RUSSIA: NGO Law Could Strengthen Civil Society, Group Argues January 31st, 2006
Dear Editors,
I am co-founder (along with Dr. Leon Irish) of two organizations that work on Not-for-Profit (ICNL, www.icnl.org) or Civil Society (ICCSL, www.iccsl.org) Law. Currently ICCSL is the only organization working world-wide on all aspects of civil society law. We have been asked to participate with the American Bar Association Section of International Law to make detailed comments on the Russian legislation as passed.
One thing to bear in mind is that the language of the law will need to be interpreted, and some of the current phrases might lead to interpretations that violate the freedom of association of certain Russain citizens. There is a long line of cases in the European Court of Human Rights that protect the freedom of association, but recent ones also make clear that the doctrine of “militant democracy” permits a state to control organizations that may seek to overthrow the legitimate order. The case of Refah Partisi is a case in point. It is altogether necessary to not over-react in these types of situations, as suggested by Dimitri Simes in recent interviews. Furthermore, Russia is subject to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights if it goes too far. A nuanced view also suggests that some of the provisions of the new law are necessary — there was virtually no after the fact regulation of NGOs in Russia until the new legislation was passed. Further, some of the most objectionable provisions with regard to foreign NGOs were removed…
Best wishes,
Karla W. Simon
Professor of Law
Chair, ICCSL
BRAZIL: An Energy Source Both Cheap and Eco-Friendly January 31st, 2006
Dear Editor,
An interesting article. Clearly an improvement over current hydro-electric schemes requiring huge dam structures. I hope they’re able to produce a viable large scale system. A couple of points of contention though:
1. Although it would avoid many of the negative environmental impacts associated with a dam it would still have some. Turbulence induced by the rotors would stir up sediments and increase turbidity which could have negative impacts on some aquatic species.
2. Wind power is actually one of the cheapest forms of electricity generation even without subsidies which is why it is currently the world’s fastest growing energy source. It is only an eyesore when improperly sited.
It does kill birds but the numbers are tiny compared to those killed by domestic cats. Wind power, like any energy source, has its pros and cons but it seems a shame to promote one environmentally beneficial technology by knocking down another.
3. $450,000/MW is not half the cost of a gas powered thermoelectric power plant. Modern combined-cycle gas turbines can be installed for less than $500,000/MW (in the US anyway).
4. It would be true to say that the operating costs would be much lower than gas but I don’t see how they’d be much lower than wind and other forms of hydro-electricity? Its completely untrue to infer that the operating
costs of nuclear are cheaper than wind and hydro. In any case it’s irrelevant to compare the economic benefits of one technology over another by only taking operating costs into account. When considering overall costs (including cost of capital, rate of depreciation, waste disposal, environmental and public health etc.) nuclear invariably turns out the loser.
Regards,
Matt Huxley
Portland, OR, USA
*****
Dear Editor:
Very good article. Unable to get in touch with Eco Hydro Energy Ltd. Vancouver. What is their web site?
William Salmond
Editor’s Note: Their web site is: www.ecohydroenergy.net
FINANCE: Donors Threaten Aid Cut After Hamas Win January 30th, 2006
Dear Editor:
I am very troubled by the stories circulating since the Hamas victory last week regarding the potential end to funding the new PA government. Your article was very informative and I thank you for the objectivity it showed. There is one point that has not been made by any news services in the series of articles recently and that is the hypocrisy of withholding aid to Hamas. All comments regarding withholding aid have mentioned Hamas’ use of terrorism in opposition to the state of Israel and its occupation of the West Bank. Some have correctly noted that Hamas has, for the most part, kept to the terms of the cease-fire requested and imposed last year. The same cannot be said for the PIJ and the Al Aqsa Brigades or for the Israelis for that matter. What makes this hypocrisy is that everyone knows that the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade IS the armed wing of Fatah. So why was nobody waving any flags when money was being given to Fatah knowing full well that their militia was launching attacks in defiance of the cease fire? Here in America, we actually spent some 2 million dollars in the run-up to the election to support Fatah, once again knowing full well that that AAMB were responsible for breaking the cease fire. Also, we do not place any such restrictions on aid to Israel. We have seen killings of innocent civilians as collateral damage in the IDF assasinations of Palestinian terror suspects for years yet know one says anything about cutting off their funding. Just in the short time since the Hamas victory there have been two killings of Palestinian children, one nine-year-old girl who got too close to a security fence and was shot by IDF snipers in the stomach and head and one thirteen-year-old boy who was shot in the back while walking on a “Isreali only” road. Could that not be considered terrorism and therefore a catalyst to withhold financial aid to Israel ?
I have no problem with keeping a close watch on Hamas to make sure they govern in a resposible manner, but we need to avoid making rash judgments regarding aid to an extremely impoverished semi-state that can ill afford to lose any outside funding. We also need to cut back on the blatant hypocracy of our Middle East policies in general.
World Social Forum: Politicization Vs “Purity” Debate Comes to a Head January 30th, 2006
Dear Editors,
The World Social Forum may be the incubator of ideas, maybe the place where revolutions start, but it can’t be anything more than a catalyst. The actual revolution cannot occur at an annual gathering of idealists, but must be implemented by those idealists every day, in every place. They have to decide to take the ideal to the local level and implement it every day. They have to convince a sizable number of people, currently beholden to capital, that there is a better way. That better way is local self-sufficiency, which does a number of things. First, it ensures health, with increased exercise and nutrition, reduced work and stress, creates a cleaner environment and better communities. Second, it provides economic opportunity by promoting local trade, local supply, local demand. Third, it reduces dependence on the capitalist. Fourth, it reduces the power of the capitalist. Fifth, it forces the capitalist to accept the people’s terms. The idealist has to accept that the capitalist does not do dialog. The capitalist only does dollars.
WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: A Loud, Multicoloured ‘No’ to Imperialism and War January 28th, 2006
Dear Editor:
Simon Bolivar rides again, and will be remembered forever, along with Chavez, Sheehan, Morales, Castro, et al; the putative New Roman Empire of the Neo-cons was doomed from its inception. How goes the adage? You may fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time but never, all of the people all of the time! I reckon Iran will put the headstone on the dead body of the illusionists in America who have been hoisted on their own petard.
POLITICS-MIDEAST: Hamas Upset Rattles Bush Strategy January 27th, 2006
Dear Editor:
Though a noble, albeit impractical, cause of attempting to democratize the Middle East through political pressure and war exists as a matter of policy under the Bush Administration, the Palestinian elections exposed the policy’s inherent weakness.
Sure, it may be great in theory that there are elections being held in various places throughout the Middle East, however, as we see in the Hamas v. Fatah case, groups that the Bush policy targets to eradicate are actually gaining strength.
The policy assumes, falsely it seems, that people in the Middle East also want to eradicate these groups.
I think the Bush Administration should think twice next time it applies pressure on say, Egypt, or any other “democratic” nation in the Middle East, for a “free and fair” election if it means Mubarak gets unseated by the Muslim Brotherhood.
I noted that you have used the confusing term “The Gulf” instead of the historical and internationally recognized term “Persian Gulf” in one of your recent stories: POLITICS-US: The Demagogue Neocons Love to Hate
There are many gulfs on this planet. I would like to point out that according to all historical/geographical documents, also United Nations’ directives, the name of this waterway which separates Iran (Persia) from Arabian Peninsula is the PERSIAN GULF.
PERSIAN GULF is also the only term used by the U.S. Department of State and the National Geographic Society… even Arab scholars until the 1960s used “Al-Khalij Al-Farsi” (Arabic name of the “Persian Gulf”.
May I ask you to kindly use the proper term in that article? Thanks so much for your attention.
Sincerely,
Pejman Akbarzadeh
Member of “ARTISTS WITHOUT FRONTIERS” (Tehran Chapter)
http://artistswithoutfrontiers.com/pakbarzadeh/index.html
SRI LANKA: World’s Patience with Tamil Tigers Ebbs January 25th, 2006
Dear Sir
The International community is right to condemn the LTTE while recognising that the Tamils have genuine grievances. What is required is for the International community to insist that the LTTE allow other Tamil parties to function and exercise their rights. They should be told that under no circumstances should any Tamil politiican be harassed or prevented from exercisng his human rights and freedom to participate in politics not only in the government controlled territory but even in the LTTE controlled territory. Tamil politicians should be allowed to visit LTTE areas and their human rights protected. If the LTTE wants to win the Tamil demands it must accommodate Tamil dissent.
R.M.B. Senanayake
*****
Dear Editor:
The conflict in Sri Lanka cannot and should not be simplified, as the root causes are many. However one of the main reasons why the ruthless LTTE terrorists are getting away with heinous crimes is the double standards of some in the West. Unless the definition of a terrorist and a terrorist act is universally applied, irrespective of whether the victims are Westerners and Western interests.
Kith de Silva
Australia
*****
Dear Editor,
Your article is more fair and balanced. I am a Sri Lankan(Singhalese) living abroad and always concerned about the grave situation in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Tamils (especially) were way better off before all these conflicts. I believe there had been some discrimination against Tamils in the past. That should not be a reason to divide the country. Some form of discrimination happens even in developed countries. If you examine the real fact about Tamils living in other part of Sri Lanka, you will find they lead a very comfortable and luxurious life in Colombo and other major cities. There are lots of flourishing businesses in southern part of the country run and owned by Tamils. No Singhalese can buy a block of land or run a business in Jaffna. But any Tamil can buy any property, any land with out a single objection in Colombo or any other major cities . Singhalese are also discriminated. But some Tamil extremist tell the world there are totally forbidden or discriminated by majority Singhalese. If country is divided Tamil area and Singhalese area, will Tamils living in Colombo relocate to Jaffna? I believe we should not be divided and should live together. I think Tamils who are supportive of extremist and extremist should tell the world the truth.
Thanks.
Sincerely ,
J. Atukorala
*****
Dear Editor: Well said! I am so happy to see true news like this,
Susanthri
*****
Dear Editor(s)
There has been nothing if not very limited coverage by organizations such as IPS regarding the ongoing militia activity and the plight of ordinary people. The so-called agencies for “global voice” such as IPS news agency is ignoring the plight of these people, why? These stories such as by Macan Markar is just propaganda by journalists with a political agenda in Colombo, by a government who is turning a blind eye on civilian deaths. Have any of your journalists been to the north-east of Sri Lanka?
Thank you
K Thirukumaran
*****
Dear Editor:
There is a difference between analysis and opinion.
The title of the above article is misleading. It is not an analysis, it is just an opinion of Mr Marwaan Macan-Markar. Analysis is when you study or examine something in detail, in order to discover more about it. On the other hand, Opinion is thought or belief about something by some one person or group of people.
The author looked at Mr Nicholas Burns’s statement, and obviously read some other news, to come out with his opinion. There is so much information available from the international press to do a proper analysis…
…As an editor, I hope you moderate your articles with bit more sincerity to your readers. It is a free world, people can express their comments, opinions. But anlysis is bit more than that, need professional attiude
to do it properly.
Yours truly,
Kollenkalledi
*****
Dear sir:
This is the best analitycal report for the last 6 months in all media. Please accept my honor.
Dr Tissa Kulatunge
Moscow - Russia
*****
Dear Editor:
Why don’t you codenn the government of Sri Lanka’s attrocities on civilian Tamils? Your analysis is partial as we understand you are a “Journalist” who is on the govenment of Sri Lanka’s payroll and especially the Muslims like you.
It is not a suprise to us Tamils, we are aware of the Muslims switching sides with whichever government in power, that has been the case ever since 1948.
SOCIETY: Peace Can Be a Lot of Fun in Belgrade January 21st, 2006
Dear Editor:
I am glad that finally the truth is out for the others who “know” the Serbs through the media propaganda.
I am happy to see that the real Serbian spirit is still there regardless of all what was done to them. We still will never forget about the “real” Croatian spirit of hate and prejudices.
We will never forget WWII Genocide of Serbs in Croatia and what Hitler did not succeed then the new generation did today. The Serbs have one serious hadicap named “FORGIVENESS” for what the Croats do not deserve - particularly when they are playing the “victims” - of what and from whom?
I hope that these visitors from Croatia will not forget good will of the Serbs as their parents did.
I am sure that they missed “their” Serbs since they are none (almost) left there today. I am the survivor of the WWII ethnic cleansing in fascist Croatia and I managed to have Croats for friends after all. Actually, they needed us. Who else would be forgiving? You probably expected some old song about “how wonderful is everything again”
SRI LANKA: US Promises Aid Against Tigers January 21st, 2006
Dear Editor,
“At a time when the United States is promoting new democracies globally, it is also imperative to nurture existing democracies, and to protect democracies under siege — as in Sri Lanka, he added. ”
As the above lines indicate, US and the international community have to recognise the democratic will of the Tamils who voted for the pro LTTE Tamil MPs overwhelmingly and boycotted (almost 100%) the recent presidential election and US and its allies still keeping their head in the sand and keeping up their favourite LTTE bashing without any evidence.
On the contrary, the Sri Lankan racist governments have been continuing to kill more and more Tamils, journalists and MPs without remorse or condemnation of the international community.
The island never be under one rule before the British joined together without people consent as they done all over the world.
We Tamils have every right to have our country separated becuasu not we wanted to but because of the SRILANKAN CONTINUING SYSTEMATIC ETHNIC CLEANSING POLICY WHICH ALREADY STOLEN 7000 SQUARE MILES OF TAMIL LAND AND KILLED MORE THAN 100000 INNOCENT TAMILS SINCE 1948.
IT IS ABOUT TIME TO STOP THE SOUNDBITES OF THE NAZI SRILANKA ABOUT PEACE WHILE DOING EVERYTHING TO SABOTAGE AGAINST PEACE.
CAN ANY SANE PERSON THINK THAT THE NAZI BARBARIC SRILANKAN GOVERNMENT, CANNOT (WON’T) EVEN AGREE TO SHARE THE INTERNATIONAL TSUNAMI AID TO THE WORST AAFECTED TAMIL AREAS, CAN AGREE TO SOLVE THE ETHNIC PROBLEM LET ALONE IMPLEMENT IT??
IT IS ABOUT TIME THE UNITED NATIONS SHOULD HOLD A REFERENDUM IN THE TAMIL AREAS, LIKE THE ONE HELD IN THE EAST TIMOR, TOI SOLVE THE ISSUE ONCE AND FOR ALL TO SAVE THE LIVES OF INNOCENT TAMILS, SINHALESE AND MUSLIMS.
THANKS
Senthi Selliah
*****
Editor,
Thalif Deen’s article contains so many lies it might win a “fiction” award in some veddah land.
It is sad that “Asia Tribune” [NOTE: The Asia Tribune published this IPS story] contributes to such malicious lies and false statements on a continued basis, and under whose direction we all begin to wonder.
The Tamils will counter these lies in the appropriate fora as well as with the appropriate authorities and officials. GOSL is not patient but it is impotent, and are unable to attack a perceived but unseen enemy, without serious military ramifications Islandwide, as well as disastrous economic consequences. This President has single handedly contributed in the loss of 30 per cent loss in the stock market in less than 60 days and the future is nothing but doom and gloom.
Under Secretary Nicholas Burns arrival in Colombo was planned many weeks ago, and it is again difficult for him to study the ground realities if he only listens to the propaganda and lies of one party to the conflict. That will never serve the United States well, and on the contrary US will be ill served…
…Being a Tamil, it is sad and distressing to see what you are doing. Please take note that your actions only causes aggravation, and may inhibit the possibilities of resolving this ethnic conflict in a peaceful manner. There is no purpose in you adding fuel to the fire, which already is burning in an uncontrolled manner.
I kindly request you once again to conduct yourself and the website in a respectful manner which will contribute to peaceful co-existence of the two communities and not increased hatred with all the misleading statements and malicious lies.
Please be guided accordingly,
Donald Jayantha Gnanakone
*****
Dear Editor:
Where do you idiots get this information? State dept. has not confirmed this story, except laughing at you guys for the standard of journalism that is being adhered.
Amaran
Concerned citizen of Sri Lanka
*****
Dear Sir: Thank you very much for your article about the the political situation in Sri Lanka’ north and east.
I would like to remind you that the LTTE is not a freedom movement for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. It is an organisation which carries out terrorist activities against its own people whom they promise to protect. They have deprived the Tamil people their democratic rights. For example, during the last presidential election in Sri Lanka (in November 2005) the LTTE banned the Tamil people from voting. They also murdered M. A. Amirthalingam, who was a Leader of the Opposition in Sri Lankan parliament and an active politician who was fighting for the rights of the Tamil people. They also have killed the mayors of Jaffna city and their Tamil political opponents.
I am an expatriate Sri Lankan living in Australia. It is well known that the LTTE collects vast amounts of funds in the western countries to carry out its violent activities against the government of Sri Lanka. They collect the money by threatening the Tamils in those countries. Due to these activities of the LTTE, the Tamils living in the West and also in Sri Lanka live in fear.
Was disappointed you don’t require your correspondents to get both sides of an issue.
The story you have posted to your web site only contains quotes with people upset with the prudent, proactive security measures U.S. and Iraqi security forces are taking to make Bayji a safer place.
People are safe to drive the road from Tikrit to Mosul again because of the efforts of Iraqi soldiers and police working in concert with U.S. forces, including this berming operation.
The Bayji refinery is back in operation again, providing fuels for heating and cooking homes, increasing generation of electricity, allowing the Iraqi economy to recover and grow, and building a positive future for the people of Salah ah Din Province and the rest of Iraq.
Frequent attacks against Iraqi civilians, Iraqi police and Soldiers, and coalition forces in the Bayji area have abated. Local Iraqi government and tribal leaders understand that Iraq’s future demands security before anything else is possible, and they are supporting coalition commanders’ efforts to establish and reinforce the rule of law in northwest Salah ah Din Province.
We look forward to more vigorous efforts to balance your coverage. Otherwise, you risk contributing to terrorists’ deliberate disinformation efforts.
V/R,
Lt. Col. Ed Loomis
Public Affairs Officer
Task Force Band of Brothers
Forward Operating Base Speicher
Tikrit, Iraq
ENVIRONMENT-URUGUAY: Pulp Mills and the Clean Technology Debate January 20th, 2006
Gentlemen:
Considering the controversy that has raised around the installation of these mills on Uruguayan territory, it will be necessary that independent groups continue to investigate if these projects will indeed affect the environment of Uruguay and Argentina in an important level. It will be the only way to trust in the information that reaches us as citizens of both countries.
I personally doubt that the Kraft process enables any company to control environmental contamination through waste treatment. At least, I would like to know if the Uruguayan authorities would allow this industry to be placed in the center of their country. It is more likely to assume that the Uruguay River will be used as a big toilet for the mills.
Third, but not less important, is the ecological impact that the new wood plantations will have on the Uruguayan landscape, and on the long run, on their neighbours.
MEDIA-BALKANS: It’s Dangerous to Tackle Taboos in Croatia January 20th, 2006
Dear Editor:
What does Gotovina have to do with the TV show “Latinica”? The show incited the debate in the parliament only by a part of the parliament. The Party SDP left the debate, and it (led by some right wing Tudjman admirors) did not result in any restrictions, any legal or political conclusions that would help the freedom of speech or any other democratic standard. Denis Latin, the editor of the show, continued to work at the national TV, and his last week’s “Latinica” dealt with refugees, with the main focus of Serbian refugees, while others were hardly mentioned (and that was not the topic). However, nor the public authorities or Croatian public reacted to this lack of professionalism. As you can see, it is not dangerous to tackle taboos in Croatia.
P.S. Why is the “story” coming from Belgrade? Shouldn’t you speak about the neo-fascist parties that are on power in Serbia, or meeting like that in Ravna Gora? Or that’s not news at all?
Yours tiredly,
Irena Gluhak
ECONOMY-EU: Portugal - Still Lagging January 19th, 2006
Dear Editor:
Sometimes reality hurts, but the truth will free us from ego trips that we keep on taking down this economic sliding. I’ve lived in Canada for the past 25 years,and keep in touch with the Portuguese reality, and makes me sad and at the same time happy, that the country is doing so badly. As long as this camouflaged grandeur prevails in everyone’s minds, the country is doomed.Let it slide, let it slide.
WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Cynicism and Hope Ahead of the Bamako Gathering January 18th, 2006
Dear Editor:
I cannot help but feel affronted by the utter lack of mentioning that the EU, particular member states UK and France highly subsidize their agricultural market (to include cotton) to an extent well above that of the USA, and furthermore that the EU is a much greater trade partner of these goods in the global market, particularly as the major trading partner with Africa.
It is not right to sequester the USA as the target of anxious and poor African peoples who are troubled over the lack of markets for their products.
POLITICS: Women’s Anti-War Petition Circles the Globe January 18th, 2006
Dear Editor:
Thank you for printing this article. I am a member of Code Pink and greatly appreciate your press coverage since most news outlets won’t touch this subject.
The article is well written and GREATLY appreciated.
POLITICS-US: Bush Seeks His Enemies’ Help in Iraq January 18th, 2006
Dear Sir,
The quality of your information and writing are remarkable. May I suggest you, especially for the time being, to better inform us on the subject of the nuclear confrontation between the US and Iran ?
I think this conflict illustrates how bad are the information sources of the G. W. Bush administration, how deep their thinking (… if any !) is influenced by theocratic opinions instead of factual analysis and a true willingness to improve the overall situation in this very strange world.
On a completely different subject, could you consider making donation more easily available for your European readers? A simple solution would, for instance, be the opening of a bank account with a US bank for instance in Brussels. Many Europeans are used to pay by electronic find transfer from their bank to another. And these payment made in euros are free when they occur between EU banks.
Thank you for your efforts,
Sincerely yours,
Jean-Paul Ghys
Belgium
[EDITOR’S NOTE: IPS is working to facilitate donations from readers who wish to support our efforts. In the meantime, to make a donation using the Paypal system, click on the “make a donation” button in the right-hand column of our stories. Thank-you!]
DISARMAMENT: Nations Urged to Create Gun-Free Zones January 18th, 2006
Dear Editor:
The UN would love to do this kind of crap in the United States. The only thing I would say to the UN is go to hell and get out of the United States!
Jay Shuffleburg
*****
Dear Editor:
The UN needs to get out of the United States. The United States is a free and independent country. We will not be dictated to by third world tyrants.
The best thing that could happen is that the United States pull out of the UN. Enough of supporting idiots.
RE HAFNER
*****
Dear Editor:
It’s none of the United Nations’ business who owns firearms and who does not. Gun free zones are STUPID! Firearms save countless lives every year! Gun free zones invite criminals like a flashing Neon sign! No one is ever going to take my firearms without a firefight! What do you gun grabbers think about that?
WORLD SOCIAL FORUM: Will the Bamako Meeting Tackle Africa’s Sore Spots? January 17th, 2006
Dear Editor:
Tomorrow I will go as “Friend of Africa” to the WSF in Bamako. I agree with what is stated in the article that is will be a missed opportunity for the African civil society not to address good governance, transparancy and accountability issues. The African social movement should give information to their constituency and the public in general to become a force to push the government to change their policies. In solidarity with the people of countries like Ethiopie and Uganda, the WSF should support civil society organisation fighting for real democrcary in their country. Democracy is needed to have the space for the people and the civil society to force governement to implement real pro-poor policies. So more budget for agriculture, education and health.
POLITICS: UN Probes Peacekeeping Contracts Fraud January 17th, 2006
Hi - Just one question about an otherwise useful and informative article: Why is 41 billion dollars spent on peacekeeping operations worldwide since 1948 “staggering”? That is less than one billion per year (closer to 2/3 of a billion per year). Right now, how much does the U.S. spend PER MONTH on the war in Iraq? What is the annual U.S. defence budget (or the annual NATO defence budget)? Those are “staggering” figures.
Please try to keep good reporting factual, and avoid that sort of over-statement.
Thanks,
Alistair Edgar
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Canada
RUSSIA: Suspicions Fall on NGOs January 17th, 2006
Mr. Klomegah,
I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, (LDS). I live in Arizona, USA. I have had friends a relatives who have served as missionaries for our church all over the world, including some of the areas what were apart of the former USSR.
I liked your article and found it well written and balanced. I would like to make some comments.
It seems quite possible to me that some NGOs are doing underhanded things that are contrary to the laws in yours and many other countries. If that is the case, I could see why your government is upset. I am familiar with some other Christian churches who, in the spreading of their particular religious beliefs, with altruistic zeal, routinely operate counter to the laws existing in the country they operate in and feel morally justified in doing so.
However, this is not true of the LDS. It is apart of our religious code and belief that we to operate subject to the laws and governments where our members live. We always have been encouraged to be good, law-abiding citizens. In fact, they want us to be the best possible citizen we can be.
Even here in America, the church leadership works very hard to stay neutral on political issues. In local, state or national politics, our leadership does not allow our buildings or our official meetings to be used to promote candidates for office or back legislation except for a few times when such legislation involves moral issues directly related to church activities…
…It is my hope that your government in its quest to rightfully prevent underhanded and subversive activities by some NGO’s, that it does not stop the freedom of choice of your citizens in choosing a religious belief system that best suits their own conscience.
Eric Bunker
*****
Dear Editor,
It is unfortunate that rumors continue to persist that missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are “spies”. I served a mission for the Church in the Philippines as a young man 28 years ago, and the same rumors were persistent then. I now have a son serving as a missionary in Brazil. I have three more sons, all looking forward to serving missions as ambassadors of Christ’s message in all parts of the world. As members of His Church, we know many will not be interested in the message, but we also know that many will find great joy and personal benefit in Christ’s teachings. As a parent, I am in awe that so many of our young men and young women willingly sacrifice 1-1/2 or 2 years of their lives with the sole intent of serving others selflessly. As a father of one of these young missionaries, I plead with you to overcome any mistrust or unfair misjudgments concerning their ministry, and treat them with the love and respect you would desire for your children.
Sincerely,
Douglas S. Pike
Lompoc, California, USA
*****
Dear Editor:
The numbers you cite regarding the LDS presence in Russia are not accurate. I served for three years in a leadership position over one of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia, returning to the USA in July 2001.
Members of the Church are referred to as “Saints”. There are about 15,000 members of the Church, or “Saints”, in Russia. However, there are only about 800 missionaries serving in Russia at the present. These two-year volunteers serve at their own expense. Their ages are from 19 to 23 on the average. A little over two-thirds come from the United States. However, about one-fourth come from within Russia or other former Soviet countries. Hope this is helpful for you.
SRI LANKA: Media Targeted as Civil War Looms Large January 17th, 2006
Dear Sir,
Media freedom is rare in Sri Lanka. Freedom of media was the first loser to in this civil war. The ultimate loser was the aspirations of the Tamils.
Western media published only what they were fed by the Government-controlled media. Thus whole world didn’t ever come to know the whole truth behind the TamiL struggle. Thus Tamils struggle has been understood as terrorism, which has been actually a reaction to actions of the armed forces of Sri Lanka.
IRAN: ‘Air Strikes Under Consideration’ January 14th, 2006
Dear Editor:
In regard to your article of January 13, I believe in consideration of the aggressive rhetoric by the USA & Europe several key pieces of information need to be considered to provide context:
- Iran is in full compliance with all IEAE charters and programs which provide the right to have nuclear facilities for energy production such as Canada, USA, UK etc.
- Iran has provided full access to IEAE observers and investigators to its sights throughout the country.
- Iran has made open offers for business partnership programs to include companies from USA which would provide full transparency and objective accountability in all nuclear development and reactor operations.
- IEAE inspectors do not have any evidence of any activities that indicate development of nuclear bombs.
- Israel has a fully developed nuclear program with 200+ nuclear armed missiles with payload delivery of several thousand of km
- Israel is not a signatory of IEAE Safeguards Agreements and does not allow any inspection of its nuclear research and production sites.
- Iran has with assistance from major UK based consultancy firms developed a Euro denominated oil exchange which would compete with the London and New York exchanges.
- The activation of the Iranian oil Bourse would undermine the supremacy of the US $ in the energy markets and would have significant impact on the valuation of U$ dollar.
For background on these items I would suggest reading numerous articles by Gordon Prather at http://www.antiwar.com/prather/?articleid=8365
Also go to http://www.energybulletin.net/2913.html for lead article and additional related on Home page.
TRADE: Delays Hit US-Central America Pact January 14th, 2006
To the editor:
I don’t know whose “US” economy the USTR [Trade Representative] Portman was talking about. NAFTA [North American Free Trade Agreement] did not help–at all–most workers in the US. It just made it easier for US companies to move their operations down to Mexico. NATFA has made it easier for the US to try to bully Canada, it has made a very small number of people in the US even richer than they were before (and thanks to Bush and the GOP’s taxcuts, richer and richer) and it has made it much more difficult–if not impossible–to enforce what pollution control laws Bush has left in force (for example, Mexican trucks coming into the US–as is now allowed–do not have to meet air pollution standards of the US) and has severely hampered (if not ended) Mexico’s ability to enforce its pollution control laws against US industry in plants/factories in Mexico. There was a notorious pollution case a few years ago–where the plant was clearly releasing a great number of toxins–result? Under NAFTA, nothing could be done to stop the pollution or get compensation, etc.
It would be nice if the article didn’t end on an ‘official’ statement that NAFTA’s been a great thing. Many people opposed it because it wouldn’t be a good thing and if fact it has NOT been a good thing for many many people in the US, in Mexico and Canada. It would’ve been a much more useful and balanced article had some of the above issues been raised.
It’s quite clear that the reason some in the US favor ‘free trade’ is that it’s NOT free trade–otherwise the US would not be forcing acceptance by other nations of heavily protected and extreme rights for Big Pharma and anyone else with a powerful US lobby. Free means free, thus if trade were truly “free” then the other CAFTA nations could sell their generic drugs in the US provided they met FDA standards for purity, etc. But that’s not what happens, is it? Why does your article not even bother to discuss how ‘free’ is defined by the US? It’s clearly not the dictionary definition and even more clearly, free takes on different (even almost opposite) meanings depending on what industry or product you’re talking about.
VENEZUELA: US Neo-Cons Accuse Chavez of Anti-Semitism January 14th, 2006
Dear Editor:
The problem is that Chavez’s comments were indeed anti-Semitic, regardless of the agenda of the neocons at the Weekly Standard. Only someone oblivious to history wouldn’t understand the reference to the descendants of those who killed Christ who have more than their share of the world’s riches to mean Jews, not Romans. I read things like this and think President Bush might be the lesser of two evils.
Jake Hewitt
*****
Dear Editor:
That Chavez is a Christian is not the question, he was speaking at Christmas-time to a group of his people, in simple language. This is the only paragraph that deals with the history of oppression in Bolivia and the one that some have labelerd anti-Semetic. Unless one agrees that it was the Jews and not Rome that crucified Jesus (among other Jews and opponents) or that anyone accuses Jews of killing Simon Bolivar how can one interpret Chavez as blaming the Jews, when Chavez says: “A minority who seized the gold of the planet, the
minerals, the water,” etc. For someone to intimate that the ‘minority’ Chavez refers to means Jews is to accept that the Jews were that minority, rather than Rome, people and nations with wealth and power.
When Chavez further says: ” the decendants of the same who threw Bolivar out of here and also crucified him in their own way in Santa Marta,” how can anyone interpret that as refering to anyone other than those Imperial powers that occupied the “new world.”
Translation mine, Ben.
President Chavez: “(after greetings) This morning I had finished reading the last information from the United Nations about the alarming situation world situation and it is alarming and because of it I say today that more than ever, in 2005, we lack Jesus Christ, because the world, the world, is ending every day, the riches of the earth, because God, nature is wise, the world has enough water so that we all can have enough, the world has sufficient riches, land sufficient to produce food for the whole world, it has enough stones and minerals for
construction so no one need be shelterless. The world has enough for all, however the result is that a minority, the descendants of the same that crucified Christ, the decendants of the same who threw Bolivar out
of here and also crucified him in their own way in Santa Marta, there in Columbia. A minority who seized the gold of the planet, the minerals, the water, the good lands the oil, the riches, and have concentrated them in a few hands: less than 10% of the people of the world own half of the riches of the whole world..more than half of those who populate the planet are poor and every day there are more poor in the whole world…”
DEVELOPMENT-US/IRAQ: Bush’s New Multilateralism January 14th, 2006
Dear Editor:
This article evokes the frisson of obvious duplicity on the part of the current US administration. For Rumsfeld to suggest that the UN should now rebuild Iraq is outrageous. The British and US plutocrats totally circumvented and ignored the international opinions of the UN before the invasion of Iraq. They created multibillion dollar defense profits for their fellow corporate imperialists and partisan plunder contractors and are now entering phase three of the original Wolfowitz-Feith plan, the invasion of Iran leaving behind a fatally wounded, hungry, smoldering, incapacitated and dysfunctional Iraq. This is the neocon notion of liberating democracy American style.
For Rumsfeld to utter such a statement is indicative of his remorseless disrespect for the UN, the Arab world and its 200 million people as well as global public opinion, including that of America itself. It’s disgusting.
I’m sure the majority of Iraqis would beg god to bring back the stability of Hussein’s Iraq over this excuse of a democracy.
MALAYSIA: Minorities Demand Protection From Islamic Laws January 13th, 2006
Dear Editor:
Correction: The Malays are referred to as “indigenous” in this article. In fact, when Malays migrated to the peninsula several millennia ago, many peoples were already living there; their descendants are the indigenous people of Malaysia. The Orang Asli (as they are collectively known) are a diverse and scattered group: some
practice Islam, some Christianity, and some their own religious practices. It is strange that they are not mentioned even under “other smaller racial groups such as Eurasians.” Some of the indigenous have also had conflicts with the encroachment of Islam.
Perhaps this is the result of majoritarian efforts to conflate the indigenous with the dominant culture (as is happening here in India) thus denying them an independent political and cultural identity.
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