All posts by nedhamson

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

Israeli ‘intentionally’ runs over Palestinian child in Jerusalem | Maan News Agency

An Israeli individual on Thursday “intentionally” ran over a Palestinian child while he was outside near his house in the Silwan neighborhood in occupied East Jerusalem, a local watchdog said.

The Wadi Hilweh information Center said that Adam al-Rishq, 10, was chased, cornered, and run over by a car driven by “settlers,” in what they said was an “intentional” attack on the boy.

Al-Rishq suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Haddasah hospital as a result of the attack.

Silwan is a site of frequent tensions between Palestinians and local Israeli settlers, who have taken over individual houses in the East Jerusalem neighborhood just south of the Old City.

Israeli authorities have rarely prevented the home takeovers, and the “City of David” Jewish archaeological theme park — which houses a number of settlers — has been expanded into nearby homes, whose residents ahve been displaced as a result.

East Jerusalem has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967, and today around 300,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements constructed between existing Palestinian neighborhoods.

via Israeli ‘intentionally’ runs over Palestinian child in Jerusalem | Maan News Agency.

Afghan Women’s Writing Project | Mom’s Hands

When I was born you held me in your hands.

When I couldn’t sleep you gave me your hands and sang Lalayi for me.

When I got dirty you washed me with your hands.

When I wanted to stand you put my hands in your hands and lifted.

When I fell down your hands picked me up.

You cleaned my clothes, brushed my hair, and gave me food, all with your hands.

When I grew bigger you walked me to school, hand-in-hand.

Do you remember how I cried because I didn’t want to go?

You dried my tears with your hands.

My daughter, you have to go to school.

I am illiterate. I have to work at home. But you must go.

You told me to become a doctor, an engineer, a teacher.

You prepared my books, polished my shoes.

You shook my teacher’s hand and told her to take care of me.

Every step of my life, always, your loving hands are in my thoughts.

When I was young I saw society’s view of women and was discouraged.

You touched my hands.

My daughter, I am always with you.

Don’t be afraid. Go ahead.

You taught me that conditions will never be as I wish, but I can turn them in my favor.

Now your hands are old and wrinkled because of me.

You worked hard with your hands so that I can be at peace.

Mom, you are the reason for my success, the reason for my happiness.

You are the source of my good fortune.

These kind and helping hands of yours

Mom, I am thanking you.

And kissing, your hands.

By Arifa H.

via Afghan Women’s Writing Project | Mom’s Hands.

NYT’s David Brooks, WaPo’s Michael Gerson to Speak at Top Antigay Funding Confab | TWO Care

Recently, government-encouraged outbreaks of mob violence against LGBT persons in countries from Uganda to Russia, and draconian new anti-gay legislation in those countries too, have gained growing media notice – some of which has focused on the role American evangelicals have played in inciting such hatred.

But the American culprits are not being funded from the margins. Tens of millions (possibly evens hundreds of millions) of dollars for that project is coming from the foundations whose representatives assemble yearly at an event known as The Gathering, where multimillionaire and billionaire evangelical funders of the culture wars from the families DeVos, Coors, Prince, Maclellan, Friess, Ahmanson, and others, and heads of the mammoth National Christian Foundation – gather, dine, and strategize.

This Thursday September 25th, at the luxury Ritz Carlton hotel in Orlando, Florida, an evening series of briefings will kick off the premier funding event of the evangelical right in America, a four-day annual conference known as The Gathering. Scheduled to speak at the conference are David Brooks of the New York Times (also a National Public Radio commentator) and Michael Gerson of the Washington Post.

via NYT’s David Brooks, WaPo’s Michael Gerson to Speak at Top Antigay Funding Confab | TWO Care.

Random Punishment – Just Because They Can! Israel closes Jenin checkpoint for Jewish holiday | Maan News Agency

Random Punishment – Just Because They Can!

Israel closed the al-Jalama checkpoint on Thursday for the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana, the governor of Jenin said.

Ibrahim Ramadan told Ma’an that the closure starts Thursday and the checkpoint will be closed both ways for two days.

Ramadan said officials are trying to overturn the decision, which will affect Palestinian workers who use the checkpoint to enter Israel.

via Israel closes Jenin checkpoint for Jewish holiday | Maan News Agency.

Cats of Aleppo

Alaa, an ambulance driver, feeds cats in Masaken Hanano in Aleppo. Alaa buys about $4 of meat everyday to feed about 150 abandoned cats in Masaken Hanano, a neigbourhood in Aleppo that has been deserted because of shelling from forces loyal to Syria’s President Bashar Al-Assad. Alaa said that he has been feeding and taking care of the cats for over 2 months.

via Cats of Aleppo.

I support union but this is totally irresponsible! LAS VEGAS: Nurses stage Ebola ‘die-in’ on Las Vegas Strip | Health & Science | NewsObserver.com

U.S. hospitals aren’t ready for an Ebola outbreak, according to nurses who staged a “die-in” Wednesday outside a Las Vegas Strip resort where they were holding a union convention.

Many protesters in the crowd of about 1,000 who attended the Planet Nurse convention wore bright red T-shirts and suits resembling hazardous-materials gear as they streamed through the Planet Hollywood casino floor before crossing Las Vegas Boulevard to the Bellagio resort.

via LAS VEGAS: Nurses stage Ebola ‘die-in’ on Las Vegas Strip | Health & Science | NewsObserver.com.

FDA warns three companies against marketing their products as Ebola treatments or cures – The Washington Post

theoildropper.com

Written by a paid consultant (referred to as a “member”) for Young Living, the post goes on to tout the possible benefits of a few oils sold by the company: “The Higley Essential Oil Reference guide mentions that the Ebola Virus can not live in the presence of cinnamon bark (this is in Thieves) nor Oregano. I would definitely add those two oils to whatever I was using.”

It adds: “I pray we don’t have to hear about this virus coming to the U.S. but if you travel outside of our country or know someone who goes to Africa or lives in Africa, maybe you could send them a care package of Young Living essential oils!”

via FDA warns three companies against marketing their products as Ebola treatments or cures – The Washington Post.

Bundeswehr signs up 2,000 to fight Ebola in West Africa | News | DW.DE | 24.09.2014

On Wednesday, Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen announced that 2,000 German soldiers had volunteered for duty in Africa to aid in the battle against Ebola. The deadliest outbreak on record has infected almost 6,000 people in West Africa and killed nearly half of them, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

via Bundeswehr signs up 2,000 to fight Ebola in West Africa | News | DW.DE | 24.09.2014.