Helio Gracie, co-founder of Brazilian Jui Jitsu, passes away
on Jan 30, 2009 in Helio Gracie Brazilian Jui Jitsu I'm saddened to write that I have just learned that Helio Grace, who co-developed Brazilian Jui Jitsu with his brother Carlos, has passed away in Rio de Janeiro aged 95.

Democracy is alive in Iraq, now ethnic and religious polarisation need to be seriously reconsidered
on Jan 29, 2009 in Somalia Iraq Africa Democracy middle east Iraqi elections DR Congo Six years ago Iraq was ruled by a dictator. There were no elections, no organised opposition parties and no internal dissent or criticism of the autocratic regime. The country is now about to undergo historic elections, in which approximately 15,000...

Americas round-up
on Jan 28, 2009 in Evo Morales Jagdeo Hugo Chavez. Lula da Silva Guyana Bolivia Earthquakes Costa Rico Brazil Venezuela Barack Obama has dominated sufficient media time in recent month so I won't spend time writing about his presidential inauguration and concurrent events in the United States, other than saying that we have lived through an historic moment and a promi

The European media finally recognises that events continue elsewhere in the world
on Jan 27, 2009...

Finally the BBC does something I agree with
on Jan 26, 2009 in Gaza UK BBC It's a rare occassion when I find cause to defend the British Broadcasting Corp (BBC), but today is such an instance.The corporation has received considerable criticism in the UK and is under intense, and unwarranted, pressure from British politician

Has the U.S. Revolution reached its climax?
on Jan 21, 2009 in president Barack Obama U.S. revolution America Following the inauguration of Barack Obama as the United States' first MIXED-RACE president, which was the climax of months, no, centuries of struggle and work in that nation, I find myself asking: "has the U.S. Revolution finally reached its fi

Tu or Voce?
on Jan 15, 2009Ever since I learnt Brazilian Portuguese I've been intrigued by the use of "voce" ("you" in English) both formally and informally. In Portugal, "voce" is reserved for formal affairs and "tu" (also "you&quo

The propaganda war begins to shift
on Jan 14, 2009 in Yasser Arafat Gaza Hezbollah Hamas Al Jazeera Mahmoud Abbas Israel Hamas egypt It has taken almost three weeks, but the propaganda war is finally beginning to tilt marginally in favour of Israel. As I previously noted, the BBC has reported the pro-Israeli demonstration held in London this past weekend, and now I see, more shock...

Muslim councillor's unlawful protest
on Jan 13, 2009 in Gaza David Miliband Tyneside Israel Ed Balls A councillor in South Shields, Tyne and Wear (David Miliband's parliamentary constituency) has organised an unlawful protest against the Israel-Hamas conflict. Councillor Ahmed Khan, who represents the town's Beacon and Brent wards, arranged for

There are some Israeli supporters in Britain after all
on Jan 12, 2009I was surprised to turn my television on sometime over the weekend to find the BBC actually reporting a pro-Israel demonstration at Trafalgar Square. The corporation even showed live pictures of the assembled demonstrators. Surely one can imagine my...