tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75586057338707703262024-02-06T21:13:16.599-08:00Anarchy DownunderA practical guide to anarchism in AustraliaAlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-83676589144158074062009-06-18T01:51:00.000-07:002009-06-18T02:30:45.053-07:00To blog or not to blog? That is the question.A blow for Blogger's privacy.<br /><div align="center"><br /><span style="color:#660000;">ANONYMOUS bloggers — from public service whistleblowers to incendiary political commentators — will no longer be able to operate from the anonymity of cyberspace under a landmark ruling handed down by the British High Court. The case, brought before the court by The Times newspaper, sets a precedent in the wake of an attempt by a British police officer, who wrote a highly successful "insider" blog called NightJack, to try to keep his identity secret when a newspaper reporter guessed who he was. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;"><br />The detective constable, Richard Horton, works with the Lancashire force and had used inside information on controversial cases, including genuine prosecutions, to comment on policing tactics and the application of the law. His writings urged readers not only to mistrust politicians and the legal system but also police officers.He was awarded the prestigious Orwell Prize for political writing as his blog, which was attracting an estimated 500,000 readers a week, sparked public debate about cases, although he changed names and details to protect victims and officers.<br />But according to the High Court, blogging is essentially "a public activity" and the police officer could not have a "reasonable expectation" to anonymity as it is not a private activity. The judge, Mr Justice Eady, added that even if the officer could have claimed he had a right to anonymity, he would still have ruled against him on grounds of public interest.<br /></span><br /></div>Continue reading <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/world/blogging-is-no-longer-a-secret-20090617-chu7.html">here</a>.<br /><br />This is bad news for those who wish to anonymously publish the truth about corruption within the Government or Corporate sector. I totally disagree with the lawmakers decision, the public has a right to freedom of expression as well as expose the lies of those in authority. Although, the following case I totally support the right for the Government to determine the bloggers true identity.<br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">A Missouri mom was indicted for her alleged role in the death of a teen who killed herself over a failed Internet romance that turned out to be a hoax. federal indictment accuses Lori Drew, 49, of O'Fallon, Missouri, of using the social networking Web site MySpace.com to pose as a 16-year-old boy and feign romantic interest in the girl. The girl, Megan Meier, committed suicide after her online love interest spurned her, according to prosecutors, telling her the world would be a better place without her. Drew faces up to 20 years in prison on charges of conspiracy and accessing protected computers to obtain information to inflict emotional distress.<br />The indictment, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, accuses Drew and others of registering on MySpace as "Josh Evans" and using the account to lure Meier into an an online romance.<br /></span></span></div><br /><div align="left">Continue reading <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/15/internet.suicide/index.html">here</a></div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="justify">What is the difference between these two cases? I'm not a lawyer, but the intent of the two cases is completely different. (Intent is important for determining the difference between manslaughter which is an accident, to murder which was intended). In the first case, the blogger is trying to fight corruption and educate the general public. His intent is educational, while the second case is clearly for viscous purposes.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="justify">Bloggers have a right to anonymity until their blogs or writings are for harmful intent. The problem of course is where to draw the line on "harmful intent" and drawing a line between comments on a blog (including hate speech) and the right to offend people, and a crusade to cause grievous emotional harm to an individual, also known as <strong>cyber bullying </strong>and <strong>cyberstalking.</strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><br /><div align="left"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify">I totally support the rights of free speech to include hate speech and the right to offend others. However, I draw a line at cyber bullying and cyber stalking. Thank fully, I am no longer being cyber stalked. For anyone who is suffering from cyber stalking, here are a few useful links.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberstalking"><span style="color:#000099;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberstalking</span></a></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.netalert.gov.au/advice/risks/cyberstalking/How_can_I_protect_myself_against_cyber_stalking.html"><span style="color:#000099;">http://www.netalert.gov.au/advice/risks/cyberstalking/How_can_I_protect_myself_against_cyber_stalking.html</span></a></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.caslon.com.au/stalkingnote1.htm"><span style="color:#000099;">http://www.caslon.com.au/stalkingnote1.htm</span></a></div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="justify">Have you been cyber stalked? Or know of someone who has? Drop us an email or leave a comment.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-23973933488969835742009-06-13T01:46:00.000-07:002009-06-18T01:45:58.726-07:00Christian Anarchy<strong>Christianity and Anarchism: A Primer </strong><br />by Keith Hebden<br /><br /><strong>Anarchism<br /></strong>It is necessary to state exactly what is, and what is not, meant by anarchy. There are overlapping schools of thought within the history of anarchy which must be identified and evaluated before moving to a theologically, politically, appropriate model of Christian anarchism. If liberation theology begins with an evaluation of context, moving to reflection from a scriptural perspective by the poor, the appropriate tools for evaluating context are needed.<br /><br /><strong>Anarchism is not…<br /></strong>Anarchy does not mean mindless destruction, or social chaos, as some media would have it. In fact, Anarchic theory can give greater importance to social organisation than state-promoting theories such as democratic liberalism, or Marxism because anarchism assumes human potential to self-organise. Anarchism is not a theory of how the world should work – there is no utopia, no ideology to fall into line with, no line to meekly tow.<br /><br /><strong>Anarchism can be…</strong><br /><u>Leaderless</u><br />The literal meaning of the word anarchy is “without ruler”. Anarchist theory points to rulers as the source of all social impotence with an umbrella of factors that deify rulers and contend with the freedom of humankind.<br /><u>Questioning </u><br />The stumbling block for many critics is the inherent negativity of a theory that defines itself by what it is not. But then science works of much the same theory. From Francis Bacon to the present time Science has been the practice of disproving, not proving, theories on the world around. Every question is a negative if it seeks to challenge or explore the exactness of a given ‘truth’. Anarchism is a question - a ‘What if?’ – if it’s a science then it seeks to disprove the overarching modern theory that statehood is good. Do we really need someone in charge to tell us what to do?<br /><br /><strong>A Seed Beneath the Snow<br /></strong>Colin Ward: “An anarchist society, a society which organises itself without authority, is always in existence; like a seed beneath the snow.” One of the ways unions protest, when the don't want to go for a total strike, is through “Work to rule”. Rather than refusing to work they refused to take initiative, be creative, take personal authority, or make the letter of the law work in practice. Think about jobs you've had: what percentage of what you do on a daily basis is down to freedom and initiative, rather than coercion? When do you work best – when you are forced and automated, or when you choose and challenge?<br /><br />Colin Ward, an unusual thing in anarchism – a utopian – makes a statement that resonates with the Christian hope that the Kingdom of God, which is among us, will one day arrive. In fact, the former makes sense of the latter if Jesus' good news was freedom from the Law of Sin and death then we are indeed free, but we often act in obedience to it anyway, out of fear or complacency. Very often this is all Christian anarchism is: the illumination of theology with a new tool, a new way of thinking.<br /><br /><strong>Christian Anarchism<br /></strong>A workable form of anarchism must go beyond the selfishness of Individualism thus avoiding western pietistic soteriology (be holy, be saved from sin) and rejecting nihilism (destructive and<br />unaccountable). However, it must not fall into the impersonal restrictions of Collectivism that would oppress the individual and favour vocal conservatism. A useful model of anarchism follows that utilitarian ethics are inappropriate to this model. It must be as practical in its approach to property as Mutualist anarchism is and as committed to the rejection of the free-market as is Communism. It must also reject the violent anti-intellectualism of anarcho-syndicalism, while celebrating the non-literate societies as empowered regardless of formal education.<br /><br />None of the atheistic forms of anarchism are entirely satisfactory because they leave a vacuum of power that is certain to be filled by a human, group, or interpretable contract (the judiciary). Anarchism appears far better at assessing what is unjust about society than devising a realistic theory of social justice. Therefore a sixth school of thought is required, one which includes both the supernatural and the natural Powers in an integrated worldview. If there is a future ideal for anarchists it is of a society that has gone from being structured and reified, to organic and free to constantly evolve. Theological anarchism is the consistent return to empiricism, especially of the oppressed, as the foundation for reading and retelling the text.<br /><br />This model would envisage a society in which rules, the ‘Law’, are replaced by covenants of action and consequence. It is no less utopian and unrealistic than the gospel theme of the 'Kingdom of God’. Christian theology, in the western and liberationist traditions, is fully conversant with the impractical and improbable vision of society under God’s just reign. Christian anarchism addresses the contradiction inherent in anarchic praxis and illuminates Christian Liberationism. It is a form of anarchism that does not allow for the oppression of humans or their exaltation above one another:<br /><br />“there is but one Lord” (1 Cor. 8:6). Such a proposition shifts away from the theological justifications of any form of nationalism, patriotism, or sense of belonging beyond that of those with whom the Christian has an actual relationship.<br /><br />Dave Andrews, who set up anarchic Christian communities in Delhi and Australia, defines Christian Anarchy, or Christi-Anarchy, in a way that has striking parallels with both Anarchism and Liberation theology.<br /><div align="center"><br /><span style="color:#999999;">A lifestyle that is characterized by the radical, non-violent, sacrificial compassion of Jesus the Christ. A way of life distinguish by commitment to love and to justice; marginalized and disadvantaged; so as to enable them to realize their potential, as men and women made in<br />the image of God; through self-directed, other-oriented intentional groups and organizations.</span></div><br /><div align="center"> </div><br /><div align="left">Andrew puts emphasis the community – the intentional group, namely the group who are marginalized and seek justice; his is a liberationist (without the violence that has been heavily critiqued in many of the motifs of liberation theology).</div><br /><br /><strong>Assumptions of Christian Anarchism<br /></strong>The list below is almost entirely taken from Vernard Ellers’ “Christian Anarchy”: Anarchy is a Process<br /><br />1. For Christians, "anarchy" is never an end and goal in itself. The dying-off of Power (or our dying to Power) is of value only as a making of room for the Power of God.<br /><u>The State Cannot Save us</u><br /><br />2. Christian anarchists have no opinion as to whether secular society would be better off with anarchy than it is with all its present hierarchies. But they agree that the present system is not working: the state cannot save us and should not be looked to for salvation.<br /><u>Secular anarchism is missing something<br /></u><br />3. Anarchy is not a viable option for secular society. Ellul: "Political authority and organization are necessities of social life but nothing more than necessities. They are constantly tempted to take the place of God" (Anarchism, p.22).<br /><u>The Powers need us more than we need them</u><br /><br />4. It is not the Powers that we must fight but our dependence on them. Revolutionists fall into this trap in their intention of using good Powers to oppose and displace the bad ones.<br /><u>All the Powers are not the same</u><br /><br />5. Christian anarchists do not hold that the Powers, by nature, are "of the devil." Such absolutist, damning talk is rather the mark of revolutionists concerned to make an enemy Power look as bad as possible in the process of making their own Power look good. No, for Christian anarchists the problem with the Powers is, rather, that they are "of the human"--i.e., they are creaturely, weak, ineffectual.<br /><u>All the Powers are the same.</u><br /><br />6. A Power is a Power. None is as good as it thinks it is or gives itself out to be, and there is no guarantee that even a good one will stay good. The particular Brethren turf within Penn's arky is now a Philadelphia slum. Ellul once criticised Christian revolutionists for their inability to see any moral distinction between the Powers of the U.S. government and those of Hitler and Stalin. Christian Anarchy does allow room for the relative moral distinctions. Although the Ellul maybe wrong about the U.S.!<br /><u>Christian Anarchism is not violent</u><br /><br />7. Christian Anarchism is not about revolution. To undertake a fight against evil on its own terms (to pit power against power) is the first step in becoming like the evil one opposes. Violence can be ill defined, so here’s a suggestion: <u>Violence is the use or threat of force to control the Other.</u><br /><br />You can read the rest of the article by Keith Hebden <a href="http://uk.jesusradicals.com/Christianity%20and%20Anarchism%20A%20primer.pdf">here</a>.<br /><br />He is part of the United Kingdom Jesus Radicals, and their website can be found <a href="http://uk.jesusradicals.com/index.htm">here</a>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-69075047710288625802009-05-26T02:50:00.000-07:002009-05-26T03:26:25.461-07:00Australian Anarchist News<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/3566509120_5f0b9f3ff7_o.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 220px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/3566509120_5f0b9f3ff7_o.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Check out the article on the Global Financial Crisis written by journalism students Bonita Silva and Donna Yan from the University of Technology, Sydney.<br /><br /></div><blockquote><p><span style="color:#666666;">Will the Global Economic Crisis (GEC) facilitate social change? And do the recent ‘Group of 20’ (G20) protests reflect a rise in anarchism? Donna Yan and<br />Bonita Silva investigate.</span></p><p><span style="color:#666666;">As 20 of the most powerful leaders of the industrial world converged in the white-topped ExCel Conference Centre in London, thousands of people with banners in hand took to the streets of the capital in a two-day mass protest, driven by mounting discontent.</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#666666;">The friction between protesters and police reached its pinnacle when the Royal Bank of Scotland was reportedly stormed and the death of local London man, Ian Tomlinson, was revealed in the media. All the while, the shadow of the financial crisis loomed overhead.</span></p></blockquote><br /><div>Read the rest of the article <a href="http://www.utsvertigo.com/2009/05/a-is-for-anarchy/">here</a>.</div><div></div><br /><br /><div>Barnaby Joyce is bucking trends in Australian Parliament by his latest advertising campaign, keep Australia Australian. Makes sense to me, not only is having a Government that does not represent the people bad enough, having a Government that is owned by overseas interests is much much worse.</div><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yXdbxH3t9bs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yXdbxH3t9bs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><div> Australian's have the right to own our own sources of wealth, but what makes this deal worse is that those mines belong to the indigenous people. When sold to China the Australian Aboriginies will get even more of a raw deal, they will get nothing. We should keep the ownership of Australian assets locally. NO MORE ECONOMIC GLOBALISATION!</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-52437159535048964842009-05-01T21:23:00.000-07:002009-05-01T21:30:49.154-07:00Calling all Anarchists!<div align="left">It's been a while since I've updated my blog, and will be something I have to consider in the very near future.<br /><br />In the meantime, a callout to all Australian Anarchists - Interviews are wanted for the University of Technology Sydney, Vertigo Magazine. They are asking questions about how Anarchists feel about the dreaded<em> Global Financial Crisis</em><strong>.</strong><br /><br />Here's the email I was sent. </div><div align="center"><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">I am one of the editors of Vertigo, the official publication of the University of Technology, Sydney Australia. In light of the G20 protest in London, we are currently running a piece on whether the global financial crisis (GFC) will be the catalyst for a rise in anarchism or act as the catalyst for change envisioned by the movement. Considering the work you do on your blog 'Anarchy Downunder', we were wondering if you would be willing to take a few minutes and comment on how anarchists interpret the GFC and what it means for the movement. The piece is also going to cover issues such as the way in which anarchism is perceived in the public sphere and government attitudes. We would really appreciate it if you could get back to us as soon as possible as we are on a tight deadline. Also, would it be okay for us to quote sections of your blog for the article? You will be credited for anything we use. Please feel free to visit our website at </span><a href="http://www.utsvertigo.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span style="color:#000066;">www.utsvertigo.com</span></a><span style="color:#666666;">.</span><br /></div><div align="left"><br />If you're an anarchist and you'd like to speak to the media on behalf of the 'anarchist community', please contact Donna Yan at <a href="mailto:editorial@utsvertigo.com">editorial@utsvertigo.com</a>.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-46448196158179763562008-12-03T00:58:00.001-08:002008-12-03T01:38:03.460-08:00Austrasia, the new Republic of China<div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;">Australia is quickly following China's lead to implement Internet Censorship under the guise of protecting the children (my personal favourite). </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#333333;">“Censorship is quite an industry in China. Every village has spies to watch neighbors; the mail and the poster boards are watched, say expat Chinese. It is said (by dissidents) that China has 40,000 Web police hard at work just in Beijing, looking over the shoulders of Web users and composing lists of banned words that cause a Web search to freeze up or a site to automatically be blocked.”</span></div><p></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Australian government originally stated that the Internet Filter would be an opt out filter for porn, but like the proverbial frog in the boiling water, the Australian government has changed its mind.</span><br /><align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#333333;"></span></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color:#333333;">"The government has declared it will <u>not let internet users opt out</u> of the proposed national internet filter. The plan was first created as a way to combat child pornography and adult content, but could be extended to include controversial websites on euthanasia or anorexia".<br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Now, the government is going to block websites it deems unwanted, without actually explaining what unwanted content is. </span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">"</span><span style="color:#333333;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">AUSTRALIA'S mandatory net filter is being primed to block 10,000 websites as part of a blacklist of unspecified "unwanted content". Some 1300 websites have already been identified by the Australian Communications and Media Authority</span>."<br /></p></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Get involved in opposing the internet filter with <a href="http://nocleanfeed.com/"><strong>No Clean Feed</strong></a><strong> </strong>and <a href="http://danny.oz.au/freedom/"><strong>Civil Liberties</strong></a><strong> </strong>groups<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptccZze7VxQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptccZze7VxQ</a></strong></span> </p><p></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>References</strong></span></p><div align="left"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Australia">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Australia</a></div><a href="http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24645676-5006922,00.html">http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24645676-5006922,00.html</a><br /><a href="http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24568137-2862,00.html">http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24568137-2862,00.html</a>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-4520136739897368262008-10-17T04:48:00.000-07:002008-10-17T04:53:42.199-07:00Victoria Police Spying on Activists!<div align="justify">VICTORIA Police's secret intelligence unit has infiltrated Melbourne's activist and community groups for two years to gather information on protests against the Iraq War, Japanese whaling and a weapons exhibition. Reigniting civil liberties concerns about police spying, an officer from the police Security Intelligence Group has infiltrated groups such as Animal Liberation Victoria, Stop the War Coalition, Unity for Peace and Socialist Alternative. The officer, who posed as a vegan, left-wing activist, has also had close contact with representatives of church and student groups involved in anti-war demonstrations. So successful was his operation that the organising committee for this year's Palm Sunday peace march in Melbourne appointed him its minute-taker at meetings.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The Palm Sunday event, held each March since 2003, has been attended by tens of thousands of Victorians opposed to the Iraq War. It is organised and endorsed by a variety of groups across the community, including churches, students, unions and doctors. The officer, whose identity The Age has chosen not to publish, also took part in an illegal raid on a battery hen farm in June and travelled with a socialist group to the APEC summit in Sydney last year to attend the "Stop Bush" protest against the US President. The officer's most recent work was with activists planning to disrupt a major arms fair in Adelaide next month. The Asia Pacific Defence and Security Exhibition was cancelled last month after police briefings warned of violent protests. <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/national/police-spying-on-activists-revealed-20081015-51k0.html?page=2">Continued...</a></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em>The State will go to any lengths to maintain its power and control over its citizens.</em></div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-13385336123512515272008-09-29T04:19:00.000-07:002008-09-29T18:53:31.887-07:00To err is human, to hate divine?<div align="justify"><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3266/2897839571_9a7a30e40b_o.jpg"></a>Well, it seems that this anarchist has pissed off some rather unsavoury licorice all sorts.<br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">A newly popped up <a href="http://onlythetruthisrevolutionary.blogspot.com/">blog</a> designed presumably for no other reason than to expunge their hatred of what they consider to be an <strong>invalid</strong> <strong>form of anarchism,</strong> has the audacity to state that free speech does not include hate speech, whilst at the same time describing me as an uneducated buffoon incapable of stringing a sentence together. Hypocrisy anyone?</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">But then, I suppose free speech doesn't become hate speech when you disagree with the other person and believe yourself to have the moral high ground?! Right guys. I couldn't care less what you call me, but the fact is, you've offended me, and by your definition, that's hate speech and it's oppressive. So either you lot aren't anarchists, or you agree with me, and hate speech does in fact include the RIGHT to offend another human being.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Further to their accusations that I am not a <strong>true</strong> <strong>anarchist</strong>, they request any personal information about me to be sent to someone I believed to be a true Anarchist and comrade (with whom I did not necessary agree with on everything, but supported on my blog anyway), @ndy, or <a href="http://slackbastard.anarchobase.com/">Slack Bastard</a>.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">You accuse me of hate speech (whichby your definition) is coercive and removes the freedom of others, and yet at the same time, you request my personal information so that you may take away my privacy. Something, which I believe is totally unethical and un-anarchist in nature. A behaviour, which I would expect the State to engage in, not fellow political activists.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Perhaps that is my punishment for such thought crimes and thinking outside the square?</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">As for the rumours of my location - sure, I'm in Melbourne, I've been to protests in Melbourne, which have been documented on my blog. I haven't been to a climate change one, and had I, you can be sure I would have posted pics and a report accordingly. Shit happens, and I haven't kept up my blog for yonks. I haven't done any political activism, or even been posting regularly on the blog. Work's been HELL!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Am I at La Trobe? I sure was. I even ran in the elections, and I've even had some stuff published from the blog in the La Trobe magazine. The great thing about La Trobe (not just that it's an activist hub in Melbourne), but it's also got free internet access. If you're an anarchist, or just on the cheap, the library offers free internet, and no need for a student login. So head on over, I'm a cheap skate, they're open till 10pm on weeknights!</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">As for me being called a woman... well, I've been called worse :-)<br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">So please, slander me with your hate speech all you want, but don't turn around and hypocritically tell a Neo Nazi that they are bigoted, hate filled people. At least a Nazi admits what they are.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-56737881552405393372008-08-22T19:20:00.000-07:002008-08-22T19:27:28.642-07:00When the State goes too far.... Parents are fugitives<div align="justify"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Parents on the run with baby after refusing vaccination</span></strong></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="justify">A SYDNEY couple was on the run with their two-day-old baby last night after the Department of Community Services took out a Supreme Court order to have the boy vaccinated against hepatitis B. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The parents, from Croydon Park, fled their home on Thursday to avoid police and DOCS officers after they refused to have their son vaccinated at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. They told the Herald yesterday that they believed aluminium in the vaccine could cause him more damage than contracting hepatitis B.</div><div align="justify"><br />The child's mother, from China, was diagnosed with hepatitis B several years ago, but both parents believe the illness, which can cause liver cancer and cirrhosis, can be managed more effectively than any potential neurological damage from the vaccine.<br />Vaccinations are not compulsory in Australia but it is NSW Health policy that parents of all babies born to hepatitis-B-positive mothers are offered immunoglobulin for the child within 12 hours of birth and four doses of the vaccine over six months.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">The father, a financial adviser who is seeking an injunction against the court order, said he was told by doctors and midwives on the post-natal ward that they would be arrested and lose custody of their child if he left the hospital without having the vaccination.<br />The man said he and his wife had then left the hospital on Wednesday after agreeing to visit a GP, accompanied by a DOCS officer, on Thursday to get more information about the risks involved. But when the father failed to show up at 4pm at an Ashfield medical centre, he was told DOCS was removing the baby from his care for immediate vaccination.<br /></div><br /><div align="justify">"We gathered some things and fled the house," he said yesterday.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">But David Isaacs, a professor in pediatric infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital at Westmead and one of the doctors who contacted DOCs, said the case had angered staff because the baby's rights were being ignored.</div><div align="justify"><br />"I am a strong believer in vaccinations being voluntary but not getting this baby vaccinated is a form of child abuse," he said. "We are talking a potentially major and awful outcome for this child and it is our job to protect children when they can't make decisions for themselves."</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/parents-on-the-run-with-baby-after-refusing-vaccination/2008/08/22/1219262574439.html">http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/national/parents-on-the-run-with-baby-after-refusing-vaccination/2008/08/22/1219262574439.html</a></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><em>Has the State gone too far? Or should this couple be forced to immunize their child knowning the risks with the mother being Hep B positive?</em></div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-54124936793785271892008-08-05T01:19:00.000-07:002008-08-05T01:21:48.266-07:00New surveillence laws allow bugging without warrant<p><span style="font-family:verdana;">NEW surveillance laws give NSW law enforcement agencies explicit powers to install listening and tracking devices without a warrant.<br />The Surveillance Devices Act 2008 came into effect on Friday and also extends the duration of such surveillance from 21 days to 90 days, when a warrant has been ordered.<br />Police and the highly controversial NSW Crime Commission are just two state agencies that will have the new powers.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) also fall within the new legislation.<br />The threat of imminent danger will be enough for law enforcement to install a host of monitoring devices for up to two days before obtaining a warrant.<br />The 90-day warrant period means detectives will not be required to re-apply during long surveillance operations often involved when monitoring suspected terrorists or organised crime groups.<br />NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos said the laws would cut red tape and allow for quick turnaround.</span></p><a href="http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24121376-5006009,00.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24121376-5006009,00.html</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-1664704819511454012008-06-12T00:37:00.000-07:002008-06-12T00:42:28.748-07:00Who will police the police?<p align="justify"><a href="http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=9&ContentID=77984">http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=9&ContentID=77984</a></p><p align="justify">The Australian Federal Police have far more power than any State police force, but are subject to far less scrutiny. The inevitable result is to create tremendous opportunities for corruption and the abuse of power. <em>Really!?! Who'd have thought?</em></p><p align="justify">Last week, the NSW Crime Commission found itself in the unusual position of squirming in the public spotlight after its assistant director Mark Standen, a former AFP member, was charged with offences relating to the alleged help he gave an international drug ring trying to import chemicals for making “ice”. </p><p align="justify">Whether Mr Standen is guilty is now a matter for the courts. If his arrest prompts a wider investigation which ends up curtailing the Crime Commission’s powers, it will be long overdue. The CC exercises draconian powers in great secrecy, without the limited constraints that apply to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation. Yet the CC has had about 100 investigators working on a terrorism reference on top of its original job of combating illicit drugs. </p><p align="justify">Former NSW Labor premier Bob Carr even announced that the then head of ASIO, Dennis Richardson, would join the CC’s board. Mr Carr hadn’t bothered to check with Mr Richardson, who refused. For the NSW Labor Government, the CC has the attraction of generating revenue from Proceeds of Crime laws which allow a person’s assets to be frozen before any charges are laid, then forfeited permanently despite an acquittal. </p><p align="justify">Unlike the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, the CC is not subject to oversight by a parliamentary committee or any other body. People hauled before the commission’s secret hearings can bring a lawyer but are forbidden by law from telling anyone what happened, no matter how outrageous. However, the Sydney Morning Herald reported two instances which show how it operates. </p><p align="justify">In one case, the CC froze the assets of NSW farmer Keith Gardiner after his former wife, whom he had divorced 17 years earlier, was convicted for growing 56 marijuana plants. In a reversal of the normal onus of proof, Mr Gardiner then had to demonstrate his innocence. Eventually he did, only to find the CC kept part of his money which it now alleged had been falsely obtained in a dispute over his parents’ estate — not something normally regarded as part of a brief on drugs, organised crime and terrorism. </p><p align="justify">In another case, Justice Harold Sperlin said the law required him to order a woman to forfeit her assets, including a half share in a $1.4 million house, after she had shoplifted five jumpers worth less than $500. Justice Sperlin recommended that the law be amended because what had had happened to the woman was “wrong”. But nothing has changed. </p><p align="justify"> To its credit, the AFP arrested Mr Standen even though he is a former colleague of AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty. But this hardly removes the need for a well-resourced body to check on corruption and misconduct within the AFP’s own ranks. There is no reason to expect its members are any less susceptible to misconduct than other police forces in the world, especially as it is heavily involved in drug operations which are notorious for fostering corruption. The Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity was established two years ago to scrutinise the Australian Crime Commission and the AFP. But its budget is pathetically inadequate. </p><p align="justify">Despite Labor’s promise in opposition to give “teeth to this tiger”, the Rudd Government gave it a meagre $2.8 million for 2008-09. This compares with the $20-$30 million, or more, available to similar State bodies. Until the ACLEI is properly funded, there is no way it can conduct the resource-hungry surveillance, telephone intercept and “sting” operations essential to containing corruption. </p><p align="justify"><strong>The AFP has also been given new powers, and many more staff, to gather security intelligence — a job previously the preserve of ASIO</strong>. But ASIO, unlike the AFP, is scrutinised by an Inspector-General, as well a special parliamentary oversight committee. </p><p align="justify">BRIAN TOOHEY</p><p align="justify"> </p><div align="justify"> </div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-67725704949521636762008-06-01T22:50:00.000-07:002008-06-01T23:02:09.703-07:00I am one crazy mo' fo<p><strong>Take the test <a href="http://www.4degreez.com/misc/personality_disorder_test.mv">here</a>: </strong><p><strong></strong></p><strong>Disorder Rating Information</strong><br />Paranoid: <span style="color:#ff0000;">Very High</span> <a class="sm" href="http://www.4degreez.com/disorder/paranoid.html">click for info</a><br />Schizoid: <span style="color:#ff0000;">High </span><a class="sm" href="http://www.4degreez.com/disorder/schizoid.html">click for info</a><br />Schizotypal: <span style="color:#ff0000;">Very High</span> <a class="sm" href="http://www.4degreez.com/disorder/schizotypal.html">click for info</a><br />Antisocial: <span style="color:#ff0000;">High</span> <a class="sm" href="http://www.4degreez.com/disorder/antisocial.html">click for info</a><br />Borderline: <span style="color:#ff0000;">Very High</span> <a href="http://www.4degreez.com/disorder/borderline.html">click for info<br /></a>Histrionic: <span style="color:#ff0000;">Very High</span> <a class="sm" href="http://www.4degreez.com/disorder/histrionic.html">click for info</a><br />Narcissistic: <span style="color:#ff0000;">Very High</span> <a class="sm" href="http://www.4degreez.com/disorder/narcissistic.html">click for info</a><br />Avoidant: <span style="color:#ff9900;">Moderate </span><a class="sm" href="http://www.4degreez.com/disorder/avoidant.html">click for info</a><br />Dependent: <span style="color:#ff0000;">Very High</span> <a class="sm" href="http://www.4degreez.com/disorder/dependent.html">click for info</a><br />Obsessive-Compulsive: <span style="color:#ff0000;">High </span><a class="sm" href="http://www.4degreez.com/disorder/ocd.html">click for info</a><p></p><p>I'd like to know what other anarchists get for their 'personality disorders'. I think we'll find that most of us are 'anti-social'!</p>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-22596926482449329752008-05-20T18:01:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:06:57.997-08:00More bad news for free speech - this time it's the "Cult" of scientology<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4wpR2ZiH8QjDnxqUb0xHSeOhp8ldjEpN7EGqkE7eSaXbcc_Hh7cWyb-8iCs-POowRDKTuIlEdP9vt1zzmFJbKl5hapCsOrY3jEgfprNvdu7sc5kJplaCD_FslHiD_Zap4_dDkaG7G2M/s1600-h/AnonymousDemotivator.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202639067354023906" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs4wpR2ZiH8QjDnxqUb0xHSeOhp8ldjEpN7EGqkE7eSaXbcc_Hh7cWyb-8iCs-POowRDKTuIlEdP9vt1zzmFJbKl5hapCsOrY3jEgfprNvdu7sc5kJplaCD_FslHiD_Zap4_dDkaG7G2M/s400/AnonymousDemotivator.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>Whoa. The bad news just keeps on keeping on, how's this for a <strong>hate crime</strong>?</em><br /><br /><div align="justify">UK teenager has been ordered to appear in court for using the word "cult" to describe the Church of Scientology. The 15 year old was served a summons by police when he took part in a demonstration on May 10 opposite the London headquarters of the controversial religion. Police confiscated the youth's placard with the world ‘cult’ written on it, the Guardian newspaper reports. The teenager is a member of the internet-based movement Anonymous, which has been banned by police from describing Scientology as a cult because it was "abusive and insulting".</div><br /><div align="center"><strong>"This barmy prosecution makes a mockery of Britain's free speech traditions”, said civil liberty group spokesperson Shami Chakrabarti.</strong> </div><br /><a href="http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=566612">http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=566612</a><br /><br /><em>Free Speech is hate Speech, it is the freedom to express your opinion <u>even </u>if it offends others. We don't need to defend free speech if people agree with you, you only need to defend free speech when someone doesn't agree with what you have to say.</em><br /><em></em><br /><div align="justify">On February 10, 2008, the self-named group "Anonymous" began with Project Chanology, with a mass protest worldwide against the Church of Scientology. Anonymous has an Anarchist structure as it lacks any visible hierarchy or leaders, instead relying on individuals to contribute to the group on their own.</div><br /><p><a href="http://www.prlog.org/10046797-internet-group-anonymous-declares-war-on-scientology.html">http://www.prlog.org/10046797-internet-group-anonymous-declares-war-on-scientology.html</a></p><div align="justify">The group declared war on the church of scientology to end the financial exploitation of Church members and protecting the right to free speech, a right which they claim was consistently violated by the Church of Scientology in pursuit of its opponents. </div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-2972607467905478502008-05-20T05:44:00.000-07:002008-10-01T02:16:23.842-07:00Australian iron fist of the State suppress' dissenting views<p><span style="font-family:verdana;">It seems that Freedom of Speech has taken another blow, this time in the land Down under.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Melbourne University has demoted one of its most outspoken academics after a complaint against him by the State Government. Dr Mees said at a public forum last year that the authors of a 2007 report on privatisation were "liars and frauds and should be in jail".</span></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">"The university strongly supports and encourages the principles of academic freedom," Professor McPhee said.</span></strong></p><p><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">Apparently, that academic freedom only applies when you're not on the payroll.</span></em></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Professor Low has been in negotiations with the State Government over funding a research project into greenhouse gas emissions from transport. Mr Betts has agreed to be a partner in the application for funding.</span></p><p><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">Didn't you know, the defense of truth is no defense for the truth!</span></em></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Without telling Dr Mees, the university also launched an investigation into whether he had damaged the university's reputation. The inquiry, conducted by Michael King of Monash University's law faculty, found Dr Mees had "brought the university into disrepute by making derogatory and insulting comments" about government officers.</span></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">Dr King found it did not matter whether Dr Mees' statements were true or not. "His defence of truth should be dismissed," says Dr King's report.</span></strong></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">He rejected Dr Mees' defence that the comments were not "insulting or derogatory", that he spoke the truth, and that it was part of his duty as an academic to "expose corruption".</span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Dr Mees has since quit the university, and will give his final lecture next week. He has accepted a role with RMIT's planning department.</span></p><p><a href="http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/uni-demotes-transport-dissident/2008/05/19/1211182704265.html"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/uni-demotes-transport-dissident/2008/05/19/1211182704265.html</span></a></p><p><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">"I don't think we're in kansas anymore Toto". What is happening to our university system when our academics can no longer speak the truth about Government corruption?</span></em></p><p><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Iron Fist of the State doesn't need to strike, it just needs to withhold capital. </span></em></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Fight Corruption. EAT THE RICH!</span></p>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-52701202599711305732008-05-18T00:44:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:06:58.340-08:00Another Blow for Free Speech - Dutch cartoonist arrested for 'insulting people'<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201624450049820610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipKSpErjLfRvkI0X9qdJTzE7pMEjqupj5kfFmRA7zwSrRY_h7uCiL_YxpUMQXtlYSMfinNyIc9Wlz9vbl7NSGHfWGLnE1bIF2FRKgdB47E3xEWWJCigp8uRnN9wZabwu7hef7R56V9Ze0/s400/Mohammed-drawings-newspaper1.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after twelve editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005. 5,000 Muslim immigrants living in Denmark took to the streets in protest over the cartoons. They were republished in a furter 50 newspapers across the world, resulting in worldwide riots. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rwXloxZi9EJ2dWT209fj-74rYRP0X7KENvqS_EQ77JzTgafVK6CflpksFUnGkuj0JWkG0IqW5bFOVjUxpYWRAc73kIfiXQDs2iYBG_H-1zRVkOywi-Dw53ihmVkwP_D1p8QPVm5rleA/s1600-h/olv-bloteborsten.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201628298340517842" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="350" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0rwXloxZi9EJ2dWT209fj-74rYRP0X7KENvqS_EQ77JzTgafVK6CflpksFUnGkuj0JWkG0IqW5bFOVjUxpYWRAc73kIfiXQDs2iYBG_H-1zRVkOywi-Dw53ihmVkwP_D1p8QPVm5rleA/s400/olv-bloteborsten.jpg" width="237" border="0" /></a></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div><span style="font-family:verdana;">Supporters have said that the cartoons illustrated an important issue in a period of Islamic terrorism and that their publication is a legitimate exercise of the right of free speech, explicitly tied to the issue of self-censorship. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:verdana;">They claim that Muslims were not targeted in a discriminatory way since unflattering cartoons about other religions are frequently printed, case in point- Christianity. In Brussels a young Muslim immigrant published a poster depicting the Virgin Mary with </span><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/287" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:verdana;">naked breasts</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">. It depicts the virgin Mary with a howling child and a bowl of blood. She is barebreasted and is sitting next to a shield with the arms of Flanders. As a muslim immigrant Ben Chikha is allowed to use such images. Though the picture has drawn some protest from Catholics (sans riots) this artist has not recieved death threats, and is being subsidised by the Ministry for Culture. Sounds like a double standard to me!</span><br /><br /><strong><u>The Latest in the Cartoon Saga -</u> </strong><br /><strong><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24665094/">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24665094/</a></strong><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - A Dutch political cartoonist was arrested this week on suspicion of insulting people because of their race or religion through his work, authorities said Friday. </span><span style="font-family:verdana;">The cartoonist, who works under the pseudonym Gregorius Nekschot, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of violating hate speech laws and held overnight before being released, a spokeswoman for his publisher Uitgeverij Xtra said. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">She asked that her name not be used, and declined to give Nekschot's real name, because the cartoonist and publisher have both received death threats. Nekschot is known primarily for cartoons mocking Muslims and leftists, though the spokeswoman said he is a satirist who targets "any strong ideology." Amsterdam public prosecutor spokeswoman Sanne van Meteren said Nekschot remains a suspect in a criminal investigation. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong>"We suspect him of insulting people on the basis of their race or belief, and possibly also of inciting hate,"</strong> she said. </span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></div></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Each is a crime punishable by up to a year in prison under Dutch hate speech laws — or two years for multiple offenses. </span></div><br /><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>What have we come to when people are arrested for political cartoons? </em></span></p><span style="font-family:verdana;">Further Information:<br /></span><a href="http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/382"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/382</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyllands-Posten_Muhammad_cartoons_controversy"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyllands-Posten_Muhammad_cartoons_controversy</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-63764184074838429632008-04-18T21:34:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:06:58.530-08:00Immigration, Population and Environmentalism<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEr9OusB54041EinRQGR-h0Lxen0eOI_hoe4BVHntQvUPvI5euFpPMviF2jN2oo1U4q7PHK9SrAMrR_FxceH6GMYVxGgz1TB8fACNv-T8y5dHlzHQ6wMFixMt9iT7XmYOg4sBLEkDwGKw/s1600-h/population.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190827485363762514" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEr9OusB54041EinRQGR-h0Lxen0eOI_hoe4BVHntQvUPvI5euFpPMviF2jN2oo1U4q7PHK9SrAMrR_FxceH6GMYVxGgz1TB8fACNv-T8y5dHlzHQ6wMFixMt9iT7XmYOg4sBLEkDwGKw/s400/population.JPG" border="0" /></a>Immigration is one source of population growth, which results in more people to consume goods and services. This larger market is better for local businesses and many migrants bring money into the country and some start up businesses that may offer employment. Many economists argue that, if carefully controlled, this can benefit the nation’s economy and hence, indirectly, our quality of life.<br /><br />Environmental scientists point out that Australia is already suffering considerable damage to its soils, waterways, coastal zones and natural habitats through intensive agriculture, urban expansion, industrial development and the ever-increasing demand for goods and services. Groups who oppose population increase on environmental grounds suggest that even the present Australian population cannot be indefinitely sustained at its present rate of consumption by the renewable resources of the continent.</div><br /><div align="justify">Read the rest <a href="http://www.science.org.au/nova/087/087box03.htm">here</a></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I think it's important from an Environmental perspective to cover the issues of not just Immigration, but also the current population in Australia. If I may, I would like to use a very simplistic model to explain problems with over-population.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Firstly, let me talk about my own home. I live with my wife in a two bedroom house. We often have interstate family vistors, or just comrades who need to crash for the night. Although, there seems to be one unspoken rule, and that is, we only ever have people stay in the house when the spare bedroom is free.</div><div align="justify"><br />We will refer to this as a <u>'one in, one out'</u> policy.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Imagine, for the moment if we were to accept 10 people to stay in our very small two bedroom home. People would have to sleep on the floor, bathrooms would be in constant use, and the toilet could very well overflow. Issues with kitchen use will arise, and no doubt noise complaints will increase due to the varying hours that people keep in the house. All in all, it would lead to a diminshed quality of life for all parties. Not to mention, that living in such confining conditions would lead to resentment between house mates.</div><div align="justify"><br />Any of this sound familiar?</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I think its time for Australia to work out exactly how many bedrooms it has before trying to increase its population either through immigration or encouraging an increase in birth rate.</div><div align="justify"><br />If there is only one thing I could ever agree with Pauline Hansen on, its a 'one in, one out' net zero immigration policy. I have continually lobbied for such things, written to ministers, and newspapers. The newspapers (The Age, The Australian), outright refuse to publish my constant letters asking for net zero immigration and population management to raise the issue.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">At first I thought it was because they thought I was being "Racist". So I continued to write letters, making sure that I was clear that I didn't care who came into the country, that it was irrespective of race, religion or gender. I also specified that it didn't matter if they were skilled or unskilled, just that we might "look into" the issue. Nothing. Absolute Silence.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The only people who are really benefiting from high levels of immigration are the property developers, big business and all at the expense of the Australian Environment.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I'm dissapointed that the greens party hasn't investigated the impacts of population on the environment and consider policies for population reduction.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-51774356876322945782008-04-11T23:52:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:06:58.789-08:00Freedom to hate striked down<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykQEo92gvk4ZZ2fANgl8WipDtNGhVx_XXUEQfyABOhOFOQa9m_z4E95wiDpxyaA1vsIWCUIO0NthBae2S2aZEF8wFvAeXOTN3ZvyNTUB2jWZ89zaZPz5bLsqaRU7dvaYXbyKmvYane68/s1600-h/thought-crime.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188271812824678962" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiykQEo92gvk4ZZ2fANgl8WipDtNGhVx_XXUEQfyABOhOFOQa9m_z4E95wiDpxyaA1vsIWCUIO0NthBae2S2aZEF8wFvAeXOTN3ZvyNTUB2jWZ89zaZPz5bLsqaRU7dvaYXbyKmvYane68/s320/thought-crime.gif" border="0" /></a>Recently, an Anarchist comrade's blog was pulled down. @ndy or Slackbastard.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.slackbastard.anarchobase.com/">http://www.slackbastard.anarchobase.com/</a></div><br /><div></div><div align="justify">On April 8, Mathaba News Network demanded host of domain name anarchobase.com be shut down. The subject of their complaint was a post on @ndys blog. The blog post in question concerned the nature of the news service, and in particular the recent history of its owner, Adam Musa King. From what I have gathered, Mathaba hosted some information about the New Right, which is @ndys current pet hate. (<em>which is his right and choice</em>).</div><br /><div align="justify">To cut a long story short, @ndy has called Muthaba.net owner Adam King a Fascist based upon the theory of guilt by association (assuming NR are fascists). Which is the right of @ndy to do, under Freedom of Speech. However, Mr King has removed the site through legal libel proceedings. </div><br /><div align="center"><strong>@ndys blog recently was totally removed from the internet by the host after rightful legal pressure as a result of his extensive vilification and defamation of others and from using a fake name to register his blog along with a PO box address. </strong></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOh-N7dFWdznH2V5npeCW2txyAJEcS8Zz_LPgU4W6MqBKe3RgrGawfmNQAOo9H58RHHtFyq9pLt2c-bcZAvO_7cV0IWoGqL57T0Y54ukpan62Wxx-TdP3k-X97OQ5akHFN2EzSE5ef_I/s1600-h/thoughtcrime+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188279303247643202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" height="203" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbOh-N7dFWdznH2V5npeCW2txyAJEcS8Zz_LPgU4W6MqBKe3RgrGawfmNQAOo9H58RHHtFyq9pLt2c-bcZAvO_7cV0IWoGqL57T0Y54ukpan62Wxx-TdP3k-X97OQ5akHFN2EzSE5ef_I/s320/thoughtcrime+2.jpg" width="234" border="0" /></a> Aparently, websites must be registered at a home address not a PO Box. Haha! Thats some fine anarchist work there @ndy! Which follows <a href="http://anarchydownunder.blogspot.com/2007/10/10-commandments-of-anarchy_30.html">Anarchy Downunder's 9th Commandment</a> - Don't get caught! We could all learn a thing or two on how to dodge the Authorities from this Australian Anarchist! <br /><br /><div align="justify">Although, I do have one thought for my Anarchist comrade. Freedom of speech includes the freedom to hate, as you have quite rightly exercised. However, one cannot demand freedom without first granting it to others. Something to think about anyway.....</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Karma is a harsh mistress.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-44119793662474615332008-04-09T04:03:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:06:59.289-08:00Good Science doesn't have a consensus<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrrm2ZQ0HIRf9bbb5FePEfHvHPVwygWtYzVY1nfvULJ7Kc-JIw46jcTAm240_q09qq09sa0thIzyWljxLYeCkuEO_kje0zcfoqc0arF1VYvzwSNjF1zlrzfpHW7H0B2ctpjGjbynZhAE/s1600-h/thoughtcrime+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187207221446212034" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigrrm2ZQ0HIRf9bbb5FePEfHvHPVwygWtYzVY1nfvULJ7Kc-JIw46jcTAm240_q09qq09sa0thIzyWljxLYeCkuEO_kje0zcfoqc0arF1VYvzwSNjF1zlrzfpHW7H0B2ctpjGjbynZhAE/s320/thoughtcrime+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> It seems that like the holocaust, no dissenting views of anthropogenic global warming are allowed. At least you wont go to jail yet for denying the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">existence</span> of global warming. </div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Professor <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Aitkin</span> told The Australian yesterday he had been told he was "out of his mind" by some in the media after writing that the science of global warming "doesn't seem to stack up". </strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>The eminent historian and political scientist said in a speech called <em>A Cool Look at Global Warming</em>, which has received little public attention, that he was urged not to express his contrary views to orthodox thinking because he would be demonised. </strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>He says critics who question the impact of global warming are commonly ignored or attacked because "scientist activists" from a quasi-religious movement have spread a flawed message that "the science is settled" and "the debate is over". </strong></div><div align="justify"><br />Read the full article <a href="http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23509775-2702,00.html">here</a><br /><br />Discussion and debate should be allowed, and if the science for anthropogenic global warming is good, the dissenting views can be shut down case by case, point by point.<br /><br />I believe the same should be the case for holocaust deniers or revisionism. If the science and evidence for the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Holocaust</span> is undeniable, then let these dissenting views be blown out of the water case by case, point by point. To lock up people for thought crime, only adds credibility to their arguments.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXFC0ZPtr9ng5QgsSxXjWZZOmU24CkcZlCYjz0g68kCFd77hAEYMIPMfVWo2rU5iAs40x9t1k0LZBWwVJ2MjCmJzl_CfvEMlJjkRRtEC73dglRSBWYNV81iPT6yuMHW7BMbqZ0ZFYLX8/s1600-h/thoughtcrime.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187217168590469586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXFC0ZPtr9ng5QgsSxXjWZZOmU24CkcZlCYjz0g68kCFd77hAEYMIPMfVWo2rU5iAs40x9t1k0LZBWwVJ2MjCmJzl_CfvEMlJjkRRtEC73dglRSBWYNV81iPT6yuMHW7BMbqZ0ZFYLX8/s320/thoughtcrime.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />David Irving was arrested in Austria and jailed for a year for denying that the holocaust killed 6 million J<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">ews</span> during WWII. I am not a revisionist supporter, but I'm not a supporter of political <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">prisoners</span> and thought criminals either.<br /><br />Read about David Irving article <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUKL198185820070519">here</a> </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">FREEDOM OF SPEECH means you are not arrested or charged for your right to a dissenting opinion. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoughtcrime"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Thought crime</span></a> is just too 1984 for me.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-90564593874721269272008-04-01T19:54:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:06:59.572-08:00State Claims Ownership of Newborn DNA<a href="http://genes-r-us.uthscsa.edu/"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184480612997953970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmakaJBTSLHvf4Io60bcLDYMr0OYCzKd37XjSbacgZIS4k9Hzif60_6IMcR-qRQ0GBNa0MBGYfcsp_56Yc4ZQmiEUZgHSqZRIsUZCV02hOBWo3oZprvzlxLBSKSyCEFZG5j_8dbvle790/s320/nnsgrc.GIF" border="0" /></a> <em>God Bless America!</em><br />Unknown to most new parents, or those who became parents in the last ten or so years, DNA of newborns has been harvested, tested, stored and experimented with. All 50 states are now routinely providing these results to the Homeland Security Department. <em>Excellent!</em><br /><br />If you recall the movie Gattaca, embryos were created and screened to provide the ultimate eugenics program and the "super" human. Some refused to take part in this process and had "God" children, children who were made through normal conception. These children invariably didn't have the same superior genome compared to GMO children, and were thus forced into unwanted societal roles like cleaning and garbage disposal.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>In Minnesota the state tests for 56 various genetic disorders and variants. At least 1/3 of these tests produce a false positive meaning that a flaw was identified that actually did not exist. Regardless, the false positive becomes part of the permanent record of the child and follows them for the rest of their lives as does any true positives. This means that the child may face discrimination in employment and the ability to gain health insurance at any cost.<br /></strong></div><br />Should we really be complaining? I mean, after all it's not required by law, you can opt out of the pogram, that is, if you knew about it in the first place.<br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><strong>Our legislators declared that if the parent doesn’t specifically opt out, they are presumed to have “informed consent” and have opted in.<br /></div></strong><br />So what are the long term implicaions of this?<br /><br />The implications of the DNA database need to be viewed in conjuction with the Real ID Act in the US, and the requirement by Americans to carry around National Identity Cards. Combine the identity card with your DNA, and you've got yourself a highly controlled Statist system. I hear people saying? So, thats ok, if you're not doing anything wrong? Others look forward to a technocractic Utopia where everything you do will be based on your DNA, from your ATM card, your health insurance, driving your car, the locks on your house, all of which could be DNA specific.<br /><br />It's all just a little bit Big Brother (1984) and This Perfect Day for my liking.<br /><br />Read the <a href="http://www.opednews.com/articles/life_a_marti_oa_080318_states_claiming_owne.htm">full article by Marti Oakley</a><br /><br />Read about RFID chips and the Real ID act <a href="http://anarchydownunder.blogspot.com/2007/11/we-people-will-not-be-chipped.html">here</a> and <a href="http://realidrebellion.blogspot.com/">here</a> and <a href="http://disillusionedkid.blogspot.com/2007/11/who-watches-watchers.html">here</a>.Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-79014756083267776212008-03-26T23:46:00.000-07:002008-12-10T10:07:00.084-08:00Is there such a thing as different races in the human species? Or are we just one race – the human race?I found this article: <a href="http://www.vdare.com/misc/080325_miele.htm">The K9 Comparison—What Dogs Tell Us About Humans<br /></a><br />The article describes a scientist Dr Freedman who himself is in a bi-racial marriage, perform tests on different dog breeds to determine the effect of breed on behaviour.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Dog breeds provide the classic case study of within-species differentiation. Those who would dismiss race and race differences regularly point out that DNA differences between races are minimal. But, as Vincent Sarich demonstrated in Race: The Reality of Human Differences (pp. 170 – 173) human racial differences in morphology are greater than in any non-domesticated species. They are around ten times the difference between the sexes within each race and larger than the differences that distinguish the two species of chimpanzee. Despite minimal genetic differences, human physical racial differences are clearly observable. </strong><br /><br /></div><div align="left">(Studies show that humans share 98.4% of genetic information with Chimpanzees, so it only takes a little to change phenotypical differences in nature).<br /><br />He submitted the paper on racial differences in neonate behavior to Science, the most prestigious scientific journal in the U.S. It had published his study behavioral differences in pups of different dog breeds without any problem or controversy. The paper on race differences, however, was rejected by a split vote of the reviewers. <em>Interesting</em>!<br /><strong></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><div align="center"><strong>Freedman then submitted it to Nature, the British analogue to Science. It again received a split decision from the judges. Fortunately, the editor broke the deadlock by casting his deciding vote in favor of publication. [Behavioural Differences between Chinese–American and European–American Newborns D. G. Freedman & Nina Chinn Freedman, Nature December 20, 1969]<br /></strong></div><br /><div align="left">The following are the interesting scientific points to note to suggest there are different races, with different characteristics inherent in their genes. </div><br /><br /><div align="left">New born babies were studied by neurologists using a maneuver called the "defense reaction", the baby's nose was briefly pressed with a cloth, forcing him to breathe with his mouth. Most Caucasian and black babies fight the maneuver by immediately turning away or swiping at the cloth with their hands. Not surprisingly, this is listed in Western pediatric textbooks as the normal, expected response.<br /><br />But not so for the average Chinese babies in the study. They simply lay on their back, breathing from the mouth, "accepting" the cloth without a fight.<br /><br />There were other more subtle differences. While both Chinese and Caucasian infants would start to cry at about the same point in the examination, especially when they were being undressed, Chinese babies stopped crying immediately, while Caucasian babies quieted only gradually.<br />The conclusions found that white babies started to cry more easily, and once they started, they were more difficult to console. Chinese babies adapted to almost any position in which they were placed. When placed face down in their cribs, they tended to keep their faces buried in the sheets rather than immediately turning to one side, as did the Whites.<br /><br />Another scientific field that recognises racial difference is pharmacogenetics for example, the study of genetic differences in the tolerance and effectiveness of medicinal drugs. African American patients, on average, do not benefit as much as whites from ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitors, a standard treatment for heart failure. This is probably because of race differences in nitric oxide, which is produced by the cells that line our blood vessels and dampens contraction of the muscle cells, relaxing the vessels and lowering blood pressure. Blacks are more likely than whites to have nitric oxide insufficiency. Why, no one currently knows.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkR_XEHZE0kt-Jm6zSQ2SbHWDeUkoytl1oxJilFmTRJA5Rl0CzIc9MxsjgryEVjHodiWEYUUn6G4pltaTbjxBmeew-xlv9_ippqHD8h7J1tsj32PHoD2a9qIh8YrQTurNn6-O16TL0jQ/s1600-h/twinsGR210206_450x300.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182310026720868754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkR_XEHZE0kt-Jm6zSQ2SbHWDeUkoytl1oxJilFmTRJA5Rl0CzIc9MxsjgryEVjHodiWEYUUn6G4pltaTbjxBmeew-xlv9_ippqHD8h7J1tsj32PHoD2a9qIh8YrQTurNn6-O16TL0jQ/s200/twinsGR210206_450x300.jpg" border="0" /></a>I would like to see this study conducted on children from bi-racial parents where the offspring are “pure” in their appearance of either being black/ asian/white to see if the mixed offspring will give the same response.<br /><br />For example the image is of the “<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=377839&in_page_id=1770&in_a_source=&ct=5">Hodgson twins</a>” , where both the parents are bi-racial. They have twin daughters, one appears traditionally “black” while the other, with blonde hair and blue eyes appears “white”. To have one white offspring and one black offspring as twins is statisically a 1 in a million chance!<br /><br />I’d like to see the results of the study done on these sorts of children, and the effects of mixed-race.<br /><br />Genetics – interesting, no? </div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-47501119525905076352008-03-20T20:56:00.001-07:002008-12-10T10:07:01.625-08:00Recommended reading and music ListThe reading lists are for insight into the hegemony we are living in today, while the music is meant to inspire political activism. <em>enjoy.</em><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four"><span style="color:#ff9900;">1984 - George Orwell</span></a></span><span style="color:#ff9900;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180406368366262578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb8QgOlzdVgttIIfmyH2jiJi937T2kUaShPIUkZLM2pA-OGN6onFY_Linw4R-XgNL7mhGWAmyRXIq6HrVvol7pr4vyVxl8opPIkocu2uIjU4fiw45ViKTjfESKk9t5lTQGwM0lMzaZsjI/s200/1984firsted.jpg" border="0" /></span> Genre(s): Dystopian, Political Novel<br />Publisher: Secker and Warburg (London)<br />Publication date: 8 June, 1949<br />ISBN 0-452-28423-6 (Paperback edition)<br /><br />"War is Peace"<br />"Freedom is Slavery"<br />"Ignorance is Strength"<br />Need I say more?<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brave_new_world"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Brave New World - Aldrous Huxley</span> </a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWH2FDZ3KXpaGdYgG8Xy6S4MYQFwP41Fz3TKzLv1Ykplqc4lWnQPea_Zsm9VmjMTS3QJcWauMP15heZZnp9DuKu3wAJb2qCmn1jbZGWbsV1NDLxfQX6AU3IuOBrTj4H5f5cn1j8I4kGQ/s1600-h/200px-BraveNewWorld_FirstEdition.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180412080672766290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWH2FDZ3KXpaGdYgG8Xy6S4MYQFwP41Fz3TKzLv1Ykplqc4lWnQPea_Zsm9VmjMTS3QJcWauMP15heZZnp9DuKu3wAJb2qCmn1jbZGWbsV1NDLxfQX6AU3IuOBrTj4H5f5cn1j8I4kGQ/s200/200px-BraveNewWorld_FirstEdition.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Genre(s):Utopian novel<br />Publisher: Chatto and Windus (London)<br />Publication date:1932<br />ISBN 0-06-080983-3<br /><br />Babies aren't grown anymore, they're harvested and cloned by the thousands. If you liked the movie Gattaca, you'll enjoy this book.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fahrenheit_451"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury</span></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs2F6Z5mlHjVUZpYOkZoJXH7QManSvI6NnQYm1pMOaxx7TB5lk-_SnHs4m4IcFH5dnFwJdy_qH-VDXVTpj58eHuH3Gsj7KvlCRb3DqBBOfyVe3nOOpzsWd-kzvitlU9bQXwz7bgdgnoI/s1600-h/Farneheit_451.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180409499397421378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOs2F6Z5mlHjVUZpYOkZoJXH7QManSvI6NnQYm1pMOaxx7TB5lk-_SnHs4m4IcFH5dnFwJdy_qH-VDXVTpj58eHuH3Gsj7KvlCRb3DqBBOfyVe3nOOpzsWd-kzvitlU9bQXwz7bgdgnoI/s200/Farneheit_451.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Genre(s): Dystopian novel<br />Publisher:Ballantine Books<br />Publication date:1953<br />ISBN 978-0-7432-4722-1 (current hardcover edition)<br /><br />Books are banned and burned in this literary masterpiece<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Perfect_Day"><span style="color:#ff9900;">This Perfect Day - Ira Levin<br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180419871743441266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_fIXR82yWbMzFLMMo77szcv316ojkaZIskoBznYCBgYWFV-fCJOzvk4-75VcseWsxvjMGBVlfAMU7Pych2uJm92mmvqco_JB4BAtm9vrTG04hgII1cHO4nIs3a2lpN5ne0YdJs2FnLY/s200/200px-Thisperfectday-fawcett.jpg" border="0" /></a> Genre(s): Science fiction<br />Publisher: Random House<br />Publication date: 1970<br />ISBN: 0394448588<br /><br />All the races of men are eugenically merged into one race with one language and one world controlled by UniComp. Everyone is medicated to be sheeple, and euthanized at 62. This is <strong>THE BEST</strong> dysotopian novel I've ever come across.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><em>Christ, Marx, Wood and Wei, Led us to this perfect day.<br />Marx, Wood, Wei and Christ, All but Wei were sacrificed.<br />Wood, Wei, Christ and Marx, Gave us lovely schools and parks.<br />Wei, Christ, Marx and Wood, Made us humble, made us good.</em><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battlefield_Earth_(novel)"><span style="color:#ff9900;">Battlefield Earth - L.Ron Hubbard</span></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVLWUkJy3wKHQA9i36hRL4oFD9f11DXab0b5UU8WSXijW090KCDQ_4cox8PWE1pXErQBL9hjQSZblETIBRMhuCGAd7ynxCvvgncKAWJHASbvXY0TFsIB6Xc-X4bwPsbOWQAL-4lPqH2Q/s1600-h/200px-Battlefield_earth_book_cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180415031315298658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVLWUkJy3wKHQA9i36hRL4oFD9f11DXab0b5UU8WSXijW090KCDQ_4cox8PWE1pXErQBL9hjQSZblETIBRMhuCGAd7ynxCvvgncKAWJHASbvXY0TFsIB6Xc-X4bwPsbOWQAL-4lPqH2Q/s200/200px-Battlefield_earth_book_cover.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Genre(s):Science fiction<br />Publisher: St. Martin's Press<br />Publication date: 1982<br />ISBN 1-59212-007-5<br /><br />Johnnie Goodboy Tyler tries to unite the last remaining tribes on Earth in a final showdown with the Alien suppressors. Great for learning subversive military tactics in the presence of an occupying force. The movie was sacrilege, read the book.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferno">Inferno - Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle </a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7SbFSUzTZPG76crTtZtMGUOj76MckkcrsoOcFf8yyqypU5SuqpnmYpbh_XEXLRLZzUtnY5HsrR9ZdEhUtwmotaaEWbWErcu2CTXU86HOj_nKNQlitevL5YdFw1nWpsy8fB9bQ0b_qlY/s1600-h/inferno.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180420022067296642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7SbFSUzTZPG76crTtZtMGUOj76MckkcrsoOcFf8yyqypU5SuqpnmYpbh_XEXLRLZzUtnY5HsrR9ZdEhUtwmotaaEWbWErcu2CTXU86HOj_nKNQlitevL5YdFw1nWpsy8fB9bQ0b_qlY/s200/inferno.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Genre(s):Science fiction novel<br />Publisher:Pocket Books<br />Publication date :1976<br />ISBN 0-671-80490-1<br /><br />Dante Alighieri's divine comedy in a modern day science fiction novel. It's a wild ride through the 12 circles of hell. Hold on tight, because you never know where you might end up.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark;&version=31;"><span style="color:#ff9900;">The New Testament</span><span style="color:#ff9900;"></a></span><br />books<strong> Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Revelations.</strong><br />Jesus; he was a revolutionary, a hippie, and an all round nice guy. He gives new meaning to the concept of passive resistance.<br /><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="center"><u><strong><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span></strong></u></div><span style="font-family:arial;">Stand My Ground - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kds3B-UIJtU"><span style="font-family:arial;">Traveling Wilburys</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Dixie Chicks - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwc5YSAc-7g"><span style="font-family:arial;">Not ready to make nice</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Edwin Star - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv5BYEOQYLo">War, what is it good for?</a></span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv5BYEOQYLo"><br /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Pink - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQYHKILXD4k"><span style="font-family:arial;">Dear Mr President</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Pink Floyd - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Py5aPLG348&feature=related"><span style="font-family:arial;">Another brick in the wall</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Greenday - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5mjN32G1iI"><span style="font-family:arial;">American Idiot</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Greenday - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-HTRKlU1EY"><span style="font-family:arial;">Minority</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The Verve - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z55hjjJxs_o"><span style="font-family:arial;">Bittersweet Symphony</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Get Up, Stand Up - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zTxUxFjLB0"><span style="font-family:arial;">Bob Marley</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Do the Evolution - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FoNmNmXExZ8"><span style="font-family:arial;">Pearl Jam</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Rage against the machine - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkuOAY-S6OY"><span style="font-family:arial;">Killing in the name of</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Rage against the machine - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JSBhI_0at0&feature=related"><span style="font-family:arial;">Testify</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Send me your picks to add to the music and reading list for Political Activists (ideology non-specific).</span><br /><br /><strong>Your Choices</strong><br /><strong><u><em>Music</em></u></strong><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LQiuQ1xIBM"><br /></a>Working Class Hero - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njG7p6CSbCU">John Lennon</a><br />The 4th Branch - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1bMvRXEnCQ">Immortal Technique</a><br />Take the Power Back - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmdkh1iMT_M">Rage Against the Machine</a><br />Prayer of the Refugee - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOtNqDyyX2c">Rise Against</a><br />Shakedown -<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvGxf1lHtKQ">Behind Crimson Eyes</a><br />The Good Soldier- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA8ynPr_7FI">Nine Inch Nails</a><br />Black Masks and Gasoline - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRthtyjbvsk">Rise Against </a><br />A Perfect Circle's "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bz8Mja9oyE">Emotive</a>" album - they covered a bunch of protest songs like, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaM3p5tIbag">'Gimme Gimme Gimme'</a>, '<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpqKA9_ddFk">Imagine</a>' and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsenwpotzyA">'People are People'</a><br />Capital G - Nine Inch Nails<br />Suvivalism - Nine Inch Nails<br /><br /><u><strong><em>Books</em></strong></u><br />One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Flew_Over_the_Cuckoo">Ken Kessey</a><br />Catch-22 by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch-22">Joseph Heller</a>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-50033498464571836742008-03-19T21:16:00.000-07:002008-03-19T21:23:09.667-07:00The Best Activist Song of All Time<strong>Stand My Ground by the Traveling Wilburys </strong><br /><br />Regardless of which side of politics you're on - left or right, it doesn't matter. This song is for anyone who gave a damn about anything!<br /><p align="center"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kds3B-UIJtU&hl=" width="425" height="355" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></p><p align="left">TRIVIA: You'll notice the drummer is Ringo Star from the Beatles, who is also the voice of Thomas the Tank Engine, and Tom Petty is the lead vocalist on guitar.</p><p align="center"></p>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-11330262573288824772008-03-07T13:53:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:07:01.832-08:00A visit by ASIO (Australian Securities Intelligence Organisation)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8fe74Y7OmGPBbZG-0F2tOtPoGsdBoFJNDwyKRQuH1xCA4XulGldDtAEPv4eBNKg73-fBDPcuUqmb9Ewt8S93VRwBImQTnszgwBjh6232Pn9jGv4mLVvhlxlF4a9tPxKMTKnLpVr9o4U/s1600-h/asio.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175147722148577298" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8fe74Y7OmGPBbZG-0F2tOtPoGsdBoFJNDwyKRQuH1xCA4XulGldDtAEPv4eBNKg73-fBDPcuUqmb9Ewt8S93VRwBImQTnszgwBjh6232Pn9jGv4mLVvhlxlF4a9tPxKMTKnLpVr9o4U/s320/asio.gif" border="0" /></a> A comrade recently had a visit by the big "A", so i figured it's probably time for an expose' on some practical anarchy when dealing with ASIO/ NSA, and of course what to expect. <div></div><div><strong><u></u></strong></div><div><strong><u></u></strong></div><div><strong><u></u></strong></div><div><strong><u></u></strong></div><div><strong><u></u></strong></div><div><strong><u></u></strong></div><div><strong><u></u></strong></div><div><strong><u></u></strong></div><div><strong><u>1. What to expect</u></strong></div><div align="justify">Firstly, if you've paid attention to the news you would know that discussing killing the now ex-prime minister on the phone is not the smartest thing you could do. Let's face it, who hasn't thought of "boning" Jonnie anyway? But as we know, ASIO's recruitment program has grown exponentially over the past few years, and they do need to justify those inflated budgets somehow!</div><br /><div></div><div align="justify">If you do appear to be important enough to be on their radar, the first stage is monitoring. You become flagged for surveillance if you have an association with someone who is being monitored. </div><div></div><br /><div align="justify">You can then become a medium level threat - when your involvement in a suspected group is a low level threat and you meet other specified criteria (like access to weapons or chemicals in your job or you are one of the main activists in the flagged group), in which case you just might warrant a visit. That's when it gets really exciting.</div><div></div><br /><div align="justify">They always come in pairs, and will generally visit your home, rather than your work place to maintain a low profile. Questions will be asked about why you belong to specific groups, your ideology, and your associations with other monitored people. Finally, they will <strong>demand</strong> that you sign a confidentially agreement. (more on that later).</div><div></div><br /><div align="justify">All of your associations are then monitored as well - your friends and family to determine what threat level they possess. In most instances, your family is monitored purely for leverage and secondly as a weak link - hoping that under pressure they will divulge all of your dirty seditious secrets.</div><br /><div></div><div align="justify">In a lot of cases, I believe the ASIO visit is just to let people know that they are being watched, therefore hoping to prevent any escalation of seditious behaviour; to "put the scares in em". In other instances, they are intentionally obtuse, thrusting warrants and injunctions around like confetti. </div><br /><div></div><div><strong><u>2. How to deal with them</u></strong></div><div align="justify">The first visit is to touch base with you, but their contract of confidentiality certainly has chutzpah. They will demand that you have no right, no authority and no choice but to abide by their rules, sign the agreement and say nothing about their visitation. Their aim is gentling - to break your psyche like a horse into accepting what they say as gospel. They will tell you that signing the agreement does not mean that you agree to the terms and conditions, but that you MUST sign it with various B.S reasons. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Technically they are right, and signing a document doesn't mean that you have agreed to the terms and conditions. However, legally in signing a document you are BOUND by the terms and conditions. Once you sign it, it is a legal contract where your signature will be upheld in a court of law. So if you sign a confidentiality agreement and then tell others about your story, you will be held accountable.</div><br /><div></div><div><strong>You have the right to NOT sign the document!</strong></div><br /><div><strong>You have the right to retain the document and have a lawyer look at it!</strong></div><br /><div><strong>You have the right to disagree with everything that they say to you!</strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>You have the right NOT to meet them!</strong></div><br /><p><strong>You have the right NOT to answer any questions!</strong></p><div><strong>You have the right NOT to let them into your home or office (unless they have a warrant)!</strong></div><br /><p><strong>You have the right to read the warrant BEFORE letting them into your home or office!</strong></p><p>above all <strong>You have the right to REFUSE!</strong></p><div></div><div>Their game is to break your psychological resolve, by applying pressure. Keep your cool, don't get angry. Once you loose your cool, games' over.</div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><div align="justify">When they have a warrant there isn't a lot you can do, but you do have the right to be present in the house to "assist". I've heard from other comrades stories about how ASIO officers provided a warrant to search the guys house (lets call him Joe for the sake of argument). The warrant was requesting specific information which Joe was happy to hand over, but begged them to let him hand over the stuff when he got home, which they agreed. Suffice it to say, Joe didn't believe them and went home anyway to find them rifling through every facet of his home leaving as much mess as they could. </div><div></div><br /><div align="justify">This is an intimidation technique, where anyone with an ego trip consciously makes your life difficult for no other reason that they can. Put it another way, destruction of property is just in a days job in securing the nation, so, say goodbye to the perfect and prized couch, which is obviously hiding illicit documents.</div><br /><div></div><div align="justify">Above all, it's important to remain friendly, calm and if possible document as much of the event as you can through any medium that you can (photographs, recordings or just take notes, about time, location, names of agents, what they did). Take photos of how they left the property after they've gone. Remember, in a war of information, it pays to collect your own.</div><div></div><br /><div align="justify">After a visit make sure you don't have any conversations on the phone that can be taken out of context (like offing the prime minister). When you do meet up with other monitored people, don't take your phone, and if you do, take the battery out. They can only track you when the cell phone is on.</div><br /><div></div><div align="justify">Finally, if you still haven't had a visit by ASIO and you want one, I'd call up all your friends and talk about all the bombs you're going to make, head off to bunnings and buy as much fertilizer as you possibly can, and call as many chemical companies asking about how you can get your hands on some much needed Uranium. So if you're not being monitored now, its only a matter of time before every conversation you have is recorded. </div><br /><div></div><div>Fortunately, I'm still waiting for my visit.... </div><br /><div></div><div></div><div>For more information on YOUR rights when visited by ASIO:</div><a href="http://www.activistrights.org.au/cb_pages/asio_visit.php">http://www.activistrights.org.au/cb_pages/asio_visit.php</a><br /><div></div><br />and above all <strong>KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!</strong>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-9715594372607952052008-02-28T16:55:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:07:02.373-08:00Book Review - Alongside Night<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInOzq2FbmJpMGCclYYUjeT9lbKCKtC09YPfh_rHwwo0rp4MIdkEZtJaJQjcl0mOM1L1UgaYopBNQXh494s1X3q-0jeezAn9db2SHKFvbl07mrQYR9srIhNPkVA6s9kN6FUwfSIWle_a8/s1600-h/cover+alongside+night.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172206062755080946" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjInOzq2FbmJpMGCclYYUjeT9lbKCKtC09YPfh_rHwwo0rp4MIdkEZtJaJQjcl0mOM1L1UgaYopBNQXh494s1X3q-0jeezAn9db2SHKFvbl07mrQYR9srIhNPkVA6s9kN6FUwfSIWle_a8/s320/cover+alongside+night.jpg" border="0" /></a>Alongside Night is the first novel published by author Joesph Neil Shulman, about the formation of an agorist anarchist society in America during a severe economic crisis. To call this novel simplistic is somewhat understated, but never the less, the novel is suitable for young adults with little to no understanding of anarchism or agorist principles.<br /><br />The story itself is fast paced, but fails to deliever on important and vital details on social aspects of the society. However, the novel does give a thorough explanation of economic agorism.<br /><br />The Revolutionary Agorist Cadre is a group of anarcho-capitalists' who have managed to form a society within a society during the demise of the American economy. Possessing gold (or counter-currency) is an offence, (mimicked in real life by the New Hampshire Liberty Dollar), and inflation is so high that parallels can only be drawn to the current economic crisis in Zimbabwe where inflation runs at 100,000% a year. Agorist currency is the gold standard, or European currency unaffected by inflation.<br /><br />Members of the cadre are required to sign a contract:-<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><strong>"Arbitration shall enforce the law of the contract to effectuate its purposes, and shall decide the issues by the application of reason to the facts under the guidance of the Law of Equal Liberty (each has the right to do with his/ her own what he/she wishes so long as he/she does not forcibly interfere with the equal right of another)."</strong></div><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="justify">The contract called the <strong>Submission to Arbitrate</strong> enables business between members for the economic benefits of both parties under the proviso that no harm or force must come between them, less they be held accountable by the arbitration committee. This contract is meant to serve as an alternative to mafia tactics (common among underground societies) for those who fail to meet their agreed upon responsibilities. The arbitration committee uses economic sanctions to maintain order within the Agorist Cadre, who retain control of the nation un-surprisingly through the threat of military force, namely nuclear weapons. No doubt exactly what would be required in real life.</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">However, there are more questions raised than answered in Alongside Night as to how exactly this agorist utopia would function. In terms of economic considerations, the novel is quite explicit, while other more social concerns are ignored. "Laissez-faire" or free market is used in the novel by cadre members as a greeting, and no doubt used as repetitive mind control in the novel, forgetting that the free market is not an end in itself, as not all considerations are economic. Free market demand can include prostitution and narcotics, which when left un-regulated, presume ably is left to the arbitration committee to sort out. But what are the long term impacts of the arbitration committee? Is it the equivalent to legal precedent? </div><div align="justify"> </div><align="justify"><align="justify">Further, the idea of arbitration is only valid when the committee for arbitration is separated from the cadre to ensure integrity. How in practise would this work, and what procedure is in effect to stop the wealth of the nation becoming concentrated into the hands of a few? What will be used to stop the formation of cartels if the only sanctions are economic, and cartels can afford the inconvenience of fees? We are left to ponder these issues for ourselves.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMFr3pmOW0CGwQilyFsW-2wON0bp8FBQmM2oEadHkdWE_iIUFIYrAbWziMLWT023GdlSydmc-0JdEMBAMW6PmdRhyphenhypheniey51-KqbXijYtiYH7Q5Z7VcPAJHTJuZvz6jMcjMdgII8h_JQdw/s1600-h/love+parade+san+fran.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172207553108732674" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMFr3pmOW0CGwQilyFsW-2wON0bp8FBQmM2oEadHkdWE_iIUFIYrAbWziMLWT023GdlSydmc-0JdEMBAMW6PmdRhyphenhypheniey51-KqbXijYtiYH7Q5Z7VcPAJHTJuZvz6jMcjMdgII8h_JQdw/s320/love+parade+san+fran.jpg" border="0" /></a> One of these social examples sees our female hero Lorimer witness an orgy in the cadre complex, which seems to fit in with agorist principle. "Live and Let Live". It reminds me of an article I read from the New Right - The Tyranny of Individualism - where at the Love Parade in San Francisco, men can be seen walking around the streets masturbating. Personally, I can't accept this sexual "free market" proposed by Shulman in Alongside Night, but I respect the position of not forcing my "prudish" manner onto those who would want such a free market. <align="justify">For these reasons, I will accept the economic agorist principle, but for social considerations, I will accept a more national anarchist approach. That is, community members who wish to have a sexual free market with on the street masturbating, will only be able to do so without offending the right of conservative anarchists like myself if they are segregated into their own communities, with trade relationships between them.<br /><br />All in all the book is worth a read.Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-40141602880419781682008-02-24T21:18:00.000-08:002008-12-10T10:07:02.510-08:00Corporate Jamming to pop culture<div align="justify"><strong><em>Corporate jamming</em></strong> is the exact opposite of culture jamming, where the use of sub or underground cultural movements are reinvented for the purposes of corporate propaganda and mass consumerism, thereby co-opting the sub culture to pop culture.</div><br /><div align="justify">Here's a few examples;<br /><br /><div align="justify"><strong>Radio Rentals </strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">"C'mon Australia join the rental revolution!"</span></strong> </div><div align="justify"><br />Through the overuse of terms which would normally be used by fringe political groups like anarchists and communists, the mainstream population have become complacent and nonchalant with the term "revolution", thereby removing any impact the term would otherwise have on a persons life.<br /><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OHo_zZQWJcA&rel=" width="425" height="355" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed> </div><div align="justify"><strong>Telstra</strong> </div><div align="justify">Check out the commercial above, it's an old one, but the concept is still valid. Telstra are one of the best corporate jammers I've seen so far. They take uplifting alternative music (that is, music that is played on triple J), alternative/ abstract art (phones in trees and in the freezer) and play upon cultural stereotypes (get an ice cream on a hot summers day) to "corporate jam". Then there is the message "spread the good stuff", which is really the co-opting of new age spiritualism "share positive energy and affirmation". Subtle and effective.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqCKcAPrD5fPQOazNY1jjquRMl67Uy0g17wIBJ9gLzYuUe3NNPY9TGZTipfO4a7Va80in1Vk3YA_x9Pe7KY1O_bE6qsm1TQCr97RWv-jOTlgHECKPBmEcRmE8tpmJpHoa7WPs8CDFmCs/s1600-h/threemobile+(Medium).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170808269943565026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqCKcAPrD5fPQOazNY1jjquRMl67Uy0g17wIBJ9gLzYuUe3NNPY9TGZTipfO4a7Va80in1Vk3YA_x9Pe7KY1O_bE6qsm1TQCr97RWv-jOTlgHECKPBmEcRmE8tpmJpHoa7WPs8CDFmCs/s400/threemobile+(Medium).jpg" border="0" /></a> <align="justify"><strong>Three Mobile Phones </strong></div><strong></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><strong><div align="justify"><span style="color:#cc0000;">"#1 Save on deodorant - apply it while at the supermarket."</span></div><div align="justify"><br /></strong>Cop-opting anarchist alternative lifestyle- and marketing it to students. </div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong>Just Jeans </strong></div><div align="justify">The latest jeans west ad looks like a music video (not that that's a cultural thing), but it does show the move from corporate "art" to corporate advertising.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><u><em><strong>update: </strong></em></u>Modern Roofing ad - the company is selling solar panels to be installed on the roofs of houses. Two black birds are used for back and forth between each other to sell the product (subtle mind control that the company and/or product is environmentally friendly). One of the birds states as a catch phrase at the end </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#cc0000;">"<strong>Power to the people"</strong></span></div><div align="justify"><br /><strong>Culture jamming or sniggling </strong>is a resistance movement to cultural hegemony and the homogenous nature of popular culture, executed by means of public activism or guerrilla communication. It often entails transforming mass media to produce ironic or satirical commentary about itself, using the original medium's communication method. Furthermore, culture jamming is based on the idea that advertising is little more than propaganda for established interests, and that there is a lack of an available means for alternative expression in industrialized nations.</div><div align="justify"><br /></div><div align="justify">Culture jamming is very much like the stuff the guys got up to in <em><strong>Fight Club, </strong></em>below are some URLS worth checking out for examples. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://theyesmen.org/">http://theyesmen.org/</a> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.abrupt.org/CJ/">http://www.abrupt.org/CJ/</a><br /><a href="http://www.sniggle.net/">http://www.sniggle.net/</a><br /><a href="http://www.why-war.com/encyclopedia/weapons/culture_jamming/">http://www.why-war.com/encyclopedia/weapons/culture_jamming/</a><br /><a href="http://bloggreen.wordpress.com/2006/01/10/nice-example-of-culture-jamming-5/">http://bloggreen.wordpress.com/2006/01/10/nice-example-of-culture-jamming-5/</a></div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7558605733870770326.post-41134117803386114972008-02-20T14:19:00.001-08:002008-12-10T10:07:02.685-08:00The Business of Abortion<div align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJ1grpPuO2CuCeiMsr6OlJY0Rzb0pZFLgAw79DVXBInlJvbg9i9o_WtFq-Wz6OausRplePhJnyKdRb68c7r8BbgH5uTRO4IIz1G3yJnrbpgkDbeKxPuUF0Ac_qYtem7qL-UfaaociYvA/s1600-h/aborted_9_week_fetus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169219308137704130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigJ1grpPuO2CuCeiMsr6OlJY0Rzb0pZFLgAw79DVXBInlJvbg9i9o_WtFq-Wz6OausRplePhJnyKdRb68c7r8BbgH5uTRO4IIz1G3yJnrbpgkDbeKxPuUF0Ac_qYtem7qL-UfaaociYvA/s320/aborted_9_week_fetus.jpg" border="0" /></a>The abortion industry has been estimated to be worth $450 million to $1 billion annually by the <strong><em>wall street journal.</em></strong><br /><br />These figures do no include the financial gain in the trading of aborted biological material. In 1999 evidence came to light that abortionists were selling body parts from aborted babies for use in medical research and transplants.<br /><br />CNS reports that experiments using human/animal hybrid mice, bred to have no immune systems, and injected with tissue and cells from aborted children, have been paid for with U.S federal funds for more than twenty years.<br /><br />The National Cancer Institute explains that "immature human" immune tissues and/or immune cells are injected or implanted into these mice that are unable to reject the tissue. But CNS reveals that "immature" is a euphemism for tissue obtained from aborted children or "abortuses".Much of the foetal tissue comes from late-term abortions committed at <a href="http://www.pregnantpause.org/abort/trash.htm">17-23 weeks' gestation</a>. CNS quotes one 2005 study, published in the journal Blood said, "Mice were surgically implanted with human bone chips of fetal femur or tibia from 19- to 23-week gestation human abortuses ...."<br /><br />A search on the term "human abortuses" reveals over 34,000 hits, many of which link to medical research studies showing the use of tissue from either "spontaneous" or "elective" abortions<br /></div><div align="justify">Dr. Joseph Bryant, director of animal research at the University of Maryland's Institute of Human Virology told CNS the immune deficient mice have <strong>"been something of a godsend for modern-day research."</strong></div><br /><div align="justify">In 2002 it was revealed that major pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Novartis, Schering-Plough, Glaxo SmithKline, Aventis Pasteur and the NIH purchased licensing agreements to a patented designer cell line developed with aborted baby tissue. The same year, it was revealed that in Australia, embryonic stem cells were being grown on "<a href="http://www.biotechnews.com.au/index.php/id;1421651253">feeder layers</a>" made up of fetal tissue from aborted children.</div><br /><div align="justify">Fetal-tissue harvesting is a very lucrative industry, and just a small percentage of research could yield huge profits. Billions are involved in fetal-tissue research and harvesting, and the federal government participates in it in a big way. But it's also very shielded, and one has to try to understand the everydayness of it - - the foundational step in the process of abortion and fetal harvesting.</div><br /><div align="justify">Statistics suggest that 26% of pregnancies are aborted, which accounts for about 46 million abortions (legal and otherwise) annually.</div><br />References<br />[1] <a href="http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07113008.html">http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/nov/07113008.html</a><br />[2] <a href="http://www.pregnantpause.org/abort/partexpl.htm">http://www.pregnantpause.org/abort/partexpl.htm</a><br />[3]<a href="http://www.prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/articles/spreadinghatred.shtml">http://www.prochoiceactionnetwork-canada.org/articles/spreadinghatred.shtml</a><br />[4] <a href="http://www.nrlc.org/Baby_Parts/omeara.html">http://www.nrlc.org/Baby_Parts/omeara.html</a><br />[5] <a href="http://anti-abortion.info/">http://anti-abortion.info/</a>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05710707959282543949noreply@blogger.com1