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early news
blog & archive of international global events
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Police
and protesters have clashed outside the venue of the latest 
Riot
Cops Beat Human Rights Activists
The crackdown began hours after King Mohammed VI gave a
televised address to coincide with UN Human Rights Day, in which
he promised to build a constitutional and democratic monarchy.
Batons were used to disperse hundreds of protestors from a
banned Islamic group who had gathered outside parliament to mark
United Nations Human Rights Day. A 
Clemency Petition Reaches Clinton
President Clinton has publicly confirmed that Leonard's clemency
petition has reached his office, and that it will be decided one
way or the other in the very near future. Quite possibly, a
decision could be made over the Thanksgiving holiday. Supporters
are asking for a massive response to the FBI and police's
attempts to sway Clinton away from clemency. Get the latest
information from 
The
Bombing of Beit Jala Dear
Friends, I felt that there is no use in telling anybody what is
happening here tonight because I lost hope in anybody being able
to do anything, and because there is nothing fair on this earth.
I am so angry and so frustrated at everything and everybody!
Since 4:30 pm, we have been under heavy shelling by Israeli
tanks and helicopters. The shelling was targeting all houses and
residential areas in Beit Jala.
The Wave that shook the World At the
very end of 2004 an Earthquake off the coast of Indonesia near Banda Aceh created a
Wave that rushed throughout the Indian Ocean causing untold destruction to everything in its way. The resulting catastrophe is still unfolding, while
relief efforts by NGO's 
as well as local & foreign governments work together
with the UN & WHO to coordinate an effort that at times seems daunting. In
Sri Lanka where the airport usually handles only several planes a day, it now
lands scores of relief cargo planes with the subsequent red tape attached
which is being shredded as time goes by. In Indonesia & Sri Lanka the
remoteness of certain regions exacerbated by limited mobility, now
accessible only by air, result in a restricted relief effort by helicopter
transport. Medecins Sans
Frontières (MSF) is no longer taking donations for the effort, however you can
still support their good work by a donation to the General Fund.
Photo/DigitalGlobe
ELECTION USA 2004 
Our
analysis yields that florida, ohio, colorado & new mexico may well decide
the election. This
last minute look at the political scene
underscores the real fight between two very differing ways of looking at the
current political landscape. In a country never so divided in recent history,
one can only hold ones breath in hopes of breathing somewhat freer air in the
near future. If you are a US citizen go out & vote, make your voice heard
even if it appears no one is listening.
Good luck America, may the best man win or at least let's have a fair fight this time.
spike lee at the DNC - capture/WEM
NYC Peace Parade Sunday, August 29th,
one of the
largest protests in a generation took place in New York City: 500.000 + on the eve of the Republican National
Convention ... led by United for Peace and Justice .... as the heat of the day
wore on, the spirit of the protested never disappeared .... from beginning
to march's end ... film maker Michael Moore
& Rev. Jesse Jackson led the way ... lasting over 5 hours .... ending with
coffins draped in American flags ... endless folks marching in solidarity ... as
far as the eye could see .... this day will not be forgotten
... remembered by all ... who walked the walk of
protest .... after the dragon went up in a puff of smoke in front of Madison
Square Garden ... there were several arrests ... note
the good work of legal observers [green hats] who worked throughout the day
... observing & potentially protecting our civil liberties in these troubling times
.... news & media outlets around the globe have not truthfully represented a
half million people voicing there concern & dissent in the shadow of this
convention ... however today was a huge success ... http://unitedforpeace.org/
RNC Activates NYC Peace Protest One of the biggest and most important protests in a generation will take place in New York City on Sunday, August 29th: a massive march and rally on the eve of the Republican National Convention, organized by United for Peace and Justice. If you're alarmed by the direction that the Bush Administration has taken this country, you will want to make your voice heard at this historic gathering. The Republican National Convention - and the protests - will be covered by media outlets around the world. http://unitedforpeace.org/ NYC will host numerous events around the RNC. Feeder marches, direct actions & a rally in Washington Square Park are just some of the events being planned.
Restrictive NYPD Practices Blocked by Federal
Court 
In a case brought by the New York Civil Liberties Union, a Manhattan Federal Court today released an order blocking the NYPD from using certain tactics at large demonstrations expected to take place at the Republican National Convention.
In a 78-page decision, District Court Judge Robert Sweet ruled that the NYPD cannot close streets and sidewalks leading to demonstration sites without informing the public about alternate ways to get to the demonstrations. Judge Sweet also ruled the NYPD cannot use “pens” made of interlocking metal barricades at demonstrations without assuring that demonstrators can reasonably get in and out of them.
The judge’s decision said the NYPD cannot conduct generalized searches of people seeking to enter demonstration sites.
NYC/IMC
Circles in the Sand The current situation in Darfur is still bleak. The brightening light coming across the desert is mired in the blue tape of the UN, the red tape of the US & the lost tape of the global community. Real logistical obstacles such as a 15 day road trip to bring water & food stuffs along with looting are just some of the problems relief workers face. The UN is fighting for funds for next year to resolve this while the loss of life will happen next week not months or a year from now. WEM reported this misadventure months ago, wake up .
Mexico reacts to protests in Guadalajara The Third Summit of Governments from Latin America, the Caribbean and European Union (III ALCUE) has come to an end in a tense environment, presenting commercial agreements without popular support and violence against protester at the end of the general demonstration. A viewing of the photographs of the recent protest leads one to believe that the government will not tolerate a voice of dissent. This is a duplication of postures taken by police forces around the US & Canada. Around 100 detainees including some who may have disappeared, as well as 30 injured are the aftermath of this meeting. IMC/UK - EM:W
Judge dismisses
attempt to target Greenpeace A
Federal Judge in Miami
recently dismissed [may 19] the US government's case
against Greenpeace for exposing illegal mahogany shipments. The prosecution was widely
criticized as an attempt to silence activism. Al Gore called the case
"highly disturbing" and Senator Patrick Leahy warned that a successful
prosecution would "have a chilling effect on free speech and activism of
all kinds." Individual
activists have been prosecuted in the past. In
April 2002, six Greenpeace activists were arrested, after two of them boarded a
commercial ship, the APL Jade, which was bringing illegal mahogany into Miami
port, Florida, they pleaded guilty, were fined and sentenced to "time
served" - the weekend they all spent in jail. The judicial process had run
its course, or so we thought, 15 months later Greenpeace USA headquarters in
Washington was served notice that the Attorney General's office would be
prosecuting the entire organization over the action. The first time in
history that the US Government has prosecuted an advocacy group for free-speech
related activity.
The
United Nations refugee agency today appealed for an urgent injection of new
funds to me
et its "desperate"
needs in caring for more than 120,000
black Sudanese who have fled into eastern Chad from what has been called ethnic
cleansing by mainly Arab militia in Sudan's western Darfur region. With
the rainy season starting "we desperately need funds to continue moving
refugees to safer camps away from the border, set up more camps for the tens of
thousands yet to move and bring in sufficient supplies to meet their
needs," UN High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Kris Janowski.
"Even more missions loom on the horizon. The Security Council has recently
authorized a new mission in Haiti and has expanded the existing mission in Côte
d'Ivoire. Missions are being planned for Burundi and Sudan. By the end of this
year, to absorb the new and enhanced missions, we may need an extra $1 billion
for the UN peacekeeping budget, which is currently $2.82 billion"
Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
UN plans for helping the
Sudanese refugees are just being realized, the Q. is, is it too late for many
under the siege of militias from the east. 14 May 2004/UN press
office - EM:W
United Nation's gives a positive vote to GM crop production worldwide .Claims to help farmers worldwide with enhanced genetically modified seeds are still in dispute. The world's biggest producer of GM crops Monsanto, has decided to withdraw from the development of GM food stores at this time. Monsanto has already closed its grain research facilities in Europe. Farmers in Great Britain have had issues with the project since inception, consumers suggest there is no market for GM wheat in Europe. For short term profits with possible future problems Canadian farmers are reluctant to pursue this new farming imitative. Greenpeace is appalled in the case of Monsanto versus Percy Schmeiser, a Canadian farmer who Monsanto claims did not acquire a license to grow his crop of canola which became contaminated by GE canola fields near Schmeiser’s farm. The Canadian Supreme Court held that Mr. Schmeiser had violated Monsanto’s patent by planting seed from GE canola that had been found on his farm the previous year. The decision follows two major setbacks for Monsanto, who announced last week they would back off on plans to commercialize GE wheat globally. Greenpeace,CA - EM:W
Trident Ploughshares (TP) est. 1998 challenges the UK’s illegal & immoral possession & threatened use of nuclear weapons. Six were recently arrested as nuclear transport has been halted on the Scottish roads. The MOD regularly organizes convoys to take Trident warheads to and from the Burghfield assembly plant to the Coulport store to be checked and maintained. Each warhead is believed to have the destructive power of 8 times the bomb which was dropped on Hiroshima. A network of ordinary people across the UK watch Nuke transports closely. TP activists pledge to dismantle the UK’s nuclear arsenal in a peaceful, non-violent, open and accountable manner. So far in the campaign there have been over 2000 arrests, 300 trials, 1,970 days spent in prison and £59,917 of fines and compensation orders. Trident Ploughshares Trident Ploughshares is a campaign to disarm the UK Trident nuclear weapons system in a non-violent, open, peaceful and fully accountable manner http://www.indymedia.org.uk/