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Germany: Free college education for everyone, Tuition 'unjust'

David Charter
The Times.co.uk
Wed, 01 Oct 2014 23:39 UTC
All German Universities will be free of charge as of this year. The last German area to remove fees, Lower Saxony, has officially done so, in what promises to be a historic moment for German (and European) education. A different, more efficient education

Image
© Ralph Orlowski/Reuters
Plastic statues of the writer Goethe at the Goethe University in Frankfurt
Education in most of Europe is already very different from what it is in the US, Canada, or Australia. In several countries from the Old Continent (most notably Scandinavian countries - Sweden, Norway and Denmark) education has been free for several years, and other countries are starting to follow suite.

"Tuition fees are socially unjust," said Dorothee Stapelfeldt, senator for science in Hamburg, which scrapped charges in 2012. "They particularly discourage young people who do not have a traditional academic family background from taking up studies. It is a core task of politics to ensure that young women and men can study with a high quality standard free of charge in Germany."

Indeed, the general trend seems to be to reduce or eliminate tuition fees for higher education. The notable exception here is Great Britain. With some exceptions (like for example Welsh Universities being free for Welsh people), the UK tuition fees that are starting to rival those in the US. But it seems more logical to treat higher education like an investment in the country's future, and not like a private company. It seems logical for the government to support higher education from taxes, thus investing in its future.
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Sheriff

Police chief sexually assaults barely conscious woman, lies about it to FBI

John Vibes
The Free Thought Project
Wed, 01 Oct 2014 22:16 UTC
Image
© The Advocate
Earl Theriot, sex offender, ex-cop.
Sorrento, Louisiana police chief Earl Theriot pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting an unconscious woman and then lying about it to the FBI. Sadly, the court seemed more concerned about his lying to the FBI, than the actual assault that took place.

Theriot managed to escape jail time, while taking just a $2,500 fine and 2 years probation. This sentence is more lenient than a small marijuana possession charge in most states. Theriot believes that the "embarrassment" that him and his family have faced as a result of the scandal, and the loss of his job, is fair punishment for the crimes that he committed.

"It's a matter that cost me my law enforcement career and brought embarrassment to my family and town of Sorrento," Theriot said in court after the sentencing, according to WAFB9.

In court, Theriot apologized to his family and to the city, but did not apologize to the victim. While on duty last November, Theriot received a call about an unresponsive woman who was passed out at a gas station. Theriot responded to the call, placed the woman in the passenger seat of his patrol car and took her to his office. On the way to his office, Theriot stopped at a liquor store and picked up a bottle of vodka, which he intended to share with the woman. While in his car, he admitted to groping the woman and violating her while she was unconscious.

Comment: Sick and twisted cops taking advantage of people whom they're supposed to protect, happens every day.

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Attention

Crimes committed by Ukraine forces: Organ trafficking, torture, decapitation

Alexander Donetsky
Strategic Culture Foundation
Fri, 26 Sep 2014 21:18 UTC
mass grave
Numerous reports on systematic destruction of populated areas in the Donbass and Luhansk regions by Ukrainian military have been becoming public domain. The evidence has been plentiful: photos, videos, international observers and journalists' reports. Neither the United States nor Europe have paid attention on the information as they considered it to be part of the «Kremlin's propaganda». Western media outlets have painted the use of internationally banned arms and warfare tactics as legal means of waging war against terror. Now the OSCE has to recognize the fact that the crimes have been committed by Ukrainian military and soldiers of chasteners' battalions, for instance the use of non-conventional weapons, the elimination of civilians and torture of prisoners. According to the report by Amnesty International, the servicemen of Aydar battalion practiced kidnapping and tortures of civilians. Some time ago international observers discovered mass graves of tortured people.

Those who live in Donbass have many times reported «mysterious graves» findings. Two movable crematoriums have been bought in Germany to get rid of the bodies. The burnt soldiers were reported to be missing in action. Many corpses have been burnt without registration and leaving any trace whatsoever. On September 23, 332 Ukrainian military were put into grave near Dnepropetrovsk without making precise the names of the perished. Only 22 names were known. On September 22, in Zaporozhye 55 unrecognized corpses of Ukrainian soldiers were buried. In Dnepropetrovsk 11 more unrecognized servicemen, who had lost their lives in Ilovaisk, were put into grave.

Comment: See also: The Russians do not seem willing to let the world forget or excuse the crimes against humanity perpetrated by Kiev over the past months. It's uncertain whether anything will come from it, but it's the right thing to do. These people deserve to be remembered, and their murderers deserve to be known.

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Mr. Potato

Not even cops take Cameron seriously: British author turns himself in for 'nonviolent extremism', police don't bother


PressTV
Wed, 01 Oct 2014 20:51 UTC
david cameron
A 9/11 British activist hands himself in to UK's counter terrorism police following British Prime Ministers David Cameron's speech at the UN General Assembly last week, Press TV reports.

In response to Cameron's remarks equating people, who question 9/11 and 7/7 attacks in the US and UK as well as the West's policy towards the Middle East, with Takfiri preachers who radicalize extremists, Nick Kollerstrom handed himself in.

"As the evidence emerges about the backgrounds of those convicted of terrorist offences, it is clear that many of them were initially influenced by preachers who claim not to encourage violence, but whose world view can be used as a justification for it. And we know what this world view is, the peddling of lies: that 9/11 was a Jewish plot or the 7/7 London attacks were staged; the idea that Muslims are persecuted all over the world as a deliberate act of Western policy," Cameron said while addressing the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 25.

Explaining his actions to the Press TV correspondent in London, Kollerstrom said, "David Cameron has redefined terrorism at the UN to include people, who believe that the London bombings involve government complicity, were to some degree arranged, which I certainly do believe, and I've published a book on the subject and also I believe the 9/11 was an inside job. I do think Islamic nations are being selectively targeted, it's perfectly obvious, and if the police force are going by his directive what constitutes terrorism, it seems to me that they need to arrest me." The Press TV correspondent was present while Kollestrom handed himself in.

"We want to report a possible terror threat, we've got a bit of evidence and wonder if we could come in and report it," Kollerstrom said at Scotland Yard headquarters in London.

The British police refused to arrest Kollestrom, but he said that Cameron's definition of nonviolent extremism will lead to the arrest of many Muslims, who share his views, and described it as another example of racial profiling.


Comment: In related news, Cameron has also vowed to revivify the wars on non-mind-altering drugs, affluent poverty, educated illiteracy and sane politicians... Does Cameron realize what a fool he makes of himself on a regular basis? Somehow we doubt it.

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USA

Supporting terrorism: The West's ignorance of Ukraine atrocities is an outrage

The Saker
Russia Insider
Wed, 01 Oct 2014 20:44 UTC
Lugansk deaths
© RIA Novosti / Valery Melnikov
People in Lugansk carry the bodies of those killed during an artillery attack on the city.
Today's comment from the Saker is very timely, as we published a sensational video earlier today about the western media's ignorance of events surrounding the Odessa massacre of May 2.

It's going to be a big deal.

The increasing news flow about the extreme brutality of the Kiev regime and the massive neo-nazi presence in its ranks, is snowballing, and, we are sure, will end up being a huge embarrassment for the EU States and the US who have embraced Kiev.

This is especially true for Germany, which is hyper-sensitive to nazi questions.

Listen to the Saker, we couldn't have said it better ourselves:

Today, buried 9 minutes into the latest edition of the Channel 1 news report on Russian television, was a 23 seconds long statement by Latvian Human Rights investigator Enorst Gronych who declared on camera that he has interviewed the people of a village recently evacuated by the Junta's repression forces who had told him about "repeated cases of gang rapes of minor girls aged 12, 13 and 14 years old" by Ukrainian thugs.

According to Gronych, this kind of pattern falls within the definition of "genocide".
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Wolf

80-year old Floridian assaulted in diner for asking patron to stop using obscenities


Thesmokinggun.com
Wed, 01 Oct 2014 20:10 UTC
Image
© NBC
When an 80-year-old Applebee's patron politely asked him to stop loudly cursing and talking about "titties and ass," a Floridian, 26, responded by punching the octogenarian in the face, according to police.

The confrontation late Sunday in the Port Orange eatery resulted in the arrest of Mikie Sawyer on a felony charge for battering a person over the age of 65.

Harry Sander told police that he was at the Applebee's bar when he heard Sawyer "talking obscenities." Sander said that he approached Sawyer "and asked him politely if he could please stop using the 'fuck' word and stop talking so loud about 'titties and ass,'" according to a police report.

After Sawyer replied that he did not have to stop cursing, Sander noted that in his home country of Germany, "you don't speak in such a manner." A witness told a Port Orange Police Department officer that Sawyer replied, "I don't care where you are from whether it be Russia or Dutch take your ass to the other side of the bar."

Sawyer then allegedly punched Sander in the face and pushed the pensioner to the Applebee's floor. Sander "stated he does not remember much after that moment." Sander's left eye was red and his left cheek was "discolored and bruised," noted investigators, who added that Sawyer's knuckles "appeared discolored and bruised."

The elderly victim was treated for his injuries by emergency medical services who responded to the Applebee's.

Comment: Another psychopath with no concern for the moral (or legal) consequences of his actions. Sick!

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Heart - Black

Louisiana hospitals prey on rape victims, charging thousands for medical examinations


RT
Wed, 01 Oct 2014 19:59 UTC
Image
© Reuters / Srdjan Zivulovic
Prominent women's rights group NOW is demanding changes to how Louisiana treats rape victims, after it became known that some were charged several thousand dollars for emergency medical services.

The news first broke last week, when the Times-Picayune reported that victims of sex crimes - once treated for free - are now being charged up to $4000 for forensic medical examinations by some hospitals.

In one such instance, a New Orleans college student awoke nude in a public place. Fearing she had been drugged and raped, she called emergency officials. They urged her to go to the hospital, assuring that she wouldn't be charged. However, one year later she received a notice that she owed the hospital $2,254.

The president of the Louisiana chapter of NOW, Charlotte Klasson, responded to the reports with a strongly-worded message, stating that the alleged practice is "a form of political extortion to discourage the pursuit of prosecution of crimes of sexual assault."

Louisiana's Interim LSU Hospital said it does not charge patients for costs associated with the collection of evidence or a pelvic exam, according to the hospital's spokeswoman, as cited by the Times Picayune. However, she said they still bill for related tests to learn if the victim is pregnant or has contracted HIV.
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Snowflake Cold

1.6 million people in Britain could be without heat this winter


RT
Wed, 01 Oct 2014 19:49 UTC
Image
© Reuters/Regis Duvignau
Millions of people in Britain could go without heat and power during the winter months if they use a pre-paid meter system, according to new research from Citizens Advice.

According to the network of independent charities, an estimated 1.62 million people could lose heating and electricity if they cannot afford to top up their gas cards, or if their payment meters are broken or difficult to use.

Most energy companies only contact vulnerable customers, namely the elderly, a month after they last topped up. Meanwhile, firms are likely to contact customers who are not considered "vulnerable" after three months.

Customers using a pre-paid system have to top up their cards or electric keys as they go, usually at a shop or online. However, both the cards and plastic keys can be unreliable, and in some cases customers have said their meter systems could not read them.

The research also found that some people were going without gas and electricity due to rising prices and stagnating incomes. Others stated that job losses or receiving less in benefits meant there was not enough money to pay for energy and other household essentials. An increasing number of families are forced to choose between heating and eating.
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Arrow Down

20 Percent of American's have been laid off in last five years, most have difficulty recovering and usually make less money if rehired


RT
Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:09 UTC
labor
© Reuters / Jonathan Alcorn
Roughly one-in-five American workers have been laid off during the last half-decade, according to a recent report, raising new doubts about exactly how secure job stability really is within the United States.

The report, published last week out of the John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, found that roughly 30 million Americans - or around 20 percent of the workforce - have lost a job during the last five years.

Additionally, the pollsters found that Americans that unexpectedly end up out of work have a hard time recovering and regularly end up making less money once they're rehired, if hired at all. A survey of 1,153 Americans taken by the Heldrich Center determined that around half of the laid-off workers who did manage to find work after being laid off were paid less than at their previous position, and a quarter said those new jobs were just temporary.

Comment: The US economy is in such a dire state that 80% of the population is near poverty, due to economic policies that benefit the few at the expense of the many, and the largesse consistently given to the Pentagon to fund its global wars.

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Dollar

Winter is coming: EU now backing Gazprom's original offer in gas price talks with Ukraine

Gil Matos-Sequi
Russia Insider
Tue, 30 Sep 2014 00:00 UTC
Gazprom ukraine
Gazprom refused to soften its position in the latest round of trilateral talks between the EU, Gazprom and Ukraine to resolve the gas dispute.

Instead Gazprom just stuck to the offer it made back in June.

The offer remains $385 per 1,000 cubic meters for 6 months. This is the same price it offered to go down to in June when Ukraine rejected it. Technically the offer is a discount of $100 per 1,000 cubic meters. The contractual price remains $485 per 1,000 cubic meters. At the end of the 6 month period the $100 per 1,000 cubic meters discount ends and the price reverts to the full contractual price of $485 per 1,000 cubic meters.

What has changed since June is that the EU now seems to be backing Gazprom's offer.

Comment: Now that winter is approaching, the EU is finally getting the message that it will be chilly indeed if an agreement is not reached between the Ukraine and Russia to insure gas supplies to Europe.

Ukraine's failure to pay gas debt may cut gas supply to Europe - Russia's energy minister
Putin writes to European leaders and says Ukraine gas debt 'critical', transit threatened
Ukraine gas debt exceeds $5bn, still hasn't made payments to Gazprom

      Read More...
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