A.) Vegans who charge the barricades in defense of abortion.

B.) Politicians who flip flop on Bernanke:

Republicans and Democrats Swap Views on Bernanke
by Lydia Saad

PRINCETON, NJ — Despite Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s solid roots in the Bush administration, new Gallup polling finds 64% of Democrats nationwide feeling confident in Bernanke’s input on the economy, compared with only 36% of Republicans. This is a complete reversal of the Fed chairman’s image among partisans a year ago, under President Bush, when Republicans had the greater confidence in Bernanke, 61% vs. 40%.

[Read the report]

C.) Progressives who defend Obama & the Democrats:

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) – The United States Senate today unveiled details of its health care plan, tentatively called CompromiseCare^TM:

Continue reading →

Mazin Qumsiyeh
20 December 2009

Groups in the Bethlehem area dedicate a series of events called Shepherds’ Nights (December 23-25) to Jerusalem (increasingly being de-Palestinized) and hold a commemoration and protest asking to lift the siege on Gaza (December 31st). See program below and join us (also we could use volunteers, please email me if you can help). Here in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace was born in an area ruled by a tyrant ruler (King Herod while claiming Judaism engaged in slaughter of Aramaic speaking natives) who was supported by a world empire. Here where 2000 years later, natives are still engaged in a struggle against tyrant rulers supported by distant empires. Here where civil resistance flourished and where its history over millennia is yet to be told. Here where Jesus did not spare the money changers in front of the temple nor did the early Christian descendents (Muslim and Christian) spare the rulers from their anger at injustice starting a number of uprisings to challenge the brutality of occupation and colonization (we call such an uprising a shaking off or Intifada). Here where life is so abnormal today that visiting internationals no matter how prepared are always shocked to see concentration camps surrounded by walls, Nazi-like behavior of occupation soldiers brought from around the world to police native people, and Palestinian officials who keep accommodating the occupation and finding out that the demands of the occupation keep increasing. But here is also where love and hope grow and where people of all backgrounds (religions and ethnicities) get together to work for peace (and not just talk about it). Come and see.

You may want to see this Video of (at least last) Christmas in the Holy Land

and an article I wrote about Christmas under occupation
(http://www.qumsiyeh.org/christmasunderoccupation/ )

Link to Shepherds’ Nights Festival 2009 programme

Ireland to Gaza
20 December 2009

Folks, the latest news from the convoy is that they have entered Syria.

Today marks their 14th day on the road, and their progress is well on schedule.

They will cross into Jordan on Wednesday, and from there, into Egypt, where they will drive to the Rafah Border, for entry into Gaza on the 27th.

I am flying out to Jordan on Tuesday to meet up with them, and travel the remaining miles to Gaza together. I am really excited about meeting up with everyone, and I will be telling them all about this group, and the warm messages of love and support that you have posted.

So, take a few minutes, and go to the group page where you see all the latest photo’s, video’s, and excellent blogging from the convoy.

Plus, if you haven’t already done so, leave a message for the people on the convoy. They are extremely brave people, and their selfless work is just inspirational.

Plus, can everyone invite all their friends to join this group, as the more support we can get for the people on the road, the better.

Thanks
John

Canadian government cuts off funds for church group it calls anti-Semitic
by Cecilie Surasky, Muzzle Watch, 19 December 2009

Despite a 35-year collaboration, the Canadian church group KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, “one of Canada’s most respected and important charitable organizations,” was stunned when their likely routine 7 million dollar request for the human rights program was denied by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). But they were even more surprised when they discovered why: although the group’s board had made public their opposition to sanctions and boycotts against Israel 2 years earlier, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney in a speech he gave this week in Israel charged the group with being anti-Semitic for “taking a leadership role in the boycott.” Kenney, speaking at the Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism, said they were “defunding” groups as part of their new “zero-tolerance” approach to anti-Semitism.  (Read the full text of his speech here.)

[Read the report]

Reading Palestine Solidarity CampaignCALL THE BBC: 03700 100 222 & other MEDIA. It WILL work, one of our readers did just that today: