Category Archives: Global Politics

125 Photos From Last Night’s Massive Traffic-Blocking Ferguson Protest In NYC: Gothamist

You don’t need a weather man to know which way the wind in blowing!

Several thousand protesters dispersed across the city to shut down access to the Manhattan and Williamsburg Bridges, the entrances to the Holland and Lincoln Tunnels, and portions of the FDR and West Side Highways, venting their rage at a grand jury’s decision not to indict Missouri police officer Darren Wilson in the slaying of 18-year-old Michael Brown. “I had hope, I still had hope in our county and in our legal system,” 18-year-old Barnard student Stephanie Rothermel said as she marched down Flatbush Avenue. “But I guess that’s a stupid thing to have.”

via 125 Photos From Last Night’s Massive Traffic-Blocking Ferguson Protest In NYC: Gothamist.

ZEN PENCILS » 166. PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY: Ozymandias

Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) was an English poet. Ozymandias is Shelley’s most famous poem and was the result of a friendly competition between him and fellow poet Horace Smith. They often would have a poetry battle where a topic was chosen and they would only have 15 minutes to finish a sonnet. You can compare Shelley’s and Smith’s poems on Wikipedia and read an extensive history of the poem in this article by The Economist.

Ozymandias enjoyed a boost in popularity last year after it was used as the title for one of the final episodes of Breaking Bad. In this promo, Bryan Cranston ominously recites the poem in character as Walter White, king of meth dealers.

via ZEN PENCILS » 166. PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY: Ozymandias.

Israeli settlers attempt to torch home in Ramallah-area village | Maan News Agency

Israeli settlers on Wednesday evening attempted to burn down a house in the village of al-Mughayyir east of Ramallah, but were prevented by doing so by local villagers.

The attempted arson comes only a week after settlers attacked the village and burned down a mosque, in an incident that sparked widespread Palestinian fury.

On Wednesday, dozens of settlers approached a house on the outskirts of the village when they were spotted by villagers who started throwing rocks at them.

Settlers were forced to retreat to their nearby settlement under the protection of Israeli soldiers as a result, and no injuries were reported.

via Israeli settlers attempt to torch home in Ramallah-area village | Maan News Agency.

Israel Demolishes Family Home of Palestinian Driver Who Killed 2 Pedestrians – NYTimes.com

“This is not only collective punishment, it is a call for a violent reaction,” said Ms. Shaloudy, 43, who teaches English.

Continue reading the main story

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Driver Plows Into Group at Jerusalem Train Station, Killing Baby, Police SayOCT. 22, 2014

Israel sealed or destroyed the homes this summer of four other Palestinians who killed Jews, and did so twice in 2009, after halting the widespread practice in 2005 when a commission found that it rarely worked as a deterrent and instead inflamed hostility.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel vowed to renew the policy as part of a wider crackdown following a wave of deadly attacks over the last month, the latest killing four worshipers and a police officer at a Jerusalem synagogue on Tuesday.

“You need a means of deterrence against the next suicide attacker,” Mr. Netanyahu said at a televised news conference Tuesday night. “When he knows that his house, the house in which his family lives, will be demolished, this will have an impact.”

via Israel Demolishes Family Home of Palestinian Driver Who Killed 2 Pedestrians – NYTimes.com.

UPDATE 2-Cuban doctor in Sierra Leone tests positive for Ebola | Reuters

While Cuba provides disaster relief around the world free of charge, it also exchanges doctors for cash or goods on more routine missions. The island receives an estimated 100,000 barrels of oil per day from Venezuela, where some 30,000 Cuban medical professionals are posted.

via UPDATE 2-Cuban doctor in Sierra Leone tests positive for Ebola | Reuters.

Palestinian child today died of his wounds from July Israeli offensive on Gaza

Mohammed Siam, 14 years, from Gaza lost his leg in an Israeli bombardment during the latest aggression on Gaza last July.

After he lost 12 members of his family, and both of his legs, Mohammad was moved to Jerusalem to receive treatment there.

Later he was moved to Turkey where he obtained artificial legs and finally improved his health.

On Tuesday, Mohammed needed a respiratory tract and lung operation, where he was announced dead.

via Palestinian child today died of his wounds from July Israeli offensive on Gaza.

Modi supports India Cultural Fascism – Sanskrit or German? A row over foreign languages in India′s schools | Asia | DW.DE | 17.11.2014

Prior to this, India’s Sanskrit Teachers Association (SSS) had begun legal action in Delhi’s High Court, saying the continued allowance of German in the school curriculum went against national education policy. The group also described the teaching of foreign languages in Indian schools as “a Western conspiracy.”

via Sanskrit or German? A row over foreign languages in India′s schools | Asia | DW.DE | 17.11.2014.

Price tag violence by settlers now includes casual murder! Palestinian driver found hanged inside Israeli bus | Maan News Agency

Witnesses told Ma’an that other drivers saw al-Ramouni’s bus parked in the bus terminal during his working hours. A driver checked inside the bus and found al-Ramouni’s body hanging from a steel bar in the middle of the bus.

His colleagues cut the body down and he was taken to Hadassah hospital. Medics at the bus station tried to resuscitate him but he was later pronounced dead.

“According to an initial investigation, it appears there is no suspicion of criminal activity, in other words a suicide,” Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri said in a statement, which said there were “no signs of violence on the body.”

But fellow bus driver Muatasem Fakeh said he had seen evidence to the contrary.

“We saw signs of violence on his body,” he told AFP.

“He was hanged over the steps at the back of the bus in a place where it would be impossible to hang yourself alone,” he added.

The victim’s brother, Osama al-Ramouni said the family did not accept the verdict of suicide, saying his body “had bruises on it,” suggesting he had been “tortured” before his death.

“My brother had children and was a happy man. It is impossible that he killed himself,” he told AFP.

“He had no problems that would make him do it,” he said, adding that a post-mortem would “reveal everything.”

“We reject the suicide theory. We all know it was settlers who killed him,” he said.

via Palestinian driver found hanged inside Israeli bus | Maan News Agency.