from mega-death to individual victims
collecting disparative data about reaction
horrified - rejoicing - ambivalent
making the incomparable understood
creating visual language tools
to sober our views
go beyond our fears
or what now-a-days is mashed together in one term
¶ Tuesday, February 28, 2006 0 Comments
- + - = +
This is the last place in the universe, the place where art is the most insignificant trifle in life, and the comics are, as we all know, the last of the arts. Two minuses equal a plus.
Reality check 1, 2
¶ Thursday, February 23, 2006 0 Comments
APES and ELEPHANTSUpdate -> Italy:
I mentioned earlier the suspect case of Federico Aldrovandi's death in Italy in the morning of September 25th, probably by the hands of the police, while the boy was on his way home.
Yesterday his mother put this photo on the blog she started in January 06 in order to find out what had happened to her son.
¶ Wednesday, February 22, 2006 0 Comments
"In the meantime the situation on the ground has worsened. The tension between Sudan and Chad has intensified. Armed hostilities between the two countries are a serious option. Both governments accuse each other about support to their mutual domestic rebel movements, operating across the border. Any result from the talks in Abuja, aiming at a solution of the civil war within Sudan, can be set aside by the outbreak of an international conflict. A war between Sudan and Chad would have disastrous consequences for the refugees and displaced people in the two countries.
The threat is particularly manifest in El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, close to the border with Chad. It is no longer safe for UN personnel and humanitarian workers outside the town. Militia, at least four different Sudanese rebel movements and two Chadian movements, Janjaweed, bandits, the Sudanese police, its army and also elements of the Chadian army carry weapons, threaten each other as well as civilians, make and break alliances, plunder convoys and compounds and receive arms from unknown sources, by air as well as across the border. The African Union peace force in this region is not strong enough to act and has become a target itself. Much relief assistance had to be postponed. Recently I had to withdraw half of our staff. They could not work anymore and their security could not be guaranteed. We have updated our evacuation plans and decided to build bunkers in order to protect the remaining staff. [..]
¶ Wednesday, February 22, 2006 0 Comments
From our private flying reporter in Sydney: Banner blowing about outside Sydney's US consulate, will be hanging up there every day from now until March 30.
¶ Monday, February 20, 2006 0 Comments
Alfred McCoy interviewed by Amy Goodman
"... So, I think when the Bush administration gave those orders for, basically, techniques tantamount to torture at the start of the war on terror, I think it was probably their intention that these be limited to top al-Qaeda suspects, but within months, we were torturing hundreds of Afghanis at Bagram near Kabul, and a few months later in 2003, through these techniques, we were torturing literally thousands of Iraqis. And you can see in those photos, beyond the details of the techniques that we've described, you can see how that once it starts, it becomes this Dantesque hell, this kind of play palace of the darkest recesses of human consciousness. That's why it's necessary to maintain an absolute prohibition on torture. There is no such thing as a little bit of torture. The whole myth of scientific surgical torture, that torture advocates, academic advocates in this country came up with, that's impossible. That cannot operate. It will inevitably spread. ... " ¶ Sunday, February 19, 2006 1 Comments
Approximately 150 women remain in custody for a third night in Harare Central Police station. [..] More reports confirming the assault of women by Mhondoro and other police officers have also been received. On Wednesday evening, when Williams was delivering food in the presence of a lawyer, Officer Mhondoro indicated that he had been attempting to contact Williams to dialogue and asked her to visit his office and to come alone (i.e. without a lawyer). This is the same man who has routinely beat WOZA women for the last year.
One of the women released today testified that on Tuesday Mhondoro told women that Williams had been arrested on Monday in Harare and was still in custody and ‘had promised to stop demonstrating in Zimbabwe’ so all the women should do the same – to which there was a chorus of replies that they were not demonstrating for Williams’ rights but for their own rights and would continue to do so! [..]
¶ Friday, February 17, 2006 0 Comments
In the State archive in Pistoia they have opened the heavy door of the room dedicated to the affairs of Licio Gelli, who donated part of his archive which was transferred from his home called Villa Wanda.
It is an extraordinary archive containing letters of Torquato Tasso, Napoleon Bonaparte, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Adolph Hitler, Giuseppe Verdi and even of the ex-member of the P2 Masonic lodge Maurizio Costanzo.
In conclusion, it’s a truly God-given gift for historians and for expert archivists.
Yesterday they were present at a ceremony in Palazzo dei Vescovi di Pistoia {Palace of Pistoia’s Bishops}. Not wanting to be absent was Linda Giuva, an academic archivist and wife of Massimo D’Alema (leader of the DS party). She presented a paper.
At the end, Licio Gelli had a few touching words for her: “Well done, very good. Thank you, thanks again.”
To the enthusiasm of the Venerable {the free mason Licio Gelli} was added a hand shake with signora Giuva, together with a smile and thanks.
The usual peace-disturbers, surely “no global”, protested outside the building. ¶ Tuesday, February 14, 2006 0 Comments
Inside/Out with Jenni Williams co-ordinator of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA)
Kubatana.net
January 24, 2006
Describe yourself in five words
Resourceful; driven to push boundaries
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
A friend gave me a pendant with the following prayer: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference." This prayer has been my compass and seen me through many a dilemma
What's the most ridiculous thing you've ever done?
Midnight dips with friends in the Bulawayo Fountain during my teenage years. Mind you, in the present circumstances of no water I could see myself and WOZA women going for a bath there!
What is your most treasured possession?
At the moment - my skipping rope. It was my Martin Luther King biography but Air Emirates lost my luggage and the book
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
This last Christmas with my husband and children on another continent
Do you have any strange hobbies?
Skipping; getting arrested; reading Mills and Boon, driving long distances at odd hours
What do you dislike most about your appearance?
Freckles and I have hair and lots of it. Keeping it looking neat and tidy is my constant nightmare
What is your greatest extravagance?
Eating yoghurt
What have you got in your fridge?
Yoghurt, powdered milk, margarine and jam. Oh and I did buy some Borewors sausages to cook for supper today but decided on 2 minute noodles instead.
What is your greatest fear?
That politicians will cut a 'deal' and Zimbabweans, tired from daily suffering will accept second best putting us back to a 1980 scenario. Will I and the women of WOZA still have the energy to carry a struggle through to bring a socially just Zimbabwe?
What have you got in your pockets right now?
Not wearing anything with pockets
What is your favorite journey?
The one that takes me to my children in the United Kingdom. My worst is driving Bulawayo to Harare and back within 24 hours
Who are your heroes in real life?
My husband Michael and my mother. Also Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King and Aung San Suu Kyi
Unfortunately Jenni was arrested yesterday in Bulawayo ahead of the Harare protest.
Learn more about WOZA by visiting their fact sheet
¶ Tuesday, February 14, 2006 0 Comments
-- to what extent have politicians in the West, particularly in America, turned a blind eye to the funding of Islamic insurgency, due to business relations with the oil rich kingdom? Loretta Napoleoni, has approached both in her books and in a number of published articles. “Saudi Arabia is really the core of the issue. Until September 11th, Saudi Arabia was definitely the place where most of the funding came from, and the supporters of Al-Qaeda, were primarily in Saudi Arabia. We’re talking about bankers, businessmen, and merchants. If you read Bin Laden’s writings in the 1990s he often refers to the merchants, and to how the merchants are suffering because of the Saudi Royal family and the US. After 9/11 this phenomena has spread and they’re raising money all over the world. This is where the United States has a responsibility, because it hasn’t predicted the evolution of this organisation. Had they actually tackled Saudi Arabia financiers in the 1980s, and they knew who these people were, we wouldn’t be where we are today”. --
(The article is over a year old, but to read fun-facts like these: Osama in pills... 8. One of Osama bin Laden’s most profitable businesses is his Gum Arabic Company Ltd in Sudan – gum arabic is a substance used to stop sediment forming in soft drinks and to create a protective shell around sweets and pills. Gum Arabic Company Ltd supplies 80 per cent of the world’s demand for this product.
Osa and Coca good friends hehh. maybe i'll start a business by the name of OsaCoka.
(trouble and shortages in the spheres of financial liquidities)
¶ Sunday, February 12, 2006 0 Comments
Su Repubblica, in un ponderoso articolo di politica internazionale, una delle due parti dava all'altra un categorico "out-out". Naturalmente si trattava di un "aut aut" latino, che il redattore ha istintivamente americanizzato. L'autore, il giorno dopo, precisa che e' stato errore di dettatura: ma ormai il danno e' fatto e d'ora in poi l'"aut aut" sara' per tutti un "out-out" texano. Senza speranza di riscatto, come il povero "media" che ormai e' dappertutto "midia" alla faccia di Danteh Aleegheears.
Catena di San Libero ¶ Tuesday, February 07, 2006 0 Comments
It’s raining in my mind, pouring
Wishes, which will never be horses
It’s raining jazz music downstairs
At the New Book House
I hear voices raining in the corridors
Chaining themselves
To the ghosts of fear
It’s raining outside
In the streets it’s raining poverty
Family budgets dwindling
Yet no decisions
No love
No sense!
by Beaven Tapureta
published by the Budding Writers of Zimbabwe Association
¶ Monday, February 06, 2006 0 Comments
INSIDER MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTOR WAYNE MADSEN
TARGET OF WHITE HOUSE NSA CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION
Madsen a former NSA employee and distinguished U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer had this to say about the criminal probe.
"To reiterate what I've stated before: I refuse to cede my First Amendment rights and will not cooperate with ANY grand jury asking questions about sources and I will refuse to turn over notebooks or other materials to any investigators, warrant or not. I'm willing to become a political prisoner rather than succumb to the fascist thugs in the Bush administration. WMR is working on a number of investigations involving The Carlyle Group, the Fellowship Foundation, and illegal surveillance. We will continue to publish until the Bush administration makes their move to shut us down. Your support has helped us to gain enough of a media presence to make the Bush administration nervous."
-- According to the military definition of psyops, its goals include manipulating emotional and objective reasoning -- suggesting that the information campaigns are not limited to objective truth. --
-- In the document, titled "Information Operations Roadmap," Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld acknowledged that information planted by the Pentagon abroad was increasingly returning to American shores and being "consumed by our domestic audience." --
-- A corollary document released by the National Security Archive last week revealed the Pentagon's "roadmap" for foreign propaganda campaigns, which raised new concerns that potentially fictive information campaigns have polluted the American press. --
I came to the above Raw Story, after reading a Public Diplomacy Press Review
Now this all has nothing to do with the kinky cartoon madness.
But it does with how 'the commonalty' is being influenced, played with, fooled i'd say.
But yes Z, i admit, the multitudes are a lazy bunch (too).
¶ Sunday, February 05, 2006 0 Comments
The Religious Policeman!-- Published a mere 30 years ago, and in itself a very dashing depiction, it is nevertheless a Haram covering for an illustrated story. And the good news is that it was written by Hergé, a Belgian! Belgium is a small, harmless country that only exports, to my knowledge, chocolates and beer, but not Your Majesty's favorites. Also, they are not in the World Cup! I recommend them as the next country to threaten, once the Saudi public tires of Denmark, which will alas be very soon. Victory, as we both appreciate, is all a matter of choosing the right fight. -- [ ]
¶ Friday, February 03, 2006 0 Comments
