Barack Obama launches "Attack Watch" website

Barack Obama launches "Attack Watch" website

With the 2012 presidential election looming, Barack Obama’s campaign team has launched a new web site called "Attack Watch", to challenge negative comments from Republicans about the US head of State.

And making the front page is an article refuting a recent statement by the governor for Texas, Rick Perry. During a televised debate, the White House hopeful had criticized Obama’s Federal Reserve Plan, claiming no jobs had been created. Attack Watch says that the stimulus did in fact create or save at least 1,3 million jobs.

This scheme is reminiscent of the "Fight the Smears" campaign launched during the 2008 Presidentials to address the rumours being spread about Barack Obama. A Twitter thread has also been set up so that democrat activists can report any attacks on their candidate, but Republican web users have seized the opportunity to make a mockery of the campaign.

This parody commercial for Attack Watch is currently doing the rounds on social networks. With its intimidating colours and design, conservatives have interpreted this campaign as encouragement to inform on others. Web user Brad Thor for example states that the Obama administration has become paranoid.

Miranda Sullivan from Examiner.com even compares it to the "Big Brother" character in George Orwell’s novel 1984. It would appear that all that Barack Obama has achieved with “Attack Watch” is to fire up Republican campaigners.

Iran: ongoing mobilization to save lake Urmia

These pictures are part of a campaign to save Lake Urmia, a vast salt water lake in northwestern Iran, which is gradually drying out. Local activists are hoping to convince the Tehran regime of the importance of preserving this lake, so as to avoid an economic and environmental disaster for the region.

Lake Urmia campaigners have turned to the web to raise awareness, and try to save the lake, while there is still time. A Facebook page has been set up and already has over 4 800 active members. A petition is also circulating online, calling upon the authorities to take immediate action. It has already gathered near to 3 500 signatures.

The Association for Defense of Political Prisoners in Iran, or ADAPP, is asking the international community for help in preventing a potential environmental catastrophe, which would have disastrous consequences for 13 Million locals. The organization is also calling upon the Iranian government to end its repression of protesters and engage in peaceful negotiations with them, in order to find a solution for this highly pressing problem.

The NGO "Human Rights Watch" has reported that hundreds of Iranians have been arrested in Lake Urmia protests in recent weeks, in various towns and cities across the country. But this does not appear to have put the protesters off. They continue to take to the streets on a regular basis, as we can see in this amateur video footage, filmed last week. We can also see that security forces had been deployed en mass to quash the protests.

Tumblr passes 10 billion posts

Things are looking good for micro blogging service Tumblr. According to a statement released by the company, it has now surpassed 10 billion total posts! This time last years it was at the 1 billion post mark and the figures keep rising for Tumblr, 36 million articles, photos or videos are posted on the social network every day.

Wiki Loves Monuments contest

The online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, has launched the “Wiki loves monuments” contest aimed at promoting Europe’s historical monuments. Participants are asked to take photos of famous buildings or monuments and then upload them on to the Internet, as freely licensed images. Over 7 000 budding photographers have taken part so far and prizes include a helicopter trip and photography equipment.

Video of the day

Jorian Ponomareff is a veritable motorbike prodigy. In this video, the French rider gives a mind blowing demonstration of his skills, an array of incredible moves, where he and his bike become one.