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	Taiwanese Legislature Fight "Taiwan Legislature Dissolves Into Chaos" The Associated Press Friday, January 19, 2007; 9:20 AM TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A ruling party lawmaker threw a shoe at the speaker of Taiwan's legislature on Friday and assorted colleagues pushed and shoved each other, throwing the final day of the winter legislative session into chaos. The scenes were reminiscent of past Taiwanese legislative brawls, and represented another low point in the island's sometimes stormy transition from dictatorship to democracy. Friday's trouble erupted when dozens of lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party stormed the speaker's dais to prevent voting on a proposal to change the composition of the Central Election Commission. The commission is responsible for administering elections on the island of 23 million people and is generally considered nonpartisan. Opposition Nationalists responded to the DPP's move by rushing forward to protect speaker Wang Jin-pyng, one of the Nationalists' senior members. DPP lawmaker Wang Shu-huei flung a shoe at the speaker, but it struck the face of a lawmaker next to him. Another legislator threw the shoe back at Wang Shu-huei and ripped up a DPP political placard. Earlier, a DPP lawmaker grabbed a Nationalist by the jacket collar and tried to push him down against a desk, while dozens of legislators pushed and shoved in the background. Taiwan's Legislature has a reputation for violent incidents ever since the dismantling of martial law in 1987. Friday's brawls followed a motion by the opposition _ which holds a slim majority at the 219-seat Legislature _ asking for the Central Election Commission to be selected according to the parties' electoral strength. At present, members of the commission are nominated by the government and approved by the president. The opposition called the commission's impartiality into question amid months of legal wrangling following President Chen Shui-bian's narrow victory in the 2004 presidential election. © 2007 The Associated Press http://tinyurl.com/37lvms
	challengestodemo00unit #145 CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA Challenges to democracy in Albania : hearing before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, One Hundred Fourth Congress, second session, March 14, 1996to further the country's political and economic revival Albania is a staunch United States ally and has come to play an important role in the American strategy of preventing the expansion of the Yugoslav conflict It has forged close bilateral military ties with the United States and has placed at NATO's disposal its air and port facilities. Albania has emerged as a responsible regional player and American, West European, and N.A.T.O leaders have 24-133 - 96 - 2 30 expressed respect for its constructive role. While relations with rump Yugoslavia remain frozen because of disagreeme n ts over Kosova, Tirana's relations with its other two contiguous neighbors — Macedonia and Greece — have expanded significantly.
	challengestodemo00unit #150 CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA Challenges to democracy in Albania : hearing before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, One Hundred Fourth Congress, second session, March 14, 1996 a country, when Woodrow Wilson stepped m and, supporting his principle of self-determination, demanded that Albania's integrity be maintained. He is a hero to this day in the country, and many people there bear the name "Vilson." It is often said that when you save someone's life, you are responsible for them thereafter. I believe the United States has and should continue to have a special role where Albania is concerned. This is not just because we saved Albania as a country in 1920, but because of the importance to us of peace and stability in the Balkans today,
	challengestodemo00unit #31 CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA Challenges to democracy in Albania : hearing before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, One Hundred Fourth Congress, second session, March 14, 1996 of individuals. Probably several rounds of elections will be necessary before a sta- ble system of relatively disciplined and responsible parties can emerge. Many parties overlap ideologically and in their social ap- peal, which makes it difficult to describe their stand in terms of the Western traditional left/right continuum. Moreover, Albania has witnessed a tendency toward increasing fragmentation of the larg- est parties. Parliamentary elections will be held at the end of May or the be- ginning of June. More than a dozen parties are expected to appear on the ballot. Although according to two recent polls sponsored by the U.S. International Republican Institute
	If Americans Knew http://www.ifamericansknew.org/ Mission Statement In a democracy, the ultimate responsibility for a nation's actions rests with its citizens. The top rung of government -- the entity with the ultimate power of governance -- is the asserted will of the people. Therefore, in any democracy, it is essential that its citizens be fully and accurately informed. In the United States, currently the most powerful nation on earth, it is even more essential that its citizens receive complete and undistorted information on topics of importance, so that they may wield their extraordinary power with wisdom and intelligence. Unfortunately, such information is not always forthcoming. The mission of If Americans Knew is to inform and educate the American public on issues of major significance that are unreported, underreported, or misreported in the American media. It is our belief that when Americans know the facts on a subject, they will, in the final analysis, act in accordance with morality, justice, and the best interests of their nation, and of the world. With insufficient information, or distorted information, they may do the precise opposite. It is the mission of If Americans Knew to ensure that this does not happen -- that the information on which Americans base their actions is complete, accurate, and undistorted by conscious or unconscious bias, by lies of either commission or omission, or by pressures exerted by powerful special interest groups. It is our goal to supply the information essential to those responsible for the actions of the strongest nation on earth -- the American people. Action Focus #1 Israel is the largest recipient of US. aid in the entire world. It receives more aid than that given to all the countries of sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, put together. Israel receives over $10 million dollars per day from the United States, and there is evidence that the total figure is closer to $15 million a day. Yet this information is almost never printed in American newspapers. Coverage of the Middle East in general, and of Israel in particular, virtually never reports this enormous American connection with this region. Empowered by American money, Israel is occupying land that does not belong to it, is breaking numerous international laws and conventions of which it is a signatory, and is promulgating policies of brutality that have been condemned by the United Nations, the European Union, the National Council of Churches, Amnesty International, the International Red Cross, and numerous other international bodies. This truth is also rarely reported. Through the money and weaponry provided by the United States, Israel is imposing an ethnically discriminatory nation on land that was previously multicultural. There is ethnic and religious discrimination inherent in its national identity, and a doctrine of the supremacy of one group over all others permeates its political, financial, and military policies. This also is virtually never reported. There are a variety of organizations and individuals in Israel who are protesting their government's policies, and who are working strenuously and courageously on behalf of human rights and justice. It is their intent to create a just and fair nation with equal rights for all its citizens. They are refusing to serve in the military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, and are actively trying to prevent Palestinian homes from being bulldozed. These actions are also not covered in the American media. American support of the Israeli government is against our national interest on every level: It places us at war with populations whose desperate plight we are helping to create, and who, quite correctly, place the responsibility for their sufferings on us. It makes us an accomplice to war crimes and an accessory to oppression. This also is not reported. In analyzing the American media, we are increasingly discovering a cover-up of appalling proportions. Israel is being protected, the news about Palestinians in particular and Arabs in general is being distorted, and the American public is being manipulated. We believe strongly that if Americans knew the truth about Israel and Palestine -- about the massive amount of our tax money that is being given away to Israel, and about the human costs of Israel's American-financed militarism -- they would demand an immediate re-thinking of our policies in this region. It is the goal of If Americans Knew to inform the American public accurately about this area. Most of all, it is to inform Americans about our enormous, and too often invisible, personal connection to it. Americans, through our blank check to Israel, are empowering the worst elements of Israeli society, and undermining those working for a just, peaceful, and nondiscriminatory nation. We are driving the violence in this region. We can stop it. http://www.ifamericansknew.org
	Army Reservist Compares US Citizens to Taliban & Al Qaida St Pete Beach, FL - At the last City Commission meeting before the upcoming Nov 7 election, a uniformed member of the Armed Services challenged the US Constitution's 1st Amendment Right to petition the government and compared the American Citizens exercising that right to that of the Taliban. The misguided Reservist seems unaware of his paradoxical position as the Citizens Group he refers to has been fighting both City Hall and Big Money Developers for their right to vote on redevelopment issues. After being sued by their own city for such petitioning, the Citizens Group (Citizens For Responsible Growth) won at the 2nd District Court of Appeals to have 6 of the 7 Citizen Initiatives appear on the upcoming ballot. A Yes vote win for the Citizens would have ramifications state and nationwide for Home Rule democracy and clearly be a David vs. Goliath story. For more information or to show your support, please go to www.citizensforresponsiblegrowth.com and of the Armed Services protocal regarding wearing a uniform while making political speeches.
	RALPH NADER IS IN THE RACE! (MEET THE PRESS PT 2 OF 2) RALPH WILL BE ON THE DAILY SHOW TUSEDAY MARCH 4, 2008, SPREAD THE WORD. Also, tomorrow there are primaries for the corporate Democrats and Republicans. Here's one thing we've figured out: Nader/Gonzalez are on one side of the political fence. Obama/Clinton/McCain are on the other side. So, now you have a choice.If you are feeling alienated, abused, and misused by the two corporate parties, declare your independence by joining the Nader/Gonazalez peace train.We're planning on making a bold statement this year against the corporate takeover of our democracy. ******IF YOU WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH OBAMA/CLINTON/MCCAIN, GIVE NOW TO NADER/GONZALEZ.*************** We're looking for 300 of our loyal contributors to give at least $100 each before Ralph Nader appears on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart tomorrow night at 11 p.m. EST. Remember - you can keep giving to Nader/Gonzalez until you have contributed the maximum permitted under federal law - $2,300 per person. Contribute early and contribute often. And then check out Ralph Nader and Jon Stewart tomorrow night. ONWARD The Nader Team Ralph will appear Monday 3/1/08 on the Lou Dobbs Radio Show from 3:10 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST SPREAD THE WORD,VOLUNTEER,CONTRIBUTE. LETS MAKE SURE ITS RON PAUL AND RALPH NADER IN NOVEMBER http://www.votenader.org/ this is nader on aljazeera 2/20/08 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjUcQeUNsbE In 1971, Nader founded the non-governmental organization (NGO) Public Citizen as an umbrella organization for these projects. Today, Public Citizen has over 140,000 members and scores of researchers investigating Congressional, health, environmental, economic and other issues. Their work is credited with facilitating the passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and prompting the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In the 1970's and 1980's Nader was a key leader in the anti-nuclear power movement. "By 1976, consumer advocate Ralph Nader, who later became allied with the environmental movement 'stood as the titular head of opposition to nuclear energy'"He advocates the complete elimination of nuclear energy in favor of solar, tidal, wind and geothermal, citing environmental, worker safety, migrant labor, national security, disaster preparedness, foreign policy, government accountability and democratic governance issues to bolster his position. In 1980, Nader resigned as director of Public Citizen to work on other projects, forcefully campaigning against what he believed to be the dangers of large multinational corporations. He went on to start a variety of non-profit organizations: Capitol Hill News Service Citizen Advocacy Center Citizens Utility Boards Congress Accountability Project Consumer Task Force For Automotive Issues Corporate Accountability Research Project Disability Rights Center Equal Justice Foundation Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights Georgia Legal Watch National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest Pension Rights Center PROD (truck safety) Retired Professionals Action Group The Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest 1969: Center for the Study of Responsive Law 1970s: Public Interest Research Groups 1970: Center for Auto Safety 1970: Connecticut Citizen Action Group 1971: Aviation Consumer Action Project 1972: Clean Water Action Project 1972: Center for Women's Policy Studies 1980: Multinational Monitor (magazine covering multinational corporations) 1982: Trial Lawyers for Public Justice 1982: Essential Information (encourage citizen activism and do investigative journalism) 1983: Telecommunications Research and Action Center 1983: National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest 1989: Princeton Project 55 (alumni public service) 1993: Appleseed Foundation (local change) 1994: Resource Consumption Alliance (conserve trees) 1995: Center for Insurance Research 1995: Consumer Project on Technology 1997?: Government Purchasing Project (encourage the government to purchase safe and healthy products) 1998: Center for Justice and Democracy 1998: Organization for Competitive Markets 1998: American Antitrust Institute (ensure fair competition) 1999?: Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest 1999?: Commercial Alert (protect family, community, and democracy from corporations) 2000: Congressional Accountability Project (fight corruption in Congress) 2001: Citizen Works (promote NGO cooperation, build grassroots support, and start new groups) 2001: Democracy Rising (hold rallies to educate and empower citizens)
	challengestodemo00unit #109 CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA Challenges to democracy in Albania : hearing before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, One Hundred Fourth Congress, second session, March 14, 1996 in Macedonia. I happen to believe that, after Bosnia, this is the most difficult problem to be solved in the Balkans; stability in the region will, to a large degree, depend on how this growing Albanian question is handled. Mr. Porter. Let me thank all three of our witnesses. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Smith. Thank you very much, Mr. Porter. Could each of you comment on the performance of the Albanian police? How well trained are they? How are they regarded in society at large? When they are responsible for harassing citizens, are they acting on their own or are they acting on orders from above? Have they engaged in discrimination based on ethnicity or political
	challengestodemo00unit #24 CHALLENGES TO DEMOCRACY IN ALBANIA Challenges to democracy in Albania : hearing before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, One Hundred Fourth Congress, second session, March 14, 1996 the expansion of the Yugoslav conflict. It has forged close bilateral military ties with the United States and has placed at NATO's disposal its air and port facilities. Albania has also emerged as a responsible regional player; American, West Eu- ropean, and N.A.T.O leaders have expressed respect for its construc- tive role. While relations with rump Yugoslavia remain tense be- cause of the Kosova issue, relations between Albania and its two other neighbors — Macedonia and Greece — have expanded signifi- cantly. While Albania had made impressive progress since 1992, it still faces immense difficulties. The optimism and hope
	FRY #85 The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the Stabilisation and Association Process http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/pdf/financial_assistance/cards/publications/fry_strategy_paper_en.pdf - media, encouraged financial stability, supported the economic recovery and physical reconstruction of the FRY and has helped lay the foundations for FRYs advancement in the Stabilisation and Association Process with the view of futureEuropean integration. An overview of EC funded assistance to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia can be found in Annex 3. The European Agency for Reconstruction is responsible for the management of the main CARDS assistance programmes implemented in the FRY. In Serbia, the bulk of the EC non humanitarian intervention to date has focused on the energy, agriculture -including food and fertiliser supplies, health, municipalities (towns and school for democracy) and media sector. In addition, since 1992, the humanitarian instrument of the Commission has been active in Serbia providing assistance