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kulttuurilehti 46 Godless Culture Magazine 46 Tammikuuu 2010 January 2010 Julkaisija: Suomen ateistiyhdistys ry Sähköposti: info@ateismi.fi ![]() Publisher: Atheist Association of Finland E-mail: info@ateismi.fi ![]() Sisällyslyettelo Contents Verkkojulkaisun vastaava toimittaja fil. maist. Erkki Hartikainen Editor of the net magazine: Erkki Hartikainen, MA Tämä on viimeksi päivitetty 31.1.2010. Last uppdate 1/31/2010. Important things: Tärkeät asiat: 14 books in Finnish 14 kirjaa suomeksi Elämänkatsomustieto Life View (in Finnish) Sanasto Sanasto Peruskoulu et1-2 et3 et4 et5 et6 et7 et8 et9 Lukio et10 et11 et12 et13 et14 Elämänkatsomustieto, kotisivu etkirjat Dictionary of Atheism Physics pages of Pekka T. Laakso Tilaa
kirjaVuosikalenteri 2010 Juhlapyhiä 2010 Nimipäivät 2010 Sisällysluettelo Contents
Yahoo again (1/31/2010) against atheitsErkki Hartikainen 1/15/2010Erkki Hartikainen 1/15/2010 The most important publication of the atheists in Finland (elämänkatsomustieto) is not in the first page of the word "elämänkatsomustieto" in yahoo.com. The agnostic sect of the Union of Freetinkers of Finland, a group in Tampere technical university, is the probable offender. Thank YouErkki Hartikainen 1/17/2010Publication is in the first page. How to help HaitiThis is from The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science:"The tragedy in Haiti has made each of us aware of just how fortunate we are and of the difficulties facing the most helpless among us. Non-believers, however we wish to call ourselves, have a special responsibility. We understand that we get one chance in life and there are no rewards for those who have suffered the most, or for those who try to help them. Disasters will always exist, but the one in Haiti gives us, as non-believers, a special responsibility to make it known we care. The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS) would like to make this possible by offering a special service.We are opening a dedicated bank account to receive disaster relief donations, not in the name of RDFRS, but in the name of ‘Non-Believers Giving Aid’. This will be associated with a special PayPal account and web page. The page will display a list of donor organizations wishing to participate (of which RDFRS will be only one). Donors who wish to do so may click on whichever one of these organizations they wish their donation to be recorded as coming through. To simplify matters, 100% of the donations (after PayPal have taken their fee) received through the Non-Believers Giving Aid will go to either Doctors without Borders (Médecins sans Frontières) or the International Red Cross (individuals can specify if they wish). Although the Haiti disaster is the spur to this action, the machinery of Non-Believers Giving Aid will stay in place ready for future emergencies of this kind." The website for donations is: http://givingaid.richarddawkins.net Atheists, humanists and free thinkers give generously to HaitiJanuary 14, Micha J. StoneAtheists, humanists and freethinkers are giving generously to help those unfortunates struck by tragedy in Haiti. While the crisis in Haiti has brought out ugliness in some, it has also demonstrated that most people, regardless of faith or lack there of, are kind, compassionate, and more than willing to help those in the midst of tragedy. Celebrity couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie announced that their foundation is donating $1 million to Doctors Without Borders, whose hospitals were leveled by Monday's earthquake. "We understand the first response is critical to serve the immediate needs of countless people who are now displaced from their homes, are suffering trauma, and most require urgent care," Pitt said in a statement. It is worthwhile to note here that Pitt and Jolie are atheists. List of atheist associations in different languages![]() http://www.federacionatea.org/index.php?id=18 Freethinkers of HaitiLibre Pensée HaïtienneErkki Hartikainen 1/23/2010There is an association which have the name Freethinkers of Haiti. This association has no English pages in Internet. http://membres.multimania.fr/lphaitienne/ One of Haiti's two official languages is French, which is the principal written, spoken in schools, and administratively authorized language. It is spoken by most educated Haitians and is used in the business sector. The second is the recently standardized Haitian Creole, which is spoken by virtually the entire population of Haiti. Haitian creole is one of the French-based creole languages, which also contains significant African influence, as well as influence from Spanish and Taíno. Haitian creole is closely related to Louisiana Creole. Spanish is also spoken by a good portion of the population, though it is not an official language. Women's rights in PolandAn affair which is of crucial importance for women’s rights in Europe will be dealt with in Katowice on February 19.The Silesian diocesan weekly Gosc Niedzielny, condemned on September 23 by a Polish Court for defamation of Alicjia Tysiac to publish excuses and to pay her a fine of Euro 10 000, is going for revision of the process. The first audience at the Court of Appeal has been scheduled for February 19. A European Committee of support for Alicjia Tysiac is inviting women’s rights activists and secularists throughout Europe and beyond to send as soon as possible letters of support (Amicus Curiae) to the Polish Court of Appeal in Katowice. It is important that the Court realizes that the eyes of Europe and of the world are put on them observing how they will deal with this matter. Gosc Niedzielny’s supporters are drowning the Court with letters. What is at stake? Alicjia Tysiac, a poor working class woman was denied an abortion she was entitled to according to Polish law. As a consequence her health (eye disease) suffered very substantial permanent deterioration. With the support of Polish feminists she decided to sue the Polish State. Her yearlong legal struggle was crowned in 2007 by a verdict of the European Court of Human Rights condemning Poland for not respecting its own laws. Alicjia received 25 000 Euros for financial compensation, which eased somehow her miserable socio-economic situation. Since then Alicjia has become the target of a restless campaign by Catholic extremists and the Polish hierarchy who condemn her for what they judge to be an “anti-Polish” attitude of a potential child murderer whom the State hindered killing her own child. They affirm that seeking personal enrichment she has sued her country for having frustrated her desire of killing her own child, etc.. Abortion is compared to the Shoah and Alicjia to concentration camp perpetrators. The diocesan weekly Gosc Niedzielny even published the names and pictures of her three children and opened its pages for a hateful debate among its readers. Exacerbating Catholic fundamentalists in Poland who consider the Polish and European justice inefficient has born lethal fruits in the past. Alicjia decided to sue Gosc Niedzielny (the editor) and their owner, the Silesian archdioceses for defamation. And she succeeded: the Court condemned the weekly to publish a formal excuse and pay a fine of Euro 10 000. For the first time in Polish history, a Polish Court condemned the Roman Catholic hierarchy to apologize to a poor woman for not respecting her decision to have an abortion in conformity with her country’s laws. Of course the hierarchy could not accept the verdict and they appealed. An appeal process needs to focus on formal matters, so the strategy of the diocesan weekly consists mainly in questioning the legitimacy for Poland of the ECHR jurisdiction which is not published in Polish but only in English and French. The young woman judge at the local Court is denigrated and accused of malinterpreting the ECHR verdict, the legal preeminence of the Concordat between Poland and the Holy See is put forward, the judgement of the local Court is considered to offend the dominant public opinion in Poland, a lack of definition of "hate speech" is invoked, the principle of subsidiarity is invoked to protect the privileges of the Catholic church in Poland from the universality of human rights, freedom of speech is put forward and the right to comment ECHR jurisdiction, etc… Monika Karbowska, French-Polish feminist, has produced a more detailed analysis of the file from a perspective of Alicjia’s lawyers. If you wish to receive the seven page long document in French, Spanish or Polish, please do not hesitate to request it. This case is emblematic for the struggle of religious fundamentalism against the separation of religion and politics. A victory of Alicjia would not only mean a step forward for women’s rights in Poland and in Europe, condemn once again the instrumentalization of the Shoah in the opposition to women's reproductive rights, but it would advance the institutionalization of secularism in Europe. Poland is a member of the Council of Europe. What is at stake here is the respect of the European mechanisms to enforce human rights. What is at stake is the struggle between a secular political Europe and a “Christian” continent. Amicus Curiae letters (letters of “friends of the Court”) should be addressed MENTIONING Gosc Niedzielny vs. Alicjia Tysiac Sad Apelacyjny Al.W.Korfantego 117/119 40-156 Katowice Poland Make sure to send an electronic copy of your letter to Elfriede Harth before February 10. It will be included in a file to be handed out to journalists at a press conference organized by the Committee of Support on February 19. Thank you in advance for your support, Elfriede Harth Pääkirjoitus EditorialErkki Hartikainen 5.1.2010Johtaako agnostisismi psykopatiaanOn tunnettua, että jumalaongelmaiset (agnostikot) ovat taipuvaisempia erilaisiin mielen häiriöihin kuin ateistit ja uskovaiset.Olen jo vuosikymmeniä ihmetellyt sitä, miksi erilaisia sekopäitä pääsee johtamaan järjestöjä, erityisesti niitä, joiden pitäisi puolustaa ateistien ihmisoikeuksia eikä liittoilla "maltillisten" uskovaisten kanssa. Ateistien kannalta pahimpia ovat mielestäni jumalaongelmaiset filosofian professorit, joita on ollut runsaasti Suomen yliopistoissakin. Telaketjuagnostisismi, jota esiintyy esimerkiksi Helsingin yliopistossa, muistuttaa minusta monilta piirteiltään psykopatiaa. Ei siis ole ihme, että psykopaatit pystyvät estämään ateistien ihmisoikeuksien toteutumisen aivan maailmanlaajuisesti. Viime vuoden lopulla mm. Richard Dawkinsin esiintyminen avoimesti ateistien tilaisuuksissa eri puolilla maailmaa sai "maltilliset" ateistit kuten maailman "sekulaarihumanistien" johtajan filosofian emeritusprofessori Paul Kurtzin moittimaan Dawkinsia. Sama kaiku on askelten myös Suomessa kuten alempaa ilmenee. Tuukka Tomperin ja Pekka Elon väärät vaihtoehdotErkki Hartikainen 11.1.2001Alempana viitatussa Tuukka Tomperin esitelmässä on täysin väärin muotoillut alkuehdot elämänkatsomustiedolle:
Sen enempää neutraalia (=puolueetonta) uskontotietoa kuin tunnustuksellisesti ateistista oppiainetta ei ole eikä edes voi olla olemassa. Erityisesti "tunnustuksellinen ateismi" viittaa vahvaan jumalaongelmaisuuteen. Ateismi ei ole mitään muuta kuin väitelause "jumalaa tai jumalia ei ole olemassa". Väitelauseet eivät ole tunnustuksellisia tai tunnustuksettomia vaan tosia tai epätosia. Myös "ateistinen oppiaine" on täysin mieletön sanayhdistelmä. Oppiaineet eivät ole ateistisia, punaisia, sinisiä tai keltaisia. Tuukka Tomperi ja Pekka Elo pitäisi lähettää kunnolliselle filosofian kurssille, mutta lähin paikka, mistä sellaisia löytyy, taitaa olla Iso-Britannia. Elämänkäsitys, elämänkatsomus ja elämänkuvaErkii Hartikainen 17.1.2010Elämänkäsitys (comprehension of the life) on yllä olevista käsitteistä ainoa tarpeellinen. Vastaavasti todellisuuskäsitys (comprehension of the reality) on parempi kuin "maailmankatsomus" tai "maailmankuva". Käsitettä "elämänkuva" suomalaiset harrastelijafilosofit eivät ole onneksi älynneet käyttää. Todellisuudentaju (sense of reality) tarkoittaa muuta kuin todellisuuskäsitys. Tietotekniikan taakkaErkki Hartikainen 26.1.2010Tietotekniikan taakasta emme pääse eroon, mutta tuhoaako se meidät vielä? Vaikka tietotekniikan turvallisuudella rahastetaan meitä koko ajan, vaarat ovat paljon suuremmat kuin kansa pystyy kuvittelemaan. Luonnontuhoja valtavammat onnettomuudet ovat mahdollisia koska tahansa. Eläkkeelle päästessäni kuvittelin, että C# oli viimeinen ohjelmoitikieli, jonka opettelin. Aikaisempia en pysty nykyisellä muistillani enää luettelemaan. Tietoturvallisuussyistä monet opettelemistani ohjelmointikielistä kytketään päältä pois, ja palvelujen tarjoajatkin uskaltavat pitää palvelimillaan vain äärimmäisen perinpohjaisesti testattuja ohjelmia, jotka eivät välttämättä toimi edes suomeksi puhumattakaan muista ääkkös- ym. ongelmista. Olen alkanut opetella php:tä, jolla voin itse käsitellä lomakkeitani. Kai tietotekniikkaa on opeteltava niin kauan kuin omat aivot jotenkin toimivat. Tietotekniikasta maksaminen ei lopu edes siihen. Jos minun pitäisi mainita yksi ainoa ala, jolla ns. liberaali talouskäsitys ei toimi, tämä ala on tietotekniikka. Se on ala, joka on syntynyt minun eläessäni, joten minun on ollut helppoa tustustua sen historiaan. Jos tietotekniikan "patenttijärjestelmää" ei olisi, ihmiskunta olisi säästänyt uskomattomia rahasummia, ja myös tulevien sukupolvien taakka olisi kevyt. Hallelujah!An afternoon talk show on the main Italian TV channel today argued about the presence or not of the crucifix in tribunals. The discussion focused on the displacement of Mr. Tosti as a judge due to his refusal to hold hearings in the presence of the Catholic symbol.Attendees included two politicians, journalists, Miss Adele Orioli of UAAR and a Catholic clergy. Besides the well-worn positions of those attending, a brand new concept of Atheism was put forward by the clergy who blatantly declared "Atheists as such should not be granted association status in this Country due to their not believing in anything". I must assume that this priest spoke as a representative of the Christian Catholic Church. My only comment is: hallelujah! E. Peneasy German Home-Schoolers Granted Political Asylum in USSpiegel onlineA family of evangelical Christians who said they were being persecuted for their religious beliefs in Germany have been granted political asylum in the US. The couple fled to Tennessee so they could home-school their five children, which is illegal in Germany. Editorial commentErkki Hartikainen 1/28/2019In Finland hime-school is not illegal. Jesus Reincarnation Index
Leo Igwe and father arrested by policeDate: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 00:11:22 -0800 (PST)At about 7.30 am this morning a team of armed police men arrested Mr Leo Igwe and his father and whisked them away to Zone 9 police AIG office in Umuahia. The police team was led by Dr Edward Uwa the university leacturer who raped a ten year old student Miss Daberechi Anongam.They were accompanied by Mr Ethelbert Ugwu a millionaire and financier of Dr Uwa. About three years ago, Dr Uwa invited Ms Daberechi Anongam to do some house chores for him and forced her to bed,covering her mouth and raped her. She sustained several injuries in her private part. Leo Igwe and his family members led an intensive campaign for justice for Ms Daberechi. After a lot of intrigues,the police now started a prosecution on the matter at Ahiazu magistrate court Imo State. Since then, Leo Igwe and his family have known no peace as several pettitions have been witten against them to intimidate them to submission and to abandon the struggle for justice. This latest one,they have been accused them of mudering an idividual who doctors provided a death certificate saying the man died of HIV and AIDS complication. Leo and his father risk being tortured or murdered in police custody for his role seeking for justice for Ms Daberechi whose parents are very poor and cannot afford two meals in a day not to talk about paying legal charges. We need to call the Police authorities in Nigeria about the risk of additional international outrage now that this fertile ground of religious bigotry and suppression of justice and human rights has already misled a citizen of ours to suicide in the name of God! The numbers to call are : AIG Ringin: +2348033225349 PPRO Umuahia: +2347030988278 Com Aloy Okoro: +2348037217361 I am monitoring the situation closely and will report back.But anyone who is able to call will be helpful to sacle up the pressure. Aluta Continua Victoria Acerta! Regards Uche Igwe Latest news - Leo Igwe and his father have been released on bailDate: Tue, 5 Jan 2010 18:12:32 +0000From: Josh Kutchinsky <jkutchinsky@gmail.com> I have heard from *Nigeria team / Africa Programme / Amnesty Internationa*l that Leo has been released. I then spoke with Uche Igwe who is not in the region but is in Nigeria 10-12 hours drive away. He has spoken to Leo. He says that Leo seemed exhausted but he believes he is in good health. They paid something between 100 and 150 dollars for the bail. Leo has a low battery on his mobile and therefore cannot be contacted for the moment. He plans to email as soon as he can. I confirmed with Uche that the charge facing Leo and his father is that he murdered someone from the village. This man's death had been thoroughly investigated and the death certificate written up to confirm that the man had died as a result of complications from HIV/AIDS. The police have this death certificate. The man who is alleging that Leo and his family conspired to kill this man is the person who is under investigation for the rape of a young child. Uche asked me to thank everyone for the efforts they have already made and would like us to continue to apply pressure for justice for this young girl. I told Uche that I know that people have been very concerned with the safety and security of our man in West Africa, Leo Igwe, and his family. I told him that I am sure people will also want to support Leo in trying to ensure justice for this young girl. Josh Latest NewsEarlier this evening I spoke with Leo. He confirmed much of the details that had been given by his brother Uche during the day. If I understood him properly the arrest took place earlier than had been reported something like 5.30am (6.30 UK time).Whilst it is my understanding that neither he nor his father had been physically hurt, the mental strain must have been considerable. Leo told me that at some point a policeman demanded something from Oliver Igwe, his father, and threatened to shoot him if he did not comply right away. Leo said that throughout the day he was having to judge his reactions with extreme care in the face of verbal intimidation, shouting etc. and to endeavour to keep the situation calm. The police who were questioning Leo did mention that they had had numerous telephone calls and enquiries from overseas and told him that a 'journalist' had phoned from the UK a number of times. The allegations made against the Igwe family which includes Leo, his father, Uche and two other brothers stem from Dr Edward Uwa who Miss Daberechi Anongam has said raped her when she was 10 years old. The Igwe family have, with others, been trying to get justice for Miss Anongam and her family. Various tactics such as the one employed today have been used to try and intimidate Leo, his family and others from trying to pursue justice in this case. Whilst we have reported that Leo and his father have been released (leo said at around 4pm (5pm UK time) this afternoon on bail, this was as I understand it money required by those at the police station to grant a release from custody and the sum required was negotiated down from 700 or 800 dollars to a sum, which though still considerable was one that someone was able to provide being 100 to 150 dollars. Leo said that he was required to return to the police station next Monday to, I think he said, answer more questions. The allegations of course without any foundation and it would be difficult to understand how the police could not know this. Apart from the fact that the death had been recorded in a death certificate as being due to complications further to HIV/AIDS dates at which Dr Uwa claimed that specifically Leo and Uche were involved in some way with this man's death were times when Leo was, I think he said on the other side of the country, or even maybe out of the country and Uche was in Glasgow UK ! Leo is calm but still passionate in his determination to ensure justice for the young girl and also for his family and friends who have been subjected to a series of intimidatory actions by Dr Uwa or his associate(s) over a considerable period of time. Leo said that he would try and email and write about his experiences as soon as he can. I know that several responded in one way or another to the call for assistance. Other means of networking also came into play. I know that Leo and his family are very grateful for all that everyone did today. I am pleased to say that Amnesty International have shown an interest and I am sure you will all agree that we will need to maintain our vigilance until after Leo has seen the police again and these phoney allegations have been dismissed and he has been allowed to return home. Best wishes to all, Josh MY ARREST: A ROUGH ROAD TO JUSTICE FOR A GIRL CHILD, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NIGERIAOn Tuesday January 5, at about 7.00am some police officers and soldiers led by two crime merchants in my community, Edward Uwah and Ethelbert Ugwu stormed my family compound in Mbaise in Imo state in Southern Nigeria.They arrested me and my aging father. We were detained briefly at the local police station in Ahiazu before we were transfered to the zonal police headquarters in Umuahia. The officers threatened to beat us when we asked them to allow us to clean up and change our clothes. One of the soldiers brought out his gun and threatened to shoot my father when he wanted to make phone calls to alert other family members of our arrest. The police held us throughout the day without giving us food and water. At the zonal police headquarters in Umuahia, a police officer read a petition by Ethelbert Ugwu who alleged that in September 2009 I with my father, three brothers and one Mr Gregory Iwu conspired, murdered and attempted to conceal the murder of one Mr Aloysius Chukwu who died in September last year. According to family sources, Mr Chukwu died in a local hospital after a brief illness. We made statements in response to the allegations and were later released on bail. Since 2007 I have been working to ensure that Daberechi Anomgam and her family get justice following the rape of the 10 year old girl by Edward Uwah(55), a university teacher, in 2006. Since 2007, both Edward and Ethelbert have brought several police actions and framed allegations against me and my family members; against Daberechi and her family and a few members of the community opposed to their criminal schemes. My father, who is over 77 years old and with a failing health(he is diabetic), has been detained six times at the local and zonal police stations in connection with this case. Two of my brothers have been detained three times. And on one occasion in 2008, one of them was beaten and brutalized by soldiers and mobile police officers brought by Ethelbert Ugwu. Both Ethelbert and Edward have filed three civil suits against me and my family members including Daberechi’s father at three different courts claiming damages of over 500 million naira(3.3million dollars). They have written petitions calling for my brothers to be sacked from their jobs and expelled from the college. The police officers in Ahiazu and Zone 9 in Umuahia have aided and abetted these atrocious and criminal acts by their irresponsible handling of the case and their readiness to arrest and detain any one as long as they are given some money. On a particular occasion in 2008, my father was arrested by police officers sent by Edward Uwah as he was leaving the court premises after attending a sitting of one of the civil suits also filed by Edward Uwah. I got the information about 10.00 pm the same day. I flew in from Ibadan the following day and on getting to the police station I was also detained. I never knew I was among those accused by Edward Uwa of breaking in and stealing. He alleged that we broken into his house and stole some items, and after that, scattered some juju and charms of the floor! I was released on bail. The petition ended there. Edward never produced any witnesses and the police never charged him for providing them with false information. As a result of my efforts and those of other human rights activists and groups in Nigeria and across the world, Edward Uwah is currently standing trial at a local court for indecently assaulting Daberechi. So far, the plot by Ethelbert Ugwu to undermine the prosecution has failed. Last year, he obtained through a backdoor a fiat to prosecute the case against Edward Uwah. When I was informed about this, I got a lawyer to help Daberechi’s family apply for a withdrawal of the fiat. And in November, the Director of Public Prosecution in Imo state cancelled the fiat. Unfortunately the police have refused to arrest and investigate Ethelbert Ugwu despite several petitions against him at Ahiazu and Zone 9 (Umuahia)police stations. When it comes to this case the police are part of the problem. Because most police officers do not carry out their duties with intergrity. When it comes to police arrest and investigation in Nigeria three things matter most: MONEY!MONEY!! MONEY!!!. In most cases, police officers carry out their investigation to favour whoever ‘mobilises’ them or gives them a bribe. The way you are treated at police stations is determined by how much you pay or are ready to pay the officers whether as a complainant or a suspect. And in my community like in other rural communities in Nigeria, most people are poor and cannot afford to bribe the police. Hence criminal minded individuals are having a field day with police officers and soldiers. And this nonsense must stop. Pressure must be brought to bear on police authorities in Nigeria so that they would stop all acts of harassment, intimidation, illegal detention, extortion of money from the members of my family and community including the family members of Daberechi Anomgam. Pressure must be brought on the police authorities so that they can carry out their jobs responsibly and immediately arrest, investigate and prosecute Ethelbert Ugwu, Edward Uwah and their partners in crime including the police officers and soldiers whom they have used over the years to raid my community, assault innocent citizens and obstruct justice. And I want to state that no amount of intimidation, police action, extortion, harassment, legal suits, trump-up charges, fictitious and malicious allegations, petitions against me and my family members will stop me from fighting for justice for this girl child and for humanity at large Leo Igwe, Owerri, Imo State, January 7 2010 MURDER CHARGE: INVESTIGATION DRAGS ON AND ONLeo IgweYesterday, I was at the police station in Umuahia and met with the officers handling the case of fictitious murder charge brought against me and my family members. For the third time the complainant Ethelbert Ugwu did not bring the witnesses. Instead, he turned up with a lawyer who helped him package his lies and excuses. Earlier he claimed that the witnesses couldn't report at the station because some of the suspects went and threatened them after their release! Later he said some of the suspects had bribed the witnesses. They told him to bring the witnesses by Thursday so that they could wrap up their investigation. Before leaving the station, we met with the Deputy Commissioner of Police(DC), James Ogbonna. One of the officers told me the complainant knew the DC very well. So I was not surprised when as we entered the office of the DC and I was introduced, he started harassing me. He said, "Look very soon we will charge you to court." He asked the police officers investigating the case to hurry up and charge the matter to court. I was calm and didnt utter a word because I didnt expect that stupid remark from him and obviously he spoke like one who had been settled(bribed) by the complainant. When we left the office, I went straight to the police officers handling the investigation and registered my concern and disappointment. I told them I never expected the DC to make such a pronouncement over a case that was under investigation. But the officers laughed and told me not to worry or panick, because according to them, what the DC made was a 'political statement'. A political statement indeed! Well I told them I would include the DC's statement in my report to human rights groups. But they pleaded with me not to do so. It was shocking to see how police officers trample and toy with the dignity of people; with truth, justice and fairness just because they have been paid to do so. And this is particularly the case when you present yourself as an ordinary person without any 'connections' or you dont join those 'innocent' people who come around to settle them shaking, begging and panicking in order not to be made 'guilty'. I was outrage and dumbfounded by the lack of integrity and professionalism in the way police officers go about their work. (Infact one of them told me that he would be leaving very soon to join the EFCC!!) In Nigeria, malicious petitioners work hand in hand with the police. Police officers treat them as 'customers' because they bring business. Petitions are avenues police officers use to generate income for themselves. Police officers are mobilized by petitioners before they can effect any arrests. And they turn around to extort money from their suspects in the name of bail. Corruption in the Nigeria Police will not stop, criminality in the society will not reduce, justice will remain elusive until police officers stop extorting money from complainants and suspects for arrest, bail, detention and investigation. Like in other cases of malicious petitions, the police officers and the petitioner will ensure that the investigation drags on and on. They will continue to invent different alibi to toss the suspects around and get them to continue to live in fear of either being prosecuted or being rearrested by the police. But this time around all 'the suspects' plan to take it further than this. We will work and campaign to ensure that somebody is charged-the suspects if there is any evidence of offence or the complainant for misinforming the police. Very soon we shall be asking you to help us get the police authorities in Nigeria to act. Global Prevalence of consanguinityATHEISTS: PREACHER PAT ROBERTSON "BLAMES VICTIMS" OF HORRIFIC NATURAL TRAGEDYTELEVANGELIST SAYS HAITI "CURSED," MADE "PACT WITH THE DEVIL"An Atheist public policy group tonight charged that politically influential televangelist Pat Robertson made insensitive, inaccurate and "downright foolish" remarks when he stated that Haiti was "cursed" because it made a "pact" with Satan.Robertson, a patriarch of the religious right and host of the "700 Club" television program, added that the impoverished nation has been "cursed by one thing after another' following a "pact with the devil." A devastating 7.0 earthquake has just ravaged the island country, and early estimate say that perhaps as many as 100,000 people have been killed. "Once again Pat Robertson has chosen to exploit natural events, including this latest tragedy, and 'blame the victims' so he can stump for his peculiar, authoritarian brand of Christianity," said Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists. Robertson is a cruel sadist quite apparently interested only in money power and attention -- and willing to say anything to get it. What about the religious people who were killed or are suffering from this devastating earthquake?" asked Buckner. "What about the children? Did they cut a deal with the devil?" Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists, said that Robertson has an odd penchant for bestowing prophetic and religious significance for weather and other natural occurrences. "This guy has claimed to have 'prayed' storms away, and said that hurricanes like Katrina were literally the wrath of God," said Silverman. "And this is the guy who has had full access to the White House under the two Bush presidencies, and wants to direct the course of American politics." Buckner expressed hope that people everywhere from Atheists and Humanists to religious believers, will join together to reach out to the suffering people of Haiti with emergency assistance and long-term economic aid. Secret Jesus Codes on U.S. Military WeaponsSource: ABC News, January 18, 2010ABC News revealed that Trijicon, the company that provides high-powered rifle sights to the U.S. military, inscribes the sights with coded references to biblical texts about Jesus Christ. The company inscribes the codes immediately after the model number, in the same font and type size. For example, "2COR4:6" points to Second Corinthians chapter 4, verse 6 of the New Testament, which reads, "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Another code, "JN8:12," refers to John chapter 8, verse 12, which reads, "Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Trijicon confirms that it intentionally adds biblical codes to gun sights it sells to the U.S. military, which in turn uses the guns in Iraq and Afghanistan, even though members of the U.S military are strictly prohibited from proselytizing. Michael "Mikey" Weinstein, a former Air Force officer who represents the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a group that advocates for separation of church and state in the U.S. military, says the practice violates the Constitution. "This is probably the best example of violation of the separation of church and state in this country," Weinstein said. "It's literally pushing fundamentalist Christianity at the point of a gun against the people that we're fighting ... it allows the Mujahadeen, the Taliban, al Qaeda and the insurrectionists and jihadists to claim they're being shot by Jesus rifles ..." In 2005, Trijicon won a $660 million, long-term contract to supply the scopes to the Marine Corps. Spokespeople for the Army and the Marine Corps denied knowing about the biblical markings, even though numerous discussions have appeared about them in Internet talk forums and on YouTube since 2006. Dan Culberson Boulder Heretics http://dan-culberson.com An Atheist public policy group praised plans to remove Bible citationsfrom hundreds of thousands of rifle sights sold to the U.S. military under contract following an outcry from civil liberties and state-church separation groups.A Michigan-based manufacturer, Trijicon, has announced that it will no longer imprint the citations on rifle sights used by troops in the Middle East, and distribute a special kit for removing the offensive lettering on existing rifles. Dr. Ed Buckner, President of Americana Atheists, charged that the Bible passages "conveyed a message of intolerance and religious bullying to the very people in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq we are ostensibly trying to liberate." "By eliminating these 'Christian crusader' references, we are no longer handing al Qaeda and other Islamic religious fanatics a priceless propaganda vehicle," added Buckner. Kathleen Johnson, Vice President and Military Director for American Atheists, also praised the elimination of the offending Bible citations, but wondered why this issue even came up. "The military has strict rules in place to prohibit actions that make it appear as if US Forces are proselytizing or are crusading against the Muslim faith" said Johnson. "There were apparently no controls or oversight here, as tens of thousands of these 'Christian rifle sights' were being sold at public expense and distributed in theaters of operation. Johnson called for more explicit regulations, including a written requirement that any materials purchased by the Department of Defense be "religion-free and neutral". Johnson further added a demand that senior leaders within the military ensure the imprinted bible citations are removed. "We cannot have a situation where individual commanders elect to keep the imprinted bible citations and the only way to prevent that is to make leaders accountable for compliance" said Johnson. Socialist Group in the European Parliament for Italy school crucifixesThe Lautsi v Italy ruling by the European Court of Human Rights is of the greatest importance to the advancement of secularism. It is being heavily attacked by reactionary and religious forces.These attacks have now been supported by the Socialist Group in the European Parliament! An alternative resolution from the Greens ("Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance ") and the GUE/GL ("Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left"). Please write to your local MEPs in the Socialist Group. You could most easily send them a copy of our email below and ask them to vote against the Group's resolution. Voting on the resolutions is on January 20. Please do not delay! List of the members of the goup is here Dear Officers of the Group of the European Parliament Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats I write on behalf of the ____________________ We are amazed and seriously concerned at the draft resolution that your Group has tabled on the European Court of Human Rights case Lautsi v. Italy. The Socialist and Democrat group has an honourable history of endorsing secularism and separation of religion and politics. Secularism in this sense is the only reliable guarantor of freedom of religion and belief - which of course includes atheism and non-religious beliefs. Yet in this resolution the Group allies itself with the most reactionary elements in European politics. Italy is a secular state: in its judgement the European Court quoted the Italian Constitutional Court at length and stressed that the case had not gone to that domestic court because of a legal loophole: "In its Decision No. 203 of 1989, the Constitutional Court . . . stated that the Constitution included the principle of secularism (Articles 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 19 and 20) and the confessional character of the state had been explicitly abandoned in 1985, under the Additional Protocol to the new Accord with the Holy See." "The Italian Constitutional Court in Case No. 508 of November 20, 2000 summed up its jurisprudence by stating the fundamental principles of equality of all citizens irrespective of religion (Article 3 of the Constitution) and equal freedom of all religions before the law (Article 8) entails that the attitude of the State must be marked by impartiality and equidistance, without attaching importance to the number of adherents of one religion or another (see Case no. 925/88, 440/95, 329/97) or the extent of social reactions to the violation of rights of one or the other (see Case no. 329/97). The equal protection of the conscience of every person who subscribes to a religion is independent of the religion chosen (see Case no. 440/95), which is not in contradiction with the possibility of a different regulation of the relationship between the state and different religions within the meaning of Articles 7 and 8 of the Constitution. Such a position of impartiality and equidistance reflects the principle of secularism which the Constitutional Court has drawn from the standards of the Constitution and which has the nature of a "supreme principle" (see Case nos. 203/89, 259/90, 195/93, 329/97), which characterizes the state in the sense of pluralism. Beliefs, cultures and different traditions must live together in equality and freedom (see no 440/95)." The judgement was therefore in line with domestic Italian law. Moreover, Italy adheres to the European Convention on Human Rights, which requires (Article 2 of Protocol 1) that the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religions and philosophical convictions. The court found that the Italian state, by its order that crucifixes be displayed in every state school classroom, was obviously interfering with the rights of parents to bring their children up other than as Catholics or in other forms of Christianity. The display of the crucifixes plainly suggested that the school and thereby the state endorsed Christianity. This is not a proper role for a secular state. There has been much talk of subsidiarity, not least in your resolution. But subsidiarity has no place when human rights are at stake! Otherwise we should have states claiming that (for example) limiting the human rights of Roma or other categories of citizen is a matter of subsidiarity! How is it a matter of subsidiarity that Italy can deny Mrs Lautsi her human rights? There has been much talk also of clashes of rights - again, your resolution mentions this. Presumably you have an idea of the rights of the Italian majority? But majorities have no right to remove the human rights of even one individual contrary to the law and the Convention. Otherwise we shall have majorities demanding that those accused of terrorism be subject to summary justice, from which it is a quick descent into mob rule. Your resolution ventures dangerously near suggesting that groups have human rights. Not so! Group rights are an automatic denial of the human rights of individuals within the groups - especially those who think for themselves and those in generally oppressed groups, such as women. Giving rights to religious groups is a most dangerous step - it is (for example) the demand of the Islamist states at the UN who wish to suppress free thought and criticism of religion. _________________ Your Signature Milloin kirkon lahjoitukset ylittävät miljardin?Kirkko häviää Bill Gatesille hyväntekeväisyydessäSTTMicrosoft-yhtiön perustaja Bill Gates uskoo, että malariaa vastaan voidaan saada rokote kolmen vuoden kuluessa. Gatesin mukaan taudista on mahdollista päästä isorokon tavoin eroon kokonaan. Hän sanoo läpimurron olevan lähellä. "Meillä on rokote, joka on viimeisessä koevaiheessa. Osittain tehokas rokote voisi olla saatavilla jopa kolmen vuoden kuluessa", hän arvioi Britannian yleisradioyhtiön BBC:n haastattelussa. "Täysin tehokkaan rokotteen valmistuminen vie kuitenkin 5-10 vuotta". Gates on yksi malarian vastaisen taistelun näkyvimmistä kampanjoijista. Maailman rikkaimmaksi mieheksi tituleeratun Gatesin säätiö on lahjoittanut malarian vastaiseen työhön miljardeja dollareita. Malariaan kuolee vuosittain miljoona ihmistä. Heistä suurin osa on lapsia. Gates antaa miljardeja rokotetutkimukseen Lisäys 29.1.2010STTMicrosoft-yhtiön perustaja Bill Gates haluaa tukea miljardeilla dollareilla köyhien maiden rokoteohjelmia. Gates ilmoitti perjantaina antavansa 10 miljardia dollaria (7,1 miljardia euroa) seuraavien kymmenen vuoden aikana rokotteiden kehittämiseen ja niiden jakeluun köyhimmissä maissa. Irish atheists challenge blasphemy lawAn atheist group in the Irish Republic has defied a new blasphemy law by publishing a series of anti-religious quotations on its website.Atheist Ireland says it will fight any action taken against it in court. The quotations include the words of writers such as Mark Twain and Salman Rushdie, but also Jesus Christ, the Prophet Muhammad and Pope Benedict XVI. The new law makes blasphemy a crime punishable by a fine of up to 25,000 euros (£22,000; $35,000). The government says it is needed because the republic's 1937 constitution only gives Christians legal protection of their beliefs. The new law was passed in July 2009 but came into force on 1 January. Atheist Ireland responded by publishing 25 quotes it considers anti-religious on its website. The group said its aim is to have the law repealed and to attain a secular Irish constitution. Chairman Michael Nugent said it would challenge the blasphemy law through the courts if it were charged, the London-based Guardian newspaper reported. "This new law is both silly and dangerous," he said. "It is silly because medieval religious laws have no place in a modern secular republic, where the criminal law should protect people and not ideas." Atheist Ireland says it will hold a series of public meetings around the country to launch its campaign. Danish police shoot intruder at cartoonist's homeKurt Westergaard has had a price on his head since 2006Danish police have shot and wounded a man at the home of Kurt Westergaard, whose cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad sparked an international row. Mr Westergaard scrambled into a panic room at his home in Aarhus after a man wielding an axe and a knife broke in. Danish officials said the intruder was a 28-year-old Somali, who they did not name, but said was linked to the radical Islamist al-Shabab militia. The cartoon, printed in 2005, prompted violent protests the following year. Kuukauden mietelauseIhmisillä on sellaiset jumalat kuin he ovat ansainneet.VihervinkkiTyönantajat velvoitetaa lailla käyttämään mikrotietokoneita, jotka saavat eneriansa pöydän alla olevista polkimista. Samalla enemmistö suomalaisista saa terveellistä liikuntaa.Kirkkoon liittyneitä ennätysmääräKirkkoon liittyi vuonna 2009 enemmän uusia jäseniä kuin koskaan aikaisemmin. Liittyneitä oli 12.588. Tämä on 1825 enemmän kuin vuonna 2008.Kirkosta eronneiden määrä puolestaan kääntyi jyrkkään laskuun. Eronneita oli 41.225, mikä on 10.978 vähemmän kuin edellisenä vuonna. Kirkon jäseniksi kastettiin 47.997 lasta päättyvän vuoden aikana. Tiedot käyvät ilmi Väestörekisterikeskuksen ennakkotiedoista 30.12.2009. Viralliset luvut saadaan helmikuussa. Seurakuntien läsnä olevan väestön eli Suomessa vakinaisesti asuvien kirkon jäsenten määrä oli tilastotietojen mukaan 4.268.530. Kirkkoon kuului 79,7 prosenttia suomalaisista. Vuonna 2008 kirkkoon kuului 80,6 prosenttia suomalaisista eli yhteensä 4.294.199 seurakuntien jäsentä. Kirkon jäseniksi kastettiin 49 068 lasta. Heikki Orsila tekee propagandaa kirkkoon liittymisen puolestahttp://www.eroakirkosta.fi/ Jussi K. Niemelä ateisteja vastaan
Lukijan kommentti JussistaJussi koo Niemelä voi olla ja saa olla ihan minkälainen hörhö hyvänsä. Hörhö hän itse onkin, ei sitä pidä epäillä. Mutta liikaa on että Jussi koo lähtee haukkumaan muita vapaa-ajattelijoita hörhöiksi. Ei muilla vapaa-ajattelijoilla välttämättä ole samanlaista hörhön elämää kuin Jussilla: eivät kaikki olleet päihteiden väärinkäyttäjiä, huumehörhöjä, eivätkä väkivaltaisia.nimim. 'Eräs vapaa-ajattelija' Varo narsistia!Asianajajan kokemuksia luonnehäiriöisistäMarkku Salo (Nidottu, pehmeäkantinen)€ 10.95 (Norm.hinta € 11.95) Suomessa elää kymmeniä tuhansia ihmisiä luonnevikaisen narsistin armoilla. Kiusaaja voi olla puoliso, vanhempi, naapuri, esimies tai työtoveri. Alistaminen voi tapahtua henkisesti tai fyysisesti, mutta yhtä kaikki se jättää aina uhriinsa syvät, elinikäiset arvet. Asianajaja Markku Salo on työssään kohdannut satoja luonnehäiriöisiä piinaajia, jotka ovat vuosien ajan ajaneet lähimmäisiään romahduksen partaalle. Usein ulkopuolisille moitteetonta kulissia ylläpitävät ovat kotioloissa tunnekyvyttömiä kiusaajia, jotka kohtelevat kaltoin niin lapsiaan kuin puolisoitaan. He eivät näe vikaa itsessään vaan syyttävät muita vaikeuksistaan ja pakottavat heidät noudattamaan hulluimpiakin päähänpistojaan. Heillä saattaa olla vireillä kymmenittäin riitajuttuja oikeudessa. Traumojaan muihin purkava narsisti muuttaa harvoin tapojaan. Pahimmillaan uhri alistuu täydellisesti kiusaajalleen eikä kykene enää puolustautumaan.Yli 300 oikeusjutun kokemuksella Salo opastaa tunnistamaan luonnevikaisuuden, kuvaa kiusanhenkien käyttämiä yleisimpiä keinoja, kehottaa hakemaan apua ajoissa oikeista paikoista sekä neuvoo kuinka painajaisestaan voi vapautua. Salo patistaa viranomaisia ja tuomioistuimia suojelemaan häiriöisen sijasta uhreja, ennen kaikkea riitojen kohteeksi tahtomattaan joutuvia lapsia. Asianajaja tarjoaa arkielämän toimintaohjeita ja käytännön juridisia neuvoja luonnevikaisesta narsisista selviämiseen. WSOY:n Barrikadi-sarjan 15. pamfletti Varo narsistia! on herättänyt suurta huomiota jo ennen ilmestymistään. Sen julkaiseminen yritettiin ennakkoon estää juridisilla konsteilla. Lukijan kommentti Vapaa-ajattelijain liitostaKuten oli jossain määrin nähtävissä jo liittokokouksen jälkeen, kesällä 2008,http://etkirja.pp.fi/ Jumalaton30.html#mozTocId866130 Jussi K Niemelälle on kovaa vauhtia tapahtumassa jossakin määrin kuin joillekin aiemmillekin 'yhtenäisyysmiehille'. Niemelä ei ole käyttäytynyt yhtenäisyyttä rakentavasti, mutta on hän silti onnistunut kuitenkin tyypilliseen ansaan mennä, eli lähes kaikki tahot liitossa ovat valmiita pudottamaan hänet seuraavalla kerralla. Ilmeisesti hän on onnistunut pettämään kaikki. Se onkin hämmästyttävä saavutus ja osoittaa poikkeuksellisen kehnoa tajua häneltä. Pahiten Niemelä tietysti petti Paula Vasamahan, joka järjesti Niemelälle ratkaisevaa tukea puheenjohtajavaalissa, mutta vajaa vuosi sitten kului ja Niemelä antoi Vasamalle potkut työpaikasta, ensin harjoitettuaan ajojahtia. Jussi K Niemelä oli luvannut toimia koko liiton puheenjohtajana, tasapuolisesti ja ryhmärajat ylittäen; ei yhden osapuolen johtajana. Tässä hän on onnistunut vain siinä, että hän ei ole yhden osapuolen johtaja: hänellä nimittäin ei ole sellaisia kannattajia, että häntä voisi luokitella keidenkään johtajaksi. Siis että hän oikeasti johtaisi. Voihan hän elää jossain epärealistisissa kuvitelmissa. Mutta kyllä se niin on, että Jussi K Niemelää johdetaan. Sen sijaan Niemelä on onnistunut sekoilemaan eri osapuolten välillä mitä milloinkin lipoen kai ollenkaan tajuamatta, että yhä useampi lähinnä halveksii häntä. Tuskinpa ketkään Niemelän lipomisia niin arvostavat, että häntä lähtisivät kannattamaan jatkossa kirjoittaa nimimerkki Huolestunut
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