US government employees to stage one-day hunger strike on Thursday to denounce Joe Biden’s policy on Gaza

US government employees to stage one-day hunger strike on Thursday to denounce Joe Biden’s policy on Gaza

    Monday, January 29, 2024   No comments

The British daily, The Guardian reported that Feds United for Peace, group of workers from more than two dozen agencies, to stage one-day hunger strike on Thursday

US government employees are planning a “day of fasting for Gaza” this week to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in the territory and to denounce Joe Biden’s policy toward Israel.

Representatives for Feds United for Peace, a group of several dozen government employees frustrated with the Gaza crisis who organized an office walkout earlier in the month, told the Guardian that on Thursday its members will stage a one-day hunger strike. Participating federal employees are expected to show up to their offices dressed in black or wearing keffiyeh scarves or other symbols of Palestinian solidarity.

A federal employee speaking on behalf of the group said the Day of Fasting is a response to Israel’s use of “starvation as a weapon of war by intentionally withholding food from entering Gaza”, citing UN reporting that up 2 million people in the territory are at risk of famine.

Mexican actress Melissa Barrera continues to support Gaza despite her exclusion from “Scream 7”

Mexican actress Melissa Barrera continues to support Gaza despite her exclusion from “Scream 7”

    Tuesday, December 26, 2023   No comments

 Despite being excluded from starring in the movie “Scream 7” due to her posts in support of Palestine, Mexican actress Melissa Barrera continues to express her positions rejecting the Israeli war of annihilation in the Gaza Strip.

On Christmas Eve, the actress took to her Instagram Stories and used the date of Christmas to draw the world's attention to the problems facing Palestine, writing: "I hope this Christmas is...weird."

She added: "I hope you do not ignore the fact that you are celebrating the birth of a child (Jesus Christ) who was persecuted and targeted and whose family was forced to flee to Egypt, while millions of Palestinians from the specific part of the world are now being persecuted and targeted and forced to flee their homes under random and relentless bombing."

Melissa’s position in support of Palestine and her sharing of supportive posts for Gaza on social media platforms led to her exclusion from starring in the “Scream 7” film series, which was acknowledged by “Spyglass”, the company that produced the film, saying in a statement, “Barrera was expelled for showing her support for the Palestinian cause.” .

The company quickly severed its ties with the heroine of the movie “In the Heights,” who was preparing for the starring role in the new part of the “Scream” series after starring in the fifth and sixth parts during the past two years.

Three days ago, the film's director, Christopher Landon, announced his withdrawal from the film, saying: "I think now is the right time to officially announce my departure from (Scream 7), and this will disappoint some and delight others. It was a dream job that turned into a nightmare. And my heart breaks for everyone." "But it's time to move on. I don't have anything."

Although Landon did not directly link his departure from the film to the Gaza issue, critics linked his withdrawal to the gap created by Barrera's exclusion from the film, as Landon considered it a gap that could not be filled and was determined to make Barrera the heroine of the film.

On October 27, 2023, Barrera wrote on Instagram, saying: “We come together as artists and advocates, but more importantly as human beings witnessing the terrible loss of life and horrors unfolding in Palestine and Israel.”

She added: “Please join us in calling on Congress, the President of the United States, and other world leaders to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost. We must end the bombing of Gaza, ensure the safe release of all hostages, and demand access.” Sufficient amount of humanitarian aid to the people who need it most.”

Melissa Barrera was born on July 4, 1990. She grew up in Monterrey, the capital of the state of Nuevo Leon in northeastern Mexico, and studied musical theater at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.

She attended the American School of Monterrey, where her love for music and singing emerged, and she made her first television appearance on the “Mexican Reality” program in 2011.

In 2013, she was part of the duo Melissa E. Sebastian, with whom she recorded her debut album and her first top 10 radio hit came with her debut single "Mama Maria".

In 2014, she got her first starring role in the movie “Soap Opera”, “Always Yours Acapulco” in 2015, and in the same year she recorded the theme song “To Fall Again” alongside the Mexican singer Kalimba, for her TV series “Too Much Of love."

Barrera is best known for her roles in television series such as “Judas’ Wife,” “The Other Side of the Soul,” “Too Much Love,” and the Netflix series Crew Club.

Outside of Mexico, she is best known for her role in the “Scream” films and her starring role in the “Stars Live” series and the musical films “In the Heights” and “Keep Breathing.”

A Million people march in Indonesia in support of Gaza

A Million people march in Indonesia in support of Gaza

    Sunday, November 05, 2023   No comments

The Indonesian capital, Jakarta, witnessed massive demonstrations denouncing the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip and demanding a ceasefire.

Participants in the demonstration called by the Indonesian People's Alliance to Support Palestine raised slogans demanding the lifting of the siege on the Gaza Strip, the entry of humanitarian aid and an end to the war.

Iran condemns the suppression of demonstrators in France... and calls for non-use of violence

Iran condemns the suppression of demonstrators in France... and calls for non-use of violence

    Friday, March 24, 2023   No comments

 Today, Friday, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the suppression of peaceful demonstrators in the demonstrations taking place in the French streets.

In the details, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian wrote in a "tweet" on his account: "We strongly condemn the suppression of peaceful demonstrators and call on the French government to respect human rights and not use violence."

Simultaneously, the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Kanaani, posted a new tweet to him on Twitter, in which he demanded that Paris speak to the French people and listen to their voice.

In his tweet, Kanaani attached a videotape that included footage of French protesters who set fire to the municipality of Bordeaux, and firefighters joined the protesters, noting that "whoever sows the wind reaps the storm."

The Iranian diplomat stressed that this kind of violence has nothing to do with sitting on the chair of morality and proselytizing to others, adding that the French protesters are waiting to watch the group clip of the European, Australian and Canadian ministers who support the French protest.

The Garden of Prosperity Today

The Garden of Prosperity Today

    Thursday, March 16, 2023   No comments

Scenes not from the jungle; from the garden of prosperity; Paris today:

Jordan: popular protests are escalating, civil disobedience is approaching, and security forces are mobilizing and arresting 44 people

Jordan: popular protests are escalating, civil disobedience is approaching, and security forces are mobilizing and arresting 44 people

    Saturday, December 17, 2022   No comments

Security authorities in Jordan have arrested 44 people who participated in the riots that erupted during protests over the rise in fuel prices in the kingdom, Jordan's Public Security Directorate announced in a statement published Saturday.

The Directorate said in its statement that it “dealt with riots in a number of regions of the Kingdom, and 44 people who participated in these acts were arrested in various regions,” explaining that “they will be referred to the competent authorities in addition to those who were arrested in the previous days,” without adding anything. details.

The Security Directorate added that it had "intensified its security deployment in the kingdom's governorates to ensure the enforcement of the rule of law and the preservation of citizens' security." At the same time, however, it indicated "a significant decline in the number and unity of riots from Thursday, especially in the southern governorates."

Since the beginning of this month, governorates in southern Jordan have witnessed mostly peaceful strikes, in protest against the rise in fuel prices, starting with truck drivers who were sometimes joined by taxi and public bus drivers.

Markets and shops were closed on Wednesday in Maan and Karak (about 114 km south of Amman) and Madaba Governorate (35 km south of Amman) in solidarity with this movement.

On Friday, the Public Security Directorate announced the death of Colonel Abdul Razzaq al-Dalabeh in southern Jordan, with a gunshot wound to the head while he was dealing with “riots,” during which an officer and a non-commissioned officer were wounded by gunshots, according to the directorate.

In its statement on Saturday, the Public Security Directorate indicated that the riots “were carried out by a group of vandals and outlaws in the Husseiniya area in Ma’an Governorate” (about 218 km south of Amman).

And she emphasized that “the investigations into the martyrdom of Colonel Al-Dalabeh are continuing, and will not stop until the perpetrator is arrested and handed over to the hands of justice so that he receives deterrent punishment, and we will not hesitate to protect lives, honor and property.”

On Friday, Jordan's King Abdullah II condemned the killing of the colonel, stressing that "we will not rest until the criminal receives his punishment before justice for his heinous crime."

In a statement on Friday, the notables and sons of Ma’an mourned Colonel Al-Dalabeh, stressing their “rejection and denunciation of any act outside the law.”

In its statement on Saturday, the Directorate called on "everyone to adhere to and stay away from riot sites and not to participate in them," expressing "thanks to all the citizens who cooperated with the Directorate and gathered around its men in rejection of the attacks and out of concern for the homeland."

Jordan is witnessing difficult economic conditions, which were exacerbated by foreign debts that exceeded fifty billion dollars and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governorates in southern Jordan have recently witnessed mostly peaceful strikes, in protest against the rise in fuel prices, which started with truck drivers a few days ago, leading to the closure of markets and shops, last Wednesday, in Ma’an, Karak and Madaba governorate, in solidarity with the protests.

Likewise, some other areas witnessed road closures with burning tires, in addition to quarrels between security forces and protesters, but they ended peacefully.

Currently, fuel prices in Jordan are nearly double what they were last year, especially diesel, which is the main fuel for trucks and buses, and kerosene, which is the main heating fuel for the poor.

A liter of "90 octane" gasoline is sold for 920 fils (about one and a half dollars), and "95 octane" for 1170 fils (1.6 dollars). As for a liter of diesel or diesel, it costs 895 fils (1.3 dollars), and kerosene costs 860 fils (1.2 dollars).

Jordan suffers from difficult economic conditions, which were exacerbated by the Corona pandemic, so the unemployment rate rose in 2021 to about 25%, according to official figures, while it rose among the youth category to 50%.

The poverty rate rose to 24%, and the public debt exceeded $47 billion, or more than 106% of the GDP.

The Jordanian government offered some solutions, including increasing shipping fees and distributing sums of money to the most affected families, but it seems that they were not sufficiently satisfactory to the protesters.

Gulf rulers signal their fears of similar protests in their countries by signaling to thier people to support the rulers of Jordan

Unlike their unconditional support to the violent protests in Iran, the Saudi rulers and their media platforms are expressing solidarity with the rulers of Jordan instead of supporting the legitimate demands of the protesters.

Gulf platforms interacted with the rapid events in Jordan, and street strikes and protests against the rise in fuel prices. Gulf activists wished Jordan safety, saying: Cool and peace, Jordan.

Saudi tweeters interacted with the incident of the killing of Jordanian Colonel Abd al-Razzaq al-Dalabeh in Ma'an Governorate at the hands of outlaws, and expressed their grief, and called on Jordanians to preserve their country and their monarchy, and to stand up to what they described as saboteurs, the same description used by the official Jordanian public security statement.