The British anti-war campaigner, Brain Haw, has died after a long battle with lung cancer. The 62 year old lived in a tent outside the Houses of Parliament in London for the last ten years to protest British foreign policy.
Antony C. Sutton 1925-2002 Professor, Research Fellow & Author
Antony C. Sutton 1925-2002 Professor, Research Fellow & Author Excellent selection of rare interviews & lectures with silenced intellectual exposing the Wall Street (& European) Oligarch Familes "Strategy of Tension" techniques. Although often (mis-)quoted by the traditional right wing in the U.S. in the 80's, his information is ground breaking, and was black-balled and side-lined for his extremely damaging research, and shocking findings.
"Anthony Sutton was born in London in 1925 and educated at the universities of London, Gottingen and California. He became a United States citizen in 1962. He was a Research Fellow at the prestigious HOOVER INSTITUTE OF WAR, REVOLUTION AND PEACE, where he produced the monumental three-volume study, Western Technology and Soviet Economic Development. Dr. Sutton was a prolific writer whose scholarly works include Wall Street and the Bolshevik Revolution and Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler. His book, Trilaterals Over Washington was the first book to be published on the Trilateral Commission.
Sutton reveals the untold story of how a group comprising the very richest men in the world, located one block off Wall Street in New York (120 S. Broadway) in a building owned by General DuPont, secretly financed the 1917 revolution of Lenin and Trotsky. Then in his work, Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler, Sutton details how this same group of monopoly capitalists financed and supplied both the leftist state of Russia and the rightist state of Germany and clashed them in war for profit.
Sutton has a great deal to say about the un-elected self imposed ruling class of the USSR and America and how they work together." - From here
John Pilger investigates the media's role in war. He traces the history of 'embedded' and independent reporting from the carnage of WWI to the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. 97MINS
Public meeting hosted by The Pan-Afrikan Voice and Pan-Afrikan Society Community Forum on the topic of Mumia Abu-Jamal who has been on death row for almost 30 years on Wednesday 28 April 2010 7 pm Karibu Education Centre, 7 Gresham Rd SW2 (Brixton station)
"If only people would save their energy for slightly more worthwhile causes." ATG speaking the truth! Quote and film found on the excellent "Ain't That Great Really" blog
"Ten police officers have been injured when scuffles broke out after 2,000 people descended on a clothing sale. Three people were arrested after the trouble at the American Apparel "rummage" event in Brick Lane, east London. The company was forced to stop the sale, which was advertised on social networking websites like Facebook, because of the "dangerous behaviour" of people queueing to get in." - Associated Press
Dumb & Dumbering Down The News
For disenfranchised young people, fed on unrealistic "Celebrity Reality", unobtainable goals, opulant music videos, and unprepared for modern life, is it any wonder that they will fight the Police, for a discounted plain white cotton T-shirt, but not for their rights and future???
interview with Steven Jacobson "Many people, especially young people except unquestioningly the reality that is presented by the media. Popular culture, movies, television, music carry messages about how society works, and how people should behave. Entertainment is not value free, it has ideological content it has a world view that influences the people who watches the programming. Deception has become part of our social framework..." - Steven Jacobson
Paul Hardcastle - 19 Trailer 25th Anniversary "25 Years ago, I recorded the song 19, the idea came about whilst watching a documentary which highlighted the plight of young men and women who fought in Vietnam.
In World War 2 the average age of the combat soldier was 26, in Vietnam he was 19 these words really made me stop and think.
When I first approached Chrysalis Records with the Demo of 19 most people there didn't believe it would get any attention as there would be no interest from the media, and I quote the public dont want to hear a song about war. Its now the 25th anniversary since the release of 19, only this time the documentary I am watching is about the British soldiers who would be serving in Afghanistan. I hear the words I looked at my Men, The average age was 19, my god Im taking boys to war, It was unbelievable, almost the same words that gave me the original idea to record 19, this was all sounding too familiar."Paul Hardcastle
The Iron Triangle - The Carlyle Group Exposed "The Bush family, the Saudi Royal family, Osama Bin Laden's family and Donald Rumsfeld's inner circle - these are just some of the high profile figures who have played a direct role in the rise of one of the most powerful and influential and secretive firms in Washington. The company is called The Carlyle Group. And in the wake of the events of September 11th and the invasion of Iraq, its power and influence have become significantly stronger. The company operates within the so-called iron-triangle of industry, government and the military. Its list of former and current advisers and associates includes a vast array of some of the most powerful men in America and indeed around the world. This program exposes the history of the Carlyle Group, from it's inception as a private equity firm to it's precent status as one of the largest defence contractors in the world." from here
Not Another Drop is an annual Peace March that is held in The London Borough of Brent, UK. it is organised by the Not Another Drop community Group and the Gun, Gang & Knife Coordinator for Brent. It is a joint Community & local Government group. Please come an support this Saturday.
An animation based on an interview interview with John Lennon talking about the forces which govern the planet by a young fan in the 70's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIfHsYWeC1Y
Architects of Control Program One - Mass Control & Future of Mankind Michal Tsarion - "They cut down the trees and name the roads after them."
Stop the Clash of Civilizations
HIP HOP and SUBLIMINAL SYMBOLISM DR. Amos Wilson LECTURE www.watchitall.tv
Rap Terrorist Goes To School Watch Lavoisier talk to school kids about lying rappers, snitching, and more! Feedback Welcome: www.rapterrorist.com www.myspace.com/lavoisiermc Info@aomegamusic.com
Swordfish Studios and Shady Aftermath have just released a new 50 Cent computer game called "Blood In The Sand". Its described as “a loud shiny parade of gun violence and rap music.”
“Surprise bitches” 50 Cent in game dialogue
“Their world, his rules.”
In the Xbox game, you Dodge R.P.G.’s AK Fire, Drive around in Hummers (Military - no rims) avoiding Snipers in a poor war torn Arab country in a casual mix of Desert combat fatigues and Hip-Hop/Hood wear. “THE ULTIMATE 50 CENT EXPERIENCE - Play as one of the world’s biggest hip hop stars.”
There is plenty of product placement as you would expect, G-Unit everything, Reebok G-Unit signature sneakers, it ends up as a symbiotic mix of hood wars and world wars all rolled (role modelled) up into very strange message.
50 Cent Still
Private Security On The Ground
50 Cent performing at an MTV event celebrating Military Veterans (in full fatigue gear)
It is nothing new for Rappers to dress in Military surplus, Marine caps, Desert Boots, camo jackets, Jeep Caps are all and have been for quite some time hip-hop staple wear. Army surplus is durable, practicle and cheap.
But looking at 30 plus Rapper 50 Cent and his slimmed down G-Unit entourage Lloyd Banks and DJ etc, conducting urban gorilla battles with masked terrorists, it looks so much like the footage of the private security corporations like Haliburton etc, of ex-military personnel with a loose collection of firearms and civilian and military uniform. As we know the U.S. military machine is winding down troop numbers in Iraq, these Security firms which almost outnumber Regular military personnel, will step in to fill the breach.
Controversial Private Security Firm Black Water
50 is one of the biggest selling Hip-Hop artists ever, so on a corporate responsibility level and the amount of impressionable young ears he has access to is “Intense High Body Count Gun play” such a good thing?
Aaron Blean, Producer on 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand describes the game is “a fictional Middle Eastern setting”, “war-torn country”. Although it is just a game at present there are only a few countries that fit this description, namely countries where the U.S. and various other European nations are engaged. Many of these same nations the U.S. in particular are the core target audience for the game.
Aaron Blean, Producer on 50 manning the gun on a Black hawk helicopter - “Basically, 50 takes over a helicopter via a gun to the pilot's head and 50's manning a turret, raining death from above into this forsaken, war-torn area. It looks fantastic.”
“This city has the worst gangsters in the world” – Arab Character in the game remarks
“Just another day at the office” 50 Cent
“I’m a hustler, in God we Trust, ashes to ashes, we sling the dust” - 50 Cent lyrics in the game.
But Australian government was not so keen on the violent content of the game as explained by the producer to IGN.com
IGN AU: Australia's classification board, the dreaded OFLC, actually banned the original game for a while. I'm curious, first of all, if you remember that, and secondly, if you're working with all the classification boards to make sure 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand gets through the classification process?
Aaron Blean: Oh, absolutely. When we first presented it to the board, we had some challenges. But we made a low-violence version for Australia, so it did end up shipping. As for the sequel, we're creating a mature title here for North America and we're getting heavily involved with not only our international partners here but also with the ratings boards, so that we get ahead of any concerns about the game that would hinder the game from shipping there. So, we're already taking the necessary steps to ensure that this game will be shipped in any territory that has violence concerns.
Advert for the original 50 computer game, which was a urban evironment "shoot 'em up".
The advertising banner above the IGN.com article for a computer page I took from had content specific advertising, R.A.F Royal Airforce, suggesting that the British military are also attempting to recruit from within the Gaming community.
Recent movie featuring 50 Cent as a Soldier in Iraq
80's recruitment advert for women
and for the Black community
US Army using Hip-Hop style Street Team Techniques for recuiting
“I done told you boy I'm a soldier boy, I got no choice but to be a rider” 50 Cent - RIDER PT. 2
Criminal Conviction Waiver to take the strain of drops in Military recruitment
Operation Hollywood is an excellent documentary exploring the relationship between the U.S. Military and Hollywood.
As the Computer Games Industry is bigger than the music industry and could overtake the Film Industry, is there now a clamour for using Computer Games as Military propaganda?
US Army Commercial Targeting Video Gamers
The Army Game Project description from the US Armies website:
AMERICA'S ARMY Launched in July 2002 the America's Army game, which is rated "T" for Teen by the ESRB, has become one of the most popular computer games in the world. America's Army has penetrated contemporary culture and is one of the most recognizable game brands as a result of its unique inside perspective of the U.S. Army and its exciting gameplay. As the game's popularity continued to grow with each of its dozens of new version releases, the Army has expanded its brand through a variety of products including console and cell phone games, America's Army merchandise such as t-shirts, the Real Heroes program which tells the stories of heroic Soldiers, training applications for use within the military and government sectors, and the incredible Virtual Army Experience. In the near future, the America's Army brand will expand with the launch of America's Army: True Soldiers for Xbox 360 in the Fall of 2007 and America's Army version 3.0 next year.
In the America's Army game, players are bound by Rules of Engagement (ROE) and grow in experience as they navigate challenges in teamwork-based, multiplayer, force versus force operations. In the game, as in the Army, accomplishing missions requires a team effort and adherence to the seven Army Core Values. Through its emphasis on team play, the game demonstrates these values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage and makes them integral to success in America's Army.
In keeping with the dynamic nature of Soldiering, the America's Army game will continue to expand and will allow players to explore the Army of today, tomorrow and the future.
There's strong, and then there's Army Strong!" http://www.americasarmy.com/about/
"The armies goal? To educate the public about what serving in the Armed Forces is really like, potentially giving a boost to its recruiting numbers "
“America's Army - or the Army Game Project - is a freeware tactical multiplayer first-person shooter game -- owned by the United States Government. It's the first game that made recruitment its explicit goal -- and the first well-known use of computer gaming for political aims. Gamers should also realize that America's Army was originally designed to test military aptitude -- and that your online gaming data IS being collected.”
Americas Army Special Forces Trailer “Empower youself”
Crunchy Blac: I'ma U.S. mother fuckin soldier boy/ Playin around with them army toys/ You wanna go to war then we can go to war/ See W.Bush he sent us over boy/ Them men all went and got some soldier toys/ Put 'em in a battle and we'll showed you boys/ That army fatigue we gonna make some noise/ And blow that mother fucker from shore to shore/
I’m one of the rappers that understands the difference between entertainment and real life.” - Lil WYTE
US Army Rapper on Recruitment tour
Tricked out US Army Reruiting Hummer
In the US the military is seen as a way out, a job for life, a way to pay for collage tuition. In low income areas recruiting offices are very common, and African Americans and Latin Americans make up a large section of the US military. So hypothetically what better way to target those particular groups, than through Rap music, Video Games and Films featuring "Hood Stars".
Recruiting in the Latino Community
1978 recuitment poster
After the Vietnam war for example, when a huge swathe of military vets returned to the US with no jobs, large scale gang networks started to appear, from L.A. to N.Y. in the 70's the seeds of the cross country gang culture started to appear. Some people say this was as a result in part of the Vietnam War. New York Times Reporters Sontag and Alvarez unearthed a study from 1988 that claims a link between increased Crime and Vietnam Vets.
"The National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study, considered the most thorough analysis of this population, found that 15 percent of the male veterans still suffered from full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder more than a decade after the war ended. Half of the veterans with active PTSD had been arrested or in jail at least once, and 34.2 percent more than once. Some 11.5 percent of them had been convicted of felonies, and veterans are more likely to have committed violent crimes than nonveterans, according to government studies. In the mid-1980s, with so many Vietnam veterans behind bars that Vietnam Veterans of America created chapters in prisons, veterans made up a fifth of the nation’s inmate population.
"As Iraq and Afghanistan veterans get enmeshed in the criminal justice system, former advocates for Vietnam veterans are disheartened by what they see as history repeating itself."
Gangland - Gangs In The Military 'Basic Training' 1 of 5
People have said that Iraq was the first war with a Hip-Hop soundtrack, and there is some truth in that, but when you have a monopoly on every aspect of influence on young people and it is so highly charged with violence and singular aims, how does that expression play out in a cilvilian environment? Are we seeing unprecidented increased murder rates in the US and the UK, as a result in part by the militarisation of entertainment?
This article is in no way negative to the members of the armed forces or their families. It is just examining the milaterisation of young peoples entertainment.
The Elbow Rooms, Chapel Market,London N1(Angel Tube) Absolutely Free all night
DJ's: * Spin Doctor (The Doctor's Orders) * GETO * Penfold & Jda Kut (Zulu Nation)
Hosted by: * TJ Chill (Zulu Nation Rap Show – Bang Fm) All 5 elements of Hip-Hop will be represented on the night, They are: Knowledge The MC The Dance The Artform The DJ and Zulu Nation Artwork and Knowledge books on display.
For More Info Contact: info@zulunation.co.uk The Universal Zulu Nation is an "international Hip Hop awareness" group formed and headed by Hip Hop Godfather Afrika Bambaataa. It commenced in the 1970s as members of reformed New York City gang the Zulu Nation began to organize cultural events for youth, combining local dance and music movements into what would become known as the 5 elements of Hip Hop culture (Graffiti, DJing, Mcing, Breakdancing and Knowledge. By the 1980s Hip Hop had spread globally, and the Zulu Nation has since established branches worldwide. We Believe in: Knowledge, Wisdom & Understanding. Freedom, Justice & Equality. Peace, Love Unity & Having Fun!
Here are some flicks of some of the tens of thousands of people who protested on Saturday 10/1/09 against the attack on Gaza. The first internet search on the day said there were just over one thousand people.... NONSENCE!!!
The Metropolitan Police's estimates are taken as the official numbers for protest attendees. I belive they do this by looking at a square section from the air in a Police helicoptor, and count the people in that square as a rough ratio, and times it by a certain amount, and create a total number. There totals are noturiously questioned by event organizors. That day it was snowing and very foggy, so for safety reasons (I guess) there was no Helicoptor. So alot of people are curious how they came up with a total...
Anyway, I haven't seen so many people at a march in a long time! Every demagrafic was represented, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Sikhs, Hindus, young old, it felt very positive.
Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner
Hyde Park Corner
Building look-out
Close up "Eye in the Sky" (Close up of above)
Handmade placard made by a 4 year old girl
Down High Street Kensington
Up High Street Kensington
Who says the youth are appathetic?
Dog Section Van snapped in the backstreets of the demo, in full Police Livery
Private contractor?
Military violence for whatever cause is always a complicated but anyone who knows anything about disputes is that, however the cheap journalism machine tries to paint it as A versus B, it is never that clear cut. But either way in 2009 is there really an excuse for ditching dialogue?
