South Africa: interracial poster generates heat

Even with apartheid gone racial sensitivities still run deep in South Africa. There is nothing like a provocative photo to trigger a reaction.

A political poster put out by the student wing of the Democratic Alliance - the main opposition party - is guaranteed to push a lot of buttons. It shows a studly white dude who looks as though he's fresh out of the shower in a loving embrace with a stripped down black woman. The accompanying tagline reads: "In OUR future, you wouldn't look twice."

So what's the big deal? A snapshot in time - sweet and personal - in which considerations of race take a backseat to togetherness. Ideally what the "rainbow nation" should be all about. Right? Not exactly. While most S. Africans like the ad, others are less impressed.

Not long after the posters went up the media reaction kicked in. The story went viral on social networking sites in SA and became a talking point on radio and TV shows. The reactions of a minority of detractors ranged all the way from accusations of racism to complaints about "pornography."

A statement by the ruling ANC party reflects their view that the Democratic Alliance is a white-controlled party with "token" blacks. It said the DA poster followed the “Irish coffee” principle of “sprinkling darkies on white foam.”

The ANC characterization of the Democratic Alliance is a bit harsh. The DA recently elected a black woman, Lindiwe Mazibuko, as leader of its parliamentary wing. Its predecessor - The Progressive Party in its various manifestations - included many well known anti-Apartheid activists such as Helen Suzman and Harry Schwarz.

On another level the ANC response is understandable. The couple represented in the poster is still a bit of a fantasy in a S. Africa marked by deep racial and socio-economic divides. The bulk of blacks live in crowded townships while whites mostly live in well-to-do suburban neighborhoods. It is this underlying reality that could understandably trigger a negative reaction to an image that some may see as out-of-touch.

A similar heated reaction greeted the story about a white South African actor, Carolyn Forword, who had problems kissing a black actor on-stage in the course of the Riverside Theatre Company's production of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. Race and the inequities associated with it still strike a deep chord in South Africa.

The DA is pleased with the wide ranging reaction to the poster. An insightful comment I read on the related Facebook page came from Jhandre Bredenkamp who said: "Well done in drawing reaction! Time for many people to stop and think: What does my reaction to this photo really say about me?"

While some of the more considered objections to the poster are understandable, overall the positive message it sends wins out.

More on story from Huffington Post and Mail and Guardian

Siberia: toys and dolls stage Russian mini-demo

Russians unhappy with rigged elections and the prospect of the return of Tsar Vlad don't always have it easy making their objections known, especially if they happen to live in the Siberian city of Barnaul.

Would-be protestors had to become resourceful when a protest was broken up and requests to hold a sanctioned demo repeatedly turned down by local authorities. Rather than defy the ban in person locals decided to use toys and stuffed animals as stand-ins - an event they dubbed a "nano demonstration."

Lego figurines, teddy bears, stuffed rabbits and monkeys, toy sheep and horses took up the cause. An army of mini protestors, all immune to frostbite, had no problem standing in the snow alongside miniature protest signs. The messages got straight to the point: "I'm for clean elections"... "A thief should sit in jail, not the Kremlin"... "Putin: don't confuse the peoples' interests with your own interests."

A graduate student behind the toy demo, Lyudmila Alexandrova said "The authorities' attempt to limit citizens' rights to express their position has become absurd..."

Russians are very resourceful when it comes to challenging the authorities. The art collective Voina has staged a number of headline making events in order to get their message out. Everything from staged hangings to painting a 65-meter-phallus on a bridge in St Petersburg.

The toy demo in Barnaul hasn't fared any better than the human ones. Cops tried pressuring those involved to take their little furry friends home... took photos of the toys and wrote down the messages on the signs. They also warned that the event was illegal since the demo area hadn't been rented from city authorities.

Despite the novelty aspect to the Barnaul protest, the message is deadly serious. There is a lot of anger in Russia over an election that was clearly rigged in favor of Putin's United Russia party aka "the party of crooks and thieves."

Stalin once said that it is the counting rather than the voting that matters. The maxim still seems to hold true. Exit polling indicated United Russia had won less than 30% of the vote. But after a long wait, the result came in at 46.5%.

Other irregularities include astounding turnouts in some regions that appeared to exceed 140%. In Chechnya United Russia pulled off a miraculous 99.5%.

If toys can get out the message about the vote rigging and contempt for democracy that is stalling progressive reform in Russia, more power to them.

More from Radio Free Europe

A photo gallery of the toy demo from The Guardian.

Al Jazeera video discusses the Russian election and rigging allegations:

CasaPound: Ezra Pound's daughter defends fascist papa

Top: Ezra Pound/Mary de Rachewiltz

The daughter of the American poet, Ezra Pound, is demanding that the Italian extremist organization CasaPound stop using her father's name.

Mary de Rachewiltz was spurred to take legal action by the Christmas killing of two Senegalese traders in Florence. The perpetrator, Gianluca Casseri - who committed suicide following the killings - was known to have ties with CasaPound.

Casseri

Ms Rachewiltz takes exception to what she describes as a "politically compromised organization" using the name of Pound. Hardly surprising CasaPound found the poet so inspirational. Her equally "compromised" father was a fascist supporter in WW2 - and a very vocal one.

Ezra Pound was a highly accomplished poet, but his reputation has been marred by his fascism and the virulent anti-Jewish views that can be found in his poetry, writings and polemics. What is odd about Pound is the stark contrast between the disciplined use-of-language in his poetry and the fascist shill who at times came off like the worst type of soap box demagogue.

The poet Charles Olson had an interesting take on Pound - "Pound and his kind want to ignore [the masses]. They try to lock them out. But they swarm at the windows in such numbers they block out the light and the air. And in their little place Pound and his kind suffocate, their fear turns to hate. And their hate breeds death. They want to kill. And, organized by Hitler and Mussolini, they do kill--millions."

Pound's broadcasts on Italian radio during WW2 included frequent attacks on Jews. During the same period he wrote for Italian newspapers - apparently he needed the coin. One piece had the title The Jews, Disease Incarnate. His pro-fascist writings also showed up in Action, a newspaper put out by British fascist leader Oswald Mosley. On its pages he stated his bizarre belief that the Third Reich was "the natural civilizer of Russia."

Associates were made aware of his loyalties. In a letter to the publisher James Laughlin, he wrote that Roosevelt represented Jewry in America and signed off with "Heil Hitler."

Even on the day of Germany's surrender, Pound had high words of praise for Hitler. On May 8, 1945, he told a reporter from the Philadelphia Record that Hitler was "a Jeanne d'Arc, a saint."

He was arrested by American troops and transferred to the US Disciplinary Training Center north of Pisa. There he was consigned to a six-by-six outdoor steel cage or "death cell" for three weeks. The experience contributed to a mental breakdown.

The steel cages in Pisa.

On his return to the US Pound was charged with treason. He was judged to be mentally ill and confined in St Elizabeth's hospital in Washington D.C. Following his release from the hospital in 1958, he returned to Italy where he died in 1972.

Given Ezra Pound's very public fascist allegiances and extensive connections with Italy, it's little surprise that a new breed of extremist in that country identifies with him. While it's entirely understandable that Mary de Rachewiltz has reacted to the Florence killings with concern about the appropriation of the Pound name, her late father supported an ideology that was responsible not for the death of two, but for the death of millions.

Beneath is an Ezra Pound radio recording from the 40's. The audio quality is poor but it provides an insight into his views of World War 2.

Not my dad!

Breivik's manifesto 2083 to be adapted for stage by Cafe Teatret

The manifesto of Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik is headed for a dramatic makeover. The artistic director of the Copenhagen based Cafe Teatret, Christian Lollike, has plans to adapt the 1,500 page manifesto for the stage.

Lollike said that the views espoused by Breivik aren't unique and that it's possible a similar type of tragedy could happen again. He believes it is important to understand where Breivik was coming from - "What I'm afraid of is that Breivik's way of thinking will be left alone and will not be probed and reflected on..."

Christian Lollike

A cynical view might be that the project is an attempt to exploit Breivik's infamy. That certainly seems to be the view of Erik Ulfsby, director of The Norwegian Theatre. He called Lollike's rationale "a bad excuse to draw attention to his project."

Per Balch Soerensen, the father of one of those murdered by Breivik said the play - Manifesto 2083 - is an "acceptance of his (Breivik's) acts."

Lollike is right about one thing - it is important to examin Breivik's ideas. It is important to look beyond the manifesto as Breivik's "creation" to the sources, connections and individuals that helped inspire and motivate him. He may have acted alone, but he was heavily influenced by the "crusading" conspiracy theorists who, however inadvertently, helped place a metaphorical gun in his hand. There was nothing spontaneous about Breivik's actions, the massacre was preceded by meticulous planning and extensive online communications.

A Guardian article titled Anders Breivik's spider web of hate includes maps that show the web pages Breivik linked to and the ways in which those pages link back to Breivik's manifesto:

More Breivik mind maps from the Guardian here.

Breivik's manifesto is heavily derivative with borrowings from some of the better known online "defenders of the gates." Names that come up include the pseudonymous Fjordman and Jihad Watch's Robert Spence. Breivik also seemed impressed with a site called Gates of Vienna run by American Edward May. Other pundits mentioned include Daniel Pipes, Mark Steyn and Melanie Phillips.

In common with a lot of right wing alarmists Breivik blames the "downfall" of Western culture on "cultural Marxists" and "multiculturalism." His obsessions are tediously predictable - vikings, Templars, crusaders... all the epic stuff that fed into his sense of being white, Christian and superior. He says at one point "I am very proud of my Viking heritage. My name, Breivik, is a place name from Northern Norway, dating back to before the Viking era..."

It's the type of mono-minded writing of the cut-and-paste variety that seems eerily familiar. Some pundits have noted a similarity in style between Breivik's manifesto and jihadist instruction manuals.

Some on the right argue that Breivik was a madman and that calling him an "Islamophobe" shouldn't really apply because he went after his "neighbors" and no mosque was targeted. The need to believe that since Breivik was deranged those who he cites as authorities are somehow absolved of any taint of association, however tangential, is understandable. These pundits are keen to put as much mileage between themselves and the atrocity as possible. Labeling Breivik as unhinged is one way of doing that. Unfortunately for them, twisted though Breivik's thinking may be a recent diagnosis determined that he is not insane.

UK Independent:

Psychiatrists who are monitoring Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik say that he is not psychotic, contradicting an earlier diagnosis by experts.

A court filing by the public prosecutor said four experts at Ila Prison in Oslo had not observed any signs that Breivik was insane.

It was also revealed that he was not receiving any medication and the prison had not seen any need to move him to another facility.

His manifesto although derivative was carefully crafted, even compelling reading in parts. A crusader on a mission and it's clear where he drew his inspiration from.

One way to do a dramatic reworking of the manifesto would be to get behind the crusader's mask and justifications to expose the web of hate-driven thinking that was a prime motivator. A theatrical adaptation of Breivik's manifesto just might succeed in doing that. Whether Cafe Teatret's monologue, Manifesto 2083, will come even close is another question.

Loomit and year of 'Germany in India'

The German graffiti artist Mathias Koehler aka Loomit has been working in India under the aegis of the year of "Germany in India". Graffiti artists Zebster, Tasso and Wok have also been involved with the project.

Here's part of the statement put out by Infinite Opportunities that describes some of the aims of "Germany and India 2011-2012":

Eligible projects have to be in accordance with the overall theme and focus of “Germany and India 2011-2012: Infinite Opportunities”. The project should be relevant to both Germany and India and fall under the thematic focus of “StadtRäume — CitySpaces”, which addresses relevant transformation processes in India and the various challenges regarding rapid urban development.

Later this month the German Film Orchestra will perform works by the Indian composer A.R. Rahman aka "the Mozart of Madras". In another much anticipated event the legendary German football club Bayern Munich took on team India at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.

Loomit has been working in Delhi. One of his projects took him to the Malviya Nagar area. Below are some examples of Loomit's work in India.

Loomit in Delhi

Check out the video beneath of a collaborative musical event featuring German percussionist and drummer Christoph Haberer and Indian percussionist Sivamani.





Read more about Germany in India 2011-2012 here.

Rick Perry's misguided 'Islamic terrorist' spin re Turkey

As though we need any more proof that American politics on the right risks a descent into unhinged nuttiness, up steps Rick Perry with his wisdom on Turkey.

Perry has had a few challenges in the course of the Republican race. A candidate touted as a top gun in the right's campaign against Barrack Obama has revealed himself over time to be a few bullets short of a full round.

Most recently Perry suggested that Turkey is run by Islamic terrorists. He made this astonishing remark during a Republican candidates' debate while attempting to drive home a point about honor killings in Turkey.

That wasn't his only outlandish claim. During a TV interview he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that Turkey received $11 billion in aid in the last few years. This is incorrect unless Perry's "few years" covers the time span between now and the 1940's. Since 2009 Turkey has received $21 million in military and security assistance.

Turkey is a long standing NATO ally. Just recently a NATO early-warning radar system - part of the missile defense system in Europe - was set up in Turkey. The White House stated in response to Perry's remarks, Turkey is "on the front line in the war against terrorism."

Syria's Bashar al-Assad who is viewed by many on the right as a backer of "Islamic terrorism" has been roundly criticized by Turkish authorities for attacking his own citizens. Turkey went as far as slapping sanctions against Damascus last month. PM Erdogan has called for al-Assad to step down.

So-called "honor" killings happen in many countries, not just Turkey. They happen here in Canada, in the UK. They happen in the USA. They happen in Sweden, in Denmark, in the Netherlands. It is a mistake to use it as an excuse to tar Turkey - and by extension Islam - with the "extremist" brush because at root it is a product of patriarchal cultural norms that run deep in more traditional societies. Many imams have openly condemned the practice.

In reaction to a current case in Canada involving an Afghan man who is on trial for the murder of his three daughters and first wife, dozens of Canadian imams spoke out to condemn "honor" violence. Ottawa-based imam Samy Metwally told the Ottawa Citizen “What’s called honour killing is not part of Islamic teaching or tradition, and in fact there is no honour in this killing at all...” He spoke with the newspaper on the day of the "call to action" when imams across Canada delivered sermons expressing their opposition to the practice.

Violence in Turkey towards women and gays in the name of misguided honor is a problem. On this blog I wrote about the background to the killing of a gay Turkish man named Ahmet Yildiz. Crimes against women and homosexuals that in the past remained hushed up in Turkey are increasingly being exposed. This is one reason we are seeing an increase in related stats and hearing more about such incidents in the media. A good thing, because an important step in tackling such abuses is to force them into the light of day.

When a 19-year old named Ceylan Sosyal was killed by her brother with family connivance because she married without her parent's approval - six members of the family were taken into custody. Turkey is showing signs of getting to grips with a problem that PM Erdogan has described as “a longstanding bleeding wound of the society.”

Writing in The Guardian, Elif Shafak speaks of some of the initiatives that are being taken in Turkey, both officially and at the grass roots level, to address the problem:

Family and social policies minister Fatma Sahin has announced that abusive husbands will be kept away from their homes with the help of electronic handcuffs. A group of men in the eastern province of Van have organised a significant march to protest at male violence. The group's speaker proclaimed: "We are ashamed of men who attack women and do so in the name of manhood."

University students are marching on the streets, women's organisations are collecting signatures. Through blogs, websites, magazines, fanzines, panels and conferences activists are raising their voices, singers give concerts to honour women who have been victims of killings, writers and poets condemn the violence openly and contest it with their words. And yet, all this is not enough. Unless we change the way we raise our sons and discard our belief that they are superior to our daughters, unless we mothers stop treating our sons as the sultans in the house, nothing will be enough.

"Honor" violence in Turkey is rooted in social conditioning, especially in those sectors of society that have a more traditional patriarchal outlook. Using these tragedies to create the impression that Turkish leadership is extremist and "terrorist" is completely off-base.

Perry is at the back of the pack in S. Carolina so maybe he decided to go for a headline grabber in hopes of scaring up a few badly needed votes.

The world according to Rick

Murdoch tweets target Google, White House and Silicon Valley

Rupert Murdoch has had his hands full of late. He has been exploring his 'human side' with a Twitter account. No coincidence of course that he has taken to a Twitter facelift in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal involving News International.

Employees in the Murdoch trenches have been accused of hacking phones to get an edge on stories. They have also been called out for police bribery and exercising improper influence in pursuit of stories. One way to off-set dark talk of the media monster variety is to tweet like a regular human which Murdoch has been doing a lot of lately.

On the heels of the White House rejection of the SOPA and PIPA anti-piracy bills, the News Corp boss accused the White House of selling out to "Silicon Valley paymasters who threaten all software creators with piracy, plain thievery..." Not true. The White House has come out against deeply flawed piracy legislation, but isn't turning a blind eye to piracy.

A White House statement said in part:

"Let us be clear – online piracy is a real problem that harms the American economy, threatens jobs for significant numbers of middle-class workers and hurts some of our nation's most creative and innovative companies and entrepreneurs..."

It also said that it wouldn't support legislation that "reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risks or undermines the dynamic, innovative global internet."

While he was tweeting his objections, Murdoch found time to accuse Google of being a "piracy leader." For Murdoch to accuse anyone of being a "piracy leader" is more than a little rich.

Google's Samantha Smith responded to the criticisms:

“Last year we took down 5 million infringing Web pages from our search results and invested more than $60 million in the fight against bad ads. Like many other tech companies, we believe that there are smart, targeted ways to shut down foreign rogue websites without asking U.S. companies to censor the Internet.”

Opposition to the bills doesn't mean detractors are by definition soft on piracy. There are good reasons for concern. Google's Erik Schmidt characterized the piracy legislation as "draconian." More of Schmidt's views of the legislation here.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin said the bills "give the U.S. government and copyright holders extraordinary powers including the ability to hijack DNS and censor search results (and this is even without so much as a proper court trial)." Brin said he was "shocked" that US lawmakers would consider legislation that "...would put us on a par with the most oppressive nations in the world.” More on Brin's comments from cnet.

The argument is about the best way to go about tackling the piracy problem. Murdoch always seems mad keen on heavy handed measures, but there are smarter ways forward than resorting to the piracy bill approach.

It's much smarter to tackle piracy through a targeted approach, something the White House seems to get:

"Any provision covering internet intermediaries such as online advertising networks, payment processors, or search engines must be transparent and designed to prevent overly broad private rights of action that could encourage unjustified litigation that could discourage startup businesses and innovative firms from growing..."

The piracy bill may have been sidelined but it's far from over. No doubt there will be further attempts down the line. Which is why it is critically important for those who care about internet freedom to stay informed and if necessary petition their local reps when they believe those freedoms are under threat.

Video beneath talks about some of the challenges: