Without acknowledging the universal truth -- that is that wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have failed -- President Bush, in April 2006, commissioned the Iraq Study Group (ISG) to examine war policies and make recommendations.

The bipartisan panel, cochaired by James Baker, former secretary of state to former president George Herbert Walker Bush and former congressman Lee Hamilton (D-Ind.), is a blue-ribbon collection of Washington insiders. Not one single member of the ISG opposed the war in Iraq.

Just a few days before the ISG issued their much-anticipated report, wars in Afghanistan and Iraq exceeded the length of time it took to win World War II. On the day the ISG presented its 142-page report to President Bush, his cabinet, the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the American people, 70 Iraqis were killed along with 10 American soldiers.

On the very same day, the U.S. Senate, on a 95-2 vote, confirmed former CIA Director Robert Gates as secretary of defense, replacing the disgraced Donald Rumsfeld.

The ISG report, titled "The Way Forward," is nothing less than a total repudiation of the Bush administration’s military and diplomatic approach to Iraq and the whole region. It listed 79 recommendations that can only be thought of as a U-turn away from the Bush administration’s “stay the course” policy.

President Bush told members of the ISG, “We will read this report and take these recommendations seriously.” The report gives a very tough assessment of the situation in Iraq and it brings some very interesting proposals. While the president said he would give the report serious consideration, he said he did not intend to accept all 79 recommendations. “Congress isn’t going to accept every recommendation in the report,” Mr. Bush said, “and neither will the administration.”

In a tone that almost scolded the administration, the first page of the report asserted “our leaders must be candid and forthright with the American people.” Key recommendations include withdrawing U.S. troops not specifically dedicated to the training and support mission in Iraq by the first quarter of 2008, engage in U.S. talks with Iran and Syria, and deal with the Arab-Israeli conflict and regional instability.

Sen. Russ Feingold, one of the few U.S. senators who voted against the war, called the ISG report “a classic Washington compromise.” Feingold, as many others observes, believes the 2006 election was a vote to get the U.S. out of Iraq. Others have said, in effect, the ISG report keeps U.S. troops there indefinitely.

In calling the war in Iraq “grave and deteriorating,” the ISG asks the American people to support the report and accept its recommendations, while admitting doing so is “a tough sell.” In effect, the report seems to ask the American people to give Iraq and the administration “one last chance” to get it right.

Gone are the days when President Bush and war planners believe they can “bring democracy to Iraq and the Middle East.” Today, the Bush administration defines victory as “Iraq’s ability to defend itself.”

There was that one moment when I thought I heard President Bush call it “Vietnamization” but I am sure he meant "Iraqification."

 

"Shadow reports." Sounds intriguing. Mysterious. And perhaps they once were. But more and more shadow reports are being filed with U.N. committees to report human rights violations states' reports have 'overlooked.' And U.N. committees are listening!

Shadow reports help committees formulate questions to signatory states about the implementation of U.N. conventions. Or such reports may prompt the committee to request additional follow-up reporting, as you will read below.

On Sunday, December 10, 2006, UUSC co-sponsored the symposium "Human Rights: Tools for Change in Massachusetts" to celebrate Human Rights Day by sharing the secrets of filing shadow reports to the United Nations and working with U.N. rapporteurs or specialists on implementation of the human rights covenants.

"In the Shadows of the War on Terror: Persistent Police Brutality and Abuse," a collaborative effort by over 140 U.S.-based nongovernmental organizations, was filed with the U.N.'s Human Rights Committee in July 2006 as part of the committee's quadrennial review of the status of human rights in signatory states to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The report documents human rights abuses in the United States relative to law enforcement, immigration, Hurricane Katrina, and juvenile justice.

Following the filing of "In the Shadows of the War on Terror," the U. N. Human Rights Committee has requested additional reporting by Fall 2007 from the United States about Hurricane Katrina activities, according to Tonya McClary, National Criminal Justice Director for the American Friends Service Committee and one the major speakers at Sunday's symposium.

"Report on Failure of Compliance with Article 20 Prohibiting Propaganda for War," another shadow report, was prepared for the U.N. Human Rights Committee by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and other NGOs. WILPF's Gillian Gilhool, an eloquent symposium speaker and workshop leader, traced the history of shadow reports back to 1993, noting the increase in their use since that time.

But beyond listening to inspiring and informative speakers, the audience of activists had opportunities to meet and work with McClary, Gilhool, and Professor Martha Davis of Northeastern School of Law to explore the options for reporting human rights abuses through shadow reports and dialogues with special rapporteurs.

There appear to be two secrets for success in this work: document everything and begin very early because creating such a report is a formidable task. The reports are very formal and require extensive attention to detail. Eyewitness testimony is very helpful in documentation. The reports are filed in person in Geneva. In Spring 2007, signatory states to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination will file reports. The committee will receive reports from states and most likely shadow reports from NGOs.

It was a highly suitable observance of Human Rights Day 2006: education, inspiration, and good old fashioned know-how to advance the practice of human rights.

From a distance, I heard eerie high-pitched screams. The noise was actually hundreds of people blowing whistles outside of the Sudanese embassy in Washington, D.C. This Human Rights Day is also a global day of action for Darfur.

In 40 countries across the world, people gathered outside Sudanese embassies to sound the alarm about the use of rape as a weapon of war in Darfur. Refugees told their personal stories, thanked us for being there, and begged us to help others hear their cries for help. I put on my blue beret, the symbol of desperately-needed U.N. peacekeepers, and I joined in the whistle cry for the women and girls of Darfur.

That's who has been targeted in this war. The Sudanese government militia, known as the Janjaweed, have deliberately used rape as a tool of the genocide. Women and girls are vulnerable when the Janjaweed attack their villages and when they must venture outside the camps to collect firewood.

If the tables were turned, if it were your sister, your daughter, your mother at risk, wouldn't you want the world to sound the alarm and take action to save them?

Today's Washington Post includes a message from outgoing U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan about the lessons he has learned: "Only by working to make each other secure can we hope to achieve lasting security for ourselves. This responsibility includes our shared responsibility to protect people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. That was accepted by all nations at last year's U.N. summit. But when we look at the murder, rape, and starvation still being inflicted on the people of Darfur, we realize that such doctrines remain pure rhetoric unless those with the power to intervene effectively -- by exerting political, economic or, in the last resort, military muscle -- are prepared to take the lead."

We ask our elected officials to lead. Read President Bush's Human Rights Day statement on Darfur and Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi's Save Darfur blog entry.

Make Darfur a higher priority. The true measures of success will be when the woman and girls are safe and the killing is stopped.

UUSC President Charlie Clements writes, "The world observes International Human Rights Day on December 10 to commemorate the date in 1948 that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the U. N. General Assembly. As human rights advocates, it is a time of reflection and reaffirmation of our commitment to the struggle for justice and peace in the world.

"Despite advances in protecting human rights, many critical challenges confront the international community. Perhaps none is more urgent than the genocide that continues in the Darfur region of Sudan, where millions of people suffer in a preventable man-made crisis."

Read his full statement.

 

For over a year now at UUSC we have been celebrating the acknowledgment by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial of the inspiring and heroic work of two of our founders, Martha and Waitstill Sharp.

We have held or attended ceremonies in Israel, Washington D.C., and in their hometown of Wellesley, Mass. We have received proclamations from the U.S. House and Senate, and from President George W. Bush. We have seen their names added permanently to the Wall of Remembrance in Israel, and to the Rescuers' Wall at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.

And now its our turn. We have chosen to memorialize their work in a 25-minute documentary entitled "Heroes of the Spirit." And further -- as we believe they would have wanted it -- we are using this documentary not just to look back, but also to look deeply at the current events taking place in Darfur, Sudan, where a devastating genocide has already claimed the lives of over 300,000 men, women, and children, and displaced more than 2.5 million more.

We will be showing this film publicly for the first time on Tuesday, December 12, 2006, in the congregation Rev. Waitstill pastored before and after their trip to Europe. All are welcome to attend, and if you would like to join us that evening, please send an RSVP.

We think that this film will be an important resource that UU congregations and other groups can use to begin conversations about what we can do now in Darfur. To help spur this conversation on, we will include on the DVD not just the film about the Sharps, but also a film about Darfur, a study action guide, and a facilitator's guide, as well as a poster that can be used to promote a showing of the film and conversation at your congregation, home, or elsewhere! The DVD will be available on the website beginning the day after the Wellesley event, and we hope it will be put into use across the country.

During the holidays, many UUSC supporters search for ways to share their values while sharing holiday cheer with friends and loved ones. Some UU congregations feature UUSC merchandise and items from our fair trade partner, Equal Exchange, in their holiday gift fairs.

The UU Fellowship of Vero Beach recently held their second annual Fair Trade Bazaar, thanks to the efforts of fair trade coordinator Gale Parmentier, who organized the two-day event this past weekend. It was well attended, including many from the larger community. The bazaar grossed nearly $6500, so it was a great financial success as well as engaging the community in supporting fair trade.

In addition to the annual bazaar, Gail and other members of the congregation help their community support fair trade through their Fair Trade Corner throughout the year, occupying two rooms at the fellowship and markets a great variety of fair trade products.

UUSC thanks Gail and her partners in this project for their dedication to both our mission and to bringing fair trade to the fore of their community's holiday shopping. And we thank UUSC National Cochair Jack Stiefel for bringing this story to our attention!

Learn how you can replicate this project within your own congregation.

On Friday, we received word that the labor protest of the unjust closure of the Jordache plant in Tizimin, Yucatan, Mexico was successful. The workers' demonstration, coupled with UUSC program partner CEPRODEHL's outspoken support during the strike, brought the business owners to the table, where they were able to negotiate for their severance pay and back wages.

CEPRODEHL's staff continue to document rights abuses that have occurred at the two Jordache maquiladoras in the Yucatan. In this way, CEPRODEHL "will at least be able to denounce the ethical failures of this business," declared the organization's president, Socorro Chable.

The victory of these workers will enable them to feed their families as they look for employment elsewhere, and would not have been possible without the education and support provided by labor rights workers like Socorro Chable and her associate Isabel Canche. We congratulate them for this success -- it makes a world of difference to the workers that together we support and empower.

"The future depends on what we do in the present." --Mohandas K. Gandhi

John Bolton has resigned his temporary position as U. S. ambassador to the United Nations. "After careful consideration, I have concluded that my service in your administration should end when the current recess appoint expires," Mr. Bolton wrote, according to an article by the Associated Press.

From time to time, the voters in our democracy see elected leadership leading less and instead pursuing it own unacceptable paths. On November 7, 2006, voters became the leadership and spoke directly to every elected official reminding each that ultimate authority rests with the electorate. In a moment that was empowering and inspiring, the essence of democracy determined the outcome and cleared paths for its yet-to-be-known consequences -- one of which is this resignation.

For those who voted on November 7 and advocated relative to this nomination for U. N. ambassador, it's a reality-check moment. Yes, democracy still lives here. Phew! The people spoke, the administration and John Bolton read the tea leaves and found Mr. Bolton did not have the votes. Of course the hard part of democracy is that we need to be just as vigilant in the years ahead for "Democracy is not a spectator sport," as the League of Women Voters reminds us. And they're right.

So when a new U.N. nomination comes forth, we will be ready! Success satisfies and will make us more active creating a greater UUSC voice in public policy.

After watching the “Water for Life” documentary featuring rap artist Jay-Z, I felt great knowing that the hip-hop community may really become another avenue for educating the public on the issue of the right to water.

Jay-Z is one of the most influential artists in the world and by him making the focus of his first world tour “Water for Life," I think he took the awareness to a whole new group of people who may have never learned of the issue otherwise. Because his fan base is so diverse and international, I really believe he is making a huge difference by capturing the much needed attention of the youth worldwide.

I have great confidence in Jay-Z’s ability to inspire, motivate, encourage, and support real issues that affect real people. I believe that he will continue to raise awareness by using the many avenues in which he has created for himself which includes entertainment, clothing, and merchandise.

I expect to see more from Jay-Z in the near future as I believe that this is just the beginning for him. I really hope that people in the United States and around the world embrace his efforts as they would any community leader, politician, or president. I urge people to support the efforts of Jay-Z as well as any human being who is fighting for this much-needed change.

Find more information on what Jay-Z is doing. These pages list ways for the public to get involved and support this important and powerful movement. Bookmark these pages and check them at least once a week to keep up with what’s going and now and what will be happening in the future.

During this season of charity and kindness, while families gather together and many blessings are counted, families in UU congregations throughout the United States have welcomed little boxes to their tables. This is in celebration of a more than 30-year-old tradition we call Guest at Your Table.

Families place their Guest boxes on their meal tables, and as they sit down to share meals together, they discuss the stories of people whose lives have been affected by UUSC's work and place money in the box to help us continue our work.

Most congregations feature the program in their children's religious education classes, and organize a special worship service on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. And they help each family keep their Guest in mind during the busy season.

Andrea Heier, Director of Religious Education at the UU Church of Minnetonka, Minn., is doing so in her own way. After requesting high resolution copies of the images featured on this year's Guest box, she has created a display to welcome members into the congregation and remind them of the people whose lives and communities are benefiting from the support congregations and individuals provide UUSC and our program partners.

Beautiful work, Andrea!

If you have a story like Andrea's you'd like to share, share it in a comment to this blog post, or e-mail it to us.