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	40,000 Norwegians Sing Out in Defiance and Love outside court by Reuters & agencies Oslo District Court - Norway   Apr 2012   A far right murderer who killed 77 people in Norway has used his court appearance to proclaim his extremist racist views saying he wanted to defend "ethnic Norwegians" from multiculturalism.   The mass killer behind the Norway massacres said he was inspired by al-Qaeda as he took the stand at his trial, after a judge who called for him to face the death penalty was removed.   Rightwing extremist Anders Behring Breivik said his attacks last year were aimed at defending "ethnic Norwegians" from rising multiculturalism, and that he "would have done it again."   He described himself as a "militant nationalist" and, using the pronoun "we" to suggest he was part of a larger group, added: "We have drawn from al-Qaeda and militant Islamists," Breivik told the court during questioning on the second day of the trial.   Bizarrely granted clearance earlier to address the court with a prepared text, Breivik perversely described his odious killing of 77 people on July 22 last year as a "preventive" attack to avoid a European culture war with Muslims.   The 33-year-old said he had no remorse over the bomb attack in central Oslo and the mass murder on a nearby island.   Breivik had been granted 30 minutes to speak but ended up lecturing for 73 minutes, as chief judge Wenche Elizabeth Arntzen repeatedly urged him to wrap up quickly, though the prosecution supported Breivik"s wish to go on.   On July 22 last year, the crazed Breivik first killed eight people when he set off a bomb in a van parked outside buildings housing the offices of Labour Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who was not present at the time.   He then travelled to Utoeya island where, dressed as a police officer, he spent more than an hour methodically shooting at hundreds of people attending a ruling Labour Party youth summer camp.   The shooting spree claimed 69 lives, mostly young teenagers trapped on the small island.   Breivik on Tuesday evoked the idea of accomplices, telling the court during questioning that two other one-person "cells" existed.   In his utterly contemptible address to the judges, Breivik compared the Labour Party"s youth wing AUF to the Hitler Youth, saying he targetted them on Utoeya because "most AUFs are naive and indoctrinated."   Television and radio were banned from broadcasting his remarks as there had been widespread concerns prior to the trial that Breivik would use his testimony as a platform to spread his Islamophobic and anti-immigration ideology to the masses.   The death penalty does not exist in Norway. If he is found sane, Breivik risks a 21-year jail term, which could then be extended indefinitely if he is still considered a threat to society. If he is found insane he could be sentenced to closed psychiatric care, possibly for life.   April 26, 2012   40,000 Norwegians Sing Out in Defiance and Love.   Tens of thousands of Norwegians marched beneath pouring rain in Oslo today, converging at Central Square to sing together a Norwegian version of American folk music singer Pete Seeger"s "Rainbow Race" in a moving protest against mass killer Anders Behring Breivik, who murdered 77 Norwegians last year in the name of eliminating "multiculturalism" and social justice ideologies.   Norwegian folk singer Lillebjørn Nilsen guided the song with his ukulele as the rose-carrying crowd of an estimated 40,000 sang along.   "Shocked by Breivik"s total lack of remorse for his gruesome massacre," writes the Associated Press, "Norwegians have decided the best way to confront him is by demonstrating their commitment for tolerance and democracy."   One blue sky above us.. One ocean lapping all our shore.. One earth so green and round.. Who could ask for more.. And because I love you.. I"ll give it one more try.. To show my rainbow race.. It"s too soon to die.   Some folks want to be like an ostrich, Bury their heads in the sand.. Some hope that plastic dreams.. Can unclench all those greedy hands.. Some hope to take the easy way: Poisons, bombs. They think we need em.. Don"t you know you can"t kill all the unbelievers? There"s no shortcut to freedom.   Go tell, go tell all the little children.. Tell all the mothers and fathers too.. Now"s our last chance to learn to share.. What"s been given to me and you.   Protesters ranging from elderly in wheelchairs to young school children were in Youngstorget Square carrying Norwegian flags and roses, which have come to represent Norway"s peaceful response to the horrifying attacks. The culture ministers of the Nordic countries were also at the square to participate, while other similar events took place across Norway.   Norwegian Culture Minister Anniken Huitfeldt admitted she had wept as Nilsen led the chorus and the crowd sang along, waving roses in the air.   Afterwards they walked slowly together, still singing the song, to the courthouse to add their roses to the piles of flowers already lining the security barriers outside in memory of Breivik"s victims.   The Norwegian version of the song begins with “A sky full of stars, blue ocean far as you see, an earth where flowers grow. Can you wish for more? Together we shall live, every sister, every brother. Children of the rainbow.” Visit the related web page
	No jail time for birth control by Avaaz & agencies Honduras   April 2012   Honduras is just days away from approving an extremist law that would put teenagers in prison for using the morning-after pill, even if they"ve just been raped. But we can help to stop this law and ensure women have the chance to prevent unwanted pregnancy when they subjected to sexual violence.   Some Congress members agree that this law -- which would also jail doctors or anyone who sells the pill -- is excessive, but they are bowing to the powerful religious lobby that wrongly claims the morning-after pill constitutes an abortion. Only the head of the Congress, who wants to run for the Presidency, can stop this. If we show solidarity with Honduran women and pressure him now we can help to shelve this reactionary law.   The vote could happen any day -- let’s show Honduras that the world won"t stand by as it jails women for preventing pregnancy after sexual violence. Sign the urgent petition calling on the President of the Honduran Congress to stand up for women’s rights. Avaaz will work with local women"s groups to personally deliver our outcry.   To Congress President Juan Orlando Hernández: As concerned citizens, we urge you not to criminalize contraception. Your proposed law 54 would make Honduras the only country in the world to punish the use or sale of the morning-after pill with jail sentences of 3-10 years. We urge you to reject this extremist law and respect women"s rights, or risk condemnation both in Latin America and across the world. Visit the related web page
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