Google Takes a Stand Against Chinese Censorship

In what hopefully will be the first in a cascade of reactions to the usual threats and intiminations of China's ruling class, Google is firmly placing its logo on the side of liberty, and I say Right ON!!! The International Campaign for Tibet reports the following:

13 January, 2010
International Campaign for Tibet

Google decision a "crack in the wall of censorship" that sets new standard

Google's decision to halt censorship on its search engine in China and its threat to pull out of the Chinese market in response to cyber-attacks that seek to access the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists sets a new standard for other companies operating in China. A Google blog this morning (http://googleblog.blogspot.com/) announcing the decision was front page news worldwide.
[...]  The latest news from Google comes in the context of stepped-up efforts by Chinese government authorities to criminalize information-sharing and pursue charges of "subversion" for online, email or phone discussions with the outside world about the situation in Tibet. Beijing has set up a new task force within the Public Security Bureau specifically targeted at the "fabrication and spreading of rumors," according to an official press report (Tibet Daily, December 26, 2008). This initiative has led to numerous detentions, and supports the trend identified by ICT of harsher punishments meted out for Tibetans who receive and impart information and opinions than for some Tibetans who actually take part in demonstrations.
Kunchok Tsephel, an official in a Chinese government environmental department and founder of the influential Tibetan literary website, Chodme ('Butter-Lamp,' www.tibetcm.com), was sentenced to 15 years in prison in November 2009 on charges believed to relate to content on his website, which aims to protect Tibetan culture, and to passing on information about protests in Tibet in 2008. (http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/founder-tibetan-cultural-website-sentenced-15-years-closed-door-trial-freedom-expression-c).

Norzin Wangmo, a Tibetan woman and Communist Party member, is serving a five-year prison sentence for passing on news over the phone and Internet about the situation in Tibet to the outside world (http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/disappearances-continue-across-tibet-tibetan-woman-sentenced-talking-telephone).[...] 
Google's announcement comes one day before a scheduled speech by Google CEO Eric Schmidt to a meeting of Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives tonight (January 13).
Mary Beth Markey concluded: "For 20 years, we've battled against putting profits in the China market ahead of human rights. It's impossible for us not to see Google's decision as anything but a real victory for the people and those who support their struggle for greater freedoms. It is fitting that Mr. Schmidt is meeting with members of the House this evening, many of whom, including Nancy Pelosi and, of course, the late Tom Lantos, have cautioned U.S. companies that it is in their self-interest to take on a stronger role in the development of both more progressive economic and political systems in China."[...]

http://savetibet.org/media-center/ict-press-releases/google-decision-crack-wall-censorship-sets-new-standard
The Epoch Times reported the story of Kunchok Tsephel on Nov. 9:
Tibetan Web Site Founder Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison
By Matthew Robertson
Epoch Times Staff
The founder of an influential Tibetan literary Web site was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a closed-door trial on Nov. 12.
Kunchok Tsephel, 39, is accused of “divulging state secrets,” a vague charge used by the Chinese authorities to punish dissidents of all stripes. Under such laws, the Chinese authorities are not required to explain which state secrets the defendant is alleged to have divulged.
The charges probably relate to content posted on his Web site, Chodme (butter lamp), which seeks to protect Tibetan culture. He is also accused of passing on information about last year’s protests in Tibet, according to the activist group which released the news.[...]
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/25317/

Give to the 9/11 First Responders

This is the time of year we all think about giving, even just a little something, to those who provide services, be it mail carriers, hair dressers, doormen, etc.  It's hard to think we need to even ask for help, 8 years later, for those who ran to the "pile" and seem to be forgotten in the rage of health care reform.

Please forward this message and put pressure on President Obama and Speaker Pelosi:  Pass HR 847.  Thank you.

Fealgood Foundation Christmas Message to President Obama

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QN3b3N9rmE

Dec. 12--Be There

As I wrote after BHO's speech, let the demos begin.  Here's the first big one I'm aware of:

EMERGENCY ANTI-ESCALATION RALLY

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009
11am-4pm • Washington DC

Lafayette Square | White House
Metro: Farragut West or Farragut North

Speakers: Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Rep. Cynthia McKinney, Sen. Mike Gravel, Kathy Kelly, Chris Hedges, David Swanson, Rev. Graylan Hagler, Gael Murphy, Brian Becker, Debra Sweet, Mathis Chiroux, Coy McKinney, Elaine Brower, Lynne Williams, Hon. Betty Hall, Marian Douglas, Dr. Michael Knox, Ralph Lopez, Cpt. Ron Fisher.
Plus: Statements from Rabbi Michael Lerner, Col. Ann Wright, Kevin Zeese, Dr. Stephen Zunes, Granny D (turning 100), and others.

Anti-War, 1969

Live Music: Jordan Page, Head-Roc, Emma's Revolution, Precise Science.

Under Obama-Pelosi-Reid, the US has already sent about 35,000 more troops into the Afghanistan graveyard of empires. Now, Obama has announced another round of re-enforcements—an Afghan surge of 30,000 additional GIs, thereby betraying his supporters on the left and ignoring the majority of Americans, 55% of whom disapprove of his handling of the war. Instead, Obama is taking the advice from the war party—from Petraeus, McChrystal, and Mullen. It's high time Obama, Pelosi, and Reid heard a clear message from a resurgent antiwar movement demanding no escalation and an immediate pullout of all US forces from Afghanistan and Iraq, including an immediate halt to Predator drone attacks and CIA operations in the region. 
Come to the rally and let our united voices be heard!
http://www.enduswars.org

9/11 Death Toll Still Rises

It is such a heartbreak to know that there are still First Responders from 9/11/01 who suffer from  respiratory problems, cancers, PTSD, on and on.  It is completely outrageous that we have to ASK our government to provide for these heroes who are still with us.  There are some who are sick now and could be helped and even live if Congress acted swiftly.

We can no longer say "3,000 people died from the terror attack of 9/11."  Clearly, people are still dying, only it's our responsibility to save them.  And we won't have any bearded boxcutting freaks to blame.

Here is a link to Adam's Angels, a site in celebration of one fire fighter's life:

http://www.adamsangels.org/

More timely is their request for all of us to show support for passage of HR 847, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, and get Congressional action to help our heroes.

Here is their statement:

Beginning Monday, December 7^th, Adam’s Angels are asking all Americans to take a stand and demand that HR 847- The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009 be brought to the floor of the House of Representatives, immediately.  Gaining as much public support as possible, as quickly as possible, from concerned citizens throughout the United States of America will allow immediate pressure on the House of Representatives to put HR 847 on their weekly schedule for a vote.

While it speaks volumes that 9/11 first responders (primarily those who are suffering from illnesses related to their time at the WTC site), along with their respective constituency groups, have been advocating for the passage of HR 847- The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009, it is time that all Americans fight on behalf of them.  These men and women thought of their fellow Americans first, and foremost before heading to the WTC site, in the wake of September 11, 2001.

We, as Americans, must stand together united on this issue and make it known that we will not accept empty promises. Together, we will make sure that those who put others first are ALWAYS taken care of and that their sacrifices are NEVER forgotten.

Adam’s Angels are asking that all Americans please take a moment out of their day to call the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi at 202-225-0100 and the Majority Leader of the House, Steny Hoyer at 202-225-4131 and let them know that as proud Americans, we demand to see HR 847 brought to the floor, immediately.  Callers are asked to say that as Americans, we will not sit by and allow those who put others first be taken for granted.

Having lost over eight hundred September 11th first responders since that horrific day, we must act now as many, many more of our Nation’s Heroes are sick and dying due to the time they spent at the World Trade Center site. We would like to stress how important the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009 is to us, our community and America. It is time to get this bill to the House floor and passed so that those who put America first on September 11, 2001 are taken properly taken care of, now. We want HR 847 passed so that we, as a country, can properly thank the thousands who have given so much of themselves, so selflessly. We have lost over eight hundred September 11th first responders since that horrific day, we MUST act now as many, many more of these men and women are sick and dying due to the time they spent at Ground Zero.

How to Take Action, Now

If your Representative is on the list of co-sponsors (see below), please contact them and demand that they help get HR 847 to the floor by the end of 2009- ask them to take an urgent and immediate stand, with us. If your Rep is not currently supporting HR 847, please call them and stress how important HR 847- the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009 is to you, your community and America. It is time to get this bill to the House floor and passed so that those who put America first on September 11, 2001 are taken properly taken care of, NOW. The list of all United States Reps and their contact information can be found at: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml .

HR 847- The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009

( http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h847/show ) is sponsored by Representative Carolyn Maloney [D, NY-14] and co-sponsored by Reps. Ackerman [D, NY-5], Andrews [D, NJ-1], Arcuri [D, NY-24], Baldwin [D, WI-2], Berkley [D, NV-1], Bishop [D, NY-1], Bishop [D, GA-2], Brady [D, PA-1], Burgess [R, TX-26], Capps [D, CA-23], Carney [D, PA-10], Castor [D, FL-11], Christensen [D, VI-0], Clarke [D, NY-11], Cohen [D, TN-9], Connolly [D, VA-11], Conyers [D, MI-14], Courtney [D, CT-2], Crowley [D, NY-7], Dahlkemper [D, PA-3], DeLauro [D, CT-3], Dent [R, PA-15], Doyle [D, PA-14], Ellsworth [D, IN-8], Engel [D, NY-17], Etheridge [D, NC-2], Fattah [D, PA-2], Garrett [R, NJ-5], Gonzalez [D, TX-20], Green [D, TX-29], Grijalva [D, AZ-7], Hall [D, NY-19], Higgins [D, NY-27], Himes [D, CT-4], Hinchey [D, NY-22], Hodes [D, NH-2], Holt [D, NJ-12], Israel [D, NY-2], Jones [R, NC-3], King [R, NY-3], Klein [D, FL-22], Kucinich [D, OH-10], Lance [R, NJ-7], Larson [D, CT-1], Lee [R, NY-26], Lee [D, CA-9], Lewis [D, GA-5], Lipinski [D, IL-3], Lowey [D, NY-18], Maffei [D, NY-25], Massa [D, NY-29], McCarthy [D, NY-4], McCaul [R, TX-10], McGovern [D, MA-3], McHugh [R, NY-23], McMahon [D, NY-13], Meeks [D, NY-6], Murphy [R, PA-18], Murphy [D, NY-20], Murphy [D, CT-5], Nadler [D, NY-8], Pascrell [D, NJ-8], Pierluisi [D, PR-0], Rangel [D, NY-15], Rush [D, IL-1], Sarbanes [D, MD-3], Schakowsky [D, IL-9], Schauer [D, MI-7], Schwartz [D, PA-13], Serrano [D, NY-16], Sestak [D, PA-7], Sires [D, NJ-13], Slaughter [D, NY-28], Smith [R, NJ-4], Stupak [D, MI-1], Sutton [D, OH-13], Thompson [D, MS-2], Tonko [D, NY-21], Towns [D, NY-10], Velázquez [D, NY-12], Weiner [D, NY-9], Wexler [D, FL-19], Woolsey [D, CA-6].

James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009

2/4/2009-- Introduced. James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish within the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health the World Trade Center Health Program (WTC program) to provide:

(1) medical monitoring and treatment benefits to eligible emergency responders and recovery and cleanup workers who responded to the World Trade Center terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; and

(2) initial health evaluation, monitoring, and treatment benefits to residents and other building occupants and area workers who were directly impacted and adversely affected by such attacks. Requires the WTC program administrator to:

(1) implement a quality assurance program;

(2) establish the WTC Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee;

(3) establish the WTC Responders Steering Committee and the WTC Community Program Steering Committee;

(4) provide for education and outreach on services under the WTC program;

(5) provide for the uniform collection of data related to WTC-related health conditions;

(6) conduct research on physical and mental health conditions that may be related to the September 11 terrorist attacks; and

(7) extend and expand arrangements with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to provide for the World Trade Center Health Registry. Authorizes the administrator to make grants to the Department to address mental health needs relating to the terrorist attacks. Amends the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization Act to:

(1) make individuals eligible for compensation under the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 for harm as a result of debris removal; and

(2) extend the deadline for making a claim for compensation.

Rove Found in Contempt of Congress

Next step? Let's hope so...away we go!
House panel votes to cite Rove for contempt
By LAURIE KELLMAN – 34 minutes ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — A House panel Wednesday voted to cite former top White House aide Karl Rove for contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena to answer questions about the dismissals of several federal prosecutors as its Senate counterpart explored punishments for an array of alleged Bush administration misdeeds.
Voting 20-14 along party lines, the House Judiciary Committee said that Rove had broke the law by failing to appear at a July 10 hearing on allegations of White House influence over the Justice Department, including whether Rove encouraged prosecutions against Democrats such as former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman.
[...] The House vote occurred as members of the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on allegations of administration wrongdoing ranging from discriminating against liberals at Justice to ignoring subpoenas and lying to Congress.
The Senate proceedings were the latest congressional review of the White House, a constitutionally mandated power that majority Democrats are eager to use. But three months from Election Day, a lame-duck Congress conducting oversight of a lame-duck White House produces mostly talk. There's little time and less willingness to spend the remaining five weeks of the congressional session doing more than holding televised hearings to try to convince voters that President Bush has abused the powers of his office.
The allegations certainly are serious.
Justice Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine, who reported this week that former department officials broke the law by letting Bush administration politics dictate the hiring of prosecutors, immigration judges and career government lawyers, was among the witnesses to appear Wednesday before the Senate panel.
Fine said his office and Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility are investigating the prosecutor firings and whether Bradley Schlozman, former head of the department's Civil Rights Division, used political or ideological criteria to make hiring decisions.
Under questioning by Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, the panel's senior Republican, Fine said he uncovered no evidence that any Justice officials involved made false statements to Congress or violated criminal law. Politicization of the hiring process for career positions is a violation of civil law and department policy, he said.
The Senate probe sprang from Justice's firings of nine federal prosecutors that sparked congressional investigations last year and led to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
House and Senate Democrats said the findings affirmed their contention that career Justice employees were hired and fired based on whether they were deemed sufficiently conservative, a violation of law. Conyers said earlier that he was considering bringing criminal charges against some of the former officials named in Fine's report who may have lied to his committee. Lying to Congress is a crime, but there's little agreement among Democrats on whether a perjury referral against some of the officials is warranted.
But one Republican acknowledged there's reason to look more closely. And everyone wants more answers by the Department of Justice. The question is what will be done now in the twilight of the 110th Congress and the Bush presidency.
[...] Some Democrats skipped right to thinking what can be done starting in January, after a new president and Congress are installed, probably with more Democrats in their ranks.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who led the investigation into the prosecutor firings, is pressing Fine to say whether making such a disregard of civil service rules a crime would deter the kind of conduct his investigation uncovered.
Similar legislation will be considered in the House.
"I will be asking Chairman Conyers to consider legislation to ensure that the politicization of hiring of career employees at the Justice Department never happens again," Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement.
Associated Press Writer Ben Evans contributed to this story. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-he8f7AdVl4IRQAEFnivpPn6HOAD9289GU00

Bomb-Throwing Monks and Nancy Pelosi

Things seem to be going from bad to worse in China. Information is so hard to come by and worse, hard to rely on. Here's a real thriller from the South China Morning Post, followed by Al-Jazeera providing hard news.
World warned about Tibetan 'terrorist' group
Beijing goes on verbal offensive against activists,
Nancy Pelosi
Josephine Ma in Beijing and Reuter, Apr 14, 2008
Beijing has gone on the offensive against western critics of its handling of the riots in Tibet by slamming US politician Nancy Pelosi as "the least popular person in China" and labelling the Tibetan Youth Congress as the No1 common enemy of humankind.
http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2c913216495213d5df646910cba0a0a0/?vgnextoid=56d95afa63849110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=teaser&ss=China&s=News
Get this: you have to pay to read the rest!!! Now that's real communism, BushCo Style!
Tibetan monks held for 'bomb plot'
Al-Jazeera, April 13, 2008
Lhasa, Tibet (China) -- Nine Tibetan Buddhist monks have been arrested for involvement in an alleged bomb attack on a government building in China's Tibetan region, the official Xinhua News Agency says.
The monks from the Tongxia monastery fled after the homemade bomb exploded at the building in Gyanbe township on March 23, and later confessed to planting the explosive, Xinhua said late on Saturday.
Arrests confirmed
Xinhua did not explain why the alleged incident was not reported earlier, and it did mention any casualties or damage in the explosion.
A man who answered the phone at the Gongjue county "public security bureau" confirmed that nine suspects had been detained.
Six were planting the bomb and three were shielding the suspects and covering up their crimes, he said.
The man refused to give his name because he said he was not authorised to talk to the media.
A woman at the Tibetan regional public security department said she was not sure about the case because it was still under investigation.
The attack was the first alleged bombing reported in Tibet since anti-China protests began on March 10 in the capital, Lhasa.
[...] Hu Jintao, the Chinese premier, spoke on the issue for the first time on Saturday, during a meeting with Kevin Rudd, the Australian prime minister, on the sidelines of a regional economic forum in Hainan.
"Our conflict with the Dalai clique is not an ethnic problem, not a religious problem, nor a human rights problem," Xinhua quoted Hu as saying, referring to supporters of the Dalai Lama.
"It is a problem either to safeguard national unification or to split the motherland."
Earlier this month, Beijing accused Tibetan independence forces of organising suicide squads of launching violent attacks against China.
Wu Heping, a spokesman for China's public security ministry, also claimed that searches of monasteries in Lhasa had uncovered a large cache of weapons.
On Friday, China labelled a group linked to the Tibetan government-in-exile a "terrorist organisation".[…]
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=46,6220,0,0,1,0

Pelosi To Hold Bush Accountable?!!!

May it be true! (Click on the picture to expand)


Via David Swanson, AfterDowningStreet.org

Resolve to Impeach This Administration

Cheney Impeachment Cracks Corporate Media
Congressman Robert Wexler writes:
"The mainstream media has awakened to this movement and to the extraordinary support you have given it. Your calls, letters, and emails have clearly made a difference. Already 140,000 people have joined us in demanding impeachment hearings for Vice President Dick Cheney."
Congress is watching, so... Add your name http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com
The op-ed posted at that site was originally rejected by corporate newspapers. Now, the Philadelphia Inquirer has published it, the Miami Herald has published an edited version, and numerous newspapers have reported on the growing push for impeachment in the House Judiciary Committee.
Listen to Rep. Wexler, Bob Fertik, David Swanson, and Dave Lindorff on a recent online radio show HERE.
Let the Speaker of the House and members of the Judiciary Committee know you want the Cheney impeachment to begin:
http://democrats.com/topelosiandjudiciary
Ask your local newspapers to publish the op-ed, and ask the national media to cover impeachment: http://afterdowningstreet.org/node/1084
Learn and do more: http://impeachcheney.org
Start a Cheney Chain E letter by forwarding this Email to everyone you know and asking them to do the same!
Join Gore Vidal, Dennis Kucinich, and David Swanson
On Sunday, January 6, from 8-10 p.m. ET, you can participate in a forum on "Separation and Balance of Power" live video streamed at http://www.kucinichtv.com
The Panelists are:
* Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio, Candidate for President of the United States.
* David Swanson, Co-founder of www.afterdowningstreet.org
* Gore Vidal, World renowned author, playright and peace activist.
This program will will feature live audience participation along with questions received by email from the viewing audience. If you are in New Hampshire, please join us live at 540 N. Commercial Street in Manchester.
Cries for Justice to Converge on DC on 1/11
On December 1st, a former college professor named John Nirenberg left Boston, Massachusetts, to begin a one-man march to Nancy Pelosi's office in Washington, D.C., to demand that she restore our Constitution and lift her ban on the use of its most central check on abuses of power: impeachment. John plans to arrive in Washington, D.C., on January 11th, and we should all be there to welcome him: http://www.marchinmyname.org
Close Guantánamo
Friday, January 11, 2008, is also the day for actions in Washington, D.C., and around the country aimed at closing the illegal U.S. prison in Guantánamo. January 11th will be the 6-year anniversary of the first prisoners being brought to Guantánamo.
Last year on the same date, 500 people marched, 150 risked arrest, and 88 were arrested in Washington, many of them refusing to provide their names and instead using the names of men held in Guantánamo. This year, events will begin with a rally on the National Mall co-sponsored with Amnesty International and the National Religious Campaign Against Torture followed by a “prisoner procession” to the Supreme Court.
Learn more and find out how to hold an event in your town on 1/11: http://www.witnesstorture.org
What People Are Saying About "Impeach Bush and Cheney" Bracelets
Katherine B. writes: "I just wanted to let you know that I was thrilled I got the bracelets in time for the Springsteen show in DC. We (the members of a popular website for Springsteen fans) had a big pre-party before the show I used the bracelets to help raise money for our charity, HUNGRY FOR MUSIC which was founded by ESB guitar player, Nils Lofgren. I had no problem selling them and I probably could have sold another 25 of them. We ended up raising $500 for the charity. They were a hit and I hope to get one to The Boss himself when he returns to the US. I wear mine proudly. Thanks again." GET YOURS: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/bracelet

Rebranding "Socialized Terror"

MUST READ!!! Excellent description for the "changing of the guards."
How Pelosi Ended 'The War With Iraq'
Tom Gilroy, Posted October 9, 2007

The rebranding of War With Iraq into War With Iran is only Phase I of a multi-phased rebranding strategy that will go on for years, a strategy that is in fact prepping us for the big hand-off to a Democratic White House that needs its own public spin for staying in Iraq until we’ve met the one and only (private) benchmark we’ve had all along; a permanent force in the world’s largest military base securing the theft of the world’s second largest deposit of oil. But don’t take it from me–ask Alan Greenspan, that liberal.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-gilroy/how-pelosi-ended-the-war_b_67681.html