MNN: Nuke, Nuke, Who's There? Obomb Dem? Bigger and bolder is his mantra

NUKE, NUKE, WHO’S THERE? OBOMB DEM? Bigger and bolder is his mantra.

Mohawk Nation News
http://www.mohawknationnews.com

Feb. 16, 2009. The US bailout package just signed by President Barack Obama affects us Indigenous people in a very serious way. Our water and uranium is vital to develop the nuclear reactors they want so badly. Shouldn’t they be going into alternative energy, less consumption and saving Mother Earth from the masterminds of destruction? We have the largest supplies of freshwater and uranium in the world on our territories. And they want this!

The Nuclear Information and Resource Service stated on January 27th that, "The U.S. Senate snuck in a provision to President Obama's economic stimulus package to give $50 billion for loan guarantees for construction of new nuclear reactors. This would be on top of the $18.5 billion taxpayer dollars already authorized by Congress during the Bush administration."

Canada and the U.S. are “Dancing with the Stars” on this. In addition to the $300 million budget already going to the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited AECL, that develops and tests nuclear reactors, the Canadian government has given them an additional $380 million from the recent Canadian bail out.

The Canadian Nuclear Association CNA is having their annual national conference and trade show in Ottawa on February 25 to 27, 2009 at the Westin Hotel. Countries attending are Australia, Britain, U.S. France and others. The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission is a special guest. What’s being promised here?

We Rotino’shonni:onwe, Iroquois, have the responsibility to care for our territories, waters and resources of Turtle Island. The plan to secretly divert our waters from the north and the St. Lawrence and Great Lakes watershed to the U.S. without our knowledge and consent violates our inherent rights. We will never and cannot ever give up our land and resources to anyone.

The banksters are trying to protect their perceived right to excessive wealth at the expense of other people. They want to gain control of everything that we need to live. The plan here is to deplete, flood and change the geography of Turtle Island.

Uranium is the fuel they think they need to pump our fresh water south. Atomic Energy of Canada Limited AECL makes medical isotopes, stores nuclear waste including weapons grade plutonium and does nuclear research. Tritium is a dangerous by product of the CANDU nuclear reactor. It is highly toxic and radioactive. Tritium has been leaking from the old National Research Universal NRU reactor at Chalk River on the Ottawa River which drains into the St. Lawrence River. AECL said that they have stopped the leak into the drinking water of millions of people. Not true! It’s coming up in the Ottawa sewage treatment. Canada downplays this and other leaks in the NRU, which should be taken out of service. Shutting down a reactor is a long careful process that requires time, water and monitoring. In the meantime, AECL continues to conduct atomic research for international customers like U.S., Britain and Pakistan.


Bill Pilkington, VP at AECL said the leak was "not insignificant"!! Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission CNSC told Parliament on February 5 that, “There's no risk”. CNSC was probably afraid to speak up since Prime Minister Stephen “Sponge Bob” Harper fired their head, Linda Keen, last year for criticizing AECL. It’s a big money maker and they want their money now! They don’t care about the harm to people now or for the next 7 or 70 generations.

Radioactivity is most harmful to the unborn, to infants, to small children and to growing bodies. According to author Ace Hoffman of Carlsbad, California, "... the Environment Protection Agency EPA limit for tritium in drinking water is too lax. The standards are based on the damage to healthy adult males, the least susceptible of all possible groupings”. The radioactive assault causes neuromuscular, cardiovascular damage, fetal deformities, premature aging and death.

In a recent Toronto Star article, a professor at University of Toronto, which is a member of the Canadian Nuclear Association, stated that the Canadian limit on the ingestion of tritium is 100 times higher than that allowed in Europe. Tritium is especially7 harmful because it can permeate any part of the human body. The isotope “strontium” collects in the bones and teeth of the unborn, while another isotope “cesium” collects in soft tissue, including muscle and women's ovaries and breasts.” These are two of the many radioactive medical isotopes made at AECL in Chalk River.

To make money corporations like Cameco, GE, MDS Nordion and their buddies found a use for tritium waste. SRB Technologies of Pembroke is putting tritium into paint for reflective road signs. Residents are finding pollution in the local land and water. Now Wal-Mart is missing thousands of their “exit” signs made of tritium. Where did they go? Are they marking the route to oblivion for those of us who are in their way?

The nuclear industry is trying to sell nuclear reactors all over the world. Canada wants to stay in the deadly military weaponry game. Its even posted signs saying “Welcome War” near the War Museum in Ottawa. The radioactive spent fuel will be repatriated to make nuclear weapons.

Radioactive materials take a long time to break down. Tritium has a radiological half-life of about 12.4 years. Some medical isotopes take only days or weeks. Uranium compounds take millions of years.

Talk about fancy sonar equipment run by uranium fuel. In early February two French and British nuclear submarines on stealth mode crashed into each other in the Atlantic Ocean. Each carried 16 ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads and could have released vast amounts of radiation. “No leaks”, we are told. Do we believe them?

The toxic mess created by the conglomerates will affect us for generations to come. The NRU reactor must be decommissioned immediately. The truth about nuclear radiation must be told. Nuclear development must be stopped. We have to manage with less. No dangerous alternative energies should be used to keep the excessive materialistic North American lifestyle going and to keep a few war mongering oligarchs rich. Our minds and energies should be going towards monitoring the nuclear waste that has already been produced instead of digging up and creating more.

Iakoha’ko:wa & 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
Notes, Sources and Contact Info
Nuclear Information and Resource Service
nirsnet@nirs.org www.nirs.org, Ace Hoffman Author, The Code Killers: An Expose About Nuclear Crimes, High and Low, Large and Small, Far and Wide; Free download: www.acehoffman.org
phone: (800) 551-2726; (760) 720-7261, address: PO Box 1936 Carlsbad, CA 92018
email: ace@acehoffman.org
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Technology/Radioactive%20spill%20reported%20nuclear/1223290/story.html
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/587906
Wal-Mart's glow-in-the-dark mystery
CONTACT Politricksters
http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/com/concon/concon-eng.php
Lisa Raitt, NR Min; MP Halton, (613) 996-2007 MINO/MINO Lisa.Raitt@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca
(613) 996-7046 Fax: (613) 992-0851 EMail: Raitt.L@parl.gc.ca
DM Deputy Minister Doyle, Cassie J. since June, 2006, (613) 992-3280 DMO/DMO CassieJ.Doyle@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca, also on board of directors at AECL
Serge Dupont, Associate Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada, (613) 996-9753 DMO/DMO Serge.Dupont@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca
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Min. Health Leona Aglukkaq Conservative Constituency: Nunavut, (613) 992-2848 Fax: (613) 996-9764
EMail: Aglukkaq.L@parl.gc.ca, Web Site:* www.leonaaglukkaq.ca/EN/5215/
DM Health: Morris Rosenberg, Deputy Minister Health since December 2004. He's been thru a few PM's. Deputy Minister Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada from July 1998 to December 2004. 1993 to 1996 Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Economic and Regional Development Policy, Privy Council Office. Deputy Minister's Office - Health Canada, Brooke Claxton Building, Tunney's Pasture
Postal Locator: 0906C, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0K9, (613) 952-1154, dm_sm@hc-sc.gc.ca
Critic of AECL: LibMP Geoff Regan ReganG@parl.gc.ca, (613) 996-3085 Fax: (613) 996-6988;
"John Gerretsen MPP Minister of the Environment" ; George Smitherman MPP Energy & Infr."
CNSC Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission; CNSC Chalk River Laboratories Site, Building 432 Chalk River, ON K0J 1J0, 613-584-7743 Fax: 613-584-9077, interventions@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca; EA@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
AECL: Bill Pilkington, VP, talks to media, AECL – Chalk River Laboratories, Chalk River, Ontario Canada K0J 1J0, (613) 584-3311
http://www.aecl.ca/Contact/Make_a_request_for_information.htm
FILL IN THE FORM..... http://www.aecl.ca/site3.aspx
Public Requests for Information Toll free: 1-866-513-AECL (2325); Media Enquiries Toll free: 1-866-886-2325, Community Enquiries Toll free: 1-800-364-6989
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ALTOGETHER NOW:
CassieJ.Doyle@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca; Lisa.Raitt@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca; Serge.Dupont@NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca; Raitt.L@parl.gc.ca; Aglukkaq.L@parl.gc.ca; dm_sm@hc-sc.gc.ca, Reid.S@parl.gc.ca, Harper.S@parl.gc.ca, Nicholson.R@parl.gc.ca, Aglukkaq.L@parl.gc.ca, Day.S@parl.gc.ca,VanLoan.P@parl.gc.ca, McCallum.J@parl.gc.ca, ReganG@parl.gc.ca, Raitt.L@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, FAAE@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, dmcquinty.mpp@liberal.ola.org, john.bennett@greenparty.ca,
randy@ruralrevolution.com, info@randyhillier.com, holland.m@parl.gc.ca,
pm@pm.gc.ca, ottawa@chuckstrahl.com, john.yakabuskico@pc.ola.org, jim.wilsonco@pc.ola.org, tim.hudakco@pc.ola.org, hhampton-qp@ndp.on.ca, pkormos-qp@ndp.on.ca, gphillips.mpp@liberal.ola.org, dramsay.mpp@liberal.ola.org, gilles@gillesbisson.com, mbryant.mpp@liberal.ola.org, leader@greenparty.ca, info@greenparty.ca, rlm@xplornet.com, lorraine.rekmans@greenparty.ca, jwarnock@ontarioeast.net, doherty@kos.net, hhampton-qp@ndp.on.ca, norm.sterlingco@pc.ola.org, president@lisamacleod.ca, ahorwath-qp@ndp.on.ca, joyce.savoline@pc.ola.org, dzimmer.mpp@liberal.ola.org, tabunsp-qp@ndp.on.ca, laurie.scott@pc.ola.org, robert.runcimanco@pc.ola.org, brad.duguid@liberal.ola.org, rbartolucci.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org, toby.barrett@pc.ola.org, donna.cansfield@liberal.ola.org, michael.gravelle@liberal.ola.org, dave.levac@liberal.ola.org, garfield.dunlop@pc.ola.org, gilles.bisson@ndp.ola.org, jeff.leal@liberal.ola.org, brad.duguid@liberal.ola.org; norm.miller@pc.ola.org; peter.kormos@ndp.ola.org;
Prentice.J@parl.gc.ca, brianmitchell@conservative.ca, brucemclaughlin@conservative.ca, ceciltaylor@conservative.ca, DonPlett@conservative.ca, gilleslavoie@conservative.ca, gordelliott@conservative.ca, jeanleblanc@conservative.ca, karajohnson@conservative.ca, liamobrien@conservative.ca, loisbrown@conservative.ca, mennofroese@conservative.ca, michaelmacdonald@conservative.ca, rayleitch@conservative.ca, richardciano@conservative.ca, sammagnus@conservative.ca, stephanedesilets@conservative.ca, susanmcarthur@conservative.ca, victormarciano@conservative.ca, ericw@kingstongreens.ca, morganw@kingstongreens.ca, Julian.P@parl.gc.ca, GreenLight1@kingstongreens.ca

Kauanui: Listen online: Hawaiian land case

"Indigenous Politics: From Native New England and Beyond" radio program on WESU, Middletown, CT, 88.1FM
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LISTEN ONLINE while the program airs from 4-4:55pm EST (11am HST/1pm PST/3pm CST): http://www.wesufm.org/
On Tuesday, February 17, 2009, join your host, Dr. J. Kehaulani Kauanui for a special edition of Indigenous Politics that will examine the Hawaiian land case that will go before the US Supreme Court on February 25. The Court will hear oral arguments in the case of Hawaii v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs, et al, since the state of Hawaii has asked the Court to rule on whether or not the state has the authority to sell, exchange, or transfer 1.2 million acres of land formerly held by the Hawaiian monarchy as Crown and Government Lands. This land base constitutes 29 percent of the total land area of what is now known as the State of Hawaii and almost all the land claimed by the State as "public lands." Prior to the state government's appeal to the Supreme Court, the Hawaii State Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state should keep the land trust intact until Native Hawaiian claims to these lands are settled, and prohibited the state from selling or otherwise disposing of the properties to private parties; and did so based on the 1993 Apology Resolution, in which Congress acknowledged and apologized for the United States' role and affirmed, "the indigenous Hawaiian people never directly relinquished their claims to their inherent sovereignty as a people or over their national lands to the United States, either through their monarchy or through a plebiscite or referendum." The guest on the show is Dr. Jonathan Kamakawiwo`ole Osorio, an original plaintiff in the case who sued the state to prevent the sale of these lands. He is now a defendant in the appeal to the Supreme Court and will speak to the complex issues raised by the case including the origins of the lawsuit, land title from a pro-Hawaiian independence position, the politics of the Apology Resolution, and the Hawaiian Nation's claim to these lands under international law. Osorio is an associate professor at the Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawai`i at Manoa, and author of Dismembering Lahui A History of the Hawaiian Nation to 1887.
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All past programs of "Indigenous Politics" are now archived online:
www.indigenouspolitics.com.
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"Indigenous Politics" is syndicated weekly on Pacifica-affiliate stations: WNJR, 91.7 FM, "Washington & Jefferson College Radio" in Washington, PA, and WETX-LP, 105.3 FM, "The independent voice of Appalachia," which includes a region encompassing twelve states and 20 million people: east Tennessee, southwest Virginia, west Kentucky, all of West Virginia, most of Pennsylvania, south New York, west Maryland, west North Carolina, west South Carolina, north Georgia, north Alabama, and northeast Mississippi. In addition, WBCR-lp in Great barrington, MA is also syndicating the show.
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The show's producer and host, Dr. J. Kehaulani Kauanui is an associate professor of American Studies and Anthropology at Wesleyan University. She is the author of a newly released book, Hawaiian Blood: Colonialism and the Politics of Sovereignty and Indigeneity (Duke University Press, 2008). http://jkauanui.faculty.wesleyan.edu/
Kanaka Maoli Scholars Against Desecration

Statement on Mauna Kea - February 17, 2009

We declare our opposition to SB 992/HB 1174 and SB 502/HB 1370 and any other legislation bills that would transfer Mauna Kea to the University of Hawai`i (UH). These current legislative proposals would give the UH complete management authority over Mauna Kea and allow implementation of a plan that has no limit on telescope construction, would close public access to the summit, and exempt UH from public oversight in the name of development.

Mauna Kea is a sacred summit, which is already being desecrated by the existing science telescopes. The Hawai`i revised statute 711-1107 on Desecration specifically states that no one may commit the offense of desecrating “a place of worship or burial,” and the statute defines “desecrate” as “defacing, damaging, polluting, or otherwise physically mistreating in a way that the defendant knows will outrage the sensibilities of persons likely to observe or discover the defendant's action.” If this legislation passes, state legislators would be violating their own state law.

These legislative proposals also interfere with on-going litigation on the current regulations governing Mauna Kea. We would also like to remind state representatives and the general public that in the recent Third Circuit Court case regarding the management of Mauna Kea, the court ruled in favor of the Plaintiffs—Kealoha Pisciotta, President of Mauna Kea Anaina Hou; Debbie Ward and Nelson Ho, Co-Chairs of Mauna Kea Issues Committees, Sierra Club Hawai`i Island Chapter; Ali`i `Ai Moku, Paul K. Neves of the Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Moku of Mamalahoa Heiau Helu `Elua; and Clarence Ku Ching, individual Native Hawaiian Practitioner—and against the UH and the state Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR) for violation of the regulations protecting Mauna Kea as a conservation district. This lawsuit is currently on review before the Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) after the University appealed the lower court ruling against them. Though the University only recently withdrew its appeal from the ICA, counterclaims that go to the fundamental merits of this issue remain before the ICA.

Besides blatant desecration, and interference in on-going litigation, the negative environmental effects are numerous. As noted in the Testimony of the Plaintiffs regarding this legislation, two reports by the State Auditor have found that UH’s misuse and the BLNR’s failed oversight is “inadequate to ensure the protection of natural resources, and neglected ...the cultural value of Mauna Kea." Their report further stated that the University's Institute for Astronomy “focused primarily on the development of Mauna Kea and tied the benefits gained to its research program,” and that its focus on telescope construction has been “at the expense of neglecting the site’s natural resources.” Also, in 2005, an Environmental Impact Statement required by federal court order found that the cumulative impact of telescope activities on Mauna Kea has had a “substantial, adverse, and significant” impact.

The current proposals also violate the land claims of the Hawaiian nation. These legislative attempts to transfer a portion of the Hawaiian Kingdom Crown and Government Lands of which Mauna Kea is a part, is in direct contravention of the Hawai`i State Supreme Court’s holding in OHA v. Housing and Community Development Cororation of Hawai`i, 2008. The Hawaii Supreme Court barred the transfer of this land base by the state. If this legislation passes, state legislators would be violating the state Supreme Court ruling.

This exploitative venture proposed by this legislation must be stopped because the entire scheme promotes the ongoing violation of the sacred summit of Mauna Kea; it would be irresponsible and bad public policy, as well as a continued abuse of state power.


J. Leilani Basham, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawai`i at West O`ahu

Kamanamaikalani Beamer, Ph.D., Mellon-Hawai`i Postdoctoral Fellow, Kohala Center

Maenette K.P. Ah Nee-Benham, Ed.D., Dean of Hawai`inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, University of Hawai`i, Mānoa

Kealani Robinson Cook, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of History, University of Michigan

J. Noelani Goodyear-Ka`ōpua, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Political Science, University of Hawai`i at Mānoa

Lisa Kahaleole Hall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Women’s Studies, Wells College

Sydney Lehua Iaukea, Ph.D., Mellon-Hawai`i Postdoctoral Fellow, Kohala Center

Kū Kahakalau, Ph.D., founder and director of Kanu o ka ‘Āina New Century Public Charter School

Val Kalei Kanuha, Ph.D., M.S.W., Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Hawai`i at Mānoa

J. Kēhaulani Kauanui, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Anthropology and American Studies, Wesleyan University

Brandy Nalani McDougall, Ph.D. Candidate, English, University of Hawai`i, Mānoa

Noenoe K. Silva, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Political Science, University of Hawai`i at Mānoa

Ty Kawika Tengan, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Anthropology and Ethnic Studies, University of Hawai`i at Mānoa

Lani Teves, Ph.D. Candidate, Program in American Culture, University of Michigan

Haunani-Kay Trask, Ph.D., Professor, Kamakakūokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawai`i, Mānoa

Liza Keanuenueokalani Williams, Ph.D. student, New York University

Sweden: Black Mesa Demonstration

http://www.vild-eken.se/ Double click on poster to enlarge

Out of a growing concern for the recent developments regarding the US Office of Surface Mining decision to, grant Peabody Coal a Life of Mine Permit, for the coal mining on Black Mesa, we have decided to hold a demonstration in Sockholm Sweden, on March 7, 2009. This demonstration will be held jointly with Indigenous representatives from Sapmi ( Saami land), Colombia, Peru, Chile, possibly Tibet and Inner Mongolia, as well as with people who support Indigenous Peoples issues and Mother Earth. We will be at Sergels plaza, in downtown Stockholm, and we will walk to the diplomatic headquarters area, to the US Embassy.After the demonstration and march, there will be presentations at ABF educational facility in Stockholm, of different representatives, on the struggles of Indigenous Peoples. Hopefully it will be possible to conclude with a joint statement, to send to media and governments, under the unifying UN Declaration for Indigenous Peoples Rights and Fundamental Freedom. We hope this little spark of "fire" will catch on, in your Hearts and that people in other places will join in, and arrange demonstrations and gatherings for the Black Mesa struggle. More and more people realize that what the Elders on Black Mesa have spoken of for so long, is now materializing before our very eyes. Please Pray for the People on Black Mesa and for All Our Relations Thank You for your time and consideration Sincerely Carina Gustafsson and Elizabeth Karlsson: Flyer: Elizabeth Karlsson-Good

Two voices of truth killed in Buffalo plane crash

Human rights expert and 9/11 widow/activist killed in Buffalo plane crash

Des Forges GRD '72, human rights expert, killed in plane crash

(Photo left: Beverly Eckert, right Alison Des Forges)

Gabriel Barcia
Staff Reporter Yale Daily News
Published Friday, February 13, 2009
Alison Des Forges GRD '72, one of the world's leading experts on the human rights violations in Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo, was among the passengers killed in the commuter plane crash outside Buffalo, N.Y., late Thursday. She was 66 and lived in Buffalo.
Her death was confirmed by Human Rights Watch, the New York-based organization for which she worked for nearly two decades as a senior adviser to its Africa division.
Born in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1942, Des Forges wrote her doctoral thesis about Rwanda and began working for Human Rights Watch in the 1980s. She spent four years interviewing organizers and victims of the Rwandan genocide and testified at 11 trials at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda as an expert witness.
According to Human Rights Watch, Des Forges "dedicated her life and work to understanding the country, to exposing the serial abuses suffered by its people and helping to bring about change."
"There was no one who knew more and did more to document the genocide and to help bring the perpetrators to justice,” Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement.
Considered the definitive account of the Rwandan tragedy, her book, "Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda," was published in 1999 – the same year the MacArthur Foundation awarded Des Forges a "genius grant" for her work.
Des Forges' last research work for Human Rights Watch, still unfinished, was a report about the recent killings in eastern Congo.
After spending some time in Europe, Des Forges was returning home to Buffalo, where she lived with her husband, Roger Des Forges GRD '71, a history professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Des Forges is also survived by a daughter, a son and three grandchildren.
Continental Connection Flight 3407, from Newark, N.J., to Buffalo, crashed about six miles short of the airport in Buffalo during a light snowfall on Thursday night. Des Forges was among 44 passengers who were killed; four crew members, an off-duty pilot and one person on the ground also died.

9/11 activist dies in plane crash:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-eckert14-2009feb14,0,6636504.story
My Silence Cannot Be Bought

by Beverly Eckert
Photo API'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.