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Resolution condemns U.S. secrecy, calls for investigations of extraordinary rendition program
A resolution on European investigations into the CIA's rendition program will be debated next week at the Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, a 320-member inter-parliamentary organization spanning North America, Europe and Central Asia. The resolution is authored by British parliamentarian Tony Lloyd, who co-chairs the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Extraordinary Rendition.
Welcoming investigations being carried out in Poland and the United Kingdom, the resolution calls on other governments in the OSCE to fulfill their obligations to investigate their own roles in the program and for the United States to co-operate with these European investigations.
The measure criticizes the Obama administration's stonewalling of the Polish and British probes, and insists that the U.S. release all pertinent information to investigators regarding rendition, torture and the use of so-called "black sites."
Further, it condemns the the prosecution that U.S. authorities have launched against former CIA agent John Kiriakou, who is accused of providing journalists details regarding the capture of Abu Zubaydah, an al-Qaeda suspect who is said to have been tortured in a secret CIA prison in Poland. Zubaydah is one of two individuals granted "victim status" by prosecutors in Warsaw.
Members will debate and vote on the resolution at the Assembly's Annual Session in Monaco on 5-9 July.
"Six years after the CIA's secret prisons in Europe came to light, there is yet to be a full accounting of what the program entailed, who facilitated it and what laws may have been broken," said Lloyd. "The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and many international organizations demanded official probes into this programme in 2006, but even as some of us try to investigate, we are stymied by a lack of co-operation by U.S. authorities."
Lloyd co-chairs the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Extraordinary Rendition, an investigative body which comprises about 50 MPs and peers. While investigating British complicity in rendition and torture, the group submitted information requests to U.S. intelligence agencies. U.S. authorities denied the requests, citing the U.S. Freedom of Information Act exemptions for requests by "foreign government entities."
"I hope this resolution spurs greater transparency from the U.S. government and reminds OSCE participating States of their obligation to investigate possible violations of the law regarding this program," said Lloyd.
The OSCE PA's 2006 Brussels Declaration called on participating States to investigate whether their territory was used to assist the CIA in secretly transporting detainees to countries where they may be tortured.
The resolution to be debated in Monaco reiterates that all OSCE participating States – including the U.S. – have binding obligations under international law to investigate allegations of torture and restates its previous call to thoroughly probe allegations that their territory has been used to assist the CIA's extraordinary rendition program.
The debate on the resolution comes just after President Obama renewed the U.S. pledge to work with the international community toward ending torture. Yesterday, the White House put out a statement on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, stating that "the United States rejects torture as unlawful, counter to our values, and inconsistent with the universal rights and freedoms that should be enjoyed by all men, women, and children wherever they live."
"In keeping with our laws, principles, and the Convention Against Torture," says the statement,
the United States continues to work with our international partners to end torture. With the development and enforcement of strong domestic laws, effective training of law enforcement and military personnel, and systematic review of interrogation, detention, and transfer practices, together we can turn over to our children a world in which no justification for torture is accepted. We will also continue to support efforts like the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.
As the Center for Constitutional Rights pointed out, however, the statement "comes after three years of continued efforts by the Obama administration to block any investigation or accountability for U.S. torture practices."
The OSCE PA resolution, signed by 27 members of parliament from 14 countries, also points out that "without proper co-operation from U.S. officials, a full accounting of European governments' complicity" in the CIA's rendition and torture program may not be possible.
High Commissioner cites lack of proportionality in U.S. drone strikes on Pakistan
In her opening statement to the Human Rights Council's 20th Special Session yesterday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay criticized the use of unmanned aerial drones by the United States, noting considerable doubt that victims of the strikes "are combatants or directly participating in hostilities."
Describing her recent visit to Pakistan, which has been bombed hundreds of times by U.S. drones since 2004, Pillay noted that the attacks "raise questions about compliance with distinction and proportionality."
"I also expressed serious concern over the continuing use of armed drones for targeted attacks," she said,
in particular because it is unclear that all persons targeted are combatants or directly participating in hostilities. The Secretary-General has expressed concern about the lack of transparency on the circumstances in which drones are used, noting that these attacks raise questions about compliance with distinction and proportionality. I remind States of their international obligation to take all necessary precautions to ensure that attacks comply with international law. I urge them to conduct investigations that are transparent, credible and independent, and provide victims with effective remedies.
According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ), which has been closely monitoring the U.S. drone wars in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia, U.S. drones have attacked Pakistani territory 332 times over the past eight years. The sorties drastically increased under the presidency of Barack Obama, with 280 attacks launched since January 2009.
The total number of casualties range from 2,486 to 3,188, with civilians accounting for 482 to 832 of those deaths. The total number of children reported killed is 175 and injuries range from 1,192 to 1,308. The BIJ notes that "more than 20 civilians have also been attacked in deliberate strikes on funerals and mourners."
The New York Times reported last month that Obama has now redefined concepts of "civilians" and "militants" in order to minimize unfavorable news about innocent victims of the drone strikes.
"Obama embraced a disputed method for counting civilian casualties that did little to box him in," reported the Times. "It in effect counts all military-age males in a strike zone as combatants, according to several administration officials, unless there is explicit intelligence posthumously proving them innocent."
In response to the New York Times revelations, the U.S. Justice Department has launched investigations of possible leakers in the administration may have provided this information to the press, in order to ensure that these sorts of secrets never see the light of day.
Solitary confinement under scrutiny in Senate
Tomorrow, the same day that the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is scheduled to vote on whether to impose sanctions on Russian officials for rights violations in Russian prisons, the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights is taking up an issue closer to home: the widespread use of prolonged solitary confinement in U.S. prisons.
The hearing, entitled "Reassessing Solitary Confinement: The Human Rights, Fiscal and Public Safety Consequences," is scheduled to include several witnesses, including prison officials, legal advocates and a former death row prisoner who spent years in solitary confinement for a crime he did not commit.
The Institute for Southern Studies notes that the hearing "comes on the heels of widespread prisoner hunger strikes that have made the use of solitary confinement a central issue." Last year, a prisoner hunger strike at California's Pelican Bay State Prison prompted a state-wide strike that gained international notoriety.
It also follows some rather outspoken criticism from the international community on the subject of solitary confinement, with Juan Mendez, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, stating recently that lengthy solitary confinement can cause serious mental and physical damage and should be considered torture.
Mendez has proposed that all solitary confinement longer than 15 days be outlawed.
"It can amount to torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment when used as a punishment, during pretrial detention, indefinitely or for a prolonged period, for persons with mental disabilities or juveniles," he said.
Mendez has also specifically criticized the United States for its mistreatment of world-renowned prisoner of conscience Bradley Manning, the accused whistleblower who spent 11 months in solitary confinement at a military brig in Virginia and is now awaiting trial at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
Mendez has noted that Manning's treatment violated international law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture.
As Mendez told the Guardian newspaper:
I conclude that the 11 months under conditions of solitary confinement (regardless of the name given to his regime by the prison authorities) constitutes at a minimum cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of article 16 of the convention against torture. If the effects in regards to pain and suffering inflicted on Manning were more severe, they could constitute torture.
In an open letter to President Obama, members of Congress and Pentagon officials last November, members of the European Parliament expressed concern that "Manning has been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement and other abusive treatment tantamount to torture."
Amnesty International, the ACLU and other human rights organizations have also taken up the issue of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons. Amnesty has launched a campaign specifically on behalf of the Angola 3, who have spent decades in solitary confinement in Louisiana.
"For nearly 40 years," notes Amnesty,
Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace have been held in solitary confinement, mostly in the Louisiana State Penitentiary (known as Angola prison). Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace, originally convicted of unrelated cases of armed robbery, were convicted of the murder of a prison guard in 1972. Robert King, locked up for robbery, was also convicted of murder once he was in the prison. The most fortunate of the so-called "Angola 3," his conviction was overturned in 2001, and he was released after 29 years of isolation.
Throughout their prolonged incarceration in Closed Cell Restriction (CCR) Woodfox and Wallace have endured very restrictive conditions, including periods of 23 hour cell confinement. Louisiana prison authorities have failed to meaningfully review the men's continued isolation, simply rubberstamping the original decision to confine the men in CCR. Decades of solitary confinement have had a clear psychological effect on the men, and they both suffer from serious health problems caused or made worse by their years of close confinement.
In April, Amnesty International submitted a petition to the governor of Louisiana with over 67,000 signatures from individuals in 125 countries demanding that Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace be removed from long-term isolation. The governor, however, refused to meet with the delegation.
The ACLU has initiated a campaign to end prolonged solitary confinement in U.S. prisons altogether, noting that it "is cruel and inhumane, costs too much and does nothing to make society safer."
Studies show there are an estimated 20,000-25,000 individuals currently being held in solitary confinement in the United States.
The Senate hearing tomorrow, to be chaired by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), will examine the psychological and psychiatric impact on prisoners during and after their isolation, the higher costs of running solitary housing units, the human rights issues surrounding the use of isolation, and successful state reforms in this area.
It will be streamed live at the subcommittee's website. For more information, see SolitaryWatch.com.
Congress presses for torture accountability and rule of law …. in Russia
Moscow is reacting angrily to legislation moving through the U.S. Congress that would impose travel bans and other punitive measures on Russian officials deemed responsible for the death of Sergei Magnitsky, a lawyer who died in a Russian prison in November 2009.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Friday that Moscow will introduce a number of tough retaliatory measures if Congress passes the so-called Magnitsky List bill, potentially blacklisting several dozen Russian officials from entering the United States.
"If this outrageous move takes place, Moscow's reaction will be complex, multidimensional and really tough," Ryabkov said, adding that Moscow hoped "the worst thing [the adoption of the Magnitsky list] will not happen."
The legislation seeks to promote rule of law in Russia by punishing those responsible for the death of Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer who had exposed officially sanctioned tax fraud and was imprisoned at the Butyrka prison in Moscow in November 2008. He was held for 358 days without trial, and a week before he would have had to have been released if he were not brought to trial, Magnitsky died for reasons attributed first by prison officials as a "rupture to the abdominal membrane" and later to heart attack.
However, a report released in late 2009 by the Public Oversight Commission, a Moscow-based nongovernmental organization, found that after complaining of worsening stomach pain for five days, Magnitsky had been denied treatment in part because investigators were pressing him to testify in a high-profile tax evasion case against Hermitage Capital Management, an investment company that had fallen out of favor with Russian officials.
His death led President Dmitri Medvedev to order a criminal investigation and dismiss as many as 20 top prison officials. The case has become an international cause célèbre, and the U.S. Congress took up the cause with the Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, which seeks to impose visa bans and asset freezes on the Russian officials involved in Magnitsky's death, as well as for other human rights abuses in Russia.
The House passed its version of the bill on June 7, and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is scheduled to vote on its version of the bill on June 19.
Besides the outrage the legislation is causing in Moscow and the likely repercussions it will have on bilateral U.S.-Russian relations, Congress's aggressiveness on this issue is also a reminder of its lack of any comparable action seeking accountability for U.S. officials who have sanctioned torture or indefinite detention in the United States or American prisons abroad.
The bill, for example, deplores the fact that Magnitsky was held for "nearly 12 full months … without trial in detention," which indeed would be a cause for concern, were it not so laughable coming from a body – the U.S. Congress – that has just authorized the indefinite detention of even U.S. citizens with its adoption of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.
Section 1021 of the NDAA "affirms" that the authority of the president includes the power to detain, via the United States military, any person "who was part of or substantially supported al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners", and anyone who commits a "belligerent act" against the U.S. or its coalition allies in aid of such enemy forces, under the law of war, "without trial, until the end of the hostilities."
So, Congress in one breath authorizes indefinite detention without trial in the United States, and then deplores it when it takes place in Russia.
The Magnitsky bill further reminds Russia of its obligations as a member of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and as a party to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The United States, of course, is also a party to these conventions and has been routinely flouting them for years through its policies of torture and indefinite detention. The U.S. has held thousands of detainees without charge or trial for years on end, in Iraq, Afghanistan, secret prisons in Europe and at Guantanamo Bay. Non-citizens and citizens alike have been held without the benefit of a day in court, in conditions often amounting to torture, according to legal experts and UN officials.
Jose Padilla, for example, is a U.S. citizen who was held for nearly four years at a naval brig in South Carolina without charge as an "enemy combatant." According to his attorneys, Padilla was routinely mistreated and abused in ways designed to cause pain, anguish, depression and ultimately the loss of will to live.
"The extended torture visited upon Mr. Padilla has left him damaged, both mentally and physically," said a court filing by Orlando do Campo, one of Padilla's lawyers. The filing says that Padilla was subjected to sleep deprivation and extremes of heat and cold, and forced to stand for extended periods in painful "stress positions."
His lawyers have also claimed that Padilla was forced to take LSD and PCP to act as truth serums during his interrogations.
Forensic psychiatrist Dr. Angela Hegarty, who interviewed Jose Padilla for 22 hours to determine the state of his mental health, said in 2007, "What happened at the brig was essentially the destruction of a human being's mind. That's what happened at the brig. His personality was deconstructed and reformed."
After four years of this abuse, Padilla was finally charged and brought to court – on charges that were unrelated to the original accusations made against him.
Another American citizen being denied his rights under U.S. and international law is accused whistleblower Bradley Manning, now being held at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He's been in custody for nearly 800 days in pre-trial confinement.
More than 50 members of the European Parliament wrote an open letter to President Obama, members of Congress and top officials at the Pentagon last November, expressing concern "Manning has been subjected to prolonged solitary confinement and other abusive treatment tantamount to torture." They noted "that the US government has denied the request of the United Nations special rapporteur on torture to meet privately with Mr Manning in order to conduct an investigation of his treatment by US military authorities."
Some might draw a distinction between these cases and that of Sergei Magnitsky by pointing out that while Manning and Padilla may have been denied due process rights including the right to a speedy trial, at least they have not been killed in custody. Of course, this argument would ignore the fact that many people have indeed died in U.S. custody, in some cases likely tortured to death.
According to government data provided to the Associated Press, at least 108 people have died in American custody in Iraq and Afghanistan, most of them violently. However, only a quarter of those deaths have been investigated as possible abuse by U.S. personnel.
As the AP reported in Feb. 2009:
The figure, far higher than any previously disclosed, includes cases investigated by the Army, Navy, CIA and Justice Department. Some 65,000 prisoners have been taken during the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, although most have been freed.
The Pentagon has never provided comprehensive information on how many prisoners taken during the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have died, and the 108 figure is based on information supplied by Army, Navy and other government officials.
"Despite the military's own reports of deaths and abuses of detainees in U.S. custody, it is astonishing that our government can still pretend that what is happening is the work of a few rogue soldiers," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero in response to the revelation. "No one at the highest levels of our government has yet been held accountable for the torture and abuse, and that is unacceptable."
Constitutional lawyer and Salon.com blogger Glenn Greenwald noted that the revelation proved that "the unstated premise of every torture debate — that it was safely applied to a handful of detainees — is false."
Over the course of the nearly 11 years of the war on terror, disclosures have steadily emerged of official lawlessness at the highest levels of the U.S. government, with high-ranking officials authorizing torture, indefinite detention, and assassinations. Human rights organizations have made numerous appeals to various institutions of the U.S. government, including the White House, Department of Justice and Congress to rein in these abuses.
One of the more comprehensive efforts was a 107-page report issued by Human Rights Watch a year ago, entitled "Getting Away with Torture: The Bush Administration and Mistreatment of Detainees." The report documented some of the most clear-cut examples of egregious human rights violations sanctioned by the administration of George W. Bush and the corresponding evisceration of international law by U.S. officials.
HRW criticized policy decisions that "essentially reinterpreted the Geneva Conventions to suit the administration's purposes." The Bush administration "downgraded existing international law, which must be followed, to the level of 'principles,' which only should be followed."
The rights group reminded U.S. officials that "all persons detained in connection with an armed conflict … are still legally entitled to basic protections under international law."
"Consistent with its obligations under the Convention against Torture," HRW said, "the US government should ensure that victims of torture obtain redress, which may include providing victims with compensation where warranted outside of the judicial context."
The group specifically recommended that Congress "create an independent, nonpartisan commission to investigate the mistreatment of detainees in US custody since September 11, 2001, including torture, enforced disappearance, and rendition to torture."
Such a commission should have full subpoena power and compel the production of evidence, as well as be empowered to recommend the creation of a special prosecutor to investigate possible criminal offenses.
Needless to say, Congress has not taken up this cause as recommended by HRW and other human rights organizations. Now, however, the human rights crusaders in Congress are doing everything within their power to hold accountable those who may have violated the rights of Sergei Magnitsky in Russia.
The Magnitsky bill moving through Congress includes some controversial measures that would seem to bypass the existing legal framework for prosecuting individuals accused of a crime, and would empower the U.S. Secretary of State to essentially serve as judge, jury and prosecutor.
The legislation empowers "the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, [to] publish a list of each person the Secretary of State has reason to believe … is responsible for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky."
Anyone identified by the Secretary of State would have travel restrictions imposed and assets frozen in the United States. Similar Magnitsky-related legislation is pending in the parliaments of U.S. allies Canada, Netherlands, Poland and Britain.
Whether the U.S. Congress is actually genuine in its concern over Magnitsky's death or more generally the rule of law in Russia, or whether it is just using the opportunity to poke its adversary Russia in the eye, it might want to remember that these measures being proposed by the Magnitsky bill could just as easily be used against the United States.
Already, Russia has responded by barring 11 serving and former U.S. administration officials for human rights abuses at facilities including Guantanamo Bay and the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. President Vladimir Putin's top foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, said in an e-mailed statement: "These people are linked to high-profile human rights abuses, including torture and abuse of detainees in special prisons set up by the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency in Guantanamo, Bagram in Afghanistan and Abu Ghraib in Iraq."
Someday, perhaps, if Congress continues failing to live to its responsibilities to promote the rule of law at home, a broader alliance of nations could get together to impose sanctions on U.S. officials responsible for the abuse of Bradley Manning, Jose Padilla, or any of the 100-plus individuals who have been tortured to death during the war on terror.
Ignoring serious legal questions over drone strikes, DoJ probes leaks instead
Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations. ― George Orwell
The U.S. Justice Department has just launched two official probes in relation to recent revelations that President Obama has authorized clandestine cyberattacks against Iran and personally oversees a secretive "kill list" that targets suspected terrorists – including U.S. citizens – for assassination.
But rather than focusing on possible violations of the law related to the programs themselves, the Justice Department is investigating who might have provided this sensitive information to the press.
Responding to Republican complaints that the Obama administration has intentionally leaked details about the programs in order to bolster Barack Obama's "national security credentials" in an election year, Attorney General Eric Holder has assigned Ronald Machen, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, and Rod Rosenstein, the U.S. attorney for the District of Maryland, to direct separate investigations that are being conducted by the FBI regarding the leaks.
"The unauthorized disclosure of classified information can compromise the security of this country and all Americans, and it will not be tolerated," Holder said, adding that he was confident the prosecutors would follow the facts and evidence wherever they led.
President Obama weighed in on the controversy by stating that his administration has "zero tolerance" for such leaks and that there would also be an internal administration probe.
"We have mechanisms in place where if we can root out folks who have leaked, they will suffer consequences," the president said. "In some cases, it's criminal. These are criminal acts when they release information like this. And we will conduct thorough investigations, as we have in the past."
Republicans, however, are not satisfied with the promised investigations, and are demanding the appointment of a special counsel, arguing that using White House-appointed attorneys could prevent a thorough investigation.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Tuesday introduced a Senate resolution calling for a special counsel to investigate the alleged leaks.
"I can't think of any time that I have seen such breaches of ongoing national security programs as has been the case here," McCain said. "Here we are with a very serious breach of national security – in the view of some, the most serious in recent history, and it clearly cries out for the appointment of a special counsel."
With criticism of the actual subject of the leaks — the questionable assassination program being directed from the White House — paling in comparison to the outrage over the release of these state secrets, it is difficult to imagine a more pointed example of the state of official lawlessness that has come to characterize U.S. foreign and domestic policy.
Much like the prosecutions of accused whistleblowers Bradley Manning and John Kiriakou – who have allegedly provided journalists details on a host of official crimes committed by the U.S. government, including secret bombings, spying on international diplomats and torture – the probes into the recent Obama administration leaks demonstrate once again that in the United States, it is only a prosecutable offense to expose official crimes, not to actually commit them.
In the case of the drone program exposé, the New York Times on May 29 revealed many sordid details of secretive meetings in the White House – dubbed "Terror Tuesdays" by the administration – in which President Obama personally authorized the assassinations of "suspected militants" far from any battlefield in countries such as Yemen and Pakistan.
In one of the more distressing stories described by the Times, Obama ordered the killing of a group of "Qaeda suspects in Yemen with Western ties." The victims included several Americans, "including a girl who looked even younger than her 17 years."
The article also provided new insight into the decision-making process that led to the assassination of U.S. citizen Anwar al-Awlaki, who allegedly provided the inspiration for the killing of 13 people at Fort Hood, Tex. by Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan in 2009.
The motives for the Fort Hood shootings were widely reported at the time of the crime, including by the Times, which on Nov. 5, 2009, described a tormented soldier "who began having second thoughts about a military career a few years ago after other soldiers harassed him for being a Muslim."
Hasan had "counseled scores of returning soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorder, first at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington and more recently at Fort Hood" and "knew all too well the terrifying realities of war," the Times reported in 2009. He was terrified of being deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan and apparently snapped, killing 13 fellow soldiers in the process.
Ultimately, however, culpability for the Fort Hood shootings fell not on a culture of despair in an Army plagued by long deployments in the never-ending "war on terror," but on the "fiery sermons" of al-Awlaki, who was also blamed for providing the inspiration to the attempted Christmas Day 2009 bombing of an airliner over Detroit.
"Awlaki's calls for more attacks," reported the Times in its May 29 article, "presented Mr. Obama with an urgent question: Could he order the targeted killing of an American citizen, in a country with which the United States was not at war, in secret and without the benefit of a trial?"
"This is an easy one," Obama reportedly said during the meeting. He gave his approval to the assassination based on an Office of Legal Counsel memorandum which argued that constitutional protections of "due process" were satisfied by the secret deliberations taking place in the White House.
Awlaki was killed in September 2011 along with Samir Khan, another U.S. citizen who was not on the target list but was traveling with him. Two weeks later, another drone attack killed Awlaki's son, 16-year-old Abdulrahman al-Awlaki, a U.S. citizen born in Denver, along with his 17-year-old cousin and seven others.
The Times also revealed that in Pakistan, Obama has approved not only "personality" strikes aimed at identified, high-value terrorists, but "signature" strikes that target suspicious compounds in areas allegedly controlled by militants.
"Signature strikes in Pakistan were killing a large number of terrorist suspects, even when C.I.A. analysts were not certain beforehand of their presence," reported the Times.
Now, with newly defined rules authorized by the president, the Defense Department can target suspects whose names they do not know, the Times reports. The drone attacks have been given a new name: TADS, for Terrorist Attack Disruption Strikes.
"But the details are a closely guarded secret — part of a pattern for a president who came into office promising transparency," notes the Times.
In addition to broadening the rules of engagement to include "signature" strikes on individuals whose identities are unknown, Obama has also redefined concepts "civilians" and "militants" in order to minimize unfavorable news about innocent victims of the drone strikes. The semantic change was apparently made in response to early blunders in the drone assassination program.
In early 2009, just days after taking office, the president was notified that the first strike under his administration had killed a number of innocent Pakistanis.
The Pakistan strike killed between seven and 12 people, reported initially as "foreign militants." In a later report personally given to Obama by his then-CIA chief General Hayden, the CIA admitted missing its high-value target and killing "five al Qaeda militants," but made no mention of civilian deaths. However, Newsweek reported in May 2012 that the President was told that civilians had died almost immediately.
The New York Times article sheds light on Obama's response to this incident, which was essentially to change the way that civilian deaths were counted (or not counted) in relation to the drone strikes.
"Obama embraced a disputed method for counting civilian casualties that did little to box him in," reported the Times. "It in effect counts all military-age males in a strike zone as combatants, according to several administration officials, unless there is explicit intelligence posthumously proving them innocent."
A U.S. official explained the macabre logic to the Times: "Al Qaeda is an insular, paranoid organization — innocent neighbors don't hitchhike rides in the back of trucks headed for the border with guns and bombs."
So, according to this logic, which is now official U.S. policy, anyone near a designated target of a U.S. drone strike is a "legitimate" target simply by virtue of being there, regardless of actual guilt or innocence of any particular offense against the United States. In other words, by definition, anyone killed by the United States government is considered a "militant," unless "explicit intelligence" is produced after their deaths "proving them innocent."
This controversial method of counting civilian casualties "may partly explain the official claims of extraordinarily low collateral deaths," notes the Times.
The C.I.A. accounting has so troubled some administration officials outside the agency that they have brought their concerns to the White House. One called it "guilt by association" that has led to "deceptive" estimates of civilian casualties.
"It bothers me when they say there were seven guys, so they must all be militants," the official said. "They count the corpses and they're not really sure who they are."
Following the New York Times report, Gabor Rona, international legal director at Human Rights First and former legal adviser at the International Committee of the Red Cross, expressed astonishment over the radical legal principles being advanced by the Obama administration.
"We have never before heard anything quite like the idea that if you have to be in a certain place and you happen to be of a certain age, that in and of itself can make you targetable," Rona said.
Human Rights First asked Obama to clarify two points of international law: First, that his administration does not permit the targeting of all members of a terrorist group with which the U.S. claims to be at war; and, second, that it does not permit the targeting of individuals merely because they are seen to be associating with members of a terrorist group.
The legal issues – both on the domestic and international levels – related to these recent revelations are obviously substantial, but to Attorney General Eric Holder, appear to be quite simple.
In a speech at Northwestern University School of Law on March 5, Holder offered a legal defense of the drone assassination program, arguing that although the decisions for who is targeted are made entirely in secret, they nevertheless follows the Constitution's due process requirements.
"Some have argued that the President is required to get permission from a federal court before taking action against a United States citizen who is a senior operational leader of al Qaeda or associated forces," Holder said. "This is simply not accurate. 'Due process' and 'judicial process' are not one and the same, particularly when it comes to national security. The Constitution guarantees due process, not judicial process."
While acknowledging that "it is preferable to capture suspected terrorists where feasible," Holder claimed "that there are instances where our government has the clear authority – and, I would argue, the responsibility – to defend the United States through the appropriate and lawful use of lethal force."
"This principle has long been established under both U.S. and international law," he said. Citing the president's wartime powers purportedly authorized by Congress in 2001, he elaborated on the corresponding authority that supposedly exists on the international level:
Because the United States is in an armed conflict, we are authorized to take action against enemy belligerents under international law. The Constitution empowers the President to protect the nation from any imminent threat of violent attack. And international law recognizes the inherent right of national self-defense. None of this is changed by the fact that we are not in a conventional war.
This claim, however, ignores longstanding complaints from the international community over the United States' prosecution of the war on terror in general, and the drone assassination program in particular.
A 2010 United Nations report stated that a targeted killing outside of an actual battlefield "is almost never likely to be legal." It rejected "pre-emptive self-defense" as a justification for killing terrorism suspects far from combat zones.
"This expansive and open-ended interpretation of the right to self-defense goes a long way towards destroying the prohibition on the use of armed force contained in the U.N. Charter," said Philip Alston, the UN's Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, in June 2010. "If invoked by other states, in pursuit of those they deem to be terrorists and to have attacked them, it would cause chaos."
More recently, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has called for a UN investigation into U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan, questioning their legality and saying they kill innocent civilians.
Pillay made the remarks last Thursday at the end of a four-day visit to Pakistan, where U.S. drone strikes have on average targeted Islamist militants once every four days since Obama took office.
"Drone attacks do raise serious questions about compliance with international law," Pillay told a news conference in Islamabad.
"The principle of distinction and proportionality and ensuring accountability for any failure to comply with international law is also difficult when drone attacks are conducted outside the military chain of command and beyond effective and transparent mechanisms of civilian or military control," she said.
She added that the attacks qualify as "indiscriminate killings" and are "human rights violations."
Global public opinion appears to be on Pillay's side, with majorities in 17 out of 20 countries surveyed by the Pew Research Center disapproving of U.S. drone attacks in nations such as Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. In a report released today, Pew notes that "there remains a widespread perception that the U.S. acts unilaterally and does not consider the interests of other countries."
In nearly all countries, there is considerable opposition to drone strikes. The United States is the clear outlier in global public opinion, with a 62 percent majority approving of the drone assassination campaign.
The attacks appear to remain popular among Americans of all political persuasions, with 74 percent of Republicans, 60 percent of independents and 58 percent of Democrats approving of the program. This is despite the fact that they are not only isolating the U.S. from global opinion, but also pushing relations between Pakistan and the United States to an all-time low, with the Pakistani government complaining that they violate Pakistan's sovereignty.
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry last week reiterated that "Pakistan strongly condemns these attacks."
A statement on its website stated,
Pakistan has consistently maintained that these illegal attacks are a violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and are in contravention of international law. It is our considered view that the strategic disadvantages of such attacks far outweigh their tactical advantages, and are therefore, totally counterproductive.
The U.S., for its part, has issued strong condemnations of Pakistan for failing to do enough to rein in militant activity near the Afghan border. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta alluded last week that Pakistan is to blame for continued instability in Afghanistan, essentially claiming that it is Pakistan's fault that the U.S. cannot leave Afghanistan.
"It is difficult to achieve peace in Afghanistan as long as there is safe haven for terrorists in Pakistan," Panetta said on a visit to the Afghan capital, Kabul.
"It is very important for Pakistan to take steps. It is an increasing concern, the issue of safe haven, and we are reaching the limits of our patience," Reuters quoted him as saying.
As the Guardian reports,
The explicit and repeated criticism of Pakistan, after similar complaints during a visit to India, could signal US willingness to up the tempo of the drone strikes. A recent increase in strikes on insurgents in Pakistan was due in part to frustration with Islamabad, the Associated Press said, citing an unnamed senior US official.
So, as the Justice Department launches its investigation into who in the Obama administration may have provided details about this secretive program to the press, the Defense Department appears poised to launch intensified drone attacks on Pakistan – despite the vociferous protests from the Pakistani government and UN officials such as Navi Pillay.
And as the criminal investigations of White House leaks get underway, the much more serious questions of program's legality remain unaddressed. Such is the sorry state of the rule of law in the USA.


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You've found the proper groom. You've bought the right dress. You're anticipating an ideal wedding. Now all you need is the perfect marriage ceremony venue. Having an ideal wedding relies largely on having a perfect venue. That's why it is best to treat finding Wedding Dress Eng Lyrics venue as in case you are shopping for a brand new house. It is, in spite of everything, the place you'll receive and treat your pals and family members in in all probability probably the most memorable evening of your life.
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Think about the size. The size of the venue is a vital consideration. If the venue is too small, the wedding will unfastened its intimacy. If it's too huge, it will be cramped and uncomfortable. The dimensions of your wedding ceremony will depend after all on the number of your guests. So before in search of a wedding you have to at least have a tough idea of what number of friends you may be planning to invite. Be as precise as possible. You can't say that you simplyre planning to ask from 200 to 500 guests. The 300 particular person difference would matter quite a bit in terms of the venue size. You will need to additionally depart ample area for the dance area. The more guests you may have, the bigger space it's worthwhile to allot for the dance area.
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subset: commoncrawl


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October will be here tomorrow, meaning only nineteen or so days remain between the official launch of Windows 8.1. Microsoft plans to push the new OS to users on October 18.
But alongside the new operating system, the company has also lined up some new features.
That Redmond is developing and fine tuning some new options for Windows 8.1 is no secret. Microsoft made it clear early on that it will continue refining and adding new features to the operating system even after it goes RTM, which it did not so long ago.
And now one of these new goodies in place for the final version of the operating system has just been spotted. McAkins Online has come across a screenshot that has been posted on the official Windows website, and it shows an update live tile for the Windows Store.
The tile actually displays some of the featured apps that are available for download for the platform.
Obviously, the vanilla version of Windows 8 does come with a dedicated live tile for the Windows Store right from the beginning, but it only highlights the number of updates available.
Now it seems that Microsoft wants to change this feature, and use it to highlight some of the best apps on its flagship apps repository.
This, surely, is one thing that works best on the large sized live tiles, as can be seen from the image above. Whether it makes the final cut in the operating system, we should find out real soon.
In the meantime, share your thoughts on what could be a really nifty feature in the comments.
CLICK HERE FOR LIFETIME ACCESS to over 100 Windows 10 Training Videos and three industry leading ebooks on Microsoft Azure, Artificial Intelligence and Enterprise Robotics! LIMITED TIME AVAILABILITY!


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Orthodontic, can be a branch of dentistry, which supports to repair the people's jaws and teeth. In case your person's teeth or jaws, lies incorrectly or people who don't fit together, they might cause some tooth illnesses like tooth decay or other. Here, orthodontics helps a great place the right teeth at a good option and for that reason allows you to improve an individual's appearance.
Fix teeth alignment with molar bands
Molar bands help correct a person's teeth alignment. One can use them when the teeth treatments get difficult with brackets. Orthodontic Molar Bands china gets the slot where the archwire may be placed. It will help allowing you to connect a person's teeth along wonderful individuals other teeth brackets. This band allows you to raise the steadiness in the bracket so when needed, the dental office provides you with the additional appliances like headgear.
Various kinds of the power chain
Power chains help close the region involving the teeth. They behave like small O-ties nevertheless the only difference is always that tooth is installed on each other rather to become installed on each tooth individually. You are given Orthodontic Power chains, this chain gives extra pressure for the teeth. Using this method, it might fill the area involving the teeth inside the faster way when compared with former one.
There are numerous kinds of power chains are available in various color and sizes. With regards to the size an individual tooth, the dental office sets the very best chain to suit your needs.
Aftereffect of orthodontic buccal tubes
This is probably the dental products which is often used to move or even the correct positioning in the teeth. Orthodontic buccal tubes metal part is welded with the orthodontist round the outdoors in the molar bands containing facebows, archwires, lip bumpers, as well as other devices.
Select the right orthodontic products
In the event you individuals are trying to find a method to reposition one's teeth alignment to be able to correct the bite problems, this is when you look for the orthodontist. Furthermore, you have to keep to the treatment properly to obtain the finest results. But it is equally important to obtain the right China Orthodontic products. Plus, placed on it as stated by the dental office guidance. For individuals who've questions, just see your dental office and clarify your doubts regarding dental issues.


text: MENUMENUHOMEROOMSAMENITIESEXPLORECONTACT USBOOK YOUR STAY AMENITIES Feel at home right away in the comfort of our in-house facilities and the leisure offered by our hotel amenities. It's luxury always within reach, you'll want to extend your stay at Apollonia. Previous Next MISTY'S ROOF DECK POOL CLUB Relax in the poolside lounge, enjoy drinks at the bar, brunch with the family, or have a romantic roofdeck dinner overlooking the city at Misty's Pool Club—and remember: it's always summer here at Misty's. Previous Next PIPA'S CAFE Indulge in your choice of mouthwatering local favorites and international cuisine in Apollonia's in-house restaurant. Special diet meals also available on request. Previous Next FITNESS CENTER Stay on track in your fitness journey even on the road with the help of our Fitness Center. Previous Next ROOM SERVICE SPA De-stress and detox with our round-the-clock Room Service Spa, and unwind and drift off to sweet sleep right after in the comfort of your own room. Previous Next AIRPORT PICK-UP & CAR RENTAL Keep your stay at Apollonia comfortable and convenient, and let our friendly staff handle your transport needs for you. Contact our front desk for your airport pickup and car rental needs. Previous Next TRAVEL & TOURS Explore nearby attractions and find priceless new experiences with the help of our in-house travel and tours service. SPECIAL OFFERS BOOK YOUR STAY Copyright © 2020 Apollonia Royale Hotel. All Rights Reserved.Powered by: MyIntellects Inc. email


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Send us an emal
Our official email is email@example.com, and most any comments or inquiries can be sent there. If you'd prefer a more personal connection though, feel free to email one of our SecSI organizers:
Daniel Valentin (Vice President): email@example.com
Daniel handles business between SecSI and the University of Iowa.
Annie Gudenkauf: firstname.lastname@example.com
Daniel communicates with affiliated organizations and collaborators on and off campus.
Chelsea Schula (Membership Organizer): email@example.com
Chelsea handles any membership questions, inquiries, or comments.
Anna-Marie Black (Public Relations Organizer): email@example.com
Anna handles business with any non-members interested in SecSI.
Find us on social media
SecSI is all about social media. On our Facebook we share secular news and updates on our events. On our Twitter we live-tweet events we attend and pass along secular tidbits. And on our Instagram we share pics of our meetings and activities.
Snail mail
Do you need to send us a letter or package? You can send everything to the following address:
125 N. Madison St., RM. 274 IMU
Iowa City, IA 52242
Contact us directly
There's no need to hide behind your computer screen, come find us in person! We hold regular meetings every Tuesday as well as a whole host of events and activities. Absolutely anyone and everyone is welcome to come to all of our functions – just bring an open heart and an open mind! Visit our events page to find our next SecSI event.
Looking for a document?
As a student organization, SecSI has a lot of paperwork laying around. If you're looking for our constitution, meeting minutes, or some other official document, head over to our OrgSync page. OrgSync is a service the University of Iowa uses to manage its student organizations, and contains all our official documents and forms.


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1 Player -
Action -
Arcade -
Car -
Girl -
Io -
Physics -
Puzzle -
Racing -
It is easy to play Bonk.io game online on the official site from now on! Join a crazy multiplayer competition and figure out the best tips to complete fights in the fastest time. With the skin maker, you can enjoy Bonk.io unblocked on your own maps or on custom playfields of everybody in the community. More importantly, you have to knock off all of the rivals' balls to become the winner. As well, you should make your tool heavier promptly. Are you ready to explore the match and dominate? Much fun!


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International Forensics & Business Institute is
pleased to present our Two-day Training Workshop/ Seminar
Forensic Document Examination
Methods & Techniques
is pleased to present his highly beneficial forensic training workshop that provides the true forensic methods, techniques and
applications on how to actually conduct examinations in this forensic document examination. It is being provided by
IFBI's practicing forensic experts who have actually worked on and presented reports to the courts of T&T,
the Caribbean and internationally. Details of the training are as follows:
Forensic Document Examination
Methods & Techniques
& Date:
Two (2) Days. Scheduled for November 2018.
9.00 am to 4.00 pm.
Venue: Cascadia
Conference Centre, St. Anns, Port of Spain.
Cost of Program: TT$ 4,500.00 per participant. This cost includes all course materials, lunch & refreshments.
A Manual of all forensic instructional materials will be provided by IFBI to all participants.
This training workshop
provides the key methods, techniques and tools used in forensic document examination. It would provide participants with the
knowledge and techniques on how to conduct forensic document examinations and handwriting examinations; to verify signatures,
to recognise and detect forgeries, to recognise and detect bogus and fraudulent documents
The program covers the following topics:
Introduction to Forensic Document Examination
Forensic Document Examination Methods & Techniques
Handwriting Identification
Signature Verification
of Forgeries
Detection of Alterations
Detection of Fraudulent Documents
Forensic Certificates will be issued to all attendees
Workshop can be used for CPD and CPE qualifying hours
Target Audience:
The course is open to a wide range of individuals:
accountants, auditors, investigators, accounting personnel, executives,
managers, law enforcement & security personnel, banking, risk assessment & insurance personnel, supervisors, company
employees, ACCA graduates, attorneys & legal personnel. It is lso excellent for human resource personnel, cashiers and
all those who may have a role in the first line of defence in recognising bogus and fraudulent documents.
Course Instructor:
main Course Instructor for this IFBI program is court qualified Forensic Expert Mr. Glenn Parmassar with over 25 years of
experience. Mr. Parmassar is widely regarded as T&T and the Caribbean's leading forensic expert in the field of
fraud & white collar crime detection, document examination and forensic accounting. He has been the Expert called by by
the courts in T&T and the Caribbean to testify in forensic document and handwriting cases. Mr. Parmassar has received
training from a number of international bodies including the United States Secret Service, De La Rue in the UK, RIT, and the
Association of Fraud Examiners, USA. Mr. Parmassar has worked on over 3000 forensic fraud cases for the state and private
organizations, for the Caribbean and International clients, and his reports have been used in a vast array of criminal, civil
and industrial court cases. Other forensic specialists will also contribute to the workshop.
To Register:
1. Complete and submit a Registration form
You can fill out and submit the online registration form
Or you can fill
out and fax the attached or downloadable registration form
Or you can simply phone in the registration information to us.
2. Make payment of fees.
Fees can be paid
at any branch of Republic Bank Limited to the account of International Forensics & Business Institute, Account No. 740800051802
Or by payment cheque. IFBI can arrange to have cheque and registration
picked up at your business place.
3. Once payment has been received registration will be confirmed.
Deadline for Registration and Payment is 28 February 2018. Register Today!
International Forensics & Business Institute Phone: (868) 657-3209 / (868) 750-8905
Fax: (868) 657-3209 E-Mail: email@example.com Address: PO Box 7769
La-Romaine, Trinidad, W.I.


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Bitcoin created a revolution simply by introducing the first-ever decentralized digital currency in which often people and businesses handle their transactions instead associated with banks and debit cards. Nowadays, we have another trend in the form of Initial Coin Offering (ICO).
What Is An Initial Coin Offering (ICO)?
ICO is a fairly new fundraising tool which usually startup businesses use to raise capital through cryptocurrencies/tokens. Here, investors raise revenue either Bitcoins, Ethereum or even other types of cryptocurrencies. It's like another kind of crowdfunding.
Advantages of ICOs
Like Bitcoin, ICOs primary benefit the startups avoid to have to deal with third-party authorities such as banking institutions and venture capitalists. ICOs provide a big quantity of advantages and benefits, namely:
○ Raising capital coming from anywhere in the globe.
○ Potentially high returns to the shareholders.
○ Fast and effortless fundraising.
○ Limited supply-demand, a basic principle in which cryptocurrencies raise in value in the future.
○ Tokens have some sort of liquidity premium.
○ Little to zero transaction fees.
ICOs started gaining popularity in 2017. An excellent example coming from May 2017 was the ICO for a brand new web browser known as Brave. This ICO generated more than $35 million in under 30 seconds. On October of the same year, the entire ICO token sales conducted at that time were worth $2. 3 billion, which seemed to be 10 times greater than their performance in 2016.
Danger and Perils of ICOs
Like any new bit of technology, especially considering the huge amount of money involved, there has recently been criticism and scrutiny coming from regulatory authorities. ICOs have got involved risks, scams, plus controversies that have brought them under the scrutiny of professional businesses and governments officials. Some common hazards associated with ICOs are:
○ Insufficient Regulation: one of the biggest problems ICOs facing.
○ High Possibility of Scams: another thing along, with ICOs being unregulated, is usually that there may be potential fraud or scamming disorders.
○ Higher Chances of Failing: a startup getting their capital through ICO have a higher chance of screwing up.
In the end, ICOs are quick and efficient crowdfunding options but with pretty significant risks in terms associated with security, regulation, higher failure chances. ICOs functions for some startups, yet a large majority associated with them don't make it. Whether it is something moral or not, it up to you to decide about it.


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The ANDI Small is identical to our Signature ANDI, but is roughly 30% smaller, making it a quintessential companion for your daily excursions, whether a commute to the office or a hike up a mountain. Virtually weightless with comfortable non-slip shoulder grips, this piece transforms from tote to crossbody and into a backpack when you need to be hands free - and easily slips over a roller suitcase. This piece comfortably fits a large wallet, book, tablet, scarf and a pair of shoes or lunch.
Includes snap-out wristlet and crossbody strap. Model in video is 5'9".
Non-slip shoulder grip
Non-slip feet
Two-way top zip
Water-resistant exterior and lining
Trolley sleeve for carry-on luggage
External slip pocket with additional inset slip pocket for phone
Two internal slip pockets
Internal hidden zip pocket
Transforms between tote, crossbody and backpack
Machine washable on gentle cycle with air dry
Snap-out wristlet included
Crossbody strap included
Recycled PET water-resistant exterior (made using recycled plastic bottles)
Recycled PET water-resistant lining (made using recycled plastic bottles)
Hardware in gunmetal finish
H 9" x W 13½" x D 4"
Top Opening W 16"
Handle Drop 7½"
Lightweight 1lb 1½ oz (including wristlet and crossbody strap)
Crossbody adjustable strap L 28" to L 48"
Wristlet H 5" x W 8½" x D 1¾"
Wristlet Top Opening W 10"
ANDI is 100% Vegan
• Free shipping and returns on orders over $50 within contiguous U.S.
• Easy returns
• International shipping available
• Expedited shipping options available at checkout
Orders are shipped from our New York distribution center on business days. We strive to ship all orders received prior to 1:30 PM ET the same day.
We're confident that you'll love your ANDI, although if for any reason you're not satisfied, items may be returned within 30 days. Returned items must be unused, undamaged, with all accessories included, and be returned in the original packaging with hang tags in place. Final sale items cannot be returned or exchanged.
See our full policy
Got the small Andi bag and love it! I have the original size as well. I love these bags and all the pockets and versatile way to wear them.
I love my Andi XL! It makes travel so easy and convenient, not to mention fashionable and so cute!
This is my second Andi Small bag and I really love it. All the characteristics I am looking for in a bag are present: quality, durability, light weight, water resistance, machine washable and guaranteed by a reliable company. In addition, I can pay in installments if needed.
I love my Andi bag! Storage is awesome - place for everything- wallet, keys and phone. Great cross body bag and is durable but still looks cool! Love it
Love love love this bag:) can't wait to get the super big one for travel.


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W is for Winners!
Thanks to everyone who stopped by and signed up for the Summer Giveaway! With the help of Random.org, the winners of my giveaway have been chosen. And they are: Nikita, Kulsuma who blogs about books at Sunshine and Stardust, and Darlene who blogs over at Darlene´s Book Nook. You should all have received an email with a link to the free download of An ABC Escapade through Egypt eBook. And if you didn´t win but are still interested in the eBook, you can purchase it here for only $3!
Happy reading everyone!
28.533067 34.441614


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What should you know about keto diet food list? Every food contains calories and none of them are equal. Some food stimulates weight loss and speeds up metabolic pathways in your body.
If you know what type of diet food to take for weight loss purpose, rejoice!
You can shed those pounds on time. yo will find below Keto diet food list that they make diet variety.
Contents & Quick Navigation
- Keto diet food list as the essential food for weight loss.
- 1. Leafy Greens
- 2. Whole Eggs
- 3. Salmon
- 4. Lean Beef and Chicken Breast
- 5. Cruciferous Vegetables
- 6. Boiled Potatoes
- 7. Beans and Legumes
- 8. Tuna
- 9. Soups
- 10. Avocados
- 11. Cottage Cheese
- 12. Apple Cider Vinegar
- 13. Nuts
- 14. Some Whole Grains
- 15. Chili Pepper
- 16. Fruit
- 17. Coconut Oil
- 18. Chia Seeds
- 19. Full-fat yogurt
- Conclusion
- You may like the articles
Keto diet food list as the essential food for weight loss.
1. Leafy Greens
I can't eat leafy greens. Please don't say that if you never try it first. Everyone can change so with your body weight and eating habit.
Trust yourself that you can enjoy leafy greens because it is tasty. Try with the soup first. After you get used to it, you can start to nibble the leafy greens.
Weight loss is a process so please does it step by step. There are a lot options to choose from. You can choose kale, collards, spinach, or swiss chards as a start. Leafy greens are low in calories and loaded with essential fiber to fill you up.
You will never be hungry after eating a bowl of leafy greens after a meal for hours. It provides you with essential vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals to improve your immunity, regenerate skin cells, and avoid premature aging. There is nothing to lose so please have it today.
- Best Leafy Green Vegetables by thescienceofeating.com
- Dark Green Leafy Vegetables by United States Department of Agriculture
- How to Choose the Healthiest Salad Greens by Health.com
2. Whole Eggs
Eggs received bad impression because most of us thought it brings bad cholesterol to the body.
Studies show that the egg yolk and egg whites are carrying different nutrients and there is no bad cholesterol in egg yolk at all.
Eating whole eggs never cause you a heart attack or affecting your blood cholesterol. It is safe for you to eat up to 3 eggs within a day.
The thing is eggs are high in protein and low in calories. It will fill you up and this is a good option for breakfast.
If you want to feel less hungry until your lunchtime, eating a boiled egg with a glass of milk in the morning will do the trick.
It makes you lose weight faster than eating biscuits or bread in the morning which are full of carb and high in calories.
- Egg Nutrition by incredibleegg.org
- Eat Eggs for Weight Loss by weightlossresources.co.uk
3. Salmon
Salmon is high in Omega-3 which is incredibly healthy for your heart and normal cholesterol level.
It provides essential protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and iodine for your healthy body.
You will increase your body's metabolism by consuming salmon so you can burn up more calories to reduce your body weight.
You can eat it daily for lunch or dinner but if you want to try another protein from the sea, you can have trout, mackerel, sea bass or sardine. Healthy salmon recipe also available online and it is easy to try at home.
- The 21-Day Weight Loss Breakthrough Diet Roasted Salmon by doctoroz.com
- The health benefits of salmon by bbcgoodfood.com
4. Lean Beef and Chicken Breast
This is another amazing protein for you to try without a guilt feeling.
Lean beef and chicken breast are perfect for you even you are on a diet.
Most of us getting our beef and chicken breast supply from the cold storage and we are worried about processed food.
For a healthier and fresher choice, how about trying to go to the market instead? You can ask for the nice piece of lean beef steak direct from the butcher. Meat and chicken breast are high in protein so it is a weight loss friendly type of food.
Anything that high in protein will speed up your metabolism especially if you cook it right. Enjoy grilled steak, baked chicken breast or chicken soup.
The combination of herb and spices such as garlic, cinnamon, and ginger will be the booster to speed up your metabolism and reduce more weight overnight.
The key is, do not exceed your suggested food proportion. Anything more than you should have will be bad for you.
Resource: Will Eating Chicken Breast Every Day Help You Lose Weight? by healthyeating.sfgate.com
5. Cruciferous Vegetables
Another low in fat, carb-free and weight loss friendly food is cruciferous vegetables. Cruciferous vegetables are tastier than leafy greens because it has specific taste and crunchy texture.
What type of cruciferous vegetables would you like to have? You can enjoy broccoli, Brussels sprouts, baby kalian, cabbage, cauliflower and many more. This type of vegetable is high in protein and fiber.
By eating this food, you can avoid unnecessary calories and it is incredibly fulfilling. On top of that, you are providing a lot of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that important for your body. Most of the vegetables also contain natural Phytonutrients to put cancer at bay.
- 10 Incredible Reasons to Eat Cruciferous Vegetables Regularly by foodrevolution.org
- 7 Steps to Fat Loss With Cruciferous Vegetables by healthyeating.sfgate.com
6. Boiled Potatoes
We prefer our potatoes boiled than fried. It is healthier, less fat, less calories, and high in fiber.
You should take boiled potatoes for your protein and fiber intake.
Potatoes are high in potassium to control your blood pressure.
It is not limited to potato only; you can enjoy sweet potatoes, yam, turnips, and other delicious root vegetables of course.
It is also easy to grow. That is another way for you to save more money while losing weight.
- Potatoes: Health Benefits, Risks & Nutrition Facts by livescience.com
- Are Potatoes Good for Weight Loss? by LIVESTRONG.COM
7. Beans and Legumes
If today is not your day for potatoes, you can replace it with beans and legumes instead.
You can enjoy lot types of food even you are trying to lose weight.
Beans and legumes are including the lentils, soybeans, red beans, or kidney beans.
Eating beans and legumes can lead you to satiety because they are high in protein and fiber food.
Please take a cup of it daily or it can be the replacer if you're not having chicken breast or lean meat.
8. Tuna
Another healthy fish to choose is Tuna. You can get your tuna supply at the fish market if you prefer it fresh but trying tuna in a can also not a harm.
To choose a tuna in a can, please prefer tuna canned in water instead of oil. It's to make sure that you get the protein and the tuna stay in low calories and fat.
Resource: Is Tuna Good for You to Lose Weight? by livestrong.com
9. Soups
The idea is by preparing low-calorie food every day, you can keep your calorie intake within your target.
Soup is your best trick to feel satiated without having extra calories in every meal.
What type of food that you want for your soup? You can make chicken soup, fish soup, vegetable soup, and other tasty soup.
It doesn't need a lot of ingredients to cook and you can find a lot of healthy soup recipes online.
- 20 Best-Ever Fat-Burning Soups by Eatthis.com
- 10 Fat Burning Soup Recipes You Should Try by PositiveHealthWellness
10. Avocados
You can do a lot of food and drinks with Avocados.
This fruit offers a lot of nutrients for the consumer and ideal for the one who starts to lose weight.
Add this fruit to your salad or making avocado smoothies to boost your metabolism.
Avocado is not only providing water, fiber, and potassium but it provides you the energy that you need daily.
11. Cottage Cheese
If you want to look for a food that lows in fat and carbohydrate yet satiating, cottage cheese is one of them.
The creamy and light taste will fill you up for hours.
Dairy products such as cottage cheese are high in calcium.
A study shows that calcium does help in reducing the body weight. It boosts your protein intake and burns the fat more.
12. Apple Cider Vinegar
Why can apple cider vinegar help you to lose weight? Apple cider vinegar is high-carb food in a liquid form.
Just a little bit of apple cider vinegar will help you to feel satiated without eating too much.
You can dilute apple cider vinegar in water to make apple cider beverage. How much apple cider vinegar you can drink per day?
Half or one ounce of apple cider vinegar per day will do to help you reduce the body weight.
Read: What Are The Best Apple Cider Vinegar Brands in The Market for Weight Loss?
Resource: 15 Ways Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits Your Health by Reader's digest
13. Nuts
Nuts are high in good fats, source of protein, and fiber. It contains mineral and essential vitamins for your body too.
This is also a high calories food so it is not recommended to eat it in a massive amount.
Nuts are ideal for tea time or snacking time. A small cup of almonds or walnut will be your best companion for tea time.
It is a healthier choice and less fattening than other snacks such as potato chips, cheesecake, and pastries.
14. Some Whole Grains
What type of whole grains exactly? Whole grains such as oats, brown rice, and quinoa are loaded with fiber, antioxidants, and protein.
For Asians or any country that had rice as the main food intake, switching to oats, brown rice and quinoa will help them to cut the sugar, carb, and fat from the regular white rice, sticky rice or the fragrant rice.
Whole grains really work effectively for your weight loss programs.
Resource: The Best Whole Grains For Weight Loss by pritikin.com
15. Chili Pepper
Chili pepper or bell peppers are helpful on a weight loss diet. How? According to research, there is a substance in chili, bell peppers and cayenne peppers called capsaicin.
This substance is not only responsible for the spicy taste but it has weight loss effect to the body.
Capsaicin increased the fat burning process and it will reduce the appetite. By consuming 1 gram of chili peppers daily will avoid you from overeating and eliminating the body fat at the same time.
16. Fruit
You can trust fruit to reduce your body weight.
Fruit never failed you to provide proteins, vitamins, antioxidants, fiber, and energy every day.
It is easy to feel satiated after eating a banana or other fruits such as apples, grapes, avocado, and watermelons.
It loaded with water and natural sugar that healthy for your body and blood sugar level.
You can eat the fruit in every meal or add it to your salad to add the natural sweet taste. Fruit is low in calories, low in carb, high in proteins, and zero in fat.
Experience the positive weight loss transition yourself by consuming fruits every day to replace your carb intake.
Resource: The Best Fruits for Weight Loss by healthywomen.org
17. Coconut Oil
Do you love to cook with butter, lard, or peanut oil? Those oils are high in fat and calories.
You better switch your cooking oil into something healthier and less in fat.
The best cooking oil is the one with less fat and calories such as coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil.
When you need to brown your onions or sauté the vegetables, these oils are worth to use. It can reduce the belly fat and help you to lose more weight.
Resource: Virgin Coconut Oil for Weight Loss and Thyroid Support by sustainablebabysteps.com
18. Chia Seeds
Chia seeds can expand 11-12 times of their size and once you enjoy a bowl of it, you're providing your body to with more protein, no fat, and low-carb goodness.
This is a very useful food to replace bread and rice for your weight loss purpose. Another best fact is Chia seed is potentially curbing your hunger and reduce your appetite.
Because this food is high in fiber, you are not going to feel hungry until to your next meal.
Resource: Chia Seeds and Weight Loss: What You Need to Know by healthline.com
19. Full-fat yogurt
This is not going to replace your lean meat or chicken breast at lunch or dinner.
A full-fat yogurt is a great option for a snack.
Instead of taking sugar-loaded ice-cream or sweetened popcorn while watching your TV, Full-Fat yogurt is a better choice.
It lows in calories and contains probiotic bacteria for a better digestive system. It helps you to lose weight faster and you will get the flatter abs.
Full-fat yogurt can be obtained at your near grocery store. Please choose plain yogurt or less sugar yogurt.
Resource: Is Full Fat Yogurt Better for Weight Loss? by livehealthy.chron.com
You don't need to starve to have your ideal body weight. You can eat varieties of food every day with the suggested proportions and calories. High fiber food will improve your digestive system.
You can reduce a lot of body weight because the foods mentioned above are low in fat (almost zero).
By changing your diet, you can reduce the amount of carb, fat, and unwanted sugar to get your weight loss goal in a total success faster.
All nutritionist in keto diet food list and personal trainers agreed that weight loss effort is start from the kitchen.
Watch what you eat every day and you will see the positive transition just the way you hoped for.
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Rights areas:
The European Social Cohesion Platform established by the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers met from 3 to 4 May in Strasbourg.
The Agency introduced some of its current work, on issues such as severe labour exploitation and anti-Gypsysm as a barrier to Roma inclusion, while referring also to the Agency's recent EU-MIDIS II minorities and discrimination survey and its 2018 Roma and Travellers Survey.
Council of Europe Member States shared their policies and activities to combat social exclusion and various Council of Europe bodies and civil society organisations presented their work in this field. The OSCE highlighted the need to combat chronic social exclusion in Europe as an important future focus for the Platform.
General challenges relating to artificial intelligence and its impact on the labour market, as well as how to make social cohesion work. Recent experiments of shared working time and basic income support were presented as possible responses.


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Tag Archives: domestic violence
Psychological Pressure, Guilt, and Recanting Domestic Abuse
Imagine you've been abused by your spouse. You've been brave enough to call the police, and your abuser has been taken away to be charged. Then the phone rings. It's your spouse…using their one phone call to call you. … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged domestic violence, psychology Leave a comment


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I usually make my croquettes with leftovers–rice, beans, soy meat and whatever else I can find in the refrigerator. I also usually bake my croquettes. But this evening I didn't have the time to bake; besides, my leftovers had disappeared.
So, I created this new recipe. I deep-fried these to save time–which means ten times the calories, but also means at least triple the deliciousness.
2 15-oz cans chickpeas, rinsed and coarsely processed with 1/2 cup water
1 1/2 cup chickpea flour
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 cup veggie burger (Sanitarium Casserole Mince or Worthington Vegeburger*)
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
Mix together. Shape into 3-inch logs. Deep fry till golden. I served mine with garlic stir-fried asparagus, mashed potatoes, and gravy.
*Morningstar Crumbles work well too. But they contain some egg white


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Raptor SD 60″ Zero Turn Lawn Mower! Kawasaki! 30 Day Guarantee!
$3895 is the regular price.
$3695 is the price after a $200 Instant Cash Discount.
Payment would be $89/mo on the 3.99% for 54-month plan.
Or choose 0% for 6 months and still get the Instant Cash Discount!
Hustler Raptor SD 60 Zero Turn
– 60-inch deck
– Kawasaki 24 hp engine
– Only 1 hour!
Our technician looked over this mower and decided all it needed was cleaned!
We are giving this mower a 30-day guarantee!!
Interested in this unit?
You can also reach us at (636) 586-9607.


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Althelia Ecosphere is an impact investment platform that delivers financial returns that are fully aligned with the conservation of nature and sustainable social development.
We created their Impact Report for the second year running. The report provided stakeholders with an overview of their work and project progress in 2017.
View the full report here.
- September 10, 2017
- Report Layouts
- Infographics


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WHAT: Members of the Endicott Fire department Local 1280 together with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, will fan out across the Endicott area with boots in hand, asking pedestrians, motorists, customers and other passersby to make a donation to MDA for the fire fighters' annual Fill the Boot fundraising campaign.
WHERE: Corner of North St. and N. McKinley Ave., Village of Endicott
WHEN: Friday, November 29th
9:00am – 1:00pm
WHY: For 65 years, fire fighters have stood on the front lines to help MDA raise critical funds to help transform the lives of kids and adults with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related muscle-debilitating diseases.
Funds raised through 2019 Endicott Fill the Boot drives help the MDA save lives and lift those up in need, by providing the MDA with vital resources and support, including state-of-the-art support groups and Care Centers, including the MDA Care Center at SUNY Upstate Hospital in Syracuse.
The IAFF and MDA are collaborating on a campaign to encourage states to expand newborn screening programs by adding tests for specific neuromuscular disorders so that all newborns with these conditions can have the best possible chance at receiving the care and support services they need as early as possible.
They also help give more than 52 local kids the opportunity to experience the best week of the year where anything is possible at MDA Summer Camp at no cost to their families at the Rotary Sunshine Camp in Rush, NY.


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OUTWOOD IN SURREY "The Village with the Mill"
Draft Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 16th August 2018
at the Church Room
Present Cllrs N Wyer, B Gosling, R Yeldham and M Baldock. Parish Clerk: L Charlesworth
Also present: Mr L Sutton, Mr G. Black, Mr B Morle, Mr N Shaw and Mrs P Shaw.
16/0801 Apologies Cllr Bourne and Mr J Blackmore
16/0802 Declarations Outwood Parish Council submitted application 2018/1366 on behalf of the Lloyd Hall Management Committee
16/0803 Planning 2018/1271 Sawmills Green Lane; Change of use of land and buildings to sawmill, B1, B2 and B8 use (Retrospective) Objections to this application were made by all those present. The Clerk was instructed to compile a summary of the objections and circulate to all Cllrs for approval before sending to TDC by the extended deadline of 24th August 2018.
2018/1366 Lloyd Hall Brickfield Rd; Formation of hard-standing area. Case officer has visited the site, and has suggested that the length of the area be reduced. Mr Morle to revert to TDC with further justification including road safety concerns.
16/0804 Next Meeting The next meeting will be held on Tuesday 11th September.
Signed…………………………………. 11th September 2018


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Today Saraswati helped me with the Utthita Hasta Padangushtasana and then asked me if I could do the Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana. I said yes and showed it to her. In her usual clipped style she told me, 'Good. Tomorrow new asana.' So in her clipped style I asked, 'Today?' She responded, 'Not today. Today is Tuesday.' I was confused but decided that they probably don't teach anything on Tuesdays. Later on I found out that they don't. I'm not sure why, but maybe the answer lies in the 'Yoga Mala' which I'm waiting to get my hands on soon.
Since we didn't have chanting class today, a bunch of us decided to go to the Lalitha Mahal Palace. It's the second largest palace in Mysore and situated on a small hill. The architecture is very British and I think it was actually used by the British resident of the state of Mysore at one point. It has sprawling gardens on all sides and a great view on all sides. The building has been renovated, but the colors they've used on the outside of the palace are kind of tacky. I wish the interiors had been done up better too. The furniture is shabby and the upholstery, dirty. They've painted ghastly religious figures on some of the glass work on the first floor. The life-sized portraits are of the kings of the Wodeyar dynasty, but the pencil sketches are all of the fall of Srirangapatnam and the surrender of Tipu's sons. Some of the furniture is really nice though. They have huge tables with intricate carving on the side panels. These have just been pushed into corners with obvious disregard. We saw a wooden chair that I liked so much that I would've brought it back with me if I could have snuck it out. The most comfortable wooden recliner ever. For some reason it had two sets of arm rests, one of which could swivel out and around to the front and across the chair. We put our heads together but couldn't figure out what the chair was for.
There was another curious looking piece of furniture pushed against huge dirty French windows. It was too high to be a table, and besides there were not carvings on it. I went closer and saw that there were hinges on the surface and that you could actually open this box on 4 legs. Alexa helped me lift the lid and this largely ignored piece of furniture was a grand piano. And you could still play it. Feedback for the Ashoka group: try and preserve the character of these heritage properties when you take over!
Once we were done wandering around we sat down for some tea. The hotel staff started to 'politely' clear away our cups by the second hour of our conversation. The sun had set and the lights of the hotel had been switched on. We took photos. We stopped by Bombay Tiffins Annexe to pick up some Mysore Pak and then Dose Corner for dinner. Tomorrow I will be up bright and early for the new asana that I have been promised by Saraswati!


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From the largest dinosaurs to the tiniest gemstones, the Natural History Museum's display of over 80 million specimens needs no introduction. On this 2 hour private tour, you'll discover the collection housed within a terracotta palace, a "cathedral to nature," which features galleries on geology, mineralogy, botany and zoology.
Your guide will take you through thousands of years of Earth's fascinating history from the planet's origins and volcanic disasters to the extinction of dinosaurs and the dawn of humankind. You'll come face to face with the rare Archaeopteryx – the missing link between dinosaurs and birds. You'll meet Sophie the Stegosaurus and the skeleton of the long-gone Dodo. Explore the casts of victims from Pompeii and hear why some civilizations once used human skulls as drinking vessels. Gawk at the enormous slice of a Giant Sequoia while learning the secret histories behind these world-class specimens. You'll only be able to touch the surface of this vast collection, but this tour will ensure that you see the most inspiring artifacts on display.


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Intel announces new chips
Eleven processors from Intel's current announcement will be used for desktop PC's, whereas the other five are designed for use in notebooks and other mobile devices
Intel has announced 16 new Sandy Bridge chips to be released soon. Of these 16 processors, 11 are for desktops and will fit the LGA 1155 socket. The other five are designed for use in mobile devices.
The processors introduced range from a single core Celeron at US $37, all the way up to a Core i5 2320 which costs $177.
For the mobile sector Intel's quad-core Core i7-2960XM supports Hyperthreading and is clocked at 2.7GHz, which along with Turbo mode can push that figure to 3.7GHz. The chip is priced at $1,096 and will likely be fitted to high-end laptops designed for no-compromise gamers and enthusiasts.
A dual-core Celeron, known as the B840, is also part of line-up and is priced at $86.
Intel intends to reduce the prices of some of its existing chips on the market from two to six percent. The Core i7-2600S will drop $12 from $306 to $294.


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Teghan Lucas, a comparative anatomy researcher at the University of Adelaide, was fascinated with the idea of doppelgängers, that every person has a look-alike out there in the world. So Teghan analyzed thousands of photos of people, for example measuring the distance between features, to determine the probability that two people would have matching faces. According to Teghan, there's only a one in a trillion chance that you share even eight measurements with someone else. Of course, people can still look very similar even if their eyes and ears aren't separated by precisely the same distance. From the BBC:
"It depends whether we mean 'lookalike to a human' or 'lookalike to facial recognition software'," says David Aldous, a statistician at U.C. Berkeley...
When you bump into a friend on the street, the brain immediately sets to work recognising their features – such as hairline and skin tone – individually, like recognising Italy by its shape alone. But what if they've just had a haircut? Or they're wearing makeup?
To ensure they can be recognised in any context, the brain employs an area known as the fusiform gyrus to tie all the pieces together. If you compare it to finding a country on a map, this is like checking it has a border with France and a coast. This holistic 'sum of the parts' perception is thought to make recognising friends a lot more accurate than it would be if their features were assessed in isolation. Crucially, it also fudges the importance of some of the subtler details.
"Most people concentrate on superficial characteristics such as hair-line, hair style, eyebrows," says Nick Fieller, a statistician involved in The Computer-Aided Facial Recognition Project. Other research has shown we look to the eyes, mouth and nose, in that order.
Then it's just a matter of working out the probability that someone else will have all the same versions as you. "There are only so many genes in the world which specify the shape of the face and millions of people, so it's bound to happen," says Winrich Freiwald, who studies face perception at Rockefeller University. "For somebody with an 'average' face it's comparatively easy to find good matches," says Fieller.
You are surprisingly likely to have a living doppelgänger
Photo from Francois Brunelle's fascinating series "I'm Not A Look-Alike!"


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It's no secret that one of the big debates in the Church today is how to pastorally respond to those of varying sexual orientations.
Churches the world over range from a permissive, arms-open approach to a more closed, even angry, approach. And any talk of trying to 'strike a balance' is futile, as there are as many opinions on this subject as there are Christians, with everyone holding a different idea of what that 'balance' would entail.
So – and I'm convinced of this – we need to find different solutions to working and worshiping together peacefully and lovingly. Solutions which embrace the diversity of opinion found within the Church and use it to strengthen our mission, not divide it.
It's why I loved reading Sexuality, Faith and the Art of Conversation earlier this year. And it's why I was thrilled to attend Living Out's Identity conference in London this June.
I've already blogged a few thoughts reflecting on this conference, firstly how culture shapes our identity (without us even realising), and secondly how affected I was by the testimony of four celibate, gay Christians. Do have a read if you haven't already.
This is the third and final reflection, and it concerns our approach as churches.
Kathy Keller spoke wonderfully in the afternoon on the more practical issue of how we make our churches welcoming and inclusive, while holding to traditional Bible teaching about sex being for (heterosexual) marriage.
This will jar for those who don't read the Bible this way, but one thing I found particularly strong was Kathy's assertion that actually homosexual 'sin' is a lot less common/frequent than heterosexual 'sin' – purely by nature of there being more heterosexual than homosexual people in the world. Of course this is obvious really, isn't it? Only I'd never thought of it this way.
In other words, where do our churches stand on teaching about sex within marriage generally? How do we address those who are living together outside marriage, those who have had affairs, those who are in the process of a divorce, those who are considering remarriage?
There are no easy answers, of course, to any of this – but the point is: sexual sin needs to be addressed as a whole. Singling out any one group of individuals is not helpful, and it certainly isn't Biblical.
Living Out had produced a church inclusivity audit for the day, which I found incredibly helpful, not to mention challenging. If we really ask these questions of ourselves and our churches, where do we stand? I know we fall down in a number of areas.
For example:
"Church family members instinctively share meals, homes, holidays, festivals, money, children with others from different backgrounds and life situations to them."
I'm not so sure that our church, diverse and welcoming as it is, really models this kind of sharing with those of different backgrounds. The thinking here is that if a church develops this kind of culture then it will make life easier for a person who has chosen, for whatever reason, to live a celibate lifestyle, as they will automatically feel included, and experience life-giving relationships within their church family.
Another example:
"All in your church know that we all experience sexual brokenness and all are being encouraged to confess their own sexual sins."
I just don't think that we talk about sex very much or very well! Are we encouraged to think about past sexual behaviour, and whether it was God-honouring? We might be in committed marital relationships, but have we ever asked God to forgive us for what we did before that, or for mixed motives even now?
Again, this general focus on sexual sin (rather than homosexual sin) is helpful, I think, as it sets high and challenging expectations for all of us.
You can download the full audit here and I really recommend taking a look – there are some stonking statements on there. In addition, there's a great video of Ed Shaw (a same-sex attracted church leader) explaining at the conference how he went through this audit with his church leadership team.
There were some great books recommended during the conference which I wanted to mention here, as well as some of my own favourites:
Walking with Gay Friends – I found this incredibly helpful a few years ago in helping me think through this issue. The author is a Christian and a lesbian.
Space at the Table: Conversations between an Evangelical Theologian and His Gay Son – this is on my to-read list, and looks amazing! Check out the trailer video here: it might make you cry!
The Gospel comes with a House Key – Rosaria Butterfield's story of converting to Christianity as a gay, feminist academic is one I want to read – this is a follow-on book, where she describes the kind of radical hospitality Christians are called to give.
Mere Sexuality: rediscovering the Christian vision of sexuality
The plausibility problem – written by Ed Shaw, featured in the church audit video.
Gay girl, good God – I spotted this on Twitter, and it looks fascinating – the story of Jackie Hill Perry's coming to faith.
Undivided – Vicky Beeching's story, from a different perspective, has also been on my to-read list since it was released, and I know many of you have already read it.
Sexuality, Faith and the Art of Conversation – as mentioned. Read my review here!
Happy reading!
A note on my affiliate links: this post contains them! You know the drill: click through, make a purchase, and I earn a small amount of commission.
However, I realise that many of you will Google the book titles, just to check whether there's a cheaper price. I get it – I do that too. I always try to put the cheapest price I can find right here in the blog post, but that's not always possible (prices change all the time, I'm UK based so some things will be cheaper/dearer in other countries, and I have an aversion to Amazon…). So by all means, go check the cheaper price – but if you find that it's the same as what I've recommended, do come back here and click on my links pretty please. It's how I keep the blog free! Thank you 🙂