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Genocide in Sudan, child slavery and religious persecution in China, mass repression in Zimbabwe and Burma, state-sponsored murder in Syria and Russia — and, for that matter, suicide bombings by Arab terrorist movements — will not receive systematic attention from the world body charged with monitoring human rights. That is reserved only for Israel, a democratic country that has been guilty of human rights violations but also has been under sustained assault from terrorists and governments openly committed to its extinction.

Jackson Diehl - The Washington Post

It’s the lyrics that do it for me. Oh, and the dancing girls.

A physics teacher, Wellington Grey, has written an open letter to the Department of Education begging for the return of his subject:

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The main obstacle had been Poland’s demand to keep its voting power, which is currently almost equal to that of Germany’s, even though its population is only half as large.

The new system - known as a “double majority” - will now be phased-in beginning in 2014 and fully implemented three years later.

Under this system, a 55% majority of EU countries with at least 65% of the bloc’s population will be required for a change to be approved.

Quite clever, I thought.

This is quite amazing.

If, like me, you enjoyed watching the BBC’s ‘The Apprentice’ series, then you’ll probably like Steve & Mike Bolog’s short, animated versions. This one, featuring Katie and Adam, is my particular favourite.

We must hope that Monday’s summit meeting between Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority can move the region closer to the setting up of a Palestinian state, peace between that state and Israel and a significant improvement in the life of ordinary Palestinians.

The fact that this summit has been called by Mubarak of Egypt so quickly after last week’s takeover of Gaza by Hamas suggests that the only party caught out by Hamas’ military victory was Hamas itself.

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Tensions between Hamas and the clan believed to be holding Alan Johnston are high after Munir Dughmush, a member of the Dughmush clan, was shot and killed in broad daylight in Gaza City, medical sources said.

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Norm Geras writes about Trevor Ncube, who has been awarded the 2007 IPA (International Publishers Association) Freedom Prize. He quotes this excerpt from Ncube’s speech:

For Africa to claim its rightful place in the community of [nations] African politicians need to begin to understand that Freedom of Expression and the freedom to publish are twin partners and not enemies in the task of creating democratic societies. Vibrant newspapers and a book reading culture free from political control are a vital ingredient to creating a market place of ideas to propel Africa’s growth and development. Societies which live in perpetual fear of their politicians can never be creative and robust nations particularly in the knowledge based times we live in. Africa desperately needs to let loose the creative energies of her people by allowing them to think and express themselves freely. Indeed, only by setting her people free does Africa stand a chance of catching up with the rest of the world.