DEVELOPMENT-PAKISTAN: Major MDG Initiative Winds Down July 31st, 2008
Dear Editors,
This is really heart breaking news for 86,000 families, in this crucial time period when each and every family member has to work hard to earn as they may run their families but this GOVT has destroyed their hopes.
Kindly release the funds and get the prayers of 86,000 families.
AGRICULTURE-CUBA: Fresh Produce for City-Dwellers July 31st, 2008
Dear Editors,
While there are two aspects of Cuba’s urban farming industry worth emulating - low, organic-based inputs and integrating farming into the built environment, it’ economics don’t translate to the developed world. What is needed here is an economically viable sustainable farming system that can be deployed quickly and comprehensively. SPIN-Farming provides such a system. Developed by Canadian farmer Wally Satzewich, SPIN is a franchise-ready farming system that makes it possible to earn significant income from growing vegetables on land bases under an acre in size. SPIN farmers utilize relay cropping to increase yield and achieve good economic returns by growing only the most profitable food crops tailored to local markets.
SPIN’s growing techniques are not, in themselves, breakthrough. What is novel is the way a SPIN farm business is run. SPIN provides everything you’d expect from a good franchise: a business plan, marketing advice, and a detailed day-to-day workflow. In standardizing the system and creating a reproducible process it really isn’t any different from McDonalds. By offering a non-technical, easy-to-understand, and inexpensive-to-implement farming system, it allows many more people to farm, wherever they live, as long as there are nearby markets to support them, and it removes the two big barriers to entry – sizeable acreage and significant start-up capital.
Every day more and more entrepreneurs are using SPIN’s franchise-ready farming system as an entry point into the farming profession. They are using front lawns and backyards and neighborhood lots as their land base. Perhaps most importantly, this is happening without significant policy changes or government supports. This is entirely entrepreneurially-driven. This is not subsistence farming. This is recasting farming as a small business in cities and towns and integrating it into the built environment in an economically viable manner. It is “right sizing” agriculture for an urbanized century and helping to make local food production a viable business proposition once again.
POLITICS: Bush Forced al-Maliki to Back Down on Pullout in 2006 July 30th, 2008
Dear Editors,
The June 2006 Iraqi plan for peace that Mr. Porter refers to (THANK YOU, MR. PORTER) also carried a plea that the US and other coalition forces stop attacking private residences in their War-on-Terror zeal to hunt down persons labeled as terrorists, in the process killing thousands of Iraqi civilians. We are now doing the same in Afghanistan, with similar results.
Our Congress should repeal its authorization of military force against terror. The Iraqi parliament must under no conditions approve those disastrous oil agreements that would guarantee a US presence forever and must tell, not ask, the US to leave. The UN must refuse to extend its permission for the US to remain in Iraq beyond the end of 2008. Mr. Maliki and others who oppose our occupation should speak out strongly against our illegal occupation, joining el-Sadr and his mentors and supporters in the parliament and the general population in solid support of Iraq’s right to sovereignty.
It is not isolationism to insist that the US give up the neocon dream of Empire, starting with Iraq, but rather a return to sanity.
CUBA-MXICO: Obstculos en camino a Estados Unidos July 27th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Un articulo que define muy bien el sentido de las conversaciones para lograr acuerdos migratorios, favorables sobre todos a los gobiernos de ambos países. Aunque en materia de análisis del problema migratorio cubano, no lo considero realmente profundo, dando una visión muy general de la problemática, pues hace énfasis en la emigracion de los nacionales de la isla como la búsqueda del “sueño americano”, pero se olvida que también existe para muchos “la pesadilla cubana”. La cantidad de normativas reglamentaciones y prohibiciones que pone el gobierno de Cuba a cualquier ciudadano, que intente salir el país , es violatoria de los derechos que tiene cualquier ser humano en el mundo, con las contadas excepciones. El que les escribe forma parte de esos miles que se han visto forzados por el régimen al abandono de su patria, al negarseme arbitrareamente el permiso de residir en México con mi esposa , ciudadana mexicana, dandome solamente y después de casi un año de reclamaciones , un permiso de salida temporal, para posteriormente, a mi regreso recomenzar los tramites, con la espera de mas de tres años para un nuevo permiso y los pagos correspondientes, ante esta comprobable realidad me vi forzado a decidir entre quedarme de forma definitiva con mi esposa en México o continuar así el juego impuesto por el régimen de la Habana, para el cual ya formo parte del inmenso ejercito de “desertores que abandonan su país” , habiendo perdido los derechos de propiedad y la posibilidad de mi jubilacion despues de treinta años de trabajo . Situaciones como esta que les refiero las hay por miles en mi patria y no son responsabilidad de ninguna política externa, si no del trato despótico e injusto que recibe todo nacional que pretende sin el visto bueno oficial iniciar un tramite migratorio.
Cierto que son múltiples las causas de la emigracion en Cuba, dentro de las que se encuentran , las económicas y familiares , pero sin obviar la difícil forma de vida de los cubanos en un régimen cerrado y dogmático, carente de toda libertad, no olvidemos el aumento en el numero de personas que abandonan delegaciones oficiales, deportivas , culturales y científicas, aun habiendo pasado una rigurosa selección para poder formar parte de esas delegaciones y misiones. No olvidemos el bochornoso trato dado a la Dra Hilda Molina y a su madre como castigo por su postura ante el régimen. El gobierno cubano es un manipulador de realidades y trata únicamente de imponer sus condiciones, en algo tan antiguo, sensible y universal como lo es el tema migratorio.
Muchas gracias por dar la posibilidad de opinar sobre sus artículos.
POLITICS-INDIA: Costly Vote of Confidence July 27th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Manmohan Singh, a former vice president of the World bank can be held in high esteem because he stood by his firm belief that the U.S Indian nuclear deal was in the best interests of India and risked his career and the future of his government even after the left parties propping up his government withdrew support. His leader, Sonia Gandhi, too should share the credit for backing him in the face of tremendous opposition.
What has to be appreciated is this kind of principled politics has not been seen in this part of the world for quite sometime. However both Singh and Gandhi are not without blemishes because they have been accused of accommodating unsavory politician as ministers to form the coalition government ,and now I can assert brainwashed ( no change) leftist leaders.
I was watching the debate for two days from Sri Lanka (DISH TV INDIA-4 news chan giving live report and comments) and was surprised that Mr Praful Bidwai pinpoints thick wads of money was displayed on the floor of the Lok Sabha, claiming that these were given as bribes to abstain. This is true partly but what type of writing is this unless Mr Bidwai is totally biased in favor of the Leftist and others opposed to the nuclear deal. First he should have checked how this money was brought inside to be displayed bypassing tight security, posted to stop suitcases of this nature being brought inside loaded with explosives. To prevent explosives being brought in, intense security measures would have been in operation. How did these unsavory elements enter with bulging suitcase? Has the ripe old opposition leader had a hand in this matter? Mr Bidwai should have checked this matter first and must have conclusive evidence (but still under investigation by Speaker) before character assassination of some leaders.
This aspect of the money whether it’s a bribe or sham drama to disrupt parliament just 1 hr before the vote is still under investigation. But this guy like all fellow travelers accuses the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi of Crude Political manipulation. Possibly Mr Baradan,Prafat . Raja and other important leaders belonging to the gang of 20 or more just like their mentor; Gang of four from China with Mao’s thoughts still pervades their mindset.
Change is predominant all over the Globe, symbolized by OBAMA of USA. Bush and others will be gone and nuclear source of energy is a must for all developing countries instead of polluting the earth with oil. This was very well stated by Rahul Gandhi when he quoted Kalawathi etc but it derived lots of laughter and interruption. But these leftists and the outrageous BJP MP’S are like frogs in the well. This line of quotes were widely used as a new way of bringing facts and impress listeners, in what Obama and Hillary Clinton did in their earlier Democratic campaign in USA. They in between speeches quoted giving names of poor people lacking Insurance cover, and other hardship from different states. A novel way of bringing facts to the attention of listeners. This is what Rahul did to pinpoint the importance of nuclear energy to overcome poverty.
Finally Omar Abdullahs short speech in spite of interruption was a fine exposition of secular policies pursued by UPA and the importance of nuclear energy for development and alleviating poverty, National Conference leader was completely an outsider, just an independent Kashmiri leader. Was he also paid Mr Bidwai? Quoting the outdated Chenoy and Vanaik and other fellow travelers won’t make a dent amongst the leading scientist and political commentators’ positive viewpoint. Another important aspect not mentioned in the article is the importance given to the BOMB by Advani and co and hence his objection to the current deal. All neighbors have to be alert if BJP captures power including the trigger happy Pakistani leaders who are no better than the ripe old Advani.
Unfortunately today a series of explosions rocked Indian cities; the culprits have the same mindset like the Hindu party. Being a born Hindu, I am ashamed why people can’t be tolerant, pursue good governance, and NEHRUVIAN vision for the betterment of India and the world, Nehru along with Homi Bhaba was responsible for initial introduction of Atomic Reactors only for scientific purposes.
Being an IPS translator I have earlier translated Mr Bidwais article, but will have second thoughts in future to note whether his critical faculty will reflect what he writes or his outdated mindset.
AFGHANISTAN: Taliban Encroach On Karzai’s Turf July 25th, 2008
Dear Editors,
I would like to point out that the main reason for troop surge is not the resurgence of Taliban but to maintain Mr. Karzi in office when the 2009 elections come around. As the saying goes, whoever has the most guns wins. And that is exactly why more troops are needed to ensure that a ‘puppet’ govt acceptable to the West stays in power. I think your editorial should make this point - before it happens so that people realize the real politics of freedom by the GUN.
SRI LANKA: No Lessons Learnt From ‘Black July’ of 1983 July 24th, 2008
Dear Editors,
You have written in your article that noted peace activist Jehan Perera said that “LTTE must be crushed and this is not an anti-tamil feeling”.
When the government bombs indiscriminately from the sky/land, whom are they killing? They are killing Innocent civilians, and destroying their properties. Does the word human right have any meaning in SL? What has Jehan Perera done to stop the disappearance of the Tamils from police custody? So next time when you meet him tell him that the government is actually crushing (kills) the Tamils and starving them to death in refugee camps. Please correct your statement - Jehan Perera is not a peace activist.
SRI LANKA: No Lessons Learnt From ‘Black July’ of 1983 July 24th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Well balanced story and a good coverage. However the last paragraph spoiled that. Chris could live and feel safe in a predominantly Sinhalese town because he married to a Sinhalese woman and his daughter is following Buddhism. Even I could say with confident that Chris daughter even cannot speak Tamil. Chris is a Tamil by name but not a Tamil journalist, rather he writes to English papers.
I decided to leave that country in mid 90 after I was threatened by saying “do you know what happened to Tamils in 1983″ by Sinhalese to whom I have enormously helped. Although within hours he came to me cried and apologized, one fact remain their, as your story made reference to, perpetrators of the 1983 are not brought to the trial and this gives a clear message whatever done against Tamils will be tolerated. So I came to conclusion that although most of the Sinhalese are extremely good, circumstance exist that might harm my life.
AGRICULTURE-SOUTH AFRICA: Small Farmers Pushed to Plant GM Seed July 23rd, 2008
Dear Editors,
Having read this article, I am appalled at the manipulative behavior of large corporations such as Monsanto that owns many seed patents and promotes GMO. The language in your article is straight from the Codex Alimentarius, a most draconian international trade agreement that is designed to get all food and health issues under the control of large corporate interests and thereby control the world’s population survival. The very concept of ‘harmonization’ has the ring of totalitarian control to it. The agreement translates into a process where the world’s people will be kept on a leash with only the minimum standards for survival while the large corporations gain greater control of wealth and health.
Your article would have been better if it related the issues to the goals of Codex.
CANADA: Gov’t Slow to Defend Guantanamo’s “Child Soldier” July 22nd, 2008
Dear Editors,
I have just finished reading the above article and am shocked at the totally biased approach by IPS on this issue.
It is not purely the fault of the current Canadian government that the terrorist soldier Khadr remains languishing in Guantamano. Former Liberal governments (we have had a minority Conservative Party government for the last two years and that may rankle with your correspondent) had ample opportunity to deal with the situation and chose not to do so. The information available and made public now was available then if successive solicitors general of previous governments had exercised the proper authority - if they had cared. For members of these governments to cry now, in holier than thou pronouncements, that Khadr should be brought home to Canada is nothing short of reprehensible.
Furthermore, your correspondent makes no mention of Khadr’s family. He makes no mention of the fact that Khadr’s father (who died of injuries suffered in the same conflict in which the son killed an American medic) was an avowed supporter of Osama bin Laden, that he had raised funds fraudulently in Canada for bin Laden, that members of the Khadr family knew bin Laden personally, had actually stayed with him in his camp on at least one occasion in Afghanistan. Furthermore, to this day all (with the possible exceptionof an older brother who has apparently seen the light) are proud and boastful of their relationship with bin Laden. This information is not new. Every detail was brought out in an unrefuted two-part CBC documentary of which your correspondent must also be aware.
In short, the Khadr situation differs somewhat from that of the repatriated British and Australian prisoners mentioned in the article. In a recent poll, 52% of Canadians did not believe Khadr should be allowed to return to Canada. That, of course, is unfortunate and probably constitutes a vain and inappropriate attempt to somehow visit the sins of the children upon the family.
I read IPS avidly and have always considered it a valuable contribution to political knowledge and debate, particularly on Middle East issues. This article, however, was completely unbalanced and now makes me wary of your correspondents generally and any editorial supervision.you may exercise.
CLIMATE CHANGE: Wetlands Loss Fuelling CO2 Feedback Loop July 22nd, 2008
Dear Editors,
The carbon bomb is already airborne, it’s a 400 gigatonne bomb of deadly
CO2 which is the CO2 emitted by the fossil fuel age. It takes 200 years
for CO2 to equilibrate with surface ocean waters and via the reaction
H2O+CO2+H2CO3 (carbonic acid) acidify and kill ocean life. In the past
few decades we have observed the tip of this dry-iceberg effect in the
30% acidification of the oceans. Regardless of whether we emit another
molecule of fossil CO2 the bomb on the way is more than sufficient to
kill off ocean life above that of bacteria. The single hope is to
restore and replenish ocean photosynthesis and help ocean phyto-plankton
compete to make that CO2 into life not death in the oceans. Read more at
planktos-science.com
DEVELOPMENT: U.S. Sliding By Nearly Every Measure July 22nd, 2008
Dear Editors,
FYI, the Los-Angeles-based Hilton has brought suit against the City of Los Angeles regarding the City’s living wage ordinance. It’s conflicting that the Hilton name would also be associated with funding the “Measure of America” study.
HEALTH-AFRICA: UNICEF Reports Five Million Child Deaths Every Year July 18th, 2008
Dear Editors,
I was reading your story on the internet and tears came to my eyes. I knew things were bad but I did not know just how bad.
I have an online friend who lives in West Africa and we were talking the other day about fund raisers. I support and highly respect the United Way where I live and I am an avid volunteer and a past board director. Presently I serve on the Board of Directors for my local American Red Cross. Each year there are significant fund-raisers throughout the world to raise money so the agency programs through United Way can be funded. I have seen first hand how these agencies operate and all the “much needed” help they give.
I have heard about fund raisers for the UNICEF but I do not hear about a lot of that going on. I would like to know more about how money is raised for these children and their families and if something, on a smaller scale can be done. My online friend asked me to get involved and help him find ways to support the UNICEF. He said he donates money as well as his time to this cause and he would like me to come aboard and help out.
I believe that my gift from God is to help the less fortunate, and while I do not mind helping, I need to know more about what I am getting into. I am sure there are organizations that directly help out, but I ashamed to say none come to mind at this time. Do you know if there are fund raising programs in the states that particularly raise money for this cause? If so, I would like to look into it and do some research. I myself am not financially able to help on my own, but one does not know what can happen when people pull together.
Right now I would just appreciate any kind of information you can send to me and if you could point me in the right direction. I do not know how much I can do on my own but I am willing to try. Thank you for your time and God Bless.
POPULATION-INDIA: Emergency Contraception Pill The Answer? July 17th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Nice coverage of ECP. But we should popularize now is intrauterine contraceptive methods like CuT which can be use as a means of contraception for short period, or as a permanent method as now CuT 280 are available for long use for 10 years and can be used even as a permanent method of contraception, and it is reversible. FOGSI along with JSK (Population stabilization fund) is on a mission to popularize this low cost method of contraception for women.
With regards,
Dr.Maninder Ahuja
President FOGS(Faridabad Obst&gyane society)
chapter Secretary IMS Faridabad chapter
chairperson Public awareness committee of IMS
Member Geriatrics committee of FOGSI
Member Adolescents Committee of FOGSI
Master Trainer for WHO Adolescent Training programmes
Secretary women Wing Haryana state IMA
Ahuja Nursing Home&Infertility Centre
HEALTH-US: Unions, Groups Coalesce For Universal Coverage July 15th, 2008
Dear Editors,
What HCAN does not seem to understand or accept is the reality that people who like their private insurance will most certainly find that the private insurers, with the profit motive dictating all their decisions, will continue to reduce the quality of their plans. The insured will find that coverage will be reduced, deductibles will rise.
We are already seeing that many people, for the sake of affordability of premiums and some coverage, no matter how poor, are accepting very high deductibles. The result is that they will not visit doctors for preventive care because they will have to pay for it out of pocket, thus putting themselves at risk of needing more care later or incurring life threatening conditions. High deductible coverage becomes very profitable for the private insurers. When the insured become more seriously ill, there is a risk that the private insurers will deny coverage for more expensive procedures, which is what they are already doing.
Removing many from single payer will also add to costs because the risk pool will be smaller. We do not need another expensive, illogical band aid. HCAN should spend its efforts on really educating the public on the realities instead of selling them short. And it should not try to ride on the coattails of all the well-informed pioneers who have been working very hard for years, and muddy the waters by inventing a name that is so similar to already active advocacy groups. Any group that starts a movement by concocting a confusing name deserves serious criticism and condemnation of its motives. We have had enough of this kind of tactics.
POLITICS-US: How the Pentagon Planted a False Hormuz Story July 15th, 2008
Dear Editors,
How do you know the boats were unarmed? Unarmed like the boat that took out the USS Cole. Your position is to let them draw first blood before reacting. I suggest you put your son/daughter on the US ship and see if you feel the same.
HEALTH-US: Unions, Groups Coalesce For Universal Coverage July 14th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Has anyone looked deep into HCAN, Health Care for America Now, to discover if health insurance companies are behind it? I find that in deeper layers, one may find a payroll, or some other link. Why would anyone come up with a plan that would include insurance companies? How about doing a story on California’s Senate Bill 840. Go to Senator Sheila Kuehl’s site and or www.healthcareforall.org and or/ www.onecarenow.org and check it out. There are videos that explain it all online, on these sites and on Youtube too. This plan would save California $ billions in the first year alone, everyone gets health care, and insurance companies are out of the loop. This could work in other states, and nation wide. Please have a look at this important plan.
ENVIRONMENT: German Leaks Raise More Nuclear Fears July 13th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Last week in Hudson, Wisconsin, after a speech to Republican businesswomen, one of the women who rose to ask John McCain a question told him she considered his plan to build 45 new nuclear power plants a “noble” goal. She only worried that it might be a hard sell, as did he. I guess they figure Yucca Mountain will give us a safe place to put all the waste from our current and 45 future plants. Yikes. She wasn’t the only woman I found scary. There were some disturbing opinions and questions on the economy, tax policy, and health care too.) But she was definitely the winner in the Scary Contest.
POPULATION: Global Food Supply Near the Breaking Point July 13th, 2008
Dear Editors,
As an invited reviewer of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, I find it disturbing that scientists continue to advocate increasing food production to keep up with increasing demand. This position is known as “the food race.” In Wikipedia, the “Food Race” entry states “intensification of cultivation in response to population growth—-merely leads to still more population growth.” In other words, global increases in food production precipitate global population growth. This perspective has been pointed out in both the Japan Times and the Christian Science Monitor. The narrated slide show at http://www.PanEarth.org clearly elucidates the impact of continuing the food race. It is imperative that we understand the long term impact of continually increasing food production.
Russell Hopfenberg, Ph.D.
Duke University
If the above links to the Japan Times and Christian Science Monitor do not work, please copy and paste the following URLs into your browser:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fe20080423sh.html
http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0703/p15s01-cogn.html
POLITICS-US: Vets Mull Wins and Losses in Benefits Fight July 11th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Recently Federal District Judge Samuel Conti decided in the class action lawsuit in which we (Veterans United For Truth and Veterans for Common Sense) were plaintiffs, that the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) was failing in many cases in providing mental health services to returning veterans. Unfortunately he also decided that he did not have jurisdiction at his level to compel changes in the DVA’s procedures.
While we are disappointed with Judge Conti’s decision that he lacked jurisdiction, and do not agree that we did not prove the “systemic” nature of these problems, this outcome is far from being all bad. We knew that it was a crap shoot going in, but we were sure that he had the necessary jurisdiction. We also knew that no matter how he decided, the case would most likely end up before the Supreme Court. Of course we had hoped to be defending Judge Conti’s decision against an appeal by the DVA; now we will be appealing his decision in the Ninth Circuit.
When we started out, we knew that we were in it for the long haul. We won round one, just by getting the case heard in federal court, since the DVA and the Department of Justice both attempted multiple times to have us disqualified as plaintiffs, and denied that the federal court had any right even to examine DVA procedures and policies..
We lost part of round two. It may be a setback, but it succeeded in large part since Judge Conti’s ruling expressed agreement with much of our complaint. Additionally The DVA has been exposed not only to the Congress, but also to the national and international media, who have stepped up their reporting on the shoddy treatment that the VA has been providing to returning veterans, and to the repeated delay and denial of service by the DVA.
America’s veterans will be forever in the debt of Morrison & Foerster, LLP and Disability Rights Advocates, the two law firms that took on the DVA pro bono.
Bob Handy, HMC USN (Ret)
Chair, Veterans United For Truth. Inc
www.vuft.org
Santa Barbara Ca
CORRUPTION-HONDURAS: A Murky Transparency Law July 11th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Great story! Thelma Mejia did a great job!
There is more….Right now even with the new “transparency” law, we are being denied access to title records which are open to the public by the local mayor and other officials in Quimistan, Santa Barbara. Therefore, even public information about land titles can be withheld at the whim orientations of the local mayor or officials. This is not small at all: We are doing title search on 4,400 acres with an attorney who asked in writing for access to public quoting a law being broken in Honduras. So much for “transparency”. Now, we have to sue under the “transparency law” to maybe get access to land title records. But that law can afford protection to the official withholding the information.
What is even more worrisome is that the World Bank loaned $25 Million interest free for a Land Administration to secure land tenure. Is the World Bank doing auditing of how titles are truly being registered? Only 30% of land is registered and 70% is not registered. Our parcel is actually registered and titled to the people doing the title search and yet the records are denied access to. How long has this been going on? 50 years and counting! The transparency law is apt to be used for fraud in this Land Administration Program (Programa de Administracion de Tierra de Honduras, PATH). Most people in Honduras barely can afford an attorney. If “they” do it to the big guy, what is going to protect the small landowner when confronted with corruption?
I hope you make a follow up story of this situation.
Thank You,
Emmy R. Campbell, MBA
Senior Financial Analyst
HCA Gulf Coast Division
Houston, TX
www.hcahealthcare.com
CLIMATE CHANGE: Corals Collapsing in More Acid Oceans July 11th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Coral reefs first evolved in the Devonian period. Have any of these “scientists” checked to find what atmospheric CO2 concentration was in the Devonian? Approximately ten times current values. These organisms have happily survived the Eocene period, when ‘global average temperature’ was about 15 degrees higher than now. So, on past performance, I would be willing to bet everything I own that the reefs are safer than we humans are. And, if you heat coral rapidly by 2 degrees C, it bleaches exactly as if you cool it rapidly by 2 degrees. This has been known for years. Bleaching is of course a temporary phenomenon as the hard coral expels its symbiotic algae while it finds more efficient algae for the new temperature. I mean logically, the water temperature in Sumatra is at least 4 degrees higher than that off the queensland coast, so all Indonesian corals must be already dead!
RIGHTS: EU Cautioned Over Aid to Eritrea July 10th, 2008
Dear Editors,
It is hard to believe that you meant what you are writing “Eritrea has, by some indicators, one of the worst human rights records in the world. The organization Reporters Without Borders (known by its French acronym RSF), for example, has documented how dozens of journalists have been detained incommunicado since 2001″. ….
How in God’s sake can this record be the worst in the world while thousands and hundreds of thousands of people are being killed by the Western powers in the name of Democracy? How about the heinous crimes being committed by your master’s in Iraqis other places? How about your darling beggars in Ethiopia who murdered 193 people in the middle of Addis streets in front of your cameras and have imprisons more than 60000 people who supported the democratically elected opposition and summarily imprisoned the elected leaders for years. How about the more than 70000 children and elderly who were stripped off their property and deported from Addis just because they have Eritrean blood in them. How about thousands of Oromo civilians whose villages are burned to ground because they were suspected of supporting rebels. How about the spending of billions of dollars on arms to occupy Eritrean land while millions of Ethiopians are starving to death…..
We know the Eritrean leaders are no angels. They are there to make sure the hard won independence is defended at any cost. They are not corrupt and they have the best of the country in their heart. We wish the situation was different, however given the circumstances Eritrea’s best choice is the current government that corruption free and working to rebuild the country selflessly. Your democracy and freedom of speech to us is a way of life that we have the option to ignore. We will implement that when we can afford to do so. Right now, the priority is securing our independence and our self-reliance. Anything else is a luxury to our standards.
COLOMBIA: Questions Surround Foreign Role in Hostage Rescue July 10th, 2008
Dear Editors,
My daily paper LeCourrier (Geneva, Switzerland) has an interview with Jacques Thomet, author of ‘Ingrid Betancourt - Histoire de coeur ou raison d’Etat? I would like to translate the most interesting part, touching a question that also occurred to me when I saw her picture after the release.
Q: On the pictures on TV Ingrid Betancourt appears in great physical form. No similarity with the emaciated person that was presented a few months ago..
A: I think the explanation has to do with the fact that the operation for the liberation took place quite some time earlier. She had time to recover. When a hostage is liberated, he or she is immediately taken care of by the secret services who try to get a maximum of firsthand information. Without this Ingrid would never have been able to leave for France right after the official announcement of her liberation, as she did.
They also quote the Swiss department of foreign affairs confirming that in spite of Uribe’s indignation they will continue their mediation efforts to get also the remaining hostages free.
Thanks for your good work; I just got to your site recently via Dahr Jamail’s despaches from Iraq.
RIGHTS-SEYCHELLES: Problems In Paradise July 9th, 2008
Dear Editors,
The Women’s International Perspective (www.thewip.net) linked to Mercedes Sayagues’ article ” Problems In Paradise” in our Byline Portal today. We would like to thank Ms. Sayagues’ for writing this important piece.
You can find the link here: http://thewip.net/portal/2008/07/problems_in_paradise.html
It would be a pleasure to link to your future articles, so do please stay in touch.
Best regards,
Aralena Malone-Leroy
The WIP
AGRICULTURE: ‘Don’t Do It Europe’s Way’ July 8th, 2008
Dear Editors,
One solution to the food crisis that many in both developed and developing countries are pursuing is the re-localization of a significant portion of food production. What is needed to do that quickly and on a broad scale is a franchise-ready sustainable farming system. That is the concept behind SPIN (S-mall P-lot IN-tensive ) Farming. SPIN farmers work plots less than an acre in size, utilize relay cropping to increase yield and achieve good economic returns by growing only the most profitable food crops tailored to local markets. SPIN’s growing techniques are not, in themselves, breakthrough. What is novel is the way a SPIN farm business is run. Contained in the seven SPIN Guides, which can be purchased online and downloaded for immediate access, is everything you’d expect from a good franchise: a business plan, marketing advice, and a detailed day-to-day workflow. In standardizing the system and creating a reproducible process it really isn’t any different from McDonalds.
SPIN-style farming removes the two big barriers to entry for first generation farmers– sizeable acreage and significant start-up capital. By offering a non-technical, easy-to-understand and inexpensive-to-implement farming system, it allows many more people to farm. In the developed world, it is providing those who are already equipped with marketing and business savvy with a growing system that can help them become successful farmers. In the developing world, SPIN can provide those who are already possessed of farming skills with the marketing and business expertise to help them become successful entrepreneurs. The bigger potential, however, is the common ground SPIN-farming can provide for these two disparate groups to be - and interact - as equals. It can provide a platform for collaboration and problem solving and give rise to a multi-national farming class united behind a new kind of farming that spans geography, class and ideology and which will help redefine agriculture for the 21st century. This is not subsistence farming. This is recasting farming as a small business in cities and towns and integrating it into the built environment in an economically viable manner. It is “right sizing” agriculture for an urbanized century and helping to make local food production a viable business proposition once again.
IRAQ: Journalist Charges Censorship by U.S. Military in Fallujah July 4th, 2008
Dear Editors,
In all sincerity as a 63 year old mother of two sons I would like to see Prime Ministers and Presidents go into these war zones to actually see mutilated bodies that they have created. This is not an emotional outburst, but a clear voice of reason for people who want to be Presidents and Prime Ministers should actually visit these crime scenes they have created.
When their respective terms in office are over they walk away with a good bank account one that will be topped up for the rest of their lives….. they seem to forget the havoc they have created behind them, like a wake of a vessel going through the oceans, the ripples travel far and wide and affect many others!
Whenever we see a visiting Prime Minister or President visiting soldiers on ‘the front’ or on aircraft carriers they are always viewing soldiers that are clean and tidy! Why? They have a Deputy if anything should happen to them! Why should they not see the horrors of what they have created?
RIGHTS-SEYCHELLES: Problems In Paradise July 4th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Seychelles women / men should learn to communicate to one another instead of swearing and shouting to each other. Communications is the key, in this way it will encourage the children to speak to their parents too, because these days children does not communicate to their parents whatsoever, when you ask them where are they going all you hear is the door slamming behind them. It all start with parents husband wives or partners this is how our new generations of parents will learn how to deal with these abuses of physical or mental cruelty through communications tolerance and understanding. There is a lack of family discussion these days due to too much media and unfortunately in the style of modern living.
RIGHTS-SEYCHELLES: Problems In Paradise July 4th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Seychelles women / men should learn to communicate to one another instead of swearing and shouting to each other. Communications is the key, in this way it will encourage the children to speak to their parents too, because these days children does not communicate to their parents whatsoever, when you ask them where are they going all you hear is the door slamming behind them. It all start with parents husband wives or partners this is how our new generations of parents will learn how to deal with these abuses of physical or mental cruelty through communications tolerance and understanding. There is a lack of family discussion these days due to too much media and unfortunately in the style of modern living.
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