Mystery of the DEAD herring: What made 20 TONNES of fish wash up on Norwegian beach?
By Lee Moran
Last updated at 7:53 PM on 2nd January 2012
Thousands of dead herring have been discovered washed up on a north Norwegian beach - prompting Doomsday predictors to hail it as another sign the world is set to end.
More than 20 tonnes of the fish is currently carpeting the beach of Kvaenes, in Nordreisa, with experts views differing on how they have come to be there. One thing is for sure, it will provide welcome ammunition to those believing the Mayan prophecy that 2012 will bring the end of Earth.
Jan-Petter Jorgensen, 44, was walking with his dog Molly when he found the stinky haul.
Washed up: Molly the dog seen walking around the tonnes of dead herring that have mysteriously appeared on a beach at Kvaenes in Nordreisa, northern Norway
He said: 'People say that something similar happened in the 80s. Maybe the fish have been caught in a deprived oxygen environment, and then died of fresh water?'
Experts have said the school could have been trapped by tidal waters after predatory fish - such as coalfish - chased them towards the shoreline.
More...
Another theory is that the fish were washed ashore during a recent storm, or trapped in shallow waters and affected by freshwater from a river that flows into the bay.
Jens Christian Holst, of the Institute of Marine Research, said several factors could have come together at once. And he said he hoped they would be able to conduct tests on the dead fish to see if they had died of a disease.
The incident in Norway is not the only mass death mystery over the New Year.
On Sunday, 200 blackbirds mysteriously fell from the sky in a small Arkansas town - although officials now believe the birds were targeted by someone with fireworks, experts say.
Mystery death: One of the hundreds of blackbirds that fell out of the sky on New Year's Eve in Arkansas
Last month 25 dead horses were discovered at the bottom of a cliff near Glenn Innes, New England.
And similarly bizarre and unexplained massacres took place on the opening days of last year, with millions of spot fish washing up in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland, more blackbirds dying in Arkansas, and masses of marine life dying in a Louisiana bayou.
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@RWT i doubt that would work, because if you know the end is coming would you not just spend all you have to have a great time before it happens OR as many already do just try to move to safety to some remote tropical place, OR start to build bunkers, buy weapons and supplies ... why would anyone give you they money, they will need it especially if the end is coming ... with that said i dont believe in magical predictions, but i do believe in possible intelligent manipulation of circumstances.. for example using the Mayan prediction to start WW3 would be perfectly logical timing
- siiix, earth, 03/1/2012 17:28
Then it started to rain wine, and this wise guy said"O.K. I´ll feed 10 thousand"
- St.Pedro-Juan-Pablo-Mateo, ex pat, 03/1/2012 16:03
These are capelin, not herring and it is perfectly natural. This is what they do after breeding. Look it up, and stop trustng the ridiculous media to report anything intelligently anymore. Fromwikipedia: Capelin or caplin, Mallotus villosus, is a small forage fish of the smelt family found in the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. In summer, it grazes on dense swarms of plankton at the edge of the ice shelf. Larger capelin also eat a great deal of krill and other crustaceans. Whales, seals, cod, squid, mackerel, beluga whales and seabirds all prey on capelin in particular during the spawning season of the capelin while it migrates southwards. Capelin spawn on sandy beaches and sandy bottom at the age of 2–6 years, and have an extremely high mortality rate on the beaches after spawning, for males close to 100% mortality.
- Steve, Perth, Australia, 03/1/2012 15:51
@Levenson, UK. Please step away from the drugs. Keep your hands where I can see them... *lol*
- john, scotland, 03/1/2012 15:14
Why are so many people convinced this is the end times yet sit about reading articles like this and no doubt commenting on various bikini ones too. Yes!!! Trumpets blasting: there will be no 2013 - whilst they actually think... whatever, can't be bothered, what's for dinner... Stories like this don't help. It's a freaky dead fish day. Let's move on.To 2013 and solving the problems of this world as opposed to sitting about waiting for Biblical Execution, which is the top hobby of the negative and nihilist. Can't wait for 22/12/12 when all this is a Harold Camping fiasco revealed.
- Levenson, UK, 03/1/2012 14:27
<< What made 20 TONNES of fish wash up on Norwegian beach? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Maybe it was the tide ???? Obvious innit !!!!
- Old Geordie, Geordieland, 03/1/2012 13:56
if it's manipulated, there is a reason and no one is going to tell us why. if it's not, perhaps we should think about what we are doing to our planet and how we can be the change we want to see. there is not a lot of room for anything else.
- The Real Chezza, Aberdeen, UK, 03/1/2012 13:40
So long and thanks for all the fish.
- John, Bucks, England, 03/1/2012 11:59
Youtube: 10000 cattle drop dead in Vietnam ( 19/1/2011)..... I believe a weapon is being used on birds, animal, and fish, probably using some kind of frequency that stops their hearts. How can cows drop dead by the side of people, without effecting people???
- CJ, Ireland, 03/1/2012 11:49
They must have heard gags and bieber trying to sing and decided to end it all.
- Dai Laffin, Welsh Wales, 03/1/2012 10:49
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Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Mystery as 20 TONNES of fish wash up on Kvaenes beach in Norway | Mail Online
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Dovetail: Voice to the People by Kevin Vogeltanz — Kickstarter
About this project
[Update 12/28: Check out our coverage in the San Francisco Bay Guardian! http://www.sfbg.com/2011/12/27/iprotest]
* * *
In Case You Don’t Have Time to Watch the Video . . .
First, thanks for checking us out! The Dovetail Project is designing a free smartphone app for sharing text messages that can’t be censored or shut down by third-parties. Dovetail is a direct response to the real-world crackdowns on digital communication we’ve seen this year in Egypt, London, and San Francisco. In each case, government (and complicit cell companies) censored digital speech by shutting down the cell and Internet grids, or by gathering a person's private cell data after the fact. So we’re designing a group text-messaging app that can’t be censored or shut down so that peaceful citizens can take their voices back.
What exactly is Dovetail; how does it work; and why do we need your help? Here are the bullet points (and please read further below for in depth answers on each issue):
1. Dovetail Is a Group Text Messaging App for People Physically Near Each Other: Dovetail can’t send a message to a particular person. Instead, Dovetail transmits text messages to and from people physically near you. Dovetail is designed to create giant, instant, ad-hoc “chats” with everyone who’s sharing the same space. Everyone can be a perfect stranger and join right in, because connections are based on physical proximity instead of who you’re already “following” or “friends” with. Dovetail will instantly connect big groups at rallies, protests, or just everyday big events (like concerts, festivals, sports, etc).
2. Dovetail Uses Peer-to-Peer Wi-Fi Instead of Cell or Internet Connections: Third-parties can censor and shut down our digital speech because almost all our communications rely on the cell and Internet grids. Dovetail frees itself by using only your phone’s built in wi-fi transmitter to communicate with the people near you. And to increase a user’s transmission range, any phone that receives a Dovetail message automatically “re-broadcasts” the message to all other nearby users, until a single message is distributed throughout the entire group. More on the technical side below, but that's actually a very special idea.
3. Dovetail Messages Are Free: Yep. Because all messages are distributed via peer-to-peer wi-fi, we’ve cut out cell companies entirely. Your messages are 100% free of charge (and Dovetail is free to use and download)!
4. Dovetail Has All Sorts of Other Cool Uses: Our inspiration was helping people take back their digital voice, but we're also excited about so many other uses for Dovetail: natural disaster knocked out the cell grid? Dovetail re-connects neighborhoods. Got tickets to the big game? Dovetail lets you chat with all the other fans at the stadium in real time! Want to know which is the freshest item at Saturday's farmers' market? Dovetail lets you see what everyone else is chatting about (and eating). The possibilities are almost endless!
5. Dovetail Needs Your Help! Here’s the honest truth. We've got a small group, and we’ve been working hard for the past few months on the early versions of the app and this kickstarter presentation. We’re using our own phones as test devices, computer equipment to develop the app, and our own cash to pay for all the little incidentals that have come up. But we estimate we need another $30,000 to make the app usable and polished, and to bring it online. After Kickstarter/Amazon take out their fees, we’ll use every penny to buy all the test devices we can get our hands on (right now we’re doing a lot of modeling in MATLAB to make up for our relatively small number of phones), plus some modest upgrades to our development equipment. Whatever is left over will go towards paying an additional programmer to come in and help us finish/port the app as quickly as possible. If you believe in the idea, please think about donating $5 or more right now.
6. Remember – Dovetail Is Free: I know, I know. Our “rewards” aren’t very sexy. Hey, I could say we’d give you a “free” copy of Dovetail for your $5 or $20 donation, but that defeats the whole point of Dovetail. We want people in Syria, Beijing, Oakland, and everywhere else to just grab the app and start using it. In other words, anyone can get the app for free, even if you don’t donate. Instead, what we’re offering is a BIG thank you; official recognition on our webpage; a cool dovetail bumper sticker; and some one-on-one time with us so we can get to know each other better. For everyone who’s already donated – THANK YOU. We love looking at your profile, learning about you, and it’s just plain awesome that you believe in Dovetail.
Spread the word!
Thanks!
Open and Shut: Schapelle Corby on a point of order
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Schapelle Corby on a point of order
ABC TV The details of the Freedom of Information application and the documents in dispute are not clear but Schapelle Corby is contesting a decision by the Australian Federal Police to deny access to some documents claimed exempt on grounds relating to the security, defence or international relations of the Commonwealth. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal in what might be the first published decision on the interpretation of amendments that came into effect in November 2010, was asked to rule on procedure arising from the requirement in s 60A:Before determining that the document is not an exempt document under section 33, the Tribunal must request the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security to appear personally and give evidenceThe legal representative of the AFP, and the Inspector-General submitted that the section compels a second hearing if the Tribunal is minded to release documents after a first hearing. President Justice Downes and Deputy President Handley noted that a second hearing would "amount to an unusual, even unique, process" and
- ....create a number of problems. First, after a first hearing, the Tribunal would receive submissions on the documents and evidence before it at that time. The submissions to be put by an applicant would have to address that state of affairs. It is at least possible that such submissions might be compromised at the time of a further hearing, after further evidence from the Inspector-General, which affected the state of the evidence.
- Other practical problems arise. Is the respondent to be given a further opportunity to put on evidence after the Inspector-General? Is the applicant to be given a further opportunity to put on evidence after the Inspector-General? The rules of procedural fairness would almost certainly ensure that at least the applicant should be entitled to put on further evidence and make further submissions. There is also the unusual fact that, before the Inspector-General was invited to give evidence, the Tribunal would be required, on the case put by the Australian Federal Police and the Inspector-General, at least on a preliminary basis, to form a view that the documents should be released. It is not the habit of courts or tribunals in Australia to release draft decisions and then invite further submissions, yet de facto that is what is being suggested here.
The Tribunal found nothing in s 60A that compelled the “two hearing approach.”"It seems to us that the Tribunal, at any time that seems appropriate to the Tribunal, can make a request under s 60A, and the steps that s 60A require will come into play."[18]No orders were issued, and the Tribunal suggested ways in which the matter could proceed to hearing likely to be in late February or March, when more about the documents in dispute will be revealed.(Update-there is quite a Corby related FOI queue at Customs and the AFP)
Peter Timmins
Peter Timmins is an Australian lawyer and consultant who works on FOI and privacy protection issues in Sydney, NSW. He has Arts and Laws (Honours) degrees from the University of Sydney, and has been involved in the FOI field for 25 years.He provides professional management advice and assistance to agencies on FOI related implementation issues and assists applicants who seek access to government information. Peter is an experienced public speaker and commentator on these issues. See Career Summary for more details.
Monday, 2 January 2012
Iran: List of imprisoned journalists and bloggers « Arshama3's Blog
Iran: List of imprisoned journalists and bloggers
2 VotesOn December 1, 2011 the Committee to Protect Journalists has published a worldwide prison census for journalists, declaring the Islamic Republic of Iran „as the world’s worst jailer, with 42 journalists behind bars, as authorities kept up a campaign of anti-press intimidation that began after the country’s disputed presidential election more than two years ago.“
Back in December 2010 Tehran Bureau had already posted a most useful report on 34 imprisoned Iranian journalists, providing their full names and data.
The real figures for the Islamic Republic are however much higher as the following list proves. I posted it first in February 2010, based on the data by CPJ from February 2010 and The Guardian’s Spreadsheet of the victims of Iran’s crackdown from January 2010, regularly updated since. While some of the listed journalists may have been released or even have fled the country in the meantime, all other cases are fairly well documented by reports from Iranian human rights websites as RAHANA (Human Rights House of Iran), HRANA or the Green Voice of Freedom.
Even if one ignores the names lacking recent informations, more than 70 imprisoned journalists, bloggers and human rights reporters are still left over, while more than 80 journalists have been released on bail, awaiting their sentences or facing imprisonment. Recent additions with gratitude to the list of political prisoners, compiled by Lissnup.
A List of the 100+ Journalists Detained Since the 2009 Elections has been published in July 2011 by expatriate reporter Masih Alinejad, parts 1 and 2 of this report are also available in German translation on Julia’s Blog.
Reporters Without Borders has firmly condemned a new wave of arrests of Iranian journalists between 1 August and 27 September 2011 without any official reason being given. Two Kuwaiti reporters arrested on spying charges in November 2011 in Abadan have been released and returned home on December 18, 2011.
This list will be updated on a regular base. Any additional data by our readers are most welcome.
82 imprisoned journalists, bloggers and human rights reporters (last updated 31 December, 2011)
1. Adnan Hassanpour, Aso, arrested January 25, 2007
2. Mohammad Seddigh Kaboudvand, Payam-e Mardom, arrested July 1, 2007, sentenced to 11 years in prison
3. Hossein Derakhshan, freelance, blogger, arrested November 2008, sentenced to 19.5 years in prison September 30, 2010, returns to Evin after prison furlough April 3, 2011
4. Ahmad Zaid-Abadi, freelance, arrested June 2009
5. Kayvan Samimi, Nameh, arrested June 14, 2009, released on bail March 16, 2010, return to prison March 20, 2010
6. Bahman Ahmadi Amouee, freelance, arrested June 19, 2009, sentence of 5 years in prison confirmed
7. Issa Saharkhiz, freelance, arrested July 3, 2009, sentenced to 3 years in prison, 6 years occupational ban on September 27, 2010, sentenced to 2 additional years in prison for „media activity“ on August 3, 2011
Issa Saharkhiz
8. Massoud Bastani, Farhikhtegan, Jomhooriyat, arrested July 5, 2009, sentenced to 6 years in prison, total ban from press, transferred to solitary confinement in Rajai Shahr prison after being beaten and hospitalised on June 5, 2011
9. Saeed Matinpour, Yar Pag and Mouj Bidari, arrested July 12, 2009, sentenced to 8 years in prison, reported in critical health condition 10 March 2011
10. Mohammad Hossein Sohrabi Rad, Saham News, arrested September 2009, sentenced to 4 years in prison
11. Mohammad Davari, Saham News, arrested September 9, 2009, sentenced to 5 years prison on 16 May 2010, upheld on appeal 4 August 2010, sentenced to an additional year in prison on 25 July 2011 all while suffering for months with severe depression in Evin Prison
12. Mehdi Mahmoudian, journalist, member of reformist Participation Front, arrested September 16, 2009, reported to have suffered heart attack in prison on January 28, 2011, reported to be in critical health condition on August 19, 2011
13. Seyed Hossein Ronaghi Maleki (Babak Khorramdin), freelance, arrested December 13, 2009, sentenced to 15 years in prison
Hossein Ronaghi Maleki
14. Karim Arghandehpour, journalist, blogger, Salam, Vaghayeh Ettefaghieh, arrested June 14, 2009
15. Mostafa Dehghan, freelance, arrested January 4, 2010
16. Naghi Ahmadi Azar, 5 years in prison for „espionage against Armenia and in favour of Azarbaijan Republic“
17. Abolfazl Abedini Nasr, weekly Bahar Ahvaz, arrested March 3, 2010, sentenced to 11 years in prison, sentence increased to 12 years in prison by appeals court in October 2011
18. Houtan Abolfathi, freelance, arrested February 15, 2010
19. Ali Pirhasanlou, journalist and blogger „Alpar“, arrested September 18, 2009
20. Alireza Rajai, arrested after 2009 elections, later released, rearrested during raid on his home and sent to Evin prison on 24 April 2011, allowed first visit on 3 June 2011
21. Maryam Zolfeghar, IRNA reporter, arrested June 22, 2009, current status unknown
22. Saeed Massoud Lavasani, journalist and blogger, arrested September 26, 2009, sentenced to 6 years in prison, 10 years occupational ban
23. Mohammad Pour Abdollah, freelance, arrested February 13, 2010
24. Morteza Moradpour, Yazligh, arrested May 22, 2009, sentenced to 3 years in prison, sentence upheld on appeal February 2010, assumed to be in Tabriz prison
Morteza Moradpour
25. Sousan Mohammadkhani Ghiasvand, Kurd blogger, human rights activist, arrested March 11, 2010, released three weeks later, rearrested in Karaj on February 14, 2011
26. Khalil Mir-Ashrafi, journalist, TV-Producer, arrested June 14, 2009
27. Hassan Assadi Zeidabadi, blogger, student, human rights activist, no further data on arrest, sentenced to 5 years in prison September 10, 2010
28. Saeedollah Behdashti, journalist, Qazvin, arrested June 20, 2009, list of prisoners from March 2010
29. Saeed Movahedi, photojournalist, arrested July 9, 2009
30. Seyed Emar Kalantari, journalist, cleric, Ayandeh website, arrested July 2009
31. Akbar Azad, journalist and author, Varligh and Yarpagh, arrested May 25, 2010
32. Arash Saghar, journalist, arrested November 22, 2009, sentenced to 8 years in prison October 13, 2010
33. Shahin Zeynali, journalist, sentenced to 2 years and 91 days in prison
34. Hassan Etemadi, journalist, sentenced to 2 years in prison
35. Yahya Samadi, Sanandadj, former editor of Souran weekly, arrested July 27, 2010
36. Siamak Ghaderi, journalist, IRNA, arrested August 7, 2010, sentenced to 4 years in prison January 24, 2011
37. Mehdi Jalil-Khani, author, freelance, Zanjan, arrested January 18, 2010, sentenced to 3 years in prison, sentence confirmed August 9, 2011
38. Mohammad Reza Mogheiseh, Bist-saleh-ha, arrested October 24, 2010, sentenced to 6 years in prison in 2010
39. Mehdi Hosseinzadeh, arrested December 1, 2009, sentence of 1 year in prison, released on bail January 28, 2010, returned to prison January 31, 2010
40. Mehran Rajabi, journalist, ISNA, ILNA, Kargaran, Etemade Melli and Hamshahri, arrested February 7, 2011, held incommunicado
41. Hamed Ataei, editor in chief of Aina News, sentenced to 4 months in prison January 5, 2011
42. Omid Mohades, journalist, Shahid Beheshti website, arrested February 9, 2011
43. Taghi Rahmani, freelance journalist and Mehdi Karroubi’s advisor, arrested February 9, 2011
44. Nozhat Amirabadian, journalist, Fararu, Aftab, and Hammihan News, arrested February 11, 2011
45. Abdollah Naseri, former head of the Islamic Republic New Agency IRNA, spokesman to reformists, arrested February 14, 2011
46. Parsa Bahmani, journalist, Shiraz, Afsaneh daily, fined to 1 million Toman after first arrest in June 2009, rearrested on March 1, 2011, no data on his status
Parsa Bahmani
47. Ahmad Nourmohammadi Abadchi, blogger, arrested at home after raid of security forces in mid March 2011, whereabouts unknown
48. Mina Shahrvand, blogger, arrested at her home after raid of security forces on February 3, 2011, transferred to an unknown location
49. Houman Mousavi, blogger and political activist, arrested on April 1, 2009, spent 211 days in solitary confinement in Evin ward 240, transferred to ward 209, both controlled by intelligence ministry, no formal accusation since arrest
50. Artin Ghazanfari, Baha’i photojournalist, arrested after Ashura events in December 2009, released on bail on April 3, 2010, started 1 year sentence in Evin on April, 16, 2011
Artin Ghazanfari
51. Ali Ebrahimi, blogger and civil activist, arrested in Tehran after raid on his home on February 20, 2011, transferred to Evin, ward 240, no formal accusation since arrest
52. Sima Didar, Azeri journalist and civil activist, sentenced to 6 months in prison, arrested in Tabriz, when fetching her identity cards in Saeb prison on April 16, 2011, transferred to Tabriz prison on April 18, 2011
53. Manuchehr Tamri, reporter to IRNA, arrested by security forces in Sanandaj on April 17, 2011
54. Hassan Zohouri, journalist for Cultural Heritage Organisation, arrested on February 8, 2010, released on bail, sentenced to 6 months in prison, returned to Evin prison, ward 350, on April 20, 2011
55. Alireza Firouzi, Zanjan University student, journalist, human rights activist, arrested several times, last on January 2, 2010, sentenced to 6 months in prison after appeal, started sentence on May 27, 2011
56. Hamzeh Karami, website Jomhooriyat, arrested June 19, 2009, temporary release for medication on July 19, 2010, moved to Evin solitary confinement on May 10, 2011, returned to ward 350 on May 15, 2011
57. Rahman Gh. Bonapour, reporter to Diplomatic Hamshahri, Tehran Emrooz dailies, arrested on June 3, 2011, held in Evin prison, no recent information available
58. Saeed Moghanli, Azeri journalist, poet and civic activist, arrested after raid against father’s home on June 8, 2011
59. Solmaz Ikdar, journalist, arrested at Hoda Saber’s funeral at Behesht-e Zahra on June 13, 2011
60. Zahra Yazdani, journalist for Asr-e Eghtesad, arrested at home on June 21, 2011
Zahra Yazdani
61. Kamal Sharifi, Kurd political activist and journalist, arrested in 2008, sentenced to 30 years in prison, exiled to Hormozgan Province, transferred to hospital in Minab Prison after a four weeks hunger strike on June 28, 2011
62. Alireza Beheshti Shirazi, Kalameh Sabz, arrested December 23, 2009, released on bail October 30, 2010, summoned to Evin prison on 12 July 2011 to serve 5 years sentence
63. Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, head of Iranian Journalists Association, sentenced to 16 months in prison: December 10, 2010, released on bail, summoned to Evin prison on July 19, 2011 to serve sentence
64. Blogger and political and civil rights activist Ali Kalaei summoned to Evin prison to serve his 7 years sentence on 25 July 2011
65. Saeed Jalalifar, Committee of Human Rights Reporters, arrested December 2, 2009, released on bail March 2010, rearrested on July 31, 2011
66. Kouhyar Goudarzi, veteran journalist for the Committee of Human Rights Reporters, arrested and sent to Evin December 20, 2009, sentenced to 1 year in prison on June, 2, 2010, released after serving 1 year sentence on December 15, 2010, rearrested in Tehran, his mother Parvin Mokhtare arrested in Kerman on August 6, 2011, transferred to Evin prison ward 209 after 3 months in solitary confinement
67. Arash Azrahimi, photojournalist in Babolsar district, arrested on Ashura 2009, sentenced to 1 year in prison for „propaganda against regime“ on August 7, 2011
68. Faranak Farid, writer and translator who contributes to the Feminist School website, arrested on 3 September 2011 in the northwestern city of Tabriz
69. Reza Entesari, photojournalist for Majzooban Noor website linked to Gonabadi dervishes, arrested on 5 September 2011, held in Evin prison ward 209, still held in Evin being unable to pay the bail on 14 November 2011
70. Hadi Ahmadi, reporter to official news agency ISNA, arrested on September 22, 2011
71. Mehrdad Sarjouyi, reporter English-language dailies published in Iran, arrested at his home more than two months ago as reported on September 25, 2011
72. Ali Dini Torkamani, writer and economist who contributes to the online magazine Alborznet, arrested between 1 August and 27 September without any official reason being given
Ali Dini Torkamani
73. Ali Nazamolmolki, ISNA reporter in Shiraz, arrested by Intelligence Ministry and transferred to the No. 100 Detention Center on October 3, 2011
74. Farzad Sadri, ISNA reporter in Shiraz, arrested by Intelligence Ministry and transferred to the No. 100 Detention Center on October 3, 2011
75. Saeid Nazari, ISNA reporter in Shiraz, arrested by Intelligence Ministry and transferred to the No. 100 Detention Center on October 3, 2011
76. Hakhamanesh Younesi, ISNA reporter in Shiraz aged under 18, arrested by Intelligence Ministry and transferred to the No. 100 Detention Center on October 3, 2011
77. Hassan Fathi, journalist, arrested for „cooperating with BBC Persian“ on November 12, 2011
78. Rojin Mohammadi, blogger, medical student, arrested after returning to Iran, transferred to Evin prison on November 23, 2011
79. Farshad Ghorbanpour, journalist and author, Ham-Mihan, Kargozaran, Farhikhtegan, sentenced to 1 year in prison, fine of 5 million Toman, released on bail, arrested at raid of intelligence forces on his home on December 2, 2011
80. Bahar Alinia, blogger, student and political activist, abducted after leaving home in the week before December 3, 2011, no data on whereabouts available
81. Reyhaneh Tabatabai, Shargh, Chelcheragh, arrested December 12, 2010, released on bail January 16, 2011, rearrested on December 13, 2011
82. Hamid Moazeni, journalist and author from Bushehr, Mehdi Karroubi’s campaigner, recent articles published on Rooz Online, arrested on September 27, 2011, released on bail on October 10, 2011, rearrested on December 24, 2011
Released on bail or sentenced to prison
1. Sassan Aghaee, freelance, arrested November 22, 2009, released on bail March 28, 2010
2. Shiva Nazar Ahari, Committee of Human Rights Reporters, arrested December 20, 2009, released on bail September 12, 2010
3. Saeid Haeri, political and civil rights activist, Committee for Human Rights Reporters, released on bail, sentenced to 2 years in prison on furlough January 20, 2011
4. Mehraneh Atashi, freelance photojournalist, artist, arrested January 11, 2010, released on bail
5. Behzad Mehrani, journalist, blogger, human rights activist, arrested March 3, 2010, released on bail April 16, 2010
6. Nasour Taghipour, blogger, Ghazvin, arrested March 2, 2010, released before court on June 21, 2010, sentenced to 7 years in prison on January 8, 2011
7. Somayeh Momeni, Nasim-e Bidari, arrested February 7, 2010, released on bail March 13, 2010
8. Mehdi Yazdani Khorram, journalist to Etemad-e Melli, Shargh, Hammihan, Kargozaran, transferred to hospital in December 2009
9. Azam Veysameh (Vismeh), journalist to Shargh, ILNA, Irandokht, Shahrvand, arrested May 31, 2010, released on bail July 21, 2010
10. Narges Mohammadi, journalist, speaker of Defenders of Human Rights Center, arrested June 10, 2010, released to hospital on July 1, 2010, sentenced to 11 years in prison on September 27, 2011, awarded the Swedish Per Anger prize on October 25, 2011
Narges Mohammadi
11. Hamed Saber, photojournalist, arrested June 21, 2010, released on bail August 8, 2010
12. Amirhadi Anvari, journalist, Shargh, arrested December 9, 2010, released on bail December 15, 2010
13. Abdolreza Tajik, journalist and human rights activist, third arrest June 11, 2010, released on bail December 22, 2010, sentenced to 6 years in prison March 12, 2011
Abdolreza Tajik
14. Hadi Heydari, cartoonist, arts editor of Etemad-e Melli, arrested December 19, 2010, released on bail December 27, 2010
15. Ahmad Gholami, deputy chief editor of Shargh, arrested December 7, 2010, released on bail December 29, 2010
16. Ali Khodabakhsh, financial manager of Shargh, arrested December 7, 2010, released on bail December 29, 2010
17. Farzaneh Roustaie, editorial staff Shargh, arrested December 7, 2010, released on bail January 17, 2011
18. Keyvan Mehregan, politics editor of Etemade Melli, sentenced to 3 years in prison, second arrest on December 7, 2010, released on bail January 17, 2011
19. Ali Anjam-Rouz, journalist for Gilan, arrested February 27, 2010; released on bail May 7, 2010; court date September 27, 2010
20. Omid Montazeri, freelance, arrested December 30, 2009, released on bail April 5, 2010
21. Hamid Mafi, Farhang-e Ashti, Etemad-e Melli, Kargozaran, arrested February 9, 2010, released on bail February 22, 2010, sentenced to 5 years in prison September 16, 2010
22. Mojtaba Lotfi, freelance, cleric, arrested October 8, 2008, released and sent to Ashtian for 10 years in exile on July 9, 2010
23. Mansoureh Shojai, freelance, feminist websites, arrested December 29, 2009, released on bail January 29, 2010
24. Kayvan Farzin, Farhang-e Ahang, arrested January 2010, released March 2010
25. Nooshin Jafari, Etemad, arrested February 3, 2010, released on bail March 3, 2010
Nooshin Jafari
26. Morteza Kazemian, Jonbesh-e Rah-e Sabz (Jaras), arrested December 29, 2009, released on bail May 3, 2010, sentenced to 1 year in prison November 14, 2010
27. Farshad Azizi, Atrak, Mashhad, arrested January 7, 2010, released on bail January 14, 2010
28. Mehdi Gilani, Atrak, Mashhad, arrested January 6, 2010, released on bail January 14, 2010
29. Kaveh Ghassemi Kermanshahi, arrested February 3, 2010, released on bail May 23, 2010, sentence reduced to 4 years in prison on March 16, 2011
30. Kambiz Nouruzi, head of Association of Iranian Journalists, arrested June 28, 2009, sentenced to 1 year in prison
31. Mahboubeh Khansari, journalist, Kaleme Sabz, Hammihan and Shargh, arrested May 31, 2010, released on bail June 28, 2010
32. Mirhamid Hassanzadeh, editor of Ghalam News website, arrested August 4, 2009, released on bail August 16, 2009
33. Mehrdad Rahimi, freelance and blogger, arrested January 1, 2010, released on bail March 8, 2010
34. Ramin Jabbari, blogger and journalist, Bayram, Nedaye Moghan, Yashil Moghan, arrested May 17, 2010, released on bail May 28, 2010
35. Mostafa Jamshidi, journalist, editorial staff of Yashil Moghan and Nedaye Moghan, arrested May 18, 2010, released on bail May 19, 2010
36. Mostafa Kazzazi, journalist, editor of Seda-ye Edalat, sentenced to 11 months in prison July 28, 2010, assumed to be free pending appeal
37. Majid Saeedi, photojournalist, Tehran, arrested June 30, 2009, released on bail, eventually in 2009, sentenced to 3 years in prison
38. Mehran Faraji, journalist for Shargh, Etemad-e Melli, ISNA, ILNA, arrested December 9, 2010, held incommunicado January 8, 2011, transfered to Evin general ward January 25, 2011, released on bail February 4, 2011, sentenced to 1 year in prison on November 8, 2011
39. Jila (Zhila) Bani Yaghoub, journalist, editor in charge of the Iranian Women’s Center website, arrested June 20, 2009; released on bail August 19, 2009, sentenced to 1 year in prison and a 30-years ban from any journalistic activity
40. Rahim Gholami, Ardebil, freelance, arrested April 11, 2008, reduced sentence of 1 year in prison October 28, 2009, released on bail December 29, 2010
41. Badrossadat Mofidi, Iranian journalists Association, arrested December 29, 2009, released on bail June 6, 2010, sentenced to 6 years in prison, 5 years occupational ban August 3, 2010
Badrossadat Mofidi
42. Behzad Basho, journalist and cartoonist, arrested June 2009, released on bail June 26, 2009
43. Heydar Karimi, journalist, Khoy, arrested June 9, 2010, released on bail October 21, 2010
44. Keyvan Farzin, music critic for journal Farhang va Ahang, arrested January 2010, released on bail March 2010
45. Khalil Darmanki, Asr Azadegan, Shargh, Etemad-e Melli, arrested December 27, 2009, released on bail May 17, 2010
46. Mahmoud Mahmoudi, journalist, workers rights activist, Sanandaj, arrested December 26, 2010, released on bail January 6, 2011
47. Mazdak-Ali Nazari, journalist, arrested November 9, 2009, released February 8, 2010, sentenced to 40 months in prison, pending appeal December 5, 2010
48. Mohammad Atrianfar, journalist, leading member of Kargozaran Sazandegi party, arrested June 16, 2009, released on bail November 24, 2009
49. Mohammad Ghaznavian, journalist, arrested January 9, 2010, released on bail April 14, 2010, 5 year sentence reduced to 6 months on appeal January 7, 2011
50. Mohammad Ghouchani, journalist and editor in charge of Etemad-e Melli, Rasht, arrested June 18, 2009, released on bail October 30, 2009
51. Mehdi Zaboli, photographer with newspaper Hamshahri, arrested on 20 June 2009, released on bail 5 July 2009
52. Reza Nourbakhsh, Farhikhtegan, arrested August 4, 2009 , sentenced to 6 years in prison on 3 November 2009, sentence reduced to 3 years on appeal, released on bail 2 March 2010
53. Mostafa Izadi, Etemad-e Melli, arrested December 28, 2009, released on bail 1 February 2010
54. Navid Khanjani, human rights reporter, arrested 2 March 2010, released on bail 3 May 2011, sentenced to 12 years prison 31 January 2011
55. Pourya Mousavi, journalist, public relations director to Aeen journal, student activist, arrested 17 January 2011, released on bail 31 January 2011
56. Saeed Heydarpour, journalist, blogger, arrested 10 October 2010, sentenced to 5 years prison suspended for 5 years on 5 December 2010
57. Saeed Laylaz, editor of Sarmayeh, arrested June 17, 2009, sentenced to 15 years in prison, reduced to 6 years on appeal November 2009, released on leave April 2010
58. Zeynab Kazemkhah, ISNA, arrested February 7, 2010, released on bail March 7, 2010, sentenced to 5 years in prison November 22, 2010
59. Navid Mohebbi, freelance, arrested September 18, 2010, sentenced to 3 years in prison, suspended for 5 years, released on bail on December 25, 2010
60. Abdolnaser Mahimani, journalist, head of the Gorgan House of Press, arrested February 12, 2011, released on bail February 19, 2011
61. Maziar Khosravi, former editor of Aftab News, now journalist to Shargh, arrested February 11, 2011, released on bail February 24, 2011
62. Mohammad Hossein Mahimani, law student and photojournalist, Gorgan, arrested February 11, 2011, on hungerstrike, released February 27, 2011
63. Peyman Roshanzamir, blogger, Ahvaz, editor of Haft-e Tir website, arrested January 3, 2011, released on bail from Karoon prison March 1, 2011, refuses to defend himself in court in protest of unjust proceedings, May 14, 2011
64. Nazanin Khosravani, journalist, Nowrooz, Shargh, arrested November 3, 2010, released on bail March 15, 2011, sentenced to 6 years in prison for „propaganda against the state“ on April 17, 2011
65. Mahsa Amrabadi, journalist, Tehran, released on bail, sentenced to 1 year in prison, rearrested for participating in protest rally March 1, 2011, released March 16, 2011
Mahsa Amrabadi
66. Farhad Baghbani, journalist, member of Pan-Iranist party, arrested for several days on February 26, 2010; summoned to Ahvaz Revolutionary Court on June 29, 2010; charged with party propaganda in court of Ahvaz on April 4, 2011
67. Mohammad Nourizad, freelance, Keyhan, arrested December 20, 2009, sentenced to 3.5 years in prison and 50 lashes, released on bail June 23, 2010, return to Evin August 2010, temporarily released after surgery on February 24, 2011, return to Evin prison February 27, 2011, released on May 5, 2011
68. Younes Soleimani, Bu Ali Sina student (Hamadan), journalist, arrested on 17 June 2010, suffered heart problems after being tortured by electric shocks in the detention center of the Intelligence Ministry in Tabriz on 31 Aug 2010, expelled from university in February 2011, released on bail in November 2010, sentenced to 6 months in prison on 21 May 2011
69. Ali Malihi, Etemad, Irandokht, Shahrvand-e Emruz, Mehrnameh, arrested February 9, 2010, sentenced to 4 years in prison October 1, 2010, released on bail on May 4, 2011
70. Yaser Masoumi, technical expert for reformist newspapers Shargh, Sarmayeh and Bahar, arrested a few months after June 2009, released on bail after 70 days in Evin prison, appeals court approved sentence of 5 years in prison on 21 May 2011
71. Shiva Kamalipour Azad, journalist, member of Confederation of Iranian Students (CIS), arrested on 26 April 2011, released on bail on 25 May 2011
72. Hengameh Shahidi, journalist and women’s rights activist, second arrest February 25, 2010, sentenced to 6.25 years in prison, temporarily released on June 19, 2011
73. Farid Salavati, journalist, social and political activist who first reported on a gang rape in Khomeinishahr, arrested after raid on his home in Isfahan on June 11, 2011, temporarily released on June 20, 2011
74. Maryam Majd, photojournalist for Zanan and Tamasha magazines, apparently arrested at her father’s home in Tehran on June 16, 2011, released on bail on July 16, 2011
75. Fouad Sadeghi, chief editor website Ayandeh News, arrested February 10, 2010, released on bail March 1, 2010, rearrested some days before July 30, 2011, released after several days as reported August 3, 2011
76. Sam Mahmoudi Saraei, photojournalist to Shargh newspaper, arrested at the end of 2009, released on bail 10 February 2010, rearrested February 14, 2011, transferred to Evin Ward 350 after 1 month in solitary confinement on March 28, 2011, released on a bail of 300,000 dollars on August 13, 2011
Sam Mahmoudi
77. Mehdi Khazali, editor of Hayan, arrested June 29, 2009, released on bail, rearrested for the second time on July 18, 2011 and transferred to Evin, started hunger strike, first call since arrest from ward 209 on August 3, 2011, released on August 27, 2011
78. Mohammad Heydari, journalist and member of the National Religious party, contributed to reformist newspapers Khordad, Yas Nou, Shargh, and Nowrooz, arrested at his home in Tehran on October 5, 2011, released on bail on October 29, 2011
79. Mehdi Afshar-Nik, journalist for reformist Etemad-e Melli daily, arrested at his home in Tehran on October 5, 2011, released on bail on October 29, 2011
80. Ali Akrami, editor of the Sheydagooyi blog, member of the National Religious party, arrested in Tehran on October 5, 2011, released on bail on October 29, 2011
81. Saeed Saedi, Kurd journalist from Sanandaj, arrested 26 December 2010, reported as still detained by Amnesty on 6 January 2011, released on bail in March 2011, sentenced to 3 years in prison on November 10, 2011
Saeed Saedi
82. Davood Khodakarami, journalist and human rights activist, arrested by Intelligence forces in Zanjan on November 18, 2011, temporarily released on bail on December 4, 2011
83. Amir Ali Allamehzadeh, journalist working for the official Iranian news agency ILNA, arrested on September 24, 2011 without official charges, no news about whereabouts after 3 weeks, allegedly held in ward 2 A of Evin prison run by the intelligence service, released on bail on December 21, 2011
Sentenced journalists who have left Iran (incomplete)
1. Ali Moazzami, Shargh, arrested March 8, 2010, released March 19, 2010, has fled Iran
JONATHAN TURLEY - Final Curtain: Obama Signs Indefinite Detention of Citizens Into Law As Final Act of 2011 « JONATHAN TURLEY
President Barack Obama rang in the New Year by signing the NDAA law with its provision allowing him to indefinitely detain citizens. It was a symbolic moment to say the least. With Americans distracted with drinking and celebrating, Obama signed one of the greatest rollbacks of civil liberties in the history of our country . . . and citizens partied only blissfully into the New Year.
Ironically, in addition to breaking his promise not to sign the law, Obama broke his promise on signing statements and attached a statement that he really does not want to detain citizens indefinitely.
Obama insisted that he signed the bill simply to keep funding for the troops. It was a continuation of the dishonest treatment of the issue by the White House since the law first came to light. As discussed earlier, the White House told citizens that the President would not sign the NDAA because of the provision. That spin ended after sponsor Sen. Carl Levin (D., Mich.) went to the floor and disclosed that it was the White House and insisted that there be no exception for citizens in the indefinite detention provision.
The latest claim is even more insulting. You do not “support our troops” by denying the principles for which they are fighting. They are not fighting to consolidate authoritarian powers in the President. The “American way of life” is defined by our Constitution and specifically the Bill of Rights. Moreover, the insistence that you do not intend to use authoritarian powers does not alter the fact that you just signed an authoritarian measure. It is not the use but the right to use such powers that defines authoritarian systems.
The almost complete failure of the mainstream media to cover this issue is shocking. Many reporters have bought into the spin of the Obama Administration as they did the spin over torture by the Bush Administration. Even today reporters refuse to call waterboarding torture despite the long line of cases and experts defining waterboarding as torture for decades. On the NDAA, reporters continue to mouth the claim that this law only codifies what is already the law. That is not true. The Administration has fought any challenges to indefinite detention to prevent a true court review. Moreover, most experts agree that such indefinite detention of citizens violates the Constitution.
There are also those who continue the long-standing effort to excuse Obama’s horrific record on civil liberties by either blaming others or the times. One successful myth is that there is an exception for citizens. The White House is saying that changes to the law made it unnecessary to veto the legislation. That spin is facially ridiculous. The changes were the inclusion of some meaningless rhetoric after key amendments protecting citizens were defeated. The provision merely states that nothing in the provisions could be construed to alter Americans’ legal rights. Since the Senate clearly views citizens are not just subject to indefinite detention but even execution without a trial, the change offers nothing but rhetoric to hide the harsh reality. THe Administration and Democratic members are in full spin — using language designed to obscure the authority given to the military. The exemption for American citizens from the mandatory detention requirement (section 1032) is the screening language for the next section, 1031, which offers no exemption for American citizens from the authorization to use the military to indefinitely detain people without charge or trial.
Obama could have refused to sign the bill and the Congress would have rushed to fund the troops. Instead, as confirmed by Sen. Levin, the White House conducted a misinformation campaign to secure this power while portraying Obama as some type of reluctant absolute ruler, or as Obama maintains a reluctant president with dictatorial powers.
Most Democratic members joined their Republican colleagues in voting for this unAmerican measure. Some Montana citizens are moving to force the removal of these members who they insist betrayed their oaths of office and their constituents. Most citizens however are continuing to treat the matter as a distraction from the holiday cheer.
For civil libertarians, the NDAA is our Mayan moment. 2012 is when the nation embraced authoritarian powers with little more than a pause between rounds of drinks.
So here is a resolution better than losing weight this year . . . make 2012 the year you regained your rights.
Here is the signing statement attached to the bill:
————-THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 31, 2011
Statement by the President on H.R. 1540
Today I have signed into law H.R. 1540, the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.” I have signed the Act chiefly because it authorizes funding for the defense of the United States and its interests abroad, crucial services for service members and their families, and vital national security programs that must be renewed. In hundreds of separate sections totaling over 500 pages, the Act also contains critical Administration initiatives to control the spiraling health care costs of the Department of Defense (DoD), to develop counterterrorism initiatives abroad, to build the security capacity of key partners, to modernize the force, and to boost the efficiency and effectiveness of military operations worldwide.
The fact that I support this bill as a whole does not mean I agree with everything in it. In particular, I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists. Over the last several years, my Administration has developed an effective, sustainable framework for the detention, interrogation and trial of suspected terrorists that allows us to maximize both our ability to collect intelligence and to incapacitate dangerous individuals in rapidly developing situations, and the results we have achieved are undeniable. Our success against al-Qa’ida and its affiliates and adherents has derived in significant measure from providing our counterterrorism professionals with the clarity and flexibility they need to adapt to changing circumstances and to utilize whichever authorities best protect the American people, and our accomplishments have respected the values that make our country an example for the world.Source: ABC
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FACEBOOK - Open Comment to Liam Byrne MP - Respect For the Unemployed & Benefit Claimants'
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Respect-For-the-Unemployed-Benefit-Claimants/128136787240200
Look at our ideas and policy suggestions
Stop designing policy based on a complete disregard for the evidence
IMMEDIATELY stop reinforcing the scrounger narrative - it makes a Labour Party look utterly ridiculous and confirms dangerous stereotypes.We will win the public Liam. I promise you. By 2015, we will have made this the "NHS 1997" issue.So stop casting around for spurious, tough-talk soundbites, that conveniently stuff a few billion more in private pockets and get a real strategy on disability.I suggest you do it very quickly indeed. Those prepared to apologise for these failures may retain some credibility.The arrogant will simply be exposed as those who oversaw the biggest abuse of sickness and disability rights and protections since the welfare state was introduced."
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http://diaryofabenefitscrounger.blogspot.com/2012/01/open-comment-to-liam-byrne.html?spref=tw
