wanna make more conscious shopping decisions?
then visit...
all things green...
Monday, 11 February 2008
Monday, 4 February 2008
Friday, 25 January 2008
Thursday, 24 January 2008
POWER TO THE (PALESTINIAN) PEOPLE!
by Jeff Halper
January 23, 2008
The people of Palestine have done it again, taking their own fate in their hands after being let down by their own "moderate" political leadership and, indeed, the entire international community in their struggle for freedom. Early this morning they simply blew up the wall separating Gaza from Egypt, breaking a siege imposed on them by an Arab government in collaboration with Israel.
We, the peoples of the world, should take great pride and encouragement in this quintessentially civil society refusal to accept subjugation, to abandon their fate to governments, including their own, for whom the lives of ordinary people are simply grist for their political charades – Annapolis and its subsequent "peace process" being but the last cynical expression. For the Palestinians represent far more than just themselves. Their refusal to submit to the dictates of governments, or to governments' lack of interest in the well-being of people in general, reflects the desire of billions of oppressed people for identity, freedom, a decent life and actualization of their collective and individual rights and potentials. Most of the oppressed, the "wretched of the earth" as Franz Fanon called them a half-century ago, are too preoccupied with the daunting daily struggle for survival to organize and resist. Others do resist in a myriad of ways, but are most often repressed by their own political and economic "leaders," disappearing anonymously from view. In a few cases they have managed to mount effective resistance to oppression, even to prevail – though the billions spent on "counterinsurgency" warfare by the US, Europe, Russia, Israel and many "developing" nations augur ill for peoples attempting to overthrow oppressive regimes.
In this the Palestinians stand at the forefront, in the front lines of peoples' insistence everywhere that their rights, well-being and fundamental values as human beings be respected by governments. And they do so (and I write this as an Israeli with great sorrow and shame) against one of the world's strongest and most ruthless military powers – a power that has dispossessed them from 85% of their land, which is trying to transform its occupation into a permanent regime of apartheid, which has spent decades impoverishing and disenfranchising them; the fourth largest nuclear power which nevertheless casts itself as the victim. Not only have the Palestinians experienced the dehumanization all oppressed and colonized peoples experience, not only have they been made into the embodiment of the rich and powerful's greatest fear, evil "terrorists" who may tear down their privileged "civilization," but they have been turned into guinea pigs. Israel is able to gain an edge in the counterinsurgency industry and win entree into the heart of the American military/hi tech complex by turning the Occupied Territories into a laboratory for the development of fiendish weaponry and tactics intended for use against people.
And yet the Palestinian people – and in particular those who remain sumud, steadfast, in Palestine – continue not only to resist but to surprise and confound its would-be Israeli master at every turn. Despite unlimited control, a complete monopoly over the use of force, utter callousness and a vaunted Shin Beit, Israel's military intelligence, Palestinians vote as they want, resist, carry on their daily lives with dignity – and blow huge holes in the walls and policies constructed in order to imprison and defeat them.
All this is not on the minds of those desperate people who surged into Egypt today. They may not have the "Big Picture." Yet they deserve the respect and gratefulness of every person who cherishes a better world based on human rights and dignity, a world that is inclusive. As an Israeli Jew, I have been saddened and mortified that my own people, after all they have experienced, cannot see what they are doing to others. But on a larger scale, not as an Israeli Jew but as a human being, I take heart in the Palestinians' active refusal to be ground under a global system that is producing unimaginable wealth and power for a few at the expense of the growing ranks of the wretched.
I am not a Palestinian; I am not one of the oppressed. I only hope I can use my privilege in an effective way in order to redeem the gift the people of Gaza have given all of us: the realization that the people do have power and can prevail even in the face of overwhelming power. We may each express our responsibility towards the people of Gaza in whatever way most suits us, but as the privileged we must do something. We owe the Palestinians and the Palestinians writ large at least that.
Jeff Halper is the Coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) .
January 23, 2008
The people of Palestine have done it again, taking their own fate in their hands after being let down by their own "moderate" political leadership and, indeed, the entire international community in their struggle for freedom. Early this morning they simply blew up the wall separating Gaza from Egypt, breaking a siege imposed on them by an Arab government in collaboration with Israel.
We, the peoples of the world, should take great pride and encouragement in this quintessentially civil society refusal to accept subjugation, to abandon their fate to governments, including their own, for whom the lives of ordinary people are simply grist for their political charades – Annapolis and its subsequent "peace process" being but the last cynical expression. For the Palestinians represent far more than just themselves. Their refusal to submit to the dictates of governments, or to governments' lack of interest in the well-being of people in general, reflects the desire of billions of oppressed people for identity, freedom, a decent life and actualization of their collective and individual rights and potentials. Most of the oppressed, the "wretched of the earth" as Franz Fanon called them a half-century ago, are too preoccupied with the daunting daily struggle for survival to organize and resist. Others do resist in a myriad of ways, but are most often repressed by their own political and economic "leaders," disappearing anonymously from view. In a few cases they have managed to mount effective resistance to oppression, even to prevail – though the billions spent on "counterinsurgency" warfare by the US, Europe, Russia, Israel and many "developing" nations augur ill for peoples attempting to overthrow oppressive regimes.
In this the Palestinians stand at the forefront, in the front lines of peoples' insistence everywhere that their rights, well-being and fundamental values as human beings be respected by governments. And they do so (and I write this as an Israeli with great sorrow and shame) against one of the world's strongest and most ruthless military powers – a power that has dispossessed them from 85% of their land, which is trying to transform its occupation into a permanent regime of apartheid, which has spent decades impoverishing and disenfranchising them; the fourth largest nuclear power which nevertheless casts itself as the victim. Not only have the Palestinians experienced the dehumanization all oppressed and colonized peoples experience, not only have they been made into the embodiment of the rich and powerful's greatest fear, evil "terrorists" who may tear down their privileged "civilization," but they have been turned into guinea pigs. Israel is able to gain an edge in the counterinsurgency industry and win entree into the heart of the American military/hi tech complex by turning the Occupied Territories into a laboratory for the development of fiendish weaponry and tactics intended for use against people.
And yet the Palestinian people – and in particular those who remain sumud, steadfast, in Palestine – continue not only to resist but to surprise and confound its would-be Israeli master at every turn. Despite unlimited control, a complete monopoly over the use of force, utter callousness and a vaunted Shin Beit, Israel's military intelligence, Palestinians vote as they want, resist, carry on their daily lives with dignity – and blow huge holes in the walls and policies constructed in order to imprison and defeat them.
All this is not on the minds of those desperate people who surged into Egypt today. They may not have the "Big Picture." Yet they deserve the respect and gratefulness of every person who cherishes a better world based on human rights and dignity, a world that is inclusive. As an Israeli Jew, I have been saddened and mortified that my own people, after all they have experienced, cannot see what they are doing to others. But on a larger scale, not as an Israeli Jew but as a human being, I take heart in the Palestinians' active refusal to be ground under a global system that is producing unimaginable wealth and power for a few at the expense of the growing ranks of the wretched.
I am not a Palestinian; I am not one of the oppressed. I only hope I can use my privilege in an effective way in order to redeem the gift the people of Gaza have given all of us: the realization that the people do have power and can prevail even in the face of overwhelming power. We may each express our responsibility towards the people of Gaza in whatever way most suits us, but as the privileged we must do something. We owe the Palestinians and the Palestinians writ large at least that.
Jeff Halper is the Coordinator of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD) .
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
write to your MP
Please write to your MP asking them to sign Early Day Motions 305, 624 and 698 on Gaza
On Sunday 20 January, Gaza ’s only power station was forced to shut down, after Israel cut fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip.
Israel has imposed a total closure on the Strip's border crossings, even preventing the delivery of essential humanitarian aid. Over 80 per cent of Gaza ’s population rely on food aid from the United Nations or other agencies. Over 70 Gazans have died as a result of Israel preventing patients with serious medical conditions from accessing treatment outside the Gaza Strip.
This catastrophic cutting of fuel supplies is already seriously affecting hospitals, supplies of fresh water and sewage systems, has removed heating and lighting from 800,000 people, and making it impossible for those few factories which have managed to remain open despite the blockade.
In carrying out these actions, the Israeli government is violating the strict prohibition on collective punishment of a civilian population in the Fourth Geneva Convention.
We are particularly appealing to medical staff to join us in uniform to visibly express their opposition to the medical impact of the blockade.
this has hit me particularly hard, it doesn't matter who's 'side' you might be on, what is disgusting is the collective punishment of a group of people - women and children who are trapped. There is no way out of Gaza, and the fact that Israel is carrying out nightly bombing attacks is even more scary. what do they want? Peace feels like a far away concept when faced with this reality, and to think that it won't lead to more violence is also delusional. How did we let it get this bad? And why aren't our politicians doing something? Please find 5 minutes to cut and paste this letter and send it to your MP, we apparently live in a democracy - lets find out whether that is true...
the video is a clip of a very good documentary called Occupation 101. Listen to the little girl....
and if you want to find out more check out:
Palestinian International Campaign
PSC
end gaza seige
On Sunday 20 January, Gaza ’s only power station was forced to shut down, after Israel cut fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip.
Israel has imposed a total closure on the Strip's border crossings, even preventing the delivery of essential humanitarian aid. Over 80 per cent of Gaza ’s population rely on food aid from the United Nations or other agencies. Over 70 Gazans have died as a result of Israel preventing patients with serious medical conditions from accessing treatment outside the Gaza Strip.
This catastrophic cutting of fuel supplies is already seriously affecting hospitals, supplies of fresh water and sewage systems, has removed heating and lighting from 800,000 people, and making it impossible for those few factories which have managed to remain open despite the blockade.
In carrying out these actions, the Israeli government is violating the strict prohibition on collective punishment of a civilian population in the Fourth Geneva Convention.
We are particularly appealing to medical staff to join us in uniform to visibly express their opposition to the medical impact of the blockade.
this has hit me particularly hard, it doesn't matter who's 'side' you might be on, what is disgusting is the collective punishment of a group of people - women and children who are trapped. There is no way out of Gaza, and the fact that Israel is carrying out nightly bombing attacks is even more scary. what do they want? Peace feels like a far away concept when faced with this reality, and to think that it won't lead to more violence is also delusional. How did we let it get this bad? And why aren't our politicians doing something? Please find 5 minutes to cut and paste this letter and send it to your MP, we apparently live in a democracy - lets find out whether that is true...
the video is a clip of a very good documentary called Occupation 101. Listen to the little girl....
and if you want to find out more check out:
Palestinian International Campaign
PSC
end gaza seige
Saturday, 19 January 2008
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
its great to be muslim in europe....
I got this email today from my friend Akram who is living in Berlin, who is a muslim man...
"It actually sounded worse in German if you can believe it. I heard here statements on the radio last night. For those who speak German, she used the word "Kinderschander" and said that Muslim men were "Kinder Vergewaltiger" which is Child rapists.
FPÖ defends Graz attack on Islam
By David Rogers
Head of Graz FPÖ list calls Mohammed 'a child molester'.
Graz FPÖ politician Susanne Winter lhas attacked Islam as a religion at her party's New Year's meeting in the Styrian capital. Winter, who is head of the FPÖ's list for the January 20 municipal, election, called Islamic prophet Mohammed "a child molester“ because of his alleged marriage to a six-year-old girl and "a field marshal" who had written the Koran during "epileptic fits." She termed Islam "a totalitarian system of domination that should be thrown back to its birthplace on the other side of the Mediterranean." Winter added on Monday that "there is widespread abuse of children among Muslim men“ but then declared that she didn't want to offend anyone or insult any religion. She also defended her Sunday statement that "a Muslim immigration tsunami“ could occur. "In 20 or 30 years, half the population of Austria will be Muslim" if the SPÖ and ÖVP's immigration policy continues in effect, she said.
In response, the Community of Islamic Believers official responsible for integration, Omar Al-Rawi, called Winter's remarks an instance of "lack of respect" and "false." He claimed that "Islam-bashing" had reached a “sickening and evil" level. Community spokeswoman Carla Amina Baghajati added on Monday that Winter's remarks were a threat to social peace. “Dialogue is very important to us. But that kind of hatred and promotion of images of enemies will make it more difficult. It threatens to poison the climate,“ she said. Baghajati added that FPÖ statements were more and more "unappetising, provocative and disrespectful."
The ÖVP, SPÖ, Greens and BZÖ have strongly criticised Winter's remarks.
Graz public prosecutor's office spokesman Manfred Kammerer has said that the office will examine them to determine whether she violated the law forbidding expressions of racial hatred.
Winter will have to take a position on her remarks within the next several days. If tried and convicted, she would face up to two years in prison. FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian said in response to Winter's remarks that there was "freedom of opinion" in the FPÖ. Strache compared the new EU reform treaty to the 1938 "Anschluss" or merger of Austria and Germany as a result of German occupation.
"It actually sounded worse in German if you can believe it. I heard here statements on the radio last night. For those who speak German, she used the word "Kinderschander" and said that Muslim men were "Kinder Vergewaltiger" which is Child rapists.
FPÖ defends Graz attack on Islam
By David Rogers
Head of Graz FPÖ list calls Mohammed 'a child molester'.
Graz FPÖ politician Susanne Winter lhas attacked Islam as a religion at her party's New Year's meeting in the Styrian capital. Winter, who is head of the FPÖ's list for the January 20 municipal, election, called Islamic prophet Mohammed "a child molester“ because of his alleged marriage to a six-year-old girl and "a field marshal" who had written the Koran during "epileptic fits." She termed Islam "a totalitarian system of domination that should be thrown back to its birthplace on the other side of the Mediterranean." Winter added on Monday that "there is widespread abuse of children among Muslim men“ but then declared that she didn't want to offend anyone or insult any religion. She also defended her Sunday statement that "a Muslim immigration tsunami“ could occur. "In 20 or 30 years, half the population of Austria will be Muslim" if the SPÖ and ÖVP's immigration policy continues in effect, she said.
In response, the Community of Islamic Believers official responsible for integration, Omar Al-Rawi, called Winter's remarks an instance of "lack of respect" and "false." He claimed that "Islam-bashing" had reached a “sickening and evil" level. Community spokeswoman Carla Amina Baghajati added on Monday that Winter's remarks were a threat to social peace. “Dialogue is very important to us. But that kind of hatred and promotion of images of enemies will make it more difficult. It threatens to poison the climate,“ she said. Baghajati added that FPÖ statements were more and more "unappetising, provocative and disrespectful."
The ÖVP, SPÖ, Greens and BZÖ have strongly criticised Winter's remarks.
Graz public prosecutor's office spokesman Manfred Kammerer has said that the office will examine them to determine whether she violated the law forbidding expressions of racial hatred.
Winter will have to take a position on her remarks within the next several days. If tried and convicted, she would face up to two years in prison. FPÖ leader Heinz-Christian said in response to Winter's remarks that there was "freedom of opinion" in the FPÖ. Strache compared the new EU reform treaty to the 1938 "Anschluss" or merger of Austria and Germany as a result of German occupation.
Saturday, 12 January 2008
Wednesday, 9 January 2008
wear orange on Jan 11th
In 2006, the UN Human Rights Commission called on the US government to shut down Guantánamo Bay.
Two years after the UN report and six years after the first prisoners arrived at Guantánamo, there are still 290 prisoners awaiting trial and/or release.
To date, only one of the nearly 800 prisoners at Guantánamo has been tried. Of those 800 prisoners, only 14% were captured by US military and coalition forces - the remaining 86% were brought to US custody through awarded bounty.
After six years of trumping civil liberties under habeus corpus and the Geneva Convention, its time to demand to shut down Guantánamo!
Sign a petition here or join in the protests and demonstrate with Amnesty outside the US Embassy in London, or if you can't make that then Wear Orange on January 11th!
Wherever you are on January 11th, we encourage you to wear orange to raise public awareness and strengthen the movement to demand an end to torture and indefinite detention. Consider wearing Witness Against Torture's Orange "Shut Down Guantánamo" t-shirts, an ACLU arm band, or even an orange jump suit.
Two years after the UN report and six years after the first prisoners arrived at Guantánamo, there are still 290 prisoners awaiting trial and/or release.
To date, only one of the nearly 800 prisoners at Guantánamo has been tried. Of those 800 prisoners, only 14% were captured by US military and coalition forces - the remaining 86% were brought to US custody through awarded bounty.
After six years of trumping civil liberties under habeus corpus and the Geneva Convention, its time to demand to shut down Guantánamo!
Sign a petition here or join in the protests and demonstrate with Amnesty outside the US Embassy in London, or if you can't make that then Wear Orange on January 11th!
Wherever you are on January 11th, we encourage you to wear orange to raise public awareness and strengthen the movement to demand an end to torture and indefinite detention. Consider wearing Witness Against Torture's Orange "Shut Down Guantánamo" t-shirts, an ACLU arm band, or even an orange jump suit.
Monday, 7 January 2008
Friday, 4 January 2008
the knowledge is at last making it's online presense more interesting...
Internet Revenues Set To Overtake TV in 2009
A new study from media buying giant Group M is predicting that marketers will spend more on the internet than TV in 2009. That news will come as a blow to commercial broadcasters such as ITV, Channel 4 and Five - which will find it increasingly difficult to sustain programme budgets in the face of squeezed ad revenues.
Group M, which is a part of the WPP group, predicts that the internet will take around 25% share of ad revenue in 2008 (£3.4 billion) - just behind TV's 26% (£3.56 billion). Since this figure is a 30% increase on 2007, it's a racing certainty that the internet will pass TV during 2009.
When online topples TV in 2009, the UK will become the first major economy to experience such a shift in the balance of power. Reasons for this include a) high broadband penetration b) the BBC's adverse impact on the airtime market and c) the fact that magazines and papers still command a large share of the UK ad revenue market (thus minimising the money channelled into television).
posted 4th January, 2008
idocs...create the change
Here is a blog from a friend of mine. Ajay Rai. Check out his website if you are interested in making films that can effect social change, or if you just want to think about change...
CRUDE
The new documentary from director Franny Armstrong (McLibel) and Oscar-winning producer John Battsek (One Day In September)
check out this great new website...
Focus the Nation presents an unprecedented opportunity for the entire country, at thousands of sites, to participate in a serious discussion of global warming solutions and economic opportunities—on one evening, January 30th—as part of a nationwide webcast of the 2% Solution—and on one day, January 31st—as part of a nationwide teach-in.
On January 31, 2008 a national teach-in on climate change will be held across the country. Created and led by Focus the Nation the teach-in an unprecedented educational initiative on global warming and climate change solutions for America. It will occur at more than 1,000 universities and colleges and in all 50 states.
The teach-in is a tried-and-true method of creating new understanding and social change. Teach-ins were held during the 60s to educate and propel students to protest the war in Vietnam. This time around, universities and K-12 teachers are the change-agents as they prepare to devote the day to educating students and communities on climate change.
But no one will be sitting in class taking notes: a national vote on priorities will be held via cell-phone call-ins, and a webcast broadcast nationwide will inspire you and your school or organization to take the next steps in your own community.
by Patricia Gilbanks
On January 31, 2008 a national teach-in on climate change will be held across the country. Created and led by Focus the Nation the teach-in an unprecedented educational initiative on global warming and climate change solutions for America. It will occur at more than 1,000 universities and colleges and in all 50 states.
The teach-in is a tried-and-true method of creating new understanding and social change. Teach-ins were held during the 60s to educate and propel students to protest the war in Vietnam. This time around, universities and K-12 teachers are the change-agents as they prepare to devote the day to educating students and communities on climate change.
But no one will be sitting in class taking notes: a national vote on priorities will be held via cell-phone call-ins, and a webcast broadcast nationwide will inspire you and your school or organization to take the next steps in your own community.
by Patricia Gilbanks
Thursday, 3 January 2008
The Brelli is said to be world’s first biodegradable umbrella. Inspired by asian parasols, the Brelli’s handle and frame are crafted from bamboo (sustainably-harvested), and the canopy is made out of an innovative bioplastic. The canopy can be composted in conventional landfills – it has passed stringent tests certifying that it will fully biodegrade in one to two years.The Brelli is available in two sizes: a 37″ diameter ($28) and a 52″ diameter ($38). It’s currently available at Fred Siegel, Zero Minus Plus and Jussara Lee in New York.
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
wiretap magazine is a refreshing look at what power we have collectively
top 10 youth activism victories in 2007
Anyone who laments that American young people are apathetic, uninvolved or not sufficiently outraged clearly isn't up on the news.
Luckily, though, we are. The past 12 months have been filled with many great youth organizing successes; some were covered extensively by mainstream media, and some went -- sadly -- unnoticed. From these extraordinary stories, Wiretap has culled a list of our favorite 10 youth victories of the year. They're not just the events you've heard about, like the hunger strikes at Harvard and Stanford, because the less-attended actions of low-income, low-profile youth groups can be equally triumphant. And they're not just acts of campus activism, either -- because half of Americans between the ages of 18 and 25 are not enrolled in college. And though there are countless other examples of protest, cooperation, and informed dissent that went on and are still continuing around the country, here are 10 especially inspirational stories that went down this year. Congratulations to these and all other young people who took responsibility and took charge in 2007 to work hard both with their peers and with other groups, who put their energies into action for their communities, and for the world.
By Nicole McClelland and Kristina Rizga, December 20, 2007
mark thomas is a dude...
This is your chance to make MPs live with the consequences of laws they pass. All you have to do is snap a photo of an MP when they are doing TV or radio interviews on College Green opposite Parliament and send it in to gotcha@shopanmp.com. Or if you spot an MP being interviewed on the news let us know what channel, what time it was on and what they were talking about. We will then try and get them investigated by the Director of Public Prosecutions. Here is why and how....
In August 2005 it became illegal to demonstrate in and around Parliament Square without prior police permission under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA). So far Maya Evans has been prosecuted and found guilty of an offence under this law for reading out the names of the British an Iraqi war dead by the Cenotaph in Whitehall. People have been threatened with arrest for wearing T shirts with political slogans on them and for having cakes with the word PEACE iced upon it on display in Parliament Square. Mark Thomas had to get permission to wear a red nose on Red Nose Day or run the risk of arrest. He even had to get permission to stand by himself with a banner saying "Support the Poppy Appeal'. The law is stupid.
According to SOCPA one person can constitute a demonstration, other than that there is little definition in law as to what a demonstration is. But if a person breaks the law by reading the names of the war dead and the Oxford English Dictionary lists a definition of a demonstration as : an expression of opinion, then surely each time an MP gives a TV or radio interview about politics or politicians on College Green tthen they are demonstrating- and if they are demonstrating without permission that is illegal.
Mark Thomas with lawyers Leigh Day and Co (advised by Tim Owen QC of Matrix Chambers and Tom de la Mare of Blackstones Chambers) delivered a letter to the Director of Public Prosecutions Wednesday 12 December 07 calling for an urgent investigation into allegations that MPs had broken the law- including the Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Any new evidence of MPs giving interviews on College Green will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Here is how you can help. If you live, work or are visiting London and walk past College Green (opposite the House of Lords entrance) and you see an MP giving an interview then:
(1) Photo them with your phone (make sure we can identify them)
(2) Send it in to us with details of time and date
(3) If you hear any of the interview then send us the details.
If you spot an MP being interviewed in the SOCPA zone on TV then let us know:
(1) The channel it was on
(2) The time you saw it
(3) What they were talking about
Send it in to us at gotcha@shopanmp.com.
We will follow up the interview and shop them to the D.P.P.
All this legal help doesn't come cheap so if you can spare some dosh please buy a badge or make a donation by clicking on the links below. You will pay via Paypal.
Lets get them in the dock! Happy Snapping!
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