CHILD ABUSE- One Billion Rising- breaking the chains - of abuse Child-Abuse-stop-child-abuse-
NEW SCIENTIST- Banks gone bad- Our evolved morality has failed us 4 -basic humanity 4 money changers
CANADA AND WORLD HIJACKED BY MONATERY DESPOTS AND THIEVES WHO WILL NEV-A SEE A JAIL- UNITED NATIONS COST $$$18 BILLION A YEAR AND $$$$ 100,000 MILLION USA TAXES A YEAR ALONE
18 Signs That Massive Economic Problems Are Erupting All Over The Planet
By Michael Snyder, on June 2nd, 2013
This is no time to be complacent. Massive economic problems are erupting all over the globe, but most people seem to believe that everything is going to be just fine. In fact, a whole bunch of recent polls and surveys show that the American people are starting to feel much better about how the U.S. economy is performing. Unfortunately, the false prosperity that we are currently enjoying is not going to last much longer. Just look at what is happening in Europe. The eurozone is now in the midst of the longest recession that it has ever experienced. Just look at what is happening over in Asia. Economic growth in India is the lowest that it has been in a decade and the Japanese financial system is beginning to spin wildly out of control. One of the only places on the entire planet where serious economic problems have not already erupted is in the United States, and that is only because we have "kicked the can down the road" by recklessly printing money and by borrowing money at an unprecedented rate. Unfortunately, the "sugar high" produced by those foolish measures is starting to wear off. We are going to experience a massive amount of economic pain along with the rest of the world - it is just a matter of time.
But for the moment, there are a lot of skeptics out there.
For the moment, there are a lot of people that are declaring that the problems of the past have been fixed and that we are heading for incredibly bright economic times ahead.
Unfortunately, those people appear to be purposely ignoring the economic horror that is breaking out all over the globe.
The following are 18 signs that massive economic problems are erupting all over the planet...
#1 The eurozone is now in the midst of its longest recession ever. Economic activity in the eurozone has declined for six quarters in a row.
#2 Italy's economy has now been contracting for seven quarters in a row.
#3 Industrial production in Italy has fallen for 15 months in a row. It has now fallen to its lowest level in about 25 years.
#4 The number of people that are considered to be "seriously deprived" in Italy has doubled over the past two years.
#5 Consumer confidence in France has just hit a new all-time low.
#6 The number of unemployed workers seeking a job in France has hit a brand new all-time record high. Many unemployed workers in France are utterly frustrated at this point...
"I've sent CVs everywhere, I come to the unemployment agency every day, for 3 or 4 hours to look for work as a truck driver and there's never anything," said 42-year old Djamel Sami, who has been unemployed for a year, leaving a job agency in Paris.
#7 Unemployment in the eurozone as a whole has just hit a brand new all-time record high of 12.2 percent.
#8 Youth unemployment continues to soar to unprecedented heights in Europe. The following is from an article that was recently posted on the website of the Guardian that detailed how bad things are getting in some of the worst countries...
In Greece, 62.5% of young people are out of work, in Spain it's 56.4%, then Portugal with 42.5%, and then Italy with 40.5%.
#9 Youth unemployment is being partially blamed for the worst rioting that Sweden has seen in many years. The following is how the Daily Mail described the riots...
Sweden is reeling after a third night of rioting in largely run-down immigrant areas of the capital Stockholm.
In the last 48 hours violence has spread to at least ten suburbs with mobs of youths torching hundreds of cars and clashing with police.
It is Sweden's worst disorder in years and has shocked the country and provoked a debate on how Sweden is coping with youth unemployment and an influx of immigrants.
#10 An astounding 10 percent of all banking deposits were pulled out of banks in Cyprus during the month of April alone.
#11 Economic growth in India is the slowest that it has been in an entire decade.
#12 Suddenly Australia is experiencing some tremendous economic challenges. The following quotes are from a recent Zero Hedge article...
-"We’re seeing a much sharper contraction in the Australian economy than we’d anticipated four or five months ago". Coffey MD, John Douglas. The engineering group has seen its shares, which traded above $4 in 2007, hit 10c last week.
-"By 10am, the Fitness First gym in the city is packed full of brokers who’ve had a gutful of sitting at their desk doing nothing – salary cuts are starting and next it will be jobs" Perth broker
-"Oh mate, the funding market is dead. You are now seeing a few deeply discounted rights issues for those that are reaching desperate levels ….. liquidity has completely disappeared" Perth broker
#13 The financial system in Japan is beginning to spin wildly out of control. The Japanese stock market has now declined about 15 percent from the peak, and many believe that the yen will continue to get weaker and that interest rates in Japan will start to rise significantly.
#14 Global cash flow is declining at a rate not seen since the last recession. This indicates that we could be headed for a global credit crunch.
#15 Real wages continue to decline in the United States. Even though we are being told that the U.S. is experiencing an "economy recovery", real weekly earnings have declined from $297.79 in 2010 to $295.49 in 2011 to $294.83 in 2012. (The preceding calculation is based on 1982-1984 dollars)
#16 Wall Street is buzzing about the fact that "the Hindenburg Omen" appeared at the end of last week. So exactly what is "the Hindenburg Omen"? The following are the criteria that are used to determine whether it has appeared or not...
1. The daily number of NYSE new 52 Week Highs and the daily number of new 52 Week Lows must both be greater than 2.2 percent of total NYSE issues traded that day.
2. The smaller of these numbers is greater than or equal to 69 (68.772 is 2.2% of 3126). This is not a rule but more like a checksum. This condition is a function of the 2.2% of the total issues.
3. That the NYSE 10 Week moving average is rising.
4. That the McClellan Oscillator ( a market breadth indicator used to evaluate the rate of money entering or leaving the market and interpretively indicate overbought or oversold conditions of the market)is negative on that same day.
5. That new 52 Week Highs cannot be more than twice the new 52 Week Lows (however it is fine for new 52 Week Lows to be more than double new 52 Week Highs).
When the Hindenburg Omen makes an appearance, it supposedly means that the U.S. stock market is likely to experience a serious decline within the next 40 days.
#17 As I wrote about the other day, the SentimenTrader Smart/Dumb Money Index is now the lowest that it has been in more than two years. That means that lots of "smart money" has been getting out of the market and lots of "dumb money" has been pouring in.
#18 Margin debt on the New York Stock Exchange has set a new all-time high. The following is from a recent Market Oracle article...
Margin debt—that’s the amount of money borrowed to purchase stocks—on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) reached its all-time high in April. Margin debt on the NYSE registered at $384.3 billion as the key stock indices hit new record-highs. (Source: New York Stock Exchange web site, last accessed May 29, 2013.) The highest margin debt ever reached prior to this was in July of 2007, when it stood just above $381.0 billion. At that time, just like today, the key stock indices were near their peaks and "buy now before it’s too late" was the prominent theme of the day
Whenever margin debt spikes like this, a stock market crash almost always follows. If you doubt this, just check out the chart in this article.
Wall Street has had a good couple of years, but it has been a "false prosperity" that has been pumped up by reckless money printing by the Federal Reserve. Just like all of the other stock market bubbles that we have seen in recent years, this one is going to burst too. And as Marc Faber recently pointed out, this bubble has been particularly beneficial to the wealthy...
The Fed has been flooding the system with money. The problem is the money doesn't flow into the system evenly. It doesn't increase economic activity and asset prices in concert. Instead, it creates dangerous excesses in countries and asset classes. Money-printing fueled the colossal stock-market bubble of 1999-2000, when the Nasdaq more than doubled, becoming disconnected from economic reality. It fueled the housing bubble, which burst in 2008, and the commodities bubble. Now money is flowing into the high-end asset market - things like stocks, bonds, art, wine, jewelry, and luxury real estate.
Money-printing boosts the economy of the people closest to the money flow. But it doesn't help the worker in Detroit, or the vast majority of the middle class. It leads to a widening wealth gap. The majority loses, and the minority wins.
The fact that the U.S. stock market has set new all-time record high after new all-time record high in recent months means very little. At this point, the stock market has become completely divorced from economic reality. When this current bubble bursts, the adjustment is going to be very painful. Wall Street will likely whine and complain and ask for more bailouts, but they may find that authorities are not nearly as sympathetic this time.
Much of the rest of the world is already experiencing the next major wave of the economic collapse. Reckless money printing by the Fed and reckless borrowing and spending by the federal government may have delayed the inevitable in the United States for a little while, but those measures have also made our long-term problems even worse.
There was one piece of advice that Ben Bernanke included in his commencement speech to students at Princeton recently that I thought was particularly ironic...
"Don't be afraid to let the drama play out."
Will he take his own advice when the next great financial crisis strikes the United States?
That seems very unlikely.
Unfortunately, things are not going to be so easy to fix this next time.
What happened back in 2008 was just a preview.
What is coming next is going to absolutely shock the world.
http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/18-signs-that-massive-economic-problems-are-erupting-all-over-the-planet
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USA AND EUROPEAN BANKS- STOCK MARKET DESPOTS AND THIEVES HIJACKED OUR PLANET- the poor are dying in hard parts of the world now in millions instead of thousands and WILL NOT USE BIRTH CONTROL.... in .....2013- this is the travesty of our world August 2013
NEW SCIENTIST: Banks gone bad: Our evolved morality has failed us
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21729090.200-banks-gone-bad-our-evolved-morality-has-failed-us.html
Banks gone bad: Our evolved morality has failed us
25 March 2013 by Christopher Boehm
We seem to be unable to punish bankers for their scandalous behaviour. That's because our moral instincts can’t cope, says a professor of biological sciences and anthropology
Why is it so hard to punish bankers for their scandalous behaviour? Have our evolved moral instincts failed us?
ROB a bank and you risk a long stretch in jail. Run a bank whose dubious behaviour leads to global economic collapse and you risk nothing of the sort, more likely a handsome pay-off.
Illegal and dangerous mistakes associated with the financial industry have caused serious harm to US and world economies. That is beyond doubt. And the scandals keep coming – rate rigging, money laundering, mis-selling and sanctions busting. The wider backlash against the industry shows no sign of easing.
So given the scale of damage and public anger, fuelled by the industry's bonus culture, it is curious that those responsible have largely avoided punishment in the traditional judicial sense, despite the clamour for it.
That we so want those involved to get their just deserts has its roots in ancient human forms of social control, which led to our modern sense of morality.
In their rudimentary, hunter-gatherer forms, crime and punishment surely go back for tens of millennia. The case has been made that by 45,000 years ago, or possibly earlier, people were practising moralistic social control much as we do.
Without exception, foraging groups that still exist today and best reflect this ancient way of life exert aggressive surveillance over their peers for the good of the group. Economic miscreants are mainly bullies who use threats or force to benefit themselves, along with thieves and cheats.
All are free-riders who take without giving, and all are punished by the group. This can range from mere criticism or ostracism to active shaming, ejection or even capital punishment. This moral behaviour was reinforced over the millennia that such egalitarian bands dominated human life.
Then around 12,000 years ago, larger, still-egalitarian sedentary tribes arrived with greater needs for centralised control. Eventually clusters of tribes formed authoritative chiefdoms. Next came early civilisations, with centrally prescribed and powerfully enforced moral orders. One thing tied these and modern, state-based moral systems to what came before and that was the human capacity for moral indignation. It remains strong today.
So there is an inevitable outcry when bankers seem to "get away with it", offending this instinctive moral corrective sense.
And ultimately, such public opinion should strongly influence how we police fiscal deviants – but there are complicating factors that suggest this instinct is being undermined when it comes to taming the most harmful behaviour in the banking world.
Firstly, if popular morality has from ancient times been about protecting individual interests from damage through social predation, we must ask some questions. What happens when lawbreaking becomes embedded in large, hard-to-understand economic systems, and when the immediate damaging consequences seem to be diffuse and institutional, rather than direct and personal?
There is an obvious disconnect between what takes place in a small band, in which moral outrage leads to hurtful punishments that fit with hurtful crimes, and a very large system of international finance in which the negative consequences are so much less direct and the power to deter gets lost in the process.
To this we must add the fact that the US democratic system of popular representation, and to a degree that of other nations, is compromised by lobbying that too often amounts to institutionalised bribery. Reform is unlikely because the heavily lobbied politicians we elect are in charge of both our electoral system and, to an extent, our system of justice.
The result is that lobbies often trump what we fondly refer to as the people's will, as long as really serious, electorally significant moral indignation in the populace can be avoided. Banking institutions loom large on the lobbying stage. A 2009 report from the International Monetary Fund concluded that lenders who lobbied most were those engaged in riskier practices.
Add in our long-standing tradition of coddling white-collar offenders whose acts seem to impact only on corporations, and the sheer complexity of judging the economic consequences of errant behaviour, and maybe we can better understand why moral outrage doesn't translate into action.
Ultimately we are still left with what to do about this, how to regulate a free-market economy to deter behaviour that causes major fiscal problems. Morality aside, economists learned from the Soviet Union that excessive regulation leads to gross economic inefficiency, and most people in capitalist economies believe in having sensibly but minimally regulated economies that largely organise themselves.
Modern democracies are quite similar to egalitarian hunting bands in that moralistic public opinion helps to protect populaces against social predation, and dictates much of social policy. In a sense, the Founding Fathers were brilliant in creating a larger-scale system, one that basically guarantees personal autonomy yet permits enough centralised control to run a much bigger ship.
However, the sheer scale of society, combined with the internationalisation of business, has produced cognitive challenges that must, in an age of increasing manipulation by lobbyists, be met by ordinary voters. Fortunately, voters don't always follow the political advertising money.
Simplistic solutions, such as criminalising any financial rule-breaking that leads to serious social harm, would provoke much debate. What is beyond debate is that in the case of major corporate crimes an ancient approach to making justice serve the greater good is creaking and groaning, and that new answers must be sought.
Christopher Boehm is author of Moral Origins (Basic Books) and professor of biological sciences and anthropology at the University of Southern California
http://americankabuki.blogspot.it/2013/03/new-scientist-banks-gone-bad-our.html
---------------------------
CANADA- unemployed
Canada loses 39,000 jobs in July; unemployment rate rises to 7.2%
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WHILST USA IS LIVING IN HORROR- july 2013
Unemployment can be measured in several ways. A person is unemployed if they are jobless but looking for a job and available for work. People who are neither employed nor unemployed are not in the labor force. For example, as of July 2013, the unemployment rate in the United States was 7.4%[5] or 12.0 million people,[6] while the government's broader U-6 unemployment rate, which includes the part-time underemployed was 14.3%[7] or 22.2 million people. These figures were calculated with a civilian labor force of approximately 155 million people,[8] relative to a U.S. population of approximately 315 million people.[9] The record proportion of long term unemployed, continued decreasing household income, and new federal budget cuts remained indicative of a jobless recovery.[10]
EUROPEAN UNION
Eurozone unemployment reaches new record high in April
AdvertisementThe BBC's Jamie Robertson says the employment figures show "disparity across Europe"
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Unemployment in the eurozone has reached another record high, according to official figures.
The seasonally-adjusted rate for April was 12.2%, up from 12.1% the month before.
An extra 95,000 people were out of work in the 17 countries that use the euro, taking the total to 19.38 million.
Both Greece and Spain have jobless rates above 25%. The lowest unemployment rate is in Austria at 4.9%.
The European Commission's statistics office, Eurostat, said Germany had an unemployment rate of 5.4% while Luxembourg's was 5.6%.
The highest jobless rates are in Greece (27.0% in February 2013), Spain (26.8%) and Portugal (17.8%).
In France, Europe's second largest economy, the number of jobless people rose to a new record high in April.
"We do not see a stabilisation in unemployment before the middle of next year," said Frederik Ducrozet, an economist at Credit Agricole in Paris. "The picture in France is still deteriorating."
'Social crisis'
Youth unemployment remains a particular concern. In April, 3.6 million people under the age of 25 were out of work in the eurozone, which translated to an unemployment rate of 24.4%.
Figures from the Italian government showed 40.5% of young people in Italy are unemployed.
Europe's already dismal jobs situation has deteriorated further. If we needed a reminder of the lingering effects of the eurozone financial crisis, it is to be seen in the jobs data.
The general pattern is that the largest increases in unemployment over the last year were in countries at the centre of the crisis - Greece, Cyprus, Spain and Portugal. There was also a sharp increase in Slovenia, a country seen as a possible future candidate for a financial rescue.
The main exception to the pattern was Ireland, another country receiving a bailout, where unemployment nonetheless fell by almost one and half percentage points in twelve months.
The figures also highlight the "lost generation" concern that is, or should be, causing some lost sleep for political leaders. Unemployment among young people is approaching one in four across the eurozone and it is 40% or higher in a few countries - Greece, Spain, Portugal and Italy.
"We have to deal with the social crisis, which is expressed particularly in spreading youth unemployment, and place it at the centre of political action," said Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano.
In the 12 months to April, 1.6 million people lost their jobs in the eurozone.
While the jobless figure in the eurozone climbed for the 24th consecutive month, the unemployment rate for the full 27-member European Union remained at 11%.
The eurozone is in its longest recession since it was created in 1999. At 1.4%, inflation is far below the 2% target set by the European Central Bank (ECB).
Consumer spending remains subdued. Figures released on Friday showed that retail sales in Germany fell 0.4% in April compared with the previous month.
Earlier this week, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) predicted that the eurozone economy would contract by 0.6% this year.
According to Carsten Brzeski, an economist at ING, in the past, the eurozone has needed economic growth of about 1.5% to create jobs.
-------------------
HOMELESS- IN NATIONS THAT ACTUALLY GIVE A SHEEEEET
NEW ZEALAND- HOMELESS 3,811 POPULATION -4,472,338
Homelessness—Statistics
[Sitting date: 02 July 2013. Volume:691;Page:11722. Text is subject to correction.]
7. JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) to the Minister of Housing: How many people, if any, are currently homeless in New Zealand?
Hon Dr NICK SMITH (Minister of Housing) : There is no precise current measure of homelessness, although the Housing New Zealand waiting list is a measure. The total number in the A and B categories is currently 3,811, which is actually 551 less than when the Government took office. I am advised that 20 percent of the people in category A could be classed as homeless—or about 250. Housing New Zealand housed 200 people in June, or about 40 high-need families per day.
AUSTRALIA- 105,000 a night homeless- POPULATION- Population Of Australia: 22,599,256 (22.5 million)
There are currently 105,237 people in Australia who are homeless.
The rate of homelessness (which takes into account population density) is 49 out of every 10,000 people (0.5% of the population).
Homelessness in Australia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
A homeless person's shelter under a fallen willow tree in Australia.
This article describes homelessness in Australia. The majority of long term homeless people are found in the large cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. It is estimated that on any given night approximately 105,000 people will be homeless.[1]
A person is considered to be homeless in Australia if they:
Do not have access to safe, secure adequate housing, or, if the only housing they have access to damages, or is likely to damage, their health
Are in circumstances which threaten or adversely affect the adequacy, safety, security or affordability of their home
Have no security of tenure – that is, they have no legal right to continued occupation of their home.
CANADA- HOMELESS- 200,000 A YEAR- 30,000 A NIGHT- 36 MILLION
30,000 Canadians are homeless every night
200,000 Canadians are homeless in any given year, national report says
CBC News
Last Updated: Jun 19, 2013 1:21 PM ET
Video Content
Play VideoA new national report into homelessness shows at least 200,000 Canadians experience homelessness in any given year and at least 30,000 Canadians are homeless on any given nightCanada's homeless2:17
Canada falling behind on poverty, inequality, says reportHalf of First Nations children live in poverty
External Links
The State of Homelessness in Canada 2013
(Note:CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)
Despite sporadic success in addressing homelessness in Canada, little progress has been made toward a permanent cross-country solution, says a national report into the extent of the problem.
The report's initial numbers tell a grim story. Among the report's findings:
At least 200,000 Canadians experience homelessness in any given year.
At least 150,000 Canadians a year use a homeless shelter at some point.
At least 30,000 Canadians are homeless on any given night.
At least 50,000 Canadians are part of the "hidden homeless" on any given night — staying with friends or relatives on a temporary basis as they have nowhere else to go.
Those numbers come from the Canadian Homelessness Research Network (CHRN) and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, the groups behind what they call the first extensive national report card on homelessness.
Their look at the state of homelessness in Canada found that annual shelter use did not change substantially from 2005 to 2009, while the average stay grew longer.
As a result, the report's authors say, it's time the country shifted its focus from crisis management — from things like emergency shelter beds and soup kitchens — to more permanent solutions.
"When we start warehousing people, it can lead to a sense of complacency: well, it isn't the best situation to be sleeping with 50 other strangers in a room but it's a best we can do," said Stephen Gaetz, the lead author of the report and the director of the CHRN.
"The reality is it isn't the best we can do at all."
Who is homeless?
While the homeless can come from any group, the report found that certain populations are over-represented:
Single adult males between the ages of 25 and 55 account for almost half the homeless population (47.5 per cent).
Youth between the ages of 16 and 24 account for 20 per cent of the homeless. An estimated 25 to 40 per cent of homeless youth are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual or transgender.
Aboriginal people are over-represented among the homeless in almost every urban centre in Canada, with the over-representation growing dramatically the more one heads west and north.
Degrees of homelessness
Of the 200,000 people who use homeless shelters in an average year, relatively few (4,000 to 8,000) are what the report's authors call "chronically homeless."
A slightly higher number (6,000 to 22,000) are what they call "episodic homeless." These are people who move into and out of homeless shelters multiple times over several years.
The vast majority of Canada's homeless (176,000 to 188,000) are "transitional homeless" — individuals and families who enter the shelter system for a short stay of generally less than a month. For them, homelessness is usually a one-time event.
Even though the first two groups make up less than 15 per cent of the homeless population, they account for more than half of the resources of the homelessness system.
Of the 30,000 homeless on any given night:
2,880 are unsheltered (on the street).
14,400 are staying in emergency shelters.
7,350 are staying in violence-against-women shelters.
4,464 are in hospitals, jails or other interim facilities.
Source: The State of Homelessness in Canada, 2013
People can be pushed into homelessness by a variety of factors — the loss of a job, mental illness, addictions, family violence or abuse, extreme poverty.
Changes in the economy and in the housing market are adding to homelessness.
The supply of affordable housing has not kept pace with the needs of the population. There has also been a decline in the amount of affordable rental housing in many cities. Combine that with declining incomes and a widespread reduction in social benefits for low-income Canadians, and you get a population that has to spend a greater percentage of its income on housing.
High rents and low vacancy rates put more pressure on the 30 per cent of Canadians who rent.
Many more are increasingly vulnerable. The report estimates that as many as 1.5 million of Canada's 12 million households — those with low incomes and who are paying more than 30 per cent of their income on housing — are at risk of becoming homeless.
Suggestions for change
Despite few signs of a broad national turnaround in the homelessness problem, the authors see signs of progress.
They highlight the federal government's Homelessness Partnering Strategy, which was renewed this past March for another five years. The strategy supports research on homelessness and works with communities in tackling the problem.
But the report's authors say this investment has not been accompanied by "a robust and ongoing investment in affordable housing," which they say is a crucial part of solving the problem.
Vicky Stergiopoulos, the psychiatrist-in-chief at St. Michael's Hospital in downtown Toronto, called the report "long overdue" and said she was hopeful its recommendation would be heeded.
"The question will be, how do we transform programs and services that were designed to manage homelessness to programs and services that will end homelessness? That will require a phenomenal amount of leadership and community engagement," she told CBC News.
"We have the evidence base of what we need to do. What we lack is perhaps the know-how of how to do this transformation."
Several initiatives at the provincial and municipal level appear to be making progress. For instance, the province of Alberta announced a 10-year plan to end homelessness in 2008. Since then, the province has seen a 16 per cent reduction in homelessness.
Bright spots at municipal, provincial levels
Various homeless strategies have also been adopted in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario and Quebec.
Annual cost of homelessness to the economy:
$7.05 billion — includes costs of running shelters, providing social services, health care and corrections
Source: The State of Homelessness in Canada, 2013
The efforts of some of Canada's big cities were also singled out.
Vancouver, through a series of public and private partnerships, has achieved a 66 per cent reduction in street homelessness.
Calgary and Edmonton have also seen significant reductions in homelessness. Edmonton's 30 per cent reduction in homelessness since 2008 leads the country's big cities.
Homeward Trust Edmonton says that more than 2,300 people have found homes through the housing first program since 2009. Of those, more than 80 per cent "successfully remain in housing," the organization's website says.
Bruce Reith, who works with Edmonton's Hope Mission, said shelters are still seeing long lineups, despite the success of the housing first program.
"I would have thought the numbers in the shelters would have gone down," Reith said. "But we've found that the numbers have gone up. But a lot of people are moving into Edmonton, and a lot of them, a percentage would be transient."
Toronto has also seen a marked decline in street homelessness, with the city's outreach programs getting much of the credit.
The report calls for all communities to develop clear plans to end homelessness, with the support of other levels of government. It also calls for a dramatic increase in the supply of affordable housing.
"Canada will not see a sustained reduction in homelessness without a significant increase in the affordable housing supply," the authors write.
Priority attention should be paid to the needs of the aboriginal homeless. It also calls for a focus on reducing the ranks of the chronically or frequently homeless. "No one should be homeless and using emergency services for any longer than a few weeks."
The authors also say the country needs better data collection so communities can determine the full extent of their homelessness problem and take steps to address it effectively.
"Those decisions on how to respond to homelessness need to be based on evidence, what we know that works, not just on ideas we pull out of the air," Gaetz said.
"We have to move forward with solid evidence on how to do this. We've got some of that evidence but now it's time to scale it up across the country and get everybody pulling in the right direction."
Corrections and Clarifications
An earlier version of this story, written from an advance copy of the report, said that Edmonton had seen a 42 per cent reduction in homelessness since 2008. A subsequent copy of the report stated that Edmonton had achieved a 30 per cent reduction in homelessness since 2008.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/06/18/homelessness-state-canada-report.html
and...
USA- HOMELESS-- 7 MILLION - LOW NUMBER- 300 MILLION POPULATION
Over One Million U.S. Kids Are Homeless | Care2 Causes
www.care2.com/causes/over-one-million-u-s-kids-are-homeless.html?
Sep 14, 2012 - More than one million students in this country are homeless. ... the precise number of homeless youth in the United States is, it cannot describe ...
AND...
3.5 Million Homeless and 18.5 Million Vacant Homes - Expression of ...
www.expressionoftruth.com › Money and Economics › News › Poverty?
May 29, 2013 - Since 2007, banks have foreclosed around eight million homes. ... Yet every day in the United States, banks are foreclosing on more than ...
and..
America is Ignoring Homeless Families - Moyers & Company
billmoyers.com/2013/04/21/america-is-ignoring-homeless-families/?
Apr 21, 2013 - We're proud to collaborate with The Nation in sharing insightful journalism related to income inequality in America. The following is an excerpt ...
AND...
Homeless Stats - Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness
www.thechicagoalliance.org/homelessstats.aspx
Over the course of a year, between 2.5 and 3.5 million people will live either on the streets or in an emergency ... (Homelessness in the United States of America.
AND...
Hawaii will pay homeless people to fly back home | neurope.eu
www.neurope.eu/article/hawaii-will-pay-homeless-people-fly-back-home?
3 days ago - Hawaii is trying a new approach to cut down on the number of homeless in the Aloha State: ship some of them back to the mainland. Hawaiian ...
and..
EUROPEAN UNION- HOMELESS- over 3 MILLION - low number- POPULATION : 504,456,000
Competition for Cots: Cities Struggle to Handle Rise in Homeless
By Fidelius Schmid and Andreas Ulrich
Homeless people hoping to find accomodation line up outside a shelter in Hamburg.
With frigid temperatures outside, German homeless and emergency shelters are usually full this time of year. But a rising number of homeless people, many from other EU states, are exceeding their capacities and triggering competition for limited cots and resources.
The doors won't open for another two hours, but Gerd doesn't want to take the risk of being turned away this time. "I was too late yesterday and didn't get a bed," the 57-year-old says. His thin, blond hair is sticking to his head, he has scabs on his forehead and chin, and his breath reeks of schnapps.
ANZEIGE
Gerd would rather spend the afternoon standing in the rain than go away empty-handed again. Three Africans and seven Eastern Europeans are also standing in line. The Hamburg winter emergency shelter program, with its makeshift accommodations in a former office building near the city's central train station, offers 230 beds. Since it can't accommodate all comers on most evenings, some of Hamburg's homeless are forced to sleep on tables and chairs.
Munich, Stuttgart, Cologne and other German cities face a similar problem: There are more people seeking help than there is space in homeless and emergency shelters. The homeless population in Germany has grown sharply in recent years, partly because of a growing influx of destitute Romanians, Bulgarians and other Eastern Europeans. Since their native countries joined the European Union in 2007, Bulgarians and Romanians have been able to enter Germany without visas or residence permits.
Some who have little money or skills, but wish to stay longer than three months, register a business, often a fictitious one, and then work illegally in construction for as little as €3 ($4) an hour. In 2011, the number of Bulgarians in Germany grew by more than 22,000, while that of Romanians went up by 36,000. Thousands of the new immigrants are college graduates, skilled workers or university students, but they also include day laborers and beggars. The poorest end up in homeless shelters, either because they have no money or abuse the emergency shelters as free hotels.
The German Association of Cities complains that municipalities are left to deal with the consequences of "poverty migration" from Eastern Europe, and that cities don't have enough resources to provide housing and medical care to all the new arrivals.
Abusing the System
Conditions in Germany's emergency shelters expose the flipside of the largess of an open Europe. The immigrants from the East are triggering a fight for survival on the margins of society among people who have almost nothing.
"Immigration is a problem that has been growing for years," and yet policymakers have been tight-lipped about it for just as long, says Thomas Specht, managing director of the German Federal Task Force on Homelessness (BAG). According to its figures, in 2011, more than 15 percent of the people in assistance programs for the homeless were foreigners. The actual, current percentage of immigrants in assistance programs "is probably higher," says Specht, especially in major cities and in winter emergency assistance programs, additional shelters set up to prevent homeless people from freezing to death during the cold months when extra capacity is often needed.
The latter are bare-bones emergency overnight shelters, where experts estimate that half of visitors are foreigners. In a shelter on Spaldingstrasse in Hamburg, about two-thirds are from Romania, Bulgaria and Poland. On one occasion, a bus from Romania pulled up to the building and unloaded 12 day laborers. When customs officials recently checked the papers of shelter visitors, they discovered that eight allegedly homeless men had registered businesses and were presumably working as low-wage laborers. Economic migrants "abuse the winter emergency program and take away space from the homeless," says Detlef Scheele, responsible for the social portfolio for the city-state of Hamburg.
Worries about Making Things Too Attractive
Scheele, a Social Democrat, is presumably referring to people like Johnny, who knows how to work with sheetrock but would also work as a waiter. Or Claudio, who will take any job he can get, or Nello, a tractor driver. His wife and his youngest daughter are living in his son's studio apartment in Cologne, but there isn't enough space there for him.
All three are waiting outside the doors of the former veterinary office at Cologne's Eifelwall streetcar station, which opens at 7 p.m. There are about 30 people there, and the most common language being spoken is Romanian. Nello has been sleeping there for the last six months, but he hasn't found a job yet. "Going back isn't an option," he says. "There is nothing for me at home, only poverty."
The facility, which opened this winter, was set up to accommodate the overflow from the regular homeless shelter. It provides bed linens, towels, hot showers and sandwiches, which is more than some of the homeless have in Eastern Europe. In the emergency shelter, people sleep on cots without pillows, and food is not provided. But at least the heat works.
The spartan accommodations represent Cologne's effort to handle the influx. In nearby Dortmund, the city administration takes the position that homeless people from other EU countries "were not homeless in their native countries but, instead, deliberately made themselves homeless by traveling as EU citizens," and thus should not be entitled to stay in German homeless shelters. According to a city spokesman, those who still have no place to stay after 10:30 p.m., when it gets very cold, can spend the night in a holding area.
Until last year, Munich tried to accommodate homeless people from Eastern Europe with its winter assistance program. Then, it also created a special solution for people "without the right to accommodation," that is, immigrants. The Protestant Relief Organization Munich operates two emergency shelters on the grounds of the former Bayernkaserne military barracks, which provide 176 spaces in bunk beds in one building and 39 in another. However, the Bayernkaserne only opens when outside temperatures drop below freezing or there is a severe winter storm.
The authorities in various cities are worried about making their accommodations for the homeless seem too attractive, as no city wants to become a magnet for a new group of homeless people. "The word quickly spreads about places where conditions are good, prompting local officials to worry that everyone will come to their city," says a social worker who prefers to remain anonymous.
The word has also spread that funds are getting tighter now that more of the needy are coming from Eastern Europe. "They haven't made things easier," says Karl-Heinz, who is sitting in the Gulliver day facility for the homeless under a bridge near Cologne's cnetral station, together two other men named Rolf and Dirk. The facility offers showers for 50 cents and free mobile-phone charging. It's become more difficult to find a seat, says Rolf, although that isn't the biggest problem for him and his friends. "We make less money begging because they're here," says Dirk, referring to homeless from abroad, "and we don't find as many deposit bottles because they're also looking for them."
Translated from the German by Christopher Sultan
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-cities-struggle-to-accommodate-rise-in-homeless-a-885484.html
German Cities Struggle to Accommodate Rise in Homeless ...
www.spiegel.de › English Site › Germany › Immigration
Feb 28, 2013 - But a rising number of homeless people, many from other EU states, are exceeding their capacities and triggering competition for limited cots ...
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The Hungarian Constitutional Court struck down on the criminalization of homelessness
Details
The rule of law has prevailed!
The Hungarian Constitutional Court struck down on the criminalization of homelessness
We are very happy to announce that the Hungarian Constitutional Court, the country’s highest court, has confirmed what The City is for All has represented for years: „The mere fact that someone lives in public space does not infringe on other people’s rights, does not cause damage and does not endanger the habitual use of space or public order" – as a result, punishing street homelessness is unconstitutional. The decision of the Constitutional Court is a victory for the rule of law, for homeless people and for everyone who has spoken out against the public persecution of homeless people over the years.
It is very significant that the Constitutional Court declared that „It is detrimental to the freedom of movement derived from the right to human dignity if the state forces someone to use social services through punishment." In other words, street homelessness has to be ended not through force but through social services of appropriate quality.
We call on those who have supported the public persecution of homelessness – especially MP and local mayor Máté Kocsis, Minister of Interior Sándor Pintér, Secretary of State Miklós Soltész and Mayor of Budapest István Tarlós – to read the decision of the Constitutional Court carefully and publicly apologize to homeless people and all law-abiding citizens of Hungary.
The City is for All does not fight for the right to live on the streets freely, but for the right to housing. This is why we call on the government and all Members of Parliament to take the court’s decision seriously regarding public policies about homelessness: „homelessness is a social problem that the state has to address through social policy and not through punishment." If they want to rectify their measures against the rule of law and homeless citizens, the government should go forward and introduce a housing policy reform that ensures decent housing for all citizens including a law on the right to housing, the radical increase in housing subsidies for low-income people and the creation of a broad network of social housing.
English-language information about the grassroots struggle against the criminalization of homelessness:
They are harassing homeless people (video)
Professor Neil Smith’s Letter to the Minister of Interior of Hungary
Hundreds demonstrated against the criminalization of homelessness
Demonstration against the criminalization of homelessness (video)
Performance and sit-in ended in the arrest of activists
Sit-in against the criminalization of homelessness (video)
We are not afraid of breaking laws for justice
In The City is for All, homeless people, people struggling with housing problems and their allies work together for an egalitarian and just society. The group is based on voluntary work and provides an opportunity for homeless people to stand up for their dignity and fight for the right to housing. Homeless people play a leading role in all of our activities. More information: www.avarosmindenkie.blog.hu
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The setting of national poverty targets
Details
The European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN) is an independent network of NGOs and other organisations fighting for a poverty free Europe since 1990. The network currently represents 30 national anti-poverty networks and platforms and 23 European Organisations.
EAPN welcomes the adoption of an EU poverty reduction target backed by national targets as a positive step forward in eradicating poverty and social exclusion within the EU. It is also embedded within the broader Europe 2020 economic strategy which could ensure potential for impact, beyond social policy. However, the targets and set of support indicators are only useful instruments if they are backed by the appropriate policy solutions and funding, and if the overarching approach of the EU 2020 support rather than undermines the objectives. For this reason, EAPN consider it vital that the Common Objectives of the Social OMC underpin the approach to the poverty target and policy delivery in the NRP and Europe 2020, reinforcing core EU social values and objectives and rooted in human rights. The mainstreaming and implementation of the horizontal clause (9) (TFEU) and Charter of Fundamental Rights need to be a key element of this discussion.
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ethnic tribes of Afghanistan
AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS- APRIL 5 2014
DR. ABDULAH ABDULLAH- hero of Afghan youth movement- the Nelson Mandela and Barak Obama of young Afghan folks
Afghan Biographies
Abdullah, Dr. Abdullah,
Name Abdullah, Dr. Abdullah,
Ethnic backgr. Tajik
Date of birth 1960
Function/Grade Ex-Minister
History and Biodata
2. Former Functions:
Ministry of Defense, MOD, Kabul, Director General (1993-1996)
Deputy Foreign Minister (1996)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Interim Administration of Afghanistan (2001-2006)
afghan-bios Insider View:
Abdullah Abdullah is no typical Afghan power-broker – seeking a sweet deal from Karzai or backing his threats with cadres of rifle-carrying followers. In many respects, Abdullah is a uniquely complex character in Afghan politics. By nature, he is more technocrat than holy warrior. Abdullah wants power in Afghan politics to be disbursed more evenly among the president, legislature, and local authorities. Abdullah's assessment: Afghanistan's centralized government goes against the country's political traditions and is in part responsible for the lack of law and order in rural areas.
3. Biodata
abdullah_abdullah_drDr. Abdullah Abdullah son of Ghulam Muhayuddin Khan (senator of the last period of Parliament) was born on Mizan 15th, 1339 (1960) in a religious family in Kabul. Abdullah's father from Kandahar region was a Pashtun — an ethnic group that comprises 42 percent of the population and accounts for the overwhelming majority of Taliban ranks. His mother was Tajik, an ethnic group in the north that makes up 27 percent. Despite a Pashtun heritage, Abdullah is widely perceived as a northern Tajik because of his intimate association with the Northern Alliance. Abdullah's close ties to the Alliance would make it more difficult for him to reach out to the Taliban than Karzai, who was born in the Taliban heartland of Kandahar province.
His primary education was in Mohd. Ayob Khan School and graduated from Naderia High School in 1355 (1976). He joined the medical faculty in 1356 and earned his degree in 1983. He was at service in Noor hospital as an eye Doctor until 1363.
He immigrated to Pakistan in 1363 and worked as an ophtalmologist at Syed jamal-ud-Din Hospital. In 1364 he joined the fronts of Jihad and served as the health in charge of Panjsher front and afterwards as an advisor to Ahmad Shah Masood until Kabul was freed.
From 1992 to 1996 he was the Chief of the staff and spokesman for the Defense Ministry. In 1997 he was the deputy foreign minister. In 1999 he was the acting foreign minister. After the fall of Taliban in 2001, he was the foreign minister during interim and transitional periods.
On May 6, 2009 Abdullah registered as an Independent candidate for the 2009 Afghan presidential election. He has selected Humayun Shah Asefi as his First Vice President and Dr Cheragh Ali Cheragh (a Shia Hazara surgeon from Kabul) as his Second Vice President..
He came in second place with 30.5% of the total votes. On November 1, 2009, Abdullah quit the runoff election that would have taken place six days later, on November 7, due to large-scale allegations of fraud against his opponent Hamid Karzai. In 2010 Abdullah created the Coalition for Change and Hope which is the leading democratic opposition movement in Afghanistan
He is married and has three daughters and one son.
He is convenient with Dari, Pashto and English he also knows Arabic and French.
Last Modified 2011-03-04
Established 2009-10-09
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Dr. Abdullah Abdullah: In His Own Words
I was born about fifty years ago in this house (pointing to his father’s house located in Kart-e-Parwan, Kabul). My father Ghulam Muhayuddin was from Kandahar province and my mother was from Panjshir. Before moving to Kart-e-Parwan my parents lived in the De Afghanan area of Kabul. My family consisted of nine siblings with seven sisters and two brothers.
When I was two years of age my father who was serving as a government official at the time, was transferred to Kandahar province. At first grade I studied at Zaher Shahi School in Kandahar province. That was when my father was transferred to Kabul and I had to re-attend first grade at Ghazi Ayoub Khan School located within close proximity from our house, due to differences in the school year. I eventually attended Naderia High School. During primary and high school education I enjoyed playing sports, in particular basketball and ping pong. Aside from playing sports I was mainly occupied with my studies. Upon graduation in 1976 I took the admission test for entry into Kabul University’s Department of Medicine which I passed and commenced my studies soon after.
From Faculty to Migration:
I resided in Kabul province during the seven years that I attended Faculty of Medicine at Kabul University. In April of 1979 the coup de ta took place as the forces of the former Soviet Union militarily invaded Afghanistan.
Prior to being admitted to Kabul University’s Department of Medicine I was very much interested in studying Literature. However, my family and friends encouraged me to major in the field of medicine. With the military intervention of Afghanistan by forces of the former Soviet Union, the situation in Afghanistan dramatically changed while I was studying at Kabul University.
When I first entered Kabul University I had around two hundred and twenty classmates. When I graduated from the University’s Department of Medicine, receiving my M.D., I recall around one hundred and sixty classmates graduating from our class. Several of our classmates had either migrated from the country or had joined the national resistance movement against the invading Soviet forces.
During my days at the University I was not very politically active. I occasionally participated in demonstrations and protests organized by students in support of the Afghan national resistance movement against the invading Soviet forces. However, I was concerned about the political and social unrest in Afghanistan, often discussing the situation with my classmates. I found myself contemplating whether to pursue my studies or join the national resistance. I decided to complete my studies and eventually graduated from Department of Medicine in 1362.
Upon graduation I started my work at Kabul’s Noor Eye Institute as an ophthalmologist for several months. Soon after, I migrated to Pakistan. At the time my parents and family decided to stay in Kabul. While in Pakistan I also worked as an ophthalmologist for over a year at the Syed Jamaluddin Afghan Eye Hospital for Afghan Refugees in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Return to Afghanistan to Join National Resistance Movement:
During the tenure of my stay in Pakistan several of my family members and friends advised me to migrate to the West to pursue my studies. However, I deemed it as a national responsibility to join our national movement and provide my services as a doctor.
In the year 1364 I decided to return to my country Afghanistan to join our national liberation movement against the invading Soviet army. From Pakistan I entered Afghanistan through Chitral Pass, arriving in Nuristan province. I then decided to travel to Panjshir, Afghanistan. The journey took me eleven days as I traveled by foot and on horse. After arriving in Panjshir, I was introduced to late prominent Afghan Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud. After spending significant time with him, I realized the popularity of his movement, as he was an extremely capable military commander, whose movement also provided efficient services to the local populace, often solving their problems. I decided to join his movement.
With a Man, a Friend:
I spent my first winter in Panjshir in a village called "Safaid Char" where I opened a small clinic using medical paraphernalia which I had brought with me along with additional medical equipments which had been donated by the Swedish Committee. As a surgeon I provided medical services to local residents, resistance fighters and hostages in the war. After a month of my arrival to Panjshir, Commander Massoud had traveled to the north of the Hindu Kush Mountains to support his forces and expand the military frontlines.
Coincidentally, it was around the time that I had opened my clinic when the attacks of the Soviet forces were at its peak, resulting in the occupation of some parts of Panjshir. However, the Afghan resistance fighters were still very active and operational in areas that were still free from the invading forces control. The clinic was located in a small area in the mountains around "Safaid Char" where Soviet jets periodically bombed. The intensity of the bombings and attacks had not been seen in recent wars. At times, the attacks were so massive and consistent from morning to evening, we would find ourselves not being able to move from one area to another. It was only on snowy days where people could walk and move around safely. Other than that, Soviet bombings could start at any moment, every day. Local residents and Afghan freedom fighters were targeted and injured in the attacks.
In order to increase medical assistance to those in need, I started to train some local residents and Afghan freedom fighters that were able to read and write in first aid assistance. Eventually, some of them left Afghanistan to pursue medical studies abroad.
During this time, an organization called "Shura-e-Nezar" was established which was led by Commander Massoud. It was operational under the Jamiat-e-Islami group, which was one of the seven established Afghan political factions. I observed in Panjshir that there were various committees active in health, education, reconstruction, cultural and other areas. It was striking for me to see that while the Afghan freedom fighters were actively involved and occupied in the military operations, these institutions were serving the people. This had strengthened my perception of Commander Massoud as a credible leader.
Management structure and governance of the people could be seen very clearly. For instance, every village had a council consisting of religious scholars, educated residents, ordinary soldiers, commanders and the youth. All major decisions about the villages were made by these councils. Council members were elected by the villagers. Commander Massoud had control over his forces as a commander, and also monitored the daily activities on the ground through these councils. The elected council of residents secured the support of the locals at the time, and for many years to come. On one hand, the residents felt the ownership, on the other, a structure had been placed that would serve and assist the people.
The many years that I spent next to Commander Massoud helped me to learn a lot about him as well as to become very familiar with his style of management. He was a true Muslim, a fearless fighter, a brave commander, and a man, with a clear vision. He considered resistance to the invading forces as a national responsibility, while at the same time, was very concerned about peace and stability in the lives of all Afghans. Gradually, I learned more and more about him. We eventually became colleagues and friends. Our friendship lasted until the last moment of his life.
During the national resistance, I realized that in addition to being extremely busy with his routine personal and war-related responsibilities, he was always thinking about the country’s future. His every action was pointed at the well-being of the people. Witnessing him possess and illustrate these characteristics was a very good experience for me. I consider the time I shared with him as very valuable and educative.
News about the Passing of my Father:
My father passed away in 1364. This was during my first year in Panjshir and for long time I was unaware of his passing.
It was a kind of tradition for the Afghan freedom fighters to meet with their families once a year. They had to travel to relatively peaceful areas where they would get together with their families who lived in the capital Kabul or elsewhere. One year after the passing of my father, I came to a village called "Munar Darah" in Jabul Saraj, north of the capital. My mother and sisters joined me soon after. They informed me about the passing of my father. The next day I arranged for funeral ceremonies. It was a difficult time, showing the challenging situation that we were in.
When the Afghan freedom fighters came down from the mountains to meet with their families, local villagers provided them with shelter. In some cases, local villagers chose to leave their homes and live elsewhere with their families, so the Afghan freedom fighters could feel free, having their own privacy. This showed the solidarity between men and women, as well as the close relationship between the ordinary people and those who were fighting for the country’s freedom. Freedom and liberation brought people who didn’t know each other to stand side by side. This was a sign that our occupation would one day end, and our people would be able choose their own destiny and write their own future.
Interest for Poetry and Culture:
I was interested in poetry and literatures since a very young age. My father was my first teacher and guide to study the poetries of great poets such as Rumi, Sahdi, Jami, Nazami Ganjawi, and others. He was a religious scholar and taught his children religious subjects at home.
During my school years, I learned more about poetry and literature. The top two teachers of Naderia High School, Ustad Gul Ahqa Berang and Ustad Mohammad Ismael Khazahi, encouraged me to spend more time on poetry and literature. Ustad Khazahi was eventually sentenced, then killed by the communist regime.
The very first day I met Commander Massoud, I found out that not only he had a deep interest, but also deep knowledge of poets and poetry. I witnessed that he read and talked about poetry whenever he had a chance. For instance, after a long and exhausting day, we would find ourselves discussing and reading poetry. We always carried with us a book by Hafez, as well as other poetry books. I have many good memories of those days.
A Sweet Memory:
On a moonlit night, we were crossing a narrow wooden bridge. Commander Massoud looked back and asked everyone to recite poems they knew about the moon. A friend, who I prefer remain anonymous at this time, expressed his interest to read one of his poems about the moon. We all agreed. When he started his poem, we realized that his poem was about the sun, not the moon. We all burst into laughter for a long time. We had many moments such as this one.
Even the evening before Commander Massoud was assassinated, I was told that he and a group of associates were reading Hafez poems until the early morning hours.
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (1992-1996)
It won’t be an exaggeration if I say that the most challenging and difficult time of my life was when the Afghan resistance fighters (Mujahedeen) came to power in 1992.
Spokesperson of Ministry of Defense
When the Afghan Mujahedeen came to power, liberating Kabul from the communist backed regime, I was appointed as Chief of Staff and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Government of Afghanistan. As per instructions from Commander Massoud, I occasionally traveled to northern and western parts of the country to carry out various responsibilities. However, almost all of the time I was with Commander Massoud, while he was serving as the Minister of Defense, a post he later resigned from in order to bring an end to the civil conflict in Kabul. Gulbudeen Hekmatyar of the Hezb-e- Islami faction eventually started a military battle with the Afghan Mujahedeen’s legitimate Government, which later became very complicated.
I have many grim memories of the very troublesome period during this time. I witnessed the tragic loss of lives of innocent civilians, destruction of Kabul and looting of national assets.
Almost immediately after the Afghan Mujahedeen government came into power in Kabul, the very unfortunate wars between various Afghan factions ensued. Before entering Kabul with his military forces, Commander Massoud spoke to Mr. Hekmatyar for one hour, in an effort to convince him to put an immediate halt to his military attacks on Kabul, and to sit down with other prominent Afghan political leaders to negotiate a peaceful political resolution to the conflict. I noticed that during his conversation, Commander Massoud’s tone and mood did not change even once. He was soft, frustrated, serious and honest when he described what the outcome and consequences of the war would be if he continued with his military approach. He strongly urged that all Afghan political leaders sit down as Afghan brothers and come to a peaceful consensus. This would prevent the destruction of Kabul and more importantly would preserve the safety, security and well-being of all of Kabul’s citizens, in particular the children.
Unfortunately, interference by regional players, the international community’s disengagement from Afghanistan, power greed by Jihadi leaders and Mr. Hekmatyar’s stubbornness caused the start of the war.
I got married that same year, 1372. I have three daughters and one son. I was living in Kabul until the Taliban took over Kabul in September of 1996. That was when I left for Panjshir with my mother, wife and eldest daughter.
During the era of resistance to the Taliban, my family decided to remain in Panjshir for a long time. Eventually, we decided to have our family move to New Delhi, India, while I remained in Afghanistan to assist Commander Massoud in his efforts for a stable and free Afghanistan. At this time, I was appointed as Spokesperson of the Islamic Government of Afghanistan.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
In 1997, through deliberations between various Afghan groups that were opposing the Taliban (United Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan), I was appointed as Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs. In this capacity, I traveled extensively to foreign countries to speak about the state of affairs in Afghanistan, our challenges and our way forward. I represented Afghanistan at the Annual United Nations General Assembly Meetings on four separate occasions. I also accompanied former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani to the United Nations Millennium General Assembly. During all my trips, I made an effort to convey the message of the Afghan resistance to the world. That message was that the dangers facing Afghanistan would not be limited only to Afghanistan’s territory. During the course of my official meetings, I also participated in additional side meetings and forums organized by Afghans that were residing within those specific countries.
During the last year of the national resistance, I was appointed to serve as Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan. It is worthy to mention that after the Taliban military captured Kabul, all Afghan embassies and diplomatic missions were controlled by the Islamic Government of Afghanistan, with the exception of three of our Embassies in Pakistan, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Still, during this time, official Afghan government delegations were participating in all major international conferences and meetings.
Unfortunately, our challenge was that the situation in Afghanistan was considered as an "internal issue". Afghanistan’s enemies used the ensuing state of chaos and further inflamed the ethnic tensions in the county, leading the country to further devastation. The Afghan Government was starting to be called as the legitimate "Northern Alliance" movement. The problems continued and eventually Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups made Afghanistan their safe havens as they were being harbored by the Taliban as guests and colleagues. The Taliban were eagerly fighting to capture all of Afghanistan. Many observers irresponsibly saw the military struggle in Afghanistan as a war between the North and the South. In reality, we were fighting for Afghanistan’s independence, national interest, and human rights. There was no issue between the north and south whatsoever.
It took a long time before we achieved in proving the legitimacy of our cause and to be understood by the West and the United States. It was only during the last few years of the resistance when we felt that the western countries perception and opinion about us had changed.
A Failed Mission
In September 2001, when Commander Massoud was martyred (Sept.9), the United Nations General Assembly was in progress in New York. Since Commander Massoud had been selected as Vice President of Afghanistan we wanted him to represent Afghanistan and deliver a speech at the U.N. General Assembly.
During his European trip to Belgium to address the European Parliament, Commander Massoud conveyed a clear message about the dangers of terrorism to Afghanistan and the world. He clearly stated that if the international community did not stand up to terrorist and extremist networks in Afghanistan, its consequences would extend beyond Afghanistan and possibly reach the western world. It was until the last year of the resistance when the international community’s understanding of Afghanistan had slightly changed.
Many of our problems resulted from the fact that Afghanistan was not welcomed to participate in high-level diplomatic meetings. They had considered the Afghan Government as one side to the destructive war.
For the first time, on September 5, 2001, only four days before Commander Massoud was assassinated, the United States Government, in a meeting of Deputy Secretary’s, discussed the issue of providing assistance to the Afghan resistance fighters. But it was late, we had already faced what happened in Afghanistan on September 9 and the terrorists eventually attacked the United States on September 11.
Just a few days before Commander Massoud was assassinated, I had traveled to South Africa to participate in a conference organized by the United Nations which focused on discrimination. It was the first high-level meeting on the issue of discrimination which I had attended. Former South African President and civil rights leader Nelson Mandela chaired the conference. Immediately after the conference, I went to New Delhi to visit my family. Per instructions from Commander Massoud, I was planning on traveling to France to meet with Speaker of the French Parliament on September 10. There was a tentative plan for the French Parliament Speaker to travel to Rome, Italy to meet with Afghanistan’s former King, Mohammad Zahir Shah.
I was in New Delhi when I was initially informed that Commander Massoud was injured and later martyred by two terrorists posing as journalists. Obviously, I was deeply shocked upon hearing the news. When I first heard that he was injured, my initials thought was to quickly arrange his evacuation to a well equipped medical facility outside Afghanistan, so he can receive quick and professional medical treatment. However, soon after, I was informed that Commander Massoud had passed away. Along with some other friends, we quickly departed for Afghanistan, via Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Beginning of another Stage,
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Upon arriving in Dushanbe, I met with several people who were also injured in the attack on Commander Massoud. That same evening, we had a joint meeting in Dar Kad area of Takhar province in Afghanistan. Former President Burhanuddin Rabbani and other mujahedeen leaders were present at the meeting. There, I expressed my opinion that Al-Qaeda was behind the September 11 attacks in the United States and perhaps the Taliban would be pressured by the international community for their support and harboring of Al-Qaeda.
Soon after, I was very busy arranging funeral ceremonies for Commander Massoud in Panjshir, which commenced very successfully. As one can imagine, it was an extremely emotional time for thousands of people present at the ceremonies.
I was in Afghanistan when the Americans started to establish contact with Afghan government officials. These contacts suddenly intensified. Soon after, U.N. Representative Mr. Lakhdar Ibrahimi and the U.N. Secretary-General's Personal Representative for Afghanistan, Mr. Fransec Vendrell, started political negotiations on the future of Afghanistan. They later traveled to Afghanistan and met with leaders of the resistance and officials of the Islamic Government of Afghanistan.
The United Nations decided to convene an International Conference on the Future of Afghanistan in Bonn, Germany. Representatives from all of Afghanistan’s political groups and additional officials were invited to participate in the conference. After several meetings, the Afghan Government decided to send Mr. Younus Qanouni to the conference.
While the conference was being held in Bonn, I was in Afghanistan conducting negotiations to help find a political solution for the country. I have many memories of this time. I will talk about them in more detail sometime in the future. Eventually, after extensive meetings in Bonn and in Afghanistan, in coordination with the international community, a peaceful transfer of power through a political process took place. This was a turning point in the history of Afghanistan.
After the establishment of a transitional government, Afghanistan came out of isolation and the global community’s doors opened to it. I was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs and we had to implement a revised Foreign Policy for the country and engage in active diplomacy. The foundation of our foreign affairs system had been badly damaged, due to continued wars and seven years of rule by the Taliban. One can imagine the challenges we faced at the Afghan Foreign Ministry, post Taliban era.
It was my first and foremost priority to establish a capable working team at the Ministry and reform Afghanistan’s foreign embassies and diplomatic missions worldwide, in a new atmosphere that Afghanistan had not witnessed even during the peaceful stage of its history.
With the emergence of our Transitional Government, many international countries officially recognized and established relations with the Afghan Government. Afghan embassies worldwide reopened and became active in an atmosphere of much enthusiasm. Afghan Government officials traveled abroad while many foreign delegations visited Afghanistan in official capacity.
At the same time, the presence of international troops in Afghanistan required a balanced policy not only towards the countries that had a military presence in the country, but also with our neighboring countries as well. The main challenge of the Afghan Foreign Ministry was to garner continued international assistance for Afghanistan’s reconstruction process and to help with the implementation of the political process in the country.
We also played an active role in the establishment of the Government. I was an active member of the "Constitutional Loya Jirga" where we agreed and ratified our new constitution. While serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan from 2001-2005, I traveled to numerous countries to meet with foreign government officials to discuss and garner continued international support for our rebuilding effort.
Almost a year after Afghanistan’s 2004 Presidential elections, Mr. Karzai decided to make some changes in his Cabinet, including the appointment of Mr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta as Minister of Foreign Affairs. While Mr. Karzai suggested several other Ministries for me to serve as Minister, I refused to accept other positions. I decided to serve as Secretary General of the Massoud Foundation, where I participated in several conferences on Afghanistan. Soon after, I was requested by the Government of Afghanistan to serve as Chairman of the "Afghanistan-Pakistan Peace Jirga" in Kabul and also to lead the Afghan delegation to a follow up Jirga in Pakistan. I participated in both events in the hope of making progress with regard to constructive relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Eventually, political and military changes in Pakistan made the "Peace Jirga" very complicated.
In the meantime, I re-established my relationship with the Afghan people. In 2009, as I saw the situation in Afghanistan deteriorating, I decided to nominate myself for Presidency of Afghanistan. In Afghanistan’s 2009 Presidential elections, the Afghan people trusted me with 37% percent of their votes. The Independent Election Commission of Afghanistan, through coordination with the Electoral Complaints Commission, decided that elections go for a second round, as no candidate received the required 50% of the votes to emerge victorious in the first round. Having witnessed significant vote rigging and fraud, I decided not to participate in the second round of elections.
I eventually established the political movement "Coalition for Hope and Change" which became the foundation for the "National Coalition of Afghanistan", which currently is the main democratic opposition movement to Mr. Karzai’s government. I am currently chairing the National Coalition of Afghanistan.
- See more at: http://www.nca.af/Dr-Abdullah-Abdullah-In-His-Own-Words-f2013124829.html#sthash.nmorOJaH.dpuf
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PHOTO- ETHNIC TRIBES OF AFGHANISTAN
Ethnic groups in Afghanistan
Ethnolinguistic groups of Afghanistan
Afghanistan is a multiethnic society. The population of the country is divided into a wide variety of ethnolinguistic groups. The ethnic groups of the country are as follow: Pashtun, Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Aimak, Turkmen, Baloch, Pashai, Nuristani, Gujjar, Arab, Brahui, Pamiri and some others. The Afghan National Anthem mentions a total of 14 ethnic groups.
FACTS- AFGHANISTAN- 2013
Population:
31,108,077 (2013 est.)[1]
Growth rate:
2.22% (2012 est.)
Birth rate:
39.3 births/1,000 population
Death rate:
14.59 deaths/1,000 population
Life expectancy:
Upto 64 years (2011) [2]
Language
Official:
Pashto and Dari [3]
Spoken:
Pashto, Dari, Uzbeki, Turkmeni, and other
The population of Afghanistan is around 31 million as of the year 2013,[1] which includes the 2.7 million Afghan refugees that are residing temporarily in Pakistan and Iran.[4] The nation is composed of a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society, reflecting its location astride historic trade and invasion routes between Central Asia, Southern Asia, and Western Asia. The majority of Afghanistan's population consist of the Iranian peoples, notably the Pashtuns and Tajiks. The Pashtun is the largest group followed by Tajik, Hazara, Uzbek, Aimak, Turkmen, Baloch and others.[5]
Pashto and Dari are both the official languages of the country,[3] Dari (Persian) is spoken by the Tajiks and Hazara people living in Afghanistan while Pashto is spoken widely all over the country as well as in neighboring northernwestern Pakistan. Uzbek language and Turkmen language are spoken in parts of the north. Smaller groups in various parts of the country speak about 30 other languages.[6]
Islam is the religion of more than 99% of Afghanistan. An estimated 80-89% of the population practice Sunni Islam and belong to the Hanafi Islamic law school while 10-19% are Shi'a,[7][8][9][10] majority of the Shia follow the Twelver branch with smaller numbers of Ismailis. The remaining 1% or less practice other religions such as Sikhism and Hinduism. Excluding urban populations in the principal cities, most Afghans are organized into tribal and other kinship-based groups, who follow their own traditional customs: for instance Pashtunwali. Majority of the Afghans live in rural areas and are involved in agricultural activities.
Population statistics[edit source]
Further information: Afghan diaspora
As of 2013, the total population of Afghanistan is around 31,108,077,[1] which includes the 2.7 million Afghan refugees that are living in Pakistan and Iran.[4] In 2009, a nationwide survey conducted by the Afghan Central Statistics Organization (CSO) estimated that the total number of Afghans living inside Afghanistan was about 24.5 million and by 2011 it reached 26 million. Of this, 5.7 million people were reported to be living in urban areas and the rest in rural or countryside.[4]
A partial census conducted in 1979 showed roughly 15.5 million people living in the country.[11] The Statistical Yearbook published in 1983 by the Babrak Karmal government claimed a total population of 15.96 million for 1981–82.[12] Between 600,000 to 2 million Afghans were killed during the various 1979–2001 wars, majority of them during the Soviet war in the 1980s.[13] At least 5 million more fled the country to neighboring countries. According to the Population Reference Bureau, the Afghan population is estimated to increase to 82 million by 2050.[14]
Urban areas are experiencing rapid population growth since the Karzai administration began in late 2001, which is mainly due to the return of over 5 million expats. The only city in Afghanistan with over a million residents is its capital, Kabul. The other largest cities in the country are shown in the chart below.
FACTS:
Largest cities or towns of Afghanistan
2010-11 estimate[15]
CITY NAME- PROVINCE- POPULATION
1 Kabul Kabul Province 3,071,400
2 Kandahar Kandahar Province 512,000
3 Herat Herat Province 397,456
4 Mazar-i-Sharif Balkh Province 375,000
5 Jalalabad Nangarhar Province 205,423
6 Lashkar Gar Helmand Province 201,546
7 Taloqan Takhar Province 196,400
8 Khost Khost Province 160,214
9 Sheberghan Jowzjan Province 148,329
10 Ghazni Ghazni Province 141,000
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fact
Afghanistan is a loosily knit conglomeration of number of ethnic groups,
chief of whom are
Pashtuns,
Tajiks,
Uzbeks
Hazaras.
These ehtnic groups have obvious dissimilarity, despite collectively residing in the region for hundreds of years. These ethnic groups of Afghanistan have their own way of living, defined by unwritten code
Ethnic Groups Population Ratio
Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%
Mainstream Ethnic Groups
Pashtuns
Pashtuns or Pakhtuns or Pathans or Persian Afghans are the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. They constitute about two-fifth of Afghan population. Pashtoons can be further segregated into tribes, most famous among whom are Durrani and Ghilzai. Other major tribes are Wardak, Jaji, Tani, Jadran, Mangal, Khugiani, Safi, Mohmand and Shinwari. They can be easily recognised from other Afghan ethnic groups, due to their Pashto language and peculiar way of living, called Pashtunwali.
Homeland of Pashtuns lies south of the Hindu Kush, but Pashtun groups are scattered all over the country. Most Pashtuns work in farmlands to earn their livelihood. Many of them live nomadic lifestyle too. These nomads live in tents made of black goat hair.
Tajiks
Tajiks or Tadzhiks constitute the second largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. Populating around 4.5 million, they live in the Panjsher Valley north of Kabul and in the northern and northeastern provinces of Parwan, Takhar, Badakhshan, and also Baghlan and Samangan. Few Tajik people extend into the central mountains. Most Tajiks speak Dari Persian language.
Tajik community is not divided into tribes. They prefer to identify themselves with the valley or region they live in like Panjsheri, Badakhshi, Samangani and Andarabi. For earning livelihood, Tajiks do sedentary mountain farming and sheep/goat herding. Tajiks grow variety of fine fruits and nuts.
Hazara
Central regions of Afghanistan, known as Hazarat, are inhabited by the Hazaras. Good number of Hazaras also dwell in Badakhshan. Most of them are farmers and shepherds. Most Hazaras are the followers of the Shia sect of Islam. The Hazaras have their ancestors in Xinjiang region of north-western China. For a long time, the Hazaras were a neglected lot. However, they are now trying to get rid of their inferior status.
Uzbeks
Approximate 1.3million Uzbeks live in Afganistan. They live all across the northern areas of Afghanistan, mixed with Tajik population. The Uzbeks are the followers of Sunni sect of Islam and speak central Turkic dialects like Uzbeki. Most Uzbeks earn livelihood by farming and herding. However, several Uzbeks have become successful businessmen and skilled artisans. Uzbek social structure is patriarchal and leaders having the title beg, arbab or khan enjoy considerable power. The Uzbeks have no hesitation marrying with Uzbek and Tajik, but are averse to nuptial relations with Pushtuns.
Turkmens
Turkmens dwell along the southern side of Amu Darya. Most Turkmens are nomadic poeple who herd yaks. Turkmens speak both archaic form of Turkish and Persian. Many nomadic Turkmens still live in dome-shaped tents based on wooden frames. Men wear coats with long sleeves, while women also wear long dresses to cover their hands in cold weather.
Nuristanis
The Nuristanis live in eastern Afghanistan bordering Pakistan. The region is so densily forested and rugged that it can be reached only by foot. They speak various dialects of Nuristani and Dardic. Usually, the Nuristanis are farmers, mountain herders and farmers. However, many of them have earned respectable place in the social order by getting into the army.
Baluchs
Baluchs in Afghanistan live in thinly populated deserts and semi-deserts of Helmand Province. Few Baluch enclaves can also be found in Faryab province. Number of Baluchs in Afghanistan is estimated around 100,000. Most people of Baluch ethnicity live in Pakistan and Iran. Most Baluchis can speak and understand Baluchi, Dari and Pashto. Chiefs of Baluch society are called sardars.
Other Ethnic Groups
Aimaqs live among nontribal people in the western regions of Badghis, Ghor and Herat provinces. They are Sunni Muslims and speak dialects resembling Dari. Several Arab enclaves can also be found in north-western Afghanistan. They are pastoralists who rear sheep and grow cotton and wheat. They speak not Arabic but Dari and Uzbeki. The Qizilbash are scattered all over Afghanistan. Traditionally, they have been holding administrative and professional positions. Sunni Brahui is a group living in the desert regions of south-western Afghanistan. Low in social heirarchy, they work as tenant farmers and hired herders for Baluch or Pashtun chieftains. The Wakhis live in small, remote hamlets in lower areas of Wakhan corridor and upper Badakhshan. The Farsiwans live near the Iran border or in some districts of Kandahar, Herat and Ghazni provinces. They are Dari-speaking agriculturalists.
Non-Muslim Population
Hindu-Sikh population in Afghanistan in 1990 was approximate 30,000. Under the reigns of Taliban, the Hindus were forced to wear yellow badges to identify themselves. Continuous violence caused rapid decline in Hindu-Sikh population.
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DR. ABDULLAH ABDULLAH IS THE HERO OF THE NEW- YOUTH OF AFGHANISTAN... DR. ABULLAH ABDULLAH IS THE NELSON MANDELA AND OBAMA - 2 MILLIONS
Why Afghanistan Needs Its Own Mandela
08/06/2013 3:33 pm The Huffington Post
The future looks bleak -- a corrupt government, the Taliban itching to regain power, and almost no profitable industries besides opium and foreign aid. This amidst an increase in civilian death and violence. It's almost like there is no hope left in Afghanistan.
AND...
remember how UNITED NATIONS- AND USA CHEATED DR. ABDULLAH ABDULLAH OUT OF HIS WIN IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2009...
FACTS...UK...-2009
Afghanistan opposition leader Abdullah Abdullah questions UN neutrality
Abdullah Abdullah, the leading opposition candidate in the Afghan elections, has said there are serious questions about the neutrality of the United Nations after reports that the mission's top diplomat admitted favouring Hamid Karzai.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/6257814/Afghanistan-opposition-leader-Abdullah-Abdullah-questions-UN-neutrality.html
and...
FACTS...UK -2009
Dr Abdullah 'makes history' in challenge to Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai
Dr Abdullah Abdullah, the presidential challenger who has forced Hamid Karzai to go to a second round in the Afghan election has described his triumph as "history in the making."
FACTS...2009
Afghan election: Hamid Karzai's rival Abdullah Abdullah crosses ethnic divide
Hamid Karzai's chief rival Abdullah Abdullah has attempted to cross Afghanistan's ethnic divide by campaigning for the first time in the president's southern heartland.
AND..... DR. ABDULLAH ABDULLAH'S BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah
Dr. Abdullah Abdullah is a major political figure in Afghanistan today. He was involved in the resistance against the Soviet Union's occupation of Afghanistan, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a candidate in the 2009 Afghan presidential election.
Abdullah was born in 1960 to a religious family in Kabul. His father, Ghulam Mahyyoddin Zmaryalay, served as a senator during the final years of the rule of King Mohammad Zahir. After graduating from Naderia High School in 1976, Abdullah went on to study ophthalmology at Kabul University’s Department of Medicine, and in 1983, he received his M.D. degree. He went on to serve as the Resident Ophthalmologist at the Noor Eye Institute in Kabul.
In 1984, as the Soviet Union expanded its occupation of Afghanistan, Abdullah left Afghanistan to go care for Afghan refugee families at the Sayed Jamaluddin Hospital in Pakistan. A year later, he joined the resistance against the Soviet Union's invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.
From 1985 to 1986 he worked in the Ophthalmology Hospital for Afghan Refugees in Peshawar, Pakistan, and was also the Director of Healthcare for the Resistance Front. In 1986, Abdullah became the Special Advisor and Chief Assistant to the legendary Afghan guerilla Commander and later Defense Minister, Ahmad Shah Masood. In 1992, after the Mujahideen took control of Kabul from Najibullah Ahmadzai's government, Abdullah became the spokesperson for the Defense Ministry of the Islamic State of Afghanistan.
After the takeover of Kabul by the Taliban in late 1996, Abdullah served as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Afghan government-in-exile, which was officially recognized by the United Nations, and all other countries, except for Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates supported and officially recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan. In 1998, Abdullah became Afghanistan's (government-in-exile) Foreign Minister. He served in that role until the removal of the Taliban from power in late 2001.
On December 22, 2001, during the Intra-Afghan talks in Bonn, Germany, Abdullah was selected as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Interim Administration of Afghanistan under then Chairman Hamid Karzai. Later in June of 2002, Abdullah was again confirmed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan by a Loya Jirga. When Hamid Karzai won Afghanistan's first presidential elections in 2004, he initially re-appointed Abdullah as Afghanistan's Foreign Minister, but later in 2006, he replaced him with Dr. Rangin Dadfar Spanta.
Abdullah soon became a very vocal opponent of President Hamid Karzai's government, and joined other former Ministers such as Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, and Ramazan Bashardost in accusing Karzai's administration of being corrupt and having failed the Afghan people. On May 6, 2009, Abdullah officially registered as an Independent candidate for the 2009 Afghan presidential election. Other major candidates were the incumbent Hamid Karzai, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, and Ramazan Bashardost.
When the preliminary results came out in September, it was announced that Abdullah had come in second place, and that Hamid Karzai had the over 50% majority needed to avoid a run-off election. According to Afghanistan's constitution, a candidate must receive over 50% to win or a run-off election is triggered. However, as soon as the elections had begun, reports of widespread fraud (in Karzai's favor) were being reported. Journalists had reported numerous instances of ballot stuffing and officials appointed by Karzai involved in the cheating process. An investigation was done and Karzai's share of the vote in the first round fell to 49.67% - after over one million of his votes were found to be fraudulent.
This automatically triggered a run-off election. This made many in the international community who funded the political process, and the country's head of the Election Commission nervous in terms of the cost and the level of security that will be needed for another election. There were even speculations by many observers that the election was purposely rigged so that Karzai would win in the first round - thus saving the costs associated with another election round.
Abdullah accused the head of Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC), Azizullah Ludin, who was appointed by Hamid Karzai as favoring Karzai and rigging the votes. He demanded that Ludin step down or be removed from his seat or he would not participate in the run-off election. One of Abdullah's senior advisors, Ahmad Wali Masood, told reporters: "The fact is that the infrastructure of this fraud is still there. Almost 1.5 million votes were rigged. Nothing has changed...So if you go back and do the second round election, it means that it will happen again. So, therefore, I don't think that we would be willing to participate." Abdullah also demanded that various Ministers (Interior, Education and Tribal Affairs) in Karzai's cabinet, be suspended from their positions during the election period. They were accused of using their positions inappropriately to help Karzai in the election.
When his demands were not met, On November 1, 2009, in front of his supporters, Abdullah announced that he will not participate in the run-off election. "Since the election commission is not an independent body we cannot expect to have a fair result and the outcome of the runoff would be more fraud-tainted than the first round, so I have decided not to participate in it," Abdullah said. A day later, the head of the IEC, Azizullah Ludin, announced Karzai as the winner and Afghanistan's newly elected president. Ludin told reporters: "His Excellency Hamid Karzai, who has won the majority of votes in the first round and is the only candidate for the second round, is declared by the Independent Election Commission as the elected president of Afghanistan."
Abdullah is still involved in the political process, he is working with various other political figures to change Afghanistan's system of government, so that it weakens the powers of the president.
Abdullah is married and has four children - three daughters and a son. He speaks Dari, Pashto, and English, and is proficient in Arabic and French.
Last updated by Abdullah Qazi on March 29, 2010
------------------
THIS ISN'T ABOUT AFGHANISTAN TALIBAN.... THIS IS JUST ISLAM MONSTERS LOOKING 2 KILL INNOCENT MUSLIMS
Foreign Insurgents in Eastern Provinces Targeted by ANA Operation
TOLOnews.com By Jawed Stanakzai 06 August 2013
On Tuesday, the Afghan Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Sher Muhammad Karimi, blamed radical Pakistani, Chechen, Arab and Uzbek nationals for causing major security threats in the Logar, Nangarhar and Paktia provinces. A number of the foreign national insurgents were killed in an Afghan National Army (ANA) clearing operation, which was heralded as a landmark success by security officials.
------------
Head of German army wants combat troops to stay in Afghanistan
Khaama Press By Ghanizada Aug 06, 2013
Ulrich Kirsch, Head of the German army association the Bundeswehrverband insists that German soldiers should remain in Afghanistan beyond 2014, which is the deadline for the withdrawal of all NATO troops from Afghanistan.
--------------------
Leader Says Taliban Will Sit Out 2014 Afghan Election
New York Times By AZAM AHMED August 6, 2013
KABUL, Afghanistan - Despite efforts to broker a peace deal between the Afghan government and the Taliban, the insurgent group will not participate in the presidential election next year, its leader said in a statement Tuesday.
-----------
Emirates to Start Operations in Afghanistan Within 4 Months: Officials
TOLOnews.com By Shahla Murtazaie 07 August 2013
Officials of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Wednesday announced that Emirates Airline has expressed interest to launch its regular flight services in Afghanistan within four months. Emirates officials said that they will operate on the Kabul-Dubai-Kabul route.
----------------
Taliban Does Not Seek to Destabilize Afghanistan: Mullah Omar
TOLOnews.com By Ahmad Ramin 06 August 2013
In a message delivered on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr on Tuesday, Mullah Omar, the fabled and elusive head of the Taliban, asserted that the militant group does seek to divide and destabilize Afghanistan.
----------------
Taliban Destroying Bridges in Logar Province: Officials
TOLOnews.com By Rafi Sediqi 06 August 2013
Local officials on Tuesday said that the Taliban has destroyed several bridges on the Kabul-Logar and Logar-Paktia highways. Off late, the Taliban insurgents have intensified their terror activities in the area and are destroying several bridges with an aim to disrupt peace.
---------------------
US Auto Giant Chevrolet Invests $50 Million in Kabul, Dubai
TOLOnews.com By Shahla Murtazaie 06 August 2013
US automobile company Chevrolet announced on Tuesday that it has invested $50 million into expanding its presence in the automotive markets of Kabul and Dubai.
----------------------
CANADA STUFF- GOD BLESS OUR CANADA
STEPHEN FRY- is right- this is a civilized world- take away Sochi Winter Olympics- move them 2 Vancouver, Utah- where free actually means free- where colour blind, gender illiterate, and religious comfort lives prominently and with dignity- it's just not right- nor is FIFA's choices- BUT IF ATHLETES WANT SOCHI-RUSSIA- THEN LET'S DO IT.... China was perfect- Russia will be also if we believe and make it so..... dignity and grace and the beauty of the athletes is what matters right.
http://nova0000scotia.blogspot.ca/2013/08/stephen-fry-is-right-this-is-civilized.html
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Gay rights stance supported by Canadians, Baird says
The Canadian Press
Last Updated: Aug 8, 2013 6:29 PM ET
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2013/08/08/pol-cp-baird-gay-rights-government-support.html
comment:
Contrary to the somewhat nasty assertions made at the time of his appointment by, yes, "progressives", Mr.Baird has proven to be a very able Foreign Affairs Minister, who has demonstrated capacity to represent our nation very well.
----------------
Map: Countries where homosexuality is a crime
CBC News
Last Updated: August 7, 2013
.
The recent passing of new Russian laws that impose heavy fines on individuals who provide information about homosexuality to people under 18 is a stark reminder of the diverse cultural views surrounding this lightning rod issue.
Global bisexual, lesbian and gay rights have made tremendous gains over the last few years in certain countries, but in 70-plus nations around the world individuals who belong to any of these groups can still be punished and prosecuted as result of their sexual orientation.
In seven of these countries, same-sex acts are punishable by death.
The interactive map below shows some of the more prominent countries legal reaction to same-sex relations and the type of punishment imposed
http://www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/map-same-sex-criminalization/
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THANK U ANONYMOUS.... u are the heroes of oppressed, abused, bullied 2 death, children, sex trafficking - paedophile monster hunting, One Billion Rising... breaking the chains... of abuse of innocent
#OpJustice4Rehtaeh Statement Anonymous / Rehtaeh Parsons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbwrmUBGm8k
Published on Apr 11, 2013
Anonymous engaged #OpJustice4Rehtaeh this morning in response to the suicide of Rehtaeh Parsons. Justice Minister Ross Landy says that it is important for Nova Scotians to have faith in their justice system. Mr. Landy, justice is in your hands.
Anonymous has confirmed the identities of two of the four alleged rapists. We are currently confirming a third and it is only a matter of time before the fourth is identified as well.
Our demands are simple: We want the N.S. RCMP to take immediate legal action against the individuals in question. We encourage you to act fast. If we were able to locate these boys within 2 hours, it will not be long before someone else finds them.
We do not approve of vigilante justice as the media claims. That would mean we approve of violent actions against these rapists at the hands of an unruly mob. What we want is justice. And That's your job. So do it.
The names of the rapists will be kept until it is apparent you have no intention of providing justice to Retaeh's family. Please be aware that there are other groups of Anons also attempting to uncover this information and they may not to wish to wait at all. Better act fast.
Be aware that we will be organizing large demonstrations outside of your headquarters. The rapists will be held accountable for their actions. You will be held accountable for your failure to act.
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New charges against man at centre of Maple Leaf Gardens sex abuse scandal
By: Diana Mehta, The Canadian Press
Posted: 11:38 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 3:58 PM
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/new-charges-against-man-at-centre-of-maple-leaf-gardens-sex-abuse-scandal-218858181.html
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2013-08-08, 11:41h
NGO Applauds UK & Canada for Protesting Mugabe’s UN Tourism Summit
"The government of Robert Mugabe has brutalized human rights activists, crushed democracy dissidents, and turned the breadbasket of Africa into a basket-case
NGO Applauds UK & Canada for Protesting Mugabe’s UN Tourism Summit
GENEVA, – The non-governmental advocacy group UN Watch welcomed reports that Britain and Canada will not be sending any representatives to a global UN tourism conference being hosted by Zimbabwe later this month.
"Amid reports of election-rigging and ongoing human rights abuses, Zimbabwe is the last country that should be legitimized by a UN summit of any kind," said UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer.
"The government of Robert Mugabe has brutalized human rights activists, crushed democracy dissidents, and turned the breadbasket of Africa into a basket-case. The notion that the UN should now spin this country as a lovely tourism destination is, frankly, sickening," said Neuer.
Over the past decade, UN Watch has brought numerous Zimbabwean human rights activists to testify on the sidelines of UN conferences.
Over 500 diplomats and dignitaries from 150 countries will be attending the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) 20th General Assembly at Victoria Falls starting 26th August.
"UN Watch applauds Canada’s Foreign Minister John Baird for taking the initiative last year to pull out of this misguided venture and spotlight the grossly inappropriate UN honor to Mugabe," said Neuer.
Comments
UN Watch is a Geneva-based human rights organization founded in 1993 to monitor UN compliance with the principles of its Charter. It is accredited as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Special Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and as an Associate NGO to the UN Department of Public Information (DPI).
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/57104
Bob Marley - Zimbabwe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss9LkEAWRkI
comment;
Marley`s song actually written in the 80s has got a new but not too different meaning
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UN Condemns Hate by Marginal Individuals,
But Ignores Hate by Government Leaders
UN Watch urges Ban Ki-moon to condemn Iran's incitement to destroy Israel
http://www.unwatch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=bdKKISNqEmG&b=1285603&ct=13232301¬oc=1
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Halifax police lay child pornography charges in Rehtaeh Parsons case
By Haley Ryan Metro
Two young men are facing child pornography charges in the case of Rehtaeh Parsons, nearly two years after her parents allege the teen was gang-raped at a party and a photo of the incident was shared via social media.
On Thursday evening, Halifax police held a news conference to announce the charges.
"A young girl…experienced the harsh nature of a world of people wanting to do harm and using social media to do it," said Halifax Regional Police Chief Jean-Michel Blais.
-----------------
Did u Know u were Our Hero
Hundreds turn out for Rocky Jones’ funeral
Bette Midler- Wind Beneath My Wings - Lyrics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq0llrCYtCQ
The Colchester Community Funeral Home overflowed Thursday as family and friends celebrated the life of Dr. Burnley Allan "Rocky" Jones. Hundreds of people filled the chapel, the basement and overflow rooms throughout the funeral home. Jones, 71, passed away on …
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CANADA JUST WON'T TOLERATE ABUSE OF OUR ATHLETES - and our laid back cultural values of years 4 hardcore country prejudices chosen 2 represent Global love of Youth and Sports- FIFA and Olympics-imho
http://nova0000scotia.blogspot.ca/2013/08/canada-just-wont-tolerate-abuse-of-our.html
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WW1 - Afghanistan- Cornwallis Military Museum a is a building full of stories B97213514Z_120130809073726000G9G3GMGK_11
CANADA- NOVA SCOTIA THE GOOD STUFF
Cornwallis Military Museum a is a building full of stories
The area that holds the altar is once again consecrated ground. The photos that line the wall share a picture and description of each ship lost during times or war. Each of the lost vessels is also the subject of the stained glass windows. (Kelly Bent photos)
(2 of 5)
Curator Lorraine Herit holds a photo of the original bell of HMCS/CFB Cornwallis. The Cornwallis Military Museum would love to have this important artifact back home.
Curator Lorraine Herit holds a photo of the original bell of HMCS/CFB Cornwallis. The Cornwallis Military Museum would love to have this important artifact back home.
(3 of 5)
Many of the original and hand built artifacts in the Cornwallis Military Museum have been donated to the organization. Seen here is a hand built replica of the HMCS Boniface.
Many of the original and hand built artifacts in the Cornwallis Military Museum have been donated to the organization. Seen here is a hand built replica of the HMCS Boniface.
(4 of 5)
The weapons case at the Cornwallis Military Museum holds items that would have been part of basic training and specialized training. (Kelly Bent photos)
The weapons case at the Cornwallis Military Museum holds items that would have been part of basic training and specialized training. (Kelly Bent photos)
(5 of 5)
An original artifact that has found its way back to the chapel.
An original artifact that has found its way back to the chapel.
. .
Like most Nova Scotians, I have an appreciation for our provincial history but not near the grasp on all the facts that I should. I realized just how short I was falling of the mark when I went to visit the Cornwallis Military Museum a few weeks ago. It was pouring rain and the enthusiastic volunteers came out to greet us. Upon entering the building the first thing I noticed were the beautiful reproduction stained glass windows.
"There are 12 windows on site. The original stained glass are gone now but fabricated reproductions were donated to us a few years ago. The windows tell the stories of the 24 ships lost during the war," explains Lorraine Herit, Museum Curator. The museum is a bevy of information on military training from its opening in 1942 to 1994 when the base was closed. "Over 500,000 military recruits, staff and civilians passed through HMCS/CFB Cornwallis. Today the base houses Cadet Camps, and is an industrial park with over 40 businesses and organizations. But we didn’t want people to forget about our men and women in service. The museum is to honour our past and demonstrate the pivotal role this area played during World War II and the Cold War," says Herit. HMCS Cornwallis became the largest training base in the commonwealth.
The tour continued through the beautiful church. There were a few platoons of Cadets also walking around, looking at material and reading photo captions and posters. "We have been locating original artifacts and items from the base and creating displays. We are always looking for more items from here and currently are looking for our bell," says Herit. The museum takes a person through what the recruit would have done. Showing what their barracks would look like, the uniform they would wear, how they trained. What would be packed in their sacks for overseas. It is absolutely enlightening and eerie at the same time. "The young men and eventually woman who came through here on their way oversees is staggering. The men would train in communications, weaponry and other fields. The women would be in communications and health related fields. You can still feel the personalities of these people. It wasn’t all serious all the time. They created friendships and bonds with each other. They pushed each other to do their best so everyone could come home when the fighting was over. The blown up boats from the war would come back here and the young men would train on them. One boat had its stem and stern blown off." There is a photo of this training vessel in the museum.
The back of the museum is consecrated ground. "Here we have items that used to belong here at the church and the photos of all the ships lost." It is a place of reflection and remembrance. One of the many things Herit notices when people come is how they go through all the photos. "They are looking for family members or names that mean something to them. They hope that someone can share a story about their loved one of relative."
The Cornwallis Military Museum is a building filled with stories. The stories of lives lost too soon, of hope and promise and a better world to come. It is a place where you could spend hours looking, wandering and learning. I don’t think I have ever experience anything quite like it.
"We are open daily from 10:30 to 5:30 until August 31. In September we open daily from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and if people from out of town are coming through and we are not open we will come in. They just need to contact us," says Herit.
For more information on the Cornwallis Military Museum please visit www.cornwallismuseum.ca
You have to come here!
http://thechronicleherald.ca/community/annapolis-valley/1146768-cornwallis-military-museum-a-is-a-building-full-of-stories
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