DOCSLIB.ORG

CRP News & Background

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
CRP News & Background „ D i s c o v e r i n g I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e l a t i o n s a n d C o n t e m p o r a r y G l o b a l I s s u e s ” Cultural Relations Policy News and Background November 2012 ICRP Monthly Review Series 2012 About CRP News & Background Cultural Relations Policy News & Background is a part of ICRP Monthly Review Series and an initiative of Institute for Cultural Relations Policy Budapest. Launched in 2012, its mission is to provide information and analysis on key international political events. Each issue covers up-to-date events and analysis of current concerns of international relations on a monthly basis. As an initiative of ICRP, the content of this magazine is written and edited by student authors. The project, as part of the Institute’s Internship Programme provides the opportunity to strengthen professional skills. Editorial Team Andras Lorincz, Series Editor Adam Torok, Author – Issue November 2012 Csilla Morauszki, Executive Publisher © Institute for Cultural Relations Policy ICRP Geopolitika Kft 45 Gyongyosi utca, Budapest 1031 - Hungary Contents 01 Ten days of war between Gaza and Israel 05 Catalonia steps closer to independence 07 Austerity unites Europe 08 Storm ended with acquittal 10 Obama presidency continues 12 Rise of Palestine’s status 14 Diplomatic progress of Syrian opposition 17 Goma in the hands of rebels for 10 days 20 Clashes of religions in Nigeria 22 Al-Shabaab stroke back in Kenya 23 Scramble for oil in the Caribbean 25 Asian summits in Cambodia 28 News in Brief 01 ICRP Monthly Review Series | November 2012 Ten days of war between Gaza and Israel Antagonism of Israel and the Hamas sympathiser Palestinians of the Gaza Strip have been tensioning situations in the Middle East for years and caused a long string of incidents. The eventual firings of Israel’s territory and civilians and the tight blockade of Gaza causing lack of basic goods but could not stop smuggling arms for militants, are the key experiences made the relation of the sides no chance of a Rising smoke in Gaza after it was hit by Israeli airstrikes [Photo: Scott Bobb] real bilateral solution, and the issue and severely operating air strikes on rocket- drastically overshadows Israeli-Arab launching squads in Gaza killing at least collaborations in general. one member. The end of the day, military Relative peace of the region vanished on wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad called 10 November, the day when an anti-tank al-Quds Brigades admitted most of the missile launched from the Strip flew across rocket launches, and responsibility for the border and hit a patrolling military jeep others was taken by other Palestinian of the Israeli Defence Forces, wounding 4 militias, while Hamas firmly condemned soldiers. The incident was a certain proof of Israeli counterattacks and accused they the improving military capabilities of the targeted civilians. Palestinian militants located Gaza. But soon During the following three days, more than after this, a comprehensive attack carried 100 rockets were fired at Israel followed by out with more than 30 rockets put under retaliation actions of its forces. On the terror the Israeli cities of Ashkelon and evening of 13 November, representatives of Ashdod. Some of the missiles were the sides agreed to hold a truce, but they intercepted by Iron Dome defence system, added too, they reserved the right to fire many of them landed outside of inhabited back if they are attacked. The initiative with areas and the remainder ones caused wide international backing could not stop small damage of infrastructure led local violence permanently but achieved power outage but none of the residents noticeable consolidation of the border received an injury. IDF responded quickly region the next day. Prime Minister 02 ICRP Monthly Review Series | November 2012 Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Hamas leaders called Muslim politicians to Ehud Barak visited separately the south of provide diplomatic support for Palestinians Israel to underscore Jerusalem’s support for and this claim regarded especially to the most targeted people. Egyptian leaders. Egyptians’ popular In accordance with continuing casual fire support to the Gazans proved by rallies all from Gaza and their former declaration over the country demonstrating against meant Israel considered Hamas responsible Israel’s bombings and some of them for all attacks come from the Gaza Strip, an expected more commanding presence of Israeli missile killed Ahmed Al-Jabari, leader Cairo. This domestic pressure prompted of Hamas’ military group Izz ad-Din al- President Morsi and the cabinet – both Qassam Brigades, while he was travelling entered office just some months ago – to by car in the city with his son also died in react, and this situation also showed an the targeted assassination on the following opportunity of Egypt to return international day the truce was proclaimed. politics as a strong and stable state has Actions of both sides continued with various specific influence on Middle East. Because intensity. Islamists reached Tel Aviv – the city Egypt and even its recent Islamist president was not rocketed since 1991 – using a long- respect the existing of Israel state, there range Iranian built Fajr-5 missile exploded in was chance of a successful dialogue. After a suburb of the city but no casualties were former reconciliation of Israel, Egypt and reported. Besides the air force carried out the Strip, Cairo’s Prime Minister Hesham bombardments of targets in the Strip Qandil visited Gaza on 16 November. aiming to ruin Palestinian military machine, During his brief presence, only Israel held its the Defence Minister called 30,000 reservists fire while militants launched rockets aiming among armoured vehicles and tanks to at towns north from the border. Qandil’s prepare a ground offensive in the case of statement deepened disappointment since this operation is inevitable. President of he even did not mentioned a cease-fire on Egypt Mohamed Morsi negotiated the issue the horizon, his speech focused on on a telephone conference with the US President and chief of UN Ban Ki-moon. Morsi rejected Israeli operations and withdrew its ambassador from the Jewish state, and urged UN to call an emergency meeting of the Security Council. Parallel with this members of the Arab League also gathered to discuss the case, but these efforts did not affect seriously the current Destruction in Gaza after Israeli bombardment, part of Operation Pillar of Defense violence. [Photo: Scott Bobb] 03 ICRP Monthly Review Series | November 2012 Jerusalem Post and the Haaretz reported that rockets were fired from the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt caused damage of properties in the south of Israel, but the Israel announced military operations on Twitter incident was not reaffirmed by authorities of Cairo or Jerusalem. President Morsi expressing Palestinians support from brokered plans of a cease-fire, both Hamas Egyptians and all Muslims. and Israel declared their conditions of the Violence escalated during the following deal. Israel expected Hamas stop all fire days causing heavy losses. Armed groups in from Gaza, Palestinians demanded the Gaza took serious efforts to improve the end of air strikes and the wipe up of range of their own-made unguided missiles blockade of the enclave. widely named Qassams after the most President Simon Peres welcomed the efforts common operator of them the Izz ad-Din of Morsi to establish an agreement of the al-Qassam. A newly advanced version of sides in the worsening crisis and stated Iran the weapon landed just outside Jerusalem is the only obstructing a truce agreement causing no injuries but the rocket-raid playing a destructive role and shocked the capital. encouraging, supporting militants fire on Israel intensified air strikes of Gaza bombing Israel. Russian Foreign Ministry rejected at least 80 targets on Sunday, 18 violence with no partiality saying „shelling November. They targeted the house of a of the Israeli territory and disproportionate Hamas man, but the explosion killed nine strikes on Gaza, which harms innocent other members of a family including civilians, is unacceptable.” The children. Haaretz Israeli newspaper international background favoured to the reported the target was Yehiya Rabiah announcement of a cease-fire rather than leader of a rocket launching unit, but the an Israeli offensive. Military analysts of strike mistakenly hit a neighbouring house Jerusalem believed that most goals Israel and put policeman Mohamed Dalou and can achieve using military force were his relatives to death. Another attack hit a realized by the air strikes, the involvement media office wounding 6 journalists and destroyed offices of some foreign news agencies. Israel continued concentrate its ground forces and collaborated on a possible peace plan with Egypt, Turkey and the United States. As it is a key ally in the region, President Obama fully supported Israel’s right to defend its citizens and urged an agreement to prevent invasion of IDF. Destruction in Gaza after Israeli bombardment, part of Operation Pillar of Defense Two prominent Israeli newspapers, the [Photo: Scott Bobb] 04 ICRP Monthly Review Series | November 2012 of ground forces would certainly increase Palestinians came to the streets and the casualties on both sides, and the celebrated a victory over the Israeli forces. popularity of this attack was low either in The days of aggression killed 6 Israelis and the army or among civilians. more than 100 Palestinians, and though a As a final act of the violence, an exploding long-lasting solution of the Gaza Strip is not device wounded 28 people travelling on a closer than before, its time to enjoy peace bus in the centre of Tel Aviv.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Prepared Testimony to the United States Senate Foreign Relations
    Prepared Testimony to the United States Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs May 11, 2011 HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN IRAN Andrew Apostolou, Freedom House Chairman Casey, Ranking member Risch, Members of the Subcommittee, it is an honour to be invited to address you and to represent Freedom House. Please allow me to thank you and your staff for all your efforts to advance the cause of human rights and democracy in Iran. It is also a great pleasure to be here with Rudi Bakhtiar and Kambiz Hosseini. They are leaders in how we communicate the human rights issue, both to Iran and to the rest of the world. Freedom House is celebrating its 70th anniversary. We were founded on the eve of the United States‟ entry into World War II by Eleanor Roosevelt and Wendell Wilkie to act as an ideological counterweight to the Nazi‟s anti-democratic ideology. The Nazi headquarters in Munich was known as the Braunes Haus, so Roosevelt and Wilkie founded Freedom House in response. The ruins of the Braunes Haus are now a memorial. Freedom House is actively promoting democracy and freedom around the world. The Second World War context of our foundation is relevant to our Iran work. The Iranian state despises liberal democracy, routinely violates human rights norms through its domestic repression, mocks and denies the Holocaust. Given the threat that the Iranian state poses to its own population and to the Middle East, we regard Iran as an institutional priority. In addition to Freedom House‟s well-known analyses on the state of freedom in the world and our advocacy for democracy, we support democratic activists in some of the world‟s most repressive societies, including Iran.
    [Show full text]
  • Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses
    Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses Kenneth Katzman Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs September 5, 2012 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL32048 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses Summary Addressing the perceived threat posed by Iran to a broad range of U.S. interests has been a top priority for the Obama Administration. A sense of potential crisis with Iran has taken hold since late 2011 as Iran’s nuclear enrichment program continues to advance. That Iranian progress has caused the government of Israel to assert that it might take unilateral military action against Iran’s nuclear facilities unless the United States provides assurances that it will act, militarily if necessary, to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Aside from the nuclear issue, the United States has long seen a threat to U.S. interests posed by Iran’s support for militant groups in the Middle East and in Iraq and Afghanistan. U.S. officials accuse Iran of helping Syria’s leadership try to defeat a growing popular opposition movement and of taking advantage of Shiite majority unrest against the Sunni-led, pro-U.S. government of Bahrain. To counter the perceived threat from Iran, the Obama Administration has orchestrated broad international pressure on Iran through economic sanctions, while also offering Iran sustained engagement if it verifiably assures the international community that its nuclear program is peaceful. Since the beginning of 2012, as significant multilateral sanctions have been added on Iran’s oil exports—including an oil purchase embargo by the European Union that went into full effect on July 1, 2012—the regime has begun to acknowledge significant economic pressure.
    [Show full text]
  • Tekeyan at 70 In
    JUNE 3, 2017 Mirror-SpeTHE ARMENIAN ctator Volume LXXXVII, NO. 46, Issue 4490 $ 2.00 NEWS The First English Language Armenian Weekly in the United States Since 1932 INBRIEF House Resolution Turkish Divestment Bill Passes California Condemning Assembly Committee Turkish Violence SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 1597, the Divestment from Turkish Bonds Act, passed the Against Protesters Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 26, clearing the way for a vote to hold Turkey account- Passes Unanimously able for the denial of the Armenian Genocide. “I am humbled and grateful for my colleagues in ANCA Director Offers the Assembly for joining with me to fight for justice Eyewitness Testimony for the 1.5 million Armenian souls who perished in the Genocide,” stated Assemblymember Adrin WASHINGTON — The House Foreign Nazarian. “If Turkey continues to fund Armenian Affairs Committee on May 25 unanimous- Genocide deniers they must be financially pun- ly adopted House Resolution 354 con- ished.” demning the violence against peaceful AB 1597 prohibits the boards of the California protesters outside the Turkish Public Retirement System (CalPERS) and Ambassador’s residence on May 16, 2017, California State Teachers’ Retirement System Dr. Tom Catena and calls for measures to be taken to pre- (CalSTRS) from making additional or new invest- vent similar incidents in the future. House ments, or renewing existing investments issued, $1.1 Million Aurora Prize for Awakening Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce (R- owned, controlled, or managed by the government CA) was joined by Ranking Member Eliot of Turkey. Humanity Awarded to Dr. Tom Catena Engel (D-NY), Majority Leader Kevin AB 1597 will now be debated and voted on by McCarthy (R-CA), and Democratic Whip the California Assembly.
    [Show full text]
  • Amnesty International USA December 2013 Newsletter on Iran with Information and Action Ideas
    Amnesty International USA December 2013 Newsletter on Iran with Information and Action Ideas Amnesty International will soon be launching a campaign around the repression of academic freedom—including the persecution of students, scholars and scientists. Below you will find information about two recent programs Amnesty International USA co-sponsored to highlight this issue, as well as actions around some of the featured cases in the campaign: Majid Tavakkoli, Bahareh Hedayat, Zia Nabavi and Omid Kokabee. There is also some news about activism around imprisoned Iranian physicist Omid Kokabee, especially carried out by his friends and colleagues at the University of Texas, Austin. prisoner of conscience Omid Kokabee There is also an action urging the authorities to allow serious ill prisoners of conscience Hossein Ronaghi Maleki and Ayatollah Hossein Kazemeyni Boroujerdi the medical attention they need. See also the piece on the AIUSA blog: http://blog.amnestyusa.org/middle-east/death-trap-prisons-in-iran/. The issue of denial of medical care and refusal to grant medical furloughs to which these prisoners are entitled has been addressed recently by a number of human rights organizations as well as in the latest report from Ahmed Shaheed, the U.N. Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran: http://shaheedoniran.org/english/dr-shaheeds-work/latest-reports/october-2013-report-of-the-special- rapporteur-on-the-situation-of-human-rights-in-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-2/ Sadly, even though the year is not yet over, the Iranian authorities have already executed more people in 2013 than they did last year.
    [Show full text]
  • English Section
    143 January - February 2013 Vol. XXIII No. 143 ISSN: 1557 - 623X Happy New Year 2013 • What Is the Difference? • I am Purrrrsian, Meow! • Historicity and Romance in the Verse of H. E. Sayeh • Review of Desert Mojito Book • Middle School • Osteoporosis • Realism: Liberation of the Subject Matter! • Persian as a Heritage Language No. 143/ January - February 2013 1 Wishing You a 143 Happy & Prosperous 2013 Since 1991 Persian Cultural Center’s Bilingual Magazine Is a bi - monthly publication organized for By: Shahri Estakhry literary, cultural and information purposes Financial support is provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture. What Is the Difference ? Persian Cultural Center For sometime now this thought has occupied my mind and it comes from the realities that I have 9265 Dowdy Dr. # 105 • San Diego, CA 92126 observed from support of different events from our community? Someone perhaps can answer Tel :( 858) 653 - 0336 Fax & Message: (619) 374 - 7335 me and ease my pain. Email: [email protected] Web site: www.pccus.org What is the difference between a child with cancer or a child suffering from hunger? Why is it www.pccsd.org that suffering from hunger does not awaken our senses to the reality and a strong possibility of death for a child whereas cancer always brings to our mind and vision suffering and the extreme January - February 2013 possibility of losing the child? Vol. XXIII No. 143 Circulation: 6000 I'm a cancer survivor and I speak from experience of how devastating and painful it can be. It Persian Cultural Center is a total life change after chemo and radiation, you and your life are NEVER the same.
    [Show full text]
  • April 11, 2017 New York State Division of Human Rights
    April 11, 2017 New York State Division of Human Rights: Headquarters One Fordham Plaza, 4th Floor Bronx, NY [email protected] FAX: (718) 741-8279 Mr. David Powell Adam Clayton Powell State Office Building 163 West 125th Street, 4th Floor New York, New York 10027 FAX: (212) 961-4425 Joyce Yearwood-Drury 55 Hanson Place, Room 900 Brooklyn, New York 11217 FAX: (718) 722-4525 Re: Request for Investigation into Sexual Harassment and Retaliation at Fox News Dear Mr. Powell and Ms. Yearwood-Drury: I am a civil rights attorney admitted to practice in California and New York. I have represented and conferred with a number of women alleging sexual harassment and retaliation at Fox News, owned by parent company 21st Century Fox. Under the unusual facts presented below, I respectfully request that the State Division of Human Rights (“SDHR”), upon its own motion, open an investigation. I. INTRODUCTION New York has the proud distinction of being the first state to enact a Human Rights Law, affording every citizen “an equal opportunity to enjoy a full and productive life.”1 This law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and education, as well as discrimination based 1 New York Executive Law §290 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20700 Ventura Blvd., Suite 301 | Woodland Hills, CA 91364 | P (818) 914-7397 | F (866) 85-BLOOM [email protected] | TheBloomFirm.com on gender, age, race, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, and other specified classes. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination and every employee in the State of New York is entitled to a working environment free from improper words and conduct.
    [Show full text]
  • Dear Friends
    Dear Friends, Greetings from the Project on Middle East Democracy! Last week U.S. officials took a tougher line on Syria as Assad regime allies pledged to keep fighting pro-democracy protesters. The Syrian military continued to lay siege to various cities and also began shelling them. In Yemen, violence erupted again as President Saleh continued his refusal to sign a GCC-proposed transition agreement. In Congress, a resolution condemning human rights violations in Syria was introduced that expressed support for peaceful demonstrations. Hearings were also held on the deteriorating state of human rights in Iran and Bahrain. This week, look for the news to continue to be dominated by events in Syria. For more detailed coverage of the debates surrounding U.S. foreign policy and the prospects for democracy in the Middle East, be sure to check out our blog, the POMED Wire. Also, POMED's Weekly Wire is now available in Arabic - to register to receive the Arabic version by email, please click here. The Weekly Wire May 16, 2011 Legislation A bipartisan group of senators including Joe Lieberman (I-CT), John McCain (R- AZ), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) unveiled S.RES.180, “expressing support for peaceful demonstrations and universal freedoms in Syria and condemning the human rights violations by the Assad regime.” The resolution also calls on the Obama administration to increase pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad‘s regime. Committee Hearings The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs held a hearing entitled “Human Rights and Democratic Reform in Iran.” Assistant Secretary of State Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Michael H.
    [Show full text]
  • CIS Newsletter 16.1
    CENTER FOR IRANIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER Vol. 16, No. 2 SIPA-Columbia University-New York Fall 2004 ENCYCLOPÆDIA IRANICA SHIRIN EBADI Fascicles 5 and 6 of Volume XII Published AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY Fascicle 1 of Volume XIII in Press The last two fascicles (5 and lowing 29 entries: IDEOGRAPHIC 6) of Volume XII of the WRITING, the representation of lan- Encyclopædia Iranica were com- guage by means of “ideograms,” pleted in the Summer and Fall of i.e. symbols representing “ideas,” 2004, and the bound volume will be rather than symbols which represent distributed in late December 2004. With sound, are discussed in three articles: the publication of fascicle 6, the ‘H’ en- In ANCIENT IRAN, by N. Sims-Williams; tries have been completed and titles in the ANCIENT NEAR EAST, by D. Testen; beginning with the letter ‘I’ have com- and in Middle Persian, referred to Dr. Shirin Ebadi menced. The last two fascicles of vol- HUZWARESH, term describing the use of with President Lee Bollinger ume XII feature over 100 articles on Semitic masks in Middle Persian texts, various aspects of Persian culture and by D. Durkin-Meisterernst. Columbia University’s Center for history, including eight article series on Iranian Studies and The Institute of specific subjects: three entries on Pre-Islamic historical geography is Human Rights at the Law School hosted Hosayn b. Ali in addition to three re- treated in two entries by I. N. a reception in honor of Dr. Shirin lated articles, two entries on Hormuz Medvedskaya: IDA, land and city, part Ebadi, the recipient of the 2003 Nobel Island, two entries on Hydrology, three of Inner Zamua, located on the south- Peace Prize, who in her research and as entries on ideographic writing, two en- Continued on page 2 Continued on page 5 tries on the Ilam Province, two entries on Persian ibex, and four entries on Il- Gala Benefit Dinners khanid history and art.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Rights and Democratic Reform in Iran Hearing
    S. HRG. 112–104 HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIC REFORM IN IRAN HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NEAR EASTERN AND SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION MAY 11, 2011 Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Relations ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.fdsys.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 68–325 PDF WASHINGTON : 2011 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Nov 24 2008 18:32 Sep 21, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 S:\HEARING FILES\112TH CONGRESS, 1ST\2011 ISSUE TEXT HEARINGS\051111-Q.TXT COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts, Chairman BARBARA BOXER, California RICHARD G. LUGAR, Indiana ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey BOB CORKER, Tennessee BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho ROBERT P. CASEY, JR., Pennsylvania MARCO RUBIO, Florida JIM WEBB, Virginia JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire JIM DEMINT, South Carolina CHRISTOPHER A. COONS, Delaware JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming TOM UDALL, New Mexico MIKE LEE, Utah FRANK G. LOWENSTEIN, Staff Director KENNETH A. MYERS, JR., Republican Staff Director —————— SUBCOMMITTEE ON NEAR EASTERN AND SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIAN AFFAIRS ROBERT P. CASEY, JR., Pennsylvania, Chairman BARBARA BOXER, California JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey BOB CORKER, Tennessee BENJAMIN L.
    [Show full text]
  • Mike Flynn's Pro-Turkey Work: an Unfinished Documentary to Boost
    6/11/2017 Mike Flynn’s Pro-Turkey Work: An Unfinished Documentary to Boost Country’s Image - WSJ This copy is for your personal, non­commercial use only. To order presentation­ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers visit http://www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/mike­flynns­pro­turkey­work­an­unfinished­documentary­to­boost­countrys­image­1496183276 POLITICS MIKE FLYNN’S PRO-TURKEY WORK: AN UNFINISHED DOCUMENTARY TO BOOST COUNTRY’S IMAGE Unseen film footage appears to represent the core of the Flynn Intel Group’s $530,000 work on behalf of Turkey By Dion Nissenbaum Updated May 30, 2017 7:36 p.m. ET WASHINGTON—Last fall, as retired Lt. Gen. Mike Flynn traveled the country stumping for Donald Trump, his business partner holed up in a small Washington hotel room with the former head of Turkish military intelligence to work on a special project. “General, hi. I’m Bijan Kian, welcome to Washington, D.C.,” Mr. Kian, the head of Mr. Flynn’s consulting firm, greeted the Turkish dignitary. “Gen. Flynn, my partner, sends his regards to you.” The hotel room meeting was filmed as part of a documentary the Flynn Intel Group was producing for a Turkish businessman, who paid $530,000 to the lobbying shop to polish the country’s image after a botched military coup. That contract has landed Mr. Flynn in legal jeopardy. The unfinished, never-distributed film, details of which haven’t been previously reported, appears to represent the core of the Flynn Intel Group’s work for Turkish interests.
    [Show full text]
  • Burning Man Annual Report 2018 | 1 Photo: John Curley
    Burning Man Annual Report 2018 | 1 Mission Photo: John Curley The mission of Burning Man Project is to facilitate and extend the culture that has issued from the Burning Man Greetings from our CEO event into the larger world. Welcome! 2019 was a year of metamorphoses for Burning Man Project and Burning Man’s global community of dreamers and doers. A few highlights: • Today there are more than 100 annual Burning Man events and 40 Burners Without Borders chapters Vision on six continents. The Burning Man organization will bring experiences to • In 2019 we granted more than $1.4 million through our Honoraria, Global Art Grant, and Community Grant programs. people in grand, awe-inspiring, and joyful ways that lift the • The 3,800-acre Fly Ranch now serves as a year-round incubator for Burning Man culture; more than 2,000 visitors from around the world attended 20 camping events and 70 nature walks on the property this year. human spirit, address social problems, and inspire a sense of We’ve also taken initial steps to transform our environmental impact. Informed by our stewardship of the land culture, community, and civic engagement. and waters at Fly Ranch and the global climate crisis, we created an environmental sustainability roadmap that sets ambitious goals around waste management, ecological impact, and carbon sequestration. This year the desert once again gave rise to a thriving, transformative, and playful Black Rock City. Buoyed by support from participants, our global community, and our board of directors, we doubled down on our efforts to strengthen Burning Man culture by recommitting to our Principles and resisting commodification.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Rights and Democratic Reform in Iran Senate Foreign
    www.pomed.org ♦ 1820 Jefferson Place NW, Suite 400 ♦ Washington, DC 20036 Human Rights and Democratic Reform in Iran Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Wednesday 10:00 – 12:00 pm On Wednesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs held a hearing entitled “Human Rights and Democratic Reform in Iran.” Senator Robert P. Casey (D-PA) chaired the committee hearing, Senators James Risch (R-ID), Tom Udal (D- NM) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) were also present. Assistant Secretary of State Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Michael H. Posner; Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs , Mr. Philo L. Dibble; Mr. Kambiz Hosseini, from Voice of America; Senior Program Manager from Freedom House, Mr. Andrew Apostolou; and Ms. Rudi Bakhtiar, Communications Director International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, all testified before the subcommittee. For full testimonies, click here. Senator Casey opened the hearing by discussing the momentous events and democratic uprisings that have taken place across the Middle East this spring. In this context, he stated that the pro-democracy movement in Iran is the greatest challenge to the Islamic authority in Iran. He asserted: “During the uprising in 2009 pro-democracy protesters took to the streets demanding the same rights that have been demanded across the region this spring.” Since then, he stated, the security forces have used live ammunition and “deplorable” tactics to suppress the Iranian opposition. Senator Casey highlighted a number of political activists who are serving lengthy prison sentences for working for human rights and democracy in Iran.
    [Show full text]