[R-G] LPDC Alerts: Wangari Maathai wins 04 Nobel Peace Prize: Statement, etc..

Fri Oct 22 17:27:28 MDT 2004

LPDC Message on the upcoming U.S. elections
The LPDC's Voter Initiative has sought to make use of Native and/or
Peltier 
support voting blocs to exert pressure on the presidential candidates in

perhaps the most hotly contested race for the White House ever.  In 
addition, however, we have worked to make Indigenous issues come to the 
forefront of national politics and a primary concern in not only the
race 
for the White House, but also congressional races around the country.
This 
is the primary reason that Leonard accepted the Peace and Freedom
Party's 
presidential nomination -- to advance freedom and stand for the rights
of 
Indigenous Peoples.

One of the Indigenous issues of most concern to the LPDC is, of course,
the 
continued ILLEGAL imprisonment of Leonard Peltier.  Therefore, our work
this 
election season has focused on increasing participation by Peltier 
supporters in the political process, including the Peltier case and the
Pine 
Ridge "Reign of Terror" as campaign issues, and receiving public
commitments 
from candidates to support clemency for Peltier.  We have conducted
outreach 
to all candidates and endorsed none.  Why?  So that the decision as to
the 
best presidential and/or congressional candidate always rests with you,
the 
voter.

The general election is only weeks away.  We are encouraged that, for
the 
first time in many years, the rolls of registered voters are swelling.  
Registering to vote is only the first step.  Please take time during
these 
final days before the election to find out where the candidates stand on

Native issues.  Do what you can to educate those who would represent you
in 
Congress and the White House.  And, on November 2, take action:  Vote!

The presidential election is an important referendum on the future of
the 
U.S. if not the world.  Real social justice won't come with just one 
election, however.  It's important that we choose well this election
day, 
but our continued commitment to human rights for all the peoples of the 
earth, as well as the protection of our Mother Earth, is far more
critical 
if we are to make our vision of justice - for ourselves, for Leonard - a

reality.  Please, regardless of the outcome of the November 2 election, 
remember that our work is not done.  It has just begun.

Mitakuye Oyasin.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,

The LPDC
PO Box 583
Lawrence, KS  66044-0583
Telephone:  785/842-5774
Fax:  785/842-5796
Web:  www.leonardpeltier.org
E-Mail:  info at leonardpeltier.org

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Update on VIP letters delivered to the American Embassy in    Brussels - Else Herten
October 12, 2004, From Else Herten - KOLA

=+=+= INTERNATIONAL FORUM of VIPs for PELTIER =+=+=

Hi Folks,

I just came back from the U.S. Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, where I had
a short meeting with Mr. Daniel Gershator who is the Human Rights
Officer within the political department.
Last year in January, we gave the U.S. Embassy the first 221 letters of
the celebrities, organizations and politicians that signed the IPF
Forum. The political dept. of the embassy made sure the packet was sent
to the White House by "diplomatic mail". And indeed, about three months
later, we received a message from the Justice Department which stated
that President Bush had received the letters and had ordered the
transfer to Leonard Peltier's request for pardon file were they were to
be added as "supporting evidence".

Mr. Gershator will now see that the 137 new IPF letters are delivered to
the Oval Office so they can be added to the first packet. He was quite
impressed by the IPF letter signed by former USSR President Mikail
Gorbachov. I had put that letter on top of the rest, so it wouldn't go
unnoticed... (smile).
Other letters included in this packet were signed by: Michael Moore,
Dustin Hoffman, Raquel Welch, several members of the German Bundestag
(including its vice-president), Bryan Ferry, Marc Jacobs, Anna Sui,
Laurie Anderson, Kylie Minogue, Coolio, Jude Law, Julian MacDonald, Nick
Cave, Kate Moss, Bob Geldof, Dame Edna, Jonathan Ross, Bruce Cockburn,
Helen Mirren, to name just a few...

All new IPF letters (I know there are several on their way) will be sent
to the White House the same way on a later date. I hope we will not have
to send them though. And if we must, I hope I can change the name from
Bush to Kerry  (Cobb would be even better, of course, but let's stay
realistic).

The list of all (358 so far !) the IPF "celebrity" signatories can be
seen at: http://users.skynet.be/kola/vips.htm

And I want to take a moment here to thank some special people without
who this could not have been possible: in the first place, Vivienne
Westwood and Andrea Cameroni  (who are truely amazing !!!), Stefanie
Wachowitz (who's doing a fantastic job convincing the members of the
Bundestag), Frits Terpstra (what would I do without you !), and Roel van
Eijsden (who is our personal Pink Panther and comes up with new names,
addresses and suggestions all the time).
Also Dedy, Michèle and Erika for keeping me smiling and going on and on
and on...
and, of course, everybody else who helped/helps  :-)

To end: please don't forget to contribute to Leonard's Annual Gift Drive
for Children of Pine Ridge !!!

Els Herten

=+=+= FREE LEONARD PELTIER NOW! =+=+=

Important Notice for those of you who send funds directly to    Leonard at Leavenworth - Please Read
Notice of Change for Sending Funds Directly to Leonard Peltier for his
Personal Use

The Federal Bureau of Prisons is centralizing the processing of all
incoming inmate funds. This requires the establishment of a National
LockBox location. Effective 10/18/04 all funds being sent to inmates at
Leavenworth USP must be sent to the National LockBox location at the
following address:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
Leonard Peltier #89637-132
PO Box 474701
Des Moines, Iowa 50947-001

The institution mail room at Leavenworth will no longer accept funds
received from outside the institution effective 10/18/04. Any funds
received after that date will be returned to the sender with specific
directions on how to send the funds to the national LockBox. 
Do NOT enclose personal checks, letters, pictures or any other items in
the envelope. Enclose only the allowable negotiable instrument. The
national LockBox can not forward any items enclosed with the negotiable
instrument to the inmate. Items, personal in nature, must be mailed
directly to the Bureau of Prisons' institution where the inmate is
housed.

The inmate's committed name and register number must be printed on all
money orders; U.S. Treasury, state and local government checks; any
foreign negotiable instruments payable in U.S. currency; and envelopes.

Donors must have their name and return address in the upper left hand
corner of the envelope.

Inmate's families and friends may now send inmates funds through Western
Union's Quick Collect Program. All funds sent via Western Union's Quick
Collect will be posted to the inmate's account within two to four hours,
when those funds are sent between 7 am and 9 pm EST. Funds sent to an
inmate through Western Union Quick Collect may be sent via one of the
following ways:

1) At an agent location with cash: The inmate's family or friends must
complete a Blue Quick Collect Send Form. To find the nearest agent they
may call 800-325-6000 or go to www.westernunion.com

2) By phone using a credit/debit card: The inmate's family or friends
may simply call 800-634-3422 and press option 2

3) Online using a credit/debit card: The inmate's family and friends may
go to www.westernunion.com. Select Bill Payment, then Quick Collect
For each Western Union Quick Collect transaction, the following
information must be provided:

1) Inmate Register Number
2) Inmate Name
3) City code: FBOP
4) State code: DC

Please note that the inmate name and register number must be entered
correctly. 

Mitakuye Oyasin.
In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,
Raquel Robles Burnett
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
PO Box 583
Lawrence, Kansas 66044-0583
USA
1-888-316-8437 or 1-785-842-5774 (Telephone)
1-785-842-5796 (Fax)
E-mail: info at leonardpeltier.org
Web site: www.leonardpeltier.org

Peltier Benefit Concerts in Europe this November - please publish    far and wide
From: Frits F Terpstra [mailto:fritst at home.nl]
Sent: Tuesday, October 05, 2004 12:20 PM
To: LPDC; James Robideau; lpsg at leonardpeltier.org
Cc: Shep Harold Gurwitz; Els Herten; LPSG RheinMain

Subject: Benefit concerts in November

On November 23, the Lew Gurwitz Memorial Foundation and Bluescafé de
Vestibule will organize the annual benefit & awareness concert in
Groningen, Netherlands.
The benefits will be donated to the LPDC and to the Dakota Youth Project
on the Pine Reservation in South Dakota.

Honorary member and advisor of the Lew Gurwitz Memorial Foundation, Mr.
Shep Gurwitz, brother of the late Lew Gurwitz (attorney for Leonard
Peltier) will be speaking at the concert.

Kale Bas (NL)
Sandwitch (Ger)
Stumbleweeds (NL)
Arie op Safari (NL)
Molluccan percussiongroup Bergaul (NL)
Jeff Sopacua and Friends (NL)
Tollak (US)
Chuckletruck (UK)
Paul Middleton (UK)
Jed Thomas (UK)

Because we cannot attach documents to this email, a small poster of the
event is available by contacting the people below. Feel free to publish.

On a smaller scale a similar benefit & awareness concert will be
organized in Beugelcafé de Tobbe in Deventer, Netherlands on November
24th. Shep Gurwitz will also speak at that event and Jed Thomas is one
of the musical guests there too, along with his fellow townsman Paul
Middleton.

We would be pleased if you'd announce the event and send us an update on
information, to be used at the events. It would make it easier for Shep
to speak about the needs of Leonard (LPDC) and Jim (DYP).

Thanks,

Frits F Terpstra
Lew Gurwitz Memorial Foundation
Netherlands
______________________________________
Lew Gurwitz Memorial Foundation
Reigerstraat 8-a
9714 EW Groningen
Netherlands
Tel * 315 0573 6165
www.leonardpeltier.com
_______________________
Free Leonard Peltier

Announcement - Leonard Peltier Holiday Gift and Clothes Drive for 2004
Leonard Peltier Holiday Gift Drive: Annual Gift Drive for Children of
Pine Ridge

October 11, 2004   Oglala, South Dakota 

Leonard Peltier would like to announce the start of the ANnual Toy Drive
for the children of Oglala. Grandmother Roselyn Jumping Bull will once
again be hosting this event. *New* toys will be accepted for children of
all ages.

Clothing items that are always needed, such as socks, stocking caps,
gloves, shoes, and underwear (new only) will be given to the Loneman
School Nurse to give out on an "as needed* basis.

Roselyn will also accept Wal-Mart and K-Mart gift cards so specific
needs can be purchsed. Everything should be mailed directly to Roselyn
at:

Roselyn Jumping Bull
P.O. Box 207
Oglala, SD 57764

Telephone (605) 867 2231

For information, call Roselyn directly at the number listed above or
email us at:

oglala_commemoration at yahoo.com

Mitakuye Oyasin.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,

The LPDC
PO Box 583
Lawrence, KS  66044-0583
Telephone:  785/842-5774
Fax:  785/842-5796
Web:  www.leonardpeltier.org
E-Mail:  info at leonardpeltier.org

Wangari Maathai wins 2004 Nobel Peace Prize - LPDC Statement
THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FOR 2004 

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize
for 2004 to Wangari Maathai for her contribution to sustainable
development, democracy and peace.

The Nobel Committee has chosen wisely and acknowledged that peace on
earth depends on our ability to protect our living environment.  

"Maathai stands at the front of the fight to promote ecologically viable
social, economic and cultural development in Kenya and in Africa.  She
has taken a holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces
democracy, human rights and women's rights in particular.  She thinks
globally and acts locally.  Maathai stood up courageously against the
former oppressive regime in Kenya.  Her unique forms of action have
contributed to drawing attention to political oppression - nationally
and internationally."

Protecting forests against desertification is a vital factor in the
struggle to strengthen and protect our Mother Earth.  Maathai founded
the Green Belt Movement where, for nearly thirty years, she has
mobilized poor women to plant 30 million trees.  Through education,
family planning, nutrition and the fight against corruption, the Green
Belt Movement has prepared the way for grass-root action and been a
"strong voice speaking for the best forces in Africa to promote peace
and good living conditions on that continent". 

Wangari Maathai is the first woman from Africa to be honored with the
Nobel Peace Prize.  She represents "an example and a source of
inspiration for everyone in Africa fighting for sustainable development,
democracy and peace". 

Leonard Peltier and his Defense Committee wish to congratulate Wangari
Maathai on receiving this great honor.

We also wish to thank those who nominated Leonard for the Prize and the
supporters worldwide who wrote to the Nobel Committee to support
Leonard's nomination.

Mitakuye Oyasin.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse,

The LPDC
PO Box 583
Lawrence, KS  66044-0583
Telephone:  785/842-5774
Fax:  785/842-5796
Web:  www.leonardpeltier.org
E-Mail:  info at leonardpeltier.org
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