France •

Armenians Marks Centenary Of The Massacre By Ottoman Turks

April 24, 2015 By John Birks Leave a Comment

Armenians from all around the world are marking the 100 years commemoration of the Ottoman killings of up to 1.5 million of their people. Turkey still refuses to recognize the act as genocide.

In a procession to a memorial in the capital Yerevan, Armenians will lay candles and flowers near an eternal flame, as members of the diaspora, relatives of those who fled the country from the slaughter commemorate the sad anniversary.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande are expected to travel to Armenia for the commemorations, but others important world leaders are not going to attend the ceremony, fearing it will upset Ankara.

In an unusual procession on Thursday, the Armenian Church offered sainthood to all those massacred by Ottoman fighters a century ago, in the largest canonization service in history.

More than 20 states have so far recognized the Armenian genocide, a definition which is supported by many historians.

German President Joachim Gauck angered Turkey after he called the massacres as genocide for the first time, during a religious service commemorating the events that happened a century ago.

Mr Gauck explained the then German empire, which was allied to Ottoman Turkey in WWI, “shared responsibility and possibly guilt for the genocide”, adding that Germany sent soldiers who “planned and, in part, carrying out the deportations”.

Ankara on Wednesday issued a recall for its ambassador in Austria in response to Viennese lawmakers’ act to condemn the killings as “genocide”.

Turkey has said that half a million of people were killed during those events, mostly due to starvation and war. The country rejects the use the term genocide.

US President Barack Obama on Thursday described the World War I massacre as “terrible carnage”, not mentioning the world genocide. Commemorations expected to draw millions of people in Yerevan, but also in cities like Paris, Los Angeles and others where important Armenian minorities are found. The events will come a day after the canonization service for the 1.5 million Armenians that most historians suggest to have perished in the massacre.

Ex-Soviet Armenia, along with the Armenian diaspora worldwide, have fought for decades for the recognition of the Ottoman Genocide, which took place between 1915 and 1917. But modern Turkey, which was came to exist after the Ottoman Empire collapsed, has refused to admit its past crimes, while relations between the two countries remain frozen to this day.

Image Source: Time To Analyze

French Parliament Bans Anorexic Models

April 3, 2015 By John Birks Leave a Comment

France’s Parliament adopted an amendment in order to make it illegal to use anorexic models or to boost anorexia.

Other countries like Spain or Israel have taken similar measures targeting the glorification of extremely thin women. The French action would only apply within France’s territory, but could also have international repercussions.

The lower house of Parliament passed the amendment on anorexic models Friday. The French lawmakers are making a push for public health bill which is at the start of the legislature process. The bill will go to a full vote next week. If approved it will be brought before the Senate.

The amendment prohibits anyone with a body mass index under a certain level from being paid as a model. The bar, which is set by height and weight measurements, would be set later by a decree if the law passes all the legislative hurdles.

Any modeling agency or person who hires a model below that index would be punished with a maximum six months jail term and a 75,000 euros ($80,000) fine if found guilty.

“The idea behind this law is not to send people to prison or fine them,” said Olivier Veran, a neurologist and legislator who promoted the anorexia amendment, adding that the law aims at protecting the health of people who are working in the modelling sector.

The measure’s supporters claim they are protecting the models from pressure to lose weight, which is sometimes required by some modelling agencies.

According to the Associated Press, one agency representative, who spoke on condition of anonymity, accepted the fact that some designers prefer thinner models,, but said that his agency did not hire anorexic models because they are suffering from a medical condition.

The World Health Organization considers a body mass index of less than 18.5 as being “underweight.” Adults with anorexia usually have a body mass index of less than 17.5. For example, a woman who is about 5 foot 7 and 112 pounds is “underweight”.

French lawmakers also approved a connected amendment earlier this week which targets those who manage pro-anorexia websites. Another amendment, which would require publications to write a note that informs readers when they have modified a picture to make a model look less anorexic or thinner was also approved in Paris.

Almost 40,000 people are believed to be anorexic in France. More than 90 percent of them are women, according to the French health ministry.

Image Source: Fashion Maniacs Online

New Ceasefire Agreement In Place To End War In Eastern Ukraine

February 12, 2015 By Ryan Harris Leave a Comment

A new ceasefire and a road map to end the war in Eastern Ukraine was agreed upon by leaders of the major nations namely France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine after an exhaustive and long drawn talks. The talks were almost stalled before it was salvaged by last minute measures taken by the participating players.

Though the agreement has been finalized, things appeared far from being rosy with the major players agreeing that there was more work to be done.

The cease fire will come into effect from Saturday mid night. Though the agreement was made unanimously, the fact that the three leaders used three separate conferences to announce the cease fire showed a lack of unity between the players. Still the fact that the major aggrieved parties are talking after bitter fighting which has lasted for almost a year is heartening.

The negotiations which was described in the words of President François Hollande of France as, “consisted of a long night and a long morning, but we have arrived at an accord on a cease-fire and a global end to the conflict. It is a relief for Europe.”

Mr Hollande further added that the ultimate success of the ceasefire will depend upon the implementation of the terms of the agreement like withdrawal of heavy weapons and border control.

The cease fire talks alternated between surging hopes and despair as the major powers cancelled a meeting to announce the cease fire and extended their talks. After marathon talks which lasted for more than 15 hours between President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, President Petro O. Poroshenko of Ukraine and Mr. Hollande, along with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, the ceasefire agreement was finally agreed upon.

The urgency was further emphasized by the fact that Ms. Merkel and Mr. Hollande were scheduled to address the summit meeting of the European Union in Brussels, which Mr. Poroshenko was also scheduled to address. Both the leaders were keen to have a ceasefire agreement in place since they had committed themselves to make one last ditch effort to secure peace.

Categories