All parliamentary parties in Greece have voted in favor of recognizing Palestine. Greek lawmakers adopted the resolution in a special session which was attended by Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.
Category Archives: Viva!
Brazil: Suspected Microcephalic Cases Reaches 2782
#10,827
In a normal week Brazil would be expected to report 3 – perhaps 4 – cases of Microcephalic birth defects – always totalling under 200 each year. Starting in October, Brazil began to see a sharp rise in these births, and for the past five weeks the MOH has released increasingly grim epidemiological reports.
Today’s update represents an increase of 381 cases microcephalic cases over the previous week, or roughly the number of cases Brazil would expect over a period of two years.
While the MOH has yet to post the full epidemiological report, earlier today the MOH held a press conference to announce the latest numbers, and has posted the following summary on their webpage, along with detailed reporting and advice on mosquito control measures.
MICROCEPHALY – On Tuesday (22), the Ministry of Health updated the microcephaly data related to infection by Zika virus. According to the new Epidemiological Bulletin have been reported 2,782 suspected cases of the disease and 40 deaths by 19 December. These cases are distributed in 618 municipalities of 20 units of the Federation.
The investigation of cases of microcephaly related to Zika virus is done in conjunction with Health managers of states and municipalities. Technical teams from the health ministry’s field research are working in the states of Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraiba, Sergipe and Ceará. Currently, the movement of the Zika is confirmed by PCR with molecular biology technology. From the confirmation in a particular locality, the other diagnoses are made clinically, for medical assessment of symptoms.
The Ministry of Health trained over 11 public laboratories to perform the diagnosis of Zika. Relying on the five reference units in Brazil for this type of examination, there are already 16 centers with the knowledge to take the test. In the next two months, the technology will be transferred to 11 more laboratories, totaling 27 units prepared to analyze 400 samples a month from suspected cases of Zika across the country.
The suspected link between microcephalic birth defects and maternal infection with the virus remains unproven, but based on the available data appears a plausible explanation for the huge jump in birth defects reported in Brazil over the past few weeks.
For more you may wish to revisit:
Brazil: MOH Announces Federal Plan To Combat Microcephaly
ECDC Risk Assessment: Microcephaly In Brazil Potentially Linked To The Zika Virus Epidemic
Microcephaly In Brazil – Background & WHO Statement
Zika outbreak expands in West Africa, Americas
Cape Verde reported its first Zika illnesses, while Panama and Honduras confirmed additional cases.
Michael Moore on New Wave of Gun Violence: “The NRA Is Actually Half Right” (Guest Column)
The ‘Where to Invade Next’ filmmaker argues that even if the U.S. banned guns, its lack of a social safety net would still turn many toward violence: “We just need to modify [the NRA’s slogan] to, ‘Guns don’t kill people — Americans kill people.'”
Humans of New York
“This would happen to me today. xxxxxxxxx I broke up with my boyfriend on Friday. I filed my Obamacare last night at midnight. I got four hours of sleep. I left this morning without taking a shower. I didn’t put on a dress. I just put this pink thing on my head so I wouldn’t look so tired. And now I’ve just finished working and I’m heading home to eat Chinese food. And you want to take my picture. Can I at least put on some lipstick?”
Source: Humans of New York
Crescent
A waitress serves two ladies at a lunch room in Harlem, New York, ca. 1920s
Interviewing Luis Moreno Ocampo\a reflection
Interviewing Luis Moreno Ocampo
Life has many misgivings.
This is a non-logical statement I assume. “Life has many people that contributed to the misgivings of life”, would be a better sensible statement.
However, life has this gift of amazing people that makes it by each passing moment so much worth living.
It is not about those invaluable given gifts of children, family, loved ones and friends. It is with those who simply pass by our paths of life for a moment or an instant. An hour or a day … those who are meant to be an unconditional treat from life with a beautiful reminder saying; life is about people. Good people. Remarkable people who are the change of what we aspire in a world that is better.
Luis Moreno Ocampo was one of those “treats” of unexpected moments that made me feel proud, that life is about people …
Ocampo is the first assigned Prosecutor to the International Criminal Court (ICC), who was sworn to the position for nine years as of June 2003. When he took the position, observers said that he would surely turn the ICC into a “sexy court”. It will take anyone five minutes to understand how true this sentence is, and later to realize how the mixture of brilliance and modesty are the perfect combination that form “sexy” in this situation.
Aside from the flirting ideas about the man; what he has to offer was inspiring for me. As usual, we are also confronted with the complexity of the situation. In this particular situation, it was about Ocampo’s visit and lectures in the Hebrew University. A debate that will remain ongoing, between “us” and “them”. Between “us”, “them” and “those from outside this zone of conflict”.
What Ocampo had to offer in advices to the Palestinians wasn’t particularly new. It was actually what everyone who wants to give an advice to the Palestinians say: “ Follow Gandhi. Adopt non violence as an approach to resistance”. And each time the quick Palestinian response is: “ how do you want us to stop violence with non violence? How do we defend ourselves amid this vicious aggression that never seize to stop. Occupation is violent by its very nature. What we do, even if it is not resistance, it is the only way for us to survive.”
Ocampo wasn’t different from the rest in this call: “Teach your children to leave the stones and use their cameras in the confrontation with the occupation. This is more effective. Document the crimes and the violations and use it as a weapon of resistance.”
Ocampo was well known in his native country Argentina as a lawyer and prosecutor in cases related to corruption and human rights abuses. He gained a lot of credit while serving as a prosecutor in Argentina during the “Trial of the Juntas” that occupied Argentina’s public opinion in the mid eighties, prosecuting nine senior commanders, including three former heads of state, among which five were convicted.
During his term as a prosecutor to the ICC, the court has opened investigations into nine situations: Congo; Uganda; Central African Republic II and I; Darfur, Sudan; Kenya; Libya; Côte d’Ivoire; and Mali. His office requested the authorization to open an investigation in the Georgia situation. And has conducted preliminary examinations in seven matters in Afghanistan, Colombia, Guinea, Iraq, Nigeria, Palestine and Ukraine. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for 31 individuals and summonses to eight others.
I met Ocampo in a session with Law students at Al Quds University. His presence and charisma are overwhelming, one would just need to watch him talk or not talk. What drew my attention mostly was his way in approaching the students. He very much wanted to listen to their questions, and made sure to understand and respond in accordance each time. There was this very caring tone in his approach that still brought very assertive answers. A tone that makes a difference in the approach of a “teacher” and hence, a whole new effect on the “student” way of perceiving and receiving the information.
I introduced myself to him with courtesy towards the end of the session, with no further interest in asking anything after dwelling with myself into the questions of the students.
I don’t know what is it exactly that makes us this way. Is it a full state of despair? Or is it just the way of education. We strongly believe that we have strong case to represent. We strongly believe how the laws work. And yet we kind of refuse to listen to what anyone else has to tell us.
A week later, I met him by chance at the lobby of the American Colony Hotel in Jerusalem, and after consulting with the editor in chief of the Egyptian magazine I write for I asked him if I could interview him. He was very courteous as well in agreeing promptly.
He asked me if I like to join his meeting with Asylum seekers from Darfur, saying that it will be interesting to see what is the input of a Palestinian on such an issue.
It was one night of continuous inspiring moments by those young men from Darfur. It was so powerful and heart aching to hear their journey into asylum. The dangers that they encountered, the injustice, the oppression, the massive killings, the escape, and the catching up with their own lives again… or trying to do so.
It remains as well one of the controversial issues I encounter as a Palestinian. Sitting there, watching an Israeli young beautiful woman dedicating her time and I guess, her life in trying to bring help or justice to such people in yet another complexed issue in Israel itself. But this paradox in humanity never seizes to stop its amazing encounters.
That very same side of Israel as a final or only resort for refugee for such people, when Israel is the graveyard for the people of this very land.
To see a Sudanese, an Arab (at least in my mind) escaping the violations and crimes that “Arabs” (and other whatever groups who happened not to belong to the same sect or cult) are imposing and performing on such groups also made it another complex in the complexity of my emotions.
During the interview, many interesting topics were addressed. Somehow talking to such people, there is really nothing additional on their achievements that can be added out of what has been already said and written tens of times before. The perspective on Palestine Israel issue remains the most intriguing to a Palestinian while the man himself is in Palestine.
How much was it of complexity for him to be in the middle of the two sides this close was another issue I think. Standing before two sides whose emotions and politics strongly overshadows the law is not an easy position. Each side has his long list of righteous claims that insist the law should back his side simply.
There is something of what he can or is willing to offer to both sides in his capacity as an educator and a practitioner in the field of law that is so important and unique and I strongly believe that we ,especially the Palestinians should not miss in the opportunity .
Interviewing Luis Moreno Ocampo\a reflection | nadiaharhash
Ocampo is the first assigned Prosecutor to the International Criminal Court (ICC), who was sworn to the position for nine years as of June 2003. When he took the position, observers said that he would surely turn the ICC into a “sexy court”. It will take anyone five minutes to understand how true this sentence is, and later to realize how the mixture of brilliance and modesty are the perfect combination that form “sexy” in this situation.Aside from the flirting ideas about the man; what he has to offer was inspiring for me. As usual, we are also confronted with the complexity of the situation. In this particular situation, it was about Ocampo’s visit and lectures in the Hebrew University. A debate that will remain ongoing, between “us” and “them”. Between “us”, “them” and “those from outside this zone of conflict”.What Ocampo had to offer in advices to the Palestinians wasn’t particularly new. It was actually what everyone who wants to give an advice to the Palestinians say: “ Follow Gandhi. Adopt non violence as an approach to resistance”. And each time the quick Palestinian response is: “ how do you want us to stop violence with non violence? How do we defend ourselves amid this vicious aggression that never seize to stop. Occupation is violent by its very nature. What we do, even if it is not resistance, it is the only way for us to survive.”Ocampo wasn’t different from the rest in this call: “Teach your children to leave the stones and use their cameras in the confrontation with the occupation. This is more effective. Document the crimes and the violations and use it as a weapon of resistance.”
Source: Interviewing Luis Moreno Ocampo\a reflection | nadiaharhash
Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody (High Quality) – YouTube
Merry Christmas to all who are missing someone or just thinking about the ones you love. Dream on…

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