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Wednesday, September 22, 2004 |
FEATURED ARTICLES
- THE LYNCHING OF DAN RATHER, by Greg Palast
- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's message on the International
Day of Peace
- UN Secretary-General's
address to the General Assembly, 21 September 2004
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"The International Day of Peace is always a special occasion, but this
one is even more so -- for this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Peace
Bell, which we ring every year on this day... In each nation, and among
all nations, we must work to promote unity based on our shared humanity. Today,
let the sound of this bell inspire us in our work towards those goals. Let
the call of the bell ring loud, clear and true around the world."
- - Kofi Annan, United Nations Secretary-General (21 September 2004)
KNOW YOUR HISTORY - September 22nd
1983 -- Capping a week of protests, over 2 million people in 6 European cities
march against U.S. deployment of cruise & Pershing
nuclear missiles. 1.2
million Germans, including 180,000 at Bonn; a 64 mile human chain between Stuttgart & New
Ulm (+ Hamburg, W. Berlin); + hundreds of thousands in London + 350,000 Rome
+ 100,000 Vienna + 25,000 Paris + 20,000 Stockholm + 4000 Dublin + 140 sites
in US.
1997 -- President Clinton, addressing the United Nations, told world leaders
to "end all nuclear tests for all time" as he sent the long-delayed
global test-ban treaty to the Senate. The Republican controlled Senate, in their
wisdom, did & continues to, thumb their nose at the rest of the world by
not ratifying the treaty. This in spite of all the manipulative hoopla about
WMD's.
MORE INFO AT: Evolution of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
RHINO HERE:
I wrote today's blog, everything below the line, and just when I was about
to send it out, I read an important article about the loudest news story of the
day; Dan
Rather's reporting on Dubya's
military shirking. But
this story isn't really about Rather, but about the grip the neo-cons (read neo
robber barons) have on the major media, and on the profession that used to be
known as investigative journalism. So Rhino recommends this as a must
read & circulate to
put perspective on the latest non-news distraction.
THE LYNCHING OF DAN RATHER
On British TV, Dan feared the price of "asking questions"
By Greg Palast , September 20, 2004
"It's that fear that keeps journalists from asking the toughest of the
tough questions," the aging American journalist told the British television
audience.
In June 2002, Dan Rather looked old, defeated, making a confession he dare not
speak on American TV about the deadly censorship -- and self-censorship -- which
had seized US newsrooms. After September 11, news on the US tube was bound and
gagged. Any reporter who stepped out of line, he said, would be professionally
lynched as un-American.
A MUST READ: the
price of "asking questions"
RHINO HERE AGAIN:
The Rhino has committed to assist ACT (America Coming Together) in
their efforts to urge uncommitted voters in the swing states to get out and vote,
preferably for John Kerry. Will you help? You can volunteer to write letters
to these important citizens, or to travel to a swing
state to go door to door.
You can also make a financial contribution to help those that can drop their
lives & travel to these important states. Any contribution form $10
to $1000 will be meaningful. It takes about half an hour to write 10 letters.
Take a few minutes to check out the RHINO/ACT Web Page or join & set
up your own page
AT: http://acthere.com/seeUser.php?memberID=4995
Since Rhino's current Monday, Wednesday, Friday blogging schedule had me skipping
over September 21st, & since it's such a significant day, I've decided to
use today to emphasize the date. First off, September 21 is the Fall Equinox.
For those not familiar, as we move from the long days & short nights of summer,
toward the shorter days & longer nights of winter, the Fall Equinox is the
time when the amount of daylight & the amount of night time, reach an equal.
For those who pay attention to the effects of such things, this is a time of
year in which life seems to come at us in a furious pace & with a jam packed
intensity. So hang in there friends & relatives, this too will pass.
September 21st is also International Peace Day. On September 7th of 2001,
The United Nations General Assembly decided that, beginning in 2002, the International
Day of Peace should be observed on September 21st each year, as "a day of
global cease fire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to
honor a cessation of hostilities during the Day." It invited all Member
States, organizations of the United Nations system, regional and non-governmental
organizations and individuals to commemorate the Day in an appropriate manner,
including through education and public awareness, and to cooperate with the United
Nations in establishing a global cease fire.
This year, September 21st also marked the 50th Anniversary of the ringing of The Peace Bell. Below is a message from UN Secretary General Kofi
Anon, which tells the history of The Peace Bell, & speaks to his hopes for
the future. Mr. Anon is also the source of today's RHINO'S
BOTTOM LINE. It
is his speech, given yesterday to the General assembly of The UN. It tells of
a code of laws created by Hammurabi, more than 3000 years ago in Iraq, which
set down principles of justice, recognized by human society ever since: Legal
protection for the poor. Restraints on the strong, so that they cannot oppress
the weak. Laws publicly enacted, and known to all. Rhino thinks it worth your
time to ponder these messages.
You can learn more about The International Day Of Peace
AT: http://www.un.org/events/peaceday/2004
Message by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the International Day of Peace
UN Press Release SG/SM/9480 OBV/435
The International Day of Peace is always a special occasion, but this one
is even more so -- for this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Peace Bell,
which we ring every year on this day. It was in 1954 that this bell, cast from
coins collected by children from 60 countries, was presented to the United Nations
by the UN Association of Japan. For half a century since then, the bell
has sent a powerful message around the world about humankind's aspiration
for peace. Throughout that time -- from the height of the Cold War to the rise
of intrastate conflicts, from the spread of the AIDS crisis to the escalation
of terrorism -- the call of the bell has remained constant, clear and true.
Today, we listen to the ringing of the bell as solace while we contemplate the
tribulations of the past year, and as a source of strength as we prepare to take
on the trials ahead. As the world's countries gather this week for the
59th General Assembly, we know there will be many challenges before us. To
meet them effectively, I believe a number of fundamental priorities merit a special
claim on our attention. We need to keep working to strengthen the system of collective
security, and make sure it is up to the task of meeting the threats of the 21st
century. The High- Level Panel I appointed late last year is working hard
to give us the ideas to do just that. We need to build greater international
solidarity in tackling grave humanitarian emergencies, such as the one in Darfur.
We need to do better in forging a true global partnership for development, to
fight hunger, ignorance, poverty and disease and meet the Millennium Development
Goals -- agreed by all Member States as a blueprint for building a better world
in the 21st century. And we need to promote greater tolerance and understanding
among the peoples of the world. Nothing can be more dangerous to our efforts
to build peace and development than a world divided along religious, ethnic or
cultural lines. In each nation, and among all nations, we must work to
promote unity based on our shared humanity. Today, let the sound of this bell
inspire us in our work towards those goals. Let the call of the bell ring loud,
clear and true around the world.
POSTED AT: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2004/sgsm9490.doc.htm
8:34:30 AM 
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The United Nations Secretary-General's address to the General Assembly
New York, 21 September 2004
(Excerpt)
...The vision of "a government of laws and not of men" is almost as old as civilization itself. In a hallway not far from this podium is a replica of the code of laws promulgated by Hammurabi more than three thousand years ago, in the land we now call Iraq. Much of Hammurabi's code now seems impossibly harsh. But etched into its tablets are principles of justice that have been recognised, if seldom fully implemented, by almost every human society since his time: Legal protection for the poor. Restraints on the strong, so that they cannot oppress the weak. Laws publicly enacted, and known to all.
That code was a landmark in mankind's struggle to build an order where, instead of might making right, right would make might. Many nations represented in this chamber can proudly point to founding documents of their own that embody that simple concept. And this Organization - your United Nations - is founded on the same simple principle. Yet today the rule of law is at risk around the world. Again and again, we see fundamental laws shamelessly disregarded - those that ordain respect for innocent life, for civilians, for the vulnerable - especially children.
To mention only a few flagrant and topical examples: In Iraq, we see civilians massacred in cold blood, while relief workers, journalists and other non-combatants are taken hostage and put to death in the most barbarous fashion. At the same time, we have seen Iraqi prisoners disgracefully abused. In Darfur, we see whole populations displaced, and their homes destroyed, while rape is used as a deliberate strategy. In northern Uganda, we have seen children mutilated, and forced to take part in acts of unspeakable cruelty. In Beslan, we have seen children taken hostage and brutally massacred. In Israel we see civilians, including children, deliberately targeted by Palestinian suicide bombers. And in Palestine we see homes destroyed, lands seized, and needless civilian casualties caused by Israel's excessive use of force. And all over the world we see people being prepared for further such acts, through hate propaganda directed at Jews, Muslims, against anyone who can be identified as different from one's own group.
Excellencies, No cause, no grievance, however legitimate in itself, can begin to justify such acts. They put all of us to shame. Their prevalence reflects our collective failure to uphold the rule of law, and instil respect for it in our fellow men and women. We all have a duty to do whatever we can to restore that respect. To do so, we must start from the principle that no one is above the law, and no one should be denied its protection. Every nation that proclaims the rule of law at home must respect it abroad; and every nation that insists on it abroad must enforce it at home...
READ THE ENTIRE ADDRESS AT: http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp
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Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of international copyright law.
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
All copyrights belong to original publisher.
7:25:57 AM
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© Copyright 2005 Gary Rhine.
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