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"That's enough", new French premier says at Darfur conference

Five weeks into his presidency, Nicolas Sarkozy – the new French premier – hosted an international conference on Darfur in Paris.  Among those in attendance was U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleeeza Rice, who spoke of the need for a renewed effort at the crisis in the troubled region in Sudan and its regional effects.  The […]

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En Vacance

I'm on a short vacation now between the end of my daughter's school year and the beginning of day camp.  We're in the Florida Keys and the whole experience makes one mindful of a number of things:  technology, for one thing.  Checking destinations and flights out on the web, making reservations by phone (the old […]

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Taylor skips trial; Alan Johnston appears in new video

Charles Taylor once again boycotted his trial at The Hague today.  He is claiming that he is not given fair representation for his trial after sacking his legal consul, claiming he was ‘outgunned’ by the prosecution.  He is charged with 11 counts of war crimes for atrocities committed during the civil conflict in Sierra Leone […]

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Lack of Education…the Root of Children's Rights Violations?

Lack of Education…the Root of Children's Rights Violations?

Education is a basic right for all children around the world, yet in the developing world there are almost two billion children, most of which are not receiving an a proper education, or any education at all. According to the Global Fund for Children one in five children, 120 to 125 million children, are not […]

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"Chemical Ali" sentenced to hang.

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Saddam Hussein's cousin, known as “Chemical Ali”, was sentenced to death by hanging on Sunday for masterminding genocide against Iraq's Kurds in the 1980s, an Iraqi court said.

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U.S. arrests Rwandan genocide suspect in Philadelphia.

U.S. arrests Rwandan genocide suspect in Philadelphia.

Isaac Kamali, a former senior member of the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND) in Rwanda, was arrested trying to enter the United States. Kamali, who was detained in Philadelphia, is suspected of participating in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda where roughly a half-million Tutsi minorities were slaughtered. Interpol had issued a Red […]

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The Morning After

After I posted last night, the Senate came back for a late session in which they approved a complete package.  The final result was that the CAFE improvements were in, as was a huge boost in ethanol production and a requirement for ethanol use in vehicles, a frankly feel-good provision on price gouging was included, the tax […]

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If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. -Mother Teresa

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.                                                    -Mother Teresa

The key to peace is in the eyes, hearts and minds of children. Children all across the world belong to all of us, they are our future. Forget not the child that is not within your sight, keep always in you heart and mind the children who suffer needlessly each and every day.

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Update on Congressional Action

Tax Package , An excellent bit of legislation came to a screeching halt on the Senate floor early this afternoon.  The Senate Finance Committee's tax package for energy (see my item on this in the previous post), and passed by them 14-6 just two days ago, was held from a final vote on the Senate […]

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UN extends investigations into Lebanese assassinations

UN extends investigations into Lebanese assassinations

The United Nations Security Council approved an international independent investigation into the assassination of Walid Eido, an anti-Syrian lawmaker, in Lebanon.  Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora requested the UN's International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) to assist Lebanese officials into the investigation of Eido's murder.  Security Council President, Ambassador Johan C. Verbeke of Belgium, stated in […]

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Barry Commoner, another Legislative Update on Energy, plus Investment in Renewables

Barry Commoner , The "NY Times" has a great offering this week in its science section:  A Conversation With Barry Commoner – At 90, an Environmentalist From the '70s Still Has Hope.  In my post from April 5, Renewable Energy, I wrote "When I read Barry Commoner's The Politics of Energy, published in 1979, I […]

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Sierra Leone court to hand down first war crimes verdict.

Sierra Leone court to hand down first war crimes verdict.

UPDATE: As expected,  charges were handed down to the defendants for 11 of the 14 counts today. BBC has more here. The Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) is expected to hand down its first convictions for war crimes today. Three former militia leaders are to be convicted on a 14-count indictment for crimes against […]

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The Plight of Unacompanied Child Refugees

The Plight of Unacompanied Child Refugees

Photo by Mark Edwards In honor of today being International Refugee Day, I want to draw your attention to the millions of child refugees, who are parentless and alone in their struggle for safety and a home. For millions of children home is a word has very little meaning, or serves only as a painful […]

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Legislative Update

Dingell v Pelosi – This is from the Center for American Progress today: “Two senior House Democrats — facing opposition from their party’s top leader, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — have abandoned their legislative effort to block California and a dozen other states from regulating greenhouse gases from cars and trucks.” Energy in the Senate […]

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Agent Orange case in US appeals court

Agent Orange case in US appeals court

The 2nd U.S. Court of Appeals yesterday heard a class action claim against 37 producers and suppliers of the chemical herbicide, dioxin, which was used as a component in the defoliant, Agent Orange. Agent Orange, so named for the markings on its shipping containers, was used as a defoliant to destroy cover by communist forces […]

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