October 2004

News from Greenpeace

Submitted by Rick Eyre on October 1 2004, 8:08 pm

The Warming War heats up
http://www.greenpeace.org/international_en/news/details?item_id=601014
George Bush's government is out in the cold over Kyoto - and it's that old Cold War enemy, Russia, that's put it there. The Russian government has moved closer towards ratifying the crucial Kyoto climate change treaty. But while Bush hangs out in hurricane-ravaged Florida before his first election debate, the US government continues to criticise the Kyoto Treaty.

Human Rights Watch News Releases

Submitted by Rick Eyre on October 1 2004, 7:11 am

Rwanda: Rape Survivors Find No Justice
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/09/30/rwanda9391.htm
The 58-page report investigates the persistent weaknesses in the Rwandan legal system that hamper the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence. The report also documents the desperate health and economic situation of rape survivors. Many of the women who were raped became infected with HIV.

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Empire Notes

Submitted by Rick Eyre on October 1 2004, 7:11 am

September 29, 9:08 pm.
http://www.empirenotes.org/#29sep041
September 29, 9:08 pm. Obsidian Wings has an important post about "extraordinary rendition" and a bill that may be on the floor of Congress as early as next week to legalize it (action suggestions at the end of this post). Extraordinary rendition is the lovely practice the United States has of outsourcing torture. When stripping detainees naked, threatening them with dogs, beating them savagely, ...

John, Paul, Tony, Gordon and Bono

Submitted by Rick Eyre on October 1 2004, 5:26 am

Bono Watch: The lad got a gig as guest speaker at the UK Labour Party conference on Wednesday. He addressed the party faithful with his DATA hat on, describing Tony Blair and Gordon Brown as the John Lennon and Paul McCartney of world development. I don't remember Paul secretly plotting for John's place in the Beatles.

Get some pork on your fork

Submitted by Rick Eyre on October 1 2004, 1:48 am

We need a Prime Minister who trusts the people, who tells them the truth about the great issues of war and peace. And when things go wrong, a Prime Minister who is big enough to take responsibility and not blame others.

We need a Prime Minister who will take the people into his confidence, not least about his own intentions. It's urgent to bring a new energy, a new accountability to Australia's biggest job. And that's the difference between Labor and the Liberals.