All posts by nedhamson

Activist, writer, researcher, addicted to sharing information and facts.

German BND Intelligence Spied on Friends and Vatican – SPIEGEL ONLINE

Three weeks ago, news emerged that Germany’s foreign intelligence service, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), had systematically spied on friends and allies around the world. In many of those instances, the BND had been doing so of its own accord and not at the request of the NSA. The BND came under heavy criticism earlier this year after news emerged that it had assisted the NSA in spying on European institutions, companies and even Germans using dubious selector data.

Source: German BND Intelligence Spied on Friends and Vatican – SPIEGEL ONLINE

#FOMO leading to higher levels of depression, anxiety for heavy social media users – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The fear of missing out (or FOMO) generated by high levels of social media use can lead to depression and anxiety, according to a new report looking at the way social media impacts wellbeing.The fifth annual National Stress and Wellbeing in Australia Survey has found Australians are faring worse than they were when the survey began, with higher levels of stress, depression and anxiety being reported.This year was the first time the study explored the impact of social media on behaviour and wellbeing.It found that social media dominated the lives of many teenagers, with over half (53 per cent) of Australian teens reporting that they used social networking sites for 15 minutes before bed every night.

Source: #FOMO leading to higher levels of depression, anxiety for heavy social media users – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Interview: Russian singer-songwriter Boris Grebenshikov – FT.com {His music, not is opinion is what counts}

“I think it’s a very big temptation for a lot of [famous] people to go, ‘Oh people are listening to me! Let me tell them what I think’,” he says. “I’ve seen one very popular musician in Russia cornering some Kremlin personages and teaching them how to live and I was like” — he mimes a cringe — “please no, this is stupid. Even when [American rock star] Michael Stipe goes, ‘Vote for this, vote for that’, come on! Let people decide whom they’re going to vote for. I’m not taking a stand, I’m just trying to behave normally.”

Source: Interview: Russian singer-songwriter Boris Grebenshikov – FT.com

Afghan Women’s Writing Project | Stoning Rukhshana

What is justice?

Why is a 19-year-old girl stoned to death?

Why do police take no action?

Rukhshana is gone and our

Hearts cry for her

Rukhshana, I hope one day women

Change this country

Government is absent when it comes to women

Advocacy does not change it

Protesting does not end it

It happens over and over

It is time now to protect women from wrong traditions

Rukhshana was stoned because a

Girl in Afghanistan does not have a

Right to love, does not have the

Right to choose her life partner

Shall I write more?

Who will read and who will listen?

I am tired.

On Facebook I see only bad news about women in Afghanistan but

Good news about women from Afghanistan in other countries

We are the victims living here.

By Seeta

Source: Afghan Women’s Writing Project | Stoning Rukhshana

Israel jails own Palestinian citizen without charge or trial | The Electronic Intifada

Last month, Israeli forces arrested approximately 1,200 Palestinians amid a sharp increase in confrontations and deadly violence. Of those arrested, 171 were being held under administrative detention orders, according to the human rights group Al-Haq, bringing the total number of Palestinians held without charge or trial in Israeli prisons to over 550.

Source: Israel jails own Palestinian citizen without charge or trial | The Electronic Intifada

Aung San Suu Kyi – A conqueror of hearts | Asia | DW.COM | 06.11.2015

Tens of thousands flock to see her. For weeks Aung San Suu Kyi has been traveling across Myanmar to rally her supporters ahead of a landmark election on November 8. She is also seeking to win new voters for her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), by assuring them that she will run the country after the poll, despite the fact that a clause in the country’s army-scripted constitution bars her from the presidency.During a recent press conference, the NLD leader reiterated her leadership claim: “If we win, and the NLD forms a government, I will be above the president. It’s a very simple message.” When asked if this arrangement violated the constitution, Suu Kyi replied: “No. The constitution says nothing about somebody being above the president.”

Source: Aung San Suu Kyi – A conqueror of hearts | Asia | DW.COM | 06.11.2015

US presidential candidate Ben Carson says key detail of life story untrue, report | News | DW.COM | 06.11.2015

Ben Carson has conceded his story regarding a scholarship to an elite military academy is untrue, according to a report. The admission comes as the Republican candidate sees his popularity in the polls start to rise.

Source: US presidential candidate Ben Carson says key detail of life story untrue, report | News | DW.COM | 06.11.2015

PTA detainees in Sri Lanka: Prospects for justice | Groundviews

The fast by prisoners last month has given rise to fresh debate about justice for them. It is a sad reflection on Sri Lankan people and the new Government that the prisoners had to resort to such drastic action in order to even gain momentum for justice; for what is a categorical breach of these individuals’ fair trial rights and a failure of the criminal justice system. It has been reported that the fast was called off based on assurances by the President to offer a solution by 7 November 2015. However, what the President will offer as a solution is not clear.

Source: PTA detainees in Sri Lanka: Prospects for justice | Groundviews