❧❧❧ 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 ❧❧❧
Labels: Blog for Peace, Children Will Lead Us, Environment, Sandra Hammel ilovemylife Rhode Island, United Nations
posted by ilovemylife @ 9:10 PM
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Labels: Basic Human Rights, Children, Dali Lama, Our Humanity in the Balance, President Barack Obama, Sandra Hammel ilovemylife Rhode Island, United Nations, Women as Tools of War
posted by ilovemylife @ 8:03 PM
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What could be worse than having Gration (since March 2009) be Obama's Special Envoy to Sudan for two years? What will change when Dane Smith takes on the same impotent Obama policy regarding genocide in Sudan, including Darfur?
While much effort has gone into ensuring that the Southern Sudan referendum went ahead on time, the escalating tensions in the contested border region of Abyei serve as an important reminder of the significant challenges that still remain to a successful transition to long-term peace in Sudan.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) has special provisions for the ‘Three Areas’: Blue Nile, Southern Kordofan (including the Nuba Mountains) and Abyei. Abyei is a transition zone between North and South and has traditionally been an area of cattle owning groups: the Dinka (from the south), and the Missiriyya (from the North). In the negotiations leading up to the CPA, Abyei was always a sticking point and has since continued to be a contested region. Abyei holds a vast amount of Sudan’s oil. However, the pipelines and refineries, essential for the extraction of the oil, are situated in the North.
Abyei, as the rest of the Three Areas, was supposed to be the litmus test for a united Sudan and for the wealth- and power-sharing arrangements set out by the CPA. The agreement should have identified mechanisms to share the wealth between the North and the South long term but the Abyei Protocol did not tackle any of the disputed issues and was only ever meant as a resolution for the interim period following the signing of the CPA in 2005. The Abyei referendum, on whether Abyei should remain in Southern Kordofan State in Northern Sudan or join Bahr el-Ghazal State in Southern Sudan, was to take place at the same time as the Southern Sudan vote. However, the vote has been delayed and no future date has been set. The borders have also yet to be demarcated.
At this timely event, as the results of the South Sudan referendum begin to emerge, senior NCP and SPLM commentators from Abyei discuss the future of the region.
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US envoy reiterates support to Sudan’s strategy for Darfur
Source: Sudan Tribune
January 13, 2011 (KHARTOUM) — US Special Envoy for Sudan Scott Gration renewed his support to Sudanese government strategy to end Darfur conflict and announced that his country would work jointly with Khartoum to implement it.
Flanked by his aide for Darfur conflict Dane Smith, Gration ended Thursday a two-day visit to the restive region where he met with North Darfur deputy governor Idriss Abdalla Hassan and the head of UNAMID Ibrahim Gambari. He also paid a visit to IDPs camps in Deribat, Khor Abeche and Shangili Tobayai.
The Sudanese government plan aims to domesticate efforts to resolve Darfur conflict though promoting dialogue among local actors from states governments, tribal leaders, civil society and IDPs. It also plans to establish security and support the return of displaced persons besides recovery and development projects there.
In a meeting with deputy governor, Gration praised the Darfur peace strategy prepared by the government to address the eight year conflict. He further said his government has appointed Dane Smith to lead an American team to support these efforts.
"We know that those are your priorities, but we will work together and synergize our efforts to reach a sustainable peace in Darfur conducive to the return of displaced persons and refugees to their homes."
The government’s strategy is founded on the conviction that the rebel groups have become an obstacle to end the conflict. Ghazi Saleh Al-Deen, presidential adviser tasked with the file, considers also that the rebels distorted the origins of the conflict which had been disputes over pastures and land between cattle herders and farmers.
Gration announced his support to the government’s plan since last August after a meeting with Ghazi besides Thabo Mbeki of the African Union panel and Gambari who is supposed to represent the United Nation.
The US envoy however emphasized the need to establish a ceasefire commission supervised by the UNAMID, comprising representatives from the government and all the rebel groups including Minni Minnawi, LJM, JEM and SLM-AW.
GOS-JEM CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES
The head of the Sudanese government negotiating team met today with the Qatari state minister for foreign affairs to discuss the proposal submitted by the mediation to the government and the Liberation and Justice Movement (LJM).
Amin Hassan Omer also discussed with Minister Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud a cessation of hostilities draft agreement submitted by the mediation to the government and the Justice and Equality Movement.
Last December, Gration during a visit to Doha contributed to convince JEM rebels to commence talks on cessation of hostilities before to resume peace talks.
Sudanese government withdrew its delegation from Doha last month saying talks can be conducted through exchange of visits and correspondence.
The Joint Chief Mediator Djibril Bassole is expected in Khartoum on Saturday for talks with Sudanese officials on the peace process.
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"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Martin Luther King Jr.
Labels: 800 GENOCIDE, ACT NOW FOR DARFUR, ICC, Omar al Bashir, President Barack Obama, Referendum, Sandra Hammel ilovemylife, Southern Sudan, United Nations
posted by ilovemylife @ 10:16 PM
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| Streaming video and Live Chat via |
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by reports of recent clashes between the Government of Sudan and rebel forces, and the resultant loss of civilian lives and properties in the area of Korma, North Darfur.
The Secretary-General calls on all parties to use restraint, renew their commitment to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, and redouble their efforts to reach a political settlement of the conflict in Darfur.
The Secretary-General also reiterates the importance of ensuring a safe and free passage for United Nations and humanitarian personnel to assess the situation on the ground and provide life-saving assistance to those in need.
Source: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2009/sgsm12473.doc.htm
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the 20 September attack on residents of Duk Padiet village in Jonglei State, in Southern Sudan. Initial reports indicate upwards of 100 persons were killed in the attacks. The United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) continues to determine the full extent of this terrible event.
The Secretary-General urges the Government of Southern Sudan to further strengthen their efforts to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of these crimes.
In the meantime, the Secretary-General commends the efforts of the Government to restore order, deter retaliatory attacks and to pursue dialogue and reconciliation among all concerned parties.
Source: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2009/sgsm12472.doc.htm
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
The Secretary-General remains gravely concerned by the abduction of two international staff members at the African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), taken from their homes on 28 August 2009. UNAMID officials are working closely with authorities from the Government of Sudan to ensure their safe release.
The Secretary-General wishes to underscore the importance of the peacekeeping and humanitarian work being undertaken in Darfur, and his belief that United Nations staff members carry out valuable work around the world, which they should be able to do without fear of harassment or intimidation. The Secretary-General expresses his solidarity with the families of the abducted staff members, and calls for their safe and speedy return.
Source: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2009/sgsm12471.doc.htm
Labels: Ban ki-Moon, Darfur, Genocide, ilovemylife, PRESIDENT OBAMA, Sandra Hammel, September 23, Speech, Sudan, Susan Rice, United Nations
posted by ilovemylife @ 11:07 PM
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WHAT DO THE PEOPLE OF DARFUR HAVE TO DO TO GET OUR ATTENTION?
The Roots of Violence:
Wealth without work,
Pleasure without conscience,
Knowledge without character,
Commerce without morality,
Science without humanity,
Worship without sacrifice,
Politics without principles.
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find USA elected politicians contact information at this link: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The USA State Department public comment line
works 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.Genocide Ends
When Enough of Us
Stand Up Against It
JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org
Labels: al-Bashir, Congress, Darfur, Genocide, Hillary Clinton, Human Rights, ICC, ilovemylife, Justice, News, PRESIDENT OBAMA, Sandra Hammel, STOP GENOCIDE NOW, Sudan, Susan Rice, TWITTER, United Nations
posted by ilovemylife @ 9:05 AM
0 Comments
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We Are All the Keepers of Justice.
In Sudan, there is an emergency.
Silence kills in its complicity to killing by treachery.
Darfuris are in dire need of some humanity
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find USA elected politicians contact information at this link: http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The USA State Department public comment line
works 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.Genocide Ends
When Enough of Us
Stand Up Against It
JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org
Labels: al-Bashir, Congress, Darfur, Genocide, Hillary Clinton, Human Rights, ICC, ilovemylife, Justice, News, PRESIDENT OBAMA, Sandra Hammel, STOP GENOCIDE NOW, Sudan, Susan Rice, TWITTER, United Nations
posted by ilovemylife @ 7:20 AM
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PRESIDENT OBAMA,
KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) — Sudan's president, wanted by an international court on war crimes charges, denounced the tribunal, the U.N. and aid agencies on Thursday as part of a new "colonialism" that aims to destabilize his country.
President Omar al-Bashir danced and waved a cane defiantly before thousands of supporters, as the arrest warrant had its first repercussions on the ground. Sudan ordered at least 11 aid agencies to leave Darfur and cease operations in retaliation for the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant. The groups started the process of moving out Thursday.
Aid workers warned that the expulsion order could spark a humanitarian crisis for up to 2 million people in Darfur who are directly served by the agencies, receiving food, shelter and medical supplies.
In Zamzam Camp, one of the largest Darfur refugee camps, residents said aid workers who operate daily in the camps did not show up on Thursday. Refugees said they were now feared what will happen when their most recent monthly delivery of food and other supplies run out if aid workers don't return. Particularly worrisome is the pullout of health workers, and the possibility of disease outbreaks in the upcoming rainy season.
"After God, we only have the organizations" to help us, said Zamzam camp resident Ibrahim Safi, 34. He called the expulsion order a "catastrophe."
Speaking for the first time since the warrant was issued Wednesday, al-Bashir told a Cabinet meeting that those agencies, the U.N. and the tribunal are "tools of the new colonialism" meant to bring Sudan and its resources under control.
Al-Bashir accused the aid organizations of trying to disrupt peace efforts in Darfur, profiting from the conflict and interfering with foreign investment. He said his government ordered them out of Darfur because they violated the law.
"We in Sudan have always been a target of the U.N. and these organizations because we have said, 'No,'" al-Bashir said. "We said the resources of Sudan should go to the people of Sudan."
Hasabo Abdel-Rahman, the head of the government agency coordinating humanitarian affairs, also accused the aid groups cooperating with the ICC and offering the court "false" testimonies.
Read the full article:Labels: al-Bashir, Congress, Darfur, England, Enough, France, Genocide, Hillary Clinton, Human Rights, ICC, ilovemylife, Justice, News, PRESIDENT OBAMA, Sandra Hammel, Sudan, Susan Rice, United Nations
posted by ilovemylife @ 2:43 PM
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WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE
The Government of Sudan’s disastrous decision to expel humanitarian relief organizations leaves a void that will be filled by deprivation and despair and they will be held accountable for the lives lost.We know that people have already died because of al-Bashir expelled aid groups. How many more lives have to be lost before our government is acting?
By Andrew Heavens
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Aid officials said there were fears of fresh disease outbreaks in two Darfur refugee camps after residents refused to let state-backed aid agencies come in to replace expelled humanitarians.
Sudan expelled 13 foreign aid groups and closed three local organisations this month, accusing them of helping the International Criminal Court build up a war crimes case against the country's president. The groups deny working with the court.
The expulsions sparked international outrage with aid groups warning the closures would have a devastating impact on hundreds of thousands of people uprooted by the conflict.
Sudanese government aid officials said the expelled groups' work would be covered by remaining international organisations and scores of local groups that authorities were planning to bring into the area.
But aid officials and activists said residents of South Darfur's huge Kalma and Kass camps were refusing aid from state-backed organisations, even though they were running short of medicines, food aid and clean water.
Hussein Abu Sharati, who says he represents displaced Darfuris in 158 camps, said Kalma residents had met and voted to refuse all aid from Sudanese groups. "They don't see these groups as aid organisations, they see them as tools of the government," he told Reuters by satellite phone.
"IDPs (internally displaced people) in Kalma and Kass are refusing all access to the government and local aid groups even if it means receiving less water or a greater risk of disease," said an aid worker from one of the ousted organisations, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The worker said residents had blocked state deliveries of fuel for their own generators, set up to pump fresh water in to the camp, raising the risk of the spread of diseases like cholera. Camp leaders had refused to let Ministry of Health officials vaccinate residents against a meningitis outbreak.
The reports were impossible to verify independently as international journalists have not been able to get travel permits to visit Kalma and surrounding camps in recent days.
Kalma and Kass are home to tens of thousands of people who fled their homes after raids and attacks by government troops and militias during the Darfur conflict.
International experts say almost six years of fighting has uprooted 2.7 million people. Many of the camps that have taken them in have become highly politicised.
Darfur's joint U.N./African Union UNAMID peacekeeping force has said it is ready to do what it can to fill any humanitarian gaps left by the expulsions of the aid agencies.
"UNAMID does not have a mandate for humanitarian assistance. But it is not going to let people die," said Daniel Augstburger, head of the humanitarian sector for the U.N. Mission in Darfur.
Aid workers have been concerned about suggestions the peacekeepers might take on humanitarian work in Sudan.
"Gradually the line between peacekeepers and aid workers gets blurred and then everyone becomes a fair target," said one.
Armed men attacked an UNAIMD patrol in South Darfur this week, killing one Nigerian peacekeeper.
Five workers for the Belgian arm of Medecins Sans Frontieres were kidnapped in North Darfur last week and held for three days by a group that, government officials said, was protesting against the International Criminal Court.
I am very worried that our new President
is planning to ignore Darfur
Write President Obama
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
You can also call or write to the President:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments to President Obama:
202 - 456-1111
or
1-800-GENOCIDE
The White House comment line is available
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. weekdays
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Genocide Ends
When Enough of Us
Stand Up Against It
JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org
Labels: al-Bashir, Congress, Darfur, England, Enough, France, Genocide, Hillary Clinton, Human Rights, ICC, ilovemylife, Justice, News, PRESIDENT OBAMA, Sandra Hammel, Sudan, Susan Rice, United Nations
posted by ilovemylife @ 1:41 PM
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Members of the US Congress had the opportunity to sign letters to three Sudanese allies urging them to take urgent action for Darfuri families.
The letters were authored by Congressmen Capuano and McCaul and are addressed to Chinese President Hu Jintao, Arab League Secretary-General Amre Moussa and African Union Chairman Muammar Qadhafi. The letters urge these leaders to send a clear message that expelling humanitarian aid agencies from Sudan - and putting Darfuri lives at even greater risk - is unacceptable.
The deadline to sign-on to these letters was noon on Tuesday, March 17, 2009.
Call 1-800-GENOCIDE and praise or express sorrow to your Representative for either signing or not signing the letters. The option to be connected to your Representative immediately follows the option to be connected to the Secretary of State, so please remain on the hotline until you can be connected to your Representative.
(78 of 435): Baldwin, Berkley, S. Bishop, T.
Bishop, Boozman, Braley, Cao, Capps, Capuano,
Clay, Delahunt, DeLauro, Doggett, Doyle,
D. Edwards, Ellison, Engel, Eshoo, Farr,
Filner, Fortenberry, B. Frank, Franks,
Fudge, Garrett, Gordon, A. Green,
A. Hastings, Herger, Higgins, Himes,
Hinchey, Hirono, Holt, Honda, Inglis,
Jackson Lee, E.B. Johnson, Kirk, B. Lee,
Lofgren, Lynch, Maloney, E. Markey, McCaul,
McCollum, McCotter, McDermott, McGovern,
McIntyre, B. Miller, George Miller,
G. Moore, Jerry Moran, T. Murphy,
Nadler, Olver, Pascrell, Payne, Perriello,
Pitts, Polis, M. Rogers (AL), Rothman,
Rush, Linda Sanchez, Schakowsky, Schiff,
Schwartz, Slaughter, Speier, Tauscher,
Van Hollen, Walz, Waters, Wolf, Woolsey
Thank you to these Representatives and the
states' citizens they represent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The USA State Department public comment line
works 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.Genocide Ends
When Enough of Us
Stand Up Against It
JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org
Labels: al-Bashir, Capuano, Clinton, Congress, Darfur, Genocide, Human Rights, ICC, ilovemylife, Justice, McCaul, PATRICK KENNEDY LANGEVIN, PRESIDENT OBAMA, Sandra Hammel, Sudan, Susan Rice, United Nations
posted by ilovemylife @ 6:18 PM
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I love my life. I love where I live. And I am passionate about my passions. I love to dance. Necessary to live: music, piano, singing, writing, acting, painting. I have been fighting for and supporting the arts all my adult life. Since 2004, I have been working with other activists to end the Darfur genocide. I have traveled to Europe many times since my early twenties. Places I have been: many USA states including Hawaii, Montreal, Canada, Barbados, France, Spain, Luxembourg, England, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Germany - and have wonderful memories. My last trip was in May - June 2013 to Spain. I would like to travel to Europe and Kyoto, Japan. I love the southwest where I have visited Hopi, Navajo, Zia and San Idlefonso potters. Life is exciting and I intend to live it full-out to the end. B.S. and M.M., both in music
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RAFA NADAL -BRING BACK LONG PANTS - SLEEVELESS TOPS
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Genocide is not only a word, it is crying of the whole human race. There is nothing redeeming about being silent when speaking up is the humane thing to do. The honor and integrity of the human race is at stake.