IRAN:PRESSURES HAVE INCREASED
After the military attack of the Coalition forces on Iraq, Islamic Government of Iran is taking it harder on the opposition; a greater number of university students and writers are imprisoned and compelled to confess in contrived trials; students' gatherings are perturbed more violently and frequently; political activists are re-arrested and newspapers supervised by clergies speak of the foundation of a suicidal group with the goal of attacking Americans and Israelis, and the public media, again supervised by the same extremist clergies, broadcast news on Iraqi resistance against American forces whilst Internet sites and web logs initiated by dissident Iranian youths are carrying the whole task of public media and struggle against the conservative clergy all alone.
(Payvand's Iran News)
Domingo Soto's Personal Blog https://domsoto.blogspot.com/
Saturday, May 17, 2003
Monday, May 12, 2003
CANADA BACKS OFF POT DECRIMINALIZATION PLANS
The federal government has backed off plans to make pot possession a mere ticketing offence, the Star has learned. Instead, sources say the Liberal government will keep simple possession of marijuana on the books as a criminal offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The new plan came days after U.S. officials warned that any easing of Canada's marijuana laws could lead to a crackdown at border crossings.
(Toronto Star, unearthed by Paul Whitehurst)
The federal government has backed off plans to make pot possession a mere ticketing offence, the Star has learned. Instead, sources say the Liberal government will keep simple possession of marijuana on the books as a criminal offence under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The new plan came days after U.S. officials warned that any easing of Canada's marijuana laws could lead to a crackdown at border crossings.
(Toronto Star, unearthed by Paul Whitehurst)
Sunday, May 11, 2003
US HEADS LIST OF EXECUTIONERS
The death penalty has been used against 848 people in the United States since the Supreme Court reinstated it in 1976. Seventy-one people were executed in the United States last year alone--the third-highest number of executions in the world after China and Iran. So far this year, 28 people in this country have been killed by lethal injection or the electric chair. The United States also ranks first in the number of people on death row--more than 3,500 at present.
(The Militant)
The death penalty has been used against 848 people in the United States since the Supreme Court reinstated it in 1976. Seventy-one people were executed in the United States last year alone--the third-highest number of executions in the world after China and Iran. So far this year, 28 people in this country have been killed by lethal injection or the electric chair. The United States also ranks first in the number of people on death row--more than 3,500 at present.
(The Militant)
FREEDOM TO TRAVEL PROPOSED FOR US CITIZENS
On Wednesday, April 30, a group of senators, spearheaded by members of the new Senate Cuba Working Group, introduced the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2003, S. 950. This free-standing bill calls for an end to all restrictions on travel by U.S. citizens to Cuba. Click on the headline for a link to the story and a copy of the bill itself. Please support these senators efforts to add co-sponsors of the bill by sending letters and making phone calls to your senators. A large number of co-sponsors will help build momentum for a summer vote on a travel amendment in the Senate. Grassroots pressure can and will make a difference. An identical companion bill to end the travel ban is expected in the House of Representatives very shortly—expect to see something before May 20.
Many of the senators who introduced the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act are members of the recently-formed Senate Cuba Working Group. This group remains energized and deeply committed to working toward ending the embargo, now more than ever. Many members of the Senate Cuba Working Group condemned the arrests, trials and sentences of dissidents, along with the summary trial and execution of three hijackers. However, the senators have made it clear that they believe -- as do many working on the Cuba policy debate -- that further engagement is the best way to work for the benefit of both the Cuban and U.S. people.
YOU CAN:
Contact your senator.
Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121. Or, you may call them in their state office. Phone numbers may be found on their websites by visiting www.senate.gov. Email addresses are also available on these websites.
Sign the petition.
Or better yet, recruit people to sign the petition to President Bush on travel to Cuba found at www.cubacentral.com . There are currently over 9,500 signatures. At 10,000 signatures, the petition will be hand-delivered to the White House by a member of Congress. Also, we would like to reach 10,000 signatures before an up-coming House/Senate press conference on travel to Cuba. The media impact would be significant if a member of Congress could hold up a sheaf of pages with over 10,000 signatures asking the President to open travel to Cuba. Please sign the petition if you havent, and let others know about the website. This web site is updated regularly with developments on Cuba policy.
On Wednesday, April 30, a group of senators, spearheaded by members of the new Senate Cuba Working Group, introduced the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act of 2003, S. 950. This free-standing bill calls for an end to all restrictions on travel by U.S. citizens to Cuba. Click on the headline for a link to the story and a copy of the bill itself. Please support these senators efforts to add co-sponsors of the bill by sending letters and making phone calls to your senators. A large number of co-sponsors will help build momentum for a summer vote on a travel amendment in the Senate. Grassroots pressure can and will make a difference. An identical companion bill to end the travel ban is expected in the House of Representatives very shortly—expect to see something before May 20.
Many of the senators who introduced the Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act are members of the recently-formed Senate Cuba Working Group. This group remains energized and deeply committed to working toward ending the embargo, now more than ever. Many members of the Senate Cuba Working Group condemned the arrests, trials and sentences of dissidents, along with the summary trial and execution of three hijackers. However, the senators have made it clear that they believe -- as do many working on the Cuba policy debate -- that further engagement is the best way to work for the benefit of both the Cuban and U.S. people.
YOU CAN:
Contact your senator.
Call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202.224.3121. Or, you may call them in their state office. Phone numbers may be found on their websites by visiting www.senate.gov. Email addresses are also available on these websites.
Sign the petition.
Or better yet, recruit people to sign the petition to President Bush on travel to Cuba found at www.cubacentral.com . There are currently over 9,500 signatures. At 10,000 signatures, the petition will be hand-delivered to the White House by a member of Congress. Also, we would like to reach 10,000 signatures before an up-coming House/Senate press conference on travel to Cuba. The media impact would be significant if a member of Congress could hold up a sheaf of pages with over 10,000 signatures asking the President to open travel to Cuba. Please sign the petition if you havent, and let others know about the website. This web site is updated regularly with developments on Cuba policy.
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