The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard

Watch and have your kids watch the Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard.

The Messiah

New film "The Messiah" on Jesus from the Islamic perspective. Great interview with the director Nader Talebzadeh over here.

1984

This would make George Orwell blush.

Excerpts:

In a "Students' Worksheet" which accompanies the lesson plan, it stresses the "reconstruction" of Iraq, noting that 5,000 schools and 20 hospitals have been rebuilt. But there is no mention of civilian casualties.

In the "Teacher Notes" section, it talks about how the "invasion was necessary to allow the opportunity to remove Saddam Hussein" but it fails to mention the lack of United Nations backing for the war. The notes also use the American spelling of "program". (Source: The Independent, Mar 14/08)

Why you should boycott Chapters / Indigo

Ever heard of the HESEG Foundation? Well this is one of many reasons why it is necessary not to do business with Chapters / Indigo.

State-sponsored apartheid

This is becoming far too common a headline:

"Israel approves settlement growth"

Excerpts:

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has approved a plan to build up to 750 new homes in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank.
...
Under the terms of the peace process settlement expansion is supposed to be frozen.
...
"We have approved it. It is consistent with our policy of building within the large settlement blocs, which will remain in Israel in any final-status agreement," he added.
...
Israel Radio said the decision to restart the development was pushed by the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, which had threatened to quit the government coalition unless the construction was approved.
....
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, settling about 400,000 Jews in the area, including East Jerusalem.

Settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. (Source: BBC News, March 9, 2008)

The crucification of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Ironically speaking out in support of justice, tolerance, and human rights in the era of enlightenment earned the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Justice Louise Arbour crucification.