Archive for March, 2008
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Conflicting Government Data Bare Gravity of Rice Shortage
Conflicting data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) expose the desperate attempts of the Arroyo government to conceal the gravity of the rice shortage, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said today.
Bayan noted that according to the DA, the average national rice consumption is 11.9 million metric tons (MT) per year. For 2008, the DA projects [...]
By Dieter Ernst
The contentious political debates over NAFTA (The North American Free Trade Agreement) in this year’s presidential race may miss the central point about the emerging international threat to the American economy.
The real threat is not the shift of manufacturing jobs to South America or Asia, the traditional concern of unions and those who [...]
Farmers and civil society groups warn that the worst situation in the country’s rice supply is yet to come as they predict the prices of rice will soar to as high as P40 during the lean months of July to September.
(New York, March 26, 2008) – Bringing to justice the killers of an imam detained by the military in Thailand’s southern Narathiwat province will be a key test for the Thai authorities, Human Rights Watch said today. Violence is escalating in the south, where the Thai military is fighting a Muslim separatist insurgency that has [...]
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the Hamas leadership in Gaza over the show trial of a newspaper editor as part of a continuing campaign against independent journalists.
The IFJ says the trial of Hafez Barghothi, editor of the daily Al-Hayat Aljadeeda, and continuing ban on distribution of Al Ayyam newspaper in the Gaza [...]
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the Egyptian government over raids and threats that have forced an Internet journalist to go into hiding to escape police harassment.
Abdul-Jalil Al-Sharnouby, a member of the Egyptian Syndicate of Journalists (EJS) and editor in chief of the Ikhwanonline web site – the official site of the Muslim [...]
The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) is utterly disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the principle of executive privilege in relation to Romulo Neri’s conversations with the president on the bribe-tainted NBN-ZTE deal.
The SC decision favors the stonewalling tactics of the Arroyo regime and deprives the public a measure of transparency and accountability in government.
We [...]
The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is succeeding in its 16-year search for ideal coconut varieties to replace aging and unproductive coconuts through a novel method, making synthetic varieties out of hybrids and ensuring higher yields through better coco juice, copra and other byproducts.
Administrator Oscar Garin has been trying to implement a replanting system that would [...]
The International Federation of Journalists is appalled by a brutal verbal attack on Sri Lankan journalists by Government MP and Minister of Labour Mervyn Silva on March 20.
IFJ affiliate the Free Media Movement (FMM) reports Silva threatened MTV/MBC journalists covering the opening of a flyover bridge in his electorate.
According to FMM reports, the Minister said [...]
House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Satur C. Ocampo today asserted that the government must intervene in the rice industry and decisively abandon rice trade liberalization to address the rice crisis at its roots.
Ocampo said the Arroyo government’s policy of rice importation to address shortfalls in domestic consumption requirements proves to be “a [...]
The International Federation of Journalists today expressed concern at the detention of a leading newspaper columnist in Turkey warning that the police action and raid on his house are echoes of of intolerance and authoritarianism still at work in Turkish politics.
Mr. Ilhan Selcuk, the veteran columnist of the nationalist daily newspaper Cumhuriyet was taken into [...]
The Philippine Supreme Court granted on 18 March 2008 a petition by the Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists (FFFJ) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) to transfer the venue of the trials of suspects in the killings of two Aklan-based journalists to another branch of the Regional Trial Court (RTC). Aklan [...]
The International Federation of Journalists today welcomed the formation of the Association of Journalists Unions in the North of Africa, which will act as the regional body of journalists’ trade unions in the media industry in the region.
This ground-breaking development was announced on Friday at the 6th Congress of the National Moroccan Syndicate of the [...]
President Arroyo’s recent directive for the release of P1.5-billion augmentation for the
Department of Agriculture (DA) budget to increase rice production in the face of the supply crisis, according to Centro Saka and the National Rice Farmers Council (NRFC), is a case of “too little too late”.
“It is unrealistic to think that we can avert [...]
As the nation paused to commemorate and reflect on the Passion of Christ this Lenten season, three people were forcibly taken by unidentified men in Bacoor, Cavite on March 20, 2008, Maundy Thursday.
The victims were Jimmy Soleded, Clarita Luego-Soledad and Vilma Madrazo, Clarita’s cousin. Madrazo was released by their captors. It has been [...]
Reds seek activation of NPA hit squads in cities After Ampatuan Massacre, 2009 a Record Year for Journalist Killings Worldwide CHR to military: Respect and protect human rights during martial law in Maguindanao Maguindanao, its political elite and a culture subservient to corruption U.S. Must Improve Responsiveness to Mass Atrocities; Absent UN Action, Make Clear Willingness to Act on Its Own, Says New CFR Report Martial law dilutes the Philippines’s human rights and democratic gains Martial law in Maguindanao sets ‘most dangerous precedent’ Lawyers will wear black armbands, ribbons in courts Law group shall file plunder cases against President Arroyo et al. UN Experts: Maguindanao massacre must be the start of a major reform process
Arroyo’s oil-price control a publicity stunt, cries Ibon Political Bloodbath Continues: Widow of Slain Activist Shot Dead New Wave of Protests Against Charter Change Set in April Comelec’s Automation to Worsen Election Fraud — Watchdog 2008: Another Bad Year for the Philippine Press ‘Unemployment Figures Wrong; Number of Jobless Higher’ ‘Nicole Is Not the Enemy’ ‘Nicole’: ‘My Conscience Bothers Me’ Is the Call Center Industry a Bright Spot for New Graduates? 6 Great Ways to Vent Your Frustrations Eating Dirt Is Actually Good For Children Australia Offers 150 Scholarship Slots for Philippines, Asia-Pacific mamert dolera: The horrible maguindanao massacre displays the “crueltiest 221; act of political warlordism... Don Untalan: I am also interested to buy (AROD) and the tall hybreed variety. Pls advice where to buy from Manila,... scott: Sports and politics do not mix. But the economy of the Philippines relies on Pacqiao. How much money would a... Bernadine Ebo: nov.11,2009 4:45 my husband and i wants to adopt