Specialist Trevor Loope, 24, of Austin,. TX who faced a year in prison and a Bad Conduct discharge at Special Court Martial for AWOL was discharged administratively by order of Ft Drum’s Commander, Gen. Michael Oates on Friday, July 10th.

Because Loope possessed an Honorable Discharge from an earlier Army tour, he will be eligible for GI Bill benefits as well as treatment at VA medical facilities.

Loope had left Ft Drum in 2007 when he was unable to obtain mental health treatment for his Afghan-war-related injuries. With the support of Citizen Soldier, a national GI and veterans rights advocacy group based in New York City, Loope had surrendered to Ithaca’s Common Council on December 3, 2008. He relied on a resolution which the council had adopted in October, 2008 which offered “sanctuary” in Ithaca to war resisters. Although council members offered Trevor support, they didn’t provide sanctuary.

After surrendering at Ft Drum,.Trevor spent the next seven months serving in administrative jobs in his old unit. He had provided Ft Drum therapists with an extensive psychiatric diagnosis which documented that he suffered from both severe Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and a Major Depression.

His civilian psychologist, Dr. David Ogren travelled from Houston TX to testify at an Army “sanity board” which met to determine Trevor’s mental state on June 18th at Ft Drum. Although that board has still not published its recommendations, General Oates approved an administrative discharer in lieu of court-martial.

Tod Ensign, Esq.,and Director of Citizen Soldier commented; “The Army has finally done the right thing by separating Trevor without court martial, but they have done this six months ago. For some reason, they wanted this injured soldier to ‘twist in the wind’ for a while, probably in hopes of deterring other ailing soldiers who might go AWOL in search of treatment.” Ensign added: “Trevor’s release is a victory that resulted from the broad support his case generated in Ithaca and across the country. However, we can’t forget that there are thousands of other soldiers like Trevor who are denied mental health care every day.”

More info: (212) 679-2250 (or) (917) 647-5676 (cell)

More info: Tod Ensign, Esq.
(917) 647-5676 (cell) (212) 679-2250 (O)

Psychologist Who Evaluated Mentally-Stressed Ft Drum Soldier Is Wrongfully Excluded as Witness from Army Sanity Board set for June 18th.

PRESS CONFERENCE, June 18, 2009 8:00 am sharp
Conference room, 4th Flr., Days Inn, 110 Commerce Park Dr Watertown, NY

Dr. David Ogren, a clinical psychologist from Houston, TX with fifteen years’ experience treating victims of mental trauma, spent hours examining and testing Specialist Trevor Loope, 23, of Austin TX. Loope, who spent fifteen months in Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division, left Ft Drum in late 2007 because he was unable to obtain therapy for his PTSD and depression at the base.

Dr. Ogren prepared a detailed eleven page psychiatric evaluation which concluded that Loope suffered from “severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a Major Depression” Ft Drum commanders have scheduled a “sanity board” to assess Loope’s mental health status on Thursday, June 19th 10:00 am at Ft Drum’s Mental Health facility. They also preferred criminal charges against Loope for AWOL with trial by a Special Court Martial set for July 1st.

Two weeks ago, Dr. Ogren telephoned Ft Drum’s mental health chief, Dr.Todd Benham offering to serve as an expert witness before the sanity board.. Ogren’s offer involved no expense to the military, since he is willing to pay his own travel expenses from Houston. On Monday, June 15th, Dr. Benham finally returned Ogren’s call, asking him why he had phoned. When Ogren told him of his desire to testify at Loope’s hearing, Benham remarked that that this was “ridiculous” and that since it was a closed hearing, he didn’t think that Ogren would be allowed to testify.

Tod Ensign, Esq., Director, of Citizen Soldier, a GI advocacy group, and civilian attorney assisting Specialist Loope, will challenge the legality of this “sanity board” if Dr. Ogren is not allowed to testify. According to the Rules for Court Martial (706 (c)(2) which establishes the rules for these boards, one of the four key questions that a panel must answer is, “what is the clinical diagnosis” for the soldier being examined? Also, the sanity board is “required to fairly and impartially examine the accused.” Ensign will argue that Dr. Benham’s apparent bias against Dr. Ogren’s participation jeopardizes the panel’s ability to render a fair and dispassionate opinion in this case. Finally, Ensign will urge that Loope’s sanity board be dissolved and be reconstituted at Walter Reed Army Medical Center where objective panelists can be found.

Despite the difficulties with parking for an event downtown just after the Ithaca Festival parade, 50 people attended the screening and discussion. If you missed the Ithaca screening, you still can see it in Oneonata (May 29), Corning (June 1), Cortland (June 4), Binghamton (June 5), or other locations in the Mohawk Valley and Sugerties scroll down for schedule).

The Social Justice Council of the First Unitarian Church of Ithaca is screening “From Mills River to Babylon and back… the Jimmy Massey Story”, a 67-minute documentary by Otsego County filmmaker Joseph C. Stillman. The film chronicles the life of Jimmy Massey, a former twelve-year career Marine who refused to continue killing in Iraq, and examines the political, legal, moral, and human rights implications of the war.

Filmmaker Joseph Stillman and Massey himself will be present for discussion afterwards. A $10 donation is suggested to help cover part of the production cost of the film, but all who want to come are encouraged to attend.

The event, part of an eleven-city tour in Upstate New York, will be held in the sanctuary of the First Unitarian Church, at the corner of Buffalo and Aurora Streets in Ithaca, on Thursday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m.. Screenings are also being held in Syracuse, Cortland and Corning. For more information, go to the filmmaker’s web site: lapalomafilms.net.

This is the premier screening of the film, which was shot in 14 states over the past 4 years and features interviews with Scott Ritter, Cindy Sheehan, Martin Sheen, Maxine Waters and numerous other congresspersons and human rights activists.

The film shows Massey’s early life and the tragic death of his father, his decision to enlist in the marines due to economic hardship, illicit recruiting tactics that target single parent families by recruiters (Massey was a Marine recruiter), weapons of mass deception, depleted uranium use and its effects on soldiers and civilians. Stillman explains, “I believe it’s particularly important for parents and young people especially, to understand the tactics military recruiters will use to fill their quotas at the expense of the youth in our community.”

Stillman says, “This project has opened my eyes to many of the facts that Jimmy has raised and the tragedy of an ongoing war that didn’t have to be fought. I sadly learned, for instance, that the U.S. has dropped massive amounts of depleted uranium, used in ammunition and bombs, in Iraq and Afghanistan since the first Gulf War and that it is presently having disastrous effects on our returning military personnel and especially on the civilian populations in those countries.”

Jimmy Massey last visited Ithaca in March 2005, when he spoke at Cornell GIAC. and shared his first hand knowledge of how military recruiters lie and prey on our youth, especially low income kids, with promises that will seldom be fulfilled.

“FROM MILLS RIVER TO BAYLON AND BACK… THE JIMMY MASSEY STORY” DOCUMENTARY SCREENINGS
Contact: Joseph C. Stillman-Filmmaker 607.433.0811/267.6646 lapalomafilms@yahoo.net

Date | City/Organization | Screening Location | Time

May 27 (Wed) Syracuse Syracuse Peace Council, Jessica Maxwell TBA
315-472-5478 www.peacecouncil.net

May 28 (THU) Ithaca 1st Unitarian Church, Buffalo & Aurora 7:30
cris@tompkinsagainstwar.org
607.387.9830

May 29 (FRI) Oneonta Foothills Performing Arts Center 7:30
La Paloma Films, 607.433.0811

May 30 (SAT) Vestal H.S. Broome County Veterans for Peace 7:00
607.321.8537

May 31 (SUN) Hudson Time & Space Limited, 434 Columbia St. 8:00
518.822.8100 fyi@timeandspace.org

June 1 (MON) Corning Palace Theater, 17 East Market Street 7:00
607.329.6173

June 2 (TUE) Hudson Time & Space Limited, 434 Columbia St. 8:00
518.822.8100

June 3 (WED) Andes Roundtable, Andes Hotel 7:00

June 4 (THU) Cortland Lucky’s, 77 Main Street, 607.842.6801 7:00

June 5 (FRI) Binghamton Broome County Veterans for Peace 5:30/7:30
First Presbyterian Church 42 Chenango St. 607.321.8537

June 6 (SAT) Troy Bethleham Neighbors for Peace/NY Media 8:00
Alliance at The Sanctuary 518.321.8537

Indian Springs, NV – Late this afternoon, fourteen peace activists were arrested at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada. The arrests occured during a ten day vigil which seeks to raise public awareness of the increasing use of unmanned drones in the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Air Force personnel based at Creech control the Predator and Reaper drones being used in Central Asia.

The 14 people walked through the open main gate shortly after 3:00 p.m. Air Force security personnel stopped them after they walked into the base. They were seeking to engage in dialogue and conversation with the Air Force service members controlling the Predators and Reapers used in Central Asia. In a gesture of good will, they offered to break bread and share pizza with Air Force personnel.

The Nevada State Highway Patrol responded as did the Las Vegas Metro Police Department. The activists were arrested on the charge of trespass and transported to the Clark County Detention Facility. The 14 are currently being booked and processed at the facility.

Those arrested include:

John Dear, S.J. (New Mexico)
Kathy Kelly (twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize from Illinois)
Dennis DuVall (Arizona)
Renee Espeland (Des Moines, Iowa Catholic Worker Community)
Judy Homanich (Binghamton, New York)
Steve Kelly, S.J. (California)
Mariah Klusmire (Albuquerque, New Mexico Catholic Worker community)
Louis Vitale, O.F.M. (Oakland, California)
Jerry Zawada, O.F.M. (Tuscson, Arizona)
Sister Megan Rice, SHCJ (Nevada Desert Experience, Las Vegas, Nevada)
Brian Terrell (Strangers & Guests Catholic Worker, Maloy, Iowa)
Eve Tetaz (Washington, D.C.)
Brad Lyttle (Chicago, Illinois)
Elizabeth Pappalardo (Crystal Lake, Illinois)

Contact: Katherine Fuchs, National Organizer, 202-332-0994 (office), 414-324-4228 (mobile), organizer[at]endtheoccupation[dot]org
Contact: Andrew Stachiw, Hampshire College Students for Justice in Palestine, 860-208-1404 (mobile), hampshiresjp[at]gmail[dot]com

Washington, DC (April 2)-The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and allied organizations participating in a national boycott campaign against Motorola welcomed news that Motorola Israel Ltd. has sold its Government Electronics Department, which made several products that enable Israel’s military occupation of and human rights abuses against Palestinians.

The reported sale of the Motorola Israel department occurred just two days after a globally-coordinated day of action to promote campaigns of boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) against Israel and corporations that profit from its human rights abuses of Palestinians. This day of action and the growing global BDS movement were inspired by the 2005 call from Palestinian civil society for BDS campaigns targeting Israel, similar to campaigns targeting South Africa’s apartheid regime during the 1970s and 1980s.

In Brooklyn, the New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel (NYCBI) launched a city-wide boycott campaign against Motorola, and cell phones stores selling Motorola products were picketed in places such as Cambridge, MA and Santa Clara, CA. The protests called on Motorola and its fully owned subsidiary, Motorola Israel Ltd., to end their sales of bomb fuses, communication devices, and surveillance equipment to the Israeli military. Human rights activists argue that these technologies are used by the Israeli military to violate human rights and international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Human Rights Watch researchers found shrapnel with Motorola serial numbers on it at the site of bomb blasts after Israel’s recent assault on the Gaza Strip, dubbed “Operation Cast Lead.” For additional information about the case against Motorola, click here.

In February, HampshireCollege divested from several companies involved in Israel’s military occupation, including Motorola. Hampshire College Students for Justice in Palestine member Bryan Van Slyke had the following response to Motorola’s recent actions: “Hampshire Students for Justice in Palestine are proud that, following the historic successful divestment campaign from the Israeli occupation at our college, another milestone has now been achieved by the global BDS movement. This proves that activists around the world can and are truly making an impact in the cause for Palestinian self-determination.”

According to Katherine Fuchs, National Organizer for the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, “Motorola is a corporation with a history of supplying products to human rights abusing regimes. Consumer pressure forced Motorola to sever its relations with the South African apartheid regime and the military junta in Burma, and we won’t stop until they do the same with Israel. The sale of Moto’s Government Electronics Department is a positive development and a sign that Motorola is being forced to respond to our boycott campaign. However, we will continue to investigate Motorola’s remaining ties with the Israeli military and illegal Israeli settlements; we will continue our campaign until we find that Motorola no longer profits from human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.”

The US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is a national coalition of more than 270 organizations working for a U.S. policy toward Israel/Palestine and responsible consumer choices to support human rights, international law, and equality for all in Israel/Palestine. For more information about the US Campaign, please click here.

UPDATE from New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel (NYCBI):
Apr 5, 2009 — Motorola has sold a controversial unit that produced bomb fuses and other equipment for the Israeli military, according to the Israeli financial newspaper Globes. The sale rids Motorola of some activities that had made it the target of a growing boycott in the US and worldwide. No explanation was offered in the media reports for the sale by Motorola Israel – a wholly owned subsidiary of Motorola – of its unit called Government Electronics Department (GED) to the Israeli company Aeronautics Defense Systems Ltd.

The sale came just days after a March 30 protest in Brooklyn by The New York Campaign for the Boycott of Israel (NYCBI) kicking off a city-wide campaign to boycott Motorola over its support for Israeli apartheid. Ryvka Bar Zohar from NYCBI commented, “We are heartened that Motorola has eliminated at least its production of bomb fuses for bombs that Israel dropped on the Palestinian and Lebanese people. But we will continue our campaign to boycott Motorola until it is clear that it has eliminated production and sale of all products used to support Israeli apartheid.”

Human rights advocates in Boston and California also recently protested against Motorola. These campaigns build on the national “Hang Up on Motorola” campaign initiated by the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, as well as initiatives by the Presbyterian and Methodist churches. University students have also recently taken up the call to boycott Motorola, achieving a divestment success at Hampshire College. Previously, Motorola had been the target of a successful boycott campaign for its support of the government of apartheid South Africa.

Motorola Israel produced fuses used in cluster, ‘bunker-buster,’ and other bombs. Cluster bombs are specifically condemned by an international consensus of human rights organizations, and banned by many countries. The US government has voiced concern over the use of these bombs and recently took steps towards a complete ban on their use. Human Rights Watch researchers reported that they found Motorola parts at the site of the bombing that began Israel’s latest assault on Gaza that killed around 1400 Palestinians, over 400 of whom were children.

While the sale of GED eliminates Motorola’s production and sale of bomb fuses, it has not yet been verified whether the sale of GED will rid Motorola of all other products that are boycott targets. Motorola Israel acquired a $100 million contract to provide a data encrypted cellular network, “Mountain Rose,” to allow the Israeli army, which consistently and severely violates Palestinian human rights, to communicate securely anywhere they operate. Motorola supplied the Israeli military with the Wide Area Surveillance System (WASS) and other high-tech configurations of radar devices and thermal cameras. These surveillance systems are installed around Israeli settlement/colonies and the apartheid wall, both of which Israel has constructed in the Palestinian West Bank in violation of international law.

On March 30th, NYCBI organized over 50 New Yorkers in a morning protest outside the Motorola office in Brooklyn. Protest chants included: “No More Fuses, No More Bombs, Moto’s Killing Kids and Moms,” and “Motorola You Can’t Hide, You’re Supporting Apartheid.” Signs read “Goodbye Moto! Goodbye Apartheid!,” and “Israeli Apartheid, We Don’t Buy It, Boycott Motorola.” The protest coincided with Palestinians’ annual commemoration of Land Day, and was part of the Global Day of Action for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel, that included over 40 events worldwide. An NYCBI online Motorola boycott pledge has very quickly gained over 160 signatories.

In 2005, following thirteen years of fruitless negotiations that were accompanied by continued Israeli human rights abuses, hundreds of Palestinian civil society organizations called on the world to implement campaigns of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israeli institutions and businesses. Supporters of the growing worldwide BDS movement argue that a moral campaign of non-violent public pressure like that used to topple apartheid in South Africa will pressure Israel to change its treatment of Palestinians. Adalah-NY, a member group in NYCBI, has carried out a highly successful New York campaign to boycott diamond mogul and Israeli settlement-builder Lev Leviev.

Peace Activists Arrested while Confronting the War Machine
Group dedicated to nonviolent action urge Secretary Gates to stop pursuing war against Afghanistan and Iraq

ARLINGTON, VA – Seven peace activists were arrested this morning as they attempted to meet with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at the Pentagon.

The peace activists are associated with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR), and their visit followed a letter to Gates demanding all military forces be withdrawn from Iraq, Afghanistan, and that bombings of Pakistan immediately cease. The group of committed activists from New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, and the District of Columbia were arrested by Pentagon Police after they strenuously requested to meet with Gates.

“We wish to petition our government for a redress of grievances,” said Michelle Grise, coordinator of NCNR. “Our grievance is that our government continues to engage in clear violations of international law by aggressively and immorally waging wars on countries which pose no immediate threat to our nation.”

Grise was arrested along with six other activists, including 78 year-old Eve Tetaz. A retired D.C. public schoolteacher, Tetaz is a veteran peace activist and faces potential jail time for her protests.

“We are here to demand that these illegal and immoral wars cease, and that our government instead seek peace and justice,” Tetaz said. “We must remind Secretary Gates that all life is sacred.”

Those arrested included: Manijeh Saba, Eve Tetaz, Michelle Grise, Ellen Barfield, Pete Perry, Steve Mihalis, and Max Obuszewski.

The action took place on St. Patrick’s Day, and the activists remembered Peter DeMott, one of the four activists who were arrested for entering a military recruiting station on March 17, 2003, two days before shock and awe. DeMott and the three others poured their blood and recited liturgy in order to show their opposition to the Iraq War. The violent occupation of Iraq begins it’s seventh year this week.

Other anti-war actions this week in Washington include nonviolent direct action by the college-aged group, Our Spring Break, on Thursday, and a large march to the Pentagon on Saturday.

Below you will find the letter sent to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE

Saturday March 7, 2009

Office of the Secretary of Defense
Pentagon
Washington, DC 20001

Dear Secretary Gates,

I am writing as a representative of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance.  We are a group of citizens dedicated to working for an end to the illegal war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the illegal bombing, since July of 2008, of Pakistan.  These actions are causing incredible human suffering, growing distrust of the United States around the world, and are diverting our resources which could be better used to ease human suffering.  We follow the principles of Gandhi, King, Day and others, working nonviolently for a peaceful world.

We would like to meet with you to discuss this situation.  As members of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, we adhere to the Nuremberg protocols. These principles, established during the trials of Nazi war criminals, call on people of conscience to challenge their government when it is engaged in criminal activity.  Not only do we have the responsibility to meet with you, but you have a responsibility and duty to follow the laws and uphold the constitution as you swore when you took your oath of office.

On March 19 the seventh year of the Iraq war begins.  The attack and invasion of Iraq was a violation of international law and an immoral chapter in U.S. history, staining our country’s reputation, and it must end immediately.  The war in Afghanistan and the bombing of Pakistan must also end immediately.  Despite mounting U.S. military and civilian casualties, the people of the U.S. are now being asked to financially support an enlarged and prolonged occupation of Afghanistan, with no end in sight, and which we believe is immoral.  It is urgent that we meet soon as innocent people are dying everyday.

We would appreciate a response by March 14, so that NCNR members can arrange their travel plans to be at the meeting at a time appropriate to your schedule.   If perchance, you fail to respond we will come to the Pentagon some time in the next few weeks to request a meeting.

In peace,

Joy First
National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance
www.iraqpledge.org
6014 Gateway Green
Madison, WI 53716
608 222-7581

Michelle Grise’
Reston, VA
ncnrconvener@aol.com

Peter J. Perry
Washington, DC

Malachy Kilbride
Arlington, VA

Ellen E Barfield
Baltimore,  MD

Eve Tetaz
Washington, DC

Steve Mihalis
Elyria, Ohio

Manijeh Saba
Somerset, New Jersey

Max Obuszewski
Baltimore, MD

Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, has become the first of any college or university in the US to divest from companies on the grounds of their involvement in the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

This landmark move is a direct result of a two-year intensive campaign by the campus group, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The group pressured Hampshire College’s Board of Trustees to divest from six specific companies due to human rights concerns in occupied Palestine. More than 800 students, professors and alumni have signed SJP’s “institutional statement” calling for the divestment.

The proposal put forth by SJP was approved on Saturday, 7 February 2009 by the Board. By divesting from these companies, SJP believes that Hampshire has distanced itself from complicity in the illegal occupation and war crimes of Israel.

Meeting minutes from a committee of Hampshire’s Board of Trustees confirm that “President Hexter acknowledged that it was the good work of SJP that brought this issue to the attention of the committee.” This groundbreaking decision follows in Hampshire’s history of being the first college in the country to divest from apartheid South Africa 32 years ago, a decision based on similar human rights concerns. This divestment was also a direct result of student pressure.

The divestment has so far been endorsed by Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Rashid Khalidi, Vice President of the EU Parliament Luisa Morganitini, Cynthia McKinney, former member of the African National Congress Ronnie Kasrils, Mustafa Barghouti, Israeli historian Ilan Pappe, John Berger, Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire and Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, among others.

The six corporations, all of which provide the Israeli military with equipment and services in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip are: Caterpillar, United Technologies, General Electric, ITT Corporation, Motorola and Terex. Furthermore, our policy prevents the reinvestment in any company involved in the illegal occupation.

SJP is responding to a call from Palestinian civil society for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) as a way of bringing nonviolent pressure to bear on the state of Israel to end its violations of international law. SJP is following in the footsteps of many noted groups and institutions such as the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education in the UK, the Israeli group Gush Shalom, the Congress of South African Trade Unions, the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the American Friends Service Committee.

As well as voicing our opposition to the illegal occupation and the consistent human rights violations of the Palestinian people, we as members of an institute of higher education see it as our moral responsibility to express our solidarity with Palestinian students whose access to education is severely inhibited by the Israeli occupation.

SJP has proven that student groups can organize, rally and pressure their schools to divest from the illegal occupation. The group hopes that this decision will pave the way for other institutions of higher learning in the US to take similar stands.

Posted Fri, 02/06/2009 – 10:57 by Bryan Casler on http://rochesterivaw.org

University of Rochester Students for a Democratic Society (UR-SDS)
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14627

	Rochester, NY – 02/06/09– Students from the University of Rochester and members of the local Rochester community will be occupying an academic building on campus today for peace and in solidarity with the people Gaza and in opposition to U.S. support for the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and the recent atrocities in Gaza.
The action, organized by U of R Students for a Democratic Society (UR-SDS), will begin on the afternoon of Friday, February 6 and will last until the University of Rochester administration meets the demands put forward. Community members are asked to arrive no earlier than 3pm.

The demands are:

1. Divestment: We demand the University of Rochester to adopt the “UR-Peaceful Investing Initiative” which institutes a peaceful investment policy to the university’s endowment which includes divestment from corporations that manufacturer weapons and profit from war. (For example, the U of R invests in General Dynamics which manufactures weapons to maintain a 41-year occupation of the Palestinian territories and wars which slaughter Palestinian civilians by the 100s)

2. Humanitarian aid: We demand that the University of Rochester commit to a day of fundraising for humanitarian aid in Gaza within the next two weeks, as part of an ongoing commitment to provide financial support for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

3. Academic aid: We demand that the University of Rochester twin with the devastated Gaza University and provide the necessary academic aid (e.g., recycled computers, books, etc. ).

4. Scholarships: We demand that the University of Rochester grant a minimum of five scholarships to Palestinian students every year.

The recent war on Gaza has devastated Gazan society, taken hundreds of innocent lives, and has escalated the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Given the United States’ central role in supporting the war in Gaza and a harsh 41-year military occupation of the Palestinian territories, the students’ actions are to express solidarity with the Palestinian people and their struggle for life and peace.

The student occupation will feature a number of informational and peaceful consciousness raising events such as public talks, teach-ins, and sit-ins. The action was inspired by a wave of student occupations that occurred in 16 universities in England following the Israeli assault on Gaza.

This event is organized by the University of Rochester Students for a Democratic Society (UR-SDS), a local chapter of the national Students for a Democratic Society. UR-SDS was founded in the Fall 2008 semester and seeks to effect progressive social change on campus through educational events and direct actions.

For Regular Updates on events see: http://prometheus.scp.rochester.edu/ursds/blog

Confact Information

e-mail: uofr.sds@gmail.com

phone: 917-595-9317 or 917-757-1181

Spread this news like wildfire. Please copy the URL to friends, co-workers, activists, and email lists. Also, use the “Share This” feature at the end of this page to post to social networking sites like Facebook, Myspace, etc.

Live Blogs
RochesterIVAW – http://www.RochesterIVAW.org
The Stitch – http://www.thesitch.com/
UoR SDS – http://prometheus.scp.rochester.edu/ursds/blog

The University of Rochester (UofR) after receiving the demands has started to say that occupiers cannot stay overnight in the brand new Goergen BME Building. They’ve suggested one of the 24 hour libraries.

SDS will begin to occupy at noon; activists and community members are asked to come at 3PM. Unless demands are met the occupation will continue.

Congressman John W. Oliver
Press Release

Congressman John W. Olver
1111 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2101

Tel: 202-225-5335
Fax: 202-226-1224

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2009

OLVER LEADS CONGRESSIONAL EFFORT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA

63 Members of Congress join Olver in calling on the Administration to address overwhelming humanitarian needs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Olver today released a letter (text below) he sent with 63 other Members of Congress to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton requesting immediate action by the United States to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The letter discusses the need for the opening of border crossing into Israel to allow supplies to enter Gaza, as well as for the critically ill to be transported out of Gaza to receive medical treatment. The letter also reminds the Administration that rebuilding Gaza will depend on the international community making significant financial contributions.

In the letter, the Representatives request that Secretary Clinton, or her staff, share with the signatories the actions take to date and the strategy that will be pursued to address the humanitarian crisis. The letter requests that conversation take place prior to Congress recessing on February 13, 2009.

Congressman John Olver said, “The eyes of the world cannot turn away now that there is a ceasefire in effect. The borders must be opened and the international community must ensure that the people of Gaza have the resources they need to treat their wounded and rebuild. While the situation on the ground is dire, the failure to address this humanitarian emergency has the potential to produce a crisis of even more unspeakable proportions.”

The text of the letter to Secretary Clinton follows:

Dear Secretary Clinton:

First, we would like to congratulate you on being sworn in as our nation’s 67th Secretary of State. We are very hopeful that this new era in American foreign policy upon which we embark can advance the cause of peace in the Middle East and beyond.

As strong supporters of both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples, we are writing to express our deep concern for the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip and to request immediate action by the United States to address this crisis. With the ceasefire now in effect, it is critical that the United States play a leading role in alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza and we respectfully urge your assistance in this task.

As you know, the situation on the ground is dire. The flow of humanitarian goods into the Gaza Strip is limited to food and medicine. Yet there exists a real need to allow for the importation of construction materials and fuel, which require the opening of crossings into Gaza. For example, only the Karni Crossing has the capacity for transporting large cargo, such as cement, but it remains closed.

In addition, in order to rebuild civilian infrastructure in Gaza the international community is going to have to make significant monetary contributions. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) estimates financial needs of nearly $350 million just to rebuild their own infrastructure and continue providing essential services to the Palestinians in Gaza.

We also remain especially concerned about the desperate condition of medical services in Gaza. Although Israel has begun to allow limited medical supplies into Gaza, the need far outweighs the availability while hospitals remain understaffed and ill-supplied. One of the most crucial steps that needs to be taken is for Israel to allow critically ill patients to be transported out of Gaza and into Israel, the West Bank and Jordan, where they may receive necessary medical care. We therefore urge you to express this concern directly to Israeli government officials.

In addition to the several thousand individuals who were physically injured during the recent military operations, we can expect to see a dramatic increase in the number of individuals suffering from psychological trauma. In order to help the population to begin rebuilding, we will need to further ensure that funds are used to provide adequate mental health services in Gaza.

Failure to address this humanitarian emergency has the potential to produce a crisis of even more unspeakable proportions. We therefore respectfully request that the State Department release emergency funds to UNRWA for reconstruction and humanitarian assistance. We believe the State Department can make funds available through accounts such as Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA) and urge you to facilitate the transfer of funds as soon as possible.

We look forward to maintaining a productive and ongoing dialogue with the State Department and the Obama Administration regarding the United States response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Toward that end we respectfully request that you or your staff share with us prior to Congress recessing on February 13, 2009, the actions taken to date and the strategy you will pursue to address the humanitarian crisis.

Finally, we know that addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a whole is a top priority of the Obama Administration and we applaud President Obama and you for your early and public commitment to meet this challenge. We also believe that the naming of former Senator George Mitchell as special envoy to the Middle East is commendable. We believe the security interests of both Israel and the United States will be greatly enhanced by the establishment of a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and that United States involvement is indispensable in achieving that goal. We stand ready to work with you as the Administration furthers these efforts.

Full List of Signatories to the Letter:

DAVID PRICE
LOIS CAPPS
KEITH ELLISON
SAM FARR
MAURICE D. HINCHEY
BARBARA LEE
JIM MORAN
EARL BLUMENAUER
LLOYD DOGGETT
JAMES P. MCGOVERN
GWEN MOORE
JIM MCDERMOTT
RAÚL M. GRIJALVA
PETE STARK
MICHAEL E. CAPUANO
PETER WELCH
DENNIS J. KUCINICH
DONALD M. PAYNE
LYNN C. WOOLSEY
JOHN D. DINGELL
MAXINE WATERS
DIANE E. WATSON
ANDRÉ CARSON
DONNA F. EDWARDS
JOHN LEWIS
CAROLYN C. KILPATRICK
GLENN C. NYE
HENRY C. JOHNSON
JOE SESTAK
BOB FILNER
STEPHEN F. LYNCH
JOHN F. TIERNEY
RUSH D. HOLT
BETTY MCCOLLUM
GEORGE MILLER
NICK J. RAHALL
YVETTE D. CLARKE
WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT
LORETTA SANCHEZ
ROSA L. DELAURO
MIKE THOMPSON
BRIAN BAIRD
PETER A. DEFAZIO
CHRISTOPHER MURPHY
MARY JO KILROY
THOMAS PERRIELLO
JOHN CONYERS JR.
NEIL ABERCROMBIE
GERALD E. CONNOLLY
EARL POMEROY
ANNA G. ESHOO
JACKIE SPEIER
MICHAEL M. HONDA
JOHN A. YARMUTH
BRUCE BRALEY
TAMMY BALDWIN
JAMES L. OBERSTAR
ERIC J.J. MASSA
MICHAEL H. MICHAUD
MARCY KAPTUR
BILL PASCRELL, JR
DANIEL B. MAFFEI
DANNY K. DAVIS

Due to the current situation in the Gaza Strip that was imposed by the Israeli military operations since Saturday 27/12/2008, the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility “CMWU” hereby announces its inability to (failure) maintain its services in both the water sector in terms of production and distribution and wastewater sector in terms of collection and discharging in Gaza Strip governorates. Despite our several appeals to all international aid agencies and organizations to help out and support our technical teams in keeping all water and wastewater facilities operational and repairing the infrastructure damages and destructions caused by the Israeli bombarding, but all these requests were declined until this moment.

In addition to the continuation of many obstacles during the past three years such as closures and sieges, the CMWU faced acute shortage in necessary spare parts, equipments, and machines for affording the required infrastructural services and had to deal with electricity insufficiency and fuel (diesel) shortage as power supply alternative for restoring these services.

According to the above, the CMWU would like to brief the followings:

1. The water carrier line between Al-Moghraga wells and Nussierate city was damaged due to Israeli air strikes to nearby El Zahraa’a and Nussierate Bridge . As a result, more than 30,000 residents in Nussierate city are inaccessible to water services.
2. Complete destruction of El-Edara Well in eastern side of Jabalia city. As a result, more than 25,000 residents in Jabalia city are inaccessible to water services. “CMWU” wants to state that the well operator has been deceived due to Israeli bombarding.
3. The main electrical transistor that belongs to El Shiekh Ejleen water well has been damaged. As a result, more than 40,000 residents of southern Tal El Hawa city and the surrounding residential towers are out of water services.
4. The main 12″ steel water carrier that supply 40% of total water produced from Gaza city northern side has been destroyed due to the Israeli military operations. As a result, more than 200,000 residents in Gaza city are out of vital water source.
5. Main sewerage line in Bait Hanoun city has been destroyed by the Israeli military actions. The line is not repaired until this moment, which caused health hazardous consequences.
6. The main power generator in Beit Lahia wastewater treatment plant “BLWWTP” has been targeted by the Israeli military operations, which halted the CMWU from carrying on its services in collection and discharging the wastewater in Beit Lahia city. In addition to several damages in several wastewater networks due to continuous Israeli shelling.
7. Due to the presence of the Israeli troops in Netzarim area, the CMWU states that the Gaza Wastewater Treatment Plant is completely out of operation and yet the plant is unable to discharge the wastewater to the sea. As a result, the collection ponds are threatened to be broken down at any moment in which it will impose serious catastrophic humanitarian, health, and environmental consequences on the surrounding lives and properties from danger of sewerage floods.
8. Since the beginning of the Israeli military operations in Gaza Strip, the wastewater level in main Beit Lahia discharging pond is increasing due to power shortage and lack of fuel in the plant. As a result, major catastrophe shall threaten the lives of thousands of residents of eastern Beit Lahia city of danger of drowning in the sewage flooding.
9. The Coastal Municipalities Water Utility “CMWU” assures that it has applied for several coordination requests from the Israeli side and through the Palestinian Water Authority “PWA”, International Committee of Red Cross “ICRC”, UNRWA, and all international humanitarian aid organizations working in Gaza strip to facilitate the CMWU to repair all the aforesaid damages points, and to distribute the fuel (diesel) to all water and wastewater facilities that was donated by UNRWA as an urgent aid to CMWU, but all these requests were declined and failed until this moment.

The Coastal Municipalities Water Utility “CMWU” appeals all international humanitarian aid organizations allover the world for quick and prompt intervention and involvement with the Israeli side to allow the CMWU for providing and affording the minimum basic water and wastewater services and restoring the operational capability of its water and wastewater facilities to avoid further serious catastrophic humanitarian, health, and environmental consequences under this hard situation in Gaza Strip.