(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
Posts tagged news.
Sperm donor fights attempts to force him to pay child support to lesbian couple
A sperm donor is fighting an effort to force him to pay child support for a child conceived through artificial insemination by a lesbian couple.
William Marotta told The Topeka Capital-Journal newspaper he’s “a little scared about where this is going to go, primarily for financial reasons.”
When the 46-year-old donated sperm to Angela Bauer and Jennifer Schreiner in 2009, Marotta relinquished all parental rights, including financial responsibility to the child. When Bauer and Schreiner filed for state assistance in Kansas this year, the state demanded the donor’s name so it could collect child support for the now 3-year-old girl. (AP Photo/The Topeka Capital Journal, Jeff Davis)Pay close attention folks. Neither of the women is suing this man for child support. The state is. The women, having gone through a divorce and having a child between them, should have been made to go through a judgment for custody and child support that effected only the two of them. Instead, because the state doesn’t like the idea of a lesbian couple, they are attempting to involve the donor. The problem with this is that had this been a heterosexual couple who had sought a donor and artificial insemination due to infertility, the court would not go after the donor, but would have sought child support between the couple. But because lesbians are involved, now they go after the donor. Homophobic bullshit.
Reblogging for generalbriefing’s commentary, which is spot on.
Unsurprisingly, the commenters on this article did not get the memo that the lesbian couple are not the ones suing the guy. Don’t read them unless you want to hear about how the gays are ruining everything.
(via mindlesseye)
Mayan temple damaged in tourist 'apocalypse' frenzy →
Tourists flocking to Guatemala for “end of the world” parties have damaged an ancient stone temple at Tikal, the largest archeological site and urban center of the Mayan civilization.
“Sadly, many tourists climbed Temple II and caused damage,” said Osvaldo Gomez, a technical adviser at the site, which is located some 550 kilometers (340 miles) north of Guatemala City.
“We are fine with the celebration, but (the tourists) should be more aware because this is a (UNESCO) World Heritage Site,” he told local media.
Gomez did not specify what was done, although he did say it was forbidden to climb the stairs at the site and indicated that the damage was irreparable.
Temple II, which is about 38 meters (125 feet) high and faces the central Tikal plaza, is one of the site’s best known structures.
Friday marked the end of an era that lasted 5,200 years, according to the Mayan “Long Count” calendar. Some believed the date also marked the end of the world as foretold by Mayan hieroglyphs.
More than 7,000 people visited Tikal on Friday to see native Mayan priests hold a colorful ceremony and light fires as the sun emerged to mark the new era.
Critics complained that the event was really for tourists and had little to do with the Mayans. About 42 percent of Guatemala’s 14.3 million residents are native Mayans, and most live in poverty and endure discrimination.
(via ethiopienne)
Jennifer Lawrence: “Screw PETA!”
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Hunger Games star Jennifer Lawrence opens up about her gross-out, squirrel-skinning scene from Winter’s Bone, the gritty 2010 flick which earned her a Best Actress Oscar nomination. According to Lawrence, 21, that moment wasn’t faked in the slightest.
“I should say it wasn’t real, for PETA,” Lawrence told the mag. “But screw PETA.”
Needless to say, PETA didn’t take too kindly to Lawrence’s joking remark.
“When people kill animals, it is the animals who are ‘screwed,’ not PETA, and one day I hope she will try to make up for any pain she might cause any animal who did nothing but try to eke out a humble existence in nature.””
i hope she is joking about the scene being real :(
MORE GOOD NEWS TODAY!
the fetal pain, 20 week abortion ban that was without a doubt going to pass in Georgia is now dead. Ga is safe for one more year.
We gathered some tweets from students at Chardon High School, scene of a school shooting that left one dead and four injured earlier this morning.
(via cheatsheet)
Photos from the ongoing police-protester standoff in Oakland right now. All of the photos were taken by Intifada Tent, a Twitter user currently live-tweeting from Oakland.
(via breakingnews)
AUSTRALIAN PROTESTERS SAFELY TRANSFERRED TO ACV OCEAN PROTECTOR
UNCLASSIFIED
THE HON NICOLA ROXON MP
Attorney-GeneralMEDIA STATEMENT
13 January 2012
AUSTRALIAN PROTESTORS SAFELY TRANSFERRED TO ACV OCEAN PROTECTOR
The three Australian protestors on the Japanese vessel Shonan Maru No. 2 were successfully transferred to the ACV Ocean Protector this afternoon and will be brought back to Australia.
Captain Paul Watson: The crews of the Steve Irwin, Brigitte Bardot and the Bob Barker welcome this news.
The three men had boarded the Japanese vessel on Sunday. On Tuesday the Japanese Government confirmed that it would transfer the men to Australian authorities.
The transfer of the Australians was conducted using the tenders from the ACV Ocean Protector approaching the Shonan Maru No. 2. The transfer process took place with full cooperation from all parties.
The men are reported to be in good health, but all will be assessed by medical staff onboard the ACV Ocean Protector.
Attorney-General Nicola Roxon hoped the men would reflect on their actions.
Captain Paul Watson: I’m sure they will reflect upon the huge success this was for the movement to defend the whales of the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. This action focused international attention on Japan’s continued illegal whaling activities in the Southern Ocean. It also illustrated the lack of action by the Australian government to uphold its pre-election campaign promises to get tough on whaling. The action illustrated the contradiction of allowing a whaling vessel into Australian waters in violation of the 2008 Australian Federal Court ruling prohibiting Japanese whaling vessels from entering Australian territorial waters. In addition, the action deeply embarrassed the Japanese security team by having three unarmed Australian citizens board the designated security vessel for the whaling fleet. There are a great many positive results from this boarding that these men can indeed reflect upon and be proud of.
“We support peaceful protest, but dangerous action on the high seas is quite different. We strongly encourage both sides of this dispute to respect the law and act calmly.
Captain Paul Watson: Not one of my crewmembers has broken a law nor have we been charged with breaking a law over the last eight years. Pete Bethune was acting independently when he boarded theShonan Maru No. 2 in 2010 and he boarded against my advice not to do so. We are not down in the Southern Ocean protesting whaling. Sea Shepherd is not a protest organization. We are intervening against an illegal whaling operation in accordance with the principles of the United Nations World Charter for Nature. The Japanese are targeting endangered and protected whales in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary in violation of a global moratorium on commercial whaling. Sea Shepherd is simply opposing a criminal operation because the signatories to the treaties are not enforcing the regulations.
“Protestors must be aware that, in the future, such action may lead to charges in another country and possible conviction.
Captain Paul Watson: We have always been aware of the risks involved with our activities.
“This mission to collect the three Australians has also been of great expense to the Australian taxpayer.
Captain Paul Watson: These expenses could have been avoided if the Attorney General had first examined the evidence before taking the word of the Japanese that they were not inside the Australian contiguous zone. Sea Shepherd’s GPS was able to prove that the Shonan Maru No. 2 was actually boarded 16 miles off the beach. The Australian government allowed the Japanese vessel to remove the three men from Australian waters. They refused Sea Shepherd’s offer to accept the men to be transferred from the Shonan Maru No. 2to the Steve Irwin which would have cost nothing. This expense was unnecessary but the decision to do it the way it was done rests with the Attorney General. There was an additional expense caused by the refusal of the Shonan Maru No. 2 to stop its pursuit of the Steve Irwin.
“The Australian Government thanks Japan for its cooperation in the return of the Australian citizens.
Captain Paul Watson: Australia should not be thanking Japan for illegally entering into Australian waters and removing Australian citizens from Australian waters. I’m sure this is of course a diplomatic necessity.
“The Australian Government continues to condemn Japan’s decision to continue its so-called ‘scientific’ whaling in the Southern Ocean this summer and reiterates its request for whaling vessels to stay out of Australia’s territorial waters and exclusive economic zone.
Captain Paul Watson: It does not appear that they are listening. Japanese whalers behave like they can go anywhere whenever they choose. Two days after this incident, the Yushin Maru No. 3 pursued the Bob Barker4 miles off the coast of MacQuarie Island.
“I call upon those who oppose whaling to support the Australian Government’s legal action in the International Court of Justice, rather than recklessly taking the law into their own hands.
Captain Paul Watson: Sorry Ms Roxon, but the whales can’t wait years for this to be resolved. If Australia would seek an injunction, Sea Shepherd will withdraw. However, Sea Shepherd is not taking any laws into our own hands. We have not broken any laws. We are simply intervening against international environmental crimes in accordance with the United Nations World Charter for Nature. We have been doing this for eight years without a single injury inflicted or sustained. We are not being reckless. We are being responsible and we are doing something no one else is doing – saving whales. 858 last season, 525 the season before and 483 the year before that.
The ACV Ocean Protector is now returning to Albany, Western Australia, after the transfer was successfully completed. Customs and Border Protection anticipate the transit to Albany could take approximately three days, depending on weather.
Captain Paul Watson: Our supporters in Albany will certainly give them a warm welcome.
For all media enquiries, please contact the Attorney-General’s Office on 0409 945 476
Activists Burn Firework and Fur Depot.
Animal Liberation Front (ALF) activists have claimed responsibly for the destruction of the Rocky Mountain Fireworks & Fur store near Boise, Idaho.
The ALF operatives drilled a hole in the outside of the store’s storage space and poured in several gallons of fuel. When lit, the fuel ignited several other placed explosives placed and much of the store’s firework stock. Thousands of chemically treated animal pelts helped grow the blaze which caused $100,000 of damage.
Along with a full selection of fireworks, Rocky Mountain Fireworks & Fur was selling fur pelts from mink, chinchilla, rabbit, fox, and the traps and gear for fur trapping hobbyists.
There is no word yet if the store will reopen for business but the ALF says they are ready for anything. A communique from the activists warns the shop owners, “stay in business, and we’ll be back.”
Dresses Made of Cow Nipples.
Last week, British fashion designer Rachel Freire unveiled her latest designs, dresses made almost entirely of cow and yak nipples.
To make her couture cow dresses, Freire went to a leather tannery in the UK and bought 3,000 discarded nipples. She had them sent through the tanning process and worked with them like leather. Some elements of her designs, such as the metal piercings, play on masochist nipple imagery and and other parts try to hide the fact that the dresses are made entirely of tanned teats.
Freire calls the project “recycled art” but animal lovers call it exploitation. Commenting on the controversy, UK based animal rights group Viva! asked “Isn’t the way we treat farmed animals bad enough without turning their dead bodies into a runway freak show?”
The designer doesn’t seem to mind the controversy, it helps her get exposure and she genuinely seems to like her designs. Freire told the press, “I love all 3,000 of my nipples.”
Ugh.
This is different than leather….how? both are gross
via @newyorkist
I remember reading someone blog or tweet “The NYT is sure to change their coverage of the protest now that their own reporters are getting arrested”
case.in.point
(via georgeanne)
OCCUPY THE PLANET!!!
My brothers and sisters! If there is any part of you that feels corruption and suffering is what runs the world then please watch this video and reblog! Then unite with us who seek freedom! Even if you can’t participate in the fight yet, at least let the people know what’s going on since the mainstream media and associated press will not. Look at the links below and join your city’s occupation movement and take back your freedom! And remember to keep it peaceful. Viva la rEVOLution!
EVENTS
Christ. Even if you don’t reblog this, watch the video.
That video. Wow.
(via commie-femme)
11 Things You Can Do to Help the 'Occupy Wall Street' Movement →
1) Spread the word — there’s something going on. People have started a movement — they’re occupying Wall Street. Hundreds of people have been camped out in lower Manhattan for four days!
2) If you’re in New York and can only spare a little time or money: bring American flags, cardboard, markers, water, etc. down to Liberty Park.
3) If you’re in the New York area and have a day, a morning, an afternoon, go down there. The weather appears to be holding. Take the day off and just go. I know it sounds hard to believe but you will be heard. This is an open general assembly effort and you will get your say and be a real participant.
4) If you are a little ways from NYC, organize foursomes to go to NYC for the day. It will cost you the train/bus/car fare. Take nothing but some food and water and your body.
5) Too far to get to NYC? Sign this petition and I will read your name and comments in Liberty Park this week, I promise. Break Up Goldman Sachs Now!
6) Be subversive against the big money interests wherever you are and encourage others to do the same. Don’t give the banksters 4 percent of every purchase you make with a credit or debit card — use cash. See: UseCashMovement
7) Be subversive: max out your credit card on large ticket items and return them the next day. (This one is right out of the Saul Alinsky playbook.)
8) Move your money from a big bank to a credit union.
9) Picket a local branch of a bank. When the press asks you what the heck you think you’re doing, tell them it’s in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street.
10) Send food to the protesters in Liberty Park through a New York friend or go to the live stream chat for information on local eats that will take your order. (Yes, you’ll have to use your credit card, big spender!)
11) Do you know anybody who knows anybody who knows a writer, a celebrity, etc. who will show their face at the protest? Get to them now.
Bonus Support Idea 12) Spread the word again, and repeat!
(via superlameoh)
Scores of protesters were arrested in Manhattan Saturday as a march against social inequality turned violent.
Hundreds of people carrying banners and chanting “shame, shame” walked between Zuccotti Park, near Wall St., and Union Square calling for changes to a financial system they say unjustly benefits the rich and harms the poor.
At least 80 people were carted away in police vehicles and up to five were hit with pepper spray near 12th St. and Fifth Ave., where tensions became especially high, police and organizers said.
The National Lawyer’s Guild, which is providing legal assistance to the protesters, put the number of arrests at 100.
Witnesses said they saw three stunned women collapse on the ground screaming after they were sprayed in the face.
A video posted on YouTube and NYDailyNews.com shows uniformed officers had corralled the women using orange nets when two supervisors made a beeline for the women, and at least one suddenly sprayed the women before turning and quickly walking away.
Footage of other police altercations also circulated online, but it was unclear what caused the dramatic mood shift in an otherwise peaceful demonstration.
“I saw a girl get slammed on the ground. I turned around and started screaming,” said Chelsea Elliott, 25, from Greenpoint, Brooklyn, who said she was sprayed. “I turned around and a cop was coming … we were on the sidewalk and we weren’t doing anything illegal.”
Police said 80 protesters were arrested or ticketed at multiple locations for disorderly conduct, blocking traffic and failure to obey a lawful order but the number could rise.
If the NYPD’s excuse for this disgusting behavior — which should make decent police officers anywhere cringe with shame — is that the protestors didn’t have a permit, then fuck that. Of course, Mayor Bloomberg is probably off in Bermuda on his usual weekend getaway, so neither he nor his police commissioner, Raymond Kelly, won’t have to be held accountable for these wanton acts of police brutality until Monday. At least.
For shame.
(Photo: Jefferson Siegel / Daily News)
(via superlameoh)
Meat Sales Drop After Abuse Exposed.
A meat processor in Victoria, Australia, is telling ABC that recently released undercover video of meat industry practices have caused their sales to severely drop.
The processor reports a drop of 15-20% in sales since undercover videos of Australia’s live cattle export industry surfaced. The videos show widespread abuse of Australian cattle exported to Indonesia for slaughter. Workers in Indonesian slaughterhouses were following “standard operating procedures” when they were caught tying cattle with crude ropes and slitting their throats while they flop on the ground.
These images have disturbed Australians and many are reducing the amount of meat they consume. Amazingly, the 15-20% decrease accounts not only for beef but for other meats like lamb. Meat processor, Robert Radford, calls the dropping Australian meat sales a “real tragedy for our industry.”
The real tragedy is that consumers are deliberately kept in the dark so they’ll continue to purchase an unethical product. When people have the facts and are able to make informed choices, it is a triumph.
