The European Union Times |
- 29.000 Elderly Britons die this Winter due to Extreme Poverty
- Donetsk rebel chief claims Ukraine is ‘run by Jews’
- Oregon Business Must Pay $150,000 to Homosexual Couple for Refusing to Bake a Cake
- Racist Expression is a Politician’s Human Right – Equalities Watchdog
- Russian “Shock Of March” Battle Plan Targets Norway, Saudi Arabia
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Posted: 04 Feb 2015 11:27 AM PST
 According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) some 28,800 people died in the fortnight ending January 23. ONS said the flu virus and the cold snap are the main reasons behind the recent spike in winter deaths. Elderly victims More than 25,000 people aged over 65 lost their lives due to the cold snap. 11,102 men and 14,129 women lost their lives in the fortnight to 23 January. The death toll among the elderly was 18,154 in the same period last year. Flu factor Medical experts blame the flu- the H3N2 sub-type in particular for most of the winter deaths. “The main type of flu that has been circulating this winter so far (influenza A/H3N2) is well recognized to particularly impact groups, such as the elderly and those with underlying chronic health problems, resulting in increases in hospitalizations and deaths. That is why we recommend these groups receive flu vaccine each year, ideally before the flu season starts,” the Guardian quoted Dr. Richard Pebody, PHE’s head of seasonal flu surveillance, as saying. Fuel poverty scandal Meanwhile, the Daily Telegraph reported that the winter death tall is expected to exceed 40,000, the highest figure for the past 15 years. Fuel poverty, particularly among the pensioners, is believed to be a contributing factor. Nearly one million senior citizens are estimated to be living in fuel poverty across the UK. Campaigners believe that many of the deaths can be prevented if the government improves the energy efficiency of homes across the country. Source           |
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Posted: 04 Feb 2015 11:16 AM PST
 Ukraine’s pro-Russian rebel chief on Monday branded the country’s leaders “miserable” Jews in an apparent anti-Semitic jibe. Alexander Zakharchenko, leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, claimed that Kiev’s pro-Western leaders were “miserable representatives of the great Jewish people”. “I can’t remember a time when Cossacks were led by people who have never held a sword in their hands,” Zakharchenko told a press conference in the eastern rebel stronghold of Donetsk, in a reference to Ukraine’s nationalist forebears, the Cossacks. Zakharchenko said that the country’s historical nationalists “would turn in their graves if they could see who is running Ukraine.” Anti-Semitic sentiment remains widespread in Ukraine, where most of its leaders are Jewish, including the highest possible state ranks, such as the president of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk and the Chairman of the Ukrainian parliament Volodymyr Groysman. The comments by Zakharchenko, who was flanked by the leader of the neighbouring rebel-held region of Lugansk, Igor Plotnitsky, were carried live by Russian news channel Rossiya-24. The rebels leaders on Monday announced a mass call-up, aimed at bolstering their forces to 100,000 troops. Fighting between Ukrainian forces and the pro-Russian rebels, which has claimed 5,100 lives since April, has surged in recent weeks after the collapse of a tenuous ceasefire deal. Source      |
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Posted: 04 Feb 2015 10:38 AM PST
 State also reserves the authority to shut down First Amendment right of business owners. The state of Oregon has ruled that a bakery discriminated against a homosexual couple and must pay them $150,000. The owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa in Gresham, Oregon, denied service to the same-sex couple because of their religious belief that homosexuality is an “abomination unto the lord.” Action by the state of Oregon forced the business to close its doors in December. In Oregon, the state prohibits private business from making decisions on who may or may not receive service. “Oregonians may not be denied service based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The law provides an exemption for religious organizations and schools, but does not allow private businesses to discriminate based on sexual orientation,” Charlie Burr, the spokesman for Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, said earlier this week. The state has set aside special rights and privileges for homosexuals. In 2007, the government enacted the Oregon Equality Act, which punishes businesses that decide they do not want to provide services to people who say they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. The state government of Oregon does not recognize the religious convictions of business owners. Only institutions and registered organizations are allowed to claim religious status and avoid coercion and punishment by the state. “Americans should not have to choose between adhering to their faith or closing their business, but that is what this decision means,” said Anna Harmon, a lawyer representing the business. The law apparently also punishes individuals for exercising their First Amendment right, although Oregon has decided not to do so in this case. USA Today notes the couple who own the bakery “will not be penalized for speaking about the issue on Christian television and radio programs.” Source      |
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Posted: 04 Feb 2015 10:05 AM PST
 Politicians should not be silenced from saying things that “could be construed as racist” if debating issues of national importance such as immigration, Britain’s equalities watchdog says. New legal guidelines on freedom of expression in Britain also defend media organizations’ right to publish drawings of the Prophet Mohammed if they consider them to be in the wider public’s interest. However, the guidance also contains a series of cautionary words. Of particular note, is the watchdog’s warning to religious schools over their handling of sensitive issues such as gay marriage. The Commission says faith schools have a legal right to teach students their traditional beliefs on issues such as same-sex marriage and sexuality, but could face allegations of discrimination if their approach to such subjects is deemed insensitive or inappropriate. The equalities watchdog stresses the clarifications set out in its new guidelines are necessary to address confusion over ambiguous legislation in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks. Human rights group Liberty says citizens’ right to freely express themselves is crucial to any robust democracy. The exchange of diverse ideas assists in informing political debate and is vital to public transparency and accountability, according to the charity. Rights & responsibilities Citizens’ right to freedom of expression is defined under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It includes the right to hold opinions, and to process and disseminate information without interference from the State. While political expression is afforded special protection under Article 10, the Convention emphasizes free expression carries with it a series of “duties and responsibilities.” The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s new guidelines suggest there is often “a fine line” between remarks that are protected under human rights legislation and those which could be considered to incite hatred. But it argues that minimal interference with journalism, commentary on public issues and political campaigning can be justified, particularly in the midst of electoral campaigns. The equalities watchdog suggests that racist commentary, which is intended to inform rather than be offensive, often attracts greater protection than other discriminatory forms of speech. “Beliefs, opinions and ideas – even deeply-held beliefs – cannot be immune to criticism or satire. Democracy depends on people being free to express, debate and criticize opposing viewpoints,” the Commission’s guidelines say. Liberty’s perspective echoes that of the Commission in this context. The human rights charity argues the right to freedom of expression – while subject to limitations – carries little weight unless it is evenly applied across all sectors of society. The charity stresses the right to protect “both popular and unpopular expression – including speech that might shock others” should be upheld. It adds “a free press” and protected journalistic sources are crucial to free speech. Freedom of bias or freedom of expression? The Commission’s new guidelines emphasize that British courts generally uphold citizens’ right to freedom of expression on the grounds free speech should not be restricted purely because others find it insulting or offensive. It stresses, however, that context is vital and the rights of citizens must be balanced carefully. The equalities watchdog suggests intolerant expressions of a perspective some may find offensive is less likely to be viewed as “hate speech” if aired as part of a public debate or speech where divergent views are exchanged and challenged. But it emphasizes remarks about minority communities blaring through a megaphone in front of a volatile mob is more likely to be considered incitement of hatred than a few privately uttered comments. The Commission’s guidance acknowledges that many Muslims in Britain and elsewhere are deeply offended by depictions of the Prophet Mohammed published in the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. But the watchdog says it was unlikely that any publisher would have been prosecuted for publishing such content if they believed they were doing so in the public interest. In the wake of the Paris shootings, states across the globe saw a frenzy of debate broaching the sanctity of free speech. Pope Francis said religious beliefs should be treated respectfully so that divergent faiths are not ridiculed or insulted. Sharif Nashashibi, a political analyst on Arab affairs, argued at the time every right is bound by limits. He added the mainstream media in the West was reluctant to adequately investigate the “the causes of radicalism” that had led to the Paris atrocities. An editorial in the New York Times said, “It is absurd to suggest that the way to avoid terrorist attacks is to let the terrorists dictate standards in a democracy. “This is also no time for peddlers of xenophobia to try to smear all Muslims with a terrorist brush.” Source      |
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Posted: 04 Feb 2015 09:06 AM PST
 A truly grim Ministry of Defence (MoD) report circulating in the Kremlin today gives stark validity to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists moving their Doomsday Clock to “3 minutes to midnight” on 30 January as it details what its authors label as a “Shock Of March” battle plan to simultaneously attack both Norway and Saudi Arabia while at the same time holding the European Union-United States at bay under threat of a massive nuclear attack. According to this report, the massive nuclear missile drills previously scheduled in the Central Military District (CMD) for early March are to act as “cover” for the launching of at least 10 electromagnetic pulse (EMP) armed Iskander-M tactical ballistic cruise missiles at “previously selected targets” to include central Norway and the Ju Aymah oil terminal complex in Saudi Arabia. The criteria necessary for these targeting “options”, this report says, includes the necessity of crippling Saudi Arabia’s ability to ship oil from its Ju Aymah oil complex (one of the largest in the world) while at the same time denying the US the ability to access the massive amounts of new tanks and armored vehicles they have placed over the past year in a series of climate-controlled caves in central Norway. In preparation for this “Shock of March” battle plan, this report continues, the MoD this week has also begun large-scale exercises of Russian radiation, chemical, and biological defense troops on seven firing ranges in the Southern Military District (SMD), as well as the Crimean Peninsula and Armenia. The “strategic platforms” to be utilized in these attacks, MoD experts in this report state, will be theCaspian Flotilla which will attack Saudi Arabia with Iskander EMP cruise missiles and then IskanderNorthern Fleet based EMP cruise missiles are to be fired into central and northern Norway.  Upon the successful crippling of Norway’s military/industrial/civilian electronic and telecommunications infrastructure, this report says, special forces (Spetsnaz) troops that have beenbuilding up in the Murmansk Oblast will then cross the border between the two nations to both secure vital airfields and destroy all of the stored American war supplies found there, after which they will leave Norwegian territory when a negotiated settlement to end hostilities is reached. The legal authorization for attacking Saudi Arabia, MoD experts in this report say, is based upon the Kingdoms “act of economic warfare against the Federation” in flooding the world with oil in order to collapse the Russian economy, a fact even the Obama regime linked New York Times was forced to admit this past week. Likewise, these MoD experts in this report state, the legal authorization for attacking US/NATO ally Norway is based upon the United States declaration of war authorized by House Resolution 788 this past December and supported by the Obama regime. In order to prevent this “Shock of March” battle plan from triggering an all-out nuclear war, this report continues, all EU/NATO nations will be immediately notified that should they in any way retaliate against Federation forces a full scale attack utilizing Iskander EMP ballistic missiles will be launched against them from the Kaliningrad Oblast, and which are able to target all EU military targets in less than 15 minutes. Important to note, this report says, is that in their knowledge of this conflict to come, both Germanyand France have announced they will not send weapons to Ukraine, with the Germans going further and stating publically that have cut off all arms sales to Saudi Arabia too. Most dangerous, however, this report continues, remains the United States, and that MoD experts grimly note may not even be under the control of President Obama anymore. Supporting this MoD statement, this report notes, are the new documents and tapes released in Washington D.C. this past week detailing how former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton personally directed the destruction of the Libyan government over the objections of both the Obama regime and the Pentagon. Even worse, this report warns, is that should Hillary Clinton actually be in charge of the US government, she is acting in the capacity of a “wounded eagle” after her son-in-law, Marc Mezvinsky, is reported to have lost, to date, over $200 million of the Clinton families personal fortune by betting the wrong way on Greek government bonds. And so bad has the situation in Greece become, this report notes, UK Chancellor George Osbornewarned yesterday that Greece’s standoff with Eurozone governments and international creditors poses a greater threat to the global economy than conflict in the Middle East, climate change and rising tensions between Russia and the West. With Greece now refusing to even negotiate with its creditors before its 28 February deadline before it defaults, and with President Putin, likewise, nearing a decision to call in the Federations $3 billion loan to Ukraine which will cause that nation to default in March too, this MoD report concludes, it is no surprise that China’s top rating agency, Dagong, warned this week that the world is heading for a financial crisis worse than in 2008… and which the “Shock of March” battle plan was designed for in order to protect the Federation. Source     |
