January 27, 2010
Venezuela forgives Haiti debt; CITGO ships 120 tons aid
By Alaska Inter-Tribal Council
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
ALASKA -- This is a very heartwarming and compelling story, that we felt should be shared. The Citgo / Venezuela heating oil relief program has literally saved lives here in Alaska, and the generosity of the Venezuelan people has provided great social change.
The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez announced on Monday, January 25, that the Venezuelan government will forgive any Venezuelan debts held by Haiti.
During a meeting of the Political Council of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), the Venezuelan president said that in view of the tragedy suffered by the Caribbean nation, its debt will be not only be forgiven, but the Venezuelan oil supply to the country will continue.
President Chavez Proposes ALBA countries to Create Humanitarian Fund for Haiti.
Likewise, the Venezuelan head of state proposed the creation of a $100 million Humanitarian Fund to strengthen the aid offered by the ALBA countries to Haiti.
President Chavez explained that the fund will be financed by the governments, peoples and companies that integrate the Latin American organization.
As a complement to the Venezuelan Aid, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, and its charitable organization, the Simón Bolívar Foundation, havestarted the shipment to Port-Au-Prince of 120 tons of humanitarian aid, in coordination with the Embassies of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Republic of Haiti in the United States. This effort complements the contributions of the Venezuelan people through their government, led by President Hugo Chávez, with the goal of alleviating the suffering of the thousands of people left homeless following the earthquake that struck the Caribbean nation on Jan. 12.
Read article at Censored News:
http://censored-news.blogspot.com/2010/01/venezuela-forgives-haiti-debt-citgo.html
Eagle Butte, SD: Without water and electricity for six days
Cheyenne River Sioux desperation ignored by most, but Lakotas from Pine Ridge are carrying them water
From Alex White Plume, Lakota on Pine Ridge, S.D.: "We are starting a group to haul water to the residents on the Eagle Butte rez. They have been without water and electricity for six days today. My brother Percy is collecting fuel money to haul water to the people from Bridger, S.D. We have it hard here, at least we have water. We have to help our relatives."
Water Woes Worsen On Reservation
Keloland News
The worst of the storm is over the lights are turning on for more people across keloland. But for some on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation there's another problem, no water.
“It is pretty serious. We have quite a few families that are without water at this point. And quite a bit of families that are, homes that are without electricity also,” tribal chairman Joseph Brings Plenty said. The power outage made water scarce on the reservation, but now the whole system is down. Eagle Butte has run out and so have other communities. Some could be without more than a week. It's already been days without water for Blaine Nordvold on his ranch south of Eagle Butte. It promises to be days more.
Read more:
http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6371.cfm?Id=
Rapid City Journal: "The power outages and water shortages plaguing most of north central South Dakota made refugees out of 35 kidney dialysis patients from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and their caregivers, stranding them in Rapid City."
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_ec833f00-0a38-11df-a62b-001cc4c002e0.html
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe out of water after storm
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Filed Under: Environment National
http://www.indianz.com
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe declared a state of emergency after thousands went without water following a severe winter storm.
The system that supplies water to 14,000 people failed when the power went out on the reservation. Generators that were brought in malfunctioned and water might not be restored until Friday.
“It is pretty serious. We have quite a few families that are without water at this point. And quite a bit of families that are, homes that are without electricity also,” Chairman Joseph Brings Plenty told KELO-TV.
The tribe has set up shelters across the reservation and imposed an 8pm curfew.
Get the Story: http://www.indianz.com
Families Relocating (KOTA 1/27)
Water Woes Worsen On Reservation (KELO-TV 1/26)
Thousands without water after storm (The Rapid City Journal 1/27)
From Alex White Plume, Lakota on Pine Ridge, S.D.: "We are starting a group to haul water to the residents on the Eagle Butte rez. They have been without water and electricity for six days today. My brother Percy is collecting fuel money to haul water to the people from Bridger, S.D. We have it hard here, at least we have water. We have to help our relatives."
Water Woes Worsen On Reservation
Keloland News
The worst of the storm is over the lights are turning on for more people across keloland. But for some on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation there's another problem, no water.
“It is pretty serious. We have quite a few families that are without water at this point. And quite a bit of families that are, homes that are without electricity also,” tribal chairman Joseph Brings Plenty said. The power outage made water scarce on the reservation, but now the whole system is down. Eagle Butte has run out and so have other communities. Some could be without more than a week. It's already been days without water for Blaine Nordvold on his ranch south of Eagle Butte. It promises to be days more.
Read more:
http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6371.cfm?Id=
Rapid City Journal: "The power outages and water shortages plaguing most of north central South Dakota made refugees out of 35 kidney dialysis patients from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and their caregivers, stranding them in Rapid City."
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_ec833f00-0a38-11df-a62b-001cc4c002e0.html
Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe out of water after storm
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Filed Under: Environment National
http://www.indianz.com
The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe declared a state of emergency after thousands went without water following a severe winter storm.
The system that supplies water to 14,000 people failed when the power went out on the reservation. Generators that were brought in malfunctioned and water might not be restored until Friday.
“It is pretty serious. We have quite a few families that are without water at this point. And quite a bit of families that are, homes that are without electricity also,” Chairman Joseph Brings Plenty told KELO-TV.
The tribe has set up shelters across the reservation and imposed an 8pm curfew.
Get the Story: http://www.indianz.com
Families Relocating (KOTA 1/27)
Water Woes Worsen On Reservation (KELO-TV 1/26)
Thousands without water after storm (The Rapid City Journal 1/27)
Yucca Mountain: Native Americans Give Oral Testimony
Native Community Action Council
P.O. Box 140, Baker, NV 89311
Contact: Ian Zabarte
Telephone: (702) 423-2952
Press Release—January 27, 2010
By Ian Zabarte, Western Shoshone
Today, the Native Community Action Council (NCAC) will provide oral comments to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety Licensing Board Panel Construction Authorization Board on the ability of the Department of Energy to maintain the Licensing Support Network document collection. The NCAC is a party with standing to the proceedings in the Department of Energy License Application for a construction authorization to construct a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain 90 miles north of Las Vegas, Nevada.
“We are here on behalf of the land and people of the Great Basin to ensure we are heard,” said Margene Bullcreek, President of the NCAC. Ms. Bullcreek added, “A Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository will leak impacting the land and people of the Great Basin sooner or
later. That fact is lost in the technical legal arguing in the NRC hearing.” The NCAC is composed of Western Shoshone and Southern Paiute people of the Great Basin that have suffered adverse effects from exposure to radiation in fallout from US nuclear weapons testing. The NCAC has conducted research into the health effects known to be plausible from exposure to radiation that is the basis for one of the contentions filed by the NCAC in the proceedings.
Representing the NCAC in the proceedings, Ms. Rovianne Leigh of the law firm Alexander, Berkey, Williams, and Weathers, LLP, characterized the importance of the NCAC participation in the proceeding today. “The Native Community Action Council is the only party to the proceedings that does not receive federal funding for its participation besides the Nuclear Energy Institute, the nuclear industry representative.” Ms. Leigh went further, “There is no guarantee that the 80 million documents needed for the licensing proceedings can be maintained and ensure that the rights and interests of the NCAC are protected if the Department of Energy withdraws its Yucca Mountain License Application before the NRC. The matter should be dismissed with prejudice in that event.”
The proceedings continue today at the Las Vegas hearing facility of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety Licensing Board Panel Construction Authorization Board.
P.O. Box 140, Baker, NV 89311
Contact: Ian Zabarte
Telephone: (702) 423-2952
Press Release—January 27, 2010
By Ian Zabarte, Western Shoshone
Today, the Native Community Action Council (NCAC) will provide oral comments to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety Licensing Board Panel Construction Authorization Board on the ability of the Department of Energy to maintain the Licensing Support Network document collection. The NCAC is a party with standing to the proceedings in the Department of Energy License Application for a construction authorization to construct a nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain 90 miles north of Las Vegas, Nevada.
“We are here on behalf of the land and people of the Great Basin to ensure we are heard,” said Margene Bullcreek, President of the NCAC. Ms. Bullcreek added, “A Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository will leak impacting the land and people of the Great Basin sooner or
later. That fact is lost in the technical legal arguing in the NRC hearing.” The NCAC is composed of Western Shoshone and Southern Paiute people of the Great Basin that have suffered adverse effects from exposure to radiation in fallout from US nuclear weapons testing. The NCAC has conducted research into the health effects known to be plausible from exposure to radiation that is the basis for one of the contentions filed by the NCAC in the proceedings.
Representing the NCAC in the proceedings, Ms. Rovianne Leigh of the law firm Alexander, Berkey, Williams, and Weathers, LLP, characterized the importance of the NCAC participation in the proceeding today. “The Native Community Action Council is the only party to the proceedings that does not receive federal funding for its participation besides the Nuclear Energy Institute, the nuclear industry representative.” Ms. Leigh went further, “There is no guarantee that the 80 million documents needed for the licensing proceedings can be maintained and ensure that the rights and interests of the NCAC are protected if the Department of Energy withdraws its Yucca Mountain License Application before the NRC. The matter should be dismissed with prejudice in that event.”
The proceedings continue today at the Las Vegas hearing facility of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety Licensing Board Panel Construction Authorization Board.
January 26, 2010
Softly stepping into prison, thank you
By Brenda Norrell, Censored News http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/Photo Fort Huachuca torture protest 2009/Photo Brenda Norrell
It is bittersweet to hear that Fr. Louie Vitale is once again in prison. Now, at the age of 77, prison must be hard for him. I think of all these people who go to prison to expose and call for a halt to US torture. I remember Louie's gentleness and kindness at federal court in Tucson, as he faced prison in 2007, for stepping across the line at Fort Huachcua in Arizona, to bring attention to the US Army Intelligence Center's role in the torture at Abu Ghraib. That time he was sentenced to prison with Fr. Steve Kelly.
Steve was in prison before that, for literally beating a 'weapon into a plowshare,' some sort of nuclear weapon. I found voluntary imprisonment very hard to understand. I asked Steve how he spent his time and how bad it was. Steve said he continues his resistance in prison, refusing to go along with the rules. So he is placed in solitary confinement. So, I asked, how does he get through it. "Oh, there's never enough time," he said enthusiastically, explaining that he has so many letters to write and there's his reading, and prayers and all. I asked him if they gave him paper for letters, and he said he makes do with the margins of the letters he is sent.
During that time, Col. Ann Wright was there as well, the brave woman whose military service did not prevent her from being a voice of truth. Her voice against US torture led to her being denied entrance into Canada.
That year, 2006, I did not go with my friends to Fort Huachuca to face off with the military and to protest US torture. It sounded like pretty risky business when you don't have a quarter or a lawyer to call. But this November, I did join them. Govinda from Earthcycles and I provided video coverage on the web of the protest and the arrests. We stood a few steps away and watched those brave men and one young woman cross the line onto Fort Huachuca to bring attention to US torture.
I was a few steps away from those arrested, but miles away from those who voluntarily spend time in prison, and solitary confinement, to expose US torture.
So today, I offer a salute to Louie, Steve and all the others who peacefully walk across those lines and into prison to say 'No more torture and No more deceit.'
The School of the Americas, where Louie's protest gained him his current prison sentence, is where the US has long trained military torturers for Central and South America. Indigenous Peoples were tortured, raped, mutilated, disappeared and murdered by these torturers trained by the US, as their lands were stolen, their crops burned and their children stolen. Some of those who fled those torturers were rescued by the underground railroad of the Sanctuary Movement in Tucson in the '70s and '80s. Fort Huachuca was where the School of Americas torture manual was produced, according to the US.
So I write this now to let everyone know that hope is indeed still alive. There are still heroes out there, heroes who peacefully cross those lines, take the risks, and go to prison for the sake of humanity.
Thank you to each of you. --Brenda Norrell
.
SOA Protesters Sentenced to Prison: http://www.unobserver.com
Torture on Trial: Arrests for protesting torture training at Fort Huachuca:
http://tortureontrial.org/
Earthcycles web videos: http://www.livestream.com/earthcycles.net
UPDATE: Yesterday, January 26, Louie was transferred to the Crisp County Jail. His address, to write a note of support:
Louis Vitale
Crisp County Detention Cener
196 South Highway 300
Cordele, GA 31015
It's possible he might be transferred again, given his six month sentence. If your letter to him is returned, you can send it c/o The Nuclear Resister, PO Box 43383, Tucson, AZ 85733, and we will forward it to him.
For more information about supporting prisoners of conscience Louie Vitale, Nancy Gwin and Ken Hayes by helping to close the SOA/WHINSEC, go to http://soaw.org/. (Nancy and Ken will go to prison at a later date, still to be determined.)
Peace,
Felice and Jack
_____________________________________
the Nuclear Resister
"a chronicle of hope"
Jack & Felice Cohen-Joppa, editors
P.O. Box 43383
Tucson AZ 85733
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