President Bill Clinton impeached; General George Washington opens camp at Valley Forge; Charles Dickens' novel "A Christmas Carol" is first published; Apollo 17 splashes down in the Pacific Ocean; 'The Music Man' opens on Broadway.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Obama Backs Assault Weapons Ban
The White House has said that President Barack Obama is "actively supportive" of efforts in the U.S. Congress to reinstate an assault weapons ban. White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Tuesday that Obama would also support legislation to close the gun show "loophole", which allows people to buy guns from private dealers without background checks. The president has pledged to address gun violence in the coming weeks following Friday's deadly shooting at a Connecticut elementary school that killed 26 people, including 20 children and six adults. Al Jazeera's Patty Culhane reports.
Benghazi Attack Report Slams U.S. State Department
A government appointed panel has accused the U.S. State Department of not doing enough to protect its diplomats in Libya. The panel investigated a series of attacks on the US mission in Benghazi in September, including one that killed the US ambassador to Libya and three members of his staff. But firing someone was not on the panel's list of 29 recommendations. Al Jazeera's Rosiland Jordan reports from Washington.
Battles Rage in Damascus Refugee Area
Clashes between rebels and armed Palestinians loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have continued in a Damascus neighborhood inhabited by many Palestinian refugees. Residents in Yarmouk camp said several mortar rounds landed in the neighborhood on Tuesday and gunfire echoed around the area. Locals said there were no Syrian government troops in the camp and that most of the fighting was between opposition fighters and gunmen from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - General Command (PFLP-GC). Mohammed Adow reports.
South Africa's Zuma Re-Elected Ruling Party Chief
South Africa's president Jacob Zuma has won a second term as leader of the ruling African National Congress party. His new deputy is business tycoon and multi-millionaire Cyril Ramaphosa. Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa reports from Bloemfontein.
ICC Clears Congolese Warlord of Crimes Against Humanity
In only its second-ever verdict, the International Criminal Court has cleared a Congolese warlord of crimes against humanity. Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui was accused of ordering militias to rape and murder residents of a village in 2003. Al Jazeera's Tim Friend reports.
Climate Change Could Bring More Intense Storms in the Philippines
Scientists warn that climate change is leading to an increased intensity of storms like Bopha. And victims say they feel completely helpless when faced with such natural disasters. Al Jazeera's Marga Ortigas reports from the Compostela Valley in Southern Philippines.
U.N. 'Determined' to Address Winter Needs of Afghan People
People in 20 of Afghanistan's 34 provinces live in high-risk areas where emergency food, fuel and medical supplies will be needed to endure the challenges that come with the winter. Chief among those challenges are malnutrition and the physical effects of the harsh winter, which affect more than two million people in the Central Asian nation. The United Nations has appealed for help, but so far they have only managed to raise less than half of the $448 million they asked of donor nations. Speaking to Al Jazeera from the Afghan capital, Mark Bowden, UN humanitarian coordinator, said this winter will be a "reminder ... of the level of humanitarian needs that exist". Bowden hopes this reminder will be an appeal to international donors who feel "fatigue" at providing aid to Afghanistan. Citing that last year more than 30 people, mostly children, froze in Kabul's IDP camps, Bowden said the UN is "determined to be better organised and better prepared" for this year's cold months.
UBS Agrees to Pay $1.5 Billion Settlement for Libor Rigging
Swiss bank UBS is set to pay a fine of $1.5 billion becoming the second bank after Barclays to be charged with misconduct in connection with the London Interbank Offered Rate or Libor. Libor is the rate at which banks lend to each other. It is used to price more than three hundred and fifty trillion dollars in contracts around the world. Potential losers include pension funds, insurance companies and individuals. More than a dozen banks have been caught up in the international inquiry, and there are more cases to come. Al Jazeera's Tim Friend reports from Central London.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Bringing Life Back to the Rockaways!
Gift Collection and Distribution Aims to Spread Holiday Cheer to Hurricane Sandy Victims
On Wednesday, December 19, the Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corporation (RDRC), in conjunction with Got-A-Go Travel & Entertainment, will be accepting donations of baby clothes, coats and toys for Rockaway residents impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
Donations can be dropped off at the Canaan Land Empowerment Ministry, which is located at 1874 Mott Avenue in Far Rockaway, New York.
"The people of the Rockaways have lost so much, and this is an opportunity to help them and promote the spirit of Christmas," said Valerie Josephs, Founder and President of Got-A-Go Travel & Entertainment.
"Those donating two wrapped toys will have a chance to win a four-day/three night, all-expenses-paid trip for two to the Dominican Republic, and the winner doesn't have to be present for the December 31st drawing," added Josephs.
The distribution and a holiday celebration will take place on Friday, December 21st. Contact Valerie Josephs at (718) 496-7581 for additional information.
Washington Watch: Gun Violence Among Black Men
Gun violence takes the life of a young African-American man every five hours. It's the leading cause of death for Black men under the age of 35. And in Chicago, President Barack Obama's hometown, it is the epicenter. Yet, gun violence among Black men rarely makes the national agenda and is hardly discussed outside the Black community.
Bill Moyers Essay: Living Under the Gun
Moyers & Company
Air date: July 20, 2012
The Connecticut tragedy is a chilling reminder of the price we pay for our pro-gun culture, an issue Bill Moyers spoke about shortly after the Colorado theater shooting.
Gun Control Debate Heats Up in U.S.
An increasing number of U.S. congressmen have called for a national dialogue about measures to curb gun violence following the shooting last week at a an elementary school in Connecticut that killed 26 people, including 20 children and six adults. White House officials have said that President Barack Obama would make preventing gun-related violence a priority in his second term in office and stricter laws would be part of the effort. Obama met US Vice President Joe Biden and a handful of cabinet members to begin discussions on ways the country should respond to the shootings in Newton, Connecticut.
President Obama Speaks at Newtown High School
President Obama delivers remarks at an interfaith prayer vigil for the victims of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
'Tonight, Our Country Has Lost a True American Hero...'
Statement from the President on the Passing of
Senator Daniel Inouye
The following statements were submitted to From The G-Man on December 17.
Tonight, our country has lost a true American
hero with the passing of Senator Daniel Inouye. The second-longest
serving Senator in the history of the chamber, Danny represented the people of
Hawaii in Congress from the moment they joined the Union. In Washington,
he worked to strengthen our military, forge bipartisan consensus, and hold
those of us in government accountable to the people we were elected to
serve. But it was his incredible bravery during World War II – including
one heroic effort that cost him his arm but earned him the Medal of Honor –
that made Danny not just a colleague and a mentor, but someone revered by all
of us lucky enough to know him. Our thoughts and prayers are with the
Inouye family.
Statement by Vice President Biden
As my mother would say, the greatest virtue of
all is courage, and Danny was courage personified. From the battlefields of
World War II where he received the Medal of Honor, to the floor of the United
States Senate where he displayed incredible moral bravery, he was always
the same – courageous and resolute. He was one of the most honorable men
I ever met in my life, and one of the best friends you could hope for. He was
honest, and fiercely loyal, and I trusted him absolutely.
Everyone in the Senate not only admired Danny
Inouye, but they trusted him. We all knew he would do the moral thing
regardless of the consequences – whether it was passing judgment on a President
during Watergate or on another President in the Iran Contra hearings. And
Danny always remembered where he came from – and how hard his family had to
struggle. From having to fight for the right to fight for his country in the
all Japanese-American 442nd, to his keynote speech at the Democratic National
Convention in 1968, he always spoke of the country’s struggles with racism and
bias, and his call for a “new era of politics.” And to his dying day, he fought
for a new era of politics where all men and women are treated with equality.
Above all, Danny was my friend, and Jill and I
are praying for his entire family today.
The late Senator Daniel Inouye
More information on the career and life of Senator Daniel Inouye is available in this Reuters
news report.
Politics in Action: H.R. 1
STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY
Senate Amendment to H.R. 1 — Hurricane Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013
(Sen. Inouye, D-HI)
The
Administration strongly supports Senate passage of the amendment in the nature
of the substitute to H.R. 1 providing supplemental appropriations for fiscal
year 2013 to respond to and recover from the severe damage caused by Hurricane
Sandy. The Senate amendment will provide the necessary resources to
continue ongoing response and recovery efforts, while helping impacted
communities effectively mitigate future risk of disaster to prevent losses of
this magnitude from recurring.
The
amendment ensures urgent and essential needs are being met, while recognizing
the need to prevent losses of this magnitude from future disasters.
Further, it ensures that funds are invested wisely to improve communities'
long-term resilience and protect against waste, fraud, and abuse. Given the
emergency and one-time nature of this supplemental appropriation, and in
keeping with the response to Hurricane Katrina, Deepwater Horizon, and other
disasters, the Administration supports the decision to not offset these funds.
The Administration remains committed to balanced deficit reduction, and it
believes both parties can come together to achieve that, while ensuring
communities affected by Hurricane Sandy have the support they need to recover.
Providing
Federal funding for response, recovery, and mitigation following Hurricane
Sandy will maintain the Nation's tradition of pulling together to help one
another in times of greatest need. The Administration looks forward to working
with the Congress to refine the legislation and urges the Congress to pass a
bill as soon as possible to give affected States and communities the support
they need to recover and rebuild.
The Fierce Urgency of Now: January 15th Protest at White House
A Special Guest Commentary by Activist Ted Glick
The Fierce Urgency of Now
By Ted Glick
The first public action of any kind, on any issue, after the November 6 election was on the issue of the climate; specifically, the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. On Nov 18 3,000 people marched around the White House behind a football-field long, mock pipeline on which was written, “no tar sands pipeline.”
350.org was the primary organizer of this action. At it, Allison Chin, President of the Sierra Club, announced their and 350’s plans for a major demonstration in DC on February 17th on the President’s Day weekend. We will be calling upon President Obama to step up now and be the leader we need on this urgent issue.
Religious and spiritual leaders are also stepping it up. On January 15th, in front of the White House, they will join together in a “Pray-in for the Climate” organized by Interfaith Moral Action on Climate.
It is significant that religious leaders and voices are stepping forward to take action in this way. Fifty years ago, our country faced a crisis of racial inequality in the USA that was a basic threat to justice and democracy. Religious communities and others acted, and we made a difference.
Today’s deepest crisis is the danger facing the web of life upon our planet, including the human race - especially the poorest and most vulnerable.
January 15th is close enough to Inauguration Day (January 21) to make the connection with what the President should be doing in his second term, and far enough away that the action won’t drown in the media swamp.
January 15th is also the actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He would be 84 on this day if he had not been killed in 1968 while leading the civil and human rights movement. The action will be carried out in the spirit of his work. We will gather at 11:00 am at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, a few blocks from the White House. At noon, we will walk there in a religious procession and join our voices in a prayerful vigil. We will be praying that President Obama and all of us find the strength and wisdom to lead our country and world away from the Climate Cliff.
Please note that some participants may feel called to risk arrest by nonviolently disregarding the conventional regulations and assuming positions of prayer in the area near the White House fence.
We expect to be joined by survivors of Superstorm Sandy and their religious leaders from communities like the Rockaways and Staten Island in New York.
1. Permanently refuse permits for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, because tar-oil is among the most dangerous of the planet-heating forms of carbon.
2. Call a National Summit Conference on the Climate Crisis that includes leaders of business, labor, academia, religious communities, governmental officialdom, science, and other relevant bodies.
3. Publicly support and advocate for a carbon fee that will generate hundreds of billions of dollars, with provisions to ensure that working families and the poor are not harmed by higher carbon prices; for an end to subsidies to the coal, oil and gas industries; and for substantial subsidies for research, development, and use of renewable, sustainable and jobs-creating clean energy sources.
We invite and urge all people concerned about the climate crisis to join us on January 15th at the White House.
To our President and Congress we address the prophetic words of Dr. King spoken at another moment of crisis: “This is a time to break the silence!”
For more information contact Cynthia Harris at cynthiaharris4930@gmail.com.
“We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now…. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: ’Too late’.”
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The first public action of any kind, on any issue, after the November 6 election was on the issue of the climate; specifically, the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. On Nov 18 3,000 people marched around the White House behind a football-field long, mock pipeline on which was written, “no tar sands pipeline.”
350.org was the primary organizer of this action. At it, Allison Chin, President of the Sierra Club, announced their and 350’s plans for a major demonstration in DC on February 17th on the President’s Day weekend. We will be calling upon President Obama to step up now and be the leader we need on this urgent issue.
Religious and spiritual leaders are also stepping it up. On January 15th, in front of the White House, they will join together in a “Pray-in for the Climate” organized by Interfaith Moral Action on Climate.
It is significant that religious leaders and voices are stepping forward to take action in this way. Fifty years ago, our country faced a crisis of racial inequality in the USA that was a basic threat to justice and democracy. Religious communities and others acted, and we made a difference.
Today’s deepest crisis is the danger facing the web of life upon our planet, including the human race - especially the poorest and most vulnerable.
January 15th is close enough to Inauguration Day (January 21) to make the connection with what the President should be doing in his second term, and far enough away that the action won’t drown in the media swamp.
January 15th is also the actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He would be 84 on this day if he had not been killed in 1968 while leading the civil and human rights movement. The action will be carried out in the spirit of his work. We will gather at 11:00 am at New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, a few blocks from the White House. At noon, we will walk there in a religious procession and join our voices in a prayerful vigil. We will be praying that President Obama and all of us find the strength and wisdom to lead our country and world away from the Climate Cliff.
Please note that some participants may feel called to risk arrest by nonviolently disregarding the conventional regulations and assuming positions of prayer in the area near the White House fence.
We expect to be joined by survivors of Superstorm Sandy and their religious leaders from communities like the Rockaways and Staten Island in New York.
What will we be urging that the President do to meet the needs of this critical hour in planetary time?
1. Permanently refuse permits for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, because tar-oil is among the most dangerous of the planet-heating forms of carbon.
2. Call a National Summit Conference on the Climate Crisis that includes leaders of business, labor, academia, religious communities, governmental officialdom, science, and other relevant bodies.
3. Publicly support and advocate for a carbon fee that will generate hundreds of billions of dollars, with provisions to ensure that working families and the poor are not harmed by higher carbon prices; for an end to subsidies to the coal, oil and gas industries; and for substantial subsidies for research, development, and use of renewable, sustainable and jobs-creating clean energy sources.
We invite and urge all people concerned about the climate crisis to join us on January 15th at the White House.
To our President and Congress we address the prophetic words of Dr. King spoken at another moment of crisis: “This is a time to break the silence!”
For more information contact Cynthia Harris at cynthiaharris4930@gmail.com.
We invite you to also visit our website at www.interfaithactiononclimatechange.org.
Ted Glick is on the Steering Committee of IMAC and is National Campaign Coordinator of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
Ted Glick is on the Steering Committee of IMAC and is National Campaign Coordinator of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
Past writings and other information can be found at http://tedglick.com, and he can be followed on twitter at http://twitter.com/jtglick.
'He Broke Barriers While Fighting for a Safer, Fairer America'
Statement from Governor Andrew Cuomo on the Passing of Daniel Inouye
“I was saddened to hear of the passing of
Senator Daniel Inouye who throughout his long career in public service broke
barriers while fighting for a safer, fairer America. With his passing, the
Senate, the people of Hawaii, and our country have lost a public servant who
served this nation first as young man volunteering as a medic during the attack
on Pearl Harbor, later as a soldier on the front lines of World War II for
which he earned a Medal of Honor, and finally as an elected representative. On
behalf of all New Yorkers, I send my thoughts and condolences to his family,
friends, and colleagues in the Senate.”
In Memoriam....Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas J. Reid
Died in Landstuhl, Germany from Wounds Suffered in Sperwan Village, Afghanistan
Governor Andrew Cuomo has directed that flags on
state government buildings be flown at half-staff on Thursday, December 20,
2012 in honor of a Rochester soldier who died December 13 of wounds suffered in
Afghanistan on December 9.
Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas J. Reid died in Landstuhl, Germany from wounds suffered in Sperwan Village, Afghanistan when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.
Read was assigned to the 53rd Ordnance Company
(Explosive Ordnance Disposal) of the 3rd Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance
Disposal) based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.
“Along with all New Yorkers, I mourn the death of Staff Sgt. Reid and extend my condolences to his family, friends and fellow soldiers," Governor Cuomo said.
"We will remember his sacrifice and his
dedication to our nation."
From The G-Man would like to take this opportunity to honor Army Staff Sgt. Nicholas J. Reid, his love of country, and his service with the following video tribute. May he forever rest in peace.
Folded flag image courtesy of http://www.ussmtmckinley.com.
Photo courtesy of http://homepost.kpbs.org/.
Video uploaded to YouTube by moderatepopulist
Photo courtesy of http://homepost.kpbs.org/.
Video uploaded to YouTube by moderatepopulist
Tuition Refund for Students Who Withdrew as a Result of Hurricane Sandy
SUNY is Authorizing Each Campus President to Waive Tuition Liability and to Refund Tuition
The State University of New York Board of
Trustees unanimously passed a resolution authorizing campus presidents to
refund tuition to students forced to withdraw because of the devastating
effects of Hurricane Sandy.
"SUNY students whose studies were disrupted by Hurricane Sandy need not worry about getting their money back and can instead focus their energy on their families and rebuilding," Governor Cuomo said.
"SUNY campuses have served as staging areas
for emergency relief workers and opened their doors as shelters for their
neighbors in need. Students from across the state have organized donations and
fundraisers. I commend Chancellor Zimpher and Chairman McCall for their
continued partnership in the state’s response and recovery efforts."
SUNY Board of Trustees Chairman H. Carl McCall stated, "We are proud to offer our students affected by this devastating storm a way to recover any costs associated with a SUNY education that they are unable to complete. Governor Cuomo has shown great leadership as New York continues to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, and the State University of New York is pleased to follow his lead and do our part to ease the burden on our students."
"As our campuses join with local communities and continue to contribute to relief efforts in several areas of New York, it is only fitting that we offer SUNY students what we can to provide some financial relief as well. I commend Governor Cuomo for his persevering leadership in the wake of this terrible storm and thank the Board of Trustees for allowing our campuses to refund tuition to students who have been affected," added SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher.
SUNY is authorizing each campus president to waive tuition liability and to refund tuition for students who withdraw from the Fall 2012 and/or Spring 2013 terms because of the hardships caused by Hurricane Sandy.
State University regulations provide for
"hardship" withdrawals and the refund of tuition, at the discretion
of each campus president, but only in the event a student withdraws before the
mid-point of an academic term.
Since Hurricane Sandy occurred after the Fall
2012 term midpoint, and because of the magnitude of the storm, SUNY leadership
modified the regulation to help students avoid undue hardships.
U.S. Declares Lebanese Politician 'Global Terrorist'
The U.S. government has placed sanctions on a former Lebanese politician with strong ties to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. Rosiland Jordan has more on the case of Michel Samaha.
Syrian Refugees Brace for Harsh Winter
Syrian refugees fleeing violence have suffered from harsh living conditions in numerous neighboring countries. In Lebanon, where there are more than 150,000 Syrians officially registered as refugees, winter is bringing more challenges. Al Jazeera's Mohamed Vall reports from the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon.
Black South Africans Await Land Reforms
Almost 20 years after the end of apartheid, black landless South Africans are angry over the government's failure to address their concerns. They say they are still waiting for promised reforms to take place. The government had planned to buy land from white farmers and give it to landless blacks, but the program is not working. Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa reports from Johannesburg.
Blast Leaves Several Dead in Pakistani Tribal Area
A car bomb has killed at least 17 people and wounded dozens of others in Pakistan's tribal region. It happened near Peshawar international airport, where the Taliban have been operating in recent days. Al Jazeera's Imtiaz Tyab reports from Islamabad.
Berlusconi Engaged to 28-Year-Old Woman
Less than a fortnight after revealing plans to run again for Italy's top job, Silvio Berlusconi has made another surprise announcement. In a TV interview, the billionaire media mogul revealed he's newly engaged - to a woman 50 years his junior. Al Jazeera's Simon McGregor-Wood reports.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Federal Employees and the Fiscal Cliff
Air date: December 17, 2012
Jacqueline Simon of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) talked about the potential impact on federal employees of sequestration spending cuts and “fiscal cliff” negotiations.
Alawite Community Forced to Flee Homes
In Syria, Al Jazeera has visited a village in Idlib province which was once home to the Alawite community, the sect of President Bashar al-Assad. They fled when opposition forces pushed into their territory, the fighters say the Alawites have been working with the government, and have blood on their hands as well. Zeina Khodr reports from the Idlib Province inside Syria.
WHO Urges Global Action for Malaria
Countries around the world need to do more to fight the spread of malaria. That is one of the key findings of a new report by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The World Health Organisation says countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-east Asia are particularly at risk. It is calling for billions of dollars more to be invested every year. Al Jazeera's Dominic Kane reports.
South Africa's ANC Opens Summit Amid Turmoil
The opening of the elective conference of South Africa's ruling-African National Congress (ANC) got off to a late start after member complaints about vote-rigging and irregularities stalled the opening address by its leader, President Jacob Zuma. Al Jazeera's Haru Mutasa reports from Bloemfontein.
Defiant North Korea Marks Death of 'Dear Leader'
North Korea is marking the first anniversary of the death of former leader Kim Jong Il. The Workers Party hailed last week's rocket launch as his son Kim Jong Un's gift to the late Dear Leader. Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett looks back at the younger Kim's year in power.
Japan's PM Concedes Defeat in Poll
Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has stepped down after conceding defeat in parliamentary elections. Projections show the conservative Liberal Democrats won more than two-thirds of seats in the lower house. Former Prime Minister Shizo Abe is widely expected to take over as leader. Rob McBride reports from Tokyo.
Cyclone Evan Leaves Thousands Homeless in Samoa
Preparations are underway in Fiji as Cyclone Evan continues barreling toward the Pacific Island nation. The storm's already killed four people in nearby Samoa, and several others are missing. Al Jazeera's Alexi O'Brien has the latest.
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