The (very) real Egypt
Former GMTV reporter Lara Logan suffers 'brutal and sustained' sex assault covering Egypt uprising
Was set upon by mob of more than 200 in Tahrir Square
Saved by group of women and 20 Egyptian soldiers
dailymail
The Yacoubian Building
The Yacoubian Building (Arabic: عمارة يعقوبيان ʿImārat Yaʿqūbīān) is a novel by Egyptian author Alaa-Al-Aswany. The book was made into a film of the same name in 2006 and into a TV series in 2007.
Published in Arabic in 2002 and in an English translation in 2004, the book, ostensibly set in 1990 at about the time of the first Gulf War, is a roman à clef and scathing portrayal of modern Egyptian society since the Revolution of 1952. The locale of the novel is downtown Cairo, with the titular apartment building (which actually exists) serving as both a metaphor for contemporary Egypt and a unifying location in which most of the primary characters either live or work and in which much of the novel's action takes place. The author, a dentist by profession, had his first office in the Yacoubian Building in Cairo.
The Yacoubian Building was the best selling Arabic novel for 2002 and 2003, and was voted Best Novel for 2003 by listeners to Egypt's Middle East Broadcasting Service. It has been translated into 23 languages worldwide.
...
The stories of each of the primary characters are often intertwined, very horrible at times colliding or converging with one another. Together, they give a biting condemnation of a nation that has squandered its promise and which has been forced to compromise its own principles, resulting in a corrupt and undemocratic political system dominated by a single party (the fictitious "Patriotic Party", a thinly-veiled version of Egypt's National Democratic Party), a society whose most talented members abandon the country for promising careers abroad, and an increasingly disenchanted and restive populace that has no loyalty to the government and which sees extremist Islam as one of the few viable options to counter growing poverty, economic stagnation, and a perceived degradation of morals and lack of social cohesion.
The Yacoubian Building's treatment of homosexuality is taboo-breaking, particularly for contemporary mainstream Arab literature. Khaled Diab, in an article entitled Cultural rainbows, explores this aspect of the novel, and how this can help change popular attitudes to homosexuality in the Arab world. wikipedia
2011/02/15
People power in Iran
It is still too early to tell the ultimate impact in the Middle East of the popular uprising in Egypt. But so far the most significant ripple from Mubarak's downfall, more important than the demonstrations in Yemen, Bahrain or even Algeria, is renewed opposition activity in Iran. Thousands demonstrated against the regime yesterday, the biggest upsurge since protests against President Ahmadinejad's disputed election in 2009.
The security forces have responded brutally, shooting dead at least one protester in Tehran. The call from 50 conservative Iranian MPs today for opposition leaders to be executed gives some idea of the religious Right's discomfort with open democracy.
Yet Foreign Secretary William Hague has merely called on the Iranian government to show restraint. That is not good enough. We should unequivocally back the protesters, as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has done. A democratic Iran would not only improve life for Iranians ground down by a hard-line, authoritarian regime. It would also reduce tensions in the region caused by the Ahmadinejad government's endless provocations. We should support these courageous protesters. standard
Note: US... UK... where's EU?!*
* Ha! Course... that british lady...
Libyan protesters clash with police
Hundreds of anti-government protesters have clashed with police overnight in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. The protests were reportedly triggered by anger at the arrest of a human rights campaigner.
Meanwhile, Libyan state television said rallies were being held across the country in support of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The online edition of Libya's privately owned Quryna newspaper, which is based in Benghazi, reported that demonstrators had petrol bombs and threw stones. guardian
It is still too early to tell the ultimate impact in the Middle East of the popular uprising in Egypt. But so far the most significant ripple from Mubarak's downfall, more important than the demonstrations in Yemen, Bahrain or even Algeria, is renewed opposition activity in Iran. Thousands demonstrated against the regime yesterday, the biggest upsurge since protests against President Ahmadinejad's disputed election in 2009.
The security forces have responded brutally, shooting dead at least one protester in Tehran. The call from 50 conservative Iranian MPs today for opposition leaders to be executed gives some idea of the religious Right's discomfort with open democracy.
Yet Foreign Secretary William Hague has merely called on the Iranian government to show restraint. That is not good enough. We should unequivocally back the protesters, as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has done. A democratic Iran would not only improve life for Iranians ground down by a hard-line, authoritarian regime. It would also reduce tensions in the region caused by the Ahmadinejad government's endless provocations. We should support these courageous protesters. standard
Note: US... UK... where's EU?!*
* Ha! Course... that british lady...
Libyan protesters clash with police
Hundreds of anti-government protesters have clashed with police overnight in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi. The protests were reportedly triggered by anger at the arrest of a human rights campaigner.
Meanwhile, Libyan state television said rallies were being held across the country in support of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The online edition of Libya's privately owned Quryna newspaper, which is based in Benghazi, reported that demonstrators had petrol bombs and threw stones. guardian
Sentence dictated by "a higher authority"
MOSCOW - The stiff prison sentence given to oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky at his most recent trial was dictated to the district court judge who handled the case by "a higher authority," one of his aides told a news Web site here. washingtonpost
The best of britain...
A student lay dying from an asthma attack outside a hospital after A&E staff refused to summon help, telling her friend to ring for an ambulance instead. dailymail
Not only BP
Look at this british company here and here!
Question: where are the European Union's authorities that did care so much at how to wrap the portuguese traditional cheese?
British company link to drug used in execution
The suspected source of the drug used in the execution of death-row prisoners in the US has been identified as a British company in Berkshire.
Archimedes Pharma – which is based in Reading and describes itself as a "fast-growing specialty pharmaceutical business marketing a portfolio of products to specialist prescribers" – confirmed last night that it did produce the drug sodium thiopental. independent
Note: just british business as usual...
MOSCOW - The stiff prison sentence given to oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky at his most recent trial was dictated to the district court judge who handled the case by "a higher authority," one of his aides told a news Web site here. washingtonpost
The best of britain...
A student lay dying from an asthma attack outside a hospital after A&E staff refused to summon help, telling her friend to ring for an ambulance instead. dailymail
Not only BP
Look at this british company here and here!
Question: where are the European Union's authorities that did care so much at how to wrap the portuguese traditional cheese?
British company link to drug used in execution
The suspected source of the drug used in the execution of death-row prisoners in the US has been identified as a British company in Berkshire.
Archimedes Pharma – which is based in Reading and describes itself as a "fast-growing specialty pharmaceutical business marketing a portfolio of products to specialist prescribers" – confirmed last night that it did produce the drug sodium thiopental. independent
Note: just british business as usual...
2011/02/14
The problem
This was the problem with the banks: it was not their funds that would be lost if they failed. standard
Seriously
A confidential report by the Pentagon says the 2008 meltdown may have been prompted by co-ordinated attacks by "financial terrorists intent on destroying the American financial system". It could have been a three-pronged onslaught: pushing up oil prices; launching bear raids against Bear Stearns and Lehman; then hitting the dollar. Seriously. standard
This was the problem with the banks: it was not their funds that would be lost if they failed. standard
Seriously
A confidential report by the Pentagon says the 2008 meltdown may have been prompted by co-ordinated attacks by "financial terrorists intent on destroying the American financial system". It could have been a three-pronged onslaught: pushing up oil prices; launching bear raids against Bear Stearns and Lehman; then hitting the dollar. Seriously. standard
Death to Dictator!
The clashes broke out at Tehran's prominent Azadi (Freedom) Square when crowds of opposition supporters began chanting "Death to Dictator!" – a slogan used by protesters against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after the disputed 2009 presidential election.
Witnesses said police fired tear gas and also shot paintballs at protesters who had gathered despite a ban by authorities. telegraph
The clashes broke out at Tehran's prominent Azadi (Freedom) Square when crowds of opposition supporters began chanting "Death to Dictator!" – a slogan used by protesters against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after the disputed 2009 presidential election.
Witnesses said police fired tear gas and also shot paintballs at protesters who had gathered despite a ban by authorities. telegraph
Power station to double as laser-firing ski slope
Denmark burns 54% of domestic waste to generate power, according to Eurostat data. So, Bjarke says, it makes sense to harness the unused physical potential of its vast incendiary plants.
"In a country with the perfect climate for skiing, but which has long suffered from a lack of skiable slopes, why not kill two birds with one stone?" he said.
Capping off the multi-purpose power plant will be a terrain park that offers go-carting, sailing, and rock climbing.
But what about the all-important apres-ski aperitif?
"Of course!" Bjarke enthused. "At the very top of the slopes, underneath the chimney there will be a giant disc -- housing a bar with the best 360-degree panoramic views of Copenhagen anywhere in the world." cnn
Denmark burns 54% of domestic waste to generate power, according to Eurostat data. So, Bjarke says, it makes sense to harness the unused physical potential of its vast incendiary plants.
"In a country with the perfect climate for skiing, but which has long suffered from a lack of skiable slopes, why not kill two birds with one stone?" he said.
Capping off the multi-purpose power plant will be a terrain park that offers go-carting, sailing, and rock climbing.
But what about the all-important apres-ski aperitif?
"Of course!" Bjarke enthused. "At the very top of the slopes, underneath the chimney there will be a giant disc -- housing a bar with the best 360-degree panoramic views of Copenhagen anywhere in the world." cnn
Abdullah Gul in Tehran
The presence of the Turkish president Abdullah Gul in Tehran could be a restraining influence on the way the Iranian security services deal with today's demonstrations.
Well, Gul has used a press conference with his Iranian counterpart to urge (unspecified) Middle East governments to listen to the demands of their people. He said:
The desires of people must be taken into account. In this respect, fundamental reforms must be carried out, whether economic or political. guardian
The presence of the Turkish president Abdullah Gul in Tehran could be a restraining influence on the way the Iranian security services deal with today's demonstrations.
Well, Gul has used a press conference with his Iranian counterpart to urge (unspecified) Middle East governments to listen to the demands of their people. He said:
The desires of people must be taken into account. In this respect, fundamental reforms must be carried out, whether economic or political. guardian
Protests in Iran
Although today's Iran protest was initially organised for the capital Tehran, reports suggest that protesters have also taken to the streets in Enghelab Square, in the city of Isfahan, and Namazi Square, in Shiraz.
in Tehran, an eyewitness told BBC Persian TV that there have been clashes between the riot police and protesters in Kalej cross.
Opposition websites report that Abdollah Naseri, a reformist activist and close ally to former president Mohammad Khatami has been arrested. guardian
Although today's Iran protest was initially organised for the capital Tehran, reports suggest that protesters have also taken to the streets in Enghelab Square, in the city of Isfahan, and Namazi Square, in Shiraz.
in Tehran, an eyewitness told BBC Persian TV that there have been clashes between the riot police and protesters in Kalej cross.
Opposition websites report that Abdollah Naseri, a reformist activist and close ally to former president Mohammad Khatami has been arrested. guardian
2011/02/13
Pupils are being taught religious apartheid
- Muslims who adopt Western ways will be 'tortured in afterlife'
- Unprovoked beatings captured on camera in Yorkshire madrassa
Multiculturalism has failed
French president Nicolas Sarkozy has joined David Cameron in condemning multiculturalism as a failure.
Cameron launched a scathing attack earlier this months on 30 years of multiculturalism in Britain warning that it fostered extremism.
His damning verdict came just months after German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that multiculturalism in Germany had failed. dailymail
- Muslims who adopt Western ways will be 'tortured in afterlife'
- Unprovoked beatings captured on camera in Yorkshire madrassa
Multiculturalism has failed
French president Nicolas Sarkozy has joined David Cameron in condemning multiculturalism as a failure.
Cameron launched a scathing attack earlier this months on 30 years of multiculturalism in Britain warning that it fostered extremism.
His damning verdict came just months after German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that multiculturalism in Germany had failed. dailymail
Trust Strasbourg, not our (*) politicians or judges
The European court of human rights has defended freedom of our press more successfully than MPs or judges. guardian
(*) portuguese
The European court of human rights has defended freedom of our press more successfully than MPs or judges. guardian
(*) portuguese
2011/02/12
All assets frozen in Switzerland
Switzerland has frozen all assets belonging to Hosni Mubarak and his family, which could run into hundreds of millions, the government announced.
The move came as the former president was reported to have flown to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he has previously chaired summits, received guests and enjoyed the winter sunshine well away from the crowds. guardian
Switzerland has frozen all assets belonging to Hosni Mubarak and his family, which could run into hundreds of millions, the government announced.
The move came as the former president was reported to have flown to the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he has previously chaired summits, received guests and enjoyed the winter sunshine well away from the crowds. guardian
2011/02/10
'Overconfident' IMF downplayed risks
A damning report on the International Monetary Fund's failings in the run-up to the global financial crisis has blamed "groupthink" and "intellectual capture" for the inability of the Washington-based organisation to spot Britain's looming banking crash. guardian
JP Morgan Chase accused of turning a blind eye
Madoff, one of the most respected investment advisors on Wall Street who defrauded thousands of investors in a pyramid scheme of 60 billion dollars, some of the money run by investment bank JPMorgan Chase.
“While many financial institutions have encouraged fraud Madoff, JPMorgan Chase was right in the center of the scheme and is guilty of complicity,” reads the legal complaint filed by reperzentantul losers to court in New York. financial-magazine
A damning report on the International Monetary Fund's failings in the run-up to the global financial crisis has blamed "groupthink" and "intellectual capture" for the inability of the Washington-based organisation to spot Britain's looming banking crash. guardian
JP Morgan Chase accused of turning a blind eye
Madoff, one of the most respected investment advisors on Wall Street who defrauded thousands of investors in a pyramid scheme of 60 billion dollars, some of the money run by investment bank JPMorgan Chase.
“While many financial institutions have encouraged fraud Madoff, JPMorgan Chase was right in the center of the scheme and is guilty of complicity,” reads the legal complaint filed by reperzentantul losers to court in New York. financial-magazine
2011/02/08
Assange's extradition is only the tip of the iceberg
No doubt, in the coming days, many more column inches will be dedicated to Julian Assange's battle against extradition to Sweden. His case, however, is the tip of the iceberg. In 2009 more than 4,000 people were extradited under Europe's fast-track extradition system, 700 from the UK alone.
A few days ago, four of Fair Trials International's clients spoke in parliament about their personal extradition ordeals. Frank Symeou explained how his 21-year-old son, Andrew, spent a year in horrendous prison conditions in Greece. Eighteen months after he was extradited he is still waiting for the trial to start.
Edmond Arapi described his 12-month battle against extradition to Italy where, with no notice whatsoever, he had been sentenced to 16 years for murder. Ultimately, Italian judges were persuaded that Arapi could not possibly have committed the crime and the wrong man had been convicted. He had spent weeks in custody, torn from his young family. guardian
The inhumane conditions of Manning's detention
Bradley Manning, the 22-year-old U.S. Army Private accused of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks, has never been convicted of that crime, nor of any other crime. Despite that, he has been detained at the U.S. Marine brig in Quantico, Virginia for five months -- and for two months before that in a military jail in Kuwait -- under conditions that constitute cruel and inhumane treatment and, by the standards of many nations, even torture. Interviews with several people directly familiar with the conditions of Manning's detention, ultimately including a Quantico brig official (Lt. Brian Villiard) who confirmed much of what they conveyed, establishes that the accused leaker is subjected to detention conditions likely to create long-term psychological injuries. Glenn Greenwald in salon
No doubt, in the coming days, many more column inches will be dedicated to Julian Assange's battle against extradition to Sweden. His case, however, is the tip of the iceberg. In 2009 more than 4,000 people were extradited under Europe's fast-track extradition system, 700 from the UK alone.
A few days ago, four of Fair Trials International's clients spoke in parliament about their personal extradition ordeals. Frank Symeou explained how his 21-year-old son, Andrew, spent a year in horrendous prison conditions in Greece. Eighteen months after he was extradited he is still waiting for the trial to start.
Edmond Arapi described his 12-month battle against extradition to Italy where, with no notice whatsoever, he had been sentenced to 16 years for murder. Ultimately, Italian judges were persuaded that Arapi could not possibly have committed the crime and the wrong man had been convicted. He had spent weeks in custody, torn from his young family. guardian
The inhumane conditions of Manning's detention
Bradley Manning, the 22-year-old U.S. Army Private accused of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks, has never been convicted of that crime, nor of any other crime. Despite that, he has been detained at the U.S. Marine brig in Quantico, Virginia for five months -- and for two months before that in a military jail in Kuwait -- under conditions that constitute cruel and inhumane treatment and, by the standards of many nations, even torture. Interviews with several people directly familiar with the conditions of Manning's detention, ultimately including a Quantico brig official (Lt. Brian Villiard) who confirmed much of what they conveyed, establishes that the accused leaker is subjected to detention conditions likely to create long-term psychological injuries. Glenn Greenwald in salon
Finger of suspicion points to Kremlin
THIEVES have broken into the studio of a film director to steal his documentary about the jailed Russian oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky days before it was due to make its debut at the Berlin Film Festival.
Two laptops and two other computers were taken from the Berlin studio of Cyril Tuschi - raising fears that Russian agents could again be active in Western Europe. The incident also highlights the extraordinary sensitivity of the case of Khodorkovsky, 47, the former head of the Yukos company, who in December had his jail sentence extended to 2017. theaustralian
Assassination of Anna Politkovskaya
Politkovskaya's book, Putin's Russia: Life in a Failing Democracy, strongly criticized Putin's federal presidency, including his pursuit of the Second Chechen War. She accused Putin and the Russian secret service FSB of stifling all civil liberties in order to establish a Soviet-style dictatorship, but admitted that "it is we who are responsible for Putin's policies":
"Society has shown limitless apathy... As the Chekists have become entrenched in power, we have let them see our fear, and thereby have only intensified their urge to treat us like cattle. The KGB respects only the strong. The weak it devours. We of all people ought to know that." wikipedia
Iranian-Dutch Citizen Sentenced to Death
Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR) - Zahra Bahrami, an Iranian-Dutch citizen who was arrested in the wake of the Ashura (December 27, 2009) massive popular protests has been sentenced to death.
Zhinous Sharif Razi, Zahra Bahrami’s lawyer confirmed the news and told CHRR, “My client’s case was being investigated in two parts. The first part concerns the 2009 Ashura events. No trial has been held regarding the [Ashura] charges, so naturally no sentence has been issued [either]. However, the death sentence concerns the second part of the case against Zahra Bahrami that involves the possession of narcotics. More than 30 grams of drugs were discovered in my client’s home after it was searched. According to the law, possession of more than 30 grams of [certain] drugs is punishable by death. The court has sentenced her to death on this charge.”
Sharif Razi also said there is no possibility to appeal the sentence. She stated that the only way to save Zahra Bahrami is [to receive] a positive response from the Clemency and Forgiveness Commission: “The drug possession cases are sent directly to the National Attorney General’s office after tried in the lower court, and then the cases are sent to the Execution of Sentences Circuit court. Our only hope is that the Clemency and Forgiveness Commission responds positively [to our request for clemency].”
Zahra Bahrami was charged with Moharebeh [enmity with God] by Judge Salavati of branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court on August 16, 2010. Her charges included: “acting against national security, propaganda against the regime, Moharebeh, and membership in the proscribed Monarchist Association”. persian2english
“How is it possible that she was executed?!”
A shocked and emotional Banafsheh Nayebpour, daughter of Iranian-Dutch citizen, Zahra Bahrami, who, according to a Fars News Agency report, was executed in the early morning hours of Saturday, 29 January 2010, talked to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran today. She said people have been calling her for the past hour to verify the news of her mother’s death. “How is such a thing possible? We had requested clemency, and we have not yet received a reply. They have not reviewed my mother’s other case, either. How is it possible that she was executed?” she said in disbelief.
Zahra Bahrami’s daughter was informed of her mother’s execution through phone calls from her friends and relatives on Saturday at around 4:00 p.m. “I called her lawyer. She had not been informed, either. I don’t know where to go now, of whom to seek information. Nobody is answering me now, because it’s past business hours. This means that my mother died this morning, when I was sleeping,” she said.
“Shouldn’t they have informed her family and lawyer before executing her? We should have gone to see her before her execution. Is it so easy–that my mother is no longer in this world? Did I not have any right to see her before her execution?” said a distraught Banafesheh Nayebpour. persian2english
David Kato
David Kato Kisule (1964 – January 26, 2011) was a Ugandan teacher and LGBT rights activist, considered a father of Uganda's gay rights movement. He served as advocacy officer for Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). Kato was murdered in 2011, shortly after winning a lawsuit against a magazine which had published his name and photograph identifying him as gay and calling for him to be executed. wikipedia
Dozens of women murdered in Portugal *
April 7 ** - Seven Embassy employees left the office for the day to lend a helping hand and paint several rooms (and hallways!) of a shelter belonging to the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV). The three story house is currently a temporary home for approximately 30 women and children victimized by domestic violence and, with all the small children running around, it was in need of several coats of paint.
This volunteer initiative was undertaken within the framework of Embassy Lisbon’s Environmental & Humanitarian Outreach Program (LEHOP). Domestic violence is unfortunately a growing problem in Portugal. Last year alone, 43 women were murdered and thousands of victims and family members affected by domestic violence. usembassy * every year ** 2009
Note - in 2010 more than 40 women were again murdered in Portugal by husbands, ex-husbands, boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, lovers and ex-lovers... Portuguese laws are very soft to the killers and Portuguese politicians (both men and women) seem do not worry much to tackle the problem.
Wins UK transfer after seven years in rat-infested jail
A former City worker who spent seven years in an Indian jail for alleged drug trafficking has won his battle to serve his sentence in a British prison.
Patrick Malluzzo, 33, was held in one of India's most notorious prisons where he shared a rat-infested cell with 70 other inmates.
...
Documents produced at Mr Malluzzo's trial confirm that no drugs were found in his holdall.
He claimed Indian police denied him access to a lawyer, deprived him of sleep, burned him with cigarettes, beat him with bamboo sticks and used pliers on his genitals to make him confess. standard
THIEVES have broken into the studio of a film director to steal his documentary about the jailed Russian oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky days before it was due to make its debut at the Berlin Film Festival.
Two laptops and two other computers were taken from the Berlin studio of Cyril Tuschi - raising fears that Russian agents could again be active in Western Europe. The incident also highlights the extraordinary sensitivity of the case of Khodorkovsky, 47, the former head of the Yukos company, who in December had his jail sentence extended to 2017. theaustralian
Assassination of Anna Politkovskaya
Politkovskaya's book, Putin's Russia: Life in a Failing Democracy, strongly criticized Putin's federal presidency, including his pursuit of the Second Chechen War. She accused Putin and the Russian secret service FSB of stifling all civil liberties in order to establish a Soviet-style dictatorship, but admitted that "it is we who are responsible for Putin's policies":
"Society has shown limitless apathy... As the Chekists have become entrenched in power, we have let them see our fear, and thereby have only intensified their urge to treat us like cattle. The KGB respects only the strong. The weak it devours. We of all people ought to know that." wikipedia
Iranian-Dutch Citizen Sentenced to Death
Committee of Human Rights Reporters (CHRR) - Zahra Bahrami, an Iranian-Dutch citizen who was arrested in the wake of the Ashura (December 27, 2009) massive popular protests has been sentenced to death.
Zhinous Sharif Razi, Zahra Bahrami’s lawyer confirmed the news and told CHRR, “My client’s case was being investigated in two parts. The first part concerns the 2009 Ashura events. No trial has been held regarding the [Ashura] charges, so naturally no sentence has been issued [either]. However, the death sentence concerns the second part of the case against Zahra Bahrami that involves the possession of narcotics. More than 30 grams of drugs were discovered in my client’s home after it was searched. According to the law, possession of more than 30 grams of [certain] drugs is punishable by death. The court has sentenced her to death on this charge.”
Sharif Razi also said there is no possibility to appeal the sentence. She stated that the only way to save Zahra Bahrami is [to receive] a positive response from the Clemency and Forgiveness Commission: “The drug possession cases are sent directly to the National Attorney General’s office after tried in the lower court, and then the cases are sent to the Execution of Sentences Circuit court. Our only hope is that the Clemency and Forgiveness Commission responds positively [to our request for clemency].”
Zahra Bahrami was charged with Moharebeh [enmity with God] by Judge Salavati of branch 15 of the Revolutionary Court on August 16, 2010. Her charges included: “acting against national security, propaganda against the regime, Moharebeh, and membership in the proscribed Monarchist Association”. persian2english
“How is it possible that she was executed?!”
A shocked and emotional Banafsheh Nayebpour, daughter of Iranian-Dutch citizen, Zahra Bahrami, who, according to a Fars News Agency report, was executed in the early morning hours of Saturday, 29 January 2010, talked to the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran today. She said people have been calling her for the past hour to verify the news of her mother’s death. “How is such a thing possible? We had requested clemency, and we have not yet received a reply. They have not reviewed my mother’s other case, either. How is it possible that she was executed?” she said in disbelief.
Zahra Bahrami’s daughter was informed of her mother’s execution through phone calls from her friends and relatives on Saturday at around 4:00 p.m. “I called her lawyer. She had not been informed, either. I don’t know where to go now, of whom to seek information. Nobody is answering me now, because it’s past business hours. This means that my mother died this morning, when I was sleeping,” she said.
“Shouldn’t they have informed her family and lawyer before executing her? We should have gone to see her before her execution. Is it so easy–that my mother is no longer in this world? Did I not have any right to see her before her execution?” said a distraught Banafesheh Nayebpour. persian2english
David Kato
David Kato Kisule (1964 – January 26, 2011) was a Ugandan teacher and LGBT rights activist, considered a father of Uganda's gay rights movement. He served as advocacy officer for Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). Kato was murdered in 2011, shortly after winning a lawsuit against a magazine which had published his name and photograph identifying him as gay and calling for him to be executed. wikipedia
Dozens of women murdered in Portugal *
April 7 ** - Seven Embassy employees left the office for the day to lend a helping hand and paint several rooms (and hallways!) of a shelter belonging to the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV). The three story house is currently a temporary home for approximately 30 women and children victimized by domestic violence and, with all the small children running around, it was in need of several coats of paint.
This volunteer initiative was undertaken within the framework of Embassy Lisbon’s Environmental & Humanitarian Outreach Program (LEHOP). Domestic violence is unfortunately a growing problem in Portugal. Last year alone, 43 women were murdered and thousands of victims and family members affected by domestic violence. usembassy * every year ** 2009
Note - in 2010 more than 40 women were again murdered in Portugal by husbands, ex-husbands, boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, lovers and ex-lovers... Portuguese laws are very soft to the killers and Portuguese politicians (both men and women) seem do not worry much to tackle the problem.
Wins UK transfer after seven years in rat-infested jail
A former City worker who spent seven years in an Indian jail for alleged drug trafficking has won his battle to serve his sentence in a British prison.
Patrick Malluzzo, 33, was held in one of India's most notorious prisons where he shared a rat-infested cell with 70 other inmates.
...
Documents produced at Mr Malluzzo's trial confirm that no drugs were found in his holdall.
He claimed Indian police denied him access to a lawyer, deprived him of sleep, burned him with cigarettes, beat him with bamboo sticks and used pliers on his genitals to make him confess. standard
2011/02/05
The (very, very) rich French *
Interesting information published in the Belgian press: "Sarkozy came to Brussels with two long-haul ..." Yep! it takes two planes to travel 300 km. He could take the TGV...
* c'est comme ça...
Multiculturalism has failed
Berlin, Feb 5 (PTI) British Prime Minister David Cameron believes his country's policy of multiculturalism has "failed" to prevent the radicalisation of Muslims by hindering their integration into the British society.
In his first speech on radicalism and causes of terrorism, the Prime Minister said a "hands-off tolerance" of those who reject Western values had failed to prevent the rise of Islamic extremism in Britain.
He said Britain has "even tolerated these segregated communities behaving in ways that run counter to our values", a policy that needs to be revised. oneindia
Russian opposition leader detained
MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Russian opposition leader Eduard Limonov on Monday was arrested along 20 supporters after a protest rally on Moscow, RIA Novosti reported.
Limonov was detained while participating in an unsanctioned rally at Moscow's Triumfalnaya Square. He and his supporters were arrested as they attempted to hold their own unsanctioned protest near the square, according to Russian police.
For over a year, opposition groups and activists hold rallies at the Triumfalnaya Square the last day of each month which has 31 days. The protests are intended to demand that the government respect the Article 31 of the Russian constitution that guarantees freedom of assembly. oneindia
Interesting information published in the Belgian press: "Sarkozy came to Brussels with two long-haul ..." Yep! it takes two planes to travel 300 km. He could take the TGV...
* c'est comme ça...
Multiculturalism has failed
Berlin, Feb 5 (PTI) British Prime Minister David Cameron believes his country's policy of multiculturalism has "failed" to prevent the radicalisation of Muslims by hindering their integration into the British society.
In his first speech on radicalism and causes of terrorism, the Prime Minister said a "hands-off tolerance" of those who reject Western values had failed to prevent the rise of Islamic extremism in Britain.
He said Britain has "even tolerated these segregated communities behaving in ways that run counter to our values", a policy that needs to be revised. oneindia
Russian opposition leader detained
MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Russian opposition leader Eduard Limonov on Monday was arrested along 20 supporters after a protest rally on Moscow, RIA Novosti reported.
Limonov was detained while participating in an unsanctioned rally at Moscow's Triumfalnaya Square. He and his supporters were arrested as they attempted to hold their own unsanctioned protest near the square, according to Russian police.
For over a year, opposition groups and activists hold rallies at the Triumfalnaya Square the last day of each month which has 31 days. The protests are intended to demand that the government respect the Article 31 of the Russian constitution that guarantees freedom of assembly. oneindia
2011/01/31
Milton Babbitt died aged 94
Milton Babbitt, who has died aged 94, was one of the most eminent, and controversial, American composers of the 20th century. Deeply influenced by the 12-tone music of Arnold Schoenberg, whom he met in New York in the 1930s, Babbitt extended Schoenberg's serial organisation of pitch structure to other parameters, including rhythm, dynamics and instrumentation, an approach that came to be known as "integral serialism".
With his Three Compositions for Piano of 1947, Babbitt slightly preceded his European contemporaries Olivier Messaien, Karlheinz Stockhausen and Pierre Boulez in producing the first work in this new and stricter manner. Guardian
Milton Babbitt, who has died aged 94, was one of the most eminent, and controversial, American composers of the 20th century. Deeply influenced by the 12-tone music of Arnold Schoenberg, whom he met in New York in the 1930s, Babbitt extended Schoenberg's serial organisation of pitch structure to other parameters, including rhythm, dynamics and instrumentation, an approach that came to be known as "integral serialism".
With his Three Compositions for Piano of 1947, Babbitt slightly preceded his European contemporaries Olivier Messaien, Karlheinz Stockhausen and Pierre Boulez in producing the first work in this new and stricter manner. Guardian
2011/01/30
Protests in Egypt
• 13 people have died as running battles continue
• Arrests of and attacks on journalists
• Egyptian PM apologises for violence
Guardian
BP's manipulation
BP is being investigated by US regulators over alleged manipulation of the gas market, dealing a blow to its attempts to rehabilitate its tarnished reputation following the Gulf of Mexico disaster. Guardian
To destroy artic's ecosystem
LONDON — British oil company BP announced Friday night that Russia's state-owned oil firm Rosneft will take 5 percent of BP's ordinary voting shares in a major stock swap.
In exchange, Rosneft will give BP about 9.5 percent of its shares, BP officials said. Rosneft chairman and Russian deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said the deal was worth about $8 billion. newsok
Translation: british petroleum is going to destroy artic' s ecosystem.
The country of the very, very, funtastic
Italy faces the possibility of a dynastic succession as calls grow for the millionaire daughter of Silvio Berlusconi to enter politics with a view to becoming the country's next prime minister. Telegraph
• 13 people have died as running battles continue
• Arrests of and attacks on journalists
• Egyptian PM apologises for violence
Guardian
BP's manipulation
BP is being investigated by US regulators over alleged manipulation of the gas market, dealing a blow to its attempts to rehabilitate its tarnished reputation following the Gulf of Mexico disaster. Guardian
To destroy artic's ecosystem
LONDON — British oil company BP announced Friday night that Russia's state-owned oil firm Rosneft will take 5 percent of BP's ordinary voting shares in a major stock swap.
In exchange, Rosneft will give BP about 9.5 percent of its shares, BP officials said. Rosneft chairman and Russian deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said the deal was worth about $8 billion. newsok
Translation: british petroleum is going to destroy artic' s ecosystem.
The country of the very, very, funtastic
Italy faces the possibility of a dynastic succession as calls grow for the millionaire daughter of Silvio Berlusconi to enter politics with a view to becoming the country's next prime minister. Telegraph
2011/01/16
SOUTHERN SUDAN - DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
Someone may wonder by asking questions as to why this piece of article is written at this time and what is the creditability of the author to do that? And you may come up with some conclusions like: He is not the president or one of the members of South Sudan legislature, this man must be on the wrong frame of mind and all the criticisms that go with it. Well, to make it clear, I am a proud citizen of Southern Sudan, who has a right to appeal and encourage all South Sudanese citizen to vote for separation. Because I believe with the sprit, South Sudan will have a clear constitution if separated; that will favor its entire citizens and its government unlike the current Slavery-style-system. Now, let me push you back to the topic “Southern Sudan, The Declaration of Independence” since it will make my separation pledge as a prime topic a bit clearer.
There must be equal privilege for the people of South Sudan to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws must be abided, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that the law should declare the causes which impel us to the separation from Sudan’s National Islamic Front (NIF), an Al-Bashir’s brotherhood fundamentalists.
As Thomas Jefferson once said “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”, Therefore in South Sudan, whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People of Southern Sudan to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their security and cheerfulness. Forethought, indeed, we shall not dictate that Governments long established and we should not be changed for light and temporary causes; and accordingly all experience that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when there is a long existence abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute dictatorship, it is right, and duty for Southerners, to throw off such a dictatorship Government, and to provide new leadership for their future security. We shall not and will not dictate ourselves, of course we’ve already been tortured by NIF, do we need history to repeat itself under different band? Absolutely not.
Sudan’s National Islamic Front (NIF) or Al-Bashir’s brotherhood fundamentalists, has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive since 1956 by seizing away their rights. NIF is taking toll to destruct us, with opportunity to fuel infighting among us (be your own witness and recall the past and current tribal wars to dispute my assertion). There never been any development in South Sudan, regardless of the enormous amount of wealth that we have. We are a nation with full pride, perseverant and dignity that if we hold the power as they, we could not have an eager to destruct them. That is what make us difference from those whom we fight.
NIF has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring it on the inhabitants of Darfur, Nubian etc, whom they misled before by enslaving them to fight us. The NIF rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions, and whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, and therefore are unfit to be the rulers of the free people.
If South Sudan will be declared as a country (I strongly believe it will be) on upcoming January 09, 2011, it will have a Right it ought to have to be Free and Independent as a State, and that all political connections between us and the North will be totally abolished; and as we will be free and independent, South Sudan will have full power like any other countries to impose War, to any other country who shall not respect or who happen to obstruct our right including Northern Sudan (if a situation allow that to occur). We will have a peace contract with our neighbors whom respect our rights as a country. We will establish trade; diplomatic relationships and links with other Nations whom we welcome and whom value our rights as sovereign nation.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm confidence on the protection of our destiny, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our prosperity, and our sacred respect. Let me conclude with some few quotes and remarks from His Highness; Haile Selassie II, a 20th century Ethiopian Emperor who once said: “That which man dreams of and to which he aspires, unless fulfilled in his own lifetime, can produce no actual satisfaction to him. It will be self-deceiving and a waste of time to advocate dialogue with those who are not ready to listen, because it is obvious that the freedom of millions is not a commodity subject to bargaining. It is better to die free than to live as slave. The ultimate resource of a nation is its people. Unless this resource is employed for the benefit of the nation, unless the latent good, which it represents, is exploited to the maximum for the common good the nation will languish, poor in spirit, lacking in achievement. Every laborer is a father; his labor is his child. Choose your project carefully and achieve is worthily. The true leader is a different sort; he seeks effective activity, which has a truly beneficent purpose. He inspires others to follow in his wake, and holding aloft the torch of wisdom, leads the way for society to realize its genuinely great aspirations”.
With this thoughtful quotes and remarks in mind; and strong urgency for free Southern Sudan, I believe you will carry unequivocal message to your voting station and make your choice a wise one. Do not be deceived by emotional speeches like the one recently made by Al-Bashir himself in Juba or Machiavellian pledges already placed by the NIF regime. Commit to separate, declare your independence.
May God Bless You all and May God Bless This Land.
Bayak Dak Guandong*
*Bayak Dak Guandong lives in Canada and released an article last year entitled “SOUTH SUDAN IS IN JEOPARDY, BUT WHO IS GOING TO BE BLAME”. You can view this article and more on his blog at http://bguandong.blogspot.com/ (in www.southsudan.net)
Note: the capital of the Southern Sudan is likely to be Juba.
Arab despots should heed events in Tunisia
The fall from power of Tunisian president Zine al-Abidine ben Ali is one of those widely unpredicted turns of events that hindsight quickly labels inevitable.
Corrupt authoritarian regimes are generally brittle and Mr Ben Ali's was no exception. But few anticipated how quickly a spate of angry demonstrations could become a regime-changing rebellion. Other governments across the region, with populations hardly less repressed than Tunisia's, will look on in fear. Guardian
Note: France, the former colonial power in Tunisia, supported Mr Ben Ali until the very last moment. One minster offered to send riot police to help shore up the regime.
Someone may wonder by asking questions as to why this piece of article is written at this time and what is the creditability of the author to do that? And you may come up with some conclusions like: He is not the president or one of the members of South Sudan legislature, this man must be on the wrong frame of mind and all the criticisms that go with it. Well, to make it clear, I am a proud citizen of Southern Sudan, who has a right to appeal and encourage all South Sudanese citizen to vote for separation. Because I believe with the sprit, South Sudan will have a clear constitution if separated; that will favor its entire citizens and its government unlike the current Slavery-style-system. Now, let me push you back to the topic “Southern Sudan, The Declaration of Independence” since it will make my separation pledge as a prime topic a bit clearer.
There must be equal privilege for the people of South Sudan to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws must be abided, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that the law should declare the causes which impel us to the separation from Sudan’s National Islamic Front (NIF), an Al-Bashir’s brotherhood fundamentalists.
As Thomas Jefferson once said “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed”, Therefore in South Sudan, whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People of Southern Sudan to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their security and cheerfulness. Forethought, indeed, we shall not dictate that Governments long established and we should not be changed for light and temporary causes; and accordingly all experience that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when there is a long existence abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute dictatorship, it is right, and duty for Southerners, to throw off such a dictatorship Government, and to provide new leadership for their future security. We shall not and will not dictate ourselves, of course we’ve already been tortured by NIF, do we need history to repeat itself under different band? Absolutely not.
Sudan’s National Islamic Front (NIF) or Al-Bashir’s brotherhood fundamentalists, has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive since 1956 by seizing away their rights. NIF is taking toll to destruct us, with opportunity to fuel infighting among us (be your own witness and recall the past and current tribal wars to dispute my assertion). There never been any development in South Sudan, regardless of the enormous amount of wealth that we have. We are a nation with full pride, perseverant and dignity that if we hold the power as they, we could not have an eager to destruct them. That is what make us difference from those whom we fight.
NIF has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring it on the inhabitants of Darfur, Nubian etc, whom they misled before by enslaving them to fight us. The NIF rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions, and whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, and therefore are unfit to be the rulers of the free people.
If South Sudan will be declared as a country (I strongly believe it will be) on upcoming January 09, 2011, it will have a Right it ought to have to be Free and Independent as a State, and that all political connections between us and the North will be totally abolished; and as we will be free and independent, South Sudan will have full power like any other countries to impose War, to any other country who shall not respect or who happen to obstruct our right including Northern Sudan (if a situation allow that to occur). We will have a peace contract with our neighbors whom respect our rights as a country. We will establish trade; diplomatic relationships and links with other Nations whom we welcome and whom value our rights as sovereign nation.
And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm confidence on the protection of our destiny, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our prosperity, and our sacred respect. Let me conclude with some few quotes and remarks from His Highness; Haile Selassie II, a 20th century Ethiopian Emperor who once said: “That which man dreams of and to which he aspires, unless fulfilled in his own lifetime, can produce no actual satisfaction to him. It will be self-deceiving and a waste of time to advocate dialogue with those who are not ready to listen, because it is obvious that the freedom of millions is not a commodity subject to bargaining. It is better to die free than to live as slave. The ultimate resource of a nation is its people. Unless this resource is employed for the benefit of the nation, unless the latent good, which it represents, is exploited to the maximum for the common good the nation will languish, poor in spirit, lacking in achievement. Every laborer is a father; his labor is his child. Choose your project carefully and achieve is worthily. The true leader is a different sort; he seeks effective activity, which has a truly beneficent purpose. He inspires others to follow in his wake, and holding aloft the torch of wisdom, leads the way for society to realize its genuinely great aspirations”.
With this thoughtful quotes and remarks in mind; and strong urgency for free Southern Sudan, I believe you will carry unequivocal message to your voting station and make your choice a wise one. Do not be deceived by emotional speeches like the one recently made by Al-Bashir himself in Juba or Machiavellian pledges already placed by the NIF regime. Commit to separate, declare your independence.
May God Bless You all and May God Bless This Land.
Bayak Dak Guandong*
*Bayak Dak Guandong lives in Canada and released an article last year entitled “SOUTH SUDAN IS IN JEOPARDY, BUT WHO IS GOING TO BE BLAME”. You can view this article and more on his blog at http://bguandong.blogspot.com/ (in www.southsudan.net)
Note: the capital of the Southern Sudan is likely to be Juba.
Arab despots should heed events in Tunisia
The fall from power of Tunisian president Zine al-Abidine ben Ali is one of those widely unpredicted turns of events that hindsight quickly labels inevitable.
Corrupt authoritarian regimes are generally brittle and Mr Ben Ali's was no exception. But few anticipated how quickly a spate of angry demonstrations could become a regime-changing rebellion. Other governments across the region, with populations hardly less repressed than Tunisia's, will look on in fear. Guardian
Note: France, the former colonial power in Tunisia, supported Mr Ben Ali until the very last moment. One minster offered to send riot police to help shore up the regime.
2011/01/04
Bomb hits Egypt church at New Year's Mass
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt—A powerful bomb exploded in front of a crowded Coptic Christian church a half hour into the New Year early Saturday, hitting worshippers emerging from a holiday Mass in the Egyptian city of Alexandria and killing at least 21 people in an attack that raised suspicions of an al-Qaida role.
The attack came in the wake of repeated threats by al-Qaida militants in Iraq to attack Egypt's Christians. A direct al-Qaida hand in the bombing would be a dramatic development, as Egypt's government has long denied that the terror network has a significant presence in the country. Al-Qaida in Iraq has already been waging a campaign of violence against Christians in that country. denverpost
Naga Hammady Massacre
Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7. On the eve of their celebrations in Egypt, Copts go to churches and celebrate the holy event. But this year an unexpected incident happened in Naga Hammady, in Upper Egypt, where an unknown criminal opened his fire randomly on people there after they finished their prayers and were on their way back to their homes. globalvoicesonline
Note: January 7, 2010.
ALEXANDRIA, Egypt—A powerful bomb exploded in front of a crowded Coptic Christian church a half hour into the New Year early Saturday, hitting worshippers emerging from a holiday Mass in the Egyptian city of Alexandria and killing at least 21 people in an attack that raised suspicions of an al-Qaida role.
The attack came in the wake of repeated threats by al-Qaida militants in Iraq to attack Egypt's Christians. A direct al-Qaida hand in the bombing would be a dramatic development, as Egypt's government has long denied that the terror network has a significant presence in the country. Al-Qaida in Iraq has already been waging a campaign of violence against Christians in that country. denverpost
Naga Hammady Massacre
Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7. On the eve of their celebrations in Egypt, Copts go to churches and celebrate the holy event. But this year an unexpected incident happened in Naga Hammady, in Upper Egypt, where an unknown criminal opened his fire randomly on people there after they finished their prayers and were on their way back to their homes. globalvoicesonline
Note: January 7, 2010.
2010/12/21
Eurokrisis
The cause of the euro crisis is not to be found in the irrationality of the financial markets. Rather, it lies in the fact that certain countries lived beyond their means. A Greek train driver earns a monthly net salary of €5,000 ($6,600), and Spanish air traffic controllers make up to €300,000 a year.
...
In 2007, the Irish government had a balanced budget, and the Spanish government even had a surplus. The financial sector, on the other hand, issued loans that made no sense at all for years. The damage is considerable, but it could be contained if Europe would introduce euro bonds.
...
Since total new borrowing for the euro zone is substantially lower than that of the United States, the euro bond would be an attractive instrument at the international level. And that's particularly the case since the market for euro bonds would be much bigger than the market for German government bonds.
...
The European Central Bank (ECB) has already asked (euro-zone) member states for a capital infusion because, since the crisis began, it has bought up close to €75 billion in troubled government bonds. And who is paying the lion's share? Germany. For the time being, the shell game being played by politicians and the ECB is still working. But things will get worse when Greece and others can no longer service their debts. Then we'll have to guarantee amounts that no one could even imagine today.
...
Without the euro, Germany would have come to resemble Japan, suffering from weak growth and always teetering on the edge of deflation. Like Japan, in order to re-establish competitiveness, we would have had to respond to every devaluation of the dollar with wage freezes. Thanks to the euro, we avoided that. And that's why it's worth doing everything we can to preserve it. Spiegel
Bloomberg to Force Disclosure of Greece Swaps
Bloomberg News filed a lawsuit against the European Central Bank, seeking the disclosure of documents showing how Greece used derivatives to hide its fiscal deficit and helped trigger the region’s sovereign debt crisis.
The lawsuit asks the European Union’s General Court in Luxembourg to overturn a decision by the ECB not to disclose two internal documents drafted for the central bank’s six-member executive board in Frankfurt this year. The notes show how Greece used swaps to hide its borrowings, according to a March 3 cover page attached to the papers obtained by Bloomberg News.
...
“Decisions made behind closed doors helped contribute to the global economic havoc of the last few years. Money flees secrecy and unanswered questions undermine the financial system and give some participants an unfair advantage. Confidence in markets grows with information,” he said. “Bloomberg wants the ECB, as well as the Federal Reserve and other financial institutions around the world, to end this damaging opacity.” Bloomberg
Jafar Panahi arrested (II)
Jafar Panahi (Persian: جعفر پناهی ; born July 11, 1960) is an Iranian filmmaker and is one of the most influential filmmakers in the Iranian New Wave movement. He has gained recognition from film theorists and critics worldwide and received numerous awards including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.
On 20th December 2010 Jafar Panahi was handed a six-year jail sentence and a 20-year ban on making or directing any movies, writing screenplays, giving any form of interview with Iranian or foreign media as well as leaving the country. wikipedia
Note: Panahi is not the only filmmaker jailed in Iran.
Post-election brutality
Alexander Lukashenko and his black-shirted riot police reverted to type at the weekend, cracking heads and arresting opponents while fabricating a landslide election victory. This violent regression victimised the people of Belarus.
But it was also a striking setback for half-hearted European Union attempts to break Moscow's icy embrace and bring Belarus in from the cold. Guardian
The cause of the euro crisis is not to be found in the irrationality of the financial markets. Rather, it lies in the fact that certain countries lived beyond their means. A Greek train driver earns a monthly net salary of €5,000 ($6,600), and Spanish air traffic controllers make up to €300,000 a year.
...
In 2007, the Irish government had a balanced budget, and the Spanish government even had a surplus. The financial sector, on the other hand, issued loans that made no sense at all for years. The damage is considerable, but it could be contained if Europe would introduce euro bonds.
...
Since total new borrowing for the euro zone is substantially lower than that of the United States, the euro bond would be an attractive instrument at the international level. And that's particularly the case since the market for euro bonds would be much bigger than the market for German government bonds.
...
The European Central Bank (ECB) has already asked (euro-zone) member states for a capital infusion because, since the crisis began, it has bought up close to €75 billion in troubled government bonds. And who is paying the lion's share? Germany. For the time being, the shell game being played by politicians and the ECB is still working. But things will get worse when Greece and others can no longer service their debts. Then we'll have to guarantee amounts that no one could even imagine today.
...
Without the euro, Germany would have come to resemble Japan, suffering from weak growth and always teetering on the edge of deflation. Like Japan, in order to re-establish competitiveness, we would have had to respond to every devaluation of the dollar with wage freezes. Thanks to the euro, we avoided that. And that's why it's worth doing everything we can to preserve it. Spiegel
Bloomberg to Force Disclosure of Greece Swaps
Bloomberg News filed a lawsuit against the European Central Bank, seeking the disclosure of documents showing how Greece used derivatives to hide its fiscal deficit and helped trigger the region’s sovereign debt crisis.
The lawsuit asks the European Union’s General Court in Luxembourg to overturn a decision by the ECB not to disclose two internal documents drafted for the central bank’s six-member executive board in Frankfurt this year. The notes show how Greece used swaps to hide its borrowings, according to a March 3 cover page attached to the papers obtained by Bloomberg News.
...
“Decisions made behind closed doors helped contribute to the global economic havoc of the last few years. Money flees secrecy and unanswered questions undermine the financial system and give some participants an unfair advantage. Confidence in markets grows with information,” he said. “Bloomberg wants the ECB, as well as the Federal Reserve and other financial institutions around the world, to end this damaging opacity.” Bloomberg
Jafar Panahi arrested (II)
Jafar Panahi (Persian: جعفر پناهی ; born July 11, 1960) is an Iranian filmmaker and is one of the most influential filmmakers in the Iranian New Wave movement. He has gained recognition from film theorists and critics worldwide and received numerous awards including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival.
On 20th December 2010 Jafar Panahi was handed a six-year jail sentence and a 20-year ban on making or directing any movies, writing screenplays, giving any form of interview with Iranian or foreign media as well as leaving the country. wikipedia
Note: Panahi is not the only filmmaker jailed in Iran.
Post-election brutality
Alexander Lukashenko and his black-shirted riot police reverted to type at the weekend, cracking heads and arresting opponents while fabricating a landslide election victory. This violent regression victimised the people of Belarus.
But it was also a striking setback for half-hearted European Union attempts to break Moscow's icy embrace and bring Belarus in from the cold. Guardian
2010/12/10
Afghan women still suffer
Bibi Aisha, the Afghan girl whose nose and ears were cut off by her husband, was a "lucky victim" because she survived her attack and got help, a top human rights official in the country said yesterday.
While Aisha escaped her abusive family, the deputy chairman of the country’s Independent Human Rights Commission said many women in similar circumstances were less lucky.
“For sure, we have hundreds of Bibi Aishas in Afghanistan,” Ahmad Fahim Hakim said. taipeitimes
Rwanda to unveil Genocide Archive
An ambitious hi-tech project to make the Rwandan genocide one of the most thoroughly documented mass killings ever will be unveiled in Kigali today.
The Genocide Archive of Rwanda will serve as a "unified repository" for all information related to the 1994 massacres, which saw about 800,000 people killed in 100 days, mostly from the minority Tutsi population. Guardian
WikiLeaks cables: Pfizer 'used dirty tricks
Cables say drug giant hired investigators to find evidence of corruption on Nigerian attorney general to persuade him to drop legal action. Guardian
Vatican refused to engage with child sex abuse inquiry
Leaked cable lays bare how Irish government was forced to grant Vatican officials immunity from testifying to Murphy commission. Guardian
CABLEGATE
Bibi Aisha, the Afghan girl whose nose and ears were cut off by her husband, was a "lucky victim" because she survived her attack and got help, a top human rights official in the country said yesterday.
While Aisha escaped her abusive family, the deputy chairman of the country’s Independent Human Rights Commission said many women in similar circumstances were less lucky.
“For sure, we have hundreds of Bibi Aishas in Afghanistan,” Ahmad Fahim Hakim said. taipeitimes
Rwanda to unveil Genocide Archive
An ambitious hi-tech project to make the Rwandan genocide one of the most thoroughly documented mass killings ever will be unveiled in Kigali today.
The Genocide Archive of Rwanda will serve as a "unified repository" for all information related to the 1994 massacres, which saw about 800,000 people killed in 100 days, mostly from the minority Tutsi population. Guardian
WikiLeaks cables: Pfizer 'used dirty tricks
Cables say drug giant hired investigators to find evidence of corruption on Nigerian attorney general to persuade him to drop legal action. Guardian
Vatican refused to engage with child sex abuse inquiry
Leaked cable lays bare how Irish government was forced to grant Vatican officials immunity from testifying to Murphy commission. Guardian
CABLEGATE
2010/11/14
Gorecki dies at 76
WARSAW, Poland – Polish composer Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki, famous for his "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs," including one about a woman who was held prisoner by the Gestapo, died Friday (November 12 - 2010) following a serious illness. He was 76.
Gorecki died in the cardiology ward of a hospital in his home city of Katowice in southern Poland, Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa, the director of Polish Radio orchestra in Katowice, told The Associated Press.
The composer was suffering from a number of ailments, chiefly a lung infection, she said.
Wnuk-Nazarowa said she and another Polish composer, Krzysztof Penderecki, had visited Gorecki in the hospital on Wednesday.
"Penderecki insisted on seeing him," Wnuk-Nazarowa said. "We tried to joke, make plans for the future. Penderecki promised he would direct (Gorecki's) 'Beatus vir' for the 80th birthday" that both would celebrate in 2013.
The work was commissioned by Archbishop Karol Wojtyla before he became Pope John Paul II to mark 900 years since the death of Roman Catholic martyr, Stanislaw, bishop of Krakow — whom Pope John Paul II later made a saint. The composition, completed in 1979, is a psalm for baritone, choir and orchestra. Yahoo/AP
WARSAW, Poland – Polish composer Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki, famous for his "Symphony of Sorrowful Songs," including one about a woman who was held prisoner by the Gestapo, died Friday (November 12 - 2010) following a serious illness. He was 76.
Gorecki died in the cardiology ward of a hospital in his home city of Katowice in southern Poland, Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa, the director of Polish Radio orchestra in Katowice, told The Associated Press.
The composer was suffering from a number of ailments, chiefly a lung infection, she said.
Wnuk-Nazarowa said she and another Polish composer, Krzysztof Penderecki, had visited Gorecki in the hospital on Wednesday.
"Penderecki insisted on seeing him," Wnuk-Nazarowa said. "We tried to joke, make plans for the future. Penderecki promised he would direct (Gorecki's) 'Beatus vir' for the 80th birthday" that both would celebrate in 2013.
The work was commissioned by Archbishop Karol Wojtyla before he became Pope John Paul II to mark 900 years since the death of Roman Catholic martyr, Stanislaw, bishop of Krakow — whom Pope John Paul II later made a saint. The composition, completed in 1979, is a psalm for baritone, choir and orchestra. Yahoo/AP
2010/10/08
Jorge Peixinho
Jorge Peixinho (20 January 1940 in Montijo – 30 June 1995 in Lisbon) was a Portuguese composer, pianist, and conductor.
Peixinho studied composition and piano initially at the Conservatory of Lisbon (where he himself later taught), then studied composition with Boris Porena and Goffredo Petrassi at the Accademia de Santa Cecilia in Rome, graduating in 1961. After working with Luigi Nono in Venice, he studied with Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen in Darmstadt and at the Academy of Music in Basel on various occasions between 1960 and 1970.
In 1970 he created the Lisbon Contemporary Music Group, and worked at the IPEM studio in Ghent from 1972 to 1973. wikipedia
Fine sound transformations
The aim of my music is the construction and organisation of a new and personal sound world. I have sought to explore deeply and intensively all the relationships between harmony and timbre in order to build a kind of very dense network of fine sound transformations. The main characteristic of my music is a kind of “oneiric sound atmosphere” in which small transformations are made via counterpunctual devices, harmonic and timbric filtering, etc. I also give great importance to the ambiguity between continuity and discontinuity. Jorge Peixinho
Note: I studied with him. So bad to Portugal that portuguese instituitions did not respect and treat Jorge Peixinho as a great composer, a great teacher and an involved citizen.
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi (born 19 June 1945) is a Burmese opposition politician and a former General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 80% (392 of 492) of the seats in Parliament, leading some to claim that this implies Suu Kyi was elected Prime Minister. She had, however, already been detained under house arrest before the elections. She has remained under house arrest in Myanmar for almost 14 out of the past 20 years.
Aung San Suu Kyi was the recipient of the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. In 1992 she was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding by the Government of India. Aung San Suu Kyi is the third child and only daughter of Aung San, considered to be father of modern-day Burma. wikipedia
Mario Vargas Llosa wins Nobel prize
NEW YORK – Mario Vargas Llosa, the newest winner of the Nobel Prize in literature, has never found much honor in boundaries.
"Literature shouldn't be secluded, provincial or regional," the Peruvian author said in New York after Thursday's announcement in Sweden. "It should be universal, even if it has deep roots in one place."
The 74-year-old author and political activist, a charter member of the Latin American literary boom of the 1960s, has for decades been regarded as one of the world's greatest and most adventurous writers, an unpredictable and provocative mixer of literature and social consciousness in both his work and his life.
Artists are born dissenters — often, but not always, of the left. Like such recent Nobelists as Herta Mueller and Doris Lessing, Vargas Llosa is a dissenter from communism, a former party member who ran for president of Peru in 1990 as an advocate of privatization and remains a critic of leftist leaders such as Cuba's Fidel Castro and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.
The author of more than 30 novels, plays and works of nonfiction, he is known for his expansive language, his alertness to the profound and the profane, and his fierce and dark disdain for tyranny. His books are not without magical touches, but he is more grounded, more a "realist" than fellow Nobel laureate and South American Gabriel Garcia Marquez. AP/Yahoo
Al-Qaeda in Iraq vows more Christian attacks
Al-Qaeda's front group in Iraq has threatened more attacks on Christians following a bloody siege at a Baghdad church that left 58 people dead, saying the "killing sword will not be lifted" from their necks.
The Islamic State of Iraq's warning of further violence against Christians comes two days after the group's assault on a Catholic church in downtown Baghdad — the deadliest attack ever recorded against Iraq's Christians, whose numbers have plummeted since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion as the community has fled to other countries.
"We will open upon them the doors of destruction and rivers of blood," the insurgent group said in a statement posted late Tuesday on militant websites.
The Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella group that includes al-Qaeda in Iraq and other allied Sunni insurgent factions, also said its deadline for the Coptic Christian Church in Egypt to release Muslim women that the militant group claims are being held captive has expired. cbc.ca
Radical Muslims target Christians
The Barnabas Fund also reports that "in another attack on 20 October, a British couple in their sixties, Richard and Enid Eyeington, working for SOS Children’s villages in Somaliland were shot dead by several gunmen in their home inside the school compound while watching television. Also, in November a Kenyan Christian working for the Seventh Day Adventist mission in Gedo, South West Somalia, was murdered by Islamist radicals. The attacks appear to be deliberately anti-Christian and anti-Western. jihadwatch.org
Note: we should realise that it is not an cristian/muslim war. Different sects of islam, women that do not fully folow the islamic rules, and so on, are also a target to the radical killers.
Liu Xiaobo won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize
OSLO, Norway – Imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for "his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights" — a prize likely to enrage the Chinese government, which had warned the Nobel committee not to honor him.
Thorbjoern Jagland, the Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman, said Liu Xiaobo (LEE-o SHAo-boh) was a symbol for the fight for human rights in China and the government should expect its policies to face scrutiny.
...
In a year with a record 237 nominations for the peace prize, Liu had been considered a favorite, with open support from winners Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and others. AP/Yahoo
My trip to Tibet
Peixinho studied composition and piano initially at the Conservatory of Lisbon (where he himself later taught), then studied composition with Boris Porena and Goffredo Petrassi at the Accademia de Santa Cecilia in Rome, graduating in 1961. After working with Luigi Nono in Venice, he studied with Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen in Darmstadt and at the Academy of Music in Basel on various occasions between 1960 and 1970.
In 1970 he created the Lisbon Contemporary Music Group, and worked at the IPEM studio in Ghent from 1972 to 1973. wikipedia
Fine sound transformations
The aim of my music is the construction and organisation of a new and personal sound world. I have sought to explore deeply and intensively all the relationships between harmony and timbre in order to build a kind of very dense network of fine sound transformations. The main characteristic of my music is a kind of “oneiric sound atmosphere” in which small transformations are made via counterpunctual devices, harmonic and timbric filtering, etc. I also give great importance to the ambiguity between continuity and discontinuity. Jorge Peixinho
Note: I studied with him. So bad to Portugal that portuguese instituitions did not respect and treat Jorge Peixinho as a great composer, a great teacher and an involved citizen.
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi (born 19 June 1945) is a Burmese opposition politician and a former General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 80% (392 of 492) of the seats in Parliament, leading some to claim that this implies Suu Kyi was elected Prime Minister. She had, however, already been detained under house arrest before the elections. She has remained under house arrest in Myanmar for almost 14 out of the past 20 years.
Aung San Suu Kyi was the recipient of the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. In 1992 she was awarded the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding by the Government of India. Aung San Suu Kyi is the third child and only daughter of Aung San, considered to be father of modern-day Burma. wikipedia
Mario Vargas Llosa wins Nobel prize
NEW YORK – Mario Vargas Llosa, the newest winner of the Nobel Prize in literature, has never found much honor in boundaries.
"Literature shouldn't be secluded, provincial or regional," the Peruvian author said in New York after Thursday's announcement in Sweden. "It should be universal, even if it has deep roots in one place."
The 74-year-old author and political activist, a charter member of the Latin American literary boom of the 1960s, has for decades been regarded as one of the world's greatest and most adventurous writers, an unpredictable and provocative mixer of literature and social consciousness in both his work and his life.
Artists are born dissenters — often, but not always, of the left. Like such recent Nobelists as Herta Mueller and Doris Lessing, Vargas Llosa is a dissenter from communism, a former party member who ran for president of Peru in 1990 as an advocate of privatization and remains a critic of leftist leaders such as Cuba's Fidel Castro and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.
The author of more than 30 novels, plays and works of nonfiction, he is known for his expansive language, his alertness to the profound and the profane, and his fierce and dark disdain for tyranny. His books are not without magical touches, but he is more grounded, more a "realist" than fellow Nobel laureate and South American Gabriel Garcia Marquez. AP/Yahoo
Al-Qaeda in Iraq vows more Christian attacks
Al-Qaeda's front group in Iraq has threatened more attacks on Christians following a bloody siege at a Baghdad church that left 58 people dead, saying the "killing sword will not be lifted" from their necks.
The Islamic State of Iraq's warning of further violence against Christians comes two days after the group's assault on a Catholic church in downtown Baghdad — the deadliest attack ever recorded against Iraq's Christians, whose numbers have plummeted since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion as the community has fled to other countries.
"We will open upon them the doors of destruction and rivers of blood," the insurgent group said in a statement posted late Tuesday on militant websites.
The Islamic State of Iraq, an umbrella group that includes al-Qaeda in Iraq and other allied Sunni insurgent factions, also said its deadline for the Coptic Christian Church in Egypt to release Muslim women that the militant group claims are being held captive has expired. cbc.ca
Radical Muslims target Christians
The Barnabas Fund also reports that "in another attack on 20 October, a British couple in their sixties, Richard and Enid Eyeington, working for SOS Children’s villages in Somaliland were shot dead by several gunmen in their home inside the school compound while watching television. Also, in November a Kenyan Christian working for the Seventh Day Adventist mission in Gedo, South West Somalia, was murdered by Islamist radicals. The attacks appear to be deliberately anti-Christian and anti-Western. jihadwatch.org
Note: we should realise that it is not an cristian/muslim war. Different sects of islam, women that do not fully folow the islamic rules, and so on, are also a target to the radical killers.
Liu Xiaobo won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize
OSLO, Norway – Imprisoned Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for "his long and nonviolent struggle for fundamental human rights" — a prize likely to enrage the Chinese government, which had warned the Nobel committee not to honor him.
Thorbjoern Jagland, the Norwegian Nobel Committee chairman, said Liu Xiaobo (LEE-o SHAo-boh) was a symbol for the fight for human rights in China and the government should expect its policies to face scrutiny.
...
In a year with a record 237 nominations for the peace prize, Liu had been considered a favorite, with open support from winners Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and others. AP/Yahoo
My trip to Tibet
2010/10/02
2010/09/28
The Black Tulip
Kabul: Afghans proved a tough audience for the world premiere of “The Black Tulip” at the Ariana Cinema on Thursday afternoon (an evening showing was deemed too dangerous). It was meant to be a serious film about Afghanistan, by an Afghan-born director, set in present-day Kabul and even filmed on location here, but many of the Afghans who saw it said they did not recognize the society they knew.
The movie tells the story of an Afghan woman who starts a family-run Bohemian cafe in Kabul, where they serve wine in teapots and have poetry readings, which angers the Taliban. They soon begin kidnapping and assassinating the woman’s family members.
...
Ms. Cole has drawn some criticism in artistic and political circles here for her assertion that she took over the lead in the movie only at the last minute, when the Taliban cut the feet off her pick for that role, whom she named as Zarifa Jahon.
...
Just before production began on “The Black Tulip” in August 2009, the actress disappeared, Ms. Cole said. “Finally, she called me and she said, ‘You’ll never guess what happened. The Taliban chopped my feet off.’ ” Ms. Cole said the Taliban were angry about a Pakistani film the actress had appeared in. ndtv.com
Capital punishment in Iran
The founder of the Islamic Republic, Islamic cleric Ruhollah Khomeini, who was a grand Ayatollah, ruled "that the penalty for conversion from Islam, or apostasy, is death."
The sentence of death for the crime of apostasy has been applied in Iran to alleged offenders who have not claimed to have converted to another religion, and whose crime may appear to outsiders to be political rather than religious. Hashem Aghajari, for example was condemned to death for apostasy for a speech urging Iranians to "not blindly follow" Islamic clerics. wikipedia (28/09/10)
Terror plot targeting Europe uncovered
LONDON (AFP) – Western intelligence agencies have uncovered an Al-Qaeda plot to launch attacks in Britain, France and Germany by extremists based in Pakistan, security sources and media reports said Wednesday.
"The threat is very real," a European-based security official told AFP, after British and US media reported that militants were planning simultaneous strikes in London and major cities in France and Germany.
Kabul: Afghans proved a tough audience for the world premiere of “The Black Tulip” at the Ariana Cinema on Thursday afternoon (an evening showing was deemed too dangerous). It was meant to be a serious film about Afghanistan, by an Afghan-born director, set in present-day Kabul and even filmed on location here, but many of the Afghans who saw it said they did not recognize the society they knew.
The movie tells the story of an Afghan woman who starts a family-run Bohemian cafe in Kabul, where they serve wine in teapots and have poetry readings, which angers the Taliban. They soon begin kidnapping and assassinating the woman’s family members.
...
Ms. Cole has drawn some criticism in artistic and political circles here for her assertion that she took over the lead in the movie only at the last minute, when the Taliban cut the feet off her pick for that role, whom she named as Zarifa Jahon.
...
Just before production began on “The Black Tulip” in August 2009, the actress disappeared, Ms. Cole said. “Finally, she called me and she said, ‘You’ll never guess what happened. The Taliban chopped my feet off.’ ” Ms. Cole said the Taliban were angry about a Pakistani film the actress had appeared in. ndtv.com
Capital punishment in Iran
The founder of the Islamic Republic, Islamic cleric Ruhollah Khomeini, who was a grand Ayatollah, ruled "that the penalty for conversion from Islam, or apostasy, is death."
The sentence of death for the crime of apostasy has been applied in Iran to alleged offenders who have not claimed to have converted to another religion, and whose crime may appear to outsiders to be political rather than religious. Hashem Aghajari, for example was condemned to death for apostasy for a speech urging Iranians to "not blindly follow" Islamic clerics. wikipedia (28/09/10)
Terror plot targeting Europe uncovered
LONDON (AFP) – Western intelligence agencies have uncovered an Al-Qaeda plot to launch attacks in Britain, France and Germany by extremists based in Pakistan, security sources and media reports said Wednesday.
"The threat is very real," a European-based security official told AFP, after British and US media reported that militants were planning simultaneous strikes in London and major cities in France and Germany.
2010/09/21
Pierre Boulez celebrated at musikfest berlin 10
The annual international “summit” of top-flight orchestras which launches Berlin 's concert season is coming to a close. musikfest berlin 10, organized by the Berliner Festspielen in collaboration with the Stiftung Berliner Philharmoniker, took place this year from September 2nd to 21st. In addition to the Rundfunkchor Berlin, the RIAS Kammerchor, and Berlin 's five principal orchestras, altogether 20 guest orchestras, ensembles, and choirs – joined by 37 soloists – contributed to the ambitious festival program. The center of attention at this year's festival was shared by the compositional achievements of Pierre Boulez and Luciano Berio, complemented in provocative and illuminating ways by works by Igor Stravinsky and many other 20th and 21st century composers. This wide-ranging homage to two central figures of postwar music history was greeted with pronounced enthusiasm and followed with intense interest by members of the public and specialists alike. More than 35,000 people attended the 24 concerts which took place in the framework of musikfest berlin 10 in the Main Auditorium and Chamber Music Hall of Berlin Philharmonie, in the Parochialkirche, the Gethsemanekirche, and the Konzerthaus.
This ambitious tribute to Pierre Boulez, encompassing 11 concerts in all, began on opening weekend with striking performances of his large-scale vocal compositions Le Soleil des eaux and Le Visage nuptial by the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden under the direction of Susanna Mälkki. At the concerts given by the Berliner Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez received standing ovations as composer and conductor. Other contributors to our Boulez portrait were the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin , the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Bamberger Symphoniker, and the Ensemble intercontemporain. This tribute to Boulez was concluded by a lecture-concert presented by Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin – a thrilling finale for musikfest berlin 10 at which the composer, also in attendance, was greeted by repeated shouts of “bravo.”
Other highpoints of musikfest berlin 10 included appearances by the London Symphony Orchestra with Daniel Harding, the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam with Mariss Jansons, and the Bayerisches Staatsorchester with Kent Nagano, each of which presented key orchestral works by Luciano Berio in conjunction with compositions by Hector Berlioz, Béla Bartók, Richard Strauss, and Igor Stravinsky – each receiving tumultuous storms of applause. Other highlights of the Berio tribute presented in the framework of musikfest berlin 10 included a concert by musikFabrik with Peter Eötvös devoted to Berio, and a performance of Berio’s immense composition Coro by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.
musikfest berlin 2011 will take place between September 1st and 19th. Detailed information on the program and on advanced ticket sales will be announced in spring of 2011.
Press Office,
September 21, 2010
The annual international “summit” of top-flight orchestras which launches Berlin 's concert season is coming to a close. musikfest berlin 10, organized by the Berliner Festspielen in collaboration with the Stiftung Berliner Philharmoniker, took place this year from September 2nd to 21st. In addition to the Rundfunkchor Berlin, the RIAS Kammerchor, and Berlin 's five principal orchestras, altogether 20 guest orchestras, ensembles, and choirs – joined by 37 soloists – contributed to the ambitious festival program. The center of attention at this year's festival was shared by the compositional achievements of Pierre Boulez and Luciano Berio, complemented in provocative and illuminating ways by works by Igor Stravinsky and many other 20th and 21st century composers. This wide-ranging homage to two central figures of postwar music history was greeted with pronounced enthusiasm and followed with intense interest by members of the public and specialists alike. More than 35,000 people attended the 24 concerts which took place in the framework of musikfest berlin 10 in the Main Auditorium and Chamber Music Hall of Berlin Philharmonie, in the Parochialkirche, the Gethsemanekirche, and the Konzerthaus.
This ambitious tribute to Pierre Boulez, encompassing 11 concerts in all, began on opening weekend with striking performances of his large-scale vocal compositions Le Soleil des eaux and Le Visage nuptial by the SWR Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden under the direction of Susanna Mälkki. At the concerts given by the Berliner Philharmoniker, Pierre Boulez received standing ovations as composer and conductor. Other contributors to our Boulez portrait were the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin , the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Bamberger Symphoniker, and the Ensemble intercontemporain. This tribute to Boulez was concluded by a lecture-concert presented by Daniel Barenboim and the Staatskapelle Berlin – a thrilling finale for musikfest berlin 10 at which the composer, also in attendance, was greeted by repeated shouts of “bravo.”
Other highpoints of musikfest berlin 10 included appearances by the London Symphony Orchestra with Daniel Harding, the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam with Mariss Jansons, and the Bayerisches Staatsorchester with Kent Nagano, each of which presented key orchestral works by Luciano Berio in conjunction with compositions by Hector Berlioz, Béla Bartók, Richard Strauss, and Igor Stravinsky – each receiving tumultuous storms of applause. Other highlights of the Berio tribute presented in the framework of musikfest berlin 10 included a concert by musikFabrik with Peter Eötvös devoted to Berio, and a performance of Berio’s immense composition Coro by the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Sir Simon Rattle.
musikfest berlin 2011 will take place between September 1st and 19th. Detailed information on the program and on advanced ticket sales will be announced in spring of 2011.
Press Office,
September 21, 2010
2010/09/18
Deutschland schafft sich ab
Rarely has a man influenced the German public discourse as much as Sarrazin has done with his book "Deutschland schafft sich ab" ("Germany Does Itself In"). In just two weeks, Germany has been hit by three waves of debate stemming from the tome.
Criticism bordering on revulsion dominated the first wave of the reaction. Politicians and opinion leaders condemned Sarrazin almost unanimously.
But then it slowly became apparent that many citizens agreed with Sarrazin. The publisher announced that, due to high demand, it was going to increase the book's initial printing to 250,000 copies. Furthermore, Internet forums and political events made it clear that Sarrazin -- a member of the center-left Social Democrats, which has initiated proceedings to throw him out of the party -- had broad public support. Many are saying he is right; or, even if he does make a mistake here and there, he isn't being treated fairly.
The following e-mail, for example, was received at Social Democratic Party (SPD) headquarters: "Sometimes I'm frustrated and even furious about the fact that, in today's Germany, it's no longer possible to speak your mind and call a spade a spade! This is the sort of thing I'm used to seeing in totalitarian countries." Spiegel
Rarely has a man influenced the German public discourse as much as Sarrazin has done with his book "Deutschland schafft sich ab" ("Germany Does Itself In"). In just two weeks, Germany has been hit by three waves of debate stemming from the tome.
Criticism bordering on revulsion dominated the first wave of the reaction. Politicians and opinion leaders condemned Sarrazin almost unanimously.
But then it slowly became apparent that many citizens agreed with Sarrazin. The publisher announced that, due to high demand, it was going to increase the book's initial printing to 250,000 copies. Furthermore, Internet forums and political events made it clear that Sarrazin -- a member of the center-left Social Democrats, which has initiated proceedings to throw him out of the party -- had broad public support. Many are saying he is right; or, even if he does make a mistake here and there, he isn't being treated fairly.
The following e-mail, for example, was received at Social Democratic Party (SPD) headquarters: "Sometimes I'm frustrated and even furious about the fact that, in today's Germany, it's no longer possible to speak your mind and call a spade a spade! This is the sort of thing I'm used to seeing in totalitarian countries." Spiegel
2010/09/06
Barbarous crimes against humanity
Six Portuguese men have been jailed after they were found guilty of sexual abuse at a state-run children's home.
Carlos Silvino was given an 18-year sentence after confessing to 639 charges relating to the abuse of children or procuring them for others.
His co-defendants, including the former TV presenter Carlos Cruz, were jailed for between five and seven years.
The boys, now aged between 16 and 22, were all residents at the Casa Pia children's home in the capital, Lisbon.
The panel of three judges in the case spent most of the day reading the full verdict in each of the hundreds of sexual abuse accusations.
After ruling that the vast majority of the charges had been proven, they handed down guilty verdicts to six of the seven people on trial.
...
One of the victims, Bernardo Teixeira, hailed the sentences.
"It was very good to hear our names as a proven fact, and to know that really somebody believes us, principally the panel of judges," he told RTP Internacional TV.
"People said we were lying, that it was all made up, and so it is very healthy and positive for us finally to have proof that we were not lying."
Another victim, Bernardo Tavares, said: "It is difficult, but... when we hear our name linked to proven facts this gives us more strength."
"There is anxiety, tensions are running high in there, our seats are probably the hottest because we have waited many years for this day. It is one of the days we have most looked forward to, the day when finally justice will be done and when finally those who have committed crimes will be sentenced for them."
Pedro Namora, a lawyer and former pupil who helped expose the scandal in 2002, earlier said: "I hope this day will allow us to show the country that the boys have told the truth from the start."
"These men have to be condemned, they committed barbarous crimes against humanity." BBC News
Six jailed in Portuguese sex abuse case
Six years after a trial began over claims of sex abuse at Lisbon’s Casa Pia children’s home, heavy jail terms have been handed out.
Well-known figures have been found guilty of hundreds of charges related to abuse that goes back to the 1990s.
...
A former Casa Pia student and victims’ lawyer, Pedro Namora, said: “For so many years we have been persecuted, threatened. They used everything, and now it comes out that we spoke the truth." Euronews
Note: only six jailed (or maybe not...)
Sex abuse trial in Portugal set to end *
In Portugal a six year trial – one of the largest in the country’s legal history and known as the Casa Pia trial - is set to reach a conclusion.
Carlos Silvinho has admitted to participating in a network that systematically abused children and implicated six other defendants including Carlos Cruz a popular television presenter who is alleged to have been part of the sex ring at the Casa Pia orphanage. He is joined in the dock by former Unesco ambassador Jorge Ritto.
It is claimed a woman provided her house for meetings with the children and the alleged pedophiles
The court is set to rule on 800 alleged crimes at Casa Pia a 230 year old institution. Not only has the protracted trial produced chilling testimonies it has also resulted in changes in Portugals legal system.
One victim voiced concern that the accused were getting more support than the victims.
“Tomorrow on Friday, I hope justice is delivered, because I think the court has played enough with us, the victims. The accused are getting more support and protection than the we are,” said Pedro Custódio, a former student at Casa Pia. Euronews
All knew of the abuse
The former secretary of state for families told parliament last December that Antonio Ramalho Eanes, the former president, Jaime Gama, the former foreign secretary, and the police all knew of the abuse. Teresa Costa Macedo said state television had filmed six boys who told Mr Eanes about the abuse, but had not broadcast the footage. The Independent
Note: it happened with Lisbon's people... and the European Union did nothing (what's about Human Rights?)!
Six Portuguese men have been jailed after they were found guilty of sexual abuse at a state-run children's home.
Carlos Silvino was given an 18-year sentence after confessing to 639 charges relating to the abuse of children or procuring them for others.
His co-defendants, including the former TV presenter Carlos Cruz, were jailed for between five and seven years.
The boys, now aged between 16 and 22, were all residents at the Casa Pia children's home in the capital, Lisbon.
The panel of three judges in the case spent most of the day reading the full verdict in each of the hundreds of sexual abuse accusations.
After ruling that the vast majority of the charges had been proven, they handed down guilty verdicts to six of the seven people on trial.
...
One of the victims, Bernardo Teixeira, hailed the sentences.
"It was very good to hear our names as a proven fact, and to know that really somebody believes us, principally the panel of judges," he told RTP Internacional TV.
"People said we were lying, that it was all made up, and so it is very healthy and positive for us finally to have proof that we were not lying."
Another victim, Bernardo Tavares, said: "It is difficult, but... when we hear our name linked to proven facts this gives us more strength."
"There is anxiety, tensions are running high in there, our seats are probably the hottest because we have waited many years for this day. It is one of the days we have most looked forward to, the day when finally justice will be done and when finally those who have committed crimes will be sentenced for them."
Pedro Namora, a lawyer and former pupil who helped expose the scandal in 2002, earlier said: "I hope this day will allow us to show the country that the boys have told the truth from the start."
"These men have to be condemned, they committed barbarous crimes against humanity." BBC News
Six jailed in Portuguese sex abuse case
Six years after a trial began over claims of sex abuse at Lisbon’s Casa Pia children’s home, heavy jail terms have been handed out.
Well-known figures have been found guilty of hundreds of charges related to abuse that goes back to the 1990s.
...
A former Casa Pia student and victims’ lawyer, Pedro Namora, said: “For so many years we have been persecuted, threatened. They used everything, and now it comes out that we spoke the truth." Euronews
Note: only six jailed (or maybe not...)
Sex abuse trial in Portugal set to end *
In Portugal a six year trial – one of the largest in the country’s legal history and known as the Casa Pia trial - is set to reach a conclusion.
Carlos Silvinho has admitted to participating in a network that systematically abused children and implicated six other defendants including Carlos Cruz a popular television presenter who is alleged to have been part of the sex ring at the Casa Pia orphanage. He is joined in the dock by former Unesco ambassador Jorge Ritto.
It is claimed a woman provided her house for meetings with the children and the alleged pedophiles
The court is set to rule on 800 alleged crimes at Casa Pia a 230 year old institution. Not only has the protracted trial produced chilling testimonies it has also resulted in changes in Portugals legal system.
One victim voiced concern that the accused were getting more support than the victims.
“Tomorrow on Friday, I hope justice is delivered, because I think the court has played enough with us, the victims. The accused are getting more support and protection than the we are,” said Pedro Custódio, a former student at Casa Pia. Euronews
All knew of the abuse
The former secretary of state for families told parliament last December that Antonio Ramalho Eanes, the former president, Jaime Gama, the former foreign secretary, and the police all knew of the abuse. Teresa Costa Macedo said state television had filmed six boys who told Mr Eanes about the abuse, but had not broadcast the footage. The Independent
Note: it happened with Lisbon's people... and the European Union did nothing (what's about Human Rights?)!
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