died: May 19, 1979 - Warren, Rhode Island) was an American soccer player who earned 6 caps and scored 1 goal for the United States men's national soccer team, and played in the U.S. team's historic 1–0 victory over England in the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Souza was also a member of the U.S. team for the 1948 Summer Olympics. He played his club soccer with Ponta Delgada F.C.


Wonderful pictures of the real team and the actors playing the 1950 USA soccer team - Don't miss this - Click the links - Just fantastic!

The Hero Who Vanished . . .

SIXTY YEARS AGO THE U.S. UPSET MIGHTY ENGLAND IN THE WORLD CUP ON A SINGLE GOAL BY JOE GAETJENS. IN MOST COUNTRIES GAETJENS WOULD HAVE BEEN IDOLIZED. BUT IN THE U.S. HE WAS IGNORED, AND IN HIS NATIVE HAITI HE WAS MARKED FOR DEATH - Six pages about 1950 match:
sports illustrated.cnn.com/vault/article

and 60 years later … Saturday, June 12, 2010 - By Ronald Blum
Read it 60-years-later

and this . . .

Outside the Lines

Outside the Lines

OTL: A Goal, A Ghost

ESPN Video: Joe Gaetjens, a Haitian immigrant, scored the greatest goal in American soccer history. He should have been a hero. Instead, Gaetjens was abducted and died in a Haitian prison. Outside the Lines sheds light on his story.

I found this information with this video by poking around this web page: www.baudofamily.com

This video is great . . . don't miss seeing this . . . it is a gem of a find and I don't want you to miss it . . .







and also found on web page: www.baudofamily.com is an CNN.com article on the 1950 team. Here is the link. It is also really a good find.

Three 1950 soccer members and the actors who played them

The cast of the movie - The Game of Their Lives
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Uploaded by LiberiaMusicTv

I have always liked this movie, which is known by two names, The Miracle Match. And The Game of Their Lives, which is my preferred title:
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Uploaded by ostanowa123

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Tribute to The Game of Their Lives
using clips of the movie
 Uploaded by suesnoopp

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Tribute to The Game of Their Lives
Uploaded by JennyQ

Tribute to the movie

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Clip from The Game of Their Lives
with Wes Bentley
Uploaded by nomadmonad

Click on the post title to take you to goal2127 channel that has uploaded the first 9 minutes of the movie The Game of Their Lives.

A previous post I did about this movie: The game of their lives- The miracle match

CNN's coverage of the 2010 Soccer World Cup ireport



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posted by ilovemylife @ 1:19 AM   0 Comments

Thursday, March 19, 2009

DEAR PRESIDENT OBAMA - can you HEAR ME? CAN YOU?

PRESIDENT OBAMA,

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.
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The Same Old Wine (in a Brand New Bottle)
Loggins and Messina
Uploaded by larinyx

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.

Read the full article:

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The following is from the Stop Genocide Now
www.stopgenocidenow.org Katie-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:
  1. Download the attached flyer - post at your school, workplace, community, place of worship, everywhere and anywhere!
  2. 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)
  3. Join our Facebook Event or join the Pledge on Change.org
  4. 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)

Educate. Activate. Empower.

digits: 503.349.4946
just in case: ktj@iactivism.org

We cannot expect our leaders to stand UP if we are sitting down.
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Dear President Obama - A Letter Sent March 12, 2009
Uploaded by ilovemylifesblog - That is me.
March 19, 2009

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.
www.stopgenocidenow.org
www.enoughproject.org
www.savedarfur.org
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Write President Obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

You can also call or write to the President:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments to President Obama:
202-456-1111
or
1-800-GENOCIDE

The White House comment line is available
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays

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Find USA elected politicians contact information at this link:
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

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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
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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

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posted by ilovemylife @ 2:43 PM   0 Comments

DOES PRESIDENT OBAMA HAVE ANY MORE THAN MERE WORDS FOR THE DARFUR SPIRALING OUT OF CONTROL SITUATION?

WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE

Threatening, empty hope-filled words aren't going to do anything but allow Omar al-Bashir to become bolder and bolder, President Obama.

Email text from Massachusetts Save Darfur Community Activist Leader and Investors Against Genocide leader:

Clinton and now Obama have said:
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.
We know that people have already died because of al-Bashir expelled aid groups. How many more lives have to be lost before our government is acting?
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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Press Release) March 18, 2009

President Obama Announces Major General Scott Gration as U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan

Today, I am pleased to join Secretary Clinton in announcing the appointment of Major General J. Scott Gration as the U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan. General Gration’s personal and professional background, and his service to the country as both a military leader and a humanitarian, give him the insights and experience necessary for this assignment.

Sudan is a priority for this Administration, particularly at a time when it cries out for peace and for justice. The worsening humanitarian crisis there makes our task all the more urgent.

I have made clear my intention to work with the international community to end the suffering. That means supporting the full, unobstructed deployment of the joint African Union/United Nations peacekeeping force and the negotiation of a political solution that will give the people of Darfur a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect their future. 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.

As we work to bring peace to Darfur, we will continue to work with both parties to Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement to ensure its full and complete implementation. All parties must see this through if Sudan and the surrounding region are to enjoy lasting stability.

I have worked closely and directly with General Gration for several years, and have traveled with him to refugee camps in Chad filled with those who were displaced by the genocide in Darfur. He is a valued personal friend and I am pleased he has accepted this assignment. He knows the region, has broad experience, and has my complete confidence. Standing alongside Secretary Clinton and Ambassador Rice, his appointment is a strong signal of my Administration’s commitment to support the people of Sudan while seeking a lasting settlement to the violence that has claimed so many innocent lives.


Five videos about the Darfur situation
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oTeX8pmEhE
Uploaded March 18, 2009 by AlJazeeraEnglish
 Hashem Ahelbarra reports from the rally in the remote village of Sibdu.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RF89RKyAgU
Uploaded March 18, 2009 by NTDTV

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd0PioGnX6o
Uploaded March 19, 2009 by EUXTV

A refugee from Darfur in the Djabal refugee camp in Chad talks about reports from family members still in Darfur on new attacks by Janjaweed rebels just a few days after the International Criminal Court issued its arrest-warrant for Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir.

He says some 300 huts were burnt and six people killed in one specific incident. Other refugees in Djabal said their relatives were too afraid to leave for Chad because the roads are controlled by the Janjaweed, and also said they

FIlmed during a EUFOR Tchad/RCA press trip. Interview by Raymond Frenken.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9QkIszkZJY
Uploaded March 18, 2009 by MADarfur

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Aid expulsions spark disease fears in Darfur camps
Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:43pm GMT

Source: www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis

By Andrew Heavens

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Aid officials said there were fears of fresh disease outbreaks in two Darfur refugee camps after residents refused to let state-backed aid agencies come in to replace expelled humanitarians.

Sudan expelled 13 foreign aid groups and closed three local organisations this month, accusing them of helping the International Criminal Court build up a war crimes case against the country's president. The groups deny working with the court.

The expulsions sparked international outrage with aid groups warning the closures would have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of people uprooted by the conflict.

Sudanese government aid officials said the expelled groups' work would be covered by remaining international organisations and scores of local groups that authorities were planning to bring into the area.

But aid officials and activists said residents of South Darfur's huge Kalma and Kass camps were refusing aid from state-backed organisations, even though they were running short of medicines, food aid and clean water.

Hussein Abu Sharati, who says he represents displaced Darfuris in 158 camps, said Kalma residents had met and voted to refuse all aid from Sudanese groups. "They don't see these groups as aid organisations, they see them as tools of the government," he told Reuters by satellite phone.

"IDPs (internally displaced people) in Kalma and Kass are refusing all access to the government and local aid groups even if it means receiving less water or a greater risk of disease," said an aid worker from one of the ousted organisations, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The worker said residents had blocked state deliveries of fuel for their own generators, set up to pump fresh water in to the camp, raising the risk of the spread of diseases like cholera. Camp leaders had refused to let Ministry of Health officials vaccinate residents against a meningitis outbreak.

The reports were impossible to verify independently as international journalists have not been able to get travel permits to visit Kalma and surrounding camps in recent days.

Kalma and Kass are home to tens of thousands of people who fled their homes after raids and attacks by government troops and militias during the Darfur conflict.

International experts say almost six years of fighting has uprooted 2.7 million people. Many of the camps that have taken them in have become highly politicised.

Darfur's joint U.N./African Union UNAMID peacekeeping force has said it is ready to do what it can to fill any humanitarian gaps left by the expulsions of the aid agencies.

"UNAMID does not have a mandate for humanitarian assistance. But it is not going to let people die," said Daniel Augstburger, head of the humanitarian sector for the U.N. Mission in Darfur.

Aid workers have been concerned about suggestions the peacekeepers might take on humanitarian work in Sudan.

"Gradually the line between peacekeepers and aid workers gets blurred and then everyone becomes a fair target," said one.

Armed men attacked an UNAIMD patrol in South Darfur this week, killing one Nigerian peacekeeper.

Five workers for the Belgian arm of Medecins Sans Frontieres were kidnapped in North Darfur last week and held for three days by a group that, government officials said, was protesting against the International Criminal Court.


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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSBUwYe38RU
Uploaded March 18, 2009 by Kengikat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am very worried that our new President

is planning to ignore Darfur


Write President Obama

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/


You can also call or write to the President:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments to President Obama:

202 - 456-1111

or

1-800-GENOCIDE


The White House comment line is available

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays


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posted by ilovemylife @ 1:41 PM   0 Comments

Sunday, March 15, 2009

A STORY DYING TO BE HEARD - GENOCIDE: THE ULTIMATE TORTURE


SEE WHAT CITIZENS ARE DOING IN LOS ANGELES FOR DARFUR
at Stop Genocide Now
......................................................

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy


......................................................
Link to NBC Dateline video - Ann Curry and George Clooney - Darfur:
www.msnbc.msn.com

Watch more videos with Ann and George at www.msnbc.msn.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call your Senators and Representative

Find your elected politicians contact information at this link:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Write President Obama

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/


You can also call or write to the President:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments to President Obama:

202 - 456-111

or

1-800-GENOCIDE


The White House comment line is available

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


To call the USA Secretary of State

202-647-6575

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posted by ilovemylife @ 8:37 PM   0 Comments

Friday, March 13, 2009

DARFUR, SUDAN - IN DESPERATE TIMES - WILL WE DESERT AGAIN?

WE DESERTED RWANDANS IN 1994

AND SINCE 2003 THE DARFURI PEOPLE HAVE TO FEEL ABANDONED

WHEN IT IS ALL OVER SOME DAY - WE WILL SAY "NEVER AGAIN"

AGAIN

Text of email March 13, Friday, 2009 from Sudanese living in U.S.A.:

1 Water situation in the Kass internally displace persons (IDP) camp (West Darfur) is critical. Armed men in uniform in vehicles (probably government affiliated) came and took all diesel fuel that runs the engines for the water pumps.

2 More evidences emerge pointing towards involvement of pro-government militia (the Janjaweed) in the kidnapping of the Doctors-Without-Borders individuals. The government of Sudan (GoS) is negotiating with the kidnappers who demanded the equivalent of 3/4 million dollars in ransom money to release the hostages.

3 Hamidiyah IDP camp refugees were able to capture a militia individual who entered the camp, he was handed over to the UNAM http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/missions/unamid/ unit. The capture individual confessed that he is originally from the country of Niger and was recruited among others by Musa Hilal.

4 The Security agents of GoS seized the buildings of the expelled non-governmental organizations (NGOs). They took the keys and are conducting interrogations of the owners. Some Darfuris in Diaspora got news from relatives that some of the questions asked by the security interrogators regarded detailed information about the Darfuris in Diaspora (especially those who live in U.S.A., UK, France, Netherlands, Germany, Scandinavian countries).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The following text is from a non-profit organization Stop Genocide Now that goes to the Darfuri refugee camps and sends us daily videos from there.


i-ACT Interactive-ACTivism connects the surviving victims of this genocide with those who want to help, creating an interconnected community. i-ACT uses the power of the internet to put a face to the mind numbing numbers of dead, dying, and displaced. i-ACT visitors to our website see the human face of this ongoing crisis through daily field reports; get visuals of conditions in the refugee camps; make comments, ask questions, and post suggestions on our website’s interactive blog feature.

i-ACT Returning to Darfur Refugee Camps
Posted by Katie-Jay on March 10th, 2009

March 23rd through April 1, 2009

For 10 consecutive days, i-ACT will connect you with the faces and lives of Darfur refugees who escaped, for now, genocide in their homeland.

Watch videos and view photos from Darfur refugee camps; read journal entries and add your comments; take action daily that will change the way the world responds to genocide. We cannot expect our leaders to STAND UP if we are sitting down.

The violence and insecurity in and around Darfur has escalated since the ICC announced an arrest warrant for Sudan’s President al-Bashir. Thirteen international and three Sudanese aid groups providing life saving services have been expelled from Darfur, leaving 4.7 million without help. Peacekeepers were ambushed and injured yesterday in the region. The Government of Sudan is seizing food, vehicles, files (names and locations) and more from aid organizations. Many believer that Darfuris will begin to cross the border with Chad, seeking help.

i-ACT will take you to the people to hear what they say about Justice and peace. For you to see and understand the situation on the ground. Each day there will be a daily action item and, of course, we will be doing the i-ACTivist Challenge once again! The swiftness of our actions needs to match the urgency on the ground."

... Link to Stop Genocide Now site to yours - ADD this button

For 10 consecutive days, i-ACT (interactive-activism) connects 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.

...consider donating towards new technology to make this i-ACT happen. Stop Genocide Nowhates asking for money, but once again they are heading to the region on a tight budget. They have used the same digital cameras since their first i-ACT trip in 2005, and their video cameras from 2008 are at their end. Every bit would help them. Thank you.

And the following is an email received today from another person, who will go to the Darfur refugee camps from Stop Genocide Now:

Dear friends and family:

It was in December of 2004, when I first sent out one of these e-mails talking about Darfur. It went out to my family and a couple of friends, a total of recipients that stayed in the single digits. Pretty much all it said was, "Have you heard about what is happening in a place called Darfur!?"

Most recently, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudan President al Bashir. As expected, his response was to unleash once again an intense hell for innocent civilians in a place that has been hellish for over six years. The people of Darfur still speak of Justice.

The statistics are, horrific. More than one million are in imminent danger, with very limited supplies. Millions more are next in line to face starvation, lack of water and medical services. Diarrhea and meningitis threaten to become major killers in this nightmare that is picking up speed.

These numbers, which are probably conservative, again made me feel small and made me feel guilty. As a part of a historical movement to stop genocide, I feel that we have failed to act to avert the disaster we saw coming from miles away. The movement continued with business as usual and was not willing to demonstrate the outrage required to push our leaders towards action.

I am right now sitting next to a tent outside of the Federal building in Los Angeles. It is 2:08am. We are staying here and more will come tomorrow and throughout the weekend and in to this coming week. It has to be the start of a new level of activism for us in LA but also for others across the country. We must stand for justice in Darfur, and we must stand for protection of innocent civilians. As we heard over and over again at the camps on our last visit, peace and justice must come together; they are both part of the same.

In a little more than a week, we'll also be sitting next to tents, but in a refugee camp close to the Chad/Darfur border. You'll get to hear from the people of Darfur yourselves. Don't wait to act, though. Come out and join us. Let's get together and be loud in our outrage!

This e-mail now goes out to more than single digit recipients, but we are still a small community. Let's be as loud as if we were millions, so that millions can stay alive.

I am now asking you to make a commitment to do something for Darfur.

Go to their website and see what they are doing that your journalists and media are failing at doing: http://www.stopgenocidenow.org/actions

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What You Can Do to Help

CALL 1-800-GENOCIDE
(1-800-436-6243)

TO SPEAK TO YOUR CONGRESSPERSON

The Government of Sudan has expelled 13 humanitarian aid organizations from Darfur, North and East Sudan. Millions of lives are at immediate risk; these organizations represent approximately 60% of the aid operational capacity.

Tell your Representative in the House to sign on to Representative Capuano's letter to the Arab League, African Union and China (Sudan's allies) asking them to persuade Sudan to allow these NGOs to return.. And, ask your Congressperson to call any contacts in these countries, making the same appeal.

It's Easy and Free:
Please call 1-800-436-6243 between 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EDT TODAY or MONDAY. After the message heard about Secretary of State Clinton, select Option #1 and key in your zip code. You will be connected to your Representative's office.

Thank you, and PLEASE ask others to help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Call your Senators and Representative

Find your elected politicians contact information at this link:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Write President Obama

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/


You can also call or write to the President:

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Comments to President Obama:

202 - 456-1111

or

1-800-GENOCIDE


The White House comment line is available

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


To call the USA Secretary of State

202-647-6575

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

posted by ilovemylife @ 2:25 PM   0 Comments