WORLD: America Banned Posters by Russia Today
Updated: 06/24 12:36
With American propaganda sweeping the world, Russia answered the likes of CNN and Fox News with their own Propaganda channel, Russia Today. Russia Today is now broadcast around the world, but isn't very welcome in the USA or Western Europe because of her blatant anti western views.
Recently, Russia Today released a series of posters to advertise their presence which they had planned to place in Airports throughout America. Strangely, American officials had a problem with some of the posters so they have decided to ban them outright. Personally, I see nothing wrong with comparing Barack Obama to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad or comparing US Soldiers to terrorists. While I don't agree with the comparison, it is simply free speech. America has been openly critical of Russia for not allowing free speech within Russian borders, but sees no problem doing the same within American borders. Being a hypocrite is a very important aspect of being a politician.
In reality, it seems that by denying Russia Today the right to display these posters, they have created more free advertising for Russia Today than the posters ever would have. This may have been Russia Today's original intent, create an obviously controversial advertising campaign and hope to get banned.
Rating:
by 0 Ratings
| Comments: 3
WORLD: Video: Controversial Israeli Video - We Con the World!
Updated: 06/07 15:33Israeli government has already apologized for the spoof of the 1985 song "We are the World" by singers dressed up in costumes representing the captain of the flotilla, western peace activists, and Arabs wearing keffiyeh scarves, singing "We con the world". Check the video -
Mark Regev, spokesman for the Israeli Prime Minister's office, told the UK's Guardian newspaper: "I called my kids in to watch it because I thought it was funny. It is what Israelis feel. But the government has nothing to do with it."
The video was made by the Hebrew satirical website Latma.co.il, run by Jerusalem Post deputy editor Caroline Glick.
On her website she said the clip featured "the Turkish-Hamas 'love boat' captain, crew and passengers in a musical explanation of how they con the world."
"We think this is an important Israeli contribution to the discussion of recent events," Ms Glick wrote.
But there has also been condemnation of the spoof.
"The video is a repulsive attempt to use satire to make Israel's case on Flotilla debacle," Didi Remez of the Coteret blog said.
Source: news.bbc.co.uk
Full song lyrics -
There comes a time
When we need to make a show
For the world, the Web and CNN
There's no people dying,
so the best that we can do
Is create the greatest bluff of all
We must go on pretending day by day
That in Gaza, there's crisis, hunger and plague
Coz the billion bucks in aid won't buy their basic needs
Like some cheese and missiles for the kids
We'll make the world
Abandon reason
We'll make them all believe that the Hamas
Is Momma Theresa
We are peaceful travelers
With guns and our own knives
The truth will never find its way to your TV
Ooooh, we'll stab them at heart
They are soldiers, no one cares
We are small, and we took some pictures with doves
As Allah showed us, for facts there's no demand
So we will always gain the upper hand
We'll make the world
Abandon reason
We'll make them all believe that the Hamas
Is Momma Theresa
We are peaceful travelers
we're waving our own knives
The truth will never find its way to your TV
If Islam and terror brighten up your mood
But you worry that it may not look so good
Well well well well don't you realize
You just gotta call yourself
An activist for peace and human aid
We'll make the world
Abandon reason
We'll make them all believe that the Hamas
Is Momma Theresa
We are peaceful travelers
We're waving our own knives
The truth will never find its way to your TV
We con the world
We con the people
We'll make them all believe the IDF is Jack the Ripper
We are peaceful travelers
We're waving our own knives
The truth will never find its way to your TV
We con the world (Bruce: we con the world...)
We con the people (Bruce: we con the people...)
We'll make them all believe the IDF is Jack the Ripper
We are peaceful travelers
We're waving our own knives
The truth will never find its way to your TV
The truth will never find its way to your TV
Not sure - should I laugh or frown on the sattire?
Rating:
by 0 Ratings
| Comments: 3
WORLD: Video: Russian Soldiers Capture Somali Pirates
Updated: 05/14 23:09
The following leaked video shows Russian troops after they captured Somali pirates. While the video itself is primarily in Russia, the few consversations between the Russians and the Somali are in English.
The video shows the Russians after they had captured an apparent Fishing boat. You can see a man shot in the leg at the beginning of the video with no explanation on how it occurred. Later, it shows the soldiers pulling out various arms hidden throughout the boat as they question the Pirates. Even as the Arms are carried on deck, the man who is shot insists that they are merely fisherman. The video then concludes with the Russians detonating the arms out at sea.
It is unclear which pirates this video portrays. The most recent catch I am aware of are the pirates that they set adrift in a life raft, 30 miles off shore. While nobody really knows the fate of said pirates, it is safe to assume that it isn't pleasant.
It is unfortunate that the rest of the world doesn't follow in Russia's footsteps when dealing with the pirates. The only true deterrent is a final deterrent, and nothing is more final than executing those that feel that the law doesn't apply to them. These pirates need to be taught a lesson, and I am glad that at least the Russians are doing so.
Update: The embedded video no longer works. To watch the video elsewhere go to EnglishRussia.
Rating:
by 0 Ratings
| Comments: 1
WORLD: Video: Happy Victory Day
Updated: 05/09 16:44
Today is May 9th, Victory Day. According to the Soviet Timezone, today is the day Germany surrendered ending the European front of World War II.
More from Wikipedia:
In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other countries of former Soviet Union, the day of Victory over Nazi Germany was celebrated on May 9, because when the German Instrument of Surrender actually entered into force (May 8, 1945 at 23:01 CET), it was already May 9 by Moscow Time. Some post-Soviet countries, most notably The Russian Federation, have continued the tradition. Serbia, not the part of the Warsaw Pact, but in Yugoslavia it was allied with the Soviets, and its people heavily suffered under the occupation, fighting the german forces until the liberation, celebrates this day too. It's a national holiday. People gather on the main square in many cities to mark the anniversary with the war veterans, including Serbian army.
For the third year in a row, Russia is celebrating Victory Day with a massive parade through Red Square. Last year, the west were very upset that Russia would perform such an archaic act as marching their troops for the world to see. Strangely, this year the USA joined Russia. Hypocrisy or simply realizing their cries were childish, you decide.
Here is a video of the parade from Russia Today:
Rating:
by 1 Ratings
| Comments: 1
WORLD: Ukraine Backs Out of NATO Bid
Updated: 04/07 02:32
For those familiar with Ukraine, it doesn't come as much of a surprise that Ukraine has backed out of its bid for joining NATO. With over 75% of its citizens against such a move, only the west find this news shocking. Some blame Russia for this, stating that Viktor Yanukovych is merely a Russian puppet. The truth is, unfortunately, that America's puppet Viktor Yuschenko couldn't get Ukraine into NATO during his 5 year term, and now that the USA has lost her puppet, she blames Russia when things don't go as she had hoped.
To help fuel the fire, Viktor Yanukovych openly admitted that he would prefer to strengthen ties with Russia than with the West. If spun, this would help prove that Yanukovych is a mere puppet. However, that is only if you ignore the fact that half of Ukraine's population is ethnically Russian, while a great deal of the other half now understand that Russia is a closer ally to Ukraine than the west ever will be.
This is a good move strategically for Ukraine. Aside from a $17 Billion IMF loan, the west has done little to help Ukraine when it needed it most. This sum is dwarfed by the tens of billions of dollars that were pulled out of Ukraine when the banks were in peril, further deepening the woes of the Ukrainians. Yuschenko's ineptness further pointed out how little the West cared for Ukraine, otherwise why would they help install such worthless leader?
With Ukraine's economy slowly rising, and the people of Ukraine slowly gaining hope, this move shows the people of Ukraine that its leadership cares more about their welfare than simply following western ideological guidelines. While Yanukovych is as corrupt as Yuschenko, at least Yanukovych is moving the country forward in a direction.
Rating:
by 0 Ratings
| Comments: 2
WORLD: At Least 12 Dead in New Suicide Blasts in Russia
Updated: 03/31 16:30
At least 12 people died and 23 people were injured in a new blast in Dagestan, a province east of Chechnya. This took place just 2 days after dozens were killed in the Moscow Metro blasts.
Two suicide bombers, including one wearing a police uniform, killed at least a dozen people Wednesday in a coordinated attack in Russia's volatile North Caucasus region, authorities said, just two days after a pair of female bombers struck the Moscow subway system and raised fears of a fresh wave of terrorism in the country. Source: www.washingtonpost.com
These terrorist attacks are the lowest forms of political activism, praying on the fears of the people with little to no influence on those they are trying to persuade. The cowardice of their actions are evident, but why torment the people of Dagestan? Haven't they suffered enough throughout the Chechen wars? Is this necessary? What point could possibly be made from this?
More importantly, why is it that suicide bombers are always Muslim? While they preach that they are the religion of peace, they practice something completely different. With the entire world condemning these attacks, only the Muslim world is silent. Makes you wonder.
Rating:
by 0 Ratings
| Comments: 1
WORLD: China: The Human Rights Record of the USA in 2009
Updated: 03/19 19:36
With all the rhetoric being thrown at China from the USA regarding China's human rights over the years, Chinese officials took the time to analyze America's human rights during 2009. As mentioned earlier, China's criticism of America is in no doubt justified.
The World Socialist Web Site has an interesting story on the subject. While they only show one side of the story, not criticizing China's report in the least, it still gives a good idea of how China is retaliating against America's criticism. So as not to take away from the article, I copied it in full below.
Original Article at World Socialist Web Site
Chinese report documents human rights disaster in the United States
On March 13, China’s Information Office of the State Council published a report titled, “The Human Rights Record of the United States in 2009.”
This document was clearly intended as a rebuttal to the annual US State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2009, released two days earlier.
The Chinese report quite legitimately notes that the US government “releases Country Reports on Human Rights Practices year after year to accuse other countries, and takes human rights as a political instrument to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs, defame other nations’ image and seek its own strategic interests. This fully exposes its double standards on the human rights issue…”
Delivering the US government a well-deserved dose of its own medicine does not, of course, absolve the Chinese regime of its own gross violations of human rights. It rules autocratically over 1.3 billion people, most of them desperately poor peasants and super-exploited workers.
That being said, the Chinese report is an eye-opening document—factual, sober, even understated, drawn entirely from public government and media sources in the United States, with each item carefully documented. It presents a picture of 21st century America as much of the world sees it, one which is in sharp contrast to the official mythology and American media propaganda.
Not surprisingly, the report went unmentioned in the US mass media.
The 14-page report is divided into six major sections: Life, Property and Personal Security; Civil and Political Rights; Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; Racial Discrimination; Rights of Women and Children; US Violations of Human Rights Against Other Nations. The cumulative picture is one of a society in deep and worsening social crisis.
A few of the facts and figures cited on violence and police repression in the United States:
• Each year, 30,000 people die in gun-related incidents.
• There were 14,180 murders last year.
• In the first ten months of 2009, 45 people were killed by police use of tasers, bringing the total for the decade to 389.
• Last year, 315 police officers in New York City were subject to internal supervision due to “unrestrained use of violence.”
• 7.3 million Americans were under the authority of the correctional system, more than in any other country.
• An estimated 60,000 prisoners were raped while in custody last year.
On democratic rights, the report notes the pervasive government spying on citizens, authorized under the 2001 Patriot Act, extensive surveillance of the Internet by the National Security Agency, and police harassment of anti-globalization demonstrators in Pittsburgh during last year’s G-20 summit. Pointing to the hypocrisy of US government “human rights” rhetoric, the authors observe, “the same conduct in other countries would be called human rights violations, whereas in the United States it was called necessary crime control.”
The report only skims the surface on the socioeconomic crisis in the United States, noting record levels of unemployment, poverty, hunger and homelessness, as well as 46.3 million people without health insurance. It does offer a few facts rarely discussed in the US media:
• 712 bodies were cremated at public expense in the city of Los Angeles last year, because the families were too poor to pay for a burial.
• There were 5,657 workplace deaths recorded in 2007, the last year for which a tally is available, a rate of 17 deaths per day (not a single employer was criminally charged for any of these deaths).
• Some 2,266 veterans died as a consequence of lack of health insurance in 2008, 14 times the military death toll in Afghanistan that year.
The report presents evidence of pervasive racial discrimination against blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans, the most oppressed sections of the US working class, including a record number of racial discrimination claims over hiring practices, more than 32,000. It also notes the rising number of incidents of discrimination or violence against Muslims, and the detention of 300,000 “illegal” immigrants each year, with more than 30,000 immigrants in US detention facilities every day of the year.
It notes that the state of California imposed life sentences on 18 times more black defendants than white, and that in 2008, when New York City police fired their weapons, 75 percent of the targets were black, 22 percent Hispanic and only 3 percent white.
The report refers to the well-known reality of unequal pay for women, with median female income only 77 percent that of male income in 2008, down from 78 percent in 2007. According to the report, 70 percent of working-age women have no health insurance, or inadequate coverage, high medical bills or high health-related debt.
Children bear a disproportionate burden of economic hardship, with 16.7 million children not having enough food at some time during 2008, and 3.5 million children under five facing hunger or malnutrition, 17 percent of the total. Child hunger is combined with the malignant phenomenon of rampant child labor in agriculture: some 400,000 child farm workers pick America’s crops. The US also leads the world in imprisoning children and juveniles, and is the only country that does not offer parole to juvenile offenders.
US foreign policy comes in for justifiable criticism as well. A country with so many poor and hungry people accounts for 42 percent of the world’s total military spending, a colossal $607 billion, as well as the world’s largest foreign arms sales, $37.8 billion in 2008, up nearly 50 percent from the previous year.
The Chinese report notes the documented torture of prisoners in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, the worldwide US network of military bases, the US blockade of Cuba (opposed by the UN General Assembly by a vote of 187 to 3), and the systematic US spying around the world, utilizing the NSA’s “ECHELON” interception system, as well as the US monopoly control over Internet route servers.
The report also points out the deliberate US flouting of international human rights covenants. Washington has either signed but not ratified or refused to sign four major UN covenants: on economic, social and cultural rights; on the rights of women; on the rights of people with disabilities; and on the rights of indigenous peoples.
The report does not discuss the source of the malignant social conditions in the United States—nor should that be expected, since that would require an explanation of the causal connection between poverty, repression and discrimination and the operations of the capitalist profit system, something that Beijing is hardly likely to undertake.
Patrick Martin
Rating:
by 0 Ratings
| Comments: 1
TECH: Smithsonian's New Evolution Exhibit Under Criticism
Updated: 03/18 12:38 Washington DcThere is something to be said for humanities inability to accept that which one doesn't approve of. Whether it be Gay Marriage, Evolution or Creationism, those that don't agree refuse to acknowledge the subject as viable. The Smithsonian's new Evolution Exhibit in the Museum of Natural History located in downtown Washington DC is no exception.
This new Evolution exhibit is considered by some to be the most comprehensive Smithsonian exhibit on evolution. This new exhibit doesn't just look at evolution from a linear perspective, but it takes into account all the findings we have made to date regarding greater apes and the various evolutionary branches they took, with only Homo Sapiens surviving the evolutionary cyclone. Curator Rick Potts, who directs the museum's human origins research, has more to say on this subject.
"What we've learned is the old icon of the march from the early humans from a primate like creature to an ape like creature to us today is not correct — that our species is part of a diverse family tree of perhaps as many as 20 species or more," he said. "What we also see is we are the only one left."Source: www.google.com
This exhibit is likely going to attract a large number of adults, and more importantly children. This doesn't sit quietly with religious deniers of evolution. Creationists feel that this exhibit lacks God, and should at least acknowledge the fact that there are other theories available on the subject. Unfortunately for them, this is not an exhibit on how we arrived, but it specifically addresses evolution. Hence, providing a reference to God here is meaningless and takes away from the overarching subject matter at hand.
Interestingly enough, Greenpeace also had its concerns with the exhibition. Fortunately, their concern didn't lie with the subject matter, but rather with the man that funded the exhibition, David H. Koch. Koch is the executive vice president of Kansas-based energy company Koch Industries Inc., who Greenpeace accuses of being a climate change denier. They handed out fliers saying that Koch is "wanted for climate crimes."
The exhibit looks extremely well planned, and I highly anticipate visiting it soon. Judging by the photos available online, I expect it will not only be a learning experience, but a great way to spend an afternoon. The following are some photos of the exhibit that are available online.
Rating:
by 0 Ratings
| Comments: 2
WORLD: Western Rhetoric: Ukraine's Embrace of Russia
Updated: 03/17 14:10
In the west, it is common place for Mainstream Media outlets to spew rhetoric in order to push an agenda. Whether it be a war effort, or politically motivated towards a particular party, many people are well aware of this fact and at least take it into account when reading a news story. Unfortunately, when an individual isn't too familiar with the topic at hand, they are left with no option but take the story as fact, leading towards mass acceptance of government sponsored propaganda.
This is felt most strongly in the case of Russia. The current political situation in Ukraine is being spun as Russian manipulation or Russian pandering. The reality, however, is substantially different. In a recent AP article entitled Ukraine to Pass Law Scrapping NATO Ambitions, the authors Simon Shuster and Anna Melnichuk have set a definitive tone of anti-Russian sentiment. Judging by their names, they are likely either Russian or Ukrainian, but regardless of their origins their views on the issue is definitely jaded.
Such a move would kill one of the key initiatives of Yanukovych's predecessor, the staunchly pro-Western Viktor Yushchenko, who had struggled to gain admission to NATO since he was vaulted to power by the Orange Revolution protests of 2004.
Although Yushchenko's NATO ambitions never gained broad public support, they managed to infuriate Russia — which recently published a military doctrine naming the alliance's possible eastward expansion as the country's top external threat.
Source: www.google.com
When reading the previous snippet, one may be inclined to believe that Yushchenko made progress in the matter of NATO admission and now Yanukovych will unravel all the hard work done by Yushchenko. The reality, however, is much different.
Yushchenko's approval ratings at the time of his departure teetered around 4%, with a great deal of the animosity stemming from his adamant stance to join NATO. When the snippet briefly mentions Yushchenko's NATO ambitions never gained broad public support, it would be far more accurate to say that these NATO ambitions had almost no support, at times sinking to below 10%. Very few Ukrainians want entry into NATO, not even a large portion of the fascist pro-West, who despise Russia but still see that the evils of NATO are no better.
The article then attempts to paint Ukraine as a pro-Russian partner, pandering to Kremlin's interests. Rather than praise Ukraine's willingness to cooperate with Russia with respect to energy transit, the article attempts to paint Ukraine as a pawn in Russia's evil scheme's. While there is definitely a stronger bond with Russia now under Yanukovich as opposed to Yuschenko's government, the pro-Western government of Yuschenko did little to help Ukraine prosper. Russia, at the very least, is not simply strategically tied to Ukraine, but more importantly culturally tied.
Western animosity towards Russia is regularly felt in the mainstream media. The rhetoric spewed is disgraceful, especially when the truth is so easy to find. While many truths are in fact based on point of view, western media have no qualms with pushing their point of view while ignoring all contending views.
Rating:
by 0 Ratings
| Comments: 3
WORLD: China Criticizes America's Human Rights Record
Updated: 03/12 16:35
America's annual human rights survey once again criticized China, Cuba, Myanmar, North Korea and Russia. This time, China was very quick to respond. Citing American hypocrisy, China blamed the USA for the current financial crisis gripping the world which is causing substantial human rights problems and claimed that America is unmatched when it comes to causing mass suffering throughout the world.
While many would find these accusations baseless, the fact is that they are on point. The USA are quick to criticize all, but never take a step back to reflect on their actions. America has caused over a million deaths in Iraq and counting, which is exponentially higher than Saddam's entire reign. What American corporations do around the world, often causing irreversible devastation, is completely ignored in America's criticisms. This is hypocrisy at its peak.
Nancy Pelosi later criticised china for its Tibet issue, honoring the many brave Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom. China has become extremely sensitive of the Tibet subject.
"We advise the relevant U.S. congresswoman to respect the facts, abandon her prejudices and stop using the Tibet issue to interfere in China's internal affairs," says spokesman Qin Gang.Source: www.fmprc.gov.cn
As the rhetoric grows, so do tensions. With China becoming more and more agitated at America's interference, its alliances with Russia grows. Worse yet, its support of Iran hardens, making America's life substantially more difficult.
It is time for America to press the reset button on Chinese diplomacy. If they don't understand the Chinese, they should simply back down. Antagonizing China is in no one's interests today.
Rating:
by 0 Ratings
| Comments: 5
