Emilia Current Affairs in Biblical light

2010-04-23T16:53:00.002+03:00

The Holocaust Memorial Day in honor of the Warsaw ghetto uprising was just observed. As I saw the survivors going up to the stage in Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust Memorial, I saw a generation that will soon be no longer. And so it will be our task to remember.

More than remembering is required. We live in times that require action. We see double talk and ignoring threats of genocide. We see the Iranian President as a guest of the UN whilst threatening another member state with genocide. This is against the organization's own rules and yet...

The Holocaust was different from other genocides. It was a systematic mass murder in an industrial manner. There was no regional conflict or two armies. It was evil and hatred.

Evil is always among us but we must choose to fight it. Let us remember what the Lord commanded: " So choose life that you and your children may live..." Our choices are important and we must choose again and again and today again. What we do to remember and speak the truth is the choice that leads to life!

2008-09-20T18:13:00.002+03:00

EU and human rights

EU foreign ministers just had a meeting with their Central Asian collegues to discuss security cooperation and gas related projects. The importance of cooperation in the energy field was stressed, which is not surprising in light of the recent political developments in the region. However, the meeting does raise serious questions about EU's real commitment to human rights when faced with current reality. At the time of the meeting Reporters Without Borders held a demonstration.

Curiously, human rights and abuses were not even mentioned by Solana or Ferrero-Waldner, who made speeches following the meeting. On the contrary, it was almost implied that the Central Asian countries are close to EU in their values and commitment to human rights. This raises the question how committed is the EU to those rights if they are so quickly sold for energy...

Curious and curioser, said Alice in Wonderland...

2008-08-16T09:26:00.000+03:00

Situation in Georgia is burning

How can it be that again Putin gets away with it? Everyone in their right mind knows what he is all about. Murdered journalists, cruelty, rape and murder in Chechnya and now this. What is so sad is that he does get away with it because the EU has no guts to stand by Georgia and USA weakened by other political issues is not going to intervene forcefully enough.

It saddens anyone to see that the EU is not even calling the aggression what it is. It saddens to see that when the moment of truth comes, a small state is left on its own. It does signal nothing good in terms of future dealings with Iran or Russia for that matter. It also serves to show other small states of the region that they will sooner be protected by Russia or Iran than weak USA or powerless EU. Iran knows that EU will not do anything concrete about its nuclear ambitions and Russia knows that it can act with impunity and continue selling whatever it wants to, whomever it wants to.

If Russia is left getting away with it, it does not bode well for the future and only serves to embolden aggression everywhere.

2007-04-22T20:48:00.000+03:00

King Leopold's Congo

Have you heard about the colonial abuses in Congo by Kind Leopold's colonial government; then by the Belgian colonial authorities following his death? Read the book "King Leopold's Ghost" and you will never feel the same again about sitting at the Quartiere Leopold in Brussels or in the many places bearing the king's name. You will feel horrified.

Millions died in King Leopold's Congo and yet more were mutilated; usually their hands cut off but often other body parts too. Belgian school books don't mention this; Belgians are blissfully ignorant of the reality. The big African Museum of Brussels doesn't show the cruelties. Unbelievable especially when bearing in mind that Belgium has the famous law allowing prosecution of human rights abuses anywhere.

Everywhere except in Belgium or by Belgians it seems.

2007-04-09T13:13:00.000+03:00

Afghan girls still largely out of schools

Thanks to international donors about 50-55% of Afghan children are now going to school. School in Afghanistan doesn't mean nice space with modern equipment, needless to say. Most pupils study in terrible old and dirty structures or tents. Still, one might argue that any school is better than no school. That is the good news.

Sadly, in many especially rural and thus more conservative areas, boys are sent to school rather than girls. Parents often refuse to send their daughters to a school to be taught by a male teacher - however, according to Oxfam (an international charity), only about 25% of all teachers are women. That then seems to be the root cause of the problem.

Would be interesting to know if donors could allocate their money only if a certain number of female pupils and students will be among its recipients. Another option would be to arrange urgent teacher training for women. The Afghan government seems to be interested in solving these problems; it may be hard to change the years of Taliban anti-woman atmosphere but with some pressure from donor countries this is possible. On some level then, the ball is at the donors' court.

We, you and I, have to make sure that our governments are aware of this issue. Western money should only go where it is spent in a way that benefits the recipients in the long run.

2007-04-07T15:01:00.000+03:00

Isabel Allende's "Daughter of Fortune" is still contemporary - how sad a reality

A while ago, on Freedom Day (March 25), I had the possibility to participate on an anti-trafficking event in Brussels. Yesterday, I had the possibility to read and finish the above book. Whilst the March event concentrated on prostitution and trafficking of mainly Eastern European women to Western Europe for purposes of forced prostitution, Allende's events take place first in Chile, then in California of the gold rush years in the 1850's. Despite the periodical distance, the similarities of situations are so large that the connection becomes disturbing.

At the anti-trafficking event a pastor, accompanied by two former trafficking and forced prostitution victims, told about his work in the red light district of Antwerpen. Almost all of Western European cities have similar districts so it doesn't really matter where he comes from. Anyway, women are lured under various pretexts to leave their families and countries. Their passports are taken away and they are repeatedly violated by their smugglers and captors until they realize that they have no escape from their hopeless situation. They are auctioned, sold, resold, violated and raped repeatedly. Sometimes they are killed when they are no longer sufficiently beautiful or young - and that life makes a woman old in no time. The women spend their time servicing, how many "customers" ever their pimp forces them to see. Violence is routinely used and at the end of a "work day" all money goes to the pimp.

In Allende's book, Chinese women (among others) are trafficked into California under similar pretexts. They are violated by sailors on the ship on the way to California, then they are auctioned to pimps, chained into a bed in a small room where they have to service customers. When they get ill, they are killed. Similarly to the pastor of the first story, the Chinese man, who tries to help them, has to be careful because the pimps would easily have him killed.

Eastern European men, and even some women, are lying to and selling women to horrible abuse, rape and murder. Western European men are buying these women just the way the were bought in the 1850's. Nothing has changed. Police is complacent all over the world claiming lack of evidence. Sufficient evidence would be to go and see if these girls have their own passports. Any adult not in possession of his/her own travel documents can be within reason thought of as a trafficking victim.

To quote Allende:
"When the little sinsong girls were too sick to continue working, they were taken to the "hospital",as they called the secret rooms...and left there with a cup of water, a little rice and a little lamp with oil enough for a few hours. The door was opened again some days later when somone went in to be sure the girl was dead. If she was alive, she was killed; none ever saw sunlight again."

This is the reality of the 1850's and today's world. No one ever sees sunlight again!

2007-04-02T19:52:00.000+03:00

More on chocolate

Many are curious, how does one know what chocolate to buy then. There is a list at the Stop the Traffik web site. But the sure thing is that Fairtrade chocolate is not made by using slavery. So any chocolate marked Fairtrade is a good buy.

The best thing is to ask the chocolate makers. I mean - can one continue buying chocolate knowing that one is contributing to such a horrible crime? I say no.

Until there is a label on my chocolate saying "slave free", I am afraid I cannot eat it...And I urge you to do the same.

2007-04-01T21:53:00.000+03:00

Freedom Day

World celebrated the international Freedom Day on March 25th. The only problem is that slavery is alive and kicking at this very moment. It touches more people than did the slavery of Africans, yet governments and individuals act as if powerless in front of it. The English people stopped buying their sugar because of moral issues. Are we prepared to do the same?

Most of the cocoa used for chocolate comes from one single place, namely Ivory Coast. Children, 12 000 of them, are being trafficked into that country from its own villages and other African countries. They are tiny poor kids, beaten mercilessly and killed when no longer useful to the farm owners. Are you prepared to forgo your chocolate? Most chocolate comes from that horrible place. Could you at the very least go to your local supermarket or write to the chocolate makers? Ask them if they can guarantee that no slaves were used to work the cocoa they use. Don't ask them about their social programs. They may well have plenty them.

But that is no help when they use slavery in this century.

We have to stop the traffic and the only way is to hurt them where it hurts. Don't buy chocolate if in doubt whose little suffering hands made that chocolate bar possible...

2007-04-01T21:52:00.000+03:00

Dear Reader,

Forgive me for the inexcusable amount of time with no post at all. Due to personal changes and moving to another continent, I have been unable to write. But we are back, better and larger than ever :)

2007-02-05T10:12:00.000+02:00

Human trafficking exists mainly because of Western men

Finally someone has spoken and said what everyone knows but no one says openly.

Human trafficking for sexual purposes doesn't exist for any other purpose. It is a phenomenon that exists because of Western men. Women and even children are trafficked to the wealthy Westerners; they use them, they abuse them thus they are the real problem. Instead of trying to just work with the victims, it is time to face the root of the problem and do something about it.

A Lithuanian social worker made these brave comments in a recent conference of a leftist political group in Finland. She praised the same group for having decided to only use hotels absolutely pure of trafficking connections when travelling abroad.
- More of this policy would soon end the problem. She said.

The big receiver countries of trafficked women are Germany, Spain, Italy, Israel and the Scandinavian countries. Now Ireland and Great Britain are part of that club too. There is definitely more awareness but sadly no one dares go and cut the root of the problem. May be it is your father, brother or husband.

It is time to face the problem, whoever he is.

2007-01-25T16:02:00.000+02:00

Traffickers caught in Italy

As reported by the New York Times, the Italian police accuses more than 2000 foreigners accross Italy of human trafficking. Certain groups of foreigners are exploiting other groups; both women and children are being exploited either sexually or in sweatshops.

Arrests have been made and interrogations are on their way.

Trafficking is just one of the problems Italy faces, as thousands try to reach its shores. For a long time Italy because of its long coasts has been a major target of immigration - mainly illegal. The size of this case, however, highlights the scope of the situation better than anything that happened for a long time.

2007-01-24T09:53:00.000+02:00

Egyptian police routinely tortures suspects

The case of the Eguptian bus driver Imad al-Kabir has finally made it to the news exposing a pattern much larger than the case of one man however important. The bus driver, who intervened in an argument between the police and another civilian in a Cairo parking lot, was sentenced to prison for resisting a police officer. The fact that he was humiliated and physically assaulted by the police was not even mentioned. Police themselves shot a video of the brutality and in order to further humiliate the suspect circulated it to other parties.

Apparently police brutality in Egypt is so common as to amount to a known phenomenon, however, not discussed. The case of al-Kabir only became known because a blogger posted the video of his humiliation into his blog.

Now finally Human Rights Watch has picked up the case. Hopefully public pressure will have some effect in this and many other Egyptian prisoners' cases.

2007-01-22T12:12:00.000+02:00

Parental control needed for child surfers

Do parents know what their kids are up to when surfing the web? Apparently not since there is so much talk of children running the risk of meeting on-line predators and worse whilst out there. Parents may not be aware that anyone can pretend to be of any age on a networking site or chat room. It is easy for predator adults to meet unsuspecting kids on-line.

As resported by BBC, a popular on-line networking site has now come up with a partial solution that limits the age of how old people can be and still contact younger surfers. But is this really a solution? If anyone can lie about their age, then the program is good for nothing.

The only solution is parental control and information. To rely on programs is just a part of a wider trend to leave the kids to be the responsibility of their school, their friends or finally to leave the kids to their own devices. That doesn't work. Ultimately a parent is responsible for her/his kids and that includes the web. No program can displace parental responsibility.

2007-01-19T14:17:00.000+02:00

Affirmative action - too much is too much, says Sweden's Supreme Court

The case has been dragging on for years already making headlines in Sweden. Basicly, two Swedisn women with better grades were rejected from studying at the Law Faculty of Sweden's Uppsala University as less qualified foreign citizens took their places. The women took the case initially to the local court. All of the courts from local to Surpreme found in the women's favour. Uppsala University will finally have to pay the fines and accept the decision.

Is too much affirmative action too much affirmative? Will be interesting to see what are the long-term consequences of the precedent setting ruling, which could apply to many areas.

2007-01-18T09:16:00.000+02:00

Carter Center advisers resign as protest

As a protest against Carter's one-sidedness, as expressed in his book "Palestine:Peace not Apartheid", forteen advisers of the Carter Center have resigned.

More on this issue at CNN's web site.

2007-01-18T08:22:00.000+02:00

Saudi women must get their rights

Finally a member of the Saudi Royals has spoken out for the women of that society. When it comes to Saudi women, what we best remember is the famous execution of a princess. ATV aired a drama documentary on the true story of Princess Mishaal and her lover - both executed, as a result of their love. The film was first shown in 1980 despite Saudi protests and threats. It showed a very ugly side of the Muslim society - the intolerant, hostile and anti-woman side.

Now Princess Adeelah has spoken out. Although her Rania El-Baz being taken to the hospital after her husband nearly killed her. Saudi Arabia was schocked by the images and a wide discussion on domestic violence was started. Domestic violence whose victims are women and children, of course. By some estimates 3 in 10 Saudi women are victims of domestic abuse.

Hopefully Princess Adeelah's views are not only her own but widely shared in the family she represents.

2007-01-17T10:57:00.000+02:00

Russia selling missiles to Iran

As reported with concern all over the world, Russia has sold anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran. As commented by Russian officials, they are willing to continue sales in future. All of this has been confirmed by Russian officials, including the Foreign Minister Sergei Ivanov. Although the UN has banned selling of nuclear technology to Iran, no mention has been made of conventional weapons.

Although no mention has been made of conventional weapons, what kind of message is being sent to Iran by selling any weapons at all as long as their nuclear intetions are feared? Is this a new Russian way of showing that it is still a world power? May be.

Unfortunately there is another may be. May be the day is not far ahead Russia together with other countries will be threatened by Iran.

2007-01-16T08:34:00.000+02:00

Tehran Conference even criticized in the Arab media

The infamous Holocaust denial conference took place in Tehran on December 11-12. Afterwards even Arab columnists condemned the conference's organizers and participants, calling them hate-mongers and "distorters of historical fact." These columnists argued that the conference was not an academic event but an opportunity to spread hateful ideas. The Iranian claim that Westerners needed this opportunity to express themselves was dismissed - in Iran there is no freedom of speech.

Even in Iran itself, the Baztab website, published a highly critical view of the event.

MEMRI has translated these items that I recommend to see.

Reading the translations, it is striking to see how morally clear some of these writers are and comparing their freedom of expression with that of European writers, how brave too. Suddenly it seems that not enough condemnation was expressed by European intellectuals and influential writers at the time of the event.

2007-01-06T13:47:00.000+02:00

Genocide in Darfur

Genocide has been going on in Darfur already for some time. Everyone on this globe is familiar with the facts; everyone has heard about Sudan's burning situation. So why doesn't anyone seem to be taking action? Why is the situation permitted to continue, as it is? Why has Sudan not become the focus of media attention? Why despite General Secretary Annan's personal attention, the UN as an organization is largely ignoring the problem?

It seems, as Evelyn Gordon argued in an article at the Jerusalem Post, that we have a problem because Sudan is an unpopular cause, and no single country can be finger-printed for direct national interests in that area. For political, and possibly military action to be taken, very vital interests of a country would have to be at stake. For UN to be involved, those interests would have to be strong indeed. For UN genocide is not enough of a reason to rally its member states. Second, public pressure for any action at all is non-existing. UN and member states would act if public pressure existed but it doesn't because the media is not active enough. UN and world media are inactive together in this one.

Strange considering that much less threatening conflicts can garner huge media attention and condemnations by the General Assembly.

Sadly in the case of Darfur, both the world body and world media seem to have taken the road of inaction and silence. Nothing will be happening anytime soon unless people themselves around the world see this hypocrisy.

2007-01-05T16:43:00.000+02:00

EU's sissy reaction

EU including the former Finnish Presidency that just ended reacted in the predictable way to Saddam's death. EU is against death penalty in general, that's it.

Isn't this insulting to Shias, to Kurds and all the others who suffered under Saddam's government? Shouldn't there be a distinction between penalties meted out to dictators and mass murderers compared with petty criminals? What punishment would have been suitable to Saddam and others of his ilk?

Would EU's current leadership have let Hitler walk free?

I hope not.

2007-01-02T16:22:00.000+02:00

Jailed blogger of Egypt

Referring to my earlier item on the jailed Egyptian blogger Kareem Amer, I recommed an excellent article by Dalia Ziada and Jesse Sage.

And pls sign the petition...

2007-01-02T16:05:00.000+02:00

Carter's book - an anti-Israel pattern emerges

It cannot be said that many were surprised by Carter's latest book (see my previous posting).

His liberal leftist views are well-known and his anti-Israeli tendencies should therefore have been clear before the appearance of his book. Still, based on facts as reported by Neal Shearer, who headed the Justice Department's Nazi Prosecution Office in the late 80's, Carter's bias is more shocking than anyone could have anticipated. According to Shearer, in a case of a known Nazi war criminal's impending prosecution Carter personally intervened appealing on behalf of the man's family on humanitarian grounds.

What should we then think of this former president being allowed to participate in anything related to Israel, Arabs and the peace process? If he doesn't have moral clarity in issues that are completely clear to so many of us, perhaps he'd better devote himself to other matters altogether and leave the Middle East to its own devices?

2006-12-15T08:30:00.000+02:00

Anti-Semitic incidents on the rise in Germany

According to the Spiegel and many other sources, anti-Semitic incidents and even violence in German schools are on the rise to such an extent that the authorities are worried. Jewish school children are being assaulted and terrorized on their way to school. Many have had to move to Jewish schools. Even regular teachers are being called "Jews" as an insult. The rise in quite clear and remarkable compared to just last year.

The new anti-Semites are not only the traditional extreme right-wing activists. A new phenomena of children of "non-German origin", in other words children of Turkish and Arab origin terrorizing their Jewish counterparts in regular schools has become common-place. Things that were a definite taboo in the post-war German society are being expressed openly by these youngsters.

Politicians don't seem to know what exactly to do. A Member of the Parliament, Peter Trapp from the Christian Democratic Party submitted an official query about the issue but is still waiting for a reply complaining that this seems to take unusually long. One cannot help but wonder if it would take this long if the perpetrators of the incidents were only right-wing. Might it be that because of the Muslim involvement the issue is considered too sensitive? Are the Germans sitting on a potential pile of dynamite?

Meanwhile police have to escort some harassed children to their classes...

2006-12-14T09:50:00.000+02:00

Famous Syrian poet: Islam destroying itself

Ali Ahmad Said, known as Adonis, a 2005 candidate for the Nobel Literature Prize, left his native country in the 1950's following political persecution. He lives in Paris working as a writer, literary critic and translator.

Lately Adonis commented on Islam and modernization in various TV interviews on different stations translated by MEMRI. He worries that if Islam takes over and no Western influence is left, in fact nothing will be left. No commerce or culture - only the mosque. He claims that even Arab nationalism is based on religion, and everything in the society has been penetrated by religious thoughts.

Those of us in the West, who don't think any dangers are hidden in Islam not adapting itself to the Western way of life, would do well to listen Adonis's words. After all, they come from within.

2006-12-13T11:27:00.000+02:00

Has Jimmy Carter lost it?

As he writes in courant.com, it looks like the answer is a definite yes. The former president comments on his book "Palestine:Peace, not Apartheid" and his reasons for writing it. In the world according to Carter, Palestinians have worse lives than black citizens had during the worst apartheid years of South Africa. Carter conveniently chooces to forget that the Palestinians were granted autonomy, have the right to chooce their own leaders and receive more money from the European Union than any other people has ever received. They choce Hamas, not the Israelis.

According to Carter, roadblocks and other restrictions put on the Palestinian population are bad. He omits to mention that these were only put in place because of the suicide bombers and other terrorists. He forgets to mention that the Palestinian leaders haven't build one single hospital or school with all the financial support they receive. Their only interest is to further fuel the miserable existence of their constituency and hence the Palestinian - Israeli conflict.

Carter worries me because he is influential and because he is quite mainstream.

To not to see the differences between the Israeli restrictions and terrorim; to not see the difference between apartheid and self-preservation; to not to see the differences between an accidental death caused by a soldier or by a cunning terrorist...

Yes, he has lost it.

2006-12-11T11:42:00.000+02:00

Algerian author on Islam

Dr. Kamal Nait-Zerrad of Algerian origin is the professor of Berber civilization at the French National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations. He has both written several reference articles and translated parts of Koran.

He recently wrote for an Algerian-Berber web site about the danger Islam poses to the secular French society. He argues (translation in MEMRI's web site) that religion must adapt itself to the modern society and this has not happened in the case of Islam, which is what makes it potentially dangerous.

His contribution is certainly relevant and timely; he calls for Islamic reformers - hopefully they will appear sooner rather than later.

2006-12-09T17:21:00.000+02:00

On the virtues of microcredit

Microcredit is a small loan given for the purpose of starting a usually very grass-roots small business. It is a relatively new concept and a huge help for local development in the Third World countries. One of its pioneers, the Bangladeshi "banker" Muhammad Yunus, will now receive the Nobel Peace Prize for spreading the idea. Whereas it has long been though that development can be achieved by giving alms to the poor, now microcredit challenges this by actually imposing capitalist concepts on the development aid. And it works too.

Myself no fan of capitalism, I have to admit that giving a loan for the poor to start a productive business is much better than giving continuous aid and no work. Every man has the human need to be able to produce and sustain himself. Microcredit is enabling him to do just that with his dignity intact. Small loans are giving power to the people. This is especially important for women. In many cultures it has been impossible for women to start businesses and banks have literally refused to give them loans. Microcredit enables women to run their businesses independently of their husbands and fathers. Studies show that where women run their business, earned income goes to family expenses, not for instance to alcohol.

The Nobel thus goes to the right address...Congratulations to the winner!

2006-12-08T14:34:00.000+02:00

Iran's "Holocaust Conference"

Iran is organizing a conference next week offering a platform to Holocaust deniers. Despite the anger the plan has caused, the world seems to be powerless to stop it. Iran's president has publicly called the Holocaust a myth.

The organizing of the conference has caused anger especially in Germany where Holocaust denial is a crime. Although some have argued that no debate should be held on the issue since in any case Iran's conference cannot be taken seriously, it is nevetheless distressing that nothing could be done to stop the event from happening.

More on this in Deutsche Welle.

2006-12-07T15:38:00.000+02:00

Egyptian blogger wrongfully arrested

The organization "Reporters without Borders" recently reported Egypt to be among the worst offenders of freedom of expression. Shortly after the release of this report, the well-known blogger Kareem Amer was arrested. His writing can be viewed at a reformist web site and his own blog. Kareem Amer is a reformist and has lately concentrated on the growing problems between the Copt Christian minority and the Muslim majority.

I kindly ask my readers to sign an on-line petition to release this blogger immediately! The petition has been put up by the American Islamic Congress and HAMSA organization.

2006-11-30T08:54:00.000+02:00

On soccer violence

Are racism and anti-Semitism an integral part of soccer, as recent events in France seem to suggest? What about known examples of England and Holland? Racist slurs there are so common among the fans that the language they use barely registers. For the longest time researchers of sports and violence have been claiming that tolerance of violence connected to sports will ultimately lead to physical violence, assaults and worse.

As reported by the New York Times and many other outlets, this is exactly what happened in France. Extreme right-wing fans of a Paris St. Germain team started violence that led to one of them being shot by a policeman. The fans' reaction, predictably enough, was to blame the policeman. Needless to say, he was protecting another youth from the fans' violence.

Violence is routine in European soccer games and racism and anti-Semitism are an acceptable part of it. Something is now going to have to be done - at least in France.

It is the fans, who are violent - so stop blaming the policeman!

2006-11-29T08:37:00.000+02:00

Nigerian women raped by soldiers - no punishments

According to a human rights report and as reported by all major networks, Nigerian soldiers are raping and sexually assaulting women whilst the government fails to do anything to counter these acts. No punishments have been meted out so far and even the police have admitted that sexual violence is a problem within the security forces.

According to the recent report, police are routinely using rape as a means of intimidating whole communities and also to extract confessions. Precisely because the rapists are from the security forces, most victims are too afraid to report their acts. Victims are not only grown-ups but even small children and elderly women.

Amnesty International has taken steps to campaign against these policies and strongly condemns president Obasanjo's inaction on the issue. As a police workshop was recently organized to discuss sexual violence these efforts may start to bear fruit - a step to the right direction has been taken.

2006-11-28T08:41:00.000+02:00

Violence against women - a worldwide human rights issue

As Hillary Clinton remarked: "Violence against women is not a female issue. It is a human rights issue".

Worldwide, as if an epidemic, women are facing not only discrimination but supression of rights and even state sanctioned violence, as reported by Amnesty International . In Western societies, home is the most dangerous place to a woman - a female victim of violence is more likely to be the victim of her boy-friend, husband or other relative than a victim of random act of violence.

In many other, non-Western countries, female refugees and immigrants are vulnerable to all sorts of abuse. War-time brings out the worst in people, and during wars women are routinely being raped and violated - not only by the enemy but the stressed out males of their own society as well. Most crimes against women will not be investigated at all and in many countries law is flawed, thus offering practically no protection to a woman. Regarding domestic abuse in these countries, the more patriarchal the society, the more likely domestic violence is to be hushed up. Often then police will not even get involved in what they claim to be family or private matters.

Here are some figures from the Amnesty International:

- At least one out of every three women has been beaten, coerced into sex, or abused in her lifetime. This figure comes from a study based on 50 surveys from around the world.
- More than 60 million women are “missing” from the world today as a result of sex-selective abortions and female infanticide.
- Every year, millions of women are raped by partners, relatives, friends and strangers, by employers and colleagues, soldiers and members of armed groups.
- Violence in the family is endemic all over the world; the overwhelming majority of victims are women and girls. In the USA, for example, women account for around 85 per cent of the victims of domestic violence.
- The World Health Organization has reported that up to 70 per cent of female murder victims are killed by their male partners.

As we are just celebrating a day to stop violence against women, I urge you to go to the Amnesty web site and sign their petition to stop violence against women. You can also get involved in your local community or start a group against domestic violence. This one is certainly a global problem that touches every race, religion and societal class. You cannot know if it will touch you one day! Therefore, it is everyone's moral duty to do something about it.

2006-11-27T15:04:00.000+02:00

Silence comes at a price

"You may succeed in silencing me but that silence comes at a price. You have shown yourself to be as ruthless and barbaric, as your most hostile critics have claimed". Litvinenko on Putin just hours before his death.

Litvinenko died of a radioactive poisoning, as reported all over the news media. But we remember him. Putin didn't succeed in silencing him because his death was broadcast all over the world and no one will forget the terrible death he died. Putin can control and silence one man but not everyone. Litvinenko's memory will survive because such an act of injustice and inhumanity as his poisoning cannot be forgotten - not ever.

How on earth in the modern world of free flow of information can Putin do these things, and literally get away with murder? Is it because of Western complacency only? Is it because of an existing conspiracy of silence whereby everyone knows something awful is happening but no one mentions it? If that is so, then not only Putin but also Western politicians have killed all of those journalists and other who died mysterious deaths recently. How can the EU invite Putin to festive meetings and not to think of all the courageous people he had killed? What about those languishing in his jails? Why are our leaders silent about all this when they meet Putin?

We, voters and citizens, must demand and tell our leaders: Time to stop the silence and act.

2006-11-23T15:47:00.000+02:00

Illegal immigration to Europe

This Wednesday a high-level political meeting was held in Libya to discuss the problem of illegal immigration from both African and European perspectives. There is no way discussion on the topic can be avoided anymore. Europe has indeed turned into the land of opportunity to countless poor. Despite the dangers of illegal immigration thousands are willing to try. Many are easy prey to smugglers who never intended to help them in the first place. People literally starve or freeze to death, as victims of modern day slavery.

Lately and increasingly Libya has become part of the problem. Authorities in that country were not ready for immigrants, who try to reach Europe through Libya. New trafficking networks are increasingly concentrating on Italy. Now then this first conference including both European and African leaders tried to address both the issue of immigration but also the poverty, as its main reason.

Despite the talks, that is what remains, only talks. No one has an easy solution to a problem that in my mind includes also Europe's falling birth rates. If almost zero children are being born in many countries, immigration will be the only eventual long-term answer to a massive labor shortage among other things. But it is far from being a problem free answer, on the contrary, its problems are many and well-known.

For a long time a kind of denial and silence has been the European answer when in fact measures would urgently have been needed. Not anymore.

But what will Europe do?

2006-11-22T09:40:00.000+02:00

Another Gemayel killed

Bashir Gemayel was elected president of Lebanon in August 1982. That was the start of the count-down to his murder - by the Syrians, of course. On September 14, he was killed -predictably enough - in a powerful explosion. The hope of Lebanon, as his supporters had called him, was dead. Shortly thereafter his brother Amin was made the president but never managed to do what his brother had set his mind to accomplish.

Now another murder of another Gemayel has just been reported by the newsmedia following a string of murders of various Lebanese anti-Syrian politicians. Inside Lebanon the followers of Gemayel are pointing an accusing finger at Hizbollah, clearly in cohorts with the Syrians, clearly guilty as charged. The terrorist organization has nearly succeeded in destroying the country.

All of these events are related. Recent Hizbollah war against Israel was supported by Syria and Iran. As the recent UN report indicated, not only flow of weapons came to Hizbollah from Syria and never stopped, but also actual fighters. Suddenly all the Israeli claims that - apart from the Hizbollah's Katyusha fire on Israeli cities - justified the war, seem completely plausible. Suddenly the UN confirms the flow of weapons to Lebanon. Peace-keepers may seem and hear no evil but even Lebanese civilians have recently confirmed to the media their full knowledge of the ongoing weapons' smuggling. Still, especially the French troops are most concerned about the Israeli flights over the territory.

The international peace-keepers are not lifting a finger against Hizbollah. Lebanese army is not doing anything either. It would however be in the best Lebanese interests to expel Hizbollah and become an independent country - independent from Syria that is. Otherwise the country will become entangled in another war against Israel. Nothing but destruction will be gained by Lebanon from such a war. Many Lebanese already see what is going on.

Isn't it time for the world to take a more decisive stand against Syria and definitely against Iran?

Haven't there been enough statements - isn't it time of action?

2006-11-21T09:31:00.000+02:00

The man looking into Politkovskaya's murder poisoned

As reported by all major networks and newspapers, the former Russian KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko is critically ill in a London hospital following poisoning apparently by the lethal thallium. Writer of the book "Blowing up Russia: Terror from Within", he has long been a thorn at Kremlin's side. But even more so now that he is investigating the murder of Anna Politkovskaya. (For more details on her murder of October 7 see my postings from October 2006).

Kremlin already reacted to attempted murder / poisoning allegations denying the story as ridiculous.

How ridiculous can it be when in today's Russia journalists are practically routinely being silenced by killing? To choose to be a journalist in Putin's Russia is an act of courage, if not down-right suicidal...Opposition politicians are taken into prisons and media outlets closed under make-up charges of conspiracy or tax evasion, as a matter of course.

To accuse Putin of this then is ridiculous?

Putin's smug conduct, media silencing and worse is not the worst part of this story however. The worst is the Western compliance with him. There is a complete lack of moral judgement when it comes to him, and acceptance of "special Russian democracy" that makes me sick. Human rights, as Europe wants to have it, have to be respected by everyone else whilst nothing is expected from the Russians. I bet this poisoning attempt will never be solved.

It makes me sick to think that European politicians are in bed with Putin!

2006-11-19T08:50:00.000+02:00

Don't buy Spanish tomatoes! / No a tomates de Espana!

Province of Almeria in southern Spain. Blazing hot sun. In the winter terrible cold.

A year ago there was a slum there, actually not even a slum. Huts built of card-board boxes and old plastics, people sleeping inside poisonous gasses of the huge green-houses. People brought to work in Spain in the many orchards and vegetable cultivations. A year ago a story appeared about their exploitation in the Finnish daily's Helsingin Sanomat monthly attachment. A story about poverty, lack of homes, beatings, and worse, by local Spanish youths when the mood struck them. Following the story's appearance, the slum mysteriously disappeared, as huge bulldozers came and completely flattened out the place.

But the journalists went back to look for their interviewees. It turns out that although they disappeared from sight but not from Spain. Some of them now live in the sewage canals, inside the dirty and poisonous pipes. About 1400 African immigrants are still there. They cannot enter the towns' cafes or restaurants but they are expected to do the dirty work with minimal pay. The atmosphere in Spain is anti-immigrant perhaps more than ever before. A legalization campaign was started but apparently only so all the illegals could be found. No one, but simply no one, could possibly have all the documents necessary for legalization. It has been suggested that it is indeed Spanish government's policy to keep enough illegal immigrants in the country just so the dirty work gets done. They are being maltreated with the government's permission.

Following the Finnish newspaper's expose of a year ago, Finnish MEPs (Members of European Parliament) submitted a written inquiry to the European Council and the European Commission about the issue. Answers were evasive, such as "each Member State decides about its own immigration policies".

Yes, the issue is complicated. Should more immigrants be allowed in if this is the way they are being treated? Is this not shameful and racist? Is this not more shameful than closing the borders? The people, who brand as racist anyone suggesting that a limit should be put to the immigrants' numbers, don't seem to care about the exploitation that goes on in Europe when there are no limits! Finally, in the case of Spain, how come Zapatero can devote his energies to peace initiatives when his own house is so clearly out of order?

Until this issue is being dealt with: No to Spanish tomatoes!

2006-11-18T11:15:00.000+02:00

Another model dead of anorexia

When Spain banned models below BMI 18 from its fashion shows earlier this year, the industry was shocked. (BMI below 18.5 is considered anorexic by WHO). But model Luisel Ramon paid with her life for the thinness obsession: she died of heart failure in August: heart failure that was obviously connected to her low weight. Now another Brazilian model, Ana Carolina Reston, just died as a result of anorexia. Growing criticism of the use of anorexic models is certainly in the air as reported by various news sources around the world. The 1.72 cm tall Reston for instance weighted only about 40 kg - a weight suitable to a 12-year old according to the doctors.

Why are female models so thin when male models look rather good in a normal sort of way? Why do they have to look anorexic if the end customer is a normal woman? Is the whole fashion industry business yet another example of male cynicism and abuse of the female form? Should someone look into the fact that some of today's top models come from very poor backgrounds and their work supports whole families? Would these girls be willing to take on any dangerous chances just to earn a living? Who decides how much they should weight?

The only good development is that London's Fashion Week may ban below 18 BMI models too.

Undoubtedly, these dead models will be forgotten soon. No one remembers their names. That is why I wrote their names here - after all they died for something, didn't they? They died for the fashion industry!

What a banal way to leave this world.

2006-11-17T14:02:00.000+02:00

Why battered women should seek help quickly

Of course, it seems self-evident that a woman should quickly escape an abusive partner and seek help for herself. On the other hand, we all know that things don't work out like that. A battered woman has lost her self-confidence and feels worthless. Often that, and not social pressure, is the primary reason she chooces to stay with the abuser whether he be husband or boy-friend.

If there are children involved, this is extremely dangerous. As reported in the quality Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz, 50-80% of children of battered wives also suffer abuse. This abuse can take many forms but is mainly physical or sexual. New research, contrary to what was previously thought, shows that children do not suffer only from the emotional trauma of witnessing the adult violence but often end up as victims too.

Women's organizations have already reacted to the news. According to them, women should take any violence as a warning that their children are facing a dangerous situation. It is no longer a situation of battered wives but of battered children as well. Women must seek help as soon as the violence starts or else not only the destructive the behavioural model but also the trauma and shame will be transmitted across generations.

Unfortunately the research doesn't talk about the perpetrators at all. If a real change is to happen, it is them who need help and urgently too.

2006-11-16T16:09:00.000+02:00

Become an online volunteer

Volunteering has become a way of life to many; others claim not to have the time. Nowadays there is simply no excuse, as online volunteering has become the new form of giving to charity. As reported in an interesting article by the New York Times, training is provided online and volunteers only need access to a PC. Whilst in the past online volunteering used to consist of fullfilling simple tasks, nowadays more and more charities and non-profits are dependent on these volunteers and therefore willing to increase the challenges and responsibilities of the jobs.

How does one become an online volunteer? A first step might be looking into sites, such as onlinevolunteer.org for advice. One can also approach non-profits directly. For instance Pearls of Africa, a non-profit aiding AIDS orphans, functions today compeletely with online staff only. The only question that I might still think of is the lack of human contact. One aspect of volunteering at least for me used to be meeting other interesting people and hearing their stories...

So may be one should be online and offline too :)

2006-11-14T08:39:00.000+02:00

Lost city by Andy Garcia

I just saw the passionate, dramatic and moving film "Lost City" by Andy Garcia about his native Cuba. The music, the costumes, the dances - everything is there. Clearly Garcia has done the film with love; as he says it is indeed the work of his life-time. It left me with unexplainable sadness because that world was so brutally killed and lost forever. Revolution, a beautiful word filled with expectations that should be something positive but in most cases has been only murderous, brutal and vulgar. So in the case of Cuba as well.

What is so remarkably strange is the Western attitude towards Che Guevara, Fidel Castro and the revolution. Despite the excesses of this revolution, the many refugees and the more than 20 000 killed, anti-globalization's freedom fighters do not hesitate to carry Ernesto on their shoulders. As if anything anti-American by default was good, Western Europe never really condemned the hostile takeover by the Soviets. One cannot help but wonder if there aren't examples of this attitude around today as well.

Andy Garcia has created a film that shows a world that once existed and a world that will never be. I warmly recommend this film both for its artistic value and its historic content.

2006-11-10T11:29:00.000+02:00

TheSmileTrain

Have you heard about this organization? Did you know about millions of children in developing countries suffering from cleft lip and palate? How terrible it must be, on top of malnutrition, to live in shame and isolation because of the terrible look cleft lip creates.

TheSmileTrain tries to help them. They accept donations of any size and give these children surgery.

Once you have seen apicture of such a child, you cannot forget it. So help them!

2006-11-09T11:52:00.000+02:00

Belarusian Malady Front youth group members sentenced

Clearly politically motivated campaign against members of Malady Front has ended by the former being sentenced to prison sentences. In accusing the two sentenced men, Alexandr Kozulin and Dimitri Dashkevich, of running an unregistered organization the Belarusian authorities have clearly showed a political interest in silencing the two in addition to complete disrespect to human rights, including right to a fair trial. Kozulin of course is a former presidential candidate - a fact that makes the political motivation obvious.

The European Union through the Finnish Presidency is asking for access to Kozulin in order to ascertain his situation. International monitors should be allowed to visit him and other political prisoners.

2006-11-08T14:53:00.000+02:00

Tax avoiding is hypocritical

Are there bigger problems to discuss? Yes. Is tax avoidance by celebrities - dedicated to good causes - problematic? Yes.

Bono is one of them, as reported in Slate. He is a good-doer but apparently doesn't want his tax money to finance poor people's social security. It appears that he recently relocated his business from Ireland in order to avoid taxation on royalties. Ireland is one of the poorest Western nations so taxes would certainly help the poor of that country.

Is it easier to sing about the poor far away than help your neighbor who is too close to you? Or is it easier to fundraise than to give your own money?

To be honest, I would like this to become an issue and the fans to speak up.
Bono, please, live like you sing!!!

2006-11-07T08:46:00.000+02:00

Human Rights Watch: PA fails to protect Palestinian females from violence

As reported by AP and published in many major newspapers around the world, women in the Palestinian territories are routinely subjected to rapes, beatings and worse violence that goes unpunished. According to the international organization, female victims are sacrificed for family honor and tradition backs up anti-female activities. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics conducted its own survey already a year ago and it resulted that about 23% of women experienced violence whilst only 1% reported it. HRW called upon Mahmud Abbas to tackle the situation urgently.

Responding to the criticism, Abbas's spokesman admitted their weakness in dealing with the male - female violence and mentioned the lenient sentences meted out to male perpetrators as a reason for the continued abuses. Abusers go virtually unpunished and women are forced to marry their rapists. According to HRW there is a small ray of hope, as apparently some Palestinian legislators have signalled their interest in changing the picture.

2006-11-06T09:51:00.000+02:00

Saddam Hussein sentenced

By now the whole world knows that Iraq's former dicatator has been sentenced to death. Kurds and Shias have been dancing - albeit looking over their shoulders vary of Sunni revenge. Outside Iraq reactions have varied. According to the official EU Presidency statement, death sentence is not appropriate to Saddam, as it is to nobody. Someone like myself, undecided about the death penalty's justification, can just wonder to whom it is appropriate if not to Saddam of all people.

Perhaps it would have been better if the trial had taken less time. Perhaps the whole Iraqian mess makes it difficult to appreciate the concluding of the trial. Perhaps it is again the banality of evil that Hanna Arendt so adequately described in "Eichman in Jerusalem". Like Adolf Eichman before him, Saddam is now this truly pathetic figure and therefore we cannot match his former crimes to him. Without their uniforms they don't look the part.Hopefully however, a small portion of justice has finally been served for the many imprisoned, tortured and murdered by Saddam and his henchmen.

More than any punishment meted out to Saddam, one hopes for Iraq to stabilize. Unfortunately it doesn't look likely anytime soon.

2006-11-04T15:09:00.000+02:00

Hina's murder

A beautiful Pakistanian woman was brutally murdered in Italy. As reported in the Economist at the beginning of September, she had integrated too well. As reported in depth in Oggi, she was a modern working woman, earning a living and living with her Italian boy-friend. That is why her father decided, cold-bloodedly one might add, to kill her. Had it been in the Arab world, her murder would have been lauded if not gone completely unnoticed. But this was Italy - in the heart of Europe.

Hina had been living outside her home for years. She was lured back for a visit by her mother who obviously knew of the male family members intentions. She was buried in their backyard from where her fiancee, looking for her, found her body. Such a waste of her young life, and her family shows no remorse whatsoever!

In Italy her case has been widely publicized, as only one part of a growing trend of various crimes spreading among the large and partly illegal immigrant community. This was only one murder in a short span of time and effectively added to the ongoing discussion on citizenship, its limitations and duties. What is so sad is that Hina is not and will not remain the only victim. If something is not done, the practise of "honor killing" will continue. Forget about cultural sensitivity!

Should these poor women not be protected at least in the European soil?

2006-11-03T09:15:00.000+02:00

Children used in Iraq against Coalition forces

An Iraqi agency working with Iraqi children suffering from pyschological effects of the war, recently reported that the Iraqi insurgents are using children in their fight against the coalition forces. The whole story can be found in an article at UPI . A member of the Iraqi government denied knowledge of children being used as suicide bombers.

If such use of children will be proved to be true in the future, it will hardly come as a surprise. The Palestinian teorrism organizations have recruited and used a number of children until now. Many of them have been intercepted at the checkpoints by the Israeli authorities before they managed to blow themselves up. What the terrorist organizations don't care for is the fact that the children's lives are in any case spoiled for ever afterwards.

The use of children is cynical and shows the complete lack of value the Muslim society puts on human life. It is also a criminal act and a grave human rights violation. It is also noteworthy that terrorist leaders never offer their own children to such acts...

What will come of the Palestinian and Iraqi children when from such a young age they are being recruited to die?

2006-10-31T12:06:00.000+02:00

Slave children

They are practically everywhere. Vulnerable kids from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. They end up as slaves. Often white wealthy Europeans buy their "services" without a second thought. It makes me sick to think about that. The same people wouldn't want their own kids working as shoe shiners, bakers, car window washers or prostitutes.

Yet, one has to acknowledge that the Thirld World governments are guilty as charged too. After all, if they were ready to protect the kids, ready to mete out punishments and ready to abolish criminal tourists from their countries all of this could not happen. Instead there is a silent cooperation, bribery, corruption... Parents literally sell their kids so they can have some form of livelihood. One of these desperate children tells his story in the New York Times.

That is one story but there are so many more. From accross the continents human evil knows no boundaries and trafficking in children fourishes. Trafficking - a word that cannot express the horror and evil of what is going on. As pointed out at the article, a child doesn't consent, he or she is taken against his/her will and there is no choice involved. No choice from the child's part. The adult always has a choice and therefore should be punished harshly for the crime!

2006-10-28T11:49:00.000+02:00

Women in India to get legal protection against husbands

For the first time in India marital abuse, including rape, emotional and physical abuse have been recognized as crimes. Yesterday a new law came into effect and finally women, until now safe in the sreets, will be safer at homes too. Yes, this is true. Indian streets are very safe even to strangers but, as reported by the Independent, every six hours a married Indian woman is either murdered or commits suicide because of marital abuse.

Often the cause of marital abuse is related to the issue of dowry. Husbands and their families, if unhappy with the dowries, often abuse or even kill the woman. Women are still being burnt to death and often these crimes are hard to prove. Sometimes women are thrown out from family houses, which makes them destitute and homeless. The new law also legislates against that.

One supposes that even with new laws, it will take time to change attitudes. As Hillary Clinton once remarked, these issues are not women's rights, they are human rights. A democratic society cannot be modern and liberal and at the same time remain oppressive towards its women. The problem is that if until now Indian husbands - apparently in large numbers - felt it was OK to beat and abuse their wives, they will hardly have a change of heart overnight. But on the positive side, new laws serve to educate and show that the wider society doesn't tolerate illegal and abusive practises. Hopefully women because of new legislation will have courage to report on the crimes knowing that the Indian lawmakers are on their side. Hopefully this large Asian country can finally adapt itself to modern concepts of gender equality and human rights.

2006-10-27T13:49:00.000+02:00

Human traffickers in Israel face a tougher law

As reported by major Israeli newspapers, such as Ha'aretz a new and tougher law has just been passed in the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, and from now on traffickers can be sentenced to 16-20 years in prison. The majority of Israel's lawmakers approved of the law, which had no opponents. The bill lists among trafficking offences kidnapping of babies, stealing of organs, slavery, forced labor, prostitution, pornography and sexual abuse. Lawmaker Zehava Gal-On, who initiated the bill considers it's passing the highlight of her career.

In the last years Israel has become an important destination for human traffickers. Hopefully the new bill will discourage both the traffickers and those using their victims. The bill is an important moral and practical step announcing to the victims and perpetrators alike that these crimes are heinous and will not be tolerated.

2006-10-26T10:02:00.000+02:00

Dr. Ayman Nour from an Egyptian prison

Dr. Nour was a runner-up in the last presidential election of Egypt. He was arrested in January 2006 accused of fraud relating to documents on the establishment of his party. He was consequently sentenced to five years in jail.

It is obvious to everyone that the charges are completely politically motivated and there is no justice in Egypt. Dr. Nour received about 7.8% of all votes, which in itself is significant considering how long president Mubarak has been in power.

Dr. Nour recently wrote a letter from the prison. This letter can be found in English in the web site: freeaymannour. I recommend all of us to go to that web site in order to show our support to a courageous individual in a tyrannical system.

2006-10-24T11:36:00.000+02:00

Why were girls killed in the latest school shooting?

In the latest school shooting that happened at an Amish school in Pennsylvania, the killers delibaretely separated girls from boys and then concentrated on killing the girls. As correctly presented in the Washington Post, had the sepapration been done between ethnic groups instead of sexes, there would have been a terrible uproar over it. And what happened now? The fact barely registered anywhere in the media.

Has Western media, like the society at large, become misogynist, completely accepting of the continuous maltreatment and violence against women? Have pornography with its violent degrading images, and overtly sexual advertizing lulled the senses to the extent that separation between the sexes for targeted killing doesn't register at all? If that is so, this must be stopped!

Nothing in the world happens unrelated to other events. Sexual advertizing leads men and women to view women's bodies as something to be purchased. Pornography leads men to view all women as mere objects. Soon enough poor women are being trafficked to slavery in the Western world. Slowly but surely the society is changing for the worse and women have exchanged their dearly gained power to being objects, their feminism to getting killed for being women.

Do we not deserve more?

2006-10-23T14:12:00.000+02:00

Al-Sharq Al-Awsat on Straw's veil remarks

A senior journalist Adel Dawish comments on the latest controversy surrounding Muslim women's veils. Interestingly, Dawish claims that since Straw is an elected representative coming from an area with a large Muslim community, he has as much right as the Muslim leaders to express his views on this particular theme.According to Dawish, it is hypocritical of these leaders to cite individual freedoms allowing veil wearing, as in any other matter they are the first ones to reject those same freedoms.

That Mr. Straw should have his right to express himself is besides the point. The point being that individual freedoms are part of being European and leaders shouldn't be speaking for communities that haven't elected them in the first place. And, as Mr. Dawish concludes, it is time for minorities to try to understand the culture they have chosen to come to, and possibly not the other way around.

2006-10-23T14:05:00.000+02:00

Freedom of speech in Russia

This is my last comment on this topic - for a while - but I just want to share a good article I found in Spiegel's international version. Journalism in Putin's Russia has indeed become a dangerous occupation.

The question is if there will be any journalists left in Russia with the courage to practise their profession in an authentic way?

2006-10-22T12:56:00.000+02:00

Putin received in Finland by loyal politicians

As reported by all the Finnish newspapers, but described in the most poignant way by daily Turun Sanomat, Finnish politicians once again received Putin like royalty. Whereas the ordinary folks see a large gap between Putin and democracy, Finland's leadership fails to do so. PM Matti Vanhanen mentioned that "Russia has its own type of democracy". Political researchers in the Finnish Alexander Institute completely disagree with this view. According to them, the Finnish PM would do well to insists on democracy and cite Russian problems publicly. Vanhanen's statement is like from the Kreml's own ideologues, they say.

What is so worrying about all this is that behind the thin smokescreen of special Russian democracy, Putin is actually working against human rights. Democracy is getting thinner and thinner each day. Wealthy aspiring politicians end up behind the bars and journalists end up dead. PM Vanhanen doesn't worry about them - Putin visists Finland again and again. The most disgusting thing in all this is that the Finnish leaders see themselves as defenders of human rights and former peace activists, including Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja and President Tarja Halonen. Elsewhere in the world, notably in the case of Israel, they have been quick to bring up their - unwanted, as one might add - pro human rights opinions.

Why no end to their hypocrisy? Why is Putin being hosted like royalty? What does Finland gain from all this? Are Finland's politicians accountable to Finnish public, who sees the contradiction?

2006-10-21T13:34:00.000+02:00

No protest, no arrests following the murder of the Russian journalist

As you know, no one has been arrested for the murder of Anna Politkovskaya during these two weeks following her cruel killing. As reported by the Washington Post, this is telling. Since Mr. Putin became president of Russia, more than a dozen Russian journalists have been brutally murdered. None of the perpetrators have ever been found. Something is very wrong, and at the same time, very clear in this picture. The Russian authorities at all levels share unwillingness to investigate what is plain for the eye to see. When Putin was finally forced to talk about the murder at all, and then only because he was in a joint press conference with Angel Merkel, he strangely alluded to foreign enemies of Russia. Not to enemies of the slain journalist but of Putin's Russia.

The story doesn't end here though. Following the murder, memorial gatherings remembering the journalist, were violently interrupted and NGO's such as Amnesty International suspended in Russia. Predictably enough, and this is even worse, Western leaders have largely ignored the events of past two weeks. There has been absolutely no follow-up after the usual condolences. And that is what should be the real story here. Leaders, such as the Scandinavians, ever vigilant to human rights violations have not paid attention to these events at all. Not one protest has been submitted to Mr. Putin. On the contrary, the Finnish EU Presidency is busying itself by organizing a dinner in his honor.

One can not help but wonder: Why Why Why?

2006-10-20T10:24:00.000+02:00

Human rights in China - a case study

Recently the Yinan County People's Court in Shandong sentenced a man, Chen Guangchen, to 4 years and 3 months in prison. His wife wrote about the ordeal in an article published in the Washington Post. Apparently local village women were forced to take abortions and the accused gave them advice on law and human rights. These activities - obviously - were completely peaceful. When Mr. Guangchen was arrested following a long house arrest, he was taken to prison and his wife physically constrained and thus prevented even from attending his trial. Other villagers were brutally tortured and forced to witness against the accused. The accused was sent to prison and his wife is currently under constant surveillance.

My question is this: Had you heard about this story? If not, it is because this is not considered a big news item. Human rights violations by the Chinese authorities are common-place and apparently well accepted by Westerners. One family's tragedy is nothing compared to vast commercial and political interests. Even the known human-rights defenders, such as the Scandinavian countries, are strangely silent when it comes to China. Not only but they cultivate their vast commercial-political ties by constant visits in their countries by delegations of Chinese officials.

If one really believes that human rights belong to everyone, then this reality is a sad state of affairs indeed. What to do about the leftist governments that uphold human rights elsewhere but have a blind-spot when it comes to China?

2006-10-19T10:15:00.000+02:00

Iran's nuclear option - is Russia with us or against us?

In all issues, it seems, Putin's Russia is unpredictable, sometimes hostile, sometimes ambivalent but never to be counted on. As appeared in The Economist on May 13, the Russian government was accused by Dick Cheney not only of restricting the rights of its own people but also of bullying and intimidating its neighbours by force, as best became apparent in the oil and gas crisis. Around the time of Cheney's comments, Russians accused Americans of hypocrisy.

Now we are talking about nuclear weapons. Iran is making fun of the whole world and what does Russia do? According to Foreign Minister Sergei Larov "Reports from Iran do not indicate a real threat to peace and security", as reported in the Jerusalem Post at the time of the Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's visit to Moscow.

I would like to know if they, the Russians, are with us or against us? Is this a convenient tactic for Chechnya tainted Putin to cosy up to the Muslims? Or does he seriously think there is no threat? Either way, there is not much time left to act decisively against the possibility of a Nuclear Iran.

2006-10-18T15:26:00.000+02:00

A courageous woman, a Russian journalist, an enemy of the State if you'd like, was brutally murdered in Moscow on October 7th. Anna Politkovskaya was killed with a pistol - work of assassins and, as many suspect, ordered by figures close to Putin. A relentless critic of the government and a true fighter her books had been virtully banned in Russia. She had talked a lot about the Chechnya situation. Local warlords denied having anything to do with her death. Putin remains silent.

Isn't it surprising that Western governments are not worked up about the human rights situation in Russia? Isn't it hyporcritical that Putin just hosted the G8 meeting? Dick Cheney seems to be the only one daring to criticize the Russians and for this has been labelled a Russiaphobic.

I say wake up, people! Western leaders should stop cosying up to Russia and demand true human rights. That is the least we owe to Anna Politkovskaya! Her death shouldn't have been in vain.