Consumer Credit Agency Knowledge Base
Does anyone know of a good agency that can handle consumer credit counseling? I have contacted different places that I found on websites or saw on t.v. ads about helping with credit card debt. My problem is that my 3 cards only come to approx $3500 & these places want me to have at least $10,000 in debt. Do you know of a non-profit agency that would take a lower amount in credit card debt & help us deal with the credit card companies? Thanks for your help!
nonprofit consumer credit counseling agency? I am thinking about signing up with CareOneCredit.com regarding passing my all my debts into one payment. What are the pros and cons of doing so? I am currently struggling to make all my credit card payments, do you think this is a smart choice?
How will consumer credit counseling affect an application for a student loan? I want to go to college soon for a degree program. However, my credit card debt is getting the best of me, so I have been considering contacting a consumer credit counseling agency. Will student loan agencies (federal & private) not consider an application with credit counseling? How do I find out how this decision could affect my school?
What can I do if Virgin Media report me to Consumer Credit Information Agencies as they threaten? I had been requesting disconnection from their broadband services for weeks. Since their only response was to acknowledge the webforms and I hadn't been getting a decent service anyway, I cancelled the direct debit, owing them at the most a fraction of £18, although they hadn't credited my account for replacing a damaged modem cable as they said they would do. Any attempt to contact them always results in being referred to another department. They don't respond to my emails or letters. They seem to think I owe them £51 (I've asked for an itemised statement) and are threatening to disconnect my services (which is what I wanted) and report me to Consumer Credit Information agencies, which I don't really want. I have let them know how much I have spent on telephone calls to their technical support an on alternative dialup access and let them know that any claim they make against me will be met with a counter claim. If they report me do I have a right of reply?
Is anyone else receiving phone calls from a 'consumer credit' agency? I press 2 to stop getting them but... I have been getting phone calls all the time from a company. The phone call starts out automated, says if you want to lower your debt, to press '1' to speak with a counselor, or '2' to stop receiving phone calls. I have pressed 2, I have spoke to a so-called manager, I have complained - I want to speak with a real person about these calls. The last person told me to F-off!!!! I am ready to sue these people - does anyone know what the company is really called?? Or how to reach them? When I call the number back, it says its been disconnected. I am FED-UP!! Thanks for any help!! I HAVE registered with the Do Not Call List. Prior to these calls, I registered, about 3 years ago.
How do I deal with a credit agency in a blackmail situation? I had an account with a wireless telephone company. I cut off my service and paid my final bill. I left the country for work and upon my return six months later, I had six monthly bills from the company for a phone I didnt use. Plus, I had a bill from a collection agency threatening to send their report to the credit bureau. The wireles company had continued to bill me monthly charges and when the bills were not paid and my account was sent to a collection agency. I spent 30 days disputing the charges with evidence and my dispute was denied. The wireless company refuses to speak to me. The collection agency is telling me that I either pay or my case is sent to the credit bureau. This is blackmail. I do not owe this money. But I obviously don't want this on my credit report because getting that off will cost more than the bill. What are my options? Who can I call? Where do I go? Is there an agency for consumers for this type of fraud? Do I have legal options?
How can a merchant effect a consumer's credit report for a bad debt? mobileStorm is a data base marketing company that provides a platfrom from which e-mail, text-mail, printed, fax and voice calles are created and delivered. Our product is purchased with a credit card via the web and is a monthly charge bound by contract. If a contract is broken (credit card is declined/cancelled) we would like to report this bad debt to a credit agency.
Who should I contact/write regarding my credit report? I want to dispute some items on my credit report, just wondering who should I write/contact. For example, I have consumer energy bill that's not mine. Should I contact Credit agency? Consumer Energy Or the collection agency? Thanks.
Are we foolish to trust the credit reporting agencies? Since they do not use debt/equity ratios or income amounts to calculate credit risk. The credit rating agencies gave a high rating to institutions with bad loans given to unworthy borrowers in the sub-prime mortgage mess. Are the consumer credit rating agencies creating a bigger disaster with their voodoo credit rating system? Credit rating agencies are now under scrutiny for giving investment-grade ratings to securitization transactions (CDOs and MBSs) based on subprime mortgage loans. Is concumer credit the next crisis?
should I tell collection agencies that I have contacted Consumer Credit Counselors? My phone rings 50 times a day, because of credit trouble, unemployment and medical bills, I contacted CCCS, but forgot to ask if I should tell the collectors I contacted them. Any ideas? Just thought I'd ask... Thank you all. They already said we may have to file bankruptcy. due to illness and unemployment there is no money to pay them with
Should I join Consumer Credit Counseling? They will charge me $468/yr to pay my bills with my money.? It sounds great, I "only" have about $9k in credit card debt and it should be payed off in 3yrs. Right now I have very little money left after paying minimum payments each month. I will have $145.00 extra each month. However, I've looked into several credit reporting agencies FAQ's and they state that this may hurt you because the CCC agency will be "negotiating" your interest rates, which means you are not paying the entire debt that you agreed to off. I have enough negative items on my credit report so I dont know if this will put my good accounts into negative if i have to close them and then CCC ageny will also note that I am under a debt mgmt program. Any advise, my only alternative would be a consolidation loan, but i doubt i would qualify?
How does Consumer Credit Counseling calculate payments? My husband and I will be going thru CCC with a non profit agency and we will be meeting with them next week. We have approx 42k in credit card debt and pay around $1400 monthly on all of the credit card payments. Does anyone know what our new monthly payment to CCC might be? We are thinking they might be able to reduce the payments down to around 1000 monthly but we're not sure. Thanks.
Watchdog agency for credit card co. abuse? I have been ripped off by a credit card system & need to know which Agency is a watch dog for credit card abuse of consumers. I paid off a defaulted credit card debt of $50,876 in 2007. The credit card co. accepted $26,000 as a settlement for full & final payment. At the end of the year they sent me a 1099 showing a debt discharge of $60,268 to add to my income tax filing. When I inquired they told me once you default on a credit card they raise the interest to 29% + a monthly fee of $78. This gives them a much higher debt loss reimbursement from their insurance co. The bank WINS BIG TIME, IRS WINS BIG TIME & the DEBTER get the screw job owing more than the original debt. Who can help me find a consumer agency that will help me do battle with the BANK OF AMERICA. Need some help to a small consumer under water from debt. JK
Who is best professional to advise on how to clean up old and neglected consumer credit? I have a friend that needs to clean up debt. Before charging off to be a hero and completely opening a can of worms on her poor soul by referring her to any joe shmo I wanted to ask. I need to ask because cleaning up credit debt that has lay dormant for years is a tricky situation. The debts have been sold off and as soon as you make contact with the collection agencies all of a sudden the clock starts again and all he// breaks loose. So...we have BK lawyers, credit counselors, financial advisers,etc so which ones are going to truly assist credit debt payoff strategy and report cleanup with my friend's best interest at heart? Thanks for that...but I disagree. Clearly I am the person to help initially by researching who the best person to go to for advise would be - and then forwarding said information to friend for review. You appear more knowledgeable on the subject than me - great. But you still didn't answer the question.
US residents: does a consumer report affect a person's credit score? does requesting an investigative or consumer report from a credit bureau/agency affect a person's credit score? and if so, will this request for such report be recorded on one's credit report? (Not a US resident so I'm not really sure how all of this works. Trying to understand a few things here and there! All help is mostly appreciated!)
Is it wise to agree to a settlement on an unpaid credit card balance with a collection agency? In recent weeks, I've been offered to make a settlement on some of my unpaid credit card balances with a few of the collection agencies that have been calling my house frequently. Personally, I don't think that's a wise decision because it may affect my credit background with all three major credit bureaus. As we all know, collection agencies are known to hound consumers to death when it involves collecting money on bad debts and charged-off accounts from former creditors. I understand credit advisors across the country don't recommend a consumer to "settle" an account with neither a creditor nor a collection agency. I'd rather just face the music and pay the balance on record or if push comes to shove, maybe consider debt consolidation. Please advise what would be the best option to move forward with.
What can help me get approved for a student credit card? I recently got declined for the reasons below which is from an online letter. what can i do different? "Your consumer credit bureau score from Trans Union is too low (See below) Amount of annual income listed on the application is insufficient or missing. High utilization of credit lines or insufficient utilization information (Trans Union) Your consumer credit bureau score mentioned above was determined using a scoring system that evaluated the information in your file at the consumer reporting agency named above. The following are the primary factors in your credit report that affected your credit bureau score: Length of time accounts have been established. Proportion of loan balances to loan amounts is too high. Lack of recent revolving account information. Too few accounts currently paid as agreed. " Sources: www.americanexpress.com
3 Questions: Debt Counseling & Credit Report? How long after my debt has been paid will the creditor remain on my credit report? Will it automatically update to being current and paid? How long will the phrase, "managed by a consumer credit agency" appear on my credit report after my debt has been paid thru a debt counseling program?
Does anyone besides me think Credit One is a RIP OFF SCAM? Last Nov. I spoke to a rep over the phone to change my daughter's billing address; THEY NEVER CHANGED HER ADDRESS, so she didn't get the bills. We just got a call 2 MONTHS LATER THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH HER ACCT.! they never sent her statements for 2 months. Meanwhile charged her LATE FEES, FINANCE CHARGES, ANNUAL CHARGES, YOU NAME THEY CHARGED HER. TODAY I ATTEMPTED TO PAY THE BILL OVER THE PHONE, THEY WOULD NOT ACCEPT MY PAYMENT! SAID THEY NEEDED TO SPEAK TO HER ON CONFERENCE CALL! If you're having issues with them, FILE A RIP OFF REPORT OR TRY CONSUMER CREDIT AGENCIES IN YOUR STATE - I'm reporting them to my State.
Is it legal for merchants to charge credit card processing fees to the consumer? Have frequently experienced this with travel agencies when I use my credit card. The processing fee of 2% is charged to me, thus would end up using Nets to avoid it. There is also a fear that the business may wind up after you pay upfront. Can any action be taken against them? Who are the watchdogs that I can report this to?
Can a collection agency garnish wages on a credit card debt less than $3000? Since most consumers have an average credit card debt less than $3000 (for ONE credit card each), would a collection agency actually go through all this effort to garnish a debtor's paycheck when the debtor may have other bills to pay which may total thousands of dollars? Also, if it takes months to get a court hearing set up between the plaintiff and the defendant, isn't there a strong chance that the debt owed to the collection agency could already be paid down by the time the court hearing takes place? In other words, the credit card debt would be at a lesser amount than the initial amount that was first presented to court by the collection agency.
What does it mean when a credit card company can't retrieve my credit report? I applied for a credit card a while back, and I was declined. This was rather surprising to me, because I've got good credit. Anyway, I got an email from the cc company today stating the reason for my rejection: " The amount of your purchase required a credit bureau report. We were unable to retrieve a report from a consumer reporting agency." Now, what? I retrieved my credit score just the other day and it was in the low 700s--so I know that I've *got* a credit score. I applied and got approved for a different credit card just a few weeks before I applied for this one, however--could that have been what went wrong? In any case, should I be worried that they couldn't retrieve my credit report? That just seems awfully strange, and I'm not sure if I need to talk to someone at a credit bureau, or something. . .any help/advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
credit card company.? i have maxed out credit cards and trying to call creditors to tell them i can't make payments anymore. because my income can't cover them all after after i pay all my principle expenses. is anyone have good advise? if i call creditors what is best word? i called law office and they said contacting a consumer credit counseling agency is stupid act and they are all scam. please help. because of maxed out credit card no creditor giving me low interest CC. living in CA ,28,married. please help.
Lesson Plan ideas for teaching Consumer Protection - legislation and agencies? I need to gear this toward 9th and 10th graders. I will also need to complete a 2 week unit plan on the subject so the lesson plan needs to actually be about only one of the subtopics, but it can be any one that I choose. (Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Crdeit Bililng Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit Collection Practices, Consumer Credit Protection Act, Federal Trade Commission Act, Consumer Product Safety Act, or Consumer Leasing Act) Any help is greatly appreciated!
I can't get accepted for student credit card.? Why I try to apply I get this reason: Your application was processed using a credit scoring system. The principal reason(s) for our decision were: * your credit references have not been established for a sufficient length of time* * your credit references have not been established for a sufficient length of time * Denotes reasons outside of the credit scoring system or determined during an additional review of your file by a credit analyst. In reaching our decision, we relied on information contained in the consumer credit file from the consumer credit reporting agency: EXPERIAN, 701 Experian Parkway, P.O. Box 2002, Allen, Texas 75013, 1 888 EXPERIAN (1 888 397 3742) I have 1 credit card that I pay on time, and 2 cell phones that I pay on time, plus a student loan.
Whats the longest time a UK Debt Collection Agency can legally chase you for a debt before they have to stop? Debt collection agencies in the Uk have only 6 years from the default date to chase it, after that it is illegal is this true? Dear sir/madam With reference to the above account, I am writing to confirm I am not acknowledging this debt.would you please send me a true copy of this credit agreement. I understand that under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 (Sections 77−79), I am entitled to receive a copy of my credit agreement on request and this should be supplied within 12 working days. I enclose a payment of £1.00 which represents the fee payable under the Consumer Credit Act. Non-compliance with my request is a criminal offence under the above Act and will result in a report being submitted to the relevant statutory authorities. As you are aware, a credit agreement that is not properly documented and signed by the customer is totally unenforceable under the CCA and therefore is a complete defence to any court claim that is issued. Please note that under Section 189 you are obliged to supply these documents whether you are the original creditor or not. I await your reply
Should I use Consumer Credit Counseling Service for my debt?? I have about 3,000 in credit card debt from Citi and Discover. Both have been charged off so the damage is already done and I am 20 years old and I had to use this to pay for college and I wanted to try and make a small payment plan so I could defintley afford the payment but both collection agencies are asking for over 100 each month and I can't really afford that right now. I filled out this online application for Consumer Credit Counseling Service and they set up a plan where I pay 85 each month and out of that 15 goes to Consumer Credit Counseling Service and there also a fire deposit amount of 120$ which includes a file setup fee. Should I continue to do this or try and talk with the collection agencies about lowering the monthly payments or find another Service? I just want something that I can afford. Please help. Thank you
Collection agency is requesting payment of a debt that is not even listed in DH credit report. What to do? When I married DH I new he had a ton of consumer debt and didnt even know where he stood. Once we took out his reports we noticed that a collection agency that has been asking him to pay off a Sears debt....is not even on any of the 3 credit reports. He doesnt even remember if he owed them money. Who should I contact to get records of this debt? Can sears still help? Do I have to pay this debt even if its not on a credit report?
Is it legal for a collection agency to list an old credit card account with a more current date...? when the 1st delinquency was prior to the date on the credit report? I had a credit card account which I opened in 1998 but on my report it stated it wasn't delinquent until 2002. I heard that it is removed 7 years after it was opened. What is the most accurate information about how much longer it will be on my report? Also, is it true that a consumer can be absolved of the debt if the agency refuses to make payment arrangements? I Live in MD
citi professional cash card: consumer rights and conversion? I've been researching online all about this card. What I've come up with so far is that: -they do report the card to the credit agencies as personal credit -you can convert one of citi's consumer cards to the professional card; but can't convert back (to a consumer card, i assume). Also, on the site's terms & conditions: "Citi ProfessionalSM Cash Card is considered a business purpose credit card and not a consumer credit card. Please note that certain consumer rights do not apply to this account." questions: 1) Do you think that in the future, they would allow the conversion back to a consumer card? I read that they approved the up-conversion like, last year. 2) What consumer rights would I be losing? Does that mean that I can't dispute a charge on the card? List a couple of specifics; I sorta visited the federal government's site about consumer rights. -I've read that it goes on your credit report as personal credit; if that is so, then why the remark about not having consumer rights? -I was thinking of converting my current 'dividend' card to the 'professional' cash card to get 3% rebate rewards in more categories rather than the 2% on the 'dividend ' card. -Either the professional cash back card or the chase freedom card is what I'm considering [which I've read doesn't report your credit limit to the credit bureaus].
consumer credit laws in ohio? Statue of limitation for debts unpaid? medical or anyother? what about interest on accts written off? how about same debt on credit report with an open status and same acct number but different collection agencies and or attny office. Another thing, what if an acct was never open? or debt does not look like one i have, Collection agency wont provide info on original debt or statements because the debt is bogas. and please do not leave a response like get a job, i have one, or pay your bills, it isnt called for and i am looking for advise not nasty comments.
Client Consent Request by a Mortgage Broker. Allows (unlimited number of) lenders to obtain my credit report? Hi All, A mortgage broker I met requested that I sign a client consent that includes the following sentence: "Each lender considering my applications may obtain personal information about me from consumer reporting agencies, credit bureaus, and real estate appraisers". Is this a common request/statement? I guess the only concern is you do not want an unlimited number of "potential lenders" to obtain your report from consumer reporting agencies as this may affect your credit score. The above statement allows this to happen in theory. HOWEVER, if this is a common request/common way of phrasing it, by mortgage brokers(?), then I have no issue signing.. THANKS.
Collection Account on Credit Report: Midland? Collection Account on Credit Report: I had a First Consumer National credit card back in 1997 or 1998. Due to their outrageous charges I closed the account. Now many years later (almost 10 yrs) after reviewing my credit report I discovered that I have a collection account reported by Midland for $1047. What can I do to remove this account from my report? They are reporting this over and over to all three credit agencies with new dates. Please HELP
Is this credit card a good choice for me...? I have bad credit... or none, i cant get approved for anything else and dont understand all the red tape! HELP! does anyone have this card? THE ORCHARD BANK CREDIT CARD 200 min security deposit 35 dollar annual fee Variable Rate Information Your APRs may vary. The rates are determined monthly by adding the Index (described below) and: 6.65% ("Spread") for the Customary APR for credit card purchases. 16.90% ("Spread") for the Cash APR for cash advances, including balance transfers, if applicable, and cash advances made by credit card check. 22.24% ("Spread") for the Default APR. For each billing cycle, the Index is determined in the month prior to the month in which the billing cycle ends. In that prior month, the highest (U.S.) "Prime Rate" published in the Money Rates Table of The Wall Street Journal is selected (the "Index"). If the Index has changed, the new variable rates will take effect with the billing cycle that ends on or after the first day of the month following the Index change. Grace Period for Repayment of Balances for Purchases You have 25 days from the date of the periodic statement to avoid a Finance Charge on new credit card purchases, provided you paid your previous balance in full. Method of Computing Balance for Purchases Average Daily Balance (including new purchases). Annual Fee $35 per year Minimum Finance Charge $1.00 for each billing cycle in which a Periodic Finance Charge is payable. Foreign Transaction Fee Finance Charge 1% of the U.S. dollar amount will apply to transactions made in a foreign currency. Cash Advance Fee:$5 or 5% on all cash advances, whichever is greater; unless otherwise disclosed. Finance Charges accrue from the date of transaction. Cash advances will be limited. Your cash advance limit is disclosed on your billing statement. Late Payment Fee: The Late Payment Fee will vary based on the amount of your outstanding balance on your Payment Due Date, and will be: $30 if your balance is more than $0 up to and including $1000; or $35 if your balance is greater than $1000. Overlimit Fee: $30. Accessing the full amount or most of your available credit may result in an overlimit fee. Credit Limit Increase (CLI) Fee: If requested and approved, a CLI fee of up to $50% of the CLI may be charged to your Account, depending on your creditworthiness. Closed Account Service Fee: $3.50 per month on closed accounts with a debit balance. The variable Customary APR will apply to credit card purchases. The variable Cash APR will apply to cash advances, including balance transfers, if available, and cash advances made by credit card check. If at any time your Account is subject to the Customary and/or Cash APRs, and you fail to make at least your Minimum Payment in time to be credited to your Account by the Payment Due Date, or your Account exceeds your credit limit, your entire Account balance will increase to the Default APR. Note: The Orchard Bank Secured MasterCard requires a minimum deposit of $200 for a minimum $200 line of credit. For more information on the Orchard Bank Secured MasterCard, see our Secured Card FAQs. At our discretion, payments are generally applied to interest, fees, and then principal balances. We apply your payments to lower APR balances before higher APR balances. The application of payments is subject to change at any time, without notice. IMPORTANT INFORMATION There is a maximum of two (2) Accounts issued by HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A. per customer. If within 90 days of your Account open date, you decide you do not want the account, you can call the customer service number provided on the back of your card to cancel. Any fees, if assessed, will be reversed at no cost to you if you have not used the card. IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROCEDURES FOR OPENING A NEW ACCOUNT To help the government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an Account. What this means for you: When you open an Account, we will ask you for your name, address, date of birth, and other information that will allow us to identify you. We may also ask to see your driver's license or other identifying documents. Notice to California Residents: Except otherwise limited by applicable law, we may provide credit information about your account to our affiliates from time to time. This information may be used to qualify you for other credit offers. Married persons may apply for a separate account. Notice to New York Residents: Consumer reports may be requested in connection with the processing of this application and any resulting account. Upon your request, we will inform you of the names and addresses of any consumer reporting agencies which have provided us with such reports. Notice to Ohio Residents: The Ohio laws against discrimination require that all creditors make credit equally available to all creditworthy customers, and that credit reporting agencies maintain separate credit histories on each individual upon request. The Ohio Civil Rights Commission administers compliance with the law. Notice to Married Wisconsin Residents: No agreement, court order, or individual statement applying to marital property will adversely affect a creditor's interests unless prior to the time credit is granted the creditor is furnished with a copy of the agreement, court order, or statement, or has actual knowledge of the adverse provision. You must indicate your marital status for this application to be processed. INTEREST RATES AND FINANCE CHARGES Interest Rates The APRs on your Account are variable rates and are determined by adding a specified amount ("Spread") to an Index (described below). The APR is divided by 365 and rounded to the next highest hundred thousandth of a percentage point to determine your Daily Periodic Rate. The Daily Periodic Rate is used to determine the amount of Periodic Finance Charges (see Finance Charges). Monthly Index For each billing cycle, the Index is determined in the month prior to the month in which the billing cycle ends. In that prior month, the highest (U.S.) "Prime Rate" published in the Money Rates table of The Wall Street Journal is selected (the "Index"). If the Index has changed, the new variable rates will take effect with the billing cycle that ends on or after the first day of the month following the Index change. An increase in the Index will increase your applicable Daily Periodic Rates which may increase the Finance Charge due on your Account and may increase the Minimum Payment and Current Payment Due. Each time any APR changes, we will apply it to any existing balances, excluding any fixed rate Promotional or Introductory APR. Purchase APR Your variable Customary APR applies to credit card purchases. The Daily Periodic Rate is based on 1/365th of the Index plus 6.65% ("Spread"). For example, for billing cycles ending 5/17/07, the rate of FINANCE CHARGE would have been a Daily Periodic Rate of .04082% (corresponding 14.90% ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE). The minimum rate of FINANCE CHARGE is a Daily Periodic Rate of .04082% (corresponding 14.90% ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE). Cash APR Your variable Cash APR applies to cash advances, including balance transfers, if available, and cash advances made by credit card check. The Daily Periodic Rate is based on 1/365th of the Index plus 16.90% ("Spread"). For example, for billing cycles ending 5/17/07, the rate of FINANCE CHARGE would have been a Daily Periodic Rate of .06890% (corresponding 25.15% ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE). The minimum rate of FINANCE CHARGE is a Daily Periodic Rate of .05726% (corresponding 20.90% ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE). If at any time your Account is subject to the Customary and/or Cash APRs, and you fail to make at least your Minimum Payment in time to be credited to your Account by the Payment Due Date, or your Account exceeds your credit limit, your entire Account balance will increase to the variable Default APR. At our discretion, your Account may return to the Customary APR after five consecutive months of on-time payments of at least the Current Payment Due, without exceeding your credit limit. Default APR The Daily Periodic Rate for the variable Default APR is based on 1/365th of the Index plus 22.24% ("Spread"). For example, for billing cycles ending 5/17/07, the rate of FINANCE CHARGE would have been a Daily Periodic Rate of .08353% (corresponding 30.49% ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE). The minimum rate of FINANCE CHARGE is a Daily Periodic Rate of .08079% (corresponding 29.49% ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE). Finance Charges Finance Charges are the total of the greater of (a) Minimum Finance Charge, or (b) periodic Finance Charges, and any applicable (c) Cash Advance Fee Finance Charges, (d) Foreign Transaction Fee Finance Charge, (e) Credit Limit Increase Fee Finance Charge, (f) Closed Account Service Fee Finance Charges, and (g) Processing Fee Finance Charge. (a) Minimum Finance Charge. A Finance Charge that is assessed in lieu of a lesser periodic Finance Charge in any billing cycle in which a periodic Finance Charge is payable. This fee is $1.00. (b) Periodic Finance Charges. Periodic Finance Charges are computed by multiplying the Average Daily Balance for each category of transactions shown on your statement (e.g., purchases, balance transfers, cash advances) by the applicable Daily Periodic Rate and then multiplying the result by the number of days in the billing cycle. To calculate the Daily Balances, we take the beginning debit balance for each category of transactions each day, add any new transactions, any previous day's periodic Finance Charges, any assessed fees and charges, and subtract any payments and/or credits. If a debit transaction posts after the beginning of your billing cycle, but the transaction occurred prior to the beginning of your billing cycle, the applicable Daily Balance will be adjusted to include the transaction amount and any previous day's periodic Finance Charges for each day the transaction amount was outstanding prior to the beginning of the current billing cycle. Then, for each transaction category, we add the Daily Balances for the billing cycle together and divide the total by the number of days in the billing cycle. This is the Average Daily Balance for each transaction category. (1) Credit Card Purchases. Periodic Finance Charges begin to accrue on the date of the transaction and continue to accrue until payment in full is credited to your Account. However, there is a 25 day Grace Period on new credit card purchases. That means, if the New Balance shown on your last statement is paid in full by the Payment Due Date for that statement, periodic Finance Charges will not be imposed on new credit card purchases, provided the New Balance for the current billing cycle is paid in full by the Payment Due Date for that billing cycle. If, however, the New Balance is not paid in full by the Payment Due Date for the immediately preceding billing cycle, periodic Finance Charges will be incurred on new credit card purchases (i.e., purchases appearing for the first time in the current cycle) from the date of the transaction and on the previously billed but unpaid credit card purchases form the first day of the current cycle. (2) Cash Advances (including balance transfer and credit card checks). Periodic Finance Charges begin to accrue on the date of the transaction and continue to accrue until payment in full is credited to your Account. There is no Grace Period on cash advances. Periodic Finance Charges will be calculated using the Daily Periodic Rate in effect on the statement closing date. (c) Cash Advance Fee Finance Charges. Cash advances include all advances to get cash over the counter, through an ATM, balance transfers (if available), credit card checks, or other "cash-like" transactions (such as purchasing a money order, traveler's check, casino or betting chip, or a lottery ticket) as determined by us. A Finance Charge will be computed on the amount of each cash advance as of the date of the transaction. The Cash Advance Fee FINANCE CHARGE for all cash advances is 5%, subject to a minimum FINANCE CHARGE of $5, unless otherwise disclosed. (d) Foreign Transaction Fee Finance Charge. A Foreign Transaction Fee FINANCE CHARGE equal to 1% of the U.S. dollar amount is assessed on transactions made in a foreign currency, as of the transaction date. (e) Credit Limit Increase Fee Finance Charge. If you request and are approved for a credit limit increase ("CLI"), a CLI Fee FINANCE CHARGE of up to 50% of the CLI may be assessed to your Account, depending on your creditworthiness. (f) Closed Account Service Fee Finance Charge. A $3.50 per month FINANCE CHARGE is assessed to the Account for each billing cycle whenever that Account is closed with a debit balance. The application of any Finance Charge other than a periodic Finance Charge may cause the APR on the billing statement on which this Finance Charge first appears to exceed the Nominal APR. ACCOUNT FEES Annual Fee/Periodic Membership Fee Your Account is subject to a $35 Annual Fee for each year your Account is open or closed with a balance. If you close your Account within the first 90 days your Account is open, the Annual Fee is refundable so long as you have not used the Account. Late Payment Fee A Late Payment Fee is assessed for each billing cycle in which at least the Minimum Payment, and any amount past due, is not paid in time to be credited to the Account by the Payment Due Date. The Late Payment Fee will vary based on the amount of your outstanding balance on your Payment Due Date, or during the period up to 5 days after your Payment Due Date, as determined by us, and will be: $30 if your balance is more than $0 up to and including $1000; or $35 if your balance is greater than $1000. Overlimit Fee An Overlimit Fee is assessed if your Account balance exceeds the applicable credit limit at any time during a billing cycle. We may impose this fee even if we authorize or impose any charges that cause your balance to exceed the credit limit. This fee is $30. Other Fees and Charges Returned Payment Fee A Returned Payment Fee is assessed to your Account each time a payment check, automatic payment deduction, or other payment method is not honored or is returned unsatisfied by the bank or other financial institution. Any payment returned unsatisfied for any reason may be reposted to any type of transaction (i.e. cash advance, purchases, etc.) and Finance Charges may be reinstated back to the payment date at the APR being charged for that transaction. This fee is $30. Returned Check Fee A Returned Check Fee is assessed to the Account each time a credit card check, balance transfer check (if available), electronic check or other Account access device is returned unsatisfied by us for any reason. This fee is $30. Check by Phone A Check by Phone Fee may be assessed to the Account each time a payment is made by telephone, even if the payment is made by someone other than you. The amount of this fee will be disclosed at the time such payment is requested. Stop Payment Fee A Stop Payment Fee is added to the cash advance balance when a payment of a credit card check is stopped at your request. Payment may be stopped on a credit card check by notifying us in writing or by calling us at the telephone number listed on the Account billing statement, so long as such check has not already been processed. A stop payment request must include the check number, payee, amount and date of the credit card check on which payment is to be stopped. If a stop payment is requested by telephone, the call must be confirmed in writing within 14 days. A written stop payment will remain in effect for six months unless renewed in writing. This fee is $29. Send stop payment requests to P.O. Box 81622, Salinas, CA 93912-1622. Research Fee A $7 Research Fee is assessed to the Account for each sales slip copy, $3 for each statement copy, and $10 for each application copy upon request. ADDITIONAL TERMS Arbitration The Cardmember Agreement and Disclosure Statement ("Agreement") that you will receive with your card, if you are approved for credit, provides that certain disputes are subject to binding arbitration. Arbitration replaces the right to go to court, including the right to a jury and the right to participate in a class action or similar proceeding. Please read the "Arbitration" section of the Agreement carefully. YOUR BILLING RIGHTS What To Do If There's An Error In Your Bill YOUR BILLING RIGHTS - KEEP THIS NOTICE FOR FUTURE USE This notice contains important information about your rights and our responsibilities under the Fair Credit Billing Act. NOTIFY US IN CASE OF ERRORS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR BILL If you think your bill is wrong, or if you need more information about a transaction on your bill, write to us (on a separate sheet) at the address listed on your billing statement. Write us as soon as possible. We must hear from you no later than 60 days after we sent you the first bill on which the error or problem appeared. You can telephone us, but doing so will not preserve your rights. Please include the following information in your letter: Your name, account number and signature; The dollar amount of the suspected error; and Describe the error and explain, if you can, why you believe there is an error. If you need more information, describe the item you are not sure about. If you have authorized us to pay your Account bill automatically from your savings or checking account, you can stop the payment on any amount you think is wrong. To stop the payment, your letter must reach us three business days before the automatic payment is scheduled to occur. YOUR RIGHTS AND OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AFTER WE RECEIVE YOUR WRITTEN NOTICE: We must acknowledge your letter within 30 days, unless we have corrected the error by then. Within 90 days, we must either correct the error or explain why we believe the bill was correct. After we receive your letter, we cannot try to collect any amount you question, or report you as delinquent. We can continue to bill you for the amount you question, including Finance Charges, and we can apply any unpaid amount against your Credit Limit. You do not have to pay any questioned amount while we are investigating, but you are still obligated to pay the parts of your bill that are not in question. If we find that we made a mistake on your bill, you will not have to pay any Finance Charges related to any questioned amount. If we didn't make a mistake, you may have to pay Finance Charges, and you will have to make up any missed payments on the questioned amount. In either case, we will send you a statement of the amount you owe and the date it is due. If you fail to pay the amount we think you owe, we may report you as delinquent. However, if our explanation does not satisfy you, and you write to us within ten days telling us you still refuse to pay, we must tell anyone we report you to that you have a question about your bill. And, we must tell you the name of anyone we reported you to. Upon settlement of the dispute, we must tell everyone we report you to that the matter has been settled. If we don't follow these rules, we can't collect the first $50 of the questioned amount, even if your bill was correct. SPECIAL RULES FOR CREDIT CARD PURCHASES If you have a problem with the quality of property or services you purchased with a credit card, and you have tried in good faith to correct the problem with the merchant, you may have the right not to pay the remaining amount due on the property or services. There are two limitations on this right: (a) You must have made the purchase in your home state or if not, within 100 miles of your current mailing address. (b) The purchase price must have been more than $50. These limitations do not apply if we own or operate the merchant, or if we mailed you the advertisement for the property or services. HSBC Card Services Inc. and/or HSBC Card Services (II) Inc. provide processing services for HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A. You may write to us at the address shown on your billing statement or HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A., 1111 Town Center Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89144. Orchard Bank, Household MasterCard and HSBC credit cards are issued by HSBC Bank Nevada, N.A. in Las Vegas, Nevada and serviced by its affiliates HSBC Card Services Inc. and/or HSBC Card Services (II) Inc. Not available to those consumers residing outside the United States. Offer void for all existing Household Bank and Orchard Bank MasterCard Cardmembers. Important Information To receive, view, and save disclosures and Account Information electronically, you must have a personal computer equipped with Netscape 4.0, Microsoft Explorer 4.0 or AOL 5.0 or later, and either a printer, a hard drive, or other storage device. You must also have a valid email address. As paperless communication options become available, our cardholders will be able to choose which communications to receive electronically, and which to receive via standard mail. We will notify you in advance of sending such electronic disclosures and Account Information. You must notify us if your email address changes in order to continue receiving disclosures and Account Information electronically. You may withdraw your consent to receive disclosures and Account Information electronically at any time. However, if you withdraw your consent, future disclosures and Account Information will be sent via U.S. mail. You have the option to request any information that we have provided electronically in paper form. To notify us of your new email address, withdraw your consent, or to request a disclosure or Account Information in paper form, please contact us by calling the phone number on the back of your credit card or write us at Bankcard Services, P.O. Box 80084, Salinas, CA 93912-0084. Electronic Agreement: I agree to receive disclosures and other Account Information electronically. I confirm that I have the software and computer equipment that satisfies the requirement above and that I will download or print the disclosures and other card related communications for my records. Additionally, by clicking the YES button, I acknowledge that I am providing my consent to receive electronic communications Terms and ConditionsAnnual Percentage Rate (APR) for Purchases Variable Customary APR: 14.90%1 will apply. Minimum Customary APR: 14.90% Other APR's Variable Cash APR: 25.15%2 (Minimum Cash APR: 20.90%) Variable Default APR: 30.49% (Minimum Default APR: 29.49%) Variable Rate Information Your APRs may vary. The rates are determined
Does anyone know of a good consumer lawyer in the Atlanta, Ga area? Its a long story but a collection agency has put a report in my credit that should not be there. The person who claims i owe money has a contract which is not my signature. i told the collection agency i can prove this but they would not listen so i want to take them to court. Could anyone please recommend a good consumer lawyer that especializes in collection agencies?
How does online credit card payment and the whole online payment system work??? 1)How does the whole system and procedure work? 2)Do debit cards work as well as credit cards? 3) I know the consumer has to take precautions but what are the security procedures and precautions taken by credit card companies and online payment companies and systems to protect you? 4) What shud i look for in a website to know it is totally secure and is known and legally accepted by govt agencies, banks and other agencies in concern? 5) Is there a universal agency/institute that websites which accept online payment are registered with?(for example ISO for quality of goods etc.)
Can you repair your own bad credit? I have recently researched information on repairing bad credit after bankruptcy, etc. It appears that items, whether true or false can legally be disputed from yourself as frequent as every 30 days. And, unless the credit bureau agencies can provide valid proof (from the original creditors) within a 30 day period, they must remove the derogatory credit from your file. Although it can take 2 - 3 times of writing dispute letters to actually get a response, this seems very interesting. It also appears that the FCRA is really in the consumers favor, but not really advertised to us because the 3 major bureaus profit from our credit history. Any experience/advice on someone cleaning up their own bad credit (not through credit repair scams)?
Verge of foreclosure... need help on reversing this.? In March 2005 we moved into our home. At that time we were w/ our starting finance company -- which was great. Then the loan was sold (the 1st part of our mortgage) to CountryWide. In April 2005 my husband was diagnosed with epilepsy and thus lost his job because of it. Had enough savings to get through a few months of mortgage payments and in Sept the savings ran out which was going to be used for taxes but this money was not due until June, unfortunately due to the circumstances we were forced to use this for Mortgage payments. Attempted to make payments for the last 9 months but they refuse them stating all of what is due or nothing and let it build up. We rec'd a foreclosure notice in the mail in Jan. 2006. The Foreclosure finalization is 8/30/06. I have put in complaints with the FTC and the state Consumer Credit Agencies hoping to get answers to this predatory Lender. Any other ideas? Are there any real estate lawyers out there that can help? We need to reverse this asap! Please only respond if you are : A current broker, lawyer, or experienced in this field. Thank-you. Also an interesting site: http://www.countrywidehomeloansucks.com/new_page_2.htm OH and we are NOT selling, moving, renting or otherwise . We have an attorney now that will be running a counter suit through predatory lending laws, and conspiracy. There are a lot more details. If there are lawyers that wish to respond to this and your speciality is Real Estate Law contact us!!! We are in Ilinois. We are not going to move... we are not willing to sell our home.
Credit card co. abuse? I have been ripped off by a credit card system & I need to know which AGENCY is a watch dog for credit card abuse of consumers. I paid off a defaulted credit card debt of $50,867 in 2007 the credit card co. accepted $26,000 as a settlement for full & final payment. At the end of the year they sent me a 1099 showing a debt discharge of $60,268 to add to my income tax filing, when I inquired they told me once you default on a credit card they raise the interest to 29% + a monthly fee of $78 this give them a much higher debt loss reimbursement from the their insurance company. The bank WINS-BIG TIME, the IRS WINS- BIG TIME & the DEBTER get the screw job owing more then the original debt. Who can help me find a consumer agency that will help me do battle with the bank-â??BANK OF AMERICA â?? NEED SOME HELP TO A SMALL CONSUMER UNDER WATER FROM DEBT JK
Is it legal for someone to obtain my credit report for their use? I am in the process of divorcing and I recently found out that my husband hired a private investigator to obtain personal info about me. I accept the fact that much information is publicly available to anyone with the time, knowledge and/or money to find it, but is it really legal for someone other than myself to obtain my credit report? I don't owe my husband any money and I have not hidden any assets, and he never even asked me for it, he simply had a PI gather my credit report along with other info: checking to see if I had ever been married, etc. I just feel that it is a big privacy violation and I am wondering if I can complain about it to any agency. I did not think that consumer credit reports were considered public information, but please correct me if I am wrong.
Lesson Plan ideas for teaching Consumer Protection - legislation and agencies? I need to gear this toward 9th and 10th graders. I will also need to complete a 2 week unit plan on the subject so the lesson plan needs to actually be about only one of the subtopics, but it can be any one that I choose. (Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Crdeit Bililng Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Fair Credit Collection Practices, Consumer Credit Protection Act, Federal Trade Commission Act, Consumer Product Safety Act, or Consumer Leasing Act) Any help is greatly appreciated!
Collection Agency - Validating The Amount? I was told that a collection agency would need to, if challenged regarding the legitimacy of an amount they are pursuing, validate that the amount is actually due. My question is, who is the final arbitrator on what is or is not valid? We all know that different parties could look at the same paperwork and reach different conclusions. If there is doubt, or incomplete paperwork, shouldn't the consumer get the benefit of the doubt? Do the credit agencies and courts look carefully at the paperwork gathered by collection agencies? A related issue is, my credit is currently superb, if some collection agency comes along and accuses me of being a deadbeat on an under $100 amount, isnâ??t that quite a minor thing? Surely my credit would not be completely ruined by something so trivial. Also, I can't believe the collection agency is coming at me so hot and heavy over a minor dollar amount. Are they bluffing? Doesn't it cost them money to go to court, et cetera? Hey Voters, I like the input from: 1) Studly, and 2) ginabgood1. What do you think?
Help with credit problem? I had a credit card, I went through Consumer Credit and paid for a year, I couldn't afford monthly payments so I decided on debt settlement through another program. This credit card was turned over to a collection agency/attorney. I pay debt that is settlled and usually at half of the original amount when I have enough saved. This specific one I do not have the money for up front and the collection company will not settle for the amounts I propose to them through the debt settlement co. They have filed a claim with the National Arbitration Forum. I have to respond within 14 days to the forum with a response to the claim. I immediately signed up with Consumer Credit again, but it takes awhile for them to propose to the original creditor. I may know in about ten days whether the original creditor will reply and accept the proposal and then recall the account from the collection co but I don't know what to do about the response I have to file with National Arbitration Forum.
question about collection agency's rights and consumer rights.? I sold a car to my brother's friend while I lived in CA. I sent the "release of liability" with his name on it but no address cuz he was moving and I didnt know his new address.The vehicle department sent me a notice saying that if I dont provide them with an address I'll be held liable, so I found out his address and sent it in. The guy never transfered the car to his name and ended up getting 7 tickets, crashed and abandoned the car.Since he never paid any of the tickets and fines he got, they weren't able to collect from him even after it was sent to collections and now they say it's my responsibility to pay.This will be over $2000 and needless to say that it has ruined my credit,I now have a little over than 400 points. I have sent them recently a 2nd release of liability signed by the guy,saying that he takes full responsibility over his actions. But since he's already got horrible credit, they know he'll never pay and they keep calling me and harrassing me.Can they do this? I did send the release of liability but at the time I didnt have his address, which I sent later. My mother sent the address in for me, and didnt date the paper. so even though it was sent before, they still want me to pay. They admit to have received the release of liability, but it's my word agains theirs pretty much.
consumer rights when dealing with a collection agency? I have a debt i owe to my old lease; and they never sent me a bill . i finnally got paperwork from an agency called :Fair Collections and Outsourcing,12034 Baltimore Ave #E,Beltsville, MD 20705,several things have happend since dealing with them. first they said i could set up a payment plan which is great, however it is me and my ex-boyfriend who owe the debt .. one guy at the agency said we could split the debt and each pay our own half.. in a way that if one of us didnt pay we wouldnt make the other's credit go bad.. however when i called him back they said that a woman was now handeling the account and that we COULD NOT split the debt like that.So that was confusing. secondly they say we HAVE TO pay with a credit card or debit card or electronic check(provide them the routing number and account number)and that the same amount will be deducted from our bank accoun/credit card once a month untill the debt has been paid. cant i send IN payments?! what if i didnt have a bank acct? Let me just make it clear that this debt is not on my credit report as of yet; they said we have until april to settle it without it damaging our reputation. and the ex and i are both fully willing to pay.. we just want to make sure we arnt getting screwed by the company
Fair Credit Reporting Act Violation (FCRA) Trans Union? (Revised)? I would like to thank you all for your input but in reading the answers I believe that I needed to revise what I said. Trans Union gave my credit report to a collection agency but I was not the person they were looking for. The other persons name is John Washington my name is johnny a Washington. The only thing similiar about our address is Brooklyn,NY that's it. If you pull your credit file it tells you the name of every company that got your file whether promotion or other. It also tells you the information that the person requesting your file sent ie your name address phone number. The agent at Transunion didn't match anything not even the name. I have never applied for credit and used John because that's not my name. The FCRA states "A consumer report agency may provide information about you ONLY to people with a valid need" The agency gave the right information. Trans Union just gave the first John Washington they saw. Unfortunatly my name is Johnny. Do I have a case against them?
Van Ru Collections agency.? I have debt in collections. I am entering a consumer credit counseling program and they need statements from all creditors with the amount owed. Van Ru (the collection agency for Macys) refuses to mail me a statement. Macys refused to discuss anything, since they charged off my debt to Van Ru. What can I do?
how does wage garnishment affect my credit score? I already have a Consumer Credit Counseling situation related to a vehicle that I co-signed on with my son. The vehicle was repossessed and I now pay 275.00 a month for the payment on the vehicle. I want to purchase a home within two years and I'm desperately trying to clean up my credit. Now I have a problem with an apartment complex that I broke a lease with. They want me to pay almost 3,000.00 for various claims about leaving the apartment in disarray (unclean, etc.) Some of their claims are not true--I believe they just want to intimidate me into paying a lot of money, and they are assuming I won't disagree or fight it out. I've tried talking to the collection agency but all they do is threaten me and they will not just talk to me and let me try to work it out with them.
My co-signer filed bankruptcy & I'm still paying account. It shows on my credit report. does it affect score My parents filed chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2005 and they had co-signed on a car loan for me. When I pull my credit report it states unrated bankrupty but shows the account payment never being late. I called a consumer agency on the internet and they said it Does negatively affect my score, just by having the word bankrupcty contained in my report. But I've read a similar answer on this page that states it has no affect at all. Which is true? I've tried disputes with the bureau's and they never remove the "bankrupcty" part of it but show that it's being paid as agreed.
Can creditors take personal possessions? I owe a bunch of business and personal debt. I can make all the recurring expenses (business and personal) with what I make, but the credit debts are what I can't make. I'd need an additional $2000 per month for the next 3 years to pay it all. My credit is shot, but I'm working with a negotiation company. Problem is I can't make all their required payments. I'm trying to pay Advanta on my own which is about $380 a month before things get too bad. I'm wondering what happens if it gets to where I can't make all the payments. I don't want to do bankruptcy because I heard it costs $50,000 to do that because of attourney fees. So can they come in and take all my personal possessions (even though they won't pay all my debts). It started with me trying to do a nice thing and offer high-speed internet service to the community. Now I'm in major debt, and the consumer credit agencies can't help me. I have an LLC, but my debt was personally signed using my SSN so I'm not sure how the LLC can protect me.
credit report?? removing negative medical bills? Does anyone have ideas regarding removing negative medical bills on my credit report. I have disputed the information, information both the 3 credit agencies as well as the hospital in question that the bills are not mine. The hospital wants my personal information to research this, but I refuse to give them that because it is a violation of the patient confidentiality laws..but they still wont remove. on my Creport, it says "in dispute by consumer", but aside from that it hasn't changed over the past 3 years. I don't even live in the state in which it is charged for. I heard you can get this stuff removed by disputing the way I did, because of the patient confidentialy laws, the hospitals cannot release personal information... Please let me know your thought.. advice... and please reference your resources. Thanks
Getting out of debt!? I am about $4,200 in debt on 4 cards all of which the interest rates are in the double digits between 16-28%. THIS SUCKS. the minimum payments are sky high and I'm feelin it. I've been seriously thinking about going to a debt counseling agency particularly Consumer Credit Counseling Service but have heard mixed reviews. I've been reading that I can handle this myself by paying off the highest interest card first, but does that mean abandoning the payments on the rest of the cards till I've finished paying off the highest interest card? That seems like it would hurt my FICO score which is fair right now, almost at 600. Would taking out a loan from my credit union be smater? thanks and help! Correction my credit is at about 650
Can I buy with "Bill Me Later" if I have no credit history? I tried to buy soemthing with "Bill me Later" and it wasnt accepted. Then they sent me an email with the reason and it says this: "The amount of your purchase required a credit bureau report. We were unable to retrieve a report from a consumer reporting agency." is it because Im not a US Citizen (Im a Permanent Resident with a valid SSN) or because I have no credit history????
Debt consolidation or not? I am having a hard time choosing between solution to my debt problem. i have around $8000 in credit card debts right now. All of them are in collection agencies now and I have no means in paying all of them and all are delinquent too. I've been thinking of doing a debt program. I've been looking around and have seen debt consolidation programs, debt settlement programs, consumer credit counseling, credit counseling agencies and debt management plan... and I have a feeling there are more I don't know of. My question is which one would be the best option. By now I know my credit is bad and I have nothing to put into collateral. I'm not really comfortable in doing anything online because I want to see and talk to someone face to face. What are the fees involved in the programs? Do you have to pay them monthly too? I just need all the information I can get right now.
credit collection agencies at there tatics? my cousin and his wife ran into some finicial shortages . the reason for this was his mother in law was terminal cancer .the credit card compant put account into collection. they violated the consumer laws of british colombia for this reason thet were ordered no telephone contact with my cousin . this was ignored by allied credit management of toronto . the issuing credit card company did restore the account ,removingallied from collecting. thet used the following forms of intimidation . anti jewish remarks , calling cousin stupid even though he graduated from uninversity at the age of 19 with a bachelors of education ,called him a liar and a drug addict , called the passing of his mother in law quote never happened. daughter is mentally challanged yet she was called stupid by agents mather , glendhill . documents forwarded to prove that they were liars mather glendhill ran to police dept . when they were caught in thier lies . we lost 7 generations in the camps . any help
Should profiling be illegalised at least in some states? By profiling i mean using data compiled by credit reporting agencies and consumer reporting agencies to determine the character of a person, there are also many other ways to create a profile like "myspace". If people can get enough data on you don't you think they can compromise you somehow and take advantage. I think the initial intent of credit reports was noble but now it can be used to other means and with hackers running rampant anyone can get your credit report info.
Can they do this? I am being sued for credit card FCNB??? I recieved a notice today for small claims court for a old credit card from like 2001 or 2002. It came from a collection agency for First Consumers National Bank. I never paid this because everything I find they went out of business and I didnt agree with all the fees they were adding to my account so I just never paid it. Now they are taking me to court for almost 1000. and the credit limit on the card was like 300. Can they do this? I dont agree with all the fees and charges and if the credit card from what I find states they are out of business how do I prove I dont owe all this money??? I actually recieved the court papers today. I am located in Wisconsin.
Hey hugh i need help? Ian Cole Chapter 26 Vocabulary 1)Credit Beareu-An agency that collects information about you or other credit consumer. 2) Credit Limit-The maximum amount you can spend or charge on a credit card. 3) Cosigner-Someone who signs a piece of paper for you to get a credit card. 4) Down Payment- Portion of the total cost that must be paid up-front. 5) Principal-Amount of money you still owe based on interest 6) Secured Loan-When a loan is backed up by collateral 7) Unsecured Loan-A loan not backed by collateral 8) APR-Percentage rate determines the amount of credit you get on a yearly basis 9)Finance Charge-Total amount of money it costs you to finance a loan 10)Variable Rate-The rate that changes as interest rates in the bank change. 11)Cash Advance- Money you can borrow on a credit card. 11)Grace Period- Amount of time you have to pay off a debt that came from interest charges. 12)Repossess- government taking back your property. 13)Garnishmen
Debt in collections...Need advice? Ok I have 8000 in collections. Way over 180 days past due. I am concerned with my future and my credit report, in making a decision to resolve my problem. What will I benefit more. Settling for less than owed with the collections agency? Or, going into a consumer credit counseling debt management program?
Have u ever had an unsecured credit card? Have you ever had an unsecured credit card company place a lein on your home for an unpaid balance or is this just some tactic that the collection agency is using to scare the consumer? Or have you known someone who had this experience? The balance they are quoting is substantially more that it had been a year ago.
What information collection agency can access? I wonder if collection agencies can access information from other sources such as INS (to get SSN), or current phone company (to get new phone number), or USPS (to get new address)... Just want to know in general what power they have over consumers beside making entries in credit report and sue by law. Thanks I know they can call friends/relatives... but only people they know (maybe from reference form or some papers being filled before). But they can only call once. However, I would like to know if they do have the right to access to my privacy information in phone company, government (INS/IRS), USPS, employers (past, current), or school (past, current). I just don't know what they are. Any help please?
What's the best action for a credit card debt settlement letter? My husband and I recently purchased a house. Right before our purchase we found out about a delinquent credit card. To make a long story short, it was a credit card that was in my husband's name that he was to use when he was in college that his mom was supposed to be paying for. My husband had no idea that there was a delinquency until we were notified by our lender. The account has been closed since 2002. It states on his credit report that the "account closed at consumers request, charged off account, bad debt; placed for collections; skip." We do not want to bother his Mom about this. After no communication with Discover, for 5 years, we have now received a letter from Northstar Location Services, a collection agency (not from Discover), for a settlement amount which is 40% of the debt. What should we do, contact Discover, deal with the collection agency, or something else? I realize everything needs to be in writing beforehand, but can anyone advise me on this at all? I will check out your other posts, Studly, thanks...as far as my concern with it, it is mainly because of the recent contact with the collection agency now after so many years. We were still able to get the loan for our house, so I am not really concerned about that part of it. Since it "technically" wasn't our debt, but my mother in law's, the bank didn't really care. Actually the amount was pretty significant, $3000 with an offered settlement of $1200, which is why I'm extremely surprised that we were not contacted before about this. I believe the statute of limitation on credit cards is 3 years in our state. I know they can still take us to court over it but its probably unlikely since the statute of limitations has run out. I just don't want to settle on an amount and still have it show up on our credit history for another 7 years. I think this just may be a last ditch effort by the collection agency to get some money and I just want to make sure we make the right decision.
Credit report question...? I check my credit report when I can and I have a few questions. Last time I checked, none of my accounts had a last date of payment on them and many had double or triple entries due to collection agencies buying the account. I disputed everything online (15 entries) and got my credit report again today (about 30 days later) and now I only have 5 entries--three have last date of payments and two do not. Midland Credit Management (which I have always fought over debt validation) has nothing noted except for a notation saying "consumer disputes the information". What the heck. I know the company has 30 days to verify the debt but what does that mean?
Question about California consumer protection? A plumber says I owe him money. I say I don't. Aside from taking me to small claims court, what action can he take? If he refers this to a collections agency, will that show up on my credit history? Someone in another state said yes, adding that I would have to go to court to show that I was in the right. I don't know if this is true in California. If so, it would be more hassle than it's worth (about $250 in dispute) -- and besides, what if I lost in court? I'd be out $250, time in court and have a damaged credit rating. Seems to me that, just 'cause someone says you owe them money, it doesn't make it so. But laws can be pretty goofy, too. Someone's advised me to ignore the billing statements, and possible collectors' calls. But I don't want my credit history ruined.
Any advice would be gratefully received, on a co. that has gone into liquidation & wants money out of me!? I signed up to a 2 yr membership to a womens only gym, and 6 months later they went into liquidation, i cancelled my direct debit as obviously they were not providing the service I had applied for. Now they have sent me a debt collection letter with a highlighted section saying they have defaulted my credit record. I wrote them a letter advised by consumer direct, which they haven't replied to in writing, but i had them on the phone this morning with quite an aggresive tone, asking me what I was going to do, I told them I wanted to hear in writing, which they got more aggresive with. The 3 co's the gym, credit agency and debt collection all run under the same co, but i have contacted office of fair trading who said they are registered. Not sure what to do now....new to all this type of thing, any suggestions??? I hope this makes sense!!
Bankruptcy in Scotland - Self Sequestration? A friend of mine who lives in Scotland has no job, no assets and thousands of pounds of debt. She wants to make herself bankrupt, however Scottish Law states that in order to apply for self-sequestration, one of her creditors must have served her one of the following :- 1. a Charge for Payment and fourteen days notice have elapsed or, 2. a Statutory Demand and 21 days have elapsed or, 3. an Earnings Arrestment as a result of a Charge for Payment. She has received a letter which is titled "Default notice served under section 87(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974" They have given her until the 16th January 2008 to pay the outstanding amount otherwise they will close her bank account and "may take legal proceedings and/or instruct a debt collection agency to recover any outstanding amount" Does anyone know if this letter is considered a "charge for payment" or a "statutory demand" as per the above ? Many thanks in advance. Marie C - I appreciate your help, but that doesn't answer the question. I didn't ask what other options she has. Also, as per my opening paragraph, she has no house, car, or any other assets at all.
American express? I added my sister as an additional cardholder to help her build credit. It said in the terms and conditions that they have to right to verfiy, share, and exchange information with consumer agencies for both account holders and additional cardholders. Therefore, doesn't that mean that her credit history will be affected. I called customer service; he said that it doesn't help her build credit. Another person said, "It builds credit with AMEX; then she can apply for her own AMEX card to build credit with the credit bureau." A member of yahoo! answers said that he was added as an additional cardholder and the record was recorded in his credit report. So, which one is it? Will she build credit or not?
American Express operators? I added my sister as an additional cardholder to help her build credit. It said in the terms and conditions that they have to right to verfiy, share, and exchange information with consumer agencies for both account holders and additional cardholders. Therefore, doesn't that mean that her credit history will be affected. I called customer service; he said that it doesn't help her build credit. Another person said, "It builds credit with AMEX; then she can apply for her own AMEX card to build credit with the credit bureau." A member of yahoo! answers said that he was added as an additional cardholder and the record was recorded in his credit report. So, which one is it? Will she build credit or not?
Please I need help with my HW? Please read and let me know how you would analyze this article:The Water Crisis: Analysis and Proposals By Celine Tan Water and sanitation is the first of five priority action areas under the WEHAB plan for the post-WSSD implementation of sustainable development. The challenge of providing safe and clean water and sanitary conditions for an increasing world population, in the face of rising inequities, is phenomenal. Forty percent of the worldâ??s population, in 80 countries, currently suffer from serious water shortages. A billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water and 2.4 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation (Global Economic Outlook 2002). Yet, the biggest threat to universal access to clean water and adequate sanitation is not mother nature but corporate globalisation. Privatisation of water is aggressively exported to the developing world under the rubric of poverty reduction and debt relief strategies, free trade and economic development. By turning a scarce resource into an economic commodity, the worldâ??s economic leaders and policy planners claim that existing water resources can be managed and consumed efficiently in accordance with competitive market principles. These claims are not only misguided, they are deceitful. There are two myths being projected: first, that placing a price on water will encourage conservation and wise water consumption. Secondly, that market competition will lead to more consumer choice and better services. In reality, the water sector is monopolistic when placed in the hands of the market. It is thus alarming that the commodification of water resources is now heralded as the answer to the worldâ??s water woes. Monopoly and subsidies for corporations Water is a US$400 billion global business, controlled by a handful of European transnational companies and consortiums, namely French multinationals Vivendi and Suez Lyonnaise, SAUR and British water companies Thames Water, Anglia Water and United Utilities. The global drive towards privatisation of water services is thus pursued not by a collective of democratically elected governments acting in the interest of the worldâ??s population, but by a cartel of corporations motivated by profit and market conquest. To make matters worse, these companies are subsidised by their governments (and invariably their taxpayers) through support from domestic export credit agencies, and by multilateral development banks, such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank. They are also subsidised by developing countries who raise credit from international financial institutions to upgrade their water systems prior to private takeover. This corporate subsidy comes at the expense of consumers, most of them in developing countries, who are made to pay for what is a necessity of life. For the poor this means no access to water. Additional loans to facilitate the privatisation process are raised by developing country governments from multilateral and bilateral sources. Often, these loans are also used to finance the creation of an â??enabling environmentâ?? for foreign water and wastewater investors. This includes the drafting of local investor protection legislation to guard against re-nationalisation of the water industry and to provide for hefty compensation for any attempt to renege (for good reasons) against the privatisation contracts. In many cases, corporate access to a developing countryâ??s water system is paved by a loan or debt relief conditionality requiring the poor or indebted country to privatise its water and sanitation services. For example, the IMF insisted that Tanzania privatise its Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority (DAWSA) as a condition of its debt relief package under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. Fallacy of privatisation Experience shows that the privatisation of water services cannot ensure universal delivery of safe water and efficient sanitation. Privatisation imposes additional financial obligations on governments. They may have to bail out failed privatisation project, and also shoulder the costly legal risks of rescinding a privatisation contract with a wealthy transnational, even if the companyâ??s performance is unsatisfactory. Argentina, Hungary and Bolivia have found that the legal claims for compensation by private water companies in Tucuman, Szeged and Cochabamba respectively, have made terminating contracts prohibitively expensive. The dominance of foreign water companies and the liberalised investment climate - mostly facilitated by structural adjustment, and now under trade agreements including those under the WTO Ã? in developing countries will also ensure that a large portion of profits from water privatisation will not accrue to the countries themselves but are repatriated abroad instead. The imposition of full-cost water pricing as a result of privatisation will only deprive more and more people of access to clean and safe water by forcing poor communities to seek alternative sources of water for consumption, such as untreated well water and water from sewage-ridden urban rivers. Forced upon rich and poor, consumers and industrial producers, similar rates for water use will also result in greater income disparity and deeper social cleavages, leading to higher risks of civil unrest. In 2000, martial law was declared in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba as a result of city-wide riots precipitated by high water prices. A private consortium led by International Water doubled the water prices to city residents. Water bills went up by 35% and some, twice that. The World Bank supported full-cost water pricing and prohibited any use of its structural adjustment loans to subsidise water services for the poor. Future fears and WSSD outcomes There is no agreement on the text in the WSSD Draft Plan of Implementation that commits governments to supporting the UN Millennium Development Goal of halving, by 2015, the proportion of people unable to reach, or afford, safe drinking water and access improved sanitation (paragraphs 7 and 7[alt]). However, the most pressing concerns over universal coverage of water and sanitation services are not expressed in these bracketed paragraphs. Rather, they are reflected in the general lack of political will demonstrated by developed countries to address the systemic issues leading to a crisis of sustainable development in the south, and the alarming emphasis placed on public-private partnership funding and implementation of sustainable development programmes. The relinquishing of responsibility by developed countries is marked by their reluctance to commit to specific disbursements of ODA and by repeated references to voluntary partnerships and initiatives as a means of financing WSSD programmatic outcomes. In the absence of firm commitments by governments, Type II partnerships on water and sanitation services will only increase private sector involvement in this crucial area. The private sector is already identified as a key implementer of the â??Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) for All Initiativeâ?? involving 28 countries, six UN agencies, the World Bank, and the Asian and African Development Banks. Another major threat to universal access to water and sanitation is liberalisation under the WTOâ??s rules. Although Member countries have the right to liberalise at their own pace, and even choose not to open up a sector under the WTOâ??s General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), there is tremendous pressure especially on developing countries to liberalise. Thus in the ongoing negotiations at the WTO, developed countries are submitting extensive Ã?requestsÃ? that seek access to every sector in the developing world, including water services and sanitation. If developing countries succumb, privatisation of water services initiated under World Bank and IMF structural adjustment programmes could become permanent under the binding rules of the WTO. Once a country is locked into the GATS regime, the right of its government to regulate liberalized service sectors will be diminished, paving the way for foreign transnationals to enter the domestic market. Any attempt to reverse the situation would be subject to WTO disciplines and penalties. Any real effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goal must therefore include commitments to review loan conditionalities that impose privatisation and countries must not be pressured to offer water services under GATS liberalisation. Essential services should be exempted from GATS. Conclusion Privatisation does not address the deeper economic and ecological issues of water shortages. Questions of why there are water shortages in countries not under water stress are not resolved by shifting responsibility of service provision to private companies. Water management and water distribution are also key factors in determining water supply and universal coverage. Until and unless rich countries fulfil their commitment to provide resources for developing countries to build solid, cost-effective water delivery systems which support the needs of the worldâ??s population equitably and ecologically, the water woes of the world will not go away. At the same time, all governments need to recognise and support the diversity and replication of community water management systems and practices. These have proven in many countries to be the most sustainable approach to rural water management for rural populations. The WSSD process and the last 10 years of the work of the CSD have called for good and best practices in sustainable development. However, where water resources are concerned the trend and emphasis are privatisation which has proven destructive. Firm commitments must be made at the WSSD to reverse the trend of corporate takeover in the water and sanitation sector, rather than to accelerate the process of privatisation and corporate monopoly. Undermining the sovereign power of governments to regulate supply of water in their countries and passing the bucket onto private transnationals to steward the worldâ??s water resources would probably be a most anti-development and anti-ecological step.
Need advice on what to do? I need to clean up my score-here's my awful history; 1 bankruptcy (2001) 1 auto reposession (2000) 3 cc's that have been sent to collection agencies (after bankruptcy) totaling about $1600.00 And some smaller bills (about $500) After bankruptcy--I was doing fine---my mom began having bad financial difficulties (she lost more than half her monthly retirement income)and I tried to help her, consequently my bills began to go unpaid, she is now back on her feet and now I don't know what to do with my situation. I don't have any other bills besides rent and insurance and daily expenses. I checked my FICO and it is at 550---where do I begin? Do I call the collection agencies or do I call the original card companies. Should I seek advice from the consumer credit counseling? There are so many things in the future that I know I will need credit (son's braces, car , etc)and I'm desperate to fix this!!
Has anyone ever tried to remove a CH7 BK by using this method? Does it work? I read a book on quick ways to rebuild credit after Ch7 BK. It said for a credit reporting agency to validate a Ch7 BK once the consumer contests it, they have to see the actual hard copy record when they investigate. The book says that after 3-4yrs your BK record moves from whatever region you filed to their archives . Whenever you want to view the record the hard copy will be sent back to your local "agency" where it will be held for your viewing for 30 days then sent back. What you're supposed to do is make a request to view the record and then when its it transit also request the 3 credit reporting agencies to verify the BK. They only have 30 days to do this and they are supposed to only be able to verify by seeing the hard copy, which is being held for you to view during the same time frame. Since they can't verify the BK record then they will supposedly remove it. Has anyone ever heard/tried this?
The FED bought What ?? The Fed Bought What? By John Paul Koning Posted on 8/13/2007 | Subscribe or Tell Others | The US Federal Reserve injected $38 billion dollars into the economy via temporary open market operations this Friday. This is the largest number of temporary repurchase agreements (specifically, one business day repos) entered into by the Fed since September 11, 2001. Back in 2001, Fed purchases of treasuries exceeded $30 billion for the four consecutive days after the collapse of the World Trade Towers, total temporary injections into the banking system amounting to a whopping $295 billion. What is significant about Friday's repurchase agreements is not so much their size, but the securities that the Fed exchanged for money: mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Indeed, the entire $38 billion dollar injection went to MBS purchases, the largest open market purchase of this asset type ever conducted by the Fed, smashing the previous record of $8.6 billion set back in September of 2005. See chart, above.[1] The type of mortgage-backed securities the Fed bought are created when bundles of individual mortgages originated by commercial banks are guaranteed by quasi-governmental agencies such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) and Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), then split apart and sold to investors. Homeowners pay interest on these mortgages, interest payments flowing through to the final holders of MBS. For those who have gone through the Economics 101 treatment of the Fed, the sudden appearance of MBS in Fed open market operations might seem odd. Professors have always taught that when the Fed expanded the money supply it did so by buying government bonds and bills. Indeed back in September 2001, the Fed provided liquidity by buying what it has always traditionally bought; treasury securities. So why is the Fed buying MBS now, and when did it acquire the authority to do so? First a note on how open market purchases work. The Fed uses what are called open market operations to control the Federal Funds rate, the rate at which large commercial banks lend cash to each other overnight to fulfill their reserve requirements to the Fed. The Fed sets a target for the federal funds rate and defends it by either withdrawing or injecting money according to the requirements of commercial banks. It injects by buying securities from the banks with freshly created checking deposits, or money. This injection increases the reserves commercial banks hold, allowing these banks to expand credit to businesses and consumers. The Fed withdraws money by selling securities to commercial banks and receiving money as payment, thereby reducing reserves and removing credit from the system. The Fed conducts both temporary open market operations and permanent ones. Permanent, or outright operations, inject cash and remove securities from the banking system forever. The Fed keeps the securities it has acquired outright in the System Open Market Account, aptly initialed SOMA (in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, the drug soma is produced to keep citizens in a steady state of happiness, much like the Fed's SOMA). Temporary operations, the ones entered into this Friday, involve 1â??14 day repurchase or reverse repurchase agreements whereby the Fed purchases (or sells) securities in return for cash with an agreement that the commercial bank on the other side of the deal will buy back (or sell back) the securities after a period of days. Temporary reverse repurchase operations, the short-term withdrawal of money from the banking system, are rare. The Fed has only engaged in 16 reverse repos since late 2000, versus 1247 repurchases. This imbalance means that the Fed is almost always augmenting commercial bank reserves by buying securities, allowing the banks to use their larger reserves to expand credit and borrowing. Thus the rate defended by the Fed is lower than the rate at which the commercial banks would be willing to lend each other if the Fed did not exist. Back to Friday's MBS purchases. Historically, the Fed's open market operations have been confined to US Treasuries. Clauses 3 to 6 of the Guidelines for the Conduct of System Operations in Federal Agency Issues ensured that Federal Reserve operations could not engage in temporary purchases of securities issued by federal agencies like Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.[2] In an August 1999 Fed meeting officials temporarily suspended clauses 3 to 6, giving themselves the authority to freely purchase Ginnie Maeâ??, Freddie Macâ??, and Fannie Maeâ??issued MBS on a provisional basis without hindrance on size and timing. The reason given: it needed full reign to inject money into the banking system in preparation for the year 2000 crisis.[3] The period for which the temporary suspension was to extend was from October 1, 1999 through April 7, 2000. The year 2000 crisis proved a dud. But rather than removing the temporary suspension on buying MBS, the Fed renewed the suspension in 2000 and 2001 before permanently striking off clauses 3 to 6 in 2002. In recent Fed documents, only clauses 1 and 2 are listed. This storyline may sound familiar to Fed watchers. The Fed was founded in response to the crisis of 1907, and had its ability to increase the money supply dramatically increased during another crisis, the Great Depression, where gold convertibility was suspended. $26 Since the Orwellian rewriting of the Guidelines the Fed has been gradually expanding its MBS purchases, which reached a crescendo this Friday. This (relatively) new power of the Fed is startling given the current liquidity crisis prevailing in the mortgage markets of late. By openly stating its willingness to buy thousands of mortgages and temporarily to expose itself to the financial health (or lack thereof) of the homeowning public, and doing so when the rest of the world is shunning them, the Fed is propping up mortgage markets, and thereby the housing market. This despite the fact that open market operations are not supposed to support individual sectors of the market or channel funds into issues of particular agencies[4] While the purchases are only temporary â?? the cash must be returned by Monday â?? one wonders how long before the Fed grants itself the power to buy MBS permanently. Either way, the Fed's response shows that it is worried about the growing mortgage crises and willing to do anything to buy its way out of it. Unfortunately, by buying up MBS and propping up the market the Fed will only cause more harm than it already has. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Paul Koning writes for Pollitt & Co, a brokerage based in Toronto, Canada.
Starting a not for profit? Is there anyone out there that has ever done this? I could use some giudance. Where do I start? I have an idea and have written it down and all that but I am clueless on what to do next? Where do I get money to start it? (my credit sux and family is out of the question) Is it even possiable to get money/ credit to start it if i have sh*t credit? what kind of forms do i need? where do i get them? If you start a nonprofit how do you live while commiting your self to it? (pay rent eat ect) if you do get it started how do you make it know to other agencies that could link consumers to you? anyone know where i could get answers to these questions that are easy to understand, I have done searches on yahoo and google but I dont understand half of what those websites say and the ones it does seem i would be able to understand want money and I dont have any. thanks in advance for any advice.
Why did conservatives oppose the following programs ? In spite of all of the right wing propaganda, the truth of America is that liberal programs have made this country great...and conservatives have opposed almost every worthy advancement liberals advocated for. Appreciate any thoughts...especially conservative thoughts on why conservatives opposed the following programs..... Social Security Right to Unionize 40 Hour Work Week Overtime pay Environmental Protection Agency OSHA almost all food safety laws Peace Corps Woman's Right to Vote Public Education Product labeling - truth in advertising Center for Disease Control Bank Deposit Insurance Earned Income Tax Credit Family and Medical Leave Act Public Broadcasting Consumer Product Safety Commission Americans With Disabilities Act Civil Rights Act GI Bill There are many more examples, but these examples should be enough of a framework Why did/do conservatives oppose these programs/laws ?
really need help? 1: Which was NOT a major success of Reconstruction in the South? an end to racist government policies the transformation into an industralized, urban region an end to tensions between the North and South all of the above 2: The main goal of the Ku Klux Klan during Reconstruction was to prevent African Americans from exercising their rights gain control of the state legislatures restore the Confederacy improve the conditions for poor whites 3: The Fourteenth Amendment was part of a series of laws that changed the way a President could hire government officials ensured the civil rights of African Americans restored the balance of power between the President and Congress shifted the balance of power in favor of the Supreme Court 4: Reconstruction succeeded in rebuilding many of the South's plantations forts railroads banks 5: The expansion of American industry was sparked mainly by public welfare programs technological advances and financial investments a decline in productivity in Europe government involvement in the economy 6: One thing a person could do in 1900 but not in 1865 was ride on a train sew a dress play a phonograph read at night 7: How did John D. Rockefeller gain control of the oil industry? He formed a trust. He practiced vertical consolidation. He joined a cartel. He practiced free trade. 8: The nation's first major labor strike was begun by railway workers angered about wage cuts and unsafe trains steel workers upset by the use of scabs women protesting lack of advancement in factories Pinkerton agents who threw a bomb at police 9: What was the one key requirement that applicants had to meet to receive land under the Homestead Act? They had to live on the land all year long. They had to farm the land for five years in a row. They had to file a claim with a bank. They had to wheel portable cabins from plot to plot 10: What was a major incentive in the settling of the West? the legal, private ownership of land the award of large land grants to the railroads the desire to limit slavery the refuge offered for outlaws and the oppressed 11: One reason that the United States became more urban during the late 1800s is that farm machines and factory-made goods reduced the need for farm labor nobody wanted to live on farms anymore immigrants did not know how to do farm work union organizing of farm workers had not yet begun 12: Where did European immigrants often settle in the United States? in western railroad towns in their ports of entry in the South near lakes 13: Prohibition groups saw a link between drinking and abuses by big business lower public morals anti-Asian feelings high tariffs 14: Reformers who tried to solve social problems by helping the needy believed that immoral behavior should be punished by deportation stricter laws were needed to discourage unacceptable behavior prosperous Americans should lead reform efforts the cultures of immigrant groups should be respected 15: During the late 1800s and early 1900s, what segment of American society was most likely to attend college? wealthy white men New Englanders gifted students middle-class women 16: During the early 1900s, most African Americans who went to college attended fully integrated universities African American colleges religious-based schools separate branches of white colleges 17: How did southern states keep African Americans from gaining political power? lynching segregation voting restrictions de facto discrimination 18: Why was the Open Door Policy important to the United States? It gave the United States territory in China It gave the United States access to millions of consumers in China It increased Chinese investments in the United States It kept European goods out of China 19: The United States followed a policy of expansionism in the late 1800s because European nations were eager to sell rights to their colonies many Americans were demanding high-quality foreign goods US factories needed foreign laborers the nation sought more markets for its goods 20: The first action of the Spanish-American War took place in the Philippines the Gulf of Mexico the harbor at Santiago, Cuba Puerto Rico 21: Among Latin Americans, United States actions related to the Panama Canal created hope for a prosperous future ill will toward the United States calls for Roosevelt's impeachment a long-lasting economic crisis 22: Progressivism was halted by the efforts of the NAACP World War I the repeal of the prohibition amendment the victory of the Bull Moose Party 23: Which belief was held by most Progressives? The government should be more accountable to its citizens. Housing and healthcare should remain private. The government should protect agricultural interests. The government should intervene in unfair business practices. 24: One goal that Progressives did not seek was the moral improvement of society the reduction of government corruption a ban on strikes child labor laws 25: One way reformers hoped to end corruption in government was to establish an income tax give voters more direct say in lawmaking provide more welfare services use the army to oust political machines 26: The platform of the Bull Moose Party supported unregulated competition the 12-hour work day women's suffrage a Federal Trade Commission 27: Under the terms of the Sussex pledge, the German government promised that the German navy would not attack any American ships German ships would not blockade Britain and France German U-boats would warn ships before attacking the German army would never invade Russia 28: The United States decided to enter World War I in response to Germany's return to unrestricted submarine warfare France's fall to the Central Powers the Czar's growing support in Russia a filibuster by United States senators 29: German submarines aimed to atack ships that were carrying weapons to the Allies passengers to the United States food to the Central Powers oil to Mexico 30: At the Paris Peace Conference, President Wilson's program for peace angered the Russians met no resistance among the Allies was backed only by France underwent several changes 31: After Wilson presented the treaty to the United States Senate, the Senate ratified it only the "irreconcilables" backed it the Senate rejected it only the "reservationists" backed it 32: One result of Prohibition during the 1920s was an increase in alcoholism a decline in dancing and socializing the rise of organized crime the creation of urban artistic colonies 33: Which of the following was a long-term effect of Prohibition? the consumer economy the growth of organized crime an end to alcoholism in the United States the rise of fundamentalism 34: William Jennings Bryan took up the cause of fundamentalist Christians at speakeasies in Chicago on new buses to the suburbs at the Scopes trial in Hollywood studios 35: Key features of Republican administrations of the 1920s included expansionism and business regulation isolationism and laissez-faire business policy a buildup of armaments and armed forces reduction of quotas and increased immigration 36: Why did many Americans fear Vladimir I. Lenin and his followers, the Bolsheviks? They promoted a system that was hostile to American values They refused to pay back Russia's war debts They had abolished the Russian monarchy They encouraged other nations to reject socialism 37: Generally, the 1920s were marked by rising farm prices rising stock prices falling production falling wages 38: One sign that the economy might be weakening in the 1920s was uneven distribution of national wealth underproduction of consumer goods an increase in personal savings the collapse of large corporations 39: Which statement best describes the American economy in the 1920s? Wages decreased and the economy appeared weak Unemployment was at an all-time high Stock prices rose and the economy appeared healthy Small businesses dominated American industry 40: In the fall of 1929, a wave of panic selling gripped the stock market as a result of a sudden fall in stock prices corruption among stockbrokers business failures government limits on speculation 41: Not long after Black Tuesday, the stock market crash was affecting only those who had invested heavily in stocks wealthy industrialists almost exculsively millions of Americans, many of whom had never owned stocks mainly stockbrokers and banks 42: Why did FDR declare a "bank holiday" early in his administration? to cut of the use of cash to weaken the banking industry to inspect the financial health of the banks to give people in the banking industry a well-earned vacation 43: Which New Deal agency was created to help businesses? Federal Reserve Board National Recovery Administration Civilian Conservation Corps Home Owner's Loan Corporation 44: Which of the following did New Deal programs fail to address? protection of domestic workers low prices for agricultural products the decline of industrial prices Native Americans' need for schools, hospitals, and irrigation systems 45: All of the following New Deal agencies still endure today except the Tennessee Valley Authority Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Civilian Conservation Corps Securities and Exchange Commission 46: What did Italy, Germany, and Japan have in common in the 1930s? They overturned traditional governments and established democracies. They were economic giants and together controlled world trade. They sought to solve their nations' problems through conquest They angered other nations by their persecution of the Jews 47: Although Communists and Fascists have traditionally been enemies, in 1939 which Fascist made a pact with which Communist? Hitler with Chamberlain Hitler with Stalin Hitler with Franco Stalin with Franco 48: Nazism was an extreme form of communism fascism nationalism none of the above 49: During the 1930s, the United States focused largely on preparing for war domestic affairs international affairs international and domestic affairs 50: Congress passed Neutrality Acts that were designed to support other neutral states around the world support other nations in the Western Hemisphere limit international involvement allow nations to purchase weapons on credit I know this is a whole lot i have done all this i just dont wanna turn it in untill i know its totally right please helpp &&&& please if you have nothin good to say and if your going to yell at me not comment.. THANX
(3)After Wilson presented the treaty to the United States Senate? 1: After Wilson presented the treaty to the United States Senate, the Senate ratified it only the "irreconcilables" backed it the Senate rejected it only the "reservationists" backed it 2: One result of Prohibition during the 1920s was an increase in alcoholism a decline in dancing and socializing the rise of organized crime the creation of urban artistic colonies 3: Which of the following was a long-term effect of Prohibition? the consumer economy the growth of organized crime an end to alcoholism in the United States the rise of fundamentalism 4: William Jennings Bryan took up the cause of fundamentalist Christians at speakeasies in Chicago on new buses to the suburbs at the Scopes trial in Hollywood studios 5: Key features of Republican administrations of the 1920s included expansionism and business regulation isolationism and laissez-faire business policy a buildup of armaments and armed forces reduction of quotas and 36: Why did many Americans fear Vladimir I. Lenin and his followers, the Bolsheviks? They promoted a system that was hostile to American values They refused to pay back Russia's war debts They had abolished the Russian monarchy They encouraged other nations to reject socialism 37: Generally, the 1920s were marked by rising farm prices rising stock prices falling production falling wages 38: One sign that the economy might be weakening in the 1920s was uneven distribution of national wealth underproduction of consumer goods an increase in personal savings the collapse of large corporations 39: Which statement best describes the American economy in the 1920s? Wages decreased and the economy appeared weak Unemployment was at an all-time high Stock prices rose and the economy appeared healthy Small businesses dominated American industry 40: In the fall of 1929, a wave of panic selling gripped the stock market as a result of a sudden fall in stock prices corruption among stockbrokers business failures government limits on speculation 41: Not long after Black Tuesday, the stock market crash was affecting only those who had invested heavily in stocks wealthy industrialists almost exculsively millions of Americans, many of whom had never owned stocks mainly stockbrokers and banks 42: Why did FDR declare a "bank holiday" early in his administration? to cut of the use of cash to weaken the banking industry to inspect the financial health of the banks to give people in the banking industry a well-earned vacation 43: Which New Deal agency was created to help businesses? Federal Reserve Board National Recovery Administration Civilian Conservation Corps Home Owner's Loan Corporation 44: Which of the following did New Deal programs fail to address? protection of domestic workers low prices for agricultural products the decline of industrial prices Native Americans' need for schools, hospitals, and irrigation systems 45: All of the following New Deal agencies still endure today except the Tennessee Valley Authority Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Civilian Conservation Corps Securities and Exchange Commission 46: What did Italy, Germany, and Japan have in common in the 1930s? They overturned traditional governments and established democracies. They were economic giants and together controlled world trade. They sought to solve their nations' problems through conquest They angered other nations by their persecution of the Jews 47: Although Communists and Fascists have traditionally been enemies, in 1939 which Fascist made a pact with which Communist? Hitler with Chamberlain Hitler with Stalin Hitler with Franco Stalin with Franco 48: Nazism was an extreme form of communism fascism nationalism none of the above 49: During the 1930s, the United States focused largely on preparing for war domestic affairs international affairs international and domestic affairs 50: Congress passed Neutrality Acts that were designed to support other neutral states around the world support other nations in the Western Hemisphere limit international involvement allow nations to purchase weapons on credit
Haunted by old debt - please help? Car got repossed in 2002 due to unemployment. It magically appeared on my report under a new collection agency â?? 4 years later â?? in essense reaging the debt. I asked for validation of debt â?? they sent it to me 2 months later. In 6 months, they have sent me 2 letters, the letter stating they had the account and the validation letter. They have never called me, but they are on point every month when they deface my otherwise-good credit report. Do I have any options? They donâ??t seem to want to negotiate a smaller sum, and 4 years later seems ridiculous to be asking for a full amount. I have been thinking about a lawsuit. Been doing a lot of research and have been learning that this is becoming a huge national trend. And yet there seems to be no vocal support for the consumer. Do u know any org's that advocate consumer financial rights with some clout in Washington perhaps? Any one have any suggestions on my issue?
How can a merchant effect a consumer's credit report for a bad debt? mobileStorm is a data base marketing company that provides a platfrom from which e-mail, text-mail, printed, fax and voice calles are created and delivered. Our product is purchased with a credit card via the web and is a monthly charge bound by contract. If a contract is broken (credit card is declined/cancelled) we would like to report this bad debt to a credit agency.
when will people realize debt management companies are worse than collection agencies? it strikes me as odd that people think these companies actually help them...you as a consumer can do anything that debt management companies can do on your own.. As a collector, I understand that bad things happen to good people and they cannot get out from under debt..what a lot of people don't realize is that turning to a debt management company can hurt you even more...by stop making payments on your accounts and let them handle the account is not the way to go...if you are only 30 days behind and they tell you to stop paying because they want to wait until you've saved up enough to settle, this is damaging to your credit because the acct has probably charged off by the time you settle....yeah you may pay less but, you can negotiate with creditors yourself and most of the time prevent the charge off..and not pay a fee...remember, no such thing as not for profit..always someone trying to make a buck!!!
Do collection agencys in canada have to provide monthly statements deducting payments being made? I was contacted by porfolio management canada Inc. a collection agency. They said I owed them money. I agreed because I knew I had an outstanding phone bill. I sent a payment then they sent me a statement saying I owed 350 more than they said I did when I agreed payment. I told them that was not the agreement. They also didn't include the credit for the payment I had sent already, when I inquired they said that they didn't send monthly statements showing credits of monthly payments. I found this very questionable. I thought it was required by a business when receiving monies from a debtor. Does anyone know this to be true. Can they keep accepting payments and by law not provide me with documentaton that they are receiving these payments.???? I have contacted the Ministry of Consumer Business Services and am waiting for an email back. Thanks if anyone knows the ins and outs of this.
Give me your opinion insights and summary or how you understand this..? CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS Article One Basic Air Quality Policies SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999". SECTION 2. Declaration of Principles. - The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. The State shall promote and protect the global environment to attain sustainable development while recognizing the primary responsibility of local government units to deal with environmental problems. The State recognizes that the responsibility of cleaning the habitat and environment is primarily area-based. The State also recognizes the principle that "polluters must pay". Finally, the State recognizes that a clean and healthy environment is for the good of all and should therefore be the concern of all. SECTION 3. Declaration of Policies. - The State shall pursue a policy of balancing development and environmental protection. To achieve this end, the frame work for sustainable development shall be pursued. It shall be the policy of the State to: a. Formulate a holistic national program of air pollution management that shall be implemented by the government through proper delegation and effective coordination of functions and activities; b. Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among citizens and industries through the application of market-based instruments; c. Focus primarily on pollution prevention rather than on control and provide for a comprehensive management program for air pollution; d. Promote public information and education and to encourage the participation of an informed and active public in air quality planning and monitoring; and e. Formulate and enforce a system of accountability for short and long-term adverse environmental impact of a project, program or activity. This shall include the setting up of a funding or guarantee mechanism for clean-up and environmental rehabilitation and compensation for personal damages. SECTION 4. Recognition of Rights. - Pursuant to the above-declared principles, the following rights of citizens are hereby sought to be recognized and the State shall seek to guarantee the enjoyment: a. The right to breathe clean air; b. The right to utilize and enjoy all natural resources according to the principles of sustainable development; c. The right to participate in the formulation, planning, implementation and monitoring of environmental policies and programs and in the decision-making process; d. The right to participate in the decision-making process concerning development policies, plans and programs projects or activities that may have adverse impact on the environment and public health; e. The right to be informed of the nature and extent of the potential hazard of any activity, undertaking or project and to be served timely notice of any significant rise in the level of pollution and the accidental or deliberate release into the atmosphere of harmful or hazardous substances; f. The right of access to public records which a citizen may need to exercise his or her rights effectively under this Act; g. The right to bring action in court or quasi-judicial bodies to enjoin all activities in violation of environmental laws and regulations, to compel the rehabilitation and cleanup of affected area, and to seek the imposition of penal sanctions against violators of environmental laws;and h. The right to bring action in court for compensation of personal damages resulting from the adverse environmental and public health impact of a project or activity. Article Two Definition of Terms SECTION 5. -Definitions.- As used in this Act: a.) "Air pollutant" means any matter found in the atmosphere other than oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and the inert gases in their natural or normal concentrations, that is detrimental to health or the environment, which includes but not limited to smoke, dust, soot, cinders, fly ash, solid particles of any king, gases, fumes, chemical mists, steam and radioactive substances; b.) "Air pollution" means any alteration of the physical, chemical and biological properties of the atmospheric air, or any discharge thereto of any liquid, gaseous or solid substances that will or is likely to create or to render the air resources of the country harmful, detrimental, or injurious to public health, safety or welfare or which will adversely affect their utilization for domestic, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, or other legitimate purposes; c.) "Ambient air quality guideline values" means the concentration of air over specified periods classified as short-term and long-term which are intended to serve as goals or objectives for the protection of health and/or public welfare. These values shall be used for air quality management purposes such as determining time trends, evaluating stages of deterioration or enhancement o the air quality, and in general, used as basis or taking positive action in preventing, controlling, or abating air pollution; d.) "Ambient air quality" means the general amount of pollution present in a broad area; and refers to the atmosphere's average purity as distinguished from discharge measurements taken at the source of pollution; e.) "Certificate of Conformity" means a certificate issued by the Department o Environment and Natural Resources to a vehicle manufacturer/assembler or importer certifying that a particular new vehicle or vehicle type meets the requirements provided under this Act and its rules and regulations; f.) "Department" means the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; g.)" Eco-profile" means the geographic-based instrument for planners and decision makers which present an evaluation of the environment quality and carrying capacity of an area. It is the result of the integration of primary data and information on natural resources and antropogenic activities on the land which evaluated by various environmental risk assessment and forecasting methodologies that enable the Department to anticipate the type of development control necessary in the planning area. h.)" Emission" means any air contaminant, pollutant, gas stream or unwanted sound from a known source which is passed into the atmosphere; i.) " Greenhouse gases" means those gases that can potentially or can reasonably be expected to induce global warming, which include carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, chloroflourocarbons, and the like; j.) "Hazardous substances" means those substances which present either : (1) short-term acute hazards such as acute toxicity by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption, corrosivity or other skin or eye contact hazard or the risk of fire explosion; or (2) long-term toxicity upon repeated exposure, carcinogecity (which in some cases result in acute exposure but with a long latent period), resistance to detoxification process such as biodegradation, the potential to pollute underground or surface waters; k.)" Infectious waste " means that portion of medical waste that could transmit an infectious disease; l.)" Medical waste" means that materials generated as a result of patient diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals; m.) " Mobile source" means any vehicle propelled by or thorough combustion of carbon-based or other fuel, constructed and operated principally for the conveyance of persons or the transportation of property goods; n.) " Motor vehicle" means any vehicle propelled by a gasoline or diesel engine or by any means other than human or animal power, constructed and operated principally for the conveyance of persons or the transportation of property or goods in a public highway or street open to public use; o.) " Municipal waste" means the waste materials generated from communities within a specific locality; p)." New vehicle" means a vehicle constructed entirely from new parts that has never been sold or registered with the DOTC or with the appropriate agency or authority, and operated on the highways of the Philippines, any foreign state of country; q.) " Octane Rating or the Anti-Knock Index(AKI)" means the rating of the anti-knock characteristics of a grade or type of automotive gasoline as determined by dividing by two (2) the sum of the Research Octane Number (RON), plus the Motor Octane Number (MON); the octane requirement, with respect to automotive gasoline for use in a motor vehicle or a class thereof , whether imported, manufactured, or assembled by a manufacturer, shall refer to the minimum octane rating of such automotive gasoline which such manufacturer recommends for the efficient operation of such motor vehicle, or a substantial portion of such class, without knocking; r.) " Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)" means those substances that significantly deplete or otherwise modify the ozone layer in a manner that is likely to result in adverse effects of human health and the environment such as , but not limited to , chloroflourocarbons, halons and the like; s.) "Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)" means the organic compounds that persist in the environment, bioaccumulate through the food web, and pose a risk of causing adverse effects to human health and the environment. These compounds resist photolytic, chemical and biological degradation, which shall include but not be limited to dioxin, furan, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, such as aldrin, dieldrin, DDT, hexachlorobenzene, lindane, toxaphere and chlordane; t.) "Poisonous and toxic fumes" means any emissions and fumes which are beyond internationally-accepted standards, including but not limited to the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline values; u. " Pollution control device " means any device or apparatus used to prevent, control or abate the pollution of air caused by emissions from identified pollution sources at levels within the air pollution control standards established by the Department; v.) " Pollution control technology" means the pollution control devices, production process, fuel combustion processes or other means that effectively prevent or reduce emissions or effluent; w.) " Standard of performance " means a standard for emissions of air pollutant which reflects the degree of emission limitation achievable through the application of the best system of emission reduction, taking into account the cost of achieving such reduction and any non-air quality health and environmental impact and energy requirement which the Department determines, and adequately demonstrates; and x.) " Stationary source" means any building or immobile structure, facility or installation which emits or may emit any air pollutant. CHAPTER 2 AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Article One General Provisions SEC. 6. Air Quality Monitoring and Information Network - The Department shall prepare an annual National Air Quality Status Report which shall be used as the basis in formulating the Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework, as provided for in Sec. 7. The said report shall include, but shall not be limited to the following: a.) Extent of pollution in the country, per type of pollutant and per type of source, based on reports of the Department's monitoring stations; b.) Analysis and evaluation of the current state, trends and projections of air pollution at the various levels provided herein; c.) Identification of critical areas, activities, or projects which will need closer monitoring or regulation; d.) Recommendations for necessary executive and legislative action; and e.) Other pertinent qualitative and quantitative information concerning the extent of air pollution and the air quality performance rating of industries in the country. The Department, in cooperation with the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), shall design and develop an information network for data storage, retrieval and exchange. The Department shall serve as the central depository of all data and information related to air quality. SEC. 7. Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework.- The Department shall within six (6) months after the effectivity of this Act, establish, with the participation of LGUs, NGOs, POs, the academe and other concerned entities from the private sector, formulate and implement the Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework for a comprehensive air pollution management and control program. The framework shall, among others, prescribe the emission reduction goals using permissible standards, control strategies and control measures to undertaken within a specified time period, including cost-effective use of economic incentives, managements strategies, collective actions, and environmental education and information. The Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework shall be adopted as the official blueprint with which all government agencies must comply with to attain and maintain ambient air quality standards. SEC. 8 Air Quality Control Action Plan- Within six (6) months after the formulation of the framework, the Department shall, with public participation, formulate and implement an air quality control action plan consistent with Sec. 7 of this Act. The action plan shall : a.) Include enforceable emission limitations and other control measures, means or techniques, as well as schedules and time tables for compliance, as may be necessary or appropriate to meet the applicable requirements of this Act; b.) Provide for the establishment and operation of appropriate devices, methods, systems and procedures necessary to monitor, compile and analyze data on ambient air quality; c.) Include a program to provide for the following : (1) enforcement of the measures described in subparagraph (a);(2) regulation of the modification and construction of any stationary source within the areas covered by the plan, in accordance with land use policy to ensure that ambient air quality standards are achieved; d). Contain adequate provisions, consistent with the provisions of this Act, prohibiting any source or other types of emissions activity within the country from emitting any air pollutant in amounts which will significantly contribute to the non-attainment or will interfere with the maintenance by the Department of any such ambient air quality standard required to be included in the implementation plan to prevent significant deterioration of air quality or to protect visibility; e.) Include control strategies and control measures to be undertaken within a specified time period, including cost effective use of economic incentives, management strategies, collection action and environmental education and information; f.) Designate airsheds; and g.)All other measures necessary for the effective control and abatement of air pollution. The adoption of the plan shall clarify the legal effects on the financial, manpower and budgetary resources of the affected government agencies, and on the alignment of their programs with the plans. In addition to direct regulations, the plan shall be characterized by a participatory approach to the pollution problem. The involvement of private entities in the monitoring and testing of emissions from mobile and/or stationary sources shall be considered. Likewise, the LGU's, with the assistance from the Department, shall prepare and develop an action plan consistent with the Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework to attain and maintain the ambient air quality standards with their respective airsheds as provided in Sec. 9 hereof. The local government units shall develop and submit to the Department as procedure for carrying out the action plan for their jurisdiction. The Department, however, shall maintain its authority to independently inspect the enforcement procedure adopted. The Department shall have the power to closely supervise all or parts of the air quality action plan until such time the local government unit concerned can assume the function to enforce the standards set by the Department. A multi-sectoral monitoring team with broad public representation shall be convened by the Department for each LGU to conduct periodic inspections of air pollution sources to assess compliance with emission limitations contained in their permits. SEC. 9 Airsheds. - Pursuant to Sec. 8 of this Act, the designation of airsheds shall be on the basis of, but not limited to, areas with similar climate, meteorology and topology which affect the interchange and diffusion of pollutants in the atmosphere, or areas which share common interest or face similar development programs, prospects or problems. For a more effective air quality management, a system of planning and coordination shall be established and a common action plan shall be formulated for each airshed. To effectively carry out the formulated actions plans, a Governing Board is hereby created, hereinafter referred to as the Board. The Board shall be headed by the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as chairman. The members shall be as follows: a.) Provincial Governors from areas belonging to the airshed; b.) City/Municipal Mayors from areas belonging to the airshed; c.) A representative from each concerned government agency; d.) Representatives from people's organizations; e.) Representatives from non-government organizations; and f.) Representatives from the private sector. The Board shall perform the following functions: a.) Formulation of policies; b.) Preparation of a common action plan; c.) Coordination of functions among its members; and d.) Submission and publication of an annual Air Quality Status Report for each airshed. Upon consultation with appropriate local government authorities, the Department shall, from time to time, revise the designation of airsheds utilizing eco-profiling techniques and undertaking scientific studies. Emissions trading may be allowed among pollution sources within an airshed. SEC. 10. Management of Nonattainment Areas.- The Department shall designate areas where specific pollutants have already exceeded ambient standards as nonattainment areas. The Department shall prepare and implement a program that will prohibit new sources of exceeded air pollutant without a corresponding reduction in existing resources. In coordination with other appropriate government agencies, the LGUs shall prepare and implement a program and other measures including relocation, whenever necessary, to protect the health and welfare of residents in the area. For those designated as nonattainment areas, the Department, after consultation with local government authorities, nongovernment organizations (NGOs), people's organizations (POs) and concerned sectors may revise the designation of such areas and expand its coverage to cover larger areas depending on the condition of the areas. SEC. 11 Air Quality Control Techniques - Simultaneous with the issuance of the guideline values and standards, the Department, through the research and development program contained in this Act and upon consultation with appropriate advisory committees, government agencies and LGUs, shall issue, and from time to time, revise information on air pollution control techniques. Such information shall include: a.) Best available technology and alternative methods of prevention, management and control of air pollution; b.) Best available technology economically achievable which shall refer to the technological basis/standards for emission limits applicable to existing, direct industrial emitters of nonconventional and toxic pollutants; and c.) Alternative fuels, processes and operating methods which will result in the eliminator or significant reduction of emissions. Such information may also include data relating to the cost of installation and operation, energy requirements, emission reduction benefits, and environmental impact or the emission control technology. The issuance of air quality guideline values, standards and information on air quality control techniques shall be made available to the general public : Provided, That the issuance of information on air quality control techniques shall not be construed as requiring the purchase of certain pollution control devices by the public. SECTION 12. Ambient Air Quality Guideline Values and Standards.- The Department, in coordination with other concerned agencies, shall review and or revise and publish annually a list of hazardous air pollutants with corresponding ambient guideline values and / or standard necessary to protect health and safety, and general welfare. The initial list and values of the hazardous air pollutants shall be as follows : a.) For National Ambient Air Quality Guideline for Criteria Pollutants : Short Term a Long Term b Pollutants µg/Ncm ppm Averaging Time µg/Ncm ppm Averaging Time Suspended Particulate Matterc-TSP 230d 24 hours 90 -- 1 yeare -PM-10 150f 24 hours 60 -- 1 yeare Sulfur Dioxidec 180 0.07 24 hours 80 0.03 1 year Nitrogen Dioxide 150 0.08 24 hours -- -- -- Photochemical Oxidants 140 0.07 1 hour -- -- --- As Ozone 60 0.03 8 hours -- -- -- Carbon Monoxide 35 30 1 hour -- -- -- mg/Ncm 10 9 8 hours -- -- -- mg/Ncm Leadg 1.5 -- 3 monthsg 1.0 -- 1 year a.Maximum limits represented by ninety-eight percentile (98%) values not to be exceed more than once a year. b. Arithmetic mean c. SO2 and Suspended Particulate matter are sampled once every six days when using the manual methods. A minimum of twelve sampling days per quarter of forty-eight sampling days each year is required for these methods. Daily sampling may be done in the future once continuous analyzers are procured and become available. d. Limits for Total Suspended Particulate Matter with mass median diameter less than 25-50 um. e. Annual Geometric Mean f. Provisional limits for Suspended Particulate Matter with mass median diameter less than 10 microns and below until sufficient monitoring data are gathered to base a proper guideline. g. Evaluation of this guideline is carried out for 24-hour averaging time and averaged over three moving calendar months. The monitored average value for any three months shall not exceed the guideline value. b) For National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Source Specific Air Pollutants from : Industrial Sources/ Operations: Pollutants1 Concentration2 Averaging time (min.) Method of Analysis/ Measurement3 µ/Ncm ppm 1. Ammonia 200 0.28 30 Nesselerization/ Indo Phenol 2. Carbon Disulfide 30 0.01 30 Tischer Method 3. Chlorine and Chlorine Compounds expressed as Cl2 100 0.03 5 Methyl Orange 4. Formaldehyde 50 0.04 30 Chromotropic acid Method or MBTH Colorimetric Method 5. Hydrogen Chloride 200 0.13 30 Volhard Titration with Iodine Solution 6. Hydrogen Sulfide 100 0.07 30 Methylene Blue 7. Lead 20 30 AASc 8. Nitrogen Dioxide 375,260 0.20,0.14 30,60 Greiss- Saltzman 9. Phenol 100 0.03 30 4-Aminoantiphyrine 10. Sulfur Dioxide 470, 340 0.18, 0.13 30,60 Colorimetric-Pararosaniline 11. Suspended Particulate Matter-TSP 300 -- 60 Gravimetric 1 Pertinent ambient standards for Antimony, Arsenic, Cadmium, Asbestos, Nitric Acid and Sulfuric Acid Mists in the 1978 NPCC Rules and Regulations may be considered as guides in determining compliance. 2 Ninety- eight percentile (98%) values of 30-minute sampling measured at 250C and one atmosphere pressure. 3 Other equivalent methods approved by the Department may be used. The basis in setting up the ambient air quality guideline values and standards shall reflect, among others, the latest scientific knowledge including information on : a) Variable, including atmospheric conditions, which of themselves or in combination with other factors may alter the effects on public health or welfare of such air pollutant; b) The other types of air pollutants which may interact with such pollutant to produce an adverse effect on public health or welfare; and c) The kind and extent of all identifiable effects on public health or welfare which may be expected from presence of such pollutant in the ambient air, in varying quantities. The Department shall base such ambient air quality standards on World Health Organization (WHO) standards, but shall not be limited to nor be less stringent than such standards. SEC. 13. Emission Charge System. - The Department, in case of industrial dischargers, and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), in case of motor vehicle dischargers, shall, based on environmental techniques, design, impose on and collect regular emission fees from said dischargers as part of the emission permitting system or vehicle registration renewal system, as the case may be. The system shall encourage the industries and motor vehicles to abate, reduce, or prevent pollution. The basis of the fees include, but is not limited to, the volume and toxicity of any emitted pollutant. Industries, which shall install pollution control devices or retrofit their existing facilities with mechanisms that reduce pollution shall be entitled to tax incentives such as but not limited total credits and/or accelerated depreciation deductions. SEC. 14 Air Quality Management Fund. - An Air Quality Management Fund to be administered by the Department as a special account in the National Treasury is hereby established to finance containment, removal, and clean-up operations of the Government in air pollution cases, guarantee restoration of ecosystems and rehabilitate areas affected by the acts of violators of this Act, to support research, enforcement and monitoring activities and capabilities of the relevant agencies, as well as to provide technical assistance to the relevant agencies. Such fund may likewise be allocated per airshed for the undertakings herein stated. The Fund shall be sourced from the fines imposed and damages awarded to the Republic of the Philippines by the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB), proceeds of licenses and permits issued by the Department under this Act, emission fees and from donations, endowments and grants in the forms of contributions. Contributions to the Fund shall be exempted from donor taxes and all other taxes, charges or fees imposed by the Government. SEC. 15. Air Pollution Research and Development Program. - The Department, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), other agencies, the private sector, the academe, NGO's and PO's, shall establish a National Research and Development Program for the prevention and control of air pollution. The Department shall give special emphasis to research on and the development of improved methods having industry-wide application for the prevention and control of air pollution. Such a research and development program shall develop air quality guideline values and standards in addition to internationally-accepted standards. It shall also consider the socio-cultural, political and economic implications of air quality management and pollution control. ARTICLE TWO Air Pollution Clearances and Permits for Stationary Sources Sec. 16. Permits. Consistent with the provisions of this Act, the Department shall have the authority to issue permits as it may determine necessary for the prevention and abatement of air pollution. Said permits shall cover emission limitations for the regulated air pollutants to help attain and maintain the ambient air quality standards. These permits shall serve as management tools for the LGUs in the development of their action plan. SEC. 17 Emission Quotas. The Department may allow each regional industrial center that is designated as special airshed to allocate emission quotas to pollution sources within its jurisdiction that qualify under an environmental impact assessment system programmatic compliance program pursuant to the implementing rules and regulations of Presidential Decree No. 1586. SEC. 18. Financial Liability for Environmental Rehabilitation. As Part of the environmental management plan attached to the environmental compliance certificate pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1586 and rules and regulations set therefore, the Department shall require program and project proponents to put up financial guarantee mechanisms to finance the needs for emergency response, clean-up rehabilitation of areas that may be damaged during the program or project's actual implementation. Liability for damages shall continue even after the termination of a program or project, where such damages are clearly attributable to that program or project and for a definite period to be determined by the Department and incorporated into the environmental compliance certificate. Financial liability instruments may be in the form a trust fund, environmental insurance, surety bonds, letters of credit, as well as self-insurance. The choice of the guarantee instruments shall furnish the Department with evidence of availment of such instruments. ARTICLE THREE Pollution from Stationary Sources SEC. 19. Pollution From Stationary Sources.- The Department shall, within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act, and every two (2) years thereafter, review, or as the need therefore arises, revise and publish emission standards, to further improve the emission standards for stationary sources of air pollution. Such emission standards shall be based on mass rate of emission for all stationary source of air pollution based on internationally accepted standards, but not be limited to, nor be less stringent than such standards and with the standards set forth in this section. The standards, whichever is applicable, shall be the limit on the acceptable level of pollutants emitted from a stationary source for the protection of the public's health and welfare. With respect to any trade, industry, process and fuel-burning equipment or industrial plant emitting air pollutants, the concentration at the point of emission shall not exceed the following limits: Pollutants Standard Applicable to Source Maximum Permissible Limits (mg/Ncm) Method of Analysisa 1. Antimony and Its compounds any source 10 as Sb AASb 2. Arsenic and its compounds Any source 10 as As AASb 3. Cadmium and its compounds Any source 10 as Cd AASb 4. Carbon Monoxide Any industrial Source 500 as CO Orsat analysis 5. Copper and its Compounds Any industrial source 100 ax Cu AASb 6. Hydrofluoric Acids and Fluoride compounds Any source other than the manufacture of Aluminum from Alumina 50 as HF Titration with Ammonium Thiocyanate 7. Hydrogen Sulfide i) Geothermal Power Plants c.d Cadmium Sulfide Method ii) Geothermal Exploration and well-testing e iii) Any source other than (i) and (ii) 7 as H2S Cadmium Sulfide Method 8. Lead Any trade, industry or process 10 as Pb AASb 9. Mercury Any Source 5 as elemental Hg AASb/Cold-Vapor Technique or Hg Analyzer 10. Nickel and its compounds, except Nickel Carbonyl f Any source 20 as Ni AASb 11. NOx i) Manufacture of Nitric Acid 2,000 as acid and NOx and calculated as NO2 Phenol-disulfonic acid Method ii) Fuel burning steam generators Phenol-disulfonic acid Method Existing Source 1,500 as NO2 New Source � Coal-Fired 1,000 as NO2 � Oil-Fired 500 as NO2 iii) Any source other than (i) adn (ii) Phenol-disulfonic acid Method Existing Source 1000 as NO2 New Source 500 as NO2 12. Phosphorus Pentoxideg Any source 200 as P2O5 Spectrophotometry 13. Zinc and its Compounds Any source 100 as Zn AASb a Other equivalent methods approved by the Department may be used. b Atomic Absorption Specttrophotometry c All new geothermal power plants starting construction by 01 January 1995 shall control HsS emissions to not more than 150 g/GMW-Hr d All existing geothermal power plants shall control HsS emissions to not more than 200 g/GMW-Hr within 5 years from the date of effectivity of these revised regulations. e Best practicable control technology for air emissions and liquid discharges. Compliance with air and water quality standards is required. f Emission limit of Nickel Carbonyl shall not exceed 0.5 mg/Ncm. g Provisional Guideline Provided, that the maximum limits in mg/ncm particulates in said sources shall be : 1. Fuel Burning Equipment a) Urban or Industrial Area 150 mg/Ncm b) Other Area 200 mg/Ncm 2. Cement Plants (Kilns, etc.) 150 mg/Ncm 3. Smelting Furnaces 150 mg/Ncm 4. Other Stationary Sourcesa 200 mg/Ncm a Other Stationary Sources means a trade, process, industrial plant, or fuel burning equipment other than thermal power plants, industrial boilers, cement plants, incinerators and smelting furnaces. Provided, further, that the maximum limits for sulfur oxides in said sources shall be : (1) Existing Sources (i) Manufacture of Sulfuric Acid and Sulf(on)ation Process 2.0gm.Ncm as SO3 (ii) Fuel burning Equipment 1.5gm.Ncm as SO2 (iii) Other Stationary Sourcesa 1.0gm.Ncm as SO3 (2) New Sources (i) Manufacture of Sulfuric Acid and Sulf(on)ation Process 1.5 gm.Ncm as SO3 (ii) Fuel Burning Equipment 0.7 gm.Ncm as SO2 (iii) Other Stationary Sourcesa 0.2 gm.Ncm as SO3 a Other Stationary Sources refer to existing and new stationary sources other than those caused by the manufacture of sulfuric acid and sulfonation process, fuel burning equipment and incineration. For Stationary sources of pollution not specifically included in the immediately preceding paragraph, the following emission standards shall not be exceeded in the exhaust gas : I. Daily And Half Hourly Average Values Daily Average Values Half Hourly Average Values Total dust 10 mg/m3 30 mg/m3 Gaseous and vaporous organic substances, expressed as total organic carbon 10 mg/m3 20 mg/m3 Hydrogen chloride (HCl) 10 mg/m3 60 mg/m3 Hydrogen fluoride (HF) 1 mg/m3 4 mg/m3 Sulfur dioxide (SO2) 50 mg/m3 200 mg/m3 Nitrogen monoxide (NO) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), expressed as nitrogen dioxide for incineration plants with a capacity exceeding 3 tonnes per hour 200 mg/m3 400 mg/m3 Nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), expressed as nitrogen dioxide for incineration plants with a capacity of 3 tonnes per hour or less 300 mg/m3 Ammonia 10 mg/m3 20 mg/m3 II. All the Average Values over the Sample Period of a Minimum of 4 and Maximum of 8 Hours. Cadmium and its compounds, expressed as cadmium (Cd) total 0.05 Thallium and its compounds, expressed as thallium (Tl) mg/m3 Mercury and its Compounds, expressed as mercury (Hg) 0.05 mg/m3 Antimony and its compounds, expressed as antimony (Sb) Arsenic and its compounds, expressed as arsenic (As) total 0.5 mg/m3 Lead and its compounds, expressed as lead ( Pb) Chromium and its compounds, expressed as chromium (Cr) Cobalt and its compounds, expressed as cobalt (Co) Copper and its compounds, expressed as copper (Cu) Manganese and its compounds, expressed as manganese (Mn) Nickel and its compounds, expressed as nickel (Ni) Vanadium and its compounds, expressed as vanadium (V) Tin and its compounds, expressed as tin (Sn) These average value cover also gaseous and the vapor forms of the relevant heavy metal emission as well as their compounds. Provided, that the emission of dioxins and furans into the air shall be reduced by the most progressive techniques. Provided, further that all average of dioxin and furans measured over the sample period of a minimum of 5 hours and maximum of 8 hours must not exceed the limit value of 0.1 nanogram/m3. Pursuant to Sec. 8 of this Act, the Department shall prepare a detailed action plan setting the emission standards or standards of performance for any stationary source the procedure for testing emissions for each type of pollutant, and the procedure for enforcement of said standards. Existing industries, which are proven to exceed emission rates established by the Department in consultation with stakeholders, after a thorough, credible and transparent measurement process shall be allowed a grace period of eighteen (18) months for the establishment of an environmental management system and the installation of an appropriate air pollution control device : Provided, That an extension of not more than twelve (12) months may be allowed by the Department on meritorious grounds. SEC. 20 Ban on Incineration.- Incineration , hereby defined as the burning of municipal, biomedical and hazardous waste, which process emits poisonous and toxic fumes is hereby prohibited; Provided, however, That the prohibition shall not apply to traditional small-scale method of community/neighborhood sanitation "siga", traditional, agricultural, cultural, health, and food preparation and crematoria; Provided, further, That existing incinerators dealing with a biomedical wastes shall be out within three (3) years after the effectivity of this Act; Provided, finally, that in the interim, such units shall be limited to the burning of pathological and infectious wastes, and subject to close monitoring by the Department. Local government units are hereby mandated to promote, encourage and implement in their respective jurisdiction a comprehensive ecological waste management that includes waste segregation, recycling and composting. With due concern on the effects of climate change, the Department shall promote the use of state-of-the-art, environmentally-sound and safe non-burn technologies for the handling, treatment, thermal destruction, utilization, and disposal of sorted, unrecycled, uncomposted, biomedical and hazardous wastes. ARTICLE FOUR Pollution from Motor Vehicles Sec. 21. Pollution from Motor Vehicles. a) The DOTC shall implement the emission standards for motor vehicles set pursuant to and as provided in this Act. To further improve the emission standards, the Department shall review, revise and publish the standards every two (2) years, or as the need arises. It shall consider the maximum limits for all major pollutants to ensure substantial improvement in air quality for the health, safety and welfare of the general public. The following emission standards for type approval of motor vehicles shall be effective by the year 2003: a.) For light duty vehicles, the exhausts emission limits for gaseous pollutants shall be: Emission Limits for Light Duty Vehicles Type Approval (Directive 91/441/EEC) CO (g/km) HC + NOx (g/km) PMa (g/km) 2.72 0.97 0.14 a for compression-ignition engines only b) For light commercial vehicles, the exhaust emission limit of gaseous pollutants as a function of the given reference mass shall be : Reference Weight (RW) (kg) CO (g/km) HC + NOx (g/km) PMa (g/km) Category 1 1250< RW 2.72 0.97 0.14 Category 2 1250< RW<1700 5.17 1.4 0.19 Category 3 RW>1700 6.9 1.7 0.25 a for compression-ignition engines only c.) For heavy duty vehicles, the exhaust emission limits of gaseous pollutants shall be : Emission Limits for Heavy Duty Vehicles Type Approval (Directive 91/542/EEC) CO (g/k/Wh) HC (g/k/Wh) NOx (g/k/Wh) PM (g/k/Wh) 4.5 1.1 8.0 0.36a a In the case of engines of 85 kW or less, the limit value for particular emissions in increased by multiplying the quoted limit by a coefficient of 1.7 Fuel evaporative emission for spark-ignition engines shall not exceed 2.0 grams hydrocarbons per test. Likewise, it shall not allow any emission of gases from crankcase ventilation system into the atmosphere. b.) The Department, in collaboration with the DOTC, DTI and LGUs, shall develop an action plan for the control and management of air pollution from motor vehicles consistent with the Integrated Air Quality Framework. The DOTC shall enforce compliance with the emission standards for motor vehicles set by the Department. The DOTC may deputize other law enforcement agencies and LGUs for this purpose. To this end, the DOTC shall have the power to : (1) Inspect and monitor the emissions of motor vehicles ; (2) Prohibit or enjoin the use of motor vehicles or a class of motor vehicles in any area or street at specified times; and (3) Authorize private testing emission testing centers duly accredited by the DTI. c.) The DOTC, together with the DTI and the Department, shall establish the procedures for the inspection of motor vehicles and the testing of their emissions for the purpose of determining the concentration and/or rate of pollutants discharged by said sources. d.) In order to ensure the substantial reduction of emissions from a motor vehicles, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), together with the DOTC and the Department shall formulate and implement a national motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program that will promote efficient and safe operation of all motor vehicles. In this regard, the DTI shall develop and implement standards and procedures for the certification of training institutions, instructors and facilities and the licensing of qualified private service centers and their technicians as prerequisite for performing the testing, servicing, repair and the required adjustment to the vehicle emission system. The DTI shall likewise prescribe regulations requiring the disclosure of odometer readings and the use of tamper-resistant odometers for all motor vehicles including tamper-resistant fuel management systems for the effective implementation of the inspection and maintenance program. SEC. 22 Regulation of All Motor Vehicles and Engines. Any imported new or locally-assembled new motor vehicle shall not be registered unless it complies with the emission standards set pursuant to this Act, as evidenced by a Certificate of Conformity (COC) issued by the Department. Any imported new motor vehicle engine shall not be introduced into commerce, sold or used unless it complies with emission standards set pursuant to this Act. Any imported used motor vehicle or rebuilt motor vehicle using new or used engines, major parts or components shall not be registered unless it complies with the emission standards. In case of non-compliance, the importer or consignee may be allowed to modify or rebuild the vehicular engine so it will be in compliance with applicable emission standards. No motor vehicle registration (MVR) shall be issued unless such motor vehicle passes the emission testing requirement promulgated in accordance with this Act. Such testing shall be conducted by the DOTC or its authorized inspection centers within sixty (60) days prior to date of registration. The DTI shall promulgate the necessary regulations prescribing the useful life of vehicles and engines including devices in order to ensure that such vehicles will conform to the emissions which they were certified to meet. These regulations shall include provisions for ensuring the durability of emission devices. SEC. 23. Second-Hand Motor Vehicle Engines. Any imported second-hand motor vehicle engine shall not be introduced into commerce, sold or used unless it complies with emission standards set pursuant to this Act. ARTICLE FIVE- Pollution from Other Sources SEC. 24 Pollution from smoking. Smoking inside a public building or an enclosed public place including public vehicles and other means of transport or in any enclosed area outside of one's private residence, private place of work or any duly designated smoking area is hereby prohibited under this Act. This provision shall be implemented by the LGUs. SEC. 25. Pollution from other Mobile Sources. The Department, in coordination with appropriate agencies, shall formulate and establish the necessary standards for all mobile sources other than those referred to in Sec. 21 of this Act. The imposition of the appropriate fines and penalties from these sources for any violation of emission standards shall be under the jurisdiction of the DOTC. CHAPTER 3 FUELS, ADDITIVES, SUBSTANCES AND POLLUTANTS Article One- Fuels, Additives and Substances SEC. 26 Fuels and Additives. Pursuant to the Air Quality Framework to be established under Section 7 of this Act, the Department of Energy (DOE), co-chaired by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in consultation with the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) of the DTI, the DOST, the representatives of the fuel and automotive industries, academe and the consumers shall set the specifications for all types of fuel and fuel-related products, to improve fuel composition for increased efficiency and reduced emissions; Provided, however, that the specifications for all types of fuel and fuel-related products set-forth pursuant to this section shall be adopted by the BPS as Philippine National Standards (PNS). The DOE, shall also specify the allowable content of additives in all types of fuels and fuel-related products. Such standards shall be based primarily on threshold levels of health and research studies. On the basis of such specifications, the DOE shall likewise limit the content or begin that phase-out of additives in all types of fuels and fuel-related products as it may deem necessary. Other agencies involved in the performance of this function shall be required to coordinate with the DOE and transfer all documents and information necessary for the implementation of this provision. Consistent with the provisions of the preceding paragraphs under this section, it is declared that : a. not later than eighteen (18) months after the effectivity of this Act, no person shall manufacture, import, sell, supply, offer for sale, dispense, transport or introduce into commerce unleaded premium gasoline fuel which has an anti-knock index (AKI) of not less that 87.5 and Reid vapor pressure of not more than 9 psi. Within six (6) months after the effectivity of this Act, unleaded gasoline fuel shall contain aromatics not to exceed forty-five percent (45%) by volume and benzene not to exceed four percent (4%) by volume; Provided, that by year 2003, unleaded gasoline fuel should contain aromatics not to exceed thirty-five percent (35%) by volume and benzene not to exceed two percent (2%) by volume; b. not later than eighteen (18) months after the effectivity of this Act, no person shall manufacture, import, sell, supply , offer for sale, dispense, transport or introduce into commerce automotive diesel fuel which contains a concentration of sulfur in excess of 0.20% by weight with a cetane number of index of not less than forty-eight (48); Provided, That by year 2004, content of said sulfur shall be 0.05% by weight ; and c. not later than eighteen (18) months after the effectivity of this Act, no Person shall manufacture, import, sell, supply, offer for sale, dispense, transport or introduce into commerce industrial diesel fuel which contains a concentration of sulfur in excess of 0.30% (by weight). Every two (2) years thereafter or as the need arises, the specifications of unleaded gasoline and of automotive and industrial diesel fuels shall be reviewed and revised for further improvement in formulation and in accordance with the provisions of this Act. The fuels characterized above shall be commercially available. Likewise, the same shall be the reference fuels for emission and testing procedures to be established in accordance with the provisions of this Act. Any proposed additive shall not in any way increase emissions of any of the regulated gases which shall include, but not limited to carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and oxides of nitrogen and particulate matter, in order to be approved and certified by the Department. SEC. 27. Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives.- The DOE, in coordination with the Department and the BPS, shall regulate the use of any fuel or fuel additive. No manufacturer, processor or trader of any fuel or additive may import, sell, offer for sale, or introduce into commerce such fuel for additive unless the same has been registered with the DOE. Prior to registration, the manufacturer, processor or trader shall provide the DOE with the following relevant information: a. Product identity and composition to determine the potential health effects of such fuel additives; b. Description of the analytical technique that can be used to detect and measure the additive in any fuel ; c. Recommended range of concentration; and d. Purpose in the use of the fuel and additive. SEC. 28 Misfueling. In order to prevent the disabling of any emission control device by lead contamination, no person shall introduce or cause or allow the introduction of leaded gasoline into any motor vehicle equipped with a gasoline tank filler inlet and labeled " unleaded gasoline only ". This prohibition shall also apply to any person who knows or should know that such vehicle is designed solely for the use of unleaded gasoline. SEC. 29. Prohibition on Manufacture. Import and Sale of leaded Gasoline and of Engines and/or Components Requiring Leaded Gasoline. Effective not later than eighteen (18) months after the enactment of this Act, no person shall manufacture, import, sell, offer for sale, introduce into commerce, convey or otherwise dispose of , in any manner leaded gasoline and engines and components requiring the use of leaded gasoline. For existing vehicles, the DTI shall formulate standards and procedures that will allow non-conforming engines to comply with the use of unleaded fuel within five(5) years after the effectivity of this Act. Article Two Other Pollutants SEC. 30. Ozone-Depleting Substances. Consistent with the terms and conditions of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and other international agreements and protocols to which the Philippines is a signatory, the Department shall phase out ozone-depleting substances. Within sixty (60) days after the enactment of this Act, the Department shall publish a list of substances which are known to cause harmful effects on the stratospheric ozone layer. SEC. 31. Greenhouse Gases. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) shall regularly monitor meteorological factors affecting environmental conditions including ozone depletion and greenhouse gases and coordinate with the Department in order to effectively guide air pollution monitoring and standard-setting activities. The Department, together with concerned agencies and local government units, shall prepare and fully implement a national plan consistent with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and other international agreements, conventions and protocols on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the country. SEC. 32. Persistent Organic Pollutants. The Department shall, within a period of two (2) years after the enactment of this Act, establish an inventory list of all sources of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the Country. The Department shall develop short-term and long-term national government programs on the reduction and elimination of POPs such as dioxins and furans. Such programs shall be formulated within a year after the establishment of the inventory list. SEC. 33. Radioactive Emissions. All projects which will involve the use of atomic and/or nuclear energy, and will entail release and emission of radioactive substances into the environment, incident to the establishment or possession of nuclear energy facilities and radioactive materials, handling, transport, production, storage, and use of radioactive materials, shall be regulated in the interest of public health and welfare by the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), in coordination with Department and other appropriate government agencies. CHAPTER 4 INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM SEC. 34. Lead Agency.- The Department, unless otherwise provided herein, shall be the primary government agency responsible for the implementation and enforcement of this Act. To be more effective in this regard, The Department's Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) shall be converted from a staff bureau to a line bureau for a period of no more than two (2) years, unless a separate, comprehensive environmental management agency is created. SEC. 35 Linkage Mechanism. - The Department shall consult, participate, cooperate and enter into agreement with other government agencies, or with affected non-governmental (NGOs) or people's organizations (POs),or private enterprises in the furtherance of the objectives of this Act. SEC. 36. Role of Local Government Units.- Local Government units (LGUs) shall share the responsibility in the management and maintenance of air quality within their territorial jurisdiction. Consistent with Secs. 7,8 and 9 of this Act, LGUs shall implement air quality standards set by the Board in areas within their jurisdiction; Provided, however, that in case where the board has not been duly constituted and has not promulgated its standards, the standards set forth in this Act shall apply. The Department shall provide the LGUs with technical assistance, trainings and a continuing capability-building program to prepare them to undertake full administration of the air quality management and regulation within their territorial jurisdiction. SEC. 37 Environmental and Natural Resources Office.- There may be established an Environment and Natural Resources Office in every province, city, or municipality which shall be headed by the environment and natural resources officer and shall be appointed by the Chief Executive of every province, city or municipality in accordance with the provisions of Section 484 of Republic Act No. 7160. Its powers and duties, among others, are : a. To prepare comprehensive air quality management programs, plans and strategies within the limits set forth in Republic act. No. 7160 and this Act which shall be implemented within its territorial jurisdiction upon the approval of the sanggunian ; b. To provide technical assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic services and the provision of adequate facilities relative to air quality; c. To take the lead in all efforts concerning air quality protection and rehabilitation; d. To recommend to the Board air quality standards which shall not exceed the maximum permissible standards set by rational laws ; e. To coordinate with other government agencies and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of measures to prevent and control air pollution; and f. Exercise such other powers and perform such duties and functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance. Provided, however, that, in provinces/cities/municipalities where there are no environment and natural resources officers, the local executive concerned may designate any of his official and/ or chief of office preferably the provincial, city or municipal agriculturist, or any of his employee; Provided, finally, that in case an employee is designated as such, he must have a sufficient experience in environmental and natural resources management, conservation and utilization. SEC. 38 Record-keeping, Inspection, Monitoring and Entry by the Department.- The Department or its duly accredited entity shall, after proper consultation and notice, require any person who owns or operates any emissions source or who is subject to any requirement of this Act to : (a) establish and maintain relevant records; (b) make relevant reports; (c) install, use and maintain monitoring equipment or methods; (d) sample emission, in accordance with the methods, locations, intervals and manner prescribed by the Department; (e) keep records on control equipment parameters, production variables or other indirect data when direct monitoring of emissions is impractical; and (f) provide such other information as the Department may reasonably require. Pursuant to this Act, the Department, through its authorized representatives, shall have the right of : (a) entry of access to any premises including documents and relevant materials as referred to in the herein preceding paragraph, b) inspect any pollution or waste source, control device, monitoring equipment or method required, and c) test any emission. Any record, report or information obtained under this section shall be made available to the public, except upon a satisfactory showing to the Department by the entity concerned that the record, report or information, or parts thereof, if made public, would divulge secret methods or processes entitled to protection as intellectual property. Such record, report or information shall likewise be incorporated in the Department's industrial rating system. SEC. 39. Public Education and Information Campaign.- A continuing air quality information and education campaign shall promoted by the Department, the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). Consistent with Sec. 7 of this Act, such campaign shall encourage the participation of other government agencies and the private sector including NGOs, POs, the academe, environmental groups and other private entities in a multi-sectoral information campaign. CHAPTER 5 ACTIONS SEC. 40 Administrative Action.- Without prejudice to the right of any affected person to file an administrative action , the Department shall, on its own instance or upon verified complaint by any person, institute administrative proceedings against any person who violates: a) Standards or limitation provided under this Act; or b) Any order, rule or regulation issued by the Department with respect to such standard or limitation. SEC. 41. Citizen Suits. for purposes of enforcing the provisions of this Act or its implementing rules and regulations, any citizen may file an appropriate civil, criminal or administrative action in the proper courts against: (a) Any person who violates or fails to comply with the provisions of this Act or its implementing rules and regulations; or (b) The Department or other implementing agencies with respect to orders, rules and regulations issued inconsistent with this act; and/or (c) Any public officer who willfully or grossly neglects the performance of an act specifically enjoined as a duty by this Act or its implementing rules and regulations; or abuses his authority in the performance of his duty; or, in any manner, improperly performs his duties under this Act or its implementing rules and regulations: Provided, however, That no suit can be filed until thirty-day (30) notice has been taken thereon. The court shall exempt such action from the payment of filing fees, except fees for actions not capable of pecuniary estimations, and shall likewise, upon prima facie showing of the non-enforcement or violation complained of, exempt the plaintiff from the filing of an injunction bond for the issuance of a preliminary injunction. Within thirty (30) days, the court shall make a determination if the compliant herein is malicious and/or baseless and shall accordingly dismiss the action and award attorney's fees and damages. SEC .42 . Independence of Action.- The filing of an administrative suit against such person/entity does not preclude the right of any other person to file any criminal or civil action. Such civil action shall proceed independently. SEC. 43 Suits and Strategic Legal Actions Against Public Participation and the Enforcement of this act.- where a suit is brought against a a person who filed an action as provided in Sec. 41 of this Act, or against any person, institutions or government agency that implements this Act, it shall be the duty of the investigating prosecutor or the court, as the case may be, to immediately make a determination not exceeding thirty (30) days whether said legal action has been filed to harass, vex, exert undue pressure or stifle such legal recourses of the person complaining of or enforcing the provisions of this Act. Upon determination thereof , evidence warranting the same, the court shall dismiss the case and award attorney's fees and double damages. This provision shall also apply and benefit public officers who are sued for acts committed in their official capacity, their being no grave abuse of authority, and done in the course of enforcing this Act. SEC. 44 Lien Upon Personal and Immovable Properties of Violators. Fines and penalties imposed pursuant to this Act shall be liens upon personal immovable properties of the violator. Such lien shall, in case of insolvency of the respondent violator , enjoy preference to laborer's wages under Article 2241 and 2242 of Republic Act No. 386, otherwise known as the New Civil Code of the Philippines. CHAPTER 6 FINES AND PENALTIES SEC. 45. Violation of Standards for Stationary Sources. For actual exceedance of any pollution or air quality standards under this Act or its rules and regulations, the Department, through the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB), shall impose a fine of not more than One hundred thousand pesos ( P 100,000.00) for every day of violation against the owner or operator of a stationary source until such time that the standards have been complied with. For purposes of the application of the fines, the PAB shall prepare a fine rating system to adjust the maximum fine based on the violator's ability to pay, degree of willfulness, degree of negligence, history of noncompliance and degree of recalcitrance. Provided, That in case of negligence, the first time offender's ability to pay may likewise be considered by the Pollution Adjudication Board; Provided, further, That in the absence of any extenuating or aggravating circumstances, the amount of fine for negligence shall be equivalent to one-half of the fine for willful violation. The fines herein prescribed shall be increased by at least ten percent (10%), every three (3) years to compensate for inflation and to maintain the deterrent function of such fines. In addition to the fines, the PAB shall order closure, suspension of development, construction, or operations of the stationary sources until such time that proper environmental safeguards are put in place; Provided, that an establishment liable for a third offense shall suffer permanent closure immediately. This paragraph shall be without prejudice to the immediate issuance of an ex parte order for such closure, suspension of development or construction, or cessation of operations during the pendency of the case upon prima facie evidence that their is imminent threat to life, public health, safety or general welfare, or to plant or animal life, or whenever there is an exceedance of the emission standards set by the Department and/or the Board and/or the appropriate LGU. SEC. 46. Violation of Standards for Motor Vehicles. No motor vehicle shall be registered with the DOTC unless it meets the emission standards set by the Department as provided in Sec. 21 hereof. Any vehicle suspected of violation of emission standards through visual signs, such as, but not limited to smoke-belching, shall be subjected to an emission test by a duly authorized emission testing center. For this purpose, the DOTC or its authorized testing center shall establish a roadside inspection system. Should it be shown that there was no violation of emission standards, the vehicle shall be immediately released. Otherwise, a testing result indicating an exceedance of the emission standards would warrant the continuing custody of the impounded vehicle unless the appropriate penalties are fully paid, and the license plate is surrendered to the DOTC pending the fulfillment of the undertaking by the owner/operator of the motor vehicle to make the necessary repairs so as to comply with the standards. A pass shall herein be issued by the DOTC to authorize the use of the motor vehicle within a specified period that shall not exceed seven (7) days for the sole purpose of making the necessary repairs on the said vehicle. The owner/operator of the vehicle shall be required to correct its defects and show proof of compliance to the appropriate pollution control office before the vehicle can be allowed to be driven on any publ
Outline HELP!....(desperate need) Outline=Identity Theft? Hello ..I need major desperate help on just fixing my outline adding or minusing things: I did an outline for my term paper : Identity theft : My teacher said that *I need a "problem" *Nothing addressed how it can be prevented *She wrote - Since ID tehft costs consumers and businesses billions, can it be prevented? Here is my outline: Tentative Outline I. What is Identity Theft a. Define Identity Theft b. Statistics of Identity Theft Occurrences c. Number of convictions II. Major Types of Internet Fraud a. Auction & Retail Fraud b. â??Work At Homeâ?? Schemes c. Investment Schemes 1.Telemarketing d. Credit Card Schemes e. Identity Theft III. How Can Internet Fraud Be Avoided a. Avoid Giving Out Valuable Personal Information Online b. Donâ??t Judge By First Appearances c. Exercise Caution if Dealing with a Person or Agency who Disguises or Hides their Identity d. Be Careful of Advance Fee Agencies IV. Where Does Internet FraudGet Reported A. Agencies Dealing With Internet Fraud a. Department of Justice b. Internet Fraud Initiative 1) Federal Trade Commission 2) National Advocacy Center c. Internet Fraud Complaint Center d. FBI e. National White Collar Crime Center f. Securities and Exchange Commission g. Fraud.org h. National Consumers League I showed it to another teacher that i have and she said that it was ok ... BUT MY TEACHER not that teacher is ANAl and picky and a hard garder ... I want to fix my outline... she said it was too informational . -It is for an Analytical research paper -This outline is important since I have to split the work up into 4 people.... - CAN SOMEONE HELP ME EDIT?FIX IT .... This is an outline that has been graded and turned in already ... I need to fix it because this outline will guide us on doing out paper ... SHE ALSO SAID THAT THERE IS TOO MUCH OVER LAP BETWEEN c. investment schemes and a. avoiding out valuable personal info.outline..... i really need help ... Thanxs so much
Right! I know this is a book! but don't you think it's better than millions of questions? I think reading this in 5-7 minutes would be better than listening to the news in a lifteime.Plz don't think I'm a very old person.Just 18.A university student studying English who just cannot sit back and hope. My question is: what percentage of what I say is acceptable to you? This article has three parts: 1.Cultural and general info 2.music and 3.political, so plz read it from the top to the bottom. Hi.I'm Iranian and I live in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I understand that they have totally wrong ideas about Iran.I just wrote this article to correct you. The first thing they accuse our government of, is that they don't let you be free.Actually, Iranians would be some of the most liberal people in the world (liberal meaning not obeying laws that they don't like).Thousands of millions of strict rules in other countries, don't even exist in Iran.Also, you should understand that what may seem so normal to you, may be a nightmare for us and vise versa.That's why you don't understand a few of Iran's laws.In Iran every single house has a sattelite. Sattelite channels had a serious influence on people, they wear very fashionable clothes.Maybe it's a kind of immitation, but still it's got an unique Iranian style.You'll see lots of beauty qeens on the streets that are just like models advertising fashionable clothes! Most part of their hair is out and they put on to much make up, also wearing scarves is a part of our culture.Iran is one of the super-consumers of cosmics (which is bad for our economy)! People do whatever they wish to and some of the things they do, don't fit our culture at all, however it's normal in Iran.You'll be surprised seeing the difference between what you imagined before and how the real Iran is! It's wonderful.Everything's so great if you don't take unemployment and air pollution into account. Many things have changed so far.I can't even compare Iran with 5 years ago, let alone comparing it with 30 years ago!!!! After all, nearly 65-70% of Iran's population is considered the new generation (The youth) and they've transformed everything. Some people think women don't have any rights in Iran! Women are overtaking Iran. They're treated very well.They're the winners in most cases: They get into the best universities cos they're so clever.They get the best jobs cos they can do jobs much better than men.They've got rights that have made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women will have the right to ask them a great amount of money which most husbands cannot afford, so they'll be imprisoned.The only thing that women are not allowed to do in Iran is getting into public football stadiums and that's just because IN IRAN, such places are usually full of cheeky guys who would cheek girls.I don't think girls would go there, even if they're allowed to do so. Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery.Have you ever asked yourself they relate to how many years ago?Just for your information, those are from Afghanistan which was once ruled by those freaks (Taliban).I find it difficult to make you understand that Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are SEPERATE COUNTRIES! and that we're Persian and some Turkish not Arab! And I find it even more difficult to make you understand that Iran is a normal country like any other countries in the world.There's nothing mysterious about it!(The media is very good at making scary titles: BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!! IRAN UNDERCOVER!!! This would be enough to scare people away! Iranians are much more educated, intelligent and open-minded than what you think!!! I'm sure you don't know that there are lots and lots of Iranian geniouses and scientists that are all under 25.You don't hear about their discoveries and inventions on TV. A small example is this 17 year old boy who's invented 72 amazing inventions.You don't know that Iranian students and sportsmen are winning gold and silver medals in different compotitions in the world all the time such as robotics, biology, maths, physics, sports, anything! Why don't the media talk about them?Did you know that the countries having the highest number of scientists in the world are in this order? 1-India 2-Korea 3-Iran A few weeks ago Iran uncovered the most effective anti-H.I.V medicine and now it's signing treaties with other countries to export it.I digged the news on the internet, but there was no single sign of that.What I found instead? "President Bush CLAIMS that bomb parts are imported from Iran into Iraq!" The media are injustice.They'd put CLAIMS on the headlines, but they would never talk about facts! Some interesting facts: Iran is the pionier in medicine and genetics and Iranian surgens have found lots of new methods for treating spinal defects and many other diseases (mainly the treatment for different types of cancer) and the the best brain and heart surgens are Iranian surgens.The head of Mars Mission in NASA is Iranian.One of the best designer of sports cars working in Germany is Iranian.Some of the best 3D animators are Iranian.Iran is one of the best countries in counter-engineering.Holds the second place in building dams.The 4th highest tower (Milad tower) in the world is in Tehran (which you can visit in the second link).The champion weight-lifter is Iranian.The woman, and a song by one of the pop singers who/which won the nobel peace prize are Iranians. And as you all know, Iranian girls are famous for being terrific.Persian rug and Persian literature, many Persian poets and scientists that are so famous.Persian culture is now westernised and only a little has survived! According to statistics Tehran is the cheapest capital city in the world for foriegners with Dollars of course not for us! (Cos our rate is different: one Dollar=about 950 Tomans!) Who do you think is building Dubi?Arabs?No my friends, Iranian architectures, engineers and traders funding them, cos they don't think building the same things in Iran would be beneficial for them, Since the media scare tourists away from Iran.There are many other things.And also, Iran is a very independant country.It has nearly all the developed industries and technologies and doesn't need other countries to survive! That's why the unfair U.N sanctions don't bother us! The list is endless. Some charactristics of Iranians would be: Proud, greedy, hard-working, intelligent, ambitious, not realistic, not so religious, not so generous, not punctual, impatient, well-dressed, formal, well-educated, warm and friendly and hospitable. Some people think, Iran's a desert! Iran's a modern country with very beautiful nature and lots of historical places to visit.Please take a look at the following links and see if Iran looks like what you think or not! (Surely it doesn't!) This is a photo of Tehran: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tehran-2-1600.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran If you like you can visit these too, hope you like them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel2.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kish-island.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Some people think music is forbidden in Iran.Did you know that Iranian pop music has won the prize in France in 2005? All Iranian songs are current pop /Trance/ DJ music.I send them to my American and Canadian chat friends and they all admit that it's the best music they've ever heard.They specially love the beat. You can just right click on the links below and choose "Save Target As" to download them.You'll love Iranian style.It's nothing like what you expect! You can read the translations in here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuU3bcYBNN27yv44GHQIAqwAAAAA?qid=20070303111508AAXhVyi (I just want you: pop&Trance 2003) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Mansour/Crazy/Delam%20Faghat%20Toro%20Mikhaad(www.Bia2Music.com).MP3 (The rain: pop&Trance 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2005%20Baroon%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma (Farangis "A female name": pop&Trance 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2001%20Farangis%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma (The window: pop&Trance: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/03_%20Panjereh.mp3 (Stop world:pop 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Reza%20Sadeghi%20-%20Vaysa%20Donya/01_%20Vaysa%20Donya.mp3 (Hold my hand:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/09_%20Dastamo%20Begir.mp3 (The wind's kiss:pop&Trance 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/01_%20Boosaye%20Baad.mp3 (Keep me in your memory:pop 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/07_%20Yaade%20Man%20Baash.mp3 (Reveal your visage:pop 2004) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohammad%20Esfahani/04_%20Talab.mp3 (It's beautiful:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/02_%20Ghashangeh.mp3 (My bride: DJ 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohsen%20Chavoshi%20-%20Im%20Sorry/01_%20Arouse%20Man.mp3 It's now 2007 and people still think we are uneducated people living in deserts, riding camels and carrying around guns!!!! See how the media are fooling people? None of the things you hear on the media about Iran are true.If you think I've been admiring Iran too much, that's because you'd do the same thing if you were looked down nearly everyday for some false reasons. I think it's better to clarify some political issues as well: Some of the Americans I chatted with, said in the U.S it's said that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuke them!! The media are good at putting comments.It's easy to show a video or an image of our president or leader on the T.V screen or on the internet and say he says this, he says that.....I really don't get the point why our politicians defame themselves by talking about things that have got nothing to do with us.For example does verbal defence of Palestinians cause them to have a better life?The thing is that they occasionally make some statements that the media would misuse it agaisnt Iran. like picking up some specific sensitive phrases from among a long speech (without reffering to the main points and reasons for that speech) and putting so many bad comments on that.No sane person would take it serious. First of all, Iranians don't hate anyone.If our government complains about some injustice going on in the world, it's not bad.Is it? We hate neither Jews nor Americans.They're both nice people.If their media are fooling them, it's not their fault.If I were in their shoes, I would hate Iran too regarding all the terrible lies they keep hearing about it nearly everyday.Although ordinary Iranians don't care about world affairs, I've got to say that for us Israel is not equal to Jews! Israel is a govt.Jews are faithful people! A few of them live here in our neighbourhood and they live just like the rest of Iranians.No difference.And two of Iran's parliment members are Jews. Who says we want to force the others to convert to Islam?Have you ever found a Muslem knocking at your door asking you to do so?That's so funny. Christians and Jews are both God believers and respectful to us.I wonder why the media like putting words in our mouth and raising hatred.In Iran, religion would be the least important thing. It means that where you come from and what your religion is, are not important to us at all.And I wonder why some Muslem countries think there's a problem between Shiites and Sunnies. It doesn't make sense in Iran. I wonder Iran is a threat to whom? Which logical rule admits that it's logical to say a country is guilty because we THINK / PREDICT that she's going to do something wrong?!!!! Has Iran ever attacked any countries?There's no proof on that.That's even what nuclear agency says.Only Iran's oppositions are pulling Iran's leg.What we're doing is legal.What they ask us to do (ignoring our international rights) is illegal and nonsense.Iran is a peaceful country.Why? It's the regional super-power and if she wanted, she could invade the countries in our neibourhood just as what Seddam did to our country, but as you see Iran has peaceful relationships with all of them.It could be a good example to some countries that just follow their interests.What is interesting is that the countries which accuse Iran of different things have been, and are still accused of the same things!!! This could be a modern and innovative form of philosophy and logic! Some say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! But have they told you the rest of his speech and that why he's said this at all? If you know a little literature, you know that it's a passive sentence.He's never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! And he wasn't talking about destroying Israel.He was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they both could live in peace.They've only told you this phrase not the rest of it and it's mistranslated deliberitely.Iran's always defended itself, but it's not an offensive country.While some countries which have nukes are clearly threatening Iran to nuke her! Good, isn't it? Some say he's said: Holocaust is a myth! again this is a single phrase from among a long speech and there are totally logical reasons for saying so.If 6000000 Jews were killed, that's so terrible, but those 300000 Shiite Moslems killed by Saddam aren't important at all! Over 650000 Iraqi people are killed and it's not important! When Fox News simply says: America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing all Iran's 69000000 population within two weeks, it's OK and no one says they're threatening other countries to nuke them (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News website) Millions of people killed in Afghanistan, Hiroshima & Nakazaki and vietnam war are not considered human beings at all! Now I think you'd get the point why he's IRONICALLY said it's a mith.Moreover, don't you believe in freedom of speech/mind? Obviousely, some countries are using Iran as a victim to put the blame (their own faults) on Iran.And which country is better than Iran to be a victim?They've made the whole world believe that Iran isn't a peaceful country and represent false image of Iranians by making insulting movies like "300" . I know Americans don't like these either, but what can they do?They can't control what the media says.I hope someday the media would end all this instead of playing a negative role in the world. This part is just for Americans who would still argue over unimportant things: Those of you who say why Iran says "Death to America": 1.America means the U.S govt not the people 2.The new generation don't say such things and if some of them occasionally march in the streets that's because some of the stupid guys enjoy making noise and they mainly go out there to meet their girlfreids/boyfriends! Strange.Isn't it? 3.Such mottos are not just said in Iran and as you know whatever you hear is a response to the U.S govt's terrible actions which has made life for many people hell (You wouldn't deny that attacking countries is a mistake.right?) 5.The U.S govt helped Seddam to attack Iran and I hope you know which country gave Iraq biological weapons which killed lots of Iranians 6.America hit an Iranian airplane over the Persian Gulf and killed 200 passengers for no reason 7.It's always botherng Iran by sanctions, displaying false image of Iran and Iranians, scares tourists away from Iran and is always harmful to our economy, development and credit 8.It's always despised the Iranians who travel to the U.S at their arrival (even ordinary ones, university students, sportsmen, scientists etc) To those who are upset with American hostages taken for 444 days: 1.It's related to so many years ago and don't forget that when there's a revolution, there'd be cheos and people may do things that they should not, moreover they're all alive and healthy.Aren't they? 2.The U.S has arrested Iranian diplomats in Iraq and keeps denying that they're diplomats.Now you decide who has the right to be upset with whom.It's exceeded the level of tit for tat. It's better for both countries to forget about the past conflicts and to have peaceful relations.The two govts are like 10 year old children jumping at each other verbally, but we as the people of these countries MUST NOT have any conflics.You know something?All govts are hateful.I just said the above things because it sounds unfair when some Americans talk about 444 hostage taking and I keep being silent.So sorry for that.I hope you agree on this one! Now, what do you think?I can't wait to see both nations in peace.It'd be marvelous! Thanks.
Do you think if people get to know each other all conflics would go away?(If so, take your time to read this)? I think reading this in 5-7 minutes would be better than listening to the news in a lifteime.Plz don't think I'm a very old person.Just 18.A university student studying English who just cannot sit back and hope. My question is: what percentage of what I say is acceptable to you? This article has three parts: 1.Cultural and general info 2.music and 3.political, so plz read it from the top to the bottom. Hi.I'm Iranian and I live in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I understand that they have totally wrong ideas about Iran.I just wrote this article to correct you. The first thing they accuse our government of, is that they don't let you be free.Actually, Iranians would be some of the most liberal people in the world (liberal meaning not obeying laws that they don't like).Thousands of millions of strict rules in other countries, don't even exist in Iran.Also, you should understand that what may seem so normal to you, may be a nightmare for us and vise versa.That's why you don't understand a few of Iran's laws.In Iran every single house has a sattelite. Sattelite channels had a serious influence on people, they wear very fashionable clothes.Maybe it's a kind of immitation, but still it's got an unique Iranian style.You'll see lots of beauty qeens on the streets that are just like models advertising fashionable clothes! Most part of their hair is out and they put on to much make up, also wearing scarves is a part of our culture.Iran is one of the super-consumers of cosmics (which is bad for our economy)! People do whatever they wish to and some of the things they do, don't fit our culture at all, however it's normal in Iran.You'll be surprised seeing the difference between what you imagined before and how the real Iran is! It's wonderful.Everything's so great if you don't take unemployment and air pollution into account. Many things have changed so far.I can't even compare Iran with 5 years ago, let alone comparing it with 30 years ago!!!! After all, nearly 65-70% of Iran's population is considered the new generation (The youth) and they've transformed everything. Some people think women don't have any rights in Iran! Women are overtaking Iran. They're treated very well.They're the winners in most cases: They get into the best universities cos they're so clever.They get the best jobs cos they can do jobs much better than men.They've got rights that have made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women will have the right to ask them a great amount of money which most husbands cannot afford, so they'll be imprisoned.The only thing that women are not allowed to do in Iran is getting into public football stadiums and that's just because IN IRAN, such places are usually full of cheeky guys who would cheek girls.I don't think girls would go there, even if they're allowed to do so. Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery.Have you ever asked yourself they relate to how many years ago?Just for your information, those are from Afghanistan which was once ruled by those freaks (Taliban).I find it difficult to make you understand that Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are SEPERATE COUNTRIES! and that we're Persian and some Turkish not Arab! And I find it even more difficult to make you understand that Iran is a normal country like any other countries in the world.There's nothing mysterious about it!(The media is very good at making scary titles: BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!! IRAN UNDERCOVER!!! This would be enough to scare people away! Iranians are much more educated, intelligent and open-minded than what you think!!! I'm sure you don't know that there are lots and lots of Iranian geniouses and scientists that are all under 25.You don't hear about their discoveries and inventions on TV. A small example is this 17 year old boy who's invented 72 amazing inventions.You don't know that Iranian students and sportsmen are winning gold and silver medals in different compotitions in the world all the time such as robotics, biology, maths, physics, sports, anything! Why don't the media talk about them?Did you know that the countries having the highest number of scientists in the world are in this order? 1-India 2-Korea 3-Iran A few weeks ago Iran uncovered the most effective anti-H.I.V medicine and now it's signing treaties with other countries to export it.I digged the news on the internet, but there was no single sign of that.What I found instead? "President Bush CLAIMS that bomb parts are imported from Iran into Iraq!" The media are injustice.They'd put CLAIMS on the headlines, but they would never talk about facts! Some interesting facts: Iran is the pionier in medicine and genetics and Iranian surgens have found lots of new methods for treating spinal defects and many other diseases (mainly the treatment for different types of cancer) and the the best brain and heart surgens are Iranian surgens.The head of Mars Mission in NASA is Iranian.One of the best designer of sports cars working in Germany is Iranian.Some of the best 3D animators are Iranian.Iran is one of the best countries in counter-engineering.Holds the second place in building dams.The 4th highest tower (Milad tower) in the world is in Tehran (which you can visit in the second link).The champion weight-lifter is Iranian.The woman, and a song by one of the pop singers who/which won the nobel peace prize are Iranians. And as you all know, Iranian girls are famous for being terrific.Persian rug and Persian literature, many Persian poets and scientists that are so famous.Persian culture is now westernised and only a little has survived! According to statistics Tehran is the cheapest capital city in the world for foriegners with Dollars of course not for us! (Cos our rate is different: one Dollar=about 950 Tomans!) Who do you think is building Dubi?Arabs?No my friends, Iranian architectures, engineers and traders funding them, cos they don't think building the same things in Iran would be beneficial for them, Since the media scare tourists away from Iran.There are many other things.And also, Iran is a very independant country.It has nearly all the developed industries and technologies and doesn't need other countries to survive! That's why the unfair U.N sanctions don't bother us! The list is endless. Some charactristics of Iranians would be: Proud, greedy, hard-working, intelligent, ambitious, not realistic, not so religious, not so generous, not punctual, impatient, well-dressed, formal, well-educated, warm and friendly and hospitable. Some people think, Iran's a desert! Iran's a modern country with very beautiful nature and lots of historical places to visit.Please take a look at the following links and see if Iran looks like what you think or not! (Surely it doesn't!) This is a photo of Tehran: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tehran-2-1600.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran If you like you can visit these too, hope you like them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel2.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kish-island.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Some people think music is forbidden in Iran.Did you know that Iranian pop music has won the prize in France in 2005? All Iranian songs are current pop /Trance/ DJ music.I send them to my American and Canadian chat friends and they all admit that it's the best music they've ever heard.They specially love the beat. You can just right click on the links below and choose "Save Target As" to download them.You'll love Iranian style.It's nothing like what you expect! You can read the translations in here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuU3bcYBNN27yv44GHQIAqwAAAAA?qid=20070303111508AAXhVyi (I just want you: pop&Trance 2003) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Mansour/Crazy/Delam%20Faghat%20Toro%20Mikhaad(www.Bia2Music.com).MP3 (The rain: pop&Trance 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2005%20Baroon%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma (Farangis "A female name": pop&Trance 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2001%20Farangis%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma (The window: pop&Trance: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/03_%20Panjereh.mp3 (Stop world:pop 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Reza%20Sadeghi%20-%20Vaysa%20Donya/01_%20Vaysa%20Donya.mp3 (Hold my hand:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/09_%20Dastamo%20Begir.mp3 (The wind's kiss:pop&Trance 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/01_%20Boosaye%20Baad.mp3 (Keep me in your memory:pop 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/07_%20Yaade%20Man%20Baash.mp3 (Reveal your visage:pop 2004) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohammad%20Esfahani/04_%20Talab.mp3 (It's beautiful:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/02_%20Ghashangeh.mp3 (My bride: DJ 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohsen%20Chavoshi%20-%20Im%20Sorry/01_%20Arouse%20Man.mp3 It's now 2007 and people still think we are uneducated people living in deserts, riding camels and carrying around guns!!!! See how the media are fooling people? None of the things you hear on the media about Iran are true.If you think I've been admiring Iran too much, that's because you'd do the same thing if you were looked down nearly everyday for some false reasons. I think it's better to clarify some political issues as well: Some of the Americans I chatted with, said in the U.S it's said that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuke them!! The media are good at putting comments.It's easy to show a video or an image of our president or leader on the T.V screen or on the internet and say he says this, he says that.....I really don't get the point why our politicians defame themselves by talking about things that have got nothing to do with us.For example does verbal defence of Palestinians cause them to have a better life?The thing is that they occasionally make some statements that the media would misuse it agaisnt Iran. like picking up some specific sensitive phrases from among a long speech (without reffering to the main points and reasons for that speech) and putting so many bad comments on that.No sane person would take it serious. First of all, Iranians don't hate anyone.If our government complains about some injustice going on in the world, it's not bad.Is it? We hate neither Jews nor Americans.They're both nice people.If their media are fooling them, it's not their fault.If I were in their shoes, I would hate Iran too regarding all the terrible lies they keep hearing about it nearly everyday.Although ordinary Iranians don't care about world affairs, I've got to say that for us Israel is not equal to Jews! Israel is a govt.Jews are faithful people! A few of them live here in our neighbourhood and they live just like the rest of Iranians.No difference.And two of Iran's parliment members are Jews. Who says we want to force the others to convert to Islam?Have you ever found a Muslem knocking at your door asking you to do so?That's so funny. Christians and Jews are both God believers and respectful to us.I wonder why the media like putting words in our mouth and raising hatred.In Iran, religion would be the least important thing. It means that where you come from and what your religion is, are not important to us at all.And I wonder why some Muslem countries think there's a problem between Shiites and Sunnies. It doesn't make sense in Iran. I wonder Iran is a threat to whom? Which logical rule admits that it's logical to say a country is guilty because we THINK / PREDICT that she's going to do something wrong?!!!! Has Iran ever attacked any countries?There's no proof on that.That's even what nuclear agency says.Only Iran's oppositions are pulling Iran's leg.What we're doing is legal.What they ask us to do (ignoring our international rights) is illegal and nonsense.Iran is a peaceful country.Why? It's the regional super-power and if she wanted, she could invade the countries in our neibourhood just as what Seddam did to our country, but as you see Iran has peaceful relationships with all of them.It could be a good example to some countries that just follow their interests.What is interesting is that the countries which accuse Iran of different things have been, and are still accused of the same things!!! This could be a modern and innovative form of philosophy and logic! Some say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! But have they told you the rest of his speech and that why he's said this at all? If you know a little literature, you know that it's a passive sentence.He's never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! And he wasn't talking about destroying Israel.He was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they both could live in peace.They've only told you this phrase not the rest of it and it's mistranslated deliberitely.Iran's always defended itself, but it's not an offensive country.While some countries which have nukes are clearly threatening Iran to nuke her! Good, isn't it? Some say he's said: Holocaust is a myth! again this is a single phrase from among a long speech and there are totally logical reasons for saying so.If 6000000 Jews were killed, that's so terrible, but those 300000 Shiite Moslems killed by Saddam aren't important at all! Over 650000 Iraqi people are killed and it's not important! When Fox News simply says: America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing all Iran's 69000000 population within two weeks, it's OK and no one says they're threatening other countries to nuke them (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News website) Millions of people killed in Afghanistan, Hiroshima & Nakazaki and vietnam war are not considered human beings at all! Now I think you'd get the point why he's IRONICALLY said it's a mith.Moreover, don't you believe in freedom of speech/mind? Obviousely, some countries are using Iran as a victim to put the blame (their own faults) on Iran.And which country is better than Iran to be a victim?They've made the whole world believe that Iran isn't a peaceful country and represent false image of Iranians by making insulting movies like "300" . I know Americans don't like these either, but what can they do?They can't control what the media says.I hope someday the media would end all this instead of playing a negative role in the world. This part is just for Americans who would still argue over unimportant things: Those of you who say why Iran says "Death to America": 1.America means the U.S govt not the people 2.The new generation don't say such things and if some of them occasionally march in the streets that's because some of the stupid guys enjoy making noise and they mainly go out there to meet their girlfreids/boyfriends! Strange.Isn't it? 3.Such mottos are not just said in Iran and as you know whatever you hear is a response to the U.S govt's terrible actions which has made life for many people hell (You wouldn't deny that attacking countries is a mistake.right?) 5.The U.S govt helped Seddam to attack Iran and I hope you know which country gave Iraq biological weapons which killed lots of Iranians 6.America hit an Iranian airplane over the Persian Gulf and killed 200 passengers for no reason 7.It's always botherng Iran by sanctions, displaying false image of Iran and Iranians, scares tourists away from Iran and is always harmful to our economy, development and credit 8.It's always despised the Iranians who travel to the U.S at their arrival (even ordinary ones, university students, sportsmen, scientists etc) To those who are upset with American hostages taken for 444 days: 1.It's related to so many years ago and don't forget that when there's a revolution, there'd be cheos and people may do things that they should not, moreover they're all alive and healthy.Aren't they? 2.The U.S has arrested Iranian diplomats in Iraq and keeps denying that they're diplomats.Now you decide who has the right to be upset with whom.It's exceeded the level of tit for tat. It's better for both countries to forget about the past conflicts and to have peaceful relations.The two govts are like 10 year old children jumping at each other verbally, but we as the people of these countries MUST NOT have any conflics.You know something?All govts are hateful.I just said the above things because it sounds unfair when some Americans talk about 444 hostage taking and I keep being silent.So sorry for that.I hope you agree on this one! Now, what do you think?I can't wait to see both nations in peace.It'd be marvelous! Thanks.
Isn't it good if you could hear out what an Iranian (not his govt) has to say? I think reading this in 5-7 minutes would be better than listening to the news in a lifteime.Plz don't think I'm a very old person.Just 18.A university student studying English who just cannot sit back and hope. My question is: what percentage of what I say is acceptable to you? This article has three parts: 1.Cultural and general info 2.music and 3.political, so plz read it from the top to the bottom. Hi.I'm Iranian and I live in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I understand that they have totally wrong ideas about Iran.I just wrote this article to correct you. The first thing they accuse our government of, is that they don't let you be free.Actually, Iranians would be some of the most liberal people in the world (liberal meaning not obeying laws that they don't like).Thousands of millions of strict rules in other countries, don't even exist in Iran.Also, you should understand that what may seem so normal to you, may be a nightmare for us and vise versa.That's why you don't understand a few of Iran's laws.In Iran every single house has a sattelite. Sattelite channels had a serious influence on people, they wear very fashionable clothes.Maybe it's a kind of immitation, but still it's got an unique Iranian style.You'll see lots of beauty qeens on the streets that are just like models advertising fashionable clothes! Most part of their hair is out and they put on to much make up, also wearing scarves is a part of our culture.Iran is one of the super-consumers of cosmics (which is bad for our economy)! People do whatever they wish to and some of the things they do, don't fit our culture at all, however it's normal in Iran.You'll be surprised seeing the difference between what you imagined before and how the real Iran is! It's wonderful.Everything's so great if you don't take unemployment and air pollution into account. Many things have changed so far.I can't even compare Iran with 5 years ago, let alone comparing it with 30 years ago!!!! After all, nearly 65-70% of Iran's population is considered the new generation (The youth) and they've transformed everything. Some people think women don't have any rights in Iran! Women are overtaking Iran. They're treated very well.They're the winners in most cases: They get into the best universities cos they're so clever.They get the best jobs cos they can do jobs much better than men.They've got rights that have made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women will have the right to ask them a great amount of money which most husbands cannot afford, so they'll be imprisoned.The only thing that women are not allowed to do in Iran is getting into public football stadiums and that's just because IN IRAN, such places are usually full of cheeky guys who would cheek girls.I don't think girls would go there, even if they're allowed to do so. Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery.Have you ever asked yourself they relate to how many years ago?Just for your information, those are from Afghanistan which was once ruled by those freaks (Taliban).I find it difficult to make you understand that Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are SEPERATE COUNTRIES! and that we're Persian and some Turkish not Arab! And I find it even more difficult to make you understand that Iran is a normal country like any other countries in the world.There's nothing mysterious about it!(The media is very good at making scary titles: BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!! IRAN UNDERCOVER!!! This would be enough to scare people away! Iranians are much more educated, intelligent and open-minded than what you think!!! I'm sure you don't know that there are lots and lots of Iranian geniouses and scientists that are all under 25.You don't hear about their discoveries and inventions on TV. A small example is this 17 year old boy who's invented 72 amazing inventions.You don't know that Iranian students and sportsmen are winning gold and silver medals in different compotitions in the world all the time such as robotics, biology, maths, physics, sports, anything! Why don't the media talk about them?Did you know that the countries having the highest number of scientists in the world are in this order? 1-India 2-Korea 3-Iran A few weeks ago Iran uncovered the most effective anti-H.I.V medicine and now it's signing treaties with other countries to export it.I digged the news on the internet, but there was no single sign of that.What I found instead? "President Bush CLAIMS that bomb parts are imported from Iran into Iraq!" The media are injustice.They'd put CLAIMS on the headlines, but they would never talk about facts! Some interesting facts: Iran is the pionier in medicine and genetics and Iranian surgens have found lots of new methods for treating spinal defects and many other diseases (mainly the treatment for different types of cancer) and the the best brain and heart surgens are Iranian surgens.The head of Mars Mission in NASA is Iranian.One of the best designer of sports cars working in Germany is Iranian.Some of the best 3D animators are Iranian.Iran is one of the best countries in counter-engineering.Holds the second place in building dams.The 4th highest tower (Milad tower) in the world is in Tehran (which you can visit in the second link).The champion weight-lifter is Iranian.The woman, and a song by one of the pop singers who/which won the nobel peace prize are Iranians. And as you all know, Iranian girls are famous for being terrific.Persian rug and Persian literature, many Persian poets and scientists that are so famous.Persian culture is now westernised and only a little has survived! According to statistics Tehran is the cheapest capital city in the world for foriegners with Dollars of course not for us! (Cos our rate is different: one Dollar=about 950 Tomans!) Who do you think is building Dubi?Arabs?No my friends, Iranian architectures, engineers and traders funding them, cos they don't think building the same things in Iran would be beneficial for them, Since the media scare tourists away from Iran.There are many other things.And also, Iran is a very independant country.It has nearly all the developed industries and technologies and doesn't need other countries to survive! That's why the unfair U.N sanctions don't bother us! The list is endless. Some charactristics of Iranians would be: Proud, greedy, hard-working, intelligent, ambitious, not realistic, not so religious, not so generous, not punctual, impatient, well-dressed, formal, well-educated, warm and friendly and hospitable. Some people think, Iran's a desert! Iran's a modern country with very beautiful nature and lots of historical places to visit.Please take a look at the following links and see if Iran looks like what you think or not! (Surely it doesn't!) This is a photo of Tehran: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tehran-2-1600.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran If you like you can visit these too, hope you like them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel2.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kish-island.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Some people think music is forbidden in Iran.Did you know that Iranian pop music has won the prize in France in 2005? All Iranian songs are current pop /Trance/ DJ music.I send them to my American and Canadian chat friends and they all admit that it's the best music they've ever heard.They specially love the beat. You can just right click on the links below and choose "Save Target As" to download them.You'll love Iranian style.It's nothing like what you expect! You can read the translations in here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuU3bcYBNN27yv44GHQIAqwAAAAA?qid=20070303111508AAXhVyi (I just want you: pop&Trance 2003) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Mansour/Crazy/Delam%20Faghat%20Toro%20Mikhaad(www.Bia2Music.com).MP3 (The window: pop&Trance: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/03_%20Panjereh.mp3 (Stop world:pop 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Reza%20Sadeghi%20-%20Vaysa%20Donya/01_%20Vaysa%20Donya.mp3 (Hold my hand:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/09_%20Dastamo%20Begir.mp3 (The wind's kiss:pop&Trance 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/01_%20Boosaye%20Baad.mp3 (Keep me in your memory:pop 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/07_%20Yaade%20Man%20Baash.mp3 (Reveal your visage:pop 2004) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohammad%20Esfahani/04_%20Talab.mp3 (It's beautiful:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/02_%20Ghashangeh.mp3 (My bride: DJ 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohsen%20Chavoshi%20-%20Im%20Sorry/01_%20Arouse%20Man.mp3 It's now 2007 and people still think we are uneducated people living in deserts, riding camels and carrying around guns!!!! See how the media are fooling people? None of the things you hear on the media about Iran are true.If you think I've been admiring Iran too much, that's because you'd do the same thing if you were looked down nearly everyday for some false reasons. I think it's better to clarify some political issues as well: Some of the Americans I chatted with, said in the U.S it's said that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuke them!! The media are good at putting comments.It's easy to show a video or an image of our president or leader on the T.V screen or on the internet and say he says this, he says that.....I really don't get the point why our politicians defame themselves by talking about things that have got nothing to do with us.For example does verbal defence of Palestinians cause them to have a better life?The thing is that they occasionally make some statements that the media would misuse it agaisnt Iran. like picking up some specific sensitive phrases from among a long speech (without reffering to the main points and reasons for that speech) and putting so many bad comments on that.No sane person would take it serious. First of all, Iranians don't hate anyone.If our government complains about some injustice going on in the world, it's not bad.Is it? We hate neither Jews nor Americans.They're both nice people.If their media are fooling them, it's not their fault.If I were in their shoes, I would hate Iran too regarding all the terrible lies they keep hearing about it nearly everyday.Although ordinary Iranians don't care about world affairs, I've got to say that for us Israel is not equal to Jews! Israel is a govt.Jews are faithful people! A few of them live here in our neighbourhood and they live just like the rest of Iranians.No difference.And two of Iran's parliment members are Jews. Who says we want to force the others to convert to Islam?Have you ever found a Muslem knocking at your door asking you to do so?That's so funny. Christians and Jews are both God believers and respectful to us.I wonder why the media like putting words in our mouth and raising hatred.In Iran, religion would be the least important thing. It means that where you come from and what your religion is, are not important to us at all.And I wonder why some Muslem countries think there's a problem between Shiites and Sunnies. It doesn't make sense in Iran. I wonder Iran is a threat to whom? Which logical rule admits that it's logical to say a country is guilty because we THINK / PREDICT that she's going to do something wrong?!!!! Has Iran ever attacked any countries?There's no proof on that.That's even what nuclear agency says.Only Iran's oppositions are pulling Iran's leg.What we're doing is legal.What they ask us to do (ignoring our international rights) is illegal and nonsense.Iran is a peaceful country.Why? It's the regional super-power and if she wanted, she could invade the countries in our neibourhood just as what Seddam did to our country, but as you see Iran has peaceful relationships with all of them.It could be a good example to some countries that just follow their interests.What is interesting is that the countries which accuse Iran of different things have been, and are still accused of the same things!!! This could be a modern and innovative form of philosophy and logic! Some say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! But have they told you the rest of his speech and that why he's said this at all? If you know a little literature, you know that it's a passive sentence.He's never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! And he wasn't talking about destroying Israel.He was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they both could live in peace.They've only told you this phrase not the rest of it and it's mistranslated deliberitely.Iran's always defended itself, but it's not an offensive country.While some countries which have nukes are clearly threatening Iran to nuke her! Good, isn't it? Some say he's said: Holocaust is a myth! again this is a single phrase from among a long speech and there are totally logical reasons for saying so.If 6000000 Jews were killed, that's so terrible, but those 300000 Shiite Moslems killed by Saddam aren't important at all! Over 650000 Iraqi people are killed and it's not important! When Fox News simply says: America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing all Iran's 69000000 population within two weeks, it's OK and no one says they're threatening other countries to nuke them (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News website) Millions of people killed in Afghanistan, Hiroshima & Nakazaki and vietnam war are not considered human beings at all! Now I think you'd get the point why he's IRONICALLY said it's a mith.Moreover, don't you believe in freedom of speech/mind? Obviousely, some countries are using Iran as a victim to put the blame (their own faults) on Iran.And which country is better than Iran to be a victim?They've made the whole world believe that Iran isn't a peaceful country and represent false image of Iranians by making insulting movies like "300" . I know Americans don't like these either, but what can they do?They can't control what the media says.I hope someday the media would end all this instead of playing a negative role in the world. This part is just for Americans who would still argue over unimportant things: Those of you who say why Iran says "Death to America": 1.America means the U.S govt not the people 2.The new generation don't say such things and if some of them occasionally march in the streets that's because some of the stupid guys enjoy making noise and they mainly go out there to meet their girlfreids/boyfriends! Strange.Isn't it? 3.Such mottos are not just said in Iran and as you know whatever you hear is a response to the U.S govt's terrible actions which has made life for many people hell (You wouldn't deny that attacking countries is a mistake.right?) 5.The U.S govt helped Seddam to attack Iran and I hope you know which country gave Iraq biological weapons which killed lots of Iranians 6.America hit an Iranian airplane over the Persian Gulf and killed 200 passengers for no reason 7.It's always botherng Iran by sanctions, displaying false image of Iran and Iranians, scares tourists away from Iran and is always harmful to our economy, development and credit 8.It's always despised the Iranians who travel to the U.S at their arrival (even ordinary ones, university students, sportsmen, scientists etc) To those who are upset with American hostages taken for 444 days: 1.It's related to so many years ago and don't forget that when there's a revolution, there'd be cheos and people may do things that they should not, moreover they're all alive and healthy.Aren't they? 2.The U.S has arrested Iranian diplomats in Iraq and keeps denying that they're diplomats.Now you decide who has the right to be upset with whom.It's exceeded the level of tit for tat. It's better for both countries to forget about the past conflicts and to have peaceful relations.The two govts are like 10 year old children jumping at each other verbally, but we as the people of these countries MUST NOT have any conflics.You know something?All govts are hateful.I just said the above things because it sounds unfair when some Americans talk about 444 hostage taking and I keep being silent.So sorry for that.I hope you agree on this one! Now, what do you think?I can't wait to see both nations in peace.It'd be marvelous! Thanks.
Don't you think it's cool if Iranians and Americans talk to each other rather than allow their govts talk? I think reading this in 5-7 minutes would be better than listening to the news in a lifteime.Plz don't think I'm a very old person.Just 18.A university student studying English who just cannot sit back and hope. My question is: what percentage of what I say is acceptable to you? This article has three parts: 1.Cultural and general info 2.music and 3.political, so plz read it from the top to the bottom. Hi.I'm Iranian and I live in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I understand that they have totally wrong ideas about Iran.I just wrote this article to correct you. The first thing they accuse our government of, is that they don't let you be free.Actually, Iranians would be some of the most liberal people in the world (liberal meaning not obeying laws that they don't like).Thousands of millions of strict rules in other countries, don't even exist in Iran.Also, you should understand that what may seem so normal to you, may be a nightmare for us and vise versa.That's why you don't understand a few of Iran's laws.In Iran every single house has a sattelite. Sattelite channels had a serious influence on people, they wear very fashionable clothes.Maybe it's a kind of immitation, but still it's got an unique Iranian style.You'll see lots of beauty qeens on the streets that are just like models advertising fashionable clothes! Most part of their hair is out and they put on to much make up, also wearing scarves is a part of our culture.Iran is one of the super-consumers of cosmics (which is bad for our economy)! People do whatever they wish to and some of the things they do, don't fit our culture at all, however it's normal in Iran.You'll be surprised seeing the difference between what you imagined before and how the real Iran is! It's wonderful.Everything's so great if you don't take unemployment and air pollution into account. Many things have changed so far.I can't even compare Iran with 5 years ago, let alone comparing it with 30 years ago!!!! After all, nearly 65-70% of Iran's population is considered the new generation (The youth) and they've transformed everything. Some people think women don't have any rights in Iran! Women are overtaking Iran. They're treated very well.They're the winners in most cases: They get into the best universities cos they're so clever.They get the best jobs cos they can do jobs much better than men.They've got rights that have made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women will have the right to ask them a great amount of money which most husbands cannot afford, so they'll be imprisoned.The only thing that women are not allowed to do in Iran is getting into public football stadiums and that's just because IN IRAN, such places are usually full of cheeky guys who would cheek girls.I don't think girls would go there, even if they're allowed to do so. Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery.Have you ever asked yourself they relate to how many years ago?Just for your information, those are from Afghanistan which was once ruled by those freaks (Taliban).I find it difficult to make you understand that Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are SEPERATE COUNTRIES! and that we're Persian and some Turkish not Arab! And I find it even more difficult to make you understand that Iran is a normal country like any other countries in the world.There's nothing mysterious about it!(The media is very good at making scary titles: BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!! IRAN UNDERCOVER!!! This would be enough to scare people away! Iranians are much more educated, intelligent and open-minded than what you think!!! I'm sure you don't know that there are lots and lots of Iranian geniouses and scientists that are all under 25.You don't hear about their discoveries and inventions on TV. A small example is this 17 year old boy who's invented 72 amazing inventions.You don't know that Iranian students and sportsmen are winning gold and silver medals in different compotitions in the world all the time such as robotics, biology, maths, physics, sports, anything! Why don't the media talk about them?Did you know that the countries having the highest number of scientists in the world are in this order? 1-India 2-Korea 3-Iran A few weeks ago Iran uncovered the most effective anti-H.I.V medicine and now it's signing treaties with other countries to export it.I digged the news on the internet, but there was no single sign of that.What I found instead? "President Bush CLAIMS that bomb parts are imported from Iran into Iraq!" The media are injustice.They'd put CLAIMS on the headlines, but they would never talk about facts! Some interesting facts: Iran is the pionier in medicine and genetics and Iranian surgens have found lots of new methods for treating spinal defects and many other diseases (mainly the treatment for different types of cancer) and the the best brain and heart surgens are Iranian surgens.The head of Mars Mission in NASA is Iranian.One of the best designer of sports cars working in Germany is Iranian.Some of the best 3D animators are Iranian.Iran is one of the best countries in counter-engineering.Holds the second place in building dams.The 4th highest tower (Milad tower) in the world is in Tehran (which you can visit in the second link).The champion weight-lifter is Iranian.The woman, and a song by one of the pop singers who/which won the nobel peace prize are Iranians. And as you all know, Iranian girls are famous for being terrific.Persian rug and Persian literature, many Persian poets and scientists that are so famous.Persian culture is now westernised and only a little has survived! According to statistics Tehran is the cheapest capital city in the world for foriegners with Dollars of course not for us! (Cos our rate is different: one Dollar=about 950 Tomans!) Who do you think is building Dubi?Arabs?No my friends, Iranian architectures, engineers and traders funding them, cos they don't think building the same things in Iran would be beneficial for them, Since the media scare tourists away from Iran.There are many other things.And also, Iran is a very independant country.It has nearly all the developed industries and technologies and doesn't need other countries to survive! That's why the unfair U.N sanctions don't bother us! The list is endless. Some charactristics of Iranians would be: Proud, greedy, hard-working, intelligent, ambitious, not realistic, not so religious, not so generous, not punctual, impatient, well-dressed, formal, well-educated, warm and friendly and hospitable. Some people think, Iran's a desert! Iran's a modern country with very beautiful nature and lots of historical places to visit.Please take a look at the following links and see if Iran looks like what you think or not! (Surely it doesn't!) This is a photo of Tehran: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tehran-2-1600.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran If you like you can visit these too, hope you like them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel2.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kish-island.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Some people think music is forbidden in Iran.Did you know that Iranian pop music has won the prize in France in 2005? All Iranian songs are current pop /Trance/ DJ music.I send them to my American and Canadian chat friends and they all admit that it's the best music they've ever heard.They specially love the beat. You can just right click on the links below and choose "Save Target As" to download them.You'll love Iranian style.It's nothing like what you expect! You can read the translations in here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuU3bcYBNN27yv44GHQIAqwAAAAA?qid=20070303111508AAXhVyi (I just want you: pop&Trance 2003) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Mansour/Crazy/Delam%20Faghat%20Toro%20Mikhaad(www.Bia2Music.com).MP3 (The window: pop&Trance: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/03_%20Panjereh.mp3 (Stop world:pop 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Reza%20Sadeghi%20-%20Vaysa%20Donya/01_%20Vaysa%20Donya.mp3 (Hold my hand:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/09_%20Dastamo%20Begir.mp3 (The wind's kiss:pop&Trance 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/01_%20Boosaye%20Baad.mp3 (Keep me in your memory:pop 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/07_%20Yaade%20Man%20Baash.mp3 (Reveal your visage:pop 2004) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohammad%20Esfahani/04_%20Talab.mp3 (It's beautiful:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/02_%20Ghashangeh.mp3 (My bride: DJ 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohsen%20Chavoshi%20-%20Im%20Sorry/01_%20Arouse%20Man.mp3 It's now 2007 and people still think we are uneducated people living in deserts, riding camels and carrying around guns!!!! See how the media are fooling people? None of the things you hear on the media about Iran are true.If you think I've been admiring Iran too much, that's because you'd do the same thing if you were looked down nearly everyday for some false reasons. I think it's better to clarify some political issues as well: Some of the Americans I chatted with, said in the U.S it's said that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuke them!! The media are good at putting comments.It's easy to show a video or an image of our president or leader on the T.V screen or on the internet and say he says this, he says that.....I really don't get the point why our politicians defame themselves by talking about things that have got nothing to do with us.For example does verbal defence of Palestinians cause them to have a better life?The thing is that they occasionally make some statements that the media would misuse it agaisnt Iran. like picking up some specific sensitive phrases from among a long speech (without reffering to the main points and reasons for that speech) and putting so many bad comments on that.No sane person would take it serious. First of all, Iranians don't hate anyone.If our government complains about some injustice going on in the world, it's not bad.Is it? We hate neither Jews nor Americans.They're both nice people.If their media are fooling them, it's not their fault.If I were in their shoes, I would hate Iran too regarding all the terrible lies they keep hearing about it nearly everyday.Although ordinary Iranians don't care about world affairs, I've got to say that for us Israel is not equal to Jews! Israel is a govt.Jews are faithful people! A few of them live here in our neighbourhood and they live just like the rest of Iranians.No difference.And two of Iran's parliment members are Jews. Who says we want to force the others to convert to Islam?Have you ever found a Muslem knocking at your door asking you to do so?That's so funny. Christians and Jews are both God believers and respectful to us.I wonder why the media like putting words in our mouth and raising hatred.In Iran, religion would be the least important thing. It means that where you come from and what your religion is, are not important to us at all.And I wonder why some Muslem countries think there's a problem between Shiites and Sunnies. It doesn't make sense in Iran. I wonder Iran is a threat to whom? Which logical rule admits that it's logical to say a country is guilty because we THINK / PREDICT that she's going to do something wrong?!!!! Has Iran ever attacked any countries?There's no proof on that.That's even what nuclear agency says.Only Iran's oppositions are pulling Iran's leg.What we're doing is legal.What they ask us to do (ignoring our international rights) is illegal and nonsense.Iran is a peaceful country.Why? It's the regional super-power and if she wanted, she could invade the countries in our neibourhood just as what Seddam did to our country, but as you see Iran has peaceful relationships with all of them.It could be a good example to some countries that just follow their interests.What is interesting is that the countries which accuse Iran of different things have been, and are still accused of the same things!!! This could be a modern and innovative form of philosophy and logic! Some say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! But have they told you the rest of his speech and that why he's said this at all? If you know a little literature, you know that it's a passive sentence.He's never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! And he wasn't talking about destroying Israel.He was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they both could live in peace.They've only told you this phrase not the rest of it and it's mistranslated deliberitely.Iran's always defended itself, but it's not an offensive country.While some countries which have nukes are clearly threatening Iran to nuke her! Good, isn't it? Some say he's said: Holocaust is a myth! again this is a single phrase from among a long speech and there are totally logical reasons for saying so.If 6000000 Jews were killed, that's so terrible, but those 300000 Shiite Moslems killed by Saddam aren't important at all! Over 650000 Iraqi people are killed and it's not important! When Fox News simply says: America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing all Iran's 69000000 population within two weeks, it's OK and no one says they're threatening other countries to nuke them (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News website) Millions of people killed in Afghanistan, Hiroshima & Nakazaki and vietnam war are not considered human beings at all! Now I think you'd get the point why he's IRONICALLY said it's a mith.Moreover, don't you believe in freedom of speech/mind? Obviousely, some countries are using Iran as a victim to put the blame (their own faults) on Iran.And which country is better than Iran to be a victim?They've made the whole world believe that Iran isn't a peaceful country and represent false image of Iranians by making insulting movies like "300" . I know Americans don't like these either, but what can they do?They can't control what the media says.I hope someday the media would end all this instead of playing a negative role in the world. This part is just for Americans who would still argue over unimportant things: Those of you who say why Iran says "Death to America": 1.America means the U.S govt not the people 2.The new generation don't say such things and if some of them occasionally march in the streets that's because some of the stupid guys enjoy making noise and they mainly go out there to meet their girlfreids/boyfriends! Strange.Isn't it? 3.Such mottos are not just said in Iran and as you know whatever you hear is a response to the U.S govt's terrible actions which has made life for many people hell (You wouldn't deny that attacking countries is a mistake.right?) 5.The U.S govt helped Seddam to attack Iran and I hope you know which country gave Iraq biological weapons which killed lots of Iranians 6.America hit an Iranian airplane over the Persian Gulf and killed 200 passengers for no reason 7.It's always botherng Iran by sanctions, displaying false image of Iran and Iranians, scares tourists away from Iran and is always harmful to our economy, development and credit 8.It's always despised the Iranians who travel to the U.S at their arrival (even ordinary ones, university students, sportsmen, scientists etc) To those who are upset with American hostages taken for 444 days: 1.It's related to so many years ago and don't forget that when there's a revolution, there'd be cheos and people may do things that they should not, moreover they're all alive and healthy.Aren't they? 2.The U.S has arrested Iranian diplomats in Iraq and keeps denying that they're diplomats.Now you decide who has the right to be upset with whom.It's exceeded the level of tit for tat. It's better for both countries to forget about the past conflicts and to have peaceful relations.The two govts are like 10 year old children jumping at each other verbally, but we as the people of these countries MUST NOT have any conflics.You know something?All govts are hateful.I just said the above things because it sounds unfair when some Americans talk about 444 hostage taking and I keep being silent.So sorry for that.I hope you agree on this one! Now, what do you think?I can't wait to see both nations in peace.It'd be marvelous! Thanks.
Do you think if people know each other more, things would get so much better?If so, read this and know us.? I think reading this in 5-7 minutes would be better than listening to the news in a lifteime.Plz don't think I'm a very old person.Just 18.A university student studying English who just cannot sit back and hope. My question is: what percentage of what I say is acceptable to you? This article has three parts: 1.Cultural and general info 2.music and 3.political, so plz read it from the top to the bottom. Hi.I'm Iranian and I live in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I understand that they have totally wrong ideas about Iran.I just wrote this article to correct you. The first thing they accuse our government of, is that they don't let you be free.Actually, Iranians would be some of the most liberal people in the world (liberal meaning not obeying laws that they don't like).Thousands of millions of strict rules in other countries, don't even exist in Iran.Also, you should understand that what may seem so normal to you, may be a nightmare for us and vise versa.That's why you don't understand a few of Iran's laws.In Iran every single house has a sattelite. Sattelite channels had a serious influence on people, they wear very fashionable clothes.Maybe it's a kind of immitation, but still it's got an unique Iranian style.You'll see lots of beauty qeens on the streets that are just like models advertising fashionable clothes! Most part of their hair is out and they put on to much make up, also wearing scarves is a part of our culture.Iran is one of the super-consumers of cosmics (which is bad for our economy)! People do whatever they wish to and some of the things they do, don't fit our culture at all, however it's normal in Iran.You'll be surprised seeing the difference between what you imagined before and how the real Iran is! It's wonderful.Everything's so great if you don't take unemployment and air pollution into account. Many things have changed so far.I can't even compare Iran with 5 years ago, let alone comparing it with 30 years ago!!!! After all, nearly 65-70% of Iran's population is considered the new generation (The youth) and they've transformed everything. Some people think women don't have any rights in Iran! Women are overtaking Iran. They're treated very well.They're the winners in most cases: They get into the best universities cos they're so clever.They get the best jobs cos they can do jobs much better than men.They've got rights that have made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women will have the right to ask them a great amount of money which most husbands cannot afford, so they'll be imprisoned.The only thing that women are not allowed to do in Iran is getting into public football stadiums and that's just because IN IRAN, such places are usually full of cheeky guys who would cheek girls.I don't think girls would go there, even if they're allowed to do so. Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery.Have you ever asked yourself they relate to how many years ago?Just for your information, those are from Afghanistan which was once ruled by those freaks (Taliban).I find it difficult to make you understand that Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are SEPERATE COUNTRIES! and that we're Persian and some Turkish not Arab! And I find it even more difficult to make you understand that Iran is a normal country like any other countries in the world.There's nothing mysterious about it!(The media is very good at making scary titles: BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!! IRAN UNDERCOVER!!! This would be enough to scare people away! Iranians are much more educated, intelligent and open-minded than what you think!!! I'm sure you don't know that there are lots and lots of Iranian geniouses and scientists that are all under 25.You don't hear about their discoveries and inventions on TV. A small example is this 17 year old boy who's invented 72 amazing inventions.You don't know that Iranian students and sportsmen are winning gold and silver medals in different compotitions in the world all the time such as robotics, biology, maths, physics, sports, anything! Why don't the media talk about them?Did you know that the countries having the highest number of scientists in the world are in this order? 1-India 2-Korea 3-Iran A few weeks ago Iran uncovered the most effective anti-H.I.V medicine and now it's signing treaties with other countries to export it.I digged the news on the internet, but there was no single sign of that.What I found instead? "President Bush CLAIMS that bomb parts are imported from Iran into Iraq!" The media are injustice.They'd put CLAIMS on the headlines, but they would never talk about facts! Some interesting facts: Iran is the pionier in medicine and genetics and Iranian surgens have found lots of new methods for treating spinal defects and many other diseases (mainly the treatment for different types of cancer) and the the best brain and heart surgens are Iranian surgens.The head of Mars Mission in NASA is Iranian.One of the best designer of sports cars working in Germany is Iranian.Some of the best 3D animators are Iranian.Iran is one of the best countries in counter-engineering.Holds the second place in building dams.The 4th highest tower (Milad tower) in the world is in Tehran (which you can visit in the second link).The champion weight-lifter is Iranian.The woman, and a song by one of the pop singers who/which won the nobel peace prize are Iranians. And as you all know, Iranian girls are famous for being terrific.Persian rug and Persian literature, many Persian poets and scientists that are so famous.Persian culture is now westernised and only a little has survived! According to statistics Tehran is the cheapest capital city in the world for foriegners with Dollars of course not for us! (Cos our rate is different: one Dollar=about 950 Tomans!) Who do you think is building Dubi?Arabs?No my friends, Iranian architectures, engineers and traders funding them, cos they don't think building the same things in Iran would be beneficial for them, Since the media scare tourists away from Iran.There are many other things.And also, Iran is a very independant country.It has nearly all the developed industries and technologies and doesn't need other countries to survive! That's why the unfair U.N sanctions don't bother us! The list is endless. Some charactristics of Iranians would be: Proud, greedy, hard-working, intelligent, ambitious, not realistic, not so religious, not so generous, not punctual, impatient, well-dressed, formal, well-educated, warm and friendly and hospitable. Some people think, Iran's a desert! Iran's a modern country with very beautiful nature and lots of historical places to visit.Please take a look at the following links and see if Iran looks like what you think or not! (Surely it doesn't!) This is a photo of Tehran: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tehran-2-1600.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran If you like you can visit these too, hope you like them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel2.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kish-island.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Some people think music is forbidden in Iran.Did you know that Iranian pop music has won the prize in France in 2005? All Iranian songs are current pop /Trance/ DJ music.I send them to my American and Canadian chat friends and they all admit that it's the best music they've ever heard.They specially love the beat. You can just right click on the links below and choose "Save Target As" to download them.You'll love Iranian style.It's nothing like what you expect! You can read the translations in here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuU3bcYBNN27yv44GHQIAqwAAAAA?qid=20070303111508AAXhVyi (I just want you: pop&Trance 2003) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Mansour/Crazy/Delam%20Faghat%20Toro%20Mikhaad(www.Bia2Music.com).MP3 (The rain: pop&Trance 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2005%20Baroon%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma (Farangis "A female name": pop&Trance 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2001%20Farangis%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma (The window: pop&Trance: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/03_%20Panjereh.mp3 (Stop world:pop 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Reza%20Sadeghi%20-%20Vaysa%20Donya/01_%20Vaysa%20Donya.mp3 (Hold my hand:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/09_%20Dastamo%20Begir.mp3 (The wind's kiss:pop&Trance 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/01_%20Boosaye%20Baad.mp3 (Keep me in your memory:pop 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/07_%20Yaade%20Man%20Baash.mp3 (Reveal your visage:pop 2004) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohammad%20Esfahani/04_%20Talab.mp3 (It's beautiful:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/02_%20Ghashangeh.mp3 (My bride: DJ 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohsen%20Chavoshi%20-%20Im%20Sorry/01_%20Arouse%20Man.mp3 It's now 2007 and people still think we are uneducated people living in deserts, riding camels and carrying around guns!!!! See how the media are fooling people? None of the things you hear on the media about Iran are true.If you think I've been admiring Iran too much, that's because you'd do the same thing if you were looked down nearly everyday for some false reasons. I think it's better to clarify some political issues as well: Some of the Americans I chatted with, said in the U.S it's said that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuke them!! The media are good at putting comments.It's easy to show a video or an image of our president or leader on the T.V screen or on the internet and say he says this, he says that.....I really don't get the point why our politicians defame themselves by talking about things that have got nothing to do with us.For example does verbal defence of Palestinians cause them to have a better life?The thing is that they occasionally make some statements that the media would misuse it agaisnt Iran. like picking up some specific sensitive phrases from among a long speech (without reffering to the main points and reasons for that speech) and putting so many bad comments on that.No sane person would take it serious. First of all, Iranians don't hate anyone.If our government complains about some injustice going on in the world, it's not bad.Is it? We hate neither Jews nor Americans.They're both nice people.If their media are fooling them, it's not their fault.If I were in their shoes, I would hate Iran too regarding all the terrible lies they keep hearing about it nearly everyday.Although ordinary Iranians don't care about world affairs, I've got to say that for us Israel is not equal to Jews! Israel is a govt.Jews are faithful people! A few of them live here in our neighbourhood and they live just like the rest of Iranians.No difference.And two of Iran's parliment members are Jews. Who says we want to force the others to convert to Islam?Have you ever found a Muslem knocking at your door asking you to do so?That's so funny. Christians and Jews are both God believers and respectful to us.I wonder why the media like putting words in our mouth and raising hatred.In Iran, religion would be the least important thing. It means that where you come from and what your religion is, are not important to us at all.And I wonder why some Muslem countries think there's a problem between Shiites and Sunnies. It doesn't make sense in Iran. I wonder Iran is a threat to whom? Which logical rule admits that it's logical to say a country is guilty because we THINK / PREDICT that she's going to do something wrong?!!!! Has Iran ever attacked any countries?There's no proof on that.That's even what nuclear agency says.Only Iran's oppositions are pulling Iran's leg.What we're doing is legal.What they ask us to do (ignoring our international rights) is illegal and nonsense.Iran is a peaceful country.Why? It's the regional super-power and if she wanted, she could invade the countries in our neibourhood just as what Seddam did to our country, but as you see Iran has peaceful relationships with all of them.It could be a good example to some countries that just follow their interests.What is interesting is that the countries which accuse Iran of different things have been, and are still accused of the same things!!! This could be a modern and innovative form of philosophy and logic! Some say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! But have they told you the rest of his speech and that why he's said this at all? If you know a little literature, you know that it's a passive sentence.He's never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! And he wasn't talking about destroying Israel.He was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they both could live in peace.They've only told you this phrase not the rest of it and it's mistranslated deliberitely.Iran's always defended itself, but it's not an offensive country.While some countries which have nukes are clearly threatening Iran to nuke her! Good, isn't it? Some say he's said: Holocaust is a myth! again this is a single phrase from among a long speech and there are totally logical reasons for saying so.If 6000000 Jews were killed, that's so terrible, but those 300000 Shiite Moslems killed by Saddam aren't important at all! Over 650000 Iraqi people are killed and it's not important! When Fox News simply says: America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing all Iran's 69000000 population within two weeks, it's OK and no one says they're threatening other countries to nuke them (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News website) Millions of people killed in Afghanistan, Hiroshima & Nakazaki and vietnam war are not considered human beings at all! Now I think you'd get the point why he's IRONICALLY said it's a mith.Moreover, don't you believe in freedom of speech/mind? Obviousely, some countries are using Iran as a victim to put the blame (their own faults) on Iran.And which country is better than Iran to be a victim?They've made the whole world believe that Iran isn't a peaceful country and represent false image of Iranians by making insulting movies like "300" . I know Americans don't like these either, but what can they do?They can't control what the media says.I hope someday the media would end all this instead of playing a negative role in the world. This part is just for Americans who would still argue over unimportant things: Those of you who say why Iran says "Death to America": 1.America means the U.S govt not the people 2.The new generation don't say such things and if some of them occasionally march in the streets that's because some of the stupid guys enjoy making noise and they mainly go out there to meet their girlfreids/boyfriends! Strange.Isn't it? 3.Such mottos are not just said in Iran and as you know whatever you hear is a response to the U.S govt's terrible actions which has made life for many people hell (You wouldn't deny that attacking countries is a mistake.right?) 5.The U.S govt helped Seddam to attack Iran and I hope you know which country gave Iraq biological weapons which killed lots of Iranians 6.America hit an Iranian airplane over the Persian Gulf and killed 200 passengers for no reason 7.It's always botherng Iran by sanctions, displaying false image of Iran and Iranians, scares tourists away from Iran and is always harmful to our economy, development and credit 8.It's always despised the Iranians who travel to the U.S at their arrival (even ordinary ones, university students, sportsmen, scientists etc) To those who are upset with American hostages taken for 444 days: 1.It's related to so many years ago and don't forget that when there's a revolution, there'd be cheos and people may do things that they should not, moreover they're all alive and healthy.Aren't they? 2.The U.S has arrested Iranian diplomats in Iraq and keeps denying that they're diplomats.Now you decide who has the right to be upset with whom.It's exceeded the level of tit for tat. It's better for both countries to forget about the past conflicts and to have peaceful relations.The two govts are like 10 year old children jumping at each other verbally, but we as the people of these countries MUST NOT have any conflics.You know something?All govts are hateful.I just said the above things because it sounds unfair when some Americans talk about 444 hostage taking and I keep being silent.So sorry for that.I hope you agree on this one! Now, what do you think?I can't wait to see both nations in peace.It'd be marvelous! Thanks.
Don't you think reading an informative long question is better than aswering to lots of ordinary questions? I think reading this in 5-7 minutes would be better than listening to the news in a lifteime.Plz don't think I'm a very old person.Just 18.A university student studying English who just cannot sit back and hope. My question is: what percentage of what I say is acceptable to you? This article has three parts: 1.Cultural and general info 2.music and 3.political, so plz read it from the top to the bottom. Hi.I'm Iranian and I live in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I understand that they have totally wrong ideas about Iran.I just wrote this article to correct you. The first thing they accuse our government of, is that they don't let you be free.Actually, Iranians would be some of the most liberal people in the world (liberal meaning not obeying laws that they don't like).Thousands of millions of strict rules in other countries, don't even exist in Iran.Also, you should understand that what may seem so normal to you, may be a nightmare for us and vise versa.That's why you don't understand a few of Iran's laws.In Iran every single house has a sattelite. Sattelite channels had a serious influence on people, they wear very fashionable clothes.Maybe it's a kind of immitation, but still it's got an unique Iranian style.You'll see lots of beauty qeens on the streets that are just like models advertising fashionable clothes! Most part of their hair is out and they put on to much make up, also wearing scarves is a part of our culture.Iran is one of the super-consumers of cosmics (which is bad for our economy)! People do whatever they wish to and some of the things they do, don't fit our culture at all, however it's normal in Iran.You'll be surprised seeing the difference between what you imagined before and how the real Iran is! It's wonderful.Everything's so great if you don't take unemployment and air pollution into account. Many things have changed so far.I can't even compare Iran with 5 years ago, let alone comparing it with 30 years ago!!!! After all, nearly 65-70% of Iran's population is considered the new generation (The youth) and they've transformed everything. Some people think women don't have any rights in Iran! Women are overtaking Iran. They're treated very well.They're the winners in most cases: They get into the best universities cos they're so clever.They get the best jobs cos they can do jobs much better than men.They've got rights that have made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women will have the right to ask them a great amount of money which most husbands cannot afford, so they'll be imprisoned.The only thing that women are not allowed to do in Iran is getting into public football stadiums and that's just because IN IRAN, such places are usually full of cheeky guys who would cheek girls.I don't think girls would go there, even if they're allowed to do so. Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery.Have you ever asked yourself they relate to how many years ago?Just for your information, those are from Afghanistan which was once ruled by those freaks (Taliban).I find it difficult to make you understand that Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are SEPERATE COUNTRIES! and that we're Persian and some Turkish not Arab! And I find it even more difficult to make you understand that Iran is a normal country like any other countries in the world.There's nothing mysterious about it!(The media is very good at making scary titles: BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!! IRAN UNDERCOVER!!! This would be enough to scare people away! Iranians are much more educated, intelligent and open-minded than what you think!!! I'm sure you don't know that there are lots and lots of Iranian geniouses and scientists that are all under 25.You don't hear about their discoveries and inventions on TV. A small example is this 17 year old boy who's invented 72 amazing inventions.You don't know that Iranian students and sportsmen are winning gold and silver medals in different compotitions in the world all the time such as robotics, biology, maths, physics, sports, anything! Why don't the media talk about them?Did you know that the countries having the highest number of scientists in the world are in this order? 1-India 2-Korea 3-Iran A few weeks ago Iran uncovered the most effective anti-H.I.V medicine and now it's signing treaties with other countries to export it.I digged the news on the internet, but there was no single sign of that.What I found instead? "President Bush CLAIMS that bomb parts are imported from Iran into Iraq!" The media are injustice.They'd put CLAIMS on the headlines, but they would never talk about facts! Some interesting facts: Iran is the pionier in medicine and genetics and Iranian surgens have found lots of new methods for treating spinal defects and many other diseases (mainly the treatment for different types of cancer) and the the best brain and heart surgens are Iranian surgens.The head of Mars Mission in NASA is Iranian.One of the best designer of sports cars working in Germany is Iranian.Some of the best 3D animators are Iranian.Iran is one of the best countries in counter-engineering.Holds the second place in building dams.The 4th highest tower (Milad tower) in the world is in Tehran (which you can visit in the second link).The champion weight-lifter is Iranian.The woman, and a song by one of the pop singers who/which won the nobel peace prize are Iranians. And as you all know, Iranian girls are famous for being terrific.Persian rug and Persian literature, many Persian poets and scientists that are so famous.Persian culture is now westernised and only a little has survived! According to statistics Tehran is the cheapest capital city in the world for foriegners with Dollars of course not for us! (Cos our rate is different: one Dollar=about 950 Tomans!) Who do you think is building Dubi?Arabs?No my friends, Iranian architectures, engineers and traders funding them, cos they don't think building the same things in Iran would be beneficial for them, Since the media scare tourists away from Iran.There are many other things.And also, Iran is a very independant country.It has nearly all the developed industries and technologies and doesn't need other countries to survive! That's why the unfair U.N sanctions don't bother us! The list is endless. Some charactristics of Iranians would be: Proud, greedy, hard-working, intelligent, ambitious, not realistic, not so religious, not so generous, not punctual, impatient, well-dressed, formal, well-educated, warm and friendly and hospitable. Some people think, Iran's a desert! Iran's a modern country with very beautiful nature and lots of historical places to visit.Please take a look at the following links and see if Iran looks like what you think or not! (Surely it doesn't!) This is a photo of Tehran: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tehran-2-1600.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran If you like you can visit these too, hope you like them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel2.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kish-island.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Some people think music is forbidden in Iran.Did you know that Iranian pop music has won the prize in France in 2005? All Iranian songs are current pop /Trance/ DJ music.I send them to my American and Canadian chat friends and they all admit that it's the best music they've ever heard.They specially love the beat. You can just right click on the links below and choose "Save Target As" to download them.You'll love Iranian style.It's nothing like what you expect! You can read the translations in here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuU3bcYBNN27yv44GHQIAqwAAAAA?qid=20070303111508AAXhVyi (I just want you: pop&Trance 2003) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Mansour/Crazy/Delam%20Faghat%20Toro%20Mikhaad(www.Bia2Music.com).MP3 (The rain: pop&Trance 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2005%20Baroon%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma (Farangis "A female name": pop&Trance 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2001%20Farangis%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma (The window: pop&Trance: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/03_%20Panjereh.mp3 (Stop world:pop 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Reza%20Sadeghi%20-%20Vaysa%20Donya/01_%20Vaysa%20Donya.mp3 (Hold my hand:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/09_%20Dastamo%20Begir.mp3 (The wind's kiss:pop&Trance 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/01_%20Boosaye%20Baad.mp3 (Keep me in your memory:pop 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/07_%20Yaade%20Man%20Baash.mp3 (Reveal your visage:pop 2004) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohammad%20Esfahani/04_%20Talab.mp3 (It's beautiful:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/02_%20Ghashangeh.mp3 (My bride: DJ 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohsen%20Chavoshi%20-%20Im%20Sorry/01_%20Arouse%20Man.mp3 It's now 2007 and people still think we are uneducated people living in deserts, riding camels and carrying around guns!!!! See how the media are fooling people? None of the things you hear on the media about Iran are true.If you think I've been admiring Iran too much, that's because you'd do the same thing if you were looked down nearly everyday for some false reasons. I think it's better to clarify some political issues as well: Some of the Americans I chatted with, said in the U.S it's said that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuke them!! The media are good at putting comments.It's easy to show a video or an image of our president or leader on the T.V screen or on the internet and say he says this, he says that.....I really don't get the point why our politicians defame themselves by talking about things that have got nothing to do with us.For example does verbal defence of Palestinians cause them to have a better life?The thing is that they occasionally make some statements that the media would misuse it agaisnt Iran. like picking up some specific sensitive phrases from among a long speech (without reffering to the main points and reasons for that speech) and putting so many bad comments on that.No sane person would take it serious. First of all, Iranians don't hate anyone.If our government complains about some injustice going on in the world, it's not bad.Is it? We hate neither Jews nor Americans.They're both nice people.If their media are fooling them, it's not their fault.If I were in their shoes, I would hate Iran too regarding all the terrible lies they keep hearing about it nearly everyday.Although ordinary Iranians don't care about world affairs, I've got to say that for us Israel is not equal to Jews! Israel is a govt.Jews are faithful people! A few of them live here in our neighbourhood and they live just like the rest of Iranians.No difference.And two of Iran's parliment members are Jews. Who says we want to force the others to convert to Islam?Have you ever found a Muslem knocking at your door asking you to do so?That's so funny. Christians and Jews are both God believers and respectful to us.I wonder why the media like putting words in our mouth and raising hatred.In Iran, religion would be the least important thing. It means that where you come from and what your religion is, are not important to us at all.And I wonder why some Muslem countries think there's a problem between Shiites and Sunnies. It doesn't make sense in Iran. I wonder Iran is a threat to whom? Which logical rule admits that it's logical to say a country is guilty because we THINK / PREDICT that she's going to do something wrong?!!!! Has Iran ever attacked any countries?There's no proof on that.That's even what nuclear agency says.Only Iran's oppositions are pulling Iran's leg.What we're doing is legal.What they ask us to do (ignoring our international rights) is illegal and nonsense.Iran is a peaceful country.Why? It's the regional super-power and if she wanted, she could invade the countries in our neibourhood just as what Seddam did to our country, but as you see Iran has peaceful relationships with all of them.It could be a good example to some countries that just follow their interests.What is interesting is that the countries which accuse Iran of different things have been, and are still accused of the same things!!! This could be a modern and innovative form of philosophy and logic! Some say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! But have they told you the rest of his speech and that why he's said this at all? If you know a little literature, you know that it's a passive sentence.He's never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! And he wasn't talking about destroying Israel.He was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they both could live in peace.They've only told you this phrase not the rest of it and it's mistranslated deliberitely.Iran's always defended itself, but it's not an offensive country.While some countries which have nukes are clearly threatening Iran to nuke her! Good, isn't it? Some say he's said: Holocaust is a myth! again this is a single phrase from among a long speech and there are totally logical reasons for saying so.If 6000000 Jews were killed, that's so terrible, but those 300000 Shiite Moslems killed by Saddam aren't important at all! Over 650000 Iraqi people are killed and it's not important! When Fox News simply says: America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing all Iran's 69000000 population within two weeks, it's OK and no one says they're threatening other countries to nuke them (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News website) Millions of people killed in Afghanistan, Hiroshima & Nakazaki and vietnam war are not considered human beings at all! Now I think you'd get the point why he's IRONICALLY said it's a mith.Moreover, don't you believe in freedom of speech/mind? Obviousely, some countries are using Iran as a victim to put the blame (their own faults) on Iran.And which country is better than Iran to be a victim?They've made the whole world believe that Iran isn't a peaceful country and represent false image of Iranians by making insulting movies like "300" . I know Americans don't like these either, but what can they do?They can't control what the media says.I hope someday the media would end all this instead of playing a negative role in the world. This part is just for Americans who would still argue over unimportant things: Those of you who say why Iran says "Death to America": 1.America means the U.S govt not the people 2.The new generation don't say such things and if some of them occasionally march in the streets that's because some of the stupid guys enjoy making noise and they mainly go out there to meet their girlfreids/boyfriends! Strange.Isn't it? 3.Such mottos are not just said in Iran and as you know whatever you hear is a response to the U.S govt's terrible actions which has made life for many people hell (You wouldn't deny that attacking countries is a mistake.right?) 5.The U.S govt helped Seddam to attack Iran and I hope you know which country gave Iraq biological weapons which killed lots of Iranians 6.America hit an Iranian airplane over the Persian Gulf and killed 200 passengers for no reason 7.It's always botherng Iran by sanctions, displaying false image of Iran and Iranians, scares tourists away from Iran and is always harmful to our economy, development and credit 8.It's always despised the Iranians who travel to the U.S at their arrival (even ordinary ones, university students, sportsmen, scientists etc) To those who are upset with American hostages taken for 444 days: 1.It's related to so many years ago and don't forget that when there's a revolution, there'd be cheos and people may do things that they should not, moreover they're all alive and healthy.Aren't they? 2.The U.S has arrested Iranian diplomats in Iraq and keeps denying that they're diplomats.Now you decide who has the right to be upset with whom.It's exceeded the level of tit for tat. It's better for both countries to forget about the past conflicts and to have peaceful relations.The two govts are like 10 year old children jumping at each other verbally, but we as the people of these countries MUST NOT have any conflics.You know something?All govts are hateful.I just said the above things because it sounds unfair when some Americans talk about 444 hostage taking and I keep being silent.So sorry for that.I hope you agree on this one! Now, what do you think?I can't wait to see both nations in peace.It'd be marvelous! Thanks.
Does this article help you to see things / the world in a different way? (Read it if you have time.It's long) I think reading this in 5-7 minutes would be better than listening to the news in a lifteime.Plz don't think I'm a very old person.Just 18.A university student studying English who just cannot sit back and hope. My question is: what percentage of what I say is acceptable to you? This article has three parts: 1.Cultural and general info 2.music and 3.political, so plz read it from the top to the bottom. Hi.I'm Iranian and I live in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I understand that they have totally wrong ideas about Iran.I just wrote this article to correct you. The first thing they accuse our government of, is that they don't let you be free.Actually, Iranians would be some of the most liberal people in the world (liberal meaning not obeying laws that they don't like).Thousands of millions of strict rules in other countries, don't even exist in Iran.Also, you should understand that what may seem so normal to you, may be a nightmare for us and vise versa.That's why you don't understand a few of Iran's laws.In Iran every single house has a sattelite. Sattelite channels had a serious influence on people, they wear very fashionable clothes.Maybe it's a kind of immitation, but still it's got an unique Iranian style.You'll see lots of beauty qeens on the streets that are just like models advertising fashionable clothes! Most part of their hair is out and they put on to much make up, also wearing scarves is a part of our culture.Iran is one of the super-consumers of cosmics (which is bad for our economy)! People do whatever they wish to and some of the things they do, don't fit our culture at all, however it's normal in Iran.You'll be surprised seeing the difference between what you imagined before and how the real Iran is! It's wonderful.Everything's so great if you don't take unemployment and air pollution into account. Many things have changed so far.I can't even compare Iran with 5 years ago, let alone comparing it with 30 years ago!!!! After all, nearly 65-70% of Iran's population is considered the new generation (The youth) and they've transformed everything. Some people think women don't have any rights in Iran! Women are overtaking Iran. They're treated very well.They're the winners in most cases: They get into the best universities cos they're so clever.They get the best jobs cos they can do jobs much better than men.They've got rights that have made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women will have the right to ask them a great amount of money which most husbands cannot afford, so they'll be imprisoned.The only thing that women are not allowed to do in Iran is getting into public football stadiums and that's just because IN IRAN, such places are usually full of cheeky guys who would cheek girls.I don't think girls would go there, even if they're allowed to do so. Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery.Have you ever asked yourself they relate to how many years ago?Just for your information, those are from Afghanistan which was once ruled by those freaks (Taliban).I find it difficult to make you understand that Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are SEPERATE COUNTRIES! and that we're Persian and some Turkish not Arab! And I find it even more difficult to make you understand that Iran is a normal country like any other countries in the world.There's nothing mysterious about it!(The media is very good at making scary titles: BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!! IRAN UNDERCOVER!!! This would be enough to scare people away! Iranians are much more educated, intelligent and open-minded than what you think!!! I'm sure you don't know that there are lots and lots of Iranian geniouses and scientists that are all under 25.You don't hear about their discoveries and inventions on TV. A small example is this 17 year old boy who's invented 72 amazing inventions.You don't know that Iranian students and sportsmen are winning gold and silver medals in different compotitions in the world all the time such as robotics, biology, maths, physics, sports, anything! Why don't the media talk about them?Did you know that the countries having the highest number of scientists in the world are in this order? 1-India 2-Korea 3-Iran A few weeks ago Iran uncovered the most effective anti-H.I.V medicine and now it's signing treaties with other countries to export it.I digged the news on the internet, but there was no single sign of that.What I found instead? "President Bush CLAIMS that bomb parts are imported from Iran into Iraq!" The media are injustice.They'd put CLAIMS on the headlines, but they would never talk about facts! Some interesting facts: Iran is the pionier in medicine and genetics and Iranian surgens have found lots of new methods for treating spinal defects and many other diseases (mainly the treatment for different types of cancer) and the the best brain and heart surgens are Iranian surgens.The head of Mars Mission in NASA is Iranian.One of the best designer of sports cars working in Germany is Iranian.Some of the best 3D animators are Iranian.Iran is one of the best countries in counter-engineering.Holds the second place in building dams.The 4th highest tower (Milad tower) in the world is in Tehran (which you can visit in the second link).The champion weight-lifter is Iranian.The woman, and a song by one of the pop singers who/which won the nobel peace prize are Iranians. And as you all know, Iranian girls are famous for being terrific.Persian rug and Persian literature, many Persian poets and scientists that are so famous.Persian culture is now westernised and only a little has survived! According to statistics Tehran is the cheapest capital city in the world for foriegners with Dollars of course not for us! (Cos our rate is different: one Dollar=about 950 Tomans!) Who do you think is building Dubi?Arabs?No my friends, Iranian architectures, engineers and traders funding them, cos they don't think building the same things in Iran would be beneficial for them, Since the media scare tourists away from Iran.There are many other things.And also, Iran is a very independant country.It has nearly all the developed industries and technologies and doesn't need other countries to survive! That's why the unfair U.N sanctions don't bother us! The list is endless. Some charactristics of Iranians would be: Proud, greedy, hard-working, intelligent, ambitious, not realistic, not so religious, not so generous, not punctual, impatient, well-dressed, formal, well-educated, warm and friendly and hospitable. Some people think, Iran's a desert! Iran's a modern country with very beautiful nature and lots of historical places to visit.Please take a look at the following links and see if Iran looks like what you think or not! (Surely it doesn't!) This is a photo of Tehran: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tehran-2-1600.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran If you like you can visit these too, hope you like them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel2.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kish-island.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Some people think music is forbidden in Iran.Did you know that Iranian pop music has won the prize in France in 2005? All Iranian songs are current pop /Trance/ DJ music.I send them to my American and Canadian chat friends and they all admit that it's the best music they've ever heard.They specially love the beat. You can just right click on the links below and choose "Save Target As" to download them.You'll love Iranian style.It's nothing like what you expect! You can read the translations in here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuU3bcYBNN27yv44GHQIAqwAAAAA?qid=20070303111508AAXhVyi (I just want you: pop&Trance 2003) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Mansour/Crazy/Delam%20Faghat%20Toro%20Mikhaad(www.Bia2Music.com).MP3 (The rain: pop&Trance 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2005%20Baroon%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma (Farangis "A female name": pop&Trance 2007) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/Sunset%20to%20Sunrise/64/Siavash%20Ghomayshi%20-%20Sunset%20to%20Sunrise%20-%2001%20Farangis%20(www.Bia2Music.com).wma (The window: pop&Trance: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/03_%20Panjereh.mp3 (Stop world:pop 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Reza%20Sadeghi%20-%20Vaysa%20Donya/01_%20Vaysa%20Donya.mp3 (Hold my hand:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/09_%20Dastamo%20Begir.mp3 (The wind's kiss:pop&Trance 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/01_%20Boosaye%20Baad.mp3 (Keep me in your memory:pop 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/07_%20Yaade%20Man%20Baash.mp3 (Reveal your visage:pop 2004) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohammad%20Esfahani/04_%20Talab.mp3 (It's beautiful:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/02_%20Ghashangeh.mp3 (My bride: DJ 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohsen%20Chavoshi%20-%20Im%20Sorry/01_%20Arouse%20Man.mp3 It's now 2007 and people still think we are uneducated people living in deserts, riding camels and carrying around guns!!!! See how the media are fooling people? None of the things you hear on the media about Iran are true.If you think I've been admiring Iran too much, that's because you'd do the same thing if you were looked down nearly everyday for some false reasons. I think it's better to clarify some political issues as well: Some of the Americans I chatted with, said in the U.S it's said that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuke them!! The media are good at putting comments.It's easy to show a video or an image of our president or leader on the T.V screen or on the internet and say he says this, he says that.....I really don't get the point why our politicians defame themselves by talking about things that have got nothing to do with us.For example does verbal defence of Palestinians cause them to have a better life?The thing is that they occasionally make some statements that the media would misuse it agaisnt Iran. like picking up some specific sensitive phrases from among a long speech (without reffering to the main points and reasons for that speech) and putting so many bad comments on that.No sane person would take it serious. First of all, Iranians don't hate anyone.If our government complains about some injustice going on in the world, it's not bad.Is it? We hate neither Jews nor Americans.They're both nice people.If their media are fooling them, it's not their fault.If I were in their shoes, I would hate Iran too regarding all the terrible lies they keep hearing about it nearly everyday.Although ordinary Iranians don't care about world affairs, I've got to say that for us Israel is not equal to Jews! Israel is a govt.Jews are faithful people! A few of them live here in our neighbourhood and they live just like the rest of Iranians.No difference.And two of Iran's parliment members are Jews. Who says we want to force the others to convert to Islam?Have you ever found a Muslem knocking at your door asking you to do so?That's so funny. Christians and Jews are both God believers and respectful to us.I wonder why the media like putting words in our mouth and raising hatred.In Iran, religion would be the least important thing. It means that where you come from and what your religion is, are not important to us at all.And I wonder why some Muslem countries think there's a problem between Shiites and Sunnies. It doesn't make sense in Iran. I wonder Iran is a threat to whom? Which logical rule admits that it's logical to say a country is guilty because we THINK / PREDICT that she's going to do something wrong?!!!! Has Iran ever attacked any countries?There's no proof on that.That's even what nuclear agency says.Only Iran's oppositions are pulling Iran's leg.What we're doing is legal.What they ask us to do (ignoring our international rights) is illegal and nonsense.Iran is a peaceful country.Why? It's the regional super-power and if she wanted, she could invade the countries in our neibourhood just as what Seddam did to our country, but as you see Iran has peaceful relationships with all of them.It could be a good example to some countries that just follow their interests.What is interesting is that the countries which accuse Iran of different things have been, and are still accused of the same things!!! This could be a modern and innovative form of philosophy and logic! Some say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! But have they told you the rest of his speech and that why he's said this at all? If you know a little literature, you know that it's a passive sentence.He's never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! And he wasn't talking about destroying Israel.He was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they both could live in peace.They've only told you this phrase not the rest of it and it's mistranslated deliberitely.Iran's always defended itself, but it's not an offensive country.While some countries which have nukes are clearly threatening Iran to nuke her! Good, isn't it? Some say he's said: Holocaust is a myth! again this is a single phrase from among a long speech and there are totally logical reasons for saying so.If 6000000 Jews were killed, that's so terrible, but those 300000 Shiite Moslems killed by Saddam aren't important at all! Over 650000 Iraqi people are killed and it's not important! When Fox News simply says: America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing all Iran's 69000000 population within two weeks, it's OK and no one says they're threatening other countries to nuke them (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News website) Millions of people killed in Afghanistan, Hiroshima & Nakazaki and vietnam war are not considered human beings at all! Now I think you'd get the point why he's IRONICALLY said it's a mith.Moreover, don't you believe in freedom of speech/mind? Obviousely, some countries are using Iran as a victim to put the blame (their own faults) on Iran.And which country is better than Iran to be a victim?They've made the whole world believe that Iran isn't a peaceful country and represent false image of Iranians by making insulting movies like "300" . I know Americans don't like these either, but what can they do?They can't control what the media says.I hope someday the media would end all this instead of playing a negative role in the world. This part is just for Americans who would still argue over unimportant things: Those of you who say why Iran says "Death to America": 1.America means the U.S govt not the people 2.The new generation don't say such things and if some of them occasionally march in the streets that's because some of the stupid guys enjoy making noise and they mainly go out there to meet their girlfreids/boyfriends! Strange.Isn't it? 3.Such mottos are not just said in Iran and as you know whatever you hear is a response to the U.S govt's terrible actions which has made life for many people hell (You wouldn't deny that attacking countries is a mistake.right?) 5.The U.S govt helped Seddam to attack Iran and I hope you know which country gave Iraq biological weapons which killed lots of Iranians 6.America hit an Iranian airplane over the Persian Gulf and killed 200 passengers for no reason 7.It's always botherng Iran by sanctions, displaying false image of Iran and Iranians, scares tourists away from Iran and is always harmful to our economy, development and credit 8.It's always despised the Iranians who travel to the U.S at their arrival (even ordinary ones, university students, sportsmen, scientists etc) To those who are upset with American hostages taken for 444 days: 1.It's related to so many years ago and don't forget that when there's a revolution, there'd be cheos and people may do things that they should not, moreover they're all alive and healthy.Aren't they? 2.The U.S has arrested Iranian diplomats in Iraq and keeps denying that they're diplomats.Now you decide who has the right to be upset with whom.It's exceeded the level of tit for tat. It's better for both countries to forget about the past conflicts and to have peaceful relations.The two govts are like 10 year old children jumping at each other verbally, but we as the people of these countries MUST NOT have any conflics.You know something?All govts are hateful.I just said the above things because it sounds unfair when some Americans talk about 444 hostage taking and I keep being silent.So sorry for that.I hope you agree on this one! Now, what do you think?I can't wait to see both nations in peace.It'd be marvelous! Thanks.
How much do you know us and our country(Iran)? I think reading this in 5-7 minutes would be better than listening to the news in a lifteime.Plz don't think I'm a very old person.Just 18.A university student studying English who just cannot sit back and hope. My question is: what percentage of what I say is acceptable to you? This article has three parts: 1.Cultural and general info 2.music and 3.political, so plz read it from the top to the bottom. Hi.I'm Iranian and I live in Iran.When I chat with people from other countries, I understand that they have totally wrong ideas about Iran.I just wrote this article to correct you. The first thing they accuse our government of, is that they don't let you be free.Actually, Iranians would be some of the most liberal people in the world (liberal meaning not obeying laws that they don't like).Thousands of millions of strict rules in other countries, don't even exist in Iran.Also, you should understand that what may seem so normal to you, may be a nightmare for us and vise versa.That's why you don't understand a few of Iran's laws.In Iran every single house has a sattelite. Sattelite channels had a serious influence on people, they wear very fashionable clothes.Maybe it's a kind of immitation, but still it's got an unique Iranian style.You'll see lots of beauty qeens on the streets that are just like models advertising fashionable clothes! Most part of their hair is out and they put on to much make up, also wearing scarves is a part of our culture.Iran is one of the super-consumers of cosmics (which is bad for our economy)! People do whatever they wish to and some of the things they do, don't fit our culture at all, however it's normal in Iran.You'll be surprised seeing the difference between what you imagined before and how the real Iran is! It's wonderful.Everything's so great if you don't take unemployment and air pollution into account. Many things have changed so far.I can't even compare Iran with 5 years ago, let alone comparing it with 30 years ago!!!! After all, nearly 65-70% of Iran's population is considered the new generation (The youth) and they've transformed everything. Some people think women don't have any rights in Iran! Women are overtaking Iran. They're treated very well.They're the winners in most cases: They get into the best universities cos they're so clever.They get the best jobs cos they can do jobs much better than men.They've got rights that have made it difficult for men to marry them, because husbands buy them expensive things and treat them very well, otherwise women will have the right to ask them a great amount of money which most husbands cannot afford, so they'll be imprisoned.The only thing that women are not allowed to do in Iran is getting into public football stadiums and that's just because IN IRAN, such places are usually full of cheeky guys who would cheek girls.I don't think girls would go there, even if they're allowed to do so. Another funny thing: Your footage about stoning the women who have committed adultery.Have you ever asked yourself they relate to how many years ago?Just for your information, those are from Afghanistan which was once ruled by those freaks (Taliban).I find it difficult to make you understand that Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan are SEPERATE COUNTRIES! and that we're Persian and some Turkish not Arab! And I find it even more difficult to make you understand that Iran is a normal country like any other countries in the world.There's nothing mysterious about it!(The media is very good at making scary titles: BEHIND THE CLOSED DOORS!!! IRAN UNDERCOVER!!! This would be enough to scare people away! Iranians are much more educated, intelligent and open-minded than what you think!!! I'm sure you don't know that there are lots and lots of Iranian geniouses and scientists that are all under 25.You don't hear about their discoveries and inventions on TV. A small example is this 17 year old boy who's invented 72 amazing inventions.You don't know that Iranian students and sportsmen are winning gold and silver medals in different compotitions in the world all the time such as robotics, biology, maths, physics, sports, anything! Why don't the media talk about them?Did you know that the countries having the highest number of scientists in the world are in this order? 1-India 2-Korea 3-Iran A few weeks ago Iran uncovered the most effective anti-H.I.V medicine and now it's signing treaties with other countries to export it.I digged the news on the internet, but there was no single sign of that.What I found instead? "President Bush CLAIMS that bomb parts are imported from Iran into Iraq!" The media are injustice.They'd put CLAIMS on the headlines, but they would never talk about facts! Some interesting facts: Iran is the pionier in medicine and genetics and Iranian surgens have found lots of new methods for treating spinal defects and many other diseases (mainly the treatment for different types of cancer) and the the best brain and heart surgens are Iranian surgens.The head of Mars Mission in NASA is Iranian.One of the best designer of sports cars working in Germany is Iranian.Some of the best 3D animators are Iranian.Iran is one of the best countries in counter-engineering.Holds the second place in building dams.The 4th highest tower (Milad tower) in the world is in Tehran (which you can visit in the second link).The champion weight-lifter is Iranian.The woman, and a song by one of the pop singers who/which won the nobel peace prize are Iranians. And as you all know, Iranian girls are famous for being terrific.Persian rug and Persian literature, many Persian poets and scientists that are so famous.Persian culture is now westernised and only a little has survived! According to statistics Tehran is the cheapest capital city in the world for foriegners with Dollars of course not for us! (Cos our rate is different: one Dollar=about 950 Tomans!) Who do you think is building Dubi?Arabs?No my friends, Iranian architectures, engineers and traders funding them, cos they don't think building the same things in Iran would be beneficial for them, Since the media scare tourists away from Iran.There are many other things.And also, Iran is a very independant country.It has nearly all the developed industries and technologies and doesn't need other countries to survive! That's why the unfair U.N sanctions don't bother us! The list is endless. Some charactristics of Iranians would be: Proud, greedy, hard-working, intelligent, ambitious, not realistic, not so religious, not so generous, not punctual, impatient, well-dressed, formal, well-educated, warm and friendly and hospitable. Some people think, Iran's a desert! Iran's a modern country with very beautiful nature and lots of historical places to visit.Please take a look at the following links and see if Iran looks like what you think or not! (Surely it doesn't!) This is a photo of Tehran: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/79/Tehran-2-1600.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran If you like you can visit these too, hope you like them: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Hills_south_west_of_Sanandaj_near_the_village_of_Kilaneh.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Jhcfjuhfuvfjhyf.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel2.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Kish-island.gif http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dariushhotel3.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran Some people think music is forbidden in Iran.Did you know that Iranian pop music has won the prize in France in 2005? All Iranian songs are current pop /Trance/ DJ music.I send them to my American and Canadian chat friends and they all admit that it's the best music they've ever heard.They specially love the beat. You can just right click on the links below and choose "Save Target As" to download them.You'll love Iranian style.It's nothing like what you expect! You can read the translations in here: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuU3bcYBNN27yv44GHQIAqwAAAAA?qid=20070303111508AAXhVyi (I just want you: pop&Trance 2003) http://download.bia2music.com/Music/Irani/Mansour/Crazy/Delam%20Faghat%20Toro%20Mikhaad(www.Bia2Music.com).MP3 (The window: pop&Trance: 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/03_%20Panjereh.mp3 (Stop world:pop 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Reza%20Sadeghi%20-%20Vaysa%20Donya/01_%20Vaysa%20Donya.mp3 (Hold my hand:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/09_%20Dastamo%20Begir.mp3 (The wind's kiss:pop&Trance 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/01_%20Boosaye%20Baad.mp3 (Keep me in your memory:pop 2005) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Siavash%20Ghomayshi/07_%20Yaade%20Man%20Baash.mp3 (Reveal your visage:pop 2004) http://www.sarzamin.org/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohammad%20Esfahani/04_%20Talab.mp3 (It's beautiful:pop 2007) http://www.sarzaminmp3.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mansour%20-%20Beautiful/02_%20Ghashangeh.mp3 (My bride: DJ 2006) http://www.sarzaminmusic.com/Sarzaminmusic/Persian/128KB/Mohsen%20Chavoshi%20-%20Im%20Sorry/01_%20Arouse%20Man.mp3 It's now 2007 and people still think we are uneducated people living in deserts, riding camels and carrying around guns!!!! See how the media are fooling people? None of the things you hear on the media about Iran are true.If you think I've been admiring Iran too much, that's because you'd do the same thing if you were looked down nearly everyday for some false reasons. I think it's better to clarify some political issues as well: Some of the Americans I chatted with, said in the U.S it's said that president Ahmadinejad hates the U.S and Israel and wants to nuke them!! The media are good at putting comments.It's easy to show a video or an image of our president or leader on the T.V screen or on the internet and say he says this, he says that.....I really don't get the point why our politicians defame themselves by talking about things that have got nothing to do with us.For example does verbal defence of Palestinians cause them to have a better life?The thing is that they occasionally make some statements that the media would misuse it agaisnt Iran. like picking up some specific sensitive phrases from among a long speech (without reffering to the main points and reasons for that speech) and putting so many bad comments on that.No sane person would take it serious. First of all, Iranians don't hate anyone.If our government complains about some injustice going on in the world, it's not bad.Is it? We hate neither Jews nor Americans.They're both nice people.If their media are fooling them, it's not their fault.If I were in their shoes, I would hate Iran too regarding all the terrible lies they keep hearing about it nearly everyday.Although ordinary Iranians don't care about world affairs, I've got to say that for us Israel is not equal to Jews! Israel is a govt.Jews are faithful people! A few of them live here in our neighbourhood and they live just like the rest of Iranians.No difference.And two of Iran's parliment members are Jews. Who says we want to force the others to convert to Islam?Have you ever found a Muslem knocking at your door asking you to do so?That's so funny. Christians and Jews are both God believers and respectful to us.I wonder why the media like putting words in our mouth and raising hatred.In Iran, religion would be the least important thing. It means that where you come from and what your religion is, are not important to us at all.And I wonder why some Muslem countries think there's a problem between Shiites and Sunnies. It doesn't make sense in Iran. I wonder Iran is a threat to whom? Which logical rule admits that it's logical to say a country is guilty because we THINK / PREDICT that she's going to do something wrong?!!!! Has Iran ever attacked any countries?There's no proof on that.That's even what nuclear agency says.Only Iran's oppositions are pulling Iran's leg.What we're doing is legal.What they ask us to do (ignoring our international rights) is illegal and nonsense.Iran is a peaceful country.Why? It's the regional super-power and if she wanted, she could invade the countries in our neibourhood just as what Seddam did to our country, but as you see Iran has peaceful relationships with all of them.It could be a good example to some countries that just follow their interests.What is interesting is that the countries which accuse Iran of different things have been, and are still accused of the same things!!! This could be a modern and innovative form of philosophy and logic! Some say he said: Israel should be wiped off the map! But have they told you the rest of his speech and that why he's said this at all? If you know a little literature, you know that it's a passive sentence.He's never said that IRAN wants to wipe Israel off the map! And he wasn't talking about destroying Israel.He was talking about relocating Israel, so that they could live seperate from Palestinians and they both could live in peace.They've only told you this phrase not the rest of it and it's mistranslated deliberitely.Iran's always defended itself, but it's not an offensive country.While some countries which have nukes are clearly threatening Iran to nuke her! Good, isn't it? Some say he's said: Holocaust is a myth! again this is a single phrase from among a long speech and there are totally logical reasons for saying so.If 6000000 Jews were killed, that's so terrible, but those 300000 Shiite Moslems killed by Saddam aren't important at all! Over 650000 Iraqi people are killed and it's not important! When Fox News simply says: America and Israel are capable of destroying and killing all Iran's 69000000 population within two weeks, it's OK and no one says they're threatening other countries to nuke them (I saw this with my own eyes on the Fox News website) Millions of people killed in Afghanistan, Hiroshima & Nakazaki and vietnam war are not considered human beings at all! Now I think you'd get the point why he's IRONICALLY said it's a mith.Moreover, don't you believe in freedom of speech/mind? Obviousely, some countries are using Iran as a victim to put the blame (their own faults) on Iran.And which country is better than Iran to be a victim?They've made the whole world believe that Iran isn't a peaceful country and represent false image of Iranians by making insulting movies like "300" . I know Americans don't like these either, but what can they do?They can't control what the media says.I hope someday the media would end all this instead of playing a negative role in the world. This part is just for Americans who would still argue over unimportant things: Those of you who say why Iran says "Death to America": 1.America means the U.S govt not the people 2.The new generation don't say such things and if some of them occasionally march in the streets that's because some of the stupid guys enjoy making noise and they mainly go out there to meet their girlfreids/boyfriends! Strange.Isn't it? 3.Such mottos are not just said in Iran and as you know whatever you hear is a response to the U.S govt's terrible actions which has made life for many people hell (You wouldn't deny that attacking countries is a mistake.right?) 5.The U.S govt helped Seddam to attack Iran and I hope you know which country gave Iraq biological weapons which killed lots of Iranians 6.America hit an Iranian airplane over the Persian Gulf and killed 200 passengers for no reason 7.It's always botherng Iran by sanctions, displaying false image of Iran and Iranians, scares tourists away from Iran and is always harmful to our economy, development and credit 8.It's always despised the Iranians who travel to the U.S at their arrival (even ordinary ones, university students, sportsmen, scientists etc) To those who are upset with American hostages taken for 444 days: 1.It's related to so many years ago and don't forget that when there's a revolution, there'd be cheos and people may do things that they should not, moreover they're all alive and healthy.Aren't they? 2.The U.S has arrested Iranian diplomats in Iraq and keeps denying that they're diplomats.Now you decide who has the right to be upset with whom.It's exceeded the level of tit for tat. It's better for both countries to forget about the past conflicts and to have peaceful relations.The two govts are like 10 year old children jumping at each other verbally, but we as the people of these countries MUST NOT have any conflics.You know something?All govts are hateful.I just said the above things because it sounds unfair when some Americans talk about 444 hostage taking and I keep being silent.So sorry for that.I hope you agree on this one! Now, what do you think?I can't wait to see both nations in peace.It'd be marvelous! Thanks.
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