MediaMouse.org was a leftist blog and news website covering Grand Rapids, Michigan that existed in varying capacities from 1999 to 2009. We stopped publishing in June of 2009, you can read more about why here. This site now archives all of our content so that hopefully folks can learn and/or be inspired by the past several years of activism in Grand Rapids.
A forum on global warming hosted by the City of Grand Rapids was held at Grand Valley State University’s (GVSU) Grand Rapids campus last night. Mayor George Heartwell and the Director of the Michigan Department of the Environmental Quality (DEQ) Steven Chester, both provided opening comments before presentations by three panelists. Mayor Heartwell boasted that Grand Rapids has made a larger reduction of carbon per capita than any other city in the country between 2000 and 2005, according to a new study by the Brookings Institute.
DEQ Director Steven Chester stated that Michigan has taken some “aggressive steps towards confronting its role in the creation of Greenhouse gases.” The evidence for these aggressive steps were that Governor Granholm signed the Greenhouse gas accord with other Midwest governors and that the state now has a Climate Action Council which was created in November of 2007. It is worth noting that while some environmental organizations are represented on this action council, most of the members are from universities, government, businesses, and business associations. However, he also stated that Michigan is the ninth largest emitter of CO2 in the country.
The first panelist was Dr. Knute Nadelhoffer from the University of Michigan. He presented some background information on what he called “undisputable evidence that humans are causing Global Warming.” Dr. Dadelhoffer has traveled to both of the poles and says that the changes have been dramatic. Biomass is decomposing near the Arctic and releasing large amounts of CO2, Arctic ice is melting, and the amounts of snow and ice at the poles has been steadily decreasing over the past 30 years. He said the Antarctic Peninsula is one of the most rapidly warming regions on earth and has increased by 5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1950. The most dramatic example the speaker provided was the disintegration of the Larsen B Ice Shelf near the Antarctic Circle. All of this information, according Dr. Nadelhoffer, was based on his own research and that of the conservative estimates that are from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports.
Karel Rogers, a retired GVSU professor and current board President of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council, followed Dr. Nadelhoffer. Dr. Rogers emphasized the negative impact on climate change that population growth has had over the past 100 years. This population growth has meant huge increases in population, mining, oil production, electricity consumption and the use of motorized vehicles, according to Dr. Rogers. She concluded her comments by offering what she referred to as policy recommendations. First, she said Michigan needs to integrate water use with energy planning, since 40% of fresh was use is for energy production. Second, she said that there needs to be serious energy conservation, which the professor said could be done with the construction of more LEED certified buildings. Lastly, she said that we cannot create new carbon sources, and that the world needs to be 80% below 2000 levels by 2050. Dr. Rogers specifically identified the effort to build new coal plants in Michigan and said these needed to be stopped.
The last speaker was David Ullrich, Executive Director of the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. He briefly discussed issues that cities are faced with that are related to global warming-sewage systems, water run off, snow removal, intense rains and drought. He also said that energy reduction was necessary but offered up no real solutions on how to achieve those reductions. The lack of concrete solutions was the case throughout the night as was a real absence of what sectors of society are the main culprits in causing global warming. The only corporation that was mentioned with any criticism was Exxon-Mobil and that comment was limited to their profits during the recent gas price increases. There was no mention of Exxon-Mobil’s funding of groups that dismiss the seriousness of global warming. In fact, several of the panelists stated that we need less regulation of industry and only needed to have a “real free market” that would allow the business community to figure out ways to make sustainability profitable.
After two hours of commentary from the panelists, the audience was finally allowed to ask questions. The question process was done through written statements that were handed to two volunteers from the Sierra Club who then sifted through questions they decided were relevant to give to the moderator. None of the questions that reached the moderator focused on solutions, but one did confront the DEQ director about his department’s role in granting new coal plant permits. Steven Chester stated that the way that the DEQ operates, they have no power to regulate the energy industry and that they are obligated by law to give the grants to these companies who request them. The only leverage they have, according to Dr. Chester, is to make a recommendation on the status of energy consumption and carbon emission in the state.
Another question that was addressed to the panel had to do with how the issue of global warming is relevant to marginal communities. The response was, “poor people are spending too much money on energy and have less for food. What poor people need to do was to retrofit their homes so that they will be more energy efficient.” The response didn’t take into consideration that many people don’t own their own homes nor does it address the fact that marginal communities are the most negatively impacted by global warming internationally, even though these communities are not responsible for the policy decisions made on this issue.
The only question to address policy had to do with what the panel thought about the Lieberman/Warner bill. Dr. Rogers said it was woefully inadequate and that the Union of Concerned Scientists provided a good analysis of this proposed legislation. David Ullrich said he would be in favor of the legislation since it took a step in the right direction.
Like many other forums that have been held on this topic in the past year, attendees left with little new information or concrete ways that they could be part of any efforts to seriously make a change on the issue of global warming.
On Thursday, the Grand Rapids Press reported on Grand Rapids’ per capita carbon emissions with an article on a study that was also covered by Mediamouse.org. However, in addition to citing the study and discussing its findings, the Grand Rapids Press decided to include a two paragraph reference to what it labeled as a “conservative group” called Grassfire.org:
“Such studies are meaningless to conservative groups such as Grassfire.org, which argues that reducing personal carbon footprints won’t help the planet and that energy use is the “lifeblood of our economy.”
Anticipating the Brookings study, Grassfire.org this week announced it would hold a national “Carbon Belch Day” — promoting barbecues and taking long drives — on June 12.”
However, the Grand Rapids Press failed to include any background on Grassfire.org or its views on global warming. Had the Press included them, it would have seen that the organization is far from a reputable source on global warming.
A good indicator of Grassfire.org’s views is the so-called “Carbon Belch Day” mentioned in the article. On June 14, Grassfire.org is rallying its supporters to generate extra carbon emissions “by hosting a barbecue, going for a drive, watching television, leaving a few lights on, or even smoking a few cigars.” Grassfire.org believes that this will raise awareness about “climate alarmism” while also critiquing the meaninglessness of “goofy save the earth mandates telling us to turn our lights off for an hour.” Moreover, the organization argues the day will have “at least as much impact on the so-called ‘planetary emergency’ of man-made global warming as the goofy save the earth mandates telling us to turn our lights off for an hour. In fact, since energy is the lifeblood of our economy, a healthy carbon belch just might do some good.”
The news release announcing the Carbon Belch Day is entirely devoid of science and offers no basis for any of its claims. Similarly the website for the day–touted in the news release–does not offer any evidence to support its overreaching claim that concern about global warming is “climate alarmism.” Instead, it offers the following reasons for why one should participate in Carbon Belch Day:
“In this world of carbon credits and endless “Green” propaganda, why would we encourage tens of thousands of people to increase their CO2 output on Carbon Belch Day?
* Because Al Gore’s “planetary emergency” is a bunch of hot air…
* Because shrinking your “carbon footprint” is not going to save the world from doom…
* Because CO2 isn’t even a pollutant — life needs CO2…
* Because energy is the fuel of human progress and man is not the “bad guy”…
* Because the real “planetary emergency” is the coming $1.2 Carbon Tax…
* And because it’s fun and your Carbon Belch might actually do some good!”
There is no evidence given to support any of these claims. On the website, “hot air” is linked to a page on another Grassfire operated website titled “So You’ve Heard Plenty About Global Warming.” That typo-laden web page boldly claims:
“The claim that global warming is a “crisis” has been thoroughly debunked by leading scientists around the world. Surveys show that most scientists do not buy into the hype that the modern warming is due to human activities. The majority of scientists agree that the Earth’s climate is very complex and insufficiently understood to make an accurate forecast.”
Grassfire–aside from pulling a stunt to get media attention with its Carbon Belch Day–is actively campaigning against regulations and policies aimed at reducing global warming. On its website, there is a petition that people can sign opposing “U.S. participation in the Kyoto treaty or any such successor agreement, mandatory domestic limits on CO2, and any federal or state carbon “tax” or “cap-and-trade” system.” The site directs much of its opposition to global warming regulations towards Al Gore.
While it is true that Al Gore is a visible advocate of addressing global warming, he is not the end-all-and-be-all of the global warming debate. Gore’s claims are based on science developed by countless researchers. However, Grassfire’s focus on Gore–an easily polarizing figure to “conservatives”–provides a sure way to mobilize its supporters. Grassfire formed in 2000 and claims to be guided by “a strong and unwavering commitment to conservative, pro-family and pro-faith values.” During the 2004 presidential election, Grassfire.org ran ads attacking Democratic Party presidential candidate John Kerry and MoveOn.org (http://www.stealthpacs.org/profile.cfm?org_id=2612). Beyond global warming, it has worked on “conservative” issues including immigration, getting conservative judges confirmed for the Supreme Court, and abortion. It also has a reputation for being very tight-lipped about its finances.
So why did the Grand Rapids Press include a mention of Grassfire.org and its “Carbon Belch Day” in its article? The Press reporter failed to include any information from Grassfire.org that challenged the substance of the Brooking Institutes’s study of per-capita carbon emissions. Moreover, Grassfire’s claims on global warming should have been more than enough to indicate that it is not a reputable source on global warming. While the Grand Rapids Press failed to investigate Grassfire.org, a reporter at the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review received a news release from Grassfire.org about global warming, investigated the organization, and raised concerns about its accountability–if one of their peers can do that kind of research, why can’t The Press?
Headlines from Democracynow.org, a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 650 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the US.
Experts: No Slowdown to Rising Food Prices
International experts are warning global food prices will remain high over the next decade. A new report from the United Nations and Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development blames the rising cost of oil, the weakening dollar and increasing demand for biofuels such as ethanol. The report calls for a reevaluation of the drive to invest in biofuels, which are said to account for 33 percent of the rising food costs. Ethanol has raised food prices by diverting crops to produce fuel rather than food. Kemal Dervis of the UN Development Programme said the environmental gains of biofuel investment need to be evaluated in light of its effect on increasing hunger.
Kemal Dervis: “Well, you know, I think one important thing we are also discussing is that the fight against climate change and the fight against poverty should not be viewed as two separate things. They must be integrated into an overall strategy, and I think some of the problems we’ve seen with biofuels is that the strategy vis-a-vis climate went ahead without coordination and without being part of the overall strategy for development.”
McClellan: Bush Admitted Authorizing Plame Leak
Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan took to the airwaves Thursday to explain his speaking out on his former bosses in the Bush administration. In a new memoir, McClellan accuses the administration of deliberately manipulating the public to wage the war on Iraq. McClellan also criticizes his former bosses for the handling of Hurricane Katrina and the CIA leak case. Appearing on the Today Show, McClellan said he had mistakenly allowed his personal admiration for President Bush to overshadow concerns about the deceptive rush to war in Iraq.
Scott McLellan: “I felt like we were rushing into this, but because of my position and my affection for the President and my belief and trust in he and his advisers, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. And looking back on it and reflecting on it now, I don’t think I should have.”
McClellan went on to say President Bush had personally told him he authorized the leak of former CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity. McClellan says he asked President Bush aboard Air Force One if he was the one who approved outing Plame to the media. McClellan says Bush replied, “Yes, I was.”
10,000 South Koreans Protest US Beef Imports
In South Korea, more than 10,000 people took to the streets of Seoul Thursday in the latest of daily protests against an agreement on importing US beef. The South Korean government’s decision to ease restrictions has sparked a national crisis.
Protester: “I came here because I got so angry after the minister announced the implementation. I’ve been participating in these rallies, but I think the government pushed it unilaterally without listening to our voices. I can’t stand it.”
South Korea banned American beef five years ago after an outbreak of mad cow disease. But the ban was lifted earlier this month after US lawmakers threatened to withhold a pending trade deal unless South Korea accepted US beef.
Lawyers: US Rushing 9/11 Trial to Coincide with ’08 Election
Lawyers for the alleged conspirators behind the 9/11 attacks are accusing the Pentagon of rushing the case to court to time it with the 2008 presidential campaign. In a new court briefing, the defense team for the four prisoners on trial with alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed cite a prosecution document proposing to set the trial date for September 15th. That would come just ten days after Senator John McCain is expected to be officially nominated as the Republican nominee.
34 Activists Convicted for Protesting Gitmo
Meanwhile, in Washington, thirty-four people with the group Witness Against Torture have been convicted for protesting the Guantanamo Bay prison outside the Supreme Court. The demonstration occurred on January 11th, the sixth anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo. As they did in January, several protesters dressed like Guantanamo prisoners in orange jumpsuits and black hoods during their trial. When speaking in court, they each gave their own name followed by the name and biography of a Guantanamo prisoner. The peace activist Frida Berrigan said, “We’re sad about the convictions, but we’re happy, moved and humbled to bring the stories, names and identification of the men in Guantanamo into a court of law.” The protesters face up to sixty days in jail.
Army Suicides Rise to 115
In military news, army suicides continue to rise. On Thursday the Pentagon said 115 soldiers killed themselves last year, up from 102 in 2006. The army suicide rate is at its highest since the military began keeping records in 1980.
US Withdraws Fulbright Grants to Palestinian Students in Gaza
In Israel and the Occupied Territories, the US State Department has withdrawn all Fulbright scholarships to Palestinian students in Gaza, because the Israeli blockade prevents them from leaving. The seven students would have used the money to pursue degrees at US schools this fall. But US officials say the grants will be re-directed so as to not go to waste if the students can’t leave Gaza. An Israeli parliamentary committee has asked the government to reconsider its travel ban on Palestinian students. But even if the policy is changed, the students won’t be able to apply for Fulbrights until next year.
Mathematician Donates Prize Money to Promote Palestinian Rights
Meanwhile, an award-winning American mathematician has donated all of his prize money to promote Palestinian freedom of movement. David Mumford received the 2008 Wolf Foundation Prize in Mathematics earlier this week. Mumford says he’s giving the entire $100,000 to Birzeit University in the West Bank and to Gisha, an Israeli group that campaigns for Palestinian rights. Mumford said, “I decided to donate my share of the Wolf Prize to enable the academic community in occupied Palestine to survive and thrive. I am very grateful for the prize, but I believe that Palestinian students should have an opportunity to go elsewhere to acquire an education.”
Mosque Surveillance Prompts Calls for Congressional Probe
And here in Southern California, civil rights groups are calling for congressional hearings into new reports Muslim groups in Los Angeles and San Diego are under federal surveillance. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported last week on the existence of FBI and Pentagon files documenting the surveillance of local mosques.
Save the Wild UP–one of the most visible organizations fighting to stop a proposed sulfide mine in Marquette County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula–has released a new video emphasizing that the proposed mine is not a “done deal.” Whereas mining companies traditionally try to portray people as powerless to stop the mine, Save the Wild UP reminds people that with continued organizing the mine can still be stopped:
A new report from the Brookings Institution has found that the Grand Rapids-Wyoming area’s per capita carbon footprint–a measure of carbon emissions from highway transportation and residential energy consumption–decreased by 14.66% between 2000 and 2005.
However, while this is good news, the Grand Rapids-Wyoming area’s numbers are still considerably higher than many larger urban areas. Grand Rapids-Wyoming residents had higher per capita carbon emissions than areas such as Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco. Grand Rapids-Wyoming residents had more per capita emissions from both highway transportation and residential energy.
The report says that in addition to state and local action, federal policy changes are needed to reduce carbon emissions in major metropolitan areas. The report calls policies that would:
* Promote more transportation choices to expand transit and compact development options
* Introduce more energy-efficient freight operations with regional freight planning
* Require home energy cost disclosure when selling and “on-bill” financing to stimulate and scale up energy-efficient retrofitting of residential housing
* Use federal housing policy to create incentives for energy- and location-efficient decisions
* Issue a metropolitan challenge to develop innovative solutions that integrate multiple policy areas
The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition has released a new report that urges the United States Congress to act to lessen the impact of global warming on the Great Lakes. The report synthesizes the current global warming and warns that warming temperatures will have direct impacts on the lakes including lower lake levels, more sewage overflows, and increased pressure to divert Great Lakes water to other regions.
Specifically, the report describes the following likely impacts:
* Daily high temperatures in the region will increase 5.4 to 10.8 degrees relative to what was typical from 1961-1990, with wintertime temperatures increasing even more than summer temperatures.
* Increased evaporation from warming lakes–particularly in winter–is expected to result in less ice cover, contributing to lower water levels and increases in lake-effect snow.
* Lake levels could drop during the next century by approximately 1 foot on Lake Superior, 3 feet on Lakes Michigan and Huron, 2.7 feet on Lake Erie, and 1.7 feet on Lake Ontario.
* Water quality will likely worsen as more intense storm events will send polluted urban and agricultural runoff to our waterways, leading to drinking water impacts, beach closings, and higher costs to water suppliers.
* Biological dead zones will increase, jeopardizing fish and other aquatic life.
* Great Lakes forests and grasslands will change as plants adapted to the area confront increasingly unsuitable habitat. The ranges of some plants and animals will shift northward, while other creatures will vanish.
The report–timed to coincide with a debate over global warming legislation in the US Senate–advocates the following federal policy solutions:
* Restoring the Great Lakes through full funding and implementation of the Great Lakes Regional Collaboration Strategy, a comprehensive plan put forward by more than 1,500 citizens and backed by the region’s mayors, governors and Congressional delegation;
* Protecting the Great Lakes from water diversions by passing the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact, a regional agreement to ban diversions outside the region and promoting conservation within the region;
* Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit the magnitude of change to our climate and ecosystems; and,
* Generating ecosystem restoration funding through federal global warming legislation.
For additional background information on the impact of global warming on the Great Lakes, the organization has posted a PowerPoint presentation with more details on the impact of warming temperatures.
The Bloom Collective, an infoshop and lending library located in Grand Rapids, is hosting a benefit on June 7 for prisoners targeted by the government as part of the Green Scare:
Solidarity is a Weapon: A Green Scare Prisoner Benefit
On June 7, people from all over North America will gather together to discuss the threat against the radical environmental moveMENT, the Green Scare cases and what they mean, and to question how we can prevent impending ecological collapse.
This discussion will occur via an interactive webcast featuring critically acclaimed author Derrick Jensen and indicted environmental activist Marie Mason.
Come learn about radical environmentalism, government repression, and solidarity…
The Q&A will be an interactive experience where people from all over will be able to email questions to Derrick and Marie and a webcast discussion around those questions with Derrik will ensue.
Derrick Jensen is a ground-breaking and critically-acclaimed author speaking on civilization, violence, and resistance to ecological collapse. Check out www.derrickjensen.org for more info.
Marie Mason is a loving mother of two and environmental and social justice activist. On March 10 she along with four others were arrested by FBI and homeland security agents and charged with two ELF related actions dating back almost a decade.
Marie’s case is the latest development in what has been dubbed the Green Scare, a recent wave of government repression aimed at disrupting and discrediting grassroots environmental activism and criminalizing dissent. See www.freemarie.org, www.greenscare.org and www.ecoprisoners.org more info on the Green Scare, Marie and her case.
June 7 – 8pm
Martineau Lofts – 126 S Division (look for signs!)
Headlines from Democracynow.org, a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 650 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the US.
Global Cluster Bomb Ban Approved Over US Objection
More than 100 countries have agreed to ban cluster bombs. The agreement does not include the United States, which boycotted the talks in Dublin. Russia, China, Israel, India and Pakistan also did not take part. But the deal got a boost when the British government ignored US pressure and signed on in a last-minute intervention. Thomas Nash of the Cluster Munition Coalition said the deal is robust.
Thomas Nash: “It’s an incredibly strong document. It’s an incredibly strong document, because it will ban forever all cluster munitions. There’s a very strong restrictive definition in here that doesn’t allow for any cluster munitions to be ever used again.”
Clusters bombs are packed with bomblets that spread out over a large area and often don’t explode on first impact. They have been particularly lethal to children who pick them up off the ground, sometimes years down the line. Simon Conway, director of Landmine Action, said the deal would affect tens of thousands of lives.
Simon Conway: “This is massive. This will make a huge difference in the world. We’re talking about tens of thousands of people who would otherwise lose their lives or their limbs.”
The Bush administration defended its boycott by saying eliminating cluster bombs would endanger US soldiers. Despite its opposition, US officials apparently worked behind the scenes to affect the final language. Anti-cluster-bomb activists say US pressure was likely decisive in ensuring a provision allowing signatories to engage in military operations with non-signatory states.
White House: McClellan “Disgruntled” Ex-Employee
The Bush administration is dismissing scathing criticisms from former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan. In a new memoir, McClellan accuses the administration of deliberately manipulating the public to wage the war on Iraq. McClellan also criticizes his former bosses for the handling of Hurricane Katrina and the CIA leak case. On Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino called McClellan a “disgruntled” former employee. She continued, “It is sad. This is not the Scott we knew.” McClellan, meanwhile, was questioned by reporters outside his home in Arlington, Virginia.
Scott McClellan: “Well, I hope people get a chance to take a look at it. I think it’s got an important larger message, and I wanted to let it speak for itself today, and I look forward to doing some interviews tomorrow, beginning tomorrow. I look forward to getting out and talking about it then.”
Reporter: “What was your reaction to Karl Rove’s comments last night on FOX, that it was like the work of a left-wing blogger?”
Scott McClellan: “Well again, I’m going to be doing my interviews tomorrow. And so, I hope people will get a chance. I think there have been a lot of comments. People haven’t had a chance to really look at the book, and it’s got an important message that I think people need to take a look at. And today I want to let it speak for itself, let people get a chance to take a look at it, and then tomorrow I look forward to going on the air and talking about it.”
Meanwhile, McClellan has come under criticism for what some say is speaking out too late. Former counter-terrorism czar Richard Clarke said McClellan should have shared his beliefs while at the White House.
Richard Clarke: “Most Americans figured out a long time ago that the war in Iraq was sold to them as a bill of goods through the Bush propaganda machine. So thank you, Scott, for telling us a blinding flash of the obvious. It wasn’t obvious in 2004, however. And when I said it in 2004, McClellan was part of the White House machine that attacked me for criticizing the Bush Administration and criticizing the war in Iraq.”
McClellan resigned in April 2006, after nearly three years as Bush’s press secretary.
DNC Attorneys Rule Against Clinton on Michigan, Florida Delegates
On the campaign trail, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has been dealt a new setback in her bid for the Democratic nomination. On Wednesday, lawyers for the Democratic National Committee ruled Michigan and Florida must forfeit at least half their total delegate vote as punishment for holding primaries ahead of schedule. Clinton won both contests, although candidates had agreed not to campaign in either state and Obama’s name wasn’t even on the ballot in Michigan. The Obama campaign says it’s willing to forfeit part of its delegate lead as a compromise to end the dispute. Democratic Party officials will issue a final ruling on Florida and Michigan at a meeting this Saturday. Clinton, meanwhile, was in South Dakota Wednesday ahead of the June 3rd primary.
Sen. Hillary Clinton: “So as you go to cast your votes, I hope you consider not just what I’ve said but what I’ve done and what I will do to be your champion. If you stand with me today and on Election Day, I will stand for you every day.”
Obama, meanwhile, campaigned in Colorado, where he promised to double spending on scientific research.
Sen. Barack Obama: “The fact that we’ve seen our investment in research and development flatlined, critical parts of our government like NIH that are not receiving substantially more money, that inhibits our ability to train
engineers and scientists, and that’s something that I’m going to reverse. I’m going to double the amount of money that we put into scientific research and discovery, when I’m president of the United States of America.”
South African Immigrants Displaced in Xenophobic Violence
In South Africa, tens of thousands of immigrants have been displaced in a wave of xenophobic attacks. The violence broke out earlier this month when mobs attacked immigrant communities across the country. An unidentified Somalian refugee urged international intervention.
Unidentified: “We run from fight. We run far away from our country. We get killed here. We get killed in our country. We don’t know where we belong. We don’t know. So what we need: United Nations and government. Wherever you are, Thabo Mbeki, I’m telling you that, wherever you are now, if you’re listening to this, you killers, you are the one who support this, you are the one who did everything in this problem, because you are the head of this country, you are president, you could stop this immediately. You’ve got heavy army, heavy police. You could have stopped it long time before xenophobia attacks started.”
Officials in South Africa’s Western Cape have asked the government to declare the province a disaster zone. Another unidentified immigrant said the makeshift camps are uninhabitable.
Unidentified: “By the time we came, more than 2,000 people, only provided two tents, something unreasonable. There’s no toilets, there’s no dispensary, there’s no clinic. Then they say that the government’s providing that place. So if you reach there, you find that even a dog you can’t keep it at that place, so just like with the truth is being revealed that government and South Africans, all in general, they don’t like us.”
Israeli PM Pressured on Bribery Scandal
In Israel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is facing new calls to step down over allegations he took bribes from an American entrepreneur. Earlier this week, Morris Talansky said he loaned Olmert hundreds of thousands of dollars to cover what he called Olmert’s lavish lifestyle. On Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Olmert should take a leave of absence or resign.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak: “I do not think the prime minister can simultaneously run the government and deal with his own personal affair. Therefore, out of a sense of what is good for the country and in accordance with the proper norms, I think the prime minister must detach himself from the day-to-day running of the government.”
Report: US Troops Trying to Convert Iraqis to Christianity
In Iraq, residents of Fallujah are claiming US soldiers are handing out Bible-themed coins aimed at converting them to Christianity. According to the McClatchy Newspapers, the coins quote passages from the New Testament. Fallujah was the site of two bloody US assaults in 2004 that killed scores of Iraqis and left tens of thousands displaced. Sunni groups have called on the US military to crack down on soldiers handing out the coins.
New York to Recognize Same-Sex Marriage
And here in New York, Governor David Paterson has directed state agencies to begin recognizing same-sex marriages. New York would become the first state that simultaneously bars gay marriage yet accepts it if legally performed elsewhere.
On Saturday, volunteers from the Barack Obama’s presidential campaign attended an antiwar demonstration held in downtown Grand Rapids. The volunteers were registering people to vote while some were distributing a handout titled “Barack Obama on the War In Iraq.”
As would be expected, the leaflet touted Obama’s stance on Iraq. It says boldly, “Barack Obama understands that there is no military solution to Iraq’s civil war and has a plan to bring the war to a responsible end.” Of course, the only problem is that Barack Obama really has no plan to end the Iraq War. His “responsible end” would only remove “combat brigades” from Iraq and would do so gradually until the end of 2009. Additionally, he would keep “a residual U.S. presence” in Iraq that will be made up of an unknown number of troops. At the same time, Obama claims that he will pressure the Iraqi government to reconcile its differences, increase diplomacy in the region, and increase refugee assistance to $2 billion.
If the 2004 presidential campaign is any indication, Democratic Party campaign representatives will likely become a staple at antiwar events. They will continue to taught the fact that only Democrats will “end the war” even though they really have no intention of doing so.
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