Thursday, February 15, 2024

Double Standards

Double Standards


Very recently, the age old conflict between Israel and Palestine has once again erupted, with devastating consequences for the innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. Amidst this chaos, a glaring international double standard emerges, where calls for ceasefire are ignored, and actions against humanitarian aid organizations are prioritized over addressing the root cause of the conflict. 

Meanwhile tens of thousands of innocent women and children and  Palestinians are being killed by Israeli carpet bombing. The global masses have been marching relentlessly, placarding, even pleading with their respective governments to call for a ceasefire, but nothing is forthcoming. 

Not even the International Court of Justice (ICJ) would back a ceasefire; its failure to do so resulting in ten thousand more Palestinian lives terminated by Israeli killings. The double standards they portray against the Palestinians by favouring the Ukrainians, speaks volumes. Several western powers, USA France and Britain in particular, are complicit to the inhumane atrocities of genocide committed by Israel by supplying them with munitions to vanquish a defenseless people. 

ICJ Double standards
Double Standards


Setting the Scene: Innocent Lives at Stake


As Israeli airstrikes relentlessly target Gaza, tens of thousands of innocent women, children, and Palestinians face the horror of death and displacement. The scale of devastation is unimaginable, yet the international response remains muted, revealing a troubling disparity in global justice.

The Role of Global Powers: Complicity and Silence

Despite mounting pressure from grassroots movements and concerned citizens worldwide, major Western powers like the USA, France, and Britain maintain a complicit silence in the face of Israeli aggression. Their failure to condemn the atrocities perpetrated by Israel underscores the pervasive influence of political interests over humanitarian principles.


The Failure of International Institutions

Even the International Court of Justice (ICJ), entrusted with upholding global justice, falls short in its duty to intervene and enforce a ceasefire. The lack of decisive action from institutions meant to safeguard human rights only emboldens Israel to continue its campaign of violence with impunity.

The Tragic Consequences of Inaction

Calling for a ceasefire appears to be  the most difficult decision to make by the Powers that be, but they could come to an instant decision to block funding of UNWRA —an arm of the United Nation aid to Palestinians for some 70 plus years— before allegations against this aid organization was established. With every passing day without a ceasefire, the death toll in Palestine rises, with innocent lives lost due to Israeli airstrikes and military operations. 

The failure of the international community to act swiftly and decisively condemns countless Palestinians to a fate of suffering and despair. Even though Israel has weaponizing food aid by preventing aid truck from entering Gaza, they have now motivated 17 western countries to block funding to UNWRA thereby creating the starvation on an industrialized scale.

Western Complicity: Fueling the Flames of Conflict

The unwavering support of Western powers for Israel, both politically and financially, exacerbates the situation on the ground. By turning a blind eye to Israeli aggression and providing military aid, these nations become accomplices in the perpetuation of violence and oppression against the Palestinian people.

The Misplaced Priorities of World Powers

Amidst calls for ceasefire and humanitarian intervention, world powers exhibit a misplaced sense of priority by targeting UNWRA, a vital aid organization supporting Palestinians for over seven decades. The decision to block funding to UNWRA reflects a distorted moral compass, where punishing the victims of conflict takes precedence over holding the aggressors accountable.

Weaponizing Aid: A Betrayal of Humanity

By weaponizing aid and using it as a political tool, world powers betray the very principles of compassion and solidarity that should guide humanitarian efforts. Instead of alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people, they contribute to their further marginalization and deprivation.

The Urgent Need for Justice and Accountability

In the face of such flagrant injustice and double standards, there arises an urgent need for accountability and solidarity with the oppressed. It is incumbent upon the international community to stand up against impunity and demand justice for the victims of Israeli aggression.

Synopsis

The international double standard in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lays bare the hypocrisy of global politics, where geopolitical interests often outweigh moral imperatives. This is most evidently seen in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict in which the west has called for the Haque to arrest Putin for was crimes whereas refuse to do likewise in Netanyahu's case. Meanwhile innocent lives continue to be lost and communities shattered, and the already  urgent need for genuine solidarity and action becomes ever more pressing.

FAQs


Why is there a double standard in the international response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
The double standard arises from geopolitical considerations, where powerful nations prioritize their strategic alliances over principles of justice and human rights.

What can ordinary citizens do to support the Palestinian cause?
Ordinary citizens can raise awareness, participate in grassroots movements, and pressure their governments to hold Israel accountable for its actions.

Is there hope for a peaceful resolution to the conflict?
Despite the challenges, there is always hope for peace through dialogue, diplomacy, and a commitment to justice for all parties involved.

How does the media contribute to the perpetuation of the double standard?
Media bias and selective reporting often portray Palestinians as aggressors, perpetuating stereotypes and justifying Israeli violence.

What role does international law play in addressing the conflict?
International law provides a framework for holding accountable those responsible for human rights violations, but its effectiveness relies on the willingness of party states to enforce it.


Thursday, October 30, 2014

MICROSOFT

MICROSOFT


Microsoft is probably the worst online company to do business with, because they make cancelling a subscription so, so, very difficult. They task you to mine web page after web page to get to a destination you will never arrive at. It's worse than peeling an onion since you have to peel off layer after layer of bullshit in order to get to the "cancelation button" which actually doesn't exist. 

When Microsoft send you an Invoice under cover of an email containing the following:-

Sign in to view your Microsoft 365 Business Basic invoice

Your Microsoft 365 Business Basic invoice is now available in the Microsoft 365 admin centre. Sign in to view it.

View you Invoice 

If you’ve already paid, disregard this email.
If you’re set up to pay by credit card, no action is required—we’ll charge your card within 24 hours of the invoice date.
To review changes made to this subscription, go to the subscription history in the Microsoft 365 admin centre.

Additional resources

Learn more about your invoice
Learn how to navigate your invoices
Change the way you receive invoices
Change your payment method
Change your billing address

Account information


Organisation name: Uxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Domain: Uxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.onmicrosoft.com
Subscription name: Microsoft 365 Business Basic
Subscription expiration date: 07 December 2024


Why cant Microsoft just send a cancel account link along with it as the last bullet point?

It would save users hours of surfing from one webpage to the next only to arrive at the first page where you started, there is no end to their deception. Trying to close a Microsoft account is like a dog chasing its own tale. It will never catch it, likewise Microsoft will string you along, deducting payments from your account while you struggling to close the account month after month.

Worst part is that when you happen to stumble onto their help desk ... its offline even though Billing support hours is advertised as Monday through Friday, 9 AM-5 PM






Funny thing is that this very concept of not being able to cancel a online subscription isn't unique to Microsoft, other online giants do exactly the same thing. Can you just image the mountain of money they rake-in from the hundreds of thousands if not millions of people all trying to cancel  accounts without success, only to be billed at month end again for something that you're not using or no longer need or don't want or never needed in the first place.

In my case the Teams software I subscribed to, served its purpose for the 6 months I needed it. For six months thereafter I've unsuccessfully been trying to cancel it and just received a annual renewal notice with subscription expiration date: 07 December 2024. This really sucks! 

The latest feedback from Microsoft, for security reasons, they want to here me say that I want to cancel this account as if they have a recording of my voice to compare it to the records. This sucks twice as much!
 

Friday, December 28, 2012

LOVE AND DATING

LOVE AND DATING


If you are you looking for a relationship, perhaps someone to love or to date or even to marry, then you have come to the right place.  There is life after divorce for both single mothers and single fathers. You can meet handsome or beautiful, intelligent, professional and educated men and women for marriage onlineBut let me add, that trust, honesty and forgiveness is the recipe for  dating  and marriage.  


You can meet handsome or beautiful, intelligent, professional and educated men and women for marriage online.
You can meet handsome or beautiful, intelligent, professional
and educated men and women for marriage online.

Heomosapians are really a peculiar breed of animal, especially when it comes to love and even more so when it comes to hate. Looking at 13 couples who were married for at least 10 years, it is hard to believe that so much contempt could breed between each after divorce. Look at Kramer vs Kramer for that matter, one can hardly believe there so much love before the hate. Let me rather not discuss the other 12 couples and their resentment for one another after divorce.


Marriage can't be such a bad thing, if virtually 85 percent of the worlds population indulge therein. The reality of the matter isn't that marriage is to blame but rather the parties constituting the marriage. Should two horses pull a two horse buggy, and each decide to go its own way, the likelihood of the buggy going to pieces is quite high, much like a  marriage would, if the couples behave like insolent horses.  


Individual agendas is the culprit but common goals is the key, coupled with respect and trust and throw in a little forgiveness and the marriage should sustain itself... so says logic. Never HATE! Find someone to love. Global statistics show that there are six times more women than men. It would therefore be very easy for any man to find a bride - a good honest and wholesome women. Like wise, not all men are not dogs, there are some really decent, respectable, trustworthy and honest men out there. 


Look for common ground. Date several people. Get to know one another. Be honest, be yourself and be true to yourself then its easy to be true to your partner. There are lots of men and women out there from diverse cultures and varying nationalities  who have found true love online.