FREEDOM OF SPEECH / FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION


FREEDOM OF SPEECH / FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak without censorship and/or limitation. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes used to indicate not only freedom of verbal speech but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used [United Nations, 1966, 1976]. The right to freedom of speech is recognized as a human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The ICCPR recognizes the right to freedom of speech as "the right to hold opinions without interference. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression". Furthermore freedom of speech is recognized in European, inter-American and African regional human rights law [United Nations, 1966, 1967]. Freedom of speech, or the freedom of expression, is recognized in international and regional human rights law. The right is enshrined in Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, Article 13 of the American Convention on Human Rights and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights [Andrew Puddephatt & Hodder Arnold, 2005; Kumar, Ambika, 2006].

In Islamic ethics freedom of speech was first declared in the Rashidun period by the caliph Umar in the 7th century. In the Abbasid Caliphate period, freedom of speech was also declared by al-Hashimi (a cousin of Caliph al-Ma'mun) in a letter to one of the religious opponents he was attempting to convert through reason.

According to George Makdisi and Hugh Goddard, "the idea of academic freedom" in universities was "modelled on Islamic custom" as practiced in the medieval Madrasah system from the 9th century. Islamic influence was "certainly discernible in the foundation of the first deliberately-planned university" in Europe [Boisard, Marcel A., 1980].

* Selected REFERENCES / Sources:

Amnesty International: Annual Reports: URLhttp://www.amnesty.org/ailib/aireport/index.html Andrew Puddephatt & Hodder Arnold. (2005). Freedom of Expression: The Essentials of Human Rights. United Publishers. Boisard, Marcel A. (July 1980), "On the Probable Influence of Islam on Western Public and International Law", International Journal of Middle East Studies 11 (4): 429–50. Goddard, Hugh. (2000). A History of Christian-Muslim Relations. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Kumar, Ambika. (2006). ‘Using Courts to Enforce the Free Speech Provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.’ Published by Chicago Journal of International Law. Summer 2006. URLhttp://www.allbusiness.com/corporate-governance/4082846-1.html United Nations: ‘International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.’ Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16th December 1966: Entry into force 23 March 1976, in accordance with Article 49. URLhttp://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/ccpr.htm (United Nations) Wikipedia. (2010). ‘Freedom of Speech.’ Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. URLhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_expression

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23 July 2011

World Most Expensive Yacht !


Source:
http://www.luxurylaunches.com/transport/history_supreme_is_the_worlds_most_expensive_yacht_for_48_billion.php
(21 July 2011)


A 100 feet luxury yacht called History Supreme with 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum.

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Source:
http://lifeisreallybeautiful.com/amazing-wacky-things/history-supreme-the-worlds-most-expensive-yacht/ (22 July 2011)



History Supreme – The World’s Most Expensive Yacht

If the story about this yacht built for a mystery Malaysian businessman for a stunning £3 billion ($4.8 billion) is true, it will truly be the epitome of Malaysia Boleh!! Tongues have been wagging as to the identity of this mysterious Malaysian. Is he Robert Kuok, the richest man in Malaysia? Or Ananda Krishnan, the second richest Malaysian? However it is highly unlikely to be either of them as they are both shrewd businessmen who won’t splash such a substantial portion of their wealth on a single toy.

Hmmm…that would mean this mystery man could be a politician. Who can it be? I really don’t know. Try asking the Sarawakians. The yacht, named History Supreme or Baia 100 Supreme, is the creation of renowned luxury goods designer Stuart Hughes. Stuart is the creator of the famous £5million diamond-wrapped iPhone.

The cost of the 100 feet long History Supreme even eclipses that of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich’s swanky 533 feet yacht Eclipse (cost £750million) which is the world’s biggest private yacht.

History Supreme is made of 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum and took over three years to be completed. It has a deck, dining area, rails, anchor, all crafted from precious metals. The base of the vessel is wrapped with solid gold, while the main sleeping quarter sports platinum accents with walls set in meteoric stone, that boasts of a genuine Tyrannosaurus Rex bone shaved in from the raptor T – REX.

Stuart Hughes said: “I was commissioned for the “History Supreme” project by an anonymous Malaysian business man who wanted something really special.” “It was probably the most mammoth task I have undertaken so far, there was three years of planning and it was very difficult to get right.” “The project uses 100,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum and all features including the deck,” he said. “It was probably the most mammoth task ever. I’ve covered all sorts of things in gold but this has got to be my most ambitious project yet. This will never be topped.

“The businessman just approached us and asked us whether we could do it. He wanted a plane doing as well, but the thing would never take off if we did. “So he said, ‘Can you do the yacht?’ and I said, ‘We’ll give it a crack.’ Then it was pretty much a case of can you make this gold, can you make that gold? “We just did what we were told and are delighted with the result.”

The yacht was built in Italy and completed in Malaysia two weeks ago.

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Source:
http://news.malaysia.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5075228

By MSN News, 7/22/2011
Malaysian businessman buys £3billion yacht

Would you fork out £3 billion (RM14.5 billion) for a yacht? That's what one unnamed Malaysian businessman did. The Sun, a U.K. newspaper, reported that the 100-feet yacht, rather aptly named History Supreme, had 100 tons of gold incorporated into its design. And it does not stop there. The yacht is a dazzling, unrestrained display of bling - deck, dining area, rails and anchor were all fashioned from precious metals - platinum being one.

Platinum also embellishes its sleeping quarters. As an added bonus, the package also includes a statue crafted from a bone of no less than 'The King of the Dinosaurs' - the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Started in Italy and finished in Malaysia (about two weeks ago), construction of the yacht took three years. The project was overseen by Liverpool jeweller Stuart Hughes, who was given the task by a yet unidentified Malaysian businessman. "I've covered all sorts of things in gold but this has got to be my most ambitious project yet. This will never be topped," Hughes was attributed saying in The Sun report.

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