Police shot children as young as 12 with 50,000-volt Taser linked to causing fatal heart attacks

A schoolgirl, 12, is one of 24 young children to be hit with a full 50,000-volt

But at least 194 children aged 16 or under have been shocked with Tasers at lower levels in the last three years
Young people's charities and human rights organisations claim use of Tasers on children may cause heart problems later on


A 12-year-oldgirl was shot by police with a 50,000-volt Taser.
The girl, who was  brandishing  two knives and threatening to harm herself, was one of more than 20 children shot by officers using the electric stun guns, figures show.
Police said the Taser was used to  detain the girl and ‘prevent serious harm to both her, the public and the officers’ after she began behaving ‘aggressively’ in St Helens, Merseyside, in July 2011.


Although the girl was unhurt in the incident there are fears that being hit with a Taser can increase the risk of  fatal heart attacks.

The schoolgirl was one of  more than 20 children stunned with the weapons in the past three years,  according to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
They included six children aged 14, four aged 15 and 13 aged 16.
Scores of other children, some as young as 11, have been threatened with the weapons.


In total, at least 194 children aged 16 or under have had Tasers used on them in the past three years, according to figures uncovered by the investigative agency OpenWorld News.
Of these, at least 24 were actually shot by the Taser – a barb attached by a wire to deliver an electric shock of up to 50,000 volts.


Last night young people’s charities and human rights organisations said the use of Tasers on children was deeply worrying. The high-powered weapons should be fired on children only as a last resort, they said.
Amnesty International’s Oliver Sprague said: ‘In the United States more than 500 people have died after being shocked by a Taser and, in many instances, the coroner declared the Tasers a contributory factor.’
Tasers are increasingly being carried by British police after being introduced in 2004. Many officers on the beat can now carry the weapons after just a short training course.
At least six children were ‘drive-stunned’ by Tasers – where the electric device is held directly against the body.

Another 97 children were ‘red dotted’, with officers pointing the Taser at the child and pinpointing exactly where the barbs would hit their body with a red ‘sniper’ dot.
This included a 15-year-old targeted by Devon and Cornwall Police after he threw a glass at shop staff and took up a ‘fighting stance’ with his eyes ‘squinted’ as officers approached.
The use of the stun weapons against young children comes despite advice to the Home Office that Tasers are more likely to cause heart problems in children.
The advice, from independent scientific body Defence Sub-committee on the Medical Implications of Less-Lethal Weapons, was published in the Association of Chief Police Officers’ Taser guidelines.

It notes ‘children and adults of smaller stature as being at potentially greater risk from the cardiac effects of Taser currents than normal adults of average or larger stature’.
Penelope Gibbs, chairman of the Standing Committee for Youth Justice, a coalition of more than 25 voluntary bodies campaigning for youth justice reform, said the findings were ‘really shocking’.

‘The number of incidents indicate that the police are not using other techniques to calm potentially vulnerable or disturbed teenagers,’ she said.
A total of 27 forces provided responses on the use of Tasers against children during 2010, 2011 and 2012. But the true figure of Taser use on young children is likely to be much higher.

• A 14-year-old girl in Nottingham was accidentally shot as officers tried to arrest a suspect in the city.
•  A 14-year-old burglary suspect armed with a screwdriver was shot in Gwent, south Wales.
•  A 14-year-old was shot with Taser in Northumbria after the teen attacked another person with cosh - a truncheon-like weapon.
•  A 14-year-old was shot by armed officers in Warwickshire who was alleged to have been armed with a knife and 'being racially abusive'.
•  A 14-year-old boy was drive-stunned in York for resisting arrest.
•  A 12-year-old girl armed with a knife was red-dotted in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, by armed officers.
•  A 15-year-old was shot in Frome, Somerset, after an alleged assault.
•  A 15-year-old was Tasered in Nottinghamshire after apparently being violent towards an officer and carrying a knuckle duster.

James Drummond

China, India, Pakistan boost nuclear arsenals: study

Three of the world's nuclear powers -- China, India and Pakistan -- have increased their arsenals over the past year, while the other five have cut their strength or kept it stable, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said Monday.

China now has 250 nuclear warheads against 240 in 2012, while Pakistan has increased its warheads by about 10 to between 100 and 120 and India has also added roughly 10 for a total of 90 to 110, SIPRI said in its annual report.

According to SIPRI, the arms race is all the more disturbing because of what the institute called a "fragile" peace in Asia, characterised by growing tensions since 2008 between India and Pakistan, China and Japan, and the two Koreas, among others.

"While states have avoided direct conflict with each other and have stopped supporting insurgent movements on each other's territory, decades-old suspicions linger and economic integration has not been followed up with political integration," SIPRI said.

Only the two old superpowers have cut their warheads, Russia reducing its number from 10,000 to 8,500, and the United States scaling back from 8,000 to 7,700.

The warheads controlled by France stayed at 300, while Britain's remained at 225, and Israel's at 80.

SIPRI acknowledged that the figures were to a large extent estimates, as the nuclear powers aren't equally transparent, China being totally opaque, and Russia gradually becoming less open.

SIPRI does not count North Korea and Iran as nuclear powers yet, as their respective programmes are still considered in their early stages.

While the global total of warheads was down, SIPRI said it did not translate into a significantly diminished nuclear threat.

"Once again there was little to inspire hope that the nuclear weapon-possessing states are genuinely willing to give up their nuclear arsenals. The long-term modernisation programmes under way in these states suggest that nuclear weapons are still a marker of international status and power," said SIPRI Senior Researcher Shannon Kile.

Efforts to reduce arsenals of chemical and biological weapons have also been slow, according to SIPRI, a long-time advocate of abolishing weapons of mass destruction.

The United States and Russia have not destroyed all their chemical weapons in 2012 as promised, and Syria has said it is prepared to use them in the case of foreign attack.

SIPRI figures also show that the number of peacekeepers deployed around the world fell by more than 10 percent in 2012, reflecting partly the beginning withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.

SIPRI noted an increase in recent years in the number of intrastate conflicts that are internationalised, as outside states have supported one side or another.

"Such involvement often has the effect of increasing casualty rates and prolonging conflicts," SIPRI said in its report.

SIPRI's annual report also contains data already published, including figures showing a decline in global arms spending in 2012 of 0.5 percent, the first drop since 1998.

The report also said China has overtaken Britain as the world's fifth largest arms exporter after the United States, Russia, Germany and France.


AFP

Cracks in Iran’s nuclear reactor facility following quakes – diplomats

A general view of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, some 1,200 km (746 miles) south of Tehran.(Reuters / Mohammad Babaie)

Iran’s only power producing nuclear reactor in Bushehr was damaged by earthquakes which struck Iran over April and May, diplomats told AP. 

Cracks have reportedly appeared in at least one section of the structure.

Cracks of several meters long have appeared in one concrete section of the facility, claimed diplomats from countries monitoring Iran’s nuclear program. Cracks however were not visible around the highly-radioactive reactor core, they said. 

Tehran did not deny or confirm the report with Iran’s chief delegate to the IAEA, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, telling AP: “I know nothing about Bushehr.” 

The safety of the plant was thrown into question following the April quakes, one of which was 7.7, and a subsequent moderate quake in early May. Their severity caused concerns that protective vessels which contain the radioactive material inside the reactors could be cracked. Intense earthquakes can also knock out power and disable cooling systems that prevent overheating and possible meltdown. 

Following the tremors, Iran stated that the plant is technically sound and was built to withstand quakes up to magnitude 8. 

Russian nuclear specialists examined the facility after the April quake that caused much damage in the neighboring Pakistan killing around 40 and wounded hundreds. 

"The earthquake in no way affected the normal situation at the reactor, personnel continue to work in the normal regime and radiation levels are fully within the norm," an official with Atomstroyexport, the Russian company which built the facility, told RIA Novosti. 

The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) also said at the time that Iran reported that earthquake caused no damage to the facility. 

“Iran has informed [the IAEA's Incident and Emergency Center] of the event, reporting that there has been no damage to the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and no radioactive release from the installation,” the agency said in a statement, according to Reuters. 

A doll lies on the rubble of a destroyed house as Iranian residents inspect the damage in the town of Shonbeh, southeast of Bushehr, on April 10, 2013.(AFP Photo / STR)

May’s quake was 6.2 on the Richter scale, and was followed by a 5.6 tremor the following morning. Its epicenter was 85 kilometers (52 miles) southeast of the town of Minab, located in the southern Hormuzgan Province off the Strait of Hormuz. 

“What I can say about this is that the center of the earthquake was away from the Bushehr reactor which was designed and built in the 1970s ... in a way that qualifies it to withstand an earthquake of that magnitude,” General Director of International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano told the Bahrain News Agency after the quake.   

Iran's environmental protection chief also indicated that the country's nuclear facilities were well protected. 

Construction of the plant began in 1975 by German companies, work stopped in 1979. Iran and the Russian Ministry for Atomic Energy signed a contract for its completion in 1995, when Atomstroyexport was named as the main contractor, which was tasked with incorporating a pressurized water reactor into the existing Bushehr building.  

RT

Update:

Nuclear Event in Iran on Wednesday, 12 June, 2013 at 03:25 (03:25 AM) UTC.

Iran's Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant has suffered a malfunction in its main generator, the Islamic Republic's ambassador to Moscow said on Monday. Mahmoud Reza Sadjadi did not specify the nature of the malfunction or make clear whether it has caused the plant's shutdown, Russia's state Itar-TASS news agency reported. But he stressed that this fault was not caused by the series of earthquakes that shook Iran in recent weeks. "In close cooperation, our and Russian specialists are undertaking efforts to fix the malfunction," Sadjadi was quoted as saying. He added that the fault "was linked to the work of the generator" and had occurred some time ago, but provided no other details. Bushehr is Iran's only nuclear power plant and is located on the Gulf in the southern section of the country. The plant was officially opened in September 2011. Its initial construction was begun by Germany in the 1975 before being dropped because of Iran's Islamic revolution.

source  

Former Senator & Presidential Candidate: “An Extraterrestrial Influence Is Investigating Our Planet”

It’s June 2013, and the UFO topic seems to increase in intensity year after year. 

With a tremendous amount of credible information now available in the public domain, well known individuals are not afraid to share their voice with the world. It seems that a number of people would like to see this information surface, at the same time there seems to be so much secrecy behind the subject that a number of people would like to see it remain hidden.

Former Sen. Mike Gravel (D-Alaska), and 2008 presidential candidate says that there is “an extraterrestrial influence that is investigating our planet.” He’s not the only one making these claims. A number of Astronauts, Professors, high ranking military and political personnel have been doing the same over the years. Official documentation released from three letter agencies, governments, and the freedom of information act are available to the public domain and back up what is being said by these people.

These comments come from Mr. Gravel after the recent “citizens hearing on disclosure.”  You can find out more about that here and here.

The UFO “issue” is a complex one that branches into different areas like science, history, politics, consciousness and many more . It is without a doubt one of the most important topics the human civilization has come across, ever.

No doubt that human beings have been programmed with fear when it comes to this topic, and there is a good possibility that that has been done purposely. It’s time to let go of that, there is a whole galactic community out there teeming with life.

Our planet and the beings on it are currently going through a shift. We are beginning to see through the curtain that blinds the masses in all aspects of life. Our health, food, energy and financial institutions are much more transparent, and the people of Earth are calling for change. We are recognizing that we are what needs to change, we are the ones that do not resonate with this current system and we are the ones that have the tremendous potential to create something new. Maybe some groups of extraterrestrials are watching to see if we can do it? And maybe some aren’t.

The greatest form of ignorance is when someone rejects something they know nothing about – Wayne Dyer

Condemnation without investigation is the height of ignorance – Albert Einstein.



Arjun

Bilderberg 2013 agenda & attendee list

  Prins Bernhard of  Oranje Nassau, the Netherlands, the founder of the Bilder berg group.

The 61st Bilderberg meeting is set to take place from 6 until 9 June 2013 in Hertfordshire, UK. 

A total of around 140 participants from 21 European and North American countries have confirmed their attendance. As ever, a diverse group of political leaders and experts from industry, finance, academia and the media have been invited. The list of participants is available on www.bilderbergmeetings.org

The key topics for discussion this year include:

• Can the US and Europe grow faster and create jobs?

• Jobs, entitlement and debt

• How big data is changing almost everything

• Nationalism and populism

• US foreign policy

• Africa’s challenges

• Cyber warfare and the proliferation of asymmetric threats

• Major trends in medical research

• Online education: promise and impacts

• Politics of the European Union

• Developments in the Middle East

• Current affairs 

Founded in 1954, Bilderberg is an annual conference designed to foster dialogue between Europe and North America.

Every year, between 120-150 political leaders and experts from industry, finance, academia and the media are invited to take part in the conference. About two thirds of the participants come from Europe and the rest from North America; one third from politics and government and the rest from other fields.

The conference has always been a forum for informal, off-the-record discussions about megatrends and the major issues facing the world. Thanks to the private nature of the conference, the participants are not bound by the conventions of office or by pre-agreed positions. As such, they can take time to listen, reflect and gather insights.

There is no detailed agenda, no resolutions are proposed, no votes are taken, and no policy statements are issued. 

 Hertfordshire, England 6-9 June 2013

Current list of Participants

Status 3 June 2013

Chairman

FRA Castries, Henri de Chairman and CEO, AXA Group 

DEU Achleitner, Paul M. Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Deutsche Bank AG 

DEU Ackermann, Josef Chairman of the Board, Zurich Insurance Group Ltd 

GBR Agius, Marcus Former Chairman, Barclays plc 

GBR Alexander, Helen Chairman, UBM plc 

USA Altman, Roger C. Executive Chairman, Evercore Partners 

FIN Apunen, Matti Director, Finnish Business and Policy Forum EVA 

USA Athey, Susan Professor of Economics, Stanford Graduate School of Business 

TUR Aydıntaşbaş, Aslı Columnist, Milliyet Newspaper 

TUR Babacan, Ali Deputy Prime Minister for Economic and Financial Affairs 

GBR Balls, Edward M. Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer 

PRT Balsemão, Francisco Pinto Chairman and CEO, IMPRESA 

FRA Barré, Nicolas Managing Editor, Les Echos 

INT Barroso, José M. Durão President, European Commission 

FRA Baverez, Nicolas Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP 

FRA Bavinchove, Olivier de Commander, Eurocorps 

GBR Bell, John Regius Professor of Medicine, University of Oxford 

ITA Bernabè, Franco Chairman and CEO, Telecom Italia S.p.A. 

USA Bezos, Jeff Founder and CEO, Amazon.com 

SWE Bildt, Carl Minister for Foreign Affairs 

SWE Borg, Anders Minister for Finance 

NLD Boxmeer, Jean François van Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO, Heineken N.V. 

NOR Brandtzæg, Svein Richard President and CEO, Norsk Hydro ASA 

AUT Bronner, Oscar Publisher, Der Standard Medienwelt 

GBR Carrington, Peter Former Honorary Chairman, Bilderberg Meetings 

ESP Cebrián, Juan Luis Executive Chairman, Grupo PRISA 

CAN Clark, W. Edmund President and CEO, TD Bank Group 

GBR Clarke, Kenneth Member of Parliament 

DNK Corydon, Bjarne Minister of Finance

GBR Cowper-Coles, Sherard Business Development Director, International, BAE Systems plc 

ITA Cucchiani, Enrico Tommaso CEO, Intesa Sanpaolo SpA 

BEL Davignon, Etienne Minister of State; Former Chairman, Bilderberg Meetings 

GBR Davis, Ian Senior Partner Emeritus, McKinsey & Company 

NLD Dijkgraaf, Robbert H. Director and Leon Levy Professor, Institute for Advanced Study 

TUR Dinçer, Haluk President, Retail and Insurance Group, Sabancı Holding A.S. 

GBR Dudley, Robert Group Chief Executive, BP plc 

USA Eberstadt, Nicholas N. Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy, American Enterprise Institute 

NOR Eide, Espen Barth Minister of Foreign Affairs 

SWE Ekholm, Börje President and CEO, Investor AB 

DEU Enders, Thomas CEO, EADS 

USA Evans, J. Michael Vice Chairman, Goldman Sachs & Co. 

DNK Federspiel, Ulrik Executive Vice President, Haldor Topsøe A/S 

USA Feldstein, Martin S. Professor of Economics, Harvard University; President Emeritus, NBER 

FRA Fillon, François Former Prime Minister 

USA Fishman, Mark C. President, Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research 

GBR Flint, Douglas J. Group Chairman, HSBC Holdings plc 

IRL Gallagher, Paul Senior Counsel 

USA Geithner, Timothy F. Former Secretary of the Treasury 

USA Gfoeller, Michael Political Consultant 

USA Graham, Donald E. Chairman and CEO, The Washington Post Company 

DEU Grillo, Ulrich CEO, Grillo-Werke AG 

ITA Gruber, Lilli Journalist – Anchorwoman, La 7 TV 

ESP Guindos, Luis de Minister of Economy and Competitiveness 

GBR Gulliver, Stuart Group Chief Executive, HSBC Holdings plc 

CHE Gutzwiller, Felix Member of the Swiss Council of States 

NLD Halberstadt, Victor Professor of Economics, Leiden University; Former Honorary Secretary  General of Bilderberg Meetings 

FIN Heinonen, Olli Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School of Government 

GBR Henry, Simon CFO, Royal Dutch Shell plc 

FRA Hermelin, Paul Chairman and CEO, Capgemini Group 

ESP Isla, Pablo Chairman and CEO, Inditex Group 

USA Jacobs, Kenneth M. Chairman and CEO, Lazard 

USA Johnson, James A. Chairman, Johnson Capital Partners 

CHE Jordan, Thomas J. Chairman of the Governing Board, Swiss National Bank 

USA Jordan, Jr., Vernon E. Managing Director, Lazard Freres & Co. LLC 

USA Kaplan, Robert D. Chief Geopolitical Analyst, Stratfor 

USA Karp, Alex Founder and CEO, Palantir Technologies 

GBR Kerr, John Independent Member, House of Lords 

USA Kissinger, Henry A. Chairman, Kissinger Associates, Inc. 

USA Kleinfeld, Klaus Chairman and CEO, Alcoa 

NLD Knot, Klaas H.W. President, De Nederlandsche Bank 

TUR Koç, Mustafa V. Chairman, Koç Holding A.S. 

DEU Koch, Roland CEO, Bilfinger SE 

USA Kravis, Henry R. Co-Chairman and Co-CEO, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. 

USA Kravis, Marie-Josée Senior Fellow and Vice Chair, Hudson Institute 

CHE Kudelski, André Chairman and CEO, Kudelski Group 

GRC Kyriacopoulos, Ulysses Chairman, S&B Industrial Minerals S.A. 

INT Lagarde, Christine Managing Director, International Monetary Fund 

DEU Lauk, Kurt J. Chairman of the Economic Council to the CDU, Berlin 

USA Lessig, Lawrence Roy L. Furman Professor of Law and Leadership, Harvard Law School; Director, Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics, Harvard University 

BEL Leysen, Thomas Chairman of the Board of Directors, KBC Group 

DEU Lindner, Christian Party Leader, Free Democratic Party (FDP NRW) 

SWE Löfven, Stefan Party Leader, Social Democratic Party (SAP) 

DEU Löscher, Peter President and CEO, Siemens AG 

GBR Mandelson, Peter Chairman, Global Counsel; Chairman, Lazard International 

USA Mathews, Jessica T. President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace 

CAN McKenna, Frank Chair, Brookfield Asset Management 

GBR Micklethwait, John Editor-in-Chief, The Economist 

FRA Montbrial, Thierry de President, French Institute for International Relations 

ITA Monti, Mario Former Prime Minister 

USA Mundie, Craig J. Senior Advisor to the CEO, Microsoft Corporation 

ITA Nagel, Alberto CEO, Mediobanca 

NLD Netherlands, H.R.H. Princess Beatrix of The 

USA Ng, Andrew Y. Co-Founder, Coursera 

FIN Ollila, Jorma Chairman, Royal Dutch Shell, plc 

GBR Omand, David Visiting Professor, King’s College London 

GBR Osborne, George Chancellor of the Exchequer 

USA Ottolenghi, Emanuele Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies 

TUR Özel, Soli Senior Lecturer, Kadir Has University; Columnist, Habertürk Newspaper 

GRC Papahelas, Alexis Executive Editor, Kathimerini Newspaper 

TUR Pavey, Şafak Member of Parliament (CHP) 

FRA Pécresse, Valérie Member of Parliament (UMP) 

USA Perle, Richard N. Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute 

USA Petraeus, David H. General, U.S. Army (Retired) 

PRT Portas, Paulo Minister of State and Foreign Affairs 

CAN Prichard, J. Robert S. Chair, Torys LLP 

INT Reding, Viviane Vice President and Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, European Commission 

CAN Reisman, Heather M. CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc. 

FRA Rey, Hélène Professor of Economics, London Business School 

GBR Robertson, Simon Partner, Robertson Robey Associates LLP; Deputy Chairman, HSBC Holdings 

ITA Rocca, Gianfelice Chairman,Techint Group 

POL Rostowski, Jacek Minister of Finance and Deputy Prime Minister 

USA Rubin, Robert E. Co-Chairman, Council on Foreign Relations; Former Secretary of the Treasury 

NLD Rutte, Mark Prime Minister 

AUT Schieder, Andreas State Secretary of Finance 

USA Schmidt, Eric E. Executive Chairman, Google Inc. 

AUT Scholten, Rudolf Member of the Board of Executive Directors, Oesterreichische Kontrollbank AG 

PRT Seguro, António José Secretary General, Socialist Party 

FRA Senard, Jean-Dominique CEO, Michelin Group 

NOR Skogen Lund, Kristin Director General, Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise 

USA Slaughter, Anne-Marie Bert G. Kerstetter ’66 University Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University 

IRL Sutherland, Peter D. Chairman, Goldman Sachs International 

GBR Taylor, Martin Former Chairman, Syngenta AG 

INT Thiam, Tidjane Group CEO, Prudential plc 

USA Thiel, Peter A. President, Thiel Capital 

USA Thompson, Craig B. President and CEO, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center 

DNK Topsøe, Jakob Haldor Partner, AMBROX Capital A/S 

FIN Urpilainen, Jutta Minister of Finance 

CHE Vasella, Daniel L. Honorary Chairman, Novartis AG 

GBR Voser, Peter R. CEO, Royal Dutch Shell plc 

CAN Wall, Brad Premier of Saskatchewan 

SWE Wallenberg, Jacob Chairman, Investor AB 

USA Warsh, Kevin Distinguished Visiting Fellow, The Hoover Institution, Stanford University 

CAN Weston, Galen G. Executive Chairman, Loblaw Companies Limited 

GBR Williams of Crosby, Shirley Member, House of Lords 

GBR Wolf, Martin H. Chief Economics Commentator, The Financial Times 

USA Wolfensohn, James D. Chairman and CEO, Wolfensohn and Company 

GBR Wright, David Vice Chairman, Barclays plc 

INT Zoellick, Robert B. Distinguished Visiting Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics 

source

Amnesty International calls for Urgent Action against abuses of peacefull protestors in Turkey [updated]

Also: an eyewitnessreport of the beginning of the protests wich are spreading at the moment. And Anonymous' efforts to help the people there.

With tens of thousands of protestors crossing by foot across the bridge connecting the Asian and European sides of the city it is clear that the protests in Istanbul and elsewhere in Turkey are intensifying.  News reports indicate that “police from as far afield as Antalya are being drafted in to help quell the violence.”

The Turkish government has clearly taken a hard line.  Prime Minister Erdogan is quoted by the BBC as saying, “Police were there (Taksim Square) yesterday; they’ll be on duty today and also tomorrow because Taksim Square cannot be an area where extremists are running wild.”

In fact, it is the police who seem to be “running wild,” using force excessively and indiscriminately.  Here is the latest from Amnesty:

"Friday night police used even greater levels of violence against demonstrators… There are unconfirmed reports of three deaths. Over 1000 people are thought to be injured, many of them seriously. More than 100 people have been detained in Istanbul. There are consistent reports of ill-treatment against those in detention.

Lawyers told Amnesty International that police beat protestors with truncheons when they apprehended them on the street, again at a police station close to Taksim. Similar violence against detainees was reported when protestors were transferred to the main security directorate in Istanbul.

According to reports, protestors on the street and in detention are being prevented access to appropriate medical care. Attempts by the Istanbul Medical Chamber to set up temporary medical facilities to treat injured demonstrators on the streets were prevented by continuous use of tear gas by police…

Medical professionals told Amnesty International that police security measures have also prevented many demonstrators from accessing the main public hospital in the Taksim area. Reports also indicate that the police fired tear gas close to the entrance to the hospital.

Reports also indicate that police apprehended injured demonstrators in need of hospital treatment and took them instead to police detention where they have not been able to access appropriate medical treatment."

Because Turkish authorities seem determined to continue on this course and have shown no inclination to “take the required steps to ensure the security of the demonstrators and members of the public in general,” Amnesty has updated its call to action.



Continue the actions outlined yesterday.  These include:

A. Use of social media:

Please use social media including twitter and facebook to circulate the below suggested messages, tagging @aforgutu for AI Turkey:

.@Valimutlu Police use of force against #direngeziparkı protestors is excessive, unacceptable & breaks international HR standards @aforgutu

.@Valimutlu @RT_Erdogan Istanbul authorities must immediately stop police violence against peaceful #direngeziparkı protestors @aforgutu

Amnesty International’s issuing international call to its activists to take action over police violence in #Taksim #direngeziparkı @aforgutu


B. Voice your concern directly to the Turkish government by writing to the Turkish embassy in your home country (see here for details on text)

Addresses and details for these embassies can be found here: http://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkish-representations.en.mfahttp://www.mfa.gov.tr/turkish-representations.en.mfa

In addition, Amnesty asks that you lobby your own government

Call or e-mail your representative in Congress or Parliament.  Let them know that you expect your government to speak out for freedom of expression and against the police violence in Turkey.

Contact your country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry (the State Department in the United States) and ask them to reiterate Amnesty International’s call for:

•     Turkey’s Prime Minister to intervene immediately to end the police violence against           protestors;

•      The authorities to allow the right to peaceful protest of the demonstrators;

•      The end of ill-treatment during arrest and in places of detention;

•      Unhindered access to health care for all those who need it including in detention;

•      An immediate, independent and impartial investigation into allegations of excessive use of force and a clear statement of attrition.

We need your help and, more importantly, the brave protestors in Turkey need your help.  The time to act is now.


Update 1:

New tweets have been issued in Turkish and English:

.@RT_Erdogan @Valimutlu Tavrınızı değiştirin! Şiddete son verin barışçıl gösterilere izin verin, ihlalleri soruşturup engelleyin #occupygezi

.@RT_Erdogan Turkish authorities must allow the right to peaceful protest of the demonstrators @aforgutu #direngeziparkı #occupygezi

For a complete list of suggested tweets in English and Turkish and additional information, click here. 


 Amnesty International

_____________________________________________________

Video: Disabled man asks police to stop the violence: 

 ____________________________________________________

  Eyewitnessreport  from the beginning of the events.  What is Happenning in Istanbul?

 

 To my friends who live outside of Turkey:

I am writing to let you know what is going on in Istanbul for the last five days. I personally have to write this because most of the media sources are shut down by the government and the word of mouth and the internet are the only ways left for us to explain ourselves and call for help and support.

Four days ago a group of people most of whom did not belong to any specific organization or ideology got together in Istanbul’s Gezi Park. Among them there were many of my friends and students.  Their reason was simple: To prevent and protest the upcoming demolishing of the park for the sake of building yet another shopping mall at very center of the city. There are numerous shopping malls in Istanbul, at least one in every neighborhood! The tearing down of the trees was supposed to begin early Thursday morning. People went to the park with their blankets, books and children. They put their tents down and spent the night under the trees.  Early in the morning when the bulldozers started to pull the hundred-year-old trees out of the ground, they stood up against them to stop the operation.

They did nothing other than standing in front of the machines.

No newspaper, no television channel was there to report the protest. It was a complete media black out.

But the police arrived with water cannon vehicles and pepper spray.  They chased the crowds out of the park.

In the evening the number of protesters multiplied. So did the number of police forces around the park. Meanwhile local government of Istanbul shut down all the ways leading up to Taksim square where the Gezi Park is located. The metro was shut down, ferries were cancelled, roads were blocked.

Yet more and more people made their way up to the center of the city by walking.

They came from all around Istanbul. They came from all different backgrounds, different ideologies, different religions. They all gathered to prevent the demolition of something bigger than the park:

The right to live as honorable citizens of this country.

They gathered and marched. Police chased them with pepper spray and tear gas and drove their tanks over people who offered the police food in return. Two young people were run over by the panzers and were killed. Another young woman, a friend of mine, was hit in the head by one of the incoming tear gas canisters. The police were shooting them straight into the crowd.  After a three hour operation she is still in Intensive Care Unit and in  very critical condition. As I write this we don’t know if she is going to make it. This blog is dedicated to her.

These people are my friends. They are my students, my relatives. They have no «hidden agenda» as the state likes to say. Their agenda is out there. It is very clear. The whole country is being sold to corporations by the government, for the construction of malls, luxury condominiums, freeways, dams and nuclear plants. The government is looking for (and creating when necessary) any excuse to attack Syria against its people’s will.

On top of all that, the government control over its people’s personal lives has become unbearable as of late. The state, under its conservative agenda passed many laws and regulations concerning abortion, cesarean birth, sale and use of alcohol and even the color of lipstick worn by the airline stewardesses.

People who are marching to the center of Istanbul are demanding their right to live freely and receive justice, protection and respect from the State. They demand to be involved in the decision-making processes about the city they live in.

What they have received instead is excessive force and enormous amounts of tear gas shot straight into their faces. Three people lost their eyes.

Yet they still march. Hundred of thousands join them. Couple of more thousand passed the Bosporus Bridge on foot to support the people of Taksim.

No newspaper or TV channel was there to report the events. They were busy with broadcasting news about Miss Turkey and “the strangest cat of the world”.

Police kept chasing people and spraying them with pepper spray to an extent that stray dogs and cats were poisoned and died by it.

Schools, hospitals and even 5 star hotels around Taksim Square opened their doors to the injured. Doctors filled the classrooms and hotel rooms to provide first aid. Some police officers refused to spray innocent people with tear gas and quit their jobs. Around the square they placed jammers to prevent internet connection and 3g networks were blocked. Residents and businesses in the area provided free wireless network for the people on the streets. Restaurants offered food and water for free.

People in Ankara and İzmir gathered on the streets to support the resistance in Istanbul.

Mainstream media kept showing Miss Turkey and “the strangest cat of the world”.

***

I am writing this letter so that you know what is going on in Istanbul. Mass media will not tell you any of this. Not in my country at least. Please post as many as articles as you see on the Internet and spread the word.

As I was posting articles that explained what is happening in Istanbul on my Facebook page last night someone asked me the following question:

«What are you hoping to gain by complaining about our country to foreigners?»

This blog is my answer to her.

By so called «complaining» about my country I am hoping to gain:

Freedom of expression and speech,

Respect for human rights,

Control over the decisions I make concerning my on my body,

The right to legally congregate in any part of the city without being considered a terrorist.

But most of all by spreading the word to you, my friends who live in other parts of the world, I am hoping to get your awareness, support and help!

Please spread the word and share this blog.

Thank you!

For futher info and things you can do for help please see Amnesty International’s Call for Urgent Help.    [see previous text above [red]

 source

_____________________________________

              

Greetings citizens of the world. We are Anonymous.

The whole world is watching this battle and we have heard the cries of the oppressed in this country. Anonymous does not stand idly by as governments crush opposition to their dictatorial rule. Thus, we are calling for all active anons to assist in #OpTurkey.

#OpTurkey ~ Survival tips for civilians in areas of urban conflict. Below is a guide written by ex-military aimed at assisting those on the streets fighting for their freedom. While many of these points seem obvious to some, the stress and chaos of the rebellion can dampen and confuse even the bravest of people at times. Thus, we strongly advise that you please review ALL points in their entirety.

Turkish government. You should expect us.

irc.anonops / #opturkey

#opturkey on Twitter

@anonsturkey

 ____________

SURVIVAL GUIDE

1. If you hear close weapons activity, DO NOT leave your building unless absolutely

essential

2. If you do have to, DON'T walk in a straight line and resist the temptation to run, stay low

- The human eye recognizes movement before light and colour, if someone wants a target

and you are moving quicky, you will be seen more easily

- Your body is saying RUN LIKE MAD and so is that adrenaline high you are experiencing,

anticipate shakes, high nausea levels and a strong volition to move quickly.

3. If you cannot leave or decide to stay, and start hearing explosions or feel a large impact to your building, stand in a doorway. If there is no convenient doorway nearby move any large object (table, large chair) you can near to a supporting wall and get under it.

- A supporting wall is a wall that others stem from, the 'spine' of a building, usually the most centrally-running and/or thickest wall in the building but NOT an external wall

4. Move to ground floor, moving as low as possible past any windows BUT if you hear loud/rushed conversation directly below you, DO NOT RUSH DOWN. not being on the ground floor is far from ideal, but neither is running into combat-stressed individuals with weapons who have holed up in your building

- Take your time at the point of descent (stairs), if in doubt, find the most secure spot and wait until you feel safer to move on.

- Again, your body is screaming RUN RUN RUN, many unfortunate casualties happen due to this behaviour

5. If you need to signal, DO NOT S.O.S in morse code, for 2 reasons;

- S.O.S can either not be noticed or to be misinterpreted

- Using morse may signify to someone observing that you may have some military training potentially, trust me, this can cause a lot of misunderstanding and attention your way

THE INTERNATIONAL SYMBOL FOR DISTRESS IS SIX SHORT WHISTLE BLASTS/MIRROR FLASHES, PAUSE FOR 30 SECS, REPEAT

6. Mirror Flashes - the correct way to get noticed is not to just move around a shiny surface;

- Make a 'peace' V with your fingers, aim the bright reflection towards one of the fingers

- Aim your V at the direction you wish to signal, and flash the bright reflective patch from your object past your two fingers back and forth - the reflection is thus precisely aimed to catch any attention you aim at.

7. One of the best things in a survival situation is actually your cellphone. If it (or a network) is dead, smash it open.

- There is usually a highly reflective plate located behind the screen

- The circuit boards can be sharpened to give a very nice and reliable cutting edge if a knife is needed but unavailable (sharpens on stone/concrete floor easily - sharpen ONE side only holding the board at a 30 degree angle from the floor)

8. Fire: is not ideal in any conflict area, can become uncontrolled and/or attract unwanted attention.

- If needed, cellphone comes in handy again. That battery may not be able to power the phone, but using any thin wiring, surround the wire with whatever you wish to start the flame with (dry fabric, paper shreds, dry plant) and connect one end to +ve and one end to -ve, it gets VERY hot VERY quickly (sometimes white hot if using wiring from the phone itself)

- Making a fire in a building is a BAD IDEA. Even if you control its size, a mild yet prolonged fire will, in a small airless space, produce things you don't want to breathe in, and suck out what you do want to breathe in. Sleepyness becomes unconsciousness becomes death.

9. Move out (of range/target area)

- Do not think it is a good idea to travel to places/buildings of authority looking for help unless specifically told to do so. Areas of importance to military or authority, and known large groups of people (eg. a hospital) will be the first major targets of any competent enemy force, remove the danger by removing yourself from such locations.

- Move to opposite edges of your geographical area to the conflict, or if surrounded by conflict to a degree, move centrally but NOT TO THE ABSOLUTE CENTRE - find shelter in a quiet place until it is safe to move to an even safer area.

10. Take notes - Try to find something to write with and on and ask EVERYONE YOU MEET if they have heard ANYTHING.

-A good questions checklist would be

a) Are there any new designated safe areas?

b) Any news on the levels of safety in local medical centres? (never know when one might be needed, good to know if any are no go areas.

c) Any new resource points? food, water, shelter?

d) Which direction have you come from? NO NOT trust your ears to suss out a dangerous direction to avoid, in urban environments, sound reflection can completely distort where the danger is.

e) Have you heard of any safe routes leading far away from the conflict?

- The first priority is the security of you and your group, ask questions relative to that first!

- Updates on political progress to end a conflict will trickle through and are not the immediate priority to an individual in a conflict zone, don't waste your time talking about it.

11. Emergency first aid: is very dangerous if done by a person with no experience. If, however your group is affected by explosion or similar and feel you have to, always check the people who are not moving or even awake but very quiet FIRST, the screamers are telling you 2 things, 1) they are still alive and 2) either little or no head trauma. While you may gravitate towards a distressed sounding person first, the ones in more need are the ones not making any sound.

- If unconscious, check pulse

- If pulse found, make sure their mouth is closed (opens airway)

- Firmly, but not shouting, say "can you hear me?" and holding both shoulders VERY LIGHTLY shake them as you speak.

- If no response, tilt your head horizontally, holding ear close to nose/mouth of patient looking down the body.

to feel air flow with your ear OR see chest rising and falling with breathing.

- If pulse but no breathing, start assisted breathing, two deep exhales into the mouth of the patient every 30 secs.

- Try to revive again with VERY LIGHT shaking with a hand no each shoulder, repeat "can you hear me?"

- If no pulse, begin compressions: 2 deep breaths into mouth of victim followed by 30 chest compressions (this is current advised standard).

- Chest compressions are dangerous, don't use whole body weight!!!

using your LEFT Hand, seat the palm of your hand (so the fingers point right) in the slight groove of the breast bone, place your right hand above your left.

- With straightened arms, press downwards (DO NOT RUSH/PRESS TOO HARD) in a CONTROLLED, CALM manner.

Be under no illusions, CPR is not successful in restarting a heart, it simply allows the chance for enough oxygen to reach vital areas of the body until such a time that a medical team can restart the heart correctly.

People have been successfully revived after correct CPR after having no pulse for a much longer time than the usual point of brain damage and death from hypoxia.

UNSKILLED ATTEMPTS AT FIRST AID ARE STILL VERY DANGEROUS, SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THIS BEFORE COMMENCING ANY AID

12. Bug-out bag: prepare a bag full of emergency essentials if you need to exit in a hurry, good items are:

- Knife (contrary to the idea of a 'good' knife, folding knives with a reliable locking mechanism is best in case you fall on your bag)

- Water (2 Litre is ideal (2 day supply for one) but whatever you can fit)

- As much of the least perishable food items as you can fit in, freeze dried meals are optimum but understandably not widely available in many conflict regions). If really stretched, take a balg of flour and more water to make a quick hard dough once relatively safe and cook it over a fire, can be sustaining for a short period as your only meal

- As many different ways of fire starting as you have, lighters, matches etc

- Our seemingly useless dead cellphone, or far more usefully a spare working cellphone, stick it in the bag

- A small pot or big cup for cooking in

- Spare items of clothing to suit for 2 complete sets of fresh gear for 2 days

- Waterproof warm jacket if available (even in hot dry climates, you never know (and i know the desert is f****** cold at night))

- First aid kit if available

Naturally, this list can suit for many different environments but takes up a lot of space, if no large bag is available, you may have to cut out the clothing and maybe other items, but if you are lucky enough to be able to prepare a bug-out bag, DO NOT leave out the food water and knife.  Place your bug out bag in a very visible location near what you use as your main exit of your premises.

13. Some hard facts

A) If a member/members of your group die and you are in close proximity to combat, your main priority is the remaining survivors in your group.  The honourable approach of 'never leave a man behind' is usually a code that is adopted by trained combat professionals who are more capable of achieving this should they wish. You will probably not have military training and MUST make the horrible decision to leave the deceased and concentrate on the survival of the rest of your group (very highly trained operatives know that whatever moral code is in place, transporting the dead is simply not feasible in areas of intense combat (or areas with no friendly forces within close (20 miles) radius), Hollywood does not know what it is talking about).

B) If you are not used to it, very large natural doses of adrenaline will mess with you in a big way. A trick if you are feeling overwhelmed and panicked is to look and concentrate on immediate objects and mentally say them eg door, table, light etc, to bring you back into a more stable way of thinking.  One of the worst effects of adrenaline is sudden memory loss (you just freeze and go blank) linking with inbuilt natural defence mechanisms. Prepare for this as best you can, go over and over action plans mentally BEFORE any danger occurs.

example, think about if a bomb explodes/shooting begins:

What are my exit routes from the area?

Who is around me that I must aid?

What is my first choice of safe haven after getting away?

Is my bug-out bag ready? Where is it?

C) Grief is almost as disabling as an adrenaline rush, you have to try your best to SHUT IT OUT until you are in a position far safer. To link to point a), it is extrelemy hard to leave a very close family member or a child if dead and your body will not want you to do it.  A decision in these moments could potentially save or end your life.

Good luck, and be safe.

We are Anonymous.

We are Legion.

We do not Forget.

We do not Forgive.

We do not compromise.

Expect Us!

______________

Turkish government websites hacked by Anonymous

Anonymous @YourAnonNews:

TANGODOWN:
http://gudul.meb.gov.tr/index.php
http://www.gatab.gov.tr/images/
http://www.akpartiankara.org/
http://tccb.gov.tr 
http://istanbul.gov.tr    
http://iem.gov.tr    
http://Akparti.org.tr
STILL DOWN > Presidency http://tccb.gov/  & http://www.ankara.bel.tr/  |http://ancara.gov.tr/  | Anonymous Operations #OpTurkey

List of Damage under #OpTurkey; include (Leaks, Hacks and Defacement)

For people in Turkey free VPN access:

Username: vpnbook
Password: rac3vat9

Server #1: euro1.vpnbook.com (Anonymous VPN)
Server #2: euro2.vpnbook.com (Anonymous VPN)
Server #3: uk1.vpnbook.com (UK VPN – optimized for fast web surfing; no p2p downloading)
Server #4: us1.vpnbook.com (US VPN – optimized for fast web surfing; no p2p downloading)

____________________

“We will attack every Internet and communications asset of the Turkish government,” Anonymous threatened in a YouTube video posted Sunday. “You have censored social media and other communications of your people in order to suppress the knowledge of your crimes against them. Now Anonymous will shut you down, and your own people will remove you from power.”

Anonymous used distributed denial of service, or DDoS, hacks to overload servers and knock target websites offline. In addition to websites belonging to the Turkish government, political parties and police department, Anonymous hacked websites belonging to media outlets that support Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan. One example was the private news broadcaster NTV, which was criticized for not reporting on the police brutality.

We are coming Turkey. Be strong, We will not let you down. Stay in the streets, We will take your government offline. #OpTurkey
— Anonymous(@AnonOpsMob) June 2, 2013


TANGODOWN:tccb.gov.tristanbul.gov.triem.gov.trAkparti.org.tr Via @wikicrew #YA
— Anonymous (@YourAnonNews) June 2, 2013
Other Turkish websites were hacked and defaced to include images supporting the protesters in Turkey. Several Tunisian hackers got involved with #OpTurkey and claim to have hacked more than 145 Turkish websites.

#opTurkey: gatab.gov.tr/images/ hacked and defaced
— Anonymous (@Crypt0nymous) June 4, 2013

 Turkish protesters using encryption software to evade censors
ow.ly/1X55Ec#OpTurkey
—Anonymous (@AnonRRD) June 4, 2013

______________________

#OpTurkey chatroom and an other

IRC: irc.anonops.com | PORT 6667 | SSL PORT 6697|| Channel #Turkey || Webchat: http://webchat.anonops.com/

IRC: irc.cyberguerrilla.org | PORT 6667 | SSL PORT 6697 Fingerprint=21:05:1D:5B:FC:58:E6:E9:3C:F8:48:00:3A:C5:22:3A:95:52:FF:ED | IRC Client setup | /RULES || Channel #OpTurkey

_______________________

How to connect to the internet in Turkey should your government shut it off. Please share with Turks.

#occupygezi Dial Up
+46850009990
+492317299993
+4953160941030

User: telecomix
Password: telecomix

OR +33172890150

Login: toto
Password: toto

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┗━╱┈╲┃┈┈┗━╰━╯┈┃┈

┈┈┈┈  ┃┈┈┃╭━━╮┈┈┈┈

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