Murky Empires

Hawaiians are studying how "powerful" nations deal with very distant colonies.

96% here voted to remain in the European Union, but...

(27 Dec 2017, Gibraltar border)

Ignored Inheritance

Native Hawaiians received an apology from the USA for overthrow of the Kingdom (US Public Law 103-150). 

But without compensation for illegally seized lands & property, Native Hawaiian inheritance is hugely and wrongly diminished. 

Chief beneficiary of this aggressive crime is the US Federal Government, who occupy far too much of the 1,800,000 acres of crown, government & public lands of the Kingdom of Hawaii taken without the consent of or compensation to the Native Hawaiian people or their sovereign government. 

Until legal reconciliation is achieved, Native Hawaiian descendants should not be liable for US Federal taxes or duties.

Han Sang-gyun, political prisoner in Korea

South Korea continues to imprison Han Sang-gyun (한상균), the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions KCTU President. He was arrested for leading demonstrations against the corrupt Park Geun-hye administration. Although a new government is now in power, he's still held behind bars as a political prisoner.

Amnesty International (link) as well as the global Public Services International (link) trade union federation, and many others monitoring global injustice demand Korea release Han Sang-gyun. President Moon Jae-in, a positive force in many ways, could pardon Han Sang-gyun immediately. Non-violent civil disobedience should be cherished in South Korea... instead, we see resurgence of controls & democracy suppressed.

Corruption & chauvinism in South Korea must be stopped.
Free Han Sang-gyun !

American Accounting

When a person is kidnapped, beaten, and forced to work many months or years without pay, there should be criminal liability; surely businesses or individuals profiting from forced labor should pay compensation. Simply to free the slaves is not enough.

 

Much ado abo

Why's Democracy Bullshit? Count the Days

US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died 13 Feb 2016.

As required by the US Constitution, the President nominated Scalia's successor, but while Congress was in session the Republican-controlled Senate took no action for 326 days.

Another nominee from the new President was eventually confirmed -- but the important US Supreme Court seat was vacant for 420 days.

This type of tactic is improper; it taints semi-Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Expect the same delaying tactic with the recent democratic election of Doug Jones as US Senator for Alabama. Because Republican control of the Senate will be negatively impacted, they'll go slow.

Senator-elect Jones will only be able to take-up his seat after any recount is conducted, and "either campaign could request a recount. As long as that campaign is willing to put up a bond and pay to cover the cost, the state will recount the votes. Sen. Luther Strange (R-Ala.), who had been appointed to fill the seat until the special election, will remain Alabama's junior senator as long as the process takes." (link)

Rich scum ignore democracy as long as possible.

Withdrawal Method May Fizzle

The UK government under Theresa May seeks to favourably re-position the nation by withdrawing from the European Union.

Some segments of the populace may indeed benefit. But many others will suffer grievously.

Can Britain setup as a wholly independent player in a world where teamwork offers the many benefits of lower transaction costs and economies-of-scale? Much alarm has been generated by xenophobia - but surely the UK has much more to offer than deliberately painting itself out of a diseased world.

Decent people should be worried by Theresa May & Boris Johnson manipulations, and especially spiritual leader Nigel Farage and his UK Independence Party. The Theresa May government's use of half-truths is shocking. Sudden pie-in-the-sky assurances and gross dishonesty may keep them in office for more weeks, but the nation and even the world are put at risk by their deceits.

After months of vague & secretive backroom bunco, PM May's sudden explicit assurances are so much hot air aimed to save her job -- wholly unreliable. This historic process needs attention far beyond partisan politics or the conceit of a handful of individuals.

Mr & Mrs Anglican, please confirm from any Roman Catholic older & wiser: forget WITHDRAWAL -- it's both unfulfilling & unsafe.