A Christmas Message - Ignore the Bombs
I am about to head into Broadmead – not hat I want to, but I stuff to do and so need to step back into the consumer maelstrom. Watching Xmas TV I noticed that the air-wave assault of consumerism did not lull – as the 25th arrived, the adverts changed from Xmas to January Sales with practiced ease, like a well oiled military operation. Indeed the Guardian had a column describing the pre-xmas shopping period as 'war'; "...shoppers force themselves forward at the furious pace of commuters...anxiously debating presents on their mobile phones as if calling in a missile strike. This is guerrilla Christmas shopping, a deadly serious exercise in brinksmanship, consumers pitted against their favourite shops...". On the day I read that piece I had the misfortune to end up in the massive Tesco Eastville, and while I waited for a friend I could not help be notice how little like a war, and how much like a process the whole thing was: Huge lines of people were processed through the isles, stripped of individuality as their purchases are scanned into stock and marketing data and then their money (aka time spent earning it in wage-slavery) was handed over for the privilege. It is no wonder that one in every eight pounds spend in the UK goes to Tesco. They process consumer units like a well oiled military machine
But to describe this was war or war-like is to demean the terror of war.
For example: At the moment Broadmead, as the so-called Bristol-Alliance development gets underway, looks a bit like a bomb-site. Thought-connections: The Weather Underground, a US radical group of the 60s and 70s, used to perform bombings in the US mainland under the slogan 'Bring the war home'. That war was Vietnam and their bombs were an attempt to make people sit-up and realise that there were civilians dying in their name. We should not need a Weatherman to tell us which way the wind is blowing; in Iraq, the bomb-sites are not metaphorical: "Until the end of August, US warplanes were conducting about 25 strikes a month. The number rose to 62 in September, then to 122 in October and 120 in November." These war planes are dropping 500 pound bombs – these are military munitions designed to attack other military forces. In Iraq they are being dropped on houses and fields against insurgents. If a 2000-pound bomb has a blast radius of about 4000 feet, it is reasonable to assume that a 500-pound one has a blast radius of about 1000 feet. If insurgents were in a safe-house, would that house, and only that house, be destroyed in the air-strike? Does your home fit into a neat 1000 feet radius? Unless you are in a Clifton mansion you will see why so many civilians are dying as Bliar and Bu$h clear Iraq of terrorists.
How much did Bliar spend on an xmas present for Bu$h? 500 pounds?
No! Wait! But they have had elections! Yes – that is democracy in action. Amidst the re-runs of the Two Ronnies and the Queens speech did anyone notice that Qusay Salah al-Din, a guy organising protests against what he saw as rigged elections was found dead. Hands tied behind his back and a bullet in his head.
And the prices fall in the January sales.
And the bombs fall in Iraq.
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Xmas Links
Well its xmas time so here's a few links to mull over with your mulled wine...
The Pantera stuff I donated for the GM Benefit auction sales went for £41!!! Cool!
The NYC police have had undercover people in protests. Nothing new there. They have also been 'influencing' events - i.e. acting as agent-provocateurs - nothing new there. What is new, is that the huge amount of digital media around means it can be proved. Check it out on gnn.tv
Class War have given an ace Xmas TV guide for the radical! See it on Libcom.org
Finally - Laff your ass off with Bash.org
Well its xmas time so here's a few links to mull over with your mulled wine...
The Pantera stuff I donated for the GM Benefit auction sales went for £41!!! Cool!
The NYC police have had undercover people in protests. Nothing new there. They have also been 'influencing' events - i.e. acting as agent-provocateurs - nothing new there. What is new, is that the huge amount of digital media around means it can be proved. Check it out on gnn.tv
Class War have given an ace Xmas TV guide for the radical! See it on Libcom.org
Finally - Laff your ass off with Bash.org
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Child Abuse by Coalition
I had reported some time ago about Seymour Hersh talking about the child-rape being perpertualted by the coalition - but this was only in a talk he gave. Now I've seen the same sickening allegations into torture in the main, not in a speech:
"A Sunday Herald investigation has discovered that coalition forces are holding more than 100 children in jails such as Abu Ghraib. Witnesses claim that the detainees – some as young as 10 – are also being subjected to rape and torture..."
But then, as Naomi Klein notes; The U.S. has used torture for decades. All that's new is the openness about it.
I had reported some time ago about Seymour Hersh talking about the child-rape being perpertualted by the coalition - but this was only in a talk he gave. Now I've seen the same sickening allegations into torture in the main, not in a speech:
"A Sunday Herald investigation has discovered that coalition forces are holding more than 100 children in jails such as Abu Ghraib. Witnesses claim that the detainees – some as young as 10 – are also being subjected to rape and torture..."
But then, as Naomi Klein notes; The U.S. has used torture for decades. All that's new is the openness about it.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
'Resistance! Occupied Iraq and its Defiance of Bush'
I have just finished reading 'Resistance! Occupied Europe and its Defiance of Hitler'. Its is a fascinating trawl through the WWII underground. Full of inspiring stories of humanity and courage in the face of dictatorship. Stories like the spontaneous movement of Danes to hide their fellow citizens who were Jewish from the Nazi sweeps which saved around 90% of the population from the final solution. It also makes you think of contemporary times – Iraq and its insurgency/resistance/terrorists – whatever. In the talk by Eric Herring I listen to he talked about the Colition counter-insurgency officers who discussed the 'borrowing' of Nazi methods. If this is the case, here is food for thought from the book: Olaug Titlestad, a member of the resistance in Norway during the war notes; "When somebody had been arrested by the Gestapo, we used to watch his family and we invariably found what we were hoping for: we recruits for the resistance." Another resistance member, Dr. Eilert Eilertsen echoed this, "I am convinced that the Gestapo’s violence and terror actually created the Norwegian resistance movement."
Could it be that the coalitions killings, torture, bombings and corruption is creating the terror? Think so? Hmmmm.
I have just finished reading 'Resistance! Occupied Europe and its Defiance of Hitler'. Its is a fascinating trawl through the WWII underground. Full of inspiring stories of humanity and courage in the face of dictatorship. Stories like the spontaneous movement of Danes to hide their fellow citizens who were Jewish from the Nazi sweeps which saved around 90% of the population from the final solution. It also makes you think of contemporary times – Iraq and its insurgency/resistance/terrorists – whatever. In the talk by Eric Herring I listen to he talked about the Colition counter-insurgency officers who discussed the 'borrowing' of Nazi methods. If this is the case, here is food for thought from the book: Olaug Titlestad, a member of the resistance in Norway during the war notes; "When somebody had been arrested by the Gestapo, we used to watch his family and we invariably found what we were hoping for: we recruits for the resistance." Another resistance member, Dr. Eilert Eilertsen echoed this, "I am convinced that the Gestapo’s violence and terror actually created the Norwegian resistance movement."
Could it be that the coalitions killings, torture, bombings and corruption is creating the terror? Think so? Hmmmm.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Pantera Plectrum Takes on GM Milk!
So I've donated a Signed Pantera Ticket with Plectrum to aid the Sainsbury's Five. I got the ticket signed and plectrum from a gig in Newport, Wales in 28th September 1992. I traveled up from Devon just to see Pantera. They were supporting Megadeth at the time. At the end of their set, Pantera's guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott threw his plectrum into the crowd and my then girlfriend caught it and gave it to me! Rock on! After the bit of the gig I went to, I went to the bar and there saw Dimebag Darrell getting a drink. I had a brief chat with him, told him the show was great (because it was) then asked him to sign my ticket, which he did. I am a little sad to part with these, but want to help the cause by donating something unique – of which I thought of this!! I guess it is doubly sad as DimeBag Darrell was shot last year by an angry fan. Still it is cool to see Pantera being given the breakcore treatment by people like Aaron Spectre.
Check out the full auction here:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=24493
So I've donated a Signed Pantera Ticket with Plectrum to aid the Sainsbury's Five. I got the ticket signed and plectrum from a gig in Newport, Wales in 28th September 1992. I traveled up from Devon just to see Pantera. They were supporting Megadeth at the time. At the end of their set, Pantera's guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott threw his plectrum into the crowd and my then girlfriend caught it and gave it to me! Rock on! After the bit of the gig I went to, I went to the bar and there saw Dimebag Darrell getting a drink. I had a brief chat with him, told him the show was great (because it was) then asked him to sign my ticket, which he did. I am a little sad to part with these, but want to help the cause by donating something unique – of which I thought of this!! I guess it is doubly sad as DimeBag Darrell was shot last year by an angry fan. Still it is cool to see Pantera being given the breakcore treatment by people like Aaron Spectre.
Check out the full auction here:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=24493
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Last Toxic
Last Saturdays Toxic was amazing - Drop the Lime was fucking amazing, so good it hurts. Parasite also did a jumping set of great mashup. Looks like I am not the only one who enjoyed it - Radio 1's Mary Anne Hobbs was also bigging-up Toxic Dancehall:
dswat.net link to mary-anne_hobbs_breezeblock.mp3
Oh yes, Breakcore- putting Bristol on the map! Plus that was also the end of an era as the event closes, I guess there is something to be said for going up on a high - and it would be difficult to top the last event:
//Farewell TD//
It is with a great sadness in our hearts that we announce that the Toxic Dancehall on Saturday 3rd December 2005 was the final event ever! Through the general geographic dispertion of the night's promoters and some slight differences in musical outlook for the night we thought it best cease.
We, as promoters will continue to promote events but of a similar ilk: Clean Cut, Language, Dissident & Prank will be starting a new night at the Blackswan in June/July 2006 and Death$ucker and Anakissed will be running events at an (as yet) undisclosed location to begin in January/February 2006. The Toxic Dancehall website will remain as an archive and will also display info on related events.
Toxic Dancehall was started as bit of a laugh by a handful of mates, we could never have dreamed of being in the position we're in now. We are still very much good friends and that is one of the reasons we decided to stop, we want to remain that way. We are deeply indebted to all rigs, artists, djs, vjs and ravers who have help make the night what it is.
- Ali, Armin & Ed.
http://www.toxicdancehall.com
Last Saturdays Toxic was amazing - Drop the Lime was fucking amazing, so good it hurts. Parasite also did a jumping set of great mashup. Looks like I am not the only one who enjoyed it - Radio 1's Mary Anne Hobbs was also bigging-up Toxic Dancehall:
dswat.net link to mary-anne_hobbs_breezeblock.mp3
Oh yes, Breakcore- putting Bristol on the map! Plus that was also the end of an era as the event closes, I guess there is something to be said for going up on a high - and it would be difficult to top the last event:
//Farewell TD//
It is with a great sadness in our hearts that we announce that the Toxic Dancehall on Saturday 3rd December 2005 was the final event ever! Through the general geographic dispertion of the night's promoters and some slight differences in musical outlook for the night we thought it best cease.
We, as promoters will continue to promote events but of a similar ilk: Clean Cut, Language, Dissident & Prank will be starting a new night at the Blackswan in June/July 2006 and Death$ucker and Anakissed will be running events at an (as yet) undisclosed location to begin in January/February 2006. The Toxic Dancehall website will remain as an archive and will also display info on related events.
Toxic Dancehall was started as bit of a laugh by a handful of mates, we could never have dreamed of being in the position we're in now. We are still very much good friends and that is one of the reasons we decided to stop, we want to remain that way. We are deeply indebted to all rigs, artists, djs, vjs and ravers who have help make the night what it is.
- Ali, Armin & Ed.
http://www.toxicdancehall.com
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
The War on Terror is Terror
I have run out of describing, identifying, or quantifying words related to how the war in Iraq is sinking our culture to new lows of violence and debasement. This conflict has no 'bottom' and we seem locked in a deadly embrace with al-Qaeda, cycling down into hell. This is not paradise lost, its paradise no-hope. Its time to call it what it is - the War on Terror is nothing more that Terrorism on a grander scale than al-Qaeda, ETA, The Real IRA or anyone else you care to mentioned could conceive of...
From GNN"The Interior Ministry is at the epicenter of Iraq’s violent malaise. It is the headquarters for the Badr and Wolf Brigades; the American-trained death squads which are responsible for the massive assassination program directed at “alleged” Sunni resistance fighters. The torture chambers, death squads, and random bombings are not caused by foreign terrorists, nor are they the work of Iranian agents striving for a theocratic regime in Baghdad. They are, in fact, the nefarious activities of American puppet-masters, who matriculated in the terror wars in Nicaragua and El Salvador. Now, under Uncle Sam’s benign gaze, they are plying their trade in Iraq; wreaking havoc and spreading suffering on an unimaginable scale."
I have run out of describing, identifying, or quantifying words related to how the war in Iraq is sinking our culture to new lows of violence and debasement. This conflict has no 'bottom' and we seem locked in a deadly embrace with al-Qaeda, cycling down into hell. This is not paradise lost, its paradise no-hope. Its time to call it what it is - the War on Terror is nothing more that Terrorism on a grander scale than al-Qaeda, ETA, The Real IRA or anyone else you care to mentioned could conceive of...
From GNN"The Interior Ministry is at the epicenter of Iraq’s violent malaise. It is the headquarters for the Badr and Wolf Brigades; the American-trained death squads which are responsible for the massive assassination program directed at “alleged” Sunni resistance fighters. The torture chambers, death squads, and random bombings are not caused by foreign terrorists, nor are they the work of Iranian agents striving for a theocratic regime in Baghdad. They are, in fact, the nefarious activities of American puppet-masters, who matriculated in the terror wars in Nicaragua and El Salvador. Now, under Uncle Sam’s benign gaze, they are plying their trade in Iraq; wreaking havoc and spreading suffering on an unimaginable scale."
Friday, December 02, 2005
BBC Spin
BBC broadcast ’fake’ news reports: A Spinwatch investigation has revealed that journalists working for the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC) have been commissioned to provide news reports to the BBC. The BBC has been using these reports as if they were genuine news. In fact, the SSVC is entirely funded by the Ministry of Defence as a propaganda operation, which according to its own website makes a ’considerable contribution’ to the ’morale’ of the armed forces.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/12/328988.html
BBC broadcast ’fake’ news reports: A Spinwatch investigation has revealed that journalists working for the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC) have been commissioned to provide news reports to the BBC. The BBC has been using these reports as if they were genuine news. In fact, the SSVC is entirely funded by the Ministry of Defence as a propaganda operation, which according to its own website makes a ’considerable contribution’ to the ’morale’ of the armed forces.
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/12/328988.html
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
New Labour, Nu Clear
We are being softened up for a new generation of nuclear power. Sad that this is coming from a Labour government, but what is even more sad is the restricted parameters of the debate. What is not up for discussion the the overconsumption of our way of life. It has been dismissed by Bliar and so we are left with the 'Now much nuclear power' debate. To quote: "Both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are utterly committed to economic growth and for that to keep happening, we have to keep on consuming new products. I have talked to two of Blair's key advisers at some length, and the fact is that the Treasury refuses to countenance any ecological legislation that threatens affluence..." Bliar also repeated this point at Davos; "My view is that if we put forward, as a solution to climate change, something which involves drastic cuts in growth or standards of living, it matters not how justified it is, it simply won't be agreed to."
You can see this 'economic-blindness' locally too; The expansion of Bristol airport seems madness when we are staring down the barrel of not only climate change, but an energy shortfall. Its bonkers to even consider it. A good article on GNN about surviving climate change offers some good ideas for solutions; Decentralize, Localize, Autonomize, "[The solutions] all involve communities learning to fend more powerfully for themselves—communities ratcheting down their dependence on the overstretched and oil-dependent lines of supply that mark a globalized economy, and ratcheting up the semiforgotten, close-to-home economies that might prove more stable in an energy-starved world. Some of this work is already underway, but it will be given a new urgency if the price of oil just keeps on leaping." New nuclear power stations and airports – far from being positive developments may well become a millstone around the local area's neck.
Time for us to act, as the politicians have clearly shown they are not up to the task of securing our future.
Now: STOP PRESS from Stop Hinkley campaign: Following Greenpeace's action this morning the BBC are asking "Should there be a new generation of nuclear reactors?" Go to
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4478946.stm
to tell them what you think. Scroll down the page to see the YES or NO vote section
3rd December: Critical Mass on Global Day of Action over climate change, 12pm College Green
5th December: Anti-Consumption Xmas Party! Monday 5th December @ Cube Cinema
Then: Lets get talking post oil, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristolpeakoilers/
We are being softened up for a new generation of nuclear power. Sad that this is coming from a Labour government, but what is even more sad is the restricted parameters of the debate. What is not up for discussion the the overconsumption of our way of life. It has been dismissed by Bliar and so we are left with the 'Now much nuclear power' debate. To quote: "Both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are utterly committed to economic growth and for that to keep happening, we have to keep on consuming new products. I have talked to two of Blair's key advisers at some length, and the fact is that the Treasury refuses to countenance any ecological legislation that threatens affluence..." Bliar also repeated this point at Davos; "My view is that if we put forward, as a solution to climate change, something which involves drastic cuts in growth or standards of living, it matters not how justified it is, it simply won't be agreed to."
You can see this 'economic-blindness' locally too; The expansion of Bristol airport seems madness when we are staring down the barrel of not only climate change, but an energy shortfall. Its bonkers to even consider it. A good article on GNN about surviving climate change offers some good ideas for solutions; Decentralize, Localize, Autonomize, "[The solutions] all involve communities learning to fend more powerfully for themselves—communities ratcheting down their dependence on the overstretched and oil-dependent lines of supply that mark a globalized economy, and ratcheting up the semiforgotten, close-to-home economies that might prove more stable in an energy-starved world. Some of this work is already underway, but it will be given a new urgency if the price of oil just keeps on leaping." New nuclear power stations and airports – far from being positive developments may well become a millstone around the local area's neck.
Time for us to act, as the politicians have clearly shown they are not up to the task of securing our future.
Now: STOP PRESS from Stop Hinkley campaign: Following Greenpeace's action this morning the BBC are asking "Should there be a new generation of nuclear reactors?" Go to
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4478946.stm
to tell them what you think. Scroll down the page to see the YES or NO vote section
3rd December: Critical Mass on Global Day of Action over climate change, 12pm College Green
5th December: Anti-Consumption Xmas Party! Monday 5th December @ Cube Cinema
Then: Lets get talking post oil, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristolpeakoilers/
New Labour, Nu Clear
We are being softened up for a new generation of nuclear power. Sad that this is coming from a Labour government, but what is even more sad is the restricted parameters of the debate. What is not up for discussion the the overconsumption of our way of life. It has been dismissed by Bliar and so we are left with the 'Now much nuclear power' debate. To quote: "Both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are utterly committed to economic growth and for that to keep happening, we have to keep on consuming new products. I have talked to two of Blair's key advisers at some length, and the fact is that the Treasury refuses to countenance any ecological legislation that threatens affluence..." Bliar also repeated this point at Davos; "My view is that if we put forward, as a solution to climate change, something which involves drastic cuts in growth or standards of living, it matters not how justified it is, it simply won't be agreed to."
You can see this 'economic-blindness' locally too; The expansion of Bristol airport seems madness when we are staring down the barrel of not only climate change, but an energy shortfall. Its bonkers to even consider it. A good article on GNN about surviving climate change offers some good ideas for solutions; Decentralize, Localize, Autonomize, "[The solutions] all involve communities learning to fend more powerfully for themselves—communities ratcheting down their dependence on the overstretched and oil-dependent lines of supply that mark a globalized economy, and ratcheting up the semiforgotten, close-to-home economies that might prove more stable in an energy-starved world. Some of this work is already underway, but it will be given a new urgency if the price of oil just keeps on leaping." New nuclear power stations and airports – far from being positive developments may well become a millstone around the local area's neck.
Time for us to act, as the politicians have clearly shown they are not up to the task of securing our future.
Now: STOP PRESS from Stop Hinkley campaign: Following Greenpeace's action this morning the BBC are asking "Should there be a new generation of nuclear reactors?" Go to
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4478946.stm
to tell them what you think. Scroll down the page to see the YES or NO vote section
3rd December: Critical Mass on Global Day of Action over climate change, 12pm College Green
5th December: Anti-Consumption Xmas Party! Monday 5th December @ Cube Cinema
Then: Lets get talking post oil, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristolpeakoilers/
We are being softened up for a new generation of nuclear power. Sad that this is coming from a Labour government, but what is even more sad is the restricted parameters of the debate. What is not up for discussion the the overconsumption of our way of life. It has been dismissed by Bliar and so we are left with the 'Now much nuclear power' debate. To quote: "Both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are utterly committed to economic growth and for that to keep happening, we have to keep on consuming new products. I have talked to two of Blair's key advisers at some length, and the fact is that the Treasury refuses to countenance any ecological legislation that threatens affluence..." Bliar also repeated this point at Davos; "My view is that if we put forward, as a solution to climate change, something which involves drastic cuts in growth or standards of living, it matters not how justified it is, it simply won't be agreed to."
You can see this 'economic-blindness' locally too; The expansion of Bristol airport seems madness when we are staring down the barrel of not only climate change, but an energy shortfall. Its bonkers to even consider it. A good article on GNN about surviving climate change offers some good ideas for solutions; Decentralize, Localize, Autonomize, "[The solutions] all involve communities learning to fend more powerfully for themselves—communities ratcheting down their dependence on the overstretched and oil-dependent lines of supply that mark a globalized economy, and ratcheting up the semiforgotten, close-to-home economies that might prove more stable in an energy-starved world. Some of this work is already underway, but it will be given a new urgency if the price of oil just keeps on leaping." New nuclear power stations and airports – far from being positive developments may well become a millstone around the local area's neck.
Time for us to act, as the politicians have clearly shown they are not up to the task of securing our future.
Now: STOP PRESS from Stop Hinkley campaign: Following Greenpeace's action this morning the BBC are asking "Should there be a new generation of nuclear reactors?" Go to
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4478946.stm
to tell them what you think. Scroll down the page to see the YES or NO vote section
3rd December: Critical Mass on Global Day of Action over climate change, 12pm College Green
5th December: Anti-Consumption Xmas Party! Monday 5th December @ Cube Cinema
Then: Lets get talking post oil, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bristolpeakoilers/
Empire Notes in the 51st State
I went to the talk at Malcolm X by Eric Herring and Rahul Mahajan, I've heard a lot about Eric Herring and so was eager to see him talk. As for Rahul, I've been reading his Blog for some time now and am a big fan of his reporting. Eric talked of finding a quote on a US military website written by one of the people writing the counter terror manuals for Iraq. In this chilling quote he wrote of who the best counter-insurgency people from history were the Nazi's and Stalin's lot – and noted that the Coalition were adopting some of their methods without being tainted by the ideology. In response to a question about if the Coalition were creating ethnic trouble to justify staying in Iraq, both were clear. Eric Herring stated that there was no clear evidence to support this idea (to quote: "In terms of the withdrawal of foreign troops its worth pointing out that the American strategic vision for the new Iraq never was the desire to have large numbers of troops permanently stationed there. What they wanted was a basing capability, a deployment capability; so they’d have bases with a relatively small number of personnel and the idea was that they would have them there in a time of crisis, not for use in Iraq but for use elsewhere in the region. So that was the outcome that they explicitly sought and again I have no reason to dispute that because that was their strategic vision before.")
Rahul Mahajan stated that not all the insurgency want the US out – that many of the al-Qaeda/fundamentalist Islamic fighters want the US right there so they can be fought. I guess perhaps they feel they game an empire a bloody nose (to the USSR in Afghanistan) in the 80s (with Western help) and so can now repeat the exercise on the US. Rahul noted that the only force currently equipped and with the local know-how to take on the al-Qaeda psychos are the Sunni resistance – something they are not going to do while the US is around. They also talked about how the efforts to combat the insurgency are unwittingly fueling civil war such as the use by the US of Shia and Kurdish forces to police Sunni areas. Another example is the first assault on Fallujah the Iraqi units refused to fight and both Sunni and Shia marched on the beleaguered city to offer aid to the civilians. The second time round, that the the increased ethnic tensions meant that the Shia did very little, indeed some troops took a limited part in the assault.
Both stated that there was no easy way out of the mess that is Iraq. Both agreed that the situation is a complex nightmare of no-win scenario's. The least worst thing that can be done is to end the occupation now.
Want to know what life under occupation is like? Check this video of Private Security Consultants (aka mercenaries) driving around Iraq taking pot-shots with live ammo at any vehicle that comes close (I guess fear of suicide bombers) as well as anything else they feel like. The occupiers, far from liberators, are untouchable parasites drawing more diseases to a swamp of their own creation. Its a swamp many people - innocent and guilty - will drown in, and all so the US can secure a little more control over the world. As folk singer David Rovis sang, "Empire's crumble, and this one will too/ So here's to the day when this one is through."
I went to the talk at Malcolm X by Eric Herring and Rahul Mahajan, I've heard a lot about Eric Herring and so was eager to see him talk. As for Rahul, I've been reading his Blog for some time now and am a big fan of his reporting. Eric talked of finding a quote on a US military website written by one of the people writing the counter terror manuals for Iraq. In this chilling quote he wrote of who the best counter-insurgency people from history were the Nazi's and Stalin's lot – and noted that the Coalition were adopting some of their methods without being tainted by the ideology. In response to a question about if the Coalition were creating ethnic trouble to justify staying in Iraq, both were clear. Eric Herring stated that there was no clear evidence to support this idea (to quote: "In terms of the withdrawal of foreign troops its worth pointing out that the American strategic vision for the new Iraq never was the desire to have large numbers of troops permanently stationed there. What they wanted was a basing capability, a deployment capability; so they’d have bases with a relatively small number of personnel and the idea was that they would have them there in a time of crisis, not for use in Iraq but for use elsewhere in the region. So that was the outcome that they explicitly sought and again I have no reason to dispute that because that was their strategic vision before.")
Rahul Mahajan stated that not all the insurgency want the US out – that many of the al-Qaeda/fundamentalist Islamic fighters want the US right there so they can be fought. I guess perhaps they feel they game an empire a bloody nose (to the USSR in Afghanistan) in the 80s (with Western help) and so can now repeat the exercise on the US. Rahul noted that the only force currently equipped and with the local know-how to take on the al-Qaeda psychos are the Sunni resistance – something they are not going to do while the US is around. They also talked about how the efforts to combat the insurgency are unwittingly fueling civil war such as the use by the US of Shia and Kurdish forces to police Sunni areas. Another example is the first assault on Fallujah the Iraqi units refused to fight and both Sunni and Shia marched on the beleaguered city to offer aid to the civilians. The second time round, that the the increased ethnic tensions meant that the Shia did very little, indeed some troops took a limited part in the assault.
Both stated that there was no easy way out of the mess that is Iraq. Both agreed that the situation is a complex nightmare of no-win scenario's. The least worst thing that can be done is to end the occupation now.
Want to know what life under occupation is like? Check this video of Private Security Consultants (aka mercenaries) driving around Iraq taking pot-shots with live ammo at any vehicle that comes close (I guess fear of suicide bombers) as well as anything else they feel like. The occupiers, far from liberators, are untouchable parasites drawing more diseases to a swamp of their own creation. Its a swamp many people - innocent and guilty - will drown in, and all so the US can secure a little more control over the world. As folk singer David Rovis sang, "Empire's crumble, and this one will too/ So here's to the day when this one is through."
Monday, November 21, 2005
Empire Notes in Bristol
Rahul Mahajan is going to talk in Bristol on Thursday 24th - The guy writes a great blog and it's a great example of indy media - Check it out! I have been writing some stuff for a new book on the G8 protests and the media as part of a collective and used Rahul's site as an example of indy journalism. Here's a quote from version 1.0:
A good example of a news blog is Empire Notes. It is written by Rahul Mahajan. His site has a clear biography where its states enough about him so that his bias is clear (remember, all media is bias, whether is obvious or not to the reader!). It is also fairly clear where his funding comes from - donations from the site, sales of his books and some teaching. This is allows us to place the news source easily in its correct context. His writing is articulate, impassioned and intelligent - the complete opposite of the shallow, sound bite media many of us are offered to consume. Rahual comments on this; "I believe one can be biased (for example, I am strongly biased in favor of the ordinary people of the world rather than of American imperial interests) but still objective (which doesn't have to mean strictly neutral or lacking in identity)….The place of my blog has varied a lot. I'm not really part of the liberal blogosphere [the more mainstream network of liberal-bias blogs], which almost never links to me any more…when I was reporting from Iraq in April 2004 and also when I wrote about Fallujah in November 2004, I got major traffic, with several days going over 10,000 visits, and lots of people did pay attention."
Rahul Mahajan is going to talk in Bristol on Thursday 24th - The guy writes a great blog and it's a great example of indy media - Check it out! I have been writing some stuff for a new book on the G8 protests and the media as part of a collective and used Rahul's site as an example of indy journalism. Here's a quote from version 1.0:
A good example of a news blog is Empire Notes. It is written by Rahul Mahajan. His site has a clear biography where its states enough about him so that his bias is clear (remember, all media is bias, whether is obvious or not to the reader!). It is also fairly clear where his funding comes from - donations from the site, sales of his books and some teaching. This is allows us to place the news source easily in its correct context. His writing is articulate, impassioned and intelligent - the complete opposite of the shallow, sound bite media many of us are offered to consume. Rahual comments on this; "I believe one can be biased (for example, I am strongly biased in favor of the ordinary people of the world rather than of American imperial interests) but still objective (which doesn't have to mean strictly neutral or lacking in identity)….The place of my blog has varied a lot. I'm not really part of the liberal blogosphere [the more mainstream network of liberal-bias blogs], which almost never links to me any more…when I was reporting from Iraq in April 2004 and also when I wrote about Fallujah in November 2004, I got major traffic, with several days going over 10,000 visits, and lots of people did pay attention."
Thursday, November 17, 2005
H-Wars: From Afghanistan to Bristol
The UK is about to take the lead role in trying to stabalise/occupy Afghanistan. We all know the stories of the Taliban/al Qaeda insurgency that seems to be gathering pace there, but not that much has been said on the subject that will impact on most people in relation to Afghanistan – drugs. Smack, Brown, Skag – whatever you call it, 60% of the Afghan economy is based on Heroin. I suspect a significant, though much lower percentage of Bristol’s economy is also based on drugs. We know that the city is the top of the 10 most violent drink-related centers in the UK, alcohol being a drug and we know that St.Pauls is the major gateway for class A drug dealing in the South West. Bliar said that we needed to bomb the shit out for self interest – stopping the H trade. Well plenty of Afgans and occupation soldiers have died. Tones of high explosives and been dropped on one of the poorest countries in the world and…has the Heroin trade stopped in Bristol? No. It seems pretty much the same to me. Same people pushing and taking. What is going to stop the drug war is calling it for what it is – a lost cause. Bristol based Tranform Drug Policy group note, "As Paul Goggins MP (and Home Office minister with the drugs brief) sets out on his 9-stop drug policy tour of the UK, Transform, the UK's leading drug policy reform think tank have drawn attention to the shocking failure of current drug policy, and how the Government doesn't want you to know about it…It demonstrates that enforcement strategies to eliminate or reduce the trade in heroin and cocaine have failed to halt their production, supply or use. In a powerful and detailed critique, the report demonstrates that the war on drugs is actively counterproductive - causing many of the harms that it is intended to reduce."
Now over the other side of the pond a new group have formed, LEAP - Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, easy to spot their members because of their buzz cuts amd extremely large lettering on their brightly colored t-shirts: "Cops Say Legalize Drugs. Ask Me Why." Here’s more on LEAP:
A LEAP panel discussion yielded shocking stories from the drug war front lines. Admissions from LEAP Director and former New Jersey state police lieutenant Jack Cole, a 26-year veteran and narc, surprised even this drug war-savvy crowd. "We lied regularly about the numbers of drugs we were seizing," Cole said, explaining that if his fellow officers were lucky enough to bust someone for one ounce of cocaine, they’d immediately look for a cutting agent to double the amount of the seizure. And if a seizure’s street value stood at $1,500, the cops would bump it up to $20,000. "Who’s to question it," Cole asked.
The war on drugs has failed and is failing us. It’s a war on freedom and an excuse by the state for social control. The war on terror seems to be going the same way. Its all very fucked up.
The UK is about to take the lead role in trying to stabalise/occupy Afghanistan. We all know the stories of the Taliban/al Qaeda insurgency that seems to be gathering pace there, but not that much has been said on the subject that will impact on most people in relation to Afghanistan – drugs. Smack, Brown, Skag – whatever you call it, 60% of the Afghan economy is based on Heroin. I suspect a significant, though much lower percentage of Bristol’s economy is also based on drugs. We know that the city is the top of the 10 most violent drink-related centers in the UK, alcohol being a drug and we know that St.Pauls is the major gateway for class A drug dealing in the South West. Bliar said that we needed to bomb the shit out for self interest – stopping the H trade. Well plenty of Afgans and occupation soldiers have died. Tones of high explosives and been dropped on one of the poorest countries in the world and…has the Heroin trade stopped in Bristol? No. It seems pretty much the same to me. Same people pushing and taking. What is going to stop the drug war is calling it for what it is – a lost cause. Bristol based Tranform Drug Policy group note, "As Paul Goggins MP (and Home Office minister with the drugs brief) sets out on his 9-stop drug policy tour of the UK, Transform, the UK's leading drug policy reform think tank have drawn attention to the shocking failure of current drug policy, and how the Government doesn't want you to know about it…It demonstrates that enforcement strategies to eliminate or reduce the trade in heroin and cocaine have failed to halt their production, supply or use. In a powerful and detailed critique, the report demonstrates that the war on drugs is actively counterproductive - causing many of the harms that it is intended to reduce."
Now over the other side of the pond a new group have formed, LEAP - Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, easy to spot their members because of their buzz cuts amd extremely large lettering on their brightly colored t-shirts: "Cops Say Legalize Drugs. Ask Me Why." Here’s more on LEAP:
A LEAP panel discussion yielded shocking stories from the drug war front lines. Admissions from LEAP Director and former New Jersey state police lieutenant Jack Cole, a 26-year veteran and narc, surprised even this drug war-savvy crowd. "We lied regularly about the numbers of drugs we were seizing," Cole said, explaining that if his fellow officers were lucky enough to bust someone for one ounce of cocaine, they’d immediately look for a cutting agent to double the amount of the seizure. And if a seizure’s street value stood at $1,500, the cops would bump it up to $20,000. "Who’s to question it," Cole asked.
The war on drugs has failed and is failing us. It’s a war on freedom and an excuse by the state for social control. The war on terror seems to be going the same way. Its all very fucked up.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
A Call to Arms
I am seeing more and more information about peak oil arriving in the media. Not is a major sense, and often from an odd angle, but here's Heinberg, author of 'The Party's Over' issuing a call to arms over Peak Oil: Oil is a finite resource - and the decline of world oil production is predicted to occur anytime within the next 30 years. To avoid the worst-case scenario, we must begin today to reduce our dependence on oil. Clear and to the point.
I am seeing more and more information about peak oil arriving in the media. Not is a major sense, and often from an odd angle, but here's Heinberg, author of 'The Party's Over' issuing a call to arms over Peak Oil: Oil is a finite resource - and the decline of world oil production is predicted to occur anytime within the next 30 years. To avoid the worst-case scenario, we must begin today to reduce our dependence on oil. Clear and to the point.
Monday, October 24, 2005
The Coalition has Lost the Battle to win the Hearts and Minds of Iraq
There is only so-long that you can pretend that occupation is freedom and it looks like time is up - "Secret MoD poll: Iraqis Support Attacks on British Troops...65 per cent of Iraqi citizens support attacks and fewer than one per cent think Allied military involvement is helping to improve security in their country." Fantasy time is up. Its Empire in full effect or withdraw the troops.
There is only so-long that you can pretend that occupation is freedom and it looks like time is up - "Secret MoD poll: Iraqis Support Attacks on British Troops...65 per cent of Iraqi citizens support attacks and fewer than one per cent think Allied military involvement is helping to improve security in their country." Fantasy time is up. Its Empire in full effect or withdraw the troops.
Friday, October 21, 2005
OAPs & Empire
I saw the news earlier in the week with Dave Prentis of Unison and Digby Jones on the CBI going head-to-head about pensions. Basically Jones was saying that the pubic sector get paid too much and get too good pensions that that the private sector cant compete with the packages on offer. He went on to say that we all needed to tighten our belts to deal with the looming pensions crisis. Now I know there is a problem, but to be lectured by a guy who is filthy rich about 'we all tightening our belts' sticks in the craw. I don’t think he’ll be tightening his belt as I bet his time as a Captain of Industry has netted him a fair wedge. This is also the guy who campaigned against the government putting any controls of fat-cat director pay. He saying its ok for the government to stamp on workers pay in the public sector to stop the low pay of the private sector looking bad – but they can't stop the elite from being paid OTT wages, cause that would be wrong. What an eejit.
Also of note is the full-on revelation of empire. If US soldiers burning and desecrating the bodies for their victims in Afghanistan, the erosion of the right to protest and Bliar telling the Labour party conference that it don’t matter what you think – he’ll do as he wants. There was a chant on protests post-Seattle 1999, 'This is what democracy looks like' – to me it is being replaced with 'This is what dictatoship looks like'.
I saw the news earlier in the week with Dave Prentis of Unison and Digby Jones on the CBI going head-to-head about pensions. Basically Jones was saying that the pubic sector get paid too much and get too good pensions that that the private sector cant compete with the packages on offer. He went on to say that we all needed to tighten our belts to deal with the looming pensions crisis. Now I know there is a problem, but to be lectured by a guy who is filthy rich about 'we all tightening our belts' sticks in the craw. I don’t think he’ll be tightening his belt as I bet his time as a Captain of Industry has netted him a fair wedge. This is also the guy who campaigned against the government putting any controls of fat-cat director pay. He saying its ok for the government to stamp on workers pay in the public sector to stop the low pay of the private sector looking bad – but they can't stop the elite from being paid OTT wages, cause that would be wrong. What an eejit.
Also of note is the full-on revelation of empire. If US soldiers burning and desecrating the bodies for their victims in Afghanistan, the erosion of the right to protest and Bliar telling the Labour party conference that it don’t matter what you think – he’ll do as he wants. There was a chant on protests post-Seattle 1999, 'This is what democracy looks like' – to me it is being replaced with 'This is what dictatoship looks like'.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
The Tough Questions
Amidst all the coverage of the events in Basra nobody seems to want to ask the tough questions; what were two SAS guys doing in Arab dress? Why was their mission not known the local cops? Were they carrying bomb-making kit?
J.V. Grady is a former member of US Military Intelligence; "It is quite possible, even probable, that many of the bombings against the Shi’ia and Sunni populations are being carried out by American, British, and even Israeli operatives.
Perhaps the most interesting and sinister field in Intelligence is Covert Action (also referred to as Clandestine Operations, Black Ops, and Black Operations).
The main thing about Covert Action is that it must be deniable. There is a term called 'plausible deniability'. When a government authorizes a covert action operation, the operation must be done in such a way that the government can claim that it knows nothing about it; in other words, the operation must not be attributable to the government that authorized it
The British regularly employed Covert Action operations in Ireland, with the result that it is likely that the IRA often took the blame for violent actions with which they had no involvement, although they were hardly innocent players in the general mayhem....The policy in Iraq is to keep the country destabilized and on the verge of civil war to show that it cannot govern itself and that it therefore requires the continued presence of American and British forces. The man accused of being behind much of the bombing going on there is Al-Zarqawi, a man known to be dead for some time now. Also, because he is (or, rather, was) a Sunni, bombings against the Shi’ia population, if blamed on him and the Sunni insurgents, can keep the pot of civil war simmering, thus giving further justification to keeping American and British forces there.
Most recently, two British Covert Operations specialists were captured in Basra, in Southern Iraq. They were disguised as Arabs and were carrying bomb-making materials. When Iraqi police tried to apprehend them, the two covert action operatives resisted arrest and killed two policemen. They were eventually caught and held in jail. After the British military learned that they had been captured, it sent tanks into Basra to forcibly free the two men. An enraged mob attacked the tanks with petrol bombs, and people around the world saw British soldiers jumping out of a flaming tank and being stoned. The reaction was one of sympathy for the British soldiers. Few stopped to wonder what was behind the anger and the assault. Most were sympathetic towards the 'poor' British soldiers, who were perceived as being unjustly victimized.
So, who is behind many of the bombings against the Shi’ia and Sunni populations? It is quite possible, even probable, that many of them are being carried out by American, British, and even Israeli Covert Action operatives."
Amidst all the coverage of the events in Basra nobody seems to want to ask the tough questions; what were two SAS guys doing in Arab dress? Why was their mission not known the local cops? Were they carrying bomb-making kit?
J.V. Grady is a former member of US Military Intelligence; "It is quite possible, even probable, that many of the bombings against the Shi’ia and Sunni populations are being carried out by American, British, and even Israeli operatives.
Perhaps the most interesting and sinister field in Intelligence is Covert Action (also referred to as Clandestine Operations, Black Ops, and Black Operations).
The main thing about Covert Action is that it must be deniable. There is a term called 'plausible deniability'. When a government authorizes a covert action operation, the operation must be done in such a way that the government can claim that it knows nothing about it; in other words, the operation must not be attributable to the government that authorized it
The British regularly employed Covert Action operations in Ireland, with the result that it is likely that the IRA often took the blame for violent actions with which they had no involvement, although they were hardly innocent players in the general mayhem....The policy in Iraq is to keep the country destabilized and on the verge of civil war to show that it cannot govern itself and that it therefore requires the continued presence of American and British forces. The man accused of being behind much of the bombing going on there is Al-Zarqawi, a man known to be dead for some time now. Also, because he is (or, rather, was) a Sunni, bombings against the Shi’ia population, if blamed on him and the Sunni insurgents, can keep the pot of civil war simmering, thus giving further justification to keeping American and British forces there.
Most recently, two British Covert Operations specialists were captured in Basra, in Southern Iraq. They were disguised as Arabs and were carrying bomb-making materials. When Iraqi police tried to apprehend them, the two covert action operatives resisted arrest and killed two policemen. They were eventually caught and held in jail. After the British military learned that they had been captured, it sent tanks into Basra to forcibly free the two men. An enraged mob attacked the tanks with petrol bombs, and people around the world saw British soldiers jumping out of a flaming tank and being stoned. The reaction was one of sympathy for the British soldiers. Few stopped to wonder what was behind the anger and the assault. Most were sympathetic towards the 'poor' British soldiers, who were perceived as being unjustly victimized.
So, who is behind many of the bombings against the Shi’ia and Sunni populations? It is quite possible, even probable, that many of them are being carried out by American, British, and even Israeli Covert Action operatives."
Monday, September 12, 2005
The Moral High Ground
I read an interesting article in the Independent about 'Fuck For the Forests' where volunteers make free porn and then upload it to the main site. People can subscribe to the site to watch it - and the money raised goes to forest conservation projects - 'Fuck For the Forests' or FFF. I've been involved in many fundraisers in my time and the sums they have raised ($100,000 since the site went live in April last year) are pretty impressive. What I found a little irking about the article is that the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) refuses to accept their money, not happy with out its raised. Hmmmmmm. I'm not up to date on the WWF for '05, but in '01 I don't think they were in any position to take up any moral high ground:
"The World Wide Fund for Nature has moved even closer to its new friends, by appointing as its boss the former chief executive of one of Britain’s most controversial quarrying companies. In Papua New Guinea, it struck a deal with the oil firms Chevron and BP. The oilmen gave a WWF conservation project $1 million. In return, leaked documents from Chevron revealed, 'WWF will act as a buffer for the joint venture against … international environmental criticism'. Last year the NGO held back publication of a damning report on tropical forest destruction, for fear of upsetting the companies it named."
I read an interesting article in the Independent about 'Fuck For the Forests' where volunteers make free porn and then upload it to the main site. People can subscribe to the site to watch it - and the money raised goes to forest conservation projects - 'Fuck For the Forests' or FFF. I've been involved in many fundraisers in my time and the sums they have raised ($100,000 since the site went live in April last year) are pretty impressive. What I found a little irking about the article is that the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) refuses to accept their money, not happy with out its raised. Hmmmmmm. I'm not up to date on the WWF for '05, but in '01 I don't think they were in any position to take up any moral high ground:
"The World Wide Fund for Nature has moved even closer to its new friends, by appointing as its boss the former chief executive of one of Britain’s most controversial quarrying companies. In Papua New Guinea, it struck a deal with the oil firms Chevron and BP. The oilmen gave a WWF conservation project $1 million. In return, leaked documents from Chevron revealed, 'WWF will act as a buffer for the joint venture against … international environmental criticism'. Last year the NGO held back publication of a damning report on tropical forest destruction, for fear of upsetting the companies it named."
Friday, September 09, 2005
Iraq – No News is Always Bad News
The phrase goes; no news is good news. Except this does not seem to apply in Iraq. Even though the mainstream media tends not to report on the war – the war goes on nonetheless. For example, if you check AlertNet.org, the Reuters service informing humanitarian organisation what’s going on where, you’ll see how thick the shit is caked on the fan. For example this is an edited version of yesterday (8th):
TIKRIT - Two Iraqi soldiers guarding oil industry assets were killed and another nine wounded by a roadside bomb in the al-Jazeera area, west of Tikrit, a police source said.
TIKRIT - An Iraqi lawyer was killed late on Wednesday after being abducted by kidnappers dressed in military uniforms and travelling in civilian cars, a police source said.
BAGHDAD - A civilian was wounded by a car bomb that exploded in a residential area near the al-Sadeer Hotel in the central Karrada district of Baghdad, a police source said.
MOSUL - Iraqi and U.S. forces have killed seven insurgents and detained another seven since Wednesday during a cordon and search operation in the northern town of Tal Afar, near Mosul, a U.S. military statement said on Thursday.
And this is today, as of 8.15 GMT:
BAGHDAD - One policeman was killed and five wounded when unknown gunmen fired on their patrol in western Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - One civilian was injured when a roadside bomb exploded targeting a Shi'ite mosque in southern Baghdad on Thursday, police said.
This is in addition to the normal news feeds from Iraq covering larger stories. This goes on and on, each morning you can see more. The Independent reporter, Robert Fisk also pointed out in an article about a year ago, that many security incidents don’t event get reported. Plus the many many civilian deaths by the collation forces – they don’t get logged.
Quagmire.
PS. In regard to the post - http://anarchist606.blogspot.com/2005/08/disarm-dsei-2005-protests-win-economic.html - It was pointed out to me that this might not be the victory I had speculated. If the police set a president that events (including protests) have to pay their own policing – it would mean that protesting would become priced-out for most people. Another expression, like freedom of speech, commodified and so given to the rich and not the poor.
The phrase goes; no news is good news. Except this does not seem to apply in Iraq. Even though the mainstream media tends not to report on the war – the war goes on nonetheless. For example, if you check AlertNet.org, the Reuters service informing humanitarian organisation what’s going on where, you’ll see how thick the shit is caked on the fan. For example this is an edited version of yesterday (8th):
TIKRIT - Two Iraqi soldiers guarding oil industry assets were killed and another nine wounded by a roadside bomb in the al-Jazeera area, west of Tikrit, a police source said.
TIKRIT - An Iraqi lawyer was killed late on Wednesday after being abducted by kidnappers dressed in military uniforms and travelling in civilian cars, a police source said.
BAGHDAD - A civilian was wounded by a car bomb that exploded in a residential area near the al-Sadeer Hotel in the central Karrada district of Baghdad, a police source said.
MOSUL - Iraqi and U.S. forces have killed seven insurgents and detained another seven since Wednesday during a cordon and search operation in the northern town of Tal Afar, near Mosul, a U.S. military statement said on Thursday.
And this is today, as of 8.15 GMT:
BAGHDAD - One policeman was killed and five wounded when unknown gunmen fired on their patrol in western Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - One civilian was injured when a roadside bomb exploded targeting a Shi'ite mosque in southern Baghdad on Thursday, police said.
This is in addition to the normal news feeds from Iraq covering larger stories. This goes on and on, each morning you can see more. The Independent reporter, Robert Fisk also pointed out in an article about a year ago, that many security incidents don’t event get reported. Plus the many many civilian deaths by the collation forces – they don’t get logged.
Quagmire.
PS. In regard to the post - http://anarchist606.blogspot.com/2005/08/disarm-dsei-2005-protests-win-economic.html - It was pointed out to me that this might not be the victory I had speculated. If the police set a president that events (including protests) have to pay their own policing – it would mean that protesting would become priced-out for most people. Another expression, like freedom of speech, commodified and so given to the rich and not the poor.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Notes From a Slow Wednesday
A fair bit of discussion I have seen around an article by Mark Curtis (author of Unpeople: Britain's Secret Human Rights Abuses) about the G8 and how (surprise, surprise) they totally failed to deliver on the promises. I am waiting for Sir Bob to hold them to account as he rubbished those of us radical who said that the G8 were the problem and now it seems we are correct. Here a couple of choice quotes:
FIB 1 >> Blair's assertion that aid will come with no conditions is contradicted by Hilary Benn, his development secretary, who told a parliamentary committee on July 19 that "around half" of World Bank aid programmes have privatisation conditions….et in the G8 press conference Blair refuted the suggestion that privatisation would be a condition for aid.
FIB 2 >> ...in recent evidence to the Treasury committee, Gordon Brown made the astonishing admission that the aid increase includes money put aside for debt relief. So the funds rich countries devote to writing off poor countries' debts will be counted as aid..The debt deal is not "in addition" to the aid increase, as Blair claimed, but part of it.
There is a reason Tony's name is often written Bliar.
Am checking out the site ClimateCare.org as it seems to offer a chance to offset some of your imact by flying and all that. A good friend who is far more in the know that me is looking at it so will post findings here.
Finally – quote for the day:
"...the first task of government [is to] to establish a monopoly on violence."
A US columnist tells it like it is. It not that Bliar and Bu$h don’t believe in violence, for all their protestations on peace and against violent political change, what they mean is that they should be the only ones to wield it as a tool; "As to Blair's credentials as one who rejects violence for politic ends, Britain's participation in the almost daily bombing of Iraq, it too illegal under international law, and its ardent seconding of the air war against Yugoslavia, leaves no room for doubt. He hardly rejects violence, or respects the law. Not him, not George W. Bush, and not one of the leaders of the G-8."
A fair bit of discussion I have seen around an article by Mark Curtis (author of Unpeople: Britain's Secret Human Rights Abuses) about the G8 and how (surprise, surprise) they totally failed to deliver on the promises. I am waiting for Sir Bob to hold them to account as he rubbished those of us radical who said that the G8 were the problem and now it seems we are correct. Here a couple of choice quotes:
FIB 1 >> Blair's assertion that aid will come with no conditions is contradicted by Hilary Benn, his development secretary, who told a parliamentary committee on July 19 that "around half" of World Bank aid programmes have privatisation conditions….et in the G8 press conference Blair refuted the suggestion that privatisation would be a condition for aid.
FIB 2 >> ...in recent evidence to the Treasury committee, Gordon Brown made the astonishing admission that the aid increase includes money put aside for debt relief. So the funds rich countries devote to writing off poor countries' debts will be counted as aid..The debt deal is not "in addition" to the aid increase, as Blair claimed, but part of it.
There is a reason Tony's name is often written Bliar.
Am checking out the site ClimateCare.org as it seems to offer a chance to offset some of your imact by flying and all that. A good friend who is far more in the know that me is looking at it so will post findings here.
Finally – quote for the day:
"...the first task of government [is to] to establish a monopoly on violence."
A US columnist tells it like it is. It not that Bliar and Bu$h don’t believe in violence, for all their protestations on peace and against violent political change, what they mean is that they should be the only ones to wield it as a tool; "As to Blair's credentials as one who rejects violence for politic ends, Britain's participation in the almost daily bombing of Iraq, it too illegal under international law, and its ardent seconding of the air war against Yugoslavia, leaves no room for doubt. He hardly rejects violence, or respects the law. Not him, not George W. Bush, and not one of the leaders of the G-8."
Monday, August 22, 2005
DISARM DSEi 2005: Protests Win Economic Battle
It looks like round one of the protests to stop DESi arms fair have been won by those fighting for life rather than fueling war. This particular battle has been won by the determined resistance of those who have protested the event over the last few years, building it into a major event. The victory is an economic one: Its now costs the police £4 million to police it and they are not happy about it at all, telling the Independent; "It is going to cost £4m with no money coming from the exhibition because the protests are taking place outside. There is a substantial public order threat, but the law does not allow us to charge for that. It's not dissimilar for people in football who are charged for policing inside the ground but not in the surrounding streets." The article also talks of a row over who should pay this bill; "The Metropolitan Police is planning to ask the Home Office to change the regulations to force exhibitors to pay for the external policing, or ask the Ministry of Defence, which jointly organises the event, to pay the costs." If the cops can pass the bill to Spearhead, the organisers, even partly then it stands a chance of making the whole event economically unsustainable and so close it. And that would be good news!
It looks like round one of the protests to stop DESi arms fair have been won by those fighting for life rather than fueling war. This particular battle has been won by the determined resistance of those who have protested the event over the last few years, building it into a major event. The victory is an economic one: Its now costs the police £4 million to police it and they are not happy about it at all, telling the Independent; "It is going to cost £4m with no money coming from the exhibition because the protests are taking place outside. There is a substantial public order threat, but the law does not allow us to charge for that. It's not dissimilar for people in football who are charged for policing inside the ground but not in the surrounding streets." The article also talks of a row over who should pay this bill; "The Metropolitan Police is planning to ask the Home Office to change the regulations to force exhibitors to pay for the external policing, or ask the Ministry of Defence, which jointly organises the event, to pay the costs." If the cops can pass the bill to Spearhead, the organisers, even partly then it stands a chance of making the whole event economically unsustainable and so close it. And that would be good news!
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Further Down the Spiral
Its getting darker and darker in this world; "A Sunday Herald investigation has discovered that coalition forces are holding more than 100 children in jails such as Abu Ghraib....Witnesses claim that the detainees – some as young as 10 – are also being subjected to rape and torture." Blair, Bush, Bin Laden and the global capital-system are all dragging us down and down into a trail spin of extreme violence that can only end in mutual destruction.
Its getting darker and darker in this world; "A Sunday Herald investigation has discovered that coalition forces are holding more than 100 children in jails such as Abu Ghraib....Witnesses claim that the detainees – some as young as 10 – are also being subjected to rape and torture." Blair, Bush, Bin Laden and the global capital-system are all dragging us down and down into a trail spin of extreme violence that can only end in mutual destruction.
Monday, July 25, 2005
The Real Threat
In the light of the seemingly upsurge in fundamentalist terror, it does feel that ‘we’ seem to be on the ropes a bit. If the murders who did these attacks in London and Cairo are trying to destroy the way we live – then they must fail….if (and heres the hard bit)..only if we let them. Consider that the most powerful military force in the world cannot control a country of around 26 million people (US occupying Iraq), then what chance have a rag-tag band of nutters got of controlling 60 million people in the UK – unless we allow it? More interesting still is an article that says the real threat to values most of us hold true (freedom and so on) is those within the UK who have the power to warp what we believe in.
America [or in our case, the UK] is not threatened by any external forces or fanatical groups, but by lying, cheating, stealing, killing, hypocritical, arrogant Americans whose enormous wealth is only exceeded by their insatiable greed and their indifference to the plight of the people.
This small minority of Americans [or in our case British people] are the main enemy of the great majority of the American people as well as the enemy of the traditions, laws and spirit of America, our beautiful America – and the world at large.
Its food for thought.
PS. Also from GNN, "The Pentagon is blocking their release in direct violation of the ruling. Not to sound alarmist, but the nation appears to be sliding towards a true military state."
In the light of the seemingly upsurge in fundamentalist terror, it does feel that ‘we’ seem to be on the ropes a bit. If the murders who did these attacks in London and Cairo are trying to destroy the way we live – then they must fail….if (and heres the hard bit)..only if we let them. Consider that the most powerful military force in the world cannot control a country of around 26 million people (US occupying Iraq), then what chance have a rag-tag band of nutters got of controlling 60 million people in the UK – unless we allow it? More interesting still is an article that says the real threat to values most of us hold true (freedom and so on) is those within the UK who have the power to warp what we believe in.
America [or in our case, the UK] is not threatened by any external forces or fanatical groups, but by lying, cheating, stealing, killing, hypocritical, arrogant Americans whose enormous wealth is only exceeded by their insatiable greed and their indifference to the plight of the people.
This small minority of Americans [or in our case British people] are the main enemy of the great majority of the American people as well as the enemy of the traditions, laws and spirit of America, our beautiful America – and the world at large.
Its food for thought.
PS. Also from GNN, "The Pentagon is blocking their release in direct violation of the ruling. Not to sound alarmist, but the nation appears to be sliding towards a true military state."
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Ashton Court Review '05
I had family, including kids, down for a fair amount of the event so most of what I saw was Bouncy Castle live, but I can post a review of some stuff…in general I had a pretty good festival. The expanded kids section was a cool asset, though we only noticed the free bouncy castle after spending a fair amount on the pay one. Ooops.
I did get to see Ivory Springer on the lagermeister stage. It was a great set. This is, despite being a fan, the first time I’ve seen them live. What struck me most is how tight the sound is. For example on the track Submariner, the timings between the band as they throw waves of sound at the audience is pretty impressive. The songs were great and they obviously had a few fans in the audience as there was a plenty of singing along. What more could you ask for – great music, cold beer and a cloudless blue sky. My only complaint was that the set was too short!
Next I caught the Spinal Tap delight of 'Flylow', a Finish rock export in the Acoustic tent. These guys are either a clever parody of hair metal or really mean it and are…well rocking the 80s still. They had it all – power-ballads, long hair, rock-tattoos and mega-guitars! In one hilarious moment of Tap magic, the lead guitarist climbed onto a stack of speakers and promptly vanished from the stage as the pile collapsed. Still he popped back up a minute later, seemingly no damage done and still rocking out. Great fun all in all.
Then finally I caught the Toxic Dancehall set in the Blackout tent. I was torn, wanting to see Blackout (the drum and bass crew and not the tent) again (last year they were great) – but I was looking forward to seeing how breakcore went down with the Ashton Court massive and (caveat for rest of review) the TD crew are mates of mine. The TD show had half the crew dressed as police, half as black bloc – amazing visuals including VJing and footage from the G8 protests (thanks to Indymedia) – the music was a top mix of current breakcore favs including Venetian Snares, Shitmat and the top-metal sounds of Drum Corps. The last being so metal that a mosh-pit broke out and extra security was rushed in! The TD sight and sound went down a storm, the tent was at capacity and it was a great finish to the whole event.
PS. You can still get the Megamashup CDs – Dissent still needs funds, especially for prisoner support!
I had family, including kids, down for a fair amount of the event so most of what I saw was Bouncy Castle live, but I can post a review of some stuff…in general I had a pretty good festival. The expanded kids section was a cool asset, though we only noticed the free bouncy castle after spending a fair amount on the pay one. Ooops.
I did get to see Ivory Springer on the lagermeister stage. It was a great set. This is, despite being a fan, the first time I’ve seen them live. What struck me most is how tight the sound is. For example on the track Submariner, the timings between the band as they throw waves of sound at the audience is pretty impressive. The songs were great and they obviously had a few fans in the audience as there was a plenty of singing along. What more could you ask for – great music, cold beer and a cloudless blue sky. My only complaint was that the set was too short!
Next I caught the Spinal Tap delight of 'Flylow', a Finish rock export in the Acoustic tent. These guys are either a clever parody of hair metal or really mean it and are…well rocking the 80s still. They had it all – power-ballads, long hair, rock-tattoos and mega-guitars! In one hilarious moment of Tap magic, the lead guitarist climbed onto a stack of speakers and promptly vanished from the stage as the pile collapsed. Still he popped back up a minute later, seemingly no damage done and still rocking out. Great fun all in all.
Then finally I caught the Toxic Dancehall set in the Blackout tent. I was torn, wanting to see Blackout (the drum and bass crew and not the tent) again (last year they were great) – but I was looking forward to seeing how breakcore went down with the Ashton Court massive and (caveat for rest of review) the TD crew are mates of mine. The TD show had half the crew dressed as police, half as black bloc – amazing visuals including VJing and footage from the G8 protests (thanks to Indymedia) – the music was a top mix of current breakcore favs including Venetian Snares, Shitmat and the top-metal sounds of Drum Corps. The last being so metal that a mosh-pit broke out and extra security was rushed in! The TD sight and sound went down a storm, the tent was at capacity and it was a great finish to the whole event.
PS. You can still get the Megamashup CDs – Dissent still needs funds, especially for prisoner support!
Monday, July 18, 2005
Privatization
Remember that the elected president of Haiti was over thrown a year or so ago? When asked why he says; Privatization. An interesting story and not surprising the ongoing resistance to economic slavery from an island that freed itself from slavery, back in the day.
Remember that the elected president of Haiti was over thrown a year or so ago? When asked why he says; Privatization. An interesting story and not surprising the ongoing resistance to economic slavery from an island that freed itself from slavery, back in the day.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
Thoughts on London Attacks
Not feeling much like doing any work, I have just popped into Broadmead to get a pasty and seen the body-armored coppers deployed to close the stable door now the horse has bolted. Its hard not to feel depressed by the bombings in London, for many reasons. First any of us might know somebody effected by it – I, like many, have friends in London and don’t know yet if they are all ok. Chances are they were not hit, but you worry anyway. Then there is the fact that so many ordinary people will be affected by the attacks – whether wounded, grieving or simply terrified. The group who carried out the attack explained, in their own moronic flawed logic, that they have 'punished' the UK government. Well news flash – by killing ordinary people you have not punished the government – you have helped them. Bliar was having trouble getting ID cards through – I bet he has no problems now. Bush was facing a damaging media spotlight on his refusal to do anything about climate change – this is a good day to bury that bad news.
I have heard media commentators say that now is not the time to ask why, but to look to help the wounded and the bereaved. I do feel for those caught up in this madness. But its hard, as you see four hulking coppers pass by the Odeon, not to wonder how much of the UKs limited intelligence resources have been squandered not in fighting al-Qaeda, but in securing oil for Bush’s buddies.
Ever get the feeling we are but pawns in a brutal game of world-Chess?
Not feeling much like doing any work, I have just popped into Broadmead to get a pasty and seen the body-armored coppers deployed to close the stable door now the horse has bolted. Its hard not to feel depressed by the bombings in London, for many reasons. First any of us might know somebody effected by it – I, like many, have friends in London and don’t know yet if they are all ok. Chances are they were not hit, but you worry anyway. Then there is the fact that so many ordinary people will be affected by the attacks – whether wounded, grieving or simply terrified. The group who carried out the attack explained, in their own moronic flawed logic, that they have 'punished' the UK government. Well news flash – by killing ordinary people you have not punished the government – you have helped them. Bliar was having trouble getting ID cards through – I bet he has no problems now. Bush was facing a damaging media spotlight on his refusal to do anything about climate change – this is a good day to bury that bad news.
I have heard media commentators say that now is not the time to ask why, but to look to help the wounded and the bereaved. I do feel for those caught up in this madness. But its hard, as you see four hulking coppers pass by the Odeon, not to wonder how much of the UKs limited intelligence resources have been squandered not in fighting al-Qaeda, but in securing oil for Bush’s buddies.
Ever get the feeling we are but pawns in a brutal game of world-Chess?
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Open Victory!
I wrote an article a while ago about software patents - and so am happy to report that: "Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted overwhelmingly to reject proposed legislation that critics argued would have allowed the widespread patenting of software in Europe." Yay!
I wrote an article a while ago about software patents - and so am happy to report that: "Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted overwhelmingly to reject proposed legislation that critics argued would have allowed the widespread patenting of software in Europe." Yay!
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Mash-up CD
Me and Parasite have produced a CDR with 4 Mega-Mashups from the archive of the Parasite & 606 Internet radio show. All the proceeds from this CD go towards anti-G8 actions and the Dissent network. As I write this, June 2005 the world leaders are making final travel arrangements to come to the UK and try to push for more business as usual. Networks like Dissent are aiming to shut them down!!!! Buy this CD – Dissent get funds the fight the power, you get four Mega-Mashups to rock out big-time to – everyone’s’ a winner!
For £3.50, you'd be mad not too!
Link:
http://www.fugazi.net/dswat/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=697
Me and Parasite have produced a CDR with 4 Mega-Mashups from the archive of the Parasite & 606 Internet radio show. All the proceeds from this CD go towards anti-G8 actions and the Dissent network. As I write this, June 2005 the world leaders are making final travel arrangements to come to the UK and try to push for more business as usual. Networks like Dissent are aiming to shut them down!!!! Buy this CD – Dissent get funds the fight the power, you get four Mega-Mashups to rock out big-time to – everyone’s’ a winner!
For £3.50, you'd be mad not too!
Link:
http://www.fugazi.net/dswat/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=697
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Organise!
The newly re:branded engrager.net (now libcom.org) has a top section of guides to activism: http://www.libcom.org/organise/ - plus also reading article on laying the ground-work for an attack on Iran and how the US used napalm in Iraq.
The newly re:branded engrager.net (now libcom.org) has a top section of guides to activism: http://www.libcom.org/organise/ - plus also reading article on laying the ground-work for an attack on Iran and how the US used napalm in Iraq.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Listening to Cassandra
What follows is a really important article - I can't recomend strongly enought that we should all read it, and take notice:
The Cassandra Principle and the Demise of the Cod by Paul Watson
The problem with being a conservationist is that we have all become like Cassandra, the doom and gloom prophetess princess of Troy. It is our burden to make predictions based on the observed ecological stupidity of humanity and to cast these predictions out as warnings. And like Cassandra, we appear doomed to have our predictions ignored or dismissed...I warned the Canadian government that the Atlantic cod fishery would collapse within a decade. It collapsed in 1992.....The government announced a two-year moratorium. I told the media in Newfoundland and Canada that a two-year moratorium was ridiculous. I said at the time that the cod would not recover in ten years or fifty years and may not recover at all....The Canadian government and its small army of scientific posers that I call biostitutes dismissed me as a doom and gloom environmentalist. I was called naïve, ignorant, stupid, and overly dramatic.
Thirteen years later, my prediction is becoming reality.
This month, researchers who have studied data over a 40-year period have discovered that the food chain in the North Atlantic has been drastically altered with the disappearance of the cod.
What this means, is that the entire Northwest Atlantic marine ecosystem is being restructured because of the collapse of East Coast cod populations. These same scientists are now saying that the data indicates that recovery of the cod may be impossible.....The three basic laws of ecology have been violated for too many years:
- The Law of Diversity that rules that the strength of an ecosystem is dependent upon the diversity of species within it.
- The Law of Interdependence that rules that all these species must be interdependent.
- And the Law of Finite Resources that dictates that there are limits to growth.
You don’t need expensive complex, long-winded, drawn-out studies to predict that an ecosystem is in trouble. You just need to observe if the three ecological laws are being respected.
We soooo don't learn. It guess nature will teach us.
What follows is a really important article - I can't recomend strongly enought that we should all read it, and take notice:
The Cassandra Principle and the Demise of the Cod by Paul Watson
The problem with being a conservationist is that we have all become like Cassandra, the doom and gloom prophetess princess of Troy. It is our burden to make predictions based on the observed ecological stupidity of humanity and to cast these predictions out as warnings. And like Cassandra, we appear doomed to have our predictions ignored or dismissed...I warned the Canadian government that the Atlantic cod fishery would collapse within a decade. It collapsed in 1992.....The government announced a two-year moratorium. I told the media in Newfoundland and Canada that a two-year moratorium was ridiculous. I said at the time that the cod would not recover in ten years or fifty years and may not recover at all....The Canadian government and its small army of scientific posers that I call biostitutes dismissed me as a doom and gloom environmentalist. I was called naïve, ignorant, stupid, and overly dramatic.
Thirteen years later, my prediction is becoming reality.
This month, researchers who have studied data over a 40-year period have discovered that the food chain in the North Atlantic has been drastically altered with the disappearance of the cod.
What this means, is that the entire Northwest Atlantic marine ecosystem is being restructured because of the collapse of East Coast cod populations. These same scientists are now saying that the data indicates that recovery of the cod may be impossible.....The three basic laws of ecology have been violated for too many years:
- The Law of Diversity that rules that the strength of an ecosystem is dependent upon the diversity of species within it.
- The Law of Interdependence that rules that all these species must be interdependent.
- And the Law of Finite Resources that dictates that there are limits to growth.
You don’t need expensive complex, long-winded, drawn-out studies to predict that an ecosystem is in trouble. You just need to observe if the three ecological laws are being respected.
We soooo don't learn. It guess nature will teach us.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Bushit & Bliar
So Bush'n'Bliar have hooked up again to hatch nasty Dr.Evil style plots such as taking over the world. I did note that hidden in thier droning speaches was...TRUTH!!! Wow. Debt is a big issue at the moment (it always is to those in the third world, but hey, we've got Big Brother 6 to watch! can't be expect to care all the time) Anyhow, they were saying that there will be no dropping of debt unless it is going to make the current system a profit. Never mind that the debt is false (given to tin-pot dictators) and that the poor have more than paid it back - rEaLiTy ChEcK notes: debt is the method of economic control, as Bush noted; We're really not interested in supporting a government that doesn't have open economies and open markets. There you have it - unless you sign on the neo-liberal line - your people can starve. What Bush is saying is that it is more important to privatize things than to fight poverty. And here's Bliar, telling the truth for a change; "I think there is a real desire to make sure that we cancel the debt, and cancel the debt in such a way that it doesn't inhibit or disadvantage the international institutions." There you have it - does this speech remind anyone of the compensation for slave owners when formal slavery was ended? It does me. If people want to drop debt then they need to get radical - dissent.org.uk
So Bush'n'Bliar have hooked up again to hatch nasty Dr.Evil style plots such as taking over the world. I did note that hidden in thier droning speaches was...TRUTH!!! Wow. Debt is a big issue at the moment (it always is to those in the third world, but hey, we've got Big Brother 6 to watch! can't be expect to care all the time) Anyhow, they were saying that there will be no dropping of debt unless it is going to make the current system a profit. Never mind that the debt is false (given to tin-pot dictators) and that the poor have more than paid it back - rEaLiTy ChEcK notes: debt is the method of economic control, as Bush noted; We're really not interested in supporting a government that doesn't have open economies and open markets. There you have it - unless you sign on the neo-liberal line - your people can starve. What Bush is saying is that it is more important to privatize things than to fight poverty. And here's Bliar, telling the truth for a change; "I think there is a real desire to make sure that we cancel the debt, and cancel the debt in such a way that it doesn't inhibit or disadvantage the international institutions." There you have it - does this speech remind anyone of the compensation for slave owners when formal slavery was ended? It does me. If people want to drop debt then they need to get radical - dissent.org.uk
Monday, May 23, 2005
Conspiracy Theory
Apart from being a second-rate film staring Mel Gibson, conspiracy theory is the term applied to any thinking about manipulation outside the normal bounds of discourse. Now some theories are worthy of the derision this label provokes - such a David Ikes ratings or L Ron Hubbard's BS about aliens in Dianetics. In any case here is a top post on kuro5hin.org that details one such theory:
Astute observers of history are aware that for every notable event there will usually be at least one ,often several wild conspiracy theories which spring up around it. "The CIA killed Hendrix" " The Pope had John Lennon murdered ", "Hitler was half Werewolf", "Space aliens replaced Nixon with a clone" etc,etc. The bigger the event, the more ridiculous and more numerous are the fanciful rantings which circulate in relation to it.
So its hardly surprising that the events of Sept 11 2001 have spawned their fair share of these ludicrous fairy tales. And as always, there is - sadly - a small but gullible percentage of the population eager to lap up these tall tales, regardless of facts or rational analysis.
One of the wilder stories circulating about Sept 11, and one that has attracted something of a cult following amongst conspiracy buffs is that it was carried out by 19 fanatical Arab hijackers, masterminded by an evil genius named Osama bin Laden, with no apparent motivation other than that they "hate our freedoms...."
Apart from being a second-rate film staring Mel Gibson, conspiracy theory is the term applied to any thinking about manipulation outside the normal bounds of discourse. Now some theories are worthy of the derision this label provokes - such a David Ikes ratings or L Ron Hubbard's BS about aliens in Dianetics. In any case here is a top post on kuro5hin.org that details one such theory:
Astute observers of history are aware that for every notable event there will usually be at least one ,often several wild conspiracy theories which spring up around it. "The CIA killed Hendrix" " The Pope had John Lennon murdered ", "Hitler was half Werewolf", "Space aliens replaced Nixon with a clone" etc,etc. The bigger the event, the more ridiculous and more numerous are the fanciful rantings which circulate in relation to it.
So its hardly surprising that the events of Sept 11 2001 have spawned their fair share of these ludicrous fairy tales. And as always, there is - sadly - a small but gullible percentage of the population eager to lap up these tall tales, regardless of facts or rational analysis.
One of the wilder stories circulating about Sept 11, and one that has attracted something of a cult following amongst conspiracy buffs is that it was carried out by 19 fanatical Arab hijackers, masterminded by an evil genius named Osama bin Laden, with no apparent motivation other than that they "hate our freedoms...."
Friday, May 20, 2005
Allied Torture
More of the allied torture reports keep comming out; The US Army’s report into prisoner ‘abuse’ in Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan makes very stomach-churning reading....In sworn statements to Army investigators, soldiers describe one female interrogator with a taste for humiliation stepping on the neck of one prostrate detainee and kicking another in the genitals. They tell of a shackled prisoner being forced to roll back and forth on the floor of a cell, kissing the boots of his two interrogators as he went. Yet another prisoner is made to pick plastic bottle caps out of a drum mixed with excrement and water as part of a strategy to soften him up for questioning.....In some instances, testimony shows, it was directed or carried out by interrogators to extract information. In others, it was punishment meted out by military police guards. Sometimes, the torment seems to have been driven by little more than boredom or cruelty, or both....Yet the Bagram file includes ample testimony that harsh treatment by some interrogators was routine and that guards could strike shackled detainees with virtual impunity.
This is sooooooooooooo fuck up. This is not democracy in any form. Its imperialism writ small. Good on Galloway for standing up to this bullshit.
More of the allied torture reports keep comming out; The US Army’s report into prisoner ‘abuse’ in Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan makes very stomach-churning reading....In sworn statements to Army investigators, soldiers describe one female interrogator with a taste for humiliation stepping on the neck of one prostrate detainee and kicking another in the genitals. They tell of a shackled prisoner being forced to roll back and forth on the floor of a cell, kissing the boots of his two interrogators as he went. Yet another prisoner is made to pick plastic bottle caps out of a drum mixed with excrement and water as part of a strategy to soften him up for questioning.....In some instances, testimony shows, it was directed or carried out by interrogators to extract information. In others, it was punishment meted out by military police guards. Sometimes, the torment seems to have been driven by little more than boredom or cruelty, or both....Yet the Bagram file includes ample testimony that harsh treatment by some interrogators was routine and that guards could strike shackled detainees with virtual impunity.
This is sooooooooooooo fuck up. This is not democracy in any form. Its imperialism writ small. Good on Galloway for standing up to this bullshit.
Monday, May 16, 2005
SNAFU: War on Drugs
When we finally come to look at the The War on Terror (TM) through the rear-view mirror, it will look similar to the War on Drugs. By this I mean an unwinable battle for control with little relation to its grand aims stated by the spin. For this we can look at the failure of Plan Colombia, the failed US plan to halt cocoa growing in Colombia, and on the way aid the extraction of oil and kill left-wing fighters, human-rights activists etc. Check this: "Washington’s 'war on drugs' in Colombia is collapsing in chaos and corruption, and the drug producers are winning." Funny, huh? It gets funnier...."On 1 January 2004 US satellite pictures showed that 281,323 acres in Colombia were under coca. The target was to reduce that area by half, so nearly 340,000 acres were sprayed with poison. But in vain. In January, the acreage of coca bushes had increased slightly to 281,694 acres..." And as if that was not enough, "...Drug profits have also corrupted US troops stationed in Colombia. This month a US Green Beret lieutenant-colonel and a sergeant were caught selling 32,900 rounds of ammunition to the right-wing death squads who are flush with drug profits..In March, five US soldiers – supposedly training local troops in anti-guerrilla and anti-narcotics techniques – were arrested after 16 kilos of cocaine were found in the aircraft taking them from a military base in southern Colombia back to the US."
(Guess who the company is who makes this toxic spray? Monsanto! The same people who brought you Agent Orange and GM crops. Yay!)
The War on Drugs is the classic global-2-local issue. The cocaine from over there will end up being sold on the streets here. Its a war whose battle-lines extend from the FARC to BSDS. It is worth noting that Bristol has a strong and active Colombia solidarity effort, they do lots of good work and deserve support for their efforts.
The drug war is one war we are all involved in fighting, its just that the state is not interested in winning it, just in escalation for its own reasons.
PS. SNAFU means 'Situation Normal: All Fucked Up'
When we finally come to look at the The War on Terror (TM) through the rear-view mirror, it will look similar to the War on Drugs. By this I mean an unwinable battle for control with little relation to its grand aims stated by the spin. For this we can look at the failure of Plan Colombia, the failed US plan to halt cocoa growing in Colombia, and on the way aid the extraction of oil and kill left-wing fighters, human-rights activists etc. Check this: "Washington’s 'war on drugs' in Colombia is collapsing in chaos and corruption, and the drug producers are winning." Funny, huh? It gets funnier...."On 1 January 2004 US satellite pictures showed that 281,323 acres in Colombia were under coca. The target was to reduce that area by half, so nearly 340,000 acres were sprayed with poison. But in vain. In January, the acreage of coca bushes had increased slightly to 281,694 acres..." And as if that was not enough, "...Drug profits have also corrupted US troops stationed in Colombia. This month a US Green Beret lieutenant-colonel and a sergeant were caught selling 32,900 rounds of ammunition to the right-wing death squads who are flush with drug profits..In March, five US soldiers – supposedly training local troops in anti-guerrilla and anti-narcotics techniques – were arrested after 16 kilos of cocaine were found in the aircraft taking them from a military base in southern Colombia back to the US."
(Guess who the company is who makes this toxic spray? Monsanto! The same people who brought you Agent Orange and GM crops. Yay!)
The War on Drugs is the classic global-2-local issue. The cocaine from over there will end up being sold on the streets here. Its a war whose battle-lines extend from the FARC to BSDS. It is worth noting that Bristol has a strong and active Colombia solidarity effort, they do lots of good work and deserve support for their efforts.
The drug war is one war we are all involved in fighting, its just that the state is not interested in winning it, just in escalation for its own reasons.
PS. SNAFU means 'Situation Normal: All Fucked Up'
Monday, May 09, 2005
More on Torture
This stuff just keeps comming! This from Observer/GNN : An American soldier has revealed shocking new details of abuse and sexual torture of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay in the first high-profile whistleblowing account to emerge from inside the top-secret base....In an exclusive interview, Saar told The Observer that prisoners were physically assaulted by 'snatch squads' and subjected to sexual interrogation techniques and that the Geneva Conventions were deliberately ignored by the US military."
The article is INSANE! Check this bit: "Saar also describes the 'snatch teams', known as the Initial Reaction Force (IRF), who remove uncooperative prisoners from their cells....In a training session for an IRF team, one US soldier posing as a prisoner was beaten so badly that he suffered brain damage. It is believed the IRF team had not been told the 'detainee' was a soldier."
FFS! If you voted Neo-Labour - You voted for this!
This stuff just keeps comming! This from Observer/GNN : An American soldier has revealed shocking new details of abuse and sexual torture of prisoners at Guantánamo Bay in the first high-profile whistleblowing account to emerge from inside the top-secret base....In an exclusive interview, Saar told The Observer that prisoners were physically assaulted by 'snatch squads' and subjected to sexual interrogation techniques and that the Geneva Conventions were deliberately ignored by the US military."
The article is INSANE! Check this bit: "Saar also describes the 'snatch teams', known as the Initial Reaction Force (IRF), who remove uncooperative prisoners from their cells....In a training session for an IRF team, one US soldier posing as a prisoner was beaten so badly that he suffered brain damage. It is believed the IRF team had not been told the 'detainee' was a soldier."
FFS! If you voted Neo-Labour - You voted for this!
Post-Election Notes
I did not get round to writing something about the elections before the event. I did vote, holding my nose while I did so, tactically to punish Labour and in the ward I live in it seems to have worked with Lib Dems ousting Labour. I was also heartened by Galloway's massive win in London. Given the undemocratic system we have, this was a massive win for a very anti-establishment figure who has been hammered relentlessly by the press and smeared left-right-and-center. Sure, he sat down with Saddam, and that sucks, but he did so trying to do something – anything - about the estimated HALF A MILLION Iraq children who were murdered by the sanctions regime. The powers-that-be may think that was a price worth paying, but I don’t and I guess he did not too. I don’t agree with him on everything, far from it, but in these dark days, I guess we have to take the good news where we can find it.
Plus in the Ashley ward the Greens got 22% of the vote. All this occludes the fact that the representative democracy we have is far from democratic. The average is one MP per 144,000 people. How can 1 person represent the views of 144,000 people? Just not possible. It’s a system designed by those in power to perpetuate power in the hands of the few. What do I think about western democracy? To paraphrase Gandi, it would be a good idea.
During the election I got in a row with a gaggle of Labour canvassers in my street and the war, obviously, came up as a topic. Their point was that Labour made good of a bad situation. My point is that we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder (and paying through the nose) for an illegal occupation as part of a geo-strategic policy of resource control that is corrupting us all by association. I have written before about the lack of any morality in the venture:
Seymour Hersh: "I can tell you it was much worse. There are worse photos, worse events....some of the worse things that happened you don't know about.....The women were passing messages out saying 'please come and kill me' because of what's happened, basically what happened is those women who were arrested with young boys, children, the boys were sodomised with the cameras rolling, the worse above all of them is the sound track of the boys shrieking. That your government has...."
Empire Notes: "...other soldier said in January 2004 that troops poured water and smeared mud on the detained 17-year-old son of an Iraqi general and "broke" the general by letting him watch his son shiver in the cold."
And now Robert Fisk adds his voice to all this: "Two years after Mission Accomplished, whatever moral stature the United States could claim at the end of its invasion of Iraq has long ago been squandered in the torture and abuse and deaths at Abu Ghraib. That the symbol of Saddam Hussein's brutality should have been turned by his own enemies into the symbol of their own brutality is a singularly ironic epitaph for the whole Iraq adventure."
Shoulder-to-shoulder to with rapists, child torturers and killers. Nice. The Fisk article in the independent goes on to conclude with a chilling reminder that there exist several detention centers in Iraq where even the Red Cross are not allowed, if such brutality and violence exists where we do know, what the fuck is going on where nobody can see?
That was not the only point that came up in my discussion with the Neo-Labour people. Privatization also came up. Their point was that PFI/PPP and all that were Labors way of investing in social provision without the City getting funny about them increasing borrowing. They were saying this little bit of clever financial jiggery-pokery was their way of doing socialism under the nose of the bankers. What?!! Even if you ignore the fact that this policy fits with the GATS agenda from the World Trade organization, endorsed by Neo-Labour. They were asking me to believe that Tony and his cronies had pulled the wool over the eyes of people like Murdoch, while a lowly foot-solider of the party could be in-on the plan. Cmon people! Murdoch may be many things, but when it comes to money – he knows the score. I asked about the example of Packers Field – the transfer of public land to private hands – how did this fit the hidden social agenda. They said they did not know anything about that example. Funny, that.
I did not get round to writing something about the elections before the event. I did vote, holding my nose while I did so, tactically to punish Labour and in the ward I live in it seems to have worked with Lib Dems ousting Labour. I was also heartened by Galloway's massive win in London. Given the undemocratic system we have, this was a massive win for a very anti-establishment figure who has been hammered relentlessly by the press and smeared left-right-and-center. Sure, he sat down with Saddam, and that sucks, but he did so trying to do something – anything - about the estimated HALF A MILLION Iraq children who were murdered by the sanctions regime. The powers-that-be may think that was a price worth paying, but I don’t and I guess he did not too. I don’t agree with him on everything, far from it, but in these dark days, I guess we have to take the good news where we can find it.
Plus in the Ashley ward the Greens got 22% of the vote. All this occludes the fact that the representative democracy we have is far from democratic. The average is one MP per 144,000 people. How can 1 person represent the views of 144,000 people? Just not possible. It’s a system designed by those in power to perpetuate power in the hands of the few. What do I think about western democracy? To paraphrase Gandi, it would be a good idea.
During the election I got in a row with a gaggle of Labour canvassers in my street and the war, obviously, came up as a topic. Their point was that Labour made good of a bad situation. My point is that we are standing shoulder-to-shoulder (and paying through the nose) for an illegal occupation as part of a geo-strategic policy of resource control that is corrupting us all by association. I have written before about the lack of any morality in the venture:
Seymour Hersh: "I can tell you it was much worse. There are worse photos, worse events....some of the worse things that happened you don't know about.....The women were passing messages out saying 'please come and kill me' because of what's happened, basically what happened is those women who were arrested with young boys, children, the boys were sodomised with the cameras rolling, the worse above all of them is the sound track of the boys shrieking. That your government has...."
Empire Notes: "...other soldier said in January 2004 that troops poured water and smeared mud on the detained 17-year-old son of an Iraqi general and "broke" the general by letting him watch his son shiver in the cold."
And now Robert Fisk adds his voice to all this: "Two years after Mission Accomplished, whatever moral stature the United States could claim at the end of its invasion of Iraq has long ago been squandered in the torture and abuse and deaths at Abu Ghraib. That the symbol of Saddam Hussein's brutality should have been turned by his own enemies into the symbol of their own brutality is a singularly ironic epitaph for the whole Iraq adventure."
Shoulder-to-shoulder to with rapists, child torturers and killers. Nice. The Fisk article in the independent goes on to conclude with a chilling reminder that there exist several detention centers in Iraq where even the Red Cross are not allowed, if such brutality and violence exists where we do know, what the fuck is going on where nobody can see?
That was not the only point that came up in my discussion with the Neo-Labour people. Privatization also came up. Their point was that PFI/PPP and all that were Labors way of investing in social provision without the City getting funny about them increasing borrowing. They were saying this little bit of clever financial jiggery-pokery was their way of doing socialism under the nose of the bankers. What?!! Even if you ignore the fact that this policy fits with the GATS agenda from the World Trade organization, endorsed by Neo-Labour. They were asking me to believe that Tony and his cronies had pulled the wool over the eyes of people like Murdoch, while a lowly foot-solider of the party could be in-on the plan. Cmon people! Murdoch may be many things, but when it comes to money – he knows the score. I asked about the example of Packers Field – the transfer of public land to private hands – how did this fit the hidden social agenda. They said they did not know anything about that example. Funny, that.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Friday, April 08, 2005
Street Knowledge
Nina Gordon, Ex-Veruca Salt vocalist Nina Gordon covers NWA's Straight Outta Compton.
You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge. It's so dope.
You can get the Mp3 here:
http://carbongeek.blogspot.com/2005/01/you-are-now-about-to-witness-strength.html
Plus listening to:
- New Snares Album 'Rossz Csillag Allat Szuletett' on Planet Mu. Soooo fucking good it is scary.
- Ivory Springer. Gotta love these jagga-bristol big-black style rocksters.
- Fruit of the Doom. Oh yeah. Heavy shit, done to grr-fection.
- Figment. Down-the-line rock, that...well..rocks!
Plus busy loathing:
- John Reid. Health Secretary. Listening to his patronising dismissal of people who thought that Iraq was an issue on the Today program on Monday made me want to vomit. His argument basically went - if you think Iraq the main issue, then you're only 9% of the population according to our research so go fuck yourselves. Cocksucker.
- Pope-o-rama. FFS, what is it with people? OK, so he he is dead, but all this 'he was a great man' stuff. All I can see is that he did his job and not much else other than aid the spread of AIDS.
Nina Gordon, Ex-Veruca Salt vocalist Nina Gordon covers NWA's Straight Outta Compton.
You are now about to witness the strength of street knowledge. It's so dope.
You can get the Mp3 here:
http://carbongeek.blogspot.com/2005/01/you-are-now-about-to-witness-strength.html
Plus listening to:
- New Snares Album 'Rossz Csillag Allat Szuletett' on Planet Mu. Soooo fucking good it is scary.
- Ivory Springer. Gotta love these jagga-bristol big-black style rocksters.
- Fruit of the Doom. Oh yeah. Heavy shit, done to grr-fection.
- Figment. Down-the-line rock, that...well..rocks!
Plus busy loathing:
- John Reid. Health Secretary. Listening to his patronising dismissal of people who thought that Iraq was an issue on the Today program on Monday made me want to vomit. His argument basically went - if you think Iraq the main issue, then you're only 9% of the population according to our research so go fuck yourselves. Cocksucker.
- Pope-o-rama. FFS, what is it with people? OK, so he he is dead, but all this 'he was a great man' stuff. All I can see is that he did his job and not much else other than aid the spread of AIDS.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
New Quote of the Day
"...international terrorism is a fantasy that has been exaggerated and distorted by politicians. It is a dark illusion that has spread unquestioned through governments around the world, the security services and the international media."
Adam Curtis, 'The Power of Nightmares – The Rise of the Politics of Fear'.
Taken from a top article on GNN.
"...international terrorism is a fantasy that has been exaggerated and distorted by politicians. It is a dark illusion that has spread unquestioned through governments around the world, the security services and the international media."
Adam Curtis, 'The Power of Nightmares – The Rise of the Politics of Fear'.
Taken from a top article on GNN.
Gimme MP3 (or OGG)
I am looking for MP3s that I can play on our radio show, so can you email me anarchist606 at-no-spam hushmail.com with links to your stuff so I can play it? Ta.
Most recent shows are here:
17 March 2005:
Bristol crew being played includes Figment and Fruit of the Doom.
31 March 2005:
Of note - Aaron Spectre - ?? (possibly the next Death$ucker release??) exclusive play!
Peace, out.
I am looking for MP3s that I can play on our radio show, so can you email me anarchist606 at-no-spam hushmail.com with links to your stuff so I can play it? Ta.
Most recent shows are here:
17 March 2005:
Bristol crew being played includes Figment and Fruit of the Doom.
31 March 2005:
Of note - Aaron Spectre - ?? (possibly the next Death$ucker release??) exclusive play!
Peace, out.
Monday, April 04, 2005
Quote of the Day
"The neocons believe in what they think is a noble truth, power of the few, the select few. These are godless people who want power, nothing more. They do not have a country or an allegiance, they have an agenda. These people might hold American passports, but they are not Americans because they do not believe in the Constitution. They believe in the power of the few, not a government for or by the people. They are a few and their agenda is global."
Scott Ritter, former US Marine, former Republican and former UN weapons inspector. From truthout.org
"The neocons believe in what they think is a noble truth, power of the few, the select few. These are godless people who want power, nothing more. They do not have a country or an allegiance, they have an agenda. These people might hold American passports, but they are not Americans because they do not believe in the Constitution. They believe in the power of the few, not a government for or by the people. They are a few and their agenda is global."
Scott Ritter, former US Marine, former Republican and former UN weapons inspector. From truthout.org
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Juxtapositions
Sometimes the most amazing juxtapositions happen: I watch the Steven Soderbergh film traffic which was on the TV over the Easter weekend and partway though during the ad break and an advert came on for reebok fronted by former low-level crack dealer 50 Cent talking about how many times he got shot, followed by an anti-cocaine advert from the state then back to the film about the failure of the war on drugs. You cant make this shit up!
The film ends with the former US drug Czar giving an amazing speech where he says (and I am paraphrasing) if we are fighting a war on drugs then some of the enemy are our own friends and family.
Few other things I would recommend on the net –
-Ward Churchill and Derrick Jensen in conversation. Amazing stuff.
-Plus an interview with Derrick in NoCompromise.org.
-Naomi Klien gives one of the best dissections of the Iraq war I have heard.
Sometimes the most amazing juxtapositions happen: I watch the Steven Soderbergh film traffic which was on the TV over the Easter weekend and partway though during the ad break and an advert came on for reebok fronted by former low-level crack dealer 50 Cent talking about how many times he got shot, followed by an anti-cocaine advert from the state then back to the film about the failure of the war on drugs. You cant make this shit up!
The film ends with the former US drug Czar giving an amazing speech where he says (and I am paraphrasing) if we are fighting a war on drugs then some of the enemy are our own friends and family.
Few other things I would recommend on the net –
-Ward Churchill and Derrick Jensen in conversation. Amazing stuff.
-Plus an interview with Derrick in NoCompromise.org.
-Naomi Klien gives one of the best dissections of the Iraq war I have heard.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Hassellhoff Boot Scotty
After lots of depressing posts, I came across somthing cheering: reviews on amazon.com of Hassellhoff's greatest hits album:
Reviewer: Al-Zarquarwi (Baghdad, Iraq) - See all my reviews
I used to be an Iraqi insurgent but after attacking and blowing up the lastest road block I stumbled upon what I can only describe as nirvana - David al-Haselhoff's greatest hits. Why oh why was this walking god amongst men not sent to us before? When I played it on a looted stereo I was instantly struck by the melodies that could only have been sent to earth by angels, I was sent into a frenzy of excitation that could only be previously achieved by shooting Americans.
I have now given up my bloody resistance and have pledged to become German.
The track 'Hot Shot City' is particularly good.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes : No
-----------------------------------------------------
Reviewer: Lech (Poland) - See all my reviews
Here in Poland, David not wellknown famous person. Baywatch not on our television sets because we have no beaches in Poland. Shipyards, yes - beaches, no. Some smuggle in betatapes of the show and people meet and watch together and cheer when David lifesaves. One day, people accidentally smuggle musictape instead. We all listen and start crazydancing. Now we are planning on defecting so we can go to America and dance all day to David. Only bad thing : my girlfriend in love with David. She says he has sexy tan. I love him too, but in different way.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes : No
-----------------------------------------------------
Reviewer: Rockin Rachel - See all my reviews
Me and my man were cruising for a real romantic night on the town. We had left our 14 children with their grandfather, all though he has also a father to 2 of them...but thats another story. We headed to the local Walmart for our big date in our Chevy.
Had a little problem with opening the door cause Randy had padlocked it shut to keep the Racoons out of the door while it was in the trailer park. When we got to Walmart, Randy took me to the music counter for a big surprise. He had pre ordered a copy of David Hasselhoffs best of album. I was so excited I thought I would pee. Sadly, due to a little problem with Walmarts pre order system, they had forgotten to place it on their list and they had sold all 5 copies they had brought in within 2 months. I was devastated. However, Randy made it up to me by taking me to Dunkin donuts. It was the best night ever! I think I am now pregnant with my 15th child - who I am going to call David in honour of the Master!!! Hot Shot City is our theme song! Go the leather panted David!!
PS:Since I wrote this review I have given birth to a lovely little girl we honour with the name David.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes : No
-----------------------------------------------------
Who de man! The Hoff is!
After lots of depressing posts, I came across somthing cheering: reviews on amazon.com of Hassellhoff's greatest hits album:
Reviewer: Al-Zarquarwi (Baghdad, Iraq) - See all my reviews
I used to be an Iraqi insurgent but after attacking and blowing up the lastest road block I stumbled upon what I can only describe as nirvana - David al-Haselhoff's greatest hits. Why oh why was this walking god amongst men not sent to us before? When I played it on a looted stereo I was instantly struck by the melodies that could only have been sent to earth by angels, I was sent into a frenzy of excitation that could only be previously achieved by shooting Americans.
I have now given up my bloody resistance and have pledged to become German.
The track 'Hot Shot City' is particularly good.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes : No
-----------------------------------------------------
Reviewer: Lech (Poland) - See all my reviews
Here in Poland, David not wellknown famous person. Baywatch not on our television sets because we have no beaches in Poland. Shipyards, yes - beaches, no. Some smuggle in betatapes of the show and people meet and watch together and cheer when David lifesaves. One day, people accidentally smuggle musictape instead. We all listen and start crazydancing. Now we are planning on defecting so we can go to America and dance all day to David. Only bad thing : my girlfriend in love with David. She says he has sexy tan. I love him too, but in different way.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes : No
-----------------------------------------------------
Reviewer: Rockin Rachel - See all my reviews
Me and my man were cruising for a real romantic night on the town. We had left our 14 children with their grandfather, all though he has also a father to 2 of them...but thats another story. We headed to the local Walmart for our big date in our Chevy.
Had a little problem with opening the door cause Randy had padlocked it shut to keep the Racoons out of the door while it was in the trailer park. When we got to Walmart, Randy took me to the music counter for a big surprise. He had pre ordered a copy of David Hasselhoffs best of album. I was so excited I thought I would pee. Sadly, due to a little problem with Walmarts pre order system, they had forgotten to place it on their list and they had sold all 5 copies they had brought in within 2 months. I was devastated. However, Randy made it up to me by taking me to Dunkin donuts. It was the best night ever! I think I am now pregnant with my 15th child - who I am going to call David in honour of the Master!!! Hot Shot City is our theme song! Go the leather panted David!!
PS:Since I wrote this review I have given birth to a lovely little girl we honour with the name David.
Was this review helpful to you? Yes : No
-----------------------------------------------------
Who de man! The Hoff is!
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Craig the Fighter
In my last post I give the nasty truth of torture being used as part of the so-called 'war on terror (tm)' and now I am happy to follow the post with some good news, Craig Murray, straight-talking British Ambassador, Craig Murray unmasked the tyrannical 'Karimov' regime, in Uzbekistan. While others kept quiet, our man in Tashkent hit the headlines, working tirelessly to expose the mass-murder at the heart of this Central Asian dictatorship - who has decided to take Jack Straw 'Dogs' on in the upcomming election. Good on him, as it will be an uphill battle. He has already found it hard to rent a HQ as the local property people don't want to piss Straw 'Dogs' off.
According to Bu$h and Bliar, the Karimov regeme, that has boiled people alive, is an ally in the 'war on terror (tm)' - a fitting addition to the war criminals, rapists, sadists and corporate whores in the war so far. I want to write more but am away in France for the Peace Off gig to see local crew Parasite and Anakissed fly the flag for Bristle alongside Sickboy, Rotator, Drop the Lime, Krumble and the very top named Fishcat (or chatpoission to translate). So will write more later.
In my last post I give the nasty truth of torture being used as part of the so-called 'war on terror (tm)' and now I am happy to follow the post with some good news, Craig Murray, straight-talking British Ambassador, Craig Murray unmasked the tyrannical 'Karimov' regime, in Uzbekistan. While others kept quiet, our man in Tashkent hit the headlines, working tirelessly to expose the mass-murder at the heart of this Central Asian dictatorship - who has decided to take Jack Straw 'Dogs' on in the upcomming election. Good on him, as it will be an uphill battle. He has already found it hard to rent a HQ as the local property people don't want to piss Straw 'Dogs' off.
According to Bu$h and Bliar, the Karimov regeme, that has boiled people alive, is an ally in the 'war on terror (tm)' - a fitting addition to the war criminals, rapists, sadists and corporate whores in the war so far. I want to write more but am away in France for the Peace Off gig to see local crew Parasite and Anakissed fly the flag for Bristle alongside Sickboy, Rotator, Drop the Lime, Krumble and the very top named Fishcat (or chatpoission to translate). So will write more later.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Torturing Kids
I'd written before about the totally unreported fact that the US has been torturing children in Iraq as part of the 'War on Terror', and here is more:
...other soldier said in January 2004 that troops poured water and smeared mud on the detained 17-year-old son of an Iraqi general and "broke" the general by letting him watch his son shiver in the cold.
From the excellent Empire Notes.
This war is soooooooooooo fucked up that it is hard to see how much lower it can go, but I am sure those war criminals Bu$h and Bliar will figure out a way.
I'd written before about the totally unreported fact that the US has been torturing children in Iraq as part of the 'War on Terror', and here is more:
...other soldier said in January 2004 that troops poured water and smeared mud on the detained 17-year-old son of an Iraqi general and "broke" the general by letting him watch his son shiver in the cold.
From the excellent Empire Notes.
This war is soooooooooooo fucked up that it is hard to see how much lower it can go, but I am sure those war criminals Bu$h and Bliar will figure out a way.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Gunboat Diplomacy
I've been following the Chechnya situation ever since I read the amazing book by herione reporter Anna Politkovskaya. Anyhow, Aslan Maskhadov, one of the guerrilla commanders has been killed by the Russians. The Sun, being simplistic bleats out, 'Army kill Beslan Butcher' but there are more sober examinations if this event and what it means from the Toronto Star:
The death of Aslan Maskhadov, Chechnya's onetime president and chief guerrilla commander, will be hailed in Moscow as a victory for the demoralized Russian military. But those who have closely watched the tiny mountainous republic's slide into chaos and despair view it as a defeat for any hope of a peace process to end a decade of bloodshed that has taken tens of thousands of Chechen and Russian lives.
I've been following the Chechnya situation ever since I read the amazing book by herione reporter Anna Politkovskaya. Anyhow, Aslan Maskhadov, one of the guerrilla commanders has been killed by the Russians. The Sun, being simplistic bleats out, 'Army kill Beslan Butcher' but there are more sober examinations if this event and what it means from the Toronto Star:
The death of Aslan Maskhadov, Chechnya's onetime president and chief guerrilla commander, will be hailed in Moscow as a victory for the demoralized Russian military. But those who have closely watched the tiny mountainous republic's slide into chaos and despair view it as a defeat for any hope of a peace process to end a decade of bloodshed that has taken tens of thousands of Chechen and Russian lives.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
The War of Terror Gets Terrifying
Via the so-called anti-terror law, Neo-Labour are busy dismantling what little democracy social struggle has gained us over the last 600 odd years. Apparently the threat to democracy is soooooo great that they feel they should remove it before the Taliban do. Whatever. What really bugs me is all the prattle about how not being killed in a terror bombing is a civil right too. It is not. Being alive is survival and not something at the whim of legal rights. Being alive is nature's gift to us. What we do with that gift is to (in most cases) try to build something with value – a community/culture – and that is where rights come in. To follow Bliars ridiculous rhetoric, factory farmed pigs, confined to their sheds and force-fed steroids and grain are enjoying the greatest 'civil right' there is – they are alive. If that was all nature wanted for us it would have removed any desire to break free from the cage.
Lots of people have been talking about Magna Carta here. You can read it yourself as it is online: TO ALL FREE MEN OF OUR KINGDOM we have also granted, for us and our heirs for ever, all the liberties written out below, to have and to keep for them and their heirs, of us and our heirs…..No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land.
Another aspect of this criminal anti-terror bill is that disruption to economic activity is now terrorism. This gets more and more Orwellian by the day! Terrorism is now so broad a word that it includes everything from blowing things up to picketing a McDonalds. No wonder Dick Cheney said this would not be a war that will end in our life time. It’s a forever-war against liberty and us pigs will always want to be free.
PS. I met one of the local Hunt Sabs the other day. A brave guy. He and 9 others went to a hunt on Dartmoor on the day hunting was banned. There were over 1000 hunters and supporters. To march into an area outnumbered by 100 to 1 with people who hate your guts. That takes some.
Via the so-called anti-terror law, Neo-Labour are busy dismantling what little democracy social struggle has gained us over the last 600 odd years. Apparently the threat to democracy is soooooo great that they feel they should remove it before the Taliban do. Whatever. What really bugs me is all the prattle about how not being killed in a terror bombing is a civil right too. It is not. Being alive is survival and not something at the whim of legal rights. Being alive is nature's gift to us. What we do with that gift is to (in most cases) try to build something with value – a community/culture – and that is where rights come in. To follow Bliars ridiculous rhetoric, factory farmed pigs, confined to their sheds and force-fed steroids and grain are enjoying the greatest 'civil right' there is – they are alive. If that was all nature wanted for us it would have removed any desire to break free from the cage.
Lots of people have been talking about Magna Carta here. You can read it yourself as it is online: TO ALL FREE MEN OF OUR KINGDOM we have also granted, for us and our heirs for ever, all the liberties written out below, to have and to keep for them and their heirs, of us and our heirs…..No free man shall be seized or imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions, or outlawed or exiled, or deprived of his standing in any other way, nor will we proceed with force against him, or send others to do so, except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land.
Another aspect of this criminal anti-terror bill is that disruption to economic activity is now terrorism. This gets more and more Orwellian by the day! Terrorism is now so broad a word that it includes everything from blowing things up to picketing a McDonalds. No wonder Dick Cheney said this would not be a war that will end in our life time. It’s a forever-war against liberty and us pigs will always want to be free.
PS. I met one of the local Hunt Sabs the other day. A brave guy. He and 9 others went to a hunt on Dartmoor on the day hunting was banned. There were over 1000 hunters and supporters. To march into an area outnumbered by 100 to 1 with people who hate your guts. That takes some.
Friday, February 25, 2005
Independent vs. Privatized
I noticed something interesting regarding language use on the Today program. On Monday morning they were interviewing the Health Secretary John Reid did an interesting language fiddle – whenever he needed to refer to the private contactors in a report about cockups in a privatized scanner program, he used the word independent. Privatized is a word with negative stigma attached due to botched jobs and greedy corporate robbery. Rather than change the G8 mandated policy, its far easier to use words like independent, reform and modernize. Neo-Labour have taken this one straight from the neo-cons playbook.
I noticed something interesting regarding language use on the Today program. On Monday morning they were interviewing the Health Secretary John Reid did an interesting language fiddle – whenever he needed to refer to the private contactors in a report about cockups in a privatized scanner program, he used the word independent. Privatized is a word with negative stigma attached due to botched jobs and greedy corporate robbery. Rather than change the G8 mandated policy, its far easier to use words like independent, reform and modernize. Neo-Labour have taken this one straight from the neo-cons playbook.
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Learning About al-Qaeda
I have just finished reading al-Qaeda - The True Story of Radical Islam by Jason Burke. It's is a very good read. He was one of the talking heads in the top BBC series, The Power of Nightmares. At the start of the book he gives a good description of the meaning of the phrase 'al-Qaeda' which reminded me of Dune by Frank Herbert - as many have noted! al_Qaeda "..can mean base, as in camp or a home, a foundation, such as what is beneath a house or a pedestal that supports a column" while Dune's central character is named by a desert tribesman as Usul, meaning "The strength at the base of a pillar."
Anyway, I thought I knew the score with what al-Qaeda were about and where they came from, but after reading this, I guess I did not. I would go as far as to say this, in the current climate, is essential reading. In the conclusion he talks about how the so-called war on terror is being fought, "Currently military power is the default, the weapon of choice, in fact the greatest weapon available in the war on terrorism is the courage, decency, humour and integrity of the vast portion of the worlds 1.3 billion Muslims. It is this that is restricting the spread of al-Qaeda and its warped world view, not the activities of counter-terrorist experts or the military strategists." He ends by linking to a foot-note of leaked memo by Donald Rumsfeld, "We are having mixed results with Al Qaeda, although we have put considerable pressure on them - nonetheless, a great many remain at large...Today, we lack metrics to know if we are winning or losing the global war on terror. Are we capturing, killing or deterring and dissuading more terrorists every day than the madrassas and the radical clerics are recruiting, training and deploying against us?....The cost-benefit ratio is against us! Our cost is billions against the terrorists' costs of millions."
I have just finished reading al-Qaeda - The True Story of Radical Islam by Jason Burke. It's is a very good read. He was one of the talking heads in the top BBC series, The Power of Nightmares. At the start of the book he gives a good description of the meaning of the phrase 'al-Qaeda' which reminded me of Dune by Frank Herbert - as many have noted! al_Qaeda "..can mean base, as in camp or a home, a foundation, such as what is beneath a house or a pedestal that supports a column" while Dune's central character is named by a desert tribesman as Usul, meaning "The strength at the base of a pillar."
Anyway, I thought I knew the score with what al-Qaeda were about and where they came from, but after reading this, I guess I did not. I would go as far as to say this, in the current climate, is essential reading. In the conclusion he talks about how the so-called war on terror is being fought, "Currently military power is the default, the weapon of choice, in fact the greatest weapon available in the war on terrorism is the courage, decency, humour and integrity of the vast portion of the worlds 1.3 billion Muslims. It is this that is restricting the spread of al-Qaeda and its warped world view, not the activities of counter-terrorist experts or the military strategists." He ends by linking to a foot-note of leaked memo by Donald Rumsfeld, "We are having mixed results with Al Qaeda, although we have put considerable pressure on them - nonetheless, a great many remain at large...Today, we lack metrics to know if we are winning or losing the global war on terror. Are we capturing, killing or deterring and dissuading more terrorists every day than the madrassas and the radical clerics are recruiting, training and deploying against us?....The cost-benefit ratio is against us! Our cost is billions against the terrorists' costs of millions."
Thursday, February 17, 2005
communiqué from occupied Bristol #1
Bringing you the choicest cuts of breakcore, fuckstep, mashup, electronica and raggajungle; it's the return Parasite and 606 show!
Our dedicated guerrilla army of beat-warriors are scouring the globe for the best sounds around, while our Bristol massive are hunting high and low in our own back garden for interesting vibes to bring to the table. But it's not all music - filmmaker and VJ extraordinaire Anakissed will be joining us for topical debate and political anecdotes.
Tune in to hear the results TONIGHT!!!: http://www.wheresthatnoise.co.uk
at 20:00-22:00 GMT.
We'll broadcasting from Parasite HQ fortnightly every Thursday night. Login to the Hijact forum to request tracks/chat etc..http://hijackbristol.co.uk/board/index.php/board,6.0.html
Bringing you the choicest cuts of breakcore, fuckstep, mashup, electronica and raggajungle; it's the return Parasite and 606 show!
Our dedicated guerrilla army of beat-warriors are scouring the globe for the best sounds around, while our Bristol massive are hunting high and low in our own back garden for interesting vibes to bring to the table. But it's not all music - filmmaker and VJ extraordinaire Anakissed will be joining us for topical debate and political anecdotes.
Tune in to hear the results TONIGHT!!!: http://www.wheresthatnoise.co.uk
at 20:00-22:00 GMT.
We'll broadcasting from Parasite HQ fortnightly every Thursday night. Login to the Hijact forum to request tracks/chat etc..http://hijackbristol.co.uk/board/index.php/board,6.0.html
Friday, February 11, 2005
Breaking the Democracy-Free Tade Link
On the issue of business waking up to the opportunities of state communism China stylee – all the benefits of free trade with none of the drawbacks of communism - They [Walmart aka Asda] are allowing unions if they are affiliated with the Communist Party in China. These unions act like Wal-Mart does when it comes to getting wage increases, they don’t give them.
On the issue of business waking up to the opportunities of state communism China stylee – all the benefits of free trade with none of the drawbacks of communism - They [Walmart aka Asda] are allowing unions if they are affiliated with the Communist Party in China. These unions act like Wal-Mart does when it comes to getting wage increases, they don’t give them.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Friday, February 04, 2005
Software Patent Battle
Bristol has been named as one of seven UK cities to hold a debate on the issue of software patents on 18th March this year. Why does this matter? Recently an attempt was made to push an EU law that would create very strong copyright protections for big business and massively restrict the creation of free (as in freedom) and open source software. In response various groups such as the Free Software Foundation (FSF) launched a campaign to urge a think again. Indeed one such call, from the FSF founder, Richard Stallman, was issued in Bristol in 2004. The law being proposed was very much along the line of the US copyrights laws, which have been accused of stifling creative and individual freedom. Fortunately this proposed law has been scrapped and so has been forced back to the drawing board.
This gives a chance to open up the debate, which, unlike last time will allow more than just hand-picked company people to participate. Do you value open-source/free software? If you are using Open Office, Linux/GNU, Firefox, eMule, Gnutella, Bittorrent, Wikipedia or indeed Indymedia – then this ethos of technology is having some impact on your life!
If you wish to take part in the debate, you need to register by 18th February here:
http://www.patent.gov.uk/about/ippd/issues/cii-workshops.htm
If you wish to know more about the ideas of the Free Software Foundation then see here:
http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
Bristol has been named as one of seven UK cities to hold a debate on the issue of software patents on 18th March this year. Why does this matter? Recently an attempt was made to push an EU law that would create very strong copyright protections for big business and massively restrict the creation of free (as in freedom) and open source software. In response various groups such as the Free Software Foundation (FSF) launched a campaign to urge a think again. Indeed one such call, from the FSF founder, Richard Stallman, was issued in Bristol in 2004. The law being proposed was very much along the line of the US copyrights laws, which have been accused of stifling creative and individual freedom. Fortunately this proposed law has been scrapped and so has been forced back to the drawing board.
This gives a chance to open up the debate, which, unlike last time will allow more than just hand-picked company people to participate. Do you value open-source/free software? If you are using Open Office, Linux/GNU, Firefox, eMule, Gnutella, Bittorrent, Wikipedia or indeed Indymedia – then this ethos of technology is having some impact on your life!
If you wish to take part in the debate, you need to register by 18th February here:
http://www.patent.gov.uk/about/ippd/issues/cii-workshops.htm
If you wish to know more about the ideas of the Free Software Foundation then see here:
http://www.fsf.org/philosophy/free-sw.html
Monday, January 31, 2005
Dissident vs. DSF sound clash on Saturday night – very top. Dissident were playing more breakcore stuff while DSF was more bass-heavy drum'n'bass. It was SO FUCKING LOUD in the main hall it hurt. The hairs on my arms and head were swaying like plants in the sea each time a burst of bass broke over me. In the end I spent a small fortune on laughing gas just to cope. Top night. Recommended. (Plus Dissident have got a 12" out - Fix - S.A.R.S / Crack Whores and Taxis - which is pretty fucking good.)
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Localising Housing
I don’t mean to go all Daily Mail on you but I wish to talk about house prices (see for more info http://www.qwghlm.co.uk/other/dailymail.php on Daily Mail obsessions). You may have read in the news today some interesting news about houses and prices - really; "...the Yorkshire Dales national park authority is proposing to limit the number of outsiders buying second homes and retirement cottages in the 684 sq miles of the Dales. Under the scheme, which is set to be approved today by the authority's planning committee, virtually all new housing in the area will be reserved for rent or purchase by locals and outsiders taking existing jobs in the area. The restriction will also apply to new conversions of barns and other farm buildings."
While this in itself is not the most major event in history, it does represent something very interesting. Its an admission that the 'free' market cannot deal with that most basic of human need - housing. This plan is being watched with interest by similar minded organisations in Scotland, Wales and even in the South West (Cornwall is interested). Predictably the housing interests have reacted with horror at any messing with their free market; "...the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) has warned that the proposals could in fact, make the housing shortage worse. They suggest that the plan could slow down the rate of construction in the area and push house prices further out of the reach of local people." It's a pretty bonkers view of capitalism - a world-view that can only be true if first - we let them build lots and lots more houses - and second, the houses they build are not luxury properties beyond the reach of the average person. Which wont happen so their worry is, IMHO, simply scaremongering.
What is also interesting about this story is also that all the places looking at also implementing this idea are rural. Why not in a city? Why not in Bristol? Its the same issue: Take the harbourside developments as an example - they are marketed and advertised nationally. As such non-Bristolian rich people buying them as 'investments' or second homes will be putting pressure on the local housing stock. They are also out of reach of the average person, for example the "refreshing new take on contemporary urban living" aka Crest Nicholson harbourside development has 24 apartments available priced between £151,000 (for Studio Apartment) to £400,000 (for a 2 bedroom penthouse). This avalibility so long after they were completed suggests that the rich local buyers are not there - hence the fact that Crest Nicholson advertised their developments at a National level.
Ultimately all this goes to show the mess the current system of housing is. Want some stability in your life? You have to buy and hope that interest rates don't go bonkers. Can't afford to buy? You're left living in somebody else's investment and at the whim of a 6 Month Assured Short-Hold Tenancy Agreement. Or you can squat, which I admire those who do, but for those with a family, I guess the enhanced uncertainty is hard. If we want secure and safe housing we need to look elsewhere for answers, because today shows all too clearly that the free market has not got them.
I don’t mean to go all Daily Mail on you but I wish to talk about house prices (see for more info http://www.qwghlm.co.uk/other/dailymail.php on Daily Mail obsessions). You may have read in the news today some interesting news about houses and prices - really; "...the Yorkshire Dales national park authority is proposing to limit the number of outsiders buying second homes and retirement cottages in the 684 sq miles of the Dales. Under the scheme, which is set to be approved today by the authority's planning committee, virtually all new housing in the area will be reserved for rent or purchase by locals and outsiders taking existing jobs in the area. The restriction will also apply to new conversions of barns and other farm buildings."
While this in itself is not the most major event in history, it does represent something very interesting. Its an admission that the 'free' market cannot deal with that most basic of human need - housing. This plan is being watched with interest by similar minded organisations in Scotland, Wales and even in the South West (Cornwall is interested). Predictably the housing interests have reacted with horror at any messing with their free market; "...the Centre for Economic and Business Research (CEBR) has warned that the proposals could in fact, make the housing shortage worse. They suggest that the plan could slow down the rate of construction in the area and push house prices further out of the reach of local people." It's a pretty bonkers view of capitalism - a world-view that can only be true if first - we let them build lots and lots more houses - and second, the houses they build are not luxury properties beyond the reach of the average person. Which wont happen so their worry is, IMHO, simply scaremongering.
What is also interesting about this story is also that all the places looking at also implementing this idea are rural. Why not in a city? Why not in Bristol? Its the same issue: Take the harbourside developments as an example - they are marketed and advertised nationally. As such non-Bristolian rich people buying them as 'investments' or second homes will be putting pressure on the local housing stock. They are also out of reach of the average person, for example the "refreshing new take on contemporary urban living" aka Crest Nicholson harbourside development has 24 apartments available priced between £151,000 (for Studio Apartment) to £400,000 (for a 2 bedroom penthouse). This avalibility so long after they were completed suggests that the rich local buyers are not there - hence the fact that Crest Nicholson advertised their developments at a National level.
Ultimately all this goes to show the mess the current system of housing is. Want some stability in your life? You have to buy and hope that interest rates don't go bonkers. Can't afford to buy? You're left living in somebody else's investment and at the whim of a 6 Month Assured Short-Hold Tenancy Agreement. Or you can squat, which I admire those who do, but for those with a family, I guess the enhanced uncertainty is hard. If we want secure and safe housing we need to look elsewhere for answers, because today shows all too clearly that the free market has not got them.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
General Thoughts
I have just been to see The Corporation at the Cube. It’s a pretty good film and I would recommend it. The Cube is my most visited cinema at the moment having done new year there, seen the directors cut of Donnie Darko there on new years day too. The directors cut is slightly less confusing that the original, but still good – if slightly less magical.
On the political front a couple of articles worth reading. First is about Tesco, the place where a staggering 1-in-8 pounds spent in the UK ends up. And second is about the role of the destruction of the natural environment in making the impact of the recent tragic tsunami much worse.
I have just been to see The Corporation at the Cube. It’s a pretty good film and I would recommend it. The Cube is my most visited cinema at the moment having done new year there, seen the directors cut of Donnie Darko there on new years day too. The directors cut is slightly less confusing that the original, but still good – if slightly less magical.
On the political front a couple of articles worth reading. First is about Tesco, the place where a staggering 1-in-8 pounds spent in the UK ends up. And second is about the role of the destruction of the natural environment in making the impact of the recent tragic tsunami much worse.
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