by zoe
Fri Apr 25th, 2008 at 10:37:30 AM EST
I don't expect this diary to be without controversy, but I think that this point of view is important enough to be widely discussed.
In Today's Guardian, Peter Wilby, the former editor of the new Stateman, sets out the Pacifists' case against WWII in Europe (with which he does not agree btw) by paraphrasing some of the points made by Nicholas Baker in his book "Human Smoke".
The whole point of the exercise is to destroy the last *effective" leg of the Iraqi war supporters who claim that eliminating Saddam Hussein was like eliminating Hitler prior to the Second World War.
by zoe
Thu Apr 24th, 2008 at 05:06:34 PM EST
Many Westerners think that reading and writing in Chinese characters is extremely difficult.
Well, it's not as hard as one might think.
Here is a friendly hand to get you started.
Are you ready to learn your first (simplified) Chinese character?
Well, here it is:
人 means person
by zoe
Mon Apr 7th, 2008 at 06:26:11 AM EST
I came across this article on the BBC web page:
Speech row rocks multi-ethnic Canada
By Henri Astier
BBC News
More than half-a-million Muslims live in Canada
Canada is often thought of as a land of bland consensus and multicultural harmony - the last place where you would expect to see a religious minority up in arms, and journalists accusing the state of gagging freedom of speech.
and to the innocent observer, it seems like a rather neutral account of a difference of opinion between two interested parties.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7273870.stm
by zoe
Mon Jul 2nd, 2007 at 06:25:53 AM EST
Amid the headlines and stories about the 10 year anniversary of Chinese rule in Hong Kong, there were many calls for more democracy in the territory. But if one didn't read carefully, one could easily have skipped the following information:
The territory was allowed to keep its capitalist economy, British-style legal system and civil liberties, though critics say media self-censorship is common. But China - like Britain - hasn't allowed Hong Kong people to directly elect their leader and entire legislature.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2007/06/23/4284794-ap.html
by zoe
Sat May 19th, 2007 at 04:50:35 AM EST
In Russia, ahead of the Samara EU-Russia summit:
German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced concern Friday about Russian opposition activists having problems in traveling to the site of a planned demonstration in the Volga River city of Samara.
"I'm concerned about some people getting problems in traveling here. I hope they will be given an opportunity to express their opinion," Merkel said at a news conference wrapping up an EU-Russia summit at a resort near Samara following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
One of the Kremlin's biggest detractors, chess great Garry Kasparov, was barred Friday from boarding a flight from Moscow to Samara.
Meanwhile, in Germany:
Earlier this week police launched a series of raids on anti-globalisation campaigners across northern Germany which prompted demonstrations by left-wing protesters on the streets of Hamburg and Berlin.
Police impounded computers and documents during the raids, which were part of two separate probes into anti-globalisation militants
Why are protesters good for them, but bad for us, unless we assume a priori, that they need reforming, and we don't?
from the diaries. -- Jérôme
by zoe
Thu May 10th, 2007 at 09:40:43 AM EST
I read these two stories and these two quotes jumped out at me due to their similarity:
First, Tony Blair today:
But, while admitting that other aspects of his premiership - such as the decision to join the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 - remained "bitterly controversial", Mr Blair said: "Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/the_blair_years/article1771045.ece
by zoe
Tue May 8th, 2007 at 09:45:32 AM EST
Canadian radio dj's managed to trap Nicolas Sarkozy in a practical joke on Sunday just a few minutes after his election, according to the Canadian newspaper, La Presse, by pretending to be Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20070508/CPINSOLITE/70508017/5406/CPINSOLITE
(in French)
by zoe
Thu May 3rd, 2007 at 08:06:12 AM EST
This is my first diary so bear with me.
I posted a comment about May Day riots happening in my neighbourhood on well, May Day and mentionned that there had been no word of it on Swiss television.
Later that evening, there were brief stories about the May Day riots in very proper Zurich, but other people noticed a lack of coverage of this story as well. Please see the following Daily Kos diary:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/5/3/0419/04720
