Ingrid Betancourt is considered by fellow American hostages as 'worse than FARC guards'

Ingrid Betancourt: one of the most famous hostages of our days, and a former Colombian politician who was held captive for six years by the terrorist group FARC (the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) was described by fellow hostages as 'worse than FARC guards' the Daily Telegraph reported.

This was described in a 457-page chronicle written by three of the 11 American hostages. Miss. Betancourt was held hostage along with 11 American citizens - who are believed to be CIA members - for six years. Miss. Betancourt was kidnaped not long before Colombia's presidency elections in 2002.

It is believed that the real reason why Miss. Betancourt was kidnaped is because she was one of the very few Colombian politicians to have a very strong agenda against the FARC. Many south American newspapers have speculated that some members of the government were behind the kidnap.

The Daily Telegraph reported: "I (one of the American hostages) watched her try to take over the camp with an arrogance that was out of control. Some of the guards treated us better than she did."

The Daily Telegraph has also interview Dr. Keron Fletcher; a British psychiatrist who has worked for more than a decade with hostages held by Lebanon extremists. He said that it is very rare for fellow hostages of Miss. Betancourt to describe her as such a terrible person. He also said that in these types of situations fellow hostages tend to develop a long-term friendship, specially when you share your live of a hostage with other people for six years.

The Daily Telegraph also reported: "People who live through such trauma tend to keep quiet about problems that they had with each other and do their best to support each other".

Why would someone who spent six years of his life with someone as educated as Ingrid Betancourt show a part of Miss. Bentancourt's life as a hostage that no one has ever shown before? I honestly believe that the people who wrote the 457-page chronicle only wants to clear their names of something that they must have done during their time of captivity.

Ingrid Betancourt is believed to have been writing her memories of the terrible and dramatic six-year-long kidnap and has mentioned that she would like (the memories) to be published and available for the public. When the two books come out, we will all be able to see the two different parts of the same story.

The pictures used for this article were taken from http://www.guardian.co.uk/ and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/

Telegraph article used for this story:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/4840695/Ingrid-Betancourt-was-worse-than-guards-claims-a-fellow-hostage.html

FARC's profile (Wikipedia):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Armed_Forces_of_Colombia

Ingrid Betancourt's profile (Wikipedia):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Dngrid_Betancourt

Swiss-assisted-suicide-clinic: the solution for many, but is it right?

A British elderly couple have committed suicide in the famous assisted-suicide-clinic in Zurich, Switzerland, the Independent has reported today.

According to the Independent, 80-year-old Peter Duff, and 70-year-old Penelope Duff; Peter's wife, are believed to be the first British couple to commit suicide in the Swiss Clinic. They were also believed to have been suffering of cancer since 1992.

However this is not the first time a British citizen commits suicide in the Swiss assisted suicide clinic; according to the BBC News Channel about 100 British citizens have already committed suicide in the famous clinic, including a paralysed Rugby player.

When I read this news in the Metro, as I was on my way to the class room, I was chocked and pretty soon amazed by the terrible news. I just can't believe that someone can just end his very own life and still take the life of the person who is closest to you and who has loved you for so long.

I do not agree with the fact that people are considering suicide as an option to end long-term-painful illness. I have never been through a painful illness myself, but I have been very close to someone who suffered from a terrible illness, and I am sure that if that person had thought of committing suicide, I would have not been what I am now and nor would I have achieved half the stuff I have achieved now.

The thing with suicide is that when you commit it, you are not only finishing the greatest gift you've ever been given - your life - but you're also affecting and damaging the lives of those who are closest to you and the lives of those who love you as well.

Independent article used to write this story:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/british-couple-die-in-suicide-pact-at-swiss-euthanasia-clinic-1638632.html

Sudan's terror leader Omar al-Bashir must go to jail

The International Criminal Court (ICC) of the Hague, the Netherlands has sent an arrest warrant to the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir, the BBC News Website has reported today.

Mr. al-Bashir is accused by the ICC of multiple charges such as abuse of power, murder, extermination, rape, torture, transferring and stealing the properties of large numbers of Sudanese civilians, and some others. Sundan is one of the poorest countries in Africa.

According to the BBC the warrant will be taken to action in July this year. Mr. al-Bashir has denied all the charges he's been accused of.

To be fair, this is not the first time that we see a crazy African dictator in power exterminating everyone who opposes their regime and abusing the power given by their very own people and sometimes the support of the west.

I shall remember the people who read this blog that while we're too busy reading the latest article about Jade Goody's illness, there are thousands of men and women that are dying of hunger, thousands of women being raped and many thousands of children being taken by force to contribute to the Sudanese terror army, the same army that attacks many aids helper.

The BBC News Website reported today: "The UN estimates about 300,000 people have died and millions been displaced in six years of conflict in Darfur." And to the ICC, I congratulate you all for the work you're all doing to imprison this terror dictator.

The image used for this article was taken from www.bbc.co.uk/news

BBC News article used to write this story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7923102.stm

BBC News related article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7887007.stm

Omar al-bashir's profile (Wikipedia):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_al-Bashir

Darfur's profile (Wikipedia):

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

War in Darfur (Wikipedia):

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

Sudan's profile (Wikipedia):

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

Obama to back off 'missile defence shield' in Eastern Europe

American president Barack Obama wants to 'abandon' plans to open a defence shield in Eastern Europe, under the condition that Russia has to help America protect the west - and Israel - against any possible attack from Iran, the Times Online has reported today.

Mr. Obama's desire to make Russia help the West - and Israel - if any missiles are fired from Iran was expressed in a letter - written by the very same Abama - hard-handed to Russia's president Dmitri Medvedev a month ago.

The letter was scoped in an article by the New York Times, the (London) Times Online has reported today.

The letter stated that plans considered by former US president George W Bush to open defence shields in Poland and the Czech Republic were no longer considered necessary by president Obama if Russia were to fight Iran in case any missile was fired from Iranian territory.

However, (I believe) it is not a secret that Russia has no intentions of helping America 'protect' the west, nor would Russia want to protect Israel if nuclear missiles are fired from Iran.

A prove of this is that since the 'hard-handed' letter was sent to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, no diplomatic talk about this serious matter has been held yet.

The Times Online reported: "News of the offer, which the Kremlin officially denied this morning, emerged as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton prepares for her first meeting with Sergei Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, on Friday in Geneva. A senior US official told (the Times): It's almost saying to them, put up or shut up. It's not that the Russians get to say, We'll try and therefore you have to suspend. It says the threat has to go away."

The Times Online also reported: "(Mr. Lavrov) added: Any Russian-US cooperation on missile defence should be based on joint analysis, calculation and study of different missile threats."

The pictures used for this article were taken from www.timesonline.co.uk and www.wikipedia.org

Times Online article used to write this story:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5838160.ece

Barack Obama's profile (Wikipedia):

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

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov's profile (Wikipedia):

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

Dmitri Medvedev's profile (Wikipedia):

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

Gordon Brown on globalisation

In a recent article that British PM has written on the Times Online, Mr. Brown has unveiled that he believes in globalisation as the way to improve the economic crisis for which the world – and specially countries like Britain, America and the rest of Europe – are going trough.

Gordon Brown believes that the strings that allied America and Britain together – the strings of truth and freedom – will help these two great nations escape from the economic crisis they’re going through at the moment.

He also mentioned a list of actions that he’s planning to take along with the American president Barack Obama:

"First, universal action to prevent the crisis spreading, to stimulate the global economy and to help reduce the severity and length of the global recession."

"Second, action to kick-start lending so that families and businesses can borrow again."

"Third, all countries renouncing protectionism, with a transparent mechanism to monitor commitments."

"Fourth, reform of international regulation to close regulatory gaps so shadow banking systems have nowhere to hide."

"Fifth, reform of our international financial institutions and the creation of an international early warning system. And last, coordinated international action to build tomorrow today – putting the world economy on an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable path towards future growth and recovery."

I believe in what Mr. Brown says and I support him. However, the only thing that I don’t understand – and I believe this is the point where Mr. Brown is failing – is how he plans to make the moves towards a more globalised society.

The main error politicians have made for ages is the fact that they say: oh! we will do this, this and that! But they never say how they plan to do, and what will be taken in consideration while doing it.


The picture used for this article was taken from http://www.wikipedia.org/

Times Online article used to write this story:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article5821821.ece

Gordon Brown's profile (Wikipedia):

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

David Cameron's 6-year-old son dies

The British opposition leader David Cameron's six-year-old son has died this morning at St Mary's Hospital, located in Paddington, London, the BBC News Website has reported today.

Cameron's six-year-old son Ivan Cameron, suffered of cerebral palsy and epilepsy. 

Many people have sent their condolences to Mr. Cameron. Among them was the British PM - Gordon Brown - who have said (the BBC News Channel has reported today): " I know that in an all too brief life, he (Ivan) brought joy to all those around him and I know also for all the days of his life, he was surrounded by his family's love."

I agree with Mr. Brown's statement when he said that nobody has to go through such a tragic event. Mr. Brown himself knows what it feels like to loose a child. In 2006 Mr. Brown's daughter - Jennifer Jane - died 10 days after she was born in 2002.

I sincerely send my condolences to Mr. Cameron and his family. This is a very sad time for the Cameron family and shows everyone - even such a strong politician like David Cameron - has to deal with personal issues and family problems. 

The picture used for this article was taken from www.bbc.co.uk/news

BBC News article used to write this article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7909562.stm

David Cameron's profile (Wikipedia):

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

Is Rupert Murdoch - sky's owner - a racist?

Rupert Murdoch, the world's biggest media baron, has apologised yesterday for the cartoon published in one of his newspapers - the New York Post - last week, the BBC News Website reported today.

The Cartoon - scooped by the Guardian - shows a chimpanzee shot to dead by two - white - police officers, while one of them says: 'they'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.' 

Some people from the African-American communities in the US have reacted angrily declaring that the New York Post promotes racism in America. They've declared that the shot-chimpanzee reflects the image the white Americans had of the African-Americans during times of slavery. 

I seriously believe that Mr. Murdoch is not a racist, and I don't say this because I like him -because I don't, I believe he uses his media power to obtain what he wants, which is an abuse o media power. 

It is not a secret for those involved in the media industry that Rupert Murdoch would do everything, and would become friends with anyone just to expand his media empire and to increase his influences worldwide. 

In this case, it only took him to ordered his New York Post cartoonist to draw a racist cartoon to be in the spotlight once again.

The images used for this article were taken from www.bbc.co.uk/news and www.guardian.co.uk

BBC News article used to write this story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7908324.stm

Guardian article used to write this story:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/18/new-york-post-cartoon-race

New York Post website:

http://www.nypost.com/

New York Post profile (Wikipedia):

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

Rupert Murdoch's profile (Wikipedia):

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