27 May 2014
Source: aljazeera
At least three Muslim youths have been killed and mutilated by a
Christian militia in the Central African Republic while on their way to
play in a reconciliation football game between the two faiths, according
to organisers and a spokesman for the country's Muslim community.
The match between Muslim and Christian youths was set up as part of
efforts to forge peace between the mostly Muslim Seleka rebels who
seized power last year and the rival anti-Bakala Christian militia.
"Their sex organs and hearts have been removed," Ousmane Abakar,
the Muslim community spokesman, told Reuters news agency on Sunday.
He said the bodies of the boys, from Bangui's mostly Muslim PK5
neighbourhood, had been taken to a mosque in the capital by the
community after the attack. Their ages were not known.
Youths in PK5 barricaded the main road in protest, residents said.
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Sebastien Wenezoui, a coordinator of the anti-Balaka, condemned the
attacks and said 10 youths had been abducted in the incident by a
faction of the group from the Boy-Rabe neighbourhood.
"We do not know where the others are," Wenezoui said. "We strongly
condemn these acts. While we are currently working towards peace, others
continue to kill."
Lazare Djader, president of Collectif Urgence 236, the association
working to reconcile the communities, said months of work to bring the
youths together had been dealt a heavy blow.
"Because of these deaths, I have zero morale. Several months of
efforts are lost. I'm trying to calm everyone down but they are all very
angry right now," Djader said, adding that a non-Muslim youth had also
been found killed.
Seleka was forced to relinquish power under international pressure in
January and since then, Christian militias known as anti-Balaka have
mounted widespread attacks on Muslims.
More than 2,000 people have been killed in the violence in Central
African Republic and a million of the country's 4.5m people have been
forced from their homes despite the presence of several thousand African
peacekeepers and European Union and French troops.
The UN has warned that the conflict could descend nto genocide.
Link: .aljazeera.com/news/africa/2014/05/muslim-youths-mutilated-car-2014525221820168743.html.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Greenwald To Publish Full List Of Names Targeted By NSA Surveillance
May 27, 2014
By: Annabelle Bamforth
Source: benswann.com
Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who worked with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden to expose deceitful United States surveillance practices, said that he plans to publish a full list of individuals that the NSA has actively spied on.
“As with a fireworks show, you want to save your best for last,” Greenwald told GQ Magazine regarding the upcoming revelations. “This will be the finale, a big missing piece.” Greenwald has been in the press promoting his new book ”No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State” and affirmed to The Sunday Times that the list of NSA targets will be the “biggest” disclosure yet.
“One of the big questions when is comes to domestic spying is, ‘Who have been the NSA’s specific targets?’” Greenwald mused to The Sunday Times. “Are they political critics and dissidents and activists? Are they genuinely people we’d regard as terrorists?”
Greenwald went on to belittle the NSA for its failure to intercept Snowden’s acquisition of nearly 2 million classified files, as well as its failure to stop Snowden from releasing the damning information, saying,
By: Annabelle Bamforth
Source: benswann.com
Glenn Greenwald, the journalist who worked with NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden to expose deceitful United States surveillance practices, said that he plans to publish a full list of individuals that the NSA has actively spied on.
“As with a fireworks show, you want to save your best for last,” Greenwald told GQ Magazine regarding the upcoming revelations. “This will be the finale, a big missing piece.” Greenwald has been in the press promoting his new book ”No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State” and affirmed to The Sunday Times that the list of NSA targets will be the “biggest” disclosure yet.
“One of the big questions when is comes to domestic spying is, ‘Who have been the NSA’s specific targets?’” Greenwald mused to The Sunday Times. “Are they political critics and dissidents and activists? Are they genuinely people we’d regard as terrorists?”
Greenwald went on to belittle the NSA for its failure to intercept Snowden’s acquisition of nearly 2 million classified files, as well as its failure to stop Snowden from releasing the damning information, saying,
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
'Thousands' of Israeli Jews to march on Aqsa compound
27/05/2014
Source: Ma'an News Agency
JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- The Waqf Foundation in charge of the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound said various Israeli nationalist organizations had called for a march through the compound on Wednesday.
Thousands of Israeli Jews will attend, the organization said, adding that police would close roads in East Jerusalem during the march.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld tweeted: "Police complete security assessments for tomorrow's "Jerusalem day" celebrations. Hundreds of officers will be involved in security measures."
Jerusalem Day is a national holiday in Israel celebrating what Israelis call the reunification of the city. The day is marked by marches through the Old City of Jerusalem by right-wing activists.
For Palestinians and the international community, East Jerusalem is considered occupied territory.
Earlier, police escorted Jewish groups through the Al-Aqsa compound, witnesses said. Some 72 Israeli Jews entered the compound as Palestinians chanted "Allahu Akbar."
Rosenfeld tweeted: "Stones thrown at visiting group on Temple Mount by Arabs. Policeman at scene injured lightly. Visits continue regularly. Situation calm."
Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the compound, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Link: http://maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=700205.
Source: Ma'an News Agency
JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- The Waqf Foundation in charge of the Al-Aqsa Mosque Compound said various Israeli nationalist organizations had called for a march through the compound on Wednesday.
Thousands of Israeli Jews will attend, the organization said, adding that police would close roads in East Jerusalem during the march.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld tweeted: "Police complete security assessments for tomorrow's "Jerusalem day" celebrations. Hundreds of officers will be involved in security measures."
Jerusalem Day is a national holiday in Israel celebrating what Israelis call the reunification of the city. The day is marked by marches through the Old City of Jerusalem by right-wing activists.
For Palestinians and the international community, East Jerusalem is considered occupied territory.
Earlier, police escorted Jewish groups through the Al-Aqsa compound, witnesses said. Some 72 Israeli Jews entered the compound as Palestinians chanted "Allahu Akbar."
Rosenfeld tweeted: "Stones thrown at visiting group on Temple Mount by Arabs. Policeman at scene injured lightly. Visits continue regularly. Situation calm."
Israeli forces regularly escort Jewish visitors to the compound, leading to tension with Palestinian worshipers.
Al-Aqsa is located in East Jerusalem, a part of the internationally recognized Palestinian territories that have been occupied by the Israeli military since 1967.
Link: http://maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=700205.
Dentists Blame Bottled Water for Low Fluoride Levels
May 13, 2014
By Dr. Mercola
Source: mercola.com
Some Illinois dentists are reportedly worried that their patients' decision to drink bottled water in lieu of fluoridated tap water means they're not getting enough of this verified poison on a daily basis.
The report, which was published by WGEM News out of Quincy, Illinois, includes so many misnomers and widely propagated fluoridation myths that it would be laughable… except that it's entirely serious – and probably going to spur some people to unnecessarily think they "need" to get fluoride from their tap.So let me set the record straight. Your body doesn't need fluoride anymore than it needs rat poison (and did you know that rat poison is another common use for fluoride?).
While there are many reasons why I don't recommend drinking bottled water, the fact that it's not fluoridated isn't one of them. Many bottled waters actually make a point of adding fluoride back into the water, so if you are drinking bottled water please make sure yours is fluoride-free.
Fluoride Is Not the Dental Miracle 'Experts' Want You to Think It Is
It's often stated as fact that fluoridated drinking water prevents cavities. In the featured article, an area dentist stated that if you don't get enough fluoride when you're young, your teeth will be more prone to cavities for the rest of your life.
Fluoride advocates, too, often claim that the reduction in tooth decay that's occurred since the 1950s is a benefit of fluoridated water, but the facts just don't add up.
For example, in 1999 the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claimed that dental caries declined precipitously during the second half of the 20th Century. But what they failed to mention is that tooth decay rates "precipitously declined" in ALL Western nations, regardless of whether or not fluoridation was used – and most of those countries did NOT fluoridate!1
According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, the US, which fluoridates about two-thirds of public water supplies, actually has higher rates of tooth decay than many countries that do not fluoridate their water, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden.2
Furthermore, if fluoride were effective in preventing caries, you would expect to see an increase in tooth decay when fluoridation is stopped. Yet, this is not what we see! The following demographic studies and fluoridation trends make it clear that fluoridation has very little to do with whether or not you develop cavities.
- In Japan, fluoridation has been virtually nonexistent since the 1970s, yet rates of dental caries have declined since that time.3
- In the town of Tiel in the Netherlands, water fluoridation was discontinued in 1973, and by 1993, rates of dental caries had declined.4
- In the town of Kuopio, Finland, water fluoridation was stopped after 1992. In 1995 and 1998, dental caries had either decreased or stayed the same.5
- In two towns in former East Germany, a significant fall in the prevalence of dental caries was seen in the 20 years following cessation of water fluoridation.6
- In Canada, "the prevalence of caries decreased over time in the fluoridation-ended community while remaining unchanged in the fluoridated community."7
A Lack of Fluoride Is Not a Cause of Cavities
If you've been drinking non-fluoridated water, you needn't fear that you've ruined your teeth. Dental caries are caused by demineralization of your teeth (enamel and dentin) by the acids formed during the bacterial fermentation of dietary sugars.
Demineralization is countered by the deposit of minerals from your saliva, or remineralization, which is a slow process. Enthusiasts report that fluoride prevents dental caries by enhancing mineralization. However, dental caries are not caused by a lack of fluoride, just as depression is not caused by a lack of Prozac. Some of the true primary causes of tooth decay cited in the literature include:
By far, excess dietary sugar is the most significant factor in driving dental decay. WHO and most dental experts agree upon this fact.9 The massive consumption of sugar in the Western diet, particularly fructose in high fructose corn syrup, fuels the fire of tooth decay.
- Consistent use of refined sugar, sugary soft drinks, and processed foods in general
- Children going to bed with a bottle of sweetened drink in their mouth, or sucking at will from such a bottle during the day
- Poor dental hygiene and poor access to and utilization of dental health services, usually related to socioeconomic status
- Mineral deficiencies, like magnesium, which can weaken bones and teeth8
- More than 600 medications promote tooth decay by inhibiting saliva
Fluoride Is Most Important for Children? You Mean Most Harmful
The featured article states that getting adequate fluoride in drinking water is most important for children between the ages of six and 14. But the science clearly demonstrates that fluoride is a toxic chemical that accumulates in your tissues over time, wreaks havoc with enzymes, and produces a number of serious adverse health effects, including neurological and endocrine dysfunction.
Children are particularly at risk for adverse effects of overexposure. Scientists from the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory have classified fluoride as a "chemical having substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity," and 25 studies have now reported an association between fluoride exposure and reduced IQ in children.
Young children are those who need to be protected from fluoride the most, and as for the featured article's assertion that fluoride is "most important to develop stronger teeth," this, too, is highly questionable. It's often said that fluoride helps to re-mineralize your teeth and make them stronger. But a groundbreaking study published in the journal Langmuir uncovered that the fluorapatite layer formed on your teeth from fluoride is a mere six nanometers thick.10
To understand just how thin this is, you'd need 10,000 of these layers to get the width of a strand of your hair! Scientists now question whether this ultra-thin layer can actually protect your enamel and provide any discernible benefit, considering the fact that it is quickly eliminated by simple chewing. They wrote: "…it has to be asked whether such narrow… layers really can act as protective layers for the enamel."
Health Risks from Fluoride Are Not Reserved for 'Extreme Levels'
According to the Quincy dentist quoted in the featured article:11 "There is a lot of information on the internet saying that it [fluoride] can cause various diseases and breaking the bones, but that is at such an extreme level of fluoride that we just don't see that within our community or within our patients." Really?
Some of the 25 studies linking fluoride with diminished IQ were at exposure levels as low as 0.3 to 3 parts per million (ppm), which overlaps the range in many US communities (0.7 to 1.2 ppm). And, according to the CDC, 41 percent of American adolescents now have dental fluorosis — unattractive discoloration and mottling of the teeth that indicate overexposure to fluoride. According to Dr. David Kennedy, who produced and directed the documentary film Fluoridegate — An American Tragedy:
"One of California's highest paid and most prolific Fluoridation advocate admits that giving an infant a formula made with fluoridated tap water will overdose the baby and cause the teeth to come in spotted and fluorotic. One can only wonder why such insanity persists in our country when it has been banned in so many other more advanced democracies."To suggest that there are no health risks from drinking fluoridated water at the levels found in many US communities is misleading, at best. It's important to understand that even at levels deemed "safe" by health officials, fluoride may still pose a significant risk to your health. The fluoride added to municipal water supplies is a toxic byproduct from the fertilizer industry—a rarely discussed fact that effectively nullifies most if not all studies pertaining to fluoride. They simply have not studied the exact same type of fluoride being added to our water. What we do know is that fluoride toxicity is associated with the wide-ranging problems listed below.
Increases lead absorption Disrupts collagen synthesis Increases manganese absorption, which is also linked to lower IQ in children Crippling skeletal fluorosis and bone fractures Genetic damage and cell death Increased tumor and cancer growth Disrupts immune system Inhibits antibody production Brain damage and lowered IQ Dementia Arthritis Severe eye problems, including blindness Impaired thyroid function Bone cancer (osteosarcoma) Inactivates 62 enzymes Muscle disorders
Did You Know Many US Communities Are Banning Water Fluoridation?
Water fluoridation is quickly falling out of favor now that increasing numbers of people recognize the facts:
Despite the scientific evidence against the practice, the US lags far behind other nations in acknowledging the mistake and ending this tragic "public health" measure. As a result, individual communities around the US have taken up the fight to end water fluoridation in their own local areas. For instance, in Wichita, Kansas, they won 60 percent of the votes in the referendum, despite being considerably outspent by the fluoride proponents. The states of Connecticut, South Carolina, and Minnesota are also looking at lifting mandatory fluoridation rulings.
- Water fluoridation does not work to prevent cavities
- Fluoride works when topically applied only (and even then with only minimal "benefits")
- There are unacceptable risks involved in the practice of water fluoridation
The move to end water fluoridation is also gaining speed worldwide. Over the past five years, a literal avalanche of Queensland, Australia communities has stopped fluoridating their water supplies. There are now 15 regional councils in Queensland that are either stopping fluoridation or refusing to start. That affects about 50 different townships. That, of course, has encouraged people not only in Queensland but throughout Australia. In New Zealand, several communities have also stopped fluoridation over the last few years.
The most recent was Hamilton, which is the second largest city in New Zealand. Also worthy of note is the news that the Ministry of Health in Israel announced it will lift the mandatory requirement for fluoridation in 2014. Not only that, but the Supreme Court of Israel also ruled that the new regulations will put an end to all fluoridation, whether mandatory or voluntary.
A More Sane Solution to Better Dental Health
Water fluoridation is ineffective and may offer no benefit at all for your teeth, not to mention placing your overall health in jeopardy. There's no reason to risk it. Here are my basic guidelines for optimizing your dental health, safely and naturally:
- Avoid fluoridated water and fluoridated toothpaste.
- Minimize your sugar and grain consumption. Keep your fructose intake to less than 25 grams per day. Avoid processed foods.
- Make sure you consume a diet rich in fresh, whole foods, fermented vegetables, and grass-fed meats, which will ensure you're getting plenty of the minerals that are so important for strong bones and teeth.
- Practice good oral hygiene and get regular cleanings from a mercury-free natural dentist.
- Consider oil pulling with coconut oil, which is a powerful inhibitor of a large variety of pathogenic organisms.
Join the Fight to Get Fluoride Out of Drinking Water
There's no doubt about it: you should NOT swallow fluoride. At least when it comes to topical application, you have a choice. You can easily buy fluoride-free toothpaste and mouthwash. But you're stuck with whatever your community puts in your water, and it's very difficult to filter out of your water once it's added. Many do not have the resources or the knowledge to do so.The only real solution is to stop the archaic practice of water fluoridation in the first place. Fortunately, the Fluoride Action Network has a game plan to END water fluoridation, both in the United States and Canada. Clean, pure water is a prerequisite to optimal health. Industrial chemicals, drugs and other toxic additives really have no place in our water supplies. So, please, support the anti-fluoride movement by making a donation to the Fluoride Action Network today.
Link: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/05/13/water-fluoridation-dental-health.aspx.
Saturday, May 24, 2014
Eight Common Diseases Linked to Vitamin D Deficiency
Source:Healthy Holistic Living.com
The cure for some of the most common and debilitating health conditions today may be as elemental as simply correcting a nutrient deficiency that plagues millions of Westerners: Vitamin D deficiency. Here are eight common diseases that have been scientifically linked to a chronic lack of vitamin D:
For more information:
healthy-holistic-living.com/eight-common-diseases-linked-vitamin-d-deficiency.html.
The cure for some of the most common and debilitating health conditions today may be as elemental as simply correcting a nutrient deficiency that plagues millions of Westerners: Vitamin D deficiency. Here are eight common diseases that have been scientifically linked to a chronic lack of vitamin D:
For more information:
healthy-holistic-living.com/eight-common-diseases-linked-vitamin-d-deficiency.html.
Demonization complicates the crisis not resolves it
22 May 2014
Fahmi Huwaidi
Source: Middle East Monitor
If the effort spent on demonization (of the Muslim Brotherhood) was put towards finding a solution and the development of Egypt, the country would have greatly benefitted from this. Last Sunday, May 18, Al-Ahram newspaper featured a "Brotherhood leader removed from U.S terrorist list" story on its front page. The article's source was the WND website and reports that Senator Chuck Grassley ordered an investigation into a report that the American Department of Homeland Security had removed records from the terrorist list, including records of the Muslim Brotherhood leader Jamal Badawi, also known for his close ties to Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad. He lives in Canada and is a member of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and founder of the Muslim American Society (MAS).
Wikipedia portrays the same man in a completely different light. It says that he is an Egyptian man who is a professor of religious studies and administration in Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia who earned his PhD from the University of Indiana. He has authored several books and articles on Islam, and produces several television programmes aired in Canada and the US. Audio and video copies of these programmes are available worldwide.
He is a great speaker and has a deep understanding of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and the history of religions. He spreads authentic information about Islam and Muslims in the West and has almost 350 30-minute lectures on Islam that are popular amongst those studying and following religions worldwide.
The image portrayed by the article in Al-Ahram depicts him to be the leader of a terrorist group closely tied to anti-Israel organisations, while the Wikipedia passage suggests he is a preacher who has dedicated himself to defending Islam and Muslims and is popular and respected in the West.
This matter calls for two comments. Firstly, the article's source (the WND website) is considered to be a platform for conservatives in the US and pro-Israeli, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim views. The aforementioned senator was angered by the Department of Homeland Security's clearing of Dr Jamal Badawi's name and removed him from the terrorist list. The only charges made against Badawi were that he is a member of a "terrorist" group according to Egypt's classification and that he has strong ties with anti-Israel organisations.
Secondly, it suggests that Al-Ahram turned a blind eye to the nature of the website and Senator Grassley's position in exchange for the news being utilised to demonise the man in an attempt to settle internal affairs.
This was the same 'bump in the road' faced by the Egyptian media last May when it reported a story about the Free Egyptian Army in Libya and claimed that it was backed by Obama in America, Turkey and Qatar. The story was published by the online newspaper World Tribune.
On April 23 Al Masry Al Youm reported that Dr Manar Shorbaji exposed the newspaper when she investigated them and discovered it was a right-wing newspaper with ties to mafia newspapers. Dr Shorbaji also noted that it had played a suspicious role in representing the views of right-wing American conservatives who opposed Obama purely because of his race and accused him of hating America and secretly recruiting Muslims to the State Department. The newspaper also did not hesitate to describe Obama as a member of the Brotherhood, a communist, and a socialist at the same time.
Although these events raise a number of questions, I am most concerned at the moment by the effort made to demonise one side and a willingness to cooperate with the 'devil' in order to achieve their goal, even if the devil is against all Arabs and Muslims.
Dr Jamal Badawi is fortunate because he has been living in Canada for over 30 years, where the law is respected and the dignity of the people is preserved, but if he were in Egypt, he would be in Al-Aqrab Prison charged with 15 crimes, each of which would warrant his execution.
Yet the story raises the question of how many individuals, who have never been involved in acts of violence or terrorism, have met the same miserable fate that the great preacher has escaped?
According to the Wikithawra independent website, there are over 22,000 prisoners in Egypt.
Brotherhood sources have reported that about 4,000 of these prisoners are facing charges and will be tried in criminal courts (most of whom are from Upper Egypt), and that 10,000 will be tried in misdemeanour courts, most of whom are accused of violating the demonstration law.
If these estimates are correct, this means that the news about the trials will remain a part of the political scene until the end of the year and could even continue until next year. This also means that 8,000 prisoners do not know their fates and their imprisonments are being continuously renewed according to the needs of the current political atmosphere.
As long as this continues, so too will the demonization as it justifies the continuation of the trials and harsher sentences in addition to the renewal of prison sentences. Independent human rights organisations continue to publish reports and testimonies regarding the suffering and misery of those imprisoned.
The demonization campaign is happening on a wider scale than we think, this is obvious if we think about the above matter, and add on the ruling that prohibits the activity of the April 6 Movement, which includes quite a few revolutionary youth groups, in addition to the tension experienced by other revolutionary youth groups. Such tensions include the implications and challenges overwhelming the popular uprising that toppled Mubarak's regime in 2011, the attempts to blur the facts about the so -called June 30 revolution and the law prohibiting demonstrations, which aims to silence repressed voices.
People have also been made angrier by two other issues. Firstly, the return of Mubarak's regimes' symbols and icons and their emergence in public coinciding with the crackdown and oppression of the security forces, suggesting a return to the former regime's policies. Secondly, the media campaign which aims to distort the image of the revolutionary youth and their icons through leaks by the security forces, relayed to some of the counter-revolution platforms who have spread these leaks in an effort to expose the revolution and morally assassinate them.
This picture paints an image of demonization characterized by tension and haunted by fear and anger at the same time. This is because the current clash is no longer between the authority and the Brotherhood, along with its allied groups, but the circle has grown to include the youth revolutionary groups and those who have declared their solidarity with the prisoners and oppressed. The circle has also grown to include the independent human rights organisations that have issued several statements denouncing and condemning arbitrary arrest, torture, and fabricated charges; such statements have been signed by 16 human rights organisations and centres.
We must pay attention to the effort being made to demonise and oppress one side, as there is hardly any effort made to pick up the pieces and reunite the society. Such efforts have not been successful in separating the national opposition forces from the violent groups by distinguishing the radical and moderate forces. This distinction is necessary for the rallying of the nation needed to move towards the future with confidence.
The claims that people accept or reject this are no longer convincing because it would suggest that the people are being taken for fools, as are the security establishment who have actually made the decision and turned the media into platforms from which they launch missiles. These missiles poison the atmosphere and turn things upside down. The people have been taken for fools in a manner that encourages political eradication and welcomes gagging.
After the police and the security forces were acquitted of the charges of killing demonstrators, the oppression doubled and intellectual terrorism added to the civil and social terrorism, making those with different opinions conspirators with the Brotherhood, spies, and part of the fifth column funded from abroad. The mistakes, acts of violence, and crimes committed in the past by several parties were exploited and used to terrorize the community, which led to the closure of the door of politics and the adoption of terrorism as the top priority.
This situation is reminiscent of the events of the French Revolution during which the Committee of Public Security took control of the internal politics of the country and issued a statement in September 1793 declaring that "the time has come for justice to be a priority. It is also time to terrorise and intimidate the conspirators, and therefore it is natural to deal with terrorism as a top priority." The statement ended with the following line, "Let us be in a permanent revolution because the counter-revolution is being hatched everywhere by our enemies. We must let the law hover over the heads of the guilty". This declaration launched the campaign trail that led many to the gallows and prisons.
At the moment, all attention has been focused on the economy, which is certainly an important matter, even though the parameters of the economic vision are unclear, and those that are clear are a topic of controversy and criticism for experts.
In light of the preoccupation with the economy, the security institution remains in control of the fate of mankind and the door of politics remains closed to anyone who is not a fan or loyalist. It is worth noting that the proficiency of a policy is measured by its openness to the opposition, whilst counting solely on loyalists is the first step towards tyranny.
When Field Marshal Al-Sisi was asked for his opinion about the figures and businessmen of the former regime who are pushing their network of interests onto politics his response was that he wanted to pick out the best from each party and did not want to alienate anyone. These are very rational and wise words, but the only problem is that he limits this to economics and it is not applied to politics.
This logic makes for a very difficult equation that is trying to combine economic prosperity and political isolation on the belief that goodness is inherent in those affiliated to the economy and evil stems from the political opposition. Presenting the equation in this formula means that the revolution will continue for a long time and still has many obstacles to face before it achieves its goals.
Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/africa/11637-demonization-complicates-the-crisis-not-resolves-it.
Fahmi Huwaidi
Source: Middle East Monitor
If the effort spent on demonization (of the Muslim Brotherhood) was put towards finding a solution and the development of Egypt, the country would have greatly benefitted from this. Last Sunday, May 18, Al-Ahram newspaper featured a "Brotherhood leader removed from U.S terrorist list" story on its front page. The article's source was the WND website and reports that Senator Chuck Grassley ordered an investigation into a report that the American Department of Homeland Security had removed records from the terrorist list, including records of the Muslim Brotherhood leader Jamal Badawi, also known for his close ties to Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad. He lives in Canada and is a member of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and founder of the Muslim American Society (MAS).
Wikipedia portrays the same man in a completely different light. It says that he is an Egyptian man who is a professor of religious studies and administration in Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia who earned his PhD from the University of Indiana. He has authored several books and articles on Islam, and produces several television programmes aired in Canada and the US. Audio and video copies of these programmes are available worldwide.
He is a great speaker and has a deep understanding of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and the history of religions. He spreads authentic information about Islam and Muslims in the West and has almost 350 30-minute lectures on Islam that are popular amongst those studying and following religions worldwide.
The image portrayed by the article in Al-Ahram depicts him to be the leader of a terrorist group closely tied to anti-Israel organisations, while the Wikipedia passage suggests he is a preacher who has dedicated himself to defending Islam and Muslims and is popular and respected in the West.
This matter calls for two comments. Firstly, the article's source (the WND website) is considered to be a platform for conservatives in the US and pro-Israeli, anti-Arab and anti-Muslim views. The aforementioned senator was angered by the Department of Homeland Security's clearing of Dr Jamal Badawi's name and removed him from the terrorist list. The only charges made against Badawi were that he is a member of a "terrorist" group according to Egypt's classification and that he has strong ties with anti-Israel organisations.
Secondly, it suggests that Al-Ahram turned a blind eye to the nature of the website and Senator Grassley's position in exchange for the news being utilised to demonise the man in an attempt to settle internal affairs.
This was the same 'bump in the road' faced by the Egyptian media last May when it reported a story about the Free Egyptian Army in Libya and claimed that it was backed by Obama in America, Turkey and Qatar. The story was published by the online newspaper World Tribune.
On April 23 Al Masry Al Youm reported that Dr Manar Shorbaji exposed the newspaper when she investigated them and discovered it was a right-wing newspaper with ties to mafia newspapers. Dr Shorbaji also noted that it had played a suspicious role in representing the views of right-wing American conservatives who opposed Obama purely because of his race and accused him of hating America and secretly recruiting Muslims to the State Department. The newspaper also did not hesitate to describe Obama as a member of the Brotherhood, a communist, and a socialist at the same time.
Although these events raise a number of questions, I am most concerned at the moment by the effort made to demonise one side and a willingness to cooperate with the 'devil' in order to achieve their goal, even if the devil is against all Arabs and Muslims.
Dr Jamal Badawi is fortunate because he has been living in Canada for over 30 years, where the law is respected and the dignity of the people is preserved, but if he were in Egypt, he would be in Al-Aqrab Prison charged with 15 crimes, each of which would warrant his execution.
Yet the story raises the question of how many individuals, who have never been involved in acts of violence or terrorism, have met the same miserable fate that the great preacher has escaped?
According to the Wikithawra independent website, there are over 22,000 prisoners in Egypt.
Brotherhood sources have reported that about 4,000 of these prisoners are facing charges and will be tried in criminal courts (most of whom are from Upper Egypt), and that 10,000 will be tried in misdemeanour courts, most of whom are accused of violating the demonstration law.
If these estimates are correct, this means that the news about the trials will remain a part of the political scene until the end of the year and could even continue until next year. This also means that 8,000 prisoners do not know their fates and their imprisonments are being continuously renewed according to the needs of the current political atmosphere.
As long as this continues, so too will the demonization as it justifies the continuation of the trials and harsher sentences in addition to the renewal of prison sentences. Independent human rights organisations continue to publish reports and testimonies regarding the suffering and misery of those imprisoned.
The demonization campaign is happening on a wider scale than we think, this is obvious if we think about the above matter, and add on the ruling that prohibits the activity of the April 6 Movement, which includes quite a few revolutionary youth groups, in addition to the tension experienced by other revolutionary youth groups. Such tensions include the implications and challenges overwhelming the popular uprising that toppled Mubarak's regime in 2011, the attempts to blur the facts about the so -called June 30 revolution and the law prohibiting demonstrations, which aims to silence repressed voices.
People have also been made angrier by two other issues. Firstly, the return of Mubarak's regimes' symbols and icons and their emergence in public coinciding with the crackdown and oppression of the security forces, suggesting a return to the former regime's policies. Secondly, the media campaign which aims to distort the image of the revolutionary youth and their icons through leaks by the security forces, relayed to some of the counter-revolution platforms who have spread these leaks in an effort to expose the revolution and morally assassinate them.
This picture paints an image of demonization characterized by tension and haunted by fear and anger at the same time. This is because the current clash is no longer between the authority and the Brotherhood, along with its allied groups, but the circle has grown to include the youth revolutionary groups and those who have declared their solidarity with the prisoners and oppressed. The circle has also grown to include the independent human rights organisations that have issued several statements denouncing and condemning arbitrary arrest, torture, and fabricated charges; such statements have been signed by 16 human rights organisations and centres.
We must pay attention to the effort being made to demonise and oppress one side, as there is hardly any effort made to pick up the pieces and reunite the society. Such efforts have not been successful in separating the national opposition forces from the violent groups by distinguishing the radical and moderate forces. This distinction is necessary for the rallying of the nation needed to move towards the future with confidence.
The claims that people accept or reject this are no longer convincing because it would suggest that the people are being taken for fools, as are the security establishment who have actually made the decision and turned the media into platforms from which they launch missiles. These missiles poison the atmosphere and turn things upside down. The people have been taken for fools in a manner that encourages political eradication and welcomes gagging.
After the police and the security forces were acquitted of the charges of killing demonstrators, the oppression doubled and intellectual terrorism added to the civil and social terrorism, making those with different opinions conspirators with the Brotherhood, spies, and part of the fifth column funded from abroad. The mistakes, acts of violence, and crimes committed in the past by several parties were exploited and used to terrorize the community, which led to the closure of the door of politics and the adoption of terrorism as the top priority.
This situation is reminiscent of the events of the French Revolution during which the Committee of Public Security took control of the internal politics of the country and issued a statement in September 1793 declaring that "the time has come for justice to be a priority. It is also time to terrorise and intimidate the conspirators, and therefore it is natural to deal with terrorism as a top priority." The statement ended with the following line, "Let us be in a permanent revolution because the counter-revolution is being hatched everywhere by our enemies. We must let the law hover over the heads of the guilty". This declaration launched the campaign trail that led many to the gallows and prisons.
At the moment, all attention has been focused on the economy, which is certainly an important matter, even though the parameters of the economic vision are unclear, and those that are clear are a topic of controversy and criticism for experts.
In light of the preoccupation with the economy, the security institution remains in control of the fate of mankind and the door of politics remains closed to anyone who is not a fan or loyalist. It is worth noting that the proficiency of a policy is measured by its openness to the opposition, whilst counting solely on loyalists is the first step towards tyranny.
When Field Marshal Al-Sisi was asked for his opinion about the figures and businessmen of the former regime who are pushing their network of interests onto politics his response was that he wanted to pick out the best from each party and did not want to alienate anyone. These are very rational and wise words, but the only problem is that he limits this to economics and it is not applied to politics.
This logic makes for a very difficult equation that is trying to combine economic prosperity and political isolation on the belief that goodness is inherent in those affiliated to the economy and evil stems from the political opposition. Presenting the equation in this formula means that the revolution will continue for a long time and still has many obstacles to face before it achieves its goals.
Link: www.middleeastmonitor.com/articles/africa/11637-demonization-complicates-the-crisis-not-resolves-it.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Child of a Muslim Brotherhood leader jailed after authorities fail to arrest his father
22 May 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
The Egyptian Prosecutor General referred a child of a Muslim Brotherhood leader to a children's court on Wednesday after failing to arrest his father, a London-based newspaper reported.
According to Al-Araby Al-Yawm newspaper, Egyptian security forces broke into the house of MB leader Rafaat Hamed last April to arrest him, but they arrested his 17-years-old son instead after failing to find him.
The prosecutor general referred Hamed's son to a children's court on charges of arming youth protests, which his lawyer dismisses as entirely trumped-up and aimed at pressuring his father, currently at large.
Link: /www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/11643-child-of-a-muslim-brotherhood-leader-jailed-as-authorities-fail-to-arrest-his-father.
Source: Middle East Monitor
The Egyptian Prosecutor General referred a child of a Muslim Brotherhood leader to a children's court on Wednesday after failing to arrest his father, a London-based newspaper reported.
According to Al-Araby Al-Yawm newspaper, Egyptian security forces broke into the house of MB leader Rafaat Hamed last April to arrest him, but they arrested his 17-years-old son instead after failing to find him.
The prosecutor general referred Hamed's son to a children's court on charges of arming youth protests, which his lawyer dismisses as entirely trumped-up and aimed at pressuring his father, currently at large.
Link: /www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/11643-child-of-a-muslim-brotherhood-leader-jailed-as-authorities-fail-to-arrest-his-father.
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Occupation forces damage electricity and water networks in massive Jenin raid
21 May 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
Occupation forces damage electricity and water networks in massive Jenin raidn a massive raid, Israeli occupation forces arrested on Tuesday at dawn a youth from the Jenin refugee camp, injuring a number of citizens who suffered from suffocation. Following the arrest, occupation forces damaged the water and electricity networks, as well as ransacked people's homes and property in city and in the camps, storming the Khalil Suleiman hospital whilst positioning snipers throughout the area.
Security sources and eye witnesses told Sama news agency that occupation forces arrested Qays Mazin Alsadi, a youth aged 22, after storming the Jenin camp with massive military force, with over 40 trucks, live ammunition, metal bullets, tear gas and sound bombs.
The news agency reported that a wide scale attack ensued, with a number of houses stormed and their belongings destroyed, with inhabitants forced into the streets without dressing and taken in for questioning in the east of Jenin. Occupation forces also damaged the water and electricity infrastructure, and the hospital and emergency centre was stormed after tear gas was fired.
Sources added that after storming and destroying the insides of the houses, occupation forces and their units positioned snipers on the rooftops of the houses. Bombs were thrown into a well belonging to Ahmad Khaled Alsadi, a citizen living in the east of Jenin. His belongings were also destroyed, as were those of Ahmad Alsadi, Ahmad Motlak Alsadi, Taiser Bezour, Adly Jarar, Shouqi Altaher and Hamouda Aldeeb.
In the Jenin camp, the homeowners who had their houses stormed and belongings destroyed include: Sheikh Basam Alsadi, Mazen Alsadi, Samih Abu Alsaba, Yahya Alzard and Abdelrahman Fadl.
Clashes between civilians and the occupation forces ensued, with numerous citizens suffering from suffocation due to the tear gas used around the hospital, inside the camp and in the Zahra district of the city.
Link: middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/11618-occupation-forces-damage-electricity-and-water-networks-in-massive-jenin-raid.
Source: Middle East Monitor
Occupation forces damage electricity and water networks in massive Jenin raidn a massive raid, Israeli occupation forces arrested on Tuesday at dawn a youth from the Jenin refugee camp, injuring a number of citizens who suffered from suffocation. Following the arrest, occupation forces damaged the water and electricity networks, as well as ransacked people's homes and property in city and in the camps, storming the Khalil Suleiman hospital whilst positioning snipers throughout the area.
Security sources and eye witnesses told Sama news agency that occupation forces arrested Qays Mazin Alsadi, a youth aged 22, after storming the Jenin camp with massive military force, with over 40 trucks, live ammunition, metal bullets, tear gas and sound bombs.
The news agency reported that a wide scale attack ensued, with a number of houses stormed and their belongings destroyed, with inhabitants forced into the streets without dressing and taken in for questioning in the east of Jenin. Occupation forces also damaged the water and electricity infrastructure, and the hospital and emergency centre was stormed after tear gas was fired.
Sources added that after storming and destroying the insides of the houses, occupation forces and their units positioned snipers on the rooftops of the houses. Bombs were thrown into a well belonging to Ahmad Khaled Alsadi, a citizen living in the east of Jenin. His belongings were also destroyed, as were those of Ahmad Alsadi, Ahmad Motlak Alsadi, Taiser Bezour, Adly Jarar, Shouqi Altaher and Hamouda Aldeeb.
In the Jenin camp, the homeowners who had their houses stormed and belongings destroyed include: Sheikh Basam Alsadi, Mazen Alsadi, Samih Abu Alsaba, Yahya Alzard and Abdelrahman Fadl.
Clashes between civilians and the occupation forces ensued, with numerous citizens suffering from suffocation due to the tear gas used around the hospital, inside the camp and in the Zahra district of the city.
Link: middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/11618-occupation-forces-damage-electricity-and-water-networks-in-massive-jenin-raid.
Libyan exile exposes reality of Egyptian support for 'Libya's coup'
21 May 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
Comments: This article is quoting an individual who is a relative of Ghadafi's and a former member of his (Ghadafi's) regime. It is insightful in that it shows that the pro Ghadafi group is an ally of the Al-Sisi regime. It also shows, indirectly, of the NWO's/ global oligarchy's involvement in the attempts at a coup in Libya. Here is the article:
A Libyan exile has claimed that Khalifah Haftar is making history and restoring dignity to the Libyan Army, even though the government in Tripoli accuses the retired brigadier general of leading a coup attempt. Ahmad Qadhaf Al-Dam , the former coordinator of Egypt-Libya relations under the regime of the late Colonel Mu'ammar Gaddafi, told Libya First TV that Haftar is "resuming" the heroes' jihad. "He is leading the battle with great support from all Libyans and from the children of the Eastern Region, from the displaced in the diaspora, from the supporting sister state Egypt and from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia," he claimed from his home in Egypt.
Gaddafi's cousin said that he expects that "Libya will return to the bosom of its sons and we shall see the second republic, God willing", in light of the "Battle of Dignity" that is led by Haftar. "Thanks to these heroes, we shall soon crush the NATO revolution and all those claiming to be Islamists."
Haftar's forces, which call themselves the "National Libyan Army", are fighting Islamic battalions loyal to the Libyan Army's joint staff. The Libyan authorities describe this fighting as "a coup attempt" whereas Haftar calls it "a response to a call from the Libyan people and the battle of defending the people and protecting the souls of the officers and soldiers of the Libyan Army who have been killed on a daily basis".
Libyan press reports have linked Haftar's moves against the armed Islamists in Libya to what happened in Egypt when the leaders of the army there, supported by popular, political and religious powers, toppled elected President Muhammad Morsi last year.
However, the Foreign Ministry in Cairo has denied that the Egyptian army supported Haftar's forces in the fighting that took place in the city of Benghazi last Friday and Saturday which left 75 dead and 136 wounded. The ministry denounced what it called "attempts inside and outside Libya to embroil Egypt in the current developments there."
It is worth noting that Haftar, together with Al-Dam, led the Libyan battalion which supported Egypt during the 1973 war against Israel and he led most of the major military exercises that took place in the country. He was also awarded the Golden Star, led the Libyan forces in the war with Chad in 1980 and was promoted to the rank of Colonel that same year despite the fact that Libya lost that war under the leadership of Haftar and suffered many losses. It was during that war that Haftar was accused of perpetrating "war crimes" against the people of Chad.
Link: /www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/11622-libyan-exile-exposes-reality-of-egyptian-support-for-libyas-coup.
Source: Middle East Monitor
Comments: This article is quoting an individual who is a relative of Ghadafi's and a former member of his (Ghadafi's) regime. It is insightful in that it shows that the pro Ghadafi group is an ally of the Al-Sisi regime. It also shows, indirectly, of the NWO's/ global oligarchy's involvement in the attempts at a coup in Libya. Here is the article:
A Libyan exile has claimed that Khalifah Haftar is making history and restoring dignity to the Libyan Army, even though the government in Tripoli accuses the retired brigadier general of leading a coup attempt. Ahmad Qadhaf Al-Dam , the former coordinator of Egypt-Libya relations under the regime of the late Colonel Mu'ammar Gaddafi, told Libya First TV that Haftar is "resuming" the heroes' jihad. "He is leading the battle with great support from all Libyans and from the children of the Eastern Region, from the displaced in the diaspora, from the supporting sister state Egypt and from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia," he claimed from his home in Egypt.
Gaddafi's cousin said that he expects that "Libya will return to the bosom of its sons and we shall see the second republic, God willing", in light of the "Battle of Dignity" that is led by Haftar. "Thanks to these heroes, we shall soon crush the NATO revolution and all those claiming to be Islamists."
Haftar's forces, which call themselves the "National Libyan Army", are fighting Islamic battalions loyal to the Libyan Army's joint staff. The Libyan authorities describe this fighting as "a coup attempt" whereas Haftar calls it "a response to a call from the Libyan people and the battle of defending the people and protecting the souls of the officers and soldiers of the Libyan Army who have been killed on a daily basis".
Libyan press reports have linked Haftar's moves against the armed Islamists in Libya to what happened in Egypt when the leaders of the army there, supported by popular, political and religious powers, toppled elected President Muhammad Morsi last year.
However, the Foreign Ministry in Cairo has denied that the Egyptian army supported Haftar's forces in the fighting that took place in the city of Benghazi last Friday and Saturday which left 75 dead and 136 wounded. The ministry denounced what it called "attempts inside and outside Libya to embroil Egypt in the current developments there."
It is worth noting that Haftar, together with Al-Dam, led the Libyan battalion which supported Egypt during the 1973 war against Israel and he led most of the major military exercises that took place in the country. He was also awarded the Golden Star, led the Libyan forces in the war with Chad in 1980 and was promoted to the rank of Colonel that same year despite the fact that Libya lost that war under the leadership of Haftar and suffered many losses. It was during that war that Haftar was accused of perpetrating "war crimes" against the people of Chad.
Link: /www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/11622-libyan-exile-exposes-reality-of-egyptian-support-for-libyas-coup.
Newspaper: Egypt establishing training camps for Libyan rebels
21 May 2014
Source: Middle East Monitor
A source told the Arabi21 newspaper that the Egyptian army has established a training camp to host Libyan rebels affiliated with the leader of the attempted coup, General Khalifa Haftar, and the leader of the National Forces Alliance, former Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, who is currently living in the United Arab Emirates.
In an exclusive report, the newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying that the training camp is located near the Libyan and Egyptian border and hosts more than 5,000 young Libyan fighters who are supporters of General Haftar and opposition leader Mahmoud Jibril.
According to the source, the youth are being trained to move under General Haftar's leadership "to destabilise Libya and use chaos to justify turning against legitimacy and hindering the democratic process".
Clashes erupted in the city of Benghazi on Friday between armed rebels affiliated with General Haftar and militants and Islamists affiliated with the Libyan army in a struggle over control of the city, leaving many dead and wounded, according to the Libyan Ministry of Health. On Sunday, Haftar's militia attempted to seize the national parliament in Tripoli.
Link: //www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/11617-newspaper-egypt-establishing-training-camps-for-libyan-rebels.
Source: Middle East Monitor
A source told the Arabi21 newspaper that the Egyptian army has established a training camp to host Libyan rebels affiliated with the leader of the attempted coup, General Khalifa Haftar, and the leader of the National Forces Alliance, former Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril, who is currently living in the United Arab Emirates.
In an exclusive report, the newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying that the training camp is located near the Libyan and Egyptian border and hosts more than 5,000 young Libyan fighters who are supporters of General Haftar and opposition leader Mahmoud Jibril.
According to the source, the youth are being trained to move under General Haftar's leadership "to destabilise Libya and use chaos to justify turning against legitimacy and hindering the democratic process".
Clashes erupted in the city of Benghazi on Friday between armed rebels affiliated with General Haftar and militants and Islamists affiliated with the Libyan army in a struggle over control of the city, leaving many dead and wounded, according to the Libyan Ministry of Health. On Sunday, Haftar's militia attempted to seize the national parliament in Tripoli.
Link: //www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/11617-newspaper-egypt-establishing-training-camps-for-libyan-rebels.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Five Foods that can treat insomnia and improve sleep
May 19,2014
by Michael Ravensthorpe
Source: Natural News
(NaturalNews) According to the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, nearly 1 in 10 adults in the United States suffers from insomnia. Although most of these people suffer from short-term insomnia, many of them also suffer from chronic insomnia (i.e., difficulty falling or staying asleep for more than six months). Such sleep deprivation can significantly decrease the quality of one's life.
While stress related to work and family remains the number one cause of insomnia, eating the wrong foods -- such as those rich in sugar, caffeine, gluten or polyunsaturated fat -- can also contribute to insomnia. Therefore, improving one's diet is an important first step toward ending insomnia, especially if one favors foods that are known to improve sleep.
Five foods that aid sleep
1.) Almonds -- Almonds are one of the best foods for treating insomnia since they're excellent sources of magnesium, which is a natural muscle relaxant and contains anti-stress properties. A study published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences in December 2012 found that magnesium supplementation could "improve subjective measures of insomnia, such as ISI score, sleep efficiency, sleep time and sleep onset latency, early morning awakening, and likewise, insomnia objective measures, such as concentration of serum renin, melatonin and serum cortisol, in elderly people."
2.) Cherries -- Cherries and cherry products have often been linked to improved sleep. For example, a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition in December 2012 found that volunteers who consumed a tart cherry juice concentrate for seven days demonstrated "significantly elevated" total melatonin content in their urine compared to the control group. Consequently, the study group experienced improved sleep quality and efficiency.
3.) Bananas -- Many people are often surprised to find that bananas can aid sleep, since they're well-known for boosting energy. Nonetheless, bananas are also rich in magnesium, potassium and tryptophan, which are the "magic trio" of sleep boosters. Tryptophan is especially effective in this regard since it is the precursor to the two neurotransmitters, serotonin and melatonin, which modulate sleep.
4.) Valerian -- The root of the valerian plant, which is usually consumed in tea or tincture form, has been used as a sleeping aid since Ancient Greece and Rome. Moreover, its sedative and anxiolytic properties have been proven by numerous studies. For example, a 2011 study published in Menopause found that valerian extracts provided a "statistically significant" improvement in sleep quality among postmenopausal women suffering from insomnia. The study authors concluded that the "findings from this study add support to the reported effectiveness of valerian in the clinical management of insomnia."
5.) Oatmeal -- Although oatmeal is usually associated with breakfast, its nutritional composition -- high in magnesium and potassium -- also makes it a suitable evening food. Even the very nature of oatmeal (warm, soothing and soft) is indicative of sleep and calm. Moreover, oatmeal tends to be mixed with milk, which is one of the best-known relaxation drinks.
Sources for this article include:
http://stanfordhospital.org
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23853635
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22038497
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21775910
http://science.naturalnews.com/Insomnia.html
About the author:
Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website, Spiritfoods, through which he promotes the world's healthiest foods.
by Michael Ravensthorpe
Source: Natural News
(NaturalNews) According to the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine, nearly 1 in 10 adults in the United States suffers from insomnia. Although most of these people suffer from short-term insomnia, many of them also suffer from chronic insomnia (i.e., difficulty falling or staying asleep for more than six months). Such sleep deprivation can significantly decrease the quality of one's life.
While stress related to work and family remains the number one cause of insomnia, eating the wrong foods -- such as those rich in sugar, caffeine, gluten or polyunsaturated fat -- can also contribute to insomnia. Therefore, improving one's diet is an important first step toward ending insomnia, especially if one favors foods that are known to improve sleep.
Five foods that aid sleep
1.) Almonds -- Almonds are one of the best foods for treating insomnia since they're excellent sources of magnesium, which is a natural muscle relaxant and contains anti-stress properties. A study published in the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences in December 2012 found that magnesium supplementation could "improve subjective measures of insomnia, such as ISI score, sleep efficiency, sleep time and sleep onset latency, early morning awakening, and likewise, insomnia objective measures, such as concentration of serum renin, melatonin and serum cortisol, in elderly people."
2.) Cherries -- Cherries and cherry products have often been linked to improved sleep. For example, a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition in December 2012 found that volunteers who consumed a tart cherry juice concentrate for seven days demonstrated "significantly elevated" total melatonin content in their urine compared to the control group. Consequently, the study group experienced improved sleep quality and efficiency.
3.) Bananas -- Many people are often surprised to find that bananas can aid sleep, since they're well-known for boosting energy. Nonetheless, bananas are also rich in magnesium, potassium and tryptophan, which are the "magic trio" of sleep boosters. Tryptophan is especially effective in this regard since it is the precursor to the two neurotransmitters, serotonin and melatonin, which modulate sleep.
4.) Valerian -- The root of the valerian plant, which is usually consumed in tea or tincture form, has been used as a sleeping aid since Ancient Greece and Rome. Moreover, its sedative and anxiolytic properties have been proven by numerous studies. For example, a 2011 study published in Menopause found that valerian extracts provided a "statistically significant" improvement in sleep quality among postmenopausal women suffering from insomnia. The study authors concluded that the "findings from this study add support to the reported effectiveness of valerian in the clinical management of insomnia."
5.) Oatmeal -- Although oatmeal is usually associated with breakfast, its nutritional composition -- high in magnesium and potassium -- also makes it a suitable evening food. Even the very nature of oatmeal (warm, soothing and soft) is indicative of sleep and calm. Moreover, oatmeal tends to be mixed with milk, which is one of the best-known relaxation drinks.
Sources for this article include:
http://stanfordhospital.org
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23853635
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22038497
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21775910
http://science.naturalnews.com/Insomnia.html
About the author:
Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website, Spiritfoods, through which he promotes the world's healthiest foods.
Crimean Tatars head for rally in outskirts of Simferopol
May 18, 2014
Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines
Part of Crimean Tatars plan to hold an unauthorized rally commemorating the victims of the deportation of their people in 1944 near a mosque in the outskirts of Simferopol.
Hundreds of people are heading for the rally carrying flags the family emblem of the dynasty of Crimean khans, an Interfax correspondent reports.
Earlier on Sunday flowers were brought to monuments to the victims of the deportation. People came there in small groups. There were no more than 100 people at a time at the memorial near the railway station in Simferopol.
For More Info: http://rbth.com/news/2014/05/18/crimean_tatars_head_for_rally_in_outskirts_of_simferopol_36734.html.
Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines
Part of Crimean Tatars plan to hold an unauthorized rally commemorating the victims of the deportation of their people in 1944 near a mosque in the outskirts of Simferopol.
Hundreds of people are heading for the rally carrying flags the family emblem of the dynasty of Crimean khans, an Interfax correspondent reports.
Earlier on Sunday flowers were brought to monuments to the victims of the deportation. People came there in small groups. There were no more than 100 people at a time at the memorial near the railway station in Simferopol.
For More Info: http://rbth.com/news/2014/05/18/crimean_tatars_head_for_rally_in_outskirts_of_simferopol_36734.html.
How US, France, Israel Stopped Jonathan
May 19, 2014
Donald Ojogo
Source: Leadership
Last-minute advice from some foreign intelligence services, who are currently part of the efforts to free the over 200 abducted schoolgirls of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, stopped President Jonathan from embarking on the trip to Chibok on Friday. They termed the trip “ill-advised and contemptuous”. LEADERSHIP gathered that the initial plan of the president was to visit Chibok early on Friday before heading for Paris, France, where he is currently attending a security summit.
A Presidency source hinted that the president’s planned trip to the troubled town was against the initial advice of Nigeria’s security and intelligence community.
For More Info: http://leadership.ng/news/371468/us-france-israel-stopped-jonathan.
Donald Ojogo
Source: Leadership
Last-minute advice from some foreign intelligence services, who are currently part of the efforts to free the over 200 abducted schoolgirls of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, stopped President Jonathan from embarking on the trip to Chibok on Friday. They termed the trip “ill-advised and contemptuous”. LEADERSHIP gathered that the initial plan of the president was to visit Chibok early on Friday before heading for Paris, France, where he is currently attending a security summit.
A Presidency source hinted that the president’s planned trip to the troubled town was against the initial advice of Nigeria’s security and intelligence community.
For More Info: http://leadership.ng/news/371468/us-france-israel-stopped-jonathan.
234 girls are 'missing' from Nigerian school attacked last week by Islamic extremists - significantly more than the 85 initially reported by education officials
Almost three times as many schoolgirls as previously thought were seized from an exam hall by violent Islamist extremists, it has been claimed.
A statement by officials had said that 85 girls aged 16-18, who were sitting a physics exam, were kidnapped from the school in Chibok, Nigeria last week.
But today the governor of the region, who visited the town today, said that grief-stricken parents told him officials had ignored them when drawing up the list of 85, and that in fact 234 girls had been taken.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2609709/234-girls-missing-Nigerian-school-attacked-week-Islamic-extremists-significantly-85-initially-reported-education-officials.html#ixzz32FG73Q3V
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Curbing Violence in Nigeria (II): The Boko Haram Insurgency
April 3,2014
International Crisis Group Africa report #216
www.crisisgroup.org.
For more info: http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/west-africa/nigeria/216-curbing-violence-in-nigeria-ii-the-boko-haram-insurgency.pdf.
International Crisis Group Africa report #216
www.crisisgroup.org.
Table of Contents
Executive
Summary .............................................................................................................
...... i
Recommenda
tions................................................................................................................
..... iii
I.
Introduction ..................................................................................................................
... 1
II.
Corruption, Political Violence
and the Weak State .......................................................... 2
A.
Politics, Political Vi
olence, Bad Governance
and Poverty ......................................... 2
B.
Declining Human
Development Resources ............................................................... 4
C.
Growing Alienation and
Radicalisation ..................................................................... 5
III.
The Rise of Bo
ko Haram .................................................................................................. 7
A.
The Muslim Battle of Id
eas in the North ................................................................... 8
B.
The Emergence and Evolutio
n of Boko
Haram ......................................................... 9
1.
Internal disagr
eements ........................................................................................ 9
2.
A dangerous politi
cal tool ..................................................................................... 11
3.
The uprisi
ng .......................................................................................................... 13
IV.
A Rapidly Evolving
Threat ............................................................................................... 14
A.
Revenge, Changing Tactics an
d Terrorist Vi
olence ................................................... 14
B.
Diffuse Organisation
and Leadersh
ip ........................................................................ 18
C.
External Links an
d Networks .................................................................................... 23
D.
From Boko Haram to
Ansaru
.................................................................................... 26
V.
A Complex Co
nflict ...........................................................................................................
30
A.
The Government’s
Response ..................................................................................... 30
1.
Strengthening anti-terro
rism legislation ............................................................. 30
2.
Boosting the capacities of
the military and other
security agencies. ................... 31
3.
Exploring dialogue with
the insurg
ents ............................................................... 33
4.
Military operations and ci
vilian vigila
ntes ........................................................... 34
5.
Contradictory strategi
es and fr
aud ...................................................................... 36
B.
Boko Haram’s Suspicio
n and Divisio
ns ..................................................................... 37
C.
The Civilian Joint
Task Force .................................................................................... 38
D.
The 2015 Elec
tions ..................................................................................................... 39
E.
Impact on the North and Impl
ications for
Nigeria
................................................... 40
VI.
A Way Forward .................................................................................................................
42
A.
Federal Govern
ment .................................................................................................. 42
1.
A far north developm
ent commiss
ion .................................................................. 42
2.
Improved governance and
service deli
very .......................................................... 43
3.
An end to im
punity ............................................................................................... 43
4.
Win hearts an
d minds .......................................................................................... 43
B.
Nigeria’s Part
ners ...................................................................................................... 45
1.
Regional part
ners ................................................................................................. 45
2.
Other partners an
d donors ................................................................................... 46
C.
Addressing Extr
emism .............................................................................................. 47
D.
Local and National
Dialogue ..................................................................................... 47
VII.
Conclusion ....................................................................................................................
.... 49
For more info: http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/africa/west-africa/nigeria/216-curbing-violence-in-nigeria-ii-the-boko-haram-insurgency.pdf.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Faster, larger, further: How the USSR combined the plane and the helicopter
April 28, 2014
Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines
A highly versatile aircraft that requires only a flat space for landing and can transport cargo over long distances, the tiltrotor would appear to be made for Russia. Yet despite decades of development on various projects, the country still has no rival to the U.S. V-22 Osprey.
Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines - http://rbth.com/defence/2014/04/28/faster_larger_further_how_the_ussr_combined_the_plane_and_the_helicop_36279.html?code=4b14ee83c2e50d0834f4f9d033ed1b23)
Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines
A highly versatile aircraft that requires only a flat space for landing and can transport cargo over long distances, the tiltrotor would appear to be made for Russia. Yet despite decades of development on various projects, the country still has no rival to the U.S. V-22 Osprey.
Source: Russia Beyond the Headlines - http://rbth.com/defence/2014/04/28/faster_larger_further_how_the_ussr_combined_the_plane_and_the_helicop_36279.html?code=4b14ee83c2e50d0834f4f9d033ed1b23)
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