Beautiful, horrible Beirut elegy by Robert Fisk

Posted on Lebanese blogger site. Best of Robert Fisk, sometimes chilling and scary portrait of middle Eastern militants, as he did elsewhere with Arafat, Bin Laden and Dustum, with uncanny ability to describe what it is like for people on the other end of the gunsights, the beauty of the place and the horror of what is happening and has happened. Be sure to read last paragraph and listen to the song.

I like the comment of the (Lebanese?) person who posted it:

At Sunday, July 23, 2006 1:17:27 AM, Hilal Chouman said...

arch.
although i may oppose him in some political opinions, i liked the way he presented the scenes.. as if it is afilm..
i consider it a very nostalgic piece

The other bigger crisis? Amazon drying up fast

With all eyes on the Lebanon crisis, is this the other bigger crisis, like the opening scene in a disaster movie. A second article in The Independent echoes:

"And it comes hard on the heels of a warning by an international group of experts, led by the Eastern Orthodox " pope" Bartholomew, last week that the forest is rapidly approaching a " tipping point" that would lead to its total destruction."

"Studies by the blue-chip Woods Hole Research Centre, carried out in Amazonia, have concluded that the forest cannot withstand more than two consecutive years of drought without breaking down.

Scientists say that this would spread drought into the northern hemisphere, including Britain, and could massively accelerate global warming with incalculable consequences, spinning out of control, a process that might end in the world becoming uninhabitable."

Now what?

While they did not stop the war before it started, the unprecedented demonstrations, protests and criticism laid the groundwork for current skeptical public opinion, even in the US. This is a huge outcome, a major reversal for the conservative tide of the last decades. While shallow, the skepticism is broad and persistent. So, now what? In 1974, when Nixon resigned, the rapid fall of a seemingly unstoppable conservative juggernaut from enormous stupidity and arrogance shocked his critics and left them somewhat flat footed.

More in next post.

Bono edits the Independent for product RED

Strange bedfellows as Bono edits, Condaleeza Rice and Armani contribute to a special edition of Britain's venerable daily The Independent, in support of product RED, a big, slick, largely corporate campaign to donate product profits to fight AIDS in Africa.

First economical fair trade I have seen

Click on above title for World Centric Fair Trade & Eco Store, first aggregation I have seen of credible fair trade organic cotton clothing and biodegradable, compostable utensils and picnic ware at excellent competitive real world prices that I for one can afford. I ordered 4 organic natural unbleached undyed cotton t shirts for about $47 shipped. They arrived in 2 days, The organization threw in a 5th shirt and a note with hand written thanks. The shirts are attractive natural cotton colour, heavy tightly knit high quality; a little too high quality as I prefer lower quality thin loosely knit that breathe a little more, but they will be great after 5 or 10 washings. I have not checked out their chocolate or other recommendations.

So why can't currently active politicians say this

Common sense no currently active American politicians will say: Jimmy Carter on Israel and Palestine. As a Jew, I think a small, vociferous coterie of extremists has usurped the voice of the large number of moderate, liberal or progressive Jews, and politicians currently active in the US have taken the easy cowardly route of not opening up the debate. And double that charge for the mainstream media. There are real issues that need to be thrashed out, like whether Israel can survive if it is anything but aggressive as hell, which is the question most hardliners pose when challenged. I think it can because reduction in the excess retaliatory violence provoked by the aggressive stance could counterbalance risks in carefully considered peace overtures, but what constitutes a credible, effective,just, measured approach to survival?. Or, how can the history of literal and economic colonization by Europe and the West in the Middle East be addressed - a truth commission?

Nature Study: Wikipedia vs. Britannica

KInda been waiting for this study.

4 inaccuracies vs 3 - and we know less breadth in Britannica, though one hopes the study includes science items not in Brittanica. On the other hand the likelihood of out and out hoaxes or rants low in Britannica. But most non-controversial topics very unlikely to attract such abuses, and wikipedia shines on obscure topics where both academics and enthusiasts are happy to have a platform, for example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland_in_the_High_Middle_Ages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Hurling

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitesurfing

Ruining high payout lotteries

A study in the late 80s or early 90s in Ontario said that large payout lotteries had a significant impact in concentrating wealth even further than misguided neo-liberal economic already have. And the Ontario Lotto 649 at that time even limited jackpots to 20 or 30 million. When people win a million dollars the money likely recirculates; when they win 100 million,if they heed professional advice will be setting up offshore accounts etc. so less recirculation. Maybe all the people who make bad investments and throw big parties are more beneficial than "responsible" lottery winners.

Maybe church groups and others opposed to the proliferation of gambling could ruin publicity surrounding high payout lotteries by encouraging large lottery pools which would buy and split lotteries limiting payouts to a million or 100 thousand, donate half the winnings to anti-gambling lobbying, and appoint a spokesperson to speak at the acceptance of the cheques who would point out the problems with gambling.

I am a Jealous G-d

I was thinking about a documentary about Akhenaton and Nefertiti and all the trouble caused by the intolerant strain in the 3 great related monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Akhenaton's reputation in my mind had been as a man ahead of his time. Information that was new to me in the documentary made me think that the greatest argument that Akhenaton and Moses and ultimately the intolerant theme in the 3 great montheistic religions are historically related in their theology was that Akhenaton was an intolerant, fanatical true believer who felt impelled by his theology to force others to believe as he did and close the temples of those who disagreed. The traditional polytheistic priests attempted to erase any evidence of him after his death, because, as well as introducing a new religion which reduced their power, he had fomented a lot of destruction in his god's name.

So I googled "akhenaton intolerance judaism" and wham, I was not alone - Jonathan Kirsch, a book columnist for the LA TImes who writes and lectures widely on biblical topics in 2004 wrote "God against the Gods: the History of the war between Monotheism and Polytheism"


Fascinating discussion and reviews, very relevant to the enormous global problems we face today. Would we all be better off if Akhenaten or Abraham had kept their monotheistic ideas to themselves? Does monotheism hold the seeds of religious intolerance and violence, or is tolerance and kindness also an outgrowth, and if so, why so frequently war and persecution in its name?

Racial undercurrent of much in US editorial

In the Boston Globe, a rare discussion of the catastrophic conflict and the incomplete resolution of it that ended to a large extent when Lincoln was assassinated. Found on Tom Paine.

Hamas election analysis Posted on American branch of Israeli peace group

Leonard Fein discusses Hamas electoral victory.

One Canadian election poll 32% Conservative 31% Lib 23% NDP

From SES research less accurate daily poll

Done Sunday Jna. 22. This is the less accurate (6% error) daily poll, not the 3 day average; blip or a trend?

An Israeli Positive Long-term change initiative

This Haaretz article describes an organization in Israel that works to promote civil society using an American model to some extent, which has been effective in several examples in quietly reducing tensions and promoting human rights for vulnerable groups like Bedouin villagers in Israel, women, and West Bank farmers.

Commercial whaling coming back soon?

Nice substantive article in the Independent which distinguishes itself by covering the most important issues behind the current dramatic Antarctic confrontation between on the whales' side: one of Greenpeace's founders, Paul Watson on Sea Shepherd's Farley Mowat and two Greenpeace ships (one of them a speed demon capable of dogging the fast Japanese ship and boats) and,
on the side of killing whales for food: the Japanese factory ship and harpoon boats. Kudos to the Independent for revealing the high stakes behind the confrontation and the upcoming whaling commission vote this spring.

Also on the environmental reversal-of-history front, a friend in Bangkok informs me that the Prime Minister of Thailand is promoting an exotic animal zoo in his home district with giraffes,zebras and crocodiles from Kenya on view and on the menu in several restaurants. I wonder if the Hon. Prime Minister has seen The Freshman, a 1990 comedy with Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick, a film, for which, ironically I knew someone whose employer at the time in Toronto, a large pet shop, supplied an exotic lizard to play a starring role as the main course in a FICTIONAL millionaires' endangered species banquet. No animals were harmed int he making of THIS movie. I hope that the Thai, Kenyan and world environmental groups succeed in convincing the Hon. Prime Minister that any real project also must prove that no exotic animals were killed, consumed or harmed if Thailand is to remain a favored trade and tourism partner of people of good will around the world.

Illegal Japanese whalers in Antarctica

Latest on illegal Japanese whalers in Antarctica, targetting the huge Fin whale this year and the humpback next. Sea Shepherd and Greenpeace put aside some of their strategy disagreements to co-operate in obstructing the pirate whalers.

Clemency denied: unimaginative, cowardly decision

Like Clinton during his presidential campaign before him, Arnold Schwarzenegger has followed his political advisers line, with an eye to his political future. He has chosen to stay within the pseudo security the world of Southern California radio talk show demagogue style politics which first promoted his candidacy, instead of taking a risk that might open up new and constructive alliances.

Interesting guest on KPFA Berkeley's coverage, Murder victim families for human rights . At a protest outside Tommy Thompson's ( who was quite likely wrongfully convicted on the evidence of an offender with a violent past who received leniency for testifying) San Quentin execution in the 90s, a woman whose son or daughter was murdered spoke and said that as soon as the prosecutors' met her, " they told (me) a lie: That (I) would only get closure when the murderer was executed. " Thus the crass manipulation and use of victims suffering is a standard prosecution technique in the USA.

It is disturbing to think about murder and violence, and about injustice in the legal system that purports to protect us. The death penalty saps the problem-solving energy of the American public in emotional disputes, whereas the truth in sordid and sometimes convoluted fatal violence is more likely to come out over time. Effective, detached analysis and enlightened, hard-nosed public debate about violent crime are more likely to flourish in the majority of nations that have left state sanctioned killing for crime behind, along with the rack, debtor's prison and the gallows for pickpockets. The USA has the death penalty, an incredibly high rate of incarceration, yet continues to have one of the highest rates of violent crime in the world. What gall to pretend the debate in the US need not look beyond the narrow borders of the country.

Williams Execution - Governor decison tomorrow

Clemency hearings for Stanley Tookie Williams are happening today at 10:00 am Pacific time. Snoop Dog, Jamie Foxx and many others continue to devote a lot of time and energy on this case. If you are reading this and want to express your views to the governor, today and early tomorrow are the last chance. If clemency is denied, the state will kill him MONDAY at midnight; yes that is midnight Monday the 12th or specifically, as soon as it is legally Dec. 13th. I just signed the petition and called the governor's office using the information on save tookie web site. If you call, you will talk to a real person at the governor's office. I got through first try and spoke to a real polite attentive person in under 1 minute. Faxes also are very effective at getting attention. I worked in Canadian provincial governments for 10 years and handled letters from the public, and I can tell you that phone calls, letters, faxes and petitions always have a real impact, whatever the final result. The pro-execution forces in this case are mobilizing and the governor's office will be counting the for and against phone calls, so this is a rare time frame where individuals taking the trouble to express themselves makes a difference.

I got through on the first dial in under a minute told the polite attentive governor's rep (even answering the calls like this costs money; you can tell they are concerned because they have enough people answering) that, as a Canadian criminology researcher i have seen that rehab is not the only reason in this case for clemency. Several judges expressed doubts about the trial of WIlliams, even in the recent decisions which he lost. Pricipal figures in his case had other important convictions thrown out because of similar racially biased juror rejection and racist remarks. Rotten features of the conviction include at least 2 witnesses who received outright immunity and others who received reduced sentences. Cases like this take up to 50 years before the truth comes out. Ultimately, witnesses get older, they finally talk about what happened to somebody and the often surprising truth comes out. It is in the public interest for the truth to come out and for plea deals not to determine so often who takes a rap. In the David Milgaard case in Canada, Milgaard was convicted of a nurse's rape and murder in the early 70s. His lawyer asserted that a convicted offender who lived nearby might have done the crime. Even though I was a human rights advocate who supported Milgaard's clemency, I doubted his lawyer's argument, because he was an unsympathetic character who had admitted standing around the area where the murder was committed,looking for a women whose purse he could snatch. 25 years later, in the mid 1990s new DNA tests that worked on the tiny frozen sample from the crime scene proved that Fisher, the convicted offender the lawyer mentioned was the murderer. He was convicted but he had spent decades free and had committed other violent crimes against women.

William F Buckley on Pacifica's WBAI in 1970s

In 1970. William F. Buckley was one of numerous celebrities who read portions of the entire War and Peace Reprehensible in hindsight, considering how the National Review was financed and staffed, which was not known at the time. The invitation to him was not so bad, but he gave them a perfect excuse not to include him by refusing to come to the studio for fear of appearing to support leftists. So the WBAI people extended themselves by going to his New York mansion to record him and then compounded their obsequious behaviour by accepting a limo ride back to the station, and lamenting that no one was there to see them arrive. Good for the notoriety of the program, bad for integrity. I am all for dialogue with opposing views and accepting challenges to see how the other side arrives at their point of view, but a little parity and dignity please. (click on title above to find the audio of the interview)

Stanley Tookie WIlliams Execution hearing - Dec. 8

This is hopefully first of a series of posts in the runup to Gov. Schwarzenegger's private clemency hearing Dec. 8, 4 days ahead of the scheduled execution date Dec. 13. (My math is not wrong- executions in California usually occur at 12:01 am on the scheduled date, so really at the end of the day before, as soon as possible after the legal date begins)

More about the case at save Tookie web site.

This case is already very high profile with Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dog and many others going to bat for the popular author of anti-gang children's books, but no mistake, the hard line pro-death penalty faction will fight hard as well, and public opinion in California, when given specific facts about the death penalty will back away from it, but when asked the general question favours the death penalty, So the pro-death penalty side will avoid the details of how the penalty is administered, the bias against the poor and non-whites, the many exonerations, the rare tip of the iceberg cases where DNA is available, one estimate being 1 in 7 wrongfully convicted. See Barry Scheck's innocence project to get a flavour of how things go down.

The right conclusion from the exonerations is not that the system works, but that death penalty cases put so much pressure on the system that the path of least resistance often determines who is prosecuted and what the punishment is, and this is often not consistent with a thorough intelligent investigation and prosecution. I will try in the next 2 weeks to highlight a half dozen renowned cases in Canada where incredibly famous life sentence cases were shown only decades after the fact to be entirely bogus.

Buy nothing Day meanderings

On this Buy Nothing Day. as I stay at home not shopping, I allow myself a utopian reverie, with the thought that religious and other freedoms were once utopian reveries of the past. I went to U of British Columbia for 2 years way back, and have tried since then to get a job there and move back. Latest attempt is 3 visits in past year to a coastal logging town near Vancouver (which is too pricy for me I think right now). Every time I talk to real estate people or locals about it I am impressed at the gulf between them and me about how I feel about the place. My latest plan is to live and be environmentally active there, until I am satisfied I can do no more, then be a good example and move to Israel or Russia and be active there. The good example is: it would be nice if everybody from Europe and Asia who voluntarily (or whose ancestors voluntarily) moved to the Americas would back off, have no or a maximum of 1 children for a few generation and then back off North America by moving back to where we came from, there of course to shrink the population further and help reduce all of our global footprint. Wealth through shrinkage is to live like pirates rattling around in all the space and abandoned houses and possessions of the heirless as the selected cities crumble and are overgrown by the admittedly less diverse forests or grasses than were there 500 to 5000 years ago. Aim to be heirless.The declining Buddenbrooks family, but with pride and optimism while writing and imparting family culture to the shrunken next generation, cherished and well cared for children of the few who have children.