International

Protest Against the Events in Tigray Ethiopia 12/04/2021

A group from Boston march down Church Street to protest the events in Tigray, Ethiopia and raise awareness to the atrocities taking place there.

"The night after the US election, on November 4th 2020, Abiy Ahmed, Nobel prize winner and Prime Minister of Ethiopia, started bombing Mekele, the capital city of Tigray in the North of Ethiopia. There was quickly a shut down of all communications, no internet, no electricity and no media allowed into the region, a region of over 6 million people. This bombing campaign, quickly escalated, with Ethiopian troops taking the city, followed by neighbouring Eritrea invading with reports of razed refugee camps, looting, sexual violence, massacres and extrajudicial killings. Many more have fled to Sudan, in what the United Nations has called the worst exodus of refugees from Ethiopia seen in two decades. They describe a disastrous conflict that's given rise to ethnic violence.

The region of Tigray has been under siege for months now. No humanitarian aid is being allowed in. Hundreds of thousands of people have died and are slowly dying of starvation. 90% of hospitals and clinics have been destroyed. Local people here in Vermont, with ties to Tigray, report family members who have been kidnapped and tortured by Eritrean troops, and others getting messages out of the country saying they have no food and no money to take care of their children. The Tigray Defence Force are now marching on Addis Ababa with the hope of capturing the city and ousting Abiy Ahmed from power."

Abraham Awolich Updating Vermonters on the Situation in South Sudan 11/27/2021

Akol Aguek, Sudanese Vermonter, is joined by Abraham Awolich, Scholar and Managing Director of Administration at the Sudd Institute in South Sudan, to discuss the current situation in South Sudan and why he has co-founded the People's Coalition for Civil Action.

More info: www.suddinstitute.org/who-we-are/about-us

VICII: Cuba Today - An Update on Our Friends and Neighbors 11/22/2021

Sandy Baird and Kurt Mehta lead a discussion on Cuba's past, present and potential futures.

From VICII:

Kurt Mehta, a lawyer who has visited Cuba and studied the island extensively, and Sandy Baird, from the Cuban American Friendship Society and a person who fell in love with Cuba decades ago, lead this community discussion on Zoom.

Cuba has always been under the watchful eye of the United States. In the earliest days of Spanish and English colonialism, the southern part of the States, which would become the Confederacy desired Cuba to increase the power of the slaveocracy; when the American Revolution succeeded in independence from the 13 British colonies, the new republic began an imperial climb to control all of Latin America and the Caribbean. After the Cuban War of Independence and the Spanish American War was won by the United States, Cuba was restricted in its independence by the Platt Amendment and by the occupation of Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for a US naval base and now a US prison for alleged terrorists. When Fidel Castro established a Socialist government in Cuba the United States saw “red” and determined on a policy of embargoes, blockades and “regime change” for Havana.

Under President Barack Obama the United States offered a carrot rather than a stick to Cuba. But the stick was returned under President Trump and now sanctions and restrictions on remunerations to Cuban families and on travel continue to attempt to cripple the island nation. Although Cuba is seeking a recovery of its economy and society after the crushing Covid pandemic, the United States seeks once again to undermine their neighbor only 90 miles away.

vicii.org

GMALL Lectures - State Of The Climate 2021 11/09/2021

Dr. Edward Cameron, a specialist in climate change and human rights, discusses the state of the climate in 2021, and the cost of inaction.

Sandy Baird Commentary: Armistice Day/Veterans Day 11/09/2021

Sandy Baird talks about the history of Armistice Day/Veterans Day and what we can learn from it.

What's Going On?: Torture and the US Constitution 11/09/2021

Sandy Baird and Kurt Mehta talk about Guantanamo Bay, the people who have been imprisoned and tortured there, and the legal and ethical ramifications of those actions.

My Brother's Keeper: Studio Interview with Puerto Cabezas Sister City Resident Dixie Lee Smith 11/01/2021

Boniface, Olivier, and Jeremia of the My Brother's Keeper program in Burlington, VT interview Dixie Lee Smith of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Puerto Cabezas was established in the 1980's as one of Burlington's sister cities.

Ethan Allen Homestead Enrichment Program: Vermont, Quebec, and Irish Independence 10/29/2021

Liam McKone presents aspects of restoring independence to Ireland focused on Vermont and Quebec. These include Ira Allen’s arms deal in 1796, Vermont’s safe haven for the Patriote movement in 1837, and the Fenian Brotherhood’s attacks on Quebec in 1866 and 1870. McKone is president of the Fenian Historical Society and author of Vermont’s Irish Rebel, the biography of Captain John Lonergan, on sale at the event.

About McKone:

Born and raised on the Mexican border of Texas in 1937, McKone has embraced Vermont as his home in Cambridge since 1984. A former intelligence analyst with the National Security Agency with an MA in Military History, he writes about certain aspects of the struggle for Irish independence and the American Civil War of 1861-1865. The published history of Captain John Lonergan, who received a Medal of Honor for gallantry in leading his “Irish Company” at Gettysburg and was the head of the Fenians in Vermont, will hopefully be joined by several other books that are in the works.

Refugee Resettlement Town Hall with Kesha Ram and Marybeth Redmond 10/19/2021

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale and Rep. Marybeth Redmond host a Zoom Town Hall to help our community learn more about refugee resettlement and assisting asylum seekers. The conversation includes an update on the current refugee resettlement programs, Afghan arrivals in Vermont, employer support for refugee workers, and guidance on getting involved in our state’s response. It features introductory remarks from U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Peter Welch, as well as a panel discussion with Tracy Dolan, Director of the State Refugee Office; Amila Merdzanovic, Director of USCRI Vermont; Joe Wiah, Director of the ECDC Multicultural Community Center; and Michele Asch, Vice President of Leadership and Organizational Development at Twincraft Skincare.

Announcement of New Honorary Consul to France for Vermont 10/04/2021

Lise Veronneau, of Burlington, has been named the new Honorary Consul of France to Vermont. The official conveyance is celebrated in a ceremony at Burlington City Hall, followed by a reception hosted by outgoing Honorary Consul of France to Vermont from 2008-2020, Ernie Pomerleau. Mayor Miro Weinberger along with French dignitaries are in attendance to honor both individuals.

"Vermont has a long history with France and the Quebecois descendants just across our Northern border in Quebec,” says Vermont Secretary of Commerce and Community Development Lindsay Kurrle. “France remains an important partner and investor to Vermont, and we look forward to continuing to grow our partnership, economic ties, and exchange of culture, products and ideas.”

Nominated by Ernie Pomerleau this role is appointed by the Consul General of France in Boston Arnaud Mentré representing the Ministry of France, and endorsed by the U.S. State Department. As Honorary Consul Ms. Veronneau volunteers to act as representative of the Consul General of France in Boston. Honorary Consuls advocate for French interests and French citizens in their state, in close cooperation with the Consulate General.

“Burlington is honored to once again have a community member accept this prestigious role, and I am confident that Lise will further the bonds of friendship between Vermont and France, she has demonstrated a commitment and ability to advance our shared goals of cross-cultural trust and understanding in her leadership of the Burlington-Honfleur sister city initiative.”

Ms. Veronneau has much experience fostering France – Vermont relations. She is an active leader in the Alliance Française of the Lake Champlain Region and in the Burlington-Honfleur Sister City initiative. Her past service to France was recognized in 2019 when she was bestowed the Chevalier in the French Legion of Honor. Ernie Pomerleau was recognized as Chevealier De La Legion D’Honneur in the same ceremony. Over the past 10 years Ms. Veronneau has worked to build international relationships with Honfleur Sister City projects. In addition to the many leaders in Vermont who work to foster connections on a variety of interests shared with France and Quebee.

“This is a wonderful day for Lise and our state,” said Ernie Pomerleau, President / CEO of Pomerleau Real Estate and prior Honorary French Consul for Vermont. “I know Lise will continue to strengthen France – Vermont partnerships that enhances the economy, arts, and international relations.”

“Thank you for the confidence you have shown in me by requesting that I be the next Honorary Consul of France to Vermont. I will be honored to lend my name and continue building relationships and helping promote French initiatives,” says Veronneau.

Vermont has long helped foster a positive French-American friendship. This new appointment is a next step in this long tradition.

Featured Story

CCTV Receives NEH Grant to Support Community Archives

CCTV Center for Media & Democracy is pleased to announce receipt of a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant alongside 32 peer archival institutions across the country. This $49,927 grant award will support efforts to preserve and expand access to audio/visual community history materials in the CCTV Archives. Read more about this opportunity here!