❧❧❧ 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 ❧❧❧
How will all the flag waving politicians, who use 9/11 as a campaign line and fund-raising catch phrase, like Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, vote on this bill?
........................................................ Bruce Springsteen - Into The Fire - 9/11 World Trade Center Tribute
FIRST RESPONDERS - THOSE WHO WENT INTO THE TONS OF TOXIC DEBRIS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Nine years later - Isn't it about time to support those who worked in the toxic environment to find survivors and bodies? Today, Senator Schumer and "First Responders" (to the terrorists attacks of September 11, 2001), spoke to reporters in support of legislation that would establish a $7 billion fund for the health care of the first responders.
......................................................... Senators Kerry and Lugar, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair and ranking member, spoke to reporters following the 67-28 Senate vote in favor of cloture on the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). 10 minutes
......................................................... Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Census Bureau Director Robert Groves released the first set of 2010 Census data. Secretary Locke in his remarks said that census was completed on time and under budget. The overall U.S. population grew 9.7 percent to 308.7 million, with growth continuing to be .. Read More 1 hour 6 minutes
Click the post title for ~ The C-SPAN Congressional Chronicle is an index to the C-SPAN video recordings of the House and Senate floor proceedings. The video recordings are matched with the text of the Congressional Record as soon as the Record is available. It only includes members who appeared on the floor to deliver or insert their remarks. The text included here is what the member submitted. Each appearance has a video link where users can watch and listen to the actual remarks.
.................................. TodaysNetworkNews July 24, 2009 Darfur ~ UN Peacekeeping Problems by Alain Le Roy
Text with the video:
UNTV: Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Alain Le Roy says that while the situation on the ground has changed in Darfur, "we are in many ways no closer to a solution now then we were when the issue was first taken up by the Security Council."
Addressing the Security Council today, Le Roy said that despite the good news surrounding the decision taken by the Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the disputed area of Abyei, there was still a sense of drift surrounding the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) implementation, with direct implications for resolving the crisis in Darfur.
He said that the contested census, large scale displacement and volatility, particularly in the area surrounding Chad, created enormous risks and that the people of Darfur would not be in a position to participate in the electoral process.
Le Roy also emphasized that the supporters and patrons of both the Sudanese government and the rebel movements must refuse to support war and that, dialogue must become the only serious option.
He said that the arms and financial support must stop flowing and that the safe heavens must disappear. That until there wasnt a sustained progress in each of those areas there wouldnt be a resolution to the crisis.
LeRoy cautioned there had been little progress toward a political settlement and that Sudans President Omar Al Bashir remained subject to the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant in The Hague. Responding to the ICCs arrest warrant, in early March the Sudanses government kicked out 13 international NGOs and revoked the permits of three local groups providing emergency relief assistance in Darfur.
.................................. July 26, 2009 Uploaded by TodaysNetworkNews
The Obama administration's plan for Sudan could come out any day now. But new, troubling reports this week indicate there are still internal disagreements over how tough the U.S. should be with Khartoum. While the plan for peace must include incentives, the Sudanese regime won't change without tough consequences. An unbalanced plan that lacks these tough measures would spell disaster. Senators Kerry and Lugar are holding a committee hearing Thursday, July 30, 2009, to question Special Envoy Gration on the plan.
Earl Gast Acting Administrator for Africa U.S. Agency for International Development Washington, DC
PANEL 2: The Honorable David Shinn Adjunct Professor Elliott School of International Affairs The George Washington University Washington, DC
Mohammed Ahmed Eisa, M.D. Physician 2007 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award Laureate Sudan Organization for Rights and Peace-Building Washington, D.C
Contact information:
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-6225
- The Humanitarian Affairs' Minister of Government of Sudan, Abdel Bagi Ali Algilani, acknowledged in an interview to Radio Dabanga that there is severe lack of tents and shelters in the Darfur IDP camps for the rainy season. The Minister also admitted that the sanitary situation in the camps is very bad and he said they (GoS) know that the rainwater has flooded many toilet boreholes in the camps. The Minister promised that the GoS will fix the problem.
- The Census for the Election did not include the Darfuri refugees and Internally Displaced People (IDP) in the camps. Yet the GoS is stating that it will go forward with the Election process. Elections will determine the distribution of wealth and sharing of power. U.N. is mow aware of the danger of excluding the people of Darfur, as reported by Sudan Tribune:
UN official warns Darfur may be excluded from Sudan’s election Saturday 25 July 2009
July 24, 2009 (UNITED NATIONS) – The UN peacekeeping chief told the Security Council that Darfur Internally Displaced Persons would be deprived of taking part in the 2010 general elections, and this would affect the power sharing in the country.
JPEG - 27.5 kb Alain Le Roy
Alain Le Roy, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, addressed on Friday the Security Council on the situation in Darfur and the work of UNAMID. He stressed that the situation in Darfur is evolving and asked to adapt UN policy accordingly.
In April 2010 Sudan is expected to hold the first fair and free elections after two decades of totalitarian regime in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). However, Darfur rebels and former rebels rejected census results and asked to delay the electoral process to after a lasting peace agreement in western Sudan.
"The contested census, large-scale displacement and volatility, particularly in the area bordering Chad, create enormous risks that the people of Darfur will not be in a position to participate in the electoral process," Le Roy said.
"This would further disenfranchise millions already disempowered by conflict," he said, adding that the election results will have an "enormous impact" on the distribution of political power in Darfur where millions of IDPs live in camps.
The election electoral board determined April 2010 to run the presidential and national parliament elections as well as states elections that would mark the end of the interim period that started in July 2005 following the signing of the CPA.
Darfur rebels said Sudanese government seeks to organize the election before the settlement of Darfur conflict in order to exclude them from participating in the electoral process. But the SPLM also had been strongly opposed to such delay.
Speaking about the security situation in the war-ravaged region, Le Roy told Council members that large-scale violence and civilian displacement was now rare, although localized attacks still occur.
However, he pointed out that conflict with Chad which shares border with Darfur, threatens the stability in the region.
Le Roy noted that the evolution of the crisis does not diminish the tragedy of Darfur or lessen the suffering of the 2.7 million people estimated to be displaced.
He said the Sudanese Government must make serious concessions in the peace process and illustrate its commitment to Darfur by actively investing in the region’s people and infrastructure, and he called on the rebels to compromise among themselves and agree on a serious platform for discussions.
.......................................... Uploaded by Darfur
My messages to Senators Kerry and Lugar:
Thank you so much for scheduling a hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee surrounding the administration's plan for peace in Sudan this Thursday.
Presidential candidate Barack Obama said: "The United States has a moral obligation anytime you see humanitarian catastrophes…we have the most stake in creating an order in the world that is stable...in which people have hope and opportunity and when you see a genocide whether it's in Rwanda, or Bosnia or in Darfur - that's a stain on all of us, that's a stain on our souls.
…We can't say 'never again' and then allow it to happen again. And as President of the United States I don't intend to abandon people or turn a blind eye to slaughter.”
Special Envoy Gration’s comments have been alarming.He has used language such as “consequences of genocide” that inaccurately describes what is going on in Sudan. General Scott Gration, visited IDP camp in Kass area (West Darfur) and met with some refugees in the camp. A leader said to Radio Dabanga that the American Special Envoy asked them to return to their original villages and catch up with the rainy season to farm their lands. The refugees told the Special Envoy that the janjaweed who drove them from their villages are still there occupying their lands, the Leader told Radio Dabanga.
"We told him (Gration) that as long as these militias are not disarmed there would be no peace in Darfur even if a peace agreement is concluded because we are not sure they would lay down their arms after peace," said Hussein Abu Sharati, the IDPs spokesperson.
Refugees from the village of Shattayah (West Darfur) who are now in IDP camps in Kass ( West Darfur) said the Government of Sudan (GoS) is lying about their voluntary return to their original villages. Two women and a man spoke to Radio Dabanga and said that they heard Radio Omdurman ( GoS state radio) saying that the Shattayah people are back to their villages and farming their lands. The refugees said that is a propaganda from GoS to decieve the international community. They said that Shattayah now is occupied by Janjaweed (pro GoS) and their fertile lands are given to the supporters of GoS.
Mohamed Suleiman, a US-based Darfuri with a broad network of Darfuri contacts from the Diaspora and from IDP camps in Sudan and refugee camps in Chad.Mohamed is the one who provided the information included above.
I implore you to ask tough questions this Thursday, especially of Special Envoy Gen. Gration.And then I ask you to take your leadership to the President and let’s move on this vitally defining issue.It speaks volumes about our lack of political will and lack of moral integrity if another President’s term goes by and we have effectively gotten no where on this issue.
There is nothing redeeming about being silent or not being a part of the ending of genocide. The honor and integrity of the human race and our country rely on it. Complicity is not a policy.Complicity comes from a lack of will.
Rome Men's Tennis Tournament - Semi Final Saturday, May 2, 2009
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I called 1-800-GENOCIDE today to leave a message for President Obama about Darfur. The phone number can be used for reaching your Senator, Representative or the President. And if you are unsure what to say, there is help on the line before you are connected. 1800genocide.com
At this link http://www.sudanreeves.org/index.html find.... Eric Reeves is Professor of English Language and Literature at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. He has spent the past ten years working full-time as a Sudan researcher and analyst, publishing extensively both in the US and internationally. He has testified several times before the Congress, has lectured widely in academic settings, and has served as a consultant to a number of human rights and humanitarian organizations operating in Sudan. Working independently, he has written on all aspects of Sudan's recent history. His book about Darfur ("A Long Day's Dying: Critical Moments in the Darfur Genocide") was published in May 2007. (Read critical praise for A Long Day's Dying.) He is also at work on a longer-range project surveying the international response to ongoing war and human destruction in Sudan over the past 25 years ("Sudan — Suffering a Long Way Off"). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Activist-actress Mia Farrow began an extended hunger strike in solidarity with the people of Darfur on April 27, 2009. She intends to continue this water-only fast for 21 days. Darfur Fast for Life was created so that you and many more around the world can participate in saying no to the status quo on Darfur. Mia will be blogging here and at MiaFarrow.org. Others will join by participating in water-only and/or “refugee rations” fasts to bring attention to the immediate humanitarian crisis in Darfur created by the expulsion of aid organizations by the government of Sudan. Darfur Fast for Life demands from our leaders around the world to be ambitious and work on creating lasting peace in Sudan and guaranteeing the respect for the human rights of all.
Write to President Obama http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ Tell him we need his leadership for the short and long run on the issue of genocide and the 6 year old genocide on the unarmed Darfuri civilians, families.
President Obama can be called: 202-456-1111 or 1-800-GENOCIDE
.................................................... Photos from the Quarter Final Rafa Nadal d Fernando Verdasco, May 1, 2009, 6-3, 6-3 Photo credits: Daylife, Getty Images, CBS, EFE El Mundo, Italia website, Jamd, Officina del tennis, Reuters and Terra
ROME (AP)—Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic posted straight-set wins Friday to set up a semifinal meeting in the Rome Masters, and three-time champion Rafael Nadal advanced in the other half of the draw.
Nadal cruised past eighth-seeded Fernando Verdasco 6-3, 6-3, improving to 8-0 against his fellow Spaniard. He will play 12th-seeded Fernando Gonzalez, who struggled past Argentine qualifier Juan Monaco 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Federer overcame net-charging German qualifier Mischa Zverev, advancing 7-6 (3), 6-2. Djokovic stayed on course to defend his title in this clay-court warmup for the French Open with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over fifth-seeded Juan Martin del Potro.
The fast clay at the Foro Italico suits both Federer and Djokovic.
“I think both of us like it, so it’s going to be interesting,” Djokovic said. “I feel quite confident playing here. Each match I play, I feel more comfortable moving on the court and just playing my style of the game.”
Federer has won seven of his 10 previous matches against Djokovic, but the Serb took the last meeting in Florida last month.
“I hope I can play better than in Miami,” Federer said.
Nadal had not met Verdasco since his epic five-set win in the Australian Open semifinals.
Verdasco played with a bandage around his leg below his left knee and he called for the trainer after losing his serve to fall behind 5-3 in the second set. He attempted a serve-and-volley on break point but his weak volley attempt went wide.
“I (was) a little bit lucky, he had important mistakes in some important points,” Nadal said.
The world’s No. 1 player extended his clay-court winning streak to 28 matches—stretching back to an opening-round loss to Juan Carlos Ferrero here last year. Having won clay-court titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona the past two weeks, Nadal is attempting to become the first player in the Open era to win this tournament four times.
Nadal won titles at the Foro Italico from 2005-07. Thomas Muster also won three Rome titles, in 1990, ’95 and ’96.
The 76th-ranked Zverev didn’t allow Federer to see a break point until the 10th game of the first set, saving two set points to get to 5-5.
But Federer found his range in the tiebreaker, passing Zverev several times, and the 13-time Grand Slam winner ran away with the match in the second set.
“I had to come up with some passing shots, and I think it’s always kind of good that you’re on the back foot and you have to come up with some good shots at the right time,” Federer said.
A two-time runner-up in Rome, Federer is seeking his first title of the year.
Playing in sunny conditions with no wind, the third-seeded Djokovic dictated play with well-angled winners from the baseline. Del Potro struggled with his forehand.
“I tried to change the pace a lot,” Djokovic said. “Because I know that Del Potro likes more or less same pace, and he’s moving really well for his height.”
Djokovic is the only player to take a set from Nadal on clay this year, during a loss to the Spaniard in the Monte Carlo Masters final two weeks ago
Some pictures I took while volunteering with the Obama campaign
November 4, 2008 Some Obama supporters near my house in Rhode Island
Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island to organize to get twice the needed signatures in one day to put Barack Obama on the Rhode Island ballot. November 2007
Rhode Island Obama Volunteers William Pierce, Sandra Hammel and Marshala Lee in Providence, Rhode Island. Bringing in signatures on the petition to put Barack Obama's name on the Rhode Island ballot. December 7, 2007
Craig Robinson and William Pierce
Craig and Kelly Robinson
Craig Robinson (Michelle Obama's brother) and Sandra Hammel Above and below.
January 8, 2008 Nashua, New Hampshire the Primary Night Party Barack and Michelle Obama as they were coming to greet us.
This is the night of the speech that took off as the "Yes, We Can" speech.
Greeting volunteers January 8, 2008 in Nashua, New Hampshire
After Irish TV interviewed me.
At a private home - used as the "staging area" to give us our daily assignments to go door-to-door in New Hampshire. The young lady on the right worked on Barack's staff when he was a Senator. The woman in the center was from Australia and came just for the day to help. I was there for one week prior to the New Hampshire primary.
Richard Wolffe, White House Correspondent, Newsweek writer, MSNBC commentator and an unflattering picture of Sandra Hammel
Snowman for Obama At the staging area's house in New Hampshire where we met daily.
Michelle Obama came to Warwick, Rhode Island February 20, 2008
Michelle Obama in Warwick, Rhode Island She was introduced by her brother, Craig Robinson, who at the time was the basketball coach at Brown University
Youth for Obama March 1, 2008
Barack Obama in Rhode Island at Rhode Island College March 1, 2008
Edward Mutanguha, student from Kigali, Rwanda, Senator John Kerry and a professor at Salve Regina University Newport, Rhode Island, March 2008. Obama Campaign Office ~ above two pictures and one picture below.
Praising the young people's involvement and introducing Senator John Kerry to volunteers.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Getty Picture NASHUA, NH - JANUARY 08: Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) supporter Sandra Hammel reacts to poll results as she await his arrival at a primary night rally in the gymnasium at the Nashua South High School on January 8, 2008 in Nashua, New Hampshire. Initial polls show Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Obama in a tight race in the nation's first primary.
………………………………………………. Barack Obama addresses a crowd at Kettering University on competitiveness in the 21st century. June 16, 2008.
Former Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Al Gore will endorse Senator Obama tonight in Detroit, Michigan.
This email was received before Al Gore spoke June 16, 2008:
Dear Sandra,
A few hours from now I will step on stage in Detroit, Michigan to announce my support for Senator Barack Obama. From now through Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected President of the United States.
Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult challenges -- including bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing our economy, and solving the climate crisis. Barack Obama is clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America.
This moment and this election are too important to let pass without taking action.
That's why I am asking you to join me in showing your support by making a contribution to this campaign today:
Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement. He knows change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Capitol Hill. It begins when people stand up and take action.
With the help of millions of supporters like you, Barack Obama will bring the change we so desperately need in order to solve our country's most pressing problems.
If you've already contributed to this campaign, I ask that you consider making another contribution right now. If you haven't, please take the next step and own a piece of this campaign today:
On the issues that matter most, Barack Obama is clearly the right choice to lead our nation.
We have a lot of work to do in the next few months to elect Barack Obama president, and it begins by making a contribution to this campaign today.
Thank you for joining me,
Al Gore
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………………………………………………. Barack Obama's Speech on Father's Day Barack addressed the congregation at the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, IL on June 15, 2008.
Roger Stone boasts about being the sleaziest man in politics and that his rules are “Attack, attack, attack—never defend” and “Admit nothing, deny everything, launch counterattack.” As a young operative, Stone was involved in Watergate, causing him to be fired by Bob Dole. Stone was also forced to cut ties with New York Senate Republicans after he left a harassing message on the voicemail of Eliot Spitzer’s father. Even Republican Ed Rollins says Stone “always had this reputation of being a guy who exaggerated things, who pretended he did things. Roger was never on Nixon’s staff, was never on the White House staff. I don’t think you’ll find anyone in the business who trusts him. Roger was always a little rat.” Stone recently said “McCain himself should not run a slash-and-burn campaign, but a slash-and-burn campaign will have to be run by others.”
Floyd Brown, the leader of the National Campaign Fund, the Legacy Committee, Citizens for a Safe and Prosperous America and the Policy Issues Institute, once bragged he was part of the “the heart and soul of the right-wing conspiracy.” has a history of surfacing every four years to make right-wing attacks against Democrats in presidential elections. Most infamously, Brown was responsible for the racist 1988 “Willie Horton” ad against Michael Dukakis. Brown harassed the Clintons throughout Bill Clinton’s administration, with even George H.W. Bush calling his behavior in the 1992 presidential election—which included harassing the family of a recent suicide victim—“filthy campaign tactics.” After writing a 2000 book about Al Gore that went little-noticed, in 2004, Brown and David Bossie, working as the group Citizens United, make a movie called Celsius 41.11 and ran television ads attacking John Kerry.
David Bossie, who runs Citizens United, has paired with Floyd Brown for years. Bossie and Brown harassed the Clintons throughout Bill Clinton’s administration, with even George H.W. Bush calling his behavior in the 1992 presidential election—which included harassing the family of a recent suicide victim—“filthy campaign tactics.” After writing a 2000 book about Al Gore that went little-noticed, in 2004, Brown and Bossie, working as the group Citizens United, made a movie called Celsius 41.11 and ran television ads attacking John Kerry. In 1998, Bossie was fired from his job with the House Committee investigating Bill Clinton. When Bossie selectively released tapes, removing information that exonerated the Clintons, and improperly obtained phone records, even Newt Gingrich said he was “embarrassed for the conference at the circus that went on.”
................................................................... Providence, Rhode Island March 1, 2008, Saturday, more than 10,000 people came out in Providence for a rally with Barack at Rhode Island College -- a clear display of the excitement that's been building across the state.
There is an online tool that you can use to find exactly where to go on Primary Day.
Take a moment and watch a video from Saturday's event.
Supporters across the state are going door-to-door in their communities and building our movement one person at a time. This one-on-one contact with other voters is the most important way we can spread our message of change in these crucial days before the election.
Help Barack in Rhode Island. Sign up today to join a canvass near you:
Washington Post Staff Writer Sunday, March 2, 2008; Page A01
PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- While Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama have spent most of the past two weeks focused on delegate-rich Texas and Ohio, tiny Rhode Island -- with 21 pledged delegates at stake Tuesday -- is reveling in its unaccustomed position of relevance in a Democratic presidential nominating contest. Read more
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.
IN SUPPORT OF THOSE WHO WENT INTO THE FIRE - 2001
