DETROIT — Regina Birchem, former president of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), is expected to make an appearance at an event addressing Palestinian human rights July 1 at the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit, 111 E. Kirby Street in Detroit at 7 p.m.

Regina Birchem

Birchem has been active against occupation in the Palestinian territories, having visited the region to participate in protests, resist home demolitions and attend workshops in Jerusalem. Earlier this month she visited Cairo, where she watched President Barack Obama address the Muslim world in a widely noted sxigan, U.S. Peace Council-Michigan Chapter, Jewish Voice for Peace-Detroit, and American Jews for a Just Peace-Detroit.
Birchem has in the past addressed United Nations conferences on environmental and development issues.

For more on the event, contact Barbara Barefield of Jewish Voice for Peace-Detroit at 313.891.2514, or visit jewishvoiceforpeace.org.

Arab Americans testify in Senate on driscimination and hate crimes

WASHINGTON — Arab American civil rights leaders made presentations Wednesday to members of the U.S. Senate, addressing findings on discrimination and hate crimes.

Former Congresswoman Mary Rose Oakar, president of the Washington-based American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee joined Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow as part of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee’s Meeting on Civil Rights.

Oakar made a presentation about the findings and recommendations of the ADC’s “Report on Hate Crimes and Discrimination,” which can be viewed at www.adc.org/PDF/hcr07.pdf.

The report was expected to be inserted into the Congressional Record by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy of West Virginia.

Hassan Jaber, Executive Director of Dearborn-based Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services also participated in the meeting.

Other groups attending included the NAACP and the Urban League.

Local, national groups send aid to Somalia

SOUTHFIELD — Two Michigan-based relief organizations, along with two other U.S. charities this week sent three major shipments of medical supplies, clothing, books and other humanitarian aid to needy civilians in Somalia.

Southfield-based group Life for Relief and Development (LIFE), Spring Lake, Mich-based International Aid, Indiana-based Children of Abraham and Minnesota-based charity American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa collaborated to send over $6 million-worth of aid to hospitals, clinics, schools in several major Somalian cities, according to a LIFE press release.

In past efforts, LIFE has also dug water wells to provide clean drinking water to small villages in Somalia.

“The people of Somalia have suffered from shortages of medicines, food, and water for many years, and it is wonderful to partner with other American charities to help ease the suffering of the innocent in Africa and other parts of the world,” said LIFE President and CEO Mujahid Al-Fayadh.

Visit www.lifeusa.org for more information.

“Zero-tolerance” for fireworks in Dearborn

DEARBORN – City officials said Thursday police will respond to fireworks complaints and will issue no warnings in enforcing fireworks laws this season, continuing a no-tolerance policy.

“Each year, we see cases of personal injury and damage to property when people use illegal fireworks,” said Police Chief Ron Haddad in a statement.

“We strongly recommend that the public avoid personal fireworks and instead attend a professionally-produced fireworks display.”