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press release
Wicker, Cardin Support Territorial Integrity of the Nation of GeorgiaThursday, March 30, 2017
WASHINGTON—Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger Wicker (MS) and Ranking Commissioner Senator Ben Cardin (MD) today introduced a Senate resolution supporting the territorial integrity of the nation of Georgia. "The Russian government has tried to undermine Georgian sovereignty and territorial integrity for far too long," said Chairman Wicker. "It is time for the United States to make it clear once again that we do not recognize Russian land grabs within its neighbors' borders. Russia should adhere to the cease-fire agreement it signed in 2008, withdraw its troops from Georgia, and allow international monitors and aid workers access to occupied regions." S.Res.106 condemns the ongoing military intervention and occupation of Georgia by the Russian Federation, as well as Russia's continuous illegal activities along the occupation line in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region (South Ossetia). The bill also urges Russia to live up to its commitments under the Helsinki Final Act, which calls upon signatories to respect the territorial integrity of each of the other participating States of the Organization of the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). "Russia's violation of the territorial integrity of Georgia is a blatant breach of one of the guiding principles of the Helsinki Final Act by Russia. This reflects a broader pattern of disregard by Putin's regime for transatlantic security norms and democratic values, which the United States and our allies must stand against with resolve," said Commissioner Cardin, who is also Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "Georgia is a strong partner of the United States and continues to take important steps to further integrate with the transatlantic community. Georgia recently concluded an agreement on visa free travel with the European Union, for example. This significant development shows that constructive interaction is possible and welcome." This resolution mirrors a similar measure introduced in the House (H.Res. 660) in September 2016, and demonstrates that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia enjoy bipartisan support from both chambers of Congress.
Panelist Profile: Dr. Margareta MatacheTuesday, March 07, 2017
Dr. Margareta Matache was a speaker at the Helsinki Commission's February 16, 2017 panel discussion on the challenges faced by Romani communities in Romania. The event followed a screening of the acclaimed Romanian film "Aferim!" ("Bravo!"), which addresses the forgotten history of 500 years of Roma slavery in two former Romanian principalities. Margareta is a Romani activist and scholar from Romania with over 18 years of experience in the field of human rights. She joined the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights team in 2012, where she currently works as an instructor and director of the Roma Program. Before this position, for seven years Dr. Matache served as the executive director of Romani CRISS, a leading Romani non-profit in Romania. Margareta grew up under the first wave of Romani activism in post-communist Romania. Her father, a construction worker of Romani descent, was a community activist himself, which played a role in fostering her interest in the field of human rights. "This activist environment taught me about our ancestors, some of whom on my mother's side may have been slaves, and so I am trying to document that now," she says. Margareta was the first child in her family and community to attend high school. She has a B.A. in Social Work, an M.A. in European Social Policies and a PhD, magna cum laude, from the University of Bucharest. However, her educational path was no easy feat. "As an adolescent, I felt the pressure and pain of race and class constructs and wanted to drop out from school way too often," she admits. She says that those feelings later became one of the triggers of her motivation to dedicate a large portion of her work to fighting racism and stigma against Romani adolescents. Margareta became involved with the Romani movement in 1999 as a volunteer for the Roma Students Association, working with association director Emilian Nicolae in a local community in Bucharest. Six years later, she became the executive director of Romani CRISS. "Taking a stand in cases of anti-Roma racism was at the core of our work at Romani CRISS," Margareta says. Since the 1990s, the organization has documented countless cases of Romani rights violations which were later ruled upon by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and included in reports from Amnesty International, the U.S. State Department, and other institutions. "In 2006, we assisted the community in the town of Apalina, after the police used violence against 37 Roma, including elders. Based on a complaint filed by Romani CRISS, the ECHR condemned the way the Romanian government had conducted the investigation and awarded the victims €192,000 in damages," she recalls. Yet, she also recalls that they lost cases before the court in many instances. "We had quite a lot of failures or so called 'lessons learnt,'" she adds. Margareta's work was also dedicated to fostering the right to education. "When I took over the Romani CRISS leadership, I continued prioritizing the issues of Romani children segregated in separate schools and classes from their non-Roma peers. We set up a coalition of five renowned nonprofit and intergovernmental organizations that worked with the Ministry of Education to develop a legal document that prohibits segregation. In 2007, our advocacy led to the issuing of a School Desegregation Bill," she recounts. In 2011, along with other partners, Margareta's organization convinced the Romanian Parliament to include an article that targets the misdiagnosis and abusive placement of children in special schools based on their ethnicity or another discriminatory criterion in the new Education Law. Despite these successes, Margareta feels that there is still a lot to be done as Romani children continue to be placed in segregated schools and classes to this day. In 2012, Margareta decided to take a break from activism and shifted to academia. At the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights, she has been pursuing and piloting participatory approaches for assessing the needs of Romani youth and suggest better-informed policies and measures. Moreover, the Roma Program has provided support for Romani and non-Romani youth to conduct culturally sensitive and participatory research. Margareta is also contributing to strengthening ties and joint advocacy efforts between Roma and other social movements, working on reparations claims across historical and geographical spheres. Slavery in Romania is an example of past state-sponsored injustices around which Margareta's program try to create awareness and solidarity. "Romania has not even advanced symbolic reparations, including memorials, museums to acknowledge this episode in our country history. Roma and Romanian children are simply deprived from learning about this central episode in their collective history. We need to help the next generations of children, Roma and non-Roma, to learn about the origins of the present-day biases, racist behaviors, and also, to understand the effects of the unseen gadjo or non-Roma privilege," she says. Margareta also champions the idea to use films and other artistic productions as a tool to ignite discussions and raise awareness of difficult topics. She points out that "Aferim!" helped lay the foundations for the acceptance, recognition, and memorialization of the past of injustice in Romania. "It was remarkable to me that the film was produced and directed by fellow Romanians, who told the world the hidden truth about the uncomfortable past of 500 years of slavery on Romanian territories. I think that 'Aferim!' started the public conversation on the history of slavery while The Great Shame, a play written and directed by the brilliant mind of Alina Serban, continues the conversation on slavery and takes a step further, by looking at the past through the eyes of the present," she says. According to Margareta, what makes the film exceptional is that "'Aferim!' shifts the emphasis on the non-Roma and their moral responsibility for past injustices and the roots of present-day injustice, including exploitation and discrimination, pulling to pieces the discourse on Roma vulnerability and the 'Roma problem.'" "We would not need any integration policy if we benefited from a just treatment throughout our history, she says. "'Aferim!' speaks, in many ways, to all embedded biases in our Romanian culture, and also mocks them in a manner that could potentially help Romanians understand present-day discrimination against Roma and other groups, and how ridiculous and outdated racism should be." Asked why learning about Roma is important for Americans, Margareta points out that there is a need to build solidarity with the Roma. However, she also stresses that Romani communities face stigmatization on the American soil as well: "There is an idea in the U.S. that the gypsies are not a people; it's rather a way of life: bohemian, free spirit. The truth is that we have quite a large Romani population here in the United States, about a million people. Also, reality shows, Hollywood movies, and many other cultural products continue to portray Roma solely in stereotypical images and that adds to the stereotypical ways in which some Americans perceive this population. Fearing stigma, many Roma in the U.S. hide their identity. In this context, there is a need for mobilization of Romani people in the U.S. in view of building a new discourse to balance the stereotypical ways in which some Americans perceive this population."
Screening and Panel Discussion: Aferim! (Bravo!)Thursday, February 16, 2017
The critically acclaimed Romanian film "Aferim!" (Bravo!), directed by Radu Jude, is the first Romanian film to depict the enslavement of Roma in 19th century Romania. Set in 1835 Wallachia, a southern region of what is today Romania, the film's plot follows a policeman, Costandin, and his son Ionita, who are hired by a nobleman to find a Romani slave who has run away from his estate after having an affair with the nobleman's wife. As the protagonists travel along the wild stretches of the Romanian countryside, they encounter vivid archetypes of Romanians. With strong emphasis on class divides, the film portrays the stark contrast between the enslaved Roma, Romanian peasantry, and the all-powerful nobility. The film's remarkable level of detail reflects the use of historical documentation, contributing to a gripping portrayal of Romanian society into which one is quickly immersed. Following the film, Erika Schlager, Helsinki Commission Counsel for International Law, moderated a discussion with Dr. Margareta Matache, Cristian Gaginsky, and Dereck Hogan who each offered unique perspectives into how "Aferim!" serves as both a remarkable piece of cinema, and as an important educational tool on the much neglected issue of slavery in Romania and its lasting impact. Cristian Gaginsky, Deputy Chief of Mission for the Romanian Embassy, outlined the measures undertaken by the Romanian Government to improve the situation of Roma in Romania, as well as the need for a broader level of global awareness on Romani issues. The discussion then passed to Dereck Hogan, Director of the Department of State's Office for Central Europe. Noting that the United States shares the ugly legacy of slavery and the continuing struggle to address its lasting impacts on our society, politics, and culture, Hogan described State Department engagement on Romani issues and a common goal of preventing acts of discrimination. Finally, Dr. Margareta Matache, a leading Romanian Romani activist and scholar currently at the FXB Center for Health & Human Rights at Harvard University, emphasized the education is one of the most powerful tools that can dismantle power relations and poverty. At the same time, she added, "[w]e need to focus more on anti-Romani racism in schools. I think that children, both Romani and non-Romani children in Romania, need to know what slavery meant for our country and how we can overcome, how we can create solidarity with Roma, and how we can actually have more responsibility for the common past of our country."
press release
Helsinki Commission to Screen Acclaimed Film Aferim! (Bravo!)Friday, February 10, 2017
WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, with the participation of the Embassy of Romania and the U.S. Department of State, will host a screening of the acclaimed Romanian film Aferim! (Bravo!), the first Romanian film to grapple with the enslavement of Roma. The film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring Romani activist Dr. Margareta Matache, FXB Center for Health & Human Rights, Harvard University. Additional remarks will be offered by Cristian Gaginsky, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Romania, and Dereck Hogan, Director, Office of Central European Affairs, Department of State. AFERIM! (BRAVO!) Thursday, February 16 Cannon House Office Building Room 122 2:00PM – Film Screening 4:00PM – Panel Discussion Aferim!, Romania's 2016 submission for the foreign-language Oscar, follows a constable and his son in 1835 as they track down a run-away slave, encountering various Romanian archetypes along the way. Roma, Europe's largest ethnic minority, were enslaved in Romania until their emancipation during the founding of the modern Romanian nation state in the second half of the 19th century. Today, approximately two million of Europe's 15 million Roma citizens live in Romania. Romania commemorates the end of slavery on February 20.
press release
Smith Leads Mission to Genocide Survivors in IraqTuesday, December 20, 2016
ERBIL, Iraq—Just days before Christmas, a leading human rights lawmaker, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), went to Iraq to witness first-hand the plight of Christians who escaped ISIS into the Erbil area of the Kurdistan region and the failure of the Obama Administration to help them. After meeting with Christian families and leaders, and officials from the U.S., other OSCE participating States, and the United Nations, Smith said he returns to Washington to lead Congressional efforts to target more humanitarian aid to Christians and other religious minorities who have survived genocide. Smith also visited a camp for 6,000 internally displaced people, managed and supported by the Chaldean Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil. "This Christmas season, the survival of Christians in Iraq, where they have lived for almost 2,000 years, is at stake," said Smith, who chairs both the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and the House panel on global human rights and international organizations. "Today I met with Christian families who survived the ISIS genocide and have been ignored for two years by the Obama Administration. I hope that President-Elect Trump will act urgently to make sure his Administration helps these Christians with the funds Congress has approved for survivors of ISIS atrocities." The Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Mosul, Nicodemus Daoud Sharaf, who had to flee ISIS and seek refuge in Erbil, told Smith, "So often concern for Christians is minimized. I am so happy, because you are the first American who has come to just ask about the Christians. We pray that President Trump will help us. We are the last people to speak the Aramaic language. Without help, we are finished." "I also saw how the Obama Administration has shortchanged organizations conducting criminal investigations and collecting, preserving, and preparing evidence usable in criminal trials. Perpetrators will dodge punishment unless there is specific evidence linking them to specific atrocity crimes. My Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act legislation is a blueprint for how to assist Christians and other genocide survivors and hold perpetrators accountable. I will be working tirelessly to get this bill on the new President's desk when we reconvene in January," added Smith. Responding to reports that the UN Office on the Prevention of Genocide is considering excluding Christians from its findings of ISIS genocide victims and recommendations for prosecution, Smith said, "Even the Obama Administration determined that ISIS has been committing genocide against Christians. It would be outrageous if the UN ignored the overwhelming evidence and turned its back on these people who have suffered so much." Background In 2002, there were as many as 1.4 million Christians in Iraq. After years of sectarian conflict, followed by the ISIS genocide that began in 2014, they have dropped to less than 250,000. Most of the Christians who survived ISIS fled to the Erbil area, which now hosts more than 70,000 internally displaced Christians, almost a third of all Christians in Iraq. Iraqis have been eight percent of the refugees and migrants who arrived by sea in the OSCE region in 2016. The Chaldean Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil has provided most of the assistance to these displaced Christians – and has also assisted Yezidis and Muslims – including food, shelter, medical care, trauma care, and preparations for the impending winter. Smith was invited to Erbil by Archbishop Bashar Warda, head of the Archdiocese. During their meeting, Archbishop Warda emphasized that unless the ancient Christian communities of Iraq received significant financial support very soon, they may not survive. At a September hearing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, chaired by Smith and titled Atrocities in Iraq and Syria: Relief for Survivors and Accountability for Perpetrators, Steve Rasche, Legal Counsel and Director of IDP Resettlement Programs for the Archdiocese, testified and said, "Since August 2014, other than initial supplies of tents and tarps, the Christian community in Iraq has received nothing in aid from any US aid agencies or the UN." He added, "There's a mistaken belief that it doesn't get cold in Iraq. It snows in Erbil in the wintertime. Even the people that we've put in shelters, it gets incredibly cold for them at night, and so there are additional costs for heating oil and blankets. That is a concern for us. Our costs will go up." Since 2013, Smith has chaired nine congressional hearings on atrocities in Iraq and Syria, including one titled The ISIS Genocide Declaration: What Next? and another titled Fulfilling the Humanitarian Imperative: Assisting Victims of ISIS Violence. He is also the author of the bipartisan Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act (H.R. 5961), co-sponsored by Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-18), which includes key provisions directing the U.S. Administration to: Support entities that are effectively serving genocide survivors in-country, including faith-based entities; Assess and address the humanitarian vulnerabilities, needs, and triggers that might force survivors to flee their homes; Identify warning signs of deadly violence against genocide survivors and other vulnerable religious and ethnic communities in Iraq or Syria; Support entities that are conducting criminal investigation into perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Iraq and Syria; Close gaps in U.S. law so that the American justice system can prosecute foreign perpetrators present in the U.S., as well as any Americans who commit such crimes; Encourage foreign countries to add identifying information about suspected perpetrators of such atrocity crimes in their security databases and security screening; Create a "Priority Two" ("P-2") designation for persecuted religious and ethnic groups in Iraq or Syria. This legislation is supported by many groups including the Knights of Columbus, 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative, In Defense of Christians, Yazidi Human Rights Organization International, Commission for International Justice and Accountability, Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute, Religious Freedom Institute, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Open Doors, and others. The bill has also been endorsed by all of the former U.S. Ambassadors-at-Large for War Crimes: David Scheffer (1997-2001), Pierre-Richard Prosper (2001-2005), Clint Williamson (2006-2009), and Stephen Rapp (2009-2015). Smith also authored the bipartisan H. Con. Res 121, which the House passed overwhelmingly and calls for the formation of an ad hoc tribunal for perpetrators of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Syrian conflict. Just last week, the President signed into law the bipartisan, historic Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act (H.R. 1150), which Smith authored and Eshoo co-sponsored. This law makes sweeping changes that will help ensure that the U.S. Administration and the State Department have the tools, training, and resources to anticipate, help prevent, and respond to genocide and other persecution against religious communities like Christians in Iraq and elsewhere. Smith continues to encourage leaders in other OSCE countries to provide more humanitarian assistance to Christian genocide survivors and support criminal investigations into and prosecutions of perpetrators.
press release
Helsinki Commission Leaders Mark International Human Rights DayFriday, December 09, 2016
WASHINGTON—To mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and Sen. Roger Wicker (MS), Co-Chairman of the Commission, issued the following statements: "2016 has been a challenging year for the OSCE region – some governments have backslid on human rights, and humanitarian crises on the OSCE's periphery in Syria, Iraq, and elsewhere have driven waves of refugees into the OSCE region," Chairman Smith said. "And despite our best efforts, child sex tourism is soaring while protection lags. We each have an essential role to play in fighting for the human rights of those who are persecuted, whether they are political prisoners in Azerbaijan, refugees fleeing genocide in Syria, journalists in Turkey, or victims of human trafficking in our own country. We must all become human rights defenders." "We live in a world with significant security challenges, from cyber threats to terrorism to acts of aggression by one of our own OSCE participating States," said Co-Chairman Wicker. "However, as we work to maintain regional stability, we remember that security cannot exist independently from securing fundamental human rights. Today, we recommit ourselves to democracy, the rule of the law, and the rights of all people to determine their future free from tyranny and oppression." "The Helsinki Final Act is clear: human rights issues in one OSCE country are of direct and legitimate concern to all participating States," Chairman Smith concluded. "I call on the 57 nations of the OSCE to defend the rights and dignity of the most vulnerable, and to provide humanitarian assistance to victims of genocide and war in the Middle East."
press release
Human Rights, Military Security in Crimea under the Microscope at Upcoming Helsinki Commission BriefingWednesday, November 02, 2016
WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following briefing: Ongoing Human Rights and Security Violations in Russian-Occupied Crimea Thursday, November 10, 2016 2:00 PM Rayburn House Office Building Room B-318 In Russia's ongoing illegal occupation of the Ukrainian region of Crimea, occupying authorities persistently and egregiously violate the human rights of those perceived to oppose Russian annexation of this Ukrainian territory, especially Crimean Tatars. At the same time, with Russia's militarization of the peninsula, the security situation in the surrounding Black Sea region is becoming increasingly perilous. The briefing will examine the current state of affairs in the region in the face of Russian aggression, analyze the response of the international community, and discuss how – 40 years after the Ukrainian Helsinki Monitoring Group was formed to monitor the Soviet Government's compliance with the Helsinki Final Act – Ukrainians continue to defend Helsinki principles in the face of violations by Moscow. The following panelists are scheduled to participate: Oksana Shulyar, Embassy of Ukraine to the United States John E. Herbst, Director, Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council; former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Paul A. Goble, Editor, Windows on Eurasia; Professor, The Institute of World Politics Taras Berezovets, Founder, Free-Crimea Project, Kyiv, Ukraine
press release
Bipartisan Legislation to Bring Back Convicted Criminals Abroad Passes SubcommitteeThursday, September 22, 2016
WASHINGTON—A bill that strengthens the ability of the United States to secure extradition of wanted fugitives and bring them home to face justice, sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Global Human Rights and International Organizations, today cleared a first and important hurdle and was adopted by the Subcommittee. The bill has 20 bipartisan co-sponsors—10 Republicans and 10 Democrats—and has now been referred to the full Committee for consideration. The Walter Patterson and Werner Foerster Justice and Extradition Act (H.R. 2189) is named after the innocent victims of two of the most infamous criminals in modern U.S. history—both of whom live openly abroad. It requires the President to provide Congress with an annual study on important aspects of U.S. extradition policy, assisting Congress as it takes action to address outstanding issues in the extradition system. Currently the President's management of the extradition system is largely opaque to congressional oversight and hence resistant to reform—H.R. 2189 takes a big step toward changing that. "In many cases around the world, efforts to extradite convicted criminals have simply stalled, leaving surviving families without closure and our efforts to seek justice in limbo," said Smith. "Instead of continuing to allow violent criminals to live openly abroad—apparently outside of our government's reach—we must strengthen the Executive Branch's ability to take action to successfully resolve extradition cases. That the murderers of Walter Patterson and Werner Foerster live openly abroad is an ongoing offense against the surviving family members of the men they murdered." Walter Patterson was brutally killed in the course of a robbery by George Wright, who was convicted of murder, escaped prison, allegedly hijacked a commercial jetliner, and disappeared, only to be found living openly in Portugal, which has denied extradition. Werner Foerster was a New Jersey state trooper shot during a routine traffic stop by terrorist Joanne Chesimard, who was convicted of murder, escaped prison, and made her way to Cuba, where she lives as a guest of the Cuban government—along with other fugitives the Cuban government refuses to return to the U.S. Smith is one of the foremost voices in the fight to return escaped fugitives to face U.S. justice. Since the discovery of George Wright in Portugal in 2012, he has held several meetings with and written to Portuguese government officials and corresponded with the Department of Justice on their efforts to secure the return of fugitives. In 2012, he chaired a hearing entitled "Justice in the International Extradition System: The Case of George Wright and Beyond." H.R. 2189 enjoys the support of a diverse coalition of advocacy organizations, including Concerns of Police Survivors, the National Association of Police Organizations, the National Organization for Victim Assistance, the National Sheriffs' Association, and the American Bail Coalition.
press release
Hearing Addresses Genocide, War Crimes Driving Refugee Crisis in OSCEThursday, September 22, 2016
WASHINGTON—At a hearing convened today by Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), witnesses unanimously expressed support for Chairman Smith's recently introduced Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2016 (H.R. 5961), bipartisan legislation that provides relief to victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Iraq and Syria, and accountability for perpetrators. "The atrocities in Iraq and Syria have been so horrible, for so long, with so little action from the Administration, that it has been difficult to hope. Nevertheless, when [Secretary Kerry] declared genocide, we dared to hope that finally the Administration would hear the voices of the victims and act. Instead, the Administration has said the right words and done the wrong things," said Chairman Smith. "Displaced genocide survivors cannot pay for food, medicine, or shelter with words from Washington," Chairman Smith continued. "When the Executive Branch fails to acts, then Congress must require it to act. That is why I recently authored and introduced the bipartisan Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2016, with Representative Anna Eshoo as my lead cosponsor." Witnesses discussed ways to support religious and ethnic communities that have survived such atrocities. In addition, they encouraged the U.S. to fund the criminal investigation, prosecution, and conviction of the perpetrators, and identified gaps in U.S. criminal statutes that make it difficult to prosecute Americans or foreigners in the U.S. who have committed such crimes. Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues David Scheffer said, "H.R. 5961 demonstrates an undeniable logic: the survivors of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Iraq and Syria merit the fullest possible assistance of our government, including consideration of admission of victim refugees to the United States." "The perpetrators of atrocity crimes not only in Iraq and Syria but elsewhere in the world should be subject to investigation and prosecution," Scheffer continued. "Federal jurisdiction over crimes against humanity and war crimes remains non-existent or very limited…it is a raw fact that the United States is currently a sanctuary for alien perpetrators of crimes against humanity or war crimes." "The Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief Act [is] a much needed, not to mention overdue, piece of legislation," said Chris Engels, deputy director of the Commission for International Justice and Accountability. "Criminal investigations done contemporaneously with the criminal acts are essential to ensuring later accountability. Otherwise, as we have seen in the past, evidence is lost and those responsible for these mass human rights violations go unpunished." Witnesses also highlighted the humanitarian vulnerabilities and lack of assistance that force the survivors to flee their homes and recommended ways to support entities effectively serving genocide survivors in-country, including faith-based organizations. Steve Rasche, legal counsel and director of resettlement programs for the Chaldean Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil, noted, "Since August 2014, other than initial supplies of tents and tarps, the Christian community in Iraq has received nothing in aid from any U.S. aid agencies or the UN. When we have approached any of these entities regarding the provision of aid assistance …we have been told that we have done too well in our private efforts…every morning we wake up and rob six Peters to pay 12 Pauls." "The current policy prioritizes individual needs but does not consider the needs of vulnerable communities," said Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus. "On one hand, we have the unanimous policy of the elected branches of the United States Government stating that a genocide is occurring. On the other hand we have an aid bureaucracy that is allowing the intended consequence of the genocide to continue, even though it is in our power to stop it." "There is nothing unconstitutional, illegal, unethical or unprofessional about prioritizing their right to survival as a community," Anderson added, referring to Christian and other communities that face extinction in Iraq and Syria. Bill Canny, executive director for migration and refugee services at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said, "We are gravely concerned by the small number of religious minorities who have been resettled in the United States during the current fiscal year." "It is unclear at the time of this writing precisely why the percentage of Syrian Christians, who have been registered as refugees or resettled in the United States as refugees, is so low," Canny continued. "It is clear, however, that Christians and other religious minorities have become a target for brutality at the hands of the non-state actor ISIS, and that they are fleeing for their lives, and that far too few of them have been attaining U.S. resettlement." USCCB resettles more refugees annually in the U.S. than any other agency. Chairman Smith was joined at the hearing by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Helsinki Commission Co-Chair Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Ranking Commissioner Senator Ben Cardin (MD), and Commissioners Rep. Joe Pitts (PA-16) and Rep. Alan Grayson (FL-09). In 2013, ISIS began its brutal campaign of extermination and expulsion in Syria, expanding to Iraq in 2014. Many of those who survived these atrocities have been joining the flood of refugees streaming out of the region to Europe and other areas of safety. Resolving their plight is a key component to helping address the refugee crisis and has been of intense interest to countries in the OSCE region.
Atrocities in Iraq & Syria: Relief for Survivors and Accountability for PerpetratorsThursday, September 22, 2016
The civil war in Syria, which began in early 2011 and since spread into Northern Iraq has devastated both countries. Estimates of the number of people who have died during Syria's civil war since March 2011 range from 250,000 to 470,000. In Iraq, the estimated range is between 19,000 and 41,650 deaths since January 2014. The people living in these regions have been subjected to an extensive list of atrocities including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Thosands of refugees have fled Iraq and Syria to seek refuge in the OSCE region. The desperate situation in these areas has resulted in the worst refugee crisis since World War II. With the war in Iraq and Syria showing little signs of abating the danger for vulnerable groups in these countries continues to worsen. This hearing examined the current situation in Iraq and Syria regarding the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, and looked at how the United States and the international community can best help protect persecuted people in this region and ensure that perpetrators of genocide and related crimes in Iraq and Syria are punished. It featured witnesses from CIJA, the former Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues, and leaders from the Catholic community. "The atrocities in Iraq and Syria have been so horrible, for so long, with so little action from the Administration, that it has been difficult to hope. Nevertheless, when [Secretary Kerry] declared genocide, we dared to hope that finally the Administration would hear the voices of the victims and act. Instead, the Administration has said the right words and done the wrong things," said Helsinki Commission Chairman Chris Smith (NJ), "When the Executive Branch fails to acts, then Congress must require it to act. That is why I recently authored and introduced the bipartisan Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2016, with Representative Anna Eshoo as my lead cosponsor." Witnesses discussed ways to support religious and ethnic communities that have survived such atrocities. In addition, they encouraged the U.S. to fund the criminal investigation, prosecution, and conviction of the perpetrators, and identified gaps in U.S. criminal statutes that make it difficult to prosecute Americans or foreigners in the U.S. who have committed such crimes. Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues David Scheffer said, "H.R. 5961 demonstrates an undeniable logic: the survivors of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Iraq and Syria merit the fullest possible assistance of our government, including consideration of admission of victim refugees to the United States." "The perpetrators of atrocity crimes not only in Iraq and Syria but elsewhere in the world should be subject to investigation and prosecution," Scheffer continued. "Federal jurisdiction over crimes against humanity and war crimes remains non-existent or very limited…it is a raw fact that the United States is currently a sanctuary for alien perpetrators of crimes against humanity or war crimes." "The Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief Act [is] a much needed, not to mention overdue, piece of legislation," said Chris Engels, deputy director of the Commission for International Justice and Accountability. "Criminal investigations done contemporaneously with the criminal acts are essential to ensuring later accountability. Otherwise, as we have seen in the past, evidence is lost and those responsible for these mass human rights violations go unpunished." Witnesses also highlighted the humanitarian vulnerabilities and lack of assistance that force the survivors to flee their homes and recommended ways to support entities effectively serving genocide survivors in-country, including faith-based organizations. Steve Rasche, legal counsel and director of resettlement programs for the Chaldean Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil, noted, "Since August 2014, other than initial supplies of tents and tarps, the Christian community in Iraq has received nothing in aid from any U.S. aid agencies or the UN. When we have approached any of these entities regarding the provision of aid assistance …we have been told that we have done too well in our private efforts…every morning we wake up and rob six Peters to pay 12 Pauls." "The current policy prioritizes individual needs but does not consider the needs of vulnerable communities," said Carl Anderson, Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus. "On one hand, we have the unanimous policy of the elected branches of the United States Government stating that a genocide is occurring. On the other hand we have an aid bureaucracy that is allowing the intended consequence of the genocide to continue, even though it is in our power to stop it." Bill Canny, executive director for migration and refugee services at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), said, "We are gravely concerned by the small number of religious minorities who have been resettled in the United States during the current fiscal year." "It is unclear at the time of this writing precisely why the percentage of Syrian Christians, who have been registered as refugees or resettled in the United States as refugees, is so low," Canny continued. USCCB resettles more refugees annually in the U.S. than any other agency. Chairman Smith was joined at the hearing by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Ranking Commissioner Senator Ben Cardin (MD), and Commissioners Rep. Joe Pitts (PA-16) and Rep. Alan Grayson (FL-09).
press release
Chairman Smith Supports Genocide Victims in Syria and IraqThursday, September 08, 2016
WASHINGTON—Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-18), Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-08), and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (NE-01) today introduced bipartisan legislation to provide relief for survivors of the ISIS-perpetrated genocide against vulnerable religious and ethnic groups in Syria and Iraq, and to ensure that perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in those countries are punished. The Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2016, H.R. 5961, directs the U.S. Administration to treat these heinous acts as the crimes that they are, and to prioritize supporting the criminal investigation, prosecution, and conviction of perpetrators. "Mass murder and rape are not only human rights violations – they are also criminal acts that require careful investigation, documentation, and prosecution to bring the perpetrators to justice," said Chairman Smith. "We need to support entities doing this work in the field, and close gaps in U.S. law so that our justice system can prosecute foreign perpetrators present in the U.S., as well as any Americans who commit such crimes." The legislation also requires the U.S. State Department to create a "Priority Two" ("P-2") designation for Iraqi and Syrian survivors of genocide, and other persecuted religious and ethnic groups in Iraq or Syria. Refugees who meet the P-2 criteria are able to apply overseas for resettlement in the United States without requiring a referral from the United Nations, an NGO, or a U.S. Embassy. "Although a P-2 designation does not guarantee admission to the United States – applicants must still clear the same security screening as other refugees – it provides victims of genocide with a much-needed additional path to access the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program," said Chairman Smith. Finally, the bill directs the U.S. Administration to identify warning signs of deadly violence against genocide survivors and other vulnerable religious and ethnic communities in Iraq or Syria; assess and address the humanitarian vulnerabilities, needs, and triggers that might force them to flee their homes; and ensure that the U.S. supports entities effectively serving genocide survivors, including faith-based entities. Chairman Smith noted that the Chaldean Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil, which provides vital assistance to internally displaced families of Yezidis, Muslims, and Christians, including to all of the approximately 10,500 Christian IDP families in the Erbil region, has received no funding from the U.S. Government or any other government. "So far, the Administration has failed to keep its promise to enable these genocide survivors to remain in Iraq and Syria. It is overlooking groups, like the Chaldean Catholic Archdiocese of Erbil, that are serving tens of thousands of survivors every day. If the needs of these communities are ignored, thousands of victims may have to leave their ancient homelands forever and never return," Chairman Smith said.
Five Years of the Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders NetworkThursday, August 25, 2016
2016 marks the fifth anniversary of the Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network (TILN), an innovative project of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, in cooperation with the U.S. State Department, German Marshall Fund, and other stakeholders that prepares diverse, young leaders with a global outlook. TILN bridges the transatlantic divide between the U.S. and Europe by annually bringing together driven individuals from a range of political backgrounds for a week-long workshop focused on inclusive leadership. Workshops take place in European cities ranging from Copenhagen to Brussels to Turin – allowing participants to immerse themselves in international policy-making at national and regional levels. Participants engage with public and private sector figures while shaping their personal missions and strengthening leadership skills to support careers in public service and transformative initiatives that will promote more equitable societies. The TILN project already boasts an impressive list of alumni, including U.S. Congressman Ruben Gallego, Swedish Parliamentarian Said Abdu, UN Expert on Minority Issues Rita Iszak, and other Parliamentarians, Ministers, Mayors, City Councilpersons, regional and local leaders. During its five-year history, TILN annual workshops have highlighted issues of special interest to the US Helsinki Commission from the ongoing struggle to realize Roma and migrant rights to racism, anti-Semitism, and religious discrimination. Additionally, many TILN alumni support innovative initiatives that promote equality and inclusion in their home countries through alumni Action Grants that allow former participants to maintain their connections, further the work of multinational inclusion, and maximize the impact of collective action. For example, former German and Dutch participants have launched national inclusive leadership programs inspired by TILN. The German "Network Inclusive Leaders" program (NILE), created by Gabriele Gün Tank and Daniel Gyamerah of the TILN class of 2013, is a week-long seminar that provides 20 diverse young adults with an opportunity to engage with German political leaders, academics, artists, and others on anti-racism and anti-discrimination efforts. Following the 2016 TILN event, Dutch alumni Mpanzu Bamenga and Kamran Ullah – along with GMF's Marshall Memorial Fellows Ahmed Larouz and Mei Ling Liem – launched the "Inclusion Leaders Network" in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The event successfully brought together more than 40 community and political leaders from different parties and sectors to discuss tools and strategies to increase inclusion in political, economic, and education sectors. Both the NILE and the Inclusive Leadership Network have enjoyed the support of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, State Department, GMF, and other stakeholders. Hosted by Helsinki Commissioner Representative Alcee L. Hastings, TILN experts and alumni Simon Woolley, Assita Kanko, Gabriele Gün Tank, and David Mark also attended the 2014 three-day Quad Caucus meeting of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL), the National Asian Pacific Caucus of State Legislators (NAPACSL), the National Caucus of Native American State Legislators (NCNASAL), and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) in the United States. In his opening remarks to the Quad Caucus, Commissioner Hastings highlighted the importance of inclusive and representative governance in all countries. The TILN delegation followed with a panel discussion on the similarity between the U.S. and Europe on experiences of Roma, Muslim, Afro-descent, and other diverse communities, leading to support for joint U.S.-Europe partnerships and initiatives from members of the Quad Caucus. As a result of these meetings, the TILN alumni network was able to organize a speaking tour in Germany for Ajenai Clemmons of NBCSL – a 2015 TILN participant – to share the U.S. minority caucus model in Germany. The momentum of the Quad Caucus also advanced development of anti-discrimination legislation authored by TILN alumni Mpanzu Bamenga in the Netherlands, which was later adopted by Eindhoven City Council. The U.S. Helsinki Commission congratulates TILN on five successful years, and looks forward to witnessing further fruits of the Network as alumni continue to advance inclusive policymaking, thought, and leadership in our societies.
in the news
Fox Business: Sen. Wicker on TurkeyWednesday, July 20, 2016
Following the July 2016 attempted coup in Turkey, Helsinki Commission Co-Chair Senator Roger Wicker joined Fox Business Network to provide his perspective on recent events in the OSCE participating State and NATO Ally. Calling President Erdogan's subsequent actions "very disturbing," Co-Chairman Wicker noted, "There has been an all-out assault not only on the military -- on admirals and generals -- but also on the judiciary, on universities, on religious leaders." In addition to serving as the co-chairman of the Helsinki Commission, Senator Wicker is a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and chairs the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) Committee on Political Affairs and Security.
press release
U.S. Delegation to OSCE PA Drives International Action against Human Trafficking, Discrimination, and Anti-SemitismFriday, July 08, 2016
WASHINGTON—Seven members of Congress traveled to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) Annual Session in Tbilisi, Georgia last week to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, including respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. At the Annual Session, which brought together nearly 300 parliamentarians from 54 of the 57 OSCE participating States, the U.S. lawmakers introduced several successful resolutions and amendments targeting current challenges facing the OSCE region, ranging from human trafficking to discrimination and anti-Semitism to the abuse of Interpol mechanisms to target political opponents and activists. The delegation included Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Co-Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker (MS), Commissioner Rep. Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Commissioner Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14), Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08), Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-08), and Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-06). Rep. Aderholt currently serves as a vice-president of the OSCE PA, while Sen. Wicker was re-elected to a third term as chair of the OSCE PA Committee on Political Affairs and Security, also known as the First Committee, during the annual meeting. Chairman Smith led international lawmakers in battling international human trafficking and child sex tourism through a successful resolution calling on all OSCE participating States to raise awareness of sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism (SECTT), especially by convicted pedophiles, business travelers, and tourists. Chairman Smith, who serves as the OSCE PA Special Representative on Human Trafficking Issues, also hosted a July 3 briefing on U.S. efforts to prevent SECTT through a new international reciprocal notification system – known as International Megan's Law – that facilitates timely communications among law enforcement agencies. A second U.S. resolution, authored by OSCE PA Special Representative for Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance and Helsinki Commission Ranking Sen. Ben Cardin (MD), called for action against the anti-Semitic and racist violence sweeping across North America and Europe. The resolution, which passed overwhelmingly, urged members of the OSCE to develop a plan of action to implement its long-standing body of tolerance and non-discrimination agreements, called for international efforts to address racial profiling, and offered support for increased efforts by political leaders to stem the tide of hate across the region. The resolution was fielded by Commissioner Hultgren. Chairman Smith also called on participating States to more effectively prevent and combat violence against European Jewish communities through the introduction of two amendments to the resolution of the OSCE PA General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions (also known as the Third Committee). His first amendment called for the explicit recognition of the increase in anti-Semitic attacks in the region, while the second encouraged participating States to formally recognize and partner with Jewish community groups. Responding the abuse of Interpol systems for politically motivated harassment by Russia and other members of the OSCE, Co-Chairman Wicker authored a successful amendment to the First Committee resolution, which called on participating States to stop the inappropriate placement of Red Notices and encouraged Interpol to implement mechanisms preventing politically motivated abuse of its legitimate services. The amendment was fielded by Rep. Hudson. During the Annual Session, members of the delegation also offered strong support for important resolutions fielded by other countries, including one by Ukraine on human rights in illegally occupied Crimea and another on the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident. They voted for a highly relevant resolution on combating corruption fielded by Sweden, and helped to defeat a Russian resolution attacking the Baltic States, Poland and Ukraine in the context of combating neo-Nazism. U.S. delegates indicated their support for the work of attending Azerbaijani human rights activists, and met with attending members of the Israeli Knesset. While in Tbilisi, the group also met with several high-ranking Georgian officials, including Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili; Tedo Japaridze, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Parliament of Georgia; Mikheil Janelidze, Georgian Minister of Foreign Affairs; and David Bakradze, Georgian Minister of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
press release
Chairman Smith Leads International Legislators against Human Trafficking, Child Sex TourismMonday, July 04, 2016
WASHINGTON—The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly passed a resolution authored by Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) against international human trafficking and child sex tourism. The resolution was passed at the 2016 annual session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and has an agenda-setting effect for the 57-member intergovernmental organization. Smith, who leads the U.S. Delegation to this year's OSCE PA Annual Session, introduced a resolution calling on all OSCE participating States to work with the private sector and civil society to raise awareness of sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism (SECTT), especially by convicted pedophiles, business travelers, and tourists. The resolution also urges all OSCE participating States to enact laws allowing them to prosecute their citizens and legal permanent residents for child sexual exploitation committed abroad, and to strengthen international law enforcement cooperation to ensure that nations know about travel by convicted pedophiles prior to their arrival. "More children than ever before are being exploited – child sex tourism is soaring while protection lags," said Chairman Smith. "We must work together to protect children from convicted pedophiles and opportunistic predators who exploit local children with impunity during their travels abroad. Prevention and prosecution should go hand in hand." In addition to introducing the SECTT resolution, Chairman Smith hosted a July 3 briefing on U.S. efforts to prevent SECTT through a new international reciprocal notification system – known as International Megan's Law – that facilitates timely communications among law enforcement agencies. "Child predators thrive on secrecy – a secrecy that allows them to commit heinous crimes against the weakest and most vulnerable," said Chairman Smith. "Recent changes in the laws of the United States and partner countries are putting child predators on the radar when they travel internationally, but much remains to be done." Chairman Smith has served as OSCE PA Special Representative on Human Trafficking Issues since 2004. His efforts to raise the profile of the human trafficking problem in the OSCE region are reflected in the 2013 Addendum to the OSCE Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings, and have prompted other parliamentarians to take the lead in addressing human trafficking in their respective capitals. Chairman Smith first raised the issue of human trafficking at the 1999 St. Petersburg Annual Session, the first time it appeared on the OSCE agenda. Since then, he has introduced or cosponsored a supplementary item and/or amendments on trafficking at each annual session of the OSCE PA, including on issues such as sex tourism prevention, training of the transportation sector in victim identification and reporting, corporate responsibility for trafficking in supply chains, and special protections for vulnerable populations. In addition to authoring the 2016 International Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders, he authored the landmark U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its 2003 and 2005 reauthorizations. Chairman Smith co-chairs the United States Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus.
press release
Chairman Smith Champions Improved Security for European Jewish Communities at Annual Meeting of OSCE ParliamentariansSunday, July 03, 2016
WASHINGTON—At the 2016 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) Annual Session, meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia this week, Helsinki Commission Chair Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) today called on participating States to more effectively prevent and combat violence against European Jewish communities in the face of increasing anti-Semitic violence in the region. "Violent anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise in several European countries – and there is a lot more we can do to stop it," said Chairman Smith, who led the U.S. delegation to the event. "European police and security forces should be partnering with Jewish community security groups, and the United States government should be working with the European governments to encourage this. The terrorist threat to European Jewish communities is more deadly than ever. We must act to prevent a repeat of the horrific massacres of Paris and Copenhagen." Chairman Smith offered two amendments to the draft resolution of the OSCE PA General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions (also known as the Third Committee). His first amendment called for the explicit recognition of the increase in frequency, scope, and severity of anti-Semitic attacks in the OSCE region, while the second called on participating States to formally recognize and partner with Jewish community groups to strengthen crisis prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and responses related to anti-Semitic attacks. Both amendments reflect consultations with and requests from European Jewish communities. Chairman Smith has a long record as a leader in the fight against anti-Semitism. He co-chairs the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism in the U.S. House of Representatives and authored the provisions of the U.S. Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004 that created the Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism within the U.S. State Department. In 2015, he authored House Resolution 354, a blueprint for strengthening the safety and security of European Jewish communities. Following his landmark 2002 hearing on combating the escalation of anti-Semitic violence in Europe, "Escalating Anti-Semitic Violence in Europe," he led a congressional drive to place the issue of combating anti-Semitism at the top of the OSCE agenda. As part of this effort he authored supplemental resolutions on combating anti-Semitism, which were adopted at the 2002, 2003, and 2004 Annual Sessions of the OSCE PA. In 2004 the OSCE adopted new norms for its participating States on fighting anti-Semitism. Chairman Smith is a founding member of the the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Combating Anti-Semitism (ICCA), where he also serves on the steering committee. In the 1990s, he chaired Congress's first hearings on anti-Semitism and in the early 1980s, his first trips abroad as a member of Congress were to the former Soviet Union, where he fought for the release of Jewish "refuseniks."
NATO's Warsaw Summit and the Future of European SecurityThursday, June 23, 2016
This briefing, conducted two weeks prior to the NATO summit in Warsaw, discussed the prospects and challenges expected to factor into the negotiations. Key among these were Russian aggression and NATO enlargement, cybersecurity, and instability along NATO's southern border. Mr. Pisarski's testimony focused mainly on the challenge posed by Russian aggression and the role played by NATO's partners in maintaining stability in Eastern Europe. Dr. Binnendijk commented on seven areas he argued the Alliance should make progress on at the Warsaw summit, centering mainly around unity, deterrent capability, and the Alliance's southern strategy. Rear Admiral Gumataotao provided a unique insight into NATO Allied Command Transformation's core tasks and their expectations for Warsaw. The question and answer period featured a comment from Georgian Ambassador Gegeshidze, who spoke about his country's stake in the Summit's conclusions in the context of the ongoing Russian occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
press release
Helsinki Commission to Preview Outcomes of July NATO Summit in WarsawMonday, June 20, 2016
WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced the following briefing: "NATO's Warsaw Summit and the Future of European Security" Thursday, June 23, 2016 3:00 PM Rayburn House Office Building Room 2360 NATO's next Summit, slated for July 8-9 in Warsaw, Poland, is expected to be a seminal moment in the evolution of the transatlantic relationship. At the Summit, the Alliance will need to tackle uncertainty about the range of security threats confronting its members, with some in the east prioritizing Russian aggression, while others are seeing instability to the South (including the migration crisis) as the most immediate threat. Heads of the 28 member states will need to demonstrate cohesive unity of purpose despite differences on these issues and others, ranging from NATO's potential contribution to fighting terrorism to the continued role of nuclear weapons in NATO's deterrence and defense posture. These discussions will be heightened by the Summit's strategic location in the capital of a staunch eastern flank Ally that contributes to NATO operations and exercises, hosts NATO facilities, and – crucially – leads by example by devoting the NATO-agreed benchmark 2 percent of GDP to defense. Panelists will comment on the outcomes they expect from the Summit, implications for the broader transatlantic relationship, and the future of relations with Russia. The following experts are scheduled to participate: Rear Admiral Peter Gumataotao, Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategic Plans & Policy, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Mr. Maciej Pisarski, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Poland to the United States of America Dr. Hans Binnendijk, Senior Fellow, Center for Transatlantic Relations, The Johns Hopkins University
press release
Helsinki Commission Leaders Welcome Savchenko Release; Urge Russia To Comply With Minsk AgreementsWednesday, May 25, 2016
WASHINGTON – Following today's release of Ukrainian fighter pilot Nadiya Savchenko from prison in Russia, Representative Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, and Senator Roger Wicker (MS), Co-Chairman of the Commission, issued the following statement: "We welcome Nadiya's long-overdue release, but we must not forget about other Ukrainian citizens unjustly imprisoned in Russia. We must also remember that Russia still occupies Crimea and continues its aggression in eastern Ukraine, bringing misery and suffering to millions of Ukrainians." "Russia should honor the Minsk agreements – which it violates with impunity – if there is to be peaceful resolution to the conflict. Above all, Russia needs to get out of Ukraine." Last September, the House passed a resolution calling for Savchenko's release, which was strengthened by Chairman Smith's amendment calling for the imposition of personal sanctions against individuals responsible for the imprisonment of Savchenko and other Ukrainian citizens illegally incarcerated in Russia. A resolution sponsored by Co-Chairman Wicker and Helsinki Commission Ranking Senate Commissioner Ben Cardin (MD) calling for her release passed the Senate in February 2015.
press release
Chairman Smith Holds Hearing on Terrorist Threats to European Jewish CommunitiesTuesday, April 19, 2016
WASHINGTON— The growing risks to European Jewish communities and the actions that countries should take to address the threats faced by their Jewish citizens was the focus of a hearing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (aka, Helsinki Commission) chaired today by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04). "The recent terrorist attacks in Brussels were reminders that Europeans of all religions and ethnicities are at risk from ISIS," said Smith. "But there can be no European security without Jewish security. As we have seen so many times in so many places, violence against Jewish communities often foreshadows violence against other religious, ethnic, and national communities. ISIS especially hates the Jewish people and has instructed its followers to prioritize killing them. The group's cronies targeted the Jewish Museum of Belgium in May 2014, the Paris kosher supermarket in January 2015, and the Great Synagogue in Copenhagen in February 2015, and murdered people in all of them." Click here to read Chairman Smith's opening statement. A number of other members of Congress spoke at the hearing, including Sen. Roger Wicker (MS), CSCE co-chairman, Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-06), Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09), Rep. Alan Grayson (FL-09), and Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14). Rabbi Andrew Baker, Director of International Jewish Affairs at the American Jewish Congress, and the OSCE's Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson, thanked Smith for the "pioneering work" he has done in identifying and addressing the problem of anti-Semitism in Europe, and pressing the United States government and European States and in mobilizing the OSCE to confront the "age-old scourge" of anti-Semitism. "One of the problems we have faced and we continue to face is that governments are slow to recognize the very problem itself, let alone to marshal the necessary resolve and expertise to confront it," Baker testified. For the past two years, witnesses John J. Farmer, Jr., Rutgers University Professor of Law, has led an initiative at Rutgers designed to identify the best ways to protect vulnerable communities in light of the evolving threat. "We have worked with U.S. communities to develop what FBI officials have called an 'off-ramp' to radicalization," said Farmer. "This is a time of particular peril for the Jewish future in Europe, and it is incumbent upon us to do what we can to assure that future." Jonathan Biermann, Brussels attorney and elected city councilman, and a former political adviser to the President of the Belgian Senate, the Development Minister, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, described the current atmosphere among Belgian Jews. "Community members are nowadays used to see Police, guards, military in front of Jewish buildings and schools," Biermann said, recommending establishing Memorandums of Understanding as an important step. "Creating the tools to communicate amongst communities with the government will be considerably facilitated by the 'See something Say something strategy,'"Beirmann said. "The collaboration with Law enforcement agencies has to be based on trust and confidence, in respect of international laws and rules protecting individual freedom, civil liberties and privacy." Paul Goldenberg, a senior advisor to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, serve on the Countering Violent Extremism Sub-Committee, Co-Chair the Foreign Fighter Task Force and Vice-Chair of the Faith-Based Advisory & Communications Sub-Committee. He also works with the Faith-Based Communities Security Program at Rutgers University. He is Executive Director of the Crisis Cell for the Belgian Jewish community "I have made countless trips in recent months overseas, traveling to multiple European cities," Goldenberg said. "What we have seen, heard and learned has confirmed our initial hypothesis: while the levels of cooperation and partnerships between Jewish and other minority religious communities with their respective policing services–in many parts of Europe–is as diverse as the communities themselves, more work needs to be accomplished to move closer to a medium and standard of safety and security. While this presents distinct challenges, there is also hope. For much of what we have learned, innovated, tested and improved upon here in the United States, as well as in other progressive nations, can be imparted to, and replicated by, many of our partners." Smith also chairs the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations subcommittee. Documents, video and other information about today's CSCE hearing, will be posted here. In 2015, Smith held a hearing in, "After Paris and Copenhagen: Responding to the Rising Tide of Anti-Semitism," on the crucial role of the U.S. and other participating States of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in battling anti-Semitism and called for strong American leadership.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
United States


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String beans are considered a spleen, kidney and yin tonic. They have traditionally been used to improve acne, diabetes, diarrhea, leucorrhoea, night sweats, thirst, and frequent urination. They nourish the pancreas and increase the fluids, or yin aspect of the body. They help in eliminating uric acid, and are thus in relieving the inflammation of arthritis and gout.
Snap beans are very alkaline and the green beans more nutritious than the yellow ones. They are neutral in temperature and sweet in flavor. They are rich in beta-carotene, B complex, calcium and potassium.
Good quality beans have a bright color and snap easily when broken. Look for beans with immature seeds. Young beans with enough fuzz to cling to one's shirt are an indication of tenderness. Large swollen seeds in string beans will foretell a tough bean.
Use string beans in salad, for dipping, to add crispness to other vegetable dishes, soups, as well as in vegetable juices.
A wash made from the tea of young green beans has been used topically to treat acne, cold sores, eczema, and herpes.

subset: commoncrawl


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Cattle Decapitation
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About Cattle Decapitation
Over the course of their existence, the San Diego-based Cattle Decapitation have transformed from a stripped-down gore-grind side project of the arty hardcore/grindcore band the Locust to a full-fledged death metal band of their own, undergoing a confusing maze of lineup changes in the process. The association with the Locust formed much of the original basis for CD's popularity in hardcore circles, which was unusual for a band that growled out the type of disturbing, gore-oriented lyrics usually reserved for Carcass/Cannibal Corpse audiences. However, as the years went by and the band's connections to the Locust were finally severed personnel-wise, it became clear that CD were indeed a real band on its own, not a side project; they eventually signed to established metal powerhouse label Metal Blade Records and, musically, took on more of a professional death metal sound while retaining their original pro-vegetarian/gore-oriented lyrical stance.
Cattle Decapitation originally formed in San Diego in 1996. The lineup originally featured David Astor on bass and Gabe Serbian on drums -- both were then also members of the Locust -- as well as an unknown guitarist/vocalist, who allegedly vanished without the other members knowing anything about his whereabouts. Seeking a replacement on vocals, the band turned to Travis Ryan, who had actually been playing drums for another San Diego metal band, Strangulation, in addition to serving as vocalist in a gore metal band called Anal Flatulence. With Ryan on board, Astor moved from bass to drums, and Serbian moved from drums to guitar. This lineup quickly released two albums, the Human Jerky LP (on the Nevada label Satan's Pimp) and the Homovore CD/LP.
Next, they added a bassist, Troy Oftedal, with whom they recorded their third full-length, To Serve Man, released in the fall of 2002 on Metal Blade, a move that would expose them to a more death metal-oriented audience (as opposed to the primarily hardcore/grindcore one that they had been playing to before). Also in 2002, the band added a second guitarist, Josh Elmore (formerly of 7000 Dying Rats), who eventually took over as the band's sole guitarist after Serbian left in order to devote himself more fully to the the Locust. (Serbian plays drums in the Locust, replacing Astor, who ironically had left the Locust so that he could more fully devote himself to Cattle Decapitation). Astor left after To Serve Man and was replaced by Creation Is Crucifixion drummer Michael Laughlin for the 2004 release Humanure. A split 7" with Caninus arrived in 2005, followed by the full-length Karma. Bloody. Karma in 2006, which featured guest vocals by the Locust's Joey Karam. 2009 saw the departure of bassist Troy Oftedal, as well as the release of the full-length Harvest Floor. Monolith of Inhumanity, the group's seventh studio album, arrived in May, 2012.
The members of Cattle Decapitation are involved in several side projects, among them Oftedal's punk/metal band DisreantiyouthhellchristbastardassmanX, Ryan's noise project 5/5/2000, and UUM, another noise project involving both Ryan and Oftedal. ~ William York
- San Diego, CA
- Metal
- 1996
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Brockwell was previously a director at financial services advisory firm Global Capital Finance, where she was responsible for the firm's European renewable energy transactions, including offshore wind.
She will lead the delivery of an expanded offshore wind investment strategy that sees GIB move into providing funding for new offshore wind facilities that are in the construction phase, as well as for existing wind facilities.
Speaking about the appointment, GIB chief executive Shaun Kingsbury said: "The development in our offshore wind strategy will ensure that we can mobilise investment at a critical, early stage of a project."
Brockwell said: "Through its direct funding capabilities and its desire to stimulate co-investment from other institutions, the GIB is vital to the industry's success in realising its planned installed capacity."
During its first five months of trading, up to 31 March 2013 the GIB committed less funding to offshore wind than any other priority sectors.
This could change if a recently announced memorandum of understanding between the bank and Abu Dhabi clean energy firm Masdar leads to further deals to fund UK offshore wind projects.
The GIB's two offshore wind transactions to date have been a £46 million contribution to a debt refinancing deal for the Walney project and £57 million for a quarter stake in Rhyl Flats.


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Ulysses spacecraft data indicate solar wind at a 50-year low 23 September 2008 Data from the joint ESA/NASA Ulysses mission show that the Sun has reduced its output of solar wind to the lowest levels since accurate readings have become available. This current state of the Sun could reduce the natural shielding that envelops our Solar System. Read more
The joint ESA-NASA Ulysses deep-space mission was designed to study the heliosphere - the region of space influenced by the Sun and its magnetic field. The primary scientific goal was to make the first-ever measurements of the unexplored region of space above the Sun's poles. Other areas of investigation include determination of the global properties and behaviour of the solar wind, the study of energetic particles of solar and interplanetary origin, measurement of the magnetic field of the Sun and the heliosphere, study of galactic cosmic rays, investigation of how the heliosphere interacts with interstellar space, and participation in a programme to identify the origin of gamma-ray bursts. On 30 June 2009, the Ulysses mission ended after 6842 days (18 years 8 months 24 days) in orbit.
Ulysses mission to conclude in July 12 June 2008 After more than 17 years of operation, the joint ESA/NASA mission Ulysses will officially conclude in July this year. The remarkable achievements of this mission were recalled at a press conference held at ESA Headquarters in Paris on 12 June. Read more
Featured Publications
ESA Bulletin 136: The Epic Voyage of Ulysses 31 October 2008 Ulysses has forever changed the way scientists view the Sun and its effect on the surrounding space. In the November 2008 issue of the ESA Bulletin Richard Marsden and Nigel Angold consider the epic voyage of this remarkable spacecraft. Read more


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It is hardly news that China is the most dynamic eCommerce market in the world. The rapid and dramatic growth of the number of people shopping online—and businesses moving online—as well as the amount spent using digital channels is staggering. Companies in many sectors are updating their online platforms to quickly capture and expand their piece of the digital pie.
Accenture and its alliance partners have extensive experience in helping companies develop highly customized omni-channel eCommerce platforms that can increase their brands speed to market.
The Accenture Omni-channel Commerce Solution offers retailers and companies (including Lacoste & PUMA) a proven end-to-end solution built with unique functionality tested to be successful in and meet the specific characteristics of the China market.
Head of Digital at Lacoste
Much is written, blogged and tweeted about consumers' migration to digital channels, but that suggests a one-way trip into the digital cosmos. The truth is more complicated: just as no man is an island, no channel exists in a vacuum.
The new normal for today's connected consumers is the presumption that they should be able to surf from channel to channel and have a seamless, consistent experience as they move. This "omni-channel" experience requires companies to develop and integrate scores of strategic and operational insights, assets and capabilities end-to-end, ranging from core merchandising and marketing strategies at the front-end to robust order management and logistics operations at the back-end.
Accenture Omni-channel Commerce Solution for China
Gaining and Maintaining a Competitive Advantage in China's eCommerce Market.
The Accenture Omni-channel Commerce Solution for China offers retailers and consumer goods companies a reliable, cost-effective end-to-end suite of capabilities from which to launch new online channels, while striking the right balance between standardization and customization.
The combination of our capabilities and functionalities generates ongoing value for companies in four distinct ways:
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Discover the full range of eCommerce capabilities from Accenture
Our robust end-to-end solution meets retailers' and consumer products companies' requirements for both reliable, efficient front-end capabilities, and back-end services and operations:
Customer-Centric Front-end Capabilities
Merchandising & Site Management
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Docrili Comercio e Prestacao de Servicos Limitada
Sociedade por Quotas Limitada (Lda)
Casa N°1
Rua Manuel A Vasconcelos
Distrito Urbano da Ingombota
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In 10 years, it was said 10 years ago, we might have no bananas.
"Bananas could split for good," the BBC declared in 2003, citing a Belgian scientist who urged swift action to create new types of bananas.
By now, the ubiquitous Cavendish variety was supposed to have been at least in apocalyptic decline.
At first glance, it's another example of over-hyped predictions that never come true - but experts say the logic behind the prediction remains as valid as ever.
Simon Coley, director of New Zealand organic banana supplier All Good Bananas, says although sales continued undeterred at supermarkets, staving off the threat at huge commercial plantations had come at an environmental cost.
Because bananas are seedless and can't have babies, all plants of a single variety are clones of one another, grown from cuttings, unable to evolve, and equally vulnerable to diseases.
Panama disease had once, in the 1950s, killed off the Gros Michel banana - sweeter, bigger and hardier than the Cavendish.
The Cavendish was the replacement, immune to Panama disease - until it mutated and began to destroy crops in Asia.
Mr Coley said the disease's re-emergence became a watershed moment in the banana industry's approach to protecting its future.
"A key conflict emerged: should efforts be focused on building better bananas? Or on finding more potent substances - pesticides, fungicides and other chemicals - to stop pests before they damage crops?
"Most of the big banana companies chose the environmentally devastating latter alternative," Mr Coley said.
The plantations' efforts have been effective, so far. Panama disease has yet to reach the major banana-exporting Latin American countries, though it remains a threat.
The prediction's failure has been good news for consumers, but experts in the scientific field of looking ahead say it is just one of many examples of hypothetical futures becoming intertwined with reality - in ways both good and bad.
There were other bold predictions made in 2003: scientists at the Australian Museum said they would clone the extinct Tasmanian tiger in 10 years; a researcher at Sun Microsystems said computer modelling for new drugs would replace animal testing by 2013.
Neither eventuated. The Australian Museum abandoned its project after just two years, and Sun Microsystems is gone - bought out by Oracle in 2010 - with 50 to 100 million animals still being used for laboratory tests every year.
Maree Conway, a strategic foresight practitioner in Australia, said such predictions should be banned.
"I always think of predictions as living in our comfort zone. We like certainty - that's a human trait - so we predict and think we'll know what's coming," Ms Conway said. "We can't know. There's no data about the future. Predictions are based on data, and it's data from the past."
A prediction is to assume today's trends will continue into the future. "And that makes us very happy."
They were wrong 99 per cent of the time anyway, she said.
It was futile to focus on a single trend - like Panama disease - when there were so many trends intersecting and emerging. All you could do was to keep an eye out for change, she said.
The ones to watch, Ms Conway said, were often the weirdos of the present. "The kind of thing that when you read it, you think: 'That's rubbish. It'll never happen. Pathetic.'
"If you're in that space and willing to hang around in that space... To be able to shape the change you have to be on the edge."
But Dr Ian Yeoman, a futurologist at Victoria University in Wellington, said bold predictions in themselves played a vital role in actually shaping the future.
There were many false predictions, but that was hardly the point, he said.
As a professional crystal ball-gazer, he offered four services: to make a prognosis of the present; predict the next year or two; propose a vision for 20 to 30 years ahead; and imagine new frontiers of innovation.
Uncertainties increased the longer the time frame. But in the distant future, technological realities tended to begin "backcasting" toward futurologists' fictional forecasts, Dr Yeoman said.
"The world can get blurred in the middle of science fiction and reality, and there's a lot of that going on at the moment."
Everything in the world of Star Trek was now possible - because it had been imagined, Dr Yeoman said.
Three-dimensional printers were the science-fiction series' "replicators", miniaturised MRIs were its "tricorders".
"It's all about imagination - of what could be."
Futurologists in the world's technology powerhouses were dreaming up contact lenses to augment reality, printers to assemble dinner and procedures to reverse ageing. Computer tablets that could be rolled up, and even transportation were on the cards.
Recent predictions for the next 10 years include a robotic moon base, a reality show taking four contestants to Mars, and human corneas grown in laboratories for transplants.
Longer-term, telepathy, brains boosted by computers and nuclear fusion have been considered by futurologists to be likely within 100 years.
Dr Yeoman said New Zealand tended to be a conservative society, with few bold visions.
Nevertheless, in practice, forecasting was everywhere, from the Reserve Bank to tourism.
In fields that valued simplicity, like economics, five-year forecasts were the norm. In others, several probable future scenarios would be drawn up by modelling the past and present. "Delphi panels" of dozens of futurologists might pool their ideas to arrive at consensus predictions.
Some changes expected in Auckland include a surging and diversifying population and traffic gridlocks.
"No one can predict one exact future, but we can talk about a range of multiple futures, what they could be and what decisions and actions you could take," Dr Yeoman said.
Bananas were only the tip of the iceberg; change was everywhere and it would do to prepare - maybe even be a bit daring.
"The only thing I know about the future is the future is uncertain. But you know you're going to live there," he said. "You can't change the past. You're only going forward."
In the case of the banana, active and concerted efforts prevented apocalypse.
Dr James Buwalda, chairman of New Zealand scientific collaboration Better Border Biosecurity, said vigilance had been - and continued to be - crucial.
"One only has to look at the damage done to New Zealand's kiwifruit industry over the last two years to appreciate how quickly and devastatingly a pest or disease can wreak havoc on a well-established crop and industry," Dr Buwalda said.
"The risk of fungal diseases spreading across borders/continents is very real."
Longer-term, biosecurity might not be enough. Plants would need to be bred to change and adapt, he said.
Some have suggested genetic manipulation as a potential solution. In fact, at the periphery of the threatened mainstream banana are pink ones, fuzzy ones and taste like strawberries.
Mr Coley said All Good Bananas had begun importing small "misi-luki" bananas from Samoa but he wasn't sure that New Zealand consumers would accept such alternative varieties.
"They taste delicious but they're thin-skinned and delicate, look different to conventional bananas and taste much better when they're blacker - which customers don't expect. I don't think bananas will disappear but there's reason to think that the bananas we see in our supermarkets could change."


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Two distilleries officially off the Bourbon Trail
Kentucky's liquor landscape has become a little less blended.
The Sazerac Co., which owns Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort and Tom Moore Distillery in Bardstown, has withdrawn from the Kentucky Distillers' Association.
Meredith Moody, director of marketing services for New Orleans-based Sazerac, said the move means the KDA will no longer promote the two distilleries on its popular Bourbon passport tourism program, but both distilleries will continue to do public tours.
"We've been a member of the KDA for many years ... and, after an evaluation, decided it's in the best interest of us to chart our own course and promote the distilleries of Buffalo Trace and Tom Moore independently of the KDA," Moody said Thursday.
"We are going to do our own thing for tourism promotion. We still feel that we are very much a part of the Bourbon Trail; we're just no longer participating in the KDA's program of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail's Passport," Moody said.
Not so fast, said KDA president Eric Gregory, who said his group owns the trail trademark.
"They're off the Bourbon Trail. ... Our (dues-paying) members are the Kentucky Bourbon Trail," Gregory said.
He said he could not comment on why Sazerac left the group.
"Their resignation letter doesn't specify a reason," Gregory said. He said he was notified of the departure by e-mail on Dec. 31.
The KDA's Web site, www.kybourbontrail.com, has dropped both distilleries from its listings. The other member distilleries — Jim Beam, Wild Turkey, Maker's Mark, Woodford Reserve, Four Roses and Heaven Hill — are still listed.
Chris Morris, master distiller for Woodford Reserve maker Brown-Forman, was recently named 2010 chairman of the KDA board.
"We look forward to building on the momentum established by the success of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail as we develop programs to expand the appreciation of bourbon on a global scale," Morris said in a news release Monday.
The Bourbon Trail promotes tourism opportunities at the state's various distilleries and last year initiated an overnight foot-race that sold out hundreds of spots.
Besides marketing and promotions, the KDA also provides government relations and lobbying in Frankfort on alcohol-related issues.
According to its 2008 tax return, the non-profit association had more than $520,000 in assets at the end of the year. The group spent more than $78,000 that year marketing the Bourbon Trail, in addition to almost $65,000 in other marketing and public relations expenses.
Buffalo Trace also has its own lobbyist, and according to its Kentucky Legislative Ethics Commission filings, the distillery spent $68,000 on legislative agent compensation last year, when the General Assembly passed an increase in alcohol taxes.
Sazerac formed a joint venture with Buffalo Trace in 2002 and then last year purchased the distillery and Tom Moore for $334 million.


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Jim Beam® Expands Trail-Blazing Flavor-Infused Bourbon Line With Red Stag By Jim Beam® Hardcore Cider – American Whiskey News
Jim Beam® Expands Trail-Blazing Flavor-Infused Bourbon Line With Red Stag By Jim Beam® Hardcore Cider
Clermont, KY (October 8, 2013) – Just in time for the fall season, Jim Beam® Bourbon has introduced the newest expression to its world-leading bourbon portfolio: Red Stag by Jim Beam® Hardcore Cider. Following the flagship brand that helped spark the flavored bourbon category – Red Stag Black Cherry – Red Stag Hardcore Cider is a "Different Breed of BourbonTM" that offers a mixable and approachable spin on America's native spirit with natural flavors of apple cider.
"Since its history making introduction in 2009, Red Stag has helped fuel rapid growth of flavor innovation in the category," said Chris Bauder, General Manager, Whiskies at Beam Inc. "We're excited to extend our flavor leadership with the Red Stag line, which has seen double-digit growth every year, and are confident Red Stag Hardcore Cider is the perfect, versatile flavor addition for the fall season."
This exciting new addition to the Red Stag by Jim Beam portfolio has also already generated substantial interest from industry experts. Beverage Media notes that the product "offers great versatility in many cocktail creations or can be enjoyed chilled, on the rocks."
Like the other Red Stag flavors, Red Stag Hardcore Cider is an 80-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey infused with natural flavors. The new expression features crisp fruit and subtle flavors of apple cider for just the right amount of sweet and spice that's approachable for those who haven't considered bourbon before or who simply want to add a little fall flavor to their glass. Whether as a shot, on the rocks or mixed in a variety of creative cocktails, Red Stag Hardcore Cider is the perfect way to get into the fall and holiday spirit. Try one of the great seasonal recipes below:
Holiday Pie Punch
- 2 parts Red Stag by Jim Beam® Hardcore Cider
- 1 part Pinnacle® Pumpkin Pie Vodka
- 3 parts Apple Cider
- 1 part Fresh Lemon Sour
On the Rocks: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain over fresh ice in a tall glass garnishing with a lemon.
Warm-Up: Combine all ingredients plus a ½ part of water and 2 or 3 cinnamon sticks in a crock pot or non-reactive pan and bring to a simmer keeping heat just high enough to keep warm. To serve, ladle into heat proof mugs and float a thin wheel of lemon.
Eve's Temptation
- 2 parts Red Stag by Jim Beam® Hardcore Cider
- 1 part JDK & Sons™ Crave Chocolate Cherry Liqueur
- 2 parts Half & Half
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry on the rim.
About Beam Inc.
As one of the world's leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher's Scotch Whisky, Skinnygirl Cocktails, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC and DeKuyper Cordials. Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,400 passionate associates worldwide generated 2012 sales of $2.5 billion (excluding excise taxes), volume of 38 million 9-liter equivalent cases and some of the industry's fastest growing innovations.
Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index. For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.
Red Stag Hardcore Cider is now available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $17.99 for a 750ml bottle. For more information on Red Stag Hardcore Cider, please visit www.jimbeam.com/red-stag, "like" Jim Beam on Facebook or follow @JimBeamOfficial.


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Amy A. Kulp, 73, of Stroudsburg, died early Sunday morning, Jan. 27, 2013, at Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg.
Born on March 6, 1939, in Bushkill, she was a daughter of the late Henry and Mable (Walters) Howey and lived in Monroe County since 1960, moving from Pike County. She also lived in Florida for 10 years.
Amy was an insurance billing clerk at Medical Associates of Monroe County and was a member of the Democratic Club.
She is survived by three children: Lillian Smith of El Paso, Texas; Donald Safin and his wife, Kerry, of Stroudsburg; and Jason Safin and his wife, Amy; of Stroudsburg; eight grandchildren: Theresa Zeigler, Amanda Oney, and Taylor, William, Gwen, Melissa, Shasta and Bronson Safin; six great-grandchildren: Corey Oney, Kareem Zeigler, Ray Oney, Anniyah Zeigler, Chloe Safin and Chayse Safin; a brother, Kenneth Howey of Florida; a sister, Irene Kinney of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her siblings, Chuck Howey, Ada Grego, Dorothy Raitt and Walter Howey.
There will be a viewing from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, at William H. Clark Funeral Home, 1003 Main St., Stroudsburg. The funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Robert Walters officiating. Burial will follow at Stroudsburg Cemetery.
William H. Clark Funeral Home
1003 Main St., Stroudsburg
Amy A. Kulp
Amy A. Kulp, 73, of Stroudsburg, died early Sunday morning, Jan. 27, 2013, at Pocono Medical Center, East Stroudsburg.


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Our Hour of Discontent
Well, folks, it's Monday. And as if that weren't bad enough, we were all robbed - ROBBED, I say - of one entire hour over the weekend. A whole hour! It should be one hour earlier than it is right now, but it's not! Who signed off on this?! What evil mastermind convinced the US government that a nation of grumpy sleep-deprived workers was a *good* thing?
Do you know what I could have done with that extra hour today? DO YOU?
Well, neither do I, but this blog being what it is, we both know it's going to have something to do with cake.
- Buy enough goldfish to refill this wedding cake:
(Ok, picture this: Finding Nemo, except instead of a dentist's office the gang all live in a bakery's wedding cake display. I CALLED IT FIRST, DISNEY.)
- Write at least 6 or 8 puns on how these cookies look like the Sorting Hat made out of poop:
- Write a compelling argument for why a cupcake decorated with another cupcake impaled on top of the first cupcake with a straw through them both is basically the Inception of cupcakes.
If the yellow candle falls over we'll know this isn't real.
- Photoshop the perfect couple's portrait:
Unnng, you're liking that shoulder, aren't you, Robert Pattinson? Yeeeah. C'mon, let's go sit in the back row of that school bus and stare moodily at each other.
- Find out who is manufacturing cake flotsam in the form of tiny digital projectors:
...Mostly so I can find the person responsible and shake his or her hand. And maybe order a few dozen for my next Jem and the Holograms party.
- Plan a Jem and the Holograms Party.
The best thing about this Jem cake is that it gives me an excuse to link to this one. GOOD TIMES.
And finally, if I had my stolen hour back I could ...
- Stack all of these "wedding donuts":
... before explaining to the bride that ideas like THIS are why we as a nation can't have nice things.
Thanks to Janice W., Monica C., Katie S., Faith, Danielle B., Tiffanee D., & Rachel K., who know I'd really just spend my extra hour sleeping. AS GOD INTENDED.