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'What's the problem?' China calls foul on Western reporting
A glimpse into how China percieves reports on its handling of Tibet and the Olympics in the West. The People's Daily condemns the Western (particularly French) media's 'blatant discrimination towards China', to the extent of 'slander', claiming that such views are completely mystifying to those living within the PRC.
Bear in mind that The People's Daily, one of China's biggest national papers, is also the mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party. A glimpse into how China percieves reports on its handling of Tibet and the Olympics in the West. The People's Daily condemns the Wes... more -
Rape is a way of life for Darfur's women
Rape is being used as an ethnic cleansing in Darfur. An estimated 100% of women and children as young as four, have been raped by militia. Some even more than once a day while gathering firewood.
Over 20 babies per month are abandoned by their victim mothers, who are not speaking up and claiming their rapes or abandoned children.
Men are afraid of speaking up, defending or accompanying the women in going out and doing chores in fear of being killed for doing so.
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I hope that these babies are finding good homes through adoption and something is done soon.
The less that these women say, the worse it will become. I understand that it must be terrifying and painful and degrading, but it's so scary and sad to know that the women of Darfur have come to accept this as their life ... Rape is being used as an ethnic cleansing in Darfur. An estimated 100% of women and children as young as four, have been raped by mili... more -
One Earth Blog by TouchArt
One Earth Blog
Take a break to join Charleen Touchette of Mixed Blood Radio, for a virtual cup of tea or coffee in historic Santa Fe to chat, reflect on the weather, art, raising children, living green, world politics and keeping creativity flowing in a challenging world.
Check One Earth Blog as the mood moves you for new thoughts, pictures, viewpoints, radio interviews, video, art and links several times each week.
TouchArt's One Earth Blog brings you news, voices, and leaders in Indigenous Arts and Politics, Environmental and Green News and Scientists, American Indian Leaders, Artists and Authors, Mixed Blood Activists and Leaders, and voices, art and literature from youth from diverse rural, urban and reservation communities.
Check out One Earth Blog for news on Touchette's work with TouchArt Books, Russell Means and the Oppressionist Art Movement, Martin Luther King III and the Realizing the Dream Poverty in America Initiative and Bill Brown at New Mexico Global Warming.
With each decision, we each can be part of the solution.
We share one earth.
Like a stone dropped into a pool of water, every action has a ripple effect.
ONE EARTH - THINK ABOUT/ACT LIKE IT.
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From TouchArt.net and OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com
One Earth Blog ... more -
The battle is on — political forces are on the offensive
Here is the story I have seen developing over the last 59 days since 18th February. The story is purely based on news reports, current affairs programs and personal sources in Islamabad.
1. Just after the elections when it was confirmed that somehow the mad dictator and his cronies have lost the elections. Establishment embarked on a strategy to damage control. It was agreed amongst the establishment key stackholders that the battle is lost, however they may control the damage not to complete destroy them.
2. The strategy was highly dependant upon the actions of other people (i.e opposition) than their own actions. It became also apparent in the later stages that US and other Western European powers will not involve themselves in any aspect of this strategy.
3. The key issues that they faced were in order of their severity:
- The murder of Benazir Bhutto and investigations by United Nations.
- Charter of Democracy and its consequences.
- The issue of Balochistan and murder of Akbar Bugti , Mengal.
- The huge income of dollars in terms of US investment in Army and control of those funds.
- Missing persons
- Restoration of judiciary
4. As I said their was more dependant on the actions of PPP and PML(N), the first goal was to have a rift between PPP and PML(N), than create a rift amongst PPP ranks. Most important action they were waiting from PPP was the selection of PM candidate. The hoped to have Makhdoom Amin Fahim in that position and if not, they expected to create a rift in PPP ranks on that issue. Somehow Asif Zardari turned out to be more shrewd politician than they expected. Even Makhdoom Amin Fahim disappointed the establishment a lot. For the rift between PPP and PML(N) , PML(Q) successful candidates were used, who joined PML(N) in throngs to create the impression that PML(N) may be using them as to blackmail PPP in Punjab.
5. However the action that failed the first strategy of establishment was Murree declaration. Which somehow included the restoration of judges (in parenthesis it meant decalaration of 3rd November PCO as illegal), They did however succeeded in getting the CoD not mentioned in the six point declaration.
6. After the first defeat however establishment reworked their strategy , and came on the discussion table to have the negotiations. As true sons of Tiger Niazi (Dhaka fame) , their first approach was to have the cake and eat it too. The Qayum bill was product of that thinking. The most important aspect of Qayum bill was that it brought up reference of CoD in it (so remember never make monkey as your friend). It however said that the actions of PCO will indemnified in return of Judges restoration. However it brought the CoD clause in it to appoint the judges, their wishful thinking was that they may get CJ or any other judges blocked by it. Again this backfired as this bill turned the attention of AZ and NS towards CoD instead of restoration of Judiciary. Here is the story I have seen developing over the last 59 days since 18th February. The story is purely based on news reports, current... more -
The Great Wall of Texas
This is about a controversial border wall going up in Southern Texas, and the town's point of view on it. It's my first try at a short documentary. This is about a controversial border wall going up in Southern Texas, and the town's point of view on it. It's my first try at a shor... more
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Pentagon report: Britain will be 'Siberian' by 2020
A secret document suppressed by US defence chiefs has advised President George Bush that climate change will destroy us within 20 years. Detailing potential rioting and nuclear war, the threat to the world will be 'vastly eclipses terrorism'. The UK is set to be facing 'Siberian' conditions in less than 20 years, and the global catastrophe will cost millions of lives in wars and natural disasters.
The report was commissioned by influential Pentagon defence adviser Andrew Marshall, who has held considerable sway on US military thinking over the past three decades. The Bush administration has repeatedly denied that climate change even exists, placing national defence at top priority.
A secret document suppressed by US defence chiefs has advised President George Bush that climate change will destroy us within 20 year... more -
Serbia: don't blame us, blame the US for violence
That was the word out of Serbia. The Minister to Kosovo for Serbia has declared the US as the 'main culprit' behind the violence that has hit the region since last Thursday. That was the word out of Serbia. The Minister to Kosovo for Serbia has declared the US as the 'main culprit' behind the violence that... more
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Sri Lanka - 9 killed in suicide bomb
A suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blew herself up in a packed railway station in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo today (Sunday) killing nine people and wounding around 100, the military said. The blast on the eve of ceremonies to mark the troubled island nation's 60th anniversary came hours after a crude bomb went off in a zoo in the capital wounding four visitors. Both attacks were blamed on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam fighting for an independent homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east of the island. A suspected Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blew herself up in a packed railway station in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo today (Sunday) ki... more
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Let Them Donate
Calls for a revolution in the way post-death organ donations are handled are picking up speed, with the Observer newspaper today launching a campaign for a sea change in the law. With government ministers joining in with the calls for a system of 'presumed consent', it's looking likely that a meaningful attempt to tackle the unnecessary deaths caused by the acute shortage of donors in the UK will be put in place soon. Calls for a revolution in the way post-death organ donations are handled are picking up speed, with the Observer newspaper today launc... more
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Yemen Solicits Release of Guantanamo 100
Yemen has stated that the US should free its Guantanamo Bay prisoners, arguing that public opinion of the States would be improved dramatically. President Ali Abdullah Saleh invoked images of the founding principles of the US - 'freedom and justice', and human rights, in his letter to Bush. Around 100 of the 275 Guantanamo inmates are Yemenis. Yemen has stated that the US should free its Guantanamo Bay prisoners, arguing that public opinion of the States would be improved dra... more
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Chavez - 'Colombians Are Not Terrorists'
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has said that there is no military solution to the situation in next-door Colombia, where he negotiated a hostage release deal this weekend. The left-leaning leader also stated that Colombian rebels must be labelled 'insurgents' rather than 'terrorists'. Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has said that there is no military solution to the situation in next-door Colombia, where he negotiat... more
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Edmund Hillary
Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to scale Everest - the world's highest mountain - dies of a heart attack in his native New Zealand.
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Pregnant Marine's Grave Apparently found
Authorities said Friday they believe they found the shallow grave of a pregnant Marine in the back yard of a comrade she accused of rape, along with evidence inside his home that suggested she had been killed. Authorities said Friday they believe they found the shallow grave of a pregnant Marine in the back yard of a comrade she accused of ra... more
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Police Say Shafilea Ahmed Was Murdered
Coroners also stated that 17-year old Ahmed was the victim of a 'very vile murder'. It has been speculated that the law student's refusal to participate in an arranged marriage contributed to her death. Her body was found washed up on the shore at Kendal, a few miles from her home, in September 2004. Coroners also stated that 17-year old Ahmed was the victim of a 'very vile murder'. It has been speculated that the law student's ref... more
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Kenya Media and Bloggers Fight Back Against Ban on Riot Coverage
Kenya's government attempted a crackdown on the media shortly after the election results were announced by banning live coverage of events in Kenya. The ban did not work.
The Media Council of Kenya and the Media Owners Association termed the order 'draconian, impractical and an affront to the press freedom in the country.'
Bloggers are also fighting back as well. Some of the most accurate and up-to-date information is coming from bloggers and citizen journalists living in Kenya. Kenya Pundit is reporting that the government also cracked down against bulk SMS messages from cell phones. SMS messages could be used by the opposition to give information about the January 3rd rally or to provide updates in the absence of live television. Stores have run low on cell phone credit cards but you can purchase them online for someone in Kenya. Cell phones are important for citizen journalists to capture and email video and still images to blogs and reporters outside Kenya. Kenya's government attempted a crackdown on the media shortly after the election results were announced by banning live coverage of ev... more -
Bhutto: 'Secret Service Was Diverting US Aid To Rig Pakistan Elections'
Officials in Benazir Bhutto's political party have issued a statement detailing how Bhutto was scheduled to meet two prominent US politicians. She intended to share information about the diversion of US aid by Pakistani officials towards influencing the elections. Officials in Benazir Bhutto's political party have issued a statement detailing how Bhutto was scheduled to meet two prominent US poli... more
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Mock Rail Tickets For Passenger Strike
Thousands of rail passengers are preparing to stage a fares strike to demonstrate their displeasure at tomorrow's price increases on some of Britain's least punctual lines, some of which are so overcrowded during peak hours that 'customers' are forced to stand in carriage toilet cubicles.
The campaigners' tickets will use alternative wording, such as 'Worst Late Western' (for 'First Great Western'). Last year First Great Western avoided confrontation by accepting the mocked-up tickets. The company is viewed as the worst offender by the campaign group, More Train Less Strain. With one of the UK's biggest rail franchises, profiting from over 75 million passengers a year, around 20% of the company's trains run late on a daily basis.
Thousands of rail passengers are preparing to stage a fares strike to demonstrate their displeasure at tomorrow's price increases on s... more -
Man Arrested Over Radio 1 DJ Death
Following the death of former Radio 1 DJ Kevin Greening on Saturday night, police officers are questioning a man on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs to the 44 year old radio presenter. Greening's death has been deemed 'unexplained' by coroners. Following the death of former Radio 1 DJ Kevin Greening on Saturday night, police officers are questioning a man on suspicion of suppl... more
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San Francisco Tiger: Walls 4ft Lower Than Recommended
As police in the US examine the aftermath of the San Francisco tragedy, in which a 17 year old boy was mauled to death, details about the zoo enclosure are coming to light. The walls surrounded the caged area were 4ft lower than initially reported, which contravenes safety laws. Click through to the story where Newsvine journos describe the chaos and disbelief for authority figures and medics in the wake of the tiger escape. As police in the US examine the aftermath of the San Francisco tragedy, in which a 17 year old boy was mauled to death, details about ... more
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Footballer Dies After Collapsing On Pitch
35-year old Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell collapsed and died on the pitch yesterday during his team's game against Dundee in the Scottish Premier League match. It is believed he suffered a seizure. 35-year old Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell collapsed and died on the pitch yesterday during his team's game against Dundee in the S... more
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