You should remember "I Love the World", the commercial from Discovery Channel launched in 2008.
I love the whole world
And all its sights and sounds
I love the whole world
It's such a brilliant place
Now let me introduce the second one - "The World Is Just Awesome", launched in 2009.
I love the whole world
So many things to see
I love the whole world
And being part of it
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vie haaretz.com
"If the Prophet Mohammed had asked me to deem Christians or Jews heretics, I would have deemed Mohammed himself a heretic," Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, the Mufti of Syria, was quoted as telling a delegation of American academics visiting Damascus.
Hassoun, the leader of Syria's majority Sunni Muslim community, also told the delegates that Islam was a religion of peace, adding: "If Mohammed had commanded us to kill people, I would have told him he was not a prophet."
Religious wars were the result of politics infiltrating systems of faith, he said, asking:
"Was Moses of Middle Eastern or European descent? Was Jesus a Protestant or a Catholic? Was Mohammed Shi'ite or Sunni?"
According to the Mufti, the conflict between Israel and its Arabs neighbors has nothing to do with an Islamic war against Judaism.
"Before you got American citizenship, and I got Syrian citizenship, we were all brothers under the dome of God" he said.
Jews had once lived in Syria peacefully and with fair treatment, he added, explaining that his own grandfather had a Jewish partner.
"Jews lived in Syria for years and they still have a role in Syrian society," he said.
"If the Prophet Mohammed had asked me to deem Christians or Jews heretics, I would have deemed Mohammed himself a heretic," Sheikh Ahmed Hassoun, the Mufti of Syria, was quoted as telling a delegation of American academics visiting Damascus.
Hassoun, the leader of Syria's majority Sunni Muslim community, also told the delegates that Islam was a religion of peace, adding: "If Mohammed had commanded us to kill people, I would have told him he was not a prophet."
Religious wars were the result of politics infiltrating systems of faith, he said, asking:
"Was Moses of Middle Eastern or European descent? Was Jesus a Protestant or a Catholic? Was Mohammed Shi'ite or Sunni?"
According to the Mufti, the conflict between Israel and its Arabs neighbors has nothing to do with an Islamic war against Judaism.
"Before you got American citizenship, and I got Syrian citizenship, we were all brothers under the dome of God" he said.
Jews had once lived in Syria peacefully and with fair treatment, he added, explaining that his own grandfather had a Jewish partner.
"Jews lived in Syria for years and they still have a role in Syrian society," he said.
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This morning a strong aftershock magnitude 6.1 struck Haiti the United States Geological Survey said. The epicenter was at 60 km WSW of Port-au-Prince.
It happened at 06:03:44 AM local time.
You can find out more on the website of USGS, the United States Geological Survey.
Please consider donating for Haiti. There are countless options. You can chose the one that is most convenient for you. The Red Cross is the easiest way. Just go to the website of Red Cross in your country and you will find details.
Miapolis, the proposed world's tallest building at 3,200 FT (975 meters) high, is an icon building re-defining Miami as a cosmopolitan city, a worldwide tourist destination and an international financial center.
They have a lot of promises on the website. I am curious how much of this is true and how much is just PR bla-bla:
They have a lot of promises on the website. I am curious how much of this is true and how much is just PR bla-bla:
Miapolis is a metropolis in the sky, self-sufficient, "platinum green" sustainable, environmentally friendly and with a remarkable economic impact leaving no one behind.You can read more on your won on their website: http://www.miapoliscity.com
Buildings have a surprisingly profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health and productivity. MIAPOLIS intends to be designed as a high performance green building through a LEED certified project.
MIAPOLIS will be on the cutting edge of sustainable design. This project will be the largest LEED-
certified structure at any rating level in the United States. As green buildings are recognized
increasingly by LEED and ENERGY STAR, the marketplace is expected to follow with a system of preferential pricing. Tremendous value is created for MIAPOLIS because it is being built to the highest standards:
- LEED certification;
- environmental management;
- energy conservation and renewable
- 60% wind energy;
- modular green roof; greenhouse gas management
- water desalinization; storm water management
- wastewater; solid waste management
- transportation alternative fuel, electric trolleys
- purchase carbon emissions offsets;
- ecosystem management;
- Carbon sequestratio.
Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin was born 66 years ago
Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970)
She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Joplin number 46 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and number 28 on its 2008 list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
I'd trade all of my tomorrows for ONE single yesterday...
Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose...
Enjoy!
Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee
Janis Joplin was born 66 years ago
Janis Lyn Joplin (January 19, 1943 – October 4, 1970)
She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Joplin number 46 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and number 28 on its 2008 list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
I'd trade all of my tomorrows for ONE single yesterday...
Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose...
Enjoy!
Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee
via Dailygalaxy.com
While there's theoretically no upper limit on how big a black hole can be, there are hard limits on how big they could have become by now. The universe has only existed for a finite amount of time, and even the most voracious black hole can only suck in matter at a certain rate.
Scientists have determined the mass of the largest things that could possibly exist in our universe. New results have placed an upper limit on the current size of black holes - and at fifty billion suns it's pretty damn big. That's a hundred thousand tredagrams, and you'll never get the chance to use that word in relation to anything else.
Based on this self-regulating maximum rate, scientists at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Massachusetts, and the European Southern Observatory, Chile, have calculated an upper limit for these mega-mammoth masses. Fifty billion suns, that's 100 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 kg, otherwise known as "ridiculously stupidly big" and triple the size of the largest observed black hole, OJ 287.
Image credit: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2006-004 Supermassive black hole at Milky Way core. The brightest white spot in the middle is the very center of the galaxy, which also marks the site of a supermassive black hole.
While there's theoretically no upper limit on how big a black hole can be, there are hard limits on how big they could have become by now. The universe has only existed for a finite amount of time, and even the most voracious black hole can only suck in matter at a certain rate.
Scientists have determined the mass of the largest things that could possibly exist in our universe. New results have placed an upper limit on the current size of black holes - and at fifty billion suns it's pretty damn big. That's a hundred thousand tredagrams, and you'll never get the chance to use that word in relation to anything else.Based on this self-regulating maximum rate, scientists at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Massachusetts, and the European Southern Observatory, Chile, have calculated an upper limit for these mega-mammoth masses. Fifty billion suns, that's 100 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 kg, otherwise known as "ridiculously stupidly big" and triple the size of the largest observed black hole, OJ 287.
via StarTribune.com
Dear Pat Robertson,
I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I'm all over that action.
But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I'm no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished. Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth -- glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle.
Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven't you seen "Crossroads"? Or "Damn Yankees"? If I had a thing going with Haiti, there'd be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox -- that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it -- I'm just saying: Not how I roll.
You're doing great work, Pat, and I don't want to clip your wings -- just, come on, you're making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That's working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.
Best,
Satan
Dear Pat Robertson,
I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I'm all over that action.
But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I'm no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished. Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth -- glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle.
Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven't you seen "Crossroads"? Or "Damn Yankees"? If I had a thing going with Haiti, there'd be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox -- that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it -- I'm just saying: Not how I roll.
You're doing great work, Pat, and I don't want to clip your wings -- just, come on, you're making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That's working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.
Best,
Satan
The National Iranian American Council has already launched an action against the proposed legislation, noting that no Iranian has ever committed an act of terror on American soil and this bill unfairly targets legal Iranian workers and students in the United States. They say:
The STEP would still make it illegal for Iranians to travel to the United States. At a time of increasing repression in Iran, this proposal will impose even greater burdens on Iranians seeking refuge.
STEP is a stupid idea. It is racist and it has no logic. People cannot be judge only based on their nationality. What about all the Iranians who were involved in the Green Revolution? Will they be banned from seeking refuge in US? If Neda would be alive right now, will she be banned from entering US?
I say it again. It is stupid and it has no logic. Even if this legislation would have been in place since 2001, it would have not prevented 9/11 as the hijackers came from Saudi Arabia, a country that is not on the list.
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(1972... ten years before I was born) Deep Purple
performing "Child in Time" live in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1972.
performing "Child in Time" live in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1972. 
The Red Cross text messaging campaign has raised more than $20 million as of Sunday evening EST.
Simple donations via text messaging combined with the viral spread of the campaign message on Twitter and Facebook have led to an unprecedented number of donations. It’s a model that will likely become the standard for disaster relief.
Katie J Stanton from the Office of Innovation at the State Department annonced this on her Twitter page http://twitter.com/KateAtState
MLK: Life's most urgent question is, what are you doing for others? Thank you, Americans, for answering w/ over $20m in donations for HaitiIf you're in the US and you’d like to donate to the Red Cross campaign, text “Haiti” to 90999.
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.
Let's reinvent the gods, all the myths of the ages
Celebrate symbols from deep elder forests
Now listen to this...
O great creator of being
grant us one more hour to
perform our art
and perfect our lives
The moths & atheists are doubly divine
& dying
We live, we die
and death not ends it
I touched her thigh
and death smiled
We have assembled inside this ancient
& insane theatre
To propagate our lust for life
& flee the swarming wisdom
of the streets
Death makes angels of us all
and gives us wings
where we had shoulders
smooth as raven's
claws
The program for this evening
is not new. You have seen
This entertainment through and through.
You've seen your birth, your
life and death; you might recall
all of the rest — (did you
have a good world when you
died?) — enough to base
a movie on?
Always a playground instructor, never a Killer
Her cunt gripped him like a warm friendly hand.
Jim Morrison (excerpt from “An American Prayer”)
Let's reinvent the gods, all the myths of the ages
Celebrate symbols from deep elder forests
Now listen to this...
O great creator of being
grant us one more hour to
perform our art
and perfect our lives
The moths & atheists are doubly divine
& dying
We live, we die
and death not ends it
I touched her thigh
and death smiled
We have assembled inside this ancient
& insane theatre
To propagate our lust for life
& flee the swarming wisdom
of the streets
Death makes angels of us all
and gives us wings
where we had shoulders
smooth as raven's
claws
The program for this evening
is not new. You have seen
This entertainment through and through.
You've seen your birth, your
life and death; you might recall
all of the rest — (did you
have a good world when you
died?) — enough to base
a movie on?
Always a playground instructor, never a Killer
Her cunt gripped him like a warm friendly hand.
Jim Morrison (excerpt from “An American Prayer”)
Chase Community Giving is donating $5,000,000 to charities around the USA. Facebook users are voting for the recipients!
It can be incredibly rewarding when your vote has a local impact. Chase is giving away $5 million to various charities and needs you to help pick which ones. Simply vote for your favorite nonprofit and then get friends and others on Facebook to do the same. You can select from the top 100 charities from round one that focus on education, healthcare, housing, environmental issues, combating hunger, arts and culture, human services, and animal welfare. Give your charity the recognition it deserves and needs with Chase Community Giving.
View the Current Vote Leaders and chose your favorite 5! Vote Now!
Voting ends at 11:59pm ET on Jan 22, so be sure to cast your five votes by then.
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via TheLocal.de
Pirate Party supporters demonstrated this month at several German airports to show their opposition to controversial “naked” scanners planned for security checks.
The protesters assembled at airports in Berlin
, Frankfurt
and Düsseldorf
. The participants stripped down to their underpants, marching behinds signs that read: “No need to scan us – we’re already naked.” A statement on the party's website said they opposed the new security scanners because they threaten the “private sphere and the personal rights of passengers.”
Pat Robertson is the founder of numerous organizations and corporations, including the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), and the Christian Coalition.
Robertson is a Southern Baptist and was active as an ordained minister with that denomination for many years. He unsuccessfully campaigned to become the Republican Party's nominee in the 1988 presidential election. His media and financial resources make him a recognized, influential, and controversial public voice for conservative Christianity in the United States.
This stupid 80-year-old guy claimed that Haiti's founders had sworn a "pact to the Devil" in order to liberate themselves from the French slave owners and indirectly attributed the earthquake to the consequences of the Haitian people being "cursed" for doing so. Peterson made the comments on Wednesday on his programme, "The 700 Club".
"They said, we will serve you if you will get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal," the televangelist said during the broadcast.
I'm not the only one who calls this guy STUPID. White House also called Robertson's Haiti comment 'stupid'.
"It never ceases to amaze, that in times of amazing human suffering, somebody says something that could be so utterly stupid. But it, like clockwork, happens with some regularity." White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
It never ceases to amaze me that there are people like this Parterson. People that use religion as an excuse for their own STUPIDITY.
Robertson is a Southern Baptist and was active as an ordained minister with that denomination for many years. He unsuccessfully campaigned to become the Republican Party's nominee in the 1988 presidential election. His media and financial resources make him a recognized, influential, and controversial public voice for conservative Christianity in the United States.
This stupid 80-year-old guy claimed that Haiti's founders had sworn a "pact to the Devil" in order to liberate themselves from the French slave owners and indirectly attributed the earthquake to the consequences of the Haitian people being "cursed" for doing so. Peterson made the comments on Wednesday on his programme, "The 700 Club".
"They said, we will serve you if you will get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal," the televangelist said during the broadcast.
I'm not the only one who calls this guy STUPID. White House also called Robertson's Haiti comment 'stupid'.
"It never ceases to amaze, that in times of amazing human suffering, somebody says something that could be so utterly stupid. But it, like clockwork, happens with some regularity." White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
It never ceases to amaze me that there are people like this Parterson. People that use religion as an excuse for their own STUPIDITY.
via NewScientist
And this is only one of the glaciers. If the melting of only one glacier could lead to the rising of the sea level with 24 cm... imagine what could happen if more of them will melt.
Copenhagen was a lost moment but let's just hope that it is not too late for us to wake-up and face the reality.
Do you think that it would be an interesting experience to start living under water? I think that we as humans could adjust to that... see this picture :)
A major Antarctic glacier has passed its tipping point, according to a new modeling study. After losing increasing amounts of ice over the past decades, it is poised to collapse in a catastrophe that could raise global sea levels by 24 centimeters.
Pine Island glacier (PIG) is one of many at the fringes of the West Antarctic ice sheet. In 2004, satellite observations showed that it had started to thin, and that ice was flowing into the Amundsen Sea 25 per cent faster than it had 30 years before.
Now, the first study to model changes in the ice sheet in three dimensions shows that PIG has probably passed a critical "tipping point" and is irreversibly on track to lose 50 per cent of its ice in as little as 100 years, significantly raising global sea levels.
And this is only one of the glaciers. If the melting of only one glacier could lead to the rising of the sea level with 24 cm... imagine what could happen if more of them will melt.
Copenhagen was a lost moment but let's just hope that it is not too late for us to wake-up and face the reality.
Do you think that it would be an interesting experience to start living under water? I think that we as humans could adjust to that... see this picture :)
from The White House Blog
Americans can help immediately by donating to the Red Cross to assist the relief effort. Contribute online here, or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999."
You can also read President Obama's remarks.
More info on The White House Blog
Even if you are not in US you can donate online for the American Red Cross.
You can also contribute to this effort by spreading the word about this crisis. It's a lot more important than the cold weather in Europe for example!
Update your status on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, etc.
Americans can help immediately by donating to the Red Cross to assist the relief effort. Contribute online here, or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999."
You can also read President Obama's remarks.
More info on The White House Blog
Even if you are not in US you can donate online for the American Red Cross.
You can also contribute to this effort by spreading the word about this crisis. It's a lot more important than the cold weather in Europe for example!
Update your status on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, etc.
via The Guardian
Thousands of people are feared dead after 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti last night. The presidential palace and the UN mission in the capital Port-au-Prince are among the buildings destroyed.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said the earthquake caused "massive destruction in all the main neighborhoods" of Port-au-Prince.
The French aid agency Medecins sans Frontieres reports serious damage to its hospitals in Port-au-Prince. At one of them patients, including new born babies, have had to be evacuated.
You can follow more live updates on the Guardian blog.
Thousands of people are feared dead after 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti last night. The presidential palace and the UN mission in the capital Port-au-Prince are among the buildings destroyed.
The International Committee of the Red Cross said the earthquake caused "massive destruction in all the main neighborhoods" of Port-au-Prince.
The French aid agency Medecins sans Frontieres reports serious damage to its hospitals in Port-au-Prince. At one of them patients, including new born babies, have had to be evacuated.
You can follow more live updates on the Guardian blog.
On December 26, Malawi couple Tiwonge Chimbalanga and Steven Monjeza married in traditional public ceremony. Two days later the two men were arrested and brought to court on charges of indecency.
Currently they are awaiting trial on January 15th, and were denied bail. Furthermore three activists were arrested for their involvement in the legal defense for Monjeza and Chimbalanga.
Persecuting gay couples for marrying goes against their constitution's guarantees of nondiscrimination, and the African Charter on human and people's rights, which Malawi signed.
This case has the potential to set a precedent for gay rights in Malawi, and at bare minimum this courageous couple should be set free.
It's important to gather international support for this. Please spread the word.
More details on Change.org
Currently they are awaiting trial on January 15th, and were denied bail. Furthermore three activists were arrested for their involvement in the legal defense for Monjeza and Chimbalanga.
Persecuting gay couples for marrying goes against their constitution's guarantees of nondiscrimination, and the African Charter on human and people's rights, which Malawi signed.
This case has the potential to set a precedent for gay rights in Malawi, and at bare minimum this courageous couple should be set free.
It's important to gather international support for this. Please spread the word.
More details on Change.org
Violence, poverty and widespread discrimination have made Roma communities the "punchbags" of Europe and victims of the regions "undeclared apartheid". These are among the conclusions reached by a panel of experts which assembled for the Council of Europe's Viewpoint human rights talk show.
Via wikisource
A poem written by Edgar Allan Poe
, first published in 1849, that questions the way one can distinguish between reality and fantasy, asking, "Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream
?"
A poem written by Edgar Allan Poe
, first published in 1849, that questions the way one can distinguish between reality and fantasy, asking, "Is all that we see or seem but a dream within a dream?"Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow—
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand—
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep—while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
-- THE END --
for Orpheus. Eurydice. Hermes. And Barbara with infinite love as I falter on the road to Ithaka
Supporters of the Iranian Government have for a second time desecrated the grave of Neda Soltan
, the student whose shooting during a street demonstration last June made her a worldwide symbol of the opposition.Photographs obtained by The Times show that the black marble slab on which her face is engraved has been pockmarked by bullets even though security agents guard the grave around the clock to prevent it from becoming a martyr’s shrine.
Neda’s family put the new tombstone in place on December 14 after the previous one was smashed in mid-November. Her parents discovered the fresh damage on December 31.
The Times named Neda Soltan Person of the Year.
“They didn’t just shoot her once. They continue to shoot at Neda to this day by desecrating her grave,” Neda’s fiancé, Caspian Makan, said. Mr Makan was imprisoned and beaten after her death caused the regime embarrassment and fled the country.
Neda Soltan was shot during a huge demonstration in Tehran on June 20, eight days after President Ahmadinejad won what the opposition insists was a rigged election. Mobile telephone footage of her last moments flashed around the world, instantly transforming her into a symbol of the regime’s brutality.
The young student was appalled by the way that the regime shamelessly rigged the result of the elections and reinstalled Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ignoring the pleas of her family, she went with her music teacher to join a huge opposition demonstration in Tehran.
“Even if a bullet goes through my heart it’s not important,” she told Caspian Makan, her fiancé. “What we’re fighting for is more important. When it comes to taking our stolen rights back we should not hesitate. Everyone is responsible. Each person leaves a footprint in this world.”
Neda had no idea just how big a footprint she would leave. Hours after leaving home, she was indeed shot, by a government militiaman, as she and other demonstrators chanted: “Death to the dictator.”
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Leviticus 20:13 states:
What do you think about this? Should we organize a global hunt for homosexuals?I bet that we can organize some death-camps. And we can kill several millions homosexuals by the end of 2010. This is GOD's will!
God belss you, Christian brothers! Let's kill the sinners!
If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.So the Bible tells us to kill gay people. That is a very good religion indeed!
What do you think about this? Should we organize a global hunt for homosexuals?I bet that we can organize some death-camps. And we can kill several millions homosexuals by the end of 2010. This is GOD's will!
God belss you, Christian brothers! Let's kill the sinners!
via AFP
Portugal's parliament Friday approved plans to legalise gay marriage but rejected proposals to allow same sex couples to adopt.
The bill passed with limited public controversy in what has traditionally been one of Europe's most socially conservative countries.
After less than three hours' debate, Friday's parliamentary vote went mainly along party lines, with the left-wing majority backing the measure proposed by Prime Minister Jose Socrates and the right-wing opposition voting against.
Socrates said the aim of the legislation was to remedy decades of injustice towards gays, recalling that as recently as 1982 homosexuality was a crime in Portugal.
"I am of a generation -- as we all are -- which is not proud of the way it treated homosexuals," the prime minister said before lawmakers in parliament.
"This is a step that will seem completely natural in the near future, in the same way that gender equality, abortion rights and unmarried couples living together are normal now.
"Gay marriage has been approved by numerous countries and will be approved by many more. I have no doubt about that."
Just look on the map and you will see a clear difference between developed societies and societies that are still living in the "dark ages" :))
Laws regarding same-sex partnerships in Europe Same-sex marriage Other type of partnership Unregistered cohabitation Issue under political consideration Unrecognized Constitution limits marriage to man–woman
Portugal's parliament Friday approved plans to legalise gay marriage but rejected proposals to allow same sex couples to adopt.
The bill passed with limited public controversy in what has traditionally been one of Europe's most socially conservative countries.
After less than three hours' debate, Friday's parliamentary vote went mainly along party lines, with the left-wing majority backing the measure proposed by Prime Minister Jose Socrates and the right-wing opposition voting against.
Socrates said the aim of the legislation was to remedy decades of injustice towards gays, recalling that as recently as 1982 homosexuality was a crime in Portugal.
"I am of a generation -- as we all are -- which is not proud of the way it treated homosexuals," the prime minister said before lawmakers in parliament.
"This is a step that will seem completely natural in the near future, in the same way that gender equality, abortion rights and unmarried couples living together are normal now.
"Gay marriage has been approved by numerous countries and will be approved by many more. I have no doubt about that."
Just look on the map and you will see a clear difference between developed societies and societies that are still living in the "dark ages" :))
Laws regarding same-sex partnerships in Europe Same-sex marriage Other type of partnership Unregistered cohabitation Issue under political consideration Unrecognized Constitution limits marriage to man–woman
1st Georgian airplane in last 1.5 years landed in Moscow today. This is a symbolic act. Peace has been given a chance :)
Airzena Airlines launched its first charter flight from Tbilisi to Moscow
today. This was the airline's first flight after almost a year and a half pause.
The aircraft flew from Tbilisi International Airport at 12.30 and landed at Moscow's Domodedovo airport after two hours and twenty minutes.
Most of the tickets for today and the subsequent flights were sold-out.
The airline made a request to conduct sustained flights to Moscow, but the Russian Transport Ministry allowed conducting only three charter flights.
Having peace in the Eastern-European region is very important if we want to see an economic recovery.
Airzena Airlines launched its first charter flight from Tbilisi to Moscow
today. This was the airline's first flight after almost a year and a half pause.The aircraft flew from Tbilisi International Airport at 12.30 and landed at Moscow's Domodedovo airport after two hours and twenty minutes.
Most of the tickets for today and the subsequent flights were sold-out.
The airline made a request to conduct sustained flights to Moscow, but the Russian Transport Ministry allowed conducting only three charter flights.
Having peace in the Eastern-European region is very important if we want to see an economic recovery.
Starting Monday 11 January you can follow a very special recruitment procedure. European Parliament Members (MEPs) will question and evaluate 26 candidates nominated for the top posts of the European Commission.
The candidates are invited to public hearings by the appropriate parliamentary committee(s). They answer questions from MEPs to assess their abilities, particularly to deal with the issues in their portfolios. The committees' evaluations are then examined by Parliament's President and political group leaders.
All the background info here: http://www.europarl.europa
The Candidates are:
Catherine Ashton
Viviane Reding
Joaquín Almunia
Siim Kallas
Neelie Kroes
Antonio Tajani
Maroš Šefčovič
László Andor
Michel Barnier
Dacian Cioloş
John Dalli
Maria Damanaki
Karel De Gucht
Štefan Füle
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Johannes Hahn
Connie Hedegaard
Rumiana Jeleva
Janusz Lewandowski
Cecilia Malmström
Günther H. Oettinger
Andris Piebalgs
Janez Potočnik
Olli Rehn
Algirdas Šemeta
Androulla Vassiliou
The candidates are invited to public hearings by the appropriate parliamentary committee(s). They answer questions from MEPs to assess their abilities, particularly to deal with the issues in their portfolios. The committees' evaluations are then examined by Parliament's President and political group leaders.
All the background info here: http://www.europarl.europa
The Candidates are:
Catherine AshtonVice-President / High Representative
External Relations
Viviane RedingVice-President
Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship
Joaquín AlmuniaVice-President
Competition
Siim KallasVice-President
Transport
Neelie KroesVice-President
Digital Agenda
Antonio TajaniVice-President
Industry and Entrepreneurship
Maroš ŠefčovičVice-President
Inter-institutional Relations and Administration
László AndorEmployment, Social Affairs and Inclusion
Michel BarnierInternal Market and Services
Dacian CioloşAgriculture and Rural Development
John DalliHealth and Consumer Policy
Maria DamanakiMaritime Affairs and Fisheries
Karel De GuchtTrade
Štefan FüleEnlargement and Neighbourhood Policy
Máire Geoghegan-QuinnResearch, Innovation and Science
Johannes HahnRegional policy
Connie HedegaardClimate Action
Rumiana JelevaInternational Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response
Janusz LewandowskiBudget and Financial Programming
Cecilia MalmströmHome Affairs
Günther H. OettingerEnergy
Andris PiebalgsDevelopment
Janez PotočnikEnvironment
Olli RehnEconomic and Monetary Affairs
Algirdas ŠemetaTaxation and Customs Union, Audit and Anti-Fraud
Androulla VassiliouEducation, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth
via canada.com
Children are the biggest victims of the war in Afghanistan, with more than 1,050 people under 18 years old killed last year alone, according to an Afghan human rights watchdog.
Taliban-linked militants caused around 64% of all violent child deaths last year.
On the other hand, the Western-backed government has failed to introduce or implement laws to protect children against the abuses of war or bring alleged criminals and abusers to justice.
Children were also press-ganged, sexually exploited, deprived of health and education, and illegally detained by all sides in a war that is dragging into its ninth year since the U.S.-led invasion toppled the Taliban regime.
The United States and NATO are boosting their troop numbers in Afghanistan to 150,000 over the course of 2010, as part of a new strategy determined to clear and secure insurgent strongholds.
I really liked this article. It is very similar to some of my beliefs. So I chose to reproduce it entirely. Although I do not agree with all the ideas I decided to keep it in the intended format. It's Dave Chameides' own "utopia". The choice of the movie at the end also belongs to him.
Someday, Perhaps…a Hope for a New Decade
Someday, perhaps, all newly built homes will be required to generate their own power on site.
Someday, perhaps, public transportation will be the norm everywhere and private transportation a thing of the past.
Someday, perhaps, people will realize that our parents taught us how to act when we were children, and didn’t say that would change if we became wealthy.
Someday, perhaps, products that are sold publicly will contain lifecycle information so individuals can determine what the real cost of an item is and make truly informed decisions.
Someday, perhaps, success will be determined on the basis of how much we have helped society rather than how much we have acquired or how large our bank accounts are.
Someday, perhaps, people will realize that there is no “them,” that we are all “them” and they are all “us.”
Someday, perhaps, environmental education will be a part of every school system and children will graduate knowing that conserving resources and living with a lighter footprint are the only way to live.
Someday, perhaps, we will judge unique ideas not based on their right left or center leanings, but simply on whether or not they make logical sense and are intended to further the common good.
Someday, perhaps, all governments will have a Department of Peace to counteract and potentially make unnecessary their Department’s of War.
Someday, perhaps, we’ll look back and realize all the energy we used fighting over Global Warming would have been better spent bringing a renewable energy future to fruition.
Someday, perhaps, politicians will recognize that we are truly all created equal, and that that doesn’t change once we earn more money.
Someday, perhaps, my wife will realize that I didn’t lose the house keys, and that they will eventually show up like they always do.
Someday, perhaps, all governments will truly be by the people, of the people, and most especially, for ALL the people.
Someday, perhaps, a forward thinking city will ban plastic packaging all together and put it on the corporations to figure out what they want to do instead.
Someday, perhaps, public welfare will trump personal gain.
Someday, perhaps, the people will lead and the “leaders” will follow.
Someday, perhaps, all products we choose to use will be made locally and recycled completely.
Someday, perhaps, people will recognize that some “food” isn’t really food at all.
Someday, perhaps, our happiness will not be determined by what we buy, but by who we are.
Someday, perhaps, gasoline pump prices will be determined by the mpg of the car being filled up with less efficient vehicles paying more while more efficient vehicles would pay less.
Someday, perhaps, my children will wonder why anyone would have ever paid for energy let alone fought for it.
Someday, perhaps, all people will recognize that diversity is good and not to be feared, the ideas are a blessing and not a curse, and that all people throughout the world have value, even if their beliefs differ from our own.
Someday, perhaps…..
Someday, Perhaps…a Hope for a New Decade
Someday, perhaps, all newly built homes will be required to generate their own power on site.
Someday, perhaps, public transportation will be the norm everywhere and private transportation a thing of the past.
Someday, perhaps, people will realize that our parents taught us how to act when we were children, and didn’t say that would change if we became wealthy.
Someday, perhaps, products that are sold publicly will contain lifecycle information so individuals can determine what the real cost of an item is and make truly informed decisions.
Someday, perhaps, success will be determined on the basis of how much we have helped society rather than how much we have acquired or how large our bank accounts are.
Someday, perhaps, people will realize that there is no “them,” that we are all “them” and they are all “us.”
Someday, perhaps, environmental education will be a part of every school system and children will graduate knowing that conserving resources and living with a lighter footprint are the only way to live.
Someday, perhaps, we will judge unique ideas not based on their right left or center leanings, but simply on whether or not they make logical sense and are intended to further the common good.
Someday, perhaps, all governments will have a Department of Peace to counteract and potentially make unnecessary their Department’s of War.
Someday, perhaps, we’ll look back and realize all the energy we used fighting over Global Warming would have been better spent bringing a renewable energy future to fruition.
Someday, perhaps, politicians will recognize that we are truly all created equal, and that that doesn’t change once we earn more money.
Someday, perhaps, my wife will realize that I didn’t lose the house keys, and that they will eventually show up like they always do.
Someday, perhaps, all governments will truly be by the people, of the people, and most especially, for ALL the people.
Someday, perhaps, a forward thinking city will ban plastic packaging all together and put it on the corporations to figure out what they want to do instead.
Someday, perhaps, public welfare will trump personal gain.
Someday, perhaps, the people will lead and the “leaders” will follow.
Someday, perhaps, all products we choose to use will be made locally and recycled completely.
Someday, perhaps, people will recognize that some “food” isn’t really food at all.
Someday, perhaps, our happiness will not be determined by what we buy, but by who we are.
Someday, perhaps, gasoline pump prices will be determined by the mpg of the car being filled up with less efficient vehicles paying more while more efficient vehicles would pay less.
Someday, perhaps, my children will wonder why anyone would have ever paid for energy let alone fought for it.
Someday, perhaps, all people will recognize that diversity is good and not to be feared, the ideas are a blessing and not a curse, and that all people throughout the world have value, even if their beliefs differ from our own.
Someday, perhaps…..
Labels:
About me,
Climate,
diversity,
education,
environment,
generosity,
health,
history,
human rights,
imagine
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There are still debates about abortion being legal or not in the US. This is a false debate. Abortion is legal. Abortion is a fundamental right.
Spain
takes over the new post-Lisbon
EU presidency, announces the website of the European Parliament.
On Tuesday 19 January Mr Zapatero will unveil his programme for the coming six months to MEPs in Strasbourg. He will also talk about the coordinated action that they have agreed with the two presidencies that will follow, those of Belgium
and Hungary
.
Key priorities are economic issues, supervision of financial markets and energy policy.
Among of the priorities of the Spanish Presidency will also be ensuring the EU works well under the new Lisbon rules, progressing on the "Stockholm" Programme for justice and citizenship and combating violence against women.
The Stockholm Programme is to define the framework for EU police and customs cooperation, rescue services, criminal and civil law cooperation, asylum, migration and visa policy for the period 2010–2014.
takes over the new post-Lisbon EU presidency, announces the website of the European Parliament.On Tuesday 19 January Mr Zapatero will unveil his programme for the coming six months to MEPs in Strasbourg. He will also talk about the coordinated action that they have agreed with the two presidencies that will follow, those of Belgium
and Hungary.Key priorities are economic issues, supervision of financial markets and energy policy.
Among of the priorities of the Spanish Presidency will also be ensuring the EU works well under the new Lisbon rules, progressing on the "Stockholm" Programme for justice and citizenship and combating violence against women.
The Stockholm Programme is to define the framework for EU police and customs cooperation, rescue services, criminal and civil law cooperation, asylum, migration and visa policy for the period 2010–2014.
via anadder.com
Guess which people are best described by these characteristics:
- assemble in concentrated masses in our cities
- live side by side with us but don’t assimilate
- are (on the other hand) chameleons, adapting to the host culture
- are parasites (since they have a host culture)
- are dirty, have poor hygiene
- are thieves, not to be trusted
- kidnap children, do bad things to them
- engage in non-mainstream, highly dubious occupations (which they’re brilliant at)
- are bloodsuckers, contributing nothing to our economy/culture
- should be watched/fingerprinted/expelled/imprisoned/sterilized/tortured/destroyed
Until recently, this was commonly/openly said about Jews. In fact many groups have suffered from the same accusations: Chinese in the US gold rush, Irish and Italian immigrants etc.
Nowadays they’re still openly said about the Romani. And they’re very common in some places: in the Czech Republic 90% of people do not want Romani neighbors. Romani get screwed even in supposedly tolerant countries. Norway was having them sterilized well into the 1970s.
Roma people are probably the most discriminated ethnic group in the world.
Same as me, Michael Fridman seems to like Gogol Bordello
.
“You love our music, but you hate our guts, we know all about you, you don’t know thing about us” All the Lies About Roma
Roma people
are a mystery for most of the people who hate them. They "don't know thing" about Romani. And this is the main reason why they fear and hate and discriminate Roma people.
Most of the haters are either brainwashed by negative propaganda, either scared, either simply ignorant.
Discrimination comes most of the times from ignorance and stereotypes.
I hope that we will be able to learn something from the examples that we can find in the history. It's always wrong to discriminated ethnic groups. We saw this with the Chinese people during the gold rush. We saw this with the Italian and Irish immigrants in the US. (Isn't it ironic that nowadays we have numerous examples of racism in Ireland and in Italy?) And we also saw this with the genocide of the second world war.
So try to get to know more about Roma people. Try to open the eyes of those ignorant haters. And maybe this will avoid a genocide.
Guess which people are best described by these characteristics:
- assemble in concentrated masses in our cities
- live side by side with us but don’t assimilate
- are (on the other hand) chameleons, adapting to the host culture
- are parasites (since they have a host culture)
- are dirty, have poor hygiene
- are thieves, not to be trusted
- kidnap children, do bad things to them
- engage in non-mainstream, highly dubious occupations (which they’re brilliant at)
- are bloodsuckers, contributing nothing to our economy/culture
- should be watched/fingerprinted/expelled/imprisoned/sterilized/tortured/destroyed
Until recently, this was commonly/openly said about Jews. In fact many groups have suffered from the same accusations: Chinese in the US gold rush, Irish and Italian immigrants etc.
Nowadays they’re still openly said about the Romani. And they’re very common in some places: in the Czech Republic 90% of people do not want Romani neighbors. Romani get screwed even in supposedly tolerant countries. Norway was having them sterilized well into the 1970s.
Roma people are probably the most discriminated ethnic group in the world.
Same as me, Michael Fridman seems to like Gogol Bordello
. “You love our music, but you hate our guts, we know all about you, you don’t know thing about us” All the Lies About Roma
Roma people
are a mystery for most of the people who hate them. They "don't know thing" about Romani. And this is the main reason why they fear and hate and discriminate Roma people.Most of the haters are either brainwashed by negative propaganda, either scared, either simply ignorant.
Discrimination comes most of the times from ignorance and stereotypes.
I hope that we will be able to learn something from the examples that we can find in the history. It's always wrong to discriminated ethnic groups. We saw this with the Chinese people during the gold rush. We saw this with the Italian and Irish immigrants in the US. (Isn't it ironic that nowadays we have numerous examples of racism in Ireland and in Italy?) And we also saw this with the genocide of the second world war.
So try to get to know more about Roma people. Try to open the eyes of those ignorant haters. And maybe this will avoid a genocide.
Labels:
disaster,
diversity,
history,
human rights,
migration,
poverty,
racism,
Romani
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