9334 Hon. Michael H. Michaud Hon. Frank R. Wolf
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
9334 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol. 156, Pt. 7 May 25, 2010 acre Kona Forest Unit on the leeward, west- representing one of the most beautiful and Were the President to move swiftly to em- ern, slopes of Mauna Loa volcano. The Ref- ecologically important places in our world, I power Secretary of State Clinton and U.N. uge’s purpose is to protect and manage en- am determined to do what I can to help pre- Ambassador Rice to take the reins of the ad- dangered Hawaiian forest birds and their rain serve Hawaii’s unique animals and plants. I ministration’s languishing Sudan policy, per- forest habitat. would be grateful for your support. haps hope could be restored. Eight of the 14 native bird species occurring f [From the Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2010] at Hakalau are endangered. Thirteen migra- OBAMA IGNORES SUDAN’S GENOCIDE HONORING SPECIALIST WADE tory bird species and twenty introduced spe- (By Mia Farrow) SLACK cies, including eight game birds, as well as the Last week U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan endangered ‘ope‘ape‘a, Hawaiian hoary bat, Scott Gration told the Senate Foreign Rela- our only endemic terrestrial mammal, also fre- HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD tions Committee that although he remains quent the Refuge. Twenty-nine rare plant spe- OF MAINE supportive of ‘‘international efforts’’ to bring Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to cies are found on the Refuge and adjacent IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES lands. Twelve of these plants are currently list- justice, the Obama administration is also Tuesday, May 25, 2010 ed as endangered. Two endangered lobelias pursuing ‘‘locally owned accountability and Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise reconciliation mechanisms in light of the have fewer than five plants known to exist in recommendations made by the African the wild. today to honor the memory of Specialist Wade Union’s high-level panel on Darfur.’’ The forested parcels authorized for inclusion Slack of Waterville, Maine who was killed Mr. Bashir is indicted by the International in this bill include 13,129 acres for addition to while serving his country in Afghanistan. Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and the Hakalau Forest Unit and 2,604 acres for Wade was a beloved member of the crimes against humanity, but the African addition to the Kona Forest Unit. The pro- Waterville community. He is remembered for a Union Panel on Darfur has clearly aligned posed areas for addition contain some of Ha- kindness, compassion and wisdom that ex- itself with Khartoum. One panel member, waii’s and the world’s rarest forest bird spe- ceeded his years. On May 6th, Specialist former Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Al Slack succumbed to wounds sustained by Sayed, said in an interview with an Egyptian cies, including the rare endangered Hawaiian newspaper, ‘‘The prosecution of an African honeycreepers such as the ‘akiapola‘au, the enemy mortar fire in the Wardak Province of head of state before an international tri- ‘akepa, and the Hawai‘i Creeper, as well as Afghanistan. At just 21 years old, Specialist bunal is totally unacceptable. Our goal was significant numbers of more numerous native Slack’s youth punctuates an already painful to find a way out.’’ honeycreepers such as the ‘i‘wi, ‘amakihi, and loss. The African Union panel is led by former ‘apapane and a native flycatcher, the ‘elepaio. Wade Slack, a fan of video games and South African President Thabo Mbeki, who In addition, these lands are habitat for the en- hunting, enlisted while still an honors student in 2008 dismissed the ICC indictment, saying dangered pueo, Hawaiian owl, and the ‘io, Ha- at Waterville High School. After graduating in that it is ‘‘the responsibility of the Sudanese state to act on those matters.’’ Then, late waiian hawk. The proposed expansion areas 2007, he completed his basic training at Ft. last year his panel proposed a counter initia- also include large numbers of native trees, pri- Leonard Wood, MO., and his advanced indi- tive to the ICC in the form of a hybrid, marily koa and ‘ohia, some 31 endemic spe- vidual training at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama Sudan-based court with both Arab and Afri- cies of flowering plants, and 37 endemic ferns. and Englin Air Force Base, Florida. He was an can judges to be selected by the African Due to its geographic isolation—more than E4 specialist with a focus in explosive ord- Union. 2,000 miles from a major land mass—these nance disposal, serving with the Army’s 707th But all this is moot since Mr. Bashir swift- bird species and plants only exist in the Ha- Ordnance Battalion. ly rejected Mr. Mbeki’s proposal. Perversely, Mainers come together during a crisis, and Mr. Gration has now thrown U.S. govern- waiian islands, and, in many cases, are re- ment support to a tribunal that does not and stricted to this one island. I know that everyone in Waterville and the probably will never exist. Even if it did, the The current owners of the two parcels au- state stand together to support the Slack fam- ‘‘locally owned accountability’’ he refers to thorized for acquisition under this Act are will- ily. Wade is survived by his parents Alan and is not feasible under prevailing political con- ing sellers. Due to the ecological importance Mary, his stepmother Rose, six bothers and ditions, as any Sudan-based court will be of these parcels, there is strong interest in the sisters, two step siblings and countless close controlled by the perpetrators themselves. conservation community in Hawaii in assisting friends. He is mourned by all as a true Amer- For seven years, the people of Darfur have with bridge financing to secure the parcels for ican hero and a defender of the freedom we been pleading for protection and for justice. They do not believe either peace or justice ultimate acquisition by the U.S. Fish and Wild- all hold dear. can come while Mr. Bashir—orchestrator of life Service. Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring their suffering—remains president of Sudan. As Members of Congress, it is our duty to the memory of Specialist Wade Slack for his Nor do they believe ‘‘locally owned account- help to preserve our precious natural heritage patriotism and devotion to his community and ability’’ is remotely possible under the cur- for future generations. Hawaii, much like the his country. rent regime. Galapagos, is a hotspot of species diversity f When Barack Obama was elected president and unique adaptations. And the Big Island of of the United States, hope abounded, even in Hawaii, where this Refuge is located, is one of OBAMA IGNORES SUDAN’S Darfur’s bleak refugee camps. Darfuris be- the world’s great biological laboratories. This GENOCIDE lieved this son of Africa could understand their suffering, end the violence that has one island, comprised of 4,028 square miles, taken so much from them, and bring Mr. contains eleven of the world’s 13 climatic HON. FRANK R. WOLF Bashir to justice. The refugees hoped that zones. One of the most isolated relatively OF VIRGINIA ‘‘Yes we can’’ was meant for them too. They large land masses in the world, species ar- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES believed President Obama would bring peace rived in our islands by chance and then and protection to Darfur and would settle for Tuesday, May 25, 2010 evolved to take advantage of every ecological nothing less than true justice. niche. And being an island, most of the animal Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I submit a I have held new babies named Obama and piece by actress and activist Mia Farrow which watched as Darfuris began to dream again. species that arrived were birds and insects. Fatima Haroun, a 24-year-old widow and So much has been lost in our world and Na- ran in today’s Wall Street Journal. It is appro- mother, told me the day was surely near tion due to extinction, but we also know that priately titled, ‘‘Obama Ignores Sudan’s Geno- when the refugees could leave the filth and through our intervention much has been cide.’’ The President has failed to exhibit the hunger of the camps and safely return to the saved. The bald eagle has been taken off the necessary leadership on this issue. He has ashes of their villages. First, she said, they Endangered Species List; I am hopeful that barely uttered a word on Sudan or Darfur would honor their lost loved ones; they we can also see the recovery of Hawaii’s since coming to office. would search the ashes for bones, wrap them magnificent forest birds through preservation Having spent extensive time in the region, in best cloths, and bury them with respect. and restoration of habitat. Opportunities like Farrow points out, ‘‘When Barack Obama was They would gather wood and tall grasses to rebuild their homes, they would sing new this—to secure such valuable habitat from will- elected President of the United States, hope songs and prepare their fields for planting. ing sellers—doesn’t come along often. I am abounded, even in Darfur’s bleak refugee Hunger and terror would go away. Omar al- committed to protecting our natural world’s bi- camps.’’ Later she continues, ‘‘Such hopes did Bashir would rot in jail. ological diversity. As the Member of Congress not last long.’’ Such hopes did not last long. VerDate Mar 15 2010 08:13 Jun 20, 2013 Jkt 089102 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR10\E25MY0.000 E25MY0 WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD May 25, 2010 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS, Vol.