Drive-by Times: July 2008

Jul 31, 2008

Beijing Olympics: pollution threatens 'Green Games'

With just a few days left before opening ceremonies in Beijing, smog remains a problem. There has been a slight reprieve in the last day or so thanks to winds and rain that helped to bring down the pollution level.

In the lead up to the games, billions of dollars went into pollution fighting measures. Factories have been closed to help cut emissions and a severe limit has been placed on the amount of traffic allowed on the roads. Even so, earlier this week Beijing was wreathed in the familiar yellow-tinged smog.

On smoggy days visibility can be down to a couple of hundred yards. Particulate has been measured at double the level recommended by the World Health Organization.

A spokesperson for the Chinese environmental bureau said that "an emergency plan" will be implemented 48 hours ahead of the games if required. It's hard to see how this last ditch initiative can do what billions of dollars worth of anti-pollution fighting has been unable to achieve.

Despite Chinese assurances that pollution levels will drop as a result of measures being taken, a number of athletes remain concerned about competing. Olympic gold medalist, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, has pulled out of the Beijing marathon. He suffers from asthma and fears that the pollution could damage his health.

A spokesperson for Beijing's Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, claims that the haze over the city is normal for the time of year and that it has 'nothing to do with pollution.' In a rather unscientific attempt to convince the skeptical, he pointed out that the steam that appears when showering in your washroom at home doesn't mean it's pollution.

In a recently released report, Greenpeace describes Beijing's air quality as falling short of international guidelines.

Independent estimates of air quality might be hard to come by during the games. Chinese authorities have banned visitors from bringing in measuring equipment.

Beijing: worst case scenario

Jul 30, 2008

New McCain ad links Obama with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears

The McCain campaign has been going increasingly negative despite a pledge from their candidate to "run a respectful campaign, focused on the issues."

McCain has become more pointedly personal in his attacks. Part of his strategy involves presenting himself as more patriotic-than-thou in respect to his opponent.

He belittled Obama's patriotism with: "It seems to me that Obama would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign." He also made a point of criticizing Obama for not visiting with wounded troops at Ramstein Air Base in Germany - a petty complaint in an effort to turn the issue of non-visitation into a concern about patriotism or lack of.

Sarcasm never lags far behind. The nickname chosen by the McCain team to mock Obama perfectly illustrates their contempt and perhaps envy of a candidate who was treated like a superstar in Europe ... "the one."

McCain's new ad engages in outright mockery, in a manner that is not exactly "respectful" campaigning.

Obama is juxtaposed with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton in an effort to make him appear like a frivolous celebrity. The ad describes him as "the biggest celebrity in the world" ... the inference being that he shares traits with ego-obsessed narcissists, constantly besieged by paparazzi.

This is superficial stuff ... cheap shots that target Obama's image (the McCain campaign version of same). The fact that they feel the need to resort to this type of ad is revealing. After all their campaign has a candidate who is a gaffe machine riding on a reputation that hasn't really been tested. At times he is shockingly short on detail in areas of critical interest to voters. You get the feeling that artful bluff is a large part of McCain's act. In order to camouflage his deficits, his team may have decided to deflect attention.

These tactics say more about McCain than they do about Obama. If it was so "critical" to "run a respectful campaign focused on the issues," what happened in the interim? Two things - McCain screwed up and Obama started to look genuinely presidential. Now high minded principles are being jettisoned, because McCain it seems "would rather win a campaign than stand by his convictions."

Jul 28, 2008

MI5 considers Republican dissidents a greater threat in UK than Islamist terrorism

The majority of the electronic activity Brit security services have been zeroing in on lately isn't coming from self-proclaimed jihadists working overtime on their PC's. British authorities claim that 60% of electronic intercepts have been coming from Irish dissidents. MI5 believes that the people involved are hardline Republicans who oppose the peace process.

There is evidence that militant Republicans have been ramping up their activity. On June 14 of this year there was a landmine attack in Rosslea, County Fermanagh that targeted Police Services of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers. This is the first landmine attack since the IRA's initial ceasefire 14 years ago.

After the attack, Continuity IRA (CIRA) released a statement that included the following threat: “Let this be a warning to the Crown Forces that they will not be allowed to operate in any part of occupied territory regardless of the support of Provo cop Lynch and his cohorts."

Threats have also been directed at N.I. civil servants. In one case a threat allegedly from CIRA sources said it would target customs officers and staff from the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) for dealing with police in Co. Fermanagh.

The so-called Continuity IRA, is just one of a number of dissident Republican groups opposed to the peace accord. CIRA came about as a result of a split within the ranks of the Provisional IRA. This dates back to a General Army Convention (GAC) in 1986.

The Continuity group claimed they had the backing of Tom Maguire, a one-time commandant-general in the IRA Western Command. It was Maguire's blessing that helped give legitimacy to the Provos back in 1969. In 1987, he allegedly declared that the "Continuity Executive" was the "lawful Executive of the Irish Republican Army." This version of events is disputed in some Republican circles.

CIRA's claim to be the legitimate heirs of the Irish Republican Army - Óglaigh na hÉireann - is a highly controversial claim and is rejected by most Irish Republicans. CIRA's political wing, Republican Sinn Féin (aka Sinn Féin Poblachtach), has been listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, along with Continuity IRA.

The State Department website includes the following description:

"CIRA is a terrorist splinter group formed in 1994 as the clandestine armed wing of Republican Sinn Féin, which split from Sinn Féin in 1986. 'Continuity' refers to the group’s belief that it is carrying on the original Irish Republican Army’s (IRA) goal of forcing the British out of Northern Ireland. CIRA's aliases, Continuity Army Council and Republican Sinn Féin, were also included in its FTO designation."

*Stills from a CIRA video

Police brass in N. Ireland have been expressing concern about the increase in dissident Republican activity. Sir Hugh Orde, chief constable of the PSNI, regards the current level of threat as the highest since he took office.

Jeffrey Donaldson, N.I. representative for Lagan Valley, also believes the threat from anti-peace Republicans has increased substantially. He claims that a number of Catholic prison officers have been moved out of their homes, after intelligence indicated that they had become targets for assassination.

It's known that CIRA is interested in targeting Catholic police and prison officers, in order to send a message to the nationalist community. They want to put a chill on Catholics who are considering enlisting in the PSNI.

Over 30 people have been arrested so far this year. In part the arrests were facilitated by support within Republican communities for the PSNI - the new-style police force that replaced the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

Jul 27, 2008

William of Orange: monarch who swung both ways

King Billy - legendary victor at the Battle of the Boyne, and hero of N.Irish loyalists - didn't just have a thing for stallions and fine vestments, he also enjoyed the company of young men.

This will be unwelcome news to Iris Robinson, homophobic wife of Northern Ireland's First Minister.

Recently Mrs Robinson made the headlines with comments that could have come from some hoary prophet in the Old Testament. She said she regarded homosexuality as unnatural and "an abomination". For good measure, she also added that it made her feel "sick" and "nauseous."

There have been a number of criminal incidents in N. Ireland involving serious attacks on members of the gay community. For Robinson to go public with these remarks, simply adds fuel to the fire. Robinson has also said she is against violence towards gays, which makes her inflammatory remarks appear all the more irresponsible.

Homophobia is an entrenched attitude in some sectors of N. Irish society, especially in the ranks of evangelical Christians. Ian Paisley jnr, has described homosexuality as 'repulsive.'

If either Paisley or Robinson had made similar comments about some other minority group, there would have been hell to pay. But apparently Unionists of the Robinson and Paisley stripe feel free to smear homosexuals, using language they would think twice before using in reference to other minority groups.

Gay activist, Peter Tatchell, visiting Belfast for the Amnesty International Pride lecture will offer evidence that William of Orange, aka King Billy, would likely have given the thumbs up to the city's pride festival.

There is historical evidence that indicates the famous Battle of the Boyne hero, swung both ways. Historians offer his penchant for promoting young men to positions of high authority as evidence of his bisexuality. One of his favorites, Hans Willem Bentinck, was elevated by William to the title of Earl of Portland.

During William's time, references to homosexuality had to be couched in the language of polite society. In writing to Bentinck, William lamented that he found it: "... very extraordinary that it should be impossible to have esteem and regard for a young man without it being criminal."

N. Ireland MP Iris Robinson on homosexuality

Jul 26, 2008

McCain: a list of 10 newsworthy gaffes

The argument that age concerns should be ruled out-of-court when it comes to McCain's candidacy for the most powerful office in the Western world is simply unrealistic.

McCain is a legend in his own time - not just for his service in the US military and years spent as a prisoner of the Vietcong - but increasingly for the regularity with which he screws up.

Gaffes and misspeaking wouldn't be a problem if he was running for manager of the local pet sanctuary, but this is a man who wants to be the most powerful political player on the planet.

Efforts by his team, to deflect criticism by suggesting that the gaffes were simply slips-of-the-tongue or memory lapses, is beside the point. The stakes are high when you put yourself forward as a presidential candidate, and if a candidate gets it wrong he/she has to be called on it - brain cell glitches notwithstanding.

Here are 10 of McCain's more notorious gaffes:

1. McCain has referred on a number of different occasions to the non-existent state of Czechoslovakia. In 1993 Czechoslovakia broke up and two new states emerged - Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

2. Recently he made reference to the non-existent "Iraq-Pakistan" border in an ABC interview.

3. In a reference to Vladimir Putin, he described the Russian leader as the 'President of Germany'. I mean how out-of-it do you have to be to go there?

4. He has confused Sudan with Somalia.

5. He contended incorrectly that Iran was training Al Qaeda, and had to be corrected by Joe Lieberman.

6. Claimed that he supported the amendment to condemn the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. In fact, McCain missed the Kyl-Lieberman amendment. He was in New York that day.

7. Claimed in his 1999 memoir "Faith of my Fathers" that under interrogation by the Vietcong, rather than give up names of his shipmates, he provided the names of the Green Bay Packers' offensive line. However while visiting Pittsburgh, he said that he had given the Steelers names to the Vietcong - which makes you doubt the veracity of the original story.

8. Speaking at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, McCain claimed that: "[I]n 1986, we passed a law and said we would secure the borders and gave amnesty to a couple — three million people. I supported that legislation way back then." In actual fact, McCain voted against the 1986 Immigration reform Act.

9. Claimed the first major conflict after 9/11 was Iraq. In fact it was Afghanistan.

10. Suggested to residents of the economically devastated regions of Kentucky and Ohio that eBay offered a way out of financial destitution - "Today, for example, 1.3 million people in the world make a living off eBay, most of those are in the United State of America."

San Francisco: George W. Bush sewage plant in the works

A memorial to George W. Bush is in the works - one that San Franciscans can contribute to every time they flush.

The Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco is going to ask voters to change the name of a local sewage plant to the George W. Bush Water Pollution Control Plant. The Commission wants to provide "an appropriate honor for a truly unique president."

When asked about the proposal, White House spokesperson Dana Perino said she wouldn't dignify it with a response.

The proposal has been received with enthusiasm by the majority of San Francisco residents queried. Chances are good it might go through - after all in 2004 San Francisco voted 83% Democrat.

If passed, the renaming would take effect on January 20 when a new president is sworn in. Rather like a forty-one gun salute, supporters of the plan intend to celebrate the inaugural with a synchronized flush of toilets - sending a flood of sewage in the direction of the now-named Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant.

A spokesperson for the plant raised an objection to the renaming proposal - not about the name being proposed - but about the costs the whole thing would involve.

George Bush gets flushed

Sally Kern: anti-gay crusader stopped from bringing a firearm into capitol

Anti-gay Oklahoma representative, Sally Kern, would appear to be either a little paranoid or experiencing early-onset dotage. For the second time in two months, she has entered the Oklahoma state capitol with a semi-automatic in her purse.

Kern is best known for her inflammatory remarks about gays. She equated homosexuality with terrorism: "The homosexual agenda is just destroying this nation." She also made the ludicrous claim that homosexuality poses a bigger threat to the United States than terrorism.

Following her smear of the LGBT community, Kern complained that she had received death threats.

In both of the Oklahoma capitol incidents, Kern claims that she simply forgot to remove the .380 semi-automatic from her purse. She denies her gun-toting ways have anything to do with what she refers to as - "the homosexual situation."

"It was an honest mistake from being out of my routine, you know," she said.

Jul 24, 2008

Photo of young Roma drowning victims shames Italy

Four Roma children went to a beach outside Naples in the hope of making a little money by selling trinkets to the sunbathers.

It was very hot that day and the girls decided to cool off in the sea.

Cristina (aged 16) and Violetta (aged 14) were non-swimmers. They went further into the sea than their companions and were caught by a large wave that dashed them on the rocks.

When the bodies of Cristina and Violetta were recovered, they were laid out on the sand. Someone on the beach donated two towels to cover the bodies.

In a scene reminiscent of some ghoulish horror movie, people on the beach continued to sunbathe and picnic a short distance from the dead children. They behaved as though no tragedy has occurred ... as though it was just another day on the beach.

A report on the incident in the UK Independent, quotes Enzo Esposito, the national treasurer of Opera Nomadi, Italy's biggest Roma organization:

"This was the other terrible thing ... besides the fact of the girls drowning: the normality. The way people continued to sunbathe, for three hours, just metres away from the bodies. They could have gone to a different beach. It's not possible that you can watch two young people die then carry on as if nothing happened. It showed a terrible lack of sensitivity and respect."

The Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera, reported that when the police eventually showed up ... "the two girls were carried away on the shoulders [of the officers] between bathers stretched out in the sun."

How is it possible to explain such apparent indifference to a terrible tragedy?

To some extent negative attitudes toward 'the outsider' have been fueled by policies of the Berlusconi government that have targeted the Roma community. One government initiative entailed the fingerprinting of the Roma, a process that began in Naples on June 19.

In the 1930's the Fascists ran so-called "racial registers." In the eyes of many Italian activists, the Berlusconi move bears eerie similarities to these earlier attempts at racial profiling.

Cristina and Violetta were given a Christian Orthodox funeral in the Roma camp near Naples. Some 300 Roma were in attendance along with city and regional representatives

Jul 23, 2008

EDVIGE and CRISTINA: a twin threat to French liberties

A new database in France named EDVIGE (Exploitation documentaire et valorisation de l’information générale—Documentary Exploitation and Enhancement of General Information), to be used by French intelligence and administrative police is proving to be highly controversial.

EDVIGE will file data on individuals, groups and organizations who by their individual or collective activity are deemed to endanger public order. This data collection can start from the age of 13 and will include not just the targeted individual or groups, but also those associated with them.

In an attempt to justify the collection of data on 13 year olds, minister of the interior, Michele Alliot-Marie said: “We have observed an increase in child delinquency.” This appears to be a reference to gang activity.

In an interview with Journal du Dimanche, justice minister Rachida Dati announced the creation of a "file on organized gangs." This initiative followed upon an incident on the Champs de Mars that involved clashes between youths and the police.

The "file on gangs" is suspect because it seems to be a tool for targeting people who because of their profile, might commit an offense. Le Monde raised an objection to such an idea in a June 30 editorial: "A state governed by the rule of law (Etat de droit) cannot accept the penalization of supposed intentions.”

EDVIGE was created by decree on June 27, 2008 and given its scope is a potent instrument of police control.

It will collect data such as - "civil status and occupation; physical addresses, phone numbers, email addresses; physical characteristics, photographs, behaviour; identity papers; car plate numbers; fiscal and patrimonial information; moves and legal history."

Gay organizations have learned that it will also keep data relating to sexual orientation and health - in particular information relating to HIV seropositivity.

The League for Human Rights has condemned this "awesome extension of political-police files on citizens." The Syndicat de la magistrature (Magistrate's Union), has called the file "undemocratic ... it involves informing the government on politically active people and no longer just facilitating the appreciation of a political or economic situation.”

EDVIGE comes with a twin - CRISTINA.

CRISTINA aims to centralize intelligence for homeland security and national interests in France. Not a lot of detail is known at this point. The French government evoked article 26.111 - a provision of the Data Protection Act - in deciding not to publish the decree relating to CRISTINA.

There has been widespread mobilization against EDVIGE in France. A petition hosted by Réseau Associatif et Syndical (RAS), has already gathered some 16,000 signatures from individuals and 170 signatures from associations, trade unions and political parties. Some of these groups are also preparing legal action against the French government in an effort to obtain the annulment of the EDVIGE decree.

Jul 22, 2008

Bill O'Reilly calls Netroots Nation more hateful than the Klan and Nazis

Former US Vice-President, Al Gore, showed up last Saturday at the Netroots Nation convention in Austin, Texas.

Netroots Nation is a political convention for progressive political activists. It is organized by Daily Kos, and was previously known as Yearly Kos.

In referring to Netroots Nation, Gore described it as: "The beginning of an effort ... to reclaim the integrity of American democracy.”

The presence of Gore at the convention tripped the wire of Fox News Bill O'Reilly, who went off on one of his irrational tirades. He described Netroots Nation as the most "hateful group in the country." He went on to say: “And I’m including the Nazis and the Klan in here.”

Last year he described the Yearly Kos conference as "a David Duke convention."

Hate is something O'Reilly understands. He routinely demonizes his opponents while pretending to be fair and balanced.

A cursory read of Kos will yield passionate arguments, informed commentary - also anger and indignation at the forces that threaten American democracy. Daily Kos is a huge site and hosts a massive number of comments. O'Reilly has no way of proving that any "hateful" remarks have any connection to Netroots Nation members. They could well have been planted by malicious commentators in an effort to blacken the site's reputation.

O'Reilly has said that 'whatever is on your site represents you,' He conveniently overlooks hate comments on his own site, that can get as bad as anything you will ever find on Kos.

In one case on O'Reilly's site there were not-so-veiled threats against the life of Hillary Clinton. One comment post included the remark "keeping my guns loaded" - in reference to the possible election of Hillary Clinton as president.

John Aravosis discovered that the person who made this comment had written 1,062 posts on O'Reilly's site - so he/she was a regular and not a liberal plant.

O'Reilly's self-righteous pomposity knows no bounds. He said:

"Al Gore now is done. He’s done. Ok. He is not a man of respect, he doesn’t have any judgment. The fact that he went to this thing is the same as if he stepped into the Klan gathering. It’s the same. No difference. None. K, he loses all credibility with me. All credibility."

Someone who thinks Netroots Nation is more hateful than the Nazis and the Klu Klux Klan isn't in a position to assess the credibility of Al Gore.

O'Reilly: 'worse than the Nazis and the KKK'

SC Senator Kevin Bryant: posts Obama-Osama smear photo

Most elected representatives make an effort to get their facts straight before they go public with them. Nobody likes to look like an ass.

South Carolina State Senator Kevin Bryant, is apparently beyond embarrassment. This week he chose to post a photo on his website that shows Barack Obama next to Osama bin Laden, with the question "The difference between Obama and Osama?" Answer: "Just a little BS."

The illustration above is a screenshot from Bryant's site.

The BS going on here has more to do with Bryant's challenged reality than Barack Obama. The message on this picture is false, misleading and reflects the mentality of a racist schoolyard bully - not that of an elected official from whom you might reasonably expect standards of fair play and decency.

Nico Pitney writing on Huffington Post, managed to get Bryant on the phone. The Senator claims the picture is "tongue-in-cheek." He went on to say that Obama is "... more sympathetic to nations that allow terrorism than I would prefer."

Bryant then attempted to justify running the picture by comparing it erroneously to the New Yorker cartoon by Barry Blitt.

The Barry Blitt cartoon appeared without a caption or other commentary. Blitt himself has gone on record to say that his cartoon is purely satirical - it mocks people like Bryant who are dumb enough to traffic in the rumors and smears circulating about Obama. That was the whole point of the cartoon. Only the satire-challenged would interpret the cartoon in a literal minded manner, as Bryant has done.

This posting on the site of a public representative goes to issues of Bryant's credibility. It's one thing to post satire, it's another thing to post character assassination pieces that traffic in outright lies and misinformation.

Apart from a semantic coincidence, Obama and Osama have nothing in common. Playing on names in an effort to make a link to terrorism is simply dumb.

Bryant's skewed logic makes the US General Omar Bradley seem kind of suspect. "Omar" after all is an Islamic name derived from Umar ibn al-Kattab, the second caliph of Sunni Islam.

For more clarification on the name Barack Obama, from a real rather than imaginary perspective - go here.

The nonsense that has been circulating about the picture of Obama in African dress, is just that - nonsense. Obama has Kenyan ancestry. In Africa it is common for dashikis and kufis to be worn by people from all walks of life - Christian, Muslim and those that follow traditional African religions.

The BBC's head of the Somali Service, Yusuf Garaad Omar, who understands the cultural background of the Obama picture, sets the record straight - here.

Judging from previous posts on Bryant's site, it would appear he is a McCain backer. McCain has made calls for civility and has criticized people who have taken unfair shots at Obama.

The South Carolina Senate Democratic Caucus agrees with that sentiment. Senate Democrats have called Bryant's posting "classless."

Political Director Phil Bailey said:

"Senator Bryant's posting of this offensive photo is classless and it has no place in politics. Bryant should be more concerned about serving his constituents, who pay his salary, than posting garbage like this on his website. The voters of Anderson County deserve a state Senator with better judgment."

Jul 21, 2008

Obama Iraq trip: McCain scores first foreign policy gaffe

Barack Obama's conservative detractors, steamed that he is getting the lion's share of media attention compared to rival McCain, have been hoping for a slip-up during Obama's overseas trip.

So far Obama hasn't stumbled in any newsworthy fashion.

The same can't be said for John McCain though. On ABC's Good Morning America, McCain made yet another geography gaffe - a slip reminiscent of his Czechoslovakia blooper. McCain has repeatedly referred to "Czechoslovakia" in interviews, despite the fact that Czechoslovakia went out of existence in 1993 - replaced by two new countries Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

During an interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, McCain was asked if he regarded the situation in Afghanistan as "precarious and urgent."

McCain: "I think it's serious. . . . It's a serious situation, but there's a lot of things we need to do. We have a lot of work to do and I'm afraid it's a very hard struggle, particularly given the situation on the Iraq/Pakistan border."

Iraq/Pakistan border? Well maybe after a tab of acid and a six pack.

Afghanistan shares a border with Pakistan - not Iraq. In fact the distance between Baghdad and Karachi is around 2,383 kilometers.

Perhaps he could have used a prompt from Joe Lieberman.

Jul 20, 2008

Gay rights in Iran: walking the fine line between Tehran and Washington

At the Pride London celebrations earlier this month, Labour MP Harriet Harman was heckled and booed.

The reaction of the crowd was hardly surprising. The Labour government's handling of gay asylum seekers in the UK is a disgrace. Many asylum seekers who are fleeing from persecution in their home countries, live under threat of deportation.

Gay activist Peter Tatchell who attended London Pride, marched alongside Sir Ian McKellan and Davis Mac-Iyalla, a leader of the Nigerian gay rights movement.

When asked about the dire situation facing the gay community in Iran, Tatchell said:

“Ahmadinejad leads a regime that arrests, jails, flogs, tortures and sometimes executes gay people. It also terrorises trade unionists, students, women activists, journalists, bloggers, Sunni Muslims and ethnic minorities like the Ahwazi Arabs, Baluchs and Kurds.

I don’t support a military attack on Iran, but I do urge greater international solidarity with democratic, liberal and progressive Iranians who are struggling to overthrow the clerical dictatorship from within.”

Tatchell has been unfairly accused of being Islamophobic, whereas in fact he is opposed to religious fundamentalism and bigotry in all religions. He has defended Muslim victims of injustice and in his writing has pointedly condemned Islamophobia: "Any form of prejudice, hatred, discrimination or violence against Muslims is wrong. Full stop."

Taking on the Iranians for their human rights record, is viewed by some on the left as giving comfort to American hawks. Given the record of the Iranians when it comes to the treatment of homosexuals, looking the other way is simply not a viable option.

During his trip to the US, Ahmadinejad said "In Iran we don't have homosexuals like in your country (US)."

This is a preposterous lie that masks an ugly reality. Gay Iranians live in fear of persecution. Many have fled to Turkey and destinations in Europe to escape the suffocating climate in Iran, where "coming out" in an overtly public fashion can have dire consequences.

The Iranian people deserve better. But the choice has to be theirs. American aggression is not the answer.

Those activists who support the right of Iranians to live in a society free of oppression, are walking a fine line between the politics of Tehran and the politics of Washington. But it is a line that has to be staked out in the name of justice and human rights.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: 'No gays in Iran'

Obama's Berlin speech: the Siegessäule and problematic associations

The Obama team's choice of the Brandenburg Gate for their candidate's historic Berlin speech ignited a war of words between German politicians. The famous Brandenburg Gate speeches by John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, prompted Chancellor Merkel to suggest rather cynically that Obama's choice of location was motivated by "electioneering."

It has now been decided that Obama will speak at the Victory Column, or Siegessäule in Berlin. This location presents a few challenges of its own.

The Siegessäule was erected in memory of Prussia's victory over Denmark (1864), Austria (1866) and France (1870/71). At one time it stood in front of Germany's parliament, the Reichstag, but it was moved by Adolf Hitler to the present location. This was part of a plan to transform Berlin into the glorious Nazi capital of Germania.

The late Fuhrer viewed the Siegessäule as a symbol of German supremacy - a triumphant testament to historical victories. This symbolism sits uneasily with the cooperative relations that mark Western European politics today.

In an interview with Bild am Sonntag, Rainer Brüderle, the deputy leader of the Free Democrats, wondered whether "whether Barack Obama was advised correctly in his choice of the Siegessäule as the site to hold a speech on his vision for a more cooperative world."

Christian Democrat, Andreas Schockenhoff, described the site as "problematic."

These concerns are understandable from a German point of view.

Another way of looking at it is that a speech by Obama at this location may help to exorcise old demons and open the way for a new trans-Atlantic era of cooperation.

When Obama shows up it will be an impressive spectacle. One Berlin daily, Tagesspiegel, is predicting that the crowd could swell to the million mark. Obama is extremely popular with the Germans and given his superstar appeal for many, the speech is bound to be a huge draw.

Jul 19, 2008

Ahmet Yildiz: first gay victim of honor killing in Turkey?

The UK Independent reports that Ahmet Yildiz, an openly gay 26 year old physics student was shot as he left a cafe near the Bosphorus Strait this week. He tried to flee from the attackers in his car, but lost control of the vehicle and crashed. Yildiz died shortly afterwards in hospital.

Yildiz' friends and associates believe he was the victim of so-called honor killing.

Turkish sociologist, Mazhar Bagli, has done extensive research involving people who have been convicted for honor killings. Bagli has little doubt that Yildiz' death could indeed fall into the honor killing category:

"Honour killings cleanse illicit relationships. For women, that is a broad term. Men are allowed more sexual freedom, but homosexuality is still seen by some as beyond the pale."

In Turkey it is believed that around 1,000 honor killings have been committed over the past five years. In virtually every case, the victims are young women who have transgressed against patriarchal rules governing conduct. In some cases females have been murdered for the 'crime' of having premarital sex. They have also been murdered for falling victim to rape and even for the offense of speaking to a stranger.

Ahmet Yildiz was openly gay. This was an affront to members of his family who believed his lifestyle brought shame on the family name.

Prior to the shooting, Yildiz was pressured by relatives who wanted him see a doctor so he could be "cured." When he was in the company of relatives, there were continual arguments.

Yildiz openly gay lifestyle even made him the target of death threats. Yet despite the enormous pressure to underplay his homosexuality, he had the courage to stand his ground.

The courage of Ahmet Yildiz is the more remarkable since gay rights in Turkey have recently taken a few hits. As the Turkish gay community has become more visible, there has been a reactionary backlash with gays targeted for beatings, insults and threats.

Istanbul's largest gay rights group, LAMDA, was forced to close in May as a result of a court order. The court proceeding against LAMDA was initiated by the Istanbul governor's office that claimed the organization was "against law and morality."

A former neighbor of Ahmet Yildiz said that his refusal to live-a-lie may have been too much for some people:

"He could have hidden who he was, but he wanted to live honestly. When the death threats started, his boyfriend tried to persuade him to get out of Turkey. But he stayed. He was too brave. He was too open."

Jul 18, 2008

Barenaked Ladies: Steve Page facing NY drug charges

Steve Page, lead singer of the Canadian band, Barenaked Ladies, was arrested this week after cops allegedly discovered cocaine and marijuana in a Fayetteville, NY, apartment.

The sequence of events leading up to Page's arrest raises a few questions about police procedures. The cops used the pretext of a "suspicious" parked car with an open door, as a reason to investigate on private property. They engaged in what can only be described as Peeping Tom surveillance - looking through the window of an apartment where they saw a man and woman with a white capsule in front of them.

What follows is like a scene from Dumb and Dumber. The cops knocked on the door and Page and his friend, Stephanie Ford, invited them in. Police allegedly found Page's "calcium bottle" containing 10 capsules of a white powder. Other capsules were on a table and in Page's pocket. Police say they found 8.9 grams of a powder that has since tested positive for cocaine.

When a cop asked Page if he was sure the substance he had been snorting was calcium, because it tested positive for cocaine - Page allegedly responded "yeah, it's cocaine."

When a bust like this occurs involving a popular and well liked performer, the comment columns invariably fill up with the morally outraged who lament 'the fall of a role model.' This is more than a little naive. Pop musicians have been using recreational drugs ever since electric guitars were invented. It's true Page has been involved with a number of worthy causes, World Wildlife Fund Canada for one, but viewing him as a role model is a stretch.

The public image of Barenaked Ladies is far from hard core. Their music has an energized upbeat sound. The band members come across as "wholesome" by the standards of some acts out there. I guess this encourages impressionable fans to believe that they are somehow immune to the little extras that come with the territory.

Steve Page had a bad night and got careless by the sound of it. He's still the same person he was before this episode. By many accounts a decent guy. It remains to be seen how this plays out in court.

Page has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He is also going to 'strongly contest' the validity of the charges.

Jul 17, 2008

McCain's comic side: ape rape and 'seizure world' jokes

The McCain campaign has responded to critics of their candidate's sometimes crude and misogynistic humor by saying that sexist jokes are an example of "McCain being McCain." They say this is what Americans want in a candidate - authenticity.

McCain spokesperson, Brian Rogers, said:

"He's long said that he's said and done things in the past that he regrets. You've just got to move on and be yourself — that's what people want. They want somebody who's authentic, and this kind of stuff is a good example of McCain being McCain."

Authenticity is a good thing, but so is an ability to relate to changing cultural mores. Problem is McCain is stuck in a time warp and his humor reflects this mindset. He's long-in-the-tooth in more ways than one.

While some Republicans are quick to hand McCain a pass on his sexist behavior, they certainly weren't prepared to overlook the lapses of Bill Clinton.

How much of the bold faced endorsement of McCain as 'an original' by Republicans is because McCain's record leaves them with no choice. You can't whitewash the stuff he is known to have said, and might very well continue to say.

Efforts to present McCain as "authentic" begs the question - authentic how exactly? Do Americans really want a man for president who channels the locker room humor of an earlier decade? Do they want a president who reflects the Cold War warrior, macho view of the world, rather than a president capable of grasping the complex political realities of the modern era.

Replaying McCain's crude remarks and off-color humor isn't an exercise in liberal overreaction as some Republicans contend. These character traits are integral to who McCain is, especially because neither the candidate or his campaign seem prepared to back off - far from it in fact - it's being worn as a badge of legitimacy. All the more reason why detractors should take a closer look at the can of worms that apparently makes the Senator such an original.

When McCain tries to be comical it backfires more often than not and leaves the listeners cringing. Politically incorrect humor can be very funny - but McCain's efforts tend to come across as ham fisted and offensive.

That McCain is humor-challenged shouldn't come as a surprise given his well publicized short fuse. Back in his school days he was known as "McNasty." He has referred fondly to his political opponents over the years as "shitheads," "assholes" and "fucking jerks."

Cliff Schecter's book The Real McCain includes an interchange between McCain and his wife Cindy that occurred during a 1992 campaign stop. At one point, Cindy twirled her husband's hair and said "you're getting a little thin up there." This caused McCain to redden up, before replying: "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt."

Perhaps he was having a bad hair day. We all do. But these lapses aren't one-off occurrences with McCain - they add up to a defining personality trait that can be tracked back to his early days as a politician.

In 1986 the Tucsan Citizen published an article about a rape joke told by McCain when addressing the National League of Cities and Towns in Washington, DC. The Senator allegedly said:

"Did you hear the one about the woman who is attacked on the street by a gorilla, beaten senseless, raped repeatedly and left to die? When she finally regains consciousness and tries to speak, her doctor leans over to hear her sigh contentedly and to feebly ask, “Where is that marvelous ape?” "

A spokeswoman for NOW in Arizona said the organization's members were "incensed by his (McCain's) cruel and sexist remark."

McCain claims he can't "recall" telling the joke.

Norma Coile might be able to jog his memory. She was the original reporter on the story and remembers it this way:

"I'm not sure exactly what the wording was of the joke, but something was said. Some joke involving a rape and ape was said. Enough women repeated it to me at the time and the McCain campaign had a non-denial denial. It came after his 'Seizure World' joke, in which he referred to the [retirement community] Leisure World as Seizure World... I just think it reinforced this idea that John McCain is humor-challenged. Whatever his qualities, he seems to have a tin ear for how these jokes will go over."

More recently when McCain stopped by the Primanti Brothers Restaurant and Bar in Pittsburgh, he was asked for his reaction to reports that US exports to Iran have increased ten-fold during the Bush administration - with the main export being cigarettes.

McCain's response: "Maybe that's a way of killing them (Iranians)."

Doesn't seem so long ago that he was singing “Bomb bomb bomb Iran” to the tune of the Beach Boys “Barbara Ann.”

McCain's lame humor isn't so much the issue here, as is his judgment. Misogynistic gorilla jokes, even if they are a bit dated are likely to create a problem for a percentage of women voters - particularly given McCain's positions on pro-choice and women's reproductive health.

After the negative fall-out following his Iranian death-by-cigarettes jibe, he appears to be erring on the side of caution. When he was asked recently why insurance companies cover Viagra but not birth control, he seemed stumped. It was a moment that begged for a lame joke, but McCain chose to refrain from offering any impromptu comic relief.

McCain has trouble relating to a world that has changed dramatically in the past few decades. While his campaign presents their candidate as an original, McCain himself undercuts his act. After he cracked that Chelsea Clinton was "ugly" because her father was Janet Reno, he had difficulty standing by the gag. He later apologized for it, calling it "insensitive and stupid and cruel."

He does get it - he just doesn't know how to change - and change is what Americans are looking for in 2008.

Last man laughing

Omar Khadr case shames Canada

Canadian citizen Omar Khadr, was held by American forces in Afghanistan in July 2002 and transferred to Guantánamo Naval Base in October 2002. Khadr was only 15 years old when he was taken to Guantánamo. He has spent more than a quarter of his life there and is now in his sixth year of confinement.

The then child combatant, has been accused of killing a US soldier with a hand grenade. There is legitimate doubt about this claim.

When the documents relating to Khadr's case changed hands as a result of the discovery process, there were indications that the original report detailing the killing of the American serviceman had been altered.

The original report - dated July 20th, 2002 - stated that the person who threw the grenade had died. This information was altered in the interim to indicate that the grenade thrower had survived.

Khadr's lawyer explains the alteration as being: "The reality that was most convenient to the United States government at that time.”

We have learned more recently that Khadr was abused by his American captors. It is known that he was subjected to sleep deprivation techniques - named "the frequent flyer program." According to Khadr he was also tortured by US personnel in Afghanistan.

Canadian officials who visited Khadr in Guantanamo, say that he was frequently in tears, afraid to speak. One official described him as "thoroughly screwed up."

A recent Canadian court decision resulted in Ottawa having to release documents that clearly indicate the Canadian government was fully aware of Khadr's plight as far back as 2003-2004.

In Canada a juvenile offender convicted of murder, would face a maximum of 6 years in prison. Khadr has already served this time and endured abuse and humiliation in the process.

All Harper has to do is give the nod and Omar Khadr would be able to return home. As it stands this case is tainting the name of Canada - the last member of the North Atlantic Alliance to let one of its citizens remain in Guantanamo.

The fact that Khadr was a young teen when the events unfolded makes this sordid affair all the more shameful.

Jul 16, 2008

Sarkozy's call for second EU vote irks the Irish

French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, suggested recently that Ireland should hold a second vote on the EU Lisbon Treaty. The Treaty was rejected by the Irish in a referendum last month.

Although Sarkozy's remarks were described by an associate as "not an official statement," they still didn't go over too well in Ireland.

Sinn Fein spokesperson, Aengus O Snodaigh, described the remarks as "deeply insulting." In the run-up to the EU vote, Sinn Fein was active in pushing for the NO vote.

Snodaigh expressed how many people in Ireland feel about outside interference, and efforts by the EU to force the Irish hand:

"In the month since the Irish people voted overwhelmingly to reject the Lisbon Treaty, we have listened to a succession of EU leaders lining up to try and bully and coerce us into doing what they want ... the fact is the people have spoken and the Lisbon Treaty is dead."

Even those who supported the YES vote in Ireland, also reacted negatively to Sarkozy's interference. Eamon Gilmore who heads up the Labour Party which backed the Lisbon Treaty, said that Sarkozy had "seriously put his foot in it."

One thing EU leaders need to know about the Irish is that pressure from outsiders is not and has never been appreciated - especially when the input hasn't been requested. Pressure from the EU will simply harden Irish resolve.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Michael Martin, referring to the upcoming visit by Sarkozy said:

"We're not entertaining any prospect or any bullying from anybody. We'll be looking at it from an Irish perspective and what's in the best interests of Ireland."

Foreign policy expert McCain: stuck on 'Czechoslovakia'

In 1993, Czechoslovakia split into two separate countries - Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The split is sometimes referred to as the "Velvet Divorce" - in reference to the Velvet Revolution of 1989 that ended the rule of the Communist Party.

Despite the fact that former Czechoslovakia is now two countries, John McCain keeps referring to "Czechoslovakia" as though time is on standstill.

He told reporters recently:

"I was concerned about a couple of steps that the Russian government took in the last several days. One was reducing the energy supplies to Czechoslovakia."

He told Don Imus that he would "work closely with Czechoslovakia and Poland and other countries to install the European Missile Defense System in Poland ..."

A few years back McCain suggested that NATO be expanded to include Czechoslovakia.

Foreign affairs gaffes aren't anything new for McCain. Not long ago he said that Iran was training and equipping Al Qaida in Iraq. Al Qaida is of course a Sunni organization, whereas Iran is staunchly Shia, so unlikely to be acting as back-up for bin-Laden.

Joe Lieberman, an Iraq war supporter like McCain, had to step in and whisper a correction. McCain then blurted out: "I'm sorry, the Iranians are training extremists, not al-Qaida."

For an alleged 'foreign policy expert,' McCain seems a little shaky on some of the basics.

Other McCain foreign policy gaffes

Jul 15, 2008

Robin Gunningham: Banksy's true identity revealed?

The somewhat anonymous graffiti artist Banksy must get fed up with attempts to out him.

A while back some media outlets announced that his real name was Robert or Robin Banks. The most recent claim by the UK paper Mail on Sunday, is that his name is Robin Gunningham.

There have been repeated claims of "Banksy sightings." He was even interviewed by Simon Hattenstone of the Guardian. He's a bit like the urban equivalent of Big Foot. Signs and reports provide proof of his existence, but actually cornering the man himself is no easy trick.

If the Mail report is to be believed, Banksy hails from Bristol where it is alleged he attended the Bristol Cathedral School - a fairly posh establishment by the standards of British comprehensives.

The article claims that a photo taken in Jamaica back in 2004 of a graffiti artist at work with spray cans, is none other than Banksy. Former school friends of Robin Gunningham claim that the guy in the photo is the Robin they attended school with.

Banksy's agents refuse to confirm or deny the Mail story - which is fairly standard. A spokesperson for the artist claimed that they "never confirm or deny these stories."

Despite the absence of the artist-in-the-flesh, Banksy's work is in demand. A piece of his graffiti on the Portabello Road in west London received a bid of around $415,000 in an online auction.

Celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Christina Aguilera are fans of his work, something that is likely to be lost on Banksy who has a refreshing cynicism about the art market. On his website he had an image of an auction house showing people bidding on a piece that said: "I Can't Believe You Morons Actually Buy This Shit."

But buy they do. A 2007 Sotheby's auction of three of Banksy's works saw his Bombing of Middle England going for $205,000. Ballerina With Action Man Parts sold for $193,000.

Banksy uses stencils for his graffiti. They are transferred onto sheets of acetate or card, then cut by hand. It is thought that at least some of the images are computer generated.

Banksy's work has a satirical edge. It is often subversive of the surroundings - for example the brilliant work he did on the Israeli West Bank barrier. There is an image of a ladder going up and over the wall and a group of children digging a hole through the wall.

When it comes to the question of his identity, Banksy remains uncompromising:

"I have no interest in ever coming out. I'm just trying to make the pictures look good; I'm not into trying to make myself look good. And besides, it's a pretty safe bet that the reality of me would be a crushing disappointment to a couple of 15-year-old kids out there."

Fair enough. But it's unlikely to stop either the speculation or the sleuthing.

Mike Meehan: Florida Republican uses billboard to politicize 9/11

Mike Meehan, a St Cloud businessman and musician is behind a billboard that went up on the John Young Parkway in Orange County, Florida.

The billboard shows the Twin Towers in flames, accompanied by the message "Please Don't Vote Democrat."

Meehan claims he is "trying to help Republicans," even though spokespersons for both the Republican and Democratic parties are calling the billboard "inappropriate."

9/11 happened when a Republican administration was in office. The Republicans also had control of Congress.

Bush was well aware that bin Laden had issued warnings of his intent to strike the US. The warnings even contained veiled threats about the use of hijacked airliners. Bush chose to ignore much of this information. The man most concerned about Al Qaeda and the threat it posed, Richard Clarke, was demoted and had his staff eliminated.

The terror threat today is in large part a result of flawed Bush administration policies, both in the US and abroad.

None of this had anything to do with Democrats.

The problem with Meehan's billboard isn't just that it misrepresents recent history - it makes use of a human tragedy to generate publicity. This is publicity the Republicans would prefer to do without, but that Meehan is also using as a career booster. On his website he sells his CD's for $5 and is advertising a video titled "The Republican Song," with the chorus "Don't vote for a Democrat."

Bill Robinson, Orange County Democratic Party Chair put it this way:

“This is a blatant exploitation of that terrible tragedy for political and, perhaps even worse, personal gain."

Tags: Mike Meehan, 9/11 billboard, Orange County, Florida, Bill Robinson, Democrats

Jul 14, 2008

New Yorker's 'satirical' Obama cover

The New Yorker's latest cover features Barack and Michelle Obama as terrorist types doing the fist bump in the Oval Office. A portrait of Osama bin Laden looms in the background and Old Glory feeds the flames in the hearth.

The cartoon by Barry Blitt is obviously satirical. It mocks the absurd rumors and dark imaginings that the name "Obama" continues to evoke in some right wing circles.

Unfortunately not everyone will get the joke. Obama detractors with a literal turn of mind won't get it at all, which no doubt will suit them just fine. Some might go so far as to use the cartoon as a tool against the Democratic nominee.

The cover is a risky move. Although it has generated publicity for the New Yorker, it has also succeeded in infuriating a lot of people - including New Yorker readers, a number of whom are ditching their subscriptions, calling the cover "gross, sick, pathetic".

Obama himself has refrained from wading into the controversy. His campaign people though have been less restrained. A number have voiced disapproval, claiming that most readers would regard the image as "tasteless and offensive".

The cartoon works on a number of levels. It can be seen purely as satire. On the other hand the imagery forges a connection with subconscious fears felt by many Americans, most of whom would be hard pushed to find anything amusing about the cartoon.

Concerns that the cover might hurt Obama are overblown. Rumors and smears about his alleged Muslim connections have been doing the rounds for some time. His ability to overcome the negatives has made him a stronger candidate.

The caricature of Obama as an Islamist-on-a-mission, is a satirical twist on the rumor that he is a Muslim-in-disguise out to tear down the established order. While Obama is an agent of change, it is deluded to think of him as some type of revolutionary of any stripe.

Ryan Lizza, who has written extensively about Obama makes this clear:

"Perhaps the greatest misconception about Barack Obama is that he is some sort of anti-establishment revolutionary. Rather, every stage of his political career has been marked by an eagerness to accommodate himself to existing institutions rather than tear them down or replace them... he has always played politics by the rules as they exist, not as he would like them to exist. He runs as an outsider, but he has succeeded by mastering the inside game."

New Yorker editor, David Remnick, took the trouble to point out that the cover was not satirizing Obama, but rather the fabrications churned out by the Obama rumor mill.

On the surface the cover appears distasteful, offensive ... even racist. But it is a satirical statement that mocks what it delivers. If America means anything ... if freedom means anything ... it includes the right of a Barry Blitt to render what many may not want to see. I believe that the positives of Barack Obama are bigger, more resilient, than the sum total of the negatives concocted by his enemies. He will overcome, even in the face of the best efforts of his detractors.

Danilo Giuffrida: gay Italian forced to retake driving test

Danilo Giuffrida, a 26 year old Sicilian, has been awarded 100,000 euros by a court in Catania, Sicily. The judge ruled that the plaintiff had suffered "sexual discrimination" at the hands of the defence and transportation ministries.

Official discrimination against Giuffrida began when he applied for military service. During a medical examination he informed the doctors he was gay. The military then documented him as suffering from "a disturbance of the sexual identity." They informed the transportation ministry that Giuffrida was "not in possession of the necessary psycho-physical requirements."

Giuffrida was required to take his driving test for a second time. He passed the test, but was given a license for only one year instead of the usual 10, on the grounds that he was gay.

This was blatant discrimination with an official stamp of approval. The two departments involved were ordered to pay an additional 10,000 euros to help cover Giuffrida's legal costs.

Danilo Giuffrida had the courage to take his grievance through to a successful legal conclusion. It makes you wonder how many other Italians have been discriminated against in this fashion, but decided not to go the legal route.

Hopefully the Guiffrida case will act as a wake-up call for those Italian officials who think it is okay to discriminate against a person on the basis of his/her sexual orientation

Jul 13, 2008

Segolene Royal accuses Sarkozy 'clan' of being behind break-in

Segolene Royal , the defeated presidential candidate, is a woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind. Recently she accused President Sarkozy and his wealthy friends of attempting a "take-over" of France.

Her concern is understandable. Sarkozy has made moves that create the impression he is rewarding his pals. He recently banned advertising on state-owned television. The spin-off effect from this will drive business to commercial television channels owned by his friends, potentially boosting their revenue annually by an estimated 450m Euros.

Strangely, on June 27, one day after Mme Royal criticized "the Sarkozy clan," her apartment in Boulogne-Billancourt, was broken into. Even more strange ... nothing was stolen. The place was just ransacked. The perpetrators seemed more interested in intimidating Mme Royal, rather than pilfering anything of value.

Her apartment was also broken into during the presidential campaign. On that occasion also, nothing was stolen. It is hard to believe that the most recent break-in, with similar characteristics to the first, was simply coincidence.

When Mme Royal linked the June 27 break-in with her criticisms of the "clan", it was taken by politicians close to Sarkozy as a finger pointing directly at the President.

Mme Royal was accused of being "unstable" ... of having a "martyr complex." Parliamentary speaker, Bernard Accoyer, said: "She will stop at nothing to get attention." The Prime Minister, Francois Fillon, said it was "absolutely shameful" to make accusations against the President "without a shred of proof."

On her part Mme Royal said:

"I observe that on the day after I said that it was time to halt the Sarkozy clan's take-over of France, my home was ransacked. I make a link between the two events."

"I am the only politician to denounce strongly the moves being made to undermine the state television services... There is a kidnapping going on, a robbery of the advertising revenue on France 2 and France 3 to enrich M. Sarkozy's friends ... I will bow to no intimidation in my attempts to prevent this dirty trick against the people of France."

Segolene Royal is not the first critic to have concerns about President bling-bling and his many rich, influential associates.

The favors go back and forth. For example Paris Match obligingly photoshopped vacation photos to trim down fat around the Presidential waistline.

When Sarkozy wanted to find a suitable position for Laurent Solly, his deputy campaign manager, he placed a call to his billionaire friend, Martin Bouygues. Shortly after Solly got named to a top post at TF1. This sort of practice is usually referred to as "influence peddling" but when Sarkozy does it, it becomes more like business-as-usual.

Leader of the Socialist group in parliament, Jean-Marc Ayrault, made a perceptive comment on the possible causes of the Royal break-ins. He said that Sarkozy's time in power had created "a climate ... which recalled the most unpleasant periods of French political history." He went on to say that once such a climate is created "anything can happen."

The cult of personality that surrounds the French President prompted a psychiatrist, Serge Hefez, to identify a new mental illness among the French - "obsessive Sarkosis." Related conditions include Sarkophrenia and Sarkonia. This might be viewed as a tongue-in-cheek exercise, but it isn't without a basis in reality.

Sarkozy is a polarizing personality and some of his most ardent followers identify with him to the point of fanaticism. Criticism of Sarkozy in the present "climate" could indeed have made Mme Royal a target for recrimination.

Break-in at Segolene Royal's residence

Jul 12, 2008

Carol Kreck: McCain staff behind ousting of librarian with 'McCain=Bush' sign

Ahead of John McCain's July 7th Town Hall Meeting at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, a representative of his campaign requested that 'persons should not be allowed to display signage within the Arts complex.'

Carol Kreck, a 60 year old librarian, holding a sign that read "McCain=Bush" was ousted by a security man who claimed he was acting at the behest of the Secret Service.

At a later point, Secret Service emphatically denied they had given the order.

DCPA spokesperson, Suzanne Blandon, admitted that the guard was "simply mistaken" in identifying the Secret Service as the agency that wanted Kreck to leave.

Some argue that the Galleria where Ms Krek was standing is a somewhat disputed area. A previous federal appeals court decision ruled that the area 'is not necessarily a public spot.' On the contrary, it is a public location. The Denver Performing Arts Complex is owned in its entirety by the City and County of Denver, making it public property.

The McCain campaign appears to be hyper-sensitive about signage that appears in and around their events. That's a bit like the Bush people isn't it? Doesn't seem so long since Nicole and Jeffery Rank were placed in restraints and escorted out of a Bush event in West Virginia for the 'offense' of wearing anti-Bush T-shirts.

McCain does indeed = Bush, in more ways than one.

Tags: Carol Kreck, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, McCain, Secret Service, Suzanne Blandon

Jul 11, 2008

Obama's Brandenburg Gate speech: did Bush try to thwart the plan?

German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has raised objections to Barack Obama's proposed speech at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. She is quoted as saying that it seems "odd" for the Brandenburg Gate to be used for - in her words - "electioneering."

West Berlin was a focal point of Cold War tensions and American presidents from John F. Kennedy to Ronald Reagan have delivered major speeches there.

A number of German papers, including Bild and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that during the G8 summit in Japan, Bush administration officials expressed reservations to the German delegation about the prospect of Obama speaking at the Brandenburg Gate.

Comments made by Berlin mayor, Klaus Wowereit, also support the view that Bush people pressured Merkel.

The chancellor's spokesperson, Ulrich Wilhelm, denies the accusation of Washington influence.

Not everyone in the government shares Merkel's reservations. Shortly after she made her comments about Obama's proposed speech, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier's spokesperson said 'Germany would be honored by an Obama visit of any kind.'

Differing opinions from within government circles aren't that surprising in Germany. Although part of a coalition, Merkel and Steinmeier are members of rival parties.

Bottomline though, the decision about where Obama will speak is an administrative matter for the city of Berlin and not a federal matter.

Jul 10, 2008

Franz Kafka: hidden documents finally come to light

A "treasure trove" of Kafka material that had been kept hidden in a Tel Aviv apartment is going to be made available to experts after decades of bureaucratic wrangling. Postcards, drawings, notes and personal items that have never been seen, will finally provide a greater insight into the inner life of this extraordinary writer.

Franz Kafka's body of work is among the most influential in Western literature. This is a distinction that Kafka himself might have felt ambivalent about because he was more interested in anonymity. It was his wish that all his work be destroyed following his death in Vienna in 1924, at the age of 41.

Kafka would have been shocked by the ongoing drama surrounding the papers that he vouched safe to his friend and executor, Max Brod. He specifically asked Brod to torch the lot, a request Brod ignored.

With Kafka's papers stuffed in a suitcase, Brod made it out of Prague just as the Nazis were invading. The papers eventually ended up in Tel Aviv, and on Brod's death, passed into the hands of his secretary and lover, Esther Hoffe.

That Kafka's papers ended up in Israel is ironical. The writer had nursed hopes of moving to Israel with his fiancee, Dora Diamant, but his health proved to be too fragile.

Although Jewish by birth, Kafka had an ambivalent relationship with Judaism. He once said: "What have I in common with Jews? I have hardly anything in common with myself and should stand very quietly in a corner, content that I can breathe."

Over the decades, academics and Israeli cultural institutions tried to obtain access to the Kafka hoard that Hoffe jealously guarded. The papers were hidden away away in a damp apartment in Tel Aviv overrun with domestic animals. The stench coming from the apartment was so bad that neighbors complained. It wasn't until Hoffe's death at 101 that Israeli authorities were able to gain access to the documents.

When the collection eventually becomes available, Kafka enthusiasts are in for a rare treat. Dr Zohar Maor of Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv said recently:

"This is a hidden treasure that the entire civilized world would be happy to discover. Its value is incalculable."

Jul 9, 2008

Bush's G8 buffoonery: 'Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter'

The Bush administration record on climate change is one of the worst among affluent nations. Years of stonewalling and denial finally gave way to pressure, when the White House released a long overdue report on the impact of global warming in May of this year.

The report includes the statement:

“It is likely that there has been a substantial human contribution to surface temperature increases in North America.”

If this indicates a genuine change of heart, Bush's behavior certainly doesn't reflect it.

At a meeting at the Windsor Hotel in Hokkaido, leaders of the world's richest nations got together this week to discuss new targets for cutting carbon emissions.

While Nicolas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown looked on in disbelief, Bush ended the meeting with the words:

"Goodbye from the world's greatest polluter."

The US president then punched the air with his fist while grinning broadly.

Bush's adolescent bravado was the equivalent of giving the finger to critics who have long been holding America's feet to the fire on the environment. But the display just added to the impression of a buffoon who is thankfully heading for the White House exit.

This wasn't the only gaffe. Bush also came under criticism this week after a White House press pack was discovered to contain an unflattering description of Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. He was described as one of the "most controversial leaders in the history of a country known for government corruption and vice".

The statement while essentially true, was undiplomatic, and the White House had to apologize for what it claims was "sloppy work."

Goodbye from the world's biggest polluter

Babi Badalov: Azerbaijani artist under threat of deportation

Babakhan Badalov (Babi) is an artist and poet from Azerbaijan. He has been the target of harassment because of his openly gay status. His criticism of the Azerbaijani regime in his art and poetry has also drawn negative attention.

Babi is presently residing in the UK where his claim for asylum was rejected. He is required to sign in every week at the Border and Immigration Agency offices in Cardiff.

Concern is high among his supporters that he may be detained and deported. Such a move could have disastrous consequences because Babi would be returning to a country where he would face persecution from the state, community and even from his own family.

Babi's family in Azerbaijan has reacted angrily to reports in the media that include mention of Babi's gay status. He has been harassed and abused - one of his brothers even threatened him with death.

Azerbaijan is majority Muslim. It is a former Soviet Republic in which there was an effort to separate religion and politics. It followed a Turkish model of secularism, as opposed to Iranian type theocracy. However recent years have seen Islamic fundamentalism on the rise, with all of the intolerance and bigotry associated with that.

Petitions in support of Babi can be sent to the British Home Office. Please quote Home office reference number: B1234623

Send to:

Rt Hon Jacqui Smith MP
Secretary of State for the Home Department
3rd Floor Peel Buildings
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

More info here:

http://noborderswales.wordpress.com/campaign-to-stay/keep-babi-safe-in-cardiff/

Sign an online petition

http://www.petitiononline.com/badalov/petition.html

See Babi's web log:

http://babibadalov.wordpress.com/

Jul 8, 2008

Australian laws stifle dissent in advance of Pope's visit

The Pope is going to be visiting Australia and will be attending "World Youth Day" in Sydney. In preparation for the visit, authorities in New South Wales have put new regulations in place in a misguided effort to spare Catholics "annoyance or inconvenience." Anyone arrested under the new laws could be fined up to $5,500.

Legal experts have described this clampdown as "draconian, repugnant and unnecessary."

President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Anna Katzmann, has raised legitimate concerns about the merits of introducing these regulations:

"The Government has by-passed the normal parliamentary scrutiny that would be available if they were introduced by an Act of Parliament ... They are also an unreasonable interference with people's freedom of speech and movement."

Police have informed organizations that intend to protest the Pope's visit that they must have the messages on their placards, banners and T'shirts pre-approved or they risk losing protest "rights."

This astonishing assault on democratic rights, also applies to those groups that intend to protest against child abuse by Roman Catholic clergy.

The move by NSW authorities has created a backlash. Rachel Evans, spokesperson for the NoTo Pope coalition is going to hand out condoms at a rally planned for July 19. When asked about the clampdown she said:

“We will protect our civil liberties and help young people to protect their health, and no Pope or premier will stop us.”

An online retailer is advertising T'shirts with protest slogans that read - "$5,500 - a small price to pay for annoying Catholics" and "The Pope touched me down under."

The Atheist Foundation of Australia is encouraging people to defy the law. President David Nicholls said:

“When governments enact laws or police overstep their discriminatory powers in enforcement, against the common good, the obligation upon the public is to react with civil disobedience.”

Heads of state are rarely accorded these extraordinary concessions, but in the case of the Pope, New South Wales is prepared to put new laws in place in order to regulate the right-to-protest. Activists are completely justified in calling for protests in defiance of this move.

Jul 7, 2008

Neo-Nazis/skinheads: underside of the new Russia

In 2007 a gay rights march in Moscow came under attack. Gay activist Peter Tatchell was viciously assaulted. Incredibly Moscow police placed Tatchell under arrest and let his attackers walk free.

Moscow's reactionary Mayor Luzhkov, has referred to homosexuality as 'satanic,' and has been instrumental in banning gay rights parades in the Russian capital.

The attack on the 2007 gay rights march, reflects a much deeper problem. Xenophobia, homophobia and racism don't lie far beneath the surface of a society that for the most part seems prepared to turn a blind eye to the cancer.

Last year there were 600 racist attacks and only 20 convictions. In many cases anti-foreigner outrages are simply characterized by the authorities as "hooliganism." According to the rights group SOVA there were 232 victims of hate crime in the first five months of 2008, including 57 murders.

This month a skinhead gang was charged with 20 murders.

The gang targeted people from post-Soviet Republics - loners who appeared to be vulnerable. The attacks were brutal and aimed to do maximum damage. The two leaders of the gang were under sixteen when they committed their crimes.

Sociologists have been baffled by the rise of neo-Nazism in a Russian society that lost millions of citizens in the fight against Nazi Germany in WW2. The ideology of these groups is racist and centered on what they view as the 'pure' Russian identity. This attitude has become popularized in the slogan "Russia for Russians" - a slogan that has also been adopted by less extreme groups.

In 2007 a video surfaced that showed an apparent beheading of two men from the Caususes. The video was at first thought to be a fake, but when one of the men on the video was identified by his brother and with further investigation by the authorities, it became evident that both of the men on the video had been murdered.

Neo-Nazi groups can be found in Europe and the USA, but nowhere are they as hard core as in Russia.

A student named Akili Bernard who was interviewed about the assaults on foreigners and the attack videos that have been surfacing, was candid about his fears:

"Being a black man in Moscow is dangerous. I'm always worried. I always watch my back. If I'm going to class, I just go straight to class. I don't walk around to places I don't know."

Is John McCain too old to be president?

Is John McCain too old to be president? If he gets elected to the top office he will be 72. Life expectancy for males in the US is around the 78 mark, so he's getting up there. If he makes it into the White House McCain would be the oldest American ever elected to the office.

The age factor has dogged McCain mercilessly since he hit the campaign trail. Age is a valid concern, even if McCain does turn out to out to be one of those Peter Pan-like elder statesmen who go and go.

The challenges that come with aging don't have to be a detriment to a president. There are products available these days to help an elderly leader-of-the-free-world maintain optimum efficiency. These products have sometimes been referred to as "golden gadgets."

For example if McCain were to experience vision and memory loss, and didn't want to be dependent on aides to do everything for him, there is the wonderful backtalker phone dialing device (BPDD).This nifty little helpmate simply plugs into the phone and reliably announces each number being dialed - slowly and in clear tones.

There are other nifty gadgets that help to offset the downside of poor vision. The Talking Watch would keep the president on-schedule, without the bother of having to roll up a sleeve and squint at a hard-to-read watch face.

The unexpected onset of arthritis or other physical ailments could lead to dexterity problems for an elderly president. This could result in difficulties when trying to negotiate the White House stairs or when performing simple tasks such as writing - bad news for a president who is required to sign an endless succession of documents. McCain doesn't need to give a second thought to any potential embarrassment, thanks to the amazing "Ring Pen." The Ring Pen is ergonomically designed to allow for easy writing. The index finger simply slips through a hole in the pen, allowing a writing experience free of any pressure on the wrist and joints. RP users can even chat on a mobile phone with the pen still attached to a finger.

One out of three people over the age of 65 suffer some sort of fall each year. In Chico, California in 1996, American TV viewers witnessed the disturbing sight of presidential candidate Bob Dole falling face first off a stage. A fall on camera could be disastrous for McCain because it would be taken as proof positive that he is over-the-hill. It would be played and replayed, probably in slow-mo on some networks. So to avoid such a PR disaster and the possibility of serious injury, McCain should consider battery powered shoes with vibrating soles. They provide continuous stimulation of the nerves in the feet, helping to improve balance.

The elderly are more prone to pass away in their sleep than the rest of the population. To safeguard against hazards in the sleep zone, a special VitalSigns bed could be moved into the presidential bedroom. The VitalSigns bed has inbuilt wireless sensors that measure pulse rate, breathing and restlessness. Physiological symptoms signaling distress would be relayed back to a monitoring team, ensuring quick intervention in the case of any nocturnal episodes.

Is John McCain too old to be president? No, advanced age doesn't have to go against McCain at all. With golden gadgets, designer meds, an emergency gaffe response team, medical monitoring and aides who are ever-vigilant, there is no reason why he shouldn't be able to make it through a term.

McCain takes on his critics

Jul 6, 2008

McDonalds refuses to back down to AFA anti-gay pressure

The American Family Association (AFA) is upset because McDonalds is "refusing to remain neutral in the culture wars." The organization has called on consumers to boycott McDonalds because of the company's position on gay issues.

The AFA is a highly political organization. Its ranks are full of fundamentalist Christians. It recently attacked McDonalds for - in its own words - "promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage."

McDonalds VP of Communications, Richard Ellis, recently joined the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) - a move that was regarded by the AFA as "promoting the homosexual agenda."

The AFA also criticized McDonalds for its support of last years Pride parade in San Francisco.

A letter that lays out McDonalds' stance on these issues seems to be one of the main reasons for AFA objections. The letter from Global Chief Diversity Officer, Pat Harris, includes the following:

"We treat our employees and our customers with respect and dignity, regardless of their ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or other factors ... we support our employees' personal involvement in organizations of their choice ... we will continue to support our people and their right to live and work in an inclusive society."

In its literature, AFA describes itself as: "a Christian organization promoting the biblical ethic of decency in American society with primary emphasis on TV and other media" - yet it has issues with inclusiveness and takes a judgmental approach when it comes to those who don't share the organization's narrow minded conservative values.

The "biblical ethic" referred to above is a spin-of-convenience. Jesus of Nazareth, never explicitly attacked homosexuality anywhere in New Testament accounts. Moreover he demonstrated radical inclusiveness when he saved a prostitute from being stoned to death. He famously said - "you who are without sin cast the first stone." But that is a more challenging ethic which the AFA chooses not to emulate. It's so much easier to cast stones.

McDonalds isn't the only company that has come in for censure by the AFA. Heinz was hit with an avalanche of complaints because one of its ads shown in the UK featured a kiss between two men.

AFA also targeted IKEA for including gay families in its ads.

Over the years AFA has opposed equal rights legislation and hate-crime legislation. It has called for censorship of print and electronic media.

Organizations that actively discriminate against the gay community stand in the way of progress. Their discriminatory attacks and smear campaigns have to be challenged every step of the way.

Jul 5, 2008

Bill C-51: a threat to natural products industry and Canadian health

Bill C-51, introduced in the Canadian House of Commons for first reading on April 8, proposes an overhaul of the Food and Drugs Act with the declared purpose of safeguarding public health and safety. Some of the proposed changes target natural health products (NHPs) and have led to protests by those who believe that C-51 is a threat to their rights as consumers, retailers and practitioners in the alternative health field.

Some regulation of natural health products is reasonable, however the measures proposed by C-51 are a bit like taking a sledgehammer to a task that could be effectively addressed with a much less drastic approach.

Risky pharmaceutical drugs are being fast tracked, without adequate time for clinical research and testing. But under Bill C-51 time honored natural health products are more likely to be targeted and subjected to unreasonable licensing requirements. The sheer cost of clinical testing could eliminate some NHP's from therapeutic use. Unlike patented synthetic drugs, NHP's don't generate enough profit to cover the cost of clinical trials.

The proposed replacement of the word "drug" with "therapeutic product" would effectively give government greater powers of regulation and control. Under C-51 the Canadian government could in fact designate any natural product a 'prescription drug' (Section 15.1), making access even more difficult for the average consumer. We are talking about products used by humans for thousands of years - our common inheritance from the natural world - product used by native peoples since the healing powers of plants were first discovered.

Bill C-51 also includes a number of draconian provisions. It would empower government agents to:

-Enter private property without a warrant (Section 23.4)
-Confiscate property at their discretion (Section 23.2 a)
-Dispose of property at their discretion (Section 23.3 c)
-Seize bank accounts without a warrant
-Charge for shipping and storage of property (Section 23.3a-b)
-Store property Indefinitely without paying you for damages (Section 23.2 d)
-Levy fines of up to $5,000,000.00 and/or jail time.

Michael Hayes, a former Health Canada drug inspector, is troubled by the range of powers proposed:

"What concerns me the greatest is that this bill, if passed as is, will give ... inspectors the power to seize your property and documents without cause -- that is, without having 'reasonable grounds' to believe that there is a violation of the Food and Drug Act or its regulations. It's simply unimaginable that any government would even propose such measures."

To attempt to justify this type of intrusive governmental control in the name of safety is preposterous. Natural health products don't have anything close to the number of hazards associated with their use as do synthetic drugs. Based on any fair and objective risk assessment, the government should be more concerned about the safety of 'designer drugs' with long lists of secondary symptoms.

A cursory look at the hazards of synthetic drugs makes undue concern about herbs and other NHP's seem like overkill.

Take a drug such as Piroxicam as an example. This nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug has been known to cause as many as 110 side-effects. Deaths have been linked to its use, together with intestinal bleeding and perforation, depression and hair loss. Minocycline, a drug prescribed for acne has been linked to liver failure and autoimmune hepatitis and lupus. Calcium-channel blockers such as Nifedipine have been linked to higher risk of cancer, heart attack, stomach bleeding and suicide. The well known drug Ritalin, prescribed for children with so-called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Syndrome (ADHS), has been known to cause seizures, induce nervousness, insomnia, heart palpitations and involuntary movements.

The list of synthetic drugs with risky side-effects is extensive. Anyone who has seen TV ads that promote the miracle working powers of the latest 'wonder drug,' is familiar with the long list of potential side-effects listed in a slightly muted voice. The downside of taking these drugs in some cases outweighs the benefits.

When you look at the proposed powers being handed to Health Canada, it becomes very clear that the scope of C-51 goes well beyond health and safety concerns. C-51 is about government responding to the lobbying power of big industry. It is about money and the agenda of drug companies that have become increasingly threatened by the growing popularity of the alternative health sector.

John Bigg's article - Strong medicine for Canada's natural health industry - addresses the key concerns raised by Bill C-51:

"Health Canada is already over-regulating natural health products, so what would Bill C-51 accomplish, other than awarding unprecedented bureaucratic powers? Moreover, with no Canadian deaths ever caused by a natural health product, why is the government protecting us so tenaciously from these products and spending millions of tax dollars in the process? And is it just coincidence that Bill C-51 provides for "progressive licensing" of pharmaceutical drugs to get them to market faster?

In my opinion, the degree of regulatory concern over NHPs is so out of proportion to their low risk levels that it is obvious what is at stake is not public safety; it is control over wellness and disease."

For more information and to review Bill C-51 in detail, you can visit the official STOP C-51 site here.

You can sign the petition opposing Bill C-51 here.

Adolf Hitler decapitated in Berlin Madam Tussauds museum

A new Madame Tussauds museum opened in Berlin this week. The most controversial exhibit featured a wax likeness of Adolf Hitler.

Prior to the opening of the museum, the inclusion of the Hitler exhibit drew quite a few complaints. Many Germans believe the former Fuhrer has no place in a museum that celebrates the lives and achievements of famous and influential Germans - among them Boris Becker and Ludwig van Beethoven.

The curators attempted to offset any hint of 'Hitler admiration' by placing their rather dejected looking Fuhrer behind a heavy desk in his bunker, shortly before his death by suicide.

When the Berlin museum opened its doors, one of the first visitors vaulted over Hitler's desk and ripped the Fuhrer's head off. As he attacked the exhibit he was heard yelling "never again war!"

A security guard tried to stop the attacker, but got thrown to the floor.

A 41 year old man from the Kreuzberg district of Berlin has been charged with assault and property damage.

There is a Hitler likeness in the Madame Tussauds in London. It's been there since 1933, and has been damaged a number of times over the years. More recently, attacks on the figure of Osama bin Laden have outnumbered those on the Fuhrer.

The Berlin attack was welcome news to Frank Zimmerman, a Social Democratic parliamentarian, who said: "It is more a work of art to rip Hitler's head off than it is to present him in the first place."

The Tussauds' Hitler has attracted more negative attention than expected. At the Panoptikum museum in Hamburg, a Hitler figure has gone unmolested, as have the likenesses of Nazi propaganda minister Goebbels and air force head, Hermann Goring.

According to Natalie Ruoss, a spokesperson for the Berlin Madame Tussauds - if the headless Hitler can be repaired, it will go back on display.

Jul 3, 2008

Connie Heermann: teacher suspended for using Freedom Writers Diary

The Freedom Writers Diary, is a non-fiction book written by students from Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. The teacher involved in the project, Erin Gruwell, encouraged students to keep journals in which they could explore personal challenges in their past, present and future.

Ms Gruwell was inspired to begin the project after discovering a racist drawing that had been circulated by one of her students. This prompted her to open a debate that included discussion of Nazi propaganda techniques. She encouraged her students to read books such as The Diary of Anne Frank and Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Sarajevo.

With Erin Gruwell's inspirational leadership, the students produced a body of work that is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the transformational ability of the word to transform thinking and attitudes.

Connie Heermann, an Indiana teacher with 27 years experience, decided to use the book after attending a workshop held by the Freedom Writers Foundation.

She told the UK based Guardian newspaper:

"If you read the whole book you will see how these inner-city students grow and change and become articulate, compassionate, educated young people who want to do something good in their lives despite the environment in which they were raised. I thought my students would very much relate to those kids."

Ms Heermann received permission from her head and 150 parents to go ahead and use the book.

However the Perry Meridian High School Board still hadn't had its say on the matter. Board members were unable to see the wood for the trees. Instead of focusing on the positive and life affirming aspects of The Freedom Writers Diary, they got hung up on the small stuff, such as occasional swear words.

Connie Heermann received an email advising her not to use the book. She refused to comply with the order and was suspended. Her union is deciding whether or not to take the case to court.

The School Board has attempted to argue that this is a matter relating to insubordination on Ms Heermann's part. Nonsense. It's about a teacher who had the guts to rock the boat and try an original approach ... she aimed to inspire students to get involved in a creative learning and discovery process, and ended up getting penalized for it.

Connie Heermann is one of those rare teachers who seeks to expand the learning experience by introducing new ideas and inspirational material. A teacher with this type of initiative ought to be valued by the education system, not penalized.

Book banning and the repression of ideas hearkens back to an earlier era. This incident has made Perry school district look reactionary and out-of-touch. Education is about exposure to ideas, most especially ideas that challenge prevailing attitudes, so that students can arrive at a critical understanding of their own and get an insight into the lives and struggles of others.

Making it difficult for a teacher to use a book such as the Freedom Diary on the basis of petty objections with respect to content, shows a degree of small mindedness that undercuts the very purpose of education itself.

Jul 2, 2008

Sweden: brave new rules for Iranian asylum seekers

Sweden is one of the most enlightened nations on the planet. Never more so than when it comes to just and equitable decision making on the asylum issue.

The Swedish Migration Board has decided that people who live openly gay lives in Iran should be eligable for asylum. Formerly more evidence of persecution was required.

The Board will of course make individual assessments in each case, but the "guiding decision" will take into account the likelihood that the person may be persecuted because of his or her sexual orientation. The rights of the LGBT community in Iran have long been under seige.

Despite the pronouncement by President Ahmadinejad that 'there are no homosexuals in Iran,' and a propaganda line fed to foreign governments that there are 'no executions in Iran as a result of sexual orientation,' activists know better. Homosexuals in Iran live precarious lives. They have suffered persecution and in some cases have been sentenced to be flogged - even executed - for the 'crime' of being gay.

The Swedish decision follows on the heels of a case involving a 25 year old Iranian who sought refuge in Sweden. He had been living openly with a boyfriend in Iran and had been arrested several times. He was given leave to remain in Sweden as a refugee.

Abortion crusader Henry Morgentaler named to the Order of Canada

Henry Morgentaler, the abortion crusader who changed the face of health care in Canada, has been named to the Order of Canada. This is an appointment that is long overdue, and that is richly deserved.

Dr Morgentaler is a visionary who had the guts to go against a system that forced women to seek out the ministrations of back alley abortionists, with all of the shame and loathing that goes with that - not to mention health risks. He gave women back their dignity, their power to choose and access to safe and professional clinical services.

Henry Morgentaler is a remarkable man. He was born in Poland on March 9, 1923.

After the German invasion of Poland, Henry's father, Josef Morgentaler, was arrested and executed by the Gestapo. In 1944, Henry Morgentaler was sent to the notorious concentration camp, Auschwitz.

After the war, he was granted a United Nations scholarship. This enabled him to attend medical school in Germany.

Ever a man of strong principle, when he graduated Morgentaler refused to move to Israel because of his opposition to Zionism. In 1950, he and his wife, Chava Rosenfarb, made the decision to move to Canada.

He worked in Montreal for 20 years as a general practitioner.

Over time his convictions about abortion drew him into conflict situations. On October 19, 1967, he gave testimony before a government committee. He stood by his conviction that any pregnant woman should have a right to a safe abortion.

In 1969 Morgentaler made the courageous decision to give up his family practice and began openly performing illegal abortions. At that time abortion was only legal when the procedure was carried out in a hospital after being given the green light by a Therapeutic Abortion Committee.

Many judicial and political battles followed during the subsequent decades.

In his fight to provide women with dignity and choice by providing accessible abortion services, Morgentaler was reviled by those who regarded abortion as the ultimate sin. In times past, their regimens of guilt and constriction forced women to seek out back alley abortionists with their 'coat hanger' remedies.

Such was the hatred directed toward Morgentaler that his Harbord Street clinic in Toronto was bombed in 1992.

Joanne Byfield, president of Life Canada, personifies the anti-choice attitude. She didn't disguise her hostility on learning about the Morgentaler appointment:

" ... to make this an official Canadian position, which is to say we Canadians think this man is a hero because he kills babies for a living, is outrageous."

Thomas Collins, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Toronto, said in a statement that Canada's highest honor had been "debased" by Dr Morgentaler receiving the award.

It was left to another recipient, Buzz Hargrove, to say what a great many Canadians believe. The Canadian Auto Workers president put it this way:

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be on the list at the same time as Dr. Morgentaler. I supported him. I supported his efforts. I think he's done more for half the population in this country ... in terms of fighting for women's reproductive rights."

Canadian Liberal Leader, Stephane Dion, also paid a compliment to the legendary crusader:

"Dr. Morgentaler has stood up for a woman's right to choose for his entire career, often at great personal cost and risk."

Hats off to a great Canadian.

Right to choose

Oxfam: migrant Indian and Philippino domestics face abuse in the UK

A new report published by Oxfam and the London based charity, Kalayaan (freedom in Phillipino), shows widespread abuse of migrant domestic workers in the UK.

In association with Oxfam, Kalayaan interviewed 300 migrant domestic workers. Most described sub-standard working conditions. Some hadn't been provided with a bed of their own by their employers. Others reported that they had been deprived of food. In some cases workers were prohibited from leaving the home of their own volition.

There were also complaints of sexual assaults by employers, along with allegations of physical and psychological abuse.

A BBC report mentions the case of a domestic named Rina who claims that her employers treated her 'like a slave.' She wasn't allocated a bedroom, and was compelled to sleep in the living room. The female employer was so controlling about Rina's food intake that she counted tea bags, in order to monitor how much tea was being consumed.

Rina claimed that she had to fend off unwanted sexual advances from the male employer, who used a belt when she refused to go along with his demands. To escape his attentions, she resorted to locking herself in the washroom.

In the UK, migrant domestics have the legal status of workers and are entitled to the rights that go with that, including minimum wage, time off and the ability to come and go without constraints.

The Kalayaan research reveals that 43% of the workers reported having no bed of their own, 41% were not provided with regular meals, 70% were given no time off, 61% were not allowed out of the house.

In addition 10% reported sexual abuse at the hands of the employer (a problem the charity believes to be underreported), 26% physical abuse and 72% psychological abuse.

Some of these women were made to work 16 hour days, many of them for as little as 50p and hour.

What makes the findings of this report particularly troubling, is that these women come from backgrounds that exposed them to hardship and poverty. To move from that situation at some risk to themselves, to an affluent nation such as the UK, only to be exploited in this fashion is nothing short of scandalous.

Each year roughly 17,000 migrant domestic worker visas are granted in the UK. The employer gives an undertaking to accommodate and feed the domestic worker in care.

New changes proposed by the British Home Office will be helpful in securing a measure of independence for these women. The Home Office is going to drop proposed visa changes that would tie domestic workers to one employer. Oxfam was concerned that this could have resulted in "bonded" type labour situations, which could leave workers trapped in exploitive work situations.