SALARIES OF US CONGRESS PERSONS IS $174,000+, ANNUAL COLA, HEALTH INSURANCE, RETIREMENT PENSION AFTER 5 YEARS IN OFFICE

OBSTRUCTIONISM NOT WORKING FOR US
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Salaries of US Representatives

As of January 2010, the annual salary of each Representative is $174,000.[17] The Speaker of the House and the Majority and Minority Leaders earn more: $223,500 for the Speaker and $193,400 for their party leaders (the same as Senate leaders). A cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) increase takes effect annually unless Congress votes to not accept it. Congress sets members' salaries; however, the Twenty-seventh Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits a change in salary (but not COLA[18]) from taking effect until after the next general election. Representatives are eligible for lifetime benefits after serving for five years, including a pension, health benefits, and social security benefits.

Those politicians who like to support the rich ("no tax increase" comment today means for the top 1% of USA) and take away our rights to unionize (Wisconsin, is one example), also can vote on their own salary amount, retirement benefits, health care benefits. Can you say the same about your career, job?

US Senators Salaries since 1789 until 2011

1789-1815 -- $6.00 per diem

1815-1817 -- $1,500 per annum

1817-1855 -- $8.00 per diem

1855-1865 -- $3,000 per annum

1865-1871 -- $5,000 per annum

1871-1873 -- $7,500 per annum

1873-1907 -- $5,000 per annum

1907-1925 -- $7,500 per annum

1925-1932 -- $10,000 per annum

1932-1933 -- $9,000 per annum

1933-1935 -- $8,500 per annum

1935-1947 -- $10,000 per annum

1947-1955 -- $12,500 per annum

1955-1965 -- $22,500 per annum

1965-1969 -- $30,000 per annum

1969-1975 -- $42,500 per annum

1975-1977 -- $44,600 per annum

1977-1978 -- $57,500 per annum

1979-1983 -- $60,662.50 per annum

1983 -- $69,800 per annum

1984 -- $72,600 per annum

1985-1986 -- $75,100 per annum

1987 (1/1-2/3) -- $77,400 per annum

1987 (2/4) -- $89,500 per annum

1990 (2/1) -- $98,400 per annum

1991 -- $101,900 per annum

1991 (8/15) -- $125,100 per annum

1992 -- $129,500 per annum

1993 -- $133,600 per annum

1994 -- $133,600 per annum

1995 -- $133,600 per annum

1996 -- $133,600 per annum

1997 -- $133,600 per annum

1998 -- $136,700 per annum

1999 -- $136,700 per annum

2000 -- $141,300 per annum

2001 -- $145,100 per annum

2002 -- $150,000 per annum

2003 -- $154,700 per annum

2004 -- $158,100 per annum

2005 -- $162,100 per annum

2006 -- $165,200 per annum

2007 -- $165,200 per annum

2008 -- $169,300 per annum

2009 -- $174,000 per annum

2010 -- $174,000 per annum

2011 -- $174,000 per annum

Below information is from US government for Congress persons pay and more

U.S. Congress salaries and benefits have been the source of taxpayer unhappiness and myths over the years. Here are some facts for your consideration.

Also See: The 10 Wealthiest Members of Congress

Rank-and-File Members:
The current salary (2011) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year.

• Members are free to turn down pay increase and some choose to do so.
  
• In a complex system of calculations, administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, congressional pay rates also affect the salaries for federal judges and other senior government executives.
  
• During the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin considered proposing that elected government officials not be paid for their service. Other Founding Fathers, however, decided otherwise.
  
• From 1789 to 1855, members of Congress received only a per diem (daily payment) of $6.00 while in session, except for a period from December 1815 to March 1817, when they received $1,500 a year. Members began receiving an annual salary in 1855, when they were paid $3,000 per year.

Congress: Leadership Members' Salary (2011)
Leaders of the House and Senate are paid a higher salary than rank-and-file members.

Senate Leadership
Majority Party Leader - $193,400
Minority Party Leader - $193,400

House Leadership
Speaker of the House - $223,500
Majority Leader - $193,400
Minority Leader - $193,400

A cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) increase takes effect annually unless Congress votes to not accept it.

Benefits Paid to Members of Congress

You may have read that Members of Congress do not pay into Social Security. Well, that's a myth.

Prior to 1984, neither Members of Congress nor any other federal civil service employee paid Social Security taxes. Of course, they were also not eligible to receive Social Security benefits. Members of Congress and other federal employees were instead covered by a separate pension plan called the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act required federal employees first hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. Because the CSRS was not designed to coordinate with Social Security, Congress directed the development of a new retirement plan for federal workers. The result was the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986.

Members of Congress receive retirement and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees. They become vested after five years of full participation.

Members elected since 1984 are covered by the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS). Those elected prior to 1984 were covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). In 1984 all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching to FERS.

As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants' contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes.

Members of Congress are not eligible for a pension until they reach the age of 50, but only if they've completed 20 years of service. Members are eligible at any age after completing 25 years of service or after they reach the age of 62. Please also note that Members of Congress have to serve at least 5 years to even receive a pension.

The amount of a congressperson's pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of his or her salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member's retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.

According to the Congressional Research Service, 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service as of Oct. 1, 2006. Of this number, 290 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $60,972. A total of 123 Members had retired with service under both CSRS and FERS or with service under FERS only. Their average annual pension was $35,952 in 2006.

WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS WHO ARE LESS WELL OFF - TED KENNEDY

This is a tribute to the man Ted Kennedy.
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Uploaded by TodaysNetworkNews

Bear with the annoying music at the beginning. You might want to mute it at least until 28 seconds in.

I am learning more and more how Ted Kennedy lived his life. He is the kind of United States citizen that I want the world to know. This is how to use our voices.  This is what freedom of speech should rise up and give to the world. One voice is important.

Text that accompanies the video above:
TodaysNetworkNews: 27 August 2009 - Human Rights First: At the 2008 annual dinner, Human Rights First honored Senator Kennedy for his unwavering and courageous leadership in advancing human rights at home and abroad.

"As we mourn his death, we would like to share this tribute to his life and work." said Human Rights First spokesperson.

HUMAN RIGHTS FIRST believes that building respect for human rights and the rule of law will help ensure the dignity to which every individual is entitled and will stem tyranny, extremism, intolerance, and violence. See: http://www.humanrightsfirst.org

TODAYSNETWORKNEWS IS A GLOBAL NEWS NETWORK FOR BREAKING INTERNATIONAL NEWS, OPINION, VIDEO AND TELEVISION BY INTERNATIONALLY ACCREDITED NEWS JOURNALISTS.

Click on this post's title to find a website with gems about Ted Kennedy, including pictures.

PASSION WITH PURPOSE, VOICE USED FOR VULNERABLE ~ U.S. MA SENATOR TED KENNEDY LIVED OUT HIS LIFE IN SERVICE

I, like Senator Ted Kennedy,
am proud to be a liberal

Jack, Bobby and Teddy
Three Kennedy Brothers

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Ted Kennedy delivering the closing part of the eulogy
at the funeral of his brother Bobby,
using excerpts from Bobby's famous speech to
the students of a South African university in 1966.
Uploaded by PaddyIrishMan2

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Health Care for All. A Right Not a Privilege

December 9, 1978 | Memphis, Tennesse

"One of the most shameful things about modern America is that in our unbelievably rich land,
the quality of health care available to many of our people is unbelievably poor, and the cost is unbelievably high."

To read the speech:
Ted Kennedy's Own Words ~ 1978_Health_Care

Teddy on Jack's Shoulders

Teddy and Dad
Pictures are from www.tedkennedy.org

The True Meaning of Life

We are visitors on this planet.

We are here for ninety or one hundred years

at the very most.

During that period,

we must try to do something good,

something useful, with our lives.

If you contribute to other people’s happiness,

You will find the true goal, the true meaning of life.

H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama

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Uploaded by edkennedy

Tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy from the 2008 Democratic National Convention

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A Season for Hope
Physicians for Human Rights honored Senator Edward M. Kennedy with an award for his work on the Right to Health.
www.PhysiciansForHumanRights.org
Uploaded by PHRvideo

Ted Kennedy's Speech on Hate Crimes

Click on this post's title to go to a wonderful website in memory and in hope for Edward Moore Kennedy.

Ted Kennedy - in His Own Words

Kennedy_Compound

Cape Cod

LIBERTY AND JUSTICE

FOR ALL

WHAT A LEGACY

SITTING PRESIDENT OF SUDAN ISSUED A WARRANT FOR ARREST

Court Issues Warrant for Arrest of Sudan President

Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/world/africa/05court.html?_r=1&hp

By MARLISE SIMONS

Published: March 4, 2009

PARIS — The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan for war crimes and crimes against humanity, ignoring diplomatic requests to delay the warrant to allow time for more peace negotiations in the conflict-riddled Darfur region of his country.

It is the first time the court, which opened in 2002, has sought the arrest of a sitting head of state, though other international war crimes courts have issued warrants for Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia and Charles Taylor of Liberia while they were sitting presidents.

The registrar for the court, Silvana Arbia, said that Mr. Bashir was accused of being personally responsible for “directing attacks against the civilian population” of Darfur and “murdering, raping, and forcibly displacing millions of civilians.”

The crimes took place, Ms. Arbia said, during a five-year campaign against rebel organizations in Darfur which opposed the government in Khartoum that began in 2003. The campaign, the court said was the result of a plan agreed at the highest level of the government in Khartoum that lasted until July 14, 2008, which is the date of the arrest warrant.

The warrant charges Mr. Bashir with five counts of crimes against humanity — murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture, and rape, and two counts of war crimes — intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population, and pillaging. The warrant does not accuse Mr. Bashir of genocide, but Ms. Arbia said the court consider that charge if additional information from the prosecutors becomes available.

The arrest warrant is likely to complicate the international debate over how to solve the crisis in Darfur. It came despite concerns voiced by United Nations diplomats, the African Union, the Arab League, and some humanitarian organizations that it could provoke renewed violence in the country and put at risk the peace process in southern Sudan.

The government in Khartoum has vowed to defy the arrest warrant, making it unlikely that Mr. Bashir will be brought to the court any time soon. But analysts said the warrant will weaken Mr. Bashir’s position internationally, making it possible that he could fall from power more rapidly than he would otherwise.

In announcing the indictment, the court’s chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, said more than 30 witnesses will testify that Mr. Bashir controlled a genocidal campaign aimed at wiping out three ethnic African tribes in Darfur, the Western region of the vast nation south of Egypt.

The question now is who will execute the warrant. Sudan is legally obliged to arrest him, but such a move is not expected any time soon. The Hague court has no police force or military of its own, and the 24,000 or so United Nations peacekeepers stationed in Sudan have no mandate to detain war crimes suspects.

If Mr. Bashir travels to any of the 108 nations that are members of the court, he risks arrest, because court members will be obliged to detain him. The 80 or so countries that are not court members, including China, Russia and the United States, have no such obligation. But lawyers say those nations can arrest Mr. Bashir because several treaties state that heads of state enjoy no immunity if they are charged with genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes.

Even if Mr. Bashir remains free, analysts who favored his arrest say the warrant is likely to have a worldwide effect.

“This means he will be a fugitive, a man on a wanted poster held to be most responsible for the atrocities of Darfur,” said Richard Dicker, a director of Human Rights Watch.

Other analysts and activists argued that the warrant could undermine his political position at home. Nick Grono, deputy president of the International Crisis Group, wrote recently that “although Mr. Bashir and his security apparatus are still entrenched in power, the indictment is likely to weaken their hold. It may even cause the army and intelligence agencies, the ultimate wielders of power, to contemplate a future without Bashir.”

Many observers fear, however, that weakening Mr. Bashir could result in more violence in the region, at least in the near term.

“I am sure there will be some crowd movements, there will be some violence here and there,” said Alain Le Roy, the United Nations undersecretary general for peacekeeping operations.

Some figures in the government have threatened bloodshed in response to an indictment. Salah Gosh, the head of Sudanese intelligence, was quoted in Sudanese press reports as calling for the “amputation of the hands and the slitting of the throats of any person who dares badmouth al-Bashir or support the International Criminal Court’s allegations against him.”

Another worry, Mr. Le Roy said, was that any of the groups involved in the conflict, including the governments of Sudan and Chad as well as the rebels, might take advantage of any uproar surrounding the court’s decision to foment violence. And the delays in deploying United Nations peacekeeping troops to Darfur, with only about 64 percent of the force there, will likely worsen because of possible new tension in the region.

Mr. Le Roy also said, however, Sudan had reassured the United Nations officials that the government would respect its commitment to protect United Nations peacekeeping missions and other agencies. There were no immediate plans to scale back patrols or otherwise retreat from the prescribed mission he said.

All credit of this article:

Neil MacFarquhar and Sharon Otterman contributed reporting from New York.

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For more information:

http://www.enoughproject.org/

ICC DECISION ON OMAR AL-BASHIR IS OUT

PRESS CALL

9:00 A.M. EST March 4, 2009

ICC Decision on Omar al-Bashir of Sudan

Contact:
Eileen White Read, 202.741.6376
eread@enoughproject.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. – At 9:00am EST, Wednesday, March 4, 2009, please join the Enough Project for a global press conference to discuss the International Criminal Court’s decision in the case of Omar al-Bashir, President of Sudan. The ICC prosecutor has applied for an arrest warrant for Mr. Bashir on charges of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The Court has announced its intention to rule from The Hague, Netherlands, on March 4.

Please email Eileen White Read at eread@enoughproject.org if you plan to attend the call.

WHAT: Press call in the International Criminal Court case against Omar al-Bashir of Sudan

WHEN: Wednesday, March 4th at 9am EST/3pm in The Hague

WHERE: By telephone, 888-674-0222 from the U.S.; 201-604-0498 outside the U.S.

ID: Enough Project

WHO:
John Prendergast, co-founder of the Enough Project, an Africa policy expert, activist, and author who has participated in numerous peace processes in Africa, including his service at the National Security Council and the Department of State

John Norris, Executive Director of the Enough Project, a former official of the U.S. State Department, international policy and humanitarian organizations, and the United Nations, and the author of two books

David M. Crane, Professor at Syracuse University College of Law, former founding Chief Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, an international war crimes tribunal that indicted the former president of Liberia, Charles Taylor

The following information is from:
http://www.enoughproject.org/

ICC Issues Arrest Warrant for Sudan’s President al-Bashir

Source: http://www.enoughproject.org/blogs/icc-issues-arrest-warrant-sudan%E2%80%99s-president-al-bashir

Posted by Eileen White Read on Mar 04, 2009

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, a historic action that marks the first time the tribunal has acted against a sitting head of state. The charges stem from a July 2008 request by ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo and include crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The warrant specifically did not include the charges of genocide requested by the Chief Prosecutor last July.

The Court noted: "He is suspected of being criminally responsible as an indirect [co]perpetrator for intentionally directing attacks against an important part of the civilian population of Darfur, Sudan, murdering, exterminating, raping, torturing, and forcibly transferring large numbers of civilians and pillaging their property."

In announcing the arrest warrant, an ICC spokesman noted that the fact that Mr. Bashir is a sitting president "does not exclude his criminal responsibility nor does it grant him immunity against prosecution before the International Criminal Court."

The Enough Project issued the following statement in response:

"The International Criminal Court arrest warrant for President Omer al-Bashir provides an unprecedented opening, making Sudan's prospects for peace riper than they have been in memory,” said John Prendergast, co-founder of the Enough Project. “How the Obama administration handles this immediate foreign policy challenge will have a major impact on the outcome. It is crucial for the new president's team to clarify to Arab states, China and others that the U.S. policy objective is a just and durable peace for Sudan.”

John Norris, The Enough Project’s Executive Director, added, “This message should be heard loudly and clearly around the globe: If you kill, maim, and rape your own citizens, there will be a cost for your actions. I hope other tyrants and warlords around the globe are taking note. Slobodan Milosevic, Charles Taylor, and now, President Bashir were only willing to learn the hard way. There are now millions of activists around the United States that expect the Obama Administration to make both peace and justice a priority in Sudan.”

The issuance of an arrest warrant for Sudan’s sitting head of state for crimes against humanity offers the Obama administration a chance to catalyze multilateral efforts to bring about a solution to Sudan’s decades-long cycle of warfare. One of the crucial missing ingredients to conflict resolution efforts has been some form of accountability for the horrific crimes against humanity that have been perpetrated by the warring parties in Sudan, primarily the Khartoum regime.

President Obama should now take a number of key steps, including:

• Working with the U.N. Security Council to support targeted sanctions against those most responsible for violence in Sudan and imposing a comprehensive arms embargo against the Government of Sudan;
  
• Making UNAMID effective with a robust force on the ground in Darfur with a competent lead nation and a clear command-and-control structure;
  
• Working closely with interested parties with leverage in Sudan and the region, especially China, the United Kingdom, France, and key African countries, to coordinate efforts on peace efforts, the protection of civilians, and accountability;
  
• Countering continued violations by Sudan on the UN ban on offensive military flights in Darfur; and
  
• Appointing a senior Special Envoy to not only address the situation in Darfur, but Sudan’s multiple conflicts and their regional dimensions.

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Stay Tuned

Source: http://www.enoughproject.org/blogs/stay-tuned

Posted by Maggie Fick on Mar 04, 2009

The newswires are buzzing, rumors are flying, and capitals will soon be rushing out statements on the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant issuance this morning. Humanitarian organizations in Darfur and embassies in Khartoum have been bracing for the ICC’s decision for some time now. The sky is not going to fall today in Sudan, but as Enough’s John Prendergast and Omer Ismail note in a recent opinion-editorial, the sands will be shifting in Sudan as the international community adapts to the reality of having an indicted war criminal as president.

Here at the Enough Project (and right here on our blog), we will keep you informed and offer analysis of the latest developments, with an emphasis on what precisely the U.S. government should do to lead international efforts to end the crisis in Darfur and promote a peaceful future in Sudan. We hope you’ll stay tuned with us.

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WATCH the new Enough Slideshow: Building a Permanent Deterrent to Impunity: A Brief History of International Justice

INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT

READ our ("our" means http://www.enoughproject.org/) special page highlighting the recent developments at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

ON THE EVE OF PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE BEING USED - WHICH WAY WILL WE TIP THE SCALES?

Justice and peace in Sudan

Source: www3.signonsandiego.com

By John Prendergast and Omer Ismail

2:00 a.m. March 3, 2009

For the first time in a quarter-century, Sudan has a chance for peace throughout the entire country. On the face of it, this assertion seems counterintuitive – even preposterous. Darfur is burning, and the historic 2005 agreement that brought peace between northern and southern Sudan is at risk of collapse. Sudan scholars throughout the world busy their days penning academic dirges, and diplomats despair. We've seen that many of California's anti-genocide activists are losing hope as well.

We beg to differ. The expected International Criminal Court arrest warrant tomorrow for President Omer al-Bashir and shifting international sands provide an unprecedented opening, making Sudan's prospects for peace riper than they have been in memory.

According to the arm-chair academics and Chicken Littles, the move by the ICC – its first charges against a sitting president in that institution's young history – will make peace impossible. Beyond the basic ridiculousness of the argument that we should not act against war criminals for fear of upsetting them, this line of reasoning is painfully detached from the reality on the ground.

During our eight trips to Darfur since the genocide began in 2003, we have found that displaced and war-affected Darfuris don't see a tension between justice and peace, and rightly note that one will be very hard without the other. The refugees and displaced put the problem in the clearest of terms: How can you have peace when the president of Sudan has tried to exterminate us, stealing our land, killing our men and raping our women? How can you have peace without justice?

The new Obama administration has sobered the Bashir regime, but made it no less dangerous. The leaders in Sudan's capital now understand that their abuses will not simply be swept under the rug if they offer token counterterrorism cooperation.

Bashir's troubles are mounting. His staunchest supporters are backing away, slowly. China is deeply concerned that its oil investments will be put at risk by Bashir's continued warmongering. Arab states have similar concerns about their huge investments in Sudan's oil-fueled economic boom. Egypt in particular sees Bashir as a liability. His regime supported the assassination attempt against President Hosni Mubarak in 1995, backed Saddam Hussein in the two Gulf wars, and now is fully behind Hamas in Gaza.

Tensions are boiling within Bashir's government in response to these challenges, and particularly the ICC. Some key regime insiders want to find an exit strategy for Bashir, whether that involves a comfortable retirement, standing him down in advance of upcoming elections, or removal. This group would then shift toward a greater accommodation with the international community, opening the door for better peace prospects. Others, however, are much more hard-line, wanting to impose martial law, withdraw from the north-south peace deal, and push U.N. peacekeeping forces out of Darfur and the south.

It is not an exaggeration to say that millions of Sudanese lives may depend on which group emerges victorious. How the Obama administration handles this immediate foreign policy challenge will have a major impact on the outcome. It is crucial for the new president's team to clarify to Arab states, China and others that the U.S. policy objective is a just and durable peace for Sudan.

Even more important will be Obama's ability to lay out a clear diplomatic strategy for achieving peace in Sudan, and sell that road map to other influential international actors. Remember the mantra of Darfur's displaced: no peace without justice. The administration ideally should pursue a two-track approach that seeks intensified peace efforts for Darfur and the south on the one hand, and the sidelining of the indicted war criminal Bashir on the other. On the peace track, the United States should be out front publicly, working closely with U.N., Arab League and African Union diplomats to establish a more credible and accelerated negotiations process. But on the latter track dealing with accountability for Bashir's crimes, President Obama's quiet diplomacy with China and key Arab states will be instrumental.

If Bashir and his cronies publicly laugh at this arrest warrant, it will be nervous laughter at best. The list of war criminals such as Charles Taylor, Slobodan Milosevic, Radovan Karadzic, Théoneste Bagosora and others who have been held to account for their atrocities is growing pleasingly longer by the day.

Prendergast is cofounder of Enough, the project to end genocide and crimes against humanity at the Center for American Progress. He also was a visiting professor at the University of San Diego. Ismail, an adviser to Enough, founded the Darfur Peace and Development organization.

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Tutu Fights for Justice

Posted by Rebecca Brocato on Mar 3, 2009

Source: www.enoughproject.org

On the eve of the increasingly probable issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, two opinion pieces discussing the issue appear in the New York Times. South African clergyman and Nobel Peace Prize winner Desmond Tutu has an incredible opinion piece in support of ICC action that rebuts arguments, such as the one put forth in an editorial by Franklin Graham, that “The removal of Mr. Bashir will make it harder to negotiate an end to the crisis in Sudan.”

Graham, the president of the evangelical relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, seems to insinuate that because Bashir addressed a handful of peripheral concerns voiced by influential Americans, he is a rational actor, and that he is a necessary component of any lasting peace despite the atrocities he has perpetrated. In combating that point of view, Tutu writes,

“There can be no real peace and security until justice is enjoyed by the inhabitants of the land. There is no peace precisely because there had been no justice. As painful and inconvenient as justice may be, we have seen that the alternative – allowing accountability to fall by the wayside – is worse.”

Enough has been a vociferous advocate of Tutu’s position that the peace vs. justice debate constitutes a false choice, and that justice is a necessary component of any peace effort in Sudan.

Tutu is one of the best known and regarded human rights activists in the world. His experience with truth and reconciliation as well as his gravitas makes his calls for justice in Sudan all the more powerful.

John Norris contributed to this post.

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The International Criminal Court will announce this Wednesday, March 4th at 8:00am EST (2:00 PM in The Hague) whether it will issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

Take Action! - Call the White House tomorrow morning

Call the White House today at 202-456-1111 and ask President Obama to condemn the violence in Darfur and warn the Sudanese government not to escalate its criminal campaign. Tell President Obama we must bring an end to the genocide under his watch and that you expect his administration to support the ICC's quest for justice for the Darfuri people.

Visit www.savedarfur.org/justice for a sample script and other action items.

WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT - LIVE FROM THE HAGUE

March 4, 2009 - WILL THIS BE A DAY OF COURAGE AND PRINCIPLES?

UNITED NATIONS WEBCAST

International Criminal Court
Select language English or French

News and Highlights

March 03, 2009

Updated information on the press conference of March 4, 2009 on the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I concerning President Al Bashir of Sudan

After the press conference, which will be hosted by the Registrar of the Court, Ms Silvana Arbia, and the ICC Spokesperson, Ms Laurence Blairon, the Prosecutor, Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, will also make a short statement in English and take some questions.

Pre-trial Chamber I's decision concerning President al-Bashir of Sudan to be announced during

The following text came today in an email from Save Darfur:

The International Criminal Court will announce this Wednesday, March 4th at 8:00am EST (2:00 PM in The Hague) whether it will issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

Take Action! - Call the White House tomorrow morning

Call the White House today at 202-456-1111 and ask President Obama to condemn the violence in Darfur and warn the Sudanese government not to escalate its criminal campaign. Tell President Obama we must bring an end to the genocide under his watch and that you expect his administration to support the ICC's quest for justice for the Darfuri people.

Visit www.savedarfur.org/justice for a sample script and other action items.

Rallies organized by the Darfuri community - Washington, DC and New York

We encourage you to attend upcoming rallies organized by Darfuri and Sudanese diaspora communities in New York and Washington, DC.

• Wednesday March 4th 1:00 PM: Darfuri community leaders in New York will rally in response to the ICC's decision on the Bashir arrest warrant. Join them at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza outside the United Nations (East 47th Street @ 1st & 2nd Ave).
• Thursday March 5th 1:00 PM: Join Sudanese and Darfuri diaspora leaders as they rally in front of the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, DC (2210 Massachusetts Ave).

Press conferences - live from The Hague and the United Nations on March 4th

The Pre-Trial Chamber I's decision concerning President Al Bashir of Sudan will be announced during a press conference at the Court this Wednesday, 4 March 2009. The press conference, broadcast live on the Court's website at www.icc-cpi.int, is expected to start at 8 AM Eastern.

In New York, the Coalition for the ICC will be organizing a briefing with journalists at 10:00 a.m. in response to the Chamber's decision at the United Nations Secretariat. We invite you to watch the CICC's briefing live (or access the archived video) at www.un.org/webcast.

Webcast - hear from Save Darfur and Enough

Tune in for a webcast on the implications of the ICC decision by the Save Darfur Coalition and the Enough Project. The webcast is scheduled for the afternoon of March 9, 2009 and will feature a discussion of what the ICC's decision on the Bashir warrant means. More details coming soon via e-mail, and posted at www.savedarfur.org/justice.

We look forward to working with you to ensure peace and justice during this important moment for Sudan.

WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO CRY INJUSTICE?

IN THE EYES OF MANY THE USA HAS LOST ANY CREDIBILITY

I read it. I hear it. I understand it to a point. ...that I have no right to speak up against the genocide or what is happening in Sudan because of the things that my government has done that is wrong. Or criminal.

But in the end, I don't buy it. I know the USA has done criminal things under the Bush administration, specifically and most recently. And I firmly believe that justice should be sought in those cases.

But being silent in the case of genocide of the Darfuri people, just because I am a citizen of the United States of America, isn't something I am willing to be.

I received a message the other day from someone who has not been to my blog, but left a message at MyBlogLog page. He told me to let Sudan solve its own problems about Darfur. The Darfur crisis alone is entering its seventh year. That is not taking into account what happened previously in southern Sudan. The holocaust lasted 12 years. How long should we wait? Five more years?

Email text received February 28, 2009
from a Sudanese living in the United States presently

The Arabic London-based newspaper (Alsharq Alawsat) published today (2/28/09) a warning from Janjaweed leader Musa Hilal that he will confront decisively any one (including organizations), whether domestic or international in Darfur, who supports or has anything to do with the ICC (International Criminal Court) decision issuing the warrant of arrest against Al-Bashir.

Musa Hilal said he has mobilized more than 30 thousand of well-armed Mugahideen ready to deal with any development resulting from the ICC warrant of arrest. He said: " We will not hesitate on immediate response to any betrayal or any move to support the ICC ."

Mohamed Suleiman

.....................................................

.....................................................
Video Link
Defectors from the Sudanese regime explain their role in the Sudanese Government's planning and execution of mass atrocities in Darfur, implicating members of the regime at the highest level.
Uploaded by AegisTrust

Uncertainty as Sudan awaits President's arrest

Source: www.latimes.com

Many hope that the International Criminal Court's genocide case against President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir will lead to reform. But an arrest warrant, expected Wednesday, could also ignite more violen

By Edmund Sanders
March 1, 2009

Reporting from Khartoum, Sudan -- The billboard in downtown Khartoum delivers a not-so-subtle message to passing cars: "A real Sudanese never stands against a president during his time of need," reads the text, under a picture of a smiling President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir.

As if anyone in the Sudanese capital needed any reminders, an arrest warrant on genocide charges is expected to be issued against Bashir on Wednesday by the International Criminal Court, in a case that threatens to send the country down a path of uncertainty and instability.

Many hope that the war-crimes case stemming from Bashir's handling of the Darfur conflict in western Sudan will prod the hard-nosed regime into making reforms and ending the six-year war.

But officials and analysts, both inside and outside the country, worry that the case could instead push the ruling party into a more antagonistic, isolationist stance, or even ignite another civil war.

"This is a whole new reality," said Fouad Hikmat, the Horn of Africa director at the International Crisis Group. "It's anybody's guess what happens now."

The arrest warrant is only the latest dark cloud emerging in what some see as a perfect storm brewing against Sudan's Islamist-led ruling party, which seized power in a 1989 coup.

National elections this year will test the party's popular support and could unravel a fragile power-sharing agreement it forged with southern rebels. A new U.S. president has filled his administration with advisors who advocate a get-tough stance toward Sudan. Falling oil prices are bringing the country's once-thriving economy to its knees.

"This is going to be a decisive year for Sudan -- one that could determine whether the country will survive or not," said Hayder Ibrahim, founder of the Center for Sudanese Studies, an independent think tank in Khartoum.

The ICC case arose from the government's counter-insurgency campaign in Darfur. Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has accused Bashir of supervising a genocidal plot to wipe out certain tribes in the region. Private militias allegedly funded by the government killed 35,000 people and led to the deaths of at least 100,000 others from hunger and disease, according to the ICC case.

Government officials deny that genocide has taken place and accuse Western nations, chiefly the U.S., of using the ICC to topple an oil-rich Islamic republic with a history of opposing Washington policy in Africa and the Middle East.

"The ICC is targeting Sudan because Sudan is a very rich country," Sudanese presidential advisor Ali Tamim Fartak said.

How the government responds to the arrest warrant in the coming months, and how the world reacts, will be instrumental in determining Sudan's future, experts say.

So far, the official government response has ranged from dismissing the case as inconsequential to warning it will increase violence in Darfur and spur attacks against Westerners in Khartoum. Last month, Sudan's intelligence chief, Salah Abdallah Gosh, said the case might trigger a rise in Islamic extremism.

Diplomats and U.N. officials in Sudan say the government's next move is unclear, but leaders appear to be leaving all options open, from a peace deal to war.

On the one hand, Bashir, who last fall convened the first-ever national convention to address the Darfur conflict, has opened peace talks with the leading rebel group and has sent diplomatic signals to the U.S. about democratic and humanitarian reforms.

"The time of the rifle is over," Bashir recently told an audience of opposition leaders.

At the same time, according to a Western diplomat in Sudan, the government has been arming militias throughout the southern and western regions -- the same strategy widely suspected to have been used in Darfur -- just in case rebels or political rivals move against it.

Harassment against opposition leaders, journalists, human rights activists and aid workers has increased substantially over the last six months. One man was convicted in January of treason for allegedly providing information to the ICC. Prominent Islamist Hassan Turabi was jailed after calling on Bashir to turn himself over to the ICC.

But some anti-government activists expressed mixed feelings about the ICC case, which is viewed by many Sudanese as a challenge to the country's sovereignty.

"I dream about getting rid of the government, but it should come through internal movement, not from the ICC," human rights activist Azhari Alhaj said. "Having the ICC come in at this sensitive time could have a negative impact, because we are going to be seen as working for the ICC. We are the ones who are going to suffer, and no one in the international community is going to protect us."

In its lobbying campaign against the ICC, the government has been trying to inflame nationalist sentiments, portraying the case as a "re-colonization" of Sudan and Africa by foreign powers.

But U.S. officials say that beneath the veneer of national unity and public support for Bashir, Sudan's ruling party is already debating whether its president has become a liability. There are rumors that some of Bashir's political backers are angling to replace him.

John Prendergast, an anti-genocide activist and Obama administration advisor, said the ruling party had a history of doing what needed to be done to survive.

"They are going to have a serious debate about whether the interests of the ruling party are best served by having [an accused] war criminal as president," Prendergast said, predicting Bashir would be nudged aside and offered asylum outside the country.

If Sudan were to replace Bashir or agree to reforms, U.S. officials are prepared to allow the ICC case to be deferred by the U.N. Security Council.

"They are going to use the arrest warrant like a loaded gun, but not fire it," said one U.S. government official who was not authorized to speak publicly. "It's a way to say, 'Here is your last chance.' "

Others warn such a strategy is fraught with risk. Former U.S. envoy to Sudan Andrew Natsios questioned whether Sudan's ruling clique would respond to outside pressure.

"We are assuming that they will become more rational," he said. "But they become more inflexible, more confrontational and more brutal the more they are cornered."

Natsios warned that the ICC arrest warrant might trigger the collapse of the regime or a return to war, particularly if it distracts from implementation of the 2005 peace treaty that ended the civil war with southern rebels.

"We could end up with another Rwanda or Somalia or Democratic Republic of Congo in which hundreds of thousands of people could be killed," he said. "We could end up with something much worse."

Special correspondent Alsanosi Ahmed contributed to this report.

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

Genocide Ends

When Enough of Us

Stand Up Against It

JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org

www.miafarrow.org


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 available 9 AM - 5 PM EST weekdays

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

Call your Senators and Representative Today!

Find your elected politicians contact information at this link:

www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected

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

To call the USA Secretary of State

202-647-6575

The USA State Department public comment line

works 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

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

Sample of what to say:

* I'm calling to ask President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and Ambassador Rice to protect innocent civilians in Darfur in the wake of Bashir's arrest warrant. Please issue immediate warnings to Bashir and the government of Sudan specifying consequences of attacks on civilians. Please also prepare an emergency response plan to address further violence and appoint a full-time senior level envoy. Lastly, please stand firm in support of the ICC indictment and veto any delay in the prosecution of Bashir.

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

IF NOT,

THEN,

YOUR SILENCE

CONTRIBUTES

TO

ANOTHER

GENOCIDE.

www.savedarfur.org

www.aegistrust.org

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S WORDS "WE CAN'T SAY 'NEVER AGAIN' AND THEN ALLOW IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN...WHEN YOU SEE A GENOCIDE....THAT'S A STAIN ON ALL OF US..."

People without a country to protect them...
Darfuri people trying to take refuge

Graphic, disturbing pictures
of the attack on the Kalma Camp

I took time out of my citizen activism regarding preventing and stopping genocide, specifically of Darfuri families. During my time-out, I worked as a volunteer with the Presidential candidate's campaign at the time, Barack Obama. Now, I am asking President Obama - along with everyone else who cares about inhumane behavior toward humans - to take the critically important step to select a high official for the Sudanese people of Darfur. Immediately.

A Video with Barack Obama speaking on Darfur - while on the Presidential campaign trail

A Previous post of mine on Darfur

"The United States has a moral obligation anytime you see humanitarian catastrophes...

...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...

I think the level of commitment and the way that I've spoken out on this issue indicates not only knowledge but also passion in bringing an end to this crisis.

It's very encouraging to see activism based not on self interest but on a moral imperative. And it's especially heartening to see the young people engaged in expressing their idealism through this movement.

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."

Barack Obama

Pictures of Darfur from David Johnson at Silent Images

.........................................................

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

.........................................................
Link to MSNBC February 24, 2009 - George Clooney and Nicholas Kristof speak regarding Darfur
Nicholas Kristof of The New York Times is a two Pulitzer Prize winner

Wolf: High Caliber Special Envoy Should Be Appointed to Sudan

Tuesday February 24, 2009

February 24, 2009
Contact: Dan Scandling
(202) 225-5136

WOLF: HIGH CALIBER SPECIAL ENVOY SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO SUDAN
Recommends Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for Job

Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) today called on President Obama to appoint a "high caliber" envoy to Sudan to help bring peace and stability to the war-torn nation.

In a letter to the president, Wolf specifically recommended former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist for the job, noting that he has a passion for the people and future of Sudan.

"Even when he served in the Senate, Dr. Bill Frist continued his surgical practice, travelling to Africa yearly on medical missions, including to Sudan," Wolf wrote. "He boldly emerged as a leader in declaring what was happening in Sudan to be genocide, and co-authoring the bipartisan Sudan Peace Act."

Wolf, who is the co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and one of the leading advocates in Congress for human rights around the globe, has been to Sudan five times. He and Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) in 2004 were the first members of Congress to travel to Darfur and have been openly critical of the government of Sudan for its involvement in the ongoing genocide.

"I’ve witnessed the nightmare with my own eyes," Wolf wrote to Obama. "Every day that passes, more men are killed, more women are raped, and more children die of malnutrition. This is simply unacceptable. The time to act is now."

Below is the complete text of Wolf’s letter to the president.

The Honorable Barack H. Obama
The President
The White House
Washington DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I commend you for your recent special envoy appointments of both Senator George Mitchell and Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. These distinguished diplomats are well-suited to focus their full attention on foreign policy priorities. I have long favored the envoy approach as an effective way to tackle seemingly intractable challenges.

There is perhaps no more daunting challenge than the quest for peace and stability in Sudan-a nation which has long been ravaged by war, genocide and bloodshed.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which in 2005 brought about the end to a brutal 20-year war between the genocidal government in Khartoum and the South, was a monumental achievement and was in many respects the result of tireless diplomacy by former Senator John Danforth-then U.S. special envoy to Sudan. We can learn from this successful model.

I have written Secretary of State Clinton urging the appointment of a high-caliber special envoy to Sudan. Today I echo that call to you, with the specific request that the appointment be made in a high-profile event, which makes it clear to the world that the envoy has your ear and speaks with your authority. I ask that you appoint former Senate Majority leader Bill Frist as this special envoy.

Even when he served in the Senate, Dr. Bill Frist continued his surgical practice, travelling to Africa yearly on medical missions, including to Sudan. He boldly emerged as a leader in declaring what was happening in Sudan to be genocide, and co-authoring the bipartisan Sudan Peace Act. Senator Frist is truly passionate about the people and future of Sudan and in the tradition of former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell he is respected across the aisle.
His efforts would undoubtedly be buoyed by the counsel of Theodore (Ted) Dagne, Roger Winter and John Prendergast - all capable, committed individuals whose expertise and extensive time spent in the region would make them invaluable advisers to any special envoy.

I have traveled to Sudan five times since 1989 and led the first congressional delegation to Darfur with Senator Sam Brownback. I've witnessed the nightmare with my own eyes. Every day that passes, more men are killed, more women are raped, and more children die of malnutrition. This is simply unacceptable. The time to act is now.

Best wishes.

Source: wolf.house.gov

Click here for the letter to President Barack Obama with Rep. Wolf's letterhead

Press Releases of U.S. Representative Wolf

- High Caliber Envoy Should Be Appointed Sudan (2/24/09)

- Statement at Press Conference on Human Rights (2/24/09)

- Dismayed By New Administrations Actions on Human Rights (2/24/09)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This afternoon the following email was received from a Sudanese citizen, who is living in the USA currently. Many of his family members were murdered by the Sudanese-government-supported genocide activity.

Dear ALL,

Cell phones and satelite phones (Soraya) are vital tools in Darfur.
The Government of Sudan has cut off services to cell phones in Darfur (in IDP
camps in particular) to have news black-out, especially with the approaching
March 4th (ICC announcement date).
Why this is extremely crucial issue?:

1- Atrocities that happen in the camps and outside are reported by the civilians
via their cell phones to the Darfuris in Diaspora, to news agencies, to Darfur
radios (Europe and U.S.A.), to UNAMID.
2- Areal bombing raids are reported to the above mentioned entities, in
addition, the natives alert other villagers in other locations downstream of the
raid so that people can take cover or flea to hiding places ( life saving tool).
3- Via cell phones and the rapid reporting there was change of behavior noticed
of UNAMID ( becoming more engaged to save lives), Government of Sudan (hard to
deny attack news), Janjaweed (became more selective in targeting villages i.e.
select remote villages where possibility of civilians having cell phones is
little).

More violence is expected with ICC decision. It would be a disaster if this
phone service black-out continues. Many lives might be lost unnecessarily.

Land phones also are mostly cut off these days in Darfur by the GoS.

Mohamed Suleiman - End of email text

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

Genocide Ends

When Enough of Us

Stand Up Against It

JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org

www.miafarrow.org


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 available 9 AM - 5 PM EST weekdays

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

Call your Senators and Representative Today!

Find your elected politicians contact information at this link:

www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected

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

To call the USA Secretary of State

202-647-6575

The USA State Department public comment line

works 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.

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

Sample of what to say:

* I'm calling to ask President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and Ambassador Rice to protect innocent civilians in Darfur in the wake of Bashir's arrest warrant. Please issue immediate warnings to Bashir and the government of Sudan specifying consequences of attacks on civilians. Please also prepare an emergency response plan to address further violence and appoint a full-time senior level envoy. Lastly, please stand firm in support of the ICC indictment and veto any delay in the prosecution of Bashir.

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

IF NOT,

THEN,

YOUR SILENCE

CONTRIBUTES

TO

ANOTHER

GENOCIDE.

www.savedarfur.org

www.aegistrust.org