Actually, the next president is doing just fine, thank you.

Posted by John Allen on Tue 17 Feb 2009 08:11:49 PM UTC

Trust me - it got REALLY hoppin' when Wyclef got onstage... 900 to a thousand people ...

Posted by John Allen on Tue 17 Feb 2009 04:11:11 PM UTC

shots

I can relate to shots. I own a gun shop. I like to sell guns.

Posted by Teri Lowery (guest) on Mon 16 Feb 2009 03:57:13 AM UTC

Yeah, the Anaconda Smelter Stack in Montana is WAY bigger, the washington monument could fit inside easily..

Posted by Bob (guest) on Sun 15 Feb 2009 11:37:46 PM UTC

Looks crowded.

Per the other person's comment ... it looks pretty crowded to me - for an inaugural ball, a party, anything!

Posted by Guest on Fri 13 Feb 2009 09:46:27 PM UTC

Obama Soda

Where can i get one of those Obama soda bottles???

Posted by Alex (guest) on Fri 13 Feb 2009 05:02:43 PM UTC

V. Gene Robinson

His invocation was not televised by HBO (the sole "broadcaster") ... do I sense there's a homophobe in the house?

Posted by John Allen on Thu 12 Feb 2009 09:56:38 PM UTC

Love The Shot

I have an affinity with apple trees though I have not grown one yet Lol! I love foreground covered with snow...really great shot.

Posted by Wood Flooring (guest) on Thu 12 Feb 2009 10:50:13 AM UTC

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka : The Last Round ?

Rene Wadlow

With the Sri Lankan government troops closing in to the remaining Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stronghold, it looks as if this is the last round of a military struggle that began in 1983 but whose roots go back at least to independence in 1948. The ongoing conflict between the Sinhala and the Tamils that has ebbed and flowed derives its emotional force, in part, from competing beliefs that began during the colonial period about legitimate rule, economic wellbeing, and sacred authority. I have tried in earlier articles to give some of the background to this conflict, and I will analyse the situation once the smoke of the guns fades.

I had thought that reason would win out over the irrational drive to settle complicated issues of social-political structures through armed violence. I seem to have been wrong since both the government and the LTTE gave up negotiations in exchange for a military ‘solution’. A military...

Sri Lanka : The Last Round ?

Rene Wadlow

With the Sri Lankan government troops closing in to the remaining Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stronghold, it looks as if this is the last round of a military struggle that began in 1983 but whose roots go back at least to independence in 1948. The ongoing conflict between the Sinhala and the Tamils that has ebbed and flowed derives its emotional force, in part, from competing beliefs that began during the colonial period about legitimate rule, economic wellbeing, and sacred authority. I have tried in earlier articles to give some of the background to this conflict, and I will analyse the situation once the smoke of the guns fades.

I had thought that reason would win out over the irrational drive to settle complicated issues of social-political structures through armed violence. I seem to have been wrong since both the government and the LTTE gave up negotiations in exchange for a military ‘solution’. A military victory seems now possible for the government forces.

There are two short-term dangers. There are some 200,000 people trapped between the LTTE militias and the government troops. There have been appeals from the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross for a cease-fire so that civilians, especially the sick and wounded, can leave the fighting area. As this is being written (10 Feb. 2009), there is no cease-fire and none seems in view.

There have been calls from the Government to the LTTE leadership to lay down their arms and end the fighting. Again, this is a logical possibility, but given past LTTE willingness to fight to the bitter end, a massive rendition seems unlikely. Thus, there may be a heavy loss of life of those caught in the cross-fire.

The second danger is revenge killings on a large scale. The Tamil-Sinhalese conflict has been extremely bitter. Many families in both communities have lost kin. Although binding up the wounds of war should be the first priority, there is always a danger that revenge killings take place. Logically, the establishment of social cohesion — that is, an ongoing process of developing a community of shared values and opportunities based on a sense of trust, hope and reciprocity — should be the prime aim of government policy. However, there are small groups of violent individuals who may be ready to kill for revenge or to get rid of rivals.

Therefore, the Office to the UN, Geneva, of the Association of World Citizens has sent a three-point appeal to the President of Sri Lanka, Mr Mahinda Rajapaksa:

1) calling for the respect of international humanitarian law as expressed in the Red Cross Geneva Conventions;

2) appealing for the protection of all civilians both during the on-going conflict and especially in the period following the end of armed conflict during which there is a danger of revenge killings. We are sure that Sri Lanka will respect universally-recognized human rights standards;

3) appealing further that serious consultations on the governmental and administrative structures of the State be undertaken so as to facilitate national unity based on the respect of individual views and aspirations.

Wide support for these three aims would be welcome. Letters could be sent to the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York:
H.E. H.M.G.S. Palikakkara
Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
630 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10017, USA


Rene Wadlow, Representative to the United Nations, Geneva, Association of World Citizens

Posted by Rene Wadlow (guest) on Wed 11 Feb 2009 09:04:50 PM UTC

Only the beginning.

This photo was taken when the Green Ball just started. More photos soon.

Posted by Luke Wilbur on Wed 11 Feb 2009 08:47:13 PM UTC