Bulgarian Govt 'Fans' Call for President's Impeachment

August 26, 2013, Monday

People who support Bulgaria's Socialist-led government pledged Monday to continue to stage counter protest rallies until President, Rosen Plevneliev, resigns.

The statement was made before bTV by one of their representatives, Lenko Petkanin.

The demonstrators gathered once again Monday on Independence Square, near the Office of the President and his Administration, shouting "Resignation," "Impeachment," and "Go Away!"

They are outraged by what they deem verbal support on Plevneliev's part for those who want the resignation of the Cabinet of Prime Minister, Plamen Oresharski.

Petkanin further stated he harbored strong doubts the President will change his behavior as he has had scores of opportunities to do so until now.

"I have not seen anything from him, beyond tarnishing Bulgaria and the presidential institution, so, the only solution is to have him step back and be replaced by a dignified person to represent Bulgaria and its citizens," said the government's supporter.

Another protester asked Plevneliev to come outside and talk to the people who are rallying every day under his windows and to organize a round table to work on a new public contract.

Bulgaria's ruling Socialist-led coalition was, however, exposed recently in organizing dozens of chartered buses carrying people from all over the country to Sofia.

Over 40 chartered buses arrived in the capital early on August 16, carrying 4000 to 5000 government supporters. The move resulted in tensions, as anti-government protesters from Sofia also gathered in the city's center to rally against a controversial budget revision.

Source: Sofia News Agency.
Link: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=153145.

Center-right bloc takes power in Norway

September 10, 2013

OSLO, Norway (AP) — Conservative Party leader Erna Solberg — nicknamed "Iron Erna" — will become Norway's new prime minister as the leader of a center-right coalition government likely including an anti-immigration party.

Preliminary results from the oil-rich Nordic country's parliamentary elections shows the Conservative Party got 26.8 percent of votes, the best result for the party in 28 years. Solberg, who will be Norway's second female prime minister after Gro Harlem Brundtland, thanked the voters Monday for a historic victory.

"The voters had the choice between 12 years of red-green government or a new government with new ideas and new solutions," Solberg said. The current prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, who has led Norway for eight years, conceded defeat, saying his Labor Party tried "to do what almost no one has done, to win three elections in a row, but it turned out to be tough."

The discovery of oil and gas in Norway's waters in the 1960s turned the Scandinavian nation into one of the richest in the world, with a strong welfare system and a high living standard. The oil wealth helped it withstand Europe's financial crisis and retain low unemployment throughout Stoltenberg's years in power. Still, the Conservative Party has managed to attract votes amid pledges to increase the availability of private health care and cut taxes on assets over $140,000.

Frank Aarebrot, Professor of comparative politics at the University of Bergen, said the election campaign was dominated by classical welfare issues, such as better care for the elderly, improved hospitals and better schools.

Yet, none of the parties suggested that Norwegians should have to pay for things such as hospital visits, college education or elderly care. "Everybody agrees that should be for free," he said. The Conservative Party has said for the first time that it is prepared to form a coalition government with the anti-immigration Progress Party, which was the third biggest party in the election. Solberg will now likely begin negotiations with them, as well as with the Liberal Party and the Christian Democrats.

According to preliminary results, she needs the support of all three parties to get a majority government, but could end up running a minority government with the Progress Party with support from the two others, if they refuse to share power with the Progress Party.

This was the first parliamentary election since Anders Behring Breivik — who was a member of the Progress Party before he lost faith in democracy — killed 77 people in 2011 and thirty-three survivors of the massacre were seeking national office in the election.

Stoltenberg was admired for his calm demeanor after the terror acts, which were unequivocally condemned by all parties, and there was a short-lived boost in support for Labor. However, a report last year criticizing Norwegian police for a litany of institutional failures before and during the attacks dented his government's prestige.

In Monday's election, the Labor Party appeared set to remain the biggest single party, with 30.8 percent of the votes. Still, together with its two coalition partners, the Socialist Party and the Center Party, it lost support since the last election, getting only 40.4 percent of votes.

"I want a change of government because I am liberal-conservative and believe in more deregulation and private solutions," said Haakon Gloersen, a 25-year-old communications adviser, who voted for the Liberal Party.

Oeyvind Nordli, a 44-year-old salesman, said he voted for the conservatives because he thought it would benefit him personally and because he dislikes the Labor Party's tax policy.

Malin Rising reported from Stockholm. Associated Press television producer David MacDougall contributed to this report.

New US ambassador arrives in Brazil amid tensions

September 16, 2013

BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — The new U.S. ambassador to Brazil landed in the capital Monday amid increasing tensions over a U.S. spy program that aggressively targets Latin America's biggest nation, reportedly including the personal communications of its president.

Ambassador Liliana Ayalde is a career diplomat with three decades of experience and a former ambassador to Paraguay. She most recently served as the deputy assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, covering Cuba, Central America and the Caribbean.

"This is a very important moment for our relations, full of opportunities and possibilities," Ayalde told reporters at Brasilia's airport, speaking in Portuguese. "I'm sure that together, we can expand and deepen the ties that exist between our two important nations."

The new ambassador didn't respond to Brazilian journalists' questions about the National Security Agency's spying program. Ayalde arrives just as Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is expected to make a decision on whether she'll cancel a trip to Washington next month in protest over the NSA program. She is scheduled to be honored with a state dinner, the only one scheduled so far this year in the U.S. for a visit meant to show Brazil's growing economic and strategic importance.

Several reports on Brazil's Globo television and in the Globo newspaper have been based on NSA documents leaked by Edward Snowden. In addition to indicating that Rousseff's communications with her top aides were intercepted, reports say that the NSA targeted the private computer network of state-run oil company Petrobras and that the NSA has collected data on billions of emails and telephone calls that flow through Brazil.

Ayalde is also arriving in a nation shocked by huge anti-government protests in June. Demonstrations continue to linger and could be sparked again by a number of factors, including a slowed economy, next year's presidential election year and the World Cup. Many Brazilians are outraged at the billions of public funds being spent to refurbish or build stadiums while hospitals, schools and infrastructure widely remain in a woeful state.

Ayalde succeeds Thomas Shannon, who is now a counselor to Secretary of State John Kerry.

Protesters Discuss Expansion Plans

by Brian Richardson
September 2, 2013

EUGENE, Ore. — The recently formed protest at Chambers St. and Northwest Expressway continues to grow and evolve.

About 20 tents now fill the vacant corner lot. The demonstrators have grills to cook on and two portable bathrooms on site to use.

Organizers say they’re an offshoot of the Occupy movement, but no longer affiliated with SLEEPS. That’s the group camping out in the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, demanding code be changed to provide people a safe place to sleep.

They’re calling this new camp ‘Whoville’.

They’ve got plans to continue their protest, even if the county gives them eviction notices later this week.

“Sidewalks have traditionally been used as protest sites and I’m sure the mayor has a sidewalk in front of her house,” said Tin Man. “I’m sure legally we can go to the sidewalk in front of her house and peacefully protest.”

The Lane County Board of Commissioners will hold a special session on Wednesday to talk about the protest at the Free Speech Plaza and its health implications. Commissioners are considering an emergency closure of the area for no more than four weeks.

Source: KIEZ.
Link: http://www.kezi.com/protestors-discuss-expansion-plans/.

Senator warns Hizbullah may have chemical weapons; Jordan's king could be toppled

Tuesday, August 27th, 2013

WASHINGTON — The administration of President Barack Obama has been warned that Syria’s chemical weapons could be dispersed and that Jordan could collapse.

A leading senator said the Hashemite kingdom was under tremendous strain from the civil war in neighboring Jordan. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Jordan’s King Abdullah could not bear the huge Syrian refugee population as well as threats from Iran and Al Qaida-aligned rebels.

“You ask me about my biggest fear would be to lose the king of Jordan for prolonged war, that the Al Qaida elements of the rebels could wind up seizing the chemical weapons cache, that Assad would share chemical weapons or advance Russian weapons with Hizbullah, which would be a direct threat,” Graham said.

Over the last few months, Graham has repeatedly warned of Jordan’s vulnerability. In July, the senator told the Senate Armed Services Committee that Abdullah said in 2012 that the influx of Syrian refugees — now reported at more than 650,000 — could destroy his regime. Gen. Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he shared that concern.

“Will [Abdullah] be in power a year from now?” Graham asked Dempsey. “I have met with him and he is concerned with the demographic change. He told me last year he did not think he will be there in another year because there will be a million Syrian refugees destabilizing Jordan. Do you agree with that?”

“That is his concern,” Dempsey replied.

Earlier, Graham said Abdullah could not face an emboldened regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. The senator urged Obama to use Jordan and Turkey to neutralize Assad’s military, backed by Iran and Russia.

“So the balance of power is really now on Assad’s side,” Graham told a television roundtable on June 13. “And if we don’t do more than add AK-47s into the mix, he will continue to win. And the king of Jordan is going to become toast.”

One option raised by Graham was the use of Jordan and Turkey to establish a no-fly zone in Syria to protect Sunni rebels. Graham cited the U.S. deployment of F-16 multi-role fighters and PAC-3 air and missile defense systems in the kingdom.

Graham, in close contact with Abdullah, envisioned the fall of the Hashemite kingdom and its replacement by an Al Qaida-aligned regime.

He said Washington must ensure the departure of Assad for regional stability.

“But if the war lasts six, four months, Jordan’s going to go,” Graham said. “And Israel’s going to be surrounded by a Syria on fire, Jordan more radical, and Egypt becoming more radical. The whole region’s about to blow up. And our foreign policy to me, I don’t understand it. Whatever it is is not working.”

Source: World Tribune.
Link: http://www.worldtribune.com/2013/08/27/senator-warns-hizbullah-may-have-chemical-weapons-jordans-king-could-be-toppled/.

Cindy Sheehan Formally Launches Campaign for CA Governor

August 26, 2013

by Cindy Sheehan
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox Blog

I am here on the steps of the capitol building to announce that I am running for governor of California in 2014 with the Peace and Freedom Party. One of the goals of this campaign is to break the stranglehold on this state’s politics by the two parties of, by and for, the corporations and the 1% because I am devoted to improving the lives of the working and poor classes and protecting our precious and compromised environment.

Why am I running now?

First of all, I believe that politics are local and that change should come from the grassroots and a state executive should be more accessible and responsive to his/her employees than a federal official.

Secondly, and more importantly, I am exhausted with the struggle of living in a state that puts the bottom-line of corporations above the needs of its citizens; that puts prisons over education; that puts balancing the budget off the backs of senior citizens, students, and the physically and mentally ill over healthy job creation and bigger social safety nets.

The people of this state need education, jobs and healthcare, not more empty promises and pandering to the wealthy from Sacramento.

I don’t own a car and I rode my bike here from Davis because I know that it’s past time that the practice of ruining our environment by fracking and other disastrous forms of energy extraction be ended. The sitting Governor has received the maximum campaign contribution of over $27,000 from his buddies at Occidental Oil. I would rather have 27,000 individuals send me one dollar each because I will work for them, not big oil.

As if we needed more proof, Fukushima has terrifyingly demonstrated to us that nuclear power has the potential of ending life on this planet, and the nuclear plants in our state are super-vulnerable to be destroyed by earthquake and/or fire. They must be shut down!

This state is in urgent need of expanding the use of clean, renewable, and sustainable energy production and also to invest in protected bike and pedestrian lanes and better, cheaper, and more comprehensive public transportation. We have the resources to do it.

During the Great Depression, California Socialist, author and intellectual, Upton Sinclair, ran for state governor on the platform of END POVERTY IN CALIFORNIA (EPIC) and Cindy Sheehan for Governor will go forward with our EPIC campaign to do the same and to also ESTABLISH PEACE IN CALIFORNIA, END THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX and EMPOWER PEOPLE INSTEAD of CORPORATIONS.

Cindy Sheehan for Governor will also put the restoration of our indigenous cultures at the forefront of our administration. This state has an appalling record regarding our first people and, as descendants of the colonizers, we need to recognize this fact and empower our first peoples to take a leadership role in the recovery of our state.

The state that I was born in and love has never had a female governor and the time is here that we tried our EPIC recovery with woman-driven people power and I think the most challenging thing we face in this campaign is to convince the people of this state that I am not just another b.s.ing politician and that I mean it when I say I will strive, with the people, co-create peace, ecological health, and economic equality and vibrancy, in this state.

I have been doing peace and social justice activism almost non-stop since my son, Casey, was killed in Iraq in 2004. I live here, I struggle with the people here, and I am dedicated to working for a better life for my surviving children and my beloved grandchildren.

I am not asking for the voters of California to support me; I am asking the voters to support themselves, their families, their communities and this state by voting for true change and putting our hopes in each other.

Source: Dandelion Salad.
Link: http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/cindy-sheehan-formally-launches-campaign-for-ca-governor/.
Original Source: http://cindysheehanssoapbox.blogspot.com/2013/08/text-of-cindys-announcement-for-epic.html.

Largest Ferris wheel nears completion in Las Vegas

September 09, 2013

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Las Vegas Strip is getting the world's largest Ferris wheel.

The outer wheel of the 55-story High Roller ride is scheduled to be hoisted into place Monday. The gargantuan project is now visible from all over the city, including the airport. Early next year, it will be outfitted with 1,500 LED lights and start its slow spin.

"It's going to be an icon," Project Director David Codiga said. "It's going to be a part of your visit to Las Vegas if you ride it or not." Caesars Entertainment Corp. is building the ride as part of a $550 million development across the street from Caesars Palace.

The High Roller will be 100 feet (30 meters) taller than the London Eye, which opened in 2000, 30 feet (9 meters) taller than China's Star of Nanchang, which opened in 2006, and 9 feet (2.7 meters) taller than the Singapore Flyer, which opened in 2008.

These giant urban Ferris wheels typically transport riders in large, fixed capsules instead of the smaller, teetering baskets some people remember from childhood. The Las Vegas ride will take 30 minutes to make one revolution.

Tickets will be comparable to the London ride, which costs about $30, according to Caesars spokeswoman Christina Karas. The High Roller will also likely have to surrender its tallest in the world title before long. Another monster wheel is looming in New York City, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced plans last year for a 625-foot (190-meter) ride on the waterfront.