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Petition Tag - states
121. End War in Iraq 
A petition to end conflicts in Iraq with a total withdrawl of US and "Coalition" forces.
122. Remove U.S. Troops from South Korea
In the 1950's, Korea was divided into two nations by Capitalist and Communist forces. Korea had supported neither yet the North was actually DEALED to Communist forces and the South to the U.S. Tensions eventually erupted into a massive civil war caused by Communist China and Russia and the Capitalist United States. Thousands upon thousands of families were separated in that tragic military conflict and decades later, nothing has changed.
North Korea continues to live in isolation from the rest of the world, depending wholly on China, now shying away from Communism, to survive. Recently, North Korea has been aggravated by U.S. attempts to disarm its nuclear weapons. Anti-North Korean feelings in the South have now been replaced with anti-American ones. Several riots by college universities have resulted in mass violence. America continues to OCCUPY South Korea.
It's been globally proven that the only way that unification will be successful if U.S. troops leave South Korea. If, heaven forbid, there is a rekindled conflict between the divided nation, only then would the U.S. have any jurisdiction of sending military troops to a land not even part of its own country.
*I never check my e-mail so please don't bother e-mailing me replies. If you have any comments or questions at all, please post them on the message board.
123. Show the "Accidents Will Happen" episode of Degrassi !
This is a petition to get The-N to show the "Accidents Will Happen" episode of Degrassi in the United States.
Hello, my name is Jillian and I'm here to fight for U.S. citizens that like to watch Degrassi. You've probably heard that The-N refuses to show the "Accidents May Happen" episode of Degrassi, but if you haven't it's an episode that involves Manny getting pregnant and then getting an abortion.
It's not fair that this television station does not allow this episode to be shown even though we U.S. citizens pay the cable bill every month for a full season of Degrassi. I think that The-N should either show the episode or put it out on DVD.
If you think this isn't fair please sign this petition. Thank you very much for listening to me and have a good day.
124. End Horse Slaughter, Animal Cruelty is Against the Law.
Horse slaughter is a cruel way of sending a horse to death. Animal Cruelty is against the law in most states here in the United States. So why isn't horse slaughter against the law?
Horse slaughter takes horses away from owners, being it a girl's pony, a show champion, even our wild horses. They get starved, which is cruelty, and then killed. It just isn't right to end a horse's life that way, just for possibly becoming lame.
125. Save the Abandoned Mine Land Act
Sept. 30 could be the beginning of economic doom for our coal producing states if Congress does not take action to extend a federal program that mining reclamation supports 45,000 retired miners benefits.
The Abandoned Mine Land, or AML, is a program created in 1977, when it passed the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
Under the program, coal operators pay 35 cents tax per ton of surface-mined coal and 15 cents per ton of underground-mined coal. The money is used to clean up coal mines that were abandoned before 1977.
If that happens, thousands of abandoned mine sites mostly in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky would go unreclaimed.
Currently the AML is languishing on capital hill and set to expire at the end of September
Without congressional action, the coal tax that funds mine cleanups would expire Sept. 30.
As a result, more than $2 billion worth of high-priority coal reclamation will remain unreclaimed, leaving millions of people who live, work and recreate in the nation's coalfields to continue to be exposed to the many dangers these areas represent.
Tax payers of coal producing states could be forced to pay for the clean-up, instead of the coal operators. The state is already in a budget crisis and paying for this would sink the Bluegrass in to a much deeper deficit - one that potentially we would never find our way out of.
Lawmakers and Interior's Office of Surface Mining have showed great humanitarianism by allowing AML money to fund infrastructure projects like health-care benefits (UMWA Orphan Funds) for retired miners who have fallen between the cracks by coal corporation bankruptcies.
On Aug. 31 in Lexington, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge William Howard finalized the decision allowing Horizon Natural Resources to file bankruptcy, thus voiding union contracts providing health care coverage for nearly 3,000 employees, including 2,300 retirees -- many of whom suffer from black lung as a result of their working years at Horizon. Many of these affected by the decision are Kentuckians who's only hope for health care is for the AML to continue.
Cutting off the health care benefits provided by the tax could not only devastate thousands of retired coal miners lives, but also be detrimental to the state's local economies who's doctors and pharmacies main source of income is treatment of these miners.
Congress Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., with support of House Democrats, took the first step Sept. 14 to stave off the end of the federal program. Sen. Byrd won Senate Appropriations Committee approval to extend a tax that funds the cleanup program for another nine months, but so far no outward support has been shown by House Republicans to save the issue.
The current extension calls for 9 months, but House Republicans have agreed to this measure by cutting the tax 75% - a drastic reduction in the amount of money to fund the miners health care plans and for money to repair the environmental damage done by the coal operators.
The far reaching effects of letting the AML languish and die could spell disaster for the all coal producing states if an extension is not granted.
I will use this issue to evaluate your commitment to working families in America. I await your prompt response.
126. Summerhill Subdivision Zip Code Change
We the residence of Summer hill Subdivision state that we are listed as "City Of Citrus Heights as stated in our Deeds , boundry Maps and Street Signs. We the undersigned plead to be re-assigned into our proper Zip Code and City Name-
"Citrus Heights, CA 95610".
127. Alteration Of Restrictive Covenants
Restrictive Covenants.
We would like to have restrictive covenant number 2, no mobile homes used as a permanent residence removed. The abstract states these covenants may be altered after 2 years by a 2/3 majority vote of land owners of this 14.334 acre tract of land.
128. Legalise fireworks in all US States
If you like fireworks let's try to get them legalised in all 50 states in the usa. You can write to your law makers
and you can email them too. Maybe if thay get swamped with requests
maybe thay will eventuly legalise fireworks.
Some lawmaker websites i found.. check em out; congress.org; www.house.gov
129. Legislation for Quality Children's Programming
As most of you know I am currently in the Early Childhood Education Master's Program at Oakland University. I am currently taking an advocacy class and I chose to be an advocate for the "Quality of Children's Television Programming." According to Nielsen Media Research, the average American (they included children in this average), watches an average of 3 hours and 43 minutes of television every day. That's 56 days of nonstop television watching each year!
The Parent's Television Council found that "foul language during the family hour (8-9 p.m.) increased by 94.8% between 1998 and 2002, and by 109.1% during the 9-10 p.m. airtime. I currently teach elementary age children English as a Second Language in the suburbs in the Metro Detroit area, and they are repeating inappropriate language they hear on television before they can carry on a conversation in English!
Some changes must be made. One of those changes starts with the parents themselves. They need to pay attention to how much quality time they are spending with their children, and how much time their children spend watching television, rather than having valuable interactions with their families. The other changes, are governmental, and I am proposing the following changes be brought to our government's attention:
130. Marriage Act of 1996
The 1996 (DOMA) Defense of Marriage Act was enacted into law. This law clearly states that the definition of marriage is a bond between one woman and one man. This clearly states that same sex relations are not considered to be married legaly.
Taken from a letter from Patty Murray, she states "The Constitution leaves marriage to be regulated by the states rather than the federal government."
Another letter from Adam Smith on the Gay Marriage Bill states, "The amendment in question would prohibit states from allowing gay marriage... After evaluating the issue carefully, I have serious concerns with theis amendment and will oppose it. . . I do not see gay marriage as a threat that would chang the rights or obligations of heterosexual marriage. The real threat to marriage is abuse, neglect or outright lack of commitment to the contract people have voluntarily entered into when taking marriage vows. I believe our society is made stronger buy more committed and stable relationships, and we should encourage that."
Robert Benne and Gerald McDermott | posted 02/19/2004 has this to say, " We believe there are compelling reasons why the institutionalization of gay marriage would be 1) bad for marriage, 2) bad for children, and 3) bad for society.
1. The first casualty of the acceptance of gay marriage would be the very definition of marriage itself. For thousands of years and in every Western society marriage has meant the life-long union of a man and a woman. Such a statement about marriage is what philosophers call an analytic proposition. The concept of marriage necessarily includes the idea of a man and woman committing themselves to each other. Any other arrangement contradicts the basic definition.
Scrambling the definition of marriage will be a shock to our fundamental understanding of human social relations and institutions. One effect will be that sexual fidelity will be detached from the commitment of marriage. The advocates of gay marriage themselves admit as much. "Among gay male relationships, the openness of the contract makes it more likely to survive than many heterosexual bonds," Andrew Sullivan, the most eloquent proponent of gay marriage, wrote in his 1996 book, Virtually Normal. "There is more likely to be a greater understanding of the need for extramarital outlets between two men than between a man and a woman. … Something of the gay relationship's necessary honesty, its flexibility, and its equality could undoubtedly help strengthen and inform many heterosexual bonds."
The former moderator of the Metropolitan Community Church, a largely homosexual denomination, made the same point. "Monogamy is not a word the gay community uses," Troy Perry told The Dallas Morning News. "We talk about fidelity. That means you live in a loving, caring, honest relationship with your partner. Because we can't marry, we have people with widely varying opinions as to what that means. Some would say that committed couples could have multiple sexual partners as long as there's no deception."
A recent study from the Netherlands, where gay marriage is legal, suggests that the moderator is correct. Researchers found that even among stable homosexual partnerships, men have an average of eight partners per year outside their "monogamous" relationship.
In short, gay marriage will change marriage more than it will change gays.
Further, if we scramble our definition of marriage, it will soon embrace relationships that will involve more than two persons. Prominent advocates hope to use gay marriage as a wedge to abolish governmental support for traditional marriage altogether. Law Professor Martha Ertman of the University of Utah, for example, wants to render the distinction between traditional marriage and "polyamory" (group marriage) "morally neutral." She argues that greater openness to gay partnerships will help us establish this moral neutrality (Her main article on this topic, in the Winter 2001 Harvard Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Law Review, is not available online, but she made a similar case in the Spring/Summer 2001 Duke Journal Of Gender Law & Policy). University of Michigan law professor David Chambers wrote in a widely cited 1996 Michigan Law Review piece that he expects gay marriage will lead government to be "more receptive to [marital] units of three or more" (1996 Michigan Law Review).
2. Gay marriage would be bad for children. According to a recent article in Child Trends, "Research clearly demonstrates that family structure matters for children, and the family structure that helps the most is a family headed by two biological parents in a low-conflict marriage." While gay marriage would encourage adoption of children by homosexual couples, which may be preferable to foster care, some lesbian couples want to have children through anonymous sperm donations, which means some children will be created purposely without knowledge of one of their biological parents. Research has also shown that children raised by homosexuals were more dissatisfied with their own gender, suffer a greater rate of molestation within the family, and have homosexual experiences more often.
Gay marriage will also encourage teens who are unsure of their sexuality to embrace a lifestyle that suffers high rates of suicide, depression, HIV, drug abuse, STDs, and other pathogens. This is particularly alarming because, according to a 1991 scientific survey among 12-year-old boys, more than 25 percent feel uncertain about their sexual orientations. We have already seen that lesbianism is "chic" in certain elite social sectors.
Finally, acceptance of gay marriage will strengthen the notion that marriage is primarily about adult yearnings for intimacy and is not essentially connected to raising children. Children will be hurt by those who will too easily bail out of a marriage because it is not "fulfilling" to them.
3. Gay marriage would be bad for society. The effects we have described above will have strong repercussions on a society that is already having trouble maintaining wholesome stability in marriage and family life. If marriage and families are the foundation for a healthy society, introducing more uncertainty and instability in them will be bad for society.
In addition, we believe that gay marriage can only be imposed by activist judges, not by the democratic will of the people. The vast majority of people define marriage as the life-long union of a man and a woman. They will strongly resist redefinition. Like the 1973 judicial activism regarding abortion, the imposition of gay marriage would bring contempt for the law and our courts in the eyes of many Americans. It would exacerbate social conflict and division in our nation, a division that is already bitter and possibly dangerous.
I strive daily to uphold the laws of the land but what is going on in the Nation about Marriage, I must speak up. I am a Christian and the higer voice we should seek and listen to is that of the Bible. Let me quote the breath of God in this matter, "For this reason, a man (male) will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife (woman), and they shall become one flesh." Genesis 2:24
There was a problem with this same thing in the Bible, what does it say about Gays and Lesbians? "Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman, that is detestable." Leviticus 18:22
" Are you still so dull ? Jesus asked them Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart and these make the man unclean. For out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultry, sexual immorality, theft, false testamony, slander. These are what makes a man unclean." Matthew 15:16-20
WE find in many other New Testament books of warnings of immoral relations, we must listen to them.
131. Stop the Deportation of Charles Sisnett
This petition is for an elderly man that was released from a Florida state prison only to be held by Immigration to be deported back to his birth country. He no longer knows anyone there. All family is here in the USA.
132. Maintain Ban on Assault Weapons
Amendment 2 of the Bill of Rights of the United States of America states the following:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Assault weapons are killing machines, and have no place in a civilized world, let alone on our streets. Their sole purpose is to wreak havoc and create destruction, leaving corpses of the innocent in their wake.
133. "No" to Mississippi Education Budget Cut
Mississippi is voting to cut the education budget by $16 million. As we are number number one in illiteracy, highschool drop-outs and teen pregnancy in the country, how can the government consider trying to cut education?
The State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Henry Johnson states "In order to move Mississippi forward, education must be our first priortity. Today's children are the workforce and leaders of tomorrow."
134. Ourt rights as US citizens to choose our own communication network!
When residents moved into the community, all kinds of documents were signed (ie.e no drugs will be used in the unit, and documents, the rental office having access to the units at all times). We were not notified, nor signed documents that stated that Star Power was the only communication network that we could get in our units, due to the owner of the community's buget plan until we were in our units.
We as residents that pay market rate rent, are requesting that other options be avalible to us by law to have the right to choose, as residents of Doglas Knoll Apt. community and citizins of the United States of America.
135. AT&T & ABC Consumer Addressibility Improvement
The current state of the broadcasting industry is not immediately held liable for content and other intellectual property issues known to cause severe brain damage and mental illness. This petition would establish a plausible option for residential parties and consumers to generate inquire concerning content, thematic inference and other causes of particular conditions such as parkinson's disease, alzhimer's disease and even some forms of schizophrenia.
Regulatory issues would include:
1) Launching a full scale internet service operation for all national regions
(FCC-AT&T);
2) Introduce the Medicaid/Medicare coverage plan which would allow a co-pay option for partial internet access (SSI-SSA);
3) Create a national broadcast community in which forums and other programming are recognized by the US Congress under meritious and technical basis. (FCC-ABC)
136. End Greyhound Racing in the USA
This petition is made to help end the cruelty against greyhounds in the inhumane sport of greyhound racing.
137. End Impunity: Equal Rights for All Under the Law
In 1998, the United Nations finalized the Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court. The statute guarantees a court to deal with the most atrocious criminals on the planet: those who commit war crimes and crimes against humanity. Even recent events, such as the genocide killings in Rwanda, remind us of the importance of a standard, objective Court of Law. The International Court intends to assume jurisdiction only in countries that have ratified the treaty, and only for the most monstrous crimes. The Criminal Court is potentially the most important institution for human rights in half a century.
However, the United States of America have made it clear that they will not ratify the Rome Statute. In 2002, the United States government informed the United Nations that "the United States does not intend to become a party to the treaty." In fact, they are on a diplomatic mission to create impunity agreements for its nationals from the Criminal Court. Basically, these impunity agreements would prevent any United States national from facing the Criminal Court. It is unfair to give one nationality exemption from law which should be standard all over the world. It is neither the intention of the Court, nor the writers of this petition, to take away power or basic rights from United States citizens. Simply, the court was formed to provide equality under the law and this is impossible with the existence of impunity agreements.
December 29, 2003
The United States is Undemocratic. How can the USA tell Russia and China to be more democratic when the USA has unfair electoral practices?
This is a petition to call on the United States of America to review its electoral practices and to abolish the 'first past the post' electoral system and adopt a system of preferential proportional representation.
The United States has one of the most undemocratic electoral practices. The current president does not represent a majority of USA citizens. The United States president is not directly elected but appointed by an unrepresentative electoral college itself elected by a minority of voters. If the United States is to maintain public confidence as the voice and campion of democracy then it must review its electoral practices to ensure that its Government and Head of State establishes and maintains a majority mandate as opposed to a representation of a minority.
Democracy can only be maintained with the majority support of citizens voting to elect its representative. The current first past the post electoral system was implemented at a time when most Americans were unable to write and had a low standard of education. The time has come for it to join the 21st century and update its electoral practices to give voice to its people and citizens.
The adoption of a preferential electoral system would ensure that the electoral process properly and democratically reflect the view and opinions of its citizens.
Given the power and influence that the United States wields in the world it is fundamental that its electoral practices are reviewed so that its elected representatives reflect the voices of its citizens in a democratic and fair electoral system.
The action of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in declaring a right to homosexual marriage under its state constitution is an outrage. This act threatens marriage throughout the United States.
140. Require all public schools to teach children the truth about United States history
The United States of America was created upon the basis of a eurocentric philosophy dripping with white supremist ideals. From the very beginning, America has been the number one terrorist in the world. It has institutionalized racism as well as supported and encouraged mass genocide of entire nations of peoples.
Contrary to popular belief, the first holocaust did not take place in Germany; rather, the first holocaust took place right here in the contegious United States. Hitler can be quoted as writing that his nazi regime had much to gain from studying how the Americans exterminated whole nations of native american peoples. The nazi concentration camps were based off of American indian reservations and the extermination and mass slaughter of over 100,000,000 native individuals. Our government signed treaties with these nations of peoples and continually turned around and broke nearly every single one of them. Native children were kidnapped and sent to boarding schools where they were forced to live their lives according to the strict Protestant ethic, taught to march and punished if they uttered a word of their native language. The popular justification at that time for the destruction of these children's ties to their native culture/way of life was "kill the savage to save the man." History books teach Americans to think of Indians/Native Americans as savages, when in reality, the Americans were the savages. Scalping is commonly associated as one of the savage behaviors native american's displayed. This is inherently false. Scalping came about when the federal and state governments offered a reward for native american scalps. Americans were the scalpers, not the native americans. In some instances people would get money for a native's head, then turn around and scalp the same head to receive even more money. Only long after Americans had instituted scalping as an acceptable, profitable practice did certain tribes begin to do the same to other tribes they were in conflict with--which, by the way, the government pitted against one another in order to ensure it would continue to have the upper hand in exploiting the natives and stealing their land.
People who live in the states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Utah and parts of Colorado do not actually live in the United States; this land is in reality Mexican territory which the United States acquired without Mexico's consent after invading Mexico, leading to the war of 1812. Hence, many educated individuals refer to these areas as occupied Mexico, as they are truthfully not part of the United States. Therefore, "illegal immigrants" from Mexico who live in these areas are not illegals at all; rather, AMericans living in these areas are the illegals.
These are just a few of the endless facts regarding our country's history, and we need to stop teaching children false information in our schools. Publishers of history textbooks should be legally forced to provide the truth about our country's long history of savage, brutal, dishonest and racist behavior. In light of current global events, knowledge of the truth abut our country will help us all better understand why the rest of the world does not like or is fearful of our country. Sugar coating the harsh reality of American imperialism in history textbooks perpetuates the continued discrimination and marginalization of only breeds racism, ignorance and stupidity.
141. De-admin raenond for conduct unfitting for an admin
This hearby states raenond duiswin has used measures unfitting to an admin and has acted unlike a mod or admin and should be subject to removal.
142. Changes to the Offside Wide Rule
In Ottawa Valley Cricket season 2003 we the players have been subjected to an interpretation of the One Day Iternational (ODI) ruling regarding Wide Deliveries. Currently the ODI ruling states:
25. LAW 25 - WIDE BALL
25.1 Law 25.1 - Judging a Wide
Law 25 shall apply with the following addition to Law 25.1:
Umpires are instructed to apply very strict and consistent interpretation in regard to this Law in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket.
Any offside or legside delivery which in the opinion of the umpire does not give the batsman a reasonable opportunity to score shall be called a wide.
A penalty of one run for a wide shall be scored. This penalty shall stand in addition to any other runs which are scored or awarded. All runs, which are run or result from a wide ball, which is not a no ball, shall be scored wide balls.
OVCC in the attempt to implement the ODI rule concerning Wide Deliveries and their consistent interpretation have instructed the umpires to utilize the offside line which currently exists 24 inches from the middle stump.
It is this interpreation which contradicts the intent of the MCC Law 25 regarding Wide Balls. MCC Law 25 states:
Law 25 (Wide ball)
1. Judging a Wide
(a) If the bowler bowls a ball, not being a No ball, the umpire shall adjudge it a Wide if, according to the definition in (b) below, in his opinion the ball passes wide of the striker where he is standing and would also have passed wide of him standing in a normal guard position.
(b) The ball will be considered as passing wide of the striker unless it is sufficiently within his reach for him to be able to hit it with his bat by means of a normal cricket stroke.
The contradiction occurs because a batsmen at normal stance, ie. Middle Stump can reasonably reach a ball with his bat 24 inches out of middle stump. Considering bats are more than 24 inches long and without considering the arm length of the batsmen, a ball is easily reachable at normal stance.
It is thus that we petition OVCC in their attempt to keep a consistent interpretation of MCC Law 25 (Wide Ball) and ODI ruline 25.1 move the Offside line to 30 inches from middle stump. This will be 6 inches further to the offside from it's current postion.
This petition was created on 9/24/03 to garner support to be sent to the President of the United States and the members of Congress to formly withdraw from the United Nations, ending all funding of said organization.
144. Legalize Gay Marriage in the United States
Help us to legalize same sex marriage in the United States.
145. Tamils fighting for freedom are not terrorists
Tamils fighting for freedom are not terrorists [ Ottawa Citizen Canada ] [ 20:07 GMT, Jun. 14, 2000 ]
By: Karen Parker
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, is not a " terrorist" organization, but rather an armed force in a war against the government of Sri Lanka. Characterization of the LTTE as a "Terrorist" organization is politically motivated, having no basis in law or fact.
There is a war in Sri Lanka. The LTTE are organized militarily, with a military commander and military chain of command. The LTTE uses traditional, modern military weaponry in its combat against the military forces of the government of Sri Lanka. The LTTE uses a variety of military tactics, including open warfare, raids or guerrilla warfare. The government armed forces use similar military means against the armed forces of the LTTE. Most armies in the past 200 years have utilized essentially the same tactics. The war in Sri Lanka may be characterized as a civil war or war of national liberation in the exercise of the right to self-determination. A civil war exists if there is armed conflict inside one country between government armed forces and at least one other force having an identifiable command and having sufficient control over territory to carry out "sustained" and "concerted" military action and the practical capacity to fulfill humanitarian law obligations. The LTTE has clearly met this test for more than 10 years.
A war of national liberation exists if armed conflict exists between the armed forces of a government against the armed forces of a people that has the right to self-determination. The war in Sri Lanka is a war of national liberation because Tamil people have the right to self-determination. This is because the Tamil people, the original inhabitants of the north and east of the island of Ceylon, had their own state complete and separate from the Sinhala state prior to colonization by the British. The Tamil people, primarily Hindu, and secondarily Christian and Muslim, speak their own language and have their own traditions and customs. The Sinhala people are primarily Buddhist, and secondarily Christian and their traditions and customs reflect that heritage.
With the forced unitary rule, first as a result of colonization and then under the post-colonial Sinhala majority rule, the Tamil people were increasingly threatened. In the late 1970s, after nearly 30 years of attempted peaceful resolution to profound differences, the Tamil people began forming armed defense forces. At present, Tamil forces are consolidated in the LTTE, which continues to defend Tamil areas in a war against the Sinhala government's armed forces, "home guards" and other armed entities.
If the war in Sri Lanka is a civil war, outside states are required to be neutral- a civil war is by definition an internal affair of a state. This is known as the duty of neutrality. If the war is a war of national liberation, outside states are required to support the side with the self-determination claim- the Tamil side. This is because of the jus cogens nature of the right to self-determination. This does not mean another state must provide direct aid to the Tamil armed force. However, the other states must not engage in any activity with the Sinhala government that in any way undermines the realization of self-determination by the Tamil people.
Both parties to the armed conflict on Ceylon violate the rules of armed conflict or humanitarian law. However, the mere fact that one side or the other violates humanitarian law norms does not deny either the rights or duties of combatant forces. Accordingly, the LTTE may not be called a "terrorist" organization because in the course of the armed conflict, some of its soldiers have violated the rules of armed conflict. In the same light the government cannot be called a "terrorist " state because some of its military operations have violated armed conflict rules. Neither side, of course can be considered to violate humanitarian law for carrying out military actions.
I have noted "condemnation" of the LTTE by the government and others for carrying out military operations not prohibited in humanitarian law. For example, the LTTE shot down number of airplanes and sank a number of ships of the Sri Lankan forces. These are not violations of humanitarian law and therefore are not "terrorist".
I do note, however, the rampant disregard of humanitarian rules by government forces in military operations against hospitals, schools, market places, churches and locations with historical and cultural significance to the Tamil people. I also note the difficulty in establishing the culpable party (ies) in situations where the LTTE has been accused by the government of killing civilians. This is not to say the LTTE has not resorted to killing civilians. However, the fact that the government accuses the LTTE does not mean the LTTE actually carried out the acts in question. The government's rejection of impartial, international fact-finding makes ascertaining the truth ever more difficult.
The international Court of Justice decided that all states have an obligation under Article 1 common to the Geneva Conventions to "ensure respect" for the Geneva Conventions even when not directly or indirectly involved in a conflict. From my point of view, this requirement mandates at least that the international community insist that the government of Sri Lanka allow both humanitarian reliefs to all victims of the conflict and international, impartial fact-finding to take place
Karen Parker, a lawyer specializing in international law and humanitarian rights, has testified on the Tamil conflict before the United Nations and the U.S. Congress. She lives in San Francisco.
Pg:A19 :: Wednesday 14th, 2000
Courtesy : Ottawa Citizen
146. The return of jay tripwire to the united states
Sign this petition. Show the US immigration/customs agency that jay tripwire is an act that should be allowed to apply for a visa and work in the united states. The US govt needs proof the american people want to see jay back in the USA.
147. State of Maine's third lane law for truckers
The State of Maine the way Life should be.
This moto is changing with new laws trying to be passed by the State of Maine. It is becoming a discriminating state if they allow the law for trucks to stay right to be passed. Take a look at other states and how the left lane law has affected them. Traffic is impaired worse than Maine's. The only thing slowing us down are the toll boths.
148. Ban Rodeos in the United States
Rodeo promoters say that the animals are wild and rough, but without the use of spurs, tail-twisting, and bucking straps cinched tightly around their abdomen and groin, these frightened and often docile animals wouldn't even buck.
They are terrorized into action when men shove electric prods into them, twist their necks, yank them by their tails or legs, slam them to the ground, or otherwise batter them. The fact that most of these innocent animals are eventually destined for the slaughterhouse in no way justifies compounding their agony along the way.
This is an "entertaining, family event"? I don't think so. In steer wrestling, the so-called cowboy twists a steer's neck until it falls to the ground, more often than not, breaking the neck of the steer. The fact is, rodeos are flat-out cruel to animals. This is not a sport, this is a gathering for animal abusers.
The bulls and horses used for the "wild bucking event" are shocked numerous times with a device that will deliver 5,000 volts of electricity into the animal. No contestant in the rodeo will have it used on them, even when SHARK(www.sharkonline.org, and www.rodeocruelty.com) offered them $300 to try it out.
Many of the animals used in rodeos end up with internal bleeding, punctured lungs, broken limbs, etc.
You can learn even more about this cruelty by visiting the site that was listed above.
149. Terrorism Awareness Month
The judicial courts of Germany, Argentina and Unites States have found the Islamist regime of Iran guilty of terrorist crimes.
Terrorism Awareness Month
19-Aug to 19-Sep
Whereas terrorism is a threat to the global peace, regional security, human rights and freedom.
Whereas the judicial courts of Germany, Argentina and Unites States have found the Islamist regime of Iran guilty of terrorist crimes.
Whereas the terrorists who fire-bombed the Rex Theater on 19-Aug-1978 in Abadan Iran; had the same purpose as the terrorists who caused the World Trade Center inferno on 11-Sep-2001 in New York.
Now therefore We, the undersigned, announce the period of 19-August to 19-September as Terrorism Awareness Month .
We also urge the Heads of the world's democratic states and General Secretary of the United Nations to facilitate warrants for the arrest of the Islamic regime in Iran to be carried out.
150. MSN Female Rights
If you are a part of any MSN Communities or MSN Groups...you should know that the people in charge of the site are called "Managers". In accordance with the Equal Rights Act of 1923 in summary states;
"Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex."
Having only the option of "Manager" is violating this Act and we ask that the option of "Manageress" or an option to create your own name be established.