UK Govt Refuses FOIA Request On Where Police Can Question Photographers
June 15, 2009 by mike
Filed under Government
While it’s known the entire City of London is covered by the 2000 terrorism law, it remains unclear which other areas in England and Wales have requested the stop-and-search powers
June 10, 2009
British Journal of Photography
by Oliver Laurent
The Home Office has rejected 46 Freedom of Information Act requests filed by the BJP regarding the disclosure of the list of ALL areas where police officers are authorised to stop-and-search photographers under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The controversial Act of Parliament, put into force in 2001, allows Chief Constables to request authorisation from the Home Secretary to define an area in which any constable in uniform is able to stop and search any person or vehicle for the prevention of acts of terrorism. The authorisation, which can be given orally, must be renewed every 28 days and only covers the areas specified in the Chief Constables’ requests.
While it is common knowledge that the entire City of London, at the behest of the Metropolitan Police, is covered by the legislation, it remains unclear which other areas in England and Wales have requested the stop-and-search powers.
After growing concerns from BJP readers, some of whom say they have been abusively stopped from taking pictures around the country, news editor Olivier Laurent filed a Freedom of Information Act request to the Home Office on 24 April. The request asked for a ‘full list of all areas – in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – subject to Section 44 Terrorism Act 2000 authorisations, which the Home Office has a statutory duty to be aware of.’
The request was rejected in late May on grounds of national security. ‘In relation to authorisations for England and Wales, I can confirm that the Home Office holds the information that you requested. I am, however, not obliged to disclose it to you,’ writes J Fanshaw of the Direct Communications Unit at the Home Office. ‘After careful consideration we have decided that this information is exempt from disclosure by virtue of Section 24(1) and Section 31(1)(a-c) of the Freedom of Information Act.’
‘Section 24(1) provides that information is exempt if required for the purposes of safeguarding National Security. Section 31(1)(a-c) provides that information is exempt if its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the prevention or detection of crime, the apprehension or prosecution of offenders, or the administration of justice.’
The Home Office continues: ‘In considering the public interest factors in favour of disclosure of the information, we gave weight to the general public interest in transparency and openness. This was considered in balance with not disclosing the information due to law enforcement and National Security issues.’
According to the Home Office’s Direct Communications Unit, the disclosure of a Section 44 authorisation in a particular area is an operational matter for the police force covering that area. ‘The Home Office believes that as Section 44 authorisations are used with up to date intelligence, to make any specific authorisation public could inadvertently release sensitive information. A list of authorisations that are in place could also allow any terrorists to act outside of them.
‘It is the decision of the Chief Constable to decide whether or not to disclose the existence of a current authorisation in their area. In order to help maintain public confidence in the use of stop and search, the Metropolitan Police Service does make the existence of any Section 44 authorisation in place public knowledge.’
As part of its ongoing campaign for photographers’ rights, BJP has appealed the decision, requesting an internal review of the request’s handling. It has also filed 46 additional Freedom of Information Act requests to all Chief Constables in England and Wales, asking them to disclose whether they have asked for stop-and-search powers under section 44 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The Home Office’s rebuff is the second after a similar refusal from the Metropolitan Police regarding a Freedom of Information Act request filed by UK-based photography magazine Amateur Photographer. Last week, the magazine revealed it had ‘sought figures on the number of people stopped under section 44 of the Terrorism Act, specifically relating to photography.’
In a letter to Amateur Photographer, the Metropolitan Police Service rejected the request. ‘This is to inform you that it will not be possible to respond to your request within the cost threshold. This would require the MPS to search every search/arrest record to identify cases containing the information you require.’
FULL BJP ARTICLE CAN BE FOUND HERE
WHO Announces Level 6 Pandemic
June 13, 2009 by KT
Filed under Kevin's Blog
The MSM keeps talking about what happens in celebrities lives as “top news”. They leave the “real news” off the table or spend very little time talking about REAL issues that affect you. Most notable is the WHO announcing “level 6″ pandenmic for the swine flu. This is the first time in since 1968 that a worldwide pandemic has been annouced. This means the government has the power to MANDATE vaccinations for all people! I will be talking about the upcoming worldwide swine flu scare coming this fall and will tell you the natural ways to handle all virus issues and any flu. Keep listening! I will also be answering ON AIR next week many of the over 1000 email questions listeners have sent me! You NEED to hear this!
Kevin Trudeau
FDA Panel OKs Antipsychotic Drugs for Kids as young as 10
June 10, 2009
On Wednesday, an FDA advisory panel said that three widely used antipsychotic medications appear safe and effective overall in treating teenagers and children as young as ten years old with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
The Food and Drug Administration’s panel of outside experts backed wider use of the pills — Eli Lilly and Co’s (LLY.N) Zyprexa, AstraZeneca’s (AZN.L) Seroquel and Pfizer’s (PFE.N) Geodon — but expressed concern over long-term effects the medications may have in younger patients.
FDA approval would allow the drugmakers to market them specifically for children and teenagers. The drugs, already approved for adults and are given to youngsters at a doctor’s discretion, combine for $10 billion in annual sales.
Although panelists said the companies’ data showed the drugs, known as atypical antipsychotics, are effective and reasonably safe for children as young as 10 years old, some members said the short-term studies do not show how youngsters would fare when treated over time for the chronic conditions.
“I’m concerned about the lack of true long-term studies” especially in younger patients “who will have a long lifetime, hopefully,” said Ruth Day, a researcher at Duke University.
The FDA will weigh the panel’s recommendations before later making its final approval decisions for the three drugs. Agency officials, speaking to reporters after the two-day meeting, declined to say when they would rule.
The drug companies told panelists on Tuesday that the benefits of treating symptoms of schizophrenia, which causes hallucinations and delusions, and bipolar disorder, which causes dramatic mood swings from manic episodes to depression outweighed the drugs’ risks.
But on Wednesday, a number of FDA’s advisers questioned why the FDA seemed willing to accept the drugs for what could be years of use when some studies only looked at children and teenagers for as little as three or six weeks.
They also said they were troubled not only about the potential increased use among even younger patients, but also the chance the drugs may be misused to treat other conditions such as attention deficit disorder or hyperactivity.
Panelist Kenneth Towbin said he worried that “soon we’ll be seeing 4-, 5- and 6-year-olds being treated.”
“It’s a slippery slope … I just get worried about where this is going,” said Towbin, head of the National Institute of Mental Health’s child psychiatry mood disorders program.
AstraZeneca and Lilly are seeking to sell their drugs for both schizophrenia and bipolar mania, while Pfizer’s is seeking approval only for bipolar disorder. The companies, in separate statements, welcomed the panel’s recommendations.
Zyprexa is Lilly’s top-selling drug with sales of $4.7 billion last year. Seroquel is the second-best-selling product for AstraZeneca with 2008 sales of $4.5 billion. Sales of Pfizer’s Geodon topped $1 billion in 2008.
Two similar drugs are already approved for youngsters — Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ.N) Risperdal and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co’s (BMY.N) Abilify.
Studies showed Zyprexa, Seroquel and Geodon generally have the same side effects in youth as in adults such as weight gain and sleepiness, the FDA said. Panelist agreed and noted the need for additional treatment options. But they said the question was whether over time there could be an impact on brain development and other reactions not seen in adults.
“Children and adolescents are not just little adults,” said Tana Grady-Weliky, a psychiatrist at Oregon Health and Science University. (Reporting by Susan Heavey, editing by Leslie Gevirtz and Carol Bishopric)
INFO SOURCE: REUTERS. ORIGINAL ARTICLE FOUND HERE
The Kevin Trudeau Show: 06-10-09
Whether you agree with Kevin or not, DO NOT miss today’s show as Kevin responds to his critics and doubters. Get the accurate story of Kevin’s 20-year battle with the government because of his attempts to help YOU! This includes:
WHY he went to prison and how it helped him
The FTC being forced to admit in a case that KT did no wrong
The govt’s history of going after those who teach self-empowering and alternative methods
How the media distracted from bogus charges by sensationalizing his money
Other TYPICAL yellow journalism methods used by the MSM
Take Trudeau on the Go! Click here to download this show to your ipod, mp3 player, or PC at Itunes! Don’t forget to subscribe to the RSS feed to get The Kevin Trudeau Show automatically sent to your player of choice and never miss a must-hear Kevin Trudeau Show!
Click below to hear The Kevin Trudeau Show!
The Kevin Trudeau Show: 06-09-09
Do you know about the Law of Attraction? Today Kevin explains this POWERFUL way of thinking. It could change your life forever! Also, how the lust for money and power has caused harm to individuals, businesses, economies, and societies. And:
Suggestions to help YOU weather this financial storm
Breaking down Gitmo in ways the MSM won’t
How the federal income tax does more harm than good
American imperialism
Wasting $ on Iraq and Afghanistan while neglecting our own borders
Rising unemployment
Take Trudeau on the Go! Click here to download this show to your ipod, mp3 player, or PC at Itunes! Don’t forget to subscribe to the RSS feed to get The Kevin Trudeau Show automatically sent to your player of choice and never miss a must-hear Kevin Trudeau Show!
Click below to hear The Kevin Trudeau Show!
Kevin Trudeau Show Adds Phoenix
June 9, 2009 by mike
Filed under Radio Stations
June 9, 2009
The Kevin Trudeau Show welcomes KFNX Phoenix (AM 1100) to the show’s affiliate roster. Kevin Trudeau joins the ranks of KFNX talkers Don Imus, Laura Ingraham, Dr. Laura, and Lou Dobbs.
The Kevin Trudeau Show will air Saturdays on KFNX from 9pm-12am MST, and stream worldwide at www.KFNX1100.com
Listeners have compared Kevin Trudeau’s radio show to the best parts of Michael Savage, Howard Stern, Art Bell, John Tesh and Rush.
Mr. Trudeau is one of the most read authors of all time. His books have all been best sellers and have sold over 30 million copies globally. Mr. Trudeau’s most controversial book, Natural Cures “They” Don’t Want You to Know About was number 1 on the New York Times best sellers list for 26 weeks in a row becoming the best selling health book of all time.
The Kevin Trudeau Radio Show originates from studios at Trudeau’s World Headquarters in Chicago. For information regarding affiliate relations visit www.KevinOnAir.com
The Emergence of President Obama’s Muslim Roots
June 4, 2009 by mike
Filed under Government
June 02, 2009 6:58 PM
ABC NEWS
–>ABC News’ Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller report: The other day we heard a comment from a White House aide that never would have been uttered during the primaries or general election campaign.
During a conference call in preparation for President Obama’s trip to Cairo, Egypt, where he will address the Muslim world, deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communications Denis McDonough said “the President himself experienced Islam on three continents before he was able to — or before he’s been able to visit, really, the heart of the Islamic world — you know, growing up in Indonesia, having a Muslim father — obviously Muslim Americans (are) a key part of Illinois and Chicago.”
Given widespread unease and prejudice against Muslims among Americans, especially in the wake of 9/11, the Obama campaign was perhaps understandably very sensitive during the primaries and general election to downplay the candidate’s Muslim roots.
The candidate was even offended when referred to by his initials “BHO,” because he considered the use of his middle name, “Hussein,” an attempt to frighten voters.
With insane rumors suggesting he was some sort of Muslim Manchurian candidate, then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and his campaign did everything they could to emphasize his Christianity and de-emphasize the fact that his father, Barack Obama Sr., was born Muslim.
The candidate’s comment at a Boca Raton, Florida, town hall meeting on May 22, 2008, was typical: “My father was basically agnostic, as far as I can tell, and I didn’t know him,” he said.
In September 2008, candidate Obama told a Pennsylvania crowd, “I know that I’m not your typical presidential candidate and I just want to be honest with you. I know that the temptation is to say, ‘You know what? The guy hasn’t been there that long in Washington. You know, he’s got a funny name. You know, we’re not sure about him.’ And that’s what the Republicans when they say this isn’t about issues, it’s about personalities, what they’re really saying is, ‘We’re going to try to scare people about Barack. So we’re going to say that, you know, maybe he’s got Muslim connections.’…Just making stuff up.”
Back then, the campaign’s “Fight the Smears” website addressed the candidate’s faith without mentioning his father’s religion:
“Barack Obama is a committed Christian. He was sworn into the Senate on his family Bible. He has regularly attended church with his wife and daughters for years. But shameful, shadowy attackers have been lying about Barack’s religion, claiming he is a Muslim instead of a committed Christian. When people fabricate stories about someone’s faith to denigrate them politically, that’s an attack on people of all faiths. Make sure everyone you know is aware of this deception.”
The website also provided quotes from the Boston Globe and Newsweek mentioning his father’s roots.
Since the election, however, with the threat of the rumors at least somewhat abated, the White House has been increasingly forthcoming about the president’s roots. Especially when reaching out to the
Muslim world.
In his April 6 address to the Turkish Parliament, President Obama referenced how many “Americans have Muslims in their families or have lived in a Muslim majority country. I know, because I am one of them.”
- Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller
The Kevin Trudeau Show: 06-03-09
Today Kevin provides some easy and effective exercise tips and simple but revolutionary exercise equipment. Plus some MAJOR differences between life in America vs. Europe that show America’s lowered standard of living. Also today:
The mainstream media (MSM) gives the corporate viewpoint on corporate bailouts
As 2 major US auto companies go bankrupt, why their foreign competitors have survived
The US dollar is nearing collapse
How to make side cash working from home
The decreasing quality of food in America
The sad truth about table salt
A natural cure for nausea
Take Trudeau on the Go! Click here to download this show to your ipod, mp3 player, or PC at Itunes! Don’t forget to subscribe to the RSS feed to get The Kevin Trudeau Show automatically sent to your player of choice and never miss a must-hear Kevin Trudeau Show!
Click below to hear The Kevin Trudeau Show!
The Kevin Trudeau Show: 06-02-09
Kevin fights for personal liberties today by calling out governments for the various ways they supress us thru things like CCTV cameras, slapping down free speech, or subduing us with vaccinations and polluting our food and water supplies with toxic chemicals. Also:
Military patrolling US streets
Michael Savage banned in the UK
Congress not doing its job
Improving memory
Getting out of debt
The Patriot Act
Poisonous plastic bottles
Flu shots linked to Alzheimer’s
US soil depleted of its nutritional value
The poor quality of US beef
Take Trudeau on the Go! Click here to download this show to your ipod, mp3 player, or PC at Itunes! Don’t forget to subscribe to the RSS feed to get The Kevin Trudeau Show automatically sent to your player of choice and never miss a must-hear Kevin Trudeau Show!
Click below to hear The Kevin Trudeau Show!
Google’s Android to Run Laptops, Taking On Microsoft
By Tim Culpan
June 2 (Bloomberg) — Google Inc.’s free mobile-phone operating system will begin running computers next quarter, entering a market dominated by Microsoft Corp.’s Windows and deepening the rivalry between the two companies.
Acer Inc., the world’s second-largest laptop maker, will release a low-cost notebook featuring Android in the third quarter, Jim Wong, head of information-technology products at the Taipei-based company, said today. Asustek Computer Inc., pioneer of the sub-$500 laptops known as netbooks, also developed a model that runs on Google’s software, Chairman Jonney Shih said.
The development of Android netbooks indicates that the software is powerful enough to replace Windows, which runs about 90 percent of the world’s personal computers. Google’s move into PC operating systems escalates the pressure on Microsoft as it prepares to introduce Windows 7, according to Calvin Huang, an analyst at Daiwa Securities Group Inc.
“This is a negative and may force Microsoft to lower the price of Windows 7,” said Huang, who covers the computer industry from Taipei. “More and more vendors are adopting Android and non-Windows in their products, so this is a very good chance for Android to penetrate the PC market.”
Acer’s Android-based Aspire One netbook will be cheaper than the Windows XP model, though the two products will have the same electronic components, such as Intel Corp.’s Atom processor, Acer’s Wong said.
Right to Choose
“Competition in the marketplace is good and people have the right to choose software that is best for them,” Amelia Agrawal, a Singapore-based spokeswoman for Microsoft, said in an e-mailed statement. “Microsoft remains confident that people will keep buying Windows, as evidenced by the robust Windows growth on small notebook PCs.”
Google, based in Mountain View, California, dropped $1.84 to $428.40 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market trading. Microsoft was unchanged at $21.40.
Google introduced Android in 2007 as a software system for mobile phones. Android is based on Linux, an open-source operating system that’s free and developed by hundreds of engineers worldwide. Asustek said in February that its engineers were trying to develop an Android-based netbook this year.
“Anyone can take the Android platform and add code or download it to create a mobile device without restrictions,” Google said in an e-mail. “We look forward to seeing what contributions are made and how an open platform spurs innovation.”
Microsoft’s Bing
Microsoft also is challenging Google’s main business. Last week, the Redmond, Washington-based company unveiled Bing, an Internet search engine designed to compete against Google’s.
Asustek released the Eee PC netbook in October 2007, initially only offering Linux software. Microsoft jumped into the market and was able to grab 85 percent of mini-notebook sales by the fourth quarter of 2008, according to estimates at research firm Gartner Inc. Linux accounted for the rest.
“Google really does have the brand name and the financial resources to be able to be a rival to Microsoft,” Warren East, chief executive officer of chip designer ARM Holdings Plc, said in an interview today. “The whole Linux community is a bit fragmented when you compare it with Microsoft.”
ARM Chips
ARM, based in Cambridge, England, is a potential beneficiary of Android’s success because Microsoft’s Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 don’t run on ARM-based computers.
“Microsoft going forward may have to work on an ARM-based solution,” said Daiwa’s Huang. “If Microsoft doesn’t want to see Google Android get into the PC market, they will have to support ARM; otherwise, ARM will go perfectly with Android.”
Qualcomm Inc. and Freescale Semiconductor Inc., which make chips based on ARM’s technology, said they expect to release products this year for netbooks that run Google’s operating system.
Google’s cachet will help get the computers into retailers such as Best Buy Inc. or France’s Fnac electronics chain, said Henri Richard, chief sales and marketing officer for Freescale.
“It’s important to be able to convince Fnac or Best Buy to put a product on their shelf, and that’s where I think Android is going to be more helpful,” Richard said in an interview.
To contact the reporter on this story: Tim Culpan in Taipei at tculpan1@bloomberg.net
Last Updated: June 2, 2009 16:40 EDT
