Anti-war protesters to blare music during Blair talk

 Christianity, Civil society, Global justice movement, Iraq, Militarism, Politics  2 Responses »
Mar 312008
 
Anti-war protesters to blare music during Blair talk

I must say this sounds like it’s going to be an unusual – if noisy! – anti-war protest directed at Blair. Spotted this on the Indymedia UK website: Sounding Out Tony Blair Stop the War Coalition | 31.03.2008 14:13 | SOUNDING OUT BLAIR: Westminster Cathedral : 42 Francis Street: London SW1 Thursday 3 April 2008 at 7.00 pm (assemble from 6.30 pm) A nun with a buglar alarm is one of many Catholics who will join the Stop the War protest outside Westminster Cathedral on Thursday 3 April, when Tony Blair gives his lecture on ‘Faith and Globalisation’. The protest aims to sound out Tony Blair with musical instruments and sound-making implements of every kind — drums, trumpets, saxophones, violins, cymbals, whistles, sirens, horns, rattles, cowbells, saucepans and cans. At least two choirs and musical ensembles of every type will be attending, along with numerous individual musicians, drummers, percussionists and [Read more]

Can Abdullah save Umno and the BN?

 Democracy, Development issues, Judiciary, M'sian politics, Malaysian elections, Malaysian finance/business  15 Responses »
Mar 302008
 

I have been wondering about Zaid’s remarks on the 1988 Judicial Crisis. Has he really turned over a new leaf compared to the immediate aftermath of the 1988 crisis, especially in the light of his statements that he has apologised? This report from The Star: Zaid: I never endorsed Lord President Salleh Abas’ dismissal By SHAHANAAZ HABIB KUALA LUMPUR: Minister-in-charge of law Datuk Zaid Ibrahim has denied ever supporting the sacking of Lord President Tun Salleh Abas in 1988. “In fact, I say to you today that it was not right,” he said. However, as the Muslim Lawyers Association president then, he had said that it was legal, according to the Constitution, for Tun Hamid Omar, Salleh’s number two, to chair the tribunal set up to try Salleh. But while Hamid’s appointment was legal, it was morally wrong and a conflict of interest for Hamid to have accepted the tribunal [Read more]

A vulnerable Abdullah casts a wary eye at rivals

 Democracy, M'sian politics, Malaysian elections  7 Responses »
Mar 292008
 

From now onwards, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi will be casting a wary eye on all sides as rivals such as Tengku Razaleigh and Anwar sense his considerably weakened position, never mind that the BN is just eight seats short of a two-thirds majority. After all, under his stewardship, the BN lost five states and received less than 50 per cent of the popular vote in the peninsula – its worst ever performance. Meanwhile, folks like Khairy, Patrick Lim and even Nazri have been ever so quiet…. The only hope for Umno is if it introduces wide-ranging reforms. But the KL-based political commentator mentioned in the article below told me that Umno is incapable of that, so deep is the rot. Here is an article I wrote for Asia Times: Knives out for Malaysia’s Abdullah By Anil Netto PENANG – Malaysia’s politics is still in flux after this month’s watershed general [Read more]

Christian leaders must denounce the US war in Iraq

 Christianity, Global justice movement, Iraq, Militarism, United States, Universal spiritual values  18 Responses »
Mar 282008
 
Christian leaders must denounce the US war in Iraq

Meet Robert Waldrop (left), one of the leading lights of the Catholic Worker movement in the United States. Bob runs the Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House in Oklahoma, US. His powerful words – more than the way he looks – remind me of a biblical Old Testament prophet speaking truth to power! The Catholic Worker movement was founded by the late Dorothy Day, who campaigned in defence of the poor, forsaken, hungry and homeless, and Peter Maurin. On her 75th birthday, Day was described by a Jesuit magazine as the individual who best exemplified “the aspiration and action of the American Catholic community during the past forty years.” In the best traditions of the Catholic Worker movement, Bob has also been vocal in the anti-war movement within the Catholic Church, in line with Pope John Paul II’s opposition to the war in Iraq. He feels that US Catholic Bishops have [Read more]

State official forces last-minute change of venue for election talk

 Democracy, M'sian politics, Malaysian elections  12 Responses »
Mar 282008
 

More little Napoleons at work. Just received the following from Suaram Penang: A ban has been ordered by the state authority on SUARAM election talks! SUARAM Penang has received a last-minute call from the Caring Society Complex person-in-charge last night (26/3/08), who claimed that the Penang state Secretariat has ordered a ban on the coming Friday and Saturday’s democracy talks. The ban has been ordered by the vice state secretary Muhammad Yusoff bin Wazir who commented ‘the talks look and smell political’, thus it contradicts with the ‘caring and harmony’ image of Caring Society Complex. Despite the ban, the talks will remain on Friday and Saturday nights. The venue has been switched to Penang Chinese Town Hall in Jalan Kapitan Keling (or known as Pitt street). The analysis of general election talk titled “To Where Democratization of Malaysia” has proudly invited speakers like Datuk Dr. Toh Kin Woon, Mr. Wong [Read more]

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