Month: July 2006

Gaza in the dark

Interesting article in CounterPunch on the impact of the destruction of Gaza’s power plant on its future economic growth:

By bombing the plant, the Israelis cut power to 65 percent of the Gaza Strip, a region that is one of the most impoverished in the Middle East. By destroying the plant, the Israelis also decimated one of Palestine’s most valuable companies, the Palestine Electric Company, whose shares are traded on the Palestine Stock Exchange. Further, the Israelis have destroyed any chance for industry in Gaza to grow.

It is axiomatic among the world’s economies: as electricity consumption increase, so does wealth. Gazans are impoverished, in large part, because they don’t have enough electricity. Residents in Gaza consume just 654 kilowatt hours of electricity per year or about one-tenth of what Israelis consume. The average Israeli consumes about 6,183 kilowatt hours of power per year, a rate that places Israel 27th among the world’s countries in terms of power use. By comparison the residents of Gaza rank number 136 among the world’s countries in per capita power use, a status that places them behind residents of Peru.

Not to mention, of course, the costs to businesses, students, traders, etc. Incidentally, kudos to Egypt for pledging to give Gaza free electricity.

Also check out MERIP’s new online piece, Gaza in the Vise, for a detailed look at the humanitarian impact of Israel’s war, especially on children.

Terrorist hysteria in Indiana

Al Qaeda hates freedom, but it especially hates freedom in the Midwest. At least that what the US database of potential terrorist targets suggests:

The National Asset Database, as it is known, is so flawed, the inspector general found, that as of January, Indiana, with 8,591 potential terrorist targets, had 50 percent more listed sites than New York (5,687) and more than twice as many as California (3,212), ranking the state the most target-rich place in the nation.

. . .

In addition to the petting zoo, in Woodville, Ala., and the Mule Day Parade in Columbia, Tenn., the auditors questioned many entries, including “Nix’s Check Cashing,” “Mall at Sears,” “Ice Cream Parlor,” “Tackle Shop,” “Donut Shop,” “Anti-Cruelty Society” and “Bean Fest.”

Even people connected to some of those businesses or events are baffled at their inclusion as possible terrorist targets.

“Seems like someone has gone overboard,” said Larry Buss, who helps organize the Apple and Pork Festival in Clinton, Ill. “Their time could be spent better doing other things, like providing security for the country.”

Maybe soon they’re going to start having metal detectors all over the place that beep constantly without any of the guards caring, just like in Egypt.

Algeria’s secret torture chambers

A new report by Amnesty International on Algeria’s secret torture chambers is out. The full 44-page report could be found here.
Algerian security services have inherited the French school of torture and counterinsurgency that was ironically developed by Frech colonialists against Algerians themeselves… and sure the jackboots gained more expertise in their dirty war against Islamist militants during the 1990s civil war.
Currently Algeria is one of America’s and Europe’s allies in the “war on terror” together with Bin 3ali of Tunisia and Mubarak of Egypt. The CIA-chartered Ghost Flights reportedly landed in Algerian airports. Several Europe-based militant suspects were also sent back to Algeria, where Bu Tafliqa’s secret services’ custody, other EU members are still trying hard.
Related Article:
Algeria admits killing 17,000 Islamists

Demo planned in solidarity with detainees

Activists are calling for a protest in front of the Press Syndicate, Saturday 15 July, 6pm, to demand the release of Sharqawi, Sha3er, and the Muslim Brotherhood detainees, who were picked up during security crackdowns on pro-Judges demos.

A centralized Activism Calendar has been launched on Manalaa and Kefaya‘s website. It’s available only in Arabic at the moment. Get in touch with the administrators of either of the two websites to publicize your demo.

Al-NDP Al-Youm

I read in today’s Al-Ahram that the ruling National Democratic Party has launched Al-Watani Al-Youm, as a new daily mouthpiece for Mubarak’s regime. The 1st issue supposedly was out yesterday, on the same day the new press law was passed… I haven’t seen the newspaper anywhere yet.
The name “Al-Watani Al-Youm,” (The Patriot Today) rhymes with the already existing liberal daily Al-Masri Al-Youm, (The Egyptian Today) the best Arabic daily we have in Egypt in my view.
I still don’t know what will happen to the the NDP’s original paper Mayo, which is more or less The Onion of my father’s generation.

Finally!!!! Gitmo detainees to get Geneva Conventions protection

The US has admitted that all detainees held by the military, including those at Guantanamo, should be treated in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.

Aywa! Finally! This is great news! Really great!… Let’s hope the Gulag would be shut down soon, and the illegal renditions to end…
Check this funny animation I found on zazou’s blog.

Related Links and Resources:
Rights groups hail Guantanamo ruling

HRW on Counterterrorism