Wonder

Wonder by Oleg Zhevelev

An Evening of Climate Justice on tuesday with Bolivian Ambassador

7.30pm-9.30pmTuesday 2 November 2010Bolivar Hall54 Grafton WayLondon W1T 5DL(Nearest tube: Warren St) Speakers include:- Angelica Navarro, Bolivian Ambassador to the UN (Geneva)- John Vidal, Environment Editor, The Guardian- Keith Sonnet, Deputy General Secretary, UNISON- Asad Rehman, Friends of the EarthIn April this year the Bolivian government hosted the first World People’s Conference on

Yachaywasi 'the most important story on the planet '

When Two Worlds Collide (trailer) When Two Worlds Collide: A hazardous journey of an Amazonian leader confronting the rules of the globalization game created by developed countries in order to protect corporate interests. With the Rainforest facing peril, this apocalyptic story presents two colliding visions that shape the climate future of our world.If humanity and the rest of nature is to

Escher Economy

Escher Economy by Robert John Matson

Freddie Kruger = Danny Alexander

Caroline Lucas article from Compass, original hereThis is a challenging time for progressives. We have a coalition not only introducing savage cuts, but seeming to enjoy wielding the axe.And that enthusiasm - with George Osborne and Danny Alexander competing to give the best impression of Freddie Kruger - gives the lie to the idea that these cuts are necessary because of the current recession.We

Caroline Lucas 'cuts will target pensioners, poor, disabled people'

This is Caroline Lucas's speech to the National Pensioners Convention today.Thank you all for inviting me here this afternoon and for all your work in support of a fairer deal for pensioners. At least 2 million of Britain’s pensioners currently live in poverty and I am sure I am not the only one here who fears this figure may increase significantly in the wake of one of the most regressive

ANTI-CUTS ACTIVISTS SHUTDOWN VODAFONE FLAGSHIP STORE IN DISGUST AT £6BN TAX EVASION

65 activists have today stopped trading at Vodafone’s largest retail store onOxford Street, London, by blockading the doorway in disgust at the HMRC’s dealwith Vodafone that have allowed them to walk away from paying a tax bill thoughtto be worth £6bn to the public purse[1].The action started at 09:30 this morning where activists gathered at The Ritzhotel near Oxford Street following rapid

'For a society to base its financial system on alchemy is a poor advertisement for its rationality'

[B] anking crises are endemic to the market economy that has evolved since the Industrial Revolution. The words “banking” and “crises” are natural bedfellows. If love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage, then banking and crisis go together like Oxford and the Isis, intertwined for as long as anyone can remember. Unfortunately, such crises are occurring more frequently and on

HUGO BLANCO MEETING IN OXFORD

Hugo Blanco will speak at Oxford Town Hall on Thursday.Mr Blanco is a leader of the Peruvian peasant movement and has been politically active since the 1950s.In the 1960s he played a central part in the ‘Land or Death’ peasant uprising, after which he was captured and sentenced to 25 years in prison.Recently he has been at the forefront of a struggle to save Peru's Amazon rainforest.He is

Anti-Cuts Direct Action – Wednesday 9.30am

The cuts have come and we need to get to work opposing them fast. This Wednesday we will take direct action against a target to expose the lies that these cuts are necessary or fair.The target has to stay secret until Wednesday morning but we need as many people as possible to join us. We’ll be meeting outside the Ritz (right next to Green Park tube) at 9.30am. Look for the person with the orange

A working class hero.

Cover of MAD magazine

Cover of MAD magazine with impossible trident, July, 1985

Targeted citizens

Targeted Citizen - English from Adalah on Vimeo.

Animated impossible waterfall

Impossible waterfall in pixel art by Yittrium39

Police punching anti-fascist caught on camera

Just when you think you had seen all the police violence and miscarriages of justice you could take for this year, along comes another one, this time in Bolton. Alan Clough, a 63 year old veteran anti-Fascist campaigner was protesting against the EDL in Bolton several months ago. He was arrested and accused of physical assault against the police. But, as luck would have it, Granada TV had a very

Security of tenure for tenants in the private rented sector campaign

Kevin Allen successfully proposed a motion at the recent Green Party conference which aimed 'to reverse the previous Tory Governments introduction of insecure tenancies in the private sector (Assured Shortholds), which do not provide security or stability for tenants and discourage them from seeking to enforce their legal rights.'Condem policies are going to make life very difficult for tenants

Boycott the 35 firms calling for cuts

35 business leaders signed a letter insisting that the government cuts hard. Its not difficult to see why, short term economic wreckage will lead to a long term cut in trade union power and obviously firms like Asda will gain as we can't afford to shop anywhere else.So boycott the neo-liberals.Here is a list of the business heads who signed the letter from the TelegraphWill AdderleyCEO, Dunelm

Vote Jerry Hicks

Proud to call Jerry Hicks a friend, a real red-green grassroots militant, number one thing you can do to fight the cuts is support Jerry Hicks, spread the word,For Unite members it’s more of the ‘shame’ and business as usualor a chance for change in the election for General Secretary.The finish line [or could it be the starting post] is now in sight, and the race to lead the largest union in

Sack Ed, draft Lily Savage.

I take it all back, Ed Miliband is utterly useless. The Labour Party are incapable of providing opposition to savage and unnecessary cuts.The Condems are going to tip Britain back into recession which will make the debt worse, they have cut corporation tax and shifted the tax burden on to the poor with a VAT increase.They could slice Trident but prefer to make thousands homeless, close down care

Impossible architecture by Victor Molev

ArchitectBathing of Motley Dragon

Mumia Abu-Jamal on the Mid-term US elections

Lost Opportunities, by Mumia Abu-Jamal [col. writ. 10/17/10] (c) '10 Mumia Abu-Jamal If polls are any measure of things to come, the first Tuesday in November will be a brutal day indeed, for Democrats. As economic crisis persists and joblessness rises to levels not seen since the 1970's, working class Democrats are feeling decidedly lack-luster about members of Congress whom they feel have not

Secret Iraq Files from Wikileaks

Living Well is the Best Revenge

The Concept Of “Living Well” - A Bolivian ViewpointBolivia Delegation at The UNArticle distributed in English by the Bolivia delegation at the UN. April 2010We should live in a simple way for others to be able to live as well.Mahatma GandhiHe who is richer is not who has more, but who needs less.Zapotec saying, Oaxaca, MexicoWe suffer the severe effects of climate change, of the energy, food and

Rendered Waterfall

Rendered Escher's Waterfall by Pavel Shupletsov

Gabber.org thank Tower Hamlets council

Thegabber.org is an alternative news hub.This site is run by a group of volunteers, mainly based in the UK. We are not affiliated to any political organisation or group and we receive no funding. The initial outlay for this site was provided in the form of a redundancy cheque paid to one of our volunteers, by a local education authority in London, as part of a drive to remove union activists and

New artworks by Catherine Palmer

Lamp with impossible triangles

A glass lamp with impossible triangles by perelet.

Support the Fire fighters today!

The Green Party is strongly supporting the Fire Brigades Union, Tory cuts will kill!The London FBU go on strike today until 6pm. PLEASE SUPPORT THEM. Go along to your local fire station picket line and give them your support. The administration is hell-bent on wrecking the union to make way for the introduction of practices that will put us all in danger. FBU press release: LONDON FIREFIGHTERS'

Logo of Mikkel Ørum

Logo of designer Mikkel Ørum from Denmark.

Lib Dems smashed in Nick Clegg's Sheffield during by-election vote

This is from the no one will vote Lib Dem at the next General Election Facebook group.Due to the sad and untimely death of Labour Councillor Jan Wilson a by-election was held for the Manor Castle Ward. Jan won the ward at the May 2010 election, which makes these figures even more astounding, and damning for the Liberals considering this change is only based on 5 months of this coalition

Caroline Lucas fights the cuts!

Caroline did so well on Question Time yesterday she trended as one of the top global topics on twitter, here she is in action at the protest against the cuts on wednesday.

Labour lose Tower Hamlets

Lutfur Rahman,23,283 52% Labour 11,254, 25%.Conservative 5,348, 12% Lib Dems 2,800, 6%, Greens 2,300, 5%The recently de-selected candidate Lutfur Rahman won.Big rise in Green Party vote, so well done to Alan

Mumia Abu-Jamal 'Revolution in your blood'

The State and RepressionBy Mumia Abu-JamalSpeech Delivered to International Anti-Repression Congress, October 8-10, 2010, Hamburg, Germany For those of us active in social movements, I'm often surprised at our surprise when the State acts in a repressive or oppressive fashion. It teaches us that the cloudy dreams of Western liberalism have pierced and permeated consciousness, often against our

Impossible pool

The Slits 'Shoplifting'

I am sad that Ari Up has died, I am also angry that given our present government's assault on the poorest a lot of people are going to be forced into crime.A bit ironic, nonetheless, that the heir to a vastly wealthy German media empire was singing about shoplifting from your local corner shop trying to get by...However sad she is no longer with us and The Slits were rather good if you like a bit

Serpent

Serpent by Andreas Aronsson

Impossible World

Impossible World by Raul Montecino (raul-luart)

Jerry Hicks 'BA workers are pawns in an election chess game'

‘BA workers are pawns in an election chess game - used by Bayliss and McCluskey, abused by Willie Walsh, let down by New Labour.’ The day before half a million public sector workers are told they will lose their livelihood and after 100,000 finance workers have already lost their jobs, Les Bayliss, Assistant General Secretary of UNITE, chooses to direct his attack at workers brave enough to

Mumia Abu-Jamal : The Vinyl Ain't Final review

The Politics of Culture[col. writ. 10/10/10] (c) '10 Mumia Abu-JamalWhen we think of culture, we almost always think of people wearing funny or fancy clothes, or opera, or something distant froum our day to day lives.But culture isn't that. It's the music that moves you; it's how you dress; it's how you talk -- and it's also how you walk.It often is the lens through which you see the world.In

Agroecology/Colombia/Cuba event in Brighton

Sussex Colombia Solidarity presentsAgroecology Well Being and Human Rightsin Cuba and ColombiaFriday 22 October 20106:30 - 9 pm 1-6 Park Crescent Terrace, BrightonSpeakers · Dr Glory Saavedra – Tutor and research supervisor in Rural Development and Diversity (Mexico/Colombia/UK). Human rights campaigner. One of the original founders of Stanmer Park Organic farm.· Dr Fernando

No Nonsense Guide to Green Politics event 20th October

Wednesday 20 October - 6.30pmThe No-Nonsense Guide to Green PoliticsDerek Wall‘The No-Nonsense Guide to Green Politics measures the rising tide of eco-activism and awareness and explains why it heralds a new political era worldwide.'Climate chaos and pollution, deforestation and consumerism: the crisis facing human civilization is clear enough. But the response of politicians to it has been

The Tub

The Tub by Daniele de Nigris

Polluted arts, no thank you!

If you have any spare notes floating about your wallet after having contributed to Just Do It, here’s another crowd funding thing doing the rounds for you to check out too. In 2010 there was a series of performance/interventions that took place in various cultural institutions in London, challenging the undeserved credibility and kudos that polluting, climate-trashing companies like BP get from

HUGO BLANCO MEETING SOAS WEDNESDAY 27TH OCTOBER

The Globalisation LecturesConvenor: Professor Gilbert AchcarPeasant Struggles and Ecology in the Age of GlobalisationHugo Blanco (Leader of the Peasant Confederation, Peru)27 October 2010, Brunei Gallery, Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM

HUGO BLANCO MEETING KINGS CROSS TUESDAY 26TH OCTOBER

This is an opportunity to hear the great ecosocialist and indigenous leader Hugo Blanco, spread the word

Department stormed by Axe wielding Eco Women!

I recognise a few of these people, good for you.Government are raising rail fares by 40%, eco madness to go with their economic insanity.

HONDURAN COUP PLOTTERS THREATEN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES

"SEE AT BOTTOM: How to support Honduras' Pro-democracy, Anti-military coup regime movement, including groups like COPINH and OFRANEH, hi-lighted in these articles and struggles" from LA Solidarity group * * * * * * * HONDURAN COUP AUTHORS POISED TO PILLAGE INDIGENOUS TERRITORY AND NATIONAL ENERGY COMPANYby Annie Bird, Rights Action co-director, October 13, 2010 Honduran indigenous communities

Bye, Mandelbrot

Artwork by Istvan Orosz in memory of famous mathematician Benoît B. Mandelbrot.

Diego Arria denies the Venezuelan coup of 2002 during London visit:

The leader of the Venezuelan opposition, Diego Arria, has claimed that no coup d'etat took place in the country in 2002 during his current visit to London. Addresing a meeting in the British Parliament, Arria said it was "not a coup.....Chavez resigned". He admitted that "the military forced him to resign" but again restated "legally it was not a coup". Arria's comments are particularly

Escher inspired buildings in computer game Spore

Ascending and Descending by Trippy72Relativity by Kinga8Relativity by tfj83Waterfall by TorgOwlAscending and Descending by Trippy72

Life After Capitalism - a discussion with Michael Albert

I am a bit of a Karl Marx and Elinor Ostrom groupie i.e its class struggle and the creation of common pool property rights/ownership of the means of production by the population with ecological rules built in.Liberatarian Marxism, strong and democratic property rights with a future that looks more wiki than central plan, but give Michael Albert a try! He is currently touring the UKSunday 24th

Bronski Beat classic gay pop from 1980 something.

The video provides a shocking insight into life in the 1980s,With rail fares set to rise 40%, a latterday Jimmy Somerville would have to cycle, buy a coach ticket or walk briskly, history in some ways is going backwards.The 1980s saw Mrs Thatcher launch her assault on LGBT rights.We certainly need some more musical assaults on rising homophobia today, watch this space.Soft Cell remain my fav

'South of the Border' Whole film free.

Whole film free.Wall Street two no doubt funds Chavez: The Movie

'My Milk is Green, come drink me'

Video above, offensive yes, funny perhaps, an illustration of green triple think certainly.Other links worth a sunday look include.Coals assault on health HereJohn Grey on the emergence of the politics of 'progressives' neo-liberals in the London Review of BooksEnergy conservation increases energy consumption according to Green Left WeeklyLabour tentatively oppose the cuts http://bit.ly/

THE GREAT GREEN CAR CON

*The Green Car Con* Electric EvasionBy MICHAEL DAWSONFor any product that gets produced, green-ness involves four questions:1. Material Intake: How much and what types of material does making theproduct extract from the environment?2. Material Output: How does the product end up putting materials back intothe environment, in the form of manufacturing, product operation, andgarbage/recycling

Climate activists blockade oil refinery

Crude Awakening - on the Way to Blockade - The best bloopers are a click awayWe can go on burning oil or we can survive.

Protest Chile President over indigneous rights

“That this House notes the continuing repression of the Mapuche indigenous people of Chile, the recent hunger strike by Mapuche political prisoners since 12 July 2010 and the demands of the Mapuche people for the demilitarisation of Mapuche lands, an end of the use of the anti-terrorist legislation introduced against the Mapuche people during the Pinochet era and self-determination; and calls on

France takes to the streets, eyewitness report here!

Richard Greenman from the Ecosocialist International Network reports from FranceDear Friends,People ask me what’s it like living in France during these massive one-daystrikes and popular mobilizations against the conservative Sarkozygovernment’s pension ‘reforms.’ These cuts would push the minimum retirementage forward from age 60 to 62 and the minimum age for receiving fullbenefits from 65 to 67

'The Battle Cry of the Sufis'

The Sufi tradition is strong in Islam but is under violent assault from 'fundamentalists' the Salif doctrine of al Qaeda and the Taliban aims to rip the heart out of forms of Islam that advocate peace, pluralism and liberation.Islamphobes are doing their bit to destroy Islam as well.Sufism is part of our heritage on this planet, something of great beauty and power.Sufism has a political element,

Browne report must be fought!

Joint Goldsmiths Students' Union/ Goldsmiths UCU/ Goldsmiths Unisonstatement on the Browne Report:On Tuesday the Browne report came out, recommending removing the cap ontuition fees. This was followed by an email from the SeniorManagement Team (SMT) predicting Goldsmiths would lose £15m per year fromits teaching budget for the next few years.The level of projected cuts which could result from the

Ratcliffe on Trial

Just had thisWebsite:Mission:21 climate change activists face a Crown Court trial for defending the future of our planet. Their crime: Planning to shut down the UK’s third largest source of emissions.Arrested in a night-time police raid on the eve of their attempt to shut down E.ON’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal power station, the defendants could face up to 3 months in jail for daring to act.

Escher balloons

Escher balloons by Teddy Tietz

The Spice of Life

The spice of life by Harro Falkenreck

The Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra: Beethoven to Bakhtin!

the Teresa Carreño Youth Orchestra are in London at the end of a European tour, performing Beethoven and Prokofiev’s fifth symphonies in two concerts. The first thing to strike you is the immense volume: though crammed into every corner of the stage, these players still have room to take a swing at the music. The second is the precision. Beethoven intended fairly lean orchestras to play all but

Mumia Abu-Jamal film

Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! as supporters of the Free Mumia Abu JamalDefence Campaign presents:In Prison My Whole Life, a film about Mumia Abu Jamal, a political activist onDeath RowTuesday, 12th October 2010 7pm upstairs @ The Compass Pub(on the corner of Chapel Market and Penton Street) London N1 9PZnearest tube Angel In Prison My Whole Life is a film about Mumia Abu Jamal by William

Triangle impossible

Triangle impossible by Leroy S. (LeRoyalle)

Bomb dogs

10:10 video from Dr Wall

This really sums up what I believe. People are creative and can solve ecological problems by working with nature not against nature. You need appropriate property rights giving people access to land and then they tend to do the right thing.If you are a libertarian you will see this as evidence of human creativity, if you are a socialist you will point out that you have to distribute access to

Noel Edmonds kills Clive Anderson

NOEL EDMONDS KILLS CLIVE ANDERSONUploaded by poppythesmallcat. - News videos from around the world.Class from Brass!

HUGO BLANCO IN CARDIFF

13 October 2010Event Location: Main Building, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff (opposite Student Union Building)Contact Name: Adam Johannes, Cardiff Campaign against Climate Change - 07940108146Contact Email: CardiffCCC@hotmail.co.ukEvent Description: PROMINENT CAMPESINO ACTIVIST SPEAKING IN CARDIFF Hugo Blanco is a lifelong activist over five decades in the struggle for social justice and

Hugo Blanco in Bristol

Hugo Blanco, lifelong activist in the struggle for social justice and campesino rights in Peru, will be speaking soon in Bristol as part of his UK solidarity tour.Hugo Blanco will be speaking in Bristol at a meeting specially organised as part of his UK tour. Hugo is a lifelong activist, environmentalist and revolutionary. He led the Quechua peasant uprising in the 1960s and is currently leader

Hugo Blanco meeting in Edinburgh

Latin AmericaThe Eco Socialist AlternativeWithHugo BlancoSpeakers and Workshops fromScottish Socialist PartyGreen Left (England & Wales)Venezuelan Solidarity CampaignCuban Solidarity CampaignScottish Socialist YouthSaturday 16th October 201010:30 – 13:00The Dining Room Teviot House Bristo SquareA Word About Hugo Blanco Hugo Blanco is a historic leader of the Peruvian peasant

Visual Paradox

Visual Paradox by Dylan Leeds

Rainforest priest from Portsmouth wins!

My friend Father Paul McAuley has won his latest legal battle with the Peruvian authorities and can stay in the country.He works with the indigenous to protect their human rights and the indigenous have worked to protect his human rights.The Peruvian government wanted to kick him out.Viva Fr Paul! Viva Aidesep! Victories are been won to protect the Amazon, also looks like the left (and quite

Love is a Hard Question

Love is a Hard Question by Jiang Peng

Basque ecosocialists fight biofuel menace

Basque Activists from Ekologistak Martxan (www.ekologistakmartxan.org) have picketed for FOUR days the marquee which oil company Repsol YPF /Petronor erected in Bilbao's city centre to educate citizens on respect to the environment. The first picket was provoked by a spill from one of Repsol YPF's tracks of 13000 litres into Bilbao's river last Monday 27th September. The diesel went through the

Haga que pasa: Make it happen!!

Haga que pasa: Make it happen! 'MI FINK' AND THE STRUGGLE FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND FREEDOM IN VILLA RICA, COLOMBIA Come and see Jota this week:· Wednesday 6 October at Institute for the Study of the Americas, 5 - 7.30p.m. University of London, Venue : Room G32 (South Block,Senate House, Ground Floor) Tube:Russell Square, Kings Cross, Euston, Googe Street. · Saturday 9 October

Come to the Rally for Change in Stratford, 7th October

Dear Friend,I am writing to you about an important public meeting in Stratford, onThursday 7th October, 7 - 9 pm, to launch the People's Charter in this partof London. Please help support the meeting by forwarding on this email toothers.The Coalition Government want to force through the biggest cuts any of uswill ever have seen in our life time. They don't have the mandate to dothis. As residents

Papercraft Vintage Computers - Commodore 64!

Like Erik Schubach, I too grew up in the early days of video gaming. I certainly look back on those days with rose colored glasses as if I fire up a game in mame that I spent a million hours obsessing over when I was 10, it looks and plays like absolute crap. I'm just being honest here! But... there's still some magic there that makes you feel all happy and warm inside.

Erik obviously loves some of these old machines with a passion as he has gone ahead and done the world a great service by recreating them in paper craft form. Big ups to you Erik!

Here they are...

Commodore SX-64 Executive

Milton Bradley Microvision

Al Qaeda Terror Alert! I Wonder If I Can Pick Up Some Cheap Tickets... Hotel Rooms?

As you can hear in the report above, the U.S. State Department has issued a travel alert-- one step down from a travel warning-- for Americans traveling in Europe. They have some nonspecific intelligence that Al Qaeda is planning a series of attacks on "soft targets" in France, Germany and England. But even Sweden and Poland have taken precautions and the alert is for the entire continent. Soft targets would be non-military, civilian targets, like hotels, tourist attractions, shopping areas...

Intelligence officials in the U.S. and Europe have said an increase in activity in recent weeks suggests that a small cell of potential terrorists hiding in North Waziristan, a Pakistani tribal region, are preparing an attack that could be as spectacular as the 2008 raids in Mumbai, India, that killed 166 people.

Plotters could be planning to use "a variety of means and target both official and private interests," the State Department said, adding that Americans abroad should be careful riding on railways, subways and other transportation systems, and visiting hotels, restaurants and tourist spots.

...According to intelligence sources, the current threat apparently arose after the arrest and interrogation of a German man of Pakistani origin who was being held at the U.S. air base in Bagram, Afghanistan. He reportedly has provided information about the activities of half a dozen other men from Germany and England who were linked through Al Qaeda and allegedly talking to other operatives in several European cities about upcoming strikes.

At this point I'm happy to not be at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi-- and not just because of how dirty and confused it is or because of the wild monkeys.

Monkeys are a common sight in streets, parks and trees and are known to make cameo appearances scampering through hospitals and government offices. The problem with their presence is twofold. As Delhi's nearby forest cover shrinks, monkeys migrate into business and residential areas.

Their survival is boosted by the devout Hindu belief the animals are sacred. As a result, they are fed which means they frequent public places and can end up biting people while carrying diseases like rabies.

Cue the langur-- and the langur-wallah. Langurs' bigger size and fierce nature means your average monkey has limited opportunities for mischief in their presence. They don't kill their smaller relations but scare them away... The New Delhi council has put dozens of langurs on duty outside venues to guard against a potential riot if a troop of monkeys invades.

I have a feeling the al Qaeda operatives aren't afraid of the langurs. And Delhi is a lot easier to get to than London or Paris. We'll see... or not. In any case, it would be hard to imagine that there aren't thousands of Afghans who have lost love ones-- soft targets or... what do we call them... collateral damage. And that doesn't count the ones our troops just kill in cold blood for sport. They might be jonesin' for some revenge. This kind of report goes over poorly in Afghanistan:

According to an internal investigation, a squad of US soldiers based in Kandahar province, southern Afghanistan, formed a “kill team” that murdered unarmed civilians for sport, sometimes keeping body parts as souvenirs.

When reports of torture first emerged from Abu Ghraib, it was the images that shocked: naked Iraqi captives in a pile on the floor, leashed, like dogs, or standing hooded on a chair. There are known to be photographs in this case, too, showing American soldiers posing with the corpses of their victims and brandishing the severed fingers they kept as trophies. The army has so far managed to prevent them from being published.

As with Abu Ghraib, the key question is whether the accused men can be dismissed as a rogue unit-- a few bad apples-- or whether failures of command created an environment in which some soldiers felt they could kill with impunity.

The first to appear in court, Specialist Jeremy Morlock, is accused of taking part in three murders. At a pre-trial hearing, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, in Washington State, prosecutors described him as an “eager participant” who killed for kicks.

Huge Green surge robs Dilma Rousseff of victory in Brazilian Presidential election

Environmental Activist Marina Silva Part 1/2 With 60% of votes counted the Green Party candidate, born in the Amazon, illiterate until 14, a real fighter and former environment minister and friend of Chico Mendes, Marina Silva has surged to 20% of the vote.If Dilma loses, its a victory for the right and a defeat for the people.Yet Dilma's part the PT has become bogged down in corruption

A map for Unreal Tournament

J. Martin created a map for the computer game Unreal Tournament, which is inspired by Escher's Waterfall.

Panic grips Europe as bin Laden issues climate change fatwa threat

'Would that encourage you to cut your carbon or is that just insane?''It's just insane'To be fair, to bin Laden, his take on climate change is a little more nuanced than that of 10:10, you can see what he has to say here.

Sid Rawle to be played by Brian Blessed, I wish

Just had this comment, worth sharingSad news this. I met Sid when I was a teenager in the 70s and a member of the fledgling Ecology Party, by which time he was already a veteran of the counter-culture. I saw him a number of times afterwards at various green gatherings and Stonehenge festivals. Sid was a significant proponent of much of what we now take for granted, possessed a magnetic

The Problem With Brazil...

Actually, I loved every second of my short trip to Brazil a few years ago when I visited the Iguazu Falls National Park, where Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay meet. After much research, I decided to stay on the Brazilian side, even though that meant dealing with the hassle of getting a Brazilian visa, something easy for Europeans... but hard for Americans-- well, not really hard, but expensive and time-consuming. And it's a hassle, purposefully so. Simple explanation: tit for tat. The Brazilians are doing exactly to American tourists what the U.S. does to Brazilian tourists. I found an easy way-- well, relatively easy way-- 'round the problems, which I explained in the link above, that fit right into my schedule: the Brazilian consul in Buenos Aires.

Today Catharine Hamm, the L.A. Times travel editor, as part of a q & a grapples with it for pissed off Americans who aren't aware the Brazilians are simply responding to Bush-era restrictions on their nationals that Obama hasn't gotten around to fixing.

“There is some promise in this issue,” said Mario Moyses, vice minister of tourism for Brazil, noting that 600,000 Americans last year visited the emerging South American superpower.

But, so far, it remains a promise. Even if you’re visiting on a cruise and staying eight hours, you need a visa, according to the local Brazilian consulate. At $160, your visit will cost you $20 an hour.

Chalk it up to a little diplomatic tit for tat. What the U.S. charges Brazilians for a visa, Brazil charges U.S. citizens.
“It is not a punishment, but an international procedure between countries,” Moyses said.

Whatever it is, if you are going to Brazil, you’ll need to allow plenty of time to get that visa. It will take at least 10 working days, the consulate website says (www.brazilian-consulate, www.brazilian-consulate.org), and the application and pick-up must be in person, whether by you or a visa agency. “No exceptions!” the website says in several places.

I’m not sure why the tone is so cranky, but maybe travelers to Brazil have been trying to game the system. Or maybe Americans are pushier than the average bear. (No. Really?)

...Brazil does not require Western Europeans to have a visa. Of course, neither do we.

With Brazil slated to host soccer’s World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016, perhaps this is an opportune time to end this diplomatic tantrum. As parents often tell squabbling siblings, it doesn’t matter who started it, and it doesn’t really matter why. It does matter that travelers get caught, yet again, in affairs not of their own making.

Brazil's worth the hassle and we're planning a trip to the northeast -- Recife and Bahia-- where I have a large extended family.

Mapuche hunger strike ends

Meeting at ULU on Mapuche and workers struggles in Chile on tuesday, 7.30PM, many thanks to Permanent Revolution for their good work in solidarity with Chile.Meeting called by Chilean Ex-political prisoners and Latin American Co-ordination, monday 11th October.This is the text of the agreement between the Chilean government and the Mapuche prisoners.[First:] It is public knowledge that the

Proposition 23 theme tune

Yes California looks set to support proposition 23, which would outlaw the expansion of renewable energy.In the 1950s, 60s and 70s the corporate world spent $bns telling us that smoking controls killedNow the corporations are spending $bns telling us that clean energy is dirty.Turn your brain off, listen to the big money and set the controls for the heart of the sun.

Poster for Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Original polish poster for movie "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" (1988)

Indigenous oppose the coup in Ecuador

The indigenous in the Amazon of Ecuador have been in conflict with President Correa.Nonetheless they strongly reject the coup attempt and have called for support for the democratic process.This is from the Aidesep website (Peruvian indigenous organisation).AIDESEP, October 1, 2010. The Ecuadorian indigenous movement and its organizations expressed their opposition to actions taken by the national

A hospital run by vampires?

Just had this from one of my friends in Donegal, Ireland is in utter crisis, the bank bailout is like a vampire running a hospital.Banks are being bailout and the Irish economy and society is being destroyed.Dear friends,Conor McCabe of Dublin Opinion produces an article in the Irish Left Review, "This is not the final bill - Things are going to get worse" => http://www.irishleftreview.org/2010/

Tattooed Elephant Paper Model

I like tattoos, elephants and papercraft so it should be no surprise to anyone that i'm featuring a tattooed papercraft elephant on here. This is a simple structural model but what makes it a keeper is the intricate artwork that has been lovingly created. Grab it here.

Virgin Mary Papercraft

This could be a first for Papercraft World; a religious paper model. This happy fellow makes some other pretty cool stuff - he's been featured on this blog before with  a model of a roast chicken! So his collection is um.. eclectic? You can grab the paper model of the blessed virgin mary here. Check the homepage for other goodies.

Tribute to Escher

Tribute to Escher by Troels Axelsen

EMERGENCY ACTION AGAINST ECUADOR COUP ATTEMPT 6pm FRIDAY 1st October TRAFALGAR SQUARE

News reports:See Telesur http://www.telesurtv.net/solotexto/index.phphttp://www.alborada.net/ecuador-coup-correa-300910Ecuador President injured in ‘coup’President Rafael Correa was caught in a tear gas attack as Ecuadoran troopstook over the main international airport in the country’s capital Quito whilepolice protested in the streets.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/

Austerity cuts battle a fight we must win

Politics is about power. Not the power of swapping one party for another but the art of making fundamental change. Effective political leaders do not simply win an election but uses electoral power to shape society. In 1945 - while I of course don't defend its pro-US foreign policy - the Labour government of Clement Attlee changed Britain for the better. The creation of the NHS, the expansion of