Charles Taylor, the U.S.-educated guerrilla leader who fought his way to the presidency of Liberia, was convicted Thursday of crimes against humanity — including murder, rape and slavery — for his role in assisting a bloody rebel movement in neighboring Sierra Leone.
The conviction, in the U.N. Special Court for Sierra Leone, was hailed by chief prosecutor Brenda J. Hollis as a triumph for the idea that political leaders should be held accountable for their deeds in “the new reality” of an international justice system composed of a half-dozen U.N. courts headquartered in the verdant Dutch city of the Hague.
Charles Taylor, former Liberian leader, found guilty of war crimes
Radioactive Hell on Earth
Fukushima will start burning radioactive debris containing up to 100,000 becquerels of radioactive cesium per kilogram.
We have now made it more difficult to live on earth and that situation is going to get much worse. There have been severe nuclear accidents before, several very bad ones in Russia and farmers are still feeling the effects of Chernobyl. Hundreds of British sheep farmers still have to obtain a license every time they want to move sheep. Before anything moves off the farm it has to be inspected and scanned with a Geiger counter. That contamination has not gone away; it is still burning people’s and animals’ bodies and will continue to do that for a long time.
Vitamin D supplements 'could cut blood pressure as effectively as some drugs'
A new study, presented at the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) meeting in London, shows direct benefits from taking supplements for five months in winter.
The researchers found that those patients taking the vitamin D supplement of 75 mcg (correct) daily showed a significant reduction in central systolic blood pressure, blood pressure measured near the heart.
DOES THIS GIRL LOOK LIKE A TERRORIST?
Traveling from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Florida, the Frank family was yanked out of line as it boarded the plane in a dispute over how 7-year-old Dina had been screened. The little girl, who has cerebral palsy, walks with crutches and leg braces.
“They make our lives completely difficult,” said her father, Dr. Joshua Frank, a Long Island pediatrician. “She’s not a threat to national security.”
Catholic church urges pupils to sign anti-gay marriage petition
The Roman Catholic church has written to every state-funded Catholic secondary school in England and Wales asking them to encourage pupils to sign a petition against gay marriage.
Students at one south London school were shown a presentation on religious opposition to government plans to let gay couples marry in civil ceremonies. Church leaders believe the proposal would reduce the significance of marriage.
Active fault directly beneath Japan nuclear reactor
Reversing an earlier assessment, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency admitted an active and dangerous fault may be lurking directly beneath one of the two reactors of the Tsuruga nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture.
The surprising judgement by NISA, announced Tuesday night, would force Japan Atomic Power Co. to decommission the plant's reactor 2 if the fault is confirmed as active.
ALEC Says It Plans To Craft Legislation To Take Down State Renewable Energy Targets
Two leading conservative political organizations say they are stepping up coordinated efforts to repeal state-level renewable energy targets.
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) — a “stealth business lobbyist” that works with corporate interests to help them write and implement “model” legislation — says it may soon start crafting laws designed to kill or weaken state targets for renewable electricity, heating and fuels.
3rd Plant Species With Radiation Mutations Found In 3rd Michigan Location
It’s not just in dandelions but in other flowers, fruits, vegetables, and vegetation – 3rd plant species found mutated in 3rd location in Michigan.
I just finished reporting on the discovery of mutated strawberries in Michigan which are speculated to be a result of Fukushima nuclear fallout despite certain pro nuclear who have argued that such mutations would not happen this soon after the disaster.
Top ex-CIA officer on waterboarding tape destruction: ‘Just getting rid of some ugly visuals’
The retired top CIA officer who ordered the destruction of videos showing waterboarding says in a new book that he was tired of waiting for Washington’s bureaucracy to make a decision that protected American lives.
Jose Rodriguez, who oversaw the CIA’s once-secret interrogation and detention program, also lashes out at President Barack Obama’s administration for calling waterboarding torture and criticizing its use.
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