UK web surfers have caught a grim glimpse of the future with Internet users being threatened with 10 years in jail for “illegal downloading” after a prominent music file-sharing site was shut down shortly after Britain signed the notorious ACTA bill.
It is the first time such a move has been made against Internet users in the UK. The British government introduced regulations in 2009 enabling Internet providers to track users who downloaded illegal content from the web and disable their connection if warning letters had no effect. But signing the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) has brought the conflict to a whole new level.
In Europe, people are taking to the streets in protest at the contradictory Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, with some countries refusing to sign it.
After hackers from the activist group Anonymous attacked practically all US government websites in retaliation, the authorities are now considering adopting their own home-grown anti-counterfeiting laws like PIPA (Protect Intellectual Property Act) / SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act).
The Canadian Senate Thursday night gave its approval to a government package of crime measures that include a number of harsh provisions, including mandatory minimum prison sentences for growing as few as six marijuana plants. The bill, C-10, the Safe Streets and Communities Act, now heads back to the House of Commons for final approval.
The bill has already passed the House, but members will have to approve amendments adopted by the Senate that more clearly define terrorist activities and how victims of terrorism can seek compensation from groups or states that support terrorism.Passage in the Senate came after ruling Conservatives used their majority to limit debateon the measure to six hours. Liberals objected vociferously, but in vain. The only Conservative to vote against limiting debate was Sen. Pierre Claude Nolin, a long-time advocate of marijuana and other drug law reforms.”Canadians are expecting us to pass this,” said Conservative Sen. Claude Carignan, explaining that the rush to passage was necessary because the government had promised to pass the legislation within a hundred days of taking office. “The best way to ensure the population is not jaded when it comes to politics is to keep our promises.”
Liberals argued that there was enough opposition to the bill that every senator deserved to be heard on the issue, but that argument didn’t fly with the Conservative majority.
“There is no excuse for what this chamber is about to do,” said Liberal Sen. Joan Fraser. “We should be ashamed of ourselves.”
While the bill is now almost assured of final passage, opponents have vowed to carry on the fight in the courts. Once the bill becomes law and goes into effect, look for quick challenges to its constitutionality under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
I agree .. NEVER IN MY LIFE have I seen such a tremendous weather outbreak effect so many people over so many states….. it may indeed be one for the record books when it comes to widespread damage.. only time will tell.
This video is just a SMALL SAMPLE of the severity of these storm.
The March Mega-storms of 2012 have turned out to be something for the record books, tragedy beyond imagination in many towns across the United States. Our thoughts and prayers are with those effected by this severe weather outbreak.
MANY THANKS to youtube video maker ‘themetaltempest’ for recording this!
and thanks to seeingUFOsPA for sending me the vid, very powerful stuff, for some odd reason… 🙂
BUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT???
P.S. check out this very interesting site on methods and ways to possibly STOP a tornado in it’s tracks, or even mitigate them and make it so there are less OF them in a tornado season: http://www.tornadofighters.com/tornadocontrol.html
Syrian government forces have allowed an aid convoy to enter the city of Homs, after capturing the rebel stronghold of Baba Amr. This follows a call from the UN Security Council to allow immediate humanitarian access to the worst affected areas – a motion supported by Russia and China.
RT talks to Aisling Byrne, project co-ordinator for the Beirut-based Conflicts Forum. She says the mainstream media is still failing to balance their reports of atrocities committed in Syria.
Syrian opposition forces say they’ve withdrawn from a key neighborhood in the embattled city of Homs. Government forces have been trying to take over the area, saying it’s used as a base by armed militants. All this while the country waits for the arrival of Kofi Annan, the new UN and Arab League envoy, who’s vowed to stop the killing and start dialogue.
RT’s Maria Finoshina reports from from in Damascus.
Camil Otrakji, a contributing editor with online magazine Syria Comment , says the desire of some foreign states to push for President Assad’s departure could hamper Kofi Annan’s mediating mission.
