snowychap Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 What a slimy, evasive turd he was. I gather he stood as a Tory against Caroline Lucas in Brighton 2015. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted May 1, 2018 Share Posted May 1, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VILLAMARV Posted September 3, 2018 Share Posted September 3, 2018 (edited) Quote US Sanctions Shut Down ‘The Empire Files’ with Abby Martin August 22, 2018 For immediate release – Aug 22, 2018 The Empire Files is temporarily appealing for donations on a one-time and monthly basis to continue production in the midst of US attacks on the TeleSUR Network. As a result of US sanctions against Venezuela, The Empire Files has been forced to completely shut down operations. The Empire Files, which airs on TeleSUR throughout Latin America and on Free Speech TV and The Real News Network in the United States, has been funded through a contract with the TeleSUR network. As Abby Martin’s primary broadcast, it has released over 100 documentaries, interviews and on-the-ground exposés from battlefields in Palestine, Venezuela and beyond. As a result of financial attacks by the US government on the primary source of TeleSUR’s funding, production was halted before the completion of Empire Files Season Two. Season Three, contracted for 26 episodes, was scheduled to begin on July 1. But with the US government blocking wire transfers that originate in Venezuela, the ability to receive funding has not been possible. For over a year, funding has been sporadic and often delayed. The Empire Files has been operating by alternating between waiting for late payments and funding production out-of-pocket. However, with US attacks and sanctions intensifying, the ability to receive funds appears to have been cut-off completely. Contract TeleSUR journalists elsewhere, including at Empire Files, have had funding blocked by the US government for over 6 months. Even wire transfers not originating in Venezuela, but ally countries which also fund TeleSUR, have been severed. There appears to be no solution, and no end in sight, to this ongoing financial attack. The Empire Files officially halted all production on May 27, and had to cut all staff prior to that. But we have been holding-off on an official announcement in hopes that the wall put in place by the Trump Administration would be overcome. We are making this announcement now because, after numerous attempts and constant rejections of all types of fund transfers, we do not believe this barrier will be removed in the near future. The depth of US attacks The US State Department has been involved in regime-change projects in Venezuela since the election of the late President Hugo Chavez, first expressed by a violent coup in 2002. During that coup, Venezuela’s state media and pro-government media were shut-down by the US-backed junta. Yet economic sanctions on Venezuela were not implemented until the Obama Administration, in 2015. The Trump Administration has taken these sanctions to new heights. The most recent escalation came on May 21, 2018, the day after President Maduro democratically won reelection—apparently to punish the Venezuelan people for electing the “wrong” candidate. Today, the US sanctions on Venezuela are the worst sanctions on any country in the region since those against Nicaragua in the 1980s, according to Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic and Policy Research—a time when the Reagan Administration was waging a full-blown, bloody war against the Nicaraguan people. Similarly it is Venezuela’s poor and working class who are, by design, suffering most from the sanctions today. These economic attacks cannot be viewed on their own, but part-in-parcel of a regime-change operation—while this is just one front in the US strategy, the sanctions are coupled with violent US-backed coup attempts in Venezuela, including the August 4 assassination attempt on President Maduro. TeleSUR has always been included as a target for its association with the government. A thwarted US-backed coup plot in 2015 included plans to bomb the TeleSUR news building in Caracas. In 2017, a TeleSUR news team was ambushed by US-backed opposition forces and nearly lynched—one TeleSUR reporter was shot in the back during the assault. Likewise, Abby Martin and Empire Files producer Mike Prysner were the target of pro-coup politicians and journalists based in Caracas and Miami, leading to hundreds of death threats and causing them to flee Venezuela where they were conducting on-the-ground reporting. In addition, TeleSUR—along with the other main left-wing news source on Venezuela, Venezuela Analysis—were recently targets of online censorship. Already hit with “warnings” and “sensitive content” bans on YouTube and Twitter, their pages were recently deleted (although later reinstated) by Facebook. This was the second time the TeleSUR English page was removed without warning or explanation by Facebook. Facebook is currently collaborating with the Atlantic Council—stacked with CIA agents, Iraq war architects, Big Oil and the weapons industry—to decide which media outlets “sow discord.” With only rhetoric of increased aggression coming from the Trump Administration, including threats of all-out US military bombing and invasion, there is no reason to think this multi-pronged attack will subside. The future of The Empire Files The entire Empire Files team—which has included a variety of dedicated videographers, editors, animators, graphic designers, composers, audio engineers, writers, researchers, interns and more—has spent nearly three years doing dedicated, rigorous, and sometimes life-threatening work to deliver a high-quality, politically important show once a week. From the hidden casualties on the US-Mexico border, to environmental disasters in the endangered rainforest, to the most-viewed reporting on the crisis in Venezuela—interviews with President Rafael Correa, Cornel West, Noam Chomsky, Ahed Tamimi, and other important figures—profiles of often-unheard voices of migrant domestic workers, young revolutionary activists, immigrant children, hurricane victims, third-party candidates and more—to in-depth educational documentaries on socialism, the crimes of the US Empire, and histories and crises hidden by the mainstream media—The Empire Files has been extremely proud to make this small contribution to a broader movement for change. But we do not intend to stop this project as long as there are possibilities to continue. We are prepared to resume production of weekly programs for TeleSUR as soon as blocks on funding are lifted, or circumvented—however, this could mean six months, a year, or never. We know our colleagues at TeleSUR have been fighting for a solution for us and other contractors, and will continue to do so. http://mediaroots.org/us-sanctions-shut-down-the-empire-files-with-abby-martin/ Not sure if the right thread, could have gone in a number of them tbh. Edited September 3, 2018 by VILLAMARV correct link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterms Posted October 29, 2018 Share Posted October 29, 2018 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blandy Posted October 30, 2018 Moderator Share Posted October 30, 2018 13 hours ago, peterms said: Why is it Dystopian? It seems no different (allowing for translation issues) to announcements and signs on, say, UK trains and stations. Travelling without a ticket is an offence, smoking in no smoking areas (anywhere on a UK train) is a criminal offence and a criminal record could result. "Disorderly conduct" - possibly, but tbh people are dealt with by the BTP for being dicks on trains. Singapore has hugely stiff penalties for all kinds of stuff we'd consider minor (though a public nuisance - dropping chewing gum, fag ends, eating burgers etc. on the tram) and it's not dystopian. I know China has some hideously oppressive rules, but that train announcement is not something I could worry about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chindie Posted October 30, 2018 VT Supporter Share Posted October 30, 2018 5 minutes ago, blandy said: Why is it Dystopian? It seems no different (allowing for translation issues) to announcements and signs on, say, UK trains and stations. Travelling without a ticket is an offence, smoking in no smoking areas (anywhere on a UK train) is a criminal offence and a criminal record could result. "Disorderly conduct" - possibly, but tbh people are dealt with by the BTP for being dicks on trains. Singapore has hugely stiff penalties for all kinds of stuff we'd consider minor (though a public nuisance - dropping chewing gum, fag ends, eating burgers etc. on the tram) and it's not dystopian. I know China has some hideously oppressive rules, but that train announcement is not something I could worry about. China is introducing a system where everyone effectively has a scorecard based on how good of a citizen they are, which then has implications on your ability to do things like use trains, leave the country, receive better services for things like internet access or even be eligible for certain jobs. You can also be publicly shamed for it which obviously has severe implications. Over here, being a prat on a train might get you a fine. In China, it might ruin your life. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterms Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 1 hour ago, blandy said: Why is it Dystopian? It seems no different (allowing for translation issues) to announcements and signs on, say, UK trains and stations. Travelling without a ticket is an offence, smoking in no smoking areas (anywhere on a UK train) is a criminal offence and a criminal record could result. "Disorderly conduct" - possibly, but tbh people are dealt with by the BTP for being dicks on trains. It's the recording of these things in a "personal credit information system" that suggests the tentacles of government oversight extending into a wraparound, ever-present surveillance and policing, rather more extensive than having criminal record checks. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutByEaster? Posted October 30, 2018 Moderator Share Posted October 30, 2018 9 hours ago, blandy said: Singapore has hugely stiff penalties for all kinds of stuff we'd consider minor (though a public nuisance - dropping chewing gum, fag ends, eating burgers etc. on the tram) and it's not dystopian. Dropping chewing gum isn't an offence in Singapore - having chewing gum is an offence in Singapore, it's been banned since 1992. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterms Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 42 minutes ago, OutByEaster? said: Dropping chewing gum isn't an offence in Singapore - having chewing gum is an offence in Singapore, it's been banned since 1992. A very sensible policy. We should do the same. Offenders should be required to do community service, involving replacing paving stones smeared with their vile discarded gum. Is there any street that doesn't have a coating of this nasty stuff? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 59 minutes ago, peterms said: Is there any street that doesn't have a coating of this nasty stuff? Most of the streets in Malvern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, OutByEaster? said: having chewing gum is an offence in Singapore, it's been banned since 1992 No (avenue to) dystopia there then. (This isn't a defence of chewing gum in case it gets misinterpreted as one) Edited October 30, 2018 by snowychap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted October 30, 2018 Moderator Share Posted October 30, 2018 4 minutes ago, snowychap said: No dystopia there then. (This isn't a defence of chewing gum in case it gets misinterpreted as one) Singapore is very dystopian, it's an odd litter-free, sparkly clean, orderly place where crime appears to not exist and tempers rarely flare. Quite frankly it's bloody odd It does now, however, have "No Selfie-Stick Zones", this is one part of its odd character that I'm all in favour of. Couldn't live there though, it's got no soul. I was half convinced it was populated by replicants 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterms Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 13 minutes ago, snowychap said: Most of the streets in Malvern. Good. I didn't notice any in Bishop's Castle either, come to think of it. It's mostly a big town feature. Shopping malls don't seem to have it, though the Venn diagram of gum chewers and mall shoppers would be interesting. Something about toilet training? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowychap Posted October 30, 2018 Share Posted October 30, 2018 28 minutes ago, peterms said: Good. I didn't notice any in Bishop's Castle either, come to think of it. It's mostly a big town feature. Shopping malls don't seem to have it, though the Venn diagram of gum chewers and mall shoppers would be interesting. Something about toilet training? The point, surely, is not about gum or the chewing of it but of the getting rid of something when it is no longer of use. If you teach people about responsibility and thus disposing of things in a responsible way (education, &c.) then gum=rubbish=recycling and so on. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterms Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 10 hours ago, snowychap said: The point, surely, is not about gum or the chewing of it but of the getting rid of something when it is no longer of use. If you teach people about responsibility and thus disposing of things in a responsible way (education, &c.) then gum=rubbish=recycling and so on. I think it's about both the gum and the behaviour. It would be nice if everyone disposed of waste properly, but clearly not everyone will. Compared to, say, cigarette butts or paper or other things that people casually drop in the street, gum is a real problem to clean up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blandy Posted October 31, 2018 Moderator Share Posted October 31, 2018 2 hours ago, peterms said: I think it's about both the gum and the behaviour. It would be nice if everyone disposed of waste properly, but clearly not everyone will Perhaps if there was more "risk/threat" of adverse impact on the miscreants, then the problem would be reduced/eradicated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterms Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 3 minutes ago, blandy said: Perhaps if there was more "risk/threat" of adverse impact on the miscreants, then the problem would be reduced/eradicated. Or possibly impact on the suppliers, eg a tax to pay for cleaning up the mess. Simpler than trying to catch the miscreants, though would be seen as unfair by the consumers who don't make a mess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blandy Posted October 31, 2018 Moderator Share Posted October 31, 2018 5 minutes ago, peterms said: Or possibly impact on the suppliers, eg a tax to pay for cleaning up the mess. Simpler than trying to catch the miscreants, though would be seen as unfair by the consumers who don't make a mess. I think for stuff where there's harm done by a product, and no way for the consumer to prevent that - say plastic lined paper coffee cups - the supplier should be compelled to address the issue. For somethign where it's irresponsible use of a product, the individual should be the one copping the biff. There's a line with the chinese "dystopia" at one end, Singapore a bit further towards the centre and the uk much further along still. Police cuts, lack of social /peer pressure, general scumbags, little chance of getting caught....etc etc. It's the same with dog eggs, anti-social behaviour, drink driving, littering, speeding...etc. etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coda Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 BRING BACK NATIONAL SERVICE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xann Posted January 7, 2019 Author Share Posted January 7, 2019 Quote “The intent is world domination,” Berners-Lee says with a wry smile. The British-born scientist is known for his dry sense of humor. But in this case, he is not joking... ... Berners-Lee will launch Inrupt, a startup that he has been building, in stealth mode, for the past nine months. Backed by Glasswing Ventures, its mission is to turbocharge a broader movement afoot, among developers around the world, to decentralize the web and take back power from the forces that have profited from centralizing it. In other words, it’s game on for Facebook, Google, Amazon. For years now, Berners-Lee and other internet activists have been dreaming of a digital utopia where individuals control their own data and the internet remains free and open. But for Berners-Lee, the time for dreaming is over. “We have to do it now,” he says, displaying an intensity and urgency that is uncharacteristic for this soft-spoken academic. “It’s a historical moment.” Ever since revelations emerged that Facebook had allowed people’s data to be misused by political operatives, Berners-Lee has felt an imperative to get this digital idyll into the real world. In a post published this weekend, Berners-Lee explains that he is taking a sabbatical from MIT to work full time on Inrupt. The company will be the first major commercial venture built off of Solid, a decentralized web platform he and others at MIT have spent years building. Fast Company 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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