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Where`s the Consolation for Victims of our Wars?

Would he consider ordering a moratorium – even for just a day – on killing people by drones and other U.S. weapons systems in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Palestine, Yemen, Somalia, Colombia, Honduras… ?

(RICHMOND, R.I.) - Television introduced us to the victims of the horrific shootings in Aurora, CO, and to the grieving survivors.

Americans were dismayed, and President Obama went to Colorado to personally console the survivors.

The End of the West`s Humiliating Affair with Paul Kagame

It piles the pressure on Britain to make a similar admission that its long-time darling, revered as a success story that underpins an entire ideology around donor development aid, could have feet of clay.

(LONDON The Guardian) - The US has belatedly woken up to the warts-and-all reality of the Rwandan president. When will Britain acknowledge that its development darling may have feet of clay?

A "visionary leader," said Tony Blair; "one of the greatest leaders of our time," echoed Bill Clinton. Such hero worship is usually reserved for South Africa's Nelson Mandela.

Merkley Unveils Bold Plan to Jump-Start Housing Markets

Senator Proposes 4% Refinancing Option for all Underwater Homeowners to Spur Economy.

(WASHINGTON DC) - Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today offered a new plan to tackle one of the most persistent challenges to the sputtering economy: the massive number of Americans who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are now worth.

In a white paper containing the proposal, called “The 4% Mortgage: Rebuilding American Homeownership,” Merkley laid out a plan to allow underwater homeowners who are current on their mortgages to refinance to a lower interest rate.

Racism Alive and Well in Israel - 5 West Bank Female Students Denied Access to Gaza

Despite Supreme Court recommendation: State upholds refusal to allow gender studies students to travel from Gaza to the West Bank.

(TEL AVIV) - Despite a court order to reconsider, Israel's Defense Ministry today announced that it will not back down on its refusal to allow five female students from Gaza to reach their studies in the West Bank.

The announcement effectively returns the matter to the purview of the Supreme Court, which will be asked to rule on the case.

Women`s Rights and the Dilemma of Arab Spring

Many reform movements with liberal platforms are spreading their message of a secular society...

(SALEM) - One can’t help but notice how vocal many groups have become in the Middle East lately. It is hard not to notice that the Arab Spring has given many groups the courage to come out in public and demand with strength what they believe is right for them.

From far left to extreme right, movements are becoming more vocal, less tolerant and less obedient to current laws.

Obama in Portland: 2012 and 2008

Local media was as usual obsessed with traffic jams...

(PORTLAND, OR) - Obama’s 5 hour campaign in Portland yesterday was an illuminating contrast with his primary campaign visit in 2008.

Then the some 80,000 Portlanders who came out for his waterfront rally demonstrated a popular movement of the 99% committed to repudiating the neocon Bush administrations (as well as right wing Dems represented by Hillary Clinton) and the hope for a new regime along New Deal ideological lines.

Kim Thatcher To Receive Taxpayer Award

Representative Thatcher is currently the Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Legislative Audits and Information Management and Technology, in addition to serving on the Ways and Means Committee.

(SALEM) - “I’m very honored to be receiving this recognition from the Taxpayer Association of Oregon,” said State Representative Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer, Newberg, St. Paul) after learning that the group is giving her their Thomas Jefferson Award for 2012 at an annual event in Clackamas County this weekend.

Thatcher is one of two outstanding lawmakers being awarded this year...

USCIRF Urges China to End Restrictions and Violence during Ramadan

Since USCIRF's March report was issued, Chinese police and security forces have raided "illegal religious schools" in the city of Hotan.

(WASHINGTON DC) - As the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges an end to all violence and restrictions on peaceful religious activity in China's Xinjiang Uighur [Muslim] Autonomous Region (XUAR).

Religious freedom conditions in the XUAR have declined rapidly since the ethnic violence of June 2009.

On black pots and black kettles...
Canada Comes Up Lily White In Crimes Against Humanity

Canada has demanded an international probe into the widespread allegations of war crimes by Sri Lanka.

(SASKATCHEWAN) - In enlightened Toronto, the National Post, that leading Canadian broadsheet, ever on the alert to report on bad stuff, particularly about foreigners, recently struck a blow for freedom, humanity and motherhood, of a sort.

Commodore Nadarajah Kuruparan, a Sri Lankan naval officer, arrived at the Canadian border in August three years or so ago with his wife and two children, and made a claim for refugee status.

Are you a Good American?

Apparently there is not one of the 535 members with a spine, for if there were, impeachment charges would have brought.

(JAMESTOWN, RI) - Are you a good American?

If you are content with the fact that the President of the US can, at his discretion, have US citizens assassinated with no charges, no trial, and with the President serving as judge, jury, and executioner, you are not a good citizen. You do not deserve your citizenship.