Monthly Archives: April 2017

The House Freedom caucus demanded reduced premiums and reduced coverage. The result of these demands if accepted by the Republican caucus would be to deliver to Americans freedom from healthcare.

The Freedom Caucus has successfully tied up the repeal and what may be described as the replacement of Obamacare. The Koch empire has pledged to support them in the next election even as Mr. Trump threatens to campaign against them. I see some irony here. 249/314 The Freedom caucus has loudly trumpeted repeal since 2010 as well as consistently clamoring for debt and deficit reductions, yet now with repeal so near, they demanded more.

So where does their leverage come from? It is embodied in the numbers, but it is not the numbers alone. 302 Their members take away the majority which may seem obvious and simplistic at first (glance). What gives them power and makes them impressive is their ability to withstand the pressure of their larger caucus and even the White House while continuing to be united in opposition. They offer 10 proposals which are actually 10 deletions that need to be included in any legislation they support which essentially guts the main tenets of Obamacare.

The Freedom Caucus cares little about the CBO score since if their deletions were included and the vote went forward on Thursday, a new score would not be available. It is likely that their demands would lower premiums and possibly lower the federal governments expenditures for health care. A double bonus for their long sought goals.

Mr. Ryan is promising to come back with a revised proposal, if the Freedom Caucuss positions are included Americans will have freedom from healthcare as those over 55, see lower premiums with less coverage. Lower premiums translate not to higher deductibles and co-pays, but to no coverage for many aspects of health care. 204 This will make Americans pay out of pocket, which for many is simply not possible. The result for these folks will be less healthcare, sicker patients for society and hospital closures.

222 All of that said, its time to repair the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which will mean both sides will have to accept provisions they dont like. It also requires accepting information (data) and advice from experts; not relying on slogans filled with misinformation.

Mr. Owens is a former member of Congress representing the New York 21st and a Senior Advisor to Dentons.

The views expressed by commentators are solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of this station or its management.

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Bill Owens: Freedom From Healthcare - WAMC

Hes been gone almost 13 years, yet he vividly comes to mind on a morning such as this with Passover starting at sundown and Easter just around the corner.

His name was Eric and he was 87 the day we met, a consummate gentleman whose soft-spoken demeanor offered no hint of the horrors hed known, except when he cried.

He could never forget the sound of that knock on his door when the Nazis, on their mission to rid Austria of its Jews, told him he had to go with them for questioning.

His Ph.D. from the University of Vienna meant nothing.

He was shoved onto a freight car, bound for the savagery of concentration camps at Dachau and Buchenwald.

A deeply religious Jew, Eric refused to eat on Yom Kippur even though he was starving, and he would later weep whenever he recalled the day he sailed into New York harbor, bound for Ellis Island and a life of glorious freedom.

You dont know what it means to someone like me to tell my story to someone like you, he said, because now I know that when Im gone therell be one more person who heard it from an eyewitness.

Heres what our friendship was like: Every year an Easter card arrived here from him, followed by a Christmas card every December, and he would receive cards from here on Passover and Hanukkah.

We both knew nothing more had to be said.

He comes to mind this morning because Passover was his favorite holiday, commemorating the Israelites exodus from Egyptian bondage under Pharaoh.

For Eric, nothing was more precious than freedom, and nothing dismayed him more than a sense that younger people no longer cared to hear the heart-wrenching stories told to them at Passover Seders by his generation.

Impatiently, irreverently, some would even quip: They tried to kill us. We survived. Lets eat!

Eric had a response.

Some of you may consider it strange that we spend a whole evening discussing events that happened 3,000 years ago, eating uncommon food, identifying with people of a foreign country who lived in a civilization utterly unrelated to ours.

You may wonder why I talk about these matters?

I do it first because I have a deep sense of loyalty to victims of the Holocaust; I dont want them to be forgotten. I am one of the relatively few living witnesses who can testify to what happened to innocent human beings only because they were born as Jews.

The second reason is to once again recall the blessings of freedom we enjoy in this wonderful country. Do you realize what it means to be deprived of life, liberty and property without due process of law, presumed guilty because of your religion?

Feeling secure and confident, you cant imagine such a transformation could ever happen in this country. Please dont think Im a killjoy, but when I was 50 years younger in Europe we, too, could not imagine an overnight obliteration of human rights was possible.

After reaching the saving shores of this country I have felt blessed at every awakening by the precious gift of freedom.

Lets remind ourselves that, for all our social discord, we remain the longest-enduring society of free people, governing ourselves without kings or dictators, the marvel and mystery of the world.

This freedom we celebrate tonight never came cheap or easy. But for my generation, the price will never be too high.

Eric was 97 when he died, leaving a note instructing his family to ask my friend at the Herald to deliver his eulogy at Temple Shalom in Newton.

It remains a sacred trust.

So please understand these are not the words of a columnist.

These are the words of an eyewitness, shared this morning in his honor and his memory.

Though he be dead, yet shall he speak.

Happy Passover.

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Fitzgerald: Eyewitness to Holocaust horrors loved freedom - Boston Herald

DW: In responseto the November 2015 Paris terror attacks, tightened security controls are to be implemented as of now at the Schengen zone's external borders - for EU citizens as well. Is everyone under general suspicion?

Elmar Brok: No, but I think that controlling our exterior borders is the right thing to do in light of the threat posed by terrorists. Controls must be put in place. And that is the plan: Control the external borders to ensure interior freedom - that must be our guiding principle.

Do you believe that Schengen states can implement these new rules? The entire procedure is rather complicated.

I think they can. That is also why some states, such as Bulgaria and Romania, are not yet Schengen states - they have been unable to fulfill certain criteria. They still have work to do. We all have to be prepared to better protect the borders of the European Union if we want to keep interior borders open while we are engaged in the fight against terrorism.

Brok: "Nothing can guarantee total safety"

Critics are convinced that such controls represent the loss of one of the European Union's most important achievements.

No, the EU's achievement is an open interior. I still have freedom of movement within the European Union. But the exterior borders must be protected. You can't tell who is an EU citizen just by looking at them.

But controls along interior borders are also constantly being talked about. So there are those who object to the current move, saying it is a stepping stone to tighter interior controls.

I would be strongly opposed to such controls. That would be a contradiction. Exterior protection guarantees interior freedom. In individual cases, interior controls can also be carried out if there is evidence of an imminent threat. That has always been the case - for example when controls were set up to keep British hooligans out during the 2006 Wold Cup. That must be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Controls can be carried out within the EU as well, regardless of borders. For instance, German police can enter the Netherlands in order to pursue suspects. That is all part of the Schengen agreement. That may mean that there are many more controls, but it also means that everyday citizens have much more freedom.

Let's look at how the new rules are to be put into action: EU citizens' identities will be checked against current wanted lists. In the past, there have often been flaws in communication between authorities in individual member states? What is the state of cooperation right now?

I think the current Schengen communication system can fulfill the technical requirements. But in the recent past we have seen that problems even exist between the computer networks in individual German states. For instance, when an immigrant was registered in Bavaria, authorities in Schleswig-Holstein had no idea. Thus, people like Anis Amri (the Berlin Christmas market attacker) could use several identities to travel around the country, because communication between different municipal authorities and German states didn't work. I believe that there has been a lot more pressure to fix that problem in the European Union over the last few months and years. That lets us protect against criminals, while at the same time guaranteeing the freedom of EU citizens who act asthey are supposed to.

Amri was sought in a huge manhunt

Is this type of intensification the right reaction to the type of terrorism that we are now confronted with? Authorities repeatedly warn about attacks by so-called "lone wolves."

Nothing can guarantee total safety. Such measures may limit the scope of terrorists, but they do not rid us of the threat altogether. Border patrols and coast guards must be strengthened, and we have to improve cooperation among domestic intelligence services in order to apprehend such "lone wolves." We will never be totally protected against violent criminals that are operating as suicide attackers. But it is the responsibility of the European Union to limit them as much as possible. The enhancement of controls on the Schengen area's exterior borders will help to achieve that.

Elmar Brok (CDU) is a member of the European Parliament. With some interruptions, he was also chairman of itsCommittee on Foreign Affairs, of which he is still a member, for almost 13 years until January 2017.

This interview was conducted by Friedel Taube.

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'Exterior control means more interior freedom': German MEP - Deutsche Welle

Suit: Yale Tramples Freedom and Basic Rights Wall Street Journal (subscription) Regarding Peter Berkowitz's A Lawsuit Accuses Yale of Censoring Even Inoffensive Ideas (op-ed, April 3): George Orwell's 1949 novel 1984 depicts a future England where a dictatorial state controls all aspects of the lives of its citizens, even ...

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Suit: Yale Tramples Freedom and Basic Rights - Wall Street Journal (subscription)

Ephraim Mirvis,Chief Rabbi,says: "At Pesach we are encouraged to grapple with one of the most profound questions to confront human civilisation: What is freedom?

"In the biblical account of the Exodus, the Israelites celebrated their freedom while still slaves to their Egyptian overlords. How can one explain this?

"The answer is both powerful and life affirming. On April 19 1943, the residents of the Warsaw Ghetto held a makeshift Passover meal, celebrating their freedom. The Ghetto, however, was anything but free and Nazi soldiers were in the process of liquidating it.

"Freedom is not just the absence of oppression, but the presence of a meaningful route to self-fulfilment. The Israelites and the residents of the Warsaw Ghetto found spiritual freedom even in the midst of the most extreme hardship.

"In Jewish tradition we differentiate between yiud, which means fate and goral, which means destiny. My fate is the hand of cards that I am dealt. My destiny is how I choose to play them.

"Regardless of the hand we are dealt, every one of us is free to shape our own destiny even in the most challenging of times."

This is an abridged version of a talk given by the Chief Rabbi on Radio 4s Thought for the Day

Laura Janner-Klausner, Senior Rabbi to Reform Judaism, says: "The Seder is not just a celebration of Jewish emancipation. When we tell our story of freedom from slavery, and the exodus from Egypt, we are reminding ourselves not just of the past, but the present too.

"Its a global disgrace that today, there may be as many as 46 million people living in modern slavery. Freedom is not just a concept. Pesach is not just a metaphorical moment. With the number of modern slaves increasing year on year for example, through the recruitment of child soldiers, sex trafficking, forced labour, domestic servitude a lack of freedom is a stain of shame on our modern world.

"The Passover Seder is the most universal of Jewish moments, and by no coincidence the most observed Jewish custom in Britain. We should be driven to observe the Seder not just because of our desire to celebrate our freedom, but through our determination that others should share in it.

"As Jews, we accept our responsibility to bring freedom where there is oppression, and our share of culpability when we dont speak up against it. For me, the Seder is an opportunity to start to rectify some of the most pressing concerns in our world."

Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi, Masorti Judaism, says: "The Haggadah, the Passover story, is the foundation of Judaism. Our people is born, not amidst battles and victories, but in slavery. Through experiencing injustice, cruelty and the loss of freedom, we learn the importance of justice, truth, compassion and liberty. These values form the basis of our faith, our ethics and the society we strive to create.

"We have carried this vision through every country of our dispersion and our return home to our land. Our repeated history of marginalisation, persecution and exile has merely sharpened the awareness that we, and everyone, are safe only in a world of justice, truth and freedom.

"God heard our cry in Egypt; God always heeds the tears of the oppressed. But God is not obviously revealed in our day in supernatural signs and wonders; God doesnt reach down and intervene in history.

"Instead, God seeks us as partners. A fragment of the divine resides in us all, commanding us to work for the sacred vision of a redeemed world, free from slavery, trafficking, hunger, homelessness and cruelty.

"Tyranny is growing across the globe. Nothing is more urgent than the ancient Jewish task of pursuing justice, truth, freedom and the dignity of all."

Danny Rich, Senior Rabbi ofLiberal Judaism, says: "What might Pesach zeman cherutaynu: the season of our freedom mean when the Haggadah demands: 'In every generation every person must see themselves as if they themselves were personally freed from Egyptian bondage'?

"There have been times and places in Jewish history where Jews felt the fear of physical oppression but today Jews enjoy greater freedom than they have ever experienced.

"After the Brexit vote last June I toured many of the 40 Liberal Judaism constituent communities in Denmark, Ireland, Scotland and England and I found many of my congregants deflated, shocked and even depressed about the future of the UK and Europe.

"The freeing of the Hebrew slaves from bondage was only the beginning and the Torah reminds us that the Israelites remained an 'am kshay oref' 'a stiff-necked people'(Exodus 32:9 ) as they wandered the desert. The Children of Israel had escaped physical bondage but not the trauma it had caused.

"At our post-Brexit Sedarim this year may we seek to free ourselves from the burdens of cynicism and hopelessness such that as the Exodus story reminds us in partnership with God, the Promised Land lies ahead not behind us."

Joseph Dweck, Senior Rabbi of theS&P Sephardi Community, says:"There are moments in life that bring us a deep sense of value. It could be the birth of a child, a wedding day, or a moment of great accomplishment. When we experience such moments it is as if the world reveals itself to us in perfection. We perceive these moments to be filled with grace, and we might feel that our lives were worth even one such experience.

"This is what lies behind the portion of the Haggadah we call Dayenu ('Enough for Us'). Dayenu lists the gracious acts of God that brought us out of Egypt. After mentioning each one, we exclaim Dayenu! 'It would have been enough for us!'not because we wouldnt have needed more, but because the experience, even once, of the Creators kindness would have been enough for us to say that it was all worth it.

"Dayenu is part of the Seder because our freedom is fundamentally based upon the idea that the world is meaningful, and thus, so are our choices. We yearn to be free in order to choose and achieve meaningful lives.

"When we are fortunate enough to experience a 'Dayenu moment', we are reminded, deep in our hearts, that our lives matter, our choices matter, and that even if it is but once in a lifetime, seeing it is knowing that it is indeed enough."

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What Passover has to tell us about freedom - Jewish Chronicle

Author:Fahd al-Otaibi Posted April 9, 2017

Saudi state-owned Aramco on March 27 appointed Samba Capital to be the adviseron an initial public offering (IPO) that could generate $100 billion, which would be the largest IPO in history. Saudi Minister of Energy, Industrial and Mineral ResourcesKhalid al-Falihsaid Aug.28that the Aramco IPO is scheduled for early 2018. Thisshowsthat the Saudi government turned a blind eye to citizens who expressed their opposition toand concerns about the IPO.

The chairman of the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, announced Jan. 7the Saudi governments decision to list 5% of Aramcos shares. The announcement has raised wide criticism with Saudi economic experts, most prominently among them Barjas al-Barjas, the former analysis consultant at Aramcos Strategic Planning Department. In a Jan. 17 article, he said the move by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, chaired by Prince Mohammed, is designedto attract funds as soon as possible. He said that it is unsafe for the future of the Saudi economy and would bringgreater risks.

The experts criticism shed light on the freedom ofexpressionconcerning sovereign decisions in Saudi Arabia, and resulted in a large social segment announcing Feb. 11 on Twitter with the Arabic hashtag that translates to #Thepeople_Oppose_Aramco_Sale that was used in more than 30,000 tweets thatthey oppose the IPO.

Following the criticism, Saudi Commerce and Investment Minister Majed al-Qusaibijustified the decision. On Feb. 12, he said the IPO offering does not represent "selling the company,"and made reassurances that the state will continue to own an overwhelming majority of shares, guaranteeing its control over Aramco.

Saudi human rights activist Abdullah al-Nasseri told Al-Monitor over the phone that freedom of expression exists in Saudi Arabia when it comes to the debate over economy-related issues, and that this freedom has reached a record level. He explained that this freedom is an undeniable fact, given that the issue was boldly addressed and raised objective criticism. Nasseri, however, said that freedom of expression has declined to unprecedented levels in human rights and political issues, but did not provide examples.

Mohammed al-Muadi, a spokesman for the Saudi Human Rights Commission, toldAl-Monitorthat Saudi regulations, based on Sharia, safeguard legitimate means of expression and guarantee communication between citizens and their officials at all levelsto achieve the greater good in accordance with Article 43 of the 1992 Basic Law of Government. It stipulates, The king's court and that of the crown prince shall be open to all citizens and to anyone who has a complaint or a plea against an injustice. Every individual shall have a right to address the public authority in all matters affecting him.

Muadi said that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression as long as this freedom does not prejudice public order, the community and social constants. He added that although it is a form of restriction, this restriction does not contradict the laws and regulations, as Article 39 of the Basic Law of Government states that all media outlets shall employ courteous language and abide by the state's regulations to contribute to the countrys education and foster its unity.

He said Saudi Arabia prohibits any opinions that would stir strife and division, or would prejudice the countrys security and foreign relations, or are deemed offensive to human dignity and rights. Muadi said that these restrictions are in harmony with Article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others.

Muadi believes that all Saudi citizens are granted full civil and political rights, guaranteeing the right of every person to embrace his opinions without any harassment.

A state of despair continues to prevailover Saudi civil servantsas decreased oil revenues have caused monthly salaries to declinefollowing a government decisiononSept. 26. This is added to the delayed Citizens Account Program, which was approved Dec. 22by the Saudi Cabinet to enhance citizens living conditions following the raising prices of basic services such as fuel, electricity and water.

In terms offreedom of expression, the Saudis are more likely toarticulate their opinions on Twitter than in local newspapers. Mohammed al-Bishr, the head of the Center for Global Thought on Saudi Arabia, told Al-Monitor that citizens are not interested in newspapers whose editors-in-chief oppose freedom of expression.

Bishr said that for many years the editors-in-chief of local newspapers have opted for writerswho have placed their personal interests and orientations over the countrys and citizens genuine interests, with readers' comments not including the opinions of ordinary citizens. He said that this has resulted in many readers refraining from reading newspapers and instead resorting to Twitter, where they feel less restrictedin expressing their opinions. According to Bishr, Saudi newspapers are subject to both government censorship and control of thesenewspapers officials, which have prevented them from reporting things as they are in reality.

On Aug. 31, the Communications and Information Technology Commission reported thatthere are more than 22 million internet users in Saudi Arabia. Also, a recent study announced at the Gulf Youth Media Forum in Riyadh said that 11 million Saudis have Twitter accounts and account for 33% of the tweets in the Middle East.

The editor-in-chief of Al Riyadh newspaper, Suleiman al-Osaimi, saidOct. 3that public responsiveness to Twitter has widely affected Saudi newspapers, whose profits decreased in 2016, causing salary delays and layoffs. In addition, economic conditions have led to declining ads and subscriptions, which are a major source of revenue, while electronic journalism has been on the rise.

Read More: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2017/04/saudi-decision-aramco-ipo-spark-debate-freedom-of-expression.html

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Is freedom of expression on the rise in Saudi Arabia? - Al-Monitor

Nazareth 5, Freedom 1 Rapid Recap

Nazareth softball team improved to 4-0 this season with a 5-1 home win over Freedom on Saturday afternoon at Nazareth Area Intermediate School.

Top performers: Adams went 3-for-4 with an RBI for Nazareth. Edwards had two hits and a pair of RBIs for the Blue Eagles. Junior third baseman Paige Hahn gave Nazareth a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a two-run double. Hann had two hits and Esterly reached base twice for Nazareth. Sophomore pitcher Samantha Gorkos struck out nine and didn't walk a batter in seven innings to earn the victory.

Patriots third baseman Makenzie Smith went 2-for-3 with an RBI single. Second baseman Juliana Presto added two hits for Freedom.

What it means: The Blue Eagles moved to 4-0 on the season and 3-0 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. Nazareth hosts Pleasant Valley on Monday. The Patriots fell to 0-2 overall and 0-1 in the EPC. Freedom hosts East Stroudsburg South on Monday.

Box score and more coverage

Josh Folck may be reached atjfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter@JoshFolck.FindLehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

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Nazareth softball team beats Freedom - lehighvalleylive.com - lehighvalleylive.com

Odisha Sun Times

PM Modi to felicitate Odisha freedom fighters' families Odisha Sun Times Prime Minister Narendra Modi will felicitate the families of Odia freedom fighters during his two-day visit in Odisha. Modi will honour the families of freedom fighters, who sacrificed their lives in fight against British rule. The PM will felicitate ... Paika revolt: Prime Minister to felicitate kin of freedom fighters on April 16The New Indian Express all 3 news articles »

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PM Modi to felicitate Odisha freedom fighters' families - Odisha Sun Times

Peoples hobbies are not incidental or irrelevant to big picture issues, as we may imagine. They are not outside of politics. It is through these subcultures that different peoples often find each other, literally. Road running clubs, choirs, churches, community theatre these are the places where the social fabric of a nation is knitted together.

Road running is one of South Africas most entrenched and diverse sub-cultures. Wherever you live, if you get up early on any morning you will find people of all ages, races and shapes running into the dawn, trawling empty roads. Sometimes you find them in small groups. But more often than not they are in a lonely bubble of concentrated selfhood. In our country, particularly at this time of year, all their roads and aspirations lead to the mighty Comrades marathon in early June.

Comrades, as they call it, is like a giant that leers down upon the lives of every runner, inviting them to come to visit his castle.

But the hard streets of concrete and tar are not my subject today.

I want to tell you about trail running: a subculture of that subculture. Trail races take place off-road, along paths, through mountains, forests and sometimes deserts. They have a different set of legends and heroes.

(But before I go there let me divert briefly off course Let me say as an aside that peoples hobbies are not incidental or irrelevant to big picture issues, as we may imagine. They are not outside of politics. It is through these subcultures that different peoples often find each other, literally. Road running clubs, choirs, churches, community theatre these are the places where the social fabric of a nation is knitted together. These are the places where otherness is dismantled and community is found. These are initiation schools for the awareness and understanding of Ubuntu, our mutual dependence on each other. Ubuntu, not as command, but as discovery and opportunity of humanness.

For this reason, if I were a Minister of Arts and Culture rather than treating my portfolio as a cul-de-sac where I have been parked in order to have time to pursue other interests, I would invest heavily in support to these groups. Dream on

But back to the path I am a trail runner. I can say those words with pride and conviction. So it was that earlier this year I found myself on the starting line of a beautiful three-day trail race called the Three Cranes Challenge.

Outwardly the Three Cranes is a test of endurance. Its total distance, 100kms, is divided over three days. But these are not the ordinary kilometres faced by a road runner these are kilometres that break down into their 1,000 parts, where each metre is felt in hard climbs up and then back down mountains; along paths that meander through forests; across tufted grass lands, over rocks. One irony of trail running is that while you are enveloped in beauty, its not wise to take your eyes off the path in front of you without risk of a fall.

On the Three Cranes you ascend, then descend, the Mbona and Gilboa mountains each day.

This year I ran the Three Cranes for my third time. Such is its allure. Perhaps because you cant be distracted by the splendour around you, perhaps because physical endurance concentrates the mind wonderfully, my thoughts mainly turned inwards.

Many runners will tell you of the epiphanies they experience on the road. Many of my life decisions came at me in this way. This time, as I pushed my way through forest and field, my mind began to reflect on the value of each passing second and the meaning of the freedom I was experiencing as I ran.

I had freedom to stop, to start, to divert from my path; freedom to splash in the streams I crossed, to pause and marvel at a passing view, or a passing moment; to notice a cloud burst, or a cloud blossom in real time on the landscape in front of me. I had freedom and opportunity to study the enduring minutiae of plant life, tree branches and vines whose play and the patterns they form unfold unnoticed. I heard birds sing before I saw them, changed my footstep to protect a passing vole.

These thoughts led somewhere darker. They made me realise what it means for the freedom fighter to be imprisoned, what the denial of freedom actually amounts to. I thought of the years that leaders like Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada, Dorothy Nyembe, Barbara Hogan and many others had spent in prison. I realised how we so easily clump these years into one stretch of time erasing the hours and seconds that way overlooking what the amputation of time actually means for a prisoner. What being imprisoned actually takes away from a person.

I suddenly felt and valued my own freedom. I wanted to embrace it and protect it, knowing that there are people out there who would happily take it away from me too.

I suddenly felt and valued human life. I was struck by wonder of the planet we have been placed on.

In this context, thinking of un-freedom, of a dark, uniform, never changing prison cell, became terrifying.

However, the beauty I was witnessing was also a strong vindication of the freedom fighter. The spiders web of freedoms I was entangled in at that moment was the essence of the freedoms we fight for. These earthy freedoms are part of our being and humanity, part of our inter-relationship with our planet. They do not exist for some. They should be there for all. Access to and understanding of their beauties by all will make for a better humanity. Thats why I fight for human freedom.

And on that understanding I resolved to continue the race and put my best foot forward in the struggle for freedom and equality. DM

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Mark Heywood - Daily Maverick