Twelve years ago today, the Rwandan genocide began.
Special Event
"Through My Eyes"
A Documentary About Rwandan Youth
Special benefit screening in NYC on April 7th
http://www.globalyouthconnect.org/rwanda_film
Keepers Of Memory (2005)
Film Festival Favorite
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Directed by: Eric Kabera
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Length: 58 minutes
Country: USA
Description: Through eyewitness accounts and gripping footage, acclaimed director Eric Kabera takes the viewer on an emotional journey into the 1994 Rwandan genocide, its survivors, and the memorials created in the victims‚ honor. The film focuses on the personal accounts of men and women who watch over the sacred burial sites keeping the memories alive for future generations. Includes Photo Gallery, Director's Commentary, Guidebook/Lesson Plan
http://www.buyindies.com/listings/1/1/1134149435375.html
"Keepers of Memory" Film Screening
Director Eric Kabera presents his touching account of the men and women who watch over sacred burial sites in Rwanda, ensuring no one forgets the 1994 genocide.
Friday, January 27, 2006
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Room 100
Moore Hall
UCLA campus
Los Angeles, CA 90095
Keepers of Memory - Survivors' Accounts of the Rwandan Genocide - 60 minutes
Eric Kabera will introduce the film and conduct a question and answer session immediately after the conclusion of the film.
Synopsis:
Through eyewitness accounts and gripping footage, acclaimed director Eric Kabera takes the viewer on an emotional journey into the 1994 Rwandan genocide, its survivors, and the memorials created in the victims' honor. The film focuses on the personal accounts of men and women who watch over the sacred burial sites keeping the memories alive for future generations.
http://www.international.ucla.edu/showevent.asp?eventid=4079
Michael Moore Today
http://www.michaelmoore.com/
"If there is a leak out of my administration, I want to know who it is."
-- George W. Bush, September 30, 2003
April 6th, 2006 2:53 pm
Libby: Bush OK'd Secret Intel Leak
(CBS/AP) Vice President Dick Cheney's former top aide told prosecutors that President Bush authorized the leak of sensitive intelligence information about Iraq, according to court papers filed by prosecutors in the CIA leak case.
Before his indictment, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby testified to the grand jury investigating the CIA leak that Cheney told him to pass on information — and that it was Mr. Bush who authorized the disclosure, the court papers say.
According to the documents, the authorization led to the July 8, 2003, conversation between Libby and New York Times reporter Judith Miller.
In the past, Mr. Bush has denounced leaking to the media. For instance, in September 2003 during a speech in Chicago, Mr. Bush said of the Libby investigation, "Let me just say something about leaks in Washington. There are too many leaks of classified information in Washington. There's leaks at the executive branch; there's leaks in the legislative branch. There's just too many leaks.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6447
Libby: Bush Authorized Plamegate Leak
http://www.thesmokinggun.com//archive/0406061libby1.html
Q Will the President move aggressively to see if such a transgression has occurred in the White House? Will he ask top White House officials to sign statements saying that they did not give the information?
MR. McCLELLAN: Bill, if someone leaked classified information of this nature, the appropriate agency to look into it would be the Department of Justice. So the Department of Justice is the one that would look in matters like this.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/09/20030929-7.html
Gonzales: Bush Could Order Domestic Wiretaps
By Dan Eggen / Washington Post
Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales left open the possibility yesterday that President Bush could order warrantless wiretaps on telephone calls occurring solely within the United States -- a move that would dramatically expand the reach of a controversial National Security Agency surveillance program.
In response to a question from Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) during an appearance before the House Judiciary Committee, Gonzales suggested that the administration could decide it was legal to listen in on a domestic call without supervision if it were related to al-Qaeda.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6449
Bush Defends Iraq Strategy but Admits Mistakes
By John O'Neil / New York Times
President Bush told a town-hall meeting in Charlotte, N.C., today that he was "constantly looking back to see if things could have been done differently or better" in Iraq.
Mr. Bush gave a forthright defense of what he called "the strategic objective" in Iraq and his decision to order an invasion, saying "knowing what I know today, I'd have made the same decision."
But he acknowledged that there had been problems with the "tactics" used in Iraq, citing flaws in the initial approach to reconstruction and the training of the Iraqi army and police force.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6448
Study: Katrina Aid From Abroad Was Lost
Associated Press
WASHINGTON - Federal auditors laid out a scenario of omissions, missteps and bureaucratic nightmares that caused the loss of money and other donations sent from abroad to help victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The Government Accountability Office attributed the errors, which involved as many as eight government agencies, to the United States' lack of experience as a recipient of huge amounts of aid from others.
"Given that the U.S. government had never before received such substantial amounts of international disaster assistance, ad hoc procedures were developed to manage the acceptance and distribution of the cash and in-kind assistance," the GAO said in remarks prepared for delivery to a House committee Thursday.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6443
Bush Defends Surveillance Policy
By Nedra Pickler / Associated Press
President Bush, told by a critic he should be ashamed of his policies, defended the government's secret eavesdropping program Thursday and said he would not apologize for listening in on the phone and e-mail conversations of Americans talking to people with suspected al-Qaida links.
A man who identified himself as Harry Taylor rose at a forum here to tell Bush that he's never felt more ashamed of the leadership of his country. He said Bush has asserted his right to tap phone calls without a warrant, to arrest people and hold them without charges and to revoke a woman's right to an abortion, among other things.
He was booed by the audience, but Bush interrupted and urged the audience to let Taylor finish.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6445
Teen Detainee Boycotts His War Crimes Trial
At a Guantanamo tribunal, the Canadian demands to be returned to a less restrictive cell. Now 19, he has been held for four years.
By Carol J. Williams / Los Angles Times
GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — Canadian teenager Omar Khadr refused Wednesday to participate in the war crimes case against him, in protest of being moved to what was described as solitary confinement.
The military tribunal's presiding officer, Col. Robert S. Chester, put off a defense motion seeking Khadr's return to the least restrictive holding facility, but he did agree to consider hearing testimony on the highly secretive detention procedures.
Khadr and nine other detainees being charged in a military tribunal at the U.S. naval base were reportedly transferred to the facility's maximum-security camp.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6442
Vendetta’ a powerhouse
Examining the thin line between terrorist and hero.
David Koon / Arkansas Times
Though it’s not very popular to say so in America these days, it’s as true as it ever was: One man’s “terrorist” is another man’s “freedom fighter” — it all depends on who is wearing the jackboots.
A superb new film that explores the hair-thin line between hero and villain — especially when it comes to blowing things up for political aims — is “V for Vendetta.” A stunningly original and even profound movie from the Wachowski brothers (creators of “The Matrix” series), it’s both a modern-day swashbuckling tale and a none-too-subtle commentary on Bush-era governance by fear, one sure to spur debate among both comic book freaks and political science professors.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=6298
Peace House Work Days Set April 11-12
Lone Star Iconoclast
CRAWFORD — To prepare for Cindy Sheehan’s Easter visit to Camp Casey, the Crawford Peace House will be hold two work days on April 11-12.
“Come be part of the team and the fun,” said Rena Guay Communications Coordinator Crawford Peace House. “We need help with cleaning, fixing, building, moving, sorting, planting, painting, chucking and more! So much to do — so little time!”
The preparations will start Saturday morning. Coffee and pastry will be served, along with pizza later in the day. Participants are encouraged to bring tools and work gloves.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=613
Camp Casey Easter
Once again the President will be home for the holidays. We as Gold Star Families for Peace have had our holidays forever tarnished by George Bush's' reckless policy of occupying Iraq. We will be returning to Camp Casey for our Easter holiday and we invite you to join us. Everyone is welcomed.
It is important that we let George Bush know that his war and policies are unacceptable. Because of his free speech zones this is about as close as anyone who disagrees with him can get. Imagine thousands of us at his backdoor showing him the error of his ways.
Also joining us at Camp will be Hurricane Katrina survivors through the Common Ground Collective. Many of whom are still displaced from their homes due to the incompetence and indifference of the Bush administration.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=621
Easter in Crawford
Submitted by admin on Tue, 03/07/2006 - 8:31pm. Events
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With President Bush planning to take his usual Easter vacation at his ranch, the peace activists from around the country, including Cindy Sheehan and other Gold Star Families for Peace, will return to Camp Casey for four days of rallies, performances, teach-ins and more. Also at the heart of this event: Vets for Peace, Military Families Speak Out, Code Pink and more.
http://crawfordpeace.nfshost.com/easter
End the war in Iraq -- Bring all our troops home now!
SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2006
NEW YORK CITY
Unite for change -- let's turn our country around!
The times are urgent and we must act.
Too much is too wrong in this country. We have a foreign policy that is foreign to our core values, and domestic policies wreaking havoc at home. It's time for a change.
No more never-ending oil wars!
Protect our civil liberties & immigrant rights. End illegal spying, government corruption and the subversion of our democracy.
Rebuild our communities, starting with the Gulf Coast. Stop corporate subsidies and tax cuts for the wealthy while ignoring our basic needs.
Act quickly to address the climate crisis and the accelerating destruction of our environment.
Our message to the White House and to Congress is clear: Either stand with us or stand aside!
We are coming together to march, to vote, to speak out and to turn our country around!
http://www.april29.org/
The Anti-War Movement?
By Cindy Sheehan
Being a so-called anti-war movement leader (at least to the MSM), brings much responsibility and so much love for the people and the groups who are working hard to end this insane occupation, but is this enough?
Recently, a blog written by an acquaintance, Scott Ritter, on AlterNet was called to my attention, where Scott, who is a self-proclaimed Republican, conservative who courageously opposed this war from the beginning, is predicting the eminent demise of the anti-war movement.
At first, I was highly offended and defensive at what I thought was Scott's arrogant attack on the movement that I am so intimately and overwhelmingly involved in. But then after my knee-jerk reaction, I realized that for all of the wrong reasons, Scott was partially correct.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/mustread/index.php?id=624
Guardian
70 killed in Iraq mosque attack
Agencies
Friday April 7, 2006
The aftermath of the bombing of a Shia mosque in Baghdad. Photograph: Asaad Muhsin/AP
Three suicide bombers killed at least 70 people in an attack on a Shia mosque in Baghdad today, Iraqi police said.
Around 158 people were wounded in the attack, which was the biggest single suicide bombing since November last year.
Two bombers blew themselves up inside the Buratha mosque, in the north of the capital, and another detonated explosives outside, Reuters reported.
The bombers were dressed in traditional Shia women's black robes when they struck. Some police sources said the attackers had been women, while others said there had been one woman and two men dressed as women.
A health ministry official, Dr Riyadh Abdul Ameer, said 77 people had been killed.
The violence came as the US ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, warned that Iraq faced the threat of civil war if efforts to build a national unity government proved unsuccessful.
The mosque belongs to the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), the most powerful party in the country's ruling Shia Alliance.
The SCIRI leader, Jalal al-Deen, who was at the mosque when the explosion happened, told Reuters the attack was "a sectarian act".
"The Shia are the target," he said, adding that he had counted 65 bodies in the aftermath of the blasts. "There is nothing to justify this act but black sectarian hatred."
Jalal Eddin al-Sagheer, the preacher at the mosque and one of the country's leading politicians, accused Sunni politicians and clerics of waging "a campaign of distortions and lies against the Buratha mosque".
He said they had made false claims that it held Sunni prisoners and the mass graves of Sunnis.
"Shia are the ones who are targeted as part of this dirty sectarian war waged against them as the world watches silently," he told al-Arabiya television.
Earlier, officials said shrapnel found at the scene suggested the blasts could have been caused by explosive vests. However, some reports said the attack could have been a combination of mortar fire and a stationary bomb.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1749341,00.html
US admits to talks with Iraqi insurgents
Staff and agencies
Friday April 7, 2006
The US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad. Photograph: Ali Haider/EPA
The US ambassador in Iraq today admitted that US officials had held meetings with some insurgent groups, and claimed the tactic had led to a decline in attacks.
Zalmay Khalilzad, who was appointed US ambassador last June, would not specify which groups had been engaged in the talks.
But he ruled out any discussions with Saddamists or terrorists seeking a "war on civilisation", taken to mean Ba'ath loyalists or extremists linked to al-Qaida.
"We are talking to people who are willing to accept this new Iraq, to lay down their arms, to cooperate in the fight against terrorists," Mr Khalilzad told the BBC.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1749288,00.html
Brown wins Da Vinci Code case
Staff and agencies
Friday April 7, 2006
A high court judge today rejected claims that Dan Brown's bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code breached the copyright of an earlier book.
Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh had sued publishers Random House claiming that Mr Brown's book "appropriated the architecture" of their book, The Holy Blood And The Holy Grail, which was published in 1982 by the same publishing house.
The claimants said Mr Brown - whose book has made him the highest-paid author in history - had "hijacked" and "exploited" their book, which took them five years to create.
http://books.guardian.co.uk/danbrown/story/0,,1749361,00.html
The Plame game
By Guardian Unlimited / USA 04:20pm
The latest revelation about George W Bush's involvement in the Valerie Plame scandal is unlikely to be the smoking gun that finishes off his administration, writes David Fickling.
But it is the most damaging allegation yet to emerge about Bush's involvement in the campaign to discredit a high-ranking critic of his Iraq policy.
So far, Bush has been more or less insulated from the Plame scandal. Despite nearly three years of inquiries and investigations into the affair, the buck has always stopped at the door of Washington's political advisers, rather than their masters.
Now there is the suggestion that Bush and Cheney may have respectively given their subordinates permission and encouragement in the campaign against Valerie Plame's husband, Joseph Wilson.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/news/archives/2006/04/07/the_plame_game.html
New bird flu tests prove negative
Matt Weaver and agencies
Friday April 7, 2006
The goverment's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir David King. Photograph: PA
Tests on nine birds checked for bird flu in the wake of the first UK case of the deadly H5N1 virus proved negative, the Scottish Executive announced today.
It followed reassurances that bird flu still posed minimal risk to the British public despite confirmation that a dead swan found in the coastal village of Cellardyke, in Fife, had tested positive for H5N1.
The Scottish Executive yesterday said the remains of another 14 birds found in Scotland were being tested for the disease.
Article continues
Today, a spokeswoman said she could not confirm how many birds were still being tested and whether the number had risen or fallen since yesterday.
"No further positive results have been received," she said. "Nine negative results have come back, but we are unable to provide a running commentary on every test result."
The Scottish Executive has set up a 2,500km sq wild bird risk area in which farmers have been told to keep poultry indoors. Bird gatherings such as pigeon races have been banned, and the surveillance of wild birds will be stepped up.
The area encompasses 175 registered poultry farms containing more than 3m birds, including 260,000 free range poultry.
The swan infected with H5N1 was discovered more eight days ago in Cellardyke, which is around nine miles from St Andrews.
Local poultry farmers and the Scottish National party criticised the time it had taken to confirm the swan had died of the virulent strain of avian influenza.
The Cabinet Office's civil contingencies committee, Cobra, held a second meeting with Scottish Executive officials to discuss the situation today.
Meanwhile, the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also announced that tests on six dead swans found in the province had proved negative.
Four carcasses recovered in Portglenone, Co Antrim, and two found in Moira, Co Down, were checked for H5N1 and given the all-clear.
"So far this year, DARD has tested 23 swans, all of which have been negative for highly pathogenic avian influenza," the chief veterinary officer for Northern Ireland, Bert Houston, said. "We will continue to undertake such testing as necessary."
Earlier today, the government's chief scientific adviser, Sir David King, insisted that Britain was better prepared than any other country to cope with bird flu.
He told BBC Radio Four's Today programme that one case of a bird with the H5N1 strain - which can pass to humans - did not constitute a crisis.
The current outbreaks of pathogenic avian flu began in south-east Asia in mid-2003. There have been 191 confirmed human cases of the H5N1 strain of bird flu reported to the World Health Organisation to date, and 108 human deaths.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/birdflu/story/0,,1749268,00.html
Cygnet of the times
Its gleaming plumage is now tarred by being a harbinger of pestilence but let us remember the swan's long and noble heritage, says Mark Cocker
Friday April 7, 2006
I don't think that we should be surprised that the only bird they've found to date bearing the H5N1 virus is a mute swan. It's one of the biggest birds in this country and its entire plumage is pure, gleaming white. A dead one in the middle of the fields stands out like a snowman in summer. It's probably the only dead bird that the public will spot and it makes one wonder how many examples of smaller, inconspicuous wildfowl could have died from exactly the same cause but will never be discovered.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/birdflu/story/0,,1749372,00.html
Gossip columnist under FBI investigation
Stephen Brook, press correspondent
Friday April 7, 2006
The New York Post has suspended a writer on its Page Six gossip column after the FBI investigated suspicions that the man had demanded money from a billionaire in return for protecting him from unflattering gossip stories.
Billionaire Ronald Burkle allegedly told the FBI that Jared Paul Stern, described as a "fixture on the city's gossip scene" demanded $100,000, plus $10,000 monthly payments in return for stopping negative stories running in the New York tabloid, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, according to US media reports.
http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1749466,00.html
Newsdesk notes for Friday April 7
By Jon Dennis 12:00pm
Today I speak to Sir Menzies Campbell, the Lib Dem leader. The bird flu outbreak happened in his constituency. The Guardian's Gerard Seenan's describes the reaction from local people. And Peter Singer, the moral philosopher, gives us his view of bird flu, and talks about ethical eating.
http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/podcasts/2006/04/newsdesk_notes_for_friday_apri.html
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