plus 4, Latest Articles - Dissident Voice |
- Latest Articles - Dissident Voice
- N.B. Whaling Museum gets $1.5M grant - Providence Business News
- Oil near $76 as demand fears trump weaker dollar - Rushville Republican
- NJ lawmaker moves to ban unsolicited checks - WTVF
- November 2009 - RealClearPolitics
| Latest Articles - Dissident Voice Posted: 30 Nov 2009 08:13 AM PST The UK is now in the grip of festive fever as the nation prepares for the customary annual binge called Christmas. Despite the recession families are being urged to spend, spend, spend on an excess of food and alcohol and extravagant presents. For them there is also the luxury of unrestricted travel to see relatives or take a foreign holiday. A far cry from the kind of Christmas that's possible in the illegally occupied and blockaded territories of the Holy Land… Two years ago, in the run-up to Christmas 2007, I had just returned from Gaza and the West Bank. With tears of rage in my eyes I addressed these remarks to Britain's prime minister, Gordon Brown:
And to church leaders in western Christendom: "Are you just going to sit there while the Holy Land is stolen from under your noses?" Was I angry! At the same time I had received a letter from Kim Howells, then the minister of state at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office responsible for the Middle East… In it, Howells recited the hardships heaped on the Gazan people. "We share concerns about the situation in Gaza and reports that the Israeli government may reduce services to Gaza…" How quaintly put. "We remain firmly committed to Israel's security but we are concerned that any measures taken by Israel in response to actions by violent extremists should not cause suffering to innocent Palestinians. Israel has expressed its commitment to avoiding a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and we have called on Israel to ensure that any response is in accordance with international law. "We have made clear our commitment to helping all Palestinians, including those in Gaza… We also share concern about freedom of movement… We have repeatedly raised our concerns about movement and access with the Government of Israel… Continuing rocket fire into Israel by extremist groups within Gaza is a reminder of the dangers Israel faces. However, the deteriorating humanitarian situation is a real cause of concern. The UN Secretary General spoke forcefully to this issue and we support his efforts to ensure that the interests of the civilian population are not forgotten." Commitment, commitment, concern, concern…If any of it were genuine, Christmas in Gaza, 2009, should be a very jolly occasion. But the situation for the Palestinians today is even worse. We wait in vain to see "something courageous" from the western powers. Cowardice is the norm. This week the knife of betrayal was given an extra twist by David Miliband, our foreign secretary. He calls Israeli settlements illegal but appears happy to sidestep international law and join America in appeasing the Israeli regime's relentless determination to seize the whole of Jerusalem. "Britain will do all it can to support US efforts to re-launch negotiations," he promised. "Negotiations are the only way for the Israelis and Palestinians to achieve a comprehensive, just and secure peace." Not international law, then? No, that's filed away in the Too Difficult drawer. Last Christmas, did Gordon Brown spare a Yuletide thought for the starving, shivering Palestinians in Gaza? He wished the Jewish community a happy Chanuka from Number10.gov.uk and recalled how he celebrated with them Israel's 60th birthday… But he had no festive greeting for the Gazans. And no word of cheer, either, for the Christian communities in Gaza and the West Bank endlessly persecuted by his Israeli friends. I was told that many of the 1.5 million people packed into the ravaged Strip were having to scavenge through rubbish tips for food to survive. What sort of Christmas was in store for their little ones while the criminals who inflicted on them such unspeakable hardship and torment, and who denied them their human rights, had their snouts in the Yuletide trough and enjoyed a warm bed? One presumes that Brown, a staunch ally of Israel, knew about the hell that his friends were about to inflict on Gaza during the Christmas celebrations. Christians living in the Strip were certainly aware of the invasion threat and abandoned plans to celebrate the midnight Christmas mass in protest. But they couldn't have imagined the enormity of the devastation and slaughter that would be unleashed on them and their children. Brown is the son of a Church of Scotland minister, which makes his indifference all the more surprising. But does western Christendom actually care, even when slapped in the face? Last year, if you remember, Christian hotels in the Holy Land as well as Catholic and Anglican churches in the UK faced Christmas without Bethlehem wine because Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint at Hebron stopped shipments. For 125 years this wine has been produced by a Christian religious order at the Cremisan winery in Beit Jala, a suburb of Bethlehem. The business supports their pastoral work among the poor and provides a livelihood for many local Palestinian families. Christians in the Holy Land and abroad buy the wine not just for its quality but because the income helps the economy of Bethlehem, which has been devastated by Israel's wrecking tactics over the years. There are 26 bishops in the British parliament's House of Lords, enough to make a very big noise if they wanted to. These Lords Spiritual (to give them their proper title) are the top five holy men of the Church of England plus the 21 longest time-servers. According to the CofE they "play a full and active role in the life and work of the Upper House" besides reading prayers at the start of each meeting. Their presence, we're told, is an extension of their general vocation to preach God's word and provide an independent voice and spiritual insight. They are supposed to be a voice for all people of faith, not just Christians. In a quick search through theyworkforyou.com I could find no record, in the wake of Israel's killing spree in Gaza, of these 'super-clerics' raising questions about the appalling conditions in the Holy Land, the plight of the Palestinians, Israel's criminal onslaught and persecution of the Christian and Muslim communities, and the unending humanitarian crisis… nor any criticism of the British government's failure to alleviate the suffering of innocent Gazans, many thousands of whom will be sleeping in tents among the rubble of their homes, without drinking water, this festive season. When these lordly men of God piously officiate at Christmas-time in their glorious churches and historic abbeys I shall permit myself the uncharitable hope that they choke on their Cremisan altar wine, if they have managed to get any. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| N.B. Whaling Museum gets $1.5M grant - Providence Business News Posted: 30 Nov 2009 08:20 AM PST NEW BEDFORD – The New Bedford Whaling Museum is set to receive $1.5 million from the federal government to help pay for upgrades to its Bourne Building, which houses the museum's enormous model ship, the Lagoda. The Lagoda, a half-scale model of the whaling bark, was built in 1915-1916 with money donated by Emily Bourne in memory of her father, the whaling merchant Jonathan Bourne Jr., according to the museum's Web site, which says it is the largest ship model in existence. U.S. Sen. Paul Kirk, who is temporarily filling the late Edward M. Kennedy's seat, and U.S. Rep. Barney Frank are scheduled to present the money to New Bedford Whaling Museum President James Russell on Monday. The grant will be administered by the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. The Whaling Museum said it has also received a $617,000, donor-matched grant from the state to hire a local construction company to undertake the Bourne Building renovation. In addition, the museum recently received a $147,000 grant from the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services to catalog its new collection of Merchants Bank records. Additional information is available at whalingmuseum.org. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| Oil near $76 as demand fears trump weaker dollar - Rushville Republican Posted: 30 Nov 2009 07:44 AM PST Published November 30, 2009 09:44 am - Oil prices dipped below $76 a barrel Monday as lingering doubts over the global economic recovery and its effects on demand trumped bullish factors like the weaker U.S. dollar and the hijacking of an oil tanker off the coast of Somalia. Oil near $76 as demand fears trump weaker dollar
Oil prices dipped below $76 a barrel Monday as lingering doubts over the global economic recovery and its effects on demand trumped bullish factors like the weaker U.S. dollar and the hijacking of an oil tanker off the coast of Somalia. By mid-afternoon in Europe, benchmark crude for January delivery was down 10 cents to $75.95 in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier in the session, prices peaked at $76.85. On Friday, the contract fell $1.91 to settle at $76.05. Analysts warned that despite talk about the end of the recession and recovering markets, the level of global demand for oil was still uncertain. "The actual improvement in oil demand so far has been fairly minimal," said Peter Stewart at KBC Market Services in Britain. "The market has responded ... to the anticipation of the recovery impacting oil demand rather than actually delivered oil demand." Markets remained jittery about the fallout from Dubai's debt problems, which had sent markets lower at the end of last week. News that Dubai's investment arm, Dubai World, could default on $60 billion in debt sent world markets and made investors fret about another financial crisis. The United Arab Emirates central bank took steps to avert any run on banks by panicked depositors, pledging Sunday to offer additional money to foreign and domestic banks in the emirates amid concerns that UAE banks have some of the biggest exposure to Dubai World's debts. The promise of cheap funds signaled to global investors that the country's federal government — backed by oil money — will do what it can to limit the fallout from the indebted Dubai emirate. Dubai World has sought a six-month reprieve until May on paying its bills. Worries lingered about other countries with similar large debts that could trigger another financial crisis, but this is likely to also prompt central banks worldwide to maintain ample liquidity and keep interest rates low, said Victor Shum, an energy analyst with consultancy Purvin & Gertz in Singapore. "The long-term prospect for commodities including oil looks strong amid expectations that the value of the dollar will remain weak," he said, predicting oil to remain within a tight trading range of the mid $70s to the low $80s. Oil prices usually climb when the dollar falls, as dollar-denominated commodities such as oil and gold become cheaper to investors holding other currencies. But on Monday, the weaker dollar's effect on oil prices seemed subdued. The euro was up to $1.5026 in afternoon European trade, compared with $1.4954 late Friday in New York, while the dollar was lower at 86.30 Japanese yen from 86.70 yen. "The dollar is significant in the long term but there are days when the economic fundamentals reassert themselves as the main direction of the market," said KBC's Stewart. In news usually deemed bullish for oil prices, Somali pirates on Sunday seized a tanker carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to the United States in waters off East Africa. The Greek-owned Maran Centaurus was hijacked about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) off the coast of Somalia. In other Nymex trading, heating oil for December delivery added 0.39 cents to $1.9661 a gallon, December gasoline added 2.04 cents to $1.9466 a gallon but natural gas shed 15.9 cents to $5.033 per 1,000 cubic feet. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| NJ lawmaker moves to ban unsolicited checks - WTVF Posted: 30 Nov 2009 07:44 AM PST
By BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI Associated Press Writer TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - One New Jersey lawmaker wants to stop a marketing technique that he believes is deceptive. Assemblyman Paul Moriarty recently introduced legislation that would bar businesses from mailing consumers unsolicited checks that, once cashed or deposited, enroll them in costly programs. The measure will likely first be considered by the Consumer Affairs committee, although a hearing date has not been scheduled. Moriarty says he was spurred to push the legislation after a constituent showed him an unsolicited $8.25 check they received from a business. Cashing the check would have enrolled the constituent in an automotive roadside assistance program that costs $15.99 per month. "These 'free money' offers are at their best deceptive and, at their worst, downright dishonest," said Moriarty, D-Turnersville. "Right now, consumers are at their most vulnerable to fall for a scheme that appears to offer them instant cash but would end up costing them much more in the long-run." If the proposed legislation becomes law, no person or business would be allowed to send consumers unsolicited checks which, upon being redeemed, would automatically charge the recipient a fee or enroll them in a club, service plan or other continuing agreement. However, checks related to legitimate banking services or stemming from a pre-existing and direct business-to-consumer relationship would be permitted. Violators would be cited under the state's Consumer Fraud Act and face up to $10,000 in fines for a first offense, and $20,000 for subsequent offenses, among other penalties. "Instead of relying on tricks, companies looking to sell their servicesin New Jersey should go back to the old-fashioned way: earning consumers' trust," Moriarty said. In the Senate, a similar measure has been introduced by Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May County. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
| November 2009 - RealClearPolitics Posted: 30 Nov 2009 07:22 AM PST The House will begin floor debate this week on the Democrats' comprehensive health care reform legislation, with a vote taking place perhaps as early as Thursday. The Senate continues to move forward today on the Unemployment Compensation Extension Act. President Obama's day focuses on the economy. He'll meet with his Economic Recovery Advisory Board to talk about job creation, a session that will be streamed online in its entirety. Also today, the National Economic Council will hold a principals-level meeting, led by Larry Summers. Later, the president meets with Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt of Sweden. Today Vice President Biden heads to upstate New York to campaign for Bill Owens in NY-23 race, which saw a big shakeup this weekend with the withdrawal of Republican candidate Dede Scozzafava. Election Day is tomorrow for the governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as special elections in New York-23 and California-10, and the New York City mayoral race. **Health Care *The GOP plans to introduce its own version of health care legislation, Wall Street Journal reports. "Republicans have talked about a variety of alternatives to Democratic efforts on health care, but decided to put out their own bill after seeing details of the legislation unveiled by Democrats last Thursday. GOP leaders hope to offer the measure as an alternative during debate on the Democratic bill, and a spokesman for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) said Republicans would be allowed to do so." *AP looks at the tax impact of the Democratic health care bill: "The typical family would be spared higher taxes from the House Democratic plan to overhaul health care, and their low-income neighbors could come out ahead. Their wealthy counterparts, however, face big tax increases that could eventually hit future generations of taxpayers who are less wealthy." *The New York Times offers an upbeat assessment of the Obama White House's strategy. "In interviews, senior advisers to the president said the progress on Capitol Hill vindicated Mr. Obama's strategy of leaving the details up to lawmakers, though they are wary of sounding overconfident." **Congress *"The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is engaged in public partisan warfare over a climate bill, a battle that foreshadows the deep struggle the Obama administration will face as Democrats attempt to push a version of the sweeping legislation through the Senate," Politico reports. EPW Chair Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) "announced last week that she will proceed with a markup of the bill beginning Tuesday, even though all seven Republicans on the committee say they plan to boycott the proceedings." *Washington Post has more details on the unintended disclosure of lawmakers under investigation, and points out that many under investigation "remain in positions of power." **President Obama *Roll Call's Koffler: "President Barack Obama, criticized in some quarters for appearing too passive, is projecting a very different aura of late, as he and his aides pick fights all over town while the president transforms himself into the very picture of a wartime leader." *The Daily News looks at some of the familiar-sounding names on the White House visitor log. *Washington Post has a beat-sweetener, profiling White House political director Patrick Gaspard and noting how often the White House has weighed in on local races this year. **Gay Marriage: "Maine residents will decide Tuesday whether to repeal a law allowing same-sex marriage, an effort that has succeeded in every state where it has been put before voters. Public opinion surveys in Maine show a dead heat on Question 1, which would cancel the marriage statute that passed the legislature in May and was signed by Gov. John E. Baldacci (D)," Washington Post reports. **Campaign Stuff *The NRCC "is more than $10 million behind where the Cole-led NRCC was at this point in the 2007 election cycle. This disparity has caused several Members, staff and GOP political operatives to question whether Sessions has delivered on his commitment to excel where he thought Cole had failed," Roll Call reports. *"Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.) are raising tons of money, dishing the cash to key House colleagues and cementing their place in Nancy Pelosi's inner circle. Their maneuvering within the Democratic Caucus tells the story of their ambition -- all three want to lead the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in the 2012 election, and whomever Pelosi picks could have an inside track to a major leadership job in the future," Politico reports. *Nine of Roll Call's Top 10 most endangered House incumbents are Democrats, "but that is because their party did so exceptionally well in the 2006 and 2008 elections." The one Republican, Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.) "may be the single-most vulnerable incumbent." *We'll have more in our campaign countdown, but AP takes a good big-picture look at what Tuesday's elections will tell us about politics *More warning signs for Gov. Charlie Crist in a new St. Petersburg Times poll. "Only 42 percent of likely Florida voters think Charlie Crist is doing a good or excellent job as governor, by far the worst approval rating of Crist's 34 months in office." In the primary, Crist leads Marco Rubio 50-28. "Even little-known and 22 points behind, however, Rubio poses a real threat to the self-described 'people's governor' no longer appreciated so much by people who overwhelmingly see Florida headed in the wrong direction." *A poll commissioned by Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner Jim Rex has him leading the primary field, 41-32 over state Sen. Robert Ford, The State reports. *Former Atty. Gen. Jim Ryan (R) is going to file petitions to run for governor in Illinois, the Tribune reports. He lost to Blagojevich in 2002. **Cheney Alert: "On 72 occasions," AP reports, "Cheney equivocated to the FBI during his lengthy May 2004 interview, saying he could not be certain in his answers to questions about matters large and small in the Plame controversy." **Sports Alert: The New York Yankees are 27 outs away from their 27th World Championship after a thrilling win last night in Philadelphia. Tonight they face a tough test in Cliff Lee, however, who won Game 1 in dominating fashion. --Kyle Trygstad and Mike Memoli This content has passed through fivefilters.org. |
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