May
Gazans burn baby chicks due to blockade issues
I don’t think I’ve ever written a stranger headline than the one for this blog post. But it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a bizarre and disturbing story.
In standard Al Jazeera style, the news network ran a May 5 story on Gazans having to burn baby chicks due to power shortages. The Israeli blockade has the whole area constantly teetering on the edge of a power catastrophe. Apparently, there is not enough energy to power the incubators to keep the chicks warm.
The solution is to “incinerate them,” as Al Jazeera’s Mike Hanna tactfully reports. Why they couldn’t let the chicks just run free is unclear. Perhaps chickens running around would have added to the chaotic state of life in Gaza.
Al Jazeera’s stories are far less tame than the standard American fare. The network doesn’t mince words or pictures. It often shows the blood and gore that American news networks veer away from. This is a feature that has drawn the ire of America’s politicians, most notably former defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld and President George W. Bush.
Be forewarned: This is not a video for the faint of heart.
