C E B O . org

Posted 1:31 PM by Mary

The New York Times has revealed that over 75 retired US military officers who have been frequent media commentators are being used as "message force multipliers" by the Pentagon to disseminate Administration talking points on the war in Iraq and the "war on terror" in an propaganda effort to manipulate US public opinion.1,2

Many have serious conflicts of interest, since they work on behalf of defense companies seeking contracts from the Pentagon running into the billions of dollars. Yet, US television networks have portrayed them as independent commentators and failed even to reveal these conflicts of interest.

While the article focuses on TV stations, newspapers including the New York Times have also cited or published op-eds from these retired officers.3 Please join us in asking the New York Times, as a follow-up to their excellent report, to do a public review of their past use of these retired officers and to fully disclose conflicts of interest when citing or publishing retired officers as military analysts in the future.

Part of suggested letter to the NYT:

In light of these findings, I urge you at the New York Times to follow-up with a public accounting, similar to your “Editor’s Note” on the coverage of Administration claims in the run-up to the Iraq war, of your own citation and publication of these retired officers and whether full disclosure of their potential conflicts of interest was made to readers. Furthermore, I urge you to adopt a strong policy requiring investigation and disclosure of such potential conflicts of interest in the future, which could help set a standard for other newspapers and media outlets.

Labels: Iraq, New York Times, Pentagon

Posted 10:02 PM by Mary

from Democracy in Action and Jewish Voices for Peace (link below)

In the Interest of Peace, Support Talks with Hamas

Former President Jimmy Carter, predictably, is being denounced for meeting with the exiled leader of Hamas in Syria.

Carter's critics are wrong. Talking to Hamas, which won the January 2006 Palestinian legislative elections, is a necessary part of creating peace. As Carter himself said, "There's no doubt in anyone's mind that, if Israel is ever going to find peace with justice concerning the relationship with their next-door neighbors, the Palestinians, that Hamas will have to be included in the process."

Please sign our petition - co-sponsored by Jewish Voice for Peace - to Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain asking them to support former President Carter and support talks with Hamas.

64 percent of Israelis have said they want their government to talk with Hamas about a cease-fire. After Hamas won the January 2006 elections, it was willing to declare a ceasefire and allow President Abbas to negotiate with Israel on behalf of all Palestinians. Indeed, the U.S. has encouraged Egypt to talk to Hamas about negotiating a cease-fire. How can it be a scandal for Jimmy Carter to talk to Hamas, but not for Egypt to talk to Hamas at U.S. direction?

If the United States truly wants a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians - as opposed to just pretending that it wants one - it must deal with Hamas.

Sign here

Labels: carter, hamas, jewish, petition

Posted 8:42 AM by Mary

The Torture President
Dan Froomkin, WashingtonPost

Anthony Lewis writes in the New York Review of Books (subscription required): "In these last weeks of turbulent events, the single most significant has not been the financial crisis, not the fall of a governor, not the passing of the fifth year of the war without end in Iraq. It has been an American president's formal blessing of the use of torture.

"That was what President Bush did in early March when he vetoed legislation prohibiting the use of brutal methods of interrogation by American intelligence agents. His action was quickly overtaken by other news. But in its redefinition of American values--of the American character--it had profound implications.

"I grew up believing that Americans did not torture prisoners, as Hitler's and Stalin's agents did. There were rogue episodes of American brutality, but to make torture a national policy? Unthinkable.

"No one should be in any doubt that torture was what President Bush had in mind. No one should be fooled by Orwellian talk of 'enhanced interrogation techniques.' . . .

"George W. Bush can seek his God's mercy for trying to legitimize torture by Americans. But here on earth he cannot escape judgment. For me he will always be the Torture President."

Labels: torture bush

Posted 10:52 AM by Mary

TELL CARGILL AND ADM TO STOP SUPPORTING CHILD LABOR ABROAD
From the International Labor Rights Forum
The House Committee on Agriculture is currently debating a provision in the Farm Bill which would provide U.S. Corporations with a voluntary process to demonstrate to consumers that their products are harvested without forced labor or the worst forms of child labor. Huge agricultural corporations like Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland are aggressively lobbying to cut this provision from the Farm Bill. This provision is a major step forward in ending forced and child labor around the world and we cannot let business lobbyists stop it! Take action to stop agriculture imports produced with child labor here:

Labels: child labor, sweatshops

Posted 3:21 PM by Mary

4 April 2008 - CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is seriously concerned about recent reports of the detention of foreign journalists in Zimbabwe, as well as threats to civil society.

"These arrests are a disturbing indication that the Zimbabwean government is trying to silence any critical voices. We appeal to the authorities to ensure the space for public comment is re-opened and the rights of both media and civil society are protected. We also urge President Mbeki, on behalf of Southern Africa, to show leadership in calling for the protection of these rights, said Kumi Naidoo, Secretary General of CIVICUS.

Yesterday evening a number of raids were carried out at various locations in Harare during which five foreign journalists were arrested. Three of the journalists have since been released. Two remain detained at the Harare Central Police Station and have been charged with practising journalism without licenses.

During the run-up to the elections, a number of civil society activists reported harassment and intimidation. Members of civil society groups including Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) and Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (RoHRZ) were reportedly beaten and arrested during peaceful rallies since January 2008.

In an earlier appeal to the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) Electoral Observer Team, CIVICUS urged observers to consider the ongoing restrictions on civil society activity in evaluating whether the Zimbabwean elections could be described as free and fair. SADC's assessments of Zimbabwe's past three elections have largely ignored human rights abuses and electoral irregularities. A preliminary report from SADC indicates this election's assessment may not defer from its previously uncritical stance.

This week, in an open letter to President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, CIVICUS also called for his leadership in ensuring the elections are fully transparent and representative of the will of the Zimbabwean people.

"As tension builds and a disaster looms in Zimbabwe, it is now time for Africa, particularly the leaders of Southern African, to take action to prevent even further tragedy for the people of Zimbabwe," emphasised Naidoo.

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For more information on CIVICUS, or contact Julie Middleton at +27 82 403 6040.

Posted 1:11 PM by Mary

In celebration of International Women's Day, UNIFEM and Avon held the Global Summit for a Better Tomorrow. The Summit counted with the participation of:

* Ms. Joanne Sandler, UNIFEM Executive Director a.i.
* Ms. Andrea Jung, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Avon Products, Inc.
* Ms. Reese Witherspoon, Avon Global Ambassador/award-winning actress
* Ms. Suze Orman, personal finance expert/renowned television host and author
* and other leading global advocates for women's empowerment

At the Summit, UNIFEM and Avon announced the launch of their new public/private Partnership for Women's Rights and Empowerment and the creation of the Avon Empowerment Fund. Avon Global Ambassador Reese Witherspoon unveiled Avon's first global fundraising product, the Women's Empowerment Bracelet, as well as the largest corporate grant ever made to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. (For more details, see the news release.)

Labels: unifem