Secretary Clinton Puts Pressure on Sudan

Yesterday, at the news conference with the top officials of the Northern Ireland administration, Secretary Clinton made some comments that were the strongest to date by a senior U.S. official over the Sudanese leader's decision last week to expel 13 international aid groups and subsequent order that all such groups cease activity in Sudan by the end of the year. On March 4th, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him for war crimes. Recently, he ordered 13 foreign aid groups out of Sudan accusing them of siding with the International Criminal Court.

Clinton said the Sudanese president will be responsible for "every single death" caused by the expulsion of 13 foreign aid groups from war-torn Darfur.

"This is a horrendous situation that is going to cause untold misery and suffering for the people of Darfur, particularly those in the refugee camps," Clinton said of Sudan's decision to expel the aid groups.

"The real question is what kind of pressure can be brought to bear on President Bashir and the government in Khartoum to understand that they will be held responsible for every single death that occurs in those camps."

In reports out today, international experts are saying at least 200,000 people have died in Sudan's western Darfur region, while al-Bashir's government says 10,000 have died. The deaths are mostly caused by fighting, but hunger and disease have taken their toll, prompting aid agencies to step in and provide humanitarian aid.

Clinton said al-Bashir's government had now assumed "an even greater sense of responsibility and infamy in the eyes of the world."

She called on governments supporting him to push for the return of the aid workers, or fill the gaps themselves.

"They must replace with money and personnel those who have been expelled so that innocent lives are not lost and further undermined," Clinton said.

Yea, Hil! All those who said human rights weren't at the top of her list can eat it! :)

Now, I thought this was interesting as well. Today the al-Bashir spoke at a rally of local residents in South Darfur, stressing his full commitment to realizing security, stability and development in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

He said this: "What has happened in Darfur is the work of the devil." He called on the people of Darfur to overpass the bitterness of the past, reject the racism, and advance towards the reconstruction, development and education to eliminate illiteracy and ignorance.

Today Obama appointed Scott Gration, a retired air force general, as the special envoy to Sudan. Now, that's a step in the right direction! I know Hillary will work hard on this situation in Darfur. I think they need to, if they haven't already, enforce a no-fly zone and put sanctions on senior Sudanese officials and an arms embargo. Also, I think the US needs to keep supporting the International Criminal Court on its investigation, which it sounds like Hillary is much in favor of.

I am by no means an expert, anyone have any thoughts on Darfur?

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Bill Clinton's iPod on Ebay!

Current Bid: $1,025.00

Time Remaining: 2 days 16 hours

Bill is selling his 8GB red Nano on Ebay, signed with black sharpie, with a custom playlist already loaded up on it. It's all for charity!

The philanthropic outfit Tonic has teamed up with some of the world's biggest celebrities to auction off their iPods, autographed and loaded with their favorite music, to benefit Music Rising. Music Rising was founded in 2005 by U2's the Edge and others to help rebuild post-Katrina/Rita Gulf Coast music programs.

I've perused around on other iPods up for grabs and Ellen Degeneres is currently in the lead with a top bid of $5,101. There are only 28 bids so far on Bill's Nano. Keep bidding people, it's for a good cause!

Here is what is on Bill Clinton’s Playlist:

1. Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)

2. I Get Along Without You Very Well (Carly Simon)

3. Bahia (Stan Getz with Charlie Byrd)

4. Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel)

5. Crown Imperial (“The Presidents Own” U.S. Marine Band)

6. Angel (Sarah McLachlan)

7. Philadelphia Freedom (Elton John)

8. English Folk Song Suite [1-3] (North Texas Wind Symphony)

9. A Song for You (Willie Nelson)

10. Winds of the Old Days (Joan Baez)

11. Concierto de Aranjuez [1-3] (John Williams)

hehe... angel by Sarah McLachlan! cuuute! He's got a pretty good playlist... I love me some Carly Simon!

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Bill Clinton in Haiti

Bill Clinton and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon were in Haiti today, trying to refocus international attention to the country in hopes to lure more aid to keep the impoverished country from sliding back into chaos. Hundreds of people greeted them, including Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean, at the airport with signs such as "We love you President Clinton" and "Clinton, we need your help."

Clinton and Ban waved to the crowds. They toured the run-down capital and met with Haitian officials. They visited a school in the neighborhood of Cite Soleil

The country has been struggling with high food prices and a devastating series of storms during a period of relative political calm in the Caribbean country.

Ban spokeswoman Michele Montas said the visit of less than 24 hours was intended to call attention to the need to provide further international help for Haiti.

"The secretary-general and Bill Clinton will bring a strong message of hope that Haiti is still winnable," Montas said.

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The Top 8 Women of International Courage

The State Department recognizes the courage and leadership shown by these women as they struggle for social justice and human rights. They are among over 80 exceptional women nominated by U.S. Embassies worldwide for their extraordinary work in advancing human rights.

Ms. Wazhma Frogh - Afghanistan Wazhma Frogh is the Afghanistan Country Director for the NGO Global Rights and a dynamic leader in the fight against domestic violence, marital and child rape, and sexual abuse in Afghanistan.

Ms. Norma Cruz - Guatemala Norma Cruz is on the forefront of women who are fighting on behalf of victims of violence and sexual abuse. As director of the NGO Survivors Foundation, Ms. Cruz combats the widespread impunity that too often accompanies the endemic violence against women in Guatemala.

Ms. Suaad Allami - Iraq A prominent lawyer, Suaad Allami fights against the erosion of women's rights and defends the most disadvantaged. She founded the NGO Women for Progress and the Sadr City Women's Center, which offers free medical care, literacy education, vocational training, and legislative advocacy. She has accepted a Humphrey Fellowship from the State Department for academic year 2009-2010.

Ms. Ambiga Sreenevasan - Malaysia An accomplished lawyer who became President of the Malaysian Bar Council, Ambiga Sreenevasan masterfully uses the rule of law to advance human rights, the status of women, and religious tolerance. In the face of death threats and intimidation, Ms. Ambiga has emerged as a strong voice of tolerance and justice.

Ms. Hadizatou Mani - Niger Sold to a "master" at the age of 12 for the equivalent of $500, Hadizatou Mani persevered in gaining her freedom and helped pave the way for others trapped in similar circumstances to seek justice. Through her valiant efforts, persistence, and refusal to succumb to social pressure to abandon her case, she won a historic, precedent-setting decision in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court of Justice that condemned her enslavement.

Ms. Veronika Marchenko - Russia Veronika Marchenko is the head of the NGO Mother’s Right, and has demonstrated exceptional bravery and leadership in exposing the truth surrounding the disturbing peacetime deaths within the Russian armed forces. Ms. Marchenko has successfully sought justice on behalf of bereaved families of servicemen who died as a result of cruel and inhumane conditions.

Ms. Mutabar Tadjibayeva - Uzbekistan Imprisoned for criticizing her government's handling of events surrounding the 2005 violence in the city of Andijon, Mutabar Tadjibayeva refuses to be silenced. She has returned to human rights advocacy, and remains a fearless critic of human rights abuses.

Ms. Reem Al Numery - Yemen When she was 12, Reem Al Numery had her childhood cut short when she was forced to marry her 30-year -old cousin. She has emerged as a strong and brave voice on behalf of other girls facing a similar fate. Her courage has inspired a widespread drive against child marriages in Yemen.

These extraordinary women will be in Washington from March 8 – 12 for meetings with government officials, non-governmental organizations and the media. I am sure they will have the chance to meet with Madame Secretary too!

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Hillary Rewind: Human Rights in Beijing 1995

In spirit of Hillary's great trip to Asia, and her being in Beijing for the next two days, I want to take a look back to September 5th 1995. This was truly a historic speech that will live on and speak for women for many years to come.

Here are some of my favorite parts and the most famous:

"At this very moment, as we sit here, women around the world are giving birth, raising children, cooking meals, washing clothes, cleaning houses, planting crops, working on assembly lines, running companies, and running countries. Women also are dying from diseases that should have been prevented or treated. They are watching their children succumb to malnutrition caused by poverty and economic deprivation. They are being denied the right to go to school by their own fathers and brothers. They are being forced into prostitution, and they are being barred from the bank lending offices and banned from the ballot box."

"These abuses have continued because, for too long, the history of women has been a history of silence. Even today, there are those who are trying to silence our words. But the voices of this conference and of the women at Huairou must be heard loudly and clearly:

It is a violation of human rights when babies are denied food, or drowned, or suffocated, or their spines broken, simply because they are born girls.

It is a violation of human rights when women and girls are sold into the slavery of prostitution for human greed -- and the kinds of reasons that are used to justify this practice should no longer be tolerated.

It is a violation of human rights when women are doused with gasoline, set on fire, and burned to death because their marriage dowries are deemed too small.

It is a violation of human rights when individual women are raped in their own communities and when thousands of women are subjected to rape as a tactic or prize of war.

It is a violation of human rights when a leading cause of death worldwide among women ages 14 to 44 is the violence they are subjected to in their own homes by their own relatives.

It is a violation of human rights when young girls are brutalized by the painful and degrading practice of genital mutilation.

It is a violation of human rights when women are denied the right to plan their own families, and that includes being forced to have abortions or being sterilized against their will.

If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights once and for all. Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely -- and the right to be heard."

Read full transcript of her speech here.

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Have a good trip!

So, I have really been looking forward to hearing Hillary announce The 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Trip to India today. I feel really proud that the State Department is working on these kinds of humanitarian projects. It is a really great thing to watch and this may sound silly but it brings me hope for the future of our country. Seeing a room full of remarkable people including Martin Luther King III, Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Spencer Bachus and Mr. Herbie Hancock, honoring remarkable people like MLK Jr and Mahatma Gandhi is just inspiring. I'll be looking forward to hearing how their trip went. Hillary's remarks were, as expected, poignant and dignified. She did giggle a little when concurring with Herbie Hancock in saying jazz is not just about music. "Jazz is a pretty good guide to most things in life, and I can tell you, as Secretary of State, I’m improvising every single day." Here's a bit more of what she had to say:

"As we celebrate Black History Month here at home, the 50^th Anniversary of Dr. King’s trip to India is a reminder that the struggle for civil rights and justice has always been and continues to be a global mission; it knows no borders. As Dr. King told us, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”"

I was also really moved by Representative John Lewis' statement about MLK Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi:

"The two men were not politicians or lawmakers. They were not presidents or popes. But they were inspired human beings who believed deeply in the power of nonviolent resistance to injustice as a tool for social change. Because of their courage, commitment, and vision, this nation has witnessed a nonviolent revolution under the rule of law, a revolution of values and ideas that have changed America forever. We are all a beneficiary of this powerful legacy."

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