EU Court of Justice Advocate General Finds that Western Sahara not part of EU-Morocco Trade Deal (14.09.2016)

western-sahara-14-09-2016

MEPs back trade deal with six African countries (14.09.2016)

cotonou-agreement-cover

BRUSSELS, Belgium, September 14, 2016 –The European Parliament approved an agreement granting duty-free access to the EU for products from Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Swaziland and Lesotho, and improved market access for South Africa on Wednesday.

“This agreement will help our African partner states to reduce poverty and can also facilitate their smooth and gradual integration into the world economy. There are also many safeguards in the deal to ensure that local people truly benefit from this cooperation. The language on human rights and sustainable development is one of the strongest that you will find in any EU agreement”, said rapporteur Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (ALDE, DE), before the vote.

MEPs approved the deal by 417 votes to 216, with 66 abstentions.

Free access to EU markets

The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with six member states of the South African Development Community (SADCestablishes a “positive discrimination”, ensuring immediate duty- and quota-free access for their exports to the EU market. It also creates new regional opportunities through more flexible use of rules of origin.

The African countries will liberalise 86% of their trade with the EU (Mozambique 74%) over ten years with the exception of agricultural and fishery products. The deal replaces the previous interim agreements based on unilateral trade preferences and complies with World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.

Safeguards

While the agreement covers only trade and development cooperation, it leaves the door open for services, investment, intellectual property and public procurement. To mitigate potential negative impacts on the SADC countries, several safeguards were added to the deal. The EU undertook not to subsidize its agricultural exports to these countries.

The deal also lists trade-related areas that could benefit from EU development cooperation funding, but none is pledged at this stage.

Monitoring

In a July resolution, international trade MEPs advocated strengthening the monitoring of the agreement to ensure that “its benefits for the people are maximized”. The committee also tabled an oral question to the Commission for this plenary on parliamentary oversight and civil society monitoring.

Next steps: The deal will enter into force once the Council formally approves it and the national parliaments of the six African states ratify the text.

Note to the editors: in the Cotonou Partnership Agreement of 2000, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries and the EU agreed to negotiate reciprocal, though asymmetric, trade agreements to comply with WTO rules and to support these countries’ development and integration into the world economy.

Negotiations were to be concluded by the end of 2007, but the process took longer and the EU finished negotiations with six states of the SADC Group in July 2014. Angola finally decided not to enter into the agreement, but may join in the future. 

Negotiations with six SADC states ended in 2014. The other eight (Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe) belong to other regional EPA groupings.

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe responds to Energy Transfer Partners statement Tribe vows to explore all options to stop pipeline constrution (13.09.2016)

canon-ball-pr-13-09-2016

How South Sudan’s Kiir and Machar ‘profited during war’ – BBC News (Youtube-Clip)

“The political and military elite of South Sudan have made themselves rich while the country has been impoverished by a civil war of their making, according to a report commissioned by George Clooney. An investigative unit called “The Sentry” co-funded by the actor, and activist John Prendergast, spent two years following the money trail” (BBC News, 2016)

Opinion: Clinton’s contempt for the some voter’s is nothing compared to Trump!

shoot-hillary

I cannot sit on the side-line while the Republican Party, their Presidential Candidate Donald J. Trump and his loyal cadres are dismissing the ‘basket of deplorable’ comment. That Donald Trump is now saying Hillary Clinton is showing contempt for the American citizens and voters is hilarious. It shouldn’t be because the whole scenario is messy and clearly what extent this election cycle has boiled down to.

The Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton gets slammed for this, righteously so; still she can justify her comment as there are connections to vicious groups and ideas that Donald Trump never has tried to take a stand against. Donald Trump loves praise and the men and woman who praises him is great people, while the ones criticizing him are the worst and with time there is a few. Even former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has called him a “con-man” and he is not alone. So Trump doesn’t say nice things anymore about the billionaire Bloomberg.

trump-quote-mexico

Trump has called Clinton any name you can mention. The Man has never showed any tact or humility. He has called Mexicans of people rapists. Trump wants to ban Muslims because of their faith. Build a wall to stop immigration from Mexico. Trump has claimed an Indiana judge to be Mexican therefore he couldn’t make a valid decision in his court-case. When asked about it and if an African-American judge wouldn’t judge correctly if they got a one of his court-cases.

Trump has said that John McCain wasn’t a War-Hero for being captured, because you aren’t a hero if you are captured. Trump got question by the Khan’s, the Gold-Star family who he answered with: “Mr. Khan, who does not know me, viciously attacked me from the stage of the DNC and is now all over T.V. doing the same – Nice!” So it’s nice to bark and hassle with the families that lost their sons and daughters for the safety and believing building buildings and businesses – thinking that is sacrifice comparing that to the families that sacrifices the most sacred thing they have with their own family members.

Trump has claimed that Clinton’s have killed people in 1980s and used the Clinton Foundation wrong. While he has used the mafia to build his Trump Tower and also used his own foundation to buy a Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi right before the AG of Florida wanted to join the New York AG to act upon the case against the Trump University and that fraud case. The Trump Foundation paid right before the case got cancelled by the AG. Just a coincidence in the world of Trump… While the Trump Foundation has been caught paying for private time with Tennis Player Serena Williams and Personal Painting of himself. That is something Clinton Foundation wouldn’t do, no matter how shady the business of Clinton Foundation are.

donald-trump-blood-wherever-super-169

Trump shouldn’t say that Clinton has contempt for voters and American citizens. She even apologized and said there we’re attempt of connected with deplorable ideas and people in the camp of Trump; which is true and cannot be dined. Trump hasn’t apologised, he never really apologised to Fox News Megyn Kelly who had “blood out of her wherever” when she was asking hard question at a Republican Debate. The interview after was more slick nonsense than actually manning up for the chauvinistic words from Trump.

Writing these words about his racial and unworthy words is sadly to easy, there are too much to capture. The Breitbart Steve Bannon also has a past and has now taken over for Lewandowski and Manafort. The Trump campaign will be even more Alt-Right, more despair and less hope as the making “America Great Again” hitting the ground and not really running.

The fearmongering and alternative political crass bitchiness of Trump will continue as he even more than once claimed Clinton using the “woman card” like it was Monopoly and that we’re the only card to avoid jail. The unserious and determined Trump continues to brashly attack Clinton. When he shouldn’t address her for words against his supporters; that is just ignorance. But the crowd of Trump is ignorant filled with many Racists, White-Supremacists, Birther’s movement and so on.

Trump is holding all the other ordinary voters and citizens with contempt for how he has flip-flopped and how he doesn’t release vital information while proclaiming former candidates for the same actions. That he doesn’t have the courage to release the IRS Tax Returns or even a real statement from a Doctor where things are not all positive. Trump doesn’t have it in to act real or being honest a reason why Bloomberg and his business-connections in New York is calling Trump a ‘Con-Man’.

bloomberg-trump-quote

Trump has tried to Con people before, he did it with Trump University, Trump Mortgage, Trump Institute, Trump Network and so on. So many licenced projects where he has stifled people and reasons why he has over 3000 court cases; he has in the past not paid contractors, not paid salaries and not paid fees. The business Donald Trump even got caught up in case where he was trying to licence his name on clothes to two different companies and trying to get away with it. Trump has done whatever he can to Con money, because his business savvy mind cannot be perfect when he gets bankrupt again and again in all kind of businesses: Magazines, Casino’s, Building Projects and even Stakes.

The Donald has done his deeds, but has never manned up for the all the people losing their jobs and putting their trust in his name as a business-person. All the investors and all the small-time proprietors who has had faith in the man over the decades has lost monies and he has settled paying back scraps. That is the way he has done his business and with gold letters and mahogany in his hallway.

Donald Trump has not showed tact and humility, not asked for forgiveness for his harsh words and contempt of intelligence in the American population. Trump has expected that his simplistic ways and headline whoring would overshadow the lack of honour and care for somebody else than himself. So when he today says Clinton has contempt for the American citizens and voters. I shrug my head and wonder what about his words and actions? What about Donald Trump’s constant attitude and attacks on men and woman of all kinds?

If she has contempt for the words of “basket of deplorable”; well it is not just words and words of wisdom more of attack on the campaign of fear and destruction. That is what the Trump campaign consists of, it isn’t of hope and prosperity. Trump’s campaign is fuelled of hatred and painful deconstruction of the American dream. The American Dream and the American Melting pot is turned off, the American prosperity and faith in future is dead in Trumps campaign.

Trump is acting as giant who saves them all, but certain kinds he will deport and get away since they are not American enough. The immigrants and others can be handpicked and gotten rid of. Building walls and using all tricks of the political game to gain tractions without thinking about the consequences. Trump only has main target of feeding himself and his own ego.

donald-trump-african-americans

Trump shouldn’t ask Clinton to retract her statement. Clinton should ask Trump if he could apologize to the American People for the rhetoric, the disgusting campaign of fear and destruction, the dissolution and fantasies he spread like truth. The 9/11 stories, the black-on-black crime states and the clear attacks on ‘Black Lives Matters’ as they are the vicious ones not the Police who shoots unarmed African Americans in the inner-cities.

Trump should show humility and do like Clinton. Ask for forgiveness, not that Clinton wrote a good statement, though it can be justified, because the connections to the men and woman who are clearly racists are there. Still, Trump should do the same and write long list and even kiss the ring. He has used his rhetoric and ways to tarnish his own party members and candidates in ways that is unjust not fair. The ways he has attacked Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz is not desirable anywhere.

Do I believe Trump will ask for forgiveness, hell-NO! If he did would I believe it? No! Still , should he do it? Hell-Yes, but it is not in him. He will not humiliate himself and become a ordinary man because of his sky-high ego created by the talk-shows and interviews for decades where he was allowed to be a kid in the candy-shop. Acting wild in the shop where he never met any real sanction for eating the candy and not paying, because the parents take care of that with the cashier!

pierson-reid-800x430

Trump you are in contempt of voters, of the world and of anybody else who are living in this world. Only the Infowars and Breitbart where their scattered worldview is in stark contrast with the non-Tom Cruise Aliens that exists. The vivid perspective of cautions of clarity would be rare as the comments and dirt will be even weirder in this campaign than normal. Trump will act as always and Katrina Pierson will struggle to defend her candidate on MSNBC and CNN. Fox News will continue to salute their candidate without any questions while Tomi Lahren will spread some “conservative” non-sense and believe that hawks of Texas will defend her honour. Trump will believe that Climate Change doesn’t exist even if it does when it comes to his sea-side Golf-Resort in Ireland.

Trump will not ask forgives because he is in reality the candidate in the United States Presidential Election of 2016 who has contempt for the most people. Trump has contempt for anybody who questions his values, his wealth and his ego. Trump has no faith in people like me who has no-problem to destroy his value and grace. Trump cannot stand people like me who does not feel that is really special… though he is special in the way he could Con himself into the Presidential Candidacy in the Republican Party while the establishment bashed in their own previous attempts of greatness. Trump is special in the sense he can get away with “basket of deplorable” statements all the time, while Clinton has to bury her hatched at once. Even if she has been attacked in vicious and vindictive ways from the Republican candidates and the Republican apparatus all through the Primary Season and after; this might be seen as her big gaffe, but Trump should have let this slide. Because he has done far worse and a mountain of disgraceful things about fellow Americans!

donald-trump-quote-shoot-somebody-super-169

Trump is the one that is showing the Americans, the citizens of United States content with this acts and words, his rhetoric and his campaign as he thinks his fellow Americans accept that the policies and the political framework doesn’t matter. That his opinions and his words of racists words doesn’t have effect. That his campaign that has thrown out African-Americans and also kept them out of his rallies isn’t showing the liability of the contempt for the 1st Amendment. He just care about the 2nd Amendment where he can shoot a fellow on the street and still the fellow supporters would not stop him from doing so. That proves to what extent he goes to get his place. He doesn’t care, he doesn’t and that what is worrying that so many doesn’t see the violent and xenophobic hatred that are in his camp.

Trump, you are holding the United States hostage and holding the United States in Contempt and not taking responsibility for your own actions. It is time for you to do so. Act responsible and man-up. I doubt you will do so, because you can’t and you never have because you repels people like me. I have a hard time to believe you have a conscious and can narrate a story with truths. I haven’t seen it, and never believe I will see it or hear it. You don’t have it in you. Trump you can continue to blame all the problems of the world on Clinton and Obama. Continue and say they even started the Ice-Age and we’re behind the Armenian Genocide. But you will never ever take responsibility and therefore you are showing contempt of all American citizens for the way has acted. Peace.

Opinion: MEP’s arrogance over accountability for their expenses shows the lack of integrity from Brussels!

jacques-delors-quote

It comes this day and times when giant organizations, Multi-National Organization that are having the oversight of most of the European Nations under the Umbrella of European Union, where the elected men from each nation represent the values of each nation in the European Parliament. In this perspective the European Union and the European Parliament should be more open and more transparent. This they should think about, especially in a time where the Parties and People grow tired of the arrogance of Brussels and the bureaucracy made in the Belgian capital.

So when the news coming out that the Members of the European Parliament (MEP) doesn’t have the guts or heart to put it into paperwork to show the citizens through the media their benefits for representing the Member States. MEP is lucky to be there and represent the nations of the Union. They should be giddy for the accessibility for representing people and with the low turnout to the elections the marginal rate of the population caring about their seats. They should honour that minority even more. Instead they are showing arrogance. They are showing blistering ignorance for justice and accountability. Why should all the citizens pay taxes and show their income to the states. As they can be searched for online by all citizens, but the ones representing them in the European Parliament cannot show their salaries and benefits? Seriously are you that high on the pedestal that you cannot absorb the injustice by keeping that at bay?

You MEP are a public servant if you represent the Pirate Party, UKIP or any kind of Green Party who has seats in the Parliament. All of you represent the European citizens and their member states. You are there on behest of the European People and the Member State you come from. You are not of noble blood or royal family. You are elected by the people in rigid ballot election in your home country.

ep-lobby-transparency

If the MEPs we serious about representing their citizens they would have no trouble disclosing this information as the citizens are the ones that in the end are paying their salaries through the taxes. MEPs are not above the citizens they are there on the behalf of them. Still, when they get defensive and take it court for something that should be natural for them to do!  

The MEPs has to respect the people as they are in the hands of the people. They are not there for the EU Commission or EU Parliament President; they are there for the German, Dutch, Spaniards, Portuguese, and Italian etc. The Citizens have the right to know their bills and their pay for representing them.

If the MEPs wants to be representing them than it is time to show them what they think their worth and how much the citizens of Europe has to raise to keep the upkeep of the European Parliament. The arrogance and ignorance of their duty has to stop. If they want to be taken serious and justify their role in Europe and decide to make changes in the best interest of the continent; not like now when it seem it is more a personal pride to get there and stay there than actually work for the greater good. If so can please the EU Commission just whine down the Parliament and only the Consilium or the European Council that has the Head of State from the Member States who could just make all decisions instead of the Representatives in the unaccountable and not trustworthy Parliament in Brussels; is that what the MEPs trying to do or want us to believe?

If so, good riddance we will not miss you and your accountability, as you cannot even open up about how much we facilitate for your time sitting in Belgium for all of Europe. Is that so much trouble are you so much compensated that you are worried about the backlash that you will look like a greedy Scrooge instead of a Public Servants as you are expected to be? Is the plane tickets and paid allowances together with the salaries too big to defend?

If so than you should fix that as you have the legal and opportunity to take back the high pay and allowances as you are the one behind the legal framework and representatives. That is if you have heart and not just greed to compensate with fortunes for working for the commons.

MEPs you are disgusting if you think you can eat taxpayer’s money without accountability. You are like dictators and authoritarian leaders who disrespect their commoners while you are the ruling regime on the hill and let everybody in slopes; the ones who gets the shade and rainwater has to pay for the MEPs for their luxury. MEPs are in service for the ones in slopes of the hill, even if they run everything from the top of it. They could not have the Parliament if it weren’t for citizens. MEPs should humbly beg for forgiveness and be accountable. With taking this to court you are officially a disgrace to democracy and to the people of Europe.

Members of European Parliament shouldn’t fear showing their expenses, they secretariat and whatever else they can bill on the taxpayer’s. MEPs show disrespect and doesn’t deserve the honour of being honourable when they cannot even show how much money the use. The Euros they use to facilitate their days in Brussels. MEPs shouldn’t act like Kings and Queens; they are ordinary men and woman elected to represent citizens not Lords and Royals of old!

Time to be accountable and transparent; you can’t be that than you shouldn’t represent anyone else than yourself. Peace.  

MEPs Project: Journalists oppose European Parliament in Court, reiterate their request for MEPs’ expenses to made public (12.09.2016)

mep-12-09-2016-p1mep-12-09-2016-p2mep-12-09-2016-p3

Zimbabwe: Press Statement – “Linda Masarira and continued human rights abuses” (11.09.2016)

lindasta

NERA strongly Condemns the continued Human Rights abuses by the Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF led Government. We call for the immediate release of Linda Masarira and other Activists.

The Constitution of Zimbabwe allows for Freedom of Speech without Government Reprisal. It is become increasingly evident that Robert Mugabe, Vice President Mnangagwa,Vice President Mphoko, the Attorney General and ZANU PF government have little to no respect for the rules that are supposed to govern the Country.

It is becoming very clear that Neither Robert Mugabe nor Vice President Mnangagwa, Vice President Mphoko are fit to run the country. This Government continues to demonstrate its incompetency as they escalate in their aggression against the Citizens of Zimbabwe.

On 9 September 2016, Government sanctioned Zimbabwe Republic Police to teargas peaceful protestors. On 10 September 2016, the Government sent Riot Police to Chikurubi Prison to deal with Female Prisoners mostly political Activists who sang freedom songs as they were protesting the Unfair Judiciary System and the physical and verbal abuse they are receiving from Prison guards. Now they have placed Linda Masarira in the Men Section of the Chikurubi Prison. This is illegal and a gross human rights violation.

Neither Robert Mugabe or Heir apparent Vice President Mnangagwa,have demonstrated that ZANU PF has any reformers. This Government continues to use abuse and threats as a form of dealing with opposition. This government instead of paying salaries or improving conditions in the country has purchased more police cars , more teargas, more guns in-order to continue their oppression of the Zimbabwean People.

NERA is calling upon the Government of Robert Mugabe and His Vice Presidents to show some modicum of respect for the laws and Constitution of Zimbabwe. For Thirty Six (36) years Robert Mugabe with the help of Emmerson Mnangagwa has presided over a government with one of the worst human rights records and one of the most corrupt. How can they claim to be leaders when they have failed to lead by example.

NERA hopes that for once ZANU PF will air on side of doing whats right and Release Linda Masarira a Mother of Five, whose family this Government evicted from National Railways Home. NERA hopes all other activists are released and that Robert Mugabe and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will deal and stop the Abuse of prisoners at the hands of prison guards.

NERA also hopes Robert Mugabe and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa begin to encourage a non politically motivated judiciary and fire politically tainted judges like Judge Bhunu.

NERA stands UNITED with the Citizens of Zimbabwe fighting for a free and Better Zimbabwe

Kenya: CBK 50th Anniversary Celebration (09.09.2016)

cbk-50y-09-09-2016

Opinion: President Mugabe and his Zanu-PF blaming the West again for their problems!

mugabe

Again, the mighty West is involved in internal squabbles in Zimbabwe. I am surely that the tourist from the West who goes to Zimbabwe comes with teaching of violence and comes with knowledge of the infamous book ‘From Dictatorship to Democracy’ of Gene Sharp. Because the tourists are not coming to look at the beautiful nature apparently they come to counter the draconian government of President Mugabe and his ruling party Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF).

President Mugabe plan is to counter “an elaborate Western plot to destabilise Zimbabwe via opposition-led protests and anarchy” (Zimbabwe News Day, 2016).

Dr Ignatius Chombo who is Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration told state media that President Mugabe laid the essential framework to guide Zanu-PF and the whole nation during the ruling party’s Politburo and Central Committee meetings in the Capital city Harare last week. Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration said, “As the party’s Secretary for Administration, I want to remind party members and the rest of Zimbabweans of the 10 exhortations which were made by the President during the Politburo and Central Committee (meetings) last week” (…) “These exhortations are what will guide the party accordingly as we prepare to go for the December Conference as well as position ourselves against the threats posed by the West” (…) “Firstly, there is need to Organise the party from cell, village, branch, district and provinces. We should also truly bring the people together under the banner of Zanu-PF. We should also undertake to shun factionalism, divisions, nepotism, tribalism and regionalism” (Zimbabwe News Day, 2016).

Because the West is the reason for the public demonstrations, not that the government themselves have made policies that gives the Police Force more new Anti-Riot Gear, but doesn’t pay salaries. It is the Western sanctions wrong that the Zimbabwe Government have paid the elites and their businesses, instead of paying salaries to the Army and Health Care Workers. It is the West fault that the infrastructure projects have been embezzled from. I am sure that it is the West fault that the drought came and that the rain isn’t falling steady.

But as President Mugabe is supposed to be a biblical leader he should pray and this all should be solved like snap of his fingers and with the might of his powers. With the biblical powers of President Mugabe the Western Powers shouldn’t have the ability to influence and change the outcome of the political dissidents in Zimbabwe. Still, they are the problem; not themselves?

President Mugabe and Dr. Ignatius Chombo are using the West as a scapegoat from their own misgivings and maladministration. As the Cash-Strapped and deficit is man made by the Zanu-PF who are there for the interest of themselves and not the citizens. The Citizens are tired of taken for granted and used as pawns for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to get bail-out and debt-relief as the Central Government are borrowing ever more money without getting revenue in the same levels of the expenses. Well, I guess that is the West fault as well.

So #ThisFlag #Tajamuka #NERAdemo and #NoBondNotes are the West fault. It is not internal problems as the Zimbabwe Police Force brutality and the aggressive government to silence the activists in ways of arresting and detaining them, even get them to hospital by the force used on the streets. This is the entire West fault, as they support the Police with Tear-gas and batons to hit the citizens like they are baseballs. Not the mismanaged social policies and deficiencies over time together with the tiredness of a regime who doesn’t value their citizens. It is the West who has created these demonstrations.

If the current leadership of Zanu-PF together with the President Mugabe believes the West is behind it. Than they are blind behind their wealth as fog of ignorance of the reactions that can come by continuing policies and economic stagnation without any clear indication of catering to the unemployed, educated and average citizen as they struggle with their day-to-day. While the Zanu-PF are riding luxurious cars and living in mansions or hotels while the citizens cannot take out needed funds to pay for rent. That is not the West fault, that is the economic fragmented and economic policies made by the Zanu-PF; and when the citizens of Zimbabwe cannot pay their bills even as they have money in bank shows the legitimate reason for demonstrating against their regime. This is not a problem created by the West, this a problem created by the Harare and Mugabe Administration.

It is time for the Zanu-PF to man-up and take responsibility for their actions. Instead of blaming the West; I am just waiting for the President Mugabe saying that Evan Mawarire being hired by CIA and MI6 to Coup his regime. I shouldn’t write it, the Zanu-PF minions might use this as proof. Because, the West is always the behind everything that creates problems for the Zanu-PF; not that Zanu-PF creates their own problems. Peace.

Reference:

Zimbabwe News Day – ‘Mugabe Announces the Strategy to Counter Peoples Challenge’ (11.09.2016) link: http://zimbabwenewsday.co.uk/2016/09/11/mugabe-announces-strategy-counter-peoples-challenge/