Monthly Archives: September 2012

Democrats have included Internet freedom and cybersecurity as important issues in the 2012 Democratic National Platform.

As expected, the Democrats have included Internet freedom as one of the partys many primary provisions in the 2012 Democratic National Platform. Cybersecurity is also included in the platform, released late Monday ahead of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, which kicks off in Charlotte, North Carolina, today.

Inclusion of Internet freedom in the Democrats platform was first revealed by President Barack Obama during his Ask Me Anything public interview on Reddit last week. Obamas revelation came soon after the GOP released its own stance on Internet freedom in the 2012 Republican Party Platform.

While the Republicans focused on how they plan to address open Internet issues in the future through opposition to the Federal Communications Commissions Net neutrality rules, opposition to changes in the Internet governance model through the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and support for civil liberties and personal privacy on the Web the Democrats instead vaguely outline what the Obama administration has already done to preserve the open Internet, along with further promises to oppose the extension of intergovernmental controls of the Internet through the ITU.

Here is the Democrats Internet freedom position, in full:

The Obama administration has led the world to recognize and defend Internet freedom the freedom of expression, assembly, and association online for people everywhere through coalitions of countries and by empowering individuals with innovative technologies. The administration has built partnerships to support an Internet that is secure and reliable and that is respectful of U.S. intellectual property, free flow of information, and privacy. To preserve the Internet as a platform for commerce, debate, learning, and innovation in the 21st century, we successfully negotiated international Internet policymaking principles, support the current multi-stakeholder approach to Internet governance, and oppose the extension of intergovernmental controls over the Internet.

In another part of the Democrats platform, entitled Out-innovating the Rest of the World, the party makes these key assertions:

President Obama has committed to ensuring that 98 percent of the country has access to high-speed wireless broadband Internet access. We are finding innovative ways to free up wireless spectrum and are building a state-of-the-art nationwide, interoperable, public safety network. President Obama is strongly committed to protecting an open Internet that fosters investment, innovation, creativity, consumer choice, and free speech, unfettered by censorship or undue violations of privacy.

The administration is vigorously protecting U.S. intellectual property our technology and creativity at home and abroad through better enforcement and innovative approaches such as voluntary efforts by all parties to minimize infringement while supporting the free flow of information. As technology advances, we will continue to work with all stakeholders to protect the security of the nation and its knowledge assets, U.S. intellectual property, the functioning of fair and competitive markets, and the privacy, free expression, and due process rights of Americans.

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Internet freedom, cybersecurity land in 2012 Democratic National Platform

Chuck Norris loves freedom more than you.

He loves it so much, in fact, that hes appearing in his own political ad, alongside his wife, Gena. The commercial features the couple calling on their evangelical brothers and sisters to get to the voting booths this November. The couple name-check Edmund Burke and Ronald Reagan, and urge freedom-loving Americans to get to the polls to thwart socialism or something much worse. Dun dun duuuun.

The ad doesnt specifically endorse Mitt Romney by name (and Norris himself threw his support behind Newt Gingrich in February), but its obvious what Norris wants anyone not wanting a roundhouse kick to the face to do. Gena tells viewers, It is estimated that in the 2008 election, 30 million evangelical Christians stayed home on voting day and Obama won the election by 10 million votes.

Check out their plea below:

Read more:The Un-Expendable Files Chuck NorrisExpendables 2 Comic-Con panel: Arnold Schwarzenegger comes to Hall H! Also: Explosions! 23 Guys Who Rage Past Middle Age

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Chuck Norris: ‘Our great country and freedom are under attack’ — VIDEO

KYIV, Ukraine, September 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Creating favorable conditions for the development of the freedom of press in Ukraine is the main task of the state government as far as national media is concerned. This was stated by the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych in his speech at the 64thWorld Newspaper Congress and 19thWorld Forum of Editors in Kyiv (September 2-5, 2012). "The development of free press should be efficient, independent of any kinds of control," said Yanukovych.

The buildup of free media space and market in Ukraine is one of the key priorities of the state policy, emphasized Yanukovych. Political forces in Ukraine, even the opposing ones, agree that the only possible way of the country's development is democratic, with the freedom of speech as its core value. Ukraine managed to demonstrate a significant progress in acquiring the freedom of speech despite the heavy Soviet heritage. In the years of its independence the country has gone from total censorship to an open society.

The development of freedom of speech, however, can be achieved by the efforts of both - the government and the journalists. It should be noted that denationalization of printed media in the country is being conducted in accordance with Ukraine's commitments to PACE.

Ukrainian government will also work on securing favorable economic conditions for the printed media market, for only economically independent media can be free of any kind of control. Among other steps, the government will preserve the VAT relief for the mass media, stated Ukraine's President at the opening ceremony.

To reiterate the point of the freedom of speech in Ukraine, there was a group of people holding up placards aimed at Yanukovych during his speech. "They were not discredited and thrown out of the room, they were allowed to stay there throughout the speech of the head of state," commented the expert on media Garbis Kesisoglu, Hrriyet Gazetecilik ve Matbaacilik, participant of the Congress.

World Newspapers Congress in Kyiv will host the speakers, working for Dow Jones, Forbes, Guardian, Mail, New Delhi, The New York Times, Schibsted, Singapore Press Holdings, The Sunday Times, The Times, The Wall Street Journal, Die Zeit, and numerous others.

In October 2011, Kyiv hosted another journalist event - the 7th Global Investigative Journalism Conference.

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Ukrainian Government Will Secure The Freedom of Press - President Yanukovych

Nurse Shirley Chaplin, from Exeter, was moved to a paperwork role by the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust in Devon after refusing to remove a necklace bearing a crucifix.

Their case has been supported by Lord Carey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, who accused the Prime Minister of "turning the value of 'tolerance' on its head".

Writing in the Daily Mail, he said: "Only two months ago he championed the right of Christians to wear crosses in Parliament in response to a question by one of his own MPs, David Davis, on these European cases.

"Yet at the same time he was making that statement, his lawyers were drafting a legal submission to Strasbourg which opposes the rights of all these Christians.

"These lawyers are expected to speak against the right to wear the cross at court today, saying that the Christian faith doesn't demand it, and that it is up to the individual concerned.

"Likewise, Government lawyers will also say that it is not necessary for Christians to demonstrate disapproval of gay relationships in order to maintain their faith."

He added Christians had acted like "doormats" and were facing "new heresy trials".

The case also includes a Relate therapist sacked for saying he might not be comfortable giving sex counselling to homosexual couples, and a Christian registrar who wishes not to conduct civil partnership ceremonies.

Gary McFarlane, a Bristol marriage counsellor, was sacked for refusing to give sex therapy to homosexuals and registrar Lillian Ladele was disciplined after she refused to conduct same-sex civil partnership ceremonies in north London.

The four argue that the actions of their employers contravened articles nine and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibit religious discrimination and allow "freedom of thought, conscience and religion".

The rest is here:
Religious freedom showdown in European Court

September 3, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom Evansville,IN - The Florence Freedom(57-39) dominated the Evansville Otters(45-50) on the final day of the regular season with a 10-1 victory, as the team gears up for its first every playoff game at the Gateway Grizzlies on Wednesday. The game was called in the top of the eighth due to heavy rain.

The Freedom offense hit three homeruns on the night. Jim Jacquot's solo shot to left field in the second inning gave the Freedom a 1-0 lead. It was Jacquot's tenth of the season as he became the fifth player this year to hit ten or more homeruns for the Freedom.

Eddie Rodriguez hit his fifteenth of the season, a two run shot in the fourth giving the Freedom a 7-0 lead.

Ryan Skellie then went deep in the eighth. It was a two run homerun for his second of the year. Skellie finished the game 3-5 with 2 RBI. Stephen Cardullo also went 2-3 with 2 RBI.

Alec Lewis(5-7) picked up the win out of the Freedom bullpen after pitching two innings allowing just one hit and striking out one. Ian Durham started the game pitching four innings giving up two hits with one walk and a strikeout.

The Freedom closed out the regular season on a six game winning streak and winners of thirteen out of their last fourteen.

The Freedom will now have days off Monday and Tuesday before their divisional series opens on Wednesday night in Sauget, Illinois.

RHP Brandon Mathes(4-0, 3.61) will make the start as the Freedom will play their first postseason game in franchise history. The game time is TBA as the game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki on Real Talk 1160 AM and realtalk1160.com For the time of the game stay tuned to http://www.florencefreedom.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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Freedom End Regular Season with Dominating Win

September 3, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom FLORENCE, KY - The Florence Freedom are back in town Monday and Tuesday preparing for game one of the Frontier League Playoffs, which begin Wednesday night in Sauget, Illinois against the Gateway Grizzlies.

To celebrate the Freedom's first playoff appearance in franchise history and to give the community the chance to send their best wishes to the team before they head out on the road, the Freedom are having a post-season rally at Shakey's Pub & Grub on Route 42 in Florence, beginning at 6:30 pm.

Dinner, autographs, photo opportunities and more can be had Tuesday night at Shakey's.

The Freedom will hold a workout open to the media at the ballpark beginning at 4:30 pm on Tuesday night. Media are encouraged to show up by 4:15pm.

After games one and two on the road against the Grizzlies, game three of the best of five series is scheduled for 6:05pm Saturday night at the Home of the Freedom. If necessary, game four will be played in Florence on Sunday night at 6:05pm.

Promotions Saturday night will include a double intense fireworks show detonated by Elite Pyrotechnics.

Tickets for the post-season are available now at florencefreedom.com or by calling (859) 594-HITS.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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Freedom Workout Tuesday, Dinner Rally After

THE Syrian freedom fighters on Sunday succeeded in breaking through the building of the Army Staff Command in the heart of Damascus. Two weeks earlier they attacked the heavily guarded headquarters of the same military establishment. This was preceded by the most important operation, when the freedom fighters reached the National Security Building and attacked the meeting hall, where high-ranking military and intelligence personnel were meeting. These kinds of repeated operations reveal two things: The increasing power of the Free Syrian Army and how the regime has been penetrated from inside. Some commanders and privates volunteer to help the freedom fighters against the regime in various parts of Syria. When President Bashar Assad, to reassure his followers during his last TV speech, said that he was talking from inside the Republican Palace in Damascus i.e., he was not hidng as had been rumored he was probably telling the truth. However, any place behind the walls of the palace is no longer safe. The ministers and senior officials of the regime have completely disappeared except through old archive photos broadcast repeatedly by the media. The war game has been reversed. The forces of the regime are no longer pursuing the freedom fighters. On the contrary, the freedom fighters are now chasing the regimes soldiers in organized and well-planned battles. The brigades of the Free Syrian Army have simultaneously attacked the Syrian border crossings and occupied them all with the exception of a single crossing with Iraq in the Kurdish area. The border crossings of Al-Bukamal, Al-Yacoubiyyah, Bab Al-Hawa and Bab Al-Salama have all fallen to the freedom fighters, who aim to strangle the regime by cutting the fuel and military supplies coming from Iran and Iraq. In the north, the freedom fighters are in control of the borders and they are granting travelers entry visas just like any legitimate government. Their grip extends to the borders of Aleppo. They also try to strangle the regime internally by cutting oil supply lines. They are not attacking the fuel sources, such as electricity stations or refineries, but the pipelines. The Free Army, which does not have missiles or ground defense systems, has suffered immense losses as a result of the use of fighters and helicopters by the regimes armed forces. The airstrikes have displaced more than half a million people from their towns and the villages. For these reasons, the Free Army changed its tactics and is now attacking airports, airfields and military training colleges. The freedom fighters simultaneously attacked Abu Zuhour air base in Idlib, Al-Bukamal air defense base in Deir ez-Zor and Rasm Al-Oboud training base in Aleppo, which was used by air college students for training. They made unsuccessful attempts to control important air bases in Damascus and Aleppo, but were able to stop these air bases from functioning. Through the plan to close down borders, which succeeded in suffocating the regime on the land, and through the attacks against airports, air bases and weapon stores, the world came to know that even after using air raids, heavy artillery and tanks, the Assad forces failed to halt the advance of the Free Syrian Army. The freedom fighters are aware that the downfall of Damascus will automatically mean the collapse of the regime. They did not succeed in their first attempt, but they will surely try again within their plan codenamed Damascus Volcano and Syrias Earthquake. It seems the freedom fighters will make Damascus their target during the next few weeks as they are able to use the missiles and the anti-aircraft weapons they recently obtained. Politically, Assad and his allies are weaker now than in the past. The Russians, who until recently confirmed that the regime was strong and asked people not to worry about the fate of the regime, are not able to make these utterances anymore.

Alrashed.arabnews@gmail.com

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Freedom fighters’ plan from borders to the capital