BBC Report on Gaza…what will we do?

Gaza situation ‘worst since 1967′

The groups say a battered, starved Gaza cannot be peace partner

Gaza’s humanitarian situation is the worst since 1967 when Israel occupied it, says a coalition of UK-based human rights and development groups. They include Amnesty International, Save the Children, Cafod, Care International and Christian Aid.

They criticise Israel’s blockade on Gaza as illegal collective punishment which fails to deliver security.

Israel says its military action and other measures are lawful and needed to stop rocket attacks from Gaza.

The groups’ report, Gaza Strip: A Humanitarian Implosion, says the blockade has dramatically worsened levels of poverty and unemployment, and has led to deterioration in education and health services.

‘Disaster’

More than 1.1 million Gazans are dependent on food aid and of 110,000 workers previously employed in the private sector, 75,000 have now lost their jobs, the report says.

“Unless the blockade ends now, it will be impossible to pull Gaza back from the brink of this disaster and any hopes for peace in the region will be dashed,” said Geoffrey Dennis, of Care International UK.

Gaza cannot become a partner for peace unless Israel, Fatah and the Quartet engage with Hamas and give the people of Gaza a future Daleep Mukarji, Christian Aid Gazans discuss Israeli raids An asymmetric fight

Israel tightened its blockade on the strip, controlled by the Hamas militant group, in January.

Last week Israeli forces launched a bloody and destructive raid in northern Gaza, in which more than 120 Palestinians - including many civilians - were killed.

Israel says the measures are designed to stamp out frequent rocket fire by Palestinian militants.

Recent rocket attacks have hit deeper into southern Israel, reaching Ashkelon, the closest large Israeli city to the Gaza Strip.

Occupying power

The UK-based groups agree that Israel has the right and obligation to protect its citizens, urging both sides to cease unlawful attacks on civilians.

The Israeli army has cut access to Gaza for almost all traffic

But they call upon Israel to comply with its obligations, as the occupying power in Gaza, to ensure its inhabitants have access to food, clean water, electricity and medical care, which have been in short supply in the strip.

“Punishing the entire Gazan population by denying them these basic human rights is utterly indefensible,” said Amnesty UK Director Kate Allen.

“The current situation is man-made and must be reversed.”

Other recommendations from the groups include international engagement with the Hamas movement, which rejects Israel’s legitimacy and has been shunned by Israel’s allies, and the Fatah party of Palestinian West Bank leader Mahmoud Abbas.

“Gaza cannot become a partner for peace unless Israel, Fatah and the Quartet [the US and UN, Europe and Russia] engage with Hamas and give the people of Gaza a future,” said Daleep Mukarji of Christian Aid.

Lusaka Sunrise

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This is a pretty cool video, sport can be such an actor in changing lives, teaching team work, discipline, respect…

Death Penalty…

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comments from people on Youtube

08pool 

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-Because the death penalty is the punishment given by a neutrel judge, there is no vengance in it. Therefore, there is no moral objection to be had with the death penalty.
-The death penalty defends human rights by establishing a mentality that “we will not tolerate any violation of any innocent person’s human right’s

08pooled (4 hours ago) Show Hide

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-It holds people responsible for the horrible content of their character. This fulfills what MLKJ always wanted: judge not by the color of your skin, but by the content of your character. The character of these criminals warrants death
-It holds the criminal responsible for his actions
-appeals aside, it’s cheaper than prison
-it decreases the prison population, which saves even more taxpayers money

Land a Plane at 155mph winds?

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President of Iran Visits Iraq..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7274921.stm

Does anyone have any thoughts on this man, and his recent visit to Iraq?

Great Lyrics…great song. ‘A King and a Kingdom’

03. A King And A Kingdom Mockingbird by Derek Webb Listen:

Lyrics: Who’s your brother, who’s your sister You just walked passed him I think you missed her As we’re all migrating to the place where our father lives ‘Cause we married in to a family of immigrants My first allegiance is not to a flag, a country, or a man My first allegiance is not to democracy or blood It’s to a king & a kingdom There are two great lies that i’ve heard: “The day you eat of the fruit of that tree, you will not surely die” And that Jesus Christ was a white, middle-class republican And if you wanna be saved you have to learn to be like Him But nothing unifies like a common enemy And we’ve got one, sure as hell But he may be living in your house He may be raising up your kids He may be sleeping with your wife Oh no, he may not look like you think Where are our allegiances? and who do you think is your neighbour? It makes me wonder about the pledge of allegiance in the USA or the For God and Ulster that i see and hear at home. Should we so loyal to countries and flags…should we die for our country? How many people die for their country every year, how many of us would die for our God? NOt sure I would too quick to say I would. I wonder if maybe we put too much emphasis on our identity as nations, rather than who we are in Christ. I mean look at any sporting event and how excited we all get, if we our allegiance is with God then should we not get that excited about HIm and the Good News…(jesus came, lived, taught, suffered, died and rose again to free us from sin) I wonder, cos most of the time i dont…if i am being truly honest

Cuba Gives Aid to Bolivia

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/7268569.stm

This is a really interesting article, Cuba maybe communist and it may not allow freedom of speeh and so on…but they have got some things right such as health care.

The Moment of Truth Bombshell

I really can not believe that 1/ this was aired and 2/that she would ever say such a thing never mind mean it. I mean how can her husband sit there and listen to her say that and how can the ex boyfriend even ask that question to a married woman?

Makes me wonder a few things what has happended to this society? and is this a fix? Either way something is up with what we call entertainment? Why do we love to see other people suffer on national TV?

sand and sorrow

Sand and Sorrow Promo
Uploaded by HBOclips

This is an HBO movie about the conflict in Sudan…check it out

Pledges from all candidates to visit africa if they are elected…

Senator Hillary Clinton released a statement saying:

“Today I received a petition from more than 85,000 Americans who are members of the ONE campaign. I applaud their activism and share their urgent concern for the challenges of poverty and AIDS, especially in Africa… I am also committed to visiting Africa during my first term as President, to see the progress of our efforts and to assess first hand the necessary strategies to combat disease and poverty…” Read more

Senator John McCain’s response to your petitions said:

“I have received the petition from more than 85,000 Americans who are members of the ONE campaign. I am proud of the volunteer-driven effort behind ONE and the commitment ONE’s members have shown toward serving a cause greater than their own self-interest…As president, I look forward to visiting Africa and working with afflicted nations there and elsewhere to communicate that we expect a level of governance, transparency, and effectiveness from them in order to ensure that their aid makes a concrete and positive impact on people’s lives.” Read more

Governor Mike Huckabee said:

“The ONE Campaign members have been a significant presence throughout this election season and have done a tremendous job of raising awareness of the plight of the poorest people on earth…I will go to Africa in my first term and will continue to make a difference globally by strengthening such initiatives as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the President’s Malaria Initiative and the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria…” Read more

Senator Barack Obama’s response said:

“The ONE campaign stands as an example of how ordinary people can come together to change the world from the bottom up. I was honored to receive a petition from 75,000 ONE campaign members, and share your commitment to fight global poverty and disease—particularly in Africa. I will continue to fight for bipartisan renewal and expansion of the global HIV/AIDS relief program, and look forward to visiting Africa during my first term as President of the United States