Bolivia: stopped before it even starts

It was reported today in Cuban Colada by Renato Perez Pizarro that the President of Bolivia Evo Morales proposed to Latin American nations to recall their ambassadors to the US as a way of pressuring Obama to lift the embargo within a prescribed time frame. Needless to say that this measure was not adopted at the end of the summit and all the ambassadors are still safe and sound in DC.

I don't know much about Morales except that he's a socialist and a fan of Che, that he plays soccer on weekends and never finished high school... Except for being a socialist, a pal of Hugo Chavez and Che fan he didn't seem all that bad, but if he'd finished high school maybe he would have seen that recalling his ambassador would not have been a smart move... that and I think he also kicked out a US ambassador back in September. Good job Evo Morales, way to alienate your country even more.

Muchacho Enfermo

Blogfather update December 17th

Andisheh reported this morning that Hossein Derakhshan was arrested in his family residence by 6 plain clothed officers, his equipment taken away and he is being held at Branch 1 of the Revolutionary court, he hasn't been charged but he is accused of insulting religion.

Reading this has raised a few questions for me:
1- Why are the reports of the accusations against him different?
2- When his family was interviewed the Associated Press they claimed to have not seen him in a month, but never mentioned he was arrested in their home.

Until I find a more reliable source I'll keep looking through Persian blogs and news agencies to keep you all posted.

Muchacho Enfermo

Gays being killed in Brazil... by whom?

The Huffington Post reported this a few days back: Brazilian police suspected in the killing of gays. The brief report states a sergeant may be involved in some way in the killing of 13 gay men in Sao Paulo. Today the AFP has put out a brief news clip saying that the State Police now believe it's a serial killer and make no mention of the original suspected officer.

I'm not sure what this world is coming to if it took 13 victims before the cops realized something wasn't right. That or they just didn't care very much. Either way it's wrong and something should be done.

Muchacho Enfermo

What happened to the shoe thrower?

The associated press today put out a video by Ed Donahue in which he reports that the Iraqi journalist that threw his shoes at Dubya hasn't been seen since being handed over to the Iraqi judicial system directly after the incident. The man's employer says he was seriously harmed in the aftermath of the shoe hurling while other officials say he is in good health. The White House also states they have confidence in the Iraqi judicial system.

One wonders if the Iraqis will judge him harshly to cozy up to the US or if they will grant him clemency because of world wide press coverage...

Muchacho Enfermo

Now in English

Claudia Cadelo's blog is now being translated into English! For those of you who haven't had the pleasure, or just weren't able to read her Spanish one I'm putting a link to her English version in my blogroll. If you liked Generation Y (which links to her as well) you will also love this blog. Check it out.

Muchacho Enfermo

Shirin Ebadi urges Iran to release the BlogFather

As reported in the Globe and Mail Nobel peace prize laureate Shirin Ebadi spoke to the media at a news conference in England and is speaking out against the reported arrest of Hossein Derakhshan on November 1st in Tehran.

The BlogFather has dual citizenship (Iranian and Canadian) and as such he should be entitled to some form of Canadian support. I urge all of you to contact your MPs in Ottawa and urge them to take action. Here is a list of all current MPs in Ottawa. Please call, write or email and show your support for one of our own.

Send something like this: "It has come to my attention, as a Canadian voter, taxpayer and citizen that a citizen of Canada is being held in captivity in Iran without any information being supplied to Ottawa, I would urge you, (insert MPs name here), to make the necessary inquiries and do everything in your power as an elected official of this great country to help secure the release of Hossein Derakhshan. Thank you, sincerely (insert you name here)"

Regardless if you agree with his views or not; no Canadian, no blogger, no one, should ever be arrested for speaking his or her mind. FREE THE BLOGFATHER!

Muchacho Enfermo

"Hit Bush with the Shoe": Most popular game in Irak

I laughed so hard when I read this:

“The war is not over,” Mr. Bush said, adding that “it is decisively on it's way to being won.”
It was at that point the journalist stood up and threw a shoe. Mr. Bush ducked, and it narrowly missed his head.

No one says what happened to the guy after he was tackled by the soldiers though... I'd be curious to see a follow up story on this.

Muchacho Enfermo