The Annapolis bubble
Why so much scepticism?
Palestinians (at least the Fatah side) and Israelis are . This is the first Middle East summit since 2000.
More than 40 organisations and countries are at the Annapolis talks, in the US, including Syria.
And yet, many say this is a road to nowhere: Hamas is not represented, President Bush and Israel do not want peace, Iran is the priority now, construction goes on in the West Bank's Jewish settlements.
Is there reason for optimism? Do you think Annapolis will lead to serious negotiations and peace or is it just a bubble, ready to burst? Send us your views, post here on the blog.
SETTLEMENTS
The bubble quote is not mine. I got it from an Israeli settler in the West Bank, quoted on a report today on Jewish settlementes.
This Annapolis is just a bubble... It will burst and we will build our new community here.Eilat Cohen-Zada
Eilat is a mother of seven, living in a caravan while she waits for a new house or flat to be built in land occupied by Israel during the 67 war.
The Jewish settlements are just one of thorny issues in the way of peace in the Middle East.
Security for Israel, the future of Gaza, Hamas, the "right of return" for millions of Palestinian refugees, the Israeli wall, checkpoints, all that.
No wonder President Bush has warned that "difficult compromises" will need to be reached. It might be a matter of .
Serious follow-through after Annapolis could produce progress and even limited agreements; belief in peacemaking's ability to actually bring peace may be restored after a too long hiatus. And while not exactly historic, that would certainly be a welcome contribution to the next administration.Dennis Ross, former US envoy to the Middle East.
Will Annapolis succeed? We want to hear from people in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Israel, in the US and round the world? Post your comments here on the blog.
IS PARIS BURNING?
in the suburbs of Paris. Banlieue, Martin would correct me.
It's two years now since the nights of violence and burning cars and clashings between the police and disaffected young people.
In October 2005, it started with the deaths of two boys chasing the police in Clichy-sous-Bois.
This time, a very similar incident in nearby Villiers-le-Bell. Two teenagers were killed, again, running away from the police, on a motorbike.
ANGER
Young people, many of them immigrants and the children of immigrants in the outskirts of the otherwise charming French capital hasve clashed with the police for the second night running.
More than 60 police officers have been injured.
The question for me is: what has changed in the last two years? Are relations between the police and those communities any better? Why so much anger?
Is this about integration in France or just an overeaction to an normal motorbike accident?
Let's hear from people in France, from some of the people we spoke to two years ago.
TEDDY BEAR
A British teacher is under arrest in Sudan for .
Gillian Gibbons is in a cell in Khartoum, accused of blasphemy against the Prophet.
Under Sharia law, she can be punished with 40 lashes.
In her defense, Ms Gibbons said it was the children -- not her -- who named the teddy bear. And they did so by asking them to vote.
Twenty out of the 23 pupils decided to go for Muhammad, the name of a popular boy in the class.
SHARIA GONE TOO FAR?
But that's beyond the point. Is there any justification for punishing a teacher with 40 lashes? And for naming a teddy bear Muhammad?
Is this what Islamic law really says? Is this what Sharia law is about?
Or has the religion of the Prophet been distorted beyond recognition here?
Help us understand this one. Post your comments here on the blog.
Comment number 1.
At 14th Oct 2009, smokingspirit wrote:The religious significant of smoke
The American Indian: The Blackfoot Indian grew only one plant, the tobacco plant. Other American Indian tribes smoked all types of different plants each tribe had their favorite, but the importance was the smoke, the peace pipe, and plants that had a reputation for peace and love. The cigar is given at birth to symbolize life, that spirit is sweet, the aroma remains with you to enjoy and then it鈥檚 gone, into a new form. The spirit that lingers and then flies away.
Anabaptist Experience life, Enjoy, celebrate Christ had died for your sins!
Buddha, Buddhism Strongly encourages the individual or group to make the burnt offering at least twice, once in the morning and once in the evening what you burn is up to you.
Christian Ashes to ashes dust to dust this burnt offering is a must. St. Anthony encouraged all people to smoke, the earlier the better; still celebrated each year in Italy. Christ died for our sins, your sins are like ashes you should aim for the ash tray, the right way, but it鈥檚 not the end of the world if you miss, as long as it鈥檚 done in peace.
Confucius Great Chinese philosopher had a hemp hat, a 2500 year old stash of high quality weed was found in the Gobies desert
Hindu Lord Shiva Encourages the people to smoke or eat hemp 2 or 3 times a day. Ash Wednesday is not just one day a year for holy is an opening for the living
Jewish The Holy Scriptures, These plants are your meat. God saw it and it was good. The smoke in the scriptures was not just for God, but from God.
Muslim The water pipe has been a good place to smoke, sit and praise God
Protestant The bible is revealed to the individual in Gods own time and way all things are possible under God as long as the moral of Christ is maintained, the power over the plants and animals granted to man in the first page of the Christian bible.
Pagan- Rainbow tribe, Amazon tribe, voodoo, all of these place a huge importance on making the burnt offering using hemp or other plants to reach a spiritual plane that does not fit into a computer
The American significant of smoke
History America first settlers survived because of tobacco, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew weed.
Law This country constitution was founded on 鈥淕ods nature and his Natural goodness鈥 the supreme law that everyone is responsible for
Victory- WWI- WWII the tobacco farmer was exempt from service for national security reasons. The war was indirectly won because of tobacco 鈥渢ake 5 smoke em if you鈥檝e got em 鈥
Prosperity Tobacco has been important in trade and prosperity for the American people, hundreds of independent growers and tobacco shops that flourished in the 1920s and 1950s
Common since They recommended planting hemp along side roads and in farms for erosion control. Nicotine patch, designer steroids for athletics do you really believe they can鈥檛 control the crave?
Customs and culture people would leave cigs in a glass case for guest; the smoker was taken into consideration form ash trays on planes, restaurants, and cars. To free matches- one of the US presidents gave out free cigars. Pipes were not an excuse to harass the people but common place.
Science Henry Ford made a car out of weed they can make fuel out of weed. NASCAR was started and powered by moon shine
Health we do not recognize a profit driven organization that cannot tell every atom or cell in a plant much less dictate to a free American especially since they worship Apollo and swear to Hippocrates a Greek god making the Hippocratic Oath.
Nicotine is found in potatoes, Increased metabolism, weed is recommended by Canada and European medical communities, and is high in potassium, tobacco plants can be used to grow vaccines or vitamin C added. Statistics can be swayed to fit any argument; 2 out of every 3 accidents are caused by people not drinking or doing drugs. Man has had smoke in his lungs since the beginning of time. The blood of Christ is wine
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