tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91450200310234646162024-02-20T16:36:06.048-08:00Sonya Melescu Countries UniteSonya Melescu, documentary photographer, human rights advocate.
I know I have a purpose here or I wouldn't be here...again...I feel I have a responsibility as a photographer to document the circumstances I witness. To raise awareness for the causes of peaceful coexistence for the people of the
Congo,Rwanda,Uganda,Sudan,Haiti,Syrians,Afghans,Iraqis. This has made my life worthwhile and meaningful. I must stay open to whatever life presents me because it will teach me something if I let it.sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-64040047959392973282012-10-04T06:55:00.002-07:002012-10-04T06:59:20.379-07:00Rwanda Silverback Mountain Gorilla'sA beautiful and informative video by Charles Annen Weingarten founder of Expore.org<br />
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His trip to Rwanda, in Virunga National Park with Craig Sholley of the African Wildlife Foundation.<br />
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<script src="http://videos.explore.org/player.js?video_pcode=xudGk6ABqzToWsKPU8Xi-YhAhUk3&height=530&hide=info&deepLinkEmbedCode=dudmtwMjqrgnrB3H_tFTMP5g6Gji6317&embedCode=dudmtwMjqrgnrB3H_tFTMP5g6Gji6317&width=942"></script><br />sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-9622235162922105692011-04-02T12:37:00.000-07:002024-01-18T12:56:13.593-08:00"Ambassador for Peace"March 29, 2011, I was in Washington DC and awarded "Ambassador for Peace" by the International Federation for Peace for the past 15 years of humanitarian work. This was a great honor, a day I will NEVER forget. I did all of this with 90% my own mooney. I want to thank Olga Crupper for her support from the Human Relief Organization, a mentor and amazing women. I am now the International Advisor for the Human Relief Organization. I will travel to all 23 countries document situations of extreme importance, and facilitate support groups in these countries. My first journey will being August 2011 to Guatemala to document the struggles of Mayan and Latin Women. I am grateful for the opportunity to be of service and help make the world a better place for as many people as I can in my lifetime.sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-52149728404082768082011-03-02T14:00:00.000-08:002011-03-08T10:07:22.098-08:00Briefing on the UN Mapping Report at US Congress in DC<div class="uiAttachmentTitle"><div style="text-align: left;">Rayburn House Building, US Capitol, Washington DC</div><b><a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150096722465824&id=551415823&aid=279156"> </a></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-C2JQ07STO0bYDxxkpNAFR1BxVTLPCmtVE_IA1ZJdt7yHOu8hd4_en0y7BPMaG6WAMQru6g4mzBHmdqNiWTM-ZqAd_oZJ41Mo7newzw5NiYkiTxfaulLJMJqJXK35kSUakdCzQr3SwDP/s1600/001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-C2JQ07STO0bYDxxkpNAFR1BxVTLPCmtVE_IA1ZJdt7yHOu8hd4_en0y7BPMaG6WAMQru6g4mzBHmdqNiWTM-ZqAd_oZJ41Mo7newzw5NiYkiTxfaulLJMJqJXK35kSUakdCzQr3SwDP/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>A panel of several non-profit organizations, human rights and advocacy groups briefed an audience made of US congressional staffers, Congolese-Americans, members of catholic clergy.<span class="text_exposed_hide">...</span><span class="text_exposed_show"> Congolese and Rwandan diplomats in Washington, Congolese - US residents, the press, college interns and students...on the importance of the UN Mapping Report in order for Congress to make a plea to the Obama cabinet to press the Congo's leadership, along Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and many other states, to establish responsibilities on the aftermath of the massive rape, invasion of Congo's territory and the genocide. This Panel "called for Justice" in the face of violations of human rights and crimes against humanity committed, as reported, between 1993 and 2003. Next step, a hearing will be called by Congress where members of this panel will testify before Congress... (to be continued) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_OwrvMhmye78WLSVFnGgLrAcIwle2PpHc58YKjP0pSps8wpbmufIP6Zplck9WFlv9xJzwoI6KKlLrJ42x1dh9lDjyMAuMb1e0vwSF1R2rpSdtbs0EeBo3TtWOZ0vF7CZmwgEosbwBPDy/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_OwrvMhmye78WLSVFnGgLrAcIwle2PpHc58YKjP0pSps8wpbmufIP6Zplck9WFlv9xJzwoI6KKlLrJ42x1dh9lDjyMAuMb1e0vwSF1R2rpSdtbs0EeBo3TtWOZ0vF7CZmwgEosbwBPDy/s320/002.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mr. Claude Gatebuke, on the panel lived the tragedy and survived the genocide. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What an honor to be among other like minded people taking ACTION for humanity and JUSTICE!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friendsofthecongo.org/">www.friendsofthecongo.org</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-C2JQ07STO0bYDxxkpNAFR1BxVTLPCmtVE_IA1ZJdt7yHOu8hd4_en0y7BPMaG6WAMQru6g4mzBHmdqNiWTM-ZqAd_oZJ41Mo7newzw5NiYkiTxfaulLJMJqJXK35kSUakdCzQr3SwDP/s1600/001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC-C2JQ07STO0bYDxxkpNAFR1BxVTLPCmtVE_IA1ZJdt7yHOu8hd4_en0y7BPMaG6WAMQru6g4mzBHmdqNiWTM-ZqAd_oZJ41Mo7newzw5NiYkiTxfaulLJMJqJXK35kSUakdCzQr3SwDP/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-76819007602730257572010-09-26T05:02:00.000-07:002010-09-26T05:02:23.198-07:00Attack in E. CongoThree groups of armed militia raped at least 303 civilians in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo over four days, said a UN initial report on the atrocities whose "scale and viciousness... defy belief."<br />
"At least 303 civilians were raped, in many cases multiple times," said a statement issued by the UN Joint Human Rights Office in the country in a preliminary report outlining the violations which took place between July 30 and August 2.<br />
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"The known victims include 235 women, 52 girls, 13 men and three boys," detailed the probe, following the team's visit to 13 affected villages in the Walikale region in Nord-Kivu province.<br />
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"In addition, at least 923 houses and 42 shops were looted and 116 people were abducted in order to carry out forced labour," it said.<br />
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Rupert Colville, spokesman for the office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that the figures could still rise.<br />
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"The total number of victims may be higher, attacks were still going on when the team was in the villages," said Colville.<br />
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The team were unable to complete their work in six of 13 villages due to "serious security problems," he added.<br />
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Before the probe, the UN officials had noted at least 242 rapes in these villages, and another 260 in other parts of Nord and Sud Kivu provinces.<br />
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The UN joint mission said that due to the serious insecurity it had not been able to confirm the circumstances surrounding other incidents.<br />
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"While one group was looting and raping in a village... another would be setting ambushes to catch people fleeing through the forest, who were also then raped or taken away as forced labour," it added.<br />
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"The scale and viciousness of these mass rapes defy belief," said UN human rights chief Navi Pillay.<br />
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"Even in the eastern part of DRC where rape has been a perennial and massive problem for the past 15 years, this incident stands out because of the extraordinarily cold-blooded and systematic way in which it appears to have been planned and executed," she added.<br />
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In the Walikale case, the probe identified "serious shortcomings" on the part of the local Congolese army and police to prevent mass rapes.<br />
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Their "failure to prevent or stop the attacks was compounded by subsequent failings on the part of MONUSCO forces," that had not received specific training to protect civilians and suffered from "operational constraints," it added.<br />
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The report highlighted an "obvious lack of confidence" between the peacekeepers and local civilians.<br />
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Since the start of September, the UN peacekeeping force in the country (MONUSCO) has increased its presence in the Walikale region, west of Nord Kivu. MONUSCO is part of the joint office which produced the report.<br />
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The UN report blamed the rapes on around 200 members of the Mai-Mai Cheka group, rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) and a group connected to army deserter Emmanuel Nsengiyumva.<br />
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These groups have been drawn to Walikale by the region's abundance of minerals, which they use to finance their movements.<br />
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Describing the horrific events, the report said the militia arrived in villages pretending to offer protection, before launching their attacks in small groups.<br />
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Armed with AK47s, grenades and machetes, they trapped the population, cut off telephones and prevented the villagers from raising the alarm.<br />
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The report called on the international community to bring the perpetrators to justice.<br />
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However, UN officials acknowledged the difficulty of breaking the culture of impunity in the country, which has suffered brutal rebel attacks for over a decide.<br />
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"Obviously, we would hope that this would lead to people being arrested and prosecuted and if guilty convicted. But realistically it's extremely difficult in this environment in DRC," said Colvillesonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-59843585991504050152010-03-20T21:46:00.000-07:002010-04-17T05:59:21.183-07:00Congo's Conflicts, Crisis and HopeConflicts:<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Eastern DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) has many problems of corruption, lack of education, diseases that are killing people because they can't afford a doctor or hospital, hunger and lack of food is a problem, sexual violence is a weapon of war daily, just to list a few. Women are not acknowledged as even human beings with feelings, they are used for child bearing, raped daily, and often left to raise the child alone. Children, women and men are traumatized by these attacks on their homes and villages. Rebels fighting rebels. My question is, "Who is backing these militia groups with weapons and ammunition?"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDhdp7W9KIQaBfBl03BKgaYQnVUPZOcLEsne5_68d7eTKSITTbtW5MxBW8MFE0cg10ztqKNhOkmdfu5m9f-H40ytLlHGfe9kHsBeFdxgW3ne23VdItE68JAzlj1lqlia0Xc3Xe6nXB6f4/s1600/0345+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDhdp7W9KIQaBfBl03BKgaYQnVUPZOcLEsne5_68d7eTKSITTbtW5MxBW8MFE0cg10ztqKNhOkmdfu5m9f-H40ytLlHGfe9kHsBeFdxgW3ne23VdItE68JAzlj1lqlia0Xc3Xe6nXB6f4/s200/0345+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">Crisis: </div>Veronica told me her 17 year old son, was forced to watch as she was gang raped by rebels, he has moved to Goma, and it is too painful for him to see his mother as it brings back that horrific day in his life. This woman's husband abandoned her, as he says, "I can't touch you now after all those men, you may have disease, you are no longer my wife" he left, never to be seen again.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Many of these men have difficulty preforming sexually after the atrocities they witnessed.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaSE_25TGVxuzMGhlWaIsDJKwFioXkBgOSuuo49UJZpA0whIJOwmHTTuHGuaSPxTNCpicwrF-XFM0lepXOXDRnX9JJD428yKvl3mstjfombLTrzUN6j4arc9louFAsGBQRYIBT2dw3BVN/s1600/0047+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHaSE_25TGVxuzMGhlWaIsDJKwFioXkBgOSuuo49UJZpA0whIJOwmHTTuHGuaSPxTNCpicwrF-XFM0lepXOXDRnX9JJD428yKvl3mstjfombLTrzUN6j4arc9louFAsGBQRYIBT2dw3BVN/s200/0047+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Nuru (which means light) 24 years old was 8 months pregnant, this will be her 4th child. She's married, but, her husband can't work, he is epileptic. When she was 17 years old 8 Interhamwe came into her home. They demanded that her own father rape her, he refused. They told her to lie down, spread her legs and demanded her father to rape her, again her father refused, saying I can't do this, she is my daughter. He had a knife driven into the side of his body and then his genitals were cut off, by the Interhamwe he bled to death. Nuru also had a sister, after this disgusting act on inhumane violence, the Intehamwe told her mother to go into the house and cook for them as they were hungry. The mother told the 2 girls to run as she was cooking. They didn't get far, there were more Interhamwe. Nuru was raped by 6 men, her sister raped also, how many times we don't know. Nuru's sister was traumatized by the way her father died and her rape, she died, from starvation, she refused to eat, sleep, or move, she was catatonic from the trauma.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeNeIJI3y2DTwQKoPb6LhsgZla3ETmjqEl5PtKQeN5jOnL6cvf8DWqr-vD3mijyeuS9Ub8ZNh-yaq0yOpofdylYUoYEFjpcsSzBXjOp9VYSHeYiAMfXz4-pd3PiR1mMgJwJd_GRq-5wZE/s1600/0020+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>These are just 2 stories that I videoed there are 16 other stories. 7 1/2 hours of video tape. These women want the world to know what has, and is happening in their villages daily. They live in fear for their children, their husbands and their own lives. They get no help for hospital treatment, from the government, after everything they own has been taken from them. There is no trauma centre in their village, they live in a war zone. For their safety I am not putting their faces on this blog. You can hear their stories from them at a fund raiser to help Women of the Congo.<br />
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This is a boy whom I know is in a safe place. He was taken by rebels into the forest for months, what he saw traumatized him. This child has seen killings and rapes, over and over and over again. What is his future going to be? He was quiet, and very fragile, but could become aggressive at any time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeNeIJI3y2DTwQKoPb6LhsgZla3ETmjqEl5PtKQeN5jOnL6cvf8DWqr-vD3mijyeuS9Ub8ZNh-yaq0yOpofdylYUoYEFjpcsSzBXjOp9VYSHeYiAMfXz4-pd3PiR1mMgJwJd_GRq-5wZE/s1600/0020+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQeNeIJI3y2DTwQKoPb6LhsgZla3ETmjqEl5PtKQeN5jOnL6cvf8DWqr-vD3mijyeuS9Ub8ZNh-yaq0yOpofdylYUoYEFjpcsSzBXjOp9VYSHeYiAMfXz4-pd3PiR1mMgJwJd_GRq-5wZE/s200/0020+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Maybe a Hollywood movie would bring International attention as it did for Rwanda (Hotel Rwanda), Sierra Leone (Blood Diamonds), (but people still buy diamonds, many diamonds, blood diamonds).The freedom of Nelson Mandela was pressure from the media, the UN, peaceful warriors around the world, and several movies helped. When will the media continue to cover these atrocities in the Congo. There are good men there, I met some, but I also lost a good friend who knew too much, he was poisoned. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrseu1NPfD_nmndPocs_RgJr1NjMHCwq0nfZhvSkTHznHU4TyP9y6b2E1empn4vsdRqGnlCLIIv4sIjW-SIhi79rtbEYN5vQ0lKu_ygmuNh9DYhA9F4qzABnuVnL_QbQQzs4PufcYjUxR/s1600/0348+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrseu1NPfD_nmndPocs_RgJr1NjMHCwq0nfZhvSkTHznHU4TyP9y6b2E1empn4vsdRqGnlCLIIv4sIjW-SIhi79rtbEYN5vQ0lKu_ygmuNh9DYhA9F4qzABnuVnL_QbQQzs4PufcYjUxR/s200/0348+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This country is very rich in natural resources, gold, titanium, diamonds, and coltran ( used in all of our cell phones and computers). The Congolese government controls these mines. Children are working them, very young and small children as they are able to get into the small caverns where diamonds are. These children are not going to school and are not getting paid. Even the men that work these mines don't get paid for months, if they get paid.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtR5LG5lGoGmngiqHrl-z7jlpCmpWM2NSba6nv7yT1q5PXqPksRyqPljK0baO3hzNttO9jIVqCEb3ngl_lDRyWc-Mm83LuwtFfc9EYPfSnqcpfrdzQpt6aveNTSIyKIsNhtpdxd7cHtc0/s1600/0045+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtR5LG5lGoGmngiqHrl-z7jlpCmpWM2NSba6nv7yT1q5PXqPksRyqPljK0baO3hzNttO9jIVqCEb3ngl_lDRyWc-Mm83LuwtFfc9EYPfSnqcpfrdzQpt6aveNTSIyKIsNhtpdxd7cHtc0/s200/0045+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>If these children do not get an education they will become what they have experienced. War lords, that make a living off children. Rebels (they have money, clothing, food, weapons, because they attack peoples homes and steal them). These are the examples set for these innocent children. If they are not educated this vicious cycle will continue and could cause another war.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDoXBaZLc58UYa34RL19-0Uy3JqXv-KNdhWVMy7OgPV15ovrH1V49fEwKrTujtbkDg-oeADnNJGSMZtq_2PprtGB5gD5HPTBNII3vzQYJ21XlEoaNCW_o6XjwYZ6Ke8SK3DWiVeTZjK2q/s1600/0031+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDoXBaZLc58UYa34RL19-0Uy3JqXv-KNdhWVMy7OgPV15ovrH1V49fEwKrTujtbkDg-oeADnNJGSMZtq_2PprtGB5gD5HPTBNII3vzQYJ21XlEoaNCW_o6XjwYZ6Ke8SK3DWiVeTZjK2q/s200/0031+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>This is an International Crisis and crimes against humanity. WE must come together as a global community to put pressure on the government, refuse to buy gold from the Congo and find other suppliers of coltran or these atrocities will continue. WE must stop this cycle of violence that has been going on for over 20 years in the Congo. Yes the Congo is a huge and beautiful country, but it' people are suffering. The average income is $150.00 USD a month for a family, this is the class that are educated and have jobs, good jobs. There is better, and, there is much worse. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsGS8g3isYx2WbJ39HJaV_UESryNwdSo4jEJgHoAQwvH0BIP8bZsHrt5FVRrEtpuhkKtT3iT-O69_BlUr7h-ij4RdxoeC3qXM4gfdlifoNmNEBF2VatCebz_LzHfBr0sKuttHCyWAS13s/s1600/0038+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsGS8g3isYx2WbJ39HJaV_UESryNwdSo4jEJgHoAQwvH0BIP8bZsHrt5FVRrEtpuhkKtT3iT-O69_BlUr7h-ij4RdxoeC3qXM4gfdlifoNmNEBF2VatCebz_LzHfBr0sKuttHCyWAS13s/s200/0038+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Hope: <br />
I met a few good political leaders, Julien Paluku, Governor of N. Kivu and another person going to run for member of parliment in S. Kivu (who's name I can not mention at this time) but these 2 men are young and have great hopes for a new future for Eastern Congo. They are living dangerously as they want change and education, that many political leaders don't care about. The Mayor of Bukavu a woman is sensitive to the women's plight in her country. But there are few women in political positions in the DRC only 13% are women. Can this country be changed and the people live in peace and unity. It has in Rwanda, so I believe one day at a time one country at a time, but WE must participate in this change, these people desperately need our help and being in the Congo I know many today have hope, because someone cared enough to come to meet them, hold their hand, listen to their stories, and hug them for their courage and strength. As these women did not speak only for themselves, they spoke for all women of the DRC. I promised to be their voice, and I will keep this promise to these incredible women of the Congo. I hope others reading this and sharing it with friends, families, co workers will also be their voice. As WE are their hope, for a safer tomorrow.<br />
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</div>sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-23615059059610462542010-03-15T11:16:00.000-07:002010-04-17T05:52:33.211-07:00Pygmies of Eastern CongoThe second Congo War, also known as Africa's World War<b> </b>and the Great War of Africa, began in August 1998 in the DRC, and officially ended in July 2003 when the Transitional Democratic Republic of Congo took power (though hostilities continue to this day). By 2008 the Second Congo War, and its aftermath had killed 5.4 million people, mostly from disease and starvation, making the Second Congo War the deadliest conflict worldwide since World War 11. Millions more were displaced from their homes or sought asylum in neighboring countries. Despite a formal end to the war in July 2003 and an agreement by the former belligerents to create a government of national unity, 1,000 people died daily in 2004 from easily preventable cases of malnutrition and disease.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHu5VdAWb1JdHpz0J3TDnnd7EwAlI3yVULXdBCWnbUD4rgXitnMsO2aOGsZF7pFlskc70IyvbuB94jzTpC1kxHVlTAuPTmuhE_HttsXTlptjnMgrceuJomg9tgLwTEYZurt8W7MX2ytYB1/s1600-h/0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHu5VdAWb1JdHpz0J3TDnnd7EwAlI3yVULXdBCWnbUD4rgXitnMsO2aOGsZF7pFlskc70IyvbuB94jzTpC1kxHVlTAuPTmuhE_HttsXTlptjnMgrceuJomg9tgLwTEYZurt8W7MX2ytYB1/s200/0008.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The Pygmy tribe or Twa, are one of the oldest tribes in Africa. They have lived a very primitive life in the forest, by hunting animals such as antelopes, pigs and monkeys, fishing, and gathering honey, wild yams, berries and other plants. They ate porcupine which they believe the quills of the porcupine cures all diseases. For them, the forest is a kindly personal god, who provides for their needs. They relied on nature for everything, food, shelter, water, and plants for herbal medicine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKn_39NvsyjbZj5zUW_fyKvrYa-ztBG6VKDmjO7TczKMLGtEf74Wuh5X9J11IwoLWFlpuMOmE9n6Yt3ehLs2TDC_5eqoQ-EhJXKy-otBl2JbYiuJUZrTtaCXY1DsSQ4g-HQVNXPJkboKu/s1600-h/0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrKn_39NvsyjbZj5zUW_fyKvrYa-ztBG6VKDmjO7TczKMLGtEf74Wuh5X9J11IwoLWFlpuMOmE9n6Yt3ehLs2TDC_5eqoQ-EhJXKy-otBl2JbYiuJUZrTtaCXY1DsSQ4g-HQVNXPJkboKu/s200/0005.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65ZgbfEyYzxN0muXuaezF4JlHDdB5c2dU25_ptps7X5xzB3oGcv1PiRx__81PMOLwd5xqtjknT5EW2VonkbguZMFOVpaQzGytxSAfTv6QMwjKatWOsIY2sB2EBDuQjceY4b7tJ8xZ1Nln/s1600-h/0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65ZgbfEyYzxN0muXuaezF4JlHDdB5c2dU25_ptps7X5xzB3oGcv1PiRx__81PMOLwd5xqtjknT5EW2VonkbguZMFOVpaQzGytxSAfTv6QMwjKatWOsIY2sB2EBDuQjceY4b7tJ8xZ1Nln/s200/0006.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> A field of tea leaves to Buyungule Village.</div>I had the honor of spending time with Chief Ncavuna and his beautiful and graceful wife Antoinette.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvoVC6K1tTchS6hnX2ewY6WtaRObT5YqUPKua_vARGeeVplNkZl34cFqFOweNONSlJxIOuT8jNKCUeu_M8sd6p-vQeJ6q-bEFaG1lyw-G2wQgRl6rrtYg4SvfHSD4BJDKTVnAZJckcMX_/s1600-h/0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvoVC6K1tTchS6hnX2ewY6WtaRObT5YqUPKua_vARGeeVplNkZl34cFqFOweNONSlJxIOuT8jNKCUeu_M8sd6p-vQeJ6q-bEFaG1lyw-G2wQgRl6rrtYg4SvfHSD4BJDKTVnAZJckcMX_/s200/0010.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFMMt6IZTSpzFN0TfPsbeu0b9_n979Vaj27R1fRS8krSBpJUe6H5J73rXik_nrOnfH0uCqlCxYHNHfUhKyTKujmaHA8kVeRhO7apWxoLZGIo-W8rL_wrqx4T_dvImIsG_HtnsTCZ_ld25/s1600-h/0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFMMt6IZTSpzFN0TfPsbeu0b9_n979Vaj27R1fRS8krSBpJUe6H5J73rXik_nrOnfH0uCqlCxYHNHfUhKyTKujmaHA8kVeRhO7apWxoLZGIo-W8rL_wrqx4T_dvImIsG_HtnsTCZ_ld25/s200/0003.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">The kindness, generosity I received will forever be remembered. They have absolutely nothing and wanted to give me rice. Buyungule Village has 350 pygmies and is at the foothills of a National Park where a group of Interhamwe live. They live in fear of attacks on a daily basis.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hIObfDVNJ4Vh999sYgq0fMlO1aL_XCn1PYiM4XYdz72EZ9vhYJ7t0q7EU42jJ1HsaOvlmMSI0o1xzFIOq8Q04Uy3WtLOF4GkO-D83Aaqv1xsxL2STQoraH-RGurZgjxnd-uXXuXjbEl9/s1600-h/0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5hIObfDVNJ4Vh999sYgq0fMlO1aL_XCn1PYiM4XYdz72EZ9vhYJ7t0q7EU42jJ1HsaOvlmMSI0o1xzFIOq8Q04Uy3WtLOF4GkO-D83Aaqv1xsxL2STQoraH-RGurZgjxnd-uXXuXjbEl9/s200/0007.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>They are being chased out of the forest by Interhamwe, FDLR, Congolese Soldiers, and the Government. They are given a very small piece of land. Pygmies have seen their rainforest homes threatened by logging, and are driven out by settlers. In some places they have been evicted and their land has been designated as national parks. They are routinely deprived of their rights by governments, which do not see them as equal citizens.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6Gir6e6qs83Zh5eesrhXvqaNy5RMVW496S_EDTx7mMmQaP5TTN9UOjnE5o71iRvRgt-fC94y5gAlzv9eNLw4CrP83DxzlXCKezZ6ms1Tg7W29la7TbRe4_8amRtcEekxVGeC2JmFcL9W/s1600-h/0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6Gir6e6qs83Zh5eesrhXvqaNy5RMVW496S_EDTx7mMmQaP5TTN9UOjnE5o71iRvRgt-fC94y5gAlzv9eNLw4CrP83DxzlXCKezZ6ms1Tg7W29la7TbRe4_8amRtcEekxVGeC2JmFcL9W/s200/0001.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">If a Congolese woman works she will get $1.00 USD per day and a Pygmy woman will get 50 cents per day. The women give birth in their huts. They are attacked almost every night, raped, their cloths, which are rags are taken, their utensils, everything they own. They are considered the lowest caste of African tribes. I have spent many days with the pygmies, small frail, gentle people. Extreme poverty, in the Congo there is extreme poverty everywhere, but this is pitiful. None of the children I have met have ever been to school, they are completely illiterate, sometimes the Chief may have some writing and reading skills. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD3I7eO7iO9TtUzmB4qGJQbpmRngxfy4Zjnvnf0JdsmS2rNPZ8MVGrargpF7UWXWitFfp02rx4H_DdRzAGB_Es7fiCKtGolTJsYh_wSIhkk0G8fCRjqnIik2Wz7R-eHbadzNiLFuc8M3M/s1600-h/0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD3I7eO7iO9TtUzmB4qGJQbpmRngxfy4Zjnvnf0JdsmS2rNPZ8MVGrargpF7UWXWitFfp02rx4H_DdRzAGB_Es7fiCKtGolTJsYh_wSIhkk0G8fCRjqnIik2Wz7R-eHbadzNiLFuc8M3M/s200/0012.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiOT6yQ4UJyYoj2699jPrGnpSs4aGCjQ9afZHk8EGfJClM2dfmXkecpM5jHdAHgx_qkfVmulKa6jt2fRdZzDcvtCwHplyRjTiXMMvcLtVOafvUvVpA3KbdZZk-Z-arFvedFAr9BqUSR-P/s1600-h/0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiOT6yQ4UJyYoj2699jPrGnpSs4aGCjQ9afZHk8EGfJClM2dfmXkecpM5jHdAHgx_qkfVmulKa6jt2fRdZzDcvtCwHplyRjTiXMMvcLtVOafvUvVpA3KbdZZk-Z-arFvedFAr9BqUSR-P/s200/0009.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-2-POxS64jLTsbmxIoRHO43BOHoNdMZfsWHilJ25Pi81L0G4ToYvlBmE7FEk4zIo5SZ2vS0U42i5RhLomgQrKoTrem2HeoM0xi_ZiKzBB_mfDC5A2hBcWQON9UIpOu5niDgRXq9OrKyD/s1600-h/0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-2-POxS64jLTsbmxIoRHO43BOHoNdMZfsWHilJ25Pi81L0G4ToYvlBmE7FEk4zIo5SZ2vS0U42i5RhLomgQrKoTrem2HeoM0xi_ZiKzBB_mfDC5A2hBcWQON9UIpOu5niDgRXq9OrKyD/s200/0011.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Congo_War#cite_note-continued-6"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>All Pygmy groups have close ties to neighboring farming villagers, and work for them or exchange forest produce for crops and other goods. At its best this is a fair exchange, but it can involve exploitation of the Pygmies, especially where they have lost control of the forest and its resources.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHu5VdAWb1JdHpz0J3TDnnd7EwAlI3yVULXdBCWnbUD4rgXitnMsO2aOGsZF7pFlskc70IyvbuB94jzTpC1kxHVlTAuPTmuhE_HttsXTlptjnMgrceuJomg9tgLwTEYZurt8W7MX2ytYB1/s1600-h/0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHu5VdAWb1JdHpz0J3TDnnd7EwAlI3yVULXdBCWnbUD4rgXitnMsO2aOGsZF7pFlskc70IyvbuB94jzTpC1kxHVlTAuPTmuhE_HttsXTlptjnMgrceuJomg9tgLwTEYZurt8W7MX2ytYB1/s200/0008.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">I also met a woman Pygmy Chief Nabuci M'Mudumira. She is the representative in Bukavu, Goma, Rwanda, and Burundi. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIOsDA7ASuB6ykzYH14o4J4y8CByOBYeiXy5wlcmdgR588QHzgp0DJm5IwoaEVTVdjxysgQXC7lfUNCQ8q68-iEfKniklkWdYiDrkcF6Mu3m-KCQHkPpkZ9IV2LImIwPVKZs6esdsBUFW/s1600-h/0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIOsDA7ASuB6ykzYH14o4J4y8CByOBYeiXy5wlcmdgR588QHzgp0DJm5IwoaEVTVdjxysgQXC7lfUNCQ8q68-iEfKniklkWdYiDrkcF6Mu3m-KCQHkPpkZ9IV2LImIwPVKZs6esdsBUFW/s200/0002.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>She's a tiny woman that just wants equality, peace and education for her tribe. This doesn't seem like a lot, but here in the Congo it's almost impossible to achieve these basic necessities. These women are strong and very courageous, they have been taken from their habitat in the forest and forced to live a life that is dangerous, violent, and they get no respect or justice, because they are Pygmies. The discrimination towards these people is heartbreaking and cruel. The Pygmies deserve their human rights too.sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-17236816016400832242010-03-08T11:48:00.000-08:002010-04-17T05:49:55.340-07:00International Woman's Day<div style="text-align: center;">"Women Are Building Bridges of Peace" </div>March 8, 2010, is the 100th Anniversary of International Women's Day. I had the honor of photographing and attending the event for Women for Women International. <br />
The event was in Goma where there is a lot of conflict between rebels, several milita groups.<br />
It began with the March in front of the Military and the Governor of N. Kivu Province.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulyNLJG1bbWg6lLTQLk7n82UkypKg-S_7_a72XSRCU6Ei7-zK6pvCM1MpF27DV66CDPZDyMTPTvEoTsK0FeBuP4ECtYUq-OdUOd2Kue1W1NaoeYA06PYlqlMRpovdVMn81LnP8xDW7Fna/s1600-h/0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulyNLJG1bbWg6lLTQLk7n82UkypKg-S_7_a72XSRCU6Ei7-zK6pvCM1MpF27DV66CDPZDyMTPTvEoTsK0FeBuP4ECtYUq-OdUOd2Kue1W1NaoeYA06PYlqlMRpovdVMn81LnP8xDW7Fna/s200/0001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpKIQXkIwYUvZN5E4MRDfdpnisq00Z8hZDGMovR9Rh1ivv2gt4TUmco_fMWDRF0Ny0ZXWpdHFTkaThnN_Xhn-jXDibrEgOqkUF9T4ChL51QvM1lsutWYqpgzfo0I0x86Tza3lHc88ny7R/s1600-h/0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpKIQXkIwYUvZN5E4MRDfdpnisq00Z8hZDGMovR9Rh1ivv2gt4TUmco_fMWDRF0Ny0ZXWpdHFTkaThnN_Xhn-jXDibrEgOqkUF9T4ChL51QvM1lsutWYqpgzfo0I0x86Tza3lHc88ny7R/s200/0003.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> His Excellence Governor Julien Paluku</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM069hZ-lDMn6m_lMQv5rSWB4WYKhcpVhWU0ervpT3b88EBGTnTKrnYm7QOKtXHiRUOuWjPOL2zaPeU5jkSxyQ5p7FcWp6QxXeAAVENTc5F-NLb0kPfOs0TvnyO5HfdsuN_mb0eb20bWbo/s1600-h/0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM069hZ-lDMn6m_lMQv5rSWB4WYKhcpVhWU0ervpT3b88EBGTnTKrnYm7QOKtXHiRUOuWjPOL2zaPeU5jkSxyQ5p7FcWp6QxXeAAVENTc5F-NLb0kPfOs0TvnyO5HfdsuN_mb0eb20bWbo/s200/0002.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The DRC (Congo) Country Director Christine Karumba and her staff, Gertrude Mudekereza ( one of my dearest friends) , Francine, Huguette, and many others worked day and into the night for weeks to send a strong and powerful message to the world. The Power of Women creating Peace.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZEcufYh6dn5xSVTVCgc0T5n_WYwfnT4MAuGMhY5OrZmtHhEhiXPfdNcV4-ZhveE_4WVW_dGc17SCOJoR-ugh-kSoH3uz_0uT4t-cxbpA3CnQsyBdcyDbL1ZtJdbvgwLntSxVYsX7bI4Y/s1600-h/0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZEcufYh6dn5xSVTVCgc0T5n_WYwfnT4MAuGMhY5OrZmtHhEhiXPfdNcV4-ZhveE_4WVW_dGc17SCOJoR-ugh-kSoH3uz_0uT4t-cxbpA3CnQsyBdcyDbL1ZtJdbvgwLntSxVYsX7bI4Y/s200/0015.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Christine Karumba</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Congolese women and Women for Women staff, with the Governor of N. Kivu Province Julien Paluku, met the Rwandan women and Women for Women staff at the border. They each had half a banner that was tied by the Country Director of the DRC Christine Karumba and the Country Director of Rwanda Beera Kabarungi, her staff Peace Ruzage my dearest friend, Monique and many others. When tied together it read "Women Are Building Bridges of Peace".<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V8ywPwGsQpXMj_ZrvPhhjgZMV1JzK1UklLbhDtSi3AWMJtAHh9zaKqCaCoyRNM8J1BXLgbvhl-2vkvkCIywDbuXTR57febOZsJTnki-IOfQJ89oByTN30LLeKVZo0PSDOofBwK3eAHQU/s1600-h/0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9V8ywPwGsQpXMj_ZrvPhhjgZMV1JzK1UklLbhDtSi3AWMJtAHh9zaKqCaCoyRNM8J1BXLgbvhl-2vkvkCIywDbuXTR57febOZsJTnki-IOfQJ89oByTN30LLeKVZo0PSDOofBwK3eAHQU/s200/0008.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp13XuhS9CjaHvO7iat76QH8PpLb378L6_7_y1Friq4-u5G8FubF-3SjcMOXdSxw9kheOIEJew84FDzAeBmocpRjCGaYXeRxR4iLMxvK6P66HQurQmruXK9BxZ4E2cvZ-s-UtRfo9UFQPJ/s1600-h/0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp13XuhS9CjaHvO7iat76QH8PpLb378L6_7_y1Friq4-u5G8FubF-3SjcMOXdSxw9kheOIEJew84FDzAeBmocpRjCGaYXeRxR4iLMxvK6P66HQurQmruXK9BxZ4E2cvZ-s-UtRfo9UFQPJ/s200/0009.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVHZsBEmO6xDwG6MdPpExYxLcFLU73zhTcsMP8oeF95gdXrvdIxz6kRZWEA3svwFKHDWD848lXMhozelbXbB6kKj8qRf7WsbMZwyh0c_dG9kIjQuO6IzdM6ita6iv_LwGzmtwLnsuyUUJ/s1600-h/0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnVHZsBEmO6xDwG6MdPpExYxLcFLU73zhTcsMP8oeF95gdXrvdIxz6kRZWEA3svwFKHDWD848lXMhozelbXbB6kKj8qRf7WsbMZwyh0c_dG9kIjQuO6IzdM6ita6iv_LwGzmtwLnsuyUUJ/s200/0011.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH388f9nL-wflJvpOBgv7BDZxT6A_1H0cSyUEJ-YjvRcpIyTRJ79pJ8ZLA2blYfuOz-_PUpZyGlszgK83DYuARzCWYrJiKf3khHfqrhh_YZM0iK6I9ooSkjNuLF8z1Nga106OR37ugl6y/s1600-h/0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH388f9nL-wflJvpOBgv7BDZxT6A_1H0cSyUEJ-YjvRcpIyTRJ79pJ8ZLA2blYfuOz-_PUpZyGlszgK83DYuARzCWYrJiKf3khHfqrhh_YZM0iK6I9ooSkjNuLF8z1Nga106OR37ugl6y/s200/0010.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOhqw18gxMmCHAQ3IqITDUycq0nJS7-954HNUjAshT9_mPNUw_tvw9OEwZawCNUHsgLl8sGHvX4WrG5lQoLkKIP6ktb-fP1EqRFsYIbcTGHfwCaUqOp51aDSEMJxnG6osHVPYfoFcpizf/s1600-h/0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtOhqw18gxMmCHAQ3IqITDUycq0nJS7-954HNUjAshT9_mPNUw_tvw9OEwZawCNUHsgLl8sGHvX4WrG5lQoLkKIP6ktb-fP1EqRFsYIbcTGHfwCaUqOp51aDSEMJxnG6osHVPYfoFcpizf/s200/0012.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZsMl8M9joyNSFKNlwy3xviZHL3DRnoj6NPE1Qw9vlYXrfTaj64l-wnPSwlh7vgGLBHaXK3VRIByf4T3skfdtHylMabCUv5zAloWp2vUeM3JqageBB4MD88bHYepTyB88BCnOTIt_DfRY/s1600-h/0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZsMl8M9joyNSFKNlwy3xviZHL3DRnoj6NPE1Qw9vlYXrfTaj64l-wnPSwlh7vgGLBHaXK3VRIByf4T3skfdtHylMabCUv5zAloWp2vUeM3JqageBB4MD88bHYepTyB88BCnOTIt_DfRY/s200/0013.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The Bridge event is a beginning of building peace between two countries that have had differences in the past, and present.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS7PnQG2Aob-w7o78p1lA8w9w-boOdCvgw_gAngxzO0rmCqJ1x-4MFTyUxMSmbWAEz19XYBr8gSJ9zk8zI35EDFlPJwnZ4zrsCkEKfCk_fQTRJXsllhhraWt0SYrEXDQn9DzVncaXU_DA/s1600-h/0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS7PnQG2Aob-w7o78p1lA8w9w-boOdCvgw_gAngxzO0rmCqJ1x-4MFTyUxMSmbWAEz19XYBr8gSJ9zk8zI35EDFlPJwnZ4zrsCkEKfCk_fQTRJXsllhhraWt0SYrEXDQn9DzVncaXU_DA/s200/0004.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Women of Congo </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIdl56Al6k72KEtnQGQwIHCPiSs_vM0Z9JkjEqkVpVKYrMsvb6G4BjKnCpA3ITfvolnRBYxgmHVnerxxrAmBzg7ZWzBb-Loz1VXD2f4Ziy3x8BgluyFJgUAK0MKthU0JpHDiECMZVND7f/s1600-h/0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyIdl56Al6k72KEtnQGQwIHCPiSs_vM0Z9JkjEqkVpVKYrMsvb6G4BjKnCpA3ITfvolnRBYxgmHVnerxxrAmBzg7ZWzBb-Loz1VXD2f4Ziy3x8BgluyFJgUAK0MKthU0JpHDiECMZVND7f/s200/0005.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Women of Rwanda</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzJK0eK8FAuYmht3JIcGhJrxWoX9nw20plaWn5uhJu-FARMCQX2BEevE4dIWz3fV0okL06q0QqwHM5ZAqLLko9TFdcu-iVv81FzPe1ByFaBMi5LjLJ14pZEWG89w3ypYmTNkTulcCh8Fy/s1600-h/0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzJK0eK8FAuYmht3JIcGhJrxWoX9nw20plaWn5uhJu-FARMCQX2BEevE4dIWz3fV0okL06q0QqwHM5ZAqLLko9TFdcu-iVv81FzPe1ByFaBMi5LjLJ14pZEWG89w3ypYmTNkTulcCh8Fy/s200/0006.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYleQKALCWHi1VtdE-TmJOyZqijf7ay6Ioi7ck9oFeRmFoivGgl5UOkHaaFQWOoSBFuLHzQabZMMmmGffSa4eIu-gIdn65_o9kGfLbjXa0BYPHOE6A6UTTWqoBmfxVZNTDRwPyDwK9tz66/s1600-h/0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYleQKALCWHi1VtdE-TmJOyZqijf7ay6Ioi7ck9oFeRmFoivGgl5UOkHaaFQWOoSBFuLHzQabZMMmmGffSa4eIu-gIdn65_o9kGfLbjXa0BYPHOE6A6UTTWqoBmfxVZNTDRwPyDwK9tz66/s200/0007.jpg" width="133" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82RVyHS5ea_IXRINmBYTbm8wKIHamriWHMIOek_Re8ksaZSjyXEuQ1lvRZBR1ajeZN9vrjZuJbPE9kPxPP9do5-4ITghmK98iyH0KQ-MpFNjJ5lEfvON_Qsfcr46aFzjoeDZtTR22-OgG/s1600-h/0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg82RVyHS5ea_IXRINmBYTbm8wKIHamriWHMIOek_Re8ksaZSjyXEuQ1lvRZBR1ajeZN9vrjZuJbPE9kPxPP9do5-4ITghmK98iyH0KQ-MpFNjJ5lEfvON_Qsfcr46aFzjoeDZtTR22-OgG/s200/0014.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Beera Kabarungi</div><div style="text-align: left;">Governor Julien Paluku even stated that he would elect a woman for the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of the DRC. He appeared to be joyous and happy to be around incredibly strong and powerful women, with a vision of peace and hope. He is also well liked by many people. His smile is genuine and comforting, considering, he's a political leader. He's young with an open mind for new ideas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4vU-z6V1_FxxF3Rq_IBW2sfm3igv00htHw0veliiTR6qYDnM-THt8HCdhYyesgG4-r2Epm07bjgqHwYFDCKlkBVZa6UVjJOS67FRlgsLIu33c_aAay1tDxoBhny4pP6fJXTk23V6srea/s1600-h/0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4vU-z6V1_FxxF3Rq_IBW2sfm3igv00htHw0veliiTR6qYDnM-THt8HCdhYyesgG4-r2Epm07bjgqHwYFDCKlkBVZa6UVjJOS67FRlgsLIu33c_aAay1tDxoBhny4pP6fJXTk23V6srea/s200/0020.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a joyous event and I'm so happy I was there to document "Women Are Building Bridges of Peace".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicaTnTsAwbrf029B1O48gm6VmhZcNWRF8aUVrQDES1oYmAFXsg9iPrUfnjdE3ys7fCRRY-v-NVQUnOfXY3krFUxyRhzNNhlRAMBktMHrE8sMQQxYbmngxfyVt0G7UOVIN5VdY1U_esdPq/s1600-h/0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicaTnTsAwbrf029B1O48gm6VmhZcNWRF8aUVrQDES1oYmAFXsg9iPrUfnjdE3ys7fCRRY-v-NVQUnOfXY3krFUxyRhzNNhlRAMBktMHrE8sMQQxYbmngxfyVt0G7UOVIN5VdY1U_esdPq/s200/0016.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ7jp7SgVngxh_5ZHvm8YAYg9abiX2lLVmyMPqw_4hlfURXp_ysR366S3zQD91kqhQh24hdYY1ji-nDqBM1gdXokMPPTsvgJ6VQnE5D7viUB7J9ox2QqcFOmAuL7Ff2IFF9lOQe2wrJMn/s1600-h/0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ7jp7SgVngxh_5ZHvm8YAYg9abiX2lLVmyMPqw_4hlfURXp_ysR366S3zQD91kqhQh24hdYY1ji-nDqBM1gdXokMPPTsvgJ6VQnE5D7viUB7J9ox2QqcFOmAuL7Ff2IFF9lOQe2wrJMn/s200/0017.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Honoratha giving her testimony. </div><div style="text-align: center;">She's an amazing woman whom I love very much.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Her story will come later.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59TByFTtQEifq3mv9AGsQZZ8_4BQb65bJQ_Wjp2Q7py8swlMnkHFWrt33Rk56G2zNzUZ5V5_TvdNK5OvZAtbm8Nak60DTtM6RvVEmBaR0sE82n0tnf9FpvHhs73vhZIWCQ6iGvkrbdkVG/s1600-h/0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi59TByFTtQEifq3mv9AGsQZZ8_4BQb65bJQ_Wjp2Q7py8swlMnkHFWrt33Rk56G2zNzUZ5V5_TvdNK5OvZAtbm8Nak60DTtM6RvVEmBaR0sE82n0tnf9FpvHhs73vhZIWCQ6iGvkrbdkVG/s200/0018.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulyNLJG1bbWg6lLTQLk7n82UkypKg-S_7_a72XSRCU6Ei7-zK6pvCM1MpF27DV66CDPZDyMTPTvEoTsK0FeBuP4ECtYUq-OdUOd2Kue1W1NaoeYA06PYlqlMRpovdVMn81LnP8xDW7Fna/s1600-h/0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjalmbX8ymkQy9jq5KBCNppzyp0Sqx7s0X9XwzvGMJAUb5wcvhEKHAiKOSiZ5_ieywwxxPMM3yEX6O7NkpLIWHePRrtVeg7IQNas5jqEdtT59SRIexYekVWknLJNd3KeyI4Pd_IWjuvgUJO/s200/0021.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYRyjFfsweuUHcc9gMXJn2zH6xweBtR8hYgV-0jvkN7dQ3pndBTfCNwZGYs_IlBYdeeYGgA_DmK4Mcl4HvHDMg1TDzAkfb-65ECOtzqpLRTkVPhiOttN7EQUMHaK6b33bRAOu7nIVF3A_/s1600-h/0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVYRyjFfsweuUHcc9gMXJn2zH6xweBtR8hYgV-0jvkN7dQ3pndBTfCNwZGYs_IlBYdeeYGgA_DmK4Mcl4HvHDMg1TDzAkfb-65ECOtzqpLRTkVPhiOttN7EQUMHaK6b33bRAOu7nIVF3A_/s200/0019.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> As a woman I know we are powerful and must empower other women. This was done in Liberia with Women for Peace a group of women that grew and grew. They were village women and Internally Displaced Women in refugee camps, Christian and Muslim women came together, they knew a bullet didn't know the difference between their religions. The women went to Ghana by the hundreds and barricaded President Taylor and the Lurd to put down their guns and advocated for Peace. These women were never radical they just wanted peace for there Country and families. Children had been taken as soldiers and they opened their hearts and arms to them, knowing some of them had killed their family members, but they knew these children were victims too. This resulted in the first Democratic election in Liberia and for the first time a Woman President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. It was women standing together, they made history and change in a country that was so corrupt, and violent, the government was merciless in destroying it's people. Rape was daily, cutting of limbs daily, then looting their homes, even taking their shoes. This is what is happening in the Congo. The women must come together and demand peace, be strong and stand in huge numbers, this will create unity, change, and peace.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TYUrIxvYh_ig9l5Nma63BsLcwnT0lkTHbnqbQMk0TChtsC68L3lcZkpZJ10y0pM1haHrBAl2Ghg_Owq0DobHyFx7ayFVYtzGMFgwd_DeuwUuS5sNeHvZhmr3zFug21nPKkv9nb2RAMh9/s1600-h/0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3TYUrIxvYh_ig9l5Nma63BsLcwnT0lkTHbnqbQMk0TChtsC68L3lcZkpZJ10y0pM1haHrBAl2Ghg_Owq0DobHyFx7ayFVYtzGMFgwd_DeuwUuS5sNeHvZhmr3zFug21nPKkv9nb2RAMh9/s200/0022.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I'm so grateful that I am a woman, and my hero is my mother Barbara Carr, who has always supported me 100% in whatever I do. If I die going to the places I choose to go, my family will know I died for peace. <br />
<h2></h2>sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-90477568293722596222010-03-03T20:00:00.000-08:002010-03-05T08:36:35.339-08:00Sexual ViolenceSexual Violence -in War or Peace- is a Crime.<br />
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Rape committed during war is often systematic and intended to terrorize the population, break up families, destroy communities, and, in some instances, change the ethnic makeup of the next generation. Sometimes it is also used to render women from the targeted community, incapable of bearing more children.<br />
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Sexual violence during war creates multi-fold challenges for survivors:<br />
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* The shame and stigma of public rape can often force a rape survivor and her family to flee their community, leaving behind land, property, and resources. This often leaves women poorer and more vulnerable to further abuse and in need of financial assistance to get back on their feet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDg_LlDcVWV0Zf1vJf2dgr-xAEXuRB0Glij1H12Qct5jGjxzDFZhdS4xsVhcgV15RsugSAdsSASBhsj0r_kTugowXKuDyAYV03f84rHY19NgVQ_5y6tCCDp7ISVNkjaxyx5xFMKvugGsvW/s1600-h/0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDg_LlDcVWV0Zf1vJf2dgr-xAEXuRB0Glij1H12Qct5jGjxzDFZhdS4xsVhcgV15RsugSAdsSASBhsj0r_kTugowXKuDyAYV03f84rHY19NgVQ_5y6tCCDp7ISVNkjaxyx5xFMKvugGsvW/s200/0001.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>* These women and their families also face lasting psychological trauma. War typically destroys the very infrastructure needed to help these women, leaving few properly trained counselors and psychologists. Health centers lack resources and skilled personnel.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVq6XEkApjpCphh36DAsWbQQxGqIu_450NB8qwf1yQZHRmUFuR-gB-Sknqeaej0E9kB5k2qHjiprxipzMy0tZx0yxj-E1Qf6EwRUVdgwR2gcO51IN6XKBepbhQD5PG-_-sWXPovd3Ndyc3/s1600-h/0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVq6XEkApjpCphh36DAsWbQQxGqIu_450NB8qwf1yQZHRmUFuR-gB-Sknqeaej0E9kB5k2qHjiprxipzMy0tZx0yxj-E1Qf6EwRUVdgwR2gcO51IN6XKBepbhQD5PG-_-sWXPovd3Ndyc3/s200/0003.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">* They have medical needs, especially for reconstructive surgeries, and may need HIV/AIDS treatment.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qznda3aAyT4zyo7aFE8dd3nwc3Zwx59qwcw3dkux_BckjOMmDo3oR-jstC0AqZmH02rTQUJ3MGTSWD5W6Bd0PyPSgjB0XkqAXK8hG_6qKrvILKvyS7H-3P_HmBBEdkPTRicbxmPPZIt1/s1600-h/0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qznda3aAyT4zyo7aFE8dd3nwc3Zwx59qwcw3dkux_BckjOMmDo3oR-jstC0AqZmH02rTQUJ3MGTSWD5W6Bd0PyPSgjB0XkqAXK8hG_6qKrvILKvyS7H-3P_HmBBEdkPTRicbxmPPZIt1/s200/0002.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>* These women want JUSTICE - legal ACTION to ensure that the attackers are caught and punished.<br />
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The Congo is the rape capital of the world. Everyday women are raped, by Interhamwe, and other milita groups, even the Congolese soldiers. Aren't they suppose to be protecting the women? This is a horrific situation. I have heard many stories from women, that actually turned my stomach and got me sick. I didn't think I was going to hear such inhumane, stories of horror. These are real people and their courage and strength to tell them is astounding. They want the world to know what has happened to them and their families, and how their rapes have changed their lives. I videoed many women and their stories and will bring it back to the USA and be their voice, so you can hear it from them to. These 3 images are 3 of the women I interviewed. I have interviewed 9 women, so far.sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-7239197640982743552010-02-28T22:00:00.000-08:002010-04-17T05:45:12.268-07:00Lisa Shannon "Run for Congo Women"<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGx2_ssDtWeaZEtK4NnPtyLAimwz2pWMdIEkWfxUB8vARh9CuLVhzxdpTVLL92EfGtXrDXrYLXlvLuXc8pXJ0YlvEUbpwOV6zhQl0Ys4hevr1HoK7MmCMv1harGMq9LUj3MMKqJy6xRldn/s1600-h/0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGx2_ssDtWeaZEtK4NnPtyLAimwz2pWMdIEkWfxUB8vARh9CuLVhzxdpTVLL92EfGtXrDXrYLXlvLuXc8pXJ0YlvEUbpwOV6zhQl0Ys4hevr1HoK7MmCMv1harGMq9LUj3MMKqJy6xRldn/s200/0040.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"> Lisa Shannon</div><br />
A woman of hope and inspiration for the Women of the Congo. </div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFB1INxf-uI0KJ_KvjTAAVI2g92EgTtgs59WcRrHbJJ4CKXuYd_UP3oh4s1MMilPcORr33MwQfTusWfuBxpg7hIJ1WarQcvPgHERQjSE3GN_e6Kgfcrh2uQd2bpV-yxqGcM9atwnDD-wJ/s1600-h/0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFB1INxf-uI0KJ_KvjTAAVI2g92EgTtgs59WcRrHbJJ4CKXuYd_UP3oh4s1MMilPcORr33MwQfTusWfuBxpg7hIJ1WarQcvPgHERQjSE3GN_e6Kgfcrh2uQd2bpV-yxqGcM9atwnDD-wJ/s200/0024.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28eBKBe5XLunQwPU146kRZuk7phmawYoISmLtRMQbP-5R_birHFDQooOPTdTafDEvbUsCCPa1SriH1NUPyQiNTSfzgEVCPKZ6-VzCESSUUvQKbtPqabQvwBl-LqyEpnVjYcHc0I7ntvM_/s1600-h/0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg28eBKBe5XLunQwPU146kRZuk7phmawYoISmLtRMQbP-5R_birHFDQooOPTdTafDEvbUsCCPa1SriH1NUPyQiNTSfzgEVCPKZ6-VzCESSUUvQKbtPqabQvwBl-LqyEpnVjYcHc0I7ntvM_/s200/0025.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwMvpuU57G00xSI48m0S2ZHkrWudyb8sIZoZQ8A2vqS1SN-pS2X9-oakTv00bZL3Rab7xaZP9KSYfEDBy8oQS5v2KrYFwLm9fCRIaXyVIqn31TakeZhGWae7nY9smCiyQ3wsUPqmtDYS-/s1600-h/0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvwMvpuU57G00xSI48m0S2ZHkrWudyb8sIZoZQ8A2vqS1SN-pS2X9-oakTv00bZL3Rab7xaZP9KSYfEDBy8oQS5v2KrYFwLm9fCRIaXyVIqn31TakeZhGWae7nY9smCiyQ3wsUPqmtDYS-/s200/0007.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>In 2005 Lisa Shannon founded "Run for Congo Women" an event that would grow into a movement and help thousands of Congolese women rebuild their lives. This all began when Lisa started sponsoring a women through Women for Women International. Lisa is a rush of energy, and really cares about her sisters in the Congo.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_cOQK8K9f3AEqkekRKeVJqOa3_s7T6fqtve0ce2upMyWRFRIuPet0W4UCrFUg3aw28-KTLDZRrTyyaJRmBRUEbQFmiSFNGL7m-f7oEvHTn1e8vnA7R0jFqrfffDl0-Ris0Efptew32Ns/s1600-h/0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_cOQK8K9f3AEqkekRKeVJqOa3_s7T6fqtve0ce2upMyWRFRIuPet0W4UCrFUg3aw28-KTLDZRrTyyaJRmBRUEbQFmiSFNGL7m-f7oEvHTn1e8vnA7R0jFqrfffDl0-Ris0Efptew32Ns/s200/0008.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vWtKgbffseLhDRr84WMO_mK2Z0SO10TvH1bXn2rHeEJTisfhtL1rJq7Zpf3Tqy5tconPh8qva8vZgFZx3-wBI_kD2-L4oL9YuK5Ux2Ns609X2W7UP-rlHHe7oBuBFbPAMIeVV2c-hiNp/s1600-h/0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vWtKgbffseLhDRr84WMO_mK2Z0SO10TvH1bXn2rHeEJTisfhtL1rJq7Zpf3Tqy5tconPh8qva8vZgFZx3-wBI_kD2-L4oL9YuK5Ux2Ns609X2W7UP-rlHHe7oBuBFbPAMIeVV2c-hiNp/s200/0005.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4P643vxIX4dLFlJCYFPr_alJh79G1-KZwhz8O7SGlucdYNZw14dcqlKXtTxbJcyeD2o70wvkakZqCYiNa1_GYlh6m3YFObTp2tRkFQY_lqD1EkAbdLgOHbBQWVy5W1rSycvQ9IF_hisD/s1600-h/0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4P643vxIX4dLFlJCYFPr_alJh79G1-KZwhz8O7SGlucdYNZw14dcqlKXtTxbJcyeD2o70wvkakZqCYiNa1_GYlh6m3YFObTp2tRkFQY_lqD1EkAbdLgOHbBQWVy5W1rSycvQ9IF_hisD/s200/0019.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlyrrKXBuTmukwTrBEteQK-HQMWTwrT-pzz67OzlPrhyphenhyphenycR6Wx8XhpIXLgs-9xTzg_bEfpjL5Ho8FPXxYJUZKbyv-5EnyJjEz2Dxe0Y8_PVfXmDw96yX54aAYZoWjzrORF3W8CzdF0hJ0/s1600-h/0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlyrrKXBuTmukwTrBEteQK-HQMWTwrT-pzz67OzlPrhyphenhyphenycR6Wx8XhpIXLgs-9xTzg_bEfpjL5Ho8FPXxYJUZKbyv-5EnyJjEz2Dxe0Y8_PVfXmDw96yX54aAYZoWjzrORF3W8CzdF0hJ0/s200/0004.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo7ScA6QAIT_S06nkiioMb8fHUWNncItfRgg_jOumqUY2lip2NC0_5ICjoSaw4L-yBOBA0zdPWW7DX-fyXQoTS1DeLNvgMkLo-2BImp9npYDx4GcutLStizKsJOcFifiozcbphi0HsdVr/s1600-h/0037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo7ScA6QAIT_S06nkiioMb8fHUWNncItfRgg_jOumqUY2lip2NC0_5ICjoSaw4L-yBOBA0zdPWW7DX-fyXQoTS1DeLNvgMkLo-2BImp9npYDx4GcutLStizKsJOcFifiozcbphi0HsdVr/s200/0037.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>She has written a book that will come out in April 2010 called "A Thousand Sisters". This book is Lisa's experiences in the Congo and the stories of the women she sponsors. It is a MUST read by all women and men. As it will enlightened you on the situation of the women of the Congo.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX7if5m3VnwQlSXT6Yoe9QRtkIZKLGW8ao6nA4l5Y3iRim9v2k_Bw595Al8oNWTH3cKSAvDjfySmzrSRd7SqnnbdEA-I2T_-QNFIAH4_oSIJ96WrDSMPR8JzEG8ZxHL3-vcapViW-54k_/s1600-h/0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX7if5m3VnwQlSXT6Yoe9QRtkIZKLGW8ao6nA4l5Y3iRim9v2k_Bw595Al8oNWTH3cKSAvDjfySmzrSRd7SqnnbdEA-I2T_-QNFIAH4_oSIJ96WrDSMPR8JzEG8ZxHL3-vcapViW-54k_/s200/0020.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Florencia in Lisa's Book</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzto3XDXPhsMw4Tn73aCk_JZv0OW2s2IZ0NfDXifaF5X3lpLGHXP_CEe3LDTAl7fvVmwIoYzG1kwQEXsbid9yuD145CJe-H17JwaFnuPljPZ51LMfry5zKlasR3Hz2XggBTUuF3ijfsZQ/s1600-h/0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzto3XDXPhsMw4Tn73aCk_JZv0OW2s2IZ0NfDXifaF5X3lpLGHXP_CEe3LDTAl7fvVmwIoYzG1kwQEXsbid9yuD145CJe-H17JwaFnuPljPZ51LMfry5zKlasR3Hz2XggBTUuF3ijfsZQ/s200/0017.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Xaverine in Lisa's Book</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BxQTGupnuF_awuDCtdI497xMHwEDmc-MunaW9lUFbnByJ0KV-v6pIZ8lBSUTAmLjXVqGrdETfZAvPPh6PJ552e3sFNPzjHri-jAqZGXv23wAA4BVdx2To2-V3p7QLocEkQJNgDXgnda2/s1600-h/0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BxQTGupnuF_awuDCtdI497xMHwEDmc-MunaW9lUFbnByJ0KV-v6pIZ8lBSUTAmLjXVqGrdETfZAvPPh6PJ552e3sFNPzjHri-jAqZGXv23wAA4BVdx2To2-V3p7QLocEkQJNgDXgnda2/s200/0013.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Lisa left her career in a stock photography business. She followed her dream to be a voice of the women of the Congo. She is another great example of following your dream, and it becoming your reality. I have spent a lot of time with Lisa and watched her with her sisters, they love her and she in return loves them. Lisa's sisters have great trust in her.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDVKA479c6nhYX1U23DoxqRiyTzawjTrUxpfBa44EFeF02da0U4FzX_zW1Q8Ud4Zqb0opRsK-Kh4RdbGRvX6eJG4S2GDQfIHuz9XdLFQjH02dHzsIZF9mnFutr4KVe05L6yLFD7MGpjeh/s1600-h/0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDVKA479c6nhYX1U23DoxqRiyTzawjTrUxpfBa44EFeF02da0U4FzX_zW1Q8Ud4Zqb0opRsK-Kh4RdbGRvX6eJG4S2GDQfIHuz9XdLFQjH02dHzsIZF9mnFutr4KVe05L6yLFD7MGpjeh/s200/0017.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I watched her sister's being interviewed, she held their hand during the interviews.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmB_PDMm6UE69g1nurL_KSefMEnJVn4Nod8YZjhCflTJ2G2WcX2wuEQblJZuwILloIygsVPkgRXVLTQrl9UWUvQm2odomEtuv3uwVLlc5aIrmVSZs-Onb9sEyqUsThVTmhvyagZPVFNq8/s1600-h/0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSmB_PDMm6UE69g1nurL_KSefMEnJVn4Nod8YZjhCflTJ2G2WcX2wuEQblJZuwILloIygsVPkgRXVLTQrl9UWUvQm2odomEtuv3uwVLlc5aIrmVSZs-Onb9sEyqUsThVTmhvyagZPVFNq8/s200/0021.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Many of these women still live in fear and uncertainty. Many of the women interviewed expressed, being stronger women and that the militia groups MUST be dealt with. These women have been raped, gotten pregnant from the rapes, lost limbs. Generose ran with one leg, she did it to support the women of the Congo and the atrocities they have been through.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtmCpoqcI1r9vmprnX9YDQIXWV2_DffP0zJ9xvWtEilLZLZBhJwjFBSctnita_Knk-eHEXmAIzyjdB0nmKV1bppy6mh081Njhhp2KJoCoZTaLAR4BwH-IxB8l6K8svE7NNBtvX-SD5Obm/s1600-h/0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtmCpoqcI1r9vmprnX9YDQIXWV2_DffP0zJ9xvWtEilLZLZBhJwjFBSctnita_Knk-eHEXmAIzyjdB0nmKV1bppy6mh081Njhhp2KJoCoZTaLAR4BwH-IxB8l6K8svE7NNBtvX-SD5Obm/s200/0039.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Generose in Lisa's Book</div><div style="text-align: left;">Lisa's enthusiasm in making a difference in the lives of the women in the Congo is strong and empowering. Their year in the Women for Women program, then continuing with Lisa empowers them even more, after their graduation. These women light up when they see Lisa coming. They all yell "Lisa, Lisa, Lisa".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKY4hm9MKk73bzUmPfGcnhMFUkV6wsNNdAe9xIaztGXQQOuv-a-J0Dm-Zbc1nvUL2tHvjIx-QVHH9r29b0Gy3sQrIjk_SpgBTxTfwse1LctVAc9sdgAp7ss6CiqxS0vUQRqP3a_nlcUsC/s1600-h/0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifKY4hm9MKk73bzUmPfGcnhMFUkV6wsNNdAe9xIaztGXQQOuv-a-J0Dm-Zbc1nvUL2tHvjIx-QVHH9r29b0Gy3sQrIjk_SpgBTxTfwse1LctVAc9sdgAp7ss6CiqxS0vUQRqP3a_nlcUsC/s200/0027.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8NIsXNP9PSh0JJLim47o71pTl7P9dcr_ABJPj0nKUkqlOZYEjCn0PFNMWM1sOvhy0tpjj330ikIsTLdzeV6VDrOitj7jkhB3c0uPdVNDgMqCU3P_pD3chMmd0O37z9QxYsQ56ogY-2-5/s1600-h/0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8NIsXNP9PSh0JJLim47o71pTl7P9dcr_ABJPj0nKUkqlOZYEjCn0PFNMWM1sOvhy0tpjj330ikIsTLdzeV6VDrOitj7jkhB3c0uPdVNDgMqCU3P_pD3chMmd0O37z9QxYsQ56ogY-2-5/s200/0041.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9itySqmzwvg_DesQ6XBWEZvV21aZuNQyqMij6Prj7doihvgGCoZQPyoIXyl2FiuSek_XfN7g3xBlJ9WAO6K1c7W2mVyjR_aVC4l1P7q67azxSDc-QjNGr8UESvhLI7gBY29pB3NzTk53Y/s1600-h/0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9itySqmzwvg_DesQ6XBWEZvV21aZuNQyqMij6Prj7doihvgGCoZQPyoIXyl2FiuSek_XfN7g3xBlJ9WAO6K1c7W2mVyjR_aVC4l1P7q67azxSDc-QjNGr8UESvhLI7gBY29pB3NzTk53Y/s200/0010.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>So on Feb. 28, 2010, Lisa organized with the help of Christine Karumba, the Country Director of Women for Women International and the entire staff at Women for Women International for the Congo, "Run for Congo Women." This is Lisa's first time doing a run in the Congo.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsICwMFAck1F_4bAAymEv2ljjbSIOjdw-yPYhciis2xZ9ZIy-erTKHNQ0zggcFJXuItUV2cg3uxF7TXpf5EB8db85V9SHiJRkZ-vmz_x0jHhFM6lsOXz8knRHTSV095jV-s_Oy2WjkpBy/s1600-h/0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsICwMFAck1F_4bAAymEv2ljjbSIOjdw-yPYhciis2xZ9ZIy-erTKHNQ0zggcFJXuItUV2cg3uxF7TXpf5EB8db85V9SHiJRkZ-vmz_x0jHhFM6lsOXz8knRHTSV095jV-s_Oy2WjkpBy/s200/0009.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Christine Karumba</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGRr18yNoajXmkKMGGtDYpql7zG0Re13KITnLsAlKEpnoXa5vlQOKde9_g9W1Z4TRixjYFXQIGf_MLF0MpsdK8GAYvIiPGatBoxUf4l2eWlwjfyWj1NXq0BusgxDqdLMi2vfexthMtFej/s1600-h/0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGRr18yNoajXmkKMGGtDYpql7zG0Re13KITnLsAlKEpnoXa5vlQOKde9_g9W1Z4TRixjYFXQIGf_MLF0MpsdK8GAYvIiPGatBoxUf4l2eWlwjfyWj1NXq0BusgxDqdLMi2vfexthMtFej/s200/0016.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Several of Lisa's sisters came from villages very far away. They were not going to miss this chance, to break the silence of the horrors they have endured in their villages and to support their sisters in their villages and country.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1isy1xJdstY1fVl5ej5p5GRjpZ11-vW9yZKhf5_GYrZQNOvmqHN5NViYSyNdyvhevQH68kw9tGnVcyESUSgkRlfllydPXZ_wZnMsHuEQLSlswDTXlv0fedJYre-NguOKSObbu7Gg4sDx/s1600-h/0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv1isy1xJdstY1fVl5ej5p5GRjpZ11-vW9yZKhf5_GYrZQNOvmqHN5NViYSyNdyvhevQH68kw9tGnVcyESUSgkRlfllydPXZ_wZnMsHuEQLSlswDTXlv0fedJYre-NguOKSObbu7Gg4sDx/s200/0003.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj120YjAwrdkh3_3oc3_9FG0oRe8ZYNNyosPQxDQCWyQ2bwWGvI8KBy8pmJtZWOoFKpakPXWdvwqloj1hbztkYFovxlY_tnOghSkACV9loLgH3yICKyEAwXFyB3qOroSHkZRyQNJFlo5XPD/s1600-h/0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj120YjAwrdkh3_3oc3_9FG0oRe8ZYNNyosPQxDQCWyQ2bwWGvI8KBy8pmJtZWOoFKpakPXWdvwqloj1hbztkYFovxlY_tnOghSkACV9loLgH3yICKyEAwXFyB3qOroSHkZRyQNJFlo5XPD/s200/0001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lisa has done this run many times in the USA. But this was special it was with her sisters in the Congo. Christine Karumba, arranged all police be women, women soldiers </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zolPu9CXI80-6VY0yg-u6NfqDSaddsjgE8Yi-1eRwIysdpYeBcXcpauctqSj3kLyLJoAGOK7iHRES6UawhMxP4QuxIIYLaZNIVBaKM578jKhZYjoSrZrUGXbb_5bevPHkkuDhzpMQrJK/s1600-h/0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6zolPu9CXI80-6VY0yg-u6NfqDSaddsjgE8Yi-1eRwIysdpYeBcXcpauctqSj3kLyLJoAGOK7iHRES6UawhMxP4QuxIIYLaZNIVBaKM578jKhZYjoSrZrUGXbb_5bevPHkkuDhzpMQrJK/s200/0015.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2oJB4qnroKKAbApF6qSPlXUQJQQrDPSv1rw1lL0cUHvMQlsE_BGqAbXZUHbJ4ZX_fZdLqBPpdix6UKa2IQBHDFgSC3b8NtiM01Kw-LJghal-NvgKgEZPyQn77_HfiWmUL8J2vueyXm9Y/s1600-h/0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2oJB4qnroKKAbApF6qSPlXUQJQQrDPSv1rw1lL0cUHvMQlsE_BGqAbXZUHbJ4ZX_fZdLqBPpdix6UKa2IQBHDFgSC3b8NtiM01Kw-LJghal-NvgKgEZPyQn77_HfiWmUL8J2vueyXm9Y/s200/0022.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Lisa greeting the Mayor of Bukavu Nzita Kavungirwa</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQXbtXlEBDHD8zn1LEw-L2yKXKqv6w4U-qAfBiQTWqyWMtEc74EqrYSrcNODLQZb-dm2lBtowqlk0AH1AOoD37o6E29TjMi9LhU_Tfb_7EAXJpl3XkDtx-Vthx3gFyHhQQcGi1xTaYC7H/s1600-h/0047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQXbtXlEBDHD8zn1LEw-L2yKXKqv6w4U-qAfBiQTWqyWMtEc74EqrYSrcNODLQZb-dm2lBtowqlk0AH1AOoD37o6E29TjMi9LhU_Tfb_7EAXJpl3XkDtx-Vthx3gFyHhQQcGi1xTaYC7H/s200/0047.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> The Deputy Provinciale, Beatrice Kinja Mwendanga, of South Kivu attended another woman.<br />
<br />
And the US Ambassador of the Congo Joshua Reitz, a man, supporting Lisa and the women of the Congo. There were also American women living in the Congo that ran to support the women.<br />
The event was also attended by Jeff (freelance videographer for Women for Women International, Michelle (writer for Runner's Women's Magazine) and Imma (writer for Wired Tech magazine in Italy).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzNKcZCdjhWgI8_D3xGzFqdD4nFps3TmD-ITrspb_mVk_cWrQIVzl-rrNhjfgSHftP5RrwiPY6U8STyJtVnF2Xt8FqwbGt9eTqxf7gAOF_RfNY0l8fA9e9YL1CrXKHzTL-XSzZytaiWfN/s1600-h/0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAzNKcZCdjhWgI8_D3xGzFqdD4nFps3TmD-ITrspb_mVk_cWrQIVzl-rrNhjfgSHftP5RrwiPY6U8STyJtVnF2Xt8FqwbGt9eTqxf7gAOF_RfNY0l8fA9e9YL1CrXKHzTL-XSzZytaiWfN/s200/0012.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xEk-A6iC-UGHnElgE2FebTGXIleVVS-tWdOLC71F8BDgVFW_Osz1paMop3HtmC5QG6p38mOjsvMmrFqMfCJxMOKe-E1wJhyphenhyphenZYCEhhWbhyphenhyphenK6zqdfymA1L_F634YYBKTvDElk3DiV2SNHw/s1600-h/0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7xEk-A6iC-UGHnElgE2FebTGXIleVVS-tWdOLC71F8BDgVFW_Osz1paMop3HtmC5QG6p38mOjsvMmrFqMfCJxMOKe-E1wJhyphenhyphenZYCEhhWbhyphenhyphenK6zqdfymA1L_F634YYBKTvDElk3DiV2SNHw/s200/0006.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It was a great honor and joyous day to photograph and run with these amazing women. It began raining as we began the 1 mile run. But we ran, walked, danced and the women were singing in the rain. Nothing was going to stop this event, nothing..........................<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfEoJGNlewMFbzCxFKmBxMgdXt-IuPIXVxIb4C_FZk4u3NJkbaNtRS-2yTtZmz-HHuAsFuFs2xvVnoofG8XKtlfsfAF8mrz7-SwBNXy92hQBI1thSoNul8WNvxyqoMo_HOUV6zZeP5oY4/s1600-h/0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggfEoJGNlewMFbzCxFKmBxMgdXt-IuPIXVxIb4C_FZk4u3NJkbaNtRS-2yTtZmz-HHuAsFuFs2xvVnoofG8XKtlfsfAF8mrz7-SwBNXy92hQBI1thSoNul8WNvxyqoMo_HOUV6zZeP5oY4/s200/0035.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidqTxDjNQtBvbPpyjcYkDIXxagqq30RSbTpFzBZaEKa5vkV6s1K1YIrJLzsihn4wha5IpSmcdGInIox_wBhwRBPoifuL-UciWN2XONAtGtPaXv8BNyLH2vgtpe_4jbSpDb4Z2LflTdb-jK/s1600-h/0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-TkJbhqjq4PCTjLSzBJLcc2v2DyEtPAVEn6LzEkouOSbk__TSHDf6H47j49RQVQAqmgK3xw19fC4ITFMhx32DJQddQxMDWeMKn7t9R8uSyBwDKpaiF_xfHuJCbBg6rODQ58pvIZNX0Qm/s200/0031.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqwKlN_y3V-xqbn_x2GGeCwTwojIObaYSwm5dr0kpx9vRBT1CCS55HdOtazvIFVvqk1cUSwzXPSuclgUuuQHR1ZhJo8F6oLn1P82Wb7awmL5fKSjg0nLoJ0Er6r9vNYA9NZdPy26XMXiF/s1600-h/0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqwKlN_y3V-xqbn_x2GGeCwTwojIObaYSwm5dr0kpx9vRBT1CCS55HdOtazvIFVvqk1cUSwzXPSuclgUuuQHR1ZhJo8F6oLn1P82Wb7awmL5fKSjg0nLoJ0Er6r9vNYA9NZdPy26XMXiF/s200/0028.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c4p1hit2RM-zCCU6PNQTwPStY1IjjruLSCa6nArzPaXlok_bhAHCVGz3LVGSUlbsG-ii5UMyCDER6E9H1ZhviLtsyWGZGX2AiZUq42KF5CwqALYqbP4uMxhwRqgQewZS7fu_g0GLGvRz/s1600-h/0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c4p1hit2RM-zCCU6PNQTwPStY1IjjruLSCa6nArzPaXlok_bhAHCVGz3LVGSUlbsG-ii5UMyCDER6E9H1ZhviLtsyWGZGX2AiZUq42KF5CwqALYqbP4uMxhwRqgQewZS7fu_g0GLGvRz/s200/0034.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv1eAmBH-jEVJor_UH_wi5tKsornuGN1k7aXJwQyCoOhBa1uPONBM0w18hBlW0qwZbHN4AZwkke4eAr4g8TDQ76I0oG2Dk4SWBGj4lvWWsKthWBGx7w5lcB6ePGEnWYmkFChl3y2P2pg_5/s200/0038.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5CHu_bLtZn3GJ7KZrgTIa2XC8dzAtLZTdf79anHdWF0kLMYYRA1r14bLd1dOPyd8OdVyhlvclcEciMwFENgEr1mfYsrATRpSykDHEMgbyVwnDK7rhu7S8SdpSW_erSkkm3Ym9y0bChZB/s1600-h/0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp5CHu_bLtZn3GJ7KZrgTIa2XC8dzAtLZTdf79anHdWF0kLMYYRA1r14bLd1dOPyd8OdVyhlvclcEciMwFENgEr1mfYsrATRpSykDHEMgbyVwnDK7rhu7S8SdpSW_erSkkm3Ym9y0bChZB/s200/0029.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYN3Go386V9g18X4OSCbqHi-II73xBpLquuXPr4XnTfH1UOQ0CowavA4cBzvRyG1LiT7AM7KbmnWqCu6MBS936c5pWHGOJ7aTmIN4gRAVRLviH9P-AlswuxBFBb7NLSYLkz_W7JX5665G/s1600-h/0040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYN3Go386V9g18X4OSCbqHi-II73xBpLquuXPr4XnTfH1UOQ0CowavA4cBzvRyG1LiT7AM7KbmnWqCu6MBS936c5pWHGOJ7aTmIN4gRAVRLviH9P-AlswuxBFBb7NLSYLkz_W7JX5665G/s200/0040.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>After the run the women had food, Fanta, which they loved. As many have never had a soda.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhDUGJfVRyyW3dF7uIpZ1ay3FVo7kccNF7hgQW7bEaEGA3PiuDx0AeWYAjd3_Upq23Amco4ZM280cjUthAPI-jr1lOdXIJ45u5jLuICmRqsEj6XIsFaGmTCv-A-7-lUthlgXO3TPmmxvc/s1600-h/0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvhDUGJfVRyyW3dF7uIpZ1ay3FVo7kccNF7hgQW7bEaEGA3PiuDx0AeWYAjd3_Upq23Amco4ZM280cjUthAPI-jr1lOdXIJ45u5jLuICmRqsEj6XIsFaGmTCv-A-7-lUthlgXO3TPmmxvc/s200/0046.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUpY2mhz8CYpwBLXZ-Ip8SPV0NVfMafgufLmiTWunPa2tX-GomUC1QSE5tSdGTeczUJw4c6XsBL2FjiWAnaGlKrBgrrJGcREg8-elekX5reAKd_4vHjv3bBJpSEH0RZpow4dr7nEuCeRc/s1600-h/0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUpY2mhz8CYpwBLXZ-Ip8SPV0NVfMafgufLmiTWunPa2tX-GomUC1QSE5tSdGTeczUJw4c6XsBL2FjiWAnaGlKrBgrrJGcREg8-elekX5reAKd_4vHjv3bBJpSEH0RZpow4dr7nEuCeRc/s200/0044.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Me and the Women of the Congo.<br />
This run was not only in the Congo, it was world wide. Lisa had her Blackberry reading messages from people, in Mexico, India, Hawaii, Japan, Scotland, Denmark, Ugnada, Canada, USA, Oregon, Washington State, New York they ran at midnight in the freezing snow, to be running at the same time we were. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmw5XJl1nxbWAmYobauQ4F1rJCUEppdUjAqFhV_i2zW6-Bk2zge9kzoRYbCXQCS8-bmJR1lyPlva9990y9MGQRRC9srVDBbX-30t56g2gRS6pivDobUuijjS86Ra5cEiVgw2zcqC5EkRD7/s1600-h/0043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmw5XJl1nxbWAmYobauQ4F1rJCUEppdUjAqFhV_i2zW6-Bk2zge9kzoRYbCXQCS8-bmJR1lyPlva9990y9MGQRRC9srVDBbX-30t56g2gRS6pivDobUuijjS86Ra5cEiVgw2zcqC5EkRD7/s200/0043.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsv7pApOolwuqF-oOdSz8ZxiK1iqnFv4eKtjyFxAN-JJeyr3zQBDIdQI79b3tx86hf4zsD5nrbfsiBeCWJBe9QW5eIlGAXNWqMhyX7mp5IgkP1GxipR5qrjxV9mRjM-txMD1BZin5-_o5g/s1600-h/0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsv7pApOolwuqF-oOdSz8ZxiK1iqnFv4eKtjyFxAN-JJeyr3zQBDIdQI79b3tx86hf4zsD5nrbfsiBeCWJBe9QW5eIlGAXNWqMhyX7mp5IgkP1GxipR5qrjxV9mRjM-txMD1BZin5-_o5g/s200/0048.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
To hear about these women's stories, that will inspire you to want to take ACTION.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"> BUY</div>"A Thousand Sisters" by Lisa Shannon coming out in April. It will change YOUR life, and others.sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-86568614203407268682010-02-23T10:30:00.000-08:002010-04-17T05:42:04.670-07:00Return to Congo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Poverty, rape, torture, villages burned, children taken by militia groups to be used as child soldiers, or work the gold mines, this is life in the Congo. My heart tells me people are inherently good, but what I have experienced and witnessed suggest otherwise.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmfH1Rmg7Jaylh-U81yzIvrLRZqbJzYfKaBUVJQMNXBBhoS2I4mUiThOYXsNTPRd-ZbxptkFYd13erZgAHzjdNHRzb3Zrhwq3RPg828TPgHsguMdxbLGXvBVNwU3GkA3jEpsr3r3R5aV3/s1600-h/0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmfH1Rmg7Jaylh-U81yzIvrLRZqbJzYfKaBUVJQMNXBBhoS2I4mUiThOYXsNTPRd-ZbxptkFYd13erZgAHzjdNHRzb3Zrhwq3RPg828TPgHsguMdxbLGXvBVNwU3GkA3jEpsr3r3R5aV3/s200/0001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Rwanda on left-Congo on right</div><br />
Thousands of people are trying and hoping to get out of the Congo!!! <br />
I was trying desperately to get into the Congo!!!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaiMtmZbzKxvVYb1O-91pxfekpfuorEcURjT9D_ZSchvpaNoG8Hs6LQFiujAZGWAyXMNNJ-_AliA1uaocievaE7y69p0X_DK1qTaapDgy45SeKGwpQUG2gJe0akKaehqgnFAnexsCDTBN/s1600-h/0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaiMtmZbzKxvVYb1O-91pxfekpfuorEcURjT9D_ZSchvpaNoG8Hs6LQFiujAZGWAyXMNNJ-_AliA1uaocievaE7y69p0X_DK1qTaapDgy45SeKGwpQUG2gJe0akKaehqgnFAnexsCDTBN/s200/0007.jpg" width="200" /></a> </div><br />
After 1 1/2 days at the border, I was allowed in.<br />
First, visa issues, then being a photographer, what I was doing there and everyone wanted money, lots of money.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0IqyA_dAhzOcOu1d30eRgxmS0uU25lpv6bgwkuIprm-a5q_mvtXWIIgUTFqXAb1xCvSIKXWQJKKXM4OughgwxT_iUcE1V3D6YWjZdlaoDEs1B_dp735D4H0mzd0J9TusLuBwHqv1akCm/s1600-h/0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0IqyA_dAhzOcOu1d30eRgxmS0uU25lpv6bgwkuIprm-a5q_mvtXWIIgUTFqXAb1xCvSIKXWQJKKXM4OughgwxT_iUcE1V3D6YWjZdlaoDEs1B_dp735D4H0mzd0J9TusLuBwHqv1akCm/s200/0005.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
The CID (Central Intelligence Department) arrived at my hotel at 7:30 am asking questions and wanting to search my camera bag, then I had to get authorization from the government. Then another visit to the CID, passport photographs, calling my hotel to ask if I was there.<br />
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Many thanks to Women for Women International, Christine, Pierre, and Gertrude who got me authorization letters, photography permits, a one month visa for Bukavu and then another for Goma. It was not like this the last time I came. This country gets more and more greedy, not the people the government, it's organizations, and many departments.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1r2FMxlK0uikIKJXzasdo6PuzE7VCQBRjJ0yise0HBK-uFZh0q38Y-iNoW8wSK3jvIHaOTsVou79Ewf6zLRTS8pOJK4Q-oFTo9yOXatmPpIZdguEsZkstXtDXczH8LHZCVM34i2p7T1o/s1600-h/0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1r2FMxlK0uikIKJXzasdo6PuzE7VCQBRjJ0yise0HBK-uFZh0q38Y-iNoW8wSK3jvIHaOTsVou79Ewf6zLRTS8pOJK4Q-oFTo9yOXatmPpIZdguEsZkstXtDXczH8LHZCVM34i2p7T1o/s200/0006.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Bukavu</div><br />
Does this country have something to hide, that being a photographer is a threat? The answer is yes, and what is hidden here must be exposed. I listed them above in the first sentence.<br />
When the authorities should be out catching the thieves, and helping it's people, no they want to hassle a woman photographer that is here, trying to help the women, children and men have a safer, healthier, peaceful life. Well that's nothing new.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdBbfJqaOSBZQlytT_xp2WVJBtWNGNCUyZWNzhdqC1-tdP6rofHup7_OLTDWFGMFC1oMetMz9KXQvC0GH3Q0yUG6VtcupMGIiwh1zIQxg4RR1gCleNIeMiuTiYI6KAQjMY_qRQosgsYj0/s1600-h/0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdBbfJqaOSBZQlytT_xp2WVJBtWNGNCUyZWNzhdqC1-tdP6rofHup7_OLTDWFGMFC1oMetMz9KXQvC0GH3Q0yUG6VtcupMGIiwh1zIQxg4RR1gCleNIeMiuTiYI6KAQjMY_qRQosgsYj0/s200/0002.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3_BYHcsHpP-NEmIMNiBh__-AYTEqhe5X5fNqE3booR1WZDXn0_j-0Um6ErI3hUGdmzQ3Pdofv17wEvt3jWhc5Evwm4ie7B4KXJMIjNjZQRFyIATdd1sQZR2bgUnBAY-7cvKFsd2MnZAc/s1600-h/0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3_BYHcsHpP-NEmIMNiBh__-AYTEqhe5X5fNqE3booR1WZDXn0_j-0Um6ErI3hUGdmzQ3Pdofv17wEvt3jWhc5Evwm4ie7B4KXJMIjNjZQRFyIATdd1sQZR2bgUnBAY-7cvKFsd2MnZAc/s200/0003.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Streets of Bukavu</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>This country is so beautiful, like a garden of Eden.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgBClDz_zb9PSaE6MlIVIDtFY3Lg4iYI9okFlIxm1CxFMrFDVS2ZV6snerCr7C3X9h1YKX25pAhO7iKXIcgKZ97PbS4oFd0dNWeVaRXVKDoo_qRMB11C0s0fcjD76TcXaEN1rMoJKYNmj/s1600-h/0009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgBClDz_zb9PSaE6MlIVIDtFY3Lg4iYI9okFlIxm1CxFMrFDVS2ZV6snerCr7C3X9h1YKX25pAhO7iKXIcgKZ97PbS4oFd0dNWeVaRXVKDoo_qRMB11C0s0fcjD76TcXaEN1rMoJKYNmj/s200/0009.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctCDilVD79yT8yHQKb4g5tPCw1xBdkg9wkgAq8bGKumOyqeZP27CQajB4VpG8qtZ45ROTbNOEHOLV2LdnFOfNwfJTSnb6frb9OcRH8pTiw2Txs4-6a7BsU-yKG63wqUfqtH5aUkL6MTkk/s1600-h/0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctCDilVD79yT8yHQKb4g5tPCw1xBdkg9wkgAq8bGKumOyqeZP27CQajB4VpG8qtZ45ROTbNOEHOLV2LdnFOfNwfJTSnb6frb9OcRH8pTiw2Txs4-6a7BsU-yKG63wqUfqtH5aUkL6MTkk/s200/0004.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The Congo donated $2,000,000 USD to Haiti. A generous amount for a country that has so much poverty. I know Haiti needs help and donations, but I think the Congo could have used at least half of that to deal with it's own problems. A few militia groups could have been wiped out with the money. Schools could have been built, health care is a major issue here, and the poverty matches Haiti. </div><br />
</div>History: King Leopold II<br />
The Belgium were the first to chop off limbs in Africa. King Leopold took one hand for every 100 slaves, this included children, to keep them in line.<br />
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After a number of unsuccessful schemes for colonies in Africa or Asia, in 1876 he organized a private holding company, disguised as an international scientific and philanthropic association, which he called the International African Society.<br />
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In 1878, under the auspices of the holding company, he hired the famous explorer Henry Morton Stanley to establish a colony in the Congo region. Much diplomatic maneuvering resulted in the Berlin Conference of 1884–85, at which representatives of fourteen European countries and the United States recognized Leopold as sovereign of most of the area he and Stanley had laid claim to. On February 5th 1885, the result was the Congo Free State (later becoming, successively, the Belgian Congo, the Republic of the Congo, Zaire, and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo or DRC — not to be confused with Republic of the Congo formerly owned by France), an area 76 times larger than Belgium, which Leopold was free to rule as a personal domain through his private army, the Force Publique.<br />
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Forced labor was extorted from the natives. The abuses suffered were horrific not only in the rubber<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber" title="Rubber"></a> industry, including enslavement<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavery" title="Slavery"></a> and mutilation of the native population. Missionary John Harris of Baringa, for example, was so shocked by what he had come across that he wrote to Leopold's chief agent in the Congo saying: "I have just returned from a journey inland to the village of Insongo Mboyo. The abject misery and utter abandon is positively indescribable. I was so moved, Your Excellency, by the people's stories that I took the liberty of promising them that in future you will only kill them for crimes they commit." Estimates of the death toll range from two to fifteen million. Determining precisely how many people died is next to impossible as accurate records were not kept.<br />
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It's people are hungry, many illiterate, they are living in constant fear of militia attacks, and war.<br />
It has been many years of conflict and crisis in the Congo.<br />
They say the red Earth comes from all the blood that has been shed.<br />
When will the Congo get International attention and help, as it desperately needs it, NOW!!!sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-69754990654437383412010-02-10T10:58:00.000-08:002010-04-17T05:37:20.188-07:00Zainab Salbi - Women for Women International<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Zainab Salbi founder of Women for Women International had a conference with all the Country Directors of her organization in Kigali, Rwanda. This organization helps women survivors in war torn countries rebuild their lives. Zainab a compassionate, gracious, beautiful, strong and empowering woman had a vision in 1993, and made this vision her reality. Women who were victims, become survivors and not active citizens.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_0JPpziDAIjoDurmUQsOsYxLIy2y-9yeY7l7iG89MHMPWuHRss_q5WnmiJ1pj3dVjPr2ka4hvJGyaiKcEb6u_aLnn1cW6jIyHHCiAVG3lGDy13RRFR7keyqV0nItjzcNg7xoIHsg48o4/s1600-h/0054+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_0JPpziDAIjoDurmUQsOsYxLIy2y-9yeY7l7iG89MHMPWuHRss_q5WnmiJ1pj3dVjPr2ka4hvJGyaiKcEb6u_aLnn1cW6jIyHHCiAVG3lGDy13RRFR7keyqV0nItjzcNg7xoIHsg48o4/s200/0054+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItgEaYV1o2CSwJ0pLNSc3x0COEbfbhYZO3NTkOB09LLys0pNVsn6pGVEbGfKhPxN82wHFLgiYkfFZ6ujhTVaTdAOI20q2EsFpaDB1JU70Ui9i4IyAjl_-xwraYg6RfT8Cff8zbxBhKPTR/s1600-h/0051+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjItgEaYV1o2CSwJ0pLNSc3x0COEbfbhYZO3NTkOB09LLys0pNVsn6pGVEbGfKhPxN82wHFLgiYkfFZ6ujhTVaTdAOI20q2EsFpaDB1JU70Ui9i4IyAjl_-xwraYg6RfT8Cff8zbxBhKPTR/s200/0051+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Zainab Salbi </div><br />
The woman love when she comes to visit them, as they know without her vision, their lives would not have changed into what is is today. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHE7ZdmssoPUW7TR5idg0RGN3weaSwALRJ-JDSN_BdOj3UlcN4F-71sMXu8HA6RD9aegsqDfUDJ2Qol0FYfMobZ1KB-KlzXSoAdhUjQrOY2hueX8CJfflMT3NYyLi6Gb10RNpi_OUHRzJ/s1600-h/0065+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHE7ZdmssoPUW7TR5idg0RGN3weaSwALRJ-JDSN_BdOj3UlcN4F-71sMXu8HA6RD9aegsqDfUDJ2Qol0FYfMobZ1KB-KlzXSoAdhUjQrOY2hueX8CJfflMT3NYyLi6Gb10RNpi_OUHRzJ/s200/0065+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZGB3pokwpMmWbtbHPm5Jz0G8_ztSATN_q8reNgNHEZx-8H7BSjdaaUNF1lp9FVQ9bXWPBajPL7feJ-Z3kL5asD4vLB_BLcGPKU0PCq50_NbzMtXwNjvbnbvRNgfcgXUeY1dnBQoOckif/s1600-h/0069+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZGB3pokwpMmWbtbHPm5Jz0G8_ztSATN_q8reNgNHEZx-8H7BSjdaaUNF1lp9FVQ9bXWPBajPL7feJ-Z3kL5asD4vLB_BLcGPKU0PCq50_NbzMtXwNjvbnbvRNgfcgXUeY1dnBQoOckif/s200/0069+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qlZY9nrgpIYsAGtbEmY3m5mDfW1KRrTAM9C2S1WN006NNIMyu74bTjm9uYjl5xHcnP5jb_Zi0tl1Jb60BjX8CZ1dTFAlG2s9RZE2qRsLSORERUnp3qrrHbPSyMtojum7oV6vqkYG9G8k/s1600-h/0072+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qlZY9nrgpIYsAGtbEmY3m5mDfW1KRrTAM9C2S1WN006NNIMyu74bTjm9uYjl5xHcnP5jb_Zi0tl1Jb60BjX8CZ1dTFAlG2s9RZE2qRsLSORERUnp3qrrHbPSyMtojum7oV6vqkYG9G8k/s200/0072+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVuebKKjTJAiHosFf3HJxXKqW_274VXTzDN7sZ-36S22sWgPJN7IuQnHvs00GxAKbIqFkRWZNDmuiDSO2CSyITnSXOca2kNpxVbOr39QKuNkuaHRYt5iXy1OIEPA2jjnYb8Efjc8wL-Bo/s1600-h/0053+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFVuebKKjTJAiHosFf3HJxXKqW_274VXTzDN7sZ-36S22sWgPJN7IuQnHvs00GxAKbIqFkRWZNDmuiDSO2CSyITnSXOca2kNpxVbOr39QKuNkuaHRYt5iXy1OIEPA2jjnYb8Efjc8wL-Bo/s200/0053+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The women are taught to read and write, vocational skills, importance of educating their children, farming, basket weaving, clay pottery and tiles, soap making, jewelry from recycled paper, made into beautiful beaded necklaces and ear rings, tye dying fabrics, and batik. Among many other artistic talents and skills.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZX6CnqApSDwt1f1p4eVRAlp_d_nPy4ebpcKODM4_p_oB2IL_YQEnrlQHcTtqLb9qlmjzZEuI7pJmVC2a1XWZ3JCoFzCjcWlyBxb35W_vK0b3ooBcMYpx9p9RP_Jy3S9JM77OAH2-FNiY-/s1600-h/0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZX6CnqApSDwt1f1p4eVRAlp_d_nPy4ebpcKODM4_p_oB2IL_YQEnrlQHcTtqLb9qlmjzZEuI7pJmVC2a1XWZ3JCoFzCjcWlyBxb35W_vK0b3ooBcMYpx9p9RP_Jy3S9JM77OAH2-FNiY-/s200/0019.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w8CGPnLbGEXCgx3nO6kdAxZRPuF5vnkbSkAQsx9PZ4RIW62JcLvrQyqbmHiKXc_4vLAlXBuAZVMg9nbLxpsGwoNhXLTvHfZgypEhOsHWfXUYO04XW3gZBZ8MWosJLRdtKhK1Z1VHdBii/s1600-h/0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0w8CGPnLbGEXCgx3nO6kdAxZRPuF5vnkbSkAQsx9PZ4RIW62JcLvrQyqbmHiKXc_4vLAlXBuAZVMg9nbLxpsGwoNhXLTvHfZgypEhOsHWfXUYO04XW3gZBZ8MWosJLRdtKhK1Z1VHdBii/s200/0015.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhajbiwXX75YBeupzSPaA7I0Tk-n4tgLKxdjVIQsbcSex0BdvvTqxRY0XoKwHhijCsERJEMtrtpVliGIJiYWFKdr_22Ny9Psqjb4cY3j1AqjOJ87V5AS5xblULJXVq9Mt9EckHDhtHufe/s1600-h/0039+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhajbiwXX75YBeupzSPaA7I0Tk-n4tgLKxdjVIQsbcSex0BdvvTqxRY0XoKwHhijCsERJEMtrtpVliGIJiYWFKdr_22Ny9Psqjb4cY3j1AqjOJ87V5AS5xblULJXVq9Mt9EckHDhtHufe/s200/0039+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswIxE5yqRuWFmafpTIlKgNjKMbucdp9EKX1DgokB6j6_Ld0Bl9UDYRZhUogkNe6S4YFvZ5MmF_3GVWjWfHda7egF3q-73SVh84xYRdK-E16R5P5ZQTObmRAmSuHo7l6ymcK3mvHg8Ko0U/s1600-h/0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswIxE5yqRuWFmafpTIlKgNjKMbucdp9EKX1DgokB6j6_Ld0Bl9UDYRZhUogkNe6S4YFvZ5MmF_3GVWjWfHda7egF3q-73SVh84xYRdK-E16R5P5ZQTObmRAmSuHo7l6ymcK3mvHg8Ko0U/s200/0016.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11K1CV05ObZ33zem8wTAKpYA8VRBxlT3_DdAAAH0A71otNZzNVLNi7gMVrWTqkRoJnsanOECv8RDf-9axpWJz6tG7YtiRn7i9eIfimIlxy6uSnECYoh7Lh3pZcVRRGmYSrcYWEu9SnMag/s1600-h/0044+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11K1CV05ObZ33zem8wTAKpYA8VRBxlT3_DdAAAH0A71otNZzNVLNi7gMVrWTqkRoJnsanOECv8RDf-9axpWJz6tG7YtiRn7i9eIfimIlxy6uSnECYoh7Lh3pZcVRRGmYSrcYWEu9SnMag/s200/0044+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EkhVJ1ryXi5qgKrspKhVJ-oGBcRbVIlNKf7WjFbEbhFnX3g8MeKntQyTXGflLILMdBc_PKwDjmGcn95IlciVp7Y5o501hl7zw8DOARdNataPCzLh9ZnWjPQUZN87HnpLccyu22lbjeFm/s1600-h/0042+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EkhVJ1ryXi5qgKrspKhVJ-oGBcRbVIlNKf7WjFbEbhFnX3g8MeKntQyTXGflLILMdBc_PKwDjmGcn95IlciVp7Y5o501hl7zw8DOARdNataPCzLh9ZnWjPQUZN87HnpLccyu22lbjeFm/s200/0042+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9_X3FRqHTdAGIunISRzI-Zt6X0Apn3sWtQ5RdHhfcW-p6sIOg4q7MycfTaao66j1GvtfcD6viMaYc45AXvTc2QEzKhOFIxcbIH0jKaMpivHNlKicpyksHpMK_8b3xb97Y6o9CqN-HBnI/s1600-h/0041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9_X3FRqHTdAGIunISRzI-Zt6X0Apn3sWtQ5RdHhfcW-p6sIOg4q7MycfTaao66j1GvtfcD6viMaYc45AXvTc2QEzKhOFIxcbIH0jKaMpivHNlKicpyksHpMK_8b3xb97Y6o9CqN-HBnI/s200/0041.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>After 1 year with the program they are self reliant. They have learned about family law, their rights as women, personal hygiene, prevention of AIDS, how to deal with stress, and many other life changing lessons. These women become business women, start community centers in their villages for domestic violence. They come in weak and fearful. Then graduate with hope, strength, and self esteem. They become strong, and courageous women.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg756bP5fzPBQesS-9I6Qg-B6RGnEFMb4MFs4aPmqWrveF-YlDOZ5WPcy3HN9XPje2yb9G9V66te3jDD2d1t1kXWKd9Ev3rtoWV0SYkLpbN64-Namaca0ZFsXPzEfswYJSUgAaeqQpF7fU/s1600-h/0013+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg756bP5fzPBQesS-9I6Qg-B6RGnEFMb4MFs4aPmqWrveF-YlDOZ5WPcy3HN9XPje2yb9G9V66te3jDD2d1t1kXWKd9Ev3rtoWV0SYkLpbN64-Namaca0ZFsXPzEfswYJSUgAaeqQpF7fU/s200/0013+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1fKyrwIUiLiAupRBRfiXG0uf9zgT6NYcuLuxlP5CkJhXhHuYEUEY4B22s1RNDzMCQKR2XIBuzjSyOliNYeA1bpVrh4L7hjDQB0qx_IVOKkwrmfGo5QknSgQcTSvcrbdCrDbCTthOzEnb/s1600-h/0018+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1fKyrwIUiLiAupRBRfiXG0uf9zgT6NYcuLuxlP5CkJhXhHuYEUEY4B22s1RNDzMCQKR2XIBuzjSyOliNYeA1bpVrh4L7hjDQB0qx_IVOKkwrmfGo5QknSgQcTSvcrbdCrDbCTthOzEnb/s200/0018+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The Country Directors of Women for Women International were all in Rwanda, and I had the honor of meeting them all and many of their staff. Country Directors from Rwanda, Congo, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Nigeria, Sudan, and Iraq.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiAMAMBzPkhKMQuPrrO1b8IXriXwUGn_xQvKQ_XNTEKfui4glQIw7rNuPiKJDusnBjTwgag1Zcxzjd8YoHMHongHZ0neJdnviOb9fKX_UE6F77IeZBTCc54h2IS2iXK6uc2s1Arklj0FS/s1600-h/0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWiAMAMBzPkhKMQuPrrO1b8IXriXwUGn_xQvKQ_XNTEKfui4glQIw7rNuPiKJDusnBjTwgag1Zcxzjd8YoHMHongHZ0neJdnviOb9fKX_UE6F77IeZBTCc54h2IS2iXK6uc2s1Arklj0FS/s200/0018.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kosovo - Hamide Latifi<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHX2fLPZNSOShdIPsheMKlqFV58m6vEcZkY9w473z9RKZP6tQUxocOWWI6DI2pxM8zCJNf8OtbID_DJYxeBOXEQQMYQThg1l3wVzJxtfzDU-d3mG4gOH8z8wMAsPZVKFz_oO1fplxNKxx/s1600-h/0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHX2fLPZNSOShdIPsheMKlqFV58m6vEcZkY9w473z9RKZP6tQUxocOWWI6DI2pxM8zCJNf8OtbID_DJYxeBOXEQQMYQThg1l3wVzJxtfzDU-d3mG4gOH8z8wMAsPZVKFz_oO1fplxNKxx/s1600-h/0026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHX2fLPZNSOShdIPsheMKlqFV58m6vEcZkY9w473z9RKZP6tQUxocOWWI6DI2pxM8zCJNf8OtbID_DJYxeBOXEQQMYQThg1l3wVzJxtfzDU-d3mG4gOH8z8wMAsPZVKFz_oO1fplxNKxx/s200/0026.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Nigeria -Ngozi Eze</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: right;"></div>Their goals are to make women stronger, and with stronger women comes stronger countries. This organization has changed the lives of over 250,000 women in our world. Which means many children that would have never gotten an education, now will, the cycle of ignorance is broken.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9eklcvhU2RjouSvWnBO-nAS2RqHZkqG3bLv9iE3JFXI6lOJrdzlchEFGth5PQDpfnxWxMaIRxfha4KJCq6XCMcLEPKANNsYcUQ9cI_GwFhDNbrUo2CstSW8b6BjG4BZOwjlPZ45YC18c/s1600-h/0029+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9eklcvhU2RjouSvWnBO-nAS2RqHZkqG3bLv9iE3JFXI6lOJrdzlchEFGth5PQDpfnxWxMaIRxfha4KJCq6XCMcLEPKANNsYcUQ9cI_GwFhDNbrUo2CstSW8b6BjG4BZOwjlPZ45YC18c/s200/0029+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfox7caicrugkFJg2yXbq_y56TRXlD6GUGBAMPS7moO43VUxK_pJWxe126kUhpLYMiqUsQOyBOc1_XTyX5XOgDcIQijzNu2XIkr_EBqRdkbOvSbc2PY6JT6HABKASvXNKYFZiGLEl2Po2/s1600-h/0035+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfox7caicrugkFJg2yXbq_y56TRXlD6GUGBAMPS7moO43VUxK_pJWxe126kUhpLYMiqUsQOyBOc1_XTyX5XOgDcIQijzNu2XIkr_EBqRdkbOvSbc2PY6JT6HABKASvXNKYFZiGLEl2Po2/s200/0035+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I attended 2 graduations in Rwanda, from Women for Women International, the women tell their testimonies of how their lives have changed. They share what their life was like before and the progress they have made in 1 year. These women dance with joy and gratitude, as they are now stronger, know their rights, some have bought their own land, built houses, and opened a business.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGGxyjSGSWWCQtTzsm8xrnunklrkdyTufON4SdjQPZEbF416EoVU_3DY2KntxutTZ0-Ql6IBKurx5WGHMXIglj6aImlgb6Ktk_daZsjo_sbTkCgS8NQ3IZgz_4MA6UCWeIEkEjUuWKR2q/s1600-h/0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGGxyjSGSWWCQtTzsm8xrnunklrkdyTufON4SdjQPZEbF416EoVU_3DY2KntxutTZ0-Ql6IBKurx5WGHMXIglj6aImlgb6Ktk_daZsjo_sbTkCgS8NQ3IZgz_4MA6UCWeIEkEjUuWKR2q/s200/0014.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkhk7cahkP36RMOFhEAllx5wdIy-ks4limN57PdSXL7XRryQglnBoYFdQk3WMYEGr2e1AsY-8DWqfqRtTuI-l0EfrMNyreNEDmYDHEKNUG1jI5FuzZiYJbu_0QE3CyqJwh0NdiZnnVSDP/s1600-h/0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkhk7cahkP36RMOFhEAllx5wdIy-ks4limN57PdSXL7XRryQglnBoYFdQk3WMYEGr2e1AsY-8DWqfqRtTuI-l0EfrMNyreNEDmYDHEKNUG1jI5FuzZiYJbu_0QE3CyqJwh0NdiZnnVSDP/s200/0027.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> Zainab rocking out......<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsukl8-f2og9m7h-QQtZ8c_zPBWjdVNrLUeuQGQrRcgklGequCFJfM6CsWi3kno4ghv3dYD2Rxi99ok0jOXnY886f5-OsXWM_O_FucaJKbV9Ca0_9AShTvK3-jytau6dqRyCA4zv9piMOQ/s1600-h/0024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsukl8-f2og9m7h-QQtZ8c_zPBWjdVNrLUeuQGQrRcgklGequCFJfM6CsWi3kno4ghv3dYD2Rxi99ok0jOXnY886f5-OsXWM_O_FucaJKbV9Ca0_9AShTvK3-jytau6dqRyCA4zv9piMOQ/s200/0024.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnOWcSz4puOQ6L6EW4ftT8hyUmxVx004tF4MVbNTXoci2PZLtaIZZ-tIIGFM4wMVYG7AKVYJq_AHUh6qSOb5WvMNnU_9aV2pl5vTndOuv7w7hahPB1BcBu0wdF3rtBVpNuHqrgjrzrHhN/s1600-h/0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnOWcSz4puOQ6L6EW4ftT8hyUmxVx004tF4MVbNTXoci2PZLtaIZZ-tIIGFM4wMVYG7AKVYJq_AHUh6qSOb5WvMNnU_9aV2pl5vTndOuv7w7hahPB1BcBu0wdF3rtBVpNuHqrgjrzrHhN/s200/0035.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">For some it is an emotional day as they are given certificates with their names on it, for most this is the first time they have ever received anything in their own name. The women cherish the letters they receive from their sponsors, as these letters from the outside world connect them with hope and love. </div><div style="text-align: left;">So sponsor a woman for $27.00USD a month and connect with a sister in another country, write to her and she will have someone write back to you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrWGRSui-iwBeEBPlkbVp6iR6Frfud_07BVYrYOLKf1uEEbTRgDbPkQjj53_w1tp9bntJDF8mQyIhiuFfiXyeibhXOs1jJ46rDxTacvlSBksZnRh8r86b9s1L0e4sfeiDb2O8m4tJsGDK/s1600-h/0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqrWGRSui-iwBeEBPlkbVp6iR6Frfud_07BVYrYOLKf1uEEbTRgDbPkQjj53_w1tp9bntJDF8mQyIhiuFfiXyeibhXOs1jJ46rDxTacvlSBksZnRh8r86b9s1L0e4sfeiDb2O8m4tJsGDK/s200/0017.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBCBdTljPj4Lwcn4lEjvmyUSJfYucR3WD5Skgw2KRwyvIWRE_5SD6FO6Re6vfSWiX5Ms6cimM1mnOCHqoS0coct6_K4Mcc1C4EUxjLsY3KNyw5Ns94_VwmEDp2n-pT0yS5oKqnRPtww9Y/s1600-h/0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRBCBdTljPj4Lwcn4lEjvmyUSJfYucR3WD5Skgw2KRwyvIWRE_5SD6FO6Re6vfSWiX5Ms6cimM1mnOCHqoS0coct6_K4Mcc1C4EUxjLsY3KNyw5Ns94_VwmEDp2n-pT0yS5oKqnRPtww9Y/s200/0034.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihN0WBUn56IU-3aYiW8NJeAr3OrJEZVfa1BiY0-VezjlooFrQgXUknp30t7o8Jm4OSJyCPlh3JOJ3CTGqFAyUMOgoJ7GNQU7h174qE2idPsQHrz3yxlCVhmqi2k5G_F2HHEF9Ij7Ousuf/s1600-h/0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhihN0WBUn56IU-3aYiW8NJeAr3OrJEZVfa1BiY0-VezjlooFrQgXUknp30t7o8Jm4OSJyCPlh3JOJ3CTGqFAyUMOgoJ7GNQU7h174qE2idPsQHrz3yxlCVhmqi2k5G_F2HHEF9Ij7Ousuf/s200/0022.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsLn9VfgYkWR0k6jUiWXQjMFCIlBbOEvCGEqKuaImZ9fO-xqg_4vyxIYXryAEu9dqBalL8kgwUzQyZQU3-Ba62e09IP1sMZpvSA-vtMeqwOWZd5EGopLl5Spzg9Ad6Rhqzppncu8exsoG/s1600-h/0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsLn9VfgYkWR0k6jUiWXQjMFCIlBbOEvCGEqKuaImZ9fO-xqg_4vyxIYXryAEu9dqBalL8kgwUzQyZQU3-Ba62e09IP1sMZpvSA-vtMeqwOWZd5EGopLl5Spzg9Ad6Rhqzppncu8exsoG/s200/0036.jpg" width="133" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>This not only changes their lives, yours will change too. This powerful connection of women around the world, is so empowering and when you think you are having a bad day, think about the day your sister is having and has had. When you have car problems, she's walking in the rain for many miles, to fetch water for her family, a lot of times in bare feet.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEkCHQnDJ_tBEtLKrxGvJ2UYqYQeYHTankcF-Z8hjDKntAWY1JN4O745d8MeW1G685HDNrE07S5KAQfesjB5qpiBVGrwTDNuDfO6vc5euLxKyzk2VzEbLFf6D5wAXgbotMsfaLkEP8Bqa/s1600-h/0025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEkCHQnDJ_tBEtLKrxGvJ2UYqYQeYHTankcF-Z8hjDKntAWY1JN4O745d8MeW1G685HDNrE07S5KAQfesjB5qpiBVGrwTDNuDfO6vc5euLxKyzk2VzEbLFf6D5wAXgbotMsfaLkEP8Bqa/s200/0025.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUImhalRrnJMS1l-RCDad9xE9CT1u_QYg35LHPuZZGWAMy69J2fsVoNQ6JI-a0uxJqOnkG7tJB6de5pW-1sKZDUYrEBX-kS_aHazCv4GGnT2bsgoXkK_GQlGye8EJsQUOdlq8CtAgZYvUb/s1600-h/0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUImhalRrnJMS1l-RCDad9xE9CT1u_QYg35LHPuZZGWAMy69J2fsVoNQ6JI-a0uxJqOnkG7tJB6de5pW-1sKZDUYrEBX-kS_aHazCv4GGnT2bsgoXkK_GQlGye8EJsQUOdlq8CtAgZYvUb/s200/0033.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
We can be the the missing link to a woman's movement that can literally change our world into a more peaceful environment for our children and theirs. I know I want my grandson Miles to live in a world where violence, torture and rape are horrors of the past generations of ignorance.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb1DmKgQ8naO9ZZLG4JpeADvBiHrvZAB5g-WMMyQn6gkpOwClkabgSFqdC1OpTyJc6501NfrmlQ5egG_a4UB2NALEO6clxk6n88shtMNevpkEavFW2xqAy3Vr7WUxUFlKGe0w3pdeCvww/s1600-h/0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvb1DmKgQ8naO9ZZLG4JpeADvBiHrvZAB5g-WMMyQn6gkpOwClkabgSFqdC1OpTyJc6501NfrmlQ5egG_a4UB2NALEO6clxk6n88shtMNevpkEavFW2xqAy3Vr7WUxUFlKGe0w3pdeCvww/s200/0029.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Being a photographer, I don't have my photo taken often, but I couldn't resist giving my camera to someone to take one of me and Zainab. <br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div>sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-86928331509100421132010-01-31T00:00:00.000-08:002010-01-31T13:11:06.924-08:00What is Genocide?Many people in our world still ask: <br />
<br />
"What is Genocide?" <br />
<br />
Genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethical, racial, or religious group such as:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S2VV-ZfFPYI/AAAAAAAAAdA/pgDUVpougUg/s1600-h/0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S2VV-ZfFPYI/AAAAAAAAAdA/pgDUVpougUg/s200/0001.jpg" width="133" /></a>* Killing members of the group.<br />
* Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">* Deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about it's physical </div>destruction. <br />
* Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.<br />
* Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.<br />
<br />
Genocide does not only involve direct violence. It can involve creating conditions -such as starvation- that will kill people. It is usually committed by a government or a group of individuals with political power.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <br />
Article II <br />
of the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"> </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S2Wwb62v25I/AAAAAAAAAew/f8XtMa87CB4/s1600-h/0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S2Wwb62v25I/AAAAAAAAAew/f8XtMa87CB4/s320/0005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> </div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Genocides:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S2Wwb62v25I/AAAAAAAAAew/f8XtMa87CB4/s1600-h/0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hereros 1904 - 1905</div><div style="text-align: center;">Armenians 1915 - 1918</div><div style="text-align: center;">Holocaust 1939 - 1945</div><div style="text-align: center;">Cambodia 1975 - 1979</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bosnia 1992 - 1995</div><div style="text-align: center;">Rwanda 1994</div><div style="text-align: center;">Darfur 2003 - TODAY</div> <br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S2VWiE6w6kI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/2zNv1liBjI0/s1600-h/0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S2VWiE6w6kI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/2zNv1liBjI0/s200/0004.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1OqDw0KwRlqwUA4E8W3m4EuBpmdpECmeBgFDuq-NT7t8vDfMjnRDGSM3gqRqiNP-And6qg_stDz9R8q3GFksK1N1mdAatKz0sd1wLFx90q8HAkX0qJdWts4_RBWUjqHTtJousYz4ahrh/s1600-h/0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1OqDw0KwRlqwUA4E8W3m4EuBpmdpECmeBgFDuq-NT7t8vDfMjnRDGSM3gqRqiNP-And6qg_stDz9R8q3GFksK1N1mdAatKz0sd1wLFx90q8HAkX0qJdWts4_RBWUjqHTtJousYz4ahrh/s200/0003.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLAx4fwn3Nuxaum90nM1sg4BsD3HO2xhJ_Xt9Yes_grDnrhTET8tfvUFBYo8_wQUTqkWh6E069A8g4UgU4dy8HlBlHQjzBmzHA8tRC0I2fNG3Okz36xu-xEYgubPne-pT_rx3KcVm4x7I/s1600-h/0008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLAx4fwn3Nuxaum90nM1sg4BsD3HO2xhJ_Xt9Yes_grDnrhTET8tfvUFBYo8_wQUTqkWh6E069A8g4UgU4dy8HlBlHQjzBmzHA8tRC0I2fNG3Okz36xu-xEYgubPne-pT_rx3KcVm4x7I/s200/0008.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Why did the world say "NEVER AGAIN" after the Holocaust then 4 more genocides???? </div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DD_4ryVsHa0CudGAaabQx0CUY52ttqJNj_Is7FLXwjcwidS7idY7SPHOWNtlqwqtvfN2nNn_YgURY_A0AnnrBtfVES4mkUeptmuJVKvhMehaz3nI4P8so1tASE2fCVJmXzGGaZ8xVa1A/s1600-h/0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOcCD4A3KHrRbORrz3yIDlH9EBxCgFh4TwpBhsFTWZbC0Tt7u2UoYU-QM7a4VSq8oBu7STvIPH0pGQbdOZkWZqpVICezLmPpVoLbhN3kPORD3-TJMFtyP1uy73shab2KYs7i5DI5dSPTC/s200/0009.JPG" width="133" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Blinded</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DD_4ryVsHa0CudGAaabQx0CUY52ttqJNj_Is7FLXwjcwidS7idY7SPHOWNtlqwqtvfN2nNn_YgURY_A0AnnrBtfVES4mkUeptmuJVKvhMehaz3nI4P8so1tASE2fCVJmXzGGaZ8xVa1A/s1600-h/0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuc8i9BPF2SVSAu_n78ip4D1sgnlF8EWgHkQMMKRIw1O9fnfjzIqRjsjwWF3-gEpWX1kOP5mQ8AIYiqij8yAcVRK3YqZuYQhxyVUTRuLPTqL218ump1Zljdz5oqtkOzPIimI23o1DEJyR/s1600-h/0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuc8i9BPF2SVSAu_n78ip4D1sgnlF8EWgHkQMMKRIw1O9fnfjzIqRjsjwWF3-gEpWX1kOP5mQ8AIYiqij8yAcVRK3YqZuYQhxyVUTRuLPTqL218ump1Zljdz5oqtkOzPIimI23o1DEJyR/s200/0011.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Diseased </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DD_4ryVsHa0CudGAaabQx0CUY52ttqJNj_Is7FLXwjcwidS7idY7SPHOWNtlqwqtvfN2nNn_YgURY_A0AnnrBtfVES4mkUeptmuJVKvhMehaz3nI4P8so1tASE2fCVJmXzGGaZ8xVa1A/s1600-h/0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DD_4ryVsHa0CudGAaabQx0CUY52ttqJNj_Is7FLXwjcwidS7idY7SPHOWNtlqwqtvfN2nNn_YgURY_A0AnnrBtfVES4mkUeptmuJVKvhMehaz3nI4P8so1tASE2fCVJmXzGGaZ8xVa1A/s200/0007.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Scarred </div><div style="text-align: center;"> For Life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhHKCD1qjhGuYHil7LJTwSe8g-2eO6MwVwZXBtDElfiSlG-mRmME_hqTJOZ0Lauj739FRkQzQWCvhiWxsIDED_qyeCYOtYYXv-Ze5cpB5YLmaS24EVndyjHQQ_dg51ayV9-jD0REW5vTN/s1600-h/0039+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Are humans beings so ignorant, and selfish, that because it is not happening to them we ignore it. This is a shame to the entire Human Race. Governments call it Civil War between tribes, and take no responsibility. So many labels.......and when it is finally recognized as Genocide, the damage has been done, and it's irreversible. The women and children suffer for generations, physically, and emotionally. Rape is a weapon of war, or genocide. Inhumane torture, unimaginable to most people in America.<br />
<br />
The Eastern Congo has not been considered genocide, but, crimes against humanity.<br />
The International Criminal Court (ICC) defines <br />
<b>crimes against humanity</b> as: <br />
<ul><li>murder </li>
<li>extermination </li>
<li>enslavement </li>
<li>forcible transfer of population </li>
<li>imprisonment in violation of international law </li>
<li>torture </li>
<li>rape </li>
<li>persecution against any identifiable group or collectivity </li>
<li>forced disappearances </li>
<li>apartheid </li>
<li>inhumane acts which intentionally cause great suffering or serious injury when they are:<br />
"committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack." </li>
</ul>The same torture and horrific crimes of rape as a weapon of war are being used. <b style="font-weight: normal;">Roughly 3.8 million people die in a series of conflicts between the country’s corrupt, ineffectual government and armed rebels, as citizens are exploited and national resources are plundered from various outside forces. </b><span class="reportbody" style="text-align: justify;"><span id="Body">Since December, 15, 508 newly displaced people have been registered at dozens of camps, bringing the total number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the 47 UNHCR-run sites in the region to 116,000</span></span>.<br />
<span class="reportbody" style="text-align: justify;"><span id="Body">At least 200,000 cases of sexual violence have been recorded in eastern DRC since 1996, according to the UN. Across the country, an estimated 2.1 million people have been displaced by conflict, including about 538,880 in South Kivu Province and 1,130,000 in North Kivu. </span></span><br />
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<span class="reportbody" style="text-align: justify;"><span id="Body"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Women in the Congo<br />
<span class="reportbody" style="text-align: justify;"><span id="Body"></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhHKCD1qjhGuYHil7LJTwSe8g-2eO6MwVwZXBtDElfiSlG-mRmME_hqTJOZ0Lauj739FRkQzQWCvhiWxsIDED_qyeCYOtYYXv-Ze5cpB5YLmaS24EVndyjHQQ_dg51ayV9-jD0REW5vTN/s1600-h/0039+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhHKCD1qjhGuYHil7LJTwSe8g-2eO6MwVwZXBtDElfiSlG-mRmME_hqTJOZ0Lauj739FRkQzQWCvhiWxsIDED_qyeCYOtYYXv-Ze5cpB5YLmaS24EVndyjHQQ_dg51ayV9-jD0REW5vTN/s200/0039+copy.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlZhrWWLzgBlD0zam32KN0D10kwcuNgumq7LEaBUpOUi2N8pmz0qNA9OcvMjUBEz7aBU7eb0Dync3jOeM0XokKbUhyycFAvKqkA9ULOg23GE6A_Z5wd7cSnk3KBaWXTNJqE6BMPb8b7tp/s1600-h/0181+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlZhrWWLzgBlD0zam32KN0D10kwcuNgumq7LEaBUpOUi2N8pmz0qNA9OcvMjUBEz7aBU7eb0Dync3jOeM0XokKbUhyycFAvKqkA9ULOg23GE6A_Z5wd7cSnk3KBaWXTNJqE6BMPb8b7tp/s200/0181+copy.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-dhzAxzFylk4SZV7FZcl-5c8IuAdmovqNYx5vb8XBSU_ZGDNo6TEzP_xyk-bXBfwcXORwAMqr_x8NRTwkhdQMP23AdlQqa-O94NPe7kpZLxH1WsA8B1QKTXgQv0ZLIQPd1h3xKX5tXLM/s1600-h/0243+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-dhzAxzFylk4SZV7FZcl-5c8IuAdmovqNYx5vb8XBSU_ZGDNo6TEzP_xyk-bXBfwcXORwAMqr_x8NRTwkhdQMP23AdlQqa-O94NPe7kpZLxH1WsA8B1QKTXgQv0ZLIQPd1h3xKX5tXLM/s320/0243+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;">Darfur is our current genocide, by most countries, the United States agrees it is a genocide. The Arab Muslims want to rid the country of the Black Muslims. President Omar al Bashir of Sudan denies his army is killing people or that he is involved with the Janjaweed. His land is filled with oil, value to some countries denying genocide. He lies, steal's from his people as they are starving and 2.5 million have fled to IDP's Camps in Chad. He's wanted for war crimes against humanity, pillaging villages, raping, women, girls and boys. We the people, can put enough pressure, by writing letters, signing petitions and speaking, tell your neighbors and friends to get involved. Stop the violence. This is a very dangerous man, and he must be locked up forever, or given a sex change and sent back to his own country as a woman. I like that one very much. </b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Tibet has been suffering from crimes against humanity. Not considered genocide, Monks tortured, women raped with electric cattle prods. These peaceful, nonviolent people, have been brutalized because they would not denounce the Dalai Lama. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrFFkfPsdQxFWdk0FJ7f1c10agSXVJwrBq6EAwDKwfxtbB0qQuF_0F-lduxF9Cq23Bvsu-vPKST37RbDDuZhCkWa9Ni3o69aUGaPvtch1zYHctw6ldazW2cTaKjXDUVOkVByyif7CgZO4/s1600-h/0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVrFFkfPsdQxFWdk0FJ7f1c10agSXVJwrBq6EAwDKwfxtbB0qQuF_0F-lduxF9Cq23Bvsu-vPKST37RbDDuZhCkWa9Ni3o69aUGaPvtch1zYHctw6ldazW2cTaKjXDUVOkVByyif7CgZO4/s320/0018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Honoring the 14th Dalai Lama </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZvCwf4n754kLBHAEo3o6871Xfz3IwoipEZpxP3Lj0Obnga1GexkPph_u5ExzdgwtUwPF39aJDN5WTNHph97XVBl1JtBLhh1Litz399zfXEtMP3s7yPu6KsTUvg2EQJJ6uTEoUfV2RVeM/s1600-h/0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUZvCwf4n754kLBHAEo3o6871Xfz3IwoipEZpxP3Lj0Obnga1GexkPph_u5ExzdgwtUwPF39aJDN5WTNHph97XVBl1JtBLhh1Litz399zfXEtMP3s7yPu6KsTUvg2EQJJ6uTEoUfV2RVeM/s200/0017.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> 17th Karmapa Lama</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaz6qXkigy6VbM5KsZgRYUTX93b591NI9gHPhOO7yecjuEjYxA53L-4pM1CCg2rbx_jBxUURC71l__4-gfwSqq6Qju10wH_L_irReWDUZFyrr5SfFN7WjposHPBE5886cqWhyujhyphenhypheniN94/s1600-h/0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaz6qXkigy6VbM5KsZgRYUTX93b591NI9gHPhOO7yecjuEjYxA53L-4pM1CCg2rbx_jBxUURC71l__4-gfwSqq6Qju10wH_L_irReWDUZFyrr5SfFN7WjposHPBE5886cqWhyujhyphenhypheniN94/s200/0014.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Monasteries destroyed</div><br />
China's government, big country, lots of economic value to the world. So we just turn away and pretend it's not happening. Wake up Governments, do something to STOP the VIOLENCE. Why did you lie to us when you said "NEVER AGAIN"? The most powerful people in the world can stop this, but, they sit at big tables, talking, having expensive dinners, and wine. Then they comprise, they make a deal, no solution. They are a part of the problem not the solution. We NEED a solution, we WANT a solution, there MUST be a solution. With any problem there IS a solution, it's called take ACTION.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvORwkQ1V0FBlJejPYXQCYx8DsTpIvVoiIWKxOFCXNtj7hUz5UX19zSONP2q2cYZSr38bpQGnqBWtJHv0EGjZkDCSZwU9qiQbDLJ4VPHhcS8rSGNFsE_rkl6e3T3AzulxTxca5ZPJuJVWC/s1600-h/0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvORwkQ1V0FBlJejPYXQCYx8DsTpIvVoiIWKxOFCXNtj7hUz5UX19zSONP2q2cYZSr38bpQGnqBWtJHv0EGjZkDCSZwU9qiQbDLJ4VPHhcS8rSGNFsE_rkl6e3T3AzulxTxca5ZPJuJVWC/s200/0021.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">So WE the people need to take the action to pressure our Governments. Write letters, call congress men and women, senators, and not with violence, but non violence. Ghandi changed a country, with non violence. He died for it, but he died in peace. I would prefer to die in peace, than violence. As a global community WE can make change happen. It's up to us, the people. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeLZu3Jtg0zg1Zms0Ycg6BWdqd3701ebUrb1gV1aaPs5Okq8soh_dQeF4T5w22snVx-tRkGOOUryMtMAmBldUczznXZTgzWj6LcOCgQvV0-U-iweGtwXV9DYaqt7IRhyphenhyphen8Xebb2E8eJMEj/s1600-h/0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbeLZu3Jtg0zg1Zms0Ycg6BWdqd3701ebUrb1gV1aaPs5Okq8soh_dQeF4T5w22snVx-tRkGOOUryMtMAmBldUczznXZTgzWj6LcOCgQvV0-U-iweGtwXV9DYaqt7IRhyphenhyphen8Xebb2E8eJMEj/s320/0022.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our voices are the solution!!!</div>sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-45949484883623043272010-01-22T12:21:00.000-08:002010-01-25T00:36:06.930-08:00Changing the titleThis blog was going called Congo in conflict. But I have seen so many women, men and countries come together in the past 2 weeks to help Haiti. Tonight I attended a fund raiser organized by Partner's in Health founded by Dr. Paul Farmer, he flew to Haiti, immediately after the Earthquake but his wife Didi who is Haitian stayed here and organized a fund raiser at a local restaurant called Heaven, owned by Alisha and Josh Ruxin. It was well attended, the American Ambassador, spoke so graciously, with compassion and genuine concern for the people of Haiti. <br />
There is a small community of Haitians in Rwanda mostly at PHI. It was so wonderful to see so many friends old and new come together to help another country. Rwanda is a very small country in Africa, with many issues of poverty and education. But in times of devastation it is there to help others in need. So I thought the name Countries Unite is an appropriate name. <br />
Founded by Dr. Paul Farmer: The PIH hospital in Haiti provides free treatment to patients. PIH helps patients living in poverty to obtain effective drugs to treat tuberculosis and AIDS. Dr. farmer and his wife Didi currently reside in Rwanda, although Dr. Farmer is now in Haiti. <a href="http://www.pih.org"></a>sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-64047693289048627092010-01-11T12:34:00.000-08:002010-01-18T12:59:43.446-08:00Jane " Rest in Peace"Tuesday was different. My good friend Freddy 36 years old, his daughter Kellia 8 years old, family, loved ones and friends attended the Memorial Service for his beautiful wife Jane 33 years old who died Jan. 5, 2010 of Leukemia. Jane had been ill in and out of the hospital since last Spring but was not diagnosed with Leukemia until Dec. 30, 2009. Her burial was Friday Jan. 9, 2010. I was flying to Rwanda that day. I did attend the Memorial Service and photographed for the family. The church was packed inside and out, she was loved by many and will be missed greatly. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxGEt_iXPYSrneDfR-BPmqdC5CSLIgXbnjNFxPdpdev_op5neKC4XUe9ZxNcJLzI90bV6XTaatiZoK8XvQj7YSWJr5AIexW2lKCJNkj98JIi1RghFBYEiqaKuMwI7I-PL1Q0t8yggM25K/s1600-h/0001+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxGEt_iXPYSrneDfR-BPmqdC5CSLIgXbnjNFxPdpdev_op5neKC4XUe9ZxNcJLzI90bV6XTaatiZoK8XvQj7YSWJr5AIexW2lKCJNkj98JIi1RghFBYEiqaKuMwI7I-PL1Q0t8yggM25K/s200/0001+copy.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1S-dDWOESI/AAAAAAAAAb8/OFfUKaqVQbk/s1600-h/0008+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1S-dDWOESI/AAAAAAAAAb8/OFfUKaqVQbk/s200/0008+copy.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1S4ce5xOdI/AAAAAAAAAbc/82W6F8jDyL8/s1600-h/0095+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1S4ce5xOdI/AAAAAAAAAbc/82W6F8jDyL8/s200/0095+copy.jpg" /></a><br /></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoNIkf5cGIbJ5FGhgxghn-TT13K-gyreTFe5r7cbRx0_D-f0fKy86Z7_mT2eP95JpB3dIYLGffscEf8-IVQadGp-LJg1IINaq2mlO1BYHPt36G8YA4Ix8qpaa1qbHPQnEku8KEN4kdt2_/s1600-h/0079+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQoNIkf5cGIbJ5FGhgxghn-TT13K-gyreTFe5r7cbRx0_D-f0fKy86Z7_mT2eP95JpB3dIYLGffscEf8-IVQadGp-LJg1IINaq2mlO1BYHPt36G8YA4Ix8qpaa1qbHPQnEku8KEN4kdt2_/s200/0079+copy.jpg" width="197" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4ctvX9DKAGXP1U_egMzeZr8nLC5dv4SYErWSfxHIQhQ892AywPcQ9C3tOModWELDz7MdP53SKDcxv73PvmBPqjxzw-H8iqjacLlQieKsLVV1-UfRHAHs90vxGU2OB3F4CBLdhQ5sAqMD/s1600-h/0066+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4ctvX9DKAGXP1U_egMzeZr8nLC5dv4SYErWSfxHIQhQ892AywPcQ9C3tOModWELDz7MdP53SKDcxv73PvmBPqjxzw-H8iqjacLlQieKsLVV1-UfRHAHs90vxGU2OB3F4CBLdhQ5sAqMD/s200/0066+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My personal experience with Jane is one that I will never forget. Freddy and Jane invited me to stay with them at their home in Ruhengeri (Musanze) in 2008. I stayed at their home for 5 days. They turned me on to real home cooked Rwandan food, it was delicious. Jane would ask me "When do you want to bathe?" I would respond "Oh maybe half an hour." I did not realize she wanted to know so she could heat the water for a hot bath. We laughed, played, and had a lot of fun together. We took photos, and one of the reasons I love being a photographer is I was able to capture beautiful portraits of Jane and Kellia. The evenings were cooler, Jane loaned me a shawl, when I left she wanted me to keep the shawl to stay warm on cool nights. I feel draped in her love, wearing her shawl, which I have wore many times since, and brought back to Rwanda. Her sharing and love will always be, as that is who Jane is. She loved her daughter Kellia and was a wonderful mother. She loved and is devoted to her Freddy, and I know her family and friends will miss her, but always remember her love, loyalty and devotion to her family, friends, old ones and even a stranger. She gave me a room in her home, fed me, warmed my bath water, and kept me warm. She is the kind of woman I aspire to be. May you rest in Peace, you will never be forgotten.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1TAwjmpMeI/AAAAAAAAAcM/JkzFMvTW9hU/s1600-h/0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1TAwjmpMeI/AAAAAAAAAcM/JkzFMvTW9hU/s200/0002.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1TBDkhg6MI/AAAAAAAAAcU/qPZoTwrZ5PI/s1600-h/0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1TBDkhg6MI/AAAAAAAAAcU/qPZoTwrZ5PI/s200/0005.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1TBX-k8iLI/AAAAAAAAAcc/YM_DhE-RINs/s1600-h/0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1TBX-k8iLI/AAAAAAAAAcc/YM_DhE-RINs/s200/0004.jpg" width="133" /></a><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Hr3D9wLmeLkUAZxy_wThyphenhyphenGdp3R2-P2PXw34hDaKfFeomv3V8wdygOr4xrcwaV24s8Qwwja4DCrpjYFr0mlfGMDGvP7lEn11kSAGCA0fZZB_FGQy6HeigBgPebQmLDcC6rsc16K0FJQg3/s1600-h/0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Hr3D9wLmeLkUAZxy_wThyphenhyphenGdp3R2-P2PXw34hDaKfFeomv3V8wdygOr4xrcwaV24s8Qwwja4DCrpjYFr0mlfGMDGvP7lEn11kSAGCA0fZZB_FGQy6HeigBgPebQmLDcC6rsc16K0FJQg3/s200/0001.jpg" width="133" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1TBX-k8iLI/AAAAAAAAAcc/YM_DhE-RINs/s1600-h/0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">www.gorillaselect.com</a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1TBX-k8iLI/AAAAAAAAAcc/YM_DhE-RINs/s1600-h/0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rDRKBYEkfN4/S1TBX-k8iLI/AAAAAAAAAcc/YM_DhE-RINs/s1600-h/0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br /></div>sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145020031023464616.post-28655347068493772022010-01-10T11:11:00.000-08:002010-01-25T00:06:43.865-08:00Rwanda Helps with Haiti's DisasterI arrived in Kigali, Rwanda on Saturday Jan. 9, 2010 in the evening with all my luggage. Returning to this beautiful country, progression in the cities, with poverty and oppression still in the rural areas.<br />
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After two days here, a horrific earthquake turns Port au Prince, Haiti, into rubble, with thousands of dead bodies and missing loved ones. My prayers and thoughts are with these people that have needed political change and support for many years. I would have gone to Haiti, to help in any way I could, if I wasn't here.<br />
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I'm sure my good friend, and island mother, Caroll Sirhakis is heartbroken, as Haiti was her love and second home. I hope her friends and loved ones survived. My thoughts are with you Caroll.<br />
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Rwanda a small country in Africa with much poverty donated $100,000 USD to help Haiti. That says a lot about this country, that will reach out to help others in need. There will be a fund raiser this Friday night for Haiti. I will attend and have a couple of images printed for the auction.<a href="pih.org"></a>sonya melescuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12842473167583156770noreply@blogger.com0