Day: August 27, 2009

The H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic: Manipulating the Data to Justify a Worldwide Public Health Emergency By Michel Chossudovsky

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“Over the course of the next few months, with the assistance of our partners in the private and public sector and at every level of government, we will move aggressively to prepare the nation for the possibility of a more severe outbreak of the H1N1 virus. We will do all we can to plan for different scenarios. We ask the American people to become actively engaged with their own preparation and prevention. It’s a responsibility we all share.” (US Government advisory, flu.gov: Vaccines, Vaccine Allocation and Vaccine Research )

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A Worldwide public health emergency is unfolding on an unprecedented scale. 4.9 billion doses of H1N1 swine flu vaccine are envisaged by the World Health Organization (WHO).

A report by President Obama’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology  “considers the H1N1 pandemic ‘a serious health threat; to the U.S. — not as serious as the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic but worse than the swine flu outbreak of 1976.”:

“It’s not that the new H1N1 pandemic strain is more deadly than previous flu threats, but that it is likely to infect more people than usual because so few people have immunity” (Get swine flu vaccine ready: U.S. advisers)

Responding to the guidelines set by the WHO, preparations for the inoculation of millions of people are ongoing, in the Americas, the European Union, in South East Asia and around the World. Priority has been given to health workers, pregnant women and children. In some countries, the H1N1 vaccination will be compulsory.

In the US, the state governments are responsible for these preparations, in coordination with federal agencies. In the State of Massachusetts, legislation has been introduced which envisages hefty fines and prison sentences for those who refuse to be vaccinated. (See VIDEO; Compulsory Vaccination in America?)

The US military is slated to assume an active role in the public health emergency

Schools and colleges across North America are preparing for mass vaccinations. (See CDC H1N1 Flu | Resources for Schools, Childcare Providers, and Colleges)

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Video: Palestinian Mothers interview with Swedish Journalist Donald Bostrom about threats on his life, and ethics of journalism and democracy – Palestinian Mothers

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26 August, 2009

This video interview, in two parts, made by Morris Herman for the Palestinian Mothers Network (also viewable on http://www.palestinianmothers.com/video/2-palestinian-mothers and You Tube) asks the Swedish journalist about the article that currently is in the news, reporting on the claims made to the journalist from Palestinians about the belated return of their sons, maimed, killed and their organs exploited by the IDF, and the subsequent strange burial procedures these men had to undergo. The second video talks more about the Israeli position to Sweden and death threats made to the journalist.

Videos produced by Iqbal Tamimi and Morris Herman of Palestinian Mothers Network.

Threats on his life is taken seriously. Donald Bostrom Swedish Journalist on Israeli organ harvesting talks to Morris Herman from Palestinian Mothers Network about threats on his life.

Part Two

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more about “(2) Palestinian Mothers interview wit…“, posted with vodpod

Palestinian Mothers interview of the Swedish Journalist Donald Bostrom about the Israeli organ harvesting, threats on his life, and ethics of journalism and democracy

First section : Donald Bostrom Swedish Journalist on Israeli organ harvesting talks to Morris Herman from Palestinian Mothers Network.

Part One

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more about “(1)Palestinian Mothers interview of t…“, posted with vodpod


“WHERE IS THE JUSTICE?” ASKS FBI CHIEF AS DEBATE OVER RELEASE OF LIBYAN “TERRORIST HEIGHTENS.” THERE IS MORE TO THE STORY By Danny Schechter

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“Where, I ask, is the justice?”

That is always a good question, but the way it was posed by Robert S. Mueller 3rd, the Director of the FBI, an agency of a Department of “Justice” strains credulity.

Before I get into discussing the responses to his letter to Scottish authorities, a letter that the Herald in Glasgow found “savage,” may I remind us all that his polemical questions criticizing Scotland’s compassionate release of convicted Lockerbie airplane bomber and former Libyan intelligence agent, Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi, was coming from, shall we say, a tainted source?

Mr. Mueller had worked on the case in the early 90’s and so seems to have had a personal and emotional stake in it, perhaps a desire for vindication. The press in Britain believes that his angry denunciation of Scottish judge Kenny MacAskill could not have been sent without authorization from the White House.

President Barack Obama said Friday that al Megrahi’s warm reception was “highly objectionable.” British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called it “deeply upsetting.” Notice, they don’t seem to be commenting on the ex-spy’s release as much as the public response to it, by the rarely diplomatic Colonel Quadaffi who was playing to public opinion in Tripoli, as he readies that country for the 40th anniversary of the coup that put him in power.

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South African Cops Attack Unarmed Soldiers Protesting Low Wages

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26 August, 2009

“Many Have Threatened To Return With Their Own Rifles To Retaliate”

“Footage From A Local Television Station Shows Police Firing Into The Crowd”

“The Demonstrators Responded By Hurling Firebombs At Police Vehicles”

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The Associated Press, The Citizen, DPA, Primedia Broadcasting & Al Jazeera

A virtual war broke out in the in the streets of Pretoria, the capital, yesterday with AWOL soldiers storming the Union Building government premises.

There was now the potential that military bases were unprotected and that there was a lack of troops to support police if necessary.
Dozens of police and military vehicles set on fire or were damaged.

Demonstrating soldiers are furious police opened fire on them with stun grenades and rubber bullets.

Many have threatened to return with their own rifles to retaliate.

About 2 000 soldiers have been protesting over wage packages.

The South African National Defence Union [the soldiers’ union] was demanding a 30 per cent increase in pay and better working conditions. The union is not officially recognised by the government.

The trouble began when soldiers demanded to get inside the Union Buildings’ south lawn.

There was a stand-off with military police and the SA Police Services, with soldiers threatening to retaliate if the police shot at them.

Soldiers then found one of the gates to the buildings unmanned and ran inside. While they were sitting on the lawn, police started shooting at them with rubber bullets, resulting in a stampede.

In addition to injuries caused by rubber bullets, some soldiers broke their hands and feet when they jumped over the fence.

Police fired rubber bullets and tear gas.

A policeman and several soldiers were injured.

A police vehicle was set alight and a number of other cars were also damaged in violence during the daylong protest.

Defense Minister Lindiwe Sisulu condemned the violence and said the soldiers’ action was a “threat to national security.”

Police tried to disperse over 1,000 soldiers who had converged on the lawns of the Union Buildings, the seat of government, even after a court denied them permission to hold their march.

Footage from a local television station shows police firing into the crowd, forcing the protesters against a fence.

Many protesters retreated back over the fence, and police continued firing across a busy thoroughfare near many embassies and hotels.

The demonstrators responded by hurling firebombs at police vehicles.

The protest ended at about 4 p.m. (1400 GMT) when police warned that more force would be used, the South African Press Association reported.

Sisulu told reporters in Cape Town that she had instructed the head of the defense force to immediately suspend protesters.

Two soldiers had been arrested and handed over to the military police, she said.

The striking soldiers announced they would hold further protests.