FAVORITE ACTORS

The actors that I enjoy the most - for the most part aren't from the USA. Gerard Butler (Scotland), Matthew Rhys and Ioan Gruffudd (both from Wales), Hugh Jackman (Australian) and Clive Owen (English). Hmmm....why is that, I wonder...

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I have to turn off the sound and just enjoy this in silence - Clive Owen
Uploaded by duckyderossa
I first saw Welshman, Matthew Rhys on the TV series, Brothers and Sisters, which though it is in its 3rd year, no episodes were better than Date Night and I think the other one I liked was For the Children in the first year.

Matthew has a movie coming out, The Edge of Love.

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Matthew Rhys from Wales, but now ...California
Matthew Rhys guesting on the Bonnie Hunt Show on March 18, 2009.
Uploaded by jadafa
Amazig Grace - Ioan Gruffudd
The Edge of Love

Dylan Thomas played by Matthew Rhys

Photos of Matthew, including in The Edge of Love

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Trailer of The Edge of Love
Uploaded by jsvids111

And my current fav
Fav actor
Fav movie
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Dear Frankie and Gerard Butler
Uploaded by wanderingbtrfly

Love, love Dear Frankie

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A Darfuri Speaks Out: Sudan's President Treats My People Like Bargaining Chips

By Mohamed Suleiman

March 18, 2009

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/18/A Darfurian Speaks Out

On March 4th 2009, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of President of Sudan Omer Al-Bashir. Within hours, Al-Bashir ordered 13 humanitarian aid groups out from Darfur and Sudan. This was not a mere reactionary move. The regime in Khartoum is comprised of a very calculating gang. That is the secret of their survival for almost 20 years in power. The expulsion of the humanitarian aid groups is meant to present the international community with tough choices. It is the start of the scenario of "Let's talk."

Khartoum is very good in negotiating its way out of troubles. Al-Bashir's bargaining chips here are the lives of 4.7 millions Darfuris. Yes, they are his citizens in the first place, but they also have been his hostages for six years. Some observers say that most of the influential individuals around Al-Bashir are western educated. These individuals understand exactly how the international community thinks, but the international community does not understand how the government of Sudan thinks.

Over the last six years, I have seen and felt the systematic destruction of the once wonderful society I grew up in. Al-Bashir, after killing hundreds of thousands of my people and burning their homes, confined those who managed to stay alive in sub-human shelters called camps in Darfur and Eastern Chad. Their misery didn't end there. Deprived of security and peace, they found the humanitarian aid groups were the only means of survival.

The aid groups provided almost everything to those Darfuris trapped in those camps, but more importantly they provided hope and protection to them. Had it not been for the humanitarian aid workers, Janjaweed attacks would have been deadlier and more rampant. The mere presence of the humanitarian aid workers in the camps and around the Darfuri people was a deterrent from attacks by the Sudanese armed militias. The aid workers were the eyes and ears of the world in Darfur.

After Al-Bashir announced the expulsion of the 13 non governmental organizations (NGOs), the international community seemed caught off guard. China came to the aid of its ally Al-Bashir in the UN Security Council and struck down an attempt to pass a resolution ordering Al-Bashir to reverse his expulsion decision. Seeing the world leaders doing nothing, Al-Bashir was emboldened and expelled three more NGOs. The international community stood by as if searching for words other than those already heard.

Al-Bashir got bolder and announced on Monday, March 16th, that he will get rid of all remaining foreign NGOs within a year and turn over the humanitarian aid operations to Sudanese organizations. Darfuris know exactly what Al-Bashir's announcement means. In the camps, refugees suspect most Sudanese humanitarian organizations are a cover for government security agencies.

Without the NGOs, it is not just security and hope that will be missed in the camps. Now starvation, thirst, diseases, will be added to Al-Bashir's arsenal in his quest to annihilate the people of Darfur.

Right now, as I write this, meningitis is spreading through the Darfur camps for internally displaced persons (IDP). New cases climbed to 38 cases in the Kalma IDP camp and 9 cases have been reported in the Kassab IDP camp. Now more than ever immunization is needed in all camps.

Also, the situation in the Zamzam IDP camps is deteriorating rapidly. 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. The 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. The clinics are closed in the camp. Only God knows how acute the health situation is in the camp in the absence of NGOs.

This is a calculating regime. Each time the international community seems in disarray, that is the time Al-Bashir and his cronies make their moves. They only stop when they are stopped.

In October 2006 in an op-ed, Dr. Susan Rice, Mr. Anthony Lake, and Congressman Donald Payne wrote: "History demonstrates that there is one language Khartoum understands: the credible threat or use of force. After Sept. 11, 2001, when President Bush issued a warning to states that harbor terrorists, Sudan -- recalling the 1998 U.S. airstrike on Khartoum -- suddenly began cooperating on counterterrorism. It's time to get tough with Sudan again."

I believe that, with 4.7 millions human beings' lives at stake, now is the time to get tough with Al-Bashir's regime.

Mohamed Suleiman lost members of his family to the Darfur genocide while still others remain in Darfur. Now living in the United States, Suleiman translates English language news about Darfur into Arabic and houses it online in an effort to increase awareness within the Sudanese community in the United States. He is an member of the Executive Committee of the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition.

www.darfurdreamteam.org
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

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

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.

MATTHEW RHYS AND LUKE MACFARLANE HIGHLIGHTED ON BROTHERS AND SISTERS

KEVIN AND SCOTTY

Brothers and Sisters ABC show - Episode 8 ~ November 16, 2008
You can see recent episodes after you launch their player

MATTHEW RHYS, LUKE MAC FARLANE AND ERIC WINTER ~ LOVE TRIANGLE

KEVIN, SCOTTY AND JASON~ Last year I was hoping for a love triangle and now it looks like it is here.

What a pleasant surprise! Even with 3 months of a writers strike we had a new episode on Brothers and Sisters tonight. And next week there will be another new episode.

I talk to myself during the show sometimes….
“Oh, we’ve seen that before. He’s at the door.” But this time it’s Kevin and Jason. Not Scotty and Kevin at the door.

And the scene with Scotty serving up soft-shell crabs with the three of them sitting down for a meal was eye glue. Maybe, not fun to watch, but it was magnetic. “The best writing is given to them.”

After Scotty huffs off again, the next morning Kevin and Scotty have a short make-up conversation in Scotty’s old car.

I know it may just be me, but I wait for the scenes with Kevin and his personal life. I’m not sure why, maybe I like the actors who play Kevin (Matthew Rhys), Scotty (Luke Mac Farlane) and Jason (Eric Winter) better than others. But then I like Rachel Griffiths who plays Sarah. And Sally Field has some great writing once in awhile.

It might be interesting to me because it is teaching me. Whatever it is, it is my favorite part of the show and the show is a whole lot less without these scenes.

You can watch some of the shows online.

Jon Robin Baitz the creator of the show apparently is gone.

9 WEEKS IN AND KEVIN FINALLY GETS A KISS

It took too long and now we have a writers’ strike ~ justifiably ~ but still, we waited too long to see Kevin get a kiss and now we may never see the rest of the season of Brothers and Sisters.

This episode was written by two females, Jennifer Cecil and Sherri Cooper-Landsman. And the writing between Scotty and Kevin was either good, the actors just were great at presenting it or both. I don’t write about an episode unless I like it enough to invest the effort. I liked this episode. It felt more real or less predictable than the episodes prior to “36 Hours” this season. “Something New” had some pleasant little surprise lines that gave me a laugh, smile or surge of excitement. Nothing offensive, other than the sleeze-Lena being the assigned character-of-the-moment to dislike.

Let me start with the part that I am drawn to the most ~ Kevin and his love life. Thank goodness, he has “a someone” in his life that we can enjoy again. This show suffers when he doesn’t.

Scotty Wandell (Luke MacFarlane) and Kevin Walker (Matthew Rhys)

Scotty is ba-ack. Well, yes, he’s been living at Kevin’s apartment, but tonight they kissed. I hear that Eric Winter ~ who plays Jason McCallister ~ has signed on to be back on Brothers and Sisters, but that is all I know by choice. I don’t like to know ahead what is coming, so I purposely stay uninformed unless I unexpectedly read something.

Some memorable lines of Scotty (Luke MacFarlane) and Kevin (Matthew Rhys)

Scotty: (Carrying in lobsters and champagne, walking into Kevin's apartment.) I come with decadence.

Kevin: Light some candles, I’ll be right back.

Eric Winter as Jason McCallister

Jason finally calls Kevin from Malaysia. A very excited Kevin to Jason: Jason, Oh my God. Oh, I’ve missed you. Yeah, yeah, I need to talk to you, too.

Then we find that Kevin has broken up with Jason on the very phone call that he was so thrilled to get from Jason. Hmmm….love to know what happened on that phone call. …and how Kevin turned from being loyal and in love with Jason to. . .

Kevin to Scotty: I finally spoke to Jason. I broke up with him (this is a puzzle, it seemed like Jason must have been the one to break up with Kevin . . . hmmm . . .) Scotty, when I first met you, what we had was messy. We were hot and cold, back and forth, all over the place. But I want to be back there with you because I want to be honest about who I am.

Scotty: Did you tell Jason we slept together.
Kevin: Yes, I did.

Wow, the story really moved ahead tonight. We open with everyone sharing their “first times”.

The second thing that I love about this show is Sally Field. I like it when the story has her going for some “love life”. She can be real special when the script gives her some stuff to put her best into. She really cleared out the room when she talked about “Pretty Woman” in the opening scene. She just forges ahead into “intimate territory”, but the adult children don’t really want to hear.

Nora (Sally Field) meets up with her "sexual encounter of the first kind", Stan Harris, who is played by Chevy Chase.

Julia (Sarah Jane Morris) returned to her marriage with Tommy (Balthazar Getty), reuniting Tommy with baby Elizabeth, at least I think that’s the baby’s name.

Lyle Lovett is a plant by Senator Robert McCallister (Rob Lowe) to impress Kitty (Calista Flockhart) with a romantic moment.

Saul (Ron Rifkin) gets his back up with Nora, when he thinks she is meddling into his newly acknowledged homosexuality.

Sarah Whedon (Rachel Griffiths) looks to be getting a new love interest.

Justin Walker (Dave Annable) is coming off the pain killers and is sweet again. He is so good at owning up to his “flaws” with Rebecca.

Holly Harper (Patricia Wettig)…well, her character is less brassy.

And the unlikable Lena continues to be unlikable.

Rebecca (Emily Van Camp) finally has some pleasant exchanges with her mother ~ the “other woman” of William Walker and Nora’s deceased husband.

And Kitty finally welcomes Rebecca as her sister and illustrates it by asking the half sister ~ via their mutual father’s extramarital affair ~ to be one of her bride’s maids. I liked the line where Kitty says after Rebecca is thrilled to be asked to be a part of the bridal party: Should we hug?

The wedding is next Sunday night.
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A Walk Down Memory Lane in the Caterers' Kitchen (Season 1):
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http://youtube.com/watch?v=JQPsSiSC3eo

Scotty won’t take Kevin back (Season 1):
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http://youtube.com/watch?v=ErljOzjR_-k

Jason and Kevin’s kiss in Nora’s kitchen pantry (Season 1):
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http://youtube.com/watch?v=7mCXl4sltI4

Brothers and Sisters Season 2, episodes:
9/23/2007: Brothers & Sisters: Family Album
9/30/2007: Home Front
10/7/2007: An American Family
10/14/2007: History Repeating
10/21/2007: States of the Union
10/28/2007: Domestic Issues
11/4/2007: Two Places
11/11/2007: 36 Hours
11/25/2007: Something New
12/2/2007: Holy Matrimony

The Bonus Show from Season 1 recap
http://www.afterelton.com/TV/recaps/brothersandsisters/bonusrecap

Recap of 36 Hours
http://www.afterelton.com/TV/recaps/brothersandsisters/207

Recap of Two Places (Scotty moves in with Kevin)
http://www.afterelton.com/TV/recaps/brothersandsisters/206

About the writers’s strike
http://www.afterelton.com/blog/adamlubitow/baitz-on-wga-strike

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Call 1-800-GENOCIDE
Tell U.S. Senators to support SADA to help end the Darfur Genocide

www.dreamfordarfur.org
www.savedarfur.org

Call President Bush
and tell him to actually act on his words
regarding the Darfur genocide: "NOT ON MY WATCH."
Talk is useless, President Bush.
His number: 202-456-1111

Thank You

BROTHERS AND SISTERS GAVE ME AN EPISODE I LIKE IN "36 HOURS"

BROTHERS AND SISTERS - The ABC Television Show

Wow, seven episodes into season two of a television show that I fell for hard last year when it debuted and I finally really liked an episode. Tonight, the writing had more substance… at least the actors seem to be able to get their acting chops into the material more than any other episode so far. The episode of Brothers and Sisters, “36 hours” showed what this show does best when it is allowed to from the writing – is relate to one another. I haven’t liked the predictability of the lines and the fluffy humor in past episodes. I prefer Matthew Rhys’ character in a relationship – or at least – trying to be.

Tonight, the writing was strong. The acting followed and I was in from the first segment prior to the first commercial knowing this episode was different and better. The writers were David Marshall Grant and Molly Newman. The director was David Paymer. The only minor writing bit that I didn’t like was with the scene of Tommy breaking up with Lena (I think that is her name). I thought Lena’s lines were “throw away” lines – just gratis type lines. Just lines to move the story along, not much thought put into them and bland all the way around.

Everything else was quite stellar for this little gem of a show.

I love how Sally Field got some lines again that let her talented acting shine through. Finally. She was especially great with the scene where she locked the door on Justin and also at the pool. Great scene at that family pool…almost as good as the kitchen setting for this Walker family.

The little scene with Robert McAllister and his daughter while ice skating was well-done. And the scene with Sally’s Nora and her brother, Saul Holden, baring the truth about his sexual orientation was the kind of scene that this show has made as its trademark.

Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker

Matthew Rhys as himself

I didn’t know that Kevin (Matthew Rhys) had not been talking to Jason McAllister. How sad for him. Matthew was great tonight, but then he is always good even when the writing leaves me wanting more substance.

Even Holly Harper was likeable tonight. It was nice to see Rebecca confide in her mother about Justin Walker.

And the writing where Justin unloads on each person within ear shot was outstandingly well-written and well-acted.

I just hope that the fluff, predictable lines don’t come back.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS
Season 2
Episodes

12/2/2007: Holy Matrimony
11/25/2007: Something New


11/11/2007: 36 Hours
11/4/2007: Two Places
10/28/2007: Domestic Issues
10/21/2007: States of the Union
10/14/2007: History Repeating
10/7/2007: An American Family
9/30/2007: Home Front
9/23/2007: Brothers & Sisters: Family Album

MATTHEW RHYS - SOMETHING EXTRA

OMG!

MATTHEW RHYS PLAYS PETER IN LOVE AND OTHER DISASTERS
This is news to me. But then I never heard of Matthew Rhys until he showed up on American TV’s ABC show Brothers and Sisters. But this is so much fun I just had to post this. Here he plays Peter. So it turns out Kevin Walker is not the second gay man he has played.
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BA Love (et ses petits désastres)
Uploaded by iago1969

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Movie trailer for Love and Other Disasters
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Love et ses petits désastres
Uploaded by waytoblue

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Britanny Murphy thinks Matthew is brilliant…
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Love et ses petits désastres
Uploaded by waytoblue

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The making of Love and Other Disasters

THAT CERTAIN SOMETHING – IT’S SO ENJOYABLE…

ISN’T IT? You see it. It happens between actors. I wonder do they know it is special too? Those are the scenes that I can watch over and over and never get tired of them. It happens for me with Dirty Dancing. But then I think of the magic of the music and the way Patrick Swayze moves. It happens for me with Robert Redford.

I’ll start with Robert Redford and Meryl Streep in Out of Africa:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTvjEkBGte0

The Horsewhisperer with Annie Graves (Kristin Scott Thomas) and Tom Booker (Robert Redford):
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV0mwryvjwU

Robert Redford on Charlie Rose
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoH7lIwcdEI

Dirty Dancing - Solomon Burke’s Cry To Me - Patrick Swayze:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKhiqXUsaS4

Dirty Dancing – The Time of My Life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VSuCtebBT0

Hungry Eyes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lvcqt_4NOds
Wonderful Video Montage of Dirty Dancing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agpA1opKiwY

The Bridges of Madison County
Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QYmzgAgQyM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSqW9kYl7_U

The Notebook
Ryan Gosling and Rachel Adams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNKrCuPGtzY

I fell for the television ABC show, Brothers and Sisters, last year when Kevin and Scotty were coupled. Kevin is played by Matthew Rhys of Cardiff, Wales. Read more about Matthew Rhys: http://ioanzone.19.forumer.com/viewtopic.php?t=114&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60 Matthew is special as an actor, but I especially liked Luke MacFarlane, aka Scotty Wandell, son of Wally and Bertha, paired with Matthew’s Kevin. Then came Chad played by Jason Lewis for Kevin’s love interest. Okay… so I didn’t like Chad with Kevin. Jason just didn’t look comfortable being his gay character. Then came along Eric Winter as Jason MacAllister, a minister-brother of Rob Lowe’s character, Robert. Eric Winter – I like. But tonight we got a lot of looks at Luke MacFarlane’s Scotty again. And you know what, I sat there and said to myself “They just have something special”… when they are together on the screen. So Kevin didn’t let Scotty get the kiss he was going for – but they are going to try to be friends while Eric is a missionary in Malaysia. I say send Kevin to Malaysia - that would be so cool.

In the meantime, I like not knowing ahead of time what is going to happen, but I think it is obvious that Kevin’s loyalty to his boyfriend, Jason/Eric Winter is going to be tested. It just was set up in tonight’s episode. It is always good writing for Kevin’s character when Jon Robin Baitz is writing the script and tonight was no exception to that.

This one includes the Kevin and Jason irresistible kiss:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQReNI2oJl4

Last season’s Scotty and Kevin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6YiMkHHx_Q

This is one of my two favorite scenes with Kevin and Scotty, however there is one little move that Kevin does at the end that is cut off in this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQPsSiSC3eo

And this is the other favorite scene:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErljOzjR_-k

IOAN GRUFFUDD – A BEAUTIFUL MAN

The movie Amazing Grace is the first film I have seen with Ioan Gruffudd in it. I first became introduced to Ioan Gruffudd through my interest in Matthew Rhys, who plays Kevin Walker on my favorite TV show, Brothers and Sisters. Ioan and Matthew both grew up in the capital of Wales, Cardiff and knew each other in childhood. They both attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, as well as owning a home together at one time for ten years.

Currently, Ioan is starring as William Wilberforce in the inspirational film, Amazing Grace. April 6, he can be seen in the movie, The TV Set.

Here are select photos which were downloaded from www.ioanonline.com which is great source for Ioan Gruffudd admirers.

MATTHEW RHYS & IOAN GRUFFUDD FUN FEST

Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island

Matthew Rhys and Ioan Gruffudd - Two Young Welsh-speaking Actors Who Grew Up Together in Cardiff, Wales and are actually close friends. Well, close enough to have owned their house together for ten years in or just outside London, England. Ioan is marrying Alice Evans September 2007. I newly learned of their acting talents November 2006. But I’m enamored now. I adore Matthew as Kevin Walker on my favorite TV show (Sunday nights at 10:00 p.m. on ABC and also purchased by England’s channel 4, I believe it is) and Ioan is in the current movie, Amazing Grace, which I have seen 10 times so far. It open in England, Ireland and Wales March 23, 2007.

A warm hello to Gareth in Cardiff, Wales, who educated me on Cardiff and Wales a bit at his blog:
http://prawncufflinks.wordpress.com/

Ioan has a great fan who has a wonderful website for him (well really for those who adore his work): http://www.ioanonline.com/

Here – I have a http://www.youtube.com

video fest of Matthew and Ioan. Makes you want to become a Celt. I hope you enjoy. I did.

Ioan is first

Montage of Ioan Gruffudd



Welsh soap opera 1991



57 seconds from an old zip disc



“Endlessly”





And NOW… Matthew

We’re in Heaven - Music video with Scotty and Kevin montage




Matthew with blond hair as Demetrius in Titus



Trailer B to Movie Titus
Again, Matthew in blond hair



Fakers Trailor






The Kiss at Kevin’s Door



Kevin wanted Scotty to sit beside him:



Kevin does his best work on the phone:

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I am an activist for human dignity through human rights and here are some non-profit organizations that I participate in and support:

The following websites are in regards to Darfur, Sudan and the human disaster that the entire international community is complicit in its genocide:
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.ajws.org

www.standnow.org
www.sudandivestment.org

For the Abolition of Slavery around the world today (yes it still is happening):
http://www.theamazingchange.com/

I sponsor a Rwandan sister through:
www.womenforwomen.org

“Rwanda Partners” is working to help restore the wounds of the Rwandan Genocide:
www.rwandapartners.org

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NOTE: I don’t know why but the two previous posts that I have put up have not allowed me to edit and also don’t make the comment link available at the end of the posts. This is annoying to me and disappointing as well. So if it happens on this post – please forgive the errors that I won’t be able to get back into edit (I always miss the errors until the post is actually posted – and all of a sudden my eyes pick out the mistakes). And please send me an email if again the “comment” link is mysteriously missing for a reason unknown to me. It must be the little blog gods playing games with me. Not fun, blog gods.