the ronnie republic

Dec 8, 2021

Neon Moon, 34 Count, 2 Wall, Beginner Line Dance, Musik: Brooks & Dunn

Dec 7, 2021

The US government must speak out against settler violence--from J Street

My son Mattan is living proof that a more just and equal society is possible.

It was our family’s landmark case in the Israeli High Court over twenty years ago that helped bring about the official recognition of equal rights for LGBT+ parents in Israel. It was a proud moment for my family, for our community, and for Israel.

Fast forward to last week, when Mattan was arrested in the occupied West Bank by Israeli police.

He and other Jewish Israeli peace advocates have been staying near the West Bank town of a-Tuwani to learn Arabic and help document and deter a dangerous spike in settler attacks this year.

Gangs from nearby settlements have been trying to harass and intimidate Palestinians off their land by burning farmland, slaughtering livestock, vandalizing property, throwing rocks and firing weapons into towns. Ongoing attacks this year have left several dead, dozens injured and one child in the hospital after a rock fractured his skull.

The IDF -- tasked only with protecting Israeli citizens (but not with protecting vulnerable Palestinian civilians) -- has too often stood idly by, acted as security guards for the attackers, or even turned on peace activists to prevent them from filming the violence. Since West Bank Palestinians aren’t citizens, Israeli authorities almost never bother to charge settlers or hold anyone accountable for the attacks.

The US government must speak out against settler violence
Add your name if you agree

Last week, my son and his colleagues were abruptly arrested after witnessing an altercation between a settler and local Palestinians. They faced excessive, trumped-up charges which were dropped entirely a day later, but the message sent by these arrests and recent IDF raids on Israeli and Palestinian activists is clear: Stop speaking out about the occupation and settler violence. Stop making noise. Stop pointing cameras at the injustice that’s happening here.

“I don’t know if they realize this, but it just makes us more determined to stay and fight back,” Mattan told me. “We’re not going to be intimidated; we know our rights; we know what we believe in and we know the people that we’re fighting with.”

That’s where we come in.

Israeli and Palestinian peace activists are on the frontlines fighting for a better future, and we have to have their backs.

Just this week -- following both public and behind-the-scenes pressure from the Biden administration, as well as internal pressure from progressives within the Israeli government -- Israeli authorities significantly delayed plans for a major new settlement between East Jerusalem and Ramallah. It shows that when the US government acts with determination and clarity, it can have a major positive impact.

Now, we must call on the Biden administration to build on this progress and press for Israeli authorities to confront settler violence, to hold perpetrators of violence accountable no matter their citizenship, and to uphold the principles of justice and equality for both Israelis and Palestinians.

The US government must speak out against settler violence
Add your name if you agree

It might not be the usual response after having your son released from jail, but let me tell you: I’ve never been prouder.

It makes me swell with pride to see him continue the fight for equality, dignity and the basic rights of all families to live freely and raise their children in peace.

I hope it’s also a reminder to those of us in America that we are not alone in this struggle, and we cannot give up. There are brave and determined people on the ground working every day to build a better future. As Israel’s strongest partner and closest friend, America has to have their backs.

Please take a moment to add your name and call on the Biden administration to make addressing settler violence a priority in the US-Israel relationship.

Thank you, sincerely, for your support.

Ruti Kadish
National Director of Communal Relations, J Street

Dec 2, 2021

Sculpture Park in The Big S featuring Big Lu and Mr. Peepers

Sculpture Park in The Big S featuring Big Lu and Mr. Peepers.

more mr peepers:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/K4rht1MRLhbTgjdC9

Dec 1, 2021

File Under: Desi Arnaz-Television Genius How Desi Invented Television

How Desi Invented Television

copied from NPR and Planet Money

Nov 27, 2021

The latest on the royals vs the BBC after THAT documentary | Palace Conf...

Nov 26, 2021

Cenk FLIPS OUT At Bill Maher On CNN--Bill Maher is a big jerk!

Came to the conclusion a long time ago Bill Maher is really only interested in himself.

On Larry King he said he was for Wesley Clark, running for president at the time.

I particularly noticed this statement because I admired him also and thought he had some good ideas about the war.

Later, when Bill was on Larry King again, Larry made a reference to Bill being for Wesley Clark--this was when Wesley Clark had fallen out of favor. Beill completely denied he ever said it.

Larry had to immediately drop it because Bill was so clever and Larry could not really call him a liar right on the chat show.

Also, Bill is a gifted comedian.

Did he really have to call Sarah Palin the C word.

What was the point of that. Was it about politics or was it about just promoting himself.

Even though I do not agree with Sarah Palin's politics she and other women have the right to speak.

She is not a comedian but a politician. What was her response supposed to be to that horrible statement.

He goes too far and he lies and he uses other people for his own promotion and acts like a know-it-all as is suggested in this vid.

I really do not have time for him one bit.

The Huff Post was so in love with him if one ever wrote a negative response about what he said it was deleted.

He comes off sounding like a big educated news guy but really he is a big jerk.

Thanks to TheYoung Turks for calling him out.

CNN and the others should do the same.

Nov 25, 2021

Annual Report of the Animal and Environment Association ❤️ التقرير السنوي

Annual Report of the Animal and Environment Association

التقرير السنوي

الترجمة بالأسفل...

The developments at the Animal and Environment Association since its establishment, and the sequential, concrete stumps of saving one case after another, and from one activity to the next, is what has enabled the Association to achieve a place in the hearts of all living beings.

With efforts by the team of volunteers, the Association is making great progress from the ground up regarding animal welfare, by emphasizing the community’s involvement as well as local authorities. This is through the Association’s intervention in matters of animal abuse and ensuring that all animals’ rights are guaranteed, and through meetings with local municipalities to minimize the matter of stray dogs. One successful meeting was held with the Ramallah Municipal House, where the Association persuaded them to adopt the ‘Trap, Neuter, Spay, and Release (TNSR)’ project. The Municipality is currently preparing for this project. The Association also works with local communities with great effort; we are faced with the challenge of some individuals trying to sabotage our work in saving animals’ lives. We also face challenges with some local organizations that aim to destroy what we have tried so hard to establish. Nevertheless, it will not be the case if we come together to work for one just cause: animal welfare.

Based on the spirit of encouragement, compassion, and justice for all, the Association has witnessed more support than ever before from committed individuals volunteering to save the lives of animals from abuse and neglect. It is because of them the Association has been able to achieve its goals, and are proud to say that we have saved over 500 stray dogs and 300 stray cats just this year alone. 10 dogs have travelled to a better life in other countries. At our small-scale animal shelter, 70 dogs and 35 cats live in peace awaiting their furever homes. This excludes the very large number of cases rescued and fostered in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially those whose owners had abandoned. Yet, we were able to provide safe houses for them and provide treatment for those in need.

We now have the pleasure of presenting you with the Animal and Environment Association/Bethlehem Shelter’s annual report. This is the outcome of many of the efforts, achievements, and activities undertaken by the Association to achieve its mission and objectives. In so doing, we are pleased to express our deep appreciation to those veterinarians who spare no effort in helping us care for the most vulnerable beings, and to our dear volunteers for their continued support.

Together, we will continue ours, and your efforts, until a new era reigns upon us, an era where no puppy or kitten is born without their mothers next to them, nurturing them, a safe place to grow up in, and people to answer to their cries when in pain.

Attached: Video of some of the rescues made by us.

With greetings from the Association’s administration/Diana Babish.

GOFUNDME : https://www.gofundme.com/f/aeabethlehem-animal-shelter

إن التطورات التي شهدتها جمعية الحيوان والبيئة منذ نشأتها، والوثبات المتتالية الملموسة من أنقاذ حالة تلو أخرى، ومن نشاط تلو أخر، هو ما مكنها من تحقيق مكانتها في قلوب الكائنات الحية كلها.

و مع جهود فريق المتطوعين، فإن الجمعية تحقق تقدما فعالا من الألف إلى الياء بخصوص قضايا الحيوانات وبتركيز قوي على إشراك المجتمع والسلطات المحلية ويتمثل ذلك بتدخل الجمعية في قضايا تعذيب الحيوانات وضمان ان يحصل الحيوان على حقه و بالاجتماع مع البلديات المحلية لوضع حل لمشكلة الكلاب الضالة، وكان احدى هذه الاجتماعات الاجتماع الناجح مع دار بلدية رام الله حيث قامت الجمعية بأقناعهم بتبني مشروع الاخصاء والتعقيم والبلدية الان تستعد لاجراء هذا المشروع،

ومن الجدير بالذكر اننا في هذه الفترة نواجه تحديًا كبيرًا مع بعض الأشخاص في محاولة لتخريب عملنا في إنقاذ الحيوانات، وايضا من بعض الجهات المسؤولة التي تهدف الى هدم ما وصلنا اليه، ولكن بالطبع لن يكون بهذه البساطة عندما نكون مجتمعين سويًا لتحقيق العدالة التي نصبو لها،

و استنادا إلى روح التشجيع والرحمة للجميع، شهدت الجمعية زيادة اكثر من أي وقت مضى في الدعم بهيئة جنود مجهولين من المتطوعين الملتزمين والمهرة على، حيث تواجدهم معنا جعل من تحقيق الاهداف بعيدة المدى أسهل ونفخر بأن نقول اننا انقذنا هذا العام ما يزيد عن 500 كلب ضال، وما يزيد عن 300 قطة، وتم إرسال عشرة كلاب للحصول على حياة أفضل في دولة أخرى. وفي ملجأنا الصغير يعيشُ 70 كلب و 35 قطة...هذا غير عن عدد الحالات الكبير جدًا التي تم إنقاذها واستضافتها في عام 2020 أثناء جائحة كورونا خاصة التي تخلى عنها أصحابها واستطعنا توفير بيوت آمنة لها وعلاج المصاب منها.

وبهذا إذ يطيب لنا تقديم التقرير السنوي لجمعية الحيوان والبيئة/ ملجأ بيت لحم، وهو حصيلة العديد من الجهود والإنجازات والنشاطات التي قامت بها الجمعية لتحقيق رسالتها وأهدافها، وبذلك يسرننا أن نعرب عن عميق شكرنا وتقديرنا للأطباء البياطرة الذين لا يدخرون جهدا في مساعدتنا، وللمتطوعين الاعزاء على دعمهم المستمر.

وسوف نستمر سويًا بجهودنا وجهودك الى حين إحلال عهد جديد، عهد لا يوجد فيه جرو واحد أو قطة صغيرة تولد دون توفر غذاء لإطعامها، سطح لإيوائها، أو أحد ليجيب نداءها حين تعاني. مرفق: فيديو يتخلله بعض عمليات الإنقاذ التي تمت بواسطتنا.

مع تحيات إدارة الجمعية/ديانا جورج بعبيش.

GOFUNDME : https://www.gofundme.com/f/aeabethlehem-animal-shelter

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https://youtu.be/n_amcR1Sw3c