Barack Obama authorized bombing in Yemen that killed 120 civilians including children

Last week U.S. president Barack Obama authorized the bombing of northwest Yemen, resulting in the killing of at least 120 people including children.

Yemeni refugees near the border with Saudi Arabia. Photo REUTERS

The U.S. military action included bombings by warplanes and intelligence support. The White House and the Pentagon have officially stated that their goal was to fight against al-Qaeda's presence in Yemen.

The attacks occurred last Thursday November 17, 2009 and it follows four months of continuing combats in the region, between Yemen and Saudi Arabia (a strong U.S. ally) against the Houthi rebels, a religious-based group of mostly Shiite [Shia] Muslims.

Protesters shout slogans during a rally in the southern Yemeni town of Habileen on December 17, 2009, after a U.S. supported attack killed hundreds in northern Yemen. Photo REUTERS

The internal conflict in Yemen started in 2004 but the military conflict restarted in August 2009, after peace talks failed. This has caused the displacement of over 175,000 civilians in the border region between both countries. A humanitarian crisis is increasing in the region, with children being the most affected.

Videos released by the rebels show the violent attacks. This video was posted by Russia Today:

The Obama administration has said the U.S. responded to requests from the government of Yemen. The U.S. says they are fighting against al-Qaeda, as the pro Israel newspaper The New York Times reports:

[U.S.] support was approved by president Obama and came at the request of the Yemeni government. The American contributions were intended to help Yemen to prevent Al Qaeda from mounting attacks against American and other foreign targets inside its borders.

While most U.S. media ignored the attack for two days, the Iran government's international news website Press TV posted this last Saturday November 19:

Upon the orders of Obama, the military warplanes on Thursday blanketed two camps in the North of the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, claiming there were "an imminent attack against a US asset was being planned," ABC News quoted anonymous administration officials as saying on Friday.

The US air raids were then followed by a Yemeni ground forces attack. The operation led to the death of around 120 people of whom many were civilians, including children, the report quoted Yemeni opposition as saying.

Obama also contacted Yemen's President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, after the blitz in order to "congratulate" him on his efforts against 'al-Qaeda,' the US news outlet quoted White House officials as telling reporters earlier.

The latest development comes in the wake of recently intensified attacks on the country's Shia Houthi fighters which has brought about a dire humanitarian situation in northern Yemen.

So far, the US officials have categorically denied any direct involvement in the air strikes on Houthi fighters, alleging they have only targeted growing al-Qaeda training camps, mostly located in southern parts of the Persian Gulf state. Yemen's Houthi fighters however insist US fighter jets have been bombing their region, claiming the lives of civilians in their air raids.

This is a complete report from Al Jazeera:

The Sunni-Shiite rivalry


To understand the Yemen conflict, we also must understand of the centuries old Sunni-Shiite rivalry which is wisely used by the U.S., Europe, and especially Israel to maintain and increase its influence in the Middle East region.

Yemen population of 23 million people with an average age of 16 years old, is mostly of Arab origin, about 50-55% are Shaf'i Sunni Muslim religion and 40-45% are Zaydi Shiite [Shia] Muslims, but the country is ruled by the Shiite mostly with close ties to Iran, a Shiite majority country. Yemen is located in the southern tip of the Arabian peninsula and it borders with mostly-Sunni Oman and Saudi Arabia.

YEMEN
Click on the map for better view. Source: CIA and University of Texas

Yemen, says it's fighting the al-Qaeda influence in its territory. Al-Qaeda is a Sunni pan-Islamic movement that rejects Jewish-Christian influence in the Muslim countries, and it took credit for the 9/11 attacks in the United States. About 40% of the Guantanamo detainees are from Yemen, and the U.S. embassy in Sanaa has been a target of violent attacks.

Yemen is ruled by president Ali Abdullah Saleh, is a Shia leader who has helped with the unification of the country in the 1960s' after the British colonial rule led to a division of the country. Salh is in power for the last 30 years, and he has accused Shia-ruled Iran of supporting the Houthi rebels. This article of The NY Times about Saleh is very interesting and informative.

North Yemen -historically pro western- is dominated by the Shiites, and the southern Yemen is mostly Sunni with a strong Marxist influence remaining from the previous government, which united with the north in 1990.

"Children sit near a tent in al-Mazraq refugee camp near the northwestern Yemeni province of Saada November 12, 2009. Around 8,000 people live in the camp near the Saudi border, after they fled battles raging between the army and Shi'ite rebels in northern Yemen for the past three months." Photo REUTERS

Yemen military offensive is also being supported by the Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia, whose military latest attack in northern Yemen killed about 54 people, according to Al Jazeera. In that attack, the leader of the Houthis was reportedly killed reports the BBC:

The Houthis, named after their leader's family, say the Saudis are helping the Yemeni government suppress their demand for greater local autonomy. The Houthis say they are trying to reverse the political, economic and religious marginalisation of the Zaydi [Shiite] community in Yemen.
The Zaydi community are a minority in Yemen, but make up the majority in the north of the country. The insurgents have been fighting the government since 2004. The government launched a fresh offensive in August 2009, which precipitated a new wave of intense fighting. It accuses the Houthis of wanting to re-establish Zaydi clerical rule, which ended in 1962.

The United States military is using al-Qaeda as a excuse to support Yemen in this war, but mostly is obvious that it wants to increase its military presence in the Middle East. Pentagon officials declared to the UK's The Daily Telegraph newspaper:

American officials told The Daily Telegraph the country is becoming a "reserve" base for the terrorist network, which considers it a safe haven. "Yemen is becoming a reserve base for al-Qaeda's activities in Pakistan and Afghanistan," said a US military official. [...]
Yemen is the ancestral home of Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the local arm of the network, has provided many of the group's leaders. One of al-Qaeda's worst attacks on [the U.S.], the bombing of the USS Cole, took place in Aden in 2000, killing 17 [U.S.] sailors.

In the other extreme, The Jawa Report, a U.S. based anti-Muslim and conservative news blog -that calls Arabs as "Jawas" I suppose in reference to Indonesia the most populated Muslim nation in the world- is even criticizing the attacks, perhaps in order to attack Obama:

When a counter-terror air strike kills more civilians than an average suicide bombing, can it be called a success? Discounting the dead kids for just a minute and using even the coldest pragmatic standards, the US air strikes in Yemen did much more harm than good to the US on multiple levels and will negatively impact security for a decade.

The Atlantic Wire a well known pro Israel publication founded in 1857 in Boston and now based in Washington, DC, says that Yemen could become "the Next Afghanistan". In other words, another excuse for a U.S. military intervention overseas:

How worried should we be about Yemen? The small Arab state sits south of prosperous Saudia Arabia and just across the Gulf of Aden from Somalia, the world's most failed state. Long plagued by separatist insurgencies and terrorism, many analysts fear that Yemen is on the edge of becoming an international crisis point on the scale of Afghanistan.

Yemenis make up 40% of the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. Yemen, along with Somalia and of course Afghanistan, is frequently cited as a safe haven for terrorism. Because al-Qaeda is a predominantly Arab organization, and Yemen is an Arab state unlike Somalia or Afghanistan, some fear it could be more susceptible to al-Qaeda infiltration. Yemen's dilapidated economy, expected to decline over the next year and disintegrate as oil runs out by 2017, could plunge the nation into chaos.

The U.S. is already engaging Yemen's problems, if lightly. On Thursday, a series of bombings hit suspected terrorist sites in Yemen, with apparent American support. The extent of U.S. involvement remains unclear, however, with news reporting ranging from mere intelligence assistance to Yemeni officials to launching cruise missiles against the targets.

One day after the U.S. attacks in Yemen, the pro Israel newspaper The Washington Post announced that the Obama administration is planning to repatriate dozens of Yemeni prisoners from Guantanamo, but the current crisis in Yemen may delay the plans:

The Obama administration is planning to repatriate six Yemenis held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a transfer that could be a prelude to the release of dozens more detainees to Yemen, according to sources with independent knowledge of the matter.
The release is a significant first step toward dealing with the largest group of detainees at the prison -- there are currently 97 Yemenis there -- and toward meeting President Obama's goal of closing the facility.
But Yemen's security problems and lack of resources have spawned fears about its ability to monitor and rehabilitate returnees.

That same day, the U.S. Senate approved the scandalous 2010 Defense Budget of $636 billion dollars, including $128 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This represents an increase of $11 billion from the 2009 budget. The budget was passed in the Senate by a wow 88-10 majority vote, three days after the House approved it with a whooping 395-34 vote.

The U.S. 2010 Budget for Health Care is about $821.7 billion, but a big chuck of it goes to the same Insurance corporations that boycotted the U.S. Health Care reform bill, that now excludes Public Option. In times of recession, U.S. citizens health will continue under the control of private corporations.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah -a strong U.S. ally- is greeted by Saudi military officers upon his arrival in Jizan, a military base near the border with Yemen on December 2, 2009. Photo REUTERS

With a poverty rate of 46% and growing, Yemen has an external debts of $6 billion dollars and the nation is now facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with over 175 thousands people being displaced from their homes by the current civil war. The most affected are children, with half of them showing signs of chronic nutrition deprivation.

Most U.S. media are ignoring this crisis.

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Heaviest Snow Storm in DC in Decades Report [VIDEO & PHOTOS]

Hi again. I'm writing from the Northeast DC area next to Prince George’s County. I just came back from walking around this neighborhood. I could hardly stay out there for less than 30 minutes, the weather is extremely cold and more snow keeps falling, winds are moderate, there is about 8-9 inches accumulated on the streets. Tonight it will be freezing.

Update: 9:45 PM

This has been one of the heaviest snow storms in recent decades in Washington, DC, and it has affected most of the northeas region in the United States. Some areas in DC received up to 16-20 inches of snow.

I recorded this video in this neighborhood in NE DC bordering with Prince Georges County, MD, where we had about 20 inches of snow. I speak in Spanish in the two first minutes:



This is the post I published earlier:

Immigrants Among Most Affected

While outside I run into a man who was walking from a store located 2 miles away. He was wearing clothes that weren't appropiate for this cold weather, his legs were wet and he was holding two bags of food. The man was an immigrant from El Salvador, and he said he didn’t know anything about the storm until last night, so he had to get some food. He said he saw several cars abandoned in the roads.

Down the street a group of cars were stuck in the snow. One of them was a car that passed by me driving backwards, it was a father and his son -immigrants from Honduras- coming back home from work, risking their lives even though authorities in Prince George’s county have ordered all drivers to stay home. I asked them also if they had taken any provisions to face this weather, then again they've heard little information about this snow storm.

We have around 14 inches of snow here.

These are photos I took around 3:00 PM today.
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Photos 2009 Snow Storm in DC: SnOMG images

One of the biggest snow storms in recent history in Washington, DC. It started aroung 9:30 PM on December 18, 2009. These are images were taken in the northeast section of the city.

Last night the snowflakes were tiny but dry, the weather was freezing but accumulating didn't start until around 10:00 PM. These photos show images from my street last night, and this morning aroung 7:30 AM and 8:05 AM.

More pics to come later on, as the snow keeps falling down, some say it will continue snowing today until 6:00 PM. Right now it's 9:40 AM and snow keeps falling down.

Let it snow, let it snow...

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All photos by Carlos A. Quiroz

Notes of advice:

• DC Metro is working, they say trains are leaving every 10 minutes but I
  don't trust their service much, especially when more snow is coming, keep that in mind.


• Some local hospitals are looking for volunteers, check on your local
  hospital by Google "hospital --- add your zip code".


• Stay warm and safe! Don't drive today unless you really must.
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'Barack Obama Does Not Represent Black Americans' [VIDEO] Interview with Marian Douglas-Ungaro

Today many if not most Black Americans see Barack Obama as the "First African American President" of the United States. As a matter of fact, most Black Americans voted overwhelmingly for Obama not solely because he was "the best candidate", but very much because of his race.

But if not all Blacks in the U.S. supported Obama during the elections, many more are becoming more disappointed after he got elected.

Photo and video by Carlos A. Quiroz

During the exciting 2008 presidential campaign, I attended a house party with progressive friends and activists in Washington, DC. That evening I met a woman who told me about her trips to Latin America and what she learned of African descendants in that region.

She was very polite and enthusiastic, until I mentioned Barack Obama candidacy. Then she changed her mood dramatically. For the next few minutes, Marian Douglas-Untaro gave a not so brief speech on Barack Obama being a descendant of slave-owners, and a product of White America as opposed to be a candidate that came from the Black America community. That night, I thought that Marian was being a bit too extreme.

Over a year later I met again with Marian Douglas-Ungaro, and this time we talked about now president Barack Obama, again. Marian who is a Black activist, writer, speaker, and an international consultant based in Washington, DC, explained her point based on historical, ethical and proven facts.

This video is the second part of our conversation, the first part is about Immigration Reform. Here is Marian explaining why president Barack Obama does not represent Black America and pay attention on what she thinks of Michelle Obama. This time she convinced me in some way:

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Inside The Revolution: A Journey Into the Heart of Venezuela - Film Premiere in Washington DC

Inside The Revolution: A Journey Into the Heart of Venezuela is a documentary filmed in Caracas in November 2008, on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Chavez's controversial presidency, this feature-length documentary takes a journey into the heart of Venezuela's revolution to listen to the voices of the people driving the process forward.

"This is a rare film about Venezuela, a country in extraordinary transition. Watch this film because it is honest and fair and respectful of those who want to be told the truth about an epic attempt, flaws and all, to claim back the humanity of ordinary people."

- JOHN PILGER (Journalist, author and documentary filmmaker)

Released by Alborada Films. Directed by Pablo Navarrete.

Inside The Revolution:
A Journey Into the Heart of Venezuela

Documentary film - Washington, DC Premiere:
(65 mins, Alborada Films, 2009)

Director Pablo Navarrete will attend the screening

Wednesday 16, 2009 7:00PM Letelier Theater
3251 Prospect Street NW, Upper Courtyard
Washington, DC 20007


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Check other screening dates U.S. Tour: December 2009

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Gay marriage in DC approved: and I am glad

I shold be celebrating. As a gay man, I am glad the authorities of Washington, DC, where I live for over a decade, have passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage. It's something I support not because I want to get married, not right now at least but because I believe that every person should have the same rights, regardless of our differences. The legal option should be there.

Thanks to this law, future generations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender residents of Washington, DC, will have the choice to build a stable life along with the person they love, or whomever they want to sign a legal contract of this nature with. It's a legal contract after all, this is not just about love and straight people know this very well.

Had I had this chance when I was younger, perhaps I would have settled down long time ago. I would not have exposed myself to risky behavior and casual relationships, because I knew I had known that being gay didn't mean to be a person with limited rights. This is something that many people don't see unless you live it.

Some years ago I met the first man I had intimacy with, and because of the way I was raised I thought that he was going to date me afterwards. Little I knew that for most gay men in DC, long time relationships are not the main goal when meeting someone. This year I ended a weird friendship, relationship that put me through so much abuse and stress.

It's not that most gay men can't fall in love or make serious committments, but in the back of our minds the option of staying in a relationship had no point. At least that has been my case. Had I know that we gay men could one day have the legal option to marry, just perhaps I would have never exposed myslef to situations that I wish to no one.

Laws are created to promote better living conditions for people, that's how it should be. In the case of same-sex marriage, I hope that it will promote better relationships and living standards for LGBT communities in DC, and the communities that will follow.

So I am glad today, for those who are ready to marry and for those that come after us. For some reason though, I'm not celebrating.

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A Puppetry Posada: Mexican Christmas in Mount Pleasant

This is so cool! Celebrate Christmas 2009 in Mount Pleasant with a Posada organized by the socially-conscious and super creative Puppet Underground, a DC-based "collective of puppeteers and performance artists".

Posadas is a Mexican religious-community celebration that mixes Hispanic, Catholic and Indigenous traditions, celebrated a week before Christmas. The Puppet Underground invites:

What is a Posada?

Posadas are a 9-day (December 16th to 24th) Catholic celebration [celebrated in Mexico and Central America] that recount Mary and Joseph's search for a shelter in which to give birth. In the same spirit as caroling, folks go to a different neighbor's house on each of the 9 days, and sing to ask for shelter. The neighbors open their homes and offer food and drinks, and the 9 days often end with more festivities.

And a Posada with Puppets...?

Inspired by the community spirit of this celebration, our Puppet Posada will be a more secular one-night version where, accompanied by musicians, we travel to several different Mount Pleasant homes for performances drawing from a mix of holiday and non-religious traditions. At each house participants will be treated to snacks or hot drinks and the evening will culminate in a party at the final stop!

A Mount Pleasant Puppetry Posada!

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19TH
The Puppetry Posada starts at 7PM (Promptly!)
The After-Party starts at 9:30PM

THE POSADA: Meet at La Casa Community of Christ
3166 Mt Pleasant Street NW
Washington, DC 20010

THE AFTER-PARTY: 3168 17th St NW (behind the Bestway)


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COST: $5-$10 Suggested Donation
(No one turned away)

RSVP: Please let us know that you're coming!
Email your RSVP to: PuppetUndergroundDC@gmail.com

THE LINE UP

• "The Red Revolution", a feminist fairy tale by The Magical Two-Foot Theater.
• "Ain't Got No Home", a seasonally themed cantastoria by Anna Duncan and Janelle Treibitz.
• "Oh! Hanukkah!", an excerpt from the legendary Mt. Pleasant neighborhood puppet show by Dave and Nell Greenfield-Boyce.
• "The Fools of Chelm and the Stupid Carp", a Yiddish folktale by the Shadow Senators.
• With music from Son Cosita Seria and Andrew Kirtley's accordian!

We hope to see you Saturday!

Anna, Melissa, Ximena, Lily and Janelle
of Puppet Underground

Co-Sponsored by Hear Mount Pleasant

Posadas also include Pinatas, those big characters made of glued paper and colorful ornaments, filled with candy and other children-friendly goodies. This video shows a Posada of a Mexican family who created a Pinata representing Mexican president Felipe Calderon, known as the "Pelele" or "good for nothing..." lolz

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What about Blacks? Immigration Reform and African Americans: Marian Douglas-Ungaro [VIDEO]

Will African Americans be considered in the discussion of an Immigration Reform in the U.S.? Is the increasing Latino / Native population a threat to Black Americans? What are we doing to educate our communities about each others ideals and values? Are African Americans still the biggest minority?

I am an immigrant in the United States but I have lived in this country long enough to feel that this is home for me now, even when at times I miss being in my first country, especially when because of my race and other circumstances, I feel that I'm out of place.

Part of my growing as a person in this country, has made me aware not only of my own history, my ancestry, my place in this world. But mostly I became fascinated with Black America, its people, cultures, communities, individuals, challenges, and the unique heritage they have contributed to the world.

Photos and video by Carlos A. Quiroz

At times I wonder what is like being African American in times when this country is changing, especially with the increasing immigration of Spanish-speaking Native Americans, and Latinos. Considering that Latino or Hispanic aren't a race and that we are not one heterogenous population, it's true to say that Blacks are still the biggest minority in the U.S.

A friend of mine is Marian Douglas-Ungaro, a writer, speaker, activist and international consultant. Marian is a Black American woman as she describes the community of descendants of African slaves in this country. This is what Marian thinks about Immigration Reform, and man she makes a lot of sense.

About Marian Douglas-Ungaro: check out her blog, read her biography here, and you can follow her in Twitter.

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Immigration Reform Bill To be Introduced Today in Congress by Representative Luis Gutierrez [VIDEO]

House Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) will introduce today in Congress a bill for a reform of the current immigration legislation in the United States.

The mentioned bill has been introduced several times before, but it has failed short of support for as long as Republicans had control of Congress. Now with Democrats in the White House and full control of Congress, things might be different.

The bill could become a reality in 2010, and it will replace the current immigration legislation which is obviously failed, outdated, abusive and bureaucratic. Although it will face a tough debate in Congress as mid-term elections are approaching.

Some labor rights groups might oppose this bill as the economic recession and unemployment rates are still punishing most working-class US citizens. Supporters said this bill will help the economy and it will create new jobs.

Conservative and anti-immigrant groups will also oppose the bill. Many of these organizations based their platform on racist, xenophobic views. There will be abundant negative campaigns against the legalization of over 12 million people. Lies, fear and defamation in the right-wing media.

But this time around, immigrants rights advocates and activists seem to be better prepared. Several organizations including the National Council of La Raza are already preparing action calls, trainings and informative sessions to get ready for the 2010 debate.

Others are skeptical, as this reform has been promised many times before. For some it seems harder to believe that this time Congress is truly committed to move this bill forward.

Last October 13, this year I asked Rep. Luis Gutierrez if we should trust his leadership. This is his brief but convincing response:

There are other reasons besides Gutierrez promise to believe that this bill can be successful. Today’s bill on undocumented immigration is focused on a complete overhaul of the immigration legal system including border security, family unity and workers rights protection, according to Chicago Public Radio:

Gutiérrez’s bill is also expected to address border security, family reunification, and worker protection.

In the Senate, Charles Schumer (D-New York) is crafting what’s expected to be a bipartisan immigration bill. Many Republicans and some Democrats want tougher immigration enforcement.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano last week said the Obama administration would be ready to move on immigration early next year.

The last president to change the immigration legislation in the United States was the controversial Ronald Reagan, who allowed hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants to get a path for citizenship. That was not a legislation reform, but an exception for those who were here illegally, and it became an open invitation for many more to come to the U.S. with the hope that one day, they will also get an amnesty.

The Bush administration promised several times to pass an Immigration Reform, he lied at no surprise. President Obama also promised he would start the process in first year in the White House. He run out of time, it seems.

However, here comes Rep. Luis Gutierrez who is sure to have the sponsorship of many colleagues in Congress. They should name the bill after Senator Ted Kennedy, who passed away this year, and who was one of the strongest advocates for this long-awaited reform.

Immigration Reform should be part of the efforts of the United States government and people, in order to assure a better future for all its residents, a future of justice and equality.

This bill will mean for millions of second class citizens the end of suffering and sacrifice. Most of undocumented immigrants are victims of the horrendous disparity among rich and poor, in many nations of the world. Also they have faced the kind of violence that keeps pushing people away from their homelands.

Some might say this is not the U.S. problem, but in reality it is and more than one can imagine. However this is not the time for that discussion. It’s time to work together to have this bill becoming a reality, and not just another political campaign for the benefit of some. It's a matter of justice, human rights, life.

Immigration Rally in Washington, DC, October 13, 2009
Photos and video by Carlos A. Quiroz

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Indigenous Rights Protest at 15th UN Climate Change Conference / Leaked Documents in Copenhagen show Secret Rich Nations Secret Plan

Indigenous groups protested today in the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen [COP15] to get the world's attention towards the rights of Native peoples worldwide.

Meanwhile, a secret plan designed by rich countries was revealed after classified documents were leaked, a British newspaper reported. The plan assures rich countries to continue world dominance, ignoring the UN negotiations and the Kyoto agreements.

Indigenous leaders in Copenhagen. Photos by Ben Powless

The protest was held at the end of the Indigenous Caucus Meeting, where activists demanded rich nations to include and respect the collective rights of Indigenous communities, as part of the future models for a sustainable development of the planet.

For centuries, Indigenous peoples (first nations, natives) around the world have kept a balanced development, and sustainable ways of life respecting the environment. Since the European invasions, the so called "civilized" nations have destroyed our mother land "based on greediness, selfishness, individualism and racism" said the Native activists.

This video shows the Indigenous protest and an interview with Indigenous activist Ben Powless, and singing and drumming by Clayton George Thomas-Muller and Tom BK Goldtooth

Ben Powless is an Indigenous leader from Canada, is now in Copenhagen attending the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference and he is reporting on his whereabouts through his Facebook:

"Dec. 4 / Arrived in copenhageb on the redeye with my bro clayton. Digging the city. Almost done my essay and in need of sleep. 4 mtgs today. And it begins...

Just gave a presentation to the Global South Youth Gathering on Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous rights. Off to actions training now.

Dec. 5 / taking notes for the Indigenous Preparatory meeting all day today, and catching up with old friends from around the globe.

Dec. 7 / Long day of drafting and translating in the Indigenous Peoples Office at the UN Climate talks in Copenhagen. Day 1. Tonight - seeing Naomi Klein and Akon.

Dec. 8 / Indigenous action this morning draws about 100 media, afternoon statement read on REDD in session, press conference and Indigenous caucus to come. Good start to day 2 of the COP, as countries fall into disarray."

Photos from COP15: including the Indigenous Caucus Meeting, the Global South Youth Meeting, the Indigenous Environmental Network and Shaggy concert @ UNEP

I met Ben Powless in DC when he attended Congressional meetings to report on the massacre of hundreds of Indigenous peoples in Bagua, Peru. The abusive attack on Native peoples of Peru's Amazon forest was ordered by president Alan Garcia, who used free trade policies imposed by the United States as an excuse for such violence.

The same way, rich nations are pushing for a secret abusive agenda in Copenhagen:

Leaked Document in Copenhagen shows Rich Nations' secret plan led by president Barack Obama:

Copenhagen climate summit in disarray after 'Danish text' leak

Developing countries react furiously to leaked draft agreement that would hand more power to rich nations, sideline the UN's negotiating role and abandon the Kyoto protocol. [...]

A confidential analysis of the text by developing countries also seen by the Guardian shows deep unease over details of the text. In particular, it is understood to:

• Force developing countries to agree to specific emission cuts and measures that were not part of the original UN agreement;

• Divide poor countries further by creating a new category of developing countries called "the most vulnerable";

• Weaken the UN's role in handling climate finance;

• Not allow poor countries to emit more than 1.44 tonnes of carbon per person by 2050, while allowing rich countries to emit 2.67 tonnes.

Developing countries that have seen the text are understood to be furious that it is being promoted by rich countries without their knowledge and without discussion in the negotiations.

"It is being done in secret. Clearly the intention is to get [Barack] Obama and the leaders of other rich countries to muscle it through when they arrive next week. It effectively is the end of the UN process," said one diplomat, who asked to remain nameless.

Read the full article here.

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Bolivia elections in Washington DC metro area: over 10,000 Bolivians to vote on December 6 - Polling Stations in MD and VA

Over 10,000 Bolivian residents in the Washington, DC metropolitan area have registered to vote in the general elections of Bolivia to be held this Sunday December 6, 2009 to elect the President, Vice-president and the Legislative Assembly members.

This is the first time in the history of Bolivia that its citizens living overseas will be allowed to vote in general elections. The Consulate of Bolivia in DC organized a registration campaign in the last few months, and they were met with a surprising response of the local Bolivian community, with registration numbers surpassing all expectations.

Indigenous women of the Bolivian American community
dance at the annual 2009 Fiesta DC festival

It is estimated that over 30,000 Bolivians live in the DC, Virginia, Maryland metropolitan area, most of them are Indigenous peoples (Native American heritage) and the biggest community lives in Arlington County, Virginia.

Although Bolivia and the United States maintain diplomatic relationships but both countries lack of ambassadors after Bolivian president Evo Morales expelled U.S. ambassador Phillip Goldberg, under accusations of espionage and of organizing a racial division of the country.

President Evo Morales is expected to win reelection for a second term until 2015, with about 80% of the vote according to his supporters. During his first term, Morales has promoted a multi-cultural government with focus on the rights of the Indigenous majority, with a model that has achieved valuable improvements in education, health care, housing, social justice, sports, transportation, natural resources management (nationalization of hydrocarbures), supported strongly by the goverments of Venezuela and Cuba.

Bolivia General Elections in Washington, DC area

Polls open at 8:00 AM and close at 4:00 PM

Polling Stations

IGLESIA DE SANTA MARIA
St. Mary Episcopal Church

7000 Arlington Boulevard
Falls Church, VA 22042

Directions by Metro Train & Bus


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CASA MARYLAND
Prince George’s County Workers Center
(New Office in Langley Park)

7978-B New Hampshire Avenue
Hyattsville, MD 20783

Directions by Metro Train & Bus


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For more information
Visit the website of the Embassy of Bolivia in the United States.

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OAS launches Youth Orchestras Program in the Caribbean with Free Concert featuring DC Youth Orchestra's Junior Philharmonic

The Art Museum of the Americas (AMA) of the Organization of the American States (OAS) invites to all public to a free concert next week to introduce the OAS Youth Orchestras Program for the Caribbean, an educational program for social inclusion of youth at risk through music.

This music program is possible thanks to a collaboration with the DC Youth Orchestra Program and its DC Junior Philharmonic (DCYOP), which will be playing in the concert along with a live concert transmission from the Caribbean. This OAS program initially is reaching students in Haiti, Jamaica and Saint Lucia.

Come and support this great effort to educate talented children of the Caribbean. The concert will be held next Friday December 11, at 6:30 PM at the OAS Hall of the Americas, located in the corner of 17th Street NW & Constitution Avenue NW, on the National Mall and nearby the White House See Map bellow.

Free Parking on C Street NW. Metro: Farragut North (Red Line) or Farragut West and Smithsonian (Orange/Blue Lines). Refreshments will be served.

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According to the DCYOP Facebook page, the OAS Youth Orchestras Program was started in October 2009, is modeled after the Venezuelan Sistema Nacional de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles -see website- and it has also partnered with the Colombian Batuta Foundation, the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, the Interamerican Cultural and Development Foundation, Yéle Haiti, and Quebec’s Jeune Musiciens du Monde, before working with the DC Youth Orchestra.

VIDEO - The DC Youth Orchestra at the Verizon Center

Detail to consider: while the DC public schools high school graduation rate is 57%, the DCYOP students graduation rate is 100%. Music is good for people.

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HONDURAS ACTION ALERT - Tell Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton: This is NOT the Change We Wanted! [VIDEOS]

This exclusive testimony -read bellow- is shared by a humanitarian non profit group that took 20 U.S. citizens to Honduras last week, in order to witness and support the Honduran resistance movement against the coup regime of Roberto Micheletti which is abusing human rights of thousands of civilians with the support of the Obama administration.

Photos by En Resistencia Blog

Please read this and take action:

Last Sunday, "elections" were held in Honduras by a military coup regime that is internationally recognized as illegitimate, responsible for massive human rights violations and in an environment of terror and persecution.

Over 300 Honduran candidates dropped out in protest. The OAS, UN, European Union and Carter Center did not send observers in a strong international statement of non-recognition. The massive, historic, non-violent resistance movement in Honduras which has courageously resisted the coup for over five months, called for a boycott and stayed home.

The Quixote Center Delegation of 20 accompanied the people of Honduras in eight towns and cities during the "electoral event." During a one week stay, the delegation received testimony and witnessed systematic repression against the general population and selective targeting of leaders of the National Resistance movement. Repression was coupled with attempts to coerce people to vote through threats as well as offers of monetary and material bribes.

In [neighborhoods] and communities in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Tocoa and Santa Rosa de Copan, delegates witnessed extremely low voter turnout, with more police, military and poll monitors than voters.

However, the coup regime is busy jockeying the numbers on the vote count, closing the counting for a full 24 hours to do so. And, the United States is busy twisting the arms highly dependent Central American countries to assemble a "coalition of the willing" that will join the Obama Administration in recognizing the electoral farce in Honduras.

This U.S. led process of legitimatizing the regions first successful military coup of the 21st century sends a chilling and unmistakable message to all of Latin America. This is not the change we wanted to see.

It is time for us to tell the Obama Administration that "No We Can't."

This morning as our delegation left the country, a leader of the Resistance movement told us, "Now things will be very dangerous for us. We are more vulnerable now. Without you, it would be even worse. You are our lifeline now."

We need your help to be that life line. Please call Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 202-647-5291 the White House comment line 202-456-1111 and your members of Congress now and say that:

1. The U.S. cannot recognize the illegal elections that took place in Honduras on Sunday, November 29, 2009.
2. The U.S. must insist on the restitution of President Zelaya and the rescheduling of free and fair elections at a future date after Constitutional order has been restored.

Find your member of Congress by clicking here.

Watch this exclusive video by The Real News with recent reports from Honduras:

Role of US Congress and Private U.S. Corporations in the Honduras Coup and Why Most Hondurans support president Zelaya [VIDEO]

Arturo Viscarra is a human rights activist and an immigration attorney born in the United States of Salvadoran heritage. In this video Viscarra comments on the role of the U.S. government, Congress members -especially Latinos- and the influence of U.S. private corporations on the violent coup in Honduras, and why the majority of Hondurans are against the Micheletti illegitimate regime.

Visit Quixote Center for more reports and photos from Honduras and to Join a delegation to Honduras on January 24-31, 2010.

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Reactions of DC Residents on Gay Marriage Bill Approval on First Vote [VIDEO]

Some DC residents at Gallery Place Chinatown comment in this VIDEO about the decision of the DC Council to legalize same-sex marriage in the first of two voting sessions held yesterday December 1, 2009. Most of the people I spoke with didn't really want to be on camera, but they gave me their favorable opinion saying that gay marriage was about equality of rights for all. Approximately 20 people were in favor of the gay marriage bill, and two were against it -both based on religious views- and about 5 people didn't want to talk about the topic.

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