Что иностранцы знают о России? Пару лет назад мне пришла в голову мысль спрашивать в поездках у иностранцев, что они знают о России. Фотографировать их и собирать всю информацию воедино. Но, начав этот проект в Токио (в 2008 году), я потом как-то забыл о нем. Теперь же решил заняться этим основательно :-) Поэтому, я решил пригласить к участию в этом проекте всех желающих! Для того, что бы ваша информация попала в собираемую статистику, необходимо следовать простым правилам. Подойти в любой стране к иностранцу и спросить: - откуда вы? Потом надо сфотографировать нашего собеседника или собеседницу. Это обязательные пункты. Есть и не обязательный, но желательный: - кем вы работаете (для определения социального статуса)? Собранную информацию постите в комменты и я добавляю её в основную запись со ссылкой на вас. Если же вы не зарегестрированы в ЖЖ, то можете прислать всю информацию мне на электронную почту - mix_pr собачка mail.ru Ну, а теперь, представляю вам то, что уже успел собрать я сам (в хронологическом порядке): 1. 2.
Iraq war logs: Secret order that let US ignore abuse | World news A prisoner was kneeling on the ground, blindfolded and handcuffed, when an Iraqi soldier walked over to him and kicked him in the neck. A US marine sergeant was watching and reported the incident, which was duly recorded and judged to be valid. The outcome: "No investigation required." That was a relatively minor assault. Other logs record not merely assaults but systematic torture. This is the impact of Frago 242. Frago 242 appears to have been issued as part of the wider political effort to pass the management of security from the coalition to Iraqi hands. The systematic viciousness of the old dictatorship when Saddam Hussein's security agencies enforced order without any regard for law continues, reinforced by the chaotic savagery of the new criminal, political and sectarian groups which have emerged since the invasion in 2003 and which have infiltrated some police and army units, using Iraq's detention cells for their private vendettas. And it does continue.
Миф о красоте русских женщин Если котик кажется милым — это паразит диктует вам свою волю. Фотография: Thinkstock Мы привыкли, что котики милые. Кандидат биологических наук и научный журналист Александр Панчин рассказал о механизмах котогнездового паразитизма, и тех уловках, благодаря которым пришельцу удается убедить хозяина в том, что он — член семьи, а значит нуждается во всей доступной еде, любви и заботе. ( О котанах, жуках-извращенцах и природе влеченияRéduire ) Обсудить в блоге автора
Toxic legacy of US assault on Fallujah 'worse than Hiroshima' - Middle East, World Iraqi doctors in Fallujah have complained since 2005 of being overwhelmed by the number of babies with serious birth defects, ranging from a girl born with two heads to paralysis of the lower limbs. They said they were also seeing far more cancers than they did before the battle for Fallujah between US troops and insurgents. Their claims have been supported by a survey showing a four-fold increase in all cancers and a 12-fold increase in childhood cancer in under-14s. Infant mortality in the city is more than four times higher than in neighbouring Jordan and eight times higher than in Kuwait. Dr Chris Busby, a visiting professor at the University of Ulster and one of the authors of the survey of 4,800 individuals in Fallujah, said it is difficult to pin down the exact cause of the cancers and birth defects. In the assault US commanders largely treated Fallujah as a free-fire zone to try to reduce casualties among their own troops.
Buxfer: Free online personal finance software for budgeting and money management Iraq more dangerous than a year ago, U.S. review finds The findings contrast with public statements by U.S. diplomatic and military officials in Iraq and come as Washington awaits a final decision by Iraqi leaders on whether they want U.S. troops to stay in the country beyond the expiration of a three-year security agreement in December. U.S. officials have said they are willing to extend the American military presence into 2012 only after receiving a formal request from Iraqi leaders. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other top leaders postponed a meeting scheduled for Saturday to debate any future U.S. military presence, once again dashing hopes of quickly resolving the issue. With about 46,000 U.S. troops still in Iraq, U.S. military officials are urging Maliki and his colleagues to reach a final decision before tens of thousands of U.S. troops begin departing this fall. Bowen’s report noted that 14 U.S. troops were killed by hostile fire in Iraq in June, the bloodiest month since April 2009. Maj.
Hobbit needs new law - expert Only a new law will give the American film studio Warner Bros the guarantee it wants on labour laws to keep The Hobbit in New Zealand, an employment law expert says. A decision on where Warner Bros will make the movies is expected by the end of the week, and last night Government advisers were looking at how they could clarify the law covering film workers - specifically on their legal status as contractors or employees. A meeting last night between Warner executives and senior Government ministers pinpointed labour laws as the greatest issue. Mr Key said the "paramount" problem was that film workers on independent contracts could be legally seen as employees, even if their contracts specifically called them contractors. That followed a Supreme Court ruling in 2005 on James Bryson, a model maker on the Lord of the Rings movies, who was deemed an employee, even though he was hired as a contractor. "They're not arguing people can't be employees," Mr Key said. - NZ Herald
security-of-iraqs-tiny-jewish BAGHDAD — An Anglican priest here says he's working with the U.S. Embassy to persuade the handful of Jews who still live in Baghdad to leave because their names have appeared in cables published last month by WikiLeaks. The Rev. "The U.S. "Most want to stay," White said. The U.S. "Protecting individuals whose safety is at risk because of the release of the purported cables remains a priority. It slammed WikiLeaks for releasing the cables. A furious White also hit the website for publishing the cables. WikiLeaks did not respond to a request for comment. "We had to warn them of the danger and tell them that we want them all to leave," White said. If White persuades Baghdad's remaining Jews to leave it will mark the end of a 2,700-year presence that dates to the Assyrian conquest of the Judean Kingdom. By the time U.S. forces invaded Iraq in March 2003, Baghdad's Jewish community, which had numbered about 130,000 in the 1950s before most fled to Israel, was down to about 35 members.
Hobbit to stay in NZ Prime Minister John Key announced tonight that The Hobbit movies - a $670m project - will be made in New Zealand. Government ministers - including Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee and Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Chris Finlayson - and Warner Bros executives have been locked in negotiations all day. Mr Key made the announcement at a press conference this evening. Tomorrow morning he is due to leave for Vietnam for the East Asia Summit. "I am delighted we have achieved this result, said Mr Key. "Making the two Hobbit movies here will not only safeguard work for thousands of New Zealanders, but it will also follow the success of the Lord Of The Rings trilogy in once again promoting NZ on the world stage." The Government will introduce legislation tomorrow to clarify the distinction between independent contractors and employees as it relates to the film industry only. "This will guarantee the movies are made in New Zealand," he said. - with NZ Herald staff
I am sorry for the role I played in Fallujah | Ross Caputi US soldiers return to their barracks at a military base outside Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004. Photograph: Stefan Zaklin/EPA It has been seven years since the end of the second siege of Fallujah – the US assault that left the city in ruins, killed thousands of civilians, and displaced hundreds of thousands more; the assault that poisoned a generation, plaguing the people who live there with cancers and their children with birth defects. It has been seven years and the lies that justified the assault still perpetuate false beliefs about what we did. The US veterans who fought there still do not understand who they fought against, or what they were fighting for. I know, because I am one of those American veterans. It is also the seventh anniversary of the deaths of two close friends of mine, Travis Desiato and Bradley Faircloth, who were killed in the siege. It could have been me instead of Travis or Brad. Travis and Brad are both victims and perpetrators.
Живой Журнал Living with the legacies of war - World The bombardments of Iraqi cities by the US and its allies are blamed for a 'staggering' rise in miscarriages and birth defects. It played unwilling host to one of the bloodiest battles of the Iraq war. Fallujah's homes and businesses were left shattered; hundreds of Iraqi civilians were killed. Its residents changed the name of their "City of Mosques" to "the polluted city" after the United States launched two massive military campaigns eight years ago. Now, one month before the World Health Organisation reveals its view on the legacy of the two battles for the town, a new study reports a "staggering rise" in birth defects among Iraqi children conceived in the aftermath of the war. High rates of miscarriage, toxic levels of lead and mercury contamination and spiralling numbers of birth defects ranging from congenital heart defects to brain dysfunctions and malformed limbs have been recorded. "The massive and repeated bombardment of these cities is clearly implicated here. Metal hazards Lead
Lonely Planet takes shine to Wellington (+photos) - Travel Wellington has been voted the fourth top city in the world to visit next year by Lonely Planet, while Auckland has been left out in the cold. Lonely Planet's Best in Travel in 2011 guide chose 10 cities based on feedback from bloggers, travellers, tweeters and a panel of in-house judges. The guide refers to Wellington as the "coolest little capital in the world". Prime Minister John Key, who first lived there between 1985 and 1988, said the capital was a good place to live. "It's a compact city, I think it has very interesting architecture [and] for all the hard time that Wellington gets about its weather, I think it adds to the dimension of the place," he said. "I thoroughly enjoy going round the harbour when it's blustery and windy. Wellington also had wonderful restaurants, he added. However, Mr Key said it was a stretch to say he preferred Wellington over Auckland. "Its compact size energises its sense of community. Lonely Planet's top 10 cities for 2011:
Журналисты разглядели на лице у Путина синяк - Статья на РБК-Украина Российский премьер-министр Владимир Путин прибыл с визитом в Украину с плохим настроением и чем-то похожим на большой синяк на скуле. Кроме этого у него на лице был очень заметен отек, который заметили журналисты во время встречи Путина с его украинским коллегой Николаем Азаровым . Все это было плохо замаскировано гримом. Украинские журналисты спросили у своих российских коллег, все ли хорошо у Путина со здоровьем. Как сообщается, Путин, который всегда отличался разговорчивостью и чувством юмора, был на этот раз молчалив. Путин, отказавшись комментировать наболевший газовый вопрос, отбыл в аэропорт.