News for today's 2018

CHINA AND ITS RELATION WITH AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

2:51 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHdi9ZKhj9w9h3cwlXMXXX7mZ4QUBtNtRHOEJOYhT2UC2U_PdZIASrcI7jz5L4GA7GjICHfhjcuchwlZ2X3n-6eI5UgGVkHCe_OVX_S5Rbcip4jXoKEuNcxDvsiFj8-OqGwsENQcBcoo-/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHdi9ZKhj9w9h3cwlXMXXX7mZ4QUBtNtRHOEJOYhT2UC2U_PdZIASrcI7jz5L4GA7GjICHfhjcuchwlZ2X3n-6eI5UgGVkHCe_OVX_S5Rbcip4jXoKEuNcxDvsiFj8-OqGwsENQcBcoo-/s400/images.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span></b></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 653px;"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">  <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 489.55pt;" width="653"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">CHINA DISCOVERS THE MEDITERRANEAN</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">  <br />  Fernand Braudel, maybe the most important historian of the MEDITERRANEAN   region, wrote that "the MEDITERRANEAN is not a border, but a place for   trade". <br />  <br />  This sentence is true for all the METR countries (MIDDLE EAST, EUROPE,   TURKEY, RUSSIA) but also for those far countries, like CHINA, which have   strong interests in the MEDITERRANEAN. The so-called Arab Springs and the CHINESE   penetration in the region challenge the position of those analysts who   theorized the shift of the fulcrum of trade routes toward the   "East". As the UNITED STATES, the unique long-standing superpower   of the post-Cold War era, has gradually withdrawn from the MEDITERRANEAN,   according to these readings, it follows a loss of centrality of the whole   region. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA'S   ECONOMIC POWER LIES IN MARITIME TRADE</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  Doing business across the MEDITERRANEAN is still relevant for some of the   "rising powers", such as CHINA. The pride of CHINA'S fluvial trade   and exchanges started centuries before WESTERN kingdoms sought to explore and   exploit the world. Still, the rise of Westernized warships and sea power was   made possible because of CHINESE navigational innovations. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNi89L-bUdI1BEv0sZwTrRjv1yEwlEKdzI3RTRvS6Bob_t0R4gTRva9vTPKpNLpuNDFNztJZwZHwpbLmm-IanzEX0IxjZB7yge4KwppCvx2-QT6an8vs-TgNeSp8RxxbHv8GlTmlEsqVDb/s1600/stock-footage-mediterranean-sea-a-chinese-cargo-ship-leaves-china-loaded-with-containers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNi89L-bUdI1BEv0sZwTrRjv1yEwlEKdzI3RTRvS6Bob_t0R4gTRva9vTPKpNLpuNDFNztJZwZHwpbLmm-IanzEX0IxjZB7yge4KwppCvx2-QT6an8vs-TgNeSp8RxxbHv8GlTmlEsqVDb/s320/stock-footage-mediterranean-sea-a-chinese-cargo-ship-leaves-china-loaded-with-containers.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  Even today, CHINA'S economic power lies in maritime trade and, then, in CHINESE   long projection eastward and westward. Maritime trade secures CHINA with   everything the country needs for its economic growth, especially oil and   energy sources. But maritime trade is also important for trading goods,   acquiring new markets. CHINA and the MEDITERRANEAN are linked by two reasons:   oil and markets. Keeping stability in the region and in its fluvial corridors   are, then, crucial points for the CHINESE strategy towards the MIDDLE-EAST. <br />  <br />  <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND MENA   COUNTRIES ARE EXPECTED TO GROW, GIVEN THE PRESENCE OF STRONG CONVERGENT   INTERESTS</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">During the CHINA - MENA (MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA) Forum   held in DUBAI in April 2012, the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific   Research of the UAE, Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan, said that relations   between CHINA and MENA countries are expected to grow, given the presence of   strong convergent interests. </span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><h3 style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt;">Background Information: </span></h3><h3 style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt;">MALI AND CHINA'S 'WESTERN' FOREIGN POLICY </span></h3><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/mali-and-chinas-western-foreign-policy.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2013/07/mali-and-chinas-western-foreign-policy.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  The relationship that CHINA is building with MENA counties depends on the   high rate of CHINESE economic growth, penalized by the spread between   domestic supply and demand for energy (gas, oil and natural resources). For   their part, ARAB countries find it convenient to buy CHINESE consumer goods   and also machinery and technologies which are essential to trigger local   development strategies. <br />  <br />  CHINA has surpassed the UNITED STATES in consumption of oil and, according to   the latest estimates, its needs amount to 6.2 million barrels per day (bpd). Trade   between CHINA and the MENA countries (including IRAN) grew by 37% between   2003 and 2007 and by 21% between 2007 and 2011, reaching a peak of US$263   billion. This was partly achieved through replacing EUROPEAN supplies but   also by pushing local producers out of business (such the textile sector in MOROCCO). </span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAgYNYVut8NqWjQ537rjVt402O4S2RDQw0DHi5TualR_X7Po3yd1QgAY8s1GRHf1bWzl1XAxnulxmpk_jhgcZ2tLB6B4bPX0t-gsOB2-byNNqOxilk0kj2L9UlPxucyaUqbShrahD4PvQ/s1600/Fig-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqAgYNYVut8NqWjQ537rjVt402O4S2RDQw0DHi5TualR_X7Po3yd1QgAY8s1GRHf1bWzl1XAxnulxmpk_jhgcZ2tLB6B4bPX0t-gsOB2-byNNqOxilk0kj2L9UlPxucyaUqbShrahD4PvQ/s400/Fig-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Main Maritime Ports of Container Traffic</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  In some MEDITERRANEAN countries, imports from CHINA have increased rapidly,   especially in oil-producing nations. CHINA is the second-largest exporter to ALGERIA   and LIBYA, above ITALY and GERMANY. <br />  <br />  CHINA is also leading the exports from these countries, currently held by FRANCE   in ALGERIA and by ITALY in LIBYA. Given their lower per capita income, MEDITERRANEAN   countries' imports from CHINA have not grown as much as in GULF countries   but, in any case, the growth of CHINESE exports has been significant and   fast, starting with textiles and other low price consumer goods and then   moving to advanced products like consumer electronics, telecommunications,   and vehicles. <br />  <br />  ALGERIA imports considerable volumes of vehicles from CHINA and its presence   in this sector is particularly relevant in EGYPT. The development of economic   relations has not been limited to trade. The role CHINESE construction company’s   play is also very important, particularly in ALGERIA where they were awarded   the major share of infrastructure contracts. <br />  <br />  Among the MENA countries, CHINA'S key partners are Gulf Cooperation Council   (GCC) countries, EGYPT, SUDAN and ALGERIA. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">IMPROVEMENT   OF CHINA - EGYPT RELATIONS, THE QUINTESSENCE FOR CHINESE CARGO VESSELS INCREASINGLY   UTILIZING THE SUEZ CANAL</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><br />  <br />  The GULF area is particularly important as, currently, CHINA imports 35% of   its oil needs from the GCC while the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES alone absorb about   40% of CHINESE products exported to MENA (for a value of $32 billion per   year). By 2015, it is estimated that CHINA and UAE will exchange goods and   services for nearly $100 billion. <br />  <br />  EGYPT is a key country because of the passage of the CHINESE cargo ships   through the Suez Canal. Today, it is estimated that only 60% of the CHINESE   maritime traffic passes through the Red Sea, while the remaining part reaches   the EUROPEAN ports, such as Rotterdam, sailing around AFRICA. Since this   route is a much more expensive in terms of time and costs, the improvement of   CHINA-EGYPT relations could open new opportunities with respect to the   transit of CHINESE cargo for the shortest route. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5M1vfLjCGkxHVlGzJH67Bt9YcCJxXPvZh3QwCChFENZ9_yNxQHdSLP5YD3zPPAb3jsxMPFl3_ukEs6QLD-B417ftyx_Gkufv0K5tUWF2JkfisH8kfn26jdAu4YQviyTiV0uSDYCOmPiuE/s1600/L_5196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5M1vfLjCGkxHVlGzJH67Bt9YcCJxXPvZh3QwCChFENZ9_yNxQHdSLP5YD3zPPAb3jsxMPFl3_ukEs6QLD-B417ftyx_Gkufv0K5tUWF2JkfisH8kfn26jdAu4YQviyTiV0uSDYCOmPiuE/s1600/L_5196.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  A wise way to follow this improvement could be the so-called "relocation   strategy", that is creating industrial facilities for transportation in   the MENA region, in order to free CHINA from the danger of the crisis of   overproduction and to facilitate recipient countries that can lessen the   dependence on import-export economies, producing goods by themselves. <br />  <br />  Pursuing this strategy the CHINA-ARAB States Cooperation Forum held its fifth   Ministerial Conference in TUNISIA. During the conference, Yang Jiechi, CHINESE   foreign minister, spent a lot of words on how to deepen strategic cooperation   and promote common development http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.htmlwith   ARABS. In April 2013, the EGYPTIAN government signed an investment agreement   with CHINESE TEDA corporation to develop part of a joint industrial zone near   the Suez Canal. <br />  <br />  Furthermore EGYPT seeks cooperation with BRICS because of the strong will to   turn Suez from a passage for sea traffic that brings in $5.2 billion annually   to an investment zone that would in time earn $100 billion. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">EGYPT IS   CHINA'S FIFTH-LARGEST TRADE PARTNER IN AFRICA</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  EGYPT and CHINA agreed to move forward their strategic cooperative relations.   <br />  <br />  "CHINA", Xi stated during a meeting on the sidelines of the fifth   leaders' summit of BRICS countries held in Durban, "accords great   importance to EGYPT'S status and influence as a major ARAB, Islamic and   developing state". EGYPT is now CHINA'S fifth-largest trade partner in AFRICA.   In 2009, CHINA was the main foreign investor in EGYPT, exerting an important   role in supporting economic growth when the country was affected by the   decline in EUROPEAN imports and investment. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mN2KgVPY_FHHw5_RzKlTvbAJkD4Yx56ptlkShIXX0oGuRBpYppLpRyMw3lRMlBuuet5rjKSUbpJEh9z8iOmJNZOWc-kd8sagl2GEC7Phr2UPFNm7TQlo-JOyKKEwHX1fyDHUuSGxLcUe/s1600/Fig-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mN2KgVPY_FHHw5_RzKlTvbAJkD4Yx56ptlkShIXX0oGuRBpYppLpRyMw3lRMlBuuet5rjKSUbpJEh9z8iOmJNZOWc-kd8sagl2GEC7Phr2UPFNm7TQlo-JOyKKEwHX1fyDHUuSGxLcUe/s320/Fig-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2011, bilateral trade volume stood at $8.8 billion, a 26.5% increase with   respect to the previous year. In the same year president Hu Jintao announced   his four-point proposal: deepening political relations; promoting trade and   economic cooperation; expanding human exchanges; and strengthening multilateral   cooperation in international and regional affairs. Moreover CHINA provided EGYPT   with a $200 million loan, and promised to encourage CHINESE entrepreneurs to   invest in EGYPT. </span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CHINA AND AFRICA</b></span><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 24.0pt;"></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">THE   SECRET WAR BETWEEN CHINA AND THE US FOR AFRICA'S OIL RICHES</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2012/12/usa-china-and-africa.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CHINA’S   WINNING STRATEGY IN AFRICA</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/09/chinas-winning-strategy-in-africa.html</a>  and</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/04/africa-forgotten-and-underestimated.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A THIRD OF WORLD TRADE PASSES THROUGH   THE MEDITERRANEAN</b>. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINESE exports reach the EUROPEAN and AMERICAN markets by   the routes that pass from SUEZ and then to GIBRALTAR. Along the route passing   south of AFRICA, rounding the CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, are transported 12.2 million   TEUs (20-foot equivalent units, the standard gauge of container capacity)   compared with 15.3 TEU crossing the MEDITERRANEAN. <br />  <br />  In this perspective, the MEDITERRANEAN ports, in GREECE, ITALY, SPAIN, but   also in the ARAB countries, represent important strategic outposts. The port   of Piraeus is just one of the links in the chain from CHINA to EUROPE via the   MEDITERRANEAN that Beijing is trying to strengthen with success. <br />  <br />  CHINESE companies invest across all the MEDITERRANEAN ports and even in the   port of Naples, where the CHINESE Cosco has established a joint partnership   at 46% with MSC. There is no doubt that CHINESE investments have economic   logic but there is even less doubt that the economic operations of Beijing   have geopolitical implications, in terms of growing CHINESE influence in the MEDITERRANEAN   basin and then the METR area. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA'S NON-INTERFERENCE   POLICY AT STAKE</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjH42kKGcwjxa0PIA0vZH7Gz0_RvHgMqyeUr0J2E3e2CXMjOD3IM5zQRvPnt8t681-msw-R6rneQuDnwqdVhLF9K_DT9J2pG9CL_kFlV4hBA-ToVTr39SJQ6O8b10-UJVb_9Gfz1dWs00/s1600/450px-Chinese_Industrial_Zones_in_Africa_2011.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjH42kKGcwjxa0PIA0vZH7Gz0_RvHgMqyeUr0J2E3e2CXMjOD3IM5zQRvPnt8t681-msw-R6rneQuDnwqdVhLF9K_DT9J2pG9CL_kFlV4hBA-ToVTr39SJQ6O8b10-UJVb_9Gfz1dWs00/s320/450px-Chinese_Industrial_Zones_in_Africa_2011.png" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinese Involvement in Africa</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  Moreover, more influence implies more responsibilities and implications in   the internal affairs of recipient countries which are at odds with the   non-interference policy implemented by CHINA previously. <br />  <br />  The case of SOUTH SUDAN self-determination exemplifies the increasing   involvement of CHINA in MENA political problems. Independence for SOUTH SUDAN   took effect in July 2011. <br />  <br />  Sudden troubles between the two parts ranged from defining borders to the   management of oil resources, for which CHINA is the main operator, as well as   the use of the oil pipeline going northward. Oil terminals are located in PORT   SUDAN on the RED SEA, and they are the only channel to export oil produced in   the South. While CHINA has for a long time been a strong supporter of the   government in KHARTOUM, it turned to support the separation between the North   and South.</span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SOMALILAND’S   ROLL IN A POTENTIAL MILITARY CONFLICT BETWEEN ETHIOPIA AND EGYPT</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/ethiopia-somaliland-and-egypt.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/06/ethiopia-somaliland-and-egypt.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">HALF OF SUDAN’S OIL PRODUCTION IS   EXPORTED TO CHINA.</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA repositioned itself to maintain good relations with   the government of the South, where major oil interests lie. Half of the oil   production in SUDAN (around 490,000 barrels per day) is exported to CHINA.   Most of it is extracted in the South. It is reported also that CHINA has   started negotiations with Juba authorities for the construction of a pipeline   linking oil fields in the SOUTH SUDAN with KENYA. This pipeline would free SOUTH   SUDAN from its dependence on the pipelines going to PORT SUDAN, but it would   damage relations with KHARTOUM, which would lose transit fees on oil produced   in the South. This could also affect relations with EGYPT, with which SUDAN   has had longstanding relations. <br />  <br />  Without doubt, several factors will play in favor of stronger economic   relations between CHINA and the METR area in coming years. First, the slow EUROPEAN   recovery from the international economic crisis will encourage MEDITERRANEAN   countries to diversify their economic relations and further strengthen those   with high-growth markets like CHINA. The political changes that followed the   Arab Springs will also allow CHINA to increase its range of exports and investment   in the MEDITERRANEAN region. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CHINA'S   NEW GEOPOLITICAL POLICIES PRIORITIZES ECONOMIC INTERESTS OVER THE DEVELOPMENT   OF POLITICAL RELATIONS</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  Nevertheless, following the political transformation in the region triggered   by the government overthrows in TUNISIA and EGYPT, CHINA will face challenges   and dilemmas similar to those faced, for many years, by WESTERN countries. A   lesson may however be taken from the recent evolution of CHINESE policy in SUDAN.   CHINA'S new policy toward SUDAN shows that it prioritizes the defense of its   economic interests over the development of its political relations with the   incumbent regimes and, if necessary, it disregards principles such as   non-interference in internal affairs. This may have repercussions on CHINA'S   relations with Arab countries which opposed the separation of SUDAN. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKOQEU4-b4nUrJFCrvR46LmORrial3P4dRqGVlXIKBvQuje28_P2JsII5xyAr4bV4vesAYztewYUL7n4nuN5gYElVS5xzULpPna7FWQLx6w4_HxNTfE0lMY7VGvMeB7uudVKsULk5gU94/s1600/31iht-edheng31-articleLarge.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKOQEU4-b4nUrJFCrvR46LmORrial3P4dRqGVlXIKBvQuje28_P2JsII5xyAr4bV4vesAYztewYUL7n4nuN5gYElVS5xzULpPna7FWQLx6w4_HxNTfE0lMY7VGvMeB7uudVKsULk5gU94/s320/31iht-edheng31-articleLarge.gif" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  Another cause of tension, if not a challenge to CHINA'S foreign policy in the   region, could manifest itself in another country where CHINA'S economic   interests are important: ALGERIA. CHINA, as always, upheld the principle of   non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, thus opposing the initiative   of some states to intervene in the ARAB countries. <br />  <br />  However, CHINA has also made clear that it would respect that the people in   the region had the legitimate right to demand political change, and that it   would also support their right to choose a path for development that suits   their national conditions. CHINA has always advocated political methods to   penetrate the area, avoiding violent implications. If the contagion of the TUNISIAN   and EGYPTIAN revolts reaches ALGERIA, as the ALGERIAN president has been   hospitalized, CHINA might find itself in the middle of multiple challenges. </span></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Related articles:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">CHINA’S   LAND BRIDGE TO TURKEY CREATES NEW EURASIAN GEOPOLITICAL POTENTIALS</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-turkey.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">DRAGON   OF THE NEGEV</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-israel-enter-dragon.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/05/china-and-israel-enter-dragon.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />  <br />  <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Written by Pietro Longo, </i><i>a post-doctoral research fellow at University of Naples   l'Orientale. Expert in Law of the Middle East</i></span> </span></div></td> </tr></tbody></table>

CHINA AND ITS RELATION WITH AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

CHINA DISCOVERS THE MEDITERRANEAN Fernand Braudel, maybe the most important historian of the MEDITERRANEAN region, wrote that &quo...

Jay's Got Some Random Thoughts

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Holaaaaaaaaaaaa y’all! I don’t have any real topic for today so I’m just gonna type out my thoughts as they come to me for a while. I’m sure you’ll find them fascinating. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- These black bean fajitas were pretty damn spicy this time. Maybe I should have had some sour cream on with them to tone it down. Oh well, too late now. I’m gonna pay for this later though, I just know it. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- I better check my phone to see if anyone has texted me today. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Nope <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- I wish I could get a box full of grape Popsicles. Or cherry. Nothing wrong with the orange, blue or green, but I just prefer the cherry and grape. I better put “special order box of 200 grape Popsicles” on my “After I win the lottery” bucket list. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Someday I should do a blog post from my penis. That would be hilarious. “Hi, I’m Jay’s Penis! I sure wish Jay would leave me the hell alone for a little while. He’s a terrible penis owner. You wouldn’t believe the places he has put me or tried to put me. *SHUDDER*”  Ha! Yeah, that would be funny. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- It’s a good thing I wasn’t around back in the late 1800’s in the Wild West. I probably wouldn’t have lived past my late teens. I’m sure I would have been gunned down by some asshole, which would have been okay since living in the South with no air conditioning would have sucked anyway. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhD8nsJHw8vj8xO6GVxiLQYfJJKNTbm32pTaMcaHTnzEBd_ezuC6bGk4GPS6Z49CfH6NNsltVd00FZE1VqpXNSjY5l_a8FKmRBsXzGG7gUUiefibN6ARQYCldzFTeYi9w3K-UmKSfkdY/s1600/Karen_Gillan_Bald_Hot_Sexy_Legs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhD8nsJHw8vj8xO6GVxiLQYfJJKNTbm32pTaMcaHTnzEBd_ezuC6bGk4GPS6Z49CfH6NNsltVd00FZE1VqpXNSjY5l_a8FKmRBsXzGG7gUUiefibN6ARQYCldzFTeYi9w3K-UmKSfkdY/s320/Karen_Gillan_Bald_Hot_Sexy_Legs.jpg" width="184" /></a>- Welp. There went another Facebook “friend.” I don’t care about all the crazy-ass political crap people post all the time. I just scroll on by it. I have “friends” who are pretty damn serious about their partisan beliefs so there’s no reason to try to talk to them or argue, but the racists shit has got to go. Gotta draw the line somewhere.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Gotta pee! <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- I bet that if my penis really could talk that bastard would rat me out for everything bad I’ve ever done. Penises seem to be pretty disloyal. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- I need to get a can of mandarin oranges and freeze them. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Okay, starting tomorrow only one Pepsi per day. And I’m not talking about drinking a whole two liter bottle and calling it “one” either. One can. I can do this. I know I’ve tried many times but dammit, if China can keep to their “one child” policy, I can drink only one Pepsi a day. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- I wish I had a swimming pool. Well not really cause I know I wouldn’t keep it up, but it would still be nice for a while until I got tired of taking care of it. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- I better check Facebook. Oh yeah! How YOOOOO doin’? I bet the only reason she hasn’t defriended me is because there are a lot of guys even creepier than me following her. That’s pretty scary. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- I suck at blogging. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Baseball is stupid. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- If you’re a moderately decent looking woman who is willing to show some cleavage in your avi and tell gross vagina jokes all the time, you will be a superstar on Twitter. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- I’m going to take up running. Hahahhaha … No I’m not. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- <i>“Oh, a storm is threat'ning<br />My very life today<br />If I don't get some shelter<br />Oh yeah, I'm gonna fade away” </i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Okay Mick, if you say so. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Hahaha … Karen Gillan is bald? Okay, I guess I’ll use her pic for this post. I gotta put a hot chick on here cause that’s the rules or something. Besides, I have a reputation to keep up.  <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- I need to start taking naps or sleeping better at night. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- You know what would be awesome? If my penis did a blog post and some chick’s vagina responded either in comments or on her own blog. Okay, maybe not. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Well I gotta do laundry and then make sure that Rooster Cogburn saves Mattie Ross again on “<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1403865/">True Grit</a>.” I actually prefer the remake with Jeff Bridges to the original with John Wayne. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">- Bye <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/jayman68">Facebook.com/Jayman68</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws">@Jayman_IWS</a> <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Also, it we celebrated the Summer of Love on IWS Radio yesterday. It was a laugh a minute (or so) as we talked about our lost loves of the past and some of our unrequited loves. Plus Bobby Kraft, Paul Piatt and Stubby Stonehenge chimed and we had a really great meditation session with Martin. Plus <a href="https://twitter.com/willbyjanet" target="_blank">Jamie</a> called! Okay, we got her on late, but still, she was there! We also yucked it up for a while over other stuff, so totally check it out!! </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="370" src="http://player.cinchcast.com/?show_id=5154025&platformId=1&assetType=single" width="400"></iframe><br /><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid">IWS Radio</a> on BlogTalkRadio</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /></div></div>

Jay's Got Some Random Thoughts

Holaaaaaaaaaaaa y’all! I don’t have any real topic for today so I’m just gonna type out my thoughts as they come to me for a while. I’m sure...

12 Ways to Lose Fat Faster

2:51 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: justify;"><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-large;"> 12 Ways to Lose Fat Faster </span></h1><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br /></span> <br /><center><script type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br /></center></div><br /><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">When it comes to losing fat easily and quickly. Recommended the adoption of multiple strategies at a time.. There are a number of effective and simple strategies that can give you the results you’re looking for. You just need to get serious, commit yourself to your goals, and accept that you need to hit it from all angles.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: large;">To help you, I’m offering 12 of my best strategies for losing fat fast. But here’s the catch.. I’m challenging you to adopt at least 3 of these strategies today!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="12 Ways to Lose Fat Faster" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXrESfMbj5gmE1cxzHkKLWLQZdd-w-rkwB6HZfnNXlNysClwRpbJXlNIxZRXMwFK4qi3L3mjoIr4KcdnFqX9KUwKaYNKS8UJTSWpqZ47IQCnh4IovH5aGDYwWTGYo95TOD6Lv3N9MDXM/s400/best+Weight+Loss+Secrets.jpg" title="12 Ways to Lose Fat Faster" width="336" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>1. Give Up on Spot Training :</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Give Up on Spot Training" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdkd7r3jppQ8_e7PJwrh_pbydLj1vQOjV2r1CP0ElObDOKEh7Rwrf_lfvrIrWM6h1CLperL7jb42atidV2cYP8vRBoHZr0XAd2XZqrYwr3MWars9er2R3WUtBNnoSmsEsGdogNIgEhA0/s1600/Give+Up+on+Spot+Training.jpg" title="Give Up on Spot Training" /></div></div><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br /></center><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2. Sleep Better :</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Sleep Better" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYwuiFLXYOhMOyVoMkZfj-9AKjqRkmxV7wLI_EUo0nYC26fdtuPHuM6jrcfMQwGZRWWHOKBJ_Gz-05ordtyj5zwYljEiVaXZ5b25YRCVcy0mI__GOJtntDeogE1i41vG7Z0RX6pPlgFM/s1600/Sleep+Better.jpg" title="Sleep Better" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>3. Eat More Protein :</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Eat More Protein" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZCq7VVuHyl_W7aG-qHQ_C65rXiaIzekbWL9xKjxuoWhlpsfYLD3M6mjnkgSBRiLUsWJ0xpqOAASYRJ5Zp3u1sg8RTd3NYaBakVSEIGSjCUC6f9hLDTNpXlPKPI3j_qQFue82oPHEfzU/s1600/Eat+More+Protein.jpg" title="Eat More Protein" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>4. Get Intense with Interval Training :</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Get Intense with Interval Training" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX4tVuQne4jDp5-ROMVygzn3VFznifqX_HP8stz5TeXjp9azfYaxJMHw5aDnuKAH7TL3duaCIPUrl9jWSYnl-XglsaVDawcIHYrQbzw2b75j2Y400_vBAj4a4DpC_baHu3ZHUpXiW8YSU/s1600/Get+Intense+with+Interval+Training.jpg" title="Get Intense with Interval Training" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Try Yoga :</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Try Yoga " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFk-TfceQhXvrr0xr-HE1fb6y_z66T5Bt3F_qADi52g1e4ogp9hi_259buV6zh3N0Z_B4YxpvfYGCjipE_X6COxnAH496gsLz3tcCCkcSHNBKTea6JRDBqIgDQ9gQ_Uf6fY-W1QGCJNk/s1600/Try+Yoga.jpg" title="Try Yoga " /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>6. Change Things Up on a Regular Basis :</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Change Things Up on a Regular Basis" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WxuHmUfJaba93rCN0lTSPJHV4eCm_XGV30e5N6FcRM6bEZlbOSjbShykH2nv7jJgCHf7kfb-xyKCwIR47XBrxa4MsLQ7x7-2wQgWWAKTeCk4XxPpT118J73CKzMOFqr6cs3eMHwynPg/s1600/Change+Things+Up+on+a+Regular+Basis.jpg" title="Change Things Up on a Regular Basis" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>7. Take a CrossFit Class :</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Take a CrossFit Class " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwD4yfmv-Lj7zjl4u-lICHWTSw0YNlDvb9S_th3RMoIbMR5DZL-Sv9x2u7tuoe5lEaWEmQz_dX5_6NesTRNgIDjydrTRb0FXfT-3rrutpOL6QD3x2N8fWI8az96ul025h7T9fHFBPp1Q8/s1600/+Take+a+CrossFit+Class.jpg" title="Take a CrossFit Class " /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>8. Have One Less Coffee a Week :</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Have One Less Coffee a Week" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIbZustRgYMpoozdxhk7cQelScjfPXRg9vQF_5UunmCfQhoBxbLEP_gkEXKqmz1cmp95AemFhE0JATq-SColyDa3KR4f6OMGCHZMMmfsoYyx-jQjoEqMdxNSIdwF89dHFIamRP9dIIQ8/s1600/Have+One+Less+Coffee+a+Week.jpg" title="Have One Less Coffee a Week" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>9. Get Serious about Weight Training :</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Get Serious about Weight Training" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlbuIu7eWLb8HZypBj2qd6Y2qJlyDixOw-4jmorJUuWBbZjjMoAUxUCeaGoexYrctixqiA8r9DcB6m4I9qQEkeA2m0SBuwAqGPrE5wndjS9vwnc_1CSdhJ-YxLcfjQmo1hwnJQBo1vzo/s1600/Get+Serious+about+Weight+Training.jpg" title="Get Serious about Weight Training" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>10. Sprint More :</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Sprint More" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKqcsJnn3RiQyldvdh5kcKTEzpnMgK9wlE0lTOPFUUMfMfPbhXJrg9UEAQ-eAt8H-3W2GFqwpTYnPXW9iCh9Q2-KluVkx-ecwt1j2i5kMaIm_7I49CIMQIgBrhtAA4TqQMRnSy3dptAE/s1600/Sprint+More.jpg" title="Sprint More" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>11. Start Juicing :</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Start Juicing" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoTM2o0m9w4GdaHLpGpGRg4-oB481Iqe8tWZQTr_-xKJzaJwy6AZQKRfLc77Kut0NWhuo_x-zN0mzVeTfXbTDR1RVuep0icxUZ7RdZB3yEg3xYCfaGWlrm_Vgxph7uAWerhdWNTq3QOE/s1600/+Start+Juicing.jpg" title="Start Juicing" /></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>12. Cut Down on Carbs :</b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Cut Down on Carbs" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJf0bE1zs4HaCVomPQjQWmjoLDQmzzuQ-CYJtMGMeZxcfjyq-ZDNeiDf1tlqnarbzUeGjg2q7sd1aOLhrwete99nEkm4G8bHNER6cvsLwds6ooH_ZSJfJb0lL4fbNkjG8t5PYtvMj0XB4/s1600/Cut+Down+on+Carbs.jpg" title="Cut Down on Carbs" /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><br /><center><script type="text/javascript"></script><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><br /></center><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>

12 Ways to Lose Fat Faster When it comes to losing fat easily and quickly. Recommended the adoption of multiple strategies at a time.. The...

EUROPEAN JIHADISTS

2:33 PM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyBLGObFX-QUJu7Ltg-k2ZiZr_1SqbgH8WGJiE4F00Z-b8LlGflCJFNfvf3kFJNwhTp7ewvI6AfJAAR3akl8tCRrcDX7ZFk55cDGyhEmYoLYcPCcCfdeVaWQDNHGuqncwj2ySrHLrwmje/s1600/9D3A182E-5F7D-4C15-97AF-A677625A6B34_mw1024_n_s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyBLGObFX-QUJu7Ltg-k2ZiZr_1SqbgH8WGJiE4F00Z-b8LlGflCJFNfvf3kFJNwhTp7ewvI6AfJAAR3akl8tCRrcDX7ZFk55cDGyhEmYoLYcPCcCfdeVaWQDNHGuqncwj2ySrHLrwmje/s320/9D3A182E-5F7D-4C15-97AF-A677625A6B34_mw1024_n_s.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>BALKAN Jihad fighter in SYRIA</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">FROM YOUTUBE TO JIHAD – BALKAN VOLUNTEERS IN SYRIA</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even though conservative Islam is not much appreciated among the liberal and secular BOSNIAK and ALBANIAN communities in the WESTERN BALKANS, radical groups show an increasing online and real-life presence.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Executive Summary: </span></b></span></div><ul type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First YouTube war</span></b></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What      are EUROPEAN jihadists capable of doing once back from SYRIA? </span></b></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most of these young people have      been mobilized and radicalized through the internet</span></b></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Affiliated      NGOS provided both rhetorical and logistical support to SYRIA volunteers </span></b></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">52 volunteers left BOSNIA and      joined the al Nusrah front, widely-recognized as al Qaida associates</span></b></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“Cyber      war”</span></b></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BOSNIAN      Wahhabi website glorifying life and ideology of Wahhabi leader Jusuf Barcic      supported by embassy of BOSNIA in DENMARK</span></b></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Radical      groups show an increasing online and real-life presence in the western BALKANS      </span></b></li></ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FIRST YOUTUBE WAR</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Source: <b><i>Trans</i></b></span><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Conflict’s</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> written by Vladimir Ninkovic</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The alleged popular uprising in SYRIA has quickly turned into a predominantly religious conflict, if it had ever been anything else. SYRIA’S president, Bashar el Assad, belongs to the minority <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">ALAWITE</span></b> community, an off-shoot of Shia branch of Islam, representing roughly 12% of SYRIAN population. With Sunni ARABS a vast majority in SYRIA, their dissatisfaction partly derives from the fact that power rests with a rival, minority group. Assad’s regime is supported by RUSSIA and the extremist Shia organization, Hezbollah, funded and run by IRAN’S government and secret service. The ‘rebels’, meanwhile, receive generous support from neighbouring ARAB states, and are thought to be supported by the USA, TURKEY and a majority of EU countries.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information:</span></u></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">UNDERSTAND THE ALAWITES</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/the-alawites-and-israel.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/the-alawites-and-israel.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“FOREIGN FIGHTERS” ARE INVOLVED—MOSTLY ISLAMIC JIHADISTS</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/syria-and-dogs-of-war.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/syria-and-dogs-of-war.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">WHAT ARE EUROPEAN JIHADISTS CAPABLE OF DOING ONCE BACK FROM SYRIA?</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span> </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The belief that religious, as opposed to ethnic, affiliation is much stronger amongst Muslims deserves consideration. Rough estimates suggest that there might be over one thousand EUROPEAN jihadists fighting with the rebels in SYRIA. In many respects, the biggest security threat is not what they’re doing there, but what they might be capable of doing once they’re back.  In HOLLAND, for instance, the national terrorism threat level has recently been raised significant, given that around one hundred DUTCH nationals are currently in SYRIA, whilst a dozen who have already returned are now subject to government surveillance. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">MOST OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MOBILIZED AND RADICALIZED THROUGH THE INTERNET</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #cc0000;">, </span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">where a narrative for jihad has incited young people to join the fight. The BBC’s Paul Wood went so far as to insist that “this feels like the first YouTube war”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With respect to the BALKANS, media outlets suggest that around 300 local Islamists went to fight for the Sunni cause in SYRIA, primarily from BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA, ALBANIA, MACEDONIA and SERBIA (from its Southwestern part, called ‘RASKA OBLAST’ by SERBS, and ‘SANDZAK’ by BOSNIAKS). </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: </span><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">SANDŽAK REGION:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">NOT ONLY THE GATEWAY FOR BALKANS ORGANIZED CRIME SYNDICATES, BUT ALSO FOR SPREADING WAHHBISM TO EUROPE?</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/wahhabism-in-bosnia-herzegovina-part-4.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/08/wahhabism-in-bosnia-herzegovina-part-4.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">For further background information see: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand%C5%BEak">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand%C5%BEak</a>as well as <a href="http://www.bmlv.gv.at/pdf_pool/publikationen/crime_omero.pdf">http://www.bmlv.gv.at/pdf_pool/publikationen/crime_omero.pdf</a>(page 47), <a href="http://www.transconflict.com/about/where-we-work/the-balkans/sandzak/">http://www.transconflict.com/about/where-we-work/the-balkans/sandzak/</a>and <a href="http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2667210/posts">http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2667210/posts</a>and <a href="http://www.bmlv.gv.at/pdf_pool/publikationen/rel_exterm_vs_fried_beweg_05_radical_movements_moderate_balkan_islam_e_hecimovic_17.pdf">http://www.bmlv.gv.at/pdf_pool/publikationen/rel_exterm_vs_fried_beweg_05_radical_movements_moderate_balkan_islam_e_hecimovic_17.pdf</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two SERBIAN citizens – Eldar Kundakovic from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Novi Pazar</b> and Adis Salihovic from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rozaje</b>– recently lost their lives. Fighting under the combat names of Abu Bera and Abu Merdia, they were shot during an attack on a prison controlled by government forces in. Another young man, Muaz Ahmeti – a 23-year old student of the Islamic Cairo University, from Veliki Trnovac in the municipality of Bujanovac – was killed in SYRIA in May. The death of Naman Demoli from Pristina last year, meanwhile, figured prominently in the <a href="http://www.transconflict.com/category/balkans/kosovo/">KOSOVO</a> media.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">AFFILIATED NGOS PROVIDED BOTH RHETORICAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO SYRIA VOLUNTEERS </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Muslim community in SERBIA is deeply-divided, with two Islamic Communities operating – the Belgrade-based Islamic Community of SERBIA, and the Novi Pazar-based Islamic Community in SERBIA.  Whilst both official <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">meshihats</i> condemn the practice of sending volunteers to SYRIA, some radical imams, small Salafist communities and affiliated NGOs are understood to have provided both rhetorical and logistical support, including organizing travel to SYRIA. However, in the light of growing outrage of the global Sunni community, particularly after the recent speech of the spiritual leader of the worldwide Muslim Brotherhood, QATARI-based Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, who called Hezbollah (an organization he once endorsed, despite being condemned by conservative SAUDI clerics) the “servants of Satan”, seems that even some moderate Islamists are willing to support it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in; text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">QATAR WAS THE MOTHER WHOSE MILK FED THE ISLAMIST GROUPS</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/qatar-and-muslim-brotherhood.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/07/qatar-and-muslim-brotherhood.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Belgrade-based ‘Pravda’ newspaper quoted ef. Resad Plojovic – the deputy of Novi Pazar Mufti, Muamer Zukorlic – accusing the extremist factions, in the <a href="http://sandzakpress.net/resad-ef-plojovic-o-dzihadu-u-siriji-video"><b>interview given to Sandzak Press</b></a>. Plojovic said that his words were taken out of context, and that if anyone wants to help the “good cause” in SYRIA, no one should stop them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">52 VOLUNTEERS LEFT BOSNIA AND JOINED THE AL NUSRAH FRONT, WIDELY-RECOGNIZED AS AL QAIDA ASSOCIATES</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In neighbouring BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, where Salafists and Mujjahadins were settled in several locations after the tragic war of the nineties, the situation is even more alarming. According to various sources, some 52 volunteers left BOSNIA and joined the Al Nusrah front, widely-recognized as Al Qaida associates. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The media recently reported that their recruitment was organized by the extremist leader of the Salafi (Wahhabi) community in the village of Gornja Maoca in northern BOSNIA, Nusret Imamovic, and Dzevad Golos, from Mostar, who runs the Daru-l-Quran Foundation for Koran studies.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Background Information:</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7 part dossier on</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">BALKANS ORGANIZED CRIME AND RADICALISM</b> at: <a href="http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/01/the-balkans-organized-crime-and.html">http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.co.at/2013/01/the-balkans-organized-crime-and.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6 part dossier on</span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">WAHHABISM IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA</b> at:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/wahhabism-in-bosnia-herzegovina.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/wahhabism-in-bosnia-herzegovina.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/the-bosnia-and-herzegovina-dossier.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/the-bosnia-and-herzegovina-dossier.html</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">INFLUENTIAL ISLAMIC COMMUNITY IN BOSNIA </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">at:<b> </b></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; line-height: normal; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/ethnic-rift-key-hindrance-to-bosnias.html">http://news-these-days.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/ethnic-rift-key-hindrance-to-bosnias.html</a></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“CYBER WAR”</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiXEdbs71iR8O5ewDn-41h_eWjWu1AHfPfLfVO2mxV_ZSWtbRy9ISnCkEfn6cWWTBDFFJjrFDVmboAZC4GcDulub85B1pnGH0VTX6fnOZKvey2sQBYhV9jhfwo-pBLj_DTlasW3S8KXhM/s1600/_47230730_bosnia_maoca226.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiXEdbs71iR8O5ewDn-41h_eWjWu1AHfPfLfVO2mxV_ZSWtbRy9ISnCkEfn6cWWTBDFFJjrFDVmboAZC4GcDulub85B1pnGH0VTX6fnOZKvey2sQBYhV9jhfwo-pBLj_DTlasW3S8KXhM/s320/_47230730_bosnia_maoca226.gif" width="289" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the conservative BOSNIAK Islam Iman’s website, Prof. Suljo Bahtic published an article called “Factors that have led to terrorism, violence and other deviations” in which he states that the terrorism and the call for jihad as a holy war is actually promoted and encouraged by the “western mentors”. Hence whilst the website also hosts news from SYRIA – such as ‘The most vulnerable victims of SYRIA conflict – children’, ‘Hezbollah – the devil’s party – its policy claims to discourage local religious community from joining the conflict. However, Islam Iman republished translated article from the International Union for Muslim Scholars (IUMS) website, whose latest statement calls for “<i>the Muslim nation to fulfill their duty of defending their brothers and sisters in SYRIA who are fighting one of the fiercest battles today, and are subject to an organized extermination war, in cooperation with elitist, bloody, barbaric powers</i>.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The most active propaganda on the SYRIAN civil war can be seen on the Wahhabi (Salafist) website “Put Vjernika” (The Believer’s Path), whose extremely radical attitude is condemned by Islam Iman. “Put Vjernika” daily documents and celebrates all movements by the rebel forces, especially those by Al Qaida affiliated groups and foreign mujahids. The website contains many articles condemning secular practices of a majority of BOSNIAKS, as well as conspiracy theories against Jews, Shia Muslims (regarded to be pawns of the Crusaders), and, of course, RUSSIA and WESTERN states.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">BOSNIAN WAHHABI WEBSITE GLORIFYING LIFE AND IDEOLOGY OF WAHHABI LEADER JUSUF BARCIC SUPPORTED BY EMBASSY OF BOSNIA IN DENMARK </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An interesting case is represented by the website of Dzemat Sabah, a small BOSNIAK Muslim community in three DANISH towns of Ikast, Herning and Brande. Whilst the attack on the US Embassy by Mevlid Jasarevic is condemned as outrageous, such acts are commended in situations of war, wherever in the world it might be (though clearly referring to SYRIA). The website – which states that the work of the organization is supported by the embassy of BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA in DENMARK – also glorifies the life and ideology of the late Wahhabi leader, Jusuf Barcic.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">RADICAL GROUPS SHOW AN INCREASING ONLINE AND REAL-LIFE PRESENCE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even though conservative Islam is not much appreciated among the liberal and secular BOSNIAK and ALBANIAN communities in the WESTERN BALKANS, radical groups show an increasing online and real-life presence. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Encouraged by financial support from Arab countries, and using the region’s constant economic and political crises, radical groups have become much more assertive, despite police surveillance and raids. Another factor contributing to the influx of Balkan Muslims is the extensive media coverage of SYRIA, echoing the nineties wars in BOSNIA and KOSOVO, in which Muslim BOSNIAKS and ALBANIANS were represented as victims by the WESTERN media, as it is currently the case with the rebels.</b> The question posed by the DUTCH media resonates – what will the veterans be capable of doing once they return?</span></div>

EUROPEAN JIHADISTS

BALKAN Jihad fighter in SYRIA FROM YOUTUBE TO JIHAD – BALKAN VOLUNTEERS IN SYRIA Even though conservative Islam is not much appreciated am...

Strawberry Fair

2:31 PM Tukiyooo 0

<span style="font-size: large;">Fun day at the Strawberry Fair at the Strawberry Fair, Dublin!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: large;">The Blanchardstown Brass Band played some super modern tunes including ABBA!!</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibx4o6x83XU8ugtxeZ6L_YmZzJxrimXKVNTCCjnJnBmtq_Uta8TnhHFznRhcnG3ACdBu-DfxBYIlMjNliUodb35B6EFhFiVQOoCxD0Jz27EPHcMhRU2psAutOUxAbWwZhc918Jp8fT9RTl/s640/blogger-image-1860934040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibx4o6x83XU8ugtxeZ6L_YmZzJxrimXKVNTCCjnJnBmtq_Uta8TnhHFznRhcnG3ACdBu-DfxBYIlMjNliUodb35B6EFhFiVQOoCxD0Jz27EPHcMhRU2psAutOUxAbWwZhc918Jp8fT9RTl/s640/blogger-image-1860934040.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Strawberries & cream - one of the best desserts ever!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qMmqGJNqLHhDFJ3-iQHtLSFSW0vD2xszOqDaV_lE7Oq3b6-GZZG08WjBGRG_8j0NDKhW46mwLYK1c4eJAAwGOrcZvlSFTngLSWxTW7bfksyUAXF6v7eBV1r6q9JKdM609PRaAZ0CuO4l/s640/blogger-image--615835450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qMmqGJNqLHhDFJ3-iQHtLSFSW0vD2xszOqDaV_lE7Oq3b6-GZZG08WjBGRG_8j0NDKhW46mwLYK1c4eJAAwGOrcZvlSFTngLSWxTW7bfksyUAXF6v7eBV1r6q9JKdM609PRaAZ0CuO4l/s640/blogger-image--615835450.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bones found a pal ;-) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFPEd209ueJ5vAq6Z4TvO3656YIpHvWn7FnStLrrkM-sDmB_njaufOp9qfs4sWgTyvywKzUCtFzDGK05rMWP5sqfXlguI9YcFTS56cd3lxTVSa0H5IijN85fULuCCBPG6lTf5kpS7fZiK/s640/blogger-image-206508931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFPEd209ueJ5vAq6Z4TvO3656YIpHvWn7FnStLrrkM-sDmB_njaufOp9qfs4sWgTyvywKzUCtFzDGK05rMWP5sqfXlguI9YcFTS56cd3lxTVSa0H5IijN85fULuCCBPG6lTf5kpS7fZiK/s640/blogger-image-206508931.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dairy Cottage - how cute!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhcbkwLqybNnW04u8V2KSnshcOt9xzTp1JEvgMyflSzqIR0kG8tNDbr-HmuGlPfV_iRZtA7IVZpe15tUAmRdEvZergkniZX3Bv3YWnc8Mn6xdcXAP9sgYusjIa7pdXBBYMrG49Ks4235M/s640/blogger-image-1574785591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhcbkwLqybNnW04u8V2KSnshcOt9xzTp1JEvgMyflSzqIR0kG8tNDbr-HmuGlPfV_iRZtA7IVZpe15tUAmRdEvZergkniZX3Bv3YWnc8Mn6xdcXAP9sgYusjIa7pdXBBYMrG49Ks4235M/s640/blogger-image-1574785591.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Old metal bridge</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcV5GESc97T9p2MgkEr2VFbWQz3kLErA5ktc2SQRjL3WS_kYkk9HKBcM8zDykD2aiAX5DBgAJiL4QxIluqE5m0Qn1VTp4nDzz41C3EWjhvTUBRjrtHtVGsY62NsjhHWOy-tfwd90XA4tf/s640/blogger-image--507965252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcV5GESc97T9p2MgkEr2VFbWQz3kLErA5ktc2SQRjL3WS_kYkk9HKBcM8zDykD2aiAX5DBgAJiL4QxIluqE5m0Qn1VTp4nDzz41C3EWjhvTUBRjrtHtVGsY62NsjhHWOy-tfwd90XA4tf/s640/blogger-image--507965252.jpg" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The road between the Angler's Rest and the Strawberry Hall Pub was closed off.  Such a nice walk between the two. </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">After the fair we called in to the Angler's and had a drink in the sun (glass of wine for moi) and a little snack (wings & pate). </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">My sister volunteered at this event and wrote a really great blog post about the day, have a look <a href="http://amydublinia.blogspot.ie/2013/07/blog-post_22.html">here</a>.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>

Strawberry Fair

Fun day at the Strawberry Fair at the Strawberry Fair, Dublin! The Blanchardstown Brass Band played some super modern tunes including ABBA!!...

Riverdance World Record

9:40 AM Tukiyooo 0

<span style="font-size: large;">Over 1,600 dancers lined out in Dublin today to break the World Record for the longest line of Irish dancers.  It all took place on the banks of the Liffey and it was quite spectacular!</span><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z3oPnLikP1vtgHyXi6P5J0hRcxvXmHDatFbPoS7J2qm1tutwVdpEoLHPmArtOVoWTwRCG-LGV0j2Ui6jjuEITJ9qfhwr2hAvD6D_UIT33LC9hDVz44D2V6HNoGcqc8NebvUerwJ4_vnW/s640/blogger-image-2099579246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Z3oPnLikP1vtgHyXi6P5J0hRcxvXmHDatFbPoS7J2qm1tutwVdpEoLHPmArtOVoWTwRCG-LGV0j2Ui6jjuEITJ9qfhwr2hAvD6D_UIT33LC9hDVz44D2V6HNoGcqc8NebvUerwJ4_vnW/s640/blogger-image-2099579246.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">The dancers had to keep their hands linked and dance for a full 5 minutes in order to break the record.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml6-hQrUN70uX5szxxkrYdI8qxpHLA4b2wPKdZ6XUYOwho0YJ8jfx-9YzMP8VEWkLP0DH24LOsAZ_23SIz1B_ewTyOfb3KUMYBXFs9X1g7Hujk8kVVCcu3KMX3-noco-6FEksFKtAnSK1/s640/blogger-image--617618851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgml6-hQrUN70uX5szxxkrYdI8qxpHLA4b2wPKdZ6XUYOwho0YJ8jfx-9YzMP8VEWkLP0DH24LOsAZ_23SIz1B_ewTyOfb3KUMYBXFs9X1g7Hujk8kVVCcu3KMX3-noco-6FEksFKtAnSK1/s640/blogger-image--617618851.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">The dancers were mainly made up of girls - but there were boys too among the  dancers, including Padraic Moyles, the current male lead in Riverdance.  Padraic led the line in the rehearsal and seemed like a genuinely all round good guy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfXcw8jgR-gnlR0lQjnU4Z2VHsuAykuxdwFCnfJPaMP4-q0RpJwGRHlqlngBsisaqUlX0IeXi5E2HXHjlvGz_VERd4flzwSLFChULcpDJFoCer-jqLw3p6DPKaY0hQg5-hj-W6XFU51vH/s640/blogger-image-1937401327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfXcw8jgR-gnlR0lQjnU4Z2VHsuAykuxdwFCnfJPaMP4-q0RpJwGRHlqlngBsisaqUlX0IeXi5E2HXHjlvGz_VERd4flzwSLFChULcpDJFoCer-jqLw3p6DPKaY0hQg5-hj-W6XFU51vH/s640/blogger-image-1937401327.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">The most famous Riverdancer was there - Ms. Jean Butler (that's her in the shades at the water)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1uSAfsaGnhCZ4KzoOiXbWcDpkh1aJW5MqKl8ACro9YiLWMymfOuZsSUoUKd8pC43BWegI31-7JHFNAb-0SGH5kqM5yxAwxxXOEx1a3MLSzAyck4KcebcRfwrMiWt3zU7vMjjhvbo12z-/s640/blogger-image--1452978741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1uSAfsaGnhCZ4KzoOiXbWcDpkh1aJW5MqKl8ACro9YiLWMymfOuZsSUoUKd8pC43BWegI31-7JHFNAb-0SGH5kqM5yxAwxxXOEx1a3MLSzAyck4KcebcRfwrMiWt3zU7vMjjhvbo12z-/s640/blogger-image--1452978741.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">For more information about this event, check out <a href="http://www.thegatheringireland.com/">The Gathering website.</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Events like this make me very proud to be Irish!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LpvUgDOHryUij9E4XkqFnNetBY9e-9YHd9Vftb33Qvi8MeaRv-WQhfcbvmAfgH0xzu2WoaMel5aUoghsyx4jIlu5Z7VlGavOC_MK01JP2pCuwAODWcMfD6aN_yBUui_1DodL9-5pcMRd/s640/blogger-image--586461208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LpvUgDOHryUij9E4XkqFnNetBY9e-9YHd9Vftb33Qvi8MeaRv-WQhfcbvmAfgH0xzu2WoaMel5aUoghsyx4jIlu5Z7VlGavOC_MK01JP2pCuwAODWcMfD6aN_yBUui_1DodL9-5pcMRd/s640/blogger-image--586461208.jpg" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Feel free to share this blog post or any of the photos that I took at the record breaking event.</span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>

Riverdance World Record

Over 1,600 dancers lined out in Dublin today to break the World Record for the longest line of Irish dancers. It all took place on the bank...

A Review Of The Ice Cream Diet - Can You Really Lose Weight While Eating Ice Cream?

8:25 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Ron Stucky</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>This diet, the Ice Cream Diet, is a strategy that says you can shed the weight without giving up something like ice cream every day. Imagine that. This is a little hard to believe, as we've all been taught that desserts like ice cream are fattening and will make us gain weight. In order to resolve this question, we have taken a close look at the Ice Cream Diet to find out if you can really lose weight while eating ice cream.<br />  <br />  We were a bit taken back when we read that the approach with the Ice Cream Diet is one of low caloric intake each day. Aside from your daily allotment of ice cream, you have to stick to mainly fruits, vegetables, lean meats and other high quality protein. What the ice cream represents is a built-in reward system for being disciplined about your diet. There are components of ice cream that contain something of value to the human body. Milk products are a good source of protein, as well as calcium. Therefore, that added dairy component adds more nutrition than you will have if you adhered to other more strict low calorie diets. This can help you to stick with it long enough to get results.<br />  <br />  Many people assume that the only way to stomach this diet is to add the icecream to less desirable ingredients. Calcium content may be what you need to lose weight. Studies incdicate that calcuim is essential for weight loss. Fat is burned more efficiently when you consume calcium. Calcium supplements are always an option, but calcium rich foods are better for you. The Ice Cream Diet recommends that you do regular exercise.<br />  <br />  We do feel that the name, Ice Cream Diet, can put all manner of unusual ideas and initial thoughts in someone's head. Right? While it allows you to eat a small portion of ice cream every day, it is still a low calorie diet. It's possible people will see the title and incorrectly think they can lose weight while stuffing themselves full of ice cream.<br />  <br />  As you may already have figured out, it doesn't matter if you include ice cream in this diet or not. With this diet, men are not allowed to eat more than 2,000 calories per day, and women 1,500. Plus, it's important that you engage frequent and meaningful exercise. The small portion of ice cream you are permitted must fit into this regime. So when you think about it; when you do the exercise and restrict your calories like that; then it really doesn't matter about the ice cream, or chocolate, etc. So you can see that the ice cream in the Ice Cream Diet is purely for marketing reasons.<br />  <br />  You can lose weight with the Ice Cream Diet, and you'll have to do your part just like with any other diet. Also, should you decide to "cheat" on the amount of daily ice cream, then don't be surprised if you gain weight or don't lose it. This diet allows you to lose weight, get healthier, and give yourself a daily treat along the way. Cool, we think.<br />  <br />  </div><br />  <div class='uawresource'><br />  	<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br />  		About the Author:<br />  	</div><br />  	<div class='uawlinks'>Ron Stucky is a well-known author, he has been writing different blogs on different topics like health,nutrition,supplements etc. Checkout his article on <a href="http://askmarcbarrett.com/mlm-success/mlm-success-the-truth-the-illusion-of-network-marketing">MLM Success</a> and on <a href="http://askmarcbarrett.com/mlm-reviews/nuskin-success-review-how-to-succeed-in-nu-skin">Nuskin</a></div><br />  </div><br />

A Review Of The Ice Cream Diet - Can You Really Lose Weight While Eating Ice Cream?

By Ron Stucky This diet, the Ice Cream Diet, is a strategy that says you can shed the weight without giving up something like ice cream ...

Summer Break

7:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

Summer Break

Posts will be light to non-existent for the next two weeks as I head out of town, taking a little summer break. Happy Summer!