Issues

The Heaviest Issue

peppe — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:24:29 -0400

Report

24th June 2008

Dear Companions

I am readdressing with humble concern the report on the subject of the heaviest issue.

There is a necessity of immediate attention, accuracy, consideration and examinations of the conditions heretofore exposed.

On the fifty-fifth session, 7th September 2001, 11th plenary meeting, the UN General Assembly adopted the Resolution 55/282.

The General Assembly proclaimed the 21st of September of each year as the International Day of Peace.

The General Assembly also addressed the subsequent statement embodied in paragraph 3 of the aforementioned Resolution;

3. Invites all Member States, organisations of the United Nations system, regional and non-governmental organisations and individuals to commemorate, in an appropriate manner, the International Day of Peace, including through education and public awareness to co-operate with the United Nations in the establishment of the global ceasefire.

Considering the Provision of the UN Charter and taking into account the role of the above mentioned relevant resolution adopted by the competent organs of the United Nations, each State has the duty to comply in full and in good faith with its international obligations under the principles of International Law.

Non-violence, non-proliferation and global disarmament are of primary importance and essential conditions to ensure order and education within the International Community.

Bearing in mind the paramount importance that the faithful observance of international law subsume and considering in consequence that the prosperity and peace of the International Community are to a remarkable extent endangered, each State has the duty to co-operate with one another, irrespective of their differences in their political, economic and social systems, in the various spheres of international relations, in order to maintain international peace and security and to promote international stability and progress, the welfare of nations and international co-operation free from discrimination based on such differences.

Desiring to draw diligence and respect to the aforesaid objective and therefore to adopt and maintain collective effective measures for the prevention and removal of breaches and threats to the peace and to bring adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations, I have humbly requested the attention of national and international institutions or bodies disclosed into the present report, addressing the necessity to comply with the requirements that the resolution referred to above entails.

The institutions or bodies I do now raise objections to are heretofore reported.

UN Security Council;
UN General Assembly;
UN Peace Building Commission;
UN Non-Proliferation and Disarmament departments;
UN Secretary General;
UN Security Council Presidents;
UN 193 Permanent Mission Representatives to the United Nations;
The Vatican City in Rome;
UN Spiritual Foundation;
International Court of Justice;
Court of Justice of the European Communities;
The Council of the European Union;
European Court of Human Rights;
European Commission;
Eurojust;
Inter Parliamentary Union;
Association of Secretary General of Parliaments;
National Parliaments;
World Embassies;
Amnesty International Worldwide;
Fundamental Rights Agency;
NHS Mental Health Departments Worldwide;
The White House, the President of the United States of America;
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom;
The President of the European Commission;
The President of Zimbabwe;
The President of Uganda;
The President of Russia;
The President of France;
Russian Politician, Founder and Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia;
The President of Sri Lanka;
The President of Sudan;
The President of Iran;
The president of Somalia;
The President of Pakistan;
The President of Burma;
The President of Afghanistan;
The President of Kurdistan;
The President of Turkey;
The President of Somalia;
The President of Kashmir;
The President of Senegal;
The President of Nigeria;
The President of India;
The President of Ethiopia;
The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo;
The President of Yemen;
The president of Chad;
The President of Tanzania;
The president of Egypt;
The Prime Minister of Kenia;
Committee of the Regions of the European Union;
European Social Committee;
Office for Official Publication of the European Communities;
The World Council of Religious Leaders;
European Ombudsman;
United Kingdom Ombudsman;
His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales;
Her Majesty the Queen Elisabeth the ii;
UK Royal Court of Justice, 16 Judges informed;
UK Inspectorate of Court Administration;
UK House of Lords;
UK House of Common;
UK Ministry of Justice;
UK Ministry of Defence;
UK Her Majesty Stationery Office;
UK Government Offices;
UK London Government Communication Headquarters;
UK London Local Government Association;
UK Greater London Authority;
UK London Foreign and Commonwealth Office;
UK London Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration;
UK London Improvement and Development Agency;
UK London Cabinet Office;
UK Security Service MI5;
UK London Secret Intelligence Service;
UK London Government Human Rights Unit;
UK London Metropolitan Police Forces, Working for a Safer London;
BBC News;
First Minister and Deputy First Minister, UK, Belfast;
Youth Justice board for England and Wales;

It is discernible that the institutions or bodies reported have neglected to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of national and international law can be maintained.

The cessation of violence and of any other form of abuse, corruption, maladministration and the eradication of conflict within the International Community are relevant factors consequently unattended.

Notwithstanding the fact that concrete and heavy situations are pressing upon the people of all States, political and religious conditions remain unchanged.

I do object contemporary arrangements.

A war of aggression constitutes a crime against the peace, for which there is responsibility under international law.

States shall settle their international disputes by non-violent means in such a manner that international peace, security and justice are not endangered.

All States shall pursue in good faith negotiations for the conclusion of a universal treaty on general and complete disarmament and strive to adopt appropriate measures to reduce and eradicate tensions and strengthen confidence among States.

The Security Council shall determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breaches of the peace or act of aggression and shall make recommendation to maintain or restore international peace and security.

Notwithstanding the fact that the situations resulting from a violation of international law, also situations in which co-operation in the economic, political, social, cultural, educational and health fields is deprived of at the national and international scale, the disregard and contempt for human rights and fundamental freedoms and malfunction of the promotion and maintenance of the essential development of friendly relations between nations all do imply a violation of moral obligations, the establishment of the global ceasefire is to date by States neglected.

I do raise objections to States armaments.

To my Sons and Daughters: RISE UP, BE STRONG AND STAND IN PATIENT ENDURANCE!

Your Brother

Giuseppe Biundo

Postal address: 1 Barkston Gardens, Earls Court, London, SW5 0ER, UK.

Please visit the subsequent web address and add your signature in list for the establishment of the global ceasefire. http://www.peace365.org. Thank you.

Darlene Hooley

shelbysmother — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:48:24 -0400

Talked to an aide of Darlene Hooleys and he took my opposition to the wiretapping bill down, but does not know her opinion of it.

Breakfast @ Bill's Restaurant 4/12 10 AM -12 PM (BYOB buy your own breakfast)

aa0697 — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:53:42 -0400

Some folks are getting together on Saturday 4/12 for breakfast/lunch at Bill's Restaurant in Montgomery, Illinois on the corner of Montgomery Rd & Union to meet other Democrats in Aurora Township, catch up on local political news, opportunities and friendly discussions. Come and meet other Democrats that are concerned about the war, healthcare, immigration and the economy. We have a lot of races coming up in November and we can't count on taking Congress and the White House with out getting to know each other and sharing a meal. Very causal and informal, no commitment to be there at the very beginning and stay to the end. You should come and bring a friend!! (byob - buy your own breakfast)

Breakfast at Bill's (byob)
702 Montgomery Road
Montgomery, IL
630-898-5264
4/12 from 10 AM- 12 PM

I hope to see you over eggs and hashbrowns!!!!

Fury of the Netroots

Russron — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:38:19 -0500

After a few reads of various blogs, I find that I'm not alone when I say I'm angry as hell that Joe Lieberman was allowed to give the Democratic Response today. But it's symptomatic of where the party is and will have an effect on fund raising. I won't be the only one refusing to give to the Democratic party in the near future.

Just where in god's name are Progressive Democrats (aside from Pelosi) in leadership positions? Why would Harry Reid want to piss off those of us who wanted Lieberman gone and recognize that he held on to his seat via the Republicans? Are our leaders so afraid of Loserman's threat to go where he belongs (to the Repugs), that we don't care that our entire agenda gets trashed?

Today, I am seriously thinking "Green". If I'm going to loose, I would rather die with my boots on, fighting for what I believe in, rather than "chicken$hit Liebermanism" We voted (also with our donations) to get the hell out of Iraq and Democrats are not only too chicken to cut off the funding, have now compounded that insult to progressives by giving Lieberman a bull horn and a critical chairmanship. The last time he led it, he gave "Brownie you're doin a heck of a job" a 45 minute confirmation hearing.

Thanks guys, did we really win anything last November or did I waste a lot of hard earned money, supporting RepubliCrats?

Do me and yourselves a favor. Don't call me right now looking for a hand out, or the poor person calling will get an earful before I slam the phone down.

Ron Russell
San Francisco

Dixie Chicks Grammy victory, a win for artistic expression.

jackielove — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:04:40 -0500

Did the Grammy Awards make a political statement last night when they awarded the Dixie Chicks with five Grammy Awards? Yes, but it was not the statement right wingers believe.

The Chicks win was a matter of artists standing up for artists. We all thought that artists being blacklisted for their politics had ended with Joe McCarthy.

I think the Grammy voters realized that if it could happen to the Dixie Chicks it could happen to them as well.

WAY TO GO CHICKS.

Movie About Gay Marriage

ccorces1 — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:55:30 -0500

Interesting that A&E is showing “Wedding Wars” so soon after the elections – it’s funny, but deals pretty heavily with gay marriage. Has anyone heard about this?

Time to think positive - how about health care?

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 05:14:50 -0500

The Chicago Tribune says the health insurance industry has a plan.

[America's Health Insurance Plans] called on the federal government to spend an additional $300 billion over 10 years to expand public health programs for poor Americans, offer subsidies to working families to buy medical coverage, and support state health reform efforts. But there are no specifics on how the proposals would be financed or provisions for taming rapidly escalating costs.

Sounds more like a plea than a plan, doesn’t it? I have what I think is a better idea, which I’ve already sent to my congressman. What do you think?

MORE MORE MORE

To: The Hon. Danny Davis

Health insurance will be one of the first issues addressed by the new Congress, and I think my idea for how to structure it has a good chance of appealing to some Republicans and perhaps, even, a newly (at least seemingly) chastened George Bush.

My idea will make health insurance more affordable without cutting out insurance companies altogether, which seems to be a step too few politicians are willing to make. I prefer a universal system, but since entrenched powerful interests are dead set against that, here's a possible compromise.

Insurance companies have made it perfectly clear that they don't want to cover people with catastrophic illnesses. So let's take those illnesses out of their hands altogether. Let's come up with a list of diseases to be covered by a standard package, maybe the list that the state of Oregon developed for its universal coverage. Insurance companies could bid on this package, with additional features (but not illnesses), and individuals and employers could choose the company that suits their needs the best.

This idea should bring down the cost of the basic package to an affordable level for most people. Those who can not afford it, however, should be covered by a combination of federal and state government contributions, as Medicaid is now. The same federal agency that provides free coverage for those who can not afford the insurance should allow individuals and businesses to participate by paying a monthly fee. In other words, that agency could act as an insurance company for those who want to obtain their health insurance in that way. If that provision is impossible to pass, then at least let those of us over the age of 60 buy in. We have a terrible time finding any insurance at all, and when we do it's prohibitively expensive.

Above the basic plan there could be a superinsurance fund. All who are covered (by their company, by themselves, or by the government) would pay into the super fund to cover catastrophic illnesses. This plan could be administered by an insurance company or by a government agency. The per-participant premium for this insurance would very likely be quite low if it were a nationwide program.

Members of Congress would gain a huge amount of good will from the public if they agreed to be covered by exactly the same plan as the rest of us, especially if you were to pay the premiums out of your salaries.

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

Technically, Foley's Not a Pedophile - a Lesson in Modern Sexual Perversion

CactusPat — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 04:28:42 -0400

In an op-ed published in the LA Times, Jonah Goldberg attacks Democrats for hypocrisy for moral outrage over recently "retired" Republican Mark Foley's predatory sexual cyber-stalking and possible statutory rape of Congressional Pages. Using a recently coined term, Ephebophile, to flaunt his supposed intellectual superiority to describe Foley's predilections instead of the "casually" used term pedophile. In light of this semantic hair splitting I think a vocabulary lesson is in order. So class, it's time to sharpen your pencils.

While not technically a pedophile, Foley's Pederasty is not what one could say is acceptable behaviour in most modern societies, let alone George Bush's Amerika... more

Goldberg's use of the unfamiliar word ephebophile led to a dictionary search. Curiously, the term doesn't yet exist in Webster's or Dictionary.com, so a Google search was in order.

That produced some interesting results. Here are the "family friendly" ones...

ephebophile : Gay & Black Glossary

ephebophile: Information From Answers.com

Ephebophilia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Urban Dictionary: ephebophile

Turns out ephebophile's only recently been coined in the late 20th century.

Ephebophilia has been defined as a sexual preference in which an adult is primarily or exclusively sexually attracted to post-pubescent adolescents. It comes from the Greek: (ephebos) variously defined as "one arrived at puberty"... and (-philia) "love".[1] Despite this classical etymology it is a term of recent coinage, created by psychologist John Money in the late twentieth century.

Ephebophilia, as most strictly defined, refers only to an attraction, not to actual love relations or sexual activity (although these can be involved). It is used in contrast with pedophilia, which is an attraction to pre-pubescent or pubescent individuals. In more casual usage, however, pedophilia is often used more broadly to describe an attraction to any person younger than the legal age of consent. For example, the term "pedophile priests" is frequently used instead of "ephebophile priests" or "pederastic priests", in the context of the Roman Catholic sex abuse cases, although much of the sexual behavior involved was with adolescent (i.e. post-pubescent) teens.

The nature of ephebophilia is unresolved, and a variety of perspectives are held. Some regard ephebophilia as merely a milder form of pedophilia, in which the object of attraction is closer to what is "normal" than with a true pedophile.

The term pederasty or paederasty embraces a wide range of erotic practices between adult males and adolescent boys. Pederastic relations can have widely dissimilar manifestations – they can be spiritual or materialistic, lawful or transgressive, loving or commercial, compassionate or abusive – and have been documented from ancient history to modern times. Rendered as 'age-structured homosexuality', it is, along with gender-structured relations and egalitarian relations, regarded as one of the three main subdivisions of homosexuality proposed by anthropologists.

Getting back to Goldberg's screed against Democrats' moral outrage, I think the winger doth complain too much. It's part of the now concerted Republican smear and distract campaign to divert attention away from Foley's crimes, the self-serving cover-up of Foley's predilections by the House leadership since 1997, and now commenced smear of gays since Foley's much belated coming out.

And it seems to me ol' Jonah's splittin' hairs on semantics on this one. The wing-nut version of the definition of "IS". While not "technically" a pedophile, Foley's pederasty is commonly thought of as pedophilia among folks of all political stripes. Even if the Congressional Page boys were post-pubescent they are still children and in many jurisdictions, including DC in this case, protected from sexual predators even if they've reached the "legal" age of sexual consent. Fellow Democrats.com member Bill puts it succinctly...

Whether or not Foley fits the "medical or technical" definition of a pedophile is not the issue. The "correct" terminology is that: by most legal definitions Foley is a sexual predator, and most likely is a child molester as well. His sexual orientation is not at issue, except to the religious right.

He used his position of power to intimidate, and prey on, adolescents who have not reached the age of majority, even if they have reached the legal age of consent. The D.C. law provides that 16 is the minimum age that a minor child can make a consensual decision to engage in any kind of sex with another person who is not more than four years older than the minor. That law applies until the minor child reaches the age of majority, which for D.C. is 18.

The "is he, or is he not, a pedophile" right-wing argument is nothing more than a distraction, and an attempt to gloss over the real crimes that this sexual pervert has committed.

Charlotte, N.C., Rallies for Impeachment, and There's Video to Prove It

davidswanson — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 16:39:16 -0400

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA SEPTEMBER 30, 2006

David Swanson 1, David Swanson 2

Summer Lipford 1, Summer Lipford 2

Ahmad Daniels 1, Ahmad Daniels 2

Tim Pluta

Bill Glass

Brian Staton introducing Ann Wright, Ann Wright 1, Ann Wright 2

Nadia McCaffery 1, Nadia McCaffery 2

Kevin Edwards sings "Living with War"

Bush Is Bad--Impeachment Edition

Larry Litt — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 14:30:00 -0400

Bush Is Bad--Impeachment Edition

We went to the opening of “Bush Is Bad”—Impeachment Edition on Oct 28th. Seeing this updated version of Joshua Rosenblum’s political cabaret at the Triad Theater on West 72nd Street convinces me that not every political idealist should or could be a progressive blogger.

Some people must get their message out there in their own very different way. Instead of offering his political opinions online, composer-lyricist Rosenblum serves up his anti-conservative, anti-Bush commentary in this highly sophisticated, yet totally accessible New York cabaret...

In last year’s original “Bush Is Bad” cabaret we heard “How Can 59 Million People Be So Dumb?” and that there’s “New Hope For The Fabulously Wealthy” among 24 other wildly funny and stylized songs. While laughing we also knew these songs were telling the truth about American politics, always from a liberal, progressive perspective.

A year later with this new edition about the Bush Presidency, its many deceptive players and sideshow characters, we learn that “Anyone Can Grow Up To Be President” and “You Can Never Have Enough Bush” especially if you’re a patronage political appointee who’s doing “A Heck Of A Job”.

Caricatures of conservatives and their supporters are greatly exaggerated as they can’t be in real life. We spend hilarious satirical time with Katherine Harris, Wally O'Dell of Diebold fame, Jack Abramoff, Accident prone Harry Whittington who was shot by VP Dick Cheney, heck of a job Michael Brownie, Don the Bully Rumsfeld, Draconic Dick Cheney, contemptuous Condi Rice, and most importantly the Bush Big Mama, Barbara the Ball Breaker. Alberto Gonzales opines that “Torture Has Been Very Good To Me” while George W. himself sings about clearing brush “Down In Crawford”.

Still, the crux and point of this show is to prove to the converted that politics as theater doesn’t have to be as depressing as the media would have us believe. Often we’re led by political media to believe that all politicians are inimicably corrupt, hypocritical and venal. Because of this, a majority of Americans are disgusted with politics, which leads to apathy, alienation and frustration. They avoid participation. “Bush Is Bad” shows us that some pols are far worse than others. Yes Virgina, voting for the lesser of two evils is one of the considerations in the privacy of the booth.

“The “I” Word” is unleashed in a furious chorus. Indeed there’s a way out of this quagmire, a way of getting rid of Bush. “Would somebody give him a blowjob please,” the cast pleads. Here the corporate media’s obsession with Clinton’s sex life is taken to absurd ends. Meanwhile the wild and crazy Bush family children are brutally caricatured, as, well, the next generation of Bushes. Yikes!!!

There’s plenty of sex in politics both straight and gay, revealed and closeted, and plenty of songs about political sex in this show. I’m hoping a new song will be added about Congressman Mark Foley’s (R-FL) sudden resignation due to his emails to young and pretty boytoy pages in Congress. It’s a “Bush Is Bad” delight, bad for the Republican hypocrites, but a very good moment for political cabaret.

What “Bush Is Bad” does best is juggle almost all the aspects of Republican politics, from values to corruption, from war to stealing elections, in one show that gives us strength and reason to carry on the fight against one party rule.

I can’t wait to see the next version of “Bush Is Bad—The Jeb Edition”

“Bush Is Bad”-Impeachment Edition
Concept, Music and Lyrics by Joshua Rosenblum
With Janet Dickinson, Neal Mayer, Michael McCoy
Directed and choreographed by Gary Slavin
Opened Sept. 28, Unlimited run
Thursdays and Fridays at 9 pm: Saturdays at 7 pm
The Triad Theatre, 172 West 72nd St., NYC
Tickets: 212.279.4200 Use code “BUSH” for 30% discount
url: bushisbadthemusical.com