Farzad Kamangar, a 33-year old teacher and former trade unionist from the Kurdistan Province of Iran, is at risk of execution following the ruling issued at an unfair trial.

In recent weeks, EI has written to the Iranian Government to request a fair trial for Farzad Kamangar and other union activists who are under arrest. In spite of joint efforts from various national and international organisations to have death sentence of Farzad Kamangar communted, it was upheld by the Supreme Court on 11 July 2008. In addition, Iranian trade union colleagues and human rights activists who show solidarity with Farzad are being subjected to pervasive intimidation by the Iranian authorities.

The arrest, detention and condemnation of trade unionists because of their human and trade union activities are not only serious violations of trade union rights, but also create an atmosphere of fear prejudicial to trade union development in Iran.

Support Education International’s campaign. Visit the website here.

After this, needed something cheery. On this petition, 62,809,427 signatures. Nice song, too.

The people will win.

It’s because of this kind of attitude, right here.

All that matters is whether Afghanistan can be counted on as a “potential ally of the United States.” Since it’s only about “American interests,” who cares if the Taliban regain power? It would “probably make little difference in America’s security,” and Washington could always just rely on “aid agencies” to provide the CIA with whatever intelligence it needs. As for “projecting American power” you could do that with an airfield or two, some Special Forces goons, and, it should go without saying, but he says it anyway, “a complaisant government in Kabul.”

In other words, to hell with Afghanistan: “In the long run, it needs to be seen as the remote, poor and ungovernable country it is.” It’s a “backwater.” It’s “no great Islamic civilization.” It has given Islam no “great saints.”

Registan takes him part here: Idiots On Afghanistan.