Global
I just read "Green Party: The US must honor Libyan rebels’ call for no military attacks" at the Green Party Watch blog at Blog and am compelled to take serious issue with its basic assumptions as stated therein.
Although I consider myself a Green, support the party's platform and stated values and, more immediately, support the conclusion of this piece - that the US has no business invading or bombing Libya - the article's parroting of the official line that "Gadaffi is a killer and has been bombing his own people" is way off-base, factually speaking.
Although I consider myself a Green, support the party's platform and stated values and, more immediately, support the conclusion of this piece - that the US has no business invading or bombing Libya - the article's parroting of the official line that "Gadaffi is a killer and has been bombing his own people" is way off-base, factually speaking.
President Obama on Monday said he would "never hesitate" to use the U.S. military "unilaterally" to defend "interests" and "values," including "maintaining the flow of commerce." Fear of exactly that led the founders of this republic to give Congress the exclusive power to declare war. James Madison did not believe any single individual could be trusted with such power:
"The strongest passions and most dangerous weaknesses of the human breast, ambition, avarice, vanity, the honorable or venal love of fame, are all in conspiracy against the desire and duty of peace."
"The strongest passions and most dangerous weaknesses of the human breast, ambition, avarice, vanity, the honorable or venal love of fame, are all in conspiracy against the desire and duty of peace."
BANGKOK, Thailand -- Dancing bare-foot while singing Buddhist prayers may seem like an idyllic job, but for Bangkok's shimmering temple dancers it includes incense-choked lungs, dieting, and rare toilet breaks before the music stops on their 40th birthday.
"I feel happy to dance here because I love to dance," Wanpen Mapradit said in Thai during an interview at the glittering Erawan Shrine.
"But even though the salary is good, I would not recommend this job.
"We work every other day, either 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The incense smoke from the shrine is strong, and my feet often hurt, but I am used to it, because this is my career.
"I earn 19 baht for each dance. The dance is not longer than three minutes. But my salary depends upon how many dances I do. I average about 1,000 baht a day," Wanpen said.
A woman at a nearby desk issues receipts to devotees who pay for each dance.
Fees are listed on a plastic sign attached to a wall.
"I feel happy to dance here because I love to dance," Wanpen Mapradit said in Thai during an interview at the glittering Erawan Shrine.
"But even though the salary is good, I would not recommend this job.
"We work every other day, either 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., or 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The incense smoke from the shrine is strong, and my feet often hurt, but I am used to it, because this is my career.
"I earn 19 baht for each dance. The dance is not longer than three minutes. But my salary depends upon how many dances I do. I average about 1,000 baht a day," Wanpen said.
A woman at a nearby desk issues receipts to devotees who pay for each dance.
Fees are listed on a plastic sign attached to a wall.
There is no safe dose of radiation.
We do not x-ray pregnant women.
Any detectable fallout can kill.
With erratic radiation spikes, major air and water emissions and at least three reactors and waste pools in serious danger at Fukushima, we must prepare for the worst.
When you hear the terms "safe" and "insignificant" in reference to radioactive fallout, ask yourself: "Safe for whom?" "Insignificant to which of us?"
Despite the corporate media, what has and will continue to come here from Fukushima is deadly to Americans. At very least it threatens countless embryos and fetuses in utero, the infants, the elderly, the unborn who will come to future mothers now being exposed.
No matter how small the dose, the human egg in waiting, or embryo or fetus in utero, or newborn infant, or weakened elder, has no defense against even the tiniest radioactive assault.
Science has never found such a "safe" threshold, and never will.
We do not x-ray pregnant women.
Any detectable fallout can kill.
With erratic radiation spikes, major air and water emissions and at least three reactors and waste pools in serious danger at Fukushima, we must prepare for the worst.
When you hear the terms "safe" and "insignificant" in reference to radioactive fallout, ask yourself: "Safe for whom?" "Insignificant to which of us?"
Despite the corporate media, what has and will continue to come here from Fukushima is deadly to Americans. At very least it threatens countless embryos and fetuses in utero, the infants, the elderly, the unborn who will come to future mothers now being exposed.
No matter how small the dose, the human egg in waiting, or embryo or fetus in utero, or newborn infant, or weakened elder, has no defense against even the tiniest radioactive assault.
Science has never found such a "safe" threshold, and never will.
The most direct attack on Ohio’s middle class in a generation, SB5, is scheduled to go up for a vote this Tuesday. Families and workers from across the state will be out in force at the Statehouse this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Show our lawmakers we will not be silenced and we will not have our rights taken from us.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011:
Rally at the Statehouse Against SB 5
West Lawn
9am – 2pm
4pm – 6pm
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Rally at the Statehouse Against SB 5!
West Lawn
9am – 2pm
4pm – 6pm
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Rally at the Statehouse Against SB 5!
West Lawn
9am – 2pm
4pm – 6pm
These will be outside events, so please dress accordingly. Consider bringing your own food and water or be prepared to purchase them from local businesses.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011:
Rally at the Statehouse Against SB 5
West Lawn
9am – 2pm
4pm – 6pm
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Rally at the Statehouse Against SB 5!
West Lawn
9am – 2pm
4pm – 6pm
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Rally at the Statehouse Against SB 5!
West Lawn
9am – 2pm
4pm – 6pm
These will be outside events, so please dress accordingly. Consider bringing your own food and water or be prepared to purchase them from local businesses.
I assume that to some, I dare say, to the majority of Western citizens, it must be a relief to see that ‘our’ force for good has not lost its momentum – that humanitarian benevolence which characterizes the self-portrait we paint of our societies as we ponder on our own exceptionalism, our magnanimity.
What would the world do without ‘our’ greatness, without ‘our’ kindness, without ‘our’ Altruism? It is in asking ourselves these kinds of moronic questions, that we carry forth the full force of our dogma – our collective delusion, the lie, which once again has facilitated the dropping of ‘our’ bombs on the citizens of another part of the planet. This time it is happening in Libya, and just as with all other wars of aggression initiated through the barrel of Western guns, the submarines, aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and missiles of all kinds, are only engaged in a ‘humanitarian’ mission.
What would the world do without ‘our’ greatness, without ‘our’ kindness, without ‘our’ Altruism? It is in asking ourselves these kinds of moronic questions, that we carry forth the full force of our dogma – our collective delusion, the lie, which once again has facilitated the dropping of ‘our’ bombs on the citizens of another part of the planet. This time it is happening in Libya, and just as with all other wars of aggression initiated through the barrel of Western guns, the submarines, aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and missiles of all kinds, are only engaged in a ‘humanitarian’ mission.
In Kabul, on the same day that Der Spiegel released photos documenting American soldiers posing with the bodies of civilians they murdered, the Transitional Justice Coordinating Group (TJCG), the umbrella organization for NGO’s in Afghanistan that are pursuing transitional justice, gathered Afghan, Australian, American, and German peacemakers to discuss methods to bring peace and security to Afghanistan. The photos present the grim reality that this conflict is characterized by civilian killing and violence.
In 2001, the American led ISAF (International Security Assistance Force), a coalition of the richest nations in the world, began military operations in Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 killing of civilians in New York and Washington. The purpose of the operations was to fight terrorism and seek reprisal for the Taliban’s harboring of Al Qaeda. The operation has turned into a near decade long war on one of the poorest nations in the world.
In 2001, the American led ISAF (International Security Assistance Force), a coalition of the richest nations in the world, began military operations in Afghanistan in response to the 9/11 killing of civilians in New York and Washington. The purpose of the operations was to fight terrorism and seek reprisal for the Taliban’s harboring of Al Qaeda. The operation has turned into a near decade long war on one of the poorest nations in the world.
I Love My Obamacare website and petition efforts: We have collected over 2,300 signatures of “ILoveMyObamacare.org” supporters, including more than 350 gathered at protests at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. We also collected over 600 signatures at the combined labor and teacher rallies last Wednesday at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing.
Congressman John Conyers is fully supporting this effort for several reasons. He explains that our I Love My Obamacare effort is the next step towards gaining Medicare for All, HR 676. If our opponents are able to repeal Obamacare in the US Senate, we may never see “health care for all” during our lifetime. Fortunately, our and others’ efforts for Obamacare are gaining more strength, as Conyers states that more and more pro-health reform Congress Members on the floor are speaking about their support for “Medicaid, Medicare and Obamacare.” Also, Conyers appreciates the fact that President Obama was crucial in passing the Affordable Care Act last year, and calling the Act Obamacare is a tribute to his and every ones efforts.
Congressman John Conyers is fully supporting this effort for several reasons. He explains that our I Love My Obamacare effort is the next step towards gaining Medicare for All, HR 676. If our opponents are able to repeal Obamacare in the US Senate, we may never see “health care for all” during our lifetime. Fortunately, our and others’ efforts for Obamacare are gaining more strength, as Conyers states that more and more pro-health reform Congress Members on the floor are speaking about their support for “Medicaid, Medicare and Obamacare.” Also, Conyers appreciates the fact that President Obama was crucial in passing the Affordable Care Act last year, and calling the Act Obamacare is a tribute to his and every ones efforts.
