You Turn Vegetarian If You Want To. This Gentleman’s Not for Turning Vegetarian!
TIMES ONLINE: People will need to consider turning vegetarian if the world is to conquer climate change, according to a leading authority on global warming.

In an interview with The Times, Lord Stern of Brentford said: “Meat is a Tenormous pressure on the world’s resources. A vegetarian diet is better.”

Direct emissions of methane from cows and pigs is a significant source of greenhouse gases. Methane is 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a global warming gas.

Lord Stern, the author of the influential 2006 Stern Review on the cost of tackling global warming, said that a successful deal at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December would lead to soaring costs for meat and other foods that generate large quantities of greenhouse gases. Climate chief Lord Stern: give up meat to save the planet >>> Robin Pagnamenta, Energy Editor | Tuesday, October 27, 2009

STOP BLAIR!
Stop Blair! Petition against the nomination of Tony Blair as "President of the European Union" >>>
Will Tony Blair become the first President of Europe? : Discussions over exactly what it is that the EU wants from its first President of Europe will begin in earnest in Brussels on Thursday. >>> Andrew Pierce and Bruno Waterfield | Monday, October 26, 2009

THE GUARDIAN: Blair … … is reluctant to campaign openly because he fears experiencing the same fate as Guy Verhofstadt, the former prime minister of Belgium, who was humiliated when Blair vetoed him for the post of president of the European commission in 2004. "Tony will not put himself into a position where he is humiliated like Guy Verhofstadt," one friend said. >>> Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent | Monday, October 26, 2009

MAIL ONLINE: EU backlash as David Miliband pushes President Boney Blair: A foreign backlash is growing against Tony Blair becoming Europe's first president.

Despite a brazen attempt by David Miliband to drum up support, leading political figures in France, Germany, Austria and Poland warned yesterday that the former prime minister was an unsuitable candidate. >>> Kirsty Walker | Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Most Dramatic Internet Shake-up in 40 Years to Allow Web Addresses in Languages from Arabic to Japanese
MAIL ONLINE: International domain names or addresses that can be written in non-English characters are expected to be approved this week.

This will spark one of the biggest changes to the internet in its four-decade history.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN - the non-profit group that oversees domain names - is holding a meeting this week in Seoul.

The ICANN board will decide if will allow entire internet addresses to be in scripts that are not based on Latin letters.

This could potentially open up the web to more people around the world as addresses could be in characters as diverse as Arabic, Korean, Japanese, Greek, Hindi and Cyrillic - in which Russian is written.

The change will address the fact more than half of the 1.6billion internet users worldwide use languages based on alphabets other than Latin.

'This is the biggest change technically to the internet since it was invented 40 years ago,' Peter Dengate Thrush, chairman of the ICANN board, said.

He expects the board to grant approval on Friday, the conference's final day. >>> | Monday, October 26, 2009

Kaiserkrönung in Teheran: Aus der NZZ vom 26. Oktober 1967
NZZ ONLINE: 1967 krönt Schah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi an seinem 48. Geburtstag sich und seine Frau Farah Diba zum Kaiser und zur Kaiserin von Persien. Nach einem Gebet in arabischer Sprache umgürtet sich Reza Pahlevi mit einem Smaragdgürtel und setzt sich die Krone aufs Haupt. Die NZZ beschreibt am 26. Oktober die feierliche Krönungszerermonie und zitiert die Ansprache des Schahs. >>> | Montag, 26. Oktober 2009

Kaiserkrönung in Tehran >>> ag (AFP) | Donnerstag, 26. Oktober 1967

The Coronation of Teheran: Farah Is Crowned >>>

Iran Chamber Society: Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi: Arya Mehr and Shahanshah (King of the Kings) >>>

Coronation HIM Mohamad Reza Shah Pahlavi

Ed West: Homophobia Is a Right, Too
THE TELEGRAPH – BLOG: As historical analysis goes, I’m not sure it’s quite up there with Carr or Elton. According to Pauline Howe, the “perverted sexual practises” of “sodomites” were responsible for “the downfall of every empire”. I always thought the British Empire fell because of the exhaustion caused by the First World War, or specifically the fall of Singapore in World War 2, or perhaps the rise of Third World nationalism and American pressure. Maybe I was wrong and it was all down to Greek “practises”.

Still, whether or not one agrees with Mrs Howe’s radical revisionist history, or her objecting to the Norwich Gay Pride march (a phrase that personally fills me with crushing ennui, rather than any moral objection), Norfolk Constabulary’s decision to treat is as a “hate incident” is deeply sinister.

This is by no means the first incident of its kind – several people, all Christians (generally Evangelicals) have been questioned by the police over objecting to homosexuality. It is a part of a wider trend of illiberalism across Europe that has taken place in the past decade, starting with Holocaust denial laws and in Britain reaching its nadir (so far) with the Racial and Religious Hatred Act of 2006, one of the most illiberal laws concerning religion since the days when men with buckles on their hats ruled the law.

This soft totalitarianism does not come with gulags or death camps, but rather the petty harassment of individuals by the authorities. Its victim include countryside campaigner Robin Page, arrested for saying he wanted the same rights as a “black vegetarian Muslim asylum-seeking one-legged lesbian lorry driver”. Or Codie Stott, a 14-year-old schoolgirl who was arrested because she did not want to sit at a table with three girls who were speaking Urdu. Or the taxpayers of Wales, who forked out the £3,800 that police spent investigating “anti-Welsh” remarks by Anne Robinson.

Mike Judge of the Christian Institute, the group helping Mrs Howe, says: “Whether people agree or disagree with Mrs Howe’s views, everyone who cares about freedom should be alarmed at the police action.” Read on and comment here >>> Ed West | Monday, October 26, 2009

En Égypte, la bataille du niqab
a commencé
Depuis une dizaine d'années, le port du voile intégral s'est banalisé dans les rues du Caire. Deux Égyptiennes sur dix le porteraient désormais dans les campagnes. Crédits photo : Le Figaro
LE FIGARO: Longtemps permissif, le gouvernement cherche la bonne tactique afin d'endiguer l'engouement pour le voile.

Une déclaration de guerre. Pour une partie de la société égyptienne, c'est ainsi qu'a été perçue la décision du cheikh d'al-Azhar, Mohammed Tantaoui, de contraindre une fillette de 12 ans à retirer son niqab lors d'une récente inspection d'une école. Depuis, la polémique fait rage entre opposants et partisans du voile intégral. Peu répandu il y a une dizaine d'années, le niqab s'est banalisé sous l'influence, notamment, des travailleurs égyptiens rentrant du Golfe imprégnés des valeurs wahhabites saoudiennes, mais aussi du boom des chaînes satellitaires religieuses, en particulier salafistes. Selon une étude officielle publiée l'été dernier, près de deux Égyptiennes sur dix le porteraient désormais, surtout dans les campagnes.

L'État égyptien, qui a d'abord laissé faire, semble décidé à s'attaquer au signe extérieur le plus visible d'une certaine radicalisation de la société. Après plusieurs escarmouches dans les cités universitaires ou les hôpitaux publics, il a donc envoyé au feu le cheikh d'al-Azhar, dont l'institution, la plus prestigieuse du monde sunnite, se veut la vitrine d'un islam modéré, mais dont le crédit personnel pâtit d'être nommé par le président de la République. «Le port du niqab en présence de femmes est un genre de rigorisme rejeté par la charia islamique», a affirmé le grand imam, précisant que son interdiction se limiterait aux établissements d'al-Azhar «réservés aux filles et où l'enseignement est assuré par des femmes». Il reste donc autorisé dans les écoles mixtes.

En avançant l'argument religieux, l'État sait qu'il s'aventure en terrain dangereux. En 2007, le Tribunal administratif suprême a en effet désavoué l'université américaine du Caire, qui avait fermé ses portes aux monaqqabates ( porteuses du voile intégral). Dans un verdict alambiqué, la justice a estimé que le niqab n'était certes pas une obligation religieuse, mais que son port étant permis, il n'était pas possible de l'interdire… Ce qui n'a pas dissuadé le ministre de l'Enseignement supérieur d'emboîter le pas du cheikh d'al-Azhar en bannissant à son tour par décret le niqab des cités universitaires. Alors que des dizaines de monaqqabates manifestaient contre cette décision, notamment à l'université du Caire, les Frères musulmans ont demandé le retrait du décret et le renvoi du cheikh d'al-Azhar. «Le niqab est une vertu, comment peut-on condamner la vertu ?», a argumenté Hamdi Hassan, porte-parole de la confrérie au Parlement. L'argument hygiéniste >>> Tangi Salaün au Caire | Jeudi 22 Octobre 2009

Melanie Phillips: The Outrageous Truth Slips Out: Labour Cynically Plotted to Transform the Entire Make-up of Britain without Telling Us
MAIL ONLINE: So now the cat is well and truly out of the bag. For years, as the number of immigrants to Britain shot up apparently uncontrollably, the question was how exactly this had happened.

Was it through a fit of absent-mindedness or gross incompetence? Or was it not inadvertent at all, but deliberate?

The latter explanation seemed just too outrageous. After all, a deliberate policy of mass immigration would have amounted to nothing less than an attempt to change the very make-up of this country without telling the electorate.

There could not have been a more grave abuse of the entire democratic process. Now, however, we learn that this is exactly what did happen. The Labour government has been engaged upon a deliberate and secret policy of national cultural sabotage.

This astonishing revelation surfaced quite casually last weekend in a newspaper article by one Andrew Neather. He turns out to have been a speech writer for Tony Blair, Jack Straw and David Blunkett.

And it was he who wrote a landmark speech in September 2000 by the then immigration minister, Barbara Roche, that called for a loosening of immigration controls. But the true scope and purpose of this new policy was actively concealed.

In its 1997 election manifesto, Labour promised 'firm control over immigration' and in 2005 it promised a 'crackdown on abuse'. In 2001, its manifesto merely said that the immigration rules needed to reflect changes to the economy to meet skills shortages.

But all this concealed a monumental shift of policy. For Neather wrote that until 'at least February last year', when a new points-based system was introduced to limit foreign workers in response to increasing uproar, the purpose of the policy Roche ushered in was to open up the UK to mass immigration.

This has been achieved. Some 2.3million migrants have been added to the population since 2001. Since 1997, the number of work permits has quadrupled to 120,000 a year.

Unless policies change, over the next 25 years some seven million more will be added to Britain's population, a rate of growth three times as fast as took place in the Eighties.

Such an increase is simply unsustainable. Britain is already one of the most overcrowded countries in Europe. But now look at the real reason why this policy was introduced, and in secret. The Government's 'driving political purpose', wrote Neather, was 'to make the UK truly multicultural'. It was therefore a politically motivated attempt by ministers to transform the fundamental make-up and identity of this country. … >>> Melanie Phillips | Monday, October 26, 2009

Ministers Back Blair as Best Man to Lead EU
David Miliband said that a Blair presidency would be 'very good for Britain as well as very good for Europe'. Photo: Times Online
TIMES ONLINE: Tony Blair should be made head of a stronger European Union that would be able to compete with China and the United States on the world stage, the Foreign Secretary said yesterday.

David Miliband said that the new EU president needed to be someone who “stopped the traffic” in Washington and Beijing and was guaranteed the highest access to world leaders.

With EU leaders preparing to start talking about Mr Blair’s prospects this week, his supporters have begun a sustained campaign to showcase the advantages he would bring to the role. The behind the scenes battle is becoming increasingly fraught, with some of the smaller EU countries combining in a “Stop Blair” effort. So far he is the only politician to be backed publicly for the role. >>> Philip Webster, Political Editor and David Charter in Brussels | Monday, October 26, 2009

Stop Blair! Petition against the nomination of Tony Blair as "President of the European Union" >>>

Le rêve d'Al-Fayed: devenir président de l'Ecosse
TRIBUNE DE GENÈVE: GRANDE BRETAGNE | Le milliardaire égyptien Mohamed Al-Fayed a appelé les Ecossais à se séparer des "Anglais et de leurs épouvantables politiciens" et s'est déclaré prêt à devenir leur président.

"Vous autres Ecossais vivez dans le coma depuis trop longtemps", a déclaré au journal M. Al-Fayed, qui possède une propriété dans les Highlands écossais et dit espérer obtenir la citoyenneté écossaise dans l'hypothèse d'une future indépendance.

"Quelle que soit l'aide dont l'Ecosse a besoin pour retrouver son indépendance, je la fournirai. Quand vous autres Ecossais recouvrerez votre liberté, je serai prêt à être votre président", a ajouté le magnat égyptien, qui a vainement demandé à plusieurs reprises le passeport britannique. >>> AFP | Dimanche 25 Octobre 2009

Blow to Barack Obama's Strategy as Iranian Lawmaker Attacks UN Nuclear Deal
THE TELEGRAPH: A powerful Iranian lawmaker has joined criticism of United Nations plans for Tehran to ship uranium abroad for enrichment in a new blow to Barack Obama's diplomatic approach.

The senior legislator's comments came a day after Iran missed a deadline to respond to the International Atomic Energy Agency on a deal backed by the US, European powers and Russia - bringing President Barack Obama's policy of diplomatic engagement with Tehran close to collapse. >>> Philip Sherwell in New York | Saturday, October 24, 2009

Menschenrechte: UN kritisiert Zustände in Nordkorea
ZEIT ONLINE: Neun Millionen Nordkoreaner hungern, die internationalen Hilfen erreicht nicht einmal die Hälfte von ihnen. UN-Experte Muntarbhorn berichtet von Folter und Verfolgung.

Ein am Donnerstag veröffentlichter Bericht der Vereinten Nationen zur Lage in Nordkorea zeichnet ein erschütterndes Bild. Während im stalinistischen Land fast neun Millionen Menschen unter Nahrungsmittelknappheit leiden, erreicht das Welternährungsprogramm weniger als zwei Millionen Menschen der hungernden Bevölkerung. >>> Zeit Online, dpa | Freitag, 23. Oktober 2009

Nucléaire : l'Iran prend les Occidentaux à contre-pied
LE FIGARO: Téhéran n'a pas repondu à l'offre de l'AIEA et ne souhaiterait plus dialoguer avec les grandes puissances.

L'Iran a infligé un nouveau camouflet à la communauté internationale en omettant vendredi de répondre à la proposition qui lui était faite par l'Agence internationale de l'énergie atomique (AIEA) d'enrichir à l'étranger les trois quarts de son uranium à usage civil. Tout en affirmant étudier «sous un jour favorable» l'offre négociée cette semaine à Vienne avec la France et les États-Unis, Téhéran a indiqué sa préférence pour l'achat à l'étranger d'uranium enrichi. Pire, le régime iranien aurait décidé d'interrompre le dialogue avec les Six (États-Unis, Russie, Chine, Grande-Bretagne, France et Allemagne). «Nous sommes dans une situation de blocage : Téhéran ne veut parler qu'avec l'AIEA», indique un diplomate. >>> Alain Barluet | Vendredi 23 Octobre 2009

Neuer Aussenminister: Das Ausland ist neugierig auf Guido Westerwelle
WELT ONLINE: FDP-Chef Guido Westerwelle war von Anfang an als Außenminister gesetzt. Doch der Mann, der künftig Deutschlands Interessen im Ausland vertreten wird, ist jenseit der Grenzen kaum bekannt. Selbst in wichtigen Partnerländern und in der EU ist der Name Westerwelle erst seit kurzem ein Begriff – und Gegenstand von Spekulationen.

Der neue Außenminister Guido Westerwelle ist in Deutschland seit Jahren eine feste politische Größe. Im Ausland muss sich der Liberale erst noch einen Namen erarbeiten. Die Partner in Europa und den USA erwarten Westerwelles erste Schritte auf internationalem Parkett mit Neugier. >>> AFP/ks | Samstag, 24. Oktober 2009

LE TEMPS: Le nouveau gouvernement allemand est formé >>> Yves Petignat | Samedi 24 Octobre 2009

Vatican's Lack of Warning on Anglican Priests 'Inexcusable' Say [sic] Carey
THE INDEPENDENT: The former Archbishop of Canterbury today branded as "inexcusable" the Catholic Church's failure to warn his successor of their plans to admit disaffected Anglican priests.

Lord Carey of Clifton told The Times that he was "appalled" that Dr Rowan Williams only learned of Rome's intention to publish a new Apostolic Constitution to allow the move two weeks ago.

"I think in this day and age, this was inexcusable that Rome decided to do this without consultation.

"He should express his unhappiness with the process."

He said that he was taken by surprise by the development although he admitted that he had been aware of "a number of bishops going to Rome and having conversations".

But he told the newspaper that the move was "worth considering."

"There are a number of deeply worried, anxious Anglo-Catholics who do not believe they have a constructive future with the Church of England with the ordination of women as bishops.

He added: "This could go a long way to helping."

Hundreds of Church of England priests who oppose the ordination of women have been meeting yesterday and today and are expected to discuss the issue.

Forward in Faith will hear from a number of Bishops as part of their annual conference including a keynote address from Rt Rev John Hind, the Bishop of Chichester who has staunchly resisted the move.

The Vatican said earlier this week it would allow groups of Anglican clergy and faithful who wished to enter into full communion to do so while preserving elements of the distinctive Anglican spiritual and liturgical life.

Traditionalists within the Church of England have previously warned they might leave over issues such as the consecration of women bishops and gay priests. >>> Laura May, Press Association | Saturday, October 24, 2009

The Education of Your Dreams!

Star Fades for Blair in EU Role
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: BRUSSELS -- The odds against former British Prime Minister Tony Blair becoming the first president of the European Union appear to have lengthened.

Mr. Blair is the most prominent figure linked by diplomats to the post which, together with the job of a new EU foreign policy chief, will be created by the so-called Lisbon Treaty. The pact is designed to increase the 27-nation grouping's influence in world affairs.

Formal negotiations on who should fill the top job are unlikely to begin until at least next month, European officials say, because the treaty has been held up awaiting ratification by the Czech Republic.

Leaders of the European Parliament decided Thursday to hold a debate on Nov. 11 over whether the president should be a bureaucrat or a figurehead. The eventual candidate will be chosen by national leaders and must be confirmed by Parliament.

Mr. Blair's spokesman denied he is campaigning for the job. "As we have said time and again on this, there is nothing to be a candidate for, since the job doesn't actually exist," he said.

The winds have been blowing against Mr. Blair in recent weeks. When asked last week whether Mr. Blair would be a good candidate, French President Nicolas Sarkozy -- hitherto an apparent strong supporter -- said it was too early to say. >>> Stephen Fidler | Friday, October 2009

One in Five 'Would Consider Voting BNP' after Nick Griffin Question Time Appearance
THE TELEGRAPH: More than a fifth of the public would consider voting for the British National Party, according to the first opinion poll taken since the appearance of its leader, Nick Griffin, on Question Time.

Support for the party has increased in the last month, a survey for The Daily Telegraph indicated.

The findings will lead to accusations that the BBC’s decision to invite the far-Right MEP on to its flagship current affairs programme may have backfired by giving him a national platform.

The YouGov poll was taken hours after Mr Griffin’s appearance on Thursday, before which anti-fascist protesters rioted outside BBC Television Centre in London.

The survey found that 22 per cent of voters would “seriously consider” voting for the BNP in a future local, general or European election. This included four per cent who said they would “definitely” consider voting for the party, three per cent who would “probably” consider it, and 15 per cent who said they were “possible” BNP voters.

Two-thirds said they would not consider voting for the party “under any circumstances” with the rest unsure. >>> Rosa Prince, Political Correspondent | Friday, October 23, 2009

Dick Cheney Ex-Vice President Slams Obama Policies


Hat tip: Midnight Rider >>>

Related: Cheney Orders 'Dithering' Obama to 'Do What It Takes to Win' in Afghanistan >>> | Thursday, October 22, 2009

2 Women in Sudan Sentenced for Wearing Pants
LOS ANGELES TIMES: The ruling comes weeks after a similar case caused an uproar.

Khartoum, Sudan - Two Sudanese women Thursday were sentenced to 20 lashes and fined for committing an act of indecency by wearing trousers, weeks after a similar case sparked worldwide controversy.

The two women were arrested at the same party as Lubna Hussein, a former journalist who was also charged with wearing trousers and publicized her case as part of a campaign against Sudan's public-order laws.

Judge Hassan Mohamed Ali sentenced each woman to 20 lashes and a $110 fine in a Khartoum courtroom. >>> Reuters | Friday, October 23, 2009

Touring the Horrible: A Guide to Germany's Darkest Places
SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL : Beer, bratwurst and lederhosen are an undeniable part of German culture. But so too is the country's brutal 20th century history. SPIEGEL ONLINE takes you to 11 of the country's most unsettling sites.

The Vogelsang Fortress -- Ideology Cast in Stone

Bundestrasse 266, starting at the German town of Gemünd not far from the border with Belgium, winds out of the town and up onto a high plateau. Before long, past a small town called Morsbach, you will come to an inconspicuous turnoff. The drive takes you through beautiful woodland past bright blue lakes. But it is a beauty that lies in direct contrast with the journey's endpoint: Vogelsang Castle, one of the Nazis' elite training schools.

Open to the public only since January 2006, the complex is sprawling and confusing, the fortification full of nooks and crannies. Indeed, most opt for a guide to point out the most important sights.

Photo Gallery: Germany's Darkest Places >>>

Under the direction of Robert Ley's German Workers Front (DAF), one of three elite training centers took shape on the Eifel Ridge beginning in 1934. It was designed as an investment in the Nazi party's future, where the next generation of Hitlers was to be formed. Sport formed an important part of the curriculum, as did racial theory and geo-politics.

The 500 students -- a number which eventually grew to 1,000 -- were known as "NS-Junkers", and were housed in sparsely furnished barracks. The complex was taken over by the armed forces at the outbreak of war and subsequently used to accommodate the troops during the Ardennes Offensive and the push into France.

The differing national attitudes towards a place that is connected with National Socialism is rarely as obvious as here. While the English, say tour guides, are most concerned with understanding the complex from a pragmatic viewpoint, and the Americans are the first to ask how often the "German Führer" visited Vogelsang, the Germans on the other hand feel duty bound to find a politically correct justification for their own curiosity. They say they feel "committed to the past, … >>> | Friday, October 23, 2009