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Panzi staff Cirque Du Soleil members tell of a woman

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Panzi staff exhibits cirque du soleil members tell cirque tickets retells of a woman who was returning from working her fields when she was accosted by seven soldiers who gang-raped her. The last rapist forced the barrel of his gun inside her and pulled the trigger, literally blowing apart her genitals. We heard repeated stories from doctors and other staffers at the hospital of similar incidents involving bayonets or sticks as well as guns. This sexual violence is an affront not only to the body but to the soul and dignity of every woman assaulted. It is a stain on everyone with influence or authority in Congolese society. Yet somehow it continues, amid widespread indifference and in a climate of impunity, with no functioning justice system to speak of. Even those few who are convicted and jailed in the attacks are likely to "escape. " Leaders of the national and provincial governments, military commanders, the Catholic Church and other religious authorities and cultural and sports figures in Congo must do much more to change the culture that allows this to happen. In 2001, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia recognized systematic rape in Bosnia as a crime against humanity and prosecuted a number of those responsible In eastern Congo, such crimes continue unpunished The U. N. is working with Congolese authorities to prevent sexual violence and abuse by the security forces through awareness training and the creation of more disciplined and professional units, and to strengthen the judicial and penal systems.

It is also seeking to increase direct assistance to victims, ensure the recruitment of more women in the U. N cirque du soleil saltimbanco . peacekeeping force and strengthen protection efforts for girls and women living in hot-spot areas cirque soleil . Last year's national elections, supported by the U Cirque Du Soleil - cirquedusoleil . N. , were an important step forward and helped put an end to major fighting in much of the country, although not in the east cirque . Since 2004, the number of displaced people has dropped from 3 Cirque Du Soleil . 3 million to 1. 2 million. But the country's needs remain enormous cirque du solei . In any case, there can surely be no dignified, peaceful future for Congolese society as long as its mothers, grandmothers, sisters and daughters are subject to these most dehumanizing of crimes. Many of those I met in Congo asked, not unreasonably, what difference my visit would make in their lives. I told them I could not promise miracles but that I would do all in my power to draw attention to their needs while pushing hard to address the political root causes of their suffering I am committed to that. But sustained pressure is needed from around the world to make clear that this kind of shocking and appalling sexual violence must not be tolerated any longer. .

WASHINGTON — With political anxiety on Capitol Hill rising along with gasoline prices, the Senate voted Tuesday to open a large section of the Gulf of Mexico to oil and gas drilling, advancing the energy bill that stands the best chance of approval this year. The bill, approved 71-25, now must be reconciled with a broader and more controversial House measure that would relax the decades-long ban on drilling in most coastal waters, including along the Pacific coast. Senators from both parties, attuned to constituents' ire over high fuel costs, were eager to pass energy legislation before heading home for the summer recess . Eighteen Democrats joined 53 Republicans to support the Senate bill; 24 Democrats -- including California's Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein -- and one independent were opposed. The Senate bill would limit new drilling to about 8. 3 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico -- an area thought to contain more than 1. 2 billion barrels of oil and 5. 8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas circus du soleil Cirque Du Soleil - cirquedusoleil . The new drilling, though, would have little effect on overall energy supplies because the U. S cirque soliel . annually consumes about 7. 3 billion barrels of oil and about 22 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. By contrast, the House bill would lift, nationwide, the ban on drilling beyond 100 miles off the coast . It also would enable each coastal state to decide whether to permit energy exploration within 100 miles of its shore. In return for opening their coasts to energy exploration, states would get a share of drilling royalties -- a provision that gained the strong backing of Gulf Coast senators of both parties. Even so, a large number of coastal-state officials, including Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, strongly oppose the House proposal. Cirque Du Soleil tickets The Senate measure is the product of a fragile compromise worked out by GOP leaders with Sen.