North Country is a 2005 movie starring Charlize Theron,  and is based on a true story. She who plays the role of a woman who goes to work in a steel mine where the majority of the workers are men. The male miners think that the women who work there are taking jobs away from the men, and subject most of  them to various forms of harassment, but Charlize Therons character is subject to it all. They defecate in their bathrooms, they fondled and groped the women, and subjected them to humiliating ”pranks”.  Charlize’s character says enough is enough and  launches a landmark class-action sexual harassment suit against the company. If you want to know how it ends, I suggest you rent it, and then think about what some women have been going through working on Vancouver’s docks. It would appear that it’s the same shit, different pile.

The Vancouver Sun ran a shocking story  after obtaining a confidential report regarding the horrific working conditions facing some female workers – longshoremen- on the Vancouver docks. You can read that story HERE: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Women+face+poisoned+workplace+Vancouver+Ports/1798262/story.html

Dating back to 1992, when a report was done that indicated 79% of female workers had been subjected to some form of harassment on the job, including physical battery, teasing, name-calling and silent treatment.

It appears that 17 years later, nothing has changed. And Vince Ready produced the report that the Vancouver Sun details in the link above. Some of the harassment the women have experienced is nothing less than disgusting and juvenile. Men defecating on the floor of the women’s washrooms, fondling,groping, assaults, exposing their genitalia to the women and creating an ” ugly girl” work assignment system. If that is not enough, photo’s were given to Ready of disgusting graffiti left in the women’s bathrooms and in common areas that showed women’s genitalia, swastika’s and ” depictions of extreme violence against the women.”  Some women have been asked by foremen to trade sexual services for more desirable work.

The union and the employer are making noises to address the issues, but it seems to be happening slower than molasses.Both the union and the employer need to act quickly and cut the red tape to implement a safe workplace. And in the meantime, I’m wondering why this has to happen at all.

 While longshoremen jobs have traditionally been held by men because of the sheer physical demands of the job, modernization and mechanization had eliminated much of the brute work, opening the field to women.While I would not want to be given something simply because I am a woman( a female “quota”) , I  do believe  that as long as a woman can physically perform the job, why not?  And regardless of the personal opinions felt  by some towards their female counterparts, such harassment should not be tolerated by both the co-workers or the employer. No one, male or female should by subject to what amounts to criminal behavior on the job.

I’ve got a message for anyone who thinks women should be behind a desk, or washing dishes or worse yet – on their back : Get over it. There is  no room for old-school mentality about women on the docks.  Women have been doing most of the same jobs as men for years, going back to when we took over the jobs men left during the war. You might not like it, but that’s progress  –  and thank God!  We can vote, drive, fly planes and drive rigs – and that’s the way it should be.

I’m Laila Yuile, and this is how I see it.

Depois de quase 30 horas terminou ontem de manhã o mistério sobre o desaparecimento de um funcionário de uma mineradora de Arcos, na Região Centro-Oeste de Minas Gerais. Tiago Teixeira Avelino, de 25 anos, estava enterrado em uma cova rasa na zona rural do município. Segundo a Polícia Militar, o rapaz foi vítima de um latrocínio, roubo seguido de morte.

Após receber uma denúncia anônima, dando conta de que um menor tinha cometido um roubo de carro e que o motorista tinha sido morto e enterrado, a PM começou a realizar várias buscas na região e acabou localizando um adolescente, que confessou a participação no assassinato e ainda entregou dois comparsas. Os três foram levados para a delegacia da cidade, onde o menor apontou o local onde a vítima estava.

Segundo a PM, o adolescente, de 16 anos, Jefferson Calixto Alves e Fabrício Henrique Evangelista, ambos de 19 anos, contaram aos policiais que estavam seguindo a rotina da vítima há algumas semanas.

Por volta das 23h de quarta-feira, Tiago foi abordada em casa, quando colocava o carro (um Golf) na garagem. Armados com um revólver calibre 32, os suspeitos renderam o rapaz e seguiram com ele até uma comunidade rural conhecida como Paineiras. “O objetivo do grupo era roubar o carro do jovem, para trocá-lo por algumas pedras de crack, mas ele resolveu reagir e acabou assassinato por estrangulamento com o uso de uma corda”, disse um policial que participou da prisão dos acusados.

Ainda de acordo com a polícia, após o assassinato, os rapazes disseram que usaram uma pá e uma enxada para cavar a cova rasa. As ferramentas foram encontradas logo após a prisão do grupo, na casa de Jefferson Calixto. Com o suspeito também foi localizado o celular da vítima e a carteira dele, que estava com todos os documentos intactos. Uma faca e o revólver usado no crime também foram achados com os suspeitos.

O material apreendido e os três rapazes foram encaminhados para a delegacia de Arcos. Eles podem responder pelos crimes de homicídio, ocultação de cadáver e formação de quadrilha, cujas penas podem chegar a mais de dez anos de prisão.

Tiago foi enterrado no final da tarde de ontem, em Itaú de Minas, onde nasceu. Pai de uma menina de 3 anos, ele havia se mudado para Arcos para trabalhar na mineradora. Na cidade, ele acabou conhecendo e namorou com a irmã mais velha de Fabrício. No entanto, a mãe do suspeito disse que ele não tinha nenhuma rixa com a vítima e que o crime não poderia ter relação com o fato de Tiago ser ex-namorado da filha dela.

(Don’t let the title fool you)

Judge Belvin Perry, Jr. is the chief judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit. As such, he is Judge Stan Strickland’s superior. Judge Jose Rodriguez’s, too. You remember him. He’s the presiding judge on the Zenaida Gonzalez defamation lawsuit case against Casey. As the Casey Anthony case moves closer to trial, you will most likely be hearing more about him. In March of 2006, I wrote and published an article about one of my experiences while working for an ad agency in Orlando. The following is a reprint of that post with a few minor changes. I still haven’t met Judge Perry, but I hope this gives you an insight into my years in this town, how I have grown as a person, and why I maintain a key awareness and interest in the saga of Caylee Marie Anthony.

In 1989 I was working for Stonebrook Advertising in Orlando. I did a write-up on my quirky boss, Mr. Stone, in October of 2005. One afternoon, he called me into his office. “Dave, come on in here and sit down. This here is Judge Byrd. He’s running for re-election and he needs some artwork done.”

I recognized the gentleman and graciously said hello and shook his hand. I knew right away that he and Mr. Stone were old friends. They both were from the same good ol’ boy mold. Mr. Stone explained to me that Judge Byrd needed flyers printed up, ads for newspapers and bumper stickers for his re-election effort and I was chosen to do the work. Coming from New Jersey, I sort of had minor issues with southern judges and politics in general. Nothing major, really, just a slight amount of apprehension.

We sat there and discussed what kind of strategy would help in his bid to retain his seat. We went over design ideas. Judge Byrd was running against someone I had never heard of until a few weeks before when Belvin Perry announced his candidacy to unseat Judge Byrd in the Osceola County Circuit Judge race. I don’t recall that party affiliation had anything to do with it, but I was immediately rooting for Belvin. I can’t say for sure why, but I just didn’t particularly care all that much for Judge Byrd. Nothing personal, it probably had more to do with the southern thing and an air of privilege.

After going over the plan of attack and some talk of his opponent, Judge Byrd was ready to leave, confident in the knowledge that we would deliver exactly what he needed. As he walked out of Mr. Stone’s office, he proudly exclaimed something that I found quite shocking and highly offensive…

“I’m gonna kick that little black boy’s ass.”

Mr. Stone was all excited. I was flabbergasted. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. I said nothing in return. As a matter of fact, I didn’t respond at all. How could a sitting judge display blatant racism like that? All of a sudden, I had a real problem. Personally, I wanted to do everything I could to help Judge Byrd lose the election, but professionally, I had to do everything in my repertoire of artistic talents to get him re-elected or face losing my job. I was very confused. It was a lose/win, win/lose proposition. I didn’t want him to win, but I had to do my professional best to design winning ads, bumper stickers and flyers. Why me, dear Lord, why me?

I called an attorney friend of mine and told him I really needed to talk about something. We met after work and I explained my moral and professional dilemma.

“My personality is split in half on this, Bill. I don’t want to do it, but I don’t want to lose my job. Since I’m obligated to do it, I’ve got to give it my all as a professional. I have to help get the guy re-elected.”

He was familiar with the judge and pretty much felt the same way. “Boy, Dave, I’ve been an attorney a long time now and that’s a new one on me. That’s a real mess and I don’t envy you at all. If you want my professional advice, you have to do it unless you have another job lined up somewhere and I’m sure you don’t.” He was right, I didn’t.

I went to work on a strategy I thought would benefit Judge Byrd. I set up a slate of ads that would run at certain times throughout the campaign. They had to be laid out in different sizes, too, since all newspapers are not alike. I worked on demographics so I could recommend where I felt mailing the flyers would benefit him the most. And the bumper stickers. Oh, yes, those things. They looked nice, but I cringed when I got behind a car that bore one, and I saw quite a few. I wanted to say, “Hey! That’s my design. Oh, never mind.”

Judge Byrd lost his bid for re-election. It was a bittersweet victory for me, wondering if there was somewhere I went wrong. I’m glad he did and I knew in the end it did not hurt me professionally. There was no blame. Judge Byrd took his loss well. All politicians know one day they will lose an election. Bill asked me how I felt. I told him, very relieved. I wondered if there was something subconscious that held me back from really giving it my all? Oh well, it was over and I was glad.

Judge Belvin Perry has been on the bench since 1989. He has been the Chief Judge of the Ninth Judicial Circuit since 2001 and is well respected in the area. Judge Byrd? I saw him years after that. He remembered me and we had a very nice chat. He went back into private practice. My friend Bill is now a workmen’s compensation judge for the state of Florida, appointed by then governor, Jeb Bush. I always told him what a fine, fine judge he’d make one day and he did. He’s always been a very humble guy.

I like to think that I was partly responsible for Belvin Perry’s win, but then again, I probably wasn’t. In the end, it was the will of the people that unseated Judge Byrd. One thing is certain, Judge Perry never looked back and fortunately, I was never asked to do anything like that again.

x

Fred Bloggs.

Yep, you heard right, i did say Nazi Gnomes, they’ve been in the centre of a investigation in Germany. The Gnomes which were part of a art display in Nurenberg are being investigated because they could be breaking the law by performing the hitler salute, which is illegal in Germany.

But on the other hand, a spokesman from the prosecuters office said: 

“It is also a question of art a bit, it will also depend on what the artist and the owners of the gallery have to say for themselves about the whole thing.”

I would normally say something humerous at this point, but i can’t really come up with anything good enough to top Nazi saluting gnomes.

In 2008, there were over 2000 complaints to the BBB (Better Business Bureau) regarding door-to-door salespeople using fear tactics to sell expensive alarm systems to customers who simply feel duped by high-pressure sales people.  In the current economic environment, burglary is increasing at an alarming rate.   As a result, high-pressure sales people use this information to target vulnerable home-owners to sign up for contracts at very high rates.

In Texas, many civic organizations have started programs which require that door-to-door alarm salespeople are licensed and carry their license cards (with photographs) in order to maintain standards of transparency.  In other parts of the country like Connecticut and Minnesota, there have been numerous complaints of salespeople selling them services and promises verbally, but having them sign contracts which don’t reflect any of the benefits that were verbally discussed.

In order to protect yourself, you should:

• Call the company the salesperson claims to represent.
• Read the contract carefully, and remember the FTC allows 3 business days to cancel a contract if you feel that you have been duped.
• Make sure all verbal promises are included in the contract.
• Understand the term of the contract and all monthly maintenance.

Remember, if you feel any pressure or doubt, DON”T SIGN.   Make sure you feel comfortable before agreeing to a long-term contract.  There are many ethical businesses that will be willing to take on your business… don’t feel pressured to support the unethical ones.

For the most part, I have stopped even sharing these, but this one is too funny. My message to those of you who have helpful hearts – any time a person who doesn’t know you, wants to share a fortune with you, and who requests:

“also i will like you to send all your bank informations where the fund will be transfered and your internatinal passport or driving licence and also send your photograph”

DON’T DO IT! IT’S A SCAM!

Hello and Greetings to you…

Yours sincerely,
PRINCESS JANNIFA OUADRAOGO.

The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office announced the arrests of almost two dozen people ranging in age from 14 to 67 for sharing child pornography online.  While one story indicated that this was a fourth degree crime, it is actually a second degree crime.  Thus, I predict that most, if not all of these defendants will plea out to a three or five year sentence,  assuming they have no prior record.

Of course, if any of them actually retains a good attorney, they could avoid prison but it won’t be easy.  Most of these cases never go to trial for a number of reasons, with the primary reason being that most defendants admit to the crime and the secondary reason being attorneys that don’t know anything about these cases and how to defend them. 

According to the prosecutor’s office, those arrested and charged with possession of child pornography are:

Jordan Winczuk, 24, an unemployed single male, of the 100 block of W. Holly Avenue, Oaklyn. He is also charged with distribution, the prosecutor said.

Michael Connelly, 51, a married police dispatcher, of the 1300 block of Elm Avenue in Haddon Township. He is also charged with distribution.

Samuel Sanders IV, 18, a single student, of the first block of Jasmine Lane, Gloucester Township.

James Patry, 46, a married truck driver, of the 100 block of New Brooklyn Road, Winslow. He is also charged with distribution.

David Bellocchio, 38, a single convenience store supervisor, of the first block of Constitution Blvd., Berlin Borough. He is also charged with distribution.

Clarence Pribus, 67, a married and retiree, of the 2100 block of Carriage Lane, Waterford.

Tim Schiffman, 27, a single military employee, of the 200 block of Barberry Lane, Haddonfield.

George C. Walter, 61, a married retiree, of the 100 block of Valley Place, Cherry Hill.

Jonathan Carpenter, 25, a single car salesman, of the first block of Royal Court, Voorhees. Car salesman, single.

Keith Jackson, 19, a single student, of the first block of Southgate Drive, Voorhees.

Jose Suarez, 30, a single port worker, of the 700 block of River Road, Camden. He is also charged with distribution.

Keenan Bain, 25, a single materials handler, of the 400 block of Carl Miller Blvd., Camden. He is also charged with distribution.

A warrant has also been issued for Walter Taylor III, 25, of the 1200 block of Lakeshore Drive, Camden. Unknown profession, single.

Story including names is here. More detailed story is here.

Ich habe schon mal eine Liste zum Thema Literaturtipps geschrieben. Inzwischen hat sich in meinem Regal ja einiges getan und ich möchte diese Liste nun aktualisieren, in der Hoffnung, dass es euch weiterhilft (ja, ich habe gerade viel zu viel Energie ^^).

Der Weg des Künstlers. Ein spiritueller Pfad zur Aktivierung unserer Kreativität von Julia Cameron

Taschenbuch: 352 Seiten
Verlag: Droemer Knaur (11. Februar 2000)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3426870231
ISBN-13: 978-3426870235

Wer eine Künstlerin oder ein Künstlerin sein will (und wir AutorInnen gehören dazu) können mit diesem Buch anfangen und  den/die innereN KünstlerIn wachrufen. Denn häufig ist das wichtiger als alles andere. Denn wer sich wie ein Niemand fühlt, kann auch nur das erreichen.

Den Weg des Künstlers weitergehen: Neugierig, wach und kreativ sein von Julia Cameron

Taschenbuch: 400 Seiten
Verlag: Droemer/Knaur (1. April 2006)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3426872773
ISBN-13: 978-3426872772

Der Titel sagt alles, wenn man den Weg gefunden hat, muss man ihn weitergehen. Und man kann sagen, alle Bücher von Julia Cameron sind ihr Geld wert. Man muss nur mit ihnen arbeiten. Und da hackt es ja bei vielen.

Von der Kunst des Schreibens: Und der spielerischen Freude, die Worte fließen zu lassen von Julia Cameron

Taschenbuch: 332 Seiten
Verlag: Droemer Knaur (1. Oktober 2003)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3426871955
ISBN-13: 978-3426871959

In diesem Buch geht es nicht, wie schreibe ich einen guten Roman, sondern eher darum, wie bleibe ich schön kreativ. Es gibt Beiträge der Autorin zu diversen Themen und dann Übungen die man machen kann (und ich persönlich empfehle sie). Man kann dieses Buch am Anfang lesen, sprich, vor den beiden oben genannten Büchern oder eben auch als Drittes. Aber jeder Person die schreibt, lege ich wirklich dieses Buch ans Herz. Denn es ist in meinen Augen sehr wertvoll.

Was wäre, wenn… (What if?): Kreative Schreibübungen für Schriftsteller von Anne Bernays, Pamela Painter

Taschenbuch: 240 Seiten
Verlag: Alexander Verlag Berlin; Auflage: 1. Aufl. (Oktober 2002)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3895810827
ISBN-13: 978-3895810824

Hier beschreiben die Autorinnen viele Übungen, die man machen kann, um quasi fit zu bleiben im Bezug aufs schreiben und im Bezug auf die eigene Kreativität. Auch Beispiele der SchülerInnen der beiden gibt es, damit man sehen kann, wie es gehen könnte und auch Berichte zu dem Thema, warum man es machen sollte.

Der Grund, warum ich solche Übungsbücher empfehle ist einfach: Viele Menschen schreiben einfach drauf los, sind sich aber nicht bewusst, welche Macht Worte haben können. Oder wie sie eine Szene besser schreiben und mehr aus ihr herausholen können. Wenn sie aber solche Übungen machen und idealerweise noch mit anderen Menschen darüber reden können, wird ihr Talent gefördert und sie schaffen mehr, als in der Vergangenheit. Davon bin ich überzeugt. Man kann nicht nur mit Farben oder Formen spielen, sondern auch mit Worten.

Kleiner Autoren-Workshop von Ursula K. Le Guin

Broschiert: 208 Seiten
Verlag: Autorenhaus; Auflage: 1 (30. August 2007)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3866710070
ISBN-13: 978-3866710078

Wer “Erdsee” kennt, kennt die Autorin. Hier geht es aber nicht um die klassichen Übungen, wie man einen Roman schreibt, sondern eher darum, wie man die Worte besser verwendet, die man irgendwann mal gelernt hat. Adjektive, Verben und all diese Dinge. Hier gibt es Übungen für Leute, die gerne alleine schreiben und Gruppen.

Und auch hier gilt, wer die Worte unter “Kontrolle” hat und nicht von ihnen kontrolliert wird, kann mehr mit ihnen machen

Wer die Grundlagen beherrscht, kann sich ran machen ans schreiben. Hier kommen nun Bücher zum Thema, wie schreibe ich jetzt einen ganzen Roman. Hinweis, die meisten “How to …” Bücher drehen sich um Krimis. Meistens kann man deren Ratschläge auch auf die anderen Bücher (Liebesroman, Schience Fiction und Co.) umsetzen.

Crime, Krimi und Thriller schreiben von Larry Beinhart

Verlag: Autorenhaus; Auflage: 1 (1. Oktober 2003)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 393290950X
ISBN-13: 978-3932909504

Diesen Herren hatte ich schon mal in einem Beitrag erwähnt Er geht hier recht locker an die ganze Angelegenheit heran und macht aus dem ganzen Schreiben keine komplexe Wissenschaft sondern zu einem Erlebnis das alle von uns erleben können. Für ihn gilt: Übung macht den Meister (und natürlich auch die Meisterin) und vor allem hat er sich selber auf Autodidaktische Art und Weise das Schreiben beigebracht. Man muss eben nicht für alles einen Kurs belegen. Sehr sympathisch

Bird by Bird – Wort für Wort. Anleitungen zum Schreiben und Leben als Schriftsteller von Anne Lamott

Taschenbuch: 250 Seiten
Verlag: Autorenhaus; Auflage: 1 (10. Januar 2004)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3932909445
ISBN-13: 978-3932909443

Auch hier geht es noch nicht darum, wie man den Roman schreibt, sondern alles drum herum. Wann man am besten anfängt, was man dabei beachten sollte und vieles mehr. Es geht eher um das Leben einer Autorin als um das direkte schreiben. Aber trotzdem schön. Auch hier kann man eine Menge mitnehmen.

Creative Writing. Romane und Kurzgeschichten schreiben von Raymond Carver

Taschenbuch: 326 Seiten
Verlag: Autorenhaus Verlag; Auflage: 1 (Mai 2004)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3932909488
ISBN-13: 978-3932909481

Hier geht es dann endlich los. Wie schreibe ich einen Roman. Es gibt Berichte aus der Schule wo die verschiedenen AutorInnen arbeiten und dann auch Übungen, Anregungen und vieles mehr. Eines der besseren Bücher wie ich finde.

In diesem Buch wird das Schreiben einer Geschichte oder auch eines Romans mit Hilfe einer Kurzgeschichte, welche man am Ende des Buches findet erklärt. Da verschieden AutorInnen die Beiträge geschrieben haben, kommen natürlich auch verschieden Ansichten zu tragen. Nicht immer vom Vorteil, aber auch nicht immer ein Nachteil.

Über das Schreiben von Sol Stein

Gebundene Ausgabe: 429 Seiten
Verlag: ZWEITAUSENDEINS; Auflage: 10., Aufl. (2001)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3861502267
ISBN-13: 978-3861502265

Sol Stein kennt beide Seiten, die eines Verlegers und die eines Autors und von beiden Seiten kann man hier profitieren. Der Autor gibt keine Übungen vor, sondern erklärt, wie man etwas machen kann. So erschafft man einen Charakter, dass sollte man beachten, wenn man etwas schreibt und so weiter und so fort. Sol Stein schreibt in meinen Augen auf einem höheren Niveau als es viele andere wohl jemals schaffen werden und trotzdem kann man ihm folgen.

Ein entscheidener Vorteil dieses Buches ist es, wenn man dieses hat, spart man sich ein zweites Band zum Thema, wie schreibe ich ein Sachbuch (oder Zeitungsartikel). Denn Herrn Stein ist auch dieses Thema sehr wichtig und hat dementsprechend Kapitel eingefügt um auch solchen InteressentInnen zu helfen. Zwei Bücher in einem also

Fiktionales Schreiben: Kreativität steigern, Schreiben verbessern, Geschichten entwickeln von Ron Kellermann

Gebundene Ausgabe: 240 Seiten
Verlag: Emons (31. Oktober 2006)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3897054612
ISBN-13: 978-3897054615

Dieses Buch hat genauso viele Stärken wie Schwächen. Einerseits gibt es wertvolle Tipps, wie man die Grundlagen einer Geschichte aufbaut, welche Fragen man stellen und beantworten soll und wie man Charaktere erfindet und so weiter und so fort. Sogar ein Expose wird endlich mal geliefert, weil viele Leute Texte schreiben können, aber mit dem Expose ihre Schwierigkeiten haben (und ich gebe zu, ich verstehe nicht, wieso Menschen sagen, wer es nicht schafft ein Expose zu schreiben, die Finger von einem Roman lassen sollen, was hat das eine mit dem anderen zu tun?).

Was ich aber nicht verstehe, warum gibt der Autor Tipps, wie man eine Idee umschreiben um eine Geschichte daraus zu machen und am Ende sagt er, man solle das nicht tun, weil man sich so Ärger ersparen kann? In meinen Augen empfinde ich das umschreiben einer fremden Idee eher als Zeitverschwendung. Gerade dann, wenn man es nicht machen soll, um sich unnötigen Ärger zu ersparen. In dem Sinne, wers machen will, solls machen. Ich finde es wichtiger, eigene kreative Gedanken zu Blatt Papier zu bringen. Aber das ist wohl Ansichtssache.

Wort für Wort oder Die Kunst, ein gutes Buch zu schreiben von Elizabeth George

Taschenbuch: 350 Seiten
Verlag: Goldmann (9. April 2008)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3442416647
ISBN-13: 978-3442416646

Laut der LeserInnenkritik hat die Qualität ihrer Lynley/Havers Romane abgenommen, aber dieses Buch erklärt bodenständig, wie man einen ordentlichen Roman schreibt. Nur ein wenig Ordnung hätte die gute da rein bringen können. Nach Kapitelaufbau sollte man nicht arbeiten, denn das ist alles chaotisch.

Ich muss zugeben, dass Buch ist es gewesen, welche meinen Sinn für gute Romane so richtig versaut hat. Was meine ich damit? Frau George steht für gute, dreidiemensionale Figuren. Und in diesem Buch reitet sie besonders auf diesem Thema herum, als ob es kein morgen gäbe. Auch die innere Stimme spielt hier eine Rolle. Und ich muss zugeben, nach diesem Buch kann ich keine Bücher mehr lesen, die oberflächliche Charaktere haben. Außerdem versuche ich es bei meinen Figuren zu vermeiden, dass sie sich in diese Richtung entwickeln. Ich hoffe, dass es mir gelingt.

Wie man einen verdammt guten Roman schreibt, Bd.1 von James N. Frey

Gebundene Ausgabe: 200 Seiten
Verlag: Emons; Auflage: 1 (Juni 1997)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3924491321
ISBN-13: 978-3924491321

Wie man liest, es gibt ein zweites Band noch dazu für die Fortgeschrittenen unter uns (zu denen ich mich noch nicht zähle). Aber sonst erklärt der Autor auf nette weise, wie man ein komerziell erfolgreiches (aber nicht unbedingt individuelles) Werk schreiben kann, was man dann auch verkaufen (also wofür man einen Verlag bekommen) kann. Mich hat es nicht überzeugt und flog inzwischen raus.

Denn ich sehe das ganze so, man kann natürlich kommerziell erfolgreiche Romane schreiben, wenn man davon überzeugt ist. Aber ich glaube, dass die individuellen Romane die Zeit überleben werden. Meine Empfehlung daher, schreibt individuelle Romane die ihr selber lesen wollt. Das macht auf Dauer mehr Sinn, auch wenn man für diese Babys mehr kämpfen muss

Literarisches Schreiben: Starke Charaktere – Originelle Ideen – Überzeugende Handlung von Lajos Egri

Gebundene Ausgabe: 208 Seiten
Verlag: Autorenhaus (Januar 2002)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3932909682
ISBN-13: 978-3932909689

Ganz ehrlich? Worum dreht es sich bei diesem Buch? Ich habe es nicht verstanden und mir ging es so sehr auf die Nerven, dass es gleich nach dem lesen, rausflog (zum ersten Mal übrigens, dass es so schnell ging). Tut mir Leid ich kann es nicht empfehlen.

Plot (Elements of Fiction Writing) von Ansen Dibell

Taschenbuch: 176 Seiten
Verlag: Writers Digest (August 1999)
Sprache: Englisch
ISBN-10: 0898799465
ISBN-13: 978-0898799460

Die Autorin erklärthier, wie man einen vernünftigen Plot schreibt. Und das besondere an dieser Reihe, es geht nur um dieses eine Thema. Wer damit Probs hat oder Anregungen sucht, kann sich nur dieses Buch holen und wird mit allen anderen Sachen (wie Charadesign und so weiter) in Ruhe gelassen. Perfekt

Elements of Writing Fiction – Scene & Structure (Elements of Fiction Writing) von Jack Bickham

Taschenbuch: 168 Seiten
Verlag: Writers Digest; Auflage: Pbk. (Oktober 1999)
Sprache: Englisch
ISBN-10: 0898799066
ISBN-13: 978-0898799064

Hier geht es zwar um die einzelne Szene, aber es ist leicht, die ganzen Übungen auch auf das ganze Buch anzuwenden. Sehr gut geschrieben. Da sieht man was Können ist

Description (Elements of Fiction Writing) von Monica Wood

Taschenbuch: 176 Seiten
Verlag: Writers Digest; Auflage: New Ed (25. Mai 2000)
Sprache: Englisch
ISBN-10: 0898799082
ISBN-13: 978-0898799088

Ihr werde öfters mit dem Spruch konfrontiert, nicht beschreiben zeigen, dass ist wohl das Buch dazu (auch noch nicht gelesen).

Elements of Writing Fiction – Characters & Viewpoint (Elements of Fiction Writing) von Orson Scott Card

Taschenbuch: 182 Seiten
Verlag: Writers Digest; Auflage: New edition (1. Oktober 1999)
Sprache: Englisch
ISBN-10: 0898799279
ISBN-13: 978-0898799279

Auch wenn das bei vielen BestsellerautorInnen scheinbar noch nicht richtig angekommen ist, aber ein Charakter ist nicht nur Aussehen. Sie oder er ist auch Innenleben, Netzwerk, Gefühle, Hoffnungen, Ängste, etc. Das Buch geht nicht nur darauf ein, wie man einen Charakter leben einhaucht, sondern auch, aus welcher Perspektive man schreiben kann (mit Hilfe von Zeichnungen wird es noch genauer erklärt). Topp, wie alle Bücher aus dieser Reihe (nun gut, so gut wie ^^).

Tarot for Writers von Corrine Kenner

Taschenbuch: 384 Seiten
Verlag: Llewellyn Pub (1. März 2009)
Sprache: Englisch
ISBN-10: 0738714577
ISBN-13: 978-0738714578

Hat jetzt jemand erwartet, dass ich dieses Buch etwa nicht empfehle? Es enthält alles wichtige, was man braucht um eine Geschichte zu schreiben. Und das mit Hilfe der Tarotkarten. Dadurch hat sich mein Roman und die dazugehörigen Charaktere um Lichtjahre verbessert. Wer eine Affinität zu den Tarotkarten hat und englisch kann, sollte dieses Buch nicht verpassen.

Bullies, Bastards & Bitches: How to Write the Bad Guys of Fiction von Jessica Page Morrell

Taschenbuch: 304 Seiten
Verlag: Writers Digest (29. August 2008)
Sprache: Englisch
ISBN-10: 1582974845
ISBN-13: 978-1582974842

Die netten Charakter, die HeldInnen kriegt man ja noch hin. Sie müssen einfach positiv sein. Aber was mache ich mit den GegnerInnen. Wie kriegt man das hin, dass die nicht einfach platt mies drauf sind, sondern echte EndgegnerInnen werden? Das Buch erklärt nicht nur, wie man fiese GegnerInnen schafft, sondern auch AntiheldInnen, die auf der “guten” Seite sind. Der Aufbau des Buches ist sehr sympathisch.

Liebesromane schreiben von Angeline Bauer

Taschenbuch: 128 Seiten
Verlag: Autorenhaus; Auflage: 1 (1. Januar 2004)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3932909666
ISBN-13: 978-3932909665

Der Titel sagt doch schon alles, oder? Es war ein Zufallskauf und sooo schlecht finde ich den nicht, immerhin haben wir Deutschen noch keine Erfahrung im Bezug auf gelerntes Schreiben. Aber es geht hier eher um das entsprechende Fachthema und nicht um die Grundlagen.

Dabei geht sie auch auf Kinder- und Jugendbücher ein, bietet Strichlisten, mit denen man arbeiten kann und einen kurzen Einstieg in, wie schreibe ich bessere Texte und wie lasse ich mich inspirieren. Ich hätte es schöner gefunden, wenn die Autorin sich komplett auf das Thema Liebesroman konzentriert hätte. Aber nun gut, wie können ja nicht alles haben

Erotik schreiben. Mit anregenden Beispielen aus der modernen Literatur von Elizabeth Benedict

Gebundene Ausgabe: 240 Seiten
Verlag: Autorenhaus (Juni 2002)
Sprache: Deutsch
ISBN-10: 3932909674
ISBN-13: 978-3932909672

Man sollte unterscheiden zwischen pornographische und erotische Texte und Benedict schreibt klar über erotische, schönen Texte. Aber auch hier geht es eher um ein Sonderbereich des Schreibens, nicht um die Kunst des Schreibens selber (was der Verlag wohl nicht ganz verstanden hat, denn sie schreiben, wie man einen erotischen Roman schreibt und dazu gehört doch mehr als nur eine Szene auszuarbeiten).

Ansonsten finde ich das Buch sehr gut, weil es hilft, dass man keine falschen Vorstellungen von erotischen Texten hat. Und vor allem ist es auch gut für Themen wie HIV und ähnlichem.

Hier ist also die neue Liste und wer diese mit der alten vergleicht sieht, die Texte wurden an einigen Stellen ergänzt und überarbeitet und einige Bücher sind neu hinzugekommen. In diesem Sinne, viel Spaß

Après le sommet du G8 en Italie, le président états-unien Barack Obama s’est envolé pour l’Afrique avec un prétendu cadeau : une enveloppe de 20 milliards de dollars à distribuer sur 3 ans, afin que les « généreux » donateurs des pays riches « aident » à réduire la faim dans le monde. Alors que la promesse d’éradiquer la faim est faite régulièrement depuis 1970, l’Organisation des Nations unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture (FAO) a publié un rapport le mois dernier indiquant que le nombre de personnes sous-alimentées a passé le cap du milliard, soit 100 millions de plus durant l’année écoulée. Au même moment, le Programme alimentaire mondial des Nations unies (PAM) tirait la sonnette d’alarme et annonçait qu’il devait réduire les rations distribuées au Rwanda, en Ouganda, en Éthiopie, en Corée du Nord et au Kenya (pays d’origine de la famille paternelle d’Obama), principalement en raison de la réduction de la contribution des États-Unis, son principal bailleur de fonds [1].

Au-delà d’un effet d’annonce de la part du président Obama, qui vient s’ajouter à une longue liste de vœux pieux n’ayant permis en rien d’améliorer la situation à l’heure actuelle, il convient de rappeler que le montant de l’aide de 20 milliards sur 3 ans représente moins de 2 % de ce que les États-Unis ont dépensé en 2008-2009 pour sauver les banquiers et les assureurs responsables de la crise.

Ainsi, après avoir tendu la main aux « amis musulmans » lors du discours du Caire (tout en continuant en coulisse de déstabiliser la région du Moyen-Orient) [2], après avoir tendu la main aux « amis russes » (tout en gardant ses positions sur le bouclier anti-missiles en Europe de l’Est), Obama tend la main aux « amis africains » (tout en gardant sa casquette néocoloniale bien vissée sur la tête) [3].

Quand Obama déresponsabilise les pays riches

La longue allocution d’Obama à Accra, au Ghana [4], fait suite à une série de rencontres avec ses homologues étrangers. Sous le prétexte de refonder les relations états-uniennes vis-à-vis du reste du monde, Obama a encore une fois excellé dans l’art de prôner l’ouverture et le changement, tout en continuant d’appliquer les funestes politiques de ses prédécesseurs [5].

Dès le début, il déclare qu’il « revient aux Africains de décider de l’avenir de l’Afrique ». Pourtant, alors que cette déclaration frappée du sceau du bon sens met tout le monde d’accord, ce n’est toujours pas le cas dans la réalité, et l’action des pays du G8 est déterminante depuis un demi-siècle pour priver les peuples africains de leur souveraineté. Obama n’oublie pas de rappeler qu’il possède « du sang africain dans les veines », comme si cela donnait automatiquement plus de force et de légitimité à son discours. En tout cas, le message est clairement posé : le colonialisme dont leurs ancêtres ont été les victimes ne doit pas constituer une excuse pour les Africains. Il y a là de fortes similitudes avec le discours que le président français Nicolas Sarkozy avait prononcé à Dakar quelques mois après son élection [6], discours qui avait soulevé une vague de protestations méritées à laquelle Obama semble miraculeusement échapper pour l’instant… Mais nous comptons bien réparer cette injustice !

Très vite, Obama déresponsabilise l’Occident sur l’état actuel du développement du continent. En déclarant que « le développement dépend de la bonne gouvernance » et que « c’est une responsabilité dont seuls les Africains peuvent s’acquitter », il part du faux constat que la pauvreté qui règne en Afrique est principalement due à la mauvaise gouvernance et aux libres choix des dirigeants africains. En somme, c’est la faute des Africains. Rien de plus erroné !

Avec des affirmations comme « l’Occident n’est pas responsable de la destruction de l’économie zimbabwéenne au cours des dix dernières années, ni des guerres où des enfants sont enrôlés comme soldats », le président Obama occulte le rôle central des pays riches dans l’évolution de l’Afrique. Et notamment celui des institutions financières internationales, FMI et Banque mondiale en tête, ces puissants outils de domination des grandes puissances qui organisent la soumission des peuples du Sud. Cela se fait par l’intermédiaire de politiques d’ajustement structurel (abandon des subventions aux produits de première nécessité, réduction drastique des dépenses publiques, privatisation d’entreprises publiques, libéralisation des marchés, etc.) qui empêchent la satisfaction des besoins fondamentaux, répandent une misère galopante, accroissent les inégalités et rendent possibles les pires horreurs.

Quand Obama compare l’incomparable

Pour appuyer ses dires, Obama compare l’Afrique à la Corée du Sud. Il a d’abord expliqué qu’il y a cinquante ans, quand son père a quitté Nairobi pour étudier aux États-Unis, le Kenya avait un PNB par habitant supérieur à celui de la Corée du Sud, avant d’ajouter : « On a parlé d’héritage du colonialisme et d’autres politiques mises en place par les pays riches. Sans vouloir minimiser ce facteur, mon propos est de dire que la Corée du Sud, en travaillant avec le secteur privé et la société civile, a réussi à mettre en place des institutions qui ont garanti la transparence et la responsabilité. » Tous ceux qui lisent attentivement nos publications n’ont pas manqué de s’étrangler !

Car la prétendue réussite économique de la Corée du Sud5 s’est faite à l’encontre des recommandations imposées par la Banque mondiale à la plupart des autres pays en développement. Après la Seconde Guerre mondiale et jusqu’en 1961, la dictature militaire au pouvoir en Corée du Sud a bénéficié de dons importants de la part des États-Unis pour un montant de 3,1 milliards de dollars. C’est plus que l’ensemble des prêts de la Banque mondiale aux autres pays du tiers-monde pendant la même période ! Grâce à ces dons, la Corée du Sud n’a pas eu à s’endetter pendant 17 ans (1945-1961). Les emprunts extérieurs ne deviendront importants qu’à partir de la fin des années 1970, une fois l’industrialisation de la Corée bien avancée.

Tout a donc commencé en Corée par une dictature à la poigne de fer qui a appliqué une politique étatiste et très protectionniste. Cette dictature a été mise en place par Washington à l’issue de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. L’État a imposé une réforme agraire radicale où les grands propriétaires terriens japonais furent expropriés sans indemnisations. Les paysans sont devenus propriétaires de petites parcelles de terres (équivalentes à 3 hectares maximum par famille) et l’État a mis la main sur le surplus agricole, autrefois empoché par les propriétaires japonais quand la Corée était une colonie nipponne. La réforme agraire a soumis les paysans à de fortes contraintes. L’État fixait les prix et les quotas de production, ne permettant pas le libre jeu des forces du marché.

Entre 1961 et 1979, la dictature militaire de Park Chung Hee fut soutenue par la Banque mondiale, bien que la Corée se refuse à suivre son modèle de développement. À ce moment, l’État planifiait d’une main de fer le développement économique du pays. La continuité de l’adoption de politique d’industrialisation par substitution d’importation et la surexploitation de la classe ouvrière sont deux des ingrédients de la réussite économique du pays. La dictature de Chun Doo Hwan (1980-1987) sera de même soutenue par la Banque mondiale, même si ses recommandations n’étaient toujours pas suivies (notamment concernant la restructuration du secteur automobile).

Ainsi, quand Barack Obama déclare que « la Corée du Sud, en travaillant avec le secteur privé et la société civile, a réussi à mettre en place des institutions qui ont garanti la transparence et la responsabilité », il omet de dire que le secteur privé était clairement orienté par l’État et que la dictature coréenne « dialoguait » avec la société civile à la force du fusil et du canon : l’histoire de la Corée du Sud de 1945 au début des années 1980 est jalonnée de massacres et de répressions brutales.

Il est également important de rafraîchir la mémoire de Barack Obama qui se réfère à l’exemple du Zimbabwe pour illustrer l’échec des Africains et à celui de la Corée du Sud comme modèle. L’année de l’accession du Zimbabwe à l’indépendance (1980) a été marquée par des soulèvements populaires contre la dictature militaire en Corée du Sud. Ils ont été réprimés dans le sang, plus de 500 civils ont été tués par les militaires avec le soutien de Washington. À cette époque, et ce depuis 1945, les forces armées sud-coréennes étaient placées sous le commandement conjoint américano-coréen, lui-même sous le contrôle du commandant en chef des forces des États-Unis en Corée du Sud. Les massacres perpétrés par l’armée sud-coréenne au mois de mai 1980 furent complétés par une répression de masse dans les mois qui suivirent. Selon un rapport officiel daté du 9 février 1981, plus de 57 000 personnes ont été arrêtées à l’occasion de la « Campagne de purification sociale » engagée depuis l’été 1980. Près de 39 000 d’entre elles ont été envoyées dans des camps militaires pour une « rééducation physique et psychologique ». En février 1981, le dictateur Chun Doo Hwan fut reçu à la Maison-Blanche par le nouveau président des États-Unis, Ronald Reagan. Est-ce cet exemple qu’Obama veut offrir au peuple du Zimbabwe et des autres pays d’Afrique ?

La position géostratégique de la Corée fut un de ses atouts majeurs jusqu’à la fin des années 1980, lui permettant de ne pas tomber sous la coupe du FMI et de la Banque mondiale. Mais dans les années 1990, la situation géopolitique fut bouleversée suite à l’effondrement du bloc soviétique. Washington changea progressivement d’attitude envers les dictatures alliées et accepta de soutenir des gouvernements civils. Entre 1945 et 1992, la Corée du Sud a été sous régime militaire avec la bénédiction de Washington. Le premier opposant civil élu à la présidence lors d’une élection ouverte est Kim Youngsam, qui acceptait le Consensus de Washington et mit en place un agenda clairement néolibéral (suppression des barrières douanières, privatisations à la chaîne, libéralisation des mouvements des capitaux), ce qui plongea la Corée du Sud dans la crise économique du sud-est asiatique en 1997-1998. Entre temps, la Corée du Sud avait pu réaliser une industrialisation que les pays riches ont refusée à l’Afrique. On comprend alors combien l’exemple de la Corée du Sud est loin d’être convaincant et reproductible.

De surcroît, la pauvreté en ressources naturelles a paradoxalement favorisé le développement de la Corée du Sud car le pays a évité la convoitise des sociétés transnationales. Les Ėtats-Unis considéraient la Corée comme une zone stratégique du point de vue militaire face au bloc de l’URSS, pas comme une source cruciale d’approvisionnement (comme le Nigeria, l’Angola ou le Congo-Kinshasa). Si la Corée avait été dotée de fortes réserves de pétrole ou d’autres matières premières stratégiques, elle n’aurait pas bénéficié de la part de Washington de la même marge de manœuvre pour se doter d’un puissant appareil industriel. Les États-Unis ne sont pas prêts à favoriser délibérément l’émergence de concurrents puissants dotés à la fois de grandes réserves naturelles et d’industries diversifiées.

Quand Obama exonère le capitalisme de ses fautes

À propos de la crise mondiale actuelle, Obama dénonce « les actions irresponsables de quelques-uns [qui] ont engendré une récession qui a balayé le globe ». Ainsi, il laisse penser que cette crise est due à l’irresponsabilité d’une poignée d’individus dont les excès auraient plongé le monde dans la récession. De la sorte, il éclipse la responsabilité de ceux qui ont imposé la déréglementation financière depuis presque trente ans, États-Unis en tête. Il serait plus exact de souligner le modèle de développement capitaliste productiviste, imposé aux forceps par les pays du Nord, comme étant la source des multiples crises actuelles qui, loin d’être seulement économiques, sont aussi d’ordre alimentaire, migratoire, social, environnemental et climatique.

Toutes ces crises ont pour origine des décisions prises par les gouvernements impérialistes du Nord, et principalement celui des États-Unis qui, contrôlant à la fois le FMI et la Banque mondiale, imposent des conditionnalités favorables à leurs intérêts et à ceux de leurs grandes entreprises. Depuis « l’indépendance » des pays africains, au virage des années 1960 pour la plupart, le FMI et la Banque mondiale agissent telles des chevaux de Troie pour favoriser l’appropriation des richesses naturelles du Sud et défendre l’intérêt des créanciers. En soutenant des dictatures aux quatre coins du monde (Mobutu au Zaïre, Suharto en Indonésie, Pinochet au Chili et tant d’autres), puis en faisant appliquer des politiques antisociales rigoureuses, les gouvernements occidentaux successifs n’ont jamais permis que soient garantis les droits humains fondamentaux de par le monde. Les expressions « droit à l’autodétermination », « démocratie », « droits économiques et politiques » ne sont pas des réalités en Afrique, contrairement au poids écrasant du service de la dette et aux complaintes des affamés.

À quand l’émancipation de l’Afrique ?

L’Afrique a été brisée par le système dévastateur de la traite des esclaves dans le cadre du commerce international triangulaire instauré par l’Europe et ses colons aux Amériques du 17e au 19e siècle. Puis elle a été mise totalement sous tutelle par le colonialisme européen de la fin du 19e siècle jusqu’aux indépendances. Ensuite, l’Afrique a été maintenue sous dépendance par l’intermédiaire du mécanisme de la dette et de l’aide publique au développement. Après les indépendances, elle a été livrée à des potentats (Mobutu, Bongo, Eyadema, Amin Dada, Bokassa, Biya, Sassou Nguesso, Idriss Déby…) qui la plupart du temps étaient ou sont protégés par les capitales européennes et Washington. Plusieurs hauts dirigeants africains qui voulaient un développement autonome et favorable à leur population ont été assassinés sur ordre de Paris, de Bruxelles, de Londres ou de Washington (Patrice Lumumba en 1961, Sylvanus Olympio en 1963, Thomas Sankara en 1987…). Les classes dominantes africaines et les régimes politiques qu’elles mettent en place ont très clairement leur part de responsabilité dans la poursuite des malheurs de l’Afrique. Le régime de Robert Mugabe au Zimbabwe en fait partie. Aujourd’hui, les peuples d’Afrique sont directement affectés par les effets de la crise mondiale dont l’épicentre se trouve à Washington et à Wall Street, révélatrice du fait que le capitalisme conduit à une impasse inacceptable pour les peuples. Les origines africaines de Barack Obama sont du pain béni pour les entreprises de son pays qui défendent des intérêts économiques très précis dans l’exploitation des matières premières de l’Afrique. Voilà une réalité qu’Obama balaie d’un revers de main, en poursuivant un discours paternaliste et moralisateur afin de convaincre les Africains de ne pas s’engager dans la lutte pour une indépendance authentique et un véritable développement garantissant enfin la pleine satisfaction des droits humains.

[1] Voir le Financial Times (FT) du 12 juin 2009. Selon le FT, Burham Philbrook, le sous-secrétaire d’État à l’Agriculture des États-Unis a déclaré que Washington ne pouvait pas garantir le financement du PAM à hauteur de l’année 2008, au cours de laquelle les États-Unis avaient apporté 2 milliards de dollars à son budget. Toujours selon le FT, Philbrook suggérait que le PAM devait réduire son aide alors qu’il savait parfaitement que le nombre d’affamés a augmenté en 2009.

[2] « Discours à l’université du Caire », par Barack Obama ; « Obama et les arrières-pensées de la main tendue aux musulmans », par Thierry Meyssan, Réseau Voltaire, 4 et 9 juin 2009.

[3] « Entretien avec AllAfrica.com », par Barack Obama ; « Derrière la visite d’Obama au Ghana », par Manlio Dinucci, Réseau Voltaire, 2 et 12 juillet 2009.

[4] « Discours devant le Parlement du Ghana », par Barack Obama, Réseau Voltaire, 11 juillet 2009.

[5] Cette continuité apparaît également dans l’inaction d’Obama face au putsch au Honduras. Tout en condamnant, il laisse faire. Le Pentagone est d’ailleurs très proche des putschistes. Ceux-ci ne resteront pas au pouvoir si le Pentagone leur intime l’ordre de se retirer. « Honduras : les “intérêts USA” encore aux mains des militaires de la Joint Task Force Bravo », par Manlio Dinucci ; « Le SouthCom prend le pouvoir dans un État membre de l’ALBA », par Thierry Meyssan ; « Honduras : la politique à “deux voies” des États-Unis et du Canada », par Arnold August, Réseau Voltaire, 29 juin et 13 juillet 2009.

[6] « Discours à l’université de Dakar », par Nicolas Sarkozy, Réseau Voltaire, 26 juillet 2007.

Luc Mukendi
Coordinateur d’AMSEL /CADTM Lubumbashi (RDC)

Damien Millet
Damien Millet est secrétaire général du CADTM France (Comité pour l’Annulation de la Dette du Tiers Monde). Dernier livre publié : Dette odieuse (avec Frédédric Chauvreau), CADTM/Syllepse, 2006. .

Jean Victor Lemvo
Membre de Solidaires à Pointe Noire (Congo).

Emilie Tamadaho Atchaca
Présidente du CADD (Bénin).

Solange Koné
Militante pour les droits de la femme (Côte d’Ivoire).

Victor Nzuzi
Agriculteur, coordinateur du GRAPR et NAD Kinshasa (RDC).

Sophie Perchellet
Chercheuse au CADTM (Belgique).

Aminata Barry Touré
Présidente de la CAD-Mali/Coordinatrice du Forum des Peuples.

Ibrahim Yacouba
Syndicaliste (Niger).

Éric Toussaint
Éric Toussaint est président du CADTM Belgique (Comité pour l’Annulation de la Dette du Tiers Monde). Dernier livre publié : Banque du Sud et nouvelle crise internationale, CADTM/Syllepse, 2008.

http://www.voltairenet.org/article161110.html

]]> http://mksviews.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/only-one-way-out-of-this-mess/ Sat, 18 Jul 2009 12:58:34 +0000 MK http://mksviews.wordpress.com/2009/07/18/only-one-way-out-of-this-mess/

News.com.au – THE families of Melbourne’s victims of violence say more police and harsher penalties are needed to stem the bloodshed on our streets. There was a sickening familiarity when Bill McCormack, Robyn Macready-Bryan and Shane Mitchell watched coverage of the latest violent attacks in Melbourne. Each cast their mind to a mother, father and brother, somewhere in Melbourne who had received that call telling them their loved one was the latest victim, the Herald Sun reports.

Mr McCormack, whose son Shannon died after he was assaulted outside QBH nightclub in May 2007, said the only way to stem the bloodshed was to have more police in the city. ”We need a bigger police presence on the street – police can save lives just by being there, they don’t even have to do anything, just be there,” he said. ……”It has to be supported by increased police on the streets and backed up by the government and the judicial system. We need to provide more social and sporting activities to provide an outlet for these young people, particularly young males.”

Yes, more police and a tougher judicial system will help, but only if both will happen and neither will. I’ll tell you why, more police won’t happen because that requires more money, which we don’t have. A tougher judiciary won’t happen either because they are not accountable to us, if a judge lets some piece of shit off with a light sentence you can’t do a damn thing about it.

Even if by some miracle all the stars and planets align and this actually happens, I guarantee that it will not remain in place for long, that is just the way it is when it comes to government. The only thing you can do is to allow the law-abiding the right to defend themselves with the means that you have failed to remove from the criminals. Until we do that, we will continue to weep and call for someone else to do something that they either can’t or won’t.

Over the last two decades, organised crime has dramatically increased its share of the world economy to as much as 20 percent. Misha Glenny has spent the last three years investigating criminal networks in our newly globalised world. – How Crime Took On the World – he charts the explosion and growth of international crime. Drug trafficking is the most lucrative illicit business in the world. In Programme One, Misha begins his journey in Canada, where the wholesale production of marijuana or BC Bud as it is known – is posing a profound challenge to the whole idea of the US-led ‘War on Drugs’. * More from this series o Part One Canada’s production of marijuana challenges the US DEA o Part Two Misha Glenny goes to the Balkans to follow the trail of smuggled cigarettes. o Part Three South Africa’s private security sector has boomed as people become obsessed with personal safety. o Part Four Misha Glenny goes to Brazil which produces more cyber-criminals than any other nation. * Photo gallery Misha’s photos from the Balkans In British Colombia alone, this illegal industry employs nearly twice as many people as the traditional sectors of logging, mining, oil and gas. A conservative estimate puts the number of residential properties in the province used as full-time growing operations for marijuana at some 20,000. After cultivating contacts over many months, Misha meets members of marijuana crime syndicates in a small, rural community in British Colombia. These are people who make colossal profits smuggling hundreds of kilos of marijuana into the United States every year, where marijuana is sold for twice as much as it is in Canada. This is a business with a high degree of serious scientific input not only must ‘Steve’, a marijuana exporter, neutralise the odour of the drug, he must also ensure a uniformity of density in the load travelling south so that US Customs x-ray machines do not pick up the 200lbs of cannabis stuffed into a hollowed out log. While the activities of ‘Steve’ and his team are clearly against the law, there is an ambivalence to the marijuana trade in liberal, west coast Vancouver. For years Canadians have debated legalising marijuana. It is a discussion that clearly irritates Canada’s more powerful southern neighbour, the United States, where most politicians of whatever hue articulate a similar mantra on the ‘War on Drugs’. But in Albany, New York, Misha meets District Attorney David Soares who is daring to challenge the mantra, and campaigning to change New York State’s draconian drug laws.

Went in to visit the Google’s Public Sector team this week to pick their brains on YouTube. Charlotte and Katarina had lots of interesting things to demonstrate, but I was most taken by a video they showed me.

Made for the Metropolitan Police by Spike, ‘Choose a different ending’ is one of the sharpest uses of YouTube I have yet seen for a public sector campaign.

It’s more of a play than a watch; check it out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFVkzYDNJqo and the campaign site at www.droptheweapons.org.

Insighful and hardworking creative, using the technolgy and the channel superbly; not preachy but makes you think twice. I think this might have an impact; it’s already caught on and seems to generating the views from exactly the intended audience. I’m really keen to locate an evaluation.

It’s not perfect. If you stab the guy, you get to find out the legal implications in no uncertain terms; but if you go party, you are suddenly watching a music video by Chipmunk. I can see what they are trying to do, by gratifying good choices, but it leaves you hanging and I’m not sure if the intended audience would view the Chip Diddy Chip video as much of a reward.

Still props to all involved.

A 54-year-old suspected gang boss, King Lord Adotey Akrong, who claims to be a chief, has been smoked out of his Nungua base, suspected to be a robbery den.

He was nabbed together with some 21 other suspects including seven Nigerians and two Liberians.

The Nigerian suspects were Efe Osode, 25, barber, Bawa Mohammed, 22, food vendor, Otitigbe Ogheneovo, 25, unemployed, Victor Okoro, 25, student of Regional Maritime University, Jarson Marshal, 21, sales boy, Ogeh Kester, 28, unemployed, and Efe Aminugo, 30, unemployed while Ewuku Shaddrack, 25, unemployed and Imide Ogaga were the Liberians.

The rest were Marie Haruna, 23, food vendor, Portia Odartey, 21, student, Hajia Seidu, 19, hair dresser apprentice, Yehowada Nartey, 27, hair dresser, Rejoice Grona, 24, employee of Classic Floral, Lartey Wilson, 30, computer technician, Emmanuel Bismark Bakokor, 25, pupil teacher, Solomon Nartey, 21, unemployed, Solomon Dzorkpe, 30, kente weaver, Kwasi Ohenmen, 28, timber merchant, and Solomon Sabutey, 33, security man.

Though the police said the 54-year-old man had a wrapper of a substance suspected to be ‘wee’ in his possession, he (King Lord) told the press that he was a Nigeria been-to and well-traveled. He therefore could not engage in robbery because he was an expert in engineering services, comparable to none in the country, the suspected gang boss averred.

The regional Police Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Atingah, said the 22 suspects were arrested on Thursday July 16, 2009, upon a tip-off that the house was a den where robbers were recruited.

Items such as 2 computers, 3 cutlasses, 7 vehicle registration plates, papers cut in the shape and sizes of currency, a smoke pipe fitted with talisman, 1 wrapper of wee and a piece of substance suspected to be gold were retrieved from the scene and were being kept at the Regional Police headquarters as exhibits.

DCOP Rose Bio Atingah warned criminals to look for legal means of sustenance or risk being arrested by the security agencies who were now taking the war to miscreants.

She debunked the notion that armed robbery was getting out of control in the city.

The police boss said her outfit was firmly on the ground, adding that police patrols were now more intense than before.

She noted that the police had also intensified snap checks with a special focus on KIA vehicles since they were the target of car snatchers.

Source: Daily Guide

Morning Star Online, Friday 17 July 2009

by Paddy McGuffin

The public inquiry into the death of Iraqi hotel worker Baha Mousa in British army custody and the torture of six other Iraqis began its first proper phase this week.

Although the trial, which is expected to last a year, is in its infancy, serious questions have already been raised over the guidelines laid down by the army for the interrogation and treatment of detainees.

Mr Gerard Elias QC for the inquiry, who has previously represented the British army at the Saville inquiry into Bloody Sunday, has meticulously laid out army protocols, raising a number of issues.

In particular, he queried why the guidelines for combat troops contained no reference to the use of techniques during internment in Northern Ireland in 1971, which are very similar to those used on Mr Mousa and the other detainees.

That case ruled that such practices, including hooding, stress positions, sleep deprivation and beatings, amounted to mistreatment.

He raised the question of whether the response of the MoD, Defence Intelligence Services and serving commanders was “adequate.”

Turning to the events immediately before and during the period that the detainees were held by the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment in Basra, Mr Elias said that a well-respected officer had been killed a month previously and a number of military police had been murdered at al-Amara.

It was suggested that this may have been a reason for the mistreatment.

The men had been arrested after a weapons cache was discovered at the Haitham Hotel, where the majority of them worked.

The inquiry heard repeated evidence – both from detainees and military personnel – of savage brutality inflicted by the soldiers from punching and “martial arts kicks” to repeated and sustained use of stress positions. All are acts which breach the Geneva Convention.

Mr Elias referred to previous evidence by a number of those accused of perpetrating the torture.

“If one considers the injuries suffered alongside the current paucity of evidence from soldiers which could explain these injuries, there is what might well be said a compelling argument that at least some of the soliders are not giving a full and truthful account,” he suggested.

Miami is a great tourist destination and is famous for its beautiful long

Attractive Miami

beaches. Since Miami has a subtropical climate, you will get to explore variety of tropical attractions as per the weather waves.  Miami University is renowned for it’s high-class academic reputation and quality.  If you’re visiting Miami as a student, then it’s prudent to buy student medical insurance that suits the university requirement.  Read on to know more about life in Miami…

- Miami has a subtropical climate that provides adequate of sunshine all year round. Moderation in the temperature brings cool sea winds but it is prudent to wear the sun-protection. Miami becomes the most humid city in US during the summers as the humidity levels increase to 30 degree celsius.

• In Miami, the rainfall occurs mainly during early autumn and summer and thus, it’s advisable that you avoid the Miami visit during the monsoon.
• There is a highest risk of hurricanes striking Miami during the period of June to November and it is best to keep the plans off.

• Preferably exchange your foreign currencies from the places listed below:

1. Miami Currency Exchange – 101, Lenape, Dr Miami Springs

2. Abbot Foreign Money Exchange – 230, NE, 1^st St, Miami

3. World Money Exchange -1631, Collins Ave, Miami Beach

4. Universal Exchange- Miami Inti Airport Ste, F2

5. Moneyfast Corporation- 17 E, Flagler, St Ste, 209, Miami

6. Lenlyn Limited Incorporated- 782, NW 42^nd Ave, Miami

7. Dharamsi Hanif – 1330, West Ave, Miami Beach

8. Western Union – PO Box 997329, Miami

- Miami Beach is the most popular destination in Miami where majority of the events take place. Though the best hotel rates are available in the low tourist season, the hotel rates vary as per the season, day of the week, how full the hotel is and if there is major event going on. Always research before you plan a tour to Miami because comfortable and convenient accommodation matters the most.

- Miami enjoys dynamic nightlife and it is better to find a hotel that has sound-proof windows if you prefer peaceful and light sleep; accommodate yourself little away from the main town to avoid such distractions.

• You can save good amount of money and time if you take advantage of your hotel’s amenities such as free continental breakfast or free access to beach chairs and umbrellas that saves almost $8 to $15 per person per day.

• You can also try seeking discounted self parking at municipal garages that is much cheaper and special access to clubs where you don’t have to pay cover charges. Ask the hotel caretakers to make dinner reservations or bookings for boat tours for you, which will save your time and energy.

• You can visit some places that showcase Miami’s culture. Miami Art Museum is located at 101, West Flagler Street offers free entree on all second Saturdays. You get to see cultural exhibitions and at collections that boast of Miami culture. Another place you can visit is the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens of Miami that offer reasonable entree rates (starting from $10 per person) and free parking.

• The local wine and food events are very popular in Miami from November to February. You get to taste variety of wines and the events offer you tastings that fit in your budget.

• Miami Spice is an annual event in which involves participation of over 70 of Miami’s finest restaurants. During the months of August and September, guests can eat a 3 course meal for lunch and dinner. There is a fixed price for lunch of $23 and for dinner at $36. Along Miami’s beaches, from South Beach to Sunny Isles and on the mainland, from Coral Gables to Downtown Miami and as north as Aventura, locals and tourists take advantage of this great opportunity. You can eat a full meal for a reasonable price at restaurants that are usually quite expensive.

• Miami has a history of crimes related to mob activity, drug activity, and a high rate of poverty. Miami is reported as a city that has one of the highest crime rates in the country and it is very important to be aware of surroundings to keep safe all the time.

•  

• Places like Miami Beach or downtown are very safe during the day but avoid wandering at the same place during the night. Also, stay away from areas like Liberty City, Overtown, Carol City, Opa Locka that have highest level of time and it could be dangerous to travel in these areas.

•  

• Plan your travel route in advance and make a checklist of safe places, restaurants, stores and timings before you start traveling. Always keep a map with your and avoid discussing your travel plans with strangers.

• Driving rules differ in Miami. You have to drive from left and avoid drunk driving at anytime. Driving in Miami traffic is considered quite troublesome and thus make sure that you always keep a tour book with you.

• Refrain yourself from arguing with Miami drivers as they officially have worst road rage in the country. Park your vehicle in a safe area and lock it fully before moving out of it.

• Avoid wearing expensive jewelry or carrying a costly gadget. Be careful with your luggage and belongings. Avoid leaving any valuables in the hotel room and make sure you lock the room well.

• If you’re approached by somebody in a wrong way or if you believe someone is following you then it is wise to quickly move ahead and locate yourself in a well-populated place.

• Call 911 in case of any emergency.

(Reference resources – http://www.worldtravelguide.com,

http://www.miamiandbeaches.com/visitors/attractions.aspx)

There are certain points in any man’s life when his phone simply shouldn’t ring. And this is most definitely one of those certain points. I am drinking and swallowing and preparing to tell Wendy about my resignation from the only case I’ve ever had, when a particularly annoying ring tone bursts into the scene. It’s intrusive and inappropriate, like seeing a Shakespeare play, Macbeth say, performed in modern dress. Still, rightly or wrongly, the very staging gives it some relevance and therefore it cannot be ignored.

            I reach my phone from the pocket of my coat and absorb the fact that Morgan is trying to contact me.

            “You’d better answer that, it may be important,” says Wendy, inching her chair back to give me an essence of privacy, though through no fault of her own, she’ll still be able to steal everything I’ve got to say.

“Hello,” I say. I hold the phone as tight to my ear as I can, hoping at least that Morgan’s words will remain in my possession.

“Hey Morse, where are you?” he says.

“The Sailor,” I say instinctively, though I wouldn’t if I’d predicted hindsight of course.

“Sorry about before. Dylan’s OK.  I didn’t want to sound so harsh and I don’t like the idea of you on your own,” he says.

“I’m not on my…,”

“Look, don’t worry. I’ll be there in a minute,” he says.

“But..,” I begin though he’s already hung up. I toy with the idea of calling him back, but the thought of how this will look to Wendy stops me.

“Who was that?” she asks.

“Just a friend,” I say.

“That’s good. It’s good you’re meeting people,” says Wendy.

“Is it?” I say, with a very real sarcasm that she probably doesn’t want to hear. I realise I ought to explain, but don’t know where to start. With Moon? With Ellie? Or with Quince? With Morgan or with my perilous financial situation? Because I’m once more as broke as stones.

“Do you want another drink?” I say instead.

“Please. Same again, I suppose,” says Wendy.

“Is it your round?” I say, and I know that maybe this is not the most gentlemanly thing to do, but in my defence we are no longer a couple and anyway I’ve spent the last of my loose change, or Moon’s loose change if it is accepted that the money was his.

If Wendy is surprised she doesn’t show it. She pulls a twenty from her purse and hands it to me. “Get some nuts,” she says as I’m on the way to the bar. In the corner, a young man coughs. He spits something onto the fire, presumably thinking it’s real. The flames bicker and hiss and jump up again, burning purple for a second. The young man coughs twice more, but doesn’t spit this time.

It’s quiet but there’s no barman in sight, changing a barrel probably, and as I wait I kid myself that I’ll have a little more time to talk to Wendy before Morgan arrives. After all a minute, in the context Morgan used it, is just a nominal gesture of time and should be a little longer than that. I mean normally it should, but on this occasion it is not.

I’ve just started to pay, when Morgan walks through the door, with a big smile of greeting and without a beard. He sees where I am, waves and, out of politeness, I add a pint and another pack of nuts to the order. I have no idea whether Wendy will mind or not, but I know that she won’t say anything.

Morgan and I meet in the middle of the bar, with a brief hello and then he follows me back to the table where Wendy and I were seated and where now Wendy and he and I will be seated. When Wendy looks at Morgan, her eyes are fixed and straight. When Morgan looks at Wendy, his eyes are not dissimilar.

“Sorry,” says Morgan to me. “I didn’t know you had company.”

“Hello, I’m Morgan,” says Morgan to Wendy, holding out a hand for her to shake and then sitting in the chair which has my coat on the back, although there are plenty of others at the neighbouring tables. I drag one across and plonk myself down as Wendy is introducing herself.

“I’m Wendy,” I hear her say above the squeak of my legs.

“How do you know Dan then?” says Morgan. I can tell from the way Wendy looks at me that she believes I should have already made Morgan a party to all but the most intimate details and failings of our relationship.

“Only he’s never mentioned you before,” Morgan goes on.

“I must have. Haven’t I?” I say, with as much feigned nonchalance as I can trawl from the bottom sand of the situation.

“Really?” asks Wendy.

“Maybe I wasn’t listening, I’m like that some times,” says Morgan, but we all know the fish he’s throwing back is a specimen too little, and a specimen too late. The conversation is floundering on some very jagged rocks.

“Dan and I were…” starts Wendy, then thinks better of it and drinks from her half pint.

“Wendy and I were…” I try to continue, then drink from my own glass.

“Dan and I are friends,” says Wendy and I nod, relieved that we’ve reached an agreement of sorts, although I wouldn’t have put it as simply as this. Wendy pulls apart one of the packets of nuts and starts to pick from it. Morgan joins in with the chewing. Some heavy song I don’t know and I don’t like has started playing and not for the first time in my life I’m thinking there must be better pubs. Neither of my companions seems to notice the music.

“What do you do then?” asks Wendy of Morgan.

“I’m a photographer.”

“Wow,” says Wendy above a crunching chord. It’s not something she says so much and the word sounds ridiculous as soon as it’s out. She acknowledges this. “I mean that’s…that’s…great. What sort of pictures?” she says.

“All sorts. Day to day it’s pasties, but that’s just the meat and veg.” He says and grins and now Wendy’s laughing too.

“You’ve used that line before,” she smiles.

“Maybe. Actually I’m trying to get an exhibition together,” Morgan says, which is the first I’ve heard of it.

“Really?” says Wendy.

“Waves, mainly, because of the surfing I guess,” says Morgan.

“You surf then?” says Wendy.

“Obsessed…and you…have you tried?” he says.

“No. But I’d love to,” she says.

“How long are you here for? We can all go. Get Dan in too. He’s always saying he will one day, aren’t you Dan?” says Morgan to me.

“Haven’t you been yet?” says Wendy to me. I drink again and open the other nuts, but don’t get round to answering.

“Keep putting it off, don’t you Dan,” Morgan butts in.

“I’ve been busy,” I say.

“Not any more though, hey Dan,” laughs Morgan. I’m hoping above hoping that Wendy doesn’t think to read between some very straight and obvious lines. But Wendy has a first class degree in English Literature from a red-brick university, and the deeper meaning of certain phrases is second nature to her.

“Sorry?” says Wendy to Morgan.

“er…well now that Dan’s out of work again, he’ll have plenty of time to play,” he says.

Some banks and businesses in California are refusing to honor the recently-issued California IOUs. One news article reports: “Apparently, IOUs issued by an insolvent state aren’t as good as cold, hard cash. Last week, after state leaders failed to find a solution to an ongoing budget crisis, California began issuing IOUs to banks and other creditors. Now, despite initially agreeing to accept the IOUs in lieu of actual payments, some of the country’s biggest banks are refusing to honor the promises to pay.”

By honoring the IOUs, the banks are effectively agreeing to issue loans to millions of people in California. While this may not seem like a big deal now, just how many California IOUs would a bank want to have in its possession? These IOUs could eventually become the next big financial disaster –much like those loan bundles of minority subprime loans which suddenly became worthless. Maybe these banks already see the writing on the wall that California will go bankrupt.

The article notes “According to the Wall Street Journal, among the newly defiant banks are Citigroup (C), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC), and Bank of America (BAC). Along with an announcement yesterday by Fitch Ratings that it had dropped California’s credit rating to BBB — just a few notches above speculative levels, this shift in sentiment puts immense pressure on Sacramento to find a lasting solution to the state’s woes.”

So far, the crazy socialist legislature of California still refuses to deport so much as one illegal alien. The Democrats refuse to even admit that illegal aliens take more from the state than they pay in taxes. Considering that illegal aliens either work under the table for cash, not paying any taxes, or they work minimum wage jobs, which pay almost no taxes, it’s hard to imagine why the Democrats continue to tell such obvious lies –except maybe that their liberal supporters are clueless enough to still believe them. The organization FAIR came up with an estimate that illegal aliens cost California $13 billion dollars per year.

California is a huge state, with a massive population of essentially non-productive illegal aliens. Non-Whites make up a majority of the population of California, which is exactly what happens when White people gutlessly ignore the issue of immigration. There was a massive $15 billion dollar tax hike earlier this year, which is causing productive Whites to flee California en masse, pushing the state even closer to bankruptcy. California is leading the nation into a new age of financial insolvency. Productive White taxpayers can no longer pay enough taxes to support the crushing burden of a monstrously large non-White population.

Soon California won’t even be able to pay the police, the mercenaries who keep the lid on Los Angeles, Oakland and all the other minority-infested big cities. There could be massive riots soon as welfare programs go bankrupt, or California IOUs are soon turned down by everyone. We could easily be plunged into a race war in which Blacks and Latinos try to take by force, what a bankrupt state government can no longer give them.

via Massive Immigration about to Bankrupt California | The Official Website of Representative David Duke, PhD.

*Click for larger image. 

©YokoOkumura2009 All rights reserved.

©YokoOkumura2009 All rights reserved.

Why oh why?

What words,

What reasons to describe this death?

We have never met each other,

Nor have our paths ever crossed,

But my heart is in anguish.

Why oh why?

Am I tormented and restless?

Wrenched in pain and sorrow,

Thinking about the cruelty brought upon you,

Where is mercy and compassion?

Why oh why?

Another death, another tragedy!

One so young full of life and hope,

Promises to be fulfilled, journeys to be taken,

Why was it robbed from you so soon?

Why oh why?

Why this injustice, why this violence,

How many more Kugans have to follow,

How many more Teohs need to be lost?

How many more victims to endure?

Why oh why?

Who is responsible? Who has the answers?

When will the nation awaken?

When will it rise against these injustices?

Why this cruel fate?

Why oh why?

How long will this go on and who will be next?

Another flower, another leaf,

Plucked from the tree of life prematurely,

Taken away, so callously.

Why oh why?

Gang buys Czech fathers for Chinese babies.

The gang of a Chinese businesswoman from Prague, Prague, has paid money to some Czech men from the Tachov and Domažlice regions for claiming the fictitious paternity of at least 20 Chinese babies, in order to enable illegal immigrants from China to stay permanently in the Czech Republic, Právo newspaper wrote Saturday.

The police have accused five people, including the mastermind and her Czech accomplice, of helping illegal stay on Czech soil, Pravo writes. The Czech himself is the fictitious father of 5 children. Another three fictitious fathers are facing the same charges and another three are to follow soon, it adds. If convicted, the bribed so-called fathers face one year in prison and the Chinese woman and her mediator up to three years.

They may have earned at least two million crowns through the criminal activity, Pravo writes. However, even if the fraud were uncovered, the Chinese cannot be removed Czech citizenship. As a result, the biological mother with her relationship to the child can stay in the Czech Republic, Pavel Pospisil from the regional foreigner police authority told the daily. Besides, she can invite a fellow countryman she may marry, Pospisil said.

The Chinese woman had no scruples when choosing the fathers. Jiri Kopecny from the foreigner police authority said they were unemployed men, repeat criminals as well as drug addicts. They gladly accepted the sums of 3,000 to 20,000 crowns to attest their paternity, Kopecny said.

The alleged Chinese organiser of fictitious paternity received up to 100,000 crowns for having secured Czech citizenship per one Chinese child. She kept at least one half of the sum and passed the rest to the Czech mediator who hired the fathers.

He was supposed to distribute the money among them, but he allegedly kept most of it, Pravo writes. As a result, the number of small Czech citizens and legal immigrants has considerably grown, Pravo writes. “I guess there are hundreds of people who have thus gained permanent stay in the Czech Republic,” Kopecny told Pravo.

bron: praguemonitor.com [13-7-2009]