Censorship by Huffington Post

Below is a reader commend that Huffington Post censored.
It was a reader response to an article that Kofi Anan wrote in advocating global warming and calling for payments to poor countries in the name of "Climate Justice"

In an open and democratic society, opposing views must be tolerated. When you silence one person, you silence everyone. To silence is to oppress. It is anti democracy.

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- mariegachelin 3 fans permalink

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I know I risk getting censored again as I see Huffington Post does not like dissent, so I reiterate that “Climate justice” is an oppressive government’s dream. Dictators will hail Copenhagen. They will bow too all queens and kings for taking money from wealthy nations and putting it in the pockets of dictators. They will laugh all the way to the bank as many of those who support this “Climate justice” will do when they get their well earned kickback's.

The lack of Economic growth of poor nations, are the results of corruptions, authoritarian governments, civil wars, human rights violations and the destruction of their own environment.

Ultimately, what is at stake is whether “leaders” can decide what is realistic and what is nothing but a guilt trip to loot money from industrialized countries and putting it into the pockets of dictators. “The legacy of today's politicians will be determined in the weeks to come on how foolish they are to give money to dictators so they can continue to keep their own citizens in complete and utter poverty.

You cannot have the best interest of the billions of people who live in poverty, are persecuted and forced to live in inhumane situations when you advocate giving financial support to those who oppress them. To give money to dictators is to reinforce the circle that envelops poor, the illiterate and oppressed people. This “Climate justice” is perverted.

The power struggle between global warming and 16,000 dead children daily

“Climate gate”, what is that? It must be some salacious scandal that involves “Global warming”. Based on much information circulating around, I realized that such a scandal would pop up sooner or later. Of course, those of us with faith in humanity had never lost the hope that man will exercise its conscience. Fraud is fraud and it hurts everyone. Those who try to expose fraud force the world to focus on reality and urgencies such as hunger. It is reported that about 16,000 children die every day1 of hunger year.

I, particularly, can never understand why the world is so focused on “global Warming” when 1 out of 6 people goes hungry every day according to the United Nations. That is more than one billion people throughout the world go without food every day. That number increased by 100 million since the global financial crisis reports the UN. Yes there are 250 million children that go without food everyday while we focus on global warming. You decide which one is more of an immediate urgency.

When “one-sixth of all of humanity” is hungry, I dare assume that hunger should be a priority. But, that is my opinion. The director general of the FAO said the level of hunger, one-sixth of the world's population, poses a "serious risk" to world peace and security and that “ there are more than 1 billion hungry people in the world” 2 What do you think?

If lack of food pauses such a threat to the world peace and security, why are we not paying more attention on feeding people? Why do global alarmists try to create to create barriers that keep the hungry from benefiting from technology?

According to Reuters, Bill Gates said “the fight to end hunger is being hurt by environmentalists who insist that genetically modified crops cannot be used in Africa.” And, that “They have tried to restrict the spread of biotechnology into sub-Saharan Africa without regard to how much hunger and poverty might be reduced by it, or what the farmers themselves might want.”3

I admit the frustration that comes with global warming. Each time I hear the subject, the Pulitzer Prize winning picture that Kevin Carter took in Sudan pops up in my mind. It’s so real, that you can feel the child’s hunger. If you don’t know what hunger is, that picture shows you what it is, what it does and that hunger should be eradicated.” Hunger does not only weigh on the individual. It also imposes a crushing economic burden on the developing world4

Kevin Carter, a South African Journalist who won a Pulitzer prize for the heart breaking photo of taken in Sudan in March 1993 in which he photographed a hungry as the child crawling towards a UN food camp to find food, while a vulture, sensing the child’s death approaching, stalks the emaciated child.

Notes
1- http://www.bread.org/learn/hunger-basics/hunger-facts-international.html
2- http://www.wfp.org/hunger/who-are
3- http://farmergene.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/world-food-day-2009-agricultural-biotechnologys-fight-against-hunger/
4- http://www.wfp.org/hunger

2004 Pulitzer Prize winning photo taken by Kevin Carter in Sudan

When the photograh was initially published, it shocked the whole world. We have since forgotten what hunger looks like. The face of hunger has not changed. While world has been preoccupied with “global warming, the number of those who go hungry has gone up. Where has morality gone when we bypass this picture in favor of the unrealistic goal of confronting global warming? If this picture does not haunt you, you are the vulture

April is International Day Against Child Slavery throughout the world . A time when Child abuse prevention should be in our focus, Rubina Ali child star of “Slum Dog Millionaire” film makes front page news due to allegations that her father is attempting to sell her.

It is rather unfortunate that any parent would try to sell their child. Let alone for a child in India when there’s a possibility of the child will end up in some sort of forced labor. I hope the recent highlight in selling children help to raise awareness to child abuse and maltreatment everywhere, especially in India, in Haiti (restavek) and the plight of child camel Jockeys in Middle Eastern countries.

If Rubina Ali were to be sold, she would be one of the many Indian children that are sold by their families because the parents are extreme poor. Unfortunately, these children don’t end up in posh homes such as Madonna’s or in a home with the average loving parents. Too often, children end up as camel jockeys and are forced into other forms of Child labour and are not always lucky to be rescued by the Ansar Burney Trust

Let’s raise awareness and help prevent Child-Abuse and fight child Child-Slavery.

April is Child Abuse Prevention month

The month of April is International Day Against Child Slavery and child abuse prevention month throughout the world. I hope the unfortunate and serious allegation that Rubina Ali’s father attempt to sell the child help to raise awareness to child abuse and maltreatment everywhere especially in India, Haiti (restavek) and the child Camel Jockeys in Middle Eastern countries.



If Rubina Ali were to be sold, she would be one of the many Indian children that are sold by their families because the parents are extreme poor. Unfortunately, these children don’t end up in posh homes such as Madonna’s or in a home with the average loving parents. Too often, children end up as camel jockeys and are forced into other forms of Child labour and are not always lucky to be rescued by the Ansar Burney Trust.



Let’s raise awareness and help prevent Child-Abuse and fight child Child-Slavery.

Reflections

Sometimes certain events force most of us to take a break and reflect. I just could not help but think about Roxana Saberi, the journalist who was recently sentenced for an 8 year prison term.

An 8-year prison sentence for “buying a bottle of wine” is so absurd that it makes better sense to accuse this woman of being a spy. It’s good thing that people are showing their outrage and if everyone continues to monitor what goes on in the world, every country that wants to be taken seriously or to have a positive role in the world, will have to re-evaluate every bad move that they made. This 8-year sentence for buying alcohol seems like one of these moves that Iran should look into if Iran is to play a positive role in the world community. In time, and with the exercise of common sense, decency will prevail just as in the shoe-throwing episode in Iraq.

Many people seem to forget that every one of us is alike and because of the regions we live, we are different. Regional and cultural differences must be accepted. It is ok for Americans to buy alcohol and to drink just as much as it is ok for Muslims to cover their heads. There’s no law in America that forces Muslims to remove their head covers while they are in America and Americans don’t imprison Muslims for wearing symbols allowed in their culture and in their homeland.

The worst any country should do in non-violent cases, is to expel the perpetrator from their country and bar them from re-entering.

Reflection helps everyone to correct errors and to facilitate growth.

Unwanted and persistent calls

Take a look at the referenced telephone numbers. Have you gotten a call from them? You're the only one.

I don't think it's fair for people to call my number several times and leave bizzare messages. A few days ago, I called a friend of mine to complain about calls that I had gotten. I had found those calls quite annoying and wanted to do something. She adviced me to block it. I did once, but the same message was sent to me via another number except the last digt was different. Of course the calls continued to come in and when I decide to hang up, my phone would ring again. When I choose to ignore the calls, I'd get a message that the warranty on my car. Oh, by the way, I have no warranty that is about no expire.

Nonetheless, I decided to call back one the number that called me. I decided that I had gotten too many calls and I wanted to put a stop to the annoying calls. A machine answered me. It did give me the option of ending the annoyance cycle to which I had been subjected. It asked me to "press 1 if you want to be put on the do not call list" Is that so, it read my mind. Thank you very much for asking me if I don't want you to annoy me. Guess what, another number began to call me.

I've begun to monitor the numbers. Now, each time I'd get such calls, I've decided to publish the numbers.
203-649-1215
203-649-1217

Advertisement and Fraud

Have you ever gotten an email that you clearly can tell is a fraud?

I’ve gotten a few of those fraudulent emails. Some of which claimed to be from the FBI informing me that someone left me an inheritance somewhere and that the FBI needs my personal information before it can send me the money.
I don’t know but the FBI of all organizations to choose. Why anyone would mess with the FBI?

Of course, there are many who try to defraud by putting advertisements in: craigslist.org
Below is the advertisement, which was posted on Craigs List on February 23, 2009. I include the email that I sent to the advertiser and the response that I received. I’m sure that it is a fictitious name that someone is using to make the advertisement appear legitimate

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"$1200 / 2br - Condo in Georgetown (Georgetown)

Reply to: hous-1046490020@craigslist.org
Date: 2009-02-23, 5:10AM EST

The condo is fully furnished with all necessary amenities(exactly like in the pics),the unit is equipped with recessed lighting, central air and heat.....this Fabulous Condo (2 Bedrooms/2 Baths) is located on Grace St. at Wisconsin Ave,1 block to M street,1 block to Waterfront Park, ....... "
__________________________________________________________________________________
Below is the response that I got:
" From: "Dorothy Parker" Add sender to Contacts To: marieapt@yahoo.comMessage contains attachments1.jpg (30KB), 10.jpg (27KB), 11.jpg (24KB), 12.jpg (25KB), 2.jpg (29KB), 3.jpg (29KB), 4.jpg (29KB), 5.jpg (37KB), 6.jpg (24KB), 7.jpg (24KB), 8.jpg (30KB), 9.jpg (22KB)

Hello,


Thanks for taking the time to look at my property.My name is Dorothy Parker,I'm 48 years old,I'm a construction engineer and I'm the owner of this condo(2 bedrooms,2 bathrooms,1100 square footage).I lived in this beautiful condo for over 5 years,loved every day of it.It's located in the heart of Georgetown at 3210 Grace St.
The prime location can't be beat and the garaged parking is an amenity sure to be appreciated by anyone(located at 1/2 block to M street,1/2 block to Georgetown Waterfront Park....Views of Potomac and Downtown Arlington from balcony)
The condo is fully furnished with all necessary amenities(exactly like in the pics),the unit is equipped with recessed lighting, central air and heat, the condo come with two parking spots,a storage unit where you can deposit my furniture (if you don't like it and you want use your furniture),there is also a linen closet, and most importantly, a new front loading stacked washer and drier.Pets allowed.I've moved to United Kingdom with my job (i am a construction engineer) and decided to
rent it because the rent is is very expensive here.The price is so low because I'm here and is very hard to find a tenant.I can rent you the condo for max. 6 years .I really want to find a good and responsible tenant for it, and I hope that you can send me some personal information about yourself.The rent of the condo for 1 month is $1200 including all utilities(water,electricity, Internet,cable, parking,air conditioning, fireplace, dishwasher, garbage) and I want to receive the money monthly in my bank account.You can move in the condo in the same day when you receive the keys. The only problem is that I`m
the only person who has the keys and I have nobody in United States that could show you the condo.In order to check it,see if you like it(I'm sure that you'll love it),you need to receive the keys and the contract. Obviously we need a way to complete this deal in a safe and fast way for both.The solution is provided by a company called RENT (www.rent.com) which will handle the payment and delivery of the Keys .A friend of mine moved here from California and used the company to resolve the same problem . This procedure allow you to pay the rent only after you will receive the keys,after you will
see it, decide if you will stay in the condo or not( I will receive the payment after you'll check the condo).If you want to know more about how this deal can work please get back to me ASAP and I will send you the details step by step.
Let me know if you are interested because I really need to take care of this matter by the end of the next week.


Regards,"


___________________________________________________________________________________

My recipe:
“If it’s too good to be true; it is too good to be true”. If you wre to see the pictures of the apartment listed, you'd know that it's too good of a deal that it had to be a fraud.


Beware of consumer fraud. Although this one looks obvious, often, other advertisements appear legitimate and these crooks manage to deceive many. Let’s expose those who try to deceive.

In the days to come, we will post more information on fraud, types of fraud and some of the steps to take to keep you from being a victim.

You’re welcome to post your comments and share your experiences.

Consumer Fraud and hotel housekeepers

I just read “Confessions of a Hotel Housekeeper”, an article written by Allison Rupp published on February 2009 in Yahoo travel. In the article claims that Ms. Rupp worked at the Yellowstone National Park’s history Old Faith Inn in 2004 and wrote about hotel housekeepers that “cut corners” such as “instead of Vacuuming, I picked up Some Crumbs”. To my surprise, the writer did not mention that some of the guests might have noticed that she did not do her job.

I’ve stayed in many hotels ranging from the best and highly priced to the moderately priced one. I could always tell when the housekeeper, changed the sheets, vacuumed the carpet and actually clean the room. Often, I’d deliberately mark the sheets, pillowcases, strategically put something on the floor just to check on the housekeepers.

Very recently, I was a long-term guest at a hotel. I whether I was in the room when the housekeeper clean, I could always tell whether or not she cleaned. In that hotel, the housekeeper was the laziest and dirtiest person ever. She cut corners “Rather than scrub the tub with hot water, sometimes it was just a spray-and-wipe kind of day”. She did wipe the tub rather than clean it, I could tell because the water lines were visible and the marks that I’d deliberately leave had not been removed. Sometimes, the housekeeper would forget the spray bottle which she used to spray and wipe rather than wash. I could see the color of the detergent that she used, and that would get so disgusted that I’d want to regurgitate. I knew exactly how often she changed the sheets because I’d write the dates on the sheets and on the pillowcases.

What hotel housekeepers must realize, is that they may end up on You Tube as they deceive their employers and put the people who pay for their salary at risk. Worst of all, they can end up on You Tube for the world to see just how often they think that they can really fool the guests. After reading “Confessions of Hotel Housekeeper” I’m even more disgusted with hotels and their cleaning staff. It is one of the reasons that I often ask the housekeeper not to clean my room; I don’t even want them in my room. Normally, I’d inspect the room and disinfect it myself after I check in.

My recipe to hotel guests, let the hotel housekeeper do the cleaning in front of you or don’t let the housekeeper in at all. The fact that housekeepers fail to sanitize hotel rooms is a critical problem that hotelkeepers must weigh in. It is a health problem that put consumers at risk.

If you’ve experienced similar problems or problems with consumer fraud or have been defrauded, share your thoughts in protest of consumer fraud.

"We the Pople" is now all of us

“We the people” is now All of us.

“We the People” has now evidently become All of us. The inauguration of President-Elect Barak Obama, is a day that every American should say that they are proud to be an American. It is a new chapter at what USA is all about-Freedom, Democracy and limitless opportunities for all. No matter what the color of the skin, religion, ethnic, educational or social background or else, today, January 20th 2009 is a day of pride. A continuing chapter in a unique country whose past many thought would take longer to arrive to today’s event.

The social problems that USA faced are not and were never unique to the USA. Many countries that consider themselves open societies have had and continue to have problems that won’t easily go away. Time changes everything. What America saw in the 1960’s, more than a hundred years after Abraham Lincoln emancipated the slaves, are events that should make every American and every human being shameful. Yes, it is true and realistic that some people gained pride in their country when humanity convinced them, that, “We the people” is actually all of us. How many of us can say that we were proud when authorities charged dogs at children and drowned human beings with water hoses? How many of us can consciously say that we are proud when we see pictures of human beings lynched on trees simply because they are blacks? Think about it.

Today we see a new chapter. In the new chapter, the past became actual history. However, let us never forget that from Christopher Columbus who visited the native people of the land, the pilgrims from the Mayflower, the Africans who were brought in chain and forced to work for free. The emancipation of the black slaves, the discrimination that continued, the lynching, the cross burning and smiling audiences that watched in amusement. The USA has a solid history for all of us to reflect on. In a short 233 years, what other country has achieved what the USA has?

On this inauguration day, January 20th 2009 it is a day for the entire world to take notice what the USA means, what the USA is and what the USA can be. I am sure, that everyone will reflect differently on today’s event. Nonetheless, the shame of the past of selling human beings, the continued faith that every newcomer bestowed, the country that became a symbol for democracy and freedom again opened a new chapter- a chapter of continued hope. Today is a day that every American can begin to say that they have always been proud of their country. As President-Elect Barak Obama takes the oath of office, “We the people” is now all of us.

I hope that today brings to African-American especially a renewed connection, to others- continued faith and to the rest of the world a belief that USA is a country of hope of limitless opportunities and where dreams materialize.