Friends,
Firstly, I want to thank you for taking the time to read about my new volunteer trip in Kenya. I am sitting at the Jumorie (sp?) estates computer lab, enjoying a light, post-rain breeze, the kind of breeze that defies the worst of the stoic sun. My trip to Kenya has been both hectic and relaxing thus far. The flight here was a mixed-bag, Delta was unpleasant-the seats are far too close together, but Kenya airways was charming as usual. I had plenty of room and the service was impeccable-I recommend them for any African visit. Gina and I arrived at Grace's house(Grace is our host) at around 10 pm. I couldn't sleep...why? Ernesto Jack "the Shotgun" Mcmillion, i.e. the rooster who saturates the Nairobi night with his incessant and abnormally early crowing. Add in fighting dogs, car alarms, the blaring sirens of 3 am Islamic prayer and the myriad sounds that permeate the house-the creeking, the poor acoustic and yes the lack of sleep.
It was around 5 am, the aforementioned discord brushed the sand off my eyes and had me reading "shackled continent" an interesting book describing the foundation for Africa's woes. I was reading a chapter about militia violence when Grace entered the room and slumped unto her couch, crying. "James was shot dead" she said. James N. was her brother, the head of Fadhilli Community, the volunteer organization I went with last time I was in the country. James was a man who I talked to on numerous occasions- a man who devoted his life to service. I asked her how it happened. She said a group of "thugs" demanded money from him and that he gave it to them... They still shot him to death. I found out later that he had tried to bargain with the robbers. The robbers were spooked by a nearby car alarm and by the overhead lights-they shot James and fled. My inside source, whom I won't name at this time, said that James was being "stubborn" and implored me to give up all my money immediately if ever robbed.
Grace and her mother sobbed on the couch. Grace had little to say, despite, "I'm confused". This country is confusing, is startling and wonderful, but like a gorgeous fruit hiding a rotten core, this country has its secrets, its devils. This morning, 26 or so hours after the murder, Grace is pleading with me to help her find a way to leave the country. She kept repeating, "I cant stay in this country." She applied for a U.S. greencard a few times, but has been denied. I wonder how many "Grace's" there are in Kenya and all through out Africa-women who are scared for the lives of their children, of their selves, who can't leave. Kenya is as safe as any African country could be, but that means we are not in kaysville any more.
Yesterday, a few hours after the murder, Gina and I went shopping at the Masai market. This is a place where the locals sell their hand crafted wares and harass you until you buy them. I bought a fantastic necklace and Africa map and...Gina's backpack was slashed open. Somebody was trying to steal money while we were there-an attempted robbery and murder in the 1st day-what a poor start to this trip.
What else to say...Kenya still mesmerises me-the beauty, the politeness of the locals, the clash between modernity and archaic tribalism. Dance clubs and large banks line the streets while millions live in squalid conditions-it is a fascinating place. I hope I can make some kind of difference. We are buying textbooks for the new school that will be built at the Vumilia IDP, readying our soccer gear for the soccer tournaments we will set up-hope we can help improve the lives of people like Grace-people who loose their families to currents of violence.
In lighter news, a volunteer named Monique has donated $6,000 of her own money to build the aforementioned school at Vumilia. This is great news! Few displaced children will ever get the chance to go to school or to go back to school and now they will be able to. We now need to supply the school with textbooks, desks, pens/pencil etc. If you want to contribute to our new school project, please follow the instructions below. Every donation will buy a book, pencil, or whatever you want it to buy.
1) www.paypal.com
2) Click "send money"
3)Enter my email address: weberstatestand@gmail.com
4) Enter your credit information
Thank you all.
Follow Gina's blog at: http://www.wsusignpost.com/blog-1.109/19.634362?article116=18.372890&page116=User
This is it for now-I'll update this daily-if I can.
Regards,
Cameron
Me
So happy
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Should WSU kick out Sodexo? YES
Friends,
I began researching Sodexo's (Sodexho) human rights record after hearing about student protests against Sodexo while I was attending the Campus Progress National Conference in DC. I was further motivated to research Sodexo after I noticed a negative correlation between food prices and food quality at the WSU Sodexo locations-that is, as prices go up, the food quality declines. I discovered that Sodexo has been implicated for a vast array of unseemly practices, including: funding of private prisons, war-profiteering vis a vis military contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan, a shotty food safety record, poor labor union practices, low worker compensation, and yes relatively poor food quality. I will explain some of these points in more detail to convince the reader of my views
War-Profiteering
-According to the Guilfordian, an independent student-run newspaper at Guilford College, Sodexo has a $23 billion contract with the U.S. Department of Defense for a 10 year period-benefiting its operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
-The Center for Public Integrity notes that Sodexho was paid $324,120 from the U.S. State Department in 2002 for work at the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. http://projects.publicintegrity.org/wow/bio.aspx?act=pro&ddlC=55
-In 2001 $850 million contract was awarded to Sodexo by the U.S. Marine Corps to serve food at Marine cafeterias (War Resisters League) http://www.wri-irg.org/node/563
Private Prisons
- The Private Prison business accounts for some 1% of Sodexho's profits
I began researching Sodexo's (Sodexho) human rights record after hearing about student protests against Sodexo while I was attending the Campus Progress National Conference in DC. I was further motivated to research Sodexo after I noticed a negative correlation between food prices and food quality at the WSU Sodexo locations-that is, as prices go up, the food quality declines. I discovered that Sodexo has been implicated for a vast array of unseemly practices, including: funding of private prisons, war-profiteering vis a vis military contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan, a shotty food safety record, poor labor union practices, low worker compensation, and yes relatively poor food quality. I will explain some of these points in more detail to convince the reader of my views
War-Profiteering
-According to the Guilfordian, an independent student-run newspaper at Guilford College, Sodexo has a $23 billion contract with the U.S. Department of Defense for a 10 year period-benefiting its operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
-The Center for Public Integrity notes that Sodexho was paid $324,120 from the U.S. State Department in 2002 for work at the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. http://projects.publicintegrity.org/wow/bio.aspx?act=pro&ddlC=55
-In 2001 $850 million contract was awarded to Sodexo by the U.S. Marine Corps to serve food at Marine cafeterias (War Resisters League) http://www.wri-irg.org/node/563
Private Prisons
- The Private Prison business accounts for some 1% of Sodexho's profits
-According to the New York Times, Sodexo is a minority stakeholder in the Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), a large private prisons conglomerate
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/08/education/student-life-a-food-fight-over-private-prisons.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/08/education/student-life-a-food-fight-over-private-prisons.html
-CCA has been accused of operating violence-prone facilities in Ohio (in one year 2 people were killed and 20 stabbed during physical confrontations).
-In 2001 Sodexho sold its shares in CCA and instead invested in its projects in the United
Kingdom and Australia, including a mental asylum in the UK. The asylum was beset by residential escapes and other blunders
Kingdom and Australia, including a mental asylum in the UK. The asylum was beset by residential escapes and other blunders
-Private Prisons are disliked because they are said to fuel crime and violence and that if a prison is run for profit it will not be up to par with a public prison because the operator will want to obtain as much money as possible. Thus, the prisoners will be treated inhumanely.
Food Safety Issues
-Sodexho has been implicated in the illnesses of hundreds of Chicago students after they ate burritos from Sodexho that Sodexho purchased from a retailer who frequently violated food safety rules
-A student found a thumb in her turkey sandwich at a Massachusetts Sodexho location-I bet that wasn't on the menu... The worst part is that Sodexho didn't scrap the turkey slicer after the incident-that can't be sanitary!
-4 students in Wisconsin became ill with e coli poisoning after eating at a local Sodexho
-In Maryland 24 people became ill with salmonella after eating food prepared at a Sodexho operated kitchen
-Violations like these are likely more prevalent than the cases reported, because Sodexho only inspects its operations at an average of " once every 12.5 years".
To read about these stories: http://www.labournet.net/world/0209/sodprofile.pdf
-In Texas numerous complaints arose regarding Sodexho's use of expired milk and other products. The freshness and quality of Sodexho's food has been stringently questioned. http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=834#usa
Racial Discrimination
-Sodexho is currently facing a one billion dollar lawsuit from 10 former African American Managers at Sodexho who claim racial discrimination in the promotions process
Environmental Degradation
-Sodexho has worked with the government of Nigeria to clear mangrove swamps in the Niger Delta to tap the vast oil reserves there. The Nigerian government is infamous for gunning down civillians who want a stake in the countrie's oil wealth-see Chevron's role in Nigeria. Is it wrong for Nigerians to want some of the couuntry's oil wealth to imporve their lives and not the lives of rich Multinational Corporations?
-Sodexho is also helping to extract oil from Sakhalin, an island off the east coast of Russia-to the detriment of the environment.
Inadequate Worker Compensation
-Sodexho is said to underpay its employees when compared to similar jobs with different companies-"maintaining a large and unskilled network" of workers (Corporate Watch).
-According to Simplyhired.com, a job comparison web-site, Sodexho food service employees in utah can expect to make 14,000 a year compared to 22,000 a year in a similar job.
There is a lot more to blog about. I will update this blog as time goes on, but I encourage you to look through the links I provided and the many more available via google to decide for yourself if Sodexho should enjoy a continued contract with WSU.
Personally, I think that Sodexho's contract shouldn't be renewed. The food is expensive and often nasty. There are few vegetarian options and those that are available are typically disgusting. Sodexho advances their bottom line by using expired or close to expired food while dishing out cheap white breads and fatty foods. Sodexho should be rejected because their human-rights record and poor food doesn't add to an increasingly legitimate Weber State. The 23,000 + students at WSU deserve better than Sodexho.
Thanks for reading,
Cameron
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Utah Becomes Radiocative
Readers,
I am deeply concerned by the recent news that Utah will become the dumping ground for another 10-14,000 metric tons of depleted Uranium from South Carolina, adding to the already 49.000 tons in Clive, Utah-only 70 miles west of Salt Lake City. Uranium becomes hotter over time and releases deadly Radon gas- aka Uranium stored in Utah will become a more serious problem over time.Additionally, the state's nuclear committee rejected at 180 day moratorium on Uranium storage, a delay that would have allowed state inspectors to determine the safety of the storage plans. Are you following along? The safety of Uranium storage at Clive HAS NOT been determined!!!! The bottom line is that Energy Solutions receives millions of dollars from this deal, Representative Bishop (R) will likely get more campaign contributions (on top of the over 28,000 he has already received from Energy Solutions) and more Utahns will get cancer.
The following list of Energy Solution's PAC campaign contributions likely reflects a low estimate of actual contributions, this information was found at: www.opensecrets.org. Here is a list of Utah's top recipients of Energy Solution's donations:
1) Robert Bennett (R), Senator: $49,300 from Energy Solutions (2005-Present)
2) Rob Bishop (R), Representative:$28,900, majority of funds to Bishop himself, from Energy Solutions (2004- Present).
3) Jim Matheson (D), Representative: $11,546, from Energy Solutions, (2006- Present).
We have to get mad as hell, and translate that anger to action!! I have asked Utah Representative Neil A. Hansen to draft a letter to Governor Herbert protesting this action. We can't let money-hungry corporations like Energy Solutions reap in millions at the expense of the livelihood of our families, friends, and fellow citizens.
Check out these stories for more information:
-http://www.tooeletranscript.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Board+says+no+moratorium+on+depleted+uranium%20&id=3703832-Board+says+no+moratorium+on+depleted+uranium&instance=home_news_1st_right
-http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_13414863
Contact your Utah Representative and demand that he/she defend Utahns against the storage of potentially lethal Uranium in Utah.
http://www.le.state.ut.us/house/index.htm
Join the fight!Contact me at: weberstatestand@gmail.com
Regards,
Cameron Morgan
I am deeply concerned by the recent news that Utah will become the dumping ground for another 10-14,000 metric tons of depleted Uranium from South Carolina, adding to the already 49.000 tons in Clive, Utah-only 70 miles west of Salt Lake City. Uranium becomes hotter over time and releases deadly Radon gas- aka Uranium stored in Utah will become a more serious problem over time.Additionally, the state's nuclear committee rejected at 180 day moratorium on Uranium storage, a delay that would have allowed state inspectors to determine the safety of the storage plans. Are you following along? The safety of Uranium storage at Clive HAS NOT been determined!!!! The bottom line is that Energy Solutions receives millions of dollars from this deal, Representative Bishop (R) will likely get more campaign contributions (on top of the over 28,000 he has already received from Energy Solutions) and more Utahns will get cancer.
The following list of Energy Solution's PAC campaign contributions likely reflects a low estimate of actual contributions, this information was found at: www.opensecrets.org. Here is a list of Utah's top recipients of Energy Solution's donations:
1) Robert Bennett (R), Senator: $49,300 from Energy Solutions (2005-Present)
2) Rob Bishop (R), Representative:$28,900, majority of funds to Bishop himself, from Energy Solutions (2004- Present).
3) Jim Matheson (D), Representative: $11,546, from Energy Solutions, (2006- Present).
We have to get mad as hell, and translate that anger to action!! I have asked Utah Representative Neil A. Hansen to draft a letter to Governor Herbert protesting this action. We can't let money-hungry corporations like Energy Solutions reap in millions at the expense of the livelihood of our families, friends, and fellow citizens.
Check out these stories for more information:
-http://www.tooeletranscript.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Board+says+no+moratorium+on+depleted+uranium%20&id=3703832-Board+says+no+moratorium+on+depleted+uranium&instance=home_news_1st_right
-http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_13414863
Contact your Utah Representative and demand that he/she defend Utahns against the storage of potentially lethal Uranium in Utah.
http://www.le.state.ut.us/house/index.htm
Join the fight!Contact me at: weberstatestand@gmail.com
Regards,
Cameron Morgan
Monday, September 21, 2009
Godspeed Mr. Obama
Readers,
President Barack Obama's efforts to reform the U.S. health care system have been received by ululation on the right and often cacophonous suggestions on the left. The far-right has used Obama's push for health care reform as the impetus for an often disoriented attack on big-government. Astro-turf, as opposed to Grassroot organizations, like Freedomworks, initiated rallies that seemed to be a gathering of people who are more apt to secede from the union than respect a president they disagree with. As Texas Governor Rick Perry said: "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that ." Governor Perry is referring to Texas seceding from the United States of America, something that many protesters called for when he spoke at the April 12th "tea-party" , aka open treason.
Substantive argument and protest is a fundamental American tradition and rightfully so, however, it seems that yelling at a President while he is speaking to congress (e.g. Joe Wilson), bringing loaded guns to town hall meetings and calling for succession from the U.S. is taking things too far.
Critics of government-run health care should remember that Medicare and the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) are government- run and provide vital services to millions of Americans. If the far-right is credent about the need for government to "stop thumbing their nose" at their constituents, then they should openly denounce Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA-I wonder what their elderly and veteran constituents would think of that.
I commend President Obama for his dedication to reforming the U.S. health care system, which is leaving out some 46 million Americans and is leading to the death of some 40,000 Americans annually-those who can't find adequate health insurance. I stand behind President Obama in his efforts and urge his opposition to denounce calls for succession and violence and praise those who offer solutions, not just noise. Godspeed Mr. Obama.
Thank you,
Cameron Morgan
President Barack Obama's efforts to reform the U.S. health care system have been received by ululation on the right and often cacophonous suggestions on the left. The far-right has used Obama's push for health care reform as the impetus for an often disoriented attack on big-government. Astro-turf, as opposed to Grassroot organizations, like Freedomworks, initiated rallies that seemed to be a gathering of people who are more apt to secede from the union than respect a president they disagree with. As Texas Governor Rick Perry said: "We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what might come out of that ." Governor Perry is referring to Texas seceding from the United States of America, something that many protesters called for when he spoke at the April 12th "tea-party" , aka open treason.
Substantive argument and protest is a fundamental American tradition and rightfully so, however, it seems that yelling at a President while he is speaking to congress (e.g. Joe Wilson), bringing loaded guns to town hall meetings and calling for succession from the U.S. is taking things too far.
Critics of government-run health care should remember that Medicare and the Department of Veteran's Affairs (VA) are government- run and provide vital services to millions of Americans. If the far-right is credent about the need for government to "stop thumbing their nose" at their constituents, then they should openly denounce Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA-I wonder what their elderly and veteran constituents would think of that.
I commend President Obama for his dedication to reforming the U.S. health care system, which is leaving out some 46 million Americans and is leading to the death of some 40,000 Americans annually-those who can't find adequate health insurance. I stand behind President Obama in his efforts and urge his opposition to denounce calls for succession and violence and praise those who offer solutions, not just noise. Godspeed Mr. Obama.
Thank you,
Cameron Morgan
Friday, September 4, 2009
The hunger-strike ends
Friends,
10-12 members of WSU ended its 25.5 hour hunger-strike/camp out fundraiser yesterday at 9:30 am. We raised $2,500 for Invisible Children, which was our end-goal for the event. I thought it pertinent to describe the feeling of hunger-striking, as many of you may never have had the experience.
The hunger-strike was formulated after I looked into the "fast for life" campaign championed by Mia Farrow and others and after extensive readings of Gandhi. I thought that the idea of a hunger-strike fundraiser- that participants wouldn't eat until a monetary goal was reached-was unique enough to be highly successful. I had faith that the local community couldn't bear to see several people go hungry, that they would donate for a respectable cause. I was right.
STAND's hunger-strike began at 8 am on September 2nd after a free breakfast courtesy of Cafe Villa Bella in Ogden. The ten or so participants then erected a gazebo, put up numerous signs and chairs, and hunkered down for a very long day/night. Our first donation was a remarkable $0.25-a magnanimous beginning to our fundraiser!! haha
As the blinding sun rose to its throne in the sky, we occupied ourselves by reading, facebooking, playing drums and starting at 12 pm, we had live music throughout the day- it helped make everything so much more tolerable. Acts like Brett Turner, Vaden Thurgood and Dr. Akombo serenaded us as we suffered hunger pangs, general vertigo and sun-fatigue. As the day progressed I became increasingly more hungry and lethargic-this was compounded by the fact that I have a noted blood-sugar problem. Despite these inconveniences, I was in a remarkably good mood. Every time someone donated it heartened me and I was surrounded by great company all day and night-yes, we camped at wsu! I was incredibly impressed with my fellow STAND members, they exhibited a lot of strength, resilience, and passion.
The apogee of the night was when Dr. Akombo and Vaden Thurgood played and the hunger-strikers danced and sung our food-deprived hearts out. Frankly, I was surprised that I had the energy to dance. More surprises came as donations continued to roll in and night fell on the campus- a fact which kept our hopes alive. By the time we fell to sleep we were some $270 away from our goal of $2,500. I awoke more hungry than ever before-weak, but happy. I helped take down the sound equipment and by 7 am I was up and ready to take donations. The STAND members and I complained together and tried desperately to get donations. We finally received the last $76 at approximately 9:30. We celebrated by toasting a smoothie and yelling loudly.
I hardly let me fist fall from the sky- I was jubilant. The event was a huge success as it generated media attention and the notice of thousands at WSU and beyond. I have more hope for STAND and the movement than ever before-2,000 was always the goal to break in a single event and we did it.
I ate my 1st meal with Lusi at Villa Bella- success never tasted so good.
I am energized(in mind) and ready to make the banquet a smashing success!
With immutable optimism,
Cameron
10-12 members of WSU ended its 25.5 hour hunger-strike/camp out fundraiser yesterday at 9:30 am. We raised $2,500 for Invisible Children, which was our end-goal for the event. I thought it pertinent to describe the feeling of hunger-striking, as many of you may never have had the experience.
The hunger-strike was formulated after I looked into the "fast for life" campaign championed by Mia Farrow and others and after extensive readings of Gandhi. I thought that the idea of a hunger-strike fundraiser- that participants wouldn't eat until a monetary goal was reached-was unique enough to be highly successful. I had faith that the local community couldn't bear to see several people go hungry, that they would donate for a respectable cause. I was right.
STAND's hunger-strike began at 8 am on September 2nd after a free breakfast courtesy of Cafe Villa Bella in Ogden. The ten or so participants then erected a gazebo, put up numerous signs and chairs, and hunkered down for a very long day/night. Our first donation was a remarkable $0.25-a magnanimous beginning to our fundraiser!! haha
As the blinding sun rose to its throne in the sky, we occupied ourselves by reading, facebooking, playing drums and starting at 12 pm, we had live music throughout the day- it helped make everything so much more tolerable. Acts like Brett Turner, Vaden Thurgood and Dr. Akombo serenaded us as we suffered hunger pangs, general vertigo and sun-fatigue. As the day progressed I became increasingly more hungry and lethargic-this was compounded by the fact that I have a noted blood-sugar problem. Despite these inconveniences, I was in a remarkably good mood. Every time someone donated it heartened me and I was surrounded by great company all day and night-yes, we camped at wsu! I was incredibly impressed with my fellow STAND members, they exhibited a lot of strength, resilience, and passion.
The apogee of the night was when Dr. Akombo and Vaden Thurgood played and the hunger-strikers danced and sung our food-deprived hearts out. Frankly, I was surprised that I had the energy to dance. More surprises came as donations continued to roll in and night fell on the campus- a fact which kept our hopes alive. By the time we fell to sleep we were some $270 away from our goal of $2,500. I awoke more hungry than ever before-weak, but happy. I helped take down the sound equipment and by 7 am I was up and ready to take donations. The STAND members and I complained together and tried desperately to get donations. We finally received the last $76 at approximately 9:30. We celebrated by toasting a smoothie and yelling loudly.
I hardly let me fist fall from the sky- I was jubilant. The event was a huge success as it generated media attention and the notice of thousands at WSU and beyond. I have more hope for STAND and the movement than ever before-2,000 was always the goal to break in a single event and we did it.
I ate my 1st meal with Lusi at Villa Bella- success never tasted so good.
I am energized(in mind) and ready to make the banquet a smashing success!
With immutable optimism,
Cameron
Saturday, August 15, 2009
New hope as the violence continues
Friends,
As usual, the world continues to be a chaotic place. Over 1,000 people have died as a result of inter-tribal conflict in Southern Sudan- another flare up from the glaring inequality in wealth distribution in Sudan. A handful of "oiligarchs" and war-profiteers are inordinately wealthy while groups in Darfur, and eastern/southern Sudan are disastrously impoverished- a Khartoum-implemented strategy that is leading to the conflicts in Sudan. Conflict-mineral mining in the DRC is continuing to fuel the deadliest war since WWII in the DRC. The American consumer needs to stand up and demand electronics that are conflict- free- a demand that will result in increased wealth for the Congolese citizens and less for marauding militias like the FDLR and LRA- thank you Enough Project for your thorough and sagacious reporting on the aforementioned conflicts.
I am heartened by the comments from the new U.S. ambassador to the U.N., which signaled increased U.S. support for multilateralism, especially the International Criminal Court and the U.N. U.S. support for these institutions is critical in ensuring legitimacy for these bodies that were so de-legitimized during the Bush/Bolton years. How can anybody expect these international bodies to be effective when they are chronically shot in the foot by the U.S. and Israel-and others? the U.S. owes 1 billion to the U.N. in dues and those funds are desperately needed to make the U.N. effective. I agree with the Enough Project that the U.N. and its members, need to start creating peacekeeping operations that are not designed to fail- aka the under-funded UNAMID peacekeeping force. By creating success stories the U.N. will legitimize its actions- it is a self-fulfilling cycle. To initiate a multi-lateral paradigm shift, the U.N. members need to provide the U.N. legitimacy that it so desperately needs- only then will international law be upheld.
Godspeed to a world that respects international law.
-Cameron
As usual, the world continues to be a chaotic place. Over 1,000 people have died as a result of inter-tribal conflict in Southern Sudan- another flare up from the glaring inequality in wealth distribution in Sudan. A handful of "oiligarchs" and war-profiteers are inordinately wealthy while groups in Darfur, and eastern/southern Sudan are disastrously impoverished- a Khartoum-implemented strategy that is leading to the conflicts in Sudan. Conflict-mineral mining in the DRC is continuing to fuel the deadliest war since WWII in the DRC. The American consumer needs to stand up and demand electronics that are conflict- free- a demand that will result in increased wealth for the Congolese citizens and less for marauding militias like the FDLR and LRA- thank you Enough Project for your thorough and sagacious reporting on the aforementioned conflicts.
I am heartened by the comments from the new U.S. ambassador to the U.N., which signaled increased U.S. support for multilateralism, especially the International Criminal Court and the U.N. U.S. support for these institutions is critical in ensuring legitimacy for these bodies that were so de-legitimized during the Bush/Bolton years. How can anybody expect these international bodies to be effective when they are chronically shot in the foot by the U.S. and Israel-and others? the U.S. owes 1 billion to the U.N. in dues and those funds are desperately needed to make the U.N. effective. I agree with the Enough Project that the U.N. and its members, need to start creating peacekeeping operations that are not designed to fail- aka the under-funded UNAMID peacekeeping force. By creating success stories the U.N. will legitimize its actions- it is a self-fulfilling cycle. To initiate a multi-lateral paradigm shift, the U.N. members need to provide the U.N. legitimacy that it so desperately needs- only then will international law be upheld.
Godspeed to a world that respects international law.
-Cameron
Sunday, August 2, 2009
The U.S. helps to overthrow Georgia's government
Readers,
I recently read Jeremy Scahill's ground-breaking bestseller, Blackwater: Rise of the World's Largest Mercenary army, which taught me, amongst many other things, that the U.S. had a role in the the "Rose Revolution" of 2003 in Georgia (the country, not the state, for those who are confused). I decided to investigate these allegations much more thoroughly, here is what I found.
The preponderance of evidence suggests that the U.S. had a role in the peaceful overthrow of then President Shevardnadze's government in November, 2003. Thousands of Georgian student- protesters staged non-violent demonstrations in the capital of Tbilsi that lead to the ouster of the President. These demonstrations were a result of electoral disputes during the parliamentary elections- there were accusations of ballot stuffing and other electoral disparities (though these disparities are disputed). Current President Mr. Saakashvili came to power following the coup and urged a better relationship with the United States. Before Saakashvilli came to power, an interim government headed by Ms. Burjanadze, took control.
The influence of the U.S. can be seen as follows:
1) NGO's like the National Endowment for Democracy and George Soro's open Georgia institute helped to finance and train student protesters in civil disobedience campaigns like those which were used to overthrow Slobadan Milosevic in Serbia.
2) The Interim president's first call was to Beyond Petroleum (an Anglo-Dutch oil consortium) to assure them that their oil pipeline "was ok" . The Caspian Sea pipeline is seen as vital to U.S. oil interests.
3)The Congressional Research Project, a congressional reporting agency, confirmed in its own internal document that Georgian pipeline played a role in shaping Georgia's special relationship with the U.S. Georgia is the recipient of over $1 Billion in U.S. aid annually and Georgia's forces have been trained by U.S. and Israeli forces.
4) The National Endowment for Democracy's website describes their work as training domestic workers in carrying out elections.
5) Mr. Saakashvilli is a graduate of George Washington University, located in D.C. He replaced Shevardnadze's overthrown government and implemented an even more pro-U.S. Georgian foreign policy
6) Saakashvilli urged his followers to emulate the civil disobedience campaign that overthrew Milosevic in Serbia- according to Congressional reports. Again U.S. non-profits helped to train students in civil disobedience tactics
http://http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a781239232
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/dec2003/geor-d05.shtml
http://www.ndi.org/georgia-ndi
http://www.voltairenet.org/article30094.html-First
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=2424&l=1-
I apologize for the delay in writing, I am busy with several major campaigns, including a hunger-strike and black-tie banquet. I will write more frequently.
Thank you for reading. Please do net cease in speaking up at town halls, via e-mail, post, etc to your elected officials and anybody else in power. The government of the U.S. is established by the people and can be "altered or abolished" by the people if it doesn't uphold the inherent human rights of every individual. Let's speak out against coups, let's stay informed.
With humble optimism,
Cameron
I recently read Jeremy Scahill's ground-breaking bestseller, Blackwater: Rise of the World's Largest Mercenary army, which taught me, amongst many other things, that the U.S. had a role in the the "Rose Revolution" of 2003 in Georgia (the country, not the state, for those who are confused). I decided to investigate these allegations much more thoroughly, here is what I found.
The preponderance of evidence suggests that the U.S. had a role in the peaceful overthrow of then President Shevardnadze's government in November, 2003. Thousands of Georgian student- protesters staged non-violent demonstrations in the capital of Tbilsi that lead to the ouster of the President. These demonstrations were a result of electoral disputes during the parliamentary elections- there were accusations of ballot stuffing and other electoral disparities (though these disparities are disputed). Current President Mr. Saakashvili came to power following the coup and urged a better relationship with the United States. Before Saakashvilli came to power, an interim government headed by Ms. Burjanadze, took control.
The influence of the U.S. can be seen as follows:
1) NGO's like the National Endowment for Democracy and George Soro's open Georgia institute helped to finance and train student protesters in civil disobedience campaigns like those which were used to overthrow Slobadan Milosevic in Serbia.
2) The Interim president's first call was to Beyond Petroleum (an Anglo-Dutch oil consortium) to assure them that their oil pipeline "was ok" . The Caspian Sea pipeline is seen as vital to U.S. oil interests.
3)The Congressional Research Project, a congressional reporting agency, confirmed in its own internal document that Georgian pipeline played a role in shaping Georgia's special relationship with the U.S. Georgia is the recipient of over $1 Billion in U.S. aid annually and Georgia's forces have been trained by U.S. and Israeli forces.
4) The National Endowment for Democracy's website describes their work as training domestic workers in carrying out elections.
5) Mr. Saakashvilli is a graduate of George Washington University, located in D.C. He replaced Shevardnadze's overthrown government and implemented an even more pro-U.S. Georgian foreign policy
6) Saakashvilli urged his followers to emulate the civil disobedience campaign that overthrew Milosevic in Serbia- according to Congressional reports. Again U.S. non-profits helped to train students in civil disobedience tactics
http://http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a781239232
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/dec2003/geor-d05.shtml
http://www.ndi.org/georgia-ndi
http://www.voltairenet.org/article30094.html-First
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=2424&l=1-
I apologize for the delay in writing, I am busy with several major campaigns, including a hunger-strike and black-tie banquet. I will write more frequently.
Thank you for reading. Please do net cease in speaking up at town halls, via e-mail, post, etc to your elected officials and anybody else in power. The government of the U.S. is established by the people and can be "altered or abolished" by the people if it doesn't uphold the inherent human rights of every individual. Let's speak out against coups, let's stay informed.
With humble optimism,
Cameron
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