So Here Is This

2009-07-20T12:08:00.000-07:00

Converge on US Southern Command

Take action in solidarity with the people of Honduras

Gather on Sat., July 25 at 10:30 am at NW 87th Ave & NW 36th St in Miami

As you are surely aware, on June 28, SOA-trained Honduran generals overthrew the democratically-elected government of President Manuel Zelaya in a military coup. The Honduran social movements are resisting the coup regime and engage in daily pro-democracy protests, strikes and civil disobedience.

On Saturday, July 25, you can join human rights activists in Florida taking action in solidarity with the people of Honduras by converging on the headquarters of the US Southern Command (US SouthCom) in Miami.

SouthCom coordinates all US military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean — and is in charge of the SOA/ WHINSEC (School of the Americas, renamed Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation).

This notorious military school trained some of the worst human rights abusers, death squad and coup leaders in the Western Hemisphere, including General Romeo Orlando Vásquez Velásquez, who attended the SOA twice before ordering the kidnapping and forced deportation of President Zelaya on June 28.

When Your Only Tool is a Hammer, Every Problem Looks Like a Nail

SOA/ WHINSEC & SouthCom’s military-solutions-mindset is sowing the seeds for further repression of Latin American social movements with their rhetoric about “radical populism” overtaking the hemisphere. Over the last few years, military aid to Latin America has skyrocketed, and SouthCom definitions of terrorist threats expanded from “traditional terrorists” like gangs, paramilitaries and guerrilla groups to include “radical populists” whose only crimes include listening to their people and challenging the failed neoliberal model of development.

Evidently President Zelaya’s social reforms have put him in league with the “emerging terrorist” threat that is defined by SouthCom as radical populists. Following that logic, the Honduran army (which is still led by an SOA graduate and still being trained at the SOA/ WHINSEC) removed him from power. But the people of Honduras continue resisting, and are calling for you to join them in solidarity!

Obama’s military policy in Latin America is not an improvement after the Bush Era — though the US air base in Manta, Ecuador will close this year, the US will replace it with five new bases in Colombia with expanded missions. You have an important chance to join our brothers and sisters resisting militarization throughout the Americas. Please join us this Saturday at SouthCom!

The protest is sponsored by SOA Watch South Florida, Miami for Peace, and CODEPINK Miami. For more information call Ray Del Papa at 754-423-0051 or Linda at 305-801-0245. If your group would like to endorse the action, please email Ray at mrrratpp@aol.com

Yours in struggle,

Linda and Ray

SOA Watch South Florida

http://www.soaw.org/article.php?id=1740

2009-05-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

Aung San Suu Kyi Framed

Posted by: Burmanews (Translation by Myo Thein (BDC)

According to the taxi driver who picked John William Yettaw up at the airport on May 2nd “John did not swim to Aung San Suu Kyi’s home”, John was dropped off at the gate of Suu Kyi’s home. Then the cabbie witnessed as John showed the guards a red document then was allowed to enter the compound where he donned flippers, got wet and pretended to swim across the lake and lied to Suu Kyi’s caretakers. According to John Yettaw’s wife, John was incapable of swimming since he suffered asthma and diabetes. He was also a very timid and fearful man according to his wife. The whole accounting is a fabrication from Naypyidaw to find an excuse to keep Aung Suu Kyi in jail.

With the level of security around Suu Kyi’s home it was all but impossible for anyone to enter her compound or even swim in the vicinity. But if you had permission from the junta you could move around with no restrictions. Either John was extorted somehow or he got a handsome financial reward for working with the junta. It’s a far cry from being a student of psychology. As we speak absolutely everything about John Yettaw is being dissected and his finances will surely be most reveling if there is any intercessions or unusual activity.

If the cabbies accounting is correct, John W. Yettaw will have to answer to US and International authorities on numerous charges including perpetrating fraud, conspiracy, human rights violations and violating US Government sanctions by working with the junta. He will also earn the honor of being one of the most hated men on every continent on the planet.

The desperate Gen. Than Shwe just keeps digging himself a deeper hole as he acts like a man possessed as the 2010 elections draw closer. But it is to no avail since the world has already determined this election to be a sham and a hoax. The only people Than Shwe will convince are his ardent followers who’ve cashed in their morality for the hard currency they enjoy under his regime. Many of them are international corporations and now more than ever it is time to revel all the players who finance Than Shwe’s bloody military junta. It is time to expose the individuals around the world who are lining their pockets with Than Shwe’s blood money. Some of them are affluent, wealthy society people.

Never before has the plight of Burma come into focus as has today. Than Shwe is making blunder after blunder as he tries to rally support for his bogus election. Now he has to do some major damage control since this latest antic has gotten the attention of the world and on all levels. Already many generals are completely at a loss for words as they find themselves in the fish bowl of world opinion. They are coming to realize that the game is all over in Burma. With words like defection, coup and assassination on their lips these days it’s only a matter of time before a consortium of generals make a move. Making deals and pining for immunity is also on their lips and when the rats abandon ship there will be plenty of witnesses to the inner workings of Than Shwe’s crime regime.

It just did not make sense that someone could simply swim to Aung San Suu Kyi’s home anyway.

©BNN-BurmaNews Network

2009-05-04T11:22:00.000-07:00

40 years ago today!

The Healing of Suffering

Punta de Vacas, Mendoza, Argentina, May 4, 1969

If you have come to listen to a man who it is thought transmits wisdom, you have mistaken your way, for true wisdom is not communicated through books or speeches—true wisdom is found in the depths of your consciousness, just as true love is found in the depths of your heart. If you have come at the urging of slanderers and hypocrites to listen to this man so that what you hear today may later be used against him, you have mistaken your way, because this man has not come here to ask anything of you or to use you, because he does not need you.

You are listening to a man who does not know the laws that rule the Universe, who is not privy to the laws of History, who is ignorant of the relationships that govern the peoples of the world. High in these mountains, far from the cities and their sick ambitions, this man addresses himself to your conscience. Over the cities, where each day is a struggle—a hope cut short by death—where love is followed by hate, where forgiveness is followed by revenge; over the cities of the people rich and poor; over the immense fields of humanity, a mantle of suffering and sorrow has fallen. You suffer when pain bites your body. You suffer when hunger seizes your body. But you suffer not only from your body’s immediate pain and hunger, you also suffer from the consequences of the diseases that afflict it.

We must distinguish between two types of suffering. There is the suffering that occurs during illness, which recedes with the advance of science, just as hunger can recede if the empire of justice advances. There is also the suffering that does not depend on the sickness of your body but yet derives from that sickness: If you are disabled, if you cannot see, if you cannot hear, you suffer. But though such suffering derives from your body, or from the diseases of your body, that suffering is of your mind.

There is yet another kind of suffering that does not recede even with the advance of science or with the advance of justice. This type of suffering, which belongs strictly to your mind, retreats before faith, before joy in life, before love. You must understand that this suffering is always rooted in the violence that exists in your own consciousness. You suffer because you fear losing what you have, or because of what you have already lost, or because of what you desperately long to reach. You suffer because of what you lack, or because you fear in general.

These, then, are the great enemies of humanity: fear of sickness, fear of poverty, fear of death, fear of loneliness. All these forms of suffering pertain to your mind, and all of them reveal your inner violence, the violence that is in your mind. Notice how that violence always stems from desire. The more violent a person is, the more gross are that person’s desires.

I would like to tell you a story that took place long ago.

There was once a traveler who had to undertake a long journey. He yoked his animal to a cart and began the journey to his faraway destination, a journey he had to complete within a certain length of time. He called the animal Necessity and the cart Desire; one wheel of the cart he called Pleasure, and the other he called Pain. Our traveler turned his cart sometimes to the right and sometimes to the left, yet he never ceased moving toward his destiny. The faster the cart traveled, the faster turned the wheels of Pleasure and Pain, carrying as they did the cart of Desire and connected as they were by the same axle.

But the journey was very long, and after a time our traveler grew bored. So he decided to decorate his cart, and he began to adorn it with all manner of beautiful things. But the more he embellished the cart of Desire with these ornaments, the heavier became the load for Necessity to pull. On the curves and steep hills of the road, the poor animal grew too exhausted to pull the cart of Desire. And where the road was soft, the wheels of Pleasure and Suffering became mired in the earth.

One day, because the road was long and he was still very far from his destination, our traveler grew desperate. That night he decided to meditate on the problem, and in the midst of his meditation he heard the neighing of his old friend, Necessity. Comprehending the message, he arose very early the next morning and began to lighten the cart of its burden, stripping it of all its fine adornments. Then he set off once more toward his destination, with the animal Necessity pulling the cart at a brisk trot. Still, our traveler had already lost much time—time that was now irrecoverable. The next night he sat down again to meditate, and he realized, thanks to another message from his old friend, that now he had to undertake a task that was doubly difficult because it involved his letting go. At daybreak he sacrificed the cart of Desire. It is true that when he did so he lost the wheel of Pleasure, but then he also lost the wheel of Suffering. And so, abandoning the cart of Desire, he mounted the animal called Necessity and galloped on its back across the green fields until he reached his destiny.

See how desire can trap you. But notice that there are desires of different qualities. There are cruder desires, and there are more elevated desires. Elevate desire, purify desire, surpass desire! In doing so, surely you will have to sacrifice the wheel of Pleasure—but you will also become free of the wheel of Suffering.

Spurred by desire, the violence in a person does not simply remain like a sickness in the consciousness of that person—it acts in the world of other people and is exercised upon them. And do not think that when I talk of violence I am speaking only about the armed act of war, where some men destroy others. That is only one form of physical violence.

There is also economic violence. Economic violence is the violence through which you exploit other people; economic violence occurs when you steal from another, when you are no longer a brother or sister to others but a bird of prey feeding upon them.

There is also racial violence. Or do you think that you are not being violent when you persecute someone because that person is not of your own race? Do you think that you are not engaging in violence when you malign that person for being of a race different from your own?

And there is religious violence: Do you think that you are not engaging in violence when you refuse work to, close your doors to, or dismiss a person, because that person does not share your religious beliefs? Do you believe that it is not violence when you use words of hate to build walls around other people, excluding them from your society, because they do not share your religious beliefs—isolating them within their families, segregating them and their loved ones, because they do not share your religion?

There are other forms of violence that are imposed by the Philistine morality. You wish to impose your way of life upon another; you wish to impose your vocation upon another. But who has told you that you are an example that must be followed? Who has told you that you can impose a way of life because it pleases you? What makes your way of life a model, a pattern that you have the right to impose on others? This, then, is another form of violence.

Only inner faith and inner meditation can end the violence in you, in others, and in the world around you. All the other doors are false and do not lead away from this violence. This world is on the verge of exploding with no way to end the violence! Do not choose false doors. There are no politics that can solve this mad urge for violence. There is no political party or movement on the planet that can end the violence. Do not choose false doors that promise to lead away from the violence in the world… I have heard that all over the world young people are turning to false doors to try to escape the violence and inner suffering. They turn to drugs as a solution. Do not choose false doors to try to end the violence.

My brother, my sister, keep these simple commandments, as simple as these rocks, this snow, and this sun that bless us. Carry peace within you, and carry it to others. My brother, my sister—if you look back in history, you will see the human being bearing the face of suffering. Remember, even as you gaze at that suffering face, that it is necessary to move forward, and it is necessary to learn to laugh, and it is necessary to learn to love.

To you, my brother and sister, I cast this hope—this hope of joy, this hope of love—so that you elevate your heart and elevate your spirit, and so that you do not forget to elevate your body.

Notes

1. At the time Silo gave this speech in 1969, the military dictatorship then in power in Argentina had banned all public gatherings in urban areas. Consequently, a bleak spot known as Punta de Vacas, high in the Andes on the border between Argentina and Chile, was chosen as the location for the speech. Early in the morning of May 4, the authorities placed roadblocks on all roads leading to the site. Machine-gun posts, military vehicles, and armed soldiers were stationed along the roads, and everyone was required to show identification papers to pass through the checkpoints, which led to disputes with some members of the international press. Against the magnificent backdrop of the snow-capped Andes, Silo began to speak to an audience of some two hundred people. The day was cold and bright, and by noon the event was over.

2. This is Silo’s first public expression of his ideas. In poetic language, he explains that the most important knowledge for living (“true wisdom”) is not the same as the knowledge found in books—knowledge of universal laws or things of that type—but is a question of inner experience. The most important knowledge for living is related to comprehending suffering and how to surpass it.

In this speech, Silo presents a very simple thesis, which is divided into several parts: (1) It begins by distinguishing between physical pain and its derivations, on the one hand, maintaining that they can be made to recede through progress in science and justice, and mental suffering, on the other, which cannot be eliminated by such means. (2) Suffering comes through three pathways: the pathway of perception, the pathway of memory, and the pathway of imagination. (3) Suffering reveals a state of violence. (4) Violence is rooted in desire. (5) There are various degrees and forms of desire. By attending to these factors (“through inner meditation”), one may advance. Thus: (6) Desire gives rise to violence (“the more gross the desires”), which does not remain inside people but spreads to others, contaminating the space of relationships. (7) Violence can be seen in various forms besides its primary form of physical violence. (8) We need simple forms of conduct by which to orient our lives (“keep simple commandments”): Learn to be a bearer of peace, joy, and, above all, hope. Conclusion: To conquer physical pain, science and justice are necessary; to conquer mental suffering, it is indispensable to surpass primitive desires.

2009-04-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

Support the vigil for Ian Tomlinson

The location of the vigil for Ian Tomlinson is inspiring and beautiful with candles and flowers arranged around the fountain by the Royal Exchange in the passage off Cornhill. It is a bridgehead in the city of London.

Activists plan to keep it going as long as possible. The site is fully respected by the police and even the City of London corporation roadworks have been held up out of respect.

Those who stayed over last night need a rest. Chris Knight is 66 he can't stay out every night. Two or three people are urgently needed to stay overnight. All you need is a bed roll, sleeping bag, a little food and water. Further support will arrive early in the morning.

If you can visit, take along extra candles, tea lights, flowers, bottles, vases, and if you could make it through the night there are nice comfortable doorways to spread a bed roll and sleeping bag.

2009-02-21T08:05:00.000-08:00

R.I.P. Jim Lane, Feb. 21, 2009

On his way home from a bike ride, Wednesday Feb. 18, 2009, Jim Lane stopped at Kensington coffee on Adams Avenue, San Diego. He had hardly spoken the words “It sure is cold out there today,” when he collapsed on the floor.

Paramedics had to defibrillate him eight times before rushing him to Scripps Mercy hospital ICU where he had another heart attack. He came round from the sedatives long enough for him to shake his head in response to being asked if he was in pain and then went into a deep sleep for two more days until he finally died of kidney failure.

It could very well have been that he forgot to take his daily meds; but he had done that before without problems. He was at his goal weight of 205 lbs. He was on an upswing with new work coming up for him at the university, and he had just acquired two used doors to replace on his car, which he planned to repaint.

Family and friends will gather to celebrate his life on Sunday March 22, 2009 from 2 till 6 p.m. Details available.

2008-12-28T17:04:00.001-08:00

The Burning Question of the Hour

One of the essential little items that’s impossible to find in the United States is the baccy box. You can pick one up for about £3 in any decent tobacconist in the United Kingdom. But in the U.S.A., they’re unheard of. And the kind of box I'm looking for only lasts a couple of years before the springs give out so the lid flaps uselessly and the paper holder no longer holds the papers.

A google search will tend to throw up a variety of decorated tins, some of them antique. None of them has a hinged lid with a spring that will hold it open. None has a sprung holder inside the lid to retain the rolling papers. The key words “Ash tobacco tin paper clip celtic patten” led me to a British Web site at http://www.roll-ups.co.uk/ which offers “Small Hinged Lid Tobacco Tins.“

For some reason, the one with the celtic design stamped on the top is out of stock everywhere but the wavy-striped lid would be perfectly acceptable at £3.99 (now 1/2 price at £1.99 while stocks last). The only problem is that the minimum order from www.roll-ups.co.uk is £19.99. And, although the insides tend to rust badly after about 18 months, I’m not about to order a 10-year supply. Nobody who rolls his own cigarettes has a right to that kind of life expectancy.

A compromise is available at http://www.bewild.com/abpastbox.html, even though the paper holder isn’t quite right and the $7.99 price is exorbitant after postage and packing.

Initially, I was disappointed by the $7.99 compromise and didn't considered worth the $6 packing and shipping charge. There is no spring to hold the lid open when you're rolling a cigarette while standing up. Nor is there a spring in the paper holder. You have to wedge the pack of rolling papers behind the clip which, initially, holds them so tightly that a single paper tears when you pull it out. However, I think I've got the hang of it. The photo is misleading and the solid clip is actually quite effective if the papers are put in with their cover folded behind them.

If only the “Ash tobacco tin paper clip celtic patten” had not been out of stock, I’d have done much better. But then it wouldn't be long before the springs failed. So maybe I'm better off with the unsprung version after all.

2009-01-15T09:38:00.000-08:00

Never mind Valentine, remember

Padoh Mahn Sha Lah Phan

The Phan Foundation, set up by the four children of Padoh Mahn Sha, is asking people from Burma and supporters around the world to hold memorial services for Padoh Mahn Sha on or around 14th February, the first anniversary of his assassination.

On Feb. 14, 2008 Padoh Mahn Sha was assassinated by two gunmen at his home in Mae Sot, Thailand. The gunmen were acting on behalf of the Burmese regime. No-one has been arrested for the murder.

Padoh Mahn Sha was General Secretary of the Karen National Union, and dedicated his life to the struggle for freedom, democracy and human rights in Burma. He was a respected and unifying figure who refused to surrender to the regime, which is why Burma’s generals were so afraid of him.

The Phan Foundation was set up in memory of Padoh Mahn Sha and his wife, Nant Kyin Shwe, by their children. It aims to fight poverty and promote education for Karen people, and preserve Karen culture. The Phan Foundation is asking for collections for the Foundation to be made at the memorial services.

“We ask that people remember our father on the first anniversary of his assassination”, said Zoya Phan, daughter of Padoh Mahn Sha. “We must keep his memory and what he stood for alive, and pay tribute to a brave leader. Funds raised will also help carry on his work promoting education and fighting poverty.”

For more information contact phanfoundation@googlemail.com.

2009-01-09T13:50:00.000-08:00

Israel's misuse of US weapons is illegal

2009-01-07T14:12:00.000-08:00

Hamas abuses children

2008-12-20T11:48:00.000-08:00

Veteran Teddy Bear MIA in Long Beach

A British veteran has been missing in action in Long Beach, California, since Dec. 13. Cpl. Hotspur, as he is known, is a charity teddy bear who has been traveling the world to raise funds for a wounded British servicemen and their families.

Former soldier Gareth Williams had taken the bear to RMS Queen Mary for a photo shoot to raise the profile of the www.holidays4heroes.org charity appeal. But at some point, Cpl. Hotspur either fell, or was lifted, from Williams’ backpack.

“He was in the top of my backpack head and shoulders out and he must of decided it was time to go AWOL,” Williams said.

Six hours searching, including checks with lost-and-found department, failed to re-unite Williams with Cpl. Hotspur and a very embarrassed Williams had to report the loss of the bear to the team back in the UK.

The five remaining “Sgt. Slingsby bears” have recently visited the USA, Canada, South America, South Africa and Europe. One of them, Cpl. Horsa, has just returned from a three-month fundraising tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Anyone who finds Cpl. Hotspur can notify the Bears’ HQ on the Web at www.sgtslingsby.org.

2008-12-24T08:53:00.000-08:00

When I say I’m broke, I’m broke!

Yesterday I answered a knock on the door, only to be confronted by a well dressed young man who was carrying a vacuum cleaner.

“Good morning,” he said. “If I could take a couple of minutes of your time, I would like to demonstrate the very latest in high-powered vacuum cleaners.”

“Go away!” I said. “I haven’t got any money! I’m broke!” and proceeded to close the door.

Quick as a flash, the young man wedged his foot in the door and pushed wide open. “Don’t be too hasty!” he said. “Not until you have at least seen my demonstration.” And with that, he emptied a bucket of horse manure onto my hallway carpet. “If this vacuum cleaner does not remove all traces of this horse manure from your carpet, Sir, I will personally eat the remainder.”

I stepped back and said, “Well I hope you’ve got a f*cking good appetite, because they cut off my electricity this morning. What part of ‘broke’ do you not understand?”

2008-12-19T14:57:00.000-08:00

Journal Loses Fight to Stay in Exmouth

Archant South West managing director Bernard Driscoll e-mailed reporters in Exmouth and Sidmouth this morning to say, despite their efforts to remain working in the towns they serve, he had “regrettably” decided to close the offices and relocate reporters to Exeter.

He cited cost cutting and preventing further redundancies as his reasons for coming to the decision. The Exmouth reporters were told they would move to Exeter in the second week of January 2009. The Sidmouth Herald office is also to close and its reporters relocate to Exeter.

In his e-mail, Driscoll said, “I also looked again at options for saving money elsewhere, but to achieve the amounts needed would involve more staff redundancies — and we don’t have any staff we can do without — or further reducing our free distribution numbers, which would put us at a serious disadvantage against our competitors.

“The outcome is that very regrettably we will have to close the offices and relocate you to Fair Oak Close. I accept that this a retrograde move and I wish there was an alternative.

“The important thing is for us to try to find ways in which we can continue our relationships with our readers and remain a central part of the community.”

The National Union of Journalists is looking at ways to see if anything else can be done to prevent the closure. Reporters are absolutely gutted by Driscoll’s decision. Staff morale is at an all-time low.

Driscoll continues to receive e-mails of support demanding the Exmouth Journal remain in Exmouth.

East Devon MP Hugo Swire has pledged to support reporters from both offices and said he plans to contact Driscoll to voice his concerns over the closures.

2008-12-13T20:18:00.000-08:00

Demystifying the Congo

2008-04-25T19:45:00.000-07:00

SOS from Zimbabwe
By John Winter

Terrible, terrible things are being done to the people of Zimbabwe by the communist thugs who rule the place. The Internet is a powerful tool and the only way that this madman and his henchmen are going to be brought to justice is if the whole world gangs up up on them and topples their evil bastion once and for all.

I reckon that these are the last days of TKM and ZPF. The darkest hour is always before dawn.

We are all terrified at what they are going to destroy next. I mean they are actually ploughing down brick-and-mortar houses and one family with twin boys aged 10 had no chance of salvaging anything when 100 riot police came in with AK-47s and bulldozers and demolished their beautiful house — with five bedrooms and pine ceilings — because it was “too close to the airport.” So we are feeling extremely insecure right now.

You know — I am aware that this does not help you sleep at night but, if you do not know, how can you help? Even if you put us in your own mental ring of light and send your guardian angels to be with us — that is a help. But I feel so cut off from you all knowing I cannot tell you what’s going on here simply because you will feel uncomfortable. There is no ways we can leave here so that is not an option.

I ask that you all pray for us in the way that you know how, and let me know you are thinking of us and sending out positive vibes. That’s all. You can’t just be in denial and pretend or believe it’s not going on.

To be frank with you, it’s genocide in the making. And, if you do not believe me, read the Genocide Report by Amnesty International which says we are at level 7 (level 8 is after it’s happened) and everyone is in denial.

If you don’t want me to tell you these things, how bad it is, then it means you have not dealt with your own fear. But it does not help me to think you are turning your back on our situation. We need you, please, to get the news OUT that we are all in a fearfully dangerous situation here. Too many people turn their backs and say, “Oh well. That’s what happens in Africa.

This Government has gone mad and you need to help us publicize our plight — or how can we be rescued? It’s a reality! The petrol queues are a reality, the pall of smoke all around our city is a reality, the thousands of homeless people sleeping outside in 0°C temperatures with no food, water, shelter and bedding are a reality.

Today, I was approached by a family with two small children. Their home was trashed and they will have to sleep outside. We already support eight adults and a child on this property and the cost of electricity is going up next month by 250 per cent, as is water.

How can I take on another family of four? And yet how can I turn them away to sleep out in the open?

I am not asking you for money or a ticket out of here — I am asking you to FACE the fact that we are in deep and terrible danger and want you please to pass on our news and pictures. Help best in the way that you know.

Do face the reality of what is going on here and help us send out the word. The more people who know about it, the more chance we have of the United Nations coming to our aid. Please don’t ignore or deny what’s happening. Some would like to be protected from the truth but then, if we are eliminated, how would you feel? “If only we knew how bad it really was we could have helped in some way.”

I know we chose to stay here and that some feel we deserve what’s coming to us.

For now, we ourselves have food, shelter, a little fuel and a bit of money for the next meal. But what is going to happen next? Will they start on our houses? All property is going to belong to the state now. I want to send out my title Deeds to one of you because if they get a hold of those, I can’t fight for my rights.

We no longer have shortwave radio, which used to tell us everything that was happening, because the government has jammed it out of existence. We don’t have any reporters and no one is allowed to photograph. If we had reporters here, they would have an absolute field day. Even the pro-government Herald has written that people are shocked, stunned, bewildered and blown mindless by the wanton destruction of many folks’ homes, which are alleged to be “illegal” although a huge percentage of them actually do have licenses.

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something I can do.” — Edward Everett Hale

Please do have some compassion and HELP by sending out the articles and personal reports so that something may be done.

There is power in prayer. There is also power in more people knowing about this. The world needs to know what is going on. Please send this on to everyon in your address book. We send jokes out without blinking an eyelid. We don’t get told this on the news in South Africa, we only get told what they want us to hear. We all have a chance to do something, even though the something is by forwarding an e-mail to as many people as possible. Let’s stop talking and let’s start doing.

2008-12-08T04:56:00.000-08:00

We Must Win the Oil End Game

If we're not going to invest money we don't have into products we don't want, any bailout of the US car manufacturing industry needs to be conditional on an adoption of the strategy proposed by Amory Lovins and the Rocky Mountain Institute.

2008-12-03T15:07:00.000-08:00

Prop 8 — The Musical

A star-studded cast starring Jack Black and John C. Reilly turns out for Marc Shaiman’s “Prop 8 — The Musical.”

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

2008-11-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

Gaylord pulls out of Chula

Vista bayfront project

By Union-Tribune staff writer Tanya Sierra

CHULA VISTA — Gaylord Entertainment, the developer that Chula Vista hoped would finally turn around the city’s bayfront with a $1 billion hotel and convention center, has pulled out of the project citing funding hurdles.

In a letter to Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox and Port District president Bruce Hollingsworth, Gaylord vice president Bennett Westbrook said he is disappointed with the outcome.

Even though the company made strides in smoothing community conflicts and negotiating the regulations governing bayfront development, it was not enough, Westbrook said in the letter.

[MORE]

2008-12-01T16:30:00.000-08:00

English Catholics Reject

Vatican Homophobia

London, December 1, 2008 — A new leaflet produced by the Catholic Church in England and Wales urges priests and churchgoers to be respectful and welcoming towards lesbian and gay people.

It also acknowledges and rejects the “oppression” suffered by homosexuals; and suggests that Catholics “express appreciation for the gifts that homosexual Catholics bring to their faith community.”

Catholic traditionalists have condemned the leaflet’s liberal message and accused the English and Welsh Church of defying Vatican orthodoxy.

“This leaflet is a welcome, positive initiative which will bring great comfort to gay Catholics and their families. Its sympathetic, understanding message is a big improvement on the stern, uncompromising homophobia of most Vatican pronouncements on homosexuality,” Peter Tatchell of the UK lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered human rights campaign OutRage! said.

“Its liberal stance has provoked condemnation from traditionalist, conservative Catholics. They denounce the leaflet as a maverick, renegade move by the English and Welsh Catholic Church, acting in defiance of Vatican orthodoxy,” Tatchell said.

See a copy of the leaflet here: http://www.everybodyswelcome.org.uk/docs/gay.pdf

Tatchell said, “I hope the Catholic Church in England and Wales will encourage the Vatican to adopt this leaflet for use by Catholic dioceses worldwide. Its broader dissemination would help counteract the ignorance and prejudice that exists among many clergy and laity.

“The laudable change of tone is undermined by the homophobic content of the Catholic Catechism and by the Pope’s frequent endorsement of legal discrimination against lesbian and gay people. The Vatican’s policy of denouncing loving, stable same-sex relationships risks undoing the good, kind intentions of this leaflet.

“The Catechism, which sets out the basic doctrines of the Roman Church, reflects the pre-scientific ignorance and anti-homosexual prejudice of the medieval era; describing same-sex acts as a ‘grave depravity’ and ‘intrinsically disordered’. It states that lesbian and gay relationships are ‘contrary to natural law … and do not proceed from genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved’.

“The Vatican identifies homosexuality as a deep-seated personality disorder and psychological flaw; variously condemning same-sex acts as ‘grave sins….objectively disordered….intrinsically immoral…(and) contrary to natural law.’

Even men who have a gay orientation but abstain totally from sex are condemned by the Pope as possessing a ‘tendency towards an intrinsic moral evil.’ “This leaflet challenges these outdated, bigoted attitudes. It reflects the growing acceptance of loving, loyal, long-term same-sex relationships by grassroots Catholics.”

2008-11-17T14:23:00.000-08:00

Almost too true to be funny

2008-10-24T22:45:00.000-07:00

An open letter to UK Prime

Minister Mr. Gordon Brown

The Rt. Hon. Gordon Brown MP,
10 Downing Street,
London SW1A 2AA

Dear Sir,

I would like to take this opportunity to make you aware of a growing concern that our nation is facing that is the epidemic of military impostors.

Respect and admiration for our armed forces personnel are at a level not seen since VE Day and the Falklands. Military personnel are seen as laudable and commendable and are praised and honoured at public gatherings and seen in the parades in our cities. Hardly a day passes without mention of “our heroes in uniform” in the print and broadcast media.

While most military veterans are loath to be called a “hero” themselves, most will readily suggest that they have met or served with some bona fide heroes. There are some members of our society, however, who covet the title of “military hero” and intentionally seek the spotlight, despite never having served in the nation’s armed forces. There are some legitimate military veterans who are not satisfied with their record of achievements and duties and who embellish their military records, claiming duties, skills, awards and commendations which they never actually earned.

False claims of military service are offered by charlatans for a plethora of reasons. Lecherous Lotharios attempt to impress potential female companions with their false claims of military prowess. Chest-thumping pub braggarts attempt to impress and intimidate their drinking buddies with false claims of ‘secret missions’. Jail cell braggarts attempt to intimidate inmates and guards with false claims of deadly military hand-to-hand combat training.

Office personnel offer false claims in an attempt to gain an advantage in the battle for promotions where preferences might be given to military veterans. Corporate executives use false military credentials in an attempt to gain an edge in corporate marketing directed at military clients. Members of military and fraternal organizations attempt to gain undeserved praise and unearned recognition with false claims of extraordinary valour and wear medals which reflect their false claims.

In the United States, one of the largest contingents of military imposters involves those who falsely claim to be military veterans for the purpose of obtaining medical benefits, tax benefits, and monetary compensation. Here in the UK, the numbers of imposters are growing in proportion to the rise in personal security firms.

The majority of British citizens are trusting individuals who readily accept personal credentials when they are offered. Most wouldn’t think of claiming deeds or honours which they didn’t earn. Military imposters thrive in this trusting atmosphere. There are also those who know the systems so well that they can construct a resume full of honours but which none are readily or easily verifiable.

Hollywood movies are intentionally designed so that viewers might imagine themselves in situations being portrayed on the big screen. Many movies in recent years have depicted an ‘everyman’ going about his normal job by day, but acting as a secret agent at nights and on weekends in the defence of our nation. Co-workers are shown to be completely oblivious to the skills and abilities of these remarkable warriors. These surreptitious heroes are often depicted receiving secret awards and medals which ‘cannot be documented because of national security interests’. Often there are depictions of military actions taking place which are never documented, and men being held as prisoners of war without records of their captivity, all presented as being in an effort to preserve national security. Such fictional plot elements are completely false and unrealistic, but since only about seven per cent of the British population has been involved in active military service, the remainder of the population is ill-equipped to determine where reality ends and fantasy begins. When an imposter offers claims of military service, rank, awards and events which are virtually lifted from the scripts of such movies, few outside of military veterans will suspect the duplicity.

Our laws in the UK are lax and without sufficient weight to deal with any of these impostors. We have antiquated laws such as the Seamen’s And Soldiers’ False Characters Act 1906 (1906 c.5 6_Edw_7) and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 begins to touch on the character of the trader but does not directly address a military imposter. The criminal sanctions of fraud and theft are absent of any direct penalty for military imposters.

The Unites States of America and the Commonwealth of Australia both have enacted laws that make it a serious crime to wear medals, awards or a uniform that one is not entitled to wear.

In Australia the Defence Act, 1903 was amended, and it is a federal offence to claim to be a returned soldier, sailor or airman, subject to six months’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $3,300.

The applicable laws (The Stolen Valour Act) refer to “the uniform, or a distinctive part thereof or anything similar to a distinctive part of the uniform of any of the armed services of the United States…” as well as “any decoration or medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces of the United States, or any of the service medals or badges awarded to the members of such forces, or the ribbon, button, or rosette of any such badge, decoration, or medal, or any colorable imitation thereof, except when authorized under regulations made pursuant to law…”

The amended law specifically includes doubly harsh penalties for those who make false claims of being awarded the highest medals for valour such as the Congressional Medal of Honour, the three Service Crosses, the Silver Star, and the Purple Heart, or of being awarded the POW Medal.

Federal law enforcement agents in the United States of America are currently engaged in Operation Stolen Valour, a nationwide effort to bring the most egregious offenders to justice and demonstrate to the American public that its government will not tolerate those in its society who make false military claims for any reason, whether it is to gain employment or promotion under false pretences, obtain unearned government benefits, or for purposes of self aggrandizement of an over-inflated ego.

When informed about the growing epidemic of military imposters in our nation, many people ask “why bother with them?” Inquirers often suggest that military imposters are more to be pitied for their lack of self-esteem and self-worth than prosecuted, and that the making of false claims of military service is a ‘victimless crime’. On the contrary, it is not victimless, and it should be strongly stressed that it should be a crime. There are victims aplenty when false military claims are made. In addition to those individuals who are personally defrauded of goods, services and cash by multitudes of military impostors. Whether it is the parting of a few pints at the local legion to a “vet” or large defence contracts awarded to imposters there will always be a victim somewhere. The most apparent victim is the legitimate serviceman or woman whose valour has been stolen.

In a recent study in the United States, it was found that those who voluntarily participated in the National Library of Congress’ Veterans’ History Project that more than half of the participants who claimed to have been awarded the Medal of Honour had in fact not been awarded it. There were 14 false claims of receiving the Navy Cross and 30 false claims of having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Further examinations of the records are finding false claims to special forces as well. Is this serious? If one considers that in one hundred years from now, these records could alter history then yes, it is serious.

Medals recognize the best of British qualities – courage, honour, duty, valour and sacrifice. These honours are reserved for those who willingly risked their lives for our country. It is our job to protect the honour and integrity of our veterans, to make sure the memory of their heroism is not tarnished.

I ask that you join in as our brethren in the United States and Australia have done and create and enact legislation in the United Kingdom to stop this epidemic of military impostors.

Yours faithfully,

Michael Burgess

2008-11-14T14:29:00.000-08:00

It’s dark in here!

A woman has an affair during the day while her husband is at work. Her nine-year-old son comes home unexpectedly, sees the illegal lovers and hides in the bedroom cupboard to watch. Then the woman’s husband unexpectedly comes home.

She hides her lover in the cupboard, not realizing that her little boy is in there already.
The little Boy says: “Dark in here.”
The Man says: “Yes, it is.”
Boy: “I have a soccer ball, do you want to buy it?”
Man: “No, thanks.”
Boy: “My dad’s outside, I’ll call him if you don’t buy it!”
Man: “OK, how much?”
Boy: “£250.”

A few weeks later it happened again and the boy and the lover were in the cupboard together again.
Boy: “Dark in here”.
Man: “Yes, it is.”
Boy: “I have soccer boots.”

The Man, remembering the last time, asks the boy: “How much?”
The Boy says:”£750.”
The Man says: “Fine, I will buy them.”

Few days later, the Father says to the boy: “Grab your ball and boots, let’s go outside and have a game.”
The Boy says: “I can’t, I sold them for $1000.”
The Father says: “That’s terrible to overcharge your friends like that… £1000 is way more than those two things cost. I’m going to take you to church and make you confess your sins.”
They go to church and the father makes the little boy sit in the confession booth and he closes the door.

The Boy says: “Dark in here.”
The Priest says: “Don’t start that sh!t again! THIS IS MY CHURCH NOT YOUR FATHER’S HOUSE.”

2008-10-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

No life on Mars

There wasn’t much on the TV and I was channel flipping when I happened upon the American version of “Life on Mars.” I don’t know if it has screened in the UK yet but I could understand if nobody considered it worth the price. Predictably, they’ve pasteurized all the magic out of the show.

The problem of how to Americanize the soccer violence episode was solved by the transposition of a queer-bashing theme sprinkled with a few American sports references: “How ‘bout those Knicks?”

The iconic Gene Hunt is played by the legendary Harvey Keitel. I’m a huge Keitel fan but he’s way too decrepit to convince anybody he’s a working cop.

The glamorous American stars look as if they’re attempting to resemble the original UK cast tweaked to look slightly glossier. Irishman Jason O’Mara might be a more convincing fish out of water if he’d stop trying to play Sam Tiler as an American John Simm. Gretchen Mol looks uncannily familiar as Annie, but blonde. Michael Imperioli looks as if DC Ray Carling is channeling Serpico. And Jonathan Murphy might as well be Marshall Lancaster playing Chris Skelton.

They even retained the practice of interrogating suspects in the store room of the police station but, oddly, this seems less believable in an American police station. I mean “Popeye” Doyle never had to go to so much trouble in The French Connection.

The resulting nostalgia fest doesn’t hold up well against existing American police procedural flashback shows such as “Cold Case Files.” I just hope the makers of the original Life on Mars made enough money out of the deal to finance something new.

2008-10-20T09:04:00.000-07:00

12-Year-Old Boy Scouts Volunteer

To Give Women Breast Exams

Two prospective Eagle Scouts explain how they are preventing breast cancer by helping women examine their breasts.

2007-07-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

Beckham's the Gecko?

A lot of Californians are asking what David Beckham is actually famous for. Whenever we hear him speak, his Leytonstone vowels are reminiscent of a TV commercial we get here in which a computer-generated gecko is a pitchman for Geico car insurance. Could they be related? We should be told!

2008-10-16T11:35:00.000-07:00

McCain trails Obama

US Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain (R-AZ) reacts to almost heading the wrong way off the stage after shaking hands with Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) at the conclusion of the final presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, October 15, 2008.

REUTERS/Jim Bourg (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008 (USA)