Renovation

Due to my home renovation I had to relocate to another city for a while and am taking a blog break as I acclimatize. thank you for your patience.

Jane

O O O O bama! Remembering the ANC, (African National Congress)

When Mandela was freed in 1994, did anything change for the impoverished, segregated Africans? NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!

THIS TIME, with the election of Obama, GLOBAL things MUST change that counter the corporate global agenda. When people get uppity: I mean disenfranchised people creating waves and then their candidate is actually elected, it does not guarantee that things will change, it only guarantees that your candidate is in office. You are then temporarily relieved. Your sigh of thanks leaves an opening for your opposition to act behind the scenes.
WHO OWNS THE GLOBAL MEDIA??????
WHO owns the gold in Africa? It is not the people. They are thankful for the vote, YES, but what has really changed? DO THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH AFRICA OWN THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF THEIR COUNTRY? Do the Iraqis own the natural resources of their country? Do the Palestinians have water rights?

After all the tears dropped and smiles flashed, will we see the change we need as humanity? I hope so but be vigilant. The color of South African leadership changed, but the status quo remained...the imperialists still owned the gold that is dug up by the African people to whom it belonged as their sovereign nation spoils. They never saw a penny of it after Mandela came to power. They never got their running water, roads etc... The world was pacified at the point where Mandela came in. No further questions. We stand in danger of being pacified by the election of Barack Obama, let us foment RESULTS this time people. I want him to be the fabulous leader that you want too, but there is a shadow element to everything...as bright as Obama shines, look for the darkness and light a candle to expel it. VIGILANCE.

Amandla Ngawhetu

News of freedom
Reaches the Valley of a thousand hills
In South Africa,
The power changed from white to black
But the disenfranchised
Still didn’t get that much back.
Yes, they got to vote again in the land of their birth
And this false sense of freedom
Is going on all over the earth,
For huge conglomerates everywhere,
Are ripping out the people’s resources
Disguised as altruism and care,
Scooping up the lion’s share.

Rein in your sons

We Women can change the world by educating our children.


Changing the World Through Children.

May we never break,
The strong spirits of our daughters,
May we teach our sons,
To become loving and nurturing men,
In so doing, we hold the key,
To universal peace,
Unlock it!

GAZA 3 The Holocaust in Reverse.

The situation in Gaza can only be described as the holocaust in reverse.
One hundred dead Palestinians for every one Israeli. The densest population on earth, 25 miles wide at its widest point, nowhere left to run to. Women and children casualties in the hundreds, (215 children), injuries in the thousands, the US refuses to sign the ceasefire agreement, I have blood on my hands as I weep in hopelessness at my ineffectuality to change anything.

Nobody can get out, the borders are closed, 70 percent killed are civilians. 80 000 Gazans have been forced to flee their homes and doctors waiting to attend the injured have been kept waiting while the victims they are there to help are dying. White phosphorous has been discovered in weapons used and a new type of injurious weapon called DIME is making its military debut:it stands for Dense Inert Metal Explosive. A DIME weapon is a bomb or missile that detonates with powerful and lethal explosive power confined to a small area. The idea being to minimize “collateral damage” when using military weapons in urban areas.

So what can I do other than attend the protests? The very least I can do is counter mainstream imagery with my own, here it is. They may be keeping the media out but they cannot keep my heart out.

Women's rights series: GAZA 2 War is the terrorism of the rich.

I had intended to focus on women's rights this week but I am so wildly angry about the slaughter of innocents in Gaza that I am forced to keep putting the information out there about what is going on and what is being done in our name. The US voted no against the ceasefire and was the only country to do so, more on this below. The suffering war victims are so often women and their children just going about their daily lives trying to make ends meet. Hamas is a people's government for the people, by the people. This is why I believe that the rest of the "civilized world" is against Hamas, not because of a few bombs, but because the government feels a certain responsibility toward its people to provide for their needs. They are a democratically elected government setting an example of good government, heaven forbid that this notion should catch on in the world.. As I heard someone quote today: "Terrorism is the war of the poor, war is the terrorism of the rich"

My thoughts are also with the people of Fiji suffering under a deluge of floods, 9000 homeless at last count.

Tell Every Child.

Tell every child they have a purpose on this planet,
May the birthright of every child be to have a wise caretaker,
Who understands the fine line between discipline,
And the breaking of a spirit, and how to mend one,
And the need for understanding and freedom of expression-
Without fear of physical attack,
...To know their bodies,
And when touch and substance are harmfull,
And when touch and substance is beautiful!
...The birthright of every child should be enough food, sleep,
Shelter, nurturing and access to nature.
...For the great spirit of the child grows in the garden of complete love,
Giving seed to a sure sense of self,
And a fearless child becomes a wise and loving elder,
And every child becomes a wise and loving elder,
And every child that flourishes with love, respect and encouragement
Gives roots to a future without limitations on love,
...And may the child in you glow like a light all your life.



Gaza Video - Lives of Children &
Women Lost - Humanitarian Tragedy

Direct Link to Video - Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/200916123126787790.html

____________________________________________________________________

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29495&Cr=gaza&Cr1=">www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29495&Cr=gaza&Cr1=
UN Security Council Overwhelmingly Calls for Immediate Gaza Ceasefire
8 January 2009 – The United Nations Security Council tonight overwhelmingly called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza leading to a full Israeli withdrawal, the unimpeded provision throughout Gaza of food, fuel and medical treatment, and intensified international arrangements to prevent arms and ammunition smuggling.

Fourteen of the Council’s 15 members voted in favour, with only the United States abstaining.

The resolution, presented by the United Kingdom and adopted as Israel’s offensive moved into its 14th day, emphasized that Palestinian and Israeli civilian populations must be protected, voiced grave concern at the heavy civilian casualties and the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and condemned all violence and hostilities directed against civilians and all acts of terrorism.

The Israeli operation has so far killed 758 people in Gaza, of whom 257 were children and 56 women, with 3,100 wounded, 1,080 of them children and 452 women, according to Palestinian reports cited as credible by UN officials.

Full Article Link: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=29495&Cr=gaza&Cr1=

_____________________________________________________________

http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/A4E74697C2FA32DCC125753C003C5F91?opendocument

UNITED NATIONS

Press Release

COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD
OPENS FIFTIETH SESSION

Committee on the Rights of the Child

12 January 2009


Committee Chairperson expresses deep concern over grave violations which children are exposed to in Gaza

The Committee on the Rights of the Child this morning opened it fiftieth session, adopting its agenda and programme of work, and hearing an address from Jane Connors, the Chief ad interim of the Human Right Treaties Branch of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Opening the meeting, Yanghee Lee, the Committee Chairperson, expressed deep concern over the grave violations children were currently exposed to in Gaza and called on all parties to abide by human rights and humanitarian law. It was being reported that, currently, one third of the fatalities – 257 – and the number of injured – 1,080 – were children. The Committee urged compliance with Security Council resolution 1860, which required an immediate ceasefire.

Full Article Link: http://www.unhchr.ch/huricane/huricane.nsf/view01/A4E74697C2FA32DCC125753C003C5F91?opendocument

____________________________________________________________









http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/ViolenceMustStop.aspx
UN Human Rights Council Adopts Resolution on Human Rights Violations in Gaza

In a resolution adopted 12 January, the Human Rights Council decided to dispatch an urgent independent international fact-finding mission to investigate violations of international human rights and humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip.

The 47-member Council adopted the resolution, with 33 voting in favour, 1 against and 13 abstentions, as it concluded its ninth special session which discussed “the grave violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory including the recent aggression in the occupied Gaza Strip”.

The resolution called for an “immediate cessation of Israeli military attacks throughout the Palestinian Occupied Territory, in particularly in the Occupied Gaza Strip that have resulted, thus far, in the killing of more than 900 and the injury to more than 4000 Palestinians, including a large number of women and children.

It also called for an “end to the launching of the crude rockets against Israeli civilians that resulted in the loss of 4 civilian lives and some injuries.”

The “urgent independent international fact-finding mission”, to be appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council, is “to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the occupying power, Israel, against the Palestinian People throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in the occupied Gaza Strip, due to the current aggression,” the resolution stated.

In her address to the special session 9 January, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that “the situation is intolerable. The ceasefire called for by the UN Security Council must be implemented immediately. The violence must stop.”

She stressed unequivocally that international human rights law must apply in all circumstances and at all times, and strongly urged the parties to the conflict “to fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law to collect, care for and evacuate the wounded and to protect and respect health workers, hospitals, and medical units and ambulances.”

“Accountability must be ensured for violations of international law,” said the High Commissioner, who suggested that the Council should consider authorizing a mission to assess violations committed by both sides in the conflict in order to establish the relevant facts and ensure accountability.

“I remind this Council that violations of international humanitarian law may constitute war crime for which individual criminal responsibility may be invoked,” she said.

The High Commissioner also called on the parties to the conflict to allow the deployment of independent human rights monitors in both Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory to document any violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. She urged that Special Procedures mandate holders be granted unrestricted access to Gaza and the West Bank.

In its resolution, the Council also requested Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “to investigate the latest targeting of UNRWA facilities in Gaza, including schools, that resulted in the killing of tens of Palestinian civilians, including women and children.”
In order for a special session to be convened, the support of one-third of the membership of the Council (16 members or more) is required. A total of 32 Council members have expressed their support for holding the special session.

The special session took place following a request by Egypt, on behalf of the Arab Group and the African Group, Pakistan, on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and Cuba, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement.

This is the ninth special session of the Human Rights Council. The Council’s previous special sessions related to Lebanon, Darfur, Myanmar, the global food crisis, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.






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Women's Rights Series: GAZA

Picture from Farid Froghi's Photos on Facebook


Where are our women leaders? I believe that parity in powerful places all over the world would end this madness, so many innocent women and children are being murdered in the streets of Gaza right now. Please go here for more info.
http://www.linktv.org/gaza

Women's Rights Series. Brochure enclosed...

If Women Ruled the World.

They wouldn’t.
For there is a certain clarity,
Telling us inherently,
That the first law of nature is balance.
Therefore women, given the choice
Would insist on parity,
Even though our numbers
Outnumber men
Fifty three to fifty.





Since I am going to be temporarily moving out of my house due to repairs and reconstruction I am going to be sharing issues posted by WUNRN: The Women's UN Report Program Network which is a non-governmental organization to implement the conclusions and recommendations of a United Nations Study on Freedom of Religion of Belief and the Status of Women From the Viewpoint of Religion and Traditions (E/CN.4/2002/73/Add.2).

This study is a major, universal, comprehensive U.N. approach to intolerance and discrimination against women based on religion and traditions.

To strengthen the nexus between women's rights and freedom of religion or belief, it is important to build on the Juridical and Factual Aspects of this study by research, plans of action and practical projects.

WUNRN, together with The Tandem Project, is committed to this objective through support for the dignity and fundamental rights of women everywhere, and by the promotion of tolerance and the end of discrimination against women based on religion and traditions.

WUNRN
http://www.wunrn.com

OSI - Open Society Institute - Soros Foundations Network

http://www.soros.org/initiatives/women/articles_publications/publications/brochure_20090105
OSI International Women's Program Brochure

EQUALITY AND JUSTICE UNDER THE RULE OF LAW
Supporting Women In: Preventing Violence, Pursuing Justice, Achieving Leadership

Women and girls in societies with fundamental inequalities are the intended and unintended casualties of war. Women caught in military conflicts face sexual violence and exploitation, torture, forced recruitment, rape, mass rape, and trafficking. In postconflict transitions, women are often denied access to justice and a role in decision making, including peace and reconciliation efforts.



This brochure details the ways in which the International Women’s Program of the Open Society Institute supports courageous women in fragile, transitional countries in their efforts to create stable, egalitarian, and open societies.

http://www.soros.org/initiatives/women/articles_publications/publications/brochure_20090105