Syria

Over the last year, a religious antipoverty organization has met with U.S. Treasury and White House officials to encourage them to declare the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad an illegitimate government. This action would impose restrictions on lending to Syria that supports its military or the needs of the Assad regime. When governments or financial institutions make this declaration it lets lenders know that if they lend to Syria they may not receive a return on their investment.

by Dr Vacy Vlazna

Forty years ago, Mother Agnes Mariam de la Croix, was a hippie traipsing around India, when she had a profound ‘road to Damascus‘ experience.

She returned to Lebanon and joined the enclosed Carmelite order which restored icons. She was astonished to find an icon with five layers dating back to the 11th century Church of Antioch from which she draws her religious roots and identity.

For 18 years she has been the abbess of a 6th Century Syrian Monastry of St James the Mutilated which was in ruins when she arrived and which she also restored.

Reprinted from the WSWS By Peter Symonds 2 June 2012 The Australian Labor government has again demonstrated its role in international affairs as the loyal point man for Washington, with the announcement on Tuesday that two Syrian diplomats, including the chargé d’affaires, had 72 hours to leave the country.

Over the last few weeks I have been sent by email or seen on Facebook many appeals calling for “International Action” in Syria. They have come from organisations such as AVAAZ, Amnesty USA but I have even seen one from Occupy Melbourne. Those appeals have been posted by people I consider to be progressive. Many of these people would definitely consider themselves anti-war and would have opposed the invasion of Iraq in 2003 by the U.S. and the “Coalition of the Willing”.