147 dead in Kenya university attack

[Tom Sestito]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/02/africa/kenya-university-attack/

(CNN)Authorities have killed four terrorists who held hostages and killed university students Thursday, Kenyan Interior Ministry Joseph Nkaissery said.

The "operation has ended successfully" at Garissa University College. "It is a very sad day for Kenya."

The Somalia-based Al-Shabaab militant group claimed responsibility for the assault.

A total of 147 people were killed in the attack, according to the official Twitter account of Kenya's National Disaster Operation Centre and Kenyan media reports. The agency also reports on its Twitter account that plans are underway to evacuate the remaining students and others from the area.

Al Shabaab is the same group that bombed the mall.

Mom walked through the door crying her eyes out when she heard on the radio because she was born in Kenya.. hit her hard.

[Hugor Hill]

Somalia is messed up. Poverty and anarchy leads to violence. That violence has now been legitimized by religion and it's spreading to other countries. Kenya is a relatively peaceful and prosperous state. They don't need this.

[Webster6]

Somalia is messed up. Poverty and anarchy leads to violence. That violence has now been legitimized by religion and it's spreading to other countries. Kenya is a relatively peaceful and prosperous state. They don't need this.

It's terrifying when violence becomes righteous.

[Cackerot]

Somalia is messed up. Poverty and anarchy leads to violence. That violence has now been legitimized by religion and it's spreading to other countries. Kenya is a relatively peaceful and prosperous state. They don't need this.

Tell me professor, how did you come to this conclusion?

[Webster6]

Tell me professor, how did you come to this conclusion?

By understanding how archaic ideology affects one's consciousness.

[Hugor Hill]

Tell me professor, how did you come to this conclusion?

By understanding how archaic ideology affects one's consciousness.

And http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_African_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)

[thejazz97]

Man... this world's just going downhill.

[Webster6]

Man... this world's just going downhill.

No it's not. You're statistically less like to be injured/murdered by the hands of another human being, than at any point in human history. On top of that our population is much greater than it used to be. There are still hotbeds of violence, even in the greatest of cities around the world. Although we're a much more empathetic species than we used to be.

[thejazz97]

No it's not. You're statistically less like to be injured/murdered by the hands of another human being, than at any point in human history. On top of that our population is much greater than it used to be. There are still hotbeds of violence, even in the greatest of cities around the world. Although we're a much more empathetic species than we used to be.

Our world's going in two very different directions, then.

When you've got the trifecta of militant groups with ISIS, Boko Haram, and Al Shabaab going around and killing everyone that doesn't agree with them, Russians entering Ukraine and claiming Crimea, and the threat of MAD via nuclear war (just to name a few), you know something's happening that's not right.

[Webster6]

Our world's going in two very different directions, then.

When you've got the trifecta of militant groups with ISIS, Boko Haram, and Al Shabaab going around and killing everyone that doesn't agree with them, Russians entering Ukraine and claiming Crimea, and the threat of MAD via nuclear war (just to name a few), you know something's happening that's not right.

All of that pales in comparison to the horrors of our ancestors.

Other than the technological capabilities of nuclear warfare, but it's been contained well. Our species is much more empathetic, and I don't see us ever causing a nuclear holocaust. Maybe one bomb goes off in a city somewhere. But I'm gonna stop your worries here and say the Sharia Law will never be brought upon a culture steaming The Simpsons through their computers or TVs. We are less violent today because we have debunked stupidity that leads to righteous violence, and make those who practice it outcasts. Things like ISIS will either be stamped out by retaliatory violence, or by debunkment of their beliefs. But don't worry about the direction of humanity. It's head in better direction, and is improving at an exponential rate.

[thejazz97]

All of that pales in comparison to the horrors of our ancestors.

I'm gonna stop your worries here and say the Sharia Law will never be brought upon a culture steaming The Simpsons through their computers or TVs. We are less violent today because we have debunked stupidity that leads to righteous violence, and make those who practice it outcasts. Things like ISIS will wither be stamped out by retaliatory violence, or by debunkment of their beliefs. But don't worry about the direction of humanity. It's head in better direction, and is improving at an exponential rate.

True. But keep your eyes open anyhow.

Salut. On this thread at least.

[D-Money]

By understanding how archaic ideology affects one's consciousness.

Excerpt: from Freakonomics Podcast, Is There a Better Way to Fight Terrorism? (http://freakonomics.com/2015/02/13/is-there-a-better-way-to-fight-terrorism-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast):

The main risk factor people think is associated with suicide attack is Islamic fundamentalism. Religion, and specifically Islamic fundamentalism, because they witness, they observe the attackers on 9/11 were Islamic fundamentalists...many of the attackers in Iraq...ISIS is an Islamic fundamentalist group. What this research found, really for the first time, is that religion is not as prominent a cause of suicide terrorism as many people think.

The world leader during that 24-year period (of the study discussed) was not an Islamic group. They were the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, a Marxist group, a secular group, a Hindu group. The Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka did more suicide attacks than Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

What over 95% of all suicide attacks have in common is not religion, but a specific strategic objective: to compel a democratic state to withdraw combat forces from territory the terrorists see as their homeland or prize. From Lebanon and the West Bank back then to Iraq and Afghanistan today, this idea of military occupation is the leading risk factor producing over 95% of the suicide attacks that we see even as we speak.

- Robert Pape, director of the Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism

[Buddhas Hand]

All of that pales in comparison to the horrors of our ancestors.

Other than the technological capabilities of nuclear warfare, but it's been contained well. Our species is much more empathetic, and I don't see us ever causing a nuclear holocaust. Maybe one bomb goes off in a city somewhere. But I'm gonna stop your worries here and say the Sharia Law will never be brought upon a culture steaming The Simpsons through their computers or TVs. We are less violent today because we have debunked stupidity that leads to righteous violence, and make those who practice it outcasts. Things like ISIS will either be stamped out by retaliatory violence, or by debunkment of their beliefs. But don't worry about the direction of humanity. It's head in better direction, and is improving at an exponential rate.

Dunno about that brother , some of our better intellects do not agree with you

Doomsday Clock moved closer to midnight after rising threat from climate change, nuclear arsenals

Updated

23 Jan 2015, 9:24am

Photo: Scientists speak during a press conference after updating the Doomsday Clock in Washington from five minutes to midnight to three minutes to midnight. (AFP: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Map: United States

Rising threats from climate change and nuclear arsenals prompted the scientists who maintain the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic countdown to global catastrophe, to move it two minutes closer to midnight on Thursday, its first shift in three years.

The Doomsday Clock, devised by the Chicago-based Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, now stands at three minutes to midnight, or doomsday.

It has been adjusted 18 times since its creation in 1947. It has been set as close as two minutes to midnight, in 1953 when the United States tested a hydrogen bomb, and as far as 17 minutes from midnight, in 1991 as the Cold War expired.

It was last adjusted in January 2012, when it was moved one minute closer to midnight.

"Today, unchecked climate change and a nuclear arms race resulting from modernisation of huge arsenals pose extraordinary and undeniable threats to the continued existence of humanity," Bulletin executive director Kennette Benedict told a news conference.

The change was announced less than a week after US scientists announced that 2014 was Earth's hottest on record, with researchers pointing to human emissions of greenhouse gases as the main cause.

Mr Benedict said world leaders have failed to act with the speed or on the scale necessary to protect against potential catastrophe, and the adjustment in the clock was intended to inspire action.

"These failures of leadership endanger every person on Earth," Mr Benedict said.

The Bulletin is a periodical founded in 1945 by University of Chicago scientists who helped develop the first atomic weapons in the Manhattan Project.

The Bulletin's science and security board, which adjusts the clock, said steps to address climate change do not match expectations of even five years ago, let alone the actual need, while investments continue to pour into fossil fuel infrastructure.

Sweeping nuclear weapons modernisation programs and a disarmament machinery that has ground to a halt has dampened cautious optimism about the possibility of keeping the nuclear arms race in check, the scientists said.

The board recommended action to cap greenhouse gas emissions, cut spending on nuclear weapons modernisation programs and a renewed drive toward nuclear disarmament.

"We are not saying it is too late to take action, but the window for action is closing rapidly," Mr Benedict said.

"The world needs to be awakened from its lethargy and start making changes."

[Webster6]

Excerpt: from Freakonomics Podcast, Is There a Better Way to Fight Terrorism? (http://freakonomics.com/2015/02/13/is-there-a-better-way-to-fight-terrorism-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast):

The main risk factor people think is associated with suicide attack is Islamic fundamentalism. Religion, and specifically Islamic fundamentalism, because they witness, they observe the attackers on 9/11 were Islamic fundamentalists...many of the attackers in Iraq...ISIS is an Islamic fundamentalist group. What this research found, really for the first time, is that religion is not as prominent a cause of suicide terrorism as many people think.

The world leader during that 24-year period (of the study discussed) was not an Islamic group. They were the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, a Marxist group, a secular group, a Hindu group. The Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka did more suicide attacks than Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

What over 95% of all suicide attacks have in common is not religion, but a specific strategic objective: to compel a democratic state to withdraw combat forces from territory the terrorists see as their homeland or prize. From Lebanon and the West Bank back then to Iraq and Afghanistan today, this idea of military occupation is the leading risk factor producing over 95% of the suicide attacks that we see even as we speak.

- Robert Pape, director of the Chicago Project on Security and Terrorism

I didn't direct it at just religion. I pointed to Ideology in general.

[Webster6]

Dunno about that brother , some of our better intellects do not agree with you

Doomsday Clock moved closer to midnight after rising threat from climate change, nuclear arsenals

Updated

23 Jan 2015, 9:24am

Photo: Scientists speak during a press conference after updating the Doomsday Clock in Washington from five minutes to midnight to three minutes to midnight. (AFP: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Map: United States

Rising threats from climate change and nuclear arsenals prompted the scientists who maintain the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic countdown to global catastrophe, to move it two minutes closer to midnight on Thursday, its first shift in three years.

The Doomsday Clock, devised by the Chicago-based Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, now stands at three minutes to midnight, or doomsday.

It has been adjusted 18 times since its creation in 1947. It has been set as close as two minutes to midnight, in 1953 when the United States tested a hydrogen bomb, and as far as 17 minutes from midnight, in 1991 as the Cold War expired.

It was last adjusted in January 2012, when it was moved one minute closer to midnight.

"Today, unchecked climate change and a nuclear arms race resulting from modernisation of huge arsenals pose extraordinary and undeniable threats to the continued existence of humanity," Bulletin executive director Kennette Benedict told a news conference.

The change was announced less than a week after US scientists announced that 2014 was Earth's hottest on record, with researchers pointing to human emissions of greenhouse gases as the main cause.

Mr Benedict said world leaders have failed to act with the speed or on the scale necessary to protect against potential catastrophe, and the adjustment in the clock was intended to inspire action.

"These failures of leadership endanger every person on Earth," Mr Benedict said.

The Bulletin is a periodical founded in 1945 by University of Chicago scientists who helped develop the first atomic weapons in the Manhattan Project.

The Bulletin's science and security board, which adjusts the clock, said steps to address climate change do not match expectations of even five years ago, let alone the actual need, while investments continue to pour into fossil fuel infrastructure.

Sweeping nuclear weapons modernisation programs and a disarmament machinery that has ground to a halt has dampened cautious optimism about the possibility of keeping the nuclear arms race in check, the scientists said.

The board recommended action to cap greenhouse gas emissions, cut spending on nuclear weapons modernisation programs and a renewed drive toward nuclear disarmament.

"We are not saying it is too late to take action, but the window for action is closing rapidly," Mr Benedict said.

"The world needs to be awakened from its lethargy and start making changes."

Well hopefully I get a chance to live on the Ark from the TV show The 100.

Anyways, unless we have another cold war that does end in nuclear annihilation of both fronts. Then it will likely be a terrorist attack on a city that probably won't warrant a nuclear response, since the perpetrator will be fighting for a belief rather than a country.

[Buddhas Hand]

Well hopefully I get a chance to live on the Ark from the TV show The 100.

Anyways, unless we have another cold war that does end in nuclear annihilation of both fronts. Then it will likely be a terrorist attack on a city that probably won't warrant a nuclear response, since the perpetrator will be fighting for a belief rather than a country.

What can one say about a species that use's so much of it's resources on the means to kill each other while billions live in poverty.

In fact the idiots that run the country I live in have taken money that was meant for overseas aid programs and and used it to pay for military operations in Iraq.

Aid budget robbed for Iraq war

Thursday, Oct 2nd, 2014

The Greens have condemned the Abbott government's decision to abuse money allocated for overseas aid programs to pay for military operations in Iraq.

Greens overseas aid spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said "Diverting aid money to pay for the war in Iraq will have fatal consequences.

"Funding humanitarian programs including health, education and sanitation are critical for peace, security and bringing stability to this region.

"Earlier this year the government ended all overseas aid funding to Iraq. Five years ago AusAID provided more than $360 million to Iraq.

"Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has shown that she is a poor advocate for the overseas aid component of her portfolio.

"Once again Australia's aid budget is being abused and treated like an ATM by the government that is thrashing around for funds for another ill-fated program.

"This decision goes against the strong public support for Australia to do its fair share to end global poverty", said Senator Rhiannon.

So rather than fund health , education our govt would rather fund war.

Since this conservative govt has been in office they have used our foriegn aid budget as an ATM , We one of the richest countries in the world cannot seem to give a fraction of our wealth to some of the neediest.

[Dral]

What can one say about a species that use's so much of it's resources on the means to kill each other while billions live in poverty.

In fact the idiots that run the country I live in have taken money that was meant for overseas aid programs and and used it to pay for military operations in Iraq.

Aid budget robbed for Iraq war

Thursday, Oct 2nd, 2014

The Greens have condemned the Abbott government's decision to abuse money allocated for overseas aid programs to pay for military operations in Iraq.

Greens overseas aid spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said "Diverting aid money to pay for the war in Iraq will have fatal consequences.

"Funding humanitarian programs including health, education and sanitation are critical for peace, security and bringing stability to this region.

"Earlier this year the government ended all overseas aid funding to Iraq. Five years ago AusAID provided more than $360 million to Iraq.

"Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has shown that she is a poor advocate for the overseas aid component of her portfolio.

"Once again Australia's aid budget is being abused and treated like an ATM by the government that is thrashing around for funds for another ill-fated program.

"This decision goes against the strong public support for Australia to do its fair share to end global poverty", said Senator Rhiannon.

So rather than fund health , education our govt would rather fund war.

Since this conservative govt has been in office they have used our foriegn aid budget as an ATM , We one of the richest countries in the world cannot seem to give a fraction of our wealth to some of the neediest.

Just to play the devils advocate a bit.... but couldn't you argue taking out ISIS and other dictators is a humanitarian effort?

[Webster6]

Just to play the devils advocate a bit.... but couldn't you argue taking out ISIS and other dictators is a humanitarian effort?

If that was all that was going on. ISIS for one is a construct of American foreign policy. Also America, along with many of their companies tied to the military industrial complex, stand to profit a lot. They're going after dirty money by profiteering off the chaos that ensures during an territorial occupation. They're there to push out ISIS, but also for so many other reasons that are far from humanitarian.

[Buddhas Hand]

Just to play the devils advocate a bit.... but couldn't you argue taking out ISIS and other dictators is a humanitarian effort?

Which dictators ? The western backed or the religious ?

Life for the average dude seemed to suck under both.

On a personal level the wealth I give to others will always go to helping children , the real victims.

[Webster6]

ISIS rose to power a midst the power vacuum created by a dictator's death. They were the most financially powerful and influential regime and took a stranglehold on the area.

What a lot of people seem to not realize is that Iraq 800 years ago was the intellectual epicenter of the world. The area is basically the cradle of mankind. It was where ancient Sumer had arisen. Anyways Iraq was the epicenter, at least until the Mongols rode into town and destroyed everyone and everything. Go to the lengths of throwing all their literature into the river. It could be argued that their culture never recovered and are still archaic in the same ways that European culture was completely archaic up until maybe like 1800. Not that it's perfect as of today, all societies around the globe have some work to do. That area has an intellectual handicap though, which is why they still to this day are fighting ancient religious wars.

It has also been argued that Saddam Hussein, even though he was a dictator that ruled with an iron fist. He held the area together because Iraq is really only the city of Baghdad with a bunch of varying religious regimes fighting for power in the surrounding areas. He ruled in an archaic way, but it was the only way he could hold together the archaic culture. Sure he did some terrible things, but he did a lot in defense of his own people. Agree with their ideals or not, European and Western cultures have done just as atrocious of things over the years. They're better at hiding it though.