Saturday, July 17, 2021
European Floods Are Latest Sign of a Global Warming Crisis
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Floods like these, which have left more than 100 dead, had not been seen in perhaps 1,000 years. For many, the warnings came too late, raising questions about lapses in Germany’s flood alert system.
BERLIN — Days before roiling waters tore through western Germany, a European weather agency issued an “extreme” flood warning after detailed models showed storms that threatened to send rivers surging to levels that a German meteorologist said on Friday had not been seen in 500 or even 1,000 years.
By Friday those predictions proved devastatingly accurate, with more than 100 people dead and 1,300 unaccounted for, as helicopter rescue crews plucked marooned residents from villages inundated sometimes within minutes, raising questions about lapses in Germany’s elaborate flood warning system.
Numerous areas, victims and officials said, were caught unprepared when normally placid brooks and streams turned into torrents that swept away cars, houses and bridges and everything else in their paths.
“It went so fast. You tried to do something, and it was already too late,” a resident of Schuld told Germany’s ARD public television, after the Ahr River swelled its banks, ripping apart tidy wood-framed houses and sending vehicles bobbing like bath toys. Extreme downpours like the ones that occurred in Germany are one of the most visible signs that the climate is changing as a result of warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Studies have found that they are now happening more frequently for a simple reason: A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, generating more, and more powerful, rainfall. » | Melissa Eddy, Jack Ewing, Megan Specia and Steven Erlanger | Published: Friday, July 16, 2021; Updated: Saturday, July 17, 2021
Gay Pride 1979 – Inside Story
This is a very interesting look back to the early years of Gay Pride in the UK. It is well worth watching. How times have changed! – Mark
Friday, July 16, 2021
Indonesia: Diversity Under Threat | DW Documentary
May 27, 2020 • Indonesia is considered a model state for diversity and tolerance, but there are increasing indications that Islamists are gaining more influence in the most populous Muslim country in the world.
Far more Muslims live in Indonesia than in the Middle East. The archipelago is made up of more than 17,000 islands and home to 270 million people.
Following the end of the brutal Suharto dictatorship in 1998, Indonesia became a model for a democratic Muslim majority state. But in recent years, Islamist groups have gained influence.
The report begins in Aceh. It is only here, in the northernmost province of the island of Sumatra, that a rigid interpretation of Islamic Sharia law applies - including public floggings. The reasons for the humiliating punishments are manifold: sex before or outside marriage, alcohol consumption or homosexuality.
A growing tendency towards a more conservative interpretation of Islam is also noticeable in other parts of secular Indonesia. More women are wearing headscarves in public places. The niqab, the face veil, is becoming increasingly popular. Members of minority groups feel marginalized.
"Unfortunately, Indonesia is not immune to the worldwide increase in intolerance”, says politician Yenny Wahid.
The daughter of the first elected president after the Suharto dictatorship stands for cosmopolitanism and represents a liberal view of Islam. She, too, has observed a slow Islamization of her homeland and the tendency of politicians to make concessions to radical and populist groups.
Student activists blame the corruption of the ruling class for growing radicalism and undermining diversity.
The documentary "Indonesia - Diversity Under Threat" asks whether the country can preserve its religious tolerance.
Early in this excellent documentary, the narrator stated that Islam is compatible with democracy. It is not! If you hear anyone making such a statement, especially a politician, call him/her out! They are displaying their ignorance of both democracy and Islam! For a democracy to exist, it is absolutely essential that there be separation of Church and State. The temporal must be separated from the spiritual. Without this separation, democracy cannot exist, still less thrive.
The politically-correct try and hide the fact that there are many fundamental differences between Islam and Christianity. But there are many great differences! In Islam, the temporal and the spiritual are one organic whole – they are intertwined. There is no separation at all. You might think that this is a moot point; it is not! That there be a separation of Church or religious affairs and State or secular affairs is the sine qua non of democracy. Without that separation, democracy cannot survive.
I wrote the following essay on this subject many years ago. In 2007, to be precise. When I posted it, it went all around the world. What I wrote then applies both to democracy and to Islam today, as well, of course. The nature of Islam has not changed, nor has the nature of a true democracy.
By the way, that doesn’t make Islam bad and democracy good. It just makes the two systems different.
I hope you enjoy the read. – © Mark
Islam: The Enemy of Democracy and Freedom »
Far more Muslims live in Indonesia than in the Middle East. The archipelago is made up of more than 17,000 islands and home to 270 million people.
Following the end of the brutal Suharto dictatorship in 1998, Indonesia became a model for a democratic Muslim majority state. But in recent years, Islamist groups have gained influence.
The report begins in Aceh. It is only here, in the northernmost province of the island of Sumatra, that a rigid interpretation of Islamic Sharia law applies - including public floggings. The reasons for the humiliating punishments are manifold: sex before or outside marriage, alcohol consumption or homosexuality.
A growing tendency towards a more conservative interpretation of Islam is also noticeable in other parts of secular Indonesia. More women are wearing headscarves in public places. The niqab, the face veil, is becoming increasingly popular. Members of minority groups feel marginalized.
"Unfortunately, Indonesia is not immune to the worldwide increase in intolerance”, says politician Yenny Wahid.
The daughter of the first elected president after the Suharto dictatorship stands for cosmopolitanism and represents a liberal view of Islam. She, too, has observed a slow Islamization of her homeland and the tendency of politicians to make concessions to radical and populist groups.
Student activists blame the corruption of the ruling class for growing radicalism and undermining diversity.
The documentary "Indonesia - Diversity Under Threat" asks whether the country can preserve its religious tolerance.
Early in this excellent documentary, the narrator stated that Islam is compatible with democracy. It is not! If you hear anyone making such a statement, especially a politician, call him/her out! They are displaying their ignorance of both democracy and Islam! For a democracy to exist, it is absolutely essential that there be separation of Church and State. The temporal must be separated from the spiritual. Without this separation, democracy cannot exist, still less thrive.
The politically-correct try and hide the fact that there are many fundamental differences between Islam and Christianity. But there are many great differences! In Islam, the temporal and the spiritual are one organic whole – they are intertwined. There is no separation at all. You might think that this is a moot point; it is not! That there be a separation of Church or religious affairs and State or secular affairs is the sine qua non of democracy. Without that separation, democracy cannot survive.
I wrote the following essay on this subject many years ago. In 2007, to be precise. When I posted it, it went all around the world. What I wrote then applies both to democracy and to Islam today, as well, of course. The nature of Islam has not changed, nor has the nature of a true democracy.
By the way, that doesn’t make Islam bad and democracy good. It just makes the two systems different.
I hope you enjoy the read. – © Mark
Islam: The Enemy of Democracy and Freedom »
«Die Mehrheit der Priester im Vatikan ist schwul» | Sternstunde Religion | SRF Kultur
Mar 31, 2020 • Mit seiner These, wonach die Mehrheit der Prälaten, Bischöfe und Kardinäle des Vatikans schwul seien, generierte der französische Soziologe und Journalist Frédéric Martel im Frühling 2019 viel Aufmerksamkeit, aber auch Unverständnis.
Sein Buch «Sodom» erschien zeitgleich in acht Sprachen und Martel wurde in unzählige Talkshows eingeladen, doch der Vatikan hüllte sich in Schweigen. Wer sich in den 30er-, 40er- und 50er-Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts als junger Mann irgendwie anders – eben homosexuell – fühlte, fand in der römisch-katholischen Kirche eine Oase, so Martel in seinem Buch «Sodom»: Männer, die unter Männern leben, andere Kleidung tragen und singen, das wäre für viele die Rettung gewesen, die zudem noch von der Gesellschaft akzeptiert war.
Gegen aussen seien diese in der Regel sehr alten Männer nun homophob, gegen innen aber homophil. Dies führe zu einer gefährlichen Doppelmoral, einer Kultur des Schweigens, die die Skandale rund um die katholische Kirche sehr unglücklich begünstigt hätten.
Sein Buch «Sodom» erschien zeitgleich in acht Sprachen und Martel wurde in unzählige Talkshows eingeladen, doch der Vatikan hüllte sich in Schweigen. Wer sich in den 30er-, 40er- und 50er-Jahren des letzten Jahrhunderts als junger Mann irgendwie anders – eben homosexuell – fühlte, fand in der römisch-katholischen Kirche eine Oase, so Martel in seinem Buch «Sodom»: Männer, die unter Männern leben, andere Kleidung tragen und singen, das wäre für viele die Rettung gewesen, die zudem noch von der Gesellschaft akzeptiert war.
Gegen aussen seien diese in der Regel sehr alten Männer nun homophob, gegen innen aber homophil. Dies führe zu einer gefährlichen Doppelmoral, einer Kultur des Schweigens, die die Skandale rund um die katholische Kirche sehr unglücklich begünstigt hätten.
Homophobie im Islam | Kann man Moslem und schwul sein?
Lebanon Crisis Escalates as Designated Prime Minister Hariri Resigns | DW News
Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey - When You Believe (Official HD Video)
Homosexualité masculine au Moyen Âge | L'Histoire nous le dira
Catherine Kickuchi : Sodomie médiévale : l’amour entre hommes, envers et contre tous »
Justizreform europarechtswidrig: EuGH sieht Unabhängigkeit von Polens Richtern gefährdet
Jul 16, 2021 • Wie unabhängig die Polens Gerichte von der Regierung des Landes? Seit Jahren streitet die EU mit ihrem Mitgliedsstaat über diese Frage. Nun ist erneut ein Urteil zur umstrittenen Justizreform Polens am Europäischen Gerichtshof in Luxemburg gefallen.
Das in Polen eingeführte neue Disziplinarrecht für Richter verstößt nach einer Entscheidung des Europäischen Gerichtshofs (EuGH) gegen EU-Recht. Die beim polnischen Obersten Gericht angesiedelte Disziplinarkammer erfülle nicht alle Ansprüche an die Unparteilichkeit und Unabhängigkeit von Richtern, erklärte der EuGH in Luxemburg.
Die Disziplinarkammer ist das Herzstück der umstrittenen Reformen des polnischen Justizsystems der nationalkonservativen PiS-Regierung. Die Disziplinarkammer kann jeden Richter oder Staatsanwalt entlassen.
Das in Polen eingeführte neue Disziplinarrecht für Richter verstößt nach einer Entscheidung des Europäischen Gerichtshofs (EuGH) gegen EU-Recht. Die beim polnischen Obersten Gericht angesiedelte Disziplinarkammer erfülle nicht alle Ansprüche an die Unparteilichkeit und Unabhängigkeit von Richtern, erklärte der EuGH in Luxemburg.
Die Disziplinarkammer ist das Herzstück der umstrittenen Reformen des polnischen Justizsystems der nationalkonservativen PiS-Regierung. Die Disziplinarkammer kann jeden Richter oder Staatsanwalt entlassen.
EU Launches Legal Action against Hungary, Poland over LGBTQ Rights • FRANCE 24 English
Zuerst, in den schrecklichen dreißiger Jahren, hörten die Leute in Deutschland das Wort „judenrein“; jetzt kommen Ungarn und Polen auf die Idee, Nachbarschaften „schwulenrein“ zu machen! Hoffentlich käme dieser reaktionäre Viktor Orbán nicht auf die Idee, Konzentrationslager zu bauen! Der Mann ist einfach verrückt! Schrecklich! Schockierend! Geführt von Leuten wie Orbán, gehört Ungarn wirklich zur EU? Die gleiche Frage gilt für Polen! Um Gottes willen, hören Sie endlich auf mit diesem Wahnsinn! Die Leute sollten in Frieden leben können, egal ob sie heterosexuell oder homosexuell sind! Alle Leute sollten integriert und gleichberechtigt sein! - © Mark
Intempéries en France : dix départements toujours en vigilance orange
LE MONDE : Des pluies abondantes se sont abattues sur l’est de la France jeudi, entraînant des perturbations dans les transports ferroviaires et fluviaux.
Les pluies abondantes sur l’est de la France ont entraîné jeudi 15 juillet des inondations dans plusieurs départements placés en vigilance orange et des perturbations dans les transports ferroviaires et fluviaux. Dans la région Grand Est, sept départements sur dix étaient toujours en vigilance orange vendredi matin pour « crues », de même que le Nord et l’Aisne dans les Hauts-de-France, et le département de l’Ain, selon Météo-France. » | Le Monde avec AFP | Publié : jeudi 15 juillet 2021 ; mis à jour : vendredi 16 juillet 2021
Les pluies abondantes sur l’est de la France ont entraîné jeudi 15 juillet des inondations dans plusieurs départements placés en vigilance orange et des perturbations dans les transports ferroviaires et fluviaux. Dans la région Grand Est, sept départements sur dix étaient toujours en vigilance orange vendredi matin pour « crues », de même que le Nord et l’Aisne dans les Hauts-de-France, et le département de l’Ain, selon Météo-France. » | Le Monde avec AFP | Publié : jeudi 15 juillet 2021 ; mis à jour : vendredi 16 juillet 2021
Le Conseil scientifique approuve la validation du passe sanitaire sept jours après la seconde injection
LE FIGARO : Le ministre de la Santé avait annoncé cette mesure mardi dans la foulée de la prise de parole d'Emmanuel Macron.
Jusqu'ici, il fallait attendre 14 jours après l'injection de la dernière dose de vaccin à ARN messager (Pfizer et Moderna) ou AstraZeneca pour disposer d'un passe sanitaire valide attestant d'une vaccination complète, synonyme d'efficacité maximum dans la protection contre la Covid. » | Par Le Figaro | vendredi 16 juillet 2021
Jusqu'ici, il fallait attendre 14 jours après l'injection de la dernière dose de vaccin à ARN messager (Pfizer et Moderna) ou AstraZeneca pour disposer d'un passe sanitaire valide attestant d'une vaccination complète, synonyme d'efficacité maximum dans la protection contre la Covid. » | Par Le Figaro | vendredi 16 juillet 2021
Hundreds Missing and Scores Dead as Raging Floods Strike Western Europe
THE NEW YORK TIMES: Strong rains caused rivers to burst their banks and wash away buildings in Belgium and Germany, where at least 1,300 remained missing. Homes and streets in the Netherlands and Switzerland also flooded.
BERLIN — Following a day of frantic rescue efforts and orders to evacuate towns rapidly filling with water unloosed by violent storms, the German authorities said late Thursday that after confirming scores of deaths, they were unable to account for at least 1,300 people.
That staggering figure was announced after swift-moving water from swollen rivers surged through cities and villages in two western German states, where news outlets said more than 80 people were known to have died in the hardest-hit regions and other fatalities were expected.
With communication badly hampered, the authorities were hoping that the missing people were safe, if unreachable. But the storms and the floods have already proved deadly
. At least 11 more people were reported to have died in Belgium, according to authorities who also ordered inhabitants of downtown Liège to evacuate as the Meuse River, which flows through its center, overflowed its banks. » | Melissa Eddy | Published: Thursday, July 15, 2021; Updated: Friday, July 16, 2021
BERLIN — Following a day of frantic rescue efforts and orders to evacuate towns rapidly filling with water unloosed by violent storms, the German authorities said late Thursday that after confirming scores of deaths, they were unable to account for at least 1,300 people.
That staggering figure was announced after swift-moving water from swollen rivers surged through cities and villages in two western German states, where news outlets said more than 80 people were known to have died in the hardest-hit regions and other fatalities were expected.
With communication badly hampered, the authorities were hoping that the missing people were safe, if unreachable. But the storms and the floods have already proved deadly
. At least 11 more people were reported to have died in Belgium, according to authorities who also ordered inhabitants of downtown Liège to evacuate as the Meuse River, which flows through its center, overflowed its banks. » | Melissa Eddy | Published: Thursday, July 15, 2021; Updated: Friday, July 16, 2021
La Hongrie d’Orban attaquée.
Youpi !
Calmos
a Tutti… Cette action peut mener à une saisine de la Cour Européenne pour une procédure entraînant des sanctions à l’encontre de ce pays. Car la loi anti LGBTIQ+ ou pour le moins discriminatrice contrevient aux règles de l’UE. » | lemarquis | samedi 10 juilet 2021
EU leitet Verfahren wegen Vertragsverletzung gegen Ungarn und Polen ein
Die EU-Kommission hat am Donnerstag drei Vertragsverletzungsverfahren eingeleitet, weil sie eine Diskriminierung von Menschen befürchtet, die nicht heterosexuell sind. Dafür hat sich die Abkürzung LGBTQI eingebürgert. Zwei Verfahren betreffen Ungarn, eines Polen. In einer Mitteilung verwies die Kommission auf die in Artikel 2 des EU-Vertrags garantierte Achtung der Menschenwürde, die Wahrung der Menschenrechte und den Gleichheitsgrundsatz: „Die Kommission wird alle Instrumente nutzen, die ihr zur Verfügung stehen, um diese Werte zu verteidigen.“ » | Von Thomas Gutschker, Amsterdam | Donnerstag, 15. Juli 2021
Related article here
EU Launches Legal Action against Hungary and Poland over ‘Fundamental Violations’ of LGBT+ Rights
Hungary has faced widespread condemnation from the European Union (EU) since it passed a law that bans the “promotion” of LGBT+ lives to minors in schools, advertising and in the media. In Poland, more than 100 regions have declared themselves “LGBT-free zones”, inviting harsh criticism from the bloc.
The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, announced Thursday (15 July) it would be taking action against both nations for “violations of fundamental rights of LGBTIQ people”.
In a statement, the commission said that Hungary’s anti-LGBT+ legislation runs counter to several EU laws and principles. It added that the law “violates human dignity, freedom of expression and information, the right to respect of private life” and the “right to non-discrimination”.
The EU is also targeting Hungary over its demand that the publisher of a children’s book with LGBT+ content include a disclaimer warning of “behaviour deviating from traditional gender roles”. » | Maggie Baska | Thursday, July 15, 2021
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