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European Tourists Waylaid in Sri Lanka, Resurgence of `White Van` Crime

European tourists were white vanned on their way to Kandy from Passikudah.

(COLOMBO) - Today, our newsroom was sent the story, "European Tourist white vanned on their way to Kandy from Passikudah", published by Tamil Daily.

The white vans are an ominous symbol of state terrorism in Sri Lanka. This is what the government used to disappear journalists and others sympathetic to the Tamils, before the massive Genocide ordered by President Majinda Rajapaksa commenced just over two years ago.

Palestinian Statehood: A First Step Toward Sovereignty?

“...we can have an agreement that will lead to a new member of the United Nations – an independent, sovereign state of Palestine, living in peace with Israel” - Barack Obama's forgotten words

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - With little fanfare and understated ease, the Ambassador of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to the United States spoke in Washington, DC on Tuesday.

The event, entitled “Sovereignty and a New Reality: Palestinian Statehood at the United Nations”, took place at the Palestine Center, a part of the Jerusalem Fund.

Murdoch and Vaccines - Exposure of Murdoch`s Crimes Open Up A Much Larger Story

"... the evidence of sleazy and scandalous behavior of the Murdoch papers has expanded geometrically." Michael Collins

(LONDON) - Rupert Murdoch's news empire faces intense media and legal scrutiny.

Current revelations focus on Murdoch's News of the World hacking into the Dowler family's voice messages during the kidnapping case their 12 year old daughter Milly, and Murdoch's London Times' for allegedly having illegally obtained the financial, property and medical information of former UK Labour Party Leader Gordon Brown during the time he was chancellor.

Rupert Murdoch VS. Edward R. Murrow and Izzy Stone

“We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.” - Edward R. Murrow

(CLERMONT, Fla.) - On Saturday morning, Rupert Murdoch apologized to the British public in a full-page advertisement that will run for three days in seven national newspapers stating:

“We are sorry. The News of the World was in the business of holding others to account. It failed when it came to itself. We are sorry for the serious wrongdoing that occurred. We are deeply sorry for the hurt suffered by the individuals affected.”

44 Prisoners Join Hunger Strike at Vavuniya Prison in Sri Lanka

As world pressure Builds Over Sri Lanka Genocide, prisoners gain attention through protest.

(SALEM, Ore.) - At least 44 Tamil prisoners in Sri Lanka are now participating in an ongoing hunger strike at the Vavuniya prison over being held long periods for suspected involvement in the LTTE Tamil Tigers (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam).

Congress Blesses Israel`s Matrix of Control

Both U.S. parties are still trapped in an early mindset which believes that colonized people should only be allowed independence under the terms and conditions granted them by their occupiers.

(CHICAGO) - The US Congress announced through two July votes that since the US and Israel are obviously the colonial bosses of the Middle East, the future of the Palestinian people must be determined through “negotiations” between unequal partners, an occupying military power and the captive population it occupies.

OK, so the resolution did not actually say that part about colonialism. But ponder for a moment what really happened in our national legislative halls this month.

Back to `No Work` for our Veterans

To have our returning veterans suffer a 45% higher unemployment rate than the average U.S. citizen, is shameful.

(HARRISVILLE, N.H.) - According to an article titled “Veterans face high unemployment after military service”, written by Alana Semuels, and published by the L.A. Times on July 11, 2011, the unemployment rate for veterans who have served since September of 2001 currently sits at 13.3%.

The average unemployment rate for all U.S. citizens is currently 9.2%. Ms. Semuels suggests that the disparity between the unemployment rate for veterans and non-veterans will widen...

Striking Longshoremen Block Mile Long Train, Protesting Scab Labor

“EGT would like to be the Walmart of the grain business and force everyone else into their agenda,” - Scott Mason, president of Tacoma-based ILWU Local 23.

(LONGVIEW, Wash.) - Hundreds of ILWU members blocked a mile long Bulington Northern Santa Fe grain train from entering the new terminal at Longview, which transnational EGT wants to operate with scab labor.

On July 11, about 100 union members were arrested by Longview police for a similar action. This time, BNSF rerouted the train to Vancouver and suspended the delivery to EGT (which estimates it can save $1M with scabs).

Islam and Knowledge vs. Socialization

The very foundation of hegemony and empire lie in the public holding largely facile views of truths essential to the rulers.

(SAN FRANCISCO) - 'On occasions, I feel Muslims ‘lose’ something when it comes to religion. I am speaking about the second last prophet Jesus or Isa (E-sa) peace be upon him... My general opinion of Muslims is that they tend to take on a facile view of Christianity ... I get the feeling that this may be because: If an increase in discussions by Muslims of Jesus (pbuh) were to take place, it would be percieved as “being Christian”.'

Interesting perspective, and along the lines which reduce to the following empiricism: Human beings in general don't tend to appreciate what is not part of one's own socialization.

India and `the Killing Fields of Sri Lanka`

Tamil Nadu is at a boiling point over India’s contribution to the genocide in Sri Lanka.

(NEW DELHI) - THE Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India, Prasad Kariyawasam, now in Colombo for consultations, has sought an appointment with the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalitha, in Chennai to extend to her a personal invitation from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to visit Sri Lanka.

In its attempt to pamper Rajapaksa to serve the agenda of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, India had betrayed the cause of Sri Lankan Tamils who have been struggling for equal rights with the majority Sinhalese.