TresSugar

Do Tell: Who's Your Favorite Pop Culture Witch?

TresSugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:00:00 -0700

The witches of popular culture come in all different varieties. There are the truly scary witches, like the queen in Snow White and the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz, the harmless witches, like Samantha from Bewitched and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and the mischievous witches, like Endora from Bewitched. To get in the spooky spirit just in time for Halloween, tell me which famous witch has you under a spell!

Women Around the World Persecuted For Being "Witches"

TresSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:00:00 -0700

It's hard to believe that in this day and age, countless women around the world are being accused of something that sounds pretty medieval. According to the UN, women accused of being witches are persecuted and sometimes murdered around the world. Even children thought to be witches are being targeted, too. The UN estimates that this violence is impacting the lives of millions of people.

So where is this unbelievable violence taking place? It's happening in places from South Africa, to India, Nepal, and Papua New Guinea. In Nigeria, homeless children are driven out of towns because they are suspected of witchcraft. While different cultures hold diverse beliefs about witchcraft, UN experts believe that those suspected of having "supernatural" powers are typically targeted when a society faces rapid cultural or social change. In these cases, the vulnerable get the blame for the community's misfortunes.

Violence associated with witchcraft caught the attention of the UN because it's causing an international refugee problem. In addition to being victims of violence, the accused are often forcibly displaced or trafficked. Let's hope now that the widespread witch-hunting has gained international attention, something will be done to help these people.

Petitioners Seek Pardon For Executed Witches

CitizenSugar — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:30:13 -0700

A group in London plans to petition the British government for a posthumous pardon for the hundreds of people executed for witchcraft between the 16th and 18th centuries.

The head of Angels, a large costume shop in London, is leading the effort and said she believes it's time to put the associations about witches and Halloween to rest. The group has created a website to collect signatures for their petition and had about 200 signatures this morning.

Around 400 suspected witches were executed in England and some 4,000 in Scotland, according to the group that worked with a historian to research cases they hope will motivate the government to act.

The cases include a woman who offered cures in Essex, England in the 1500s, but was accused of having "uneven results," and a woman who was jailed for begging for food and then accused of having shaky hands that suggested she was "tormenting someone."

A Scottish group took a separate petition to the Scottish parliament last month.

Source

Arrests Made After 11 Kenyans Are Burned For Being "Witches"

CitizenSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 11:00:02 -0700

Burned at the stake isn't just an ancient expression. Nineteen people have just been arrested in Kenya in connection with the burning of 11 people accused of being witches - this week.

A police spokesman said those arrested may not have been involved in the killings but possibly incited the attacks. The victims accused of witchcraft - eight women and three men, were aged between 80 and 96 - and were burned to death in the western Kisii district.

The district has a history of similar attacks in the past. People suspected of engaging in witchcraft have been killed or ostracized before. This time, the gang had a list of the victims and sought them out individually. The attackers dragged those accused from their homes and burned them individually before setting their homes on fire. The victim's families are now in hiding, afraid for their lives.

The gang apparently found a notebook at a local primary school that looked to contained the minutes of a "witches" meeting" with details of who was going to be bewitched next, using this as motivation to fuel the attacks.

Source

A Tribute to Hollywood Witches

GiggleSugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 07:00:00 -0700

Some of Hollywood's greatest and most enigmatic characters are witches. From Disney witches to sitcom witches to "Over the Rainbow" witches, this video tribute brews up some of Hollywood's most bewitching women, of both the good and bad variety. Their characters always get the best lines and the last laughs- fast forward to 2:05 on the timer to hear these women in action.

10 Scary Books to Read on Halloween

TresSugar — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:20:06 -0700

I am a sucker for scary stories. Whether the story's about a ghost, a witch, or a madman, I am all over it. Check out these 10 scary books to read on Halloween and cuddle up next to someone you can grab onto. You may get scared just from the descriptions. Happy Halloween!

View Slideshow ›

The 80's Continues to Embarrass Itself

GiggleSugar — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 09:31:00 -0800

If the line "I'm so embarrassed. Look how funky he is!" doesn't explain why we shouldn't return to the 80's in any way, I'll give up making the argument. (Well, here's another reason.)

Mad TV Asks: Is Steve Jobs an iWitch?

GiggleSugar — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 03:00:00 -0800

Does the iPhone, among its numerous features, also promise eternal life? Let's find out what Mad TV has to say...

Pale and Persecuted: Albinos Hunted, Terrorized in Tanzania

CitizenSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 03:00:27 -0700

Living in sub-Saharan Africa isn't an easy existence for anyone - but for albino people living in one of Earth’s hottest areas has intense challenges. Their total lack of pigmentation, which affects 1 in 3,000, is excruciating under the glaring African sun - they are predisposed to severe skin burns and often die of skin cancer before the age of 30.

Though lately, the weather is the least of their problems. Tanzanian officials claim that witch doctors are promoting the sale of albino skin, bones and hair as ingredients in spells to create prosperity. In the past year, 19 albinos including children have been killed or mutilated. Police are creating lists of albinos throughout their nation in an effort to better protect them including escorts for albino children to get to and from school. I absorb a lot of news, but this story is almost unimaginably horrific. To see how, read more.

One of the families devastated by this phenomenon was eating when four men entered their home and cut off the legs of their albino daughter and simply left with her amputated stumps. She later died.

The Commissioner said of the witch doctor’s influence into the persecution of the albino people:

These witch doctors have many strange beliefs. There was a rumor not so long ago that if you use a bald head when fishing, you’ll get rich. There was another one that said if you spread blood on the ground in a mine, you’ll find gold. These rumors come and go. The problem is, the people who follow witch doctors don’t question them.

Police say the rural areas are the most susceptible to rumors and superstitions, as they tend to be uneducated. This wave of albino killings surprised the police who have no idea why it seemed to begin so suddenly but suspect either a wave of imported Nigerian movies centering on the theme of witchcraft or rising food prices - necessitating the spells for wealth - could be the cause.

Tanzanian Albino Society, a nonprofit advocacy group that operates on less than $15,000 a year, has become increasingly vital to this population in crisis.

Source

Eeeek!

GiggleSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Lynch Cove? "Have chainsaw, will work"? Sunset Ridge? This is the most ominous set of signs I've seen in a while. It's like The Blair Witch Project, only for reals! Thanks for the send, Wiild Chiild. I'm glad to hear your mother survived taking the picture!