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Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Wu Ming - Manituana
The novels of Wu Ming (Chinese for "anonymous" or "five people") might be the best ever written by a gang. Most efforts of this sort have been intent on producing bad novels – Naked Came the Stranger? The horror, the horror! Wu Ming, on the other hand, squeeze every potential for incisive, rabid adventure they can out of the popular novel. Their books sizzle with a kind of lefty jazz: they're linguistically and culturally hip, historically astute, with a heart worn challengingly on the sleeve.
54, set in postwar Italy, was filled with rollicking, stupefying conflations of fact and fiction. Manituana, on the surface, is a straighter story: that of educated, enigmatic Joseph Brant, leader of the Mohawks during the American revolution; of his sister Molly, who "dreams with great strength"; and crucially, the loss, for humanity, of the confederation of the Six Nations. After the French and Indian wars, there was a time of cooperation between native Americans and the English – William Johnson, head of the Indian Department, hoped there was "room for everybody" in the beautiful Mohawk Valley. Wu think of this time and place as "Iroquireland" – an all too brief shading of tribes from the old and new worlds. They tell this sad, salient story as that of the violent dismemberment of one polyglot society by another.
"Manituana" means the Thousand Islands of the St Lawrence river, in legend a paradise, the birthplace of the Mohawk tongue. Wu's narrative is particularly concerned with language: Mohawk, the Dutch and German of old New York, the talk of Cockneys and of the Court of St James. Shaun Whiteside's brilliant translation of the many voices and ventriloquisms of this novel is slick and savvy (despite one's doubt that a woodpecker, though an omniscient Mohawk spirit, knows the word fo'c'sle). Wu deftly explore the collision of Indian and European languages: "In the language of the Empire, every cause was followed by a consequence . . . on the contrary, the language of the Mohawk was full of details, run through with doubts refined by constant adjustments. Each word stretched and expanded to capture every possible meaning." These are arresting pictures of how Joseph and Molly Brant's minds must have worked – rich in Mohawk images and energy, shrewd with western ideas. Along with languages, superstitions collide: what, after all, is "civilisation" but the superstitions that make you comfortable?
Manituana unspools mesmerisingly like an old Hollywood movie, ducking the common mishaps of the historical novel – there is not a single longueur. The descriptions of American abundance are worthy of Washington Irving, with a fall chill punchy as a stanza of Longfellow or a Remington painting of woods. The story is governed by the Indian sense of time, always returning to the reckoning of autumn. But events develop and are communicated at surprising speed: messengers are hunted bloodthirstily through forests, and in Molly Brant's powerful, ornate telepathies Brant and his comrade Lacroix learn the fate of their people before it occurs, although Brant refuses to accept it.
As in 54, violence (and it's appalling) is a natural but also a supernatural force. Lacroix's prowess with a tomahawk is described with the flavour of an antique children's book, but to this Wu add the unthinkable mayhem of a computer game: "The shot cleanly detached his head and sent it flying . . . panic stopped him shooting straight and he found his guts between his feet, his hands groping to try and keep them in . . . When the tomahawk broke his arm with a dry sound he froze, staring at the limb that dangled from his shoulder . . ."
Brant was complicated, a Freemason and a slave-owner (facts soft-pedalled by Wu for their own purposes, but then who remains a hero until his dying day?). By the time the war turned in favour of the colonists, he'd become "ubiquitous", in Wu's word, intent on fulfilling, against his will, a hero's destiny. On the warpath against Europeans he'd previously counted as neighbours, he'd become "the most hated Indian since the days of Pontiac". General Washington ordered that the people of the Six Nations be captured, their villages and crops destroyed.
But in 1775, Brant still believed the English would save the Indians. He travelled to London for an audience with George III. This part of the novel heaves with historical observation and play: like a crazy scene in a Gillray, theatregoers at Drury Lane are astonished to hear Lacroix supply a missing line in Romeo and Juliet. The backstabbing of the court is brutally anatomised; Wu's favourite evil businessmen are described in the most hackle-raising way. Their lickspittle tabloid journo is also nauseatingly up-to-date. An enterprising band of thuggish East End "Mohocks" send a letter to Brant movingly describing the anguish and oppression of the London poor in terms similar to his own, and ask to be recognised as the Seventh Nation of the Iroquois. And at a lavish party in Brant's honour, some waggish Italian pyrotechnicians grab a chance to make fun of the English: a Georgian "mansion" bursts into flames, and from it emerges a stark, Masonic pyramid, chilling sign of the whispery capitalists and their plan for America – the plan that won, of course.
Wandering around London, which disgusts him now he has seen the whole of it, Brant comes upon a poor family so weak with hunger that they cannot bury their little dead son. The Mohawk chieftain lends his strong back to dig the grave, only to be roundly abused by this bunch of ingrates for being a Catholic. Wu have now out-Dickensed Dickens, and when you read this novel, you will become aware of a faint buzzing noise. That will be James Fenimore Cooper, spinning in his grave.
Todd McEwen @'The Guardian' 
MOBI, 5.9 mb
The Zionist Story
The Zionist Story, an independent film by Ronen Berelovich, is the story of ethnic cleansing, colonialism and apartheid to produce a demographically Jewish State.
Ronen successfully combines archival footage with commentary from himself and others such as Ilan Pappe, Terry Boullata, Alan Hart and Jeff Halper.
"I have recently finished an independent documentary, The Zionist Story, in which I aim to present not just the history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, but also the core reason for it: the Zionist ideology, its goals (past and present) and its firm grip not only on Israeli society, but also, increasingly, on the perception of Middle East issues in Western democracies.
These concepts have already been demonstrated in the excellent 'Occupation 101′ documentary made by Abdallah Omeish and Sufyan Omeish, but in my documentary I approach the subject from the perspective of an Israeli, ex-reserve soldier and someone who has spent his entire life in the shadow of Zionism.
I hope you can find a moment to watch The Zionist Story and, if you like it, please feel free to share it with others. (As both the documentary and the archived footage used are for educational purposes only, the film can be freely distributed).
I have made this documentary entirely by myself, with virtually no budget, although doing my best to achieve high professional standard, and I hope that this 'home-spun' production will be of interest to viewers." - Ronen Berelovich.
Re-Uploaded from Dobronironechka's Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/Dobronironechka
Links:
http://pulsemedia.org/2009/03/09/the-zionist-story
http://australiansforpalestine.com/17370
http://warincontext.org/the-zionist-story
http://kanan48.wordpress.com/2011/02/03/the-zionist-story
Related Videos:
Israeli Myths & Propaganda:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIWvcBzbqVc
http://blip.tv/file/4403235
Occupation 101:
http://vimeo.com/14327996
Imperial Geography:
http://blip.tv/file/1674292
Memory of the Cactus:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ_LjknRHVA
Canada "Park" in Palestine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHRbR7nMxN4
The History of Palestine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t88I7Ibb1fw
Palestine 1896:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjEvqUmdth8
1936 Warning of a British and Zionist Colonization of Palestine:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfwaLExx1e8
Note 1: This is an improved copy of the documentary, due to synchronization issues with the first copy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA1lDow-0rk
Note 2: I made this documentary available on this channel for educational and non-commercial use only and as the creator of the documentary mentioned please feel free to share it with others.
The Documentary is also available for download on blip tv: http://kanan48.blip.tv/file/4768208/
Creative Commons: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
Hugh Grant and ex-NOTW journalist on phone hacking
Actor Hugh Grant attacks the News Of The World over the Milly Dowler phone hacking allegations. He's joined by former journalist Paul McMullen, who he had previously recorded talking about the paper's widespread use of hacking.
Via
Via
Milly Dowler phone hacking: the full text of Rebekah Brooks's email
Rebekah Brooks has told News International staff that it is 'inconceivable' she knew about phone hacking in the Milly Dowler case. Photograph: Indigo/Getty Images
Dear All,When I wrote to you last week updating you on a number of business issues I did not anticipate having to do so again so soon.
However, I wanted to address the company as a matter of urgency in light of the new claims against the News of the World.
We were all appalled and shocked when we heard about these allegations yesterday.
I have to tell you that I am sickened that these events are alleged to have happened.
Not just because I was editor of the News of the World at the time, but if the accusations are true, the devastating effect on Milly Dowler's family is unforgivable.
Our first priority must be to establish the full facts behind these claims. I have written to Mr and Mrs Dowler this morning to assure them News International will vigorously pursue the truth and that they will be the first to be informed of the outcome of our investigation.
Our lawyers have also written to their solicitor Mark Lewis to ask him to show us any of the evidence he has so we can swiftly take the appropriate action.
At the moment we only know what we have read.
Since 2006, when the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) seized the documentation from the private investigator Glen [sic] Mulcaire, News International has had no visibility on the evidence available.
The process of discovery is complicated. The MPS first present relevant documents to potential victims. We only see the evidence much later during the legal process.
This morning, in our regular Operation Weeting meeting, we have offered the MPS our full co-operation to establish the veracity of these fresh allegations.
I have also written to the chief constable of Surrey police. Although their nine year investigation is now complete, I want to offer our co-operation should they intend to discuss this matter with us.
I am determined that News International does everything it can to co-operate fully and pro-actively with the MPS, as we have been doing for some time, to verify the facts so we can respond in a robust and proper way.
It is almost too horrific to believe that a professional journalist or even a freelance inquiry agent working on behalf of a member of the News of the World staff could behave in this way.
If the allegations are proved to be true then I can promise the strongest possible action will be taken as this company will not tolerate such disgraceful behaviour.
I hope that you all realise it is inconceivable that I knew or worse, sanctioned these appalling allegations.
I am proud of the many successful newspaper campaigns at the Sun and the News of the World under my editorship.
In particular, the 10-year fight for Sarah's Law is especially personal to me.
The battle for better protection of children from paedophiles and better rights for the families and the victims of these crimes defined my editorships.
Although these difficult times will continue for many months ahead, I want you to know that News International will pursue the facts with vigour and integrity.
I am aware of the speculation about my position. Therefore it is important you all know that as chief executive, I am determined to lead the company to ensure we do the right thing and resolve these serious issues.
We will face up to the mistakes and wrongdoing of the past and we will do our utmost to see that justice is done and those culpable will be punished.
@'The Guardian'
Somehow '...it is inconceivable that I knew' just doesn't sound the same as 'I did not know' does it?
NB: 'Interesting to note she denies knowledge of and sanctioning the allegations rather than denying knowledge of and sanctioning the actions of her journalists. No doubt a very carefully worded statement.' Comment by CaptainP here.
Crisis In The Congo: Uncovering The Truth
Crisis in the Congo: Uncovering The Truth explores the role that the United States and its allies, Rwanda and Uganda, have played in triggering the greatest humanitarian crisis at the dawn of the 21st century. The film is a short version of a feature length production to be released in the near future. It locates the Congo crisis in a historical, social and political context. It unveils analysis and prescriptions by leading experts, practitioners, activists and intellectuals that are not normally available to the general public. The film is a call to conscience and action.
Millions of Congolese have lost their lives in a conflict that the United Nations describes as the deadliest in the world since World War Two. United States allies, Rwanda and Uganda, invaded in 1996 the Congo (then Zaire) and again in 1998, which triggered the enormous loss of lives, systemic sexual violence and rape, and widespread looting of Congo's spectacular natural wealth.
The ongoing conflict, instability, weak institutions, dependency and impoverishment in the Congo are a product of a 125 year tragic experience of enslavement, forced labor, colonial rule, assassinations, dictatorship, wars, external intervention and corrupt rule. Analysts in the film examine whether U.S. corporate and government policies that support strongmen and prioritize profit over the people have contributed to and exacerbated the tragic instability in the heart of Africa.
Via
Millions of Congolese have lost their lives in a conflict that the United Nations describes as the deadliest in the world since World War Two. United States allies, Rwanda and Uganda, invaded in 1996 the Congo (then Zaire) and again in 1998, which triggered the enormous loss of lives, systemic sexual violence and rape, and widespread looting of Congo's spectacular natural wealth.
The ongoing conflict, instability, weak institutions, dependency and impoverishment in the Congo are a product of a 125 year tragic experience of enslavement, forced labor, colonial rule, assassinations, dictatorship, wars, external intervention and corrupt rule. Analysts in the film examine whether U.S. corporate and government policies that support strongmen and prioritize profit over the people have contributed to and exacerbated the tragic instability in the heart of Africa.
Via
Wu Ming
They all called themselves Luther Blissett and started to raise hell in the cultural industry. It was a five year plan.
They worked together to tell the world a great story, create a legend, give birth to a new kind of folk hero.
In January 2000, some of them regrouped as Wu Ming. The latter project, albeit more focused on literature and storytelling in a narrower sense of the word, is no less radical than the old one.
Wu Ming Foundation: Who We Are And What We Do
Downloads
(I highly recommend '54')
Luther Blissett - Enigma (mp3)
Lots of Money Because I am Many: The Luther Blissett Project and the Multiple-Use Name Strategy
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Zentensity Mazen Shaer
NASA is ending the space program, allowing budget to a different type of "space probe." Most probably, probing your personal space
Is internet censorship out of control?
Internet censorship is rife and seems to be getting worse. This month, Reporters Without Borders ran an article about bloggers and human rights activists in Bahrain who have been given life-sentences for expressing their opinions online. This year alone, the site reports that 121 ‘netizens’ have already been imprisoned around the world for reasons directly relating to their writing activities online.
The countries where this is most prevalent are China, Vietnam and Arab countries including Iran, Syria, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. As horrifying as it is, it would be wrong to say that the incredible sentences being imposed on bloggers are completely disproportionate to the crime. That’s because it is completely ridiculous to consider that expressing one’s opinions in public should even be considered a crime.
This month, Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt spoke out at the Summit Against Violent Extremism (SAVE) in Dublin, to say that while Google does not like to take a political stance it is clear that the ongoing Arab uprisings could lead to an upsurge in internet censorship. His main concern was that there is an increased risk of arrest for colleagues working in countries with restrictive policy. “There are countries where it is illegal to do things that Google encourages,” he said. “In those countries, there is a real possibility of (employees) being put in prison for reasons which are not their fault.”
Schmidt’s concerns are not unfounded. Google executive Wael Ghonim was detained and blindfolded for two weeks at the height of the protests in Cairo that toppled President Hosni Mubarak. Many other activists said Ghonim had been involved in founding an activist anti-torture Facebook page that was an early rallying point for Egyptian protesters. During the uprising, Google also launched a service which allowed Egyptian protestors to dial a phone number and leave a voicemail message to post messages on Twitter, despite heavy internet regulation by the Egyptian government at the time.
While this helped Egyptians to circumvent attempts to censor their expression, it has also helped to fuel fire against Google in authoritarian states.
In January, Google clashed with China over human rights and censorship issues. Google claimed that hackers originating in China had attempted to gain access to the Gmail accounts of a number of human-rights activists. As a result, Google decided to break away from its agreement with the Chinese government to censor results returned by its Chinese language search engine. On Google’s official blog, they posted the statement “We have decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn, and so over the next few weeks we will be discussing with the Chinese government the basis on which we could operate an unfiltered search engine within the law, if at all. We recognize that this may well mean having to shut down Google.cn, and potentially our offices in China.”.
Meanwhile, China has been forging ahead to require its ‘Green Dam’ internet filtering software to be installed on every computer sold in China. This software is designed to automatically censor the sites that are accessible to Chinese consumers. This week, under pressure from its online community, the Chinese government has temporarily backed down on its launch date for the compulsory software. While the media is in a bit of a frenzy about this software, censorship of internet content is not restricted to authoritarian states like China, North Korea and Iran. The UK, France, Germany and South Korea all filter internet access, and the United States and Australia are moving toward the same approach.
During his speech at the Summit Against Violent Extremism, Eric Schmidt stated that governments are waking up to the fact that the internet has become as pervasive and as potent a force as television. He pointed out that in most authoritarian countries TV is highly regulated by officials. What he didn’t mention was that this doesn’t just apply to the typical authoritarian states which leap to mind.
Google’s Transparency Report shows that it has complied with 94 percent of the 4600 odd government requests for data about users of its services in the U.S. in the second half of 2010. Google complied with 72 percent of 1,162 requests made by the UK, and 76 percent of 1,804 requests from Brazil. In Japan, it had a 90 percent compliance rate for the 72 requests made by the government there. While it is laudable that Google attempts to offer transparency into its dealings with governments around the world, the information that is coming to light is chilling. The internet is rapidly becoming a dangerous place to freely express your opinion.
Rowan Puttergill @'memeburn'
slim404 Slim Amamou
Interestingly @lulzsec Sabu confirms having hacked Tunisian PM website, for which @Azyyoz has been accused :) bit.ly/lDFzAM
Unlicensed: Are Google Music and Amazon Cloud Player illegal?
In the following weeks, two more companies announced music services of their own. Google, which has long had a frosty relationship with the labels, followed Amazon's lead; Google Music Beta was announced without the Big Four on board (read our first impressions). But Apple has been negotiating licenses so it can operate iCloud with the labels' blessing.
The different strategies pursued by these firms presents a puzzle. Either Apple wasted millions of dollars on licenses it doesn't need, or Amazon and Google are vulnerable to massive copyright lawsuits. All three are sophisticated firms that employ a small army of lawyers, so it's a bit surprising that they reached such divergent assessments of what the law requires.
So how did it happen? And who's right...?
Continue reading
Timothy B. Lee @'ars technica'
Military detention: Uncovering the truth
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) has obtained a number of previously classified and confidential documents relating to Australia’s involvement in the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.PIAC believes that these documents gives rise to a number of important revelations.
The Australian Government deliberately tried to to avoid its obligations under international law in relation to detainees caught by the Australia Defence Force in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Australia’s detainee policy had disastrous consequences.
The previously classified and confidential documents reveal that an Iranian man, Tanik Mahmud, died in custody. He was captured by Australian SAS troops in Western Iraq and transferred to UK custody. There is strong evidence suggesting that Mr Mahmud was fatally assaulted by UK RAF troops. The UK and Australian governments have refused to release the full details surrounding the death.
The Australian Government had prior knowledge of illegal detention practices in Iraq, including at Abu Ghraib prison. This included hiding prisoners from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and obstructing the ICRC’s access to prisoners. An Australian military lawyer advised on US interrogation techniques and concluded they were open to abuse.
The Australian Government failed to raise concerns about US breaches of international law with its ally. This suggests some level of complicity on behalf of the Australian Government.
The Australian Government misled Parliament and deliberately withheld important information from the Australian public relating to detainee mistreatment in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The documents obtained by PIAC raise serious questions about the functioning of the ADF and Department of Defence. Australia was ill-prepared for the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, with no policy on what to do with detainees.
Key information about the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan continues to be withheld.
Contact your MP to call for a full, independent inquiry to answer outstanding questions, including:
MORE
The Australian Government deliberately tried to to avoid its obligations under international law in relation to detainees caught by the Australia Defence Force in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Australia’s detainee policy had disastrous consequences.
The previously classified and confidential documents reveal that an Iranian man, Tanik Mahmud, died in custody. He was captured by Australian SAS troops in Western Iraq and transferred to UK custody. There is strong evidence suggesting that Mr Mahmud was fatally assaulted by UK RAF troops. The UK and Australian governments have refused to release the full details surrounding the death.
The Australian Government had prior knowledge of illegal detention practices in Iraq, including at Abu Ghraib prison. This included hiding prisoners from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and obstructing the ICRC’s access to prisoners. An Australian military lawyer advised on US interrogation techniques and concluded they were open to abuse.
The Australian Government failed to raise concerns about US breaches of international law with its ally. This suggests some level of complicity on behalf of the Australian Government.
The Australian Government misled Parliament and deliberately withheld important information from the Australian public relating to detainee mistreatment in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The documents obtained by PIAC raise serious questions about the functioning of the ADF and Department of Defence. Australia was ill-prepared for the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, with no policy on what to do with detainees.
Key information about the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan continues to be withheld.
Contact your MP to call for a full, independent inquiry to answer outstanding questions, including:
- What was the legal basis for Australia’s detention policy in Iraq and Afghanistan?
- Did Australia express concern to the US regarding its illegal detention practices?
- What formal arrangements were put in place to ensure a US soldier was always present with ADF troops to take legal responsibility for their capture?
- What policies and procedures are now in place to ensure that Australia complies with international law in relation to the detention and treatment of captives?
MORE
Full inquiry needed into Australia’s military detention
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