dimanche 31 mai 2009

Email from Vice President Joe Biden



Pierre,

President Obama hit a home run with his nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court -- and not just because she's the "woman who saved baseball" by ending the strike in 1995, nor simply because she would be the first Latina ever to serve on the high court.

It was a home run because in her three-decade career as a prosecutor, judge, private litigator and law professor, she has time and again earned bipartisan praise as one of America's finest legal minds. And it was the right choice because Judge Sotomayor -- herself born and raised in a South Bronx housing project -- has summed up the American dream in her own incredible story and never once forgotten how the law affects our daily lives.

Now her historic nomination goes to the Senate. I know that process well, and I can tell you that the debate of the coming weeks and months will be shaped by the public response in the next few hours and days. It's critical that the Senate and the public clearly see where the American people stand.

Will you add your name to the growing list of Americans who are pledging to "Stand with Sotomayor" today? Your name and comments will become part of a public display of support at this crucial time.

Stand with Sotomayor

I've followed Judge Sotomayor's remarkable journey for years. I voted for her when President George H.W. Bush nominated her for the District Court in 1992, and I was proud to vote for her again when President Bill Clinton nominated her for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 1998.

Born to a Puerto Rican family, Sotomayor grew up in a public housing project in the South Bronx. She was an avid reader from an early age, and was first inspired to pursue a legal career by the Nancy Drew mystery novels. Driven by her mother's belief in the power of education and her own relentless work ethic, she excelled in school. She won a scholarship to Princeton University, graduated summa cum laude, and then went on to attend Yale Law School where she served as an editor of the prestigious Yale Law Journal.

Like President Obama, Sotomayor passed up many more lucrative opportunities after law school to put her degree to work for the public good. She served as an Assistant District Attorney in New York, tackling some of the hardest cases facing the city, including robberies, assaults, murders, police brutality, and child pornography. Her growing reputation for fearlessness and legal brilliance prompted her first nomination to the federal bench, and she's only continued to soar.

If confirmed, she would start with more federal judicial experience than any Justice in a century, more overall judicial experience than any Justice in 70 years, and replace David Souter as the only Justice with firsthand experience as a trial judge. She has participated in over 3,000 panel decisions and authored roughly 400 opinions, expertly handling difficult issues of constitutional law, complicated procedural matters, and lawsuits involving complex business organizations.

In her years on the bench, Judge Sotomayor has earned acclaim from legal scholars and experts from both sides of the aisle for her intellectual toughness, her probing oral questioning, and her ability to issue decisions that hold both factual details and legal doctrines in equal measure. And she's never failed to apply a steady, common-sense analysis of how the law touches our daily lives.

Her story is incredible. Her qualifications are undeniable. And her judgment will serve us all well on the highest court in the land.

Please join me in becoming a part of this historic moment for the Court and our country. Add your name now to publicly show that you, too, "Stand with Sotomayor." In these crucial early hours, let us leave no doubt about the people's support for this extraordinary nominee.

http://my.barackobama.com/sotomayorstand

Thank you,

Vice President Joe Biden

samedi 30 mai 2009

Email from Michael Ignatieff


Dear Pierre,

You and I have an opportunity to put Canada back on the right path. It's a big task but we Liberals have a great track record of accomplishing remarkable things, and the job is made easier with each new pair of hands.

The first step is to have as many Liberals as possible ready to fight for their vision of Canada in the next election. Let's start by doubling our current membership one new member at a time.

Each of us knows at least one person who shares our Liberal values, but may not yet be a member of our Party. Please ask them to join us in the work we have ahead of us.

If someone you refer joins the party on-line before Canada Day, your riding or theirs or both could become special stops being planned as part of my summer tour visits that would include opportunities for us to sit down together in a private meeting to discuss your ideas for the future of our party and our country.

The Liberal Party of Canada is more than just a collection of individuals with Liberal values. Our members are part of a proud tradition of public service that reaches beyond our differences towards what unites us. Together, we are moving toward a new kind of politics, where all Canadians can play a part in shaping our future.

Help me build this movement and lead our party and our country. Visit the new membership section of the Liberal website and use the built-in referral tool to invite a new member today.

Yours sincerely,
Michael Ignatieff

vendredi 29 mai 2009

Canada's Relations with the United States : Stop, Border Ahead

Political Turmoil in Georgia : The Opposition Locks Itself up, and Out

Sri Lanka's War : After the Slaughter

Prabhakaran: a tattered memory

Roh Moo-Hyun

Roh Moo-hyun, South Korea’s president between 2003 and 2008, committed suicide by jumping of a cliff. Mr Roh’s family is entangled in a corruption investigation.

Pakistan's Borderland War : Swatting Militants

North Korea's Nuclear Test : On Mushroom Cloud Two

La formation des Préposés aux Bénéficiaires dans les CHSLD : Position du Parti Québécois


Mardi 26 mai, lors de la période de questions, la députée de Crémazie et porte-parole de l’opposition officielle en matière d’aînés, Lisette Lapointe, réclamait des réponses du gouvernement au sujet des conditions de vie des aînés en établissement.

« M. le Président, un autre dossier assez sombre : toute la question de nos aînés dans les CHSLD et les résidences privées. Toute la semaine dernière, les Québécois se sont posé la question : “Qu'est-ce que fait le gouvernement alors qu'il a appris, dans un dossier de La Presse, que les préposés qui donnent des soins à nos aînés n'ont pas la formation requise?” Ce matin, c’est la Protectrice du citoyen, dans son rapport annuel, qui revient avec le même constat. […]
« Il va falloir combien de rapports du Protecteur du citoyen ou combien de rapports du coroner? On parlait encore de 800 personnes décédées dans les trois dernières années pour cause de négligence. La certification, on a seulement 686 résidences de certifiées sur 2 200. […]
« M. le Président, c'est désolant, ce qu'on entend, l'autre côté. Ça ne fait pas un an, ça ne fait pas deux ans [que les libéraux ont] cette responsabilité-là, ça fait six ans, six années, et encore les préposés qui s'occupent des personnes les plus vulnérables dans notre société n’ont pas la formation, alors qu'elles doivent donner des médicaments, préparer de l'insuline, changer des sondes urinaires.
« Écoutez, M. le Président, est-ce qu'on peut être sérieux? »

mardi 26 mai 2009

N Korea Faces New UN Resolution

North Korea's leader is notoriously unpredictable, correspondents say

Palestinians on the West Bank : Mahmoud Abbas, Arrives in Washington for a Meeting with Barack Obama on Thursday


THE leader of the Palestinians on the West Bank, Mahmoud Abbas, arrives in Washington for a meeting with Barack Obama on Thursday May 28th to discuss the chances of peace with Israel. The visit comes just over a week after Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, made the same trip. Mr Obama has suggested that America will shortly unveil a comprehensive peace plan for the entire region, which will link efforts to deal with Iran's nuclear threat with a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians.

For background, click on the title to read an article written on May 14, about this subject

South Korean politics : Death of a leader

dimanche 24 mai 2009

India Buys US Debts Worth $38 Billion

Netanyahu Says Settlements Can Expand

There are about 100 makeshift Jewish outposts in the West Bank

Tamil Tigers Admit Founder Was Killed


To learn more read :

Velupillai Prabhakaran

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velupillai_Prabhakaran

Marche Pour la Liberté du Québec

À l'occasion de la Grande Marche vers l'indépendance du Québec, qui aura lieu ce dimanche dans plusieurs villes du Québec, nous publions le manifeste Marchons pour la liberté du Québec! signé par un collectif non partisan de jeunes Québécois.

jeudi 21 mai 2009

UK : 'Duck island' claim MP to retire


Tory MP Sir Peter Viggers is to retire after admitting he claimed a £1,645 "duck island" on expenses - as two Labour ministers face questions over capital gains tax.

Israelis React to Netanyahu's 'Peace' Declaration


Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, returning from a visit to the United States, says he has told US President Barack Obama he is ready to launch peace talks with the Palestinians and Syria immediately. In Jerusalem, the news was greeted with mixed reactions by Israeli Arab, secular and Orthodox Jewish populations.

Read also :

America grapples with Israel
What did Barack Obama truly feel?

http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13701719&fsrc=nwl

New World of Indian Politics

Un «bénévole» bien Payé


Benoît Labonté a fait du projet de l’exposition universelle de 2020 à Montréal l’un des éléments principaux de sa campagne à la mairie.
© PHOTO D'ARCHIVES

mercredi 20 mai 2009

Woman Power : Four Women Become MPs in Kuwait's Election

Massouma al-Mubarak

America and Israel : A Plan in the Offing

British MP's Expenses: A Speaker Speechless

Email from President Obama



Pierre,

The chance to finally reform our nation's health care system is here. While Congress moves rapidly to produce a detailed plan, I have made it clear that real reform must uphold three core principles -- it must reduce costs, guarantee choice, and ensure quality care for every American.

As we know, challenging the status quo will not be easy. Its defenders will claim our goals are too big, that we should once again settle for half measures and empty talk. Left unanswered, these voices of doubt might yet again derail the comprehensive reform we so badly need. That's where you come in.

When our opponents spread fear and confusion about the changes we seek, your support for these core principles will show clarity and resolve. When the lobbyists for the status quo tell Congress to hold back, your personal story will give them the courage to press forward.

Join my call: Ask Congress to pass real health care reform in 2009.

By declaring your support for the three core principles, you have already taken the first step -- thank you. Now, consider sharing your personal story about the importance of health care reform in your life, and the lives of those you love.

I will be personally reviewing many of these signatures and stories. If you speak up now, your voice will make a difference.

http://my.barackobama.com/HealthCareStory

American families are watching their premiums rise four times faster than their wages. Spiraling health care costs are shackling America's businesses, curtailing job growth and slowing the economy at the worst possible time. This has got to change.

I know personal stories can drive that change, because I know how my mother's experience continues to drive me. She passed away from ovarian cancer a little over a decade ago. And in the last weeks of her life, when she was coming to grips with her own mortality and showing extraordinary courage just to get through each day, she was spending too much time worrying about whether her health insurance would cover her bills. She deserved better. Every American deserves better. And that's why I will not rest until the dream of health care reform is finally achieved in the United States of America.

Share your personal story about why you too will not rest until this job is done.

http://my.barackobama.com/HealthCareStory

Last November, the American people sent Washington a clear mandate for change. But when the polls close, the true work of citizenship begins. That's what Organizing for America is all about. Now, in these crucial moments, your voice once again has extraordinary power. I'm counting on you to use it.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama

Health Care Organizing Kickoff : Email from Jeremy Bird, Organizing for America


Pierre,

Throughout our campaign for change, and since our victory, you have helped us make enormous strides towards creating the change we all fought for. And now we have a chance to make an even greater impact, but it can't happen without you.

As we seek to enact real health care reform that includes President Obama's three core principles -- reduce costs, guarantee choice, and ensure affordable care for all -- we need you to help seize this moment and organize your community neighbor-by-neighbor, door-by-door.

On Saturday, June 6th, people like you will be hosting Health Care Organizing Kickoff meetings across the country to talk about the actions we'll all take in the coming weeks and months to make health care reform a reality.

Will you please sign up to host one?
Host a Health Care Organizing Kickoff

These meetings will be crucial to our health care organizing efforts in your community, and that's why it's so important for you to play a major role.

At your meeting, you and your friends and neighbors will kick off your community's push to reform health care by learning more about the President's three core principles, sharing personal stories, and planning a health care Day of Service activity for June 27th. You'll also set up times to speak with your neighbors about health care reform, and make calls to ask others to get involved.

While this debate is heating up, it's important that we organize now to ensure that President Obama's core principles are included in any comprehensive health care reform.

So please sign up today to host a Health Care Organizing Kickoff meeting:


Thanks,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America
Donate

mardi 19 mai 2009

It could make a big difference


Candidates for Iran's presidential election in June will be announced during the week. Around 475 people, including 42 women, have put their names forward but few are likely to make it onto the ballot. All candidates must seek the approval of the 12-member Guardian Council, a body of conservative clerics and lawyers, and only a few are expected to get the nod. Reformists are likely to suffer most in the vetting process. Nevertheless, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's current president, will probably face a challenge from two reformists, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, as well as Mohsen Rezaie, another conservative. You are invited to read again the article published on Mar 19th 2009 from The Economist print edition because the coming election in Iran could change the region drastically, for better or worse.

Safe Without the Bomb?


Russia and America begin talks on Tuesday May 19th about replacing a treaty on curbing nuclear arms, which expires in December. Russia is keen to reduce declared numbers of nuclear warheads because its are in a poor state of repair and will become unusable anyway. Barack Obama, unlike his predecessor, George Bush, is also inclined to reduce the number of America’s warheads. A new treaty would set up an enhanced monitoring regime and might also tackle the issue of reducing the number of deployed warheads as well as stockpiles held in reserve. The Economist invites you to read an article written in Apr 8th 2009 from The Economist print edition because a nuclear-free world may never come about, but there can be safety in trying.

Two For One in Malawi

Nuclear Weapons : Bargaining Over the Bomb

India's Election Congress Comes Back

Sri Lanka : An end to the war?

lundi 18 mai 2009

5/16/09: Your Weekly Address

London : Angry MPs target Speaker


The Speaker of the House of Commons Michael Martin, (Non-affiliated) since 23 October 2000 has been challenged by MPs to stand down in unprecedented scenes in the chamber.

To know more about the House of Commons of the United Kingdom :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Commons_of_the_United_Kingdom

Read Also :

Speaker of the British House of Commons :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaker_of_the_British_House_of_Commons

Obama, Netanyahu Lay out Iran, Palestinian Divides


US President Barack Obama on Monday held crucial talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which highlighted divisions on confronting Iran and the notion of a Palestinian state.

Obama, Netanyahu Meet Amid US-Israeli Differences