Alive

Right, I’ve not been posting as I’ve just moved to England. Everything’s sorted now and I’ll begin regularly posting again next week. Watch this space!

Rape used as political tool in Zimbabwe

IHT reports today on the use of rape as a tool for political intimidation in Zimbabwe. The report is based off of the  research into the matter being conducted by the organisation AIDS-Free World. The organisation cites that 53 women and young girls, with ages ranging from 13 to 60, have stepped forward to document their cases so far . The organisation has reason to believe this number is much larger. Please do your part in helping bring attention to this horrible reality- contact your MP, TD, senator, or other government representative and ask them to take a stand on this issue.

To find your local representative use these links:

Your local MP in the UK

Your local TD in Ireland

Your Senator in the USA

Sources: IHT AIDS-Free World Picture Source

Sinn Féin Surplus

Today BBC reports on Sinn Féin’s balance sheet surplus. The political party is cited as being one of the fiscally healthiest among the major parties.  The surplus, which can be attributed to good accounting and an influx of donations from members has been well-managed, and the group will continue the fiscal year in the green. You can read their original statement of account here if you’re wondering where the money you donate is going to. If you’ve donated to a different political party you can also read their reports.

Sources:BBC, Sinn Fein Statement of Account, Electoral Commission

UDA Still Armed

The Ulster Defense Association (UDA) continues to defy arm-decommissioning rules Watch the video here… . Perhaps to jog your memory here is a previous post on the topic.

Sources: BBC

Iran’s Mass Execution

This Sunday Iran held a mass execution of 29 criminals. Iran ranks second in the world for its number of executions: second only to China.  The Defenders of Human Rights Centre states “…the hanged men were deprived of a fair judicial procedure…”and were basic human rights. The hangings took place  behind the walls of Tehran’s Evin prison at 5:10 am. While the Iranian government states the criminals were fairly judged and the punishment was commiserate to their crime, human rights organisations remain sceptical.

Sources: Associated Free Press Amnesty International

2008 HeartWalk

This year I am doing fund raising again for the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk in the Greater Orlando Area. This event is a wonderful way to support research and education on  heart disease and stroke- the leading killers in America today. Please visit my page and make a donation for a worthy cause if you can. Thanks ladies and gents!

You can donate at my personal page.

Sources: My Heart Walk Page

Northern Ireland in Photos-Derry Edition

I went to Ireland and Northern Ireland in March but the idea to actually post some photographs just dawned on me. This is not the entirety of my collection, so if you are looking for some particular photo of a mural, etc. do let me know and I will see if I have one. The photos I will post can be used by others, but please ask permission or cite me as a source if you do use them. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy them! I’ll try to make a general view photo album on some service at some point as well for easier access. Here is the first few I will post: we’ll call it the Derry Edition.

Milestone…actually 10.000 stone?

Wanted to say thanks to my readers, this blog has over 10.000 hits since I started it late last year. I forget the day I started it exactly, and what day we hit ten thousand hits….anyway…. I thought it should be noted that you all are awesome. Keep reading, and I’ll try to keep it interesting.

The Importance of Being Idle

I’m not even going to pretend that this concept is my own, but I’ve been thinking about the social contract most people seem to sign. I only realised a short while ago it existed, go figure. Well I just would like to encourage all of you to rethink and re-evaluate the lives we’re all leading to see if they’re ours or if we’re indebted to “the man” (not meant in a sexist fashion at all gents). This song by the excellent band OASIS is pretty inspiring I think, I’ve always loved it and they inspire revolution in me. I take my meaning from it, but anyway, take your own. I’m personally fed up with being societies lemur…. wow, my first rant. So here it is The Importance of Being Idle, by OASIS:

I sold my soul for the second time
‘Cause the man He don’t pay me
I begged my landlord for some more time
He said “Son, the bills are waiting”
My best friend called me the other night
He said “Man – are you crazy”
My girlfriend told me to get a life
She said “Boy – you’re lazy”
But I don’t mind
As long as there’s a bed beneath the stars that shine
I’ll be fine, if you give me a minute, a man’s got a limit
I can’t get a life if my heart’s not in it
Hey Hey

I don’t mind
As long as there’s a bed beneath the stars that shine
I’ll be fine, if you give me a minute, a man’s got a limit
I can’t get a life if my heart’s not in it
Hey Hey

I lost my faith in the summer time
‘Cause it don’t stop raining
The sky all day is as black as night
But I’m not complaining
I begged my doctor for one more line
He said “Son – words fail me”
It ain’t no place to be killing time
I guess, I’m just lazy

But I don’t mind
As long as there’s a bed beneath the stars that shine
I’ll be fine, if you give me a minute, a man’s got a limit
I can’t get a life if my heart’s not in it
Hey Hey

Sources: Celsias, OASIS

Prison Camp Evidence Destroyed….Sound Familiar?

I don’t know about you all, but personally I’ve had enough of the ridiculousness going on at Guantanamo Bay. Today the BBC reports on the destruction of interrogation notes regarding detainee treatment. According to Lt-Cmdr William Kuebler the Pentagon manual states:

“Keeping the number of documents with interrogation information to a minimum can minimise certain legal issues”

This is another example of the lack of justice going on at the facility. If you’d like to help end this and other human rights atrocities please take a look at the Amnesty International website.

Sources:BBC, Amnesty International