politricks

shame on Denmark, after sweden and the assange debacle we’re beginning to loose faith in the nordic countries we once loved… minus our sweet norway of course…

anti-whaling activist paul watson was arrested in greenland on july 21, 2024

watson was arrested in nuuk, greenland by danish police while aboard the john paul de joria

read the paul watson guradian article here

watson was arrested in response to an interpol red notice from japan (oh… i see… so there is international law after all… but only when you are to arrest real criminals, like an environmentalist who’s trying to save our oceans!)

so did paul watson kill 1,000’s of men, women and children? did he steal anyone’s property or starve them to death? no…. “japan alleges that watson and his crew damaged a japanese whaling vessel in 2010 and injured a crew member with a stink bomb” no this is for real and not a joke…

“it is accepted by the prosecution that watson, who has been involved in thwarting whalers for five decades, was not present at the time of the alleged crime. it is instead claimed that he was party to the decision by the activist peter bethune to board the vessel and throw a stink bomb on to its deck.” – the guardian

watson and “the captain paul watson foundation” have appealed the decision to the supreme court. protests have erupted worldwide, condemning denmark’s cooperation with japan. watson’s defense team argues that japan’s extradition request is based on “false” claims. they also claim to have video footage proving the crew member was not on deck when the stink bomb was thrown.

its really a sad time when interpol red notices are issued for such absurd ‘crimes’ and only to then watch the rest of the world go to shit infront of our eyes. by kl

 

CATEGORIES: earth related, politricks, surf-skate

George Orwell’s 1984 is unfolding before our eyes: “surveilled” a documentary on how democracies fall with ronan farrow

journalist ronan farrow investigates the growing commercial spyware industry – and the ethical dilemmas of 21st century cyberespionage.

“surveilled” movie trailer

interview with journalist ronan farrow

tracking the new yorker journalist ronan farrow as he investigates the growing business of commercial spyware, following the story from new york city to tel aviv, israel, a thriving center of espionage cybertechnology (including the NSO group, and black cube). once a target of covert surveillance himself, (while investigating harvey weinstein who had hired black cube to intimidate farrow) farrow explores the multibillion-dollar industry, addressing the twofold uses and implications of phone hacking, the ability to monitor criminal activity and the attendant threats to civil liberties. most important now more than ever. by dd

CATEGORIES: clips, must see docus, politricks

wilmington 1898 how North Carolina’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government was illegally ousted

american coup wilmington 1898 

directed by brad lichtenstein and yoruba richen

you can watch the full film on PBS website – link in copy below

the film, which is a part of american history seldom displayed, tells the little-known story of a deadly race massacre and carefully orchestrated insurrection in north carolina’s largest city (wilmington) in 1898 — the only successful coup d’état in the history of the united states to date. stoking fears of “negro rule,” self-described white supremacists used intimidation and violence to destroy black political and economic power and overthrow wilmington’s democratically-elected, multi-racial government. black residents were murdered and thousands were banished.

the story of what happened in wilmington was suppressed for decades until descendants and scholars began to investigate. today, many of those descendants — black and white — seek the truth about this intentionally buried history. the film is available on pbs website for viewing,

 

CATEGORIES: clips, history, must see docus, politricks

RIP in memory of aaron bushnell

aaron bushnell was just 25-year-old when he set himself on fire in front of the israeli embassy in washington on february 25, 2024

bushnell’s act was the second self-immolation protesting united states support for israel in the 2023 war, which has killed over 40,000 palestinians to date (with more than half being women and children *PBS) and resulted in a major humanitarian crisis. in december 2023, another protestor set herself on fire at the israeli consulate in atlanta.

aaron bushnell was a U.S. air force devops engineer, troubled by what he saw. he died after setting himself on fire outside the front gate of the embassy of israel in washington, D.C. immediately before the act, bushnell said that he was protesting against “what people have been experiencing in palestine at the hands of their colonizers” and declared that he “will no longer be complicit in genocide”, after which he doused himself with a flammable liquid and set himself on fire. as he burned, bushnell repeatedly shouted “free palestine!” after he collapsed onto the ground, two secret service officers attempted to extinguish the flames while a third covered for them with their weapon. bushnell was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and was declared dead in the evening. despite the media ignoring this act of defiance, this selflessness should not be forgotten in this selfish world. to peace and safety for all innocent israelis and all palestinians. by xy

CATEGORIES: earth related, politricks

the case for donald trump 2024: Richard wolff talks rene magritte, hegel, young frankenstein, kissinger, punchin judy, and the american empire

“hump? what hump?”

“everything is wrapped in mystery… the arrogance of the human experience to think we can dominate nature”

“who are the “savages”?”

“…these elections are a form of choreographed escapism, for the public to avoid and evade facing the real problems of the society… its like a safe place you take children to when they are frightened by real issues in their lives, and you give them something to focus on..”

georg wilhelm friedrich hegel – just observing

hulk hogen “…its a way of calming a population that’s getting increasingly nervous… the show changes nothing, it calms the public, it distracts, you hope that they forget, and then its over, and pretty quick, like trump, biden, bush obama…”

richard wolff is a professor emeritus of economics at the university of massachusetts amherst, wolff has also taught economics at yale university, and the sorbonne in paris, and more  – click here if video not available richard wolff: the final case against donald j. trump

henry kissinger – war criminal

this interview reminds me of adam curtis’ incredible documentary called “hypernormalization” which i am sure richard is a fan of too… if you have not seen that, it means you’re new to TS, so here is the link to that post from some years ago – more relevant today than ever  – must watch a work of art in its own right. enjoy this interview, its genuinely thought provoking… by dd

 

CATEGORIES: clips, history, politricks

Watch How Democracy was extinguished in Iran and elsewhere, and who was to blame

stars ralph fiennes, walter murch, and winston churchill amongst others

ralph fiennes reads the transcripts of norman darbyshire who was a british spy who worked for the SOE and the MI6. he played a key role in the 1953 coup d’état that overthrew mohammed mossadegh, the democratically-elected prime minister of iran.

the cia is quoted acknowledging the coup was carried out “under cia direction” and “as an act of u.s. foreign policy, conceived and approved at the highest levels of government”.

watch how the MOSAD worked with iran in helping the shah to remain in and grip to power.

coup 53 documentary directed by taghi amirani – if unavailable click here

must watch… riveting, provocative and revelatory, coup 53 plays out like one of john le carré’s spy thrillers and is one of the most important and relevant documentaries of our time. 10 years in the making, the film – a meta textual account – seeks to uncover the past and expose the underhandedness that went into staging a coup d’état, by british and american forces, in 1953 iran- overthrowing the democratically elected government of prime minister mossadegh, reinstating the shah as head of the state, and ultimately leading to the revolution.

through a series of video interviews and transcripts – some aired as part of a documentary-series ‘end of empire’ and some that never saw the light of day, but were carefully preserved – the film’s director – taghi amirani – stitches together an intricate yarn that is gripping, powerful and extremely detailed in both its analysis and its cinematic scope. this is what documentaries need to be. riveting, provocative and revelatory, coup 53 plays out like one of john le carré’s spy thrillers and is one of the most important and relevant documentaries of our time.

10 years in the making, the film – a meta textual account – seeks to uncover the past and expose the underhandedness that went into staging a coup d’état, by british and american forces, in 1953 iran- overthrowing the democratically elected government of prime minister mossadegh, reinstating the shah as head of the state, and ultimately leading to the revolution.

through a series of video interviews and transcripts – some aired as part of a documentary-series ‘end of empire’ and some that never saw the light of day, but were carefully preserved – the film’s director – taghi amirani – stitches together an intricate yarn that is gripping, powerful and extremely detailed in both its analysis and its cinematic scope. this is what documentaries need to be. by nw

CATEGORIES: clips, earth related, must see docus, politricks

two tone britain documentary: rock against racism, black and white hate turned into jamaican influence british made rockin beat

less rasta more rude-boy – margaret thatcher’s england fueled the fire behind the two tone ska back in 1979 – with a distinctive look and an original sound

anti racists, all inclusive, with a jamaican influenced british made beat

“two tone britain (2004) – ska 2tone documentary” if not available click here

the two-tone music genre and movement originated in the late 1970s in coventry, england, when young musicians combined reggae, ska, and rocksteady with punk and new wave. the term “two-tone” was coined by jerry dammers, the keyboard player for the specials, one of the most prominent bands in the two-tone movement. the name represented the racial unity and harmony that came from black and white musicians working together. by dd

CATEGORIES: album covers, clips, music, politricks

is europe turning fascist?

fascism may be defined as a form of political behavior marked by obsessive preoccupation with community decline, humiliation, or victim-hood and by compensatory cults of unity, energy, and purity, in which a mass-based party of committed nationalist militants, working in uneasy but effective collaboration with traditional elites, abandons democratic liberties and pursues with redemptive violence and without ethical or legal restraints goals of internal cleansing and external expansion. – robert paxton

with the recent surprise win for the left in the french elections, some may be tempted to think fascism is on the back foot. unfortunately, that’s not the case. let’s take a look at the state of rising fascism in europe. second thought is a channel devoted to education and analysis of current events from a socialist perspective. listen away. by bb

CATEGORIES: clips, earth related, politricks

The West Bank: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

if you were told this is a one sided fight, don’t shoot john oliver, hes only telling the truth.

palestinians live in 2 areas one is gaza and the other the west bank, both are under the israeli thumb – by now we all now know and have seen how life in gaza is. here’s how the “better behaved – lucky palestinians” live in the west bank. click here if vid is missing

ben & jerrys founders : ben cohen and jerry greenfield stopped the sale of their ice cream in the israeli occupied territories before unilever changed that

john oliver discusses how the west bank settlements (israeli enclaves in palestinian west bank area) came to be, what their presence there means for everyone in the region, and why the weight of the world rests squarely on the shoulders of ben & jerry’s. good one john. by xy

CATEGORIES: earth related, musings, politricks

good bye justice: international criminal court? what court? no more laws… whom ever has the most power can do what ever he wants

“…until the philosophy which hold one race superior and another inferior

is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned…

“…until there are no longer first class and second class citizens of any nation…

until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes…

read the ICJ full ruling on the genocide in gaza : the international court of justice has issued its opinion and the conclusion is loud and clear: israel’s occupation and annexation of the palestinian territories are unlawful, and its discriminatory laws and policies against palestinians violate the prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid. amnesty also ny times

“…until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all, without regard to race …everywhere is war…” bob marley lyrics from the song war… by dd

CATEGORIES: earth related, politricks

Sex, Lies and Julian Assange : a revisit of what really happened

julian assange freed pending his plea deal with the US– here is looking back at what happened…

rape allegation (all dropped and forgotten) involving swedes anna ardin and sofia wilen

julian assange before his arrest and time in united kingdom’s belmarsh prison. assange stood up to the most powerful forces in history and made them bow their heads in shame. he humiliated the US and then faced their wrath. within weeks of seeking refuge in sweden, julian assange had a warrant out for his arrest for rape and sexual molestation (all cases were eventually dropped)…

“i am not a cia agent” anna ardin who assange had sexual relationship with upon his stay in sweden prior to the allegations

sofia wilen another of assange partners during his stay in sweden

four corners BBC sex lies and julian assange documentary – a total political hit

four corners BBC hero or villain – julians wiki partner dishes out some hate toward assange

60 minutes the 2011 6o minutes interview

“…what followed next may define the modern era. quickly after the accusations began, concerns emerged about the legal barrage aimed at him. this documentary by the BBC gets to the heart of the matter and tells a tale of david and goliath.
“sitting outdoors with the world’s coolest, smartest people! it’s amazing!”, anna ardin tweeted, as she sat at a barbecue she had arranged for assange.

yet according to the allegations she would later bring against him he had recently sexually abused her. “you wouldn’t send such messages if you had been raped by someone the night before”, argues assange’s lawyer.

assange believes that the whole legal snafu is aimed at sending him to the united states to face trial for revealing state secrets.”quite incredible to see this documentary now and see everything he was saying, all his paranoia was all valid…. by dd

CATEGORIES: clips, earth related, politricks