Hamas leader Yassin was assassinated this morning. Yassin, an influential Hamas leader, who, according to Israel intelligence, "encouraged suicide bombers" was exiting a mosque this morning, an old man in his wheelchair, accompanied by 7 others when an Israeli helicopter dropped missles on the area, killing Yassin and the 7 bodyguards and or bystanders. The Israelis have intensified their weekly Sunday Assualt's. Children have been targeted as well. The wall has been sealed today to prevent ...

Protecting Yourself from Emotional Blackmail, Cognitive Dissonance and Misinformation "Preventing yourself from becoming a victim of emotional blackmail and setting yourself up for cognitive dissonance is simple whether you are dealing with a relationship, government or company. Once you know what it is and why it is being applied, it loses its power. To defuse the current political game of emotional blackmail, begin looking at the news critically. Make a game out of truth seeking tak...

The death toll is up to 173 after a series of bomb attacks around Madrid this morning. Who are the Eta? Euskadi Ta Askatasuma, or Basque Homeland and Freedom. In 1959 under fascist dictator,Franco. the Basques' language was banned, their culture suppressed and intellectuals imprisoned and tortured for their political and cultural beliefs. Their political party Batasuna has been banned as well from government and coming elections beacuse it is the only party that does not condemn separati...

A couple of interesting stories in the Independent today. The first, about the report on catastrophic climate change_and Britains top scientist being gagged by no. 10. He reckons climate change has far worse implications than terrorism has or ever will. The other two links concern genetically modified maize and the EU ban being lifted (?) or not The closer it gets the harder people protest against the EU's decision to accept GM maize..Monsanto's GM maize isn't kosher and has a siniste...

source: Haaretz ( excerpt... from Haaretz Newspaper_written by : Gideon Levy ) U.S. has lost its moral right to preach "Last Wednesday, the U.S. State Department released its annual report on the state of human rights around the world. The chapter devoted to Israel makes the usual detailed and gloomy reading. Washington is critical of all the ills of the occupation, about which the human rights organizations and Israel have long since raised a hue and cry. On the one hand, it...

(Victims of violence in Israel) Yesterday in Den Hague Palestian and pro-Israel protesters gathered. The morning was for the Palestians and the afternoon was designated for pro- Israelis. Charges against Sharon's illegal barrier have been brought to the International Court of Justice. Israel does not acknowledge the trials and are boycotting the proceedings. For show, a bombed out bus, the work of a lone suicide bomber, was on display in the afternoon. They go for the shock and ...

U.N. Scientist warns of Catastrophic Climate Change>/a> Beacuse some think this stuff is made-up Pentagon goes crazy... over the next century caused by man-made emissions of greenhouse gases, scientists say. Catastrophic Climate Change Why is the thermohaline circulation so important for the world’s climate? Because the oceans absorb, store, and redistribute vast amounts of the Sun’s heat. Without the ocean's circulation around the globe, points at the same l...

Could my native Atlanta-based, Coca-Cola Inc., be challenged by these (2) new soft-drinks? This was the subject of a documentary I watched last night. I wonder. Imagine challenging the Coke market, appealing to Muslims, world-wide, a market-potential of 1 Billion plus. Mohammed Haider, spokesman for the Qibla Cola Company said, 'We are happy to participate in documentaries of this nature that demonstrate the emerging global trend amongst consumers for quality products founded on et...

It's no hoax_unfortunately. "A secret report, suppressed by US defence chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world." Are corporations more important than life itself? Are their practices more vital than clean air? I am not an alarmist or any of the stereotypes usually associated...

I appreciate many points of view_especially when they illustrate the follies of this US-led occupation. THE ROVING EYE IRAQ AND AL-QAEDA Why al-Qaeda votes Bush By Pepe Escobar Sheikh Terror are the new underground sensation in ever-swingin' London. Their rap video called "The Dirty Infidels" has been sent by e-mail to the Arab-language newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat. The paper says the video - unlikely to end up on MTV - may have been produced in a London studio by young, radical M...

THE ROVING EYE IRAQ AND AL-QAEDA Part 1 - The usual suspects By Pepe Escobar Nearly 100 Iraqis have been killed in less than 24 hours in two suicide bombings in Iskandariya and Baghdad. Most of them were poor and unemployed and were trying to find a job with the new, American-approved Iraqi police and army. They were Shi'ites in Iskandariya, and mostly Sunnis in Baghdad. But for the anti-occupation guerrilla forces, they were just one thing: collaborators. These two deadly attacks...

To me, this kind of shit_making soldiers take drugs or "peak performance enhancers" is the epitome of the the US's hypocritical "war on drugs". It is being used already, or something similar, reports have shown soldiers are REQUIRED to take the drugs and mistakes ( " friendly fire" ) have been made under influence. Athletes are banned from using these substances but soldiers will be high? while attacking perceived threats. Looks like its more a War ON drugs if this is what they are(or will be...

More than 50% of world's coral reefs at risk By Steve Connor, Science Editor, in Seattle 15 February 2004 More than half of the world's coral reefs - the tropical rainforests of the ocean - could be lost by the end of the century, according to the latest analysis of the marine environment's most vulnerable ecosystem. A "triple whammy" of global warming, pollution and overfishing has put unprecedented pressure on tropical coral reefs. Until now, these reefs have survived undisturbed for...

"Inaction due to questions over the science is no longer defensible" What will it take to convince the Americans? They laugh and compare present data to data in the 70's, back when they called it*Global Warming* The propaganda makers ( US Giant multi-national companies) doesn't want the truth told_it isn't good for business...once again business scores over life as we know it on this planet. Britain talks tough to Bush on Kyoto By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor 15 February 2004 ...

Published on Monday, February 2, 2004 by CommonDreams.org Pentagon Goes Crazy for Massive Climate Change by Ira Chernus If you want to know the prospects for major climate change in the years ahead, ask the Pentagon. They have to figure out how to fight and win, wherever the president sends them. And they always ask the same question first: What's the weather like out there? If the forecasters say, "Weather uncertain," smart soldiers plan for every eventuality. As Thom Hartmann t...