Written by The title of this piece will likely seem extremist and very counterintuitive. Perhaps a better title would be “The American Federal Government, Question it and Keep it’s Authority in Check or it Will Become More Tyrannical and You Might as Well be Living in Some Authoritarian Collectivist European Regime of the Past.” Hmm, that’s a little wordy. It’s almost as long as one of my longer sentences. READ MORE »
Posts in category Human Rights
‘Occupy Wall Street’ protesters allowed back into Zuccotti Park
Written by Two months after the “Occupy Wall Street” protesters were evicted from New York City’s Zuccotti Park, police on Tuesday removed the metal barricades surrounding the park and allowed the public back in.
The barricades were removed only a day after the New York Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and the New York City chapter of the National Lawyers Guild threatened legal action against the city for restricting the public’s access to the park.
“We’re pleased the city is finally giving the park back to the people,” said NYCLU Executive Director Donna Lieberman. “We hope Zuccotti Park can now resume its rightful place as a center for meeting and protest in New York City.”
Guantanamo prison now 10 years old
Suleiman al-Nahdi waits with dozens of other prisoners in a seemingly permanent state of limbo five years after he was cleared for release from Guantanamo Bay.
“I wonder if the U.S. government wants to keep us here forever,” the 37-year-old al-Nahdi wrote in a recent letter to his lawyers.
Open for 10 years on Wednesday, the prison seems more established than ever. The deadline set by President Barack Obama to close Guantanamo came and went two years ago. No detainee has left in a year because of restrictions on transfers, and indefinite military detention is now enshrined in U.S. law.
The 10th anniversary will be the subject of demonstrations in Washington, London, England, Paris, Toronto, Brussels and Berlin. Prisoners at the U.S. navy base in Cuba plan mark the day with sit-ins, banners and a refusal of meals, said Ramzi Kassem, a lawyer who represents seven inmates.
“They would like to send a message that the prisoners of Guantanamo still reject the injustice of their imprisonment,” said Kassem, a law professor at the City University of New York.
Prisoners informed the guards in advance that they would be conducting peaceful protests to mark the anniversary, Cmdr. Tamsen Reese, a spokeswoman for the detention centre, said Tuesday, adding that such actions are “not uncommon” at Guantanamo.
Ron Paul, Racism and Conspiracy Theorists
The Ron Paul campaign must really be doing something right. The corporate owned mainstream media is really attacking him with all guns blazing. They dredge up the fear card and accuse him of being a racist. They spin his words and try to frame the argument in a way that, in my opinion, is very dishonest to say the least. Some would call these corporate shills outright liars, but in their minds they’re just trying to push the propaganda that will get their guy elected so their corporate masters can maintain their power. The problem for them is that the masses of humanity aren’t as dumb as they seem to believe. The people on catching on to their little game. There’s a world of difference between the way they treat Ron Paul who WILL follow through on his campaign promises to restore personal freedoms as best he can (judging from his political consistency and voting record), and the way they treated Barrack Obama who made promises that sounded good and somewhat Ron Paulish but were never meant to be kept. READ MORE »
Evolution and Food, a Different Point of View
I read a paper once on a native American tribe from the southwest. They had a larger than normal occurrence of diabetes. To put it in a nutshell, in trying to determine the cause of this the study found that the loss of a melon that had been natural to their diet contributed greatly to the rise in diabetes cases within the tribe. When the melon was reintroduced into their diet the occurrence of diabetes fell dramatically. It turns out that after ten thousand years of depending on this fruit for a major part of their diet their digestive systems had adapted to the point where taking the food source away caused it damage. READ MORE »
‘Virginity tests’ on Egypt protesters are illegal, says judge
Forced “virginity tests” on female detainees were ruled illegal in Egypt on Tuesday, after a court ordered an end to the practice.
Hundreds of activists were in the Cairo courtroom to hear the judge, Aly Fekry, say the army could not use the test on women held in military prisons in a case filed by Samira Ibrahim, one of seven women subjected to the test after being arrested in Tahrir Square during a protest on 9 March.
Fekry, head of the Cairo administrative court, decreed that what happened to Ibrahim and six other detainees was illegal and any similar occurrence in the future would also be considered illegal.
The court is expected to issue a further injunction against such tests and decree that the test was completely illegal, opening the door for financial compensation.
Indonesian Punk Head Shaving Decried at L.A. Demonstration
Demonstrators were gathering outside the Indonesian Consulate in L.A. today to decry authorities treatment of punk rockers in the island nation last week.
A concert in Banda Aceh was raided and 65 fans were arrested and brought to a police camp for “reeducation.” Perhaps most notoriously, however, the peacock hair of the punk rockers was shaved by authorities.
VIVAnews – The Governor of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Irwandi Yusuf, backs up measures taken up by the police in Aceh following arrest of dozens of young men and women of so-called punks in the province. The governor claimed the action has no relation with the implementation of Islamic law in Aceh.
“People often relate this with the Sharia law in Aceh. In fact, it has nothing to do with it,” Irwandi said today, Dec 20.
Police, said Irwandi, only wanted the punkers to attend school, work and go home to their parents.
“It’s true that they have their rights. But, the government must also think about their future,” said Irwandi, who is running for the second term of Aceh Governor’s office.
Regarding the method, Irwandi said, that it is up to police standards. For instance, to join the police, students need to be shaved, soaked in water, and other disciplinary acts.
“To be more precise about it, ask the Police Chief,” Irwandi said.
Irwandi said that the measure was not against Human Rights.
“Who will think about their rights in the future? They cannot live like this forever, sleeping on sidewalks,” said Irwandi. “All I’m asking is that for them to live a normal life even if they have to sleep in parks.”
“If they make mistakes, they should be offered help. Even if they violate the law by falsifying documents and using illegal drugs, although not all of them use drugs, but they still need to be corrected by the police,” said Irwandi. “About the head shaving and being immersed in pool, well, that’s the police’s method.”
Dozens of young men and women have been detained for being “punk” and disturbing the peace in Aceh, Indonesia’s most devoutly Muslim province. They are being held in a remedial school, where they are undergoing “re-education”.
The 64 punks, many of whom are from as far away as Bali or Jakarta, were picked up on Saturday night during a local concert.
Federal Government Takes Final Step to Suspend Constitution
In what can only be considered a tragic irony, the U.S. Senate passed out of the final conference committee the controversial National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, coinciding with the 220th Anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights. Section 1031 of the National Defense Authorization Act otherwise known as the NDAA, provides broad authority for the federal government to use the military in domestic operations in order to detain Americans indefinitely and without trial. Such a move not only whitewashes the natural rights of Americans, whereby even publicly criticizing the federal government can now rise to the purposefully vague definition of a “belligerent act”, it also sits in direct violation of “Posse Comitatus” an 1878 law forbidding use of the military at home and against Americans. Here are Congressman Paul’s remarks on the bill: [ROLL PAUL CLIP]
As Congressman Paul stated, the bill requires absolutely no supporting evidence to issue the order of detention, instead leaving it up to the whim of the Executive Branch to act as Judge, Jury, and in some cases having already decreed the power to assassinate Americans earlier in the year, executioner.
The danger behind allowing any law that includes such arbitrary terms, as “belligerent act” simply cannot be overstated as the Department of Homeland Security has already published multiple reports labeling those who support the Constitution or protest the FEDERAL RESERVE to be “domestic belligerents” and thus in the eyes of the federal government a threat to National Security.
Even more disconcerting is the level of pompous disregard elected members of Congress show as they arrogantly eradicate the foundational principles of America, trampling upon the very ideals that helped spark the first American Revolution, with Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina recently stating during debate in the Senate:
“Please know, what will come your way: Death, Detention, and prosecution. And when they say, I want my lawyer, you tell them shut-up, you don’t get a lawyer.”
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (SC-R)
Debate on S. 1867
National Defense Authorization Act
Further, Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, one of the bill’s primary sponsors who drafted the original version in secret along with Republican Senator John McCain, states The Obama Administration specifically requested Section 1031 of the bill be expanded to include the indefinite detention of Americans, threatening to veto the bill if it failed to encompass citizens and non-citizens alike.
However one member of Congress has openly stated that the Military should “NOT comply” if the order comes down to arrest ANY American on American soil. Here is Rep Justin Amash last night on Fox Business Andrew Napolitano’s show, FREEDOM WATCH:
[ROLL CLIP]
According to the group “OPEN CONGRESS” an organization that tracks federal legislation, the bill receives private-sector support mainly from those involved in the receipt of military contracts, such a Honeywell. Honeywell, a company historically known by the public as a manufacturer of thermostats for heating and air conditioners, is in reality one of the largest U.S. military contractors, with revenues of over $4 billion and enthusiastically supports this draconian piece of legislation.
Thus, this bill now puts everyone whether Tea Party member, Occupy Wall Street protestor, Son or Daughter of the modern Liberty movement in the crosshairs of a federal government who sees the Constitution as an encumbrance upon their absolute and unquestionable rule.
With the bill now clearing both House and Senate conference committees as of this yesterday, the only hope at this point to halt the legislation from becoming law is for Patriotic Americans to flood the White House with telephone calls, emails, and faxes demanding this President not sign the bill into law. Please melt the White House Switchboard and comment line right now.
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
While Americans have been led to believe that Obama will sign the legislation there is still the chance that he may veto the law to gain approval with the American people. Whatever the reason, to preserve liberty or to gain favor. Let us hope and pray that our efforts are successful and that he does veto this bill.
Again the numbers to call are:
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
Remember to please like, favorite and share this video. Leave your comments below and to find patriots like you who have a heart for restoring the republic join our exclusive social network home to more than 34,000 concerned Americans at RTR.org. For the Reality Report I’m Gary Franchi.
Obama will not veto National Defense Authorization Act
The White House on Wednesday said it would not veto the controversial National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
President Barack Obama’s spokesman Jay Carney said lawmakers who crafted a compromise version from rival Senate and House versions of the legislation had addressed his worries about proposed tough rules on detainees.
The legislation has been the subject of considerable criticism.
At one point the bill contained a provision that would have authorized the U.S. to use military force anywhere there were terrorism suspects, including within the U.S. itself. The American Civil Liberties Union described it as authorizing a “worldwide war without end.”
The section was removed from the bill in July.
But other controversial provisions, Sections 1031 and 1032, remained. The provisions would have authorized the U.S. to indefinitely detain suspected terrorists anywhere in the world without charge or trial, and hold them in military custody.
Nazi-hunters mount ‘Operation Last Chance’ to round up surviving war criminals before they all die
Nazi hunters have embarked upon one final swoop for remaining Third Reich criminals who worked as extermination camp guards or as executioners in mobile death squads during WW2.
Israel’s Simon Wiesenthal Centre – bouyed by the conviction in Germany this year of S.S. volunteer John Demjanjuk for his role in the murders of nearly 29,000 Dutch Jews – believes there is now a will among nations to call the guilty still living free to account.
‘Operation Last Chance 2′ will be formally launched in Germany next week.
Speaking from Israel Efraim Zuroff, director of the Wiesenthal Centre in Jerusalem, said: ‘We will offer rewards for clues to persons who worked in either the extermination camps or in the Action Squads.’
The Action Squads, or einsatzgruppen, were responsible for the shooting deaths of some 1.5 million Russian and and Baltic Jews before the static murder factories like Treblinka and Auschwitz were built in Nazi-occupied Poland.
Mr Zuroff said it was the conviction of Demjanjuk which had spurred his organisation into the last appeal for help in bringing those mass killers still alive to justice.
Demjanjuk, a Ukrainian who became an American citizen in the 1950′s, was found guilty of being a guard at the Sobibor death camp, where 250,000 Jews were put to death.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2074088/Last-chance-bid-famous-nazi-hunting-centre-round-surviving-war-criminals.html#ixzz1gY4tf6kG
For the second time, Firefighters watch as couple’s home burns to the ground (because they hadn’t paid $75 subscription fee)
A couple stood helplessly by and watched their home and valuables go up in flames because a team of firefighters refused to help – as they had not paid their ‘subscription fees’.
Vicky Bell and her boyfriend managed to escape from their trailer home but did not have time to grab many personal belongings.
Miss Bell, from Tennessee, said the blaze was terrifying – but almost as shocking was seeing fire trucks sitting in the distance and doing nothing to help.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2070834/Firefighters-watch-couples-home-burn-ground-hadnt-paid-75-subscription-fee.html#ixzz1frXs26NF
“Shut Up. You Don’t Get a Lawyer!”: The Defense Authorization Act Guts Civil Liberties
“It is not unfair to make an American citizen account for the fact that they decided to help Al Qaeda to kill us all and hold them as long as it takes to find intelligence about what may be coming next,” says Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.) in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). “And when they say, ‘I want my lawyer,’ you tell them, ‘Shut up. You don’t get a lawyer.’”
No recent piece of legislation has been more controversial than the NDAA, which passed the Senate last week and includes provisions that apparently grant the president unlimited power to detain American citizens arrested in connection to terrorism. The House approved its version of the NDAA earlier this year, so the legislature must hammer out differences and present a final version to President Barack Obama. For his part, Obama has threatened to veto the legislation not because it tramples on civil liberties but because it subject executive actions to congressional oversight.
Earlier this fall, Reason’s Matt Welch talked to Laura Pitter, counterterrorism adviser for Human Rights Watch. “The terms in the bill are so vague that it can really be applied to anyone the U.S. deems is an enemy,” says Pitter, who underscores that federal courts are far more effective and efficient when it comes to prosecuting terrorism-related cases. Since the 9/11 attacks, she notes, federal criminal courts have resolved over 400 terrorism-related cases while military commissions have prosecuted just six cases.
Approximately 5 minutes.
Camera by Meredith Bragg and Joshua Swain; produced by Swain.
Ron Paul is the Only Electable Candidate for President
2012 Leave a Comment
The corporate controlled, establishment mass media would still have you believe that Ron Paul is some crazy fringe candidate. They still insist that he is unelectable despite his 3rd place finish in Iowa (one wonders how Santorum got so many votes there) and his second place finish in New Hampshire, and polls that have him doing very well against Obama. This despite the fact that the Republican Party leadership seem embarrassed by his presence and want to keep voters away from him more than the Dursleys wanted to keep Harry Potter away from their muggle relatives. When even those who count the votes have to admit to so many flocking to the eccentric family uncle one starts to wonder if maybe he has a real chance of gaining the Republican nod. It is, after all, a matter of numbers and if there is overwhelming support then even the most corrupt organization starts to worry about being too obvious with their cheating and fixing of elections. READ MORE »