text:
Heart attack kills brother of Brazilian president

January 19, 2005

Mr Odair de Inácio Góis, aged 52, died Tuesday night at 8:30 at the Central Hospital of São Bernardo do Campo, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

According to the doctors, he had a heart attack. Inácio was the paternal half-brother of the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The funeral will be held at Paulicéia Cemitery in São Bernado do Campo. President Lula had between 17 and 25 siblings (including half-brothers and half-sisters).


text:
Wikinews:What Wikinews is

Wikinews is a news source written entirely by its users. It is built on certain core values:

 * Wikinews is about news. Our articles are on current events, we are not in the business of writing history books or encyclopedia entries. If a story is breaking over a several day span, then multiple articles should be written on the topic.
 * Wikinews is focused. That is, for clarity to the reader, stories concentrate on a single current event or phenomenon at a specific time.
 * Wikinews is written from a neutral point of view. Where-ever possible, all points of view should be presented providing they are referenced and are on-topic, with appropriate context given to how widely the points of view are held.
 * Wikinews is factual. Articles should deal only with facts and their verifiable consequences. There is neither conjecture nor personal opinion of the author(s).
 * Wikinews is relevant. Wikinews stories reflect events that impact people and explain why their subject matter is important to readers who may be unfamiliar with the topic.
 * Wikinews is both global and local. Any story can be published where-ever in the world it is from, as long as it is news.
 * Wikinews is collaborative. A Wikinews story does not have one reporter as its author, the world is invited to join in and write, edit and rewrite each article to improve its content.

If you discover an article which doesn't come up to these standards, please edit that page to fix it! If there is no possibility of the page being brought up to these standards, please list it for deletion as a last resort.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Wikinews:What Wikinews is


text:
Wikinews:Neutral point of view

Wikinews policy is that all articles should have a neutral point of view. According to Wikimedia founder Jimbo Wales, NPOV is "absolute and non-negotiable" (for Wikipedias).

Introduction
The neutral point of view policy states that one should write articles without bias, representing all views fairly.

Neutral point of view means that an article should fairly represent all sides in a news story, and not make an article state, imply, or insinuate that any one side is correct. (Of course, there are limits to which points of view are worth mentioning, and this can be an area of conflict.)

It is crucial that Wikinewsies work together to make articles unbiased. This comprises one of the great merits of Wikinews.

The original formulation of NPOV

 * The neutral point of view attempts to present ideas and facts in such a fashion that both supporters and opponents can agree. Of course, 100% agreement is not possible; there are ideologues in the world who will not concede to any presentation other than a forceful statement of their own point of view. We can only seek a type of writing that is agreeable to essentially rational people who may differ on particular points. -- Jimbo Wales, Wikimedia founder.

Why should Wikinews be unbiased?
Wikinews is a general news source, which means it is a representation of facts about events. But we (humans) sometimes disagree about specific cases. For any topic on which there are competing views, each view represents a different theory of what the truth is, and its adherents believe that the other views are false. Where there is disagreement about what is true, there's disagreement about what constitutes knowledge. Wikinews works because it's a collaborative effort; but, whilst collaborating, how can we solve the problem of endless "edit wars" in which one person asserts that p, whereupon the next person changes the text so that it asserts that not-p?

A solution is that we accept, for purposes of working on Wikinews, that "human knowledge" includes all different significant theories on all different topics. We could sum up facts (in this sense) in a biased way: we'd state a series of theories about topic T, and then claim that the truth about T is such-and-such. But again, consider that Wikinews is an international, collaborative project. Nearly every view on every subject will be found among our authors and readers. To write from a neutral point of view, one presents controversial views without asserting them; to do that, it generally suffices to present competing views in a way that is more or less acceptable to their adherents, and also to attribute the views to their adherents.

There is further reason to commit ourselves to this policy. Namely, when it is clear to readers that we do not expect them to adopt any particular opinion, this leaves them free to make up their minds for themselves, and thus to encourage in them intellectual independence. Totalitarian governments and dogmatic institutions everywhere might find reason to be opposed to Wikinews, if we succeed in adhering to our non-bias policy: the presentation of many competing theories on a wide variety of subjects suggests that we, the creators of Wikinews, trust readers' competence to form their own opinions themselves. Texts that present multiple viewpoints fairly, without demanding that the reader accept any one of them, are liberating. Neutrality subverts dogmatism, and nearly everyone working on Wikinews can agree this is a good thing.

What is the neutral point of view?
What we mean isn't obvious, and is easily misunderstood.

There are many other possible valid understandings of what "unbiased," "neutral," etc. mean. The notion of "unbiased writing" that informs Wikinews's policy is "presenting conflicting views without asserting them." This needs further clarification:

First, and most importantly, consider what it means to say that unbiased writing presents conflicting views without asserting them. Unbiased writing does not present only the most popular view; it does not assert the most popular view as being correct after presenting all views; it does not assert that some sort of intermediate view among the different views is the correct one. Presenting all points of view says, more or less, that p-ists believe that p, and q-ists believe that q, and that's where the debate stands at present.

A point here bears elaboration. We said that the neutral point of view is not, contrary to the seeming implication of the phrase, some actual point of view that is "neutral," or "intermediate," among the different positions - a particular understanding of what "neutral point of view" means. The prevailing Wikinews understanding is that the neutral point of view is not a point of view at all; according to our understanding, when one writes neutrally, one is very careful not to state (or imply or insinuate or subtly massage the reader into believing) that any particular view at all is correct.

A further point bears elaboration as well. Writing objectively can be conceived as representing disputes, characterizing them, rather than engaging in them. One can think of unbiased writing as the fair analytical description of debates. Now an important qualification. Articles that compare views need not give minority views as much or as detailed a description as more popular views. We should not attempt to represent a dispute as if a view held by only a small minority of people deserved as much attention as a majority view. That may be misleading as to the shape of the dispute. If we are to represent the dispute fairly, we should present competing views in proportion to their representation among experts on the subject, or among the concerned parties.

Bias per se need not be conscious. For example, beginners in a field often fail to realize that what sounds like common sense is actually biased in favour of one particular view. To take another example, writers can, without intent, propagate "geographical" bias, by for example describing a dispute as it is conducted in one country, without knowing that the dispute is framed differently elsewhere.

The policy of having a neutral point of view is not to hide different points of view, but to show the diversity of viewpoints. In case of controversy, the strong points and weak points will be shown according to each point of view, without taking a side. The neutral point of view is not a "separate but equal" policy. The facts, in themselves, are neutral, but the simple accumulation of them cannot be the neutral point of view. If only the favourable facts of a point of view are shown in an article, the article will still be non-neutral.

A simple formulation
We sometimes give an alternative formulation of the non-bias policy: assert facts, including facts about opinions--but don't assert opinions themselves. By "fact," on the one hand, we mean "a piece of information about which there is no serious dispute." In this sense, that a survey produced a certain published result is a fact. That Mars is a planet is a fact. That Socrates was a philosopher is a fact. No one seriously disputes any of these things. So we can feel free to assert as many of them as we can. By "opinion," on the other hand, we mean "a piece of information about which there is some dispute." There's bound to be borderline cases where we're not sure if we should take a particular dispute seriously; but there are many propositions that very clearly express opinions. That the Beatles were the greatest band ever is an opinion. That the United States was wrong to drop the atomic bomb over Hiroshima and Nagasaki is an opinion.

For determining whether something is fact or opinion in this sense, it does not matter what the actual truth of the matter is; there can at least in theory be "false facts" (things that everybody agrees upon, but which are, in fact, false).

Wikinews is devoted to stating facts and only facts. Where we might want to state opinions, we convert that opinion into a fact by attributing the opinion to someone, as the essay Attribution explains. So, rather than asserting, "The Beatles was the greatest band", we can say, "Most Americans believe that the Beatles was the greatest band," which is a fact verifiable by survey results. In the first instance we assert an opinion; in the second we "convert" that opinion into a fact by attributing it to a "who".

It's important to note this formulation is substantially different from the "some people believe..." formulation popular in political debates. The reference requires an identifiable and subjectively quantifiable population.

In presenting an opinion, moreover, it is important that we bear in mind that there are sometimes even disagreements about how opinions are best stated; sometimes, it will be necessary to qualify the description of an opinion or to present several formulations, simply to arrive at a solution that fairly represents all the leading views of the situation. It's generally important to give the facts about the reasons behind the views, and to make it clear who holds them. (It's often best to cite a prominent representative of the view.)

A consequence: writing for the enemy
Those who constantly attempt to advocate their views on politically charged topics (for example), who seem not to care about whether other points of view are represented fairly, are violating the non-bias policy ("write unbiasedly"). Policy entails that it is our job to speak for the other side. If we don't commit ourselves to doing that, Wikinews will be much weaker for it. We should all be engaged in explaining each other's points of view as sympathetically as possible.

The other side might very well find your attempts to characterize their views substandard, but it's the thought that counts. In resolving disputes over neutrality issues, it's far better that we acknowledge that all sides must be presented fairly, and make at least an attempt at presenting the other sides fairly. That will be appreciated much more than not trying at all.

"Writing for the enemy" might make it seem as if we were adding deliberately flawed arguments to Wikinews, which would be a very strange thing to do. But it's better to view this (otherwise puzzling) behaviour as adding the best (published) arguments of the opposition, preferably citing some prominent person who has actually made the argument in the form in which you present it, stating them as sympathetically as possible.

Anglo-American-centric point of view
''Wikinews seems to have an Anglo-American focus. Is this contrary to the neutral point of view?''

Yes, it is, especially when dealing with articles that require an international perspective. The presence of articles written from a United States, Canadian, British or Oceanic perspective is simply a reflection of the fact that there are many U.S. and Commonwealth citizens working on the project, which in turn is a reflection of the fact that so many of them are online. This is an ongoing problem that should be corrected by active collaboration from people from other countries. But rather than introducing their own cultural bias, they should seek to improve articles by removing any examples of cultural bias that they encounter.

Dealing with biased contributors
''I agree with the non-bias policy but there are some here who seem completely biased. I have to go around and clean up after them. What do I do?''

Unless the case is really egregious, maybe the best thing is to call attention to the problem publicly, pointing the perpetrators to this page (but politely — you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar) and asking others to help.

Avoiding constant disputes
How can we avoid constant and endless warfare over neutrality issues?

Would that people asked this question more often. We should never debate about how Wikinews should be biased. It shouldn't be biased at all.

The best way to avoid warfare over bias is to remember that we are all reasonably intelligent, articulate people here, or we wouldn't be working on this and caring so much about it. We have to make it our goal to understand each others' perspectives and to work hard to make sure that those other perspectives are fairly represented. When any dispute arises as to what the article "should" say or what is "true," we must not adopt an adversarial stance; we must do our best to step back and ask ourselves, "How can this dispute be fairly characterized?" This has to be asked repeatedly as each new controversial point is stated. It is not our job to edit Wikinews so that it reflects our own idiosyncratic views and then defend those edits against all comers; it is our job to work together, mainly adding new content, but also, when necessary, coming to a compromise about how a controversy should be described, so that it is fair to all sides.

Adapted from Wikipedia:Neutral point of view.

title: Wikinews:Neutral point of view


text:
Video details tortures by Saddam’s soldiers

January 19, 2005

A video provided by the American Enterprise Institute intends to show tortures committed by the soldiers of Saddam Hussein during his rule.

The film shows extremely graphic scenes and it is NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN. It depicts Iraqi soldiers singing and praising Saddam, beating prisoners and cutting prisoners' fingers and hands off.

During Saddam Hussein's regime, about a quarter of a million Iraqis were executed. Many individual Iraqis of all faiths and ethnicities were tortured and killed for real or perceived opposition to Iraq's government. Torture during Saddam's regime was characterized by: medical experiments, crucifixions, genital amputations, hot iron marking, tongue fixing with a nail, teeth extraction with pincers, public beheadings, etc.

The four minute video (27.4 MiB) can be downloaded from the AEI website.

This video was released in June 2004. Most of the American and international media didn't show it until now, despite the fact that channels of mass communication regularly released Abu Ghraib's torture photos.


text:
Annual Islamic pilgrimage takes place

Over two million Muslims have today gathered in the Saudi capital of Meccah for the annual pilgrimage, or hajj. The climbing of the 18 km west of mecca Mount Arafat is the high point of the visit.

The Saudi government, however, is taking no chances and has arranged for over 50,000 security officials to deter would-be terrorists and to prevent stampedes.

More than 20,000 buses will be carrying pilgrims to where the prophet Muhammad supposedly gave his last sermon. The pilgrims gather in the Namera mosque, where they stand for a whole day, dressed in their white garments, to repent their sins.

All able-bodied Muslims are expected to complete the ceremony at least once in their lives.

title: Annual Islamic pilgrimage takes place


text:
Talk:Video details tortures by Saddam’s soldiers

How convenient...

p.s- this is no criticism on wikipedia, only on the institution.

Issues
This video is released by the American Enterprise Institute, not the U.S. government. The graphic is thus not in the public domain, but copyrighted. Furthermore, this institute has a history of covering up, lying, and falsifying in defense of the U.S.A. and cannot be considered a trustworthy source.

This is not to say this article is wrong or inappropriate; the story is potentially timely and relevant. However, it requires further independent sourcing. - Amgine 22:20, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * The Human Rights Watch website is a good source. The crimes commited by Saddam Hussein are inquestionable, you cant say they never ocurred. Pentagon out, I have written "allegedly showing tortures", I hope it is better. -- Carlosar 00:59, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

The only thing I could see about the AEI is that they are a pro-capitalism organization. I think this is not a motive to invalidating the movie. If you see something wrong you need to be clearer. What did you say about AEI is a no-doubt-fact, a disputed fact or a opinion? If you have suggestions, write here. Anyway I will think about it. Thank you very much. -- Carlosar 00:59, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I certainly can't disagree with your logic, but I have made the same argument on some of those other articles. As a public domain publication we cannot use copyrighted graphics. - Amgine
 * I will not use the pictures. -- Carlosar 01:56, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

If the movie is by the former Iraq government, it is copyrighted and for that reason alone we cannot use it. --- Amgine
 * I will not use the pictures, but I will left the link to the movie. -- Carlosar 01:56, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

As for the AEI; they're a bit more than merely a pro-capitalism organization. That is not, however, a reason not to use them as a source, but they need to be carefully cited and sourced. For example: "according to the American Enterprise Institute..." or "A video provided by the American Enterprise Institute purports to show..." - Amgine
 * I will try to do that. You can try do these changes in the text too.-- Carlosar 01:56, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC) -- Carlosar

In fact, they are an excellent source for an extreme viewpoint of united staters who support a radical militaristic viewpoint - a minority viewpoint even in the United States - so long as you also do not become just an advertisement for them. Don't get used as a tool by a political group. - Amgine 01:45, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * Ok -- Carlosar 01:56, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Okay, you're right, I should be specifically constructive.
 * Find additional sources indicating this video comes from the U.S. military. Without them, the article is solely what the AEI says.
 * Find additional sources which discuss what this video indicates. Who, doing what, to whom, when.
 * Provide context for readers: what this indicates for Sadam, how that specifically might apply in the Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay situations. Are Bush administrative officials likely to face similar charges? why or why not? - Amgine
 * I intend doing an article about Saddam. I have just used a video from the Americans because the video is about Saddam Hussein. If Japanese people have released such video, I would use Japanese video about Saddam, not the American one, for example. I dont want to write about the Americans. Anyway I can try to do something about it.-- Carlosar 02:11, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

 * Paragraph #2 does not discuss the torture video or torture directly. Consider the scope of the article, and the title, and decide if the article could be broadened. - Amgine 01:45, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * I can try. One possible solution is separate the subject in two articles: one about the video, another about the Saddam regime. Thank you very much.-- Carlosar 01:56, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC).

Okay, take it where you want to. The video, in my opinion, is minor compared to your subject matter. I'll be interested in seeing where it goes from here. - Amgine 02:13, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * As you suggested I rewrote the paragraph #2. It describes the torture during Saddam's regime now. Thank you. -- Carlosar 02:34, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Pretty cool :)
I think this discussion and the evolution of the article shows Wikinews at its best :) Dan100 (Talk) 18:05, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

 * Agreed - it is a grim story, as Pingswept noted, but I think the fact-checking, NPOV, and drive to find independent, non-partisan sources is why Wikinews will develop into at least as useful a resource as Google News. - McCart42 22:49, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)


text:
Talk:Marxist intellectuals support arrested FARC leader

Edited

 * Looks good to me. It appears well-balanced and cited.  I've worked out a few style details, but it's otherwise fine.


text:
User:Ryan524/Projects

My Current Projects (Listed By Priority):

1. Create & Maintain Wikinews Streaming Internet Broadcast (yes more important than Fixing Vandalism, plenty of people do that anyway) 2. Fix Vandalism 3. Cleanup (if i can find articles listed for cleanup that i could contribute to anyway) 4. New Pages

Last Updated: May 18, 2005 6:34PM PST

title: User:Ryan524/Projects


text:
User talk:Ryan524

Archive1 Post a new comment by clicking here

WN:A
I've asked you a question at your rfa. --A101 - (talk) 16:04, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

Ukranian manufacturer preparing to sell Adolf Hitler dolls
Go ahead. But imagine if all the sources were deleted from their respective hosts and we removed them one-by-one. Pretty soon it would look like we concocted the story on our own without any sources. I feel pretty strongly that the link should remain. Just check our archives for instance ... almost all the sources are now dead links because the providers don't feel like keeping it all online like we do. Cheers, --SVTCobra 01:39, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

 * I don't think so. The BBC put it up there ... and they had it there for days. We shouldn't apologize for them and how they mislead us. Instead we should leave it there because they tried to erase history. They, the BBC, should have left a message that they took it down because it was a hoax ... not us, Wikinews. --SVTCobra 01:47, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

 * Well, you can add that as a note to the link, if you like. But don't remove the link. --SVTCobra 01:54, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

RfA and AR
Hi,

I noticed you removed your RfA and AR from various templates. I don't think the AR should be removed yet as I am the only person to vote. Your RfA should be closed but I would wait until someone makes the change.

User:Anonymous101  17:26, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

 * I am no longer seeking Accreditation, and their is no point leaving the Rfa on the templates as voting is closed, the election just hasn't been certified so to speak...lol.--Ryan524 - (talk) 22:05, 7 May 2008 (UTC)

New to Wikinews.
Thanks for the message, I am (as you know new to wikinews) but I have been on Wikipedia before so I sort of understand hoe this works. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mia-jmw (talk • contribs) 00:15, 8 May 2008 (UTC)

Your archiving requests at Admin action alerts
We now have a dynamic automatically generated list of stuff to archive at WN:ARCHIVE, so the requests at WN:AAA - was there a particular reason you were listing stuff at WN:AAA ? Cirt - (talk) 18:17, 9 May 2008 (UTC)

A "heads-up" regarding Dottie Rambo dies in tour bus crash
Image policy has changed quite a bit since you were last active. You can see Image use policy/New wikimedia policy action plan/FAQ. It is very long so I will abbreviate for the image that you uploaded for this article: You need to write a non-free use rationale (aka use rationale or fair use rationale), to accompany such an image. Personally, I like to use this template Non-free use rationale to make sure I have all bases covered. If you don't, someone will surely tag it for deletion or at least put it in Category:Non-free images lacking fair use rationales. Cheers, --SVTCobra 23:25, 12 May 2008 (UTC)
 * Oh I know it does, I just never got to adding it when I was trying to get the article together, but its got it now.--Ryan524 (talk) 03:47, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Sources template
Replied literally seconds ago on IRC. Blood Red Sandman (Talk)   (Contribs) 21:52, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Your account will be renamed
Hello,

The developer team at Wikimedia is making some changes to how accounts work, as part of our on-going efforts to provide new and better tools for our users like cross-wiki notifications. These changes will mean you have the same account name everywhere. This will let us give you new features that will help you edit and discuss better, and allow more flexible user permissions for tools. One of the side-effects of this is that user accounts will now have to be unique across all 900 Wikimedia wikis. See the announcement for more information.

Unfortunately, your account clashes with another account also called RyanB88. To make sure that both of you can use all Wikimedia projects in future, we have reserved the name RyanB88~enwikinews that only you will have. If you like it, you don't have to do anything. If you do not like it, you can pick out a different name.

Your account will still work as before, and you will be credited for all your edits made so far, but you will have to use the new account name when you log in.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Yours, Keegan Peterzell Community Liaison, Wikimedia Foundation 23:21, 17 March 2015 (UTC)

title: User talk:Ryan524


text:
Washington state lawmaker looks to outlaw handheld cell phones while driving

January 19, 2005

Washington Tracy Eide (D, ) wants to pass a bill making it illegal to drive a motor vehicle and have a  in your hand. There are exceptions, such as reporting an accident or in an emergency, but under her bill drivers would be required to use a "hands-free" device with their cell phone or face a penalty of $100.

Several studies have found a link between cell phone use and accidents. A reported study found that driving while using a cell phone creates distractions similar to driving with a blood alcohol reading of 0.08%. According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, approximately 700 accidents involving drivers using cell phones occurred in 2004.

"Where's your other hand? There's got to be two hands on the wheel. Signaling, people aren't signaling any more. You start thinking about the big picture, it gets kind of scary out there and people, it's the equivalent of driving while you're intoxicated," said Tracy Eide.

Cell phone companies are opposed to the bill, saying people can still use the radio and put make-up on while driving. "Certainly when my kids were little, haven't we all been guilty of turning around and going 'hey, knock it off.' Well, you're taking your eyes off the road," said a governmental affairs representative for Sprint.

New Jersey, New York, and the District of Columbia already ban holding a cell phone while driving; a "hands-free" cell phone is legal. Other states, such as Maryland, are considering other bans such as targeting youthful drivers on provisional licenses.


text:
Yahoo triples its quarterly profit on strong advertising revenue

January 19, 2005

Yahoo!, the world's favorite Internet destination, reported $373 million in net income for the three month period ended December 31. Revenues were $1,078 million for the fourth quarter of 2004, a 62 percent increase compared to $664 million for the same period of 2003. “We are attracting more and more users to Yahoo!’s network of services and driving their usage deeper with more relevant products and services. This deeper usage is the real magic behind the surpassing of our financial objectives,” explained Susan Decker, the company's chief financial officer.

More Details

 * Revenues excluding traffic acquisition costs (“TAC”) were $785 million for the fourth quarter of 2004, a 54 percent increase compared to $511 million for the same period of 2003
 * Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2004 was $691 million, a 56 percent increase compared to $443 million for the same period of 2003
 * Operating income for the fourth quarter of 2004 was $235 million, a 149 percent increase compared to $94 million for the same period of 2003
 * Operating income before depreciation and amortization for the fourth quarter of 2004 was $327 million, an 84 percent increase compared to $178 million for the same period of]] 2003


text:
Wikinews talk:What Wikinews is

Good for first timers
I think this is an excellent summation of what Wikinews is and ought to be. We should probably have this linked on the appropriate "Getting Started" pages once we agree on it as a policy. MikeEdwards 21:09, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)

What Wikinews could be
In recent years, I've been very concerned about the corporate news media in the United States moving away from localism. I would like to see Wikinews work to restore this somehow. Build crews of local "reporters" from localities around the world who don't just repeat news from existing paper and electronic sources, but also generate news from their own reporting on the scenes of local events. I would especially like to see greater coverage of local politics and neighborhood events that the corporate media seems to miss sometimes because they're so concentrated on "murder, weather and sports." I don't think all Wikinews has to be "interesting" on a global level, as real local news is what we're missing the most in the U.S., and local news in Louisville, Kentucky probably would be of very little interest in Bangalore, India. I am essentially looking for a glocalized news source that provides an alternative to corporate media. Stevietheman 05:52, 31 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * This is a part of what we would like to do. One of the elements of this is to have people, local people, doing original reporting on what is happening - in their neighborhood, school district, town council meetings, etc. I really think this is what will make us stand out as a way for everyone to make, and be, news. - Amgine 22:25, 7 Feb 2005 (UTC)

title: Wikinews talk:What Wikinews is


text:
Research demonstrates GM crops can benefit wildlife

January 19, 2005

Researchers in Britain have claimed that genetically modified crops can benefit wildlife.

The scientists at Broom's Barn research station discovered that with modified crop management systems genetically modified herbicide-tolerant sugar beet could help wildlife. They timed the spring application of herbicide to maximise both crop yields and the benefits of leaving weeds in the field. Insects could feed on the weeds, and birds could feed on the insects, as well as the seeds from the weeds. The second summer spray of herbicide was eliminated, reducing costs and the amount of chemicals used.

It is hoped that these cost benefits and the high crop yields will lead to farmer's acceptance of these approaches if the beet is authorised for widespread planting.

The study, Management Of GM Herbicide-tolerant Sugar Beet For Spring And Autumn Environmental Benefit, was funded in 2001 and 2002 by a consortium of GM industry interests, the Association of Biotechnology Companies (ABC).


text:
Bush inaugurated for second term

The United States inaugurated George W. Bush for a second term as president today. In his speech to the American people, Bush highlighted the need to bring freedom to world, using the word "freedom" some 19 times and "tyranny" 5 times.

"America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and servitude, or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies," said Bush.

Security has been very tight in the nation's capital, despite the lack of any specific threats. The costs of security have fallen to the District of Columbia, a departure from past inaugurations. The money will come out of the District's Homeland Security Fund.

A three-day celebration costing around US$40-50 million has been organized for the President. It is set to be the most expensive inauguration celebration in U.S. history.

The inaugration week is the only time that companies can wine and dine politicians. For instance, the Secretary of Transportation, Norm Mineta, was entertained by General Motors, a company over which he has considerable regulatory power.

 * Bush inaugurated for second term
 * Bush's Inaugural Speech

title: Bush inaugurated for second term


text:
UK soldiers go on trial for abusing Iraqi prisoners

January 19, 2005

Three British soldiers are being court martialled by a military court in Osnabruck, Germany. They are accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners at a humanitarian aid camp called the Bread Basket outside of Basra, in May 2003.

The court has been shown 22 photographs showing the alleged abuse. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has expressed his disgust at the images but also his hopes that the allegations will not taint the image of the British Army.

Two soldiers are denying all charges while a third has admitted one charge, but denied another. One soldier's defence lawyer has stated that the soldiers were following orders, having been told to "work [the prisoners] hard."

The trial is expected to last three to four weeks.


text:
User:Blankfaze~enwikinews

my en user page

title: User:Blankfaze~enwikinews


text:
User:Blankfaze~enwikinews/monobook.css

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title: User:Blankfaze~enwikinews/monobook.css


text:
User:Blankfaze~enwikinews/sig

BLANKFAZE]] | [[User talk:blankfaze|(что??)

title: User:Blankfaze~enwikinews/sig


text:
User talk:4.27.237.116

Welcome
4.27.237.116, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! -- IlyaHaykinson 23:38, 19 Jan 2005 (UTC)
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 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
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title: User talk:4.27.237.116


text:
500 policemen seek drug dealers in Rio

This morning about 500 policemen occupied the Morro da Rocinha, a favela in Rio de Janeiro. The action is a part of a police operation against drug dealers.

Police say they recovered 11 previously stolen motorcycles, a grenade, a fusil, a walkie-talkie and fireworks (the criminals usually use fireworks to warn fellows about the arrival of police). Three men suspected of drug dealing were arrested: Fernando Pereira Lima (aged 22) Alessandro Martins (aged 27) and a boy (aged 17 - Brazilian laws forbid the release of names of teenagers younger than 18 in reporting legal cases). The teenager allegedly shot the grenade against the policemen, but was himself hurt. He is stable after treatment at the Miguel Couto hospital.

The drug dealers from Morro da Rocinha are in a war against drug dealers from the neighboring Vidigal favela. Local populations of both Morro da Rocinha and Vidigal are endangered by the criminals, and have demanded urgent actions by the authorities.

title: 500 policemen seek drug dealers in Rio


text:
Talk:500 policemen seek drug dealers in Rio

Check and publish
Pleasen, someone check and publish this article. The article is small and I think it is easy checking. Thank you very much. -- Carlosar 00:25, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)


text:
Talk:Yahoo triples its quarterly profit on strong advertising revenue

did you mean Yahoo triples its profit from advertising? --216.229.236.96 00:42, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * I think even that was incorrect. I renamed to "Yahoo triples its quarterly profit on strong advertising revenue". -- IlyaHaykinson 06:52, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)


text:
Talk:United States trade deficit reaches all time high

The United States Government reported the largest trade deficit in its history today (see graph below), totalling $60.3 billion for the month of November.
 * Where is the graph? -- Carlosar 03:08, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)


text:
Bucharest Metro operator to purchase more modern trainsets

January 20, 2005

Metrorex, the operator of the Bucharest Metro in Romania's capital, has signed a US$144 million contract with Bombardier for the delivery of 20 additional six-car metro trains for the network. This marks the second phase of the Bucharest Metro's modernisation, the first being the order of 108 state-of-the-art trainsets from Bombadier in 1999. The first series of trainsets were put into operation in 2002 and currently operate on Line 2 of the metro. The second order, signed on January 18, 2005, will ensure that, by 2006, the Bombadier trainsets will service all four lines of the network, transforming the Bucharest Metro into one of the most modern systems in Europe.

The parts for the cars will be produced in Germany and Sweden, with the final assembly taking place in Craiova, Romania.

Since 1999, the Bucharest Metro, which is the largest urban rail system in southeastern Europe, has embarked on a comprehensive modernisation campaign. Marius Lapadat, the general director of Metrorex, claims that "residents and visitors... are impressed with these new state-of-the-art trains", referring to the 108 Bombadier trainsets already running on Line 2 of the network.

This second order is expected to further consolidate the Metro's image as a modern and convenient way of travelling, especially since line extensions are being constructed presently. Lapadat also stated that, "The metro provides a modern feel to Bucharest which is important for our economic future." In early 2003, Metrorex ordered new traffic control and interlocking systems worth US$14 million from Bombardier.

The modernisation programme for the Bucharest Metro, including the order for new trainsets, is funded equally by Metrorex and the European Investment Bank, each contributing 50% to the entire sum.


text:
Russian diplomats operated string of brothels in Finland

January 20, 2005

Diplomats at the Trade Representation of the Russian embassy have for a number of years operated at least 8 brothels in the Finnish capital. The police investigation, which has just been completed, revealed that the diplomats were planning to expand their operation. They even planned to open a large hotel.

About 100 Russian prostitutes worked at the brothels, and the diplomats are known to have pocketed more than $200,000. The police have not been able to interrogate the diplomats because of their diplomatic immunity. They left Finland soon after the police investigation began last spring.


text:
Romanian artists auction off their works for tsunami victims

January 20, 2005

Several prominent Romanian artists and celebrities will gather at the Radio Hall in Bucharest on Sunday, January 23, to raise money for the victims of the catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami of December 26, 2004. In an event titled Romanian Artists in Support of Asia, organised by The Reporter Foundation of Romania, artists will auction off their works, as well as personal objects, with all proceeds being donated to the relief efforts for the tsunami victims.

Media celebrities such as the soprano Felicia Filip and singers Angela Similea and Dida Dragan will also be participating, as well as Maia Morgenstern, known internationally for her role in the film The Passion of the Christ. All ambassadors accredited in Bucharest, as well as political personalities, have been invited to participate.

Romanian Artists in Support of Asia is the second major public event organised in Romania to support the victims of the recent Indian Ocean disaster. On Sunday, January 16, the Romanian public raised the equivalent of 395,000 euro in a telethon, while the Romanian Government pledged 150,000 euro for the relief effort.

The artistic event is also part of a campaign by the Bucharest City Hall that seeks to relaunch the image of the Romanian capital as a creative and colourful metropolis. The city will be the first in southeastern Europe to host CowParade, the world's largest public art event, between June and August this year.

Related artices

 * Romanians raise 395,000 euro for tsunami victims
 * Bucharest to host its first ever CowParade


text:
Condoleezza Rice confirmed as next U.S. Secretary of State, pending full Senate vote

January 20, 2005

Condoleezza Rice could become the first female African-American Secretary of State, after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee gave the go ahead yesterday. Full approval from the Senate is necessary before Rice can take the job.

Democrats have refused to waive the one-day delay between nomination and a Senate vote in order to analyse thoroughly Dr. Rice's testimony to the Foreign Relations Committee. The Senate vote is expected to take place next week.

Several Democratic senators posed tough challenges to Rice during the hearings.

"I'm worried about your lack of candor, and I'm giving you a chance to set the record straight," said Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA).


text:
User talk:158.182.1.30

Welcome
158.182.1.30, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! -- IlyaHaykinson 08:41, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
 * Cite sources - everything in a Wikinews article must be sourced
 * Introduction - overview of the site
 * Writing an article - how to write and publish a complete article
 * Content guide - what's suitable for Wikinews
 * Style guide - how articles should look before publishing
 * Contents - the contents page.
 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
 * Developing stories need finishing and publishing
 * Discussions need your input
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 * And of course, stories need writing!

title: User talk:158.182.1.30


text:
Talk:Condoleezza Rice confirmed as next U.S. Secretary of State, pending full Senate vote

This article is still quite short and could really use much more help. -- IlyaHaykinson 08:57, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * Added the Barbara Boxer quote and Salon reference MikeEdwards 17:29, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)


text:
Brazilian President meets President of Colombia

January 20, 2005

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva travelled to the Colombian city of Leticia, in the triborder region, where he met with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. They discussed the crisis between Colombia and Venezuela.

The crisis began after the arrest of the FARC leader Rodrigo Granda, also known as Ricardo Gonzalez. Venezuela argued that Granda's arrest is illegal and that Colombia invaded Venezuelan territory in the course of the arrest. Colombia, in turn, claimed the arrest occurred inside Colombian territory and accused Venezuela of harboring terrorists.

Lula and Uribe did not say very much publicly, opting instead to have a reserved conversation to discuss the matter. Lula proposed a bilateral solution between Colombia and Venezuela, suggesting himself as a peacemaker between the two countries.

Later, Lula talked by phone with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The Brazilian Minister of Foreign Relations Celso Amorim will coordinate the eventual Brazilian efforts to help solve the crisis.

Yesterday, after a meeting with Peruvian Minister of Foreign Relations Manuel Rodríguez, the Colombian Minister of Foreign Relations, Carolina Barco, said in a interview with Radio Caracol that Colombian chancellery is engaging in a dialogue in the best terms with the Venezuelan chancellery and that there exists the best spirit to solve the problems.

Lula's role
Brazil has a seemingly good relationship with Colombia. In March 2003, Lula met Uribe and they discussed the concerns of both countries. They also discussed the FARC. Brazil did not want to name the FARC as a terrorist group. Amorim explained that it is not part of Brazilian policy to classify political groups as terrorists. Brazil, however voted for a Organization of American States motion condemning an alleged terrorist FARC attack in Colombia,.

Chavez and Lula have a close relationship. President Lula repeatedly defended Chavez. Both men have been said to manifest support and empathy for the Cuban President Fidel Castro, though Lula has distanced himself publicly from the Cuban leader.

In an interview with the Washington Post not long after his election, Lula said, "In relation to Cuba, let's not confuse the passion that my generation has for the Cuban revolution and what it represented then with any approval of the Cuban regime today. I defend religious freedom, cultural freedom, freedom for trade unions and political freedom." However, Lula tried to expel the New York Times journalist Larry Rohter because of writings deemed libelous,. Also Lula tried to create a council formed by sympathizers and members of his party to control the press,.

The FARC is a member of the Foro de São Paulo organization led by Lula. Lula and others members of his party already have received FARC leaders many times, , ,. Lula supports the FARC position against the influence of the United States in Latin America. According to the Folha de São Paulo newspaper, in a interview on the Brazilian television channel Record, Lula said FARC should become like the Workers' Party and should participate in Colombian elections. He denied the supposed Workers' Party relationship with the FARC and said the term axis of evil used to describe the relationship between Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba was a bad joke.

According to Lula, Brazil wants to establish good relationships with all countries, including the United States. However, he leads the Foro de São Paulo, an organization whose members the US government sees as enemies. These members include: National Liberation Army, the FARC, Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity, Sandinista National Liberation Front, Tupamaros, and the Communist Party of Cuba.


text:
Talk:Bush inaugurated for second term

"Controversially, the ability to do so arguably weakens democracy and serves the interest of the business elite." I am sorry but this is an opinion, not a fact :) . I have to remove it.-- Carlosar 09:59, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

title: Talk:Bush inaugurated for second term


text:
Swedish pastor appeals hate-crime conviction for antigay sermon

A Swedish pastor, whose sermon against homosexuality led to a hate-crime conviction, presented his appeal to the court yesterday. The district court had previously found him guilty of "aiming to disregard homosexuals as a group" and sentenced him to one month's imprisonment.

Åke Green, 63, denies that he intended to agitate against homosexuals. "I've only enlightened people about what the Bible has to say," he said. The legal defence has focused on freedom of religion. Green's lawyer, Percy Bratt, has argued that fundamental human rights are at stake and that Green must be allowed to interpret the Bible without interference from secular authorities. The prosecutor, Kjell Yngvesson, argues that Green crossed the line when he went from merely quoting the bible to "gathering everything from the Bible that condemns homosexuality" and added his own opinions.

In his sermon, which was also distributed in writing, Green argued that homosexuality wasn't "an inborn desire" but "people in the hands of evil powers." The district court referred to four specific issues in its finding:

1) Green had argued that the global AIDS epidemic wouldn't have occurred without homosexuality. 2) He made a connection between sex with animals and homosexuality. (By citing passages from the Bible where both activities are condemned in sequence and arguing that when people "abandon God", some will indulge in this sin as well.) 3) He made a conncection between pedophilia and homosexuality.(By arguing that a permissive attitude towards homosexuality would "open the gate to forbidden areas and let Sin take root in consciousness." Thus also leading to other sins like pedophilia or bestiality.) 4) He used the phrase "freely I leave purity and accept impurity" with reference to (among other sins) homosexuality.


text:
Talk:Swedish pastor appeals hate-crime conviction for antigay sermon

is there a copy of the sermon in english anywhere? The bellman 13:50, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

There is a translation here, but it is very bad.


text:
Rover finds meteorite on Mars

January 20, 2005 NASA's Opportunity has found a basketball-sized iron meteorite near heat shield debris at, 's landing location on Mars.

It is the first of any type ever identified on another planet.

"This is a huge surprise, though maybe it shouldn't have been," said Dr. Steve Squyres of Cornell University,, N.Y., principal investigator for the science instruments on Opportunity and its twin, Spirit.

Opportunity and successfully completed their primary three-month missions on Mars in April 2004. NASA has extended their missions twice because the rovers have remained in good enough condition to continue exploring Mars longer than anticipated. They have found geological evidence of past wet environmental conditions that might have been hospitable to life.

title: Rover finds meteorite on Mars


text:
Category:Religion

ar:تصنيف:دين bg:Категория:Религия ca:Categoria:Religió cs:Kategorie:Náboženství de:Kategorie:Religion el:Κατηγορία:Θρησκεία es:Categoría:Religión eo:Kategorio:Religio fa:رده:دین fr:Catégorie:Religion ko:분류:종교 it:Categoria:Religione hu:Kategória:Vallás ja:カテゴリ:宗教 no:Kategori:Religion pl:Kategoria:Religia pt:Categoria:Religião ro:Categorie:Religie ru:Категория:Религия sr:Категорија:Религија fi:Luokka:Uskonto sv:Kategori:Religion tr:Kategori:Dinler uk:Категорія:Релігія zh:Category:宗教

title: Category:Religion


text:
Mars Rover’s Basketball-Shaped Discovery Stirs Controversy

The Mars Rover Opportunity’s latest discovery has sparked a debate. Recently, NASA’s rover found an and  object that the Cornell University researchers on the project believe to be a.

The surface of the meteorite was found to be remarkably free of corrosion. Researchers are as yet unsure whether this means it arrived recently or that it has possibly been sandblasted thoroughly.


text:
UN proposes world-wide natural disaster warning system

January 20, 2005

The UN has proposed the formation of the (IEWP), with the suggestion that it would have greatly limited the impact of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis.

The system would analyse data from all over the world and rapidly transmit warnings. It would also feature a population training element, to make sure people know what to do upon hearing warnings or to teach them to recognize danger signs.

“This new programme will help bring safety, security and peace of mind,” stated the Director of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), Sálvano Briceno, at the (WCDR) in, Japan.

The system, first proposed two years ago, has been given new impetus by the recent disaster in the Indian Ocean. It will warn against many types of natural disaster including wildfires, floods, droughts, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis.

The Program will see many existing UN programs working together, including the World Food Program, the, the (UNESCO), and the  (UNEP). One third of the people the World Food Program helps are the victims of natural disasters.

The system will be built around better, more open flow of regional data and the formulation of local warning plans.


text:
Actress Virginia Mayo dies

January 20, 2005 Virginia Mayo, an actress famous for her movie roles of the 1940s and 1950s, died Monday, January 17, 2005 in a nursing home in Thousand Oaks, California, of pneumonia and heart failure.

title: Actress Virginia Mayo dies


text:
China Plans Next Manned Space Mission

January 20, 2005

Following its "ground-breaking" success, China is now preparing to send two taikonauts to space in the autumn of this year. The two Chinese spacemen will be delivered to space through its self-designed Shenzhou VI spaceship, and will orbit the Earth for up to five days.

"The spaceship's re-entry module, orbital capsule and propulsion module are being equipped, and preparation work for the launch is in full swing", said Sun Laiyan, Director of China's National Space Administration.

China's first manned space mission happened in October 2003, in which the Shenzhou V spaceship circled the Earth fourteen times and landed safely by parachute on the northern plains of China. The success of the misson aroused strong patriotic feeling across the country, portraying Yang Liwei — China's first astronaut ever — as a great national hero.

Within the next few years, China also plans to land on the Moon.

title: China Plans Next Manned Space Mission


text:
Talk:Mars Rover’s Basketball-Shaped Discovery Stirs Controversy

Sorry, but I think this is a duplicate of Rover finds meteorite on Mars Brianmc 23:03, 20 Jan 2005 (UTC)

 * I believe yours was came after mine OR they are different events. Cameron 17:47, 29 Jan 2005 (UTC)

editprotected
editprotected Could a sysop please remove the ugly box above the archive template? Thanks. ♪ Tempo Di  Valse ♪ 04:02, 4 December 2008 (UTC)
 * ✅--PatrickFlaherty (talk) 04:12, 4 December 2008 (UTC)


text:
Talk:Japan plans defense against Chinese invasion

This article is poorly researched and biased in favor of Japan. Chinese and Taiwanese views are not represently at all.

In fact, both China and Taiwan think the island belongs to "China".

And China and Taiwan call the island with the same name in Chinese characters, though not spell the same in English. (Could English really be used to discuss name dispute in Chinese?)

Finally, spelling errors. Chinese pinyin system spell the island as "Diaoyu Dao".

Well, I guess I see wiki's weekness now. (<-- comment from anonymous IP)

 * Greetings "12.9.207.200",

 * I'm surprised by your opinion that this article is biased in favor of Japan, because publicizing these "defense" plans reflects quite poorly on Japan. If you read the article I cited from People's Daily, they use a lot of the article to publicize Japan's "defense" plans as well, in an effort to show that Japan is militarizing and trying to play up a perceived threat from China.

 * I'm not sure what views from China and Taiwan you feel are not represented, as this story is largely about Japanese plans for the area, and China and Taiwan have not yet officially commented on this latest development. Please could you expand upon your comments?

 * In any case, I thank you for taking a second look at the pinyin translations. I am still a student of pinyin, and I have a hard time with names for people and locations, as my translator and learning materials only help with a small number of such names. For this article, I used the pinyin translations from the sources linked in the References section, so I am interested if you think those sources are incorrect.

 * Do you have a source that you could refer me to for corrected translations that I could use to double-check proper names in this region when writing future articles?

 * Finally, please feel free to jump in and edit the article in the future, because I am open to any factual corrections that need to be made.

 * Although I've read a number of articles on this dispute, I still have much to learn. I will be grateful if you can provide pointers to additional sources of information and viewpoints on this topic, that go beyond the sources I cited in the References section.

 * Regards,

 * — DV 10:48, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)


text:
User:Blackrose5

Hello everbody.

I think Wikipedia is the coolest thing that has ever happend to me.

title: User:Blackrose5


text:
Beazley may face challengers for leadership

January 21, 2005

Kim Beazley, Labor backbencher and former party leader, may have to face challengers in his bid to fill the vacuum left by the resignation of previous labor leader Mark Latham. Both Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd and Shadow Health minister Julia Gillard have been actively trying to shore up support for bids at the leadership.

Beazley is the only person to have declared his candidacy so far, while both Gillard and Rudd have both refused to commit to running or not running. After returning from his tour of tsunami devastated South East Asia Rudd said that, "Once I've had a shave, what I'd like to do is hit the phones and talk to colleagues".

Frontbencher Laurie Ferguson who is backing Ms Gillard told ABC radio that, "From what I gather around the place, I think there's a number of people urging her to run. Quite frankly I think Gillard is the most impressive person. I think she'll fire people. It's a new look for the party. It's a woman. It's different. We're not talking about someone who's just a trendy commodity. She's actually intelligent, articulate and strong-minded."

Regarding the leadership challenge opposition treasury spokesman Wayne Swan said: "There are a whole host of problems the Labor Party has to confront, not just the leadership. We do have to confront matters of policy, the development of our economic policy, the structure of the party - these are all important issues and they have to be on the table. But to resolve any of these issues we have to have the maximum degree of unity and that is why the leader that is elected should be elected with a very strong mandate."


text:
Music Video with More Than 100 Children's TV Characters Attacked by Anti-Gay Activists

January 20, 2005

Anti-gay groups accuse a music video, with over 100 children's TV heroes such as SpongeBob SquarePants, of being a vehicle for pro-gay propaganda.

The video's makers say the music video - a re-recording of the Sister Sledge hit "We Are Family" - is to promote tolerance and diversity to America's children.

Dr. James C. Dobson, co-founder of the pro-Family Christian Ministry Focus on the Family, singled out SpongeBob at a black-tie dinner for members of Congress in the run-up to G.W. Bush's inauguration on 2005 Jan 18, according to The New York Times.

Dobson told the guests that the cartoon sponge had been enlisted in a "pro-homosexual video" that was going to be mailed to thousands of elementary schools promoting a "tolerance pledge" that included a reference to "sexual identity."

The video's creator, Nile Rodgers, who wrote the disco hit "We Are Family," told The New York Times that Dobson's objection stems from a misunderstanding. Rodgers said he founded the We Are Family Foundation after the 9/11 attacks to create a music video to teach children about multiculturalism. The video has appeared on television networks, and nothing in it or its accompanying materials refers to sexual identity. The pledge, borrowed from the Southern Poverty Law Center, is not mentioned on the video and is available only on the group's Web site.

Rodgers suggested that Dobson and the American Family Association might have been confused because of an unrelated Web site belonging to another group called "We Are Family," which supports gay youth.


text:
User talk:81.180.113.82

Welcome
81.180.113.82, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! -- IlyaHaykinson 08:24, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
 * Cite sources - everything in a Wikinews article must be sourced
 * Introduction - overview of the site
 * Writing an article - how to write and publish a complete article
 * Content guide - what's suitable for Wikinews
 * Style guide - how articles should look before publishing
 * Contents - the contents page.
 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
 * Developing stories need finishing and publishing
 * Discussions need your input
 * Audio Wikinews could always use more contributors
 * And of course, stories need writing!

title: User talk:81.180.113.82


text:
Romanians to pay power bills via SMS

January 21, 2005

Romania's electricity production and distribution company, plans to introduce a new system which will allow its consumers to pay their power bills via the Short Message Service, or SMS. Currently, electricity bills can be paid directly at banks using cash or credit cards, or via automatic teller machines (ATMs). Additionally, since 2004, customers have been able to pay their bills at Agip gas stations.

In Romania, which reached more than 10 million mobile phone subscribers at the end of 2004, SMS remains a very popular and affordable method of quick communication. Recently, there has been a push to launch SMS/mobile telephony as a method of payment or business, hence establishing an m-commerce network. The move by Electrica for bill-payment via SMS is one of the first such initiatives.

title: Romanians to pay power bills via SMS


text:
Romanian band to hold concert for tsunami victims

January 21, 2005

The Romanian band Sarmalele Reci have decided to join the bandwagon of aid toward the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami by holding a concert in Bucharest on Sunday, January 23. The concert will be held at the Palace Hall. The band will donate all of the proceeds from the concert to the tsunami relief effort.

Soloist Zoli Andras said that, "This is a good exercise for the Western man who lives in a society with a much higher living standard than in many regions of Asia." The aim of the band in this concert is "to take [people] out of their daily selfishness and make them think a little about their fellows in Asia who were struck by fate."

In the month of January, Romanians have organised a wide series of events, many of them featuring celebrities, to raise funds for the victims of the tsunami. A telethon was organised last Sunday, January 16, and, on the same Sunday as the Sarmalele Reci concert, Romanian artists will auction off their works to raise money for the disaster victims.

The concert is part of a campaign by Televiziunea Română, the Romanian national broadcaster, to involve the Romanian public in the fundraising effort.

Related News

 * Romanian artists auction off their works for tsunami victims
 * Romanians raise 395,000 euro for tsunami victims


text:
User talk:24.87.89.152

Welcome
24.87.89.152, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! -- Davodd | Talk 09:25, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
 * Cite sources - everything in a Wikinews article must be sourced
 * Introduction - overview of the site
 * Writing an article - how to write and publish a complete article
 * Content guide - what's suitable for Wikinews
 * Style guide - how articles should look before publishing
 * Contents - the contents page.
 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
 * Developing stories need finishing and publishing
 * Discussions need your input
 * Audio Wikinews could always use more contributors
 * And of course, stories need writing!

title: User talk:24.87.89.152


text:
User:IlyaHaykinson/Wikinewsbot

I've started development on a framework for MediaWiki bots. I refuse to accept that the existing Interwiki bot framework in python is as good as it can get, so I'm trying to write an easy to understand, extensible bot framework in .NET.

The primary goal is to be able to receive images from the WeatherChecker process and to be able to auto-upload them and update the relevant pages to relink to the new images.

Current development
The state of development is outlined for those interested. The application has been released under the GPL and is available at http://www.tiredbrain.com/wikinews/wikinewsbot/

Implemented

 * bot framework started
 * login and edit-page fetch is working
 * request throttling in place
 * wikinews has no policy on bots.
 * ability to save pages
 * ability upload images
 * support for XML config files (not like the one below, but similar)
 * fully automated test on Commons image upload, Wikinews file editing. Please see page listed under "current development" for CVS etc info.

Future work

 * more commands
 * better global / local variable separation
 * rate limiting fix
 * better international support
 * complileable framework for command extensions kind of like the data below

 * implement snippet compilation for command plugins

title: User:IlyaHaykinson/Wikinewsbot


text:
User talk:84.98.202.200

Welcome
84.98.202.200, welcome to Wikinews! I hope you like the place and decide to stay. Here are a few good links for newcomers:

Our key policies - if you read anything, read these! Here a few pointers to help you get to know Wikinews: There are always things to do on Wikinews: By the way, you can sign your name on Talk pages using four tildes ( ~~~~ ), which produces your name and the current date. If you have any questions, you can ask them at the water cooler or to anyone on the Welcommittee, or ask me on my Talk page. Again, welcome! -- Davodd | Talk 09:30, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * Neutral point of view - tell every side to a story in a fair and balanced way
 * Cite sources - everything in a Wikinews article must be sourced
 * Introduction - overview of the site
 * Writing an article - how to write and publish a complete article
 * Content guide - what's suitable for Wikinews
 * Style guide - how articles should look before publishing
 * Contents - the contents page.
 * Existing articles need expanding and checking for spelling and mistakes
 * The front page lead articles often need updating
 * Developing stories need finishing and publishing
 * Discussions need your input
 * Audio Wikinews could always use more contributors
 * And of course, stories need writing!

title: User talk:84.98.202.200


text:
Bob Jones III to retire

January 21, 2005

After 34 years as president of Bob Jones University, Bob Jones III announced yesterday that he will retire on May 7. He will be replaced by his son, Stephen Jones.

Jones, 65, will continue as Chairman of the Board and Chancellor. The Christian university was established by his grandfather, the evangelist Bob Jones Sr., in 1927. It has been the subject of much controversy because of its racial policies and anti-Catholicism.

When George W. Bush made a speech at the non-accredited college during his 2000 presidential campaign, many critics questioned his judgment, asking why he would support a college with an official ban on interracial dating. The ban was subsequently dropped.

Jones is an ardent supporter of Bush. In his letter congratulating the president on his reelection, Jones wrote, "Pull out all the stops and make a difference. If you have weaklings around you who do not share your biblical values, shed yourself of them."

title: Bob Jones III to retire


text:
User talk:12.9.207.200

Greetings 12.9.207.200,

Thanks for stopping by Wikinews.

I replied to your comments about the article on the Japanese defense plans on the article's user talk page.

I hope you can contribute again soon.

Regards,

— DV 10:52, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)

title: User talk:12.9.207.200


text:
Romanian president warns of high-level corruption

January 21, 2005

The Romanian President, Traian Băsescu yesterday said that Romania is perceived as a "mafia country" and asked prosecutors to take immediate steps to eliminate the high-level corruption in the country.

Basescu told the prosecutors at the High Court of Cassation and Justice that they should resign if they can't do what it takes to ensure that Romania does not become a mafia-like country. Less urgent problems like prostitution will have to wait, he said.

Cases of high-level corruption, such as the Camaru brothers' bribing of police and politicians must be given top priority, the president claims.

Romania's new president, elected in December 2004, has pledged to cut down on corruption. He has appointed a new centrist government of young intellectuals, including a justice minister, Monica Macovei, who is not a member of any political party. In order for Romania to join the European Union in 2007, it has been told that it must work comprehensively to lower corruption, which is currently a major problem on the road to accession.


text:
Conference discusses the credibility of blogs

January 21, 2005

Seeking to "bring together a select group of thoughtful bloggers and journalists", at Harvard today opened a two-day, by-invitation only, Blogging, Journalism and Credibility: Battleground and Common Ground conference.

Held at the, the conference was an initiative of the 's, and the.

"One of the problems [with ]," said of Grassroots Media Inc., "is that any random website can look as good as any other website. We're going to be working this through for a long time. We're going to have to tell people, be skeptical."

Addressing the question of credibility, both in mainstream media and in the new media self-publishing "blogosphere", is one of the goals of the conference. The rapid transformation of the blogging media, its acceptance and repudiation as a form of journalism, is also a topic slated for discussion.

Corporate media has flirted with, disputed, and been directly affected by, bloggers. Future possible interactions between the new, blogging media, and mainstream media, provide topics for discussion.

Attendees and speakers included both established and new media names, academics and professionals, and amateurs. Topics covered ranged from jargon and terminology, through business models, and on to more esoteric subjects like "podcasting" and "vlogging".

UPDATE: The conference wound up with a session covering issues identified during the conference and an open session of free-ranging discussion.


text:
Talk:Brazilian President meets President of Colombia

Good article. Informative and well written. A couple of notes:
 * It'd be good to have more direct quotes. They help punch up the story and work better as supporting sources.  A fairly careful translation would be required, though.
 * Need a source on the Castro connection. Again, direct quotes work best.  Attribution is key.
 * A few translation questions, since I've edited a couple articles like this already ;)
 * prision = arrest?
 * arrestment = arrest?
 * polemic = argument?

Nice work

 * I also think this article is very interesting. There is a slight problem however. It seems to have an anti-leftist slant. Of course it's true that PT has had good relationships with Chavez and Castro and that Farc has been involved in the Sao Paolo forum etc. But it's also true that Lula has distanced himself from Castro and Chavez many times. See for example this interview in the Washington Post. I think it would be enough to rephrase some parts a little bit to make it NPOV.

 * Excellent catch. I added the reference and the quote from Lula into the article. MikeEdwards 00:38, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * It was a good job MikeEdwards. But I have to add a note about the expulson of the NYT reporter and his attempts to control the press. Take a look, please. As you see the matter has some complexity. -- Carlosar 01:03, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC)

I think it is almost ready to be published. -- Carlosar

Lula's role complex
Lula's role in Latin America is somehow complex. Do you think we should separate this article in two? Write another complementary article? Mention Lula relationship with Castro and Chavez and FARC? One suggestion is: write a concise report about Lula, Castro, Chavez, FARC, Uribe relationship. Detail this relationship in another article. Unfortunatelly write a concise report(example:one paragraph) about Lula's relationship seems difficult. Do you have some ideas? Do you have another suggestion? Or just left the article as it is? -- Carlosar 01:29, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Also I would suggest to not extend the discussion to this article too much, otherwise the article will get old. -- Carlosar 01:29, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Someone suggested to me write another more detailed article about Lula's relationships. We could just do a concise report about Lula relationship with Castro, Chavez, FARC and Uribe here. But I dont have any idea how we could do that in a proper way here in this article. Should we cut something? What do you think? Do you have some suggestions? -- Carlosar 01:37, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Sugestions
1. Here is a possible solution: Brazil has a seemingly good relationship with Colombia. In March 2003, Lula met Uribe and they discussed concerns of both countries. They also discussed the FARC. Brazil did not want to name the FARC as a terrorist group. Amorim explained that it is not part of Brazilian policy to classify political groups as terrorists. Brazil, however voted for a Organization of American States motion condemning an alleged terrorist FARC attack in Colombia,. Chavez and Lula have a close relationship. President Lula repeatedly defended Chavez. Both men have been said to manifest support and empathy for the Cuban President Fidel Castro, though Lula has distanced himself publicly from the Cuban leader.

The FARC is a member of the Foro de São Paulo organization led by Lula. Lula supports the FARC position against the influence of the United States in Latin America.

Yesterday, after a meeting with Peruvian Minister of Foreign Relations Manuel Rodríguez, the Colombian Minister of Foreign Relations, Carolina Barco, said in a interview to Radio Caracol that Colombian chancellery is engaging in a dialog in the best terms with the Venezuelan chancellery and that exists the best spirit to solve the problems. Look, this is a suggestion. You can use it, also you can work on it and make some changes and even cutting more. Also you can left everything as it is in the article and forgetting about this suggestion. Ideas? Since you are native English speakers maybe you can solve this trouble better than me. -- Carlosar 01:49, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC)

2. Another suggestion (...) Lula and Uribe did not say very much publicly, opting instead to have a reserved conversation to discuss the matter. Lula proposed a bilateral solution between Colombia and Venezuela, suggesting himself as a peacemaker between the two countries.

Later, Lula talked by phone with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The Brazilian Minister of Foreign Relations Celso Amorim will coordinate the eventual Brazilian efforts to help solve the crisis. Yesterday, after a meeting with Peruvian Minister of Foreign Relations Manuel Rodríguez, the Colombian Minister of Foreign Relations, Carolina Barco, said in a interview with Radio Caracol that Colombian chancellery is engaging in a dialogue in the best terms with the Venezuelan chancellery and that there exists the best spirit to solve the problems.

Lula's role in Latin America
Brazil has a seemingly good relationship with Colombia. In March 2003, Lula met Uribe and they discussed the concerns of both countries. They also discussed the FARC. Brazil did not want to name the FARC as a terrorist group. Amorim explained that it is not part of Brazilian policy to classify political groups as terrorists. Brazil, however voted for a Organization of American States motion condemning an alleged terrorist FARC attack in Colombia,.

Chavez and Lula have a close relationship. President Lula repeatedly defended Chavez. Both men have been said to manifest support and empathy for the Cuban President Fidel Castro, though Lula has distanced himself publicly from the Cuban leader.

In an interview with the Washington Post not long after his election, Lula said, "In relation to Cuba, let's not confuse the passion that my generation has for the Cuban revolution and what it represented then with any approval of the Cuban regime today. I defend religious freedom, cultural freedom, freedom for trade unions and political freedom." However, Lula tried to expel the New York Times journalist Larry Rohter because of writings deemed libelous. Also Lula tried to create a council formed by sympathizers and members of his party to control the press,.

The FARC is a member of the Foro de São Paulo organization led by Lula. Lula and others members of his party already have received FARC leaders many times, , ,. Lula supports the FARC position against the influence of the United States in Latin America. According to the Folha de São Paulo newspaper, in a interview on the Brazilian television channel Record, Lula said FARC should become like the Workers' Party and should participate in Colombian elections. He denied the supposed Workers' Party relationship with the FARC and said the term axis of evil used to describe the relationship between Brazil, Venezuela and Cuba was a bad joke.

According to Lula, Brazil wants to establish good relationships with all countries, including the United States. However, he leads the Foro de São Paulo, an organization whose members the US government sees as enemies. These members include: National Liberation Army, the FARC, Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity, Sandinista National Liberation Front, Tupamaros, and the Communist Party of Cuba.

3.Another suggestion (...) Later, Lula talked by phone with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The Brazilian Minister of Foreign Relations Celso Amorim will coordinate the eventual Brazilian efforts to help solve the crisis. Yesterday, after a meeting with Peruvian Minister of Foreign Relations Manuel Rodríguez, the Colombian Minister of Foreign Relations, Carolina Barco, said in a interview with Radio Caracol that Colombian chancellery is engaging in a dialogue in the best terms with the Venezuelan chancellery and that there exists the best spirit to solve the problems.

Brazil has a seemingly good relationship with Colombia. In March 2003, Lula met Uribe and they discussed the concerns of both countries. They also discussed the FARC. Brazil did not want to name the FARC as a terrorist group. Amorim explained that it is not part of Brazilian policy to classify political groups as terrorists. Brazil, however voted for a Organization of American States motion condemning an alleged terrorist FARC attack in Colombia,.

Chavez and Lula have a close relationship. President Lula repeatedly defended Chavez. Both men have been said to manifest support and empathy for the Cuban President Fidel Castro, though Lula has distanced himself publicly from the Cuban leader. The FARC is a member of the Foro de São Paulo organization led by Lula. (or: "Lula supports the FARC position against the influence of the United States in Latin America.")

Two sections
I separated the article in two sections. I think it is better this way. What do you think? -- Carlosar 13:10, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC)


text:
Methane Rain in Titan's Rivers

January 21, 2005

Images from the Huygens probe show that liquid methane flows through and into Titan's rivers, channels, lakes, springs, and other as-yet-undiscovered bodies of liquid. Titan is Saturn's largest moon, and the moon the Cassini-Huygens probe is inspecting.

The image (right) sent back from Titan via Huygens shows the terrain carved by the liquid methane. Deltas and rivers may be flowing with the substance.

The methane rain causes erosion to the planet's land surface, carving out features like rivers in which the liquid methane and possibly other fluids flow.

title: Methane Rain in Titan's Rivers


text:
Talk:Conference discusses the credibility of blogs

 * Please log into #webcred and #webcredtrans for direct quotes from the conference to get direct quotes from the conference, and put them in the article.

Hi. I've just read the announcement on Watercooler, and came to see the article. The current version is very short description of the basic facts about the conference, and my guess is these facts are verifiable. If so, I think we can treat this article as if it is not an original report - applying the regular processes and standards.

If there are some facts or characterizations of the subject that is not from publicly available sources, then, I suppose some questions are in order. But this is really an uncharted territory, and it is just my idea at this moment, nothing like accepted convention or anything.

There are three things to be checked in my mind about original reports
 * Neutrality
 * Is there any major facts missing from this report that would drastically change the likely reception of the readers?
 * Is this reporter trusted by the community to make a good-faith effort to write articles from neutral point of view?
 * Is there some warning/ disclaimer needed for the article so that readers can be made aware of the fact that the coverage is not necessarily neutral?
 * Verifiability
 * What are the facts and characterizations that is not verifiable via published sources?
 * Is there any record of the source cited? Say, can we see the full email correspondence between the reporter and the source?
 * Conflict of interests
 * Is the reporter an insider or a stakeholder to the subject reported? In what sense?

For the issue of verifiability, we can use some mailing list as I suggested earlier.

How does that sound? Tomos 14:31, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)

 * sorry, the article isnt, yet. I dont think i made that clear enough. it was just set up to be ready for when the conference starts. The bellman 20:08, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)

 * For example the quote (from dan gillmour), is a quote from our wikijourno on the ground user:sj who is transcribing on to IRC for us. Hence the original research. The bellman 21:53, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Nothing to worry about
It is important for there to be verification, especially when a Wiki reporter is commenting on events for which they weren't present, but I think we should give a lot of slack to anyone who does original reporting. The article STILL must exhibit neutrality, relevance, and good news style, but I think it's so amazingly cool to get original reporting that we should allow the bar on verifiable info to be set lower in these cases. That's not a license to fabricate, mind you, but we should give the author props for providing a first-hand account. Just my $0.02.

BTW, nice work!

 * Well, while we are in heta, why not have a go at anything, and see where it leads? The bellman 06:14, 22 Jan 2005 (UTC)
 * We are! - Amgine 21:57, 23 Jan 2005 (UTC)


text:
Wikinews talk:Criteria for deletion

I've just scanned the page, and noticed that the lag time for the regular deletion is set at five days in this guideline. On the Deletion requests it is indicated as seven days. I don't have any strong opinions, but if no one objects, I would set it for seven days. Tomos 14:38, 21 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Conflict of interest?
Dan100 has been unilaterally making extensive changes to the Deletion guidelines, including making a change which would provide him with a basis to justify deleting an article which he disagreed with recently.

For example, in this edit Dan100 has unilaterally declared that articles which cover subjects that are more than a few weeks old may be listed for deletion.

Dan100 recently tried to suppress an article, largely written by a contributor with whom he has had conflicts. He later clarified that his basis for this suppression was that the news was not "new" enough.

For Dan100 to now create a "guideline" that justifies this suppression would seem to be a conflict of interest.

(I use the scare quotes around "guideline" because the page is written as if it were a rigid policy - other than the title, there are none of the standard disclaimers that the page is only a guideline, or that contributors can use their own judgment.)

In the larger scheme of things, a guideline that news must occur within a few weeks of it being reported also discourages writing stores about longer-term issues that either happen over a period of time (global warming) or are a systemic societal issue (homelessness) which has no set beginning and ending.

Dan100 has made numerous other policy changes on this page without apparently consulting with anyone.

Shouldn't policy and guideline authors attempt to build a consensus for proposed changes before making those changes?

Be bold applies to the article space. Policy and guideline pages need to be driven by community consensus.

— DV 17:40, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Restored until a consensus is reached
I have removed Dan100's unilateral policy/guideline change, (the page says it is a policy in places, so it's unclear if it's just a guideline or a ground rule), that declared that stories which are more than a few weeks old qualify for deletion.

Wikinews should be able to report under-reported stories, which are often discovered a while after they have happened.

A story to which I recently contributed concerned the Puru/Newmont mining accident, which happened several years ago. This story was under-reported, and socially significant and relevant to Western society, so it was worth reporting even if there wasn't all that much new to the story.

Where did "several weeks old" come from?

Why not several years or several minutes?

Surely the age of the story cannot be a reasonable basis for rejecting it out of hand. — DV 17:55, 13 Mar 2005 (UTC)

 * Instead of discussing his proposed new guideline that news stories must not be older than "a few weeks", Dan100 has started to "edit war".

 * After waiting a day, I have removed the disputed guideline and renewed my call for a consensus to be built around any proposed changes to the deletion guidelines.

 * The questions I raised above about the arbitrary deadline of "a few weeks" still stand unanswered.

 * I would also like to know how stories which develop over time, such as the "Mao suits" fading away in China story I submitted today, can be covered if everything must be a "breaking news" story with a discrete point in time.

 * The internet is fast-paced and full of blinking bright lights. Does Wikinews have to be like that?

 * What's wrong with covering some of the more thoughtful news that develops in our world, that is underreported and often goes unnoticed by the major mainstream media?

 * This fixation on a continuous news cycle is unhealthy and does not lend itself to insightful stories which take a moment to catch their breath and look at the forest for the trees.

 * Just because a story is slow-paced or developing over time, doesn't make it an encyclopedia article.

 * Interview quotes and references to topical context qualify a story as "news" just as much as "timeliness" does another.

 * Please examine the "Mao suits" fading away in China story and try and imagine how it might fit in on Wikipedia instead of here on Wikinews. Sure, Mao suits have been disappearing for years. But is this story really an encyclopedia article? Or is it an interesting "lifestyle" or "culture" story that touches our lives today?

 * — DV 11:49, 17 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Redirect dupes proposal
Proposal:

A number of the articles passing through WN:DR are duplicates of other articles, as titles here are not as canonical as on wikipedia. You as an ordinary users may replace an entire article with a redirect tag, such as

 * #REDIRECT Steelers_defeat_Lions_to_advance_to_NFL_playoffs

thus effectively "deleting" the non-developing article, without all the hassle of true deletion. An admin may eventually delete the redirect if no page links to it, but the speedy deletion process for such orphaned redirects is much simpler. Here are three important caveats to remember when preforming such article merges. Such techniques don't hide the edit history of the redirected article. Its usually benifitial to preserve histories in this way, but doing so may leave content that violates someones copyright accessible, at least until an admin deletes the redirect.
 * 1) Please cut & paste the redirected article's text to the talk page of the deleted article.
 * 2) Please redirect the talk page too, if it is not blank.
 * 3) Please don't preform such an edit twice to one article, i.e. avoid revert wars.

Thoughts? Nyarlathotep 01:35, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

 * This is already the case, using the several merge templates and so on. There is a slight problem in that we actually should encourage multiple articles on a single news topic where they have different angles or facets of the same story. For example, De Lay's resignation today could have been covered from the view point of the story in the Congress, or from the viewpoint of the corruption charges in Texas and through his political career.

 * In other words, yes this is a good idea, but how do we also say sometimes it's okay to have two articles? -  Amgine | talk en.WN 01:39, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

 * True & I'm not sure. But it'll help if we can get it right.  We might also say "If you feel such a redirect is improper, you may revert it yourself, or post a revert request to WN:ALERT.  As manual reversions of such delete-by-redirect edits are painful, admins should generally respect such revert requests."  But I didn't say it mostly because I wasn't already saying something about having multiple articles.  Nyarlathotep 01:53, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

 * Well, is there an existing problem where people don't know this? should we add text about merging and redirecting to some of the introduction to Wikinews articles? I'm wondering how we can get the word out to people that they can do this, if it isn't clear they can already.  -  Amgine | talk en.WN 01:58, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

 * Kinda, people arn't bold enough with handing of dupe stubs. I doubt it needs to go in the introductions, but it could be displayed on the deletion guidlines page (here), so people who take an interest in deletion can figure it out more quickly, and don't feel so beholden to the admins.  Nyarlathotep 02:31, 8 January 2006 (UTC)

title: Wikinews talk:Criteria for deletion


text:
Unrest in Belize

January 21, 2005

Unrest concerning the Belizian government's new taxes, which began on Jan. 20, 2005, continued as people burned government offices and union workers went on strike, closing ports and shutting down water services.

The unrest has been a reaction to the new budget for 2005-6, passed on January 13th, that introduced big tax raises. The largest individual rise was a new 100% sales tax on Rum. The unusual introduction of the new budget two months before the end of the financial year has been justified by the government as being required to increase funding for Education services. Opposition campaigners have claimed that the government is trying to unfairly collect two months of additional taxes.

During the afternoon, protesters campaigned outside the Belizian National Assembly, with rocks being thrown at riot police. Later, following the expiration of the protest permit, protesters and police exchanged cherry bombs and tear gas. The Belize Defense Force was called in to disperse the crowd, after which sporadic gunfire was heard until the crowd later dispersed.

This is only the third time that this kind of unrest has hit Belize. The first time was in the 50s, and the second time was during the 80s when there was a proposal drafted to give part of the country to Guatemala.

Teachers Strike Continues the teachers strike enters its 6 day and the water, power and phone unions vow to go on strike in support.

The strike widens: postal workers, customs officers, immigration officers, even doctors (they will treat emergency cases) have joined the strike as the pressure mounts on the government to repeal recent tax hikes and to reform their ways.

title: Unrest in Belize