This is from Denmark's main papier.
New plan suggests that Denmark will begin cutting its troop contributions to the War in Afghanistan by next year
For the first time in over eight years, the prospect that fewer Danish soldiers will be risking life and limb in Afghanistan may be reality, as a new plan will consider a pullout plan being implemented as soon as next year, according to Politiken newspaper.
An updated plan for the war effort in the Asian country’s dangerous Helmand province will be announced today by the government after a meeting of the Foreign Policy Committee yesterday.
Come this autumn, the Liberal-Conservative government and the other parties supporting Danish participation in the War in Afghanistan will assess whether Denmark should begin cutting its troop contribution to the International Security Assistance Force fighting the Taleban as soon as next year.
According to Politiken, the new plan states that training of Afghan soldiers this year should ‘pave the way for a more withdrawn, supportive role and a reduction of the Danish military contribution’. The plan cites US President Barack Obama’s own plans for a gradual withdrawal of American troops in the summer of 2011.
Helge Adam Møller, the Conservative Party’s defence spokesman, denied that the plan is in deference to opposition parties’ demands for a concrete exit strategy in Afghanistan.
‘The long-term strategy has always been that we should be out of Afghanistan. But we’ve also always said that was the task that needed to be solved,’ said Møller.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
But I thought buying grass was illegal =)
Grass is a monoculture, full of sound and fury (not even ;) ) signifying nothing.
http://www.losethelawn.com/home.php
..btw, speaking of water wars.. the cali versions look better and apparently use LESS of our highly valued resource... each area has its own options, and each place has striking indigenous plants of its own as well.
in my section of this great good earth, i have always thought that wild thyme as a groundcover was quite intriguing.
http://www.losethelawn.com/home.php
..btw, speaking of water wars.. the cali versions look better and apparently use LESS of our highly valued resource... each area has its own options, and each place has striking indigenous plants of its own as well.
in my section of this great good earth, i have always thought that wild thyme as a groundcover was quite intriguing.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
This a local article, from South Africa's News24. Of course, I have long supported labeling of GMO foods, and find it interesting to see what proponents of both sides are saying in their bid for public attention.
I should add that it appears that Australia has actually established a commission on the issue; its findings will emerge next year.
Also on February 10 of this year, the Indian government actually banned the cultivation of genetically engineered food in the whole country.
Retailers demand GM labelling
Cape Town - While the debate rages on the science of genetically modified foods, retailers insist that GM food or products with GM ingredients be labelled to allow consumers a choice.
"Scientific evidence has not proven one way or the other at this point whether GM foods are safe for human consumption.
"Given this situation, we are strongly of the view that all GM foods be adequately labelled in order to keep consumers fully informed and give them the opportunity for informed choice," Pick n Pay's Tamra Veley told News24.
Woolworths said that it has removed all food containing GM products from its shelves or labelled them appropriately.
"Woolworths is committed to responding to customer needs. As a result we have undertaken to eliminate genetically modified ingredients wherever possible.
"Where we are not able to remove these ingredients, we will label them so that customers can make informed choices when they shop at Woolworths," Julian Novak of Woolworths Food told News24.
Risk
The National Consumer Forum (NCF) says it supports the labelling of GM food, so that consumers can make an informed choice.
"As part of the world consumer movement, we've supported the proper labelling of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). According to the Consumer Protection Act, to be legislated in October 2010, food needs to be properly labelled," NCF chair Thami Bolani told News24.
He said that there was scientific division of whether GMOs were safe, and the new Act would ensure that companies complied with labelling.
"The world is divided on the safety of GMOs, we cannot say these foods are 100% safe, but these companies have been against labelling," he said.
Bolani warned that control of GM food production was risky.
"If GMOs continue unchecked, companies like Monsanto will control food production. These companies fund research into GMOs and that's why the research produced by these scientists is debateable," he said.
Educated
Bolani said that the NCF would conduct testing of food in order to establish whether it contained any GM ingredients and ensure proper labelling.
"We are joining an international research group and we'll be testing products that people consume to test for GMOs. Then we'll be able to take legal action against companies that don't comply," he said.
He added that, according to the Act, the government would fund the NCF and tribunal decisions would be binding.
He also said that there were already food in circulation that contained GMOs, but that was not labelled.
"We know that mielie meal is a staple diet and it's got GM elements, but the law at the moment does not forbid it. But even if we have the law and labelling, people need to be educated about GMOs," he added.
Dr Wynand van der Walt warned that labelling would increase the price of foods and that said that labelling posed logistical problems such as the informal market.
"How do you enforce labelling at spaza shop or street vendor level? How do you label loose potatoes? Table grapes or fresh maize cobs on the sidewalk? Are we going to label T shirts made from GM cotton?" he told News24 on behalf of the Agricultural Biotechnological Industry.
"GM crops and their products are not inherently dangerous to human or animal health, or the environment. Unlike foods from conventional origin, they are scrutinised extensively for safety before approval is granted for commercial release," he added.
Van der Walt also questioned whether the government had the capacity to accurately test for GMOs in food, saying that labelling "must be voluntary for those who want it".
- News24
I should add that it appears that Australia has actually established a commission on the issue; its findings will emerge next year.
Also on February 10 of this year, the Indian government actually banned the cultivation of genetically engineered food in the whole country.
Retailers demand GM labelling
Cape Town - While the debate rages on the science of genetically modified foods, retailers insist that GM food or products with GM ingredients be labelled to allow consumers a choice.
"Scientific evidence has not proven one way or the other at this point whether GM foods are safe for human consumption.
"Given this situation, we are strongly of the view that all GM foods be adequately labelled in order to keep consumers fully informed and give them the opportunity for informed choice," Pick n Pay's Tamra Veley told News24.
Woolworths said that it has removed all food containing GM products from its shelves or labelled them appropriately.
"Woolworths is committed to responding to customer needs. As a result we have undertaken to eliminate genetically modified ingredients wherever possible.
"Where we are not able to remove these ingredients, we will label them so that customers can make informed choices when they shop at Woolworths," Julian Novak of Woolworths Food told News24.
Risk
The National Consumer Forum (NCF) says it supports the labelling of GM food, so that consumers can make an informed choice.
"As part of the world consumer movement, we've supported the proper labelling of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). According to the Consumer Protection Act, to be legislated in October 2010, food needs to be properly labelled," NCF chair Thami Bolani told News24.
He said that there was scientific division of whether GMOs were safe, and the new Act would ensure that companies complied with labelling.
"The world is divided on the safety of GMOs, we cannot say these foods are 100% safe, but these companies have been against labelling," he said.
Bolani warned that control of GM food production was risky.
"If GMOs continue unchecked, companies like Monsanto will control food production. These companies fund research into GMOs and that's why the research produced by these scientists is debateable," he said.
Educated
Bolani said that the NCF would conduct testing of food in order to establish whether it contained any GM ingredients and ensure proper labelling.
"We are joining an international research group and we'll be testing products that people consume to test for GMOs. Then we'll be able to take legal action against companies that don't comply," he said.
He added that, according to the Act, the government would fund the NCF and tribunal decisions would be binding.
He also said that there were already food in circulation that contained GMOs, but that was not labelled.
"We know that mielie meal is a staple diet and it's got GM elements, but the law at the moment does not forbid it. But even if we have the law and labelling, people need to be educated about GMOs," he added.
Dr Wynand van der Walt warned that labelling would increase the price of foods and that said that labelling posed logistical problems such as the informal market.
"How do you enforce labelling at spaza shop or street vendor level? How do you label loose potatoes? Table grapes or fresh maize cobs on the sidewalk? Are we going to label T shirts made from GM cotton?" he told News24 on behalf of the Agricultural Biotechnological Industry.
"GM crops and their products are not inherently dangerous to human or animal health, or the environment. Unlike foods from conventional origin, they are scrutinised extensively for safety before approval is granted for commercial release," he added.
Van der Walt also questioned whether the government had the capacity to accurately test for GMOs in food, saying that labelling "must be voluntary for those who want it".
- News24
The echoes of the Haight, the songs in the streets, rise out of the thin blue sky, that careful pretense that all is as it should be.
Berkeley Supports Amnesty for Military War Resisters and Veterans
By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday April 02, 2010
The Berkeley City Council recently sent out letters to President Barack Obama, Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressperson Barbara Lee recommending amnesty for Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan war military resisters and veterans.
The council approved the recommendation on a 7-0 vote March 9, with two councilmembers, Gordon Wozniak and Susan Wengraf abstaining on various grounds.
Although the resolution had initially been scheduled for vote on Feb. 23, it was postponed after some councilmembers said they had concerns about the way it was worded.
A subcommittee comprised of councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Linda Maio was formed to edit the language, which when finally adopted said that the council supported “Universal and unconditional amnesty for Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan War military resisters and veterans who acted In opposition to the war for matters of conscience.”
The final resolution has some changes from the original passed by the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission last November.
The Berkeley City Council’s resolution recommends that “all military personnel, serving since Oct. 7, 2001, be granted universal and unconditional amnesty amounting to forgiveness for all convictions or pending charges of desertion or Absence Without Leave (AWOL) or Unauthorized Absence (UA) if such leave or absence is determined to be caused by matters of personal conscience in opposition to the illegal wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
It also recommends that military personnel convicted due to charges resulting from exercising free speech about their opposition to the wars in Iraq and Pakistan since Oct. 7, 2001 be granted amnesty for those convictions.
The resolution supports amnesty for all veterans with less than honorable discharges for absence offenses stemming from personal conscience regarding opposition to the wars starting on or after Oct. 7, 2001. It calls for those veterans to have their “discharges automatically upgraded to honorable discharges or to general under honorable conditions and that those veterans be granted all benefits otherwise due to them.”
According to Peace and Justice Commission Chair Bob Meola, the Berkeley City Council’s resolution is the first time the topic of universal unconditional amnesty has been approached since former U.S. President Jimmy Carter granted unconditional amnesty amounting to “full, complete and unconditional pardon” to draft resisters during the Vietnam War.”
“I hope this resolution will serve as a model and inspire cities and towns across the United States to pass similar resolutions and ignite a movement which will result in universal and unconditional amnesty for Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan war resisters and veterans,” said Meola, who wrote the original resolution. “The troops who have had the courage to resist have been traumatized enough. They have followed their consciences and deserve healing and support and appreciation from people everywhere. The GI Resistance movement is growing. Its members are heroes and heroes should be treated as heroes as they are welcomed back into civilian society.”
Wozniak, who abstained from voting, said that the original resolution had been “very badly worded essentially giving any serviceman unlimited amnesty for current or future violation of military rules.”
“We currently have an all volunteer army; thus the analogy to the Vietnam war is inaccurate, since during that conflict there was a conscript army,” Wozniak said. “Although the revised resolution was more narrowly worded, I still disagree with some of the language. While I believe that conscientious objectors have the right to refuse to serve in combat, they also should bear the consequences of their decision.”
Berkeley, which has been a sanctuary city for conscientious objectors since 1991, became a sanctuary city for military resisters to immoral and illegal wars in 2007.
Berkeley Supports Amnesty for Military War Resisters and Veterans
By Riya Bhattacharjee
Friday April 02, 2010
The Berkeley City Council recently sent out letters to President Barack Obama, Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressperson Barbara Lee recommending amnesty for Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan war military resisters and veterans.
The council approved the recommendation on a 7-0 vote March 9, with two councilmembers, Gordon Wozniak and Susan Wengraf abstaining on various grounds.
Although the resolution had initially been scheduled for vote on Feb. 23, it was postponed after some councilmembers said they had concerns about the way it was worded.
A subcommittee comprised of councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Linda Maio was formed to edit the language, which when finally adopted said that the council supported “Universal and unconditional amnesty for Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan War military resisters and veterans who acted In opposition to the war for matters of conscience.”
The final resolution has some changes from the original passed by the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission last November.
The Berkeley City Council’s resolution recommends that “all military personnel, serving since Oct. 7, 2001, be granted universal and unconditional amnesty amounting to forgiveness for all convictions or pending charges of desertion or Absence Without Leave (AWOL) or Unauthorized Absence (UA) if such leave or absence is determined to be caused by matters of personal conscience in opposition to the illegal wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.”
It also recommends that military personnel convicted due to charges resulting from exercising free speech about their opposition to the wars in Iraq and Pakistan since Oct. 7, 2001 be granted amnesty for those convictions.
The resolution supports amnesty for all veterans with less than honorable discharges for absence offenses stemming from personal conscience regarding opposition to the wars starting on or after Oct. 7, 2001. It calls for those veterans to have their “discharges automatically upgraded to honorable discharges or to general under honorable conditions and that those veterans be granted all benefits otherwise due to them.”
According to Peace and Justice Commission Chair Bob Meola, the Berkeley City Council’s resolution is the first time the topic of universal unconditional amnesty has been approached since former U.S. President Jimmy Carter granted unconditional amnesty amounting to “full, complete and unconditional pardon” to draft resisters during the Vietnam War.”
“I hope this resolution will serve as a model and inspire cities and towns across the United States to pass similar resolutions and ignite a movement which will result in universal and unconditional amnesty for Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan war resisters and veterans,” said Meola, who wrote the original resolution. “The troops who have had the courage to resist have been traumatized enough. They have followed their consciences and deserve healing and support and appreciation from people everywhere. The GI Resistance movement is growing. Its members are heroes and heroes should be treated as heroes as they are welcomed back into civilian society.”
Wozniak, who abstained from voting, said that the original resolution had been “very badly worded essentially giving any serviceman unlimited amnesty for current or future violation of military rules.”
“We currently have an all volunteer army; thus the analogy to the Vietnam war is inaccurate, since during that conflict there was a conscript army,” Wozniak said. “Although the revised resolution was more narrowly worded, I still disagree with some of the language. While I believe that conscientious objectors have the right to refuse to serve in combat, they also should bear the consequences of their decision.”
Berkeley, which has been a sanctuary city for conscientious objectors since 1991, became a sanctuary city for military resisters to immoral and illegal wars in 2007.
Witch Watches: first week of April
This week's big film review- we viewed this engaging flick last night.
Amreeka
Caught in the rising eddy of global events, a tiny Palestinian family immigrates to America. This is a nuanced touch on a transcendent tale of place and becoming with a final meaning that resonates as sweetly as a hymnal.
Amreeka
Caught in the rising eddy of global events, a tiny Palestinian family immigrates to America. This is a nuanced touch on a transcendent tale of place and becoming with a final meaning that resonates as sweetly as a hymnal.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Happy St. Paddy's Day!
Here is the perfect dish for celebrating, from the "back of beyond" in Afghanistan. The recipe, and others, can be found at www.helensaberi.co.uk. The comments below are Helen's, and are excerpted from her excellent cookbook.
Zamarud chalau - Emerald (spinach) rice
History
This recipe differs from Sabzi chalau in that the rice is actually cooked in the spinach water. This gives the rice a green colour and its name, zamarud, meaning emerald. This was one of my favourites when I lived in Afghanistan and still is. I like to serve it with meatballs and perhaps a salad.
Ingredients
Serves 4
* 1 lb (450 g) long grain white rice, preferably basmati
* 2 lb (900 g) spinach
* ¼ pint (150 ml) water, plus 2½ pints (1.5 litres)
* 8 oz (225 g) leeks (or gandana*)
* 1 tbs dried dill weed or 2 tbs fresh coriander, washed and finely chopped
* ½ tbs fenugreek (optional)
* 5 f1 oz (150 ml) vegetable oil
* 2 tsp cumin, whole or ground
* salt and black pepper
Method
Rinse the rice several times in cold water until it remains clear. Add fresh water and leave the rice to soak for at least half an hour.
Chop the spinach into small pieces and then wash thoroughly. Drain well. Put the spinach into a large pan and add ¼ pint water (150 ml). Add 2 f1 oz (50 ml) of the oil. Put on a medium to high heat and boil for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the spinach reduces and the water becomes green. Drain off the water and oil from the spinach into a bowl or measuring jug, reserving about 3 fl oz (75 ml) of liquid and 2 fl oz (50 ml) of oil for cooking the rice and any remaining liquid for cooking the spinach.
Chop up the leeks into small pieces and wash thoroughly. Heat the remaining 2 fl oz (50 ml) of oil in a pan and add the leeks, which should be well drained. Fry over a medium heat until soft but not brown. Add the leeks to the spinach, then add the dill or coriander, fenugreek (if used) and salt and pepper. Cook on a low heat, adding any remaining spinach water (except the 4 f1 oz (110 ml) reserved for cooking the rice), until all the water has evaporated and the spinach is soft.
Remove some of the spinach (about 2-4 tablespoons) and chop up very finely. Reserve.
Bring to the boil 2½ pints (1.5 litres) of water. Drain the rice and add to the boiling water. Parboil for 2-3 minutes, then drain the rice in a colander or large sieve. Put the rice in a casserole which has a tightly fitting lid. Now add the reserved cooked spinach, cumin, salt and pepper to the reserved 3 f1 oz (75 ml) of spinach water and 2 f1 oz (50 ml) of oil and stir gently into the rice. Cover with the lid and put in a preheated oven at 150°C (300°F, mark 2) for 30-45 minutes. Alternatively, cook over a low heat for the same time.
- a special kind of green found mostly in Afghanistan. Many Afghans overseas grow it in their gardens.
Here is the perfect dish for celebrating, from the "back of beyond" in Afghanistan. The recipe, and others, can be found at www.helensaberi.co.uk. The comments below are Helen's, and are excerpted from her excellent cookbook.
Zamarud chalau - Emerald (spinach) rice
History
This recipe differs from Sabzi chalau in that the rice is actually cooked in the spinach water. This gives the rice a green colour and its name, zamarud, meaning emerald. This was one of my favourites when I lived in Afghanistan and still is. I like to serve it with meatballs and perhaps a salad.
Ingredients
Serves 4
* 1 lb (450 g) long grain white rice, preferably basmati
* 2 lb (900 g) spinach
* ¼ pint (150 ml) water, plus 2½ pints (1.5 litres)
* 8 oz (225 g) leeks (or gandana*)
* 1 tbs dried dill weed or 2 tbs fresh coriander, washed and finely chopped
* ½ tbs fenugreek (optional)
* 5 f1 oz (150 ml) vegetable oil
* 2 tsp cumin, whole or ground
* salt and black pepper
Method
Rinse the rice several times in cold water until it remains clear. Add fresh water and leave the rice to soak for at least half an hour.
Chop the spinach into small pieces and then wash thoroughly. Drain well. Put the spinach into a large pan and add ¼ pint water (150 ml). Add 2 f1 oz (50 ml) of the oil. Put on a medium to high heat and boil for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until the spinach reduces and the water becomes green. Drain off the water and oil from the spinach into a bowl or measuring jug, reserving about 3 fl oz (75 ml) of liquid and 2 fl oz (50 ml) of oil for cooking the rice and any remaining liquid for cooking the spinach.
Chop up the leeks into small pieces and wash thoroughly. Heat the remaining 2 fl oz (50 ml) of oil in a pan and add the leeks, which should be well drained. Fry over a medium heat until soft but not brown. Add the leeks to the spinach, then add the dill or coriander, fenugreek (if used) and salt and pepper. Cook on a low heat, adding any remaining spinach water (except the 4 f1 oz (110 ml) reserved for cooking the rice), until all the water has evaporated and the spinach is soft.
Remove some of the spinach (about 2-4 tablespoons) and chop up very finely. Reserve.
Bring to the boil 2½ pints (1.5 litres) of water. Drain the rice and add to the boiling water. Parboil for 2-3 minutes, then drain the rice in a colander or large sieve. Put the rice in a casserole which has a tightly fitting lid. Now add the reserved cooked spinach, cumin, salt and pepper to the reserved 3 f1 oz (75 ml) of spinach water and 2 f1 oz (50 ml) of oil and stir gently into the rice. Cover with the lid and put in a preheated oven at 150°C (300°F, mark 2) for 30-45 minutes. Alternatively, cook over a low heat for the same time.
- a special kind of green found mostly in Afghanistan. Many Afghans overseas grow it in their gardens.
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