Persepolis 2: Crackdown Boogaloo

2009 June 30

The new cartoon was the initiative of the Iranian-American Sina Payman, who has put together a website called Spread Persepolis to promote the project.

The creator of the original cartoon, Marjane Satrapi, gave permission for the update, but was not directly involved.

Payman said the updated cartoon was aimed at showing how history is repeating itself in Iran.

(The Guardian)

Click here for more on Persepolis

RIP Michael Jackson

2009 June 26

So many great songs, and this isn’t even in my top three (Billie Jean, Off the Wall, Blood on the Dancefloor; special mention for his part in I Want You Back), but I think I’d like to remember him like this:

The top 3/4 after the jump:

read more…

Neda Soltani

2009 June 22

Warning: This video is unbelievably graphic and horrific.

(via The Guardian)

Neda Soltani was shot dead on Saturday, while protesting with her father music teacher in Tehran. Her death is not being reported by the state-controlled media inside the country. She was the same age as me.

Amnesty International: Survivors of Tiananmen Square

2009 June 3

On day before the 20th anniversary of the crackdown, Amnesty is gathering a group of survivors, and joining their calls for an independent inquiry into the events at Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Today’s Speakers:

read more…

Tiananmen Square, 20 years on

2009 June 2

Thursday is the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Tomorrow, I’ll be attending an Amnesty event where some of the people involved will be speaking, and will be blogging from there.

In anticipation of the anniversary, the Chinese government has already started shutting down online communication services.

After the jump, an excerpt from Chinese novelist Ma Jian’s excellent piece on Tiananmen and what it means now, in today’s G2:

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“Pro-life,” except when we don’t like you

2009 June 2

The George Tiller story is just upsetting. The Kansas doctor, who performed late-term abortions at one of only 3 centres in the USA to carry them out, was shot in the head inside his church, just before a service. He died. Some anti-choice nuts were behind it. Thanks to commenter PattyPV for bringing it to my attention, and for the link to this Kansas City Star story. Just click on the links and read it for yourself.

David Thatcher

2009 May 6

I just enjoyed this quite a bit:

The BNP’s ‘bloodless genocide’

2009 April 24

That ol’ Nick Griffin and his BNP crew have been up to some cheeky shenanigans! Again! Watch out, I’m linking to the Daily Mail here: yes, non-white British people simply do not exist. No, people should be reminded of their skin colour at all times by being labelled “racial foreigners.” Oh, zing, Nick, zing. Watch those votes for the European Parliament roll in now!

After the jump, a para or two from a nice rebuttal in the Guardian:

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A good post from Vice

2009 April 24

I only ever look at Vice magazine for the Dos & Don’ts, which can occasionally lead to a lol, but this article is sensitively written, on a subject that should be talked about much more openly. My favourite paragraph is after the jump:

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Torture memos?

2009 April 17

Something so flippant about that phrase. They couldn’t have stretched to at least an email? Still, Bush probs had enough trouble saying “meeeee…mo?”

Oh, and btw, Bad Obama for releasing them – his actions could lead to another 9/11, don’tcha know?