All posts by nedhamson

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

GM and Green Revolution practices detrimental to ecosystems in Africa (IRIN News)

DESERTIFICATION

Read at :

http://www.irinnews.org/report/98378/countering-africa-s-green-revolution

Countering Africa’s green revolution

Civil society groups are taking on the policies of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which promotes the use of genetically modified (GM) crops and Green Revolution technologies.

They argue that GM and Green Revolution practices – those aimed at increasing developing countries’ crop yields through specific innovations – will, in the long run, be detrimental to ecosystems across the continent. Earlier this month, a coalition of almost 60 civil society groups across Africa came out to protest AGRA ahead of the G8 Summit in London.

“Green Revolution technologies benefit relatively few farmers, often at the expense of the majority. These technologies produce concentration of land ownership, increasing economies of scale (production has to be at a large scale to get into and stay in markets), and a declining number of food-producing households in a context of limited other…

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Coercive Population Control in Three Villages in Northern Sri Lanka · Global Voices

Coercive Population Control in Three Villages in Northern Sri Lanka · Global Voices.

Groundviews reports that women of three villages in Kilinochchi with a child under the age of five were summoned to Veravil divisional hospital to weigh their children and to receive a vaccination. According to the report the doctors and nurses used coercive language and manipulated medical information to convince those women to take Progestogen-only subdermal implants (POSDIs), a long-term hormonal birth control.

Kissing on Egyptian Streets · Global Voices

Public display of affection is widely frowned upon in Egypt, as laws of public indecency could be used to prosecute those who publicly show affection or drink alcohol on the streets.

Alongside the photo, ElGohary shared lyrics of Youssra El Hawary’s song On The Street. El Hawary an upcoming independent singer and her songs proved a youtube success. On The Street’s lyrics read:

Some people curse each other, kill each other on the street,

Some people sleep on the floor on the street,

Some people sell their honor on the street,

But it would truly be a scandal if one day we forgot and kissed each other on the street!

via Kissing on Egyptian Streets · Global Voices.

Government To Sell Off Royal Males ‘Within 6 Weeks’ – Females To Follow

Grin – 2 pence?

Pride's Purge


(satire?)

The government has confirmed it will very soon sell off most of the Royal Males – including Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Prince Harry – in the most contentious privatisation since the sale of British Rail two decades ago.

Vince Cable, the business secretary, on Thursday formally fired the starting gun on the £3bn sale of the princes by filing a formal “intention to float” the male successors to the throne on the stock exchange within six weeks.

At least half of the Royal Family is expected to be floated with the rest of the female members to be sold off at a later date if there is sufficient demand from investors.

Even Margaret Thatcher, who privatised British Gas, British Airways, British Telecom and dozens of other state-owned institutions in the 1980s, famously refused to countenance a sale of the Royal Family, saying she was “not prepared to have the Queen’s head…

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An Immigrant’s Dream #flashfiction #history #statueofliberty

penned in moon dust

the-boat-and-miss-liberty

“I see her far away in the distance.” a youngun called.

The tall looming lady was a welcome sight after long weeks at sea.

“Hot meals will be a welcome relief after weeks of soapy soup,” the weary matron thought.

The pretty girl, in the gown, that was beginning to show its wear, wore a tight smile. ” I hope he likes me; there is nothing to go back to if I’m sent back.”

“Will there really be work for the likes of a scrawny boy with naught but two pence to rub together?”

The Lady distanced herself from the expectations.

Today at Friday Fictioneers Rochelle has up whipping up stories on the sea entering New York harbor.

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Why TQM Fails and What to Do About It

AXIS Performance Advisors

Why TQM Fails and What to Do About It

Why tqmThe “quality revolution” has prompted companies to invest heavily in quality improvement: hiring consultants, retraining workforces and overhauling systems. Many managers, however, have not seen the expected results. This book reveals root causes for the collapse and failures of total quality and offers practical advice to correct and prevent them.

For more info…

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Jobseeker’s benefits stopped as punishment for looking for too many jobs!

Pride's Purge

(not satire – it’s the UK today!)

A jobseeker has had his benefits stopped for 13 weeks as punishment for applying for too many jobs.

No – it’s not satire.

Castleford Jobcentre Plus sanctioned a jobseeker for applying for six jobs in one week and none the second, instead of three in each week.

Here’s the full story from local newspaper the Pontefract and Castleford Express:

Benefit cut in job hunt row

In the article, the DWP actually openly admit it’s more important to them that jobseekers “play” by their rules rather than look for work:

We make it clear to people at the start of their claim what the rules are and that they risk losing their benefits if they don’t play by them.

The way the DWP talk about ‘playing’ by the rules – it’s clear being unemployed is just a game to them.

That would be…

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The Gun Report: September 13, 2013 – NYTimes.com

A man accidentally shot himself at a gun range near Blooming Prairie, Minn., Wednesday evening. The victim was taking a training course through the National Rifle Association, and the gun went off as he drew his weapon from his holster. He was hit in the femoral area of the leg and seriously injured.

via The Gun Report: September 13, 2013 – NYTimes.com.