Clearly, his words were spoken before the Muslim Brotherhood candidate was declared the winner of the Egyptian presidential elections. But, he speaks of Egypt, from Egypt and I think his words will come back to haunt us all – most of all, the Egyptians themselves!
Don’t know who Richard O’Dwyer is?
Richard O’Dwyer is a UK citizen and resident.
While in the UK, he is accused (not convicted) of breaking US laws in the UK – and is being extradited to the US for it!
Since when does the US have the right to enforce its laws on people outside its borders, who aren’t even themselves Americans?
OK, Kim Dotcom might have ideas of what this feels like – but he has a legal team to help him while this kid just created a website in his free time where people shared links.
His site itself did not host any copyrighted material – just links.
He complied with each and every takedown notice that he was linking to copyrighted material.
Yet, he is still being extradited to the US where he faces over a decade in jail?!?!?
This is all out of whack…
The petition voicing displeasure at this state of things is here.
It also fleshes out the backstory:
‘Richard O’Dwyer is the human face of the battle between the content industry and the interests of the general public. Earlier this year, in the fight against the anti-copyright bills SOPA and PIPA, the public won its first big victory. This could be our second.’
We should all pay attention.
Copyright infringement has always been – and ought to remain – a civil matter.
That we have permitted the resources of the state to be subverted for the use of Big Media, that we consider copyright infringement to be the same as theft – even though not a single person or corporation had been deprived of the use of their property – that is just unbelievably misguided.
But that people living in distant lands should be extradited and tried for their activities which, at best (if the prosecutors win their case), did not commit copyright infringement directly, but simply facilitated it…
That is too bizzare for words!
For more information on the Montreal and Toronto events, please contact chershon@bnaibrith.ca
About the movie:
‘Irish filmmaker Nicky Larkin went to Israel to make the standard “Israel is Evil” documentary, but had a change of heart once he started filming. Here’s your chance to meet Nicky in person, see his documentary and hear why he changed his mind about Israel.
“Israel is a refuge — but a refuge under siege, a refuge where rockets rain death from the skies. And as I made the effort to empathise, to look at the world through their eyes. I began a new intellectual journey. One that would not be welcome back home.
The problem began when I resolved to come back with a film that showed both sides of the coin. Actually there are many more than two. Which is why my film is called Forty Shades of Grey. But only one side was wanted back in Dublin. My peers expected me to come back with an attack on Israel. No grey areas were acceptable.’
Here is what Vlad Tepes has to say about Nicky Larkin:
‘Here’s a film maker who has chosen to walk a lonely path in Ireland’s artist community, due to his awakening to the truth behind the Arabs’ conflict with Israel, which speaks greatly of his courage and moral compass. He’s been confronted with a reality that runs counter to the one carefully prepared for him by his peers and society at large.
Nicky Larkin not only challenges himself, but his countrymen as well, by sharing this completely different Irish perspective on the conflict. It’s a perspective rarely discussed in Ireland, let alone mulled over, which speaks greatly of the vice-grip hold anti-Israel forces have on that society. Larkin’s efforts offer a ray of hope that rational and reasonable debate on the conflict is indeed possible in Ireland, lets hope that his colleagues take up the challenge.’
There will be a Q&A with the filmmaker following the screening: it promises to be a very interesting evening!
It is difficult to understand the impact of much of the news we hear if we lack the context in which to evaluate it. While I have educated myself on Islam and even early Middle Eastern history in order to better understand the cultural context which gave rise to this major world religion.
Still, this does not mean that I understand all the intricacies of the modern network of Muslim organizations. Without understanding this, how can I recognize the difference between truly moderate Muslim voices (whom we need to help be heard) and shameless fronts for Islamists?
The ‘litmus test’ I usually use is ‘Sharia’: Muslims who have attempted to escape Sharia tend to be moderate voices of reason while Muslims who support Sharia, by definition, wish to impose their religious views onto their neighbors…. This may be a good ‘rule of thumb’, but it does not help me understand the complexities of the various Muslim organizations in North America.
Here is something that might help get one started: a 10-part course about the history and activities of Muslim Brotherhood in America.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
Part 5:
Part 6:
Part 7:
Part 8:
Part 9:
Part 10:
An interesting speech:
So, when can we leave the UN?!?!?
That whole organization is corrupt to the core…
The bad new is – predictably – coming from legislators. This time, in the UK.
They are introducing a bill which would force all internet service providers (ISPs) to monitor, log and store all electronic communication. But more than just that: they would also collect data about the physical electronic equipment used in the communication, who is communicating with whom and a long list of other intrusive measures. And, yes – physical communication would be similarly monitored, copying addresses from envelopes and packages and keeping the info for the government’s reference…
But, don’t worry! Home Office Secretary Theresa May said:
“Unless you are a criminal, then you’ve nothing to worry about from this new law.”
Ooooooh, that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy…
OK, so the governments all over the world are using the fact that we are all distracted by the looming economic crisis (created by their corruption) to impose ever more intrusive surveillance on us.
And we should not worry, unless we are criminals!
Until, that is, the government decides that holding the views we hold makes us criminals…
Well, before we all get too depressed, let me get to the good news – predictably, from the world of science and technology.
While quantum cryptography has not quite delivered the desired level of security through encrypted communication that many of us had hoped it would, it seems that emerging technology based on the good old second law of thermodynamics just might give us a glimmer of hope!
‘Once again the secrecy is guaranteed by the laws of physics but instead of quantum mechanics, Kish and co say the second law of thermodynamics provides the necessary underwriting. That’s the same law that prohibits perpetual motion machines powered by heat from the environment.’
The goal of achieving securely encrypted communication is always to make sure the two parties communicating can decrypt the signal but anyone intercepting the message would lack the tools to decode it. This newly announced method sounds great and secure.
Let’s hope it becomes generally used by ‘everyone’ before surveillance laws leave us frightened and silenced!
Xanthippa's Chamberpot 