tagged w/ Woman's Rights
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A few of us Voice women headed down to the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse yesterday to join hundreds of New Yorkers protesting the acquittal of Kenneth Moreno and Franklin Mata, the two NYPD cops accused of raping a woman in her apartment in 2009. There was chanting, sign-waving, speechifying; chants ranged from "We are here to say / Rape is not okay!" to "Not her clothes, not her fault, no one asks for sexual assault!" to "Fuck the police!", a slogan that sounded unusually potent, if incongruous, coming from a crowd that skewed mostly female.
Despite its on-the-fly organization -- feminist group Permanent Wave put everything together in under 24 hours-- the event attracted about 300 people to Centre Street yesterday afternoon.
A number of people spoke, including activist Savitri D, Titus Andronicus member Amy Klein, and that Reverend Billy guy. People were pissed.
Videos here:
http://www.politicalfailblog.com/2011/05/fuck-police-hundreds-protest-kenneth.htmlA few of us Voice women headed down to the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse yesterday to... more
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Go to Miami...bitches. Bye.
With the endless promotion building up for the second season of MTV’S Jersey Shore, it was inevitable that the show would not live up to the hype. Sure, I tuned in…but I DVR’ed it so the advertisers don’t get my eyeballs. Strike One. “We’re going to Miami, bitches” was uttered more times than was necessary. Last season, I was the last holdout for the show. It wasn’t until Christmas vacation, snowbound in Rhinebeck, that I watched all the episodes back to back. Yes…it was brilliant. But, brilliant because it was like some kind of sociology experiment, observing creatures that would be considered study-able, becoming extinct like Chimpanzees or perhaps even legendary beings rumored to be walking the Earth like Chupacabra or the Abominable Snowman. These kids are like no one I have ever met, yet, we know they exist…clearly…on MTV. The first episode of season two was cute…ish. Repetitive beyond, and we learned nothing new about any of these characters. You know this show is in trouble if Angelina is the most likable of the Guidettes. “I am way too classy for these bitches,” she says. Really? Think again.
Of course there were a few great lines, my favorite is the one from Ronnie’s friend, “Double Bagger, you know, you wear a bag over your head, too, in case the bag falls off her head.” Pearls of wisdom. Sure, Snooki is the main character, but if she doesn’t get a good storyline, she will quickly become annoying…which she probably was before her good fortune of getting cast on the show. JWoww is a friggen toodgie. Her instinct to beat someone’s ass is less than interesting and sadly, she is now a role model of some sort. As school systems, teachers and parents are anxiously trying to harness rampant Bullying, here comes a barely-clad skank with nothing else up her sleeve besides a fist. That, my dears, is not a good thing. The Guidettes are like the cheesy versions of the Sex and the City broads, known booze-hounds and sexual desperados. What impact do these gals have on the women’s movement? Surely not the women’s movement I knew growing up in the 70’s. But, what do I know?
Read more: http://imeanwhat.com/lastfiveminutesoffame/jersey-snore#ixzz0vBQWpEaFGo to Miami...bitches. Bye.
With the endless promotion building up for the second... more
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You can hate me for in but i love the French they approach politics with a certain honesty, bluntness. Traits that were once considered American .....
Excerpts from the article:
PARIS - France's immigration minister on Sunday proposed a national debate on French "national identity," saying it should not include face-covering Muslim veils.
"For me, no burqas on the street," Eric Besson said on LCI television, referring to the all-encompassing veils such as those worn in Afghanistan. But he didn't directly suggest a ban, saying it was up to lawmakers to decide whether that would be the most effective measure.
"The burqa runs counter to national values," he said, saying such veils are an affront to women's rights and the French commitment to equality.
President Nicolas Sarkozy has said the burqa imprisons women and is not welcome in France, and a parliamentary commission is holding six months of hearings that could lay the groundwork for a law banning Muslim women from wearing head-to-toe and face-covering veils in public.
Besson suggested a 2 1/2-month-long "great debate on national identity" on the theme "What does it mean to be French?" The idea is "to reaffirm values of national identity and pride in being French," he said.
"In France, the nation and the republic remain the strongest ramparts against ... fundamentalist tendencies," Besson said. "France is diversity, and France is unity."
Debate on French identity
Besson said foreign residents in France should speak better French and that French schoolchildren should have more opportunities to sing the national anthem, La Marseillaise.
The idea of a national debate on French identity is likely to rankle immigrants' and minority rights groups who say Sarkozy's government is too intolerant of outsiders. Himself the son of a Hungarian immigrant, Sarkozy has sought to crack down on illegal immigration, focusing on skilled immigrants instead.
The head of France's largest Muslim body, Mohammed Moussaoui, told the parliamentary panel earlier this month that the full-body veil — worn by a small minority of Muslims in France — is an "entry way" to radical Islam, but that the national debate over whether to ban it is stigmatizing the entire Muslim community.
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I feel that it is important to note that thou the article states that Muslims are the second largest religious population in France this fact is true, but misleading according to the Eurobarometer Poll *
34% of French citizens responded that "they believe there is a God".
27% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force".
33% answered that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force".
so 60% of France does not believe in God
("Eurobarometer on Social Values, Science and technology 2005 - page 11")
But interest enough........ a January 2007* poll found that
51% of the French population describe themselves as Catholics (and only half of those said they believed in God),
31% as atheists,
4% as Muslims,
3% as Protestants
and 1% as Jews
*{(Romanian) Franţa nu mai e o ţară catolică (France is no longer a Catholic country), Cotidianul, 2007-01-1}
So the "second largest religion" pretty misleading huh? only 4% leaving 96% who have absolutly no religious reason to wear a burqa...
You could hide a bomb under a burqa, and it would be impossible to see who you are. I'm just saying, no one mentioned it, had to be said.....
Even with that said i cant see making a religious piece of clothing illegall.... period... no matter how oppressive it was.Of course it also goes without saying that no one should be forced to where that.......anywhere!
-ksutherland27
ksutherland27@aol.comYou can hate me for in but i love the French they approach politics with a certain... more
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Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, has signed a law which "legalises" rape, women's groups and the United Nations warn. Critics claim the president helped rush the bill through parliament in a bid to appease Islamic fundamentalists ahead of elections in August.
In a massive blow for women's rights, the new Shia Family Law negates the need for sexual consent between married couples, tacitly approves child marriage and restricts a woman's right to leave the home, according to UN papers seen by The Independent.
"It is one of the worst bills passed by the parliament this century," fumed Shinkai Karokhail, a woman MP who campaigned against the legislation. "It is totally against women's rights. This law makes women more vulnerable."
The law regulates personal matters like marriage, divorce, inheritance and sexual relations among Afghanistan's minority Shia community. "It's about votes," Ms Karokhail added. "Karzai is in a hurry to appease the Shia because the elections are on the way."
The provisions are reminiscent of the hardline Taliban regime, which banned women from leaving their homes without a male relative. But in a sign of Afghanistan's faltering steps towards gender equality, politicians who opposed it have been threatened.
"There are moderate views among the Shia, but unfortunately our MPs, the people who draft the laws, rely on extremists," Ms Karokhail said.
The bill lay dormant for more than a year, but in February it was rushed through parliament as President Karzai sought allies in a constitutional row over the upcoming election. Senator Humeira Namati claimed it wasn't even read out in the Upper House, let alone debated, before it was passed to the Supreme Court. "They accused me of being an unbeliever," she said.
Details of the law emerged after Mr Karzai was endorsed by Afghanistan's Supreme Court to stay in power until elections scheduled in August. Some MPs claimed President Karzai was under pressure from Iran, which maintains a close relationship with Afghanistan's Shias. The most controversial parts of the law deal explicitly with sexual relations. Article 132 requires women to obey their husband's sexual demands and stipulates that a man can expect to have sex with his wife at least "once every four nights" when travelling, unless they are ill. The law also gives men preferential inheritance rights, easier access to divorce, and priority in court.Afghanistan's President, Hamid Karzai, has signed a law which... more
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Welcome to our new website, Environmentalists for Obama!
'Now, more than ever, our nation and world needs a strong environmental leader as President. The challenges posed by global warming and energy needs can only be solved by someone with a proven commitment and ability to engage all people in the critical effort to provide a safe, clean future for America. Barack Obama’s dedication to the environment has been well-established during his years as a state legislator and U.S. Senator. Environmentalists for Obama know that he is the answer to the tough challenges facing us today.
We represent people from all walks of life who are eager for a leader who will promote innovative solutions and reach across partisan and societal divides in our race to save the planet. Join us now to support Barack Obama’s vision for a cleaner, more secure future.
And please join the discussion on our blog. We only ask that participants show consideration and respect for each other. The Environmentalists for Obama blog is not an expression of the positions of Barack Obama or the campaign."
* Support from Environmental Leaders *
We have devoted much of our lives to the cause of conservation and environmental protection, all actively support Barack Obama in his quest for the Democratic nomination.
View the list of environmental leaders that support Barack Obama: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/envirossupport/
Welcome to our new website, Environmentalists for Obama!
'Now, more than ever,... more
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Honorata Kizende, a rape victim in the Congo, spoke to a group called together by local and international ad groups. The audience consisted of everyone from high-ranking politicians to street kids. Rape victims in the Congo are encouraged to stay silence so as to not bring shame to themselves, their family, or their village. Kizende's willingness to speak reflects a wave to lift the taboo and get women talking.
UN officials have deemed the Congo to have the worst sexual violence in the world. More and more men are getting caught and put through the legal system as efforts to create a safer Congo escalate. However, a large number still walk away free.
European and American aid sources have stepped in to provide legal aid and build courthouses and prisons.Honorata Kizende, a rape victim in the Congo, spoke to a group called together by... more
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Three Facts About John McCain's Extreme Position on Choice:
John McCain is running on the Republican platform, which would ban all abortions - even in cases of rape and incest.
John McCain voted to criminalize doctors who support women in their reproductive choices, even when a woman's health is at risk.
Since 1983, John McCain has voted 125 times against women's reproductive health choices.
John McCain: Out of Touch with Women's Lives...
Check the Facts:ABC News, 8/20/08;
The Chicago Tribune, Eric Zorn, 8/28/08.
Senate vote 51, 3/13/03.
The New Republic, 8/27/08. Three Facts About John McCain's Extreme Position on Choice:
John McCain is... more
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