April 18, 2009
April 15, 2009
Coexistence of Israel and Palestine!
Read the full post here.
When ‘Peace and Coexistence’ Mean
Abandoning All Notions of ‘Justice’By: Critical Mood.
People are often shocked when they hear that I rarely listen to music. I am very selective when I listen to songs because as much as music can be utilized for the sake of unity, it can also turn people into mindless cogs who are incapable of rational and specific thought. While I would highly recommend meaningful songs for level-headed people, I suggest reading a book for others.As it relates to the recent attacks on Palestine as of January 2009, you hear people putting their two cents in: “Peace in Palestine” – “We can coexist”. The internet has been blasted with pictures of Muslims and Jews hugging each other, holding hands or whatever other imagery you can think of. Such images and slogans are not trite on their own. I can understand why they are important to many people. Their triteness is dependent on how the person, whoever is pushing the slogan or image, is going about this. Thus, a person who is calling for the boycott of Israeli goods and promoting “Peace and Unity” is completely different from someone promoting the latter with nothing else to accompany it.
Unfortunately, there are people who do nothing more beyond pushing slogans or images that no sane person would disagree with, completely ignorant of the issue, but find it necessary and imperative to inform others of their non-contribution. Seriously, who is going to disagree with terms such as peace, coexistence or an image of Muslim and Jewish children holding hands with each other? Might as well hold up a sign that says “Honk if you love puppies!” if you are going to take part in such mediocre exercise of intellect.
“Israel has a right to defend itself”. So, what about Palestine?
Read this insightful post. Read the full post here.
Israel’s Disney Tale of Morality
By: Critical Mood.
Nothing annoys me more that a self-proclaimed “pro-Palestinian” supporter who parrot the same ignorant lies we hear over and over from the mainstream media. There are many of these lies in circulation but in general they argue that: if the two sides come together, then the war would be over. While that is generally true, it does not take a genius to make such a statement. A two year old can figure that out. This Walt Disney movie way of thinking does nothing more than support those who massacre Palestinians/Lebanese civilians while giving a feel-good feeling to those who say it. It allows them to remain stupid while taking all the credit for caring for the “oppressed”. A self-serving stance that allows them to take rewards from both sides. For the clear headed, the facts are uncontroversial and are crystal clear. There are no general statements that a monkey can put together but only specific sets of facts that are anything but controversial.
All the onus is on Israel to stop its hostilities first and foremost. According to Israeli newspapers, an attack on Gaza was already being prepared by Israel before the last ceasefire. Hamas refused to renew it because Israel refused to lift the blockade (in place after Hamas won the election) which have led to further humanitarian crisis and will predictably lead to a slow death of those in Gaza. According to Barack Ravid of Haaretz:
“Sources in the defense establishment said Defense Minister Ehud Barak instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare for the operation over six months ago, even as Israel was beginning to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.”(Read more here)
Israel used the distraction of the U.S. election, which brought the still silent President-Elect Barack Obama to power, in order to bomb the Gaza Strip on November 4th. During the ceasefire, Hamas limited the rockets fired to around 3 per month (a 98% decrease) which even Israeli intelligence groups recognized (download report here — keep in mind that I am only referring to their numbers and keep in mind that the entire month of November, even after the 4th, is considered part of the lull in the report which is completely ludicrous). That being said, the rockets fired were fired by rogue groups such as Islamic Jihad and it was recognized by Israeli intelligence that they did a good job in handling them (download report here). All these have been extensively discussed in the Israeli media and somehow we have delusional North Americans making opposite claims, completely living in a bubble.
“Israel has a right to defend itself” is often parroted by Israeli supporters. Such words will defy logic if anyone has any idea of the history of this conflict. From the way it is spoken about in the mainstream media, it seems like it just started yesterday. As always, it is the Palestinians to blame and not the army that possesses the world’s most dangerous weapons and backed by the most powerful terrorist state in the world – the United States.
April 5, 2009
Judge clears terror snitch
This is very dissapointing. I don’t understand how Mubin was cleared of these charges which were very clear and evidence-based. I believe that it is a mistake on part of the Judge and the Jury.
Judge clears terror snitch
Last Updated: 25th March 2009, 2:53am
BRAMPTON — A young man found guilty for his part in a terror plot that took aim at several Ontario targets was not entrapped by an RCMP informant in the months leading up to his arrest, a judge ruled yesterday.
The defendant in question was 17 when he attended an alleged 10-day terror training camp in December 2005.
He was the first to stand trial of the so-called Toronto 18, who caught in a high-profile sweep nearly three years ago and was found guilty in September.
ABUSE OF PROCESS
Defence lawyers sought a stay of the proceedings through an abuse of process motion. Justice John Sproat, who presided over the trial, agreed not to register a formal conviction until he ruled on the motion.
The defence argued the Crown’s case rested on testimony from Mubin Shaikh, a police informant whom the defence insisted committed serious criminal offences while acting as a leader at the alleged terror camp. Defence lawyers further argued that authorities induced their client to commit crimes.
“In my opinion, Shaikh’s words and conduct had no significant effect on the actions of (the youth) after the camp,” Sproat wrote in his 53-page ruling.
During court proceedings, Shaikh agreed he played a pivotal role in setting up the camp and buying weapons for the group. “In my opinion, there is most definitely an air of reality to the position that Shaikh is excused from criminal liability by defence of necessity,” Sproat ruled.
Read the full article here.
Emergency Demonstration to stop the Raids on Migrant Workers
Just got this in an email. Make sure to send a letter to your M.P. about this.
CONFERENCE & RALLY TOMORROW MORNING (SUNDAY APRIL 5TH)
——-
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 3, 2008EMERGENCY DEMONSTRATION TO STOP THE RAIDS
PRESS CONFERENCE & RALLY
Heritage Inn Centre
385 Rexdale Road
11:00 am
5 April 2009Buses depart 252 Bloor W at 9:30am.
Executing massive and unprecedented US-style sweeps in Leamington, and Bradford/Simcoe County, Canada Border Services Agency has arrested and detained hundreds of migrant workers across Southern Ontario.
Hundreds of families and friends are wondering right now why their loved ones did not return from work. The hundreds of thousands of non-status people across Canada have woken up to a horrible day in Stephen Harper’s Canada.
At 9am on Thursday morning, enforcement officers stormed into an office building in Markham, Newmarket where they arrested over 70 workers. The temporary workers and undocumented people were placed on GO buses, handcuffed and immobile for several hours.
“One of my relatives was arrested in the raid. She called me from jail this morning. She and her co-workers are terrified that they may be deported at any time,” said Jonathan Canchela, chair of the Filipino Migrant Workers Movement- and member of Migrante-Ontario.
Yesterday, in Leamington-Ontario. “Migrants were traveling to the farm where they work with a contractor, when they were pulled over and arrested”, says Chris Ramsaroop of Justicia for Migrant Workers.
“The purpose of these raids is to heighten a climate of fear and insecurity in immigrant communities. These raids are part of Canada’s revolving door immigration policy where workers are used and disposed of with little or no rights”, says Mac Scott of the Law Union of Ontario.
“You know every company needs to save something in these hard times”, says Henry who was arrested yesterday and is presently in Detention Centre.
“Thats why they hire from Employment Agencies to save money to survive. In my case, I’ve no work permit. I need to send money for my children to go to school. That is why I have to work. There are so many like me in this country. More than a million. Why not a regularization program so we can pay taxes. Many of us are skilled and qualified and could help the country at the same time as we send the money back home”, Henry adds through his counsel Mac Scott.
“CBSA’s is trying to change the facts by calling these workers victims of human trafficking. Workers on the inside, largely Chinese and Thai, are saying that this is not true”, Scott adds.
Hundreds of immigrants will be at the Heritage Inn Detention Centre to show we will not be intimidated and silenced.
For further information and breaking news, please contact
Mac Scott – Law Union of Ontario (416.999.6885)
Chris Ramsaroop – Justicia for Migrant Workers (647.834.4932)
Marco Luciano – Migrante Ontario (647.205.5908)For more information on emergency demonstration: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=77857888912&ref=mf
April 3, 2009
Arrest Warrant for Bush/Cheney
The warrant was issued in June16, 2007 by Veterans Against Torture.
On June 16th during operation “Shock and Awe on the Oregon Coast”,, members of SQUADRON13-DEPLOYED recorded this arrest warrant for Bush and Cheney at City Hall in Newport Oregon.
As former members of the armed services of the United States of America, we swore to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Upon discharge from service we did not renounce that oath, which remains our sacred duty.
It has long been apparent to us that our Constitution is under attack and has been deliberately and relentlessly undermined by domestic enemies — indeed, by our highest government officials who took and have violated that same oath.
Many Constitutional crimes have been committed by the Bush administration, including warrantless electronic surveillance of American citizens in violation of the 4th Amendment, failure to provide due process rights in violation of the 5th and 6th Amendments, infliction of cruel and unusual punishments in violation of the 8th Amendment, usurpation of powers granted exclusively to Congress in violation of Article I, Section 1, and violation of Article VI, Paragraph 2, which states that all international treaties to which the United States is a signatory are “the Supreme law of the Land.”
The wars prosecuted by the Bush administration in our name with our national resources are violations of all treaties defining the international laws of war since 1928, including the United Nations and Nuremberg charters, which uniformly prohibit wars of aggression. As violations of these international covenants and pledges, they also constitute high crimes against the United States Constitution.
Furthermore, the illegal occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and other war crimes including torture and use of internationally prohibited weapons such as depleted uranium, violate the Geneva Conventions of 1949, thereby further violating the Supreme Law of our Land.
Our oath therefore compels us to issue a citizens’ warrant for the immediate arrest of George W. Bush and Richard Cheney, President and Vice-President of the United States.
We call upon President Bush and Vice-President Cheney to surrender themselves to federal law enforcement authorities or to any private group of Americans that is prepared to make these citizens arrests.
The right of citizens arrest is deeply grounded in English common law and is constitutionally protected under the 9th Amendment, derived from the natural right of self-defense and defense of others. A citizens arrest is valid when arresting citizens have a reasonable belief that the suspect has committed a felony.
We believe that felonies of great magnitude have been committed, and the evidentiary bases of these are conclusively established in the public record.
We charge these officials with conspiracy to commit genocide against the citizens of another sovereign state, with conspiracy to commit mass murder of American citizens by waging a fraudulently justified war, and other high crimes described on our website, www.VeteransAgainstTorture.com.
Our charges include war crimes and crimes against humanity for which we will seek extradition for trial in the international criminal court at the Hague, Netherlands, following trial in the United States for treason and other high crimes against our constitutional government.
Also, watch this video:
