Sunday, June 24, 2007
American police say they don't know why a man covered in gasoline burst into flames, after they shot him with tasers.
Juan Flores Lopez, 47, died at a hospital in Texas. He had covered himself in gasoline and threatened to set himself alight. Two of his sons who live nearby said their father had been threatening for months to burn himself and his house. His wife was seeking a divorce and he didn't want to have to leave the house, the sons said.
Police initially used pepper spray when they tried to take Lopez into custody. Then they used the taser. Some 'stun guns' emit an electric spark when they deliver the jolt of electricity.
"We don't know what ignited the fire," police said.
(Source: Daily Mail)
Juan Flores Lopez, 47, died at a hospital in Texas. He had covered himself in gasoline and threatened to set himself alight. Two of his sons who live nearby said their father had been threatening for months to burn himself and his house. His wife was seeking a divorce and he didn't want to have to leave the house, the sons said.
Police initially used pepper spray when they tried to take Lopez into custody. Then they used the taser. Some 'stun guns' emit an electric spark when they deliver the jolt of electricity.
"We don't know what ignited the fire," police said.
(Source: Daily Mail)
Saturday, June 16, 2007
The United States has freed a man who the US Justice Department once described as "a dangerous criminal and an admitted mastermind of terrorist plots", and who is widely believed to be responsible for what, at the time, was the worst modern terrorist act in the Americas.
In October 1976 a bomb destroyed a plane flying from Barbados to Cuba. All of the 73 people killed were civilians. This was the largest single terrorist act in the Western Hemisphere in modern times, until the bombing of the World Trade Centre in 2001.
In the aftermath of the plane bombing, two Venezuelan citizens employed by a private detective agency owned by Luis Posada Carriles confessed to the crime.
Declassified CIA documents reveal that the agency had both evidence linking Posada to the bombing and advance warning of the attack.
Posada was arrested by Venezuelan authorities for his involvement, however he escaped from prison in 1985 while awaiting trial.
In 2005, a concerted international campaign highlighting the presence of Posada within US territory eventually forced US authorities to have him arrested - not for terrorism, but for entering the United States without a visa.
Venezuela immediately requested Posada's extradition in order to face trial for his alleged role in the bombing. However the US government has not even responded to the request.
On April 19 he was released on bail, and on May 8 his immigration charges were completely dropped.
Declassified documents reveal that the Cuban-born Posada was recruited as a CIA agent in 1961. He was originally recruited to participate in the US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba that year.
Posada received training from the US military in demolition and terrorist tactics and remained directly on the CIA payroll at least until 1967.
Posada is also wanted by Venezuela for serious human rights abuses he allegedly committed while director of DISIP, Venezuela's security services. For example Brenda Esquivel says that in 1972 her partner and children were killed by DISIP. She was eight months pregnant at the time and on Posada's orders, one of her captors kicked her in the stomach, causing a misscarriage.
In an interview with the New York Times, published on July 12, 1998, Posada admitted his involvement in a series of bombings in Cuba, saying "it is sad that someone is dead, but we can't stop."
In 2000, authorities in Panama caught Posada in a hotel in the country's capital in possession of 90 kilograms of C4 explosive, after Cuban President Fidel Castro claimed that Posada intended to assassinate him. In 2004 he was pardoned by the Panamanian President, apparently at the request of the United States government.
He is also wanted by the government of Nicaragua for crimes allegedly committed there aimed at overthrowing the government.
(Source: Green Left Weekly)
In October 1976 a bomb destroyed a plane flying from Barbados to Cuba. All of the 73 people killed were civilians. This was the largest single terrorist act in the Western Hemisphere in modern times, until the bombing of the World Trade Centre in 2001.
In the aftermath of the plane bombing, two Venezuelan citizens employed by a private detective agency owned by Luis Posada Carriles confessed to the crime.
Declassified CIA documents reveal that the agency had both evidence linking Posada to the bombing and advance warning of the attack.
Posada was arrested by Venezuelan authorities for his involvement, however he escaped from prison in 1985 while awaiting trial.
In 2005, a concerted international campaign highlighting the presence of Posada within US territory eventually forced US authorities to have him arrested - not for terrorism, but for entering the United States without a visa.
Venezuela immediately requested Posada's extradition in order to face trial for his alleged role in the bombing. However the US government has not even responded to the request.
On April 19 he was released on bail, and on May 8 his immigration charges were completely dropped.
Declassified documents reveal that the Cuban-born Posada was recruited as a CIA agent in 1961. He was originally recruited to participate in the US-backed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba that year.
Posada received training from the US military in demolition and terrorist tactics and remained directly on the CIA payroll at least until 1967.
Posada is also wanted by Venezuela for serious human rights abuses he allegedly committed while director of DISIP, Venezuela's security services. For example Brenda Esquivel says that in 1972 her partner and children were killed by DISIP. She was eight months pregnant at the time and on Posada's orders, one of her captors kicked her in the stomach, causing a misscarriage.
In an interview with the New York Times, published on July 12, 1998, Posada admitted his involvement in a series of bombings in Cuba, saying "it is sad that someone is dead, but we can't stop."
In 2000, authorities in Panama caught Posada in a hotel in the country's capital in possession of 90 kilograms of C4 explosive, after Cuban President Fidel Castro claimed that Posada intended to assassinate him. In 2004 he was pardoned by the Panamanian President, apparently at the request of the United States government.
He is also wanted by the government of Nicaragua for crimes allegedly committed there aimed at overthrowing the government.
(Source: Green Left Weekly)
Labor Party head Kevin Rudd has sent a message of goodwill to a fundamentalist Christian group with links to Holocaust deniers, who have implied that Buddhists, Moslems and Hindus worship Satan.
Mr Rudd sent a message to Christian group Catch the Fire Ministries, whose most prominent member is Pastor Danny Nalliah.
In 2005 Mr Nalliah addressed a meeting of the League of Rights, a group who believe in a worldwide Jewish conspiracy and deny the Nazi genocide of the Jews. He shared the stage with Canadian neo-Nazi Paul Fromm.
In 2004 Catch the Fire issued a leaflet which asked people to pray to God that He might pull down "Satan's strongholds", which included Moslem, Buddhist, Hindu and even Freemason places of worship.
Earlier this year Prime Minister John Howard recorded a message of support for Catch the Fire. Federal Treasurer Peter Costello wrote a letter of support to Mr Nalliah during a recent legal battle, when he was accused of vilifying Moslems. Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile, former deputy PM John Anderson and former governor-general Peter Hollingworth have made speeches to the group.
(Source: Herald-Sun)
Mr Rudd sent a message to Christian group Catch the Fire Ministries, whose most prominent member is Pastor Danny Nalliah.
In 2005 Mr Nalliah addressed a meeting of the League of Rights, a group who believe in a worldwide Jewish conspiracy and deny the Nazi genocide of the Jews. He shared the stage with Canadian neo-Nazi Paul Fromm.
In 2004 Catch the Fire issued a leaflet which asked people to pray to God that He might pull down "Satan's strongholds", which included Moslem, Buddhist, Hindu and even Freemason places of worship.
Earlier this year Prime Minister John Howard recorded a message of support for Catch the Fire. Federal Treasurer Peter Costello wrote a letter of support to Mr Nalliah during a recent legal battle, when he was accused of vilifying Moslems. Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile, former deputy PM John Anderson and former governor-general Peter Hollingworth have made speeches to the group.
(Source: Herald-Sun)
Quote of the Moment:
"I think if we do the right things politically and economically with the right Iraqi leadership we could still salvage at least a stalemate, if you will - not a stalemate but at least stave off defeat."
US General Richard Sanchez, commander of Western forces in Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004.
"I think if we do the right things politically and economically with the right Iraqi leadership we could still salvage at least a stalemate, if you will - not a stalemate but at least stave off defeat."
US General Richard Sanchez, commander of Western forces in Iraq from June 2003 to June 2004.
Monday, June 11, 2007
A woman has been denied a teaching certificate for 'promoting underage drinking', because her MySpace page showed a picture of her drinking - despite the fact that she was 25 at the time.
Stacy Snyder was denied her teaching certificate from Millersville University after the university found a photo on her MySpace page showing her at a 2005 Halloween party drinking. She was given an English degree instead.
In the photo it isn't obvious that Ms Snyder is drinking alcohol. The caption read 'drunken pirate', however it's unclear whether this was intended satirically or literally.
The mother of two is now suing the university, asking for her qualification as well as damages.
(Source: Washington Post [US])
Saturday, June 09, 2007
The World Health Organisation's conservative estimates - based only on diarrhoea-related disease, malaria and malnutrition - suggest climate change is already causing 150,000 premature deaths a year globally.
(Source: Financial Times [UK])
(Source: Financial Times [UK])
A key figure in the World Bank, said to have links to the Roman Catholic organisation Opus Dei, was accused yesterday of undermining its commitment to the health of women by ordering the deletion of goals, targets and policies relating to family planning.
Juan José Daboub, the bank's managing director, ordered staff to remove all references to family planning from its country assistance programme document for Madagascar. Mr Daboub is the former finance minister of El Salvador and a member of the Arena party, which has close ties to the Catholic church.
The Guardian newspaper reported that specific targets relating to contraception were also deleted. The original draft committed the bank to work to increase contraception uptake from 14% as of 2004 to 20%. The final document contained no goal.
Sources within the region are concerned that other health documents may also have been tampered with.
There are 75 million unplanned pregnancies around the world each year, a third of which end in unsafe abortions.
(Source: The Guardian [UK])
Juan José Daboub, the bank's managing director, ordered staff to remove all references to family planning from its country assistance programme document for Madagascar. Mr Daboub is the former finance minister of El Salvador and a member of the Arena party, which has close ties to the Catholic church.
The Guardian newspaper reported that specific targets relating to contraception were also deleted. The original draft committed the bank to work to increase contraception uptake from 14% as of 2004 to 20%. The final document contained no goal.
Sources within the region are concerned that other health documents may also have been tampered with.
There are 75 million unplanned pregnancies around the world each year, a third of which end in unsafe abortions.
(Source: The Guardian [UK])
Sunday, June 03, 2007
A woman who needed an electric oxygen pump to breathe has died, after the utility company cut off her power over a bill of about $150.
44 year old New Zealander Folole Muliaga died less than two hours after state-owned Mercury Energy cut off the power to her house.
Muliaga, a schoolteacher with four children aged 5 to 20, had been off work since February with an illness and fell behind in her payments to Mercury.
On May 23, six days before a Mercury Energy representative arrived at the house to disconnect the electricity, she was NZ$168.40 in arrears ($150.33 Australian dollars).
A relative said that both Muliaga and her son told the technician she was dependent on the oxygen machine to stay alive and invited him into the house to see it, so he knew the situation. The technician then cut off the power.
Almost immediately, Muliaga began having difficulty breathing, became faint and then collapsed. Paramedics were unable to revive her, and she was pronounced dead within two hours of the power being cut.
(Source: The Guardian [UK])
44 year old New Zealander Folole Muliaga died less than two hours after state-owned Mercury Energy cut off the power to her house.
Muliaga, a schoolteacher with four children aged 5 to 20, had been off work since February with an illness and fell behind in her payments to Mercury.
On May 23, six days before a Mercury Energy representative arrived at the house to disconnect the electricity, she was NZ$168.40 in arrears ($150.33 Australian dollars).
A relative said that both Muliaga and her son told the technician she was dependent on the oxygen machine to stay alive and invited him into the house to see it, so he knew the situation. The technician then cut off the power.
Almost immediately, Muliaga began having difficulty breathing, became faint and then collapsed. Paramedics were unable to revive her, and she was pronounced dead within two hours of the power being cut.
(Source: The Guardian [UK])
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Quote of the Moment:
"I've been stopped and searched more often than I can count. I'd say it's at least ten or twelve times. The last time was a few weeks ago."
"The older ones are more reasonable - calmer, they know what they are doing. But the younger ones are just terrible, snide comments, trying to make you react. I've been called a black bastard before. They once followed me down the street, waited until I got into a shop and searched me there in public, just to humiliate me I'm sure. And then they expect you to be polite and tell them your name and all of that. I wasn't having any of it, but if you complain it's just your word against theirs."
"If I'm in a good mood I'm not really too bothered, but if I'm down it really sends me off on one. I wouldn't mind if I got stopped once every few months but when it is just constant it's taking the mick."
An 18-year old British man, with no criminal record. From Old Trafford News [UK]
"I've been stopped and searched more often than I can count. I'd say it's at least ten or twelve times. The last time was a few weeks ago."
"The older ones are more reasonable - calmer, they know what they are doing. But the younger ones are just terrible, snide comments, trying to make you react. I've been called a black bastard before. They once followed me down the street, waited until I got into a shop and searched me there in public, just to humiliate me I'm sure. And then they expect you to be polite and tell them your name and all of that. I wasn't having any of it, but if you complain it's just your word against theirs."
"If I'm in a good mood I'm not really too bothered, but if I'm down it really sends me off on one. I wouldn't mind if I got stopped once every few months but when it is just constant it's taking the mick."
An 18-year old British man, with no criminal record. From Old Trafford News [UK]
New 'flexible' working arrangements, such as the WorkChoices legislation and the growth in casual employment, are increasing job stress, according to a new study.
The University of Melbourne study found that the rise in 'flexible' working arrangements were having a particularly negative impact on women.
The study found, for example, that women in casual full-time and fixed-term jobs reported much higher levels of unwanted sexual advances than those in permanent full- or part-time jobs.
Associate Professor Tony LaMontagne said that "these measures of job stresses are associated with poor health outcomes, such as a two to threefold increase in the risk of depression."
"Yet legislation which aims to increase labour market flexibility - such as WorkChoices - may accelerate the trend of working conditions which have a negative impact on people's health."
(Source: MX)
The University of Melbourne study found that the rise in 'flexible' working arrangements were having a particularly negative impact on women.
The study found, for example, that women in casual full-time and fixed-term jobs reported much higher levels of unwanted sexual advances than those in permanent full- or part-time jobs.
Associate Professor Tony LaMontagne said that "these measures of job stresses are associated with poor health outcomes, such as a two to threefold increase in the risk of depression."
"Yet legislation which aims to increase labour market flexibility - such as WorkChoices - may accelerate the trend of working conditions which have a negative impact on people's health."
(Source: MX)
Most employees say they're expected to work 'unpaid overtime', according to a new survey.
A survey by news.com.au found that 74 percent of employees worked unpaid overtime.
51 percent said they felt more stressed, 63 percent that they spent less time with their families, and 60 percent that they had less time for relaxation, as a result of spending more time at work.
(Source: MX)
A survey by news.com.au found that 74 percent of employees worked unpaid overtime.
51 percent said they felt more stressed, 63 percent that they spent less time with their families, and 60 percent that they had less time for relaxation, as a result of spending more time at work.
(Source: MX)
An American military base has announced it will no longer hold individual memorial services for its soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Brig. Gen. William Troy wrote that "with the number of soldiers we now have in harm's way, our losses will preclude us from continuing to do individual memorial ceremonies". Instead, the base will have a regular service each month for all soldiers killed in that period.
Fort Lewis has reported 16 of its soldiers killed in Iraq in May.
(Source: Olympia News [US])
Brig. Gen. William Troy wrote that "with the number of soldiers we now have in harm's way, our losses will preclude us from continuing to do individual memorial ceremonies". Instead, the base will have a regular service each month for all soldiers killed in that period.
Fort Lewis has reported 16 of its soldiers killed in Iraq in May.
(Source: Olympia News [US])
