Lebanon PM calls for national unity after Beirut blast
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati ([PressTV] file photo)
October 20, 2012
Makati said on Saturday he has offered his resignation to President Michel Suleiman, but it has been rejected.
The premier’s move came after a deadly bomb attack in the capital on Friday that killed eight people, including General Wissam al-Hassan, the intelligence chief of Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces. Scores of others were also wounded.
Lebanese protesters took to the streets shortly after the explosion to condemn Hassan’s assassination.
On Friday, Lebanon’s opposition March 14 bloc said it held Prime Minister Mikati responsible for the attack and called on his government to resign.
“This government must go, and the prime minister is asked to present his resignation,” the group said in a statement.
Lebanon’s powerful resistance movement Hezbollah also condemned the attack, describing it as “an attempt to destabilize Lebanon and national unity.”
The explosion occurred in Beirut’s eastern Ashrafiya district, which is a predominantly Christian district, and near the headquarters of the Phalange, a Maronite Christian party, during the rush hour as parents were picking up their children from school. Several buildings were damaged and many cars were set on fire as a result of the blast.
It was the first major bomb attack in Beirut since 2008. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Lebanese Premier Mikati said the government was trying to identify the perpetrators and that they would be punished.
PG/JR/SS
Political Prisoner Leah Lynn Plante Released!
by JG Vibes
Activist Post
October 21, 2012
Last week Leah Lynn Plante was arrested and placed in solitary confinement for remaining silent during a grand jury trial. Due to the secrecy of the proceedings, little information has come to light about her or her two friends, Katherine “Kteeo” Olejnik and Matthew Kyle Duran since the story went viral last week.
However, word was just sent out from Leah’s supporters that she had been released, although unfortunately her two friends still remain behind bars.
At this point it is unclear how this turn of events has transpired, but it is highly possible that the video that Leah made before she went to jail touched so many people that they felt compelled to write and flood the court with calls. When Leah made the viral video last week, her friends were already in jail and since they didn’t appear in the video people who didn’t pay close attention or dig deeper into the story may not have realized that she was one of three people caught up in the same mess.
Today on her Tumblr page supporters made a statement to clear the air, and assure everyone that she has still not cooperated with authorities. The statement read as follows:
First and foremost, do not panic. Leah wanted for us to express these points to you with this news:
- She is extremely traumatized and experienced a lot of very, very bad things, but she is alive. The state of her mental health is also very bad.
- She asks that people do not jump to wild conclusions about her release because they do not apply.
- She spent her whole time in SHU / Administrative Detention (solitary confinement) and was told that that is where she would stay for the duration of her incarceration, up to 18 months. She was classified as “different” from Matt and Kteeo.
- She received probably near 200 pieces of mail, books, postcards in 4 days (mail was not delivered to her every day) and was glad for it, and knows probably a similar amount is being returned to sender right now. She urges people to step up support for Matt and Kteeo on all fronts. Books that didn’t get to her probably go into the prison library, which is still a good thing because from what we heard their selection is limited to romance novels and religious literature.
- More information is going to be released. At this time, Leah needs space from media. She is overwhelmed by all the publicity. Regardless of who you are, if you have her personal information, PLEASE do not call her, email her, or try to locate her in order to question her. Give her space until she asks otherwise.
- She was released the night of 10/17. She did not make it public immediately because she did not want the “media shitstorm” to jump down her throat yet.
- She is very moved by the amount of support and solidarity there has been for her, she expressed concern that Matt and Kteeo were not getting as much publicity. Please write them, support them, send them books.
This most recent situation is probably incredibly difficult for her, and at this point people really do have the ability to help her, first and foremost by respecting her wishes in giving her peace and privacy in this difficult time, and continuing to pressure the court and the jail to release her fellow political prisoners. More on this story as details become available.
J.G. Vibes is the author of an 87 chapter counter culture textbook called Alchemy of the Modern Renaissance and host of a show called Voluntary Hippie Radio. He is also an artist with an established record label and event promotion company that hosts politically charged electronic dance music events. You can keep up with his work, which includes free podcasts, free e-books & free audiobooks at his website www.aotmr.com .
Court Ruling May Ban Sale of Used Items, end eBay and Craigslist [video]
The Truther Girls
October 18, 2012
An upcoming October 28 trial could result in a ruling that would effectively prohibit the sale or virtually all items on eBay and Craigslist, and even prohibit the trade in foreign-made used goods at yard sales and thrift shops. What the hell??? Can you say ‘corporate greed overload?’ Everything is made abroad! Now we have to throw our stuff out because it wasn’t made in America? What ever happened to ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ being a priority?
‘Libya in chaos, divided as never before’ [video]
Russia Today
October 18, 2012
In Libya, at least 11 people have been killed and scores wounded after militia linked to the defence ministry shelled Bani Walid – a former stronghold of late Colonel Gaddafi. The country remains close to chaos following the Western-backed armed rebellion last year that toppled the nation’s long-time dictator. RT talks to Libyan political activist Ali Alkasa.
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The Global Research Website was Hacked
Global Research
October 19, 2012
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The Global Research website as well as our French language website mondialisation.ca were hacked yesterday.
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Mali Refugees Spreading – Yahya [video]
108morris108
October 19, 2012
The aftermath of NATO’s assistance in North Africa is plenty of weapons in Mali, it is more Al Qaeda types who have taken control of Northern Mali. Now the French, the Algerians and the EU have all voiced support for a military intervention.
Which will probably happen quite soon from Western sponsored African forces.
A google search of Yahya Eromosele will bring up his FB and YT accounts
10/21/2012 — 5.3M Earthquake – Central California – Fresno [video]
Dutchsinse
October 21, 2012
use the links here to monitor earthquakes nationally, and internationally:
http://sincedutch.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/11302011-list-of-earthquake-links-…
monitor volcanoes here:
http://sincedutch.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/112012-all-the-volcano-webcams-of-…
earthquake stats here:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/nc71863625.php
Earthquake Details This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.
Magnitude 5.3
Date-Time Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 06:55:09 UTC Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 11:55:09 PM at epicenter
Location 36.311°N, 120.856°W
Depth 9.4 km (5.8 miles)
Region CENTRAL CALIFORNIA
Distances 20 km (12 miles) SW (234°) from New Idria, CA 25 km (16 miles) NE (36°) from San Lucas, CA 27 km (17 miles) ENE (65°) from King City, CA 147 km (91 miles) SE (141°) from San Jose City Hall, CA
