❧❧❧ Whatever you can do or dream, you can BEGIN IT. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Goethe ❧❧❧
❧❧❧ You were born whole, not broken. Sandra Hammel ❧❧❧
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
MIRIAM MAKEBA ~ LIFE AS SONG
WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND IS A FORM OF THE HAPPINESS WE PERSONIFIED
As you may know, some beauty walked the earth through the mortal body of Miriam Makeba and now leaves only her spiritual footprints ~ as she left her body behind and moved on to sing elsewhere. Music was her medium. So too, was her integrity.
The world was dealt a blow early this morning, in a small town outside Naples, Italy when Zenzile Miriam Makeba..Mama Afrika to the world, passed away.. and left this earth, aged 76 years. She was born on 4th March 1932.
Whilst this great lady was alive she would say “I will sing until the last day of my life”
Zenzile Miriam Makeba collapsed on stage, at the end of her set, after singing Pata Pata,. She was immediately attended to by her grandson Nelson Lumumba Lee and others before being rushed to the nearest hospital. Tragically, in the early hours of this 10th of November 2008 morning, the doctors pronounced that they were unable to revive her.
Ambassador Makeba, was with her band, and was performing before an outdoor audience, in the open air at Via Verde, in the small town of Castelvolturno, not far from Naples. The audience included her long time friend, Italian promoter, Roberto Meglioli, who she had called on Friday from Holland, and asked to attend her show. He was on stage with her at the end of the show, and there she collapsed into his arms.
Dr Miriam Makeba never forgot her struggle through her life, and never stopped identifying with those who were downtrodden and who suffered. An activist to the end, the event where she was performing at, was an Anti-Racism and Anti-Mafia Event. “Mazi” as she was affectionately known by those who knew her well, never shied from speaking her mind and standing for her beliefs. She was an outstanding South African, a and indeed a gracious and true citizen of the World.
Zenzile Miriam Makeba is survived by her grandchildren Nelson Lumumba Lee and Zenzi Monique Lee, and her great- grandchildren Lindelani, Ayanda and Kwame.
I first learned about Miriam Makeba approximately 30 to 35 years ago. I was at a workshop for music teachers on a Saturday. Not a mandatory thing. Just something many of us did on our own. It was a day of learning dance. Mostly folk dances. We learned Pata Pata to the recorded music of Mariam Makeba. This is the very recording of Pata Pata - I first heard, then purchased, to teach my students the dance. ....................................................
.................................................... Here Miriam is singing Pata Pata - live Uploaded by RaynerJM ....................................................
IT TAKES COURAGE APPARENTLY TO END GENOCIDE AND WE ARE PROOF THAT COURAGE IS RARE
About our fellow human beings.....
I received this text in an email today from another Darfur activist community leader.
* Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy has received very disturbing news from different sources this weekend confirming that a “Kasha” is taking place right now in the three cities of the capital of Sudan, particularly in the marketplaces and shopping centers. “Kasha” is a term in Arabic which loosely means, “Clean the capital of dirt”. This term has been used since the time of former President Nimery, during which time the security personnel and the police would ask people in the streets for their IDs and where they came from. If they found out that these innocent, unsuspecting people were from the South, or Darfur, or Nuba, they forced them on trucks and sent them to jail. In Jail, they would ask them to return to where they came from, but only after inflicting extreme brutality.
When al-Bashir’s government came to power, he used the same term, “Kasha”. At first the word was used figuratively, however it eventually took on a literal meaning. Al-Bashir took on all the same tactics as Nimery’s regime, only worse. Al-Bashir’s regime eventually changed the term “Kasha” to “Al-Nizam” which means to organize or to make tidy. While the actions behind the term remained the same, or possibly worse, al-Bashir’s regime chose this particular term to change the connotation of the process. By a simple turn of phrase, al- Bashir managed to make his actions sound innocent, potentially good even, and completely unrelated to genocide.
The act of “Al-Nizam” has escalated dramatically within a few days of the indictment of al-Bashir. The escalation began when the security personnel in mufty interrupted people in the marketplace, on the streets and in various other public spaces. Once it is discovered that a person is Darfuri, they are beaten up and taken to ghost houses where they are beaten further and then tortured. These incidents remind us of when the Justice and Equality Movement attacked Khartoum and the government killed dozens of women and children, and tortured several others. This time the government of Al-Bashir is apparently sending a new message to the ICC and to those who are in support of the indictment by taking action against the innocent Darfuris who live in the capital. It is very interesting that al-Bashir has contradicted himself. He claims that Darfuris are supporting him in Darfur, yet he is abusing them in the capital city.
Damanga condemns segregation based on racism and the denial of freewill to the citizens of Sudan that comes in tangent with that. We urge the ICC to continue its effort against this tyranny, and bring the tyrant to justice soon. We hope that all of the African leaders will stand up and cooperate with the ICC, not with the perpetrators and killers, so as to assure justice and dignity for the people of Sudan. We urge the U.N. Security Council to continue its efforts to enable the ICC to do its job, to bring al-Bashir and his cabinet who committed genocide and war crimes, to justice. We also advise the U.N. Security Council not to impede the efforts of justice and accountability, and to continue to support the justice that the ICC is trying to bring, until those perpetrators are all accountable, and sent to The Hague. We applaud the arrest of former Yugoslavian genocide criminal, Radovan Karadzic, and we hope that the arrest of al- Bashir will follow suit. Date: July 29, 2008
* Mission of Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy Through non-partisan research, analysis and public education, Damanga promotes the human rights of the people of Darfur, Sudan and elsewhere in the world. We educate the people of the region, the United States of America and beyond about their rights to freedom, equality and participation in government. Damanga seeks to aid the disempowered, including the victims of the Darfur conflict, through charitable work supporting education and livelihoods, so these people can work for the preservation of their communities.
Damanga works toward these objectives through publication on our web site of non-partisan research and analysis and presentations based on this research and analysis. Damanga makes these presentations at academic institutions, faith-based groups, human rights events and responds to invitations from concerned individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds.
Furthermore, Damanga seeks to protect the people of Sudan whose lives have been violated and marginalized because of their ethnicity, religion, gender, culture or language. Damanga wishes to improve the lives of the 8 million Massaleit, Fur, Dajo, Zagawa, Bargi, Tama, Gimir, Berty, and other displaced peoples in the Darfur region of Sudan. Damanga will continue to contact people in cities, in villages, and in refugee camps, to advocate in the world community on their behalf, and to establish a center for the purpose of gathering and disseminating information about the current crisis in Darfur.
By creating and maintaining a link between the oppressed people of Darfur and Western organizations, governments, and the media, Damanga hopes to coordinate a movement to end the genocide in Darfur, stop the oppression, and to establish the foundations of democracy. In order to accomplish this the founders of Damanga recognize that the following conditions must be met:
An international tribunal must be established to prosecute all those who have committed war crimes against the people of Darfur;
All internally displaced persons must be guaranteed the right to return to their towns and villages, they must be given free and full access to humanitarian aid, even in the most remote areas of the region, and they must be compensated for lives and property lost;
Once the people of Darfur are returned to their land they will need basic resources in order to build houses, schools, hospitals and other basic necessities of life; Finally all of Sudan's people must be allowed equal political rights, which includes sharing in the power and wealth of the country.
>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:
The term Diaspora (in Greek, διασπορά – "a scattering or sowing of seeds") refers to the forced or voluntary dispersal of any population sharing common ethnic identity to leave their settled territory, and become residents in areas often far removed from the former.'
>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:
An email text that I received July 26, 2008:
Some members in U.N. security council are preparing a resolution to defer ICC case against al-Bashir. Libya, South Africa, and Russia are working on a resolution language. France and Britain must stop these efforts. U.S. is in awkward position since it is not a member of the ICC.
......John Prendergast, co-chairman of the Enough Project, which campaigns against genocide, said the Security Council’s ability to put off Mr. Bashir’s prosecution could provide the Council with its best leverage to influence Sudan. But he criticized the current talk of a suspension, saying the Security Council could squander its power by dangling the prospect prematurely.
“Faced with this extraordinary opportunity, the Council is ready to give it away without anything in return,” Mr. Prendergast said.
If the Security Council does vote on a resolution to defer the pursuit of Mr. Bashir, it could put the United States in a tricky position. The United States has been notably strong in its criticism of the situation in Darfur, going so far as to call it genocide. But it has not signed on to the International Criminal Court, and vehemently opposed its establishment...
Another email that I received today:
The Special Courts of al-Bashir have just handed down death sentences to 8 individuals allegedly participated on May 10th attack on the Capital (Khartoum) by Darfur rebel movement - Justice and Equality Movement - JEM.
...................................... ...................................... I'LL REMEMBER YOU Performed by Grayson Hugh (Featuring clips from the movie "Fried Green Tomatoes" starring Jessica Tandy, Kathy Bates, Mary-Louise Parker and Mary Stuart Masterson.) From: FanfromPR
I'll Remember You
By Bob Dylan
I'll remember you When I've forgotten all the rest, You to me were true, You to me were the best. When there is no more, You cut to the core Quicker than anyone I knew. When I'm all alone In the great unknown, I'll remember you.
I'll remember you At the end of the trail, I had so much left to do, I had so little time to fail. There's some people that You don't forget, Even though you've only seen'm One time or two. When the roses fade And I'm in the shade, I'll remember you.
Didn't I, didn't I try to love you? Didn't I, didn't I try to care? Didn't I sleep, didn't I weep beside you With the rain blowing in your hair?
I'll remember you When the wind blows through the piney wood. It was you who came right through, It was you who understood. Though I'd never say That I done it the way That you'd have liked me to. In the end, My dear sweet friend, I'll remember you.
I love so much about music. It is spiritual ~ it's beyond words. I have no idea how I found this group when I was growing up. My family never mentioned black people. And almost everything that was fun was a sin. But I have some of the records still of The Temptations that I purchased decades ago. However, I never heard this song until I was moving through Youtube Temptation lovers tonight... ...............................................................
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
................................................
Khartoum, Sudan Stop Genocide Time
................................................
Spain Time
................................................
Melbourne Time
................................................
Hawaii Time
...............................................
...............................................
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
