An "Outsiders" newsflash: Meanwhile...in India.....

Over the last 24 hours, the opposition in the Indian Parliament seems to have come alive.  Rahul Gandhi led Opposition in the Lok Sabha protesting the on-going communal violence and how the BJP has stifled debate.    The Indian Home Minister has rejected the assertions and the Finance Minister has asserted that Congress is under pressure and is trying to avoid a "Palace Coup".   As the Indian Prime Minister is touring the World and making waves at Home--including another trip to Jammu & Kashmir--it is clear that the opposition has a challenge on its' hands to make its' voice heard.

Fascinating Times....

Ever So Hopeful: Brief Thoughts 4 the Night

As a 72-Hr ceasefire comes into force and as Israel says it has "withdrawn" from Gaza,  this newsflash while on the grid was beautiful to note:

Post by Elahe Amani.

A Virtual Token of Appreciation :-)

As a new month begins here at "outsiders", we wanted to begin by sharing this TED TALK compilation which we hope all enjoy and hopefully reflect upon the message given on simply "Being Happy":  

What makes you happy? (10 TED Talks)

Everyone wants to be happy. But how does one go about it? Psychologists, journalists and monks suggest some answers that may surprise you.Watch »

Total run time 2:37:01

View of the Week: On #Gaza, #Syria & Other Thoughts....

We here @ Outsiders have been assessing the week while we went "dark".  It has been a horrific week--to say the least.

Libya is on the brink of collapse.   Reports out of  Libya note how Tripoli and Benghazi are in chaos.    An Al Jazeera noted how Egyptian Workers have been streaming to the border with Tunisia in a bit to escape the chaos.   It appears that Filipino workers are refusing to evacuate due to the fact that they do not wish to walk away from the lucrative jobs that are out there.  As for the Gaza War, it appears that Israel is supposedly redeploying forces towards the border as it has continued to underscore that operations will continue.   Israeli Media is noting that Israel is winning due to the 'realignment" of relationships with Egypt as Hamas is weakened.  Just one indication of the level of destruction is epitomized by this:   Out of Gaza's 7 hospitals, two are utterly destroyed.  

The day after is coming where guns will go silent.  As we went to the Press with this week-end newsflash, Israel had announced a 7-Hour Humanitarian ceasefire with Rafah being the only exception.  It is only a matter of time.  But as this "day after" In Gaza is assessed, this was reported by the National in the United Arab Emirates:

[I]"Soros Fund Management, the family office of the billionaire investor George Soros, has sold its stake in SodaStream, the soda making appliance producer that profits from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and was made popular by actress Scarlett Johansson’s endorsement. The decision comes as a number of big international investors, including the fund linked to the Microsoft founder Bill Gates, join in a burgeoning financial boycott of Israel amid a push by the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement and other groups seeking more rights for Palestinians." [/I].   There is also word on Chinese Hackers attacking Israeli Defense Firms.   It is clear that Israel apparently needs a Virtual Iron Dome as well.  

Israeli View of the BDS has been that it has been an utter failure. [LINK=http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-makdisi-israel-apartheid-20140518-story.html] But the "day after" is ever so critical to note in lieu of the fact that the Arab Citizens of the State of Israel continue to be faced with discrimination on an unprecedented scale and those under occupation in the West Bank continue to be ever so subject to harsh military restrictions as noted in this LA Times Editorial.   [/LINK]  Such questions are yet to be fully addressed as Gazans continue to suffer ever more.    The images of Gaza is reminiscent of Dresden during the Second World War.    

Beyond Gaza and Libya, there is Syria and Iraq.   Bashar Assad continues his murderous rage on Syrians as epitomized by this clip reported on YouTube within the past 24 hours  from the eastern Damascus neighbourhood of Ghouta--As Borzou Darghai of the Financial Times noted, it is remarkable that the Cameraman continues to run his camera:

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 as the so-called Islamic State continues its' reign of terror in Iraq   It was with horror as reports were reviewed noting that the Islamic State is either close to or has already taken over Iraq's largest dam.   Islamic State fighters have also apparently had their first encounter with Kurdish forces and have prevailed upon them.    Reports were also seen noting that elements of Iran's Quds Force seem to be fighting to "send ISIS back to the caves".  

It is ever so chaotic--with no apparent end in sight.  This is a sampling of the continued discussions:

https://www.liwwa.com/

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/07/will-gaza-topple-netanyahu-2014725144216942703.html

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/07/how-many-palestinians-been-kil-2014726131843576945.html

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2014/07/arrogance-war-2014725142910124298.html

What is clear is that Israel has a fight on its' hands on the "day after".

Portions released to http://www.outsiderviews.com, August 2014

Thought(s) 4 the Week: On Admonitions :-)

  

Simple admonitions.....Wishing all a fabulous August!!

View of the Week: On The Continued Challenges In Gaza

While on the "grid" saw this from Professor Dabashi that underscores the true sense of realities on the ground:

Post by Hamid Dabashi.

As August 2014 is Before Us......

Welcome to August :-)

This last week of July 2014 has been rather challenging again.   Yet, this simple admonition epitomizes what is possible and the driving force behind this initiative:

“Dwell in possibility.” ~ Emily Dickinson

 

Onward!!!