Schweden: Regierung will E-Mail und Telefone überwachen
DIE PRESSE: Die Mitte-Rechts-Regierung von Premier Reinfeldt will Kontakte zum Ausland überwachen lassen. Damit will man sich vor "Bedrohung von außen" schützen.

Am Mittwoch stimmt das schwedische Parlament über einen Gesetzesvorschlag der Mitte-Rechts-Regierung von Ministerpräsident Fredrik Reinfeldt, der dem militärischen Abhördienst (FRA) die Überwachung des E-Mail-, Telefon- und SMS-Verkehrs mit dem Ausland erlaubt. Die Gegner des Gesetzes sehen Schweden bereits auf dem Weg in den Überwachungsstaat Orwellscher Prägung. Schweden: Regierung will E-Mail und Telefone überwachen >>> | 17. 06. 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Taschenbuch)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Gebundene Ausgabe)

French Defence to Counter Terror
BBC: The main threat facing France is that of terrorism and the country's defence system needs to reflect that, French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said.

He was presenting a major overhaul of the military which includes cutting more than 50,000 defence jobs and boosting intelligence resources.

Mr Sarkozy confirmed France would soon rejoin the military command of Nato that it left in 1966.

He was outlining his new strategy to some 3,000 senior officers in Paris.

There is no doubt that France's new defence policy bears the stamp of President Nicolas Sarkozy himself, says BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus.

He is the most Atlanticist president to occupy the Elysee Palace since the late 1950s, our correspondent adds.

In 1966, Gen Charles de Gaulle pulled French troops out of Nato's integrated command structure as a gesture of independence from Washington. French Defence to Counter Terror >>> | June 17, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – USA)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardcover – USA)

Church Leaders Fear Summer of Strife over Women and Gay Clergy
Stained glass window at the Fraumünster, Zürich, by Marc Chagall, courtesy of Google Images
THE GUARDIAN: The Church of England faces a tense summer as it wrestles with the divisive issues of women bishops and gay clergy, a senior official said yesterday.

William Fittall, the secretary general of the general synod, the church's legislative body and national assembly, said a combination of public debates, a breakaway Anglican conference and the clash between conservatives and liberals was giving Christians cause for concern.

"There is no doubt that we are at an unsettled moment in the Church of England," said Fittall. "This was always going to be a big summer. [The] Lambeth [conference of bishops] is a big event in the wider communion and the fact that it is considering women bishops goes to the heart of what kind of church we want to be. The weekend's story has caused further anxiety on the part of many."

He was responding to the Bishop of London's decision to order an investigation into the "marriage" last month between two gay priests, the Rev Peter Cowell and the Rev David Lord, who exchanged rings and vows at St Bartholomew the Great church in the City of London.

A statement issued by the bishop of London, the Right Rev Richard Chartres, said services of public blessings for civil partnerships were not authorised. Church Leaders Fear Summer of Strife over Women and Gay Clergy: Conservatives threaten to split from communion as decisive conference looms >>> By Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent | June 17, 2008

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UK Midsummer Madness Alert! Muslimah Wins £4,000 Compensation for Hurt Feelings
MAILONLINE: A Muslim woman has been awarded £4,000 for "injury to feelings" after a hair salon owner refused to employ her because she wears a headscarf.

Bushra Noah accused Sarah Desrosiers, owner of a trendy central London hair salon, of religious discrimination after she failed to offer her a job in May last year.

A panel sitting at the central London employment tribunal dismissed her claim of direct discrimination but upheld her complaint of indirect discrimination.

Mrs Noah, of Acton, west London, applied for a job as a junior assistant at the Wedge salon in King's Cross.

Giving its judgment, the tribunal said it accepted that Ms Desrosiers said that Mrs Noah lived too far away but was persuaded to give her an interview.

But when the 19-year-old applicant arrived at the salon she claimed that the Canadian salon owner was clearly shocked by the fact she wore a headscarf.

Ms Desrosiers told the tribunal she was surprised that the younger woman had not mentioned it earlier.

She said she needed stylists to reflect the "funky, urban" image of her salon and showcase alternative hairstyles. Muslim Woman Refused Job as a Hairdresser Because She Wears a Headscarf Wins £4,000 Payout >>> | June 17, 2008

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When “Tolerance” Trumps Freedom
DENVER POST: Canada has a lot to answer for: Rush, Celine Dion, Barenaked Ladies, Tom Green and Howie Mandel, to name a few. But its latest transgression is serious.

In certain parts of Europe, "hate speech" already is a criminal act. When the late journalist and author Oriana Fallaci wrote books critical of Islam in 2002, she was sued in France. Later, Swiss and Italian judges ordered her to stand trial for "defaming Islam."

In France, Brigitte Bardot — the former film starlet turned animal rights activist — has been convicted five times of "inciting racial hatred." In one instance, her crime was writing a letter to French officials, objecting to the ritual slaughter of sheep by Muslims.

Sheep to the slaughter, sadly, is a perfect analogy for European states that allow Muslim activist groups — which rarely object to the near-complete lack of freedom of expression in the Islamic world — to dictate what is and isn't tolerable speech.

But Canada? When “Tolerance” Trumps Freedom >>> By David Harsanyl | June 17, 2008

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Islam Stuck in the Middle Ages, Says Hans Küng
With all due respect Professor Hans Küng, to say that “Islam’s problems with the modern world are because it has never undergone ‘a serious religious reformation’” is to state the glaringly obvious. - ©Mark

TIMESONLINE: Islam's problems with the modern world are because it has never undergone "a serious religious reformation" claims German theologian

Islam is stuck in its own version of the “Middle Ages” which is contributing to a global crisis, one of the leading experts on Islam, Judaism and Christianity argues today.

Professor Hans Kung [sic], a leading Roman Catholic and theologian from Germany, warns in a lecture of a “deadly threat” to all humankind unless new efforts are made to build bridges with Islam. He says in London that Islam has “special problems” with modernity because, unike [sic] Christianity and Judaism, it has never undergone a “serious religious reformation”. He questions whether Islam is even capable of adapting to a post-modern world in the way that Christianity and Judaism have done. But he also outlines why he is hopeful that the present problems around radicalisation within Islam can be resolved, and how the other two Abrahamic faiths are subject to some of the same problems on their extremist edges. Violence has been practicised in the sign of the crescent, but also in the sign of the cross, he warns. In his lecture, seen by The Times, Professor Kung [sic] says: “The options have become clear: either rivalry of the religions, clash of civilizations, war of the nations - or dialogue of civilizations and peace between the nations as a presupposition for peace between the nations. Islam Is Stuck in the Middle Ages, Says Leading Interfaith Expert >>> By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent | June 16, 2008

Hat tip: Dhimmi Watch

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback - UK)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardback - UK)

Vatican Bans Dan Brown Film Angels & Demons from Rome Churches
TIMESONLINE: The Vatican has banned the makers of a prequel to The Da Vinci Code from filming in its grounds or any church in Rome, describing the work as “an offence against God”.

Angels and Demons, the latest Dan Brown thriller to be turned into a film, includes key episodes that take place in the Vatican and Rome’s churches. Archbishop Velasio De Paolis, the head of the Vatican’s Prefecture for Economic Affairs, said that Brown had “turned the gospels upside down to poison the faith”.

“It would be unacceptable to transform churches into film sets so that his blasphemous novels can be made into films in the name of business,” he said, adding that Brown’s work “wounds common religious feelings”.

Father Marco Fibbi, a spokesman for the Diocese of Rome, said: “Normally we read the script but this time it was not necessary. The name Dan Brown was enough.” Vatican Bans Dan Brown Film Angels & Demons from Rome Churches >>> By Richard Owen in Rome | June 17, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – Italy)

Blogger Arrests Hit Record High
Image courtesy of the BBC
BBC: More bloggers than ever face arrest for exposing human rights abuses or criticising governments, says a report.

Since 2003, 64 people have been arrested for publishing their views on a blog, says the University of Washington annual report.

In 2007 three times as many people were arrested for blogging about political issues than in 2006, it revealed.

More than half of all the arrests since 2003 have been made in China, Egypt and Iran, said the report.

Jail sentence

Citizens have faced arrest and jail for blogging about many different topics, said the World Information Access (WIA) report.

Arrested bloggers exposed corruption in government, abuse of human rights or suppression of protests. They criticised public policies and took political figures to task.

The report said the rising number of arrests was testament to the "growing" political importance of blogging. It noted that arrests tended to increase during times of "political uncertainty", such as around general elections or during large scale protests.

Jail time followed arrest for many bloggers, said the report, which found that the average prison sentence for blogging was 15 months. The longest sentence found by the WIA was eight years. Blogger Arrests Hit Record High >>> | June 16, 2008

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Warum Irland die EU verlassen sollte
WELTONLINE: Irland sollte dem restlichen Europa einen Gefallen tun und sich aus der Europäischen Union zurückziehen. Dies scheint die einzig vertretbare Lösung für die durch das irische Nein zum Vertrag von Lissabon hervorgerufene Lage zu sein. Das meint der frühere dänische Außenminister Uffe Ellemann-Jensen.

Die Iren haben sich selbst ein Problem bereitet. Sie sollten nicht zulassen, dass es für andere ein Problem wird.

Es wäre schade, wenn der EU-Familie die fröhlichen Bewohner der grünen Insel verloren gingen. Noch trauriger aber wäre es, wenn aufgrund des irischen Neins all jene, die denselben Nutzen aus der europäischen Integration ziehen möchte, der den Iren ein Leben in Wohlstand ermöglichte, nun außen vorgelassen werden.

Die EU-Erweiterung kann ohne die vielen im Vertrag von Lissabon enthaltenen praktischen und pragmatischen Elemente nicht weitergehen. Und der Erweiterungsprozess ist das bisher wichtigste Unterfangen, dass die EU bisher in Angriff genommen hat, einschließlich der Schaffung des Euro.

Die EU hat bereits Länder aufgenommen, die eine Menge Aufmerksamkeit benötigen – und andere klopfen an ihre Tür. Sie suchen Anschluss an all jene, die während des Kalten Krieges in Freiheit zu Wohlstand gelangten, und es ist eine Frage der Fairness, ihnen die Chance dazu zu geben. Mehr noch: Man muss die Erweiterung als einen wichtigen Bestandteil der europäischen Sicherheitspolitik betrachten, der gerade erst demokratisch gewordenen Ländern hilft, zu Hause für Stabilität zu sorgen, und ihnen die Stärke verleiht, mit externem Druck fertig zu werden.

Es ist schade, dass die Iren – und ihre Partner – die Lektion aus der irischen Ablehnung des Vertrags von Nizza vor sieben Jahren nicht gelernt haben. Damals wie heute machte sich nur eine Minderheit der Wähler die Mühe, zu wählen, und damals wie heute votierten bloße 54 Prozent davon mit Nein. Ein Jahr später wurde der Vertrag von Nizza durch ein neues Referendum angenommen, nachdem klar geworden war, dass Irlands EU-Mitgliedschaft auf dem Spiel stand. Warum Irland die EU verlassen sollte >>> | 16. Juni 2008

BBC:
'No Quick Fix' to Irish No Vote >>> | June 16, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Taschenbuch)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Gebundene Ausgabe)

Israeli Ministers Mull Plans for Military Strike against Iran
"We no longer believe in the effectiveness of sanctions," says Yatom. "A military operation is needed if the world wants to stop Iran."
SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL: The Israeli government no longer believes that sanctions can prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons. A broad consensus in favor of a military strike against Tehran's nuclear facilities -- without the Americans, if necessary -- is beginning to take shape.

Dani Yatom, a member of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, was invited to attend a NATO conference in Brussels last year. While reviewing the agenda, Yatom, a retired major general, was surprised to see that the meeting was titled "The Iranian Challenge" and not "The Iranian Threat."

When a speaker with a French accent mentioned that a US military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities would be the most dangerous scenario of all, Yatom said, politely but firmly: "Sir, you are wrong. The worst scenario would be if Iran acquired an atom bomb." Israeli Ministers Mull Plans for Military Strike against Iran >>> By Ralf Beste, Cordula Meyer and Christoph Schult | June 16, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – USA)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardcover – USA)

Time to Get Tough but US and UK Still Pussyfooting on Iran Problem: Warning Still Toothless
President Bush warns Iran that "all options" are on the table >>>
BBC: Gordon Brown and President George Bush have warned Iran to accept their "offers of partnership" or face tough sanctions and international isolation.

The UK prime minister said he wanted to maintain a dialogue with Tehran, but if Iran ignores UN resolutions then sanctions would be intensified.

Europe would freeze overseas assets of Iran's biggest bank and impose new oil and gas sanctions, he said.

But the EU foreign policy chief said no new sanctions had so far been agreed.

Javier Solana was speaking after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg. Bush and Brown's warning to Iran >>> | June 16, 2008

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Le multiculturalisme et sa haine de toute identité nationale détruit la Grande-Bretagne, par Theodore Dalrymple
POINT DE BASCULE: Dans 20 ans, entre un quart et un tiers de la population britannique sera née à l’étranger, et au moins un cinquième de la population de souche aura émigré. La population est en cours de remplacement accéléré. L’anxiété liée à ces changements démographiques sans précédent ne peut être exprimée ouvertement (c’est du « lepénisme »). Les intellectuels multiculturalistes de l’école « haine de soi » se félicitent de la destruction de l’identité nationale. Les immigrants n’ont aucun sentiment d’allégeance à leur pays d’adoption. - Theodore Dalrymple

L’analyse de Theodore Dalrymple rejoint à maints égards celle du torontois Salim Mansur pour qui « le multiculturalisme est devenu une voie à sens unique où l’Occident fait des concessions et les non-Occidentaux, des demandes. C’est intenable. L’Occident est maintenant exposé au paradoxe de la perte d’identité culturelle autogénérée qui est un affaiblissement politique dans un village planétaire. La tâche qui nous attend est de guérir de l’illusion multiculturelle en réaffirmant une fois de plus les valeurs qui ont rendu l’Occident fort et attrayant pour le reste du monde ».

L’analyse de Dalrymple est particulièrement pertinente dans le contexte des discussions autour du rapport de la commission Bouchard-Taylor. Comme le souligne le jeune doctorant en sociologie Mathieu Bock-Côté, « le rapport de la commission Bouchard-Taylor repose ainsi sur le postulat que l’affirmation de la culture nationale majoritaire, celle du Québec historique, serait une affirmation illégitime et antidémocratique. Mais doit-on vraiment le rappeler, il n’y a pourtant rien d’antidémocratique à placer au centre d’une société sa culture fondatrice. La culture nationale ne doit pas consentir à sa liquidation. La société québécoise est traversée par une histoire qu’elle devrait tout simplement assumer sans complexe. Ce rapport, loin de résoudre les problèmes actuels du Québec sur le plan identitaire, ne contribue qu’à les amplifier en disqualifiant les préoccupations populaires et en s’acharnant dans la sacralisation d’une idéologie multiculturelle basculant silencieusement vers une forme faussement vertueuse d’autoritarisme ». (Source : Un texte très inquiétant, par Mathieu Bock-Côté, La Presse, le 29 mai 2008) Le multiculturalisme et sa haine de toute identité national detruit la Grande-Bretagne, par Theodore Dalrymple >>> Par Annie Lessard, Marc Lebuis | samedi 31 mai 2008

Hat tip: Pierre de Québec

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Broché)
The Dawning of a new Dark Age (Relié)

Malaysia Islamist Party Pushes for Sharia Penalties
REUTERS: KAMPUNG PULAU MELAKA, Malaysia - A leader of Malaysia's Islamist party, which made surprising gains in March elections, wants its secular allies to apply strict sharia law, which include amputations and stonings for Muslims.

The hardline Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) has enacted such laws in its Kelantan stronghold to punish rapists and adulterers with stoning to death, while thieves would lose their limbs. Malaysia Islamist Party Pushes for Sharia Penalties >>> | June 15, 2008

Hat tip: Dhimmi Watch

The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Dust Jacket Hardcover, direct from the publishers (US)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age – Paperback, direct from the publishers (US)

La belle France sous l’Islam

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Broché)
The Dawning of a new Dark Age (Relié)

On Brigitte Bardot

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – USA)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardcover – USA)

Barack Obama’s Half-Brother, Malik, Insists Barack Obama Has Muslim Background
Photo courtesy of Jihad Watch
Obama says he does not have a Muslim background; his half-brother, Malik, says he does. Barack Obama Throws a Billion Muslims Under the Bus >>> Posted on Jihad Watch by Robert Spencer | June 15, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback – USA)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardcover – USA)

Foreign Office Raises United Arab Emirates Threat Level
THE TELEGRAPH: British expatriates and tourists in the United Arab Emirates have been warned to exercise caution after the Foreign Office raised the risk of terrorism to its highest level.

It said attacks on the UAE - which encompasses the popular shopping destination of Dubai and the wealthy capital of Abu Dhabi - could happen at any time and would be "indiscriminate" in their target.

The terror threat - of which there are four levels - has been increased to high, which means a "high level of known terrorist activity". The other categories are general, underlying and low.

A statement on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website said: "There is a high threat from terrorism. We believe terrorists may be planning to carry out attacks in the UAE.

"Attacks could be indiscriminate and could happen at any time, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers such as residential compounds, military, oil, transport and aviation interests.

"You should maintain a high level of security awareness, particularly in public places." Foreign Office Raises United Arab Emirates Threat Level >>> By Caroline Gammell | June 16, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback - UK)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardback - UK)

Bush Dancing
BBC: Watch BBC video: US President George Bush has put his dancing skills to use on a number of occasions >>>
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Saudi Oil Output to Rise in July
Photo of the Saudi Oil Minister, Ali al-Naimi, courtesy of the BBC
BBC: Saudi Arabia will increase its oil production by 200,000 barrels a day next month, its oil minister has told the United Nations.

The news was announced after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon met Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi in Jeddah during a one-day visit on Sunday.

Last month, the Kingdom increased its production by 300,000 barrels a day in an attempt to bring down high prices.

It argues soaring prices are caused by speculators rather than oil shortages.

Oil prices fell by almost $2 on Friday after reports that Saudi Arabia might boost oil production. US light, sweet crude was trading at $134.86 in New York.

Speculative factors

After an earlier meeting with the Kingdom's King Abdullah, Mr Ban said Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil producer, viewed current prices as "abnormally high". Saudi Oil Output to Rise in July >>> | June 15, 2008

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Vicar: 'No Regrets' on Gay Vows
Watch BBC video: Two gay clergymen have had their partnership blessed in a church
BBC: Two gay clergymen have had their partnership blessed in a church.

The Reverend Martin Dudley gave the rites at St Bartholomew the Great Church in the City of London for the Reverend Peter Cowell and the Reverend Dr David Lord.

He told the BBC that there is a 'very large number' of gay people and gay clergy in the Church of England. [Source: Vicar: 'No Regrets' on Gay Vows] | June 15, 2008

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: An Anglican church has held a homosexual "wedding" for the first time in a move that will deepen the rift between liberals and traditionalists, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose.

Two male priests exchanged vows and rings in a ceremony that was conducted using one of the church's most traditional wedding rites – a decision seen as blasphemous by conservatives.

The ceremony broke Church of England guidelines and was carried out last month in defiance of the Bishop of London, in whose diocese it took place. News of the "wedding" emerged days before a crucial summit of the Anglican Church's conservative bishops and archbishops, who are threatening to split the worldwide Church over the issue of homosexual clergy.

Although some liberal clergy have carried out "blessing ceremonies" for homosexual couples in the past, this is the first time a vicar has performed a "wedding ceremony", using a traditional marriage liturgy, with readings, hymns and a ­Eucharist.

Both the conservative and liberal wings of the Anglican communion expressed shock last night. Male Priests Marry in Anglican Church's First Gay 'Wedding' >>> By Jonathan Wynne-Jones, Religious Affairs Correspondent | June 15, 2008

The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Paperback - UK)
The Dawning of a New Dark Age (Hardback - UK)