*Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
REUTERS - Two more Irish bishops have said they will offer their resignations to the Pope, bringing the total number of church leaders to quit after a damning report into child sex abuse by priests to four. Bishops Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field, the only two serving auxiliary (assistant) bishops in the archdiocese of Dublin, said they had informed Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of their decision. "It is our hope that our action may help to bring the peace and reconciliation of Jesus Christ to the victims/survivors of child sexual abuse. We again apologise to them," they said in a statement released late on Thursday. Like Bishop Jim Moriarty who resigned on Wednesday, both bishops had said the report had shown that they had done nothing wrong.
REUTERS - Two more Irish bishops have said they will offer their resignations to the Pope, bringing the total number of church leaders to quit after a damning report into child sex abuse by priests to four.
Bishops Eamonn Walsh and Raymond Field, the only two serving auxiliary (assistant) bishops in the archdiocese of Dublin, said they had informed Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of their decision.
"It is our hope that our action may help to bring the peace and reconciliation of Jesus Christ to the victims/survivors of child sexual abuse. We again apologise to them," they said in a statement released late on Thursday.
Like Bishop Jim Moriarty who resigned on Wednesday, both bishops had said the report had shown that they had done nothing wrong.
both bishops had said the report had shown that they had done nothing wrong.
So the words "wrong" let alone "evil" do not apply in their rationale. keep to the Fen Causeway
The court in Belgrade confirmed the 40-year sentence on Friday for Radomir Markovic over a 1999 plot to kill former Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic. Six others accused of involvement in the attack were handed jail terms ranging from six months to 35 years. The supreme court also confirmed the maximum sentence for Milorad Ulemek "Legija," the former head of an elite secret police unit, who was handed two 40-year jail terms for masterminding the murders of Serbian reformist Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic in 2003 and former President Ivan Stambolic in 2000. The Serbian court also confirmed the maximum sentence for two other members of Ulemek's notorious "Red Berets" police unit.
The court in Belgrade confirmed the 40-year sentence on Friday for Radomir Markovic over a 1999 plot to kill former Foreign Minister Vuk Draskovic.
Six others accused of involvement in the attack were handed jail terms ranging from six months to 35 years.
The supreme court also confirmed the maximum sentence for Milorad Ulemek "Legija," the former head of an elite secret police unit, who was handed two 40-year jail terms for masterminding the murders of Serbian reformist Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic in 2003 and former President Ivan Stambolic in 2000.
The Serbian court also confirmed the maximum sentence for two other members of Ulemek's notorious "Red Berets" police unit.
His evolution from fascist cheerleader to polished statesman is one of the most remarkable transformations in Italian politics. And now Gianfranco Fini's new-found role as a voice of moderation in Italy's centre-Right government makes him one of the most potent threats to Silvio Berlusconi as the prime minister recovers from injuries he received during an attack in Milan and looks ahead to 2010.While his political clout makes him a key ally in Mr Berlusconi's coalition government, Mr Fini's independent streak, and increasingly strident criticism of the administration, also makes him one of the prime minister's worst enemies.
And now Gianfranco Fini's new-found role as a voice of moderation in Italy's centre-Right government makes him one of the most potent threats to Silvio Berlusconi as the prime minister recovers from injuries he received during an attack in Milan and looks ahead to 2010.
While his political clout makes him a key ally in Mr Berlusconi's coalition government, Mr Fini's independent streak, and increasingly strident criticism of the administration, also makes him one of the prime minister's worst enemies.
His evolution from fascist cheerleader to polished statesman is one of the most remarkable transformations in Italian politics.
I thought they were talking about Berlu! Italian politics is just full of attractive characters, isn't it? Now where's the fun in that! - Megatron
US deregulation of toxic substances, such as lead in lipsticks, mercury in electronics, and phthalates (endocrine disruptors) in baby toys, may not only pose disastrous consequences to our health, but also to our economic and political status in the world. International markets are moving toward a European model of insisting on environmental and consumer safety. A European-led revolution in chemical regulation that requires that thousands of chemicals finally be assessed for their potentially toxic effects on human beings and the environment signals the end of American industry's ability to withhold critical data from the public. Europe has launched stringent new regulations that require companies seeking access to their lucrative markets eliminate toxic substances and manufacture safer electronics, automobiles, toys and cosmetics. Dangerous chemicals have been identified via the European Union's 2007 Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) law, which requires the disclosure of all chemicals sold in the EU in quantities of more than one metric ton per year. Hundreds of companies located in the US produce or import hundreds of chemicals designated as dangerous by the European Union. Large amounts of these chemicals are being produced in thirty-seven states, in as many as eighty-seven sites per state, according to biochemist Richard Denison of Environmental Defense Fund, author of the report "Across the Pond: Assessing REACH's First Big Impact on US Companies and Chemicals."
US deregulation of toxic substances, such as lead in lipsticks, mercury in electronics, and phthalates (endocrine disruptors) in baby toys, may not only pose disastrous consequences to our health, but also to our economic and political status in the world. International markets are moving toward a European model of insisting on environmental and consumer safety. A European-led revolution in chemical regulation that requires that thousands of chemicals finally be assessed for their potentially toxic effects on human beings and the environment signals the end of American industry's ability to withhold critical data from the public.
Europe has launched stringent new regulations that require companies seeking access to their lucrative markets eliminate toxic substances and manufacture safer electronics, automobiles, toys and cosmetics.
Dangerous chemicals have been identified via the European Union's 2007 Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) law, which requires the disclosure of all chemicals sold in the EU in quantities of more than one metric ton per year.
Hundreds of companies located in the US produce or import hundreds of chemicals designated as dangerous by the European Union. Large amounts of these chemicals are being produced in thirty-seven states, in as many as eighty-seven sites per state, according to biochemist Richard Denison of Environmental Defense Fund, author of the report "Across the Pond: Assessing REACH's First Big Impact on US Companies and Chemicals."
Activists in Italy say the level of racism in the country has worsened in recent years, and a number of events in the run-up to Christmas would seem to support that view. A campaign against illegal immigrants, called "Operation White Christmas," has been taking place in a small town near Milan. The campaign is run by the anti-immigrant Northern League party. In Verona, a furious row has broken out over the use of a dark-skinned statue of the baby Jesus in a nativity scene outside the town hall.
Italian town where a White Christmas is a police matter | World news | The Guardian (2009.12.20)
On orders from the local council, controlled by the conservative Northern League, police have been carrying out house-to-house searches for illegal immigrants in an action dubbed Operation White Christmas. The operation is due to finish on December 25.Some 3,000 people have marched through the town in protest at the operation, which the Vatican called "sad and distressing". But it has been endorsed by Silvio Berlusconi's government. Visiting nearby Brescia, where he announced the opening of a detention camp for suspected illegal immigrants - a so-called centre for identification and expulsion - Berlusconi's interior minister, Roberto Maroni, a leader of the League, complimented Coccaglio's mayor. <...> ... the normal procedure was to post a letter inviting the recipient to go to the town hall. Sending round the police was "like saying these people could be dangerous and need to be checked in a special way". Claretti said that dispatching registered letters would have cost his council €3,000 it could ill afford. "Besides, if there is a letter they just put it to one side; if they see a police officer, they take it seriously. As far as I'm concerned, this is a gesture of politeness. If someone has nothing to hide, he or she has nothing to fear."
On orders from the local council, controlled by the conservative Northern League, police have been carrying out house-to-house searches for illegal immigrants in an action dubbed Operation White Christmas. The operation is due to finish on December 25.
Some 3,000 people have marched through the town in protest at the operation, which the Vatican called "sad and distressing". But it has been endorsed by Silvio Berlusconi's government. Visiting nearby Brescia, where he announced the opening of a detention camp for suspected illegal immigrants - a so-called centre for identification and expulsion - Berlusconi's interior minister, Roberto Maroni, a leader of the League, complimented Coccaglio's mayor.
<...>
... the normal procedure was to post a letter inviting the recipient to go to the town hall. Sending round the police was "like saying these people could be dangerous and need to be checked in a special way". Claretti said that dispatching registered letters would have cost his council €3,000 it could ill afford.
"Besides, if there is a letter they just put it to one side; if they see a police officer, they take it seriously. As far as I'm concerned, this is a gesture of politeness. If someone has nothing to hide, he or she has nothing to fear."
Migrant Hunt: Operation 'White Christmas' ignites in Italy | RussiaToday (2009.12.25)
The Mayor of an Italian town has wished residents a 'White Christmas'. For illegal immigrants this could mean spending the holiday in a detention center.
Question: Is Italy in some kind of contest to outdo Alabama ... Texas ... you choose? Now where's the fun in that! - Megatron
In Italy overt racist acts are ignored by the public, underreported in the mainstream press, invariably dismissed as colourful eccentricities. This is a major change in the national mood since the nineties when the murder of a black worker could cause a major backlash in public opinion.
Italy presently far outdoes "Texas and Alabama." Thanks to the Lega Nord and the extreme right wing that presently governs Italy, large portions of the population are overtly racist and proud of it. Europe insists on ignoring this state of affairs as if it were an "internal affair."
Over time the extreme right wing groups gather proselytites in Eastern Europe and emarginated urban areas throughout Europe. The racist political party Lega Nord has been in power on and off for the past 14 years sanctioning the idea that racism is an accepted reality and part of the public discourse. Le Pen and his like have entered Europe through the Italian gateway. If that's what political Europe- and above all the EPP- want, we're in for a shitfest.
Europe insists on ignoring this state of affairs as if it were an "internal affair."
who you gonna call?
oh yes, the new president!
have you thought about a petition to him about this? i think if you wrote a sketch, it may be a good opportunity for ETers to fill it in.
then maybe it could be simul-published somewhere else too.
bossi empowers all that is worst in this country. ~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
The law was designed to stop speculators from cramming apartments with bed renters by the hour. It is now used to harass immigrants and their inalienable right to receive guests.
Over the past 20 years, Turkey has been trying to gain admittance to the European Union. Turkey is not a European country. Most of its land mass is in Asia Minor. It is not ethnically, socially, culturally or religiously European. Yet the U.S. government (especially under President George W. Bush) has lobbied the Europeans forcefully to admit Turkey into the EU because Turkey is our military ally, and the American military and political establishment didn't want them falling into the Russian or the Iranian sphere of influence. Couple of different issues at play here. Yes, Turkey has been trying to gain admittance for quite some time. And the Euros would have been wise to have accepted Turkey 15 years ago. This would have forced the secularists in government to change the economy for the better. And it was a huge missed opportunity, if Europe truly cares about Turkey remaining secular. Here's what happened instead. The Turks grew disillusioned with the secularists and voted for the soft-shoe Islamists to run the country and economy, making what I would call a Faustian bargain, hoping they would fix the economy and not impose their brand of religious politics along with it. The Turks got an exceptionally strong economic recovery, as I documented during my time there. But they also got the Islamist baggage along with it. And now that the economy threatens to head south in light of the global financial crisis, the Turkish Islamists are using the culture war card to stay in power. This is a shame. It is also worrisome. Just look at the power the culture war has over the American imagination. Now, as to Huffington's contention that Turkey isn't a European country. Well, a good 15% of the landmass sits in Europe. So does Istanbul. Of course, that's easy to dismiss. But what isn't is this: Turkey has been an integral partner in the European state system since the French allied with the Turks several hundred years ago to outflank the Hapsburgs. So, feel free to dismiss Turkey as an "Asian country." But let's not forget history.
Over the past 20 years, Turkey has been trying to gain admittance to the European Union. Turkey is not a European country. Most of its land mass is in Asia Minor. It is not ethnically, socially, culturally or religiously European. Yet the U.S. government (especially under President George W. Bush) has lobbied the Europeans forcefully to admit Turkey into the EU because Turkey is our military ally, and the American military and political establishment didn't want them falling into the Russian or the Iranian sphere of influence.
Couple of different issues at play here. Yes, Turkey has been trying to gain admittance for quite some time. And the Euros would have been wise to have accepted Turkey 15 years ago. This would have forced the secularists in government to change the economy for the better. And it was a huge missed opportunity, if Europe truly cares about Turkey remaining secular. Here's what happened instead. The Turks grew disillusioned with the secularists and voted for the soft-shoe Islamists to run the country and economy, making what I would call a Faustian bargain, hoping they would fix the economy and not impose their brand of religious politics along with it.
The Turks got an exceptionally strong economic recovery, as I documented during my time there. But they also got the Islamist baggage along with it. And now that the economy threatens to head south in light of the global financial crisis, the Turkish Islamists are using the culture war card to stay in power.
This is a shame. It is also worrisome. Just look at the power the culture war has over the American imagination. Now, as to Huffington's contention that Turkey isn't a European country. Well, a good 15% of the landmass sits in Europe. So does Istanbul. Of course, that's easy to dismiss. But what isn't is this: Turkey has been an integral partner in the European state system since the French allied with the Turks several hundred years ago to outflank the Hapsburgs. So, feel free to dismiss Turkey as an "Asian country." But let's not forget history.
hmm... ~Government budget deficits are not nearly as dangerous as the deficits we have created in vital and complex natural systems.~ Naomi Klein.
