Posted by racingsnake
@ 09:31 PM GMT+00:00
04 Sep · Mon 2006
Strange timing...
At a moment when Israel appears to recognise its dependence on UN
resolutions for its own internal safety, this announcement of a new settlement push
in the West Bank seems strangely ill-timed. It cannot be a move
calculated to win the co-operation of the Palestinian people or their
elected representatives in the phase of reconciliation and
reconstruction which needs to follow the recent flare-up.
Gaza; still far from viable
News stories about South Lebanon continue to overshadow the problems in Gaza, but this piece
on the BBC site gives worthwhile details and perspective. Although Gaza
is nominally under the autonomous control of the Palestinian government
elected in March 2006 to replace the interim Palestinian Authority, in
practical terms that is far from being the case. For instance, the
elected majority of representatives in the Palestinian authority are
from Hamas, which Israel still regards as a terrorist organisation.
Hamas politicians are subject to arrest and are effectively prevented
from representing their constituents - for instance by travel
restrictions between Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
The BBC article illustrates some of the other, largely unseen ways in which Israeli control reaches into this supposedly self-governing territory; ways whose influence is likely to pervade any Palestinian society for generations, and to make it harder for Palestinians and Israelis to co-exist in peace as they will need to do.
The BBC article illustrates some of the other, largely unseen ways in which Israeli control reaches into this supposedly self-governing territory; ways whose influence is likely to pervade any Palestinian society for generations, and to make it harder for Palestinians and Israelis to co-exist in peace as they will need to do.
Posted by racingsnake
@ 11:23 AM GMT+00:00
"Croc hunter" Steve Irwin dies
I saw the sad news today that broadcaster Steve Irwin has died
after being stung by a sting-ray. Whether or not you liked his
exuberant presentation style, there's no doubt at all that he was
absolutely committed to the welfare of the animals he worked so hard to
tell us about.
My own belief is that he never exaggerated or played down the risk of handling dangerous animals in the way that he did; I just think he was working to break down some of the misconceptions we have about why and when other animals are dangerous to humans. In some way, I guess, it's heartening that he died doing what he was famous for - but I'm sorry he's gone.
My own belief is that he never exaggerated or played down the risk of handling dangerous animals in the way that he did; I just think he was working to break down some of the misconceptions we have about why and when other animals are dangerous to humans. In some way, I guess, it's heartening that he died doing what he was famous for - but I'm sorry he's gone.
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