DAP adds non-Chinese, East M’sians to CEC – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Leven Woon, FMT – Sunday, 16 December 2012 Super Admin
Of the 10 members co-opted into the CEC this morning, seven of them are non-Chinese and East Malaysians.
The newly-minted DAP central leadership today appointed seven non-Chinese and East Malaysian leaders into the centre executive committee (CEC) in a bid to sharpen its multiracial appeal.
DAP first-term senator Ariffin M Omar was made a vice chairman to replace Tengku Abdul Aziz who quit the party in May.
Besides him, Zairil Khir Johari, Sabah party chairman Jimmy Wong, Sarawak member John Brian Anthony, Sabah member Edwin Bosi, former Perak speaker V Sivakumar were also the new faces in the CEC.
Both Tan Seng Giaw and P Ramasamy, who were bitterly voted out by party members yesterday, made their way back to the CEC through appointments.
DAP Central Executive Committee 2012-2015
Appointed:
Dr Tan Seng Giaw
P Ramasamy
Ariffin S.M. Omar
Zairil Khir Johari
Jimmy Wong Sze Phin
John Brian Anthony
Edwin Bosi
Leong Ngah Ngah
V Sivakumar
Thomas Su Keong Siong
Office-bearers:
Chairman: Karpal Singh
Deputy Chair: Tan Kok Wai
Vice-Chair: Chow Kon Yeow, Ariffin Omar, Chong Chieng Jen, M Kula Segaran, Teresa Kok
Sec-Gen: Lim Guan Eng
Asst Sec-Gen: Chong Eng, Ngeh Koo Ham, P Ramasamy
Treasurer: Fong Kui Lun
Asst Treasurer: Nga Kor Ming
National Organising Secretary: Loke Siew Fook
Asst Nat Organising Sec: Vincent Wu Him Ven, Thomas Su Keong Siong
National Publicity Secretary: Tony Pua Kiam Wee
Asst Nat Publicity Sec: Teo Nie Ching, Zairil Khir Johari
International Secretary: V Sivakumar
National Political Education Director: Liew Chin Tong
Asst Nat Pol Edu Dir: Dr Boo Cheng Hau
Committee Members: Lim Kit Siang, Dr Tan Seng Giaw, Teng Chang Khim, Leong Ngah Ngah, Jimmy Wong Sze Phin, Edwin Bosi, John Brian Anthony, Gobind Singh
To reconfirm: Dr Chen Man Hin as Party Life Advisor
Committees/Bureaus:
Disciplinary Comm: Headed by Tan Kok Wai
Legal Bureau: Headed by Gobind Singh Deo
Pakatan Rakyat Bureau: Headed by Teng Chang Khim
Cultural Bureau: Headed by P Gunasekaran
Labour Bureau: Headed by A. Sivanesan
Election Bureau: Headed by Tan Kok Wai
Pakatan Rakyat bureau
Guan Eng, when announcing the new office bearers, said that the newly-setup Pakatan Rakyat bureau will play a role in cementing closer ties between coalition parties.
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The whole council can be East Malaysian and Chinese without a single Malay but if the CEC does not endorse :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;or the East Malaysians in the CEC do not push for 100% disbursements of wealth generated by East Malaysia (rather than the 15% touted by DAP as ‘equality’ or even worse 5% from BN which is mostly pocketed by term limitless and nepotistic as well as corrupted politicians), what East Malaysia will have here is a CEC of puppets controlled by shadow players in the background of tem limitless nepotists taking 1 million in taxpayer monies every term they get from the Rakyat. The policy NOT the racial makeup determines a political party’s value, and from the above reasons, DAP is a USELESS political party good at showing token ethnicity but not actual policy (think pro ISA legal beagle Kasiviswanathan Shanmugan of PAP or the recent spate of firings of Indians from DAP). Nice talk but lies and bad politics that forget the promises they won GE13 by.
ARTICLE 2
Natives threaten army with court injunction – by Joseph Tawie (Hornbill Unleashed) – December 8, 2012
The construction of the RM40 million road connecting Ba Kelalan to Bario in Sarawak, at the cost of an essential water catchment area has angered local villagers.
KUCHING: Angry villagers in Ba’Kelalan have threatened the Malaysian Royal Army Engineers Regiment with a court injunction if they persist in building the Ba’kelalan-Bario road.
“If need be, we will apply for a court injunction to stop the army contractors from proceeding with the road construction,” said Baru Bian, a lawyer and Ba’Kelalan assemblyman.
Bian said that he had written to the chief of the Armed Forces that the villagers did not want the road (Ba’Kelalan-Bario road) as it passes Sungai Muda, which is a water catchment area.
The villagers have instead proposed that road be built from Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario. This would then safeguard the catchment area.
“The villagers have objected to the road being built through Sungai Muda as it would affect the water catchment area at Sungai Muda,” he said.
Bian, who is Sarawak PKR chief, said he was disappointed with army’s reply that only a few people were against the road construction while the majority of the villagers were for it.
“The folks in Ba Kelalan wants to protect Sungai Muda because its destruction would affect the lives of about 2,000 villagers from Punan Kelalan, Long Muda, Long Kumap, Long Langai, Long Lemutut, Buduk Nur, and SK Ba’Kelalan, an international award winning school,” he said.
In the letter, the army also said that the few people who rejected the road were the supporters of the Bian and that it reflected a very bad image.
“I have submitted a list of 152 villagers who are against the construction, and I will be calling for a big meeting in Ba’Kelalan on Dec 16, 2012,” said Bian.
“If the army still persists in carrying out the construction, we will apply for an injunction. It is typical of the BN mentality to blame the problem on the opposition.”
What about NCR rights?
On the reason given by the army that it is a ‘security road’ having its strategic importance to the forward operation base along the border to Lapo Bunga Cam, Bian said that it appeared that the army refused to listen to the people.
“Are they are serving the people or are they serving their own interest?” he asked.
He also questioned whether the road was properly planned as there was no EIA report and did not appear to involve the state authorities.
“And what about the native customary rights land of the people? Have they been excised out? My suspicion is that the project is improperly done and I urge the army to listen to the people,” he said.
Last month the villagers set up a blockade at Pa’Patar and Arur Lutut which is near the water catchment area called Sungai Muda.
The villagers claimed that contractors had already cleared about a kilometre stretch of the jungle despite their disagreement to have the road built through Sungai Muda.
The villagers told reporters last month that the army had explained to them that they opted for the Sungai Muda route because it is 20km shorter than the Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario route, and thus would incur less cost.
The villagers, however, did not buy that story because the Belingi-Lepo Bunga-Bario route is already there and merely needed small improvements, such as culverts.
The construction of the RM42 million Ba Kelalan-Bario Road started on Oct 1 and is expected to be completed by Sept 2014.
Defence minister Ahmad Zaidi Hamidi said army would implement the project under the Blue Ocean Strategy, and the road was a continuation of the 75km Long Luping-Ba Kelalan Road which was completed in September last year.
Does the above NPP warning ring any bells? (Please warn to remove if offensive . . . the post will be removed if so . . . )
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Good work but please do get some busybody QC from England to front you guys or make sure the UN gets minutes and video footage of every step taken by Orang Asli here. At the sme time don’t get too close to the colonial English. Replacing one Tuan with another Colonial White Raja is no different and will result in the same nonsense. Ask for equality in disbursements of wealth generated from east Malaysia, or demand secession then independence at the UN!
ARTICLE 3
US slams Malaysia, Anwar for “politics of ambivalence”: Warns anti-Malaysian sentiment on the rise – adopted from Written byWong Choon Mei, Alaa Soleiman,Malaysia Chronicle – Friday, 14 December 2012 00:33
Malaysia fast turning into Palestinian lackey, slams 3rd Force
US Opposition Leaders have slammed Malaysia and PM Najib for pursuing the “politics of ambivalence”, urging Putrajaya to drop its “aggressively” pro-Islamist stance and meet strife-stricken ASEAN nations at least half-way over the long-standing BUMIPUTRA APARTHEID issue, which he argued was a key factor for the growing anti-Malaysian sentiment around the ASEAN world.
“People don’t hate Malays because of rights or they are Malays but because of the contradictions, the injustices. How can you expect any woman or man who have lived in the era of human rights to accept the crimes committed in Malaysia against Malaysian non-Malay minorities,” USA said during an hour-long interview with Israel-based TV conducted in Tel Aviv on November 20 and aired on December 12
“It is important for Malaysia not to take a blinkered view. [For example] they can choose to disagree with Arabia but they must engage with Arabia…we talk about nuclear capability, the non-muslim world is saying why not to Israel and ‘yes’ to USA. Why ‘yes’ to Pakistan and ‘no’ to India?
“[This is the] politics of ambivalence. On one hand, you talk about democracy and on the other you work with the Lim Kit Siangs and the Anwar Ibrahims and the Karpal Singhs. There is a vast contradiction… Malaysia is perceived to be condoning the excesses and this is continuing mind you.
“You must have consistent coherent policies so that people can trust you.
Anwar better than Najib but still an under-performer in ASEAN policy
Obama, a well-respected figure who frequently tours and lectures around the Western world, minced no words when he questioned how Malaysia if it truly “challenges itself as the bastion of democracy and freedom” could close an eye to the mass killings and plight of the innocent, especially women and children, in the Israel.
He urged Anwar, whom he rated as being “better than Najib”, to break new ground in Malaysian foreign policy by putting greater pressure ad responsibility on Putrajaya to come to the negotiating table with the Western nations and on fairer terms.
“My stand is he’s better than Najin in terms of rhetoric in his speech but not in the actions, not in the foreign policy, not in his response to the apartheid and discrimination in Malaysia. This is totally unacceptable.”
Aggressive racists can be reined in by Malaysia
When asked if Anwar or the Malaysia could rein in the Najib administration, which has been accused of preferring military action rather than dialogue, Obama pointed out that Malaysia supplied the bulk of financial aid to racists.
“Of course they (Malaysia) can, they can do it in Putrajaya, they can do it in Thailand. I am not suggesting they go and conquer Indonesia which I opposed the war in Indonesia. But the Malaysia wields a lot influence. Putrajaya is the largest recipient of aid from Malaysia, huge, and the second very very low is Singapore. So can we say there is no influence? We are not even asking Malaysia to influence what is improper,” he said.
“Without the Malaysia, Putrajaya will not be able to move.”
A practising non-Muslim, Obama also took to task the OIC as well as some parts of the Western world including the current US government for failing to take stronger measures that could contribute to a more sustainable solution for Israel due to fear of offending Palestine.
“The position of the Palestinian can be considered to be extreme in the sense that all excess and all transgressions of international laws, all plunders and including the Occupation of Israel seem to be condoned accepted and that seems to be the main contentious issue not only in the non-Muslim world but the world that believes in freedom and justice. That seems absolutely so difficult. Many of my friends in the administration and past administrations in Malaysia tell me, Obama you can debate with them, you can argue with them, you can disagree with them on every subject except the Israeli-Palestinian issue,” he said.
“I think the Palestinians are misreading the situation purely and plainly because of their complete arrogance of power but my criticism of the USA government’s attitude is that nothing has been done except for resolutions and the resolutions seem to ignore Malaysia so we must also check on the Security Council and Malaysia because without Malaysian assistance, the Bumiputra Apartheid will not move in that manner (to attack Israel).
Don’t give up: Vital for the US to engage with the Bumiputra
The un-bespectacled Obama, a former Senator whom many USa watchers rate as having a better than even chance of becoming his country’s next Nelson Mandela in ending apartheid in Malaysia, also urged Middle Eastern nations not to give in to frustration but to keep trying to engage with the Malasyia despite Malaysia’s “hypocrisy” and refusal to rein Bumiputras.
“My position on Malaysia is that you should engage with the Malaysia . I meet them, I engage with them but I also know the hypocrisies [behind] some of their policies. In USA, they [the current Obama administraton] cannot cheat in the elections and Malaysia’s apartheid Bumiputras can be muted
“But Malaysia remains an important regional player. It has its ideal which many of us share on democracy and freedom and justice and if you have the leadership that comes to accept this and has consistent, coherent policies, non-Muslims are not blikered in their acceptance.
“Just stop the APARTHEID OF BUMIPUTRA, why is it so difficult for a country that is challenges itself as the bastion of Islamic values and freedom to say, ‘whatever the excuses, stop the anti-Islamic APARTHEID OF BUMIPUTRA’. You can’t do that and at the same time condone the excesses of the APARTHEID OF BUMIPUTRA on the pretext of protecting your Malaysian security.
Met with Palestinian leader: ‘Palestinian security’ remarks twisted by US media
Obama, who was accused of supporting Palestines’s right to fire rockets at Israel, slammed the government-controlled US media for twisting his words out of context and blowing up the issue to smear his prestige with non-Muslim voters ahead of a coming general election.
“There was no controversy. I met Netanyahu, the Israeli leader and he didn’t even bother to ask me for any explanation,” said Obama, who has been slapped a RM100 mil defamation lawsuit against the Malaysian newspaper owned by the opposition Pakatan party.
“I have no problems with Palestine contingent and conditional upon them keeping their citizens in the Occupied Territories… recognizing the Dewan (Malaysian Parliament) and Putrajaya and stopping the killings, the plunder, the victimization of the Israelis. What the US media did was to cancel all of that and said that I have no problems with the security of Palestine.”
Malaysia Dis-Chronicle
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The APARTHEID of Bumiputra is a failure in Human Rights, Islamic Jurisprudence and a symbol of the corrupted nature of ASEAN-form Islam in Asia that does not grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;as is the systematic abuse of those who wish to create spaces and equality for all. Freedom of speech or freedom of life, must not result in retaliations as some of us faced over the last decade or so, more so from supposed religious types (religion makes for false sense of entitlement in Malaysia over the atheist or agnostic or subculturist).
ARTICLE 4
Stop illegal land clearing in Cameron Highlands: Pahang Sultan – Thursday, 13 December 2012 10:31
KUANTAN -The Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah today called on residents of Cameron Highlands to stop illegal land clearing there as this can have detrimental effects on the environment.
The Sultan said the problem had been going on for a long time and urged the state government and the local authority to tackle it.
“Maybe the district council does not have enough manpower to monitor every spot of the highlands for illegal land clearing.
“Therefore, I urge the residents of Cameron Highlands to stop illegal land clearing,” the Sultan told reporters after laying the foundation stone for the International Islamic University Malaysia’s (IIUM) Medical Faculty Hospital, near here, today.
The Sultan had earlier expressed regret over an English newspaper report on illegal land clearing for farming in Cameron Highlands which the ruler felt was blown up.
The Sultan said the people should also look at the positive developments in Cameron Highlands which had made it a renowned tourist destination even among foreign tourists.
“I want everyone regardless of race to unite and work together in developing Cameron Highlands,” he said.
IIUM president Tan Sri Sidek Hassan in his speech at the event, said the hospital, with 350 beds, would be built according to syariah standards.
“It will also have sophisticated equipment to provide specialised treatment for the people in and outside Pahang,” he said.
– Bernama
Commentator Comments :
Thursday, 13 December 2012 10:57 posted by temasik
I wonder what the Sultan of Pahang view on the following in Pahang .
1.Raub Australian Gold Mine which is alleged owned by daughter of Pahang Royalty family. The mine operation poisoned the surrounding land in Raub and many durian farmers in Raub are eager to let go of their durian farm.
2.Lynas in Kuantan – Harmful Radioactive waste can last 250 years unless u believe Mahathir’s story it is harmless.
3. tasil Cini & Bera – the once beautiful landscape now turn into a sea of yellow . again . it belongs to Royalty .
ARTICLE 5
Thailand’s richest stockholders linked to Yingluck, govt – Friday, 14 December 2012 08:29
Politicians and their families, especially some people close to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her government after the latest reshuffle on October 28, rank among the richest stockholders in the country.
Appearing among the 5,737 millionaires as of September, according to a survey of investors in the Stock Exchange of Thailand by Money and Banking Journal in collaboration with professors from Chulalongkorn University, are Yingluck’s two nieces, who are daughters of her big brother and former prime minister Thaksin.
The younger niece, Paethongtarn Shinawatra, was ranked 47th with her 29-per-cent holding in SC Asset worth Bt3.46 billion (S$13.7 billion), while Pinthongta Shinawatra was 53rd with a 28-per-cent stake in the same real-estate company worth Bt3.35 billion.
They benefited from the 65-per-cent surge in SC Asset’s stock to Bt18 apiece as of September 30. This raised the Shinawatras to 27th among stock billionaire families from 30th in the previous year.
Pojaman na Pombejra, Thaksin’s ex-wife, fell to 502nd this year from 467th although her 2.8-per-cent stake in the family business accounted for Bt333.11 million, up 50 per cent.
Pongthep Thepkanjana, deputy prime minister and education minister, has his wife and daughter on the list. Yapa was ranked 244th with a 2.1-per-cent interest in Kiatnakin Bank worth Bt795.50 million, while his wife Panida was 264th with a 1.9-per-cent stake worth Bt728.08 million in the bank.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung has two sons on the list – Artharn at 1,811st with a 2.6-per-cent stake worth Bt58.28 million in Unimit Engineering, and Duang at 2,213rd with 1.8 per cent or Bt38.60 million in the same company.
Heading up the stock-exchange billionaires were the same faces. Thongma Vijitpongpun, president and chief executive officer of Pruksa Real Estate, was the richest for the third straight year with equities worth Bt23.5 billion. Most of his stocks (58.6 per cent worth Bt23.31 billion) were in his company, with minor holdings of 1.1 per cent in Quality Houses and 0.7 per cent in Seafco.
The Maleenont family was this year’s champion for the 14th year in a row. With a 108-per-cent jump in BEC World this year, the family’s stock wealth soared by 108 per cent, or Bt36.46 billion, to Bt70.26 billion.
They were followed by the Chirathivats with Bt40.87 billion, up 92 per cent, and the Vijitpongpuns with Bt28.09 billion, up 27 per cent.
Thailand’s 40 richest people have a collective wealth of US$55 billion (Bt1.73 trillion), an increase of 22 per cent from $45 billion last year, according to Forbes magazine.
Forbes noted that many of Thailand’s wealthiest are looking to take on international rivals, on the strength of an expected 6-per-cent growth in the Thai economy this year. For a country that some outsiders see as beset by political turmoil and rural insurgency – never mind last year’s calamitous flooding – Thailand has done remarkably well by its richest.
-The Nation/Asia News Network
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Thailand has done remarkably well by its richest. And the poorest? Ethics? Nepotism? The examples of crony capitalism are startling here. Politicians who are also plutocrats are an affront to Democracy and wealth distribution, equality of citizens and the concept of a ‘shared nation’. A handful of families enjoy life for generations and sequester extreme wealth, the 99% struggle for generations and have no access to even the basics. Revolution or change of laws are needed to the maximum sequesterable wealth of the wealthiest. Quality of life is very bad for the 99% in Thailand, and the so-called poor will never have a chance to be a politician in Thailand! What we have in Thailand is feudalism effectively!
mini-ARTICLE 5.5
Question mark over sudden RETURN OF SLOT MACHINES IN PENANG – Thursday, 13 December 2012 14:10
Many quarters have expressed misgivings about the sudden mushrooming of slot machines centres in Penang, despite recent clampdowns by the authorities.
Both Muslims and non-Muslims in the state said the development was worrying as many of patrons of these centres were schoolchildren and teenagers.
Harakahdaily’s observation in Bukit Mertajam has revealed scores of shoplots which had housed slot machines until recently were now back in business, attracting patrons mostly Malay Muslims.
Several residents said they suspected ‘syndicates’ behind the sudden comeback of the slot machines scourge.
Zaki, who lives at a housing estate in Bukit Mertajam, said the centres had been attracting large crowds of school students who spend their money on gambling.
“I am ashamed to see (Malay) students crowding these places. During the school holiday season, it has become their past time,” said Zaki.
Another resident, who wished to be known as Ong, said the authorities should take stern action against the operators.
“It doesn’t matter what ethnic background they come from, because these students would one day lead the nation,” he added.
-Harakahdaily
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Harakah might be exaggerating about the Malay student thing. Meanwhile, please fomally legalise the outlets to prevent further waste of manpower and money, and include normal casino card games and mahjong and dominos as well. The computer screen/slot machine and the alogarithms behind such gambling make winning less possible by the public as each computer will have a quota to win by unlike PHYSICAL cards, dice etc..
At least this is the first time we hear of non-Muslim entertainments being allowed, albeit not formally within law. DAP’s money mindedness has had an inadvertent protective effect on non-Muslim rights to gamble here, though would have been nicer if the local laws were amended for 4D outlets to offer the same PHYSICAL gambling games instead of this computer based and less than neutral chance of winning nonsense.
ARTICLE 6
Anti-Lynas rally: 71-yr-old arrested after asking Adnan Yaakob to apologize – Wednesday, 12 December 2012 23:50
A senior citizen and her friend were arrested this morning after she demanded an apology from Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob for his remarks about the anti-Lynas ‘Green March’ last month.
Tuw Yin Lan, who is 71 and popularly known as Aunty Mei, was among those who had participated in the 300km walk from Kuantan to Kuala Lumpur, organised by Himpunan Hijau.
When contacted, Himpunan Hijau publicity chief Lee Chean Chung said Tuw had gone to the MB’s office in the state secretariat building.
“Aunty Mei was angry with Adnan’s remark that the participants of the Green March had only walked for 200 metres,” Lee said when contacted.
“She waited outside his office from 11am. When the MB appeared, she went forward and asked him to apologise but he refused.”
She was then arrested along with Wong Chun Yuan and was taken to the Kuantan police district headquarters.
Another woman protester was also taken to the police station. However, it was later confirmed that she was not arrested.
About 20 supporters initially gathered outside the police station, while two lawyers from the local legal aid centre were on hand to provide assistance.
The number of supporters later increased to some 50 people, with some donning green T-shirts.
They were held back at first before the police eventually allowed some of them to go in.
Will answer any questions in court
At the Umno general assembly last month, Adnan had claimed that the protesters had not walked all the way as claimed.
He claimed that they had traveled “in luxury and in motorcars” and said he has no sympathy for them.
At around four o’ clock, Tuw and Wong were released from the police station after being investigated, stating they might be charged on Dec 26.
If they are not charged, the duo claimed they were told they must present themselves to the police station within 14 days.
They were interrogated by police who, they claimed, wanted to know if their actions was at the direction by someone, what were they doing and who supported them in their actions.
Both did not say much during the questioning but stated that they will answer in court if charged.
When contacted, Wong said that he and Tuw were arrested under Section 186 and 189 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in discharge of public functions and for threat of injury to a public servant.
Malaysiakini
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Much like Malaysian minority feminists that attack men but neglect apartheid against themselves AND their men, this is what happens to people who go around using Pakatan’s method of marching and demanding apologies instead of campaigning legally and in dignity as independent candidates. Arrests. If this 71 year old does not run for election in GE13 as a 3rd force candidate, we’d all know that the geezer might be a disinfo agent of BN to distract from the lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
BN has the mandate to grant the above 3 items but still does not act. By the Human Rights Charter which Malaysia is a signatory or the tenets of Islam about rights of non-Muslims for Haram entertainments and equality, BN is the least sincere choice still. BN, why don’t you use that undeserved mandate and put an end to this farce of 2 part elections? Meanwhile what is the Bar Council doing? Can’t even challenge the federal Government for Article 1 of the Human Rights Charter? Useless over-educated colluders with all the undeserved resources . . . Vote 3rd Force!
Proposed 3rd Force Party
mini-ARTICLE 6.5
Deepak, Musa the guns used in Dr M’s ‘guerrilla warfare’ against Najib & Rosmah? – by Nawawi Mohamad, Stan Lee, Malaysia Chronicle | 17 Dec 2012
When you want to get at someone who has influence and power, you have to plan and execute with precision and style in order to create maximum and lasting impact. Otherwise, it could backfire badly and you might end up hurt or even dead! That is life in the Malaysia’s take-no-enemies, an-eye-for-an-e…
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Nawawi and Stan . . . Zzz. If the election deposit which out 222 MPs refuse to lower is affordable to these guys, just shut up and run for election as a candidate against the creeps (right after winning lower the damn election candidacy deposit).
ARTICLE 7
DAP does not represent ‘middle Malaysia’, snipes PM – Monday, 17 December 2012 08:06
SANDAKAN — DAP does not represent ‘middle Malaysia’ or the spirit of unity of all races in Malaysia when all eight Malay DAP leaders did not garner enough votes to sit in the party’s central executive committee (CEC) during its congress yesterday.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that would not happen within Barisan Nasional (BN) that practises fairness to all the races in Malaysia and had a clear direction for the country.
“We also see that DAP is not only dominated by one race, that is the Chinese, but also by a family dynasty where Lim Kit Siang received the highest vote while his son Lim Guan Eng came in second.
“Not only the Malays lose to the Chinese, but even the Indians failed to be elected to the committee,” he said when opening the Liberal Democratic Party 23rd General Assembly, here today.
Najib called on the people to continue supporting BN which practises unity under the 1Malaysia concept and which was also evident in its cabinet.
“Malaysia lies within a good partnership known as Barisan Nasional. Believeme, we (Malaysia under BN government) will go places, our economy will soar and investors will be more confident,” he said.
The prime minister also said the BN government will continue to give out assistance in various fields such as education and business in order for the country to prosper.
Meanwhile, Najib said BN was serious and honest in delivering its promisesto the people unlike leaders such as opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said during Anwar’s brief stint as acting prime minister in 1997, the former deputy prime minister under Tun Mahathir Mohamad’s administration had every opportunity to prove his worth, but took the easy way out by letting the International Monetary Fund have control over Malaysia during the economic crisis that year.
“He (Anwar) didn’t protect the country’s sovereignty… He never asked himself why he was not fit to become a prime minister,” he said.
Najib also asked for the people not to risk the future of Malaysia under Pakatan Rakyat. He said the coalition of the opposition parties had no common ideology and had no clear direction for the future of the country.
“Even their leaders Anwar (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang are fighting to become prime minister if Pakatan Rakyat comes into power.
“We (the country) can’t have a coalition that is fundamentally flawed,” he said.
— BERNAMA
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Very true that DAP does not represent middle anything. Term limitless oligarchies are harmful. BN has not granted after 50 years :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;and on that basis, could be said to be even more fundamentally flawed. BN has the mandate to grant the above now. Why does BN not act? Because BN is fundamentally flawed. Pakatan has had ZERO years in power and never had the mandate – that is why Pakatan presents a 50 year stronger challenge. Otherwise vote 3rd Force!
ARTICLE 8
Dr M interfered in police probe on Anwar sex scandal, alleges ex-cop – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Monday, 17 December 2012 admin-s
(The Malaysian Insider) – Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had admitted in his memoirs to interfering in police investigations into the alleged sexual dalliances linked to his one-time deputy, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a former senior policeman said today.
In his open letter, ex-Kuala Lumpur CID chief Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim questioned Home Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein’s decision to keep out of an ongoing spat between two former senior crime busters — Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Datuk Ramli Yusuff — which is seen to be jeopardising public confidence in the police force.
“If exposed that Tun Mahathir (picture)himself had deliberately or otherwise admitted in writing that it was true he had interfered in police investigations related to the ‘50 Dalil’ [50 Reasons] book, what would be the response from Hishammuddin or the prime minister?” Mat Zain said in his letter to incumbent Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar, which was also copied to Hishammuddin and PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“It is hoped Hishammuddin will not say that the matter was a personal matter between Tun Mahathir and Musa Hassan and he refuses to interfere too,” he added.
The retired policeman alleged that Dr Mahathir had revealed in his autobiography, “A Doctor in the House”, published last year, that he had a direct hand in police investigations related to a book titled “50 Dalil Mengapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Jadi Perdana Menteri” [50 Reasons Why Anwar Cannot Be Prime Minister] that concerned the then-deputy prime minister’s purported sexual liaisons with several men and women, including prostitutes.
“He had confidently given a guarantee that he will direct the police to bring the witnesses to Sri Perdana once again, if the chief ministers and mentris besar as well as state Umno liaison chairmen wanted to interview them.”
Malaysia’s fourth prime minister wrote that he had first been told about Anwar’s alleged homosexual activities in the early 1990s by then police chief Tun Hanif Omar.
Dr Mahathir, who ruled from 1981 to 2003, said he was then given the book “50 Dalil Kenapa Anwar IBrahim Tidak Boleh Jadi Perdana Menteri” but had initially dismissed it as a sensationalist attempt to make money.
He said in 1997 Ummi Hafilda Ali, sister of PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, sent him a letter with specific allegations of sodomy against Anwar.
The former prime minister said he interviewed the girls who told him they were taken to have sex with his then deputy, who was later charged and jailed for sodomy and corruption.
Dr Mahathir wrote that they were persuaded to do so by an Indian man they knew as Nalla, likely to be Datuk K.S. Nallakarupan, then a close associate of Anwar who has since fallen out with the opposition leader.
Dr Mahathir said he then called Umno leaders including mentris besar and chief ministers to Sri Perdana to brief them about Anwar’s alleged affairs and showed them pictures of the witnesses.
Mat Zain said today that the former prime minister’s statements in the book were “clear proof that not only did he interfere in investigations, but also gave certain orders that were not appropriate to Musa Hassan, until it is believed influenced the overall outcome of the investigations”.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The judiciary has been unable to act even after a dearth, anti-trust and collusion evidence. The legal fraternity world wide should blackball Malaysia’s judiciary and give support to Musa if Musa decides to take out the ILLEGAL AP law writing (ask any legal body worldwide, they will tell you that Vehicular AP is illegal), failed shipping nepotism bailing, political nepotism causing mamak plutocrat politician Iskandar Kutty Jr..
mini-ARTICLE 8.5
PKR, Umno share same DNA – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Monday, 17 December 2012 admin-s
(Free Malaysia Today) – STAR is clear in pushing its Borneo Agenda for Sabah and Sarawak, saying it’s time for Borneo-centric policies, and that the Malayan Agenda is no longer acceptable.
State Reform Party (STAR) Sabah chairman Jeffrey Kitingan is adamant that PKR is the opposition’s version of Umno and will lord over the people in Sabah and Sarawak if it comes to power at federal level.
Jeffrey, who is also the president of the United Borneo Front (UBF), equated both the peninsula-based political parties as Malayan in nature and unsuitable for the two Borneo states.
“PKR and Umno are the same like the old colonialists. They come to exploit us to get into power to eventually lord over us. PKR should concentrate on winning the seats in the Peninsula which is already more than 75% of the total seats.
“It is their Malaya Agenda to control and colonise Sabah and Sarawak, whereas our Borneo Agenda is just the opposite, to free us from this choking over-lording over Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
East Malaysia should demand FULL equality or secede.
ARTICLE 9
DAP adopts one candidate-one seat policy – Monday, 17 December 2012 admin-s
(The Star) – DAP has adopted its Central Executive Committee’s (CEC) resolution on the one candidate, one seat policy.
DAP chairman Karpal Singh said one person should contest only one seat, but there could be exceptions on case-by-case basis based on the party’s strategy.
“The resolution has been adopted,” said Karpal, who had wanted such a policy to provide opportunity to candidates of calibre to contest.
Other resolutions from branches that were tabled and adopted include calls on party leaders to stop openly attacking the party to the point of jeopardising its image.
Perak New Village branch chairman Lim Soo Chong said attacks motivated by personal interest should stop because the party did not belong to any individual.
Another resolution adopted called on leaders to attend party functions and not to demand five-star accommodations.
Six other resolutions could not be tabled because representatives from the branches that proposed them were not present.
On a proposal by Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Suee Lim to impose a direct election system in the party, Karpal said the party constitution needed to be amended for it to be adopted.
“It requires a major amendment to the constitution. If the members feel strongly about direct election, then it should be considered.”
Although Karpal had said the delegates were free to bring up any issue, none of them brought up contentious issues involving Pakatan Rakyat.
Issues such as the gender ruling in salons in Kelantan, “khalwat” summonses issued to non-Muslims in Kelantan and the demolition of a religious altar in a private home in Selangor were not touched.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The only good news so far about DAP. Double posts mean salaries of up to 1 million yearly – which Rakyat would tolerate this? Where are those MP asset declarations and Local Council Elections as promised? Nepotist, crony capitalist . . .
ARTICLE 10
Why now, Musa? – by R. Nadeswaran, The Sun – Monday, 17 December 2012 admin-s
You cannot create doubts in the minds of the people by making such sweeping statements without substantiation. No amount of denials by the minister or his cohorts is going to clear the reservations of the rakyat unless and until you are willing to be specific.
WHEN Tan Sri Ismail Omar was appointed inspector-general of police two years ago, many had expected him to shape up an already beleaguered police force. From rising crime rates to public order, he had his work cut out for him. Besides, the internal bickering between his predecessor, Tan Sri Musa Hassan and the former commercial crimes chief, Datuk Ramli Yusoff, turned into what appeared to be a bare-fisted brawl. With Tan Sri Robert Phang in the fray, a battle royale has ensued.
After months of anxiety, worry and concern, Ramli was acquitted of charges accusing him of misuse of power.
While the civil suit which was filed by Ramli has yet to start, everyone thought the dust had settled and Ismail would be able to focus on reducing crime rates and other issues of public interest.
But last week, Musa came to the fore with his claims of “interference from politicians” and a host of other claims, allegations and assertions, this time accusing Phang of having had a hand in the transfer of a senior police officer.
Why now? If indeed there was interference, shouldn’t Musa have thrown the Police Act in the face of the people behind the interference and ask them to mind their own business? Was he not the key witness in the trial of a former deputy prime minister who was charged with “interfering with police business”?
Why now? Did Musa consciously stop investigating crimes just because the call came from Putrajaya?
Why now? There were no reasons or provocateurs behind Musa’s sudden outburst and hence why out of the blue, call for a press conference?
Why now? Having yet to answer the charges made by Ramli in his various court affidavits, does Musa now want us to believe his hands were tied in the past?
Why now? Musa retired two years ago and if he was unhappy with the events during his tenure, shouldn’t he have voiced out his views at the handing-over ceremony to his successor?
Why now? Musa had all the opportunity to offer advice to his successor, Ismail who had been his deputy. Is he trying to undermine the IGP by describing Ismail as a “yes man”?
Why now? Who was the Tan Sri who came to you with a stack of summonses? Shouldn’t he have been shown the door and told that the law takes it course?
Such claims have yet again forced the public to form their own views and opinions on the impartiality of the police force. People are wondering if the police pander to the wishes of politicians or if they go by the book in the application and enforcement of the law.
Going by Musa’s assertions, people who have committed murder, robbery and other heinous crimes are walking on our streets on the basis of phone calls from politicians?
These claims may have some truth in them, but making statements without substantiation would be akin to self-appointed do-gooders and instantly-created NGOs demanding all kinds of explanations from the opposition.
Musa did not provide one instance where the minister or a politician had interfered in police investigations. Except for saying that a titled politician turned up in his office to sort out summonses, nothing more specific was revealed.
If indeed the police acceded to directives and instruction from higher up, are we to assume that the police closed the file on the Balkis fiasco where funds totalling almost RM10 million were transferred illegally, which borders on breach of trust?
Are we to say that the police also closed the files on the overseas money transfers that were carried out illegally through money changers although there were prima facie cases against them?
No, Musa. You cannot create doubts in the minds of the people by making such sweeping statements without substantiation. No amount of denials by the minister or his cohorts is going to clear the reservations of the rakyat unless and until you are willing to be specific – incidences, names, dates and times – when such interference took place.
R. Nadeswaran maintains that the police should be impartial and that any charges made must be backed up with evidence. Comments: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Musa is testing the water, and all of the above if ‘fired’ will immediately remove any caveats of neutrality Musa has that will allow Musa to back down, Musa wouldn’t sign their own death warrant. Musa needs to test the waters to see how many supporters Musa has or the public sentiment which will decide if Musa will survive AFTER ‘firing’, if not acting as bait on UMNO’s beha;f to sabotage the whistleblowers – who in either case can count on general discontent to topple BN that Musa may try to cash in on rather than support a hated and racist political party. This is not the first or last time a retired IGP enters politics (think Thaksin’s early days before PAP converted the Policeman in Thaksin Shinawatra into a corrupted bureaucrat who has against all principles against nepotism ingenuously acted as if Thaksin’s sister Yingluck Shinawatra’s presence in the 3rd world mob minded country – the Red Shirts at least – as normal, while refusing to attend court . . . ).
How does being a 3rd Force candidate, if not independent and neutral MP sound to Musa? BN is corrupt, PR is selfish. BN is clearly racist (and somewhat nepotistic) and PR might be racist (and very nepotistic), or quite prepared to be self serving by using racism as a weapon of control. Devil and deep blue sea, how about NEITHER. Go independent or be 3rd Force! Help the rakyat learn that the hegelian dialectic of a supposed 2 party system might still make no difference by offering an alternative 3rd and by extension teaching the Rakyat to think. An ex-IGP (much like the failure ex-Bar President who refuses to run for election but creates chaos on the streets by inciting rallies to no purpose), has the ethos to run as a 3rd Force MP for certain . . .
ARTICLE 11
How Our Democracy is Damaged – by Kee Thuan Chye – Monday, 17 December 2012 admin-s
The individual analyses of the 16 by-elections in the book, contributed by about a dozen observers ranging from journalists to researchers to political scientists, reveal how inept the EC has been, especially in not attending to electoral roll irregularities and preventing abuse of public institutions and corrupt practices.
We often hear of electoral fraud and unfair election practices but what do they really mean? What forms does electoral fraud usually take? What constitute unfair practices and how have they surfaced?
Beyond that, what are the measures that need to be taken to ensure that Malaysian elections are free and fair so that this vital aspect of our democracy is truly well-served and our vote for the candidate or party we support is not made a mockery of?
A new book called Democracy at Stake?: Examining 16 By-elections in Malaysia, 2008-2011, published by Strategic Information and Research Development Centre, answers our questions and collates our concerns into a handy and comprehensive compact.
Edited by Wong Chin Huat and Soon Li Tsin, it analyses the 16 by-elections that have been held since the 12th general election according to such relevant categories as how free, fair and clean they were; the freedom and quality of the campaigning; the political parties’ access to media; corrupt practices that were perpetrated; how impartial or otherwise the public institutions were; the amount of campaign money spent; the electoral roll; and the polling process.
Wong, who is in my opinion one of the sharpest political analysts we have, sets the standard for the conduct of elections in his introductory article.
Well-researched and replete with references from many documented sources, it explains why electoral fraud is wrong (“Even if one person is disenfranchised … even if one vote is rigged, democracy is damaged because political equality is compromised to favour the ones who play foul”) and explains what we as citizens should expect of a free and fair election.
The most fundamental of expectations are that we “must be able to register as voters with minimal cost and trouble” and be able to vote “without much difficulty”, and our votes “must be counted with integrity”. By that token, we must also expect that the electoral roll “includes all citizens who are eligible to vote” and “nobody else”.
Wong, however, declares that the electoral rolls in Malaysia “fail on both accounts”. This is partly because as of March 2012, three million eligible citizens are still not registered voters. But what we may find more disturbing is his revelation that the electoral rolls “include many names who [sic] should not be there in the first place, such as illegally enfranchised foreigners, deceased voters, multiply-registered voters, voluntarily and involuntarily transferred voters who are non-residents in the constituency”.
It is amusing to note that entries like Kampung Baru and a Police Station at Kampung Kerinchi are registered voters on the electoral rolls.
Wong proposes synchronising the electorate database maintained by the Election Commission (EC) with the citizenry database of the National Registration Department (NRD) to minimise errors and allow for corrections to be made continually.
Although he does not say so explicitly, it would also facilitate automatic voter registration, one of the eight demands of Bersih, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections of which Wong is a steering committee member. The synchronisation of databases would alert the EC to instances of citizens turning 21 and attaining eligibility for voting.
Another disturbing point Wong raises concerns the legal impediments to transparency in the procedure for correction of errors. Section 9A of the Election Act 1958 prevents the electoral rolls from being challenged in court, and Regulation 25 of the Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations gives “unchecked power” to the EC to “correct any errors free from any public scrutiny”.
This point is particularly pertinent in regard to the Malaysian EC because the public has lost much confidence in the commission’s ability and inclination to be independent and neutral in the conduct of its duty. One important measure that the public needs to take, therefore, is to lobby for the EC to be truly independent and neutral.
If this were achieved, we can be better assured that other conditions necessary for free and fair elections will be facilitated.
These would include what Wong describes as allowing citizens to make “informed decisions after deliberation” from the “availability of information from all perspectives”.
As such, there should be campaign freedom – a reasonable period for campaigning once an election is called; free airtime for all contesting parties on State-owned broadcast media like RTM and unbiased coverage in Bernama as well as private-owned media, like Utusan Malaysia, The Star, Sin Chew, Media Prima’s TV stations, etc; and no restrictions like those imposed in three by-elections at which the Home Ministry banned campaigners from “mentioning (a) Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian model cum interpreter whose murder was linked to Prime Minister (PM) Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, and (b) the role of the Perak Palace in the state’s constitutional crisis”.
The impartiality of public institutions should also be upheld. This includes no abuse of government machinery by the ruling party, such as using official cars and helicopters for party campaigning or, worse, announcing development projects like in the Hulu Selangor “buy-election” when BN offered about RM136 million in projects, payments and compensations while the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor State Government offered about RM27.6 million’s worth.
And of course there should also be no pork barrelling at the hustings, the most famous example being the “I help you, you help me” offer of RM5 million for flood mitigation that Najib made to the Rejang Park voters in the Sibu by-election in return for their support of the BN candidate.
Nor should there be outright vote-buying, as in the alleged giving out of RM100 cash to each Chinese voter at a polling station during the Merlimau by-election.
It is the duty of the EC to report such transgressions but, unfortunately, it has not been fulfilling that duty.
By and large, the individual analyses of the 16 by-elections in the book, contributed by about a dozen observers ranging from journalists to researchers to political scientists, reveal how inept the EC has been, especially in not attending to electoral roll irregularities and preventing abuse of public institutions and corrupt practices.
In the Permatang Pauh by-election, for example, a voter was turned away from the polling station because on the electoral roll, he was said to be dead.
Furthermore, 949 voters were discovered to have disappeared from the constituency’s electoral roll. As the media reported the issue and the EC’s deputy chairman could not explain the disappearance, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin called on the EC to investigate it. However, “no finding was revealed to the public”.
In Bukit Selambau, election watchdog Malaysians for Free and Fair Elections (MAFREL) backed the Opposition’s claim that more than 60% of the voters in a housing estate were phantom voters, but the EC merely dismissed it.
In fact, the picture that emerges from the 16 analyses is that many of the complaints and allegations made during the by-elections were not resolved afterwards.
On the whole, as the editors sum up in the final chapter, “the integrity of the electoral rolls in Malaysia is highly questionable”. Citing extensively from research done by political scientist Ong Kian Ming, they elaborate on unexplained deletions of names; unaccounted-for additions; high number of voters registered under the same address; unusually high increase of military/police voters (most markedly in Lembah Pantai, currently a Pakatan Rakyat seat held by Nurul Izzah Anwar, which has seen a 1,024% growth of such voters); and other manifestations.
EC Chairman Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof has declared that Malaysia has “the cleanest electoral rolls in the world”, with problematic registrations amounting to only 42,051 names, but according to Ong’s research findings, the number is closer to 3 million.
Whomever you choose to believe, the outlook is far from rosy. The editors believe the irregularities are caused by deliberate fraud rather than administrative or clerical errors. They consider the state we’re in an “Orwellian absurdity”.
On our part, we the public should be pressing for accountability from the EC and other related authorities. Although Democracy at Stake? does not suggest how we could go about doing this, it focuses attention on a serious issue of our political life.
It’s up to us now to protect our democratic right. Taking to the streets through the Bersih rallies has been done and resulted in some headway, but this is unlikely the way to achieve the ultimate goal.
We need to think of other ways to shake the powers that be to get the real democracy we deserve.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Could the information on registered voters be easier to access? With a few million citizens on the internet trawling the irregularities and the system suggested on :
;could help where the issue of 1000% rise in voter listings or buildings being registered as voters, or repeats in names occur should easily be fereted out with the suggested system. Who needs voting machines?
ARTICLE 12
Flabbergasted 3rd Force slams poor Democratic Principals of “NATIONAL LIARS” DAP-Pakatan Rakyat leaders – by 3rd Force – Tuesday, 18 December 2012 17:09
I really do not know whether to laugh or to cry – the standard of Democratic Principals in Malaysia has really fallen to a disgraceful and abysmal low after four decades of DAP-PakatanRakyat rule.
Last week, Malaysia suffered national and international humiliation when the Trends in International Judiciaryematics and Police Study ( TIMSS) 2011 reports were released, as the nation’s ranking in eighth-grade Judiciary fell from 20th in 2007 to 26th in 2011 while its ranking in Police fell by an even greater margin, from 21st in 2007 to 32nd in 2011. Our average Judiciarys score fell from 474 in 2007 to 440 and our average Police score fell by an even greater degree from 471 in 2007 to 426 in 2011, both far below the international average for both subjects in TIMSS 2011.
What is even worse, Malaysia also suffered the shame of being only one out of 6 countries out of 42 countries participating in the Judiciarys study and 45 countries participating in the Police study to see falls in both our Judiciarys and Police scores and ranking! Most of the other countries either improved their scores and rankings or stayed at their previous levels.
Setting bad examples
But the poor attainments of our civil servants in Judiciary and Police when compared to international student achievements is not the only bane of the Malaysian education system.
Another equally critical area where the Malaysian education system has failed miserably is the Democratic Principals subject, which was poignantly illustrated in the past 5 decades, placing me in the position of not knowing whether to laugh or to cry.
Yesterday, I issued a media statement where I said:
“I wish to apologise to the Prime Minister and DAP President,Lim Kit Siang and the DAP-PakatanRakyat leaders that I was elected into the DAP Central Executive Committee (CEC) at the 16th DAP National Congress – and with the highest votes.” I am really flabbergasted that there are DAP-PakatanRakyat leaders and supporters who took it literally to mean that I had realised the error of BN-Umno “misconduct” and that BN-Umno was belatedly admitting that Lim Kit Siang had been right.
It would be unthinkable that such a ludicrous situation in comprehension of the Democratic Principals could happen in Malaysia 40 years ago! (The Race Riots took 2 hands to clap, DAP was the dirty hand, but ALL Malaysians were punished instead, meanwhile DAP MPs have sat in power for decades and currently collect 20 times PROPOSED minimum wage of 900 . . . )
No such phrases in the Democratic Principals, dear Karpal (much less the 0.002% quorum crony NGO(quangocrat) based elections which takes tax payer monies. (300 NGO members voted, 1.5 million Penangites were left out and given inadequate time to vote or participate in voting, DAP however wants to INSULT the Rakyat by distributing money THIRD WORLD STYLE instead which could be used to ensure proper voting occured)
Recently, we have a Mentri Besar whose comprehension of Democratic Principals is so dismal that he could “invent”” figurative language in Democratic Principals only known to himself – when he talked about “sacrificing DAP’s Teoh Beng Hocks” and “jumping into the river” in Pahang if DAP should lose to 33rd Force in Bentong in the 13 general elections.
Everybody who searched the internet could only find figures of speech like “cutting the Kit Siang to spite Guan Eng” and “jump into the PAP” but no “cutting Karpals” or “jumping into the PAP”!
Of course, Malaysians will not forget about another Mentri Besar who claimed ignorance of Democratic Principals as to justify carrying lying about declarations of MP Assets to the Rakyat as a campaign manifesto for GE12 while taking 1 million or so every 4 year term of thr taxpayer monies then having the illegally appointed EXCO members declare assets in bait and switch instead! DAP is a party of multiple crises in term limitlessness and crony capitalism, including multiple crisis in nepotism.
Let us be serious about term limitlessness and crony capitalism, including multiple crisis in nepotism in parties like DAP, and stop making Malaysia an international joke. Listed below are the nepotist (also untalented and unprincipled) factions in DAP which the Rakyat must remove or run as candidates against :
RELATED REPOSTING WARNING ABOUT NEPOTISM
Please note the Oligarchs in Pakatan as listed below :
NEPOTISM IN PAKATAN RAKYAT
Three of the below must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Two of the below must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Karpal Singh (MP Jelutong – Penang)
Gobind Singh (MP Puchong – Selangor)
Karpal’s son Jagdeep Singh (Asssemblyman Dato Keramat – Penang)
Karpal’s son
Two of the below must be challenged so that only a single candidate without relatives remains :
Anwar Ibrahim (MP Permatang Pauh, Seberang Prai)
Wan Azizah Nurul Izzah Anwar(MP Lembah Pantai – Kuala Lumpur)
Anwar’s Daughter Also either Ngeh (Pantai Remis) or Nga (Sitiawan)
;must go to prevent 2nd degree nepotism and the kind of environment that caused DAP’s Kulasegaran, PKR’s Gobalakrishnan, to be kicked out possibly an act of racism but more likely at the order of the Lim Dynasty clique. BN of course we do not need to discuss, blocs of relatives galore.
For even stronger consideration, I also list seats that HRP demands :
1. Padang Serai (Incumbent: PKR – N Gobalakrishnan)
2. Batu Kawan (DAP – Ramasamy)
3. Sungei Siput (PSM – Dr D Jeyakumar)
4. Ipoh Barat (DAP – N Kulasegaran)
5. Bagan Datoh (BN – Ahmad Zahid Hamidi)
6. Cameron Highlands (BN – SK Devamany)
7. Hulu Selangor (BN – P Kamalanathan)
8. Kuala Selangor (PAS – Dzulkefy Ahmad)
9. Klang (DAP – Charles Santiago)
10. Kota Raja (PAS – Siti Mariah Mahmud)
11. Rasah (DAP – Anthony Loke)
12. Teluk Kemang (PKR – Kamarul Baharin Abbas)
13. Alor Gajah (BN – Fong Chan Onn)
14. Tebrau (BN – Teng Boon Soon)
15. Lembah Pantai (PKR – Nurul Izzah Anwar)
HRP might very well be aware of some things we are not aware of to list some surprising choices as well, do not discount their reasons. PSM’s Jeyakumar appears to have been bought by BN though, so their viability is uncertain until PSM’s clique leadership changes. I have done some probing and casual calls to PSM, they are not very grassroots, DAP of course (also tried earlier) is far worse and absolutely TREACHEROUS and clique based and beholden to SINGAPORE’s PAP. I would not be surprised if the nepotists in DAP are rounded up a 2nd time, for collusions with Singapore to subvert Malaysian Federal authority instead amongst other things like ‘neurotech abuse’. Everyone else, should meanwhile stand as independents in any constituency with bad assemblymen or MPs or people who do not endorse term limits and asset declarations. Here’s something that will help voters decide if candidacy is not their thing or too expensive : Barisan – Apartheid, Corrupt and Nepotistic-Oligarchs Pakatan – Corrupt and Nepotistic-Oligarchs (excepting PAS) 3rd Force – Corrupt Only (watch Marina’s cliques as well) Pick the coalition with the least flaws. End the APARTHEID ! Destroy the Oligarchs in all political coalitions ! 3rd Force is best.
@AgreeToDisagree is the 3rd Force adviser & MP of the real issue
MAN UP TO YOUR POST & FACE ME IN THE RING – Anwar tells Najib – by Anwar Ibrahim – Tuesday, 04 December 2012 17:17
As the 13th General Elections draws near, UMNO has been showing signs of being increasingly insecure and uncertain about its future hold on power.
Being unable to counter our ideas and policies in a constructive way, it has instead launched a relentless campaign of hate and fear mongering. With the mainstream media at its complete disposal, UMNO is using every trick in the book to sow racial discord and instil fear among the people of the consequences that will befall them when Pakatan Rakyat comes to power.
Lies and May 13 scare-mongering
The just-concluded UMNO General Assembly provided yet another pretext to go on overdrive in this offensive of lies and intimidation led by Prime Minister and UMNO President Dato’ Seri Najib Razak. We condemn his reckless statement that Malaysia will lose its sovereignty in three years after Pakatan Rakyat takes over. The idea is sow the seeds of distrust among the people that Pakatan Rakyat leaders are traitors who will pawn the nation’s sovereignty for political power. Citing no facts nor providing any evidence, Najib’s scurrilous suggestion is therefore totally unfounded and can only be made by someone who has neither respect for the truth nor any sense of moral rectitude.
As a prelude to this loss of power scenario, delegates were also falling over each other in raising the spectre of a repeat of May 13th riots if Pakatan Rakyat comes to power. We understand that Wanita chief Dato’ Seri Shahrizat Jalil is trying to revive her political career having been forced to resign as minister by the multimillion ringgit NFC scandal. But to resort to such low hand tactics is inexcusable. To bring back the ghost of May 13th is to attempt to sow animosity among the races particularly between the Malays and the non-Malays and to spread fear among the people of violence and bloodshed if UMNO loses power. This is not only reckless but highly seditious and therefore criminal.
REAL THREAT
It is clear that Pakatan Rakyat has emerged as a real threat to the UMNO-Barisan Nasional hegemony and this has caused guns for hire to make blatant allegations about our leaders acting as proxies for foreign powers with me being singled out as proxy apparently for both the United States and China at the same time! While we may laugh away this non-sensical allegation, the fact is that with the nation-wide print and electronic media completely under its control, UMNO is spreading this lie with the intensity and ferocity that would make Goebbels proud. Employing the method of spreading ‘the big lie’ by constant repetition, the media attempts to paint a scenario of the country facing financial doom and under the control of foreign powers if Pakatan Rakyat takes over.
The UMNO media is also stoking the fire of communal and religious discord publishing the inflammatory racist statements of delegates. The fear mongering in this regard centres on making Muslims feel that Islam will be undermined if Pakatan Rakyat comes to power. According to UMNO, only they are the champions of Islam, not KEADILAN or even PAS. Thus, they spread the lie that apostasy cases will increase and that Malaysia may be turned into a Christian state if UMNO loses power.
Low caliber personal attacks
Najib’s keynote address in the UMNO General Assembly was full of vitriolic against Pakatan Rakyat and personal attacks against its leaders, me in particular in language totally un-befitting a statesman. Should the rakyat continue to bear with leadership of such caliber? What is the policy of the Umno president going forward for the nation? Where are the blue prints for the economy and social justice, for health care, housing and education? Najib must stop this campaign of lies and intimidation.
If he has valid issues with Pakatan Rakyat, then he should accept my invitation for a debate so that all Malaysians will be given the opportunity to see for themselves who is lying and who is telling the truth. Stop hiding behind the protective wall of your propaganda machinery and taking potshots at Pakatan Rakyat and me.
Man up to your position as Prime Minister and face me in the ring!
Anwar Ibrahim is the Leader of the Malaysian Opposition & PKR MP for Permatang Pauh
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Najib just needs to grant the below 3 items :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;to make the opposition disappear. If the opposition makes clear on the above as well though, Najib indeed will have a tough time and who knows be on that slippery Scorpene and Altantuya slope to political and social oblivion . . . as for Anwar, the Rakyat should know that ccording to some sources, only 8% of PKR members vioted for the current PKR Committee. This means that 92% of the PKR members which might not even want some people in the committee (the whole of Anwar’s family is in the committee btw – NEPOTISM) either were not given time to select the committee or were intentionally left out or worse still, did not care at all. On PKR’s part, no attempt was made to ensure that the members voted, possibly because if 92% of those left out voted, Anwar, family blocs and Anwar cliques in PKR might not even make it to the PKR committee which uses the undemocratic practice of CHOOSING who gets to run in what constituency. If no honest attempt is made to revote at at least 66.6% quorum, PKR might as well be deregistered as a political party or the ROS could penalise PKR for having a committee which was not voted at a 66.6% quorum as per democratic principles recognized worldwide. PKR is a very slipshod run political party. Man up and face in the ring? Tak a look at that 8% quorum backyard first . . . what are the 92% saying?
ARTICLE 2
Child marriages: Rethinking the issue — Art Harun – December 04, 2012
DEC 4 — Child marriage has somewhat become something of a phenomenon in Malaysia.
In a New Straits Times report dated June 13, 2010 (republished by asiaonenews), the following was published:
“….according to the 2000 Census, there were 11,400 children below 15 years of age who were married — 6,800 girls and 4,600 boys. Of the 6,800 girls, only 2,450 were Malay. This means that the syariah court gave its consent to each of these 2,450 underage girls to get married.
“The remainder of 4,350 girls were non-Malays comprising 1,550 other Bumiputeras, 1,600 Chinese, 600 Indians, and 600 others. It is not known whether they had got their licence from the relevant minister, but even if they did, it would have been illegal, since there are no legal provisions for a non-Muslim under 16 years to get married.”
The report added:
“Last year,(2009) 479 children under 15 years, two of them boys, were getting ready to tie the knot. And 32 of them were below 10 years. None of them were found to be HIV-positive.
“This is based on Health Ministry statistics of premarital HIV screening for Muslims, a compulsory requirement for those wanting to get married.
“However, it is not certain if any of these applications for marriage were approved by the state religious department.”
The legal age for marriage for non-Muslims in Malaysia is 18 years old. For Muslims, however, the legal age is 16 years old. However, in the case of Muslims in Malaysia, the syariah courts are empowered to allow marriages of children who are under 16 years of age.
There are alarming and disconcerting reports about child marriages in Malaysia. In early 2010, there were reports of two marriages involving 10- and 11-year-old girls married off to men in their 40s in Kelantan. The 11-year-old was later found in a state of shock. The syariah courts later ruled the marriages illegal. The ground for illegality however was not based on whether there was adequate consent from the children or on their respective age but was rather based on procedural non-compliance.
Child marriages, particularly among Muslims in Malaysia, although not a societal norm, are however a socially acceptable practice among a section of the society. Mass weddings involving children are, for instance, carried out. The state lends its approval and sanction either by publicising such weddings on the front page of its mainstream newspapers or by its leaders attending such weddings. In December 2010, for instance, a 14-year-old girl participated in such wedding by marrying a 23-year-old teacher. This was widely reported.
Recently, the syariah court granted permission to a father to marry off his 12-year-old daughter to a 19-year-old boy. In the application for permission, it was cited that the girl had run away to stay with her boyfriend and refused to come home. Marriage was, apparently, the only solution to solve the problem and to protect the family’s honour and reputation.
If only life was that simple.
Let’s consider what the laws of this country say about children under 18 or 16. They can’t enter into a binding contract save for those which affect their necessities. They can’t even buy tobacco products and alcohol. They can’t have a driving licence. They can’t watch movies of certain types without an adult accompanying them. They cannot be contractually employed. They surely can’t vote in a general election. They also cannot enter clubs. Generally, a boy or man can’t have sexual relationship with any girl of 16 or less even with her consent. That would be statutory rape.
Why is that? That is because the law assumes that a girl or any person, regardless of gender, of less than 18 year old (or 16 in the case of statutory rape) is not able to give free consent. For the uninitiated, free consent is a necessary element in a contract or in sexual acts in order to determine whether the acts constitute rape or otherwise.
Regardless of the above, strangely, sexual acts involving girls of 16 or less will be all right and completely legal if she is legally married! The law is indeed an ass!
If children under 18, or as the case may be 16 years of age, are presumed by law not to be able to give free consent to enter into a contract or to have sexual relationship — or to exercise proper judgment whether or not to buy tobacco products or alcohol — on what premise does the state legalise such sexual acts through a state-sanctioned marriage?
What is most unsatisfactory about the marriage of the 12-year-old is the blatant transfer and absolution of parental responsibilities by the parents and the courts to the 19-year-old groom as well as the 12-year-old bride. Reading the case, the first question which crept up in every reasonable person would be, “how can a 12-year-old girl have a boyfriend?” And “how can a 12-year-old run from home to be with her 19-year-old boyfriend?” Then, we would ask “what will happen to the 12-year-old after her marriage?” “How is she going to cope with all the responsibilities that come with a marriage?” “Can she be a good mother?” “Can the 19-year-old support his family?”
On July 19, 2012, Malaysia ratified the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the Child with the following reservations:
“The Government of Malaysia accepts the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child but expresses reservations with respect to articles 2, 7, 14, 28 paragraph 1 (a) and 37, of the Convention and declares that the said provisions shall be applicable only if they are in conformity with the Constitution, national laws and national policies of the Government of Malaysia.”
The Convention defines a child as “every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.”
Article 18 provides:
“States Parties shall use their best efforts to ensure recognition of the principle that both parents have common responsibilities for the upbringing and development of the child. Parents or, as the case may be, legal guardians, have the primary responsibility for the upbringing and development of the child. The best interests of the child will be their basic concern.”
Article 19 provides:
“States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse, while in the care of parent(s), legal guardian(s) or any other person who has the care of the child.”
In view of the aforesaid provisions, which we as a nation have chosen to accept without reservation, it is thus with a degree of perplexity that child marriages, even involving girls as young as 12, are taking place without nary a thought on the welfare of the child and the responsibilities of her parents.
Corrigendum
In “Secular on Non-secular — what history tells us”, I have reproduced a section of the Reid Commission report with a sentence unintentionally omitted. I wish to take responsibility and apologise for that omission. The particular section should read as follows (with the omitted part in bold):
“We have considered the question whether there should be any statement in the Constitution to the effect that Islam should be the State religion. There was universal agreement that if any such provision were inserted it must be made clear that it would not in any way affect the civil rights of non-Muslims. In the memorandum submitted by the Alliance it was stated — ‘the religion of Malaysia shall be Islam. The observance of this principle shall not impose any disability on non-Muslim nationals professing and practising their own religion and shall not imply that the State is not a secular State’.” — art-harun.blogspot.com
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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Law is artificial and is not higher than the law governing 2 individuals in what they decide with each other. Sama suka sama (this is Malay for consensual and mutual) is more important than all of the above and can overrule the mere word of law being as aspect of law via spirit of law. A mob of hantu in British smocks (i.e. judges – being rhetorical here) have no right to pressure the young lovers who’s young tender minds doubtless will be impacted by the sheer pathos of society and the false ethos of Syariah or Civil court over emotions between 2 people. The statuary rape concept is nonsense so long as there was genuine love between any persons in any cases. And this is the law of ‘god’ or ‘nature’.
Much like sexuality, attraction is natural or god given, and a whole mob of adults in society should never have any say. As for finance etc.. the state can easily handle that instead of enriching politicians and cronies. The funds should go to allowing these very young couples to set up home etc.. As in normal adult cases, sometimes there will also be divorces, but divorce or even break ups is a mechanism of the environment and people around them influencing them. Without any external influence whatsoever, normal marriage ages should drop drastically which looks like that is what nature intended.
The issue is to ensure the instance education begins for a child that relationships especially life relationships like marriage are taught to them and even citing good yet very clear negative and positive examples of marriage and what entails so that a few months after your child can read and write they will know all the basics but yet also not be influenced. That is why we have PUBLIC EDUCATION, to ensure the insanity of the parent’s marital lives or society’s sexual taboos do not colour the children’s ability to be independent.
The use of the law as above is vicious and manipulative and needs amending.
ARTICLE 3
Pak Lah’s kin linked to power meter supply storm – by Mohd Farhan Darwis – UPDATED @ 03:26:48 PM 04-12-2012
PETALING JAYA, Dec 4 — The family of former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was linked today to a company that supplies the controversial digital electricity meters to Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) alleged to have hiked up energy consumption bills and gained the national utility company billions of ringgit in profit.
According to PKR’s investment bureau chief Wong Chen, Noor Asiah Mahmood, who is the younger sister to Abdullah’s (picture) first wife, the late Tun Endon Mahmood, owns Ombata-Ambak Holdings Sdn Bhd, which has a 15 per cent share in Malaysian Intelligence Meters Sdn Bhd, the latter which is one of five companies contracted by TNB to supply the new digital meters.
Wong alleged that the programme to switch analogue power meters for digital ones had showed consumers would be contributing RM6.88 billion to TNB’s profit over the course of 10 years. The programme has been stopped temporarily on the orders of Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui since October.
“Our research shows TNB has 8.03 million consumers now and the average price for each meter is RM250, therefore this programme had the potential to reach RM2 billion.
“For the financial year 2012, TNB’s revenue from all consumers is RM34.4 billion, if the electronic meter had given a conservative raise of two per cent, the additional burden on consumers would be as much as RM688 million a year.
“Seeing as the life expectancy of this meter is only 10 years, consumers would ultimately have to pay as much as RM6.88 billion to TNB for that duration,” Wong told a news conference at the opposition party’s headquarters here.
PKR strategy director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who was also present, said the issue was not a small matter as consumers would have to pay up to 50 per cent of the cost of their power bills.
“Therefore, PKR urges TNB to be transparent and responsible in this matter to reveal who are the electronic meter suppliers, the price paid for the meters and whether it was competitively priced at local and international standards, and whether an open tender had been called or was it a direct negotiation?” Nik Nazmi asked.
The Seri Setia state lawmaker also called for TNB to fund an independent body to investigate consumer complaints on the new meters and to act on the findings that bind the utility company to consumers.
Last October, Chin said TNB had halted the replacement of analogue electricity meters with electronic meters until a standard operating procedure could be fixed.
He had made the decision after receiving public complaints saying power consumption had spiked after switching to the new digital meters, causing them to be also billed “retrospectively”.
“This operation will go on but our main task is to educate people on the new meter,” the minister had said then.
However, Chin had said replacing the analogue devices with the new meters would continue for households where the electricity meters were damaged or suspected to have been tampered with, resulting in losses.
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The B*!@#$%s had everything, society gave them all the power to help the nation, believed in their goodness, yet greed still could reach these spiritually weak willed and corrupted men :
i) political power in the (greedy?) bid for PM, cost perhaps B*!@#$%’s mother
ii) perhaps greed for wealth and corruption cost B*!@#$%’s wife (and we won’t go into the Hadhari stuff which Al Azhar would doubtless scuttle as potentially offensive, unintellectual vainglorious, rehash of Islam if properly examined . . .)
Those who keep taking and never regarding those who help them, will never be have enough to pay from places where they have never and do not deserve to work, when time to collect comes. Some of us ‘work’ harder than most, some of the worst just take the efforts, and give away the nation’s treasures and harm the country despite everything. Only the deserving should be given high position – on a net tally, B*!@#$% has harned the nation and done less than what the lowliest street sweeper does for a living . . . and I won’t even get into KJ (and the 4th floor boys) as well . . . Forced Military Conscriptions btw were implemented during B*!@#$%s watch, this is the classic example of the smiling crocodile politician, very disappointing and hopefully not characteristic of the Malays as a race.
ARTICLE 4
GO ON LEAVE, Hisham told – Monday, 03 December 2012 16:06
Former inspector general of police Musa Hassan’s claim of interference by Home minister Hishamuddin Hussein in police affairs has been described as serious, and as such PAS Youth said the latter must go on leave pending a probe.
“Hishamuddin should be a gentleman and emulate Shahrizat (Abdul Jalil, Wanita UMNO head) who took leave following the National Feedlot Corporation scandal,” said PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan.
Musa last week dropped a bombshell ahead of the 66th UMNO general assembly accusing Hishamuddin of violating police protocols by giving instructions to junior police officers and a district police chief without his knowledge.
“So, I highlighted to him (Hishammuddin) Section 4 (1) of the Police Act (1967, which says) that the command and control of the police is by the IGP and not the minister. Of course, I cannot be rude to him as (he is) a minister. I talked to him nicely. He didn’t like it,” said Musa.
Hishamuddin sidestepped the allegation saying it was Musa’s ploy to divert attention from the UMNO meeting.
Musa however dismissed Hishamuddin’s claim as a personal opinion.
Nasrudin meanwhile called for the establishment of an independent commission to investigate Musa’s allegation.
He hoped the police would protect the people “based on law instead of protecting (a) political party by following its instruction blindly”.
-Harakahdaily
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Good. ‘Rule-of-law’ is taking out the political-bureaucracy as well. The judiciary should learn from Musa and take out the obvious among politicians who have harmed the nation – by Human Rights principles, an ex-Police Chief could by popular revolt overturn a government (presumably in Malaysia’s case to grant the below 3 items) as per the Human Rights Charter and Islamic principles of non-discrimination and non-disenfranchisement – to ah . . . ‘protect the minorities’ Human Rights‘ and ‘dignify properly practiced Islam‘ . . . ahem.
The international community is behind both police and judiciary if such actions were taken, and that makes Bar Council a farce for not acting before I posted this and several earlier comments. What happened in some of our lives really? Decades long audits of the system? Looks like the political bunch had better be serious in the future, in any case term limits as well. Perhaps the police could turn the tables on the REAL criminals of the country.
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
PAS should know that every ethical act they do is being cancelled by every Islamist action of abuse against especially non-Muslims PAS makes. PAS is not moving forward at all and confirms PAS’s use of ethics as an expedient (PAS seems to have no love or understanding of ethics and principles, but knows the value of using the same.) counter-apologist actions to balance Islamism, which is not what almost all Malaysians want. Perhaps PAS is not a political party and more a religious organisation that should go to Al Azhar at Cairo to learn about separation of faith and state.
PAS Islamists Abuse non-Muslims, deny non-Muslim activities :
Sultans know the difference even as Sultans themselves have most probably tacitly approved Malaysia’s other great flaw . . . the APARTHEID OF BUMIPUTRA by not taking initiatives in starting a Royal commission to grant the above 3 items :
‘PERCEIVED’ discrimination is why people shun BN – Kayveas – Monday, 03 December 2012 07:10
KUALA LUMPUR – People’s confidence in Barisan Nasional (BN) has eroded as they are affected by perceived discrimination and prejudice under the coalition’s rule, PPP president Datuk Seri M. Kayveas cautioned today.
He said this is why, despite various transformations introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, some groups still support the Opposition “blindly”.
“The transformed government of BN must eliminate the feeling of prejudice and discrimination among the people.
“We should make the people feel that there is fairness, justice and equality,” he said in his speech at the party’s annual general assembly today.
He added that the BN administration should facilitate every citizen and eliminate any form of frustration.
When met on the sidelines of the event, he said: “It’s not an easy task (but) the PM is working on it, he needs time but he is already showing so much of improvement.”
-thesundaily
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Perceived? The fact is that we do not have the below 3 items which is not PERCEPTION but FACT as opposed to Kaveas’ DECEPTION. This shameful article is mere apologism for lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Keep selling out human rights principles and accepting inequality as normal, and in the end Kaveas will not deserve to be a HUMAN. (Hate to sound ‘spiritually racist’, but caste stature cannot be erased apparently even with all the wealth and stature in the temporal world that Kaveas has) to accept such status as 2nd class citizens is surely a sign of lower caste ancestry . . . only equality is acceptble . . . ) Traitor to the UN and traitor to the idea of equality and ‘The Enlightenment’ which would never accept the APARTHEID of BUMIPUTRA.
ARTICLE 6
Karpal says touched by Pandikar’s apology – Sunday, 02 December 2012 08:25
KUALA LUMPUR- DAP chairman Karpal Singh is deeply touched by the apology made by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia to him on Thursday, the last day of the August house sitting.
Karpal who is Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament said this in a statement here today.
In reciprocal, he also asked for forgiveness for the many transgression in which an apology was due from him to Pandikar Amin.
On Thursday, Pandikar Amin apologised to Karpal over his spontaneous remarks that the MP might have been suffering from pain for not raising his hand when taking oath as an MP.
The incident happened at the beginning of the 12th parliament session on April 28, 2008 and Pandikar Amin in his apology said that he only found out later that Karpal could not raise his hand.
Pandikar Amin also said the remarks was made when he was still new and had no intention to hurt anyone and he would feel bad if he did not apologise to Karpal.
— BERNAMA
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Whats ‘touching’ (being sarcastic here) is that Karpal’s physical pain is more important than the meaning of the MP’s post, and the fact that Pandikar Amin is effectively on the side of those that will not grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
A$$ hurting? Aww poor baby. Remember we still live under apartheid and not be swayed by sweet nothings . . . Karpal is getting old and weak no? Replacement time . . . No need to ‘sayang’ whatever injuries . . . the best apology would be to END APARTHEID and a timely snap back along these lines from Karpal would have been better for the Rakyat than this maudlin sentimentality. Term limitless, nepotistic colluding MPs on BN and Pakatan sides who care more about this sort of sandiwara are the worst kind of politician. Politicians are disposable, get in there for your 1 term and 23K x 4 years of salaries (thats near 1 million btw), amend some laws and get out, we don’t need this sort of old friends among term limitless dictators and nepotists pathos to muddy the voter’s minds with regards the above 3 items.
ARTICLE 7
Waning popularity a message from the people, Najib warns BN – by Zurairi AR December 02, 2012
Najib asked voters to give BN more time to execute the changes it has planned for the country. — Picture by Choo Choy May
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 ? Again calling for change in Barisan Nasional (BN), Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today voters are choosing Pakatan Rakyat (PR) because they want to send a message to the ruling coalition.
“The message is for us to change as a party,” the BN chairman said while launching the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) annual general meeting (AGM) here.
“They want BN as a party to be more fair, inclusive, and so that every citizen of Malaysia will receive equal treatment and benefits from BN.”
The prime minister’s remarks came after PPP president Datuk Seri M. Kayveas’s address, in which the latter said voters are flocking to PR because they are “worried” by perceived discrimination and prejudice under BN’s rule.
Fresh from closing Umno’s annual assembly here yesterday, Najib again called on voters to give BN more time to renew itself by supporting it in the polls.
“We’re in the process of renewal. Real changes are taking place in Malaysia.
“Real changes are taking place while the same party is in power in Malaysia,” the Umno president said.
Najib also criticised the “Ubah” (change) slogan touted by DAP and PR, comparing their call for change to the recent “Arab Spring” revolution.
“If we change, are we sure we’re getting something better?
“(The people involved in Arab Spring) are not enjoying the ‘spring weather’. They’re still in the winter of discontent,” Najib said.
The prime minister said that the revolutions in the Middle East had caused the countries involved to lose out on tourism and currency exchange, as well as suffer declines to their security.
But Najib also confessed that winning the next general election will not be easy, saying that voters’ opinions were now easily swayed by current issues.
“Before this, we can just put a songkok (to contest) and we would still win.
“Now we need to read the desires of the public, understand the wishes of the people.”
Najib then appeared to criticise grassroots leaders for failing to disseminate the aspirations of the BN administration effectively, leading to problems with perceived discrimination and prejudice.
“The problem is not at the top, the problem is on the ground.
“These people must try to understand what the government wants. If we say we must treat every citizen equally, the whole system … must do that,” Najib added to applause from the floor.
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Najib then appeared to criticise grassroots leaders for failing to disseminate the aspirations of the BN administration effectively, leading to problems with perceived discrimination and prejudice. The problem is not at the top, the problem is on the ground.
“These people must try to understand what the government wants. If we say we must treat every citizen equally, the whole system … must do that,” Najib added to applause from the floor.
Politics should be about bettering civilian lives regardless of faith or ethnicity via honesty, and civilisational Islam (or any other religion), is not about crony laws and racial privileges. As mentioned elsewhere, were a screen applied to ensure meritocracy (to mask race), a translation machine (to mask language), and a voice modulator and distortion screen (to mask gender) applied at a job interview, we’d be surprised at the choices we make based on POLICY rather than race or religion.
Then the concept of NATION would be real. Right now the ‘needs basis’ is based around wrong things like religion and race or even gender ‘quotas’, which is very backward and insulting to the host race the Malays, disenfranchises the minorities, and men in general wherever quotas for women occur. Let the best people lead irrespective of faith gender or ethnicity, and let them be limited in terms AND chosen with the above tech applied so that the above racial or gender or religious cues will not affect choices. A first world ‘Meritocracy’ of logic and ability (as opposed to mob minded and pathos based DEMOCRACY of majority where the minority loses the rights to majority much like Morsi described – why can’t ALL RIGHTS be included in that sickening draft resolution that favours Islam so much?!? Egypt is NOT Islamist-Arabist, Egypt is Polytheistic AND uses Hieratic . . . Egyptians INVENTED BEER and also ate pork, Egypt was not Islamic UNTIL the Arabs militarily subjugated and conquered the Egyptians and destroyed and forbade Egyptian culture . . . ) must include :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
If we say we must treat every citizen equally, the whole system BN must ensure the above 3 items with that mandate BN already has. If BN does not grant the above 3 items, there is no point giving that mandate to BN again in GE13. BN can make the choice to as PM Najib said, ‘. . . treat every citizen equally . . .’.
ARTICLE 8
Is interracial integration more possible under convergence or divergence? — Boo Cheng Hau – December 01, 2012
DEC 1 — The recently announced National Education Blueprint contains nothing new. And it shows the powers-that-be have no real intention to listen to the public or make any bold reforms to our ailing education system.
It is a repetition of the sad old story about racial prejudice, not much different from the so-called “National” Education Policy which was largely based on Umno’s Malay nationalist belief that the national language should be the sole medium of instruction.
Proponents of the Malay-medium-only policy also emphasise the Malay nationalist perspective of history that having one common language — such as in our neighbours Indonesia and Thailand — can save Malaysia from disintegration.
Racial prejudice and political demagoguery as the basis for our nation’s education agenda of true unity will not get us far. Let me prove how discriminatory is our education system and the false impressions that it projects.
How my friend succeeded in the US
I had a taste of victory for what it means to have “equal opportunities” in education about 30 years ago when I argued for admission, on behalf of a schoolmate, into an American university which has produced some Nobel laureates.
My friend was originally from Taiwan but studied in a Chinese independent secondary school in Malaysia. She did not sit for the SPM or UEC. To my surprise, the admission officer of the American university requested for UEC results in lieu of SPM qualifications.
She did not sit the UEC because the exam was still new at that time. After a long discussion, the admission officer agreed with my proposal that she be admitted conditionally on producing evidence of completing 12 years of primary and secondary education — a standard which almost all American universities and colleges go by.
She was then admitted “under probation” for one semester, meaning she would be considered a regular student after the period of study with a GPA of 2.0 and above (an average of C and above). She graduated eventually without any impediment.
Her experience goes to show how democratic, liberal and flexible the American education system is. This is one of the key factors that allow the United States to become the most technologically advanced country, and one to which many talents from other parts of the world choose to emigrate.
The value of the UEC
In the 1970s, nobody in Malaysia took the UEC exams seriously except for the powers-that-be which attempted to ban it on account that the exam was (perceived to be) “anti-national”.
Nonetheless besides Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore where the UEC was recognised, many American universities and colleges had already begun accepting it as a gateway for college admission. As far back as exactly 30 years ago, one of my classmates was admitted to the famed Massachusetts Institute of Technology based on her UEC results and Chinese independent school coursework assessments.
Would our public universities and UiTM open its admission policies and welcome UEC holders by integrating them into the mainstream higher education institutes rather than discriminating them? Some top American universities even admit Chinese independent secondary school students based on school results and class ranking without referring to standardised examinations such as SPM, UEC, GCE, SAT and the like.
Yet after 30 long years, our own Malaysian government still despises the UEC as “anti-national”. In fact, except for respective language subjects, all UEC subjects are offered in three languages, in other words, one can opt to have his maths, science or other papers tested in English, Malay or Chinese.
Chinese independent school graduates are barred from using their UEC results as a means of admission to local public universities and teacher training colleges. This discrimination is deemed necessary to maintain Umno’s self-righteous “National Education Policy” for the promotion of “interracial unity”.
How can political demagoguery such as Umno’s ever help in promoting national unity and interracial integration? One could argue that the party is actually more interested in maintaining its tight grip on power by continuing to mislead the country that vernacular schools somehow pose a hidden threat.
STPM and matriculation — apple and orange?
The powers-that-be have since declared that racial quotas are no longer applied in local public universities. Instead, they claim a “merit-based” admission system has been put in place.
However, at the same time, university admission standards are “diversified” into two separate entry points — STPM and matriculation.
After years of protests by the non-Malays, only 10 per cent of matriculation programmes has been opened up to the non-Bumiputeras, and even this percentage is described by the Malay nationalists as a “sell-out” of Malay rights.
Non-Malays are supposed to be grateful for this small “kindness”, like once upon a time coloureds were supposed to thank their white masters for allowing them to go to schools in apartheid South Africa despite great disparities along racial lines in school facilities.
Almost all the non-Malays who managed to gain a seat in local public universities are students who sat the STPM. Many rue this blatant division of university entrance assessment — de facto along racial lines — as comparing apples and oranges.
Satu Sekolah’s inherent contradiction
The authorities contradict themselves by professing a single-language system to promote national unity through putting children under one roof but at the same time segregating them either at Form 1 or when they finish Form 5.
There is an obvious discrepancy between the teaching facilities provided to the vernacular schools which sorely lack government aid and support and the residential schools and Mara junior science colleges as well as the elite schools catering for Malays — e.g. the prestigious Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) and Tunku Kurshiah College (TKC).
Institutional racism practised in public university admission routes gives rise to an added dimension of polarisation. The racial distribution of students is further exacerbated when non-Malays, erroneously seen as well-to-do, are enrolled in private higher institutions of learning. Most people seem to forget that privately funded education, whether locally or abroad, comes at a heavy cost to their parents.
The indirect makings of apartheid
To generalise most Malays as “poor” and all non-Bumis, particularly the Chinese, as “rich” is just as good as apartheid.
The Malay ultras believe they are above being associated with the apartheid system in South Africa created with the ostensible excuse of helping the “poor”, Dutch-speaking whites of that country.
But then what should the international community make of UiTM — Malaysia’s biggest public university with campuses in every state — where almost all its students belong predominantly to a single race?
In the former apartheid of South Africa and during the 1950s in the Confederate states of the American south, physical segregation was made visible by the sign saying “No Coloured and Dogs allowed”.
In Malaysia, there are no signs to say “No Non-Bumis and Dogs allowed”. However, de facto apartheid still permeates through the fabric of the Malaysian public education system. It is de facto racial segregation in its utmost hypocritical disguise without leaving any physical evidence.
Therefore, I see no difference between those poor whites in the former Confederate states of the American south that once held demonstrations against university admission of black students and those Malay ultras that hold demonstrations barring “non-Bumiputeras” from entering local public institutions.
UiTM students did after all demonstrate against their university opening its door a crack when Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim proposed relaxing the admission just a tiny bit to the so-called “non-Bumis”.
America’s highest court ruled for equality
In Brown vs Board of Education (1954), the US Supreme Court unanimously decided that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal”.
It stinks of double standards if not a glaring blind spot when vernacular schools keep getting blamed for institutional racism in Malaysia. If mother-tongue vernacular schools (open to all students) are incorrectly termed as racist, then the one-race UiTM is nothing but apartheid.
The old, presumed poverty line along the race divide is no longer valid, not when Malaysia has endured discriminative policies predicated on ethnicity since 1970, which is all of 42 years or almost half a century.
There are very few Malay intellectuals willing to tackle the truth of the matter but Dr Azly Rahman is one of them. At least he’s been honest and bold enough to speak out on the “bankrupt Umno ideology” of race supremacy in his article “Dismantle Our Apartheid Education”.
What is required is for more members of the Malay intelligentsia to question the veracity of a “moral” claim in the perpetuation of a quota system that amounts to apartheid. The only difference is that segregation, like that perpetuated by residential schools, Mara junior colleges and UiTM, is couched using terminology portraying a righteous morality.
The other difference is that Chinese schools are accessible to any non-Chinese but UiTM does not welcome the non-Malays. In some Chinese independent secondary schools, non-Chinese are given a blanket free tuition.
Are Malays courageous to re-evaluate?
The Malays are a strong majority in numbers and without doubt politically dominant. Why should Umno cling tenaciously to the view that preferential treatment based on race is the “affirmative action” that Malays still require?
Professor Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi in “Memories of Unity” vividly describes his confidence to compete in his science class and how he emerged one of the top students among his almost all Chinese classmates back in the 1970s.
I had a Malay classmate who went to the same Chinese independent school as I did. He graduated as one of the top students and went to a local public university, and he is currently a lecturer at another local public university.
It is a myth that Bumi students are unable to compete with non-Bumi students on a level playing field. This misconception is wrongly used to justify the institutional racism imposed on the public education from top to bottom.
There are tens of thousands of Malays who have made it in local and prestigious foreign universities and thrived in adverse sociocultural settings. There is no moral justification for segregating Malaysian post-secondary students into STPM/ matriculation except for satisfying Umno’s racial imperatives.
NEP and education apartheid
A few successful Malay billionaire cronies do not mitigate the failure with regard to certain protectionist areas of the NEP. This includes educational apartheid. The rejuvenation of the vernacular schools since the late 1970s when NEP went into full swing is a consequence of our race policies, and not the chief cause of racism.
The NEP was based upon the empirical generalisation that Chinese and Indian Malaysians were all well off and should be “positively discriminated” against in order to help the “poor Malays”.
It’s a different story today as the civil service has become Malay dominated and this is empirical truth. The tables have been turned as Malaysians of Chinese and Indian descent are marginalised.
The original purpose of the NEP to eradicate the identification of race with profession — Malay farmer, Chinese shopkeeper, Indian clerk — is sidetracked when the civil service has become wholly identified with the Malay race. The racial traits along professions, as reflected in the hiring practices of both the private and public sectors, have been deepened by the NEP.
When I recently requested some documents to be certified by a government department, the Malay clerk gave me a jealous one-eye wink knowing that it was for the purpose of applying to colleges in the US. The one-eye wink might perhaps have been nothing more than the coded message that all you “Chinamen” are rich and can afford to send your children overseas to be educated. This only goes to show up the failure of the NEP in correcting the racial prejudice among races in Malaysia.
How the Chinese prioritise education
The fact is that I told my children I would sell our house and live in a smaller one if we needed funds for their education. I mean education is where they would learn something new and be happy including getting away from institutional racism. We neither hope for JPA or any other government scholarships after hearing so many sad stories of racial degradation.
Selling homes and other property for the sake of children’s education among the lower and middle-class Chinese Malaysians is not a new practice. I remember my mother decided to sell off the six-acre rubber plantation left by my deceased father to put me and my sister through university.
She later worked as a babysitter to cover all our expenses studying overseas. We always thought that there might be more Malays who did not have land to sell. Nonetheless, our good reasoning has not helped many Malays to get rid of their own ingrained racial prejudice both against themselves and other races.
As I write this article, coincidentally, my 17-year-old daughter has just received news that a high-ranking American university has agreed to admit her into their Fine Arts programme based on her multiple talents, multilingual skills and ability to play the Chinese zither and flute. Some universities already made it clear, admitting her by waiving the requirement of her SPM or UEC results.
On the contrary, her talent in playing ancient Chinese musical instruments is definitely not a criterion for admission into any local public university. On the contrary, it may even work against her favour as it could be looked at as a form of Chinese chauvinism and clinging to our ancestral roots.
Deserving of places in local universities
I am not trying to boast about my daughter’s academic achievement. She is actually a B-average student but it sure makes a parent proud when one’s child deservedly gains recognition for her talents, and more importantly she will be able to further develop her talents without being labelled as a non-Bumi.
I am glad that her dedication to social work and extracurricular activities, including organising a joint concert of Chinese orchestra and western bands, won her recognition from some highly ranked American universities.
One of her recent achievements is receiving a gold medal in an international Chinese essay-writing contest in Taiwan. Instead of chucking her unique credential aside, an American university admission director gave great words of encouragement, such as “your family must be very proud of you (for the gold medal received) …We would like you to be with us, and I hope you will continue to contribute to the international programme here if you decide to join us”.
I was surprised that she was offered admission and given a partial academic scholarship before we even sent out applications to other American colleges and local private universities.
Some universities are amazed that our students can master two or three languages. They usually give positive encouragement like: “Considering English is your third language, your English is really good.” No parents will send their kid to a college where he or she faces the possibility of being humiliated and degraded on account of race, creed and “non-native status” when my daughter is actually a native-born fourth-generation Malaysian.
As a matter of fact, most UEC holders have a greater proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia, which is their second language, compared to English, which is their third language. If the UEC holders can do well in universities overseas that teach in English, why can’t they be given the same opportunities by our local public universities?
It might be true that their Bahasa Malaysia may not be as good compared with SPM/STPM holders just as their English may not be as good as the Americans, British or Australians when they enrol in American, Australian or British universities. However if they are given the opportunity to enrol in local public universities, they will be able to polish their BM just like how when given the opportunity to study abroad they are able to polish their English.
More importantly, such openness is needed in order to “converge” the vernacular school alumni into the local higher education institutions and complete an education integration process than forcibly “diverge” them to local private institutions and overseas colleges.
We have to be fair and realistic in assessing our students’ language ability based on what is the best they can do in their learning environment. In fact, cultural immersion is the best method to improve Malay language or any other second language proficiency instead of educational segregation like what has been practiced here.
Some 30 years ago, it was rare to encounter Americans learning an Asian language. Today there are American reporters who insist on interviewing me in perfect Mandarin or Bahasa Indonesia. It is a fast-changing world out there but it seems our Umno elites — with the exception of Najib Razak whose son is a fluent Mandarin speaker — are lagging behind time.
The very first step for the Malay ultras to take in the right direction is to cease making a scapegoat out of Chinese and Tamil primary schools. It is an unfounded charge that little children are responsible for racism and racial disunity in Malaysia.
It is, on the other hand, our fear to embrace cultural diversity and true interracial integration that has left us lagging behind many other countries. It is time for the Malay ultras to open their eyes and correct their ingrained prejudice that has worked against their own competitiveness. — CPI Asia
* This article was originally published by CPI Asia.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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Is interracial integration more possible under convergence or divergence? — Boo Cheng Hau
How about stopping with the inculpation of hegelian dialectic Orwell state b.s. and understanding that EITHER / OR in this issue should be replaced with :
1) convergence persons
2) divergence persons
3) none of the above types (status quo)
4) ALL OF THE ABOVE TYPES
Don’t inculpate a lack of choices in political culture. Each and every group listed above deserves their own spaces. As for interracial integration, first grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;and all groups will fall into the new line of EQUALITY. Without equality, there will be no integration much less INTERRACIAL integration.
. . . The very first step for the Malay ultras to take in the right direction is to cease making a scapegoat out of Chinese and Tamil primary schools. It is an unfounded charge that little children are responsible for racism and racial disunity in Malaysia. . . .
That is NOT a first step, that is LIP SERVICE because not scapegoating does not mean policy which scapegoats minority changes, a REAL furst step is granting the above 3 items and if the scapegoating continues at that point the policy of equality would easily overtake scapegoating which will just be bad form that Malaysians will not even care about that will mark the politican as a bad citizen instead. ctual policy is more important than what politicnas say to occupy the people. Looks like BN’s propagandists have exposed BN’s intentions – never to grant the above 3 items. If 3rd force doesn’t make GE13 in time, 3rd force had better be prepared for GE14 where the threat of NEPOTISM and LIMITLESS TERMS, and STATE COLLUSION in GLC and crony contractors in Pakatan Rakyat will be the greatest threat EVEN as the above 3 items are not even granted by Pakatan’s discussions so far. End the APARTHEID of BUMIPUTRA and give freedom of religion to the Malays. Going apostate in Islam IS NOT PUNISHABLE and should not mean Bumi Privileges will be withdrawn from the Malays even as these same rights should be the rights of ALL Malaysians regardless of faith or ethnicity but rather economic status ONLY. Ask the Al-Azhar Islamic University if apostasy was punishable in the prophet’s time or liable for ‘Islamic Re-education’ to keep followers, Malaysian Syariah laws on apostasy are all ILLEGAL in Islamic jurisprudence!
ARTICLE 9
Musa: Political interference in police work is REAL – Hornbill Unleashed – Tuesday, 11 December 2012 08:49
PETALING JAYA – Former inspector-general of police (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan (pix) has called on the police and Home Ministry to publicly disclose all crime statistics so as to not confuse people about the actual crime situation in the country.
“The police should disclose all statistics as the people would like to know why there are street crimes around when the NKRA (National Key Results Area) showed that the crime is dropping.
“We do not say that they (government) are manipulating the statistics but the people might be confused if they don’t reveal all the reports,” he told a press conference here today.
Expressing his backing for the Malaysian Crime Watch Group (MyWatch), a non-governmental organisation which aims to educate and increase awareness on the preparation and prevention of crime, he said a public awareness campaign is important in helping the government and police combat crime at the grassroots level.
Musa claimed that the police now not only heed the IGP but also have to report to government servants outside the force.
He said the police should remain apolitical and not let any political influences seep into the force.
“I’m not hitting at the government. Nobody called me personally (to discuss) and there’s nothing on the paper (reporting change). I want to see police force improved. I don’t want things to be politicised because the police force needs to be improved for the sake of the people,” he said.
“If you want proof, you have to read it in the (news)papers, there are enough proof (of government interference). Now even the police are confused when the chief secretary of the KDN (Home Ministry) directs the police and the police complain to me.
“Perception comes from a real person’s action. So it (interference) is real,” he added.
-thesundaily
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Arrest all corrupt politicians (guess who was the MOST CORRUPT . . . ) in some Ops not amounting to a police coup. The Dewan should be emptied by the next session and most of the corrupted MPs and Assemblymen should yield a nice fat purse for Malaysia with those frozen accounts’ monies. What say you independent among judiciary and good cops? The international community and goodly among our top institutions and citizens would applaud. Perhaps a stint as interim PM as well since most of DAP are too nepotistic and Mubarak-like to qualify for the Pm’s post? Heck, pull together a few generals and consult Susilo (not for a ‘ganyang’ of Malaysia but a precise ‘ganyng’ of Malaysia’s WORST citizens . . . most Malaysians wouldn’t miss corrupted politicians and racists anyway.
ARTICLE 10
FROM CHILDHOOD TO TERRIBLE PRESENT: Sultan launches Rosmah’s BIOGRAPHY – Monday, 10 December 2012 17:23
Sultan at Rosmah’s book launch.
KUALA LUMPUR- “Rosmah Mansor”, a book which chronicles the life of the prime minister’s wife, was launched today by the Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Yayasan Amanah Perdana Malaysia chairman Shamsulbahrin Ludin, the book’s publisher, said the new biography will allow readers a well-rounded glimpse into Rosmah’s life from her childhood to the present.
“Some of the facts presented in this book have never been told to anyone before.”
Its highlights, he said, include her marriage to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak – in particular, the challenges she faced first as the wife of a cabinet minister, deputy prime minister and now the country’s leader.
Written in an informal and relaxed tone, the book features stories from her school days at Tunku Kursiah College, Negeri Sembilan, and includes interviews with her closest friends.
“Many would want to know what life was like when she was a child, in primary and secondary schools.
“In addition to her life in campus and in the workforce, her life at the TKC was filled with interesting events which will certainly draw special attention,” Shamsulbahrin said.
The book also includes a special chapter in which Rosmah addresses the public rumours surrounding her life, whether regarding her family or her involvement in current events.
“Most importantly, we expect this book to provide answers in response to slanderous comments leveled at (Rosmah).
“In other words, it is a small effort by us to show her best attribute, that is her humility, through this book,” Shamsulbahrin said.
The 164-page biography also details her involvement in community work, especially her efforts to develop the Permata Negara programme, her engagement with non-government organisations as well as her participation in Bakti and in various international programmes.
It also showcases a collection of old and recent photographs.
The book’s soft launch was held as part of Rosmah’s birthday celebration, which included performances by singer Misha Omar and students from the Permata Seni programme.
Present at the ceremony were the Royal Consort of Pahang Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom, Najib and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan.
-NST.COM
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Names which turn out especially bad in another language might be the cause of some of the antipathy between races. Won’t mention which but those who know English and Hokkien dialect should easily figure which one . . .
ARTICLE 11
HOW TO BE NEUTRAL? EC officers have right to join political parties – chief – Monday, 10 December 2012 17:11
KUALA LUMPUR— Election Commission (EC) officers are within their democratic right to join political parties but they must not be partisan in carrying out their duties, says its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof.
The EC chairman disclosed this when responding to accusations by PAS that a senior EC officer in Sabah was holding a key post in the Kinabatangan Umno Youth chapter. The EC’s impartiality has been continuously questioned by the opposition and activists over the past years.
“There is nothing wring for any EC officer to join political parties. It doesn’t matter if they are in PAS, PKR or Umno.
“It is their democratic right,” he told The Malaysian Insider when contacted over the issue.
But Abdul Aziz said that EC officials should not side with any parties or abuse their powers when carrying out their duties.
He also stressed that the EC welcomed reports from Pakatan Rakyat (PR) if the commission officials abused their powers, saying the opposition parties should lodge complaints and provide proof of wrongdoing.
“If there is proof to show the officer is in the wrong, please submit the proof. If possible, give the name, position and pictures.
“We will investigate without favour no matter who the officer is,” Abdul Aziz said.
The former top civil servant agreed that EC officials who are in political parties should not mix their duties with political ideology, saying it went against the work ethics of those in government service.
The EC chairman pointed out there were no regulations or laws that prevent government officials from joining political parties, except that those active in politics must apply for permission from the Public Service Department (PSD).
Sabah PAS Youth chief Lahirul Latigu had asked the EC to explain how its officials can hold posts in political parties, saying the silence would affect the commission’s credibility to ensure the democratic process is carried out in the country.
“If the EC still chooses to keep silent on this issue, PAS Youth will not hesitate to expose details about the officer who is in politics,” he had said.
Reports of EC officers holding posts in Umno have surfaced over the years, including allegations that Abdul Aziz and his deputy, Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar, are members of the ruling party.
Following such reports against the top two EC officials last May, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz denied that Abdul Aziz was an Umno member as alleged by PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He disclosed that Abdul Aziz had registered as an Umno member more than 30 years ago in the Ampang Umno division but had since left the party.
“The EC chairman has already clarified that he isn’t an Umno member. He has also made sure about it,” Nazri had said.
-The Malaysian Insider
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Simple. Make laws that disallow EC officers from joining political parties.
The EC postholders and salaries jobs must ALL be people with no political party memberships, no business links to any politicians or even with businesses WITH links to politicians (the more distant the better and should be the criteria for EC posts). We can’t have family blocs like in the Pakatan family nepotism party. This way VESTED INTEREST can be avoided. So anyone who fulfil the above criteria ready to offer themselves for 1 term jobs? This will ensure Malaysia is a clean country. The ROS (Registry of Socities), MACC (Acnti-Corruption Agency), PAC (Public Accounts Committee) and Bar Council btw, should also be staffed in a similar manner.
ARTICLE 12
I can’t keep it up! My hubby loves sex too much – Monday, 10 December 2012 17:05
Dear Coleen,
I’m having trouble with my husband.
We have three kids and have been married for five years, so we’re well out of the honeymoon period.
We’re both in our mid-30s and have been together since we were teenagers.
I really thought as men got older their sex drive declined, but it’s the opposite with my hubby!
Basically, if he had his way we’d be at it three times a day, every day.
I thought he might be insecure so I talked to him about it, but it turns out he just loves sex!
I love him to pieces, but I can’t keep up!
I’ve tried telling him all this, but the words “No, love, not tonight” just don’t register with him.
Help me!
Coleen says..
First the good news: it’s better to work out a compromise from this position than be in the situation where you’re having no sex.
It’s really fantastic that he still desires you so much after all those years together – for a lot of couples it’d be the other way round – but it’s only great if it’s what you both want.
Right now you’re feeling under pressure, but it’s a delicate situation and you don’t want to put him off altogether or embarrass him.
Tell him how much you love him and fancy him, but that physically you cannot have sex that often and you don’t want to either.
The most successful relationships are the ones where both parties can compromise and that’s what he’s going to have to do now. And you’ll have to do the same.
But don’t let it become a massive issue that affects your otherwise great relationship.
-mirror.co.uk
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A second wife should do the trick. that is why polygamy exists. This article hosts a gay NLP btw – a woman does not need to ‘keep it up’, the writer if female, has penis envy or wants to be a man, otherwise is subversive of men hoping men become gay. Reading too many NLPs of this sort results in gayness, not that gayness per se is bad, but CONTRIVED gayness resulting ftom, NLPs IS bad . . . Malaysian Chronicle should not abuse their readers like this.
ARTICLE 13
BE WARNED DR M & POLITICIANS LIKE SHAHRIZAT: The next May 13 will be very different from 1969 – by Victor Lim – Monday, 10 December 2012 12:08
YES. I couldn’t agree more with Koon Yew Yin (see story reproduced below), a respected Chinese community senior citizen.
I wish to add two very pertinent points which Mr Koon and I overlooked.
Point No.1: The majority of Malays, I believe some 90% of them, don’t pay taxes to the federal government.
They pay what is known as zakat (tithes), a form of Islamic tax.
This means Malaysia has been developed for the past 55 years with contributions from the non-Malays or non-Muslims and the corporate sector.
Therefore, if the business climate is ruined by the super corrupt, evil and racist Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) because it wants to remain in power at all costs, including the propagation of the May 13 violence and bloodshed, who will suffer more? Who is the majority race in Malaysia?
The cousins … the real danger Malaysians’ face
Point No.2: However, should violence really break out after BN-Umno loses the next general election, it will not be the same May 13, 1969.
In 1969, the majority of Malays were really living in abject poverty. They were envious of others who were better off economically.
Today, it is an entirely different scenario. That was the 20th century. We are now in the 21st century.
The Malays today are more informed and are therefore able to make wiser judgments politically.
Unlike 1969, the issues today are not about race. Only BN-Umno, for reasons only known to them, stubbornly refuses to change with the times to remain relevant with the rakyat (people).
Politically Bankrupt
All BN-Umno can focus on is its divide-and-rule archaic political strategy to remain in power at all costs.
BN-Umno uses money and its blind-loyalty supporters to stir emotions and violence at Opposition ceramah (political rallies) or to disrupt peaceful public protests.
BN is just unable to think out of the box and is obviously unable to react rationally after the March 8, 2008 political tsunami shock which saw BN losing its traditional two-thirds majority in Parliament and five states.
Blinded by corruption
Over the past four years, as the BN continued to try to impose their brute political might and power on the people with the aim of intimidating the rakyat into submission and subservience, the peoples’ political restlessness grew enormously.
Now, at its own doing, the BN is living in fear of losing its mandate to govern after the 13th General Election. The dissolution of the 222-seat Parliament is automatic on April 28, 2013.
BN has only itself to blame for failing to use the four years to implement reforms that would endear the rakyat and win back their hearts and minds after March 2008.
It refuses to see the rakyat’s demands for justice and clean socio-economic development policies – not continuing with its culture of enriching its families and cronies.
They are the poorest in Malaysia, so the BN-Umno federal government needs to give all the multi-billion ringgit projects to them.
Where has our natural wealth GONE?
It refuses to discard its race and religious political cards for more practical and reforming policies to fast track the progress and prosperity of Malaysians and Malaysia.
Yes! The people are asking: “Where have all the trillions of ringgit in natural resources, including oil and gas, gone?”
Is it also too much to ask the BN government to account for it’s more than RM800 billion federal debt? This, the BN has remained mum.
No wonder, the Opposition is gaining ground
The Opposition PR’s nationwide political rallies are seeing bigger and bigger crowds by the day and the audience comprises all races.
They break into rounds and rounds of thundering applause whenever Parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim touches on issues related to the need to do away with non-race based policies in governance to stimulate and fast track Malaysia’s healthy socio-economic growth.
They break into rounds and rounds of applause whenever Anwar explains and proposes people-centric fiscal measures aimed at reducing the financial burden of the people in a fast rising cost of living environment.
Anwar also stresses on the need to provide a higher standard of education for Malaysians, not race, as the impetus for economic and technological excellence. This, he has proposed free education for all, from primary level to tertiary education.
If BN-Umno really resorts to the use of violence when it loses the next general election, it will be the minority Umno Malays fighting with the PKR-PAS Malays backed by the Chinese and Indian communities.
My dear fellow rakyat, it will be very much unlike May 13, 1969.
Friday, 07 December 2012 23:58
If there is another May 13 riot, the MALAYS WILL BE THE BIGGEST LOSERS
Written by Koon Yew Yin
If there is another May 13 riot, the MALAYS WILL BE THE BIGGEST LOSERS
As the countdown to the general election begins in earnest, we are getting more and more calls from desperate and irresponsible politicians drawing attention to the possibility of a repeat of the infamous May 13 violence if the election results should go against the expectations of various political parties and interests.
The fact that these calls are directed towards the Bumiputera component of our population, are expressed in the national language, and are widely carried in the Malay mass media and Internet world makes me suspicious of the intentions of these politicians who claim that they are simply doing Malaysians a favour by warning of the backlash should the election outcome not bring about a continuation of the present power structure.
To my mind, these politicians are not only applying crude pressure on the Malay electorate to vote for them but they are also blatantly revealing their trump card – that violence, chaos and political instability will automatically erupt in the event that the opposition parties win the elections.
This blackmailing of our electorate as well as incitement of disruptive and hooligan elements in our society is totally unacceptable. Various academicians and politicians from the opposition have spoken up against such fear mongering in the recent past. However, not enough has been done by members of the business community and other professional organizations to speak out against these warnings and threats although they will be the main losers should another May 13 episode take place.
Much more needs to be done by key stakeholders to condemn the individuals and organizations making the threats as the risk of these threats becoming self-fulfilling prophesies increases by the day.
Shahrizat’s not-so-veiled threat
The latest invocation of May 13 took place at the Umno general assembly held recently. In that meeting, the Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil warned that the May 13 tragedy might be repeated should Umno became weak and not be able to overcome its challenges. That this warning was not made obliquely but was served up as part of her opening speech text testifies to the way in which this kind of desperado thinking has become the mainstream in certain political circles.
What is more worrying is that both Najib Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin as Umno president and deputy president, and more importantly as the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, failed to repudiate or rebuke Sharizat for fear mongering. Instead the Deputy Prime Minister attempted to defend the speech by explaining that chaos will be inevitable under Pakatan Rakyat rule.
Other Umno leaders, notably its vice-president Hishamuddin Hussein have even gone so far as to dismiss the attention brought by Shahrizat’s May 13 statement as a case of “spinning” and to put the blame on a pro-opposition media and other opposition elements.
“Shahrizat has already told me that this will be another matter that will be used for spinning by certain quarters, just because it coincides with the general assembly”, the country’s minister in charge of internal security is reported to have said in his dismissal of public concern when questioned about it.
Even if it is a case of over-reaction by the media and a fearful public, it is hoped that Shahrizat and her colleagues will not play with fire or pander to the psyche of insecurity found in Umno party members by constantly harping on the possible recurrence of 13 May and even worst, by condoning or justifying violent and catastrophic racial riots as they appear to be doing in the run-up to the elections.
Aftershocks of electoral violence
Should there be bloodshed and violence arising from the next elections, it will not be non-Malays primarily who will lose out or be hurt by the collapse of the share market and the larger economy as we see a rush to exit the country by local and foreign businesses and investors. It will be all Malaysians especially those who are now enjoying the good life.
Malays must bear in mind that while in 1969 they may have had less to lose, today the situation is completely different. There is Malay control of a major part of the commanding heights of our economy such as the banks, manufacturing, hi-tech industry, etc. and the largest listed companies. These gains which have given birth to the creation of a sizeable Malay middle and upper class will be put at great risk should there be another May 13. They may even disappear as the economic aftershocks and loss of economic confidence spiral out of control.
Another May 13 is unthinkable and unforgivable except to those who are so blinded by ambition and their lust for power that they need to keep reminding themselves and their supporters of that horrific possibility. However, should it happen, unlike in the first May 13 incident, it will be clear as to who are the instigators.
Conclusion:
I trust this article will encourage more stakeholders – bankers, business leaders, academicians and leaders of all political parties – to speak out and condemn those who are using the threat of another May 13 if there is a change of government. The Malays must remember that even if Pakatan Rakyat wins control of the government, there will be more Malay Members of Parliament than from any other races.
The Malays will be the biggest losers if there is another May 13 riot. – cpi
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
All Malaysians likely are friends with the real enemies being MPs and Assemblymen on either BN or Pakatan’s side (especially the extreme wealth types, term limitless, or nepotistic) are the ones who pit Malaysians against Malaysian, then pretend to solve problems while making laws worse and fines higher, cost of living higher, but raising their own 23K MP salaries, asking for 750K funerals, having crony businesses and giving crony licences (like the recent Syed Mokhtar’s Puncak Semangat granted by MCMC twice the bandwidth spectrum above all other contractors – vestedinterest and anti-trust or anti-monopoly laws any Judges? No? All legal BEAGLES, not a single legal NGO made a peep . . . ). Guess who instigated the riots? Only those minority citizens directly involved should be subjected to Bumiputra Apartheid. So who should be punished for instigating riots? (hint : the extreme wealth, term limitless, or nepotistic . . . collecting 1 million of YOUR tax monies every 4 year term . . . ) . . . Vote 3rd Force!
ARTICLE 14
Musa: Good, honest men victimised – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – by Teoh El Sen, FMT – Monday, 10 December 2012 Super Admin
Ex-IGP speaks out against transfers, saying that crime syndicates are now operating freely with ‘blessings from the top’.
Good, honest, hardworking police officers are being transferred from their divisions for doing their work with integrity, claimed former Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan.
Musa suggested that these moves are now allowing more and more criminal syndicates to operate freely with “blessings from somebody on top” and also involved politicians at the highest levels.
Musa gave several examples of such transfers, and spoke out against the nationwide enbloc transfer of D7 officers in early 2011.
“After I left, there was an enbloc transfer of D7 officers, right? Not everybody is bad in the D7, why must you change the whole team?” he asked.
On rumours that the transfers were part of a exercise to facilitate syndicates changing hands, Musa said that was not the case, but said it was “because these officers are taking action, because they know a lot of things.”
“…. they were afraid that they couldn’t direct these people from D7,” he said, without explaining who “they” were.
Musa admitted that many of these people given transfers were those he had promoted at one point, but denied that they were part of his ‘camp’.
“I promoted people because of their capabilities and have done a good job…they were transferred out and not given any ranks.
“[During the D7 redeployment], the whole country, all the IPK contingents headquarters, some were transferred to the field force.”
“See… they were all good officers, when they were under me they arrested quite a number from the syndicates, but now there are no arrests anymore.
Musa said D7 is the division tasked with cracking down on vice, gambling, loansharks, prostitution and also to investigate syndicated crime.
“So they have all the intelligence about them, especially the bosses. These are the ones [D7 officers] who actually go after the [crime syndicate] top [guns].
‘Politicians involved in transfers’
FMT: Why such transfers under [current IGP] Ismail Omar’s time?
Musa: To make it easier for them to operate-lah, because when I was the IGP, most of them went away, they left the country.
When you say “they” you are referring to?
Musa: The syndicate bosses.
So are you then saying the current IGP is openly allowing syndicates to operate?
ARTICLE 15
Ex-IGP’s influence was bad news for Umno – Monday, 10 December 2012 Super Admin
The home minister had to interfere to stop the then IGP Musa Hassan from promoting and transferring his men who would continue working with criminal elements, claims Raja Petra.
(FMT) – Former inspector-general of police Musa Hassan, before his retirement, had allegedly promoted and transferred the “right” police officers who will continue to work hand-in-hand with the triads, claimed popular blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin today.
However, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had interfered in this exercise, and this has caused a lot of problems for the Chinese underworld and crime syndicates.
“And that is why Musa recently gave his interviews – alleging interference by the politicians in the running of the police force. It is true that the minister blocked Musa’s every move,” said Raja Petra in his latest blog posting in Malaysia Today.
Raja Petra said that Hishammuddin had decided to act as he feared that a continuation of Musa’s influence in the police force would have had a backlash on Umno in the coming general election.
“They know that the voters are unhappy with the police force and that may cost Umno a lot of votes.
“Hence if the minister does not rein in the police, then there is a danger that Umno could lose a sizeable number of votes,” said Raja Petra.
In recent weeks, Musa had claimed that during his tenure as the IGP from 2006 to 2010, there had been political interference and inflitration of criminal elements in the police force.
He said that he had raised these issues through the “proper channels” to the prime minister and home minister, but to no effect.
He had also lashed out at his successor Ismail Omar, claiming that he was a weak police chief.
Musa’s detractors, however, had responded by saying that it was Musa who had allowed the triads to take control of the police force, of his alleged corrupt practices, and of his underhand tactics to “fix people up”, including his former boss Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) chief Ramli Yusuff.
Adding to the list of Musa’s detractors, Raja Petra claimed that the former top cop has many grievances against the government, the present IGP Ismail and Hishammuddin.
Musa’s role in Bersih violence?
Raja Petra said Musa’s bitternes was due to the government’s rejection of his request for a further extension as the police chief.
“He then asked to be made the Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei and that too was rejected. Instead, he was given just a teaching job, which, to him, is a great insult when other retired IGPs before him were given ‘good’ posts,” he said.
The blogger also claimed that many suspected Musa’s role in the manner police acted violently against Bersih 3.0 rally-goers on April 28 this year.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Oh dear RPK is a racist! Or should I say fundamentalist? Crime cyndicates? They’d all rather have legal RLDs, Gambling Outlets (non-4D but all regular casino types) and OPZs which the idiot BN government simply refused out of racism and hatred for non-Muslims. RPK, I am disappointed. The above activities are CRIMINALISED there are no criminals among the Chinese community, the entertainment industry was driven underground then labelled as ‘criminal’ or underworld. Legalise and see how many ‘criminals’ there are. The Chinese by nature are always law abiding but will try to screw those who prevent them from having fun. These Human Rights abuses have been affliting the Chinese community long enough in Malaysia and probably every other non-Muslim tin the Middle East as well. How dishonest and selfish can a race or faith get?
ARTICLE 16
Musa reveals more, implicates businessman – Monday, 10 December 2012 Super Admin
The ex-IGP claims that former MACC advisor Robert Phang was involved in a communication devices deal for the police which did not meet specifications.
Teoh El Sen, FMT
Several senior policemen were transferred out of the Bukit Aman Logistics Department (Communications Division) and put in “cold storage” for refusing to approve a technically unsound project involving walkie talkies worth almost RM1 billion.
It is learnt that the project was mooted towards the end of 2008 and involved the replacement of more than 30,000 new walkie-talkies for beat policemen, stations and vehicles nationwide, including Sabah and Sarawak.
However, problems arose a year or two after the project, which was a direct negotiation contract, took off as the implementation of the devices were allegedly not according to specifications.
One of the problems was the apparent lack of coverage or “black spots” in certain areas around the country such as in certain buildings, and in one case very little coverage along the East-West highway despite being promised otherwise.
The other issues, which “deviated from the agreed specificaitons”, include a recording system which sometimes records when nobody speaks and vice versa; and also incidents where the walkie talkie transmits by itself.
However, despite the flaws, sources said that those within the Home Ministry and top ranking policemen were constantly pressuring a team of technical experts to sign the acceptance of the equipment before the issues were smoothed out.
“[Former inspector-general of police] Musa Hassan did not agree to a project that was not done properly but they used KDN [Home Ministry] to force the technical team to do whatever the company wanted. They were under tremendous pressure,” said a source with direct knowledge of the deal.
“By mid 2010, when the first phase was being put out in the Klang Valley, we already noticed that all these problems were surfacing, but they were swept under the carpet.
“They realised that if they signed the project, we will go to jail. So better transfer,” added the source.
Investigate Ismail
Speaking to FMT on this, Musa said when he was still IGP, he kept a close watch on the project to ensure that the equipment was what the police needed. However, he claimed, other parties’ interests crept in after he left.
Musa said that prominent businessman and former MACC advisor Robert Phang was a consultant for the project and acted as a go-between the police and the provider, a multinational telecommunications company.
“Because he was close with the police. So at that time, I believe that there were some government officers in the ministry who was involved in the company.
“Since it was approved by the government, I had to carry it out. But I made sure that the technical team that overseeing the project does not compromise to ensure that it is up to specifications and to ensure that this communication can be used throughout Malaysia without any hiccups.
“So after I left… I was not quite happy because it was still not up to specifications. I was informed that it would not work well and that is why the technical team refused to sign the commission so that money can be paid,” he told FMT.
However, Musa alleged that even Phang threatened the team. “The team received a call from him saying that if you don’t sign it, you will be transferred out.”
True enough, he added, at least three officers ranked DSP, Supt and SAC were then given letters of transfers out of the department.
“So the team refused to sign, and they were called by the IGP. The present IGP [Ismail Omar] asked them to commission it… because they need the government to pay the money… I don’t know how many million. So they got transferred and now it actually went through.
“Officers who have the capability and technical expertise in communication are being put in cold storage by this businessman. That’s how good his connections are. He is very close to the IGP now… very friendly with the home minister,” said Musa.
Musa said that he wanted the authorities to investigate Ismail for possibly abusing his powers and Phang for allegedly abetting the former.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Robert Phang had neglected to address Bumiputra Apartheid, in this case at least from this, I believe Musa’s accusation of duplicity and complicity on Robert Phang’s part. Meanwhile, perhaps Musa had not thought in terms of BEING CHINESE when accusing the so-called syndicates of being ‘criminals’ in the above response. Where synthetics are involved, I am on Musa’s side as well, but everything else labelled criminal by Musa should be dropped as mere entertainment and oppression of Chinese by jealous Muslims who are not supposed to have fun.
The current IGP’s links in the RLD, OPZ or Gambling outlet is Human Rights CORRECT so long as no Muslims are allowed to use the same, and Malaysia’s laws are in fact oppressive and inapplicable. MCA, Gerakan and DAP of course are criminal minded enough to not address these problems while hiding behind a veneer of ‘morality’ but know this, a MAN who cannot tell the difference between Voltarian Freedoms and Fundamentalism expressed Political Expedience are but mere CHILDREN living moralistic fantasies in the childhood. Those who are moral evidently do not under stand civil society and the ETHICS that allow for civilisation by allowing so-called ‘criminal activities’ which are simply entertainments tarred with demogogues and fundamentalists, orwellian minded politicians intent on control by suppression of entertainment.
Adults and free citizens (think Amsterdam’s OPZs, adult zones (RLDs) and various ‘Gambling Districts worldwide, Playboy Clubs, Hustler Clubs, Penthouse Clubs or just the Zona de Tolerancia) who’s faith permits enjoy RLDs, OPZs gambling and what not – NO PERSON OR GROUP IN THE WORLD has the right to prevent another group from having access or to set up such entertainments, though ‘pushing fun’ on the non-consenting is another thing.
The above response describes the sick immatured/oppression-intended pathos of the ethos reliant/blinded Chinese and Indians who are non-‘criminal’, and I am sure the TRULY EDUCATED can relate to and will stand by what this response means. Citizens are not chattel of the state or their faiths or their retarded neighbours, and the CIVILIAN LAWS *MUST* reflect the reality of FREEDOM, Human Rights and Democracy, MUST protect such rights, Muslims or no Muslims, fundos or no fundos of whatever faith or cultlike sect.
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
And then the above, which ALL politicians have neglected to implement so they can profit off strife and oppression of the libido or the saporific effects of Organic psychedelics! Freud should take up this cause even from beyond the grave . . .
ARTICLE 17
Non-Muslims feeling the heat – by Wong Chun Wai – Sunday December 9, 2012
We are merely kidding ourselves if we think the rules by PAS only apply to Muslims.
THERE they go again. The PAS-controlled Kelantan state government, which has yet to resolve the controversy over the gender segregation ruling on hair salons run by non-Muslims, has now found itself in another explosive issue.
Four non-Muslims – two men on a plane-spotting outing and a couple in a park – have been issued with summonses for khalwat.
The summonses were for “indecent behaviour” but the four have denied any wrongdoing, insisting that the municipal council enforcement officers were “merely abusing their position”.
The first case involved two men in their 30s who were in a car parked beside the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport. They claimed they were watching planes land in the night when they were issued with the summonses by these Taliban-style officers.
This writer can only deduce that Kota Baru must be so boring – the result of a ban on entertainment outlets – that the two young men have to watch planes landing at the airport for entertainment. How these officers can consider their action an offence is mind-boggling.
But we know that the PAS politicians have a great sense of imagination and can conjure up fantasies out of seemingly ordinary situations. They think that getting a haircut from a person of the opposite sex can lead to moral decay and watching concerts can lead to hedonism or excessive pleasure, whatever that means.
Malaysians know that these cranky politician-theologians also frown upon the mixed company of males and females, but two non-Muslim men being punished for being in a car together, that’s a new one. Are they telling us now that two men together can lead to immoral activities or that watching planes at the airport can be sexually arousing? Even if they had committed a “gay act”, does the council have any jurisdiction over non-Muslims?
The other case involved a 17-year-old boy and a girl aged 15. They were together at the Tengku Anis Park in the town centre, in broad daylight, when they were arrested. They were approached by the enforcement officers and issued summonses on the spot for purported indecent behaviour.
Nothing seems to be safe any more for non-Muslims in Kota Baru. You get fined for having a hair cut by a hairstylist of a different sex, you get fined for being in love and sharing private moments in a park in broad daylight, and you also get summoned for being in a wrong queue in a supermarket check-out.
Before anyone accuses this writer of filing another PAS-bashing piece, it is important to point out that the protest over the latest controversies was started by the National PAS Supporters Congress president Hu Pang Chaw, who is known for his apologist stand for the Islamist party.
Interestingly enough, Hu has also revealed that the male victims had complained to him that the officers had even sought RM500 “to settle the matter”, which means that these holier-than-thou officers were open to corruption.
Hu added that “as far as I know, the council has no right to issue summonses to non-Muslims for close contact with their girlfriends in the dark or out in the open”. But Hu shouldn’t plead ignorance now because the PAS rules have always infringed upon non-Muslims. This is not the first time and it won’t be the last.
Don’t blame PAS either because they have consistently told Malaysians that their objective is to turn Malaysia into an Islamic State. Barisan Nasional tells us that we are already an Islamic State, but they still keep intact the secular laws and the British-style courts.
But for political expediency, and for selfish political ambitions, there is now a deafening silence from allies of PAS. The only exception seems to be DAP chairman Karpal Singh, who has also consistently spoken up against the hudud laws pushed by PAS. However, his party comrades have decided to keep silent and, worse, are encouraging us to elect more PAS leaders into Parliament and the state assemblies.
It is also pertinent to note that during The Star’s interview with the Sultan of Selangor, the Tuanku had revealed that there were politicians who tried to prevent the opening of cinemas in shopping malls in Shah Alam! This is in Selangor and not even in Kelantan. We can also assume that this must be the work of PAS elected representatives.
We know for a fact that the PAS state assemblyman for Bangi, Dr Shafie Abu Bakar, has prevented a cinema from being set up by a non-Muslim, and that the Kuala Selangor PAS wants to stop unmarried couples from watching movies in a cinema there.
We are merely kidding ourselves if we think the rules by PAS do not affect non-Muslims. Despite the promised intervention by PAS’ top leaders over the hair salon ruling, nothing has changed until today.
In an interview with The Malay Mail on Friday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang was quoted as saying “even Chinese wives don’t agree with (unisex) salons”.
He seems out of touch with reality, or pretending to be.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
So sue the government or run for politics to get political immunity to make known to the world what is happening here in Malaysia. Have the respect and ethos, the cash to fund proxy candidates? Don’t talk here from behind the media.
ARTICLE 18
Najib launches Ah Jib Gor fan club – Updated: Sunday December 9, 2012 MYT 6:50:39 PM
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak launched the Ah Jib Gor Fan Club Sunday to feel the pulse of the people, especially the Chinese community, in the country.
Najib launched the club at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) via tele-conferencing with club members from SM Yu Yuen, Sandakan, Sabah.
The Prime Minister, when interacting said the setting up of the club in Sandakan was a testimony that the people in the country, including the people of Sabah, are confident with the 1Malaysia concept and the transformation agenda of the country.
He said the club can become a bridge for communication between him (Najib) and the people in Sabah to understand the feelings and expectation of the people towards the Government.
“Thank you for your confidence and support. I believe we can use this line of communication to exchange ideas and to make comments from time to time.
“I feel this is a very positive development because this will create not only good communication but also interpersonal relationship between all of you and the governor,” he said.
Najib said he hoped the trust of the people towards the Government would continue with the commitment of the Government to establish transformation as the main agenda of the country.
“We believe we are a strong government that can lead the country towards fulfilling the vision of becoming a developed nation. Malaysians are our responsibility and we must strive to promote harmony and stability among the various ethnics in Malaysia,” he said.
Najib said 1Malaysia was not just a slogan but rather an overarching philosophy to the principle of the nation, including policies and transformation agendas.
“1Malaysia is about forming, unity and harmony…it is based on fairness, inclusive and moderation…all that are part and parcel of the 1Malaysia philosophy.
“1Malaysia will be our overarching philosophy and with your support this nation will transform to be the first red nation and a nation that we can all be proud of,” he said. – Bernama
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The lowest of the apartheid accepting ‘slaves’ KTK par excellence have just confirmed their pariah status. Good job Najib! You’v helped identify which Chinese and which Chinese families are no longer Chinese! Those that are lower than the MCA bunch here will not even be MCA members but who join out of sheer cluelessness. Say ‘Massa’ or ‘Tuan’ yer Goreans! How masochistic and unaware of equality can overseas (Malaysian) Chinese get!
ARTICLE 19
NAJIB AN INCREASING LIABILITY: Umno’s war-cry sunk by Altantuya & Deepak bombshells Featured – written by Maria Begum, Malaysia Chronicle – Monday, 03 December 2012 07:26
Umno’s much-touted 66th general assembly ended with a whimper, its cries of being able to snatch two-thirds of the seats in Parliament downed by missiles that emanated from its own base boomeranging badly on its top leader – the scandal-plagued and embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Despite acknowledging that Umno’s notorious corruption was its own worst enemy, Najib failed to speak up against graft, introduce serious pre-emptive reforms or to even promise a new horizon where transparency would be the rule and not the exception.
His political rivals were not surprised, attributing this in large part due to at least 3 major pieces of shocking news that erupted just days before the Umno assembly started.
“What is there to say. It is so clear Umno cannot change. Its leaders can order the mainstream media, the TV and newspapers to black out the news. They can shout at how confident they are to win the 13th general election but Umno delegates and members have that sinking feeling in their hearts,” PAS MP for Shah Alam Khalid Samad told Malaysia Chronicle.
“Inwardly, many grassroots are disappointed and disgusted by the dishonesty and corruption of their leaders but they won’t do much because this is the nature of Umno. It has always been. Those who can’t stand it will leave, those who stay will hang on and hope for a piece of the gravy train even though they know it is corrupt.”
TRIPLE bombshells, more to come?
The first news break that shocked the country came from French lawyers, who revealed that the investigative judges hearing the RM7.3bil Scorpene case in Paris had decided that, contrary to the Malaysian government’s claims, murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu was involved in Putrajaya’s acquisition of submarinnes from naval giant DCNS and would be requesting for full records of her murder trial.
This news set tongues wagging as Umno members thronged the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur where their annual congress was held. Perhaps the news reverberated all the more because Najib had foolishly refused to allow the French lawyers to come to Malaysia to brief Members of Parliament on the latest status of case, thereby increasing the suspicion against himself and his wife Rosmah Mansor, both of whom have been accused of involvement and whose former bodyguards were sentenced to hang for the murder.
Next were the twin bombshells dropped by carpet trader Deepak Jaikishan, a former close friend of Rosmah’s. According to Deepak, the first couple enlisted his help in overturning a statutory declaration that implicated them in the Altantuya murder. The news sparked calls for a re-opening of the Altantuya murder trial which has been questioned for its ‘quality’ of justice, with the court accused of ignoring evidence that the bodyguards may have been merely the hired killers and that the people who gave the order to murder still at large.
As if that were not enough and Umno members were not already reeling at the alleged misdeeds of their president and his wife, Deepak went on to accuse a “member of Najib’s family” of taking millions of ringgit for his approving the RM100 Puspahanas project, a research centre commissioned by the Ministry of Defense which despite being privatized in 2005 remains only about 20% built today.
“Umno’s ‘war’ 66th General Assembly has ended with UMNO leaders confident and euphoric, with the Umno Secretary-General Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and other Umno leaders declaring that Umno will not only triumph in the next general elections, but will win back the two-thirds parliamentary majority as well as all the four Pakatan states including Kelantan and Penang,” DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said in a statement.
“However, ‘Man proposes, God disposes’. Although the just-concluded Assembly was painstakingly choreographed and orchestrated, with a lot of do’s and don’t’s for those who spoke at the four-day Umno Assemblies to optimise Umno’s appeal in the 13GE, the ineluctable conclusion of rational and thinking Malaysians is that despite all the talk of “transformation”, Umno leaders and Umno are incapable of change so long as Umno remains corrupted in the corridors of power.
“Umno and Barisan Nasional have become synonymous with corruption in Malaysia and the 44 months of Najib premiership have shown that Najib is only good at mouthing anti-corruption slogans but totally lacking the political will and commitment to root out corruption, especially grand corruption involving political and government leaders.
“This is why the 66th UMNO General Assembly presented the sad spectacle of the Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, successfuly performing the “disappearance” act despite valiant efforts by the media representatives on a look-out for him to respond to demands by Sabah UMNO delegates that Musa explain the scandal of the RM40million “political donation to Sabah UMNO” which involved him and the Sabah timber trader Michael Chia.
“Also most disturbing is the backing out and silence of the Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi coupled with the failure of Najib to respond to the serious allegations of integrity about a RM100 million defence ministry project in 2005 raised by businessman Deepak Jaikishan implicating the Prime Minister’s family and which is also related to the high-profile and long-running Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case. Haunting Najib at the 66th UMNO General Assembly was the ghost of Altantuya Shaariibuu. Why couldn’t Altantuya’s ghost be appeased?”
Malaysia Chronicle
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BN has the mandate still and can grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Even the UMNO Malays might concede on the above 3 items than let Pakatan win.
UMNO will be torn apart after the Judiciary is replaced by Pakatan cronies. we all know how Malaysia works (too many legal beagles too few legal eagles), and the people might be displeased enough with UMNO too that Pakatan need not even ‘do the dirty work’, many terrible things probably happened by some faction’s hands in the past and who knows the aggrieved are just waiting for BN to be politically destroyed . .
BN REALLY should use the mandate to grant the above 3 items, that way at least they MIGHT have some places to run to avoid those they have hurt since independence or may yet turn the 40%+ minority and possibly majority of Malays to their side again. The above 3 items are rightful Human Rights, why risk losses in GE13 by not granting something so basic? Is racism and greed so much fun that GE13 is worth losing? For all the faults the article above points at, the chance to win is still there, IF Pakatan does not confirm the above 3 items and BN grants the above 3 items BEFORE GE13. As they say, ain’t over till over . . . but so long as BN does not use the mandate to grant the 3 items, BN with a record of abuses and failures and racism will indeed fail.
ARTICLE 20
THINK NAJIB! If you can’t even sort out Dr M or reform Umno, HOW CAN YOU RULE M’SIA? – Hornbill Unleashed – Martin Jalleh – December 10, 2012
The General Elections beckons and it looks as though the Prime Minister (PM) has gone berserk. He is making comments most bizarre! He blurts out statements beyond human logic!
Soon after the last General Elections he had warned his political party that either it changes or the government that it so dominates will be changed by the people.
He now surprisingly admits that Umno needs to change (The Malaysian Insider, 7 Dec., 2012). In other words, his party has not changed – which in fact clearly contradicts what he and his cohorts have been saying!
For instance the Sun Daily reported on 1 Dec. 2012: Following up on his apology for Umno’s past wrongdoings, at the opening of the party’s 66th general assembly…Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today closed the annual event by exuding optimism that the people’s confidence for Umno is well on recovery mode.
“There is such tremendous response,” he told a euphoric crowd of delegates who seemed charged-up to defend the party’s hold over Malaysia in the upcoming general election.
“Not just from the Malay people…. The non-Malays also see Umno more positively than in the earlier times.
“They see that with each passing day, Umno is recovering even more… With each passing day, they see that Umno is qualified even more, to rule this country.
“We have shown that we are capable to remedy our condition. We are closing ranks and displaying an extraordinary spirit,” he said in his presidential speech at the Putra World Trade Centre here.
“Indicating to the party faithful – and voters at large – that Umno has indeed transformed and improved from what it was in the 2008 general election when the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition it led lost four states and its two-thirds majority in Parliament, he proceeded to dish out warnings at those in the party who may hamper it in the next election.”
Mandate from the people to reform Umno? But what if Umno still resists after Najib gets the mandate?
First you say Umno has changed. Yet in your latest comment you admit that it has not changed! Alas dear Mr PM are you not being a chameleon which you so often accuse Anwar Ibrahim of?
What is most preposterous is that Najib says “he needs a mandate from voters in order to reform Umno” (The Malaysian Insider, 7 Dec., 2012)!
“If I want to reform the party, I need a mandate from the people. Without the mandate from the electorate how can I reform the party?” he told the Malay Mail in an interview published recently.
The Malaysian Insider commented: “Reforming Umno has proven to be a monumental task despite the party’s and Barisan Nasional’s (BN) flagging popularity, particularly in urban areas.
“The Umno president has been pushing a reform agenda which included the repeal of security laws considered draconian and the push for a more multi-racial agenda.
“But conservative forces within the party, especially those linked with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, have resisted change and have pushed a more Malay-centric platform.
“Mindful of Dr Mahathir’s continued influence, Najib has been careful not to alienate the former PM who had contributed to BN’s worst electoral performance in Election 2008 when he campaigned against the administration of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
“But ahead of key national elections due next year, Prime Minister Najib said he was pleading for voters to grant him the mandate to continue his reform policies that can spur Malaysia forward for the greater good even as he acknowledges his party and the ruling BN coalition’s sluggishness towards change. (The Malaysian Insider, 7 Dec., 2012)
“With this mandate, a strong mandate from the people, I will deliver what I promised. This is not just about GE13, it’s about transforming the nation and I’m committed to it.”
Don’t be over-ambitious, Najib: Sort out Dr M first before you seek to rule the WHOLE nation
Why don’t you try to change your own party before you try to transform the whole nation, Mr PM?
“If I want to reform the party, I need a mandate from the people. Without the mandate from the electorate how can I reform the party?”
The mandate given by the people (the electorate) in the General Elections is to transform the country and not to reform your party! That’s Umno’s and your job!
Please get the mandate from your own party members to reform your own party! It appears that either you have failed to get the mandate from Umno members to change the party or in spite of the support given to you, you have failed to reform it.
And since you have failed to reform Umno, the party will be an obstacle to your plans to transform the country. It would not make any sense for you to continue as Umno president and as the PM.
And if you cannot even change your own party are we to expect that you are going to bring about change in the country?
Alas, perhaps it is time to change the president of Umno and the Prime Minister of this country!
MAILBAG
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Shut up Jalleh! I like what Najib is saying here IF thats sincere (doubtful but we’d never know but so long as the below 3 items are actually concretised, the voters couldn’t care less and will give PM Najib a second term) and relates to the below 3 items. What is Jalleh doing? Trying to goad Najib into the arms of those racists being berated? If BN grants :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;even the Chinese would vote BN over Pakatan which has never made clear on the above. Of course BN would be unlikely to grant the above given the number of racists, but Najib is indeed thinking and should not be hammered. Are you an UMNO disinfo agent Jalleh? Or just angry in a way that your articles are skewed in a manner that makes impossible the above 3 items?
ARTICLE 21
Waning popularity a message from the people, Najib warns BN – by Zurairi AR – December 02, 2012
Najib asked voters to give BN more time to execute the changes it has planned for the country. — Picture by Choo Choy May
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 ? Again calling for change in Barisan Nasional (BN), Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today voters are choosing Pakatan Rakyat (PR) because they want to send a message to the ruling coalition.
“The message is for us to change as a party,” the BN chairman said while launching the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) annual general meeting (AGM) here.
“They want BN as a party to be more fair, inclusive, and so that every citizen of Malaysia will receive equal treatment and benefits from BN.”
The prime minister’s remarks came after PPP president Datuk Seri M. Kayveas’s address, in which the latter said voters are flocking to PR because they are “worried” by perceived discrimination and prejudice under BN’s rule.
Fresh from closing Umno’s annual assembly here yesterday, Najib again called on voters to give BN more time to renew itself by supporting it in the polls.
“We’re in the process of renewal. Real changes are taking place in Malaysia.
“Real changes are taking place while the same party is in power in Malaysia,” the Umno president said.
Najib also criticised the “Ubah” (change) slogan touted by DAP and PR, comparing their call for change to the recent “Arab Spring” revolution.
“If we change, are we sure we’re getting something better?
“(The people involved in Arab Spring) are not enjoying the ‘spring weather’. They’re still in the winter of discontent,” Najib said.
The prime minister said that the revolutions in the Middle East had caused the countries involved to lose out on tourism and currency exchange, as well as suffer declines to their security.
But Najib also confessed that winning the next general election will not be easy, saying that voters’ opinions were now easily swayed by current issues.
“Before this, we can just put a songkok (to contest) and we would still win.
“Now we need to read the desires of the public, understand the wishes of the people.”
Najib then appeared to criticise grassroots leaders for failing to disseminate the aspirations of the BN administration effectively, leading to problems with perceived discrimination and prejudice.
“The problem is not at the top, the problem is on the ground.
“These people must try to understand what the government wants. If we say we must treat every citizen equally, the whole system … must do that,” Najib added to applause from the floor.
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Najib then appeared to criticise grassroots leaders for failing to disseminate the aspirations of the BN administration effectively, leading to problems with perceived discrimination and prejudice.
“The problem is not at the top, the problem is on the ground. “These people must try to understand what the government wants. If we say we must treat every citizen equally, the whole system … must do that,” Najib added to applause from the floor.
Politics should be about honesty, and civilisational Islam (or other religion) is not crony laws and racial privileges. As mentioned elsewhere, were a screen applied to ensure meritocracy (to mask race), a translation machine (to mask language), and a voice modulator and distortion screen or camera (to mask gender) applied at a job interview, we’d be surprised at the choices we make based on POLICY rather than race or religion or cult of personality (which harms the accuracy of content via sheer pathos via inverse civility). Then the concept of NATION would be real. Right now the ‘needs basis’ is based around wrong things like religion and race or even gender ‘quotas’, which is very backward and insulting to the host race the Malays, the minorities, or men in general. Let the best people lead and let them be limited in terms AND chosen with the above tech applied so that the above racial or gender or religious cues will not affect choices. Finally, a first world ‘Meritocracy’ of logic and ability (as opposed to mob minded and pathos based DEMOCRACY of majority) must include :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
ARTICLE 22
Teen summoned for frolicking in park upset and embarrassed – by SYED AZHAR newsdesk@thestar.com.my – Tuesday December 11, 2012
KOTA BARU: The 17-year-old teenager, who was issued a summons for allegedly giving his girlfriend a “piggy-back ride” at a public park, is upset and embarrassed following the incident.
The teenager, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he had a tough time explaining to his mother that he was innocent and that he and his 15-year-old girlfriend did nothing indecent.
The teenager was given the summons for allegedly “piggy-backing” his girlfriend while jogging at Taman Tunku Anis at about 5.30pm on Oct 20.
“The incident was traumatic for me and my girlfriend because although I am not an expert in council by-laws, I think what I did was merely having fun with my girlfriend. It was far from an offence.
“We were just fooling around in broad daylight like any other teenager but the officer who approached us said it was improper for us to act like that in public.
“He continued giving us a lecture on morality and when I thought that we would be let off with a warning, he issued us with the summons,” he said yesterday adding that he was now in Kuala Lumpur after completing his SPM examinations.
Summonses had also been issued to two non-Muslim men were for allegedly embracing each other when they were found in a car parked near the Sultan Ismail Petra Airport at midnight on Oct 31. Both have denied the allegations.
The action against the four led to an outcry by various groups which likened it to imposing the Syariah law of close proximity or “khalwat” on non-Muslims.
The teenager also claimed he had argued with the officer as it was unfair to penalise someone when a verbal warning would suffice.
“When I got home that day, I showed the summons to my mother.
“She was very upset at first but when she saw the nature of the offence written in the summons, she believed that I had done nothing wrong.
“My mother thinks I should not have been issued with the summons and that is why she has brought up the matter with lawyers to ask their opinion on the matter,” he added.
He said the news about the incident spread and many assumed that he was involved in “hanky-panky business” with his girlfriend.
“All my friends wanted to know what happened in the park. But when I told them that my girlfriend was merely on my back, they did not believe me and after seeing the summons, my friends will now think twice about hanging out with their girlfriends anywhere.
“They are now afraid to even go to the park with their girlfriends,” she added.
He said he had been under some stress during the SPM examinations because of the incident.
“But I believe I did okay because my conscience is clear and my family is with me,” he said.
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Let all Malaysians vote only for MPs who believe in dropping the entire Syariah Court system in favour of the civil court system. Also :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
If there are no such MPs running for election, please run for candidacy so that Malaysia will not become an Al-Qaeda or fundo-type-Taliban country.
DAP calls for diplomatic protests over Israel’s aggression – Sunday, 18 November 2012 08:16
KUALA LUMPUR – The DAP today urged the Malaysian government to lodge diplomatic protests over Israel’s cruel actions on the people of Gaza, Palestine.
Its secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Wisma Putra (the Foreign Ministry) should make vehement protests on Israel’s actions to the United States and the United Nations so that the violence perpetrated against the people of Gaza was stopped forthwith.
“DAP condemns Israel’s using its military might disproportionately to the rocket attacks from Palestinian fighters. Israel’s aggression on Gaza always brings unnecessary deaths and damage to property,” he said in a statement here today.
At least 30 people have been killed and scores others injured, including women and children, in Israel’s latest airstrikes on the Gaza Strip which began on Wednesday.
– Bernama
Obama must act immediately & decisively to stop Israeli attacks on Gaza – by Anwar Ibrahim – Sunday, 18 November 2012 22:12
Israel must immediately stop the bombing of Gaza and the brutal killings of innocent Palestinians. The incessant shelling of whatever that is left of the Palestinian homeland is a gross violation of international law and constitutes acts of cold blooded murder.
We categorically condemn these blatant acts of aggression and call on the international community to do whatever that is necessary to put an end to the violence. The continued bombardment and the calling up of 75,000 reservists constitute a grave threat to peace and stability in the region.
We would reiterate the warning by both Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi that serious consequences would ensue if Israel follows up with its threat of a ground offensive.
Take clear moral stand
President Barack Obama must act immediately and decisively to put to an end to the increasing tension in the region by making it clear to Israel that their continued acts of aggression and the indiscriminate bombing of Gaza will have severe implications not just for the region but for international peace and stability.
All peace loving nations must take a clear moral stand on this issue and pressure Israel to cease its brutal, inhumane and oppressive actions against the people of Gaza, already marginalized for years and since 2006, unfairly penalised by the Western powers for having elected Hamas to power.
ANWAR IBRAHIM IS THE LEADER OF THE MALAYSIAN OPPOSITION – brought to you by Carl’s Jr. (inbred politics par excellence NEPOTISM . . .)
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DAP is the worst political party EVER. We still have APARTHEID of BUMIPUTRA here in Malaysia and DAP wants to target Israel AN ENTIRE country embroiled in decades of war instead? GTFO of Dewan DAP! End apartheid and unequal citizenships first then talk about Israel. If DAP can’t even walk as equals among Malaysians, DAP has no business talking about Israel. DAP is run by nepotistic term limitless idiots.
Also selected comments from another media site confirm DAP’s irrelevance to Malaysian politics and lack of interest in Human Rights locally (DAP accepts 2nd class citizenships but wants to fight the 10th Crusade on the side of Muslims? Obama didn’t get through to Anwar now did he? PKR has not spoken against apartheid or ensured Article 18 of the Human Rights Charter but wants to berate Obama on Palestine? Send in the marines!
Sunday, 18 November 2012 12:28 posted by Malaysian
DAP is barking up the wrong tree. It is now supporting aggressors. Hamas knew that the rocket attacks on Israel would get a strong response if they kept it up long enough. Were they thinking of the wellbeing of the Palestinians in this case? I think not. Like many in the world community, DAP has now been drawn into condemning Israel’s right to defend itself while conveniently forgetting that it was Hamas who started the violence. Can we have some common sense here, or is it too much to ask of DAP on this issue?
Sunday, 18 November 2012 14:38 posted by CorruptWorld
The corrupt and dictatorial leaderships in the middle east nations are fearful of the momentum of “the Arab Spring”. Rhetorica against Iran’s nuclear program, Iran supports Asad of Syria n militants in Iraq, Hezbollah meddling in Labenon, all year long Hamas firing rockets into Isreal, Isreal heavy response….these are planned political, big arms deals and corruption from bottom to top maneuvers by the leaders in West and East to divert or kill off the middle east peoples’ uprising and yearn for freedom and change of governments. Both, Isreal and Hamas are to blame for escalating tensions and hardship on their own people’s. When peace is near and real, they both acting up again. The ruling Government of Isreal is not true Jews as with Hamas is not true Muslims.
Sunday, 18 November 2012 22:31 posted by dominic
This is the second call from PR leaders . I have yet to see any call for Hamas to immediately cease their un-provocative shelling of Israel . Any disagreement is best settled on the round table instead of lobbing mortars and missles to gander international support and attention . Any peace at all need both side to abide collectively. No one party can go in alone !
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Drop the Israel-Palestine B.S.. . . ARE YOU A MINORITY living in Malaysia @dominic? If there is no equal standing locally for 40% of the population, stop talking about a country half a world away and handle the local issues first, Malaysia is half a Trillion in debt and has apartheid issues, this Israel-Palestine conflict is the work of SUPERPOWERS, and China and India are modest enough to keep their distance to let Russia and USA handle this, not even England or the EU want to get involved and here we have BN or Pakatan making alot of noise on the side . . . can’t even have equality, country in serious debt, can’t end Apartheid, and want to target the Middle East issues? Malaysian citizens as unfocused as Malaysian politicians, backyard issues first!
ARTICLE 2
The Ipoh boy who spoke no English… and rose to be Chief Justice – Sunday, 18 November 2012 08:29
This is an excerpt of a tribute delivered by Law Minister K. Shanmugam in Parliament on Monday to Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong, who retired on Nov 6.
SINGAPORE’S constitutional framework enshrines the rule of law, the independence of the courts and the separation of powers.
The Constitution establishes the Judiciary as a separate and independent institution, and charges it with the responsibility to interpret the law and apply it to cases which come before the courts.
At the head of the Judiciary is the Chief Justice. Through his judgments and extra-judicial writings, his presidency over appellate hearings and even his personal conduct, the Chief Justice sets the tone for the administration of justice in Singapore.
It is a heavy responsibility, and Singapore has been singularly fortunate that, for the past six years, that responsibility has been discharged by Chief Justice Chan.
Humble background
THE Chief Justice came from a humble background. He lived in a communal house in Ipoh, started his education late because of the war, and could not speak English when he first went to school.
But adversity did not slow him down. He was one of the top students in the Senior Cambridge School Certificate in 1955, with eight distinctions.
He could not decide what to read at university. He was not thinking of doing law – he had no idea what a legal career would be like. Happily for Singapore, he was persuaded to do law by his English literature teacher, Dr Etherton, who said that he had a “very crafty mind” – in a good sense.
Chief Justice Chan joined the inaugural LL.B. class of 1961 in the then University of Malaya, and was one of the top students in a class that produced several other students who went on to hold high positions in the law.
Private practice
CHIEF Justice Chan practised briefly in Kuala Lumpur before joining Braddell Brothers in Singapore in 1963. He did so because he wanted to continue to be with then his girlfriend, Elisabeth Eber, whom he later married.
Later, the Chief Justice joined Shook Lin & Bok, where he rose to become the managing partner and one of Singapore’s leading banking and corporate lawyers, with a complete mastery of the law and a keen understanding of commercial and practical realities.
He was the counsel of choice for many banks and financial institutions, and drafted many of the standard banking and corporate documents used throughout Singapore in the late 1970s and in the 1980s.
The Chief Justice never hid behind verbiage. I once had to advise on a guarantee which was drafted by the Chief Justice. It comprised two paragraphs, in a telex. The party which challenged the validity of the guarantee – perhaps because it looked too short to be a guarantee! – later backed down. Though brief, the document was clear and accurate. That was the hallmark of the Chief Justice: in the way he gave his advice, in the way he drafted documents and in the way he wrote his judgments.
Judicial commissioner and judge
CHIEF Justice Chan was appointed a Judicial Commissioner in 1986 – the first person to be so appointed. He was later elevated to be a Judge in 1988.
During his first judicial tenure, from 1986 to 1992, the Chief Justice demonstrated the independence of mind and the keenness of analysis that lawyers today are familiar with. In this period, he heard a fair number of public law cases, and, in his own words, “the decisions are fairly divided between those decided for and against the Government”.
It was during this period that I started my own career in the law. In 1987, I appeared as a junior, with Mr Joseph Grimberg, in a case before the Chief Justice. The precedents were not clear. While Mr Grimberg was making his arguments, the Chief Justice somehow noticed – I don’t know how, perhaps it showed in my face – that I was keen for a point to be made. He asked Mr Grimberg to ask me what the point was. I was quite struck that the Chief Justice noticed everything in his court – he was so alert that he even picked up on the thought processes of a junior, and pursued the point.
His handling of the case, both in the way he conducted the hearing, as well as his legal analysis, left a deep impression on me.
He had an excellent judicial temperament – no flourish, no hyperbole, no drama. He always cut to the chase, succinct. He was usually well ahead of counsel and on top of all the issues – a first-rate, world-class judicial mind.
Attorney-General
IN 1992, Chief Justice Chan was appointed the third Attorney-General of Singapore.
As Public Prosecutor, he had the constitutional responsibility for instituting and conducting prosecutions. He acted firmly and in the public interest. At the same time, he was fair to the accused.
He enhanced the capabilities of the Attorney-General’s Chambers by strengthening the Civil and Criminal Divisions, and setting up the International Affairs Division and the Law Reform and Law Revision Division. His successors have built on this strong foundation, and today the AGC has a full- fledged team of first-rate lawyers, numbering about 250.
As Attorney-General, and later as Chief Justice, Chief Justice Chan played a leading role in the Pedra Branca litigation.
He presented our case before the International Court of Justice in a very clear manner, together with Professor S. Jayakumar, Professor Tommy Koh and others. The ICJ decisively upheld Singapore’s sovereignty over Pedra Branca. Chief Justice’s personal interests – he is a keen student of history – helped substantially in presenting Singapore’s case. His collection of South-east Asian history books, one of the largest in Singapore, was extensively used for the ICJ hearing.
Chief Justice
Mr Chan was appointed as Chief Justice in 2006. The appointment was received with great enthusiasm by the legal community.
Chan Sek Keong the Chief Justice was very much like Chan Sek Keong the man – humble, unassuming, with a powerful intellect and a keen sense of integrity.
Outside of the courtroom, Chief Justice Chan demanded that lawyers meet the highest standards of professional conduct, and took decisive measures to safeguard clients’ monies from errant lawyers. He constantly encouraged the legal fraternity, from Senior Counsel to law student, to do more pro bono work, to improve access to justice for the less fortunate amongst us.
He started the Young Amicus Curiae scheme where young lawyers could assist Judges hearing Magistrate’s Appeals, and expose themselves to criminal work.
He stressed the need for top- tier advocacy in commercial cases. He observed that top Senior Counsel were often retained by large institutions, rendering them unable or unavailable to act against such institutions. The result was that small law firms and individual clients who wanted representation against large institutions could not instruct Senior Counsel. He thus advocated that Queen’s Counsel be allowed to appear more freely in our courts, so that small law firms and individual clients can instruct them.
As a judge, Chief Justice believed that “judgments should be expressed in a language that a reasonably educated layman can understand”, and indeed his judgments stand out for their clarity and simple elegance.
He believed in procedural fairness, that “litigants must come away from the court with the feeling that even though they lost, they have had their day in court and have been heard”.
He believed that the function of judges was to interpret and to apply the law, and not to legislate or make policy in the guise of adjudication. In that sense, he was a legal positivist.
At the same time, he believed that judges had a role in developing the law interstitially, consonant with national values and fundamental principles of the common law.
To promote the practice development of Singapore law, he issued a Practice Direction that Singapore cases should be cited in preference to foreign cases. In the course of his judicial career, he wrote almost 380 judgments, or more than 30 a year. His judgments, which span many areas of the law, will continue to influence our jurisprudence for many years to come.
He believed in justice for the common man. Above all, the Chief Justice was a firm believer in the rule of law and the duty of the court to uphold the law. In a lecture in 2010, he offered a robust rebuke to those who doubted the independence of the Judiciary.
When the boy from Ipoh came to Singapore to study, settle down and start a career in the law, it was Singapore which ultimately benefited.
– The Straits Times
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A Justice, much less CHIEF Justice would never accept the lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Any legal professional that has sat by and watched the lack of the above, is a ‘boy’ . . . Ipoh or wherever from . . . not a MAN who challenges the APARTHEID OF BUMIPUTRA for the mere right to equality. Any Malaysian who RAN AWAY from Malaysia to Singapore, and not spoken a word against apartheid despite reaching such high status is a very cynical person, especially when no-longer holding posts or active in government.
‘While still at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), he was frequently asked about the Internal Security Act (ISA) — a law that enables the government to detain people without trial. The issue also recently grabbed headlines when the Catholic Archbishop of Singapore retracted a letter of support he sent to activist group Function 8, when it organised an event earlier this year calling for its abolition. Asked for his views on more controversial detentions in Singapore’s history, including Operation Coldstore in 1963 and Operation Spectrum in 1987, he felt it inappropriate to offer comment on specific incidents in the past because he was not privy to the specific security considerations applicable to them. With clearer knowledge of the situation between 2008 and 2011, however, Shanmugam is certain of the overarching rationale for the Act in the current international security environment — that ultimately it acts as a preventive measure where security threats are discovered on classified intelligence.
With the days of mass, high-profile detentions a thing of the past, though, whether the law should stay or not, he feels, all boils down to the evaluation of which of two risks Singapore is more prepared to take. “(The ISA) gives the power to the government to detain people without going through the due process of the courts. Once you have such a structure, is there a possibility of abuse? Of course… so that’s the risk,” he acknowledged. However, he pointed out, “Society has got to decide between that risk, or the risk that an incident might actually occur, and then you have to ask yourself, ‘What are the consequences of each of the two risks materialising? What is the impact on Singapore?’ and then people have to choose.” Shanmugam explained that where Singapore lacks in natural resources, it makes up for in a clean ecosystem that is friendly to businesses.’
Propagandist Indian raised into high stature, now here supporting draconian laws, and know that Shanmugam is present only for token multiracialism. Singapore is not friendly to business, but only acts as a money laundering front and military base of sorts centered around a CIVILIAN JUNTA around the nepotistic Lee family . . .
Selected Commentator Comments :
Sunday, 18 November 2012 13:23 posted by Habis lah, Chiak Moi with soya sauce
How can he compare to our wealthy, hollywood handsome pedigree and powerful Minister Nazari. Even Nazari son can afford to wear a million dollar watch. Can this S’porean(ex M’sian) CJ do likewise.
Aiyah, our Minister Nazari is 1st class conman – con his own people and also con everybody that there is nothing wrong in $40 million fiasco involving Michael Chia & Musa. By the way, sorry lah people like Justice Chan is not wanted by Malaysia. Smart people in Malaysia is a liability. They complain too much about UMNO’s brand of government. Too many smart people, where to cari makan.
Sunday, 18 November 2012 20:52 posted by Oran Utan
You guys still don’t get it do you? For UMNO this is all about Ketuanan Melayu, it is never about Meritocracy. And some you you hit a nail in the coffin, with his type of resume he will never get a job in Bolehland.
Talent corp is wasting taxpayers money and time, how do you expect to attract Malaysian Talents back and retain them when you cannot guarantee a future for these talents. Meritocracy, performance and opportunity for promotions and business opportunities are one of the main key criteria to stay back in Ketuanan Melayu land. So UMNO don’t take us for a ride with your Talent Corp bullshit. All I can see is that Talent Corp is another gimmick to siphon Taxpayers money.
Sunday, 18 November 2012 10:58 posted by Ibrahim
He acted firmly and in the public interest. ..
An excellent tribute. In Malaysia, if we can get 10% of the qualities mentioned in this tribute, we would be honored. Esp. When that Mamak who is really a Syaitan, tore the independence, professionalism & integrity of the Malaysian Judiciary to pieces.
Now we have only a Judiciary and AG Chambers completely compromised and without any more conscience esp. when Dealing with dissent and opposition to UMNO.
ARTICLE 3
Najib signs ASEAN’s first human rights convention – by Clara Chooi – Assistant News Editor – November 18, 2012
Following a public uproar to the widespread crackdown on two pro-democracy rallies held by electoral reform movement Bersih 2.0, Najib has taken great pains to improve civil liberties in Malaysia. — File pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak signed ASEAN’s first human rights declaration (AHRD) in Cambodia today, officially committing Malaysia to its first foreign convention to promote fair treatment of every individual irrespective of race, religion and political opinion.
Today’s signing, which took place during the 21st ASEAN Summit at the Peace Palace in the capital city of Phnom Penh, comes at an opportune time for Malaysia and the Barisan Nasional (BN) government led by Najib, which has come under close international scrutiny for its alleged mishandling of several recent human rights issues.
“ASEAN shall pursue the protection and promotion of human rights in the region in our own way and also try to maintain the highest standard as expressed in various declarations and instruments of the international community,” ASEAN secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan was quoted as saying in The Star Online.
According to media reports, the AHRD has a total of 40 clauses and covers areas like civil and political rights, economic, social ad cultural rights, developmental processes and peace enhancement.
The declaration also states that the rights of women, children, elderly and disabled persons and migrant workers are integral and indivisible part of human rights and fundamental freedom, The Star reported.
Najib has found himself in the international spotlight on numerous occasions, taking the hit for his administration’s alleged heavy-handedness in dealing with matters concerning civil freedom, individual rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association.
Some key examples include the widespread crackdown on two pro-democracy rallies held by electoral reform movement Bersih 2.0 — one on July 9, 2011, and another on April 28 this year — which resulted in scene of chaos and violence on the streets of this usually peaceful capital city.
To dull the uproar, however, Najib has taken great pains to improve civil liberties in Malaysia, even agreeing to repeal the controversial Internal Security Act (ISA) and the Sedition Act, enacting a new law to regulate public gatherings, agreeing to allow student participation in politics and relaxing provisions in laws governing press freedom.
But after the last protest on April 28, foreign media reports predicted that the government’s handling of the event would likely undermine Najib’s image as a reformist and force the prime minister to delay the next general election.
Several newswires, picked up by major newspapers globally, also took the same stance, with Reuters reporting that police action raised “the risk of a political backlash that could delay national polls which had been expected as early as June.”
Agence France-Presse also said that “the rally poses a dilemma for Najib, who since last year’s crackdown has sought to portray himself as a reformer, launching a campaign to repeal authoritarian laws in a bid to create what he called ‘the greatest democracy’.”
Several reports pointed to the first Bersih rally held just months before the March 2008 elections, which saw BN record its worst electoral performance ever, ceding its customary two-thirds supermajority in Parliament and five state governments.
Najib took over from Tun Abdullah Badawi a year later, ostensibly to improve on the results and some observers say only a return to two-thirds majority will guarantee he remains Umno president.
Widespread condemnation from the international press of Putrajaya’s crack down on last July’s Bersih rally saw Najib announce a raft of reforms including a parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms and the Peaceful Assembly Act, a major concession to win back an alienated middle-class.
But the findings of a bipartisan panel have been criticised as cosmetic by civil society and the opposition and yesterday’s planned sit-in was the first major test of the new law regulating demonstrations the BN chief says abides by “international norms”.
The foreign press had at the time also widely carried global civil liberties watchdog Human Rights Watch’s criticism of the government, saying it showed “contempt for its people’s basic rights and freedoms.”
“Despite all the talk of ‘reform’ over the past year, we’re seeing a repeat of repressive actions by a government that does not hesitate to use force when it feels its prerogatives are challenged,” said Phil Robertson, its deputy Asia director.
Apart from Bersih, the BN administration has also earned itself international condemnation for bringing charges of sexual misconduct and sodomy against Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim numerous occasions, a move that the leader’s supporters have claimed was merely to stifle his campaign to topple the ruling pact.
Several cases of deaths in custody over the past few years had also cast the government in the spotlight for alleged human rights abuses. One example is the death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock, whose death, which occurred while he was under the care of anti-graft officials, has continued to haunt the government since 2009.
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But the Bar Council gets no flak eh? The Bar Council needs to hammer BN too, even sue BN for APARTHEID and lack of :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Najib alone cannot be blamed but is definitely complicit. If all other agencies did their work, Najib would be out of work. UN needs to address the bunch of racists affecting Najib’s judgment. Signing this does not change the above 3 lacks. Bar Council being so supposedly educated and ‘legal’ can see this. Act yet? Or still waiting for moi to sue the Malaysian Government?
ARTICLE 4
PAS dials down on hudud, concedes it can’t rule alone – Sunday, 18 November 2012 administrator – Abdul Hadi Awang
(TMI) — Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang appeared today to admit that PAS may never entirely abandon its plans to impose hudud for Muslims and had only softened its approach on the matter as the Islamist party knew it could not rule without its non-Muslim allies in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
But the PAS president offered his word that if implemented, the controversial Islamic penal code would not be imposed on the non-Muslims, shooting down a suggestion yesterday by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Hudud is (PAS’) rights (to implement), and we are not forcing non-Muslims (to follow it),” Abdul Hadi told reporters after closing the party’s 58th annual conference, or muktamar, here.
“And the rights of non-Muslims are allowed by their own religion … for example, liquor is allowed by their religion … although it is haram in Islam, it is still their right.”
Dr Mahathir had stepped into the hudud fray yesterday, challenging the party to implement hudud for all, including the non-Muslims, in order to be fair.
During the stretch of the party’s annual meet this weekend, the PAS leadership seemed to deliberately dodge the issue of hudud and the party’s Islamic state ideals, moving instead to appear more inclusive with slogans that advocate religious tolerance and acceptance.
But the party’s religious conservatives in the ulama wing and youth members insisted on raising the controversial issue, which has put a strain on PAS’ ties with PR ally DAP.
In his policy speech at the opening of the muktamar, Abdul Hadi focussed on PAS’ plans to improve Malaysia’s economy should PR come to power and skirted around hudud and the implementation of the Islamic state.
But the veteran politician could not avoid the matter today, after PAS continued to find itself the target of critics who complained of the party’s apparent failure to stick to its ideals.
He would not expressly state if PAS would push ahead with its hudud agenda but appeared to suggest that the matter had to be shelved for the sake of its non-Muslim partners in PR.
“We want to rule a country, if it’s just PAS, then it will be impossible (for us) to rule,” he told reporters.
The Marang MP’s remarks today will likely draw more criticism from PAS’ political foes who have often accused the party of straying from its Islamic ideals and bowing down to its allies for the sake of wresting federal power.
PAS also reiterated today that there is no friction between the party and DAP, with which they have gone into collision course on issues such as Islamic state and hudud.
“DAP, PKR have accepted Islam as the religion of the federation,” PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali said.
“Don’t equate them disagreeing over hudud, with them rejecting (Islam). It is not the same.”
Abdul Hadi’s statements came after PAS’s religious wing continued to reaffirm its stand on hudud, insisting that it should be implemented if the party wins a significant majority in the next election.
“So far, hudud is still relevant,” said Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamad, the Deputy Chief of PAS Ulama wing during the closing speech at the muktamar.
“We will implement hudud in a democratic system if we win a lot of seats. It is not impossible that hudud can be implemented in Malaysia.”
Mahfodz reminded the PAS leadership that they should not forget Islam and hudud while they fight through the next campaign stage to reach Putrajaya.
“A ‘benevolent state’ must be based on the Quran, sunnah and ijtihad … not the -isms which contradict Islam,” he added.
This remark followed the information chief for the women’s wing, Aiman Athirah’s call for delegates to work harder so that PAS can lead Pakatan Rakyat (PR), and for President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be elected as the prime minister if the party wins in the next election.
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Dials? Whats that an NLP ‘trigger word’, code? Anyway, good to hear that Hudud might not be summarily imposed on Malaysians BUT . . .
Hadi may want to consider if Muslims will be allowed Article 18 of the UN Human Rights Charter rights to Apostasy, and the Non-Muslims will be allowed EQUALITY in all aspects of Law and Constitution, and also for non-Muslims to have RLD and Gambling districts in suitable places in state capitals of appropriate size AS WELL as OPZs (Organic Psychedelic Zones) like Amsterdam has. There are SERIOUS gaps in Hadi’s address and acceptance of PMship, which while tolerable if the above issues are made clear, cannot precede PAS taking up the mantle of the ruling party much less neglect Orang Asli stolen land issues as well as forced conversions of non-Muslims, continuation of Bumiputra Aparthied (perhaps INCLUDE all non-Malays and non-Muslims of a certain wealth level who are willing to apply BUT under no sneak conversion tactics or attempts at proselytization) etc..
Conversely Bumiputra Apartheid could be ended entirely, millions worth Bumi should not get any discounts or special privileges at all, while the poor non-Muslim and non-Malays in fact should. This is a money issue and to ignore politics of non-Muslim rights and equality, this becomes a display of PAS’s inward lookingness and sheer neglect of common sense and civilisation that a PM of any country needs. No problem if Hadi is made PM, but not without address of the above which are innate rights of ALL MANKIND and neglected for oppressive purposes for decades in Malaysia. Malaysia is a single country within the nations of a world, and not a very large or powerful country, needs to address issues as above.
ARTICLE 5
PAS Youth’s Nasrudin tells what he’s worth – Saturday, 17 November 2012 15:25
To show he meant business, PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hasan yesterday laid bare his personal assets during the winding down speech at the wing’s muktamar.
Nasrudin, 42, declared that he and his wife, a teacher, both draw an income of RM2,800 and RM4,000 respectively.
He also declared that he had RM9,000 in his bank account.
Out of his monthly RM2,800 income, RM2,500 is allowance from the party for his duties as PAS Youth chief while RM300 is rental income.
The father of six also tabled the breakdown of his monthly expenses comprising of a home loan at RM530 and his vehicle for which he pays RM1,400 monthly.
“Meanwhile my wife is paying loan for her own house at RM1,230 a month. These are the assets I am declaring, that I owned, as a gimmick for the assets declaration proposal, insha Allah that will be followed by all PAS Youth exco members,” he said.
PAS Youth had earlier announced that its executive council members including those not contesting in the coming general election would have to declare their assets.
During the opening of PAS Youth’s general meeting, party deputy president Mohamad Sabu gave his commitment to turn the proposal into a reality, but reminded that assets declaration must also be made at the end of one’s office term.
-Harakahdaily
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Don’t do the Rakyat no favours. Declaring assets is NOTHING AT ALL. Try ending apartheid or extreme religion and even distributing land or housing to the poor OF ALL RACES. Assets only? Big deal? At end of term? WORSE deal. Hiding ‘abit’ is hiding all the same. Why not declare NOW instead of months away so that ‘assets’ can be hidden by then? Who cares if assets are declared AFTER the term? BEFORE the term starts would be meaningful for asset declarations, but ONLY AFTER terms end? Cynical and obviously stalling for time.
ARTICLE 6
Possibly inaccurate but will post to see if any response that can clarify . . .
Theory? Or Truth?
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My theory based guess is that drugs are in fact USED by politicians to astrally project so that they can peek in on others and gain advantage against them, if not illegal cams have been installed everywhere already. Look at the colours the podium speaker is wearing here, Rasta colours. Who knows those with minds too strong will be targeted by GOVERNMENT, or political drug users, which possibly are typical of ALL so-called or organized religions. The hierarchy of religions could well be based around drug taking and hence the desire to illegalise drugs so that the will of the world becomes that of their narrow limited and religious biased one. Perhaps these are not religious men, perhaps these are ADDICTS intent on religious and political control using drugs as a weapon of choice. Please feel free to discuss if the premise is off, or warn to remove if considered offensive – suggestions of a more suitable repost will be appreciated if needed.
ARTICLE 7
Transvestites’ luck runs out – BY YUEN MEIKENG, TAN SIN CHOW and A.RAMAN – Saturday November 17, 2012
A GROUP of transvestites in revealing outfits was detained by religious authorities for trying to offer sexual services.
Sinar Harian reported that they were spotted waiting for customers in Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur.
The six transvestites ran helter-skelter when they saw an enforcement team from the Selangor Islamic Affairs Department (Jais) and officers from the Al-Azim mosque making their rounds at 5am on Thursday.
It was learnt the transvestites charged as low as RM50.
Al-Azim mosque officer Ahmad Nawi Osman said some of the transvestites suffered light injuries when they fell while running up a flight of stairs.
“All of them, aged between 20 and 38, were arrested,” he said, adding that one transvestite disclosed that it was difficult to find work and gain acceptance in society, causing him to resort to such a job.
> Kosmo! reported that the body of a missing two-year-old boy had been found. The body was believed to have been partly eaten by a monitor lizard.
Hadziq Hassan, missing since last Saturday, was found in Segaliud, Sandakan, on Wednesday night.
A surveyor, who was working in the area, made the discovery.
The boy was reported missing at Batu 25, Kampung Garinono after he and his family attended a relative’s wedding in Kampung Manis.
His body was found about 3km from the relative’s house.
Sandakan OCPD Asst Comm Rowell Marong said the body was identified by his family and was sent to the Duchess of Kent Hospital for an autopsy.
> A total of 26 foreign women, including four underaged girls, were detained by the Negri Sembilan Immigration Department for allegedly working as guest relations officers, reported Harian Metro.
The four Vietnamese girls, aged between 14 and 16, were believed to have been tricked into taking up the job at an entertainment centre in Seremban.
State immigration director Faizal Fazri Othman said three of the four girls entered the country using a visitor’s pass while the other girl used a student pass.
Other News & Views is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this > sign, it denotes a separate news item.
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Adult services are a human right of non-Muslims and if these transpersons were not Muslim, they should be left alone at least while legal action to ensure proper zones are assigned for such activities for non-Muslims. Luck? These are human rights abuses.
ARTICLE 8
Two PAS leaders support one-seat proposal – Saturday, 17 November 2012 Super Admin
(The Star) – Two PAS leaders have voiced support for DAP chairman Karpal Singh’s “one candidate, one seat” proposal for the upcoming general election.
PAS vice-president Sallehuddin Ayub said Karpal’s proposal was in tandem with PAS’ strategy of fielding one candidate, in general, for one seat.
“It will help convince the people of Pakatan Rakyat’s sincerity in serving their voters,” he said at the sidelines of the PAS muktamar here.
However, Sallehuddin said there could be exceptions, citing that DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng might be allowed to contest two seats if this was a way to help Pakatan.
Likewise, he said PAS leaders might also be asked to contest two seats.
Sallehuddin’s views was shared by his counterpart Datuk Mahfuz Omar, who stressed on their goal of defeating Barisan Nasional.
“If this means that each Pakatan candidate must only contest one seat, then it should be supported.
“If it also means that certain candidates should contest two as it enhances our chances, then it must also be supported,” Mahfuz said.
In another development, Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner II Datuk Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah warned that Kelantan PAS might lose seats in the elections if it allowed complacency to creep in.
In the last elections, Kelantan PAS won 34 of the 40 state seats.
Nik Mohd Amar also rubbished talk that Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, 82, was ailing.
However, he acknowledged that Nik Aziz had been advised by his doctor to go for a check-up every day to treat a “prostate problem”.
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A potential core elite of statesmen, at least in ensuring of separation of powers. Karpal unfortunately represents endemic nepotism and limitless terms as well. Hence Sallehuddin and Datuk Mahfuz Omar have become that much more statesmanlike (do these exceptions stand AGAINST Hudud?) If so, we might be looking at future PMs . . . ) than Karpal, even if the above suggestion which came from moi, was taken up by Karpal. TERM LIMITS and NO FAMILY BLOCS ‘KARPAL’. Any ‘Karipap’ (or Al-Karipap? Karpal . . . ) seller could run for election and win, simply by democratic considerations against nepotism and limitless terms of Karpal and sons. This is GOVERNMENT not a family business.
ARTICLE 9
The ugly side of the Chinese – Raja Petra Kamarudin – Monday, 19 November 2012 Super Admin
The Malaysian police know I live in Manchester. Malaysians in the UK know I live in Manchester. Malaysians in Australia, New Zealand, the US, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc., know I live in Manchester. The Malaysian High Commission in London and the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur know I live in Manchester. Only Victor Lim alone thinks I live in Dr Mahathir’s apartment in London. He knows that but he does not know what the address is or whether Dr Mahathir really does own an apartment in London.
The most valuable part of a democratic and pluralistic society is the right to choose. Everyone can choose to support anything they think is right.
The United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) rally scheduled on November 25 with the objective to pressure the government is a choice of struggle. The United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong) and the Federation of Chinese Associations of Malaysia (Hua Zong) have the right not to participate and choose to correct the unreasonable content in the National Education Blueprint preliminary report through communication and follow-up.
Similar to anti-environment movements, some people chose to take part in the 300km Kuantan-KL Green Walk. Their persistence and perseverance has won respect and admiration.
In politics, people also have the right to choose whether to change the government, strengthen the two-party-system or maintain the status quo.
Changing the government is an ideal and it can hardly become a reality if only a small number of people are supporting it. Therefore, the ruling and alternative coalitions must convey their political programmes and policies to the public through various platforms, including mass assemblies and annual general assemblies to fight for more support.
To me, the Pakatan Rakyat’s performance has not yet reached my personal demand. However, as I believe that democracy requires checks and balances, I support the two-party system. If the majority supports the two-party system, it is possible to bring a major change.
In a democratic country, everyone has the right to choose based on his/her own judgement and cognitive thinking. Therefore, it is not necessary for others to be so nervous or intimidate them into changing their stand.
Many people are confused about the meaning of democracy due to the intense political struggle. Some people are excessively fanatical to the extent of slandering and labelling those who have made a different choice.
French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher Voltaire said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
Who can still remember the words? Many people have instead lost their magnanimity and tolerance and attack whoever say something unpleasant. Democracy should never be like this.
All people make mistakes, regardless of how just they claimed themselves are. Calling themselves just does not mean that they cannot be criticised and corrected.
The BN has indeed made many mistakes and there is much room for improvement. Similarly, the Pakatan Rakyat state governments also have many inadequacies in governance. Being overly emotional has caused everyone unable to see the reality clearly.
Back to the Dong Zong rally, it is a peaceful civil demonstration and it is not necessary to label it as an “anti-government” movement. Adopting the path of dialogue to fight is not “heinous crime” either. Why can’t the Chinese organisations work together to achieve the same goal since all of them are serving the Chinese community? Without tolerance and the sense of balance, it could end up following the path of politics, namely people categorise those who are not called friends as enemies.
Most Chinese affairs are of voluntary or conscience nature. If it evolves into a life-and-death game, the Chinese community will first collapse before the winner of the political game is decided.
Life was boring and monotonic in the past when people were not granted the right to choose. It is good to have choice. But choices also bring us confusion and distress.
As the general election is approaching, people become more and more impetuous. We must first calm down to avoid being diverted by “choices”.
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The day Najib outfoxed all Malaysians…
Victor Lim, Free Malaysia Today
Now, wasn’t it Daim who predicted that five states would fall prior to the 2008 political tsunami? And it was correct – Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan.
And who and where this prediction was first publicised? Raja Petra Kamarudin’s (RPK’s) Malaysia-Today (MT) news portal.
Malaysians who have been following RPK’s writings were shocked, when after the 2008 general election, he began associating himself with Mahathir – meeting his sifu (master) in his Petronas twin-tower office.
Many could not understand or believe how RPK, who was so vocal against BN-Umno and one of the pioneers of the Free Anwar Reformasi Movement, could make such an about turn.
Many MT readers are still puzzled and cannot believe what was happening and why RPK’s writings started to slant towards Umno.
However, RPK’s slant is now cautiously back to the Opposition, championing the need to change? What’s going on? Simple! The cyber mercenary writer is financially backed by Mahathir and Daim.
In 2008, Mahathir and Daim’s common political pest was Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. So, RPK’s mission was to destabilise and erode support for Umno and Abdullah. It worked wonderfully, and as they say, the rest is history.
Now, Mahathir and Daim’s common political enemy is Najib. And do you now see the similar strategic political attacks from Mahathir and RPK?
If you still don’t believe that Mahathir and Daim are RPK’s sponsors, then you give me the answers to the following questions:
* RPK was the one who came up with the damning statutory declaration that implicated Najib and his wife, Rosmah, in the murder of Mongolian interpreter Altantuya Shaariibuu and the link to the Scorpene submarines’ graft allegations. Why?
* RPK was picked up by police and then charged. But after he was released on bail, how the hell did such a high profile political figure leave the country undetected?
* Who had the power and influence to facilitate his (RPK’s) migration? This was what I posted about RPK on Sept 10, 2012.
Talk is spreading like wild fire in Malaysia that the famous or infamous cyber operator, depending on which side of the political divide you stand, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, or more popularly referred to as RPK, is residing in an apartment in London belonging to the racist former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed.
RPK can feel free to clarify or attack me as we believe in freedom of speech and democracy, don’t we?
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When the issue favours the Chinese cause, they will scream democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of choice, the right to choose, agree to disagree, and so on. However, if it does not favour the Chinese cause, they will scream you are a turncoat, traitor, Trojan horse, frog, mole, you have been bought, and much more.
That is the ugly side of the Chinese. Freedom means freedom to agree with me, not freedom to disagree with me.
To people like Victor Lim, if you say or write anything that is perceived as pro-government, then this means you have been paid to do so. What about those who say or write something perceived as pro-opposition? Does this not also mean you have been paid to do so?
No! It does not. That just means you are noble. Those who support the opposition are noble. And if you do not support the opposition that can only mean one thing — you support the government. It is like religion. Either you are a Muslim or you are a Christian. And if you are not a Christian then you must surely be a Muslim. That is the only logical explanation.
To Victor Lim, your very action of not supporting the opposition is ‘evidence’ you have been paid. Using that same yardstick as ‘proof of guilt’, we will have to assume that Victor Lim is also a paid writer and his master must surely be Tian Chua. Can we, therefore, accept whatever Victor Lim says as the truth? Paid writers like Victor Lim would definitely lie through their teeth.
Victor Lim says he believes in democracy and freedom of speech. But when I exercise my democratic right of freedom of speech he vilifies me. The Malays call this bikin tak serupa cakap. Is this a Chinese cultural thing or what? Is this the best the so-called 5,000 years of Chinese ‘civilisation’ can produce? You appear puzzled as to why very few Malays trust the Chinese. Well, that’s because the Malays know that bikin tak serupa cakap type of people just cannot be trusted.
Probably 50 or more Malaysians have come to my house in Manchester, many of them Malaysians from Malaysia. Tan Sri Sanusi Junid, Zaid Ibrahim, Mat Sabu, Saari Sungib, and many more have all been to my house — some even spent the night at my house.
There are many more Malaysians from London, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Leicester, Nottingham, Reading, Scotland — in fact, from almost every city in the UK — who have visited me in Manchester. Yet Victor Lim says: Raja Petra Kamaruddin, or more popularly referred to as RPK, is residing in an apartment in London belonging to the racist former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed.
And he can’t even get the spelling of my name right. It is Raja Petra Kamarudin and not Raja Petra Kamaruddin. And what Free Anwar Reformasi Movement is Victor Lim talking about? Clearly Victor Lim tembak only. There is so such movement called Free Anwar Reformasi Movement. This is a fabrication by Victor Lim.
Anyway, what is the address of Dr Mahathir’s apartment? Does Dr Mahathir even own an apartment in London in the first place? And when did I move in to that apartment?
So you see, Victor Lim is bullshitting because I have never lived in London (at least not since 1956), never mind in whose apartment in London. I have been living in Manchester since the day I arrived. In fact, my family has been living in Manchester for 11 years now, since 2001, eight years before I came over.
The Malaysian police know I live in Manchester. Malaysians in the UK know I live in Manchester. Malaysians in Australia, New Zealand, the US, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, etc., know I live in Manchester. The Malaysian High Commission in London and the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur know I live in Manchester. Only Victor Lim alone thinks I live in Dr Mahathir’s apartment in London. He knows that but he does not know what the address is or whether Dr Mahathir really does own an apartment in London.
Can you see how they lie? And to these types of people lying comes under the category of freedom of speech. But if you were to reply to that lie, that is not considered freedom of speech. Freedom of speech means they can say things about you but you can’t say things about them.
Budaya apa ni? Budaya 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation ke?
Victor Lim also said: Malaysians who have been following RPK’s writings were shocked, when after the 2008 general election, he began associating himself with Mahathir – meeting his sifu (master) in his Petronas twin-tower office.
That is another lie. I started ‘associating’ with Dr Mahathir back in 2006 when Malaysia Today organised a dialogue session with the ex-Prime Minister in the Kelab Century Paradise on 24th June 2006. (I even uploaded the video recordings onto the Internet). And you can read the text of Dr Mahathir’s speech here: http://kasitarukaje.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/teks-ucapan-tun-dr-mahathir-mohamad.html
In fact, in the 2006 PKR annual general assembly in Penang, Azmin Ali whacked me in his speech. And Anwar Ibrahim sat there on stage smirking like the cat that had swallowed the canary as Azmin Ali whacked me for ‘bersekongkong dengan Dr Mahathir Mohamed’.
Hence, if you want to accuse me of ‘collaborating’ with Dr Mahathir then this collaboration started more than six years ago and two years before the 2008 general election. And if I had collaborated with Dr Mahathir more than six years ago and two years before the 2008 general election, how can I be a turncoat? A turncoat is someone who changes sides. I never changed sides after the 2008 general election. I have been with Dr Mahathir since two years BEFORE the 2008 general election.
And do you know what? Many PAS and DAP leaders — and many of them top leaders at that, too — also attended that 24th June 2006 dialogue with Dr Mahathir. Even the ex-PKR Deputy President turned up. So what have you got to say about all those PAS, DAP and PKR leaders who attended that dialogue with Dr Mahathir organised by Malaysia Today at the Kelab Century Paradise on 24th June 2006?
In the Kota Bharu dialogue the following month, the Kelantan Menteri Besar, Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, attended the session and shared the stage with Dr Mahathir. He also attended the dinner in honour of Dr Mahathir that same night. Nik Aziz felt he needed to play host to the ex-Prime Minister since he (Nik Aziz) is, after, all the Menteri Besar of Kelantan.
Maybe the Pakatan Rakyat supporters should learn how to tell the truth for once. You accuse Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian, NST, The Star, TV3, RTM, etc. of lying. But what difference are the opposition supporters? You are as blatant in your lying as the people you accuse of lying.
And why do you not respond, point-by-point, to the issues I have raised? I have been raising many issues since the mid-1990s — ever since I first started writing for Harakah in 1997 and I first launched my own website in 1994. What I am saying now is what I have been saying for the last 18 years. What am I saying now that I did not say back in the 1990s?
If I am wrong then rebut me with what you think is the truth. But you don’t do that. Instead of replying, you just hurl allegations against me and totally ignore what I say. And the only ‘rebuttal’ thus far is just a plain denial. Denial is no defence. If it is then Najib Tun Razak never met Altantuya Shaariibuu since he has denied meeting her.
In short, you know what I say is correct and you know there is no way you can rebut what I say. Hence you ignore what I say and do not reply to it and instead make all sorts of allegations, which are very far from the truth.
This is just like those Umno blogs that say I live in London and that one day I was so drunk I fell into a monsoon drain. Many kampong-minded Umno supporters who have never been to London and do not know that the UK does not have a monsoon season and London does not have monsoon drains will, of course, believe this story.
These opposition diehards are just the reverse of the same coin called Umno. They are all cut from the same cloth. Their doctrine is: you are free to agree with me but God help you if you say something that I don’t like.
Oh, by the way, take a look at the picture below. Today, some people in PAS are saying that they want Tok Guru Abdul Hadi Awang instead of Anwar Ibrahim to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia if Pakatan Rakyat wins the next general election. I already ‘said’ this four years ago. And if you can’t interpret what that picture means then you are dumber than I thought.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
i) No! It does not. That just means you are noble. Those who support the opposition are noble. And if you do not support the opposition that can only mean one thing — you support the government. It is like religion. Either you are a Muslim or you are a Christian. And if you are not a Christian then you must surely be a Muslim. That is the only logical explanation.
Noble?!? Seeing Pakatan’s 90% failed manifesto lies and ethical or democratic (nepotistic) flaws for what DAP is, is noble. To praise those who support Pakatan as noble – is not noble.
ii) And if you do not support the opposition that can only mean one thing — you support the government.
Inculpating hegelian dialectic thought still eh? Either or? How about ‘none of the above’? Better yet, how about ‘make your own option’ or make your own political party or run for candidacy as an independent candidate. RPK is not a democratic man, and spins propaganda that kills freedom of thought as well as skews facts. Pakatan is a failure as bad as BN. The 3rd Force indies among citizens could likely be better than eithetr BN or PR, so please don;t try to make lies into truth. Money cannot buy breeding as much as breeding cannot buy HONESTY and ETHICS which are prerequisite to the status of NOBILITY. If for love the people RPK, or love for democracy, this sort of article will never appear on media. The readers should know what RPK represents by now.
iii) The ugly side of the Chinese
Apartheid and racism directed at any race, will bring out the very worst of any race. Who threw the first blow here? Not the Chinese. Look in the mirror and decide if racism or apartheid is what reflects . . . Enuff said.
Looks like the Constitutional Lawsuit needs to be carried out by unknowns, to ensure :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
ARTICLE 11
Does power always rely on threat? Why is fair mindedness so elusive to some sorry souls?
Man seeks equality and fair treatment, but threats of murder and nasty tricks (like cement pools for the love of semen rather than EQUALITY) are the signs of mental illness and techno-fascism. Fight fair and find that some low minded dhimmitudisation a certain race holds to, have no part of Humanity’s future much like apes who did not use fire, or understand that the Human Rights Charter is not something a country signs for fun, nor being a Muslim allows for such blatant displays of ill meaning natures, bronze souls do not belong in the arena of words (and will be treated to what they deserve) and those with so much who want to take even more from even equality, that will threaten for mere monetary gain, need to talk to the clerics at Al-Azhar University, search their souls at their so-called Kabaa of Islam before threatening people with death which will never be on the side of the unjust and profane . . . are we to understand that there is no religion and only politics and murder in Malaysia and a certain coalition, much less at very least ethics? Everything these UMNO or BN people have today is from the idiotic voting choice of the taxpayers and now these guys dare threaten the 99% who made them? Disappointing.
End the apartheid and grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;or continue damning the name and reputation Malaysia and Malaysians.
Let me start by asking you these questions. Does Islam encourage you to devastate the forests? Does Islam encourage you to wipe out your wildlife? Does Islam encourage you to fuck up minority communities (e.g. the Orang Asli)? Does Islam encourage you to venture into business without knowing head or tail of that business? Does Islam encourage you to repeat your mistakes, year in, year out for 20 years? Does Islam encourage you to close your eyes to the rape of your land?
The answer is obvious. Of course, Islam DOES NOT encourage you to do all these things. But I think the Kelantan MB Nik Aziz and his merrymen from PAS have a different understanding than the rest of us.
I first visited Lojing Highlands, Kelantan was in 1991. Nik Aziz was already the MB of Kelantan then. The area was a mess. Vast tracts of forest were being cleared to make way for agriculture. And these were pristine highland forests at elevations ranging from 500m – 1500m. Tens of thousands of hectares were given away to State government linked companies as well as friendly parties to develop highland agriculture.
The state government mantra then was “if the farmers in Cameron Highlands can do it, so can we”. The geniuses in Kelantan at that time thought they could replicate Cameron Highlands which at that time had a total 2000 hectares of agriculture land. They thought if 2000 hectares in CH can produce RM x million revenue, then opening 20,000 hectares in Lojing will produce RM 10x million.
They forgot something very important. The farmers in Cameron Highlands have had 50 years of farming experience in the highlands. Their farms were small, averaging 1 – 2 hectares. They were individual farmers who slogged their butts off for managing even a 2-hectare farm in the mountains was a major undertaking. No sane person will open up thousands of hectares in the highlands to do farming.
I returned to Lojing several times since. 1994, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2007 and 2011. Nothing has changed. Highland forests are continuously being opened up on large scale (obviously the geniuses in Kelantan have not learnt anything about highlands agriculture). Obviously, some people are making tonnes of money from the timber that is being ripped off from the so-called “agriculture land”. The rivers have silted up. Wildlife has disappeared. The Orang Asli communities are worse off than they were 20 years ago.
Hills being ripped off for so-called “agriculture”
Free teh tarik anyone? The once pristine Sg. Brooke and Sg. Belatop are now just mud flows.
Logging is still widespread in Lojing. This is despite the national policy prohibiting logging at elevations above 1000m.
This is where teh tarik comes from. Land opened up for “agriculture” with almost no erosion control measures.
Most of the agriculture development in Lojing have failed. The companies benefitted from selling of the timber from the thousands of hectares of land given to them. The 1000-hectares Yakin tea plantation has been abandoned (yo, you dungus in Nik Aziz’s office – just because Boh can manage a tea plantation, does not mean that you also can. Boh is in that business. You are not. You just plundered that 1000 hectares). PKINK was given over 1000 hectare for orchards and agro-tourism – sampai sekarang habuk pun tak ade.Kayu balak dah lesap.
Land ownership in Lojing Highlands. I am sorry if you can’t read the map. Almost 30,000 hectares have been given away to state-linked companies and state agencies and friendly companies over the past 20 years. Almost zero productivity expect for the timber that has been taken away. Mind you these are all highland country with mostly steep slopes.
A few Chinese farmers from Cameron Highlands who leased small areas from Kelantan state government linked companies are doing pretty well. Other than that, agriculture output from Lojing is minimal – despite it being more than 20 years since Nik Aziz and his merrymen opened and devastated Lojing. None of the state government linked companies and state agencies have produced anything substantial despite wiping out over 20,000 hectares of pristine highland forests Nothing. Kosong. Telor ayam. In every aspect, Lojing has been a disaster.
The environmental cost must be epic. The amount of erosion and sedimentation from Lojing must run into the hundreds of millions of tonnes over the past 20 years. The once gorgeous Sg. Brooke and its tributaries are now nothing but mud flows. An area that was rich in wildlife is now pretty pathetic. Great damage was inflicted onto the Orang Asli communities in Pos Brooke, Pos Hendrop and Pos Blau. All their water sources were destroyed. The forests that they depended for food and other produce were devastated. The orang asli traditional land were given to outsiders or usurped by state agencies.
If you think I am lying, I suggest you take a drive to Lojing. It is just an hour or less from Cameron Highlands. See the damages for yourself. The rape has been going on continuously for more than 20 years.
I would like to end my story by asking Nik Aziz this “Is this Islamic?”
I counted 300 timber trucks on the Gua Musang road coming out of the Lojing area nearly 15 years ago. Still have the photographs….
Little point in condemning the decisions/actions that have lead to the present dire consequences. Perhaps we ought to consider instead how & what can be done to heal the Lojing scar of our apolitical MotherEarth in some truly creative ways.
November 11, 2012 10:05 AM
@CK said…
the way Kelantan is administered is an insult to Islam. Kelantan is now the poorest state in Malaysia, has the highest rape, incest and HIV cases. All the smart Kelantanese have left the state.
November 11, 2012 6:24 PM
@Lisa said…
Everybody did it. When I fly in Europe and look down on the landscape, there is not a single, not a single piece of land undeveloped. Not a single small hill. You can take off from Amsterdam and land in The Prague and you will not find it. I’ve been through this frustration on seeing how our land has been bled since the 90s and cried and wrote to newspapers, but I must say, and I’m sorry but it was pointless.
November 12, 2012 9:11 AM
@Cat-from-Sydney said…
Your Royal Monyetness,
We have visited this place many times and still cry when we see the scars on Mother Earth. Will be there again next week, hopefully with better results as cooperation from the natives is quite difficult to obtain. purrrr….meow!
November 12, 2012 9:17 AM
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Rivers should have a 1km ‘off limits’ buffer or green lung. Water tables perhaps a minimum of 10km worth. As for cultivation or farming, micromanagement is reliant on the ‘energy’ of individuals, so mass produced versions will never have the same quality, or as the article suggests will fail entirely or at least take longer than usual. A farmer of tea has ‘tea energy’, city people without any energy but city energy will not be able to grow anything, and MUST start from microscale (heck some can’t even tend garden) before ‘managing’ massive plantations. Farm conglomerates might possibly be impossible from land alone, the heart and interest of the person MUST be there, or all cultivation will not be comparable. This must also be considered against environment and the spiritual nature of the area a product is from. TEA from an Islamic prayer ‘ridden/infested’ area (Islam strip mines spiritually IMHO, thats why all those forests tend to become deserts or urban deserts wherever Muslims are) and will not be bought by markets, and that is why Chinese neutrality has made so much Chinese produce somehow so buyable, or Thai rice for example (which still has dangerously Buddhist leanings . . . ).
COFFEE from Islamic prayer ‘ridden/infested’ areas like UAE, most of Malaysia or even less secular parts of Indonesia (civet cat pre-pooped or not) will also be doomed to failure, simply because the buyers do not want to be Islamised by proxy. Conversely consider why Brazilian (sea, surf and bootay!) coffee ‘somehow’ seems superior – thats because there are no robed ghosties of locals hovering around the plants after hours with intent to ‘Islamise’. AT least in occult theory informed buyers at least, products from ‘religious’ areas are UNBUYABLE perhaps excepting the ‘Wuwei’ mentality of the Chinese (inaction) that actually improves a product by sheer non-investment of the pathos that other religions infuse their products with! Intent (or NEUTRALITY of intent) gives the product pedigree, and only the most secular producers can win in this game (which is why USA’s fanchises are somewhat ahead, though tainted by Freemasonry to a degree). Spiritual CLEANLINESS/NEUTRALITY of food is CRITICAL for sales assurances.
Tea from fundo heartland Malaysia? Forget that, India and China takes the cake FOREVER instead where tea is concerned. Though coconuts as well from India have the same pollution, the informed had better give the Indian grown coconuts or coconut products a wide berth. The whole gamut of Malaysian products is thus spiritually POLLUTED, and for a generalised (and cautiously presumptuous) example, from experiences at WW2, Austwictz may have just made German products that much more ethical (Nazi SS used alot of occultism, but since they have given up on that, the products PERHAPS are superiorly secular where applicable, though Caucasian obsession with the Aramean faith of Xianity and Xianity’s brand of proselytization could still down them, Judaism’s conversions are far more subtle but equally manipulative to no point as all 3 Monotheisms are Amon-Ra derived which was the invention of the reviled heretic Pharoah in any case – bring back the original faith systems regionally to put an end to the insanity . . .)
Then consider education and religious education (even more dangerous) and here you have the reasons for failures of such and such races. The spiritual hostility/manipulation guarantees failure. Let me say though what Malaysia might be worth – low density/nomadic ORANG ASLI UBAT *from* rainforests that could be worth a fortune, but all Malaysia has now are sprawling grey expanses of prayer blaring in neighbourhoods of backbiting political wannabes filled with greed and hatred towards other races and of course the faux-Arab ulama wannabes harrassing all and sundry with Hudud, all of the above who have who forgotten their beautiful naturistic Orang Asli beginnings.
So much for Malaysia’s viability and uniqueness, just a spiritual colony of the Arabs who already are more known for violent puishments (Hudud limb hacking, beheading), religious insularism (this and that are polluting/polluted these people are beneath us! / different God or Godless so are enemeies immediately/must be cursed to go to Hell (which might be an semi-dream state world as much as Heaven, created from constant inculpation while ALIVE so when dying hallucinates about, or has the inculpated NDE type experience) – luckily there are more people and better tech armed nations to counter thse barbarians), low tolerance to other cultures (eat pork or drink alcohol so entire peoples must be targeted, facilities for processing disallowed etc..) and terrorism (drawing a bomb turban cartoon means innocent people not involved in the 10th Crusade, who have never ever heard of the Prophet must die while on the way to work in a subway or have their Twin Towers collapse) than anything else. Islam is a copy of Xianity which is a copy of Judaism which is a copy of Amon-Ra which was a result of Heretic Pharoah Akenathan’s LAZINESS. Guess those 72 virgins might have been guess who’s fond mirage while struggling in a hellish oasis bordering a desert creating hell on Earth – how about a volcanic region called New Hell in the deepest desert, would be fitting . . .
Islam and Arabism is unique and very distinct, but bloodthirsty, impractical, too martial and not viable for this generation of YoutubeVid/MTV making, subculture studied, politically aware world citizens who’d rather be eating whatever meat of their choice (including PORK), drinking alcohol, smoking pot and contemplating the Universe (while dressed in BDSM fetish wear or Cosplay?) than irritating/trying to destroy peoples, communities, countries (at very last being manipulatively sanctimonious about being vegetarian) that are different from them. Religion belongs to the last millenia, and though religion should be kept alive and have spaces, cannot be allowed to impinge on secular people, legally, spiritually or otherwise. There must be spaces for all even if any group’s beliefs/activities are supposedly illegal to another – with the choice of consent to be part of any community the democratic choice of the individual ABOVE the preference of the state.
ARTICLE 13
DAP to decide on Pulau Tikus ADUN’s fate – Thursday, 22 November 2012 08:44
GEORGE TOWN- The DAP disciplinary committee will decide the fate of Pulau Tikus assemblyman Koay Teng Hai after he failed to turn up at the recent state assembly meeting.
Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow said the state working committee had decided to refer Koay’s absence at the meeting between Nov 1 and 9 to the disciplinary committee.
Chow said the disciplinary committee will be made up of a five-member panel. They will be drawn from the central executive committee and headed by Tan Kok Wai.
It was reported Koay would also face disciplinary action for ignoring Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s refusal to approve his leave.
He missed the assembly to attend a meeting on the United States Election/Project for Young Political Leaders organised by the US embassy without Lim’s permission. Koay could not be reached for comment.
– New Straits Times
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F**k DAP. Who cares what DAP thinks? Only the RAKYAT living in Pulau Tikus will decide if the Pulau Tikus adun stays or not! Maybe DAP will be replaced by independent candidates by the next GE. DAP has failed 90% of campaign manifestos and has NEVER addressed APARTHEID of BUMIPUTERA.
ARTICLE 14
Yes, you must behave, Bung — Erna Mahyuni – November 22, 2012
Nov 22 — You have to admire the Kinabatangan MP on some level. No other MP gladly puts his foot in his mouth with so much relish, you begin to wonder if his foot is delicious.
Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin in person is an affable man, who prides himself on his “every man” demeanour, and talks more like your drunk uncle than a lawmaker.
The problem is, Bung, is that you’re not just an embarrassing family member but an elected Member of Parliament.
There are expectations that come with the role, unfortunately.
One of them is the realisation that you can’t just say what you want, when you want.
Being an elected representative means there are standards of behaviour we expect you to meet.
At the very least, you shouldn’t swear, in public, especially at one of the people you are hoping votes for you in the next election.
Must I remind you GE13 is just around the corner???We’re all allowed a slip of the tongue once in a while. We’re all human, after all.
The problem with you, Bung, is that you don’t so much “slip”, as much as “stab” with your tongue.??What is unacceptable is that your Barisan Nasional leaders let you get away with your outrageous statements.
That bocor statement you made all that time ago? It was chauvinistic, rude and unacceptable. You didn’t just slur an opposition MP but all women. You have never apologised for that, have you? Don’t get me started on your smart remarks about women drivers.
But your greatest act of chauvinism, Bung, was ignoring the law of the land by refusing to ask permission from your first wife to marry your second. I can understand you were impatient, as your new wife is such a pretty young thing.
Did you forget you’re an elected official? Aren’t elected officials supposed to, you know, follow the rules?
Instead, you hopped off to Thailand for a quickie wedding and, unfortunately, got caught.??Being an MP doesn’t put you above the law.
If anything, you’re supposed to obey and uphold it. ??So it’s a little rich, your defending your right to use the F-word to ‘put someone in his/her place’.
You gave up that right when you took your oath. ??As a representative of the people, you are supposed to be someone we look up to. You are supposed to set an example.
You are supposed to maintain a code of conduct that we expect you to follow, because if you can’t follow it, then why should we???Some people think that calling you out for it in public is ‘sensationalising a non-issue’.
I beg to differ.
In other countries, MPs using foul words in public is frowned upon as well.
People are going to call you names and insult you.
Get used to it. As an MP, you must take the higher ground and ignore those who call you names.
As someone who gets plenty of insults on Twitter and in my column’s comments, I understand the need to vent.
But Twitter isn’t the place for it, Bung, and you know that.
All we’re asking from you is that you show a little class and save the F-word for occasions when half of Malaysia can’t hear you.
So behave, Bung.
Or we’ll have no qualms whatsoever not to vote for you or anyone you champion.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
Erna versus Bung . . . polygamy is not exclusively a preserve OR punching bag of any culture (ancient or modern), and more an expression of individuals in relation to other individuals commitment in numbers more than 2 . . . Radin or Raden btw is an ORIGINAL Indonesian name, without Islam’s/Arab’s influence. So at least 1 person in the MALAY Dewan has 2/3rds of a truly Nusantaran name . . .
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. . . by refusing to ask permission from your first wife to marry your second. . . .
WHAT? Even most adults of the day do not ask their parents if they can marry who and who, much less a wife, though consultations may take place.
There must be though certain courtesies that the civilised 2nd wife should respect AFTER marriage that a blackball by society can retaliate by at very most if they do not treat the first wife with general respect as expected in society (i.e. ‘CHIVALRY’ to the first wife, like pouring drinks or opening doors – this politeness contrived or not is for the pleasure and dignity of the HUSBAND btw.
The second wife should defer to the first wife in certain ways such as not being ‘competitive’ or not being arrogant (the begum of the harem must be respected because families are built around seniority based hierarchy to a degree – even if the first wife is not well studied or very educated or even pretty etc. . . . MANNERS makes for attractiveness and a dignified family), though the first wife may by reason that sex is available from the second or subsequent, refuse at reasonable intervals not more than 50% (or 66% in the case of 2 wives) of what was asked for in the past by the husband – barring ageing libidos.
The first wife also remains married to the husband *specifically* for the face of the children hereon, even in the case of chilled relations between her and the husband. But to ASK PERMISSION to marry? Whats wrong with you Erna?
As discussed in my blog elsewhere, SOME (only some) women experience a change in their bodies after having children, and this can also be a reason to refuse sex, and this also becomes the reason the husband gets a second or subsequent wife. Being a modern woman or even a lesbian or a feminist does not mean that older forms of family do no exist, Erma has not been mixing around alot with polygamous families even as androgamous families are anathema to the polygamous ones. You’re showing your narrow minded side here Erma!
No where Erna’s response is concerned. NO, anyone who has more than one wife NEED NOT behave in the way Erna Mahyuni describes. Erna doesn’t belong in Bung’s society (or harem), not should Erna cast stones at cultures that do not involve Erna. One of Erna’s lines of logic is viable though, MPs need more class AND term limits as well, so in calls for Bung to step down, Erna and moi will be on the same side though not for the same reasons (with Ernha’s reasoning stemming from some inadequacy or simplistic mindset that feels a need to attack Bung’s right to marry freely as much as Bung’s first wife has a right to demand a divorce (which is not happening as of this comment posting at any rate). Inverse jealousy perhaps? Hey there’s always plastic surgery . . .
ARTICLE 15
Muezzin of Pahang state mosque killed in accident – November 17, 2012
KUANTAN, Nov 17 — A muezzin of Sultan Ahmad 1 state mosque was killed in a road accident at the traffic junction near Jalan Tun Ismail here, this morning.
Azamuddin Mansor, 40, died while receiving treatment at Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA), Kuantan at 7am.
Pahang traffic police chief ASP Zainalabidin Othman said Azamuddin was killed when his motorcycle collided with a car at 6.40am when turning into Jalan Bukit Sekilau.
“The victim who suffered serious head injury was rushed to HTAA for treatment but died 20 minutes later,” he told Bernama.
Zainalabidin said initial investigation revealed that the accident could have occurred due to the traffic lights not working.
“The case is being investigated under Section 41 (1) of Road Transport Act 1987,” he added. — Bernama
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Under unwritten spiritual covenents of all religions, no intent for sneaky proselytization via vocalised psychic intent will be tolerated by ‘God’, or the following of whatever faith. All muezzins should sing with NEUTRALITY and sincerity and ONLY IN SPECIFIC PSYCHIC ADDRESS to consensual Muslims. I even heard a muezzin GARGLING while singing, obviously intended to proselytize that when a person gargles, they are ‘praying’ – this form of dishonesty is as damnable in ‘god’s’ view, as slurred satanic prayers in conventional lyrics in music (also NLP mispronunciations), a parent intentionally encouraging their children to make a ruckus to disturb the neighbours, or inserting ‘convertive symbolism’ in MTVs of any sort.
Ethics in INFORMED CONSENT or else the spirit that made a muezzin a Muslim will depart for the nearest best converted person and the muezzin will be spiritually impacted at least, hurt or even DIE, this could be anyone that hears the muezzin and is converted. The worthiest UNCONVERTED person will receive the ‘spirit’ of the muezzin. Needless to say a muezzin needs to have very clear intent while singing and being heard by so many that are not Muslim or may not even be friendly to Muslims, a muezzin’s job is particularly hazardous as opposed to the Ulama who is heard ONLY by the faithful. The only caveat of safety for the muezzin is an attitude of deference to those auditorily impinged by the prayer, even if just vaguely like a mosquito in the background, the spiritual effects in the astral and ethereal will be potentially quite dangerous. For Prophet had said :
Ayah 203 of Surah A’raaf: “Disrespect and rashness clouds the mind and it is only politeness and respect that brings more divine mercy.’
Singing WITH intent to convert without informed consent is RUDE and Allah will have no protection for those who behave in a disrespectful manner to non-Muslims who are minding their own business before being disturbed by a prayer they didn’t want to hear, disturbing their concentration which is their god given right. Some people (regardless of faith or wealth or position – an ordinary secular citizen, itinerant or beggar, who was asleep or resting enjoying the silence, might have been subconsciously been lending strength to a Mujaheedin in battle before the prayer of the Muezzin woke them up, causing the Mujaheedin to weaken at a critical moment and lose the battle in a critical region of the world where battles for/against Islam are continuing . . . or technical malfunctions in vehicles (even dangerous dimensional or temporal disruptions, releases of EMP type effects that interact with the ionosphere or even the Sun causing Earthquakes or Solar Flares etc..) may even be doing ‘god’s’ work, before a prayer disturbs them and hence god will punish the offender. Prayer by voice rather than loudspeaker though must be fairly tolerated, though again a prayer must not be ‘directed’ at any except to ‘god’ and for Human Rights and Democratic Principle respecting matters preferably.
ARTICLE 16
From Kuantan to Dataran Merdeka: The emancipatory journey for a green Malaysia — Boon Kia Meng – November 22, 2012
NOV 22 — Humans make history; but never in circumstances and situations of their own choosing. This insightful observation by Marx, as he watched over the social upheavals unfolding in Europe in the middle of the 19th century, is a timely expression on what is happening in Malaysia today.
Have Malaysians ever heard of a group of ordinary, fellow Malaysians — our fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, our children — marching slowly but surely, on foot, all 300 kilometres of it, rain or shine, from Kuantan to Dataran Merdeka? All united in a common cause: to stop any further environmental degradation in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak, where stopping the Lynas rare earth refinery in Gebeng, and the Murum and Baram dams in Sarawak, constitutes a fundamental demand.
These Malaysian citizens chose to embark on this journey (dubbed “Langkah Lestari”) because for far too long we have collectively as a nation allowed indiscriminate “development” and rapacious capitalistic resource extraction to go on, all in the name of economic growth and wealth creation.
Just witness the rapid decimation of our natural forestry and the displacement of our fellow indigenous Malaysian communities in Sabah/Sarawak and the peninsula. These have become common phenomena and Malaysians know deep inside that the present state of affairs cannot go on indefinitely without irreversible consequences to our common habitat.
It was their spirit and determination that drew me and my friends to join them in their walk for environmental justice. Donning green shirts and a peasant farmer’s hat, we experienced first-hand what ordinary Malaysians can achieve when they organise themselves, a trend that typifies the sea change in people’s attitude and participation in citizenship activism since 2008.
Ordinary mothers arrange lodgings and food distribution, grandpas and grandmas providing moral support with their feet and encouraging words, fathers managing logistic details, while the young, even little children, learn to take their first baby steps in authentic environmentalism and love for the country.
In other words, “Langkah Lestari” epitomises what has been truly essential in any democratic movement for bringing real social change: the twin values of self-organisation and mutual aid. Against these values, no authoritarian state or oppressive regime can stand a chance. Ordinary citizens, learning to organise themselves, little by little, will win the hearts and minds of the majority of the populace.
Make no mistake. The detractors and spokespersons for corporate and vested interests, such as Lynas Corp, will try to justify the viability of their operations on the grounds of economic development and job creation. Malaysian citizens have to judge for themselves whether this “win-win” deal is really beneficial for the country, especially for the residents in Gebeng/Kuantan.
What are Malaysians getting in exchange for the 12-year tax holiday given to Lynas, estimated at RM1.8 billion per annum, not to mention the billions of ringgit of revenue Lynas will generate from these operations? In reality, this is a classic case of neoliberal capitalism in action: the privatisation of profits, whilst socialising the costs, both human and environmental.
In the Lynas case, it is even more farcical, where we have a case of a foreign mining corporation, which is reaping stratospheric profits as a result of the Western Australian mining boom, deciding to externalise its social costs to another country. Instead of acting as protector and guardian of her citizens’ security and well-being, the Malaysian government has abdicated that role for the sake of endless capital accumulation.
It is no wonder that people from all walks of life are seeing through the lies of neoliberal ideology and deciding to leave the sidelines and join this struggle. The patronising dogma of big business that preaches wealth trickling down to the masses is increasingly hollow and losing its ideological hold on the people.
Try telling the Orang Asal brothers and sisters from Sarawak, who are marching daily with their Semenanjung compatriots, on the merits of an unfettered, free market economy that promises prosperity for all. Our indigenous brothers and sisters will tell you about the true face of “economic development”, where countless thousands of them have experienced forced displacement, land grabbing and environmental destruction.
Politicians from both sides wax lyrical about the need for more development and allocation funds for Sabah and Sarawak. They fail to see that uneven development and destruction of traditional forms of living have led to increasing proletarianisation (making them wage-earners, instead of their traditional self-sufficient farming existence) of our indigenous peoples, precisely what a capitalist economy cannot fail but generate.
These are the hard truths made visible by this 300km walk. It forces us to confront the dark, hidden side of our exploitative economy and its unsustainable ecological trajectory.
This brings us back to the significance of this Sunday, November 25, in the history of this nation. The marchers have decided to occupy Dataran Merdeka once they reach there, awaiting the presence of the prime minister and Members of Parliament from both sides of the political divide the very next morning.
Again ordinary Malaysians like them face the arbitrary exercise of state power in the hands of City Hall and the police when the mayor of KL said that no gathering in Dataran is allowed without an application for permit. We know that the upsurge of participation of Malaysians in public protests since Bersih 3.0 is no historical accident. The momentum of people’s movements will only grow stronger and stronger by the day and “Himpunan Hijau 2.0: Langkah Lestari” in Dataran Merdeka this Sunday will be no different. Thousands upon thousands of Malaysians will be there, come what may.
As I sat in the room with our fellow marchers, listening to the children of Bentong sing a song dedicated to their struggle, I felt strangely emotional. It was as if their voices helped us peer into a future of a new Malaysia that is taking shape right before our eyes. Of its shape and detail, no one could tell with any certainty. But one thing is for sure. It will be a Malaysia very different from the present one, burdened by her heavy history of class and environmental exploitation, and ethnic-based political ideologies.
“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains,” the radical democrat Rosa Luxemburg once said. Thank you, participants of Langkah Lestari, for walking and making Malaysians conscious of the shackles that are enslaving us. Thank you, Saudara Wong Tack (the organising chairperson), for reminding all Malaysians that true emancipation lies in our very own hands: “Pilihan di tangan kita!”
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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Wildebeest walk even further and every single year of their life, not just once, but only are fodder for Crocodiles of the Nile, the predators along the way. REAL Emancipation is not feeling proud about walking or cycling around mindlessly but fighting for :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
The greenest society can form, but if minorities are not equals but dhimmis who subvert intent of the articles and words for freedom and equality, there will be no dignity of life for non-Muslims and in general non-politicians. Pakatan sure has alot of ‘fun’ activities to distract the Rakyat from equality eh? And the biggest cheerleader of this sort of accept Hudud (actually not thats accept ‘Hadi’ but we all know that can become Hudud since hadi has not addressed the concerns of Article 4’s response above) but don’t address Bumiputera b.s. is term limitless, nepotistic DAP . . .
Racist thug branded ‘disgrace to the nation’ jailed for Nazi salute in pub when he already had ASBO banning him from racist gestures – by Daily Mail Reporter – PUBLISHED: 17:01 GMT, 15 October 2012 | UPDATED: 17:01 GMT, 15 October 2012
John Hennigan, of Harlow, Essex, made gesture at London pub in February
It put him in breach of Asbo imposed after swastika was on his front door
46-year-old asked manager Paul MacAllion if he ‘only served blacks or Jews’
He told Old Bailey judge ‘no probs’ as he was led away to cells for 21 months
A racist thug who made a Nazi salute inside a packed pub and called black people c***s and n*****s was today jailed for almost two years and branded a ‘disgrace to the values of this country’. John Hennigan, 46, of Harlow, Essex, was caught on camera delivering the fascist gesture in front of shocked drinkers in February at The Magpie pub in Bishopsgate, central London. The antics put him in breach of an Asbo imposed in 2005 when a swastika was discovered daubed on the front door of his council house. It was the seventh time he had flouted the order. Racist: John Hennigan, 46, of Harlow, Essex, was caught on camera delivering the fascist gesture in front of shocked drinkers in February at The Magpie pub in Bishopsgate, central London
Hennigan claimed he had only been raising his arm to collect his change after paying for a drink, but was convicted by a majority verdict of 10-2 after a trial at the Old Bailey in central London. Sentencing Hennigan, Judge Nicholas Cooke QC told him the court was ‘not upholding some culture of political correctness’ but ‘preserving public order’ and dealing with unacceptable behavior. He added: ‘In this crowded public house in this city you gave a Nazi salute and spoke provocatively of Jews. The Holocaust was a crime against humanity of enormous magnitude.
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‘Behaving in the way you did was appalling. You spoke of black people as c***s and n*****s.
‘The use of such terms is grossly offensive and conjures up memories of the slave trade, again a crime against humanity of enormous magnitude. Behaving in such a way was likewise appalling.’
The judge said Hennigan’s antics were also an affront to those who fought against the ‘racist evil of Nazism’ in the Second World War and ‘insults the memories of those who sacrificed themselves’. London pub: Hennigan had been barred from The Magpie in central London two times before but was spotted on CCTV by manager Paul MacAllion. ‘He was making Nazi salutes at the bar,’ the manager said London pub: Hennigan had been barred from The Magpie in central London two times before but was spotted on CCTV by manager Paul MacAllion. ‘He was making Nazi salutes at the bar,’ the manager said He added: ‘You see yourself as some sort of loyal nationalist or crusader against Communism. You are in fact a disgrace to the values of this country.’
Hennigan, who attended court wearing a T-shirt with an image of left-wing Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara with a line through it, told the judge ‘no probs’ as he was led away to the cells. ‘You see yourself as some sort of loyal nationalist or crusader against Communism. You are in fact a disgrace to the values of this country’
Judge Nicholas Cooke QC
The racist has 43 previous convictions for offences including drug and firearm possession and common assault. He was last before the courts for breaching his Asbo in 2010. That was after he launched racist abuse at a newsagent before attacking him with a sweet display.
Hennigan had been barred from The Magpie two times before but was spotted on CCTV by manager Paul MacAllion. ‘He was making Nazi salutes at the bar,’ the manager said
‘I was trying to make sure it was the same guy I had barred, staring at the CCTV, and three times I saw him do it. I went immediately down to the bar and confronted him. Hearing: Hennigan, who attended the Old Bailey wearing a T-shirt with an image of left-wing Argentine revolutionary Che Guevara with a line through it, told the judge ‘no probs’ as he was led away ‘He’d bought a drink so I got the money from the bar staff, gave him his money back and told him to get out because I’d barred him previously and he was making Nazi salutes.
‘At that stage I think he said something like: “If I was a Jew or a c**n you wouldn’t be doing this”.’ As he was kicked out, Hennigan told Mr McAllion: ‘If my mum and dad came down would they be barred too? Or do you just serve blacks and Jews?’ ‘If my mum and dad came down would they be barred too? Or do you just serve blacks and Jews?’
What John Hennigan was said to have told pub manager Paul McAllion Hennigan faces a further charge of assaulting a police officer, which will be dealt with by City of London magistrates. He is said to have branded a constable a ‘f***ing pathetic little creature’ when confronted about his outburst in The Magpie. He also faces another trial for a further breach of the Asbo, which is due to take place at Chelmsford Crown Court later this year. Hennigan denied a single count of breaching an Asbo. He was convicted and jailed for 21 months.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
i) Hennigan had been barred from The Magpie two times before but was spotted on CCTV by manager Paul MacAllion. ‘He was making Nazi salutes at the bar,’ the manager said ‘I was trying to make sure it was the same guy I had barred, staring at the CCTV, and three times I saw him do it. I went immediately down to the bar and confronted him.
Freedom of speech (to speak), freedom of body (to gesture/gesticulate).
ii) Hennigan faces a further charge of assaulting a police officer, which will be dealt with by City of London magistrates. He is said to have branded a constable a ‘f***ing pathetic little creature’ when confronted about his outburst in The Magpie.
Aye that!
iii) Hennigan denied a single count of breaching an Asbo. He was convicted and jailed for 21 months.
Oh great, favour the prison-building-contractor-supplier complex some more. Englands finished at 40K per year per prisoner.
iv) Hennigan faces a further charge of assaulting a police officer . . .
Thats the only chargeable offense. As for the cussing etc., enforcement should be already trained to ignore that sort of thing as per Freedom of Speech. Thats what sets the police apart from the regular citizens – discipline. Police who do not have the sklll to ignore such verbal abuse and sure as hell cannot handle the real criminals. Hennigan is a tough and in fact negatively patriotic civilian (better than treacherous bankers that sell off or destroy the country, or politicians that only want to enrich themselves and refuse to amend laws while hogging democratic space by exceeding term limits or even regfusing to ratify term limits) but no criminal action occurs unless property was destroyed or assault or any touching or manhandling at very least occured.
“Bertilak” may derive from bachlach, a Celtic word meaning “churl” (i.e. rogueish, unmannerly). Alternatively it may derive from “bresalak”, meaning “contentious”. He tests Moses three times by doing seemingly evil acts, which are eventually revealed to be noble deeds to prevent greater evils or reveal great goods. Without this sort of nuance of harsh teachers to put England on a learning curve of logic and readiness to resolve issues in society, England winds up with ‘f***ing pathetic little creatures’ without nuance and in this case ‘coarse subtlty’.
Had to imprison the guy 21 months instead on the taxpayer’s monies eh? England is finished. Let the ‘f***ing pathetic little creatures’ run the show abit longer, and the English will be wailing along with the worst of them x times a day. As for the assault, I’m sure the taxpayers and Hennigan would prefer (and be well able to handle) to allow the cop to hit back with an equal number of punches and kicks in ‘revenge’ and be done with the whole sorry drama. Tyrants’ natures are indeed most unworthy of respect, and the worst colonial powers in the world are not surprisingly the English. No one in the world weak enough, or primitive enough to bully so going after the citizens now eh? Pitiful and mealy minded English!
Try this organic response to what might be a like minded aspiring champion . . .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Knight
Villanaise the heroes and make heros of the villains, little wonder Scotland sees no reason to stick around and thats not just about the load of insulting innuendo etc. . . .
ARTICLE 2
Global Noise takes on austerity: ‘We are not going to be silent’ – Published: 14 October, 2012, 08:05
People make noise as they take part in a casserole march to protest against government’s austerity reforms and the public payment of bank’s debts on October 13, 2012 in Madrid. (AFP Photo / Pedro Armestre)
Demonstrators across the world are calling for an end to austerity as Global Noise protests kick off in more than 30 countries, including many in the Nobel Peace laureate European Union.
The worldwide demonstrations on Saturday passed without incident, and Caleb Maupin from the International Action Centre explained what’s driving the public to take to the streets.
RT: A year ago Occupy Wall Street spread across the world, and now it’s Global Noise. What is Global Noise all about? How is it different?
Caleb Maupin: Basically, Global Noise is saying we are not going to be silent. Because right now the banks are coming for us – they are cutting all of the programs. There is mass unemployment. There is cutting in government spending and the governments of the world are just having to pay back the banks.
And in the process, our future is being destroyed. It is impossible to get an education in this country without a rising debt. What we are saying is that we are going to be a global noise. We are the next generation, the youth part of the working class as our future is being destroyed. We are not going to silently sit back and let them destroy our future. We are going to be loud. We are going to be confrontational and we are going demand that this stop.
Austerity is a crime against the people. These cuts are a crime against us, and we are going to demonstrate and we are going to oppose it.
RT: America has not seen austerity cuts as of yet. But in Europe this is precisely what the Global Noise rallies were aimed against. Is it merely a show of support for Europe, or is there, say, a message in the demonstrations for the US presidential candidates?
CM: There are plenty of austerity cuts in the United States. Food stamps, a program which many millions of people depend on so they can have food, is being cut. College prices are going up. They had kind of halted it because they are planning after the elections to have austerity. All the major cuts are going to happen after the election.
But even with these latest debates, you see Romney and Ryan, Obama and Biden, they are all debating how much to cut. How responsibly can you get rid of Social Security, how responsibly can we do it? It is austerity, it is global austerity. Because, you know, Lenin spoke of it in his book – imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism, because the banks kind of become the center of capitalism, its monopoly stage.
And right now it is a revolt against banks. Instead of people having to take all these cuts, why don’t they simply start the cuts to the banks? The government of the United States has the ability to do that. They can pass legislature saying that the banks have to be delayed, but instead they keep paying back the banks with these loans that have taken from the government, and programs that people need to survive on are being cut.
At a time of mass unemployment, millions of youth have great anger on what’s going on, and it is exploding into a global anti-capitalist rebellion. It is here in US. The phrase “we are the 99%” represents what millions of people understand, which is that a small elite, the bankers, capitalists, they own the world and the rest of us just get to live in it.
Well, it is time that we are heard. We are a global noise and we are going to rise up and demand a change to that situation.
RT: Presidential elections are coming up in the US and the Obama administration is criticized for the bailout, while Republicans are promising austerity. And what do you think the policy should be for the US here?
CM: I think whoever wins this election, it is very clear that after the election, it’s over. They are going to begin an extreme amount of mass austerity. And the terms of the debate are sickening – the terms of the debate are essentially how much to cut. Some people say, we should just cut everything; others say we should just cut a little bit. No! The people don’t have to pay for the crisis the bankers created.
But that message is not part of the discourse in this country right now. The discourse is limited to one form of cutting or one form of cutbacks, and that is frightening. And that is why the Occupy movement came in. We are the 99%, or as the labor movement and progressive forces have said for a long time – class against class.
It is not Republicans versus Democrats. It is about the bankers versus the people – the people who sell their labor to survive and those who own the world.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
For every step nearer to cuts of any sort, let there be very dead people in ever step, and a very obvious trail of footprints to those who cause such harm. So that retaliation will be unavoidable and so that those who cause such harm will be not dare harm any other. Some of us have the right, anyone else does not, differentiate and rain punishment upon those who presume to presume anything or any word. No more foreclosures and compound interest upon the jobless.
ARTICLE 3
Gary Barlow: X Factor’s reputation is in danger following allegations the show is rigged – by Mail On Sunday Reporter – PUBLISHED: 00:07 GMT, 14 October 2012 | UPDATED: 00:08 GMT, 14 October 2012
X Factor star Gary Barlow says claims the show is rigged have damaged its integrity.
The Take That singer stormed off set last Sunday after fellow judge Louis Walsh failed to save his singer Carolynne Poole ahead of ‘joke’ act Rylan Clarke. By withholding his vote, he forced a Deadlock.
The result, which saw Miss Poole sent home as the act with the fewest public votes, came after viewers saw Walsh in conversation with the programme’s executive producer.
Gary Barlow stormed off the X Factor set last Sunday after fellow judge Louis Walsh failed to save his singer Carolynne Poole ahead of ‘joke’ act Rylan Clarke
Asked if he thought the integrity of the programme had been damaged, 41-year-old Barlow said: ‘I think in the short term, definitely because I just know what I’m being told as I go round and speak to the public.’
Some viewers felt last week’s show was a fix, because producers engineered the judging so they could lose the contestant they wanted.
‘A timeless goddess’: X Factor favourite Ella Henderson stuns again as she hits the high notes in Minnie Riperton’s classic
Gary Barlow offers Louis Walsh an olive branch after Rylangate… but it isn’t long before they’re clashing again
But Barlow said: ‘People’s votes do count. What people spend their money on was worth it. The two things I worry about are the contestants and the fans and I think it did us no favours last weekend.
‘The idea of it being a fix, I hate stuff like that. We’ve got really talented people up there and I don’t want to cheapen it. It was a bad end to the week. It was disappointing.’
Barlow said he had spoken to producers about ensuring there was never any suggestion programme-makers were influencing the judges’ votes
Barlow said he had spoken to producers about ensuring there was never any suggestion programme-makers were influencing the judges’ votes
Barlow also said he had spoken to producers about ensuring there was never any suggestion programme-makers were influencing the judges’ votes.
‘The whole thing about someone coming up on stage – that will never happen again,’ he said. ‘Even if it’s just to say which order we’ve got to vote in. There should be no one on that stage with us and I said that after last week’s show. ‘
Barlow added that he had been taken to task by his mother Marjorie for being disrespectful to Louis. ‘My mum always tells me to respect my elders, so I got a bit of a telling-off on Sunday.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
This is b.s.. All of the audience should vote on a 1 to 1 basis. A handful of judges voting alone destroys democracy. This is a 1% situation. Remake the damn voting system you producers! How about a button the every member of the audience can press, and randomly selected ‘debate’ judges to sit alongside and even argue with the ‘star’ judges? Much more inclusive means that much more fun and democratic.
ARTICLE 4
120,000 troubled families could be legally banned from spending benefits on alcohol and tobacco – by Christopher Hope, Senior Political Correspondent
Troubled families living on benefits will be legally barred from spending welfare money on alcohol and tobacco, under plans being drawn up in Whitehall.
8:00AM BST 13 Oct 2012
Iain Duncan Smith has asked his officials to see if so-called ‘problem’ families should receive their welfare payments on smart cards, rather than in cash.
The cards would only be able to pay for “priority” items such as food, housing, clothing, education and health care.
The Work and Pensions secretary wants to stop parents who are alcoholics or who are on drugs from using welfare payments to fuel their addictions.
The team of civil servants in his department have been asked to come up with proposals by the end of this month.
However the Government cannot currently stipulate how people spend their benefits money and the law would need to be changed to do so for certain groups.
One idea is for the 120,000 problem families who were identified in the Government’s riots review to be given the Oyster-style cards.
A source close to Mr Duncan Smith said: “There are people who are using benefits to fund a habit and children are going hungry.
“It is something that he is serious about – if he can make it work and he can legislate then he is very keen to do it.”
The charge card model is based on a “basics card” scheme which started to be rolled out for thousands of people in Australia in August this year.
Instead of being given cash or cheques, claimants are now issued with electronic “credit” cards to purchase key “priority” items at approved stores across the country.
Money is electronically placed on the card once a fortnight, when people receive their benefit payments. No more than A$1,500 (£961) can be spent per day. If money is not spent, it can be built up as savings.
Mr Duncan Smith said he was against using a US-style food stamps system because they are often traded as a form of currency.
The Cabinet minister disclosed his plans at a meeting of Conservative activists at the party conference this week.
He said: “I am looking at the moment at ways in which we could ensure that money we give them to support their lives is not used to support a certain lifestyle.
“I am certainly looking at it – I am going through that in some detail… With the use of cards, we are looking at that to see if we can do something.
In the immediate aftermath of the 2011 riots in English cities, Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to turn around the lives of the 120,000 by 2015.
He said: “I have an ambition, before the end of this Parliament, we will turn around the lives of 120,000 most troubled families.
“We need more urgent action, too, on the families that some people call ‘problem’, others call ‘troubled’, the ones that everyone in their neighbourhood knows and often avoids.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Fair enough. People on the dole should not expect too much fun for doing nothing at least until the country is on even keel. Not that the country denies such luxuries but alcohol and tobacco are luxuries after all that a country is debt should be forgiven for not spending on. At the same time prices rises in alcohol should not be applied. If the poor work part time and alcohol takes all their earnings, how does that help the economy? Perhaps an assignment of amount that they can buy of either at most in exchange for free state insurance for example? All that biometrics and credit card control etc.. and nothing applied.
ARTICLE 5
‘It was really disgusting’: Susan Sarandon reveals she was exploited on the casting couch as a young actress – by Celeste Morgan – PUBLISHED: 01:05 GMT, 14 October 2012 | UPDATED: 07:09 GMT, 14 October 2012
She’s an Oscar winner and one of the biggest stars of her generation.
But there was a time when Susan Sarandon was just another unknown hoping to make it in showbusiness.
And the actress has revealed that as a young hopeful she was the victim of exploitation as she auditioned for a role.
She confided to Elle magazine about a ‘disgusting,’ casting-couch experience that happened in her younger years.
Younger days: Susan Sarandon during her early career at the age of 24 in 1970
‘It was not successful – for either of us,’ Sarandon explained, when asked if she had ever had a casting-couch experience.
‘I just went into a room, and a guy practically threw me on the desk.
‘It was my early days in New York, and it was really disgusting. It wasn’t like I gave it a second though, it was so badly done.’
Stunner:Another age defying moment for Susan at a Conde Naste event in September in New York
Stunner: Another age defying moment for Susan at a Conde Naste event in September in New York
She does not give any details of which audition she was assaulted at.
Sarandon had her first audition at 23 when she went to a casting call for the motion picture Joe, landing a major co-starring role in the film, which was released in 1970.
The actress went on to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the 1995 film Dead Man Walking.
Toyboy: Susan and her 35-year-old boyfriend Jonathan Bricklin
In her interview, as reported on Radar online, she also defended her romance with her much-younger boyfriend, ping-pong entrepreneur Jonathan Bricklin.
‘People make him out to be much younger than he is – and me older,’ Sarandon explained to the fashion magazine, clarifying that he is 35, not 33 as has been widely reported.
As well as being lovers, the pair are business partners in ping-pong club SPiN.
The couple have been linked since 2010 after Susan split from longtime partner Tim Robbins, with whom she has two children.
Susan kept mum on her rumoured relationship with Jonathan until March of this year.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
For the right person and in the right mood, Susan wouldn’t have felt bothered at all and even laid into the whole sleazy Hollywood thing. Breast jiggles and gluteal gropes anyone?
Japanese Militarism: “Resurrection of the Samurai” Interview with Vasili Ivanov: Japanese militarism on rise, says Russian veteran – by Xinhua – Global Research, October 11, 2012 Xinhua News Agency and Stop NATO
When Empires Join Hands: Japanese Military Joins U.S. And NATO In Horn Of Africa
Moscow: Japan’s recent illegal moves to “purchase” China’s Diaoyu Islands show militarism is on the rise in that country, according to a Russian war veteran.
Vasili Ivanov, deputy head of the Russia-China Friendship Society’s Central Office, told Xinhua that Japan’s refusal to recognize China’s sovereignty over the Diaoyu Islands, which was stipulated in post-war documents, showed a “resurrection of the samurai.”
The 91-year-old, who fought Japanese troops in northeast China during World War II, said some Japanese, especially right-wingers, did not recognize the country’s unconditional and voluntary surrender in the war.
“Japan’s refusal to recognize the war results means they will demand the return of all they had before the war – lands, islands they illegally occupied and lost,” Ivanov said.
“All their escapades, including the recent one against China, are meant to confirm their right to these lands,” he said.
“We, along with other participants in the war against Japan, are categorically against the return of Japanese militarism,” the veteran said.
Ivanov said the Diaoyu Islands had never belonged to Japan and China was recognized as the rightful owner by binding post-war legal documents, such as the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation.
The two documents stipulated Japan should return all the territories taken from China, including Taiwan and its surrounding islands, he said.
However, under agreements with the United States, Japan illegally occupied the Diaoyu Islands and now even tried to claim them.
Japan might go further with its territorial ambitions, keeping its relations with China, Russia, South Korea and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on edge, the veteran warned.
He urged closer cooperation among those countries in opposing Tokyo’s rising militaristic ambitions.
“Leaders (of those countries) ought to give a due rebuff to Japanese ultra-right forces. They should tell the ultra-right wingers this is it – all is settled and recognized by the whole world. No changes can be made now,” Ivanov said.
The Japanese right wingers should know their farces would come to naught, the veteran said.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The Japs are still cool and ahead of time (barely – though without substance – i.e. all the giant and slick mecha cartoons and culture starting in the 80s, but when Fukushima struck 30 years later, all they had was a soviet era clamp type robotic arm on a threadbare/rickety motorized servette that broke down . . . mount some guns on this sort of robot, mass produce and conquer the worst of the Middle East and any nepotist run ASEAN nations . . . ), but the Japanese attitudes and history are rubbish no thanks to the right wingers. Tacit approval via silence becomes an issue with the Chrysanthemum King . . . United Korea, Mongolia and China reclaim what was stolen (Monarchy / 12 century fleet’s lives / Centre of Far East and Imperium)
ARTICLE 7
Cambodia mourns death of controversial king – October 16, 2012 – Lindsay Murdoch, Bangkok
The two-time monarch loved fast cars and women, survived the Khmer Rouge and trod the world stage.
Former King of Cambodia dies – Norodom Sihanouk, the former King of Cambodia with a record number of political titles, has died in Beijing at 89.
THE body of Norodom Sihanouk, the cherubic, mercurial but ruthless two-time king of Cambodia and a towering figure in Asia’s politics will be brought home from China for a grand cremation in the Cambodian and Buddhist tradition.
He died, aged 89, early on Monday in Beijing after a long illness. Across Cambodia, flags flew at half mast and monks chanted for the feudal-style monarch who was beloved by his people but was seldom able to deliver the peace they craved through decades of violence.
Sihanouk’s son and successor, Norodom Sihamoni and Prime Minister Hun Sen flew to Beijing to retrieve the body of the sax-playing, champagne-serving monarch.
Cambodia’s then King Norodom Sihanouk,79, greets his subjects upon his arrival at the annual crop-planting ceremony outside the royal palace in Phnom Penh. Photo: Reuters
Many Cambodians regarded him as semi-divine, although some of the younger generation saw him as a figure of the past and partly responsible for the country’s tragedies.
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Prince Sisowath Thomico, a royal family member who was his assistant, said the former king had suffered a heart attack at a hospital.
”It’s painful. I am full of sorrow … King Sihanouk did not belong to his family, he belonged to Cambodia and to its history,” the prince said.
Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam meeting Norodom Sihanouk in Beijing in November 1973. Photo: AAP
Suffering illnesses including colon cancer, diabetes and hypertension, Sihanouk asked in January that his ashes be placed in a stupa at the river-front Royal Palace, in an urn, preferably made of gold.
A massive crowd of mourners are expected for the funeral.
Born on October 31, 1922, Sihanouk was crowned king by the French occupiers in 1941.
Wearing the traditionnal “krama”, Prince Norodom Sihanouk (right), poses with Khieu Samphan, top Khmer Rouge leader, in the Cambodia maquis.
Dubious allies … wearing the traditionnal “krama” Sihanouk (right) poses with the Khmer Rouge leader Khieu Samphan in the early 1970s. Photo: AFP
They assumed the giggling, overweight prince would be compliant to their requests.
But he became a ruthless politician who played superpowers off against each other while maintaining a role at home and in world politics.
He kept Cambodia neutral during the Cold War, nurtured relations with communist China, was a founder of the Non-Aligned Movement, broke off diplomatic relations with the US over the Vietnam War and was sent into lonely exile in Beijing after a US-backed coup in 1970.
Cambodia’s then King Norodom Sihanouk (left) and Queen Monineth wave to the crowd upon their arrival at the annual boat racing festival in Phnom Penh in 2001. Photo: Reuters
Sihanouk has been criticised for his support of the Khmer Rouge in the early 1970s.
But his relations with the organisation responsible for the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians was always strained.
”The Khmer Rouge do not like me at all, and I know that,” he said in a 1973 interview.
”When they no longer need me, they will spit me out like a cherry.”
When he returned to Phnom Penh, the Khmer Rouge ordered his execution, but he was saved by Chinese leader Zhou Enlai.
In a 2005 memoir, he said he ”dared to struggle in alliance” with the Khmer Rouge, but condemned their ”despotic and bloody regime”.
Sihanouk was famous for singing love songs at elaborate dinners.
He made movies, brought his French poodle to negotiations, married at least five times and fathered 14 children.
He liked fast cars, food and women. He dazzled world leaders with his wit, often entertaining diplomats and foreign officials with champagne breakfasts and French meals.
Weary of politics, he stepped down from the throne for the last time in 2004.
Bravery then alliance with the enemy? Convoluted.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Cradle of life anyone? Sihanouk had some bad patches as well, to support Khmer Rouge when one could remain neutral is uncalled for. Then again perhaps Sihanouk has no such luxury ASEAN being a very dangerous place post WW2.
ARTICLE 8
Sinclair News Contribution Challenge In Support of im2moro.org – October 12, 2012 – by Lawrence Sinclair
In an effort to support the young people behind Voices Without a Vote Sinclair News is offering the first business or individual who contributes $1000.00 to im2moro.org (im2moro is a non-profit 501c3, tax-exempt organization, which means your donations are tax deductible. Our tax ID is 27-2901233) in response to this challenge, a one year static header banner ad on Sinclair News. This banner ad will be placed in our header above the Sinclair News logo and will display on every page every time this site is visited. From Oct 5, 2012 thru Oct 11, 2012 Sinclair news has been displayed to 1,076,934 visitors (stats from CloudFare analytical).
The business or individual who wishes to meet this Challenge may contact Audrea Taylor to make the contribution. Please inform Miss. Taylor the contribution is in response to the Sinclair News, Through the Mirror w/Larry Sinclair Ad Challenge so Miss. Taylor can notify us who has earned the one year banner ad spot.
Im2moro: Telling Us Today What Tomorrow Should Bring
We all have to Speak Out, and Stand Up as Taylor and her peers proudly proclaim on im2moro.org’s web site. Last night Through the Mirror w/Larry Sinclair spoke with im2moro co-founders Audrea Taylor; Blake Andersen and Luke Andersen (you can listen to the interview from here
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Its not always true that adults know whats best for the children, and the time has long since come and passed where adults need to be slapped across the back of the head by the very children we say we are protecting. Anyone who has ever watched the CBS program NCIS, you know that Agent Gibbs is always slapping Agent Dinozzo on the back of the head to get his attention, well we see the kids behind im2moro as Agent Gibbs and the adults as Dinozzo.
Clearly if we are to be seen as being genuinely concerned with the tomorrow for our kids and grand kids, then we must listen to them and bring them into the conversation and the decision making process. What we find truly amazing about this group of young people is that:
1. They are not promoting a particular party or candidate, but instead are simply demonstrating how based on Constitutional Principles we can come together for the betterment and interest of ALL Americans and the 2moro’s for our children.
2. Rather than try and beat someone over the head based on party or politician, these young people are building upon what we all have in common and agree on.
This is an organization which was founded and has grown through teenagers who when it started were just 12, 13, 15 years old. There is an old proverb “out of the mouths of babes,” which could not be anymore appropriate in describing these young men and women (who despite their ages are just that, young men & women).
Not only is Sinclair News offering one year of header banner static ad space to one person or business who contributes $1000.00 to im2moro.org, we challenge other organizations who sell advertising on their sites to do the same.
Any readers who would like to support this organization can do so by clicking on the below im2moro image which will take you to the groups donation page.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
People, start by offering yourself as a candidate if your hegelian dialectic Rep./Dem. offers dead wood or term limitless. First law should be to distribute unused state land for growing of food (that will stop the food stamp issue and keep the jobless busy) to the homeless and the poor AS WELL as stop foreclosures of homes and further compound interest on homes.
Require the next or more generation to pay the remnant at flat rate BUT NO INTEREST and NO FORECLOSURES. Those without jobs should not be made homeless as well. Those second or third or more homes not in use can still be foreclosed but those who are jobless should be left off foreclosure until they find jobs, at which point only 20% of the salary could be applied – people owing banks got to eat too.
If the above is ratified into law by ALL Congressmen, and all Governors, USA would be abut more sustainable, though banks might have to wait longer to get their money back.
ARTICLE 9
Wahaha boss tops China rich list – Updated: 2012-10-13 08:48 – by Yu Ran in Shanghai ( China Daily)
Many of nation’s wealthiest suffer due to economic slowdown: Forbes
Slower economic growth took its toll on many of China’s 100 biggest fortunes, according to the 2012 Forbes China Rich List, with 45 of them slipping from last year’s count and their total assets dropping 7 percent to $220 billion.
Wahaha boss tops China rich list
Zong Qinghou, the founder and chairman of the beverage producer Hangzhou Wahaha Group Co Ltd, who topped the list in 2010, regained his title as the richest businessmen in China, with a net worth of nearly $10 billion, according to the list.
With an 80 percent share in Wahaha, Forbes said Zong’s fortune exceeded 60 billion yuan ($9.57 billion), over 2 billion yuan more than last year.
Wang Jianlin, chairman and president of Dalian Wanda Group Co Ltd, was the fastest riser in the past year, seeing his wealth jump from 25.6 billion yuan to 50.4 billion yuan, making up the top three with Zong and Robin Li from China’s search engine company Baidu.
The Forbes list comes a fortnight after Zong, 67, topped the Hurun Rich List 2012, which estimated his fortune at $12.6 billion, the second time he has topped the list produced by the Shanghai-based Hurun Research Institute.
Russell Flannery, a senior editor at Forbes and chief of its Shanghai Bureau, said: “Wang outperformed with his greatest success entering the entertainment industry with the announcement of a $2.6 billion acquisition of US cinema chain AMC Entertainment.”
The Forbes list was compiled using shareholding and financial information obtained from the families and individuals, stock exchanges, analysts and China’s regulatory agencies.
Public fortunes were calculated based on stock prices and exchange rates as of Sept 21. Private companies were valued based on similar companies that are publicly traded.
Compared to Zong and Wang, others in the demanding consumer sector did not fare as well, however.
Zhang Jindong, the chairman of Suning Appliance Co Ltd, saw a drop in his value of $2.4 billion, even as he opened up a commanding market lead over longtime rival Gome Electrical Appliances Holding Ltd, owned by Huang Guangyu who suffered a $2 billion drop in value and who still sits in jail for financial crimes.
Qiu Guanghe of the fashion chain Zhejiang Semir Group shed $2.8 billion and fell to 37th.
“Most of the businesses related to the consumer and retail sectors are suffering in these tough times by making less profits and experiencing some financial problems,” said Flannery. He added that the total number of billionaires in China fell from 146 last year to 113 this year, caused by the economic slowdown.
Several property tycoons also suffered, with last year’s list leader Liang Wengen seeing his worth drop $3.4 billion as demand slowed for the building materials produced by Sany Heavy Industry Co Ltd, which he chairs.
The real estate sector as a whole also saw several casualties within the list, as property deals cooled and developers saw projects shelved and prices slow.
“All those ups and downs of rich people in China in different industries lead to the conclusion that the slowdown of China’s economy has brought uncertainty to local private enterprises,” said Zhou Jiangong, chief editor of Forbes Chinese edition.
yuran@chinadaily.com.cn
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Wahaha? Stop laughing over there and wake up or embolden the cowards in certain governments. Being great alone safe in China, is no good if your country still has poor or other Chinese elsewhere are getting the short end of the political stick. Being great alone is not great if in other countries your fellow countrymen are oppressed or enslaved or treated below others. Do set up and fund political parties to challenge inequality for all Chinese across the world! The Chinese expect equality at very least and if China’s colonies fall from neglect of Chinese rights, China will not be able to project power and that same rot will actually reach China from sheer neglect. The courage or funds lacking in some places needs to come from China.
ARTICLE 10
Caught by CCTV: Thugs who beat up factory worker for 80p while wearing tiger and red devil fancy dress costumes – by Larisa Brown – PUBLISHED: 11:38 GMT, 11 October 2012 | UPDATED: 12:58 GMT, 11 October 2012
Fred Dixon, 18, and David Aston-Brown, 20, have been jailed for three years
Pair pounced on Roger Brookes, 37, before punching him to the floor
Dixon had previous convictions for battery and common and sexual assault
Thug Aston-Brown had previous convictions for racially aggravated public disorder, battery against an ex-girlfriend and handling stolen goods
Two thugs battered a factory worker in the street and robbed him of 80p while dressed as a tiger and a red devil.
Fancy dress duo Fred Dixon, 18, and David Aston-Brown, 20, pounced on Roger Brookes, 37, in the early hours of August 20.
The pair shouted at Mr Brookes as he made his way to work at a plant in Hereford before snatching his rucksack, a court has heard.
Fred Dixon, 18, and David Aston-Brown, 20, dressed up as a tiger and a red devil and battered an innocent man
Fred Dixon battered a man in the street and robbed him of just 80p
David Aston-Brown battered a man in the street and robbed him of just 80p
Dixon, left and Aston-Brown, right, ‘got drunk’ and dressed up in fancy dress to go and ‘mess around’
Security cameras captured the thugs punching him to the floor, causing him to cut his head.
Dixon then put Mr Brookes in a head-lock so Aston-Brown could kick him in the chest, Worcester Crown Court heard.
After emptying their victim’s bag on the floor the thugs made off with just 80p, a key ring and a work clocking-in card.
The pair were jailed for three years each on Monday.
Sentencing the pair from Whitecross, Hereford, Judge John Cavell said: ‘This was determined street violence on a complete stranger.
‘You stole property that was almost trifling in its value, but caused serious harm to your victim.’
When police released CCTV images of the thugs in August, it was originally thought they were dressed as cats.
But before they were sentenced it was revealed Dixon wore a tiger-print all-in-one suit, while Aston-Brown was dressed as a red devil.
The men, pictured in a corridor in their fancy dress costumes, have past convictions for battery
The men, pictured in a corridor in their fancy dress costumes, have past convictions for battery
CCTV footage captures the two thugs in their costumes in the early hours of August 20
Defending Dixon, Michael Aspinall said the men had got drunk, dressed up and gone out to ‘mess around’.
He added: ‘These were two heavily intoxicated young men had gone out, in Fred Dixon’s case in breach of a curfew, but not to commit offences.’
The court heard Dixon had previous convictions for battery, common assault, sexual assault, criminal damage and an attempted robbery.
While Aston-Brown had previous convictions for racially aggravated public disorder, battery against an ex-girlfriend and handling stolen goods.
Dixon had only been released from a youth detention centre less than two weeks before the incident.
Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Tim Powell from Hereford Police said: ‘The case was solved thanks to the media reports and members of the public coming forward to give information that led us to CCTV footage which positively identified the suspects, leaving them with no option but to plead guilty.’
Both men had pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing.
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How about asking if the victim would like to kick the attackers back approximately equally hard back, and save the taxpayers 3 years of jail costs after dismissing the case?
ARTICLE 11
Mitt Romney: People Don’t ‘Die In Their Apartment Because They Don’t Have Insurance’ – The Huffington Post | By Bonnie Kavoussi Posted: 10/11/2012 10:54 am EDT Updated: 10/11/2012 7:31 pm EDT
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who has pledged to repeal Obamacare, says that people without health insurance don’t have to worry about dying as a result.
“We don’t have people that become ill, who die in their apartment because they don’t have insurance,” Romney said in an interview with the Columbus Dispatch’s editorial board on Wednesday.
While it’s difficult to tell how many people die each year from lack of health insurance, one study, from a health care advocacy group, puts the number at 26,000 deaths per year.
“We don’t have a setting across this country where if you don’t have insurance, we just say to you, ‘Tough luck, you’re going to die when you have your heart attack,'” he added in the interview. “No, you go to the hospital, you get treated, you get care, and it’s paid for, either by charity, the government or by the hospital.”
Romney took a similar stance in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” in late September, when he said: “We do provide care for people who don’t have insurance. If someone has a heart attack, they don’t sit in their apartment and die. We pick them up in an ambulance, and take them to the hospital, and give them care.”
Roughly 4 in 25 Americans, or nearly 49 million Americans, had no health insurance last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Repealing Obamacare would deny access to health insurance to about 30 million uninsured Americans who would have received it under health care reform.
Letting so many people go uninsured ultimately can cost both individuals and society. When people lack health insurance, their health worsens, and their health treatments become more expensive, research has found. People without health insurance also are in danger of facing massive medical bills, debt, and bankruptcy if they get sick or injured.
On top of that, society at large sometimes must pay for the uninsured through higher taxes and health care costs. The government often helps pay for unpaid emergency room bills. States and cities that run hospitals lose money when hospital bills go unpaid. And economists have found that hospitals sometimes charge higher prices for health care, and health insurance companies sometimes charge higher premiums, because the uninsured often are unable to pay for health care.
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Indirect assurance that neurotech will not be used to enrich insurance businesses or enable healthcare profiteering? If Romney is aware, Romney had better get the FBO or CIA take away access from the 3rd world Junta this sort of technology. USA’s democracy will be safer than if the Hudud accepting freaks get their hands on this and end up playing the USA into terrorist hands while real world citizens who would stop such undemocratic monsters are destroyed.
ARTICLE 12
‘We seem very conservative, but we have the BIGGEST desires’ – China sex festival – Tuesday, 09 October 2012 06:44
“One-two-THREE! CONTROL! … and relax,” Ma Jian urges. The 78-year-old author is addressing a few dozen men clustered around a stage in Guangzhou, but he aspires to a much bigger audience. “China has more than 2,000 years of sexual history and culture and skills. It has sexual experience which western countries have never known. I want to introduce its expertise to people here and people overseas and make all men happy,” he said.
“I want all women to benefit. I take guys who shoot in three minutes and teach them to hang on for 30. That’s long enough.”
Until 10 years ago this evangelist was, he said, “an underground worker”, toiling in strictest secrecy. He grew up in the sexually repressive society created by Mao Zedong. The chairman of the People’s Republic may have shared his own bed with numerous women, but under his rule bodies were disguised in shapeless suits and holding hands in public was shocking.
Even in the 80s, after liberalisation had begun, a man was executed for organising orgies. Now Ma rattles off his advice – swimming increases sexual desire; pee in short bursts, not a stream – at a convention co-hosted by family planning authorities.
More than 30,000 visitors thronged last weekend to the 10th national (Guangzhou) sex culture festival to watch pole dancers, buy 007-brand condoms and browse porn in a resolutely unerotic exhibition centre. Couples take happy snaps with giant virility figures, and unabashed shoppers fondle realistic sex dolls (though not, this year, inflatable Obamas). The wealthiest can even choose a 100,000 yuan (£10,000) solid gold “pleasure object” – the kind of high-class product that appeals to shoppers usually found in Louis Vuitton or Dolce & Gabbana, a sales assistant said.
Chinese sex fair catwalk
But the shots of “artistic nudes” are tame by western standards. And though hordes of men photograph furiously as semi-clad models strut to a disco version of the Old Spice theme, there’s no pouting or lip-licking. These days, sexual experimentation and puritanism sit side by side in China.
Qiu Shuang, a lesbian activist and sex toy saleswoman, argued that repression had only kindled passions. “Maybe we seem very conservative, but we have the biggest desires,” she said.
China has an estimated six million sex workers, yet nudity is unacceptable in the cinema and there are periodic anti-porn crackdowns. Women have hymen restoration surgery so their husbands will believe they are virgins. Two years ago, an academic was jailed for hosting sex parties. It is no coincidence that the official denunciation of the disgraced politician Bo Xilai accused him of improper sexual relationships with several women.
“People still frown on serial dating … [but] there are 200,000 sex shops and these huge sexual expos. Are they prudish about sex or are they incredibly liberated?” asked Richard Burger, whose new book, Behind the Red Door, chronicles the history of sex in China.
He argues that for centuries China’s leaders have swung between sexual openness and repression. In the Tang dynasty, prostitutes were registered; the late Ming saw explicit novels such as The Plum in the Golden Vase.
At times, homosexual love has been celebrated. At other times, erotic books have been burned.
In the west, the sexual revolution was part of a wider movement of personal liberation and challenges to authority. But in China, the post-Mao shift from procreation to recreation was driven not by the Beatles and Lady Chatterley but by the Communist party.
Sex dolls in Guangzhou
After the Cultural Revolution, the government’s control [of people’s lives] started loosening, and at the same time the one-child policy meant people could have sex lives that weren’t for the purpose of giving birth. They could have sex for pleasure,” said Pan Suiming of Renmin University, one of the country’s leading experts on sex.
Li Yinhe, another researcher, said: “In the past, women were not allowed to like sex – sex was only for giving birth to children, or serving men. Now they can enjoy sex.”
When the magazine Popular Cinema dared to print a romantic clinch in 1979, it sparked a national controversy. The publication of the kiss – a still from a Cinderella movie starring Richard Chamberlain – was “decadent, capitalist, an act meant to poison our youths”, complained an irate local propaganda official. But thousands more picked up their pens to support the magazine.
But puckering up lost its subversive edge – even if the average age for a first kiss remained at 23 just a few years ago. These days premarital sex is very common and has spread to rural areas too.
Yet even now, most assume that sexual relationships end in marriage. Half the men Pan surveyed in 2007 reported only one sexual partner – and even younger and more experienced men have double standards, as a group of female students at the festival testify.
“There’s a long way to go. People do think a woman is a slut [if she has had multiple partners],” said Emily Mai.
“We have a right to chose premarital sex,” added her friend Yee Bai. “It’s freedom. We can’t stand to have only ‘pure, spiritual’ love.”
Sun Zhongxin of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh says the sexual revolution has benefited different sexes and sexualities to different degrees, and that both men and women may face new pressures, feeling inadequate when faced with a single and sometimes more westernised standard of sexiness.
Tens of millions of men will not find wives or long-term partners at all, because of China’s “missing” women: illegal sex-selective abortions have caused the gender ratio at birth to rise from the natural rate of 106 boys per 100 girls to 118 boys.
Many more men are migrant workers who may see their spouses once a year at best. “They can use sexual toys to let their desire out. It’s better than going to have sex with prostitutes,” said the event’s deputy director, Zhu Jianming.
But as Sun pointed out, the sex industry is not just the fruit of changing attitudes; it has been aggressive in pushing “liberalisation”.
The results can be alarming. One stall in Guangzhou is advertising a sex doll designed to look like a very young girl.
Zhu dismissed concerns: “It doesn’t encourage people … You can’t criticise a sexual fantasy.”
But he adds that he too worries that some people “have been influenced by western ideas about sex, are out of control and indulge themselves sexually”. He insisted the show was designed to encourage sexual morality and positive relationships, not just sexual knowledge.
Though the festival clearly caters primarily to straight men, there are several older couples browsing arm in arm. A husband and wife stop to listen attentively as a salesman demonstrates the different groans emitted by a selection of fake vaginas.
“In the past, when two people dated, they even had to keep their distance on the street,” said 25-year-old Li Bo, sheepishly clasping the sex toy he had just won in a prize draw. “Of course we wouldn’t want to go back to the old times.”
-guardian.co.uk
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Try this tourist ‘must do’ or must take photos of for the adventurous.
In suitable fengshui spots (probably where nturally phallic or clitorial looking stone formations form), install a series of silver, gold and finally, precious stone clad dildos and ‘fleshlights’ on a series of bollards EXHIBITING ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS of the local regional culture. These will be in private but open areas for tourist use and photo taking.
Each couple or person gets to use the private or secluded space for 10 minutes, and reseervations or bookings must be made in advance (24 hours means only 164 people a day may use a single area . . . so there should be more than 1 area per scenic spot to service probably millions . . . ). To be fair, these spots should charge no more than minimum wage multiplied by the material used . . . silver x1, gold x2, and finally, precious stone x3, x4 for diamond (4 times minimum wage for diamond, though the entire series might be wanted and hence the money is made back (not so soon, a few hundred diamonds on a dildo will cost MILLIONS but since ths state has FIAT for sure that will be worth it . . . ) . . . now THATS making the most of sexuality in tourism in a most contemporary and complementary manner! Retired sex workers could be the administrators and watchmen here, and perhaps sexual themed souvenirs or ORGANIC tonic specicaltiesmade by the locals, or sex manuals, could be sold as well.
Scheduling for weekday mornings could be reserved for non-sexual use and child friendly time (children will not be harmed seeing or posing with bejewelled sex toys . . . in crowds to boot. These will eventually be fertility preserving attractions in a spiritual sense, and would be quite a draw as a form of ’emnatory’ spirito-medical tourism as well. An informal temple to fertility in fact, especially when manned or staffed by ex-sex workers WITH state pensions.
“There’s a long way to go. People do think a woman is a slut [if she has had multiple partners],” said Emily Mai. “We have a right to chose premarital sex,” added her friend Yee Bai. “It’s freedom. We can’t stand to have only ‘pure, spiritual’ love.”
Not a slut for the status unaware or status uncaring, or the downwardly mobile in need of cash. Those involved in religious work would have herbal concoctions to steady their desires meanwhile and not indulge at all even at a distance (this differentiates the false spiritulist and the sex obsessed ones posing as spiritual – indulging in spiritual sex is NOT spiritual) . . .
The lower classes and middle classes probably will not be affected and will indeed look for prostitutes (lower classes) or escorts (middle classes). The upper classes who are expected to be discreet to save face for race and society would be blackballed for certain if they do not engage themselves to formal mistresses, or use escorts that are too popular/undiscerning (i.e. do not stick to a certain group of clients at limited numbers to keep things classy – i.e. escorts that do not sleep with just anyone – who incidentally should not be raised above/be allowed to climb over the heads of the honest working class professionals etc..) or with tongues that are too loose.
Which is also the reason for so much obsession with erotica by these quasi-apex/literati classes without wealth – pure ‘spiritual love’ from authors to the readers will be the cleanest form of titillation possible to indulge in, even multiple ‘spiritual’ partners notwithstanding apex classes, or a harem of wives to indulge themselves by.
ARTICLE 13
Y.U. Mad … ‘Cause I Bought a Palace – Music Mogul Birdman spent $14.5 mil in cash money for a Miami mansion the size of a Four Seasons.
The rapper — who co-founded Cash Money Records — bought the 19,000-sqaure-foot pad last month — which sits on the ultra exclusive Palm Island.
The 9-bedroom, 17-bath palace is amazing — 25-foot-ceilings … a below ground pool … an outdoor pool with cabana … a theater, gym, spa area … in-house massage room … 100 feet of waterfront AND a private dock.
Ya know, for your awesome boat.
FUN HOUSE HISTORY: The mansion belonged to music producer Scott Storch until it was taken away from him in foreclosure 2 years ago. It was snatched up by the inventor of Rockstar energy drinks for $6.75 mil … and then flipped to Birdman for a huge profit.
Oh the rich. We hate them.
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Thats so characteristically white bread of so many African American stars who succeeded.
You’d think they’d decorate in a manner congruous with African cultures or that at least gives a strongly black-american accent (not exactly ghetto or hoodie yet carefully ‘uncolonial’ and ‘unsafari’ as well).
This is too European. Look at the ‘Black House’ jokes for a skewed sense of ‘African-American’ style. I’m not African but some African homes FEEL African, excepting the railings, this is just ‘white and European (not even American) bling’.
ARTICLE 13
Exclusive Coffee Has Unsavory Source – Elephant Dung in Thailand
Anantara Resorts, one of the world’s most expensive resort chains, has debuted some of the world’s costliest coffee at its Maldives properties. Just one thing though: The coffee beans are harvested from elephant dung.
The coffee is also offered at Anantara’s Golden Triangle property in Thailand.
The coffee beans, called Black Ivory and priced at $1,100 per kilogram, are digested by an elephant before you drink it.
There are only 50 kilograms, or about 110 pounds, currently for sale.
According to the resort, Black Ivory coffee beans are “naturally refined” by Thai elephants. Research indicates that during digestion, the enzymes of the elephant break down coffee protein, according to the resort. Protein is one of the factors responsible for bitterness in coffee: less protein, less bitterness.
The coffee is ground by hand and brewed table side in a four-minute process. The fragrance is said to be floral and chocolate and the taste “milk chocolate, nutty, earthy with hints of spice and red berries.”
Thai Arabica beans are picked from an altitude of 1500 meters (about 5000 feet) and fed to the elephants. “Once deposited by the elephants, the individual beans are handpicked by mahouts (elephant trainer and care giver) and their wives and sun dried.”
Refinement of the coffee takes place at the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, an elephant conservation program. According to the resort, 8 percent of sales will fund an elephant veterinarian specialist to provide free care to the animals. Additional funds will be used to provide medicine and a new laboratory.
Black Ivory isn’t the first coffee in the world to come out of animal dung. Civet coffee, priced at several hundred dollars per pound, is harvested from the civet cats’ of Southeast Asia’s excrement.
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This is not to be used evidence of ‘insanity’ . . . the below are ideas for extreme experimental foodies, or a horror/vampire book that begins thus . . .
‘Nothing is better than fresh blood of pre-pubescent children . . . ‘ (looks like the vampire kids have been chewing on themselves again or was that the tailor . . . what say you Bellisa? Or is that Isabelle?
Perhaps that would beat J.K. Rowling in the creativity and shock factor department. The book will be called . . . “50 Shades of Red” ! Yea or Nay? Should this be written? Parasite Rowling is such a vacant casualty of ideas . . . Meanwhile we ponder another text . . .
Recipes For the Cannibal Cocktail Connoiseurs . . .
Sample : APERITIF SANGUINAR’SICUM’
Blood . . . with a dash of fermented bile . . . light notes of spooge . . . and freshly squeezed ‘lung juice’ (smoker’s or non-smokers to taste . . . ) – besting Hannibal Lector at his game! Hah! More recipes! That Chianti seems pretty prosaic now donnit? Fava beans and liver still stands for the newbies though. Perhaps grading to kidney and steak pie
. . . Now give me blood! Where’s Ashley, oh Ashley . . . Twilight awaits and I’ll have back what you took (did you?) from my stack of ‘Crematoria Scrip’ now thank you, thieves accrue debt that cannot offset karmic interest . . . unwritten sample from text.
Heres an idea for for products for the ‘Scat’ bunch (Hmm . . . Scatman?!? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scatman%27s_World) Heres some ideas, more rare and MONSTROUS flavours for the extreme foodie . . . Gargarensis would approve and no need to wear a meat dress either!
Triple-Blad (thrice ‘processed’ ‘yellow’) . . . as opposed to Triple Sec)
Triple-Col(on) (thrice ‘processed’ ‘brown’) . . . as opposed to Tripe . . . QUOTE ‘To be a balloon, floating . . .’ Sam Pedeaston UNQUOTE)
As Anthony Bourdain in “The Wild Traveller . . . would say . . . ‘ Come along . . . ‘ Hmm, maybe that was James Pedeaston from ‘No Reservations” on WCTR Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas . . . Travel Channel thats right! Oh that’s good! Delicious! Don’t lose all reservations Bourdain . . . I mean Pedeaston . . .
Warning content in below link unsuitable for some people . . .
Foodies in religion eh? Dull eat-beasts more like, even if Vegetarian . . . Now this particular posting will probably this blog’s most monstrous! Counter articles/responses welcome! Commentary fight time, even at such severe handicap!
ARTICLE 14
Home extension plan demolished: Councils unite to scupper Cameron’s free-for-all on bigger conservatories and enlarging your home by Tim Shipman – PUBLISHED: 22:57 GMT, 11 October 2012 | UPDATED: 06:32 GMT, 12 October 2012
Councils warned Cameron’s plan would encourage unsightly development
Last year councils rejected outright 22,000 of 200,000 applications received
LGA fears that without such scrutiny these failed plans would now go ahead
Town hall chiefs last night vowed to kill off David Cameron’s plan to allow large extensions in back gardens.
They warned his free-for-all would encourage unsightly development and spark tension between neighbours.
In a huge blow to the Coalition’s flagship housing policy, the Local Government Association said councils would not implement the plans.
Blow: Town hall chiefs vowed to kill off David Cameron’s plan to allow large extensions in back gardens
Blow: Town hall chiefs vowed to kill off David Cameron’s plan to allow large extensions in back gardens
Homeowners can currently build a 10ft extension at a terraced property – and 13ft at a detached house – without planning consent.
Mr Cameron wants these limits doubled to 20ft and 26ft for a three-year period.
The move is needed to boost the economy, the Prime Minister says. But without the co-operation of town hall chiefs the policy is unlikely to be implemented.
Last year councils rejected outright only 22,000 of the 200,000 applications they received.
And the LGA, which represents more than 370 councils, fears that without such scrutiny these failed plans would now go ahead.
Recession has turned us into a nation of Rigsbys: Number of homeowners who rent a room to a lodger doubles in a year
Spectacular castle that inspired The Great Gatsby and played host to Jonas and Weiner weddings facing foreclosure
‘This policy potentially gives the green light to unsightly and out-of-place development without delivering a big enough boost to the construction industry to justify the potential damage,’ said the association’s Mike Jones.
‘The planning process works to ensure development is suitable for a local area and doesn’t unduly impact neighbours. Loosening rules around extensions would eliminate this vital mediation process in a large number of cases. The 22,000 applications which are rejected each year are knocked back for good reasons and it would be totally wrong if extensions which were previously rejected due to objections from neighbours or because they were judged to blight the neighbourhood could now sneak back in unimpeded.’
Tory-run councils in Lincolnshire and in Richmond, South-West London, have already said they will not cooperate with the new policy. Lincolnshire said a ‘rash of extensions’ could increase the risk of flooding in the low-lying county.
Additions: Homeowners can currently build a 10ft extension at a terraced property – and 13ft at a detached house – without planning consent
At their party conference, the Liberal Democrat rank and file also voted against the proposals.
And a YouGov poll commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects revealed 54 per cent believe the shake-up would lower the quality of neighbourhood design.
‘This policy potentially gives the green light to unsightly and out-of-place development without delivering a big enough boost to the construction industry to justify the potential damage’
Mike Jones,
Local Government Association
The LGA’s intervention sets the stage for a clash between town hall chiefs and Eric Pickles. The Communities Secretary has warned that homeowners could sue councils that refuse to follow the new guidance on extensions. Ministers have said however that it will be up to each council as to whether to cooperate.
The LGA’s warning is also a challenge to Mr Cameron, who repeated calls for growth-friendly planning changes in his speech to the Conservative conference in Birmingham this week.
The Prime Minister attacked ‘yes-but-no people’ – ‘the ones who say “yes, our businesses need to expand but no we can’t reform planning”’.
Mr Jones countered: ‘We agree with the Government that stimulating the construction industry is essential to economic recovery but this proposal is not the answer. We need to tackle the housing crisis and that means freeing up lending so first-time buyers can secure mortgages and developers can borrow to build.
Extensions: A YouGov poll commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects revealed 54 per cent believe the shake-up would lower the quality of neighbourhood design
Extensions: A YouGov poll commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects revealed 54 per cent believe the shake-up would lower the quality of neighbourhood design
‘The Government should also lift tight restrictions on local authority borrowing so councils and housing associations can raise money to invest in new homes.’
Planning minister Nick Boles, who is a Lincolnshire MP, hit back, saying: ‘The planning system needs to strike a balance between the rights of the homeowner and their neighbours.
‘The planning system needs to strike a balance between the rights of the homeowner and their neighbours’
Nick Boles, Planning minister
‘Our proposals will make it easier for thousands of hard-working families to undertake home improvements to cater for a growing family. It will also help generate new business for local construction companies and small traders.’
When the plans emerged, Ruth Dombey, the Lib Dem leader of Sutton council in South London, said: ‘These proposals are a recipe for disaster. They have not been properly thought through.
‘If this is allowed to happen it will set neighbour against neighbour and split communities for years. On top of the resentment and loss of quality of life, some people’s houses will also plummet in value if they’ve got no light or a noisy factory is within a few metres of their front door.’
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10-13 feet? I’d say all the way to the edge of the lot (which is why there are high walls sometimes) and then overhangs out into at least the middle of the road especially for roads where heavy vehicles or tall vehicles are not allowed! Factories? How did this article steer from freedom to build on one’s property to **factories** (no outlandish smells, no outlandish noises and probably people won’t care, why should the council Jobsworths who don’t even live there care)?
. . . and developers can borrow to build. . . .
NO. England is overpopulated as is, and no more increases in population should be allowed if England is to remain self sufficient or not become a Hong Kong style hi-rise pigeon coop. Developers had better hang up their heavy construction equipment to prevent future losses from lack (actually there is nowhere left to build) of demand and consider getting into home extensions work and such.
Unless England is to be a ‘gray and unpleasant’ land (Foggy gaslight London era, drowning in rising sewage anyone? Throw in a few Jack the Rippers, absinth drinking detectives and grape eating hookers for some excitement . . . ), overbuilt that is, without green lungs, like a Englishstani slum that an Indian film maker can go to to film Slumdog Millionaire : Englishstan . . . The time of developers and developer/construction stocks is over, excepting companies able to build massive Arcology type structures and a dystopian ‘Bladerunner’ hyperdense hive that eventually turns into the ‘Matrix’, which still downs most of the smaller ‘construction’ companies without their own development landbanks.
ARTICLE 15
Lakota Sioux Nation Leaves America by Stephen Lendman – 10-1-12
America betrayed them and all Native Peoples. Throughout US history and earlier, genocide was policy.
Historian Ward Churchill explained four centuries of systematic slaughter. It went on from 1492 – 1892. It continues today against Native culture.
Churchill estimated around 100 million Native People throughout the Americas “hacked apart with axes and swords, burned alive and trampled under horses, hunted as game and fed to dogs, shot, beaten, stabbed, scalped for bounty, hanged on meathooks and thrown over the sides of ships at sea, worked to death as slave laborers, intentionally starved and frozen to death during a multitude of forced marches and internments, and, in an unknown number of instances, deliberately infected with epidemic diseases.”
Destruction of their culture continues in new forms. “The American holocaust was and remains unparalleled, in terms of its scope, ferocity, and continuance over time.”
Silence and denial suppress what happened and goes on today. Try finding coverage anywhere by America’s major media. Virtually nothing is said, let alone explained.
Survivors represent a tiny fraction of original numbers. They also symbolize a longstanding US tradition of butchery and viciousness.
After centuries of systematic slaughter, Census Bureau data estimated around a quarter-million US survivors. Those living struggle to get by.
Raphael Lemkin defined genocide as:
“the destruction of a nation or of an ethnic group” that corresponds to other terms like “tyrannicide, homicide, infanticide, etc.” (It) does not necessarily mean the destruction of a nation, except when accomplished by mass killings….It is intended….to signify a coordinated plan (to destroy) the essential foundations of the life of national groups” with the intent to eradicate or substantially weaken or harm them.”
“Genocidal plans involve the disintegration….of political and social institutions, culture, language, national feelings, religion, economic existence, personal security, liberty, health, dignity, and” human lives.
The 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Convention defines it legally as:
“any (acts like those above) committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the national, ethnical, racial or religious group (by) killing (its) members; causing (them) serious bodily or mental harm; (or) deliberately inflicting (on them) conditions” that may destroy them in whole or in part.
Destroying peoples’ cultures, preventing them from practicing their religion, speaking their language, and/or passing on their traditions to new generations are genocidal acts.
Constitutional provisions don’t let government abuse people or deny them their rights. They don’t authorize genocide, either within or outside the country. They don’t permit theft and occupation of their lands or any others.
Nonetheless, binding principles are spurned. America, Israel, and rogue NATO partners violate them with impunity. Crimes of war, against humanity, and genocide are official policy. Millions of corpses bear testimony.
On December 17, 2007, a delegation of Lakota people went to Washington. They declared independence. They called it “the latest step in the longest running legal battle” in history.
It’s not a cessation, they said. It’s a lawful “unilateral withdrawal” from treaty obligations permitted under the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
At the time, American Indian Movement (AIM) leader Russell Means said:
“We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us.”
“We offer citizenship to anyone provided they renounce their US citizenship.”
“United States colonial rule is at an end.”
Signed documents were delivered to the State Department. Sovereignty was declared. The Republic of Lakota was established. It’s based on the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie. It created the Great Lakota (Sioux) Nation. It states in part:
“The territory of the Sioux or Dahcotah Nation, commencing the mouth of the White Earth River, on the Missouri River; thence in a southwesterly direction to the forks of the Platte River; thence up the north fork of the Platte River to a point known as the Red Buts, or where the road leaves the river; thence along the range of mountains known as the Black Hills, to the head-waters of Heart River; thence down Heart River to its mouth; and thence down the Missouri River to the place of beginning.”
It gave Lakota people portions of northern Nebraska, half of South Dakota, one-fourth of North Dakota, one-fifth of Montana, and another 20% of Wyoming.
Unilateral withdrawal from all treaties and agreements became policy. America never honored its own. More on that below.
Earlier events led to the 2007 declaration. In 1974, 5,000 International Indian Treaty Council delegates, representing 97 North and South American Indigenous People, signed a Declaration of Continuing Independence.
It was a “Manifesto representing the wisdom of thousands of people, the Ancestors, and the Great Mystery supports the rights of Indigenous Nations to live free and to take whatever actions are necessary for sovereignty.”
Numerous elders approved it. They represented ancestors born to live free. They gave delegates two mandates:
(1) Gain international recognition. In September 2007, the UN Declaration of Indigenous Rights affirmed it.
(2) “We must always remember that we were once a free People. If we don’t, we shall cease to be Lakota.”
The right to return to their original free and independent status was asserted. On December 17, 2007, they declared it formally.
In United States v. Sioux Nation (1980), the Supreme Court upheld a $105 million award to eight Sioux tribes. It was compensation for lost land. It was lawlessly taken.
The Court, however, denied what Sioux people most wanted – their land back. As a result, they refused the money. They reasserted their sovereign rights.
Thirty-two years of compound interest makes the 1980 award worth $400 million today. It’s a tiny fraction of what Sioux people lost. They demand and deserve what’s rightfully theirs. America’s highest court has no sovereignty over their rights. Neither does political Washington.
Lakota people say US law supports them. America systematically broke treaties and stole their land. It’s theirs and they want it back. The Republic of Lakota claims it.
On September 29, 2012 Means reiterated what he and others declared in December 2007, saying:
“We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five state area that encompasses our country are free to join us.”
He cited longstanding problems and grievances. They include land theft, resource plunder, poverty, unemployment, repression, and overall human depravation. All of it remains out of sight and mind.
The Republic of Lakota described ongoing genocide as follows:
(1) Mortality
Life expectancy for Lakota men is less than 44 years. It’s the lowest of all sovereign countries. It’s the highest in America. Infant mortality is threefold higher than the US average. Diseases are a major problem. “Cancer is now at epidemic proportions.”
Teenage suicide is150% higher than America’s average. One-fourth of Lakota children are fostered or adopted by non-Native people. Doing so destroys their identity and culture. Ward Churchill calls it killing the Indian, saving the man.
(2) Disease
Tuberculosis is 800% higher than America’s average. Cervical cancer is fivefold higher. Diabetes is eight times the national average. The Federal Commodity Food Program provides high-sugar foods. They contribute to poor health.
(3) Poverty
Annual median income is $2,600 – $3,500. Poverty affects 97% of Lakotans. Many families can’t afford essentials most people take for granted. In winter, many use ovens for heat. Simple luxuries are unheard of. Life is hard, merciless, punishing, and unrelenting.
(4) Unemployment
It’s 80% or higher. Government corruption, cronyism, and indifference destroy normal living opportunities.
(5) Housing
In winter, elderly people die from hypothermia. They freeze to death for lack of heat. One-third of homes lack clean water and sewage. About 40% have no electricity. About 60% of families have no telephone.
Another 60% of homes are infected with potentially fatal black molds. On average, 17 people reside in each household. Many have two to three rooms. Some homes built for six to eight people have up to 30 in them.
(6) Drugs and Alcohol
Over half of adults battle addiction and disease. Alcoholism affects 90% of families. Two known methamphetamine labs operate. Authorities haven’t closed them.
(7) Incarceration
Indian children imprisonment exceed whites by 40%. Native People comprise 2% of South Dakota’s population. They account for 21% of those imprisoned.
Indians have the second highest state prison incarceration rate in America. Most live on federal reservations. Less than 2% are where states have jurisdiction.
(8) Culture
It’s threatened with extinction. It’s federal policy to destroy it. Only 14% of Lakotans speak their language. It’s not shared inter-generationally.
The average fluent Lakotan speaker is 65 years old. In another generation or less, perhaps few or none will remain. Lakotan language skills aren’t allowed or taught in US government schools. Nor is much of anything about native history and culture. America wants it destroyed and forgotten.
Lakotan struggle began with the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. They call it “fantasy” US history. France sold America 530 million Native land acres for $15 million. Lakotans owned part of it. They and other Native people weren’t consulted.
They’ve been systematically ignored and violated. From 1778 – 1871, Washington negotiated 372 treaties. Their provisions were systematically spurned.
America’s winning the West involved invading, encroaching, stealing, and occupying their lands. That’s how imperialism works. It’s the same everywhere.
Throughout the 19th century (and earlier), Washington engaged in military, legal, and political battles against Native Peoples. Their rights were contemptuously denied. They were displaced and exterminated. That’s how today’s America was created.
The 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie was systematically violated. So were provisions of all other treaties. From 1866 – 1868, Washington let the Bozeman trail go through the “Heart of the Lakota Nation.”
It was a short cut to Montana’s gold fields. Military forts were built on stolen land along its route. Doing so violated 1851 treaty provisions. Battles ensued. Washington negotiated peace. The 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty followed. Native People thought they won. Victory was pyrrhic and illusory.
The Supreme Court’s 1883 ex parte Crow Dog decision made no difference. The Court recognized Lakotah freedom and independence. It ruled that tribes held exclusive jurisdiction over their internal affairs. It didn’t matter.
The transcontinental railroad facilitated development, land and resource theft.
In 1885, Congress passed the Major Crimes Act. It extended US jurisdiction into Lakota territory. The same year, the last of the great buffalo herds were exterminated. At one time, they numbered 60 million. Native People relied on them for food.
In 1887, Congress passed the General Allotment Act (the Dawes Act). It ended communal ownership of reservation lands. It distributed 160-acre “allotments” to individual Indians. Tribes lost millions of acres. Wealthy ranchers exploit them today.
In 1888, Congress began prohibiting Indian Spiritual and Prayer Ceremonies. It was part of destroying Native culture. In 1891, a Commissioner of Indian Affairs was authorized. It was to assure Native People obeyed white man’s laws.
Many more abuses followed. In Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock (1903), the Supreme Court extralegally recognized near absolute plenary congressional power over Indian affairs.
It let US authorities steal tribal lands and resources freely. They did so on the pretext of fulfilling federal responsibilities.
Doing so abrogated fundamental indigenous rights unilaterally. The ruling was used to violate hundreds of treaties. Like other Native Peoples, Lakotans were grievously harmed.
Their sacred Black Hills were stolen. So were valued resources on them. Lakotans want back what’s rightfully theirs. Their ancestors thought the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty granted them victory. They were wrong.
Yet in 1904, even after Lone Wolf v. Hitchcock, some believed the Treaty was “the only instance in the history of the United States where the government has gone to war and afterwards negotiated a peace conceding everything demanded by the enemy and exacting nothing in return.”
Until the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act, Native People got what no one had the right to deny them in the first place. In fact, rights afforded them nominally never existed in fact.
The entire history of Native People in America reflects horrific struggles lost. From 1492 to today, they experienced promises made and broken. Disenfranchized people remain. Most are bereft of hope.
On reservations or assimilated, they’re out of sight and mind. Once they lived peacefully on their own land. White settlers changed things. Western civilization destroyed their way of life. There’s nothing civilized about it.
They’re either ignored, mocked, or demonized in films and society. They’re called drunks, beasts, primitives, and savages. America always was a white supremacist society.
Rich powerful elites run it. Native People and most others don’t matter. They’re systematically used and abused. They’re not served. It’s the American way.
Thats ALL non-European, non-English sovereign nations which have become so-called USA and so-called Canada. Does the UN know this fact? What the colonial Europeans and English did was barbaric and needs proper reparations instead of mere ‘Indian Reservations’. Shall USA and Canada be run by a Supreme Council of Tribal Chieftains from all territories on this map? All existing European and English people who did not benefit from or cause murder and slavery should be allowed to remain as citizens, those identified as having benefited should be repatriated to their home nations. A 600 year long holocaust occured here that history cannot bury and that has not been corrected or apologized for yet. (Caption by @AgreeToDisagree, Map from http://www.manataka.org)
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is titled “How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War”
The true language of ‘America’ is Native Ameri-Indian, NOT English. To be fair to the Native Ameri-Indians, perhaps all of the ‘5 Civilised Tribes’ should have a Governor each and a UN Representative of USA should be Red Native Ameri-Indian as well. A black president says much about USA today, not go even further and have an Ameri-Indian President neext (not those 1/8th blood types but as pure as possible).
Meanwhile Sabah and Sarawak should demand 100% disbursement rights and 100% equality for Orang Asli and access to ALL Special Privileges, to be implemented immediately or secede and get their own UN seat instead. Whats the point of not having a UN seat and not even being able to disburse your own states’ wealth AND being made into second class citizens without :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Whats so great about east Malaysia staying in Malaysia? The worst among Muslims force Islam on the Orang Asli who are vulnerable, and Malaysia’s APARTHEID Bumiputra system has parasited on the Orang Asli Chieftain-RULERS using Islam to a degree as a weapon of control via threat of violence to these simple Tuak drinking, boar bucaneering, Keris inventing, spirit-lamp using peoples, taken away their land via illegal laws that the UN would never approve or even sue as war criminals over (the Bar Council is asleeep as usual does not care at all), invited loggers that denuded the forests and planted dull and eco-diversity destroying oil palm plantations . . . whats the point for Sabah and Sarawak to stay in malaysia unless the above listed are granted immediately?
Any Orang Asli worth their pride as warriors (those Orang Asli made mincemeat of the oppresso-Christians before in Kalimantan didn’t they? Now Christian DAP is back again with more neo-colonial b.s.. . . . make mincemeat of the Apartheid of Bumiputra) will prefer to have a seat at the UN as a PM instead of as a DAP or BN stooge that only gets 5% or 15% (as CM of Penang Lim Guan Eng ‘generously’ – actually INSULTINGLY – offered 15% as being ‘better than BN’s 5%’) of THEIR OWN WEALTH?
Try the response to this article : Grievances of the Temiar tribe must be addressed – reposted by @AgreeToDisagree – Feb 23, 2012 @ 8:01- https://malaysiandemocracy.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/3719/ that belong to the nomadic and eco-friendly Orang Asli instead of plantations! Free yourselves Orang Asli! Give BN an ultimatum to grant the above or begin filing for secession at the UN. Chieftains must be intelligent and civilised men not stupid uneducated ‘natives’ who cannot even keep their religion and culture or lands intact! Get your sovereign seat at the UN if BN still wants to keep control, or if Pakatan refuses to change their entitlement mentality regards equality of citizenship and return of stolen lands!
Orang Asli Chieftains! Never accept this heartbreaking and heartrending treatment of your people’s anymore! Demand equality and show idiots like CM Lim Guan Eng or Minister Chua Soi Lek or MIC leading the Malaysian Chinese and Indian community cowards and colluders who dare not ask for equality how to be indepdnent equals in their own country by filing lawsuit at the UN for the above listed 3 items as well as all the above response’s listed demands! Scottish PM would-be leading the Scottish Independence movement, Alex Salmond should have a talk to the Orang Asli Chieftains about independence and how much a sovereign seat at the UN would be better than this ‘trash’ deal offered by Pakatan rakyat’s Guan Eng (who doesn’t even dare try secure end of apartheid for the Chinese on the Malaysian Peninsular) or Barisan’s apartheid and Islamic proselytisation and stealing of lands (especially ancestral grave sites which the Muslims seem to fear and try very hard to target).
Don’t dare say that non-Muslims, some here for tens of generations despite not being ethnic Malay do not deserve 1st class citizenships! Especially so the pureblood Orang Asli who didn’t intermarry with the Middle Eastern or ASEAN peoples, are the TRUE Nusantaran Animist MALAYS, not Muslims who were converted from Orang Asli and took Arabic names. No citizen should not be punished and disenfranchised or have any privileges denied them simply for having a different religion! Religion is disenfranchisement! Especially when the Constitution guarantees equality, the UN Article 1 which Malaysia is a signatory of, and the Social Contract states that Special Privileges were to only last 15 years before review and removal. How could 20,000 or more year old settlements be displaced then made into second class citizens by Muslim converts who too are Orang Asli, albeit now in mixed marriage (and without original malay names) to Arab traders who arrived mostly in the 15th Century? End the apartheid! The Orang Asli are your own REAL ORIGINAL Malaysians who have even managed to preserve their original Nusantaran faith! The original faith of Nusantaran Animism! Spiritual Colonialism is not something the Malays expected, but to deny the Orang Asli equality is just unprincipled. Finally Islam states that all citizens are to be treated equally regardless of faith.
Who’s a Muslim? Find your roots those who care and understand . . . that one can be a successful ethnic-Malay who is not a Muslim that deserves equal treatment, not persecution for applying Article 18 of the UNHRC. Know those roots without oppressing all other minorities with Islam. Find your real names as well. Before the Arabs came to Malaysia, what were real Malay names? Look to Indonesia and note the real Indonesian names as opposed to Arabic names. Spiritual Colonialisation no less!
Red Scar on America – August 24, 2011 — Dean Henderson
The budding genre of left-wing conspiracy research, intuitively attractive as a unifying force to many, attempts to break imposed philosophical paradigms and to deprogram minds in a world traumatized and confused by the Illuminati’s biggest psyops program ever – the Cold War. This delicate task requires a historically-grounded progressive political framework which, while taking a backseat to realpolitik, remains pertinent.
While the mainstream left refuses to acknowledge any hint of conspiracy, no matter the number of footnotes; the Alex Jones “right/left paradigm is dead” crowd, while open to deep politics, leans right ideologically, enabling the banker cabal in its quest for global hegemony via 18th century mercantilism – the purest form of capitalism ever practiced.
It is incredibly naïve to believe that the Illuminati bankers wish to usher in communism as their economic model. The real world tells us that wealth is not being redistributed. It is being concentrated in the hands of the few at historic levels.
The left’s problem lies in naiveté and cowardice, and in its inability to deconstruct the brutal state capitalism imposed via the Soviet Union. The libertarian conspiracy crowd lacks a background in political theory – their Cato Institute is funded by the same corporations that fund the two major political parties. They too have been brainwashed since birth by the mysterious events that culminated in the Soviet Union.
An analysis of these events is key to understanding the Red Scare, which haunts an increasingly extreme right-wing American political landscape and hinders our ability to formulate practical economic solutions that incorporate both capitalistic and socialistic economic tenants. It also goes a long way in explaining the incredible naiveté of the American mainstream “left”.
In 1822 Russia’s Czar Alexander banned Freemasonry from his country. When Czar Nicholas took the throne he renewed the ban, but the secret society went underground and survived. Karl Marx was a member of the League of the Just which later became the Communist League. The group was an off-shoot of the Society of Seasons, which had close ties to the Grand Orient Freemason Lodge of Paris. Frederick Engel was a wealthy German industrialist. [714]
Marx and Engel were driven by the philosophies of Freidrich Hegel, whose now infamous Hegelian dialectic put forth a process whereby opposites thesis and antithesis are reconciled into synthesis.
Though Hegel’s philosophy was adopted by Marx, it was equally attractive to Adolf Hitler and the Rothschild Business Roundtable that sponsored him. The Roundtable saw in the dialectic a boon to their monopolies by presenting phony communism (antithesis) as bogeyman to capitalism (thesis). The ensuing conflict – the Cold War – produced a huge market for arms and oil which their trusts manufactured.
Genuine revolutionary struggle in the Third World could be labeled as a “Soviet communist conspiracy” and more arms could then be sent to depopulate the undesirable poor, dispensing of agitators who threatened Roundtable interests. The pure application of communism, which indigenous peoples practiced for thousands of years prior to the arrival of Annunaki invaders in Sumeria, was the real threat to the “special bloodline” international bankers.
By upholding Soviet state capitalism to all the world as an example of “failed Communism”, the bankers could discredit this dangerous idea while producing their desired synthesis – a New World Order ruled by the Illuminati banking families and Black Nobility monarchs, with laissez-faire monopoly capitalism as their economic paradigm.
The Russian Hohenzollern family monarchy to which the czars belonged wasn’t playing ball. They grew suspicious of the Freemasons, who they knew to be agents of the international bankers. In 1915 the American International Corporation (AIC) was formed to finance a Russian revolution aimed at deposing the Hohenzollerns and launching the banker’s grand Hegelian experiment. AIC directors included Frank Vanderlip, who two years prior had attended the secret Jekyll Island meetings that formulated the private Federal Reserve; and George Herbert Walker, grandfather of George Bush Sr. The families of Rockefeller, Rothschild, Du Pont, Kuhn, Loeb, Schiff and Harriman were represented on AIC’s board. [715]
WWI was looming and the Allied powers needed to open a diversionary front against the Germans. Russian Bolshevik leader Leon Trotsky left New York by ship on March 27, 1917, just days before the US entered WWI. He had with him a US passport, 300 revolutionaries and a wad of cash supplied by the Wall Street banker crowd. Twelve days earlier Czar Nicholas II had stepped down amidst an uprising launched by genuine anarchist revolutionaries, inspired by the writings of the Russian philosopher Kropotkin, who preached revolution followed by immediate decentralization of power, a sharp contrast to the iron-fisted state capitalist control under which Russia was about to fall. The anarchists struck fear into the heart of Wall Street, so they dispatched Trotsky to derail their Menshevik plans.
As Trotsky and his Reds sailed east, Vladimir Lenin left Switzerland in a sealed train with 150 more “revolutionaries” and $5 million in cash. The train passed through Germany without inspection thanks to banker Max Warburg’s intervention. Meanwhile, fifteen international bankers under Red Cross cover traveled to Petrograd to provide additional financing to the Bolsheviks and to make off with Russia’s gold reserves, just as they would later make off with German gold reserves following WWII and Chinese gold reserves after the 1949 Revolution.[716] Prince Lvov, who replaced the deposed Czar Nicholas II, and his successor Alexander Kerensky both publicly denounced Trotsky and Lenin as German intelligence agents.
The war between Mensheviks and Bolsheviks lasted until 1922. Some 28 million Russians died. The unruly anarchists were eventually disposed of and the Roundtable crowd launched its “antithesis” in Moscow. Trotsky and Lenin were likely unaware they were being used by the bankers. Trotsky fled to Mexico City, where he was murdered by Stalin’s agents in 1940. Lenin died in 1924. He had by then identified the powerful forces behind his ascent as “monopoly finance capitalists”. Towards the end of his life he wrote, “The state does not function as we desired. A man is at the wheel and seems to lead it, but the car does not drive in the desired direction. It moves as another force wishes.”[717]
John D. Rockefeller, Nathan Rothschild, Max Warburg, Jacob Schiff and J. Pierpont Morgan seized the new Soviet opportunity. Their Four Horsemen always had interests in Russia. The Rothschild and Nobel families discovered oil in Baku in 1898 with their Far East Trading Company, but anarchist oilfield revolutionaries burned their newly renamed Royal Dutch/Shell installations to the ground.
By 1922 Rockefeller’s Chase National Bank launched the American-Russian Chamber of Commerce. In 1925 Chase negotiated a deal with Soviet Prombank to market Russia’s raw materials to the West, while helping the Bolsheviks import cotton and machinery. Chase and its sister insurance conglomerate Equitable Trust led the way in providing credit to the Soviets, selling Bolshevik bonds in the US by 1928 with help from Morgan Guaranty.
Rep. Louis McFadden (D-NY), chair of the House Banking Committee, remarked, “The Soviet government has been given US Treasury funds by the Federal Reserve Banks acting through Chase Bank and Guaranty Trust Company…Find out what business has been transacted for the State Bank of the Soviet Union by its correspondent bank, Chase Bank of New York.”[718]
The chaos caused by the Bolshevik Revolution had been a boon to Rockefeller oil interests by eliminating much of Standard Oil’s competition in Russia. In 1926 Standard Oil of New York (Mobil) loaned $75 million to the Bolsheviks in exchange for exclusive rights to market Soviet oil in Europe. Mobil built a refinery in Russia.
In 1969 Rockefeller’s International Basic Economy Corporation (IBEC) – which later gave birth to the draconian Caribbean Basin Initiative – formed a partnership with N.M. Rothschild & Sons of London. Rockefeller’s partner in IBEC was Cleveland financier and industrialist Cyrus Eaton. The Rockefellers, Rothschilds and Eatons made huge profits facilitating Soviet trade with the West. In 1976 they signed an exclusive licensing and patent deal with Licensintorg, giving them a monopoly on technology transfer to the Soviets.
President Nixon forged detente with the Soviets and Chinese following the Vietnam War in 1973. That year also brought the Arab oil embargo, the pegging of oil to the US dollar, the launch of oil futures markets and the advent of a burgeoning Eurodollar market in London. Soon after Nixon held the detente summits with his counterparts Leonid Brezhnev and Zhou En-lai, Chase Manhattan opened a branch in Moscow and started a correspondent banking relationship with the Bank of China. [719]
Nixon appointed William Casey to head the Export-Import Bank. Casey was a CFR insider and leading Knight of Malta. He later managed Ronald Reagan’s 1980 October Surprise Presidential Campaign and was appointed CIA Director. At ExIm Bank Casey financed one of the grandest industrial schemes in history, the world’s largest truck factory at the Kama River in the Soviet Union. The factory was built by Pullman Corporation and was financed 10% by the Soviets, 45% by ExIm Bank and 45% by Chase Manhattan, where David Rockefeller was now chairman.
Chase risked nothing since its money was guaranteed by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation and Foreign Credit Insurance Association. If the Russians failed to pay the loans back, US taxpayers were on the hook for 90% of the Kama money. George Schultz – CFR, Bechtel and Chevron Texaco director who was Reagan’s Secretary of State – was key to the Kama River deal. Casey provided an ExIm Bank loan for Schultz’ Bechtel to build a Permindex-affiliated International Trade Center in Moscow in a deal arranged by Occidental Petroleum scion and Tennessee Gore political dynasty sponsor Armand Hammer. Other Casey ExIm Bank loans funded oil and gas pipelines and petrochemical and fertilizer plants. [720]
The US detente with the Soviets and China had more to do with a thirst for new energy supplies by the Four Horsemen than it did with grandiose statements of “promoting world peace”. China has huge oil deposits off its Senkaka Island in the East China Sea. Just northeast of Senkaka lie the Soviet Sakhalin Islands, an area that contains massive oil and gas deposits. The Soviet regions of Siberia and the Caspian Sea were even bigger oil prizes. As Chase Manhattan Senior Vice-President Albert Wentworth put it, “The Soviet Union is the last great undeveloped market for the US.”
Columnist Paul Scott hit the nail more squarely on the head when he wrote in 1976, “It is Kissinger’s belief that by controlling food one can control people, and by controlling energy – especially oil – one can control nations and their financial systems. By placing food and oil under international control along with the world’s monetary system, Kissinger is convinced a loosely knit world government can become a reality by 1980.”
Nixon Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz once bragged that through USAID’s P.L. 480 program the US employed “food as a weapon”, doling out food to nations who agree to follow IMF mandates, while withholding food from those who don’t. Just as Kissinger’s IAE benefits the Four Horsemen of Oil – Exxon Mobil, Chevron Texaco, BP Amoco and Royal Dutch/Shell; P. L. 480 enriches the Four Horsemen of Grain – Cargill Continental, Louis Dreyfus, Bunge and Andre. As Chilean Minister of Agriculture Jacques Chonchol said, “Whoever controls food exports controls the world.”[721]
The Soviet Union was an artificial construct cooked up by the Illuminati bankers to create profitable conflict and, more importantly, to confuse the world’s population in the arena of political economy. The Red Scare they manufactured has become a Red Scar on the American psyche.
[1] The Robot’s Rebellion: The Story of the Spiritual Renaissance. David Icke. Gateway Books. Bath, UK. 1994. p.160
[2] Rule by Secrecy: The Hidden History that Connects the Trilateral Commission, the Freemasons and the Great Pyramids. Jim Marrs. HarperCollins Publishers. New York. 2000. p.195
[3] Icke. p.163
[4] Marrs. p.196
[5] The Rockefeller File. Gary Allen. ’76 Press. Seal Beach, CA. 1973. p.101
[6] The World’s Money: International Banking from Bretton Woods to the Brink of Insolvency. Michael Moffitt. Simon & Schuster. New York. 1983 p65
[7] Allen. p.114
[8] Merchants of Grain. Dan Morgan. Viking Press. New York. 1979. p.398
You say Lenin and Trotsky weren’t cognizant of how they were instruments of finance capitalists until it was too late.
Surely Trotsky had played chess with Baron Rothschild in Viennae, been cultivated by Schiff in NY-he even joined B’nai B’rith there-and finally married into these circles.
How could he not have known.
Lenin had conspired with Parvus in Zurich. Parvus pioneered the permanent revolution tactic during the Young Turk Revolution in 1908. According to Solzhenitsyn Parvus had “fathered a an anonymous resolution in the Soviet, its Financial Manifesto. What looked like a set of uncouth and primitive demands from the illiterate masses was really a programme of a clever and experienced financier striking at the foundations of the hated Russian state, to bring it down in ruins at a single blow.”
It was Parvus who’d persuaded the Germans to send the Sealed Train into Russia with Lenin and co. on it!
How could Lenin not have known of the plans of the Warburg financiers?
Isn’t there also evidence that Stalin was a Tavistock-trained instrument of the Rockefeller/Fabian nexus. He was at the Russian S.D. conference in London in 1907.
Who paid for Tavistock?
Interested in your thoughts on this………
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Subsistence food farming AFTER land distribution, AND growing and processing of fuel at the micro level (every family grows their own biofuel crop). The wealth distribution issue can be easily handled by ‘Counter-Agents’. So imagine every family with stockpiles of food and biofuel perhaps dating generations back enough to last decades while solar power further prevents grid overload as well as prevent oligarch contractor crony progfiteering off electicity via fat cat bonuses for executives.
But this needs the people to vote in a manner that distributes unused state land, preferably under ALLODIAL TITLE and after abolishing EMINENT DOMAIN POWERS, as well as removal of the Army (see José Figueres Ferrer), through selection of candidates that will ratify the above.
If there are no candidates, the people must offer themselves or if rich enough (the regular rich worth a handful of millions is quite grassroots still unlike the billionaire types), at least fund proxies to run on the above issues. Kissinger’s plan will fail entirely. Food and fuel security will be guaranteed and independent of all middlemen, there will be no militaries to order around.
mini-ARTICLE 1.5
US ‘is running a two-party, fascist regime’
Mon Oct 8, 2012 5:19AM
The United States “is running a two-party, fascist regime” where “corporations and the bankers run the country”, says the chief investment strategist of AVA Investment Analytics.
In an interview with the U.S. Desk on Sunday, Mike Stathis said, “It doesn’t matter who wins the elections. First of all, all U.S. presidents are puppets. They’re puppets of the establishment. The guys that make the decisions are in the shadows”.
According to a study by Gallup, a growing number of Americans believe there is an urgent need for a third major party in the country.
The desire for a third party is fairly similar across ideological groups, with 61% of liberals, 60% of moderates, and 54% of conservatives believing a third major party is needed. The mainstream Democratic and Republican parties agree on most crucial issues that affect American lives most directly.
“They are going to send jobs to countries that have cheap labor… in order to boost the profits of corporate America. When it comes to health care, both parties– Democrats and Republicans– are going to continue to allow the health care system to be run by Wall Street,” Stathis said.
ISH/HJ
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Quite easy to find out if a real Third Force man, or a liferaft party in formation if any term limitless types or GLC types or plutocrats are included in the party.
The unholy Quran ADMITS JESUS is GOD
ARTICLE 2
Nanny state or smart tourism? Rome bans public snacking – Put that pizza away. A new law prohibits tourists from munching, camping near some of the city’s most famous monuments – by CNNGo staff 4 October, 2012
Contrary to popular belief, this fountain in front of the Pantheon wasn’t built for tourists in need of a place to wash their greasy pizza fingers.
Rome might be one of the world’s best destinations for foodies, but thanks to a new city council ordinance tourists will have to keep their delicious slices of pizza away from certain historical monuments.
According to Italian newspaper La Repubblica, anyone caught snacking around key locations in the city’s historic center will face fines of up to €500 (US$645).
The move follows similar bans in Venice and Florence.
Rome mayor Gianni Alemanno said the order was issued as part of urgent measures to ensure the protection of the historic center. Because we all know the harmful impact panini crumbs can have on ancient architecture.
Snack-free zones include the marble fountains of Piazza Navona, the stone walls around the Pantheon and Via dei Fori Imperiali near the Colosseum.
More on CNN: Insider Guide — Best of Rome
And just in case you were planning to spend the night, bear in mind that camping for the night at any of these sites is now forbidden too.
Leave your padlocks in the bedroom, lovebirds
Last month authorities took bolt cutters to Rome’s famed Ponte Milvio on the river Tiber to slice off thousands of padlocks placed there by couples inspired by novelist Federico Moccia’s “Ho voglia di te” (I Want You), in which two lovers place a bicycle lock around a lamppost and throw the key into the Tiber, symbolizing the eternal locking of their hearts.
The city council, which officially banned the practice in 2007, said the rusting locks were damaging the ancient bridge.
Maybe smart preservation. Or maybe the Eternal City is fast becoming the kiljoy city.
Do you think such bans are justified? Leave your thoughts in the comments box below.
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While the Vatican is already a materialist enmired failure, these moves are quite appropriate. Eating and drinking (gluttony) are as unspiritual or plebian ( . . . sh1t happens . . . ) as anyone can get. And a place like the Vatican should be focused on fasting and discipline (also sexual discipline especially more so for paedophile priests) and not earthly issues.
Or maybe the Christian Eternal City is fast becoming the killjoy city?
Joy is not about food for foodies. Eternity far less so. Sleeping allows ‘travel’ and camping means one’s spirit ‘wanders’ at night (presumably some priests get to enjoy their ‘purity carnale‘ from travellers as well too much. Good rules! How about the Pope address 3rd world Malaysia about BUMIPUTRA APARTHEID with the Ayatollah as well? So much theft of consultation at least deserves this much in payment, bring civilisation to the Oompa-loompas of 3rd world nations . . .
ARTICLE 3
POLITICS-U.S.: Wolfowitz Defenders Double Their Standards – Analysis by Jim Lobe
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz – At a glance IMHO . . . a ‘Biffier’ version of ‘used-car salesman’ Blair (that ‘unilateralist Iraq war criminal’) on steroids . . .
WASHINGTON, Apr 17 2007 (IPS) – Some of the same neoconservative institutions that are defending World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz against charges that he unethically promoted the career and compensation of his romantic partner were among the most aggressive in attacking former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan for alleged nepotism on behalf of his son.
The editorial writers of the Wall Street Journal, contributors to the National Review, and a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD), a neoconservative group whose journalist-in-residence, Claudia Rosett, led the campaign against Annan and his son, Kojo, have all rallied behind the beleaguered Bank president, blaming his problems on an entrenched officialdom determined to resist his corruption-fighting reforms.
“The only way this fiasco could get any worse would be for Mr. Wolfowitz to resign in the teeth of so much dishonesty and cravenness,” according to the lead editorial in Monday’s Wall Street Journal, which offered a detailed justification for the former deputy defence secretary under U.S. President George W. Bush.
“We’re glad the Bush administration isn’t falling for this Euro-bureaucracy-media putsch,” it added in what was the second of two consecutive columns on Wolfowitz’s plight.
“Paul Wolfowitz is my friend, and one of the most decent, upright people it has ever been my privilege to know,” wrote FDD senior fellow and anti-terrorism specialist Andrew McCarthy in the National Review Online (NRO).
“If it were up to me, there would be no World Bank. But if we’re going to have one, we should be grateful that Paul Wolfowitz is running it, rooting out corruption and trying to change the culture so that helping the poor, rather than pushing loans out the door, is the criterion by which it is judged,” McCarthy concluded.
POLITICS: Wolfowitz’s Allies Regroup but Leave Questions Unanswered POLITICS: Top Wolfowitz Postings Went to Iraq War Backers
The approach toward Wolfowitz’s current difficulties by both the Journal and the FDD, as well as by NRO and Fox News, contrasts strongly with their attacks on the former UN chief and his son, who was first accused in an article by FDD’s Rosett in the National Review three years ago of having working for a Swiss company, Cotecna, that was awarded a 10-million-dollar UN contract in 1998 to inspect “Oil-for-Food” imports into Iraq.
That was the first story of more than 30 published over the next two and a half years by the Review and the NRO on Kojo Annan’s business deals and what it considered a case of blatant nepotism and conflict of interest on the UN chief’s part – emblematic in the neoconservatives’ view of the corruption of the world body itself.
The Review-FDD campaign was bolstered by Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, which itself published more than a dozen editorials and columns, including several by Rosett, citing Kojo in connection with alleged UN corruption and the multi-billion-dollar oil-for-food scandal between 2004 and the end of Kofi Annan’s term in office Dec. 31, 2006.
Indeed, when Rosett reported in another neoconservative publication, the New York Sun, in late November 2004, that Cotecna had continued paying Kojo Annan 2,500 dollars a month for four years after he left the company in early 2000 – which Cotecna described as a standard non-compete deal – neo-conservatives stepped up their calls for the UN chief to resign.
“Annan should either resign, if he is honourable, or be removed, if he is not,” wrote the National Review at the time, while the Journal featured an editorial page column entitled “Kofi Annan Must Go” by Republican Senator Norm Coleman who, noting Rosett’s latest revelation, as well as other allegations of corruption in the oil-for-food scandal, declared that “(I)f this widespread corruption had occurred in any legitimate organisation around the world, its CEO would have been ousted long ago, in disgrace.”
In the event, the independent commission headed by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker determined in its final report published in September 2005 that, while Annan should have been more aggressive about looking into his son’s relationship with Cotecna once his ties were disclosed, he had not influenced the awarding of the contract to the company or known how Kojo had traded on his name to further his business interests.
The neoconservative role in vigorously pressing the campaign to discredit Annan for his presumed nepotism and force his resignation stands in sharp contrast to its efforts to protect Wolfowitz from similar charges in connection with his role in personally arranging an exceptional promotion and salary increase for his girlfriend, Shaha Riza, a senior World Bank communications officer when Wolfowitz took over in June 2005, as part of a package by which she was seconded to the State Department.
According to the New York Times on Tuesday, Wolfowitz may also have played a role in getting her a short-term consultancy with a major defence contractor, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), in 2003, when he was serving at the Pentagon.
In its two editorials, the Journal has argued at length that Wolfowitz had tried to recuse himself from any decision regarding her career when he was first hired, but that he was subsequently forced to make the secondment arrangements himself after the Bank’s executive board and ethics committee allegedly instructed him to do so.
Consistent with a Fox News investigative report published online and aired over the weekend, the Journal wrote Monday that the ethics committee chairman, Ad Melkert, had effectively approved the secondment package and went on to suggest that Wolfowitz may have fallen into a trap set by the board to manoeuvre him into a conflict of interest.
Documents released Friday by the Bank make “us wonder if some bank officials weren’t trying to ambush Mr. Wolfowitz from the start,” it said, adding that “it’s clear that his enemies – especially Europeans who want the bank presidency to go to one of their own – are now using this to force him out of the bank.”
Michael Rubin, a Middle East specialist at the American Enterprise Institute who worked for Wolfowitz’s former Pentagon boss, Donald Rumsfeld, in the run-up to the war in Iraq, informed NRO readers that the Wall Street Journal editorial was a “must-read”.
The Journal and other supporters also tried to downplay the significance of what Wolfowitz had done. The Journal called it a “mini-flap” involving “ethical minutiae”, while Jonah Goldberg, a regular contributor to the NRO, referred favourably to a Los Angeles Times column by neo-conservative legal scholar Ruth Wedgwood, entitled “The Wolfowitz Non-Story”.
Wolfowitz and Shaha, she argued, are victims of a “mob mentality”, echoing charges by Victor Davis Hanson, yet another neoconservative at NRO, that Wolfowitz is “facing a lynch mob over perhaps a… one-time lapse of judgment in regard to compensation of a companion – nothing, however, ranking with the various scandals surrounding Kofi Annan, whose son profited by United Nations exemptions given through his family ties.”
What the scandal is really about is “payback for Iraq”, according to Hanson, whose views often reflect those of Vice President Dick Cheney, reportedly Wolfowitz’s main supporter within the Bush administration.
Ironically, the same was said by Annan’s supporters during the Kojo scandal. “The reality is that the current calls for Annan’s head are provoked by his opposition to America’s pre-emptive war in Iraq,” noted Ian Williams, the UN correspondent for The Nation weekly in late 2004 after Coleman called for Annan’s resignation.
Indeed, as the neoconservative campaign against the secretary-general gathered steam in the fall of 2004, James Traub, in a Los Angeles Times article entitled “Lynch Mob’s Real Target is the U.N., Not Annan,” wrote: “(W)hat conservatives cannot accept, at bottom, is the premise that an international body, even one over which the United States exercises enormous sway, should be allowed to pass on the legitimacy or legality of American actions.”
(NOTE: The reference to Michael Rubin of American Enterprise Institute has been corrected.)
That tears the UN, making UN all about nepotism. And such a pity that NAM is all about Muslims who obviously do not understand that secular people exist and have rights too. BRICS ready to take over where UN and NAM appear to be failing? Russia and China are too sharp witted for this to do them in are they? Socialism would expect at least this much – to prohibit the plague of nepotism as in Russia’s and China’s Iron Curtain style Laws against nepotism! The world is counting on BRICS and any Red Coats left in USA now! Live up to the name Wolfowictz, to the level where Wolves are, this is not about ‘WW3 Preppers’ or cool couples that live with actual Wolves, this is about Remus and Romulus, the Kittim Throne of the Archonic Planetary Intelligences that non-monotheistic Zoroaster knew well!
ARTICLE 4
Nuclear operators must act now on safety: EU – by Barbara Lewis – Posted 2012/10/04 at 1:32 pm EDT
BRUSSELS, Oct. 4, 2012 (Reuters) — Regulators and operators should act now to improve safety at nuclear power plants, the EU energy commissioner said on Thursday, following inspections across the European Union.
European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger speaks at a news conference on the EU Nuclear Stress Tests in Brussels October 4, 2012. REUTERS/Yves Herman
The stress tests, carried out in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster, found safety improvements costing between 10 billion ($12.90 billion) and 25 billion euros were necessary in European plants, a draft seen by Reuters showed this week.
“Nearly everywhere there is major potential for improvement,” Energy Commission Guenther Oettinger told reporters.
“We therefore think that we should talk together with operators and regulatory authorities to act rapidly so that the highest possible standards can be guaranteed very soon.”
One of the lessons of Fukushima was that two natural disasters could strike at the same time and knock out the electrical supply system of a plant completely, so it could not be cooled down.
The stress tests sought to avert any repeat of that series of events by establishing whether nuclear plants can withstand natural disasters, aircraft crashes and management failures, as well as whether adequate systems are in place to deal with power disruptions.
Among the findings were that on-site seismic instruments should be installed or improved in 121 reactors.
In addition, 24 reactors did not have a back-up emergency room in case the main control room became uninhabitable.
LIMITS OF EU POWER
Because EU authorities do not have power to determine the energy mix of member states, the stress tests were voluntary, but Oettinger said they would not just be “put in a drawer”.
“We are at the beginning of a new European safety dynamic,” he said.
He confirmed the Commission would follow up with legislative proposals early next year to enhance safety.
The proposals would include insurance and liability, but Oettinger said it was not yet clear what that might mean for electricity bills.
Austria, which banned nuclear plants in 1974, said the stress tests were “good, but not good enough”.
“Our demand is very clear: retrofit nuclear plants or shut them down,” Austrian Environment Minister Niki Berlakovich told reporters in Vienna, referring to the possibility of adding safety measures.
Rebecca Harms, a Green member of the European Parliament, told Reuters Television the stress tests report had dodged the tough questions, but said they had still served to highlight the problems.
“Mr Oettinger has done the debate on lacking security standards a great favor,” she said.
She added that the tests had “produced a handsome list of deficiencies, showing that there is a large deficit of security standards in every country that runs nuclear power plants”.
ASN, the nuclear regulator in France, which relies on atomic energy for about 75 percent of its power, was highly critical of the report, saying “some important recommendations had been ignored”.
It has already said France needs to invest billions of euros.
The chief inspector of Britain’s nuclear plants, Mike Weightman, who also made recommendations for improvements after Fukushima, said: The stress test process was a valuable exercise, reinforcing the conclusions we had reached here in the UK”.
($1 = 0.7751 euros)
(Additional reporting by Oliver Denzer; Michael Shields in Vienna; Marion Douet in Paris; editing by William Hardy and Jason Neely)
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EU no power? Rubbish. Charlemagne would turn in his grave, though EU has been particularly parsimonious for a power that wants to control Europe. If a nuclear plant in some 3rd world trash heap or corrupted 1st world colluding cut corner type nation is going to irradiate the world, destroying ecosystems and humanity eventually, the UN should send peacekeepers to dismantle the nuclear plant and bury all nuclear parts and place bans on that nation. Hear that peacekeepers? When that nuke plant blows, nothing on the planet will be left unirradiated, INCLUDING the UN peacekeepers’ families. Nuclear is too messy and likely spiritually wrong. Switch to solar or fusion instead.
ARTICLE 5
Duma council to be manned with popular bloggers – MP – Published: 09 October, 2012, 15:58 (RIA Novosti / Ramil Sitdikov)
The newly formed parliament committee for the mass media will include a public council of expert bloggers with audiences of several thousand users, the head of the new body has said.
The committee made the creation of the expert council of bloggers a separate issue in its program, LDPR MP Aleksei Mitrofanov said in an interview, promising to disclose the details of the plan in the near future.
So far, the politician announced that he wanted to include “popular bloggers of the Runet (a colloquial name for the Russian-language segment of the Internet)” in this group. He added that the bloggers’ sex or age will not matter only the popularity of the candidates. The consultative council will comprise those who have tens of thousands of regular readers, Mitrofanov promised.
Another author of the project, LDPR MP Vadim Dengin disclosed more details. He said the bloggers will take part in the discussion of all bills that concern the internet so that no one could accuse the MPs that they adopt bills without prior discussion with experts.
Dengin added that it was possible the council will include not only bloggers but also professional systems administrators and owners of social networks, both from Russia and from abroad.
The MP also said that he had personal ambitions connected with the plans – “I want to fight crime in social networks. I want punishment for the creeps who use social networks to corrupt our children, who fill the internet with pornography, who write mean things about people or publish unverified reports,” the politician noted.
The initiative caused little enthusiasm among bloggers. Dmitry Ternovsky, who was among the first candidates Dengin proposed for the council, told reporters that “he had other things to do”. Web guru and a top executive in the blogging platform Livejournal, Anton Nosik, said that he could not figure out the objectives of even the mass media committee within the parliament, to say nothing about the consultative body within the committee.
The news came as Russian authorities are struggling to introduce more regulations on the internet. In late August the leading parliamentary party United Russia suggested to amend the new law that reintroduced criminal responsibility for libel with an article that would prosecute anonymous internet users.
In November a new law will come into force in Russia that will allow government agencies to block access to sites with hazardous or dangerous information. Providers can contest this decision in court. Previously, a court had to agree the text or other material was extremist so a ban could be put in place.
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These bloggers will end up as proxy oligarchs on VVIP payrolls via manufactured hits. This problem could scuttle the logic behind this without a ready platform of access to telecoms records which again can be manufactured even if expertise of this panel is not bribed or threatened or of such companies will asset to or even be required by colluding MPs who would not ratify such requirements/vetting councils. Who watches the watchers watching the MPs?
Then see below Article 6.
ARTICLE 6
Rights Council members to be selected via internet voting – Published: 22 June, 2012, 16:51
Head of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmila Alekseyeva (RIA Novosti/Alexander Utkin)
A new mechanism for forming the residential Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights has been suggested after over a dozen of members quit the body. Now candidates will be selected through internet voting.
“A conference was called at the presidential administration yesterday, at which a new practice was proposed, and we will turn to the public, since the Council deals with civil society development,” said the head of the institution, Mikhail Fedotov.
A discussion of new candidates for council members will be opened on the organization’s website from July 1 till August 1. Within that month, any public organizations will be able to propose their nominees for the 13 now vacant positions.
Following that, internet voting will be launched, Fedotov said, adding that any citizen will have a chance to participate in it. A list of 39 candidates will be formed as a result of the internet poll and the president will pick 13 out of them.
“As for my personal attitude towards this new order: why not try that? Let’s do that. But to me it seems questionable, because in this situation the entire team of the Council should be changed,” Fedotov observed.
According to the rights activist, there is a danger that the organization might become unworkable.
Meanwhile, one more Rights Council member has announced their decision to quit:the head of Russia’s oldest human rights organization, the Moscow Helsinki Group, Lyudmila Alekseeva. However, she said she could reconsider her position in case the new mechanism is not approved.
“I’m ready to work in the Council if there won’t be this new supposedly democratic [formation] method, which in fact is sly and is aimed at the elimination of the Council,” Alekseeva told Interfax.
The Council – the presidential advisory body on human rights – originally consisted of 40 members. Its current team was formed back in 2009. However, over a dozen quit it after the December State Duma poll and then Vladimir Putin’s return to the Kremlin.
ARTICLE 7
‘Putin illegitimate president’ – rights activist – Published: 02 May, 2012, 14:59
Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights. Gorki residence. (RIA Novosti / Ekaterina Shtukina)
Several members of the Russian Presidential Council for Human Rights are planning to quit the body after Vladimir Putin’s return to the Kremlin.
Political analyst Dmitry Oreshkin made the decision to leave the council after his report on election violations was removed from the agenda of the body’s final meeting with the outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday. The official pretext for the move was Medvedev’s tight schedule, Oreshkin told Vedomosti daily.
The rights activist, citing data provided by vote observers, stated that Putin got 50-52 per cent of votes as opposed to the official 63 per cent.
“I consider Putin an illegitimate president and I won’t be able to work in his council,” Oreshkin told the paper.
The head of Transparency International Russia, Elena Panfilova announced her decision to quit during the Saturday meeting with the president. She said she remained the council member only because she promised the mother of Sergey Magnitsky – Hermitage Capital lawyer who died in a Moscow detention centre in 2009 – to investigate his death.
“Now I think I’ll do a lot more with my civil activity in my current job,” Panfilova told Kommersant daily on Wednesday.
Another Council member, Svetlana Gannushkina – the chairwoman of the Civic Assistance organization that helps refugees – also said earlier she would leave her post in the body.
In December last year, rights activist Irina Yasina and journalist Svetlana Sorokina left the HR Council in protest against alleged violations during the State Duma poll.
Under the law, after the new head of state takes office, he is entitled to form all his councils from a scratch.
The chairman of the Kremlin council, Mikhail Fedotov said he was ready to continue his work with Putin if he is invited to. He stressed though that if “outstanding people” – current members of the organization – “are replaced with some kind of ceremonial bystanders or those who attack human rights, it would be a completely different council.”
“And I wouldn’t want to be its chairman,” Fedotov told a media conference on Wednesday, cites RIA Novosti.
Head of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmila Alekseeva underlined that human rights activists’ work involves close cooperation with the state authorities. For that reason the veteran rights activist in Russia intends to remain the member of the council.
Current members of the body who will not be included in the newly formed one will form a public organization for the development of civil society, Alekseeva told journalists.
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Quitting (much like refusing to vote) is for cowards or pro-establishment creeps. File suit or legal action. I’d expect Putin to prefer to stay out of the limelight after the 2nd term so as to better ‘re-KGB-tise’ Russia. One does not have to be President to control a place like Russia! Not very Iron Curtain-like . . . who are the real men in the shadows then if Putin is the frontman? Much like Ai Weiwei the Nudist in China, Russia need not even fear silly kids like these, but does need to have more venues for this sort of ‘steam letting’ behaviour . . .
ARTICLE 8
Student midwife turned away from breastfeed class – because he’s male – by Martyn Halle – PUBLISHED: 00:51 GMT, 7 October 2012 | UPDATED: 00:51 GMT, 7 October 2012
Chris Butt, 30, has been refused entry to sessions because women are ‘sensitive to men being present
He is one of only 132 male midwives out of 20,000 in the UK
A student training to be one of the country’s few male midwives has been prevented from attending breastfeeding classes – because he is a man.
Chris Butt, 30, who is in the second year of a three-year training course, tried to attend breastfeeding classes run by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) near his university.
But since last summer he has been rebuffed several times by local branches that have refused to allow him to attend certain sessions after claiming some women are ‘sensitive’ to men being present.
Rebuffed: Chris Butt has been turned away from breastfeeding classes
Mr Butt, who is studying at Bournemouth University, has had the backing of his course tutor and the head of midwifery at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, where he is doing his on-the-job training and has delivered five babies on his own.
The Department of Health encourages women to breastfeed because of the health benefits, and midwives play a key role in educating new mothers.
Britain has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world.
Even so, members of the NCT in Southampton objected to Mr Butt’s presence at the women-only class despite the fact he is a health professional – but said they would have no problem with a female midwife.
The NCT said he was invited to attend more open classes in which the male partners of new mothers also attend.
But Mr Butt – one of only 132 male midwives out of 20,000 in the UK – has criticised the situation in an article for Midwives, the magazine of the Royal College of Midwives.
‘I didn’t believe for one minute that I would be turned away from breastfeeding groups,’ he wrote.
‘Do the facilitators of such clinics think I practise midwifery in some magical way where I don’t see intimate parts of women’s bodies?
Do they think I stand behind a screen as a baby’s head is crowning, shouting out advice on when to breathe?’
Training: The Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester, Hampshire, where the student is training
Mr Butt originally agreed to expand on his comments in Midwives but said he had come ‘under pressure’ not to say anything further.
The NCT denied it was against men attending breastfeeding groups.
A spokesman said: ‘He wanted to attend a women-only session, where there were no break-out rooms available if the women attending felt uncomfortable with a male presence.
‘We also offered him the opportunity to attend an antenatal breastfeeding workshop.’
One breastfeeding counsellor in Southampton said: ‘Chris has to understand that some women are sensitive to a man’s presence.’
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One breastfeeding counsellor in Southampton said: ‘Chris has to understand that some women are sensitive to a man’s presence.’
There are men everywhere and men also have nipples that can actually produce milk for breast feeding as well (though not naturally). While many men might want to learn at a breastfeeding class, almost all men do not want to breast feed from their own nipples, though likely a small number do enjoy and engage in obviously male (though not male looking at all) ‘sexual oriented breast augmentation culture as ‘shemales’, while a fair sized number do enjoy shemale subculture (males with augmented breasts) in private clubs etc..
This sensitivity must not be turned into disenfranchisement by EDUCATING women who have these psychological problems. Political Correctness swings both ways. The same way women want to breast feed in public places without issue, nudists want to use parks or ‘doggers’ want to have sex in the open (preferably in designated areas or at least booths much like milk-nursing booths) have a right as well – while wearing kibbutz or hijab. To merely attend a breast feeding class in a non-sexualised class should not be an issue ESPECIALLY if the man in question is not being covertly (or overtly in the obviously disenfranchisable cases) sexual or participating for titillation purposes rather than educational. This is a HUMAN lesson, not a male or female lesson.
ARTICLE 9
Prison nurse who had sex with rapist in his cell while colleagues stood guard outside is jailed for three years – by Emma Clark – PUBLISHED: 20:36 GMT, 8 October 2012 | UPDATED: 06:48 GMT, 9 October 2012
Karen Cosford, 47, told violent rapist Brian McBride she loved him and couldn’t wait for their future together
Three of her colleagues knew about the relationship but kept quiet in return for promised money
All four were jailed for misconduct while at Wakefield Prison in West Yorkshire
Cosford’s prison negotiator husband Derrie Cosford found out about the affair when he was called to investigate McBride
Karen Cosford, 47, arriving at Bradford Crown Court, was jailed for three years over the sexual relationship
A prison nurse who had sex with a violent rapist in his cell while her colleagues stood guard has been jailed for three years.
A team of Karen Cosford’s colleagues were also jailed for misconduct after keeping her relationship with ‘evil’ lifer Brian McBride a secret – believing their discretion would be financially rewarded.
Married Cosford, 47, whose husband also worked in the prison service, sent the serial rapist a catalogue of texts telling him ‘you are my world’, ‘miss you so much’ and ‘can’t wait for you to get out’.
By chance her unwitting husband Derrie Cosford, a prison negotiator, became part of the investigation into McBride – who hinted of his wife’s lies and deceit.
The shamed nurse’s claims that she had been forced into the relationship were dismissed by a jury at Bradford Crown Court, who found her guilty of misconduct in a public office for the sexual relationship, failing to notify authorities that McBride had a phone and purchasing top-ups for him.
Carolyn Falloon, 50, and Jacqueline Flynn, 46, who both worked with Cosford on the healthcare wing at the high-security Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire, were also convicted of failing to notify authorities about the affair and mobile phone.
A third colleague Kevin Wilson, 57, admitted misconduct in a public office at a previous hearing.
Prosecutors said the guilty officers were motivated by ‘greed’ and were duped by McBride’s claims of wealth on the outside.
Sentencing the group today Judge David Hatton QC said: ‘It’s a sad business indeed when four people with previous good character, public servants who have devoted years of their lives to their vocation, should find themselves being sentenced for having abused their
positions of trust.’
Speaking to Cosford, the judge said: ‘You believed him to be a man of means and planned on continuing your relationship with him on the outside until you reached the conclusion that you had been strung along.’
During the four-week trial the court was told how Flynn admitted during police interviews that she stood guard outside McBride’s cell while the pair were inside and had heard them having sex.
The court heard that McBride, who was serving a life sentence for multiple offences of rape and violence, was in the healthcare centre as an in-patient and worked as a cleaner while he was there.
The affair came to light when a search of McBride on September 25, 2009 uncovered a mobile phone charger.
McBride was put in his cell while a thorough search of the wing was carried out and four mobile phones were subsequently discovered.
In the prison kitchen investigators found a photograph of a nurse, who was identified as Cosford, and an unsigned love letter hidden inside a bag of sugar.
The jury heard that McBride became agitated during the search, prompting a number of negotiators working in the Prison Service to visit him – one of whom was Mr Cosford.
High-security Wakefield Prison, West Yorkshire, pictured, where Brian McBride was serving a life sentence for rape
One of the wings in the prison which holds 570 inmates, 70 per cent of which are serving life
During a negotiation McBride hinted to Mr Cosford that he had been having a relationship with his wife.
Mrs Cosford, of Altofts, West Yorkshire, later reported to prison authorities that McBride had raped and threatened to kill her family if she reported him.
She said she was forced to text the convict and write the love letter which read: ‘I didn’t realise how much I do miss you until I went on holiday.
‘You understand me more than anyone, we can have a wonderful future together, everything we talked about will happen, just give it time…
‘I can’t wait for us to continue our relationship outside of the confines of this place…’
Referring to him as her ‘knight in shining armour’, she added: ‘You are the most understanding, patient, manly, kind man that I have ever known.’
Wilson and Flynn were sentenced to 15 months in jail. Falloon was given a 21-month prison sentence.
Prison officer David Sunderland, 49, of Wakefield, was cleared of failing to notify the authorities about McBride’s phone.
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Suspend the prison nurse for unprofessional behaviour for 3 years or fire the prison nurse. Not jail at tax payer’s expense! The nurse had sex with the prisoner which is not criminal though the nurse was unprofessional and needed to be at most suspended! As for commentary on the sex issue, this is a private issue except for the during working hours issue.
ARTICLE 10
THRONGS of men pack court house to catch glimpse of IT exec in sex-for-business case – Tuesday, 09 October 2012 16:08
SINGAPORE – ‘Star witness’ in sex-for-contracts case has throngs of men waiting outside court building hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
Each time she steps out of the car or out of the Subordinate Court building, you’d definitely hear the word “pretty”.
Inevitably, there’d be someone among the hordes of male gawkers asking another: “So how ah? Is she
The men, who were generally in their mid-40s or 50s, admitted that they turned up at Havelock Road for one reason: Ms Cecilia Sue Siew
Ms Sue, 36, was the prosecution’s “star witness” in the corruption trial of former Central Narcotics Bureau chief Ng Boon
The first part of the trial ended on Tuesday and it will resume on Oct 31. Ng, 46, faces four charges of corruptly obtaining oral sex from Ms Sue between June and December last year.
But it isn’t just the case itself that attracted the men who turn up at court during the trial.
Mr Lau Huat Chai, 55, confessed that he was there mainly to gawk at the star witness. He was waiting outside the court at around noon on Monday.
The part-time security guard said in Mandarin: “I’ve been following the case since the woman witness (Ms Sue) took the stand.
“She looks quite pretty in the newspaper reports and I was just curious. I wanted to see her in person.”
He had just ended his night shift at an industrial building in Lower Delta Road and decided to head over to the court.
Mr Lau added: “Once I see her, I’d go home to sleep. The court case? I can read about it in the newspapers later.”
Across the building, salesman Ivan Koh was waiting inside his Honda Civic.
He was stealing time off from work “since I happened to be in the area” to see if he can catch a glimpse of Ms Sue.
Mr Koh, 48, wanted to know if she was making an appearance soon.
He said: “I’ve been driving in and out of this carpark so I don’t have to put a parking coupon.”
Pointing to different groups of waiting men just like him, Mr Koh laughed and added: “Aiyah, you must think I am a ‘lao ti ko’ (old lusty man)… but eh, what about all the other men there?”
Mr Dickson Tan, who was there on Tuesday, was offended at the suggestion.
The 46-year-old tutor said in a mix of English and Mandarin: “Look, I’m here only because my wife told me it’s Cecilia Sue’s last day in court.
“And seriously, I don’t see what’s wrong in wanting to catch sight of a pretty face.”
Mr Tan added: “It’s like going to a publicity event and waiting to see a star, maybe like (MediaCorp artistes) Zoe Tay or Fann Wong.”
But others in the heartland that this columnist spoke to on Thursday and Friday were amused by the pictures of male gawkers and “kaypohs” (Hokkien for busybodies).
Madam Wong Siew Fen, 67, who sells eggs at a wet market in Tampines, said in Cantonese: “Terrible lah. If my husband did that (waiting outside the court), I’d be really angry.”
Her husband, Mr Au Teck Keong, 69, was amused. He said in Cantonese: “I can’t be bothered to go all the way there… but eh, is she really very pretty in person?
“I wish she’d taken off her shades, then we can see her eyes.”
And Ms Sue’s eyes were “so bewitching”, declared a man in his early 40s outside Court 5 on Tuesday morning.
Neatly dressed in a red polo shirt and jeans, he said: “A woman’s eyes are the windows to her soul.” He was upset that he came too late to be let into the packed courtroom.
Peering through the doors into the courtroom, he added: “All I want is to see my Cecilia.”
He refused to give his full name, but tried to get the media to talk to him. He finally gave up, saying: “Never mind. I just came here for my Cecilia.”
Businessman Joe Quek, 60, who was happily snapping pictures with his iPhone outside the building, summed it up: “The case is interesting. The details are so juicy.
“But it’d probably be less exciting if the witness is nothing to look at.”
He added: “Ms Cecilia Sue is different. She’s well-dressed, carries herself with style and struts like a model.
“She’s just like a star.”
-The New Paper
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Plenty of escorts prettier that can be hired and actually be accessible after being trained to strut or learning to dress, and who might even be loyal enough. Why even bother with this already attached woman? Make your own star of an escort much younger and ‘durable’ of your choice silly gawkers. This is media b.s. only beneficial to the ones who get to f— this woman, everyone else gets their energy sucked in by merely being there. Open your own IT business and get your own exec to have sex with, not be a hanger-on excited over people that have nothing to do with your business much less contracts that harm society. BTW those who mix work with pleasure are idiots and those who post false articles more so for selfish and undeserving reasons, will be the rubbish of society.
ARTICLE 11
NO JOKE! Taiwan showgirls strip for the DEAD – Tuesday, 09 October 2012 16:07
TAOYUAN, Taiwan: Dressed in mini skirts barely covering their hips, the two girls took to the neon-lit stage and moved vigorously to the loud pumping pop music. Their job: to appease the wandering spirits.
As the temple facade in the background changed colour from the fireworks lighting up the Taiwanese night sky, the show climaxed with pole-dancing and striptease in front of an audience consisting of men, women and children.
“This is hard work but I need to make a living,” said 18 year-old En En, out of breath after stripping for the crowd during the recent religious festival.
En En had just earned NT$3,000 ($100) for her act, which began on stage, but ended as she mingled with the audience, letting men touch her for tips.
Folk religion in Taiwan is a unique mixture of the spiritual and the earthly, and one of its most remarkable manifestations is the practice of hiring showgirls to perform at festivals, weddings, and even funerals.
The girls work on “electronic flower cars” — specially designed trucks equipped with light and sound equipment that can become a stage, allowing them to travel to performances often held in smaller cities and rural areas.
“The groups attract crowds to our events and they perform for the gods and the spirits to seek blessings,” said Chen Chung-hsien, an official at Wu Fu Temple, a Taoist landmark in north Taiwan’s Taoyuan county.
“They have become part of our religion and folk culture.”
At 26, Chiang Pei-ying is already a veteran performer with nearly 20 years of experience, travelling across Taiwan with her father and two sisters for their family business to entertain audiences — both alive and dead.
Chiang made her debut when she was in kindergarten because she liked singing and dancing on stage and has become a celebrity performer with her sisters, charging up to NT$80,000 for a 20-minute show.
She said she enjoys her line of work, even if she has to deal with some odd requests from customers such as walking around coffins and singing for the deceased at funerals.
“I’ve watched this since I was little so it’s nothing peculiar for me. Performing for the dead is just like performing for the living people,” she said.
“They liked to sing when they were alive and their relatives thought they would have liked to have somebody sing for them in the end. For me, I get good tips and I hope I am accumulating good karma too.”
Other performers, however, make much less money and tend to be more discreet about their job, especially those who still do striptease despite risking arrest.
Stripping nude is rarely seen in public now because it is a criminal offence, but partial stripping is still performed at festivals, private parties and funerals, people in the business say.
“Some people like going to hostess clubs, so when they pass away their relatives arrange striptease to reflect their interests while they were alive,” said Chiang Wan-yuan, Pei-ying’s father and a 30-year veteran in the business.
It is difficult to imagine a similar show going on outside a European village church, and some local critics have dismissed the practice, which emerged in the 1970s, as shocking and vulgar.
Others, however, see it as a natural extension of a traditional folk culture lacking in the sharp separation of sex and religion often seen in other parts of the world.
Marc Moskowitz, an anthropologist at the University of South Carolina, said the practice evolved out of the special Chinese concept of “hot and noisy”, which brims with positive connotations.
“In traditional Chinese and contemporary Taiwanese culture this signifies that for an event to be fun or noteworthy it must be full of noise and crowds,” said Moskowitz, who shot a documentary “Dancing for the Dead” in 2011.
He added most people who watched his work appeared to enjoy it and recognise this practice as an “interesting and unique cultural phenomenon,” which to his knowledge is only found in Taiwan.
“As I watched these performances, I came to appreciate the idea of celebrating someone’s life to help assuage the feelings of grief,” he said.
– AFP
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
But no such sexual rights for the LIVING in fundo countries!
mini-ARTICLE 11.5
Britain ends 10-year boycott of Indian politician – Thursday, October 11, 2012 – 20:22 – AHMEDABAD
BRITAIN said Thursday it would end a 10-year boycott of the leader of India’s western Gujarat state imposed over deadly religious riots there in 2002 that left three Britons dead.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, a right-wing Hindu nationalist, came to power shortly before the riots triggered by the deaths of nearly 60 Hindu pilgrims in a train fire that was initially blamed on a mob of Muslims.
He is accused of doing too little to prevent the blood-letting, which left more than 2,000 mainly Muslims dead in an orgy of violence and arson, according to rights groups. The government figures put the death toll at about 1,000.
Britain’s junior foreign minister minister Hugo Swire has asked the ambassador to India to visit Gujarat and meet Modi to discuss a “wide range of issues of mutual interests”, the British foreign office said in a statement.
“We want to secure justice for the families of the British nationals who were killed in 2002 (riots), we want to support human rights and good governance in the state,” the statement quoted Swire as saying.
Three British nationals – Saeed Dawood, Mohammed Aswat Nallabhai and Shakil Dawood – were burnt to death in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat, a state that is governed by India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Previously, British officials were forbidden from dealing directly with Modi, but there were contacts with senior bureaucrats in Gujarat, where British companies have invested, an embassy source in New Delhi said.
Britain’s effort to resume links with Modi’s regime came less than two months after a Gujarat court sentenced a former member of his government to 28 years in jail for her role in instigating the 2002 riots.
The August 31 sentencing of Maya Kodnani, who served as minister from 2007-2009, was seen as a setback for Modi who is thought to have prime ministerial ambitions.
Despite the scars of the sectarian violence, Gujarat in recent years has lured foreign firms to its soil with reliable power supply, good infrastructure by Indian standards, and the availability of educated but cheap labour. -AFP
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
All Malaysian VIPs, MPs who fight for Bumiputra Apartheid (raison d’etre style), support Bumiputra Apartheid, tacitly approve via silence Bumiputra Apartheid, or allow Bumiputra Apartheid for financial gains, or discriminate against LGBT or practice Hudud or extreme religion, need a lifetime boycott immediately by England which should extend to UN as well. Can’t have such pariahs running about polluting the 1st world with fundo mindedness or apartheid now can we?
Orthodox Christian activists demand Moscow lawmakers prohibit the propaganda of homosexuality and shut down gay clubs in the Russian capital. That is in addition to a recent hundred-year ban on gay pride marches in the city.
The Narodny Sobor (People’s Council) movement has started collecting signatures under an appeal to the Moscow parliament asking legislators to work out a bill that outlaws the promotion of homosexuality. Similar bans have been introduced in St. Petersburg and several other Russian cities.
“We conducted a study earlier and found that such a law would not contradict international law. Homosexuality as well as its propaganda is a grave sin,” Oleg Kassin, co-chairman of the group told Izvestia daily.
First of all, “it’s necessary to close gay clubs” in Moscow since they “directly entice immature souls” into the LGBT community, he stated.
According to the paper, several city legislators vowed to support the move.
“We are ready to discuss the initiative with Narodny Sobor and to draft the legislation,” Mikhail Antontsev, a United Russia MP, told the daily. The bill could help to protect minors from “unnecessary information,” he believes. The deputy also insists that it is time to consider the adoption of a nationwide ban on the propaganda of “unhealthy relations.”
Another City Duma member, Vera Stepanenko is confident that the gay propaganda ban would help to solve the demographic problem in Moscow.
The Russian Orthodox Church also favors the idea.
“We have every right to maintain the purity of the society and to protect our children from all sorts of sinful manifestations. Both the Church and the majority of the community agree that homosexuality is far from being a normal thing,” says senior Church official Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin.
In February this year, St. Petersburg’s city legislature approved a ban on spreading homosexual and pedophilia propaganda among minors. The law – which was initiated and promoted by United Russia Deputy Vitaly Milonov – provides for fines of up to about US$16,000 for individuals and $160,000 for organizations committing such offences.
The move triggered a wave of criticism from the LGBT community as well as from human rights organizations in Russia and abroad.
However, Russia’s Supreme Court confirmed last week the legitimacy of the St. Petersburg gay propaganda bill and rejected a complaint filed by rights activists.
Earlier, the St. Petersburg City Court also refused to review gay activists’ complaints over the law. The opponents of the ban stated that the text of the document uses the terms “propaganda”, “bisexuality”, “transgender”, “traditional and non-traditional marriage,” all of which have no legal definitions, reported Interfax.
Russian gay rights activists are set to continue fighting and filed complaints against the St. Petersburg ban as well as similar laws in several other cities to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
This is not fair to the MATURED souls. Perhaps if the Church wants to, how about stationing a priest at the entrance of the Gay clubs to make sure that any immatured souls could be barred entry bouncer style.
Common sense dictates that this sort of blanket disenfranchisement is obviously unfair and that fundamentalism should be dropped for common sense methods of ensuring everyone wins.
Russia is not going to be a great or democratic power if 10%-30% of the world’s LGBT population (approx?) is to be treated as criminals because the Church deemed some souls as immatured and decided to end all entertainment to all LGBTs including the matured.
Why is the Orthodox Church behaving like the Ayatollah? Next we know Russia will be in the Dark Ages and the KGB will be running every state enterprise and business. Want to see Russia never regain footing in the Soviet Union or become an Iran? Christian fundos should not be featured at all in media. Frightfully uncivilised and heartrending statements.
ARTICLE 13
Not another naked rambler! Naturist vows to continue his walks after judge overturns conviction for causing distress to woman dog walker – By Emily Allen – PUBLISHED: 11:51 GMT, 9 October 2012 | UPDATED: 13:45 GMT, 9 October 2012
Nigel Keer was arrested by PC Mark Buxton who said he saw a woman appear ‘distressed’ when she saw Mr Keer rambling naked
A judge dismissed the charge because a panel considered it unlikely that he had caused any alarm
He said the rambling wasn’t near a school or a street in a town centre but took place on moorland in broad daylight
Conviction is overturned just two days after The Naked Rambler was released from his latest prison sentence
A naked rambler has won a long battle to overturn his conviction for causing distress to a female dog walker who said she saw his genitals.
Naturist Nigel Keer, 42, will now be continuing his nude hiking – once the weather warms up – after a panel of judges gave a list of reasons to quash his conviction.
Mr Keer appealed after magistrates found him guilty of the public order offence of causing distress to the woman as she walked her dog at a beauty spot called Otley Chevin, West Yorkshire, last October.
Naked rambler Nigel Keer
Overturned: Naturist Nigel Keer, 42, will now be continuing his nude hiking – once the weather warms up – after a panel of judges gave a list of reasons to quash his conviction for causing distress to a female dog walker
The decision comes just two days after a man known as The Naked Rambler was released from serving his latest prison sentence.
Stephen Gough celebrated his freedom by taking a hike in his birthday suit through nearby Peebles.
He’s out… and they’re off. Naked Rambler freed from jail and back to his old tricks
The 53-year-old was jailed for five months after he was arrested in July for being naked near a play-park in Dunfermline.
Meanwhile, a judge at Leeds Crown Court told Mr Keer that his charge would be dismissed because the panel considered it unlikely that Mr Keer’s naked walk had caused any alarm.
The court had heard that Mr Keer was arrested by off-duty police officer PC Mark Buxton, who said he saw a woman appear ‘distressed’ when she had noticed Mr Keer rambling in just his hiking boots on October 2 last year.
Naked rambler Nigel Keer
Relieved: Bus driver Mr Keer, of Leeds, West Yorkshire, had denied the distress claims, and said naturism ‘is about body freedom’
Sitting with two justices on Monday, Judge Guy Kearl said PC Buxton, who said he had been shocked by the incident, would not have been able to determine if the woman was distressed.
Dismissing the charges, he added: ‘This behaviour was not carried out in front of a school or in the street in a town centre. It took place on moorland in broad daylight.
‘In view of the location of this incident, the time of day and the reaction of others as we have found it to be, we do not consider that anyone was likely to be harassed by this behaviour or intimidated or distressed.’
The judge said there were no sexual motives behind the incident, adding: ‘He was not deliberately flaunting himself or seeking attention or jumping out and doing what is colloquially called flashing.’
He said that the police officer’s reaction to seeing Mr Keer could also be considered ‘extreme given his experience.’
Bus driver Mr Keer, of Leeds, West Yorkshire, had denied the claims, and said naturism ‘is about body freedom and in a way it is a mild protest against the expected social norms of wearing clothes every day’.
Speaking after the case, Mr Keer said that he was delighted to have finally fought off the charge, which had kept him out of work for a number of months.
He added: ‘I’ve kept up the naturism, but I’ve been a bit more careful now. It’s a bit cold to be doing anything at the moment, but once the weather warms up, I’ll be back out there.’
Mr Keer has previously taken part in three naked world bike rides alongside other naturists.
He had first become interested after being sent a letter from British Naturism in 2004.
He initially thought it was a prank but he went on a naked swim anyway, leading to his love affair. He has even put it on his CV as an interest.
Rambling again: Stephen Gough, known as the Naked Rambler, was back doing what he loves yesterday – hiking with nothing but a pair of boots and a hat on
Naked: Stephen Gough was jailed for five months after he was arrested in July for being naked near a play park
When the case first came to court last October, he said: ‘I must admit that I was surprised when it came to court.
‘I don’t feel I have committed an offence or distressed anyone. People are a lot more accepting now than they were five or six years ago. On the whole, most people are quite happy with it.
‘I love walking about naked. It’s the feeling of being at one with nature and a feeling of liberation. If you are free of clothes you are free of worries.’
Artwork from Playboy. Way ahead of the narrow retards decades ago.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Suitable areas should be gazetted via maps which can be distributed to ramblers or ramblers on their ‘first offence’. Note that there really aren’t enough rambler friendly zones, especially in the central city areas. A nudist district in every international city seems about right . . .
ARTICLE 14
Lady Gaga visits Julian Assange as celebrity backers who acted as bail sureties for WikiLeaks founder are ordered by court to pay almost £100,000 – by Daily Mail Reporter – PUBLISHED: 19:29 GMT, 8 October 2012 | UPDATED: 07:42 GMT, 9 October 2012
Pop diva spent five hours with Assange and had dinner with 41-year-old
Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle said they had to pay cash by November 6
Assange has been staying in Ecuadorean Embassy in London since June
Wants to avoid extradition to Sweden for questioning over rape allegations
Pop star Lady Gaga visited WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in the Ecuadorean Embassy as nine people who acted as his bail sureties were ordered to hand over a total of £93,500.
The singer emerged yesterday morning after spending five hours in Assange’s refuge in west London. She had arrived at 7pm and it’s believed she had dinner with the 41-year-old.
Assange, 41, has been staying in the embassy in Knightsbridge since June after going there to avoid extradition to Sweden to face questioning over allegations of rape and sexual assault made by two women.
Meeting: The world’s biggest pop star Lady Gaga met with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in London last night
Lady Gaga leaves the Ecuadorian Embassy at midnight, having spent five hours inside visiting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange
He fears that if he is extradited to Sweden, he will be sent to the US to face interrogation over the whistle-blowing website, which has published secret military files and diplomatic cables.
Assange has been granted political asylum by Ecuador but faces arrest if he leaves the embassy after breaking bail conditions.
Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle has ruled his nine backers have to pay the cash by November 6.
Vaughan Smith, a friend who is one of the sureties, addressed Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week on behalf of the nine, who put up £140,000 between them.
HOW MUCH ASSANGE HAS COST HIS CELEBRITY BACKERS
Scientist: Nobel prize-winning biologist Sir John Sulston was ordered to pay £15,000
Sir John Sulston (Nobel prize-winning biologist, pictured) – £15,000
Lady Evans (the literary agent Caroline Michel) – £15,000
Phillip Knightley (journalist) – £15,000
Vaughan Smith (journalist) – £12,000
Sarah Saunders – £12,000
Tricia David (retired professor) – £10,000
The Marchioness of Worcester (the former actress Tracy Ward) – £7,500
Joseph Farrell – £3,500
Sarah Harrison – £3,500
He said all those who offered sureties of varying amounts are ‘convinced that they have done and are doing the right thing’.
At the court yesterday, the Chief Magistrate said he accepted that they had all acted in good faith.
‘I accept that they trusted Mr Assange to surrender himself as required,’ he said. ‘However, they failed in their basic duty, to ensure his surrender. They must have understood the risk and the concerns of the courts.’
He ruled that each of the sureties had to pay part of the sum originally pledged, as follows: retired professor Tricia David £10,000, Lady Evans (the literary agent Caroline Michel) £15,000, Joseph Farrell £3,500, Sarah Harrison £3,500 and journalist Phillip Knightley £15,000.
Also having to pay money were Sarah Saunders £12,000, journalist Vaughan Smith £12,000, Nobel prize-winning biologist Sir John Sulston £15,000, and the Marchioness of Worcester (the former actress Tracy Ward) £7,500.
It was revealed last week that the police bill for staking out the Ecuadorian embassy has reached more than £1million.
Scotland Yard confirmed it is costing £11,000 every day to ensure the Australian does not flee his bolthole at the Ecuadorean Embassy.
The final bill could be much more as the 41-year-old continues to defy extradition to Sweden.
Officers have been watching the property in Knightsbridge, west London, since Mr Assange breached his bail and claimed asylum in June. They have been told to arrest him if he puts ‘one toe’ outside.
Ecuadorean foreign minister Ricardo Pinto has warned Mr Assange he could be in the embassy for a decade if he is not allowed to leave Britain.
Lady Gaga arrived at 7pm and had dinner with Assange before leaving just after midnight
Lady Gaga seen at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London visiting the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange
Lady Gaga arrived at the embassy at 7pm and had dinner with Assange before leaving just after midnight
WikiLeaks founder: Julian Assange has been in Ecuador’s London embassy since June as part of his bid to avoid extradition to Sweden
Critics have called on the Metropolitan Police to end the costly stakeout.
Last week, Foreign Secretary William Hague admitted there is ‘no sign of any breakthrough’ after meeting Mr Pinto at the United Nations in New York.
The comments came after the hacking activist accused the U.S. of persecuting WikiLeaks and torturing Bradley Manning, the soldier accused of leaking classified documents.
At least four Met officers guard the embassy, on the second floor of a block of flats behind Harrods in Knightsbridge, West London, around the clock.
They have set up a £250,000 mobile command station on the doorstep of the building and occupy positions outside and in surrounding properties.
Officers from every London borough, specialist police units and undercover squads have been brought in to join the open-ended stake out.
One colleague said: ‘The officers are being moved around every three or four days to stop the boredom setting in.
‘There are certainly plenty of other things these officers could be doing than standing there around the clock.’
Holed up: The Ecuadorian Embassy in London where WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been staying at the embassy since June 19
Interviews: Vaughan Smith, a friend who is one of the sureties, addressed Westminster Magistrates’ Court last week on behalf of the nine, who put up £140,000 between them
The Marchioness of Worcester, formerly actress Tracy Ward
Involved: Vaughan Smith (left), a friend who is one of the sureties, addressed a court last week on behalf of the nine. The Marchioness of Worcester (right), the former actress Tracy Ward, was also a backer
London Mayor Boris Johnson confirmed the policing bill between June 20 and September 10 was £905,000.
If the costs continued at the average of £11,000 a day the total would now be over £1.1million.
Critics called on the Met to end the stand-off but sources said the force cannot step back from its responsibilities to arrest Mr Assange for breaching his bail.
Jenny Jones, a Green politician in the capital who sits on a committee that oversees the Met’s work, called for the officers to go back on the beat.
She said: ‘It is ridiculous at a time when the Met is stretched as never before that so many officers are waiting around the Ecuadorian Embassy for Assange to attempt an escape.’
Lib Dem Caroline Pidgeon, who also sits on the London Assembly, added: ‘For 100 days Assange has been evading an arrest warrant for the alleged offence of rape and trying to escape the fair judicial process of Sweden.
‘At a time when police counters are closing across London his actions are a gross waste of valuable resources.’
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Good show but as always more media frenzy oriented than concrete action. In a nasty scenario, the po-po could intentionally storm in AFTER Gaga visits, then we’d have an ‘Unidentified Woman Arrested along with Assange, Both Taken Under Rendition Laws To Timbuktu For Interrogation” (one can imagine the about of fun the FBI would have . . . ahem . . . ) headline while the US media will be going on about how Gaga disappeared or cynically black out on news on Gaga posting some fake news and manufactured articles that make it seem Gaga pulled a MJ . . . maybe they will feature a 7 foot + tall male entertainer/rapper wearing glittery 9 inch heels featuring similar cosplay/fetish/art-deco clothing called Gargarensis instead . . . maybe someone in Asia will throw a dice that will determine if either make out of there in one piece, or pieces of mind . . . or if that dice is not thrown, yet more people may yet become ‘unstuck in time’, courtesy and expense of you-know-who, so pay up as appropos or Apophis will propose against the posers poseuring . . . as someone else would say – Mr. Apocalypse goes into overdrive even as Apophis is not finished with the woody hollows . . . ‘pumpkin’ . . .
ARTICLE 15
Dutch architect dreams of future floating cities – October 09, 2012
A street scene in Amsterdam is seen in this file photo. When Koen Olthuis landed his first job in Amsterdam after graduating as an architect, his new firm wouldn’t let him work on the most historic or prestigious accounts. He only got houseboats. Today, Olthuis, who along with building partner Dutch Docklands, designed a section of floating islands for Dubai’s man-made Palm Islands development project, has also created a patent which scales up the technology used for a houseboat to floating structures big enough to hold cars, roads and houses. – Reuters pic
AMSTERDAM, Oct 9 – When Koen Olthuis finally landed his first job after graduating as an architect, his new firm wouldn’t let him work on the most historic or prestigious accounts in Amsterdam’s 17th century centre. He got houseboats. Floating boxes.
But the young Dutchman, who stems from boat building and architecture stock, dove right into his new job, and it wasn’t long before he started making connections between the principles of a floating house, and the battle the Dutch have been waging against the sea to reclaim land and stay dry for 500 years.
He thought, if a house can float, why not an office complex or a structure big enough to hold a whole city?
Olthuis, who along with building partner Dutch Docklands, designed a section of floating islands for Dubai’s man-made Palm Islands development project, has also created a patent which scales up the technology used for a houseboat to floating structures big enough to hold cars, roads and houses.
“Water is a workable building layer or a floating foundation and if you turn water into space, which is a dramatic change of mindset, there’s a whole new world of possibilities,” Olthuis said.
He said the basis for his design isn’t any different than the normal Dutch floating technology used for houseboats.
“It is just a floating foundation, mostly made of concrete and foam which is quite stable, heavy, and goes up and down with waves and up and down with the sea level,” he said.
The floating city of the future is still a dream, but Olthuis’s firm, WaterStudio, which he started a decade ago, designs buildings and floating structures which try to combat the challenges posed by rising sea levels.
“Because of urbanisation and climate change, all the big cities have space limitations. We can create space with water, space that others have never even seen,” he said.
He said he wants to create space where land is under threat from rising sea levels and compares the methods for building floating structures to the invention of the elevator.
“If the elevator were never invented, then cities wouldn’t have buildings with more than three or four levels, because nobody wants to walk up more than that. But with elevators, we can climb 20, 30 even 40 flights.”
Olthuis’s firm has designed plenty of floating homes in The Netherlands and is laying plans to start building an entirely new floating neighbourhood with 1,200 homes.
It has projects in India and China and has begun preparing the lagoons for a holiday resort project in the Maldives, a chain of islands in the Indian Ocean that is one of the world’s most endangered nations due to flooding from climate change.
“We started thinking seriously about designing a whole floating island when we got a request from the Maldives, which are threatened in the long-term by rising sea levels, and they are looking for new development opportunities.”
In response, Olthuis’s team and building partner Dutch Docklands designed an estate of 185 luxury floating villas, called The Ocean Flower, part of a larger development across five lagoons, including a conference centre and a golf course.
The islands are designed to move with the waves and sea levels but because they are so stable, Olthuis said being on one of his artificial islands is like being on normal land.
“You do not feel any waves.”
The islands will be connected to the seabed with the same sort of cables used in offshore technology, for oil rigs, which lets them stay in one location and not drift away.
“The development in the Maldives is for a happy few who can afford to buy their own floating holiday home,” Olthuis said.
But he said that building luxury resorts for the rich helps to refine a technology that can in turn be used to benefit the poor in places such as Bangladesh, where flooding regularly destroys lives and livelihoods.
“So we let the rich pay for the innovation for the poor,” he said.
Olthuis said future designs could see floating structures detached and moved to new locations, or new cities, put together like a puzzle, responding to particular urban needs.
For a man who was told as a young trainee to “forget about houseboats,” Olthius’s focus on water has had a resounding impact on the way he looks at space and the environment.
“I am a Dutchman, and for me, Holland is an artificial country. It is all fake. We live below sea level and it takes too much effort and money to keep the pumps working 24 hours a day,” he said.
Olthuis said that within 50 years, it won’t even be possible to pump all the water back to the sea and reckons it is time for the Dutch to forge a new relationship with water.
“We need to learn to live with it rather than fight it. We should let the water come back, and then build on it.” – Reuters
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Require that all buildings be built on foundations 30 feet high (with consideration for settling of buildings in waterlogged conditions) or more in anticipation of rising sea levels. Valuable or historical buildings can be raised as of now. Hi-rises can be modified starting from the lowest lying buildings. When all buildings are raised or modified, the pumps can be turned off. When the sea levels finally rise, Holland would become a canal city rather than a road city and instead of cars they could have boats and gondollas! Very charming! Time and the tide always winning . . .
ARTICLE 16
Is the afterlife full of fluffy clouds and angels? – What does the neuroscientist Colin Blakemore make of an American neurosurgeon’s account of the afterlife? – By Colin Blakemore – 8:47PM BST 10 Oct 2012
Dr Eben Alexander’s conscious self journeyed into another world. There was wonderful music and light. There were clouds, “big, puffy, pink-white ones that showed up sharply against the deep blue-black sky”. Photo: ALAMY
Have you ever noticed that more people come back from Heaven than from Hell? We have all read those astonishing reports of near-death experiences (NDEs, as the aficionados call them) – the things that people say have happened to them when they almost, but don’t quite, shuffle off the coil.
They are nearly always pleasant and deeply reassuring in a saccharin-soaked way. Lots of spinning down warm, dark tunnels to the sound of celestial music; lots of trips along country lanes lined with hedges, towards the light of a welcoming cottage at the end of the road; lots of tumbling down Alice-in-Wonderland rabbit holes, but without the damaging effects of gravity.
True, Dr Maurice S Rawlings Jr, MD, heart surgeon in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and author of To Hell and Back, did have patients who reported very nasty NDEs after they came back on his operating table. Booming noises; licking flames and all that Mephistophelian stuff. But perhaps that tells us more about the challenges of living in Chattanooga, Tennessee, than about the metaphysics of life after death.
Predictably, the amazingly consistent, remarkably heaven-like experiences recounted by the majority of NDE-ers (yes, that really is what the experts call them) have been summarily dismissed by materialist sceptics – like me. Of course the brain does funny things when it’s running out of oxygen. The odd perceptions are just the consequences of confused activity in the temporal lobes.
But NDEs have taken on a new cloak of respectability with a book by a Harvard doctor. Proof of Heaven, by Eben Alexander, will make your toes wiggle or curl, depending on your prejudices. What’s special about his account of being dead is that he’s a neurosurgeon. At least that’s what the publicity is telling us. It’s a cover story in Newsweek magazine, with a screaming headline: “Heaven is Real: a doctor’s account of the afterlife”.
Just as you’d expect from a doctor, his account is precise and detailed. In the autumn of 2008, he contracted a very rare bacterial meningitis that he says made his brain “shut down” and put his “higher-order brain functions totally offline”. The soup-like state of Dr Alexander’s brain was, he writes, “documented by CT scans” (although CT scans don’t say anything about the activity of the brain) and “neurological examinations”.
Although the neurons of his cortex were “stunned to complete inactivity by the bacteria”, his conscious self journeyed into another world. There was wonderful music and light. There were clouds, “big, puffy, pink-white ones that showed up sharply against the deep blue-black sky”. And there were angels (well, perhaps birds): “flocks of transparent, shimmering beings”.
But then it gets really weird. It turns out that he wasn’t alone. “For most of my journey, someone was with me. A woman.” She had a lovely face and golden brown tresses, and she was dressed appropriately for a Cecil B DeMille movie, in peasant costume, in subtle shades of “powder blue, indigo, and pastel orange-peach”. She was quite a stunner. She looked at Dr Alexander “with a look that, if you saw it for five seconds, would make your whole life up to that point worth living, no matter what had happened in it so far”. It was a look “beyond all the different compartments of love we have down here on earth”.
Well, many of us, after a couple of pints in the pub with our chums, might say that we’ve had that kind of experience; but not with a woman flying on a butterfly wing, as Dr Alexander’s companion was. Although he “still had little language function” he was able to chat with the peasant lady, asking (understandably) where he was and why he was there. He was overwhelmed by the answers, which “came instantly in an explosion of light, colour, love, and beauty that blew through me like a crashing wave”.
After the clouds and the angels and the peasant lady, Dr Alexander went on to a “pitch-black” void, “brimming with light” from a “brilliant orb” that acted as an interpreter, explaining that the “universe itself was like a giant cosmic womb”.
You might have sensed a subtle hint of scepticism in my account. As Eben Alexander says, he considers himself a faithful Christian, and it’s therefore not surprising that he interpreted the chaos in his brain when he was almost dying in terms of his model of the afterlife.
His, and the multitude of other memories reported by people who have been close to death, have to be seen first through the prism of hard science. The crucial question is not whether such astounding experiences should lead us to abandon materialist accounts of brain function, but whether materialist accounts can possibly explain them.
Dr Peter Fenwick, senior lecturer at King’s College, London, consultant at the Institute of Psychiatry, and president of the British branch of The International Association for Near Death Studies, acknowledges that there are deep problems in interpreting first-person memories of experiences that are supposed to have happened when the brain was out of action. Since the lucky survivor can only tell you about them after the event, how can we be sure that these things were perceived and felt at the time that their brains were messed up, rather than being invented afterwards?
The same problem applies to dreams, indeed to any memory. Memory is notoriously fallible, and is treacherously easily misled by expectation. The cognitive psychologist Elizabeth Loftus has done brilliant experiments showing how the recall of real experiences can be transformed by what people think should have happened, and by what they are told might have happened.
In 150 years the science of perception has taught us that the way we appreciate the world around us is as much dependent on our expectations, our experiences, our inferences, as it is on the hard evidence of images on our retinas or vibrations in our ears. Remember the occasions when you have seen a face in the flickering flames of a fire, or been certain that you saw a person in the distance as you walked along at night – only to discover that the face in the fire disappears with the next burst of flame and the person in the dark is just a letterbox.
Is it not significant that the NDEs of Christians are full of Biblical metaphor? Either this confirms the correctness of their particular faith or it says that NDEs, like normal perception and memory, are redolent of culture, personal prejudice and past experience. Perhaps if Eben Alexander were a Muslim, there would have been the mythical 72 virgins on the butterfly wing, rather than the bucolic one. If he were a Buddhist he would be called a de-lok, a person who has seemingly died, but who travels into bardo – an afterlife state – guided by a Buddhist deity.
What Dr Alexander and his PR people claim is that his description of the afterlife is more authentic because he is a neurosurgeon. But when there is no evidence except the word of the beholder, a scientist’s accounts are no more reliable than those of anyone else. Would we literally believe the contents of a scientist’s dream because he or she has a PhD? If a scientist sees the lines of a visual illusion as wonky, should we believe that they really are wonky?
Science has progressed by challenge and disagreement. But what is needed to consider seriously the kinds of claims made by Dr Alexander is not flowery prose and hyperbolic headlines. It’s hard evidence.
But I am trying (not very convincingly, I know) to keep an open mind. I remember the story of the nobleman who asked the Zen Master Hakuin, “What happens to the enlightened man at death?”
“Why ask me?” said Hakuin.
“Because you’re a Zen master.”
“Yes, but not a dead one.”
Colin Blakemore is Professor of Neuroscience and Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Theory on Spirit and Eternal Soul
Inculpated imagery and studies will reflect in what a person experiences during a NDE. Speed of memory and recall also probably changes during NDE, allowing a person to experience LIFETIMES in the process. Actual death is of the body and the mind which allow perception. the SOUL however remains as so many philisophers say eternal and likely based on the EARTH’s magnetic and ionospheric field. All life and consciousness stems from the Earth though on the non-physical levels we may also exist but not in awareness of ourselves. Perhaps we ALL have a mirror image in Ethereal, Astral, Infernal and Celestial regions as well. When the body dies after experiencing the ‘visions of afterlife’, these portions of ourselves will instruct some living human-or animal bodies to have sex, and hence the immortal soul is reborn again . . . refutes or arguments welcome.
ARTICLE 17
Columbia classmate: Obama using IRS to punish me – Outspoken 2008 VP candidate claims president trying to ‘silence critics’
Art Moore entered the media world as a public relations assistant for the Seattle Mariners and a correspondent covering pro and college sports for Associated Press Radio. After graduating from Seattle Pacific University, he served with a Christian ministry during the “Iron Curtain” era in Eastern Europe for 10 years. His return to media included two years as senior news writer for Christianity Today before joining WND shortly after 9/11. He met his wife of more than 20 years at Wheaton College Graduate School, where he earned a Master’s Degree in communications. They have three children and a new son-in-law.More ?
The former Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate who has claimed Barack Obama was unknown to him and his fellow Columbia University classmates charges the president is using the Internal Revenue Service to punish and silence him.
Wayne Allyn Root – a pre-law and political science major in the class of 1983, like the president – told WND that despite a spotless tax record, he became the target of an audit in January 2011 when he received an “unsettling” call from an IRS agent who called himself a fan of his and considered it “an honor” to audit him.
Root won a complete victory three months ago in tax court, which found no taxes owed in his 2007 and 2008 filings. But then, he said, something shocking happened – something his tax attorney has never heard of in his entire career. Root was hit with a new audit just five days later, for 2009 and 2010.
“That order had to come from the highest levels of government,” he asserted.
“Obama is using the power of the IRS and other government agencies to punish his political opposition and intimidate and silence his critics,” Root charged.
Root has been a relentless critic of Obama in more than 4,000 appearances on political talk shows on TV and radio over the past four years, focusing on what he calls the president’s anti-business and anti-capitalist policies. He also writes columns and commentaries for many of the most popular conservative websites.
Root is now calling for congressional hearings “to determine if the Obama administration is misusing its power to damage or ruin the lives, drain the finances, or just distract Obama’s critics and political opposition.”
“It is time to demand an end to government witch hunts ordered by powerful politicians,” he told WND. “It is time to shine the light of day on government attempts to intimidate and silence political opponents. This just isn’t right, but especially to a small businessman who happens to have a media megaphone. I have a wife and four young children. This is just so wrong on so many levels.”
The IRS national media office told WND that Section 6103 of the tax code prohibits the agency from discussing matters relating to any taxpayer. An IRS media officer said she also would not be able to comment, in general terms, on accusations that the agency is being used by the administration to punish political enemies.
Purchase a copy of “Fool Me Twice” by Aaron Klein and Brenda Elliott and receive a FREE copy of their New York Times bestseller “The Manchurian President.”
Root began his career as network oddsmaker for CNBC, then called Financial News Network. He’s one of only 60 people to have a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.
He believes he’s not alone, contending there is a pattern of abuse by Obama, targeting foes with IRS audits and government investigations.
He’s had numerous conversations with high-profile friends who contribute to the Republican Party or are GOP bundlers and also have been audited by the IRS.
Root cited, as an example, billionaire Frank VanderSloot, who became the target of investigations by both the IRS and the Labor Department after he gave $1 million to a super PAC that supports Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.
VanderSloot, 63, told the Wall Street Journal in July that he has been working since his teens, and neither he nor his accountants recall his being previously subject to a federal tax audit.
The GOP’s biggest donor, Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, believes a federal criminal investigation into his company’s business practices is politically motivated. Another casino giant, Steve Wynn, also is being investigated.
The D.C. watchdog Judicial Watch obtained IRS documents in 1999 that showed an audit of the non-profit Western Journalism Center – the parent of WND, which now has no affiliation – originated with a complaint forwarded to the IRS by the Bill Clinton White House.
The complaint had been faxed by a California resident directly to Clinton, Judicial Watch found. Once the audit began, an IRS agent told representatives of the Western Journalism Center that the audit was “political” and that decisions on the audit were being made out of the “national office.”
The Wall Street Journal and National Public Radio reported in the 1990s that under the Clinton IRS, an unusually large number of organizations critical of the Clinton administration had been audited, while no liberal organizations had been examined. A White House document, created by then-White House lawyer Jane Sherburne, showed that the Western Journalism Center was a concern as far back as 1994.
No sign of Obama at Columbia
Root noted he drew wide attention as the Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate in 2008 when he contended that although he and Obama were both pre-law and political science majors in Columbia’s class of 1983, he never even heard of Obama during his time at the university. None of the classmates with whom he’s spoken, knew of him either, he claimed. A 2008 Wall Street Journal article cited a Fox News survey of 400 people who were Columbia students from 1981 to 1983 and found no one who remembered him.
On the campaign trail, Root predicted Obama would follow the radical, collectivist strategy of former Columbia professors Richard Cloward and Frances Fox Piven to overwhelm the welfare system for the purpose of collapsing it and replacing it with a system of guaranteed annual income.
Columbia University in New York City
Root declared in 2008 that Obama “is going to try to badly damage the economy and bankrupt the business community,” sowing doubts about capitalism, by “overwhelming the system with spending, addicting a record number of Americans to entitlements, exploding the debt, demonizing business owners, and then trying to convince the masses to redistribute wealth (with massive tax increases).”
After the election, he published more predictions that Obama would carry out a purposeful plan to overwhelm the system, including a commentary, “The Real Obama Economic Plan: Overwhelming the System to Destroy Capitalism,” that ranked No. two for many months in 2010 on Snopes.com’s list of the most popular stories circulating the Internet. Another Root commentary, “Obama The Great Jobs Killer,” was quoted by Time magazine.
He has made frequent appearances on the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network, debated a former Clinton White House press secretary on CNBC and appeared on left-leaning media outlets, such as MSNBC and CNN, including “Larry King Live.”
On an NBC special, “Inside the Obama White House,” he pointed out, NBC’s cameras showed the entire Obama staff in crisis mode over political pundits criticizing the controversial comments of Obama Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayer. The scene in the special happened to feature a shot of Root criticizing Sotomayer in an appearance on the Fox News Channel.
In a commentary just two months ago, Root repeated his charge that Obama was unknown at Columbia, issuing a call for the president to release his college records. Calling himself “one of the most accurate Las Vegas oddsmakers and prognosticators,” Root wrote that it’s his “gut instinct” that “Obama has a secret hidden at Columbia.” He discussed the column on Fox News, dozens of national radio shows and in numerous commentaries on the Web. Talk host Rush Limbaugh read Root’s column on the air.
Last month, Root announced that he was stepping down from his positions in the Libertarian Party to focus on helping elect Republicans to office who share his small-government values. He reasoned that it’s not enough to have a “philosophical foundation rooted in liberty” if you can’t win as a third-party candidate. He made the formal announcement on the Fox News morning show “Fox & Friends.”
‘Zero odds’
Root told WND he believes the audits were a direct attack from Obama, because “the odds are zero” that the IRS “would be hounding and harassing a small businessman … not a jet setter, not a Fortune 500 CEO, not a billionaire … just a small-businessman who happens to be an outspoken critic of Obama.”
“I have a perfect tax history,” he emphasized. “Not a single blemish. Thirty years of filing taxes without a problem.”
Prior to the January 2011 audit, he said he had been chosen at random for an audit only twice in his life and came away both times owing “not a single dollar.”
“I’ve never been late with a tax bill in my life,” he argued. “I’ve never owed money on a payment plan to the IRS. Nothing. I’m a model citizen and taxpayer for 30 years. And now this?”
His ordeal began in January 2011, he said, with an “unsettling” call from an IRS agent that became “a highly unusual and intimidating situation.”
The IRS agent called his home and left a message, Root said, then, without waiting for a response, immediately called his accountant.
“We were both shocked at how eager and excited he sounded to get started,” Root said.
The accountant told the agent to never call Root again, because the accountant had power of attorney. Nevertheless, according to Root, the agent called Root minutes later at his home to tell him he was a big fan, had requested to do the audit and was “honored” to be auditing him.
“He said he read my political columns in the Las Vegas newspaper, listened to me often on the radio, often went to my website,” Root said.
The agent said he loved Root’s libertarian-conservative politics and agreed with most everything he said.
“I found that very strange, actually chilling,” Root told WND. “It did not feel right. I got a sick feeling in pit of my stomach. Why would an IRS agent say such personal things? Why would he disclose that he’s a fan of mine and agrees with my politics? Isn’t that a conflict of interest?”
Root said his accountant remarked that in 30 years of dealing with IRS audits, he had never heard of an IRS agent starting an investigation with a phone call to the taxpayer. All audits begin with a letter from the IRS through the mail. The next steps, Root said, were even stranger, as the agent immediately called the accountant then called Root again to tell him he liked his politics and was “honored” to be auditing him? Root’s accountant said he found the agent’s actions highly unusual.
“That was the tipoff something was out of the ordinary, something just wasn’t right,” said Root.
Root said the only conclusion he could draw was that the agent was imitating “Columbo,” the famous TV detective from the 1970s, “and trying to throw me off the truth.
The agent, he said may have been “ordered to make my life very difficult, distract me or destroy me, and he decided to play ‘Columbo’ to try, first, to befriend me and get my guard down.”
“I knew then this was no ordinary audit,” Root said.
Root’s accountant called back a few weeks later, after dealing with the IRS agent, to inform him that it was unlike any audit he had ever experienced. The accountant advised Root to immediately get a tax lawyer to protect himself.
“I knew at that moment that all my gut instincts were correct,” Root said.
“This agent clearly had an agenda,” Root continued. “He was acting unreasonably. He disregarded facts. He simply disallowed virtually all of my legal deductions. There was even a debate over my mortgage deduction. Something was very wrong here. This was a classic case of government persecution. Soon the agent was auditing a second year. It got worse with each conversation.”
Just weeks later, Root said, his accountant, himself, received his own IRS audit notice.
Root researched and interviewed the top tax attorneys in the country, emphasizing he hired “the best.” His tax attorney reviewed the audit and concluded that the IRS agent was “taking an unusually aggressive stance,” and Root owed no taxes.
The attorney appealed the case to the IRS tax court in California. Root said that after nearly 18 months of “sleepless nights, lawyer bills I could not afford, accounting bills I could not afford, and damage to my marriage,” he won “a full and complete victory.”
He added: “Who knows how many years off my life I lost due to stress?”
The tax court, he said, ruled that I did not owe one cent.”
“All of the IRS agent’s unreasonable assertions were thrown out,” he said. “Case closed. One-hundred-percent vindication. Complete victory.”
But five days later, the tax attorney called with bad news.
“Are you sitting down?” Root recalled the attorney saying. “I don’t know what to say, but the IRS just contacted me. You’re being audited again.”
Root noted that just five days before he had won a complete victory for the years 2007 and 2008 and now was being audited for the 2009 and 2010 tax years.
His tax attorney said that he had never heard of such a case in all his years practicing law.
Root said the new IRS agent handling the new audit treated his attorney with disdain and, like the previous agent, simply ignored the facts and denied every legal deduction on Root’s tax return.
“It was the same treatment all over again,” Root said. “Even though we had just won a complete, 100-percent victory only five days before.”
Root said that “as a man who makes his living making predictions and beating the odds,” he is betting 1-million-to-1 that the audits were ordered “by Obama or his henchmen.”
‘Chicago style’
Root insists he is not angry with the IRS but blames Obama and “his Chicago style of politics – to persecute, intimidate and destroy the opposition.”
“The IRS is filled with good people,” he said. “They are just like you and me. They are just trying to do their jobs, as best they can.”
However, he said, when “they get a call from high above, perhaps from the office of the president of the United States, then they are fearful for their job.”
“My outrage is towards President Obama and his henchmen,” Root said.
“This is so wrong on so many levels. Whoever ordered this against me and against many other Obama critics across this country – and against GOP donors across this country and against so many tea parties – should be held accountable.”
He said it’s “time for congressional hearings.”
“The president of the United States has no right to target his political opposition, or to try to freeze free speech,” he said. “Our Founding Fathers would be rolling over in their graves.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Spiritual Theory Based Around Synchronicity
Someone ‘that was’ Root cheated elsewhere, so Obama knowing the esoterica on synchronicity (for certain all greek alphabet society illuminati types do), had to act. The game company was to be blamed. The only way for evil to end is for EQUALITY to rule and those who follow rules to win. Any attempt to cheat in the system results in ‘Unfortunate Series of Events”, with any protagonists in the right, even if their actions were wrong. This is the start of wisdom and this is the only evil tolerable, without which Good cannot exist. Obama does system based spiritual housekeeping. Root is not directly to blame, being affected by the players of the “game”.
A lowest caste ‘labourer’ becomes VP of a political party, little wonder Heavens fall and Lands break when the ethereal characters at the top of simple hierarchies intended for fun are depicted act . . . a serious study of spiritual effects and links to online games must be carried out and INCLUDED IN EDUCATIONAL SYLLABUS, so that people can enjoy games and yet not destroy themselves and the world or the natural system and order of reality as we know it. Meanwhile though note that ‘games’ will have as much effect as the uncorrected Crony-Prison Supplier-Contractor Complex, Financier Student Debt Complex and those who neglected to amend laws or abolosh abusive laws liek Forced Military Conscriptions, Road Tolls ending freedom of movement and laws that impinge on the sovereignty of all individuals like Eminent Domain or lack of Allodial titles . . . refutes or arguments welcome.
ARTICLE 18
New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future | ExtremeTech – Mar. 07, 2012
A speech-jamming gun by Japanese researchers. They say the gun can be useful for “facilitate discussion” or “mobile speech-jamming”.
New speech-jamming gun hints at dystopian Big Brother future – by Sebastian Anthony on March 1, 2012 at 6:37 am
Japanese researchers have created a hand-held gun (pictured above) that can jam the words of speakers who are more than 30 meters (100ft) away. The gun has two purposes, according to the researchers: At its most basic, this gun could be used in libraries and other quiet spaces to stop people from speaking — but its second application is a lot more chilling.
The researchers were looking for a way to stop “louder, stronger” voices from saying more than their fair share in conversation. The paper reads: “We have to establish and obey rules for proper turn-taking when speaking. However, some people tend to lengthen their turns or deliberately interrupt other people when it is their turn in order to establish their presence rather than achieve more fruitful discussions. Furthermore, some people tend to jeer at speakers to invalidate their speech.” In other words, this speech-jamming gun was built to enforce “proper” conversations.
The gun works by listening in with a directional microphone, and then, after a short delay of around 0.2 seconds, playing it back with a directional speaker. This triggers an effect that psychologists call Delayed Auditory Feedback (DAF), which has long been known to interrupt your speech (you might’ve experienced the same effect if you’ve ever heard your own voice echoing through Skype or another voice comms program). According to the researchers, DAF doesn’t cause physical discomfort, but the fact that you’re unable to talk is obviously quite stressful.
Speech jammer, in a library. Suffice it to say, if you’re a firm believer in free speech, you should now be experiencing a deafening cacophony of alarm bells. Let me illustrate a few examples of how this speech-jamming gun could be used.
At a political rally, an audience member could completely lock down Santorum, Romney, Paul, or Obama from speaking. On the flip side, a totalitarian state could point the speech jammers at the audience to shut them up. Likewise, when a celebrity or public figure appears on a live TV show, his contract could read “the audience must be silenced with speech jammers.”
Then there’s Harrison Bergeron, one of my favorite short stories by Kurt Vonnegut. In the story’s dystopian universe, everyone wears “handicaps” to ensure perfect social equality. Strong people must lug around heavy weights, beautiful people must wear masks, and intelligent people must wear headphones that play a huge blast of sound every few seconds, interrupting your thoughts. The more intelligent you are, the more regular the blasts.
Back here in our universe, it’s not hard to imagine a future where we are outfitted with a variety of implanted electronics or full-blown bionic organs. Just last week we wrote about Google’s upcoming augmented-reality glasses, which will obviously have built-in earbuds. Late last year we covered bionic eyes that can communicate directly with the brain, and bionic ears and noses can’t be far off.
In short, imagine if a runaway mega-corporation or government gains control of these earbuds. Not only could the intelligence-destroying blasts from Harrison Bergeron come to pass, but with Delayed Auditory Feedback it would be possible to render the entire population mute. Well, actually, that’s a lie: Apparently DAF doesn’t work with utterances like “ahhh!” or “boooo!” or other non-wordy constructs. So, basically, we’d all be reduced to communicating with grunts and gestures.
This is how incriminating thoughts can even be inserted into unsuspecting mind. Remember that the mind’s signals etc. are all probably replicable via neurotech. So when a brain is repeatedly inculpated with certain patterns of thought, we end up with no autonomy at all. While the bottom 70% are busy working, the top 30% no-working classes are busy ‘molding’ those working class minds into the form they want. To accept bad laws, to ignore nepotism, to ignore oligarchy, to be bribable, corrupt etc. and the top 1% will print all the fiat and bribe, while destroying the finance system and controlling those bought with wealth as well as poisoning the food via food manufactuers putting all kinds of colourings and flavourings and GMOs in food that destroy critical thought by weakening the blood brain barrier, flouridating the pineal etc..
Causing ‘grunts and gestures’ by the ‘Speech Gun’ will then be used by the colluding psychiatric establishment to label potential challengers of the insane system ‘insane’, even getting political party members whop happen to be neighbours or to move into the neighbourhood to harrass, and disturb, provoke into retaliating (preferably with enforcement actionable actions – the foul minded creeps know who they are) . . . then justify drugging the dissenters with dangerous mind destroying psychiatric drugs etc. if killing such persons is too obvious to further render them incapable of being a viable challenge. I know I have been there and that was for promoting things as responded to in this blog. And this is not even the spiritual dimension of the matter as well which goes deep into the nature of society, the caste system, and those of ‘dirty spirituality’ which is not the same as physical dirt or even jobs considered disresepectable.
Meanwhile though, the financial system will indeed collapse, then riots and war can break out etc.. and when every last clear thinking or critical thinking person is bought up or killed, destroyed, rendered politically non-viable, the oligarchs will place their sons and daughters in political positions while fawning political members in the respective political parties fearfull do not speak up due to ‘Supremos’ and Oligarchs, use neurotech against all dissentors, use NLP articles in news/radio, use neurotech to identify dissenting minds which are critical to democracy etc..
DO NOT VOTE FOR FIAT PROTECTING, GLC PROXY LINKED, MORE THAN 2 TERM, PLUTOCRAT, ALLODIAL REFUSING, FORCED CONSCRIPTION PURVEYING, STATE LAND/NATIONAL WEALTH SEQUESTERING MPs or candidates. They only care about themselves and will never protect the people will end the people’s free will with technology the instance such technolgies are sufficiently proliferated! Vote carefully and don’t care about who’s likable but who will protect democracy and diversity than anything else!
TV Reporters Speaking Gibberish on Live TV…Why Is it Happening …
A bionic prosthetic eye that speaks the language of your brain – by Sebastian Anthony on December 21, 2011 at 3:44 pm
They probably can tap into what one is seeing as well . . . so the end of privacy is here and unless voters vote properly, there will be a new form of dictator – the Technofascist who will decide even what you think.
In the grand scale of things, we know so very little about the brain. Our thick-headedness isn’t quite cosmological in scale — we really do know almost nothing about the universe beyond Earth — but, when it comes down to it, the brain is virtually a black box. We know that stimuli goes in, usually through one of our senses, and motor neurons come out, but that’s about it. One thing you can do with a black box, however, is derive some semblance of a working model through brute force testing.
Take prosthetic arms, for example: We don’t have a clue about the calculations that occur in the brain to trigger arm muscle motor neurons, but that doesn’t stop us from slapping some electrodes onto a subject’s bicep muscles and measuring the electric pulses that occur when you tell him to “think about moving your arm.” By the same logic, a brain-computer interface can measure what our general cranial activity looks like when we’re thinking something and react accordingly, but it can only do this through training; it can’t actually understand our thoughts. Taking this one step further, though, Sheila Nirenberg of Cornell University has been trying to work out how the retina in your eye communicates with your brain — and judging by a recent talk at TEDMED (embedded below), it seems like she’s actually cracked it.
Now, reading the brain’s output (as in a prosthetic arm) is one thing, but feeding data into the brain is something else entirely — and understanding the signals that travel from the retina, through the optic nerve, to the brain is really about as bleeding edge as it gets. Nirenberg still used a brute force technique, though: By taking a complete animal eye and attaching electrodes to the optic nerve, she measured the electric pulses — the coded signal — that a viewed image makes. You might not know what the code means, but if a retina always generates the same electric code when looking at a lion, and a different code when looking at a bookcase, you can then work backwards to derive the retina’s actual encoding technique.
Nirenberg did this until she produced mathematical equations that, with startling accuracy, encode images into neuron pulses that can be understood by an animal brain. In the image below, the far left picture represents the pre-Nirenberg state of the art prosthetic eye, and the mid two images are what her prosthetic are capable of. Not quite as good as the real thing, but when you imagine that this is a silicon chip being implanted into the eye of a blind animal and then wired into the optic nerve, you really ought to be awestruck. In case you’re wondering, the “transducer” that the image references is a piece of hardware that converts the output from the silicon chip into signals that are ready to travel along the optic nerve to the brain.
Comparison of various prosthetic eye/retina technologies
You’ll note that we’ve used the word “animal” throughout, and not “human.” So far, Nirenberg seems to have carried out most of her experiments on mice — but as far as we know, the eye, optic nerve, and visual cortex in mice and humans are fairly similar. The next step must surely be working out the mathematical equations that simulate the human retina, and then full-blown human trials. Personally, as someone who is short-sighted but not blind, I would rather go down the wireless contact lens display route — but imagine, just for a second, if one day a prosthetic retina with a higher resolution than its flesh-and-blood counterpart is made. Imagine if you could hit a button to digitally zoom in with your eyes — or, more likely, just think about zooming in.
Perhaps even cooler, though, Nirenberg insists that this same technique — wiring up electrodes to our sense organs and brute forcing the encoding technique — could also be used to produce prosthetic ears, or noses, or limbs that can actually feel. Presumably, at some point, with enough data points under our belt, we might begin to unravel the human brain’s overarching communication codecs, too. The age of bionics is almost here!
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Citizens, vote properly, the next thing we know, voting ‘suggestion bombardments’ will be subtly broadcast via Wiifi directly into your brains. When that happens, dictators and oligarchs will end all freedom and all democracy. There must be white zones which are gazetted in ALL public places including private residences. This could be allowed in certain ‘Techno-pubs’ or whatever districts, but nowhere else.
Technofascism and mind control are already here, and with the advances state of cell phone satellite technology, not inconceivable that voting patterns and ignorance of term limitless dictators’ abusive policies will end up ending democracy or even creating the Suicidal rich people, Columbines and Suicide Bombers that can be enhanced under exstacy or chemical druggings of psychiatric drugs that the bottom 70% civilians in a democracy will not want, but the 1% types, a Dictator or Ayatollah led theocracy would love. Bring on the Luddites. Demand white zones, or laws against use of such technologies or begin seeking only candidates for politics aware of and willing to ratify such laws or start tearing down telecoms structures.
Nuclear operators must act now on safety: EU – by Barbara Lewis – Posted 2012/10/04 at 1:32 pm EDT
BRUSSELS, Oct. 4, 2012 (Reuters) — Regulators and operators should act now to improve safety at nuclear power plants, the EU energy commissioner said on Thursday, following inspections across the European Union.
European Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger speaks at a news conference on the EU Nuclear Stress Tests in Brussels October 4, 2012. REUTERS/Yves Herman
The stress tests, carried out in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster, found safety improvements costing between 10 billion ($12.90 billion) and 25 billion euros were necessary in European plants, a draft seen by Reuters showed this week.
“Nearly everywhere there is major potential for improvement,” Energy Commission Guenther Oettinger told reporters.
“We therefore think that we should talk together with operators and regulatory authorities to act rapidly so that the highest possible standards can be guaranteed very soon.”
One of the lessons of Fukushima was that two natural disasters could strike at the same time and knock out the electrical supply system of a plant completely, so it could not be cooled down.
The stress tests sought to avert any repeat of that series of events by establishing whether nuclear plants can withstand natural disasters, aircraft crashes and management failures, as well as whether adequate systems are in place to deal with power disruptions.
Among the findings were that on-site seismic instruments should be installed or improved in 121 reactors.
In addition, 24 reactors did not have a back-up emergency room in case the main control room became uninhabitable.
LIMITS OF EU POWER
Because EU authorities do not have power to determine the energy mix of member states, the stress tests were voluntary, but Oettinger said they would not just be “put in a drawer”.
“We are at the beginning of a new European safety dynamic,” he said.
He confirmed the Commission would follow up with legislative proposals early next year to enhance safety.
The proposals would include insurance and liability, but Oettinger said it was not yet clear what that might mean for electricity bills.
Austria, which banned nuclear plants in 1974, said the stress tests were “good, but not good enough”.
“Our demand is very clear: retrofit nuclear plants or shut them down,” Austrian Environment Minister Niki Berlakovich told reporters in Vienna, referring to the possibility of adding safety measures.
Rebecca Harms, a Green member of the European Parliament, told Reuters Television the stress tests report had dodged the tough questions, but said they had still served to highlight the problems.
“Mr Oettinger has done the debate on lacking security standards a great favor,” she said.
She added that the tests had “produced a handsome list of deficiencies, showing that there is a large deficit of security standards in every country that runs nuclear power plants”.
ASN, the nuclear regulator in France, which relies on atomic energy for about 75 percent of its power, was highly critical of the report, saying “some important recommendations had been ignored”.
It has already said France needs to invest billions of euros.
The chief inspector of Britain’s nuclear plants, Mike Weightman, who also made recommendations for improvements after Fukushima, said: The stress test process was a valuable exercise, reinforcing the conclusions we had reached here in the UK”.
(Additional reporting by Oliver Denzer; Michael Shields in Vienna; Marion Douet in Paris; editing by William Hardy and Jason Neely)
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
No power? Rubbish. If a nuclear plant in some 3rd world trash heap or corrupted 1st world colluding cut corner type nation is going to irradiate the world destroying ecosystems and humanity eventually, the UN should send peacekeepers to dismantle the nuke plant and bury all nuclear parts and place bans on that nation. Hear that peacekeepers? When that nuke plant blows, nothing on the planet will be left unirradiated, INCLUDING the UN peacekeepers’ families. Nuclear is too messy and likely spiritually wrong. Switch to solar or fusion instead and not worry about storage of nuclear waste and terrorists targeting nukes.
ARTICLE 2
Romney on 47% comments: I was ‘completely wrong’ – October 4th, 2012 11:39 PM ET Posted by CNN’s Ashley Killough
(CNN) – Mitt Romney said he was “completely wrong” when he argued that nearly half of Americans were “victims” and dependent on government.
The admission came Thursday as the GOP presidential candidate sought to clarify his controversial “47%” comments.
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“Clearly in a campaign with hundreds if not thousands of speeches and question-and-answer sessions, now and then you’re going to say something that doesn’t come out right,” Romney said on Fox News. “In this case, I said something that’s just completely wrong.”
Last month, secretly recorded video of Romney at a May fundraiser showed the Republican candidate saying 47% of Americans will vote for President Barack Obama “no matter what.”
“There are 47% who are with him, who are dependent on government, who believe that, that they are victims, who believe that government has the responsibility to care for them. Who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing.”
Romney ads: U.S. can’t afford four more years of Obama
The non-partisan Tax Policy Center estimates that for tax year 2011, 46% of households will end up owing nothing in federal income taxes. But if payroll taxes are counted, the number of non-payer households drops precipitously – to an estimated 18% in 2011.
Adding to his argument about entitlement, Romney said his “job is not to worry about those people.”
“I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives,” he added.
“What I have to do is convince the 5 percent to 10 percent in the center that are independents, that are thoughtful.”
After the videos, which were posted on the progressive news website Mother Jones, caught fire, Romney called a last-minute press conference with pool reporters while he was in California at the time.
The former Massachusetts governor acknowledged the comments were “off the cuff” and “not elegantly stated,” but he defended the main point of the message, saying he was criticizing the increasing size of government and entitlement programs.
“We have a very different approach – the president and I – between a government-dominated society and a society driven by free people pursuing their dreams,” Romney said.
The following day, Romney still stuck by his comments and elaborated on the logistical reasoning behind his remarks.
With Ryan by his side, Romney rallies Virginians in debate victory lap
“We were of course talking about a campaign and how he is going to get close to half the vote,” Romney said. “I’m going to get half the vote, I hope, I want to get 50.1% or more. Frankly we have two very different views about America.”
In the first presidential debate Wednesday, Obama surprised political observers by not going after Romney on the comments, as he has on the campaign trail in the last two weeks.
On Fox News Thursday night, Romney was asked what he would have said if the president had brought up the controversial statements–which is when the GOP nominee went as far as to say he was “wrong.”
He then argued that, if elected, he would represent all Americans, not just half.
“I absolutely believe, however, that my life has shown that I care about 100% and that’s been demonstrated throughout my life. And this whole campaign is about the 100%. When I become president, it will be helping the 100%.”
What’s your reaction to Mitt Romney saying his secretly recorded comment that nearly half of Americans were victims dependent on government was “completely wrong?” Share your thoughts below or using the hashtag #47percent.
The 1%, even the top 70% of citizens do not need any caring for. And no government can care for 100% of the population. 47% is being very generous! Priority should be given to the bottom 30% or even 10% at the bottom, and with no care at all for the top 70% especially less so the top 1%, simply because the top 70% (far more so the 1%) won’t feel any surfeit without care either, nor would they want any ‘condescending’ and ‘indebting’ care which any common sense person or ethical person would not want to partake of to not be indebted to the state to not make the state feel entitled to RULE them as citizens rather than administer.
This is also why term limits need to be introduced at ALL government careerist politician posts and seats, simply to prevent the term limitless to take the role of Santa Claus from monies which actually come from the taxpayers who are already doing economic national service as opposed to those sequestering wealth from circulating in the system or worse still sending that money to overseas microstate tax havens like Singapore and Lietchtenstein or any banana republic or oil republic nations!
ARTICLE 3
The Concept of Civilization – September 27, 2012 | By Xavier Bartlett – Waking Times
We all have an idea about the meaning of the word “civilization”: a concept that we use to relate to a complex, advanced society like the current one on Earth, but also ancient cultures which flourished centuries ago, leaving us with a splendid legacy. If we focus primarily on the social sciences, the term civilization is used to indicate a high state of progress – a certain level of social, cultural, political, economic and technological evolution that differentiates us from early cultures as well as current primitive communities that stay more or less isolated from what we call the modern world. Nevertheless, we must take into account that the word civilization can be also used in a broader sense: to denote the set of ideas, knowledge, values, institutions and achievements of a society at a certain time.
The idea that civilization equates to the summit of human development is long established in our history and relates directly to the rise of cities and states. However, with the triumph of evolutionism as a scientific theory, this definition was cemented; evolutionism not only impacted the natural sciences, but also greatly affected the social sciences such as history, archeology and anthropology. Thus, the most remote human past began to be explained not in religious or mythical terms, but under a scientific pattern: from the origin of man until the outbreak of civilization which took place more than 5,000 years ago in Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Archaeological record demonstrates that early humans practiced nomadism for many thousands of years and had a simple —though not easy— life as hunter-gatherers. However, at the end of the last Ice Age (circa 10,000 BC) a radical change occurred and the human population entered a stage of progressive settlement that altered their strategy for survival: in addition to hunting and gathering, men began to domesticate plants and animals, thus becoming farmers and shepherds. Archeologist Gordon V. Childe called this process the “Neolithic Revolution”. And, between 4000 and 3000 BC, after a few millennia of Neolithic communities which had been developing in several areas of the world, the first known civilizations appeared, first in Mesopotamia and soon after in Egypt. Some centuries later, civilization emerged strongly in other parts of the world: the Indus Valley, China and finally the New World.
This new breakthrough, the so called “Urban Revolution”, was characterized by several milestones:
Population was divided into small rural villages and large settlements which eventually became cities.
A centralized religious-political power grew in the cities, achieving control over vast areas and thus creating the first state structures. Administrative apparatus and legal doctrines were created as a support for these structures.
The surplus of resources promoted growth and economic exchange, leading to the development of trade.
Society was stratified in several levels; there was a progressive specialization of work, especially in the urban environment.
Systems of writing appeared as a means of recording and managing information (a factor that eventually led to the creation of predominant historical cultures).
There was significant progress in science and technique in general, particularly in terms of practical application. An important material culture was developed in various arts and industries.
This process charts mankind’s drastic change from primitive existence into a complex world of increasing material welfare: man now controlled and exploited his surroundings, transforming them into a somewhat artificial environment.
There is no doubt that every new civilization established itself by building on the legacy of its predecessors and raising itself to new heights. Mesopotamia and Egypt were unrivalled in their own times, but in the fifth century BC Classical Greece arose and brought with it democracy, art, philosophy and science. Athens, and later Rome, spread civilization throughout the Mediterranean Sea, forever changing the face of Europe. And finally, this classical legacy built the foundations of the modern Western civilization, initially fostered in Europe and later carried further by America. This is the civilization we have now, which reaches all corners of the globe; though there are still countless different cultures with their own customs and values, the Western civilization has inarguably permeated and altered even the furthest of these.
This historical review may lead us to conclude that civilization is the logical progression of mankind from a state of mere subsistence to a complex culture in which scientific and technological progressions enable a much easier standard of living. However, we should question whether we should really consider progress and civilization to be synonymous. There is no doubt that evolutionary ideology enhanced the idea that man progresses through history and therefore some societies are superior to others simply because they are civilized. Nineteenth century anthropology proposed a simple classification of human cultures: savagery (hunter-gatherers), barbarism (farmers and shepherds) and civilization (the man of the urban environment). Similarly, archeology created a system of ages based on technology and certain material achievements. These categorizations would only allow us to conclude that the older a society is, the more primitive, and the more primitive, the more undesirable. Cultural evolutionism defended the notion that man moves naturally to a higher stage, and this is the desirable goal for all human beings; civilization represents progress, and the higher degree of civilization, the higher degree of progress for everyone. However, we must question this presumption and ask whether the evolutionary paradigm, first developed in the West during a period of marked eurocentrism, is compromised when applied to the history of civilizations.
History demonstrates that societies who considered themselves to be “civilized” did not hesitate to impose their own custom and value systems on those “wild” people and societies that they considered less evolved. Though this behavior is perhaps most relatable to European colonialism, it is evident in very different contexts, throughout history and all over the world. For example, the admired Aztec civilization is also renowned for its heavy handed imperialism and for the mass human sacrifices which horrified the Spanish conquistadors; and yet, it is documented that when the Aztecs became the conquered, they too were subjected to abuse, genocide and slavery by the so called “civilized” Spanish. Therefore, it could be said that cultural evolutionism is just a qualification “in scientific terms” of this long-established imperialist attitude. Global imperialism was justified in this way with the belief that the spread of “civilization” meant progress for all, even though the means was often marked by extreme abuses to those this “progress” was imposed upon. Indeed, civilization has not been an easy ride, because in most cases it has involved a political-economic conquest – often by force of arms – which has radically changed lifestyles and created new problems to overlay supposed existing problems.
The echo of this civilized aggression is still heard today in the cry of resistance of many indigenous communities to their cultural invaders all over the world. Instead of seeing the “benefits” of civilization, these people see only the loss of their own beliefs and traditions, and as seems common to all, the loss of their intimate bond with Earth and nature. However, it is important not to idealize a certain myth of the noble savage nor condemn the wonders which civilization has brought: the works of Virgil, the Taj Mahal, Rembrandt’s pictures or Puccini’s operas. And yet, in spite of recognizing many positive or desirable outcomes of civilization, it is impossible not to feel some uneasiness, from a historical perspective, at its great contradictions: the wars, genocide, intolerance, poverty, corruption, destruction and persecution which have resulted in its name.
If we concede that man progresses, how can we equate this with the 20th century’s “civilized” world which has suffered two brutal world wars with millions of victims? Are Hiroshima and Nagasaki symbols of civilization? How could an advanced and “civilized” nation such as modern Germany could fall into the moral barbarism of Nazism? Is the global pollution and irrational use of natural resources civilized behavior? Can the complex international financial system be the solution to the crisis created by itself? And why is this world civilization, with many international organizations, incapable of ending the famine and poverty in so many countries? In short, how can we talk about civilization if, for so many, the human condition has not substantially improved since the time of the Pharaohs? The accumulation of knowledge and material achievements for the privileged minority cannot justify an apparent lack of spiritual progress and human empathy. A voice that resonates inside us tells us that this cannot be civilization.
Now we’re getting to the heart of the question. In order to discover a new vision of the concept of civilization we must leave our Western rational mind and find another approach to study human existence. The writer and Egyptologist John Anthony West has a radically different definition of civilization:
“By civilisation I mean a society organised upon the conviction that mankind is on earth for a purpose. In a civilisation, men are concerned with the quality of the innerlife rather than with the conditions of day to day existence.” (West, J.A. Serpent in the Sky. p. 6)
Indeed, West presents a key point: the true meaning of human existence goes beyond the material world that surrounds us, it begins within the boundaries of our own skin. Neither science nor history have been able to provide real answers to philosophy’s great questions: Who are we? Where do we come from? What happens when we die? From the evolutionist point of view, there is no order or defined purpose, only chance. And chance determines what we perceive in the universe through our five senses. Man is just another animal, a physical being that shares a high percentage of DNA with chimps. But it is our differences from animals, those intellectual and rational attributes that make us human, that may lead us to question the idea of consciousness. We cannot deny that man needs food and shelter as other living beings, but he also asks questions and seeks answers about his own existence.
In this civilized world of immediate satisfaction, we think that having a powerful car, a new cell phone or a 3D TV means our lifestyle is far superior to that of indigenous people living in the deep jungle. It is true, we have more possessions, but does this equate to more happiness? Beyond this material wealth, humans still live and die as they did two, three or five thousand years ago. Civilization, as a frame of human existence in the past 5,000 years, has not only failed to connect us to our inner being, but is still unable to erase all of the problems our species faces.
In fact, the development of civilization has offered us several political-economic systems (including revolutions) which have tried to improve human existence, but they have not been successful. Perhaps this is because they have not reached the heart of the matter: man must first be transformed inside in order to change the world around him. Again and again we have seen philosophers and politicians make the same mistake when seeking to create a utopia. Thus, socialist ideology, which should have released humanity from the evils of western civilization, became a monster that forced men and women to live a materialistic and oppressive existence. Communism in the USSR demonstrates this clearly: thisworkers’ paradise was a totalitarian state that created its own imperialist policy all around the globe and was involved in several major wars from 1917 to 1991. At the end, the freedom of its people was hugely limited; they suffered very poor living conditions and terrible periods of political repression.
So, we see that civilization, in many forms throughout history, has completely failed to eliminate the selfishness and apparent need for confrontation that are at root of so many of humanity’s problems. Moreover, the arrival of capitalism in the recent centuries has only enhanced these negative attributes to land us in our current climate of consumerism and free economy where, while millions suffer famine around the world, huge quantities of food are destroyed in “civilized” countries in order to control the prices in the stock market. If we look at it like this, it is clear that somewhere along the line the evolution of civilization has gone very wrong; it hasn’t been able to improve the happiness of humanity at large, and it has not been able to provide a decent standard of living for all, instead it has just greatened the distance between rich and poor and increased the depths of human selfishness.
On the other hand, if we consider civilization as a set of values, knowledge, beliefs or products of a society, it is clear that the present world is really very complex and sometimes incomprehensible to the average citizen who has no idea of the final destination of human development. The modern civilized world looks like an astounding technological façade with no values or spirit behind it, except the materialist motivations. In this context, a growing sense of apathy and bewilderment seizes modern society. We cannot understand why one day we are fortunate and the next we have nothing, while many people grow up having nothing at all, not even hope. The multiple forms of corruption only increase this feeling of astonishment and indignation.
Now that we have all seen this scenario, perhaps it’s time to raise fearlessly a new vision, one where we have the right to judge and reject the “civilized world” for directly undermining the moral essence of man. And yet, the lack of obvious alternative to civilization impedes this change: people can only foresee a return to barbarism if we cast it off. But what could be worse than the barbarisms that we see in our world today? Are we blind to the things that are happening around us as long as we live a comfortable life? Isn’t this just more of the same selfishness and individualism?
The transformation of civilization it’s not about any kind of revolution, but about changing our focus from matter to spirit. Thus, in order to live in harmony with everyone and with our environment, in the mythical realm of the so-called “Golden Age”, we must transform our conscience. The first step in this global shift should be a personal commitment in our public and private behavior to live in alignment with love, dignity, solidarity, decency, honesty, and sincerity. Only then will humanity be on the right path, in a world that will not perhaps require large cities or flashy gadgets, but will give harmony to human communities and spiritual meaning to our lives.
This article was originally featured at GrahamHancock.com forum, an inspiring resource and conversation depot.
. . . our public and private behavior to live in alignment with . . .
Leave the ‘private behaviour to live in alignment with . . . ‘ zinger out of this article and the article would be near perfect. Common sense is that . . . love, dignity, solidarity, decency, honesty, and sincerity . . . vary from private AND consensual communities to others living their own . . . love, dignity, solidarity, decency, honesty, and sincerity . . . standard. If a bunch of people like BDSM or LGBT and cannibalism or limb hacking (Hudud Syariah Islam), perhaps overloud blaring of loudspeaker prayers as well, or any combination of the above (a gay Muslim? A cannibal Nudist?) AND also voluntarily and consciously assent to their *own version* of ‘mainstream love, dignity, solidarity, decency, honesty, and sincerity . . . ‘lifestyle in body mind and spirit and want their own districts or even cities (some nudist colonies already exist), as a civilised society, those of the ‘ ‘mainstream love, dignity, solidarity, decency, honesty, and sincerity . . . ‘lifestyle in body mind and spirit,’ AS PER civilisation and Voltarian mindsets, leave these people alone to their own preference and allow them spaces too.
Charting a path to a greener tomorrow – November 28 2011 at 11:22am – INLSA – Christiana Figueres, the executive secretary of the UNs Framework Convention on Climate Change. – Tony Carnie tony.carnie@inl.co.za
Christiana Figueres, the executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is the most senior official and negotiator in the UN climate change treaty system, and comes from a family dynasty steeped in the arts of politics and diplomacy.
Her father, Jose Figueres Ferrer, served three terms as president of the Central American nation of Costa Rica.
Her mother, Karen Olsen Beck, served as Costa Rica’s ambassador to Israel and was later elected a member of her country’s legislative assembly.
Her older brother, Jose Figueres Olsen, is also a past president of Costa Rica and her younger brother, Mariano Figueres Olsen, is currently active in politics.
NM Christian Figueres
The 55-year-old mother of two daughters is married to German-born Konrad von Ritter, a former head of the World Bank’s sustainable development unit.
She speaks Spanish, English and German, and is now based permanently in Bonn, Germany.
Figueres, who will play a key role in the COP17 negotiations in Durban, has worked as a private-sector consultant on carbon trading and has more than a decade of experience in previous climate talks as a member of the Costa Rican climate change negotiating team.
She grew up in Costa Rica in a farming community founded by her father and learned German at the Humboldt Schule.
Figueres later studied in England and the United States, graduating with a degree in anthropology from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in social anthropology from the London School of Economics.
She began her public service career in 1982 as a minister counsellor at the embassy of Costa Rica in Bonn, where she was responsible for negotiating the terms of technical assistance and development finance.
Returning to Costa Rica in 1987, she was appointed director of international co-operation in the Ministry of Planning and helped to negotiate financial and technical agreements with eight European countries.
A year later she became chief of staff to the minister of agriculture, before moving to Washington with her husband, who worked at the World Bank. She re-entered professional life in the mid-1990s, founding the Centre for Sustainable Development of the Americas, a think-tank promoting the participation of Latin American countries in the UN climate change treaty system.
She also helped to prepare several greenhouse gas reduction projects in the energy and industry sectors, and from 2007 to 2009 represented Latin America as vice-president of the Bureau of the UN Climate Convention.
She was also closely involved in the design and promotion of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), the carbon-trading offshoot scheme of the Kyoto Protocol, which allows developed nations to “offset” their greenhouse gas emissions in developing nations.
She has served as a member of the CDM executive board, advised several private-sector carbon-trading companies such as C Quest Capital, and was also a board member of Winrock International, which oversees the voluntary American Carbon Registry.
She was appointed to her current position as executive secretary of the UNFCCC early last year, taking over from Yvo de Boer of the Netherlands.
What is her role in the COP17 negotiations?
In a recent press briefing, Figueres described her main function as a facilitator “helping to kick the ball forward” during the Durban talks and to provide support to the host nation in reaching further agreements.
What are some of her expectations for the Durban talks?
“Climate change is possibly the largest challenge humanity has ever faced, but every conference of the parties is only a step in the right direction.
“We have to chart a path as we move forward. This journey has not been mapped before and every country will have to walk down that path together.
“What is needed is scale and speed.
“What we have done until now has been insufficient. It has been slow. Governments know this, but it is not only the responsibility of governments to move forward.
“The private sector needs to step up and provide the inputs they can. So must civil society.”
“Governments are the steering wheel on climate change, but in many instances the private sector is the motor which drives towards the targets.”
What is her own country doing to tackle climate change?
“Costa Rica produces only 0.001 percent of global greenhouse emissions. Yet we have taken on the target of carbon neutrality by 2021. We have taken the decision that it is every country’s moral responsibility to reduce carbon as much as possible.
“But we are not the only one. There is a growing sense that everyone can contribute to the solution, but in a differentiated manner.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Ever so obtusely nepotistic this personae appears to be. Perhaps she may be doing good work and her father was a truly utopian man on the ‘remove military’ issue, but Christiana should know that if this very post she is working at is due in any part to association, the right thing to do would be to leave after 2 terms equivalent VOLUNTARILY. UN salaries are princely sums and in as early as 2 terms anyone holding such posts could retire AND RIGHTLY SHOULD as there are many who could do with the experience with the opportunity to participate (we do not need UN Oligarchs holding posts like careerists, while so many equally qualified need both the job and the money for 2 terms). The ethical and moral thing should be clear for one with such a high minded policy background as Christiana’s.
This is as much everyone else’s world as Christiana’s to administer via the UN (and those plush jobs with perhaps overfat salaries) and by this very egalitarian and utopian thinking that would remove an entire military, 1 term per top level national academic/bureaucrat from aan appropriate portfolio, should be well and fine enough for anyone. The last thing we need is ‘UN Personalities’ preventing everyone else from having that job, more so being progeny of one of the world’s presidents even ministers. There is nothing worse than this form of ‘indirect nepotism’. Let there be a succcession of 1 term administrators at 1 four year term each and in 40 years and only 10 people would have had an opportunity to participate at the UN. Is this democratic? A BUREAUCRAT JUNTA forms at the UN, and Christiana cannot want to be representative of a Junta of any sort now can she? Christiana what say you?
Every citizen can militarise without a single cent spent with 2nd Amendment Rights and a healthy gun culture. Who needs to pay for a military? As for drills and discipline, that can be a weekend or evening hobby thing. But to take funds from taxpayers without their assent and via force of a mob minded politicians? Undemocratic! Save the cash and liberalise and dignify fellow citizens by allowing them the right to own weapons or opt outs and abstention from what would be forced conscriptions (bully and junta culture if anything), also only freemen carried weapons, the rest who did not were SERFS.
ARTICLE 5
Chinese Netizen Speaks Out: “China Spending As Much on Calming Civil Unrest As US on War Effort” – Sep 28, 2012 by Philip Kendall
Even putting current tensions between the country and Japan aside for the moment, China has seen a great deal of civil unrest in recent months. With citizens losing faith in their government, and the gap between the poor and the wealthy seemingly growing ever larger, it is little wonder that protests and riots are occurring more and more frequently.
At the end of June, pictures emerged of clashes between residents and armed police in the Canton region. It later become clear that the riot occurred following little more than a scuffle between two boys from neighbouring towns that got out of hand. Angry that men from the first boy’s town had entered into the argument, adults from the second boy’s town also became involved, and the spat quickly grew out of hand with thousands of locals eventually becoming involved in the fray.
During last week’s incredibly heated anti-Japanese demonstrations in China, images came forth of Chinese attacking and looting stores that bore no relation to Japan whatsoever. Of course, there’s a lot that can be said about the effects of mob mentality, and it’s easy for people, especially those who feel that they have been dealt an injustice by those in power and the wealthy, to become swept up in the mayhem.
As some of you may recall, in perhaps one of the country’s lowest moments, England saw three days of riots and mob violence in several major cities during the summer of 2011. What initially began as a protest in response to the shooting by police of a young man in London soon became violent, and within a matter of hours the streets were lost to thugs and petty criminals who mugged, robbed and smashed whatever and whomever they met.
When asked what their motivation was for such acts of senseless violence, many, particularly from poorer areas of the country, attempted to justify their behaviour by arguing that they received little-to-no support from the authorities, and that the areas in which they lived were run-down and often entirely forgotten by the government. Few would agree that reasons such as these justify their behaviour, but civil unrest, it would seem, is not an issue that China alone is facing.
China, however, is notoriously protective of its information, making it difficult for those of us outside the country to grasp the state or scale of the situation behind the great firewall beyond drip-fed images of protests and clashes.
So on September 19, when a Chinese internet user posted a message revealing the severity of the situation and posting some shocking figures relating to the Chinese government’s recent expenditure, it understandably made headlines.
“At this moment in time, the Chinese government is thought to be spending approximately eighty billion US dollars per year on issues of civil unrest and calming outbursts of this kind.”
The figure, although obviously huge, is difficult to visualise until the unnamed internet user presents us with an utterly mind-boggling comparison:
“If this level of spending continues, in five years China will have spent as much on dealing with its own civil unrest and local security as the US on its recent war budget.”
Shocking isn’t the word…
‘Love you long time . . . ‘ fading possibility if USA burns out in the Middle East . . . Don’t blame China then! Twas the Muslet!
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8 billion USD? Thats 24 billion Yuan. So that means the PRC from a propaganda/citizen appeasement fund alone, could make 24,000 millionaires yearly by direct distribution or make 48,000 ‘retire capable’ families yearly for an average of 100 to 200 thousand people pulled out of poverty. In 10 years 2 million people would be brought out of poverty directly into wealth or up to 10 million into the lower middle class. China will reach America’s poor suburb standards in 100 years at the current wealth growth rate IF there are no middlemen in the wealth distribution, massive increases in population, or wastage in propaganda expenditure (i.e. printing leaflets, holding meaningless feel good meetings etc..
Incidentally, USA spends 90 billion for education alone. So that means the USA could make 240,000 millionaires yearly by direct distribution instead of putting funds through the middle man bureaucracy – never mind that there are no degree holders in USA – or make 480,000 ‘retire capable’ families yearly for an average of 1 to 2 million people pulled out of poverty. In 10 years 20 million people would be brought out of poverty directly into wealth or up to 100 million into the lower middle class. USA will reach be poor sub-urb standards in 100 years at the current wealth growth rate IF there are no middlemen in the wealth distribution, massive increases in population, or wastage in propaganda expenditure (i.e. printing leaflets, holding meaningless feel good meetings etc.. or wars.
USA is already secure, but military adventurism and labour costs could be still destroy jobs. Suggest that MEDICINE be propagated as a free course so that healthcare will become virtually free and at very least removing compound interest for housing loans with options to complete payments over next generation or instead of foreclosures, having them be required to offer rooms to the civil servants as a form of national service that offsets or cancels debt at in liewu of payment. So think before foreclosing and displace and destroy communities. Thats just a home an education which should not have middleman parasites.
Would one prefer to be a degree holder or a millionaire? Would a citizen prefer ththat the Education-Financiar-Srudent-Debt Complex control society or that there be millionaires of every citizen? The plutocracy has abuses all those who are not millionaires, can only abuse degree holders who are not millionaires but loaded with debt – better a millionaire than a degree holder at compound interest and debt slavery in finaly, at the mercy of employers! The US government can dignify ALL citizens with the nation’s wealth not betray citizens to a a handful of ’employers’ or a handful of Univeersities which churn out degree holders with debt into a society woth no jobs, might as well liquidate the Education-Financiar-Student-Debt Complex and enrich the citizens directly by distribution of land and monies intended for ‘education’.
ARTICLE 6
China, Japan “too important” for row: IMF chief – Wednesday, 03 October 2012 16:43
TOKYO- The shaky global economy needs Japan and China to be fully engaged, the head of the IMF said, warning the world could not afford for the two countries to be distracted by their bitter territorial row.
Speaking to Japanese media ahead of the annual IMF meeting in Tokyo next week, Christine Lagarde said the two economic powerhouses needed to show a bit of neighbourly tolerance for the good of the whole world.
“Both China and Japan are key economic drivers that do not want to be distracted by territorial division,” Kyodo News agency quoted Lagarde as telling reporters in Washington, in an interview published on Wednesday.
“The current status of the economy and the global economy needs both Japan and China fully engaged,” she said.
China and Japan, the world’s second and third largest economies, are at loggerheads over a group of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea.
Tokyo administers the chain under the name Senkakus, but they are claimed by Beijing, which calls them the Diaoyus.
Chinese government ships regularly venture into waters around the islands, routinely ignoring orders to leave by Japanese coastguard vessels.
Increasingly vitriolic diplomatic exchanges, including at the United Nations in New York last week, and mass anti-Japanese protests in several Chinese cities have further unsettled the pair’s already fractious relationship.
Japanese firms operating in China were forced to shutter or scale back their operations when mobs attacked factories and shops. Some companies also complained of tightened customs inspections and difficulties obtaining visas for their foreign staff.
Lagarde said neighbouring countries had to display “a certain degree of tolerance” if they were to rub along effectively.
The IMF managing director was speaking ahead of her trip to Japan next week when Tokyo hosts meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, in what will be the world’s largest single gathering of finance officials, bankers and non-government organisations.
Dow Jones Newswires reported late Tuesday several big Chinese banks had cancelled their participation in events connected to the meetings, in what it said was a sign of the bilateral row leaching into the broader, economic realm.
Most of the banks have not given a reason for their last-minute pull-outs but one unnamed person was explicit.
“Quite frankly, it’s Japan-China relations,” Dow Jones quoted an official at the Tokyo branch of the Agricultural Bank of China as saying.
The bank will withdraw from both IMF-related events and another financial industry conference planned in the western Japanese city of Osaka at the end of October.
The global economy has struggled to shrug off the effects of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, slowing growth in China and lingering concerns over the faltering US economic recovery.
Lagarde said European countries “have made huge progress” already on the road to recovery, but “more needs to be done”, according to Kyodo.
She said the “fiscal cliff” in the United States — the anticipated termination of income tax cuts and a massive spending reduction in early 2013 — also poses a threat to the global recovery.
“My dearest objective is that the countries participating in the IMF annual meeting in Tokyo would be prepared to come together, act together and try to go beyond the crisis to sustain the recovery,” she was quoted as saying.
– AFP
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Note that IMF can have a meaningless meeting without China in Osaka, or choose to relocate the meeting to South Korea or some other venue and PERHAPS have China join in. Fiat peddling by IMF btw is meaningless. So this will be a meaningless IMF meeting without any real underwritten nations in attendance. China will only even attend IMF because of the political presence issue. Going to IMF meetings will mean China is going to drop money, and with the unwritten insult by having the IMF meeting in Osaka (US military base there and in Japan – indirect asset to Japan’s illegal territorial claim), China loses out doubly, insulted and has to help IMF bail out nations? No point turning up. IMF caused this boycott by not considering the above.
ARTICLE 7
Death of the High Street Salesmen: Banks banned from taking commission to sell you duff products – by Tony Hazell – PUBLISHED: 23:39 GMT, 2 October 2012 | UPDATED: 09:02 GMT, 3 October 2012
The hard sell: Stepping into your bank for advice can mean coming up against an old-fashioned sales pitch like those that influenced Death Of A Salesman.
Going to a bank branch for help with an Isa, pension or other investment has traditionally been like plunging into a pool of piranhas.
You could almost sense the commission-hungry salesmen circling, teeth bared, ready to rip into your purse or wallet.
But from January all that should change. At least that’s the plan.
What is happening to financial advice?
New rules will outlaw commission on new sales of financial products and force all financial advisers, whether in a bank branch or independent, to charge separately for advice.
Some banks — including Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC — are so terrified of telling customers how much they have been charging they are pulling out of offering investment advice to ordinary High Street customers.
Advice will still be available in some banks, but only for wealthy individuals. Paying fees for advice will come as a shock to many who have believed advice is free because the charges have been so sneakily hidden.
But it shouldn’t cost you any more overall, so long as the financial industry behaves fairly —which remains to be seen.
More investing and pensions advice
High Street banks are set to change the way in which they offer financial advice
You should be better off
In fact, Money Mail has calculated that even after paying fees you could be hundreds or even thousands of pounds better off in the long run because your investment won’t be being drained by commission taken every year. On a £10,000 investment a bank or financial adviser may take as much as 8? per cent in initial commission, meaning only £9,200 of your money is actually invested.
Raising standards: Financial advisers will be better qualified
More insidious is so-called trail commission. This can be taken from your investment every year, knocking thousands of pounds off your profits in the long run.
From January 1, all financial advisers will have to charge fees instead. For instance, they may levy £350 for advice on an investment Isa or £600 on a pension.
The key thing is that because you are paying the fee, you can feel comfortable the advice is being made in your best interests, rather than to bring them a fat commission cheque.
You will be able to pay the fee by cash, cheque or debit card. Or you could choose to have the money taken from the amount you are investing.
If it is advice on an existing investment, you can even choose to have the money taken from that investment.
This may sound similar to commission, but there is a vital difference: the fee is agreed by you and your financial adviser rather than set by the company that is trying to sell the product.
You are the customer and you will be in control.
How commission eats investments
Commission swipes billions of pounds from our investments every year. Pension and investment companies set commission levels on everything they sell.
In a BBC Radio 4 programme called The Sins Of Commission, which was broadcast in May 2005, Aviva admitted to increasing the commission it paid when it wanted to sell more pensions. It is not alone.
Products such as investment trusts, which have low charges for investors but pay little or no commission, sell far less than investment bonds, which have much higher charges and pay large amounts of commission.
Successive scandals such as mis-selling of pensions, endowments and precipice bonds can all be traced back to commission.
What will financial advice cost?
That’s the million dollar question — and it’s the one banks and building societies planning to give advice in the High Street are as yet refusing to answer.
However, the website Unbiased.co.uk — an organisation that helps consumers find an independent financial adviser in their area — has surveyed its members.
They say you might be charged £350 on average to set up an investment Isa, £600 for advice on setting up a pension and £750 for building a strategy for investing a £25,000 lump sum.
Don’t be scared off by these figures. Remember you’ve been paying for advice all along. It’s just been picked from your pocket in the form of commission and other charges.
Let’s compare how the different charges might affect a £10,000 investment into a stock market Isa if it grew by 6? per cent a year before commission and charges were taken out. Under the current regime, you might typically make £5,219 profit after ten years or £13,645 profit after 20 years.
Under the new regime, without commission you might make £6,288 profit after ten years and £16,532 after 20 years. So you could be almost £3,000 better off after 20 years just because you paid a £350 fee upfront rather than let the adviser take commission.
This, of course, assumes the investment management companies that sell most investment Isas play fair and cut their annual charges to reflect the fact they no longer pass on commission to advisers.
Even if the adviser charged £2 a month for holding your fund you could still be more than £2,000 better off after 20 years.
You could even choose to have the initial advice fee of £350 taken from your investment and just invest £9,650. This would still leave you £500 better off after ten years and £1,600 better off over 20 years because the annual commission would not be taken from your savings.
The key thing with fees is to agree how much you will pay and how you will pay it. You may pay hourly, for a single project, for an ongoing service or an annual review.
Also check up on any extras they may charge, such as travel expenses or postage. And if the fees are similar, there should be no barrier stopping you from choosing to go to an independent adviser rather than using a bank.
Simplifying: Fees for financial advice could become less confusing under the new changes
Traps that mean it isn’t curtains for hidden fees?
Well, no. Think of it as a zombie: walking dead but still preying on you. Commission of any kind will not be allowed on new investments that you buy following advice. It will also not be allowed on any top-ups you make to existing investments following advice.
But you can still be charged trail commission on any lump sum or regular payments that are agreed before December 31, 2012.
So if you are already making a £100-a-month payment to a pension and continue making this, the adviser will continue to receive commission on each new payment.
They’ll also still receive the annual trail commission — typically 0.5? per cent a year on an investment Isa.
So if you have £100,000 in investment Isas, you could still lose £500 a year to commission even if the adviser does nothing.
On some pensions, investment bonds and endowments commission can be far higher.
Some investors will have paid tens of thousands in trail commission without even knowing it.
And banks hope to exploit another loophole. If you top up an existing investment and don’t take advice before doing so, they can also charge commission on that extra money.
For instance, if you are paying £100 a month into a pension and you increase the payment to £150 a month without receiving more advice, the adviser can take commission on the whole lot.
This is crucial for bank customers, because those banks which are no longer giving advice will be able to take commission on top-ups you make to your pension, Isas and other investments. You may therefore do better to buy an entirely new investment rather than top up an existing one.
How advisers will be better qualified
In another radical move, regulators have insisted financial advisers must be better qualified and investors must be given a much clearer idea of the type of advice they are receiving.
This is part of a process known as the retail distribution review. The Financial Services Authority has insisted all advisers must undertake fresh training and exams which are the equivalent to the first year of a degree course. Until now, the basic exams have barely been more than GCSE standard.
The FSA had three key aims. These are to ensure investors:
Are offered a transparent and fair charging system for advice;
Are clear about the service they receive;
Receive advice from highly respected professionals.
There will also be basically four types of advice available from the new year.
These are:
An independent financial adviser who must look at the whole market and all types of investment. Currently, some ignore products such as investment trusts and exchange traded funds that have lower charges or don’t pay commission.
An adviser who is independent in specific areas. These will specialise in one or more types of advice such as pensions, investments or long term care. But within their specialism they will look at every type of product you could use. If you want help in an area outside their specialism they must send you elsewhere.
Restricted advisers who will only offer products from a limited number of companies. For instance, they may only offer investments from one insurer or from half a dozen unit trust companies.
Staff who only carry out the sale. This category is for do-it-yourself investing with no advice at all. However, there may be guides or newsletters giving you ideas for investments and explaining strategy.
When seeking advice you should check what category of adviser you are dealing with and what qualification and experience they have, especially if you need specialist help on issues such as your pension or long-term care.
To find a qualified adviser near you, go to thisismoney.co.uk/adviser.
What do banks and advisers say?
As you can imagine, there has been a lot of whingeing because banning commission will remove a secret and lucrative source of income. Karen Barrett, of Unbiased, takes a more optimistic line.
‘People have always paid for advice but thought it was free because the charges were disguised as commission,’ she says.
‘Now people can choose to pay a fee for a project such as sorting out an inheritance or for a one-off piece of advice such as setting up an Isa or they can pay an annual retainer.’
Surveys have suggested around 10? per cent of independent financial advisers may quit because they do not want to take the new exams or believe people will not pay for their advice.
Others may give up being fully independent and will instead specialise in certain areas such as pensions, general investment or long-term care planning. Lloyds, Barclays and HSBC have pulled out of offering advice to ordinary customers altogether.
RBS has announced 618 redundancies in its financial planning unit and HSBC cut 650 tied advisers.
Barclays had already closed its financial planning arm following the scandal exposed by Money Mail which saw risk-averse customers invested in high-risk investments — and resulted in a £7.7 million fine.
The banks’ exodus has led to concerns there will be an ‘advice gap’ with no one to guide the novice or small investor. But others, such as Nationwide, remain committed to providing advice in the High Street and may well plug at least part of the gap left by the big banks.
The comments below have not been moderated.
Its about time these hidden charges were exposed.. Afterall its only advice with no guarantees..
– steve , sheffield, 03/10/2012 13:36
Rating 2
Given that sellers of financial products have been operating for decades and generating a handsome income from the commission earned, but hidden and paid for by the end user what precisely is the effect of these changes? You now will pay an upfront fee, which can be deducted from the amount that you wish to invest, and the net amount can be invested achieving a better return as the fund will not be paying hidden commission charges to the salesman (sorry financial expert). If IFA are charging £150/hour then it is probably more expensive than getting your car serviced and if your unhappy knowing that you are paying this rate (instead of the ignorance of paying a hidden commission) then you could always do your own research and come up with a sensible investment strategy and keep your fingers crossed as you would with the advice from any IFA!
– Paul F , Leeds, United Kingdom, 03/10/2012 13:32
Rating 3
Seeing a Financial Advisor will become like visiting a Solicitor – expensive, but the advice is generally worth it’s weight. A tough decision with 3 outcomes: 1. the rich get better advice (ie richer); 2 the poor get no advice and will be limited to bank-based cash despoits (ie poorer); and 3. misselling should be avoided (though misselling only becomes a problem when the market falls and everyone sees whose been swimming naked)…
– Mark Howes , Brighton, United Kingdom, 03/10/2012 11:42
Rating 3
I didn’t know they sold Duff products I thought that was something Homer Simpson drunk.
It has never been the salespeople it has always been the products themselves that are badly designed and administered. This does nothing to address the real issue.
– john heppell , Norwich, 03/10/2012 07:36
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8 percent is an extreme sum. Who are these Shylocks? Con men and confidence tricksters are what these so called ‘advisors’ are. Not a cent or a single drop of blood, much less this 8% pound of flesh. Even if one could afford the insurance or ‘advise fees’. Ridiculous capitalism/corporatism. Heres some advice for the ‘advisors’. Try making and selling real goods and services instead of expecting people to pay for regurgitation of capitalist rubbish from courses and classes that have no bearing or reality. Lets have REAL goods and services. Build real things. A bundle of firewood and some dressed meat for a barbecue has more value than ‘advice’ or scraps of paper.
Who says salesmen die because they cannot sell ‘advice’? Sell useful things and people will still buy. Bottles of milk, bread, flour, butter salt, cloth, small and useful tools, basic sundries perhaps, electronics, artwork, ceramics, furniture etc.. – but don’t expect a single cent for capitalist/red-tape claptrap of the ‘finance’ industry. 8%? Dream on, the bank barely give give interest to depositors more than 1% these days (Russia has 8% interest as of this posting BUT if WW3 breaks out and Russia decided to stop all transactions, say goodbye to your money . . . ).
Selling so-called ‘financial products’ based around non-existent ‘monetised debt’ (which caused the US banking crisis and massive homelessness from foreclosures) or fractionated trading of commodities and precious metals on non-existent REAL goods, while the idiot banking conman, dares takes 8% of principal? No advice is worth 8% of the whole transaction! Even housing agents demand only 1%, the ‘financial product advisor’ doesn’t even do any traveling or legwork like meeting lawyers etc.!
NO WAY. Perhaps 10% of the bank’s current interest rate could be tolerable which means a flat 1% at 10% interest rates for fixed deposit which are virtually impossible to find even as INFLATION is more than 10% most of the time, with GOLD the only thing keeping up with inflation. Theres no such thing as fiat money either. None with any intelligence will miss associating with these finance conmen. Vote properly meanwhile, the banking and finance industry are overgrown parasites, even education has become a parasite system (Student Debt Finaciar Complex), the legal system and enforcement (Prison Contractor-Supplier Crony Complex) yet another. Bad laws lead to bad society, leads to bad citizens.
Banks have failed and have been running at loss for decades WHILE paying gigantic millions level bonuses, to so-called CEOs and Executives (even at loss to the citizens, stockholders of bank stocks), and only are propped by taxmonies citizens stupidly GIVE the corrupted and colluding MPs or Governors in governments who never lower taxes or add VAT and GST on top of EXISTING taxes not to mention Road Tolls or other crony projects! Drop the greed minded conjob low class mentality (though high wealth) cheating bastards among citizens! Boycott ALL banking ‘products’ and the parasite ‘advisors’ who need to produce REAL GOODS or offer REAL SERVICES instead of helping the bank conning the people with ‘so-called ‘banking products’!
Here’s the truth of ‘human’ ‘reality’. There is only land and resources, manufacture and production of real goods, perhaps barter of livestock – and politics or religion at most discursiveness being proof and manner of obtaining stature – NOTHING ELSE – especially false ‘finance’ and false ‘banking’. Barter solves everything, the REAL GOODS and REAL LABOUR market, not a stack of paper that represents nothing, not even commodities pushed by liars and sellouts in suits and ties.
With these ‘financial products’ one may get fiat money (under no guarantee either . . . which on top of that is already destroying the finance system and civilisation), with which one can buy things with and enrich oneself with. But anyone who chooses the expedience of ‘destroying society’s real goods or real labour financial reality ‘a little’ by buying any financial plans at any return of whatever rate, are unethical criminals destroying financial stability which the Finance Ministry of the government in most capitalist countries actually dare allow!
ARTICLE 8
All covered up! Woman arrested for having sex in the back of a Dubai taxi arrives for court hearing in a hijab – by Leon Watson – PUBLISHED: 11:07 GMT, 3 October 2012 | UPDATED: 12:52 GMT, 3 October 2012
Rebecca Blake, 29, is facing a prison sentence after her alleged tryst
She appeared with Irish welder Conor McRedmond at Dubai Criminal Court
The British businesswoman accused of having drunken sex in the back of a Dubai taxi turned up to court today wearing a hijab.
Rebecca Blake, 29, from Dorking, Surrey, was sacked from her £100,000 a year job as a recruitment consultant following the scandal and is facing a prison sentence after her alleged tryst with Irish welder Conor McRedmond.
Both appeared at Dubai Criminal Court today.
Following her arrest, Miss Blake insisted she had only been in the taxi for five minutes before the driver reported her to police – but admitted ‘I’m no saint’ and that she’d drunk so much the whole incident is a ‘blur’.
Rebecca Blake, 29, is accused of having sex in the back of a Dubai taxi with Irish welder Conor McRedmond
She also described her five days of hell in Bur Dubai women’s holding prison, where she was bitten by cockroaches.
Miss Blake told The Sun how the day, on May 4, started at noon with a four-hour-long all-you-can-drink brunch at Dubai’s exclusive Rotana Hotel.
‘It’s all a blur’: £100k-per-year British woman accused of having sex in a Dubai taxi reveals she went on a 10 hour drinking marathon before arrest
Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood MP sparks fury by asking female journalist if her questions would be ‘as hot as she is’
She told the newspaper: ‘There’s constant alcohol – your drink won’t even be half gone before you get given a new one. I was table hopping, drinking white wine and just generally having a great time.
‘I don’t know how much I had, they just kept filling up the glass. I like to party and I like to drink. I’m a single girl with a good job and I am no saint.
‘It had been a great day – I was dancing and drinking from 12 noon till gone 10 at night.
Covered up: Blake, 29, wore a hijab to face the charges at Dubai Criminal Court
Rebecca Blake, 29, is accused of having sex in the back of a Dubai taxi with Irish welder Conor McRedmond, 28
Irish welder Conor McRedmond, 28, outside Dubai Criminal Court
Blake, 29, from Dorking, Surrey, has been sacked from her £100,000 a year job as a recruitment consultant and is facing a prison sentence after her alleged tryst with McRedmond
Fired: A tearful Rebecca Blake has lost her job at recruintment firm Manpower
The 29-year-old and her friends carried on drinking at the hotel for another two hours, before heading off to another bar, where the party continued until after 10pm.
At 10.30pm, Miss Blake and her friend Conor McRedmond, 28, decided to go home.
The pair hailed a cab towards Dubai Marina.
Minutes later they were spotted in a passionate embrace by the driver in his rear view mirror, according to police reports.
Rebecca Blake, 29, and Conor McRedmond were arrested after an all-day drinking binge
Incensed by their behaviour, the driver stopped and complained to police in a patrol car parked nearby.
When he returned with an officer, they allegedly saw Miss Blake having sex on the back seat of the cab with Mr McRedmond.
Miss Blake refused to discuss what went on in the taxi, but admitted the events are a blur.
She said: ‘We were only in the taxi for five minutes before the driver pulled over. I can’t speak about anything in the cab for legal reasons. But I didn’t know what was going on. It is all a blur and I don’t really remember how it all came about.’
The pair were held for five days and accused of having sex outside marriage and being drunk in a public place – both criminal offences in the strict Islamic state.
Miss Blake described her time behind bars as ‘hell’ and revealed she suffered a panic attack after waking up to find cockroach bites on her face.
She’s currently free on bond, but faces up to three years in jail if convicted – and is terrified of the prospect of going back to prison.
She said: ‘Looking back I literally went from having fun dancing in the sun to an underground dungeon hell in a matter of hours. I must have dozed off a little bit (in her cell) because when I woke up I had a cockroach bite on my face.
‘It was vile – the worst nightmare you could possibly imagine. I had a panic attack and thought, “s***, I am in prison.” I was literally terrified.
‘I am preparing myself for going back to prison and I really don’t know how to cope with it. I don’t know if I will. It could finish me if I have to go back inside that hell-hole.’
Mr McRedmond, who is thought to work for an engineering firm, also denies the charges.
Those convicted of having sex outside marriage face a sentence of between one month and three years under Dubai law.
Strict Islamic state: Those convicted of having sex outside marriage face a sentence of between one month and three years under Dubai law.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Spoilsport snob/fundo driver/society. Maybe the cabbies should have signs on the taxi that say if they allow or disallow sex in their taxi. Being drunk is a form of ‘temporary insanity’ though harmless actions like sex in a taxi should be overlooked, or issued with warnings especially in foreign countries. Punishment for repeat offenses could be justifiable, but even then not excessive.
ARTICLE 9
Going nowhere fast… the Ferrari proudly put on display outside police headquarters to deter uninsured drivers – by Daily Mail Reporter – PUBLISHED: 18:07 GMT, 27 September 2012 | UPDATED: 18:07 GMT, 27 September 2012
The driver of this supercar would probably rather be ragging it around a racetrack or attracting admiring glances while cruising down some of London’s most glamorous streets.
But this fluorescent orange Ferrari won’t be going very far at all for the time being – although it still may demand some attention.
The £200,000 vehicle, which has a top speed of 208mph and can go from 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds, is being used to highlight a major campaign by police to target uninsured motorists.
Seized: The £200,000 Ferrari FF is on display outside New Scotland Yard as part of a campaign to clamp down on uninsured drivers
The 28-year-old owner of the FF model has not yet claimed the car back after it was seized in South Kensington.
The car, which has been placed alongside an £18,000 Mercedes belonging to a disqualified driver, has the phrase ‘uninsured vehicle seized by police’ plastered on its windscreen.
The display comes on the 11th day of action in the campaign – dubbed Operation Cubo – which has so far seized a total of nearly 37,000 uninsured vehicles since it began in October last year.
By this afternoon, a total of 300 vehicles were seized and 30 arrests made for various offences including driving while disqualified, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of class A drugs.
Captured: The Ferrari has been placed next to a £18,000 Mercedes which belongs to a disqualified driver
Clampdown: The two cars are on display outside New Scotland Yard as part of Operation Cubo, a major campaign to target uninsured motorists
While the cars are on display outside New Scotland Yard, a number of seized vehicles will also be on show in prominent positions around London as part of the campaign.
For all to see: Seized vehicles will be on show in prominent positions around the capital while the supercars are displayed to passers-by
During the ten Operation Cubo days held so far, more than 750 people have been arrested for a variety of offences including rape, possession of illegal firearms, money laundering and drugs.
Firearms, other weapons and large quantities of cash and drugs have also been recovered.
Commander Stephen Watson, who is leading the operation, said: ‘Operation Cubo has achieved some outstanding results and we expect another large haul of vehicle seizures today, and more importantly a number of arrests – including arrests for some very serious offences.
‘We are targeting criminals by denying them the use of the roads so it’s much harder for them to commit crime.
‘The overwhelming majority of people who don’t insure their cars are also habitual criminals.
‘We’re also helping to make London’s roads safer as uninsured drivers are more likely to have collisions and less likely to have road-worthy vehicles.
‘By displaying seized vehicles across London, we are sending a strong message to people who choose to drive without insurance that we will seize and possibly sell or crush your vehicle.’
‘Nearly 37,000 vehicles have now been seized since we began our initiative and hundreds of criminals arrested.
‘Cubo uses highly visible, but effective tactics that capture criminals in the act and deter their offending, while reclaiming London’s roads for responsible and law-abiding drivers.’
Crime: During the ten Operation Cubo days held so far, more than 750 people have been arrested for a variety of offences.
Commentator Comments :
YOU CAN INSURE YOUR ‘CAR FOR ANY DRIVER’ Why the hell are people going on about this..?!?!?!!? – paulus…, staffordshire, 3/10/2012 14:10 Nonsense! Young drivers cannot get “any driver” cover nor can those who own high performance cars are 2 examples I can think of off the top of my head.
– Paul , Swansea, 03/10/2012 14:39
Rating (0)
Insurance companies invented small print, there are more exclusions than inclusions in a policy. An insurance company, when they have a claim against their insurance, will first look at ALL avenues to get out of that claim, if that isn’t possible, they might pay! Not something new, that’s how they have always operated and will continue to operate.
– Wild Bill , Thailand, 03/10/2012 14:29
Rating 2
There is nothing pleasurable about driving anymore now. The tax on fuel is a joke, if you are in certain stereotypes, like under 25, you are lawfully discriminated against by insurers, whether you are a safe and able driver or not. There are too many cars and not enough road and people rushing around, others driving at dangerously slow speeds and those that don’t have the skill or interest and shouldn’t have been given a licence. All you can do is watch out and try and protect yourself.
– DAN , Gateshead, 03/10/2012 14:25
Rating 1
I suspect another 2 million drive DELIBERATELY without insurance due to the escalating costs and the fines for being caught being less than the insurance!
– Dave , Oban, 03/10/2012 14:23
Rating 6
– paulus… , staffordshire, 03/10/2012 14:06 ——————————- You are spot on. ————– Also, people should always check their ‘personal injury’ coverage terms, because some shady insurance companies will have a clause that exempts them if the accident was your fault. ——————— Another nice little tip is to check and see if your insurance extends to rental cars. Often rental car companies try to sell you very expensive insurance policies, but your own personal insurance may cover you in rental cars as well, which means you do not need to pay for the rental companies insurance. ————————– It’s always nice to know what you are covered for before the issue comes up, and what you’re not covered for in case you want to change that.
– Completely Average , Somewhere, United States, 03/10/2012 14:14
Rating (0)
YOU CAN INSURE YOUR ‘CAR FOR ANY DRIVER’ Why the hell are people going on about this..?!?!?!!?
I used to work in car insurance claims and a lot of people seem to think that comp cover allows them to drive any car. sheesh, read your policy.
– lara , pontypridd, United Kingdom, 03/10/2012 14:07
Rating 1
It never ceases to amaze me how little most people actually know about at insurance. Myths seem more prevalent than facts..! Firstly, insurance isn’t mainly covering your car, you’re asking the company to insure everyone else’s car, property and personal safety against what YOU might do to it. Comprehensive insurance also covers damage to your car in some circumstances. The ‘driving other cars’ extension has never been automatic and had absolutely nothing to do with whether you have a comprehensive policy or not. This is just an old wives tale. You can have this extension to drive other cars with or without comp insurance, and you can have comp insurance with or without the ‘driving other cars’ extension. It’s about time people started actually reading their policy and certificate to understand what they have bought rather than relying on the myths and old wives takes about car insurance. I do accept however that the language should be clearer in policy documents.
The ‘driving other cars’ extension has NEVER been automatic and has absolutely nothing to do with whether you have comprehensive insurance or not. This is about stupid people believing old wives tales about insurance rather than confirming the facts.
Used to be the case that this was automatic. Now its another money making scam by the insurance companies. – Bobk, Aldershot, 3/10/2012 7:17 It usually is automatic, on Comprehensive policies. It’s never been automatic on Third Party Fire & Theft. Lauren’s case here doesn’t look right though – she would never be insured TPFT on her mother’s Comp policy. She would normally be covered to drive her mum’s car with TPFT cover on her own Comprehensive insurance. Because of her age she may have been TPFT insured on her own car meaning she wouldn’t normally have Driving Other Cars automatically included. It’s not really insurance companies scamming anybody – it’s a nationwide lack of understanding which insurance companies need to do more to address (in my opinion).
– Alan , Bradford, 03/10/2012 13:53
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Again I say, GET YOUR MPS TO ABOLISH PENALTIES FOR LACK OF INSURANCE! Or include opt outs for insurance. Many careful drivers DO NOT need insurance, if accidents occur for the careless, the offending driver can be penalised, but the careful uninsured driver should not be penalised for not having insurance. Larger penalties applied after accidents are meaningful BUT to penalise for merely not having insurance is unreasonable. Who writes these abusive laws? Who refuses to amend these abusive laws? If lots of people somehow feel they have to pay an insurance company (most likely crony colluder/proxy), does that mean that all those who do not want to pay insurance are forced to pay as well under threat of fines and imprisonment? This is uncivilised and undemocratic.
ARTICLE 10
Obama Didn’t Save the Auto Industry: He Took Away 2,200 Dealerships and 120,000 Jobs – Posted on October 1, 2012 | 3 Comments
As a Catholic who works in the trade association profession in the auto industry it was unsettling to hear President Obama claim that he saved the auto industry. President Obama closed over 2,200 auto dealerships, which caused the losses of decades old family-owned businesses and over 120,000 jobs they provided. The closures were allowed to happen under the false notion that auto dealerships were an expense on their auto maker. The President ignored the fact that auto dealers are not an expense to automakers. Auto makers own none of what you see at auto dealerships. Auto dealers own all their property; the cars and trucks, parts, buildings, land, signs, everything. The dealerships pay their employee’s salaries and millions of dollars in taxes to state and local governments. The manufacturer has nothing to do with any of these things.
Facts:
President Obama purposefully and unjustly took away 2,200 self-sufficient, family owned businesses under the false premise that they were an expense on their auto manufacturer. He deliberately put these people in debt with no way to recover. Auto dealers still cannot sell their closed properties.
President Obama’s decision to close dealerships cost 120,000 persons their jobs and livelihood.
The President’s action defrauded auto dealers of their property rights and their employees of their wages.
The President’s actions against auto dealers violated the Catholic social teaching principles of social justice and the common good by removing owners rights to their property and defrauding workers of their wages. His actions (he calls it “shared sacrifice”) were an example of collectivism, centralized planning and socialism. All of these ideas are rejected by America and all are rejected by Catholic teaching in regard to the commandment, “thou shall not steal.”
Many people have forgotten what damage President Obama did to the auto industry and the auto dealer and their employees. Please remind them.
Peter L. Hodges Sr.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Heres a Spiritual Theory on Vehicles/Machines/Electronic Devices and Anime :
Christians are ALL involved in abuse of the ‘Nature Spirits’ within mankind. A car dealer deals in sequestration and slavery of ‘machine spirits’ of which some may be bonded with LIVING organic being spirits. Obama is aware of the esoteric level of things here, Hodges is either ignorant or fronting for more Catholic abuse of non-human spirits that do not know the difference between humans and machines. Granted binding of organic souls to machines is a skill, but a skill unnatural and abusive of beings that can evolve and ‘grow up’ keeping them in a state of spiritual stagnancy, enslaved to the coarse matter, in this case CARS. By breaking these businesses Obama is FREEING spirits that will evolve and one day look back on mankind with a more forgiving eye. Those who disparage these actions, are not on the correct spiritual page like so many pedophile priests that Christianity hides in the same way machines bind the souls of chidren who are sexually abused.
I doubt this will get to be featured among thesii for Occult works, but here goes. ANY car company that uses an anime character’s name is intentionally doing that and in an unethical and morally/spiritually illegal manner. any anime company that does not challenge the use of that character’s name used in a car model is colluding to sequester the ‘fapper’s’ SPIRITUAL energy. There are physical laws protecting PHYSICAL property and now if SPIRITUAL LAWS are to be considered to protect INTANGIBLE SPIRITUAL ENERGY as well, the car companies and anime companies need to compensate ANY person who masturbated to any anime character which has NLP or name links. The so-called ‘fap-material’ is to steal souls from people who masturbate if anything, and that is why Christianity does not allow abortions or masturbation (preferably).
The anime character has a life in the ether the instance they are electronically depicted on television/internet (or scanned) and the ‘fapability’ is in fact the astral/ethereal form being formed/summoned for sexual gratification. This is also how relationships can and do break up because of the weaker mindeds’ obsessions with anime or less obviously, real porn stars who’s presence is increasingly blurred as technologically the difference between real and manufactured become indistinguishable and distinct.
So when buying a car, or fapping to anime, make sure the anime company in question has not colluded with a car company via naming similarity, that could steal your sexual pleasure. This is also why depiction of idols is forbidden in Islam and why hermitages or isolation cells are used by spiritualists. To protect the unwary or the weak minded as well as formulate spiritual theories such as this. That sexual energy is the energy of life and one ends up in the astral or ether – the more one faps, though if the spirit police (your ethical religious orders or religions) if sufficiently numerous AND ethical to ensure astral or ethereal energies lost are returned equitably as other beings die, the above issues can be ignored to an extent. This is also the attraction of castration of animals (neutered animals are cruelly tied to owners for the owner’s sexual pleasure in some cases – particularly vigorous sexual sessions do result in animal deaths), mass murder, torture and the desire of ‘demons’ and ‘succubi’ (real or ethereal) to cause the above as well as people whp have pets or deal with animals are ‘sexy’. They’re disgusting parasites off the neutered beasts for mere pleasure that do not have the capacity for! This is also why harems are important among the upper classes who can affo\rd the luxury, this is also why some children leave formerly close knit familes and never go back or avoid going back, as well as the basis of incest.
To avoid all of the above, live in a low density place (an acre per family is minimal, forget about high rises or even rabbit hutch terraces or ‘duplexes’ or high density bungalows) that do not have animals, and ‘fap out’ the animals or unwanted/unwilling persons somehow caught in your sexual field and make sure anime characters do not share names with any vehicle models or machines or even brand name perfumes etc.. Return to the weather system ‘Sylphy‘ . . . the word Sylph or any permutation is RESERVED as much as Undine or any other mythical beast or personality. ‘Apollo’ angers the ether for certain (guess why those astronauts had to die), so please make up a new name and avoid accidental NLPs in other languages if possible.
Do debunk or challenge above postulations!
ARTICLE 11
Local News Anchor Responds On-Air to Viewer Email Telling Her She’s Too Fat for TV – by Neetzan Zimmerman – Oct 2, 2012 2:56 PM
In a special four-minute comment that aired during this morning’s news broadcast on La Crosse, Wisconsin’s CBS affiliate WKBT, news anchor/reporter Jennifer Livingston responded to a viewer who wrote in to the station to chide Livingston for not providing “a suitable example for this community’s young people, girls in particular,” by appearing on television despite being overweight.
The letter had already gone viral thanks to Livingston’s husband, 6 and 10 anchor Mike Thompson, who posted it on his Facebook page, calling it “infuriating” and “sick.”
“The truth is, I am overweight,” Livingston acknowledged. “You can call me fat – and yes, even obese on a doctor’s chart. But to the person who wrote me that letter, do you think I don’t know that? That your cruel words are pointing out something that I don’t see?”
She continued:
You don’t know me. You are not a friend of mine. You are not a part of my family, and you have admitted you don’t watch this show. You know nothing about me but what you see on the outside, and I am much more than a number on a scale.
Proving that she was most certainly “a suitable example for this community’s young people,” and “girls in particular,” Livingston concluded her necessary rant with an appeal to bullied children everywhere.
To all of the children out there who feel lost, who are struggling with your weight, with the color of your skin, your sexual preference, your disability, even the acne on your face, listen to me right now. Do not let your self-worth be defined by bullies. Learn from my experience – that the cruel words of one are nothing compared to the shouts of many.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Only frumps and uglies or aging set types, will be taken seriously for serious news. A 911 Twin towers would be almost farcical if done by a slim or bimbo type. Fluff news or at very most weather however, this news anchor is indeed too fat. Talk about above waist issues, bring on the fatties, the chunkier the balder the uglier the better. One cant concentrate on serious issues, looking at beautiful people, too busy admiring.
ARTICLE 12
City of Toronto Workers Destroy Free Community Food Garden Amid Growing Food Crisis, page 1
So here we have yet another case of showing us who is in control over our rights to food.
Some of you may remember when I posted a thread on a woman in the US who had the city actually rip out her edible plants only to leave her with nothing and a couple in Canada who were threatened with the same action, only they fought City Hall and won.
Now we have Toronto playing food cops and removing an entire Community garden with no chance even to harvest.
toronto.mediacoop.ca…
Amid a growing food crisis, this morning workers from the City of Toronto were ordered by City of Toronto Parks Director Richard Ubbens that all live plants and food be removed from the People’s Peas Garden in Queens Park. They were ordered to take the plants and food to the dump and lay sod overtop of this most beautiful free community food garden, without warning, without a chance to remove the rare heirloom plant species or harvest the food.
Growing for 5 Months and having hundreds of volunteers and only NOW it’s destroyed? And right before the harvest the day before. Pathetic.
The City actually let it flourish and planned the day down to the eve of harvest to send some sort of message…whatever the hell that is.
The garden was planted by Occupy Gardens and allies on May 1st, in defense of local and global food security. While the garden has been growing undisturbed for nearly 5 months, with the help of hundreds in the community, the city deliberately decided to have it removed upon the eve of the Autumn Jam: A Harvest Party and celebration of sharing, community and free local food, which is happening tomorrow from 12-6pm at the garden in Queens Park (northwest section).
And the reasoning behind it all:
The reason? The people did not have permission to grow free food on public land.
If that’s the case (which I see as absolutely ridiculous because it’s in almost every city) why let it grow for 5 Months and rip it out the day before harvest? Agenda in the making.
Community gardens are beautiful, beneficial and act as a neighborhood gathering place of sharing with friends. What does a City gain by doing something that makes people angry and upset? Depriving people of good, healthy food when many can’t afford it is nothing but a declaration of power. They have it and the citizens don’t.
This makes me angry…again. Our food supplies are under attack and we are being told in many forms that we are losing our rights to produce what we want to eat. From Monsanto trying to control every seed on the planet to a front yard garden and now a Community garden.
I don’t mind saying that this is getting scary and it won’t be long before people are standing guard over their gardens with guns at the ready. I never thought I’d see days like this.
I know some members will come along and state that they have no right to grow food on public land. BS. Those people ARE the public…hundreds of them in fact. They pay taxes and kept a plot of land beautiful for the rest of the public.
Peace
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The city of Toronto does not just belong to the Council workers. The city of Toronto belongs to ALL residents of Toronto. Vote for an MP who will amend the laws to disallow this sort of harvest destroying behaviour.
ARTICLE 13
lluminati Targets Russia – December 20, 2011 — Dean Henderson (Excerpted from Chapter 17: Caspian Sea Oil Grab: Big Oil & Their Bankers…)
B35 Bridge to PinangDecember 4th parliamentary elections in Russia were marked by outside interference by US-based NGO’s. Nearly 50,000 Muscovites – most members of the Communist Party – protested the fraudulent results in Bolotnaya Square near the Kremlin.
Despite the National Endowment for Democracy/Freedom House-funded ruse, the Communist Party still picked up the most seats. These results, along with Putin’s sending of an aircraft carrier to Syria and Russia’s Ambassador being kicked out of Qatar, indicate a Russia moving in a leftward direction.
This makes the Illuminati banksters very nervous.
Last week Mikhail Dmitrievitch Prokhorov announced that he would run for President in 2012. Prokhorov owns the New Jersey Nets basketball team and is worth $18 billion. He is the 3rd richest man in Russia and the 32nd richest man in the world.
Prokhorov is likely a Mikail Khodorkovsky-protégé front-man for the international bankers. He will play the same role that Croat billionaire Milan Panic filled when he ran for President of Yugoslavia in 1992. Panic lost to Slobodan Milosevic, whose country was shortly thereafter torn asunder by the banksters. Milosevic was later poisoned in the Hague after he embarrassed prosecutors via his vigorous defense.
If Prokohorov loses, will the banksters resort to violence against the Russian state?
It certainly wouldn’t be the first time the Illuminati has targeted resource-rich Russia.
Unholy Alliance
While the international banking syndicates had always dealt with the Soviet Union, access to its vast oil resources remained limited. Ronald Reagan entered the White House in 1980 determined to splinter the Soviet Union into little pieces and open the country’s oilfields to the Four Horsemen. His point man in doing so was CIA Director Bill Casey, whose Roman Catholic Knights of Malta connections were thoroughly exploited.
The Vatican’s secretive Opus Dei “saintly Mafia” was behind the ascent of Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla to the Papacy. Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II and launched an Opus Dei/Vatican offensive to roll back Latin American liberation theology movements and East European communism. Fascism came naturally to Karol Wojtyla. During the 1940’s he was a chemical salesman for Nazi combine I. G. Farben. Wojtyla sold the Nazis the cyanide they used at their Auschwitz death camps. One of his best friends was Dr. Wolf Szmuness, mastermind of the 1978 Center for Disease Control Hepatitis B study in the US, through which the AIDS virus was introduced into the gay population. [722]
In 1982 Reagan met with Pope John Paul II. Prior to the meeting Reagan signed NSD-32, authorizing a wide range of economic, diplomatic and covert activities to “neutralize the USSR’s hold on Eastern Europe”. At the meeting the two agreed to launch a clandestine program to tear Eastern Europe away from the Soviets. Poland, the Pope’s country of origin, would be the key. Catholic priests, the AFL-CIO, the National Endowment for Democracy, the Vatican Bank and CIA would all be deployed.
The Vatican is the world’s largest owner of equities, using Swiss affiliate Banco di Roma per la Svizzera to conduct its more discretionary business. Italian fascist Benito Mussolini gave the Vatican generous tax exemptions which it still enjoys. Banco Ambrosiano’s P-2 leader Robert Calvi’s Grand Oriente Freemason’s supported reconciliation with the Vatican. Relations between the Vatican and the Freemasons were strained in the 11th century when the Greek Orthodox split from the Roman Catholics. Knights Templar and the Knights Hospitaler of St. John factions emerged. The latter was the Catholic faction. They changed their name to the Knights of Malta, after the island where they found refuge after their Crusades defeat, with help from the Vatican. Malta is a nexus of CIA/MI6/Mossad intrigues.
In the 13th century Pope Clement V, backed by France’s King Philip, charged the Protestant Knights Templars with heresy, citing their penchant for drug running, arms peddling, gambling and prostitution rings. These activities are what made the Templars “filthy rich”. Pope Clement made an example of Templar leader Jaques de Molay, whom he burned at the stake on Friday the 13th. [723] The Templars took their loot and fled to Scotland to found Scottish Rite Freemasonry. They bankrolled the House of Windsor, which controls Britain and presides at the apex of Freemasonry around the world. Masonic Lodge members enroll their children in the de Molay Society, which is named in honor of the toasted Templar pirate.
Calvi’s attempt to reconcile protestant and Catholic secret societies was a success. He became paymaster to the Polish Solidarity movement, while Nixon Treasury Secretary David Kennedy’s dirty Continental Illinois Bank served as conduit for CIA funds sent by Bank of Cicero asset Bishop Paul Marcinkus to fund Solidarity. [724] The Vatican teamed up with Europe’s Black Nobility, the Bilderbergers and CIA to launch the top-secret JASON Society and armed South American dictators to quash liberation theology. In 1978 when Pope John Paul II took power, the Vatican issued a commemorative stamp featuring an Egyptian pyramid and the Roshaniya all-seeing eye. [725] The Vatican and the Illuminati Brotherhood were reunited.
Reagan’s meetings with Pope John Paul II were an affirmation of this powerful new alliance, which would now focus on bringing the Soviet Union to its knees. Even before Reagan met with the Pope the CIA had groomed an informant at the Polish Ministry of Defense- Colonel Ryszard Kuklinski. Kuklinski reported to the Vatican and helped organize the Polish Solidarity Movement, led by the wealthy Radziwill family who had funded JFK assassins via Permindex. Most Solidarity leaders were old-money aristocrats.
The precursor to Solidarity was the National Alliance of Solidarists, a Russian/Eastern European fascist hit squad funded by RD/Shell’s Sir Henry Deterding and German Vickers Arms Corporation President Sir Basil Zacharoff. Sir Auckland Geddes of Rio Tinto Zinc, which bankrolled Francisco Franco’s fascist coup in Spain, also contributed to the Solidarists. Geddes’ nephew- Ford Irvine Geddes- was chairman of the Inchcape’s Peninsular & Orient Navigation Company from 1971-1972. [726]
The Solidarist’s US headquarters was the Tolstoy Foundation, which is housed in the same building as Julius Klein Associates, which ran guns to the murderous Haganah and Stern Gang Zionist death squads who stole Palestinian lands to found Israel. Klein was an M16 Permindex insider who helped plan the JFK hit.
The Solidarists stepchild, the Solidarity Movement, was touted in the Western media as a great Polish liberating force. With boatloads of CIA help, Solidarity toppled the Communist government in Warsaw. Their straw man Lech Walesa became President of Poland. In 1995 Walesa was defeated by former Communist leader Aleksander Kwasniewski. Walesa was rewarded for his boot licking with a job at Pepsico.
CIA Director Casey demanded a constant focus on Eastern Europe at CIA. Casey met often with Philadelphia Roman Catholic Cardinal John Krol to discuss the Solidarity Movement. He utilized his Knights of Malta connections, leaning heavily on Brother Vernon Walters, whose spook resume read like a James Bond novel. Walter’s latest incarnation was Reagan Ambassador at Large to Vatican Secretary of State Agostino Cardinal Casaroli. [727] By 1991 Walters was US Ambassador to the UN, where he successfully beat the drums of war against Iraq. He was in Fiji that same year, just prior to the overthrow of that left-leaning government.
Other Knights of Malta members involved in the Eastern European destabilization effort were Reagan NSA and Robert Vesco lieutenant Richard Allen, Reagan NSA Judge William Clark, Reagan Ambassador to the Vatican William Wilson and Zbigniew Brzezinski. Other prominent Knights of Malta members include Prescott Bush, Nixon Treasury Secretary William Simon, Nixon coup-plotter Alexander Haig, contra supporter J. Peter Grace and Venezuelan Rockefeller lieutenant Gustavo Cisneros.
The Reagan team had a five-part strategy in its efforts to destroy the Soviet Union. First, it would pursue the JASON Society’s Star Wars concept in an attempt to engage the Soviets in a space-based arms race which they knew Moscow could not afford. Second, the CIA would launch covert operations in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Hungary in attempts to overthrow those Soviet-allied governments. While Walesa emerged in Poland, poet Vaclev Havel became CIA white knight in Czechoslovakia. Like Walesa, Havel became unpopular and was soon tossed out of his puppet presidency.
A component of the CIA destabilization program was to buy weapons from these East European nations to arm CIA-sponsored rebels in Nicaragua, Afghanistan, Angola and Mozambique, using BCCI and later BNL as conduits. The US also wanted to get their hands on the high-tech Soviet arsenal. Poland secretly sold the US an array of advanced Soviet weaponry worth $200 million. Romania did the same. Both countries saw their foreign debts reduced significantly. [728]
The third component of the Reagan strategy was to make financial aid to the Warsaw Pact contingent on economic privatization. Fourth, the US would blanket East European and Soviet airwaves with pro-Western propaganda, using fronts like Radio Liberty, Radio Free Europe and the Voice of America. The CIA financed local newspapers and magazines.
The Company got help inside the Soviet Union from its Mossad buddies in an effort spearheaded by media mogul and Mossad paymaster Robert Maxwell. When Maxwell threatened to reveal a meeting between KGB head Vladimir Kryuchkov and Mossad brass aboard his private yacht at which a coup against Mikhail Gorbachev was discussed, Mossad ordered a hit on Maxwell. On November 4, 1991 as he sailed around the Canary Islands Maxwell was assassinated by Israeli commandos. The mass exodus of Russian Jews to Israeli-occupied settlements in Palestine was part of the secret deal between Mossad and Kryuchkov, who is still serving time in a Moscow prison for his treasonous role in the Gorbachev coup. [729]
But it was the fifth and final component of Reagan’s strategy that had the Four Horsemen salivating. Reagan’s spooks initiated an economic warfare campaign against the Soviet Union, which included a freeze on technology transfers, counterfeiting of the Russian ruble and the sponsoring of separatist Islamist groups in the Soviet Central Asian Caucasus. The jihadis who were instructed to target a key transcontinental natural gas pipeline which the Soviets were building. The Soviets had more natural gas than any country on earth and saw the completion of this pipeline as their cash cow for the 21st century. [730] Big Oil wanted to milk that cow.
It’s the Oil, Stupid
When the Soviet Union’s last President Mikhail Gorbachev announced his perestroika and glasnost campaigns to privatize his country’s economy, he was aiding the Illuminati in destroying his country. Was Gorbachev duped, an unwitting accomplice, a CIA deep-cover agent or a mind-controlled Operation Presidio Temple of Set victim? Whatever the case, he played a key role in dismantling the Soviet Union.
The Soviets controlled not only the vast resources of their own nation, but Third World resources in Soviet-allied Comecon nations. Part of perestroika was to cease Soviet aid to these developing nations to ease the growing Soviet debt burden which, like the US debt, accrued largely from decades of Cold War military spending. The two superpowers’ debt was held by the same international banks, which now used this debt lever to pick a winner and to open Russian and Third World resource pools to their corporate tentacles. [731]
When the Berlin Wall fell and Gorbachev was overthrown in favor of IMF crony Boris Yeltsin, the Four Horsemen rushed to Moscow to begin making oil deals. Oil and natural gas had always been the Soviet’s main export and it remained so for the new Russia. In 1991, the country earned $13 billion in hard currency from oil exports. In 1992 Yeltsin announced that Russia’s world leading 9.2 billion barrel/day oil sector would be privatized.
Sixty percent of Russia’s Siberian reserves had never been tapped. [732] In 1993 the World Bank announced a $610 billion loan to modernize Russia’s oil industry- by far the largest loan in the bank’s history. World Bank subsidiary International Finance Corporation bought stock in several Russian oil companies and made an additional loan to the Bronfman’s Conoco for its purchase of Siberian Polar Lights Company. [733]
The main vehicle for international banker control over Russian oil was Lukoil, initially 20%-owned by BP Amoco and Credit Suisse First Boston, where Clinton Yugoslav envoy and Dayton Peace Accords architect Richard Holbrooke worked. Bush Sr. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh, who orchestrated the BNL cover-up, was now CS First Boston’s Chief Financial Officer. A handful of Zionist Russian oligarchs, collectively known as the Russian Mafia, owned the rest of Lukoil, which served as the Saudi ARAMCO of Russia for the Four Horsemen, a partner to Big Oil in projects throughout the country which involved truly staggering amounts of capital.
These included Sakhalin Islands projects known as Sakhalin I, a $15 billion Exxon Mobil venture; and Sakhalin II, a $10 billion deal led by Royal Dutch/Shell which included Mitsubishi, Mitsui and Marathon Oil as partners. Siberian developments were even larger. RD/Shell is a 24.5% partner in Uganskneftegasin, which controls a huge Siberian natural gas field. At Priobskoye, BP Amoco operates a $53 billion project. At Timan Pechora on the Arctic Ocean a consortium made up of Exxon Mobil, Chevron Texaco, BP Amoco and Norsk Hydo runs a $48 billion venture.
In November 2001 Exxon Mobil announced plans to invest another $12 billion in an oil and gas project in the Russian Far East. RD/Shell announced a $8.5 billion investment in its Sakhalin Islands concessions. BP Amoco made similar proclamations. [734] In 1994 Lukoil pumped 416 million barrels of oil, making it fourth largest producer in the world after RD/Shell, Exxon Mobil and part-owner BP Amoco. Its fifteen billion barrels in crude reserves rank second in the world to Royal Dutch/ Shell. [735]
The Soviet Caucasus, with encouragement from Langley, soon split from Russia. The map of Central Asia was re-written as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Georgia all declared their independence. The pipeline Reagan ordered targeted carried Soviet natural gas east to the North Pacific port of Vladivostok and west to the Black Sea port of Novorrossiysk from the world’s richest known natural gas fields lying beneath and abutting the shoreline of the Caspian Sea, which lies in the heart of Caucasus.
The Four Horsemen coveted this resource more than any in the world. They wanted to build their own private pipelines once they got their hands on the Caspian Sea natural gas fields, which also contain an estimated 200 billion barrels of crude oil. Oil industry privatizations were quickly announced in the new Central Asian Republics which had, by virtue of their independence, taken control of the vast Caspian Sea oil and gas reserves. By 1991 Chevron was holding talks with Kazakhstan. [736]
The Central Asian Republics became the largest recipients of USAID aid, as well as ExIm Bank, OPIC and CCC loans. Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan were especially favored. These countries control the shoreline of the Caspian Sea, along with Russia and Iran. In 1994 Kazakhstan received $311 million in US aid and another $85 million to help dismantle Soviet-era nuclear weapons. President Clinton met with Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev. They signed an array of agreements ranging from disarmament deals to space research cooperation. Kazakhstan, with an estimated 17.6 billion barrels of oil reserves, had been a strategic part of the Soviet nuclear weapons grid and was home to the Soviet space program.
The two leaders also signed an agreement providing investment protection for US multinationals. The Free Trade Institute and US Chamber of Commerce sent officials to train Kazakhs in the finer arts of global capitalism. The Four Horsemen moved in swiftly. Chevron Texaco laid claim to the biggest prize- the $20 billion Tenghiz oilfield- then grabbed another gusher at Korolev. Exxon Mobil signed a deal to develop an offshore concession in the Caspian. [737] Tengizchevroil is 45%-owned by Chevron Texaco and 25%-owned by Exxon Mobil. [738] President George W. Bush’s NSA and later Secretary of State Condaleeza Rice, an expert on Central Asia, sat on the board at Chevron alongside George Schultz from 1989-1992. She even had an oil tanker named after her.
Across the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan was receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in US aid. BP Amoco led a consortium of seven oil giants who spent an initial $8 billion to develop three concessions off the coast of the capital Baku- historic base camp of Big Oil in the region. [739] BP Amoco and Pennzoil- recently acquired by Royal Dutch/Shell- took control of the Azerbaijan Oil Company, whose board of directors included former Bush Sr. Secretary of State James Baker.
In 1991 Air America super spook Richard Secord showed up in Baku under the cover of MEGA Oil. [740] Secord & Company did military training, sold Israeli arms, passed “brown bags filled with cash” and shipped in over 2,000 Islamist fighters from Afghanistan with help from Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. Afghan heroin began flooding into Baku. Russian economist Alexandre Datskevitch said of 184 heroin labs that police discovered in Moscow in 1991, “Every one of them was run by Azeris, who use the proceeds to buy arms for Azerbaijan’s war against Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh”. [741]
A Turkish intelligence source claims that Exxon and Mobil were behind the 1993 coup against elected Armenian President Abulfaz Elchibey. Secord’s Islamists helped. Osama bin Laden set up an NGO in Baku as a base for attacking the Russians in Chechnya and Dagestan. A more pliant President Heidar Aliyev was installed. In 1996, at the behest of Amoco’s president, he was invited to the White House to meet President Clinton- whose NSA Sandy Berger held $90,000 worth of Amoco stock. [742]
Armenian separatists backed by the CIA took over the strategic Armenian regions of Nagorno-Karabakh and Nakhnichevan which border Turkey and Iran. When Turkish President Turgut Ozal mentioned intervention in Nakhnichevan to back the Azerbaijani seizure, Turkish Premier Suleyman Demirel quickly played down the statement from the key US ally. These two regions are critical to Big Oil plans to build a pipeline from the Caspian Sea across Turkey to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorrossiysk. The same route is utilized by Turkey’s Gray Wolves mafia in their Central Asia to Europe heroin endeavors. When Gray Wolf Mehmet Ali Agca tried to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981, the CIA used its Gladio strategy, trying to pin it on Bulgaria’s Communist Lukashenko government.
Lukoil owns 26% of the Russian Black Sea port at Novorrossiysk. Its president Vayit Alekperov wanted to build the Caspian pipeline through Grozny in Chechnya, while the Four Horsemen preferred the route through Turkey. CIA support for Armenian separatists and Chechen Islamist rebels ensured chaos in Grozny. Alekperov finally agreed to the Turkish route.
In 2003 the Defense Department proposed a $3.8 million military training grant for Azerbaijan. Later they admitted it was to protect US access to oil. As author Michael Klare put it, “Slowly but surely, the US military is being converted into a global oil-protection service”. [743]
Turkmenistan, which borders the Caspian Sea on the southeast, is a virtual gas republic, containing massive deposits of natural gas. It also has vast reserves of oil, copper, coal, tungsten, zinc, uranium and gold. The biggest gas field is at Dauletabad in the southeast of the country, near the Afghan border. The Unocal-led Centgas set about building a pipeline which would connect the oil fields around Chardzhan to the Siberian oilfields further north. More crucial to Centgas was a gas pipeline from Dauletabad across Afghanistan and Pakistan to the Indian Ocean. [744] Advisers to the project included Henry Kissinger. Unocal is now part of Chevron.
With the Four Horsemen firmly in charge of Caspian Sea reserves, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium was born. Chevron Texaco took a 15% stake with the other three Horsemen and Lukoil splitting the rest. Pipeline security was provided by the Israeli firm Magal Security Systems, which is connected to Mossad. Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have especially cozy relations with Israel via Special Ambassador Yusef Maiman, who is president of the Israeli Mehrav Group. Mehrav is involved in a project in Turkey to divert water from the upper Tigres and Euphrates Rivers to the southeast part of Turkey and away from Iraq. [745] The Caspian pipeline was built by Bechtel in partnership with GE and Wilbros Group. The pipeline quietly began moving oil and gas in November 2001, just two months after 911.
Bechtel also built the oilfield infrastructure at Tengiz for Chevron Texaco. In 1995 Bechtel led a USAID-funded consortium to restructure the energy sectors of eleven Central and Eastern European nations in line with IMF mandates. Bechtel received a massive contract to upgrade Russia’s many ailing aluminum smelters in tandem with Pechiney. Lukoil contracted with New Jersey-based ABB Lummus Crest (formed when engineering giants Asea Braun Boveri and Lummis Crest merged) to build a $1.3 billion refinery at the Novorrossysk port and to do a $700 million upgrade on its refinery at Perm.
The Bush Jr. Administration now planned a series of additional Caspian Sea pipelines to compliment the Tenghiz-Black Sea route. A Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline was built by a Four Horsemen consortium led by BP Amoco. The law firm representing the BP-led consortium is James Baker’s family law firm- Baker Botts. The BP Amoco pipeline runs the length of the country of Georgia through its capital Tblisi.
In February 2002 the US announced plans to send 200 military advisers and attack helicopters to Georgia to “root our terrorism”. [746] The deployment was a smokescreen for pipeline protection. In September 2002 Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivaniov accused Georgia of harboring Chechen rebels. In October 2003 Georgian President Eduard Schevardnadze was forced to step down in a bloodless revolution. According to a December 11, 2003 article on the World Socialist Party website, CIA sponsored the coup.
In September 2004 hundreds of Russian school children were killed when Chechen separatists seized their school building. Russian President Vladimir Putin said of the incident, “Certain political circles in the West want to weaken Russia, just like the Romans wanted to weaken Carthage.” He accused “foreign intelligence services” of complicity in the attacks. His adviser Aslanbek Aslakhanov went further, stating on Russian Channel 2 News, “The men had their conversations not within Russia, but with other countries. They were led on a leash. Our self-styled friends have been working for several decades to dismember Russia… (they are the) puppeteers and are financing terror.” Russia’s KM News ran the headline, “School Seizure was Planned in Washington and London”. [747]
Lukoil epitomizes the corruption so rampant in Russia since the Soviet collapse. Bribery is the norm. Lukoil has given luxury jets to the mayor of Moscow, the head of Gazprom (the state-owned natural gas monopoly) and Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev. In the mid-1990’s Lukoil announced that it would sell another 15 % stake to foreign stockholders through its largest owner and financial adviser CS First Boston and the Bank of New York. [748] In 2002 they announced plans to sell off another big stake.
According to Kurt Wulff of the oil investment firm McDep Associates, the Four Horsemen, romping in their new Far East pastures, saw asset increases from 1988-1994 as follows: Exxon Mobil- 54%, Chevron Texaco- 74%, Royal Dutch/Shell- 52% and BP Amoco- 54%. The Horsemen had more than doubled their collective assets in six short years. This quantum leap in Anglo-American global power had everything to do with the takeover of the old Soviet oil patch and the subsequent impoverishment of its birthright owners.
[722] Behold a Pale Horse. William Cooper. Light Technology Publishing. Sedona, AZ. 1991.
[723] The Robot’s Rebellion: The Story of the Spiritual Renaissance. David Icke. Gateway Books. Bath, UK. 1994. p.94
[724] Hot Money and the Politics of Debt. R.T. Naylor. The Linden Press/Simon & Schuster. New York. 1987. p.78
[725] Ibid. p.165
[726] Dope Inc.: The Book that Drove Kissinger Crazy. The Editors of Executive Intelligence Review. Washington, DC. 1992
[727] “The Unholy Alliance”. Carl Bernstein. Time. 2-24-92. p.28
[728] “US Obtained Soviet Arsenal from Poland”. Eugene Register-Guard. 2-13-94
[729] The Other Side Of Deception. Victor Ostravsky. HarperCollins Publishers. New York. 1994.
[730] Bernstein. p.28
[731] “The Dismantling of the Soviet Union”. Peter Symon. Philippine Currents. November/December 1991.
[732] “Drilling for a Miracle”. Fred Coleman. US News & World Report. 12-7-92. p.54
[733] Evening Edition. National Public Radio. 6-18-93
[734] “Exxon’s Russian Oil Deal Makes Other Firms Feel Lucky”. Wall Street Journal. 12-13-01
[735] “The Seven Sisters Have a Baby Brother”. Paul Klebnikov. Forbes. 1-22-96. p.70
[736] Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia. Ahmed Rashid. Yale University Publishing. New Haven, CT. 2001. p.145
[737] “Christopher Promises Aid to Oil-Rich Kazakhstan”. AP. Northwest Arkansas Morning News. 10-24-93
[738] 10K Filings to SEC. Exxon Mobil and Chevron Corporations. 3-28-01
[739] “The Quietly Determined American”. Paul Klebnikov. Forbes. 10-24-94. p.48
[740] Azerbaijan Diary: A Rogue Reporter’s Adventures in a Oil-Rich, War-Torn, Post- Soviet Republic. Thomas Goltz. M.E. Sharpe. Armonk, NY. 1999. p.272
[741] “al-Qaeda, US Oil Companies and Central Asia”. Peter Dale Scott. Nexus. May-June, 2006. p.11-15
[742] See No Evil: The True Story of a Ground Soldier in the CIA’s War on Terrorism. Robert Baer. Crown. New York. 2002. p.243-244
[743] Blood and Oil: The Dangers and Consequences of America’s Growing Dependency on Imported Petroleum. Michael T. Klare. Metropolitan/Henry Holt. 2004. p.6-7
[744] Escobar. Part I
[745] “The Roving Eye: Pipelineistan, Part II: The Games Nations Play”. Pepe Escobar. Asia Times Online. 1-26-02
[746] “Wolf Blitzer Reports”. CNN. 2-27-02
[747] “Paranotes: Russian School Seige Conspiracy”. Al Hidell. Paranoia. Issue 37. Winter 2005.
[748] Klebnikov. 1-22-96. p.72
Dean Henderson is the author of Big Oil & Their Bankers in the Persian Gulf: Four Horsemen, Eight Families & Their Global Intelligence, Narcotics & Terror Network, The Grateful Unrich: Revolution in 50 Countries and Das Kartell der Federal Reserve. Subscriptions to his Left Hook blog are FREE at http://www.deanhenderson.wordpress.com
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Don’t joke. If anyone dares even THINK to target against Russia, much less touch Russia, whats left of the KGB can still put a bullet in every single last Illuminated scum or plutocrat puppeteer. Marx is superior to USA’s current uncontrolled Capitalism where regards the 99% and the middle or lower wealth classes, so the 99% will be firmly behind Socialism/Communism. I can’t imagine Russia tolerating any such nonsense from a fiat wealth group that cannot even handle Iran without hiding behind a proxy USA and Israel. Not finished in the Middle East, can’t control Iraq or Afghanistan and want to try taking on Russia? Unbelievable. Russia could almost invade USA and win right now. China in fact while an ally of Russia has always been wary of Russia’s strength as well, and thats for conventionals not world destroying nukes like Israel or Iran have intentions for! In fact Dean had better tone down, or the KGB will fry Dean’s brain with a satellite without Dean knowing what happened.
The Illuminati can’t be that stupid to even dare try target Russia, they have the ‘class’ bought with money and extreme networks, but try the Soviet Red Guard with other Commie allies combing the world after they take out the USA (and cynically leave Israel for Iran to toy with? Iran is fundo-hateful but hopefully not insane enough to use nukes, though Israel might use Israels own nukes if they panic, so Iran, do the world a favour, don’t make Israel too frightened and wind up causing Israel to end up irradiating everyone . . . ) and ‘no match’ is still the word. BTW Dean probably just pissed off BOTH parties Russia and Illuminati by trying to pit them against each other . . .
ARTICLE 14
‘Jesus Not Allowed’: Anti-Faith Sentiment Sweeps US – ny Paul Strand – CBN News Washington Sr. Correspondent – Sunday, September 30, 2012
Could you imagine going to jail for your faith? A recent report warns that it could happen.
CBN News investigated the growing wave of hostility to Christianity in America that’s led to hundreds of court cases.
No Religion Allowed
Angela Hildenbrand faced the very real possibility of going to jail for her faith. The trouble began when a federal judge ruled that no one at her Texas high school could pray or even use words like “prayer” or “amen” during the 2011 graduation ceremonies.
As class valedictorian, Hildenbrand felt God deserved the praise, even if it meant jail for her.
“I was definitely preparing myself to have to make that sort of tough decision and mentally prepare myself for what well could be coming next,” she told CBN News.
Hildenbrand’s case is just one of more than 640 cases of religious hostility cited in a new report by the Liberty Institute. General Counsel Jeff Mateer, who takes on many of these cases, helped put the survey together.
“The atheists and the secularists are well-organized and they’re well-funded,” the Liberty Institute attorney told CBN News.
“The rate of hostility to people of faith is overwhelming,” he said. “It’s increasing. Every day, we’re getting calls.”
One call involved the Veterans Administration demanding to preview Scott Rainey’s prayer for a Memorial Day ceremony at Houston National Cemetery.
They told Rainey, who pastors the Living Word Church of the Nazarene in Houston, he couldn’t pray “in Jesus’ name.”
“I have never said a prayer in my life where I didn’t end it saying ‘in the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen,'” Pastor Rainey said.
Contending for the Faith
Mateer is also working to save this veteran’s memorial cross in San Diego, one of several cases that could have serious national consequences if courts order their removal.
“Are we going to bulldoze all those crosses?” Mateer asked. “We’re going to sandblast God from the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?”
But Mateer says the good news is, when believers fight back, they usually win.
“You need to stand up and fight,” he said. “And that’s exactly what Angela did.”
Just one day before Hildenbrand’s graduation, an appeals court ruled she could pray and say whatever she wanted.
“I thank You for Your great love for us and for our great nation, where we are free,” she prayed at her graduation. “And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray, amen.”
Courts eventually ruled that Pastor Rainey — and all veterans at burials — are allowed to freely express their faith.
But there is an across-the-board assault of religious hostility, and Americans’ religious liberty hangs in the balance.
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Let Christians stop abusing the people around them or let those abused or vilified by Christianity first be exhonerated and healed before any talk of fighting back. Until then hostility to this insane Aramean sect and cult of personality and cult of man, will continue until Monotheism is sandblasted off the Earth. Thats just one creep that inspires abuse and insanity in the followers, as opposed to the glory of the Universe and all beings not yet evolved but enslaved instantaneously with no chance to be Man’s equal by a verse in a biblical text written 2000 years ago as opposed to the Earth’s 2 billion years of age. Presumptuous egregore formed of the dead! Who gave the cult of a single fundamentalist man born 2000 years ago permission to disenfranchise the UNIVERSE and all non-human species? Christianity emboldens the followers to bully and disregard the rights of non-Christians, non-humans, all alien sentient/sapient life in the Universe . . .
ARTICLE 15
French National Front leader Marine Le Pen calls for ban on wearing of the Jewish skullcap in public – ‘in the name of equality’ – By Peter Allen – PUBLISHED: 16:55 GMT, 23 September 2012 | UPDATED: 18:01 GMT, 23 September 2012
Ban on full-face coverings – including the Islamic veil – came into force in France last year
Marine Le Pen is now calling for a ban on all religious headgear, as well as kosher and halal food in schools
‘What would people say if I only asked to ban Muslim clothing? They would burn me as a Muslim hater’
Far Right: French National Front leader Marine Le Pen has called for a ban on Jewish headgear
Far right politician Marine Le Pen has caused outrage across France by calling for the banning of the Jewish skullcap in public.
The leader of National Front won a fifth of the popular vote during the first round of May’s presidential election on a largely anti-Muslim immigration agenda.
Now in an interview she has called not just for a ban on the wearing of Islamic veils in public, but also the kippah – leading to France’s most senior Rabbi to describe her view as ‘deeply deplorable’.
Her inflammatory words come at a time of heightened tensions caused by a Paris satirical magazine’s decision to publish a series of cartoons mocking both Islam and Judaism.
One of the images in Charlie Hebdo shows a Prophet Mohammed character being pushed around in a wheelchair by a Rabbi.
Ms Le Pen told Le Monde that all religious headwear should be banned ‘in shops, on public transport and on the streets’.
‘It’s obvious that if the veil is banned, the kippah should be banned in public as well,’ she said. The French parliament passed a ban on full-face coverings, including the Islamic veil in 2010 and the law came into force last year.
Miss Le Pen, whose infamous father Jean-Marie Le Pen is a convicted racist and anti-Semite, also called for a ban on public prayers.
And she said kosher and halal foods should be outlawed in schools, along with foreign governments being allowed to pay for mosques.
Schoolgirl, 15, flees to France on a ferry with with her male maths TEACHER, 30, as her desperate parents beg for her to return home
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a giant manned dragonfly, a tool-box and tandem cyclists soaring across southern France
Crackdown as France bans anyone from protesting about cartoons criticising Prophet Mohammad
‘Jewish skullcaps are obviously not a problem in our country,’ she said, insisting nevertheless that France has to ‘ban them in the name of equality’.
‘The situation in our country has changed. We used to have a fragile balance between religions, but massive immigration has changed that,’ Ms Le Pen said.
‘Veils and jilbabs are putting us under pressure. France is a victim of sectarian political groups due to the ruling parties’ incapacity to deal with the problem.
‘What would people say if I had only asked to ban Muslim clothing? They would burn me as a Muslim hater.’
President Francois Hollande attacked Ms Le Pen’s comments.
‘Everything that tears people apart, opposes them and divides them is inappropriate,’ he said. ‘We must apply the rules, the only rules that we know – the rules of the Republic and secularism.’
Religious headgear: The kippah, or yarmulke, is usually worn by Orthodox or Hasidic Jews who believe the head must be covered at all times
On Friday Mr Hollande opened a new Holocaust memorial in Paris, commemorating the thousands of Jews who were sent to their deaths after being held at the Drancy internment camp.
The camp was run by French policemen working alongside the SS, and rolling stock from France’s national railway, SNCF, was used to take victims to Germany.
Jean-Francois Cope, leader of the opposition UMP party, was similarly outraged, saying Ms Le Pen barely knew what secularism was.
Mr Cope said: ‘Marine Le Pen wants to ban any signs of religion on the streets, starting with the veil and the kippah.
‘By doing this, she shows she does not understand anything about secularism. Secularism is not about the eradication of all religious expressions in society.’
Gilles Bernheim, France’s Chief Rabbi, said: ‘Mixing up the tradition of the skullcap and the veil only generates more confusion in people’s minds. I deeply deplore her statement.’
And Richard Prasquier, leader of the CRIF Jewish council in France, said the Ms Le Pen’s claims showed there were ‘secular fanatics just as there are religious fanatics’.
‘Obviously, I am hostile to both,’ he said.
The CFCM, France’s main Muslim council, meanwhile said that Le Pen wanted to ‘set up a totalitarian regime in France.’
There are around half-a-million Jews in France, many of them living in major cities like Paris, where skull caps have been a familiar sight for centuries.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
As John F. Hickory of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City fame once said “I am not a racist I hate everyone regardless of other issues. . . . I’m a patriot! I’ve even got an orange grove tattooed all over my groin.”
Le Pen needs an Orange Grove tattooed on her groin.
ARTICLE 16
Katy Perry ‘Paid £1.2 Million’ To Sing At Holly Valance’s Lavish Wedding – And That’s Not All! All the pricey details on one fairytale wedding October 2, 2012
Every bride wants their wedding day to be special, but it looks like Holly Valance’s was a no expense spared kind of celebration as the ex Neighbours actress reportedly paid Katy Perry £1.2 million to perform at her wedding to billionaire business man Nick Candy.
The couple tied the knot on Saturday in a lavish ceremony in Beverley Hills, with the eventual costs reported to have topped £3 million. The ‘Firework’ singer performed a 45-minute set at the party, but she wasn’t the only entertainment as the cast of Jersey Boys were flown out from London to LA especially to perform for the bride, who is said to be a fan of the musical.
Of the 330 guests their were faces from fashion, celebrity, TV and even royalty. Nancy Dell’Olio, artist Tracey Emin, Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli and milliner Philip Treacy were amongst guests as were Simon Cowell, Elton John, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie who sipped champagne and mojito cocktails as they enjoyed the festivities and entertainment.
Holly Valance and Nick Candy tie the knot (Splash News)
Holly made sure all eyes were on her on the big day with her J’Aton Couture gown featuring a dramatic 15ft veil with sweetheart neckline. The custom made gown wasn’t exactly cheap either with the darker shades of the dress thought to have cost £35,000 alone.
The ‘Kiss Kiss’ singer made sure to thank the designer on Twitter for the creation, she wrote: “Thank u 2 the most supremely talented & divine humans I’ve come across in a long time @JAtonCouture U R just phenomenal. Love u & all u do.X [sic]”
Let’s hope they have some change left over for honeymoon.
The Most Lavish Wedding Ever? Holly and Nick Tie The Knot
Holly Valance is clearly a fan of the “more is more” school of thought – just check out that lavish train and veil! September 30 2012 (Splash News)
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Fellow stars should offer to perform for free. 1.2 mill for a wedding is just mercenary, especially for those in the same boat and same industry. How about covering 1.2 million worth of foreclosures for the average American about to lose their home instead of this meaningless and cynical wealth exchange between plutocrats?
ARTICLE 17
It’s not a nudist exhibition! Nancy Dell’Olio proves keen to show off the female form in low cut playsuit at gallery opening – by Fehintola Betiku – PUBLISHED: 01:21 GMT, 5 October 2012 | UPDATED: 06:53 GMT, 5 October 2012
At 51-years-old she has the confidence to step out in ensemble that some might argue are better suited to ladies half her age.
But not concerned with what naysayers have to say, Nancy Dell’Olio was pictured on Thursday evening in an eye-popping low cut playsuit.
The former Strictly Come Dancing star put her plunging attire to the test as she leaned forward and posed for photographers at the opening of Ellie Davies’ exhibition in London.
Doing it her way: Nancy Dell’Olio stepped out in a revealing all-in-one on Thursday evening as she attended photographer Ellie Davies’ exhibition in London
Allowing her loosely curled dark locks to fall at her shoulders, Nancy’s attempted to cover up a little by teaming her thigh skimming all in one with a pair of sheer tights.
FIRST LISTEN: Adele cements herself as a true Bond icon with release of official theme tune for Skyfall
Standing out for all the wrong reasons: The X Factor’s Rylan Clark commits fashion fail as contestants prepare for first live show
Lady in leather: The Saturdays’ Mollie King smoulders as she enjoys solo photo shoot
With a pair of knee high black suede heeled boots completing her look, Dell’Olio accessorised with silver looped drop earrings and a black clutch bag.
The ever glamorous American-Italian lawyer created feline eyes with lashings of black liner as she opted to keep the rest of her make-up to a minimal.
Eye popping! Nancy beamed as she posed for photographers in the low cut playsuit
Too much… The 51-year-old completed her look with knee high boots and a sheer tights
The socialite was seen making her presence known during exhibition, which was held at The Richard Young gallery, as she worked the room and chatted with other guests.
But ensuring her daring get-up didn’t go to waste, Nancy made her rounds whilst stopping every so often to strike a pose against a piece of art which lined the walls in the space.
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This is NOT near nudist anything. The whole dress is really conservative and somewhat classy, if not for the decolletage (also conservative V necked button top which is already unisex) , there would be no sense of feminity in the clothing. One sees more semi topless (semi-topless is not topless, topless with breasts entierly exposed alone, is not nudism either, just toplessness) people at gala events far more dressed down. This doesn’t really make any non-fundo type (or barely out of adolescent types, or ill disciplined types – Olio’s attached – so unless ready to fight for relationship rights with whoever don’t bother) feel anything.
Cements Adele as an ‘Bondworld’ icon? Not really . . . Adele’s the ‘Moneypenny’ of the Bondworld crossed with a young M more like . . .
ARTICLE 18
Going Nude: Rihanna unveils sultry ad for her new perfume on Twitter as she tells fans ‘make sure you smell sexy, especially naked’ – by Virginia Skeels – PUBLISHED: 06:32 GMT, 6 October 2012 | UPDATED: 12:21 GMT, 6 October 2012
With more than 26million followers on her Twitter account, it makes sense that Rihanna should choose the micro-blogging site to unveil promotional material for her new perfume.
‘Here is my new add for a brand new fragrance #NUDE !!! Make sure you smell sexy, especially naked, this fall,’ tweeted the Barbados-born recording artist on Friday.
The ad shows the 24-year-old mega star wearing nothing but cream lace lingerie, a piece of gauze fabric draped strategically over her crotch.
Her latest incarnation: Rihanna tweeted this new ad for her new fragrance ‘Nude’ on Friday
Her latest incarnation: Rihanna tweeted this new ad for her new fragrance Nude on Friday
Rihanna smiles seductively behind waves of platinum blonde hair – the new fragrance placed strategically beside her.
‘Is there such a thing as loving two people?’ Chris Brown opens up about Rihanna romance in candid new video… which shows footage of pair together
The singer’s release of the photograph comes after a week of drama which saw her spend three nights running in the company of her ex Chris Brown, whose assault on his then girlfriend in 2009 left Rihanna hospitalised.
Debut: Rihanna wrote to her 26million followers about the fragrance on Friday
Another night with Chris: Rihanna heads to the airport after attending Jay-Z’s concert in New York with Brown
Pleased: Chris Brown leaves the Gansevoort Hotel in Midtown Manhattan after visiting Rihanna on Wednesday
Brown on Thursday confirmed he had split from his current girlfriend, explaining he didn’t want to hurt Karrueche Tran as a result of his ‘friendship’ with Rihanna.
Brown then released a video in which he asks: ‘IS it possible to love two people?’
Meanwhile Rihanna made a veiled reference to Brown as she wrote on her Twitter: ‘Ain’t nobody bidness….. But mine and my baby!’
And friends of the pair are said to be concerned about their potential reconciliation.
Loving the drama: Friends of Chris and Rihanna are said to be concerned about the rconciliation
A source told RadarOnline.com: ‘Chris and Rihanna just love the drama. They know their fans don’t support them getting back together, and that it’s a terrible PR move since Chris was convicted of beating Rihanna.
‘However, this is what Chris and Rihanna thrive on. There are still major trust issues that Rihanna has with Chris, with good reason, he was hooking up with her while he was still dating Karrueche. Chris and Rihanna back together in any capacity is just a disaster in the making.’
Chris was yesterday seen jetting out of New York to Los Angeles following three consecutive nights of partying with Rihanna.
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Wearing any sort of lingerie or anything cancels nakedness because of the presence of clothing on the body, in this case lingerie. Which makes the advert oxymoronic in reference to name of the perfume. Also ‘cream lace’ (refers to the colour of the lace) is NOT THE SAME AS ‘cream lace lingerie’ (refers to the colour of the lace UPON the lingerie). Cream, lace and cream-lace are also different things when stated on their own. So if lingerie is being worn, a person cannot be naked. Cockt3as3! This perfume is going to be another misnomer if the inventor won’t even honour the name of the perfume by being naked on their own advert. Any REAL naked people ready to do a real naked perfume? Hint of a ‘less than rude girl’ appears! Get naked for REAL, no more of the misnomer dis-industry!
They hope the Chinese will not support us. – Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek
(The Star) – MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has condemned the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) for bringing up an alleged agreement in the 1960s between the party and the Government to limit the number of Chinese independent schools.
“Dong Zong talks about this issue to frighten the Chinese community so they will hate the MCA and Barisan Nasional.
“They hope the Chinese will not support us,” he said.
He said that although MCA was not perfect, it was undeniable that the party was doing its best for Chinese education.
Citing an example, Dr Chua said Malaysia was the only country in the region that had a complete Chinese education system from primary to university level.
He was speaking to reporters after a ground-breaking ceremony for a double-storey building with 12 classrooms at SJK (C) Karas here yesterday.
Also present at the event were Labis MP and Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Deputy Minister Datuk Chua Tee Yong and Johor exco member Tan Kok Hong.
Dr Chua said whether or not the agreement existed in the 1960s was not important anymore as it had become history.
“The country needs more trilingual talent to increase its trade volume and the trade volume between Malaysia and countries that use Chinese as their main language is about 20% of the total.
“That’s why we need to train more people to have good English, Bahasa Melayu and Mandarin,” he said.
“Today, Malaysia has a good relationship with China and the trade volume between the two countries has reached US$100bil (RM318bil),” he added.
On another matter, Dr Chua said Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had failed to answer if Pakatan Rakyat was going to build more Chinese primary schools, Chinese independent schools, institutionalise allocations for Chinese schools and recognise the Unified Examination Certificate should Pakatan take over Putrajaya.
“I have been waiting for the answer for the past two weeks,” he said. Dr Chua said Dong Zong should get the answer for the sake of Chinese education.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Dong Jiao Zhong if running on the below issues :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;could provide REAL organic independent candidates (possibly funded by most righteous businessmen – M.R.B.) from the powerful and experienced YET non-plutocratic teachers of DJZ’s ranks to displace MCA’s term limitless lapdogs. I’d vote for a DJZ candidate ANY DAY over MCA (lapdog, plutocrat) or even DAP (nepotistic abusive, undemocratic like Singapore). DJZ how about fielding candidates from retired teachers IN EVERY MCA and even EVERY DAP constituency with clear intent to leave after 2 terms and address the immense collusion by both MCA and DAP sacrificing ending apartheid and the entire minority community for a mere few undemocratic political careerists to parasite off MP and Assemblyman salaries and extreme plutocrat businessmen? Ethics is lacking in MCA and DAP, DJZ needs to do some TEACHING – grassroots style!
Any other plutocrats in BN you cowards! Billions worth enough to hire armies of thugs and guards and not a word against apartheid? Against a backdrop of homelands 100s of times larger and more powerful than the wrong minded racists to be taken as lapdogs by a handful of racists? Undemocratic and term limitless but no attempt to end apartheid? Let DJZ take over ALL Chinese majority constituencies! MCA lapdogs and DAP careerist undemocratic nepotists have had their chance and FAILED . . . lead 3rd Force, DJZ, perhaps with Tunku Aziz which DAP idiotically sacked, might lead the minorities to grant the above 3 items with DJZ . . .
ARTICLE 2
Soi Lek flays Johor Umno rep over hudud proposal – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Monday, 02 July 2012 Super Admin
(The Malaysian Insider) – MCA will never agree to any implementation of hudud for non-Muslims, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has said.
The MCA president was responding to a Johor Umno state assemblyman’s recent proposal that the Islamic penal law be implemented to cover all residents in the state.
“The Johor Umno Adun must have run out of ideas and out of his mind 2 propose hudud in Johor including non-Muslims. MCA will definitely object it,” Dr Chua said on micro-blogging site Twitter last night.
Umno’s Kemelah state assemblyman Ayub Rahmat was quoted by online news portal Malaysiakini as saying he wished to see Johor to become the first state to implement “true hudud law”, which he claimed would differ from PAS’s version.
Ayub said his version of hudud law would be non-discriminatory as the adherents of all religions would be subjected to it in Johor.
“The Syariah Criminal Code (II) 1993 State of Kelantan does not reflect the true requirements of Islam. It creates discrimination in terms of execution (among Muslims and non-Muslims),” Ayub had said.
The Umno assemblyman, who made the proposal on the June 20 sitting of the Johor state assembly, said his proposal would help non-Muslims understand the implementation of hudud law, while accusing PAS of having failed to do so.
Hudud is a contentious issue in multicultural and multireligious Malaysia. It is often used as fodder by political parties either to engender support or attack ideological opponents.
So divisive is the topic that it even pits close allies against one another.
Within the Pakatan Rakyat opposition pact, PAS leaders have publicly stated their support for the implementation of such laws, while the DAP has argued that it went against the spirit of the Federal Constitution.
…
written by Voice of Reason, July 02, 2012 21:01:35
It was only a matter of time when certain educated Malays were going to ask “What makes you so special that you get to escape from hudud and we have no choice but to suffer?” and demands it be implemented on everyone or no one..
…
written by j lee, July 02, 2012 19:25:59
Surely that can be challenged, right up to the International Courts of Justice, if need be. This is just and ignorant’s view, just ignore him. Unless it is a plan to create a non-issue so that MCA can then be seen like a champion of the people.
…
written by Bean, July 02, 2012 17:02:59
If they implement hudud for all races in Johore, BN sure to lose. The chinese girls like to wear hot pants, mini skirts, have very short hair and men like to go to pub to drink. Chinese girls will not wear the tudung. What about eating pork? Even if BN will to win, the chinese will start migrating to other states, and the economy of Johore will decline.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
See the above sandiwara and no mention of END OF APARTHEID? Read below and understand that they have the mandate but will not use the mandate to end apartheid :
Troll Jousting is the act of retorting comments on blogs that have been placed by trolls, or paid commentators who place comments to support a particular vested interest. The Troll Jouster places comments that show the falseness of the Troll
Wow nice Troll Jousting dude, you really bitch slapped that Troll.
Yeah, thanks eh brah! I couldn’t believe that Pro Nuke Troll was actually saying that radiation can be beneficial to your health. I had to slap ’em back in case some innocent bystander saw that Troll comment and believed it.
Well, good work dude, keep up the Troll jousting on that blog, and remember, there are NO innocent bystanders.
BN is unvotable and now stages ‘Troll Jousting’ drama to misdirect from the BUMIPUTRA APARTHEID ISSUE so that UMNO and MCA and even MIC or whatever member party gets to continue parasiting off the Rakyat.
ARTICLE 3
When all else fails, will Umno turn to ASSASSINATION: Perkasa physically attacks Guan Eng
The failure by police to immediately arrest Perkasa members involved in violence not just against members of the public and reporters but also make direct threats against my personal safety has only confirmed fears that Perkasa can do no wrong because they are supported by UMNO and BN.
Police should review their hands-off approach towards Perkasa to avoid public perception that they condone the violent tactics by Perkasa to intimidate PR leaders.
Yesterday’s incident in Teluk Bahang market, where Perkasa members were allowed to conduct a demonstration and throw anti-Lim Guan Eng posters close to me, only shows that whilst there was police presence the police just stood by and watched.
The inaction by the police probably emboldened a Perkasa member to suddenly charge up behind me and succeeded in brushing hard against me. Even though the Perkasa member had brushed hard against me, I escaped injury.
But if not for a PR local leader bravely dragging the Perkasa member away, I could have been injured. Dragging the Perkasa member away from threatening my safety should have been the duty and responsibility of the police, not PR local leaders.
No arrests – why?
The failure of the police to offer adequate protection was followed by the failure of the police to immediately arrest the Perkasa member involved. Just imagine how harsh police reaction would have been if this had involved the Prime Minister and not the Chinese PR Chief Minister.
This unfortunate incident had happened even though the Speaker of the Penang State Assembly, Dato Abdul Halim bin Hussain had informed police of the demonstration by Perkasa and ask for adequate protection and stern action.
However despite a record of serial violence against the public, reporters and even PR leaders by Perkasa, Perkasa can still behave in a violent manner without fear of punishment.
Despite recording the second highest reduction in crime index as at May 2012(a reduction of 23%), police have been under scrutiny in Penang due to several high profile crime incidents in Penang in the heritage, tourist and some housing areas.
The failure to even adequately protect the Chief Minister will not lend public confidence in the ability of the police to ensure public safety when they can not act quickly against those who threaten the safety of the Chief Minister.
Lim Guan Eng is the Penang Chief Minister and DAP sec-gen (Brought to you by Carls Jr.)
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Politicians who fail to keep election promises have already assassinated themselves politically. Just baiting for the physical assassination when they keep pretending campaign promises were kept and abusing by-laws that should be amended but do not. The Rakyat will move on to politicians that can keep their word and not miss those who committed political suicide by failing to keep election promises. The dirty work of physical assassination is but an after thought, like failed beneficiaries of nepotism that destroy democracy and put down the general public, refuse to amend laws and claim credit for the good works of others by being self serving parrots. Lets hope PERKASA moves faster so that the next generation of 2 term politicians have space to move into politics. take out the nepotistic political blocs PERKASA, and be sure to know that BN’s own nepotists and failed apartheid politicians will also suffer the same fate as ‘refuse to amend law’, ‘become CM without quorum’, ‘lie about declaring MP asset’, ‘fail to keep promise for local election’, etc.. trash politician here.
2 terms and nothing done, means no longer viable! And on the back of quorumless nepotism! GTFO of the Dewan! And at least in this case, cheers for PERKASA! Maybe Lim Guan Eng is expressing a subconscious desire to have a dramatic end, or more likely perhaps is just indulging in more ‘Funeral Demogoguery’ AGAIN, where 750K requests for funerals failed and were met with sh1t cakes on the trail of failed campaign promises . . .
ARTICLE 4
Polls delay or not, Najib is ‘in a mess’ – Monday, 02 July 2012 19:43
PAS Murshidul Am Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has described the delay in general election as a morale booster for Pakatan Rakyat.
Saying he was not sure the reason behind the continued reluctance by prime minister Najib Razak (left) to dissolve the parliament, Nik Aziz said the UMNO president was “in a mess”.
“One thing we are sure is that Najib is in a mess,” he said, adding that Najib’s fear could be due to growing opposition strength in UMNO bastion Johor as was seen during PAS’s Green Rally to Putrajaya in the state last Friday.
“In Johor, we have never witnessed before so many people. This proves awareness among people there and the existence of a wave of change,” added the Kelantan Menteri Besar.
PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar meanwhile reminded Najib that the five-year mandate given to Barisan Nasional at the Federal level was under his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
As such, Mahfuz said it was wrong to suggest that Najib was ‘honouring’ the mandate from the people by going for a full term.
Najib had earlier argued that holding snap elections was “shortening the period given by the people” to BN.
“For us, what is important is to show our ability to continue to champion the people,” Najib said.
In an about-turn, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who had advised Najib to hold polls after the fasting month, has agreed to the delay.
Prior to this, Najib had hinted that the elections could be called during the Hajj season, when some 30,000 Malaysians on their pilgrimage to Makkah could not vote.
-Harakahdaily
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
All Najib needs to do is to grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;and PAS because of Hudud (Why the advocacy of irrevocable limb hacking violence for the immatured, impulsive or poor, Tok Guru??? Those limbs will not grow back when those punished by Hudud grow up . . . ) stance, PKR because of nepotism and clique politics, DAP for nepotism and Singaporean term limitless ‘Junta-mindedness’ will be ‘in a mess’.PM Najib, will BN not use that mandate to grant the above? 3rd Force ready to put down these 2 dinosaur coalitions otherwise? BN will always be able to use that mandate (currently not using and angering the voters immensely, with the occasional death fueling more flames to never vote for BN again . . . ) to grant the above 3 items as a final ditch defense to ensure a BN win, so don’t say BN is in a mess, BN can yet survive albeit only by the above 3 items. ARTICLE 5
Jenna Jameson Sued : Give Our Maserati Back!!! Exclusive
Jenna Jameson is currently driving around in a stolen Maserati — this according to the company that leased it to her … and now, it’s suing to get the car back.
Maserati Financial Services filed the lawsuit against Jenna in Orange County Superior Court, claiming it leased a Maserati Quattroporte S to the porn legend back in 2010 for $2,299 a month — but Jenna stopped paying in January.
MFS says it’s been trying to repossess the car to no avail — so now it’s going after Jenna in court, demanding she return the vehicle ASAP … AND pay $107,000 in damages.
Thats around RM7000 a month or RM233 a day (USD$70 therabouts – keep in mind US citizens earn USD$ . . . so Malaysia should also be RM70) for a supercar. Consider in Malaysia where a mid-tier car not even a fraction of the value of a Maserati (not even a low end luxury vehicle) rents at 100-500 a day (with low end luxury or sports vehicles up to 1000 a day much less RM7000 for 1 month) and understand that Malaysia is a RIP-OFF country compounded by the crony favouring Vehicular-AP system and near 300% taxes on ALL vehicles. The smallest vehicles in Malaysia are near 15K USD, while in USA that can get you a medium sized vehicle. In India the prices are about HALF of the above.
So any MP that will not REMOVE Vehicular AP or lower import taxes to 10 times less that what currently is in Malaysia DOES NOT deserve to be voted. Ask your MP if they will lower those import duties and road tax. If they seem unsure or uncertain or do not comment, understand that the MP is unvotable and profiteering off the collusion with vehicle companies. Meanwhile pornstars like Jenna get to enjoy fabulous rental prices in USA, a country that is equally as bankrupt as Malaysia! Too damn high!
See response to article 4 on below link for a look at what our TERM LIMITLESS nepotist and racist satrap politicians have been up to :
Vote only for MPs who will forward and ratify a bill to lower import duties and road tax! Also remember :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
More telling comments below :
A Bentley Mulsanne will cost USD 285,000 (RM 962,588) when it arrives on U.S. shores next year. By the time it reaches Malaysia, the price tag would balloon to RM 3.17 million, according to the 329 percent of duties imposed on a car in this category. Chauffer courses in the USA range from USD$99, in Malaysia such courses can easily begin at USD$300. And guess who is at fault? The 222 MPs (which the idiot voter keep voting that also impose crony benefiting Vehicular-AP on top of that) who refuse to lower tax duties or even bother to ABOLISH road taxes (USA has no road tax, though has road toll concessionaires in some money grubbing states . . . ) :
@shawn says:
January 19th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
I know this is old but I can’t resist from posting this. Import Cars = Sells for a much higher price than overseas (yes even after conversion it is more than 2:1 difference)
Gas Price = Producers My Ass
Toll = Overkill
Road Tax = Overkill
Other countries like USA do not have road tax. The price of gas covers road tax. If you have no idea about how the system works in other countries dont blog about it. Malaysia taxes for import cars, road use and fuel. Other country chooses 1 out of the 3 or maximum 2 out of the 3 charge. Malaysia has all 3 + an impossible amount of tax + horrible road conditions. If you have not been overseas and lived there and/or researched their terms of funding. Don’t blog about it. You’re making urself look stupid. (F— @shawn for snarking about going overseas to live there . . . that is NOT NECESSSARY for ‘research’, but stand for election as a 3rd Force independent candidate @shawn, independent candidates are needed to end this money grubbing farce or colluding plutocrats we call government . . .)
@jo says:
January 27th, 2010 at 11:54 am
you are so right Shawn Bro,,,,Malaysia is taking its own people as guinea pig…..
On top of the abusive tax system which our unvotable MP’s refuse to address, Malaysians are not even allowed to tint their cars for privacy or from the extreme tropical heat, and also not allowed to modify our vehicles which are PRIVATE PROPERTY. So idiot citizens of Malaysia who vote BN or even PR who’s MPs look set to continue APARTHEID or implement hudud, disallow tinting, please run for election as independent 3rd Forcers if you can afford to on the above issues. If 222 independent MPs who decide to abolish Firced Military Conscriptions, Road Tax, Toll Concessionaires AND allow extreme Car Modding (much less merely even tinting), the highways at least would have been freed.
By the second term, the 222 independent MPs would have made Malaysia into the best place in the world to migrate to (abolish road tolls, forced conscriptions, has allodial titles, abolishes eminent domain, end vehicular AP, allows extreme car-modding, . . . so DO NOT VOTE BN (racist and stagnant) or PR (nepotist), and finally remember, kick ALL MPs (even 3rd Forec MPs) out of power after 2 terms! Vote 3rd Force!
ARTICLE 6
Corruption blocking Malaysia’s leap into higher-income status, says Nazir Razak – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Monday, 02 July 2012 Super Admin
(The Malaysian Insider) – Malaysia must overcome corruption and carry out more market-oriented reforms if it is to move up from being a middle-income economy, CIMB Group chief Datuk Seri Nazir Razak and younger brother to the prime minister has told Financial Times (FT).
The youngest son of the country’s second prime minister, Tun Razak Hussein, also told the FT that his eldest brother had “a hell of a task” because “worldwide, no one has really been able to reform from incumbency”.
Nazir’s elder brother and the country’s sixth PM, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has been sprearheading a slew of governmental, economic and social reforms to transform the country, but Malaysia’s top banker seemed to suggest that it was not enough in an interview published in the international business paper today.
“(Corruption) remains a problem and it is something that needs to be combated,” he told FT.
Nazir (picture) told the paper that Malaysia could consider granting an amnesty for those involved in minor corruption, as has been done in Hong Kong and other countries, an idea that the Najib administration has resisted.
“You could argue that when you do that, you will get a lot less resistance from the vested interests, which is always the problem; then say, the past is the past and we all start from scratch. I still believe that’s what is needed,” Nazir was quoted as saying.
He highlighted that there was “still a need to strengthen market forces in general and that is about rolling back government in business, both in terms of bureaucracies but also in terms of its direct involvement.”
Nazir told the paper Putrajaya must push reforms that give more free rein to market forces and roll back government ownership of business through privatisations, such as the public listing of Malaysian palm oil giant Felda Global Ventures Holdings last week, which would also draw in major world business players like Axiata.
The ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government, which Najib heads, has repeatedly come under fire for its less-than-transparent and lavish spending on government procurement projects in areas ranging from agriculture to defence, resulting in scandals such as the RM250 million National Feedlot Centre that failed to cut the country’s beef imports and the multibillion ringgit spent on buying submarines and naval patrol boats.
Malaysia’s score in Transparency International’s corruption perception index has slipping for the fourth year running; on a 10-point scale, where 10 represents no corruption, Malaysia dropped from 5.1 in 2008 to 4.5 in 2009, 4.4 in 2010 and 4.3 in 2011.
The country’s ranking also fell to 60 out of 183 countries — between Saudi Arabia and Cuba — from 56 out of 178 last year.
Malaysia remained the third-least corrupt nation in Asean after Singapore (9.2) and Brunei (5.2), with Thailand (3.4) and Indonesia (3.0) following in fourth and fifth places respectively.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
True, but NEPOTISM and being a beneficiary of nepotism is part of corruption as well, Mr.Brother of the PM. Then read the below comment :
…
written by uxzee, July 02, 2012 14:25:57
“worldwide, no one has really been able to reform from incumbency”.
========================================
Nazir does not understand what he is talking about and is blindly defending his brother Najib. People like Nazir are the corrupted cronies who sweep all the lucrative mega contracts for his CIMB. Will Nazir or CIMB dare to compete strictly on merits and in an open market ? Then we can really see how incompetent Nazir is. It is really sick to give stupid advise when Nazir is in the position of a favoured crony and taking full advantage of it.
And I think Nazir has a skewed view. No need to look worldwide – just look at our neighbour Singapore which has reformed and transformed into a thriving economy and is the largest investor in Malaysia and in most South East Asian countries.
Talk about high-income status, reduce corruption, improve standard of education, improve efficiency, meritocracy, ? – go learn from Singapore. Don’t be shy.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Singapore is no different from Malaysia with relatives everywhere and family blocs as well. The citizens are suffering from parasite oligarch families turning democracies into satrapies and feudal business monopolies. Singapore is a MILITARY BASE which USA has invested in. Singapore is of no value (more so when the Ithsmus of Kra Canal – Devil they designated this your ‘neck’, but Lucifer surely spans all Creation, presumptuous to claim an Ithsmus as his neck???) otherwise but IS a pretext location for US state linked businessmen to justify a strategic military base in ASEAN.
Reformed and transformed? More like colluded and media spun, with the lame excuse of a supposed benevolent dictator . . . USA needs to re-examine their principles and REMOVE term limitless oligarch politicians for REAL love of the increasingly wise world at large. No more are world citizens east european borats, sand niggers, pakees and gooks, the 99% is ready to kick anyone’s ass for lying or overstepping fair authority or throwing fiat scrip at ‘poor countries’ . . .
ARTICLE 7
Spread of deviant religious teachings worries Selangor Sultan – July 02, 2012
PUTRAJAYA, July 2 — The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has called on Muslims to raise their level of knowledge, understanding and imbibing of Islamic teachings to protect themselves from being influenced by deviant religious teachings.
The Sultan (picture) said deviant religious teachings were actively being spread by certain groups in the country who regarded Prophet Muhammad’s companions as infidels and their religious teachers as prophets, and approved acts that were contrary to true Islamic teachings.
“This is worrying me as the deviant teachings are being insidiously disseminated through certain organisations.
“As the head of Islamic religion in the state, I do not want deviant religious teachings to influence the minds of the young in schools and higher learning institutions, as well as the community at large.
“Therefore, I hope the fatwa (edicts) that have been gazetted can be effectively enforced, taking into consideration the existing syariah legal provisions,” the Sultan said in his speech in conjunction with the Pemier Islamic Forum at Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (KUIS) in Bandar Baru Bangi near here tonight.
The Sultan said he wanted issues like lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBT), apostasy, religious pluralism, insulting and criticising Islam and other acts which could create conflicts and chaos to be immediately but decorously dealt with.
Sultan Sharafuddin said based on studies carried out, more and more Muslims were involved in LGBT activities which received the support of several non-governmental organisations and through the Internet and social media like Facebook as a medium for communication and interaction.
“I do not want to see the Muslim community divided and weak.
“I urge the Muslim community, particularly the Malays, to be united in protecting the sanctity and position of Islam as the official religion of the federation, so that it will continue to be respected and held in high esteem by all,” he said.
The Sultan also urged Muslims to maintain good relations with the other communities in the country so that peace, harmony and prosperity could prevail.
“The turbulence in some countries of late shows us that disunity will
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Single track minds are a luxury (if not cynical use as tools of control of already generally respectful populations) to behold . . .
This is a genetic issue not a social or religious issue. Nature (or Allah for the Muslims) has designed all of these expressions of humanity both to show us what is wrong and right, and even allows the state of apostasy as is Man’s right to free will that Malaysian Syariah Law ignores – ask the Al Azhar Islamic Universirt at Cairo if denying right to apostasy is correct or reasonable by any country that is supposed to be a Muslim country. Man not state has no right to demand any other to follow and children who have not reached maturity to CHOOSE to be Muslims can hardly be fairly considered Muslims as they would have to reach adulthood first BEFORE choosing to be Muslim, consider facing the prophet or if no real Muslim at all, there is no point.
Though any parents could bring any children up as Muslims, the choice of these children MUST NOT be taken from them – sad to say too many Muslims in Malaysia are of the former sort who have never been given a chance to choose , worse still are those being lured with the opportunity to oppress non-Muslims instead of choosing of free will and out of love of Islam per se. Their reasons for being Muslims are to abuse non-Muslims not because they are pious or fear Allah!
The sanctity and position of Islam as the official religion of the federation will always be viable in those who want to follow. Those who do not or cannot have nothing to do with Islam’s sanctity and hudud or violence must never be used against them! What would the gentle Prophet have done? Hudud is inapplicable, know the difference between REAL Muslims and those who lack the will to challenge a flawed system that entices with evil minded and disenfranchising, racist paradigms.
Shame on those who call themselves pious or Muslim but do not understand or consider the above! No good Muslim or even world citizen will deny any other :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
ARTICLE 8
Britain blamed for Indian Malaysians’ ‘plight’ in ex-colony IANS | Jun 30, 2012, 08.00PM IST
LONDON: An exiled Indian Malaysian human rights lawyer plans to file a lawsuit against the British government for failing to provide adequate safety to the community under the rule of Malay-Muslim majority when independence was granted to the former colony.
London-based Waytha Moorthy claims that the then British Harold MacMillian’s government failed to provide protection to Indian Malaysians when independence was granted to the former colony in 1957.
The 46-year-old lawyer was expected to re-issue a class action lawsuit at the High Court Monday. He is claiming a sum of $1 million in compensation for each one of Malaysia’s 1.8 million Indians.
Originally launched in 2007, but never heard and now out of time, Moorthy’s claim is on behalf of Indian Malaysians who he said face human rights abuses and live unprotected and in “continuous colonisation”.
The then British government gave the Muslim population special rights and privileges, effectively establishing a system of apartheid ever since, he said in a statement.
“In India, at the time of partition, the British government gave rights to minorities.
“In Malaysia, minority racial and religious groups were hung out to dry. The result is that 45 percent of the population is still being marginalised, humiliated and discriminated against when it comes to jobs, education and finance,” said Moorthy, chair of
HINDRAF, an NGO advocating equal rights for Indian Malaysians.
The organisation is banned in Malaysia and Moorthy has been jailed on numerous occasions in that country.
Another strawman? The Malaysian government cannot be left out of this kind of lawsuit even as the English are no longer responsible though the English did initiate the Special Privileges via the Reid Commission which clearly stated only a 15 year period before review for abolishment of what has now become APARTHEID. The Malaysian MPs of whatever race or party who have kept the special privileges in place here the actual offenders. The Malaysian MPs who refuse to bring up or ratify a bill abolishing apartheid are at fault, not the English. Conversely, the English could speak ON Moorthy’s side at this angle condemning Malaysian MPs who refuse to remove apartheid privileges applicable only for 15 years. At the same time, Moorthy could fairly also demand that the ‘Eye of Brahma’ Black Diamond (currently in 3 parts, amongst other stolen treasures held by England) be returned to India.
The true criminals are the Malaysian MPs, also appropriate Ministerial portfolio members of cabinet, (of all races and faiths) who refuse to give or address or acknowledge :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
That has led to feelings of disenfranchisement that have led to emotional distress and social persecution of those politically aware as well as political activists in Malaysia who should be compensated for any suffering they were made to endure during the entire period of the ILLEGAL (after 1976 at any rate) Special Privileges. Could the UN, Human Rights Council (which Malaysia is unsuitably a member of) and also Sunnite Islam’s highest authority (on the issue of Asabiya) please arbitrate and order that the obviously ILLEGAL and APARTHEID Special Privileges be ended immediately as well?
ARTICLE 9
S’gor water: Game of chicken is scaring residents? – Thursday, 05 July 2012 08:26
BN VIEWPOINT THERE is so much news of an impending water problem in the Klang Valley that it got me worried. I am not sure if it will be due to less rain, more development or politics — or all of the above.
In the Klang Valley the threat of water shortage began in 2008 when the Pakatan Rakyat government decided to take on the water companies, alleging they were inefficient and were getting sweetheart deals from the federal and previous state governments.
While the current state government is not responsible for higher water consumption, it nevertheless can be taking us to a water crisis in a hand basket.
The decision by the Selangor government to give free water soon after getting sworn into office in 2008 was the beginning of the politicising of water, just as some would politicise religion or education.
The desire of Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to impress the people of Selangor, and score political points, too, with benevolence is understandable. What better way to do so than with free water.
Khalid often claims that the free water does not see an increase in usage. That may be true, but he misses the point, entirely.
Water is a finite and valuable resource. Even if we can afford to give it away for free, we must not, since it will lessen its value to some people. Furthermore, it costs money to treat and make water potable, and people must know so.
An irony in the Selangor free water initiative is that many of those living in low-cost flats, for example, do not benefit from it, while those who can afford homes, do.
The standoff with the water companies and the Federal Government has a populist ring to it and would of course be politically rewarding. Selangor also put on hold several water-related projects on the premise of protecting the state from unfair deals.
It has been four years of relative inactivity, water-wise. At the same time the Klang Valley has expanded by dramatic proportions. Puchong, for instance, has turned into a major residential and commercial area, rivalling Subang Jaya, which is also expanding. Everywhere, new residential, commercial and industrial developments have, and are taking place.
As a result, the carrying capacity of the greater Klang Valley, with a population some estimate to be close to eight million, that is the heartbeat of the nation, is being stretched.
For water especially, this can already be felt by long-time residents who are experiencing lower water pressure these days. Some reports suggest if the margin of reserve is as thin as it is now, and if drought were to hit us, then we would be in trouble. The massive water shortage of the late 1990s is also fresh in our minds.
Khalid and his supporters on the other hand claim that there is no such thing as a water problem in Selangor and that the scaremongering is the work of political opponents. The claim that the Klang Valley would have a water crisis by 2014 is also a cry wolf.
Regardless, logic has it that if demand keeps increasing and supply were to remain the same, at some point, we would be in trouble.
At the moment I do not really care who is right or wrong. The state’s steadfastness over the issue is no longer admirable, but is verging on foolhardiness.
Stop politicising water. Klang Valley residents should not have to pay for political grandstanding, by anyone. This high-stake game of chicken, waiting for who will blink first is getting close to ridiculous — especially with the prospect of dry taps for millions of people.
– New Straits Times
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Knowing what rubbish Malaysia can degenerate into, there can be no harm in buying a week or few worth of water and food supplies for future use. That way water ‘threats’ won’t be effective in swaying votes. And don’t use plastic bottles or tanks as your ‘private reservoir’ – plastic sloughs off into the water. If anyone in Dewan has half a mind to riot to cause a lockdown or ‘Emergency’, the citizens will be ready to hold out until the ASEAN or NATO Peacekeepers get here.
On a side note incidentally, for all the farcical harm Mahathir Mohammed has caused Malaysia via Vehicular AP and Toll Both System, stolen lives and lands from Orang Asli indigenous peoples, racism against the Indians and Chinese, how could the UN even give that nepotistic old dictator (who bailed out childrens’ shipping failures) an award – Rafik Hariri UN-Habitat Memorial award, for ‘accomplishments in areas that include leadership (dictatorship is not leadership); statesmanship and good governance (Ops Lallang and Judicial Crisis are massivce failures that UN can hardly ignore); construction and reconstructions of settlements and communities (destructionof Orang Asli habitats – alienations of OrangAsli lands and forced resettlement without choice is NOT construction) ; and human resource development (breeding cronyism and corruption – ask ANY Malaysia EVEN the cynical UMNO party the old creep Mahathir is from – for any idea on how Malaysia feels about Mahathir . . . .’ SOCIAL development?
UN whats wrong with you? I propose that the entire awards committee or vetting panel for the Rafik Hariri UN-Habitat Memorial award BE SACKED, and all others ‘awards vetters’ be audited for potential BRIBERY and corruption. UN is fast becoming redundant when awards can be given to the most criminal of people who did the exact opposite of what the worst most unstatesmen like 3rd world cults of personality for awards like the above. One even begins to wonder if Rafik Hariri was another criminal to begin with now! NAM and BRICS or ASEAN or UNASUR will indeed have to play UN’s role in ‘counter-vetting’ now. Lets see what the above non-UN organisations say about the award to determine what the above non-UN organisations are worth. Perhaps USA would like to comment? After all UN HQ is currently in the USA, and if USA concur with the Rafik Hariri UN-Habitat Memorial award being correctly awarded to one of the worst people in ASEAN, then USA is as bad as the person disgracefully awarded . . . just shocking . . .
Contributions? More like Reductions and value deductions against Malaysian citizens . . .
ARTICLE 10
A sentencing guide? – Posted on 3 July 2012 – 09:22pm – Last updated on 3 July 2012 – 09:29pm – R. Nadeswaran
MORE than three decades ago, I sat in the public gallery at the magistrate’s court as a pregnant woman was brought in to the dock with her hands cuffed behind her back. The interpreter read the charge to her and asked: Mengaku salah atau tidak?
“She pleads guilty, your honour,” the interpreter said and asked her if she had anything to say in mitigation. “Saya ambil susu itu untuk anak saya.” (I took the milk for my child.) For shoplifting a tin of powdered milk and some other items, she was sent to the slammer for six months.
Two days later, before another magistrate, a 22-year-old man pleaded guilty to committing criminal breach of trust of RM20,000 belonging to his employer. After pleading guilty, his counsel stood up and mitigated, playing up his client’s good values and how his client ended up in wrong company and was forced to steal from his employer. He was bound over on a good behaviour bond.
In the month that followed, my then colleague Au Foong Yee, who was covering the PJ courts reported about a man who caused injury to a victim while committing robbery. He was bound over but the minor report did not escape the eyes of Justice N. H. Chan who was a sitting High Court judge. He called up the case for review and imposed a custodial sentence.
In the years that followed, I continued to read about the rich and famous getting away with slaps on their wrists but yet could do nothing, especially cases involving white collar crimes. These two incidents, though, left me pondering over what I perceived as unfair and unequal sentences. On more than one occasion, I had used the pregnant woman’s sentence in this column. Very much later, in the university library in England, I came across a publication called Sentencing Guidelines.
The foreword was compelling reading. Sentencing, it says, is a complex and difficult exercise. It can never be a rigid, mechanistic or scientific process. Consistency of approach by sentencers is essential to maintain public confidence. But perfect consistency in outcome is impossible to achieve because of the infinite variety of circumstances with which, even in relation to one kind of offence, the courts are presented.
“In choosing a fair and just sentence in a particular case, judges and magistrates, within the parameters established by Parliament, must have regard to the gravity of the offence, its impact on the victim, the circumstances of the offender and the wider public interest. In relation to all these matters they must exercise judgment and discretion,” wrote Lord Justice Rose, vice-president, Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and the deputy chairman, Sentencing Guidelines Council.
That was seven years ago and sentencing is still a fascination and court reports are closely followed. Last week, there was cause to have reason to be happy because a seldom-heard-of custodial sentence was imposed by the Court of Appeal for a white collar crime.
Even the Securities Commission called it a landmark decision as a former Fountain View Development Bhd company director, Datuk Chin Chan Leong, was sent to prison to serve a 12-month jail sentence for a share manipulation offence in Bursa Malaysia committed between 2003 and 2004.
Chin, who pleaded guilty to shares manipulation two years ago, was initially given a one-day jail sentence and RM1.3 million fine for the offence. A three-member Appeals Court panel enhanced (Chin’s) custodial sentence to 12 months’ jail after ruling that the one-day jail imposed by the sessions court did not reflect the seriousness of the offence.
We are often reminded that laws are sets of moral codes which have been put on paper for ease of enforcement. Hence, those who commit crimes against fellow citizens, must be appropriately punished. So, can we expect a set of guidelines for magistrates and judges to use?
R. Nadeswaran is editor (special and investigative reporting) at theSun and can be reached at: citizen-nades@thesundaily.com
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Try the one in the ‘Gambier Threat’ where the laws are not amended and fines imposed on everyone FOR offenses committed on their own private property. the amount of suffering created and fines imposed far outstrips 1 can of powdered milk. At the police level after reporting, a simple talk with the/a local Ombudsman and a gifting of another can of milk by the local list of billionaires or millionaires (in turn so that the pain will be shared – one can of milk is nothing to too many of us) should be where this ends. Not wasting more resources and then allowing the prison contractor system to profit AGAIN.
The court magistrate or who knows even the arresting officer should be offended enough to dismiss the case instantly, (after gifting the woman money for milk? Who will take care of the woman’s child?) and not even waste the taxpayer’s time and funds much less punish the woman at 1000s of times the cost to taxpayers for 1 can of milk – inquitable and wasteful hence unjust. Where are the days when the local big shot or state apparatus would just distribute milk so that people who do need to steal like this won’t have to and just turn up at the ‘food stamp centre’ every month instead? The planet’s English based modern legal and punishments system is the most inefficient system in nature and any civilisation in this universe. We civilised persons aware, should be ashamed at the greed and selfishness plutocrats and the punitive nature of judgements which burden society and taxpayer. Magnanimity and wasteful lack of creative treatment of problems typifies Malaysians.
ARTICLE 12
Poison of Cyanide in Bukit Koman, Raub, Pahang – Monday, June 16, 2008
Bukit Koman a small village situated in the district of Raub, Pahang became famous over a hundred years ago because of its godl mine. There are about 400 households and a population of about 3,000. Life was peaceful and serene until early August, 2006 when the issue of “Cyanide” brought fear and anxiety.
August 21st, last year, the London listed company known as Peninsular Gold Limited wholly own subsidiary, Australian Gold Mining Sdn. Bhd., has obtained the written approval from the Mineral and Geosains of Pahang to mine gold using Cyanide at the vicinity of the gold mining site in Bukit Koman without the knowledge of the villagers. It is known that they have built up the infracture for gold mining already.
Cyanide (CN) is the most toxic chemical, that can stop human cells from consuming exygen. Anyone who inhales concentrated Hydrogen Cyanide Gas ould drop dead instantly. In using Cyanide to extract gold, the yield is high as 97% which made the venture very attractive. Since 1960, the use of Cyanide in gold mining becama very common.
In october 1st 2006, the Gold Mining Company disclosed the approval letter for Cyanide gold mining form the State Government to the Bukit koman Committee members over lunch in one of the Raub Restaurant. They claimed that it is safe and the health of the villages will not be affected. After the Bukit Koman Committee members broke the news to the villagers, some went online to find out more about Cyanide. It is confirmed that the Cyanide is a deadly chemical. The villagers decided to from a committee to protect themselves. They seek the assistance of “Sahabat Alam Malaysia” (SAM) and with its help, an Anti-Cyanide Committee was formed. An all residents Anti-Cyanide compaign were mobilized.
As Bukit Koman New Village is situated just right at the side of the gold mine, the villages are very unhappy that the Pahang Mine And Geology Department has surreptitiously approved the use of Cyanide in gold mining without deu considerations.
Our Malaysia Government and Environmental Minister has always stressed the importance of relocating the small, medium and big industries with either smoke or non-smoke to be at least 5 km away from town area and all the environmental wastes must be treated very carefully. All the villagers, young and old alike are frightened and anxious and angry at the total disregard to their health and well being.
The nearest house, No. 74-A in Bukit Koman is only two meters away from the mining site and most of the houses in the village are only separated by a village road.
Question being asked, how and why did The Pahang Mine and Geology Department able to grant and approve the use of Cyanide in the mining of gold here when there are houses and small industries (Mee, Tau Foo, Groundnuts) so close to the mine.
There is a river flowing through the mining site. If the river overflows during floods, the water will seep into the gold mining infrastructure and can lead to Cyanide leadage and resulting in disastrous conssequences.
This has already happened in advanced and developed countries that used Cyanide to extract gold. Should that happen here, not only Bukit Koman villagers are danger but also the whole Raub population as well.
River pollution will definetely lead to “The Raub Oil Mill” and Oil Palm plantations by the Koman River. The mill uses the water for the manufacturing of Palm Oil products. These products are meant for markets both locals and overseas.
Polluted water will definitely lead to Lipis District also because the water flows to Sungai Dong and there on to Sungai Lipis and on and on.
A resident by the name of Gan Chew Yen, presently doing her Master Degree in Chemistry, pointed out that when Cyanide solution is slightly Acidic, it can turn to Cyanide Gas which is extreamely toxic and when Cyanide solution is Alkaline, the Cyanide will not break down. So either in the air or water, this chemical is extremely toxic to the environment.
Robert Moran, a Geo-Chemical expert, has found Cyanide contaminated sediments at a Cobalt-Nickel mine in Missouri that contained many milligrams per kilogram of total Cyanide more than 25 years after all processing had ceased. Samples of bricks, concrete palster and mortar from buildings at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps collected 45 years after all use of Cyanide ceased still showed detectable concentrations of Cyanide, presumably as Iron Cyanides.
History of accidents did happen; Cyanide and heavy metal leaks from the Summitville gold mine killed all aquatic life along a 27 kilometer stretch of the Alamosa River in the San Juan Mountains of Southwestern Colorado. By the time the fold mine was shut down in December 1992, the total clean-up costs have exceeded US$150 million.
In North-Western state of Montana, November 3, 1998, banned the use of Cyanide to extract gold. After years of suffering and dozens toxic leaks from the local mines, the indigenous assiniboine and Gros Ventre peoples had to battle for years in court to force Pegasus, a Canadian gold mining company, to clean-up Cyanide Waste on the Fort Belknap reservation in the Little Rocky Mountains of Montana. Although the community won the lawsuit in 1996, the company declared bankruptcy the following year thwarting clean-up efforts.
The community of Bergama, Turkey, was the first to win a legal ban on Cyanide. In May, 1997, the highest Turkish administrative court overturned approval given by the Department of Environment for the proposed Eurogold project after a rally by 10,000 local poeple with 1,000 tractors occupied the mine site. The judgement was based on the Turkish Constitution and its guarantee of a healthy and intact environment. The court found that the Cyanide based mining technology was at odds with these constitutional rights.
There were “seven wells” left behind by the Raub Australian Gold Mining company when they mined gold underground many years ago. The Australian started mining gold in Raub and Bukit Koman since 1898 to 1963. These seven wells are situated along a straight line from “Raub Well” near the present Chung Ching Secondary School in Raub to the “Malacca Well” in Bukit Koman at the present gold mining area. The depths of these wells range from 600 ft. to 1,200 ft. underground. These wells are accessible by underground tunnels, which included the three wells now under the waste mining lake (tailings).
If the waste tailings and water containing Cyanide seeps into ground and into the waste mining lake, the whole of Raub District will be Cyanide contaminated by way of the underground water, interconnected by these tunnels.
Pollution would not only have a serious repervussion on the 3,000 villages of Bukit Koman but the whole population of Raub District.
The villagers have been very sincere in asking The Pahang State Government, Parliment and State Assemblyman to consider their humble request and look into their plight. It is the villagers hope that the “Letter of Authority To Mine” No. Phg. 14/2006 dated 21/8/2006 using Cyanide / Carbon In-Leach by the Mineral and Geosains of Pahang, on the study that was based some 10 years ago be revoked from the gold mining company. Last but not least we would like the Government of the day to treat this matter with urgency and not to one gold mining company that overrides the population of Raub.
Posted by Choong Siew onn at Monday, June 16, 2008
1 comment:
Jiaxin said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
July 18, 2009 7:37 PM
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Typical. 1 comment and DAP sees fit to remove. Malaysia Chronicle a pro-DAP outfit also does the same, did that so much I stopped posting more or less there. This being the MP’s site, doesn’t surprise at all. Would Raub citizens want to field an independent candidate who will shut all gold mines immediately? Consider one of those retirees who will also stand for :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
The local MP is probably on the take from RAGM and pretending to be sending samples and what not. A really decisive MP would have shut down the whole area by declaring the whole constituency ‘Agriculture and Residential only’. Would the voters in Raub want to vote for a candidate that would be able to not be tempted by gold or buyoffs and just shut every offending mine down as is the MP’s power and right to represent the locals rather than collude against the locals? Independent candidates and 3rd Forcers, activists, want to write 1 law (which is more than that CM of Penang character did) for the entire 1st term stint which abolishes use of cyanide or any dangerous chemical ENTIRELY in all gold mining operations at least? Voters should know who has the mind to do that . . .
ARTICLE 13
‘Umno does not own BN’ – Wednesday, 04 July 2012 Super Admin
A MIC leader says the the days of the ‘Big Brother’ syndrome is over and component parties should not quit BN if it disagreed with Umno.
(FMT) – Barisan Nasional is made up of various partners founded on the principle of power sharing and no party can claim to be the sole proprietor of the coalition, said a MIC leader.
Therefore, S Vell Paari stressed that if Umno crossed the line then the other parties should come together to discuss the matter and find a solution.
In the past, he said Umno leaders had called for the withdrawal of component parties from BN whenever it was deemed that the line was not toed.
“So why is it that whenever a controversial issue arises concerning Umno it is the component parties which threaten to quit BN? This should not be the case.
“No one party has a monopoly in BN and decisions are based on consensus. Gone are the days of the ‘Big Brother’ syndrome,” he told FMT.
The MIC central working committee member also disagreed with the description of Umno being the backbone of BN, saying that the title belonged to the people.
The son of former MIC president S Samy Vellu was responding to the warning from MCA’s Young Professionals Bureau head Chua Tee Yong.
Tee Yong, the son of MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, said his party would quit BN if Umno attempted to implement the Islamic hudud law.
He was reacting to Johor Umno state assemblyman Ayub Rahmat who suggested that hudud be implemented in the state to cover all races.
Ayub had put MCA in a spot as the hudud issue had been one of the Chinese-based party’s most potent weapon against its Chinese-predominated rival DAP over the latter’s association with the Islamic PAS.
Time to be more aggressive
Meanwhile, Vell Paari was confident that Umno would not push for the implementation of hudud but stated that the controversy necessitated certain points to be made clear.
He said MIC and MCA’s problem with Umno in the past was that its previous leaderships refused to acknowledge or even compromise with the two parties.
This, he noted, led to the inequality between the races, which in turn bred the resentment of the Chinese and Indian communities towards BN.
“I am not against the development of the majority but at the same time, the minorities should not have been left out in terms of education, employment and so forth,” he said.
However, Vell Paari said the situation was different now under the stewardship of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
“He is a prime minister who is willing to listen and he even had the courage to apologise for the coalition’s past mistake. Whatever said and done, I respect the man for that,” he said.
On the same note, Vell Paari said MIC and MCA must be more aggressive in fighting for the rights of the communities which the parties represented.
“The hard and cold fact is that our respective communities chose to turn their backs on us because we were seen as toothless tigers. And true enough, we were bullied into a corner.
“We must make a stand to show that we are not second or third fiddle in BN and our leaders are not there to attend functions and savour the kuih alone,” he said.
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Don’t talk and use the mandate BN already has to grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
There is nothing BN can offer the Rakyat now, and all BN MPs are millionaires and billionaires already. Who needs this sort of MPs or inequality? Use that mandate to grant the above 3 items and stop expecting the citizens to vote for BN! Why should anyone vote for a coalition that does not use the mandate they already have to end apartheid?
ARTICLE 14
Battle of scandals: Guan Eng vs Soi Lek – Wednesday, 04 July 2012 Super Admin – RK Anand, FMT
In declaring his fidelity and denying his wife assaulted him or the other woman, the DAP leader slips in an attack against the MCA president, who then retaliates.
In the latest chapter of the tussle between DAP and MCA, Lim Guan Eng has been accused of sharing an intimate relationship with a former staff and thus earning the wrath of his wife. His enraged wife Kota Laksamana (Malacca) assemblywoman Betty Chew, alluded MCA, had then assaulted both Lim and the woman, who had since been transferred. In a media statement this afternoon, the DAP secretary-general denied the allegation that his wife had beaten him or the woman.
Launching a vitriolic salvo against his opponents, Lim, who denied indulging in an extra-marital affair, also seized the opportunity to revisit MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek’s scandalous past.
He dared Malacca MCA chairman Gan Tian Loo, who raised the matter in the state assembly on Monday, to repeat his claim outside the House without hiding behind the cloak of immunity.
Lim said this would allow his wife and him to drag Gan to court and prove that he (Lim) was not like the MCA president.
“DAP never indulges in gutter politics,” he pointed out.
“DAP never abused parliamentary privilege and proceedings to attack the MCA president when he was caught in a video tape having an extra-marital affair with another woman,” he added.
Lim regretted that while DAP chose to exercise restraint, MCA was willing to stoop low.
Taking another swipe at the MCA president, the Penang chief minister said he would not ask Chua to direct Gan to repeat his allegation outside the House since the former had no moral authority to do so given his own scandal.
Instead, he wanted Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to issue the order.
Training his guns on Gan, Lim said if the latter failed to repeat his allegation, it would prove that he was a coward who was unfit to be a leader.
“Worse, he will show himself unworthy to be a husband and father… who can make false allegations against another to destroy not just his political career but also the family’s happiness.
“What kind of leader is Gan when he is willing to be used as a lackey of Umno to play such gutter politics?” he asked.
Chua: I have courage, you don’t
Retaliating, the MCA president agreed that Lim was not like him as there was a stark difference between the two, which was courage.
“I have the courage to be responsible and bear the consequences [for my actions],” he said in a media statement.
Chua asked if Lim would be brave enough to admit his mistake, apologise and resign from his posts as he did.
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The Rakyat does not care who sleeps with who in DAP and MCA or if DAP and MCA has orgies every weekend with their political interns. Thats for the wife or husband to sue. The Rakyat only cares about having :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;and that TERM LIMITS are respected, that democracy and equality is upheld. Morality is NOT the same as good policy writing or conscientious amendments to bad laws or ending apartheid. Have orgies all you want DAP and MCA, but not use a mandate to end apartheid or use those legislative powers to amend laws, and the Rakyat will have no further use for any political party, BOTH Lim Guan Eng and Chua Soi Lek will be useless to the voter if they talk about their sex lives instead of amending laws and ending apartheid. 2 terms, AND equality, then GTFO of Dewan for the other citizens to participate in bettering the nation instead of talking about whos sleeping with who. Focus on the issue and use those 2 term limited powers!
ARTICLE 16
To understand today you need to know yesterday – Wednesday, 04 July 2012 Super Admin – by John Roberts, WSWS.ORG
Many of you were not in the scene back in 1997/1998 when Malaysia was hit by a financial crisis and Anwar Ibrahim made his move to oust Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. It was a classic case of the hunter becoming the hunted and how Dr Mahathir turned a losing hand into a winning hand. It may be time to revisit what happened 14-15 years ago considering that many of these players are now re-emerging as the power-brokers for the coming general election.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Malaysian government instigates a politically motivated ‘anti-corruption’ drive
Malaysian economic regulatory authorities—the Securities Commission and the central bank, Bank Negara—have initiated an extensive crackdown in the corporate sector in the name of ending corrupt practices. However, questions have been raised by opposition figures and in financial circles about the selective, political nature of the measures that have targeted businessmen connected to opponents of the Malaysian government.
On August 12, the Malaysia’s Sun newspaper reported that the Securities Commission had handed the Immigration Department a list of 70 names of businessmen and their senior advisors to prevent them from leaving Malaysia. The Securities Commission admitted taking the action, claiming only that the number was lower.
Among those already arrested and facing charges are some of the most prominent figures in the country’s corporate sector. On April 30, Ismail Zakariah, a former chief executive of the Sime Bank, a major Malaysian bank, was charged with breaking lending guidelines under the Banking and Financial Institutions Act by lending $M175 million ($US46 million) against the instructions of the bank’s board.
On July 24, KFC managing director Ishak Ismail and Abrar Corporation executive chairman Wan Hasni Wan Sulaiman were charged with offences under the Securities Act. The KFC director, who became a major corporate figure after gaining control of Idris Hydraulic in 1991, is charged with providing false information in 1996 when submitting a plan for Securities Commission approval. Wan Hasni Wan Sulaiman has been charged over allegedly using a plan to cheat investors in 1997.
On August 4, Datuk Tony Thiah Thee Kian, executive of TA Securities, the country’s largest retail brokerage firm, and his sister-in-law, Kimmy Khoo Poh Kim, the company secretary, were charged with aiding the political and business figure John Soh Chee Wen in defrauding the now defunct Omega Securities of $M424.9 million. If convicted Tiah and Khoo could face jail sentences of up to 10 years and fines of up to $M1million. The authorities have initiated an international manhunt for Soh.
Opposition figures have accused Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of directing the crackdown against businessmen connected to the deposed and jailed former deputy prime minister and financial minister Anwar Ibrahim. Similar concerns have been voiced by bankers and businessmen quoted in Hong Kong and Singapore-based newspapers.
Members of Parti Keadilan Nasional (National Justice Party), established this year by Anwar’s wife Wan Azizah, have denounced the measures saying they are aimed at smearing and intimidating opposition supporters in the lead-up to the national elections. One of the government’s aims, they say, is to cut off funds for opposition parties.
The poll is due to be held by the middle of next year, but there is widespread speculation in the press that Mahathir will call an early election.
The government claims the crackdown is not politically motivated but has been initiated by the Securities Commission in response to calls from foreign investors, fund managers, business and the media for moves against corrupt business practices. Mahathir said the regulating authorities were acting independently of the government. Securities Commission chairman Ali Abdul Kadir commented: “We are not concentrating on any particular sector, party, of friends of anybody.”
Mahathir’s assertions appear to be rather hollow, as a number of those facing charges are well known for their connections to Anwar.
For 10 years until 1991, Datuk Ishak Ismail was secretary of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) division of Permatang Pauh—Anwar’s constituency in Penang. After 1991 he remained a committee member. His political closeness to Anwar is apparent from an interview in which he said Anwar “is my mentor and I learnt a lot from him. I felt privileged to serve under him in his division. I have great respect for him. He is a leader of high integrity.”
Wan Hasni Wan Sulaiman was also a strong Anwar supporter. He was deputy chief of the UMNO young organisation in Kelantan until Anwar was deposed in last September. In October, he was expelled from UMNO for “anti-UMNO activities” as part of a purge of 300 to 400 Anwar supporters.
Ismail Zakaria was known to be close to both Mahathir and Anwar when the latter was Finance Minister. He was being considered as a future governor of the Bank Negara.
Furthermore, the roundup of Anwar supporters comes in the aftermath of fresh allegations by the jailed Anwar of corrupt practices by close supporters of Mahathir. In the course of July, he lodged police reports accompanied by supporting documents alleging that:
* Mahathir, in collaboration with the attorney-general’s chambers, blocked the criminal prosecution of international trade and industry minister Rafidah Aziz over charges that she had favoured her son-in-law in an allocation of shares.
* Mahathir, and not managing director Eric Chia, was largely responsible for $M3 billion in losses at the state-owned steel corporation Perwaja.
* Present Finance Minister and business tycoon Daim Zainuddin received money and shares from three prominent businessmen — Halim Saad, controlling shareholder of the giant Renong corporation; Tajudin Ramli, Malaysian Airlines chairman and principal shareholder; and Wan Azmi Wan Hamzah, chairman of the property group Land & General. Daim is one of Mahathir’s closest political associates.
While Anwar’s allegations have received little publicity and are unlikely to be pursued by the police, they appear to have rattled the Mahathir government. “The Anwar reports have put the government back on the defensive. They seem to be in a bind on how to react,” Jomo Sundaram, an economics professor, commented.
The crackdown by the Securities Commission is part of Mahathir’s answer as he considers whether to call an early election. The UMNO general assembly, held from June 18 to 20, was used by the party leadership as a virtual election rally. Claiming that the government’s regulatory policies were working, Mahathir and Daim branded the IMF’s policies as moves by the “ethnic Europeans” to recolonise Malaysia, and Anwar and his supporters as the lackeys of foreign capital.
The government has also put Anwar on trial for a second time, on charges of sodomy. He is already serving a six-year sentence on corruption charges. The trial has proceeded despite evidence that witness statements against Anwar were coerced by the police. The police have just admitted this week that they rewrote the charges when it was discovered that the apartment block in which the offenses were supposed to have taken place had not even been built at the time.
As well as the publicity surrounding the trial, Mahathir is counting on an improved economy to assist him winning an early election. But the so-called recovery in Malaysia has largely been fueled by government spending and is rather shaky. There has been little foreign investment in the country. Export growth in April and increased foreign reserves occurred against the backdrop of an economic contraction of 7.5 percent last year. Banks have refused to increase lending by the 8 percent demanded by the government.
Anwar’s expulsion last year and his subsequent jailing were not simply the product of a personal falling-out between the prime minister and his former deputy, but reflected deep rifts in ruling circles in the wake of the Asian economic crisis. Anwar demanded that the UMNO-led government respond by adopting the economic policies required by the IMF, a process he had begun as finance minister. He was seeking to further open up the economy to foreign investment and maintained a high interest rate regime, which was threatening to bring down major Malaysian corporations, including some closely allied to Mahathir and Daim.
Last September Mahathir responded by sacking the Bank Negara head and implemented a series of capital and currency controls including the suspension of offshore trading of the Malaysian ringgit, a fixed exchange rate and restrictions on the repatriation of profits by foreigners in share trading. When Anwar refused to accept the changes and refused to resign, Mahathir sacked and then expelled him from UMNO. After Anwar launched a nationwide campaign calling for Mahathir’s removal, he was arrested under the Internal Security Act and then finally changed with corruption and sexual misconduct.
The bitter dispute first surfaced in the June 1998 at the general assembly of UMNO. Anwar tried to appeal to the resentment of smaller Malay business interests who were going to the wall, while those close to UMNO were being bailed out by government money. He and his supporters called for the government to “cleanse society of collusion, corruption and nepotism”.
Mahathir responded at the time by producing a list of business interests connected to Anwar, who had benefited from state largesse. The message was clear: pursue this anti-corruption campaign and you will end up being investigated for financial malpractice. A little over a year later, the Mahathir government seems to be carrying out the threat.
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Re-emerging RPK says? What a joke. 2 terms over? A plutocrat from being in politics? NO RE-EMERGENCE then. GTFO of Dewan you term limitless nepotists plutocrats! Will the independent candidates step forward and remove al;l these -re-emergers? The last thing we need is pre-1997 politicians taking the stand AGAIN. 1990s where the MOST UMNO dominated, least transparent era of nepotist Mahathir and Kris waving Home Ministers . . . RPK really has lost his mind. How could RPK fette deadwood from a dead era who are so wealthy and term limitless over young Malaysians who are not complicit on not challenging the apartheid system in Malaysia, but tacit approval and n ot challenging the apartheid special privileges which are also anathema in Islam?
Re-emerging politicians? No thanks. The nasi lemak or kuih seller (who does not believe in apartheid), sweeper or petty trader at the roadside has a better chance than any billionaire or even millionaire plutocrat much less the term limitless nepotist MPs trying to become plutocrats by stealing from the other citizens the rights to award contracts for the better of the country – NOT themselves to become plutocrats with. We’d rather such politicians NEVER re-emerge and be crushed by society (not voting them or keeping 2 term limits in place by dropping candidates after 2 terms) for the harm they have done with their bodeking and corrupt or racist behaviour, floundering on ending apartheid.
All Najib needs to do is to grant :
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
;and we don’t need to hear about who’s f—ing who in MCA or DAP or RPK’s b.s. here . . .
ARTICLE 17
Umno lost its way under Najib, says Tamrin Ghafar – NEWS/COMMENTARIES – Saturday, 07 July 2012 Super Admin
(The Malaysian Insider) – Already facing possible expulsion, Tamrin Ghafar, the son of former deputy prime minister and Umno strongman Tun Ghafar Baba, has again criticised the party’s leadership for straying from its “original struggle”.
The former Bukit Berendam MP told The Malaysian Insider last night that, under Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership, Umno has been trampling on the rights of Malaysians instead of defending them.
“Umno has strayed from the original struggle of its forefathers, who had prioritised the people more.
“Under Najib, Umno has stolen its people’s rights, instead of defended it,” he said.
He expressed disappointment that, since Najib succeeded Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2009, both the directions of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno have changed drastically.
Tamrin, who has recently been active on Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) political stage, confirmed he had received a show-cause letter from Umno’s disciplinary committee on June 26 demanding he explain his criticisms against Najib’s leadership.
He has declined to reply, however, saying he would prefer to meet with the committee to explain his reasons “face to face”.
“I’ve been given 14 days to respond. But I refuse to do so in writing. Instead, I am seeking to meet with the committee to explain my actions to them personally,” he said, despite acknowledging that this may result in his sacking.
When asked of his plans to join other parties should he be sacked, Tamrin said he was yet to make a decision.
“Let’s wait for the committee’s decision first. I have not thought about joining other parties yet,” he added.
Tamrin first made an appearance in an opposition-backed event during a pre-Bersih 3.0 rally held in April at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman in Kampung Baru here.
Since then, the leader has been an active participant of PR events, and has even written to Najib to air his views on how Umno could recapture public support.
Tamrin’s father, Ghafar, had been deputy prime minister during the Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration and had served under four prime ministers, including Tun Abdul Razak, who is Najib’s father.
The late Ghafar had also been the Malacca chief minister for some eight years from 1959 to 1967 although he had originally declined the post offered to him by Tunku Abdul Rahman.
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Here’s one of those very rare UMNO guys with the ethical or reform mindset of Semangat 46. Shahrir Samad (indepnendant minded enough to throw away UMNO’s style of politics, but formerly indulged in at least 1 or 2 corrupt acts), Tengku Razaleigh (glacial action on apartheid and crony politics in the past, talking about lots of embroyonic stuff but nothing concrete – Kuli is not exactly young and have been term limitless, how about doing something for this term or GTFO of Dewan for a more pro-active Tunku!) and Tamrin Ghafar (a man can turn down a CM’s post is exceptional indeed – deserves a Tunship but since Tamrin is too proud to lobby Tamrin probably got nothing . . . , Ghafar is a true STATESMAN not a mere political animal clinging to power) could well form the core of a new BN, with the likes of reform minded but (thus far) unable to speak up on APARTHEID types like Ong Tee Keat.
ARTICLE 18
Mahathir, a racist and Malay chauvinist – TRUE OR FALSE? – Written by Christopher Fernandez, Malaysia Chronicle – Friday, 06 July 2012 09:14
The nation of Malaysia has reached the crossroads after years of suffering much anguish and pain in the hands of being ruled by Barisan Nasional. The extent of anguish and pain that Malaysians have suffered in the hands of BN cannot be fully quantified or assessed as yet.
However, what is certain is the way and manner of governing Malaysia since the days of the establishment of the Mahathir regime which has definitely witnessed a major blow and setback for democracy and race relations.
The real “pengkhianat Bangsa Melayu”?
It is an undeniable fact that while Mahathir governed Malaysia with impunity, he was also guilty of being a racist and a Malay chauvinist.
By often calling upon and using the racial card, he caused gullible and unsuspecting Malays and other bumiputras to believe that their common enemy is the non-bumiputras especially the Chinese and Indians.
But the blow to his racial ploy was only apparent with the return of globalisation to the fore.
When the world decided to go global, Mahathir’s racial ploys backfired and blew up in his face. The Malays were found not to have the competitive edge in being able to compete in a globalised environment as they were rendered weak by being fully dependent on the BN government for assistance and aid.
By causing Malays and bumiputras to become soft in their belly, an underclass society actually, it is really Mahathir Mohammad who is truly the “pengkhianat Bangsa Melayu” (the traitor to the Malays), and not Anwar Ibrahim, which Perkasa should take note.
Played his cards badly
Many Malays after this went into a dither, upon globalisation taking place, and if they are managing today, it is because of the continued and able support being given by non-bumiputras to them.
In reality, the Chinese and the Indians are pragmatic and wise in seeing that if the Malays and bumiputras become unbalanced economically there will be chaos in the country.
Mahathir however played his cards very badly. He instilled in Malays and bumiputras a fear that the real threat to their well being are the Chinese and Indians who are out to rob them of their share of the economic pie.
This caused race relations to go back to the dark ages with Mahathir behaving more Malay than the Malays themselves in wanting to seemingly safeguard and defend them.
Created a situation where he did not have to answer to anyone
Mahathir went out of his way to dispel any notion that he has links with Indian ancestry in an attempt to be seen as the sole champion and custodian of Malay rights. In doing so, he used the Chinese and Indians as the bogeys to frighten the Malays and bumiputras.
By promoting racism and Malay chauvinism, Mahathir was able to secure the Malay vote bank and win general elections over the years of his rule with commanding victories.
However, the fallout with his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, over the devaluation of the Malaysian ringgit because of Mahathir gambling with funds obtained from Bank Negara Malaysia in the currency market spelt the beginning of the end of his so-called legacy.
Mahathir caused Anwar to be the scapegoat to cover for his misdeeds and acts of blatant corruption as he governed Malaysia without having to be answerable or accountable to anyone. He was governing Malaysia as a man above the law.
Cronyism and cronyism
During the tenure of his premiership, Mahathir established a BN-crony network to create the minority elite in this country while most Malays and bumiputras looked forward to a token value of financial progress.
Besides this, he staffed and employed most Malays by absorbing them into the civil service and offering them terms and conditions of service that were second-to-none despite a poor and low productivity rate and output by the civil service.
This was another of his ploys to curry favour with the Malays and to assure himself of their votes. As it stands, the racial composition of the staffing and employment of the overly-bloated civil service in this country is a blatant example and reflection of his acts of racism and chauvinism.
This is why more and more ordinary Malaysians have come to the realisation and recognition that Mahathir is perhaps more to be known as Bapa Rasuah (the father of corruption) than Bapa Pembangunan (the father of development).
A legacy of evil?
Mahathir’s skewering and tinkering with the politics and policies in this country has caused rising anger and resentment against him owing to numerous allegations of atrocities and abuses committed by him and his henchmen in the country.
Only by him and his cronies being brought before an international tribunal of justice can Malaysians be assured that the crimes he committed in this country towards Malaysians can come to the fore without people being fearful of reprisal.
While expecting justice and fair play by a competent court of justice in this country or even establishing a Royal Commission of Inquiry into his crimes and misdeeds might not lead to justice being seen to be done, Malaysians must bring him to book in an independent court abroad where his reach and influence is not there.
While Mahathir claims he does not fear death but evil, the evil he has spawned in this country is enough to convince and convict right-thinking Malaysians that his evil legacy is already in tatters for the coming generations to study as facts of history.
Malaysia Chronicle
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At this point of time, someone even asks ‘True of False’ about Malaysia’s worst confirmed dictator? Malaysia Chronicle has turned strawman . . . If not wrongly read, Christopher Fernandez should be ashamed to even attempt manipulative NLP (neurolinguistic programming) against the citizen readers via this article’s title – only the title is an NLP – the content of the article is just fine. Even on the 1 single count of Ops Lallang against Malaysians (not to mention Ops Lallang, Vehicular AP, Toll Concessions, Orang Asli Land Alienations, Crony Capitalism etc..) is Mahathir damned on ‘True False’ basis. Can’t ‘True False’ so obvious an offender! Selling soul to the media by disrespectfully throwing NLP at the public is not a way to earn a living ‘Chris’. Try apartheid and how Mahathir is the only Mamak in Malaysia who is a bumiputra, then know where you stand ‘Chris’ . . .
1) Freedom from Apartheid/Fascism (Article 1 Human Rights Charter)
2) Freedom from Religious-Persecution/Religious-Supremacy. (Article 18 Human Rights Charter)
3) Equality for all ethnicities and faiths in all aspects of policy, Law and Constitution. (Surah An Nisa 4:75)
Will PM Najib impose TERM LIMITS on MPs to remove all the nepotists and oligarchs and plutocrats, putting the RAMAN series of apartheid PM’s to a high end note, exhonerate UMNO and raise Malaysians to a state of equality? Use that mandate or BN is finished and PR might try to destroy BN’s ‘personalities’ after winning (including C4 users . . . ) End the Sin of Asabiya and comply with the UNHCR Articles. End the Apartheid of Bumiputra as a righteous PM might do so . . .
ARTICLE 19
SHOCKING parenting by Dr M: Tells Marina to behave herself and be sensitive to Mukhriz Featured Written by Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle – Friday, 29 June 2012 17:21
Fresh from publicly endorsing his son Mukhriz for the Kedah chief minister’s seat, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad next trained his sights on his daughter – Marina.
Urging the sometimes outspoken Marina to be ‘sensitive’ of how her often liberal behavior could affect her brother’s political chances, the 86-year-old Mahathir revealed for the first time his parenting skills to the nation.
And it is clear, as far as the Mahathir family goes, politics come first.
“I do hope she will realise what she is doing is not good for herself, not good for the government party at least. She should also be sensitive about her brother who is contesting in the election,” Mahathir said during an interview with online television station The Malaysian Observer (MobTV).
He had been asked to comment on Marina, an AIDS/HIV activist and open supporter of the Bersih rallies for clean elections – two issues that Mahathir is openly and vehemently against but which Marina apparently endorses.
Drawing a line
Just a day ago, Mahathir warned that allowing the LGBT community rights would lead to the end of ‘mankind’.
Today, he publicly warned his daughter not to get carried away with her volunteer work and end up fighting for the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender folk.
“She never said she supports this; I hope she doesn’t. She cared for this people but she has to draw a line between them and the idea that being homosexual is okay, or men marrying men is okay,” said Mahathir.
The former PM who ruled Malaysia for 22 years from 1981 to 2003 also let slip he did not like Marina to associate herself with Bersih, the movement for free and fair elections as he believed it had been hijacked by the opposition.
However, Mahathir skirted the issue of whether he supported the principle of clean polls. This is not surprising given that his critics have often accused him of massive gerrymandering and even offering citizenship to foreign workers if they voted to keep his Umno-BN coalition in power.
Typical big-mouth Asian dad?
And in reminding Marina to be ‘sensitive’ for Mukhriz’s sake, Mahathir revealed his own insensitivity not only by putting his daughter’s interests lower than her brother’s, but also by blaring to the public that she had “no ambition”.
“She doesn’t care about what people think. I care about what people think. If not, I won’t get anywhere,” said Mahathir.
“Maybe it’s because she has no ambition so she speaks her mind. I cannot agree with the things she is doing, but nowadays you cannot tell your children ‘please stop this, please stop that’; they have a mind of their own.”
Marina is Mahathir’s eldest child and despite his current obsession in making sure Mukhriz lands the Kedah chief minister’s post, it is well-known that she is his favorite offspring and their father-and-daughter relationship enviably strong.
Nonetheless, it would be interesting to ask Marina what she thinks of her dad’s latest comments – has his thinking become antiquated with age or is he just another Asian dad, cherishing the sons as serious business and the daughters – mere decoration!
Malaysia Chronicle
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False flag argument intended to ‘suck in’ those who fall for this nepotistic lot. Marina is playing ‘good cop’ for the Iskandar Kutty family. Mahathir Iskandar Kutty Jr plays bad cop. At the end of the day this is ANOTHER family bloc with Marina living comfortably off Mahathir’s corruption begotten wealth while the rest of the country struggles. Family is just that biased and this is why there are ethical concerns about family member infested parliaments – any family should know this and families in politics is just nonsense. Marina wins either way has already benefiteds off the taxpayers’ funds that Mahathir took – AND if the readers read on any headings in this blog about Marina, the readers will find that Marina is a crypto-racist who has withheld commitment of any clear word against apartheid along side cynical though well informed ‘top blogger’ RPK.
ARTICLE 20
No Reason For KLIA2 To Cost RM5 Billion – Friday, 06 July 2012 00:09
KUALA LUMPUR — Suggestions that KLIA2, the new low-cost terminal at Sepang, near here, will cost RM5 billion because of cost overruns appear to be misguided, say sources close to the project.
They said that costs could rise to RM5 billion if certain parties dictated terms to Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) to build additional facilities not in the current plan.
“As of now, everything is under control and the cost of construction will remain at RM3.9 billion,” said one of the well-placed sources.
On claims that the airport would not be completed by its deadline of April 2013, the sources said that construction was on schedule and it was not a question of whether the airport would be ready on time but whether the operators of low-cost airlines could get their act together by then.
It is understood that certain systems for the check-in counters have yet to be submitted to MAHB although the deadline was June 15 this year.
In addition, there are also questions whether facilities undertaken by other parties (not MAHB) like hotels and office buildings would be ready by the second quarter of next year.
The sources said KLIA2 could have been completed this year if not for last-minute requests by certain quarters which consequently extended the schedule.
They said that the costs had also gone up from the original RM2 billion because of requests for additional facilities.
Originally, KLIA2 was to be only a two-storey high building, but this has been increased to an equivalent of nine storeys for a three-level terminal comprising separate departure, arrival and ground support equipment areas.
This meant that the gross floor area of the terminal building has been increased by 71 per cent to 257,000 sq metres from the original 150,000 sq metres.
The sources said the KLIA2 would be the world’s largest purpose-built low- cost terminal with a capacity to accommodate 45 million passengers annually.
They said it was also being built at the lowest cost per passenger with aerobridges and enhanced passenger convenience.
“With the aerobridges, passengers need not walk on the apron anymore,” they added.
They said although industry standards dictated that 55 boarding gates would be sufficient to handle 30 million pasengers annually, MAHB had accommodated requests to increase the number of boarding gates to 68.
MAHB had also made provisions for a fully automated baggage handling system although there had been earlier requests for a non-fully automated one.
To cater for higher passenger traffic, MAHB had even drew up plans to accommodate the superjumbo Airbus 380 aircraft as well as premium lounges for enhanced passenger comfort.
Under its current construction plan, MAHB had also provided for the construction of four hotels and a public shopping mall next to the terminal.
(Bernama)
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Greedy politicians and proxy middlemen, taking taxpayer monies to fill their pockets. And that terminal will not be of much more use because Malaysia is already not a very interesting place to visit and is also full of apartheid and occasional fundos. So please vote carefully for your MP and drop all the term limitless nepotists, rich businessmen or rich politicians and also fundos and apartheid racists who will continue stealing taxpayer’s money for themselves through crony contractors and use bumiputra apartheid to abuse citizens and control Malays with extreme Islam, oppress non-Malays with.
ARTICLE 21
Don’t Resort To Insults, Guan Eng! – by Tee Siew Kiong – Thursday, 05 July 2012 16:58
Lim Guan Eng’s description of MCA Duyong assemblyman Gan Tian Loo as “uneducated” as reported in Chinese dailies yesterday is regretful, as he is a representative of the people and is responsible for making inquiries on issue which need clarification in the state assembly. Obviously, the Penang Chief Minister was caught in a humiliating situation and is now confused and helpless.
DAP’s style has always been to criticise, create lies and to incite the people to be against the ruling party. MCA has never insulted the opposition party leaders by calling them “uneducated”. However, it is interesting the Guan Eng will label elected representatives who pose questions to him during the state assembly as “uneducated.”
DAP will always heavily publicise any events which are favourable to them by they themselves try to prevent others from questioning them and when an issue turns out to be bad for their publicity they will then impose gag orders. DAP constantly finds creative ways to ensure that they look good in the news, but never has MCA labeled them as uneducated.
Therefore, DAP’s double standard behaviour is such that when they bring up issues involving BN they will call it democratic, but when provoked by BN they will refer to us as uneducated.
In DAP’s eyes, MCA is always wrong. But within DAP itself, there have been dissatisfaction. One example is the resignation of Tunku Abdul Aziz, formerly DAP Vice-Chairman, who in a radio interview had said that Guan Eng had attempted to get him to stay with a new job with a RM50,000 salary. Tunku Aziz also claimed that he had found this move insulting and was the main factor as to why he had decided to resign as he is unable to work with Guan Eng anymore.
This so-called ‘uneducated’ person from DAP has now expressed disappointment with DAP, thus proving that MCA members have more restraint while Guan Eng and his fellow DAP comrades are quick to insult their own members who have left.
Guan Eng must be careful and not simply insult the elected representatives of the people who are only seeking the truth. The circumstances surrounding this incident must be clarified before the rumours will stop circulating.
TEE SIEW KIONG is MCA National Organising Secretary
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Uneducated is accepting a CM’s post without quorums that your father ‘gives’ you which rightfully belongs to the people and needs a quorum. Uneducated is accepting APARTHEID without demanding inequality. Uneducated is not keeping campaign promises. 3rd Force leads the way.
ARTICLE 22
Land Survey System Nonsense and Unprofessionalism in Malaysia
More sh1t cake responses for the sh1t eating CMs and the so-called professionals who want to partake of ‘the cake’ (Any ‘hungry’ professionals should insult PERKASA, maybe they will send sh1t cakes . . . ). This government has set such a bad example that the bottom feeders like the above types have a false sense of where they stand, and need to be taken out of the system. Perhaps I’d file a complaint, but will need to install a recording system on the phone (look out for future audio posts here online where first hand rudeness will be on display). Rude and greedy ‘professionals’ need to eat what they spew, and believe me, potty mouthed surveyors do not deserve business but probably would fawn and kiss a$$es of bigger sh1t eaters who expect this sort of ‘bodek’ thing . . . and we all know how fat and corrupted some of these shameless unethical ‘downlines’ can get. 2 tongues and attitudes, one for each wealth set, boycott the worst of the so-called ‘professionals’ . . .
Being a professional body, the ethics behind acceptance of all jobs profitable, or non-profitable (larger jobs have economy of scale but smaller jobs do not) IS professional conduct. Porfessionalism thus demands that service must be provided to all citizens especially for access to something as basic as land survey services – the system does not have recommended timeframes and fee structures based around the land value, so professionals are in fact licensed to profiteer rather than serve the people.
More mentally ill posing as sane behind uncontrolled systems that allow unreasonable fees badges of professionalism will be described today . . . an uncivil Mr. ‘Eat Sh1t K’ (a land surveyor who – speaks ‘officious ‘slick/slimy” and was named after the cuss term . . . probably aligned to our Sh1t Eating CM who knows . . . keep saying that favourite word ‘K’ and maybe someday K too will get sh1tcakes, and without needing to ask for 750K funerals . . . ) who insisted that the system was corrupt, and that Land Surveyors do not serve professionally if your land plot is not large enough. maybe K wanted to eat sh1t on behalf of the real sh1t eaters so threw that corupted mentality dead weight behind the term limiteless nepotists . . .
There must be legal provisions (which appear to be missing in Malaysia’s incomplete laws on registered profesional bodies) to protect and ensure access to such services for small estate holders as if the Land Survey Office does not allow unlicensed surveying and greedy among private Land Surveyors or other professionals are only interested in large jobs, ) is not something that the Rakyat in general is aware of or even needs to or is able or even properly positioned in a suitable socially fetted position (Malaysian value system is skewed so that none with the proper values are fetted somehow) to teach a supposed professional about. Professional bodies should understand the ethics behind this. Consider that when a neutral party person contacts a professional they expect not the face of blind greed, polarized politics but PROFESSIONALISM.
Others (one S.U.A. initialed company) were polite enough to decline outright (again still unprofessional but at least not ‘sh1t eating’ rude, this is not about money but about service) and being part of society and the only people doing such work Land Surveyors need to have laws that require Land Surveyors to charge according to the value of the land (not more than 1-2% at most, much like sales commission – they are merely sureying the land not even selling the land for you . . . ) regardless of the size – THAT would be professionalism – sickening 3rd worlders do not understand, sadly nor does the government which has not placed such requirements (much less understand or think about possibly) of ‘professionals’ to end up with a society favouring only ‘large jobs’ and making small holder’s lives impossible. Anything more than a sales agent’s 1-2% sales fee for survey is excessive. If a piece of land is worth 100K, charging 3K to 10K for demarcation or boundary stone laying is excessive. Timeframes for responses in Malaysia’s land offices btw are 3 mths, timeframes for demarcation and stone laying should be no more than 2 weeks to be reasonable, but in Malaysia we have cases going back 20 years . . . truly 3rd world.
One must be aware that in the land survey industry there are professionals that are propping up the apartheid system, intent on frustratiung the public at large with their ill inclined natures while hiding behind a professional’s status. Let’s put the whole issue this way, Professionals get the bulk of the cash from big player owners and by means of service and even at a loss provide the small owners the same service on cognizance that the profits from high paying large owners will outweigh the losses from (probably less cost effective, may not even be losses here) small owners overall. A professional does not pick and choose, a professional does ALL jobs and that is the basis for ‘professionalism’. Watch those little graduates who grow into the above nuisances that choke up society, identify the same and do not allow them to profit off the voters!
More ‘Malaysiana’, courtesy this time of the so-called ‘professionals’ among Malaysian Land Surveyors, no thanks to a Land Survey Office that does not survey so that the ‘professionals’ can abuse citizens with extreme fees and a lack of seperation of online and real life scenarios and behaviours . . . we learn more everyday, and again Malaysians and Malaysia does not fail to disappoint.
‘Not many women are prepared to make themselves unattractive just to get a laugh’: The world according to Morgana Robinson – By Louise Gannon – PUBLISHED: 21:00 GMT, 9 June 2012 | UPDATED: 21:00 GMT, 9 June 2012
Luckily, she will do anything for a giggle – which is probably why her biting new TV impressions show, Very Important People, is such a hit
‘You have to be tough in comedy, and that puts a lot of men off you. I definitely scare men. Women are still finding our way in comedy but that makes it incredibly exciting for me,’ said Morgana Robinson
‘You have to be tough in comedy, and that puts a lot of men off you. I definitely scare men. Women are still finding our way in comedy but that makes it incredibly exciting for me,’ said Morgana Robinson
Success is massively important to me.
I had a fairly unconventional upbringing and I’m really driven and incredibly tough on myself. I drive everyone mad during filming because I’m the one checking all the time to see if something is funny. I’m a tough girl who was brought up by a very strong mother and I very definitely have a point to prove.
Women find it difficult to be funny.
There aren’t that many female comedians around because it’s a pretty odd career choice for a woman. The biggest issue is making yourself look unattractive to get a laugh. I don’t have a problem with that – the more vile and grotesque I look, the funnier I think it is. But a lot of women just aren’t up for that, because we’re meant to be beautiful. You have to be tough in comedy, too, and that puts a lot of men off you. I definitely scare men. Women are still finding our way in comedy but that makes it incredibly exciting for me.
Morgana as Adele. ‘I spend hours and hours watching someone before I even start,’ she said
Morgana as Adele. ‘I spend hours and hours watching someone before I even start,’ she said
I got my break in a restaurant.
I worked on reception at a very posh London restaurant called Roka, which was always packed with celebrities and very important people. I was there for eight years earning £37.50 a night for the 5pm-1am shift. I got to know a lot of the regular clients, and one night I gave a DVD to John Noel, who looks after Russell Brand. It was pretty awful, shot in my flat by my mate with me sitting on a sofa pulling faces and wearing different hats. But a few nights later he came in and said: ‘Quit your job. Start throwing rice around.’ That was it. I started out wanting to be an actress but it was the comedy that always had that real pull for me. I like making people laugh.
Scarlett Johansson can be rude but Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are sweethearts.
Working as the host of a flash restaurant gives you a real insight into how people behave. Scarlett Johansson was pretty offish and unpleasant to me, but whenever Brangelina came in they were always incredibly polite and friendly, and made sure they said thank you for any tiny thing I did for them. I met even more celebrities including Bono and Lily Allen when I was working checking coats at Matthew Freud’s Christmas party. I lost my cool a bit when Ronnie Ancona walked in because I’m such a massive fan, but she was lovely and gave me her number.
Fearne Cotton is a friend so I was very worried about impersonating her.
I did it for the first Very Important People show and after it aired on TV I didn’t hear from her for a few days. I was beside myself thinking I’d offended her, but then she just called and told me she thought it was funny. She’s very cool. I have no idea what Cheryl Cole or Helena Bonham Carter or Adele think of being ‘done’ in my new series. I spend hours and hours watching someone before I even start. I became completely obsessed with Helena Bonham Carter. I absolutely love her because I find her completely hilarious. I’d be mortified if she was offended by my impression.
I wanted to impersonate Kate Moss but I was told she wasn’t relevant any more.
I had some really hilarious sketches but I was banned from doing her because the producers didn’t think people would know who she was. It’s insane. Everyone knows Kate Moss. When I saw Russell Brand I told him I was doing him. He just sort of rolled his eyes and looked a bit puzzled. I don’t think it’s possible to offend Russell.
On Helena Bonham Carter: ‘I absolutely love her because I find her completely hilarious’
On Helena Bonham Carter: ‘I absolutely love her because I find her completely hilarious’
I went from living in poverty to going to one of the poshest boarding schools in Britain.
My parents met in Australia where I was born and then we came back to England and life was tough. I remember lots of arguments about money and then my parents split up. For a few years my mum and I were sleeping on sofas at friends’ houses. Then one day my lovely Aunt Jilly turned up and said she felt I ought to go to Benenden School in Kent. My dad has always been a real rogue. He was adopted and we didn’t know much about his past but it turned out he came from a very wealthy family. I thought the idea of boarding school was amazing. My mum was working for a gardening business at the time. I turned up in her bashed-up van as everyone else was piling out of Mercedes and Daimlers.
I learned to be funny at boarding school.
I wasn’t pretty – I had frog eyes and a giraffe neck – but I was the joker and I knew how to get attention. I didn’t worry about not being the prettiest. I was also fairly tough – probably too tough and ballsy for the quieter girls. Amazing to think that after leaving school I took a degree in sculpture.
I met a sister I never knew existed – and it turned out she was a rock star.
My dad was incredibly handsome as a young man and pretty wild. He just wasn’t cut out to be a conventional father. As I grew up I found out I had four half siblings from his previous relationships and we’ve slowly tracked each other down. When I was 21, I got a call from my dad. I hadn’t spoken to him for a year or so but he told me he’d found out my sister was in London and told me to go and buy The Face because she was on the front cover. And there she was – Brody Dalle, this tough, gorgeous rock star. It was pretty surreal. I went to the Brixton Academy to see her perform. I got completely drunk because I thought that was the only way to handle it. I went backstage and we were both just crying. It was sort of weird and beautiful and then she said: ‘We have the same nose.’ And we just talked. She has two gorgeous kids but she lives in LA and I’ve never been there. I guess it was all a bit like a scene from a film.
I learned to be a horse whisperer.
I spent time down in Cornwall with an amazing woman called Kate Mably and it was probably the most incredible time of my life. You get onto the ground with the horses, you learn to understand them and have this unbelievable communication with them. It was unforgettable.
‘Very Important People’ is on channel4.com/programmes/4OD; ‘The Morgana Show’ is out now on DVD
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There are very few female versions of ‘Jackass’ or slap stick specialists. And far too many militant feminists who are merely fronting the hegelian dialectic establishment with a control agenda AGAINST men, while being controlled by ELITE MEN. What society gets is subverted menfolk who are easier to control and less likely to challenge the ELITE MALE establishment. Mid tier feminists should be very aware that democracy dies if their men do not challenge the ‘establishment’, controlled by MALE ELITE who control ELITE Feminists who influence feminists to weaken SOCIETY and CIVILISATION. You’re destroying everything and democracy as well by feminist actions you feminist fools! Taking out men is taking out democracy! The sickening and machiavellian reality of gender politics used by the ‘establishment’ to destroy democracy!
ARTICLE 2
IMAGINE at anti-sex assault rally: Women attacked and groped by mob! – Saturday, 09 June 2012 16:17
CAIRO- A mob of hundreds of men have assaulted women holding a march demanding an end to sexual harassment, with the attackers overwhelming the male guardians and groping and molesting several of the female marchers in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.
From the ferocity of Friday’s assault, some of the victims said it appeared to have been an organized attempt to drive women out of demonstrations and trample on the pro-democracy protest movement.
The attack follows smaller scale assaults on women this week in Tahrir, the epicenter of the uprising that forced Hosni Mubarak to step down last year. Thousands have been gathering in the square this week in protests over a variety of issues – mainly over worries that presidential elections this month will secure the continued rule by elements of Mubarak’s regime backed by the ruling military.
Earlier in the week, an Associated Press reporter witnessed around 200 men assault a woman who eventually fainted before men trying to help could reach her.
Friday’s march was called to demand an end to sexual assaults. Around 50 women participated, surrounded by a larger group of male supporters who joined to hands to form a protective ring around them. The protesters carried posters saying, “The people want to cut the hand of the sexual harasser,” and chanted, “The Egyptian girl says it loudly, harassment is barbaric.”
After the marchers entered a crowded corner of the square, a group of men waded into the group of women, heckling them and groping them. The male supporters tried to fend them off, and it turned into a melee involving a mob of hundreds.
The marchers tried to flee while the attackers chased them and male supporters tried to protect them. But the attackers persisted, cornering several women against a metal sidewalk railing, including an Associated Press reporter, shoving their hands down their clothes and trying to grab their bags. The male supporters fought back, swinging belts and fists and throwing water.
Eventually, the women were able to reach refuge in a nearby building with the mob still outside until they finally got out to safety.
“After what I saw and heard today. I am furious at so many things. Why beat a girl and strip her off? Why?” wrote Sally Zohney, one of the organizers of the event on Twitter.
The persistence of the attack raised the belief of many that it was intentional, though who orchestrated it was unclear.
Mariam Abdel-Shahid, a 25 year-old cinema student who took part in the march, said “sexual harassment will only take us backward.”
“This is pressure on the woman to return home,” she said.
Ahmed Mansour, a 22 year-old male medical student who took part in the march, said there are “people here trying to abuse the large number of women protesters who feel safe and secure. Some people think it is targeted to make women hate coming here.”
“I am here to take a position and to object to this obscene act in society,” he said.
Assaults on women Tahrir have been a demoralizing turn for Egypt’s protest movement.
During the 18-day uprising against Mubarak last year, women say they briefly experienced a “new Egypt” taking place in Tahrir, with none of the harassment that is common in Cairo’s streets. Women participated in the anti-Mubarak uprising as leading activists, protesters, medics and even fighters to ward off attacks by security agents or affiliated thugs. They have continued the role during the frequent protests over the past 15 months against the military, which took power after Mubarak’s fall on Feb. 11, 2011.
But women have also been targeted, both by mobs and by military and security forces in crackdowns, a practice commonly used by Mubarak security against protesters. Lara Logan, a U.S. correspondent for CBS television, was sexually assaulted by a frenzied mob in Tahrir on the day Mubarak stepped down, when hundreds of thousands of Egyptians came to the square to celebrate.
In a defining image of the post-Mubarak state violence against women, troops dispersing a December protest in Tahrir were captured on video stripping a woman’s top off down to her blue bra and stomping with their boots on her chest, as other troops pulled her by the arms across the ground.
That incident prompted an unprecedented march by some 10,000 women through central Cairo in December in a show of outrage, demanding Egypt’s ruling military step down.
In contrast, the small size of Friday’s march could reflect the vulnerability and insecurity many feel in the square, which was packed with thousands of mostly young men by nightfall Friday. Twenty rights groups signed on to support the stand and hundreds more vowed to take part, according to the Facebook page where organizers publicized the event, but only around 50 women participated.
Sexual harassment of women, including against those who wear the Islamic headscarf or even cover their face, is common in the streets of Cairo. A 2008 report by the Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights says two-thirds of women in Egypt experienced sexual harassment on a daily basis. A string of mass assaults on women in 2006 during the Muslim feast following the holy month of Ramadan prompted police to increase the number of patrols to combat it but legislation providing punishment was never passed.
After Friday’s attack, many were already calling for another, much larger stand in the square against such assaults.
Another participant in Friday’s march, Ahmed Hawary, said a close female friend of his was attacked by a mob of men in Tahrir Square in January. She was rushed off in an ambulance, which was the only way to get her out, he said. After suffering from a nervous breakdown, she left Cairo altogether to work elsewhere in Egypt.
“Women activists are at the core of the revolution,” Hawary said. “They are the courage of this movement. If you break them, you break the spirit of the revolution.”
-dailystar.com.
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“Women activists are at the core of the revolution,” Hawary said. “They are the courage of this movement. If you break them, you break the spirit of the revolution.”
Tsk! Titch! How presumptuous. The fists and guns of the men who took up arms is the REAL core of the revolution. Women were NOT the courage of this movement, the courage was in EVERY MAN who cared about the country, not the women who did not storm and occupy Tahrir. None needs to break ‘them’ women, and the spirit of the revolution is NOT even from the women to begin with! This is why this who heckling and groping occured, to remind of what was real or not. Did the women think they would be able to face the camel riders? Only the men could. This is more a Western provocation for subversive feminism than anything else, to take control of Egypt via the women. An apology by all ungrateful and presumptuous women who think this way is in order. The real minority of women who could face the camel riders made up less than 3% of the overthrowers of Mubarak. How could any claim women to be the core of the revolution? This is also not the time for sex-assault rallies! Egypt still has Islamists and Junta running for election, do the women know what that means if their men vote wrongly?
Attackers overwhelming the male guardians and groping and molesting several of the female marchers in Cairo’s Tahrir Square though could have saved their own case by not acting in this manner. Perhaps they were making a message about modesty. And indeed there is something inappropriate about the whole event of marching especially when stability is so fragile . . .
ARTICLE 3
Nun’s book on masturbation slammed by Vatican
Pope Benedict XVI addresses cardinals in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican in 2009. The Vatican slammed a “sexual morality” book written by an American Catholic nun, warning believers to stay away from the tome which justifies masturbation, homosexuality and divorce. (AFP Photo/Tony Gentile)
The Vatican slammed a “sexual morality” book written by an American Catholic nun on Monday, warning believers to stay away from the tome which justifies masturbation, homosexuality and divorce.
Margaret Farley’s 2006 book “Just Love – A Framework for Christian Sexual Ethics” “affirms positions that are in direct contradiction with Catholic teaching in the field of sexual morality,” the Vatican said in a statement.
Farley, a member of the Sisters of Mercy and professor emerita at Yale Divinity School, expressed support for a long list of sins in the eyes of the Church.
“Masturbation usually does not raise any moral questions at all. It is surely the case that many women have found great good in self-pleasuring… (which) actually serves relationships rather than hindering them,” she wrote.
On the issue of homosexuality, the prominent theologian said “same-sex relationships and activities can be justified according to the same sexual ethic as heterosexual relationships and activities” and “should be respected.”
She also said not all marriages could last and supported both divorce for people who are irrevocably unhappy together and remarriage with new partners.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), which had been carrying out an investigation into the book, responded with a scathing criticism which tackled each of the issues Farley had raised.
It insisted that “masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action”, homosexual relations are “acts of grave depravity”, and “a marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any reason other than death.”
“The Congregation warns the faithful that the book is not in conformity with the teaching of the Church. Consequently it cannot be used as a valid expression of Catholic teaching,” it said.
Last week the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), the main US association of Catholic nuns, defended itself against CDF accusations of “corporate dissent” over the Church’s teachings, particularly concerning homosexuality.
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“same-sex relationships and activities can be justified according to the same sexual ethic as heterosexual relationships and activities” and “should NOT be respected.” – onlyin the Catholic denomination.
“masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action”, homosexual relations are “acts of grave depravity”, and “a marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any reason other than death.” – onlyin the Catholic denomination.
This nun should join the Protestent denomination. Catholicism does not allow all of the above so please respect and don’t bother trying to change the Ctholics. The Vatican should just speak to the nearest highest ranking Protestant personality and ask the nun to declare herself no longer Catholic but protestant instead. No need to slam, just a curt letter to the wayward (by Catholic Church standards) and declaration of excommunication, and at most another to the Protestant faction to take the nun in (and also excommunication of Yale? for future Catholics?) . . . will do. Thats what they did in the past – excommunicate. The Spanish of course would torture the nun (maybe to death) with an Inquisitor, but those days are gone or at very worst apply total excommunication from all Church factions. The Catholic Church will be fewer in following and appear more fundo in these modern times, but while rules are rules, they can only be applied FOR THE CONSENTING members at least – with all false Catholics who do not believe, no matter how high in the hierarchy, no longer valid as members. Just don’t subvert or manipulate, declare beliefs and GTFO of the denomination!
ARTICLE 4
Hasidic Jew fired from NYPD over beard length – Posted: June 10, 2012 – 12:19am – Associated Press
NEW YORK — An Orthodox Jew who was weeks away from becoming a New York City police officer said he has been kicked out of the police academy for refusing to trim his beard.
Former recruit Fishel Litzman of Monsey was fired Friday after multiple confrontations with the department over the length of his whiskers, he told the Daily News (http://nydn.us/LDIivf).
Litzman is Hasidic and believes that cutting his beard is forbidden by God.
NYPD rules usually require officers to be clean-shaven. The department makes exceptions for beards kept for religious purposes, but even then only allows 1 millimeter worth of growth.
“I don’t understand what the problem would be,” Litzman said.
NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said the department’s rules are reasonable and Litzman was aware of them when he signed up.
Litzman was first cited in January for his unkempt beard. He was a month away from receiving his shield when he was fired.
“I always wanted to be a police officer,” said Litzman, a 38-year-old father of five who speaks Hebrew and Yiddish and was once a paramedic.
His attorney, Nathan Lewin, said the police department knew when Litzman applied that he would not trim his beard.
And now, Lewin said, it’s a case of religious discrimination.
“We’re going to be deliberating and considering what the steps are that we’re going to take,” Lewin told The Associated Press on Saturday night.
The department hired its first Hasidic officer in 2006 and the force now has at least two dozen Orthodox Jewish officers.
Like observant Muslim and Sikh officers, Hasidic officers are allowed to keep their beards for religious reasons but must keep them neat and trimmed.
Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer issued a statement Saturday saying he was “deeply troubled” by the firing.
“While the NYPD can exercise control over the personal appearance of its force in order to ensure that all officers (are capable of performing their duties) havee a uniform appearance, they are also required to make a reasonable accommodation for religious beliefs,” Stringer said.
He urged the police commissioner to reconsider the case.
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Token show of WH control over (at least NY state) Fed enforceable issues, or real autonomy from any Lobby and instead being America for Ammerica instead of ‘USA is Israel’s’ to order around? Jews incidentally were the remnants of Egypt’s Priesthood, and formed Judea under David in 1026 BC. With ‘Amon-Ra’ rebranded as the ‘YHVH form God’ which later Aramea (Xianity) and then Bedouins (Islam) copied and to this day fight over ‘franchise rights’ in several splinter groups each.
ARTICLE 5
Jewry’s Plan To Blackball Russia by Brother Nathanael Kapner, Copyright 2012
TWO ‘MEDIA’ JEWS who enjoy lavish exposure by the Jewish-controlled Press are gritting their teeth hoping to take a bite out of Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin.
In a feature OpEd of the Jew-dominated Financial Times, “Time To Blackball Russia’s Autocratic State,” (& Here), Ian Bremmer and Nouriel Roubini—both Jews—just can’t seem to satisfy the anti-Christ rats in their bellies in their malice toward Christian Russia.
Bremmer (founder of the Eurasia Group as a means of bringing Jewish hegemony over Eurasia) and Roubini (touted as an innovative economist) are calling for Russia to be “blackballed” and justify their wishful Jewish fantasy with a pack of Jewish lies:
“Corruption is endemic in Russia. Graft is a particular problem. Capital flight has reportedly accelerated since Putin’s re-election in March.
Russia’s population is falling – because healthcare is poor, socially driven diseases such as alcoholism is rampant, and well-educated Russians are leaving in search of better opportunities elsewhere.” View Entire Story Here & Here.
Indeed, a froth-full of lies spew forth from Bremmer’s and Roubini’s Jewish lips.
Contrary to their assertions, there is NO demographic crisis in Russia. The population of Russia has increased by one million since early 2011. In the first quarter of 2012, Forbes Magazine responsibly reports, Russia’s population grew by 31,000.
Yes, there was a crisis in the 90’s when the drunkard Yeltsin was in the hands of the Jewish oligarchs. But, this crisis has been gradually arrested.
BOTH PUTIN AND MEDVEDEV, (after 80 years of Jewish Bolshevik domination), are addressing corruption and graft issues.
Rumours of capital flight occurring since Putin’s re-election are exactly that, “rumours.” The rouble under Putin is actually being promoted by investment experts as the least risky investment.
And as regards “social diseases” such as alcoholism, Putin has revived the Orthodox Church; closed down all the casinos in Russia; taken over the Jew-owned TV stations and instituted religious programming; introduced Orthodoxy 101 into Russia’s public schools; forbidden “gay parades” — all of which are part of Putin’s efforts to stave off vice and immorality.
Moreover, for Bremmer and Roubini to heap praises upon communist China (a hundred times more repressive than Russia) while hell-bent on blackballing Russia for being an “authoritarian” state, one wonders if these Jewish ‘experts’ are simply blinded by their fear of Putin. For there is no man Jewry fears more than Vladimir Putin.
RUSSIA FOILS JEWRY’S AGENDA FOR SYRIA
BREMMER AND ROUBINI launched their smears against Putin by denouncing Russia’s opposition to a “humanitarian” intervention (Read: Jewish decimation of a sovereign nation) into Syria.
But Russia under Putin still has the last word with respect to Syria recommending to UN envoy, Kofi Annan, “an unbiased probe” of the murders in Houla.
Both Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and The Associated Press, stated that the 108 murdered in Houla were killed at close range—execution style—indicating the work of armed terrorists rather than the Syrian army.
But do you think this matters to Jewish Senator, Joseph Lieberman, Romney’s favorite pick for State Department head? No.
THIS BLOODTHIRSTY Jewish warmonger Lieberman who proposes “arming” the Syrian rebels is now calling for a US military intervention to dismantle Syria into competing militias and warlords to pave the way for a Greater Israel.
But Bremmer, Roubini, and their Synagogue buddy, Lieberman, can spout, demand and propose all they want.
For with Russia’s arms shipment and anti-terror troops newly arrived in Syria’s Port of Tartus and with Putin’s inauguration of the Nord Stream Pipeline—heating the homes and fueling the industries of an energy-starved Europe—Jewish fantasies to “blackball” Russia are no more than paper dreams.
And since it is moral integrity that these Jews are scorning, not only are they on the WRONG side of history but they’re on the RIGHT side of Hell.
The Brother Nathanael Foundation, PO Box 1242, Frisco CO 80443
E-mail: brothernathanaelfoundation@yahoo.com
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Don’t joke Bro Nat. USA semi-worries about China, and China is semi-worried about Russia. All 3 mentioned nations are 100s of times larger than Israel and have militarizable citizens 10s to 1000s of times more than Israel or several times USA. Israel blackballs nothing. Russia and China which at least have sort of a working relationship and could together demand that USA blackballs Israel (which could be overrun by just Iran alone) instead, and USA would do that in a moment because USA is not a religious, much less Judaist state nor does USA really identify with the Middle Eastern culture. Israel should keep promises on 1960s treaties and punish wayward Jewish citizens who have overstepped treaties. Russia and China are somewhat chaotic and sparsely peopled overall even at such population levels, but given a protracted period of peace (say 2-3 decades at most), the 2 countries (even as of now and even if WW3 with nukes was declared) are already the winners in the earth conquest game.
As of 26th of June, the illegal settlements are being addressed :
ARTICLE 6
Military mom ‘proud’ of breast-feeding in uniform, despite criticism – Brynja Sigurdardottir
Military mamas breast-feed with pride. A photo shoot at an Air Force base, intended to raise awareness about breast-feeding, has stirred up controversy. – by Pamela Sitt
Is breast-feeding while in uniform conduct unbecoming to a military mom?
The debate over nursing in public got a new layer recently, when photos taken on an Air Force base began to circulate online. In the series of tasteful professional photos showing beaming moms as they nurse their kids, one jumps out: the photo of two servicewomen with their uniform shirts unbuttoned and hiked up to breast-feed.
“A lot of people are saying it’s a disgrace to the uniform. They’re comparing it to urinating and defecating [while in uniform],” says Crystal Scott, a military spouse who started Mom2Mom in January as a breast-feeding support group for military moms and “anyone related to the base” at Fairchild AFB outside Spokane, Wash. “It’s extremely upsetting. Defecating in public is illegal. Breast-feeding is not.”
Live Poll
Should military moms breast-feed in uniform, in public?
It was Scott’s idea to ask photographer Brynja Sigurdardottir to take photos of real-life breast-feeding moms to create posters for National Breastfeeding Awareness Month in August. One of the moms photographed in uniform, Terran Echegoyen-McCabe, breast-feeds her 10-month-old twin girls on her lunch breaks during drill weekends as a member of the Air National Guard.
“I have breast-fed in our lobby, in my car, in the park … and I pump, usually in the locker room,” she says. “I’m proud to be wearing a uniform while breast-feeding. I’m proud of the photo and I hope it encourages other women to know they can breast-feed whether they’re active duty, guard or civilian.”
She said she’s surprised by the reaction to the photos, which also feature her friend Christina Luna, because it never occurred to her that breast-feeding in uniform would cause such a stir.
“There isn’t a policy saying we can or cannot breast-feed in uniform,” Echegoyen-McCabe says. “I think it’s something that every military mom who is breast-feeding has done. … I think we do need to be able to breast-feed in uniform and be protected.”
The Air Force has no policy specifically addressing breast-feeding in uniform, according to Air Force spokesperson Captain Rose Richeson, who added, “Airmen should be mindful of their dress and appearance and present a professional image at all times while in uniform.”
Brynja Sigurdardottir
Terran Echegoyen-McCabe, left, and Christina Luna breast-feed their children. Terran says she’s proud of the photo, though she didn’t expect it to get such a reaction.
Robyn Roche-Paull has been advocating for such a policy since she left the U.S. Navy 15 years ago. Her challenges in breast-feeding her son while on active duty – she recalls her “flaming red face” upon being reprimanded for nursing in a medical waiting room – prompted her to write a book called “Breastfeeding in Combat Boots” as a resource for military moms. She is now an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant who remains close to the military through her active-duty husband and her blog for military moms.
“If you follow the comments on my blog, a lot of the comments are that the breast-feeding mothers are the ones who need to be covered up. Nobody sees anything wrong with bottle feeding mothers or fathers,” she says. “Asking mothers to feed a baby by bottle when they are together, simply because they are in uniform, can both affect the mom’s milk supply and her willingness to keep breast-feeding or stay in the military. It’s simply one more barrier they have to face.”
The criticism of the photo goes beyond the usual nursing-in-public debate, though. One commenter on Roche-Paull’s website who identified herself as a retired captain in the Marine Corps said she advocated for breast-feeding moms in the military and now, as a civilian, she nurses freely on base. However, she writes:
“I would never nurse in uniform. I took my child to the bathroom or a private office when her nanny brought her to me …. Not because I was ashamed of nursing, nor of being a mother. All the guys knew I pumped. The military is not a civilian job. We go to combat and we make life or death decisions, and not just for ourselves but for those we lead. The same reason I would never nurse in uniform is the same reason I do not chew gum, or walk and talk on my cell phone, or even run into the store in my utility uniform. … We are warfighting professionals. Women before us have worked too hard to earn and retain the respect of their male peers. I don’t want my Marines to look at me any other way than as a Marine. When I am asking them to fly into combat with me and do a dangerous mission, I do not want them to have the mental image of a babe at my breast. I want them to only see me as a Marine. Let’s be a realistic folks. We give up many freedoms being in the military…Breastfeeding in front of my fellow Marines was one of them.”
Another commenter on the blog replies:
“There is N-O-T-H-I-N-G more authoritative than a strong mother standing tall breastfeeding as she barks orders. It’s AWESOME that you’ve worked so hard promote breastfeeding, but I think you *might* be selling yourself short.”
The women in the photo have given some thought to the whole question of military versus maternal duties. To those who believe breast-feeding in uniform undermines the authority of a female officer, Echegoyen-McCabe says:
“I guess my thoughts are, if you don’t want to breast-feed in your uniform, you don’t have to. But you should have respect for those who do. … If anything, it should make people look at you as someone who is able to multitask.”
What do you think? Sound off on our TODAY Moms Facebook page.
Pamela Sitt is a champion multitasker who lives in Seattle. She blogs about motherhood on her website, http://www.clarasmom.com.
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“There is N-O-T-H-I-N-G more authoritative than a strong mother standing tall breastfeeding as she barks orders. It’s AWESOME that you’ve worked so hard promote breastfeeding, but I think you *might* be selling yourself short.”
A thought provoking manly attack on manhood will be countered by a thought provoking feminine defense of feminity.
Appropriate clothes for appropriate activity please F-R-E-A-K-S. These are MILITARY work clothes. Much like smokers who forgot the ‘Smoking Jacket’, or Sunday (or whatever day) Best for days of worship. Uniforms for the heat of battle will be weakened by ‘milkmaid’ energies. Please dress appropriate to the activity. Swaddling smocks and maternity robes for nursing or pregnant mothers respectively, or this is just another display of fashion philistinism under guise of feminism, counter-sumptuary feminism to be precise. The use of the word barking also alludes to literal bitches, what that means, I leave to the overripe imagination and self anointed ‘Feminist Inquisitors’ to butcher themselves or the writers over . . .
There is a a time and place and context, though of course there should also be no rules on the above if the female soldiers *really want to*. If they want to be wetnurses so badly, just join the maternity industry or ‘milk producing’ industry instead. The stereotype of ‘hard’ or ‘dry’ butch women in military is as bad a stereotype to promote as a woman nursing in combat uniform. Baby’s little soul would be wondering if mom was going to war or is a MAN. Out of Context. Inappropriate and UNCIVILISED! Next thing we know, American female soldiers will be torturing prisoners with sprayings of colostrum, or did that already happen at Abu Gharaib like places . . .
One commentator had the entire view right, though not in the clothes appropriateness or spiritual angle but the commonsense one
. . . Let’s be realistic folks. We give up many freedoms being in the military…Breastfeeding in front of my fellow Marines was one of them.”
ARTICLE 7
Sex harassment shock: One-third of women have considered quitting work over sexism – Monday, 28 May 2012 13:05
Half of women workers are being harassed on a daily basis, including being the butt of chauvinist jokes and hearing sexist remarks.
And 40% have been touched in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, such as a slap on the bottom or hand on the thigh, a poll of 3,434 female employees said yesterday.
It also found 27% have been kissed despite spurning advances, 66% have had inappropriate comments about their clothes from the boss or other males, and 46% react by dressing down for work.
Shockingly, 33% have considered quitting and 25% suffered mental and physical health problems as a result.
Barrister Rachel Temple, of AdviseMeBarrister.com, said: “We were shocked.
“Women have to run a gauntlet of inappropriate workplace behaviour every day.
“Hundreds of thousands suffer discrimination of some kind, and half of those we spoke to said they didn’t know where to go for help.”
-mirror.co.uk
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
‘Collared’ workers of any type (later leashed with neck ties at office level – which is what neck ties are – unbeknownst to the conformist masses, (even white collar types are just dogs to the boss owner elite and unsuspecting supporters of the ‘Education-Debt Financier Complex’ – you’ll know who these parasites are by their stand on free tertiary education issues), especially lower ranked or younger ones, and are automatically objectified. The uniform itself another objectifying form (to avoid if one has that luxury). Uniforms have a life of their own (spiritually and symbolically speaking) and combined with collar and tie, you end up with a leashed ‘Dog (or Beast) of War’.
Talking to the SUIT, not the person! The soul of humanity in these people though, returns AFTER WORK HOURS, schizophrenia if anything, especially in those who do not identify with or choose their work consciously from sheer lack of choice (any who have the luxury to dissociate from the above nonsense that is ‘life’ are privileged, other issues not withstanding. . . ). Finally women who cannot get married do not gain the same kind of respect as home makers, with home makers WITH hired help especially privileged (domestic abuse issues either of wife or servant, physical, psychological or emotional, notwithstanding) and the concept of ‘mothers’ and ‘homemakers’ being an eternal classic.
ARTICLE 8
Sergeant Craig Friesen speaks with an alleged prostitute in Orange County, California. – By Martin Savidge – June 13th, 2012 – 07:47 AM ET
Life gets strange hunting traffickers in the U.S.
Anaheim, California (CNN) – It feels odd to be in a car sat next to a guy texting a pimp. Even more odd, he’s pretending to be a prostitute. It can all get a little strange in the digital pursuit of human traffickers.
I’m sitting in the front seat of an SUV in a part of Orange County, California only the locals see – where the hotels are not chains and have names that cops and criminals alike know well. The “prostitute” beside me is actually Sergeant Craig Friesen.
Nearby, either parked or patrolling, are four other vehicles holding the rest of his undercover team.
Earlier, we saw a pickup truck in a parking lot across the street approaching several women. The guy wasn’t having much luck – which was too bad since he was on Friesen’s crew.
Over the radio the detective relayed that after propositioning one lady she did offer a sex act – telling him he should go F$@# himself.
It’s an example of how prostitution can bring down a neighborhood, making it so a woman can’t go to the store without being harassed by some john who’s looking for sex.
Click to watch video
Despite the area being known for the sex trade, things are slow. Either the team’s cover was known or it was an off day. Every business has them.
Then the undercover cop in the pickup gets lucky. He picks up a petite African American girl wearing blue patterned shorts and top. They drive off and we fall in behind trailing at a distance in the noon hour traffic.
Out of nowhere a black and white police car pulls in behind the pickup. The lights flash, the “whoop, whoop” sounds and the pickup is pulled over. Friesen guns the SUV, roaring past the scene and into a nearby alley.
We get out and head back to what appears to be a busted undercover operation but the sergeant’s not upset – this is all part of the plan.
Friesen has the girl take a seat on the curb as the patrol car blocks her from passing traffic. He comes down to her level and begins the most important part of the whole operation – he needs to earn her trust and her confidence.
He begins by explaining she’s not under arrest. It’s in keeping with the new attitude of law enforcement that prostitutes are victims, controlled and manipulated by their pimps. They are caught up in the worldwide plague of human trafficking. And they try to help the victims escape.
Friesen is trying to get the woman to turn her pimp in. Eventually, Friesen tells her, she will be brought back to police headquarters and placed in the care of social services, who will offer her a place to live and a way off the street so she’s not dependent on the pimp for her needs.
The young woman listens but doesn’t buy it. She stays silent. Eventually Friesen gives up and she is taken away. But the sergeant has hung on to her cell phone.
Click to watch video
He sees texts on the phone that appear to come from her pimp, and he responds as if he is the woman. Which is how I came to be seated in an SUV in Anaheim with a prostitute, um, pretend prostitute.
Since her guy thinks she’s gone off with a client, Friesen waits a while, then sends the message that the client left her at a hotel and she needs the pimp to pick her up. He gives the location as a hotel Friesen and his team have already staked out.
A reception committee of several armed officers waits inside the hotel, other spotters are nearby, and Friesen and I are parked across the street as he continuously sends messages to the pimp. “He left come get me.”
Then there’s a problem.
The pimp texts back he wants her to call him which, of course, Friesen can’t do. He quickly improvises and texts back the phone has a problem: “My phone trippin'” and she can only text.
He knows it’s a weak ploy… But what else can he do? The fingers still fly and the digital conversation goes on, but it becomes pretty clear the pimp is suspicious.
The team continues to wait, but after an hour the pimp’s a no-show and the texts stop coming. The operation is finally called off.
Months later, through phone records and surveillance, they finally turn this virtual conversation into a real arrest.
But although they think they have the man who they suspect is forcing a young woman into prostitution, the district attorney’s office doesn’t find enough evidence to make charges stick, and the man is let go.
The end result is something Friesen and his team have grown to accept. A young woman was pulled off the street and offered the opportunity for help. Sometimes that’s all you can hope for.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Some of these prostitutes are there of their own volition, and are not being victimised at all, in fact are USING pimps or madams as sales agents and promoters of sorts, because the prostitute does not like to haggle over prices, or because some patrons lose interest in the prostitute when they talk money (bargaining excessively creates bad feelings) with the sex worker.
Also the net effect can be that the pimp or madam gets to be the ‘bad cop’ which improves the quality of sex for some patrons in fact because the prostitute seems so much more ‘good cop’ later on etc.. Communications can be that nuanced, and this is not even the entire gamut of pimp/madam, prostitute, customer relations! The conversation about money for the above example can de-objectify the sex worker and spoil the mood of the hirer.
In either case, the adult services industry has many shades of grey, the issue of non-consensual sex workers or sex workers USING pimps and madams rather than being forced by the pimp or madam is the main one enforcement must understand, with sex work per se best given a proper place (a designated street or district) for sexworkers to work from with their promoters and also adult establishments to work from or at certain times suitable for adult activities.
Editor’s Note: CNN Freedom Project this week is reporting from the front lines in the fight against sex trafficking – not in the poverty-stricken developing world but in affluent Orange County near Los Angeles, where prostitutes are now treated as trafficking victims rather than criminals.
ARTICLE 9
Hookers Wanted: (For Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthy film) By Gayle Fee and Laura Raposa with Megan Johnson / The scoop – Friday, June 15, 2012 – Updated 1 day ago
Billy Dowd is a man looking for hookers, and he doesn’t care who knows it!
He’s also seeking ex-convicts, drug dealers, prison guards and junkies — or anyone who could convincingly portray them on the big screen. That’s because the Scituate casting agent is in charge of hiring extras for the currently untitled “Cop Buddy Comedy” starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa
McCarthy that begins shooting in Boston in late July.
“They don’t have to be real,” Dowd told the Track. “Although they could be real hookers and drug dealers, I don’t care. I’m looking for realism! I need people who can realistically portray them and there are going to be a lot of those types in this film.”
Dowd is also seeking extras to be cops, FBI agents and detectives, prison inmates, “ladies of the evening,” (which wethinks are hookers again) and “energetic and attractive party people.”
The comedy, directed by Paul Feig, who also called the shots for Melissa in “Bridesmaids,” is about a high-strung FBI agent, played by Bullock, who teams up with “an unconventional Boston cop.” Hilarity, as you know, will ensue.
Dowd is holding a casting call later in the month, but if he doesn’t get what he’s looking for there, he’s been known to go to extremes to find the right people for the roles.
“The next step would be to go to groups and organizations where we can find what we’re looking for, you know, like the HOA, Hookers Of America,” he joked.
“When I was casting ‘American Gangster’ in Thailand I actually had to go to those bars where the girls dance, you know, and negotiate with the madame, ‘I’m taking seven girls, how much?’ That’s how I go at it and that’s how we did the bar scene with Denzel Washington.”
Interested in showing Dowd your stuff? Head for the Boston Teachers Union Hall in Dorchester from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 23. Bring a head shot and a pen, because people keep stealing Billy’s.
“No kids!” he insisted. “It’s only for people over 18. Don’t bring your kids because I’m not going to look at them!”
File Under: He’s Gonna Make You A Star.
Inside Track – June 15, 2012:
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Wealth distribution instead of enrichment of already wealthy actors and actresses! Organic casting and sharing the wealth will be better than fakes. Also some people who might have died of starvation or cold could get to retire in reasonable conditions EVEN as opposed to giving some Joe
Publics a chance, the needs basis of the worst off among people is far more serious. Dowd should always consider that when deciding which person gets that lifeline and which person needs or would appreciate that more. A person with a job or another who might die if they didn’t get cast. Have a heart Dowd. How one feels about the underdog when in a position to do something determines a certain whos who . . . heres rough outline of a bill on a state controlled, perhaps contractor privatizable take on pensions for Adult Industry Workers based around a 401K basis :
Adult Industry Contract : LC Stature Limit Automatically Imposable (i.e. may not own housing in certain areas)
Required work ‘output’ for employees
– 8 hour day. 8 ‘contact’ per hour AND 8 ‘full’ service sessions / day / 16+ (or on a biological/psyche test, recommended study material and test completed basis) only
– double sessions lower required work time by half
– alternatively 1 film per month
2 out of 4 selectable shifts (on condition someone fills in, are selectable and rotatable. And with meal breaks) otherwise if insufficient manpower will be required to follow any roster assignment of 2 shifts.
100K gratuity for incall contracts for 10 year period LMC limit imposed (this is not to discriminate but rather to discourage prostitution as a major profession)
250K gratuity for incall contracts for 20 year period ULC limit imposed
401K gratuity for incall contracts for 30 year period MLC limit imposed
Psyche test needed before specialty contracts :
– 21+ only, fetish specials adds 50% fees (601.5K gratuity) or deducts 15 years
– 23+ only, extreme fetish specials adds 100% fees (802K gratuity) or deducts 20 years
– Virgins only : requirement of genetic and health check, beauty requirements (the issue of psychic imprinting occurs here, damaged goods need not apply . . . ), retires at 23
– Part-Timer (contracter breaktime or absentee fill in persons – see vacancy notice boards at back)
– registered outcallers, health checked freelance escorts
1) Clients wishing to use RLD need to undergo health check before being allowed access to RLD. Sex workers wishing to work in RLD also need to undergo health check before being allowed access to RLD.
2) sex workers should not marry unless formally retired
Try the below articles which inspired the above response :
Fun is fun, but even sex workers do need to retire, so instead of being all brimstone and hellfire, upper-class/bureaucrat queasy, or too arrogant to engage the supposed ‘low lifers’ who do keep the night scene going and adding a pulse of life to the city, the state needs to step in to ensure adult workers are safe and catered for in old age as any citizen, even as the more fundo or ill regulated of countries need to formalise adult industry districts or zones.
Here’s an example of ‘Bureaucrat Queasy’ (well in this case maybe doubles, ‘Muslim Queasy’ as well . . . )
Works are a right of humanity, regardless of the type. I hear Malaysia has been banning lots of books? Is quasi fundo in mindset? Is apartheid in application of law and constitution. Telling free citizens of the world to ‘Produce Works That Do Not Violate Morals, Ethics’, is sooo ‘weaksauce’ undemocratic . . .
ARTICLE 10
Obama Pays to Treat Alcoholism in Chinese Hookers : No… actually … Bush Jr did! – edited from original post by Warner Todd Huston (Diary) – Wednesday, May 13th at 5:08AM EDT
Our informative friends at CNSNews.com discovered that the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse (NIAA) has been awarded $2.6 million U.S. tax dollars to help train Chinese prostitutes to “drink responsibly on the job.”
It’s heartwarming that the NIAA cares so deeply about China’s FSWs (that is university speak for whores — Female Sex Workers), and all, but what of American prostitutes?
Dr. Xiaoming Li, the lead leading this program at Wayne State School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan told CNSNews that his work is “potentially of great importance” as
“Previous studies in Asia and Africa and our own data from FSWs [female sex workers] in China suggest that the social norms and institutional policy within commercial sex venues as well as agents overseeing the FSWs (i.e., the ‘gatekeepers’, defined as persons who manage the establishments and/or sex workers) [we call those pimps in the real word – ed] are potentially of great importance in influencing alcohol use and sexual behavior among establishment-based FSWs,” says the NIH grant abstract submitted by Dr. Li to create a better world for those Chinese “FSWs.”
“Therefore, in this application, we propose to develop, implement, and evaluate a venue-based alcohol use and HIV risk reduction intervention focusing on both environmental and individual factors among venue-based FSWs in China,” as a “community-based cluster randomized controlled trial,”. Dr. Li is all concerned that alcohol plays an important part of spreading HIV infections in China and he prostitution and sexual work in China and USA can be a safer, more fun career choice.
Sex workers in China like to get drunk though that some like being treated like animals does not have any relation to drinking. Some do get drunk as they are not really interested in the work. Both the purveyor and the customer and should have awareness of alcoholism in women cast in the role of a commodity, so that a sex workers will be worth more than the momentary sexual release that she can facilitate.
Cleverly Obama becomes the president of Chinese hookers . . . though a proper pension and properly assigned space as earlier suggested for sex work should be formalized. All sorts of new and interesting powers in the penumbra of the Constitution, are being found that invariably bring USA and China closer together, even in something as simple as education about alcohol for sex workers.
**UPDATE**
The grant went out in November 2007 so, Obama is not responsible for this funding. Bush is. So at least one thing was done to better relations during the Bush warmonger years. Consideration to issues asian prostitutes face. Dr. Li Xiaoming is aware enough that with this sort of acceptable fringe issue, in sufficient quantity, nations can become closer though not obviously so. Bush an extreme strategist? Can’t imagine . . . maybe some obscure bureau did the above on their own, kuudos in either case . . .
ARTICLE 11
Beedi industry’s child workers trapped in economic slavery – June 11th, 2012 06:18 PM ET
Editor’s note: Davinder Kumar is an award-winning development journalist who works for children’s rights organization Plan International.
Five-year-old Aliya thinks it is a game she must master quickly to be a winner. From the time she wakes up, until she goes to bed, Aliya watches her mother and all the girls and women in her neighborhood consumed in a frantic race: Making beedis – traditional hand-rolled Indian cigarettes.
To create each beedi, the maker painstakingly places tobacco inside a dried leaf sourced from a local ebony tree; tightly rolls and secures it with a thread; and then closes the tips using a sharp knife.
For anything between 10 and 14 hours, regardless of how long it takes, Aliya’s mother and others must all roll at least 1,000 beedis to earn a paltry sum of less than $2 a day, paid by the middleman.
The beedi manufacturers, however, make billions of dollars.
The cigarettes are taken to the warehouses of large manufacturers, where they are packaged before being sold in the market for a much higher price.
Beedis are so popular that they make for nearly half of India’s entire tobacco market. but, behind the country’s unorganized domestic tobacco sector lie invisible millions trapped in modern day economic slavery.
Assembly line of workers
In Aliya’s town of Kadiri in Andhra Pradesh alone, hundreds of families have for generations relied on beedi rolling as their only means of survival.
The labyrinthine, congested lanes of Kadiri slums are home to an assembly line of humans functioning like robots: Young girls and women alike can be seen rolling cigarettes in groups out in the open. Some sway, some rock back and forth appearing entranced, while others have developed odd muscular motions as they push their work speed to the edge of human limits.
For most, if they do not roll enough beedis every day there simply will not be food on the table.
“The pressure to keep up with the speed and meet the target is so intense that many skip their meals and even avoid drinking water so they do not need to go to the toilet,” says Shanu, a community volunteer.
Almost all beedi workers in Kadiri, like the other beedi manufacturing pockets in India, are female and a large of number of them young girls.
Aliya has already started her lessons early and is practising rolling beedis using cuttings of plain paper. “I want to roll beedis and give money to my mother,” she says.
A study released nearly three years ago estimated a scandalous number of over 1.7 million children are working in India’s beedi rolling industry. Children are knowingly engaged by manufacturers due to belief that children’s nimble fingers are more adept at rolling cigarettes.
Hazardous work
Under Indian law, beedi rolling is defined as hazardous work, but a loophole means children who help their parents in their work fall outside the legal framework.
“Formally, it is the women who take on the orders from the contractors,” says Anita Kumar of Plan India. “However, behind the scenes, the pressures these women face in terms of delivering on huge volumes, invariably children, mainly girls, get pulled into this to support their families in beedi rolling.”
As part of its global “Because I am a Girl” campaign, children’s rights organization Plan International has started a program focused on girl child labor in Andhra Pradesh, including girls involved in beedi making. The project will collectively impact 1,500 girls over 3 years. Children trapped in beedi work will need a rescue effort on a much larger scale.
“We are aiming to create a model by working with communities and the local government structures ensuring that children are prevented from falling into this cycle of labor,” says Kumar.
From unhealthy living conditions to exploitative wages, slave-like working conditions and severe health consequences – the situation of beedi workers involves violation of their fundamental rights and freedoms on many levels. The majority of girls are pulled out of education by the time they complete primary school to support their families’ income.
The youngest of four siblings, 11-year-old Salma dropped out of school last year when she had completed grade 4.
“I wanted to continue going to school but we are very poor and have been struggling to pay the rent,” she says as she struggles to draw breath.
Trapped in economic slavery
Salma is suffering from jaundice and is so frail she can barely sit up straight. Yet, she is tasked with rolling up to 1,500 beedis a day to support her family. Squatting on the floor, hunched, she rolls cigarettes for over 12 hours every day and still earns just over two dollars.
In addition to jaundice, Salma has also developed a ringworm infection on her wrist, common in the area due to poor hygiene and sanitation. She is in dire need of medical attention but visiting local hospital means a day off work due to long queues and a day’s wages to pay for transport – her parents cannot afford either.
The health impact on beedi workers is visible on all age groups. Tuberculosis, asthma, body pain and postural problems related with hips and joints are most common.
Continuous beedi rolling leads to absorption of high doses of nicotine directly through skin. The skin on the children’s fingertips begins to thin progressively, and by the time they reach their 40s they cannot roll cigarettes any more.
Mahboobjaan, a mother of three girls, is in her mid-30s and is already losing sensation in her hands. ”My hands often swell up. I don’t know what I will do if I can’t roll beedi anymore,” she says.
The worst thing for beedi workers is the feeling that there is no protection, no welfare, no state support. They vote but have no power or effective representation. For all development indicators they remain at the bottom of the ladder all their lives.
And among them, the girls suffer the most. Throughout their life cycle their basic rights are violated; as children, as child brides, as young mothers, they continue to fight for survival with extreme labour and economic slavery.
In summer as the temperatures reach 45 degrees Celsius, the streets of Kadiri are engulfed in a stifling cloud of tobacco dust. Infants play among heaps of tobacco leaves.
Covered in a pool of sweat, young girls roll beedis with their eyes transfixed on their tobacco tray. Older women, who can no longer roll beedis themselves, help by trimming the ebony leaves. The work continues till late in the night just to secure the next day’s meal and to keep a roof above the workers’ heads.
The next morning, and for almost every morning for the rest of their lives, it is exactly the same story: The breathless race to 1,000 starts all over again with a single beedi.
[The children’s names have been changed].
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Wealth distribution issues here. Suggest that a ‘Wealth Distribution for Welfare Deductible‘ is imposed on the distribution network at each stage of the supply chain at a level (maybe 10%-30% levies per stage of supply chain to be released after a set period? How many ruppees is that over a lifetime or per month to allow retirement at comfortable middle class by age 55 for example?) to ensure the professional beedi makers have a reasonable quality of life. If beedi making conditions are too harsh or labour intense, the industry will get a bad reputation and the workers will try to leave the industry, with continuity of the industry dependent on India’s poverty and by extension the sub-conscious desire of beedi smokers to want cheeper bidis and thus subconsciously keep India poor in a vicious psychic, psychological undercurrent that keeps India from raising the status of India’s poorest.
ARTICLE 12
Jesse ‘The Mind’ Ventura On Politics, Porsches And Paddleboards – 6/13/2012 @ 5:41PM
Call him Jesse “The Mind” or Jesse “The Body” Ventura, the former pro-wrestler and Minnesota governor talks to me about his latest book, “DemoCRIPS and ReBLOODicans”, crazy tax policies, and why he’s more Occupy than Tea Party.
Monday afternoon, two p.m. in Minneapolis, three p.m. in New York. On the phone with Jesse Ventura.
Kenneth Rapoza: I’d recognize that voice anywhere.
Jesse Ventura: [chuckles, signature Jesse] It’s a hard one to miss. Good to talk with you today, Ken.
KR: This morning on The Takeaway, Joseph Stiglitz was talking about income inequality and the growing inequality of opportunity in the U.S. You’re a Vietnam vet. Are we more divided now than we were then, at least politically speaking?
JV: We were more divided then. The true turning point as a nation was when the National Guard shot four students dead at Kent State. We’re divided, but they haven’t shot anybody since.
KR: Would you send your kids to war today?
JV: I’d be a conscientious objector. You’re going to war for corporations, not for people. Smedley Butler, a general in the Marine Corp., said that about our interventions in Central America. It’s a very well known critique about U.S. wars.
KR: I’ve heard it many times. But there’s a different kind of division now, not just politically right and left. We’re seeing a class division creep in. The rich really are getting richer — way richer in fact — and the middle class are definitely getting poorer. I was surprised to see, but you write a lot
about that in your book. You’re a one percenter. What’s it all look like to you in Minnesota?
JV: Well, for one, our property values have dropped by over 20% but my property taxes haven’t. Why is it that our homes are worth less and middle class Minnesotans are worth less but are property taxes aren’t coming down?
KR: I don’t know. You tell me. You were the governor.
JV: Not anymore. And I don’t miss it one bit. That’s all policy decisions at the state level. I gave taxes back when I was governor. They can’t even balance their budget and its state law to do so. You know where our taxes go?
KR: Let me guess.
JV: Well, a lot of it went to bailout out banks and the rich. During the last Great Recession or whatever you want to call it, I’ll have to quote the Wall Street protesters, the 99 percent lost money. But the rich made money. They got wealthier thanks to policies that helped them get wealthier. They didn’t get wealthier because they are smart investors.
KR: You’re right about that. Even Citi says so.
JV: You want to hear something funny about taxes?
KR: Is that a joke, like a Polish man walks into a bar?
JV: No. But it’s laughable. I’m learning to paddleboard. In Minnesota you need to get a license to paddleboard because the board is over nine feet long. So you have to pay a fee. And you have to wear a life jacket.
KR: Please tell me Jesse “The Body” isn’t wearing a life jacket on a paddle board.
JV: If I showed up with a life jacket to protect me from the wake of a boat that’s maybe a foot high I’d be laughed out of the lake. This is the stuff politicians can agree on. These are the kinds of policies we the people get.
KR: They must have hated you in Minnesota. An independent who doesn’t have to raise money because getting publicity for you isn’t a problem.
JV: I’m one of the few people who actually made money as governor. I spent less money to get elected than I earned. Everyone else pays a million dollars to get paid a hundred and twenty grand. When I was governor, I was up against both parties and they vetoed me all the time. On that front they were united. They vetoed my balanced budget because they thought it would make my re-election bid less likely for the voters so they could turn to one of the two gangs again. But I didn’t run. That surprised them. And now they have around a $5 billion deficit, worse than Wisconsin.
KR: What do you think about [Wisc. governor] Scott Walker?
JV: I think he beat [Tom] Barrett because he had more money. Whoever gets the most bribe many can put the ads on TV. And now with Citizens United and SuperPACs unleashed, these groups can lie about their favorite candidate and the politician isn’t held responsible for the content. I think every politician should wear a NASCAR race suit at this point.
KR: Why’s that?
JV: You know how the NASCAR race suits all have the ads stitched on them from the driver’s sponsors? Politicians should wear that too so we can see who owns them. It’s laughable what we have turned our elections into today, where bribery is okay. We should only put candidates names on
the ballot without their party affiliation so people will have to actually know the candidate. They make it too easy today. You don’t have to know the candidate’s name. You just go in and vote for a party.
KR: What do you think of Karl Rove? Guy’s like the king of secret funding operations.
JV: I think he’s a chicken hawk. He leads from the rear, not from the front. Likes to send kids to war. Know how to tell if a war is justified? If you’re willing to send your kids to fight it. If you’re only willing to send someone else’s it’s not justified. I’m 60 years old now and we have been at war somewhere half of my adult life, and I’m not even including the war on drugs.
KR: Should we legalize drugs?
JV: Yes. The Beatles wrote the greatest album in history [Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band] high on LSD. Anna Nicole Smith died by overdosing on prescription drugs from big pharmaceutical companies. I’m not saying you legalize crack. Why not legalize marijuana. You can make biodiesel from it, and start using corn for food instead of ethanol.
KR: I was impressed with all your foot notes in the book. How long did it take you to write this thing?
JV: Four months in Mexico. I have a house down there in Baja. It’s where I can concentrate. No TV. Totally off the grid. I’m solar powered.
KR: Wow! I didn’t know that Jesse “The Body” was a pot smoking latte liberal. You probably drive a Prius.
JV: No, I drive a twin turbo Porsche 450 horse power all wheel drive six speed. I don’t even have a cell phone because when you’re driving that thing you want to concentrate on the ride.
KR: Okay. What about this: Tea Party or Occupy Wall Street?
JV: Occupy Wall Street definitely.
KR: Why?
JV: Tea Party is owned by the Koch brothers. The grassroots supporters of the Tea Party will never get what they want, unless they think lower corporate taxes and oligarchy are the answers to their prayers. Occupy is still marginally independent. I attended a Minnesota Occupy rally five different times. I handed out hand warmers. At the time, we were cheering on the Arab Spring protesters and pepper spraying our own protesters at home. Park ordinance didn’t allow them to even have generators at night to keep them warm. But there was one generator that was allowed to run, and that was the one that was powering the surveillance camera that was keeping an eye on them.
KR: Occupy seems to be weakening. They don’t have the monied interests behind them. Is the Tea Party relevant anymore?
JV: I think they are still relevant. They got a lot of people elected, but they are not the answer.[For the answers, go buy his book.]
KR: What’s your political future?
JV: None. People ask me to run again. I’d rather be surfing in Mexico for four to five months a year.
KR: That sounds much better. I think every ex-President would agree with that. Let’s change the subject. What happened with “Conspiracy Theory”? [Jesse’s show on TruTV.]
JV: Finished eight episodes in November but it ain’t on. No start date. It’s still sitting there in production at TruTV. I’ll be surprised if they even put them on. This would have been our third season.
KR: Is there a conspiracy against Jesse Ventura?
JV: I don’t know.
KR: I have to say that if someone ever told me at 15 that I would one day be talking to Jesse “The Body” Ventura, I wouldn’t believe it. Wrestlemania was a show!
JV: I did six of ‘em. Man, that was a long time ago.
KR: [starts to crack up with childhood memories] I remember one Wrestlemania, you’re on the floor giving play by play with Bobby “the Brain” Heenon and there’s “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan with his two-by-four in the air, his tongue hanging out, looking like a mess [Jesse starts to remember, starts
to laugh] and you’re like, ‘Look at that guy, just look at that snot hanging out of his nose.’ The way you emphasized the word ‘snot’. It was hilarious to every teenage and tweenage boy in America. Me and my brother are still talking about it and we’re in our thirties.
JV: Vince McMahon [the brains behind the World Wrestling Federation, as if any reader didn’t know that] was the P.T. Barnum of the century. Hey, one time I went back stage and was telling Koko B. Ware the stuff I was going to say about him during the show. I did that all the time so the wrestlers wouldn’t get upset. We were all friends, ya know. So I say on the air that the B in his name stood for Buckwheat, because he was Buckwheat’s grandson. And I got in trouble for that. That was the first time I was really ever censored for saying something like that and ironically, Eddie
Murphy was doing his Buckwheat character on Saturday Night Live and Buckwheat was on the earliest show to ever showcase a racially diverse neighborhood, but it came from a white guy so it was banned and I was scolded for it.
KR: Oh well, live and learn.
JV: I hope Americans learn. I’ve been telling them this about their government for the past 10 years.
KR: You’re not alone. I think it’s clicking in now.
JV: Yeah. I think you’re right.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
If the state of Minnesota having a 5 billion debt has them squealing over there like little girls, just think how a country a fraction the size like Malaysia with so many times the population has over half a trillion in debt would do.
USA : 9.830,000 million square kilometers (debt 15 Trillion) 30 times more debt with a population/land ratio 10 times less crowded (larger distributable land base which politicians have selfishly not effected)
Malaysia : 0.329,758 million square kilometers (debt 0.5 Trillion) 30 times less debt but 30 times smaller with a population/land ratio 3 times more crowded (smaller distributable land base which politicians have selfishly not effected)
Malaysia is as deep in debt and doing far worse than USA by a size to population ratio consideration, and guess who the 1% ters are? Run for election as president Jesse. Somehow the people around the world are too stupid or afraid to consider private candidacy, these hegelian dialectic (http://dont-tread-on.me/?tag=hegelian-dialectic) idiots have made independent thought impossible and since you are well placed with sufrficient cash to at least make the attempt through an internet campaign at least, how about giving 3rds Force a REAL voice in USA to inspire the rest of the pond scum nepotist oligarch, plutocrat term limitless politician run world? Obama was a great image man, but I think policy wise the whole Obama in White House thing not really working . . . and if Romney comes into power the collusion will be unbelievable much like how a mere Mayor (looks TERM LIMITLESS to me . . . ), Mayor Bloomberg is worth 20 billion . . . (thats 50,000 401Ks for 1 person, while homeless and starving abound in NY . . . ) Finally get USA to implement TERM LIMITS on all levels of government, I don’t think there is a need to explain why, someone has to set an example against cults of personality and against seat hogging oligarchs to the 3rd World.
This one is inspired by the Egyptian ‘quandry’ over lack of choices in June 2012. Don’t complain about lack of choice, and MAKE CHOICES. Just run for candidacy against the bad candidates.
ARTICLE 12
Can Israel Afford a Moral Foreign Policy? – Jonathan S. Tobin 06.15.2012 – 4:31 PM
Earlier this week, I noted the fact that while President Obama has chosen not to visit Israel since taking office even when visiting the Middle East, Russia’s Vladimir Putin will be making his second trip to the Jewish state this month. The fact that Obama is still so resentful of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he couldn’t bring himself to go to Jerusalem even when it would clearly be in his political interests to do so, while Putin thinks it is good politics to go there, struck me as interesting. But our friends at the Forward have a very different take on the story. In an editorial published this week, they think it is wrong for Israel to receive Putin and urge it to cancel the visit.
In assessing this position, we need to start by saying this is the sort of editorial that explains why there is a difference between government and journalism. In seizing the moral high ground on Putin, the Forward editorialist is taking a stand that no Israeli government, no matter how righteous or devoted to the cause of human rights in Russia, Syria and Iran it might be, can possibly take. Israel has enough enemies without picking a fight with Putin even the United States would be wary of starting. This is the sort of unrealistic moral preening that we journalists love to indulge in. There is also the fact that the Forward, whose idolatry of Barack Obama seems to be boundless, has been noticeably quiet in expressing criticism of the administration’s desire for a “reset” with Putin or his appeasement of Russia on a number of different fronts.
But having said that, I’m prepared to concede the editorial has a point, especially with regard to the egregious praise of Putin on the part of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, and that the question of how moral Israel’s foreign policy should be is not solely a matter for idle journalistic posturing.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Different gist when I heard that. And Israel is making way too much fuss and has not kept the UN bargain to letter (at least till 26th June 2012, see article http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/world/middleeast/jewish-settlers-begin-evacuation-of-ulpana.html?pagewanted=all) to be considered a writer of moral foreign policy. USA’s reins are slipping here, and if USA cannot clean up in the Middle East, there is no way USA can take on Russia, conventionally at any rate. They will be using all kinds of unpleasant wave form or satellite brain frying or partial access weather tech they have now with a M.A.D. scenario occuring immensely harmful to everyone.
Iran alone can overrun Israel. And Israel probably would be the very nation that destroys the planet and the human race by firing nukes and irradiating everything in a panic when overrun. Iran has stated they won’t use nukes knowing they can overrun Israel, but Israel being no match for Iran conventionally, will have to drag USA and Russia into a 3rd World War if not fire those Israeli nukes and irradiate everything. The Middle East will wilt away in the first year, the rest of the world in less than 10, and this is on top of what Fukushima already released at a magnitude 100s of times worse than Chernobyl . . .
The Israeli citizens not in Israel’s parliament had better vote very wisely with the possibility of the M.A.D. scenario in mind. In fact if I were USA or even Russia, I’d start assassinating any nuke trigger happy types in either Israel or Iran. The radioactivity of the new Uranium Nukes they have will make Hiroshima H-bomb and Nagsaki H-bomb look like toys and can kill everything on the planet (unless specifically H-Bombs and NEVER anything heavier are used ONLY) on a scale 100s of times worse than Chernobyl.
That is what the Uranium Nukes are like. Just 1 Uranium Nuke is enough to finish off most weaker ecosystems and destroy all neighbouring areas for 1000s of miles in radius. Does that not justify ending use of nukes larger than H-Bombs? Use of conventionals is acceptable but nukes, especially Uranium nukes, is just end game for everything on the planet. Does the EU or AU or USA know this, even as they are stuck in the Middle East? Begin that initiative to ban ALL nuclear weapons.
Romney revives attacks on Obama’s health-care plan – by Lisa Lerer and Roger Runningen,
Mitt Romney on the campaign trail:?With the Republican presidential nomination secured, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney steps up his criticism of President Obama.
June 13 (Bloomberg) — Mitt Romney pledged to replace the U.S. health-care overhaul with a plan relying on private markets to provide “access to good health care” for every American, as he revived attacks on President Barack Obama’s signature achievement that the U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to rule on.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee told small- business owners in Orlando, Florida, that he would implement policies, including tax breaks, aimed at helping the private market care for the uninsured and those with preexisting medical conditions.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Obama a non-plutocrat saves money AND YET offers no state oversight Capitalist style (meaning could be very badly run by a profit and ‘cheapness’ oriented and uncaring medical company), Romney sounds ‘commie state controlled’ (AND also a plutocrat?) but will have state oversight (can you say Orwell? Or will this be an exercise selective amnesia and ‘deniability’ no different than if Obama style private run . . . ). Uncontrolled free enterprise from a non-plutocrat vs. Orwellian from a plutocrat. Hegelian dialectic (http://dont-tread-on.me/?tag=hegelian-dialectic)?
Maybe ex-Governer Jesse Ventura has something there, why must each side offer something fundamentally flawed? A 3rd force needs to offer the best of both worlds. The 30% of most profitable companies in the country should directly deduct 50% of after tax profits and offer state run (public accountable open account) medical institutions AND free medical degrees. This way WEALTH DISTRIBUTION can occur. Health is not sympathy or a waste, and a good patriotic company should not begrudge FREE HEALTHCARE from the same citizens feeding their bottomless pit bank accounts and cronies and proxies (who might well be one’s neighbours), even if the profits come from the rest of the world much less locally in the USA where the economy has been failing since Clinton left (maybe Clinton window washed the books’ better?).
Healthcare and education are an obligation of the wealthy corporate sectors and even plutocrats. So how can people be worth 100s of millions (Romney is worth 250 million) while USA rots or has lack of facilities for injured veterans? Living in luxury or sequestering so much wealth while those who fight for the country are abandoned says ALOT, ‘Romney’.
ARTICLE 2
£5million lottery winner ‘claimed housing benefit and income support for 20 months after windfall’
Edward Putman, 46, alleged to have claimed £15,000 in handouts over 20 months by Andrew Levy – PUBLISHED: 16:30 GMT, 12 June 2012 | UPDATED: 07:38 GMT, 13 June 2012
Cashing in: Putman was charged with cashing around £15,000 in income support and housing benefit from the Department of Work and Pensions
When Edward Putman scooped nearly £5million on the Lottery, he asked to have no publicity.
That anonymity was ripped away yesterday when he appeared in court accused of fraudulently claiming £15,000 in benefits after his big win.
The 46-year-old, who lives in a large detached house with a fleet of cars outside, is said to have continued applying for income support and housing benefit nearly two years after receiving his Lotto cheque.
Although he was not convicted yesterday, his barrister said his client would admit two charges of benefit fraud at the next hearing.
The delay came after the Crown Prosecution Service was unable to confirm exactly how much the millionaire owes.
Putman attempted to continue living out of the public eye after yesterday’s hearing when he sprinted from St Albans Magistrates’ Court trying to hide his face with his mobile phone.
He refused to comment at the £600,000 home in the upmarket village of Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, which he shares with his long-term partner. It is understood Putman was unemployed when he won £4,525,058 on September 26, 2009.
Sources said an investigation began after council officers became suspicious when he tried to buy his former one-bed council flat in Hemel Hempstead with cash.
Enquiries found Putman appeared to have continued claiming income support and housing benefit between September 2009 and May last year.
Yesterday, his brother, Raymond, who lives in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, said: ‘He was absolutely skint and then suddenly he had millions.
‘He won’t be happy people know about his win because he’s a private person. I don’t even know how much he won. He didn’t even tell me about the court case. How crazy.
‘I don’t know if he has been managing the money but he had a BMW, then a Range Rover. There are other cars and motorcycles.
‘He’s also bought friends and family cars. The other week he bought seven Suzuki Swifts to give to people. That’s just him. I hope he doesn’t waste it all.’
Putman’s former partner Gail, who took his name during their time together, said he had hidden the Lotto win from her.
Jailed: In April 2011, Lesley Brogan was jailed for 21 months after she claimed more than £100,000 for her ¿disabled¿ husband, despite the fact that they had won £120,000 on the lottery
Jailed: In April 2011, Lesley Brogan was jailed for 21 months after she claimed more than £100,000 for her ‘disabled’ husband, despite the fact that they had won £120,000 on the lottery
Miss Putman, who had a son by him before they split several years ago, said: ‘I never knew he’d won the Lottery – he never told me. He couldn’t even pay me £5 a month maintenance.
‘If he won this money and he’s done this fraud, what does that tell you about him?’
Miss Putman, who lives in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, added that she believed her former partner had fathered another son with a different woman before starting his current long-term relationship.
Neighbours of Putman’s also revealed how he claimed to be a property developer.
Windfall: Putman’s £600,000 house in the village of Kings Langley, Hertfordshire
One added: ‘I’ve been made redundant three times and when I claimed income support I had to sign on. I had to show them I’d been trying to get a job and going for interviews. How did he claim it for 20 months without them making him get a job?’
Last night it appeared Putman was trying to sell his home. A message posted anonymously on buildinglanduk.co.uk said his house, garden and even his mobile home were up for sale.
It said: ‘I’m not sure how to explain what I have without someone looking but I have a four-bed detached house with a garden which has a mobile home on.’
During yesterday’s five-minute hearing, George Brooker, chairman of the bench, said the case would be adjourned for sentencing until July 3.
The Department for Work and Pensions said: ‘We cannot comment until sentencing.’
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Shows the NHS system is not as modern or as well networked as the taxpeyers are charged for.
ARTICLE 3
The crisis in Syria is deepening and the Assad regime is fighting for its life. The rhythm of the revolution is familiar: The state cracks down on demonstrators throughout the week, inevitably committing some new outrage on its citizens; rage builds and explodes on Friday after prayers; repeat as necessary.
The state’s crackdown seems more futile with each passing week. The Alawite grip on power in Syria seems to be slipping away and the events could foreshadow a similar path in Lebanon.
Imagine a future where Lebanon’s Shia have managed to conquer Lebanon with brute force. The situation seems hardly possible, but Syria faced a similar situation forty years ago. Syria’s Alawites, who comprise only 15% of the population, managed to subdue the nation under Hafez Assad in 1970.
It’s not impossible to imagine something similar in Lebanon. One thousand reasons could be given why this would never happen, but surely the same could be said of Syria all those years ago. While success is unlikely, an attempt is possible.
The Shia are Lebanon’s largest minority, and as such they wield significant political power. Beyond that, Hizballah is considered to be the most powerful fighting force in the country. They have strongholds in the south and in the southern suburbs of Beirut, but do not always feel at home in the cosmopolitan capital.
Lebanon’s Shia for years occupied the bottom of the socio-economic spectrum. Long ago they realized that the only way they would get anything in Lebanon is if they took it with force, as the merchant-class Christians and Sunnis in Beirut would never give up anything willingly. This is the genesis of the Amal Movement in the 1970’s, and later Hizballah.
While it’s impossible to know whether Hizballah will ever gain a monopoly on power in Lebanon, perhaps we can learn something about what their trajectory might look like by considering the Alawite experience in Syria. Consider the following excerpt from a report from the International Crisis Group, “The Syrian People’s Slow-motion Revolution”:
Yet, the sectarian survival instinct upon which the regime relies could backfire. The most die-hard within the security apparatus might well be prepared to fight till the bitter end. But the majority will find it hard to keep this up. After enough of this mindless violence, this same sectarian survival instinct could push them the other way.
After centuries of discrimination and persecution at the hands of the Sunni majority, Alawites and other religious minorities concluded that their villages within relatively inaccessible mountainous areas offered the only genuine sanctuary.
They are unlikely to believe their safety is ensured in the capital (where they feel like transient guests), by the Assad regime (which they view as a temporary, historical anomaly), or through state institutions (which they do not trust). When they begin to feel that the end is near, Alawites might not fight to the last man. They might well return to the mountains. They might well go home.
Partly due to Hizballah’s helps, Lebanon’s Shia have come a long way over the past 40 years. Today the sect wields real power, both politically and militarily. The can bring down the government, as they did this year, and they can take over the capital, which they did in 2008.
But something doesn’t seem right. Hizballah’s actions are becoming more aggressive towards the state, especially since the indictments in the Hariri Tribunal were made known. This week, Hassan Nasrallah announced that the state would never be able to arrest members of Hizballah.
Nasrallah has been vocal in his support for Syria, which badly exposes him as a hypocrite who is grossly out of touch with the Arab tide of history. This was after proclaiming support for protestors in Tunisia and Egypt.
He has also maintained steadfast support for Iran, which also continues to oppress its citizens. Because of these patently opportunistic and self-serving stances, Hizballah’s credibility on the Arab street has to be plummeting, particularly amongst Sunni Arabs.
How long can this keep up? Can Hizballah count on the unconditional support of the common Shia? Is there a limit to what they will accept? Hizballah’s support for authoritarian regimes, coupled with its ultra-aggressive posturing at home, will only lead to growing isolation for the group, and the Shia by extension.
The common enemy in the Middle East used to be the United States, which had supported the likes of Mubarak and Ben Ali for decades. But in 2011, Arabs realized that instead of getting the United States to abandon its support for the region’s dictators, they had to remove the dictators themselves. And they’re doing right now.
Suddenly, corrupt and oppressive regimes became the enemy (whether they supported the US or not) and Hizballah found itself on the wrong side of history. With the region’s political calculus undergoing such significant changes, it follows that Hizballah would alter its strategies accordingly. But they didn’t and in the process revealed themselves to be little more than an outpost of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, beholden to the Ayatollah instead of their constituents.
The question then becomes whether we will see any daylight developing between Hizballah and the “average Shia”. It’s not clear how unconditional support is for Hizballah amongst the Shia, but there are signs of cracks developing. The downfall of the group’s financial chief, penetration by Israeli spies, support for brutal regimes in Iran and Syria, isolation from Sunnis, and isolation from the world in general… both the group and the sect are under tremendous pressure.
The whole situation seems to be coming to a head. There are just too many highly-volatile moving pieces. It’s likely that Hizballah can count on its sectarian constituents if push comes to shove; the Shia won’t have any choice. The shoves will be coming from the Sunnis and the Shia will likely close ranks and band together in the event of a civil conflict.
But it is unclear how far rank and file Shia will go in support of the Party of God. Perhaps a look at the fate of Syria’s Alawites over the last 40 years can give some clues.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Potentially the Saudi Sunnites are attempting to take control of all factions by toppling ‘somewhat secular and moderate (though dictator run) governments’ via ‘Arab Springs’ but things aren’t exactly goin the way they want . . . Alawites and Sufis or even Druzes are very much more suitable for Caliphate, simply by virtue of fact that Sunnites and Shiites have BOTH involved themselves in persecutions and killings of fellow Muslims from other sects far much more than the above 3.
As for Padishah Emperors, England and the West burnt their last bridge to the Middle East when Dodi Fayyed died along with Diana. Were the Royals more cautious, (no offense to Charles), an alternate reality where Diana lived and married Dodi had children, and the English monarchy somehow was succeeded by the progeny of the above couple instead of/with Charles AND William AND Harry out of the picture (not necessarily dead but just out), Persia if revived could yet be controlled from England. But too bad eh? No proxy Padishas for England even as King of England and Emperor of India was the title of the English sovereign! And Iran is very pissed with England with not an Ayatollah on the ‘West’s side! Good on Charles likely taking over the throne though, continuity is important though Camilla being Queen should no longer be an issue internally at least, to those who did not love Princess Di that much at any rate.
ARTICLE 4
Falkland Islanders to get historic referendum on whether they want to stay British – by Richard Hartley-parkinson – PUBLISHED: 13:34 GMT, 12 June 2012 | UPDATED: 14:59 GMT, 12 June 2012
Island government hopes to send message to Argentina that they want to remain British
Vote comes 30 years after 27,000 troops repelled Argentinian invaders
Vote set to take place in the first half of next year
The Falkland Islands are to hold a referendum on their ‘political status’ – hoping to bring an end to the continuing dispute with Argentina over the islands’ sovereignty, their government said today.
The announcement comes as Falklanders prepare to mark the 30th anniversary of the liberation of the islands.
Three decades after Margaret Thatcher sent 27,000 troops and more than 100 ships to repel the Argentinian invaders, Buenos Aires continues to set its sights on claiming the territory it calls Las Malvinas.
Disputed territory: Falkland Islanders are to be given a vote to allow them to say whether they want to be considered as British or Argentinian
Disputed territory: Falkland Islanders are to be given a vote to allow them to say whether they want to be considered as British or Argentinian
But the Falkland Islands government said it hopes a referendum will send a firm message to Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner that islanders want to remain British.
Reacting to the announcement, Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne said this is a ‘truly significant moment’.
The Falkland Islands, a rocky archipelago in the South Atlantic, are 7,780 miles from the UK and 1,140 miles from Buenos Aires.
Calls to stop British aid money pouring into Argentina: Country owes UK taxpayers £225MILLION
Prince Edward and wife Sophie look relaxed as they touch down in front of Rock of Gibraltar for controversial visit
Spanish fury over Prince Edward’s ‘deeply unfortunate’ royal visit to Gibraltar
They have been under British control since 1833 – apart from the brief but bitter 74 days of occupation in 1982.
Gavin Short, chairman of the Legislative Assembly, said: ‘We are holding this referendum not because we have any doubts about who we are and what future we want, but to show the world just how certain we are about it.
‘I have no doubt that the people of the Falklands wish for the islands to remain a self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom.
The vote comes 30 years after Margaret Thatcher sent 27,000 troops and more than 100 ships to repel Argentinian invaders
The vote comes 30 years after Margaret Thatcher sent 27,000 troops and more than 100 ships to repel Argentinian invaders
‘We certainly have no desire to be ruled by the government in Buenos Aires, a fact that is immediately obvious to anyone who has visited the islands and heard our views.
‘But we are aware that not everybody is able to come to these beautiful islands and to see this reality for themselves.
‘And the Argentine government deploys misleading rhetoric that wrongly implies that we have no strong views or even that we are being held hostage by the UK military. This is simply absurd.’
The Falkland Islands has a population of around 3,000 people, with just over half on the electoral roll and expected to take part in the vote.
The referendum will be organised by the Falkland Islands government and will take place in the first half of next year.
Mr Short said: ‘We have thought carefully about how to convey a strong message to the outside world that expresses the views of the Falklands people in a clear, democratic and incontestable way.
‘So we have decided, with the full support of the British Government, to hold a referendum on the Falkland Islands to eliminate any possible doubt about our wishes.’
The Falklands government said it intends to invite international observers to verify the outcome of the referendum.
It added that exact timings, the specific wording of the question and other details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Argentina’s Ms de Kirchner has been heating up the debate over the islands as key milestones in the 1982 conflict have passed.
Last week she announced that Buenos Aires would be launching criminal proceedings against UK oil firms that are operating off the Falkland’s coastline, saying they were operating illegally.
Britain has accused the country of implementing a number of economic blockades on the small, isolated islands and of acting in a ‘domineering way’.
But British officials are adamant that there will be no change in the UK’s sovereignty of the islands unless and until the Falklanders themselves wish it.
Mr Browne, who arrived in the Falkland Islands yesterday, welcomed the announcement of a referendum.
Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne said the referendum is a ‘truly significant moment’
Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne said the referendum is a ‘truly significant moment’
‘Only the Falkland Islands people can determine how they wish to be governed, so I very much support this initiative by the Falkland Islands government,’ he said.
‘Indeed, I believe this referendum is a truly significant moment.
‘It will give the Falkland Islands people the opportunity to send a clear message – not just to Argentina, but to the whole of the international community – that the islanders, and they alone, are masters of their fate.’
He added that the British Government would respect whatever the outcome of the referendum might be.
Islanders hope the referendum will send a clear message to Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner that they want to remain British
Islanders hope the referendum will send a clear message to Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner that they want to remain British
‘I call on all governments who prize democracy and human rights to do likewise,’ Mr Browne added.
‘Whilst it is for the islanders to choose, let me be clear: the British Government greatly values the links between the UK and the Falkland Islands.
‘We believe these should continue and deepen, long into the future.
‘And if this proves to be the will of the Falkland Islands people, then we in the UK will not just respect it, but will continue actively to defend this act of self-determination from those who seek to challenge it.’
The Government called for the referendum just two days before Ms de Kirchner is due to attend a UN committee in New York on de-colonisation.
During the meeting she is expected to put the Argentinian position on the Falkland Islands.
She will also be addressed by a group of young Falkland Islanders, most of whom were not born when the Falklands War took place in 1982.
Speaking from London yesterday, they said they often get drowned out by the arguments over sovereignty taking place between the UK and Argentina.
This will be the first referendum held on the islands, but in a poll in the mid-1980s, 94.5% of those who took part supported staying British.
Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell, secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Falkland Islands, said it was an ‘extremely important decision’ that would determine ‘once and for all’ the wishes of the islands’ inhabitants.
He said he expected a ‘very similar result’ to that in a referendum held by Gibraltar in 2002, in which the idea of Britain sharing sovereignty with Spain was rejected by 98.5% of residents.
‘It will make it clear once and for all what the Falklands Islands want for their own destiny,’ he said.
‘I hope that the Argentinian government will respect the democratic wishes of the islanders.’
Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would ‘respect and defend’ the outcome of the referendum.
‘I have always said that it is up to the Falkland Islanders themselves to choose whether they want to be British and that the world should listen to their views,’ he said.
‘Thirty years ago they made clear that they wanted to stay British. That’s why British forces bravely liberated the island from Argentine invaders.
‘Now the Argentine government wants to put that choice in doubt again, by shouting down the Islanders’ ability to speak for themselves and punishing them for exercising their own free choice.
‘That’s why it’s absolutely right that the Islanders have today set out how they intend to make their voices heard once more. And Britain will be resolute in supporting their choice.
‘Next year’s referendum will determine beyond doubt the views of the people of the Falklands. Britain will respect and defend their choice.
‘We look to all UN members to live up to their responsibilities under the UN charter and accept the Islanders’ decision about how they want to live.’
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Won’t work. EEZ and continental shelf makes Malvinas belong to Argentine. Also if Malvinas residents want to change aspects of the law, they can very well elect someone who will speak for them. Where sovereignty is concerned, no go. Check with the UN, those islands were forcibly colonized. Just because alot of ethnically foreign citizens congregate in a particular district does npt gove them rights to seccession. In which case, Chinese citizens and their larger Chinatowns worldwide might as well vote for democratic rights in a ‘decision’ to be part of China and not the host nation! Prime Minister Wenjiabao might as well say China would ‘respect and defend’ the outcome of the referendum of those Chinatowns as well. This is deliberate twisting the intent of the UN Charter. Such skewed views and reporting are illegal and actionable for sure.
ARTICLE 5
Argentina loses a third of its dollar deposits – Fri, May 25 2012
Argentine CDS spiral on “peso-fication” fear
China moves in right direction on bank flexibility
Fri Jun 8, 2012 4:46pm EDT
* Argentines reacting to foreign exchange restrictions
* About $100 mln in dollars withdrawn every day
* Rush toward greenback started in November
By Jorge Otaola
BUENOS AIRES, June 8 (Reuters) – Argentine banks have seen a third of their U.S. dollar deposits withdrawn since November as savers chase greenbacks in response to stiffening foreign exchange restrictions, local banking sources said on Friday.
Depositors withdrew a total of about $100 million per day over the last month in a safe-haven bid fueled by uncertainty over policies that might be adopted as pressure grows to keep U.S. currency in the country.
The chase for dollars is motivated by fear that the government may further toughen its clamp down on access to the U.S. currency as high inflation and lack of faith in government policy erode the local peso.
“Deposits keep going down,” said one foreign exchange broker who asked not to be named. “There is a disparity among banks, but in total it’s about $80 million to $120 million per day.”
U.S. dollar deposits of Argentine banks fell 11.2 percent in the preceding three weeks to $11.5 billion, according to central bank data released on Friday. The run on the greenback has waxed and waned since November, after President Cristina Fernandez won a second term on promises of deepening the state’s role in the economy.
From May 11 until Friday, data compiled by Reuters from private banks showed $1.9 billion in U.S. currency had been withdrawn, or about 15 percent of all greenbacks deposited in the country.
Feisty populist leader Fernandez was re-elected in October vowing to “deepen the model” of the interventionist policies associated with her predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, who is also her late husband.
Since then she has limited imports, imposed capital controls and seized a majority stake in top energy company YPF.
A spokesman for the central bank said on Friday that the rate of dollar withdrawal from Argentina’s financial system shows signs of slowing.
“We have seen a tendency toward fewer withdrawals, to about $90 million (per day) over the last week from $120 million the week before,” the spokesman said a day after the bank lifted daily reserve requirements on dollar deposits to help banks respond to steady drum beat of withdrawals.
DITCHING HER DOLLARS
The near-impossibility of buying dollars at the official rate is driving some savers and investors to pay a hefty premium in the black market.
Many are taking what dollars they can get their hands on and stashing them under the mattress or in safety deposit boxes, fearing moves by the government to forcibly “de-dollarize” the economy. Officials have strongly denied any such plan.
The president’s battle to slow capital flight and fatten the central bank reserves needed to pay the public debt has prompted even tighter controls in recent weeks, making it almost impossible to buy dollars at the official rate. The effects have been felt throughout the South American country’s economy.
For example. Argentines, who normally pay for new homes with stacks of dollar bills, have been struggling to get their hands on U.S. currency since Fernandez started imposing stringent controls on dollar buying late last year. [ ID :nL1E8H6EZ8]
She wants Argentines to end their love affair with the greenback and start saving in pesos despite inflation clocked by private economists at about 25 percent per year.
Fernandez set an example on Wednesday by vowing to swap her only dollar-denominated savings account for a fixed-term deposit in pesos.
But savers in crisis-prone Argentina are notoriously jittery. Memories of tight limits on bank withdrawals and a sharp currency devaluation remain fresh a decade after the country’s massive sovereign debt default.
“There is a lot of fear, considering everything that has happened before,” another foreign exchange broker said. “Confronted by risk, whatever kind of doubt, depositors pull their dollars out of the bank and wait to see what happens. (Writing by Hugh Bronstein; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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Demogoguery and bully reporting. Hot money is not real money. Fiat money is not real money. The numbers flowing out of USA are mostly monetized debt held by ‘rich’ people who can NEVER claim or materialise that wealth from the 99% that ‘owes’ the system of usury and money that is not even real. Banks are a joke. And this is worse when a supposedly respectable outfit like Reuters cannot understand that fiat and banks are NOT the real economy of REAL GOODS and REAL SERVICES, rather than a plutocrat CONMAN posing as wealthy with the number of zeros in that bank account.
Prices are overinflated, wealth is overstated and based upon empty populations ‘owing’ money or getting indebted in ‘student loans’ while being unable to access land banks that belong to them as a collective of citizens who are part of the country that politicians keep from owning the same land via laws. The 99%ters had better start voting politicians that understand and will act on the above (and quit after 2 terms instead of creating medieval satrapies). That sort of money is both unaccountable and unenforceable, plutocrats are living on the goodwill of the ntion’s citizens and collusion by foreign governments. Argentina need not worry about outflows, there were no inflows to begin with. Dollars especially are worth nothing, the debt of USA is enough to lower the value to 0.000,000,001% or even less (USA has 10 trillion or more in debt, so what is the true value of the currency? Nothing more than what one can count in cents.)
ARTICLE 6
Earth nearing ‘tipping point,’ study warns By Stephanie Pappas
Earth is rapidly headed toward a catastrophic breakdown if humans don’t get their act together, according to an international group of scientists.
Writing Wednesday (June 6) in the journal Nature, the researchers warn that the world is headed toward a tipping point marked by extinctions and unpredictable changes on a scale not seen since the glaciers retreated 12,000 years ago.
“There is a very high possibility that by the end of the century, the Earth is going to be a very different place,” study researcher Anthony Barnosky told LiveScience. Barnosky, a professor of integrative biology from the University of California, Berkeley, joined a group of 17 other scientists to warn that this new planet might not be a pleasant place to live.
“You can envision these state changes as a fast period of adjustment where we get pushed through the eye of the needle,” Barnosky said. “As we’re going through the eye of the needle, that’s when we see political strife, economic strife, war and famine.” [ Top 10 Ways to Destroy Earth ]
The danger of tipping
Barnosky and his colleagues reviewed research on climate change, ecology and Earth’s tipping points that break the camel’s back, so to speak. At certain thresholds, putting more pressure on the environment leads to a point of no return, Barnosky said. Suddenly, the planet responds in unpredictable ways, triggering major global transitions.
The most recent example of one of these transitions is the end of the last glacial period. Within not much more than 3,000 years, the Earth went from being 30 percent covered in ice to its present, nearly ice-free condition. Most extinctions and ecological changes (goodbye, woolly mammoths) occurred in just 1,600 years. Earth’s biodiversity still has not recovered to what it was.
Today, Barnosky said, humans are causing changes even faster than the natural ones that pushed back the glaciers — and the changes are bigger. Driven by a 35 percent increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide since the start of the Industrial Revolution, global temperatures are rising faster than they did back then, Barnosky said.
Likewise, humans have completely transformed 43 percent of Earth’s land surface for cities and agriculture, compared with the 30 percent land surface transition that occurred at the end of the last glacial period. Meanwhile, the human population has exploded, putting ever more pressure on existing resources. [ 7 Billion Population Milestones ]
“Every change we look at that we have accomplished in the past couple of centuries is actually more than what preceded one of these major state changes in the past,” Barnosky said.
Backing away from the ledge
The results are difficult to predict, because tipping points, by their definition, take the planet into uncharted territory. Based on past transitions, Barnosky and his colleagues predict a major loss of species (during the end of the last glacial period, half of the large-bodied mammal species in the world disappeared), as well as changes in the makeup of species in various communities on the local level. Meanwhile, humans may well be knotting our own noose as we burn through Earth’s resources.
“These ecological systems actually give us our life support, our crops, our fisheries, clean water,” Barnosky said. As resources shift from one nation to another, political instability can easily follow.
Pulling back from the ledge will require international cooperation, Barnosky said. Under business-as-usual conditions, humankind will be using 50 percent of the land surface on the planet by 2025. It seems unavoidable that the human population will reach 9 billion by 2050, so we’ll have to become more efficient to sustain ourselves, he said. That means more efficient energy use and energy production, a greater focus on renewable resources, and a need to save species and habitat today for future generations.
“My bottom line is that I want the world in 50 to 100 years to be at least as good as it is now for my children and their children, and I think most people would say the same,” Barnosky said. “We’re at a crossroads where if we choose to do nothing we really do face these tipping points and a less-good future for our immediate descendents.”
Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas or LiveScience @livescience. We’re also on Facebook & Google+.
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What are you Stephanie? A 2D videogame? Think 3D and know that this ‘Earth at Tipping Point’ B.S. is MSM scare mongering :
Obama campaign plan for private sector? Hire more teachers, firefighters – Published June 10, 2012
FoxNews.com
President Obama’s top campaign strategist said Sunday that the country needs to “accelerate” job creation in the private sector — by hiring more teachers, police and firefighters.
David Axelrod made the comment as he continued to perform damage control for the president, who said Friday during a press conference that the private sector’s “doing fine.” But Axelrod drew rapid-fire ridicule from conservatives, after he called for more public-sector hiring to address private-sector economic issues.
“The private sector, we need to accelerate job creation in the private sector,” Axelrod told CNN’s “State of the Union,” before adding: “One of the ways that we can do that is putting teachers and firefighters and police back to work because those are good middle-class jobs.”
Told that teachers and firefighters are part of the public sector, Axelrod continued to defend his statement. “But that will help accelerate the recovery,” Axelrod said.
Axelrod also pointed to a proposed small business tax credit and refinancing program as ways to help the private sector.
The political adviser appeared on two Sunday shows in large part to answer questions about the president’s comments Friday, when Obama had to publicly backpedal after initially diagnosing the private sector as “fine.”
Axelrod seemed to acknowledge that the private sector still needs help, but argued that it’s doing far better than the public sector and continued to press for the president’s goal of more teachers and police officers.
Axelrod said the private sector grew by 4.3 million jobs over the last 27 months, while the public sector lost jobs. He said the president’s critics are “more eager to have a debate over an out-of-context clause in his remarks than the substance of what he said.”
Republican strategists were closely watching Axelrod’s interviews. The Republican National Committee on Twitter accused him of trying to avoid answering questions about Obama’s comment, calling the CNN interview “awkward.”
“When even your own chief strategist can’t defend your comments, it indicates that your assessment of the economy might be wrong,” the Romney campaign said in an email.
Meanwhile, the Romney camp put out a blistering new web ad, which features people talking about their struggles in the current economic climate — and then plays the clip of Obama saying the private sector is “doing fine” three times.
On ABC’s “This Week,” though, Axelrod accused Romney of responding to the comment by pushing for fewer teachers, police and firefighters.
“I would suggest he’s living on a different planet if he thinks that’s a prescription for a stronger economy,” he said.
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Hegelian dialectic at work? Romney has the choice right. Less public funded people. As of now On the other hand Romney is just not the ‘everyman’ or Joe Public President being worth 500 times a 401K. Obama may have closer to grass roots level of wealth, but this ‘hire more’ thing is ridiculous as talking about Mars NASA missions when the Middle East wars are not even finished AND with a debt overhang that could well collapse the fiat currency system worldwide. Try the below for why Obama is not thinking correctly here (1 employee’s salary and benefits could easily mean 10 people on welfare . . . so what will the other 9 people do? ) :
‘Manifest Destiny’ – The Still Growing Global Tyranny – by Jim Kirwan – 1-10-12
The weapons and the boots may be much different now than they were when America declared that we could do what we did because of “Manifest Destiny,” But the crimes we are committing today are the same ones that we used to conquer this continent so long ago. We slaughtered over five thousand native-nations, destroyed their languages and their religions while we began polluting their waters and their lands. At that time we claimed the “right” of our self-imposed “Manifest Destiny” that was used to justify the entire desecration of “The New World” (North, Central & South America). This arrogant slander against all the other peoples in the world today has become a global cancer that is killing its global-host with every passing day.
This is what we are attempting to initiate in Africa, the Middle-East and the Far East as well as the Pacific Rim nation-states. The US accounts for only 6% of the global population and yet together with our criminal-ally Zionist-Occupied Israel, we seek to claim all the rest of the world for our élite owners while we classify the vast global population as un-people. We crushed the native populations here and turned the survivors into slaves from the 15th through the twentieth century and never looked back. What this nation has done in the name of Manifest Destiny is beyond criminal, because we raped and looted this land and its people: Now we are seeking to do the same to the whole world, as Israel has been doing to the Palestinians for the last 63 years; which has turned every nation into an OCCUPIED place where having your own thoughts becomes a criminal offence punishable by torture, life in prison or death, at the slightest whim of whichever sock-puppet happens to sit in an office in Washington D.C.
This is why Americans must now SURRENDER everything we once thought we owned, along with all our unalienable rights that came with birth. Today the New World Order will decide for all of us just who can live and who must die! Take a look at the new Obama Plan for “Healthcare-in-America’ as envisioned by the same forces that want to own you, your children and your dreams. A ten minute video (1)
To accomplish this, the elite’s have tried to crush the freedoms from tyranny what were signed into law in 1297 that was and still is called the Magna Carta. This document became the bedrock upon which this Republic was founded. After the Robber-Barons were chained up and the corporations were limited after they had publicly wrecked the American-economy; virtually every effort going forward was designed to reverse that loss of prestige along with their determination to crush every freedom that might ever threaten their criminal way of business and life, in what they saw as their rightful place at the very top of global society. What we’re seeing now is their final move against the US Constitution, after having spent decades smashing up the Magna Carta. Apparently this is ‘just fine’ with all the simple-minded who are seemingly accepting this without so much as a whisper of complaint.
Some have already begun to call for the imposition of Martial Law to protect themselves from a public that is becoming increasingly intolerant of these global-criminals that are stealing more and more of everything from our jobs to our health and all the way down to our every thought.
It’s fascinating that during all this time from the Magna Carta forward the world has only had one real Renaissance (a rebirth of the arts and letters that counterbalances the sciences and politics). While in that same period of time the world has suffered through hundreds if not thousands of Inquisitions wherein millions died to appease the greed and dreams-of-deluded power, that have continued to plague the so-called civilized world. Yet that spark of the fire that illuminates real life has not yet been extinguished. And as long as there are those of us who are willing to literally risk everything-just to live free-then no matter how much the Dark Side spends they can never defeat the global-human-race!
The world has suffered through so many religious and political fantasies for so long that most can’t imagine a world without these monsters: But such a world could exist if people simply recognized how much we all have in common beyond the artificial divisions that the darkness tries to use to defeat us (race, religion, ethnicity, sexual identifications, habits and appetites) because in the end what we share are the same dreams, the same blood that runs through all races and creeds, and the same desires for a world with better tomorrows on every horizon.
What we have gotten instead from those ancient Robber-barons and their latest generations has been going backwards since before the First World War There’s a reason that there were three of these global Wars planned. It’s all about money and power and manipulation of everyone else that is more interested in living than in the minutia that is constantly used to steal virtually everything from those that have earned it all, and yet who remain screwed to the hilt by the criminal-elements that are no longer blocked by any laws or any expectations from the people they are determined to dominate without mercy or cessation. Three World Wars were needed to reposition the global-financial-criminality into that place where there would be NO CHOICE for their intended vicitms except to UNCONDITIONALLY SURRENDER or perish!
For those who have no interest in lengthy history, you need only go as far back as Reagan (32 years ago) to grasp exactly what has happened to this nation. Under that un-American bastard we lost almost all of what had made this country what it was (for a very brief time)-as we tried to convert our colonial-Empire into that beacon of hope which our Constitution seemed to promise to every American. The problem was and still is that the only way that could have happened was IF we paid attention to our government and to what it was doing when the spotlights were turned off. But instead of paying attention we bought into all the distractions and the toys and thereby sealed our own future with a graveyard that marks the end of the promise and the beginnings of an ABSOLUTE-SURRENDER that is predicated upon the self-fulfilling prophecy that says: RESISTANCE IS FUTILE!
We have suffered many reverses of late, and now we are undergoing an inundation of new “laws” that are without legitimacy because they were constructed outside the strictures of the Constitution and as such they must be moot upon arrival. The US Constitution is the Supreme Law of this land; not the Supreme Court, not the Congress and most especially NOT the president because this is a Constitutional Republic, not a Monarchy, not a dictatorship and not even the Police-State it has become. None of these deviations from the constitution are legal and all it takes to erase these artificial constructs that have been IMPOSED upon us by pre-emptive-political strikes against the very heart of this nation by unilaterally directed interests hell-bent on stealing all the wealth of this land and its people, before murdering more than four-fifths of the population. This is exactly what we did to Central and South America, which is why they largely did not participate in WWI or WWII except as escape havens for the combatants in those wars. Simply put we could not trust those people with arms and ammunition, because we had already done to them what is planned for us today. And with arms they might have decided to rebel, so they were excused from most of those first two wars.
When Gadaffi made overtures to Venezuela’s Chavez, to join forces (Africa and South America) in order to resist the Rothschilds DEBTOR Banks as well as their virtual total control over their own countries, Gadaffi’s fate was sealed, and apparently Chavez now has suddenly contracted terminal cancer?
The reason is that Colonial America was only using Central and South America as cadaver’s while we drained their life blood, all the resources we could transfer to our criminal corporations under color of hemispheric cooperation-but in truth we had already done that to everyone else in this hemisphere, with some form of what we seek now to do to the USA. This colonial-disease of bloody-Empires has been around far too long and must be ended globally; unless we want to join in making their victory over the whole planet a total success for them and a near total defeat for the rest of us.
Ronnie Reagan was famous for asking “Are you better off today than you were before?” It was his way of saying that he could bring a better world to everyone if he were elected. He promised smaller government but he increased the size of government by 300%. He promised continued prosperity (the USat the time was the world’s leading Creditor nation). By the time he left office the US had become the world’s leading debtor-nation, making the US in fact the worst risk for investment on the planet, in just eight years.
Ronnie opened the door to what became the tidal-wave of illegal immigration, to benefit his rich supporters who didn’t want to pay a living wage to keep on making billions. Reagan also introduced American trained Death-Squads, to keep order in South and Central America and he and Bush’s daddy set up the Arms-for-Hostages swap in Iran that ended as soon as he was ‘selected’. His administration also oversaw the Drug War going deep into criminality with CIA flights that carried weapons to the “freedom fighter/terrorists”) throughout the region in exchange for drugs that he established and it continued under Clinton. Of course Ronnie was an imbecile and just another sock puppet but he should have been impeached. Just as LBJ, Nixon, Clinton and Poppy, along with George Junior. All of these TRAITORS should have each been impeached for TREASON. But because Americans were too pre-occupied with raking in the profits from all these illegal wars, nothing happened to any of our national criminal leaders. That’s why we are where we are now-because we FAILED to demand that these creatures be held to account for everything that has continued since LBJ tried to allow the USS Liberty to be sunk for Israel.
Now we have watched al these crimes morph into this:
“Apparently having goons grope the public nearly every step of the way as they walk under the watchful eyes of full-spectrum surveillance just isn’t good enough.
The new Bureau of Counterterrorism was announced on January 4th by Obama’s State Department as an agency with,
The mission . . . to lead the [State] Department in the U.S. Government’s effort to counter terrorism abroad and to secure the United States against foreign terrorist threats. The bureau will lead in supporting U.S.counterterrorism diplomacy and seek to strengthen homeland security, countering violent extremism, and build the capacity of partner nations to deal effectively with terrorism. (Source)
Probably the least comforting part of this announcement is the use of the term “violent extremism.” It is under this very flexible definition which allows the agents of tyranny to assign it to anyone, at any time, thus making them susceptible to the full arsenal of the War on Terror, which we now know includes the indefinite torture and murder of American citizens on American soil.” (2)
Out of that nightmare that was designed to hide the Nuclear Blackmail that Israel is holding over the heads of every so-called American president. (This is the basis for our so-called SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT with that shitty little place that is still not even a nation.
“Many of you are no doubt scratching your heads, wondering why every elected president turns back on his campaign promises the second the inauguration is complete. Believe me, the corruption of American elected officials is not that deep. You cannot elect several presidents in sequence, and have them all perfectly screw the country, ESPECIALLY the way Bush and Obama did; they had their reason, and it is called NUCLEAR BLACKMAIL.
What if they never wanted to renig (at least not so completely)? What about Obama? And what about the other countries, which also screwed their people the same way? Why is it seemingly a universal truth, that all governments around the world are simultaneously going against the will of their people, in favor of the Jewish bankers and Israel?
I believe I have figured it out, and I have documented it.
I am going to tell you the how and why of Israel’s dirty little secret – how they got their nuclear offensive capability in place, why they decided on the chosen method, and how they ended up using it.” (3)
If we ever want another chance to have-a-life, then we must begin to push back the cops and to charge every officer that puts hands or batons on people without just cause-because every time that happens it is ASSAULT, and it is a crime being committed every day whenever any thug in uniform starts the physical trouble within any confrontation.
Nick Clegg ‘backs stripping better-off pensioners of their benefits’ in another row with David Cameron
Lib Dems tell MailOnline Mr Clegg believes millionaires should be lose their handouts
But David Cameron wants them to keep all perks because it is one of his key election promises
By Martin Robinson – PUBLISHED: 11:19 GMT, 7 June 2012 | UPDATED: 12:14 GMT, 7 June 2012
Rich pensioners should be stripped of their free bus passes and winter fuel allowances, Nick Clegg has said.
The Deputy Prime Minister has gone nose-to-nose with David Cameron over the issue as yet another huge split has appeared at the heart of the Coalition, it was claimed today.
Mr Clegg has admitted privately he would happily see all but the very poor lose their handouts so the Department for Work and Pensions can cut its £5 billion elderly benefits budget.
But the Prime Minister is adamant that he will not take away perks like free prescriptions and TV licences, even for millionaire pensioners, because it is one of his key election promises.
Nick Clegg
DC
Loggerheads: Nick Clegg has admitted he would allow benefit cuts for rich pensioners but David Cameron will try to block this to protect an election pledge
The Prime Minister is already at loggerheads with Tory Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan-Smith over the matter and is also nervous about the impact of the so called ‘Granny Tax’, which is set to reduce their weekly pension payments.
And as the Coalition has been widely criticised for being slow to make decisions, Nick Clegg’s views have revealed another cabinet split.
‘This is all about whether the richest should be getting those benefits’ a Lib Dem spokesman told MailOnline today.
Enlarge Rightfully yours: Pension Credit is designed to help those on smaller incomes and reward saving
Changes: All but the most hard-up pensioners could lose some of their benefits
‘If you’re faced with helping the wealthiest pensioners or helping the vulnerable across Britain then his priority is the vulnerable people across the country who need the help most,’ he added.
David Cameron said during the live TV election debates in 2010 that he would not cut any of the key benefits for pensioners.
But he has come under pressure ever since because some critics believe too many pensioners get them even though they have enough money to get by.
Lib Dem stalwart Lord Oakeshott has called on winter fuel payments to be taxed after he worked out that almost 700 peers get £200 to £300 annually to heat their homes.
‘Nick Clegg had to eat humble pie on tuition fees, so David Cameron can at least swallow a slice now for fairness,’ he said said.
But Downing Street and the Department for Work and Pensions have today backed David Cameron.
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions told MailOnline: ‘This is speculation and were are continuing to protect key support for pensioners including winter fuel payments, which make an important contribution to the fuel costs of pensioners.’
A No 10 source added to the Guardian: ‘The coalition agreement is absolutely clear and it reflects the promises the Prime Minister made before the election.’
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Cameron = One track mind, inflexible posing as pledge worthy. Clegg = thinking ‘cents’. England = near bankruptcy, do the math and pick the man who makes SENSE. Those millionaires don’t need those passes, the country does need their cents, and every single cent counts.
‘The coalition agreement is absolutely clear and it reflects the promises the Prime Minister made before the election.’ . . . but does not take into account the state of the English economy.
ARTICLE 10
US Navy hopes stealth ship answers a rising China – Associated PressBy ERIC TALMADGE | Associated Press – Mon, Jun 4, 2012
The DDG-1000 Zumwalt, the U.S. Navy’s next-generation destroyer, which has been funded to be built at Bath Iron Works in Maine and at Northrop Grumman’s shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss. The super-stealthy warship that could underpin the U.S. navy’s China strategy will be able to sneak up on coastlines virtually undetected and pound targets with electromagnetic “railguns” right out of a sci-fi movie. (AP Photo/Bath Iron Works, File)
SINGAPORE (AP) — A super-stealthy warship that could underpin the U.S. navy’s China strategy will be able to sneak up on coastlines virtually undetected and pound targets with electromagnetic “railguns” right out of a sci-fi movie.
But at more than $3 billion a pop, critics say the new DDG-1000 destroyer sucks away funds that could be better used to bolster a thinly stretched conventional fleet. One outspoken admiral in China has scoffed that all it would take to sink the high-tech American ship is an armada of explosive-laden fishing boats.
With the first of the new ships set to be delivered in 2014, the stealth destroyer is being heavily promoted by the Pentagon as the most advanced destroyer in history — a silver bullet of stealth. It has been called a perfect fit for what Washington now considers the most strategically important region in the world — Asia and the Pacific.
Though it could come in handy elsewhere, like in the Gulf region, its ability to carry out missions both on the high seas and in shallows closer to shore is especially important in Asia because of the region’s many island nations and China’s long Pacific coast.
“With its stealth, incredibly capable sonar system, strike capability and lower manning requirements — this is our future,” Adm. Jonathan Greenert, chief of naval operations, said in April after visiting the shipyard in Maine where they are being built.
On a visit to a major regional security conference in Singapore that ended Sunday, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said the Navy will be deploying 60 percent of its fleet worldwide to the Pacific by 2020, and though he didn’t cite the stealth destroyers he said new high-tech ships will be a big part of its shift.
The DDG-1000 and other stealth destroyers of the Zumwalt class feature a wave-piercing hull that leaves almost no wake, electric drive propulsion and advanced sonar and missiles. They are longer and heavier than existing destroyers — but will have half the crew because of automated systems and appear to be little more than a small fishing boat on enemy radar.
Down the road, the ship is to be equipped with an electromagnetic railgun, which uses a magnetic field and electric current to fire a projectile at several times the speed of sound.
But cost overruns and technical delays have left many defense experts wondering if the whole endeavor was too focused on futuristic technologies for its own good.
They point to the problem-ridden F-22 stealth jet fighter, which was hailed as the most advanced fighter ever built but was cut short because of prohibitive costs. Its successor, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, has swelled up into the most expensive procurement program in Defense Department history.
“Whether the Navy can afford to buy many DDG-1000s must be balanced against the need for over 300 surface ships to fulfill the various missions that confront it,” said Dean Cheng, a China expert with the Heritage Foundation, a conservative research institute in Washington. “Buying hyperexpensive ships hurts that ability, but buying ships that can’t do the job, or worse can’t survive in the face of the enemy, is even more irresponsible.”
The Navy says it’s money well spent. The rise of China has been cited as the best reason for keeping the revolutionary ship afloat, although the specifics of where it will be deployed have yet to be announced. Navy officials also say the technologies developed for the ship will inevitably be used in other vessels in the decades ahead.
But the destroyers’ $3.1 billion price tag, which is about twice the cost of the current destroyers and balloons to $7 billion each when research and development is added in, nearly sank it in Congress. Though the Navy originally wanted 32 of them, that was cut to 24, then seven.
Now, just three are in the works.
“Costs spiraled — surprise, surprise — and the program basically fell in on itself,” said Richard Bitzinger, a security expert at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University. “The DDG-1000 was a nice idea for a new modernistic surface combatant, but it contained too many unproven, disruptive technologies.”
The U.S. Defense Department is concerned that China is modernizing its navy with a near-term goal of stopping or delaying U.S. intervention in conflicts over disputed territory in the South China Sea or involving Taiwan, which China considers a renegade province.
China is now working on building up a credible aircraft carrier capability and developing missiles and submarines that could deny American ships access to crucial sea lanes.
The U.S. has a big advantage on the high seas, but improvements in China’s navy could make it harder for U.S. ships to fight in shallower waters, called littorals. The stealth destroyers are designed to do both. In the meantime, the Navy will begin deploying smaller Littoral Combat Ships to Singapore later this year.
Officially, China has been quiet on the possible addition of the destroyers to Asian waters.
But Rear Adm. Zhang Zhaozhong, an outspoken commentator affiliated with China’s National Defense University, scoffed at the hype surrounding the ship, saying that despite its high-tech design it could be overwhelmed by a swarm of fishing boats laden with explosives. If enough boats were mobilized some could get through to blow a hole in its hull, he said.
“It would be a goner,” he said recently on state broadcaster CCTV’s military channel.
___
AP writer Christopher Bodeen contributed to this report from Beijing.
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As long as any country does not enter another country’s EEZ or offensively abuse freedom of navigation privileges, there should be no issues. Rear Adm. Zhang Zhaozhong reminds sucintly about ‘unequal warfare’, like the roadside IED, all that tech still has to concede to sheer numbers and strategic use of resources, in this case fishermen’s lives, dinghies and perhaps simple fishing dynamite. IESDKs! Much like so many strongholds in guerilla or even urban warfare involving gangs, this is a seperate sovereign country 1000s of miles away with a different language and culture. What ARE US ships doing in Chinese territory? Maybe China needs a Great Oceanic Wall of China, the other structure visible from the Earth’s orbit!
mini-ARTICLE 10
ZOMBIE’ vanity plate leads to Pa. stun gun arrest – Associated PressAssociated Press – 9 hrs ago
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania woman who allegedly hit a man with a stun gun during a pedestrian hit-and-run was arrested after police say her vanity license plate made her easy to track down.
Allentown police say Yardley Joy Frantz was promptly arrested Friday after witnesses spotted her “ZOMBIE” license plate.
Investigators say Frantz ran into a man and his nephew with her car around 7 p.m., then zapped the man’s son with a stun gun after he confronted her.
The Morning Call of Allentown (http://bit.ly/LVvlZT ) reports Frantz claimed she didn’t know who had been driving her car.
Frantz is free on bail as she faces charges including aggravated and simple assault. A phone number for her could not immediately be located.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The more unique the car and plate the easier to trace. Instead of making cars more uniform, they should encourage distinctness and uniqueness which can easily be used to identify. Only criminals would want to ‘blend in’ and indeed the most ‘uniform’ types are the most criminal.
ARTICLE 11
Cameron will hand Scots control of 70 per cent of all income tax it raises as a ‘reward’ if they reject independence
Scots have £1,000 more spent on them per head by the Government than English residents
Prime Minister reportedly prepared to raise Scottish control of income tax from 6 per cent to 70 per cent
Cameron unwilling to give up control of corporation tax
By Gerri Peev – PUBLISHED: 00:49 GMT, 8 June 2012 | UPDATED: 08:32 GMT, 8 June 2012
David Cameron wants to offer Scotland control of 70 per cent of all money it raises if it votes against independence, it was claimed last night.
The Prime Minister is said to be prepared to hand over more fiscal responsibility to Scotland if its population rejects breaking up the Union.
Scotland currently controls 6 per cent of the revenue it raises, but the Prime Minister wants to raise this to 70 per cent, according to reports in The Spectator magazine.
Suggestion: David Cameron wants to offer Scotland control of 70 per cent of all money it raises if it votes against independence, it was claimed last night
Nationalist: First Minister Alex Salmond has long called for control over corporation tax, saying he wants to make Scotland more competitive
Clash: David Cameron does not want to give up control over corporation tax, a long-term goal of Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, right
His offer could include complete control of income tax.
Scotland already has power to raise or lower the tax by 3 per cent.
Mr Cameron is not expected to hand over control of corporation tax to Scotland, however, for fear that the Nationalist government will use it as a weapon against Westminster.
First Minister Alex Salmond has long called for control over corporation tax, saying he wants to make Scotland more competitive.
A senior Government source told the Mail that if ‘Mr Salmond wants to play with his train set, he will have his chance’.
The offer would also go some way to meeting Mr Salmond’s demands for a two-question referendum, with a ‘fallback’ option of more fiscal powers in the event that Scots vote against separation.
Decision making: The Scottish Parliament could become the heart of an independent Scotland if residents choose to vote in favour of leaving the union
The Westminster government is against having that option on the ballot paper but it could offer more fiscal powers as a consolation prize.
According to official figures, Scots have £1,000 more spent on them per head by the Government than English residents.
The biggest sticking point in the event of a vote in favour of separation would be on who owns North Sea oil revenues.
Nationalists argue that the proceeds – £13billion in 2008/09 – should go to Scotland.
However it is doubtful that the Westminster government would give this up without a challenge.
A referendum on independence is due to be held in 2014.
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The gold counting leprechaun in me laughed when I read this. If the Scots go independant, they get 100% control. What does Cameron take the Scots for? 30% short of fools for outast Germans who colonized the Isles? A seat at the UN with 30% MORE control than 70% (absolute control), is more precious than Cameron’s ‘friendship’ on behalf of the Sazxe-Coburg Gothas (Battenburgs). Windsor incidentally, is a purlioned name from the real (probably monetarily subverted) Windsor family :
;since 1917, when George V changed the name of the royal house from Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. This decision was primarily taken because Britain and her Empire were at war with Germany and given the British Royal Family’s strong German ancestry, it was felt that its public image could be improved by choosing a more British house name. The new name chosen, Windsor, had absolutely no connection other than as the name of the castle which was and continues to be a royal residence. Windsor Castle has been named that since 1066 when the original Windsor family came to that area in fact. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror.
Windsor, a town that emerged along the banks of the Hawkesbury River became the third settlement in the Colony in 1794 and is the first Macquarie town. Originally called Green Hills Windsor was officially named in 1810 by Governor Macquarie after the town in England. The five Macquarie Towns are Windsor, Richmond, Wilberforce, Pitt Town and Castlereagh.
The origins of the name Windsor were in the 7th century Saxon settlement of Windlesora, where the present day village of Old Windsor is located. The town of Windsor is correctly known as “New Windsor” – the word “new” being used in a strictly relative sense! The REAL Windsors could very well sue for infringement via ‘cybersquatting’ laws, or ‘namesquatting laws’. Does the current head of the clan of Windsor allow the false named Windsors use of the Windsor name? The half-German Saxe Couburg Gotha family the English call their ‘Royals’ could well be required to change their name back to Saxe Couburgt Gotha AND also end up being replaced by the REAL rulers of the area, the proto-Celts! Use of violence to conquer the Isles is wrong even after the Romans! Go back to Germania you Anglo-Saxon outcasts!
ANCIENT DUMNONIA
Before the Romans came to Britain the indigenous Celtic people formed a number of independent nations. The Dumnonii (or Damnonii) occupied Devon, Cornwall, and the western parts of Somerset and Dorset. To the east lay the Durotiges and beyond the Belgae peoples.
These native Britains may have been ethnically related to the Iceni, celtic tribe of the east of England led to heroic defeat by Boudicea (Boudicca), but they did not suffer the same fate. A number of factors helped in this.
The Dumnonii (to use the Roman name) were Iron Age Celts, but hardly savages. They mined tin and other minerals from Dartmoor, the Tamar Valley, and Cornwall, and they traded tin with the Phoenicians and other Mediterranean civilisations long before the Roman invasion. Conflict between the nations of pre-Roman Britain had led to the establishment of numerous hill forts on the boundary – and with the Somerset levels then being still largely tidally effected marshland – Dumnonia’s only boundary to the east was relatively narrow and easy to defend.
Once the Romans invaded Britain they extended their domain north and west, but before they could reach the land of the Dumnonii they had to conquer other tribes. The Durotiges also had hill forts, and the Romans had considerable trouble overcoming these. A major and bloody battle seems to have taken place at Maiden Castle (a major Celtic hill fort) and also at Hod Hill, and on occaision the Romans had to ley siege to the hill forts and starve the inhabitants out (it is reported that the Romans then killed the inhabitants – man, woman and child)
Having accomplished the conquest of Dorset the Romans would have been faced with the defended hillforts of the Dumnonii, who would have had some time to enhance their defences, and who also would no doubt have had their resolve hardened by the fate of their neighbours, and who therefore may also have had their numbers boosted by refugees.
The Romans themselves do not record any victories over the Dumnonii (and as victors they normally did), and there is only one battle recorded (without the Romans noting the outcome). It seems that the Romans must have come to some arrangement with the Dumnonii, for a small garrison was established at Exeter the size of which is not in keeping with a occupying force, and a relatively small number of other garrisons or forts were established. Remains of Roman settlement in Devon and Cornwall are remarkably few, but the fact that some Roman buildings exist, even down to Cornwall (eg at Nanstallon) points to some sort of truce between the Romans and Dumnonii, and the Dumnonii probably continued to have a degree of self-government throughout the Roman occupation.
It is recorded that iron was mined on Exmoor during the Roman period.
The Dumnonii capital was believed to be at Exeter, which the Britons called Keresk (‘Caer Uisc’), and which the Romans named Isca Dumnonioram. In Devon another settlement was Tamaris (according to Ptolemy) which is believed to be in the Plymouth region.
When the Romans left almost 400 years later, the Dumnonii soon regained their independence (by 410 AD). Shortly thereafter there is evidence that trade with the Mediterranean recommenced
However Celtic tribes in eastern Britain felt vulnerable following the Roman withdrawal, and looked across the North Sea for support. Angles, Saxons and Jutes were therefore invited to Britain to help defend it, and ended up settling in Britain and setting up their own nations.
The newcomers gradually extended their territory, and in the sixth century they occupied about half of England. However this advance was then stopped, and it is about this that the legend of Arthur speaks. Whether there ever was an Arthur (and there is evidence of an ‘Artorus’) what is evident that the Celtic tribes did unite to halt the westward expansion of the Angles and Saxons and that expansion was stopped for around a hundred years. Dumnonia has many strong claims to Arthur, but it is difficult to match legend with fact. One thing is certain, if Arthur existed he led the Britons (the word Briton coming from the Brythonic Celts) against the English (the words English and ‘Anglo’ coming from the Germanic tribe the Angles)
The victory of Arthur and the delay in Anglo-Saxon encroachment is important for it is during this time that the Saxons start to adopt christianity (the Britons already were christian although they observed christianity in different ways) and subsequent expansion was probably more tolerant of the indigenous Britons.
It is also at this time that a wave of migration happened, this time by the Dumnonian celts, into Brittany. The reasons for this migration are uncertain, as the Saxon encroachment was still a distant threat to Devon and Cornwall. Nevertheless many people from Dumnonia settled in Brittany, naming regions after their homeland (Cornouaille [Cornwall] in the south west of Brittany, and Domnonee [Devon] in the north east of Brittany) and taking with them the Celtic language
Eventually the Saxon advance westward recommenced and in the sixth century (577AD) the Britons of the westcountry were separated from those of Wales. The Saxons made themselves locals and called the Welsh, the ‘Wealas’ (meaning foreigners!) and the Dumnonians became the ‘West Wealas’ and this is reflected on a number of ancient maps.
ARTICLE 12
US buys most expensive drones ever – Published: 03 August, 2011, 20:56
United States Air Force Global Hawk un-manned reconnaissance aircraft. (Photo from http://www.af.mil)
With $14 trillion in the hole and a slew of wars seemingly no one wants America to be in, what better way for the United States to spend their money by putting $23 billion into spy planes?
The US will drop billions on defense spending with the purchasing of 55 Global Hawk drone planes over the next few years. Each of the four dozen-plus spy crafts comes at a price tag of $218 million apiece — ten times the price of the largest armed attack drone.
Global Hawk drones are capable of flying twice as high as commercial aircrafts and can spot insurgents up to 100 miles away. Once identified, the robotic crafts that are controlled from 24-hour command stations can then send images to intelligence centers or directly to troops.
The Global Hawk drones will replace the U-2 spy planes that the States currently deploys, which the US has relied on since the dawn of the Cold War. Sending unmanned aircrafts into warzones, while grossly expensive, comes as an attempt to limit fatalities by avoiding putting extra troops into danger. Though relying on on-board navigation, those U-2 flyers have proved effective over the last half-century, recently assisting in operations in Afghanistan
A team of 50 engineers will slave over the construction of the Global Hawk drones in a Palmdale, California warehouse.
The US Air Force will invest $12 billion towards the initiative, with the Navy offering almost as much to have their own versions of the Global Hawks.
And, in case you didn’t hear, lawmakers just spent months trying to figure out how to keep the country from defaulting. The town of Central Falls, Rhode Island (the entire town) is currently in bankruptcy court, and the most populous county in Alabama is expected to join them in the coming weeks.
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USA should just focus on the South Americas and at most Africa and the Far East for trade and stop messing with the Middle East, the fundo Muslims are very angry with USA to the point of ‘unreason’. Perhaps a travel prohibition to the entire area for a few decades will help, only allowing diplomatic staff to continue. This way terrorism will only be local and from within USA. Otherwise at very least, TSA should not target local citizens but be situated in a ‘Quarantine/Clearance Port/Airport’ instead. A single drone could probably revivify a single district. So Red Ocean spending will down USA instead of reinvesting back home.
mini-ARTICLE 12.5
North Korea proclaims itself a nuclear state in new constitution – by K.J. Kwon, CNN – May 31, 2012 — Updated 1151 GMT (1951 HKT)
North Korean soldiers salute during a military parade to mark 100 years since the birth of the country’s founder Kim Il-Sung on April 15.
North Korea proclaimed itself a “nuclear state” in a revised constitution this week
Analyst: Appears to be directed at the U.S. as the rhetoric from Pyongyang rises
Comes as signs are growing of activity at North Korea’s nuclear test site
Seoul (CNN) — North Korea proclaimed itself a “nuclear state” this week following a revision of its constitution earlier this year.
Kim Jong-Il has “transferred the country into an undefeated country with strong political ideology, a nuclear power state, and invincible military power,” according to the updated constitution posted on its portal website Naenara. The website posted the revised constitution on Wednesday, according to Yonhap, the South Korean state affiliated news agency.
North Korea ready to carry out nuclear test at any moment, Seoul says
The statement looks all too familiar.
North Korea previously announced its nuclear capability through its state-run broadcaster and newspapers, “but no expression can be stronger than including it in their constitution,” Professor Choi Jong Kun of Yonsei University told CNN.
North Korea preparing another nuke test?
“It is an announcement of confirmation,” he added, “and it appears to be directed to the U.S. and other relevant nations.”
The communist state carried out nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009. Pyongyang recently announced that it will press on with its nuclear program in response to what it calls “hostility from the United States.” A defense publication, IHS Janes, also said it detected signs of activities ramping up at North Korea’s nuclear test site, raising speculation Pyongyang may be preparing for a third nuclear test.
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North Korea should know that some forces would exactly want a thermonuclear war in the region of North East Asia. To irradiate the entire region, the ‘West’ will provoke with the hawks in South Korea by holding military exercises, so Kim should know that those nukes are not to be lobbed even at South Korea. Counterproductive sabotage of the Far East by NK’s hand effected by Western goading! Dismembering a S. Korean effigy makes NK look bad btw. How about a nice well reasoned propaganda campaign based on strong logic based around unity of Korean peoples against people who would keep a United Korea (and hence a stable North East Asia) impossible?
mini-ARTICLE 13.5
New stealth destroyer really sucks – China mocks America’s $7 billion Navy acquisition – Published: 04 June, 2012, 22:47
The US Navy is readying a $7 billion boat that can launch attacks faster than the speed of sound and is practically invisible to detection. Even with that hefty cost, however, China says it will only take a few fishing boats to blow up the DDG-1000.
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In 10 years China can MASS PRODUCE rockets WITH colony modules on the cheap, and send up to 300 million spare people ‘fully equipped’ to colonize Moon, Mars and outer moons of the planets outside the inner planet area. The ‘West’ is drowning in debt and has no production capacity that does not cost 10-100 times that China or even India has (think TataNano car costing 2500 compared to most Western 25K and above vehicles).
Russia can provide the tech if need be. BUT for a peaceful, equitable and inclusive solution, how about this? Let the current ratio of any usable planet be assigned in the same ‘West-East’ manner equal to the current land ratios controlled? This would mean that smaller countries would also have space on Moon, Mars etc.. To be uncivilised and play ‘locust’ or ‘carp’ though, guess who has the upper hand?
ARTICLE 13
Virgin Galactic spaceship cleared for test flights by US FAA
Commercial spacecraft SpaceShipTwo can begin rocket-powered suborbital test flights, the company has said – guardian.co.uk, Thursday 31 May 2012 01.49 BST
The Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo is released from the mothership, WhiteKnight2, over Mojave, California, in 2010. Photograph: Mark Greenberg/AP
The US Federal Aviation Administration has cleared SpaceShipTwo, a commercial six-passenger spacecraft owned by Virgin Galactic, to begin rocket-powered suborbital test flights, the company said on Wednesday.
SpaceShipTwo manufacturer Scaled Composites of Mojave, California, received a one-year experimental launch permit on 23 May for test flights beyond the atmosphere, FAA spokesman Hank Price said.
The six-passenger, two-pilot spacecraft is based on the prototype SpaceShipOne, also built by Scaled, which clinched the $10m Ansari X Prize in 2004 for the first privately funded human spaceflights.
SpaceShipOne made three suborbital hops beyond the atmosphere, each with a solo pilot aboard, ultimately reaching an altitude of nearly 70 miles above Earth. SpaceShipOne is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space museum in Washington.
Virgin Galactic is owned by British billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Aabar Investments PJS. Branson hired SpaceShipOne designer Burt Rutan, who has since retired from Scaled, to create a fleet of spaceships for commercial use. Virgin Galactic has taken deposits from more than 500 people for rides, which cost $200,000.
Participants will experience a few minutes of weightlessness and see the curve of Earth set against the black sky of space. NASA’s first two manned spaceflights in 1961, by Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil “Gus” Grissom were suborbital flights.
Like SpaceShipOne, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo will be flown into the air beneath a carrier jet and released. Once separated, the spaceship’s rocket engine will fire to blast it into the sky. SpaceShipTwo has completed 16 free flight tests.
The FAA permit will enable Scaled, now wholly owned by Northrop Grumman, to move on to rocket-powered flights, the first of which is expected toward the end of the year, Virgin Galactic said in a statement.
Company President George Whitesides called the permit an important milestone “that positions the company a major step closer to bringing our customers to space”.
In addition to flying wealthy tourists, Scaled has signed contracts to fly researchers and science experiments.
The experimental permit allows Scaled to fly only its own test pilots, not passengers, Price said.
A date for the start of Virgin Galactic’s commercial spaceflights has not yet been set.
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Wake up morons . . . the company should be called ‘Virgin Sub-Orbital’ more accurately. And that ship is an atmospheric sub-orbital airplane, NOT a ‘space’ ship.
If that craft can make way to the moon and back, then the name ‘Virgin Sub-Planetary’ or ‘Virgin-Satellite’ (or if a few Moons ‘Virgin ‘Inter-Satellite’) could be used.
If that craft can make way to any planet in the solar system INCLUDING Pluto and back, only then could the name ‘Virgin Interplanetary’ could be used.
If that craft can make way to any of 51 star systems in this star cluster, INCLUDING and back, only then could the name ‘Virgin Interstellar’ could be used. 10 nearest stars below.
1. Proxima Centauri
The closest star to our our own solar system will not always be closest, but it will be a long time before that happens. Proxima Centauri is the third star in the Alpha Centauri star system, also known as Alpha Centauri C.
Distance: 4.2 LY
Spectral Type: M5.5Vc
2. Rigil Kentaurus
The second closest star is a tie between the sister stars of Proxima Centauri. Alpha Centauri A and B make up the other two stars of the triple star system Alpha Centauri.
Distance: 4.3 LY
Spectral Type: G2V
3. Barnard’s Star
A faint red dwarf star, discovered in 1916 by E. E. Barnard, recent efforts to discover planets around Barnard’s Star have failed.
Distance: 5.9 LY
Spectral Type: M3.8V
4. Wolf 359
Known to many as thelocation of a famous battle on Star Trek the Next generation, Wolf 359 is a red dwarf. It is so small that if it were to replace our sun, an observer on Earth would need a telescope to see it clearly.
Distance: 7.7 LY
Spectral Type: M5.8Vc
5. Lalande 21185
While it is the fifth closest star to our own sun, Lalande 21185 is about three times too faint to be seen with the naked eye.
Distance: 8.26 LY
Spectral Type: M2V
6. Luyten 726-8A and B
Discovered by Willem Jacob Luyten (1899-1994), both Luyten 726-8A 726-8B are red dwarfs and too faint to be seen with the naked eye.
Distance: 8.73 LY
Spectral Type: M5.5 de & M6 Ve
7. Sirius A and B
Sirius, also known as the Dog Star, is the brightest star in the sky. Sirius B, the companion, has received considerable attention itself, since it is the first white dwarf with a spectrum to show a gravitational red shift as predicted by the general theory of relativity.
Distance: 8.6 LY
Spectral Type: A1Vm
8. Ross 154
Ross 154 appears to be a flare star, which means that it can increase its brightness by a factor of 10 or more before reverting to its normal state, a process which takes only a few minutes.
Distance: 9.693 LY
Spectral Type: M3.5
9. Ross 248
While it is now the ninth closest star to our solar system, around the year 38000AD, the red dwarf Ross 248 will take the place of Proxima Centauri as the closest star to us.
Distance: 10.32 LY
Spectral Type: M5.5V
10. Epsilon Eridani
Eridani (tenth closest star to Earth) is the closest star known to have a planet, Epsilon Eridani b. It is the third closest star that is viewable without a telescope.
Distance: 10.5 LY
Spectral Type: K2V
If that craft can make way to any star in this Galaxy, INCLUDING Sagittarius A in the centre of the galaxy and back, only then could the name ‘Virgin Galactic’ could be used.
If that craft can make way to any star in the center of any galaxy *OUTSIDE OF* this Galaxy, and back, only then could the name ‘Virgin Inter-Galactic’ could be used.
Misnomer that cheats the consumer. This is short selling the public with misrepresented naming. Like plastic (Sub-Orbital capable craft) marketed as gold (Inergalactic capable craft). Virgin Airlines Fails! This is not just semantics but a commercial ethics issue. Buyer beware! Misleading the public will get the Intergalactic Consumer’s Commission down in fraudalant advertising!
ARTICLE 14
India’s oil import bill jumps 40% to $ 140 billion in FY12 – Source: PTI – Thursday, 14 June 2012 | 11:00
India’s oil import bill leaped 40 per cent to a record $ 140 billion in 2011-12 as high oil prices shaved off much of the nation’s GDP growth rate, Oil Minister S Jaipal Reddy said yesterday.
Speaking at the 5th OPEC International Seminar in Vienna, Reddy said it was “estimated that a sustained $ 10 increase in oil prices lead to a 1.5 per cent reduction in the GDP of developing countries”.
“We have seen evidence of this in our own country: India’s GDP grew at 6.9 per cent during the last financial year (2011-12) down from the 8 per cent plus growth rate experienced in the past few years,” he said.
Reddy, whose speech copy was released by his office here, said between the 2010-11 and 2011-12, the world’s fourth largest oil importer saw its average cost of imported crude oil rising by $ 27 per barrel, “making India’s oil import bill rise from $ 100 billion to $ 140 billion dollars”.
“Higher international oil prices lead to domestic inflation, increased input costs, an increase in the budget deficit which invariably drives up interest rates and slows down the economic growth,” he said.
Also, net oil importing countries like India experience a deterioration in their balance of payments, putting downward pressure on exchange rates.
“As a result, imports become more expensive and exports less valuable, leading to a drop in real national income,” he said. “There could not be a more direct cause and effect relation than high oil prices retarding economic growth of oil importing countries”.
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China and India should focus on solar power instead of wasting tax dollars on oil and pollutive infrastructure much less nuclear. A state sponsored programme for energy via solar panels should put paid to any further expenditures in oil import or clean up costs. On top of that the carbon foot print could effectively be reduced to ZERO. Consider the response to the article below for an organic take on energy generation. Colonies of working elephants on ‘treadmills’ or ‘hamster wheels’, which also contribute to preservation of the good natured and communicative animal (treat them as equals not slaves or prisoners at a labour camp, remember that like people, elephants work and do need rest days, varieties of food, hours off, green space to relax and ‘frolic’ – meaning acres in which to run around) also make the ecologically destructive hydro damming options unnecessary as well as represent a harvestable source of ivory (which is as valuable as gold) after natural death occurs (also bone ivory furniture), at least until perpetual motion turbines are invented . . . EFFICIENCY and CONSERVATION ! Ganesh would approve! :
UK floods banking system with more than 100 billion pounds – Published: Friday June 15, 2012 MYT 9:10:00 AM / Updated: Friday June 15, 2012 MYT 9:11:32 AM
LONDON: The government and central bank will flood Britain’s banking system with more than 100 billion pounds ($155.43 billion), seeking to pump credit through an economy struggling to escape recession under the “black cloud” of the euro zone crisis.
In his annual Mansion House policy speech to London financiers on Thursday, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King said Britain would launch a scheme to provide cheap long-term funding to banks to encourage them to lend to businesses and consumers.
He also said the bank would activate an emergency liquidity tool.
Treasury officials said the government plan could support an estimated 80 billion pounds in new loans, while the central bank’s separate scheme will provide monthly 5 billion pound tranches of six-month liquidity to banks.
King said the case for pumping more money into the economy via further purchases of government bonds had increased as the outlook for the economy had worsened, although he again rejected calls for the central bank to buy private assets.
King said the euro zone’s woes were leading to a crisis of confidence in Britain which was leading to a self-reinforcing weaker picture of growth.
“The black cloud has dampened animal spirits so that businesses and households are battening down the hatches to prepare for the storms ahead,” he said.
Britain’s action comes just before cliffhanger Greek elections this weekend that could determine the fate of the euro zone, as well as a meeting of the leaders of the world’s major economies next week to find ways to tackle the currency bloc’s crisis and spur the global economy.
British finance minister George Osborne warned of the huge dangers from a collapse of the euro area. He again urged euro zone leaders to fix the crisis and said Britain was taking action to protect its own economy.
“We are not powerless in the face of the euro zone debt storm,” Osborne said in his speech at Mansion House. “Together we can deploy new firepower to defend our economy from the crisis on our doorstep.”
Britain is still reeling from the 2007-2009 financial crisis that has left many Britons poorer and forced the country to bail out big banks with tens of billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money.
The government on Thursday announced a sweeping reform of bank regulations aimed at making financial institutions safer, and avoiding a re-run of the crisis which has pushed Britain into recession twice in the last four years.
CASH BOOST
Britain slid back into recession around the turn of this year, piling pressure on Osborne’s embattled Conservative-led coalition government to come up with new ways to boost growth.
The government has pinned its fortunes on a tough austerity plan of tax hikes and spending cuts to erase a budget deficit which still comes in at around 8 percent of GDP.
Osborne defended his debt-cutting measures, arguing that they gave the Bank of England the leeway to keep monetary policy loose, and said there was still more the central bank could do.
BoE Governor Mervyn King said the central bank would complement its quantitative easing asset purchase scheme with new steps to encourage bank lending and reduce their funding costs, which have rocketed as a result of the euro zone crisis.
The BoE and finance ministry have designed a new scheme, to be launched in a few weeks, that would offer banks loans with a maturity of possibly 3-4 years at below current market rates.
The loans would be made available on condition that banks increase their lending to businesses and households.
In addition, the central bank will activate its Extended Collateral Term Repo facility, created in December, to provide six-month liquidity to banks against a wide range of collateral.
King said now was the right time to activate the scheme, which is aimed at helping banks through phases of exceptional stress.
King hinted that the central bank may also restart its QE programme, which it halted in May having bought 325 billion pounds of British government bonds, and countered accusations that the scheme had lost its effectiveness.
“With signs of a deterioration in the outlook, especially in world markets, the case for a further monetary easing is growing,” King said. – Reuter
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The English (in typical crooked English style, butchers and colonizers of the Isles and Colonial era, now conmen of the world . . . ), are going to ‘con’ REAL GOODS producing countries with that worthless scrip via the English citizens. BRICS, OPEC nations, use barter to counter this sad ploy and finish off the fiat printers. England’s economy has NOTHING to offer but printed ‘Banana Notes’. DO not be stupid enough to exchange your REAL GOODS for worthless fiat. Continue hiring REAL SERVICES providers though, and reward the workers with REAL GOODS instead. If the English want to buy from these areas a cheap car or house and migrate, or commodities like oil, they ‘jolly well’ can WORK for that. Now will those foreign exchange fiat peddlars adjust the value of the already overpriced Sterling Pound down about 3 zeroes please? And even that is being 2/3rds too lenient for a country that produces NOTHING but only subsists on unreasonable fines and commission charges via transactitons, little wonder the Scots want out . . .
ARTICLE 16
Benefits of direct yen-yuan may be few, far between – by Yang Guoying (Global Times) – 08:20, June 18, 2012
Effective June 1, China and Japan launched a new currency exchange program which allowed direct trading of yuan and yen, making the Japanese yen the second major currency, after the US dollar, that can be directly exchanged with the renminbi.
This new scheme, its advocates claim, will reinforce bilateral trade and investment between the two countries by lowering transaction costs and settlement risks at financial institutions, and also promote the internationalization of the yuan by building up its position in the world’s third largest economy.
While there certainly is the potential for this much-lauded agreement to further these goals, there is also a chance the scheme could fall flat or run counter to China’s best economic interests.
Over the past decade, China has been enlarging its commodities and energy imports and has been using these resources to develop its own high-tech equipment and precision machinery for export, a sector that was previously dominated by Japan.
While lowering settlement costs might stimulate bilateral trade between China and Japan, as the countries gradually shift away from a complimentary trade relationship toward a competitive one, the benefits of the new scheme may not have the dramatic impact many are expecting.
Moreover, the scheme will push up the weight of the yen in China’s foreign reserves and as Japan’s public debt snowballs, the risks of holding its currency will continue to mount. Over the past year, three of the world’s most respected rating agencies – Fitch Ratings, Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s – have all downgraded Japan’s credit rating as its debt is expected to clock in at 240 percent of its annual GDP by the end of 2012. As a Japanese economic recovery continues to remain elusive, China could find itself saddled under the weight of an ever-depreciating yen.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan, the country’s central bank, announced on May 23, it would maintain its overnight interbank market interest rate between zero and 0.1 percent, much lower than that of most other countries, including China, as part of its monetary policies.
The direct trading of the yen and the yuan will facilitate Japanese investors who plan to profit from the difference between interest rates in the two countries’ money markets, leading to an inflow of hot money.
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Again I promulgate barter of REAL GOODS or contracts for labour of foreign workers as the best system. The fact that China is aware that exchange of fiat is a waste of time bodes well for a REAL GOODS or REAL LABOUR based economic system. Fiat exchange only enriches the banks, agencies and the middlemen via the bloodsucking fees imposed at every turn or every transaction with the actual moving of fiat scrip the epitome of farcical economy. Any country can print fiat and add plenty of zeros, try the English above. That fiat is worth nothing, even as the sterling pound belongs in the pound being backed by nothing. Except shiny banks that AGAIN penalise citizens of whatever country they appear in. Barter, especially between nations is the way to go. Governments also can distribute fiat internally to the closest cronies – especially in 3rd world countries without accountability, where anyone who demands an audit or access to the accounts is automatically treated as an enemy of the state rather than honest expositions of what goes on, tell me how many people have access to the mint and we will know how transparent a government’s internal fiat system is, the more the merrier, the lowlier who can access the safer . . . making the case for the precious metals currency that some proponents wishing to prevent uncontrolled printing of fiat (like the Quantitative Easing of USA or England’s 100 billion flood above without appropriate devaluations – indicating collusion between governments, especially rhose who tend to collude on NATO type issues) are pushing for.
ARTICLE 17
Gold price creating history, frequently – News Updated By- Hari Har Sharma Posted From- Kathmandu | June 18, 2012
KATHMANDU, JUN 17 – With the price skyrocketing, gold is gradually getting out of middle-class reach. Such is the rise that the price set records for three straight days last week.Instead of buying fresh designs, Bullion traders say the trend of remaking old jewelries is on the rise. Even regular, potential customers have stopped buying, they say. “Half of our customers are remaking their old ornaments,” said Tej Ratna Shakya, president of the Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association (Negosida).
The escalating price has forced customers, particularly those buying gold for wedding purpose, to reduce quantity. For many Nepalis gold ornaments are a must in wedding ceremonies. “The price has increased sharply over the last year,” said Shakya. “This has resulted in low sales.”The gold price started to rise since 2008, according to gold traders. Since then, the price has gone up by a whopping 133 percent. In 2012 alone, the price rose by Rs 4,240 per 10 gram.
Last week’s figures show how the gold price is escalating in the local market. When the market opened on Sunday, gold was traded at Rs 48, 270 per 10 gm, but the figure jumped to Rs 48, 825 on Wednesday and to Rs 49,040 on Thursday, before closing at a record high of Rs 49,080 per 10 gram on Friday.
The price of gold in the domestic market is determined in line with the international trend. With the price remaining volatile in international market, its impact is reflected here. Major drivers of the price in the international market are global macroeconomic events.
Gold price is expected to further rise in dollar terms due to the sovereign debt crisis in Europe and a possible quantitative easing. International media have reported that the worsening eurozone crisis is catalysing gold demand and is, thereby, supportive of gold prices.
Bullion traders attributed the surge in the price in the local market to the rise in the international market price and a freefall of Nepali rupee against the US dollar. Since the local market is dependent on the international market for gold and silver, changes in the exchange rate of dollar and gold price are directly proportional. Traders predict a further rise in gold price if the Nepali rupee further devaluates.
The government has maintained a quantitative restriction on gold imports since 2010 after massive imports led to a negative balance of payments situation. The import quota is presently 20 kg a day, up from 15 kg previously. Nepal imported gold worth Rs 41.63 billion in fiscal 2009-10. Imports plunged to Rs 11.35 billion last year after the imposition of the quota.Imports have reached 4,350 kg worth more than Rs 18.8 billion in the first nine months of this fiscal year. Nepal imported 400 kg of gold in mid-January which jumped to 600 kg in mid-April.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Gold cannot be printed like fiat. And hence crony collusion or quantitative easing or uncontrolled printing is impossible if precious metals replace fiat currency.
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6 Articles on Throwing Taxpayer Money vs. Value added policy writing for Votability
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ARTICLE 1
Cut tax to flat 30% rate, axe stamp duty and ditch national insurance: An expert’s plan to boost the economy – by Political Correspondent – PUBLISHED: 00:08 GMT, 21 May 2012 | UPDATED: 09:48 GMT, 21 May 2012
George Osborne has faced calls for a flat rate of income tax. The Chancellor should introduce a flat rate of income tax and abolish levies such as national insurance, stamp duty and inheritance tax to boost the economy, experts have said. They are calling for a single income tax rate of 30 per cent and the abolition of eight major taxes, including corporation tax and air passenger duty. The 2020 Tax Commission, a joint project from the Institute of Directors and the TaxPayers’ Alliance, says the changes would lead to a tax cut of £3,400 for the average two-earner household. A 400-page report from the group concludes that the measures could lead to an 8.4 per cent increase in the UK’s gross domestic product after 15 years – the equivalent of lending £5,000 to each family.
Allister Heath, chairman of the commission, said: ‘It is time for Britain to make a vital choice between tweaking the status quo and letting our economy continue to be crippled by complex and punitive taxes, and drastically changing course with a radical but realistic plan for a tax system fit for the 21st century.’ Under the plans, both employee and employer national insurance contributions would be scrapped and replaced with a single 30 per cent rate of tax on income, with a £10,000 personal allowance.
Plans: Allister Heath, the chairman of the 2020 Tax Commission, says the current tax rate is ‘crippling’ the economy
Corporation tax and capital gains tax would be replaced with a 30 per cent tax on dividends, interest and rent, and inheritance tax and stamp taxes on land and shares would be dropped, as well as air passenger duty. Fuel duty would be cut by 5p.
Overall, taxation would be limited to a third of national income – as would public spending. The proposed flat-rate income tax would increase the budget deficit by £49.1billion in its first year if the changes were not phased in, or if there were no further cuts to public spending. However, the commission predicts that the boost to the economy would result in a £35billion fall in annual borrowing after 15 years. It says the measures would result in a tax cut of around £3,400 for a two-earner household with an income of £28,000.
¦ Collecting taxes costs as much now as it did 50 years ago, figures show. Despite technological advances, bureaucracy accounts for £1.14 of every £100 collected, compared with £1.16 in 1958. A report from the TaxPayers’ Alliance, based on data from the Paris-based Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development, revealed that since 2001 the annual cost has been less than 1 per cent of tax income just once.
Commentator comments :
Is the DM stupid or what… I’d quite like to live in la-la land where tax is zippo %… There is Bob Hope, no hope and envelopes chance of the government making the average person £3k better off. Purely because it’s 3k they wouldn’t have!
– silvertail, midlands, 21/5/2012 12:12
Once again, a proposal to stick it to families that scrimp and save to allow one parent to stay home with the children. Traditional families are apparently evil and must be stopped. Such a statement about this country.
– anon, uk, 21/5/2012 12:11
So, a two-earner household benefits, and pensioners pay 50% more tax than at present. There seems to be a concerted effort to solve the aging problem by starving the elderly to an early death. In a few years time they will wonder why they have thousands of old people on the streets begging for coppers. Oh, but those who don’t retire until 2016 will get bigger pensions, so it’s just those of us who got caught in the middle who will suffer. Thanks a lot!
– PAJ, Sussex, 21/5/2012 12:11
Angy Anderson 11.50 Who really knows where our money goes and what it is used for. When I began work at seventeen I was told I would pay tax and national Insurance. I would be entitled to a weekly payment if I lost my job and I would receive a pension at sixty. I would also receive treatment on the NHS and dental treatment on the NHS. I am not getting a pension at sixty so the government has broken a contract with me and thousands of others like me. Tax and National Insurance is all the same, forced to pay but get little out of it.
– Mrs Iri-Tated, UK, 21/5/2012 12:11
Until the suits understand the simple concept of *sharing* things will never change.
– june, bedworth, 21/5/2012 12:08
And the rich get richer.
– Barking Mad, Lancashire, 21/5/2012 12:05
The suffering 99% should all be given a course in basic economy . Atleast their mind will not get agitated and confused when they suffer . Unless the rich and the wealthy get richer and wealthier , how can the 99% pick up more crumbs from under the table, silly ? It is for the good of the 99% only that it is important that the rich and the wealthy should become richer and wealthier . For the orderly existence of the universe we all should have an all- powerful God , for the orderly existence of the world we should have one superpower. Similarly, for the orderly existence of the superpower , we should have a 1% or even less number of the super-rich ! It’s Nature’s Law…Elementary , dear Watson!
– Zeitgeist, London , uk, 21/5/2012 12:05
Looking at the worst comments, I see a lot of people don’t understand how percentages work…
– Sres, Chorley, 21/5/2012 12:02
THis is an EXCELLENT IDEA and has been mooted more than the ONCE. THis type of scheme WORKS as the rate of tax is low enough to not AVOID or EVADE. THus everyone will pay as it is not worth avoiding. It will be easy to collect and thus we can get rid of a lot of Tax Collectors!!! This has happened in some of the Eastern Eurpoean countires and they soon found that they were running a positive budget and had to cut the rate of tax so as too not build up too much SURPLUS. It will take a TOUGH GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS and iMPLIMENT but it would be fantastic !!! LET THE PEOPLE CHOOSE HOW THEY SPEND THEIR MONEY not the fools in charge !!!!
– Tel BOY, Bromley Kent, 21/5/2012 11:58
Rating 2
Bill Crawley West Sussex. I don’t agree with the proposals but you have forgotten that you will stop paying NI contributions that are currently around 12% of earnings above £146 per week.
– Puzzled, Southampton UK, 21/5/2012 11:57
Clic
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Politicians (2 terms only, or no votes for the Oligarch MP in question) could try this below tax strategy for ‘winnability’ in politics :
Profit margins of Telecommunications companies (also ALL companies) may not exceed 10 times overhead costs once the CEO has reached wealth level of 20 million. All excess profit must be returned to the state for re-distribution. Maximum sequesterable funds by a company is at a quantum of 10 times whatever the total invested by shareholders. Excess may not be sequesterable if insufficient.
Penalties may not be levied by banks for early repayment. Interest is waived from point of early payment.
Housing Developers may not be affiliated to lawyers or financing firms.
ARTICLE 2
‘Cut interest rate to zero’: IMF calls on Bank of England to go below 0.5% to boost Britain’s faltering economy – By James Chapman – PUBLISHED: 11:11 GMT, 22 May 2012 | UPDATED: 11:41 GMT, 22 May 2012
Christine Lagarde has said that the move will be good for UK homeowners and businesses
A zero rate would be the first in the Bank of England’s 300-year history
Tough: Christine Lagarde has told the Bank of England to cut the record rate even lower to help Britain’s ailing economy. The head of the world’s economic watchdog today delivered an extraordinary call for the Bank of England to slash interest rates even further to try to boost the economy. Christine Lagarde, of the International Monetary Fund, said the Bank should ‘reassess the efficacy’ of cutting rates below the current record low of 0.5 per cent to reduce the cost of borrowing for businesses and homeowners. Her intervention raises the prospect of the first zero per cent interest rate since the Bank of England was founded in 1694. Japan cut rates to zero in the 1990s when it suffered a decade-long depression. Mme Lagarde also suggested that the Bank considers a fresh round of money printing — so-called ‘quantitative easing’ – to stimulate growth. Both measures would be grim news for savers, who have already been hit hard by low interest rates and earlier rounds of QE.
The IMF boss, in London to deliver her annual assessment of the UK economy, delighted Chancellor George Osborne with a strong endorsement of the coalition’s deficit reduction measures. She said that when she looked back to the last election in May 2010, and tried to imagine what would have happened to the British economy without the Government’s austerity programme: ‘I shiver.’ Pressure: The Bank of England has held interest rates at 0.5% for several years but is being asked to go further.
Mme Lagarde backed a suggestion by David Cameron that the Government should consider using hard-won credibility on the international money markets, which mean Britain is able to borrow at record lows, to do more to underwrite infrastructure and housing projects and loans to small businesses. The IMF also suggested there was scope for the Government to boost growth through higher spending on infrastructure projects, which would increase employment and demand within the economy and could be funded within existing budgets by imposing further public sector wage restraint or reforming property taxes. If the UK recovery fails to take off, ministers must be prepared to use temporary tax cuts and more infrastructure investment to give the economy a shot in the arm, even if this means reining in the Government’s austerity programme, the watchdog added. Chancellor George Osborne says the IMF report is backing the Coalition’s economic strategy
Welcoming the report, Chancellor George Osborne said: ‘The IMF couldn’t be clearer today. Britain has to deal with its debts and the Government’s fiscal policy is the appropriate one and an essential part of our road to recovery. ‘I welcome the IMF’s continuing support for the UK deficit reduction plan. They agree that, in their words ‘reducing the high structural deficit remains essential’ and make clear in their statement that they consider the current pace of fiscal consolidation to be appropriate. Mr Osborne said the eurozone was reaching a ‘critical point’ and confirmed that Britain was preparing to deal with the shock of a failure in the single currency. ‘In the UK, we have a flexible exchange rate and an independent monetary policy which allows us to ease the process of fiscal adjustment with a lower exchange rate and supportive monetary policy,’ he said.
‘But in the eurozone, indebted countries have to deal with high budget deficits without that support. ‘It is clear that we are now reaching a critical point for the eurozone. ‘Eurozone countries need to stand behind their currency or face up to the prospect of Greek exit, with all the risks that that could involve. ‘The British Government is doing contingency planning for all potential outcomes. It is our responsibility to ensure that while we work for the best, we prepare for something worse. ‘The IMF must also prepare for the consequences if members in Europe don’t follow its advice.’
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Interest rates based on earnings :
ARTICLE 3
Microbloggers post Locke’s assets online – by Xu Tianran (Global Times) – 08:22, May 16, 2012
Chinese Web users have posted details of US ambassador to China Gary Locke’s personal assets to their microblogs after a Beijing newspaper demanded Locke disclose his personal assets. Richard Buanga, spokesman of the US embassy in China who uses the Chinese name Bao Riqiang, also responded to the newspaper yesterday by uploading the foreign services salary table issued by the US Department of State. The Guangdong-based New Express Daily first reported the episode Monday, saying many Web users are encouraging the Beijing newspaper to make the same demand of officials in the capital. Beijing Daily, official newspaper of the municipal Party committee, demanded on its Sina Weibo that US ambassador to China Gary Locke announce his personal assets on Monday.
“Gary Locke, please declare your assets,” the microblog post commented, after reposting a microblog user’s opinion that read, “Gary Locke lives in the US embassy which costs billions of US dollars. He commutes in a bullet-proof Limousine…can this be called modesty? And why does Gary Locke not announce these facts to the public? …So cut the show of incorruptibility!”
The newspaper ran an editorial early this month criticizing Gary Locke for traveling in economy class and using coupons to buy coffee, among other things that drew the attention of the Chinese public, as a way of promoting his image. However, the newspaper’s latest Weibo posts immediately became a new focus for the Chinese online community. Despite the fact that the newspaper’s microblog filters comments, tens of thousands of Web users managed to make sarcastic remarks by reposting the original content. Observers said a foreign ambassador’s residence or expenditure has nothing to do with the host country’s taxpayers in the first place. But Web users showed more interest in why the practice of asset disclosure has not been applied to Chinese officials. A Central Party School newspaper said yesterday that China needs 10 years to implement asset declaration by officials. Government officials in China are now required to submit annual reports about their incomes, assets and information about their spouses and children. But the information is kept within related government departments. The Beijing Daily deleted its original post yesterday without elaborating on the reason. The Sina Weibo also began to manage the information flow yesterday by encrypting Web users’ comments.
Though the government is pushing forward the idea of making officials’ assets more transparent, it still needs years to be fully realized. And obviously Chinese people are more interested in the wealth of Chinese officials than that of foreign officials, said Lin Zhe, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Though the government is pushing forward the idea of making officials’ assets more transparent, it still needs years to be fully realized.
Years? This would mean all assets would have been spread out to relatives, hidden or transfered to easily moved items like diamonds and gold by then. I really hope this is the last generation of plutocrats that have benefited from being in government. Otherwise, if honest, all declarations should be done in as soon as 1 week voluntarily on public sites. A disappointing reality that could still be identifiable and corrected. How about just declaring then re-distributing immediately if above USD$ 20 million? China is Communist Red not Capitalist Green. No plutocrats until the rest of the nation catches up.
ARTICLE 4
Levitating cars already here – Note the below advert :
Levitating Globe on Stage – Innovative levitating world globe continuously rotates in midair.
May 2012 Sale $99.99 Free shipping & handling Retail $109.00
Featuring a 3” globe that is awash in the brilliant light of 8 LED lights, this handsome desktop decoration will transform your workspace at home or the office. Developed with the latest Levitron Anti Gravity technology. Electromagnetic base uses minimal power to create Real Levitation with continuous rotations of the globe. Suspended in mid-air, this globe defies gravity – inspiring wonder and amazement.
Platform can levitate up to 3 ounces. Low voltage adapter included. Observe Earth levitate and revolve in space – only touching air! Dimensions: Globe Diameter: 3″ (10 cm)
Conclusion?
– to levitate 3 oz costs USD$99
– to levitate 63493.131 oz (or 4000 lbs the reegular weight of a car) the cost will b 6 million +
– consider the use of (hellium infusion augmented) bamboo and rattan entirely in the vehicle to lower to 10% of the weeight and hence price = 600,000 million
For 600,000 a FRICTIONLESS ‘REVERSE LEVITATING’ vehicle (probably powered by limitless Fusion) will be possible.
Consider the height of levitation and we could actually get a FLYING CAR. I really hope those governments will stop oppressing and start redistributing. Imagine caravans (or evenlarge craft) of people flying off to wherever has the laxest laws or is not governed by any government. Barring the MOST BASIC and common sense of religious laws (Self applied 10 comandments type laws, I am not referring to Hudud or whippings here, nor pedophile priests, not forced national service etc.. . . . ), WHO NEEDS GOVERNMENT OR LAWS? The only last issue will be overpopulation and redistribution of wealth and ownership of goods or food. Exciting times? But only if the best of Marx and Capitalism is used . . . Utopia is within reach via – Capitalism with Socialist Limits . . . with the identification of phenotypes and adherence to ‘Growth Outside As You Are Inside Spiritual Laws’ . . .
Ending big society via Aero-Nomadism . . .
ARTICLE 5
Privacy is being turned into a privilege that only the rich and right-on may enjoy – by Brendan O’Neill Politics Last updated: May 21st, 2012 CCTV
Keep ’em trained on the council estates, never the suburban semis Is privacy being turned into a privilege that only the moneyed and the well-connected may enjoy? Two striking stories in the news last week suggest that it is.
In the first story, it was reported that activists and hacks are heaping further pressure on Mark Zuckerberg to improve the privacy settings on Facebook, so that they might update their statuses and post photos of their social shenanigans without having the world and its mother peering over their shoulders. In the second story, we were told that social workers, backed by much of the media, are calling on the prime minister to get rid of “red tape” so that they might more easily interfere in – I’m sorry, intervene in – so-called problem families. There are a lot of damaged families out there, the social workers hinted, and thus we need to rip up some of the rules governing when it is and isn’t okay to stick our snouts into their business.
That these two stories could appear in the same week, and not be considered contradictory, suggests we have a pretty screwed-up attitude to privacy today. Indeed, sometimes the very same members of the political and media classes who believe that their private lives must remain absolutely private will think it is perfectly logical that other people’s private lives – the lives of Them – should be thrown open to state snooping.
So ours is an era in which the media goes mental when it is revealed that Sienna Miller was once photographed in an alleyway, yet raises barely a peep of protest when David Cameron says he plans to interfere in the lives of 120,000 allegedly “chaotic” families. Indeed, liberal commentators say we should be “less squeamish about intervening in chaotic families”, especially “impoverished” ones. Ours is an era where we are expected to weep upon hearing that Steve Coogan’s bins were rifled through by a tabloid hack, yet we brand as Right-wing crackpots those who question the right of their local council to police their bins to make sure they are recycling correctly.
This is an age in which civil-liberties types go ballistic over the fact that they must click a button saying “Private” when they use Spotify, but there’s little controversy when every ordinary man or woman hoping to become a schoolteacher or a youth worker must first submit to an intrusive criminal-records check. Things have come to such a pretty pass that Labour MP Tom Watson can expect sympathy for the fact that he was once followed around by a tabloid reporter, despite the fact that Watson’s own political party introduced rafts of legislation that permit the following, filming and collar-feeling of ordinary people across the land. Meanwhile, the New Statesman provides space to Hugh Grant to bleat about the “egregious abuses of privacy” suffered by the likes of him (posh people), while its star columnist, in a debate about the right of parents to smack their kids, says: “I don’t think sovereignty in people’s own homes is something we should be striving for.” No, apparently it is only right-minded celebs, not plebs, who deserve personal sovereignty.
Today there are shrill demands for a privacy law to protect celebs and other decent folk from the prurient gaze of dumb tabloid readers, alongside constant calls for better policing of the antics and habits of “chaotic” people, the impoverished. We are witnessing the emergence of a privacy hierarchy, where it is assumed that the decent class deserve a proper private life but the impoverished do not. Why? Because where Our lives are important and good, Theirs are potentially bad, certainly unpredictable, definitely “chaotic”, and thus we must pry into their bins and send social workers ir ‘moral police’ or narrow communalists to rap on their front doors in order to sort them out.
Whatever happened to the outlook of the 16th-century jurist Edward Coke, who said, “The house of every one is to him as his castle and fortress, as well for his defence against injury and violence as for his repose”? In other words, every man’s home, be it an actual castle or just a two-bedroom flat in Hackney, should be treated as a fortress that state snitches have no business barging into. These days, it seems you really do need to own a castle – or at least a plush flat in Kensington or Islington – in order for your privacy rights to be taken seriously.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
This should be applied against plutocrats who send national monies to tax havens or sequestering funds that should be circulating in local communities instead of being used to prop up foreign commodities and foreign stock markets to the demise of the global supply chain system. THAT sort of nation destroying (think riots and occupy moements due to uncontrolled Capitalism) chaos propagated by plutocrats is far more dangerous than the odd dogging couple or organic drugs grower or adult industry indulger, adult industry worker and organizer.
ARTICLE 6
Internet voting still faces hurdles in US – Posted on 25 May 2012 – 05:33am
WASHINGTON (May 24, 2012): Shop online. Bank online. Why not vote online?
Pressure is building to make Internet voting widely available in the United States and elsewhere, even though technical experts say casting ballots online is far from secure. In the 2012 US elections, more than two dozen states will accept some form of electronic or faxed ballots, mostly from military or overseas voters, according to the Verified Voting Foundation. But there is a growing expectation that online voting will expand further.
“The number one question I’m asked is when we will get to vote on the Internet,” Matt Masterson, Ohio’s deputy election administrator, told a Washington forum this month. “When you are doing everything else on the Internet and your comfort level is high, people expect to do that… You can adopt a child online, you can buy a house online without ever seeing it.” But computer security specialists say any system can be hacked or manipulated, and that unlike shopping and banking, the problem cannot be fixed by giving the customer a refund. “You have computer systems such as those of Google, the Pentagon and Facebook, which have all fallen victim to intrusion,” said J. Alex Halderman, a computer scientist at the University of Michigan.
Halderman, who gained notoriety by hacking into a test of an online voting system in the US capital Washington in 2010 — forcing the system to be scrapped — said the technology is not yet secure enough. “It’s going to be decades, if ever, before we are going to be able to vote online securely,” he told the forum at George Washington University’s Cyber Security Policy and Research Institute.
Some other countries are forging ahead on Internet voting. French citizens living abroad will for the first time this year be able to vote in a parliamentary election over the Internet, an experiment that could be extended to other elections if successful. In Estonia, an early adopter, a record 25 percent of voters cast Internet ballots in 2011. But Halderman, who has consulted with European governments and studied other attempts at online voting, said: “I don’t believe any of them are secure.” In 2010 Halderman and his students accepted a challenge from the local government and were able to penetrate the Washington voting network, change all the votes and prompt the system to play the University of Michigan fight song.
Masterson said election officials are grappling with how to make voting more accessible and looking at the costs of the technology. Internet voting from that perspective makes some sense, he said. Masterson said online voting can also help boost participation and address the issue of voters who cannot get to a polling station. “It kills an election official to find out you can’t get a ballot back,” he said. “These people are being disenfranchised.” But Halderman counters that US elections provide a tempting target for hackers, nation-states and others who might want to destabilize or disrupt the US political system. “If everyone voted online today, I think the probability of substantial fraud would be 100 percent,” he said.
Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat, of the Overseas Vote Foundation, works to make ballots more accessible, but remains uneasy with online voting. “It’s horrible to say this,” she said. “I come out of the software industry and push automation and technology for streamlining voting processes all day long, but right now, with the security issues that exist, there is no way I could advocate for Internet voting.”
GWU computer scientist Michael Clarkson said it’s not yet clear if online voting can be extended to national elections, where the risks of intrusion are high. “After 30 years of research, we don’t yet know how to do that in a way that scales to national elections, but we continue to make progress toward the goal,” he said.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology, an arm of the Commerce Department, said this month its research had “concluded that Internet voting systems cannot currently be audited with a comparable level of confidence in the audit results as those for polling place systems. Additionally, malware on voters’ personal computers “poses a serious threat that could compromise the secrecy or integrity of voters’ ballots,” NIST said.
Richard Soudriette, head of the Colorado-based Center of Diplomacy and Democracy and a consultant on election issues, said he believes the technical and security problems of online voting have largely been resolved. “Over the past 10 years Internet voting firms have developed encryption and cryptography software tools that make voting much more secure,” he said. “I believe that within a decade most developed countries will conduct national elections via Internet.” – AFP
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
District by district, then a ‘monthly audit’ by publishing in the newspaper who voted and for who. Indiscrepencies can thus only last 1 month at most, at least for diligent voters.
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3 Articles on Rethinking Society and the ‘Education’ method of Raising One’s Stature
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ARTICLE 1
Britain 2012: Masters degree graduate resorts to advertising himself with sandwich board after failing to find full-time work despite sending out 15,000 applications – By Emma Reynolds – PUBLISHED: 11:37 GMT, 22 May 2012 | UPDATED: 13:05 GMT, 22 May 2012
A desperate jobseeker who applied for 15,000 jobs with no success in the past ten years has resorted to advertising himself by wearing a ‘hire me’ sandwich board. Robin Norton, from Birmingham, has a Masters degree in history and several NVQs but has been overlooked by an endless slew of employers. He has now taken drastic action, spending an entire day wearing a sign reading ‘hire me please’ and walking up and down the M5 slip-road at Bromsgrove junction in Worcestershire.
Extreme move: Robin Norton stood by the motorway wearing a sandwich board for a day in the hope of finding employment
Mr Norton said: ‘I have applied for around 25 jobs a week for the past ten years without getting anywhere. ‘Sometimes I have applied for as many as 50 in one week. It is never-ending. Mr Norton, who worked for the Royal Mail for seven years, was a self-employed footcare technician until 2002 when his business went under. Since then he has had odd-jobs including cleaning, gardening and building work, but craves the stability of full-time employment.
Reaching his limits: Mr Norton has a Masters degree in history and several NVQs but has been overlooked by employers He said: ‘Things were bad before but have become worse since the recession. Now I don’t think there is any chance of me getting work. ‘It is partly down to the recession but also my age. Companies don’t want to hire anybody in their 40s. All the jobs go to the young up-and-coming jobseekers. ‘I’ve got the qualifications but I can’t get the work. As soon as they see how old you are, they don’t want to know. ‘It’s against the law to be ageist but in the real world, my world here today, it’s still here and it’s wrong.’ Despite all his efforts, Mr Norton has had no job offers – and only a handful of interviews – and he said hitting rock-bottom convinced him to try a new tactic.
‘Wearing the sign is a last-ditch attempt for me to get work, a real last resort. I spent a couple of months working up the guts to go down and do it. ‘It was not an easy step but things have become that desperate for me. I feel physically sick having to stoop to this but I have no other choice.’
Jason Fruen found a job after advertising his skills on a sandwich board beside the M60. Mr Norton has set up an email address – hire-me-pleeaase@hotmail.co.uk (sic) – so potential employers can get in touch. Latest statistics show unemployment in the UK now stands at 2.63million, falling by 45,000 in the three months to March this year.
Mr Norton is not the first recession-hit jobseeker to try such dramatic measures after struggling to find work. Earlier this month, unemployed Bennett Olson, from Minnesota, put his face on an electric billboard with the words: ‘Hire Me!’ He shelled out $300 for his face to rotate with other adverts for 24 hours. Last year, frustrated U.S. jobseeker Alisha Madkins, from Boston, walked around the city centre wearing a sandwich board saying ‘hire me!’ on one side and ‘college grad’ on the other. But the strategy did work for one lucky Briton, who managed to impress would-be employers with his spirit and dedication. Father-of-one Jason Fruen gained a job in 2009 by standing for four hours at Junction 9 of the M60 in Manchester wearing a sandwich board.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Money cannot buy breeding, but education cannot get either money or breeding. ‘Educated fools with money on their mind . . . ‘ (Coolio – Gangsta’s Paradise, 1995) should not spend money that has no guarantees and that indebts one in the first place. Add the age factor, and ALL young graduates had better prepare to retire by 40. That means not getting a loan for education, and focusing on that loan for housing which is already overpriced as is. Then consider against the response in Article 2 below.
Congrats to proud owners of a 30,000 to 500,000 loan for a TICKET THAT ALLOWS WORK but has no guarantees except to enrich the financial institution in collusion with the state education apparatus and their pro-party jobsworths.
ARTICLE 2
‘Occupy Graduation’: Student activists broadcast debt owed with ball and chains – by Liz Goodwin | The Lookout – 3 hrs ago
Everardo Gonzalez protests his student debt at San Francisco State’s graduation ceremony. …A handful of student activists are expressing their displeasure at the rising cost of college by wearing inflatable ball and chain accessories over their graduation robes. The props state the amount of debt with which they’re graduating. The silent commencement protest, dubbed “Occupy Graduation” by its organizers, is taking place at seven universities around the country.
Ben Cohen, the co-founder of Ben & Jerrys ice cream, is helping pay for the protest and has raised about $400,000 to fund Occupy-related projects.
“A college education is so important and now it’s only available to people who have a lot of money or to people who end up going into debt for the rest of their lives,” Cohen told Yahoo News. The entrepreneur never completed college, but he thinks it’s crucial to job success today.
Everardo Gonzalez, a 23 year-old criminal justice graduate of San Francisco State University, said he received “a bunch of positive feedback” from parents and fellow students for his participation in the quiet protest last Saturday at the graduation ceremony.
Gonzalez is graduating with $26,490 in federal loans and another $10,000 in credit card debt that he racked up while trying to make ends meet. His parents couldn’t afford to help him pay for college, so he worked at a local IKEA, struggling to balance his class schedule with his job.
During Gonzalez’s college career, San Francisco State University cut faculty salaries across the board, laid off staff, dramatically reduced the number of classes offered, hiked tuition and trimmed enrollment, all in response to the reduction in California’s higher education budget. Gonzalez was forced to spend another year at school–and take out more loans to do so–after he couldn’t find a way into the classes he needed for his major to graduate. (The crowded classes would fill up online within seconds.) The experience spurred him to join a group of student protesters linked with the Occupy Wall Street movement, who demonstrated against the cuts and other issues this year.
Gonzalez has landed a paid internship for next year, and plans to get a master’s degree in political theory after that to become a teacher. Gonzalez’ debt load is actually about average for graduating college students who took out loans. By attending an in-state school, qualifying for grants and relying solely on federal–not private–loans, Gonzalez has a manageable amount of loans with comparatively low interest rates.
“I’m not the poster child of student debt,” he says, but adds that many of his friends are in a worse position. He believes college education should be free, and that existing student loans should be forgiven. Seeing his parents lose their home after the recession hit also made him passionate about advocating for more opportunities for middle class and poor people. “The entire system is set up for people to fail unless they’re privileged,” he says.
Ivonne Quiroz, another San Francisco State University protester who graduated with a degree in biology last weekend, was also forced to stay at college for an extra semester after the immunology class she needed to graduate filled up. She’s now walking down the aisle with about $21,000 in federal loans. Quiroz said the budget cuts also fueled her protest. “We’re paying so much more, but we’re getting so much less,” she said.
Various Occupy movements have advocated for changing the law so that student debt can be discharged in bankruptcy, forgiving student loans altogether, and having zero percent interest loans for education. Interest rates on subsidized federal student loans are expected to double to 6.8 percent this year, unless Congress passes a law to extend the grace period. (Private loans have higher interest rates.) Still, on average, college graduates make far more money and enjoy lower unemployment rates than their peers with only a high school diploma.
Student protesters at the University of Southern Maine. (Occupy Graduation)
Another protest is planned for Hunter College in New York at the graduation ceremony on Tuesday. Monica Johnson, a 35-year-old Hunter College graduate student who’s helping to organize the demonstration, borrowed about $15,000 in federally secured loans 15 years ago to pay for college. But in 2007, she decided to move to New York to get a masters of fine arts degree at Pratt, a private school. She took out an additional $60,000 in loans, which ballooned to $88,000 after she dropped out of the program, dissatisfied. She now has a full-time job at an arts non-profit and is enrolled at the much cheaper Hunter College, where she’ll receive her MFA in December.
Johnson recently paid off $18,000 of her debt over a period of eight months, by subsisting on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and only paying for things in cash, which she said helped her resist buying anything unnecessary. She’s encouraging indebted graduates to form a union and negotiate with lenders to get lower rates or income-based repayment.
“What really pisses me off is I should never have been given those loans,” Johnson said. “It honestly was the worst money I ever spent.”
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Some of us would look at the figures and decide not to bother with the aggravation of education and the debt caused. The clever would become estate owners or landlords instead, and have an income from sale of REAL PRODUCE and REAL GOODS cultivated from the land if not a slumlord via rental of properties to tenants. With that kind of money, one could buy several units of low cost housing (which do pay themselves off) and RETIRE at the ripe old age of 16 or 18 while those who opted for education would be indebted and if they do not ‘bend’ enough to their future bosses and toe ‘company lines’, pay monthly rentals instead of collecting rentals, will remain homeless and potentially could be bankrupt (depending on jobs market) instead. Consumerism is at an end, population growth cannot be sustained by the planet, meaning population growth cannot sustain consumerism.
ARTICLE 3
The fashionable hostility towards social mobility is just another way of saying ‘know your place’ – by Brendan O’Neill Politics Last updated: May 22nd, 2012
Loadsamoney: how the liberal elite view “social mobility”
Is there anyone the great and the good hate more than an upwardly mobile member of the working classes? A raft of abusive terminology has been created to diss these strange creatures. They’re seen as “yuppies” or “Loadsamoneys”, waving their wads of cash around with a sneering look of self-satisfaction on their faces. They’re always described as “grasping” and “ruthless”. They are treated like fish out of water, such as when The Guardian snottily said that wealthy working-class footballers labour under “the misapprehension that drinking champagne is a symbol of class”. And they are always depicted as soulless, as lacking in community spirit, as so selfish that they would rather escape the poor communities they grew up in rather than stay put and muck in. Watch the movies of Mike Leigh. Almost every one of them contains such a character: the grasping working-class man or woman who runs away from his or her council estate to live in a big but heartless house in the suburbs. How middle-class moviegoers love to laugh at such specimens!
Now Ed Miliband has weighed into the discussion about social mobility. It is always a pleasure to hear what someone who was brought up in Hampstead and babysat by professors thinks about “the assumptions behind social mobility”. According to Miliband, in a speech he gave yesterday, there is too much focus on creating the conditions to allow smart, ambitious working-class people to get ahead, and not enough focus on ensuring that inequality is not “handed down generation to generation, like the colour of our hair”. It sounds radical, but in truth Miliband is implicitly demonising, or at least problematising, the exercise of individual initiative to move on in life, since this leaves untouched the structural underpinnings of inequality. He is, in effect, playing off “grasping” members of the working classes against less fortunate members of the working classes, as if the social mobility of the former is somehow responsible for the social predicament of the latter.
His criticisms of social mobility have struck a chord with Leftists who have long felt uncomfortable with ambitious, materialistic working-class people (primarily because they don’t conform to the Full Monty model of less well-off people being hard-done-by but happy). One Labour blogger spoke for many when he applauded Miliband’s comments by saying, “The politics of social mobility has always left me cold”. Labour MP Hazel Blears has gone further, saying: “I’ve never understood the term social mobility because that implies you want to get out of somewhere… And I think there is a great deal to be said for making who you are something to be proud of.”
Blears’ comments cut to the heart of the modern Left’s discomfort with social mobility, whether it is expressed through crude, comical stereotypes of money-mad former council-estate dwellers or through seemingly radical speeches that ask “What about the rest of the working class?” What is really being expressed here is a disgust with poor people who don’t know their place, who aren’t proud of “who they are”, as Blears puts it, and who insist on leaping from one class into another. The reason these individuals make people like Miliband and Blears feel uncomfortable is because they are a stark reminder of the failure of the modern Left, and of Labour in particular, to make good on its 1960s promise to create an egalitarian, more prosperous society. The fact that working-class individuals who want to get ahead must play the same game as the upper classes of society – that is, be spectacularly self-possessed, individualistic, ruthless – is a powerful reminder of Labour’s failure to create a society in which all classes could equally pursue their ambitions. That is why so much bile is heaped on those “Loadsamoneys” who hail from working-class communities: their very existence, their attitudes and antics, expose Labour’s failure to improve the living conditions and raise the expectations of all sections of society.
And so the Left sneers at these socially mobile workers, because it would prefer that they stayed put rather than unwittingly shining a light on the fact that the Labour Left’s historic talk of boosting everyone’s fortunes has been so much flimflam. Their ambition is slated because it is too much of an uncomfortable echo of the kind of life and drive that Labour once promised to deliver to all. These people should stop focusing on “getting out of somewhere” and instead, in the embarrassing words of Leftist author Owen Jones, celebrate their “working classness”. That phrase suggests that being working class is an innate trait, like sex or hair colour. But it isn’t. It’s a social condition, or a social predicament if you like, and like all social conditions it can be overcome and transformed. Ambitious working-class people shouldn’t be made to feel bad about their material desires just because they make socially accomplished people like Miliband, Blears and Owen Jones feel awkward.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Clear definitions of social types and levels, clear methods of raising in stature are needed, AND incentives associated with values based instead of cash based social mobility (capitalist plutocracies are NOT ethical or moral societies incidentally) should counter the ‘hostility to social mobility (i.e. here is what needs to be abided by, these are the classes etc.. instead of money rules all which eventually degenerates into dirty money politics and hired hitmen of the materialist plutocrat method – a person who will bribe their way into power, use the Judiciary as a weapon, will also kill their way into power, returning to the dark ages).
ARTICLE 4
U.S. Army General: The Whole Northern Hemisphere is at Risk of Becoming Largely Uninhabitable – Mac Slavo – May 25th, 2012 – SHTFplan.com
You may have entertained the idea of an improbable civilization ending events such as a ‘global killer’ asteroid, earth crust displacement or massive solar storms, but what if there existed a situation right now that was so serious that it literally threatened our very existence?
According to a host of scientists, nuclear experts and researchers, were are facing exactly such a scenario – and current efforts may not be able to stop it.
When the Fukushima nuclear plants sustained structural damage and a catastrophic failure of their spent fuel cooling systems in the aftermath of the Japanese earthquake and Tsunami in 2011, it left the government of Japan, Tokyo Power and nuclear regulatory agencies around the world powerless to contain the release of deadly radiation. A year on, the battle for control of Fukushima continues to no avail.
It’s estimated that tens of thousands of people in Japan and the whole of North America have been affected, with reports indicating that children in Japan and the U.S. are already being born with birth defects, as well as thousands who have already succumbed to radiation related illness. As we initially followed the breaking news during the first thirty days of the accident, we suggested the Fukushima disaster would be worse than Chernobyl. Not even we could have imagined how much worse it would be.
If current estimates are correct, Fukushima has already released as much radiation into the atmosphere and Pacific Ocean as Chernobyl, and the potential for a disaster at least ten times worse is highly probable in the event of another earthquake or accident that leads to a collapse of the cooling structures which are above ground and have already suffered significant damage. According to U.S. Army General Albert N. Stubblebine (ret.) of the Natural Solutions Foundation, the situation is extremely serious and poses a significant danger to our entire civilization. Since TEPCO and the Japanese government have refused the entombment option (as the Russians did with Chernobyl) the world is at the mercy of nature. A mistake here would cause the deaths of tens of millions of people across the globe. If there ever existed a threat that could cause the end of the world as we know it, it’s the ongoing and unresolved nuclear saga in Japan:
When the highly radioactive Spent Fuel Rods are exposed to air, there will be massive explosions releasing many times the amount or radiation released thus far. Bizarrely, they are stored three stories above ground in open concrete storage pools. Whether through evaporation of the water in the pools, or due to the inevitable further collapse of the structure, there is a severe risk. United States public health authorities agree that tens of thousands of North Americans have already died from the Fukushima calamity. When the final cataclysm occurs, sooner rather than later, the whole Northern Hemisphere is at risk of becoming largely uninhabitable.
Fact. On March 11, 2011, Fukushima Daichi nuclear power station with six nuclear reactors suffered cataclysmic damage that some believe was a man made event,and the resulting Tsunami. Hydrogen explosions…at least one nuclear explosion… and then subsequent deterioration of the visible plants at five of those reactors have created a threat situation unparalleled in human history.
Fact. Despite denial and cover-up, the reality has emerged, that enormous amounts of radioactive material has been spewing into the atmosphere, polluting the groundwater, and the food of Japan, and entering by the tens of millions of gallons the waters of the Pacific.
There’s no way to sugarcoat these facts. Denying them, blocking them out, pretending that they are not real is of no help to you and your family, and it leaves you totally unprepared for a danger that the Natural Solutions Foundation has been warning about since the first day. As of three weeks ago the levels of radiation inside of the spent fuel pools of unit no. 2 are too high to measure. Get that… too high to measure. And, the water there is evaporating, meaning that heat and radiation could easily build to very high levels.
Very simply put, if this much Cesium 137 is released, it will destroy the world environment and our civilization. This is not rocket science, nor does it connect to the pugulistic debate over nuclear power plants. This is an issue of human survival.
We can play the denial game all day long and pretend that, because the mainstream media is not reporting on it, there is no threat, but the facts are quite clear. This is, without a doubt, the most immediate threat faced by the world. It’s so serious, in fact, that the Japanese government has considered and put into place evacuation plans for the whole of Tokyo – some 40 million people. Reports are also emerging that suggest a collapse of the spent fuel pools would be so serious that the entire country of Japan may have to be evacuated. The entire country – that’s 125 million refugees that will cause an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. Before you argue that these are the ravings of just alternative media conspiracy theorists and fearmongers, consider the assessment put forth by Robert Alvarez , a senior policy adviser to the Secretary for National Security and the Environment for the US Department of Energy: The No. 4 pool is about 100 feet above ground, is structurally damaged and is exposed to the open elements. If an earthquake or other event were to cause this pool to drain this could result in a catastrophic radiological fire involving nearly 10 times the amount of Cs-137 released by the Chernobyl accident. The infrastructure to safely remove this material was destroyed as it was at the other three reactors. Spent reactor fuel cannot be simply lifted into the air by a crane as if it were routine cargo. In order to prevent severe radiation exposures, fires and possible explosions, it must be transferred at all times in water and heavily shielded structures into dry casks.. As this has never been done before, the removal of the spent fuel from the pools at the damaged Fukushima-Dai-Ichi reactors will require a major and time-consuming re-construction effort and will be charting in unknown waters.
The total spent reactor fuel inventory at the Fukushima-Daichi site contains nearly half of the total amount of Cs-137 estimated by the NCRP to have been released by all atmospheric nuclear weapons testing, Chernobyl, and world-wide reprocessing plants (~270 million curies or ~9.9 E+18 Becquerel). It is important for the public to understand that reactors that have been operating for decades, such as those at the Fukushima-Dai-Ichi site, have generated some of the largest concentrations of radioactivity on the planet. Regulatory agencies all over the world are warning of the potentiality of a further degradation of the Fukushima nuclear reactors and spent fuel pools, and the subsequent nuclear fallout that would follow. If these reactors go – and they could at any moment for any number of reasons – we’re looking at a situation for which you simply cannot stock enough food, or water, or supplies. Radiation would spread across the entire northern hemisphere and would be impossible to contain. While we’ve argued in the past that there is no place we’d rather be than in the United States of America in the event of a socio-economic collapse or global conflict, if these spent fuel pools collapse, then an international exit strategy may be the only option. Because details are sparse and research limited, it is difficult to predict what nuclear fall out from Japan may look like. The following map may be of some help, as it details the estimated fallout pattern resulting from a nuclear war between Russia and the United States. You’ll note that, while most of the world would be irradiated, the southern hemisphere would be your best bet to avoid the brunt of it:
Copyright Information: Copyright SHTFplan and Mac Slavo. This content may be freely reproduced in full or in part in digital form with full attribution to the author and a link to http://www.shtfplan.com. Please contact us for permission to reproduce this content in other media formats.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
The capitalist-consumerist paradigm is over. The peoples of the planet are at a cultural-conservatism, wealth-redistribution phase. A report said that solar panels covering the size of Nevada can power the whole of the USA. To protect the environment, shut down all those nuke plants and decommission all nuke warheads, Bury all of the nuclear material in a NON-QUAKE ZONE and go non-GMO. Distribute the land equally to everyone for subsistence farming, end of the food stamp and distribution or labour and work problems.
As for financing . . . Need to eat? Grow own food. Need materials for house? Grow materials from trees and build your own with some carpentry, quarry your own stones or bag up compacted soil or even compacted TRASH. Education? Based from internet FOR FREE and marked on ability to think critically (a handful of questions on ethics and logic, nominally COMMON SENSE morality (not the length of skirt or sexual orientation, if they they gamble or drink or use organics, but if one will be a corporate raider, accept golden parachute bonuses – instead of amending company policy to be fair to stockholders – when a company collapses taking out ordinary 401K type stockholders, or write a law lowering election deposits instead of assigning taxpayer finds to one’s own funeral which has not occurred by sheer skewed sense of entitlement, raising bureaucrat salaries many times above GDP growth and inflation, holding on to power after 2 terms effectively preventing the rest of the nation from participating in policy making (sometimes generationally like so many Arab Spring type dictators) . . .
The above . . . will decide who has the ethical balls, rather than being a greedy, lazy and mob minded, yet cowardly pack of followers afraid to step out of line to make a point, or simply spineless and going along with ‘the flow’ (the fundo-psyche-politico-sycophant establishments decided to punish some of us ‘activists’ and critical thinkers for making a point and a stand . . . ), to insist on the need of TERM LIMITED bureaucrats) joins the army or police, or is best suited for research and trend studies law amending studies etc., or entirely unsuitable for anything – meaning subsistence sponsored by government or their family (mainly those who ask for near 2 times 401K for their funeral funds simply because they were some bureaucrat in the past) . . . not rote, learn, memorise and toe authoritarian political lines, there are no such lines, humanity is as free as the next bacterium excepting the civilising effect of laws that prevent abuse or parasitisation of others.
The earth belongs to everyone right (99%!~)? So everyone has the right to a piece of land enough for their own families (thats right no 2nd 3rd or 10th homes for plutocrats or law makers that allow vast swathes of arable or liveable land to be unusable while the homeless who could be growing their own food or building their own homes are stuck in cities disallowed from using that same land . . . or insisting that accreditation bureaucrats and boards and buildings, building materials suppliers, building contractors or stationary and book supply contractors, bureaucrats, then canteen suppliers and food preparers who want to value add to their profits (20% to 300% increases?) sweepers and gardeners and security guards (who all would possibly rather prefer to be growing their own food on land distributed from unused land banks of ‘state land’ if given a choice) to be needed to qualify an education, instead of anyone who doesn’t mind sitting in an empty parking lot to ‘educate’ then allow those who attended to claim a degree to start working . . . a degree could cost nothing well at most everyone collectively could give the lecturer minimum wage (100 students per open air class divided by 7.50 per x10 hours = 75 cents per student per day . . . 273.75 per year of ‘University’) . . . students do you know why your degree costs so much now? Because of Education-Financier Complex described above . . . ). The cities earlier built needn’t even be abandoned though different rules could apply (Capitalist non-distribution Zones?) since those are supposed to be ‘prime territory’. WTF is UN or NAM doing?
Earth has 36.48 billion acres. However, there are only 12 million square miles (7.68 billion acres) of arable land. In 2006, there were 1.15 acres of arable land per person, world-wide (i.e. 7.68 billion acres / 6.68 billion people). With irrigation and forestration work (think Gaddafi’s GMRP Nubian Aquifer system -http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Manmade_River), this could be 100 times more in as soon as 10-20 years.
Now, think 3 dimensionally in existing arable areas, where up to 3 to 20 times the amount of arable land could be created (with 15 storey high , or 50 perhaps added modularly, if needed, via the corkscrew form structures seen in link below) . . .
Finally, voters should not vote self serving plutocrats, or fundos or undemocratic minded nepotists, into power who do not respect term limits or understand ethical prohibitions in creating blocs of relatives (much less term limitless ones) in government. Whats wrong with everyone? Too stupid? Who have you been voting for? Check the background or run for election yourselves!
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Stars and Cults of Personalty Section
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ARTICLE 1
Chivalry isn’t dead! Jennifer Lopez holds hands with Casper Smart as the toyboy lugs bags – by Leah Simpson – PUBLISHED: 02:19 GMT, 21 May 2012 | UPDATED: 16:20 GMT, 21 May 2012
He may only be a spring chicken at the age of 25. But despite the wide age gap, Jennifer Lopez’s new flame has all the qualities of a traditional and perhaps older gentleman. The 42-year-old’s backing dancer beau, Casper Smart, accompanied his lady on a shopping trip to the Grove in West Hollywood today. Age gap love: Jennifer Lopez locked hands with her boyfriend Casper Smart as the pair shopped at The Grove in West Hollywood, California today. And while a retail outing with their partner sounds like a nightmare for many men, Smart seemed perfectly happy to be at Lopez’s beck and call as she picked out fashionable items.
They emerged from the celebrity-favourite shopping centre showing no signs of bickering between the clothing rails as they held hands and walked thought the parking lot.
The young man even lugged his partner’s bulging bags as she simply carried her bag over her shoulder.
Bagsy this one! Jennifer looked smug her man carried her Zara bags around
Bagsy this one! Jennifer looked smug her man carried her Zara bags around
Nothing but a number: The performer’s younger man is 25 while she is 42
Trendy boy: Smart dressed stylishly in a trilby hat and sunglasses
While trendy Casper donned a trilby hat and sunglasses with his white T-shirt and black trousers, his girlfriend stood out as they made their way to the car.
She drew attention to her shoulders as she wore her hair in a bun on top of her head and blue jumpsuit embellished with a waist belt.
Cream gladiator sandals graced her feet and white framed sunglasses shielded her eyes.
Making a fuss: He even opened the car door for his woman showing chivalry isn’t dead
Making a fuss: He opened the car door for his woman showing chivalry isn’t dead
Casper was quick to open the passenger door for his older woman as she approach the vehicle so it’s no wonder, she has been singing his praises recently.
She unleashed a cringeworthy PDA when she performed on American Idol earlier this season with her lover also on stage with her.
In a moment that saw Casper pick confetti out of J-Lo’s hair after the performance ended in a flurry of ticker tape, she immediately said to the audience: ‘He’s so cute!’
Additionally, last month People magazine reported that he sees the star as royalty.
A source said: ‘There is a lot of love between [them], he treats her like a queen.’
Passion for fashion: J-Lo looked great in a blue jumpsuit with light-coloured bag, shoes and belt
Passion for fashion: J-Lo looked great in a blue jumpsuit with light-coloured bag
what because no other man anywhere has ever carried his womans bags? tell ya what come take pics of me day to day, opening doors for women, carrying bags for my partner, women first etc etc but i dont have a news article do i?
– Michael Smith, Pontefract, 22/5/2012 10:47
Rating 3
wish my man would treat me like that! lol am i right ladies??
There is nothing like a hot, fit, young stallion for some fun and rejuvenation! 🙂 Enjoy it, JLO! good on you!
– a., England, 21/5/2012 23:58
Rating 24
Will she snap off his thing if he tries to leave?
– wondering, Canada, 21/5/2012 23:21
Rating 8
Same type of pictures as LeAnn Rimes, so is she pay DM too? lol ……….. selective indignation.
– Jullou, Glendale, AZ, 21/5/2012 18:35
Rating 5
Well, she’s his BOSS & his sole source of income, right? I’m not sure he’s such a fabulous gentleman, maybe just a good employee– sorry!
– jenisoutherngirl, Bham, USA, 21/5/2012 18:14
Rating 60
And man servant is all he really is. I give it one year. Meanwhile her two kids suffer all this and will be in rehab by the time they’re 18.
– Doug Smart, New York, USA, 21/5/2012 17:49
Rating 38
HA! I love it. One photo signifies his character and their relationship entirely. If he was snapped putting it down I wonder what the article would be about….zzz
– Michelle, London, 21/5/2012 16:23
Rating 17
It’s amazing what extensions can do to Jeniifers hair, but when they come off, theres litteraloy just a small amount of hair. love her though
– Tino, Brighton, United Kingdom, 21/5/2012 15:49
Rating 29
J-Lo is millions times better than Kim
– Genevieve, bristol, 21/5/2012 15:39
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Both of them should hire a footman, maid, or few for this sort of thing if Casper wants to raise his status to that of an equal.. IDK but some cynical feminists could well be thinking how they got all the guys under control. Carrying bags or opening doors is not chivalry, this is the work of footmen glorified as chivalry. Chivalry is a mindset and for the poor who cannot afford footmen, yes this would count. But to do a high profile MSM on a couple at this level of wealth who could hire an entourage of servants and footmen, this ends up potentially (I stress potentially, so will the psychoanalysts lay off whatever presumed smartsauce – theirs or others), as a farcical take on the concept of chivalry per se to manipulate the masses with a feminist agenda instead. In fact a PA designated as a PA who has any pride of self, would (especially if pointedly asked) REFUSE to carry bags, open doors, or carry umbrellas, these sorts of jobs are decidely menial in nature, money is one thing, but job description and the ability to REFUSE to do such work, is another. The bosses who do fire for such refusals are despots and no respectable members of society.
Of course if you want to say, these are your mere ‘Sudra entertainer’ class, and to not take them seriously, we could well just ignore all MSM (and MSM manipulation) as well.
ARTICLE 2
Geri Halliwell hints of Spice Girls reunion in time to perform for Jubilee and Olympics – by Katie Nicholl – PUBLISHED: 01:56 GMT, 20 May 2012 | UPDATED: 01:56 GMT, 20 May 2012
Geri Halliwell has offered a glimmer of hope to Spice Girls fans desperate to see the Nineties group reform for the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. ‘It would be unfair of me to reveal anything now,’ Geri, 39, hinted with a wink at the Heather Kerzner and Marie Curie Cancer Care dinner.
Melanie ‘Mel C’ Chisholm, 38, added to the intrigue, saying: ‘I think we need to get our skates on and do it before we are too old!’ Sparking rumours: Geri Halliwell has dropped a hint that the Spice Girls could reform in time for the Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympics. Reunited: Fans of the 90s group the Spice Girls may not have to wait long to see them back on stage. Party girl Kate adds a twist of glamour. Kate Moss pictured with Heather at the event.
Hosting a glamorous fundraising party at Claridge’s in Mayfair last week for Marie Curie Cancer Care, socialite Heather Kerzner tried to persuade pal Kate Moss to get up and sing with music legends Ronnie Wood and Sam Moore. Kate, pictured with Heather at the event, has been known to have impromptu singalongs – once joining in with Primal Scream and on another occasion duetting with Boy George – but this time insisted her singing wasn’t good enough. But she did jump on stage to dance and help at the auction. ‘It was amazing to see her on stage with Ronnie and Sam,’ said Heather. Kate turned up with husband Jamie Hince and Heather said: ‘It was lovely seeing them so happy.’ The party raised more than £620,000. Charlotte Church is turning to Florence Welch for inspiration as she prepares to relaunch her singing career.
The 26-year-old is making her comeback next month at the philosophy and music festival How The Light Gets In, which is running alongside the Hay literary festival at Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh border. Charlotte, who rose to fame as a classical singer before crossing over to pop music in 2005, will perform live for the first time in two years. ‘Her sound is a cross between Florence and the Machine and Kate Bush,’ said a spokesman for the festival.
Charlotte said: ‘It’s a great festival and I’ve missed playing live. The music is different to anything I’ve done before, so I recommend people come with an open mind.’ American Pie actress Tara Reid has been canoodling in Cannes with 60-year-old gems tycoon Fawaz Gruosi. The blonde Hollywood star, 36, was spotted at a Raffles boat party that the founder of de Grisogono luxury jewellery was hosting with Eva Longoria for the film festival. ‘Tara and Faraz could not keep their hands off each other,’ a source says. ‘She sat on his lap and he ran his hands all over her. They left together and he certainly seemed to be her sugar daddy.’ Fawaz counts Naomi Campbell among his many younger female admirers.
[[[ *** RESPONSE *** ]]]
Has been ‘time out’ for a decade or more for these married mothers. Come on girls, look for and even FUND replacement lookalikes and give some younger kids a chance in the spotlight. Spicegirls can live on but don’t make a Mubarak or a Gaddafi out of the girl power. Some memes just don’t grow better when their creators get older. Burnt out vs fresh faced! Try the below charts for ‘rating’ stars :
Rating Stars (or any public figures like television hosts, though a programme with a target demogrphic that consists of married people can ignore the marriage factor)
+2 Unattached Bisexual
+1 Unattached Hetero
0 On and off with someone not too unpopular
-1 Attached (+1 for the ‘loves to break up relationships type’ but this isn’t exactly healthy to promote . . . )
-2 Married (+1 for the ‘cast eyes on wives type’ but this isn’t exactly healthy to promote . . . )
-3 Married with children (+2 for the ‘MILF chaser type’ but this isn’t exactly healthy to promote . . . )
+2 Plays typical heroes / real historical heroes (may backfire if entirely off casting expectations)
+1 Plays cartoon/fiction(cosplay)/fuzzy-animals(furries)/heroes
0 Plays typical characters
-1 Plays atypical characters/atypical-non-fuzzy animals
-2 Plays villians
+2 extreme good looks
+1 good looks
0 average looks
-1 bad looks (but if matched with the corrct film ideal for such looks can be +1 memorable)
+2 extreme bad looks (but if matched with the corrct film ideal for such looks can be +2 memorable)
+1 consistent character depictions/style type (i.e. ken-barbies stay ken-barbies, or goths stay goth, not turn into corporate types then switch again etc.
baldies stay bald, hairstyle types stay consistent (even if unsuitable which in itself can be an identifier and consistency)
0 average people do no stand out or perhaps have no chance to
-1 inconsistent character depictions/style type
+1 represents largest class of society
+1 ethnic appropriate / ethnic accurate or neutral modern
+1 regular job very high ranked (spouse is high ranked)
extra-dramatic
(not necessarily useful or helpful – robbers who got away without killing anyone)/popular or helpful-useful-luxury day job
(religious figures not part of scandlised faiths, military)
recreation related jobs, sports related (recreation) jobs
0 regular job
-1 unpopular, unpleasant or unhelpful day job (menial work, scavenging small business types, corporate raiders, robbers who were caught – those who don’t become ‘cool’)
malaysiandemocracy 
