Al Mayadeen

UK and US presence in the Red Sea violates International Law, and the Republic of Yemen is responsible for dealing with it appropriately.

The Yemeni Supreme Political Council of the Sanaa government issued a statement on the joint US-UK overnight aggression against Yemen warning of imminent retaliation.

“What the country has been subjected to is an unjustified and illegitimate American-British aggression, which violates all international laws,” the statement’s opening statement read.

“All American and British interests have become legitimate targets for the Yemeni Armed Forces in response to their direct and announced aggression against the Yemeni Republic,” the Supreme Political Council warned.

“The aggression on Yemen is an extension of the treacherous American targeting of the Yemeni Naval Forces and the American-British-Zionist aggression on the people of Gaza. The American-British aggression is a real threat to international peace and security, putting the region at grave stakes.”

“The presence of American and British forces, and those allied to them, under false pretexts in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab [strait] is rejected and violates all laws. This presence [of the US and UK in the Red Sea] is a threat to international navigation, and it’s the duty of the Yemeni Republic to deal with it the way it sees fit.”

“We affirm the commitment of the Yemeni Republic to what was declared at the beginning of its naval operation to end the blockade, stop the aggression, end the genocidal war on Gaza, and allow the entry of food, medicine, fuel, and all means of life.”

[…]

Via https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/all-uk–us-interests-in-region-are-legitimate-targets–yemen

Barricade on Rue St Martin

Episode 7: Storming the Bastille

Living the French Revolution and Age of Napoleon

Dr Suzanne M Desan

Film Review

The storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 is celebrated as the start of the French revolution. This fortress was a state prison for the king’s personal enemies, many of whom were imprisoned without trial. Jailers were forbidden to speak to prisoners, who in many cases, were never informed of their crimes. Ironically on July 14th, all but seven had been moved somewhere else.

By July, 1789, economic conditions were so dismal, that Parisians were far more concerned about the price of bread than the workings of their new National Assembly. On July 11, 5000 protestors marched through Paris marched through the city to condemn Louis XVI’s Jacques Necker, viewed as the “people’s protectors” and a strong National Assembly supporter.

On the 14th, journalist and political activist Camille Desmoulins issued a call for Parisians to arm themselves against the 5,000 (mostly mercenary) troops the king deployed outside Paris. In their for arms and ammunition, the Bastille became an immediate target owing to rumors Louis XVI stored gunpowder there.

The fortress was guarded by 30 soldiers and 82 retired military pensioners, many of whom sympathized with the mob. Armed with pikes, axes and a few muskets, a mob artisans, merchants and day laborers sent in a delegation requesting a meeting with the governor (warden), while a small group mounted the roof of a perfume shop immediately adjacent to the the outer wall.

After the Bastille defenders let off one canon shot and a single round of musket fire, the attackers set fire to a load of hay to created a smokescreen. One of the military pensioners joined the rebels, who fired five cannons at the inner gate to break it down. Although the other pensioners dissuaded the governor from blowing up the gunpowder, the attackers eventually killed him and one of the soldiers after he kicked one of them in the testicles. In all 100 attackers were killed and 73 wounded.

On July 15th, the French nobility began fleeing the country en masse. By late July, there were uprisings in Caen, Strasbourg, Bordeaux and Grenoble. Each of the “liberated” cities set up a revolutionary committee to provide governance as well as local militias. The latter came to be known as the national guard. The newly formed commune of Paris chose Lafayette (a former aristocrat who assisted the American colonists in their War of Independence) to lead the Paris national guard.

Anticipating attack by Louis XVI’s troops, they set up barricades in Paris while construction workers began to disassemble the Bastille, this led to the distribution of small stone blocks across France. Lafayette sent a key to the Bastille to George Washington as a souvenir.

On July 16, the king agreed to work with the National Assembly, withdrew his troops from Paris and rehired Necker.

On July 17, he visited Paris, where Lafayette (who favored constitutional monarchy) welcomed him as the “father of the free French.”

Over the next six weeks, the National Assembly wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.

Film can be viewed free with a library card on Kanopy.

https://www.kanopy.com/en/pukeariki/watch/video/149323/149337

They warn Disease X “could result in 20 times more fatalities than the coronavirus pandemic.”

Klaus Schwab, the WEF, and the so-called global elites are gathering together for a 5-day annual meeting in Davos from January 15-19. One of the topics on the agenda has raised some eyeballs, “Preparing for Disease X” on January 17.

COVID has been reported to have claimed approximately 7 million lives worldwide, but “Disease X,” on the other hand, they warn, “could result in 20 times more fatalities than the coronavirus pandemic.”

Something interesting about people in power is that they also often believe that the world is overpopulated. If a pandemic 20 times as deadly as COVID did happen, claiming 140 million lives, would global leaders mourn or secretly celebrate that the world’s population was curbed?

Yuval Noah Harari, one of Barack Obama’s favorite authors and a frequent speaker at Davos, has raised “the big political and economic question of the 21st century,” which is “What do we need humans for? Or at least, what do we need so many humans for?”

[…]

Via https://vigilantfox.substack.com/p/here-we-go-again-wef-hosts-upcoming

By Victor Nava

New York Post

Several Democrats on Capitol Hill scolded President Biden on Thursday for launching airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen without congressional approval, arguing that the action was unconstitutional.

“Section 2C of the War Powers Act is clear: POTUS may only introduce the US into hostilities after Congressional authorization or in a national emergency when the U.S. is under imminent attack,” Khanna went on. “Reporting is not a substitute. This is a retaliatory, offensive strike.”

Echoing Khanna, Rep. Val Hoyle (D-Ore.) tweeted, “These airstrikes have NOT been authorized by Congress. The Constitution is clear: Congress has the sole authority to authorize military involvement in overseas conflicts. Every president must first come to Congress and ask for military authorization, regardless of party.”

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called the US- and UK-led bombing campaign “an unacceptable violation of the Constitution.”

“Article 1 requires that military action be authorized by Congress,” she further explained.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) expressed his fear that Biden’s action in Yemen could risk the US “getting entangled into another decades-long conflict without Congressional authorization.

“The White House must work with Congress before continuing these airstrikes in Yemen,” he urged. 

“The people do not want more of our taxpayer dollars going to endless war and the killing of civilians,” she tweeted.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), who has previously accused Biden of supporting “genocide” against Palestinians, also condemned the Yemen offensive.

“The American people are tired of endless war,” she tweeted, calling the airstrikes unconstitutional.

The attacks against Yemen come after a series of drone and missile attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthis against shipping vessels in the Red Sea.

“The United States carries a special, historic obligation to help protect and defend these arteries of global trade and commerce,” a senior administration official told reporters Thursday.

“And this action falls directly in line with that tradition. That is clearly reflected in both our national security strategy and the national defense strategy. It is a key conviction of the president and it is a commitment that we are prepared to uphold.”

[…]

Via https://nypost.com/2024/01/11/news/dems-fume-after-biden-orders-yemen-airstrikes-without-congressional-approval/

Both South Africa and Israel are signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention which gives the ICJ the jurisdiction to rule on disputes over the treaty [Fatima Shbair/AP]

Al Jazeera

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) based in The Hague will hold its first hearing in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel on Thursday, with several countries welcoming the move amid a global chorus for a ceasefire in Gaza.

South Africa filed the lawsuit end of December, accusing Israel of genocide in its war on Gaza and seeking a halt to the brutal military assault that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians, nearly 10,000 of them children.

The 84-page filing by South Africa says Israel violated the 1948 Genocide Convention, drawn up in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust.

Both Israel and South Africa are signatories to the United Nations Genocide Convention, which gives the ICJ – the highest UN legal body – jurisdiction to rule on disputes over the treaty.

All states that signed the convention are obliged to not commit genocide and also to prevent and punish it. The treaty defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”.

Here’s what we know about the countries backing South Africa in its case against Israel, and the countries that oppose the case at the world court.

Which countries have welcomed South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel?

• The Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC): The 57-member bloc, which includes Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and Morocco, voiced their support for the case on December 30.
• Malaysia: In a statement released on January 2, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the South African application. It reiterated a call for an independent Palestinian state “based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital”.
• Turkey: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oncu Keceli posted on X on January 3 welcoming South Africa’s move.
• Jordan: Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on January 4 that Amman would back South Africa.
• Bolivia: On Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia dubbed South Africa’s move as historic, becoming the first Latin American country to back the ICJ case against Israel.
• Besides countries, many advocacy groups and civil society groups worldwide have also joined South Africa’s call. These include Terreiro Pindorama in Brazil, Asociacion Nacional de Amistad Italia-Cuba in Italy, and Collectif Judeo Arabe et Citoyen pour la Palestine in France, reported independent outlet Common Dreams.

Which countries filed the ICC request earlier?

Bolivia also pointed out it had earlier filed a request to International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan alongside South Africa, Bangladesh, Comoros, and Djibouti to investigate the situation in Palestine. Khan said he received the request on November 30.

The ICC and the ICJ are sometimes conflated with one another. Both the courts are located in The Hague, Netherlands. While the purpose of the ICJ is to resolve conflicts between states, the ICC prosecutes individuals for committing crimes, according to the University of Melbourne’s Pursuit platform. While states cannot be sued at the ICC, the prosecutor can open an investigation where crimes, including genocide, were likely committed.

Who is not backing South Africa’s ICJ case?

The United States has voiced its opposition to the genocide case. National security spokesperson John Kirby called South Africa’s submission “meritless, counterproductive, and completely without any basis” during a White House press briefing on January 3.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday that “there is nothing more atrocious and preposterous” than the lawsuit. Herzog also thanked Blinken for Washington’s support of Israel.

Israel’s Western allies, including the European Union, have mostly maintained silence on the ICJ case.

The United Kingdom, which has refused to support the case, has been accused of double standards after it submitted detailed legal documents to the ICJ about a month ago to support claims that Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya community.

[…]

Via https://counterinformation.wordpress.com/2024/01/10/which-countries-back-south-africas-genocide-case-against-israel-at-icj/

Information Clearing House

UN’s top court hears South Africa’s case for an emergency order to stop Israeli military action in Gaza.

Information Clearing House

Pretoria is asking the court to act urgently “to protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the genocide convention, which continues to be violated with impunity”.

South Africa filed the lawsuit at the end of December, citing statements made by Israeli public officials and the actions of its military, and wants an emergency order calling on Israel to suspend its military campaign.

More than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing war on Gaza, including more than 9,000 children.

In an 84-page application submitted to the ICJ on 29 December, South Africa said Israel’s actions in Gaza were “genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national,
racial and ethnic group”.Israel has rejected the filing, calling it “blood libel” –  a
reference to antisemitic lies that originated in the Middle Ages, which
claimed that Jews murdered Christian boys to use their blood for
religious rituals.

It is the first time Israel is being tried under the United Nations’
Genocide Convention, which was drawn up after the Second World War in
light of the atrocities committed against Jews and other persecuted
minorities during the Holocaust.The ICJ is the UN’s highest court. Established in 1945, it deals with disputes between countries and provides advisory opinions. It has 15
judges who are elected for nine-year terms by the UN General Assembly
and Security Council.

The court can be expanded with the addition of a judge from each side of the case, in this case South Africa and Israel. The current judges at the ICJ are from the United States, Russia, China, Slovakia, Morocco, Lebanon, India, France, Somalia, Jamaica, Japan, Germany, Australia, Uganda and Brazil.

[…]

Via https://informationclearinghouse.blog/2024/01/11/first-day-of-icj-hearing-on-south-africas-genocide-case-against-israel/09/

Dr Eddy Betterman

They are widely prescribed as a solution for clogged arteries, but statin drugs actually accelerate coronary artery calcification, according to a new study.

Research published in the journal Clinical Pharmacology reveals that statins are more aptly described as “mitochondrial toxins” in that they impair normal muscle function in the heart and blood vessels by depleting the body of coenzyme Q10, also known as CoQ10.

An antioxidant that cells use for growth and maintenance, CoQ10 does not synthesize properly when a person takes statins as prescribed by doctors to prevent heart disease, which is said to be the leading cause of death in the United States.

Also vital for the production of ATP, the fundamental energy carrier in cells, CoQ10 is an absolutely vital component of heart health. Without it, ATP production is inhibited and the body is left with an energy deficit that the new study’s authors say “could be a major cause for heart muscle and coronary artery damage.”

“We believe that many years of statin drug therapy result in the gradual accumulation of mitochondrial DNA damage,” the authors write.

(Fact check: Cholesterol is good for health, helping to promote longer life.)

Cut the statins and take CoQ10 to optimize heart health

A 2008 study looked at 50 statin patients to identify side effects like fatigue and muscle pain that are common in people with ATP problems and insufficient CoQ10.

When these 50 were told to stop taking statins and to supplement with CoQ10 for 22 months, all of them saw major improvements in their symptoms. Fatigue, muscle pain, breathlessness, memory loss and nerve pain all decreased when statins were stopped and CoQ10 was started.

According to the researchers involved with that study, the side effects of statins “are far more common than previously published and are reversible with the combination of statin discontinuation and supplemental CoQ10.”

One of the key nutrients the body requires to prevent calcification in arteries is vitamin K. Statin drugs impair vitamin K production, which in part explains why statins contribute to arterial calcification over the long term.

Optimizing vitamin K2 levels in the body helps to prevent plaque buildup and atherosclerosis, a condition marked by the thickening or hardening of arteries.

“Coronary calcification happens when calcium accumulates in the walls of the coronary arteries that provide oxygen to the heart,” one media outlet reported. “This plaque buildup is a sign of early coronary artery disease, which can block blood flow and trigger a heart attack.”

Back in 2021, another study was published that looked at the connection between statin use, vitamin K2 deficiency and coronary artery calcification. That study’s findings were “in agreement with the existing evidence about positive association between statins and vascular calcification.”

Another thing statins damage is selenoproteins, which are carriers of the mineral selenium, another vital nutrient for heart health. There is also growing speculation that statins trigger inflammation, which is another factor in arterial calcification.

“Physicians in general are not aware that statins can cause heart failure and are clearly not recognizing it,” the latest study’s authors stated, adding that doctors who prescribe cholesterol drugs “cannot ignore the moral responsibility of ‘informed consent.’”

“The body naturally makes more cholesterol in an attempt to repair cell membrane damage caused by free radicals,” wrote a commenter. “Free radicals are provoked by environmental toxins such as hidden infection, chemicals and pesticides, even pharmaceutical drugs that liver can’t break down.”

“Lowering cholesterol makes matters worse because the underlying issues are not addressed, and important nutrients such as thiamine and CoQ10 are robbed by the drug.”

[…]

Via https://dreddymd.com/2024/01/11/statins-mitochondrial-toxins-linked-to-heart-disease/