World People's Blog

Linked with The Med Union, dividing the Middle East and North Africa.

Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya est auteur indépendant à Ottawa, spécialisé dans les affaires du Moyen-Orient et d’Asie Centrale. C’est un Chercheur Associé du Center for Research on Globalization (CRG). Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya est un collaborateur régulier de Mondialisation.ca. … (full text).

Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya is a writer and geopolitical analyst based in Ottawa who specializes on the Middle East. He is currently Research Associate at the Centre for Research on Globalization … (Global Research.ca, scroll down).

He writes: … It is no mere chance that before the upcoming summit in Tehran that three important post-Soviet organizations (the Commonwealth of Independents States, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and the Eurasian Economic Community) simultaneously held meetings in Tajikistan. Nor is it mere coincidence that the SCO and CSTO have signed cooperation agreements during these meetings in Tajikistan, which has effectively made China a semi-formal member of the CSTO alliance. It should be noted that all SCO members are also members of CSTO, aside from China … (full text).

Opening a Pandora’s Box: Kosovo « Independence » and the Project for a « New Middle, Febr. 20, 2008.

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sorry, no picture found of Mahdi Darius Nazemroaya, Canada

The March to War:

• NATO Preparing for War with Serbia? October 21, 2007;
• Naval build-up in the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean, October 1, 2006.

He writes also: According to a wide range of reports, several nuclear bombs were “lost” for 36 hours after taking off August 29/30, 2007 on a “cross-country journey” across the U.S., from U.S.A.F Base Minot in North Dakota to U.S.A.F. Base Barksdale in Louisiana. [1] Reportedly, in total there were six W80-1 nuclear warheads armed on AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missiles (ACMs) that were “lost.” [2] The story was first reported by the Military Times, after military servicemen leaked the story. It is also worth noting that on August 27, 2007, just days before the « lost » nukes incident, three B-52 Bombers were performing special missions under the direct authorization of General Moseley, the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force. [3] The exercise was reported as being an aerial information and image gathering mission. The base at Minot is also home of the 91st Space Wings, a unit under the command of Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) … (full text).

EUROPE AND AMERICA: SHARING THE SPOILS OF WAR.

The Levant could be the starting point of a major international conflict with global ramifications and which could quickly spin out of control. Such a conflict could even involve the use of Israeli or American nuclear weapons against Iran and Syria. Syria has additionally declared that it is preparing for an inevitable war with Israel despite the fact that it believes that the chances of a war in 2008 are slim. In the scenario of a war against Iran, the reaction of Syria will be pivotal. Damascus plays a central role and how it acts and reacts will have a definitive impact on Israeli military strategy in regards to Iran. It is in this context that Israel, the U.S. and the E.U., with the help of Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt, have been attempting to undermine and ultimately destroy the alliance between Syria and Iran. This is part of a geo-strategic stride to foreclose the possibility of a Mediterranean battle-front that might emerge in the Levant as a result of an attack on Iran … (full text).

The Mediterranean Union … on misc.activism.progressive.

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M K Bhadrakumar, a former career diplomat who served as India’s ambassador to Uzbekistan, argues that the two organizations may eventually merge. « The SCO may focus on the range of so-called ‘new threats’ [terrorism] rather than on the conventional form of military threats, while the CSTO would maintain a common air-defense system, training of military personnel, arms procurement, etc. » … (full text, June 25, 2008). (See also: The new NATO of the East’ takes shape, Asia Times Online, August 25, 2007).

M K Bhadrakumar has parlayed a distinguished career in the Indian Foreign Service, with postings in Moscow, Seoul, Colombo, Bonn, Islamabad, Tashkent and Ankara into his current eminence as one of the country’s foremost thinkers on foreign affairs … (full text, July 3, 2008).

China, India, play it again for Uncle Sam, March 1, 2008.

Yushka Fisher, A Warmonger in Disguise? June 19, 2008.

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M.K. Bhadrakumar – India

India tiptoes to the new Middle East, June 21, 2008.

He writes: … Whereas, the reality is that we live in savage times where realpolitik and not morality often enough happens to be the guiding force inciting our monstrous enemies. A need arises, therefore, to take a more honest look at any hidden sewers that may exist. Such an exercise cannot and should not in any way detract from the total condemnation that the terrorists deserve. But it will serve an important purpose in so far as we do not fall into a false sense of innocence … (full long text).

India blows up a monsoon, July 4, 2008.

… Meanwhile, Bhadrakumar offers a lot more to chew on while we await the Senate testimony of Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq. For instance, chew on this:

• It appears that one of the most shadowy figures of the Iranian security establishment, General Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, personally mediated in the intra-Iraqi Shi’ite negotiations [to end the fighting] … ;
• US military commanders routinely blame the Quds for all their woes in Iraq. The fact that the representatives of [the] Da’wa [Party] and SIIC [the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council] secretly traveled to Qom [in Iran] under the very nose of American and British intelligence and sought Quds mediation to broker a deal conveys a huge political message.

Now swallow this: … (full text, 11 Jul 2008).

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.Linked with IJED-RIED, with Education Resources Information Center ERIC, and with IJED-RIED: Call for papers.

She is of the Ministry of Public Education (Mexico), and also Chair of Centre for Educational Research and Innovation Governing Board, OECD Directorate for Education.

… Throughout the 20th century, Indian people of the Western Hemisphere have fought to gain control of their own education and to fulfill the aspiration to base their curricula for Native students upon their own languages and cultural values. However, many such schools have come and gone. Certainly there are those in Mexico who would call Schmelkes unduly optimistic; nevertheless, the quality of those who sustain this most heartfelt of Native aspirations is to create new opportunities, regardless of temporary setbacks. Northward to the U.S., a vanguard Indian school seems to have folded in California during a time of mourning for one of its luminary founders and major individual spirits. That school is D-Q University, a venerable and trend-setting college named after two American Indian mytho-historical characters, the Aztec hero, Quetzalcoatl and the Iroquois Peacemaker, whose name is generally spoken only in ceremony. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges, after warnings last year, withdrew accreditation for DQU in January. The loss of accreditation came as the second semester was slated to begin and left many students in a lurch. A new 13-member board of American Indian professionals, including five of the original board members, joined to tackle the issues last year, but these proved insurmountable. Among the numerous problems confronting the college is maintaining the necessary 51 percent American Indian enrollment to satisfy BIA funding requirements – a particular challenge in California, where many tribes don’t have federal recognition. Accusations of fiscal mismanagement, a lack of qualified administrators and diminishment of educational standards have surfaced, and apparently even the university’s land is in jeopardy as a result of loans. Largely the moves of desperation as budgets dwindled, the fiscal mismanagement issues loom large and this long-struggling and pioneering Indian educational institution appears to be in terminal trouble … (full text).

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Sylvia Schmelkes – Mexico
… sorry, no personal biography found.

Listen her short spanish statement: SYLVIA SCHMELKES, LORE, LAU, 30 secondes.

Read: The need and use of evidence by policy makers, 7 pdf-pages.

Innovative Learning Environments, Francisco Benavides, OECD-CERI, 13 pdf pages.

She writes: La primera mesa de debate llamada “Escenario Nacional y Regional de la Universidad y la Interculturalidad”, consistió en la conferencia de la destacada académica mexicana Sylvia Schmelkes, actualmente parte de la Universidad Iberoamericana de México. La expositora es socióloga y tiene una Maestría en Investigación y Desarrollo de la Educación en la Universidad Iberoamericana de México. Destaca su trabajo en el Centro de Estudios Educativos, del que fue investigadora y Directora académica entre 1970 y 1994 … (full text).

ED464800 – Unequal Schools, Unequal Chances: The Challenges to Equal Opportunity in the Americas. The David Rockefeller Center Series on Latin American Studies.

La Dra. Sylvia Schmelkes, Coordinadora General de la Educación Intercultural Bilingüe de la Secretaría de Educación Pública, visitó las instalaciones del Colson, y particularmente la Unidad de Pueblos Indígenas del Noroeste, por invitación de la Dra. Catalina Denman Champion, Rectora de nuestra institución, con el objeto de conocer y vincular el trabajo que realiza El Colegio con el organismo a su cargo. (Colson.edu, with picture in the right column, febrero de 2004).

Mtra. Sylvia Schmelkes, OBRA PUBLICADA, 18 pdf pages.

Learning – What do we know today, Anne Sliwka, University of Trier.

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Rand Clifford is a writer living in Spokane, Washington, with his wife Mary Ann, and their Chesapeake Bay retriever, Mink. Rand’s novels CASTLING, TIMING, VOICES OF VIRES, and PRIEST LAKE CATHEDRAL are published by StarChief Press. (Find this on Countercurrent.org).

He writes: Imagine mainstream media reliably telling Americans the truth about the most vital issues of our time. Indeed, that’s quite a stretch—but try forgetting for a moment the millions of Americans oblivious to rampant omission; citizens who, after so much manipulation and deceit, also still believe lies on the fresh list. Just envision a well-informed population that knows their way past omission, while knowing the difference between lies/propaganda, and the truth. Envision the New World Order dead in its tracks … (full text, July 9, 2008).

Beyond the Speed of Lies.

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Rand Clifford – USA

Only One Kind of Science, May 14, 2007.

Any hope of resuscitating our Constitutional Republic, and keeping our nation from descending into the tar pit of One World Fascist government, exists in an informed population throwing off apathy, turning OFF corporate media, paying attention to what is really happening, and making sacrifices only by which the psychopaths now in power may be exposed for their crimes and brought to justice. They don’t have our guns, yet, but with martial law just one more false flag terror contrivance away (all « legalities » are in place, along with the 800+ Rex 84 « camps » WE paid for), they think they have already won. Surely, the odds are in their favor, and they’re getting cocky—giving us our last, best window of hope—if enough Americans can still think for themselves. (full text, May 2008).

The Spark That Lit The War.

He writes also: Astonishing as it is, the daily load of lies dumped on Americans by mainstream corporate media (CorpoMedia), lurking a step beyond is the reality of most of the lies finding belief. Respect of being told the truth is not earned by swallowing whatever lies are in the load—that simply earns what we have: CorpoMedia as the propaganda arm of our corporate-fascist federal government (CorpoGov). Millions still seem to believe that some kind of law dictates media honesty. But to CorpoMedia, truth, facts … largely illusion, often an enemy. Media conglomeration has left us with only a few monster corporations controlling virtually all mainstream “news”—a stupid liars’ gumbo rich with moral supremacy, victimization, innocence and righteousness cranked with MSG and corn syrup and fat … (full text, April 17, 2008).

The Google book download TIMING, 448 pages, 2005.

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Nurjahan Begum was born on June 4, 1925, as Nurun Nahar. Her father, renowned journalist and editor of the monthly Shawgat, Mohammad Nasiruddin, lived in Kolkata, while she, « Nuri », lived with her mother, Fatema Begum, in Chalitatoli … she is named as adhunika heroe … She says: « When I came to Kolkata, my father, to the utter dismay of my mother, had my nose-pin cut off and my hair sheared into a ‘China bob’ cut! » … and: « I had a wonderful childhood, » she says. « We did everything, from singing and dancing to acting. » She even wrote, directed and acted in college plays. « But it was all within the walls of the school and college » … (full text).

The reality is these modest village enterprises give a whole new definition to small business. In fact, they’re the smallest of the small, all of them built up over a few years starting with a no-collateral microloan equivalent in takas, the Bangladeshi currency, to a lousy couple of hundred Australian dollars. Grameen-inspired, they’re many and varied, be it sewing the country’s traditionally colourful saris, selling them locally at affordable prices, or handmade mats from bamboo husks. No formal education or training, as such, is required. Point being, these women and 6 million others just like them throughout Bangladesh, have neither of these things. But, thanks to their microbusinesses, they told us, now their kids will … (full interview text).

Her photo made in 1946.

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Nurjahan Begum – India

English video, translated in french: interview with Nurjahan Begum about the Grameen bank, 4.07 min, linked with/lié avec: Madame Begum, de la Grameen Bank, invitée vedette des Dialogues en Humanité, juin 18, 2008.

Making Inroads for the Others.

If ever there was a profession suited for women it most certainly is journalism. Women are by nature sensitive, compassionate and lovers of honesty – all attributes needed to be a good journalist. Which is why there are more and more women in the print and electronic media today all over the world … It was especially difficult for Bangali Muslim women of the time for whom social stricture was compounded by religious sanction … But Nurjahan Begum, the editor of the weekly, was extremely lucky on that count. Her father, renowned journalist and editor of the monthly Shawgat, Mohammad Nasiruddin, was a progressive, forward-thinking man and wanted her daughter to be the same. He also did not believe in the social customs like observing purdah. « When I came to Kolkata, » reminisces Nurjahan Begum, « my father, to the utter dismay of my mother, had my nose-pin taken off and my hair sheared into a ‘China bob’ cut! » … (full long text).

microcredit.tv.

… A great cover story women working: Thanks to Star Weekend Magazine for its cover story « Leading Women to Change » published on March 11, 2005. I enjoyed reading the article and pay my tribute to the renowned journalist and social worker Nurjahan Begum. Nurjahan Begum did many things for women’s development which was not an easy task during that time. These days we do not find equally determined and courageous women working for the progress of women. In spite of religious conflict and social blindings, she has always aspired to do better for women. May we be blessed with more women like Nurjahan Begum, who acts for the betterment life of women not only politically but also socially. (Mamunur Rashid Tomal … Department of English, DU, on The Daily Star, March 25, 2005).

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Linked with Women’s Earth Alliance WEA;

Kaisha Atakhanova is the Founder and Director of EcoCenter in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, and the Coordinator of the national Anti-Nuclear Campaign in Kazakhstan. This campaign, spearheaded by Kaisha and her colleagues, mobilized largely women citizens to stop the government from weakening the legislation against commercial import and storage of radioactive waste in 2003. In recognition of her accomplishments, Kaisha received the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2005, which she plans to use to establish a Socio-Ecological Investment Fund to support women’s initiatives and NGO activists in the region. (Women’s Earth Alliance).

She says: … « The greatest challenge was lack of finances. My university helped some by letting my colleagues and me continue to use equipment and a laboratory, so long as we worked for free and trained students. My husband also helped, as he was then in business. It was not a big help, but it helped us to survive. Another early challenge was the old communists in the government, who were very aggressive. They said, « Kaisha is selling the country’s secrets abroad for dollars, » and tried to keep me from sending my results to Europe and the U.S. One threatened to use the successor of the KGB to stop my work. They couldn’t do too much since I worked with famous scientists. When they threatened me, it was like they were threatening the scientists. Those who were against my research back then now sometimes come to my seminars and receive certificates from the center » … (full interview text).

Kaisha Atakhanova received $125,000 award.

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Kaisha Atakhanova – Kazakhstan

Guerrières pour l’Environnement, des Femmes qui protègent la Terre.

… Creating a Roadmap for Democracy: As a result of Atakhanova’s efforts, the nuclear waste legislation not only was stopped, but the visibility of nuclear contamination issues has reached new heights across the country. The budding grassroots civil society movement asserted its right and ability to challenge government’s anti-democratic interests in an entirely new way. In addition, under Atakhanova’s leadership, EcoCenter has helped develop an environmental movement through EcoForum, a network of more than 100 NGOs nationwide … (full text).

She is mentionned as political heroe.

The Republic of Kazakhstan bears the scars of its Soviet past. Intensive agriculture has drastically shrunk the inland Aral Sea, creating one of the world’s worst ecological disasters, while decades of nuclear testing have poisoned the landscape and its people. The country – which is dominated by vast stretches of steppe grassland, and underlain by rich oil and mineral deposits – currently harbors some 237 million tons of nuclear waste … (full text).

Crude Accountability.

She saysw also: … « I am from the city of Karaganda, which is near the southern perimeter of the testing area. During my childhood we always felt these small earthquakes, but we didn’t understand what they were. We were 400 km [about 250 miles] away from the explosions, and so we couldn’t see the nuclear mushroom. But we could always feel the earthquakes. The dishes on the shelves would clink, the light fittings would shake, everything shook. Our parents guessed that the earthquakes probably had something to do with the military, but didn’t know for sure. People who lived closer to the site also weren’t sure what was happening. The military would only tell them not to go out on the street and not to look at the sky. Now cancer is the main disease in our region. My father, my mother, and my sister all died of cancer, and only the day before yesterday I buried my brother, who also died from cancer. When people in my family die, they die of cancer » … (full interview text).

Look on this Google map where she is living.

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Bülent Ersoy (born 1952) is a Turkish celebrity. She is a popular singer of Ottoman classical music. Over the years, Ersoy has become a symbol for the increased tolerance to LGBT figures in Turkish media. Later Life: Already one of Turkey’s most popular male singers and actors, Bülent Ersoy gained international notoriety in 1981 for a sex change operation by Dr. Mındıkoğlu in her native country. Ersoy kept the name « Bülent » even though it is more common among males. After the operation, Bülent found herself in opposition to the homophobic and transphobic regime of Kenan Evren. In a crackdown on « social deviance, » Ersoy’s public performances were banned along with those of other transsexual and transgendered people. From Ersoy’s standpoint, the ban should not have even applied to her, as she was an actual woman and not simply a man dressed as one. To circumvent the ban, she petitioned the Turkish courts to legally recognize her as a woman. The petition was rejected in January of 1982. Days later, Ersoy attempted suicide. In 1983 she left the entertainment industry in protest of the Evren regime’s repressive policies. Later that same year, Evren left office and many of his policies were rescinded … // … Ersoy sparked major controversy in February 2008 when she publicly criticised Turkey’s incursion into Northern Iraq and said she « would not send her sons to war » if she were a mother. An Istanbul public prosecutor has subsequently filed charges against her for « turning Turks against compulsory military service », an article which also brought prominent Turkish intellectual Perihan Magden to trial in recent past. The Turkish Human Right Foundation (IHD) have stood up to Ersoy’s defence. The attention to the fact that she is an extraordinarily talented singer with an unequaled command of her voice, often distracts one from Ersoy’s transsexual status. In the show ‘Popstar Alaturka’, Bulent Ersoy has announced that she will be beginning a new album project very soon and the album is expected to be ready by the end of Summer 2008… Although she did not announce what would be genre of the album, it is expected that it will be cross breed between Turkish Classical Style and ‘Arabesk‘… Selami Sahin who is a famous songwriter in Turkey is also said to have composed two new songs to Bulent Ersoy. (full text).

Divabulentersoy.com’ a Hosgeldiniz!

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Bülent Ersoy – Turkey

Videos:
Bülent Ersoy Mini Konser – 2, 9.58 min;
BULENT ERSOY-YAKTI BENI, 3.58 min.

Célèbre pour sa voix et ses talents d’actrice, Bulent Ersoy, reine de la vie nocturne turque, défraye les chroniques il y a quelques jours en déclarant dans une émission de télévision, que si elle avait été en mesure d’avoir un enfant, elle ne l’aurait jamais laissé partir au front. Cette déclaration provoque un tollé et vaut à la chanteuse transexuelle une mise en examen pour « atteinte au prestige de l’armée » … (texte entier).

On ne touche pas au service militaire en Turquie.

… A popular transsexual Turkish singer went on trial Wednesday on charges of trying to turn the public against military service. Bulent Ersoy could face more than two years in prison for saying during a live television show that if she had children, she would not want them to join the army to fight Kurdish rebels … (full text).

Listen her on LAST fm.

… The European Union, which Turkey wants to join, is pressing Turkey to do away with laws that stifle free expression. Under EU pressure, Turkey amended a law in April that barred the denigration of Turkish identity and institutions. The law had been used to prosecute Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk and other intellectuals. But human rights groups said the changes did not go far enough and pointed to other freedom-curbing laws, such as the one used against Ersoy … (full text).

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