May 25, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E929 honeycreepers such as the ‘i‘wi, ‘amakihi, and at Waterville High School. After graduating in tive to the ICC in the form of a hybrid, ‘apapane and a native flycatcher, the ‘elepaio. 2007, he completed his basic training at Ft. Sudan-based court with both Arab and Afri- In addition, these lands are habitat for the en- Leonard Wood, Mo., and his advanced indi- can judges to be selected by the African Union. dangered pueo, Hawaiian owl, and the ‘io, Ha- vidual training at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama But all this is moot since Mr. Bashir swift- waiian hawk. The proposed expansion areas and Englin Air Force Base, Florida. He was an ly rejected Mr. Mbeki’s proposal. Perversely, also include large numbers of native trees, pri- E4 specialist with a focus in explosive ord- Mr. Gration has now thrown U.S. govern- marily koa and ‘ohia, some 31 endemic spe- nance disposal, serving with the Army’s 707th ment support to a tribunal that does not and cies of flowering plants, and 37 endemic ferns. Ordnance Battalion. probably will never exist. Even if it did, the Due to its geographic isolation—more than Mainers come together during a crisis, and ‘‘locally owned accountability’’ he refers to 2,000 miles from a major land mass—these I know that everyone in Waterville and the is not feasible under prevailing political con- bird species and plants only exist in the Ha- state stand together to support the Slack fam- ditions, as any Sudan-based court will be controlled by the perpetrators themselves. waiian islands, and, in many cases, are re- ily. Wade is survived by his parents Alan and For seven years, the people of Darfur have stricted to this one island. Mary, his stepmother Rose, six bothers and been pleading for protection and for justice. The current owners of the two parcels au- sisters, two step siblings and countless close They do not believe either peace or justice thorized for acquisition under this Act are will- friends. He is mourned by all as a true Amer- can come while Mr. Bashir—orchestrator of ing sellers. Due to the ecological importance ican hero and a defender of the freedom we their suffering—remains president of Sudan. of these parcels, there is strong interest in the all hold dear. Nor do they believe ‘‘locally owned account- conservation community in Hawaii in assisting Madam Speaker, please join me in honoring ability’’ is remotely possible under the cur- rent regime. with bridge financing to secure the parcels for the memory of Specialist Wade Slack for his When Barack Obama was elected president ultimate acquisition by the U.S. Fish and Wild- patriotism and devotion to his community and of the United States, hope abounded, even in life Service. his country. Darfur’s bleak refugee camps. Darfuris be- As Members of Congress, it is our duty to f lieved this son of Africa could understand help to preserve our precious natural heritage their suffering, end the violence that has for future generations. Hawaii, much like the OBAMA IGNORES SUDAN’S taken so much from them, and bring Mr. Galapagos, is a hotspot of species diversity GENOCIDE Bashir to justice. The refugees hoped that and unique adaptations. And the Big Island of ‘‘Yes we can’’ was meant for them too. They believed President Obama would bring peace Hawaii, where this Refuge is located, is one of HON. FRANK R. WOLF and protection to Darfur and would settle for the world’s great biological laboratories. This OF VIRGINIA nothing less than true justice. one island, comprised of 4,028 square miles, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES I have held new babies named Obama and contains eleven of the world’s 13 climatic watched as Darfuris began to dream again. zones. One of the most isolated relatively Tuesday, May 25, 2010 Fatima Haroun, a 24-year-old widow and large land masses in the world, species ar- Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I submit a mother, told me the day was surely near rived in our islands by chance and then piece by actress and activist Mia Farrow which when the refugees could leave the filth and evolved to take advantage of every ecological hunger of the camps and safely return to the ran in today’s Wall Street Journal. It is appro- ashes of their villages. First, she said, they niche. And being an island, most of the animal priately titled, ‘‘Obama Ignores Sudan’s Geno- would honor their lost loved ones; they species that arrived were birds and insects. cide.’’ The President has failed to exhibit the would search the ashes for bones, wrap them So much has been lost in our world and Na- necessary leadership on this issue. He has in best cloths, and bury them with respect. tion due to extinction, but we also know that barely uttered a word on Sudan or Darfur They would gather wood and tall grasses to through our intervention much has been since coming to office. rebuild their homes, they would sing new saved. The bald eagle has been taken off the Having spent extensive time in the region, songs and prepare their fields for planting. Endangered Species List; I am hopeful that Farrow points out, ‘‘When Barack Obama was Hunger and terror would go away. Omar al- Bashir would rot in jail. we can also see the recovery of Hawaii’s elected President of the United States, hope Such hopes did not last long. magnificent forest birds through preservation abounded, even in Darfur’s bleak refugee Nearly three million souls are still waiting and restoration of habitat. Opportunities like camps.’’ Later she continues, ‘‘Such hopes did in wretched camps across Darfur and eastern this—to secure such valuable habitat from will- not last long.’’ Chad. Sudanese government bombs are still ing sellers—doesn’t come along often. I am Were the President to move swiftly to em- falling, murderers and rapists still roam free, committed to protecting our natural world’s bi- power Secretary of State Clinton and U.N. and the refugees have not felt safe for a very ological diversity. As the Member of Congress Ambassador Rice to take the reins of the ad- long time. United Nations Secretary General representing one of the most beautiful and Ban Ki-Moon has expressed concern over in- ministration’s languishing Sudan policy, per- creasing levels of violence in Darfur. ecologically important places in our world, I haps hope could be restored. In their darkest hours and through losses am determined to do what I can to help pre- [From the Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2010] too grievous to fathom, the world has repeat- serve Hawaii’s unique animals and plants. I OBAMA IGNORES SUDAN’S GENOCIDE edly abandoned the people of Darfur. Over more than seven years, two American presi- would be grateful for your support. (By Mia Farrow) f dents have used the word ‘‘genocide’’ to de- Last week U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan scribe what has unfolded there, but they HONORING SPECIALIST WADE Scott Gration told the Senate Foreign Rela- have done little to end it. SLACK tions Committee that although he remains It is past time for us to step up and accept supportive of ‘‘international efforts’’ to our moral obligation to protect a defenseless bring Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to people. The American people should urge Mr. HON. MICHAEL H. MICHAUD justice, the Obama administration is also Gration and the Obama administration to OF MAINE pursuing ‘‘locally owned accountability and lead a diplomatic offensive to convince the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES reconciliation mechanisms in light of the world to isolate Mr. Bashir as a fugitive from recommendations made by the African justice, and to wholeheartedly support the Tuesday, May 25, 2010 Union’s high-level panel on Darfur.’’ only body offering Darfur’s people a measure Mr. MICHAUD. Madam Speaker, I rise Mr. Bashir is indicted by the International of authentic justice: the International today to honor the memory of Specialist Wade Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and Criminal Court. crimes against humanity, but the African Slack of Waterville, Maine who was killed Ms. Farrow has visited Darfur and eastern Union Panel on Darfur has clearly aligned Chad 13 times since 2004. while serving his country in Afghanistan. itself with Khartoum. One panel member, f Wade was a beloved member of the former Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Al Waterville community. He is remembered for a Sayed, said in an interview with an Egyptian IN HONOR AND REMEMBRANCE OF kindness, compassion and wisdom that ex- newspaper, ‘‘The prosecution of an African ARTHA ‘‘LADY ARTHA’’ WOODS ceeded his years. On May 6th, Specialist head of state before an international tri- Slack succumbed to wounds sustained by bunal is totally unacceptable. Our goal was HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH enemy mortar fire in the Wardak Province of to find a way out.’’ The African Union panel is led by former OF OHIO Afghanistan. At just 21 years old, Specialist South African President Thabo Mbeki, who IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Slack’s youth punctuates an already painful in 2008 dismissed the ICC indictment, saying Tuesday, May 25, 2010 loss. that it is ‘‘the responsibility of the Sudanese Wade Slack, a fan of video games and state to act on those matters.’’ Then, late Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise hunting, enlisted while still an honors student last year his panel proposed a counter initia- today in honor and remembrance of my friend VerDate Mar 15 2010 06:10 May 26, 2010 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A25MY8.009 E25MYPT1 tjames on DSKG8SOYB1PROD with REMARKS E930 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks May 25, 2010 Artha ‘‘Lady Artha’’ Woods, of Cleveland, all know someone who works in the field of the city reaches new heights in the 21st cen- Ohio, whose joyous life was dedicated to ad- nursing and the commitment they make to tury.