Wednesday, January 16, 2008
OMNI Iraq newsletter for Jan. 16, 2008
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Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Senator McGovern says Impeach Bush
In a Washington Post column, former Senator George
McGovern says impeach President Bush
McGovern says impeach President Bush
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Kenya is burning
Last week, Kenya held a national election tainted with vote-tampering that ended in a claim of victory for incumbent President Mwai Kibaki. His opponent Raila Odinga, who led the polls, has called for nationwide protests. Violence has broken out across the country, with roving gangs of machete-wielding youth terrorizing the population -- the early stages of what could become civil war, even genocide have begun.
We must not sit back and watch this nightmarish scenario unfold, and we need to act fast. World diplomats are calling for negotiations between Kibaki and Odinga, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu has flown into Nairobi to help broker a power-sharing agreement while election results are reviewed. But if talks are to succeed, it is critical that foreign governments do not prematurely recognize the fraudulently elected government and lock in their power. That's where we come in.
Please send a note to your foreign minister today, asking them to withhold recognition of any Kenyan government until agreement is brokered and the election results are independently reviewed – you can do so using our simple online tool at the link below (and when you're done, please forward this email to friends and family):
http://www.avaaz.org/en/kenya_free_and_fair/1.php
The election commissioner who declared victory for President Kibaki now says he was pressured into it, and does not know who truly won. Even Kibaki's own attorney-general has just called for an independent review of the results.
The situation in Kenya has great significance throughout the African continent and around the world -- with the largest economy in the region, it was till now viewed as an emerging model of democracy and stability, albeit troubled by government corruption. If President Kibaki's faction is allowed to retain its grip on the presidency through blatant fraud, it will send a terrible message not only to other African leaders, but to all nations balanced on the edge of a firm democratic tradition.
More chillingly, the spectre of political disputes triggering tribal divisions that erupt into massive, lethal violence is all too familiar from tragedies like the Rwanda genocide of the 1990s. Too often, the world has looked aside as this awful train of events has lurched into motion: Never again. It's too early to tell how far the situation in Kenya could deteriorate -- we just can't afford to wait and find out.
If governments of the world withhold recognition of any Kenyan regime until Desmond Tutu and mediators from the African Union and the Commonwealth can investigate the vote, broker agreement and restore democratic integrity, this crisis could be averted, corruption rooted out and Kenya's democratic promise salvaged.
Please send a note to your foreign minister today:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/kenya_free_and_fair/1.php
With hope,
Paul, Ricken, Ben, Galit, Milena, Pascal and the whole Avaaz team
Here are some links to more background -
The election commissioner admits he was pressured into declaring Kibaki's victory, and does not know who truly won:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200801030055.html
Kenya's attorney-general also just called for an independent review of the election results:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7169720.stm
Reuters on mediation efforts by Tutu and the African Union:
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL02368842.html
We must not sit back and watch this nightmarish scenario unfold, and we need to act fast. World diplomats are calling for negotiations between Kibaki and Odinga, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu has flown into Nairobi to help broker a power-sharing agreement while election results are reviewed. But if talks are to succeed, it is critical that foreign governments do not prematurely recognize the fraudulently elected government and lock in their power. That's where we come in.
Please send a note to your foreign minister today, asking them to withhold recognition of any Kenyan government until agreement is brokered and the election results are independently reviewed – you can do so using our simple online tool at the link below (and when you're done, please forward this email to friends and family):
http://www.avaaz.org/en/kenya_free_and_fair/1.php
The election commissioner who declared victory for President Kibaki now says he was pressured into it, and does not know who truly won. Even Kibaki's own attorney-general has just called for an independent review of the results.
The situation in Kenya has great significance throughout the African continent and around the world -- with the largest economy in the region, it was till now viewed as an emerging model of democracy and stability, albeit troubled by government corruption. If President Kibaki's faction is allowed to retain its grip on the presidency through blatant fraud, it will send a terrible message not only to other African leaders, but to all nations balanced on the edge of a firm democratic tradition.
More chillingly, the spectre of political disputes triggering tribal divisions that erupt into massive, lethal violence is all too familiar from tragedies like the Rwanda genocide of the 1990s. Too often, the world has looked aside as this awful train of events has lurched into motion: Never again. It's too early to tell how far the situation in Kenya could deteriorate -- we just can't afford to wait and find out.
If governments of the world withhold recognition of any Kenyan regime until Desmond Tutu and mediators from the African Union and the Commonwealth can investigate the vote, broker agreement and restore democratic integrity, this crisis could be averted, corruption rooted out and Kenya's democratic promise salvaged.
Please send a note to your foreign minister today:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/kenya_free_and_fair/1.php
With hope,
Paul, Ricken, Ben, Galit, Milena, Pascal and the whole Avaaz team
Here are some links to more background -
The election commissioner admits he was pressured into declaring Kibaki's victory, and does not know who truly won:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200801030055.html
Kenya's attorney-general also just called for an independent review of the election results:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7169720.stm
Reuters on mediation efforts by Tutu and the African Union:
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL02368842.html
Thursday, December 20, 2007
TORTURE IS A MORAL ISSUE!
To supporters of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture
Dear Friends,
Next month NRCAT will reach its second anniversary. In these two short years, we have been able to turn our individual, heartfelt convictions against torture into a meaningful national voice. While we have not been able to end U.S.-sponsored torture, we can feel deeply grateful for the significant witness of religious people across the nation calling for an end to torture and for our many accomplishments, including the following:
We have enabled almost 600 congregations to show the film "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib."
Thousands of people of faith -- at our request -- have written to their senators and representatives calling for an end to U.S.-sponsored torture.
140 religious organizations are now members of NRCAT and some 20,000 people of faith have endorsed the Statement of Conscience "Torture is a Moral issue."
Evangelicals for Human Rights, an anti-torture organization started by NRCAT, has received significant recognition and media coverage because of its outstanding statement "An Evangelical Declaration Against Torture."
We have been a presence in some of the key debates against torture in the House and the Senate including the vote today in the House of Representatives setting one standard for all U.S. interrogations of detainees - the U.S. Army Field Manual.
And we have many efforts underway for next year, including the following:
We are organizing a project in which hundreds of congregations across America will display an anti-torture banner in June (Torture Awareness Month) 2008.
We are planning to host regional and local workshops, speaking tours, and conferences across the nation in 2008 in preparation for a 2009 national conference against torture.
Our newly created NRCAT Action Fund (our 501 (c)(4) partner organization) will be sponsoring a full page advertisement against torture in the Des Moines Register on Sunday, December 16.
We will share our thoughts and suggestions on our work with you as we go through 2008, and we are eager to hear your good ideas.
NRCAT cannot do this work without support from people like you. As the year draws to a close and we approach our second anniversary, we ask that you please consider a financial gift to this vital effort of the religious community. You can contribute a tax deductible contribution to NRCAT online at https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2162/t/3805/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=2604 or by sending a check directly to the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, 316 F St. NE, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20002.
We can dream of a world without torture, but we must work to make that dream a reality. Thank you for your consideration, and we wish you a warm and peaceful holiday.
Sincerely,
Linda Gustitus, President
Richard Killmer, Executive Director
Questions? Please email campaign@nrcat.org
National Religious Campaign Against Torture: www.tortureisamoralissue.org - New Web Address
Dear Friends,
Next month NRCAT will reach its second anniversary. In these two short years, we have been able to turn our individual, heartfelt convictions against torture into a meaningful national voice. While we have not been able to end U.S.-sponsored torture, we can feel deeply grateful for the significant witness of religious people across the nation calling for an end to torture and for our many accomplishments, including the following:
We have enabled almost 600 congregations to show the film "Ghosts of Abu Ghraib."
Thousands of people of faith -- at our request -- have written to their senators and representatives calling for an end to U.S.-sponsored torture.
140 religious organizations are now members of NRCAT and some 20,000 people of faith have endorsed the Statement of Conscience "Torture is a Moral issue."
Evangelicals for Human Rights, an anti-torture organization started by NRCAT, has received significant recognition and media coverage because of its outstanding statement "An Evangelical Declaration Against Torture."
We have been a presence in some of the key debates against torture in the House and the Senate including the vote today in the House of Representatives setting one standard for all U.S. interrogations of detainees - the U.S. Army Field Manual.
And we have many efforts underway for next year, including the following:
We are organizing a project in which hundreds of congregations across America will display an anti-torture banner in June (Torture Awareness Month) 2008.
We are planning to host regional and local workshops, speaking tours, and conferences across the nation in 2008 in preparation for a 2009 national conference against torture.
Our newly created NRCAT Action Fund (our 501 (c)(4) partner organization) will be sponsoring a full page advertisement against torture in the Des Moines Register on Sunday, December 16.
We will share our thoughts and suggestions on our work with you as we go through 2008, and we are eager to hear your good ideas.
NRCAT cannot do this work without support from people like you. As the year draws to a close and we approach our second anniversary, we ask that you please consider a financial gift to this vital effort of the religious community. You can contribute a tax deductible contribution to NRCAT online at https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2162/t/3805/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=2604 or by sending a check directly to the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, 316 F St. NE, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20002.
We can dream of a world without torture, but we must work to make that dream a reality. Thank you for your consideration, and we wish you a warm and peaceful holiday.
Sincerely,
Linda Gustitus, President
Richard Killmer, Executive Director
Questions? Please email campaign@nrcat.org
National Religious Campaign Against Torture: www.tortureisamoralissue.org - New Web Address
Monday, December 10, 2007
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