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4 Views
22:00:46 11/18/11
Police Mercenaries: Privatizing Liberty
[LESS INFO] 4 VIEWS | ADDED 22:00:46 11/18/11
As Mayor Bloomberg's forces swooped down on Occupy Wall Street, news reports described the " hundreds of police and private security guards " who had re-taken Zuccotti Park. Those private guards were used against public citizens who had been exercising their civil liberties in a public area.
That's not just wrong. It's unAmerican.
This incident holds an important lesson for anyone who loves our freedoms: When something public is made private, our liberties are privatized too. And privatized liberty isn't liberty at all.
Privatizing Liberty
Zuccotti Park. New Yorkers knew it as Liberty Plaza Park for nearly half a century. Like other sites in New York, the plaza was created through an agreement between the city and a private company, United States Steel, that wanted to erect a building that exceeded the city's height limits. So the city made them a deal: You can take up more than your share of the public skyline, but in return you have to give the city some open space at ground level.
This wasn't a gift. It was a fair exchange between two parties, a private corporation and the people of New York. The people gave up a chunk of their skyline and the owner agreed to provide an open - and, by agreement, fully public - space in return. New York City makes these deals fairly often. The plazas created by these agreements are called "privately owned public spaces," or "POPS," and the city has lots of them.
The Mayor may want to read that phrase again: It doesn't say "privately owned private spaces." Both the owner and the city are obligated to keep them for public use, in the public sphere, with all the laws and freedoms that apply to public space.
The park's current owner, Brookfield Properties, rebuilt the park with private donations after it was damaged in the 9/11 attacks. With Mayor Bloomberg's permission, they also overstepped tradition and the bounds of propriety by renaming the park - not for the thousands of innocent people who died that day, but for their own chairman.
The symbolism is perfect:They replaced a treasured word for freedom with the name of a rich guy who'd done nothing to create the park. With the Mayor's blessing, they literally privatized the word "liberty."
Like I said, perfect. Tragic, but perfect.
Private Dicks
Brookfield overstepped its bounds when its CEO sent the mayor a letter saying that the Occupation "violates the law, violates the rules of the Park, deprives the community of its rights of quiet enjoyment to the Park, and creates health and public safety issues." Those aren't decisions a private company, even an owner, should make about a public space. They are judgments an elected official makes on behalf of a free citizenry.
This week Bloomberg and Brookfield have used the park's semi-private status as an excuse to invade a public space with a private security force. Whoever these guys were - besides rude and uncivil - they served as a kind of Blackwater militia, but targeting New Yorkers instead of Iraqis. (At least Brookfield says it fired the guard who called a citizen a " faggot .")
When it comes to privatization, it seems the Mayor has boundary issues. He has repeatedly used the park's private ownership status to claim, that the public has fewer rights there than it does in other public spaces. That's false. But then, that's the problem with "public/private partnerships." The "public" partner always gets rolled the public one.
But then, that's how these people are. Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile. The lesson of Zuccotti Park is: Never give them an inch.
Thin Blue Line, Thick Green Wallets
News reports made noted the presence of two different groups, New York City police officers and private security guards, but in some ways that's become a distinction without a difference. The NYPD is frequently rented by the same Wall Street banks that broke the law, crashed the economy and got away with it. As Pam Martens reported in Counterpunch, Rudy Giuliani created an operation called the "Paid Detail" unit that turns New York's Finest into a "rent-a-cop" service for anyone with the money to pay for it.
And who has more money in New York than the banks? As Martens reports, companies like Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, and the New York Stock Exchange have rented the Thin Blue Line with the cash from their Thick Green Wallets. Even after the Stock Exchange was found to have illegally taken over public streets and walkways and "created a public nuisance," nobody was fined or arrested.
But then, it must be hard for a cop to arrest anybody that he sometimes has to address as "boss." Maybe that's one of the reasons why a retired Philadelphia police officer, Capt. Ray Lewis, was willing to be handcuffed and arrested by fellow officers during the protest. Capt. Lewis called their rationale for arresting him a ' farce ' and promised to return.
(photo by permission of the photographer, Lauren Thorpe)
New York isn't the only city that rents out its police force. But the financial capital of the nation bears moral and civic responsibilities that Mayors Guiliani and Bloomberg have disrespected and violated. The photograph of Capt. Lewis is like an image of law enforcement's honor, handcuffed by the mercenary instincts of Gracie Mansion's two most recent occupants.
Checkbook Democracy
But then, why would Michael Bloomberg be expected to understand that privatization is undemocratic? He "privatized" the electoral process, one of our most sacred democratic institutions, by buying himself the mayoralty. And he spent unprecedented levels of campaign cash from his personal billions to do it. Then, when he didn't like the term limits that the people of New York had decreed for their mayor - well, he "privatized" that too.
But this isn't really about Michael Bloomberg. Despite his reputation for healthy self-regard, even the billionaire mayor is only a symptom of a much larger problem. Rich people have been buying elections for so long that it's become the newest form of self-indulgence, conveying even more status than a Citation jet or a private island. Public office is the newest must-have item for the excessively vain and excessive well-to-do, a kind of vanity press for the self-published authors of their own meritless political careers. Bloomberg is merely the today's most conspicuous, extravagant, and fiscally irresponsible member of an increasingly ordinary club.
You don't have to be a billionaire to run for office these days, of course. But if you're not you'll spend most of your time begging them for money. No wonder the 1% call all the shots in government. They own it.
I've always thought it would be a good idea if elected officials wore the insignia of the corporations that sponsor them, the way race car drivers do.
Sold American
Republicans want to privatize Social Security and Medicare. The Bush and Obama Administrations have privatized law enforcement on Wall Street by asking banks to police themselves. And during the devastating San Diego fires, residents learned that AIG had created a private fire department that saved the homes of its clients while other nearby houses burned.
Privatized police. Privatized fire departments. Privatized prisons. Privatized armies of Halliburton and Blackwater soldiers. When for-profit companies perform government functions, they'll do it in a way that makes them money. That's not hard to understand, but our "leaders" keep doing it anyway.
Why? Because they've privatized their consciences, too.
3 Views
22:00:46 11/18/11
Police Mercenaries: Privatizing Liberty
[LESS INFO] 3 VIEWS | ADDED 22:00:46 11/18/11
As Mayor Bloomberg's forces swooped down on Occupy Wall Street, news reports described the " hundreds of police and private security guards " who had re-taken Zuccotti Park. Those private guards were used against public citizens who had been exercising their civil liberties in a public area.
That's not just wrong. It's unAmerican.
This incident holds an important lesson for anyone who loves our freedoms: When something public is made private, our liberties are privatized too. And privatized liberty isn't liberty at all.
Privatizing Liberty
Zuccotti Park. New Yorkers knew it as Liberty Plaza Park for nearly half a century. Like other sites in New York, the plaza was created through an agreement between the city and a private company, United States Steel, that wanted to erect a building that exceeded the city's height limits. So the city made them a deal: You can take up more than your share of the public skyline, but in return you have to give the city some open space at ground level.
This wasn't a gift. It was a fair exchange between two parties, a private corporation and the people of New York. The people gave up a chunk of their skyline and the owner agreed to provide an open - and, by agreement, fully public - space in return. New York City makes these deals fairly often. The plazas created by these agreements are called "privately owned public spaces," or "POPS," and the city has lots of them.
The Mayor may want to read that phrase again: It doesn't say "privately owned private spaces." Both the owner and the city are obligated to keep them for public use, in the public sphere, with all the laws and freedoms that apply to public space.
The park's current owner, Brookfield Properties, rebuilt the park with private donations after it was damaged in the 9/11 attacks. With Mayor Bloomberg's permission, they also overstepped tradition and the bounds of propriety by renaming the park - not for the thousands of innocent people who died that day, but for their own chairman.
The symbolism is perfect:They replaced a treasured word for freedom with the name of a rich guy who'd done nothing to create the park. With the Mayor's blessing, they literally privatized the word "liberty."
Like I said, perfect. Tragic, but perfect.
Private Dicks
Brookfield overstepped its bounds when its CEO sent the mayor a letter saying that the Occupation "violates the law, violates the rules of the Park, deprives the community of its rights of quiet enjoyment to the Park, and creates health and public safety issues." Those aren't decisions a private company, even an owner, should make about a public space. They are judgments an elected official makes on behalf of a free citizenry.
This week Bloomberg and Brookfield have used the park's semi-private status as an excuse to invade a public space with a private security force. Whoever these guys were - besides rude and uncivil - they served as a kind of Blackwater militia, but targeting New Yorkers instead of Iraqis. (At least Brookfield says it fired the guard who called a citizen a " faggot .")
When it comes to privatization, it seems the Mayor has boundary issues. He has repeatedly used the park's private ownership status to claim, that the public has fewer rights there than it does in other public spaces. That's false. But then, that's the problem with "public/private partnerships." The "public" partner always gets rolled the public one.
But then, that's how these people are. Give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile. The lesson of Zuccotti Park is: Never give them an inch.
Thin Blue Line, Thick Green Wallets
News reports made noted the presence of two different groups, New York City police officers and private security guards, but in some ways that's become a distinction without a difference. The NYPD is frequently rented by the same Wall Street banks that broke the law, crashed the economy and got away with it. As Pam Martens reported in Counterpunch, Rudy Giuliani created an operation called the "Paid Detail" unit that turns New York's Finest into a "rent-a-cop" service for anyone with the money to pay for it.
And who has more money in New York than the banks? As Martens reports, companies like Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, and the New York Stock Exchange have rented the Thin Blue Line with the cash from their Thick Green Wallets. Even after the Stock Exchange was found to have illegally taken over public streets and walkways and "created a public nuisance," nobody was fined or arrested.
But then, it must be hard for a cop to arrest anybody that he sometimes has to address as "boss." Maybe that's one of the reasons why a retired Philadelphia police officer, Capt. Ray Lewis, was willing to be handcuffed and arrested by fellow officers during the protest. Capt. Lewis called their rationale for arresting him a ' farce ' and promised to return.
(photo by permission of the photographer, Lauren Thorpe)
New York isn't the only city that rents out its police force. But the financial capital of the nation bears moral and civic responsibilities that Mayors Guiliani and Bloomberg have disrespected and violated. The photograph of Capt. Lewis is like an image of law enforcement's honor, handcuffed by the mercenary instincts of Gracie Mansion's two most recent occupants.
Checkbook Democracy
But then, why would Michael Bloomberg be expected to understand that privatization is undemocratic? He "privatized" the electoral process, one of our most sacred democratic institutions, by buying himself the mayoralty. And he spent unprecedented levels of campaign cash from his personal billions to do it. Then, when he didn't like the term limits that the people of New York had decreed for their mayor - well, he "privatized" that too.
But this isn't really about Michael Bloomberg. Despite his reputation for healthy self-regard, even the billionaire mayor is only a symptom of a much larger problem. Rich people have been buying elections for so long that it's become the newest form of self-indulgence, conveying even more status than a Citation jet or a private island. Public office is the newest must-have item for the excessively vain and excessive well-to-do, a kind of vanity press for the self-published authors of their own meritless political careers. Bloomberg is merely the today's most conspicuous, extravagant, and fiscally irresponsible member of an increasingly ordinary club.
You don't have to be a billionaire to run for office these days, of course. But if you're not you'll spend most of your time begging them for money. No wonder the 1% call all the shots in government. They own it.
I've always thought it would be a good idea if elected officials wore the insignia of the corporations that sponsor them, the way race car drivers do.
Sold American
Republicans want to privatize Social Security and Medicare. The Bush and Obama Administrations have privatized law enforcement on Wall Street by asking banks to police themselves. And during the devastating San Diego fires, residents learned that AIG had created a private fire department that saved the homes of its clients while other nearby houses burned.
Privatized police. Privatized fire departments. Privatized prisons. Privatized armies of Halliburton and Blackwater soldiers. When for-profit companies perform government functions, they'll do it in a way that makes them money. That's not hard to understand, but our "leaders" keep doing it anyway.
Why? Because they've privatized their consciences, too.
1 Views
00:10:26 10/03/11
Smalley Teaches Pipeline Safety After Death of Daughter
[LESS INFO] 1 VIEWS | ADDED 00:10:26 10/03/11
Smalley Teaches Pipeline Safety After Death of Daughter
Oct. 3 (Bloomberg) -- Danny Smalley speaks with Bloomberg's David Evans about his daughter, Danielle Smalley, and the foundation which promotes pipeline safety that bears her name. In 1996 a leak in a Koch Industries Inc. butane pipeline led to an explosion that killed 17 year-old Danielle. The November issue of Bloomberg Markets magazine examines the history of some illegal and improper practices of the global empire run by the billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch. (Source: Bloomberg) From: Bloomberg Views: 0 0 ratings Time: 02:15 More in Entertainment
0 Views
04:06:22 10/01/11
Episode 183: Firearm Safety
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 04:06:22 10/01/11
Denis chats with Don Gorman, firearm safety instructor and former State Representative. Topics include basic firearm safety rules, firearms in the home, legal issues around self defense, familiarization with firearms, and the relationship between freedom and responsibility. Also: NH Constitution, Part I, Article 2a: The Bearing of Arms
0 Views
14:55:25 09/22/11
Usd Rally To Gather Pace On Flight To Safety
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 14:55:25 09/22/11
The U.S. dollar extended the advance from earlier this week following the shift in market sentiment, and the reserve currency may continue to appreciate over the next 24-hours of trading as the flight to safety gathers pace. As the economic docket remains fairly light for Friday, we should see risk sentiment dictate price action across the currency market, and the greenback may continue to gain ground over the near-term as the uncertainties surrounding the global economy bears down on investor confidence.
0 Views
14:55:25 09/22/11
USD Rally To Gather Pace On Flight To Safety
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 14:55:25 09/22/11
The U.S. dollar extended the advance from earlier this week following the shift in market sentiment, and the reserve currency may continue to appreciate over the next 24-hours of trading as the flight to safety gathers pace. As the economic docket remains fairly light for Friday, we should see risk sentiment dictate price action across the currency market, and the greenback may continue to gain ground over the near-term as the uncertainties surrounding the global economy bears down on investor confidence.
37 Views
00:30:00 08/24/11
Drive it!: The Motor Magazine
[LESS INFO] 37 VIEWS | ADDED 00:30:00 08/24/11
Racing safely in the streets - drive it! presents the latest in sports cars and new automotive safety technology.present it! The Porsche Panamera DieselPorsche is introducing the Panamera Diesel as the long-distance comfort sedan for this series. With its 80-liter fuel tank, the car is able to travel more than 1,200 kilometers non-stop. Yet the Gran Turismo's 84 kilowatt engine is still economical, needing only 6.5 liters to travel 100 kilometers.With low friction tires, the car is even less expensive to run, with consumption going down to 6.3 liters. But with a starting price of 80,183 euros in Germany only the well-heeled will get the chance to drive one. compare it! Renault Clio Gordini RS vs the Citroen DS3 Racing and MINI John Cooper Works ClubmanThis time Compare it! hits the track with three really racy mighty mites. The test models all weigh in at less than 1,300 kilos and are less than four meters long, but they have plenty of power under the hood.The MINI John Cooper Works Clubman, Renault Clio Gordini RS and Citroen DS3 Racing all produce at least 147 kW of power and can easily get up to speeds of 220 km/h. The Clio Gordini's flashy striped design means the car cannot be missed. For those who are a bit more discreet, there is always the DS3 racing. drive it! finds out if the two French challengers can surpass the tiny British classic speedster, the MINI. test it! The Golf Convertible Makes a ComebackGermans used to call the old Golf convertible the "fruit basket", because its distinctive fixed rollover bar resembled a huge handle. The bar was great for acrobatic types who catapulted themselves into the car without having to open the doors.Now Volkswagen has introduced a new generation Golf convertible that does away with the rollbar altogether. Should the car overturn, an automatic rollover protection system hidden behind the rear seats deploys instantly. We put the new VW convertible to the test. inside it! The Ford Safety Tour Shows off New Seatbelt AirbagsAirbags can save lives. While we don't often see them, it's comforting to know that they're there, ready to inflate in a fraction of a second. Front airbags are a standard feature in modern vehicles, and many models also offer head, knee and side airbags.Now Ford has developed seatbelt airbags to protect passengers in the back. If a serious collision occurs, compressed gas from a cylinder under the seat is dispensed through the belt buckle into the seatbelt. The airbag hidden inside the belt pops out and inflates. drive it! was on hand at the Ford Safety Tour to take a closer look. vintage! Mercedes Benz Celebrates its 125th Anniversary In StyleCarl Benz invented the first automobile 125 years ago -- and the company that bears his name is celebrating this anniversary. At the Classic Days vintage car and motorsports event, hosted at Schloss Dyck, Mercedes Benz showed off many of its iconic models.This included the original Benz car from 1886, with the inventor's great-granddaughter Jutta taking a seat behind the wheel. Also on show was Mercedes' legendary 300 SLR roadster, which made its debut at the Mille Miglia endurance race in 1955. Back then Hans Herrmann was at the wheel. He's now 83 years old, but drive it! coaxed the legendary race car driver to get back in the cockpit once again.
9 Views
07:34:26 07/08/11
!!!!Tiger Time!!!! - Big Cat Rescue TV
[LESS INFO] 9 VIEWS | ADDED 07:34:26 07/08/11
"Watch this 4 minute video filmed in late 2006 on some of the things it takes to take care of some of our resident tigers here at BCR. Tigers are beautiful animals, but are also very powerful. A lot of respect and safety is used when giving care to these great animals. Only a select few keepers who have put in over a year of service can take care of our tigers. For more info about BIG CAT RESCUE visit: http://www.bigcatrescue.org Find us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Cat-Rescue-Tampa-FL/122174836956?ref=nf MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/1bigcatrescue TWITTER: http://twitter.com/BigCatRescue DONATE: http://www.bigcatrescue.org/donate.htm THANK YOU!"
0 Views
20:21:25 04/29/11
NATURE | Bears of the Last Frontier | Video Diary: Chris in the Field | PBS
[LESS INFO] 0 VIEWS | ADDED 20:21:25 04/29/11
NATURE | Bears of the Last Frontier | Video Diary: Chris in the Field | PBS
www.pbs.org Ecologist Chris Morgan gives some helpful tips on avoiding any unwanted run-ins with brown bears and shows us vegetation that bears enjoy to snack on. Chris: "I filmed this video diary early on, just as we were getting into the swing of filming on the Alaska Peninsula - my favorite place on earth. This coastal region of Alaska is packed with giant brown bears, and at this time of year (June) they are busy finding mates. It's important to be ever-mindful of the bears here - we are the visitors after all. One important safety measure is to make noise to avoid surprising a bear - especially in the thick brush you'll see in this video diary. It's also a good idea to carry bear spray - just in case. Another good way to stay one step ahead is to know some of the foods that attract bears - they consume dozens of different plants - hard to believe that animals this large focus on eating vegetation for much of the year! Check this video out to see some favorites: lupin, horsetail, and fireweed." Nature joins adventurer and bear biologist Chris Morgan and filmmaker Joe Pontecorvo on a year-long motorcycle odyssey deep into Alaska's bear country to explore the amazing resiliency and adaptability of these majestic animals as they struggle to make a living in five dramatically diverse Alaskan ecosystems: coastal, urban, mountain, tundra, and pack ice. "Bears of the Last Frontier" premieres on PBS Sunday, May 8, 2011 at 8pm and ispart of the 29th season of the Peabody and ... From: PBS Views: 60 1 ratings Time: 02:12 More in Pets & Animals
8 Views
19:45:00 12/09/10
Patriots Today - Thoughts from Sanders, Mankins and more
[LESS INFO] 8 VIEWS | ADDED 19:45:00 12/09/10
We heard from the players as they prepare for Sunday's matchup with the Bears in Chicago. Find out what safety James Sanders and guard Logan Mankins have to say, plus Shayne Graham on kicking in the elements, in Thursday's edition of Locker Room Uncut.
8 Views
19:15:00 12/09/10
Patriots Today - Sanders vs. Olsen
[LESS INFO] 8 VIEWS | ADDED 19:15:00 12/09/10
Each week, Lyndsay Petruny will bring you a player matchup to keep an eye on during the game. In Week 14, we're focusing on Bears' tight end Greg Olsen and Pats' safety James Sanders. Check it out on Toyota's Patriots Today.
24 Views
22:30:00 08/05/10
drive it!: The Motor Magazine
[LESS INFO] 24 VIEWS | ADDED 22:30:00 08/05/10
From super luxury to small but fun, this week's drive it! covers a wide range of automobiles. Mercedes has presented its newest 600 CL, an exclusive luxury coupé with a whole host of technical highlights and an equally exclusive price tag.We also compare two fun little convertibles that cost a great deal less: the Fiat 500 C and the Citroën C3 Pluriel Charleston - two examples of the current fad in small cars for retro designs. Plus, we'll look at Opel's new Meriva, a mini-MPV with some unconventional features. present it! Mercedes CLThe latest edition of Mercedes' flagship CL luxury coupé proves that it's always possible to raise the bar when it comes to luxury. The elegant four-seater delivers maximum comfort and maximum safety, with a stunning list of standard and optional features.The top model, the CL600, comes with a 12-cylinder, bi-turbo engine that produces 517 horsepower. All that luxury is anything but cheap. Prices for the CL600 start at more than 160,000 euros in Germany. compare it! Fiat 500C - Citroën C3 Pluriel CharlestonWe compare two convertibles with distinctive retro designs that evoke two of Europe's most successful post-war designs. Fiat's 500C bears a strong resemblance to the tiny Cinquecento, while Citroën's C3 Pluriel Charleston is styled to recall the famous 2CV.drive it! finds out which car delivers the most for the money, and which offers the best open-air experience. test it! Opel MerivaThis is a luxury that's usually only reserved for the Queen of England. But now the proud owners of an Opel Meriva can experience what it's like to get in and out of a car with such ease. The back doors of the vehicle open in the opposite direction, like the Rolls Royce.drive it's Constantin Beims delves into the royal world of the new Meriva, checking it thoroughly inside and out. spot it! BRP Can-Am SpyderThere's nothing like taking a ride on a Can-Am Spyder. The motorbike looks a bit like a quad from the front, with its three wheels: two at the front and one at the back. It certainly is an eye-catcher!Plus, it gives you the open-air feeling of a convertible and the mobility and dynamics of a motorcycle, even though you can't lean as far into the curves as with a regular motorbike. Changing gears is done with the touch of a button, just like in the Formula 1. And for longer trips, the Can-Am Spyder is a good friend to have along. vintage! Theft protection for vintage carsVintage cars are more popular than ever - especially with thieves. And vintage cars don't come equipped with factory-installed, anti-theft protection devices, like electronic immobilizers or alarm units.So vintage-car owners have to take matters into their own hands to protect their cherished investments. We take a look at various anti-theft options, from simple steering-wheel locks to more complex electronic locator systems.
8 Views
22:30:00 08/05/10
drive it!: The Motor Magazine
[LESS INFO] 8 VIEWS | ADDED 22:30:00 08/05/10
From super luxury to small but fun, this week's drive it! covers a wide range of automobiles. Mercedes has presented its newest 600 CL, an exclusive luxury coupé with a whole host of technical highlights and an equally exclusive price tag.We also compare two fun little convertibles that cost a great deal less: the Fiat 500 C and the Citroën C3 Pluriel Charleston - two examples of the current fad in small cars for retro designs. Plus, we'll look at Opel's new Meriva, a mini-MPV with some unconventional features. present it! Mercedes CLThe latest edition of Mercedes' flagship CL luxury coupé proves that it's always possible to raise the bar when it comes to luxury. The elegant four-seater delivers maximum comfort and maximum safety, with a stunning list of standard and optional features.The top model, the CL600, comes with a 12-cylinder, bi-turbo engine that produces 517 horsepower. All that luxury is anything but cheap. Prices for the CL600 start at more than 160,000 euros in Germany. compare it! Fiat 500C - Citroën C3 Pluriel CharlestonWe compare two convertibles with distinctive retro designs that evoke two of Europe's most successful post-war designs. Fiat's 500C bears a strong resemblance to the tiny Cinquecento, while Citroën's C3 Pluriel Charleston is styled to recall the famous 2CV.drive it! finds out which car delivers the most for the money, and which offers the best open-air experience. test it! Opel MerivaThis is a luxury that's usually only reserved for the Queen of England. But now the proud owners of an Opel Meriva can experience what it's like to get in and out of a car with such ease. The back doors of the vehicle open in the opposite direction, like the Rolls Royce.drive it's Constantin Beims delves into the royal world of the new Meriva, checking it thoroughly inside and out. spot it! BRP Can-Am SpyderThere's nothing like taking a ride on a Can-Am Spyder. The motorbike looks a bit like a quad from the front, with its three wheels: two at the front and one at the back. It certainly is an eye-catcher!Plus, it gives you the open-air feeling of a convertible and the mobility and dynamics of a motorcycle, even though you can't lean as far into the curves as with a regular motorbike. Changing gears is done with the touch of a button, just like in the Formula 1. And for longer trips, the Can-Am Spyder is a good friend to have along. vintage! Theft protection for vintage carsVintage cars are more popular than ever - especially with thieves. And vintage cars don't come equipped with factory-installed, anti-theft protection devices, like electronic immobilizers or alarm units.So vintage-car owners have to take matters into their own hands to protect their cherished investments. We take a look at various anti-theft options, from simple steering-wheel locks to more complex electronic locator systems.
4 Views
16:41:54 02/11/10
4 Views
13:29:00 05/13/09
LABRANG TRUTH-TELLERS ESCAPE TO FREEDOM
[LESS INFO] 4 VIEWS | ADDED 13:29:00 05/13/09
(Left to Right) Gedhun Gyatso, Lobsang Gyatso, Kelsang Jinpa, Jamyang Jinpa, Jigme Gyatso
Photo: Tibet Post International F
ive Buddhist monks from the Labrang Tashi Kyil Monastery in Tibet's eastern Amdo province (Ch: Gansu) have reached safety in India, after more than a year spent dodging Chinese security forces in their occupied country. The men were on the run from Chinese authorities due to having engaged in free speech activities — a peaceful protest demonstration in Labrang town on March 14, 2008, and an unapproved press briefing at their monastery on April 9, 2008.
Gedhun Gyatso and Kelsang Jinpa, both aged 39, reportedly helped to organise a procession through downtown Labrang (Ch: Xiahe), four days after the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959. In their national capital city Lhasa, many similar processions had been violently suppressed beginning on March 10, with non-violent chanting monks beaten up and detained by Chinese security forces. After five days of this violent response to non-violent demonstrators, a riot broke out in Lhasa late on March 14 in which both Chinese and Tibetans were killed.
Lobsang Gyatso, 24, Jamyang Jinpa, 24, and Jigme Gyatso, 23, participated in an appeal for the world's help during a Chinese stage-managed "international media tour" which visited their monastery on April 9, 2008. Several dozen of Labrang's monks suddenly appeared before the startled journalists and camera crews, bearing their banned Tibetan national flag and banners reading such things as, "We do not have freedom of speech". The unapproved press briefing was extremely embarrassing to the Chinese colonial authorities, who had hoped to prove that all was perfectly well in Tibet by having a compliant foreign press listen to scripted recitations of the PRC talking points. These three men were among the courageous ones who foiled that plan.
Let's have a little reminder of what that looked like. Remember, these men knew they were risking everything when they did this — potentially including their lives. That is the emotion one can hear in the voices. Chinese officials and security are watching it all take place, unable to intervene because the cameras are rolling. From the testimony of Lama Jigme (see previous article) we know that severe retribution was dealt to some of these men after the cameras were gone.
This escape was first reported by Radio Free Asia , which interviewed them on arrival in New Delhi. Those who had participated in these two events learned that they were targets for arrest, and an unknown number took to the mountains around Labrang and tried to avoid capture in small groups.> "We lived like animals, moving from place to place. But this was better than prison," [Gedhun] Gyatso, one of the protest organizers, said in an interview. Gedhun, Kelsang and another companion were surrounded by Chinese police in the mountains after two months of hiding. The two of them escaped but the other companion was captured and remains in prison.
Buddhist monks prepare banners and national flags as they ready for a procession through Labrang town, March 14, 2008.
Photo: Mark Ralston / AFP Jamyang Jinpa told RFA that they had learned of the foreign reporters' visit to Labrang via the RFA's Amdo language broadcast. They didn't know the date of the planned visit, but they prepared themselves for the "good opportunity" to reach out to the world. > "We called for freedom for Tibet and for the release of Tibetan political prisoners, including the Panchen Lama," [Jamyang] Jinpa said. Jamyang added that a lama had advised them to escape after Chinese troops surrounded the monastery when the journalists were gone. They dressed themselves in laymen's clothing and headed for the hills.
The monks reached Dharamsala on Sunday, to a heroes' welcome as they stepped off the early morning bus from Delhi. A press conference was held on Monday — a real press conference this time, without fear of Communist Party reprisal. Phayul reports:> "We couldn’t remain silent when peaceful Tibetan protests in Lhasa and other places were being brutally crushed down, and our fellow Tibetans were being killed for holding peaceful demonstrations," [Gedhun] Gyatso added. Jamyang Jinpa directly addressed the Chinese government's claim that Tibetans are happy and content under their rule, and that the protests which swept Tibetan regions last year (and continue in smaller scale) were the work of foreign-based "splittist instigators".> "What has been happening in Tibet from last year is a spontaneous outcome of deep rooted resentment Tibetan people have had against the Chinese government. No one was there to tell us to protest. Situation alone compelled us to come out on the street," Jinpa said. The men say their newfound freedom has not given them a sense of relief. They did what they did on behalf of their people, and their people remain under the Communist Party's boot.> "Thinking of Tibet makes us feel worried. Our greatest concern is for those who are still suffering in Tibet. Many Tibetans are undergoing torture in Chinese custody," Gyatso said. The Tibet Post also covered the no fear press conference (although it seems to get both incident dates incorrect), and offers additional statements by the new arrivals. Jamyang Jinpa described the Chinese policy in his country this way:> "Population transfer has made us a minority in our own country, we have been colonized by the Chinese, and Tibetans are forced to acknowledge a fake Panchen Lama. [T]here is no religious freedom in Tibet, we are forced to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is at the core of our heart, from who we seek refuge and salvation." The monks' procession through Labrang town, March 14, 2008.
Photo: Mark Ralston / AFP The press conference was also reported on the Tibetan exile government's website , which curiously refers to the men as "youths" rather than monks. The two older men participated in the monks' procession through Labrang town (39 is a bit old for a "youth") while the three younger men were appealing to journalists at the monastery (the monks you see in the video above — Jigme Gyatso can be recognised at the end of the clip).
The coverage of this great escape has so far been seen on ... the Tibetan exile media only. Up to posting time, this has not been reported on any mainstream international news service, many of whom were present when these monks and others risked everything simply to talk to them last year. This is also very curious, since there are plenty of extra international journalists in India now for the election, and most of those are surely in New Delhi (where these notable escapees first arrived five days ago).
The farming boycott in eastern Tibet is continuing through the last part of the planting season, according to Geshe Monlam Tharchin , a member of the Tibetan parliament in exile. In a report gathered from local sources in the Derge region of Kardze Prefecture, Chinese are reportedly taking land from Tibetans who refuse to cultivate in some areas, and buying up Tibetan farms in other areas for use as a military base, in an increased military presence in the region.
It's now too late in the season for planting wheat, but authorities continue to pressure Tibetans to plant potatoes, peas, and similar crops. Local authorities reportedly issued announcements that, "If you will not to plant the farms, our military will use those farms for our purpose." Many people, mainly men, are escaping their towns and villages on the pretext of gathering medicinal plants. Pressures applied to the population through officially-organized public meetings are meeting resistance, and when asked why they won't plant their farms, the responses are along the lines of, "We Tibetans in the areas are united in our efforts to show our strong solidarity to our brothers and sisters those who lost their lives and those who have faced and are facing brutality, suffering and genocide under the Chinese rule."
A woman works in her family's vineyard in Turfan, May 9, 1997.
Photo: AFP In the former East Turkestan (Ch: Xinjiang) similar policies apply to those who do cultivate their land, but in those cases the beneficiaries will be Chinese businessmen . This is a fine glimpse into China's policies in her colonial holdings, where contracts and leases mean little when a governmental authority happens to run short of cash.
In 1983 the government leased wasteland in northern Xinjiang Uyghur "Autonomous" Region to local peasants, on the condition that they grow fruit orchards. By now the orchards are well established and productive, and the government intends to break the 50 year lease, expropriate the land paying a fraction of its value, and sell it to Chinese businessmen.> Township government chief Abdusamet said the orchards would be better managed if they were bought back.
"The farmers are unable to manage their orchards well," he said. "That is why the township government will take it back — we will manage it better."
"We will auction the orchards to Chinese businessmen from the rest of China," Abdusamet said.
"The Uyghur farmers are unable to benefit from these orchards, and our township government needs income," he said. So the 25 years of work which created the orchards and made them profitable, is translated as, "unable to manage their orchards well," and the government will "manage it better." (This sounds familiar.) It will do that by tearing up the contracts, buying the land at 20% of its value, and selling it to Chinese businesses. The real reason is almost an afterthought — local government needs the money.
A court in Dzoge County, Ngaba T-"A"-P (Ch: Sichuan province) sentenced three Tibetans to prison on unknown charges, according to a report received by Voice of Tibet radio . Jampel, 29, and Lama, 23, both of the Chashang Taringtsang family were sentenced to four years, while Namkho, 27, of Chashang Kyajigtsang family got three years. The source said that arbitrary charges, arbitrary sentences and no choice in legal representation are the common standards of justice in Ngaba.
Former President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel has called for basic standards to be upheld in the election for members of the UN Human Rights Council. Terming the election process a "farce" — and he should know farce as well as he knows totalitarianism, as the playwright himself composed a number of farces — he called for adherence to the Council's founding resolution to "uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights" during member selection.
Yesterday, China received 167 votes from the 191 member states present in the General Assembly. It wasn't much of a contest, with 20 candidates for 18 open seats. China hailed its own electoral success, citing its " remarkable achievements in the field of human rights ." If that's the "highest standard" the UN can come up with, we're all in trouble.
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Archery Bear Aware
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Fall is an active time of year in Montana's great outdoors for bird hunters, bow hunters---and for bears! In this week's outdoor report Mike Gurnett provides us with a few safety tips when recreating in bear country.
