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ACLU President Strossen on religion, drugs, guns and impeaching George Bush

Tuesday, October 30, 2007File:Nadine Strossen 5 by David Shankbone.jpg

There are few organizations in the United States that elicit a stronger emotional response than the American Civil Liberties Union, whose stated goal is “to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States”. Those people include gays, Nazis, women seeking abortion, gun owners, SPAM mailers and drug users. People who are often not popular with various segments of the public. The ACLU’s philosophy is not that it agrees or disagrees with any of these people and the choices that they make, but that they have personal liberties that must not be trampled upon.

In Wikinews reporter David Shankbone’s interview with the President of the ACLU, Nadine Strossen, he wanted to cover some basic ground on the ACLU’s beliefs. Perhaps the area where they are most misunderstood or have their beliefs most misrepresented is their feelings about religion in the public sphere. The ACLU categorically does not want to see religion disappear from schools or in the public forum; but they do not want to see government advocacy of any particular religion. Thus, former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore’s placement of a ten ton monument to the Ten Commandments outside the courthouse is strenuously opposed; but “Lone Ranger of the Manger” Rita Warren’s placement of nativity scenes in public parks is vigorously defended. In the interview, Strossen talks about how certain politicians and televangelists purposefully misstate the law and the ACLU’s work in order to raise funds for their campaigns.

David Shankbone’s discussion with Strossen touches upon many of the ACLU’s hot button issues: religion, Second Amendment rights, drug liberalization, “partial-birth abortion” and whether or not George W. Bush should be impeached. It may surprise the reader that many ideas people have about the most visible of America’s civil libertarian organizations are not factually correct and that the ACLU often works closely with many of the organizations people think despise its existence.

1 Strossen’s background
2 Religion in schools
3 Religious symbols
4 How the ACLU is misrepresented by politicians and televangelists
5 The abortion debate
6 Judicial activism
7 Capital punishment and criminal justice
8 Decriminalization of drugs and suicide
9 War and threats to humanity
10 Should George Bush be impeached?
11 Gun rights
12 Strossen’s philosophy
13 Sources

Couple takes lawyer hostage and said to have explosives

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

A male and a female took 3 people hostage at a law firm in Statesboro, Georgia. Police blocked off a part of this rural town on Monday. Two suspects , a man and a woman, took a lawyer hostage and claimed that they had explosives.

The suspects, Robert Eugene Brower, 43, a former client of the lawyer, and the female whose name was not released, gave up after demands for cigarettes and food were met and they spoke with a family member.

The standoff lasted for 24 hours and ended, “peacefully,” at around 10AM said Larry Schnall, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol.

The last of the 3 hostages to be released was identified as Michael Hostilo. He and the other two hostages were not injured. There is no word on the names of the other hostages.

Earlier reports stated that there had been a “loud boom” coming from the scene at about six o’clock this morning. Authorities have not stated what the booms were.

Police are now inside the building to locate and defuse the explosive device that the suspects claimed to have had.

Initially when police arrived, there were 3 hostages, but 2 had been recently released and were unharmed, said Maggie Fitzgerald, a city spokeswoman. “They are upset with some legal issues within the recent past and want to get those issues resolved. We are doing everything possible to end this situation without anyone being hurt.”

In a news conference Monday night, Police Chief Stan York said Brower was angry about “having been convicted in a criminal case”, in which the lawyer was his court-appointed attorney. York did not elaborate on the demands of the hostage-takers, other than saying, “they only wanted to call attention to the case.”

Georgia State Trooper Larry Schnall, a spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol, said a SWAT team was sent to the scene.

This morning authorities convinced the two suspects to give-up, but “incidents leading to an escalation resulted in some gunfire,” Stan York in a press conference just moments ago. No one was hurt in the brief eruption of gunfire.

Police later said when the suspects tried to surrender they became apprehensive and made a threatening gesture prompting authorities to draw their guns and open fire.

The standoff began at around 9AM on Monday.

CanadaVOTES: Liberal Andrew Lang running in Toronto—Danforth

Saturday, September 27, 2008

On October 14, 2008, Canadians will be heading to the polls for the federal election. Liberal candidate Andrew Lang is standing for election in the riding of Toronto—Danforth.

Raised with Liberal values, Andrew attended his first Liberal rally at age 6. He has worked 18 elections since that introduction to the political sphere, but this is his first time as a candidate. A University of Toronto graduate (and player for the Varsity Blues), his career highlights include managing Bill Graham’s constituency office. (A now-retired MP, Graham’s career included serving as Minister of National Defence and Minister of Foreign Affairs, as well as interim Leader of the Liberals and Leader of the Opposition.) He is currently with the Ontario Chiropractic Association.

Wikinews contacted Andrew, to talk about the issues facing Canadians, and what they and their party would do to address them. Wikinews is in the process of contacting every candidate, in every riding across the country, no matter their political stripe. All interviews are conducted over e-mail, and interviews are published unedited, allowing candidates to impart their full message to our readers, uninterrupted.

The incumbent in this riding is National Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton. Other than Lang, trying for the riding are Sharon Howarth (Green), and Christina Perreault (Conservative). Minor party candidates Marie Crawford (Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada), Marcell Rodden (Marxist-Leninist), and Bahman Yazdanfar (Canadian Action Party) are also running, as is independent John Richardson. The riding has existed federally since 1979, and has the seat has been occupied by Bob Rae (NDP, 1979–1982), Lynn McDonald (NDP, 1982–1988), Dennis Mills (Liberal, 1988–2004), and Layton (NDP, 2004 to present).

For more information, visit the campaign’s official website, listed below.

UN summit results in pledge to mitigate food crisis

Friday, June 6, 2008

A three-day United Nations (UN) summit, bringing together leaders from 181 countries, has wrapped up with a pledge by all attending countries to address the global food shortage crisis. Key actions cited include doubling the world’s food production by 2030, providing resources for farmers in poor countries and increasing humanitarian aid in times of crisis.

Protests and violent riots have resulted in parts of the world in recent months due to increasing unaffordability, and sometimes unavailability, of food. It is estimated that 862 million people, or just over one eighth of the world’s population, are malnourished.

According to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, up to US$20 billion will be required annually to avert crises in the most hard-hit areas. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has put the figure closer to US$30 billion. Pledges made just at the summit amounted to more than US$5 billion, according to the UN.

Despite the largely positively-received outcome of the summit, held in Rome, Italy, there were some who felt that the proceedings could have gone better. Several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) pointed to the fact that they were not invited to partake in the discussions. Food and hunger policy adviser Magda Kropiwnicka of ActionAid commented on the strength of the final pledge: “There were no quantifiable financial commitments. Apart from the existing UN Food and Agriculture Organisation funds, no money has been given to address the key problem of boosting capacity.”

While most delegates agreed that biofuels have been one of the causes of the food crisis, no actions were agreed upon to address this hot topic. Biofuels have been increasingly in demand in recent years, meaning that many crops that would have previously been used for food are now being used as fuel.

The impact that biofuels has goes further than simply increasing the demand of food crops. As fuel prices increase, so do the costs of fertilisers, farm vehicle use and the transport of foods. All of this adds up to a large increase in the cost of food.

Some UN officials say that biofuel use has caused up to 30% of the global food price inflation of late. The United States estimates that figure to be closer to just 3%. The Globe and Mail newspaper indicates that some estimates go as high as 60%. The only consensus that could be reached on biofuels is that they provide both “challenges and opportunities”, and need to be looked into further for a conclusive analysis on their impact on food production.

Other factors increasing food prices are increased consumption of meat and dairy products in developing nations like China and India. Argentina noted that subsidies granted to farmers from the US, the European Union and other Western countries have also been a major player in the increase.

Eurovision ’04 winner Ruslana discusses her paths as singer, spokesmodel, stateswoman and source of inspiration

Monday, March 30, 2009

First becoming famous in her native Ukraine in the 1990s, long-haired self-described “Amazon” Ruslana gained international recognition for winning the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Wild Dances,” inspired by the musical traditions of the Hutsul people of the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains.

In the five years since, Ruslana has decided to use her name and public status to represent a number of worthy causes, including human trafficking, renewable energy, and even the basic concept of democratic process, becoming a public face of Ukraine’s Orange Revolution and later serving in Parliament.

Currently, she is on an international publicity tour to promote her album Wild Energy, a project borne out of a science fiction novel that has come to symbolize her hopes for a newer, better, freer way of life for everyone in the world. She took time to respond to questions Wikinews’s Mike Halterman posed to her about her career in music and her other endeavors.

This is the fifth in a series of interviews with past Eurovision contestants, which will be published sporadically in the lead-up to mid-May’s next contest in Moscow.

Finding A Sustainable Fish Provider}

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Finding a Sustainable Fish Provider

Gabriel FultonDeciding to invest in healthier food options regardless if we are talking about sustainable fish or even healthy chips, you should know that the real challenge is finding a provider that is worth your while. Due to the fact that there are so many stores that provide organic foods and other products, you will need to do a bit of research first and see what you will stumble upon. Even if you might be tempted to just stick with the items you find in your local organic shop, you should know that an online one would offer you many more advantages.What you need to do first is to think about a list of reasons as to why you should be switching to healthy chips and foods. Obviously, one of the problems that many individuals have to deal with nowadays is regarding their weight. Due to the fact that we enjoy nibbling on all sorts of snacks between meals, it can be difficult to keep our weight in check. Nevertheless, replacing the fatty chips with healthy ones is definitely going to make a difference.You should also be aware of the fact that there are different kinds of snacks that you can opt for when you are trying to make healthier choices, not just chips. You can try some roasted seaweed or maybe some nuts. At the same time, if you enjoy eating fish every once in a while, you will probably get to a point where you consume it twice or more times per week. That will happen if you invest in sustainable fish which his not only delicious, but also environmentally friendly.The next step involves talking to people you know about the organic products providers that they rely on when they go grocery shopping. Most certainly, you will learn about a few stores that might be worth your time. However, if you actually need to get out of the house and go visit them, you should know that you are better off doing your own research online. Here is where you will come across all sorts of shops that sell different products from organic food to natural shampoos and even essential oils.Take the time to visit each of the top websites where you can order the things on your grocery list and compare variety, prices as well as reviews that you might stumble upon. If you have any questions regarding any of the products that a specific organic store has in stock, you should not refrain yourself from leaving them a message. Depending on their reply, you will definitely know if the shop is the one you should rely on when doing some grocery shopping or not.Take the time to visit each of the top websites where you can order the things on your grocery list and compare variety, prices as well as reviews that you might stumble upon. If you have any questions regarding any of the products that a specific organic store has in stock, you should not refrain yourself from leaving them a message. Depending on their reply, you will definitely know if the shop is the one you should rely on when doing some grocery shopping or not.

When you want to invest in

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZvwhxbBFm4[/youtube]

Healthy Chips

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Wikinews interviews specialists on China, Iran, Russia support for al-Assad

Monday, September 23, 2013

Over the past week, diplomatic actions have averted — or, at least delayed — military strikes on Syria by the United States. Wikinews sought input from a range of international experts on the situation; and, the tensions caused by Russia’s support for the al-Assad regime despite its apparent use of chemical weapons.

1 Interviewees
2 Wikinews Q&A
- 2.1 China
- 2.2 Iran
- 2.3 Russia
3 Related news

File:Ghouta chemical attack map.svg

Tensions in the country increased dramatically, late August when it was reported between 100 and 1,300 people were killed in an alleged chemical attack. Many of those killed appeared to be children, with some of the pictures and video coming out of the country showing — according to witnesses — those who died from apparent suffocation; some foaming at the mouth, others having convulsions.

Amongst Syria’s few remaining allies, Iran, China, and Russia continue to oppose calls for military intervention. In an effort to provide a better-understanding of the reasoning behind their ongoing support, the following people were posed a range of questions.

Mockumentary Mister America has world premiere

Monday, October 7, 2019

Friday evening, mockumentary Mister America had its world premiere at Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California as part of Hulu’s Beyond Fest film festival. Mister America is a continuation of the elaborate multimedia universe of Tim Heidecker and Gregg Turkington’s web series On Cinema at the Cinema. Wikinews attended the premiere.

The film follows a fictionalized version of comedian Tim Heidecker who hosts the absurd and shallow On Cinema film review Web series with purported film expert Gregg Turkington. When Heidecker narrowly avoids a murder conviction, he sets out to run for District Attorney of San Bernardino County and fails to even be on the ballot.

The premiere was accompanied by a question-and-answer session moderated by Canadian comedian Nathan Fielder, delving into the logistics of shooting with a five-person crew over the course of three days on a shoestring budget. Fans in the audience probed the stars about their comedic backgrounds, including Turkington’s alias of insult comedian Neil Hamburger and Heidecker’s interest in political comedy.

In addition to the cast of the film, additional On Cinema alumni including Alessandro Serradimigni, Joe Estevez, and Manuel Giusti were in attendance.

The Beyond Fest 2019 continues through October 8 and Mister America debuts to a wider audience on October 9.

Three Common Types Of Personal Injuries In Lafayette La

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Personal injury is a term used in Tort Law to refer to accidents caused by the carelessness or negligence of another party. Victims of personal injury are allowed to claim for some form of compensation from the at-fault party. With the complex legal procedures involved when filing accident lawsuits, it is important that the injured person hire the services of an experienced personal injury law. A competent accident lawyer has handled many accident cases before successfully. They can offer the aggrieved person the necessary legal advice and support to navigate these types of cases. The following are some common types of Personal Injuries in Lafayette LA that may require a plaintiff to hire a lawyer.

Automobile Accidents

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evc-ej87sKo[/youtube]

Most automobile accidents occur due to the irresponsibility or ignorance of some drivers. There many types of automobile accidents, including car accidents, truck accidents, tractor-trailer accidents, motorcycle accidents and passenger accidents. To receive compensation, the injured victim must prove that the crash was caused by the fault of the other driver. An experienced personal injury lawyer can study the details of the accident, and determine whether the other driver was driving under the influence, failed to obey traffic rules or failed to exercise a reasonable amount of care.

Medical Malpractice

Medical malpractice, also known as medical negligence, occurs when the carelessness of a health care provider results in patient injury. Medical malpractice can be due to an action taken by the health care provider, or by failure to receive appropriate care. If a mistake by a medical provider or defective medical equipment has caused injury or death to a loved one, it is important to hire a qualified personal injury lawyer. The lawyer can make sure the injured individual receives a full compensation for the injuries caused by the incident.

Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents can occur anywhere to anyone. Some common causes of these accidents include wet floors, poor lighting, potholes in the ground, unattended parking lots, broken or cracked sidewalks. A personal injury lawyer can ensure victims of slip and falls are adequately compensated.

There are other types of Personal Injuries in Lafayette LA, such as animal injuries, construction accidents, workplace injuries and many more. For more information about personal injuries, and how to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer, go to chrisrichardattorney.com.

Belgian bus company knows solution for car parking problems

Monday, May 21, 2007

Do you have a hard time finding a parking space? Take the bus or tram if you go to the city. That’s the message Belgian bus company De Lijn (The Line) is sending to promote public transport as a solution for car parking problems. As a part of their media campaign, they have jokingly suggested that people use the top of the busses as parking space.

Another idea they are using in their media campaign: maybe you could park your car on the bottom of a canal? The bus company is using an invented diving company called Cardive, which has divers that offer to dump your car in the canal. The divers walk around in cities and hand out free bus tickets and maps of the bus network.

To reach car drivers who are not using public transport, the media campaign has several radio commercials that present other solutions to the car parking problem. You could use “asphalt-spray” to camouflage your car, making it invisible for policemen (although you then need to remember where you’ve parked). Or you could use the “flat tire kit”, which comes with a fake flat tire and an inflatable dummy, so it looks like you’re replacing your flat tire. The final idea the bus company has is to use a View-Master to fool parking guards into believing that your car has been stationed correctly.

A survey among 4000 customers of De Lijn shows that two out of three car owners who use public transport, do so to avoid parking space troubles, and in cities this percentage rises to 90%. The survey further shows that 39% use the bus to go shopping.

During the month of May, the auto-bus and the divers tour several cities in Flanders (Leuven, Hasselt, Ghent, Bruges and Antwerp).

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