Society's ChildS


Arrow Down

Heartless: Britain plans to deny benefits to teenage immigrants at age 18 to force them to leave the country


RT
Wed, 30 Dec 2015 15:15 UTC
migrants, refugee crisis
© Yannis Behrakis / Reuters
Thousands of teenage migrants in Britain could be denied state benefits as soon as they turn 18 in the hope they'll be forced to leave the country. The Immigration Bill amendment came as Germany announced a huge cash injection to help refugees.

Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to give an extra £12.5 billion (US$18.5 billion) to help displaced persons seeking asylum in Germany, where up to a million refugees have arrived this year.

By contrast, Britain's Immigration Bill, which is currently being reviewed in the House of Lords, could strip immigrants of their right to state support when they leave care at age 18.

Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said the last-minute changes to the bill are intended to deter adult migrants from staying in the country.

Comment: Britain's political elites are still refusing to take responsibility for their wars of terror in the Middle East and Africa, which have caused this wave of immigration and are cruelly treating those who have already endured far too much violence, hunger and brutality at their hands.

Read More...
Dollars

Civil asset forfeiture is armed robbery by police

Eva Decesare
The Free Thought Project
Tue, 29 Dec 2015 16:38 UTC
police robbers
Three years ago a couple was stopped by an armed gang and robbed of over $100,000. The facts are not in dispute. The perpetrators are known. And yet the criminals have not been punished, and the property has not been recovered. Why? Because the perpetrators wear badges.

Since late 2012, when Adam and Jennifer Perry were robbed by the Illinois State Police, they have been trying to retrieve their stolen property. It has been a challenge, however, because when "law enforcers" rob you, it's not (according to them) a crime.

The Perry's were pulled over for speeding on I-80 in Henry County, Illinois, on their way to see a specialist about Adam's ear infection. When a police dog "indicated" to the vehicle (something dogs can easily be trained to do on command, yet something that police claim is "probable cause" to do a search), police searched the car, without a warrant or consent.

Comment: Here is just a sampling of articles related to the sanctioned theft of civilians' property by those who claim to serve and protect.

Read More...
Nuke

German officials complain Belgium's nuclear power plants 'falling to bits'


RT
Wed, 30 Dec 2015 15:10 UTC
Belgium Doel nuclear plant
© Francois Lenoir / Reuters
The German government is preparing "critical questions" to the Belgian authorities on operational safety at the nation's two active nuclear power plants, following a number of recent successive incidents at nuclear facilities.

After incidents at both Belgian nuclear power plants, German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks has again put her concerns point-blank, demanding whether security is guaranteed at the Belgian NPPs, proposing Brussels to get rid of the nuclear energy altogether. The minister said, though, that the final decision remains with the Belgian people.
Read More...
Bomb

Swiss army chief calls upon citizens to arm themselves in advance of social collapse

Tyler Durden
Zerohedge
Wed, 30 Dec 2015 13:58 UTC
Economic collapse dollar
© Unknown
Swiss army chief André Blattmann warned, in a Swiss newspaper article on Sunday, the risks of social unrest in Europe are soaring. Recalling the experience of 1939/1945, Blattman fears the increasing aggression in public discourse is an explosively hazardous situation, and advises the Swiss people to arm themselves and warns that the basis for Swiss prosperity is "being called into question."

As Deutsche Wirtschafts Nachrichten reports,speaking on the record for the first time since the November Paris terror attacks, Blattmann told the paper that despite a rise in security incidents over the past two years Switzerland's means of defence were being reduced.

Comment: When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. André Blattman advises the Swiss people to 'arm themselves' in preparation for social unrest, but that suggestion alone seems like just more fear-mongering. A collapse certainly looks like it's coming, as the West is more interested in bombing than solving problems. But it's critical to learn the daily habits of prepared people and take a look at prepping a truly healthy diet. After all, without our health, both physical and psychological, we're just as likely to collapse as our society is.

Also see: Top threats to your life when the SHTF and how to prepare for them

Read More...
Fire

Carnage as fatal truck explosion in Melbourne left "a chaotic, unusual scene"

Michael Safi
The Guardian, UK
Tue, 29 Dec 2015 02:09 UTC
scene after truck explosion in Footscray, Melbourne
© Alex Murray/AAPThe scene after the truck explosion in Footscray, Melbourne, on Tuesday.

Police say an oxyacetylene cylinder may have exploded, causing nearby buildings' windows to blow out and scattering debris in Footscray

One man has died after an explosion in the truck he was driving triggered a collision involving five cars in Melbourne's west.

Police said they were assessing LPG cylinders in the back of the truck but were unclear about what had caused the explosion around 11.55am that left "a chaotic, unusual scene" at the intersection of Barkly and Gordon Streets in Footscray.

The driver of the truck, a man in his early 20s, was found dead at the scene. A woman in her late 30s was in a stable condition in hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Victoria police acting inspector Nigel L'Estrange said.

Another four people involved in the crash were assessed by paramedics but not hurt.

L'Estrange said the "significant blast" had occurred before the truck slammed into other cars on the busy street.

Read More...
Eye 2

2015 was another dangerous year for journalists


Sputnik
Wed, 30 Dec 2015 04:02 UTC
Journalists France
© AP Photo/ John Minchillo
The attack on the Charlie Hebdo office in France placed the country in the top three deadliest nations for journalists in 2015, coming in just behind Syria and Iraq.

The report comes from Paris-based media freedom organization Reporters Without Borders, who document that 67 journalists were killed globally this year, either as a result of their work or while reporting. An additional 27 citizen journalists and seven media workers were also killed.

In a first, the organization also compiled a list of 43 journalists who died from causes that are unexplained.
Read More...
Camcorder

Most enhanced security for upcoming Rose Parade in over 100 years


Press TV
Tue, 29 Dec 2015 11:41 UTC
butterflies on parade
© www.rentcafe.comRose Parade float New Year's Day in Pasadena, CA
US federal agencies are to join forces with police to enhance security for a New Year's Day event in Pasadena, California, following the deadly mass shooting in San Bernardino.

According to US law enforcement officials, more than two dozen federal agencies are to help the police with extraordinary security measures planned for the annual Rose Parade event which includes more than a dozen armed tactical "rapid-response" teams posting along the parade route together with dozens of surveillance cameras, bomb-sniffing dogs and radiation-detection devices, Reuters reported.

"Although no specific credible threat has been made against the event, the precautions being taken mark the largest security operation in the 100-year-plus history of the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl," Mark Selby, Homeland Security's deputy special agent, said on Monday. Selby referred to the terrorist attack in California, which claimed 14 lives on December 2, noting, "The San Bernardino event sort of upped the ante." Spectators are expected to show up in Old Town Pasadena, north of Los Angeles, for the 127th Tournament of Roses Parade.

Police Chief Phillip Sanchez noted that two dozen undercover officers will patrol the parade route and several dozen surveillance cameras are to monitor the event. Automatic license-plate reading devices will also be set up to collect data on suspicious vehicles in the area, police officials said.

Rose parade is part of America's New Year Celebration which includes flower-covered floats, marching bands, and equestrian units.

Comment: Pushing the San Bernardino false flag fear envelope one step farther, the PTB couldn't pass up a time-honored, globally-televised annual family event to parley its message and prove, yet again, how close the US is to a police state. Don't forget to smile for the face-recognition cameras. Remember to not look crosswise at the armed tactical rapid-response teams. You are no longer merely a spectator...you are now a living member of a very different parade...the parade of suspects. Happy New Year.

Read More...
Brick Wall

Checkpoint violence: Blood, humiliation, desperation and occupation

Vijay Prashad
Counterpunch
Tue, 29 Dec 2015 00:00 UTC
Israeli checkpoints
On December 17, Naseer was driving from Nablus to Ramallah. Light rain fell as he approached the Israeli military's checkpoint at Huwwara. In front of him was another car, moving cautiously. About fifty meters before that car was an Israeli military vehicle. Caution is the order of the day in the vicinity of the Israeli military. No sense in provoking their ire. Naseer kept some distance between the cars. They were moving slowly.

Beside the road, on the grass off the sidewalk, a young boy walked in the same direction of the cars. Naseer observed that the boy seemed to be on the grass to avoid the puddles on the sidewalk.

The Israeli military vehicle braked. An order must have come from the soldiers. The boy put his hands up. Naseer did not hear them but saw him obey. The car in front of his began to go around the military vehicle. Naseer followed. He saw the boy with his hands up. The next minute, in his rear view mirror, Naseer saw the boy on the ground. All this happened in a split second. One minute the boy was standing with his hands up, and the next minute he was dead on the ground.

Comment: See also:

Read More...
Network

German Finance Minister Schäuble calls for a one-army EU


Press TV
Mon, 28 Dec 2015 12:11 UTC
Schauble
© finance.yahoo.comGerman Finance Minister Schäuble and the military conundrum.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble says the EU requires one common army instead of 28 separate ones to tackle domestic and foreign security threats. During an interview published in the German newspaper Bild am Sonntag on Sunday, Schäuble said that as "We will have to spend a lot more funds for joint European defense initiatives...our aim must be a joint European army."

He noted that the funds required to maintain and organize 28 separate armies could be used "far more effectively together. For Germany, this means that we will have to support our foreign and security policies more strongly than we would perhaps like," he said. He also stressed that controlling the crises in Africa and the Middle East requires stronger European engagement.

Over the last few months, Germany has gradually taken on a more assertive role in international military operations, which was highlighted recently after German lawmakers approved a mission to send six reconnaissance jets, a frigate and 1,200 troops to Syria to help the so-called international coalition against Daesh.

The redeployment was faced with opposition from Damascus, which has repeatedly expressed skepticism about the effectiveness and the true purpose of the US-led airstrikes. German forces are also deployed in several other locations around the globe, including Afghanistan and Mali.

Comment: This is the old dyadic argument of member-state autonomy countered with global perception of regional strength and international force. The EU theoretically unites its disparate military capability as a part of NATO, but is essentially a US puppet. As military upgrades increase in cost and the EU economy declines, there are no assurances for the EU that it has the independent (of NATO) capability to meet an offensive confrontation with disjointed forces. It is likewise infeasible to create this entity for only defense capabilities as this crosses the line on unique national issues. Militarily both options are a bad fit. As EUrocrats, perhaps it make more sense to actualize strong centralization for political purposes and unify an agreement to detach from the US.

Read More...
Pirates

Unconscionable: Private bankers charged with stealing from accounts belonging to very elderly


Sputnik
Wed, 30 Dec 2015 00:00 UTC
jp morgan chase bank
Two private bankers in New York City have been indicted for forging debit cards in order to withdraw $400,000 from bank accounts belonging to the very elderly or deceased.

The bankers, Jonathan Francis, 27, and Dion Allison, 30, of JP Morgan Chase bank, allegedly targeted 15 dormant accounts, at least eight of which belong to deceased persons who were still receiving deposits from the Social Security Administration, the New York Times reported.

Along with two friends, Gregory Desrameaux, 24, and Kery Phillips, 40, the men withdrew money from the accounts using ATM's located across New York City for a period of two years, with withdrawals ranging from $200 up to $2,000, according to the indictment.
Read More...