DIVINING OBAMA SECRETLY “DAMNING” INDIGENOUS WATER
Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/
Feb. 13, 2009 – On February 19th the U.S. “bucket brigade” of President Barack “The-Sorcerer’s-Apprentice” Obama and his entourage will be bringing their empty pails to Canada. They want Prime Minister Stephen “Sponge-Bob” Harper and his buddies to start hauling Indigenous water to the States. They’re after our resources. You can bet on it! The following day Secretary of Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs, Ken “Spanish-Amphibian” Salazar, will make an important announcement about their plan to steal our water.
Ripping off our water is another route of the “banksters” to bring in their New World Order. The multinationals know about the forthcoming water shortages because they’re stealing and polluting it. These water czars call themselves the "global guardians". Part of their plan to control the world is by controlling the food supply through controlling the water supply. The United Nations calls water a human right. The fox want to be in charge of the hen house in this “humanitarian crisis” of their making. Since colonization our Indigenous communities no longer have access to clean water. This doesn’t stop them from pilfering even more from us.
Barack Obama’s front man, Rahm “Walleye” Emanuel, is known as "the godfather of Great Lakes restoration". The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence watershed is part of Haudenosaunee Territory which we will never surrender. The Nanfan Treaty of 1701 prohibits interference by colonists and foreigners on the eastern half of Turtle Island. If they try to do this, they will be committing another violation of the Two Row Wampum Agreement with our people. They know very well we never gave the colonists any rights over our land and resources. As the caretakers and trustees, we have the duty to protect the largest surface fresh water in the world. We Indigenous people are in their way but we are not going away.
Tom “Ol-Man-Canal” Kierans and GrandCo executives like Louis “Marine-Dead-Zone” Desmarais know that Indigenous resistance and sovereignty are the biggest obstacles to their greedy power seizing schemes. That is why Indigenous people like the Algonquins are bombarded with agents from every direction who are trying to confuse and subvert them. The Grand Canal would pass through Algonquin territory in the Canadian Shield of northern Quebec and Ontario.
Senator Salazar of Colorado controls the tap. He lives near Canadian billionaire Maurice “Meathead” Strong who “owns” all that land on top of the largest aquifer in the "USA". Strong is high up in the UN food chain. The resource grab will be “legalized” by setting up a UN army to enforce their attempted domination over us and our water. Is it a coincidence that Maude “Stiletto-Rubber-Boots” Barlow of Ottawa has been appointed as the “UN Senior Advisor on Water”?
Strong also works in Beijing with the Chinese. Huge water diversion projects will be done in China first where there are less environmental or labor laws. China is now building its South to North Water Diversion, the biggest engineering feat since the Three Gorge Dam built by Canadian companies. Half a million people will be relocated or forced to move.
One of the ways that the colonists destroyed our environment was through water diversion to do stupid projects like growing rice in the desert. Even within the last few years the salmon fishery on the Pacific coast has been destroyed to provide water for commercial farmers. They were so focused on immediate profits that they did not heed the damage they were causing to the environment. Turtle Island easily and comfortably supported a large Indigenous population before these catastrophic interventions by these European visitors.
California has just declared a state of emergency due to their four-year drought. Farmers have been denied water and forced to reduce their crops or to stop planting. Drought stricken southwestern USA and Mexico need irrigation to grow food for their market. The U.S. has been turned into a desert. Now they want to mess up the northern part of Turtle Island.
The “Grand Canal” scheme is supposed to divert what they call “wasted” water that flows into James Bay. One of their hair-brained schemes is to block off James Bay and turn it into a fresh water lake which will be diverted to the U.S. Do they realize that they’ll kill everything in the ocean by making it too salty? These plans are made by money grubbers, not ecologists or Indigenous people. It was first proposed by Tom Kierans in 1959. It’s an old rotten idea, just like the opportunists who thought it up. Kierans has no qualifications as an environmentalist. He’s not looking at the inevitable environmental collapse he wants to perpetrate.
Water will be sent for miles along concrete canals and aqueducts sometimes uphill. Nuclear energy will be the horse and wagon for this job. The venture is backed by powerful dirty engineering companies like the UMA Group, the SNC Group, Bechtel Canada Ltd., Rousseau, Sauve and Warren Inc. Kierans says that Lavalin, Canada's largest engineering company, is courting GrandCo, his company. Even Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. [AECL]hopes to supply CANDU reactors to power the pumps that will move up to 30 per cent of the discharge of the Great Lakes.
Canadian people aren’t opposing these schemes because they are too polite and too ignorant. They are also afraid the US will come and take the water by force anyway. The North American Free Trade Agreement NAFTA, Security and Prosperity Partnership SPP and North American Union NAU are set up as “illegal diversions” for water theft. Don’t kid yourselves, the U.S. always behaved like vipers in these accords. When they want something, they take it. They don’t let the welfare of other people get in their way. Look at what happened in Iraq! The Great Lakes Water Compact recently approved by Congress and Parliament without any public discussion is a bucket full of holes. They’re going to need more than mops to swab up the humongous environmental disaster they’re trying to commit.
The White Mountain Apaches in Arizona just signed a deal to get clean water to drink. They were forced to give their water in the entire state so that hundreds of golf courses could be kept green. Arizona “loaned” the Apaches the money for their water treatment facility and reservoir. Most Apaches weren’t consulted. The agreement isn’t legal. It’s just the usual colonial con job!
These colonists have to sit with us on a “nation to nation” basis according to our treaties, agreements and inherent jurisdictionh, not on a “government to government” basis as they recently stated. They cannot deal with their hand maidens, the illegal “band” and “tribal” governments they’ve set up.
For us, we should resume growing corn, beans and squash, the sustainers of our ancestors. We need to stay closer to home and family to care for the earth and protect our communities from these water world vultures. These zany visitors from Europe and their passengers just can’t stop themselves from creating one calamity after another over here. Hey, Barack, Stephen, Ken, Maurice, Tom, Louis and Maude, why don’t you stand on the street corner with your empty pails. We might put in a few drops of water to quench your thirst. But that’s all! [For more information and contacts, see background notes are at the end of this article.]
Ia’koha:kowa & MNN Staff Mohawk Nation News www.mohawknationnews.com kittoh@storm.ca katenies20@yahoo.com kahentinetha2@yahoo.com Note: Your financial help is needed and appreciated. Please send your donations to PayPal at www.mohawknationnews.com, or by check or money order to “MNN Mohawk Nation News”, Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada] J0L 1B0. Nia:wen thank you very much. Go to MNN “Canada” category for more stories; New MNN Books Available now! Purchase t-shirts, mugs and more at our CafePressStore http://www.cafepress.com/mohawknews; Subscribe to MNN for breaking news updates http://.mohawknationnews.com/news/subscription.php; Sign Women Title Holders petition! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/Iroquois
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BACKGROUND NOTES: Water is the staff of life. We can live without oil, but not water. Some water usage statistics from the UN: Over the past century, the world population has tripled but water consumption has multiplied by a factor of 6. Urban dwellers use more water than rural dwellers for personal use. Right now, agriculture uses about 75% of water, industry 15% and domestic use the balance. Creating a glass of orange juice requires 850 litres of water to produce. A hamburger requires 2400 liters.
Strong worked at the UN in Environment and Economic Development. He was tainted in the oil-for-food scandal. He is still No. 2 at the UN.
The water diversion plan is a big secret scheme. The northern Quebec and Ontario Algonquin territory is being grabbed by Tom Kierans and his GrandCo. One of his backers is the think tank, the “Montreal Economic Institute” headed by the Desmarais family, which is supposedly worth $3.9 billion, all earned from extraction and exploitation of Indigenous resources.
Paul Desmarais Sr. son, Louis Desmarais, is on the board of GrandCo. Louis’ wife, Helene, is chair of the Montreal Economic Institute. Another brother is married to the daughter of former Prime Minister of Canada, Jean Chretien. The Desmarais family is also closely associated with former prime ministers Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney and Paul Martin. These people know that water will soon be more valuable than crude oil.
The Desmarais own Power Corp, one of Canada's biggest investment firms. Paul Volker, former US Federal Reserve chairman, is on Power Corp.'s international board. Power Corp. owns a major share in Total Group, formerly Total Fina Elf, the French company that wanted to buy oil from Iraq in Euros.
Power Corp. and BNP Paribas, a French bank, were involved in the UN “oil for food” scandal in Iraq. John Rae, Bob's brother, is on the board at Power Corp. and Pargesa Holding SA, a Paribas subsidiary. Bob Rae took a run at being head of the Liberal Party of Canada to become Prime Minister.
The Grand Canal — estimated in 1994 to cost $100-billion [in 1964 dollars] to build and another $1-billion a year to operate — sees a string of nuclear reactors and hydro dams to pump water uphill, and nine inter-basin transfer locations.
Water would be pumped south from the newly-formed James [Bay] Lake. This would be created by putting a dike across James Bay, which is the southern portion of Hudson’s Bay in northern Quebec and Ontario. This water would be made to flow into the Harricana River, crossing into the Great Lakes watershed near Amos, which is near Barriere Lake, into Lake Timiskaming and the Ottawa River. It would cross near Mattawa into Lake Nipissing and the French River to Lake Huron.
The Ogoki diversion moves water through Lake Nipigon and the Nipigon River into Lake Superior at a point 96 kilometres (60 miles) east of Thunder Bay Ontario. This water was diverted to support three hydroelectric plants on the Nipigon River in 1943. Two huge dams reverse the flow of water way in the wilderness.
The Long Lac diversion diverts water through Long Lake and the Aguasabon River into Lake Superior near Terrace Bay. The diversion provides water for the hydroelectric plant near Terrace Bay and to drive pulpwood down the river.
The Chicago diversion was built after the cholera epidemic which killed over 90,000 people in 1890's. It resulted from raw sewage being dumped into the lake at Chicago. The river was diverted to carry it away to the Mississippi River. Because of Chicago's growing population there is always pressure to increase this diversion out of the Great Lakes.
Many insane diversions have been suggested, often involving blasting and paving waterways. The most persistent is the Grand Canal which was first proposed by Tom Kierans in 1959. The multinationals know about the forthcoming water shortages because they are causing it.
Crandon Mine, Wisconsin, is owned by Exxon and Rio Algom. They propose to develop an underground hard rock metallic sulfide mine near Crandon, Wisconsin, in the Wolf River Basin, which is in the Great Lakes Basin. The company wants to mine 55 million tons of ore, extracting primarily copper and zinc and some lead, silver and gold.
"...Crandon Mining Company proposes to pump out the withdrawn groundwater through a 38 mile pipeline to the Wisconsin River to avoid costly water treatments required to return it to the Lake Michigan watershed."
"...As of February 1997, this proposal was still under consideration by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The proposal is opposed by the Mole Lake Reservation, a large number of local organizations and local governments along both the Wolf and Wisconsin Rivers." Surrounding states and provinces approved this water diversion in 1998.
Great Lakes United staff member Bruce Kershner and intern Carl Bolster found: "the areas with the highest potential to raise demands to divert water from the Great Lakes are Kenosha-Pleasant Prairie (Wisconsin), Lowell-Gary-Hobart (Indiana), Waukesha-New Berlin-Milwaukee (Wisconsin), Akron-Cleveland (Ohio), Chicago (Illinois) and New York City. Recent diversion requests are proving the accuracy of this study."
Diversion within Great Lakes basin: "For the past several years, the Ontario government and several municipalities in southern Ontario have been considering proposals by private companies to build a $500-million pipeline to divert 190 to 229 mld (50 to 60 mgd) of water from Georgian Bay on Lake Huron to provide water to York, Peel, Halton, Wellington and Waterloo Regions.48 This intrabasin transfer would bypass much of Lake Huron, all of the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers, and, depending on the municipality served, Lake Erie and the Niagara River."
Grate lakes have different mineral content. Georgian Bay has drinkable water. Northern mountains have certain hormones that eat up certain viruses as they flow south.
York Region, just north of Toronto, has most actively pursued this proposal, after awarding a tender to provide future water supplies to a consortium of Consumers Gas and British Northwest. In 1996, they came out with a proposal to draw 655 mld (177 mgd) of water from Georgian Bay and discharge treated sewage into Lake Ontario. Several citizens groups, including the Georgian Bay Association, the Safe Sewage Committee, the Canadian Environmental Law Association and Great Lakes United, objected on environmental grounds. In December 1996, York Regional Council dropped the proposal to divert water from Georgian Bay, primarily for economic reasons."
Commission for Environmental Cooperation - Mexico has serious water problems. Much of the US groundwater aquifers are being rapidly depleted.
http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Kierans_Tom_7131907.aspx
"It [grand canal]can add 10% to Canada's fresh water," Kierans claimed in a 1989 presentation to American water regulators in Boston. Global warming, droughts and depleted water reserves in the prairies, California and the US Midwest make the GRAND project inevitable, he says. Now, Kierans says, individual pieces of the project are coming together. Lake Diefenbaker became operational in 1968, and the controversial Rafferty-Alameda dams in southern Saskatchewan - which are being constructed with substantial American financing - would help to regulate the release of water into the Souris and Missouri river systems, Kierans says. "
http://www.mimico-by-the-lake.com/grand.htm
."..The venture is backed by powerful engineering companies - the UMA Group, the SNC Group, Bechtel Canada Ltd., and Rousseau, Sauve, Warren Inc. Kierans says that Lavalin, Canada's largest engineering company is courting GRANDCO. Even Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. [AECL] hopes to supply CANDU reactors to power the pumps.
Kierens company is GrandCo. Chair of Board is "Louis Desmarais, Liberal MP from 1979 to 1984 in Montreal; president of J.D.E. Consulting Services Ltd.; chairman of Canadian Home Assurance Co; Power Corporation; and Canada Steamship Lines. "GRANDCO Joint Ventures for Engineering is headed by Gilles Mariner, who recently returned to the SNC Group from the James Bay Energy Corporation..."
SEARCH TERMS: Great Recycling and Northern Development Canal; Thomas Kierans and GrandCo; Simon Reisman, negotiator for the Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement; the late Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa; Brian Mulroney , former Prime Minister, on board of food cartel, Archer, Daniels Midland; Rafferty and Alameda dams in Alberta; Lake Diefenbaker, Saskatchewan; Montreal Economic Institute, Helene Desmarais; Alliance for the Great Lakes; American Rivers; Karel Mayrand of David Suzuki Foundation, Quebec; Louis Desmarais; Bill C-6; Great Lakes Compact; Mitch Bronfman and Maurice Strong; WATER: RETHINKING MANAGEMENT IN AN AGE OF SCARCITY, Worldwatch Institute; Power Corp., Paul Desmarais, Jr.; Garda World Security Corporation; "Great Lakes Water Wars" by Peter Annin.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Recycling_and_Northern_Development_Canal
http://www.greatlakesdirectory.org/zarticles/102802_great_lakes2.htm
http://waterwars.wordpress.com/2006/12/02/a-brief-history-of-the-great-recycling-and-northern-development-grand-canal-project/
http://www.discovervancouver.com/forum/BRIAN-MULRONEY-S-GRAND-CANAL-t131262.html
http://www.greatlakeswaterwars.com/chapter1.htm
Contact info, Links and sources
The White House and Interior web sites:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
www.doi.gov
Mailing Address: Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W. Washington DC 20240
Phone: 202-208-3100 E-Mail: webteam@ios.doi.gov
Canadian Politricksters: Reid.S@parl.gc.ca, Harper.S@parl.gc.ca, Nicholson.R@parl.gc.ca, Day.S@parl.gc.ca,VanLoan.P@parl.gc.ca, McCallum.J@parl.gc.ca, Easter.W@parl.gc.ca, Szabo.P@parl.gc.ca, Baird.J@parl.gc.ca, Clement.T@parl.gc.ca, leader@greenparty.ca, donna.dillman@greenparty.ca, Cannon.L@parl.gc.ca, Sorenson.K@parl.gc.ca, Dewar.P@parl.gc.ca, Patry.B@parl.gc.ca, ThibaLo@parl.gc.ca, ChongM@parl.gc.ca, TrostB@parl.gc.ca, BigraB@parl.gc.ca, CardiS@parl.gc.ca, LafraM@parl.gc.ca, CulleN@parl.gc.ca, GallaC@parl.gc.ca, HawnL@parl.gc.ca, McTeaD@parl.gc.ca, AlghaO@parl.gc.ca, AnderDa@parl.gc.ca, BevinD@parl.gc.ca, DebelC@parl.gc.ca, OuellCh@parl.gc.ca, CrowdJ@parl.gc.ca, ChowO@parl.gc.ca, LunnG@parl.gc.ca, BerniM@parl.gc.ca, StrahC@parl.gc.ca, MilliP@parl.gc.ca, Hill.J@parl.gc.ca, MacKay.P@parl.gc.ca, Kramp.D@parl.gc.ca, Brown.G@parl.gc.ca, DelMastro.D@parl.gc.ca, Dewar.P@parl.gc.ca, Coderre.D@parl.gc.ca, DionS@parl.gc.ca, Comartin.J@parl.gc.ca, Oda.B@parl.gc.ca, OConnor.G@parl.gc.ca, Atamaa1@parl.gc.ca, blackd@parl.gc.ca, Black.D@parl.gc.ca, Ambrose.R@parl.gc.ca, Toews.V@parl.gc.ca, Blackburn.J@parl.gc.ca, Paradis.C@parl.gc.ca, Moore.J@parl.gc.ca, Mulcair.T@parl.gc.ca, Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca, Barbot.V@parl.gc.ca, Layton.J@parl.gc.ca, BlackJ@parl.gc.ca
White River Apaches
http://www.wmicentral.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20258633&BRD=2264&PAG=461&dept_id=505965&rfi=6
http://www.geocities.com/coqrico/apacheintro.html
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/01/16/20090116waterdeal0116.html
http://www.wmat.nsn.us/
Indian Water Resources News
http://www.waterchat.com/News/Indian/ind_headlines.htm
www.fsin.com/landsandresources/downloads/2006WaterSummit-Presentations/FNwaterrightsFNwaterpowers.pdf
http://www.doi.gov/secretary/speeches/021209_statement.html
http://waterwatchalliance.googlepages.com/agenda21
http://www.landsurveyinghistory.ab.ca/Characters/Dennis_JS.htm
http://media.www.lawrentian.com/media/storage/paper409/news/2009/01/23/Features/Annin.Welcomes.Lu.To.The.Basin-3591763.shtml
Read: "Great Lakes Water Wars" by Peter Annin
California's water worries
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/jan/25/1n25water232615-farmers-feel-squeeze-which-could-w/?zIndex=42700
http://sonomasun.thmm.com/?p=6578
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1603598.html
China's water woes
http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2006/08/chinese_drought.html
http://www.mwr.gov.cn/english1/20040806/38392.asp
http://www.wwfchina.org/english/loca.php?loca=299
Human Rights in China (HRIC) http://www.hrichina.org
International Rivers Network (IRN) http://www.irn.org
Three Gorges Probe http://www.threegorgesprobe.org
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/07/content_10778515.http
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/90785/6586680.html
Maurice Strong (1,000's of hits at google)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3522537
http://www.pehi.eu/organisations/introduction/PEHI_Maurice_F_Strong_bio.htm
http://www.sovereignty.net/p/sd/strong.html
http://www.locolocass.net/locoforum/viewtopic.php?t=10347
February 14, 2009
February 13, 2009
9/11 Widow Killed in Plane Crash in Buffalo
9/11 activist dies in plane crash:
My Silence Cannot Be Bought
by Beverly Eckert
by Beverly Eckert
Photo AP
I've chosen to go to court rather than accept a payoff from the 9/11 victims compensation fund. Instead, I want to know what went so wrong with our intelligence and security systems that a band of religious fanatics was able to turn four U.S passenger jets into an enemy force, attack our cities and kill 3,000 civilians with terrifying ease. I want to know why two 110-story skyscrapers collapsed in less than two hours and why escape and rescue options were so limited.
I am suing because unlike other investigative avenues, including congressional hearings and the 9/11 commission, my lawsuit requires all testimony be given under oath and fully uses powers to compel evidence.
The victims fund was not created in a spirit of compassion. Rather, it was a tacit acknowledgement by Congress that it tampered with our civil justice system in an unprecedented way. Lawmakers capped the liability of the airlines at the behest of lobbyists who descended on Washington while the Sept. 11 fires still smoldered.
And this liability cap protects not just the airlines, but also World Trade Center builders, safety engineers and other defendants.
The caps on liability have consequences for those who want to sue to shed light on the mistakes of 9/11. It means the playing field is tilted steeply in favor of those who need to be held accountable. With the financial consequences other than insurance proceeds removed, there is no incentive for those whose negligence contributed to the death toll to acknowledge their failings or implement reforms. They can afford to deny culpability and play a waiting game.
By suing, I've forfeited the "$1.8 million average award" for a death claim I could have collected under the fund. Nor do I have any illusions about winning money in my suit. What I do know is I owe it to my husband, whose death I believe could have been avoided, to see that all of those responsible are held accountable. If we don't get answers to what went wrong, there will be a next time. And instead of 3,000 dead, it will be 10,000. What will Congress do then?
So I say to Congress, big business and everyone who conspired to divert attention from government and private-sector failures: My husband's life was priceless, and I will not let his death be meaningless. My silence cannot be bought.
Beverly Eckert, whose husband died at the World Trade Center, is the founder of Voices of September 11th, a victims advocacy group.
© Copyright 2003 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
I've chosen to go to court rather than accept a payoff from the 9/11 victims compensation fund. Instead, I want to know what went so wrong with our intelligence and security systems that a band of religious fanatics was able to turn four U.S passenger jets into an enemy force, attack our cities and kill 3,000 civilians with terrifying ease. I want to know why two 110-story skyscrapers collapsed in less than two hours and why escape and rescue options were so limited.
I am suing because unlike other investigative avenues, including congressional hearings and the 9/11 commission, my lawsuit requires all testimony be given under oath and fully uses powers to compel evidence.
The victims fund was not created in a spirit of compassion. Rather, it was a tacit acknowledgement by Congress that it tampered with our civil justice system in an unprecedented way. Lawmakers capped the liability of the airlines at the behest of lobbyists who descended on Washington while the Sept. 11 fires still smoldered.
And this liability cap protects not just the airlines, but also World Trade Center builders, safety engineers and other defendants.
The caps on liability have consequences for those who want to sue to shed light on the mistakes of 9/11. It means the playing field is tilted steeply in favor of those who need to be held accountable. With the financial consequences other than insurance proceeds removed, there is no incentive for those whose negligence contributed to the death toll to acknowledge their failings or implement reforms. They can afford to deny culpability and play a waiting game.
By suing, I've forfeited the "$1.8 million average award" for a death claim I could have collected under the fund. Nor do I have any illusions about winning money in my suit. What I do know is I owe it to my husband, whose death I believe could have been avoided, to see that all of those responsible are held accountable. If we don't get answers to what went wrong, there will be a next time. And instead of 3,000 dead, it will be 10,000. What will Congress do then?
So I say to Congress, big business and everyone who conspired to divert attention from government and private-sector failures: My husband's life was priceless, and I will not let his death be meaningless. My silence cannot be bought.
Beverly Eckert, whose husband died at the World Trade Center, is the founder of Voices of September 11th, a victims advocacy group.
© Copyright 2003 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.
Judiciary Committee members call for investigation of Arpaio
Judiciary Committee Members Call for Investigation of Sheriff Arpaio's Disregard for Rights of Hispanic Residents
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2009
Contact: Jonathan Godfrey (Conyers)
Pedro Riberio (Lofgren)
Ilan Kayatsky (Nadler)
Larry Dillard (Scott)
WASHINGTON - House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), and Immigration Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Constitution Subcommittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Crime Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Va.) called on Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to investigate allegations of misconduct by Maricopa County (Arizona) Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Sheriff Arpaio has repeatedly demonstrated disregard for the rights of Hispanics in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Under the guise of immigration enforcement, his staff has conducted raids in residential neighborhoods in a manner condemned by the community as racial profiling. On February 4, 2009, Arpaio invited the media to view the transfer of immigrant detainees to a segregated area of his "tent city" jail, subjecting the detainees to public display and "ritual humiliation." Persistent actions such as these have resulted in numerous lawsuits; while Arpaio spends time and energy on publicity and his reality television show, "Smile... You're Under Arrest!", Maricopa County has paid millions of dollars in settlements involving dead or injured inmates.
"Racial profiling and segregation are simply not acceptable." said Conyers. "Media stunts and braggadocio are no substitute for fair and effective law enforcement."
"The basic premise of our justice system is that people are innocent until proven otherwise," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. "I'm concerned that in Maricopa County that basic premise appears to have been turned upside down and that Latino members of community are considered "undocumented" until proven otherwise. That's not how our Constitution works and it's time for the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to take a closer look."
"We cannot tolerate vigilantes using the police power to violate the fundamental rights of anyone they can get their hands on," said Nadler. "Sheriff Arpaio has consistently abused his office in violation of federal law. It is time for the federal government to step in and uphold the rule of law in this country, even in Maricopa County." "Law enforcement is not a game or a reality show, it is a public trust," said Scott. "There is no excuse for callous indifference to the rights of the residents of Arizona, whether in their neighborhoods or as pretrial detainees."
For Immediate Release
February 13, 2009
Contact: Jonathan Godfrey (Conyers)
Pedro Riberio (Lofgren)
Ilan Kayatsky (Nadler)
Larry Dillard (Scott)
WASHINGTON - House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), and Immigration Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Constitution Subcommittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Crime Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-Va.) called on Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to investigate allegations of misconduct by Maricopa County (Arizona) Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Sheriff Arpaio has repeatedly demonstrated disregard for the rights of Hispanics in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Under the guise of immigration enforcement, his staff has conducted raids in residential neighborhoods in a manner condemned by the community as racial profiling. On February 4, 2009, Arpaio invited the media to view the transfer of immigrant detainees to a segregated area of his "tent city" jail, subjecting the detainees to public display and "ritual humiliation." Persistent actions such as these have resulted in numerous lawsuits; while Arpaio spends time and energy on publicity and his reality television show, "Smile... You're Under Arrest!", Maricopa County has paid millions of dollars in settlements involving dead or injured inmates.
"Racial profiling and segregation are simply not acceptable." said Conyers. "Media stunts and braggadocio are no substitute for fair and effective law enforcement."
"The basic premise of our justice system is that people are innocent until proven otherwise," said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. "I'm concerned that in Maricopa County that basic premise appears to have been turned upside down and that Latino members of community are considered "undocumented" until proven otherwise. That's not how our Constitution works and it's time for the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to take a closer look."
"We cannot tolerate vigilantes using the police power to violate the fundamental rights of anyone they can get their hands on," said Nadler. "Sheriff Arpaio has consistently abused his office in violation of federal law. It is time for the federal government to step in and uphold the rule of law in this country, even in Maricopa County." "Law enforcement is not a game or a reality show, it is a public trust," said Scott. "There is no excuse for callous indifference to the rights of the residents of Arizona, whether in their neighborhoods or as pretrial detainees."
American Indian Studies Ojibwe Language Weekend -- 'Ni'Shin!'
American Indian Studies Ojibwe Language Weekend – “Ni’Shin!”By Brita Brookes,
Michigan Correspondent and Photographer
Censored News
Photos by Brita Brookes: Third year linguistics student Autumn Mitchell reads a story in Ojibwe as her Professor Helen Roy looks on with approval. Ribbon Town Singers provided one of the three drums for the Pow Wow and concluded the Pow Wow with the AIM song.
LANSING, Mich. -- On the rare sunny winter day while walking into the Ojibwe Language Weekend Pow Wow in Lansing, Michigan last weekend, one could hear the drums beckoning from the parking lot. Once in the building, one saw smiling faces and heard a loud and happy “Aanii!” In the Ojibwe language “Aanii” is “Hello.” At this event, there was sunshine inside as well as outside.
The Michigan State Department of Linguistics & German, Asian, Slavic, and African Languages, The American Indian Studies Program, and the North American Indigenous Student Organization sponsored and organized the weekend event “Learning and Living the Language” which created an environment where students and community members could be immersed in the Ojibwe language. As language Professor Helen Roy communicated on the event flyer, “it is our duty and our inherent nature as Anishinaabeg to preserve the language of our ancestors.”
The Pow Wow which was held at a local community center meeting room was done completely in the Ojibwe language. Third year Linguistics Student Autumn Mitchell read aloud two stories in Ojibwe while a projection screen on the wall projected artful illustrations of the storyline. Autumn has been a student of Helen Roy’s language teachings since Middle School. Autumn read two stories “When you Give a Mouse a Cookie” and my favorite “When you give a Mouse a Drumstick.” Already with extensive language training for her age, Autumn will be graduating in a year and a half and will be able to utilize her skills in continuing the legacy of promoting the language.
The loss of the Native Language can mainly be explained as a result of the oppressive and abusive nature of the Indian Boarding Schools which began in the 1870’s and continued on into the 1930’s and in some cases beyond. During the era of the Indian Boarding Schools, use of native language was forbidden and Indian students were severely punished if they spoke their language. The United States Government’s stance on the use of these harsh tactics was to create “assimilation through education.” Unfortunately, the majority of these educational facilities were latent with abuse and lack of respect for traditional culture. The wounds from the Indian Boarding Schools in the United States and Canada still remain today and explain why several generations of Native Americans do not speak their traditional language.
The Learning the Language Pow Wow is evidence that the preservation and continuation of the language is being actively worked on in Michigan and being embraced by all generations of the community. Head Veteran and respected elder George Martin lead the room in a Blanket Dance for the three Drum Groups. During the Inter-tribal dances Head Woman Dancer Julie Whitepigeon and the Head Male Dancer lead the group while teenage shawl dancers, parents, elders, little babies, and curious visitors followed into the ever moving circle of colors and beauty. As they danced, Language Professor Helen Roy MC’d the activities in the language as the crowd of onlookers watched and listened carefully to the words. Many audience members tried to read along as the words appeared on the screen.
The loss of the Native Language can mainly be explained as a result of the oppressive and abusive nature of the Indian Boarding Schools which began in the 1870’s and continued on into the 1930’s and in some cases beyond. During the era of the Indian Boarding Schools, use of native language was forbidden and Indian students were severely punished if they spoke their language. The United States Government’s stance on the use of these harsh tactics was to create “assimilation through education.” Unfortunately, the majority of these educational facilities were latent with abuse and lack of respect for traditional culture. The wounds from the Indian Boarding Schools in the United States and Canada still remain today and explain why several generations of Native Americans do not speak their traditional language.
The Learning the Language Pow Wow is evidence that the preservation and continuation of the language is being actively worked on in Michigan and being embraced by all generations of the community. Head Veteran and respected elder George Martin lead the room in a Blanket Dance for the three Drum Groups. During the Inter-tribal dances Head Woman Dancer Julie Whitepigeon and the Head Male Dancer lead the group while teenage shawl dancers, parents, elders, little babies, and curious visitors followed into the ever moving circle of colors and beauty. As they danced, Language Professor Helen Roy MC’d the activities in the language as the crowd of onlookers watched and listened carefully to the words. Many audience members tried to read along as the words appeared on the screen.
The Pow Wow was free and open to the public. Like new spring flowers appearing in the snow, there was a large group of dancers who wore new regalia dresses and outfits which were carefully made over this long hard winter. To keep these flowers moving in time, there was presence of three drum groups including ‘Ribbon Town.’. The Pow Wow concluded with a Giveaway and a great rendition of “Splish, Splash I was Taking a Bath” on guitar and of course sung in the language by all, with some help from the experts!
The Michigan State Pow Wow of Love will be occurring the weekend of February 21, 22 in hopes of continuing the momentum from this event. It was nice to see the students and community taking aim and shooting for their dream of reigniting the use of the language. See you next weekend!
The Michigan State Pow Wow of Love will be occurring the weekend of February 21, 22 in hopes of continuing the momentum from this event. It was nice to see the students and community taking aim and shooting for their dream of reigniting the use of the language. See you next weekend!
For more information on the Michigan State University Linguistics Program and the Event Student Organizations:
http://aisp.msu.edu/index.html
https://www.msu.edu/~naiso/
http://linglang.msu.edu/
For more information on the Michigan State University Pow Wow of Love:
https://www.msu.edu/~naiso/powwow/
Submitted by Brita Brookes
http://www.myspace.com/missbinthed
http://aisp.msu.edu/index.html
https://www.msu.edu/~naiso/
http://linglang.msu.edu/
For more information on the Michigan State University Pow Wow of Love:
https://www.msu.edu/~naiso/powwow/
Submitted by Brita Brookes
http://www.myspace.com/missbinthed
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