All posts by nedhamson

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

Female Breadwinners Struggle as Egypt’s Economy Deteriorates

Egyptian Streets

A vegetable vendor on the streets of Egypt. Credit: Uncornered Market A vegetable vendor on the streets of Egypt. Credit: Uncornered Market

By Arwa Gaballa from Aswat Masriya

Women are the main breadwinners in as many as 30 percent of Egyptian households, a role frowned on by conservative Egyptian society but increasingly important in a country plunged into dire economic straits by the turbulent politics of the post-Mubarak era.

Many of them are poor, illiterate and lacking experience of formal employment, and are forced into menial work in the informal economy, doing poorly paid jobs with no insurance or pension and involving exposure to the public gaze that attracts the disapproval of neighbours.

“Things were difficult before the uprising too, with those in power robbing us, but at least the little we had was enough to live on,” said Zeinab Abdel Fattah, 64. “Now we have nothing. Life has become unbearable.”

Abdel Fattah, who has a family of eight, leaves her home…

View original post 1,028 more words

OUTED! The editor of the Ugandan tabloid trying to lynch gay people

Pride's Purge

(not satire)

Meet Ben Byarabaha – he’s the editor of Ugandan newspaper Red Pepper Uganda which has put 200 innocent Ugandan citizens’ lives at risk by publicly naming them as homosexual – in a country which has just passed a law making homosexuality illegal:

ben_b

Ben doesn’t like gay people. He thinks they should be lynched.

He also doesn’t like people who have oral sex. He thinks they should be arrested and put in prison too just like gay people:

red pepper oral sex

It’s tempting to say Mr Byarabaha is prejudiced, badly educated or narrow minded. But after reading his opinions and seeing his actions I’ve come to the conclusion he’s not.

He’s just plain evil.

(Oh and I hear he might be secretly gay too.)

.

Ben Byarabaha is on Facebook – Ben Byarabaha 

And here’s Red Pepper Uganda’s Facebook page  – RED Pepper UG

Be sure to tell them what you…

View original post 10 more words

Self-delusion started Japan going wrong and is happening again! Japan may revise ‘comfort women’ apology | Asia | DW.DE | 25.02.2014

Conservative groups in Japan insist that claims of hundreds of thousands of Asian women being forced into sexual slavery during World War II are “fabricated.” They demand a retraction of the 1993 Kono Statement.

Tomoko Tsujimura says she is motivated by the desire to “protect the honor of Japan and my forebears, namely my grandfather, my father and my uncles.” It is a stain on the good name of her relatives and the country, she says, for them to still be accused of forcing some 200,000 young women from Japan’s former colonies and the other parts of Asia under its occupation to become the “sex slaves” of Japanese troops fighting World War II.

via Japan may revise ‘comfort women’ apology | Asia | DW.DE | 25.02.2014.

Walmart “Respects” Customers’ Rights to Legally Carry a Firearm in States Where it’s Permitted | Native News Online

Kill an Indian with gun in parking lot cause you were losing a fight you started is OK with Sheriff and Walmart?

In an inquiry into Walmart’s policy on having guns inside their stores by its customers, Gee responded:

“Walmart respects our customers’ rights to legally carry a firearm in states where it is permitted.”

Given this policy and Quadlin’s quick use of his firearm, how safe is it to shop at a Walmart?

Quadlin was not arrested and remains free. The investigation by the Chandler Police Department continues.

via Walmart Respects Customers’ Rights to Legally Carry a Firearm in States Where it’s Permitted | Native News Online.

Nigerian Islamists kill 59 pupils in boarding school attack | Reuters

Gunmen from Islamist group Boko Haram shot or burned to death 59 pupils in a boarding school in northeast Nigeria overnight, a hospital official and security forces said on Tuesday.

“Some of the students’ bodies were burned to ashes,” Police Commissioner Sanusi Rufai said of the attack on the Federal Government college of Buni Yadi, a secondary school in Yobe state, near the state’s capital city of Damaturu.

Bala Ajiya, an official at the Specialist Hospital Damaturu, told Reuters by phone the death toll had risen to 59.

via Nigerian Islamists kill 59 pupils in boarding school attack | Reuters.

3 cities to try poultry-safety plan – Headlines, features, photo and videos from ecns.cn|china|news|chinanews|ecns|cns

South China’s Guangdong province, where a number of H7N9 virus bird flu cases have been reported since this winter, has selected Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Foshan as pilot cities to allow only frozen poultry to be sold at markets, Guangzhou Daily reported.

This means all poultry will be slaughtered at appointed slaughterhouses before being transported to markets for sale.

The move aims to prevent people from being infected with the bird flu from the live poultry.

The report said that Foshan, where the policy is expected to be implemented beginning in May, has started a feasibility study.

via 3 cities to try poultry-safety plan – Headlines, features, photo and videos from ecns.cn|china|news|chinanews|ecns|cns.

Food Politics » Let’s Move! announces universal school meals !

Let’s Move! is making several sensational announcements today.

Announcement : Universal school meals

This one is extraordinary: Schools with 40% or more of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals will be able to serve free breakfasts and free lunches to every student in the school, regardless of family income.

This means an end to:

USDA paperwork requirements for ensuring eligibility.

Parents having to fill out complicated eligibility forms.

Schools having to monitor to make sure kids’ families have turned in the paperwork or paid.

Schools turning away kids whose families haven’t paid.

Schools destroying the meals of kids whose families haven’t paid.

Students knowing who gets free meals, and who does not.

Guess what:  This program, which will affect 22,000 U.S. schools and 9 million children, is cost-neutral.

How is this possible?

No more tedious, labor-intensive, expensive paperwork and monitoring.

More student participation means more reimbursement.

via Food Politics » Let’s Move! announces universal school meals !.

Russia says it won’t intervene in Ukraine | News , International | THE DAILY STAR

Moscow pledged Tuesday it would not intervene in the crisis in neighbouring Ukraine but said the country should not be forced to choose between Russia and the West.

“We confirmed our principled position of non-intervention in Ukraine’s internal affairs and expect that everyone follows similar logic,” Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

“We are interested in Ukraine being part of the European family, in all senses of the word,” he said after talks with Luxembourg counterpart Jean Asselborn.

But he added: “We agree that… it is dangerous and counterproductive to force Ukraine into a choice — either you are with us or against us.”

His remarks signalled a possible softening of Moscow’s stance after harsh statements both by Lavrov’s own ministry and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday.

via Russia says it won’t intervene in Ukraine | News , International | THE DAILY STAR.

China ready to continue developing strategic partnership with Ukraine – Xinhua | English.news.cn

China is ready to further develop its strategic partnership with Ukraine on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, said Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Tuesday.

Hua told a daily press briefing that China is closely watching the developments in Ukraine, saying that under the efforts of all relevant parties, the situation in the country has begun to ease.

“We hope that the political process of resolving the crisis in Ukraine will continue to move ahead within the framework of the law,” Hua said.

via China ready to continue developing strategic partnership with Ukraine – Xinhua | English.news.cn.

Disgusting and hateful: Ugandan Tabloid Publishes List of ‘Top 200’ Homosexuals Who Could Now Be Jailed – The Wire

“Is it any wonder that many believe all politics to be corrupt and hateful?”

Kenyan author Binyavanga Wainaina, who came out as gay last month, believes that the law is a means to distract the Ugandan public from domestic problems, saying: “Museveni is creating a wedge issue that becomes a global issue at a time the subject matter is there and so his people can unite and he can look strong.” Homophobia is rampant in the country, and the harsh law inspired popular support. Ugandan gay activist Dr. Paul Semugoma agreed, saying “it’s simply politics of destruction. We (homosexuals) are convenient scapegoats to be used when they need to boost their political power.”

via Ugandan Tabloid Publishes List of ‘Top 200’ Homosexuals Who Could Now Be Jailed – The Wire.