Afghan boxing girls aim for 2012 Olympic gold

Women in Afghanistan have been fighting for more rights at home and in society since the Taliban was toppled a decade ago.

Shabnam, 19, and her sister Sadaf Rahimi, 18, are taking the fight more literally than most of their peers, throwing punches in a ring as members of their country s first team of female boxers.

They practice inside a spartan gym with broken mirrors, flaking paint, four punching bags, and a concrete floor padded with faded pink and green mats. Some girls even wear face masks to keep away the dust coming up from the floor.

But they seem oblivious to their modest surroundings as they follow the whistle changes of a rigorous training routine.
“I hope to promote my boxing career and approach the highest level. I wish to be able to win the gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics,” said Sadaf, slightly out of breath from punching the bag.

Female boxing is still relatively unusual in most countries, but especially in Afghanistan, where many girls and women still face a struggle to secure an education or work, and activists say violence and abuse at home is common.

Three times a week, the girls come to practise at the Ghazi stadium, once used for public punishment by the Taliban, the hardline Islamists who ruled the country from 1996 to 2001.

Women were stoned for adultery there and despite an expensive revamp, its gory past sometimes spooks the athletes.

Under the Taliban, all sports for women were banned. They still have far fewer opportunities for exercise than men.

Many in this conservative society still consider fighting taboo for women, and the girls deal with serious threats.

“My family has been threatened several times because we three sisters are in the boxing club, they asked my family why the three girls from one family are boxing. Boxing is a hard and difficult sport even for men that is why people are surprised and our family was threatened because of our choice,” said Sadaf.

Sarah Palin won’t run for president in 2012

On Wednesday, the former vice-presidential candidate and the acknowledged star of the Republican Party Sarah Palin finally announced that she is not going to run for the presidency in 2012. A day before that another Republican hopeful, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also announced his decision not to run.

The former Alaska governor’s supporters founded a group called Organize4Palin to build a grassroots network and essentially campaign for her: go to county meetings, stump for Palin with politically connected Iowans, and form a loose campaign structure for what they saw as an inevitable Palin campaign. It turned out not to be.

Sarah Palin made her decision known Wednesday releasing a statement to ABC News and telling radio host Mark Levin that she will not enter the presidential race. Wednesday evening she told Greta Van Susteren on Fox News that she “apologize(s) to those disappointed” with her decision saying that she had heard from them over the last few hours and hopes they understand “you don’t need a title to make a difference in this country.”

As the news broke that she would not run those supporters that were the most invested said they were “disappointed,” but had “no regrets.”

What is questionable, though, is whether the Republicans will be able to come up with an electable candidate. Until recently there seemed to be only too viable contenders – Mitt Romney and Rick Perry, with chances for Chris Christie to intervene and change the scene. After Christie’s decision not to run, one would suppose that the field has narrowed to two candidates. But then unexpectedly businessman and columnist, former chairman and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza Herman Cain made a strong showing at some Republican caucuses, and now he is considered to be on equals if not ahead of Rick Perry whose support has faltered.

The problem is that Republican primaries starting next January and the general elections in November are very different. And the candidate most liked by the party and Republican-leaning independents might not be as welcomed by the majority of general voters. Therefore, winning the party nomination may play a trick on the frontrunner preventing him from winning the votes of the center, which will inevitably determine the general outcome.

Perry, who has dropped in the polls recently following unimpressive debate performances, issued a statement calling Palin “a good friend, a great American and a true patriot. I respect her decision and know she will continue to be a strong voice for conservative values and needed change in Washington.”

The man who picked her as his running mate in 2008, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, said on Twitter that Palin will “continue to play an important role in our party and for our nation.”

Later, the former Alaska governor told Fox News Channel’s Greta Van Susteren, “You don’t need a title to make a difference in this country.”

Palin urged voters not to wait for perfection from the current Republican field of contenders.

“There is no one perfect candidate, and I want people to keep that in mind and not be extremely disappointed in a politician,” she said.

Statement released by Palin on her decision.

October 5, 2011

Wasilla, Alaska

After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.

My decision is based upon a review of what common sense Conservatives and Independents have accomplished, especially over the last year. I believe that at this time I can be more effective in a decisive role to help elect other true public servants to office – from the nation’s governors to Congressional seats and the Presidency. We need to continue to actively and aggressively help those who will stop the “fundamental transformation” of our nation and instead seek the restoration of our greatness, our goodness and our constitutional republic based on the rule of law.

From the bottom of my heart I thank those who have supported me and defended my record throughout the years, and encouraged me to run for President. Know that by working together we can bring this country back – and as I’ve always said, one doesn’t need a title to help do it.

I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President where our candidates must embrace immediate action toward energy independence through domestic resource developments of conventional energy sources, along with renewables. We must reduce tax burdens and onerous regulations that kill American industry, and our candidates must always push to minimize government to strengthen the economy and allow the private sector to create jobs.

Those will be our priorities so Americans can be confident that a smaller, smarter government that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people can better serve this most exceptional nation.

In the coming weeks I will help coordinate strategies to assist in replacing the President, re-taking the Senate, and maintaining the House.

Thank you again for all your support. Let’s unite to restore this country!

God bless America.

– Sarah Palin

Local bodies elections may be held in 2012

Secretary Election Commission called on the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and apprised him on the preparation of reforms being undertaken by the Election Commission of Pakistan to ensure fair, transparent and credible elections in the country.

He mentioned the Election Commission of Pakistan Strategic Plan 2010-14 which has been prepared in consultation with all the stakeholders including all political parties, civil society and media. He informed the prime minister that the Computerized Electoral Rolls are being prepared in collaboration with NADRA and current door to door verification throughout Pakistan is underway until September 2011, and that final Computerized Electoral Rolls will be ready by April 2012.

Secretary Election Commission thanked the prime minister for extending full support to make Election Commission of Pakistan autonomous, independence and also to implement reforms agenda.

Regarding the Local Bodies Elections, the Secretary informed the Prime Minister that after the 18 Amendment, holding of Local Bodies Elections were also the responsibility of Election Commission of Pakistan and the Provincial Governments are being asked to make necessary legislation in this regard so that Elections could be held accordingly.

The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts being made by the Election Commission of Pakistan under the guidance of Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Hamid Ali Mirza in order to complete the reforms agenda.

The Prime Minister also directed that instructions should be issued to all the Ministries/Divisions to prepare a strategic plan for five years on the pattern of election Commission of Pakistan so that all Ministries have goals/objectives and sense of direction.

In terms of good governance, the Prime Minister observed that there was a need to create a mechanism at Prime Minister’s Secretariat to remove the disconnect between the national institutions of the state so they sit together and find out solutions pertaining to security, strategic issues and good governance. The Prime Minister said local bodies’ elections may be held in 2012 after the finalization of Computerized Electoral Rolls in April 2012.

2012 Movie Review

2012 Movie Review, A common complaint leveled at the film critics, almost exclusively with blockbuster big budget, is that we hope will be something they are not. Certainly not all about winning the Oscar and not acting and writing can often overlooked, but some movies are so bad, even on the basis of which should be evaluated you can only forgive so much in the interest of entertainment.

Within their small universe, 2012 is really only want to create the apocalypse to end all the apocalypse, and is quite successful, frankly.

The director Roland Emmerich is the owner of Disasters, which was responsible for some movies that make human civilization on the brink of extinction for one reason or another. There is always an unlikely hero, a probable rarely, and family get demolished most compelling monuments through computer animation. There is always a scientist who knows how it will play out, and somehow amidst all this, there’s romance blossoms.

As might be expected, 2012 is loosely based on the end of the Mayan calendar, which darkens in December of that year. Some scientific theories are at work here but can be bleak. However, unless you know these things go, it seems quite plausible: The sun is basically cooking the crust of the Earth and finally – for example, December 2012 – which eventually will give way, and all start moving out of control. You probably do not know that there are about 10,000 earthquakes a day because most of that movement is so small that never feel. But it is always in motion, and we know California is overdue for “the great”. So why not?

Now, Emmerich’s world, where all this starts, does the film? More often than not, and could be a surprise. Given that their film is over two and a half hours, is held together quite well. That does not mean that 2012 has no problems or things that our survivors live in any other acceptable form, but the movie just keeps rolling, and when Emmerich slows so we can catch your breath, These are not characters not so bad .

There is no fight novelist Curtis Jackson (John Cusack), who drives a limousine for a Russian tycoon. The first time I suspected something wrong when he and the children are detained by the army at gunpoint during a trip to Yellowstone. While there, he meets the geologist Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who heads the government’s investigation into a disturbing trend of rising temperatures on the surface of the Earth. He knows what it means, but not sure how the imminent danger.

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2012 Movie Review was first posted on November 13, 2009 at 5:09 pm.

2012 Movie

2012 Movie, October 1st, nearly 450 television and cable stations will be airing a new 2-minute preview for the end of the world movie 2012. All at about the same time.

The multi-million dollar promotion is expected to be seen by nearly 110 million. The preview will air on the three major broadcast networks, 89 cable networks, local TV stations in the top 70 markets and Spanish-language networks across the country.

2012 is an epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors. It will be released in theaters on November 13th.

Adam Lambert’s song “Time For Miracles” is in the movie and soundtrack and is rumored to be heard during this media blitz.

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2012 Movie was first posted on October 2, 2009 at 12:12 pm.