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...Stimulated ENOUGH?

wedeclare — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:21:57 +0000

Politicians have told us that giving tax money to multimillionaire athletes stimulates the economy and our otherwise lacking sense of pride. Giving tax money to enormous multinational corporations stimulates the economy and promotes innovation. Giving tax money to third-world dictators, erotic artists and apologetic criminals stimulates the economy, peace, art and justice. Of course, giving tax money back to taxpayers stimulates the economy too, just as taking it in the first place did. It's all good, right?

With all this stimulation going on, you’d expect that our economy, technology and pride would have been stimulated past Pluto by now.

Actually, the USA has never equaled the vigor and innovation we’d experienced before the invention of Income Tax and the so-called "Federal Programs;" and now we’re in a downward spiral of litigation, complexity, corruption, lost liberties and economic meltdown.

Why? Because freedom works, politics doesn’t; politicians lie, it is their nature to gobble up power; and it is our nature to think that we have to just grin and bear it all.

Why in the world do we think that political campaigns are about candidates and their promises? We act (and vote and pay taxes) as if Election Day is for politicians. Do we really want this?

I ask because political candidates often refuse unscripted public debates and direct questions, and instead control “the message” through tightly-scripted marketing and staged events.

I ask because “winning” campaigns cost lots of money, and you know very well where some of that money comes from.

I ask because negative campaigning usually works.

I ask because those stupid yard signs work (think about that!).

I ask because the good candidates would love to have ten seconds of your time, and almost surely won’t get it.

I am one of three candidates for the important job of Indiana Governor. You are the boss. I respectfully suggest that this time around you interview us at least to the degree that you’d interview a burger-flipper in a fast-food restaurant. Ask real questions and expect real answers. Don’t take no for an answer, and watch for lies and bunk. Watch, attend, or even host a candidates’ debate. And when you’ve gathered your facts (yes, facts really do exist) and made your decision, tell others what you’ve found.

This is a pivotal time. In light of what’s happening to us now, in the most fearful and rapidly collapsing culture on earth, it’s time we wake up and take our roles seriously.

And no role is more important on Election Day than that of the voter.

…That’s you.

Aye the noo to Jan in Scotland

Ian Noon — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:12:12 +0000

Well, I am now back from holidays. I have suffered the embarrassment of forgetting the security code for getting into the office after just 2 and a half weeks. I've also regaled everyone with stories of how I did nothing on a beach for a week. However, I'm still ploughing through my 421 emails, wondering if my colleagues are still in the pub a week after they first emailed me to ask me over.

As such, I'm not feeling terribly well-equipped to tell you what's been going in NDCS campaigns - given that I'm not entirely sure myself - so I am calling on the ever helpful Jan Savage for assistance.

I sometimes forget myself, but apparently there is more to the UK than just England. Yes, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own governments and they all have their own quirky different ways of managing education and health. To make sure that the needs of deaf children are taken into account in the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly, NDCS has campaigns officers working away causing trouble in each of these places, leaving me to look after England and any UK wide issues.

Anyway, it's Jan's job to look after Scotland and to remind me now and again that England is not the centre of the world. I asked her recently what she's been up to, and this is what she had to say:

“In Scotland, we’ve been campaigning for better early years support for deaf children and their families. Whilst there are areas in Scotland where the co-ordinated support provided is fantastic, there are other parts of the country where services are just not working as well together to get it right for every deaf child.

There is no national guidance for professionals working with deaf children and their families in the early years and this leads to wide local variations. In England, such guidance has been in place since 2003, and many of you will have seen, or may be using, the Early Support Family pack, otherwise known as the ‘Blue Box’.

The Scottish Government is due to publish its ten year early years strategy soon, and NDCS has been campaigning to ensure that it considers the needs of Scottish deaf children and their parents. A motion lodged in the Scottish Parliament by a senior MSP calls on the Government to take action, and has already attracted the cross party support of over a quarter of all MSPs. Those living in Scotland can find out if your MSP has signed up here."

If you want to know more about how you can support Jan's work on early years or elsewhere, then pop her an email at: jan.savage@ndcs.org.uk. I'm sure she'd love to hear from you.

Elsewhere in the UK, Victoria Taylor looks after Northern Ireland. I will be pestering her soon for news from over there but in the meantime, if you want any information on our campaign work in Northern Ireland, you can also drop her a line at victoria.taylor@ndcs.org.uk. We'll soon be interviewing for a Welsh counterpart so watch this space for more details of that.

Next week, once I've caught up, I'll be updating you on all that's happened the past few weeks - including the follow up to our Must do better report and some fairly outrageous difficulties we've had recently over accessible examinations and Film 4. In the meantime, if you want to take advantage of my momentary confusion, please feel free to tell me what YOU think I should be working on in our campaign work to help deaf children in England.

Angel crossing in the Tribune

bridgetfox — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:46:50 +0000

On Tuesday, Islington Tribune journalist Peter Gruner and I took our lives in our hands to witness the scenes at Angel crossing at rush hour.

The Tribune is widely-read locally, and I wanted Peter to see for himself how bad the current crossing is, and how much better it would be if relocated further north.

So I'm pleased to see the story's in this week's paper. If you support the campaign, you can sign the petition here.

Has there REALLY been a flip-flop yet?

mendicantbias — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:55:13 +0000

I don't like the term flip-flop. I really don't. At least not the 2008 version of it.

I'm guessing the first time the term really caught on was when Kerry uttered the "I was for the war before I was against it" comment that seemingly ended his chances for winning the presidency and, unless my memory has betrayed me, didn't really appear until McCain and Obama were their party's respective nominee. Nowadays, flip-flop is so overused that it's almost a joke whenever someone comes out and says that so-and-so flipped on that and so-and-so flopped on that.

In my mind, the term of true flip-flop should be something that is applied when someone changes their stance on something to be on the popular side of things. Looking at Kerry as an example, he supported the war when it was popular and when the war began to fall apart he was against. I understand that this is a simplistic view of things but it's just my definition.

Looking at the 2008 campaign season I really can't think of any real "flip-flops" that Obama or McCain have been engaged in. With Obama, I think the main "flip-flop" accusation has been his public financing and FISA bill vote. The public financing would definitely be the closes in my mind, but this isn't something that's related to public opinion and rather common sense. If you could loan a million dollars or raise two million, which way would you go? And with the FISA vote, it seems to go counter to public opinion because as anyone who visits this site knows that a lot of people threatened to, or did, withhold campaign donations.

With McCain, I can't really think of too many instances where he's just gone with the wind. The offshore drilling was a decision he made that he feels will do something to help the fuel price problems we've been having over the past few months. He did support the ban but conditions on the ground (as he would probably say) have changed and right or wrong, this is decision.

In the end, the term flip-flop has become just another tool in the take no prisoners politics that have paralyzed D.C. for the past 20 years or whatever. What I'd rather have happen is save the term for a complete 180 degree change on a situation. If Obama decides to stay in Iraq for infinity, that's a flip-flop. If McCain wants to allow abortions, flip-flop. Etc., etc., etc.. One diary on Kos isn't going to change the way the MSM works but at least I did my part to try and get things changed. And as a disclaimer, I'm a diehard Obama supporter but I call them like I see them.

Kings Cross access - public meeting a great success

bridgetfox — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:07:19 +0000

Last night my colleague Jo Shaw & I were in the front row for the public meeting organised by the Kings Cross Access campaign. The campaign is demanding a bridge to keep east-west pedestrian and bike access when Kings Cross station is rebuilt.

The campaign has backing across the board. Jo & I brought messages of support from Caroline Pidgeon at the GLA. Norman Baker MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport has offered to table a Parliamentary Question.

Without a bridge, Network Rail’s current plans for the station will cut off our communities, and mean that local people will miss out on the regeneration benefits the new station is supposed to bring. At present, there are two entrances on the east, Islington, side of the station, meaning people can easily cross the station, as well as the main entrance on the Euston Road.

But when the station is rebuilt there will be a single entrance on the west side only, cutting off people in Islington and on Camden ’s Maiden Lane estate. Cyclists and pedestrians wanting to access the station, or follow existing walking & cycling routes, will be forced onto some of London ’s busiest roads instead. So campaigners are demanding access be retained by building a new bridge across the station parallel with Wharfdale Road, as originally planned.

Everyone - Network Rail included - agrees that the bridge is a good idea. But it seems to be falling between various stools. Campaigners got Network Rail to look at a bridge as part of the station planning application. Camden required a study into the bridge. But for some reason the study got limited to a bridge within the station, which consultants Arup concluded was unfeasible - and wouldn't have met community aspirations for cross-station access anyway.

Some good news is that Network Rail have set aside £1M for improvements to York Way. If that was put towards a bridge instead - a pedestrian-only bridge would cost around £4M - it could be a powerful pump priming for other funding. With all the talk from Transport for London and the Department of Transport about supporting walking and cycling, plus the undoubted regeneration benefits for both Camden and Islington, not to mention developers Argent, some kind of bridge must be possible.

Having been one of a small band of leafleters publicising the meeting, it was great to see the hall at Blessed Sacrament full with over 70 people. Together we heard presentations from Network Rail and the Kings Cross Railway Lands Group, viewed the Kings Cross Access campaign's exhibition and took part in the debate. Sophie's report on the meeting is up on the campaign blog.

Meanwhile if you support the campaign you can sign the petition and join the Facebook group to stay in touch.

You Are What You Eat... Even in Politics

monicarb — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:34:11 +0000

You are what you eat.

However, I didn't know that my meals define me politically as well.

After reading Applebee's America and the class articles, I've realized just how much I am judged based on what consumer products I buy, what activities I partake in, and even what I eat. I had no idea that by drinking Sprite, I could be labeled a Democrat. Or the fact that I like my Kashi GoLean cereal in the morning, I must be a die-hard Hilary Clinton fan? I don't order stuffed crust pizza, and that's apparently a biggie for McCain supporters.

In politics, it’s known as microtargeting. In Microtargeting, campaign staffers gather a bunch of data from targeted communities (such as what magazines you subscribe to, where you take vacations, what grocery products you buy, where you shop, etc) and use this coveted information to cater specific messaging that appeals to you. Polls are conducted on a wide variety of issues, matches are found among the group, and are then categorized based on those results. For example, the most passionate supporter against raising taxes might be a 40-year old man with college-bound children who likes to golf. As Chris Cilliza states, “Messages are then targeted to each individual segment; as a result, the issues you hear about also happen to be the ones you are most interested in.” By categorizing crucial voting blocs, campaigns can cater to their issues better.

The following graphic, from Wired magazine, illustrates how we cast our ballots, and how candidates use this information to determine potential voting blocs.

It’s all about the messaging and appealing to voters’ interests. “Anybody who’s in the business of persuading the public, which is corporate America and political America, must now share their message in a way that not only reaches people based on how they get their information but also reaches people in a way they like to get information,” said Ken Mehlman, Bush’s campaign manager in 2004 (Applebee’s America, 50)

I think it's fascinating that these tidbits of information help campaigns resonate with the people and are able to garner the votes they need because of this. President Bush's campaign in 2004 won with the help of microtargeting. By appealing to voters on issues that relate to them and by what they are most interested in, the candidate becomes just that – more relatable, and is viewed as someone who understands the people.

Obviously, these judgments are not concrete; they only show tendencies. “Besides, the lines between who eats what continues to blur. Republicans are not necessarily red-meat-eating bourbon swillers, and not all Democrats are carrying their lattes to the farmers' market.” (New York Times article)

I do think these categorizations made by campaigns encourage stereotypes and as Cilliza mentioned, only makes campaigners tell you what you want to hear. If you’re the 40 year-old man hoping that taxes will decrease, they’ll tell you that. If not, you fit into another category. Maybe you’re passionate about global warming, and they’ll tell you that the polar ice caps won’t melt away, but only if you elect this candidate. When it comes down to it, you want those issues solved and the candidates want to get elected. And, while the campaign sends you a ton of mail about lowering taxes or saving the polar bears, it’s up to you to do your homework on the candidate… and eventually to vote or not to vote for him/her.

So take a sip of that Dr. Pepper, Republicans… or, if you’re Democrat, take a sip of that Sprite… and find out for yourselves which is the best candidate. And while you're at it, shake things up a bit and switch beverages.

Guardian blog, 16 July

bridgetfox — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:50:59 +0000

It's been a quiet few days on the blog front - a combination of lots of meetings, being a bit poorly last week, and being away for my birthday last weekend. Tonight is catch-up including, if time permits, a bit of a blogathon.... there are lots of things I'm wanting to write up. Meanwhile my latest Guardian blog (back to the bad old days for Labour, plus the perennial hot topic of cycling on pavements) went online yesterday.

The Parody of Politics

CM'Blog — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:26:54 +0000

I think politics is excellent fodder for parody making, and so I laud Jib Jab for their sardonic brilliance. It just shows that the only way to take politics seriously is to recognize how ridiculous it can be. Humans are natural political animals, so the only way to stop us from acting on our preternatural instinct to kill, is by humbling ourselves with sarcasm and humiliation. Thank God this political campaign season has peaked America's interest, it was about time we woke up in our feces to dig ourselves out. So power to the people, down with the establishment--a throwback to late 1960's zeal.

Leave a comment and Start a Brawl!

FULL COVERAGE>>

Get Off Your Ass and Vote

Michael Crawford — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:30:45 +0000

Okay, that;s not exactly the message the Human Rights Campaign is sending in this video, but its something that we all need to hear.

Vote because you believe that every American should be treated equally under the law.

Vote because the last time you didn't we got George W. Bush in the White House. Twice.

Vote because the blood, sweat and tears of our forefathers and mothers made it possible for us to do so.

Vote because hundreds of thousands of gay kids are counting on you to stand up for them.

Vote because you're pissed off and sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Vote because bitches need to recognize that they may not love you, but they damn well have to respect.

Strike 2!

stokeunison — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:08:34 +0000

Members braved the weather to continue with their campaign for a fair pay offer.

[caption id="attachment_439" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Staff from Thistley Hough"][/caption]

Staff from Thistley Hough High School show they are fully behind the campaign for Fair Pay

Meanwhile, the 'corridors of power' were quiet as the Council Meeting was cancelled

Smiles all round as we are joined on the picket line by old friends

[caption id="attachment_429" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Old friends together on the picket line"][/caption]

Emma says goodbye

charliethechulo — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:15:35 +0000

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To the best of my knowledge I've never met Emma Ginn, but her name is familiar from literally hundreds of National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC) emails sent out by her in support of asylum seekers.

It can be a depressing business reading those emails: so many individual cases, so much human misery. I must confess that I don't always respond. But thank goodness for the NCADC and people like Emma. And thank goodness for the working class communities who rally round the victims of Britain's brutal asylum and immigration system.

Anyway, I've just received this:

*******************************************************************************************************

Dear NCADC Supporters,

After 4 years at NCADC, I am leaving on Friday 18th July.

I want to thank you all for the most amazing 4 years of my life.

Many asylum seekers have campaigned and risked everything to speak out. It's been inspiring. I'm not sure I would be capable of it. Amongst you, I met real-life heros - this has made my life and I am blessed.

I also met supporters who dropped everything to defend asylum seekers. Amongst them, lawyers, doctors, journalists, politicians and activists ... fighting for justice.

We get depressed at the vile brutality out there towards asylum seekers, and then suddenly spontaneous groups of friends and strangers come together to defend someone or something, reminding us that there is a human race.

For the first three years at NCADC I was based in Manchester, hosted by the Greater Manchester Immigration Aid Unit who gave me true solidarity.

My years at NCADC have been hard work, but I never felt so alive and so lucky.

I have shared tears with some of you - some tears of sorrow, some tears of joy, some I don't know quite what. I always cry at the parties to celebrate campaign victories.

At Farhat's party, I only got as far as the food-counter before I started to cry. At Florence's party, I walked past the "Florence & Michael Must Stay" banner that had been crossed out to read "Florence & Michael WILL Stay", and ran to the loo to sob ... I thought, how much do people have to suffer before they are allowed to stay. At Naima's party, I got almost right to the end, but then started and couldn't stop.

I think we campaign supporters suspend our true feelings, try to keep positive for our asylum seeking friends, and then when they are safe, all those years of sadness and anger gush out.

Thank you all for your support - if I achieved anything, it was because of you. What you are doing is remarkable. Don't stop.

Keep fighting,

Emma.

PS - Any emails sent to me at ncadc-north-west@ncadc.org.uk from Friday onwards will be diverted to ncadc@ncadc.org.uk.

*********************************************************************************************************

Good luck for the future, Emma. You talk about "real life heroes" that you've met in the course of your work: might I suggest that you might possibly be one yourself?

Madame Tussauds celebrity escalators

hyperspacemedia — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:08:57 +0000

Underground passengers are being joined by celebs such as J-Lo, Nicole Kidman, Jim Carey and Justin Timberlake who's waxworks are all featured in Madame Tussuads current digital escalator panel campaign. Working with creative agency Hands for Fingers, Anorak Digital produced animations directly from Tussaud's models

Magners interactive salon screens

hyperspacemedia — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:08:46 +0000

Magners Lite used interactive touch screens in hair salons to allow customers to view product detail (calories etc) and enter a competition. Activity was complemented with in-salon sampling, tent cards and coasters

M&S countdown to lunch

hyperspacemedia — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:08:33 +0000

Marks & Spencer's campaign on London Underground digital LCD screens with copy changes counting down to lunch

Virgin Atlantic Transvision

hyperspacemedia — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:07:59 +0000

A relatively simple creative but with extremely high quality of animation currently on display above the Gatwick Express departure platform at London Victoria station

Magners XTP

hyperspacemedia — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:07:42 +0000

London Underground cross track projections running evenings only from Thursday to Saturday.

Purina XTP & Tesco ATM vouchers

hyperspacemedia — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:07:21 +0000

Purina cat food are currently running a campaign on ATM:AD's London network of Tesco cash machines which dispense a voucher for redemption in-store. The ads can also be seen on the new London Underground cross track projection system and feature a free sample via SMS promotion

And So It Begins Again

lobotero — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:08:27 +0000

Just six weeks after reluctantly surrendering to Barack Obama in the brutal 2008 Democratic primary race, Sen. Hillary Clinton has begun raising money for what she says is her 2012 New York Senate reelection campaign.

Clinton still faces about $20 million in debts from her unsuccessful presidential effort this year. As part of a so-called "unity drive," Obama has appealed to his supporters in recent weeks to give to Clinton to cover the costs that she incurred while raking him over the coals in a bare-knuckled bid to return to the White House. Some Obama backers have balked.

Ain't politics great? You can owe everyone in town a buck or two and still try to raise money for an election 4 years away. This should start the salivating of Clintonistas.

Chanel Iman for PINK

Fashion-Guru — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:40:04 +0000

Well if it isn't the 18 year old phenomenon Chanel Iman wiggling her way into the Victoria's Secret empire. She once stated that she wanted to be a Victoria's Secret Angel (a move like that can make your career, VS is the company to get with to take your modeling career to the next level), so it's a good look modeling for their spin off brand PINK. Check her out:

This is a good look for her, nice to see a young black model doing the damn thing being that they seem to get no love in the industry. Also here is one of her photo's from Vogue Italia:

This chic is fierce!

On a side note: She was recently linked to Kanye West romantically. Although he's 31 and she's 18, I hear she's very mature for her age, hence her being in the industry for a few years now. Not sure if it's true or not but he does love a fashionista!

Flip-Flop-Flip

Democrashield — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:49:40 +0000

Today’s Electoral Map (from FiveThirtyEight): Obama 303.2 EV ; McCain 234.8 EV

Today was a day of Republican flip-flops

First up, John McCain:

After months of saying additional troops were not needed in Afghanistan, McCain changed position Tuesday and called for an additional three brigades -- or roughly 15,000 troops -- to be sent to the country. It was unclear if those troops would be redeployed from Iraq or come from NATO forces.

[Emphasis Added]

This was, of course, after Barack Obama called for troops to be pulled out of Iraq and additional troops be sent to Afghanistan, where the Taliban is reforming and violence is surging.

Next up is George W. Bush, the Appeaser-in-Chief himself:

One week after military maneuvers raised fears of war and the price of oil, a senior US official will meet with the Iranian nuclear negotiator. A deal may be in the works.

[...]

In a stunning announcement July 16, the White House disclosed that Undersecretary of State William J. Burns will travel to Geneva this weekend to sit face-to-face with Iranian nuclear negotiator Said Jalili.

Once again, the Republicans are adopting a policy that Barack Obama backed first. In fact, the GOP attacked Obama for wanting to talk to countries like Iran--Bush himself went in front of the Israeli Knesset and called Barack Obama an appeaser for abandoning Bush's policy of ignoring America's enemies and engaging in pointless brinksmanship.

Now, I believe that people--including politicians--have the right to change their minds; I think revising a policy based on changing facts or situations shouldn't automatically be labeled a flip-flop. But the GOP is living by a double standard, and they deserve the same nonsense they dish out. It's pure hypocrisy-- they attack Democrats for coming up with smart new policies, then turn around and adopt those same policies wihout apologizing for their smears or withdrawing their underhanded attacks. And when a Democrat changes their policy, the Right-Wing Noise Machine can't label them a 'flip-flopper' fast enough.

Republicans have shown us that they have almost no ideology, no core beliefs. They'll say anything to get elected; they'll engage in any underhanded attack, they'll employ any smear they can come up with. It's time for us to ditch our flip-flopper-in-Chief and his protege, John McCain, once and for all.

Κάλεσμα για αλληλεγγύη προς τον διωκόμενο αντιρρησία συνείδησης Λάζαρο Πετρομελίδη

Γιώργος Καρατσιουμπάνης — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:47:09 +0000

Κάλεσμα για αλληλεγγύη προς τον διωκόμενο αντιρρησία συνείδησης Λάζαρο Πετρομελίδη

Στις 20 Μαΐου 2008, το Ναυτοδικείο Πειραιά δίκασε για 15η φορά, ερήμην, για το ίδιο «αδίκημα», σε 3 χρόνια φυλάκιση χωρίς αναστολή τον 45χρονο αντιρρησία συνείδησης Λάζαρο Πετρομελίδη, επειδή αρνείται να καταταγεί στο στρατό, επειδή αρνείται να εκπαιδευτεί για να σκοτώνει, επειδή αγωνίζεται για την ειρήνη και επειδή αρνείται έμπρακτα τον πόλεμο, τον μιλιταρισμό και τον εθνικισμό.

· Στη χώρα αυτή που οι αντιρρησίες συνείδησης καταδικάζονται σε 11 μήνες επιπλέον εναλλακτικής υπηρεσίας και που το περιεχόμενο της συνείδησής τους κρίνεται από ειδικές επιτροπές διορισμένες από το Υπουργείο Πολέμου

· Στη χώρα αυτή που αγοράζει βομβαρδιστικά αεροπλάνα και άρματα μάχης αντί να φτιάχνει σχολεία και νοσοκομεία

· Στη χώρα αυτή που εξαναγκάζει μικρά παιδιά να παρελαύνουν σε στρατιωτικούς σχηματισμούς και ετοιμάζεται να εξαναγκάσει τους νέους να καταταγούν από τα 18 τους στο στρατό

· Στη χώρα αυτή που λογοκρίνει όσα βιβλία ιστορίας δεν είναι αρκούντως εθνικιστικά

· Στη χώρα αυτή που η «ελευθερία της συνείδησης» μεταφράζεται σε πολυετείς διώξεις και φυλακίσεις

· Στη χώρα αυτή που οι πολίτες δικάζονται από τα στρατοδικεία

Καλούμε άτομα και συλλογικότητες, ως έμπρακτη κίνηση πολιτικής συμπαράστασης προς τον Λάζαρο Πετρομελίδη:

1) να διαδώσετε το κάλεσμα αυτό και την ακόλουθη ενημέρωση και να συλλέξετε υπογραφές στην κοινή έκκληση για δράση από τη Διεθνή Αμνηστία (AI), το Ευρωπαϊκό Γραφείο για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης (EBCO) και την Αντιπολεμική Διεθνή (WRI) (η έκκληση στα ελληνικά υπάρχει ακολούθως και στην ιστοσελίδα: http://www.amnesty.org.gr/actnow/petromelides.htm, ενώ στα αγγλικά υπάρχει στην ιστοσελίδα: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/EUR25/003/2008/en),

2) να τοποθετηθείτε δημόσια για το ζήτημα,

3) να συνεισφέρετε οικονομικά στην κάλυψη της πρωτοφανούς εγγύησης ύψους 7.000 ευρώ ώστε να μην φυλακιστεί ο Λάζαρος Πετρομελίδης (Λογαριασμός Εθνικής Τράπεζας 116/ 772063-74 – για το εξωτερικό: ΙΒΑΝ: GR87 0110 1160 0000 1167 7206 374, Κωδ. SWIFT Τράπεζας BIC ETHNGRAA),

4) να παραστείτε στην εκδίκαση της υπόθεσης στο Αναθεωρητικό Δικαστήριο,

5) να οργανώσετε εκδηλώσεις αλληλεγγύης και συγκεντρώσεις διαμαρτυρίας,

6) να συνεργαστείτε με τον Σύνδεσμο Αντιρρησιών Συνείδησης συμβάλλοντας ενεργά στην υπεράσπιση του ανθρώπινου δικαιώματος στην αντίρρηση συνείδησης και στους αγώνες των αντιρρησιών συνείδησης κατά του πολέμου, του μιλιταρισμού και του εθνικισμού.

ΛΑΖΑΡΟΣ ΠΕΤΡΟΜΕΛΙΔΗΣ - ΕΠΑΝΕΙΛΗΜΜΕΝΕΣ ΚΑΤΑΔΙΚΕΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΠΙΣΤΕΥΩ ΤΟΥ

Κοινή έκκληση για δράση από τη Διεθνή Αμνηστία, το Ευρωπαϊκό Γραφείο για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης και την Αντιπολεμική Διεθνή

O Λάζαρος Πετρομελίδης, 45 χρονών, έχει καταδικαστεί επανειλημμένα από στρατοδικεία για την αντίρρηση συνείδησης που προβάλει ενάντια στην στρατιωτική θητεία και τώρα κινδυνεύει για άλλη μια φορά να συλληφθεί και να φυλακιστεί.

Η υπόθεση του Λάζαρου Πετρομελίδη έχει μακρά ιστορία 16 ετών, γεμάτη με διώξεις και καταδίκες. Για πρώτη φορά ασκήθηκε δίωξη σε βάρος του μετά την δήλωση αντίρρησης συνείδησης που έκανε τον Μάρτιο 1992 όταν η Ελλάδα δεν αναγνώριζε ακόμα το δικαίωμα στην αντίρρηση συνείδησης. Το 1998 αρνήθηκε να εκτελέσει την εναλλακτική πολιτική υπηρεσία που του προσφέρθηκε καθώς ήταν εξαιρετικά τιμωρητικής διάρκειας - στην περίπτωσή του, επτάμιση φορές μεγαλύτερη από τη στρατιωτική θητεία που υποχρεούνταν να υπηρετήσει. Από τότε, λαμβάνει σε τακτικά χρονικά διαστήματα κλήσεις να υπηρετήσει στο στρατό και επανειλημμένα του έχουν απαγγείλει κατηγορίες ανυποταξίας εξαιτίας της άρνησής του, ως αντιρρησίας συνείδησης, να υπηρετήσει στον στρατό. Έχει φυλακιστεί τρεις φορές, το Μάιο 1998, τον Απρίλιο 1999 και το Σεπτέμβριο 2002, ενώ του έχει απαγορευτεί η έξοδος από τη χώρα.

Στις 20 Μαΐου 2008, ο Λάζαρος Πετρομελίδης καταδικάστηκε ξανά ερήμην του σε τρία χρόνια φυλάκισης χωρίς αναστολή για δύο κατηγορίες ανυποταξίας, στο Ναυτοδικείο Πειραιά. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι μετά τη δίκη του, την 15η στη σειρά, έχει εκδοθεί ένταλμα σύλληψης για τον Λάζαρο Πετρομελίδη και αντιμετωπίζει άμεσο κίνδυνο φυλάκισης για τα πιστεύω του. Στα 45 του ο Λάζαρος Πετρομελίδης διανύει τον τελευταίο του χρόνο που μπορεί να κληθεί να στρατευθεί, αλλά μέχρι τις 31 Δεκεμβρίου του 2008 μπορεί να κληθεί ξανά οποιαδήποτε στιγμή.

Κάθε φορά που ο Λάζαρος Πετρομελίδης αρνείται να υπηρετήσει στο στρατό μια νέα δίωξη κινείται εναντίον του. Η επανειλημμένη τιμωρία του για το ίδιο αδίκημα παραβιάζει το άρθρο 14 παράγραφος 7 του Διεθνούς Συμφώνου για τα Ατομικά και Πολιτικά Δικαιώματα, το οποίο ορίζει ότι: «Κανένας δεν πρέπει να δικάζεται ή να τιμωρείται ξανά για αδίκημα, για το οποίο έχει τελεσίδικα καταδικαστεί ή αθωωθεί σύμφωνα με το δίκαιο και τον κώδικα ποινικής δικονομίας κάθε χώρας». Επανα-δικάσεις αντιρρησιών συνείδησης έχουν αναφερθεί από την Επιτροπή Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων ως συγκεκριμένες περιπτώσεις παραβίασης του Άρθρου 14 (Γενικός Σχολιασμός Νο. 32).

Το δικαίωμα στην αντίρρηση συνείδησης αποτελεί νόμιμη άσκηση του θεμελιώδους δικαιώματος της ελευθερίας της έκφρασης, συνείδησης και θρησκείας, που περιλαμβάνεται στην Οικουμενική Διακήρυξη των Δικαιωμάτων του Ανθρώπου (Άρθρο 18), του Διεθνούς Συμφώνου για τα Ατομικά και Πολιτικά Δικαιώματα (Άρθρο 18), την Ευρωπαϊκή Σύμβαση για την Προστασία των Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων και Θεμελιωδών Ελευθεριών (Άρθρο 9) και στον Καταστατικό Χάρτη των Θεμελιωδών Δικαιωμάτων της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης (Άρθρο 10).

Παρακαλούμε, στείλτε γράμματα στο Πρωθυπουργό της Ελλάδας, καλώντας τις ελληνικές αρχές να σταματήσουν άμεσα τις διώξεις κατά του Λάζαρου Πετρομελίδη και να αναγνωρίσουν το ανθρώπινο δικαίωμα στην αντίρρηση συνείδησης σύμφωνα με τα διεθνή πρότυπα και τις συστάσεις.

ΛΑΖΑΡΟΣ ΠΕΤΡΟΜΕΛΙΔΗΣ - ΕΠΑΝΕΙΛΗΜΜΕΝΕΣ ΚΑΤΑΔΙΚΕΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΠΙΣΤΕΥΩ ΤΟΥ

Προς

κ. Κώστα Καραμανλή
Πρωθυπουργό της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας
Μέγαρο Μαξίμου, Ηρώδου Αττικού 19
106 74 Αθήνα, Ελλάδα

Αξιότιμε κύριε Πρωθυπουργέ,

Με την παρούσα επιστολή επιθυμώ να εκφράσω τη βαθειά ανησυχία μου για τις παραβιάσεις των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων των αντιρρησιών συνείδησης στην Ελλάδα και ειδικότερα του Λάζαρου Πετρομελίδη ο οποίος στις 20 Μαΐου καταδικάστηκε σε 3 χρόνια φυλάκισης, χωρίς αναστολή από το Ναυτοδικείο Πειραιά, καθώς κρίθηκε ένοχος για δύο ανυποταξίες.

Το δικαίωμα στην αντίρρηση συνείδησης αποτελεί θεμιτή άσκηση του θεμελιώδους δικαιώματος της ελευθερίας της έκφρασης, συνείδησης και θρησκείας, που περιλαμβάνεται στην Οικουμενική Διακήρυξη των Δικαιωμάτων του Ανθρώπου (Άρθρο 18), του Διεθνούς Συμφώνου για τα Ατομικά και Πολιτικά Δικαιώματα (Άρθρο 18), την Ευρωπαϊκή Σύμβαση για την Προστασία των Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων και Θεμελιωδών Ελευθεριών (Άρθρο 9) και στον Καταστατικό Χάρτη των Θεμελιωδών Δικαιωμάτων της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης (Άρθρο 10)

Είναι 15η φορά που ο αντιρρησίας συνείδησης Λάζαρος Πετρομελίδης, αν και πολίτης, διώκεται από τα στρατοδικεία της Ελλάδας και μάλιστα για το ίδιο αδίκημα γεγονός που παραβιάζει το άρθρο 14 παράγραφος 7 του Διεθνούς Συμφώνου για τα Ατομικά και Πολιτικά Δικαιώματα, το οποίο ορίζει ότι: «Κανένας δεν πρέπει να δικάζεται ή να τιμωρείται ξανά για αδίκημα, για το οποίο έχει τελεσίδικα καταδικαστεί ή αθωωθεί σύμφωνα με το δίκαιο και τον κώδικα ποινικής δικονομίας κάθε χώρας».

Καλούμε τις Ελληνικές Αρχές να πάψουν κάθε είδους δίωξη κατά του αντιρρησία συνείδησης Λάζαρου Πετρομελίδη και να σταματήσει οποιαδήποτε διαδικασία θα μπορούσε να οδηγήσει στην επαπειλούμενη φυλάκισή του.

Καλούμε τις Ελληνικές Αρχές να σεβαστούν τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα των αντιρρησιών συνείδησης όπως έχουν αναγνωριστεί διεθνώς και σύμφωνα με τις υποχρεώσεις που έχει αναλάβει η Ελλάδα έναντι των διεθνών νομικών κειμένων που έχει υπογράψει.

A Wildly Succesful Link Campaign Could Get You Tossed From Google’s Index!

monsterchange — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 19:09:24 +0000

by Ba Kiwanuka

That link bait piece was a work of sheer genius! In a matter of days your website traffic exploded from the usual trickle of visitors to over 50,000. Phewâ€¦what a rush! Your link campaign is simply dusting the competition like so much netdirt squished beneath the flaming rubber of your screeching tires. Another dayâ€¦another 20,000 visitors! And as for your link campaignâ€¦omigosh! Talk about outta control! Everybody wants to link to you. Everybody is linking to you! And just to think, only a week ago you were struggling to retain the handful of links you’d worked ever so hard to get and yet look at you nowâ€¦practically drowning in the stuff! And as your link-bait vehicles ramps up even more speed you ride the tidal wave of web traffic with a heavy rap beat pounding the speakers of your linkmobil:Whoop! Whoop! It’s Da Sounda GooglePol Whoop! Whoop! It’s For You Da Bell Toll Whoop! Whoop! It’s Da Sounda GooglePol Whoop! Whoop! It’s For You Da Bell Toll

And then suddenly it hits you! That’s not just your musicâ€¦it really is GooglePol. Heckâ€¦those are real sirens!

The powerful green-white and blue sedan roars up inches behind your turbocharged Speedlinker, and as you ease off the gas a fraction you hear a booming voice snarl “You in the red link vehicleâ€¦Turn off your engine and pull to the side. You are in violation of SED (search engine doctrine) 234!“

And that’s how what many proclaim to be arguably the most successful link campaign in web history came to a sudden and screeching halt!

Busted For Web 2.0 Speedlinking!

First of all let’s tackle the meaning of Web 2.0 just in case you don’t know what it means. Web 2.0 is many things to different folks, and so if you are the techie type you would probably present a 100-page dissertation to cover the subject. But for us mere mortals Web 2.0 can be simplified along the following lines:

Web 2.0 is the 2nd generation stage of the internet and largely consists of community based and community driven websites/platforms which include blogs, forums, not to mention the vastly popular social media sites. You’ve probably heard of some of the more established and popular of these sites which include:

1. Myspace; 2. Digg; 3. Youtube; and 4. Facebook; to name but a few.

These sites are community driven platforms and the operative word here is “community.” You can find practically any niche subject bustling with its very own online community on any one of the myriad of social media sites out there. However if you hope to gain exposure and benefit from Web 2.0 sites you have to abide by the rules and participate within the community. These online communities are populated by rather sensitive finicky folk who frown very strongly on abject and wanton self promotion!

Rule Breaking Will Get You Banned Quicker Than Samuel L. Jackson Rat-a-tats A Bad Guy Full Of Lead!

Believe me, if unabashed self promotion is your goal, you certainly won’t get far with social media sites! These communities harbor pretty trigger-happy gunners as far as banning community abusers goes, and if you violate socially accepted behavior you’ll be booted out quicker than Paris Hilton can simper “That’s Hot” or Samuel L. Jackson snarls “Mudda@#&%er!” before rat-a-tat-tatting Mr. Bad full of lead!

However if you actively participate in your targeted niche and abide by the rules you can get immense exposure quite quickly, a substantial amount of traffic and a bucket load of links! BUT…yah, there’s always a BUT, as said before you have to be an active community member which means you do have to put in some effort before those links and traffic become a reality.

So what do I mean by effort, or put another way, WORK? Urrgghâ€¦that’s right, remember that annoying four letter word you simply cannot seem to avoid doing! Anyway work in this context means reading posts, voting positively for those posts you like (and if you feel braveâ€¦voting negatively for those you don’t although I wouldn’t do that too often if you want to build a stable of “friends”). Friends are site members who invite you to join their “neighborhood” something that you can do too; basically acquiring friends is a good thing (both online and off I guessâ€¦Duh?)

Indiscriminate voting for all and sundry will get you adversely pinpointed by the site owners as a miscreant up to no good (excuse enough to give you the proverbial boot up your pants). Note that each social media site has its own particular set of rules, lingo and guidelines so read up about them before you get banned and start whiningâ€¦it’s not fair, boo hoo hoo! Bottom line, you should try and gain as many trusted “friends” in your targeted community as possible and build up a positive reputation that you can leverage to your advantage in the future.

Getting Links And Web Traffic

Betcha this is what you’ve been waiting forâ€¦how does Web 2.0 benefit you, right? Well that’s where your stable of friends comes into play. Once you’ve done enough online social hobnobbing, networking or what-have-you and built up a whole lotta good karma, write up your irresistible link bait piece and notify your “friends” of its existence. Generally for most of the social media websites you can only post a short blurb or teaser for your main article so do that and make sure that it is also mouth-watering smackalicious too, that way people just won’t be able to help themselves from clicking through to the main post on your blog (several social media sites only accept mobile platforms such as blogs as opposed to static commonplace sites).

Your new online friends will only be too happy to reciprocate the love you showed them earlier (by voting up their articles) so they won’t hesitate to up-vote your dynamic and irresistible piece. And soon enough, before you know it you’ll be drowning in traffic because that post of yours will rise like the mythical phoenix to the top of the social media sites where it will get supersaturated exposure. Up atop that social media site more and more people will see it, love it and thereby vote for it. Think of that link bait piece of yours as a virus that expands exponentially or as a vicious-cycle with a positive slant!

Caution: Slowdown Now! Google Speedlink Filter Ahead!

So what the heck is Google’s beef with your super successful link bait campaign. Hey, it’s not as if you’re buying links or linking to link farms for that matter. In fact you aren’t doing anything wrong but following their guidelines in accordance with their vision of Web Paradise (never fear that day will come circa Web 50.0).

So what’s really going on?

The problem on hand here is that Google has an algorithm filter which has the purpose of detecting aggressive linking. Translate aggressive linking as the acquisition of a large number of links in a disproportionately short length of time. Unfortunately at this point in time it appears as though this Google Speedlink Filter is still quite primitive and cannot differentiate between genuine above-board superlinking and spammy blackhat shady linking. Once the Speedlink Filter is triggered not only will all your links become null and void with respect to Google (even those prior to your link bait campaign), in the worst case scenario your blog (or site) will be unceremoniously booted from all known search (Google index).

However in such cases there is a glimmer of hope, you can apprise Google of the situation and appeal for a manual review of your site. But I guess the bottom line is if your Web 2.0 speedlinking is making you plenty of ka-ching then perhaps you don’t need the grace of that fickle online deity known as Google!

Speedlinking

Hope you enjoyed the article,

Thanks,

Nathan
CompForLife.com

Strike 1!

stokeunison — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 16:13:01 +0000

[caption id="attachment_418" align="alignleft" width="196" caption="Town Hall"][/caption]

Over 4000 members across all City Council departments, today took part in the national protest over the below inflation pay offer. Staff on the picket-line were joined by colleagues from Unite and Councillors Joynson.

Nationally, over 600,000 members took part in the campaign to get the employers to improve their offer.

The branch thanks all those drivers who refused to cross picket lines.

Photographs courtesy of The Sentinel

[caption id="attachment_417" align="alignright" width="275" caption="Picket line at Civic Centre"][/caption]

Send us you stories or photos, and we will put them on the blog.

See you all tomorrow - bright and early!

[caption id="attachment_423" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Civic Centre main entrance"][/caption]

WAC calls for World Archaeology Day

icomos-uk — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:46:13 +0000

The World Archaeological Congress has called upon UNESCO to declare a World Archaeology Day.

Professor Smith, President of the World Archaeological Congress, said

"The idea of a World Archaeology Day was proposed by colleagues from Africa, an area of the world where cultural heritage is under dire threat from looting, tourism and government neglect"

A World Archaeology Day would follow on from previous UNESCO declarations of an International Museum Day and a World Tourism Day.

Professor Bayo Folorunso, of Nigeria, the Vice-President of the World Archaeological Congress, said

"A day that is devoted to appreciation of the worth of archaeology will enhance public understanding of the value of archaeology as a tool for unearthing our human past, and this will lead to greater protection of cultural heritage across the globe"

For further information contact: Professor Claire Smith (claire.smith@flinders.edu.au) or Professor Bayo Folorunso (cafoloso@hotmail.com)

Background

The World Archaeological Congress (WAC) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization and is the only elected international body of practising archaeologists. WAC holds an international congress every four years to promote the exchange of the results of archaeological research; professional training and public education for disadvantaged nations, groups and communities; the empowerment and betterment of Indigenous groups and First Nations peoples; and the conservation of archaeological sites.

The Sixth World Archaeological Congress (WAC-6) was held from 29th June-4th July at the University College Dublin. This was the first World Archaeological Congress to be held in Ireland. It was attended by over 1,800 archaeologists, native peoples and international scholars from 74 nations. Motions from the Plenary session of the Congress were considered by subsequent meetings of the World Archaeological Congress Council and Executive.

The Congress Patron for WAC-6 was President Mary McAleese. Previous Congress Patrons include Harriet Mayor Fulbright, Prince Charles and Nelson Mandela.