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Thursday, October 22, 2009

Japanese Latin Americans Set to Gain Justice After Kidnapping by the US in WWII

So few Americans know of this. They know what happened to Japanese Americans on the mainland during WWII, that they were interred, but they are unaware of what our government did to Japanese Latin Americans. From the Campaign for Justice Website:

INTRODUCTION

What would you do if this happened to you? Former internees have mostly come to peace with what they went through, though the government has never openly admitted that it commited human rights violations. We say we never want this to happen again, but it is happening now to other people. Do we need to go through it ourselves before we can understand that this was a crime?

BACKGROUND

Wartime Abduction and Incarceration

From December 1941 to February 1948, the U.S. government orchestrated and financed the mass abduction, forcible deportation and internment of 2,264 men, women, and children of Japanese ancestry from 13 Latin American countries.

Stripped of their passports en route to the U.S. these Japanese Latin Americans (JLAs) were declared “illegal aliens”.

The U.S. planned to use them as hostages in exchange for Americans held by Japan. Over 800 JLAs were included in two prisoner of war exchanges between the U.S. and Japan.

The remaining JLAs were imprisoned without due process of law in U.S. Department of Justice internment camps until after the end of the war.

After the War

Most of the incarcerated JLAs were forced to leave the U.S. after their release from camp.

However, since many were initially barred from returning to their home countries, more than 900 JLAs were deported to war devastated Japan.

Over 350 JLAs remained in the U.S. and fought deportation in the courts. Eventually, about 100 were able to return to Latin America. It was not until 1952 that those who stayed were allowed to begin the process of becoming U.S. permanent residents. Many later became U.S. citizens.

Causes

Japanese Latin Americans were subjected to gross violations of civil and human rights by the U.S. government during WWII.

These violations were not justified by a security threat to Allied interests. Rather, it was the outcome of historical racism, anti-foreign prejudice, economic competition, and political opportunism.

The Civil Liberties Act excludes JLAs

The US Congress passed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. This granted an apology and $20,000 compensation payments to US citizens and legal permanent residents of Japanese ancestry. It also established an education fund.

Most JLAs were excluded because the US government claimed they were “illegal aliens.”

Mochizuki settlement a questionable victory

In 1996, a class action lawsuit, Mochizuki v. USA, was filed on behalf of all Japanese Latin Americans who had been denied redress.

It resulted in a settlement agreement granting an apology and $5,000 compensation payments in exchange for termination of lawsuit.

A provision in the agreement allowed for pursuit of legislation for equitable redress in the US Congress.

While most Japanese Latin American internees accepted the Mochizuki settlement, some rejected the offer and continued litigation in the US courts. Four other lawsuits were filed and eventually dismissed.

Escalating to an international court

Unable to find justice in the US courts, a petition on behalf of the three Shibayama brothers and the Japanese Peruvian Oral History Project was filed with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)in June 2003.

The petition seeks to hold the US government accountable for the ongoing failure to provide redress for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

After three years, the IACHR has determined that it has jurisdiction over this petition and is deliberating the facts of the case.

For more information on CFJ's role in the redress history, please see the What We Do section. Read further>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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Now after all these years,


Japanese Latin American Commission Bill Passes House Judiciary Committee
LOS ANGELES, CA - Yesterday, a bipartisan majority of members of the House Judiciary Committee voted to favorably report the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act (H.R. 42). Now that the legislation passed the full Committee, it is ready for passage in the House of Representatives.

"I commend chairman John Conyers and the members of the Judiciary Committee for recognizing the importance and timeliness of this legislation," said Christine Oh, Legislative Director of Campaign For Justice. "Yesterday's result is a testament to the fact that our national leaders and representatives are moving this country in the right direction. I urge the leadership of the House of Representatives to expedite the bill to floor vote while there are former internees still left to tell their stories."

If passed by House of Representatives and Senate and signed into law, the JLA Commission bill would establish a commission to investigate and determine the facts surrounding the wartime deportation, internment and relocation of Latin Americans of Japanese descent by the U.S. government and recommend any appropriate remedies based on its findings.

Former internees, their families, and members of the campaign are extremely grateful to our friends and supporters for their encouragement and partnership on this very timely and important bill. We ask that our supporters spread the word to their contacts to push for passage of the bill in the House of Representatives.

The House Judiciary Committee also favorably reported H.R. 1425, the "Wartime Treatment Act," which would establish two fact-finding commissions, one to study the internments and restrictions imposed by the U.S. government on certain European Americans and European Latin Americans during World War II, and the other to study government policies limiting the ability of Jewish refugees to come to the United States before and during the war.

For more information, please contact Christine Oh, CFJ Legislative Director, at (213) 500-9346 or info@campaignforjusticejla.org. Visit the CFJ website at www.campaignforjusticejla.org.

Japanese Latin American Redress - Richard Katsuda







CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HR 1425: Wartime Treatment Study Act can be read HERE

HR 42, Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act can be read HERE

Break Dancing in Gaza

Featured in this week's Time magazine is the article, "Break Dancers in Gaza, Keeping it Real" Article can be read HERE

The Camp Breaker's website is HERE with several other video's which can be viewed.

Visit the Camp Breakerz youtube channel HERE

"We have one goal, one dream. To bring freedom to Palestine and happiness to our people through break dancing. The shows are dramatic art that tell stories and allow us to express our feelings about the situation here in Gaza, about the war and the rights of the Palestinian people.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

"Christians" Kill Child "Witches" Don't They?

In a disturbing article from the AP, a report is coming out of Nigeria that "Evangelical Christian" churches there are abusing and in some cases killing children who have been accused of witchcraft. Read that full article HERE.

Evidently the article states there is a California connection:

Nwanaokwo said he knew the pastor who accused him only as Pastor King. Mount Zion Lighthouse in Nigeria at first confirmed that a Pastor King worked for them, then denied that they knew any such person.

Bishop A.D. Ayakndue, the head of the church in Nigeria, said pastors were encouraged to pray about witchcraft, but not to abuse children.

"We pray over that problem (of witchcraft) very powerfully," he said. "But we can never hurt a child."

The Nigerian church is a branch of a Californian church by the same name. But the California church says it lost touch with its Nigerian offshoots several years ago.

"I had no idea," said church elder Carrie King by phone from Tracy, California. "I knew people believed in witchcraft over there but we believe in the power of prayer, not physically harming people."


However, when you go to the website for Mount Zion Full Gospel Church in Lagos, they state they are associated with The House of Prayer of All Nations USA.

I wouldn't want to point a finger at the wrong "House of Prayer for All Nations, USA"

If anyone reading here knows which one it is, could you leave the information here please.

Remember Bishop Thomas Murthee, the African Evangelical leader from Kenya who cast demons out of Sarah Palin? (Video HERE)

"Christian" whack jobs. Whether it be a "California" connection or any other state, there is a STRONG connection to what is going on in these witch hunts in Africa to what goes on in these "Evangelical" churches here.

Child witch victims in Nigeria





In The name Of Jesus: Child Witches (nightline)





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlRG9gXriVI

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Limbaugh Groupies Get "Creative" with Swastika Crop Circles

Are you happy Rush? Here is some of the latest work done by your groupies. Sick.

Friday, October 9, 2009

The Day of The Awards of the Absurd, The Nobel Peace Prize Becomes Toilet Paper

http://morristsai.com/assets_c/2008/11/Obama-hope-thumb-250x373.jpg

Two of them, yes two are in the news today. Two awards announced that are so far into the realm of the absurd, the stuff science fiction is made of, that one must shudder at the realization, Orwell's "1984" has truly arrived, war has become peace.

The first news has circled the globe already, our president, Barak Obama, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The nomination for this honor coming only days after he took office, prior to any accomplishments whatsoever. Hope inpregnated in the nomination itself. Hope.

What does that word even mean? One definition reads "something that is hoped for or desired" Yet another is slightly different "to look forward to with confidence or expectation"
The first definition goes to longing-coming from oppression in many cases. The second goes straight to expectation and confidence, in this case, Obama who ran on the slogan of "hope" was given the confidence by many who voted for him because they expected results for their longings to be fulfilled.

In the case of Palestine, if one were using this issue to influence your vote, there were two viable options this past presidential election, one of two men was going to win, either McCain or Obama. Ironically at the time, a poll was taken in Palestine where McCain came out on top slightly. I asked a dear Palestinian friend of mine at the time how this could possibly be the case. He told me that Palestinians have learned that they would rather have straight talk from a tough opponent than anything that is lofty and non-concrete. It took me a while for me to understand what he was telling me, but eventually I did. Placing hope in a politician due to lofty speeches is not at the end of the day going to guarantee anything. Improvement possibly could have been hoped for, relief from years of Israeli aggression propped up by America, never. As an American myself, I can only in utter shame and sadness agree. Would McCain have been doing anything better had he been elected? No. He wouldn't have put forth any effort like Obama has in my opinion, but the question begs to be answered, Obama has said many things and then back tracked. His settlement stance is one prime example, first he says no more settlements, then he backed away.

A defining moment in Obama's presidency has been his Cairo speech, the first American president to go straight to the Muslim world to address them. A much needed outreach after eight years of George Bush's Middle East policy which included the pre-emptive, illegal war on Iraq. Obama in his Cairo speech addressed the Palestinian/Israeli issue in the following excerpt:

The second major source of tension that we need to discuss is the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world.

America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.

Around the world, the Jewish people were persecuted for centuries, and anti-Semitism in Europe culminated in an unprecedented Holocaust. Tomorrow, I will visit Buchenwald, which was part of a network of camps where Jews were enslaved, tortured, shot and gassed to death by the Third Reich. Six million Jews were killed -- more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, it is ignorant, and it is hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction -- or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews -- is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.

On the other hand, it is also undeniable that the Palestinian people -- Muslims and Christians -- have suffered in pursuit of a homeland. For more than 60 years they've endured the pain of dislocation. Many wait in refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, and neighboring lands for a life of peace and security that they have never been able to lead. They endure the daily humiliations -- large and small -- that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: The situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. And America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own. (Applause.)

Oh how the speech was hailed. It's a moment in history! He took himself to the Muslim world in peace. You are going to have to show me though where his speech concerning Palestine was in any way significantly different than what George Bush said when he entered office. He also pledged efforts towards a two-state solution, albeit not as eloquently. 20-20 vision shows us that the Bush administration gave a blank slate to Israel-US efforts towards "peace" in Israel/Palestine were nil during Bush's tenure. One must remember though that at the time of the Cairo speech, Rahm Emmanuel and Dennis Ross had already been welcomed in by the Obama administration. Yes, Obama has sent George Mitchell who accomplished peace in Northern Ireland, yet on the other hand, through votes and pressure on Israel's puppet leader of the PA, Abu Mazen, voting on the Goldstone Report in the Human Rights Council was postponed until March. This is peace? This is "hope"? This is reaching out to the Muslim world?

"War is peace"-George Orwell. The 2009 Nobel Peace Prize goes to President Barak Obama.

News yet of another award of the absurd has also been announced. The Dali Lama, winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, has accepted an award presented to him in Congress-the first ever Tom Lantos "Human Rights Award". (view the C-Span video HERE)To have the term "human rights" in the same sentence with the name Tom Lantos goes beyond the pale of decency. Tom Lantos who passed away in February 2008 was on record as being Israel's staunchest hawk in Congress. The Fanonite wrote:

Lantos was also an enthusiastic supporter of Operation Defensive Shield, Sharon’s war of terror on the Palestinians. According to one analyst, “Lantos isn’t just a Democrat who voted for the Iraq war, he was one of its co-authors…Lantos has never met a war he didn’t like. His unblinking defense of Israeli policy gives him tunnel vision with the rest of the Middle East.” Already in 2006 he was gunning for war; he wrote an article “Now or Never to Prevent a Nuclear-Armed Iran.” Lantos was also a prominent supporter of the School of Americas, where Latin America’s military dictators and would-be torturers were trained. Lantos played a key role in building Democratic support for the Patriot Act. According to the Jeruslame Post, he represents Israel in countries with which it has no diplomatic relations.

In further absurdity, in January of this year, during the massive Israeli offense on Gaza for which the Goldstone Report has found war crimes were committed, the Dali Lama spoke before a conference wearing a keffiyeh around his neck as he urged Israelis and Palestinians to "work together" (view video HERE)

Today the Dali Lama accepted a "human rights" award from the foundation of a man who over a lifetime in Congress voted for torture (his support ot the SOA) and war. The keffiyeh he wore in January is missing. Chameleon.

Today in Sweden, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Barak Obama, whose administration has like all past administrations done what Israel has "hoped", no "had confidence in" and "expected" the US to do, cover their crimes. "Hope"-yes this was his slogan.

"War is peace".-George Orwell

Postscript: China has accused the US of meddling in their affairs with the presentation of the Tom Lantos "humanitarian award". Note, Obama, todays Nobel Peace Prize winner, has not yet met with the Dali Lama, 1989's Nobel Peace Prize Winner. He is postponing meeting with him until after he meets with China's president next month.

Article: "How did Barack Obama get a Nobel prize for peace whilst still at war?

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Full Moon Over Yemeni President As He Hosts Abbas

How does one even begin to explain Yemen's president's statement concerning Mahmud Abbas's visit there today? Searching for answers, knowing that certainly there are newspapers and Satellite television in Yemen, I can only come up with one possibility. It's the full moon today! How can anyone in their right mind congratulate Abbas's efforts in achieving Palestinian unity after the PA acquiesced on defering the vote on the Goldstone report? Has Yemen's president been holed up somewhere and is unaware? God, I hope so, because this statement is something out of the Twilight Zone:

"He congratulated efforts exerted to bring together Fatah and Hamas, noting that this move serves the Palestinians issue and their legitimate struggle to gain their rights".


In more full moon news, the National is reporting that Egypt is hoping to schedule Palestinian national unity talks for later this month.

And the beat goes on as Abbas peddles his wares to willing hosts as all hell breaks loose just as Israel desires.

Palestinian fury as Abbas stalls Israeli war crimes vote


Published Date: 05 October 2009
By Ben Lynfield in Jerusalem
PALESTINIAN president Mahmoud Abbas is facing a wave of anger from his own people after foiling a United Nations resolution that would have brought Israeli officials closer to prosecution for alleged crimes during last winter's Gaza war.
Critics say it is one of the worst blunders Mr Abbas has made during his four-year term.

"Many people here believe it's treason," said Iyad Sarraj, director of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme in Gaza City. Gaza is still reeling from

Israel's Operation Cast Lead last winter that left almost 1,400 Palestinians dead, most of them civilians.

Read further>>>>>>>>>>>>

Abbas Orders Probe Into Who Supported Deferring the Goldstone Report at the UN (AKA Let's Sing "Who Stole the Cookie From the Cookie Jar?)

We've all read it, the shocking yet not to be unexpected news that the Palestinian Authority supported the delaying of the vote in the UN Human Rights Council on passing the Goldstone Report to the UN General Assembly for further action which could have resulted in Israel being tried for war crimes for it's massacre of Gaza in their actions in Dec. 2008-January 2009.

Now YNet is reporting that Abbas is calling for an investigation of who was behind supporting the deferral. I've heard it all now. First, is Abbas trying to say that the PA's left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing? Is he suggesting that the PA didn't support the deferral? Is he looking for a scapegoat to defray blame from himself where the buck is SUPPOSED to stop? What sort of masqerade "investigation" by the PA is YNet reporting here?

Send in the clowns. Better yet, since Abbas has made nicey nice with Bibi, let's just do this all in cordial manner, in fact, I suggest they sit down around the campfire, roast some samores and sing a song to get to the bottom of this. Yes Abu Mazen, how are you going to explain your way out of this one? Absolutely pathetic.

Here goes Abu Mazen, let's sing this song and play the game. You need to take it outside around the campfire. Let's get to the bottom of this because you, the complete and utter sell out to your people, need to be picked up and hosed down so that you can continue this sham of "peace negotiations" you have been engaging in so that Israel can continue occupying, imprisoning, murdering, starving and humiliating your people, all with YOUR cooperation.

Get down to it Abu Mazen, if you need the recipe for samores it is HERE





Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? Abu Mazen stole the cookies from the cookie jar. Who me? NOT ME, couldn't be! YES YOU!

Update: Syria has cancelled the cookie thief's visit.(Oh my, in that article it is stated,

"Damascus is lately occupied with a long list of activities, which may not give birth to such a visit."

You bet they are occupied. On the very same page of the website quoted, champress.net, another article is about the visit to Syria this week by Angelie Jolie and Brad Pitt and their meeting with President Assad two days ago on Friday
! )

Ramallah AP is reporting: "In an attempt at damage control, Abbas says he'll have a low-level committee look into the decision-making process". Shhhhhh, sing softly, "who stole the cookie from the cookie jar........shhhhhh"

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Sunday Offering # 73: S-T-R-A-N-G-E Atonement!!!

I'm all for differences in beliefs, but watch this one at your own peril!