Drums of Intervention: Syrians refuse to dance to foreign tune [video]
Russia Today
April 23, 2012
The UN’s bolstering its observer mission to Syria – as multiple reports continue that the teetering ceasefire is being violated by both sides. The rebels’ political leaders still want a UN-backed military intervenention. But the public have no appetite for foreign interference. RT’s Oksana Boyko reports from Damascus.
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Bahrain: Grand Prix State Terror
by Stephen Lendman
Global Research
April 24, 2012
Perhaps Bahrain April 22 was a first. Imagine a sporting event featuring state-sponsored terror and blood in the streets.
Imagine one with race drivers and event organizers mindless of raging crimes against humanity nearby.
Hollywood script writers wouldn’t touch it. Producers wouldn’t let them. The atmosphere was surreal. Attendance was sparse. A normally full grandstand was half empty. It’s a wonder anyone came.
Observers said more security forces than spectators showed up. Most teams, drivers, mechanics, engineers, and other personnel preferred to stay home. Nonetheless, they came.
Formula 1’s reputation was tarnished. Instead of pulling out, it went ahead anyway. Although favorite Sebastian Vettel took the checkered flag, no one won the contest. It was more travesty than sporting event.
The Al Khalifa monarchy’s media strategy backfired. Instead of burnishing Bahrain’s image, journalists focused more on rage against injustice, blood in the streets, police state violence, security forces and armored vehicles surrounding the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC), and clouds of black smoke rising nearby.
Even though the heavily guarded venue let the race come off without incident, Bahraini protesters won on Sunday. Millions watched worldwide. Social media spread the word.
So did journalists courageous enough to explain. Even The New York Times got some of it right. It quoted activists saying they were protesting for democratic change.
It mentioned human rights leader Abdulhadi Alkhawaja’s “hunger strike for over two months.” It’s now two and a half months and counting, but how much longer can he hold on?
It also reported protest leader Salah Abbas Habib’s death by “gunshot wounds” without mentioning his name. It cited opposition groups blaming police. It explained that “antigovernment protesters have been demonstrating for democratic reforms” since other “revolts erupted across” the region last year.
The Washington Post, however, relied solely on an April 22 AP largely puff piece. It focused mostly on the event. It said “Bahrain got exactly the type of incident-free Formula One race it wanted….”
Perhaps inside, but not on bloodstained streets where the real action took place the way it’s done for months.
A London Independent article headlined, “Bahrain GP limps across finish line as lockdown wins the day,” saying:
Normalcy was nowhere in sight. Activist Alaa Shehabi said:
“There are armored vehicles at the entrance to every village. If anyone emerges now they will just be shot at. The government has sent a very strong message.”
After speaking to the Independent, Shehabi was arrested and detained. Inside the BIC, organizers and participants expressed relief at day’s end without incident. For sure, they want to leave and head home. Some may wish they hadn’t come. Who wants to race in a war zone?
London Guardian writer Ian Black headlined, “Bahrain Grand Prix fails to drown out angry protests,” saying:
Though unable to disrupt the race, protesters “claimed a moral victory against their government in their campaign to focus attention on tensions and repression in the Gulf state….”
Black explained heavy security, armored vehicles, police attacking protesters, tear gas, rubber bullets, thick black smoke clouds, curfews, and overall conditions unfit to live in let alone race.
“A Bahraini photographer reported that police had threatened to smash his camera for taking pictures of them chasing protesters.”
Black quoted Brookings Doha Centre analyst Shadi Hamid saying:
“For Bahrain’s regime, the F1 race was a massive, almost embarrassing, failure. For the opposition, it was a godsend.”
He cited real grievances gone unaddressed. He quoted independent al-Wasat Bahraini journalist, Mansoor al-Jamri, saying he’s “amazed by the (regime’s) state of denial.”
He reported an activist’s tweet, saying the “race is over but the Bahrain revolution continues.”
On April 23, the Guardian’s Josh Halliday said UK Channel 4 News journalists, including foreign affairs correspondent Johathan Miller, were “deported from Bahrain” after being arrested for filming a demonstration.
Denied visas, they came without accreditation. So did other foreign journalists. Authorities tried keeping all unwanted ones out. Some dared come anyway. Those caught were roughed up, detained, and deported.
Miller said police “aggressive and violently attacked the group’s driver.” Channel 4 aired him saying:
He and his crew “were caught filming a planned demonstration in one of the Shia villages….” Police confronted them. “(T)hey have not been particularly pleasant. They’ve been very aggressive towards me, my crew and driver and Dr Ala’a Shehabi, a prominent human rights activist.”
Authorities seized their cameras and computers, wouldn’t return them, and “initially refused permission to board a flight” home. Finally they got out.
State Terror Took the Checkered Flag on Sunday
Security forces escalated violence. Protesters, activists, and journalists were targeted. Tear gas, rubber bullets, shotguns, stun grenades, and baton beatings were used. Arrests, torture and other abuse followed. Another death was reported from tear gas inhalation. Some believe it’s toxic.
A Sanad village resident known as Sabeer was found dead in his room. The Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) said he’s the 79th confirmed death since protests erupted in mid-February 2011.
On Sunday, at least eight Bahraini women with tickets showed up at the BIC. Unarmed, they began protesting peacefully. Police beat and arrested them.
Nazeeha Saeed, a previous torture victim, tweeted that “torturer officer Sara Al Moosa is on duty in BIC protecting the race.”
Others expressed concern about the arrested women taken to the same Naziha police station where detainees are tortured. Parents were denied permission to see their daughters.
Throughout the weekend, Manama’s Pearl Roundabout (scene of numerous protests) was surrounded and heavily protected. Protesters were heading there. It’s a symbol of freedom and democratic change.
No one was allowed near it. Security forces used tear gas, rubber bullets, stun grenades and shotguns.
On April 21, Alkhawaja’s daughter, Zainab, was arrested for the second time. She was peacefully protesting her father’s detention and condition. She’s currently detained in jail. Her sister, Maryam, BCHR’s foreign affairs head, said:
“I can guess (she’s held) because nobody really believes in the legal system.” Police states have none. “Zainab’s mentality is you can only bring about the fall of the regime when you stop treating it like a government.” It mocks a legitimate one. So do many other regional police states.
On April 21, activist Mohammed Hassan was arrested with London Telegraph journalist Colin Freeman. He was struck with a gun barrel and beaten. He required hospitalization. Detained for about 24 hours, he’s now released.
On April 22, activists Alaa Shehabi and Ali Aali were accompanying journalists when accosted by police and arrested. Aali said they were insulted and humiliated. Shehabi is an economist, lecturer, writer, activist, and research head of BRAVO human rights organizations, as well as co-founder of Bahrain Watch.
On Saturday, Danish journalist Rasmus Tantholdt was denied entry at Manama airport for the second time in 24 hours. Two weeks ago, he managed to get in to report on Alkhawaja. On Sunday, two Japanese journalists were arrested and detained.
Police accosted German photojournalist Mazen Mahdi while covering Belad Al Qadeem village protests. He was threatened and told his camera would be broken if he didn’t leave. He explained saying, the “threat (was) made by what appear(ed) to be an officer masking his face and rank.”
On April 23, a media blackout remains in place. Journalists caught violating it are targeted. In the run-up to Sunday’s race and the day after, it didn’t work. The word got out and spread worldwide.
Millions paying attention know more about state terror than Grand Prix racing. They also understand why Bahrainis risk so much to end it. Given their courage to live free, it’s better than even money they will one day.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/ .
Stephen Lendman is a frequent contributor to Global Research. Global Research Articles by Stephen Lendman
NGO crackdown: Gagging democracy or national self-defense?
Russia Today
April 24, 2012
Egypt has denied licenses to eight US-based non-profit groups, saying they violated the country’s sovereignty. Many states are concerned that foreign government-backed NGOs are really agents for their sponsors, rather than independent action groups.
Among the organizations banned from continuing their work in Egypt are the Carter Center for Human Rights, set up by former US President Jimmy Carter, Christian group The Coptic Orphans, Seeds of Peace and other groups.
Egyptian authorities warned that if the NGOs try to work without a license, Cairo would “take relevant measures”.
Local media speculate that the rejection may be temporary, and licenses could be granted later, after the presidential election due on May 23 and 24.
Monday’s move revives a crackdown by the Egyptian authorities on foreign-funded NGOs, which recently provoked a serious diplomatic row with long-term ally US. In late December 2011, security forces raided offices of a number of groups suspected of receiving money in violation of Egyptian legislation.
In February, prosecutors charged 43 people with instilling dissent and meddling in domestic policies following last year’s mass protests, which resulted in the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak. Among them were citizens of the US, Germany, Serbia, Norway and Jordan.
In March, an Egyptian court revoked the travel ban for 17 indicted Americans following Washington’s threat to withdraw $1.3 billion annual military aid to Cairo. The decision provoked a wave criticism of the ruling military council in Egypt. Many activists accused them of betraying national interests under American pressure.
But shortly after the suspected Americans left the country, Cairo’s prosecutors decided to target more people allegedly involved in the case, who were not in Egypt when the charges against their colleagues were made. Egypt asked Interpol to issue “red notices” for 15 NGO workers, including 12 Americans, two Lebanese and a Jordanian.
On Monday, Interpol’s French headquarters announced that the Egyptian request had been turned down, because it contradicted rules that strictly forbid the organization “to undertake any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.”
Not so non-government
There may be a good reason why national governments in troubled countries mistrust US-funded NGOs. For instance, NATO’s intervention in Libya was partially justified by exaggerated reports of human rights organizations alleging that Muammar Gaddafi’s forces committed crimes against humanity and breached international law in other ways, reports RT’s Maria Portnaya. After the war some of them admitted to giving ungrounded reports.
Powerful NGOs like Human Rights Watch or Amnesty International are supposed to be objective monitors and not take sides, but in reality they “enter into an excessively cozy relationship with for example the United States government, but also other powerful Western allies, over Libya and over other issues,” John Laughland from the Institute of Democracy and Cooperation told RT.
This is what happened in Libya and is now happening in Syria, he added.
“The equivalent, if you like, of the Libyan League of Human Rights, which is called the Damascus Centre for Human Rights, has played exactly the same role. They’ve alleged crimes against humanity. They’ve called for safe havens, and armed intervention in that country. And they are quite clear political lobbyists, who are trying to secure a military intervention against Syria along the lines of the one approved last year against Libya,” Laughland explained.
Another example is the group behind the Kony 2012 initiative. The California-based NGO Invisible Children is calling to stop the use of child soldiers and is promoting peace in the Ugandan civil war. But the same organization provided Uganda’s authorities with intelligence that led to the arrest of several regime opponents, as a US embassy cable published by WikiLeaks revealed.
“I’m willing to believe that was not the one time that Invisible Children provided information to the Ugandan authorities. What else do we not know, in terms of their relations with the Ugandan Government?” asks Milton Allimadi, Editor-in-chief of the Black Star News.
The viral video calling on a campaign to stop Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army appeared just months after President Obama decided to send 100 US military advisors to the region to help local governments remove Kony “from the battlefield”. Some human rights organizations criticized the move, saying among those receiving American aid is South Sudan’s People’s Liberation Army, which is known to exploit child soldiers just like Kony does.
NGOs are not currently held accountable for the information they publish, no matter how much collateral damage false facts may cause. Critics say some of those organizations actually pave the way for conflict rather than advocating peaceful solutions.
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Source – http://rt.com/news/egytp-ngo-ban-us-825/
[hat tip: End the Lie]
Western intervention in Syria [video]
End the Lie
April 20, 2012
http://EndtheLie.com Please show your support — http://EndtheLie.com/store
Relevant stories: Could NATO get pulled into Syrian intervention by Turkey under the collective defense initiative?
More at EndtheLie.com – http://EndtheLie.com/2012/02/11/could-nato-get-pulled-into-syrian-interventio…
As predicted, Arab League and Turkey reportedly plan no-fly zone over Syria with U.S. logistical support
More at EndtheLie.com – http://EndtheLie.com/2011/11/23/as-predicted-arab-league-and-turkey-reportedl…
Clinton slams Russia and China, predicts Syrian military coup
More at EndtheLie.com – http://EndtheLie.com/2012/02/25/clinton-slams-russia-and-china-predicts-syria…
Reports say Russian ships in Syrian waters delivered advanced anti-aircraft missile system and technicians
More at EndtheLie.com – http://EndtheLie.com/2011/11/24/reports-say-russian-ships-in-syrian-waters-de…
Western leaders threaten Syria after UN warns of failing ceasefire — http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9215229/Western-le…
4/23/2012 — UPDATE on Quadri-polar sun — May 2012 polar reversal = Last occurred 300 years ago [video included]
ＤＵＴＣＨＳＩＮＳＥ = ＳＩＮＣＥＤＵＴＣＨ
April 23, 2012
watch the video update here:
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This is the new major quote that should be noted (as compared to the previous official press release article from the 19th)
“When a similar phenomenon occurred about 300 years ago, the Earth’s average temperature fell slightly.”
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/science/T120420005829.htm
Solar poles to become quadrupolar in May
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Magnetic field polarity at the solar poles will reverse and become quadrupolar in May, meaning positive fields will emerge in the North and South poles and negative fields will emerge on the equator, according to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and other institutes.
When a similar phenomenon occurred about 300 years ago, the Earth’s average temperature fell slightly.
A research team led by Saku Tsuneta, a professor at the observatory, analyzed solar magnetic fields data using Hinode, an observational satellite, and confirmed that the polarity of the magnetic field at the North Pole began to reverse in July last year.
The researchers also found the magnetic field at the South Pole, which was expected to reverse along with the North Pole, maintained a positive polarity, ensuring the formation of a quadrupole magnetic field.
The cause behind the shifts in polar fields is not understood. However, it is known that the shifts coincide with the increase and decrease in the number of sunspots over an about 11-year cycle.
The current sunspot cycle has stretched for close to 13 years. A similar situation occurred in the 17th to 18th century, when the average temperature of the Northern Hemisphere decreased by 0.6 C. The research team believes the quadrupolar pattern also emerged at that time.
(Apr. 21, 2012)screenshot of the article:
============================
some are asking IS there a difference between .. quadri , quadru, quadra … quick answer.. no difference.. all are variants of Quadri … which means four in Latin ..
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/quadri-
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/quadra-
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/quadru
============================
Per the Japanese HINODE team — in about one months time — (may 2012) the suns north pole will reach a reading of “zero” and instead of a regular “pole shift” .. it will form into MULTIPLE positive poles — thus making MULTIPLE negative poles which correspond to these new “north poleS” … and to top it off.. this is happening a year ahead of the expected “nominal” time.
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thanks to jeorgekite:
http://www.youtube.com/jeorgekite
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download the japanese pdf here:
press_shiryo_20120418a_haihu_shiota
Here is the press release from HINODE Japan:
http://hinode.nao.ac.jp/news/120419PressRelease/index_e.shtml
screenshot below plus original article:
Polar Field Reversal as observed with Hinode
19 April 2012
Naional Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ/NINS)
RIKEN
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency(JAXA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Science and Technology Facilities Council(STFC)
European Space Agency(ESA)The polarity of the extended uni-polar magnetic field in the solar polar region is known to reverse every 11 years, and the reversal occurs at around the maximum of solar activity, which is expected to take place at around 2013 May (NOAA ).
High latitude magnetic fields have been observed with solar telescopes on the ground. However, actual process of the polar field reversal is poorly understood because of the difficulty of the observations on the extreme limb combined with atmospheric seeing effect. The solar optical telescope aboard the Hinode satellite allows us for the first time to perform extremely high-quality observations of the deep polar region of the Sun (Figure A). The initial discoveries include that there are many magnetic patches with intense magnetic field in the polar regions. Their field strength is close to that of sunspots, and their size is as large as small sunspots called pore.
The international research team led by Saku Tsuneta, a professor at NAOJ, has been performing the monthly polar observations with Hinode from September 2008. We here report the discovery that the average magnetic flux of the north polar region is rapidly and steadily decreasing during the period of 2008 and 2012 (Figure B). The reversal (from minus to plus polarity) is taking place in sequence from lower latitude to higher latitude. The average magnetic flux of the polar region soon becomes zero. The estimated completion of the reversal of the north polar region will take place in 1 months or so, about one year earlier than the nominal expected reversal time.
In striking contrast to the north polar situation, the magnetic flux of the south polar region has been very stable, and maintains the plus polarity (Figure C). These latest Hinode observations suggest that the global magnetic field of the Sun will become different from the normal bipolar configuration.
Observations of the polar magnetic fields are the key for understanding the cyclic solar dynamo. Their results will shed light on the origin of the solar magnetism, and will contribute to our understating on the Sun’s effect to the solar-terrestrial environment.
Figure A:
The magnetic landscape of the sun’s polar region taken on Sep. 2007 (left) and Jan. 2012 (right).
Figure B:
The close up view near the north pole 70-85 degrees, taken on Sep. 20 2008 (left) and Oct. 9 2011 (right).
Figure C:
The close up view near the south pole 70-85 degrees, taken on Mar. 20 2009 (left) and Mar. 24 2011 (right).
End the Lie Radio with Madison Ruppert – Episode 12 [audio]
End the Lie Radio with Madison Ruppert
April 15, 2012
End the Lie Radio with Madison Ruppert and guest, Activist Post writer Brandon Turbeville, discussing the proliferation of invasive surveillance technologies, as well as taking an in depth look at the current turmoil unfolding in Syria.
Brandon Turbeville is an author out of Mullins, South Carolina. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from Francis Marion University and is the author of three books, Codex Alimentarius — The End of Health Freedom, 7 Real Conspiracies, and Five Sense Solutions. Turbeville has published over one hundred articles dealing with a wide variety of subjects including health, economics, government corruption, and civil liberties.
For Brandon Turbeville’s most recent articles, visit his archive page: http://www.activistpost.com/search/label/Brandon%20Turbeville
http://EndtheLie.com
Support us! http://EndtheLie.com/store
http://OrionTalkRadio.com
Show page: http://bit.ly/etlradio
All material(s) used in this video that are not original or are under copyright are used under Fair Use under the Copyright Act of 1976, 17 U.S.C. § 107.
[hat tip: Activist Post]
Activist Post Writing Contest Announcement
Win 2 Tickets to see David Icke at Wembley Arena and $500 for travel.
We are excited to announce a writing contest open to all of our readers. As we approach the much-discussed date of December 21st, 2012 — the end of the Mayan calendar — there is obviously a great awakening taking place. The elite are clearly aware of this and seem to be doing everything in their power to prevent a critical mass from realizing enlightenment. It appears they are trying to combat this vast vibrational change by attempting to overwhelm it with negative energy through wars, economic collapse, tyrannical laws, poisoned food and environment, and a host of other fear-inducing tactics.
It is certainly one of the most interesting times to be alive in the history of the human race. What we hope to achieve with this writing contest is to show the level of awareness that is building around the world. We want to read about your personal awakening, your perception of the changes taking place as whole, or your predictions for where this is all heading after the mythical apocalypse of 2012.
The winner will get two premium tickets to see David Icke perform at the Wembley Arena in London on October 27th, with $500 for travel expenses. As this once-in-a-lifetime event is the prize for the contest, we will also accept submissions about your thoughts regarding David Icke’s work, including reviews of his books or previous events.
The winner will be determined strictly based on the highest number of total pageviews that the article generates during the contest, so that subjective judging will not affect the outcome. Not all submissions will be published and we’ll retain the right to make final small edits for typos and grammar. Please see the guidelines for submissions below:
- Topics: Your personal awakening, your interpretation of the “agenda”, the global transformation taking place, predictions of a post-2012 world, or reviews of David Icke’s material and what his work has meant to you.
- Length: 1,500 words maximum. Footnotes do not count as part of the total.
- Originals Only: The article must be original content for our exclusive use as the first website to publish it on the Internet.
- Deadline: The contest officially begins on April 15, 2012 and will run through July 15, 2012. Articles will be reviewed and published in the order they are received. As the winner will be determined by total page views, the earlier you submit your article the better chance you have to win. The deadline for submission is June 15, 2012. The winner will be announced on July 31st, 2012.
- Submission Guidelines: Please submit completed articles via email to contest@activistpost.com. Submissions can be cut-and-pasted into an e-mail, or you may attach a Word file. We can only make minor edits, so submissions that have poor formatting, or need heavy editing must be disqualified. Unfortunately we are not able to attend to follow-up edits once a submission is posted, so please take time to be sure that you are submitting a final version you are happy with. Multiple submissions are permitted, but will not count toward a cumulative total; each entry will stand on its own. We cannot accept images, due to the length of time it takes to post them, but you may provide 1 video that is relevant to your article. Lastly, please provide a title.
- Finding Entries: Contest entries can be found in two ways: first, you can simply click here to see all posts entered in the writing contest. Second, each entry will be posted by number in our Forum. You will see the date of the submission to the right of the entry if you would like to track entries that way.
Best of luck to all, we look forward to hearing and sharing what you have to say.
