All posts by nedhamson

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

Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets for a sixth straight day of protests

Thousands of Bulgarians took to the streets for a sixth straight day of protests on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of new Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski despite his apology over a political blunder.

Carrying Bulgarian flags, the protesters gathered outside the government headquarters in downtown Sofia, shouting “Mafia!” “Red garbage!” and “Resignation!”

Over 600 nationalists also staged a separate rally outside parliament, waving black flags and pressing for new elections.

Oresharski’s appointment of controversial media mogul Delyan Peevski as head of the powerful national security agency DANS had sparked public outrage.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2013/Jun-19/220948-thousands-stage-new-protests-in-bulgaria-despite-pms-apology.ashx#ixzz2WgyNjhPn 
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

Detention on Saturday Morning

The Villages Group: Cooperation in Israel-Palestine

To our dear friends,

Between our weekly visits to South Mt. Hebron things happen, things that happen during a week, quite ordinary things.

People wake up in the morning to a new day – they wash, pray, eat, discover that settlers cut down 62 trees in their olive grove, as a “price tag” action; or they go to sleep and wake up to the violent presence of 20 soldiers and one policeman in their living room, a visit that was not pre-coordinated with and approved by the house owners; or they go to shepherd their goats, get detained for two days and released with a court summon, after paying bail they will never get back.

These and other are the happenings between one weekly visit to the next, in an ordinary week, one among many in which a daily routine like this takes place. Mere footnotes, maybe similar in their…

View original post 724 more words

Israeli assaults Al-Aqsa Mosque guard | Maan News Agency

An Israeli extremist on Wednesday assaulted a guard at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound after dozens of Jewish worshipers entered the Islamic holy site.

Muwafaq Hamami was trying to stop an Israeli extremist taking photos of women at the compound when the Israeli hit him and knocked him unconscious, witnesses told Ma’an.

Hamami was taken to Hadassah Medical Center for treatment.

Dozens of Israelis entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Wednesday.

Four Israelis started to perform Jewish prayers on leaving the compound, and Muslim worshipers tried to stop them, leading to further clashes.

Sheikh Azzam al-Khatib condemned the incidents as “very dangerous” and called on Israeli police to stop Jewish worshipers entering the compound without clearance from the Islamic endowment department.

via Israeli assaults Al-Aqsa Mosque guard | Maan News Agency.

Nearly 23,000 pounds ground beef recalled over E. coli | OregonLive.com

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a news release that routine testing turned up E. coli O157:H7, a deadly form of the bacterium, in the meat. Produced by National Beef Packing Co., the ground beef was sold in 10 lb. packages with a use-by/sell-by date of June 14.

The company, which sells nationwide, said the beef was shipped to retailers and institutions. The USDA is concerned that some of the packages may be in consumers’ freezers.

E. coli O157:H7 is one of the deadliest foodborne pathogens. Special care should be taken in preparing raw meat and poultry to avoid cross contamination. They should also be thoroughly cooked to killed foodborne pathogens.

via Nearly 23,000 pounds ground beef recalled over E. coli | OregonLive.com.

The Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) / The Opening of the Taleban Office in Qatar: Flags, Interviews and an Angry Government

At the moment, one would have to conclude that the opening of this office has made the Taleban look strong, the Americans desperate and President Karzai angry. The Palace will be issuing a statement imminently. We will then have a better idea of the extent of the damage.

via The Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN) / The Opening of the Taleban Office in Qatar: Flags, Interviews and an Angry Government.

Afghan Women’s Writing Project | Away from You

I will be away from you, my friend, but still around you.

My soul will be with you—you will feel it.

Close your eyes—you will see it.

I will be away from you, and you will not hear me,

But my words will be in your mind.

I will be around you, my friend,

Holding you when you feel alone.

I will weep your tears when you cry.

Our memories will keep us alive, always,

Even if we never see each other again.

Feel me when winds come to you.

See me when flowers open their eyes.

When you feel lost you will find me in the sky

An orange moon.

I will watch you all the time.

I will be away from you, my friend,

But still around you—like a butterfly, like a bird.

I will be with you as a shadow when you are alone.

I will not miss you because I will feel you

When I breathe.

I will be away from you, my friend,

But around you also,

Always.

By Shogofa

via Afghan Women’s Writing Project | Away from You.

Sri Lanka Fascist Group Set Ablaze Owned Muslim Stall « tamilweek.com/news-features

A protest march conducted by the Extremist Sinhala Ravaya (sound or roar of Sinhala)organization against cattle slaughter has now turned ugly with a Muslim owned beef stall being set ablaze enroute in the Southern Province coastal town of Tangalle in full view of the Police.

The incident has sent alarm bells ringing among Muslims engaged in the meat trade running beef stalls along the coastal areas of the Southern and Western Provinces as the protest march route is from Kataragama to Colombo.

Three ethno religious fascist organizations namely the Bodhu Bala Sena,Sinhala Ravaya and Ravana Balaya are spearheading a hate campaign against Sri Lankan muslims and Christians in the name of Sinhala Buddhism with tacit support from the political party the Jathika Hela Urumaya. These activities reportedly have the support of the upper echelons of the Rajapaksa regime.

via Sri Lanka Fascist Group Set Ablaze Owned Muslim Stall « tamilweek.com/news-features.

Men acting “for” Women – because they think they know better! Text of H.R. 1797: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (Reported by House Committee version) – GovTrack.us

Passed House to make abortion illegal in Washington, DC Pain-capable unborn child protection

‘(a) Unlawful Conduct- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall be unlawful for any person to perform an abortion or attempt to do so, unless in conformity with the requirements set forth in subsection (b).

‘(b) Requirements for Abortions-

‘(1) The physician performing or attempting the abortion shall first make a determination of the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child or reasonably rely upon such a determination made by another physician. In making such a determination, the physician shall make such inquiries of the pregnant woman and perform or cause to be performed such medical examinations and tests as a reasonably prudent physician, knowledgeable about the case and the medical conditions involved, would consider necessary to make an accurate determination of post-fertilization age.

‘(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the abortion shall not be performed or attempted, if the probable post-fertilization age, as determined under paragraph (1), of the unborn child is 20 weeks or greater.

‘(B) Subject to subparagraph (C), subparagraph (A) does not apply if, in reasonable medical judgment, the abortion is necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, but not including psychological or emotional conditions.

‘(C) Notwithstanding the definitions of ‘abortion’ and ‘attempt an abortion’ in this section, a physician terminating or attempting to terminate a pregnancy under the exception provided by subparagraph (B) may do so only in the manner which, in reasonable medical judgment, provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive, unless, in reasonable medical judgment, termination of the pregnancy in that manner would pose a greater risk of–

‘(i) the death of the pregnant woman; or

‘(ii) the substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function, not including psychological or emotional conditions, of the pregnant woman;

than would other available methods.

‘(c) Criminal Penalty- Whoever violates subsection (a) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.

via Text of H.R. 1797: Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (Reported by House Committee version) – GovTrack.us.

Turkey’s government okays ‘Standing Man’ protest | News | World | Mail & Guardian

Standing Vigil - White Lotus

Hundreds of protesters stood still for hours on squares on main streets in several cities, mimicking a lone protester who started the trend on Istanbul’s Taksim Square on Monday and has been dubbed the “Standing Man.”

In the first direct government comment on the new style of protest, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc told reporters that the standing protests are peaceful and “pleasing to the eye.”

He urged protesters, however, not to obstruct traffic and not to endanger their health.

“This is not an act of violence,” Arinc said. “We cannot condemn it.”

via Turkey’s government okays ‘Standing Man’ protest | News | World | Mail & Guardian.

And when thousands follow suit in next few days across the nation? They under estimate the power of silent vigils to turn society around! Good on you all!