Tony Blair and ex-Formula One champion Michael Schumacher have led calls for a world conference to end road deaths. The prime minister said motor crashes were the planet's second-biggest killer of young men after HIV/Aids.
Mr Schumacher added that the international community needed to wake up to a "horrific waste of life".
A recent World Health Organization report found that nearly 400,000 under-25s are killed in road traffic collisions every year. It is estimated that road traffic crashes cause 1.2 million deaths every year, including those of 1,000 young people every day. Each week 70 children are killed or seriously injured in the UK. Up until this point this was a worthwhile news article. BBC editors must have added the rest.
Mr Blair made his remarks in a video statement for UN global road safety week in London. He said: "Every minute of every day a child is killed or seriously injured on the world's roads.
"Road crashes are the second leading cause of death for young men after HIV/Aids, and in some African countries more than 70% of those killed on the roads are young breadwinners. Presumably this includes those killed while driving by bandits and carjackers.
"It is becoming clear that road injury has a serious impact on the wider development goals we are all trying to achieve."
Mr Schumacher said: "Road crashes kill on the scale of malaria or tuberculosis, yet the international community has not woken up to this horrific waste of life.
"That is why I strongly support the Make Roads Safe campaign and the proposal that the United Nations organise a first ever UN ministerial conference to tackle this preventable loss of life." And hire my contracting company to make them safe.
Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation and a co-ordinator of the Make Roads Safe campaign, said that half of all children killed or seriously injured on the roads in England come from deprived areas. If they were deprived of cars this wouldn't happen.
"The road safety community in the UK is united behind the call for a UN global ministerial conference to give urgently-needed direction to road injury prevention." Yes, the UN is the answer to everything.
#3
Has Blair been taking Carter's Little Dementia Pills? While auto accident fatalities are of concern, Islamic terrorism promises to kill many more people, it just hasn't gotten around to it yet. In his leadership role, Blair should remain more focused on issues of national security than face time with some Formula One celebrity.
#5
I think England's real problem is that they drive on the wrong side of the road.
From what I've heard they intend to rectify this little problem on a phased basis as per usual British government implementation of programs. At first, the changeover will only apply to heavy lorries.
#6
man zenster... that is too rich. i got a mental image of it, and it is just crazy enough that the softly softly folks might give it a whirl.
Posted by: Abu do you love ||
04/24/2007 13:51 Comments ||
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#7
It would be great news if the MSM keeps a daily count of highway deaths. Once the public realizes the numbers are so far off the scale vs. war deaths, the public would simply ignore the war, which they tend to do when they are not personally involved anyway.
Personally, I would like a daily count of college student deaths due to binge drinking.
#8
A year or two back, I read that all the wars on the planet - including Iraq and Afghanistan - had resulted in an estimated 300,000 deaths in that year, tragedies every one.
Highway deaths in that same period were 1.2 million. Where's the outrage?
Posted by: Bobby ||
04/24/2007 16:48 Comments ||
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#9
Tell Shoe that Kimi is tryin to kill me and Felipe is giving me a nasty hed ache.
#10
WAFF.com Poster > SARKOZY WANTS MEDITERRANEAN UNION [Part = Unique from Mini-EU???]. Article has graph comparing policy short-points between SARKOZY vs. SEGOLENE.
LUXEMBOURG - European Union foreign ministers on Monday widened a travel ban on Zimbabweans deemed responsible for the countrys rapidly deteriorating human rights, political and economic situation. In a statement issued during a meeting in Luxembourg, the ministers condemned the acts of violent expression against the opposition and called for all sides in the Zimbabwean hostilities to stop the violence.
There, that oughta do it.
The fresh names on the visa ban list belong to people deemed responsible for a recent crackdown on opponents to President Robert Mugabes regime, according to the statement, which did not list the individual names that had been added. The ban currently covers some 130 people, including Mugabe, his wife, current and former cabinet members and leaders of his ruling Zanu-PF party.
Worked well, too, you can see how the EU modulated their behavior.
The foreign ministers on Monday emphasised however that the measures were exclusively aimed at those leading figures responsible for Zimbabwes crisis of governance and abuses of human rights, not at the Zimbabwean people. The EU, reaffirming its solidarity with the Zimbabwe people, will continue its contribution to operations of humanitarian nature and projects which are in direct support of the population, the ministers said.
"We'll have a dinner in your honor."
EU funding activities to the Zimbabwean people last year amounted to 193 million euros.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/24/2007 00:00 ||
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Former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia has pulled back from a reported deal with the army-backed interim government to go into exile, intelligence officials said on Monday. She has conveyed her final decision (to the government) not to go abroad in a while, said one official, who asked not to be identified.
In another setback for the administration, a court suspended an arrest warrant against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday, a day after it had issued the order citing a murder charge. The suspension came after a police officer investigating the case told the court the charges were flawed and he needed more time to reinvestigate. Hasina has been refused permission to return home from holiday abroad on grounds that it could trigger unrest in the country, while Khaleda has reportedly been kept under house arrest pending forced exile.
Khaledas close associates said the 60-year-old former premier was ill with low blood pressure and knee pains, and she will not go out. Last week, sources within the government and Khaledas Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had reported an agreement between her and the authorities. Under it, Khaleda was to go into exile to Saudi Arabia, along with her younger son Arafat Rahman and most family members, in return for leniency for her jailed elder son and political heir apparent, Tareque Rahman. The deal stood firm until Friday, but faltered at the weekend when Khaleda associates said she had changed her mind. That's because she had what she wanted, which was her kid out of jug. She doesn't have the brains to realize he can go back easily enough...
She is now unwilling to go, and pressure on her to leave the country also eased over the last couple of days, an intelligence official told Reuters, without elaborating. Yes, the scenario has changed and she will not go, said a close associate of Khaleda on Monday.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/24/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
Don't get on that charter, take the regular bus.
#5
Given the recent sterling performance of the Royal Navy, this could be Cod War Part Two. Better stock up on the fish for chips boys, this one may be rough.
#6
You know times are hard on the Royal Navy when even Brit Medias are belabeling RN cuts as turning the fleet into a LITTORAL/COAST DEFENSE FORCE = COAST GUARD. This means that the RN will be hard-pressed to protect maritime Atlantic trade = military convoys, or even commercial air services. Its an opportunity for other Euros, espec FRANCE, iff they can overcome their inherent Euro-centric Continentalism. AYSMMETRIC WARFARE > means. among other thingys, that Amer's enemies know they will be fighting Amer-Allies from detrimental disadvantages vv USA, etal. ERGO IT HELPS THEM TO HAVE "GENERAL MUD/WINTER" + NATURAL TERRAIN + TECH "SUFFICIENCIES/ROUGH PARITY", etc. ON THEIR SIDE.
The two top candidates in Sunday's first round of the French presidential election, rightwinger Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal on Monday embarked on a final round of intense campaigning for the run-off on 6 May.
Opinion polls after Sunday's vote - in which Sarkozy took 31.1 percent against Royal's 25.8 and centrist candidate Francois Bayrou's 18.6 - predicted Sarkozy will win. Bayrou has however yet to signal what his advice he will give followers for the second round of polling, in which voters are now faced with a clear left-right choice.
Crime busting free marketeer Sarkozy, who has promised to transform France was due on Monday to address a rally in the eastern city of Dijon while Royal is due in Valence in southern France. Interest in the election is intense, with a record voter turnout of nearly 85 percent in the first round of polling.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/24/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
KOMMERSANT.com [Russia] > THE FRENCH LEFT-RIGHT COMBO. Euro Anti-Unitarian Unitarianism??? GIST - Both camps recognize must be closer to the hearts-and-minds of French voters-people, + that
"Politics/Government as usual" is no longer working nor will be tolerated by ordinary Frenchies.
#3
See also RIAN > FRANCE'S UNDEMOCRATIC ELECTION; + MOSCOW TIMES Opinion > FRANCE'S 14-DAY SHOWDOWN. The Russian author's description of SEGOLENE can easily appply to HILLARY. Also in MOSCOW TIMES > AUTHORITARIANS DISGUISED AS POPULISTS, Events in Latin Amer can, ala SHOWDOWN, also applies to how the US Left is working to destabilize their own country during this WOT.
NEW DELHI - India said Monday that talks to resolve a longstanding border dispute with giant northern neighbour China were friendly and constructive and would be continued at a later date. An Indian foreign ministry statement said the three-day talks between Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and Indian National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan were held in an open, friendly, cooperative and constructive atmosphere.
The two Special Representatives continued their discussions on a framework for the boundary settlement on the basis of an agreement signed in New Delhi in April 2005, during a visit by Chinese premier Wen Jiabao.
The next round of talks would be held in China at a mutually convenient time, the statement added, without indicating whether differences on their border -- a legacy of their brief but bitter 1962 war -- had been narrowed. The Chinese delegation did not say whether any progress had been achieved.
India says China occupies 38,000 square kilometres (15,200 square miles) of its territory, while Beijing claims 90,000 square kilometres of the remote Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. A formal ceasefire line was never established after 1962, but the border has remained mostly peaceful after agreements were signed in 1993 and 1996.
Background on the fighting and border issues here, and here with a small map.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/24/2007 00:00 ||
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#1
From what I've seen, it isn't worth fighting over.
We already knew that.
Kim Basinger denied leaking Alec Baldwin's angry voicemail to their daughter and called on her ex-husband to "finally address his unstable and irrational behavior," according to a statement from her rep. "Everybody is always asking why this custody battle has been going on for so many years and now they have the answer," says the statement, released Monday. "The issue is not about Kim or the alleged alienation that Alec constantly refers to. It is about his ongoing aggressive behavior." The rep says Basinger "did not release the voicemail," but adds the message "was not sealed under a court order," as Baldwin's camp has claimed. Baldwin's lawyers say that Basinger leaked it.
On Tuesday, a Superior Court spokeswoman said the voicemail tape "is not confidential" because it was never entered into evidence after it was played during an April 18 hearing; however, the discussions between attorneys and the judge during that hearing were sealed. Baldwin's attorneys had no immediate comment.
The three-year custody fight for 11-year-old Ireland intensified last week when TMZ.com posted Baldwin's threatening voicemail in which he berated the child as a "rude little pig" and threatened to straighten her out.
Baldwin said he had been driven to the edge by Bush Derangement Syndrome the years of court battles and called himself a victim of parental alienation — in which one parent alienates a child against the other during a custody battle.
Baldwin has been criticized on his own Web site, and now Basinger says Baldwin has only himself to blame. "Kim's sincerest wish is for him to finally address his unstable and irrational behavior so he, at some point, can potentially create a relationship with his daughter," says her rep's statement. "Until then, Kim will continue to protect and safeguard her child's well-being as any parent would."
Over the weekend, Basinger hired security "in response to the media attention on her daughter in order to allow Ireland to maintain her regular routine and activities uninterrupted," the statement says. On Monday, Baldwin attorney Vicki Greene reiterated her claim that the voicemail tape "had to have been released by someone from Kim's side" and disputed that the tape was not under seal. "We don't agree with Kim's position," says Greene. "This court has sealed proceedings for Ireland's protection for years. Why would this recording be any different? I'm not even allowed to say whether the tape was played in court or not. They (Kim's side) are breaking the confidentiality rules."
#1
having been involved in a vicious and deranged custody battle, which I finally won after 4 yrs and $50K in atty's fees, I can say.....she's lying, IMHO. That said, there's ABSOLUTELY no excuse or rationalization for taking your battle - with the ex - out on the kid. NONE. He's got anger issues and should have freely and frequently (to get around Mom's games) scheduled, but supervised, visitation til he seeks adequate help.
That said, what an A-grade asshole. I have trouble resisting the urge to kick his self-absorbed ass, just listening to this rant. I have no doubt worse was left for Mom.
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/24/2007 21:33 Comments ||
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#2
...and he wants to tell US how we should live OUR lives?!?!?!?! He can't even treat a child with respect and dignity.
#5
Like tends to seek like. I'm guessing that she's doing the bitch woman thing and turning the child against him. Probably sniffs when she says his name. He's a sphincter and he'll pop off whenever she pushes one of his many hot buttons.
The child would probably be better off in foster care, but given her bad luck in parents she'd probably end up with Howard K. Stern.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/24/2007 22:59 Comments ||
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#6
true Fred. Unless one of the parents is willing to do what's best for the kid REGARDLESS of whether it works out best for them, nobody (including the kid) wins. I did what's bet, and in the long run *agh!* it worked out best for my kids, my karma (and my self-esteem, even while taking a beating from my-ex, go figure?), and my atty. It seems that these two are still in the sharp-weapons stage
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/24/2007 23:07 Comments ||
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#7
I did what's bet
Doh! I did what's best (besides using thought-check, the PIMF version of spell check)
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/24/2007 23:08 Comments ||
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PHOENIX (AP) -- A Border Patrol agent was charged Monday with first-degree murder in the shooting of an unarmed illegal alien immigrant at the border in January. An investigation found that Agent Nicholas Corbett's killing of Francisco Dominguez-Rivera, of Puebla, Mexico, was not legally justified, said Cochise County prosecutor Ed Rheinheimer. Corbett is also charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter and negligent homicide. A judge will determine which of the charges the evidence supports best, Rheinheimer said. "We have concluded that the evidence shows that at the time he was shot, Mr. Dominguez-Rivera presented no threat to agent Corbett," Rheinheimer said.
His attorney, Daniel Santander, didn't immediately return a message left Monday afternoon by The Associated Press. The Border Patrol said it would make a statement Tuesday.
The shooting, which drew condemnation from the Mexican government,Natch occurred while Corbett was trying to apprehend Dominguez-Rivera and three others who were trying to enter the country illegally.
In the days after the shooting, the Border Patrol said that a scuffle had led to it and that the agent had "feared for his life." More than 300 pages of documents later released by prosecutors revealed that Corbett's account didn't match witness testimony or forensic evidence. Corbett told colleagues he shot at a man who looked like he was going to throw a rock. But three witnesses who were being apprehended along with Dominguez-Rivera - his two brothers and a sister-in-law - told investigators Corbett fired while pushing Dominguez-Rivera to the ground. (Hmmm relatives of the perp, immunity, automatic citizenship, fat lawsuit uh yeah no bias there.)
Corbett remains an agent but is not working in the field, said Gus Soto, a patrol spokesman.
#1
There should be a wall of machine guns and motion detectors at the border. Yet another f*cking outrage against an officer of the law in pursuit of his duty and in defense of his country. We have turned reason upside down.
#2
Thank God I won't live to see it, but Arizona, New Mexico, and California are lost. It's only a matter of time until they succeed from the Union, and unlike South Carolina's attempt in in the early 1860's, they will be permitted to do so by Washington.
#3
Oh come on, Besoeker. I was out there recently and people seem to be doing fine. Anglos, Hispanics, Asians, all seem to be working to get ahead and get along.
Let's keep in mind one important fact that gets lost in the immigration debate: a very large proportion of Mexicans come here because they don't want to be Mexicans any more. They were Americans born in the wrong country. Sure they'll be misty eyed on Cinco de Mayo day, and they'll cheer for Mexican soccer, but as to going back and living there? Forget it.
And their kids become fully Americanized. It's the typical immigrant success story times 10 million: mom and pops work all day and all night and speak the old language, and the kids become teachers, accountants, doctors and cops.
We aren't going to lose the Southwest. Mexico is going to lose because they're losing their best, most ambitious people.
Posted by: Steve White ||
04/24/2007 14:43 Comments ||
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#4
There's a bunch of Mexico's best, most ambitious criminals in US prisons. That's our loss, not Mexico's. Perhaps the Army of Steves has new ROE's?
#5
I agree with Steve White. We had a huge influx of immigrants from 1900-1930's. Some were gangsters (the Sicilian Mafia) most were not. We got some very bad criminals and some very excellant physicists, mathemeticians, musicians, artists, you name it.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/24/2007 18:43 Comments ||
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#6
Deacon, you're right but we need a halt to it now and probably for another two decades at least. The immigrants we have here now need to assimilate and we need to stop having to deal with what appears to be an ever-increasing influx. Closing the doors now, and keeping them closed for 20 years, may very well be the key to allowing immigration to ever happen again. Right now both parties are ignoring the voters who, if they had their way, would probably end all immigration permanently. The polls invariably show that Americans are sick of it and most want it to stop immediately.
Posted by: Mac ||
04/24/2007 19:01 Comments ||
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#7
Mac, I do agree that immigrants need to assimilate. The unlawful ones won't and shoud be sent back to wherever thay came from. If one is an unlawful alien and you commit a crime you should never be granted citizenship. The unique thing about our country is anyone can come here and become an American. I could go to any other country in the world and obtain citizenship but never be, say, German, French, Danis, Japanese, Chinese, et. al. THAT is the strength of America.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
04/24/2007 19:19 Comments ||
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#8
The difference is that Mexico is right next door. If you live in southern California through Texas you can still be a Mexican and live here. You can get your home country's radio and newspapers, and go back and forth any time you want.
The people who settled in Poletown or Little Italy did indeed form little islands of their culture, but they were cut off from the motherland and surrounded by American, which crept in (and some good things crept out, too).
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
Former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia has pulled back from a reported deal with the army-backed interim government to go into exile, intelligence officials said on Monday. She has conveyed her final decision (to the government) not to go abroad in a while, said one official, who asked not to be identified. 
The two top candidates in Sunday's first round of the French presidential election, rightwinger Nicolas Sarkozy and Socialist Segolene Royal on Monday embarked on a final round of intense campaigning for the run-off on 6 May. 
PHOENIX (AP) -- A Border Patrol agent was charged Monday with first-degree murder in the shooting of an unarmed illegal 
