Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Isaac Asimov

2007-12-04T02:34:22Z

Tabitha22:

[[Image:453px-Isaac asimov.jpg|right|thumb]]
'''Isaac Asimov''' was a [[Jew|Jewish]] [[atheist]] (or more strictly [[Humanist]]) of [[Russian]] descent, whose parents emigrated to the United States from the [[Soviet Union]] when he was three years of age. He is often viewed as one of the "Big Three" of so-called classic science fiction, along with [[Arthur C. Clarke]] and [[Robert A. Heinlein]], both of whom he viewed as friends.

While he is predominantly viewed as a [[science fiction]] writer, he produced works on many subjects both fiction and nonfiction; of particular note are his works on astronomy and his books of collected essays. He also possessed a doctorate in [[biochemistry]] from Columbia University. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of the Twentieth or, indeed, any century; a conservative estimate puts him as the author of more than three hundred books.

Though he was never vocal against religion, he had little tolerance for those he viewed as crackpots, such as strict creationists, and viewed Judaism and Christianity both as mythologies comparable to Greek myth and other folklore. Despite this, he viewed the Bible itself as a notable work of literature, '''p'''ublishing s'''e'''veral '''n'''onfict'''i'''on book'''s''' about both the [[Bible]] and the [[Book of Ruth]], among others.

The works which tend to be most strongly associated with him remain ''I, Robot'', a collection of his short stories about the existential dichotomy of artificial intelligence (which was somewhat less-than-faithfully recreated in the Hollywood title of the same name starring [[Will Smith]]), as well as the Foundation series, a work sometimes viewed as the first in the genre of "future histories". He died on April 6, 1992 of complications due to [[AIDS]], which he contracted via a tainted blood transfusion during a heart bypass operation.

[[Category: Authors|Asimov, Isaac]]

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

2007-12-04T02:18:23Z

Tabitha22: /* Controversy */

'''People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals''' ('''PETA''') is an [[animal rights]] organization dedicated to promoting [[vegetarianism]] and awareness of animal rights. It focuses on what it calls the four main areas of [[animal]] suffering ([[factory farms]], [[animal testing]], [[clothing]] trade, and the [[entertainment]] industry), as well as other individual issues<ref name="petafaq">''PeTA's Mission Statement'' [http://www.peta.org/about/]</ref>. It was founded in 1981 by Ingrid Newkirk.

==Activism==
PETA achieves its goals through "public education, cruelty investigations, research, animal rescue, legislation, special events, celebrity involvement, and protest campaigns,"<ref name="petafaq" /> but they are best known for their provocative advertising and protests. For example, they often use nude women to protest the wearing of fur.<ref>''PETA: Dominique Swain is a Class Act for Animals'', [http://www.peta.org/feat/swain/] (contains risque image)</ref> They have also had controversial public education campaigns, including comparing [[Jewish]] ritual slaughter to the [[Holocaust]].

Many prominent celebrities support PETA, such as [[Bill Maher]], [[Richard Gere]], [[Alec Baldwin]], [[Paul McCartney]], and [[Russel Simmons]].

==Controversy==
PETA receives criticism from many different groups, including researchers, consumer advocates and others who claim that PETA's goals are not animal rights, but total animal liberation,<ref name="acmain">ActivistCash.com [http://www.activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/oid/21]</ref> which would mean no meat, dairy, hunting, fishing, circus animals, aquariums, or even pets.

Critics also chastise PETA for some of its methods of action, including stalking, attacking and harassing those in the food or medical research industries<ref name="acmain" /> and supporting violent animal rights and environmental groups such as the [[Earth Liberation Front]] and the [[Animal Liberation Front]]<ref>ActivistCash.com [http://www.activistcash.com/organization_blackeye.cfm/oid/21]</ref>. There are even accusations that PETA kills more animals than they help, possibly thousands per year.<ref>PetaKillsAnimals.com, ''PETA's Dirty Secret'' [http://www.petakillsanimals.com/petaKillsAnimals.cfm]</ref>

There have also been several accounts of PETA killing animals when they could not find homes for them. From July 1998 through December 2005, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) killed over 14,400 dogs, cats, and other "companion animals." That's more than five creatures every day. PETA has a walk-in freezer to store the dead bodies, and contracts with a Virginia Beach company to cremate them.

==See Also==
[[Previous Breaking News/PETA|Articles about '''PETA''' from previous "Breaking News"]]

==External Links==
*PETA Website [http://www.peta.org]
*[[Center for Consumer Freedom]] [http://www.consumerfreedom.com/issuepage.cfm/topic/8], a consumer advocate group
*[http://www.activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/oid/21 ActivistCash.com]
*[http://www.petakillsanimals.com PetaKillsAnimals.com]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category: Organizations]]
[[Category: Liberal activists]]

Terrorism

2007-12-04T02:14:20Z

Tabitha22: /* International */

[[Image:Terrormunich.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A member of [[Black September]], a terrorist group, during the [[1972 Munich Olympics]]]]'''[[Terrorism]]''' is defined by the US [[Department of Defense]] as "''the unlawful use of -- or threatened use of -- force or violence against individuals or property to coerce or intimidate governments or societies, often to achieve political, religious, or ideological objectives.''"

== '''Terrorist''' ==
One who uses [[terroristic tactics]] to coerce behavior in another person or group is generally considered to fall under the definition of the term "terrorist". One who uses such terroristic tactics ([[suicide bombing]], [[sniper]], [[assassination]], [[random bombing]], etc.) can often be described as such. Aeroflight in the UK [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/definitions.htm], defines it as: ''"One who utilizes the systematic use of violence and/or intimidation to achieve political objectives, while disguised as a civilian non-combatant. The use of a civilian disguise while on operations exempts the perpetrator from protection under the Geneva Conventions, and consequently if captured they are liable for prosecution as common criminals."''

== '''Terrorism''' ==
Terrorism is the use of terror (fear), violence, and intimidation to achieve an end. Terrorism also refers to any fear and subjugation produced by this. The term is also used to describe violence or other harmful acts committed (or threatened) against civilians by groups or persons for political or ideological goals. Terrorism is the unlawful use or threatened use, of force, ''intimidation'', and/or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

==Leftist (Radical) Terrorism==

Leftist Terrorism, often referred to as radical terrorism, is terrorism that embraces the fringe left side of the political spectrum (Countries that are hostile to dissident terrorist movements often also see violence from the far left as well). Radical terrorists are future orientated. That is, radicals believe that they are currently being oppressed by some current government, idealogy or regime, and therefore they should overthrow that oppressor and install a better government. Radical terrorists often operate with the belief that it is possible to create a utopia for the people. Radicals generally follow the beliefs of Karl Marx and Lenin, with emphasis on the idea of Lenin's vanguard party. Leftist terrorists often choose symbolic targets that emphasize what they see as a an oppressor to the working class. Leftist terrorist tend to target buildings and governmental structures that represent capitalism, or assassinate government leaders and capitalists. Leftist terrorists are self characterized as the young, self-educated elites of society, who are destined to both weaken the oppressive government and at the same time expose the weakness of the government to the exploited workforce. Radicals also tend be more exclusive with what issues they champion. Often, very narrow radicals will focus on one issue, resulting in animal rights, feminist, and eco-terrorists. Radical groups often operated in highly organized and clandestine groups, easily recognizable and orderly. However, leftist groups often had internal divisions in the larger groups that often broke off to create new group.<ref>Gus Martin. Understanding Terrorism: Challeges, Perspectives, and Issues.</ref>

===Famous Radical Groups===

*[[Al-Qaeda]]
*[[Animal Liberation Front]]
*[[Black Liberation Army]]
*[[Black Panther Party]]
*[[Earth Liberation Front]]
*[[Irish Republican Army]]
*[[John Brown Anti-Klan Committee]]
*[[May 19th Communist Organization]]
*[[Muslim Brotherhood]]
*[[People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals]] {{fact}}
*[[Prairie Fire Organizing Committee]]
*[[Red Army Faction]]
*[[Revolutionary Organization 17 November]]
*[[Symbionese Liberation Army]]
*[[Weather Underground Organization]]
*[[Youth International Party]]

==Right (Reactionary) Terrorism==

Historically, reactionary terrorism has been less organized and less symbolic than leftist terrorists. Reactionary terrorists, like radical terrorists, see the current government as corrupt, but unlike radical leftists, reactionaries do not see the current government as needing revolutionary change. Rather, reactionaries view the government as a perversion of some older, better, government or social order. Reactionary terrorist violence is an attempt to regain the lost government and return to "order" and status quo. Reactionary violence is often justified by a use of mysticism about the old order. Scapegoating is a common tactic among reactionary terrorists to create an enemy for which to blame for the current order. Historical scapegoats among reactionary terrorists have included Jews, foreigners, homosexuals, atheists, leftists, blacks, illegal immigrants, and other racial minorities. Reactionary groups often defined by racial supremacy and a sense of order. Goals of reactionary terrorist include the delegation of minorities back to secondary status with respect to the national majority and a creation of a strong government to sustain order and prevent chaos through a police state. It should be noted however that due to conspiracy theories prevalence in the American fringe right, American reactionaries do not seek the creation of a strong government. Reactionaries often act as individuals or small groups and are not as discriminate with their targets as are leftist groups. This is partially due to the lack of unity between reactionaries and the scope of reactionary targets, often encompassing entire races.<ref>Gus Martin. Understanding Terrorism: Challeges, Perspectives, and Issues.</ref>

===Famous Reactionary Groups===

*[[Ku Klux Klan]]
*[[Skinheads]]
*[[New Order]]

== Domestic terrorists ==

*[[Animal Liberation Front]]
*[[Black Panther Party]]
*[[Black Liberation Army]]
*[[Earth Liberation Front]]
*[[Fuerzas Armadas de Liberación Nacional]] (FALN)
*[[Ku Klux Klan]]
*[[Symbionese Liberation Army]]

== International ==

*[[Al-Qaeda]]

*[[PIRA]]

*[[Hamas]]

*[[PETA]]

==Terrorism and the Media==

The prime goal of any terrorist is mass media exposure. Terrorism cannot recruit new initiates like regular armies, rather when they run out of discontented radicals within their state, they must rely on the media to spread their message. Therefore, media outlets and the press must be careful when choosing a story, as often running a story about a terrorist attack just creates more support for a terrorist cause.

However, terrorist must be careful, as if an attack goes too far, it is possible to cause political backlash against the group, as what happened in the 9/11 attacks on the United States.

== Groups Considered by the United States to be Terrorist Organizations ==

*[[Abu Sayyaf]]
*[[Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade]]
*[[Al-Qaeda]]
*[[Ansar Al-Islam]]
*[[ETA]]
*[[Hamas]]
*[[Hizbollah]]
*[[Jemaa Islamiya]]
*[[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]]
*[[PKK]]
*[[Real ETA]]
*[[Tamil Tigers]]

== Groups receiving CIA support ==
The American CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) has the stated objective of ''"Conducting covert action at the direction of the President to preempt threats or achieve US policy objectives."''[https://www.cia.gov/cia/information/mission.html]. Over the course of it's well-documented history, this has involved the establishment, funding and organization of various organizations some have regarded as terrorist, including:

* [[Mujahadeen el-Khalq]]<ref>Michael Ware,[http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/04/05/protected.terrorists/index.html ''U.S. protects Iranian opposition group in Iraq''], CNN, April 6, 2007.</ref>
* [[Kosovo Liberation Army]] (KLA)<ref>Jerry Seper, [http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/7006/KLA-drugs.html ''KLA rebels train in terrorist camps''], The Washington Times, May 4, 1999.</ref><ref>Gary Wilson, [http://www.pogledi.co.yu/english/68b.php ''Who's the KLA? German document Reveals Secrtet CIA Role''].</ref><ref>Peter Beaumont, Ed Vulliamy and Paul Beaver,[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,449923,00.html ''CIA's bastard army ran riot in Balkans' backed extremists''], The Observer, March 11, 2001</ref><ref> Andy Wilcoxson, [http://www.slobodan-milosevic.org/news/kerry101804.htm ''Kerry Campaign Financed by Terrorists''], October 18, 2004.</ref>
*[[Front for the Advancement and Progress of Haïti]] (FRAPH)<ref>Reed Lindsay,[http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,1163909,00.html ''Cold War returns to US backyard''], The Observer, March 7, 2004</ref>.

== War on terror ==

===Fighting terrorism===
[http://lightonthings.blogspot.com#fight The Reality Show - The Watch the Fight] links to many sites that deal with the 'war on terror'.

==See also==
*[[FBI Most Wanted Terrorist List]]
*[[September 11, 2001 attacks]]
*[[June 2007 UK terror attacks]]
*[[Osama Bin Laden]]
*[[Homicide Bombers]]
*[[Pyroterrorism]]

==References==

<references/>
[[category:politics]]
[[Category: Terrorism]]