Wednesday, April 26
Sunday, April 23
The Death Penalty.
From Amnesty International:
In 2005
- at least 2,148 people were executed in 22 countries;
- 94% of them were killed in China,, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA; and
- An additional 5,186 people were sentenced to death.
However, despite the shocking figures, the trend towards abolition continues to grow: the number of countries carrying out executions has dropped for a fourth consecutive year; over the last twenty years, numbers have halved. Mexico and Liberia have most recently abolished the death penalty.
"As the world continues to turn away from the use of the death penalty, it is a glaring anomaly that China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the USA stand out for their extreme use of this form of punishment as the 'top' executioners in the world." - Irene Khan, AI Secretary General.
There are also more than 20,000 people on death row waiting to be killed by their own governments.
The figures we have are approximate: many governments, like China, refuse to publish full official statistics on executions, while Viet Nam has even classified statistics and reporting on the death penalty as a ‘state secret’.
The death penalty is the ultimate, irreversible denial of human rights. It is often applied in a discriminatory manner, follows unfair trials or is applied for political reasons. It can be an irreversible error when there is miscarriage of justice.
During 2005, at least 2,148 people were executed in 22 countries. At least 5,186 people were sentenced to death in 53 countries. These were only minimum figures; the true figures were certainly higher.
Executions are known to have been carried out in the following countries in 2005:
BANGLADESH, BELARUS, CHINA, INDONESIA, IRAN, IRAQ, JAPAN, JORDAN. KOREA (North), KUWAIT, LIBYA, MONGOLIA, PAKISTAN, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, SAUDI ARABIA, SINGAPORE, SOMALIA, TAIWAN, USA, UZBEKISTAN, VIETNAM, YEMEN.
The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and it is a blatant violation of the fundamental right to life.
I find it hard to figure out why countries like the USA, Japan, and Singapore still allow the death penalty. It is an uncivilised relic from our barbaric past, and treats human beings as nonhumans - objects to be toyed with and discarded.
Don't get me wrong - I believe in justice, and when brutal crimes are committed, I believe the perpetuators deserve infinite pain and retribution. But when we kill them, it diminishes our own humanity.
Right and wrong is relative. But morality in the 21st century has progressed onto a platform where humanitarianism precludes cruelty and inequality. Surely it's time, therefore, for countries to rethink their death penalty laws.
In 2005
- at least 2,148 people were executed in 22 countries;
- 94% of them were killed in China,, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA; and
- An additional 5,186 people were sentenced to death.
However, despite the shocking figures, the trend towards abolition continues to grow: the number of countries carrying out executions has dropped for a fourth consecutive year; over the last twenty years, numbers have halved. Mexico and Liberia have most recently abolished the death penalty.
"As the world continues to turn away from the use of the death penalty, it is a glaring anomaly that China, Saudi Arabia, Iran and the USA stand out for their extreme use of this form of punishment as the 'top' executioners in the world." - Irene Khan, AI Secretary General.
There are also more than 20,000 people on death row waiting to be killed by their own governments.
The figures we have are approximate: many governments, like China, refuse to publish full official statistics on executions, while Viet Nam has even classified statistics and reporting on the death penalty as a ‘state secret’.
The death penalty is the ultimate, irreversible denial of human rights. It is often applied in a discriminatory manner, follows unfair trials or is applied for political reasons. It can be an irreversible error when there is miscarriage of justice.
During 2005, at least 2,148 people were executed in 22 countries. At least 5,186 people were sentenced to death in 53 countries. These were only minimum figures; the true figures were certainly higher.
Executions are known to have been carried out in the following countries in 2005:
BANGLADESH, BELARUS, CHINA, INDONESIA, IRAN, IRAQ, JAPAN, JORDAN. KOREA (North), KUWAIT, LIBYA, MONGOLIA, PAKISTAN, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY, SAUDI ARABIA, SINGAPORE, SOMALIA, TAIWAN, USA, UZBEKISTAN, VIETNAM, YEMEN.
The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment, and it is a blatant violation of the fundamental right to life.
I find it hard to figure out why countries like the USA, Japan, and Singapore still allow the death penalty. It is an uncivilised relic from our barbaric past, and treats human beings as nonhumans - objects to be toyed with and discarded.
Don't get me wrong - I believe in justice, and when brutal crimes are committed, I believe the perpetuators deserve infinite pain and retribution. But when we kill them, it diminishes our own humanity.
Right and wrong is relative. But morality in the 21st century has progressed onto a platform where humanitarianism precludes cruelty and inequality. Surely it's time, therefore, for countries to rethink their death penalty laws.
Weekend epiphany.
Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.
Friday, April 21
Munich sojourn.
Munich was a pretty exasperating work trip. Besides getting fairly pissed on the roof terrace at one of Munich's newest clubs on a diet of shots - the whole range of vodka, sambuca, etc - and various rounds of Veuve Cliquot and Munchen bier, we were also invited over to dine with some clients at a very sleek restaurant in town, and stayed at the fairly chic ArabellaSheraton Grand Hotel.
ArabellaSheraton Grand.
Hotel room.
View from hotel room.
Yes, the toilet.
Machen Sie mit! Sie haben die Wahl...
Erm, spare pillow, anyone?
No prizes for guessing what this is.
Käfer Schänke, Prinzregentenstraße 73, +49-(0)-89-4168-247, http://www.feinkost-kaefer.de/
On the main floor is a German gourmet shop called Gerd Kafer. Home of renowned chef Fritz Schilling, who serves up an array of fabulous Bavarian and German fare. The first-rate service adds to the pleasurable experience.
Käfer Schänke
Eight Seasons, Maximilianstrasse 2, +89 242 94444, http://www.8-seasons.com/
8 Seasons: rooftop terrace - check out the snow.
8 Seasons: funky lampshade in toilet
8 Seasons: Veuve Cliquot lining up the bar counter. Someone in the group was feeling generous and decided to buy a drink for the girls in the club. Picture a bar counter lined with glasses of champagne from one end to the other. Beauty.
ArabellaSheraton Grand.
Hotel room.
View from hotel room.
Yes, the toilet.
Machen Sie mit! Sie haben die Wahl...
Erm, spare pillow, anyone?
No prizes for guessing what this is.
Käfer Schänke, Prinzregentenstraße 73, +49-(0)-89-4168-247, http://www.feinkost-kaefer.de/
On the main floor is a German gourmet shop called Gerd Kafer. Home of renowned chef Fritz Schilling, who serves up an array of fabulous Bavarian and German fare. The first-rate service adds to the pleasurable experience.
Käfer Schänke
Eight Seasons, Maximilianstrasse 2, +89 242 94444, http://www.8-seasons.com/
8 Seasons: rooftop terrace - check out the snow.
8 Seasons: funky lampshade in toilet
8 Seasons: Veuve Cliquot lining up the bar counter. Someone in the group was feeling generous and decided to buy a drink for the girls in the club. Picture a bar counter lined with glasses of champagne from one end to the other. Beauty.
Sunday, April 16
Saturday morning at Borough Market.
Was at Borough Market on Saturday morning to grab some cheap fruits (3 boxes of strawberries, 2 boxes of blackberries, 4 oranges, 2 carrots and some wheat grass - all for a fuckin'ly low price of 4 quid 50!!) in my attempt to whip up some smoothies with the blender. I'll have to bring the digicam with me on my next trip...
Fish heads on hooks.
Deer, anyone?
FOr the uninitiated:
"Borough Market is a wholesale and retail food market in The Borough in Southwark, South London.
The wholesale market operates on all weekday mornings, but the retail market only operates on Fridays and Saturdays. The market which is focused historically on fruits and vegetables, has in recent years added stalls dealing with fine food retail market."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borough_Market)
Fish heads on hooks.
Deer, anyone?
FOr the uninitiated:
"Borough Market is a wholesale and retail food market in The Borough in Southwark, South London.
The wholesale market operates on all weekday mornings, but the retail market only operates on Fridays and Saturdays. The market which is focused historically on fruits and vegetables, has in recent years added stalls dealing with fine food retail market."
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borough_Market)
Random pics from Cambodia. Part 3.
I've finally discovered the bluetooth way to transfer pictures from the mobile over to the pc, and so here are a few more pics of the Ang Kor Wats, taken during the evening sunset... when my Nikon batteries ran out and the Sony Ericsson W800 had to be resorted to.
Ang Kor Wats.
In aged light hue.
Moat surrounding the Ang Kor.
Ang Kor Wats.
In aged light hue.
Moat surrounding the Ang Kor.
Friday, April 14
Random pics from Cambodia. Part Two.
Couple taking a rest.
Postcard picture.
Black and white.
A long way up. You climb on all fours as the stairs are fucking steep and it's a long way down.
View from the top.
Like rockclimbing, really. It's almost vertical.
You gotta climb for the view.
Swimming pool.
Reflections by the pool.
Our guide.
Sunset.
And it's off to the FCC for food and drinks!
FCC: hotel
FCC: open kitchen and bar
FCC: bar counter.
Sunrise.
Symmetry.
Bi-directional.
Look at me!
Trying to get the perfect picture.
Reflections.
Rest.
Spot the person.
Age.
Ciel en eau.
Where's Wally?
Concert hall, Siem Reap.
Fishing village.
Colourful boats.
River living.
Poverty.
Fisherman.
In colour.
Boat children.
Stand alone.
Le Meridien, Siem Reap, Lunch.
Entrance to another ruin.
Pose.
Impressive heights.
Protector-guardian.
Tourists.
Windows.
Doorways. My favourite.
Partial destruction.
Restoration.
Whadda fucka ya lookin' at?
Portraits.
Linga.
Buddhas.
Heads.
Ruins in the sun.
Moat.
Sleeping cat.
Monkey peeling a banana.
In full splendour.