Blog Carnival 30/04/06

Welcome to this week's Worldwide Opinions blog carnival. It's great to see another brilliant selection of entries, covering such diverse view and themes - keep them coming. And if you would like to take part there is a link to the submission page at the end of this post. OK, onwards and upwards . . .


Abdulla Yasir presents Is it democratic reform or developmental reform that the Maldives seek? posted at Abdulla Yasir's Blog.

Dan Harris presents Cho Has No Connection With Either China Or Korea posted at China Law Blog, saying, "My heartfelt views on the VT killings. Comments help make the post."

John Hill presents What Can We Do About Climate Change? posted at Universe Of Success.

Doug Ragan presents Have you been called a Traitor? posted at I'm a Pundit Too.

Al Nye presents North Korea Keeps $25 Million And Gives U.S. The Finger posted at Al Nye The Lawyer Guy.

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Serenade For The First Sufferers (Political Song Parody) posted at Mad Kane's Political Madness.

Sammy Benoit presents The U.N. GETS ANOTHER VISIT FROM THE FROM THE IDIOT FAIRY posted at YID With LID.

Brooklyn Dissentator presents America's tragedy response posted at The Dissentators, saying, "The events at Virginia Tech ocurred while I was traveling abroad. Upon my return I realized that America may be getting too good at our response to tragedy."

Adam Graham presents Integrity: a forgotten word in Washington D.C. posted at BlogForCox.com.


That concludes this edition. Thank you to every one who took part.


Submit your blog article to the next edition of worldwide opinions using our carnival submission form.

Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Jean Shinoda Bolen

A writer to recomend for the necesary world´s change.

" You may know me as an author, a Jungian analyst, an activist or a friend. Since I wrote The Millionth Circle I have been an advocate for women’s circles with a sacred center as the means to reach a critical mass-tipping point to bring women’s wisdom into the world. When the response to 9-11 was the invasion of Iraq and I learned that there were no plans to ever hold another UN women’s world conference, I wrote Urgent Message From Mother and sparked an effort to hold a 5th women’s world conference in 2010. "

Jean Shinoda Bolen.

Visit her web site HERE

Prince Harry: the spare heir

Over the last week or so a debate has raged in the UK media about the issue of whether or not one Henry Wales (aka Prince Harry) should be deployed in Iraq. Many arguments both for and against have been expounded, most are logical and rational. However, today I came across an article which is so incredibly dumb it really defies belief that anyone could have thought of writing it in the first place.

Writing in the Guardian's Comment is Free section, Mark Lawson says this:

"Harry Wales cannot be treated equally, because soldiers are expendable and princes are not "

My first thought was, surely this man knows that kind of thinking went out with the divine right of kings, but then I realised it didn't even apply then. Princes have always been expendable. It wasn't so very long ago that kings and princes led their armies into battle. And, after all, Harry is not the heir to the throne, he is simply one of a long line of emergency back-up heirs. If anything were to happen to him, there are numerous people ready and waiting to step into the breech (sorry, couldn't resist that).

It is astounding that there are still people who genuinely believe that members of the royal family are somehow better than the rest of us. I was going to say, I wonder if they would say that to the families of service men and women who are currently on active duty, or the families of those who don't make it back, but anyone who genuinely believes in such ridiculous notions probably would be crass enough to do so. Suffice it to say, the average soldier is significantly more important to their family and friends (and probably society in general*) than some posh bloke, no matter who his grandmother happens to be.

As a little aside - I noticed quite a few commenters discussing the old rumour about Harry's parentage. I have never understood this theory because I think he bears a striking resemblance to Prince Philip. On the other hand, his brother . . .

* After all, the country isn't going to grind to a halt if we don't have royal folk to open hospitals.

Blog Carnival 23/04/06

Welcome to this week's blog carnival. There are some great entries this time, covering a range of themes and views - which is nice to see. I started this blog with the idea that it should represent diverse and wide ranging opinions and I hope the carnival will follow suit.

So, pour a cup of tea and lets get on with this edition . . .

Blog Carnival

worldwide opinions

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The Frugalist presents How to: Go Green AND Save a Boatload of Money ? 57 Tips, Tutorials, and Ideas posted at Frugalist.

Beaman presents Journalist's Hour of Shame posted at Beaman's World, saying, "A critique of the latest NUJ (British Union of Journalists) boycott of Israel, in poetic form."

Al Nye presents Senator Collins Whines on YouTube posted at Al Nye The Lawyer Guy.

Odalis "Boston Corbett" David presents And You Thought Cho Seung-Hui was Crazy... A Kansas Apology for Westboro Baptist Plans... posted at The Boston Corbett Variety Hour, saying, "Thanks for starting an interesting carnival!"

Hell's Handmaiden presents Blogs for Monsters Among Us posted at Hell's Handmaiden.

Vlad Popescu presents eu series: hegemonism - an eu love affair posted at sign on the broken line., saying, "An opinion piece."

Riversider presents Preston City Council Looking to "Build All Over " South Ribble? posted at Save The Ribble.

That's all for this edition. Thank you to everyone who participated, your contributions are appreciated.

Submit your blog article to the next edition of worldwide opinions using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Do read this

Thanks to John Wesley for writing about this essay by the late Kurt Vonnegut. It is well worth reading, if only for the following:

"But I am now 82. Thanks a lot, you dirty rats. The last thing I ever wanted was to be alive when the three most powerful people on the whole planet would be named Bush, Dick and Colon."

Are the UK and the EU the "new communist threat"?

Are the UK and the EU the "new communist threat"?

this story (published here) was due to be published here too however a slight mishap of forgotten username slowed this down (so the story is three days old now).

A story in quotes.

Vladimir Bukovksy, the 63-year old former Soviet dissident, fears that the European Union is on its way to becoming another Soviet Union. In a speech he delivered in Brussels last week Mr Bukovsky called the EU a “monster” that must be destroyed, the sooner the better, before it develops into a fullfledged totalitarian state.
Former Soviet Dissident Warns For EU Dictatorship

Here is an excerpt from that self same article:

PB: But all these countries that joined the European Union did so voluntarily.

VB: No, they did not. Look at Denmark which voted against the Maastricht treaty twice. Look at Ireland [which voted against the Nice treaty]. Look at many other countries, they are under enormous pressure. It is almost blackmail. Switzerland was forced to vote five times in a referendum. All five times they have rejected it, but who knows what will happen the sixth time, the seventh time. It is always the same thing. It is a trick for idiots. The people have to vote in referendums until the people vote the way that is wanted. Then they have to stop voting. Why stop? Let us continue voting. The European Union is what Americans would call a shotgun marriage.
Former Soviet Dissident Warns For EU Dictatorship

But it's not just the EU that is heading that way - the UK is doing it all by herself.

...they arrest a woman for reciting the names of British troops killed in Iraq in an otherwise peaceful protest near the Cenotaph. Maya Evans, who had fallen foul of a clause in the Serious and Organised Crime and Police Act, was duly convicted last week, given a conditional discharge and left with a criminal record.
advertisement.
telegraph.co.uk on actions of the police

But that's not all.

Then, an author taking part in a broadcast discussion about gay adoptions was telephoned by a policewoman and informed that her name had been noted following a complaint that she had made a "homophobic" remark on air.
telegraph.co.uk on actions of the police

If that were all you could laugh but: EU aims to criminalise Holocaust denial. So now if I were to make sick jokes about the Nazi's and the Jews I'm for the chop, but if I make sick jokes about the USSR I am fine. Furthermore if I incite hated about minorities I am doomed but if I do so about large enough groups I am theoretically safe.

Under this law Muslim (or other minority) extremists could potentially stir up war against the west but western extremists may not retaliate.

Sound fair to me - NOT!

Laws that make denying or trivialising the Holocaust a criminal offence punishable by jail sentences will be introduced across the European Union, according to a proposal expecting to win backing from ministers Thursday.

Offenders will face up to three years in jail under the proposed legislation, which will also apply to inciting violence against ethnic, religious or national groups.
EU aims to criminalise Holocaust denial

Is anyone else wondering if any other country might be a safe place to live?

I'm frightened enough to want to expatriate away as soon as I can.

More analysis of the story.

However as reported by the BBC the new law (passed today) has "stopped short of a blanket ban on Holocaust denial".

However, trends being what they are, where will it end? Where could a family go to be safe?

One Day Silence

A one day blog silence has been proposed for 30th April. Initially, the event was to be held as a mark of respect for the victims at Virginia Tech. However, this seems to have been expanded to include victims of violence around the world.

Some people are questioning the merits of a silence at all, saying we should be talking instead, debating the issues and looking for answers. Although, I believe those things are very important I have to disagree with them because sometimes silence can speak far more eloquently than thousands of words, and sometimes, it is important to take a step back to remember and reflect.

In the course of my life I have seen instances of people uniting together in silence, which have been incredibly powerful. Men and women standing before war memorials, a far away look in the eyes as they thought of the ones who didn’t make it home. Tens of thousands of football fans filling stadiums with silence instead of the usual chants and songs, as they remembered the victims of the Hillsborough disaster. What seemed like a whole town-full of people stopping whatever they were doing and falling quiet as a mark of respect to those who died on September 11th.

The people who have lost a loved one as a result of violence know a different kind of silence. It’s the silence of a bedroom whose occupant will never use it again. The silence of a house that no longer rings with laughter. The silence at the end of the phone, instead of a much loved voice. The silence of sleeping alone in a bed bought for and by two.

By taking a day to reflect we are telling these people that although we may not know them personally, or the details of their loss, they are still important. OK, it’s not a big gesture, and in the great scheme of things it isn’t going to do much, but surely it’s better than nothing, better than simply going about our business as though nothing else matters.

Then we can get back to talking.

Originally published at Kate Blogs About . . .

Isn't that a bit cheeky?

The Royal family. We pay their wages, but they think we are too common to marry. Hmm. There's something wrong there, now what could it be. No, I give up, you are going to have to tell me.

ps: If anyone royal happens to be reading: toilet, pardon, pleased to meet you - oo er, I bet you're shocked now.

Welcome to the first Worldwide Opinions blog carnival!

Welcome to the April 16, 2007 edition of the Worldwide Opinions blog carnival. This is our first ever carnival, and it has been great to see so many entries. If you would like to send something in for the next edition see the links at the end of this post. Now, on with the show:

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Truth On The Lam posted at Mad Kane's Political Madness.

Dan Harris presents Randal Peerenboom's China Modernizes posted at China Law Blog, saying, "Strong opinion on China today."

Phil B. presents How Long can the World Sustain the World's Population? « Phil for Humanity posted at Phil for Humanity, saying, "How long can the world sustain the world’s population?"

Riversider presents Council Elections May 2007 posted at Save The Ribble.

Santhros presents Do we need more troops in Iraq? posted at Autentico Ecuatoriano.

Brooklyn Dissentator presents The Second Materialism posted at The Dissentators, saying, "Discussion on what I feel is a second wave of materialism for items both larger and smaller than your ipod."

CapeTownDissentator presents Please Read to the End posted at The Dissentators, saying, "Just a general comment on our societies pronounced ability to give our candidates the brush-off for the wrong reasons."

That's all folks!

Submit your blog article to the next edition of
worldwide opinions using our carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our
blog carnival index page.

Messaje in a bottle!!! beautiful story!!

Tras 1.742 días por el Atlántico, una botella llega a Francia

11/04/2007 - 20:23
IBLNEWS, AGENCIAS

Una botella lanzada al mar en mayo de 2002 por un abuelo estadounidense durante una travesía en el Atlántico, ha sido encontrada hace unas semanas por otro abuelo en una playa de Fouras, en Charente-Maritime (Francia) tras 1.742 días a la deriva.

La historia, contada a finales de marzo por el diario estadounidense Washington Post, ha sido confirmada a AFP por Guy Martin, un jubilado de la región parisina que encontró la botella a inicios de abril en su segunda residencia, en Fouras, a 30 kilómetros al sur de La Rochelle (suroeste).

"El 20 de febrero, me paseaba con mis nietos por la playa cuando vi una botella de plástico. En el interior descubrí una caja con 'Please open' ('por favor, abran') escrito encima, todo en inglés", explica el sexagenario.

Este abuelo y sus nietos, Guillaume, de 7 años y Adrien, de 5 años, descubrieron así la dirección de un tal Nolan, de Fairfax, una localidad del Estado de Virginia, en Estados Unidos, y le enviaron una carta postal. La respuesta llegó firmada por Thomas Garnett: Nolan, de 9 años, es su nieto.

El abuelo estadounidense había lanzado la botella el 15 de mayo de 2002 durante una travesía del Atlántico a bordo del barco Queen Elizabeth II. Según sus cálculos, la botella cubrió 2.066 millas marinas (casi 3.826 kilómetros) en 1.742 días.

"Lo que es interesante", considera Guy Martin, "es que somos abuelos de nietos con edades parecidas. Para ellos, es maravilloso. ¿Podrán tener la oportunidad de encontrarse un día?".

Getting your knickers in a knot about ethical clothing

Writing for The Independent on 8th April, Joan Smith ponders the important topic of appropriate frillies for feminists*. In her piece, Joan, quite rightly, asserts her right to wear any knickers she jolly well chooses. And that's fair enough, I'm a fan of nice undies myself, and can fully see her point. However, Joan then drifts off into some very murky territory.

In describing the opening of a new high street clothing store in London, she dismisses it's customers desire for cheap but stylish garments as some strange quirk of the English, whom she believes:

"...like a bargain, even if the fabric is horrible and it was made by women working for 5p an hour in cramped factories in Bangladesh."

Apparently, all these bargain hunters should be forking out for designer labels, just as Joan does, because said labels are produced ethically. This notion brings two points to mind.

Firstly, most of the women frequenting the store Joan mentions do not have the necessary disposable income to shop at the kind of outlets she favours. They don't buy cheap clothes because of some strange, national idiosyncrasy, they buy them because it is all they can afford.

Secondly, since when have designer labels been more ethical than cheaper ones? In the last ten years I have read numerous reports of extremely high profile (and expensive) brands being produced by people working in the very same conditions as those who produce less expensive (and lower status) items. And even if a specific brand does treat it's workers ethically, it does not mean that the materials which are used in the manufacturing process are from ethical sources**.

The clothing industry is rife with exploitation. That isn't to say that all companies are the same, many have made concerted efforts to ensure the people they and their contractors' employ receive a decent wage, and work in good conditions. Some have even turned these efforts into a marketing tactic***. However, it is wrong to assume that simply because one garment is more expensive than another it has been produced fairly.

So yes, Joan can call herself a feminist even if she does wear designer clothes, but her credentials look a little shaky when she derides other women for the contents of their wardrobes.

* See 'Why can't a feminist wear frilly knickers?'

** Read about the inequities in cotton production

*** An example of a fair trade clothing company - ironically this company have a line at Top Shop, one of those cheap high street stores

More information about the clothing industry's use of sweatshops.

Don't forget the weekly blog carnival, find out more here!

Should the BBC sign up for the bloggers code of conduct?

Over the last couple of weeks the BBC have been reporting the news about a possible code of conduct for bloggers, this follows their coverage of the Kathy Sierra case. Curiously, although Auntie seems to very keen to discuss acceptable standards of behaviour in the blogosphere, she doesn't enforce the same standards on her own forums, or at least, not on the 'Have Your Say' (HYS) section of the BBC news site.

At one time HYS was a great place to visit, one found a wide range of views and opinions being discussed in a vigorous, but articulate manner. Sadly, this has changed in recent months, and the boards have been infiltrated by what I can only describe as a bunch of Daily Mail* reading morons. It is easy to spot these folk, they have a tendency to blame anything and everything on either immigrants, single parents, the working class or just women in general. Today, conversation sunk to a new low - the castigation of low income pensioners**. For example:

Should've saved up and funded their own retirement properly.......

Stephen J Brown, Down South, United Kingdom

The fact that some commenters hold these views isn't the problem, everyone is entitled to their opinion. No, what I object to is the BBC publishing the sweeping and derogatory statements made by these individuals which stereotype and insult vast sections of society. These people are nothing less than trolls, if they posted this kind of content on any other blog, it is likely that their comment would be deleted, or only allowed on a blog which encouraged inflammatory remarks. However, the BBC isn't just any other blog.

The British Broadcasting Corporation is a publicly funded body. Every single television owning household in the country pays a compulsory television licence fee which is used to fund the BBC. In other words, the BBC belongs to the people of Britain, we are it's shareholders and amongst those shareholders are a sizable number of immigrants, single parents, working class people and women (and pensioners). Bearing all this in mind, surely the BBC has a greater than average responsibility to keep it's blogs and message boards free of insulting (and inarticulate) comments.

I believe everybody has the right to voice their thoughts, but there is a world of difference between arguing passionately but logically, and a bigoted rant. I do not want to read the latter, nor do I wish to pay for the privilege of doing so.

* Notorious for it's support of Hitler in the 1930s
** You may need to click back a few pages, posts were coming in very quickly

Don't forget the weekly blog carnival, find out more here!

Worldwide Opinions Part Deux: The Carnival

It's been pretty quiet around here recently - I think we have all been busy with other things. Anyhow, to keep things interesting during this and future quiet times, I decided to hold a weekly blog carnival, and in the process give you, our reader, the chance to air your own thoughts and opinions.

Mere details: The theme is, of course, opinion and commentary about news, current affairs and politics. You don't need to write a post specifically for the carnival, but if you want to, that would be great. It's a really good way to expose your writing (and blog) to new readers, and also to find new blogs to read. Oh, and if you aren't sure what a blog carnival is read this.

And now for a bossy bit: I reserve the right to refuse anything I regard as illegal or obscene - yes, I realise that is a subjective thing, but I'm the editor and my decision is final.

To submit your link for inclusion simply visit this page.

ps: If you want to become a member of the team and write for this blog regularly, see the link in the sidebar.