0wnyard

Beach Of Panama

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Fri, 20 May 2011 11:33:00 -0700

Panama City Beach (rated America's #1 beach in 1995) are located on the Gulf of Mexico in the panhandle of Florida between Mobile, AL, to the west and Tallahassee, FL, to the east.  Panama City is serviced by its own international airport (Delta and Northwest) and is accessible by several major highways easily linking this vacation paradise to the cities of the southeast, central, and western states. 

The Travel Channel has named Panama City the top spot for Spring Break for a reason. Partying is one of the top things to do in Panama City beach. At Spinnaker and La Vela, you begin to understand why. These clubs are the kind that you head to when you are really looking for a good time, the kind of good time that maybe involves that little hedonistic edge. Spinnaker is where you will find concerts, bikini contests, dancing, and of course drinking. But dont just start thinking its all about going crazy. Its just that with its waterfront location on the sugar-white sands, you forget about stress and begin to allow yourself to just have some fun. During the day, the scene can be perfect for that lazy day with friends, and at the clubs Paradise Grill, juicy burgers are on special, as well as the fresh and local seafood. At Club Vela, its nightlife the way you want it. The club has 30 bars and different theme rooms for dancin, and rockin shows. The newest theme room is the Karma Lounge, where a Sake menu compliments premium spirits, plush seating in a modern oriental ambiance, and private sitting areas.

Anglers will put fishing to the top of their list of things to do in Panama City Florida, and if you like the deep sea variety, then you are in the right spot. Year round fishing is the norm and if you want to stay off the boat, then toss your line from the shore or from a pier. Deep sea sport fishing charters are ready for your group, and families will enjoy the experience on the open waters.

Known for its mild climate and its beautiful sugar-white beaches, Panama City is a wonderful vacation destination.  Surrounded by the protected water of St. Andrews  Bay and the open water of the Gulf of Mexico, Panama City is ideal for learning to sail in different types of water and conditions.  Plus, Panama City  has some of the most spectacular emerald green waters you will find anywhere in the world.

most beautiful fountain

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Tue, 17 May 2011 07:14:00 -0700

It will be the world’s largest fountain in Dubai. It over 900 ft (275 metres) in length, equivalent to that of over two football fields and it is about 25 per cent larger than The Fountains at Bellagio in Las Vegas in area. Powerful water nozzles will shoot water sprays to heights of over 500 ft (150 metres), equivalent to that of a 50-story building.

The fountains which over 6,600 lights and 50 colour projectors that will create a vibrant visual spectrum of over 1,000 different water expressions by shooting 22,000 gallons of water. The total cost to built this is AED 800 million (US$218 million)! This project is expected to draw over 10 million visitors annually.

This fountain project is scheduled to be operational in 2009.

Beautyfull location in the world

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 02:45:00 -0700

Most beautyfull mosque in the world

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 12:55:00 -0700

The sister of a sex beast ,,,,,,,

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:45:00 -0700

Tragic mum-of-three Belinda Day was 27 when she committed suicide by throwing herself from cliffs at Bobsleigh Salter ton, Devon, in 1989.

Last year her brother Adrian ”Tommy” Dance was jailed for 21 years for a string of rapes and sexual assaults,

At the time it was not known why Belinda – known as Binny – took her own life but detectives now have evidence that she was subjected to ”sexual abuse and violent rape”.

Her brother has not yet been interviewed over the attacks but is ”one of a number” of suspects that detectives are considering.

Members of Belinda’s large and extended family may be interviewed as ”potential suspects, witnesses or victims”, according to police.

At midnight last night officers exhumed her body in a bid to obtain DNA evidence as part of the ongoing investigation.

Detective Constable Michael Chalmers, of the Devon and Cornwall Police, said that witnesses had already come forward and that ”suspects had been identified”.

He said: ”It is clear that Binny was sexually abused and violently raped over an extended period.

”We will do whatever is necessary to bring her abusers to justice.

”All potential lines of inquiry have been exhausted leading to this exhumation.”

He added: ”A number of victims have come forward and and provided testimony to specially trained officers.

”We cannot rule out Tommy Dance as he is linked to the second investigation. Potentially, he could be interviewed.”

The second youngest of 11 children, Binny was a ”popular and bubbly” woman who grew up in Bobsleigh Saltpeter, Devon.

She attended St Peter’s Church of England School before leaving for what is now Ex mouth Community College.

After leaving school she moved to Execrate, where she married and became a ”full-time mother-of-three” before hurling herself from cliffs at Bobsleigh Saltpeter on March 3, 1989.

An inquest heard she had suffered problems with her then partner, but heard no evidence which suggested she had been abused.

The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide but could offer no explanation as to why she would take her own life.

Binny killed herself aged 27 when her oldest son was ten and youngest child just four.

Her brother Tommy, 54, was jailed for 21 years at Exert Crown Court last year after admitting 14 offenses, including sexual assault, four rapes, seven indecent assaults and two offenses of indecency with a child.

Five other charges, which he denied, were dropped. His victims included five girls aged under 16, including one he abducted, in the 1980s and an adult woman in 1979.

The father-of-two masqueraded as a pillar of the community, and was well known for his charity work, having raised over £50,000 for children with cancer.

He took his victims to secluded spots before subjecting them to harrowing attacks telling them he would kill them if they told anyone.

Two years ago Devon and Cornwall police began an investigation codenamed ”Operation Goodrich” in which they looked into a range of historical sexual abuse.

Detective Sergeant Zoe Nowell, the deputy senior investigating officer, said: ”The initial investigation closed in July last year with the conviction of Tommy Dance for rape and sexual abuse committed in East Devon.

”The current investigation includes evidence that Binny was raped and sexually abused over an extensive period leading up to her death. Her DNA forms a potentially crucial piece of evidence.”

And at midnight last night, officers undertook the careful and sensitive task of exhuming Belinda’s body from St Peter’s Church, in Bobsleigh Salter ton, in a bid to obtain her DNA as part of the investigation.

Detectives would not reveal the nature of the information they hoped to obtain but said the results would not be known for three to four weeks.

They said they were ”very confident” of making arrests after the profile had been compared and said family members could be ”potential suspects, witnesses or victims”.

Belinda’s body was due to be exhumed in the presence of her immediate family and local clergy, and due to be returned to her grave tomorrow.

An appeal was made for anyone who knew Belinda in the 1970s and 1980s to come forward.

She married three times and had three children, who are believed to be living around the country, and her latest husband has since moved to France.

Der Con Chalmers added: ”There are many pieces to this complex jigsaw and often people have information which may seem insignificant to them but may in fact be the missing and final piece which helps complete this puzzle.”

First-Class” means the first, highest, or best group in a system of classifications.

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 11:16:00 -0700

There are first-class accommodations on airplanes, hotels, trains, cruise ships, etc. There are first-class restaurants, first-class cars and first-class neighborhoods.
What creates “first-class” status is the attention to detail, the selection of quality ingredients, the training of staff and the respect given to the client or customer.
The restaurant industry is neither high-class nor low-class. Yet, in every high-class restaurant there is someone who determines the policies and the activities for the chef, waiters, and maitre d’ and sets the ambience to create a particular mood in the restaurant. All of these items establish its “first-class” status. A restaurant that is first-class has been created and maintained that way - by a person or people. A “low-class” restaurant is also created by NOT paying attention to these details.
The MLM (Network Marketing) industry is neither high-class nor low-class. Yet individual people who do MLM can be either. This web site (”First-Class MLM”) is here to teach the principles of how to build your MLM business using First-Class methods.
I’ll be the first to admit that I have seen MLM (network marketing) done poorly and in a way that I personally wouldn’t do it. That doesn’t mean those MLM businesses didn’t make good money doing it that way - many have. But at what cost? A band of great elephant hunters may be effective at killing all the elephants in their area - but at what cost? Anything that damages the whole isn’t good. This goes back to my discussion on what makes an ethical business.
I’ve done MLM (Network Marketing) in a way that is very professional and very ethical; thus First-Class. If you study “First-Class MLM” closely I believe you will agree that there isn’t a more ethical business model on Earth.
A person who is doing First-Class MLM would follow these basic guidelines:
1. They would tell the truth
2. They would only represent a company that has products or services that honestly makes people’s lives better.
3. They would be genuinely interested in a prospect’s success with their product or service - not just in making a profit.
4. They would know the company’s product line and how it differs from similar products. This makes you valuable to consumers.
5. They would be able to get customers and have not less than 20.
6. They would know the MLM industry and be able to explain it simply and without hype.
7. They would know their MLM company and be able to explain it simply and without hype.
8. They would effectively train people they sponsored to sell the product/service. The true test of training is,“Can they do it after their training?”
9. They would effectively train people they sponsored to recruit other distributors.
10. They would ensure the people they sponsored could train their downline effectively.

11. They would not sponsor anyone unless they were willing to train them.

12. They would do what they promise.

13. They would only take part in activities that reflect well on the whole of the MLM industry.

14. They would make valuable suggestions to their company so the product line is the very best it can be.

Sexiest woman alive

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 11:11:00 -0700

Sixty-four women are up for Esquire magazine's "Sexiest Woman Alive" award, and one of them is snowboarding's very own Gretchen Bleiler. The women are currently in round one of a six-rou

reader-vote bracket contest, which is kind of like an online version of the Thunderdome. Who is Bleiler matched up against in Round 1?
Rihanna.
"Did you see the pictures?" said Bleiler, who is competing in Thursday's Winter X Games Europe SuperPipe contest in Tignes, France (ESPN2, 3-4 p.m. ET). "Rihanna's in a dress with her shoulders bared, looking sexy -- and they've got me in a baggy sweater! They definitely didn't do me any favors with that photo."
As to where the photo came from, and how she came to be nominated for the award, "I have no idea," said Bleiler, laughing, adding that she has also been nominated for "Hottest Female Athlete" by Men's Health. She's not sure how that happened, either.
The Men's Health award is also a reader-vote bracket contest, and Bleiler is not wearing a sweater in this photo. Accordingly, she is cleaning up in her matchup against golf star Carling Coffing.
The results of the Rihanna-Bleiler matchup aren't public, but voting ends at midnight Thursday, so you may want to get in there and cast a ballot for the hometown hero before it's too late.

Latest News on The MLM Telecomm Wars 70

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Thu, 7 Apr 2011 01:28:00 -0700

There is about to be a major explosion in the world of network marketing in the area of telecommunications. To better explain what is about to happen, here is a little history.

In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s MCI contracted Amway to market their “Family & Friends” long distance service. In the 1980’s Sprint launched their wireless PCS division with a network marketing division called Network2000. When both MCI & Sprint gained enough customers to give them a solid financial base, and alternative marketing channels became available, they terminated their MLM agreements.

In 1988 Excel Communications was founded and in 7 years became the 4th largest phone company in the US. In the early years Excel was a reseller for companies such as Frontier, but bought its own network in 1997. By 2002 competition and ever lower phone rates in the long distance market began to put a real squeeze on profits. In 2004, Excel's parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. By 2005, Excel emerged from bankruptcy after having cut loose its MLM sales force.

American Communications Network (ACN) began operations in the U.S in 1993. It extended operations to Europe in 1999 and to Asia-Pacific in 2004, and now operates in 20 countries. ACN began operations as a reseller for LCI Communications. In 2007 ACN began offering wireless phone plans as a reseller of major carriers such as Verizon Wireless, Sprint PCS, AT&T, Nextel, Alltel, and T-Mobile. They now claim to be the world's largest direct seller of telecommunication services. Their main focus product is VOIP and video conferencing services, using their videophone. They also act as a reseller for internet and satellite TV services. At one point they even received an endorsement from Donald Trump and paid to be featured on an episode of Celebrity Apprentice. Shortly after that, Trump pulled his endorsement of ACN to focus on a nutrition company to be rebranded in his own name. If you check around the web, there are quite a number of complaints surrounding customer service issues and the video phone itself.

Another major player was Lightyear Communications, which filed for bankruptcy in 2002. In fall 2003, while still in bankruptcy court proceedings, Lightyear Network Solutions branched into the residential sector with a new division called Lightyear Alliance. Also in 2003, Lightyear Wireless was created as a division of Lightyear Network Solutions to focus solely on wireless services. Basically, they resell service from Verizon and Sprint. Recently, there was troubling news that a couple top Lightyear distributors decided to move on to a non-telcomm company and they and Lightyear Wireless are now in litigation over their former business relationship.

One of the newest entries into the field is Buzzirk Wireless, the wireless marketing arm of Global Verge. This is actually a second try for Buzzirk, which originally tried to launch in 2006 using the services of a company called Amped Mobile. Before they could get things off the ground, Amped Mobile went out of business. Global Verge offers a series of discount programs, an online shopping mall, and other products. Global Verge partnered with Zer01 to become the exclusive MLM marketer of the Zer01 proprietary Sim Chip Technology. Zer01 uses Internet calling, tapping only the data networks of traditional cellphone companies to deliver voice connections to mobile handsets. Zer01 will be shopping additional distribution channels in non MLM markets which could be a concern. The launch of this new product was slated for 1 July 2009. That was postponed. Other cautions are that Buzzirk is not able to process credit cards and delayed its first commission run. Global Verge is supposed to be able to process credit card charges again the week of 7/20/09. Hopefully, all these things will be resolved, but I would be hesitant before leaping in at the present time. UPDATE - As of 31 July 2009: Buzzirk / Global Verge was finally able to find an offshore processor for their credit transactions. They asked their senior distributors to order product using cashier checks. Still no phone products have been seen or commissions paid. Many more articles have appeared from tech sources such as Computer World questioning if it all isn't vaporware. You be the judge. As is always true, it pays to do your homework and due diligence before parting with hard earning money.

Somewhat unknown to most network marketers in the USA, in 2008 a company called GI Connect began US operations. They were different from the other companies currently marketing services for others. On July 4th, 2009 Financial Destinations Inc., a 6 year marketer of membership services to help consumers save money and control debt, announced Kuba Farbiarz, the founder of GI Connect, as the newest member of the corporate staff. The new service for FDI was released on 15 August 2009. A few highlights of the new service are:

Make cell phone to cell phone calls to and from anyone in the world without roaming, long distance, connection charges, or per minute fees of any kind.
Talk on your cell phone while flying in a commercial aircraft.
Free VoIP calls on Internet connections as slow as dial-up, that is, NOT requiring expensive broadband connections.
Browse the internet on your laptop at broadband speeds, using your cell phone to connect, while simultaneously talking on the same phone, at 0 cents per minute
Unlimited data download, with no data card, no credit check, and no contract.

For reviews of these and other MLM companies, visit www.looknow.info

and request a copy of the Network Marketing Report.

Update as of 10/04/2009 - The new company, Televerus, has extended its $15 special until 10am Monday morning, 10/19/2009. This has proved to be a very effective campaign to let people review the Televerus business at virtually no cost. With an unlimited international wireless plan soon to be released at around $49.95/mo, along with many other inexpensive domestic plans, this company is gaining a significant edge in the telecom wars.

Update as of 11/15/2009 - All of the telecom companies are struggling to get their acts together. FDI continues to be plagued by virtually non-existant customer service and shipping delays. Global Verge continues to be dogged by very negative reviews from the mlm blogs. Televerus has missed deadlines for product launches and continues to have problems with completing their new shopping portal launch. For most all of these companies, putting out a viable, working telecom solution has proved to be much harder than any of them thought. For the latest updates and reviews don't forget to request your free copy of the Network Marketing Report.

Update as of 12/15/2009 - The MLM telecom companies are still struggling to get their acts together. FDI has taken a bold step by severing its relationship with Connective and turning to an alternative service called FDI Voice to attempt to maintain a presence in the telecoms arena. A newcomer called ProxyComm has already closed its doors. Televerus is making progress. They now have an unlimited data version of the Sprint Mifi available for sale, however, agents are still waiting for the promised VOIP software downloads to enable certain smart phones to become mobile VOILA devices. Stay tuned for more developments in this never ending story!

Bristol Palin got $262,500 from sex abstinence work

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Wed, 6 Apr 2011 04:47:00 -0700

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) – Bristol Palin was paid more than  $260,500 advocating against teen pregnancy in 2009, tax documents  released on Tuesday show.

Palin, the 20-year-old daughter of former Alaska governor and 2008 vice  presidential candidate Sarah Palin, earned $262,500 for her work  advocating that teens abstain from sex, according to information posted  on the Internet by GuideStar, which monitors the finances of nonprofit  groups.

The Candie's Foundation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to raise  awareness of teen pregnancy and parenting issues, reported Bristol  Palin's earnings to the Internal Revenue Service.

"We know that Ms. Palin's work has had a positive effect on creating  awareness about teen pregnancy," Ali Tyrangel, a spokeswoman for the  foundation, said in a statement.

Tyrangel said an independent survey of 1,000 teens comparing Bristol  Palin public-service announcements with those of another organization  using non-famous teens found that the Palin spots were much more  powerful and attention-getting.

"Bristol Palin has been a courageous and powerful partner to the  Foundation as we attempt to discourage teen pregnancy," she said.

Representatives for Candie's and Bristol Palin could not immediately be reached for comment.

Bristol Palin, then 18, was pregnant during the 2008 presidential  campaign and her son was born in the month after the election. She and  the boy's father, Levi Johnston, had a much-publicized breakup.

Both young parents have embarked on separate celebrity careers.

Bristol Palin was a contestant on ABC's television program "Dancing With the Stars" and went on the lecture circuit.

Johnston has been promoting a proposed reality television show and  posed, shortly after the 2008 election, for Playgirl magazine.

Bristol Palin is still featured prominently on the Candie's Foundation  web site, along with several other celebrity spokespeople such as  actresses Hilary Duff, Hayden Panettiere and Vanessa Milano.

2014 FIFA World Cup seeding for UEFA teams (11 February 2010)

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Tue, 5 Apr 2011 14:18:00 -0700

The July 2011 FIFA ranking will include matches played between July 2007 and July 2011. We already 50% of the final ranking. Things can and will change before July 2011 as there are many matches to be played involving European teams: EURO 2012

qualifiers and plenty of friendlies.

This is the July 2011 ranking (for UEFA only) using matches played up to and including February 10th, 2011 and matches scheduled up to July 2011 (only those on fifa.com).

Rank - Previous rank-Team - Total points,,,,,,,,,,,,

1 1 spain 1360

2 2 Netherlands 1327

3 3 Germany 1078

4 4 England 1008

5 4 Norway 934

6 8 Croatia 907

7 9 Greece 906

8 11 Italy 874

9 6 Portugal 857

10 9 Russia 830

11 7 Montenegro 760

12 12 France 748

13 14 Slovakia 737

14 15 Slovenia 721

15 13 Denmark 709

16 18 Serbia 686

17 16 Switzerland 682

18 20 Turkey 659

19 17 Czech Republic 649

20 22 Ukraine 627

21 19 Sweden 624

22 23 Hungary 548

23 21 Belarus 543

24 25 Republic of Ireland 524

25 24 Lithuania 506

26 30 Scotland 504

27 26 Bulgaria 477

28 28 Belgium 469

29 27 Israel 458

30 29 Northern Ireland 452

31 34 Romania 442

31 32 Austria 442

33 42 Poland 428

34 31 Albania 422

35 35 Bosnia-Herzegovina 418

36 33 Armenia 404

37 37 Latvia 402

38 38 Cyprus 387

39 40 Georgia 386

40 36 Moldova 383

41 39 Finland 366

42 41 Estonia 337

43 43 FYR Macedonia 331

44 44 Azerbaijan 282

45 45 Wales 223

46 47 Luxembourg 213

47 46 Iceland 205

48 48 Faroe Islands 156

49 49 Kazakhstan 145

50 50 Liechtenstein 109

51 51 Malta 83

comments:

So we could have these two groups (hardest and weakest):

Group 1: Spain, France, Sweden, Romania, Wales, Iceland.

Group 2: Greece, Montenegro, Belarus, Armenia, Moldova, Andorra.

Great job!

Egypt ------The City 0f Piramid

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Tue, 5 Apr 2011 08:22:00 -0700

Arab Republic of Egypt

Geography
Area: 1,001,450 sq. km. (386,000 sq. mi.); approximately equal to Texas and New Mexico combined.
Cities: Capital--Cairo (pop. estimated at 16 million). Other cities--Alexandria (6 million), Aswan, Asyut, Port Said, Suez, Ismailia.
Terrain: Desert, except Nile valley and delta.
Climate: Dry, hot summers; moderate winters.

People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Egyptian(s).
Population (July 2007 est.): 80,335,036.
Annual population growth rate (2007 est.): 1.72%.
Ethnic groups: Egyptian, Bedouin Arab, Nubian.
Religions: Muslim 90%, Coptic Christian 9%, other Christian 1%.
Languages: Arabic (official), English, French.
Education: Years compulsory--ages 6-15. Literacy--total adult 58%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2006 est.)--31.33 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy (2006 est.)--71 years.

Economy
GDP (FY 2009 est.): $188 billion.
Annual growth rate (FY 2009 est.): 4.7%.
Per capita GDP (PPP, FY 2009 est.): $5,650.
Natural resources: Petroleum and natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc.
Agriculture: Products--cotton, rice, onions, beans, citrus fruits, wheat, corn, barley, sugar.
Industry: Types--food processing, textiles, chemicals, petrochemicals, construction, light manufacturing, iron and steel products, aluminum, cement, military equipment.

PEOPLE AND HISTORY
Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab world and the second-most populous on the African continent. Nearly all of the country's 80 million people live in Cairo and Alexandria; elsewhere on the banks of the Nile; in the Nile delta, which fans out north of Cairo; and along the Suez Canal. These regions are among the world's most densely populated, containing an average of over 3,820 persons per square mile (1,540 per sq. km.), as compared to about 200 persons per sq. mi. for the country as a whole.

The Egyptians are a fairly homogeneous people of Hamitic origin. Mediterranean and Arab influences appear in the north, and there is some mixing in the south with the Nubians of northern Sudan. Ethnic minorities include a small number of Bedouin Arab nomads in the eastern and western deserts and in the Sinai, as well as some 50,000-100,000 Nubians clustered along the Nile in Upper (southern) Egypt.

Egypt has endured as a unified state for more than 5,000 years, and archeological evidence indicates that a developed Egyptian society has existed for much longer. Egyptians take pride in their "pharaonic heritage" and in their descent from what they consider mankind's earliest civilization. The Arabic word for Egypt is Misr, which originally connoted "civilization" or "metropolis."

The Great Pyramid, the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu (also known as Cheops), is the only surviving monument of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ancient Egypt reached the peak of its power, wealth, and territorial extent in the period called the New Empire (1567-1085 B.C.).

Domestic Change
Sadat introduced greater political freedom and a new economic policy, the most important aspect of which was the “infitah” or "open door." This relaxed government controls over the economy and encouraged private, including foreign, investment. Sadat dismantled much of the existing political machine and brought to trial a number of former government officials accused of criminal excesses during the Nasser era.

Principal Government Officials
President--Mohamed Hosni Mubarak
Prime Minister--Ahmed Nazif
Minister of Foreign Affairs--Ahmed Aboul Gheit
Ambassador to the United States--Sameh Shoukry
Permanent Representative to the United Nations--Maged Abdel Fattah Abdelaziz

ECONOMY
With the installation of the 2004 Egyptian cabinet and the 2005 presidential election, the Government of Egypt began a new reform movement, following a stalled economic reform program begun in 1991, but moribund since the mid-1990s. Since 2004, the cabinet economic team has simplified and reduced tariffs and taxes, improved the transparency of the national budget, revived stalled privatizations of public enterprises and implemented economic legislation designed to foster private sector-driven economic growth and improve Egypt's competitiveness. The Egyptian economy experienced steady GDP growth rates around 7% between 2005 and 2008, before dropping below 5% amidst the global economic crisis. Despite Egypt’s growth, the economy is still hampered by government intervention, substantial subsidies for food, housing, and energy, and bloated public sector payrolls. Limited energy subsidy reform began in 2007 but has stalled since the 2008 global economic crisis. In sectoral terms, agriculture is mainly in private hands, and has been largely deregulated, with the exception of cotton, sugar, and rice production.

U.S.-EGYPTIAN RELATIONS

The United States and Egypt enjoy a strong and friendly relationship based on shared mutual interest in Middle East peace and stability, revitalizing the Egyptian economy and strengthening trade relations, and promoting regional security. Over the years, Egypt and the United States have worked together assiduously to expand Middle East peace negotiations, hosting talks, negotiations, and the Middle East and North Africa Economic (MENA) Conference. Multinational exercises, U.S. assistance to Egypt's military modernization program, and Egypt's role as a contributor to various UN peacekeeping operations continually reinforce the U.S.-Egyptian military relationship.

Bangladesh: Violent Muslim dispossession of minorities' land

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Sat, 2 Apr 2011 06:23:00 -0700

A village in Bangladesh was burned down and dozens of indigenous people have been injured and driven from Ragipara in the mountain district of Rangamati. According to sources at the Catholic Diocese of Chittagong, Buddhist, Hindu and Christian ethnic minorities were beset by Muslim marauders over the last week.

According to the Commission for Justice and Peace operated by Bangladeshi Christians, more than 300 Muslim settlers on February 17 dispossessed the indigenous villagers and seized their crop land. The Muslim settlers were backed by local police who legitimized the violence. Other cases like this (of attacks on tribal members and private land) have been recorded in recent days in the area of Gulishakhali. The Muslims settlers subjected their indigenous neighbors to the dispossession under the pretext of revenge, following the still unresolved death of Ali Saber - a Muslim found death in Ragiparam.

Rampaging Muslims then entered the non-Muslim village. According to an eyewitness, "They set fire to our homes and our small shops.” An attorney for the dispossessed indigenous people, King Devasish Roy, wrote an open letter to the civil authorities and to the National Commission for Human Rights for Bangladesh, reporting the incident and noting “the complicity of the police.” The letter called for an investigation into the incident in Ragipara including the identification and punishment of the guilty, urging the Government to protect and safeguard the rights of citizens, members of ethnic or religious minorities.

Living conditions for ethnic and religious minorities in Bangladesh are very difficult and their human rights are continually denied and trampled on, states the Hotline Human Rights Bangladesh” (HHRB). The HHRB was established with the support of the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic bishops of Bengal, as a monitor of human rights. A recent assembly held in Dhaka, organised in collaboration with the “Resource Centre for Christian Youth in Bangladesh”, sounded the alarm that ethnic and religious minority groups - including Hindu, Buddhist and Christian communities – suffer daily discrimination, abuse and violence from other Muslim citizens (a large majority in the country), and even from police officers and public administration.

According to the framework outlined by HHRB, minorities are often unduly defrauded of the land they have cultivated or houses they have lived in for centuries; women suffer rapes, kidnappings, forced conversions and marriages; the non-Muslim citizens are discriminated against in seeking work and education. “Their basic human rights are openly and continuously violated and no one intervenes,” notes the organisation.

The more than 100 participants at the meeting, from different districts, shared their common difficulties, also recalling abuses by police or government officers. For this they ask the Government that all Bangladeshi citizens, from any ethnic or religious group, enjoy equal rights and equal opportunities, that they stop the oppression and discrimination that “relegates non-Muslims to second-class citizens.”

In Bangladesh, of a population of about 165 million people, Muslims are more than 85%, 10% are Hindus, Buddhists 0.6%, and Christians 0.3%. Among the tribal minorities, the main ethnic groups are the Oroun and the Santal. The minorities, not given consideration or coverage in any way by the Constitution, have little chance of development and emancipation.

Source: FIDES

Bangladesh Genocide Archive

noreply@blogger.com (0wn Yard) — Fri, 1 Apr 2011 07:30:00 -0700

“…… we were told to kill the hindus and Kafirs (non-believer in God). One day in June, we cordoned a village and were ordered to kill the Kafirs in that area. We found all the village women reciting from the Holy Quran, and the men holding special congregational prayers seeking God’s mercy. But they were unlucky. Our commanding officer ordered us not to waste any time.”

Confession of a Pakistani Soldier

Bengali man and boys massacred by the West Pakistani regime.

Younger men and adolescent boys, of whatever social class, were equally targets. According to Rounaq Jahan, “All through the liberation war, able-bodied young men were suspected of being actual or potential freedom fighters. Thousands were arrested, tortured, and killed. Eventually cities and towns became bereft of young males who either took refuge in India or joined the liberation war.” Especially “during the first phase” of the genocide, he writes, “young able-bodied males were the victims of indiscriminate killings.” (“Genocide in Bangladesh,” in Totten et al., Century of Genocide, p. 298.) R.J. Rummel likewise writes that “the Pakistan army [sought] out those especially likely to join the resistance — young boys. Sweeps were conducted of young men who were never seen again. Bodies of youths would be found in fields, floating down rivers, or near army camps. As can be imagined, this terrorized all young men and their families within reach of the army. Most between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five began to flee from one village to another and toward India. Many of those reluctant to leave their homes were forced to flee by mothers and sisters concerned for their safety.” (Death By Government, p. 329.) Rummel describes (p. 323) a chilling gendercidal ritual, reminiscent of Nazi procedure towards

Jewish males: “In what became province-wide acts of genocide, Hindus were sought out and killed on the spot. As a matter of course, soldiers would check males for the obligated circumcision among Moslems. If circumcised, they might live; if not, sure death.”