Indy Media Watch

UK Indymedia provides a good insight into not only the quality of 'journalism' on Indymedia, but the calibre of comments which follow it.

An article entitled: Neocons floated idea of bombing al-jazeera before connects the dots:

Tuesday’s story in the Daily Mirror that detailed what was allegedly in a Top Secret British security memo got me thinking: Is this the first time someone suggested bombing al Jazeera out of existence? I had a hunch that it had been talked about, on some level, and made its way up to the President, who was probably keen on the idea, personally.

Coworkers told me I was on another planet – there is absolutely no way that the President would ever consider bombing within a friendly country. This just made me even more determined to check out my gut feeling. So I did what determined-but-lazy people do. I did a Google search.

Sure enough, a search for “bomb al Jazeera” led me to this article, written in September 2003 by Frank Gaffney, in which he recommends “taking out” al Jazeera “one way or another.”

That must prove it! Good grief... Now there's a quality bit of journalistic research. Especially considering all the crap on Indymedia and every other whacked out conspiracy site gets indexed by Google.

(See also: Google Discredits Itself)

Comments follow:

The terrorist insurgents in Iraq who are murdering innocent civilians and bombing mosques are the real enemy of the Iraqi people not the coalition forces who are trying to help the Iraqis build a new democracy! The vast majority of people who have been killed in Iraq since the initial war to oust the Saddam regime ended in April 2003 have been killed by the terrorist insurgents. These so called "freedom fighters" have even bombed mosques full of worshipers. Imagine the outcry if Israel had bombed just one mosque and killed just one muslim.

--Concerned

A reasonable argument which is 'rebutted' thus (in full:

Have you got any actual facts to back those statements up Concerned?

In other words: "You didn't provide a URL so I don't believe you (nyah boo sucks to you)."

Concerned's response:

I dont know why i even bother paying attention to a 5 year old talking politics but heres a couple of matters for your information on who targets what in Iraq.
http://www.iraqbodycount.net/press/pr12.php

Isn't it amazing that convincing arguments on Indymedia are written off unless they provide links to various other sources. Yet conspiracy theories, with detailed referencing of other equally dubious sites, are happily taken at face value. See Declassified Anti-Semitism (well referenced) where I noted:

The gratuitous use of references, to support a premise which is fundamentally wrong from a factual standpoint (let alone an intellectual, moral or ethical one) however is disgraceful.

Such is the level of debate on Indymedia. What is the point?

They are artificially powering you up in several ways, among other things this ENMOD is a vast human experimentation in Psi...it was initially developed in small way by nazis, haven't you noticed how you are becoming more attuned to certain things? How certain things now hurt that didn't used to, and shouldn't? You are in shared pain with the whole planet...we are screaming inside together...bush is satan. You would not believe the developement of the implants, all they have told you is just a joke, to cover up the real implant tech.

So, your body is getting jolted and has been in trauma since 2000...the ignorant who call bush christ have no way of understanding any of this because they have been systematically made stupid and their natural curiousity has been stunted through intensive mass osraeli mind control called Christianity You WILL believe israelis are gods chosen, and you will BEG to be bent over and buggered at their whim.

Seen on Sydney indymedia (of course). (Bile-Soaked Hat Tip: Evil Pundit)

Via UK Indymedia, - an Anti-War 'activist' is serving 28 days in prison for "wilful refusal to pay" a fine imposed after he stencilled anti-war messages and threw fake blood eonto Foreign and Commonwealth Office buildings in Whitehall.

At the hearing in Hastings, Milan argued that his actions had been shown to be morally justified by the subsequent civilian deaths and the use of White Phosphorus in the US led attack on the Iraqi city. He made it clear that he was not prepared to pay the fine that been imposed..

I hope the porridge is warm...

Gleefully reporting on "Buy Nothing Day" (last week if you hadn't noticed) UK Indymedia is reporting the activities it got up to.

Round the corner, at Birmingham’s favourite photo spot – The Bull – that proudly stands outside the Bullring, was momentarily overshadowed, as a more popular family photo opportunity emerged: the giant accumulation of 100% genuine Corporate Bull™shit that had so gracelessly tumbled from the bovine anus. Children flocked to have their picture taken with it. Grinning parents nodded in agreement with the ‘Corporate Bullshit’ slogan which labelled it.

For the rest of us, someone arranged a pile of manure in a public thoroughfare. See link for photos.

Other intelligent activities followed:

One of the objectives of the day was to take back space that had been entirely neutralised, and put it to a different use, or give it a different aesthetic. In keeping with this idea, the Topshop mannequins were treated to quick make-over of rubbish, including some banana neckwear, and a kid’s stethoscope. Taking this idea a step further, we endeavoured to practice some Corporate Feng-Shui, where we could take items from one part of the store and move them to another - where they weren’t intended - but would create a more desirable aesthetic for the potential consumer. It was thus decided that we would decorate the House of Fraser home section into our own living room, fit for a Christmas party. Decorations and tinsel were taken from the floor above, the stereo was plugged in, party hats were distributed and cakes, drinks and jelly were consumed. It was a delightful festive gathering.

Was it 'Buy Nothing Day'? Or 'Piss off Local Business and Employees Day'. You decide, noting previous 'suggestions' for activities.

Th BBC is reporting on a Video which puts Malaysia police in the dock.

The woman being abused in the video appears to be ethnically Chinese, her tormentor a Malay woman police officer wearing a Muslim headscarf. The victim is made to hold her ears as she squats and rises. Ear squats are a punishment common in Malaysian schools and are designed to humiliate.

What makes this doubly uncomfortable for the authorities is that the video emerged after a number of Chinese tourists alleged they had been arrested, forced to strip in front of male police officers and robbed.

One of them, a 35-year-old housewife, filed a complaint. "A policewoman grabbed my breast and slapped me when I blushed," she told The Star newspaper. "I was then forced to take off my undergarments and do five 'ear squats'. I saw a policeman peeping then," she said.

Some are saying this could be Malaysia's Abu Ghraib.

Some Malaysians are comparing the grainy video of a woman being forced to strip and perform squats by a police officer to the abuses perpetrated by coalition forces in Iraq.

Sorry, I don't believe it. For years, serious and never-ending human rights abuses by serial human-rights abusing countries, were all but ignored by the media (including Indymedia).

What happened at Abu Ghraib on the other hand, was milked for every penny. Whilst this doesn't excuse what happened there, forgive my cynicism for suspecting you won't hear another word about the Malaysian incident any more than you'll hear about Chinese executions, Arab beheadings or Syrian torture.

Thanks to the The Racial Slur Database I know what a Tabeetsu is.

Feel the hate...

Joseph C Stockett has posted to Madison Indymedia about how fed up he is being "Censored".

Yid is incapable of honest dialogue and is a good example of the low quality of intelligence displayed by pro-Israel propagandists in the media of the United States.
The Madison IMC should stand up for freedom of expression and not allow idiots like Yid control the framework or the context of discussion.

False accusations and anonymous posts by those too cowardly to identify themselves are the forte of small-minded bigots and emty-headed jargonists with jingo-mumbo-jumbo comments lacking meaning or usefulness.

That 'YID' portrays him or herself as the protector of the IMC from being subjected to racist content is ironic and amusing.

After being subjected to censorship of my posts on your site related to the Divestment Issue and Israel, I would like the public to note that the pro-Israel Lobby is afraid of open discussion and public debate.

The facts of the matter are simple enough: No two-state solution to the problem of zionist racist ideology can solve the dispute between colonialistic European Jewish occupation of Palestine and the rights of the indigenous Arab population of the region.

Israel must be dismantled, disbanded, and removed in its present form as a racist entity created by Western Capitalism, Imperialism, and Neo-colonialism.
The Jewish population of the region must be treated fairly in a new political dynamic in the form of a Palestinian State composed of Arabs and Jews in a federated Republic.

Zionism is a dead horse, a relic of the dark-ages and a product of ethnocentric racial supremist doctrine. It is time to move on to a new world where this type of racist ideology is remembered only in history books.

And they can all live happily ever after, just like Jews in other Arab countries...

Whatever.

Comments rush to his support:

I have read these posts and I'm disturbed that the attacks on Mr. Stockett have been completely unfair, defamatory, and senseless.

Perhaps Yid is working for Israel as a disinformation specialist instructed to attack all critics of Israel by character assassination and filthy profanity.

Naturally it's those Israeli secret agents again.

Looing at a later comment relating to the author however, tells a whole different story.

Stockett is a convicted abortion clinic bomber and a neo-nazi

What? Such a person on Indymedia? Never! Read this article and see they type of people Indymedia attracts.

Police investigating an arson at the Holocaust Museum in Terre Haute arrested a man with anti-Semitic beliefs who has a prison record for setting fire to an abortion clinic, according to court records and other sources.

Joseph Stockett, 57, appeared Monday in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
...
Court papers filed in connection with his weapons arrest and interviews with those who know Stockett portray a man with a disturbing history of extremist views.
...
The informant said Stockett expressed anti-Jewish views and was trying to recruit people into a neo-Nazi organization, according to the affidavit.
...
In addition, the informant said Stockett days earlier had given him a book called "Hitler's Second Book, The Unpublished Sequel To Mein Kampf." The book had been checked out from the Vigo County Public Library -- and according to online library records was still checked out on Monday.
...
Stockett's record indicates he set fire to a building occupied by Planned Parenthood in Eugene, Ore. He was sentenced to five years for second-degree arson in March 1976, court records indicate.

In Indianapolis on Monday, Stockett acknowledged he set the fire in Eugene as a protest to an intrauterine device that had injured his then-girlfriend. He said he set the blaze to protect women.
...
While his case was pending, Stockett contacted the student group Anti-War, Anti-Racism Group known as AWARE and asked for help with his case, members said Monday.

According to former AWARE member Robert Dunn, Stockett -- known both as "anti-Semitic Joe" and "Hippie Joe" -- was arrested when he threatened a female Jewish student near the University of Illinois campus.

When AWARE members decided not to get involved, Stockett accused the group of "being controlled by homosexual Jews," Dunn said Monday in an e-mail message.

Al Kagan, who is still involved with AWARE, remembers receiving a rambling voice mail message from Stockett after the decision.

Kagan said the message included anti-Semitic references that were "pretty disgusting and pretty upsetting."

Max Compton, a neighbor, remembers Stockett spent a lot of time at the library and brought home literature on racism and Nazis.

"To me they were very weird books," Compton said Monday as he puffed on a cigarette, leaning back on the couch inside his Swan Street apartment. "He didn't like Jews. He didn't like blacks. ... That's all those books were about."

Compton, who described Stockett as a "throwback to the '60s" said the eccentric man frequently wore tie-dyed T-shirts and liked to occasionally drink and smoke marijuana. [He should try Bay Area Indymedia! -ed]

Stockett lived alone and appeared to be pleased with his apartment, which he paid with his disability check.
...
On Monday, as he was led from the federal courtroom, Stockett said he was framed.

"I was set up ... by the ATF," he said.

Now that you know about his achievements and mindset, consider more of Stockett's anti-Israel and anti-censorship rants hosted where else, but Indymedia. They must be so proud!

Melbourn Indymedia is reporting the 10th anniversary of the local "Critical Mass" cycling group.

Some aren't amused:

Truck driver Ross Thornton, who heads up a group called Critical Smash, called media outlets to pass on a warning to the cyclists -- stay out of the way.
"If any one of those idiots illegally impedes me I'll run straight over them," he said.

Ouch!

Via Bay Area Indymedia, Photos of Berkeley Free Market where no money exchanges hands, you either give things away (like the Anarchist Masseuse) or swap stuff you don't want for stuff others' don't want.

The start of a revolution? Or the worst garage sale ever?

Via Sydney Indymedia, it seems a local train station was closed on 24 November. Why?

To give shady government operatives a chance to plant explosives of course.

The Town Hall station closure on Thu 24 Nov 2005 may have been to allow government operatives to plant explosives at Town Hall station to be detonated at some time in the future to be blamed on "terrorists".

This is what was done for London 7-7. Earlier in the year (2005), several months before 7 July ("7-7"), the London tube had been closed giving a great opportunity to plant explosives. Then they were detonated under the cover of a drill.

On the morning of Thu 24 Nov 2005, the railway announcements (on train and at City Circle stations) were saying that trains will not stop at Town Hall "due to a police operation". On the "news" that night, on the ABC, it was said that Town Hall station was closed due to a fire.

They're already mixing up their story, as is typical for these government false-flag terror operations.

If there is ever a terrorist attack in Australia, now you'll know why. Thanks Indymedia.

Still suffering from delusions of relevance, the World Can't Wait have organized their next big 'protest':

Bring the Noise! Drown Out Bush's Lies at the State of the Union Message
When? - TBA - probably late January
Where? - Everywhere in the US
State of the Union? - NO - State of Emergency!

BUSH: Step down, and take your whole program with you!

Call Toll-Free 1-866-973-4463 or E-Mail info@worldcantwait.org to contact World Can't Wait | Drive Out the Bush Regime

I'm sure George Bush is still shitting himself.

Besides the small details of when and where, it looks like they have thought of everything. It's almost as well planned as last time, but hey...Any excuse to skip school...

I wonder if they'll be inviting terrorist supporters this time.

Returning to the Indymedia article, it appears their aim is to "drown out Bush". That wouldn't be censorship now would it? I mean, if I tried to remove the pointless posting from an Indymedia newswire, that would be exactly what some would argue.

Surely there's no double standards... I mean "bringing the noise"? It's not really "censorship" it's "activism" right? Right?

Riiiiiiight.........

No, this is not a joke. According to the World Can't Wait website:

Join this serious effort as an organizer. Volunteers needed to work in Washington DC and across the country. Spread the word. We are raising $200,000 now to start this now!

Value for money? Let's see... The World is still waiting..

Happy Thanksgiving from Indymedia:

O, and thanks for enriching yourselves with the fruits of our labor, far beyond anything that even vaguely resembles reasonable (actually even beyond Dickensonian!), while the rest of us scrape through the month, paycheck-to-paycheck, or scrape through dumpsters to get a bite to eat. Be sure to enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner while all the little people go about their business, doing whatever all those little people do. And, by the way, thanks for not running us over in your speeding limos or obnoxious SUVs as we attempt to cross the streets without sidewalks or crosswalks, or attempt to share the road with you on our bicycles. Finally, thanks for not taking our first-born sons or raping our daughters on their wedding nights (that's soooo 15th century!) and thanks for allowing us these few holidays to blow off steam and plot your eventual demise.

And...erm....A happy Thanksgiving from me too.

Sydney Indymedia is being asked again to look inward at a total lack of accountability and the need for tight control of the newswire.

Some of the comments indicate hypocrisy and denial on the part of the site's management (AKA moderators, collective etc.) pertaining to what gets hidden, what doesn't and an apparent set of double-standards being applied. Read it all.

This sort of thing has happened on numerous IMC sites in the past and invariably, the complaint gets raised and nothing changes. Talk about "progressive"!

I think it's safe to say Trackback is a dead technology...

Via my referrer logs, I discovered "Judeosphere" which sent me traffic a few days ago and makes for interesting reading. Particularly this article which discusses the differences between left-wing American and British blogging and suggests:

It's ironic, since the progressive press (justifiably) prides itself on exposing the undercurrents of racism that pervade public policy issues, be it the dealth penalty, minimum wage, immigration, or U.S. policies toward Africa, Asia, and the Arab world. But, miraculously, anti-Israelism is the one topic in the public square where the Left proclaims that accusations of racism are out of bounds.

So, we get magazines such as the Nation publishing cover stories like "The Myth of the New Anti-Semitism." What I've really wanted to see is the Left confront its own demons, much as the conservatives did a decade ago when William F. Buckley wrote an essay (later a book) entitled "In Search of Anti-Semitism." (And yes...he found some.)

Go there and read it.

Now.

Much of the Conservative blogsphere is in a storm this morning over whether the X (pictured below) which appeared superimposed over Dick Cheney's face during a speech was an accident, or deliberate tomfoolery by CNN.



More over at Michelle Malkin: CNN'S X-MEN...UPDATE: IT WAS JUST A GLITCH...OR NOT?

This got me thinking... If the original fighters for media truth and accountability - (ahem) Indymedia, were unleashed inside CNN's control room, this never would have happened in the first place.

It would have looked more like this:

Tim Blair is calling for nominations:

Chimpy McBushitler? Chimpron W. Hitlerburton? Chimperial pResident of ZioniKKKa, Abu Jesus W. Chimplerstein? Come forward with your own suggestions as we search for the ultimate chimp-themed Presidential slur.

Amateurs!

Scott, the Environmental Republican has drawn my attention to the fact that my humble blog has been cited in Michelle Malkin's new book.

Thanks Scott, and thanks Michelle. I am truly flattered.

Danbury, Connecticut volleyball enthusiasts were banned from playing on the Danbury Green, apparently due to some rather serious local issues. Here's the background.

Time for a protest game!





I kill me...

No, not cricket or rugby, but another contest between Sydney Indymedia and UK Indymedia as to which site can be the worst. After my previous post detailing Sydney's bile, the UK aren't far behind with this entry concerning Holocaust revisionist David Irving's recent arrest in Austria.

Your thoughts on Irving's rights to free speech versus his habit of denying such a crime as the Holocaust, are irrelevant. The discussion on UK Indymedia revolves around (naturally) Israel and includes such gems as:

find history to be so very interesting and the more you learn about any specific period, the more you come to understand that the official version is a long way from the truth.
But when you look at german history 1900-1945 there a lot of things that don't fit the picture.
The american connection with I G Farben and the connection to the Bush family and how the I G Farben building was the only one left standing in Frankfurt I would really like to do more research into how the nazis built their formidable armed forces, but it seems that is not allowed.

as well as other retch-inducing commentary justifying the Holocaust in terms of the Palestinians (for a charmingly simple answer to accusations of a Palestinian genocide, see here). This is followed by worn-out arguments about the term "anti-semitic" and its equal relevance to Palestinians as well as usual insistence that Jews cry "anti-semite" too much.

They don't.

That this call would be heard on Indymedia however comes as no surprise whatsoever, not that any of this (i.e. Israel) really has anything to do with David Irving.

Continuing their contest with Sydney, UK Indymedia follow this with arguably the shortest conspiracy theory ever entitled "So, where did "Al Qaeda" really come from?", and reprinted here in full:

Al CIAduh !

Finally, an article asks whether UK Police should be armed (most are not). A rather uninteresting debate follows, punctuated by this comment:

Dead Cops Now!

Of course they shouldn''t be be armed - we should.

Sydney is going to have to try harder...

Since my previous report on the Death Threat against Donald Rumsfeld appearing on Sydney Indymedia, the site appears to have cemented its role as a nutcatcher. Comments in the post started with typical whackjob 'calls for justice'

Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney and Paul Wolfowitz should all be arrested and tried for war crimes.

and then presented 'evidence' why...

911 was an inside/plus patsies job, and Rummy knows it.

A further comment highlights the insanity:

It's fun to occasionally check in at this place and see the conspiracy theories bend and twist like some steadily worsening mental illness, but this set of posts truly takes the cake.

Look at it this way - what will you all do with your lives after Bush leaves office in 2008? Will you even last that long? What if someone like Gingrich, Allen, Guiliani or McCain gets elected? Worse, that Condolezza Rice is Pres or Vice Pres? How might you complain about her success without denigrating her, a single, black, successful female? Or if she loses to Hillary? Could Liberalism and radical leftism be any closer to death at this point? At some point will it become clear that complaining about the other side won't win over the so-called "Jesusland" you scoff so haughtily about?

I just don't think it's possible for you people to get any more worked up or go off any further into conspiracy la la land. Even if it is, it surely can't be healthy...

But this isn't to be heard:

Yes folks, there is no doubt, 911 was an inside job.

The evidence is irrefutable but I'd still like to see an idiot like "sane" try.
...
The official "911 - Arabs did it" theory" is not supported by facts and evidence. That is why the US government has kept so much evidence secret and only conducted half baked inquiries with narrow terms of reference that didn't even look at all the evidence.

Most of the scepics and critics of the official version of 911 acknowledge that jets were flown into the towers and pentagon. What is important and in dispute is who did it and why.

This 'revelation' is followed by a stunning challenge:

The article clearly shows with a scientific approach that the towers could not have come down without the aid of explosives. If you disagree point out the flaws in the article. If you want to believe a fairy tale that's your business but don't start sooking when your faith based beliefs fall apart under the glare of scientific scrutiny.

Could Sydney Indymedia possibly get worse?

UK Indymedia remains convinced, that just like 9/11 and every other terrorist attack worldwide, the bombing of the hotel in Amman was perpetrated by Mossad.

This is notwithstanding Islamist groups taking credit for it, written off as mere propaganda.

I have previously commented on the Logic of Lunatics and their low burden of proof requirements before insisting they, and not the majority of educated society, knew the truth. This, when coupled with a clear Jew-hating agenda, results in a dangerous mix. Spread far and wide, like so much manure, by Indymedia.

I have even raised this in my highly regarded "Exclusive Interview with Osama". Seriously, what does it take for some people to believe it wasn't the Jews?

It appears that Sascha Baron Cohen's character "Borat" has upset the Kazakhstan government.

Cohen, better known as "Ali G" has been threatened by the Kazakhstan Foreign Ministry who have suggested they may sue the English comedian as one of his fictitious characters, Kazakhstani journalist Borat Sagdiyev, ridicules its people.

Reuters have more.

Censorship! Freedom of speech! Support for an artist who exposes racism! All pet issues that could be addressed by UK Indymedia. Unfortunately they are all tied up trying to boycott Israel , prove Israel was behind the Amman bombing despite the facts, and blow up their own government.

As Borat would say, "not very nice"!

Evil Pundit has drawn my attention to this piece on Sydney Indymedia, apparently inciting Donald Rumsfeld's murder.

A modest proposal for the permanent retirement of a well known war criminal and mass murderer.
Donald Rumsfeld's retirement is long overdue. In order to expedite it I want to pledge 2$ here to be paid ( anonymously if desired ) to the nearest correct guess at the exact time and date of Donald Rumsfelds PERMANENT retirement from politics.

Retirement with extreme prejudice I mean.

It should be noted that Rumsfeld is currently in Australia. It should also be noted that Indymedia is home to serious crackpots, some of whom take themselves very seriously.

Sydney Indymedia continues to impress...

Winnipeg Indymedia regards Bill O'Reilly as A good example of irresponsible journalism

An example of irresponsible journalism at its finest, and that only extreme right-wing media nuts can get away with. That, and calling for the assassination of heads of state, etc.

As opposed to say, this

Who's Blowing Up Iraq?

New evidence that bombs are being planted by British Commandos

or this repetition of the myth about Israelis having advance warning of the Amman bombing both pieces found adjacently on the newswire.

Say what you want about Fox News, at least they issue retractions...

Indymedia should probably not criticize other media to loudly. It's something to do with pots and kettles...

Melbourne Indymedia has a useful article describing how you can tell real Government Microwave Satellite generated crop circles, from those fake ones made by men with pieces of wood and rope.

Ahem...

Winnipeg Indymedia are arguing about it as well.

Leigh from the House of Wheels has emailed to tell me reading Sydney Indymedia is fast becoming a habit. It's one I suggest he kick. Otherwise, he may continue to stumble upon such gems as Evidence of Mossad Treachery in the WTC which states it will:

look at the hard evidence indicating the Mossad had foreknowledge of the September 11 attack. The day after the attack on the World Trade Center, the Jerusalem Post, the most respected and famous Israeli newspaper in the world, reported that 4,000 Israelis were missing in the attack on the WTC.

Needless to say it doesn't provide a link to the Jerusalem Post article for the simple reason there wasn't one, and this whole story is an antisemitic lie. Of course that doesn't stop it being printed on the least respected and infamous news site in the world, Indymedia.

A comment in response points out that:

David Irving is a known anti-semite who has been denied entry into Australia so this article can be regarded as utter crap

Does that mean it will be hidden/removed from Sydney Indymedia? Don't be stupid!

Meanwhile, I urge visitors to read this hilarious, yet chilling article:

Israel Dismantles; World's Problems End

Persistent rhetoric coming from concerned progressive critics worldwide has finally convinced Israeli officials that the state of Israel has no moral right to exist. "That's it," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon explained at a press conference. "We are dismantling the Nation of Israel. I'm leaving for Poland next week."

"My cabinet and I had long discussions about world troubles, and we concluded that our critics are right - all the troubles can be traced back to us. So, in order to resolve these issues, we felt it would be best to extend our withdrawal beyond Gaza to include the West Bank and Israel proper," Sharon said. "The Gaza pullout was only a test, and the ensuing waves of peace and brotherhood it had triggered in Palestine and beyond, encouraged us to disband altogether. Without us here, people of the world will finally be able, once again, to live in permanent harmony and understanding - just like they all did before Israel's founding nearly sixty years ago."

From Russia to Morocco to Yemen to France, countries are anticipating the arrival of Israelis. In Moscow, an enormous banner was erected that read "Welcome Home, Jews." and erstwhile presidential candidate Vladimir Zhirinovsky exclaimed, "I'm going to bake a huge batch of cookies for this homecoming!" And in cities throughout Germany, joyous "Judenfests" were ubiquitous, as local citizens were arranging festivals to celebrate the Jewish arrival. German foreign minister Joschka Fischer indicated that, "For some reason, the Jewish presence in Germany is low by historical standards; many of our citizens under the age of 70 have never even met a Jew. In addition to curing the world's problems, the dismantling of Israel will give our people the opportunity to achieve their main wish in life - to live with Jews."

Similarly, the new Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has kicked off a popular "Iran-loves-Jews" campaign that will include a sensitive re-writing of the laws to accommodate religions other than Islam.

Read it all and have a look around the site, it's good reading...

An article on UK Indymedia is rallying more support for the Paris Rioters.

The riots across France are the explosive beginnings of a powerful new political movement.

That's right. A political movement which burns cars, sets pensioners on fire and destroys nursery schools.

The Parisian riots may be the definining moment of French politics this decade. The youth of the banlieue are rejecting the povery brought about by racism, they are demanding dignity, and their violence represents their attempt to find a voice using the only method they have left.

The only method? Surely there is also killing people, poisoning the water supply and let's not forget gang rape.

This is a plea for solidarity actions on the part of the UK progressive community. We need to organise displays of support for the French rioters, and get in touch with the communities at the heart of the violence, so that these two movements, whose goals are the same (regardless of differences of opinion about methods), can open a dialogue and benefit from each other.

Difference of opinion about methods: "I hate the head of state. I'm going to vote him out at the next election"..."Solidarity brother! I hate the head of state as well, I'm going to burn everything I can find. Isn't it nice we have so much in common?"

We mustn't stand by and let the French movement peter out;

But what happens when they run out of cars and buildings?

thanks to the effective segregation of French society there appears to be little effective communication between rioters and established radical organisations.

Some commentators suspect Osama has someone on the next flight.

This is a community of oppressed people trying to take their destiny into their own hands

What destiny awaits those who burn their own property? They don't even get virgins in the afterlife.

it would be a dereliction of our duty not to help them as best we can, and forge long-lasting connections.

And what "duty" is that anyway? Will you help them by suggesting they calm down and talk about it? Or will you be refilling their jerrycans with fuel.

This isn't an unreserved defence of the methods of the French rioters; many of us may disagree with violence and arson, many of us may not. But that's not the issue

Naturellement.

Start public discussions here, set up a webgroup, whatever; just let's all of us get involved now, and turn these riots into the defining event of European politics this century.

I think they already are, and none of that is anything to do with Indymedia morons throwing petrol onto the flames.

Recognize these lyrics?

As for me, not enough sleep, drained, persecuted,
I had to sleep in the gutter where I had a flash
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
In four colours "

Perhaps you would if you heard them in French:

Quant a moi peu dormi, vide, brime
J'ai du dormir dans la gouttiere
Ou j'ai eu un flash
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
En quatre couleurs

Worked it out yet? Plastic Bertrand actually predicted in 1978 what would happen in Paris 2005. Altogether now:

Ca plane pour moi ca plane pour moi
Ca plane pour moi moi moi moi moi
Ca plane pour moi
Oooo-ooo-ooo-ooo!
Ca plane pour moi

Repeated play through enormous loudspeakers might just crush the riots.

BC Indymedia is reporting the case ot Tre Arrow who is currently being held in a Canadian prison fighting extradition to the US. He has been charged with "eco-terrorism" related matters. Specifically, arson and destruction of forestry machinery.

I can't really comment on the case itself, as I can't trust Indymedia to present the facts, and Tre Arrow's own website is obviously biased. Two points however. Firstly, according to the Indymedia site:

US is seeking a very long prison term in order to use him as an example to anyone considering being an effective activist that disrupts economy.

Read that again. What do you think is required In order to be considered an "effective activist"? Rosa Parks was an effective activist. Mahatma Gandhi was an effective activist. Jeff Luers and other Indymedia sympathy cases are criminals. This is from the same group that brought us interesting interpretations of "non violent".

Would these activities be considered the work of "Effective activists"? Would "hurling rocks and paint and using a dead raccoon and animal feces to damage five homes and businesses in four Maine towns" as reported here be considered "effective activism"?

Meanwhile, at Tre Arrow's site

In mid-June 2005, three days of hearings will decide whether Tre will be extradited to the U.S. If the Judge believes that Tre's human rights will be violated, or that he will not receive a fair trial, the Judge has the right to refuse Tre's extradition. However, if the Judge refuses to extradite Tre for humyn (sic) rights violations, it would severely damage US-Canada relations. Therefore, this case is no longer about one man’s rights, but about maintaining the economic relationship with the ‘Super Power’ to our south.

I suspect the supporters are over-rating the implications of this case on worldwide justice... Also, what the hell is a "humyn"?

BC Indymedia confirms: Every single conflict, every single terrorist attach, every single Arab/Muslim riot and every single bomb blast worldwide, was performed by Jews or the US.

No really!

"Where there's smoke, there's usually fire. Where there's reports of "senseless Muslim terrorism" there's almost always the hand of the Israeli Mossad and / or US government "covert intelligence operatives""
...
Scratch a little below the surface of corporate establishment propaganda, and we find the same pattern over and over. Virtually all the so-called "Muslim terrorist attacks" have the earmarks of Mossad and CIA operations all over them.
...
Furthermore, usually the reports are invented or distorted by Zionist owned media outlets. Meanwhile, the CIA, Canadian military, US military, Israeli military, British militiry, MI5, MI6, etc. injure, torture and slaughter hundreds of people every week in hot spots (like Afghanistan, Haiti, Pakistan, Iraq([search]), Palestine, the Congo and the Philipines) in conflicts that they manufacture and foster, though totally ignored by the Zionist owned and controlled mass media.

In other news, Indymedia confirms yet again, it should be closed down.

Also on Oklahoma Indymedia (I refuse to call it OK Indymedia as it really isn't), Gandhian Manifesto against Islamic Jihad. Good luck with all that!

Via Oklahoma Indymedia

ENMOD is the attempt to alter your environment so that you are more amenable to a takeover by a Foreign Power. This Foreign Power has sometimes been called the New World Order and it is composed of secret societies and religious sects whose ideals are many times at odds with true American ideals, as outlined in our Constitution.

This ENMOD technology was unleashed FULL force on Americans right after 911; in fact many believe 911 to have been a diversion to allow the New World Orders technology to be used against Americans directly, dissidents in particular.

We have pictures of early testing of this chemtrail technology, going all the way back to buchenwald prison camp in nazi germany, but the technology as it exists now was deployed without restriction as top secret SECURITY technology right after 911, and like the income tax, it is not going away unless we make it go away. And like all this foreign governments ideals, it is not good for you.

Reading Indymedia however, is good for you.

Further to previous Indymedia support for the Paris rioters, BC Indymedia is spending one night with the rioters.

If Jerry Lewis weren't enough, check out the latest in wacky French humour:

Why burn these car that usually belong to someone they know? "We have no choice. We're ready to sacrifice everything since we have nothing," Bilal says in his own defense. "We even burned a friend's car. He was furious, but he understood."

Très drôle.

Looking through my referrer logs, I could see someone performed a Yahoo search for "Zionists provoked French riot"

Can you believe it?

If this Joe Vialls wannabe is to be believed, the Evil Jewish Zionist Cabal managed to use their Zionist Mind Control Lasers to encourage two French children to scale the fence of an electric substation and electrocute themselves prompting nearly a fortnight of rioting which continues.

If they can come up with such a story, this conspiracy will make the Israeli stunt of remote-controlling planes on September 11 seem like a child's party trick in comparison. I mean Israelis were responsible for 9/11, at least according to BC Indymedia as recently as this week.

I have no doubt we'll be seeing "proof" of the Jewish (sorry, Zionist) involvement in the Paris riots on Indymedia any day now...

Arizona is running an anti-mainstream media article entitled How to Confront the Media. It states:

It is time for accountability, not just mea-culpas and rationalizations. The Independent's Robert Fisk speaks today of "mice journalism" in Iraq. Are we mice?

Let's not laugh, snicker or be dismissive. This is a serious problem.

Mediachannel.org, the world's largest online media issues network, is waging a citizens campaign urging the media world: TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THE WAR!

We are also independent journalists -- reporters, writers, authors, commentators and filmmakers. And we are outraged.

*Outraged by all the complicity and collusion.
*Outraged by the refusal to report all sides of the conflict.
*Outraged by the silence on so many issues: war crimes, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, napalm, torture, civilian deaths and the targeting of journalists. Why are so many journalists being killed with no independent investigations? Reuters demands answers while most media companies say nothing.

Where is the outcry? Where is the shame? Silence confers assent.

It's a reasonable argument that both sides of the political spectrum could agree with. Indymedia's role in any of this is questionable however, the whole article was cut and pasted from another source. Never mind "accountability", we know there isn't any whatsoever.

Over on Melbourne Indymedia however, they have a wholly different way of confronting the media - beat the living crap out of them.

After recent anti-terrorist arrests, some friends of the accused beat a cameraman and several bystanders outside a Melbourne court. Melbourne Indymedia has photographs, links to video and apparently a whole lot of support for beating up cameraman who represent media they disagree with.

The incident occurred during an adjournment in a bail application by two of nine men, who have been charged with being members of a terrorist group.
...
Perhaps he [the cameraman] should learn to mind his own business or ask if he can take pictures of people next time?
...
So you're saying the next time the police see someone taking pictures of them at a demo, it's okay for them to beat up any protester holding a camera?
...
You must seek permission before you film people it's called respect.

If you don't have any respect for personal space you're subject to being punched in the face by an angry person who doesn't want to be filmed.

Here's some photos of such an "angry person"





The argument continues:

You can see what cowards these guys were. Five or more against one (the way they usually fight on a Saturday night).

You'll see a reporter clearly holding up his hand and saying "stop". The attacker then ADVANCES on him and throws punches at everyone.

You'll see one of them holding a man in some sort of wrestling move, while his mate goes in for the awesome knee to the head before dropping him.

Then you'll see them kicking the reporter repeatedly whilst he is curled up on the ground.

In response to this:

I have no sympathy for the corporate media parasites who copped it from this group. They pushed their luck to the limit, and the limit hit back. :)

This from the same group who consistently push their luck (and the law) beyond the limit but get terribly, terribly upset when police hit back. Apparently there are a different set of rules for the media. Except Indymedia that is.

This is the most active thread on Melbourne Indymedia at present. Keep an eye on it, it's quite an interesting insight.

No, it's not a joke, it's quite real.

Demonstration - Thursday 10 November, 3pm at the French emabssey in London, in support of the French rioters, and against the crackdown on French youth by the state and the police.

Be there

Over 300 French towns and cities have now seen riots against the police and the government. More will follow.

Youth in cities as far as Brussels and Berlin have shown their support - it is time we did the same.

As the French state prepares for curfews and an even bigger crack down against working class support, we say loud and clear "Support the rioters".

Make your voice heard at the French embasssy in London at 3pm on Thursday 10th November. The address:

French Embassy in the United Kingdom
58 Knightsbridge,
LONDON SW1X 7JT

Still not convinced it's real? Check out the website. Subsequent comments provejust when UK Indymedia hit bottom, someone passed around shovels...

What I have noticed is that the vast majority of the rioters are not attacking people but attacking property and very often businesses like McDonalds.

While I do not agree with the attacks on civilians which killed that 61-year-old man I do believe that overall the riots are a positive thing.

When someone poses the question:

What of those freedom fighters who dragged a disabled lady from a bus, doused her in petrol and proceeded to set her alight?

someone else is in denial:

could you please present a source for your assertion-

"what of those freedom fighters who dragged a disabled lady from a bus, doused her in petrol, and proceeded to set her alight."

if you can't, please shut up. indymedia doesn't need any bull shit spouted without evidence. in fact i think to post such a comment without even a link to any form of evidence (no matter how subjective) shows a flagrant disregard for the importance of evidence in rational debate. whether your point is even the merest truism or not, the lack of evidence posted makes it irrelevant as an assertion.

Such a rant because the person failed to link to a mainstream news article about the widely reported attack. This prompts another response:

If we are to make sense of what's going on and offer meaningful support in the face of the very real grievances that the rioters are (finally) reacting to, we'd best not freak out and go on the attack when presented with evidence of people doing appalling shit. It damages our own credibility, don't you think.

Yes. Credibility.

If you read enough Indymedia, you'd just know that the world is controlled by an elite group of Neoconservative Jews, who manipulate George W. Bush to do their bidding.

Not so fast, according to the latest article on UK Indymedia which claims to be Proof that Bush and the Neo-Cons are Vatican operatives.

How can neocons simulataneously be Jewish and Vatican operatives I hear you ask?

The Vatican only pretends to be a religious organization and is in fact the secret capitol of the New World Order and the driving force behind all the evils of globalism and imperialism.

Here's more you wouldn't know about the Vatican (unless you read Indymedia):

-The Vatican has always knowingly lied about the true source and purpose of Christianity and their secret control of both Judaism and Islam.

-The Vatican is the hidden source of world-wide terrorism and blatantly lies about almost everything to hide its true nature and function.

Sorry evil Vatican overlords, thanks to Indymedia the jig is up!

The dilemma of 'who is a neocon' has troubled Indymedia before.

Update: Via the comments, they shall be known as "CatholiJooSlums".

Indymedia UK is reporting on the riots in Paris, which at the time of writing, involved at least 1300 cars having been burned. According to Indymedia, it's a class struggle

One way in which the authorities (ineffectively, like in Iraq) try to crush uprisings like this is by legal repression: when your brother or your best friend or your friend's friend is put into prison for 10 years just because he carried burnt a car and used violence against state terrorists (aka "policemen"), you and the whole movement risks losing its steam.

Tomorrow morning, Monday 7 November 2005, at 2pm (14:00) Paris time (1pm UK time), a meeting at the Courtroom (TGI = Tribunal de Grande Instance) is planned to support people accused of illegal methods of fighting against capitalism.

Oh so that's what it was.


Umm... Viva la Revolution...Burn those damned capitalist nursery schools...

Bay Area Indymedia is canvassing Buy Nothing Day.

The day after Thanksgiving...
Show up at your local Wal-Mart, bright and early with your friends,
and start filling carts with the most desired consumer "goods" (small toys and expensive trinkets are ideal since all this stuff will have to be re-shelved) -- try not to break anything.

Sounds considerate no? Actually, no.

If you don's (sic) simply abandon the carts before moving on to the next store, you might realize that you forgot your wallet after everything has been rung up (ideally at the busiest hours -- say at 11am and 5pm). Do not piss in the dressing rooms or leave anti-consumerism agitprop around the stores. Whatever you do, do not try to monopolize employee time on the sale floor or on the phone (time is money and employees are a consumer convenience) and certainly don't bring a stopwatch to make a game of that activity. Breaking glass or leaving nails in the parking lot would be going too far. Try to have fun on BND but don't try to create as much of an inconvenient hassle as is humanly/heavenly possible. Remember, your not trying to change the world with collective effort. Don't repeat these activities throughout the holiday shopping season after the BND holiday and, whatever you do,
don't get caught if you break any of these rules. Take care and have fun.

Idiots and criminals.

At the risk of drawing more attention to what can only be called a miserable flop, Zombie has posted a well captioned whole stack of 'interesting' photos of World Can't Wait participants.

Israellycool has been reporting on the pro-Israel demonstration in Italy, further to the call for Israel's destruction by the (psychotic) Iranian President.

It was sad that a demonstration is actually required to affirm the right of a democratic country to even exist.

He linked to an Indymedia piece, which although it happened in 2002, is as typical today. Like anything to do with Israel, UK Indymedia has showed its true colours...

The article - Zionists hold pro-Israel rally in London states:

The Zionists held a rally in Trafalgar Square today, Monday 6th May, in support of the terrorist state Israel, with a counter demonstration by Muslims, Jews and other decent-minded people.

As Israellycool notes:

This is typical of the Indymedia mindset...According to these people, affirming Israel's very right to exist makes you a Zionist worthy of contempt. Their issue is not with Israel's control over post-67 territories, but with all of Israeli territory. That makes them ideological bedfellows with the likes of Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Surely not on Indymedia! They're such "decent-minded people" as I've been saying for nearly two years. Really! Check my archives!

It should also be mentioned that not a single flag was burned at the Italian rally, including the numerous Iranian flags which were present.

A placard in the background of one photo of a World Can't Wait which appeared here is of concern.


Considering the actions of the Iranian theocracy over the last decade, the person holding it is obviously not concerned about human rights, free speech or peace. Some cause.

Hey buddy, the World Can't Wait for Iran to nuke someone before it does something.

Other World Can't Wait participants are supporting terrorism as well and want "Less talk, more suicide bombers" according to this photo from a complete set on Flickr.

It's over, and the World Can't Wait organizers have given their summary:

November 2 marked a tremendous first step torward forcing Bush to step down and changing the whole direction of society. There were convergences from big cities to small towns, determined high school and campus walk-outs, prominent voices speaking out, and all this was covered in the major media. This powerful day of resistance reflected the Call for the World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime!

You are excused if you missed it. I'm sure George W. Bush can safely unpack his suitcase, looks like he's going back up to the suite...

Don't worry, they are already planning the next big thing. Now, with added waiting!

we urge everyone who took part in actions on Nov. 2nd, or just heard about this movement for the first time to become an organizer. Hook up with your local committee , or start one where you are. Raise money so we can sustain this enormous effort. And start organizing for the next step , drowning out Bush's State of the Union speech in January with massive protest, and demanding that Bush 'step down, and take your program with you.'"

Whatever. At least they didn't riot.

More photos here.

This entry will grow, scroll down for updates!

Today's the Day!

The World Can't Wait protests begin after months of...Well....Waiting!

Some reports are already in.

Seattle:


According to the organizer's web page (no permanent link):

Some students from Clemente High School made it to the protest! Somehow the fire alarm went off, and students had to leave the school. Several came to the protest despite the heavy repression at their school. Just in time for the announcement from Word Can't Wait, they helped energize the crowd and lead chants as the march started.

How hard is it to convince kids to leave school? Despite that, I can only assume that "some" and "several" are euphemisms for "not very many" and that setting off fire alarms is the only way they can attract attention to a protest I'm sure they are nevertheless convinced is popular.

Maybe not...

In Los Angeles, 20-25 kids walked out of school. As a percentage of the school population, what does that say about the impact of this protest? Here's a a picture of the LA protest.

Ahem...


The organizers are reporting "thousands" of protesters in NYC. There are no reports as yet to confirm this. Interestingly, NYC Indymedia is extremely quiet about the whole thing with only one article at this point. A comment therein says this:

In case you haven't figured it out, the World Can't Wait is the latest front group by the Revolutionary Communist Party.

If you follow Indymedia websites for your city, or are in touch with your local activist network, you may have seen promotional materials about a national set of protests scheduled on November against the George Bush regime. These protests are being organized by what looks like a new group called The World Can't Wait. In reality this "coalition" is just the latest front group initiated by a marginal communist group called the Revolutionary Communist Party.

The "World Can't Wait" demonstrations are not about driving Bush from power, rather recruiting new people to the RCP and increasing the visibility of the RCP. Like the other remaining authoritarian left sects, the RCP understands that most people would never jojn or support an organization that hold the odious views of the RCP. The only way they can gain new members or influence is to create front groups such as the World Can't Wait or Not In Our Name. Very few people who know a few things about history are going to join or support a group such as the RCP which supported communist tyrants such as Chairman Mao, who some estimate was responsible for 70 million deaths of his countrymen.

Some anarchists and activists have gotten fooled into supporting the November 2 protests. The RCP is capitalizing on anger that many people have towards the Bush administration. Please don't waste your time supporting these protests which are designed to give crebility to the RCP.

As I have said in the past, the one thing Indymedia is very good at, is front-line reporting from protests. On this occasion the silence is interesting. I'm sure we'll hear more in the next few days.

DC Indymedia only has one advance notice of protest activity, without actual reports. Comments are amusing:

I'm writing from Brooklyn and just checking around to see what's happening in other cities. Let's hope this worked!
...
Sure did. Bushie resigned at 11:01 a.m. At 11:04 he immolated himself on the front lawn of the White House. Nice work.
...

“The Bush Administration is the most dangerous force that has ever existed. It is more dangerous than Nazi Germany" -Harold Pinter

Does anyone have an address for Harold Pinter, I think I know what to get him for christmas - history books.
...
Don't bother. His mind's been closed for years, like most of the people on this site. Sorry, but it look like the World CAN Wait. You'll have Bush to love and cherish for another three years! And Republican government for the forseeable future. Don't you just LOVE it? Advice to the Professional Protesters: put down the bong, take a shower, cut the ponytail, get a job, and move along. You have become stale and irrelevant. Second choice: found a commune with Mother Sheehan and move to the woods. Just as long as you're out of sight. God, I hate hippies.

Update:NYC is now hosting some pictures of the rally. They maintain "thousands" attended (although there are claims some were trapped by cunningly evil Police) however most photos are close-cropped, so we'll have to take their word for it. Have a look at some of those who showed up.





Update: Via KCBS, one of the San Francisco protests was extra non-violent:

KCBS's Tim Ryan reports that someone through (sic) a Molotov cocktail at the building. The flaming bottle struck a police officer, according to police spokeswoman Maria Oropeza, who did not indicate that the officer's injuries were serious.

And in other news, KCBS can't spell.

Update:With friends like these... Uruknet.info is throwing its support behind World Can't Wait echoing the organizers 'comments that:

People look at all this and think of Hitler — and they are right to do so. The Bush regime is setting out to radically remake society very quickly, in a fascist way, and for generations to come. We must act now; the future is in the balance.

Uruknet.info also says

It’s possible that the turnout will be underwhelming. It is possible that these events will make no difference at all. Many former activists find themselves discouraged by the prospects of direct expression, or are just too busy—or too comfortable.

But then again, the world has copious examples, from Argentina to Ukraine, where crowds gathered, and chanted or banged pots, and began to change history. Perhaps this will be the beginning of a return to the honored tradition of democracy speaking directly.

This from one of the most pro-Saddam Hussein websites on the Internet.

The Ohio University Post Online has a different opinion

Although WCW claims that the Bush "regime" is illegitimate, a quick glance of its Web site, www.worldcantwait.org, reveals no hard evidence; it merely cites that Bush stole the last election to support its claims. Nor does it offer anything except fear-mongering doubletalk. WCW labels Bush (and all the politicians that have failed to challenge him) as fascist. Yet, in its FAQ section WCW admits that the president is not really a fascist, but rhetorically asks, "Why does it matter?!"

WCW also claims that their movement will remove Bush, Dick Cheney and all the other "fascists" from the U.S. government faster than you can say FEMA. It is ironic that WCW's demonstration calls for students to walk out of their classes when the organizers clearly need a history lesson. The line of succession, should the president and vice president resign, goes through the speaker of the house (who is also a member of the GOP) and on down the list of the those so-called fascists. So, for all the chest-thumping about what WCW can do, they offer no concrete plan of what they will do - should their scheme pay off.

I have said this as well.

More photos and criticism of Communist agenda here. More photos student flops and the angriest monobrow and chin-fuzz I have seen in some time here. Umm dude, shave or die.

It's over. Move along (or should that be Move On?).

The front page of Austin Indymedia is reporting on the Ku Klux Klan's plans to hold a march in Austin in a few days time. The International Socialist Organization are already arguing with another group about how to protest as they are trying to avoid a repeat of what happened in Toledo a few weeks ago.

The page lists a series of ideas of how to protest the Klan yet the very first two comments start talking instead about police brutality. Who is the enemy here?

Wholly absent from the Indymedia page is a far better way to protest - Moon the Klan.

What the Klan wants is a photo op complete with angry, yelling citizens to scare conservative voters to the polls. What we are planning to do is get into the background of as many media shots as possible so their hate cannot be broadcast on the nightly news. As "turning the other cheek" is a recognized true Christian value, we believe this is a message those Klansters will understand.

You are invited to join in
the 2nd* Austin Mooning of the Klan
Saturday, November 5th
Austin City Hall (or nearby depending on where the police make us stand)
from 1-3PM
*The first mooning of the Klan was organized by Texas musician Steve Fromholz in 1993 and proved to be an effective means of making counter protesters smile and Klanspeople cringe.

Who: You, me, a few hundred of our closest friends, anyone you can double dog dare to get down there and drop trou. If this is your first time mooning, it can be easier to complete the deed if you have a good friend along for encouragement.

What: Mooning is a long standing Texas tradition of irreverant disobedience. Generally speaking mooning is a spontaneous event. Defined as exposing some part of one's ass in a gesture of friendly insult, Texas law allows for mooning as long as genitals are not exposed and there is no overtly sexual action involved. You may write a cheeky statement across yourself, but obscenities are a gray area, legally speaking.

Making fun of the KKK is a longstanding tradition.

Whilst some will oppose their march, if the KKK and other Right-Wing and Nazi groups want to post messages on Indymedia in the future, I'm sure they'll still be welcome.

London Indymedia is advertising First Aid Training for Activists in Glasgow and London

Would you know how to help someone if:
* They collapsed at a demo?
* They were hit by a police baton?
* They were suffering from the cold on a protest site?

Would you like to know?
...
These trainings are being organised by the UK Action Medics, who provided first aid care throughout this year’s G8 protests. We are a voluntary group who work without a leadership structure.

Visiting Action Medics' website, I learned some of the 'first aid advice' they dispense. For example, dealing with extremes of temperature:

Clothes: wear lots of thin layers for flexibility. These can be combined and are warmer than a thick jumper. Layers can be changed for security reasons

Security reasons must be a 'first aid' term for when you know you have broken the law and don't want to be caught.Read it all and see some of the 'medical issues' faced by would-be activists these days.

What could we learn from Action Medics?

The skills you learn on this training will be focused on situations at protests and direct actions, but you’ll find them useful in the rest of your life too!

like those occasions when you are in the kitchen making chilli and happen to spray some capsicum in your eye...

Leave a comment if you can think of any other useful applications of protester first-aid to everyday life.

Despite being reporter of all things protesty, yesterday's Al-Quds Rally in London failed to rate a mention on any of the UK Indymedia sites.

A pity.

If it had, on past form I'm sure they'd ignore the banners of various terrorist groups which were seen there. As activist campaigners for womyns' rights however, I would imagine the local activists could raise their concern about a rally where women were obliged to march behind the men.

It wasnt until about half an hour into the march that we noticed that the demonstrators were divided according to gender, with men walking in front while women marched behind. I was a little surprised to see that but I guess that was only to be expected from a radical muslim demonstration in the middle of Londonistan…

Or maybe not.

Reality Gaps has photos and video.

From the Department of D'oh, comes news that a Greenpeace ship severely damaged a coral reef. To add insult to injury, the Greenpeace researchers who were looking for evidence of coral bleaching, found instead that the coral had not been damaged. Until they arrived that is...