by Najum Mushtaq, IPS News

A new media law — six years in the making — has been passed by Ethiopia’s House of People’s Representatives. Its preamble declares that “the proclamation removes all obstacles that were impediments to the operation of the media in Ethiopia.” But an analysis by Ethiopian journalists finds it actually clears the way for government to continue to harass and persecute the messenger when the message is not in line with the whims of the rulers.

by Reporters Without Borders

Reporters Without Borders is alarmed by a draft law that would extend the death penalty to crimes committed online. Passed by parliament on first reading on 2 July, the proposed law would, for example, apply the death penalty to bloggers and website editors who “promote corruption, prostitution or apostasy.”

July 2008
by Dahr Jamail

(Note to readers-this is an expanded piece about the same topic, with much more information, than that published in French for LMD on 3 July 2008)

Muhammad Omer and I jointly received the Martha Gellhorn
Prize for Journalism in London on 16 June (1). Omer is a
24-year-old Palestinian with whom I feel honoured to have
shared this award, as I told the audience at the prize-giving
ceremony. His work from his Gaza homeland has been a beacon
of humanitarian reportage; it is a model of peace, and an
attempt at reconciliation with Israel.

July 2008
by Dahr Jamail

(Note to readers-this is an expanded piece about the same topic, with much more information, than that published in French for LMD on 3 July 2008)

Muhammad Omer and I jointly received the Martha Gellhorn
Prize for Journalism in London on 16 June (1). Omer is a
24-year-old Palestinian with whom I feel honoured to have
shared this award, as I told the audience at the prize-giving
ceremony. His work from his Gaza homeland has been a beacon
of humanitarian reportage; it is a model of peace, and an
attempt at reconciliation with Israel.

Please read the below overview and worker story regarding the year-long campaign for Beef Northwest workers to get a UFW contract and then take action and send a letter to Beef Northwest today.

For nearly two years, Ramiro Salinas Jr. has worked at Beef Northwest's feedlot in Nyssa. He left a good-paying job in Salem to be closer to his three children and his father. He thought he would be able to spend more time with his children, but he soon discovered he was wrong.

PASTORS FOR PEACE CARAVAN STOPPED AT MEXICAN BORDER - COMPUTERS FOR CUBA TO BE CONFISCATED - AGAIN!

FOR INFO CALL ANGELA PRICE 435-6383.

Dear Friends of the Center [Fresno Center For Nonviolence]:

Palestinian journalist Mohammed Omer, Gaza correspondent for the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and co-recipient of the 2008 Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism, was hospitalized with cracked ribs and other injuries inflicted by Israeli soldiers at the Allenby Bridge crossing from Jordan into the occupied West Bank.

Omer was returning home to Gaza after a European speaking tour and the June 16 London ceremony at which he accepted the prestigious Gellhorn Prize.

Le Monde Diplomatique
3 July 2008
By Dahr Jamail

On June 16 I was the co-recipient of the Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism with Mohammed Omer in London. Omer is a 24 year-old Palestinian with whom I felt, and feel, honored to have shared this award. During my brief talk while accepting the award, I told the audience I could not think of anyone else I would rather share the award with. Omer’s work from his Gaza homeland has been a beacon of

[PRESS RELEASE FROM www.safeneighborhoodsact.com]

SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS ACT IS ASSIGNED PROPOSITION 6 FOR NOVEMBER BALLOT

SACRAMENTO – State Senator George Runner (R-Antelope Valley), Mike Reynolds (father of Three Strikes) and San Bernardino County Supervisor Gary Ovitt today announced that their November ballot initiative, the Safe Neighborhoods Act, has been assigned Proposition 6 by Secretary of State Debra Bowen.

Fresno Metro Ministry and the Central Ca. Regional Obesity Prevention Project celebrate the revision of our Fresno City Zoning to permit Farmers Markets in neighborhoods (City Council code revisions of 6/17/08). Unanimous support by the Fresno City Council to allow Farmers Markets is a historic affirmation of recommendations from the community, City Planning Department, and the Fresno City Planning Council. This change has the potential of making Fresno bloom with access to the bounty of our local produce, and improve the health of our community.