***** "The American Muslim Pow-wow" *****
******************************************************
"Dar al-Islam"
by: Yaha (Muslim, Navajo Nation)
for: Hakim Archuletta (il miglior fratello)
To reach the high enchanted place, we must
ednure the harsh travail of travel, and
our weary heart's obeying God's Command,
plod ever on: "Dar al-Islam or bust!"
We come to seek what's noble and what's Just;
the fire in our heart's by love is fanned,
ascending through the beauty of this land:
a mosque atop the mesa's sand and dust.
Our breasts expand beneath Allah's blue sky,
there's barakah aplenty as we find,
the Sufi and the Navajo's old ways,
In deep Islamic harmony on high.
The lights of our heart's, in sacred space entwined,
bring knowledge of ourselves: unto Allah's the Praise!
Monday, January 02, 2006
***** "What I Learned From Watching Movies" *****
**************************************************************
--when they are alone, all foreigners prefer to speak english to each other--
--when being chased through town, you can always elude your tail by mixing in with a passing chinese parade complete with dragon--
--If you need to reload your gun, you'll always have extra ammunition than the original amount you started the gunfight with--
--you'll survive any war, unless you make the fatal mistake of showing someone a picture of your sweetheart back home--
--a man will show no pain while taking a ferocious beating, but will wince when a woman attempts to clean his wounds--
--when paying for a taxi, don't look in your wallet as you take out a bill; Just grab one at random and hand it to the driver, It'll always be the exact fare--
--cars that crash will always yield a mini-nuclear explosion--
--a single match is sufficient to light up a room the size of Wembly Stadium--
--when driving down a perfectly straight road, it's necessary to turn the steering wheel vigorously from left to right every few moments--
--you can always count on finding a parking spot directly outside the building you are visiting--
--a cop can only solve a case after he's been suspended from duty--
--It doesn't matter if you're heavily outnumbered in a martial arts fight. your adversaries will dance around in a threatening manner and graciously wait until you have knocked out their predecessors--
--people involved in car chases, hijackings, explosions, volcanic eruptions or alien invasions are always vivacious--
--once applied, lipstick never rubs off, even while scuba diving--
--you can always find a chainsaw when you need one--
--all locks can be picked by a credit card or a paper clip in a nano-second--
**************************************************************
--when they are alone, all foreigners prefer to speak english to each other--
--when being chased through town, you can always elude your tail by mixing in with a passing chinese parade complete with dragon--
--If you need to reload your gun, you'll always have extra ammunition than the original amount you started the gunfight with--
--you'll survive any war, unless you make the fatal mistake of showing someone a picture of your sweetheart back home--
--a man will show no pain while taking a ferocious beating, but will wince when a woman attempts to clean his wounds--
--when paying for a taxi, don't look in your wallet as you take out a bill; Just grab one at random and hand it to the driver, It'll always be the exact fare--
--cars that crash will always yield a mini-nuclear explosion--
--a single match is sufficient to light up a room the size of Wembly Stadium--
--when driving down a perfectly straight road, it's necessary to turn the steering wheel vigorously from left to right every few moments--
--you can always count on finding a parking spot directly outside the building you are visiting--
--a cop can only solve a case after he's been suspended from duty--
--It doesn't matter if you're heavily outnumbered in a martial arts fight. your adversaries will dance around in a threatening manner and graciously wait until you have knocked out their predecessors--
--people involved in car chases, hijackings, explosions, volcanic eruptions or alien invasions are always vivacious--
--once applied, lipstick never rubs off, even while scuba diving--
--you can always find a chainsaw when you need one--
--all locks can be picked by a credit card or a paper clip in a nano-second--
***** "Throwback of the Day" *****
*****************************************
"Japan should exhaust all other options,
before allowing a woman to ascend to
the Chrysanthemum Throne,
including adoption and the
use of concubines..."
--Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, cousin of Emperor Akihito,
confronting the crisis in the Japanese Imperial succession--
*****************************************
"Japan should exhaust all other options,
before allowing a woman to ascend to
the Chrysanthemum Throne,
including adoption and the
use of concubines..."
--Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, cousin of Emperor Akihito,
confronting the crisis in the Japanese Imperial succession--
Condemnation
Condemnation!
tried,
here on the stand,
with the book in my hand,
and truth on my side...
Accusations?
lies!
hand me my sentence,
I'll show no repentance,
I'll suffer with pride...
If for honesty,
you want apologies,
I don't sympathize.
If for kindness,
you substitute blindness,
please open your eyes...
Condemnation!
why?
because my duty,
was always to beauty,
and that was my crime...
Feel Elation!
high,
to know I can trust this,
fix of Injustice,
time after time...
If you see purity,
as Immaturity,
well it's no surprise.
If for kindness,
you substitute blindness,
please open your eyes.
(Depeche Mode)
tried,
here on the stand,
with the book in my hand,
and truth on my side...
Accusations?
lies!
hand me my sentence,
I'll show no repentance,
I'll suffer with pride...
If for honesty,
you want apologies,
I don't sympathize.
If for kindness,
you substitute blindness,
please open your eyes...
Condemnation!
why?
because my duty,
was always to beauty,
and that was my crime...
Feel Elation!
high,
to know I can trust this,
fix of Injustice,
time after time...
If you see purity,
as Immaturity,
well it's no surprise.
If for kindness,
you substitute blindness,
please open your eyes.
(Depeche Mode)
***** "French Accused Of Nuclear Cover-Up" *****
*************************************************************
by-Lindsay Vincent Papeete
Sunday January 1, 2006
The Guardian (UK)
Ten years after the televised, stage-managed exit from atomic sites on the atoll of Mururoa, France is facing possible payback for its notorious south pacific nuclear testing programme.
This month an all-party French Polynesia assembly committee will publish findings into claims that atomic explosions, conducted over 30 years, caused fatalities and severe long-term health problems. The tests, the last of which was in 1996, numbered almost 200.
Local opponents of France have consistently blamed nuclear tests for the regions chronic levels of Leukaemia and other cancers. They believe they will be vindicated by the forthcoming report and establish that France, for years, has engaged in an elaborate cover-up. They also claim Paris was aware of the health risks when testing began in 1996.
Strong evidence has emerged to support this assertion. But France, which teamed up last year with assembly supporters in an abortive challenge to the legality of the all-party inquiry, continues to deny it is culpable.
"we are now getting more than 600 cases of cancer a year and more than 250 deaths because of these tests," says Roland Oldham, President of Mururoa e Tatou, the association of former Mururoa workers.
"there are 31 possible cancers linked with nuclear matter and some can take 20 to 30 years to develop, this is why they are showing up now. Research in Japan even suggests that some cancers can be transmitted genetically," he says.
Oldham's group is working in league with Aven, a Paris organisation for French nationals, both military & civilian, four of their veterans have won court cases for cancer compensation and two more are facing appeal.
"It is hard for us Polynesians to take our case to a French court because we don't have access to the right papers. Polynesians didn't keep papers," said Oldham.
But the French military did. In 1998, in circumstances that turned farcical, a Paris Journalist
was given authorised access to military archives. He photo-copied documents before it became known he was doing research in classified sections. Panic set in and he was kicked out.
A subsequent TV programme revealed, among many other things, that the military urged evacuation from Mangareva, 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the above-ground test on Mururoa in 1966, when strong winds blew the nuclear cloud eastwards, instead of westwards as had been expected.
"the [government] reply was: 'no evacuation for political and psychological reasons.'
ten days later the army went to measure radiation levels and they were so high that people were poisoned by vegetables and fish. They were evacuated to hospitals in New Zealand."
Hospitals in Auckland were for years the preferred place to treat French Polynesian cancer sufferers. However, adverse local publicity--particularly after French agents sank the Greenpeace protest vessel Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbour in 1985--brought a change in policy. They are now tested in France.
Oldham says: "because of the nuclear problem, there is a lot of suspicion here of doctors and they are not trusted. Three years ago a former Mururoa worker was told he had diabetes and his toe was amputated. Two months later, his testicles started to swell and he was told he would have to be operated on in France, where he also underwent therapy. There, he was told he had cancer related to radiation.
*************************************************************
by-Lindsay Vincent Papeete
Sunday January 1, 2006
The Guardian (UK)
Ten years after the televised, stage-managed exit from atomic sites on the atoll of Mururoa, France is facing possible payback for its notorious south pacific nuclear testing programme.
This month an all-party French Polynesia assembly committee will publish findings into claims that atomic explosions, conducted over 30 years, caused fatalities and severe long-term health problems. The tests, the last of which was in 1996, numbered almost 200.
Local opponents of France have consistently blamed nuclear tests for the regions chronic levels of Leukaemia and other cancers. They believe they will be vindicated by the forthcoming report and establish that France, for years, has engaged in an elaborate cover-up. They also claim Paris was aware of the health risks when testing began in 1996.
Strong evidence has emerged to support this assertion. But France, which teamed up last year with assembly supporters in an abortive challenge to the legality of the all-party inquiry, continues to deny it is culpable.
"we are now getting more than 600 cases of cancer a year and more than 250 deaths because of these tests," says Roland Oldham, President of Mururoa e Tatou, the association of former Mururoa workers.
"there are 31 possible cancers linked with nuclear matter and some can take 20 to 30 years to develop, this is why they are showing up now. Research in Japan even suggests that some cancers can be transmitted genetically," he says.
Oldham's group is working in league with Aven, a Paris organisation for French nationals, both military & civilian, four of their veterans have won court cases for cancer compensation and two more are facing appeal.
"It is hard for us Polynesians to take our case to a French court because we don't have access to the right papers. Polynesians didn't keep papers," said Oldham.
But the French military did. In 1998, in circumstances that turned farcical, a Paris Journalist
was given authorised access to military archives. He photo-copied documents before it became known he was doing research in classified sections. Panic set in and he was kicked out.
A subsequent TV programme revealed, among many other things, that the military urged evacuation from Mangareva, 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the above-ground test on Mururoa in 1966, when strong winds blew the nuclear cloud eastwards, instead of westwards as had been expected.
"the [government] reply was: 'no evacuation for political and psychological reasons.'
ten days later the army went to measure radiation levels and they were so high that people were poisoned by vegetables and fish. They were evacuated to hospitals in New Zealand."
Hospitals in Auckland were for years the preferred place to treat French Polynesian cancer sufferers. However, adverse local publicity--particularly after French agents sank the Greenpeace protest vessel Rainbow Warrior in Auckland harbour in 1985--brought a change in policy. They are now tested in France.
Oldham says: "because of the nuclear problem, there is a lot of suspicion here of doctors and they are not trusted. Three years ago a former Mururoa worker was told he had diabetes and his toe was amputated. Two months later, his testicles started to swell and he was told he would have to be operated on in France, where he also underwent therapy. There, he was told he had cancer related to radiation.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
When The Body Speaks
when the body speaks
to the soul's desires
the body listens.
what the flesh requires
keeps the heart imprisoned.
what the spirit seeks
the mind will follow.
when the body speaks
all else is hollow.
I'm Just a slave here
at the mercy
of a girl.
oh I need your tenderness,
oh I need your touch,
oh I dream of one caress,
oh I pray too much.
to the soul's desires
the body listens.
what the flesh requires
keeps the heart imprisoned.
what the spirit seeks
the mind will follow.
when the body speaks
all else is hollow.
you keep me waiting,
for the promise,
that is mine.
please stop debating,
please stop wasting,
your time.
oh I need your tenderness,
oh I need your touch,
oh I dream of one caress,
ho I pray too much.
(Depeche Mode)
to the soul's desires
the body listens.
what the flesh requires
keeps the heart imprisoned.
what the spirit seeks
the mind will follow.
when the body speaks
all else is hollow.
I'm Just a slave here
at the mercy
of a girl.
oh I need your tenderness,
oh I need your touch,
oh I dream of one caress,
oh I pray too much.
to the soul's desires
the body listens.
what the flesh requires
keeps the heart imprisoned.
what the spirit seeks
the mind will follow.
when the body speaks
all else is hollow.
you keep me waiting,
for the promise,
that is mine.
please stop debating,
please stop wasting,
your time.
oh I need your tenderness,
oh I need your touch,
oh I dream of one caress,
ho I pray too much.
(Depeche Mode)
***** "Marines To Train Japanese Troops" *****
*********************************************************
Saturday, December 31, 2005
The Associated Press.
Tokyo--Japanese troops will train with US Marines next year to strengthen Tokyo's defense of islands also claimed by China which are believed to lie near oil and gas resources in the East China Sea.
Japan's self-defense forces will also develop short-range torpedoes for combat in shallow waters, the business newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.
The paper said about 125 Japanese troops will be sent to San Diego in January for Joint exercises with Marines simulating a landing on an occupied island.
The islands--called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan--lie in the East China Sea between Taiwan and Japan. They were ceded to Japan by China in an 1895 war and continue to be a frequent source of friction between the nations.
The Nihon Keizai report came days after Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Beijing poses "a considerable military threat" because it has nuclear weapons and is boosting its military spending. China called the remarks irresponsible and groundless.
Relations between Japan and China, linked by billions of dollars of trade, aid and investment, have seen an unprecedented string of clashes over the past year. The two countries have sparred over their wartime history, territorial and resource dusputes, and China's growing military power.
Relations soured further several days ago, when Beijing denounced Tokyo for claiming that Chinese spies drove a Japanese diplomat to commit suicide last year.
*********************************************************
Saturday, December 31, 2005
The Associated Press.
Tokyo--Japanese troops will train with US Marines next year to strengthen Tokyo's defense of islands also claimed by China which are believed to lie near oil and gas resources in the East China Sea.
Japan's self-defense forces will also develop short-range torpedoes for combat in shallow waters, the business newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.
The paper said about 125 Japanese troops will be sent to San Diego in January for Joint exercises with Marines simulating a landing on an occupied island.
The islands--called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan--lie in the East China Sea between Taiwan and Japan. They were ceded to Japan by China in an 1895 war and continue to be a frequent source of friction between the nations.
The Nihon Keizai report came days after Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso said Beijing poses "a considerable military threat" because it has nuclear weapons and is boosting its military spending. China called the remarks irresponsible and groundless.
Relations between Japan and China, linked by billions of dollars of trade, aid and investment, have seen an unprecedented string of clashes over the past year. The two countries have sparred over their wartime history, territorial and resource dusputes, and China's growing military power.
Relations soured further several days ago, when Beijing denounced Tokyo for claiming that Chinese spies drove a Japanese diplomat to commit suicide last year.
Divine Mercy Is Shown
sometimes in order to help,
he makes us cry.
happy the eye that sheds tears for his sake,
fortunate the heart that burns for his sake,
laughter always follows tears.
blessed are those who understand,
life blooms wherever water flows.
where tears are shed,
divine mercy is shown...
---(by-Rumi)---
he makes us cry.
happy the eye that sheds tears for his sake,
fortunate the heart that burns for his sake,
laughter always follows tears.
blessed are those who understand,
life blooms wherever water flows.
where tears are shed,
divine mercy is shown...
---(by-Rumi)---
The Desert
no matter how brilliant a mind
a soul that's wise, a heart that's kind
when lost in this endless space
walking the desert pace after pace
when of grace there's no trace
It is futile for us to chase
the spirit we try to embrace
God in God's time,
reveals God's face...
a soul that's wise, a heart that's kind
when lost in this endless space
walking the desert pace after pace
when of grace there's no trace
It is futile for us to chase
the spirit we try to embrace
God in God's time,
reveals God's face...
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