Uncategorized – Page 4 – The Speaker News Journal

What The World’s Capital Cities Look Like From Space, Part 3

December 13, 2015September 13, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

Seoul, South Korea from spaceSeoul, South Korea from spaceSeoul, South Korea from spaceSeoul, South Korea from spaceSeoul, South Korea from spaceSeoul, South Korea from spaceSeoul, South Korea from spaceSeoul, South Korea from spaceSeoul, South Korea from spaceSeoul, South Korea from spaceSeoul, South Korea from space

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How did you do on the cities in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe?

Now lets move southwards down Asia, and see how many of these you can guess:

Beijing, China, through polution, from spaceBeijing, China, through polution, from spaceBeijing, China, through polution, from spaceBeijing, China, through polution, from spaceBeijing, China, through polution, from spaceBeijing, China, through polution, from spaceBeijing, China, through polution, from spaceBeijing, China, through polution, from spaceBeijing, China, through polution, from space

Tokyo, Japan from spaceTokyo, Japan from space

Bangkok, Thailand from spaceBangkok, Thailand from spaceBangkok, Thailand from spaceBangkok, Thailand from spaceBangkok, Thailand from spaceBangkok, Thailand from spaceBangkok, Thailand from space

Wellington, New Zealand from spaceWellington, New Zealand from spaceWellington, New Zealand from spaceWellington, New Zealand from spaceWellington, New Zealand from spaceWellington, New Zealand from space

The cities pictured on this page are: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Beijing, China, through pollution; Seoul, South Korea; Tokyo, Japan; New Delhi, India; Vientiane, Laos; Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore; Canberra, Australia; and Wellington, New Zealand.

That’s it for now. Should we add some of the Pacific Islands, or some other world cities?

How many did you get?

Sexual Harassment In Paris Still An Enormous Problem – Letter

August 29, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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“I personally experience public intimidation on a daily basis.” – Dutch Parisienne Rachel Wegner

Warning: article contains some graphic language of a sexual nature

Paris — After some days of rain, I could not be happier than to enjoy the sunshine in my favorite park 10 minutes located from my home. As I were tanning in a bikini, I noticed an older men sat down a bit further on the field, facing me while he was continuously staring. As a Dutch woman living in Paris for an amount of time already, I slowly got more used to men staring at me. Walking down the road with me, trying to make conversation even though it is obvious I am not amused. Shouting at me for attention when I ride a bicycle and even Uber drivers use my personal details after driving me, trying to arrange a private ‘rendez-vous’.

The park is apparently the territory of local predators.

I didn’t want to let the man in the park win and adjust my behavior because he is the one who can’t behave. Still I put my clothes back on and turned my head around like I often do. It would be a waste to let such a sunny day get ruined by an old creeper. Not even ten minutes later, I discovered pervert number one wasn’t such a bad guy after all, at least compared to the new predator I got in sight. A man was standing more or less on top of a small hill, staring down at me (I am sure it was me he was looking at, because besides the old man on the other side and me, the field was empty). If the staring wasn’t enough to intimidate me, he also started to touch himself. Maybe he didn’t take his pants of, but with his hand on top of his crotch, he was basically jerking off and the entire time he didn’t let his eyes off me. Again I didn’t want to surrender and allowing a perpetrator to influence my behavior, but my comfort was more important. So I ignored what I saw and just took off.

Returning home from the park way more early than I initially planned, I realized I don’t even feel safe to go by myself to the park anymore. Because this wasn’t the first time it happened to me. Every single time I go to the park, there is at least always one man all by himself, simply staring at me until I can’t handle the uncomfortable feelings anymore and again take off. I would not be surprised if their only purpose to visit the park is to sexually intimidate young women.

But even at the center of Paris sexual harassment continues

Another example which is even worse than what is written above, was the one time on Sunday afternoon at the center of Paris. As I was waiting at an empty street for my friend to come down, all of a sudden a men appeared next to me with his pants down his legs. While he was treating himself with a hand job as he used me as the subject of his sexual pleasure. Like always, it was me who took off. Waiting down a bigger street with more people walking by informing my friend about my relocating by phone, I got grabbed from behind. The perpetrator followed me and just took the liberty of grabbing my ass. I was shocked, I was scared. But even more, I got extremely angry. I exploded. I started to yell at him in Dutch, my mind couldn’t remember any other language than my native tongue anymore caused by these emotions, until he finally ran away. Surrounding citizens did do nothing to help me. From the other side of the road he stopped and again continued to make sexual signals focused on me. Also this time it was me taking off.

Even though the law is protecting women, the reality is not!

What can I do as a young woman in Paris? I can report the (almost daily) incidents at the police station, but would it make a difference? In 2012 the French government adjusted the law regarding sexual intimidation, which defines sexual harassment way better than the unclear definition which was used before and the sanctions are set higher (up to 2 years of imprisonment and a 30.000 euro fine), where I cheer for. But how do these perpetrators finally get what they deserve? These men are all anonymous strangers, I could never recall again. And even if I did, how will we ever locate this particular predator among 2 million other citizens? The new law may be in my favor, but in reality I am still the one losing.

It is not only me suffering, every woman in Paris has to deal with sexual harassment

Study has shown that a full 100% of 600 surveyed women, from Seine-Saint-Denis and Essonne (two areas in the outer suburbs of Paris), had experienced gender based sexual harassment while taking public transport at least one time in their life’s. It almost seems that sexual harassment more or less got generally accepted as a part of the Parisian lifestyle for the local women. But it is not acceptable that I, as a young 25 year old woman, seriously consider to start wearing a burka in public transport. It is not alright, that I fear when going to the park because I already know sexual intimidation will be inevitable. I am certain most of the Parisian citizens agree with me on this. But we have to stand up for each other. Grab a pervert when you see him ‘Frotteuring’ up on a woman in the metro. We are a majority, so why didn’t we make a unit yet to scare these predators off? Because not women, but the sexual predators are the ones who deserve to experience the fear of public inconvenience!

By Rachel Wegner

Prague Pride Festival 2015 In Pictures

August 17, 2015 by Michaela Skvrnakova

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The fifth annual Prague Pride Festival took place between the 10th and 16th this month, organized by the Association Prague Pride, which has been operating since 2010. The group’s main endeavor is connecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community with the broader public, with an overall objective of promoting a more tolerant civil society.

“While the LGBT people are not being stoned to death in our country, we are still miles away from gay marriage. We enjoy relative freedom with lesser or greater degrees of bullying: at school, at work, by members of parliament, who have been for the past year ignoring the amendment to the bill on registered partnership,” was the message of Festival Executive Director Kateřina Saparová as the weekly event began.

Throughout the week you could visit the Pride Village, which was based on a local island Střelecký Ostrov, where the organizers regularly held various workshops, discussions and concerts. But not only there; such places were all over Prague. The various clubs, theaters and cultural spaces were involved also. The program was colorful and the was plenty to for festival-goers to choose from.

The festival came to an end at a brisk pace. The top of event was Saturday’s parade through the center of Prague and then the music festival at Letná. This year, Prague Pride was definitely the biggest parade. According the estimates the parade was attended by 35,000 people. The length of the parade was double that of last year’s.

At the head of the procession was Prague Mayor Adriana Krnáčová. And behind her followed decorated cars, each presenting a particular community and a particular interest in a particular group. But all under the same slogan: In our endless diversity, we all have a rainbow inside..

Photos and text by Michaela Škvrňáková

Leading Thalidomide Opponent Dies, Aged 101

August 9, 2015August 9, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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Frances Oldham Kelsey, a Canadian-born doctor and F.D.A. officer, argued tirelessly to keep the harmful drug out of the U.S.

ONTARIO, Canada – Frances Oldham Kelsey, the doctor and pharmacologist who refused to allow thalidomide into America, died on Friday.

Kelsey died at her daughter’s home in London, Ontario, where she had been inducted into the Order of Canada less than 24 hours before.

Thalidomide – then marketed as Kevadon – was popular in Europe, Canada and the Middle East, where pregnant women were taking it for morning sickness. It began to be noted that the babies of women who took the drug often had major defects, especially underdeveloped limbs.

Kelsey was born in British Columbia in 1914. She became qualified in both medicine and pharmacology at a time when very few women studied either. In 1960, she was put in charge of licensing new drugs for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Thalidomide was never approved for use in the United States largely because of the work of FDA medical reviewer Kelsey — Thalidomide was never approved for use in the United States largely because of the work of FDA medical reviewer Dr. Kelsey

When the William S. Merrell Company applied for a license for Kevadon, Kelsey insisted that they prove its safety. The company failed to do so, but tried to pressure Kelsey into letting the drug through.

Months later, a link was established between thalidomide and increasing deformities among European newborns. Babies do not have the enzymes to cope with the drug, which can enter their systems via the placenta. The number of ‘thalidomide babies’ may be in the tens of thousands for Europe alone.

Kelsey became a national heroine. Following the Kevadon case, tougher drugs regulations were adopted in America and abroad. She was given the President’s Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service by John F. Kennedy, and was later inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame. An F.D.A. award for Drug Safety Excellence, and a school in British Columbia, are both named after her.

By Robbie Carney

Mayor In Crimea Found Hanged

August 7, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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The mayor of Koktebel, Crimean Republic, was found hanged in his home Friday.

“This morning at a place of temporary residence, the mayor of Koktebel was found dead after hanging. Today, law enforcement officers will be working on the case, after which will be a procedural decision,” said an official of the public prosecutor, according to RIA Novosti.

Rostislav Stroika, 41, the head of the Koktebel settlement administration was found by his wife hanged at the Hotel Primorye, Russian news organization TASS reported today, referring to the information of the Investigative Committee of the region.

The mayor was still living when his wife pulled him from the loop of the cord, it was reported, but died before the arrival of emergency health services.

The night previous, the mayor was in good health, visiting the chief of police in the town, according to investigators.

Greater details have not been released as of yet, and the prosecutor’s office in Crimea has said that it will wait until information is mature before doing so.

Stroika was appointed to his post as mayor by a federal decree April 28, 2015.

By James Haleavy

First Brit Convicted Of Revenge Porn Sentenced Today

November 11, 2015August 6, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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Under new UK laws introduced last April, the first Brit to be convicted faces sentencing today.

The 21-year-old, who distributed intimate photos of a woman on the internet and by text without her consent, pled guilty last May, one month after the new laws were passed.

He faces a maximum sentence of two years’ in prison for the crime.

The new crime is distinguished from non-criminal posting of intimate photos by “a violation of trust between two people, with a purpose to publicly humiliate,” according to Britain’s Director of Public Prosecutions.

Before the new legislation was passed, similar crimes were brought to trial under harassment and copyright laws. The new law makes it easier to successfully bring charges against vengeful ex-partners, according to the DPP.

The new law is already being flexed in the UK, as police in the country are dealing with the largest ever volume of revenge porn cases, the DPP said.

“We live in a world where images are able to be shared instantaneously and the criminal justice system needs to keep pace with that reality,” Attorney General Jeremy Wright QC said.

“The case (of Asagba) shows that anyone maliciously and deliberately distributing intimate pictures of people without their consent can and will be brought to justice.”

By James Haleavy

Former President George W. Bush shows up for jury duty

August 5, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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US citizen and former president George W. Bush was among a group of potential jurors in a Dallas courthouse Wednesday.

“President Bush received his jury summons and reported for service this morning at the George Allen Courts Building in Dallas,” Bush spokesman Freddy Ford told CNN in a statement. “He sat through the jury selection panel for a case in Judge Eric Moye’s court on the 14th civil district but — surprise! — was not picked to serve as a juror. He was there for about three hours and posed for photos with other jury candidates, judges, and court staff.”

Surprised and excited fellow jury duty reportees posed for photos with Bush.

President Bush had jury duty today! #43 pic.twitter.com/S7AOMkNJBu

— Texas GOP (@TexasGOP) August 5, 2015

In the US, 32 million citizens are summoned every year to serve jury duty. However, for various reasons, only around 8 million of those actually report, and only 1.5 million are selected to serve, which adds up to around 27 percent of American adults having at one time served.

A large percentage of those who do not end up actually on the jury panel are people who do not receive their summons — the mail is returned as undeliverable in 4 million of the 32 million annual summonses. Another 3 million Americans fail to appear.

By James Haleavy

China Just Completed Their New Bus … It Drives Over Traffic

August 3, 2016August 3, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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This week China’s new bus took it’s first test run.

The bus has been referred to since pictures surfaced a few years ago as the “straddling bus” for it’s position above two lanes of traffic.

The bus is more technically referred to as the TEB-1 — Transit Elevated Bus.

It was test driven in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, Tuesday.

The interior space of the bus is 72 feet by 25 feet, and has a 16-foot tall ceiling. It can carry 300 passengers.

Underneath the vehicle is an open space 7 feet tall.

The test run was successful, but questions about feasibility remain.

Refurbishing Mombasa

October 21, 2015August 2, 2015 by Nicholas Okumu

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Nicholas Okumu is a teacher at a small school in Mombasa. Here he writes about the surprising rate at which public works slide into dilapidation — or destruction — in Kenya’s tourist hub.

For the past one year and a half the county government of Mombasa has gone all out to upgrade the county’s infrastructure by re-carpeting roads – even within the housing estates, tarmacking sidewalks, improving the drainage system, increasing access to piped water, etc.

The current public works projects are, of course, quite welcome considering that when I first came to Mombasa – which is Kenya’s tourist capital – I was shocked by the dilapidated infrastructure and the amount of filth and garbage choking the town. I felt at the time that Mombasa’s reputation was overrated. How quickly things change! I spoke to one resident who expressed his joy by telling me that Mombasa isn’t what it used to be; that it could now be compared to London or to any of the world’s most celebrated cities. He however called upon the authorities to see to it that the trend was maintained.

Indeed such social and beautification projects are not new to Kenya or Mombasa. Sustaining them, however, has been a bit of a challenge. Previously, roads have been paved and tarmacked, only to be left to crumble and decay to the extent that a visitor would scarcely believe that the said roads ever existed. About two years ago, some security installations were put up at the ferry crossing. Exactly four months later they had ground to a halt, been vandalized and reduced to empty shells which passers-by now use garbage dumps. The authorities’ inability to keep such minor installations in working order did not, however, dampen their spirits. They have now put up bigger security gates complete with scanners; leaving skeptics to wonder how long they will be able to maintain those.

By Nicholas Okumu

China can’t host Olympics, fails Olympic Charter, rights groups say

January 26, 2021July 23, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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With one week to go before the International Olympic Committee makes its decision, Human rights groups are raising their voices in protest over the possibility of China being awarded another Olympic Games. One hundred seventy-five such groups have joined in submitting a letter to the committee saying the IOC should refuse China’s bid on the grounds of China’s human and civil rights record.

“In order for China to be considered a worthy host of the Olympics, its Charter and Code of Ethics require that certain basic standards are honored,” Matteo Mecacci, President of the International Campaign for Tibet, told The Speaker.

“Specifically, the Olympic Code of Ethics says, ‘Safeguarding the dignity of the individual is a fundamental requirement of Olympism’ while the Charter aims to put ‘sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to encouraging the establishment of a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.'”

“To evaluate the issue of the next winter Olympic games in China we have to take a broader look at the developments in China,” Mecacci told us.

Meccaci, who has presided over the ICT since 2013, elaborated on the types of offences dealt with every day by the organization.

“ICT is very concerned about the serious human rights violations that continue to take place in Tibet through repressive political campaigns, institutional racism, and long-term policies that marginalize Tibetans economically, threaten the survival of the Tibetan identity, and cause tension and ill-will between the Chinese and Tibetans peoples. We are also concerned about the increasing repression of human rights advocates all over the country since Xi Jinping rose to power.”

Mecacci also commented on the recent mass jailing of Chinese lawyers and the death of one of China’s most notable Tibetan prisoners.

“The last 2 weeks have seen a wide-ranging attack on civil society by Chinese authorities, including the detention of more than 70 lawyers, and the death of a revered Tibetan lama, the highest profile Tibetan political prisoner whose case was raised by governments worldwide.

“There is an urgent need for the international community to push back against China’s hardline policies and violations of human rights and to send a signal of support to Chinese civil society and the Tibetan and Uyghur people.”

Mecacci expressed sentiments similar to other Tibetan rights groups that if the IOC chooses China as host again, they would in effect be condoning China’s continued human rights abuses.

“They would be supporting a government that continues to jail and intimidate responsible and moderate individuals who are trying to create a better and fairer society,” stated Mecacci.

“The Chinese people deserve to be part of international sport events, including hosting them, but it is up to the Chinese leadership to show — and to make a credible and verifiable commitment — to the International Olympics Committee and the international community that it is deserving of yet another Olympics. Sadly, the Chinese Government so far has failed to make this commitment and show concrete results. Without this, awarding China with another Olympics will not be a wise decision.”

19-year-old becomes 25-year sex offender after meeting 17-year… actually, 14-year-old internet contact

July 9, 2015 by The Speaker Editors

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19-year-old Zachery Anderson has been sentenced to jail and a 25-year record on the sex offender registry in a state where the minimum age of legal consent is 16. Anderson’s internet date, who he met on the app Hot or Not, claimed to be 17. It was not weeks after the two teens hooked up he learned her real age — 14.

The Indiana resident was sentenced to 90 days jail time in Michigan, the state where the crime was committed, addition to Michigan’s sex offender registry for 25 years, and will likely be added to the Indiana sex offender registry for life, which will require that he never live near schools, parks or other public places, and will allow police searches of his home every 90 days. Anderson’s probation also prohibits his using the internet, which he requires to study computer science, for five years.

After approving each other’s pictures on the popular app Hot or Not, the two teens communicated through messaging before meeting in person. On the app, the girl had not identified herself as age 13-17 — which age range is kept separate from users over 18 — but had identified herself as over 18, and while communicating through text messaging the girl told Anderson she was actually 17.

“I don’t want him to be a sex offender because he really is not.” – Mother of the girl

The two met when Anderson drove to Niles, Michigan, and they had sex that night.

Weeks later, Anderson learned from the girl that he was going to be in trouble and that she was actually 14. They did not communicate after the Skype call in which this information was conferred.

The girl’s parents had contacted the police to find out about her whereabouts, which led to the arrest of Anderson, who pled guilty to the charge of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

During the trial, the girl and her mother both asked that the case be dropped, and asked for leniency.

“What do I say? I feel that nothing should happen to Zach,” said the girl at a hearing. “I, I mean I, I don’t know. I just … if you feel like something should, I feel like the lowest thing possible.”

The girl’s mother added, “I don’t want him to be a sex offender because he really is not and I know that there’s an age difference and I realize that [the girl] was inappropriate that night, we didn’t know. I’m very sorry and I hope you’ll really consider the fact of just dropping the case. I can’t say anything more than that. I hope you really will for all of our families.”

“I feel that nothing should happen to Zach. I feel like the lowest thing possible.” – The girl

The judge opted not to offer leniency under the state’s Holmes Youthful Training Act, but proceeded with sentencing on the grounds of what the judge said was an inappropriate way for people to meet:

“You went online, to use a fisherman’s expression, trolling for women, to meet and have sex with,” said judge Dennis M. Wiley of Berrien County District Court. “That seems to be part of our culture now. Meet, hook up, have sex, sayonara. Totally inappropriate behavior. There is no excuse for this whatsoever.”

Critics of the ruling, however, who are also also calling for reforms in sex offender legislation, have argued that there was no evidence of “trolling for women, to meet and have sex with” on the part of Anderson, and have also objected to Wiley’s characterization of American culture.

By Cheryl Bretton

Elkhart Truth

New York Times

Mexican Day Of The Dead On Janitzio Island – Photo Document

July 14, 2017July 4, 2015 by David Cordova

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JANITZIO, Mexico — Hundreds of candles flickering, the smell of Cempasúchil flowers freshly collected and an ethereal mist fill the cemetery as Mexicans honor their deceased loved ones during the Day of the Dead on the small island of Janitzio.

The festival is one of Mexico’s most rooted traditions. It has been alive for over 4,000 years and is celebrated by millions throughout the country, attracting tourists from all over the world.

In Janitzio, in the state of Michoacan, a group of indigenous people called Purepechas exercise self rule over the island in the form of a cooperative, and each year they prepare themselves to honor their loved ones in the old-fashioned way. They receive thousands of tourists wanting to witness the folklore of the island. For the Purepecha people this represents a double-edged moral issue: On one hand the excessive flow of tourists prevents them from performing their rituals and honoring their deceased in peace, but on the other hand, tourists provide an important source of income to the local economy that cannot be ignored.

The celebration starts on October 31, when friends and family gather together to create a huge wreath of marigold flowers, fruits and sweets which will be taken to the cemetery on November 1. A feast in honor of the deceased is held in which the taste of traditional food delights the palate of those present; meanwhile, locals start preparations to receive the biggest flow of tourists the island will see all year — boats, life jackets, handcrafts, spectacles, everything must be ready for their arrival.

In the cemetery of Janitzio at 5 a.m. on the first of November, families of the deceased are carrying marigold flowers and offerings. This will be the only part of the day when they can enjoy their time with the dead in peace. A mass takes place at the cemetery and in the distance the first boatloads of tourists are slowly making their way to the island. A heavy mist can be seen from the cemetery, perhaps the announcement of the arrival of another kind of visitor — those who don’t belong to the living world.

Text and Images by David Córdova