US State Department criticizes Belgium for human rights abuses

According to an article in the Belgian EUobserver, the US State Dept found it necessary to state in its 2008 US government report on worldwide human rights (issued Feb 25, 2009) that “the Belgian government “generally respected the human rights of its citizens,” (oh, really? I hadn’t noticed) but found several human rights ‘problems’, such as overcrowded prisons, lengthy pre-trial detention, poor detention conditions prior to expulsion and “ethnic discrimination in the job market.“

Local Belgian sources acknowledged Belgium experienced, like most EU countries, ongoing social issues, but ever so kindly suggested that the US State Dept would consider buying full-sized mirrors and a free trip down memory lane to take a long, careful look at the abysmal human rights track record of the USA.  “We don’t kill our prisoners”, “nor do we deny our gay citizens basic human rights” one Belgian source noted with rising indignation. Do you personally feel the US has regained its “moral authority” to start pointing fingers at the world regarding “human rights abuses” in other countries?

“USA first”: GM to close Antwerp car assembly plant

Antwerp is in shock following the announcement that General Motors USA is very likely to close the super-efficient GM Antwerp car assembly plant anytime soon, a large facility with over 3,000 workers. The plant reopened this morning after a forced 1w closure.

Carl Peter Forster, GM Europe CEO apparently received an undisclosed “to be closed” list from GM USA. Given that GM Antwerp has not been assigned a successor for the current Opel Astra, closure is probable. [Related: EU attacks US 'Buy American' clause]

Local Antwerp papers report that GM USA did not respond to an offer, extended twice by the Belgian government to provide financial guarantees. It appears the Obama administration is forcing GM America to close numerous non-US car assembly plants, even if they already produce the compact, super fuel efficient models Obama is calling for.

“USA first”, a bitter Antwerp GM employee and neighbor of mine said at the local corner shop this morning,  “I wonder why we all applauded in recession-struck Belgium when Obama got elected last year:  he goes for US economic protectionism across the board”. GM has been building cars in Antwerp since 1924. [Image: GM car assemby in Antwerp, 1929. Author unknown].  While I understand the worldwide “my country first” reflex, I do wonder how hard you already have been hit personally by the ongoing recession. [Press update Feb 5]

Early US elections winner: a true maverick

It’s almost midnight in Antwerp, Belgium (11:59 pm UTC+1), on one of those foggy Belgian autumn nights some of us wished we were somewhere else. My SO has fallen asleep in front of some ‘major’ soccer game on TV, I’m watching the video tsunami of US election news on my pc.  With yet another network repeating the classic visuals and sound bites (”massive numbers”, “waiting in line”, exit poles”) I suddenly stumbled upon one local station that had discovered “a true early winner”: a “maverick’ that scored all the way to the bank.

I’m not sure if Sarah Palin ever knew what she started when she coined the word “maverick” (well, she ‘kind of’ borrowed it, out of context, as we’ve come to expect): little did she know that for most Dutch speakers “maverick” is only (and really nothing more than) a US jeans brand, a brand that was totally elated to hear its name all over the place, all of the time, on all channels, for free. Obama may well be the next US president when I wake up Nov 5th, but in Holland and Belgium, one ‘maverick’ already ran off with the grand cash prize: months worth of priceless advertising.

[Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with or endorse any "maverick". In fact, I prefer authenticity "]

Belgians upset with “From my ass I can see Belgium” Sarkozy – Palin prank call

Belgians were really upset when the fake French president Sarkozy claimed/2:30 “from my ass I can see Belgium” to US gov Sarah Palin
He may have wanted to say “from my house I can see Belgium”, but who cares when you’re talking to the “evil queen of Alaska”.

Sources claim the Belgian government strongly protested to the McCain campaign when informed that US gov Sarah Palin gave an affirmative reply to fake president Sarkozy when he stated that “from my ass I can see Belgium”. Even though the McCain campaign has not commented on this significant issue, anyone who agrees with the statement that “Belgium can be seen from someone’s ass” should be institutionalized or given immediate psychiatric care.

The fact that clueless Palin took the call apparently induced a severe diplomatic row between Canada, the USA, France and Belgium, with each country blaming the other for the degrading ‘Belgium can be seen from someone’s ass’ remarks.

US elections seen from abroad: Obama popular, but “irrelevant”

While the whole world strongly prefers Obama, much of the world couldn’t care less about the US elections, claiming they had no opinion or they felt the US elections would not affect their lives. And I agree. [Riz Khan TV show (ex-CNN), taped Oct 28, 2008]

Gallup world poll results:
“Gallup Polls conducted in 73 countries from May to October 2008 reveal widespread international support for Democratic Sen. Barack Obama over Republican Sen. John McCain in the U.S. presidential election. Among these nations, representing nearly three-quarters of the world’s population, 24% of citizens say they would personally rather see Obama elected president of the United States, compared with just 7% who say the same about McCain. At the same time, 69% of world citizens surveyed did not have an opinion.

World citizens are more divided over whether the outcome of the U.S. election makes a difference to their country, with 26% saying it does and 22% saying it does not. Moreover, 52% of those surveyed did not have an opinion.”

Palin’s America: hate, racism, ignorance and fear

I know I promised to shut up about the US elections, but video reports like these shock the world on a daily basis. Is this really America?

Antwerp also has its fair share of racists, but (if you’re American) can you begin to fathom the impact of these (selected) images?

YouTube Quote: “Idiocy and paranoia are epidemic after 8 years of Bush, and the racism quotient is about what it was in 1958.”

Wasilla, Alaska flashes a nipple

Look what some citizens of Wasilla are looking for at my blog: indeed, nipples. Given the very poor
performance by “that angry old dude” vs Obama last night, they could sure use some entertainment.
Coming up real soon: the meaning of life revealed, in ten confused words or less, Palin style.
[Vanity note: triple that counter number. Sitemeter was introduced recently at this blog]
Free traffic advice: blog about empty, tabloid no-brainers like nipples. Even Wasilla will find you

All online US election coverage to be stopped immediately

As of this moment (Sat Oct 4, 2008, 15:50h GMT+2) all online US election coverage will be stopped completely. No more jokes about clueless US republican nutcase Sarah Palin, no more NBC parody videos, no more wisecracks about any candidate, no more funny cartoons, no more analysis or commentary covering the ongoing US elections. At least, on this blog.
Why? Basically, covering the US elections on a blog that focuses on Belgium, Europe is fundamentally pointless. Sure, I can post my opinion, repeat a soundbite, quote a news source, but in the end my opinion or views won’t matter. I’m not an American, I won’t be able to vote [though I'd obviously vote for Obama, like most on this planet: Holland: Obama: 94%], so let’s re-focus on what really matters.

If you’re a regular reader you may know by now that I spent a “gay honeymoon”-like vacation with my SO in the WOW resort, Bodrum, Turkey last September. Given that no selection (I over-enthusiastically shot 1,000 photographs…) will ever fit  one single post, I’ll serialize some of our holiday images, at least, if there’s an audience. Vacation shots can be utterly sleep-inducing   I’ll try to upload the most remarkable video highlights to my YouTube account as well. If any of these shots [please click to enlarge] raise any questions, just shoot. Turkey September 2008, part one – departure and arrival:

The Pegasus flight to Turkey had great on board service – we were pleasantly surprised. Our experience with Brussels airport was abysmal though, as we’ve come to expect over the years. We arrived at 4 am at the airport, going through the now classic lengthy, exaggerated security checks (liquids in hand luggage are confiscated in Brussels due to the absurd notion that toothpaste might pose a security risk).
[Update October 7 2008 (source: local newspaper, not online): the EU is to propose gradually abolishing the ban on liquids in hand luggage starting early 2009 as the impact on security after almost 3y appears non-existent...]

Upon trying to photograph the Brussels airport security check I was stopped by security personnel. Thanks, Brussels airport: in addition to a recent (”we want higher wages”) abrubt luggage handling strike that caused total chaos during the peak of the summer season, along with neverending building work on the new terminals and wildly inflated food/beverage prices (Starbucks in Brussels: 9 EUR/ $16 for two cups! -Image credit: teruginbelgie.blogspot.com), I now understand why you were voted one of Europe’s favorite airports: you truly believe passengers love being treated like trash. But hey, there was a reason why we were leaving Belgium

Wall Street in crisis – wake-up call America: time to get real scared now

So, you’re American and actually wanted to vote for the MacCain-Palin (”just your average hockey mum”) ticket? To ’save the economy”? Really?  Reality check America: http://www.huffingtonpost.com. I do hope it doesn’t come too late.. [Screen captures courtesy The Huffington Post]. Do you start to feel the effects of years of economic mismanagement by the Bush administration on a personal level? I did: the Brussels stock-exchange dropped like a stone early this morning. Thank you America, for exporting US-induced issues into the European financial markets.  Wake-up call America: time to get real right now: “Lehman Will File Bankruptcy; Merrill to Be Sold” (NY Times, yesterday). I really hope you don’t own stocks, and if you don’t I do hope your home is still safe after this emergent financial disaster [Opening Wall Str 9 am US EDST: - 0,85% Dow Jones, -2.55 Nasdaq: quite mild reaction, but fasten your seatbelts]. Belgium: Brussels live stock  exchange: check here – Meryll Lynch press conference currently live on Bloomberg TV (spin-like press statement: click here). 9.48 am EDT: ‘Lehman Files Biggest Bankruptcy Case as Suitors Balk‘ – 10.02 am EDT:’SPECIAL REPORT: Crisis on Wall Street‘ (Bloomberg): ‘In the biggest reshaping of the financial industry since the Great Depression, two of Wall Street’s most storied firms, Merrill Lynch & Co. and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., headed toward extinction’. 10.09am: Bush now on CNBC. I’m especially worried about the -43% of AIG, another disaster waiting to happen. Update 11am: AIG crashing fast, as expected. This is no pretty picture, given the pivotal role of AIG [Quote: "AIG is one of the largest international insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with operations in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions. AIG member companies serve commercial, institutional and individual customers through the most extensive worldwide property-casualty and life insurance networks of any insurer. In the United States, AIG companies are the largest underwriters of commercial and industrial insurance and AIG American General is a top-ranked life insurer."] 11.20 am Update from the financial newswires: “Attention has focused on the danger presented by the failure of Lehman Brothers. But the failure of a commercial bank such as Washington Mutual can have systemic consequences if it threatens a run on other weak banks. Washington Mutual – the sixth largest bank in the US – has lost more than a third of its market value.”

The Bush admin went through great lengths inducing needless fear into the heart of many Americans (’Homeland threat level orange’), but now the foundations of the financial system are shaking (”my God”, a close friend said “Lehman just went bancrupt, this is so surreal”), Bush makes a trivial “all clear’ statement. McCain on CNBC: “no intervention” (save yourselves).  If I were a middle-class working American, I’d really become worried, wouldn’t you be? [Update Sept 16: AIG is crashing further (-60% pre-US-opening), my stock portfolio has taken an alarming nose-dive, the Belgian stock-market has turned all red. I'm getting worried now, and so should you.]

McCain: Palin is not qualified as vice-president

Watch McCain (link to full text), say exactly what the whole world knows by now: Palin is not qualified to be a US Vice President. Quote (dated October 21, 2007):

“I have had a strong and a long relationship on national security, I’ve been involved in every national crisis that this nation has faced since Beirut, I understand the issues, I understand and appreciate the enormity of the challenge we face from radical Islamic extremism.”  “I am prepared. I am prepared. I need no on-the-job training. I wasn’t a mayor for a short period of time. I wasn’t a governor for a short period of time.”

I rest my case.  If there is a god, may he be there to save America from the walking disaster called McCain(72)-Palin. I’m no US citizen, but I’m gay: if this cute couple were to win the 2008 elections, I’d emigrate to Canada. Time to reclaim your country, America.

Wikipedia quote: (”Questions have been raised by some in the media regarding Palin’s views on the separation of church and state, given her support for the inclusion of creationism into public education and an address to graduating ministry students at her former church where she urged them to pray “that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God”,[181] and in the same remarks, her assertion that “God’s will” was responsible for the Alaskan national gas pipeline project. Bloggers have characterized her remarks as having “painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair” or reported that she told the students “that the United States sent troops to fight in the Iraq war on a ‘task that is from God“)

After electing a lying, war-mongering, virtually certified nutcase twice, there must be something profoundly wrong with a significant part of the US electorate, wouldn’t you think so?