Reader’s links for Jan. 25 – 2015

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In order to preserve the flow of conversation about various posted items, and also in order to make it easier for visitors to find the list of related links being shared by other readers, regulars and interested parties in one place, each day a post is automatically created at a minute past midnight ET.

This way, under the various posts of the day, conversation can take place without as much ‘noise’ on the various links and articles and ideas in the main posts and all the news links being submitted can be seen under these auto-posts by clicking on the comments-link right below these ones.

Thank you all for those that take the effort to assist this site in keeping the public informed. Below, typically people can find the latest enemy propaganda, news items of related materials from multiple countries and languages, op-eds from many excellent sites who write on our topics, geopolitics and immigration issues and so on.

About Eeyore

Canadian artist and counter-jihad and freedom of speech activist as well as devout Schrödinger's catholic

88 Replies to “Reader’s links for Jan. 25 – 2015”

  1. Germany: Suspected arson attack near planned refugee centre in Witten

    Two wooden buildings near planned refugee shelter went up in flames in the west German city of Witten, Monday.

    The fire brigade was alerted about a fire in the outskirts of Witten, and upon their arrival, the firefighters found two single-storey wooden houses already in flames. The firefighters worked on protecting the neighbouring building, which will be housing about 25 people, families from Syria and Iraq starting February.

    According to local authorities, the building used to be a Waldorf education institute. It is yet unclear if the building can still be used to house refugees.

  2. CNN Exclusive: ISIS ‘intervention’ in France

    CNN gets exclusive access to an “intervention” session as counselors struggle to rid one girl of the poisonous ideology that nearly led her to join ISIS.

  3. EU interference in Brexit referendum not ruled out (UKIP MEP Louise Bours)
    EU interference in Brexit referendum not ruled out (UKIP MEP Louise Bours)

  4. The Economist – 🙂 🙂 🙂

    An ill wind

    In Europe and at home, Angela Merkel’s refugee policy is being blown away

    […]The winter weather has dented the refugee flows to Greece from Turkey, but not as quickly as hoped. Over 1,600 a day have reached Greece this month, a higher rate than last July when the crisis was already in full swing.

    […]A growing number of Moroccans and Algerians, hailing from poor but peaceful countries, are coming to Germany, exploiting the trail blazed by Syrians and Afghans.

    […]Their main hopes, though, lie in an “action plan” the EU cooked up with Turkey in October, which promised money and other prizes in exchange for efforts to stem the migrant flows. Mrs Merkel believes that Turkey can help by disrupting people-smuggling networks and stepping up coastal patrols. But, despite the incentives, there is little sign of Turkish action so far.

    […] the relocation scheme has flopped too: many countries want nothing to do with refugees, and refugees have no interest in most countries

    […]The assumption that Germany’s tight labour market was tailor-made for job-hungry migrants has given way to the grim realisation that most are an ill fit for an economy mainly seeking highly skilled workers. The head of one business group reckons almost 80% of refugees have next to no skills at all.

    […]Mrs Merkel continues to insist that there can be no cap on the number of refugees Germany accepts, and the constitution agrees with her. But increasingly, reality does not.

    Mrs Merkel’s model presented an inspiring alternative to the small-minded xenophobia of leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban. Now, after the chaos and trauma of the past six months, Mr Orban feels vindicated and the chancellor looks increasingly isolated.

    http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21688896-europe-and-home-angela-merkels-refugee-policy-being-blown-away-ill-wind

  5. Netherlands: Protest in Elden against decision to turn nursing home into refugee centre

    Several hundred anti-refugee protesters and far-right activists took on the streets of Elden, on Monday, to protest against the Dutch authorities’ decision to convert a former nursing home into a refugee acceptance centre.

    The far-right party Dutch People’s-Union leader, Constant Kusters, an organiser of the rally, said that it is evident that wherever there are refugees, problems are certain to arise. According to Kusters refugees are committing “not normal criminal behaviour and sexual behaviour that we see in Germany.”

    The protesters marched through the streets before gathering in front of the nursing home which is scheduled to receive around 350 refugees in the following days.

  6. the right scoop – CNN being INVESTIGATED for insulting the president of Turkey

    CNN Türk’s news ticker read “‘Dictator” on trial,” using the word in quotation marks.

    An investigation was launched on Jan. 25 into CNN Türk on claims that the private broadcaster “insulted” President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a news report

    So CNN uses the word ‘dictator’ in quotes their chyron to represent the remark made by the CHP leader, and now they are being accused of insulting the president? Pretty soon even neutral reporting of the news in Turkey won’t be allowed.

    Erdogan isn’t just a fascist, he’s a megalomaniac who is squashing any and all dissent wherever he can find it. At this rate he’ll be Sultan/Caliph before you can blink.

    http://therightscoop.com/cnn-being-investigated-for-insulting-the-president-of-turkey/

  7. Austria: Anti-refugee protesters hold candlelight vigil outside parliament

    Supporters of the right-wing Identitarian Movement of Austria (IBO) held a candlelight vigil in front of the Austrian parliament in Vienna, Monday, to protest against the European Union and Austria’s asylum policy.

  8. Belgium: Denmark faces EP grilling over plan to seize refugees’ valuables

    The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament held a plenary session in Brussels, Monday, to discuss the Danish government’s controversial bill that would allow asylum seekers’ assets to be seized to pay for their accommodation. The session was attended by Danish Foreign Minister Kristian Jensen and Danish Minister for Immigration, Integration and Housing Inger Stojberg.

  9. CBC – Syrians feel ‘hopeless’ as government-sponsored refugees in Toronto, mother says

    Some government-sponsored Syrian refugees staying at a budget hotel in Toronto say they feel like they’re “trapped in a prison” without hope due to a lack of communication, supplies and assistance.

    Virginia Johnson, one of two volunteers working at the hotel, joined CBC Radio’s Metro Morning on Monday to speak to host Matt Galloway.

    Johnson said the refugees have been at the hotel for weeks and have no idea when they will be able to leave. Some of the 85 government-sponsored refugees say they’re not getting much help, and would rather go back to their refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon.

    “The settlement agencies are overwhelmed,” said Johnson. “There’s a huge opportunity for individuals to step up and help.”

    ??Zaneb Adri Abu-Rukti, a Syrian mother, spoke through a translator at the Toronto hotel, and said she did not expect to be there for so long.

    “We were told that when we arrived to the hotel that we would only be staying for three to four days maximum. However, things have been changed and we’ve been here for 10 to 11 days, and we’ve been told it could be even longer. The problem is that we have kids and we would only be staying for three to four days maximum. However, things have been changed and we’ve been here for 10 to 11 days, and we’ve been told it could be even longer. The problem is that we have kids and we would rather be outside in a settled house than sitting at a hotel,” Abu-Rukti said.

    “We feel like our kids are just stuck here. We go into one room, we eat, and then we return to other room and just go to bed. Our kids don’t have anywhere to play, nowhere to go out. We feel like we’re just trapped in a prison.”

    ‘2 classes of refugees’

    Kate Bate, a Canadian who has been doing volunteer work, said some newcomers feel isolated.

    “We’re worried, first of all, that we’re facing a major mental-health crisis if somebody doesn’t start going in there and speaking to them every single day to find out if they are doing OK. For the past week and a half, and in one case there’s a guy who’s been there for a month, and no one has been talking to them,” Bate said.

    “We’re very worried that what we are facing is, two classes of refugees. We’ve got this nurtured, loved, family supported by 35 families, and then we’ve got 100 families supported by one or two people,” the volunteer said.

    “It is the government’s problem — but I don’t think we blame the government for this. They wanted to bring people here, to get them out of harm’s way as quickly as possible. And then the plan still has to be established, but as citizens of this country, we are responsible to also be part of that process, and it’s a global citizenship issue.”

    Abu-Rukti added many of those who came with her were getting more help in Lebanon and Jordan.

    “They used to provide for their families, but now they feel like they can’t do that and they’re hopeless.”

    ‘It must be very scary’

    Johnson said people are struggling to address basic issues such as winter boots to go outside, for children who have never before experienced a Canadian winter.

    Even something as simple as getting medical help for a young one who isn’t feeling well is difficult for the newcomers, who are struggling to adapt to the new language, cold conditions and lack of support, she said.

    Johnson said she had to help bring some children to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children after a Syrian man approached her for help. It was later discovered the children were dealing with a bacterial infection.

    “They’re scared, it must be very scary,” she said. “I don’t expect them to feel gratitude immediately when they’ve come here — they’re really so isolated … their kids are dying to go outside and play and they can’t.”

    The volunteer said the difference between government and privately sponsored refugees is “vast,” and the immigration minister should modify his approach.

    “John McCallum needs to allow private sponsor groups to sponsor government-sponsored refugees,” said Johnson. “To me, it would make sense to allow those government-sponsored refugees to be sponsored immediately.”

    For the Syrian mother, the isolation is taking a toll.

    “I feel even though we chose to come out to Canada and it was something that we chose to do, it was our right and we chose it, however, it’s not what we expected and it’s not what we thought we would come into,” said Abu-Rukti.

    “Maybe this isn’t where I should be. Another lady asked to return and the Canadian Embassy said: ‘There is no way you guys can return now.'”

    CBC News has reached out to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for comment, but has yet to hear back.

    on yahoo news :
    https://ca.news.yahoo.com/syrians-feel-hopeless-government-sponsored-084300776.html

    on CBC :
    http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/syrian-refugees-hotel-toronto-1.3418220

  10. Czech President Says UN Schools Materials On Migrants are Idiotic and Dangerous… ‘As Naive As Bolshevik Propaganda’ (breitbart, Jan 25, 2016)
    http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/01/25/czech-president-says-unhcr-schools-materials-on-migrants-idiotic-and-dangerous-as-naive-as-bolshevik-propaganda/

    “The Czech President has attacked an “idiotic” and “dangerous” school project about migrants which is promoted by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), warning that it puts children at risk.

    Czech President Milos Zeman was being interviewed on Czech Television when he criticised the ‘Hello Czech Republic’ materials aimed at teaching primary and secondary school pupils about migrants, reports the Czech News Agency. He said:

    “The comics are another idiotic project of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR]. I think that it is just as naive as Bolshevik propaganda that, though it did not have the form of comics, was essentially just as stupid.”

    The project materials, based on ones used in Sweden, include a comic book and film which tell the story of a boy called Hamid who sets off from Afghanistan to Sweden. In addition, the story of a Kurdish girl sent to Sweden by her mother is told in a 13 minute long film.

    The awareness campaign aims to put children in the role of migrants. As such another element, intended to show school pupils what migration looks like from the point of view of the migrant, invents the story of a nuclear disaster forcing ten million Czechs to leave their country.

    Mr. Zeman said that the use of comics “simplifies the situation” and that “stupid propaganda is dangerous”. Illustrating the point he said he believes that when in real contact with migrants, children behaving according to the materials could end up like a woman or a girl in a blind alley in Cologne.

    The UNHCR materials were brought to the Czech Republic by the non-governmental organisation META. The organisation claimed it had the backing of the Czech Education Ministry, but last week the department’s minister — Katerina Valachova — distanced herself from the project, a move which yesterday met President Zeman’s approval.

    She had assured fellow lawmakers the ministry did not assist in the preparation of the materials and would not distribute them to schools, reports Prague Monitor, saying that “by no means will I allow children to be scared this way or involved in the serious nationwide debate”.

    Opposition deputy Miroslava Nemcova asked whether the campaign amounts to propaganda aimed at pouring “the wonder of multiculturalism in children’s heads”.”

  11. VICE NEWS – The Kohistan Story: Killing for Honor

    In May 2012, a grainy cellphone video emerged in a remote and deeply conservative village in northern Pakistan. The video showed four young women singing and clapping in a room as two young men danced to the music. The village elders saw the celebration as a blatant defiance of strict tribal customs that separate men and women at gatherings, and a decree was issued for those in the video and their families to be killed as their actions were deemed ‘dishonorable.’

    The women and one of their sisters, aged just 12, were allegedly imprisoned for a month and tortured before being killed. The men went into hiding but three of their brothers were shot dead.

    Every year, nearly a thousand people are known to be killed in the name of honor in Pakistan. Many more go unreported, considered a part of everyday life — but the killings in Kohistan became national news after the surviving brother of the victims made it his mission to seek justice. VICE News host Hani Taha travels to Pakistan to meet Afzal Kohistani to investigate one of the country’s most perplexing honor killing cases, three years on.

    Produced by Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, VICE News finds out some of the grimmest truths about the pervasive culture of so-called honor killings in the region.

  12. Pakistani migrant killed on Greek-Macedonian border as EU vows tighter security (tribune, Jan 25, 2016)
    http://tribune.com.pk/story/1034153/pakistani-migrant-killed-on-greek-macedonian-border-as-eu-vows-tighter-security/

    “A Pakistani man was stabbed to death on the Greek-Macedonian border on Monday as the European Commission pledged to increase security at a key point for migrants on their route from Greece to northern Europe.

    The incident occurred near no-man’s-land on the border between Greece and Macedonia, where thousands of migrants of different nationalities gather daily, hoping to secure passage to other destinations in Europe.

    Two other Pakistanis were hurt in the early morning attack allegedly carried out by Afghans, local police said.

    Both survivors were hospitalised but one is in critical condition, they said.

    No arrests have been made.

    Greek media reported that the assailants stole 400 euros ($435) and a cellphone…”