Tag Archive for 'police state'

David Harvey at Occupy London

November 15, 2011 0 Comments

Via Elaine Castillo.

And this is actually how politics has been evolving, over the last 30 years in particular. More and more money buys influence and buys political power. It also structures the media. Increasingly we find it dominates what’s going on inside of universities. It dominates our educational system, so that universities increasingly become places where all you learn is neoliberal ideology. Where all you learn is corporatist manegerial techniques. And those corporatist manegerial techniques are about actually how to squeeze more and more money out of those who can least afford it.

David Harvey at Occupy London / November 12, 2011 / International Day of Solidarity from Elaine Castillo on Vimeo.

Get the full transcript here.

Tags: , , , , , . Categories: General and Politics

Canadians take a stand against online spying

September 15, 2011 0 Comments

Via OpenMedia, StopSpying.

The government is set to ram through a new set of electronic surveillance laws that will allow authorities to access private information of any Canadian, at any time, without a warrant. You’ll be forced to pay for this online spying scheme.

The government has failed to inform Canadians about the privacy and data security implications of this scheme, but Canadians are stepping up to the plate. Share these important citizen-made videos with everyone you know before it’s too late—let’s stand together and make our voices heard.

Tags: , , , , , . Categories: Media and Politics

Rich Man in His Automobile Unharmed

December 9, 2010 0 Comments

In an unprecedented move today, news outlets around the world shifted their focus from their usual pandering to systemic economic conditions and biased focus on root-causes of social issues. Instead they turned their lens to offer much needed coverage to the myriad challenges faced by centuries-old hereditary privilege and the beneficiaries of fully tax payer-funded education.

et tu Grauniad?

I wonder why they chose that route, seeing as the protest had been going on for hours before they set of for the Royal Variety Performance. Would have made sense to avoid driving through such a potential dangerous situation. Not very chivalrous I’d say, putting yourself and your wife in “the line of fire” like that. Though I suppose it helps shift the headlines…

The performance is a benefit for the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund, which “cares for hundreds of entertainers throughout the UK who need help and assistance as a result of old age, ill-health, or hard times, and Brinsworth House, in Twickenham, Middlesex, is the Fund’s dedicated nursing home, caring for elderly members of the entertainment profession.” The EABF looks like it will need the help, since the same austerity regime that is now forcing students to pay for the irresponsibility of the rich will also require the same of the aged.

EDIT An hour later the CBC and BBC lead pages are the same, and others have followed suit:

The Paper of Record

No surprise here:

Egregious:

Tags: , , , , , , . Categories: Rant

The Horses #demo2010

November 30, 2010 1 Comment

In the continued intensification of the British police state, here is video of police on horseback charging student protest groups last week.

These are largely people concerned with the future of education. And contrary to reports that have errantly suggested that these students simply do not want to pay higher fees (which on its own is not entirely a bad goal), in fact most of these students would be unaffected by higher fees as they will have graduated by then. It is extraordinary how unfathomable it is to so many that young people actually can and do show compassion and concern for others.

Guardian coverage.

Tags: , , , , . Categories: Education and Politics

Only At Athletic Events, Or Else!

July 10, 2010 0 Comments

In the eyes of the state, our national anthem ought only to be sung at hockey games and the Olympics, certainly not in the streets by citizens “standing on guard”:

Peaceful G20 protest at Queen & Spadina from Meghann Millard on Vimeo.

I saw it first at I cite.

As much as the national anthem gets perverted daily in problematic constructions of our national identity, in this video, it appears that some of the key lyrics “free,” “love,” and “standing on guard” are interpreted quite differently by either side!

Tags: , , , . Categories: Politics