America, under Obama, launching another War.
I've just heard a direct radio statement of the UN Security Council with the Chinese committee chairman noting the vote: a No Fly Zone and airstrikes on Libya will go ahead within hours. The vote was 10 countries in favour, none opposed, with China and Russia being 2 of the 5 who abstained from the vote. I really don't like this eagerness to launch another war in yet another oil-rich muslim country, and a No Fly Zone means destroying all Libyan ground and air defence installations and people within miles and miles. It's war. As in Iraq, the freedom-loving Americans and the UK, and the French, oh no, are going to destroy everything apart from the Oil processing plants and the pipelines and all for the good of the poor damn people they kill.The 'world petrol police' are at it again.
The great success of the NFZ and war on Iraq? One million dead Iraqis. Afghanistan? No one counts the bodies anymore but most are under 18 years old.And now Libya...and for their own good.
Monsters of the Air.
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Friday, 18 March 2011
My Thoughts on the China Model and the Future
Whilst many people think that China will one day become democratic, I don't. I think it will develop representational methods that suit China but it will never be like the West and it shouldn't be, because it is China. The massive developments and the dynamic ongoing obliteration of so much human poverty in the last 20 years has happened because it is not like the West. Western Democracies can change their whole ideological vision and policies each 3 or 4 years from one opposite to another so the ability to plan ahead just isn't there...so everything is worked out on what will be popular within 36 month vision. China's success also is due to the character of Chinese people. 60 years ago they had a massive and total revolution through absolute necessity and passion for change and through it they are, as a nation, their own masters and beholding to no other power, nor do they invade other countries to fix their economy. This is an outstanding human achievement on a grand scale. The policy of: ON ECONOMIC MATTERS: relaxed controls; for POLITICAL MATTERS: tight controls; is very effective... because it works. I expect it will be still working well a century from now and will provide great world stability and the greatest benefit will be for China and there's nothing wrong with that at all, because they've earned it...not borrowed it or stolen it. They've made it work.
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Thursday, 17 March 2011
The Emperor of Japan
Thai Health Ministry issues Iodine tablets to thais enroute to Japan
Health ministry issues iodine tablets to Thais enroute to Japan
BANGKOK, March 16 - Thailand's Ministry of Public Health will give iodine pills to all Thais travelling to Japan from Thursday at the country's international airports to protect from the radioactivity released from quake-hit Japanese nuclear power plants.
Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said 15,000 iodine pills will be distributed to Thai passengers who will depart for Japan at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket International Airports from tomorrow.
Permanent-Secretary for Public Health Dr Paichai Varachit said the country’s newly-set up operations centre on Japan's natural disaster will advise Thai nationals planning to visit northern Japan on staying safe from radiation including regular body and hand washing and avoiding outdoor activities.
Dr Paichit said those who return from Japan must also complete a questionnaire on arrival about their state of health so that they can monitor if and how they have been affected by the radiation crisis there.
The official however asserted that the two measures are introduced for the benefit of the travellers themselves.
Although radiation particles are detected in their bodies, they will not transmit the radioactive iodines to other people, he said.
Meanwhile, the Medical Council of Thailand on Wednesday announced it is recruiting Thai doctors to be dispatched to help earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan, but warned the public not to overdose on the iodine tablets.
Council president Amnat Kusalanant said after discussing possible further medical assistance from Thailand with Japanese embassy officials in Bangkok that the council has launched a new website www.tmc.or.th to recruit volunteer Thai doctors to Japan.
Those who want to go there should be able to communicate in Japanese well and now ten Thai doctors have registered for the mission, according to Dr Amnat.
Thailand will also issue a warning on the overuse of iodine pills to prevent radiation particles as Thailand still does not need to use them as it is too far from the affected areas, said the president.
Dr Amnat explained that those who do not get the radiation but take the pills might have an adverse reaction for iodine overdose.
Group Captain Niwat Intravichien from the Directorate of Medical Service, the Royal Thai Air Force, on Wednesday said C130 transport aircraft will depart Thailand for Japan 10pm Thursday to take Thai nationals back home. So far 200 people have informed they want to return home.
The second flight will leave Thailand Friday night, said Gr Capt Niwat, adding the operation is under the supervision of the Thai foreign ministry.
In the latest official figures, the death toll from destructive quake and tsunami mounted to 3,676 and 7,558 people were missing. In Miyagi prefecture alone, some 10,000 are feared dead as it is the hardest-hit area. (MCOT, agencies)
BANGKOK, March 16 - Thailand's Ministry of Public Health will give iodine pills to all Thais travelling to Japan from Thursday at the country's international airports to protect from the radioactivity released from quake-hit Japanese nuclear power plants.
Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said 15,000 iodine pills will be distributed to Thai passengers who will depart for Japan at Suvarnabhumi and Phuket International Airports from tomorrow.
Permanent-Secretary for Public Health Dr Paichai Varachit said the country’s newly-set up operations centre on Japan's natural disaster will advise Thai nationals planning to visit northern Japan on staying safe from radiation including regular body and hand washing and avoiding outdoor activities.
Dr Paichit said those who return from Japan must also complete a questionnaire on arrival about their state of health so that they can monitor if and how they have been affected by the radiation crisis there.
The official however asserted that the two measures are introduced for the benefit of the travellers themselves.
Although radiation particles are detected in their bodies, they will not transmit the radioactive iodines to other people, he said.
Meanwhile, the Medical Council of Thailand on Wednesday announced it is recruiting Thai doctors to be dispatched to help earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan, but warned the public not to overdose on the iodine tablets.
Council president Amnat Kusalanant said after discussing possible further medical assistance from Thailand with Japanese embassy officials in Bangkok that the council has launched a new website www.tmc.or.th to recruit volunteer Thai doctors to Japan.
Those who want to go there should be able to communicate in Japanese well and now ten Thai doctors have registered for the mission, according to Dr Amnat.
Thailand will also issue a warning on the overuse of iodine pills to prevent radiation particles as Thailand still does not need to use them as it is too far from the affected areas, said the president.
Dr Amnat explained that those who do not get the radiation but take the pills might have an adverse reaction for iodine overdose.
Group Captain Niwat Intravichien from the Directorate of Medical Service, the Royal Thai Air Force, on Wednesday said C130 transport aircraft will depart Thailand for Japan 10pm Thursday to take Thai nationals back home. So far 200 people have informed they want to return home.
The second flight will leave Thailand Friday night, said Gr Capt Niwat, adding the operation is under the supervision of the Thai foreign ministry.
In the latest official figures, the death toll from destructive quake and tsunami mounted to 3,676 and 7,558 people were missing. In Miyagi prefecture alone, some 10,000 are feared dead as it is the hardest-hit area. (MCOT, agencies)
Cambodia sets age limit for foreign husbands
PHNOM PENH, March 16, 2011 (AFP) - Male foreigners over the age of 50 have been outlawed from marrying Cambodian women in the country under new rules designed to crack down on sham marriages and human trafficking, the government said Wednesday.
Foreigners who earn less than $2,550 per month are also barred from wedding local women, foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told AFP, but the restrictions do not apply to weddings taking place overseas.
Marriages between old men and young women are "inappropriate", Koy Kuong said, and foreign men who wish to marry nationals must earn a high salary to ensure that "Cambodian women can live a decent life".
"We are preventing fake marriages and human trafficking," he said, adding that the government was aware of cases, documented by rights groups, where Cambodian women were sent into prostitution or "used as slaves" in their husband's home country.
The Cambodian foreign ministry has sent a diplomatic note to all the embassies and consulates in the country informing them of the new regulations, which came into effect on March 1.
Kek Galabru, president of local human rights group Licadho, praised the government's intention to protect Cambodian brides.
But she said the new guidelines "go against Cambodian marriage law and international law" -- specifically the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
"This is discrimination against women because they will not be allowed to marry men who are over 50... while Cambodian men can marry any foreign woman they choose," she said.
Cambodia imposed a temporary ban on foreign marriages in 2008 to prevent human trafficking, amid concern over a sharp rise in the number of brokered unions involving South Korean men and poor Cambodian women.
That ban followed an International Organisation for Migration report that said many Cambodian brides suffered abuse after moving to South Korea in marriages hastily arranged by brokers who made large profits.
The restriction was lifted about eight months later after new laws were introduced to prevent women becoming mail-order brides.
Foreigners who earn less than $2,550 per month are also barred from wedding local women, foreign ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told AFP, but the restrictions do not apply to weddings taking place overseas.
Marriages between old men and young women are "inappropriate", Koy Kuong said, and foreign men who wish to marry nationals must earn a high salary to ensure that "Cambodian women can live a decent life".
"We are preventing fake marriages and human trafficking," he said, adding that the government was aware of cases, documented by rights groups, where Cambodian women were sent into prostitution or "used as slaves" in their husband's home country.
The Cambodian foreign ministry has sent a diplomatic note to all the embassies and consulates in the country informing them of the new regulations, which came into effect on March 1.
Kek Galabru, president of local human rights group Licadho, praised the government's intention to protect Cambodian brides.
But she said the new guidelines "go against Cambodian marriage law and international law" -- specifically the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.
"This is discrimination against women because they will not be allowed to marry men who are over 50... while Cambodian men can marry any foreign woman they choose," she said.
Cambodia imposed a temporary ban on foreign marriages in 2008 to prevent human trafficking, amid concern over a sharp rise in the number of brokered unions involving South Korean men and poor Cambodian women.
That ban followed an International Organisation for Migration report that said many Cambodian brides suffered abuse after moving to South Korea in marriages hastily arranged by brokers who made large profits.
The restriction was lifted about eight months later after new laws were introduced to prevent women becoming mail-order brides.
Tokyo Dangerous
With the spent fuel rods exposed out of water completely & outside the secure containment of Reactor 4, the Fukushima Daiichi danger grows exponentially.
You would not think it possible that after a 9 quake, a tsunami and rolling aftershocks from 4 to 6, that the situation for Japan wasn't already very serious, but the Reactor 4 problem may end up making the quake and tsunami look like quite small and limited problems.
You would not think it possible that after a 9 quake, a tsunami and rolling aftershocks from 4 to 6, that the situation for Japan wasn't already very serious, but the Reactor 4 problem may end up making the quake and tsunami look like quite small and limited problems.
China Aid to Japan continues
BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday boosted aid to Japan by announcing the offer of 20,000 tonnes of fuel and additional government donation while the support from the public continued to mount.
The fuel -- 10,000 tonnes of gasoline and 10,000 tonnes of diesel -- will be transported to Japan by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), parent of PetroChina, and China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec), the central government said in a terse report.
Details of the offer are not disclosed. Beijing said it would further provide assistance pending on the request of the Japanese government.
Also Wednesday, an eastern Chinese city followed the lead of other local Chinese governments by donating money to earthquake-hit areas in Japan.
The municipal government of Wenzhou, in east China's Zhejiang Province, will donate 2 million yuan (about 307,692 U.S. dollars) to Ishinomaki, its Japanese sister city in hard-hit Miyagi Prefecture, Wenzhou Mayor Zhao Yide said in a letter of condolence.
Zhao said the government of Wenzhou and its people are sad about loss in Ishinomaki and are concerned about rescue and recovery efforts.
Wenzhou is latest Chinese local government to pledge donations to quake-hit areas in Japan.
Previously, the provincial government of Jilin said it will donate 100,000 U.S. dollars to the prefectural government of Miyagi while the municipal government of Changchun, capital of Jilin, pledged 500,000 yuan to the municipal government of Sendai.
China's Red Cross Society on Tuesday said it had donated 6 million yuan in emergency aid to Japan following last Friday's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami that have left thousands dead or missing in northeastern Japan.
China sent a 15-member international rescue team to Japan on Sunday, while the Ministry of Commerce said it will provide 30 million yuan worth of emergency humanitarian assistance.
The first relief package -- composed of 2,000 blankets, 900 cotton tents and 200 emergency lights -- has been delivered.
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday offered condolences to Japanese Emperor Akihito, saying the Chinese government and people "stand ready to offer necessary help."
Chinese billionaire and philanthropist Chen Guangbiao is currently in Japan to participate in the rescue operation. He said he would donate cash and emergency medicine.
In China, fund-raisers were held in universities and public plazas over the past few days. Banners with words of support were seen in many places including a sports stadium in Tianjin where a Japanese football team was competing in an Asian Football Confederation Champions League match.
Chinese have mixed feelings about Japan due to the atrocities committed by the Japanese aggressors upon Chinese people during the World War II. But the outpour of support from China's government and public triumphed after the earthquake.
According to a survey conducted by Ji'nan University, based in southern Guangdong Province, 90 percent of the 505 interviewees said they support Chinese government's decision to send a rescue team to Japan. Nearly 70 percent said the move would help the two countries develop better ties.
More than 80 percent of the interviewees also said they are willing to provide various forms of humanitarian assistance to the Japanese.
"When China suffered earthquakes, Japan gave a helping hand. Now, it is time for us to help them," said a Chinese surnamed Liu who participated in the survey.
"The spirit of helping and caring for each other in hard times would undoubtedly draw feelings of closeness between Chinese and Japanese," said Columnist Li Kaisheng.
Morishita, a Japanese national who works for an advertising company in Shanghai, said he received many phone calls from his Chinese colleagues and friends after the earthquake.
Morishita said though his hometown is far from the quake zone, he was moved by the care and concern shown by the Chinese around him.
Hashimoto Tomohiko, who works for Isetan shopping mall in northeast Chinese city of Shenyang, said he was glued to China's news channel these days to learn the latest rescue developments.
Japan's earthquake dominated the front-pages of China's major newspapers and magazines while state television channels and radio stations kept airing the news on the rescue and recovery around the clock.
China's Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like microblogging service, is also flooded by news on Japan's earthquake and the rally of support from Chinese Internet users.
"I feel really sad for the Japanese people," said netizen Weixiaoshao. "I hope they could be adamant and optimistic, as depicted in Japanese cartoons."
In universities in Shanghai and Shenyang, the school authorities consoled students from Japan's quake-hit areas and promised assistance
Staff of Shanghai-based Fudan University were ordered to provide psychological counselling to Japanese students in need.
Inoue Nozomi, who studies education management at Shenyang Normal University, said many Chinese students came to her to ask how she was faring and the school's teaching staff have told Japanese students not to hesitate in informing the school of their needs and demands.
The fuel -- 10,000 tonnes of gasoline and 10,000 tonnes of diesel -- will be transported to Japan by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), parent of PetroChina, and China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec), the central government said in a terse report.
Details of the offer are not disclosed. Beijing said it would further provide assistance pending on the request of the Japanese government.
Also Wednesday, an eastern Chinese city followed the lead of other local Chinese governments by donating money to earthquake-hit areas in Japan.
The municipal government of Wenzhou, in east China's Zhejiang Province, will donate 2 million yuan (about 307,692 U.S. dollars) to Ishinomaki, its Japanese sister city in hard-hit Miyagi Prefecture, Wenzhou Mayor Zhao Yide said in a letter of condolence.
Zhao said the government of Wenzhou and its people are sad about loss in Ishinomaki and are concerned about rescue and recovery efforts.
Wenzhou is latest Chinese local government to pledge donations to quake-hit areas in Japan.
Previously, the provincial government of Jilin said it will donate 100,000 U.S. dollars to the prefectural government of Miyagi while the municipal government of Changchun, capital of Jilin, pledged 500,000 yuan to the municipal government of Sendai.
China's Red Cross Society on Tuesday said it had donated 6 million yuan in emergency aid to Japan following last Friday's 9.0-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami that have left thousands dead or missing in northeastern Japan.
China sent a 15-member international rescue team to Japan on Sunday, while the Ministry of Commerce said it will provide 30 million yuan worth of emergency humanitarian assistance.
The first relief package -- composed of 2,000 blankets, 900 cotton tents and 200 emergency lights -- has been delivered.
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday offered condolences to Japanese Emperor Akihito, saying the Chinese government and people "stand ready to offer necessary help."
Chinese billionaire and philanthropist Chen Guangbiao is currently in Japan to participate in the rescue operation. He said he would donate cash and emergency medicine.
In China, fund-raisers were held in universities and public plazas over the past few days. Banners with words of support were seen in many places including a sports stadium in Tianjin where a Japanese football team was competing in an Asian Football Confederation Champions League match.
Chinese have mixed feelings about Japan due to the atrocities committed by the Japanese aggressors upon Chinese people during the World War II. But the outpour of support from China's government and public triumphed after the earthquake.
According to a survey conducted by Ji'nan University, based in southern Guangdong Province, 90 percent of the 505 interviewees said they support Chinese government's decision to send a rescue team to Japan. Nearly 70 percent said the move would help the two countries develop better ties.
More than 80 percent of the interviewees also said they are willing to provide various forms of humanitarian assistance to the Japanese.
"When China suffered earthquakes, Japan gave a helping hand. Now, it is time for us to help them," said a Chinese surnamed Liu who participated in the survey.
"The spirit of helping and caring for each other in hard times would undoubtedly draw feelings of closeness between Chinese and Japanese," said Columnist Li Kaisheng.
Morishita, a Japanese national who works for an advertising company in Shanghai, said he received many phone calls from his Chinese colleagues and friends after the earthquake.
Morishita said though his hometown is far from the quake zone, he was moved by the care and concern shown by the Chinese around him.
Hashimoto Tomohiko, who works for Isetan shopping mall in northeast Chinese city of Shenyang, said he was glued to China's news channel these days to learn the latest rescue developments.
Japan's earthquake dominated the front-pages of China's major newspapers and magazines while state television channels and radio stations kept airing the news on the rescue and recovery around the clock.
China's Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like microblogging service, is also flooded by news on Japan's earthquake and the rally of support from Chinese Internet users.
"I feel really sad for the Japanese people," said netizen Weixiaoshao. "I hope they could be adamant and optimistic, as depicted in Japanese cartoons."
In universities in Shanghai and Shenyang, the school authorities consoled students from Japan's quake-hit areas and promised assistance
Staff of Shanghai-based Fudan University were ordered to provide psychological counselling to Japanese students in need.
Inoue Nozomi, who studies education management at Shenyang Normal University, said many Chinese students came to her to ask how she was faring and the school's teaching staff have told Japanese students not to hesitate in informing the school of their needs and demands.
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