tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36178509201110326782024-03-13T20:20:33.856+00:00Samad BillooPeace, Justice and EqualitySamad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comBlogger285125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-43562553169335278662023-10-27T12:12:00.000+01:002023-10-27T12:12:06.177+01:00Silence in the time of genocide<blockquote><p><b> <span style="background-color: white;">Why are notable Rohingya figures silent about Israel and Gaza?</span></b></p></blockquote><p>by: Shafiur Rahman</p><div style="background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">In the realm of human existence, silence can sometimes be more profound than words. It can echo through the corridors of history, leaving us to ponder the weight of its meaning. Recently, an </span><a href="https://x.com/HolocaustMuseum/status/1712478582189220217?s=20" rel="" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; text-decoration-line: none;">X/Twitter post </a><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum stirred a lot of thoughts within me. It spoke about the attack on Israel, but its silence on the Palestinian situation left a glaring void. Specifically, I was left to wonder why there was no mention of Israel's orders for Gaza—an action that Martin Griffiths, head of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/UNReliefChief/status/1712923531799929300" rel="" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; text-decoration-line: none;">described </a><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">as defying "the rules of war and basic humanity." The absence of commentary on Israel’s plans, which some argue not only </span><a href="https://www.icrc.org/en/document/israel-and-occupied-territories-evacuation-order-of-gaza-triggers-catastrophic-humanitarian-consequences" rel="" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; text-decoration-line: none;">violate international humanitarian law </a><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">but also border on genocidal intent, makes the Museum's silence all the more perplexing.</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Roboto Slab", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #404040;">Institutions, like the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, have a unique role in shaping our collective consciousness. Their missions often extend beyond mere preservation; they stand as guardians of memory, justice, and the ethical imperatives that humanity must uphold. The Museum, with its tireless advocacy for policies to prevent genocide, has been a beacon for those who believe that history should be our greatest teacher.</span></span></div><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnabXSF3LfxifonnDNdIefRCZMKdzXnPKBa8hFB5S8Ofzo0aOIqvB0zLyckQm6Cb1thbXGBD6Ja51iUy7UofzxYzyNF6ailYzzJwweJv6cpPWVVlhB3Bj8HXGksZlovNWWDtqbVkPR1XsBxN4df_XCoPIRCDrCo6eLFcHk65tLb73cCOn_YS8QzVWsazw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjnabXSF3LfxifonnDNdIefRCZMKdzXnPKBa8hFB5S8Ofzo0aOIqvB0zLyckQm6Cb1thbXGBD6Ja51iUy7UofzxYzyNF6ailYzzJwweJv6cpPWVVlhB3Bj8HXGksZlovNWWDtqbVkPR1XsBxN4df_XCoPIRCDrCo6eLFcHk65tLb73cCOn_YS8QzVWsazw=w466-h640" width="466" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of its notable exhibitions looks into the Rohingya genocide, a contemporary atrocity that Greg Constantine’s photography vividly portrays, capturing the harrowing stories and spirit of those affected. The Holocaust Museum is where, on March 21, 2022, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited and formally recognised that the Burmese military committed genocide against the Rohingya people in Burma, emphasising the international commitment to addressing such contemporary horrors. The Museum has welcomed many Rohingya spokespersons, underscoring the interconnectedness of human suffering.</span></div><div style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">As I contemplated the Museum's silence about what is about to go down in Gaza, I came across these</span><a href="https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v45/n20/judith-butler/the-compass-of-mourning?" rel="" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; text-decoration-line: none;"> words of Judith Butler</a><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">. Her profound insights look into the ethics of “grievability” - the concept that some lives are deemed more worthy of grieving than others. She writes, “The question of whose lives are worth grieving is an integral part of the question of whose lives are worth valuing.” This imbalance, she argues, is a breeding ground for racism, where the dominant frame shapes our perceptions of who deserves empathy and who is cast aside.</span></span></p></div><h2 class="header-with-anchor-widget" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-weight: var(--font_weight_headings_preset, bold); line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">The Silence of Rohingya Leaders</span><div class="header-anchor-widget offset-top" id="§the-silence-of-rohingya-leaders" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; height: 35.8125px; left: -56px; position: absolute; top: -72px; width: 56px;"><div class="header-anchor-widget-button-container" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; display: flex; height: 1.2em; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 72px; width: 40px;"><div class="header-anchor-widget-button" href="https://www.rohingyarefugee.news/i/137986470/the-silence-of-rohingya-leaders" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border-radius: 50%; cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: 40px; justify-content: center; opacity: 0; width: 40px;"><svg class="header-anchor-widget-icon" fill="none" height="20" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" stroke="currentColor" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"></svg><span style="font-size: small;"><path d="M10 13a5 5 0 0 0 7.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 0 0-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71"></path><path d="M14 11a5 5 0 0 0-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 0 0 7.07 7.07l1.71-1.71"></path></span></div></div></div></h2><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here's where the enigma deepens. While Rohingya leaders and spokespersons have been intimately linked to the Holocaust Museum, their voices have been conspicuously silent during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, which has tragically claimed thousands of lives. This silence echoed like a philosophical question left unanswered.</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In my quest for answers, I sought the wisdom of Dr. Maung Zarni, an outspoken genocide scholar who serves as a member of the board of advisors of Genocide Watch and holds a non-resident fellowship at the Genocide Documentation Center in the Sleuk Rith Institute, Cambodia. Dr. Zarni raised poignant questions about the Museum's apparent moral blind spot concerning the slow genocide of the Palestinian people. He trenchantly articulated how this silence erodes the very essence of the 'Never again!' principle, highlighting the profound inhumanity of disregarding Palestinian lives. He wrote:</span></p><blockquote style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border-left: var(--size-4) solid var(--background_pop); color: #404040; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; color: var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary)); line-height: 1.6em; margin-left: var(--size-20);"><span style="font-family: arial;">"The moral blind spot exhibited by the museum concerning the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people, stemming from Israel's policies, deals a heavy blow to the enduring principle of 'Never again!' As a scholar deeply immersed in the study of genocide, with a background in Burmese history and mentorship from a pioneering expert on the SS and Himmler, I find the museum's complete disregard for the lives of Palestinians, their enduring Nakba, and the ongoing genocidal consequences of death, destruction, displacement, and deportation to be not only morally revolting but also profoundly inhumane."</span></p></blockquote><h2 class="header-with-anchor-widget" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-weight: var(--font_weight_headings_preset, bold); line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em; position: relative;"><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Another Type of Silence and a Call for Clarity</span></strong><div class="header-anchor-widget offset-top" id="§another-type-of-silence-and-a-call-for-clarity" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; height: 35.8125px; left: -56px; position: absolute; top: -72px; width: 56px;"><div class="header-anchor-widget-button-container" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; display: flex; height: 1.2em; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 72px; width: 40px;"><div class="header-anchor-widget-button" href="https://www.rohingyarefugee.news/i/137986470/another-type-of-silence-and-a-call-for-clarity" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border-radius: 50%; cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: 40px; justify-content: center; opacity: 1; width: 40px;"><svg class="header-anchor-widget-icon" fill="none" height="20" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" stroke="currentColor" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"></svg><span style="font-size: small;"><path d="M10 13a5 5 0 0 0 7.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 0 0-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71"></path><path d="M14 11a5 5 0 0 0-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 0 0 7.07 7.07l1.71-1.71"></path></span></div></div></div></h2><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">At this juncture, the thoughts of Jeff Crisp, a former UNHCR official, add an important dimension to the discourse. </span><a href="https://x.com/JFCrisp/status/1713490618456867039?s=20" rel="" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; text-decoration-line: none;">He tweeted</a><span style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0;">,</span></span></p><blockquote style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border-left: var(--size-4) solid var(--background_pop); color: #404040; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; color: var(--print_on_web_bg_color, var(--color-primary)); line-height: 1.6em; margin-left: var(--size-20);"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I fully agree with those asserting that Israel's measures to safeguard its people's security should adhere to principles of proportionality and respect international humanitarian law. However, can someone more knowledgeable than myself please elucidate how these principles translate into practical actions?”</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;">Crisp's call for clarity resonates deeply, posing a significant ethical question that broadens the scope of our inquiry. It serves as an unspoken criticism of the pervasive silence that allows vagueness and moral ambiguity to endure. This silence, especially from institutions like the Holocaust Museum and Rohingya leaders, becomes doubly significant: it represents both an ethical lapse and a missed opportunity to guide global discourse. Coupled with the absence of universally accepted criteria for “protecting security,” this silence perpetuates a cycle that allows powerful nations and actors to operate as they see fit. Thus, Crisp's call underscores the imperative for transparency and ethical accountability on a global scale.</span> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-weight: var(--font_weight_headings_preset, bold);">The Complexity of Silence</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Within this intricate web of complexity lies the enigma of silence among Rohingya spokespersons. Their close affiliation with institutions such as the Holocaust Museum prompts inquiries into the motivations underlying their reticence in the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. It is vital to acknowledge that self-interest probably wields considerable influence, particularly when these spokespersons must navigate a precarious path, balancing personal objectives and the necessity to maintain relationships with influential institutions (not limited to the Holocaust Museum). They may also grapple with the prevailing political culture that surrounds them and the potential for political sanctions in the countries they live in, which can exert significant pressure.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><strong style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; color: #404040;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">An Open Letter to Rohingya Friends: An attempt at Dialogue to Break the Silence</span></strong></p><h2 class="header-with-anchor-widget" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-weight: var(--font_weight_headings_preset, bold); line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em; position: relative;"><div class="header-anchor-widget offset-top" id="§an-open-letter-to-rohingya-friends-an-attempt-at-dialogue-to-break-the-silence" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; height: 71.625px; left: -56px; position: absolute; top: -72px; width: 56px;"><div class="header-anchor-widget-button-container" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; display: flex; height: 1.2em; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 72px; width: 40px;"><div class="header-anchor-widget-button" href="https://www.rohingyarefugee.news/i/137986470/an-open-letter-to-rohingya-friends-an-attempt-at-dialogue-to-break-the-silence" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border-radius: 50%; cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: 40px; justify-content: center; opacity: 0; width: 40px;"><svg class="header-anchor-widget-icon" fill="none" height="20" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" stroke="currentColor" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"></svg><span style="font-size: small;"><path d="M10 13a5 5 0 0 0 7.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 0 0-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71"></path><path d="M14 11a5 5 0 0 0-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 0 0 7.07 7.07l1.71-1.71"></path></span></div></div></div></h2><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In response to this silence, I embarked on a dialogue, as yet unpublished, in the form of an open letter to my Rohingya friends. I pondered the essence of their silence in the face of human suffering and injustice. I reminded them that silence, born of powerlessness, can paradoxically emerge from a place of privilege, a privilege to remain silent in the face of oppression—a privilege they understand all too well.</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As I write, Israel and Gaza are caught in a deadly conflict, with airstrikes and imminent "significant ground operations," according to Israeli forces. The horror of evacuation orders, mass displacement, and aerial attacks on civilians: do these developments not echo what is happening in Myanmar right now? Do they not bring back haunting memories of the clearance operations of 2017 in Rakhine State? And other catastrophic campaigns led by the Myanmar military?</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I argue the infinite responsibility we bear to the 'Other,' to those whose suffering confronts us and demands moral action. I contend that silence, whether due to fear or self-preservation, can obscure our ethical duty as global citizens. It is in recognising the suffering of the 'Other' that we fully grasp the scope of our ethical obligations.</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In a world that is intricately connected yet divided by walls both physical and metaphorical, the struggle for justice anywhere reverberates everywhere. I emphasised that partial justice is no justice at all. Indifference to the suffering of others corrodes the very principles that define our shared humanity. I reminded them of their significant decision to throw their weight behind their former oppressors when the Myanmar coup happened, a powerful act of solidarity and reconciliation.</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">They of all people, understand the pain of being ignored, abandoned, and relegated to a status where even genocide against them doesn't resonate strongly enough in the conscience of the world. And yet…</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In my pursuit of answers, I directly reached out to several Rohingya spokespersons about their silence on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Alas, my inquiries were met with…well, you guessed it…silence. It's within these unanswered questions that the essence of my initial puzzled enquiry lies, probing the contours of our moral and ethical convictions.</span></p><h2 class="header-with-anchor-widget" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; color: #404040; font-weight: var(--font_weight_headings_preset, bold); line-height: 1.16em; margin: 1em 0px 0.625em; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Conclusion: Silence, Responsibility, and Ethical Complexities</span><div class="header-anchor-widget offset-top" id="§conclusion-silence-responsibility-and-ethical-complexities" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; height: 71.625px; left: -56px; position: absolute; top: -72px; width: 56px;"><div class="header-anchor-widget-button-container" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; display: flex; height: 1.2em; left: 0px; position: absolute; top: 72px; width: 40px;"><div class="header-anchor-widget-button" href="https://www.rohingyarefugee.news/i/137986470/conclusion-silence-responsibility-and-ethical-complexities" style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; align-items: center; border-radius: 50%; cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: 40px; justify-content: center; opacity: 1; width: 40px;"><svg class="header-anchor-widget-icon" fill="none" height="20" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" stroke="currentColor" viewbox="0 0 24 24" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"></svg><span style="font-size: small;"><path d="M10 13a5 5 0 0 0 7.54.54l3-3a5 5 0 0 0-7.07-7.07l-1.72 1.71"></path><path d="M14 11a5 5 0 0 0-7.54-.54l-3 3a5 5 0 0 0 7.07 7.07l1.71-1.71"></path></span></div></div></div></h2><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Vocal champions for their own cause, these advocates have now fallen conspicuously silent on the catastrophic conflict raging in Israel and Gaza. This selective advocacy raises questions about the breadth of their solidarity and ethical commitments. Their silence on such a devastating human rights crisis stands in stark contrast to the universal message of Pastor Niemoller's poem, urging us not to turn a blind eye to injustice. It forces us to question: are we only vocal when injustice strikes close to home? In a world where politics and personal agendas often drown out the calls for global justice, this silence serves as a difficult but necessary wake-up call.</span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="--tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; color: #404040; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wait. What about my own unpublished open letter to the Rohingya leaders/spokespersons? Written words left unpublished, can hold their own significance and meaning in the realm of communication and expression - is all that I will say for now. In closing, I invite my Rohingya friends to engage in a discourse about silence, responsibility, and the ethical complexities that define our humanity.</span></p><p></p>Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-15231082015347844042023-07-06T17:17:00.001+01:002023-07-06T17:21:12.112+01:00The NHS at 75: A history of challenges and successes<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The National Health Service (NHS) is celebrating its 75th
birthday this year. It is a remarkable institution that has provided free
healthcare to the British people for over seven decades. The NHS has faced many
challenges over the years, but it has also achieved great things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The NHS was founded in 1948, just after the end of World War
II. At the time, the UK was in a state of economic and social upheaval. The NHS
was created to provide free healthcare to everyone, regardless of their ability
to pay. This was a radical idea at the time, but it was one that was welcomed
by the British people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The NHS has faced many challenges over the years. In the
1970s, it was hit by a series of financial crises. In the 1980s, it was
subjected to a series of reforms by the Conservative government. These reforms
led to a decline in morale among staff and the quality of care; and the NHS was
accused of being inefficient and bureaucratic.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In recent years, the NHS has faced a number of new
challenges. These include an aging population, rising demand for healthcare,
and a shortage of staff. The COVID-19 pandemic has also put a strain on the
NHS, as it has had to deal with a surge in patients.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">Despite these challenges, the NHS remains a vital part of
the UK healthcare system. It is free at the point of contact and has continued
to provide high-quality healthcare to the British people. It has also been a
major driver of innovation in the field of medicine. The NHS has been
responsible for some of the most important medical breakthroughs of the past 75
years, including the development of the first successful polio vaccine and the
first heart transplant. However, the NHS needs to be properly funded and
supported if it is to continue to meet the needs of the UK population.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The NHS is now facing its biggest challenge yet. The
government is planning to make a series of cuts to the NHS budget. These cuts
are likely to lead to longer waiting times for treatment, a decline in the
quality of care, and job losses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">In many ways, the NHS is like a 75-year-old person. It has
seen a lot in its lifetime, and it has faced some challenges along the way.
However, it is still going strong, and it is an essential part of the UK,
thanks to the selfless dedication and commitment of its workforce. Just like a
75-year-old person, the NHS needs to be looked after if it is to survive. This
means providing it with the funding it needs, investing in its staff, and
making sure that it is able to adapt to the changing needs of the population<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Here are some of the challenges that the NHS is facing
today</b>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Lack
of funding</b>: The NHS is facing a funding crisis. The government
has been cutting the NHS budget for years, and this is putting a strain on
the service.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Staff
shortages</b>: The NHS is also facing a staff shortage. Many nurses, doctors,
paramedics and other healthcare staff are leaving the NHS because of low
pay and poor working conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Aging
population</b>: The UK is aging, and this is putting a strain on the
NHS. Older people are more likely to need healthcare services, and this is
increasing demand for the NHS.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>New
technologies</b>: New technologies are also putting a strain on the
NHS. These technologies can be expensive, and they require specialized
training.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">What can be done to address these challenges?<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">There are a number of things that can be done to address the
challenges facing the NHS. These include:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Increased
funding</b>: The government needs to increase funding for the NHS.
This will allow the NHS to provide more services and improve the quality
of care.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Improved
working conditions</b>: The government needs to improve working
conditions for NHS staff. This will help to attract and retain staff, and
it will improve the quality of care.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><b>Investment
in new technologies</b>: The government needs to invest in new
technologies for the NHS. This will help the NHS to meet the needs of an
aging population and to provide more specialized care.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">The NHS is a vital part of the UK and a national treasure. It
is essential that we do everything we can to support it. By addressing the
challenges facing the NHS, we can ensure that it is there for us in the years
to come. </span></p>Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-64086554676696601942022-12-04T12:44:00.001+00:002022-12-04T14:46:00.423+00:00I’m a paramedic – here’s why I’m striking<p><span style="color: #252524; font-family: Canela, Georgia, serif; font-size: var(--subtitle-2-fs);"><b>The government has enabled real-term pay cuts, service overloads and chronic underinvestment within the NHS. </b>- by Anonymous</span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/GettyImages-1294601194-1038x778.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://www.newstatesman.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/12/GettyImages-1294601194-1038x778.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: newstatesman.com<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="has-drop-cap" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; font-family: "Canela Text"; font-size: var(--body-fs); line-height: var(--body-lh); margin-bottom: 1.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">This week, I, along with thousands of fellow ambulance workers belonging to the Unison union across England, have voted to take <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/tag/strikes" rel="noopener" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 45, 29); box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1) 0s;" target="_blank">strike action</a>. We know it’s a shock – but we’re doing it out of necessity: not just for ourselves, but for the future of the <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/tag/nhs" rel="noopener" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 45, 29); box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1) 0s;" target="_blank">NHS</a>.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; font-family: "Canela Text"; font-size: var(--body-fs); line-height: var(--body-lh); margin-bottom: 1.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">I’ve been a paramedic for more than 27 years, and I’ve seen the health service in all kinds of states – but this is the worst I’ve ever known it to be. For the past 12 years, my colleagues and I have said to each other “surely, it can’t get any worse?” and yet here we are. </p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; font-family: "Canela Text"; font-size: var(--body-fs); line-height: var(--body-lh); margin-bottom: 1.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">Diagnosing the issues paramedics face is easy – because they’re the same problems the rest of my NHS colleagues, across various disciplines, are dealing with: dwindling pay, service overloads and a chronic underinvestment in the health service.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; font-family: "Canela Text"; font-size: var(--body-fs); line-height: var(--body-lh); margin-bottom: 1.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">Like everyone, paramedics are feeling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis. Though it’s cliché, we often get asked, “Why do you do what you do?” and the answer is just as well-versed: because we want to help people. But with our pay declining in real terms, with NHS bosses in England giving us a measly pay increase <a href="https://fullfact.org/health/nurse-pay-rise-72p-2022/" rel="noopener nofollow" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 45, 29); box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1) 0s;" target="_blank">equivalent to 72p</a> per hour, when the cost of living is more than 10 per cent, it is becoming increasingly difficult to cope.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; font-family: "Canela Text"; font-size: var(--body-fs); line-height: var(--body-lh); margin-bottom: 1.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">Ultimately, I think I’ll be alright – I’m a senior paramedic, living with a partner who’s in work, and have four grown children – but it really gets to me, knowing that many of my colleagues with young children are actively struggling to put food on the table for their kids, let alone themselves. Much has been made about the “choice” between “heating or eating”. I’ve been made aware of numerous instances of colleagues having to choose between feeding themselves and paying their rent. Staff take on countless overtime (sometimes taking on as many as ten extra shifts a month), and food banks have opened up within hospitals, to keep heads above water.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; font-family: "Canela Text"; font-size: var(--body-fs); line-height: var(--body-lh); margin-bottom: 1.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">This simply isn’t sustainable – not least in the context of many of us still recovering from the scars of the pandemic. Many of us paid the price: I was signed off of work for three months because of stress induced by working on the front line during the pandemic. I couldn’t sleep, eat or engage in anything properly. I just closed down within myself.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; font-family: "Canela Text"; font-size: var(--body-fs); line-height: var(--body-lh); margin-bottom: 1.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">Two years later, and the general burnout among NHS staff and paramedics continues. Much of the backlogs <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/spotlight/healthcare/2022/07/can-nhs-clear-backlog" rel="noopener" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 45, 29); box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1) 0s;" target="_blank">highlighted in elective care</a> are also reflective of the state of my field. When I first started in the service, we’d attend anywhere between seven and ten patients in a single shift. Now, a lack of staffing, beds and infrastructure means that ambulances often become an extension of A&E, with crews having to stay with patients for as long as ten hours. It means that we’re not always there to <a href="https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/health/2021/11/its-every-999-callers-worst-nightmare-why-arent-ambulances-reaching-people-in-time" rel="noopener" style="border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(216, 45, 29); box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1) 0s;" target="_blank">help others in dire need</a>.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; font-family: "Canela Text"; font-size: var(--body-fs); line-height: var(--body-lh); margin-bottom: 1.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">This isn’t the fault of the ambulance service, crews on the road or the hospitals – this way of operating just isn’t safe for anyone: both staff and patients. Doing what we do, in the conditions we do it in – for 12, sometimes even 16 hours per shift – is it any wonder that staff are leaving the NHS in record numbers? With the deteriorating state of our hospitals an open secret, it should come as no surprise that, despite there being 133,000 vacancies in the health service, the NHS is struggling to recruit. As an institution, the health service is bleeding out.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; font-family: "Canela Text"; font-size: var(--body-fs); line-height: var(--body-lh); margin-bottom: 1.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">My colleagues and I haven’t taken the decision to strike lightly. We just want a fair wage from what we put in, and to contribute to a service that is healthy on all fronts. Unfortunately, the current government’s problematic and chronic underfunding of the NHS is only compounded by its refusal to listen to the concerns unions are raising about how unsustainable its current way of operating is.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; font-family: "Canela Text"; font-size: var(--body-fs); line-height: var(--body-lh); margin-bottom: 1.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">Politicians were happy to and quick enough to engage with us when it was easy for them: smiling and clapping for us during the pandemic. But when push comes to shove, and difficult paths to improve the NHS need to be forged, it seems more smoke and mirrors than anything meaningful.</p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #252524; font-family: "Canela Text"; font-size: var(--body-fs); line-height: var(--body-lh); margin-bottom: 1.75rem; margin-top: 0px;">So, until they engage with us and the striking nurses, along with our other colleagues across the health service, we’ll keep on pushing for better – for our sake, for your sake, and for the sake of the NHS. </p>Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-24322375938528809672021-09-19T21:14:00.012+01:002021-09-21T14:42:13.422+01:00Life's Ever Changing Priorities<p style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Don’t let pressure and overwork encourage you to hurry past parts
of your life. Whether it’s <b><i>your children’s early life, whole segments of your
marriage, or maybe the last active years of loved parents</i></b>, they are swiftly
past and gone beyond recall. Regret comes too late to save them. </span></p><p style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How many
people still cherish an unfulfilled ambition to travel, or start their own
business, or enter a new career, and yet do nothing to make it happen? Too
many. Time passes. What was once an inspiring idea seems less and less feasible.
Yet still they cling to the dream — only not this year. Maybe next year, when
things calm down a little. When they’re not so busy. When they have the time.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We are so confused about time. We always have the same amount of
it, since we can neither create more, nor save any for later, nor do away with
what there is. Yet our perception of time is totally different. Sometimes it
seems to drag in endless amounts. Sometimes it appears to flash past. Only our
perception changes. Time itself does not.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">
Of course, what we mean is time free from other demands. But we will never have
that either. There are always other calls on our attention and always will be.
If you’re waiting for that magical day when nothing else awaits you, only your
dream ready for fulfilment, you will wait for ever.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p><p style="line-height: 115%; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The truth is simple. People confuse what is urgent with what is
important; what is pressing today with what is pressing in terms of their whole
life. A task stands before you and shouts for your attention because it’s here,
now, and must be done by tomorrow. So you set aside far more important
activities and choices because they’re not urgent. You can do them tomorrow, no
matter. Only that tomorrow never comes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; color: #212529;">To live this way is understandable — it is how
the vast majority live — but it’s neither sensible nor fulfilling. All those
unmet dreams and expectations build up, until you enter the later part of life
trailing a vast, sad cloud of “might have beens.” So many people today are
filled with regret at the opportunities they missed because there were more
urgent claims at the time. As they look back, they see clearly those claims
were never as important as the hopes they supplanted. Now it’s too late.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #212529;">To choose a fulfilling path, you must be clear about your
values, so you can see the difference between demands that are only urgent, but
otherwise have little importance in the scheme of your life; and those that may
lack obvious urgency, yet are crucial to who you are and what you want your
life to be. You must have the courage to use your time on important matters and
set aside what’s merely urgent.</span><span style="color: #212529;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #212529; line-height: 107%;">If there’s a dream in your life — something you yearn
to achieve, or merely something it would be so much fun to try — don’t put it
aside. If that dream is up there at the top (or very near the top) of your
personal values, do it<b><i> <span style="box-sizing: border-box;">now</span></i></b>. Yes, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b>now</b></i>. Don’t wait another day. Nothing is as
important to your long-term </span><span style="color: #212529; line-height: 107%;">wellbeing</span><span style="color: #212529; line-height: 107%;">. But if your dream doesn’t
make it to the top of your list, set it aside without regret. Like a pretty
toy, it may be pleasant to look at, but it’s not important enough to give time
to.</span></span></p><p style="background: white; margin-top: 0cm;"><span style="color: #212529; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Choice may not remove regret entirely — you may always
wonder a little what it might have been like — but at least you’ll know you did
choose. You didn’t look back later and realize you’d missed that boat without
ever grasping it was ready to leave.</span></span></p>Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-52842547259315628032021-01-03T20:59:00.001+00:002021-09-20T17:00:08.739+01:002020 - The Year of Quarantine<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial;">2020. A year to set all other years apart. A year
to go down in history. Whilst writing this article it was difficult to imagine
a time where we weren’t all wearing face masks outside (not the relaxing
‘self-care’ kind) and having Zoom upon Zoom calls, inside. </span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://inspiritedminds.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020a.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://inspiritedminds.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020a.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We’ve had Ramadan, Eids, Divali, vaisakhi, Passover and
Christmas like no other, socially distanced from our loved ones, yet we rose
above all odds even whilst in isolation to contemplate on our lives and
reflecting on who we truly are. Many literally put their lives on the line to
exhibit what can only be considered as selflessness. </span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<div style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It all started in January where we
had heard of the C word affecting hundreds and thousands of people across the
globe. Little did we know that two months later we’d be rewriting normality.</span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>Many may
feel as if this year has been wasted – with so many WFH (working from home) or
on furlough, yet we have developed and adapted to such a difficult year… in the
middle of a <i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">pandemic.</span></i> We should give
ourselves at least that much credit. We have had to quickly adapt to a
completely new lifestyle which we could not have predicted. Alongside this
we’ve had to deal with establishing new and different boundaries as well as
tackling challenges head on at home and at work.<span style="color: #676767;"> </span></span></span></div><p></p>Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-49507827065060277872019-01-25T21:31:00.001+00:002022-11-16T17:58:24.172+00:00When is a refugee not a refugee?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue;">By <b>Shafiur Rahman</b>, a Documentary Filmmaker </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 15pt; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Humanitarian organisations cannot cherry-pick who to serve<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; line-height: 18pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 1rem; orphans: 2; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; white-space: pre-line; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8dmJCxuouw4/XEt8XYa34XI/AAAAAAAAHOQ/_w2nLabXFT0vCI2PC9Wt5ab33pVGh1NowCEwYBhgL/s1600/unhcr-1548420561585.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="1024" height="209" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8dmJCxuouw4/XEt8XYa34XI/AAAAAAAAHOQ/_w2nLabXFT0vCI2PC9Wt5ab33pVGh1NowCEwYBhgL/s320/unhcr-1548420561585.jpg" width="320" /></a><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"></span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Recently, we watched the world applaud as the Thai government and international humanitarian organisations responded to the plight of Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, the teenage Saudi girl who barricaded herself in an airport hotel and took to Twitter to press for asylum.</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">UNHCR (Thailand) secured the agreement of the Thai authorities and promptly dispatched their representative to Bangkok airport. Rahaf wa provided with UNHCR protection. That allowed her to leave the airport and thwart the counter moves of the Saudi authorities and her own relatives.</span></span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">The world saw UNHCR at its best. It pro-actively sought and gained access to Rahaf, and helped prevent her deportation. Non-refoulement is a principle championed by this agency and it insists that those in need of protection cannot be returned to somewhere where their life or freedom will be compromised.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">The actions of UNHCR were key in Rahaf's case, given that Thailand is not a party to the 1957 UN Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol defining the status of refugees. Additionally, refugees status is normally granted by governments, but UNHCR can grant it where states are "unable or unwilling to do so."</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">In the end, Canada stepped up to give Rahaf asylum, and she made her way there in the glare of the world's media.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">There was no suche media glare nor indeed any initiative by the refugee agency whem it came to 31 UNHCR registered Rohingya refugees who were stranded in No Man's Land between India and Bangladesh. Their predicament, which began less than two weeks after Rahaf's arrival in Thailand, throws a different light on the character of UNHCR's humanitarianism.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">The refugee agency did not intervene or secure access to them, nor counsel them or provide them with any kind of aid. In the case of the Saudi teenager, Cecil Pouilly, senior communications officer fro UNHCR, quite rightly expressed concerns for Rahaf's "emotional distress" and understood the need for some "breathing space" for her.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">No such expression of concern has been made for the Rohingya men, women, and children -- some as young as eight months old, who spent four nights under the open skies in wintry conditions. Even after their arrest buy the Indian Border force and subsequent jailing on January 22, 2019, and despite repeated requests, the UN refugee agency was still unale to provide this writer with a comment 72 hours later.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">We should understand that the UNHCR's primary task as the UN's refugee agency is to protect a person who has crossed an international border due to fear for life or liberty. The 31 Rohingya fulfilled UNHCR's criteria for refugee status when they were in India.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">They were outside their country of origin and did not have the protection of the state. That is why they were given UNHCR cards. Their case should have been a cut and dry on given that the paperwork existed. Yet, no assistance was rendered.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">The Rohingya in India see no evidence of any kind of UNHCR protection. Nor do they see any durable solution to the current Indian dispensation and its eagerness to round up and repatriate Rohingya.In the recent days, over a thousand Rohingya have crossed to Bangladesh from India. They have been perturbed by news of Rohingya being forcibly repatriated to Myanmar from India.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">A group of seven people were repatriated in October 2018 and then a family of five were sent back in January 2019. Both cases received considerable media attention. However, the family of five have not been heard of since and their case, in particular, has caused anxiety amongst the 40,000 or so Rohingya living in India.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Taken together, this information points to an unbalanced and dark side of this agency when it comes to Rohingya refugees. And there is evidence stretching down the decades to support that contention. Just last year, UNHCR agreed a memorandum with UNDP and the government of Myanmar concerning Rohingya repatriation.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Hpwever, it kept its contents entirely under wraps and UNHCR did not discuss or consult the affected community -- the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, as required by its own code on voluntary repatriation processes. This came as no surprise to students of UNHCR repatriation of Rohingya from Bangladesh. UNHCR's well documentd and shameful history in this regard stretched back to 1978.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Fieldview Solutions in their startling report "Time to Break Old Habits" from June 2018 -- concerning the role and behaviour of international agencies in Rakhine state -- wrote the following about UNHCR and its reponse to the crackdown on Rohingya of October 2016.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">"After the first rond of massive violence after October 9, 2016, one might have expected the international community and the UNCT (UN country team) to try to ramp up its presence and protective capacity in the north. Shockingly, though, the UN response was the opposite. UNHCR initially proposed during this time period to completely remove northern Rakhine state from the Humanitarian Response Plan adn to scale back its own operations." </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Echoing this, the International Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar explicitly criticised UN entities operating in Myanmar and bemaoned their lack of cooperation with the Fact-Finding Mission and their defensiveness. It urged a review of how UN organisations have performed over the years in the context of the catastrophe that unfolded in Rakhine state. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Internal reviews exist, and in leaks which have emerged, it seems that the Myanmar regime can count on UN self-censorship on the issue of the Rohingya and Rakhine state. </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">It can further count on a narrative that emphasises inter-communal conflicts and development issues rather than the centrally-directed policies of apartheid and disenfranchisement.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">Of the 31 Rohingya refugees, 15 are connected to the ill-fated village of Tula Toli, which experienced a massacre on August 30, 2017. Hundreds of men, women, and children were brutally killed. Many women were gang-raped and burned. I spoke to three survivors who are now residing in the camps of Bangladesh and whose relatives are amongst the group in India. Rofique, whose baby was thrown in the fire by Myanmar military, has a brother within the group. He told me:</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">"I thought they were safe. They went to India via Bangladesh after 2012. I thought their luck was good that they never saw what happened to us. But now if India sends them back, their fate will be the same as ours. They are finished." </span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="color: black; letter-spacing: 0.4pt;">If India is able to repatriate UNHCR registered Rohingya to Myanmar with total impunity, when every single humanitarian organisation has declared it unsafe, then the scope of humanitarianism has not expanded but shrunk for UNHCR and other UN entities. And if the meaning and practice of refugee protection have been transformed to the extent it seems to have been in the countries where the Rohingya flee to, then Rofique's dire prediction is about to come true.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"></span></div>
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Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-63048709262761712972018-05-10T15:28:00.000+01:002018-05-10T15:28:21.037+01:00An Obituary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:</div>
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-Knowing when to come in out of the rain;<br />-Why the early bird gets the worm;<br />– Life isn’t always fair;<br />– And maybe it was my fault.</div>
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Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.</div>
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Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.</div>
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It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.</div>
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Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.</div>
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Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.</div>
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Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.</div>
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Common Sense was preceded in death,<br />-by his parents, Truth and Trust,<br />-by his wife, Discretion,<br />-by his daughter, Responsibility,<br />-and by his son, Reason.</div>
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He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers;<br />– I Know My Rights<br />– I Want It Now<br />– Someone Else Is To Blame<br />– I’m A Victim<br />– Pay me for Doing Nothing</div>
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Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.</div>
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If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">This was first published in London Times in March 2014.</span></div>
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Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-26648928862857381672017-11-27T21:09:00.000+00:002017-11-27T21:09:12.322+00:00Pakistan's Leadership Follies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">By Farooq Sumar</span></span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "Open Sans", arial, sans-serif;"><b>The writer is a businessman and a former chairman of the National Textile Foundation</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #2f2f2f; font-family: "Open Sans", arial, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span lang="EN-US">Be it political,
military, socio-economic or cultural affairs Pakistan's leadership has been
quite mediocre since independence. The tragedies and setbacks were many. Failure
to develop a coherent set of policies to address the nations pressing needs; to eradicate
ignorance, poverty and disease at home and to maintain a dignified image abroad
are the result of shortsighted leadership. After Jinnah there is just a continuous
and consistent bottomless fall that has now brought the country to its knees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Some of our
decisions or lack thereof need to be revisited to comprehend our follies. The
four military interventions-coup d'etats - have retarded democracy and socio-economic
developments indefinitely. The military's continuous interference distorts and
twists Pakistan completely out of shape, so much so that it is faceless in the
comity of nations and an oppressive burden that impoverishes the people. The
unacceptable truth is that the military has become the senior partner in governance
at all levels, to the extent that separation of powers is totally blurred. The
nation experiences medium to violent jerks often that rob it of stability,
economic progress, cohesion and comprehension of its destiny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The arrogance of
the military is the basis of its justification that it has a monopoly on
patriotism, wisdom, organisation and management skills to rule. This may be
true in part today as all other power structures and institutions have been
weakened quite deliberately by the military. While major political parties have
either been created by them or compromised and corrupted to become followers
who receive crumbs for their pimping services.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In the first
decade after Jinnah politicians squabbled over designations for themselves
rather than concentrate on the destinations of the country: a constitution,
democracy and General Elections. Severe leadership vacuum stared the nation in
the face, Liaquat was no substitute for Jinnah, Pakistan was at the mercy of
the winds and the vultures of corruption. Perfect justification for Gen Ayub
Khan's intrigues towards Martial Law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The second round
of "democrats" at the helm begins after thirteen years of military
regimes and the debacle of East Pakistan. Bhutto gives us a constitution, but
promptly suspends articles pertaining to fundamental rights! A civilian
dictatorship and a reign of terror lasts for five and a half years, until a
rigged election and Gen Zia puts all in the dustbin. Absence of a sane system led to the flawed Bhutto
and the maniac Zia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Then we see
another round, from 1989, of the descendants of the feudal dictator
Bhutto-Benazir and the heinous dictator Zia-Nawaz in a series of musical chairs
conducted by the military. A period of heightened corruption and no democracy.
The same continues today, with of course military's indirect rule in place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The
socio-political dispensations given to the people by the rulers that be have
only produced power grabbers and money makers, not nation builders and servants
of the people. These politicians have ruled under military patronage and are
not leaders in themselves, so leadership vacuum continues today and it cannot
be filled without a generation or two of struggle. Unless leadership emerges
that adheres to ideas and philosophy espoused by Iqbal and the ideals of a
modern democratic state desired by Jinnah, Pakistan will continue to fail and
remain a non-entity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The media, owned
by barons, is a beneficiary of the largesse rather than the protector and
defender of the people's rights. Many talk of a "free media" in
Pakistan, this is but a mirage. We have seen how those who have transgressed
are treated by the establishment's power and control over institutions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">In this situation
our looters and plunderers have the temerity to call Pakistan "a
democracy" with a "parliament" consisting of tax evaders, mafia,
criminals, and election manipulators. With a corrupt, insensitive, bureaucratic
judiciary in league with powers that be, it has failed to provide justice to
the common man. Moreover a judiciary that legalised the rule of usurpers--Zia
and Musharraf --can hardly hold its head high.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Bhutto's sham
socialism and the ill-conceived policy of nationalisation that handed over the
economy to the bureaucrats for the next twenty-five years with Czar Ghulam Ishaq
at its head, led to massive corruption, inefficiency and mismanagement. The economy bankrupted then has not recovered
yet!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">The incalculable
damage caused by the military led and Bhutto supported break-up in 1972 took
away the raison d'être for Pakistan. The military's rapacious role and barbaric
treatment of Bengali citizens of Pakistan, also fellow Muslims, shall remain a
blot on our history forever. We have been rudderless since then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The execution of
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto manipulated through kangaroo courts, including the Supreme
Court will remain a permanent blot on Zia, the Army, the Supreme Court, the political parties that
supported the murder of a Prime Minister. Has anybody realised the damage
caused and being caused by this barbarism?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The military's creation
of Mujahedin at the bidding of the US to fight a US war which also helped tighten Zia's grip on power, the madrasa
scheme with Saudi Arabia for proliferation of Wahabism and perversion of the
spirit of Jihad, the Taliban trip whose high the military is still on which has
led to the Talibanisation of Pakistan. Their creation of the MQM mafia, Lashkar-e-Taiba,
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, ASWJ for various domestic and International enterprises
including sectarian strife at home. It must have taken some Mr. Hyde type minds
to prepare this elixir of certain doom and guaranteed destruction for Pakistan!
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">The mother of all
failures is the complete neglect, deliberate destruction and total refusal to
plan and install a internationally acceptable system of education for all in
the country. Ignorance hurts in every conceivable field from home to factory to
field and its continuance has done more damage than all other factors combined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Country's
Punjabization over the last six decades has cost the nation and will ultimately
cost the Punjab. We have seen one break-up due to discrimination, how many more
do we want? A punjabi Army and bureaucracy may spill blood but cannot stop the
tsunami of hatred for punjab. Beware, we can only foster unity through equality
and liberty not by embezzling and usurping rights of others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It seems, like all
else, we pursue a directionless, without values khaki foreign policy, sans
principles that often works against our own long-term interests. It also negates
Islamic principles. Diplomacy has been thrown to the winds for the unattainable
pursuit of depth and a desire for damnation. There is not a single immediate neighbour
that Pakistan has good or even tolerable relations with. India today probably
has more friends in the Muslim world than Pakistan with greater trade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">These
and numerous other follies have caused incalculable damage to the nation. A
near bankrupt economy, political instability, social chaos, massive insecurity,
impoverished masses, and the injection of un-Islamic trends into Islam have serious
consequences. What more could we have done to destroy Pakistan and shatter the
dreams of Pakistanis? Even our worst enemies could not do to us what we have
managed to do to ourselves. Do we care?</span></div>
Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-36022383364914966862017-07-31T22:27:00.000+01:002017-07-31T22:27:15.975+01:00Disastrous Decade of Democracy & the Sorry state of Pakistan<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By Simon Templar</span><br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Thug
life is a term used by gangsters to glorify their law breaking, heady crime
sprees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Nothing
describes the misrule of two successive, so called democratically elected
governments in the unstable, underdeveloped 200 million strong south Asian
state of Pakistan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">How
thieves, plunderers and freebooters came to rule this nuclear armed state is a
sad tale in itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Ruled
by military General Pervez Musharraf who took over in a military coup in 1999,
the country became a close US ally after 9/11 and witnessed an era of growth
and stability under military rule.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">However
when Musharraf reached his limits of flexibility, it was decided by the US and
British to force him bring back the two tainted, condemned political leaders in
exile and to wash away all their sins under a dubious order in the name of
national reconciliation.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">As
in the Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, there was also a hungry, eager, more
flexible General waiting in the Wings to replace him, and Deputy Chief Kiyani
used Military intelligence and a judge’s restoration movement to cripple the
erstwhile strongman, now out of favour with the US.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">A
final thumbs down from the US Ambassador compelled Musharraf to resign and
after the mysterious, unsolved murder of Benazir Bhutto, her thuggish husband,
the upstart, criminal uneducated, corrupt and much reviled Asif Zardari came to
power.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
deal with the West was that we bring you back, wash away your past sins and you
squeeze the Army.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
game began and new Chief Kiyani turned a blind eye, as he had brought the devil
to sup at the table and was also busy improving his impoverished family’s
financial condition.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">So
well did this team work that General Kiyani got an unprecedented 3 year second
term, Zardari became a billionaire, Kiyani from rags to millionaire and the
country went to the dogs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
US with its two boys in place, in charge of the Presidency and military,
violated Pakistani sovereignty and physical boundaries at will, using drones,
choppers, covert assassin's and whatever they chose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">As
per the unholy charter of kleptocracy, Sharif kept silent during Zardari’s
plunder and he returned the favour after Sharif took over in 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Simple
math, over invoice $50 billion of Chinese funded projects-whether needed or
not- by ten percent, sign sovereign guarantees, leave future generations to pay
off horrifying debts and pocket 5% off the top!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Walk
away with a cool $ 2.5 billion dollars. Astonishingly simple as it is
audacious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Where
Zardari was a street thug, looting millions, forcing neighbours to sell their
properties on the cheap, the plunderers from Punjab, whose father made pots and
cooking utensils with his bare hands are now certified dollar billionaires
thanks to massive bank defaults, and international cuts commissions and
kickbacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Wow!
Wonderful, just one mistake...Sharif, egged on by vicious anti-military advisers
like Junior Minister for Foreign Affairs Syed Tarik Fatami, kept on targeting
the by now restive and powerful Pakistan military.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
leakage of information pertaining to thousands of offshore companies
incorporated in Panama signalled the end for the strangely absent Sharif
regime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Perhaps
the most corrupt and worse administered government in the history of Pakistan… certainly
the most hypocritical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Destroying
the civil service structure, promoting nepotism, turning state servants
especially in the Punjab into glorified pimps and facilitators.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">One
poor married lady was famously peddled by her husband out to Sharif, then his
younger brother and in turn was rewarded with top administrative positions for
his immoral shamelessness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Functioning
without statutory, mandated positions such as State Ombudsman, National Tax
Collector, and Head of the Audit Service and even without the Governor of the
State Bank.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Burgeoning
debt, increasingly hostile borders, declining exports, a dysfunctional
government, falling stock market and collapsing currency could not shake Sharif
out of his stupor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">On
the ropes, with his family corruption the main story in every paper, every
channel and on social media, he chose to plod on shamelessly, trying one
corrupt lawyer after another in a futile attempt to cover his tracks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Described
as a Sicilian Mafiosi by the worthy judges of the top constitutional court,
Sharif scraped the bottom of the barrel, hiring the immoral Raja Salman Akram,
known to have defended Zardari’s drug dealing Prime Minister, all to no avail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Functioning
without a Foreign minister for four years, and appointing idiots as top envoys,
the joke is on Sharif as he is now left with no friends to bail him out as
before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">His
Saudi patrons distanced themselves from their pet poodle after Sharif was
unable to prevail upon his military who very sensibly refused to go and fight
alongside Saudi troops in Yemen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Indians
and Americans have realised he cannot dominate his military and the Turks and
Chinese know him and his tribe as crooked, slimy money grabbers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Despite
holding office for years, Sharif has paid no attention to healthcare,
education, rule of law or job creation, focusing purely on shady, unnecessary
projects providing easy kickbacks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">Now
decades of money laundering, defaulted bank loans and millions in off shore
accounts and overseas properties stand to be exposed for what they are, the
loot and plunder from 190 million poor uneducated helpless souls who are forced
to sell or kill their children due to lack of justice, poverty and a gloomy
future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-bidi;">The
question is how will things unfold? Will the shameless, immoral, hypocritical
kleptocrats escape yet again to lick their wounds and enjoy their boots abroad
or shall they deservedly meet the fate of another erstwhile billionaire, the
late unlamented Colonel Qaddafi who died bloodied and screaming in the street
as his vengeful subjects beat him to death?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-28059763167830452892017-07-18T13:54:00.000+01:002017-07-18T13:56:44.989+01:00Dirty water, cholera and malnutrition: deadly mix afflicting Yemeni children <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gIMZpwB6yzE/WW3-Hgt8SjI/AAAAAAAAG-Q/ofT17AA5jn4y_JSQVz3E5K01s0hghqB1QCLcBGAs/s1600/teaser_51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gIMZpwB6yzE/WW3-Hgt8SjI/AAAAAAAAG-Q/ofT17AA5jn4y_JSQVz3E5K01s0hghqB1QCLcBGAs/s400/teaser_51.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><strong>(Photo by Observer and WHO)</strong></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="border-image: none;">
<strong>More than 10,000 civilians have died in the war that has torn Yemen apart since it started in 2015. The country is now engulfed wide-scale humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 2.2 million children suffering from severe malnutrition and much of the population reduced to drinking dirty water. As a result, starting last May, Yemen has been experiencing the “worst cholera epidemic in the world,” according to the United Nations. It’s a situation proving deadly for children, the most vulnerable victims of this conflict. </strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong></div>
Close to 300,000 people in Yemen have contracted cholera, of whom 1,700 died, according to numbers reported in June. This epidemic has, in large part, been caused by the poor quality of the country’s drinking water, which is often contaminated with fecal matter. Moreover, wartorn Yemen lacks the resources to purify the water. And, when people fall ill, they often have no access to medical care. This disease, which is easy to treat, is most deadly when contracted by vulnerable people, like the elderly and, especially. children<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="fr">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
To date, 297,438 suspected <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cholera?src=hash">#cholera</a> cases and 1706 associated deaths have been reported in 22 governorates in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yemen?src=hash">#Yemen</a> <a href="https://t.co/vawaDqzkFu">https://t.co/vawaDqzkFu</a> <a href="https://t.co/2EAajnEDoa">pic.twitter.com/2EAajnEDoa</a></div>
— WHO Yemen (@WHOYemen) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHOYemen/status/883732153812623360">8 juillet 2017</a></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: smaller;">“To date, 297,438 suspected #cholera cases and 1706 associated deaths have been reported in 22 governorates in #Yemen”, according to a tweet by the World Health Organisation. According to </span><a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/07/04/535530477/fight-against-worlds-worst-cholera-outbreak-continues" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: smaller;">UNICEF</span></a><span style="font-size: smaller;">, close to half of these cases involve children.</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"They drink this water because they don’t have another choice”</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Some friends and I decided to travel to Nihm province, says Ahmad Algohbary. "While we were making our way through a mountainous region, we came across a group of displaced people who had fled Nihm, where there are ongoing clashes between the Houthi rebels and government forces, backed by the international coalition led by Saudi Arabia. We learned that there were 56 displaced families who were sleeping in a makeshift campsites there.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">These people don’t have anything. No food, no water, no money. They sleep in makeshift tents and receive little aide. Sometimes, people bring them a little bit of food, but they wake up the next day, starving as ever. I was shocked when I saw that they were drinking the filthy water from the swamp and I took photos to document these terrible conditions.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">"Please show the world what kind of conditions we are living in"</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">At first, the people I met in the makeshift camp were shy, especially the women. So I told them that I would only take a picture of them from a distance. When I told them that I wanted to post my photos online, they gave me their permission and said: “Please show the world what kind of conditions we are living in. We don’t have anything and no one is helping us. We need potable water urgently. Tell NGOs that we need help; we need water and tents."</span><span style="font-size: small;"> In this makeshift camp, these displaced people are drinking water unfit for consumption because they don’t have any other choice. At least three children there have already fallen ill with cholera.</span></span><br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="fr">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
In <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yemen?src=hash">#Yemen</a>, people have no choice but to drink dirty water, continuing the cycle of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cholera?src=hash">#cholera</a>. Cholera flourishes in a weakened health system <a href="https://t.co/qFQQapLUCO">pic.twitter.com/qFQQapLUCO</a></div>
— WHO (@WHO) <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO/status/885172938626019328">12 juillet 2017</a></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: smaller;">"In #Yemen, people have no choice but to drink dirty water, continuing the cycle of #cholera. Cholera flourishes in a weakened health system,” explained the World Health Organisation in a tweet. </span></blockquote>
The conflict has meant that close to 14.5 million Yemenis-- equivalent to roughly half of the country’s entire population-- don’t have access to clean and potable drinking water, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/07/world/middleeast/yemen-cholera-outbreak-war.html?_r=0" target="_blank">according to the United Nations</a>. Across the country, NGOs are working night and day to truck in clean drinking water.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>The bombing of water reserves </strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">In March 2015, Shi’ite Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, took control of the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. Since then, the rebels have been carrying out a particularly violent urban war against Yemeni forces, who are supported by their neighbour, Saudi Arabia, and other regional and Western powers, including the United States.</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="fr">
<div dir="ltr" lang="en">
Mocha seawater desalination plant was hit yesterday by KSA jets. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Yemen?src=hash">#Yemen</a> Taiz <a href="https://t.co/Sgf0BZNiqL">pic.twitter.com/Sgf0BZNiqL</a></div>
— Fatik Al-Rodaini (@Fatikr) <a href="https://twitter.com/Fatikr/status/686257158804094977">10 janvier 2016</a></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: smaller;">On January 8, 2016, a desalination plant located to the north of the town of Mocha was bombed. </span><a href="http://upflow.co/l/XbiN/news/mena/2016/02/05/yemens-bombed-water-infrastructure" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: smaller;">The investigators at the website bellingcat</span></a><span style="font-size: smaller;"> looked into this attack, though they were unable to determine if the Saudi coalition was responsible. The website has gathered a list of previous bombings that destroyed facilities used to store food or distribute drinking water, thus putting Yemeni civilians at risk.</span></blockquote>
Air strikes carried out by the coalition target Houthi positions, but they have also hit schools, <a href="https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/09/yemen-evidence-indicates-us-made-bomb-was-used-in-attack-on-msf-hospital/" target="_blank">hospitals </a>and, according to United States senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat, reserves of drinking water.<br />
<br />
<br />
"The cholera epidemic is in part due to the bombing of the water supply in Sana’a", <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/06/28/yemen-facing-worst-cholera-outbreak-world-health-authorities-say/436858001/" target="_blank">he said in late June</a>. The France 24 Observers team spoke with Qasim Ali Al-Shawea, a Yemeni humanitarian worker based Sana’a. He said that close to 300 reservoirs had been destroyed in this way.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Devastated public services</strong></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">According to the United Nations, the Red Cross and several other humanitarian organisations present on the ground, most government employees-- including 30,000 local health professionals-- haven’t been paid since last summer. This dire situation has led to personnel shortages, which only serves to aggravate the ongoing cholera epidemic. Moreover, </span><a href="http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-global-yemen-cholera-20170712-story.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">municipal workers tasked with collecting garbage are no longer being paid</span></a><span style="font-size: small;"> and rubbish has been piling up in city streets. This waste also flows into water sources, polluting it, and thus creating perfect conditions for the spread of cholera. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amnesty International says that at least 34 coalition airstrikes have violated international humanitarian law and killed at least 494 civilians. The rights group says these deadly air strikes were carried out using American and British equipment. Houthi rebels are also responsible for killing an unknown number of civilians while engaging in indiscriminate artillery, mortar and rocket fire.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"> <br /><a href="http://observers.france24.com/en/contributor/ahmad-algohbary"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Ahmad Algohby</span></a></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-44483624555405818642017-05-18T22:15:00.000+01:002017-05-18T22:15:27.295+01:00Anti-Corbyn Argument Smashed!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One of Britain’s most influential rappers just smashed the entire anti-Corbyn argument in seconds:<br />
<br />
British rapper Akala said this:<br />
"So why will I be voting now? The answer will surprise none of you, Jeremy Corbyn.", "We do not need perfect politicians, because we are not perfect people ourselves.<br />
<br />
However for the first time in my adult life and perhaps for the first time in British history someone I would consider to be a fundamentally decent human being – that is, someone who does not want to kill the poor and does not routinely make a habit of rationalising the bombing and invasion of other peoples countries under the rubric of humanitarianism – has a chance of being elected."<br />
<br />
"I simply think we cannot afford, in this very particular set of circumstances, to not vote.<br />
<br />
Our brothers and sisters in America were not given an alternative, their options were one war-mongering lunatic vs. another and many of them (almost half the US electorate did not vote at all), quite understandably could not bring themselves to vote for Hilary Clinton, despite the threat of Mr. Trump.<br />
<br />
Were I an American I must confess I would have done the same.<br />
<br />
We, however, do have a chance for the first time to vote for the lesser of two evils."<br />
<br />
There are a great many other progressive policies that make Corbyn a genuinely different candidate from what we have seen before but another very key area – of literally life and death – is the NHS.<br />
<br />
If you want to see what privatised healthcare looks like just ask any poor American.<br />
<br />
"There are countless American families mired in a lifetime of debt for basic healthcare that citizens of every other industrial country (and Cuba) receive as standard from public money.<br />
<br />
When I was five I got the measles and nearly died!<br />
<br />
If I was an American child born into a similarly poor family I would either likely be dead now or my family still paying off the bill."<br />
<br />
"When I was 10 my mum got cancer, same story.<br />
<br />
The idea and reality of an NHS is one of the most democratic ideas ever invented.<br />
<br />
It must be protected at all costs, the Tories have made their intentions in this area quite plain – as has Corbyn."<br />
<br />
"If you are so busy hating those pesky ‘immigrants’ (you know the same darkies and foreign nationals that overwhelmingly staff your NHS) that you can’t see that the Trump worshipping Tories are callous enough to condemn millions of ‘their own’ people to slow and early death because they are poor and because it’s profitable, (as the Republicans just have) then you are unlikely to be reading this anyway.<br />
<br />
But if you have such people in your family (as I do) please try and talk some sense into them, for their own good."<br />
<br />
"The simple fact is, if enough people vote for Corbyn/Labour they will win.<br />
<br />
In fact there are enough people that did not vote at all in the last election to tip the scales decidedly."</div>
Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-88581515272348406112017-03-24T12:08:00.000+00:002017-03-24T12:09:56.811+00:00Westminster Incident<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On Wednesday afternoon, our home city of London suffered a hideous attack A palpable sense of anger and outrage runs through us all as well as heartbreak for the victims and their families.<br />
<br />
This afternoon's attack on both Westminster Bridge and around Parliament is an attack on what all Muslims (to me terrorists are NOT Muslim) and people of this nation hold dear: freedom, peace and the ability to live our daily lives without fear. Our way of life is enshrined in our religion, thereby any attack on one is an attack on us all.<br />
<br />
The perpetrators of this attack have one objective: divide and stoke fear. Their myth of 'Them and Us' is exactly that, a myth.<br />
<br />
All of us have a collective responsibility for identifying and notifying the appropriate authorities of individuals who attack and kill innocents for whatever cause. People who carry out such attacks are an abomination to all of humanity and must be dealt with swiftly and appropriately.<br />
<br />
We are grateful for the way our emergency services keep us all safe and continue to do so in difficult circumstances. We stand together strong and united.<br />
<br />
Our prayers are with the departed and those they left behind and with the first responders who helped without care for their own safety. In that action alone we see what makes us human: the need to help others and to support goodness over the evil. Today our actions of good over evil start with our oft repeated but very clear message:<br />
<br />
“We will not let the terrorists win by dividing us.”<br />
<br />
#notinourname<br />
#unitedagainstterrorism<br />
#westminster</div>
Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-5240363252131384802017-02-18T16:38:00.002+00:002017-02-18T16:40:07.338+00:00STAND WITH PAKISTAN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16806721_402615953464172_8396822418905231270_n.jpg?oh=1bc2dd839dd5e61f9f94dc44eb9164db&oe=594C1286" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-lht6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16806721_402615953464172_8396822418905231270_n.jpg?oh=1bc2dd839dd5e61f9f94dc44eb9164db&oe=594C1286" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-68206981823163476342017-02-11T17:05:00.003+00:002017-02-11T17:05:34.061+00:00Sadiq Khan launches blistering attack at move to end Dubs scheme for child refugees<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sadiq Khan has launched a blistering attack on the
Government after it emerged just 350 lone child refugees will be welcomed
into Britain under the so-called Dubs Amendment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a href="https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_large/public/thumbnails/image/2017/01/25/17/an114329827sadiq-khanevenin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_large/public/thumbnails/image/2017/01/25/17/an114329827sadiq-khanevenin.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Mayor said “ministers should collectively hang their heads in
shame” to end the agreement which campaigners hoped would see 3,000
unaccompanied children enter the UK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In a low-key announcement, immigration minister Robert Goodwill
said the scheme is set to close after another 150 refugees have been brought to
Britain after it was revealed 200 have arrived so far through the route.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs spearheaded the measure last year which
requires the Government to relocate unaccompanied refugee children from other
countries in Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">But in a written statement, Mr Goodwill revealed only 350 children
would be relocated through the amendment before it ends which provoked a
furious backlash from politicians, bishops and charities.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_medium/public/thumbnails/image/2016/10/05/11/calaisjungle0510a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/styles/story_medium/public/thumbnails/image/2016/10/05/11/calaisjungle0510a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mr Khan said the Government was “shunning” its responsibility to
help the world’s most vulnerable children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">He said: “Ministers should collectively hang their heads in shame
for their decision to end the Dubs Amendment, which was helping to transform
the lives of children caught up in the ongoing humanitarian crisis.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“In London, we have a proud history of welcoming and supporting
refugees seeking sanctuary and helping them to rebuild their lives. </span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“That’s why as an MP I voted in favour of the Dubs Amendment, and
it’s why as Mayor I am proud to have worked with London councils who have
provided support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children, including those
that have arrived via the Dubs route.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“As a country, we cannot shun our responsibility to do our part in
helping some of the most vulnerable children in the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">“This is bigger than party politics and I strongly urge the
Government to reverse its decision and to work with London councils to support
our ongoing efforts to help vulnerable children who are in desperate need.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Tom Viita, head of advocacy at Christian Aid, said: "After
Trump's refugee ban in recent weeks, it is shocking to see the UK sending out
another deeply worrying message to the rest of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Theresa May and her government need to be pulling Trump up,
rather than following him downwards."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Bishop of Croydon, the Rt Rev Jonathan Clark, added: “By
refusing to help those children you are in effect helping the trafficking
industry."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A Home Office spokeswoman said: "We are not giving up on
vulnerable children who are fleeing conflict and danger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Thanks to the goodwill of the British public and local
authorities, in the last year alone we have provided refuge or other forms of
leave to more than 8,000 children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">"Our commitment to resettle 350 unaccompanied children from
Europe is just one way we are helping."</span></div>
<div style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 15pt; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/sadiq-khan-launches-blistering-attack-at-move-to-end-dubs-scheme-for-child-refugees-a3462131.html</span></div>
</div>
Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-69869382453449667682016-12-13T22:15:00.001+00:002016-12-13T22:16:34.346+00:00Pakistan's Supreme Court Bench that ran away!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
For this dishonourable bench to hide behind a winter
vacation Calendar, is as disgraceful, as shameful and as flimsy as Nawaz hiding
behind the Qatari Prince's letter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No shame. No respect.
No pain for the country. No professionalism and above all no ethics,
morality and sense of justice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Everything that this infamous Supreme Court and especially
this bench of 5 did is highly questionable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First lying low, and like Nero and Caligula, power
intoxicated and merry-making, from April to October, while Pakistan burned.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then deciding to take on the case and setting the Nov 1st
date, for the first hearing, one day before Imran threatens Armageddon. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It stinks. It stinks
all across the Margallas!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These actions are an absolute disgrace to their institution
and to each individual who was and is part of this infamous bench. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why on earth would you take on a case, set high expectations
and then slink away like rats under the pretence of "winter holidays”?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Under what compulsions did these so called lordships wake up
from their damn power induced intoxication of 7 months in the first place?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And then what prompted these so called lordships to jump
ship and throw this bag of crap to another bench?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The entire lawyer community should hang its head in shame.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These 5 SC judges, especially the CJ, basically covered
their backsides, and some hoping for some crumbs to come their way, post retirement.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was clear that this disgraceful bench had already made up
its mind to dump the case when they "asked" both parties about
forming a Commission. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Is that how the Supreme Court of our land works?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How many money launderer's, crooks, criminals have been
offered" Commissions" by these people who now disgrace the sacred
role of Supreme Court Justice?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How many commissions, you dishonourable lordships, how many?
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You're a disgrace to these sacred seats you occupy, my dear
dishonourable lordships or whatever you are called. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A disgrace!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They even indirectly urged Imran’s lawyers to opt for a
commission, subtly implying that his case was weak.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
They also knew Nawaz would accept the commission, and thus
so these 5 stooges could rid themselves of having to decide the case. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Imran didn't take the bait so they were only left with an
option that a lowly clerk and
"babu" is left with. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sir may nay chuthee jaana hay. Mayree bahen ki shaadee hay! (Sir I need to go to take leave. My sister is getting married!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some stupid rules and procedures of winter vacations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What utter nonsense! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So go ahead your dishonourable lordships. Go ahead and
fiddle while Pakistan burns. Pakistan will not forget nor forgive you. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shameful. Disgraceful.
Koee Sharam hothee hay, Koee haya hothee hay.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And all they could come up with, was to hide behind their
damn winter vacation calendar. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
May you 5 have -40 degrees with wind chill wherever you go
for that so critical vacation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Off with their heads, I say!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><span style="color: #666666;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;"><b>By Anonymous.</b></span></span></div>
</div>
Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-79365919593725979892016-11-12T18:25:00.000+00:002016-11-12T18:27:37.287+00:00Centuries of statelessness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nUtJiBA9s_s/WCdePmYDzOI/AAAAAAAAF38/9g11lu_lv-MnqApuHzLy8Fi3poQMZR_2wCLcB/s1600/769167557656e2951bbbz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nUtJiBA9s_s/WCdePmYDzOI/AAAAAAAAF38/9g11lu_lv-MnqApuHzLy8Fi3poQMZR_2wCLcB/s320/769167557656e2951bbbz.jpg" width="320" /></a>Rohingya, an ethnic minority community of Indo-Aryan origin from the
state of Rakhine in Burma, has been living there since approximately 8<sup>th</sup> century.
They have been subjected to inhumane treatment at the hands of majority
Buddhist community since Burmese independence in 1948 from Britain. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In 1982 the Burmese government decided to derecognise them as citizens
and treats them as illegal refugees. Since then they have been subjected to
discrimination on the basis of their religion and ethnicity by Buddhist
majority backed by Burmese government.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
These human beings have been subjected to worse persecution by the
Buddhist majority and Burmese government. So much so, that they have been
described by the United Nations as “the most persecuted minorities in the
world”. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Their men, women, young and old are tortured, maimed, raped, killed, and
burnt alive. Their properties destroyed, they are not only displaced but
deprived of their basic human right of life. Since 1948, circa 1.5 million
Rohingya have been forced to flee their homes to avoid persecution at the hands
of majority Buddhists.<o:p></o:p></div>
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2012 saw the escalation of subhuman treatment of this community in the
face of Rakhine state riots, where whole villages have been decimated. Hundreds
of houses have been razed, thousands maimed, raped and killed; 80,000 people
have been displaced and the situation is getting worse by the day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The international community is unaware of their frightful situation due
to neglect on the part of our mainstream media and governments, particularly
Europe and America. The very governments that go around propagating
humanity, supporting “Arab springs” in the name of freedom from tyranny and
dictatorships. They wage wars against oppression and terrorism.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Yet, they don't see the human suffering; “Buddhist terrorism”
against Rohingya in Burma; the modern time “Holocaust”. The world and media are
criminally silent in the face of blatant violations of human rights. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background: white; line-height: 107%;">I urge every
responsible human being to lobby their MPs to force Britain, Europe, America
and rest of the world to pressurise the Burmese government to stop the violence
against Rohingya, because <b>“It is not about religion, it is about
humanity”</b>. </span><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-37929783689053306482016-09-08T23:16:00.000+01:002016-09-08T23:16:46.978+01:00How Islamic are the Islamic Countries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A study conducted by Prof. Hussain Askari of George Washington University entitled “How Islamic are the Islamic Countries" showed that most of the countries that apply Islamic Principles in their daily lives are not ones that are traditionally Muslim.<br />
<br />
New Zealand ranked 1st, <br />
Luxembourg 2nd,<br />
Ireland 3rd,<br />
Iceland 4th,<br />
Finland 5th,<br />
Denmark 6th<br />
Canada 7th.<br />
Malaysia 38th,<br />
Kuwait 48th,<br />
Bahrain 64th<br />
and to the surprise<br />
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked 131st.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
The study, published in the Global Economy Journal might be shocking to most of us but when we look around us and see the reality of the situation, we find that the results of the study are accurate and true.<br />
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As Muslims we seem to care only about performing religious Obligations/Rituals/Sunnah (prayer, fasting, niqab, beards, etc), reading the Qur’an and the Hadiths, but we don't practice what we espouse. We listen to religious lessons and sermons more than the other people on the face of the earth, but we are still not the best of Nations. In the last 60 years, we have listened to 3,000 Friday sermons.<br />
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A Chinese merchant once said: “Muslim merchants come to me and ask me to put fake international labels and brands on their goods. When I invite them to eat, they refuse because the food is not Halal. So it is Halal for them to sell fake goods?”<br />
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A Japanese Muslim said: “I travelled to the West and saw Islam in practice applied in the daily life of non-Muslims. I travelled to the East, I saw Islam but did not see any Muslims. I thank Allah I knew Islam before I knew how Muslims act.”<br />
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Religion should not be reduced to Prayer and Fasting. It is a way of life and it is about how we treat others.<br />
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Performing a religious obligation is up to you and it is something between you and Allah. However, good ethics is something between you and other people. In other words, if we do not put Islamic ethics into action and practice, corruption will become rampant and disgrace will be our future.<br />
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We should not judge a person based on how he performs religious obligations for he might be a hypocrite.<br />
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The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Verily, the bankrupt of my nation are those who come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers, fasting and charity, but also with insults, slander, consuming wealth, shedding and beating others.”<br />
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I believe Islam (external aspect of faith) is incomplete without Imaan (internal aspect of faith) and Ihsaan (social aspect of faith). Ponder, understand and realise this.<br />
<br />
Lord Bernard Shaw is said to have said:<br />
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Islam is the best religion and Muslims are the worst followers.<br />
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A statement by Nasiruddin Shah before Shariyah court in Pakistani movie ' Khuda ke liye' , "Haram ki kamai jeb me dale hum halal gosht ki dukan dhundhte hai" !!!<br />
"If we fill our pockets with Haram earnings then halal meat shop is just a show"</div>
Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-6899344689132833412016-05-30T22:17:00.000+01:002016-05-30T22:17:49.151+01:00What is Maturity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Maturity is when you stop trying to change people, and instead focus on changing yourself.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Maturity is when you accept people for who they are. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Maturity is when you understand that everyone is right in their own perspective. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Maturity is when you learn to "let go". </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Maturity is when you are able to drop "expectations" from a relationship and give for the sake of giving. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Maturity is when you understand that whatever you do, you do for your own peace and to please Allah.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Maturity is when you stop proving to the world how intelligent you are. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Maturity is when you focus on positives in people. Maturity is when you do not seek approval from others. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Maturity is when you stop comparing yourself with others.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Maturity is when you seek and merit Allah's help and adopt the life of gratitude.</span></li>
</ul>
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Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-22808656018900200572016-03-29T21:25:00.000+01:002016-03-29T21:25:07.410+01:00Who is Bombing European Civilians?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The last time a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy_of_tension" style="color: #2b4bb5;" target="_blank" title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategy_of_tension">wave of bomb attacks were carried out against European civilian targets</a>, 'leftist' or 'communist' groups were blamed. Eventually the truth came out that those groups were deliberately framed and <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/the-terror-trail-that-wont-grow-cold-dark-forces-bombed-bologna-station-in-1980-killing-85-at-a-1509705.html" style="color: #2b4bb5;" target="_blank" title="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/the-terror-trail-that-wont-grow-cold-dark-forces-bombed-bologna-station-in-1980-killing-85-at-a-1509705.html">the real perpetrators were 'commando' type groups working directly under the imperial aegis of NATO</a>, which is to say, the USA, its agents and ideological sympathizers in Europe.<br /><br />The point of this wave of bombings and shootings was to <strong>divide, manipulate, and control public opinion using fear, propaganda, disinformation, psychological warfare, </strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_provocateur" style="color: #0f0f0f;" target="_blank" title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_provocateur"><strong>agents provocateurs</strong></a><strong>, and </strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_flag" style="color: #2b4bb5;" target="_blank" title="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_flag"><strong>false flag terrorist</strong></a><strong> acts to achieve the strategic aims of Western governments</strong>, in particular the US government. These strategic aims were embedded in the 'Cold War' ideology of preventing left wing, socialist or communist parties from reaching executive power in Europe, reducing US influence and thereby increasing that of the former Soviet Union.<br /><br />Last year the Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/dempsey-us-military-dusting-off-decades-readiness-plans/story?id=24713043" style="color: #2b4bb5;" target="_blank" title="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/dempsey-us-military-dusting-off-decades-readiness-plans/story?id=24713043">stated that</a> the US government and military was 'dusting off its Cold War playbook' in order to deal with Russia and the threat of it gaining influence over European countries. The Pentagon recently designated Russia as the number one threat facing the US today. One has to wonder then how closely the Pentagon's Cold War strategy is being followed today, and if it involves similar false-flag terror attacks against the civilian population of Europe in order to create<strong> a climate of insecurity under which more authoritarian policies can be imposed on the public. </strong>One also has to wonder about the strange coincidence of Turkish PM Erdogan <a href="http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160322/1036735569/erdogan-brussels-attack-warning.html" style="color: #2b4bb5;" target="_blank" title="http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160322/1036735569/erdogan-brussels-attack-warning.html">warning just a few days ago that</a>, <strong>"there is no reason why the bomb that exploded in Ankara [on March 12th] could not explode in Brussels."</strong><br /><br /><a name='more'></a>But where does Islamic terrorism fit into this template?<br /><br />You may have noticed that whenever an attack of this kind occurs, it is automatically inserted into the well-established 'rolling narrative' of 'Islamic terrorism'. There is no need, therefore, to provide any real evidence to back up the claim by Western authorities that a 'Muslim suicide bomber' was to blame <strong>because 14 years of vicious and deliberate anti-Muslim propaganda means everyone 'just knows' that it was 'the Mooslims'.</strong> But for the sake of argument, let's roll with the suicide bomber idea for a moment.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/heres-what-a-man-who-studied-every-suicide-attack-in-the-world-says-about-isiss-motives/" style="color: #2b4bb5;" target="_blank" title="http://www.thenation.com/article/heres-what-a-man-who-studied-every-suicide-attack-in-the-world-says-about-isiss-motives/">What 95 percent of all alleged suicide attacks have in common since 1980</a>, is not religion, but a specific strategic response to Western (or Western-affiliated) military intervention and/or military occupation of territory that the terrorists view as their homeland, or prize greatly. <strong>From Lebanon and the West Bank in the 80s and 90s, to Iraq and Afghanistan and up through the Brussels bombings today, it is Western military intervention in - and specifically Western military occupation of - foreign lands that provokes suicide terrorism more than anything else.</strong><br /><br />But we still don't buy it. Remove the image of the lone-wolf, wild-eyed terrorist, and what we're dealing with here is clearly a very effective military organization, capable of planning and carrying out complex and devastating attacks in the heart of a high-tech Western society glistening with security apparatus, personnel and intelligence networks.<br /><br />The Brussels attacks were a sophisticated multi-site operation that somehow evaded all digital and physical security of a city that is effectively Europe's Washington, DC, and which has been under a state of high alert since the Paris attacks last November, including the apparently now permanent presence of military patrols on the streets. The attackers then chose two targets that are right next to what should surely have been more enticing targets for jihadists bent on avenging their fellow martyrs' deaths.<br /><br />Take a look at the map of Brussels below:<br /><div class="article-image-large to-center" style="clear: both; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em; position: relative; text-align: center; width: 550px;">
<a href="http://www.sott.net/image/s15/309810/full/Bxl_map.jpg" rel="ibox&ignore_target=true" style="color: #2b4bb5;" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.sott.net/image/s15/309810/large/Bxl_map.jpg" style="max-width: 520px;" title="Click to enlarge" /></a><div class="image-caption">
<span class="caption" style="color: #1b3651; font-weight: bold; padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em;">Brussels</span></div>
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Note that the airport is just a couple of kms from NATO HQ. But the jihadists apparently weren't interested...<br /><br />Note also that within a 200m range of Maalbeek metro station, the jihadists had a choice of targeting the US embassy, the European Parliament, the European Council building, and any number of European Commission buildings. <strong>But again, the jihadists apparently weren't interested, and preferred to attack civilians, which included (no doubt) Muslims.</strong> Remember, this is NATO and EU headquarters, the two organisations under which the bombing of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria have taken place.<br /><br />There's something else that perplexes us; why do 'Islamic terror' attacks always involve 'suicide bombers'? If someone has the know-how to build a bomb and plan an operation, why blow themselves up with it? Has the idea of reaching a target and then dropping the bomb and walking away never occurred to these people? More to the point, how do we reconcile the 'suicide bomber' angle in the Brussels Airport bombing when <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3503928/Two-explosions-heard-Brussels-Airport.html#ixzz43dcLYyxn" style="color: #2b4bb5;" target="_blank">eyewitnesses have claimed that the two explosions there occurred behind the check-in desks</a>, and when a <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-belgium-blast-idUKKCN0WO0LB" style="color: #2b4bb5;" target="_blank" title="http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-belgium-blast-idUKKCN0WO0LB">preponderance of lower-leg injuries on victims strongly suggests a bomb lying on the ground?</a><br /><br />Of course, we're being a little coy here. Because the idea of an 'Islamic suicide bomber' is a real boon for anyone interested in demonizing Muslims. Apart from the act of killing civilians, the act of 'suicide bombing' - and the complete lack of any survival instinct it conveys - tends to instantly delegitimize you and your cause (if any) in the eyes of normal people, and instead portrays you as an irrational, crazed, fundie nutjob.<br /><br />This campaign of 'Islamic terrorism' in Europe seems, therefore, to be massively counter-productive to any agenda of liberation of the Middle East from NATO aggression. In fact, <strong>it directly </strong><em><strong>facilitates</strong></em><strong> further Western military meddling in the Middle East on the basis of 'dealing with the terror threat' and, as noted, justifies the implementation of police state measures in European society and 'lock downs' on the movement of ordinary people. </strong><br /><br />What we're getting at here, if you haven't noticed, is that 'Islamic terror attacks' are most likely a form of proxy war waged by the US (and other Western government agents) aimed at maintaining control over their 'interests'. Those interests are (and have always been) control over the political destiny of as much of the rest of the world as possible and, of course, ever finer control over the most valuable resource on this planet: its human population.<br /><br />Now, this idea of a 'proxy war' waged by governments as a way to conceal their true intentions may be new to <em>you</em>, but it is not new to your political and military leaders. In responding to the attacks in Brussels today, the head of the Ukrainian intelligence service <a href="https://www.rt.com/politics/336643-halfwit--medvedev-blasts-ukrainian/" style="color: #2b4bb5;" target="_blank" title="https://www.rt.com/politics/336643-halfwit--medvedev-blasts-ukrainian/">said</a> that he "<strong>would not be surprised if it turns out that the Brussels attacks were an element of hybrid war waged by Russia</strong>." Of course, the idea that Russia was behind the attacks is risible, and fully in keeping with the ongoing US-led anti-Russia propaganda campaign, which recently saw <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/12180073/Nato-chief-Vladimir-Putin-weaponising-refugee-crisis-to-break-Europe.html" style="color: #2b4bb5;" target="_blank" title="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/12180073/Nato-chief-Vladimir-Putin-weaponising-refugee-crisis-to-break-Europe.html">NATO's Chief warmonger in Europe, General Breedlove</a> accuse Russia of creating the refugee crisis in order to "overwhelm and break Europe". Yes indeed, Russia, a country that has spent the last 6 months destroying the terrorist armies in Syria that created the refugee crisis, is <em>responsible</em> for creating the refugee crisis as a form of 'hybrid war' against Europe! You really have to be a full-blown psychopath, or clinically insane (not much difference) to reach that conclusion.<br /><br />So hybrid war is the same as proxy war. It is war by indirect means, where one actor aims to produce in his opponent the same effect as a direct attack without directly attacking him, while a third party is blamed. So given that the direct results of so-called 'Islamic terrorism' is renewed justification for Western government control over the Middle East and justification for ever tighter police state controls of European populations, who would you conclude benefits most from these attacks? Russia? Middle Easterners and other Muslims fighting for 'freedom'? Or certain Western political and corporate cliques?</div>
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<span style="color: #15255b; font-family: Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 1.4em;">Source: </span><span style="color: #15255b; font-family: Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 22.4px;">http://www.sott.net/article/315020-SOTT-Exclusive-Who-is-Bombing-European-Civilians#</span></span></div>
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Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-16436169767285141512016-03-16T15:50:00.000+00:002016-03-16T16:12:23.260+00:00An estimated 12.6 million deaths each year are attributable to unhealthy environments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
An estimated 12.6 million people died as a result of living or working in an unhealthy environment in 2012 – nearly 1 in 4 of total global deaths, according to new estimates from WHO. Environmental risk factors, such as air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change, and ultraviolet radiation, contribute to more than 100 diseases and injuries.<br />
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<h3 class="section_head1">
<a name='more'></a>Noncommunicable diseases contribute to largest share of environment-related deaths</h3>
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The second edition of the report, “<i>Preventing disease through healthy environments: a global assessment of the burden of disease from environmental risks</i>”, reveals that since the report was first published a decade ago, deaths due to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), mostly attributable to air pollution (including exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke), amount to as much as 8.2 million of these deaths. NCDs, such as stroke, heart disease, cancers and chronic respiratory disease, now amount to nearly two-thirds of the total deaths caused by unhealthy environments.<br />
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At the same time, deaths from infectious diseases, such as diarrhoea and malaria, often related to poor water, sanitation and waste management, have declined. Increases in access to safe water and sanitation have been key contributors to this decline, alongside better access to immunization, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and essential medicines.<br />
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<h3 class="section_head1">
Healthier environment: healthier people </h3>
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“A healthy environment underpins a healthy population,” says Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. “If countries do not take actions to make environments where people live and work healthy, millions will continue to become ill and die too young.”<br />
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The report emphasizes cost-effective measures that countries can take to reverse the upward trend of environment-related disease and deaths. These include reducing the use of solid fuels for cooking and increasing access to low-carbon energy technologies.<br />
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“There’s an urgent need for investment in strategies to reduce environmental risks in our cities, homes and workplaces”, said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director, Department of Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health. “Such investments can significantly reduce the rising worldwide burden of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, injuries, and cancers, and lead to immediate savings in healthcare costs.” <br />
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Environmental risks take their greatest toll on young children and older people, the report finds, with children under 5 and adults aged 50 to 75 years most impacted. Yearly, the deaths of 1.7 million children under 5 and 4.9 million adults aged 50 to 75 could be prevented through better environmental management. Lower respiratory infections and diarrhoeal diseases mostly impact children under 5, while older people are most impacted by NCDs.<br />
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<h3 class="section_head1">
Burden of disease in WHO Regions</h3>
<div class="section_head1">
<br /></div>
Regionally, the report finds, low- and middle-income countries in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions had the largest environment-related disease burden in 2012, with a total of 7.3 million deaths, most attributable to indoor and outdoor air pollution. Further regional statistics listed in the report include: <br />
<ul class="disc">
<li>2.2 million deaths annually in African Region</li>
<li>847 000 deaths annually in Region of the Americas</li>
<li>854 000 deaths annually in Eastern Mediterranean Region</li>
<li>1.4 million deaths annually in European Region</li>
<li>3.8 million deaths annually in South-East Asia Region</li>
<li>3.5 million deaths annually in Western Pacific Region</li>
</ul>
Low- and middle-income countries bear the greatest environmental burden in all types of diseases and injuries, however for certain NCDs, such as cardiovascular diseases and cancers, the per capita disease burden can also be relatively high in high-income countries.<br />
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<h3 class="section_head1">
Top causes of environment-related deaths</h3>
<div class="section_head1">
<br /></div>
Looking across more than 100 disease and injury categories, the report finds that the vast majority of environment-related deaths are due to cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and ischaemic heart disease:<br />
<ul class="decimal">
<li>Stroke – 2.5 million deaths annually</li>
<li>Ischaemic heart disease – 2.3 million deaths annually</li>
<li>Unintentional injuries (such as road traffic deaths) – 1.7 million deaths annually</li>
<li>Cancers – 1.7 million deaths annually</li>
<li>Chronic respiratory diseases – 1.4 million deaths annually</li>
<li>Diarrhoeal diseases – 846 000 deaths annually</li>
<li>Respiratory infections – 567 000 deaths annually</li>
<li>Neonatal conditions – 270 000 deaths annually</li>
<li>Malaria – 259 000 deaths annually</li>
<li>Intentional injuries (such as suicides) – 246 000 deaths annually</li>
<li></li>
</ul>
<h3 class="section_head1">
Strategies to reduce environmental disease burden </h3>
<div class="section_head1">
<br /></div>
The report cites proven strategies for improving the environment and preventing diseases. For instance, using clean technologies and fuels for domestic cooking, heating and lighting would reduce acute respiratory infections, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and burns. Increasing access to safe water and adequate sanitation and promoting hand washing would further reduce diarrhoeal diseases.<br />
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Tobacco smoke-free legislation reduces exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, and thereby also reduces cardiovascular diseases and respiratory infections. Improving urban transit and urban planning, and building energy-efficient housing would reduce air pollution-related diseases and promote safe physical activity. <br />
<br />
Many cities around the world are already implementing many of these cost-effective measures. Curitiba, Brazil has invested heavily in slum upgrading, waste recycling, and a popular “bus rapid transit” system which is integrated with green spaces and pedestrian walkways to encourage walking and cycling. Despite a five-fold population increase in the past 50 years, air pollution levels are comparatively lower than in many other rapidly growing cities and life expectancy is 2 years longer than the national average. <br />
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Through WHO’s water safety plans, which work to identify and address threats to drinking-water safety, Amarapuri, Nepal identified open defecation as a water quality hazard contributing to diseases in the area. As a result, the village built toilets for each household and was later declared an Open Defecation Free Zone by the local government. <br />
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Currently, WHO is working with countries to take action on both indoor and outdoor air pollution. At the World Health Assembly in May, WHO will propose a road map for an enhanced global response by the health sector aimed at reducing the adverse health effects of air pollution. <br />
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Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-83432704497178416332016-02-22T23:33:00.002+00:002016-02-22T23:33:15.342+00:00RESPECT TO CAMPAIGN TO LEAVE THE EU<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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George Galloway has announced that Respect will join the Grass roots Out campaign to leave the European Union.</div>
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The Respect leader appeared as a ‘special guest’ alongside speakers from a number of political parties on Friday at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster to put forward the ‘Lexit’ case for voting in favour of leaving in the June 23rd Referendum.</div>
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Evoking the memory of Tony Benn, Galloway pressed home the need for Britain to regain its democratic power. A full version of the speech can be found below,as well as Monday’s appearance on the Daily Politics:</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Source: http://www.respectparty.org/</span></div>
Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-2861293303004825662015-11-24T09:42:00.001+00:002015-11-24T09:43:13.366+00:00I will not apologise!
<p dir="ltr">By: Khaled <u>Almaeena</u> - Editor-at-Large</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Paris attacks that killed 130 people and injured hundreds of others are still capturing headlines. They also occupy the top spot in social media the world over.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The attack came days after suicide bombers blew up about 40 people in a Beirut suburb and before that a Russian plane was blown up over Sinai killing more than 200 people. Daesh (the self-proclaimed IS) took responsibility for all of these murderous acts.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I received several phone calls from Western journalists asking for the Saudi point of view on these murderous attacks to which my reply was that all of us condemn these inhumane and ugly acts which do not serve any purpose, but on the contrary malign our society and our religion.</p>
<p dir="ltr">One caller asked if we will apologise. I almost screamed at him. Apologise for what?! Are we responsible for the actions of mysterious groups that destroy and kill? Are we responsible for all the evil acts being committed and falsely attributed to Islam?! I am not going to apologise, I said.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Let an international investigation be conducted and the findings made public. I am not a believer in conspiracy theories, but since the 9/11 attack until now many questions remain unanswered. How is it that after every major incident a passport is found intact? As if people walk the streets with their passports in their pockets and the passports are made of nonflammable material that is resistant to fires and bomb attacks.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In New York, it was a Saudi passport; in Paris it was a Syrian passport which later was found to be a fake and there were 11 passports with the same name and number!</p>
<p dir="ltr">We have had enough of preachers of hate and ignorant politicians inciting animosity against Muslims and ranting anti-Islamic rhetoric that is racist and full of hate. Enough of ignorant people going on the rampage uttering jingoistic chants forgetting the complicity of their own governments in creating Al-Qaeda and Daesh-like organisations and propping up dictatorships in the region, dismantling armies and social order and creating vacuum that led to strife.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I stand with the entire world in condemning the wanton, ruthless and mindless destruction of innocent human lives, but please do not ask me to apologise for something for which I am not responsible. Have the Jews apologised for Netanyahu’s daily massacre of Palestinians? Have the Dalai Lama and Aung San Suu Kyi apologised for the brutal holocaust inflicted on the Muslims of Myanmar? Has Indian Prime Minister Modi apologised for the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat or the lynching of people alleged to have eaten beef? Have Bush, Blair, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Wolfowitz and Bremer apologized for the death of a million Iraqis?</p>
<p dir="ltr">While the world rises up in arms against the cowardly murders of the innocent in Paris, no one protested when over a 100 Turks were blown to bits by Daesh in Ankara.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This selective grief is not palatable to me and to many around the world. These acts are carried out by people who are supposedly Muslims, but are mostly managed by shadowy groups operating under the umbrella of Western agencies. They do not represent us. I am not guilty, and therefore, I will not apologise!</p>
<p dir="ltr">Source: http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-arabia/i-will-not-apologize/</p>
Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-14630830549391651892015-10-20T22:53:00.000+01:002015-10-20T22:53:03.836+01:00Muslim Groups say ‘Police State’ Powers will make Terror Problem Worse<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mainstream Muslim groups <a href="http://www.mpacuk.org/19102015/police-state-press-release.html#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[1]</a> are warning that the draconian new powers targeting the Muslim community, which the government is seeking through the Extremism Bill, will be counter-productive in the fight against ISIS recruiters and other extremists.</span></div>
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<li style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Extremism bill puts in place the architecture of a Police State, giving government ministers sweeping powers to restrict the rights and freedoms of citizens without due process and the right to a fair trial. With the vague definition of extremism being employed there is a real danger that these powers could be used to clamp down on legitimate political dissent.</span></li>
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<li style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new proposals continue the government’s approach of treating the whole Muslim community as potential terrorists, from 3 year-olds in nurseries through to political activists who oppose the government’s foreign policy.<a href="http://www.mpacuk.org/19102015/police-state-press-release.html#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[2]</a> This will only fuel alienation, driving some vulnerable young Muslims toward extremism.</span></li>
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<li style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The government’s focus is almost entirely on extremism within the Muslim community, ignoring far-right extremism and violence despite the acts of terror committed by racist and Islamophobic extremists (for example the murder of a Muslim grandfather in Birmingham, nail bombs and arson attacks on mosques and Islamic centres, a machete attack in a supermarket on a Sikh man mistaken for a Muslim…)<a href="http://www.mpacuk.org/19102015/police-state-press-release.html#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[3]</a>.</span></li>
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<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20.15px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These proposals are not based on empirical evidence about the factors causing terrorism, but instead rely on a refuted ‘conveyor belt’ theory of radicalisation promoted by neo-conservative think-tanks which falsely sees both religious conservatism and legitimate political grievances as leading almost inevitably toward violence.<a href="http://www.mpacuk.org/19102015/police-state-press-release.html#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[4]</a></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20.15px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An effective approach to countering violent extremism must acknowledge the proven link between foreign policy and terrorism, and empower young Muslims to channel their legitimate anger into democratic activism and engagement.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 20.15px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<li style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rather than wasting tax-payers money on groups such as ‘Inspire’ which have no credibility within the Muslim community the government should enter into dialogue with those Muslim groups who are already doing effective grassroots work against Isis and other extremists. The government’s approach to the mainstream Muslim community must change from one of exclusion to engagement.</span></li>
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<a href="http://www.mpacuk.org/19102015/police-state-press-release.html#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[1]</a> In addition to the Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK other mainstream groups such as Muslim Council of Britain and Islamic Human Rights Commission have raised similar concerns:</div>
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<a href="http://www.mcb.org.uk/one-nation-counter-extremism-strategy-risks-fight-against-terrorism-191015/" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://www.mcb.org.uk/one-nation-counter-extremism-strategy-risks-fight-against-terrorism-191015/</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ihrc.org.uk/activities/press-releases/11544-press-release-uk-anti-terror-laws-are-a-war-on-muslims" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">http://www.ihrc.org.uk/activities/press-releases/11544-press-release-uk-anti-terror-laws-are-a-war-on-muslims</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mpacuk.org/19102015/police-state-press-release.html#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[2]</a> <a href="http://www.irr.org.uk/news/spooked-how-not-to-prevent-violent-extremism/" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://www.irr.org.uk/news/spooked-how-not-to-prevent-violent-extremism/</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mpacuk.org/19102015/police-state-press-release.html#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[3]</a> <a href="http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/pavlo-lapshyn-jailed-40-years-6242978" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/pavlo-lapshyn-jailed-40-years-6242978</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.islamophobiawatch.co.uk/the-anti-muslim-backlash-that-followed-the-murder-of-lee-rigby/" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://www.islamophobiawatch.co.uk/the-anti-muslim-backlash-that-followed-the-murder-of-lee-rigby/</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/zack-davies-machete-man-who-5948162" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/zack-davies-machete-man-who-5948162</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-34218184" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-34218184</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mpacuk.org/19102015/police-state-press-release.html#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[4]</a> <a href="http://www.claystone.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Claystone-rethinking-radicalisation.pdf" style="border: 0px; color: #fc0000; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">http://www.claystone.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Claystone-rethinking-radicalisation.pdf</a> </div>
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Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-34215438193493437742015-10-18T20:51:00.000+01:002015-10-18T20:51:02.613+01:00Deradicalisation programme is demonising Muslims<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Published by IHRC on 8th October 2015</b></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 19.8px;">Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) finds gravely disturbing today's revelations that referrals to a deradicalisation programme have risen exponentially since reporting people of suspected extremism became an official requirement for public bodies on July 1 this year.</span></div>
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The figures show that there were more referrals between June and August this year than for the whole of 2012/13 – the first year the scheme was rolled out across England and Wales. The number is also more than double the level of referrals recorded in the first three months of 2014/15. Approximately 40% of the referrals were of people under the age of 18.</div>
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Moreover during the same period, of the 796 individuals reported to the Channel programme for possible intervention, only about a fifth have required intervention in the form of deradicalisation sessions.</div>
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The figures suggest that the government dragnet cast over the Muslim community by the Islamophobic 'PREVENT' anti-extremism programme is having the effect of demonising and stigmatising innocent individuals and creating a pall of fear that prevents them from fully engaging in everyday life.</div>
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What is worrying is that these figures have been compiled over a period when schools and educational institutions are closed for the summer break. The likelihood is that referrals are only going to increase now they have reopened.</div>
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IHRC is opposed in principle to the whole PREVENT programme. It rests on racist and Islamophobic assumptions. By demonising Islam as innately violent the programme has contributed to the legitimisation of institutional discrimination against Muslims. Although the programme is presented as targeting all extremism including that of the far right in practice it is almost exclusively applied to Muslims.</div>
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Many Muslims have been caught up by PREVENT for nothing other than expressing conservative religious opinions or views that are critical of the government's policies in Muslim countries. Deradicalisation programmes are in themselves designed to disabuse people of these views and amount to political and social indoctrination. Moreover, the secretive nature of the referral process which is usually informed by Islamophobic prejudices means that there is rarely a paper trail by which officials can be held accountable.</div>
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In a case that arose last month, a 14-year-old Muslim schoolboy was questioned about ISIS after a classroom discussion about environmental activism. His parents are taking legal action after the boy said he was left "scared and nervous" by his experience with school officials in north London, and was left reluctant to join in class discussions for fear of being suspected of extremism. IHRC has been informed of a case in which a schoolboy was referred by teachers for objecting to a school concert on the grounds that he thought it was unIslamic.</div>
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IHRC is also alarmed by statements made yesterday by PM David Cameron that he intends to bring private madrasas under state scrutiny because he believes the allegedly conservative views they teach are helping fuel extremism. His views are based on the now officially accepted conveyor belt theory of terrorism in which illiberal Islamic education is the first step of a journey towards violent extremism. According to this view every Muslim is a potential terrorist who requires state intervention to keep them clear of extremism.</div>
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IHRC's head of advocacy Abed Choudhury said: "It is highly ironic that a programme that the government parades as vital for social cohesion is in fact having a divisive effect by obliging people to report others, mostly on the basis of their own prejudices. Subjecting Muslims to deradicalisation programmes for holding alternative views smacks of indoctrination meted out to dissidents by authoritarian regimes both present and past."</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Source: http://us3.campaign-archive1.com/?u=4d0734a138da3bf708a64592d&id=a99f8856c8&e=b60f24c1af</b></span></div>
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Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3617850920111032678.post-57583998228288873212015-04-18T23:25:00.001+01:002015-04-18T23:25:20.475+01:00We Need a Level-Headed Conversation About Muslim 'Others'<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #333333;">by: </span><span style="color: #666666;"><span class="name fn" style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Muhammad Abdul Bari</span><span style="font-family: Arial, FreeSans, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;"> </span></span></div>
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Poll after poll provides us with a consistent picture of Muslim loyalty to Britain, yet too many still seem to see the glass 'half full' when it comes to Muslims.</div>
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The narrative championed by these 'half fullers' is that Muslims are predisposed to all kinds of negative behaviour - grooming, crime, terrorism, mistreatment of women - and how incompatible Islam is in contemporary Britain. The problem arises when the positives of any community are lessened, and the negatives amplified, but not seriously scrutinised by those in government. When challenged by Muslims, accusations of hiding behind a charge of "Islamophobia" and "victim" mentality are thrown about.</div>
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<a name='more'></a>The <a href="http://news.sky.com/story/1462023/poll-majority-have-no-sympathy-with-extremists" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Survation for Sky News poll</a>, although finding some very positive aspects of British Muslims, worryingly, finds a huge gap between Muslim perception on themselves and from the wider society on them - "on the issue of integration into UK society, the survey found 58% of non-Muslims believed their Muslim neighbours were not doing enough, with those aged over 55 more likely to be critical. Two thirds of Muslims, however, said they were doing enough." It also discovers an unpleasant feeling from Muslims about our authorities - "some 39% of Muslims who were asked said the authorities, including police and MI5, were a factor in radicalising the younger generation, compared to 29% of Muslims who said they were not."<br />
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As a mature democracy we must address these gaps; we need to do this with a level-headed debate and mature discussion.</div>
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Muslims (and others in society) have been trying to bring home the point that an 'unending' Global War on Terror (GWOT), post-the 9/11 atrocities, with its extreme destabilisation and loss of life in countries such as Iraq, has contributed to radicalisation and extremism among a section of Muslims. Of course, no sane person can justify violence in our streets because of this, but ignoring it in discussions on radicalisation has proved disastrous and disingenuous.</div>
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The GWOT has made our world less safe. It has unleashed sectarian proxy wars in the Middle East, wreaked havoc on infrastructure and caused the death of huge numbers of people in directly-affected countries. These dead are the 'unworthy victims' who will no doubt be forgotten in time. This was highlighted in the first international edition of <a href="http://www.ippnw.de/commonFiles/pdfs/Frieden/Body_Count_first_international_edition_2015_final.pdf" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">Body Count: Casualty Figures after 10 Years of the "War on Terror"</a>.</div>
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Sadly for us, a few hundred young British Muslim men and a few dozen girls have entered ISIS-held territories in recent months, thanks to its slick (and sick) online propaganda machine. ISIS may be outpacing us in the digital media stakes, but a terrorist group that can burn to death a captured pilot will inevitably fail; there are reports that "scores of <a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/middleeast/article4406569.ece" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">disillusioned foreign jihadists have been imprisoned</a> by Islamic State militants to prevent them fleeing their self-declared caliphate, which is riven with infighting and bitter national rivalries."</div>
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ISIS has terribly harmed Muslim communities in the West. The fear of radicalisation is now haunting Muslim families with young children. In addition - with the community being continuously pilloried by sections of the media - some right-wing politicians are using Muslims as a 'punch bag' for their short-term political gain.</div>
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No community is perfect, but if it is only seen through the prism of security it will obviously stand out as a security threat! Nonetheless, it is time for Muslim communities to ask themselves if they fully understand the depth of their predicament with radicalisation and whether they are doing enough to help themselves.</div>
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Some mosques and institutions have impressive records of serving diverse communities. They cater for not only for the religious needs of Muslims, but also help them in their moral, educational and social needs too - as well as bridge-building with others through interfaith initiatives and wider community work. But how many are they and are they doing enough? How many are able to address the common issues such as poverty, low wages, mental health, social ills, etc? Most importantly, how many are addressing the teenage challenges in a pluralist society?</div>
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It is also time for the political elite to acknowledge that some of their domestic policies, such as the counter-terrorism strategy, do have a negative impact in alienating Muslim youth. Many Muslims consider this approach condescending, to say the least. And, whether we like (or agree) with this or not, our government's foreign policy - in Palestine, Iraq and Syria - has angered many people. Terrorists abroad and Muslim extremists inside play upon this dissatisfaction, despite the fact that it is unforgivable to use such concerns to glorify violence and plague on young minds. Yet by ignoring mainstream Muslim voices and opinion the Government is hindering rather than helping progress towards a more cohesive society.</div>
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We can only counter ISIS's propaganda with a successful counter-radicalisation programme that addresses <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32208217" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_hplink">the lives of young Muslim women without securitising them</a>, not by bringing new laws. Too many Muslim young people feel alienated because of the current political climate.</div>
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Britain has a unique history of accommodating diverse peoples: why should it be any different with Muslims?</div>
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We need a 'different sort of conversation', a robustly objective approach, to bridge-build among, and between, our peoples. We all need to urgently understand what is radicalising our precious youth, how they are groomed and what we can do to prevent them from entering into a world of nihilism.</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 21px;"><i>Source: </i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Century, Times, serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/muhammad-abdul-bari/muslim-extremism_b_7076574.html</i></span></span></div>
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<em style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari is an educationalist, author and parenting consultant. He is former Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain (2006-10). <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The views expressed in this article are the author's own.</span></em></div>
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Samad Billoohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00840605947480511409noreply@blogger.com