El proceso que se sigue cuando se embarga una propiedad es subastarla, si el precio por el que se subasta cubre la deuda, el cliente no paga nada más, sin embargo si no cubre el importe de la hipoteca restante, el cliente seguirá debiendo ese importe al banco, el cual podrá ser cobrado a través del embargo de la nómina del titular o titulares.

Aquí tienes más información sobre: ¿qué deuda me queda a mí cuando el banco me embarga la casa? y ¿cuántas cuotas puedo dejar impagadas antes de que me embarguen?

Last Thursday, Somali pirates seized a ship carrying more than 30 military tanks. Initial reports indicated the tanks were ordered by the government of Southern Sudan. Later on, Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua confirmed that the tanks were heading to Kenya.

"The cargo in the ship includes military hardware such as tanks and an assortment of spare parts for use by different branches of the Kenyan military," Mutua said.

The pirates from the Somali district of Puntland denied Kenya’s claims, citing documents within the ship pointing to the ultimate destination of the cargo as South Sudan. The United States, which has a warship actively monitoring the hijacked vessel, has announced that the deadly cargo was headed for South Sudan.

What makes the saga intriguing is that Sudan is under a United Nations arms embargo; hence the government of South Sudan has categorically denied ownership of the arms shipment. Over the years, Kenya has been a close ally of the South Sudanese, right from the days of guerrilla conflict between the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement and the Khartoum government.

Press interviews with Kenyan military personnel shows that the Army neither ordered the tanks nor was it aware of an incoming shipment. On the other hand, it has been reported that Kenyan authorities are in possession of documents confirming ownership of the captured weaponry.

Amidst this potentially explosive situation (no pun intended), Kenya’s political leadership is still immersed in its never-ending game of retrogressive ethnic politics. Hardly a word has been heard from President Mwai Kibaki. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Raila Odinga is engaged in maneuvering within the ODM party in readiness for the 2012 presidential elections.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has drawn the ire of many by insinuating that he was an ‘acting’ commander in chief while President Kibaki was attending the UN Heads of State summit in New York.

It has been rumored that the tanks are indeed for the Kenyan military but were ordered without the knowledge of army chiefs by politically-connected persons. Military contracts tend to be highly lucrative due to secrecy in procurement.

In spite of having suffered the side-effects of Somalia’s lawlessness in the past 17 years, Kenya has taken a complete back seat in the search for stability in the Horn of Africa. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) crafted in Nairobi in 2004 was a patchwork of warlords with no interest in creating a peaceful society. TFG President Abdullahi Yussuf is the warlord for Puntland, where piracy activities are centered.

Problems in Somalia worsened in December 2006, when the United States decided to overthrow the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC). By mid 2006, the UIC had succeeded in creating a functional government in Somalia for the first time since clan warfare wrecked the country in 1991.

During the short-lived reign of the UIC, piracy in the Indian Ocean almost ceased but with its overthrow, piracy has grown faster than before.

Typical of its lack of foresight, the Kenyan government provided logistical support and intelligence that enabled the US and Ethiopia to remove the Islamists from power.

O embargo dos bens da construtora brasileira Odebrecht significa a “expulsão” da empresa do Equador, afirmou o ministro equatoriano de Setores Estratégicos, Derlis Palacios, de acordo com informações da BBC Brasil. O governo do Equador determinou ontem (24), por meio de um decreto, o embargo dos bens da empresa e repassou ao Exército o controle das obras da construtora.

"Sim, é uma expulsão", afirmou Palacios sobre o alcance da medida. O governo equatoriano exige o pagamento de uma indenização pela empresa por falhas no funcionamento e pela posterior paralisação (desde 6 de junho) nos serviços da central hidrelétrica San Francisco, construída pela empreiteira.

De acordo com o governo, essa paralisação coloca em risco o abastecimento de energia no país, pois a hidrelétrica de San Francisco é responsável por 12% da energia gerada no Equador.

O decreto que embarga os bens da empresa também determinou que funcionários da empresa não deixem o país. Por causa dessa medida dois diretores da empresa estão na embaixada brasileira e outros dois, no Brasil. No total, 30 brasileiros trabalham nas obras da empresa no país.

Além da usina, a Odebrecht está construindo outra hidrelétrica, uma rodovia e um aeroporto no Equador. Agência Brasil

So Cuba wants to be socialist...so what?  Why is it that the United States government feels the need to impose its ideology on everyone else?  Maybe socialism works for Cuba.  Maybe that's what they like.  And if it's not, we can be pretty sure that eventually, the people will pick one that does work for them.

In case anyone hasn't noticed, China's a huge trading partner of ours, and they're communist.  But no one's out there trying to embargo them (though that could be because messing with China is like writing your own death sentence). 

I guess when you read the Cuban newspaper and see that the US has offered them aid and been rebuffed...well, it's kind of heartwrenching, because all they want is the embargo lifted for a few months, so that they can import the materials they need to rebuild after the hurricane.

What's the point, really, of keeping that embargo?  The Soviet threat is gone folks, and all it's accomplishing is causing a lot of hardship for a lot of people.

Alla vigilia della riunione di ottobre, in cui gli Stati membri delle Nazioni Unite decideranno se progredire nel negoziato su un Trattato sul commercio di armi, Amnesty International ha lanciato un nuovo, dettagliato rapporto in cui chiede ai leader mondiali di inserire una ‘norma inderogabile’ sui diritti umani: ‘I governi devono impedire i trasferimenti di armi laddove vi sia il rischio sostanziale che esse possano essere usate per compiere gravi violazioni del diritto internazionale dei diritti umani e del diritto internazionale umanitario.’
In vista di tale riunione, una manciata di Stati (tra cui Cina, Egitto, India, Pakistan, Russia e Usa) sta cercando di bloccare, rinviare o annacquare le proposte sul tavolo; ciò potrebbe far fallire gli obiettivi del trattato e consentire al commercio di armi di proseguire indisturbato.
‘Nonostante il massiccio semaforo verde della maggior parte dei paesi, una piccola minoranza di scettici vuole mantenere l’attuale carneficina e continuare a chiudere un occhio su trasferimenti di armi palesemente irresponsabili, rendendo deboli e inefficaci i controlli nazionali e gli embarghi dell’Onu sulle armi’ – ha dichiarato Brian Wood, responsabile di Amnesty International per il controllo delle armi.
Il rapporto di Amnesty International, ‘Sangue al crocevia. Perché occorre un trattato globale sul commercio di armi’, è il primo esame approfondito sui parametri e l’ambito di applicazione del trattato in fase di discussione, attraverso nove dettagliati casi di studio di altrettante situazioni in cui il commercio di armi privo di regole ha conseguenze catastrofiche per i diritti umani. Dal conflitto in corso in Darfur alla repressione militare in Myanmar e in Guinea fino all’esplosione della violenza settaria in Iraq, il rapporto mostra come e perché le attuali discrepanze e scappatoie nelle leggi nazionali consentano il verificarsi di violazioni dei diritti umani e spiega perché, senza un’efficace norma sui diritti umani, un Trattato sul commercio di armi potrebbe non essere in grado di proteggere le persone più  vulnerabili.
‘Il dibattito su un Trattato sul commercio di armi è giunto a un crocevia. I governi possono continuare a ignorare le terribili conseguenze dei trasferimenti irresponsabili di armi oppure dare seguito ai propri
obblighi inserendo nel trattato una ‘norma inderogabile’ sui diritti umani che salverà davvero vite umane’ – ha commentato Helen Hughes, una delle ricercatrici del rapporto di Amnesty International.
Cina, Russia e Usa sono segnalati nel rapporto, insieme a molti altri, tra quegli Stati che trasferiscono armi verso paesi in cui le violazioni dei diritti umani sono ben documentate. I casi di studio di Colombia, Costa d’Avorio, Guatemala, Guinea, Iraq, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan / Ciad e Uganda illustrano chiaramente le ragioni per cui una ‘norma inderogabile’ sui diritti umani è la condizione essenziale per rendere efficace un Trattato sul commercio di armi.
Cina e Russia restano i principali fornitori di armi convenzionali al Sudan, il cui esercito sta usando quelle armi per compiere gravi violazioni dei diritti umani in Darfur. La Russia ha trasferito elicotteri a uso militare e aerei da bombardamento, la Cina ha venduto la maggior parte delle armi e delle munizioni.
In Iraq, dal 2003, il dipartimento alla Difesa statunitense ha finanziato la maggior parte della fornitura, mal diretta e priva di controlli, di oltre un milione di fucili, pistole e armi da fanteria per i 531.000 membri delle forze di sicurezza irachene. Questa fornitura ha contribuito alla massiccia proliferazione di armi e alle violazioni dei diritti umani già in corso ai tempi di Saddam Hussein e ha talora coinvolto figure ambigue della rete internazionale dei trasferimenti. La circostanza che i governi di Iraq, Usa e Regno Unito non siano stati chiamati a rispondere del proprio operato ha fatto sì che le forniture finissero anche nelle mani dei gruppi armati o sul mercato nero.
In Myanmar, nonostante le perduranti e ben note violazioni dei diritti umani commesse dalla giunta militare, Cina, Serbia, Russia e Ucraina hanno fornito mezzi blindati per il trasporto delle truppe, camion, fucili e munizioni. A questo quartetto si è recentemente aggiunta l’India, che ha offerto al governo di Myanmar ulteriori forniture armi.
Il rapporto di Amnesty International denuncia in modo esplicito il proseguimento delle violazioni degli embarghi delle Nazioni Unite sulle armi in Costa d’Avorio, Somalia e Darfur a causa di legislazioni nazionali
deboli e della mancanza d’impegno e di competenza di alcuni governi. Questa situazione rende ancora più stringente la necessità di un efficace trattato sulle armi.
‘Il tempo per un Trattato sul commercio di armi è adesso. Sessant’anni dopo aver adottato la Dichiarazione universale dei diritti umani, quegli stessi governi possono e devono dare al mondo un accordo efficace sui trasferimenti internazionali di armi, che abbia al centro i diritti umani’ – si legge nel rapporto di Amnesty International.

Ulteriori informazioni
Nel dicembre 2006, al termine di una votazione storica in Assemblea generale, 153 Stati membri delle Nazioni Unite hanno approvato una risoluzione per dare il via ai lavori per un trattato globale sul commercio di armi. Vi è stato un solo voto contrario, quello degli Usa, insieme a 24 astensioni (Arabia Saudita, Bahrein, Bielorussia, Cina, Egitto, Emirati arabi uniti, India, Iran, Iraq, Isole Marshall, Israele, Kuwait, Laos, Libia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Sudan, Siria, Venezuela, Yemen e Zimbabwe).
Tre anni prima, nell’ottobre 2003, Amnesty International, insieme a Oxfam e Iansa (Rete internazionale d’azione sulle armi leggere), aveva lanciato la campagna ‘Controlarms’ per chiedere un Trattato sul commercio di armi in grado di salvare migliaia di vite umane e chiamare a rispondere del ‘Controlarms’ ha ottenuto il sostegno di oltre un milione di persone in tutto il mondo. In Italia, è stata rilanciata dalla Sezione Italiana di Amnesty International e dalla Rete Italiana per il Disarmo.
Oltre alla ‘norma inderogabile’ sui diritti umani, Amnesty International chiede che un Trattato sul commercio di armi copra un ambito concreto che includa tutte le armi convenzionali e tutti i tipi di trasferimenti e transazioni associate. Alcuni Stati preferirebbero un trattato applicabile solo alle sette categorie di armi convenzionali offensive principali elencate nel Registro delle Nazioni Unite sulle armi convenzionali (carri armati da combattimento, veicoli blindati da combattimento, sistemi di artiglieria a largo calibro, aerei da combattimento, elicotteri d’attacco, navi e sottomarini da guerra, missili e lanciamissili). Tuttavia, in questo modo si escluderebbe tutta una serie di altre armi convenzionali potenzialmente letali che, come dimostra il rapporto di Amnesty International, sono comunemente usate per compiere violazioni dei diritti umani.
I nove casi di studio contenuti del rapporto di Amnesty International riguardano:
Colombia: le forniture di armi leggere alimentano gravi violazioni dei diritti umani;
Costa d’Avorio: un obsoleto embargo delle Nazioni Unite sulle armi;
Guatemala: la disponibilità di armi alimenta la criminalità violenta;
Guinea: le armi vengono impiegate nell’uso eccessivo della forza contro i dimostranti;
Iraq: l’incessante fornitura di armi leggere peggiora la carneficina e acuisce la disperazione;
Myanmar: le forniture di armi vengono impiegate per compiere violazioni dei diritti umani;
Somalia: il continuo afflusso di armi esacerba la catastrofe dei diritti umani;
Sudan / Ciad: i trasferimenti di armi intensificano gli attacchi in Darfur;
Uganda: le armi leggere sono usate dai militari per l’uso sproporzionato della forza e violazioni dei diritti umani.

FINE DEL COMUNICATO
Roma, 17 settembre 2008

¿Quién obstaculiza más las ayudas? Medalla de oro para la autocracia de los Castro. Plata y bronce para los defensores del embargo.

Cualquier modo de entorpecer la ayuda a los cubanos, tras los devastadores huracanes que con un intervalo de apenas ocho días acaban de arrasar al país, es, sencillamente, una canallada. Venga de donde venga. Bajo cualquier argumento afectivo, político o histórico. Bajo la ideología que fuere.

Al parecer —desde un ángulo extremo— le han cogido miedo a los horrores de precipitar una hambruna que, unida a la destrucción de casas, servicios médicos e infraestructura, provoque rebeliones y éxodos masivos, lleve a una guerra civil donde el caos y la sangre se encarguen de poner fin a la dictadura. Washington acaba de autorizar ventas por 250 millones de dólares, aguantó la politización.

Desde el otro ángulo extremo ha sucedido lo mismo, aunque politizan la ayuda internacional, acaparan el protagonismo de la solidaridad —hasta con carticas de la UNEAC— y lucran de nuevo con el desplazamiento de culpas: la naturaleza es la autora de la ruina del país, con el apoyo del "imperialismo yanqui". La última "reflexión" del Castro mayor, los mensajes de la Cancillería a colegas latinoamericanos y la aceptación del diálogo con la Unión Europea, indican el mismo miedo al caos.

Las canalladas, sin embargo, tienen adheridas otras formas de la miseria humana. Entre las más dañinas está coartar las iniciativas. Y ahí la autocracia de los Castro —su herrumbroso comunismo a lo Caribe— todavía obtiene medalla de oro. Sólo cede plata y bronce a los defensores del embargo.

Un régimen tambaleado

La principal iniciativa de los últimos meses, esperada con ansiedad antes de los huracanes, ahora se ha convertido en impedimenta, similar a otras que detienen el desarrollo de las fuerzas productivas del país.Granma acaba de publicar que ya se autorizó la entrega de tierras ociosas (Decreto No. 282), como forma de posibilitar el aumento de la producción agrícola.

Lo trágico —según informes de solicitantes— es que se trata de más de lo mismo. Las exigencias burocráticas dignas de El castillo de Kafka, las referencias veladas —pero que todo cubano entiende de inmediato— a la docilidad política, los requisitos de firmas autorizadas de la Asociación Nacional de Agricultores Pequeños, más otros trámites que desde luego pasan por las oficinas municipales del Partido Comunista y el Ministerio del Interior, muestran el "conservadurismo" del Castro mayor, su empedernido inmovilismo.

Parecía que ni Gustav ni Ike podrían mover ni un milímetro la soberbia y el empecinamiento de los Castro: Nada que implique pérdida de control y poder; nada que genere autonomía. Pero la magnitud del desastre acaba de tambalear al régimen, cuando aún a la temporada ciclónica le quedan dos peligrosos meses, cuando el clima del planeta propicia mayores eventos catastróficos. La canallada de la infección política, tras la tragedia de los dos huracanes, ha disminuido, se ha replegado.

Aunque el "león" (sic) siga rugiendo en los medios, el tono real —gracias a Dios— ha bajado. Quizás en la cúpula del Poder algunos generales preguntaron: ¿Quién en situación devastada —un cuarto de la población indigente— se atreve a lanzar arrogancias, envueltas en la demagogia nacionalista, patriotiquera?

Porque ni siquiera se trataba de un fanatismo blindado a la realidad, de una epopeya tanática o una creencia religiosa. Era un chantaje. El desprecio a los sufrimientos de la población afectada saltaba de un ojo a otro. Daba ganas de vomitar. El mensaje decía: "O nos ayudan ahora —antes de las elecciones de noviembre— o corren el riesgo de que se provoque un éxodo masivo similar al de Mariel en 1980 o al de los balseros en 1994, con las consecuencias previsibles en los resultados electorales".

La línea dura, sin embargo, fue ahogada por la evaluación de las pérdidas. El informe publicado en Granma(16-9-08) muestra también un revés político para los seguidores incondicionales del Castro mayor. Se sabe que las reservas del país están agotadas, que la atención a las víctimas es de placebos, que los daños van a demorar años en resarcirse…

Las orientaciones que recibió una amiga en San Francisco de Paula, tras la pérdida del techo, fueron de espanto: enderece los clavos, recoja los tablones esparcidos, salve los pedazos de tejas. "Si cree en Dios, rece" —le sugirió el delegado del Poder Popular—.

Cómplices de las canalladas

Tanto en La Habana como en Washington —también en Brasilia y en Caracas, en Madrid y en Ciudad de México— se sabe que si el azar trae otro huracán sobre Cuba, se generaría una situación de desastre total e ingobernabilidad que precipitaría, a costa de miles de muertos y heridos, el final numantino que alguna vez albergó la paranoia de Castro.

Los que se alegran ante esa posibilidad son cómplices de las canalladas. ¿Cuál sentido de la caridad cristiana puede ser inmune a la objetiva amenaza de un catástrofe masiva, de Oriente a Occidente, en nuestro país? ¿Cuál odio puede ser tan inconmensurable que ignore la amenaza?

Aquellos que ayudamos a familiares, amigos y desconocidos dentro de Cuba; los que advertimos el riesgo extremo de la emergencia —aun con la ayuda venezolana— y repudiamos a los políticos avestruces y a los medio avestruces; los estadistas que tienen la responsabilidad mundial de prever hambrunas y guerras; debemos estar atentos, favorecer más aperturas y condenar a los que puedan —consciente o inconscientemente— detener los entendimientos.

Porque también los que dentro de Cuba saben y callan ante la ineficiencia del gobierno y sus torpezas arrogantes; los que allá dentro conocen que puede desviarse la leche en polvo donada para venderse en tiendas o para que se la tomen los carceleros; los que aplauden la argucia de que un "huracán de pueblo" salvará la situación…, son tan culpables como los que en el exilio o destierro ven en la postración una esperanza de cambio.

Sin embargo, las últimas noticias de flexibilización son alentadoras. Indican que la tan cacareada unanimidad dentro de la élite del Poder es una falacia, que la sensatez predomina, aunque sepamos que contra la anquilosada opinión del Castro mayor.

Menos mal que cada vez más cubanos y estadounidenses saben que las canalladas no tienen signo. Son tan limpias y tajantes como el filo de una navaja cuando degüella.

Me gustan los navegadores de internet. Tengo muchos instalados y pruebo todos los que puedo.

Mi preferido es Firefox, tanto para linux como para windows, pero fui de los que la noche que salió se bajó el Chrome de Google para probarlo.

Ya tenía escrita una pequeña crítica, con sus correspondientes capturas de pantalla, todo muy coqueto, y he tirado la entrada a la basura.

Lo que ha pasado es que, buscando (en google) el logo de Chome que ven a su derecha (ubicación totalmente intencionada) me he encontrado con el artículo de Amaury E. del Valle en Juventud Rebelde Las dos caras de Google.

Curioso, sólo hace tres día Rafa hablaba de Google y Cuba, aunque un poco más de broma; y yo llevo una temporada que sale mucho la Perla del Caribe en mi blog, unas veces para bien, y otras para mal.

Pues antes de que se lean el artículo del compañero Amaury, cosa que recomiendo vivamente, sepan que el caso es ni el nuevo navegador Chrome ni Google Earth ni Google Code Search son accesibles desde Cuba, que realiza con saña su obligación (se la impone su gobierno) de bloquear a Cuba.

¿Y porque digo "con saña"? porque estoy muy acostumbrado a ver como otras empresas cumplen sus obligaciones de una manera mucho mas "ligth".

Por ejemplo la empresa Oracle, que es famosa por su base de datos pero que tiene cientos de productos más, cuando te descargas cualquier programa desde su web te pregunta si estás en un país bloqueado (Cuba, Libia, Iran, Corea del Norte, Sudán y Siria si no recuerdo mal) o si vas a usar lo que te bajes para atentar contra el presidente de los EE.UU. ("si mire le voy a tirar encima el servidor de base de datos") y otras chorradas por el estilo.

El caso es que si dices que no, tienes barra libre.

Para mi es evidente que con semejante pantomima Oracle ya no infringe la ley estadounidense de bloqueo a Cuba, por lo que el que se tome más molestias es que tiene algún interés especial.

Y es que la historia del bloque informático a cuba es tan viejo como la Revolución cubana, desde los famosos servidores IBM retenidos en Nueva York en 1960, hasta las trabas que puso y pone Estados Unidos para que internet llegue a la Isla. Un hecho poco conocido es que Cuba no pudo conectarse a internet hasta 1996 por culpa del bloqueo, y aún lo hace exclusivamente por satélite, a al espera del cable de fibra óptica que vendrá de Venezuela.

Enlaces interesantes sobre el tema:

• Google Chrome: 404 not found
• Estados Unidos bloquea Internet en Cuba (l)
• Tampoco internet escapa al bloqueo a Cuba

O governo de Cuba afirmou que os dois furacões que passaram pela região nas últimas semanas, Gustav e Ike, causaram uma perda de mais ou menos 5 bilhões de dólares e deixou mais de 450 mil lares destruídos.

Por causa disso, o governo dos EUA decidiu mandar uma ajuda de 5 milhões de dólares para o país, mas Raul Castro não aceitou o dinheiro e afirmou que eles não poderiam aceitar esse "presente" enquanto a economia cubana  é afetada pelo embargo imposto pela Casa Branca desde 1962.

Castro pediu a Washington que suspenda o embargo por pelo menos 6 meses, para que o país tenha forças pra se reerguer. Bush ainda não se pronunciou a respeito.

It should be the policy of the United States [...] to seek a peaceful transition to democracy and a resumption of economic growth in Cuba through the careful application of sanctions directed at the Castro government and support for the Cuban people...

The 1992 Cuban Democracy Act

Join us this Wednesday, September 17 at 7PM in CAS 326, and act as a delegate in a US Joint Congressional Session debate either for or against the lift of the US embargo on Cuba.

Background

The relationship between the United States and Cuba has been strained since 1958 when fighting commenced between the Cuban government, headed by Fulgencio Batista, and the revolutionary forces, led by Fidel Castro. In March of 1958, the US enacted an arms embargo against Cuba.

In 1959, the Cuban Revolution deposed Batista from power. The Revolution also began the rise to power of Fidel Castro, Cuba's new leader with Communist sympathies. The increasingly intimate Cuban-Soviet relations, Castro's nationalization of American sugar companies, and the Cuban missile crisis pushed the United States to consider several drastic measures against Cuba. Although attempts to kill Castro and create a counterrevolution failed, the resulting embargo against Cuba remains in effect today.

This began on October 19, 1960 as a partial economic embargo against Cuba, excluding food and medicine. In following years, the embargo was expanded to include restriction of travel for US citizens to Cuba, US capital investment in Cuba, and restrictions on non-US companies' trade with Cuba (often known as the Helms-Burton Act). Although the severity of the implementation of the embargo has fluctuated with US presidents, the embargo has nonetheless continued to exist.

Criticisms of the Embargo

Cuba's current socioeconomic problems have been tied to the US embargo, along with social problems such as malnutrition, disease, and famine. In light of this controversy, the European Union, along with Canada, has been a staunch critic of the embargo, citing its harm to the Cuban people despite its lack of effect on the Cuban government. The European Parliament refuses to adhere to the Helms-Burton Act and works to counter the effects of the embargo in Cuba. The United Nations has also condemned the embargo.

Issue at Hand

Though considered a viable solution in the context of the 1960s, changes in Cuba merit a re-evaluation of US policy on the embargo.

First, US trade with Cuba involving food products and medicine has increased due to recent humanitarian incidents in the Caribbean: The US exported over 600 million USD in agricultural products to Cuba in 2007.

Second, Fidel Castro stepped down in February 2008, ceding the Presidential powers to his younger brother, Raúl Castro. Foreign diplomats esteem the "other Castro's" pragmatism could foreshadow possible changes in the future. However, Cuba and the United States insist that there will be no real change in Cuba for years to come, at least not until after the Castro "dynasty" has ended.

Both Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ) have stated that they will reevaluate and possibly change the US policy with Cuba, but will not vote to lift the embargo, citing the need for constant and continuing pressure on Cuba to change its undemocratic ways. However, several leading US Congressmen on both sides of the partisan divide, such as Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Representative Ron Paul (R-TX), believe in the importance of lifting the embargo.

Los californianos que han sido embargados se han montado una especie de miniciudad a base de tiendas de campaña, furgonetas y caravanas ya que no tienen una casa donde vivir, ya que el banco se las ha quitado. La verdad es que pinta muy mal y mi pregunta es, puede ocurrir todo esto en España? Podríamos llegar a estar tan mal debido a los impagos, embargos y crisis económica, ya no sólo por las hipotecas si no por las subidas desmesuradas en todos los productos básicos que estamos viviendo?

Clicar en este video si queréis ver el reportaje de la BBC sobre estas miniciudades de tiendas de campaña. ]]> http://iamliberal.wordpress.com/?p=85 Sun, 14 Sep 2008 21:00:33 +0000 karthan http://iamliberal.fr.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/2500-electric-car-in-palestine/

The state of Israel has an embargo against Palestine. It isn't allowing any oil nor any gas into the region in order to put pressure on the political elements inside Palestine. This, of course, causes problems for people who need to get to work and continue living in the embargoed area.

Two Palestinian electrical engineers have formulated a solution to this problem. They have tossed 32 batteries onto a car and made it almost solely run on electrical power. This car also has a range of 100 miles, several times the amount travelled by the average commuter. This was done on a shoestring budget of $2,500.

Now they just need to think about a plan to deal with the possibility of Israel cutting the electricity.

[Source: Reuters]

"Je ne crois pas que lever l'embargo  serait une décision intelligente" a répondu Condoleezza Rice et le gouvernement Bush a refusé.

Le 11/09/2001, Cuba avait mis tous ses aéroports à la disposition du gouvernement des Etats-Unis en cas de besoin, et, après l'ouragan Katrina, qui a ravagé la Nouvelle-Orléans, en 2005, avait proposé l'envoi de 1.500 médecins pour venir en aide aux victimes américaines.

Une autre vision de Cuba.

Cuba et la lutte pour la survie.
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The recent hurricanes have devastated Louisiana, Texas, Haiti, Cuba and the Bahamas. The impoverished nation of Haiti, alone, has seen 3 major storms (Hanna, Gustav and Ike) in the past 3 weeks. People are suffering throughout the Caribbean and the Gulf states of the U.S. The good news is that several agencies are providing relief -- food, water, shelter, beds and clothing -- along with medical care, emotional support and efforts toward re-building. The good news is also that you can help.

See the links, below, to make a tax-deductible donation to one of these relief efforts.

Did your grandma ever tell you: "Many hands make light work"? Mine did, and she was right. Whether you're talking about day-to-day cooking, cleaning and gardening, or helping the neighbor down the road whose house was hit by a tornado, it was and still is true. Many hands make light work. Remember this, as you decide whether you can afford to give to these relief efforts. Any donation amount -- small, medium or large -- is a blessing to the storm victims and to those folks on the ground who are providing the humanitarian care we'd all be doing ourselves, as neighbors, if only we could be there. Let your heart work through their hands. Donate. 

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TEXAS AND LOUISIANA

RED CROSS: DONATE HERE to support the the Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund to aid recent U.S. hurricane victims in Texas and Louisiana.  Alternately, you can donate here at the Red Cross' general donation page, where you may then direct your donation to a specific geography (U.S. vs. International aid) or to "Where the Need is Greatest." The minimum donation is $10. Should you wish to donate via phone or snail mail, the information is provided on the donation pages.  

Galveston in ruins after Hurricane Ike __________________________________________________________________________

HAITI and THE BAHAMAS

RED CROSS: DONATE HERE to support the Red Cross International Response Fund to aid recent hurricane victims in Haiti and the Bahamas. From this same page, you can alternately choose specific efforts, including "Where the Need is Greatest." which is always appreciated by the Red Cross as they juggle their emergency efforts between various needs.

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES: DONATE HERE to support the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) disaster relief efforts to provide emergency food, shelter, water and other basic needs, along with medical care and long-term needs. There is a space on this page where you may optionally type in a specific area where you would like your donation to be directed (e.g. Haiti, the Bahamas), as well as the opportunity to have your donation given in someone's honor or memory.  There is also info on this page for donating via phone or mail. With a 60-year history in providing humanitarian aid, Catholic Relief Services has a strong background in emergency preparedness and response. With 94% of their donations going directly to their programs, CRS has earned an A+ grade with the American Institute of Philantrophy. 

FOOD FOR THE POOR: DONATE HERE to support this worthy organization's disaster relief efforts in Haiti. Payments can be made either online or through the mail. Their report card is impressive, with 96.8% of donations going directly to programs. Read here for charitable watch-group endorsements

p.s. While you're at their site, check out the other humanitarian works by this fine faith-based organization. Their work is truly amazing and goes far beyond simple "Food for the Poor." Their "Home Again 2008" project is but one example (see before and after photos, right).

Awe inspiring: For the same price some folks in the U.S. might pay for a summer vacation ($2,600) you could buy a house for a family in Haiti. Check it out here, blueprints and all. Give to this effort, too, if you can.

Wouldn't it be amazing to buy a house for a family? 

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CUBA

CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES: DONATE HERE to support the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) disaster relief efforts to provide emergency food, shelter, water and other basic needs, along with medical care and long-term needs. There is a space on this page where you may optionally type in a specific area where you would like your donation to be directed (e.g. Cuba, Haiti, the Bahamas), as well as the opportunity to have your donation given in someone's honor or memory.  There is also info on this page for donating via phone or mail. With a 60-year history in providing humanitarian aid, Catholic Relief Services has a strong background in emergency preparedness and response. With 94% of their donations going directly to their programs, CRS has earned an A+ grade with the American Institute of Philantrophy. 

GREATER MIAMI JEWISH FEDERATION: DONATE HERE to support humanitarian relief efforts in Cuba for the devastation from Hurricane Ike. On the donation page, there are options to pay online (either in full or in installments) or to pay via phone or mail. This organization is working in both Haiti and Cuba. If you like, you can specifically direct your donation to Cuba, by typing CUBA in the comments section. One-hundred percent of donations go to relief efforts in Haiti & Cuba. 

OPERATION USA: DONATE HERE to support medical humanitarian efforts in Cuba. As this organization works in many countries, you will want to specify Cuba on the donation page by typing something along the lines of CUBA HURRICANE RELIEF in the comments section at the bottom. You can donate online or pay via phone or mail, per the info on the donation page. With 98% of their donations going directly into their program, this organization has earned a 4-star, "exceptional" designation from Charity Navigator. (see their home page for more info).

THE DISARM EDUCATION FUND: DONATE HERE to support humanitarian efforts to provide desperately needed medical relief to Cubans -- doctors, surgeons, medical supplies, etc. There is a drop-down menu on the donation page to designate your donation to Hurricane relief. You can also make your donation in the honor or memory of a loved one or a cause. See Ed Asner's letter on this site, urging aid for hurricane victims. Their charity report card is not as good as it could be, with 77% of donations going directly into their program work, according to Charity Navigator. The good news is that you can, alternately ...

SIGN A PETITION TO END THE U.S. EMBARGO AGAINST CUBA: CLICK HERE to sign the the Disarm Education Fund's petition to end the U.S. embargo against Cuba. This petition, along with addt'l info on the embargo, is located on the Disarm Education Fund website. Signing this petition is a no-cost way to make the world a better place. 

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See these links to read news and updates on the storm devastation, along with the relief needs & efforts being made in these areas:

Haiti Innovation: Choice, Partnership, Community

The Jamaica Observer: Digicel Donates US$1 Million Toward Hurricane Relief in Haiti

Catholic Relief Services: Storms Turn Haiti's Roads into Rivers

Food For the Poor: Hanna Catastrophic for Haiti

Greater Miami Jewish Federation: Federation Collecting Funds for Hurricane Victims in Haiti, Cuba

Red Cross: Red Cross Provides Shelter as Ike Hits Land in Texas (read specifics on their good works in the 4-state area affected by Hurricane Ike)

Red Cross: Red Cross Responds to Caribbean Hurricanes

LA Times: Hurricanes and Haiti

The Sun: Hurricane Ike Chaos in Cuba

NPR: Cuba, Pounded by Ike, Rejects U.S. Aid

The Center for Democracy in the Americas: Cuba Needs a Gengle Storm of Generosity -- INCLUDES CONTACT INFO FOR OTHER CHARITIES, RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING WITH CUBA

Miami Herald: Aid's path to Haiti, Cuba is Fraught with Obstacles 

Miami Herald: How to Help Hurricane Victims -- Contact info for assisting with relief efforts in the U.S. and throughout the Caribbean.

Xinhua: Cuba Rejects Again U.S. Strings-Attached Hurricane Aid

Jabba the Hutt, a corrupt slug-like alien crime lord on the fictional desert planet of Tatooine, might very well have been a frequent enforcer of trade embargoes as he furthered his criminal enterprise. In 2008, in America, however, such embargoes in the film industry might seem anachronistic -- a throwback to the pre-blogging age of Hollywood, i.e. 1993, when not just anybody with an Internet connection could post his thoughts on-line. In this pre-blogging age, movie studios could enforce review embargoes that prohibited critics from publishing their film reviews in advance of the film's release date. It appears that the movie industry still views review embargoes as a valuable tool.

Just last month, a Warner Brothers studio official reportedly contacted Aint It Cool News and asked the Web site to remove a review of "Star Wars: The Clone Wars." Apparently, the review had been posted after a studio-sponsored pre-screening to which the reviewer had been invited, but before the day of the film's official release, which was an express violation of a Warner Brothers' review embargo.

From a legal perspective, review embargoes are, well, legal, and although the exact language of the Warner Brothers' embargo for Star Wars was not available, the TribecaFilm Festival this year used a clause that provides a good example of straightforward restrictive language: "Reviews of films that celebrate their world premiere at the Festival may only be published after the official premiere. All journalists seeking accreditation to the Festival declare their acceptance of this 'embargo.'" Thus, as would be the case with any standard adhesion contract, the movie reviewer manifests his acceptance to the terms by seeking accreditation, in the Tribeca Film Festival case, or else, we can assume, by simply attending the advance screening in the "Star Wars" case.

The more pertinent issue seems to be the actual enforcement of these embargoes. As Aint It Cool News itself states, embargoes are "routine," but "selectively enforced." Thus, although the requirement to take down a post might seem arbitrary, any embargo-breaker would have to decide whether or not he wanted to fight for his "rights" (not necessarily legal ones, unless, perhaps, a reviewer wanted to argue that he or she had not been adequately notified of the nature of the embargo) against a major studio's legal team or simply remove the post.

On the other hand, any studio, major or minor, would have to decide whether or not it wanted to risk the inevitable media storm--or mere rain shower in the blogosphere--that would result through the enforcement of its legal rights under the embargo because any action on the studio's part would look like a vain attempt to cover up the inevitable publication of negative reviews. Studios routinely avoid pre-screenings of films and sometimes their reasons for doing so go beyond the obvious. However, attempting to exert some sort of control over timing of reviews on the Internet when the movie is pre-screened to critics, and, in some cases, the public, seems to be a waste of energy in this day and age when anybody and their grandmother can post their personal feelings on a particular movie, news story, or sports figure on virtually any major Web site across the vastness of cyberspace. For instance, in the case of the aforementioned "Star Wars" review, the scathing critique, before it was taken down, had been copied onto numerous other Web sites that had apparently not accepted any review embargo. Thus, the reviewer's tagging of Baby Jabba as the "worst character in the history of Star Wars" was readily available to any and all Internet browsers before the premiere date despite the best efforts of the Warner Brothers' legal team. In the end, the actual enforcement of the embargo drew far more attention to the venomous account than would have been otherwise.

--Stuart Burkhalter

Cuba spurned an offer from the U.S. to send hurricane victims $100,000 in aid through relief organizations and said on Saturday that the United States should instead sell it relief supplies and allow food sales on credit.

Rice said U.S. President George W. Bush had made clear that Washington would be "responsive" to the Cuban regime if it was prepared to free political prisoners and had a process for free and fair elections, among other reforms.

Gustav slammed into western Cuba damaging or destroying 100,000 houses and dealing a blow to agriculture. Hurricane Ike is now charging toward Cuba and was expected to arrive late on Sunday, severely threatening sugar cane fields, the tourist hotels of Varadero and the crumbling colonial buildings of Havana.

Are the two administrations playing games with the lives of their people?  A disaster like a hurrican is not the time to be thumping one's chest over ideological BS.

Die Krise in Georgien beherrscht gegenwärtig weltweit die Schlagzeilen und stellt die deutsch-russischen Beziehungen auf eine harte Probe. Europa und die Nato sind gespalten in der Ansicht, wie man mit dem russischen Bären umzugehen hat. Dr. Ernst-Jörg von Studnitz ist Botschafter a.D., Vorsitzender des Deutsch-Russischen Forums und gilt als Kenner der russischen Mentalität. Von 1995 bis Juni 2002 war er Botschafter in Moskau. Im Gespräch mit einem Reporter von JungeMedien Hamburg stellte er sich kritischen Fragen zur neuen Russland-Krise.
[audio http://behind-media.de/Artikelbilder/von_studnitz/Interview_vonstudnitz04092008.mp3]Im Gespräch mit Dr. Ernst-Jörg von Studnitz
Interview: JMH-Reporter Schulz
Länge ca. 15 Minuten

Russland Im Kreuzfeuer: Angriffe auf die Pressefreiheit, Verstaatlichung von Unternehmen, Liquidierungen von unliebsamen Personen, Polonium-Affäre, Energiepolitik als Machtpolitik, der Abgang von Altkanzler Gerhard Schröder, Raketenschild in Polen und die Georgien-Krise. Die neusten Spannungen mit Russland folgen einer ganzen Kette von Ereignissen, die nicht isoliert betrachtet werden können, wenn man die neue Russland-Krise verstehen will.

Europa braucht keinen neuen Krieg
Unabhängig davon, wer in Südossetien zuerst geschossen hat. Die Welt kann weder einen neuen Kalten Krieg, noch einen neuen Weltkrieg gebrauchen. Zwar ist allseits bekannt, dass die Russen keine Samariter sind, aber die Aussagen des georgischen Präsidenten Saakaschwili zum Vorgang der Georgien-Krise werden in einem Spiegel-Online-Artikel vom 30.08.2008 ernsthaft in Frage gestellt. Kritisch beleuchtet wird vom Spiegel in einem Artikel vom 13.08.2008 auch die Rolle der Amerikaner in der Georgien-Affäre.

Russland ist ein wichtiger Partner für Europa, doch das gegenseitige Misstrauen hat in jüngster Zeit wieder neue Nahrung bekommen. Der russische Bär ist aus dem Winterschlaf erwacht und hat zu neuer Stärke gefunden. Spätestens seit der Zerschlagung der russischen Erdölkonzerne unter der Ära Wladimir Putin und der zwangsweisen Verstaatlichung dieser, ergießt sich über Russland ein neuer Geldregen.

Die neue Stärke des russischen Bären
Über 500 Milliarden liegen auf der hohen Kante - Tendenz steigend. In den Jahren 2005/2006 wurde bekannt, dass Russland seine Schulden beim Pariser Klub in Höhe von über 40 Milliarden US-Dollar auf einen Schlag zurückzahlen kann. Größter Gläubiger Russlands ist Deutschland, dem rund die Hälfte der 40 Milliarden zustehen. Die Vanity Fair kürte Putin in einem Ranking jüngst zum "einflussreichsten Menschen der Welt", besonders im Hinblick auf die riesigen Energieressourcen, über die Russland verfügt.

Der Faktor Russland wird in der Geopolitik der neuen Weltordnung eine zunehmend große Rolle spielen. Auf die Frage, auf welchem Kurs er das heutige Russland sieht, antwortet Dr. Ernst-Jörg von Studnitz im Interview: "Der gegenwärtige Kurs von Russland ist ein solcher, Russland wieder groß und stark in der Welt dastehen zu lassen. Und auf diesem Wege sind sie natürlich schon erheblich weit vorangekommen."

(jmh)
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Dr. Ernst-Jörg von Studnitz im Interview zur Georgien-Krise (Deutschlandfunk) »

Internetseite des Deutsch-Russischen Forum e.V. »

Internetseite des Petersburger Dialog e.V. »

"Vorsicht vor diesem Jäger" Eine Analyse russischer Großmachtpolitik (welt.de) »

Putin-Interview (ca. 29 min) - Thomas Roth im Gespräch mit Wladimir Putin:

[googlevideo=http://video.google.de/videoplay?docid=5369140532414613853]

MESSAGGERO
del 8/10/2003
Argomenti di classificazione GHEDDAFI ALL'ITALIA: "CI DEVI RISARCIRE PER IL COLONIALISMO" a pag. 14
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=4U7LI

OPINIONE DELLE LIBERTA''
del 16/10/2003
Argomenti di classificazione I BIDONI DI GHEDDAFI ALL'ITALIA (MASSA LEONE) a pag. 3
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=4V5P8

STAMPA
del 22/10/2003
Argomenti di classificazione GHEDDAFI COM'E' DIFFICILE TRATTARE CON L'IMPREVEDIBILE COLONNELLO DI TRIPOLI (CECCARELLI FILIPPO) a pag. 5
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=4VT8E

MESSAGGERO
del 22/8/2006
Argomenti di classificazione IL DIKTAT DEL COLONNELLO: UN'AUTOSTRADA DI 2.000 KM PER BLOCCARE LE PARTENZE (POGGIO PAOLO ) a pag. 7
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=BR23Z

PADANIA
del 23/8/2006
Argomenti di classificazione Int. a CALDEROLI ROBERTO "IL MIO CONTO APERTO CON GHEDDAFI" (PARAGONE GIANLUIGI) a pag. 2
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=BRDFT

PANORAMA
del 25/8/2006
Argomenti di classificazione Int. a PISANU GIUSEPPE "GHEDDAFI E' LEALE, LA COLPA E' DEL GOVERNO" (VESPA STEFANO) a pag. 52/53
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=BRZKQ

STAMPA
del 28/9/2004
Argomenti di classificazione IL COLONNELLO E IL PIANO ITALIANO: "VA BENE" (RUOTOLO GUIDO) a pag. 9
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=5Y3P7

SECOLO D'ITALIA
del 28/9/2004
Argomenti di classificazione LA LIBIA BLINDERA' LE SUE COSTE a pag. 10
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=5Y3SV

MESSAGGERO
del 24/8/2004
Argomenti di classificazione "GUERRA SANTA IN LIBIA SE ARRIVA BERLUSCONI" (MARINONE STEFANO) a pag. 3
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=5U74Q

CORRIERE DELLA SERA
del 24/8/2004
Argomenti di classificazione MINACCE CONTRO BERLUSCONI ALLA VIGILIA DEL VIAGGIO IN LIBIA (D.MART. .) a pag. 5
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=5U78U

MESSAGGERO
del 24/8/2004
Argomenti di classificazione "NON MI LASCIO INTIMIDIRE" (GIUSTINIANI CORRADO) a pag. 3
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=5U74U

STAMPA
del 18/9/2004
Argomenti di classificazione PISANU: LA LIBIA DEVE ESSERE LIBERATA DALL'EMBARGO (RUOTOLO GUIDO) a pag. 11
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=5X022

CORRIERE DELLA SERA
del 18/9/2004
Argomenti di classificazione "LIBIA, VIA L'EMBARGO UE O L'ITALIA LO AGGIRERA' " (MARTIRANO DINO) a pag. 5
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=5X04B

REPUBBLICA
del 18/9/2004
Argomenti di classificazione PISANU, MANO TESA A GHEDDAFI "BASTA CON L'EMBARGO ALLA LIBIA" (FUSANI CLAUDIA) a pag. 21
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=5X0T0

REPUBBLICA
del 3/8/2006
Argomenti di classificazione Int. a FRATTINI FRANCO "PATTUGLIE IN MARE ENTRO AGOSTO E CON GHEDDAFI TRATTATIVA APERTA" (D'ARGENIO ALBERTO) a pag. 25
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=BLUPU

CORRIERE DELLA SERA
del 21/8/2006
Argomenti di classificazione L'IRA DEL VIMINALE SU GHEDDAFI "CON LUI NON TRATTIAMO PIU' ADESSO INTERVENGA L'EUROPA" (SARZANINI FIORENZA) a pag. 9
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=BQTGK

CORRIERE DELLA SERA
del 3/8/2004
Argomenti di classificazione "TROPPE MINACCE" NIENTE TRASFERTA IN LIBIA PER LAZIO E MILAN (MONTI FABIO) a pag. 5
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=5S9MM

Il MIO PREFERITO

MESSAGGERO
del 10/5/2008
Argomenti di classificazione LIBIA, CALDEROLI SI SCUSA. GHEDDAFI: CASO CHIUSO (TERRACINA CLAUDIA) a pag. 5
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=I1QW1

COME SEMPRE LIBERO NON CAPISCE NULLA

LIBERO
del 10/5/2008
Argomenti di classificazione BOSSI MANDA AL DIAVOLO GHEDDAFI (MANIACI CATERINA) a pag. 1
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=I1QN9

Interessante questo articolo

STAMPA
del 7/10/2004
Argomenti di classificazione L'IMMIGRAZIONE CLANDESTINA NON SARA' REATO (R.I.) a pag. 17
http://newrassegna.camera.it/chiosco_new/p...ntArticle=5ZAAV

Quindi i furbacchioni ci provarono già 4 anni fa' a rendere reato l'immigrazione clandestina.

Conclusioni

Cosa ne evinciamo da tutto ciò?

1. che Pisanu vuole togliere l'embargo sulla Libia, ma se ne sbatteva le palle di quello sull'Iraq o su quello a Cuba. Dettagli
2. che Bossi può dire sostanzialmente quello che vuole perchè è considerato o un uomo in fin di vita oppure un simpatico ometto per tener buoni i padani
3. Calderoli stranamente chiede scusa un po' prima che Berlusconi si rechi in Libia. Coincidenze.
4. Per Berlusconi Gheddafi è un leader non terrorista, mentre per Omero Ciai le Farc lo sono e Mantovani un sabotatore della Repubblica. Dettagli
5. L'Italia risarcisce i danni della colonizzazione in Libia ma non credo lo farà anche nel corno d'Africa. Dettagli.
6. L'Italia paga le infrastrutture libiche ma non ha i soldi per la scuola pubblica italiana. Dettagli

Continuate voi io ne ho a basta.

Technorati Tags: Clandestini, Colonialismo, Embargo, Franco Frattini, Geopolitica, Giuseppe Pisanu, Immigrazione, Infrastrutture e Trasporti, Libia, Muammar Gheddafi, Rassegna Stampa, Risarcimento, Roberto Calderoli, Silvio Berlusconi

“The EU will not impose any sanctions on Russia for the Georgia-Russia conflict,” assures an anonymous French politician, so all that EU leaders will do is issue a threat and “express their concern” over the conflict and then go back to their home states. Europe is afraid of Russia cutting off the gas and oil supplies, which could happen as early as Monday. One of the countries that might have problems with this is Poland. “We are at a point in discussions with Russia, we will not use sanctions,” stresses an anonymous politician. His words confirm the opinion of the head of the French diplomacy Bernard Kouchner who claims that some states suggest that the EU impose sanctions on Russia. However, France does not want to take this course of action and significantly it is France which holds the EU Presidency this year. There are two major reasons why Europe is afraid of Russia. Firstly, the former depends on the latter’s gas and oil supplies. Secondly, the Russian market is one of the biggest buyers of European foodstuffs, mainly meat, with imports from EU to Russia estimated at around USD 1.2 billion annually. Therefore, any sanctions against Russia are rather unlikely, as a possible Russian embargo might hurt the EU economy.
Dziennik ]]> http://barryfest.wordpress.com/?p=246 Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:51:59 +0000 The Barryfest Chronicles http://barryfest.fr.wordpress.com/2008/08/25/the-olympics-are-over-and-i-feel-dirty/ Another Olympiad is in the books, and what a doozie this one was.  The Redeem Team brought the basketball gold back to it's rightful home, Michael Phelps was 8 for 8 in getting his dick whet, and I discovered that the most enjoyable way to watch woman's gymnastics is while sipping a Sazerac at Columns.

But I still feel a little dirty now that it is all over.  And it's not just because I watched a shitload of beach volleyball.

I think we let China off the hook.

What ever happened to boycotting the Opening Ceremony?  I thought that was the big compromise that majority of the free world was going to make.  Obviously, a boycott of the events themselves is unfair to the athletes and really counterproductive, but I was actually pretty excited to see who would actually sit out during the opening ceremony.  If anyone deserves a passive-aggressive "Fuck You" on the international stage, it is China.

Yeah, I thought we are going to actually do it this time.  You know, make a statement that while China has made some progress over the years, there are still a lot of questions they should be forced to answer.  Sure, we are going to compete.  But we will not be a part of self-congratulatory pomp until you give some real answers on the topics of human rights, Tibet, carbon emissions...

Wait...  The fireworks are going to be shaped like what?  Sick, man!  And they're putting video screens where?  No fucking way!  Whoa, how many drummers are they planning on having?  That sounds incredible.  Boycott the Opening Ceremony?  Who said anything about that?

And you know what, the Opening Ceremony was fucking incredible.  And all the venues were amazing.  And on the days when a terrible smog was not enveloping the city (like the clear, sunny day during the men's marathon), I was blown away by the absolute beauty of the scenery, both natural and man-made.

But that doesn't change the fact that there is a lot wrong with China.  And even though Bob Costas did not shy away from asking some truly hardball questions and Bela Karolyi became my new favorite sport personality after I saw the genuine on-air outrage he displayed at the age of China's gymnasts (and took note of his sweet facial hair), I think those communist, jobstealing, greehouse gas emitting, internet-censoring bastards got a free pass for the last 17 days.

But now that I think about it, maybe this turned out okay.  Considering the Chinese government spends most of its time doing stuff like this (and this, and this, and this), maybe we should keep them busy and let them host the Olympics every four years.

Because the more time and energy the government devotes to choreographing opening and closing ceremonies, building machines that let them control the weather, printing official passports containing fradulent information, constructing and deconstructing world class athletic venues, and training athletes in obscure sports to hulk up their medal count; the less time they can devote to murdering Tibetan monks, manipulating global currency to make the US dollar worthless, sponsoring genocide by ignoring UN arms embargos and using the dirtiest energy possible to fuel their industrial revolution.

Pari gagné pour le Free Gaza et le Liberty qui viennent d’accoster dans le port de Gaza

Publié le 23-08-2008

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