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Israel: Guilty Until Proven Guilty

For the month of June 2010, SWIVL enters the world of YouTube to show the media bias towards Israel even in the face of solid evidence.   SWIVL provides videos for your review that distinguish fact from fiction.  In a world where the media is more interested in theater than the truth, individuals are able to judge for themselves through primary video sources.   The result is that people are becoming more and more skeptical of the media as they are able to see events through their own eyes.

Media Unable to Ignore the Evidence: When confronted with compelling video evidence, many media outlets have been unable to contest the images of Israeli soldiers attacked with clubs, iron poles and knives.  The UK's Channel 4 News invited a British naval analyst and counter-terror expert to analyze IDF footage:

Facts Supporting the Videos: In the aftermath of Israel's raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, during which Israeli naval commandos were attacked and several passengers were killed, the media provided non-stop coverage with both information and misinformation. The following backgrounder sorts out the facts from the falsehoods.  Continue reading.

The primary aim of the Gaza flotilla was not to provide humanitarian relief; it was to cause a provocation with Israel. Its top organizers and some of its participants are radicals with ties to terrorist groups that sought a violent confrontation.  Netanyahu: "Israel Is Guilty Until Proven Guilty"

 

  

Probably the best example of how the international community has and continues to be manipulated by the anti-Israel public relations machine is a parody on We are the World.

What Daniel Pearl's decapitation means to Barack Obama

Even given Obama’s ever more terrifying and lethal performance in office, his comments about the jihadi murder of Daniel Pearl, and in front of Daniel’s bereaved family, are simply astounding. This is what Obama said:  ‘Obviously, the loss of Daniel Pearl was one of those moments that captured the world’s imagination because it reminded us of how valuable a free press is.’

Daniel Pearl was not murdered because he was a journalist. He was decapitated because he was an American Jew. Khalid Sheikh Mohamed cut off his head in an act of unimaginable barbarism, which was videoed in order to incite other Muslims to similar acts of barbarism and to destroy the will of the west to defend itself.  Continue reading.

THE WITNESS – One Person’s Journey to Say No to Violence, Cruelty, and Fur

For the month of May, SWIVL is proud to recommend a film that portrays both the best and worst of the human spirit while offering hope, renewal and the miracle of transformation.  THE WITNESS, one person’s journey that can change the world, shows how each person has the power to do good things and change the living conditions for those among us that are abused, tortured and left to die alone and afraid.

In the award-winning documentary, THE WITNESS, Eddie Lama explains how he feared and avoided animals for most of his life, until the love of a kitten opened his heart, inspiring him to rescue abandoned animals and bring his message of compassion to the streets of New York. With humor and sincerity, Eddie tells the story of his remarkable change in consciousness.

THE WITNESS has been an official selection in 32 film festivals where it has received eight awards for Best Documentary and two for Best of Festival.  The film has been translated into 11 languages, including Russian and Chinese. 

Best of all, you do not need to go to your local video store to view THE WITNESS.  Click here to begin viewing.

The World Has Turned Against Women

The world has turned against women.  When it comes to protection, education, dignity and self-worth, the United Nations has legally and institutionally said no to women’s rights.   While you may not find any UN proclamation that denies the rights of women or supports their exploitation, actions speak louder than words.

On April 30, 2010, the nations of the world promoted Iran – a country where young girls and women live in a state of constant terror - to a high level commission designed to protect the status of women around the world.   On this day world leaders sat on their hands, the US President was AWOL, and US Representatives to the United Nations were silent. 

Iran's selection to the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women is nothing more than a grotesque joke.  Making matters worse, the major media web sites, including ABC, NBC, and CBS, did not cover the Iran appointment.  Only Foxnews.com covered the Iran debacle. 

Iran was voted in by acclamation, with no opposition. A campaign by women's rights champions inside and outside Iran calling on the UN not to take this step fell on deaf ears.

Iran will now join other enthusiastic human rights advocates such as China and the Congo, along with the other 59 Arab countries in the UN to support women.  Clearly, the women of the world are at risk. 

SWIVL believes it’s time for the United States to support the rights of girls and women everywhere and to use its political and economic muscle to end the horrific treatment of women, particularly throughout the Middle East.  The first step is for President Obama to address the UN General Assembly and demand the expulsion of Iran under the threat that the US will remove all financial support. This action needs no debate, discussion, or task force.  It only requires that we put our money where our ideals are. In other words, it’s time to take action.

Iran was voted in by acclamation, with no opposition. A campaign by women's rights champions inside and outside Iran calling on the UN not to take this step fell on deaf ears. Click here for a close look at Iranian legal practices.

The US Contribution to the UN - The United States has the maximum assessed contribution to the UN regular budget -- 22%. In 2009 the assessed amount is $598,292,101. The minimum assessed contribution is 0.001%. The scale of assessments for each UN member for the required contributions to the regular budget is determined every 3 years on the basis of Gross National Product (GNP).

Only nine countries (starting with the largest contributor: United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada, Spain, China) contribute 75% of the entire regular budget. Cuba contributes .043% of the regular budget. Oil-rich Saudi Arabia contributes .713%.

Supremes Turn Their Back on Man’s Best Friend

Supreme Court rules animal torture videos as free speech.  Simply put our dogs and cats have little value according to the US Supreme Court and while it may be illegal to torture and murder them, individuals and businesses that electrocute, crush, drown, strangle, rape, and otherwise torture companion animals are protected by the US Constitution to produce, market, publicize, and distribute the video and material representation of these monstrous acts.   

Key media outlets joined forces to promote their right to publicize the torture of animals, claiming free speech as their defense, with the New York Times leading this unholy alliance.  Arguing their position, the New York Time, twisted the ugly truth about animal torture into the protection of animals.   Here is the 1984ish position of the NY Times:

The goal of preventing crush videos and other animal cruelty is certainly a worthy one.  It is this very interest in protecting animals from abuse that makes speech about their treatment so valuable. Press coverage serves the community by exposing animal cruelty such as crush videos, animal fighting and the mistreatment of animals at some puppy mills and slaughterhouses.

In other words, we should not prohibit the publicizing and marketing of these horrific videos – otherwise the New York Time and other media outlets could not publicize them.  

Only one Justice had the courage to tell the truth:  Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. dissented, saying the majority’s analysis was built on “fanciful hypotheticals” and would serve to protect “depraved entertainment.”

 

Chief Justice Roberts and other Supreme Court Justices should get out of their ivory tower to understand the connection between animal cruelty, child abuse and domestic violence.  Animal abusers are never satisfied with the torture of just animals.  More and more evidence shows that animal abuse leads to child abuse and domestic violence.

Does the majority of the Supreme Court really believe individuals who distribute videos that depict animal torture are not disposed to violent behaviors?  Do they believe that the Founding Fathers of our country would have given these horrific videos and merchandise the status of protected speech?  The Supreme Court’s decision to ignore the link between human and nonhuman animal abuse gives the animal torture industry a pass while endangering our children and families.  Like so many of our elected official, they are out of touch with everyday thinking Americans.

Promote an Arizona Online Registry of Convicted Animal Abusers

Join with SWIVL to promote an Arizona online registry of convicted animal abusers.  The registry will list people convicted of animal torture, mutilation, intentional killings, sexual abuse and animal fighting.   If passed, this law will require any person convicted of a felony involving animal cruelty to register with the police and provide an array of personal information along with a current photograph, much like sexual predators.  The information, along with the registrants' specific offense, would then be posted on the Internet.

While some might view a Registry for Animal Abusers extreme, the violent link between animal and human abuse represents a strong connection that requires immediate action to protect society – especially children.  Animal abusers are cruel and dangerous and the public has a right to know who they are and where they live. 

If you believe there are certain behaviors that a civilized society should not tolerate, show your support and commitment to ending this horrific form of violence.  It’s time for honest, law abiding citizens to require those that commit horrible, torturous acts to be responsible and accountable for their actions.  Animal abusers are not victims to be understood and analyzed – they are individuals that need to be identified and monitored so the cycle of violence is once and for all stopped.

Click here to become part of a system-wide movement for ending the cycle of violence.  Unlike other programs and strategies that either focus on only animal abuse, child abuse, or domestic violence, SWIVL takes the approach that violence is indivisible and that animal, child, and domestic violence are cut from the same cloth.  The glue that binds animal cruelty, child abuse, and domestic violence is the abuser’s intention to control and dominate the victim.  These criminals are calculating individuals that enjoy the cruelty and terror they inflict on others.  Beginning with animal cruelty, violent acts become obsessive, where the individual is prone to become more and more abusive. Strong evidence shows that many serial killers began with the torture of small animals – behaviors which are often dismissed by judges and public officials as insignificant. 

Join with SWIVL in support of an Arizona Registry for Animal Abusers.  The link between animal abuse, child abuse, and domestic violence is clear and our government has the responsibility to protect all citizens from these predators.   SWIVL is reaching out to animal rights and welfare organizations, child advocacy and domestic violence groups, and individuals who believe we need to do much more to protect society and end the cycle of violence. 

The second American Revolution

How can we believe the news when it is paid for?  ABC news paid for a high profile story.  A CNN reporter admits paying to stage a story.   CBS pays for how the news is presented.  How can we trust the news on what is actually taking place around the world?  How can we trust the media when the New York Times fabricates its news articles?  NBC has a history of misleading reports. 

For example, for years the media has been complicit with Palestinians.  Do you really think reporters could get a story if they did not agree in advance to the content?  Do we really know what is taking place in Mexico?  What about Iran?  On Monday a certain country is our friend and on Wednesday it is our enemy.  Why have Arab countries been given a pass by the media regarding the treatment of women, Jews, and Jewish and Christian religious sites?  How is it that the media can find and interview terrorists while our government is helpless?  Civil society breaks down when the social contract begins to deteriorate. 

The media plays a critical cultural role in the United States and it is becoming more and more evident that media outlets and many reporters have turned their back on the truth.  Perhaps, that’s why the federal government would like to regulate the Internet. Around the world the Internet has been shown to be a tool for freedom in the face of violence.   Stand firm for a free, unregulated Internet: The second American Revolution. 

The Emotional World of Farmed Animals

Study guide and film FREE to teachers! Animal Place is proud to announce the creation of a curriculum unit on farmed animals for secondary teachers! The 50-page study guide accompanies our film, The Emotional World of Farm Animals, which has been aired nationally on PBS.
Geared for all ages, this study guide introduces students to the intelligence and emotional states of cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys, goats and sheep.

If you are a teacher interested in receiving a FREE copy of our study guide AND PBS-aired film, The Emotional World of Farm Animals, please fill out the registration form.

Our thanks to the Glaser Progress Foundation & the Animal Welfare Trust for funding this project. Film also available for purchase!  The film can be purchased on-line for $20.

No Free Speech at Harvard

You will not here this on the ABC, NBC, or CBS news.  Anti Semite and pornographer can speak at Harvard but an American War Hero cannot.

Yasser Arafat, the terrorist and well known Anti Semite and Larry Flynt, the owner and publisher of Hustler Magazine have spoken at Harvard University in the past, but the anti free speech crowd at Harvard have decided that Jim Gilchrist, the founder of the Minuteman Project – a decorated war hero - cannot.  Regardless of your views, free speech should be the centerpiece of our educational system – even at Harvard.