Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Quote of the Moment:
"There's one thing I'm not going to do, I'm not going to pull our troops off the battlefield before the mission is complete...we can accept nothing less than victory for our children and our grandchildren."
President Bush rejects the idea of withdrawing American troops from Iraq. The war in Iraq has now lasted longer than the United States' involvement in World War Two.
"There's one thing I'm not going to do, I'm not going to pull our troops off the battlefield before the mission is complete...we can accept nothing less than victory for our children and our grandchildren."
President Bush rejects the idea of withdrawing American troops from Iraq. The war in Iraq has now lasted longer than the United States' involvement in World War Two.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Melbourne pubs are claiming 'community benefits' to avoid tax, which include such things as bottle shop renovations and spirit dispensers.
Venues with pokies can avoid higher rates of tax if they demonstrate that 8.5% of their income from pokies goes into 'community benefits'.
However the vast majority of 'benefits' claimed are simply normal running expenses, with only a tiny amount given to local charities.
One Dandenong hotel claimed its ice machine as a community benefit, while many clubs claimed their heating, electricity, air conditioning and gas bills.
Since 1998, casino and pokie operators have donated over $1.3 million to the Labor, Liberal and National parties, roughly half of that in Victoria.
(Source: Moreland Leader, Greens press releases)
Venues with pokies can avoid higher rates of tax if they demonstrate that 8.5% of their income from pokies goes into 'community benefits'.
However the vast majority of 'benefits' claimed are simply normal running expenses, with only a tiny amount given to local charities.
One Dandenong hotel claimed its ice machine as a community benefit, while many clubs claimed their heating, electricity, air conditioning and gas bills.
Since 1998, casino and pokie operators have donated over $1.3 million to the Labor, Liberal and National parties, roughly half of that in Victoria.
(Source: Moreland Leader, Greens press releases)
Saturday, November 18, 2006
US President George Bush has told senior advisers that the US and its allies must make "a last big push" to win the war in Iraq.
Instead of beginning a troop withdrawal next year, he may increase US forces by up to 20,000 soldiers, according to Administration sources.
(Source: The Age)
Instead of beginning a troop withdrawal next year, he may increase US forces by up to 20,000 soldiers, according to Administration sources.
(Source: The Age)
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Israel's Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders have united, condemning a March for Tolerance in Jerusalem.
The gay pride event was attacked last year by religious fundamentalists, who stabbed three participants. This year, a three-faith alliance of rabbis, priests and sheikhs threatened a million-strong counter-protest. The police warned they could not guarantee the safety of the marchers, after a week of death threats and rioting by ultra-Orthodox Jews and Israeli right-wingers.
Calling for the death of the gay pride march leaders, Jewish fundamentalists pronounced against them the same death curse that was made against the prime minister Yitzhak Rabin a few days before his assassination.
Muslim leaders warned the march would go ahead "over our dead bodies". The Vatican also denounced the march, as did former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres.
In the Palestinian territories, lesbians and gays are subjected to detention without trial, torture and execution by the Palestinian Authority. There are also extra-judicial killings of gays, perpetrated by armed groups from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah.
(Source: The Guardian [UK])
The gay pride event was attacked last year by religious fundamentalists, who stabbed three participants. This year, a three-faith alliance of rabbis, priests and sheikhs threatened a million-strong counter-protest. The police warned they could not guarantee the safety of the marchers, after a week of death threats and rioting by ultra-Orthodox Jews and Israeli right-wingers.
Calling for the death of the gay pride march leaders, Jewish fundamentalists pronounced against them the same death curse that was made against the prime minister Yitzhak Rabin a few days before his assassination.
Muslim leaders warned the march would go ahead "over our dead bodies". The Vatican also denounced the march, as did former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres.
In the Palestinian territories, lesbians and gays are subjected to detention without trial, torture and execution by the Palestinian Authority. There are also extra-judicial killings of gays, perpetrated by armed groups from Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah.
(Source: The Guardian [UK])
Saturday, November 11, 2006
An American report has revealed that more than 6000 Iraqi police have been killed since the war officially ended in 2003.
The quarterly report by the US Department of Defence to Congress also said that at least 20 per cent of those joining the police force were quitting each year. It said record keeping was so poor that it was not known how many police on the payroll were still reporting for duty. However up to 40 per cent of police were believed to be absent.
Up to 8 per cent of soldiers were likely to be absent without leave at any time.
The report noted sectarian tensions in Iraq were increasing, with more killings, kidnappings and attacks on civilians.
Many killings were carried out by death squads of terrorists, militias, "illegal armed groups" and in some cases, rogue elements of the Iraqi security forces. Coalition forces were the targets for 63 per cent of attacks.
Extremists were increasingly locked in retaliatory violence and fighting over ethnically mixed areas to extend their areas of influence.
About 1600 bodies arrived at the Baghdad coroner's office in June and more than 1800 in July. Ninety per cent of the victims had been 'executed'.
Poor security for judges and courts undermined advancements in the rule of law.
In many areas, judges were afraid to prosecute insurgents. While 1500 judges were needed, only about 740 were serving.
Electricity was only available for 14 hours a day in July - however this was a significant improvement on the previous quarter.
The report noted that Iraq owed nearly $40 million in war reparations after the first Gulf War, including about $25 million to oil companies that lost profits and equipment.
"Paying these reparations each year while simultaneously attempting to rebuild its economy places a significant strain on Iraq's limited resources," the report said.
(Source: The Age)
The quarterly report by the US Department of Defence to Congress also said that at least 20 per cent of those joining the police force were quitting each year. It said record keeping was so poor that it was not known how many police on the payroll were still reporting for duty. However up to 40 per cent of police were believed to be absent.
Up to 8 per cent of soldiers were likely to be absent without leave at any time.
The report noted sectarian tensions in Iraq were increasing, with more killings, kidnappings and attacks on civilians.
Many killings were carried out by death squads of terrorists, militias, "illegal armed groups" and in some cases, rogue elements of the Iraqi security forces. Coalition forces were the targets for 63 per cent of attacks.
Extremists were increasingly locked in retaliatory violence and fighting over ethnically mixed areas to extend their areas of influence.
About 1600 bodies arrived at the Baghdad coroner's office in June and more than 1800 in July. Ninety per cent of the victims had been 'executed'.
Poor security for judges and courts undermined advancements in the rule of law.
In many areas, judges were afraid to prosecute insurgents. While 1500 judges were needed, only about 740 were serving.
Electricity was only available for 14 hours a day in July - however this was a significant improvement on the previous quarter.
The report noted that Iraq owed nearly $40 million in war reparations after the first Gulf War, including about $25 million to oil companies that lost profits and equipment.
"Paying these reparations each year while simultaneously attempting to rebuild its economy places a significant strain on Iraq's limited resources," the report said.
(Source: The Age)
The Anglican Church waited 26 years before reporting to police that one of its priests had a sexual 'relationship' with a 13 year old boy.
Robert Francis Sharwood was a curate at an Anglican church at Jindalee, in Brisbane's southwestern suburbs, in the early 1970s when he lured the boy into a sexual relationship that lasted more than two years, beginning when the boy was 13.
After Sharwood was transferred to a Sydney parish in 1976, the victim's father intercepted a letter from the priest to the boy that showed the two had been involved in a sexual relationship.
The father showed the letter to parish rector Tom Hood, who referred the matter to two senior clerics, Bishop Ralph Wicks of Brisbane's western region and counsellor James Warner.
Wicks and Warner - both now dead - counselled Sharwood, forgave him and allowed him to remain in the church.
In 1985, Sharwood was employed as a chaplain and teacher at Brisbane's exclusive Anglican Church Grammar School, where he worked for 17 years.
Sharwood was finally reported to police by the school's headmaster, who sacked the priest after the victim contacted the school and told of the sexual abuse he had suffered as a teenager.
(Source: The Australian)
Robert Francis Sharwood was a curate at an Anglican church at Jindalee, in Brisbane's southwestern suburbs, in the early 1970s when he lured the boy into a sexual relationship that lasted more than two years, beginning when the boy was 13.
After Sharwood was transferred to a Sydney parish in 1976, the victim's father intercepted a letter from the priest to the boy that showed the two had been involved in a sexual relationship.
The father showed the letter to parish rector Tom Hood, who referred the matter to two senior clerics, Bishop Ralph Wicks of Brisbane's western region and counsellor James Warner.
Wicks and Warner - both now dead - counselled Sharwood, forgave him and allowed him to remain in the church.
In 1985, Sharwood was employed as a chaplain and teacher at Brisbane's exclusive Anglican Church Grammar School, where he worked for 17 years.
Sharwood was finally reported to police by the school's headmaster, who sacked the priest after the victim contacted the school and told of the sexual abuse he had suffered as a teenager.
(Source: The Australian)
Sunday, November 05, 2006
The United States government is now seen as a threat to world peace by its closest neighbours and allies, according to a new survey.
The international survey of public opinion reveals that America's repuation has degenerated since the invasion of Iraq.
the research also shows that British voters see George Bush as a greater danger to world peace than either the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, or Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mr Bush was seen as a great or moderate danger to peace by 75% of British voters. This was less than the figure for Osama bin Laden (87%), but more than the President of Iran (62% think he is a danger), the North Korean leader (69%) and the leader of Hizbullah, Hassan Nasrallah (65%).
In Britain, 69% of those questioned said they believed US policy has made the world less safe since 2001, with only 7% thinking action in Iraq and Afghanistan has increased global security. 62% of Canadians and 57% of Mexicans said the world has become more dangerous because of US policy. Only one in four Israeli voters say that Mr Bush has made the world safer, outweighed by the number who think he has added to the risk of international conflict, 36% to 25%.
In Britain 71% of voters say the invasion or Iraq was unjustified, a view shared by 89% of Mexicans and 73% of Canadians. Canada is a NATO member whose troops are in action in Afghanistan. Neither do voters think America has helped advance democracy in developing countries, one of the justifications for deposing Saddam Hussein. Only 11% of Britons and 28% of Israelis think that has happened.
The survey was out by the Guardian in Britain and leading newspapers in Israel (Haaretz), Canada (La Presse and Toronto Star) and Mexico (Reforma), using professional local opinion polling in each country.
(Source: The Guardian [UK])
The international survey of public opinion reveals that America's repuation has degenerated since the invasion of Iraq.
the research also shows that British voters see George Bush as a greater danger to world peace than either the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, or Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Mr Bush was seen as a great or moderate danger to peace by 75% of British voters. This was less than the figure for Osama bin Laden (87%), but more than the President of Iran (62% think he is a danger), the North Korean leader (69%) and the leader of Hizbullah, Hassan Nasrallah (65%).
In Britain, 69% of those questioned said they believed US policy has made the world less safe since 2001, with only 7% thinking action in Iraq and Afghanistan has increased global security. 62% of Canadians and 57% of Mexicans said the world has become more dangerous because of US policy. Only one in four Israeli voters say that Mr Bush has made the world safer, outweighed by the number who think he has added to the risk of international conflict, 36% to 25%.
In Britain 71% of voters say the invasion or Iraq was unjustified, a view shared by 89% of Mexicans and 73% of Canadians. Canada is a NATO member whose troops are in action in Afghanistan. Neither do voters think America has helped advance democracy in developing countries, one of the justifications for deposing Saddam Hussein. Only 11% of Britons and 28% of Israelis think that has happened.
The survey was out by the Guardian in Britain and leading newspapers in Israel (Haaretz), Canada (La Presse and Toronto Star) and Mexico (Reforma), using professional local opinion polling in each country.
(Source: The Guardian [UK])
Thursday, November 02, 2006
The Australian government responded to a refugee who feared execution if he returned to his home country, by contacting that country's embassy and trying to arrange for him to return.
In his annual report to Parliament, Commonwealth Ombudsman Professor John McMillan highlighted the case of a detained man who overstayed his visa and advised the department a number of times that he feared execution if returned home. The man asked for a protection claim form.
"DIMA failed to provide him with the documentation, instead informing the embassy of his home country of his details and seeking to arrange return travel documents," Professor McMillan said.
The man spent two years in detention before his release on a protection visa.
The man's case was taken to the Ombudsman by a community organisation and after he investigated, the department acknowledged that it should have provided the relevant visa forms when requested, which could have avoided two years of detention, Professor McMillan said.
He said that complaints against the Immigration Department increased 43 per cent last year - many of them for needless detention.
(Source: The Age)
In his annual report to Parliament, Commonwealth Ombudsman Professor John McMillan highlighted the case of a detained man who overstayed his visa and advised the department a number of times that he feared execution if returned home. The man asked for a protection claim form.
"DIMA failed to provide him with the documentation, instead informing the embassy of his home country of his details and seeking to arrange return travel documents," Professor McMillan said.
The man spent two years in detention before his release on a protection visa.
The man's case was taken to the Ombudsman by a community organisation and after he investigated, the department acknowledged that it should have provided the relevant visa forms when requested, which could have avoided two years of detention, Professor McMillan said.
He said that complaints against the Immigration Department increased 43 per cent last year - many of them for needless detention.
(Source: The Age)
Australia's emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest per capita in the Western world, apart from tiny Luxembourg, and have grown by 1.5 tonnes a head since 1990, United Nations figures show.
The figures, released this week, show that in 2004, Australia emitted almost as much carbon and other greenhouse gases as France and Italy, which have three times our population.
Australia's emissions in 2004 totalled 26.4 tonnes of greenhouse gases per head, more than the US (24.1 tonnes) and more than twice the levels in the European Union, where emissions averaged 11 tonnes per head.
Australia pumps out 72.5 kilograms of greenhouse gases per head per day. That means every day, Australia sends up greenhouse gases roughly matching the body weight of its people.
In those years in which the 1.5 tonnes a person have been added, most rich countries have cut their emissions.
The government emphasises that Australia is on target to meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets and that most rich countries are not.
However, while the European Union pledged to cut emissions by 8 percent, the Australian government set itself the 'reduction target' of increasing emissions by 8 percent, after subtracting greenhouse gas savings from plantations and banning broadacre land clearing.
(Source: The Age)
The figures, released this week, show that in 2004, Australia emitted almost as much carbon and other greenhouse gases as France and Italy, which have three times our population.
Australia's emissions in 2004 totalled 26.4 tonnes of greenhouse gases per head, more than the US (24.1 tonnes) and more than twice the levels in the European Union, where emissions averaged 11 tonnes per head.
Australia pumps out 72.5 kilograms of greenhouse gases per head per day. That means every day, Australia sends up greenhouse gases roughly matching the body weight of its people.
In those years in which the 1.5 tonnes a person have been added, most rich countries have cut their emissions.
The government emphasises that Australia is on target to meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets and that most rich countries are not.
However, while the European Union pledged to cut emissions by 8 percent, the Australian government set itself the 'reduction target' of increasing emissions by 8 percent, after subtracting greenhouse gas savings from plantations and banning broadacre land clearing.
(Source: The Age)
The Australian police and army have both declared sleep deprivation to be inhumane and illegal, in contrast to the government's claims that its use against David Hicks is not torture.
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock sparked controversy last month, when he said that sleep deprivation was not torture, but a form of 'coercion'.
The lawyer for David Hicks, the Australian detainee in the US's Guantanamo Bay prison, said Mr Hicks was being subjected to such tactics. US military lawyer Major Michael Mori said Hicks had been held in solitary confinement in a constantly lit concrete cell for the past seven months, a disorientating environment that had affected his mental health.
"The lights are on 24 hours a day. That affects, obviously, his sleep and his sense of time," he said. "I see the changes in him, a sense of depression (and) I think that's what they're probably shooting for: they want to break him."
Mr Ruddock claimed last month that he had never heard of sleep deprivation being equated to torture. In the interview, he appeared to extend support for new US laws that supposedly ban torture - but condone the use of 'aggressive interrogation techniques' against terror suspects like Hicks.
Australian Army chief Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy quoted the Defence interrogator's handbook, which said that sleep deprivation is against the Geneva Convention, is inhumane, and may not be used.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty recently said sleep deprivation was considered illegal by the Federal police.
Irene Khan, the recipient of this year's Sydney Peace Prize said the Government had betrayed its citizens for the sake of preserving the US-Australian alliance.
"I would describe it as shameful because the Australian Government is the only Western government to actually accept that one of its citizens should be treated by the US military commission," said Ms Khan, who has just launched an international campaign to bring Hicks home.
"The Australian Government has never asked for Hicks to be sent back to Australia to be tried here."
Major Mori warned that it could take another two years for Hicks to be brought to trial before recently approved US Military Commissions.
Hicks, 31, has been held in Guantanamo Bay for the past five years, after being captured in Afghanistan in 2001.
(Source: The Age)
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock sparked controversy last month, when he said that sleep deprivation was not torture, but a form of 'coercion'.
The lawyer for David Hicks, the Australian detainee in the US's Guantanamo Bay prison, said Mr Hicks was being subjected to such tactics. US military lawyer Major Michael Mori said Hicks had been held in solitary confinement in a constantly lit concrete cell for the past seven months, a disorientating environment that had affected his mental health.
"The lights are on 24 hours a day. That affects, obviously, his sleep and his sense of time," he said. "I see the changes in him, a sense of depression (and) I think that's what they're probably shooting for: they want to break him."
Mr Ruddock claimed last month that he had never heard of sleep deprivation being equated to torture. In the interview, he appeared to extend support for new US laws that supposedly ban torture - but condone the use of 'aggressive interrogation techniques' against terror suspects like Hicks.
Australian Army chief Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy quoted the Defence interrogator's handbook, which said that sleep deprivation is against the Geneva Convention, is inhumane, and may not be used.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty recently said sleep deprivation was considered illegal by the Federal police.
Irene Khan, the recipient of this year's Sydney Peace Prize said the Government had betrayed its citizens for the sake of preserving the US-Australian alliance.
"I would describe it as shameful because the Australian Government is the only Western government to actually accept that one of its citizens should be treated by the US military commission," said Ms Khan, who has just launched an international campaign to bring Hicks home.
"The Australian Government has never asked for Hicks to be sent back to Australia to be tried here."
Major Mori warned that it could take another two years for Hicks to be brought to trial before recently approved US Military Commissions.
Hicks, 31, has been held in Guantanamo Bay for the past five years, after being captured in Afghanistan in 2001.
(Source: The Age)
