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Although we will recommend you to look at the websites mentioned above we can not take any responsibility for external sites. |
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Early Day Motion: Cluster Munitions On 17 December 2007, Martin Caton, MP, tabled EDM 602 calling for the UK to work toward a comprehensive ban on all cluster bombs, including those with self-destruct mechanisms such as the M85. The motion states: “That this House welcomes the progress made at the Vienna International Conference, the most recent stage in the Oslo process, launched in February 2007 with the aim of agreeing a new treaty banning cluster munitions; recognises that this process is, now, supported by 138 countries and has the full backing of the United Nations; applauds the position taken by the vast majority of these nations who support a comprehensive treaty banning all forms of cluster munitions; is concerned, however, that a number of countries that currently stockpile cluster bombs, including the United Kingdom, are seeking to water down the treaty by introducing an exemption for cluster munitions that have self-destruct mechanisms, such as the Israeli manufactured M85; points to the most recent evidence from Lebanon showing that the M85 self-destruct mechanism has a failure rate close to 10 per cent. rather than the 1 per cent. rate claimed by manufacturers; and therefore calls on the Government to work for a robust treaty that will ban all cluster bombs.” View signatures supporting this EDM at http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34753&SESSION=891 Mr. Caton’s previous EDM on this issue—with 73 MPs signing in support—can be viewed at http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=33472&SESSION=885 |
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Qana
Dr Gideon Polya, Chief Political Editor for Media With Conscience (http://mwcnews.net) has created a tribute to Qana, Lebanon. Describing the 2006 war in Lebanon, Dr Polya states that “Words fail at such barbarity. . . because words have failed I took up my paint brush in response to the Lebanon tragedy that was quintessentially defined by the destruction of Qana by the Israeli Wehrmacht.” The massacre at Qana 2006, all the more painful for being a repeat of the massacre at Qana 1996, is depicted in a painting that derives conceptually from Pablo Picasso's famous "Guernica" (1937). Dr Polya notes that “Peace is the only way but silence kills and silence is complicity. Each of us, in our own way, must speak out for the innocent. We are obliged to inform others about abuses of humanity and to act ethically in our dealings with all those complicit in such abuses.” For more information on the painting see http://mwcnews.net/content/view/9547/26/.
Just published: Body Count. Global avoidable mortality since 1950 (Gideon M. Polya, Melbourne, 2007) For more information see http://mwcnews.net/content/view/1375/247/ and http://globalbodycount.blogspot.com.
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Doors To Aspiration
Founded in 1997, the Lebanese band “Doors To Aspiration” or “D.T.A.” is a band created with an un-apologetic approach to non-conformity in today's music scene.
D.T.A is an independent Modern Rock band whose songs express Love, Sadness, Energy and Hope. Their song lyrics deal with the subjects of social Issues, such as Love, Faithfulness, Patriotism and Joyfulness. D.T.A's songs represent a mix of fast and powerful as well as slow and dynamic songs, in order to set them apart from the mainstream, this band strives to achieve one primary goal: Diversity.
Band member Faris states, “making music is a wonderful thing but it’s also a big responsibility and without being a good human being, you cannot create good music.
We're doing everything we can to show the world something else than blood in Lebanon. We want them to know that a lot of Lebanese People are Talented, Sensitive, Peace Loving, Caring and most importantly Faithful. To those who don’t want us to live in peace, we’d like to say: Do what you can and do what you will, but keep in mind that in the end only the righteousness of the Lebanese people will prevail."
Have a listen to “Beirut” and "No Place Like Home" (Running Free In Lebanon) and buy their CD “Art From A Heart” at http://www.artistlaunch.com/artist4.asp?artistid=5987. More information at http://www.dtarocks.com/. “Aspiration”— How perfect for Lebanon!
Cheers for Lebanon ! D.T.A is # 2 on KICK RADIO "TOP 50" of 2007:
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MAG Cycling Challenge
The Mines Advisory Group is holding a “3 Capitals in 3 Days Cycling Challenge” 6-9 June 2008. The challenge is only six months away, but there is still plenty of time to sign up, get fit and raise the minimum sponsorship. This promises to be a fantastic challenge and a real chance to test your endurance, cycling over 300 miles in just three days. The itinerary is packed with a chance to explore both Amsterdam and Brussels before returning to London on the famous Eurostar.
This exciting event will raise money to support MAG (Mines Advisory Group), one of the world’s leading landmine clearance organisations. MAG works in many of the most dangerous countries, reducing the suffering caused by the presence of landmines and unexploded bombs, and empowering people affected by conflict to rebuild their lives.
Places are limited so register today to secure your place on this unforgettable challenge. £150 registration fee and minimum sponsorship of £1350 applies.
If you have any questions about the challenge or how to reach the sponsorship target please call me on 0161 236 4311 or email lesley.achim@mag.org.uk. For more information on MAG see www.mag.org.uk. |
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Translation and Proofreading Services TT International Group is an international translation company that provides high-quality translation from and into its three languages of expertise: Arabic, French, and English. The company is based in Beirut, Lebanon, with representatives in Paris, London, and Geneva. Our team comprises 35 professional translators, all graduated with Bachelor or Master degrees from the most renowned Lebanese universities in translation, and with wide experience in various fields. It also includes 8 highly-qualified proofreaders and senior translators, working closely together to give our clients the quality they have been looking for. Combining deep knowledge and expertise in languages with new scientific methods, TT International Group ensures a high-quality translation through its SPT system, making its services unique. TT International Group: We Translate Your Success. For full information visit http://www.grouptt.com.
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UK Census 2011 Do you want to share your personal info with a US arms company? If not, read on. The process of running the UK 2011 Census will be contracted out by the UK Office of National Statistics to a private company. The Census rules mean that every household will be legally obliged to provide a wide range of personal information that will be handled by the chosen contractor. One of the two contractors in the final round of selection is the arms company Lockheed Martin, 80% of whose business is with the US Department of Defense and other US Federal Government agencies. Lockheed Martin produces missiles and land mines which are being used in Afghanistan and Iraq and which are illegal in many countries. They also focus on intelligence and surveillance work and boast of their ability to provide ‘integrated threat information’ that combines information from many different sources. New questions in the 2011 Census will include information about income and place of birth, as well as existing questions about languages spoken in the household and many other personal details. This information would be very useful to Lockheed Martin’s intelligence work, and fears that the data might not be safe could lead to many people not filling in their Census forms. Census Alert is therefore campaigning to stop Lockheed Martin from being given the contract. For more information and a link to the petition opposing arms company involvement in the Census at http://censusalert.org.uk/.
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Deadly Playground Since the end of the 2006 war with Israel, thirteen year-old Hussein from the village of Sadikkeen in south Lebanon has been watching the de-mining experts, in his area, clearing the fields of the unexploded cluster bombs which the Israelis fired. This precocious young boy has learnt to identify the small, round, metallic objects - which other children have thought were play objects. They are anything but toys. Watch Al Jazeera English’s Witness to see “Deadly Playground,” directed by Katia Saleh. http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/C0F37B7B-4BA8-49F4-A1D9-BF7BD65A9CC0.htm Watch part one of this episode of Witness on YouTube Watch part two of this episode of Witness on YouTube
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Politics with a beat: “Nuclear Man” Frederick Roussel has an important message for the world to hear, it is called Nuclear Man: "I wrote Nuclear Man as a protest against George Bush, and his negative influence on the world. I love America and believe in the same values, but the [Iraq] war was a failure, they never found the weapons of mass destruction and too many innocent people have had to die.” Frederick intends to use music in order to create social change and make people feel happy. With an upbeat pop rock edge, the song lyrics challenge both media presentation and societal perception: “There's so many calls to make There's so many lives at stake I'm an Important man now Don't wanna let you down
I'm your Nuclear Man I ain't from Japan I ain't from overseas Switch on your TVs Who's that standin' there Tellin' you all the lies Tellin' you who to blame Baby say that name.”
"Nuclear Man" written, produced and performed by Frederick Roussel (c) 2007. All Rights Reserved. (c) Frederick Roussel Stratford 2007. For more information visit www.myspace.com/frederickroussel.
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ANNOUNCEMENT: EDM 913: ISRAEL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EU
An Early Day Motion has been presented to Parliament on Israel’s relationship with the EU. You can review the EDM procedures at http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/Default.aspx and this specific EDM with a list of MPs who have signed in agreement at http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=32632&SESSION=885. To write to your MP visit http://www.writetothem.com/ EDM 913 (ISRAEL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EU, 20.02.2007, MP Wyatt, Derek) That this House notes that the Israeli government has expressed the desire to upgrade its relations with the EU to the same level as Norway and Switzerland; further notes that this would include the ability to have free passage of goods, people and capital between the two entities; further notes that Israel remains in consistent violation of UN Security Council Resolutions and the Fourth Geneva Convention, has routinely prevented the free movement of Palestinian goods and people and has withheld Palestinian funds from their people; further notes that these and other grievous human rights abuses represent a clear breach of Article Two of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which calls for adherence to human rights laws; commends the International Development Select Committee's report into development assistance and the Occupied Palestinian territories, and in particular its recommendation that `the UK should urge the EU to use the Association Agreement with Israel as a lever for change and to consider suspending the Agreement until there are further improvements in access arrangements'; and urges the Government to insist that no upgrading of Israel's relations with the EU be considered until the Israeli government has brought itself into full compliance with international law, including the permanent lifting of all barriers to freedom of movement for Palestinian goods, people and capital.
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Think Peace
For six days in June of 2006 in Vancouver Canada, 5000 delegates mobilized from 90 countries to do no less than revise the paradigm of peace and take the steps necessary to create a world without war. A group of citizen journalists and filmmakers attended the event to seek out credible voices that could describe the challenges facing the world’s largest ever social movement. The result was over 120 hours of footage featuring interviews with politicians, scientists, activists, thinkers, musicians and everyday people.
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UK Parliament Early Day Motions on Gaza
Early day motions (EDMs) are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons. However, very few EDMs are actually debated. Instead, they are used for reasons such as publicising the views of individual MPs, drawing attention to specific events or campaigns, and demonstrating the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view. You can review the EDM procedures at http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/Default.aspx. To view these specific EDM with a list of MPs who have signed in agreement, click the links below. To write to your MP see http://www.writetothem.com/
305 : Humanitarian Situation in Gaza: That this House expresses grave concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the decision by the State of Israel to declare it a hostile entity; notes that this further isolated the 1.5 million Palestinian residents of this occupied territory, 1.1 million of whom have to survive on food handouts; further notes that shortages of medical supplies are reported by the United Nations; considers that future Israeli measures could involve cutting off crucial supplies including food, fuel, electricity and water; believes that such measures would not deter the firing of Kassam rockets but would have a devastating effect on the humanitarian situation in Gaza with a detrimental impact on public health; further believes that the continued political and economic isolation of Gaza will jeopardise the prospects for a lasting peace and for any future negotiations to be credible and successful; and therefore calls upon the UK Government to make the strongest possible representations to the Israeli government that such measures are wholly unacceptable and tantamount to collective punishment and a breach of the Fourth Geneva Convention. (19 November 2007) http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34416&SESSION=891
624: Civilians in Gaza: That this House notes the financial pledges of around £7.4 billion from 90 countries to be made to Palestine in the follow-up to the formal re-launch of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations last month in Annapolis; notes with considerable a |