A Volunteer Human Rights Group – Choose Love, Not Hate – Love Wins
U.S. House Committee Mulls North Korea Sanctions Bill
— “The North Korea Sanctions and Diplomatic Nonrecognition Act of 2009, authored and introduced by Rep. Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.)”
(U.S.) North Korea Freedom Week April 26-May 2, Washington, D.C.
— Prayer Vigil Sunday Night in Northern Virginia, Rally on Tuesday on Capitol
North Korea – Christian Refugees Question Regime’s Claims
— “As many as 400,000 Christians are estimated to worship secretly in the country, and Suzanne Scholte, head of the North Korean Freedom Coalition (NKFC), estimates that more than 200,000 North Koreans are held in political prison camps for various perceived ‘disloyalties’ to the regime, including adherence to Christianity.”
North Korea to put U.S. women on trial
— “The two reporters for Current TV, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, are accused of entering the country illegally and intending ‘hostile acts.'”
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/04/24/nkorea.us.journalists.trial/index.html
— International Press Institute (IPI) Calls for Release of Journalists Being Used as ‘Political Hostages’ in Iran, North Korea
http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/statements_detail.html?ctxid=CH0055&docid=CMS1240232042646&year=2009
— 2 US journalists to be tried in North Korea
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20090425/tap-as-nkorea-journalists-3rd-ld-writeth-d3b07b8.html
(North Korea) US reporters face years in North Korea labour camp
— “Two women prosecuted for espionage or ‘hostility toward North Koreans’ could spend up to 10 years in prison”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6159054.ece
North Korea is fully fledged nuclear power, experts agree
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6155956.ece
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517698,00.html
(North Korea) Official: North Korea restarts nuclear facilities
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30400093/
— North Korea restarts extracting plutonium
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/25/North-Korea-restarts-extracting-plutonium/UPI-10731240658434/
(North Korea) Report: Kim Jong Il’s 3rd Son Assigned to Post
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517942,00.html
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/26/Kim-Jong-ils-son-being-groomed-as-leader/UPI-28011240747926/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6171511.ece
ERA would end women’s second-class citizenship – by Carolyn Cook
Only three more states are needed to declare gender bias unconstitutional. Carolyn Cook is the Washington representative for the ERA Campaign Network.
ERA would end women’s second-class citizenship
April 12, 2009
by Carolyn Cook
Op-Ed, Philadelphia Inquirer
When our forefathers broke from Britain, they left nothing to chance. They put it in writing.
In unified thought, spirit, and action, the Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 white, male landowners representing 13 colonies. Hardly reflective of America today, it formally challenged the notion of the “divine right of kings” and guaranteed wealthy men equal rights.
The Declaration of Independence provides the rationale through which the U.S. Constitution is interpreted. Therefore, the Supreme Court renders its judgments based on a legal precedent established 239 years ago of equality among men only!
With only one justice and one quarter of judges in state courts female, the odds are not in our favor. Furthermore, without the explicit wording and intention of women’s rights documented in the principles of our government, women remain second-class citizens until we unite and declare otherwise.
Justice Antonin Scalia affirms this stark reality. “When a practice not explicitly prohibited by the text of the Bill of Rights bears the endorsement of a long tradition of open, widespread, and unchallenged use, that dates back to the beginning of the Republic, we have no proper basis for striking it down,” he wrote.
More than two dozen amendments to the Constitution have granted critical civil and political rights. Steadily, our cultural landscape transformed from horrific human rights violations to electing the first Catholic and African American male presidents. Stunning triumphs, and yet our moral compass must not ignore the double standard that remains – gender discrimination.
Without a uniform guarantee of equality across 50 states, there is no assurance of women’s progress. The stopgap of laws arbitrarily sprinkled throughout the states, subjectively interpreted by courts and subject to being overturned by a single vote, has failed us. Unwise “investors” bank on the security and protection of state laws, assuming these measures are sufficient. They build castles made of sand that the changing tides in legislatures can sweep away without a trace.
Verbal, sexual, and physical assaults have become commonplace; advertising exploits our bodies and limits our self-concept; wage disparity and insufficient family support persist in employment; and caregivers are not yet eligible for Social Security.
The omission of women in the U.S. Constitution has had far-reaching consequences for far too long. The time to take action is now.
The Equal Rights Amendment updates America’s original social contract. It calls upon the U.S. government to modernize its structures, laws, and policies to reflect the progress and contributions of the other half of its taxpaying citizens.
Just three more states are needed to ratify the ERA as the 28th Amendment. Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida (2009), and Virginia (2010) are attempting to officially declare men and women equal stakeholders in America’s future. With an economy to recover, international relations to mend, and corruption to end, all hands must be joined in this effort.
ERA simply states: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”
The ERA invests in women’s social progress – offering them the dignity and respect they are entitled to as individuals and citizens of this democracy. It is high time our government declare gender discrimination unconstitutional as it has nobly done with race. With a uniform guarantee of equality upheld in all 50 states, women’s progress at home, at work, and in their communities will be measured and protected by the full extent of the law.
1 year ago 30,546 views journeymanpictures
Contact Congress on Open Fuel Standards (OFS) Act to Reduce Funding of Extremism
The advocates of the ideology of extremism have financially benefited from weak mile per gallon standards and limited alternative fuel options for American automobiles. As an American security measure, please contact your Congressional representative and let them know your support for H.R. 1476 Open Fuel Standards (OFS) Act — see GovTrack website, see text of bill
Find Your ZIP+4 Zip Code (Useful in Quickly Finding Your Representatives)
Contact your Congressional Representative (House) – Use ZIP+4 Code for Fastest Lookup
— Alternative Link – Main House Page – Need ZIP+4 Code
Library of Congress Thomas
Search Bill Text for the 111th Congress (2009-2010)
Asia News: “Taliban attack Christians in Karachi”
— Asia News reports:
— “Armed men yesterday attacked a group of Christians in Taiser Town, near Karachi. They set ablaze six Christian houses and injured three Christians, including an 11-year-old boy, who is in critical condition in the hospital, Fr Richard D’Souza told AsiaNews. Taiser Town, which is home to about 750 Christian families including 300 Catholic families, is part of the Parish of St Jude in the Archdiocese of Karachi.”
— “Two police officials, who spoke to AsiaNews on condition of anonymity, said that Qudoos Masih, one of the people injured in the incident, filed an initial report at the Sarjani Town police against unknown persons.”
— “The police confirmed that seven suspects were arrested with heavy weapons on them. Police is still conducting its investigation and does not know who is behind the violence.”
— “A policeman said that only three Christians were injured, including a minor who is in critical conditions. A Muslim from the group of attackers was also hurt.”
— “Fr Pervez Khalid, assistant parish priest at St Jude’s Parish Church, told AsiaNews that no one was killed in the attack but that six people had gunshot wounds.”
— “The situation is now under control, he added. Rangers and police and were patrolling the streets. Still people are very scared and dare not go out, especially after police advised them to stay in-door.”
— “Father D’Souza, parish priest at St Jude’s, visited the area where the attack took place. There, he saw graffiti on the walls of the area’s two churches, saying ‘Taliban zindabad’ (Live long Taliban), ‘Islam zindabad’ (Live long Islam), ‘Christians Islam qabol karo’ (Christians, convert to Islam).”
— “He also visited the torched Christian houses and saw that everything was burnt, including the residents’ Bibles.”
— “He said that yesterday morning people who saw the graffiti came together to stage a street protest. As soon as they did so, they were attacked by a group of armed men who set the houses on fire and then walked down the streets damaging electrical wires and gas meters.”
— “‘The men who attacked the Christians came from outside; none of our faithful knew them,’ Father D’Souza said.”
— “Kiran Sobya, a 28-year-old Catholic woman living in the area, told AsiaNews that the situation had been tense for some time. In fact when she was setting off for Tuesday Mass she was told that the service had been cancelled.”
— “A bank teller by profession, she did not go to work today because of the tense situation. She did however confirm that yesterday many women and some men and children staged a protest against the anti-Christian graffiti on the churches’ walls.”
— “The area has three churches, all built by the government to serve the different confessions (Catholic and Protestants).”
— “The Catholic parish priest or his assistant usually visit the area to celebrate Mass every Tuesday.”
— “Sources said that most members of the local congregation are very poor.”
April 28, 2009 – Asia News: “Boy wounded in Taliban attack near Karachi dies”
May 1, 2009 – Dawn: “They will burn us alive”
North Korea Freedom Week 2009 – April 26-May 2, 2009 – Washington, D.C.
See schedule of events
Sunday, April 26
“6:00 pm Candlelight Vigil to remember and pray for all repatriated North Koreans who have been beaten to death and publicly executed in North Korea because of China’s repatriation policy”
“Location: International Calvary Church, 5700 Hanover Avenue, Springfield, Virginia”
“7:00 pm Prayer Service for North Korea and for the visiting North Korea defector delegation”
“Location: International Calvary Church, 5700 Hanover Avenue, Springfield, Virginia”
Monday, April 27
“All Day: North Korea Genocide Exhibit will be on display at Columbus Circle across from Union Station”
“AFT: Special Capitol Hill Screening of Crossing especially for Congressional staff, but open to public”
“2:00-4:00 pm Department of State: DRL North Korea Funding Information Session As the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor continues to dedicate more resources to the promotion of human rights and democracy in North Korea, DRL will host this special informational session to offer an information session to introduce potential partner organizations to the DRL solicitation process including how grant proposals are evaluated and monitored.”
“Host: Department of State DRL Bureau”
“To Participate, email turnerje@state.gov by April 10 with full name, date of birth, country of citizenship and passport or driver’s license number.”
Tuesday, April 28 Rally Date and Anniversary of the First North Korea Freedom Day
“All Day: North Korea Genocide Exhibit will be on display West Front of US Capitol”
“10:00 am Demonstration by the Democracy Network Against the North Korean Gulag at the Raoul Wallenberg Place across from the Holocaust Museum”
Capitol Hill Rally for North Korea Freedom and Human Rights, West Front of the U.S. Capitol
“11:00 am Music Starts with the Pyongyang Musical Mission Troupe and our own Jeff Park and the Seoul Presbyterian Church Praise Band”
“12:00 noon Program with Confirmed speakers (so far): South Korean Human Rights Ambassador Jhe Seong Ho, Senator Sam Brownback, Congressman Ed Royce, NED President Carl Gershman, Freedom House Executive Director Jennifer Windsor, Amnesty International Asia Advocacy Director T. Kumar, Dr. Hyunuk Kim, President of the International Forum for Foreign Policy and National Security, Kim Seung Min Director of Free North Korea Radio, representatives from the Japanese Rescue Movement and all North Korean defector organizations…”
“Afternoon: Rally participants will visit their Senators and Congressmen. If you would like to participate, please RSVP here: nkfreedom.org/index.php
“3:00-5:00 pm Panel Session on North Korea human rights sponsored by the Korea Economic Institute”
“Host: Ambassador Jack Pritchard and the Korea Economic Institute”
“Location: 1800 K Street, N.W., Suite 1010, Washington DC, 20006”
Wednesday, April 29
“10:00 am Panel Session Focusing on Survey of North Korean Refugees”
“Host: Marcus Noland and the Peterson Institute”
“Location: C. Fred Bergsten Conference Center, 1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036”
“6:00 pm Special Screening of KIMJONGILIA which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival with the film’s director and producer N.C. Heikin. KIMJONGILIA is the first film documentary to expose the horrible human rights abuses by Kim Jong-il through defector’s stories, North Korea’s propaganda and original performance.”
“Host and sponsor: Congressman Trent Franks and Tina Ramirez”
“Location: Capitol Visitors Center – North Theatre”
“RSVP Required (limited seating):” RSVP at http://www.nkfreedom.org/index.php?id=30
Thursday, April 30
“10:00 AM Congressional briefing on Humanitarian Situation and What Can Be Done to Help the North Korean People”
“Host: Congressional Human Rights Commission”
“Location: To Be Determined”
“1:00-4:00 PM (exact time to be finalized soon) Panel Session hosted by the Heritage Foundation on North Korean Human Rights: Recommendations for President Obama and the U.S. Congress”
“Confirmed speakers: NED President Carl Gershman, Joel Charney of Refugees International, Jared Genser of Freedom Now”
“Host: Bruce Klingner and the Heritage Foundation”
“Location: Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002”
“6:30-8:30 pm PSCORE (People for Successful Corean Reunification) Special Event”
“Confirmed speakers include: Ana Jang, former New York Times reporter Laura E. Pohl, PSCORE founder Kim Young-il, and Han Young Jin”
“Host: Ana Jang and the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, GPPI IPD Track, GU Korean Student Society, PS CORE ”
“Location: Student Lounge at Georgetown Public Policy Institute”
Friday, May 1
“12:00 noon Capitol Hill Forum in honor of North Korean Defectors hosted by the Defense Forum Foundation”
“Rayburn House Office Building, Capitol Hill”
“Host: Defense Forum Foundation”
“Location: B-339 Rayburn”
RSVP required (limited seating): henry@defenseforum.org
Saturday, May 2
“12:00 noon Protest at the new Chinese embassy against the PRC’s violent treatment of North Korean refugees”
“3505 International Place, NW, Washington, DC — note this is a new embassy address!!”
JOIN US FOR NORTH KOREA FREEDOM WEEK APRIL 26-MAY 2, 2009!
“With a new U.S. President and administration as well as many new Members of Congress, with the uncertainty and speculation about North Korea’s current “Dear Leader”, and with governments continually sidelining human rights concerns to try to resolve the nuclear issue, this year’s North Korea Freedom Week is more critical than ever before as we raise our voices to advocate for a people more isolated and arguably more persecuted than any in the world today.”
Full Schedule of Events & Flyers Here
RSVP: LOBBY PARTICIPATION ON APRIL 28
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Two American Journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, were arrested by North Korean authorities on March 17 & are being indicted for “illegal entry” into North Korea and carrying out “hostile” activities.
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“An estimated 2 million North Koreans have perished under North Korea’s brutal dictatorial regime since the mid-1990s. Families continue to starve to death as the North Korean government withholds food rations to entire regions of the nation. The government arbitrarily detains, tortures, and executes its citizens, including children, in a large network of concentration camps. Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans have fled to China to survive, however they live in fear of forced repatriation and imprisonment. Children whose parents have died or been separated from them wander the streets in search of food and protection. We must act now to bring relief!!”
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Feb 24, 2009
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Read NKFC’s letter to President Obama (02.12.2009, pdf)
Read NKFC’s letter to Secretary Clinton (02.02.2009, jpg)
Read Suzanne Scholte’s Op-Ed published in The Korea Times (01.20.2009, pdf)
