Journal of Equity and Free Speech

Journal of Equity and Free Speech Independent news and politics commentary journalism

JEFS wishes everyone a happy Dragon Boat Festival.
31/05/2025

JEFS wishes everyone a happy Dragon Boat Festival.

Interpreting the U.S.-Ukraine Agreement: The Devil is in the Details讀美烏協定：魔鬼藏於細節中"Economic sovereignty is an important c...
27/02/2025

Interpreting the U.S.-Ukraine Agreement: The Devil is in the Details
讀美烏協定：魔鬼藏於細節中

"Economic sovereignty is an important component of national sovereignty, and key minerals are a primary source of income for sovereign nations. With half of Ukraine’s future revenues from these resources required to be paid into the so-called joint fund, this effectively signals the loss of Ukraine’s economic sovereignty."

"經濟主權是一國主權的重要組成部分，而關鍵礦產是主權國家收入的主要來源，烏克蘭今後這類收入的一半必須上交給所謂的共有基金，基本上宣告了烏克蘭經濟主權的喪失。"

http://jefs.ch/?p=248

China's SupportNATO seeks a 2nd front after setbacks on the battlefield in Ukraine, Georgia could become a new one again...
06/11/2024

China's Support

NATO seeks a 2nd front after setbacks on the battlefield in Ukraine, Georgia could become a new one against Russia....China should not remain silent about the elections in the name of neutrality. Instead, it should affirm the legitimacy of the elections http://jefs.ch/?p=243

01/11/2024

Giving away US$1m daily to swing state voters, is Elon Musk crazy?

When Elon Musk announced that he would be giving away $1 million a day to voters in Pennsylvania, you might have thought it was an April Fool’s joke. But this so-called “Iron Man” of Silicon Valley is dead serious. However, Musk isn’t going to help charity – if you want a shot at that $1 million, you will need to sign a petition in support of Donald Trump!

Now, imagine this: You are just an ordinary voter in a swing state, and suddenly someone tells you that by simply signing your name, you could be entered into a lottery to win a million dollars. If you refer friends to join, you could even pocket an extra US$47 as a referral bonus. Tempting, right?

In plain terms, Musk is essentially buying votes from swing state voters—at a steep price. But while this might sound like he’s orchestrating some sort of politically charged Powerball, what he’s really doing is pushing the limits of America’s election laws.
Democrats are already sounding the alarm, calling this a blatant case of election bribery. Legally speaking, it’s a violation of federal law, and Musk could be facing jail time. But Musk claims this is merely his way of supporting the First and Second Amendments of the Constitution—free speech and gun rights—and that, compared to past elections, this doesn’t constitute voter bribery at all.
This move has added yet another layer of drama to an already tense election season. With less than 20 days to go before Election Day, swing state voters are becoming increasingly significant, especially in Pennsylvania.

To some, this might seem like an innovative way to “support democracy”. But to many more, it’s a disturbing reminder of just how money can warp the political process. If cold, hard cash can so directly sway voters, then what happens to the very essence of elections—the expression of free will?

And it raises a bigger, more troubling question: When a billionaire can so easily tip the scales of the political process, how many everyday citizens will walk into the voting booth for a quick buck, while their true concerns go unheard? Does this mean that, in future elections, the rich will simply keep raising the stakes, turning democracy into a spectacle—a game of high-stakes gambling?

Musk’s daily million-dollar “lottery” is a direct challenge to American election laws and democratic values. Where exactly is the legal line? How do we, as a society, reconcile this with our understanding of democracy? And how should we define the role of money in politics during election season? Whether this ploy will effectively draw more votes to the Republican side remains an open question. But one thing’s for sure: It’s a dangerous game, and Musk is playing it with reckless abandon.

Mr V
Reporter intern, JEF

http://jefs.ch/?p=235

....a sense of powerlessness among the Taiwanese people, who are aware of their inability to resist, leading to a phenom...
15/10/2024

....a sense of powerlessness among the Taiwanese people, who are aware of their inability to resist, leading to a phenomenon of "political apathy"....

http://jefs.ch/?p=223

Pager Explosion Divides the WorldWhile Israel’s intention is to strike against Hezbollah, the outcome is an attack on th...
22/09/2024

Pager Explosion Divides the World

While Israel’s intention is to strike against Hezbollah, the outcome is an attack on the collective interests of Europe and America, stirring a new wave of state terrorism internationally.

http://jefs.ch/?p=213

What about (ism) China?Earnest use of the term “whataboutism” is a dead giveaway of idiocy. It originates from the Irish...
22/09/2024

What about (ism) China?

Earnest use of the term “whataboutism” is a dead giveaway of idiocy. It originates from the Irish national liberation struggle, when supporters of the British empire’s first foray into colonialism were made to feel bad, icky. Egads! How did this emotional horror occur? By being told that their in-group was guilty of atrocities in Ireland that justified violence in self-defense.

“Whataboutism” is close enough to an actual logical fallacy — tu quoque or the appeal to hypocrisy — for intellectual mediocrities to be fooled into thinking that by using the term, they have made a point.

by Prof Peter Beattie

Full story 全文
http://jefs.ch/?p=170

「那邊（中國）又怎樣」主義

認真使用“那又怎樣”這個術語是愚蠢的明顯標誌。它源於愛爾蘭的民族解放鬥爭，當時支持英國帝國首度進行殖民主義的人感到內疚，感到不安。哎呀！這種情感上的恐怖是怎麼發生的？是因為被告知他們的團體在愛爾蘭犯下了罪行，這些罪行為暴力自衛提供了正當理由。

“那又怎樣”與一個實際的邏輯謬誤——同樣的錯誤或訴諸偽善——相似，讓那些智力普通的人誤以為使用這個術語就能提出一個論點。

特朗普躲過了初一，也逃過了十五美國當地時間9月15日（周日）下午 1時30分許，特朗普正在佛羅里達自家的高爾夫球場打高爾夫，但砰砰的槍聲打斷了他與密友的比賽，特朗普迅速被身邊的特工按倒在地，隨後被推上一輛裝甲車，離開了現場。這是繼7月13日...
18/09/2024

特朗普躲過了初一，也逃過了十五

美國當地時間9月15日（周日）下午 1時30分許，特朗普正在佛羅里達自家的高爾夫球場打高爾夫，但砰砰的槍聲打斷了他與密友的比賽，特朗普迅速被身邊的特工按倒在地，隨後被推上一輛裝甲車，離開了現場。

這是繼7月13日特朗普在賓州巴特勒鎮舉行群眾集會遭到暗殺以來的第二次。上一次特朗普的右耳被子彈打傷，而這一次安然無恙，槍手連瞄准及開槍的機會都沒撈到，就被眼尖的特工及時發現，也讓美國兩黨的政治大佬們松了一口氣。

在短短的62天里，特朗普遭到兩次暗殺，凸顯了在政治極化的大背景下，美國的政治暴力與日增，政治暗殺正呈現常態化的趨勢，政治人物的安保工作面臨著前所未有的挑戰。

全文：
http://jefs.ch/?p=155

轉載大公報 公評世界 周德武

大數據分析：美國總統候選人哈里斯為何刻意回避中美關係？Big Data Analysis: Why Does U.S. Presidential Candidate Harris Deliberately Avoid U.S.-China ...
18/09/2024

大數據分析：美國總統候選人哈里斯為何刻意回避中美關係？Big Data Analysis: Why Does U.S. Presidential Candidate Harris Deliberately Avoid U.S.-China Relations?

原文：http://jefs.ch/?p=129

Gold Apollo: The Explosive Pagers Manufactured by other Foreign Companies. Will File a Multinational LawsuitThe pagers u...
18/09/2024

Gold Apollo: The Explosive Pagers Manufactured by other Foreign Companies. Will File a Multinational Lawsuit

The pagers used by Hezbollah members were implanted with a small amount of explosives, which detonated simultaneously in multiple locations across the country, resulting in at least 9 deaths and approximately 2,800 injuries. According to officials from the U.S. and other countries familiar with the operation, these pagers were ordered by Hezbollah from a Taiwanese company.

Gold Apollo Company is located in Xizhi District, New Taipei City. The Economic Development Bureau of New Taipei City and the Xizhi Police Station visited the company this morning to inquire about the situation. Hsu Ching-kuang told the media that this batch of goods was “100% not manufactured by Taiwan’s Gold Apollo Company,” emphasizing that it was not made in Taiwan but abroad, stating, “I didn’t make it.”

Full story: http://jefs.ch/?p=158

Is National Security a tool to suppress in the West instead of non-West?UK and Geneva independent journalists and human ...
16/09/2024

Is National Security a tool to suppress in the West instead of non-West?

UK and Geneva independent journalists and human rights experts were invited to a UN Human Rights Council side event to share their stories of human rights offense by their government in the name of national security.

On 13th Sept, UK independent journalists, Craig Murray who was also a British ambassador to Uzbekistan, Richard Medhurst and Swiss-based human rights NGO founder Sharof Azizov were giving statements for themselves and client in a side event “Human Rights & Security Legislation” by Hong Kong NGO, International Probono Legal Services Association.

Craig Murray shared his experience of being detained and questioned at a Scottish airport for attending a pro-Palestinian event in Iceland. He was asked to surrender his electronic devices and passwords, and was denied access to a lawyer. He was warned that failure to comply would result in being charged under the Terrorism Act and sentenced to two years in prison. In the UK, any misinformation defined by the government on social media could lead to the closure of platforms which have subscribers deemed as hostile by the government. Mr. Murray believes that the political and media classes in the entire Western world are heavily influenced and bought by lobbying groups, and that the news seen on the BBC or The Guardian differs significantly from the reality.

Journalist Richard Medhurst recounted a similar terrifying experience as the first UK journalist arrested under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000. At Heathrow Airport, he was confronted by six plainclothes individuals claiming to be police without any identification. All his journalistic equipment, including microphones and wired and wireless headsets, was confiscated. He was locked in a cell resembling a toilet, monitored 24 hours a day by cameras. Medhurst could face charges and potentially be imprisoned for up to 14 years due to his journalistic work.

Medhurst criticized the Terrorism Act, stating that it is a form of abuse rather than legitimate use, as the legislation itself is so broad and vague, particularly Section 12. Its formulation could criminalize free speech and be easily misused by the UK to suppress reporting on group actions on the ground. He questioned the UK government: “Let me ask the UK government one last question. Is this what you want the world to know? Is this your desired legacy? How many more people do you intend to arrest? How many Palestinians will be murdered?”

Sharof Azizov, the founder of the co-organizing NGO, Justice for All International, stated that the Estonian Internal Security Service KAPO is increasingly becoming an instrument of repression, targeting activists, human rights defenders, and opposition figures like Mr. Ivo Peterson, all under the guise of protecting national security. He has been imprisoned based on absurd charges related to his nonviolent activities and has yet to be convicted. His continued imprisonment, along with threats and intimidation directed at other members of his party, reflects a broader climate of fear and political suppression orchestrated by KAPO.

Similarly, Jewish entrepreneur Yuliya Serebryannik had her assets unlawfully seized by the Turkmenistan government solely based on her ethnic background, demonstrating how state security agencies are being misused to marginalize minorities. The situation is no different in China. Chinese entrepreneurs, particularly Uyghur and Hong Kong businesspeople, face disproportionate sanctions under false pretenses, framed as measures to promote their rights. These sanctions have inflicted significant economic and social harm, undermining their businesses while stripping them of their political and civil rights, all conducted in the name of national security by foreign states. This raises serious concerns about adherence to international law.

(Photos from International Probono Legal Services Association)

Innes Tang Chief Research Analyst 2024.9.16

國家安全成為西方的鎮壓工具

英國及歐洲的獨立記者及人權專家受邀出席聯合國人權理事會的平衡會議（邊會），分享他們自身及代表客戶的真實人權被剝奪故事。

曾為英國駐烏茲別克大使的獨立記者Craig Murray，同樣來自英國的專業記者Richard Medhurst，及駐瑞士人權專家Sharof Azizov於9月13日由香港《國際公益法律服務協會》主辦的邊會【人權與國家安全立法】上分享了令人驚訝的西方人權真實故事。

Murray表示，他因為出席一個在冰島舉行的支持巴勒斯坦活動，在蘇格蘭機場被羈留問話，並被要求交出隨身的電子設備和密碼，並不容許約見律師，如果不交出設備或者不回答問題，將被直接被控告違法《恐怖主義法》及判刑2年監禁；在英國，只要在網路社交平台有被政府定義的假新聞，或者存在一些被政府定義為敵對國家的訂閱者，平台將會被關閉。梅里認為整個西方世界的政治和媒體階層受到設計遊說團體的強大影響及被收買，在BBC或衛報上看到的新聞和真實的情況完成不同。

記者Medhurst有類似的可怕經歷，是英國首名被2000年《恐怖主義法》第12條被逮捕的記者。在希思羅機場被六名穿著便衣、沒有身份證明、自稱警察在飛機入口處遞補。所有的記者設備，包括麥克風、有線和無線耳機都被沒收了。並被關進一個廁所般的地牢牢房內，24小時被攝錄監控。梅德赫斯特可能會被指控，可能會因為他的記者工作而入獄長達14年。

Medhurst認為《恐怖主義法》，這其實是一種濫用，而不是正當使用，因為這項立法本身是如此廣泛和模糊，尤其是第12條。它的制定方式可以使自由言論犯罪，並且可以被英國輕易濫用，來壓制關於地面上團體行動的報導。他質問英國政府：「讓我最後問英國政府一個問題。這是你想讓全世界知道的嗎？這是你想要的遺產嗎？你打算再逮捕多少人？還有多少巴勒斯坦人將被謀殺？」。

Azizov表示愛沙尼亞內部安全局KAPO越來越成為一種鎮壓工具，針對活動家、人權捍衛者和反對派人物（如伊沃·彼得森 Mr Aivo Peterson），以保護國家安全為名進行打壓。他因荒謬的非暴力活動指控而被監禁，且至今未被定罪。他的持續監禁，以及針對他黨內其他成員的威脅和恐嚇，反映出KAPO所操控的更廣泛的恐懼和政治壓制氛圍。

同樣，來自猶太裔的企業家尤利婭·謝列布里亞尼克（Yuliya Serebryannik），其資產被土庫曼斯坦政府非法扣押，完全是基於她的民族背景，顯示出國家安全機構如何被濫用以邊緣化少數群體。在中國，情況也不遑多讓。中國企業家，特別是維吾爾族和香港商人，因虛假的理由而面臨不成比例的制裁，這些制裁是以促進他們的權利為名的。這些制裁對他們造成了重大的經濟和社會傷害，削弱了他們的商業活動，同時剝奪了他們的政治和公民權利，這一切均以外國國家國家安全的名義進行。這引發了對國際法遵守的嚴重關切。

Innes Tang 駐日內瓦首席調查分析師 2024.9.16

原文
http://jefs.ch/?p=139

網站
http://www.jefs.ch

烏戰惡化 Ukraine/Russia Conflict Worsen
02/09/2024

烏戰惡化 Ukraine/Russia Conflict Worsen

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