Marimba Ani on Obama

The European conquest of the mind of most of the people of Africa and Asia is their greatest achievement. Beneath this deadly onslaught lies a stultifying intellectual mystification that prevents Europe's political victims from thinking in a manner that would lead to authentic self determination. Intelectual decolonization is a prerequisite for the creation of successful political decolonization. We can proudly say that one of our people represents the most repressive, destructive, inhumane, anti-afrikan nation ever to have existed. Will we go down in "his" story as having finally capitulated and become satisfied with the evil that is represented in contemporary globalization, privatization and intulectual capitalism? Have we aborted our movement for freedom, liberation and soverignty? Or have we merely redefined that objective in "american" individualistic, "whats in it for me" terms? Have we "won"? Or have we simply taken the easier road, finding it more comfortable to be colonialized than to fight for Liberation? Are we excited about the possibility of being closer to the power than we have ever been. Even though that power rests on the exploitation, even murder, of Afrikans and other non-Europeans throughout the world? Have we even dared to ask ourselves what kind of person would want to be president of the United States of America?

- Marimba Ani

Dr. Hajo Meyer - "The Misuse of the Holocaust for Political Purposes"

Ross Kemp Middle East: GAZA

Tonight, Sunday the 17th January 2010, Sky1 is broadcasting a show called "Ross Kemp Middle East: GAZA", in similar style to his "Ross Kemp on Gangs" shows. I decided to watch it, obviously due to my deep interest in and support for the Palestinian cause.

From the beginning of the show you can tell that it is to present antiHamas / ProIsrael propagandha. Anytime Hamas is mentioned, he refers to them as "terrorists", despite the fact that they are a democratically elected governing body for Gaza. None of his sweeping anti Hamas statements are backed up with evidence or sources. He claims that the people he has spoken to do not like Hamas, but with no evidence of the conversations.

The first conversation shows only a man claiming he has no issues with Israelis, but only the opressive government.

He accuses Hamas of firing rockets into Israel continually. Despite the incredile decline in rockets and the fact that Hamas have yet to admit, or even be accused of firing rockets into Israel since the slaughter a year ago. He then talks to "Islamic Jihad", a militant organisation, and using Israeli figures claims that they have fired over a Thousand rockets in the past year. Independant figures claim it is alot less.

Israel has desimated the Gaza strip, starved the people and continues to leave them homeless, sick and dying. Ross Kemp's entire show belittles the entire situation. He focuses completely on the fact that militant organisations exist. He attacks the "smuggling trade". Now I can not see why this is a bad thing? Israel has blockaded the innocent people of the Gaza strip, doing all it can to make sure no aid, food or treats get into the refugee camp. So in this situation is it wrong that people smuggle in as much as they can to keep life going? The issue of the rising prices for smuggled goods is the fault completely of Israel. Stop blockading the people and this could not happen. Stop bombing smuggling tunnels. I will be as bold as to say, I fully support the smuggling of goods. Hamas have no control over these tunnels, according to the smugglers and actually stop Drugs coming in to the refugee camp. Of course the black propaganda of Israeli and American media will deny this.

However near the end he seems to have a slight change of heart as he realises that these "smugglers" need to do this to put food in the stomach of their Children.

He ignores completely the situation that is actually day to day life. Hundreds of thousands of Men, Women and Children left homeless, starving and dying because Israel has blocked the borders, and decimated the area with massive explosions, including weaponry so inhumane that it is illegal.

Over 50% of Gaza's population are under 18. Impressionable young people, who living under oppression become angry and obviously can see no other option but to Fight. On going Rights marches and protests through out Palestine, West Bank and Gaza, have failed time and time again. Even at these peaceful protests, Israeli forces have used heavy handed attacks on the people and have even killed protesters. What other options do these people see for themselves?

The only hope for these people is calling off the blockade of Gaza and allowing the people to live. Allowing the people to see that the people of Israel do not hate Palestinians. Justice will breed peace and without this what hope is there for the people of Israel and Palestine?

God Bless
Peace

Free Palestine

Make up your own mind...

The following are exerpts from tesitmonials from IDF soldiers, in relation to Operation Castlead. You make up your own mind who you believe, the State controlled messages, or the fire from the dragons mouth

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
Testimony 51: "We were told soldiers were to be secured by fire-power. The soldiers were made to understand that their lives were the most important, and that there was no way our soldiers would get killed for the sake of leaving civilians the benefit of the doubt… People were not instructed to shoot at everyone they see but they were told that from a certain distance when they approach a house, no matter who it is - even an old woman - take them down."

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT - ROOFS, CELLULAR TELEPHONES, NIGHT TIME
Testimony 49: "Among other things, he strictly forbade us to climb up to roofs. He explained in fact that the air force has the 'go ahead' to fire at anyone seen on a roof."

Testimony 41: "You can't identify too much at night and anything that moves you engage in order not to take risks. It was not defined this way officially, but it was obvious. Any movement on the ground at night was doomed."

Testimonies 13 and 14: These describe an incident where an old man carrying a torch at night, walking towards an Israeli-held building, approached from about 150 metres - and was allowed to approach to 25 metres with no deterrent fire, before he was shot dead.

Testimony 14: "Everyone is shooting and shooting and the guy's screaming. The commander comes downstairs, glowing. 'Here's an opener for tonight'. He was asked why he wouldn't confirm deterrent fire. He said, "It's night time and this is a terrorist."

HUMAN SHIELDS
Some testimonies described the use of Palestinian civilians as human shields, for example by making neighbours enter suspect houses ahead of troops. The use of human shields is prohibited under article 51.7 of the Geneva Conventions.

Testimony 1 "To every house we close in on, we send the neighbour in, 'the Johnnie'… Sometimes the force would enter while placing rifle barrels on a civilian's shoulder, advancing into a house and using him as a human shield. Commanders said these were the instructions and we had to do it…"

BUILDING DEMOLITIONS
Testimony 2: "Part of the concept of razing was what the Israeli army calls 'the day after' consideration. Obviously this campaign would end at some point… The question was in what condition we'd leave the area, whether more exposed, a state that would afford us better firing and observation conditions, and far greater control. This was the principle behind all that razing - namely razing for our benefit.

Testimony 52: "Most of the destruction that went on there was not necessary.

AGGRESSIVE ATTITUDE
Testimony 43 : "One guy said he just couldn't finish this operation without killing someone… [describes the shooting of a man "apparently some sort of lookout"] … I can definitely say he was not armed. I can definitely say the soldier regarded this as some children's game and was delighted and laughing after this. I think that a normal person, even having killed an armed terrorist, would not be amused."

Testimony 50: "The atmosphere was not one of fear but rather people too eager to shoot other people."

VANDALISM OF PALESTINIAN PROPERTY
Testimony 39: "The guys would simply break stuff. Some were out to destroy and trash the whole time. They drew a disgusting drawing on the wall. They threw out sofas. They took down a picture from the wall just to shatter it."

Testimony 52:
Q: Was there boredom at any point during these two weeks?
A: Much boredom.
Q: So what does one do to relieve this boredom?
A: I told you, fire at water tanks, I don't know, out of boredom. When there's nothing else to shoot at, you fire at water tanks."

WHITE PHOSPHORUS
Testimony 8:
Q: Why fire phosphorus?
A: Because it's fun. Cool… I don't know what it's used for… I don't understand what it's even doing in our supplies if we're not supposed to use such ammo. It's ridiculous.

Testimony 11: "There was an area of about 200-300 square meters of glazed sand.... We understood this resulted from white phosphorus, and it was upsetting… in training you learn that white phosphorus is not used, and you're taught that it's not humane. You watch films and see what it does to people who are hit, and you say, 'There, we're doing it too.' That's not what I expected to see. Until that moment I had thought I belonged to the most humane army in the world."

RELIGIOUS RHETORIC
Testimony 15 [describing a talk by a military rabbi]: "Lots of pathos, the kind of religious discourse I'm a bit familiar with: war of choice, holy war - differing rules. He spoke less in religious terminology… and was much more into militant faith. He aimed at inspiring the men with courage, cruelty, aggressiveness, expressions such as 'no pity, God protects you, everything you do is sanctified'. The gist of these statements was perhaps to bring things into agreement with religion, with God and whoever this man was supposed to represent, that everything or nearly everything is permissible. "

Leonard Cohen Legitimises the Nakba

Protests at the Leonard Cohen concerts in Dublin and Belfast have been organised by various organisations such as the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (http://www.ipsc.ie) to protest against the musicians intention to play later this year in Tel Aviv, Israeli contolled Palestine.

In July 2005 almost 200 Palestinian civil society organisations called for a "Boycott, Divesment and Sanctions against Israel until it complies with international Law and Universal Principles of Human Rights". Since 2005 Israels regime has become even more hateful and cruel, with the Seige on Gaza still not being lifted. The aparthied wall has been condemned as illegal by the UN and yet Arabs are still unhoused for its continued construction. More people are being unhoused for building developments in the West Bank. More and more checkpoints have been set up, breaking human rights laws. 2009 began with another slaughter of Palestinain civilians by Israeli armed forces, backed by the USA finacially and with weapons, that left 1,300 murdered, 0ver 400 of whom where women or Children and 86% o whom were declared civilians. News later revealed that innocents has been slaughtered intentionally. During this slaughter houses, hospitals, schools and mosques where attack with phospherous gas, which is illegal.

It is based on this that Leonard Cohen has been called upon to cancel his Tel Aviv appearence. At nearly every performance this year, different organisations have organised protests outside his shows, as letters from many orgainsations where ignored. To further add insult to the cause of Palestinian human rights, Leonard Cohen cancelled his Palestinian date instead.

A letter signed by 4 Jewish academics wrote

"You will perform for a public that by a very large majority had no qualms about its military forces' onslaught on Gaza... You will perform in a state whose propaganda services will extract every ounce of mileage from your presence... And you are telling the Palestinians ...that their suffering doesn't matter."

IPSC echoes that call.

In further news, as we already know in the latest elections Israel elected a Right Wing, more so anti Palestinian party. The education minister in this regime has decided that the word Nakba should be dropped from text books. Despite the fact that the word only appears in the book aimed at Arab Israeli citizens.

The passage in question, which occurs in one textbook aimed at Arab children aged around eight or nine, describes the 1948 war, which resulted in Israel's creation, in the following terms: "The Arabs call the war the Nakba - a war of catastrophe, loss and humiliation - and the Jews call it the Independence War.

Furthermore, despite the fact that Israel celebrates this every year, the new regime is trying to pass a bill that will make it illegal for the Arab Israelis to mourn this day in commemeration of the Nakba every May 15th. More Racist rule from Binyamin Netanyahu's regime.

Also, I have been trying to follow the story in Honduras, which is something I will blog about if I can educate myself further. However one thing that does bear mentioning is All EU countries pulled out their diplomats from Honduras within days or weeks apppearently. However when Israel was slaughtering the people of Gaza Hugo Chavez was the only leader with the testicular fortitude to remove his Israeli ambassador. That is a bit dissapointing.

God Bless
Peace

Ernesto "Ché" Guevara

Does it not strike all these Socialist Partys, whom's main membership is made up mostly of youths, that they are actually going against all that Ché stood for, by use of his image? It strikes me as odd that a man that stood against Imperialism and Capitalism then ends ups as a multimillion dollar selling icon, and further more that his "fan boys" endorse this capitalist scheme. I'm led to believe that these people know little of Ché or his belief of Marxism.

Various Socialist Party recuitment stalls around Belfast display a Flag with the face of the "Legend" emblazoned on it. When I approached them to question this inappropriate use of the flag I was informed "it attracts the youth". What this means is it attracts the uneducated Youth with no Political agenda, based merely on an image of a man they know nothing, or little off. Now obviously this can not be applied to all who have a following for Ché, but surely they realise the hypocrisy of Ché tee shirts, especially if members of the Religious groups in our societies wear them. Ché followed his father in his disapproval of Religious organisations, and though born into a Catholic family, quicly fell away from it.

Before beginning this blog I loaded my favourite online shop and entered the word che and to no suprise was met with hundreds of items displaying the Ché icon; Books, DVD's, tee shirts, satchels, hats, beanies, wrist bands, wallets, badges, canvases, coasters, clocks, posters and dolls. Not to mention the unlimited other items this site doe not sell including Ché lighters, belt buckles and beer etc. Further more we have sites such as http://www.thechestore.com

Would Ché endorse this? I certainly don't think he would. I can see the need for history books detailing the historical character, I for instance have recently began to read one I found in my dad's library of historical books. However this is different from the rest of the garbage that is for sale, by capitalist companies that are fully aware that the Ché image is incridibly easy to market for the youth, who percieve themselves "different".

As if this complete misuse of Ché's image wasn't enough, most other symbols connected to Socialism and Revolution are way way over used. The very typical over use of a red or yellow star is just another example. How many in our "Socialist Youth" organisations even know the origns of this star or why it is still used on connection to "revolution"? In fact little is really know about the origins of the use of this symbol, and I personally deem it irrelevant today.

Another symbol which I once again can't stand to see today, is that of the fist. It takes more than the wave of these symbols to be a socialist or a revolutionary. These symbols of revolution today, are no more than an attempt to be different. It is far cooler in this day and age to be against something, than for it. Most of our youth displaying these symbols, if they even realise the political connections, will know little of what they are laying claim to by wearing these shirts, or hanging these flags.

The symbols have merely become a symbol overused in the "alternative" or punk scene, more in connection to music than Politics. Much like fans of Rage against the Machine, a band who claim to be singing about Socialism and revolution and the need for change in certain aspects of society. Many of the fans of this band will proudly display their affection for Ché by buying into the capitalist merchandising world, without having any real knowledge of what the man was involved in, many using the typical soundbyte, claiming him to be a Cuban revolutionary, without mention that he was an Argentinian, if that is a word, and that he was involved in Revolution in Cuba, The Congo and Bolivia.

I do not claim to be a revolutionary, but I am a socialist, in that I believe that people need to come first. The poor need to come before the rich, and that no one member of the Public is better than anyother. Politicians, celebrities, bankers and businessmen are not above the law, or even the "lowest" of society. I however have never had any piece of merchandise

God Bless
Peace

In Defence of Smaller Nations... Western White Nations

The World vowed never again, after the horriffic events of WWII. However yesterday the nations of the world turned their back on that very promise, allowing the Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine to continue, cause sometimes the truth is just to financially damaging.

The United States, Australia, The Netherlands, Italy, Canada, New Zealand, Germany, Poland and Israel amoung others boycotted a United Nations conference on Racism, in South Africa. The basis of their boycott, was that Zionism was a topic that was to be addressed. I personally am completely for this Conference.

Navi Pallay, a UN Human Rights Chief, say she is disappointed at the boycott. The Pope spoke out in favour of the conference, saying it was an opportunity to fight discrimination and intolerance.

"A handful of states have permitted one or two issues to dominate their approach to this issue, allowing them to outweigh the concerns of numerous groups of people that suffer racism and similar forms of intolerance to a pernicious and life-damaging degree on a daily basis all across the world..." - Navi Pallay

"We ask for firm and consistent action, at national and international level, to prevent and eliminate any form of discrimination and of intolerance," - Pope Benidict XVI

Many of the Western Nations that did not boycott the conference, including France, Spain and Britain, walked out once the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began to speak. These Nations chose to walk out on the many in the world suffering under Racial oppression. They walked out on the Palestinian people, the Tibetian People, the Burmese people and the Sri Lankan People. I have no shame in saying I agreed with alot of what Ahmadinejad said. The following, are quotes from the speech, that I agreed with.

"Peace be upon them all who are the harbingers of monotheism, fraternity, love, human dignity and justice...Over the last centuries, humanity has gone through tremendous suffering and pain. In the middle ages, thinkers and scientists were sentenced to death. It was then followed by a period of slavery and slave trade, when innocent people in millions were captivated and separated from their families and loved ones, to be taken to Europe and America under worse conditions; the dark period that also experienced occupations, lootings, and massacres of innocent people... It did not take long that the coercive powers imposed two wars in Europe which also plagued a part of Asia and Africa. Those horrific wars claimed about 100 million lives and left behind massive devastation. Had lessons been learned from the occupations, horrors, and crimes of those wars, there would have been a ray of hope for the future...The victorious powers [of the world wars] call themselves the conquerors of the world, while ignoring or down-treading the rights of other nations by the imposition of oppressive laws and international arrangements... Following World War Two, they resorted to making an entire nation homeless on the pretext of Jewish suffering. They sent migrants from Europe, the United States and other parts of the world in order to establish a totally racist government in the occupied Palestine. In compensation for the dire consequences of racism in Europe, they helped bring to power the most cruel and repressive, racist regime in Palestine... It is all the more regrettable that a number of Western governments and the United States have committed themselves to defending those racist perpetrators of genocide, whilst the awakened consciences and free-minded people of the world condemn aggression, brutality and the bombardment of civilians of Gaza... the word Zionism personifies racism, that falsely resorts to religion and abuses religious sentiments to hide hatred... It should be recognised that boycotting such a session is a true indication of supporting the blatant example of racism." - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

The nations of the world, too afraid to lose out financially, walked out on the truth and chose to ignore the suffering of small nations. "In defence of small nations" seems to mean nothing when that small nation is both eastern and Arab. The fact that many chose to Boycott the conference, just because Ahmadinejad was addressing, shows racism against small Arab Nations.

Ahmadinejad had the courage to stand up and say, what the general people of the west said, and have been saying, since Operation Cast Lead and even before. However the Governments of the western world are too afraid to make such statements, cause they are afraid of being called anti semitic. Being pro Palestinian and anti Zionist is not the same as being anti semetic, as many Jews throughout the world will agree. It is not Jewish to remove Arabs from their land and replace them in their homes with foreign settlers. It is not Jewish to Build a wall through Palestinain territory, housing them all in, and stopping their travel with illegal checkpoints and putting them under military occupation. It is not anti semetic to support Palestinian rights.

At least some of the nations leaders returned after Ahmadinejad's speech, however, the Czechs refused to return as a result. His presence there was too much, for this White Western nation, and they refused to share the rest of the day with him. The response of many of the worlds nations should be addressed. The Czech Foriegn Ministry, and current President of the EU, refused to return and said;

"We cannot allow, through our presence, the legitimisation of absolutely unacceptable anti-Israeli attacks. The Czech delegation will not return to the conference at all, as a consequence to Ahmadinejad's speech." - Czech Foriegn Ministry

To this I say, why can you not allow your presence to legitimise the "attacks". Infact I believe that your presence should and Must legitimise these "verbal attacks". Your walking out Legitimised 1,300 dead, 400 of whom where Children and women, and 86% were confirmed to be civilians. It legitimises the recent confessions that innocent civilians were shot intentionally. That the homes of Civilians where vandalised and their faith insulted by crude sexual diagrams. It legitimises the tshirts worn by Israeli soldiers that showed Arab women in the crosshairs. Your walking out legitimised Phosphuros attacks on Schools, Hospitals, mosques and homes. Your walking out legitimised Racism.

To David Miliband, the British Foriegn secretary, after claiming "President Ahmadinejad's remarks... were offensive, inflammatory and utterly unacceptable", I say this. Yes they where offensive, cause sometimes the truth hurts, and you are offended because you refuse to stand up and be held to account, and to stand for what you know is true and right.

As for Jonas Gahr Stoere, Norwegian Foreign Minister, you were completely naive when you claimed "Norway will not accept that the odd-man-out hijacks the collective efforts of the many". Odd Man Out?? Tell that to the thousands of civilians who took to the streets across Europe, America and the rest of the world. Tell that to the thousands of people, that you and your collective Nation leaders chose to Ignore. Tell that to the Jews For Justice, Anarchists against the Wall, the Anti War Movement and the Ireland Palestinian Solidarity Campaign. Just because you chose to ignore the calls for justice from the civilians across the world, does not mean they do not exsist, and this man is no odd man out.

Ban Ki Moon has disappointed me before and makes no exception here. "I deplore the use of this platform by the Iranian president to accuse, divide and even incite. This is the opposite of what this conference seeks to achieve." This conference seeked to achieve what then exactly? Was it not to fight Racism?? So if a Racist regime gets shaken in the process is this not part of what you set out to do. Or is it now Racist to disagree with Racists??

Furthermore, not only do I agree with the statement during the conference, but the attempt to justify himself afterwards.

"The main issue of the conference was racism. Are they supporting racism?... So why shouldn't they participate in a conference which is aimed at discussing and eleminating racism. The second point is, that the United Nations should be Civil Manifestation of Democracy and freedom of expression. Everybody should enjoy the right to freely express his or her own opinions. In turn we should not be intolerant to listening." - Ahamdinejad

The United Nations may as well join the League of Nations in the grave as it died of a lack of exercise, and the United Nations seems fit to follow.

I do not claim to know enough about Iran to fully support Ahmadinejad's rule, but I agree with what he said at Durban II, and I think the nations that Boycotted the Racism conference in Durban, are the ones that need to do the Soul Searching. They need to step back and take alook at themselves.

The United States is a Nation that is built on Slaughter and Slavery. A nation of people, that when they arrived on the shores, attempted to genocide, to rid the land of its indigenous people. A nation that while writing "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...", enslaved the African people based purely on skin colour. Are still a nation that spend more on War and weaponry than Education, and provide more aid to Israel than they do to the rest of the world combined. Now they Boycott a Racism conference, cause they don't like one of the sub-issues.

The British Empire, built off the spoils of poorer nations, when they plundered and pilaged and colonised Africa, India, Asia and America. A nation that has ravaged the history of Ireland with Bloodshed, opression and left it a divided nation amoung a divided people.

Let us take a look at this world we live in. Ravaged with Inequality, Opression, Occupation and Poverty. United Nations?? Our Nations are far from United. Very Very Far.

God Bless
Peace

Its been a brave while... and nothing has changed

Well it has been a brave while since I posted anything. Quite alot has been going on in the world. It's a sad thing, that everyday I read about Wars, Murders and Occupations. I for one have not posted a blog in a long time not regarding the aforementioned topics. This blog will be no different.

Firstly to address the reasoning behind My lack off bloging. I recently did not see the point. I have few readers, and clearly this blog is not making any difference to anyone. I read recently that the Reason the ICC have not made a case against Ehud Olmert, and other Terrorists, is that they are not sure is Palestine is enough of an official state. How is that even justified?? People are people, regardless of whether they are an officially recognised state or not. Despite that, as Edward Campbell says

"The Palestinian Authority does not need to be a sovereign state for Israel to be tried in the ICC, because the ICC will not be asserting jurisdiction over Palestine. The ICC will be asserting Jursidiction over Israel" - Edward Campbell, taken from his article "The ICC Doesnt need Jurisdiction over Palestine to Proceed against Israel".

Secondly, I want to address an article I came across today, on the BBC and Al Jazeera. Hamas have criticised the Rocket attacks on Israel. I was interested at the language of the spokesman. The spokesperson said rockets where "being fired at the wrong time". This is quite similar to the language of the Irish Republicans sitting in the Stormount Government, when talking about recent dissident Republicans. I will not disscuss my views on that here. I just thought the similarity was interesting.

Anyway Israel have yet to make a response about the recent statement. However Israel has held Hamas responsible for all the attacks on the Southern Israeli towns, and has made threats against them for them all. Hamas have now criticised them and have denied responsibility for them all. So a response from Israel will be Interesting.

Also, people from Israel now seem to be questioning the whole Operation Cast Lead results and purpose. One newspaper even asks "Did we even fight a war in Gaza?" We can see the uncertianty in the following quote:

"In the face of the enemy... Israel will present itself as a 'Crazy Country', the kind that will respond in a massive and unfettered assault, with no proportion to the amount of casulties it has endured" - Ofer Shelah

The Israel Daily, Yediot Ahronot, went as far as to say Operation Cast Lead had failed miserably. In fact the conclusion was simply "In Brief, We're Screwed".

However it is far from a change in attitudes and actions from Israel. Despite the presence of an international committee, examining the Arab Living conditions in Negev, Israeli athorities have demolished two arab owned houses, and uprooted a further 100 Olive Trees. Plans for further Israeli only settlements have continued to be developed for the West Bank.

God Bless
Peace

What (a) Wonderful World?

Sometimes I am brought to question my faith in Humanity. A question that comes to my mind more and more these days is "What kind of World are we living in?". Reading the papers and online reporting I am really unsettled.

I love this Planet, and I do believe we live in a wonderful world. Its a pity that some people and governments seem to have given up on their fellow man, and hold themselve above others.

As some of you may know, Tibet is under Chinese rule, and the Tibetan people are unfairly treated. China has for a long time been known to have a bad track record with Human rights, and this continues with the treatment of Tibet. However what I read in the news today is a sad sad story.

It is a common practise for Tibetan monks to set themselves alight, as a form of peaceful protest. Residents of the town of Aba, in the south west Sichuan Provice, witnessed a Monk waving the Flag of Tibet, douse himself with Petrol and set himself alight. However uncommonly they then witnessed Police shoot the protester. His name was Tapay. The protest came after a gathering to Celebrate the Tibetan new year, which the Chinese Government had banned. It is also nearing the 50th Anniversary of the uprising that led the Dalai Lama to flee to India.

On the other side of the world, Palestinian militants have fired five Rockets into Southern Israel, hitting the coastal town of Ashkelon, damaging a school but causing no injuries. A general strike was called across the occupied West Bank territory, with schools and shops remaining shut, to protest against the 1,500 to be evicted.

The United States, Israel and Canada have shamefully refused to attend a conference on Racism, to be held in Geneva, becuase documents for the conference make reference to Zionism. Tzipi Livni, the current foriegn minister, has used the typical trick of the United States and Israel. Anyone who speaks out agianst Zionism is labelled antisemitic, despite the fact that Zionism is not Judaism.

"Under the fig leaf of combating racism, this conference is blatantly anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli" - Tzipi Livni

Obviously Pro Israeli groups are supporting the move also. The Netherlands and France have voiced concern but are not yet boycotting the conference. In other Palestine related news Israel have blocked a Pasta shipment to the Gaza strip. Food, a basic human right.

Why do I question humanity?? Well this is the cliff hanger. I question humanity, cause no one seems to give a .... well you know. Currently the Tibetan, Burmese, Palestinian, Tamils, Basque and Irish people, to name very very few, live under illegal occupation, and/or are opressed in one form or other.

In Tibet, it is illegal to even fly the flag. In Burma, the legally elected Government are held in detention by a military force government. Read my previous blogs, you'll see that to even be Palestinian is a crime according to Israel. In the Basque region any Basque affiliated Political parties are banned. In the Occupied Ireland we can't even get equal standing for our language.

And No one seems to care.

Those that do care are penalised, by being branded as Racist or antisemitic. In Canada too colleges banned posters calling for an end to Israeli aparthied.

I don't know where I'm going with this so I guess I'll leave it here.

God Bless
Peace

Amnesty International calls for an Embargo

Amnesty International has called for all countries to freeze arms sales to Israel and Palestinians, in particular Hamas. THe reasoning behind this, is that both have used weapons which they sourced from friends across borders and seas in the recent Israeli driven slaughter in Gaza. It further states, reasonably so, that these weapons were used indiscriminately against the civilian population of Israel and Gaza.

Now I'm a little unsure about how I feel on the weapon front. I believe that yes the world should stop selling weapons to Israel. But should weapon trade with Hamas be stopped, leaving Hamas completely unarmed, whilst Israel remains heavily armed? I'm unsure on my stance on that one. Of course I would prefer that neither were armed heavily, or even armed at all.

It has went as far as to call for an Embargo, by the UN Security Council. Now Embargo by definition is, "is the prohibition of commerce (division of trade) and trade with a certain country, in order to isolate it and to put its government into a difficult internal situation, given that the effects of the embargo are often able to make its economy suffer from the initiative" (Wikipedia). So this is in effect, by my niave understanding, a boycott.

Now why should the people of Palestine have a boycott against them? They have little enough trade as it is, when their natural resources, like the that of the Dead Sea, are illegally sold to make money for Israel, and their Olive groves are uprooted to build Israels illegal aparthied wall. I fully back a boycott of Israel while it continues to ignore international law, and the rights of the Palestinian people.

Anyway the report from Amnesty International has accused Israel breaking humanitarian law, highlighting the substancial amount of evidence to prove the illegal use of White Phosphorus Gas, also stating that this was supplied by the USA. Hamas have been condemned for firing unguided missiles into civilian area's of Israel.

Mark Regev is not one of my favourite people, and has claimed that the Amnesty International report is hugely flawed because they also spoke with Hamas. Obviously the only way to write a fully accurate report, would be to ask the people guilty of War Crimes wether or not they committed war crimes, against a people that they fully hate. Am I Right? No I'd be mentally unstable to believe that. The fact is that Israel has admitted to War crimes, without the world even acknowledging it.

The International Committee of the Red Cross - guardian of the Geneva Conventions on which international humanitarian law is based - defines a combatant as a person " in hostilities". Benjamin Rutland told the BBC that their "definition is that anyone who is involved with terrorism within Hamas is a valid target. This ranges from the institutions and includes the directly engagedstrictly military political institutions". To attack the Political institutions is against Humanitarian War crimes, which insists that civilian death are to be a minimum. A civilian, in accordence to these laws is someone that is not a combatant. The definition of which I have already given.

In the words of Philippe Sands, a professer of international law in London, "Once you extend the definition of combatant in the way that IDF is apparently doing... it becomes an open-ended definition, which undermines the very object and purpose of the rules that are intended to be applied".

In other news, the terrorist Primeminister, Ehud Olmert has suspended the Hamas ceasefire negotiator. Amos Gilad has recently been negotiating the release of the Israeli Militant soldier Gilad Shalit.

God Bless
Peace

Violent Unrest continues...

As stated in my last blog, Palestinian militants fired rockets on the south of Israel, and in response Israel promised isproportionate response. Well within a few hours of making this promise, the Israeli Airforce carried out raids on the South of Gaza. At this stage Hamas had not yet ended their ceasefire. Israel broke first.

However last night more rockets where fired on southern Israel, and no Palestinian group has accepted responsibility.

This again highlights to me the Pro-Israeli Stance of the BBC. When the rockets where fired on Israel, it was quickly reported. The airraids carried out by Israel reported by Al Jazeera, however the BBC left their reports until after it had been revealed that only one person had been killed. To me this shows that the BBC were waiting for an excuse to downplay the action. Rather than report the news as it happened, as the BBC cliam they do.

Where does this leave Palestine? After Israel's attack of the Gaza strip the people on both sides of the divide, have been left in the same place they were beforehand, echoing the worries of an Israeli civilian interviewed by the BBC.

On a terrible note, for the Palestinian People, Tzipi Livni has hopes to be appointed Primeminister. She has already ruled out any suggestions of negotiation with the rulers in the Gaza region. Livni has said "Terror must be fought with force, and lots of force". Throughout history one has seen that force against Freedom Fighters has only proved to be an incentive to keep fighting. This is clearly an attempt to justify her use of extreme terror and murder, against the Palestinian people. She has insisted continuing action against Palestine, "until they get the message". This is clearly not the mentality of a state leader. It is the same mentality of a playground bully. She is a murderer, and she is a terrorist.

Another candidate for the Priministerial office is Benjamin Netanyahu, who has said the only discussions between Israel and Palestine should be for economic reasons.

What hope do the Palestinian people have. They should erect a plaque above all border entries stating in German, "Work Shall Set You Free". Anyone educated in WWII history should get that reference

What gets me about this whole thing, is why the Israeli terrorist forces continue to make hate speeches against Hamas and refuse to talk to them. The recent attack on the South of Israel was cliamed by Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the military wing of Fatah, led by Mahmoud Abbas, whom is currently involved in the Egyptian talks with the Israeli people.

This leds me to believe that the attacks on Gaza, are not only racially based, but also economic. There is a rather large Oil reserve of the Gaza coast and clearly Israel are looking to cliam it. This of course is a biased niave cliam, and so I will merely mention it and move on.

Lets Continue our Boycott, let us not help fuel Israeli Terrorism!

God Bless
Peace

A promise for the future...

Well I've just returned from a few days in the Free State, and now back in the Occupied Territory I decided to immediately read up on the going ons in Palestine. Its heart breaking to see that News Channel, such as the Biased and uncaring BBC, no longer see the event's there suitable for frontpage news. The News one finds after surfing to the Middle East Specific page, strenghtens my belief that the BBC are Anti-Palestine.

The headline read "Israel Vows Tough Rocket Response". This is a promise, that the Israeli state will intentionally act violently and strongly against the people of Gaza. How is this not worthy of a frontpage story?

The speech made by Ehud Olmert, to his Cabinet, promises a "severe and disproportionate response". For many this was what brought attention to the crisis. People, not completely agreeing with Palestine's cause, still believed that Israel were wrong for their disproportionate action. This is a promise that admits they will not be acting as a responsible government, but will take revenge. It is almost an admittal that more Civilians will die.

Now it is clear that Rockets have been fired onto the south of the Israeli state. Responsibility for these rockets have been cliamed by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs, according to Al Jazeera. This means that Hamas have not broken the ceasefire. Why then does Israel continue to make threats against Hamas, and the Palestinian people that elected them? The words of Taher al-Nunu seem to make sense to me.

"This is an attempt to find a false excuse to escalate the aggression against the Palestinians, to destroy the egyptian efforts to improve the calm and to use the pressure against the Plaestinian people to accept Israeli conditions in those talks"

I can only hope that the Israeli elections, taking place on the 10th of February, can produce a governing body, lest racist than that of Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni the "Foreign" minister. I unfortunately can't see this happening, as many candidates have already stated their intention to continue the illegal siege and the threat of illegal military action.

On a positive note, the UN has called for an independant body to carry out War Crimes. I'm not a fan of the United Nations. Is it not up to them to defend the people of the world? Can they not do more than make a suggestion? Well appearently they can. The United Nations have announced that an investigation will take place into the attacks of the UN Headquarters. Not a perfect solution, but it is a start.

I am suprised to read of Ban Ki-moon's statement, at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"Over the past several weeks, unacceptable and terrible situations have taken place against the civilian people and against particularly the United Nations compounds, where many civilians were sheltered"

Ban Ki-moon also launch an appeal to raise money to help the rebuild of Gaza, and to provie aid to the 50,800 left homeless and the 400,000 left with out clean drinking water. However he stated that his aim for $613 Million would only cover the next six months of required aid. I'm may be one of only a few, but I don't see Egypt as innocent parties in this whole conflict, however I am please to hear that they intend to raise $2 Billion for Gaza.

However the United States, another nation that seems these days to be anti Islam and anti Palestinian has tried to throw yet another spanner in the works. Even with the new Leadership for whom so many held hope. Susan Rice, the new US ambassador to the Security Council has suggested that any Investigations should be carried out by the Israeli Government. She said

"We expect Israel will meet its international obligations to investigate and we also call upon all members of the international community to refrain from politicising these important issues"

How ridiculous it is, to actually try and convince the people of the World, that a State that indiscriminately destroyed the lifes of at least 1,000 families, by killing 1,300 people including men women and children, will carry out fair investigations into its own crime and punish itself. That is not only ridiculous, but an insult to the intellegance of the public, worldwide.

The 53 member body of the African Union has also called for investigations into the series of "massive, idiscriminate and disproportionate raids", and condemned Israeli action. The Irish Times has printed a full page of names for the IPSC, calling for justice. Over 350 people signed, and the add was paid for by the signatories.

To close here I would like to make a very harsh set of statements. Ehud Olmert and Tzipi Livni are murderers. They are two of a vast amount of Israelis who are. I am not calling Israelis murderers, but the men and women that helped to murder innocent civilians.

The United States, Sky TV, BBC, Dead Sea Spa, Marks and Spenser, Starbucks amoung many many more are sponsers of the murders, and are infac accessory to murder.

So people I urge you, for the cause of innocent people, to support the continuing Boycott of Israel, and their trade, which by International law, is actually illegal. I urge you to call on the governing bodies of your countries and states to condemn the Israeli treatment of Palestinian people, and to stop there trade with Israel and expel the Israeli ambassadors, just like Chavez. If you believe in Prayer, then pray for justice.

God Bless
Peace

"My Fellow Citizens"

So Due to illness my Blog has fallen silent for a few days. I've also decided all aspects of this blog that where about my social life will no longer be part of the writing, as it is fairly pointless and serves only to deter people. For now on, it shall be a place for me to voice and share my social and political views. I have a lot to say.

The inauguration of the 44th American President, Barack Hussein Obama, the First President of African American decent, took place on Tuesday.

This is a big event, not just for America, but globally. Due to the Financial Crisis worldwide, he will be scrutinised by everyone. In Iraq, and Afghanistan the current Wars demand attention. In Cuba, The Torture Chambers of Guantanamo Bay are crying out for attention. In Palestine the people fearfully wait to see if Obama will continue to support Israeli War Crimes. In Pakistan and Iran the people wait to hear will there be calls to war.

I don’t feel any President has come to office, with so many doubtful broken Souls, looking towards them for hope and peace.

Two million hopeful Americans crowed downtown Washington DC on Tuesday, to witness this Historical event. How I wanted to be among them. When asked, however, where I was when this took place I will say "I was at home, sharing a meal with my family". Not to bad an answer I reckon. His speech had no memorable moments such as "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself", as stated by Franklin D. Roosevelt. However some reporters called it the greatest Political speech they had ever heard. Well here is my review.

Less than Five minutes had elapsed and I heard more of the same we've been hearing for nearly 8 years. "Our nation is at war, against a far reaching network of Violence and Hatred". This is the same language that has created fear, terrorism, war and death, since the Bush Administration conceived the idea to invade Iraq, to finish his fathers work. However shortly after this, through talk of hope and equality my mind seemed to settle. Despite the reference of a Vietnam battle site as a proud American moment, I stayed confident; Confident for America.

However around the half way mark I became unsettled again, as he spoke of "facing down Fascism and communism" in the past. Although he spoke of his intentions to leave Iraq, I did not settle down much, especially upon hearing him say "We will not apologise for our way of life". He went on to discuss how America will not support "inducing terror and slaughtering innocents", and yet to date has still not condemned Israeli action in Gaza, but in fact only today defended it.

Addressing "The Muslim world", was a mistake as he almost seemed to be painting all the Arab and Muslim nations at terrorists. I assume this was not his intention, and that he had probably pent a while trying to work out the words to use here. However he did go on and accuse some of wanting to "sow conflict [and] blame their society’s ills on the west". As a sign of hope, he spoke of unclenching fists and extending hands and seeking "a new way forward, based on mutual respect". He went on to speak of helping the poor nations and suggested they could no longer consume the world’s resources. A pleasant change; he didn't once use the word Terrorist, which has be an overused buzzword, a tool of terrorism, by the Bush Administration.

Within 24 Hours of Office he requested the suspending of Guantanamo Trials, and has ordered it be closed in a year. He has began work on the removal of Troops from Iraq.

I'm not 100% sure how I feel, but its a little better than knowing Bush is running the worlds most powerful seat.

God Bless
Peace