Please Become an Original Cosponsor of a Resolution Recognizing the
Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza
***Deadline for Original
Cosponsors 6pm TODAY***
Dear Colleague:
The number of causalities
in Gaza continues to climb. As of
January 11, 2009 the United Nations is reporting 884 deaths and
3,860 injured. Of the injured, 1,333 are children. Over
one-third of the casualties have been innocent civilians. As
such, it is imperative that Congress seeks to abate the
humanitarian crisis that is becoming more desperate with each
passing day. I hope that you will join me as an original
cosponsor of an important resolution that calls for an immediate
ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza. This resolution is endorsed
by 21 groups, including Jewish Voice for Peace, Just
Foreign Policy and Washington I! nterfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace.
The Washington Post and New York Times have reported that aid
agencies such as International Committee of the Red Cross and
Medicine without Borders are unable to reach even the most
desperate victims. Furthermore, the United Nations was forced
to temporarily suspend all aid operations in Gaza following attacks on its
facilities and personnel who were trying to provide aid. The
ongoing deterioration of security in Gaza continues to plague aid
agencies in their ability to restore basic supplies such as food
and water.
Of the 1.5 million people
in Gaza approximately 800,000 have no
access to water whatsoever. The remainder of the population is
able to access running water only once every 2 to 7 days for
only 4 to 6 hours.
The World Food Program
reports that 80 percent of the population is currently in need
of urgent food assistance. The breakdown in supplies and
distribution has rendered aid agencies unable to meet the food
needs of the war torn population. The situation is compounded by
the inability of aid agencies to stock goods in the region ahead
of time due to the 18 month long blockade.
As of January 2, 2009,
hospitals in Gaza have been without
electricity, forcing them to run on back-up generators that are
reportedly on the verge of collapse. Not only are doctors unable
to cope with the number of injured, but these hospitals also
lack the most basic necessities, such as gauze and medicine.
The BBC reports
that Gaza’s main hospital is
on the verge of collapse with patients dying due to the lack of
basic medical supplies and specialized physicians.
Access to medical supplies
and food is protected by the Geneva Conventions. Without an
immediate ceasefire and assurance that aid can effectively
reach Gaza, the civilian casualties and
the dire humanitarian crisis continues on our watch.
We should oppose Hamas' rocket
attacks on Israel. And we
should oppose Israel’s
military response. But we should, first and foremost, stand for an
end to the humanitarian crisis this conflict is creating. If you
would like more information or wish to be an original cosponsor of
the resolution, please contact Cate Veith in my office at catherine.veith@mail.house.gov or
5-5871. A copy of the legislation is included here.
Sincerely,Dennis J. Kucinich
Member of Congress
Because of the abysmal approval ratings of Congress itself, there is
a real groundswell of "throw the bums out" voting, as evidenced by
the 24-point victory in the primary challenge this week by
progressive Donna Edwards. But we need to very careful not to let the
exceptionally good be swept out with the bad.
That is why we need everyone to see this new
Dennis Kucinich ad, to
protect his seat from a hostile primary challenge in his own district.
Thank You Dennis Video:
http://www.usalone.com/thank_you_dennis.php
Here's Rep. Kucinich's
statement from the
Congressional Record.
Don't forget to thank
him by
clicking here.
Mr. KUCINICH.
Mr. Speaker,
today I join my
colleagues in
Congress in
celebrating
Israel's accomplishments over the
past 60 years. I
am happy to be
co-sponsor of
this
congratulatory
resolution.
However, like
many Israelis
and
Palestinians, I
have concerns
about
Israel's future, its stability, its
security and the
prospect for
peaceful
coexistence for
both
Palestinians and
Israelis. One of
those concerns
relates to the
ongoing lack of
resolution on
the
dispossession of
Palestinian
property and the
dislocation of
Palestinians
after
Independence. It
must be
remembered that
about 700,000
Palestinians
became exiled.
Much Arab
property was
appropriated.
And about 500
Arab villages
were destroyed.
On December 11,
1948, the United
Nations passed
Resolution 194,
affording
Palestinian
refugees the
right to return
to their homes
in Israel, or to
compensation for
their property
should they
choose not to
return. To this
day, the mandate
of U.N.
Resolution 194
has not been
fulfilled.
Unfortunately,
this failure
remains as one
of the most
significant
barriers to the
realization of a
two-state
negotiated
solution.
I am also
concerned for
those
Palestinians who
did not flee and
who became
Israeli citizens
after
Independence.
According to the
LegalCenter for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, today there exist 20 Israeli laws which
explicitly
discriminate
against the
Palestinian
minority in Israel, who
constitute 20
percent of its
population. In
its 2005 Annual
Report, the U.S.
State Department
said that
``[There is]
institutionalized
legal and
societal
discrimination
against Israel's [Arab] Christian, Muslim and
Druze citizens.
The government
does not provide
Israeli Arabs
with the same
quality of
education,
housing,
employment and
social services
as Jews.''
Finally,
Israel has a right to security and a
right to defend
itself.
Accordingly, I
am concerned
that the 40 year
military
occupation of
the West Bank,
the Gaza Strip,
and East
Jerusalem has
been and
continues to be
brutal and
unjust and
undermines the
security of
Israel. It is a fact that the
government of Israel continues to support the
construction of
settlements on
Palestinian
land,
perpetuating the
consequences of
dispossession
and exile.
Additionally, I
am concerned
that the
government of
Israel has increased the number of
checkpoints
which destroy a
viable
Palestinian
economy and a
vibrant civil
society. I am
concerned that
the Israeli
government has
erected a wall,
often on
Palestinian
land, that
divides
Palestinians
from
Palestinians,
rather than
divide
Israel
from the
West Bank. As stated by Judge Elaraby of the
International
Court of Justice
in his 2004
Advisory Opinion
on the legality
of Israel's
separation
barrier, ``The
fact that
occupation is
met by armed
resistance
cannot be used
as a pretext to
disregard
fundamental
human rights in
the occupied
territory.''
This conundrum
of a dialectic
of conflict
further
separates
Israelis and
Palestinians
alike from hopes
for peace.
H. Con. Res. 322
eloquently
states the many
reasons why I
celebrate Israel's
accomplishments
and I sincerely
wish it a bright
future. I only
wish to add
that, in my
opinion, and in
the opinion of
many Israelis
and Palestinians
as well, Israel's future will be bright only
if it includes
an open dialogue
with
Palestinians, a
respect for
human rights and
international
law, and a
society built on
coexistence and
tolerance.
Israelis and
Palestinians
deserve to live
in peace with
justice and I
encourage the
United States
government to
help Israel achieve that so the joy of
future
anniversaries
will be
unalloyed.
I support the
resolution in
the spirit of
reconciliation
to which we must
all inevitably
turn, to achieve
peace and
justice with our
brothers and
sisters from
whom we may be
estranged.
Power of the heart: Democratic '08 hopeful Dennis Kucinich, a Roman Catholic, places great importance on spirituality. CARLOS BARRIA/REUTERS
Out of the box: In Keene, N.H., Democratic ’08 hopeful Dennis Kucinich says he‘s able to do what no other candidate can because he has ‘no strings.’ Cheryl Senter/AP/FILE
Pivotal time: Cleveland Mayor Dennis Kucinich gave a speech on Dec. 12, 1978, asking voters to increase the city’s 1 percent payroll tax by 50 percent to help bail out the city. Voters approved increasing taxes to 1.5 percent in 1979. Clarence H. Copeland/Cleveland Plain Dealer/AP
A team: Dennis Kucinich and his wife, Elizabeth, met in 2005 when she visited his congressional office. They married less than four months later. cheryl senter/ap/file
Dennis Kucinich: A peace-seeking idealist to the core
The congressman from Ohio makes his second run for the White House, wanting healthcare for all Americans and peace for the world.
By Amanda Paulson | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor
from the December 31, 2007 edition
Out of all the
Democrats running for the nomination,
Dennis Kucinich is the only one who
stands out with truly progressive views. Whether it’s his stance on
Iraq, health care, the minimum wage, election reform, or free trade
agreements, he is the only candidate who stands out from the rest with
plans which actually change the direction our country is heading.progressive4president.blogspot.com/
During a campaign stop at Concord Cooperative
Market yesterday, Democratic presidential candidate Dennis
Kucinich dropped a desert into his shopping basket.
There are millions of people who will vote for Dennis if: 1. They
know about Dennis and what he offers.
2. They are motivated enough to register to voteand to vote in the presidential primary or caucuses.
Anyone can get voter registration cards from the county clerk where
they live. They will explain to you what NEEDS TO BE FILLED OUT
(if there are blanks - they will be disqualified...) and the
TIMELINES to turn them in (usually 1 week from the date signed)
.
People cannot vote for Dennis if they aren't registered. But
they can register by clicking
THIS LINK!
Take DJK info along with you - and pass it out door to door. Keep
track of where you and your team have been .. so you go to new
neighborhoods / streets each time. Contact me if you
need help.
====================
Endorsements.
Contact groups / churches / business / non-profits / unions ... in
your area. Ask them to endorse Dennis. Put together a presentation
to their members (nothing fancy - just some info - and a couple of
sincere sentences from you) . Draft a letter of endorsement for
the designated representative of the organization to sign.
(secretary / president / leader etc.)
Contact me if you need help.
GIVE A BUMPER STICKER TO A CAB DRIVER Its free advertising !!
Burma Shave - type signs (Coming in September).
Get groups together in your area -to make simple / one word signs
... Three people each with a sign Kucinich For
President ... across a bridge / on a rural road several feet
apart ...six people ... Kucinich Not For Profit
Healthcare www.kucinich.us
you get the idea !! Start now to get your groups together -
and get your signs made. Artistic competence not important
... A READABLE word on a sign.
WeI need to know WHICH towns are doing this - AND the local
newspaper / TV info -
for press releases to go out. The NJ State Coordinator and I
are planning this... and hope to get the rest of the states to "buy
into the idea" so it will be across the country, on the same
day....
Contact me if you need help getting started....
more on this in a future ALERT
Claire McGee
Oregon State Coordinator
Kucinich for President 2008
click to connecthttp://www2.kucinich.us/
Liberal firebrand and Democratic presidential candidate
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) yesterday submitted an official resolution
to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney, accusing the ultra-powerful veep
of "high crimes and misdemeanors" for violating the constitution and
undermining national security by lying to the American people about
Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and an al-Qaeda connection to justify
a war.
Kucinich is unlikely to find much support for the measure on Capitol
Hill, where the House must pass articles of impeachment by a simple
majority before sending them to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority
is required. As President of the Senate, Cheney might even preside over
his own case. Kucinich's efforts have already been
mocked by the Washington Post, among others, but the articles of
impeachment do level some grave charges at Cheney that readers might
care to peruse.
Article I
"[Cheney] purposely manipulated the intelligence process to deceive
the citizens and Congress of the United States by fabricating a
threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction to justify the use of
the United States Armed Forces against the nation of Iraq in a
manner damaging to our national security interests."
"(1) Despite all evidence to the contrary, the Vice
President actively and systematically sought to deceive the citizens
and Congress of the United States about an alleged threat of Iraqi
weapons of mass destruction."
"(2) Preceding the March 2003 invasion of Iraq the
Vice President was fully informed that no legitimate evidence
existed of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The Vice President
pressured the intelligence community to change their findings to
enable the deception of the citizens and Congress of the United
States."
"(3) The Vice President's actions corrupted or
attempted to corrupt the 2002 National Intelligence Estimate, an
intelligence document issued on October 1, 2002, and carefully
considered by Congress prior to the October 10, 2002, vote to
authorize the use of force."
Article II
"[Cheney] purposely manipulated the intelligence process to deceive
the citizens and Congress of the United States about an alleged
relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda."
Article III
"[Cheney] has openly threatened aggression against the Republic of
Iran absent any real threat to the United States."
"I want to inspire America to take a new path, a
different direction. I envision an America which has the capacity to
reconnect with the heart of the world; an America which proceeds in the
world optimistically and courageously. An America which understands that
the world is interdependent, that it is inter-connected, and that what
we do today impacts future generations.
I want to break
the shackles of fear which have deprived our citizens of rights. We need
to change the way this
country values humanity, so that instead of fear
and lies, we can live our lives based on principles of peace and hope.
We need to regain the trust of the American people and we need to have a
government which trusts the American people.
It's time for America to resume its glorious journey;
time to reject shrinking jobs and wages, disappearing savings and
rights; time to reject the detour towards fear and greed. It's time to
look out upon the world for friends, not enemies; time to counter the
control of corporations over our politics, our economy, our resources,
and mass media. It's time for those who have much to help those who have
little, by maintaining a progressive tax structure. It's time to tell
the world that we wish to be their partner in peace, not their leader in
war. Most of all, it is time for America to again be the land where
dreams come true, because the government is on the side of its people."
"The spread of evil is the symptom of a
vacuum. whenever evil wins, it is only by default: by the
moral failure of those who evade the fact that there can be
no compromise on basic principles."
Ayn Rand
