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Nas Petitions with ColorOfChange/MoveOn in front of Fox News HQ
With the recent release of his album "Untitled", rapper Nas is more of an activist than ever. I has recently joined the ColorOfChange and MoveOn organizations to peititon against media giant Fox News. Nas denounces the racist propaganda aired on the news channel by citing examples such as Bill O'Reilly's attack on Michelle Obama using the phrase "lynching party", the infamous "terrorist fist jab", Michelle Obama as the Barack's "baby mama". He said: "Fox poisons this country every time they air racist propaganda and try to call it news. This should outrage every American that Fox uses hateful language to talk about the person that may be the first black president."
With over 600,000 signatures, ColorOfChange demands that network president Roger Ailes "find a solution to address racial stereotyping and hate-mongering before it hits the airwaves." Fox rejected the petitions, but Brave New Films says that Comedy Central's The Colbert Report will accept them instead.
If you haven't seen Nas' "Sly Fox" video, check it out here on Current by typing "Nas Takes On Sly Fox" in the search box. With the recent release of his album "Untitled", rapper Nas is more of an activist than ever. I has recently joined the ColorOfChange ... more -
Obama mobbed by happy GIs in Baghdad
Barack Obama met with a crowd of cheering troops and State Department workers in Baghdad Monday night.
"So I don't care whether you are a Sailor, a Soldier, an Airmen, or Marine. A National Guard, a Reservist, active duty, we just want to say thank you," Obama said.
"Back home, as I travel all across the country, every single day I meet your friends, your family members, your co-workers, and the main thing they want me to communicate is how proud they are of you," Obama continued. "They may disagree on politics. They may disagree on the issues. But the country is absolutely united in the excellence, the devotion, the dedication with which you have performed your duties, here. Barack Obama met with a crowd of cheering troops and State Department workers in Baghdad Monday night. ... more -
Iraqis say they like Obama, divided on his policies
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is popular among Iraqis.
In two dozen interviews across the country, many told Reuters a black man would understand their plight.
Obama arrived in Iraq on Monday on only his second trip to the country. He wants to bolster his foreign policy credentials and counter accusations from Republican presidential rival John McCain that he has not seen conditions in Iraq for himself.
"I support Obama. I think he is the best for Iraq and for the world ... if McCain wins I will be devastated," said Mustafa Salah, an office worker in the southern city of Basra.
Hisham Fadhil, a doctor in northern Kirkuk added: "He is much better than others because he is black and black people were tyrannized in America. I think he will feel our suffering."
Obama is the son of a white mother and a black Kenyan father. He refers to himself as black and often talks of his multi-cultural background.
Ordinary Iraqis are unlikely to get a glimpse of Obama, who will spend most of his time surrounded by heavy security.
While violence is at a four-year low and some efforts have been made toward national reconciliation, the threat of car bomb attacks and kidnapping has not disappeared.
Indeed, Iraqis are divided over Obama's plan to withdraw U.S. combat troops within 16 months if he wins office. Some say the policy is overdue while others are opposed because they feel Iraq's security forces are not ready.
"What Obama said about pulling out U.S. forces is just for political gains. It is unrealistic," said Munadhil al-Mayyahi, an independent politician in Basra.
Kamiran Mohammed, from Kirkuk, said he visited the United States recently as part of a polling watchdog to study elections. Obama would be good for Iraq, not McCain, he said.
"When I was in the United States I found Democrats are more peaceful and avoid wars," Mohammed said.
OBAMA OPPOSED INVASION
Obama made his opposition to the U.S.-led invasion five years ago a centerpiece of his election campaign.
McCain supported President George W. Bush's decision to go to war, and also his troop "surge" last year, which helped pull Iraq back from the brink of sectarian civil war.
"The face of America was spoilt by the Republicans and Bush. A McCain win means Bush stays," said Zainab Riyad, a teacher.
Questions about Obama's heritage -- he is a Protestant Christian but his Kenyan father was raised a Muslim -- and whether this background would lead to better U.S. policy in the Middle East drew a cynical response from most Iraqis.
Obama's campaign has sought to dispel rumors he is Muslim.
"Frankly, Muslims in our society have not done anything for us," said Mohammed Sadeq, who owns a mobile telephone store in Baghdad. Another Iraqi pointed to wars between fellow Muslims.
Others were dismissive of the U.S. presidential election in general, more concerned with the struggle of daily life in Iraq.
"For the moment I'm thinking about getting enough electricity. I do not believe either candidate will change the situation in Iraq," said Abdul-Mahdi Hadi, a Basra teacher.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is popular among Iraqis. ... more -
National Guard to recruit 'Rock Stars'
In August, the US Army National Guard will launch a mobile marketing campaign, supported by outreach to local media, to sign up recruits at various music festivals and other outdoor events.
Developed and executed by RedPeg Marketing on behalf of prime contractor Docupak, the "Rock Star Hero Challenge," as the campaign is called, features a tour bus with 52-inch touch screen displays that allow potential recruits to see and participate in virtual missions.
Interactive kiosks where visitors can pose with images of rock bands will sit outside the buses, tying into the musical nature of the events and emphasizing the figurative "rock star" quality of Army National Guard members.
The 12-week tour begins the first weekend in August and will go to about four events per week, with each event expected to last eight to 12 hours and draw 50,000 to 100,000 attendees.
Despite earlier reports of problems meeting recruitment goals since the Iraq war, LTC Joseph Day, chief of the Army National Guard's strategic actions and marketing, said that the National Guard is currently on track to meet its recruiting goal for 2008. Since 2005, it has increased its "end strength" total from 330,000 to 380,000.
RedPeg will manage outreach to local media covering music festivals and sports events like NASCAR races and bass-fishing tournaments.
"Recruiters will know about the events [in advance] and pre-market them," said RedPeg president and CEO Brad Nierenberg. "The events will be a way to engage with consumers who haven't considered the National Guard before now."
Day said that recruiting is typically done on a local, grassroots level, with recruiters attending any large event where its "target demographic" might be found.
"The interactive nature makes the 'Rock Star Hero' different and will appeal to our demographic's thirst for technology," Day said. In August, the US Army National Guard will launch a mobile marketing campaign, supported by outreach to local media, to sign up recrui... more -
Verso una democrazia autoritaria
Video intervento di Stefano Rodotà pubblicato su MicroMega online.
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Beijingers told to mind their manners
Beijing citizens have been told not to pick their noses, yawn or scratch their heads when talking to foreigners during the Olympics.
They have also been given a list of things not to ask overseas visitors - a list so exhaustive it could make conversation difficult.
Ordinary people have also been given detailed instructions on how to talk to disabled people during the Paralympics.
Chinese officials want ordinary people to show the country's most civilised face during the sporting events.
A booklet prepared by the propaganda department of Beijing's Dongcheng District gives locals an introduction to the games.
It has a special section on dealing with foreigners, including what to do when talking to overseas visitors.
'Wear a smile'
"In conversation, wear a smile, don't stare too long or do anything to make people feel ill at ease," it says.
It also warns Beijing people not to yawn, shout, pick their noses, scratch their heads, play with their fingernails or pull at their clothes while talking.
The booklet suggests people abide by the "eight don't ask" principle when talking to foreigners.
Subjects to avoid include what foreigners earn or how much they spend, how old they are, whether they are married and whether they are healthy.
Also off-limits are questions about where foreigners live, where they have worked, their religious or political beliefs, or what they are currently doing.
In the booklet, propaganda chiefs remind Beijing citizens to be careful when being interviewed by foreign journalists during the Olympics, which begin on 8 August.
It tells them not to say or do anything that harms national prestige, the country's image or national security.
Beijing citizens have been told not to pick their noses, yawn or scratch their heads when talking to foreigners during the Olympics. ... more -
Nobel Prize Committee Swings and Misses
I trust this one is already here, somewhere, and if so, I will be more than happy to delete this copy.
If this is the first appearance, many people here should hang their heads in shame. I trust this one is already here, somewhere, and if so, I will be more than happy to delete this copy. ... more -
Women who don't submit to husbands are to blame for domestic violence, says Baptis...
One reason that men abuse their wives is because women rebel against their husband's God-given authority, a Southern Baptist scholar said in a Texas church recently.
Bruce Ware, professor of Christian theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, said women desire to have their own way instead of submitting to their husbands because of sin.
"And husbands on their parts, because they're sinners, now respond to that threat to their authority either by being abusive, which is of course one of the ways men can respond when their authority is challenged--or, more commonly, to become passive, acquiescent, and simply not asserting the leadership they ought to as men in their homes and in churches," Ware said from the pulpit of Denton Bible Church in Denton, Texas.
Ware said God created men and women equally in God's image but for different roles.
"He has primary responsibility for the work and the labor and the toil that will provide for the family, that will sustain their family," he said. "He's the one in charge of leadership in the family, and that will become difficult, because of sin."
"...A woman will demonstrate that she is in fact a Christian, that she has submitted to God's ways by affirming and embracing her God-designed identity as--for the most part, generally this is true--as wife and mother, rather than chafing against it, rather than bucking against it, rather than wanting to be a man, wanting to be in a man's position, wanting to teach and exercise authority over men,"
Oh. My. God. (Or not, as the case may be). Like we needed any more reasons to scorn and revile southern American right-wing religious types. Why doesn't this stuff make the headlines more often? How can Christians tell Muslims (and they do, often) that some elements of Islam treat women unfairly? Are enough loons out there taking this crap seriously for it to be a serious social and political issue?
One reason that men abuse their wives is because women rebel against their husband's God-given authority, a Southern Baptist scholar s... more -
Alcune Verità Sono Intollerabili
Italian translation of: Some Truths Are Intolerable
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The century of the self
In this 4-part BBC documentary, Adam Curtis explores how Edward Bernays was employed by various governmental agencies and corporations to exploit Freud's psychoanalytical ideas on a mass scale in the form of propaganda and public relations (a term coined by Bernays).
This documentary urgently needs to be watched by as many people as possible, as the manipulative techniques cataloged in this video have only gotten better and our consumer culture will only get worse if we don't start to peel away the veils and name this beast.
Parts 2-4 posted in the comments. In this 4-part BBC documentary, Adam Curtis explores how Edward Bernays was employed by various governmental agencies and corporations... more -
GORBACHOV: THE MUSIC VIDEO - BIGGER AND RUSSIANER on Vimeo
I did this video for a Russian Metal Band called ANJ. It is pretty crazy. When I saw the lyrics it seemed to be an earnest tribute to Mikael Gorbachov (that's how the Russians spell it), so I was a bit confounded about what the video concept should be, but then I had a brainstorm to take it way over the top and I think it was just the thing. Suffice to say it's half Russian History allegory as told through an old zombie movie made in the Soviet Union, and half animated Soviet Propaganda posters. It's in HD, so let it load a bit before you play it and then click the little "four arrows" symbol on the lower right part of the viewer to see it in true HD. I did this video for a Russian Metal Band called ANJ. It is pretty crazy. When I saw the lyrics it seemed to be an earnest tribute to ... more
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Red Cross discrimination
The Red Cross, although a humanitarian organization, continues to openly discriminate against homosexuals and men who sleep with men in their effort to keep the blood supply "safe". Although the guidelines tend to appear quite outdated in today's society, there doesn't seem to be any effort to change or update the current system of blood screening.
Anyone who actively gives blood knows about the barrage of questions that the Red Cross nurses ask during the screening process. These safety measures are delegated by the Food and Drug Administration. Since safety of our blood supply is paramount, this is a necessary precaution. But, out of these questions, one question in particular stands out: "have you had sexual contact with a male, even once, since 1977?"
If you answer "yes" to this question, you will be refused the opportunity to give blood.
The American Red Cross, on their website (under "donor eligibility guidelines") describes these guidelines as "intended to protect the health and safety of the donor as well as the patient who will receive the transfusion". The guidelines go on to classify men who sleep with men in the same category of intravenous drug users and people who exchange money for sex, under the heading "HIV/AIDS". This representation alludes to the rumor that gay men and men who sleep with men, along with intravenous drug users and prostitutes are the only persons who can become infected with HIV/AIDS. This is false representation of a safety measure, and propagates the rumor that people in this classification are the only individuals who can contract or spread HIV/AIDS.
These guidelines can be found at: http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_557_,0...
It does not matter to the Red Cross if you are a monogamous gay male in a healthy relationship. It doesn't matter to the Red Cross if you've cheated on your spouse (straight or gay), it doesn't even matter if you've contracted syphilis or gonorrhea (as long as you wait 12 months before donating!)...but it does matter if you have "sex with men", or even fooled around with a man, even once in 30 years.
With all of our scientific knowledge about the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, it seems surprising that the Red Cross would continue to perpetrate false information about Homosexuals and the spread of HIV/AIDS in the name of safety. The Red Cross blames the Food and Drug Administration for this policy, and the FDA blames the Red Cross for not being discriminatory enough in protecting the blood supply. So we are left in a bind of open discrimination by our government and a world health organization.
The Red Cross and the FDA also fail to acknowledge that men (and women) who sleep with many partners are also at a high risk of becoming infected with HIV/AIDS. There is no question in the guidelines reflective of persons who have sexual contact with multiple partners, or persons who have unprotected sexual contact with others, or persons who engage in unsafe sexual practices. These persons, as long as they do not use intravenous drugs, charge for sex, or have sexual contact with men can still donate, and be a "hero".
Although our blood supply organizations should continue to carry out the highest standards of blood safety, the current guidelines must be revised to reflect our modern culture if organizations like the Red Cross intend to promote safety and well being. The truth about HIV/AIDS and other diseases must be reflective of scientific fact, and not old rumors. The truth about the safety of our blood supply is, if you look closely, a half truth riddled with discrimination.
The Red Cross, although a humanitarian organization, continues to openly discriminate against homosexuals and men who sleep with men i... more -
Tony Newman: What if Rush Had Gone to Jail for a Few Years Because of His Drug Add...
Rush Limbaugh will grace the cover of this Sunday's New York Times Magazine looking as cocky and powerful as ever. With his recent $400 million radio deal and estimated 14 million listeners, Rush is one of the most powerful voices in America today.
Seeing him riding so "high" on the cover of the Times Magazine made me wonder: where would Rush be today if he had been sent to prison for a few years when he was busted in 2003 for illegally purchasing thousands of prescription painkillers, including OxyContin. Rush Limbaugh will grace the cover of this Sunday's New York Times Magazine looking as cocky and powerful as ever. With his recent $40... more -
Blasting the Appalachian Economy
The Apppalachian people, along with our oldest mountains, are paying the full price for coal. Coal companies are really good at making promises.
The families and communities of Appalachia have, in fact, been the beneficiary of coal company promises for 150 years, with a lasting peace and prosperity always “just over this next dune,” or in the case of Appalachia…just under our next mountain.
Over the last 30 years in Appalachian coal country we have seen more than 1 million acres of some of the most bio-diverse forest in the world destroyed, more than 1200 miles of vital American headwater streams buried and polluted by mountaintop removal mining waste, and over 474 mountains blasted to rubble by mountaintop removal coal mining (check out Appalachian Mountaintop Removal in Google Earth ).
All the while, coal companies have promised up that while there may be some environmental trade-off to mountaintop removal mining – it was SURE to bring great jobs and prosperity to the region. But while many corporate zillionaires from outside the region have profited mightily off of our resources, the Appalachian people have learned that mountaintop removal does the same thing to our economy that it does to our beloved mountains.
In 1995, Harvard economists Jeffery Sachs and Andrew Warner discovered a clear negative relationship between natural resource-base exports, including agriculture, minerals, and fuels, and GDP growth.
They dubbed this phenomenon "The Resource Curse."
Of the 95 countries they investigated, only two achieved a 2% annual GDP growth rate between 1970-1989. A more common occurrence was increased poverty, warfare, and civil strife.
Electric power generation pulled in more than $380 billion in 2005. More than half of that electricity generation came from coal.
If we’ve been mining coal for 150 years...why are the people of Appalachia among the poorest in the country?
The Apppalachian people, along with our oldest mountains, are paying the full price for coal. Coal companies are really good at making... more -
YouTube vs. CNN on the Clean Coal Debate
A new YouTube video raises the question of whether CNN's coverage of the clean coal debate has been biased by a multi-million dollar advertising campaign purchased on CNN by the coal industry through Americans for Balanced Energy Choices, a coal front group since renamed the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.
The ad campaign, which began a year ago, was created by Waylon Ad, a firm representing both ABEC and the National Mining Association. A coal industry website describes the purpose of the CNN ad campaign: "The St. Louis ad agency's spot, which follows a debut effort that broke in April, suggests coal use is economically efficient and environmentally friendly.
In the latest spot, a panorama of people and faces, including a man in the middle of a field with an electric guitar, is shown as a voiceover touts coal use." The low budget video piece was posted on YouTube June 24.
Watch it for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKR-6Szlv0g
A new YouTube video raises the question of whether CNN's coverage of the clean coal debate has been biased by a multi-million dollar a... more -
Unbelievable! How Chinese controle world wide media: FREE TIBET!?
You can see on that picture (taken with a satellite photo.) how chineses suceeded to controle the world wide media by claiming that tibetans are violent, make the mess etc.
You can check you that:
The chinese army (strangely all have a short haircut like tibetans) has just received their 'package', which strangely looks like the tibetans's , ready to wear it... going in the streets and doing what they have to do... without forgetting the cameramen!
Afterward videos will travel in all over the world and broadcast something absolutely wrong... Made in china
JUST UNBELIEVABLE !!!
If you want people to open their mind up,
Please forward this picture which will perfectly illustrate the real chinese mentality
PEACE You can see on that picture (taken with a satellite photo.) how chineses suceeded to controle the world wide media by claiming that ti... more -
McClellan testifies under oath against White House
Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan testifies against White House on Capitol Hill today stating that a former top aide to President Bush directed him to mislead the press about another administration official's involvement in the leak of a spy's name to the news media.
McClellan defended his decision to pull back the curtain on the Bush White House with his insider account.
"Too often in Washington, people mistakenly think that loyalty to an individual office holder should override loyalty to basic ideals," he said. "This false loyalty is not only mistaken but can exercise a corrupt influence on government." Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan testifies against White House on Capitol Hill today stating that a former top aide ... more -
Smear tactics backfire for culture secretary
The Culture Secretary is facing the threat of a highly embarrassing libel action for innuendo linking the senior Conservative David Davis with Britain's leading human rights campaigner, Shami Chakrabarti.
Andy Burnham, who has been tipped as a future prime minister, suggested in a magazine article that Mr Davis had indulged in "late night, hand wringing, heart-melting phone calls" with the director of Liberty. The Culture Secretary is facing the threat of a highly embarrassing libel action for innuendo linking the senior Conservative David Da... more -
Lies, War, and Empire - Part II
Part II of a talk by Dr. Michael Parenti on "Lies, War, and Empire" given May 12, 2007 at Antioch University in Seattle.
Part I at:
http://current.com/items/89036207_lies_war_and_empire_p... Part II of a talk by Dr. Michael Parenti on "Lies, War, and Empire" given May 12, 2007 at Antioch University in Seattle. ... more -
Lies, War, and Empire - Part I
Part I of a talk by Dr. Michael Parenti on "Lies, War, and Empire" given May 12, 2007 at Antioch University in Seattle.
Part II at:
http://current.com/items/89036361_lies_war_and_empire_p...
Part I of a talk by Dr. Michael Parenti on "Lies, War, and Empire" given May 12, 2007 at Antioch University in Seattle. ... more
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