June 2009 - Page 3 of 4 - Toward Freedom

A Dieu, Albert Bongo: Africa’s Longest-Serving President Moves On

Rene Wadlow June 10, 2009 Rene Wadlow

Albert Bongo

Omar Bongo, President of Gabon since 1967, died on June 8, 2009 in a hospital in Barcelona, Spain. I had known him in 1966 when I was working in Gabon, and he was the 'directeur de cabinet' - chief administrative officer - of the first President of Gabon, Leon Mba. I was told by a French friend who was an advisor to the President that Bongo was the man to watch and that his power was growing.

Afghanistan’s Ralph Nader? Inside the Tent of an Honest Man

Zuhra Bahman June 9, 2009 Zuhra Bahman

Bashardost

Among the no-chancers in Afghanistan's presidential race there's one who is attracting attention: Ramazan Bashardost, Afghanistan's answer to Ralph Nader. Bashardost has built a reputation as a staunch idealist who resigned from his ministerial position in the Karzai government. And he is popular with ordinary Afghans

‘Al-Jazeera Effect’ Counters ‘CNN Effect’: Canadians Deserve Al Jazeera

Walied Khogali and Anita Krajnc June 5, 2009 Walied Khogali and Anita Krajnc

Two networks or groups, Canadians for Al Jazeera and the Campaign for Democratic Media have partnered together to form a joint campaign in order to support Al Jazeera English's CRTC application to broadcast in Canada. Canada's broadcast regulator is accepting public comments until June 8. These groups have already generated one thousand letters from the Canadian public in hopes of giving Canadians the choice of viewing a truly independent global news network among the overwhelming 500-channel universe currently available.

Sri Lankan History and the Struggle of the Eelam Tamils

Sam Mayfield June 4, 2009 Sam Mayfield

The struggle for Tamils in Sri Lanka continues despite the alleged end of the war in May 2009. Tens of thousands of civilians were killed in the final weeks of war. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are displaced without food, shelter or medical supplies. This video offers a brief history of Sri Lanka and the Eelam struggle.

Turning Around the Unsustainable American Dream

John F. Wasik June 3, 2009 John F. Wasik

You would think with home prices still dropping like hailstones in most areas, that homes would be bargains. The present buyer's market obscures a key fact about the housing crisis though: millions sought the refuge of cheap credit, subprime and adjustable loans during the boom because they were the easiest routes to homeownership in a time when house prices far outpaced income growth.

Netanyahu’s New Quest: The Game is On in Israel-US Relations

Ramzy Baroud June 2, 2009 Ramzy Baroud

Netanyahu meets Obama

"We've accomplished quite a few things, and I think the most important one is to cement the principle that the path to peace is through negotiations and not through violence." These were the 'encouraging' words modestly uttered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during a joint press conference with the US president. The President was then Bill Clinton, and the date was October 2, 1996.