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German town says 'Nein' to Google Street View
Google's mission "to organize the world's information" has just met formidable resistance in the form of the town of Molfsee near Kiel in northwestern Germany.
The picturesque, but not picture-friendly town hopes to block the Internet giant from filming its streets and the houses of its fewer than 5,000 inhabitants for its "Street View" program -- a service that provides 360-degree, street level images via the Google Maps search engine.
"We are not going to let this happen," Reinhold Harwart, the leader of the CDU on the town council, stated. "You can see everything in those photos! That is opening house and home to criminals!"
Harwart's worries are shared at the state and federal levels. "We find the project extremely alarming," Marit Hansen, the state's deputy officer in charge of privacy protection, said. "It gathers personal data and puts it on the Internet. That will not do."
The Street View program, which uses a combination of photographs taken from cameras mounted on the roofs of cars and global positioning technology, has elicited similar responses around the world since it was first introduced in San Francisco in May 2007. Since then it has spread to dozens of other cities across the globe. The worries range from those of people worrying that the program could be used to help would-be kidnappers, people patronizing adult entertainment establishments or even people trying to hide the fact that they smoke from a spouse.
Google doesn't seem bothered by the threat. "We don't need permits," Kay Oberbeck, Google's spokesman for North and Central Europe told the local media, arguing that the streets are public property. "Street View is not a tool designed for criminals."
Google also maintains that the complaints are much ado about nothing. "You can't really see anything more than a person walking down the street would," Oberbeck said. "But, whereas that person can look over the hedge, our cameras can't." He added that the program automatically blurs out the faces of people and license plate numbers caught in the images. Google's mission "to organize the world's information" has just met formidable resistance in the form of the town ... more -
Against the Grain: An Artist's Guide to Peru
A new documentary explores race, art, and resistance in Peru.
In this trailer for the documentary film Against the Grain: An Artist's Survival Guide to Peru, Japanese-American filmmaker Ann Kaneko tells the story of four Peruvian artists who make creative masterpieces amid rising civil unrest.
The film also explores the racial backlash that followed the controversial presidency of Alberto Fujimori, the first person of East Asian descent to be elected head of government in Latin America.
To see a list of screenings near you, visit: http://www.againstthegrain-peru.blogspot.com/ (see sidebar on left) A new documentary explores race, art, and resistance in Peru. ... more -
Introducing the UK's first VCAM & Bloodshed and Brotherhood!
We have so many exciting things happening at Current towers that we simply could not wait any longer to give you your next instalment of the UK blog.
We are pleased to announce our first ever VCAM for the epic PS3 title Resistance 2.
VCAMs are viewer-created advertising messages. Current TV and PlayStation are working together to allow you to make a fun ad for the upcoming PS3 release Resistance 2. Get your thinking caps on, polish off your camera lense and get ready to earn £1000.
Simply think of a great idea and get shooting. For more information visit the topic page below.
http://current.com/topics/88837900_resistance_2_vcam
We even have a thread to share your best ideas.
http://current.com/items/89310896_short_on_ideas_why_no...
*** Bloodshed and Brotherhood ***
As well as the VCAM we have an exciting new season of shows on Current TV. Make sure you don’t miss Bloodshed and Brotherhood which premieres live (and for a week) from 9.30pm Saturday 20th.
In the lead up to Peace Day on Sunday 21st September, Current’s globetrotting reporters and citizen journalists take their cameras deep into the heart of some of the world’s worst conflicts; from the warfields of Darfur and Iraq to the backstreets of London they show you what life is like for people living with conflict everyday, as well as the people who are committing their lives to resolving it, as we ask, can there ever be a resolution to the many wars we wage?
Let us know your favourite pods by voting and commenting. For more information follow the link
http://current.com/topics/88833161_bloodshed_and_brothe...
As always if you have any comments on this post then please feel free to add them below. We have so many exciting things happening at Current towers that we simply could not wait any longer to give you your next instalment ... more -
Endgame in Iraq : short powerful film
Sean Smith spent two months with the 101st Airborne in Baghdad during the dog days of the American occupation. He filmed heavy fighting with the Mahdi army in Sadr City and Shulla, and powerful unmediated testimony from soldiers openly critical of the occupation.
This is powerful stuff.
Bansheewail, over and out. Sean Smith spent two months with the 101st Airborne in Baghdad during the dog days of the American occupation. He filmed heavy fightin... more -
Burma: "If we had guns we would fight back"
The Guardian: From inside Burma plans for new uprising against military.
Clancy Chassay reports from inside Burma on plans for a new uprising against the military regime, and hears some monks calling for more western intervention and an armed insurrection. The Guardian: From inside Burma plans for new uprising against military. ... more -
A GREAT SPEECH
This is a very inspirational speech by Howard Zinn
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Sony Press Conference at E3 2008
Aside from displaying their awesome power of gigantic presentation screens, Sony revealed a brand-new title at their conference this morning. From Zipper Interactive comes a massive action game....cleverly titled MAG. MAG will have up to 256 players, broken into squads of eight. Will have character growth pushing players along certain paths and helping make sure it's not totally chaotic. Ongoing campaigns. "An intense and long-lasting shooter experience."
Other highlights of the conference include GOW 3 trailer and more info on Resistance 2 and Resistance for PSP revealed.
And it also looks there will be a battle of the movies on consoles between PS3 and 360 as Sony announces a movie-downloading service. Sony Picture, Fox, MGM, Lion's Gate, Warner, Disney, Paramount, Turner, and Funimation will all have programming available when this service launches. Rental and electronic selling, standard and hi-def content. $9.99 to $14.99 to purchase a movie, $2.99 to $5.99 to rent. TV episodes starting at $1.99. Aside from displaying their awesome power of gigantic presentation screens, Sony revealed a brand-new title at their conference this ... more -
This generation's 1984, download it for free
From the book:
Marcus, aka "w1n5t0n" is only seventeen years old, but he figures he already knows how the system works-and howto work the system. Smart, fast, and wise to the ways of his networked world, he has no trouble outwitting his high schools intrusive but clumsy security systems.
But his whole world changes when, having skipped school, he and his friends find themselves caught in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Marcus and his crew are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and whisked away to a secret prison, where they're mercilessly interrogated for days.
When the DHS finally releases them, Marcus discovers that his city has become a police state, where every citizen is treated like a potential terrorist. He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him only one option: Take down the DHS himself.
Can one teenage hacker take fight back against a government out of control? Maybe, but only if he's really careful... and very, very smart.
"A wonderful, important book... I'd recommend Little Brother over pretty much any book I've read this year" - Neil Gaiman, author of Sandman and American Gods.
"A worthy younger sibling to Orwell’s 1984, Cory Doctorow’s LITTLE BROTHER is lively, precocious, and most importantly, a little scary." - Brian K Vaughn, author of Y: The Last Man
"Scarily Realistic... Action-packed with tales of courage, technology, and demonstrations of digital disobedience as the technophiles civil protest". - Andrew "Bunnie" Huang, author of Hacking the Xbox
"Read this book. You'll learn a great deal about computer security, surveillance and how to counter it, and the risk of trading off freedom for 'security'. And you'll have fun doing it." - Tim O'Reilly, founder and CEO of O'Reilly Media.
This is one of my favorite books if not my favorite book. Everyone in this generation should read it, because we might need it should things go wrong. From the book: ... more -
Raising an Issue: Californian Independence
It's a small movement today - only one website is devoted to it, and few really care about the subject. California's economy could quite possibly be the seventh largest in the world, with effective agriculture, wine production, gold, and many other recources (including marijuana, but that doesn't count, really). We have the country's largest population, and a system of direct democracy.
Problem is, we have to deal with the federal government. Our taxes go to them, and they spend very little of it on us (something I forgot to mention in the blog I'm linking to). I urge Californians to get informed on the issue, especially with the Bush administration, and quite possibly, a "McCain administration," that will further bring us all down.
Also, don't forget the dollar is worth 41% less than it was before Bush. It's a small movement today - only one website is devoted to it, and few really care about the subject. California's econom... more -
Republic of Lakotah withdraws from US
Lakotah sovereignty ...
1700's: Lakotah governed themselves as they had for thousands of years.
1803: Louisiana Purchase Treaty between US and France in which the US promises to respect the liberties, property and religious rights of the inhabitants of the territory, which includes the Lakotah.
1805-1868: Numerous treaties between the US and Sioux Nation, all of which have been violated by the US.
1974: International Treaty Conference attended by over 5000 Lakotah, including many elders. Lakotah elders give two mandates to attendees, international recognition of indigenous rights, and sovereignty. Declaration of Continuing Independence also issued by the conference.
September 2007: UN passes the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
December 2007: Lakotah Freedom Delegation withdraws from all treaties with the US.
Go to link to read more about the Republic of Lakotah.
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From TouchArt.net and OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com
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Call to Action to Current.com users and contributors -
Please help get this Indian Country news to Current TV.
It has fallen from #3 to #22.
Help prove the Current community isn't like most media
and Americans who, as Russell Means told me, "Don't
want to see Indians. We're the evidence."
Thanks for your help to support the Lakotah people and
other indigenous people struggling for their rights
as sovereign nations. Lakotah sovereignty ... 1700's: Lakotah governed themselves as they had for thousands of years. ... more -
Saudi Woman Drives For Reform
Saudi women are banned from driving and can be arrested if caught by police for "immoral behavior." This brave woman went driving on International Woman's Day and filmed it as a form of resistance against her government, which has proved very slow in its reforms Saudi women are banned from driving and can be arrested if caught by police for "immoral behavior." This brave woman went dr... more
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Buying Nothing at Wal Mart
What happens when you go shopping for nothing?
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Sophie Scholl and the White Rose Movement
Sophia Magdalena Scholl (9 May 1921 22 February 1943) was a prominent member of the White Rose non-violent resistance movement in Nazi Germany. She was convicted of treason after having been found distributing anti-war leaflets at the University of Munich with her brother Hans. As a result, they were both executed by guillotine. Sophie was 21 at the time. Sophia Magdalena Scholl (9 May 1921 22 February 1943) was a prominent member of the White Rose non-violent resistance movement in Na... more
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