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Australian Jesse Williams drafted in fifth round by the NFL's Seattle Seahawks

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:28:05 GMT

Wikinews Sports

Sources[edit]

Dan Nancarrow. "Jesse Williams drafted by Seattle" — Kiama Independent, April 28, 2013
Jerry Brewer. "In Jesse Williams, Seattle Seahawks might have made another deft NFL draft pickup" — Seattle Times, April 27, 2013
Phil Lutton. "Jesse Williams tipped to go in first round" — Brisbane Times, April 23, 2013
"1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2012" — Australian Bureau of Statistics, May 24, 2012

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Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, and wider world

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 12:47:37 GMT

Friday, January 13, 2012

Human rights

US-based action[edit]

Reports from across the United States show a number of communities taking local action to solve, or otherwise highlight, this global problem.

In Southern California, Sister Caritas Foster is an advocate for the area's victims of human trafficking. Commenting on the area's involvement, she stated: "We in the San Francisco Bay Area are one of the largest receiving areas with our borders and coasts". For over four years, Foster has worked on educating the public on human trafficking, speaking to civic and religious groups and describing the power traffickers hold over their victims through vivid accounts of situations trafficked individuals find themselves in. Many have no idea where they are located, suffer under the constant threat of deportation, and most often lack the language abilities to seek help.

Los Angeles politician Don Knabe said human trafficking was not a distant problem but one that hits close to home. As the county supervisor overseeing the fourth district in Los Angeles County, Knabe cited figures from the Probation Department showing 84 percent of arrests of children on prostitution charges in 2010 were in his district; he believes the overall problem for the county is much larger, and wants the Probation Department to establish a special unit dedicated to sexually exploited minors.

Northward in Seattle, Washington, members of the King County Sheriff's department realized that law enforcement had to deal supportively with the symptoms of human trafficking — rather than putting victims in jail. This gave birth to the "Genesis Project" where sheriff's deputies offer potential victims of trafficking a comfortable safe haven with amenities for 24 hours, and put them in touch with social services for counselling, job training, and education advice.

Politicians from several states have sought to address the connection between tourism and human trafficking; Indiana's state Senate unanimously passed a human trafficking bill on Tuesday morning. Current legislation only considered forced marriage and prostitution as human trafficking; loopholes in the existing laws allowed some forms of human trafficking to escape prosecution. Lawmakers in the state hope to toughen their human trafficking laws, and have new legislation on the statute books in time for the Super Bowl, due to be held in Indianapolis on February 5. The just-passed bill now goes to the House for approval.

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Also on Tuesday, lawmakers from Hawaii held a special hearing on human trafficking. Kathryn Xian, of Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery, says traffickers capitalize on the state's tourist-based economy. She introduced a package of seven bills she says will help prevent human trafficking in the state.

At a national level, the US government continues to work abroad on the issue of trafficking; Luis CdeBaca, a special ambassador for human trafficking, is working with Myanmar, commonly known as Burma, as the country seeks to improve diplomatic relations with the United States. Myanmar was identified by the US State Department as having one of the worst records of forced labor, and as a country that lacks necessary laws to curb human trafficking.

Trafficking, the global picture[edit]

File image of a Nepali mother who travelled to Mumbai, India, hoping to rescue her teenage daughter from an Indian brothel.
Image: Kay Chernush, US State Dept..

Although National Human Trafficking Awareness Day is a US-based effort to recognise, and highlight, this issue — as a topic of global concern being highlighted through the United Nations, others around the world continue efforts to increase public awareness and tackle trafficking.

Forty-six women from the international group Operation Mobilization sought to raise awareness by climbing Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro. The summit is called "Uhuru Peak", with Uhuru meaning "freedom" in Swahili. Each of the non-professional climbers raised US$10,000 to help those affected by human trafficking.

In the Middle East, several countries are reported to have problems with human traffickers recruiting unemployed gay Kenyan men to become sex slaves. Saudi Arabia and Qatar are supposedly the more-common destination countries into which Kenyans are lured with offers of high-paying jobs. However, in the United Arab Emirates — where no law prohibits trafficking, but homosexuality is illegal — the problem is compounded.

Enforcement of existing laws, and acting against trafficking, are seen as key steps in reducing the activity. Showing that no country is unaffected, Northern Ireland police are currently investigating five sex trafficking cases; and, on Monday, Filipino police rescued fifteen women following a tip-off regarding women recruited, and being held, prior to being sent to work abroad.

In the Northern Ireland situation, Detective Superintendent Philip Marshall stated that fifteen men are to be contacted, suspected of having paid for sex with trafficked women. Identifying victims within the UK, or victims seeking help, is becoming more challenging with the sex industry having switched to using hotel rooms as-opposed to street corners. Many victims of trafficking are found to be unaware of where within the country they are.

In the Philippines situation, Zamboanga City police are still seeking the recruiter of the fifteen women rescued in Rio Hondo.

A range of complexities are involved in the sentencing of both those convicted of human trafficking, and their victims. In one Canadian case, 43-year-old Hungarian Lajos Domotor pled guilty to trafficking men and women into forced labor. Following being charged with conspiracy to commit human trafficking, he developed terminal stomach cancer and has been given a 10 to 15 percent chance of living five years.

In the UK, officials are seeking to detect exploitation prior to sentencing — as a counter to the high number of foreign women in jails, frequently having been victims of trafficking. One in seven women prisoners across England and Wales are foreign, with the primary offenses being drug or immigration-related. A report into the issue recommends sentencing decisions should consider the role of women, and of coercion, in such cases.

Artists also have a special role to play in the education and awareness of the public. The first opera about sex trafficking will premiere in Liverpool, England, on March 7. Anya17 was composed by Adam Gorb with a libretto written by Ben Kaye. Performers will come from Manchester's Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic contemporary music ensemble 10/10. Funding for the production was provided in part by the United Nations.

Sources[edit]

This article is a featured article. It is considered one of the best works of the Wikinews community. See Wikinews:Featured articles for more information.

AP. "US Envoy: Myanmar Weak Against Human Trafficking" — ABC News (United States), January 11, 2012
"PSNI to visit men who paid for sex with trafficked women" — BBC News Online, January 11, 2012
Liz Dossa. "The lure of a better life: Human trafficking in the Bay Area" — Catholic San Francisco, January 11, 2012
Press Association. "Women 'coerced into offending'" — Mid Sussex Times, January 11, 2012
"Women's climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro shouts for Freedom from trafficking" — Mission Network News, January 11, 2012
Brandi Kruse. "Project rescues victims of sex trade in King County" — MyNorthwest.com, January 11, 2012
Bong Garcia. "15 human trafficking victims rescued" — Sun.Star, January 11, 2012
Krista Henery. "Human trafficking bill passes Senate" — WLFI-TV, January 11, 2012
Nicole O’Reilly. "Human trafficker pleads guilty" — The Hamilton Spectator, January 11, 2012
Malia Zimmerman. "Sex Trafficking Victims, Advocates, Lobby Hawaii Legislators for Stronger Laws" — HawaiiReporter.com, January 10, 2012
Paul Chavez (Marina del Rey Patch). "Knabe Raises Issue of Child Prostitution" — Patch Media, January 10, 2012
"Gay Kenyan men trafficked as sex slaves" — UPI, January 10, 2012
Helen Carter. "Opera aims to tackle the issue of human trafficking" — The Guardian, January 9, 2012
Hillary Clinton. "Remarks on the Release of the 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report" — U.S. Department of State, June 27, 2011
Office To Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. ""What Is Trafficking in Persons?", Trafficking in Persons Report 2011" — U.S. Department of State, June 27, 2011

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Wikinews interviews Andy Martin, U.S. Republican Party presidential candidate

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:58:29 GMT

Monday, August 8, 2011

This article mentions the Wikimedia Foundation, one of its projects, or people related to it. Wikinews is a project of the Wikimedia Foundation.

Andy Martin
Image: Andy Martin.

2012 United States Presidential Election

2012 U.S. Presidential Election stories

7 November 2012: World leaders react to Obama win
7 November 2012: United States re-elects Barack Obama
7 November 2012: Australian Broadcasting Corporation plans to call California for Obama before polls close
5 November 2012: Wikinews interviews former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party
5 November 2012: On the campaign trail, October 2012

U.S. Republican Party presidential candidate Andy Martin of Illinois took some time to answer a few questions from Wikinews reporter William S. Saturn.

Martin has questioned the validity of the birth certificate released by U.S. President Barack Obama, and is best known for his role in the spreading of rumors that Obama is a Muslim. According to CNN, Martin has retracted the Muslim claim and now believes that Obama was fathered by journalist and labor activist Frank Marshall Davis rather than Kenyan economist Barack Obama, Sr.. He also believes that the Obama presidency has been a failure and has asked for Obama to resign.

Martin has run for an assortment of public offices in the past and has previously mounted two presidential campaigns. During the 1988 election, he vied unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, and in 2000, he again fell short of winning the nomination of the Republican Party.

In other areas, Martin has filed numerous lawsuits, some reportedly with anti-Jewish language. This has caused some commentators such as former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to label Martin as an anti-Semite. Martin vehemently denies the charge. He has also taken legal action against Wikipedia, which he feels is a propaganda arm of the Obama administration.

While focusing his presidential campaign in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire, Martin has largely emphasized local issues. On national issues, he has taken conservative stances, as documented on his campaign website and blog.

1 Barack Obama and the birther movement
2 Personal past
3 Presidential campaign
4 Political views
5 Sources
6 External links
7 Editor's notes

Barack Obama and the birther movement[edit]

According to The New York Times, Martin first spread the 'Obama is a Muslim' rumor via press release following then-Senate candidate Obama's 2004 keynote address to the Democratic National Convention. Amid the 2008 presidential election, Martin traveled to Hawaii to investigate Obama, who was at the time, the Democratic Party nominee for president. In October 2008, he filed a lawsuit against the state to release Obama's birth certificate, but it was dismissed by the courts. After returning from the trip, Martin announced that he believed Frank Marshall Davis was Obama's biological father.

Martin has been a fierce critic of the Obama administration and held a press conference on August 5 to call for the resignation of both Obama and Vice President Joe Biden. He proposed that a "caretaker administration" be put in place until the 2012 election, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid as president and a Republican as vice president.

William S. Saturn: You have been one of the leading proponents of the movement questioning the citizenship of Barack Obama. What are your views on the long-form document recently released by the White House?

Andy Martin: I did indeed found the “Birther” movement questioning Barack Obama’s origins in Hawai’i but because of the need to run a national campaign for president I have not been active in examining Obama’s latest birth certificate. I think it was/is enough that I started the movement that ultimately forced Obama to release a document. I know there has been controversy about the new document but I am not involved in that controversy. It is for others to study and comment on the latest certificate; I am a full-time presidential candidate for the foreseeable future.

WSS: You have stated that it is your personal opinion that Frank Marshall Davis is the father of Barack Obama. What specifically led to this opinion?

Martin: My personal opinion that Frank Marshall Davis is Barack Obama’s biological father is based on my extensive research in Hawai’i.

WSS: Where specifically did you obtain the material for your research and what did it entail?

Martin: Because my Obama research in Hawai’i is ongoing and will be continuing in a research trip later this year I do not discuss my sources or methods of investigation. My writing speaks for itself.

WSS: Since announcing he would not seek the Republican nomination, Donald Trump seems to have toned down his statements on the birth certificate issue. What are your current views on Donald Trump?

Martin: I did not pay a lot of attention to Donald Trump’s “campaign” for president because his behavior seemed to suggest it was a charade. Mr. Trump has destroyed his political viability by saying initially he would only run as a Republican and then repudiating himself and suggesting he might run as an independent. Public leadership is serious business; Mr. Trump has shown he is not serious.

WSSHow would [you] assess the Obama presidency?

Martin: The Obama presidency is an abject failure. I predicted Mr. Obama would fail in a Psychological Profile which was the first chapter of my book Obama: The Man Behind The Mask. Obama’s failure is no surprise to me.

WSSDo you believe Obama has done any good things as president?

Martin: I can’t think of any off the top

WSSYou ask Barack Obama to resign and want Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to take over. What legal precedent forms the basis of this? And assuming Vice President Biden resigns as well, why should Speaker John Boehner not take over as president?

Martin: The president of the Senate is third, not the speaker, so Reid is a practical choice.^{[Editor's note 1]} Boehner is fourth.^{[Editor's note 2]}

Personal past[edit]

Martin was asked several questions about his personal past, which he declined to answer. He refused to discuss his two previous presidential campaigns, his past affiliation with the Democratic Party and would not say which candidates he supported in previous elections. When pressed, Martin stated that the questions were irrelevant.

William S. Saturn: You ran for president in 1988 as a member of the Democratic Party. Why did you choose to become a member of that party, and what caused you to switch to the Republican Party?

Andy Martin: [The late] Congressman Jack Kemp and Rev. Pat Robertson invited me to join the Republican Party and I did.

WSS: Are you still in contact with Pat Robertson?

Martin: No.

WSS: What is your response to the claims from Robert Gibbs and others that you are Anti-Semitic due to the alleged anti-Jewish language used in some of your previous lawsuits?

Martin: Robert Gibbs engaged in a crude political smear based on lies, distortions and misrepresentations. For the past four or five years I have been the victim of a pro-Obama dirty tricks operation orchestrated out of Wikipedia.org and the Obama campaign apparatus. In one sense, Obama’s use of malicious smears against me shows how desperate he is to discredit my activity. In another sense, the fact that Obama goes to such lengths to attack me is a compliment to the seriousness with which he views both my research and my current presidential campaign. The national media may not yet take my presidential campaign seriously but Mr. Obama and his dirty tricksters very much do. What does Obama know that the media don’t?

Presidential campaign[edit]

Martin has centered his campaign in the state of New Hampshire and has discussed local issues. For environmental reasons, he opposes the Northern Pass transmission line, an energy project slated to connect New England to the hydroelectric resources of Hydro-Québec. When asked if the project was under the purview of the office of the presidency, he replied that it requires a presidential finding. On July 28, Martin released a press release that described a planned march against the Northern Pass as "what could be the largest campaign event generated by any presidential candidate in New Hampshire during the 2012 election cycle." When asked to go into detail about the event, Martin responded that it was "too time consuming" to provide "personalized analysis" but remarked that "I'd say we are surprising a lot of people and we have many more rabbits to pull out of the hat as the campaign progresses."

Martin has not been invited to any Republican primary presidential debates and has not been included in any presidential preference polls.

William S. Saturn: Why did you decide to run for president in 2012?

Andy Martin: I did not think and still do not believe that any of the “leading” Republican candidates are capable of waging an effective campaign against Barack Obama. I believe I could do a better job because of my extensive understanding and study of Obama’s character and personality. I predicted his ineffectiveness as a president in my Psychological Study which was published as a chapter in my bestselling book Obama: The Man Behind The Mask in 2008. I understood Obama before the American electorate did. They were not listening to me in 2008; maybe they will listen in 2012. To paraphrase former New York Mayor Ed Koch, the American people did not listen to me in 2008 and they are suffering for it. Now I’m running formally as a candidate to take my case against Obama to the American people.

WSS: Individually, what is your opinion of some of your fellow candidates for the Republican Party presidential nomination, notably Mitt Romney, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul and Herman Cain? Why do you feel you would be a better nominee for the party than any of them?

Martin: I have occasionally written brief profiles and short commentaries on some of my opponents. Those columns are posted on my blogs. I refer you to those comments and any that appear in the future (as no doubt they will).

WSS: How often do you campaign, and how has the campaign been received by people you meet?

Martin: I campaign every day. I would say I have received an extraordinarily warm and positive response wherever I have campaigned. I place my campaign in the top 10, i.e. among the top 10 Republican presidential candidates nationally. While most of the media attention is focused on the top 5, some of the top 5 are tottering and will not survive.

WSS: Which other candidates would you also place in the top 10?

Martin: the usual ones, so long as they have actually announced. I don’t count unannounced ones.

WSS: Have you received any notable endorsements?

Martin: I receive the “endorsement” of ordinary Americans every day in my campaign. That is the only endorsement that counts.

WSS: Do you feel you can still win the nomination despite not receiving an invitation to any of the presidential debates?

Martin: I have a game plan and strategy to try to win, and we are executing that game plan well. I am very satisfied with the progress of the campaign. Actually, by excluding me from some of the debates to date, the media have been the losers. Some of the candidates they are showcasing are imploding, thereby brightening my prospects to move up on the presidential leader board.

WSS: In your estimation approximately how many supporters does your campaign have?

Martin: I can’t give an exact number, nor would I if we tallied supporters that way. But it clear my campaign is gaining altitude and other candidates are faltering. We are executing our game plan; others rather obviously are not.

WSS: If you do not win the Republican nomination, would you consider running for a third party's nomination?

Martin: No.

Political views[edit]

On his campaign website, Martin describes himself as a supporter of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution in opposition to stringent gun control. He opposes Cap and Trade legislation and mandated health care coverage. He identifies himself as a proponent of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and a "corruption fighter". He writes about his issue positions on his personal blog.

Martin was asked to elaborate his answers on some of the questions, but did not respond. He labeled certain questions as "bizarre".

William S. SaturnHow would you describe your political philosophy? Would you be best defined as a fiscal conservative, a national security conservative, a social conservative, a libertarian or something else?

Andy Martin: I am a “full spectrum” conservative with an emphasis on national security and economic issues. These are the areas in which I have the greatest expertise.

WSSWhich historical or contemporary figures serve as your political role models?

Martin: President Ronald Reagan, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, President Dwight Eisenhower

WSSWhat are your thoughts on the Paul Ryan medicare reform plan?

Martin: I have my own Medicare and Social Security plans.

WSSWould you support a Balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution?

Martin: Yes

WSSDo you oppose any parts of the current U.S. Constitution?

Martin: This is a strange question

WSSWhat necessary freedoms are currently lacking in America?

Martin: Good question

WSSShould the U.S. be involved in the Libyan conflict?

Martin: I have supported limited involvement in Libya, primarily limited to support and special operations; we should not have a ground presence.

WSSShould the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center remain open?

Martin: I have an open mind

WSSWhat would be your first actions as president?

Martin: Jump-start the economy by encouraging the private sector to revitalize manufacturing and create immediate jobs.

Have an opinion on this story? Post it!

Sources[edit]

This exclusive interview features first-hand journalism by a Wikinews reporter. See the collaboration page for more details.

Ken Kobayashi. "Appeals court turns away lawsuit seeking Obama birth certificate" — The Honolulu Star Advertiser, April 8, 2011
"A $1 Billion Investment in New Hampshire's Future" — The Northern Pass, 2011
Alex Koppelman. "October surprise: Who's Obama's real father?" — Salon, October 31, 2008
Jim Rutenberg. "The Man Behind the Whispers About Obama" — The New York Times, October 12, 2008
"Obama Campaign Defends William Ayers Relationship" — Fox News, October 8, 2008

External links[edit]

Editor's notes[edit]

↑ According to Article I, Section III of the United States Constitution, "The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate". Therefore, Vice President Joe Biden is President of the Senate, not Harry Reid. Reid serves as Senate Majority Leader, which is a strictly partisan position.
↑ According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, "if, by reason of death, resignation, removal from office, inability, or failure to qualify, there is neither a President nor Vice President to discharge the powers and duties of the office of President, then the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall, upon his resignation as Speaker and as Representative in Congress, act as President." Therefore, John Boehner, as the speaker of the House of Representatives, follows the vice president as second in the line of succession. In the event of Boehner's inability to assume the office, the act specifies that "the President pro tempore of the Senate shall, upon his resignation as President pro tempore and as Senator, act as President." Therefore, President pro tempore of the United States Senate Daniel Inouye follows the speaker as third in the line of succession.

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Sitcom star Roseanne Barr announces run for U.S. president

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 12:04:21 GMT

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Roseanne Barr in 2010
Image: Leah Mark.

2012 United States Presidential Election

2012 U.S. Presidential Election stories

7 November 2012: World leaders react to Obama win
7 November 2012: United States re-elects Barack Obama
7 November 2012: Australian Broadcasting Corporation plans to call California for Obama before polls close
5 November 2012: Wikinews interviews former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party
5 November 2012: On the campaign trail, October 2012

Roseanne Barr, best known for her role on the television sitcom Roseanne, officially announced Thursday on the The Tonight Show with Jay Leno that she will run for President of the United States in 2012.

Barr, 58, starred as the blue collar, wise-cracking mother Roseanne Conner on Roseanne from 1988 to 1997. She made national headlines in 1990 for a shrill performance of the national anthem at a San Diego Padres baseball game that then-President George H.W. Bush called a disgrace. After the conclusion of Roseanne, she hosted a short-lived talk show from 1998 to 2000, before returning to her roots as a stand-up comedienne in the HBO special Roseanne Barr: Blonde N Bitchin'.

Last month, Barr premiered in a new reality show on Lifetime called Roseanne's Nuts, which follows her life as a macadamia nut farmer in Hawaii. Two weeks ago, the show was watched by 1.6 million viewers, though last week only 785,000 tuned in. In an interview with The Star-Telegram, she admitted that the show serves as a launching pad for her presidential ambitions, arguing "I have to do a reality show in order to run for president of these United States", in allusion to former Alaska governor Sarah Palin's reality series Sarah Palin's Alaska.

During her appearance on the Tonight Show, Barr insisted that she was serious and commented that Palin's potential candidacy is "kinda what got me to thinking that I too should run for president, if she can". Barr revealed that she had created her own political party, referred to as the "Green Tea Party", which combines elements of the Green and Tea Party movements. She proclaimed that the taxpayers would be her running mate and that her first order of business would be the legalization of marijuana.

If not invited to the presidential debates, Barr joked that she would "photoshop" herself in.

Have an opinion on this story? Post it!

Sources[edit]

Eric Alt. "Roseanne Barr: "Green Tea Party" Candidate?" — NBC Chicago, August 5, 2011
James Hibberd. "Roseanne Barr: 'I am running for President'" — Entertainment Weekly, August 4, 2011
David Martindale. "Five questions with Roseanne Barr" — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, July 27, 2011
David Wright and Wonbo Woo. "Roseanne: 'I Was Not Prepared for the Crash'" — ABC News, January 4, 2011
"Roseanne Barr Biography" — A&E Television Networks, 2011

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Brazilian surfer wins world championship in Pichilemu, Chile

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 09:38:17 GMT

Pichilemu

Pichilemu stories

9 September 2012: Wikinews interviews Diego Grez, Chilean earthquake survivor
1 April 2012: Roberto Córdova wins Concertación primary elections in Pichilemu, Chile
1 November 2011: Fire in Pichilemu, Chile kills family of five
4 June 2011: Brazilian surfer wins world championship in Pichilemu, Chile
28 May 2011: Paraguayan ambassador to Chile visits Pichilemu hacienda after 'slavery' controversy

...More articles here

Location of Pichilemu in the O'Higgins Region

Pichilemu Portal

Monday, May 30, 2011

Promotional poster of the world championship.
Image: Quiksilver.

Attendants to the Quiksilver ceremonial, looking forwards to the Punta de Lobos rocks.
Image: Diego Grez.

The fourteenth Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos Big Wave Invitational surf championship took place on Saturday in the Chilean city of Pichilemu, often called the "Capital of the Surf." In this year's competition, 24 surfers from countries such as South Africa, Peru, Chile, the United States, and Argentina participated in the championship, including Pichileminians Ramón Navarro and Cristian Merelló, and Hawaiian Köhl Christensen. The surfers competed for a US$20,000 prize.

Background[edit]

The Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos has been a tradition since 1998. Christensen won that championship, and has regularly participated in it since then, according to La Tercera. "If [the Chilean waves] weren't that good, I wouldn't come back. They're powerful, that's what makes of Chile a great place to train," Christensen told La Tercera.

The competition was scheduled to take place sometime between April 1 and May 31; it was confirmed to take place on May 28 by Gary Linden, the Big Wave World Tour Contest Director. "We are excited to kick off the 2011 Big Wave World Tour with the third annual Quiksilver Ceremonial. [...] It looks like patience is going to pay off as we are expecting surf in the 30 to 40 foot range with light winds and good lighting making for the perfect start to season," Linden said.

"The Quiksilver Ceremonial is one of the world's most anticipated big wave events, featuring some of the best waves and skilled surfers from around the globe," Hawaiian media Aloha Update reported. Carlos Ferrer, marketing manager of Quiksilver Chile, said: "This championship has managed to put itself as one of the great dates of the worldwide surfing scene. It is of international class."

Mayor of Pichilemu Roberto Córdova with the championship organizers on Thursday.
Image: Pichilemu city hall.

On Thursday, Mayor of Pichilemu Roberto Córdova reunited with organizers of the ceremonial, Carlos Ferrer, Gary Linden, and Ricardo Parot from Wetfly Productions, at the Pichilemu city hall. "The mayor reiterates his commitment to the community with these kinds of events in the low-season as they are great attractions that help support Pichilemu's tourism industry," city hall representatives said on its Facebook profile.

Many people visited Punta de Lobos on Friday, as the surfers were practicing. "There was great expectation in Punta de Lobos yesterday [on Friday]," La Tercera reported. "It has arrived the same amount of people coming a long holiday weekend to Pichilemu, but this time, only to see the championship," director of surf magazine Glass.cl Rodrigo Farías told the newspaper. Farías also told La Tercera that during last year's ceremonial there were waves eight-meters high, and "[Saturday]'s waves are expected to be more ordained." He predicted that it would be "a bit cloudy, and there will be more time between one wave and another, so there could be more tubes, which will be much better visually."

The championship[edit]

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Video footage of the first stage of the semi finals of the Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos.
Image: Diego Grez.

The surfers dropped into the sea to begin the championship at 07:30 local time (11:30 UTC). It is estimated that least two thousand people from Chile and other countries attended the event throughout the day. A helicopter flew overhead at Punta de Lobos, recording and photographing the surfers and attendants. The attendants were given free fruit juice, fruits, as well as Red Bull drinks at the end of the day.

The 24 competing surfers were: Köhl Christensen, Carlos Burle, Marcos Monteiro, Peter Mel, Chris Bertish, Ramón Navarro, Diego Medina, Cristian Merello, Rusty Long, Grant "Twiggy" Baker, Fernando Zegers, Reinaldo Ibarra, Greg Long, Gabriel Villarán, Jamie Sterling, Anthony Taschnick, Mark Healey, Kealii Mamala, Jaimie Mitchell, Danilo Couto, Sebastian de Romana, León Vicuña, and Matías López.

The Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos was broadcasted live in HD quality for the first time in the championship's history through its official website. The footage included underwater shots.

The championship lasted until 17:30 local time (21:30 UTC), and the results were as follows:

#	Name	Country	Score
1	Marcos Monteiro	Brazil	21.17
2	Ramón Navarro	Chile	19.32
3	Gabriel Villarán	Peru	14.81
4	Köhl Christiensen	USA	2.00
5	Cristián Merelló	Chile	0.00
5	Greg Long	USA	0.00

"Viva Brazil! Firstly I want to thank God, because everyone's okay and nobody got injured. I also want to thank the residents of Pichilemu for giving us good vibes and to the jet-skis pilots, who worked hard all day. I knew this day was going to come," Marcos Monteiro, the winning surfer said shortly after the championship ended during a press conference.

The Big World Tour's next stop is Pico Alto, Peru, on July 1.

Photographs[edit]

It is estimated that at least two thousand people visited Pichilemu and Punta de Lobos to watch the Quiksilver championship.
Image: Diego Grez.

People arriving at Punta de Lobos to watch the championship.
Image: Diego Grez.

There were several rescuers at sea.
Image: Diego Grez.

Partial view of the Punta de Lobos beach.
Image: Diego Grez.

Image: Diego Grez.

Billowing flags of several countries, representing the competing surfers.
Image: Diego Grez.

There was a skate ramp, where local skaters could play. In the picture, from left to right, local skaters Demetrio Vidueira, Matías Herman, and Jacob Soto.
Image: Diego Grez.

Image: Diego Grez.

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Sources[edit]

This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.

Howard, Jake. "Brazil's Marcos Monteiro wins 2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos" — ESPN, May 28, 2011
Press Release: "Con olas gigantes de hasta 9 metros finaliza el Ceremonial Quiksilver Punta de Lobos" — Quiksilver Ceremonial Chile, May 28, 2011 (Spanish)
Redação Waves. "Monteiro no topo do Chile" — Terra.com.br, May 28, 2011 (Portuguese)
Meruane, Tamara. "Estrellas mundiales del surf esperan hoy olas de nueve metros en Punta de Lobos" — La Tercera, May 28, 2011 (Spanish)
Vossman, Erik. "Quiksilver Punta de Lobos Big Wave is On" — Aloha Update, May 23, 2011

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has more media related to:

2011 Quiksilver Ceremonial Punta de Lobos Big Wave Invitational

Quiksilver Ceremonial official website

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U.S. President Barack Obama releases original birth certificate

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:48:35 GMT

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

United States

Sources[edit]

Alan Silverleib. "Obama releases original long-form birth certificate" — CNN, April 27, 2011
Julia Pace (Associated Press). "Obama releases long form of his Hawaii birth certificate, decries 'silliness,' distraction" — StarTribune, April 27, 2011
"Certificate of live birth" — whitehouse.gov, April 27, 2011

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Brush fire starts in Hawaii's Makua Valley

Sun, 25 Jul 2010 11:07:34 GMT

Picture of wildfire in Makua Valley taken from Farrington Highway
Image: Drew Smith.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Hawaii

Sources[edit]

This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.

"Firefighters battling Makua brush fire" — Hawaii News Now, July 24/25, 2010
William Cole. "Makua Valley 'essential' to Army" — Honolulu Advertiser, April 20, 2007

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Pacific Rim braces for tsunami following major Chilean earthquake

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:54:27 GMT

Saturday, February 27, 2010

At 06:34 UTC today, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Chile, triggering a tsunami in the Pacific Ocean. The tsunami has already hit the French Polynesia islands, with waves reaching two metres (six feet) high damaging to the coast. In Fiji Japanese officials expect waves 2.3 metres (7.5 feet high). Australia and New Zealand are expected to receive waves of one metre (three feet) which are expected to hit within 24 hours of the earthquake.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported that there may be "widespread damage" from the waves, saying that "authorities should take appropriate action in response to this threat."

In a special report, Wikinews looks at how different parts of the world have been affected by the disaster.

North American west coast and Hawaii[edit]

Hawaii is expecting to receive waves reaching 2.5 meters (8 feet) high. A warning went into effect at 6AM local time – 5 hours before the expected arrival of the Tsunami; Hawaiian Governor Linda Lingle declared a state of emergency. At present, there are confirmed reports from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center of waves hitting the islands' eastern coasts.

	Get off the shoreline. We are closing all the beaches and telling people to drive out of the area
—Hawaiian civil defence spokesman John Cummings

Additionally, the western coast of the United States – extending from California to portions of Alaska – is under a tsunami advisory.

The civil defence spokesman for the Hawaiian island of Oahu, John Cummings, encouraged people to "get off the shoreline. We are closing all the beaches and telling people to drive out of the area."

Pacific Islands[edit]

The tsunami hit the Gambier archipelago at approximately 6:30 am local time. The Marquesas islands were hit about an hour later. Reports from the islands indicate that there was no significant damage or casualties yet. The islands followed the tsunami alert plans put in place following the major 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

New Zealand[edit]

In a statement, the New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management commented, "[the] current assessment is for a non-destructive tsunami for New Zealand with wave heights at the shore of between 0.2 and one metre [three feet]. The first wave may arrive later and may not be the largest. Waves may continue for several hours."

The centre, which also confirmed the initial Chile earthquake, also added that "sea-level readings confirm that a tsunami has been generated which could cause widespread damage. "Authorities should take appropriate action in response to this threat."

HAVE YOUR SAY
Are you in an area affected by the tsunami? Did you feel the earthquake?
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The government noted that the waves were not predicted to have destructive force. According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the first waves would not hit the country's shores until fifteen hours after the initial quake.

"Stay away from the beaches. Don't go out on the water and if you are already out on the water up anchor and head to deeper water at least half a mile off shore," warned Coastguard Northern Region duty officer John Cowan.

Meanwhile, the Marsden Point oil refinery, the only refinery in New Zealand, put all of its operations on hold as they were waiting for further information about the strength of the expected tsunami, according to production controller Ted Rye.

"We've just had a report from a trader fishing boat out at the Hen and Chick islands, about 10 kilometres off the coast, and they have noticed quite a significant surge," he remarked.

New Zealand Civil Defence Minister John Carter also appealed for residents to heed officials' warnings and stay away from shorelines throughout the day.

Australia[edit]

The east coast of Australia was placed under a tsunami alert; the impact expected in Sydney from 8:45am local time, Sunday there, and along other parts of the New South Wales coast. Areas in Tasmania potentially affected by the quake would be under tsunami alert until 7:45am local time.

"Boats in harbors, estuaries or shallow coastal water should return to shore. Secure your boat and move away from the waterfront. Vessels already at sea should stay offshore in deep water until further advised," read a warning by the Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Center. "[...] Tsunami waves are more powerful than the same size beach waves, with the first wave not always the largest."

The centre noted that among the areas with a "potential tsunami threat" include New South Wales state, Queensland state, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island. However, it also added that the bays and harbours of Sydney would not likely be affected by waves.

Media gallery[edit]

Please click an image to enlarge it and see more info.

Map highlighting coasts and countries that have tsunami alerts as a result of the quake

Graphic representation of the southeastern Pacific tectonic plates near Chile which cause earthquakes in that region.

US president Barack Obama being briefed about the earthquake

Estimated time needed for tsunami waves to reach certain points of the Pacific Ocean

Map of earthquake with star locating epicenter

Map of Chile from CIA World Factbook with the epicenter of 2010 Chile earthquake marked

Preliminary forecast model energy map of the 2010 Chile earthquake tsunami

Map of Chile with the epicentrer location of the earthquake

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Sources[edit]

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

2010 Chile earthquake

Wikimedia Commons has media about 2010 Chile earthquake.

"Tsunami alert for New Zealand after massive Chile quake" — Stuff.co.nz, February 28, 2010
"NZ issues tsunami alert after Chile quake" — ABC News, February 28, 2010
"Tsunami hits French Polynesia after Chile earthquake" — AFP, February 28, 2010
Astrid Wendlandt. "Tsunami waves hit French Polynesia after Chile quake" — Reuters, February 27, 2010
Mark Niesse, Kristen Gelineau, Chris Havlik, Ray Lilley, Eric Talmadge. "Pacific islands brace under tsunami emergency" — The Houston Chronicle, February 27, 2010
Mike Ahlers. "Sirens in Hawaii warn of possible tsunami" — CNN, February 27, 2010
"Tsunami spreads through Pacific after Chile quake" — BBC News Online, February 27, 2010
"TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 015" — Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, February 27, 2010
"Australia issues tsunami warning for its states" — Xinhua, February 27, 2010
"West coast of U.S., Canada in tsunami advisory" — Sun Times, February 27, 2010
"Message hawaii.2010.02.23.204429" — NOAA, February 19, 1010

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8.8 magnitude earthquake hits Chile; tsunami warnings issued throughout Pacific rim

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:28:47 GMT

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Chile

Sources[edit]

Wikipedia has more about this subject:

2010 Chile earthquake

"Magnitude 8.8 - OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE" — USCS, February 27, 2010
"Huge earthquake hits Chile, 17 reported dead" — Reuters, February 27, 2010
Colin Freeman. "Massive earthquake hits Chile" — Telegraph, February 27, 2010
"Australia on tsunami watch following Chile quake" — The Washington Post, February 27, 2010
"Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issues Tsunami warning" — Press Release, February 27, 2010
Doina Chiacu. "Tsunami threatens Hawaiian islands: U.S. agency" — Reuters, February 27, 2010
"Death toll in Chile earthquake rises to 122" — RTÉ News, February 27, 2010
Alison Chung. "Tsunami Warnings After Deadly Chile Quake" — Sky News, February 27, 2010
"Tsunami spreads through Pacific" — BBC News, February 27, 2010
ONE news. "Tsunami wave makes landfall on [New Zealand mainland]" — TVNZ, 8:14AM Sunday February 28, 2010 NZDT
Edward Gay and Derek Cheng. "Evacuation warnings as tsunami wave hits Chatham Islands" — New Zealand Herald, Sunday Feb 28, 2010 9:12 AM NZDT
"Tsunami waves hitting Hilo" — Hawaii News Now, Feb 27, 2010 5:18 PM EST
"Massive quake hits Chile, triggers tsunami" — MSNBC, February 27, 2010

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Hawaiian Representative Neil Abercrombie resigns

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:19:48 GMT

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Hawaii

Sources[edit]

Herbert Sample. "Hawaii Dem. says he'll resign from Congress" — Associated Press, December 11, 2009
Advertiser Staff. "Republican Party says resignation is move to 'steal election' from Djou" — The Honolulu Advertiser, December 11, 2009
Roger Mari. "Neil Abercrombie formally announces run for Hawaii governor's seat" — KHNL, March 9, 2009

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Monster waves make way for rare surfing competition

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 05:10:11 GMT

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Hawaii

Sources[edit]

Jon Auciello. "50-Foot Waves Bring On Rare Surfing Contest in Hawaii" — Accuweather, December 10
"Hawaii holds rare surfing contest as 12m waves roll in" — BBC News Online, December 9, 2009
Pete Thomas. "San Clemente's Greg Long wins Eddie Aikau big-wave contest in epic Waimea surf" — Los Angeles Times, December 8, 2009

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US soldier charged with murder in shooting of contractor in Iraq

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:15:37 GMT

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

United States

Sources[edit]

"Schofield soldier accused of killing contractor in Iraq" — Star Bulletin, September 22, 2009
"US soldier charged with murder in Iraq base death" — The Associated Press, September 22, 2009

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Brush fire threatens Molokai, Hawaii

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 10:54:19 GMT

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Disasters and accidents

More articles about disasters and accidents on Wikinews:

The Island of Molokai, South Coast
Image: Forest & Kim Starr.

A CH-47 Chinook during a training mission. The 2000 gallon bucket is clearly visible beneath it

Two CH-47 Chinook helicopters were called in on Wednesday, September 2nd, to help contain the wildfires on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai.

Smaller helicopters that were fighting the fire since it started around noon on August 29th were redeployed as well.

According to Gen Iinuma, Maui County Civil Defense administrator, the CH-47s carry 2000-gallon buckets of water, whereas the smaller helicopters only have 100-gallon buckets. The Chinooks can dump more water in fewer trips than the smaller helicopters. On the other hand, the tremendous downdraft from the bigger aircraft may make the fire worse.

"If they don't do it right, they'll fan the fire," Iinuma said.

According to Iinuma, ground crews are continuing to maintain the fire's perimeter, which remained unchanged from Tuesday. The helicopters are being used to fight the fires where ground crews can't reach, such as steep mountain passes and valleys.

Iinuma also expressed concern about a red flag advisory the National Weather service put out for all leeward areas of the Hawaiian Islands, meaning conditions are ripe for fires.

Lieutenant Governor James "Duke" Aiona, who took an aerial survey of Molokai's brush fire area, said it was "no immediate threat". He also noted that the fire seemed to come right up to the perimeter of some properties, but almost always stopped there.

Aiona's observations are mirrored by a local business owners' story. The wildfires destroyed the beehives of Molokai Meli, a family-owned honey business in Kapaakea, but residents admit that the beehives were not their main concern.

"We were just beating the edges with wet towels and sheets to try and keep it from getting to the houses that are just right over that ridge," said co-owner Brenda Kaneshiro. Luckily, the property was spared, though the beehives weren't.

"All that metal right there, that's where they all were, there were 33 of them," said Elijah Kaneshiro, the owner's son.

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Sources[edit]

"Chinook helicopters join assault against Molokai brush fire" — The Maui News, September 2, 2009
Brian Perry. "Blaze ‘no immediate threat’" — The Maui News, September 2, 2009
Mari-Ela David. "Firefighters battling flare-ups on third day of Molokai wildfires" — KHNL, September 1, 2009

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Hurricane Guillermo forms in Pacific Ocean

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:37:55 GMT

Friday, August 14, 2009

Tropical cyclones – 2009

Sources[edit]

Suzanne Roig. "Guillermo expected to weaken before reaching Hawaii" — HonoluluAdvertiser.com, August 14, 2009
"Hurricane Guillermo forms in the Pacific" — Associated Press, August 14, 2009

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Remnants of Hurricane Felicia affect Hawaii

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:12:42 GMT

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Tropical cyclones – 2009

Sources[edit]

National Hurricane Center. "Tropical Cyclone Activity" — NOAA, August 12, 2009
"Flash flood watch extends from Maui to Kauai" — The Star-Bulletin, August 12, 2009
"Flash flood watch in effect for Maui County" — KHNL, August 12, 2009
"Flood watch posted as Felicia makes last pass through state" — The Honolulu Advertiser, August 12, 2009
"Felicia bringing much-needed rain to islands" — The Star-Bulletin, August 12, 2009
Leland Kim. "East Oahu most vulnerable to Felicia" — KHNL, August 11, 2009
"National Weather Service Glossary" — National Weather Service, June 25, 2009

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	We're not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers.
—President Barack Obama

	...when I heard there's going to be 12- to 15-foot faces, I was excited.
—Oahu resident

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Australian Jesse Williams drafted in fifth round by the NFL's Seattle Seahawks

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Observing the 2012 Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the US, and wider world

US-based action[edit]

Trafficking, the global picture[edit]

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Wikinews interviews Andy Martin, U.S. Republican Party presidential candidate

Contents

Barack Obama and the birther movement[edit]

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Presidential campaign[edit]

Political views[edit]

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Editor's notes[edit]

Sitcom star Roseanne Barr announces run for U.S. president

Sources[edit]

Brazilian surfer wins world championship in Pichilemu, Chile

Background[edit]

The championship[edit]

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Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

U.S. President Barack Obama releases original birth certificate

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Sources[edit]

Brush fire starts in Hawaii's Makua Valley

Sources[edit]

Pacific Rim braces for tsunami following major Chilean earthquake

North American west coast and Hawaii[edit]

Pacific Islands[edit]

New Zealand[edit]

Australia[edit]

Media gallery[edit]

Related news[edit]

Sources[edit]

8.8 magnitude earthquake hits Chile; tsunami warnings issued throughout Pacific rim

Sources[edit]

Hawaiian Representative Neil Abercrombie resigns

Sources[edit]

Monster waves make way for rare surfing competition

Sources[edit]

US soldier charged with murder in shooting of contractor in Iraq

Sources[edit]

Brush fire threatens Molokai, Hawaii

Sources[edit]

Hurricane Guillermo forms in Pacific Ocean

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Remnants of Hurricane Felicia affect Hawaii

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