:: GussetBLOG ::

:: Sunday, February 14, 2010 ::

Link Dump

Witches and Jedis put hex on UK census

"The 2011 census is likely to be Britain’s last following concerns that the 209-year-old survey is unable to cope with the nation’s rapidly changing population — and respondents’ lies.

"When a voluntary question on faith was asked for the first time at the 2001 census, 390,127 respondents drew inspiration from Star Wars and stated their religion as “Jedi” or “Jedi Knight” — more than the number of people who said they were Jewish or Buddhist. Some 7,227 people declared themselves as witches, adherents of the pagan religion of Wicca"

I gave my religion as Jedi last time round in the hope of preventing them from asking such a stupid question again. Looks like it was more successful than I imagined. Although the transient population is a larger factor in the flaws with the current survey.

The conscience stifled by Amnesty

When Gita Sahgal questioned the human rights group’s links to Islamic radicals, it suspended her. Now she fears for her safety.

"Last week Gita Sahgal, a highly respected lifelong human rights activist and head of Amnesty’s gender unit, told The Sunday Times of her concerns about Amnesty’s relationship with Cageprisoners, an organisation headed by Moazzam Begg, a former Guantanamo internee.

"Since his release in 2005, Begg has spoken alongside Amnesty at a number of events and accompanied the organisation to a meeting at Downing Street last month. Sahgal felt the closeness of the relationship between Amnesty and Cageprisoners — which appears to give succour to those who believe in global jihad — was a threat to Amnesty’s integrity. “To be appearing on platforms with Britain’s most famous supporter of the Taliban, whom we treat as a human rights defender, is a gross error of judgment,” she wrote to Amnesty’s leaders following the Downing Street visit."

Interesting. It's getting into the same murky water that free speech campaigners got into when they started delivering the BNP leaflets that the posties refused to. It's also worth noting that the Times seem to have an axe to grind on this issue. I searched their website for articles about Amnesty and the first five hits were attacks on it. (Thats a live search link and will change over time.)

Labels: Amnesty, News, Politics, Privacy

:: Dan 14.2.10 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Buy this track to support Amnesty

Portishead have released a brand new track - 'Chase the Tear' for Amnesty International.

It's now available as an exclusive download single from 7 digital with all earnings going towards our human rights work.

First aired on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on 9 December, the track is out just in time for international human rights day on 10 December.

And if you were wondering - 'Chase the Tear' is a reference to a paper tear-style 'tear', not a tear from an eye!

Labels: Amnesty, Bristol, Electronic Music

:: Dan 10.12.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Mr Free As In Freedom and all round, umm, interesting guy Richard Stallman doesn’t like bull shit. If you ever need something to be angry about you can find a useful summary in his notes archives. To quote some recent examples that caught my attention:

8 December 2009 (Abuse of anti-terrorist laws acknowledged by UK cops)
UK police officials told police to stop threatening photographers using "anti-terror" laws. Ending this one abuse of these unjust laws does not make them acceptable. Some of these laws make it a crime to be suspected, and others are handy for sabotaging protests of any kind. It is not enough for the authorities to be refrain from trampling the rights of people in one activity. The UK must explicitly restore human rights.

The UK police must also pass an "attitude" of their own: to respect people's rights instead of trying to intimidate people out of them. Do they still pressure pubs to set up cameras and let the police view the footage whenever they wish? It should be illegal for anyone to show security camera footage to the police without a court order.

8 December 2009 (Recording industry masters creative accounting)
A musician tells how his record company habitually lies to him about income even though it would not have to pay the band any money for many years.
http://www.toomuchjoy.com/?p=1397

6 December 2009 (Some very creepy politics)
Rom Houben, who has been in a coma for 23 years, is said to be conscious and able to communicate. But is it really he who is communicating?

6 December 2009 (Terrorists kill dozens in Russia)
Why it's a pointless annoyance to check train passengers' luggage for bombs.

4 December 2009 (Poster boy for torturers)
After the Bush regime's monsters tortured Abu Zubaydah, and took photos of his injuries, they showed the photos to other prisoners threatening to torture them the same way.

2 December 2009 (Paranoia reigns amongst London cops)
A BBC photographer was stopped by police from taking a photo of a cathedral in London.

Labels: Amnesty, News, Photography, Politics

:: Dan 8.12.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"The Bristol Group of Amnesty International is proud to be hosting an art auction to to raise funds and awareness for Amnesty International, notably human rights day coming up on 10th December, and also local projects right here in Bristol. The projects involved in the auction are The Studio Upstairs, The Rainbow Centre and Bristol Refugee Rights (see below for more details). Human rights day celebrates the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, and this year is focusing on ‘embracing diversity and ending discrimination’.

"The auction is to take place at the WATERSHED Media Centre, right in the centre of Bristol, on Saturday 5th December. The conference rooms will be open from 2pm, where people can view all of the artwork up for auction, and the event itself will start at 5pm. All of the artwork is being donated for free so all profits will go into the fundraising pot!

"The auctioneer for the night is Ed Rising from Sotheby’s! With such an accomplished professional at the reigns the auction is bound to be well run and raise as much as possible for charity."



A specially printed 8 by 20 inch canvas of my “Don’t Jump” shot is in the auction, along with works from other locals like Derren Brown...



...Mark Simmons...



...Banksy (obviously), Portishead, Bill Bailey etc. etc.

Labels: Amnesty, Art, Photography

:: Dan 5.12.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Click for full size
[thanks Natali]

Labels: Amnesty, Maps, Politics, War

:: Dan 13.9.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Spinning in the Grave: The three biggest reasons music magazines are dying
By Jonah Weiner

And form a link in that article...

Music As Torture: War Is Loud
"UPDATED: At Guantanamo Bay, the military is attempting to break down Muslim prisoners by bombarding them with ear-splitting rap and metal, leading human rights activists to ask: When does an interrogation tactic become pure torture?"
By David Peisner

See also Jon Ronson's The Men Who Stare at Goats, which, bizarrely, is now being made into a film with Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges!

There's an interview with Ronson about it here:


Clip from the Channel 4 doc:

Labels: Amnesty, Humour, journalism, Music

:: Dan 29.7.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Defy them

Labels: Amnesty, Film

:: Dan 22.5.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Null Device on The siege of the UN Human Rights Council:

"Sinister things are afoot at the United Nations, with an alliance of countries moving to change the UN Human Rights Council's mission to one prohibiting the criticism of religion. The alliance is comprised mostly of Islamic countries, though China, Russia and Cuba are notable by their presence. (It can only be presumed that they are doing this out of the principle of supporting repression wherever it rears its head.) I heard that the Vatican may also be involved, though this is unconfirmed.

"For what it's worth, if you live in the UK, you can petition the Prime Minister to oppose this; if enough people do so, maybe, just maybe, he will."

Labels: Amnesty, Freedom, Humanism, Religion

:: Dan 18.3.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"Question: what could make 40 lawyers from the Pentagon get on the Metro to take a field trip across Washington D.C.? Answer: Christopher Sims’ exhibit Guantanamo Bay at Civilian Art Projects. The show consists of 25 photographs of the naval base and joint detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, where Sims spent five days in 2006."

[via flavorwire]

Labels: Amnesty, Art, Photography

:: Dan 15.3.09 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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The Rambler: Against music as torture


Rage Against the Machine protesting against Guantanamo Bay at the Reading festival. Photograph: Chiaki Nozu/Filmmagic.com/Getty Images

"zero dB campaigns against the use of music as torture at Guantánamo Bay. The Guardian has two articles on the subject this week:
Musicians tell UN to ban using songs as torture
Musicians condemn use of their songs as instruments of war"

Binyam Mohamed, the British resident held in Guantánamo Bay, who was tortured by having his penis slit with a razor blade while detained in a secret jail in Morocco, said that the constant loud music made him feel that he was losing his sanity. He told his lawyer and director of legal charity, Reprieve, Clive Stafford Smith, that while being hung up and deprived of sleep "there was loud music. [Eminem's] Slim Shady and Dr Dre for 20 days ... plenty lost their minds. I could hear people knocking their heads against the walls and the doors, screaming their heads off."

See Jon Ronson's The Men Who Stare At Goats for more first hand accounts.

Labels: Amnesty, Music

:: Dan 12.12.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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TAKING ACTION TOGETHER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

Celebrating the 60th anniversary of our rights Dear Friend, Today is an important day for human rights all over the world: the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Established in December 1948, it lies at the very heart of everything we do. So today we want to share the inspiring celebrations taking place around the globe. From Iceland to Australia, people like you are getting Fired Up for human rights. In the UK we've released the film 'You Are Powerful' to show that it's people like you who make a difference for human rights around the world. We would also like you to tell us what human rights mean to you on the anniversary of the UDHR. Join Amnesty Amnesty is powerful because we are ordinary people standing together. Just look at what we've achieved together this year: · UK government announced they will implement new measures to improve protection and justice for victims of human trafficking · Prisoners of conscience released, including Idriss Boufayed of Libya and Bu Dongwei of China · UK government dropped plans to detain terrorist suspects for 42 days without charge You Are Powerful, and we need your support to continue our essential work around the world. Join Amnesty today Yet as we celebrate our achievements, the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo is a reminder of how much work lies ahead. Join us today and help make human rights – the articles laid out in the UDHR – a reality for all. Thank you for being a part of our global movement. Sincerely, Kate Allen Amnesty International P.S. Please forward this email on to as many people as possible who you think would like to see our new film or who may be interested in joining Amnesty. Thank you!

Stand up for human rights - join Amnesty today.

Labels: Amnesty

:: Dan 10.12.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Protect the Human week starts today

42 Days

"This autumn the Government wants to push through a Bill allowing police to lock people up for 42 days without charge if they are suspected of a terrorism-related offence. When the Counter-Terrorism Bill comes back to the House of Commons, your MP will have a chance to help defeat it: the Bill only passed by nine votes last time, so it will be close.

"Allowing police to lock people up for a month-and-a-half without charge will undermine basic human rights to which everyone in the UK is entitled. It will also damage community relations, make intelligence gathering more difficult and possibly ruin the lives of innocent people. This Bill needlessly sacrifices important civil liberties but gains nothing in the way of security.

"The only way to convince MPs to vote against 42 days is to show them how many of their constituents are against this unnecessary and counter-productive piece of legislation."

Labels: Amnesty

:: Dan 11.10.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Despite the arguments that the Olympics would help bring China's human rights standards up to scratch, despite the introduction of "free speech zones", despite the US playing down China's human rights record, Amnesty report that Chinese authorities’ broken promises threaten Olympic legacy. It seems, things are getting worse.

Labels: Amnesty, News, Olymipcs, Politics

:: Dan 29.7.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"Ingrid Betancourt, freed from captivity and humiliation in the jungles of Colombia, returns to her beloved France and a hero's welcome Friday in the gilded halls of the presidential palace. ... [she] was freed Wednesday in a daring Colombian operation involving military spies who tricked FARC rebels into handing over Betancourt and 14 other hostages without firing a shot."

"[she] described their ecstasy with unforgettable vividness. 'The helicopter almost fell. We started jumping, we screamed, we cried, we hugged - we couldn't believe it. God carried out this miracle.'"

No he didn't. Fuck God.
Try thanking your rescuers.
Ungrateful bitch.

Um, apart from that this is a good thing, obviously.

Labels: Amnesty, News, Politics, Religion

:: Dan 4.7.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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unsubscribe-me.org

Labels: Amnesty, Film, Politics

:: Dan 23.4.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"Tibetans launched the Tibetan Freedom Torch Relay in Olympia today under intense scrutiny and harassment from Greek police and 15 to 20 Chinese government officials."

"Despite the excessive police resence, the twelve Tibetans carried out the lighting ceremony in frontof the ancient archaeological site of Olympia, Greece, pre-empting hina’s Olympic Torch Relay launch there later this month. The TibetanFreedom Torch represents the hopes and aspirations of the Tibetan people or freedom and justice and will be carried to more than 20 countriesworldwide, reaching Tibet on the eve of the Beijing Games. The Freedom torch also highlights Tibetan opposition to the Chinese government’s politically motivated plan to carry the Olympic Torch through Tibet"

Edit: 14.03.07 Website linked above has been taken down already. Hopefully this reuters link will last longer.

Labels: Amnesty, News, Olymipcs, Politics

:: Dan 10.3.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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China feels heat as activists take their cue from Spielberg. 'Focus on Darfur as human rights campaigners salute film director and vow to target main sponsors of the games'

"The director stepped down from his role as artistic adviser to Beijing late on Tuesday, citing his opposition to China's support for the Sudanese regime responsible for the humanitarian crisis in Darfur. He accused China of not doing enough to press Sudan to end the "continuing human suffering" in the troubled region. China imports two-thirds of Sudan's oil and in return is said to be the African country's biggest arms supplier."

Well, it's been a long time coming. It's a shame that it took the Darfur situation to prompt it rather than an objection to China's human rights record in general and the crack down on free-speech and peaceful protest that is directly related to the games themselves. However, it's a step in the right direction and he should be applauded for that. [2006 Amnesty report: China: The Olympics Countdown - Failing to keep human rights promises. There are plenty more up to date sources on specific issues if you search.]

Athletes too are raising awareness

"For the last 20 years team members have been obliged to sign a contract as a condition of taking part in the Games. But for the first time a clause had been inserted into the Team Members Agreement stating athletes must not comment on politically-sensitive issues during the event in Beijing." [BBC news]

The IOA deny this is a problem, as the events should be "about sport" and nothing else. But shouldn't sport be about something? Isn't it about bringing people together? Former British Olymipic swimmer Duncan Goodhew made a good point about how pivotal the Moscow Olympics was in bringing about change in Russia [I think the comment has been edited out of the above article since] but that doesn't mean we should take a back seat and just wait for things to change. Putting on more pressure will speed up the process and now is the perfect opportunity.

Labels: Amnesty, China, News, Politics, Sport

:: Dan 14.2.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Afghan journalism student sentenced to death for reading about women's rights

"A young man, a student of journalism, is sentenced to death is by an Islamic court for downloading a report from the internet. The sentence is then upheld by the country's rulers. This is Afghanistan – not in Taliban times but six years after "liberation" and under the democratic rule of the West's ally Hamid Karzai.

"The fate of Sayed Pervez Kambaksh has led to domestic and international protests, and deepening concern about erosion of civil liberties in Afghanistan. He was accused of blasphemy after he downloaded a report from a Farsi website which stated that Muslim fundamentalists who claimed the Koran justified the oppression of women had misrepresented the views of the prophet Mohamed."

Sign our e-petition at www.independent.co.uk/petition

______________________________

Is a Small Island in the Indian Ocean Holding Prisoners in the War on Terror?

"MPs and human rights group have accused ministers of a cover-up over government knowledge of rendition flights and the use of British military bases to hold suspects after the United States launched its war on terror more than six years ago.

"Now ministers have blocked an attempt by an influential parliamentary committee to secure the release of secret military papers which they believe will reveal whether the British island territory of Diego Garcia was used as a detention center for rendition prisoners."

Labels: Amnesty, News, Politics

:: Dan 4.2.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"America has told Britain that it can “kidnap” British citizens if they are wanted for crimes in the United States. A senior lawyer for the American government has told the Court of Appeal in London that kidnapping foreign citizens is permissible under American law because the US Supreme Court has sanctioned it." read more

This story was published a month ago but I missed it at the time. Found on Hijack.

Labels: Amnesty, Freedom, News, Politics

:: Dan 11.1.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"The fun-loving Burmese regime has apparently found a non-violent method to restrict satellite TV access to foreign news services - hiking the cost of a licence by 16,700 per cent from 6000 kyat (£2.50) to 1m kyatt (£400, or "three times the average annual salary", as the BBC explains)."
[via The Register]

Labels: Amnesty, News, Politics

:: Dan 3.1.08 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Unsubscribe from human rights abuse in the war on terror


Samuel Jones - unsubscrie - clanger
Originally uploaded by sosjones.

Labels: Amnesty

:: Dan 26.9.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Amnesty has infuriated the Vatican by expanding its definition of human rights to include access to abortion for rape victims and women whose health is at risk from giving birth. And about time too. The linked article explains the reasoning behind it well as well as giving some background behind the organisations soul searching of the last couple of years. There was more detail on this in the last issue of their magazine although I can't find the copy on line at the moment. I'll update this post if I find it.

Labels: Amnesty, News, Politics

:: Dan 13.8.07 [Arc] [1 comments] [links to this post] ::
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From an email:

Amnesty International
Global conference on internet freedom

Dear Irrepressible supporter,

It's now a year since the launch of our global campaign against internet repression, and we've come a long way in putting issues of web censorship high on the agenda for organisations and governments worldwide.

But we need to do more.

Join Amnesty International and The Observer online for a unique, interactive global event.

When: Wednesday 6 June
18:30 (UK), 19:30 (Europe), 13:30 (EST), 10:30 (PST)
Where: Online at www.amnesty.org.uk/webcast

On 6 June we will use the internet to link activists from around the world to discuss the struggle against internet repression, and to celebrate the irrepressible human desire for freedom of expression.

We will also launch a news hub, that will enable you to link news stories about internet repression to the Irrepressible website.

The event will be chaired by BBC journalist, Clark Boyd.

• Listen to a preview (Quicktime or RealPlayer required).
  
• Find out more about other participants, including Jimmy Wales from Wikipedia and Sami Ben Gharbia, a Tunisian cyber-dissident.

Wherever you are, you can watch the debate live by webcast, ask questions, and make comments.

We hope you will be able to join us in cyberspace.

Best wishes

Nick Dearden
Business and Human Rights Team

Labels: Amnesty

:: Dan 22.5.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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"Singapore has said that it will ban a documentary about the detention of a former leftist activist because its "distorted and misleading" portrayal of events could undermine the government."

Trailer:

Labels: Amnesty, Censorship, Film, News

:: Dan 11.4.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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AMNESTY
Originally uploaded by aconina.

"John Wayne Gacy was accused of torturing, sodomizing, and assassinating 33 males between the ages of 9 and 20 years. In 1980, a jury resolved his case. He had due process of law. Why does a Guantánamo prisoner not?"
[aconina's source]

Labels: Amnesty, Flickr

:: Dan 6.4.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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Terry Jones on the Iranian treatment of captives
[via rms]

Labels: Amnesty, Humour, News, Politics

:: Dan 5.4.07 [Arc] [0 comments] [links to this post] ::
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