The hauntingly beautiful picture above is by Syrian artist Tammam Azzam, with his personal tribute to Gustav Klimt's " The Kiss" which he has retitled "Freedom Graffiti. "Since seen by millions across the globe, as it has been virally shared across social media. It is superimposed on a bullet ridden, war torn building in Syria. Using Klimt's idealistic vision, from the ashes of destruction, the first thing to rise is creativity, the urge to overcome pain and heal. Love is stronger than hate. The struggle continues until the face of the earth becomes the face of love. This love needed so much now to lighten the pain and suffering of this country, this artwork a magnificent reminder of the power of the human imagination, leaving a glimmer of hope to those that remain. These shattered lives, need hope, and their homes to be rebuilt again, and an end to their suffering. No more bombs to fall.
Sad to hear that John Trudell that acclaimed Native American poet, recording artist,vietnam vet, actor and activist whose international following reflects the universal language of his words, work and message has passed away from cancer aged only 69. Trudell (Santee Sioux) was the son of a Sastae Sioux father and Mexican Indian Mother. After leaving the military he gave his life to one of full time activism, becoming a spokesperson for the Indian Tribes occupation of Alcatraz Island from 1969 to 1971. He then worked with the American Indian Movement (AIM), serving as Chairman of AIM from 1973 - 1979. He was part of a group of Native American activists who occupied Alcatraz Island in 1969. In February of 1979, however, a fire of unknown origin killed his pregnant wife, his three children and mother-in law. It was through this horrible tragedy that Trudell began to find his voice as an artist and poet, writing, "to stay connected to this reality".
The filmaker Heather Rae spent more than a decade making a documentary about him, which was released in 2005 Trudell.
The intention was to demonstrate how his political and cultural activities were tied to contemporary history and inspired people.
He has campaigned for the release of the Native American activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted in 1976 for the 1975 shooting of 2 FBI agents at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Many believe this conviction was unjust and like many of his forefathers he has been treated abysmally so on February the 4th there will be an international day of solidarity for him
Leonard Peltier though imprisoned for over 35 years, aged 71 and in poor health, is still full of hope. Like Trudell he believes that they are stronger than the miserable conditions that unfortunately they find in their reservations, and the terrible poor conditions their communities live among.
A website dedicated to him can be found here. http://www.leonardpeltier.net/
Trudell himself used a powerful fusion of poetry and music to spread his message. A prolific poet who combined spoken word with music over 12 albums, and actor who starred in several films. Of himself he declares " I'm just a human being trying to make it in a world that is very rapidly losing its understanding of being human." His writings that started as therapy have become acts of war speaking out against injustice in humanity's name, through the experience of his community and that of his ancestors. He became a powerful champion of indigeneous rights and was part of a growing force for change. His voice empowering, inspirational and necessary.
John Trudell aged 25
"As human beings, we are given the power of intelligence. And, when we understand and respect that power by using it clearly and coherently as part of our thinking process, we will be able to create solutions to the problems that confront us individually and collectively."
- John Trudell, (Oct 12, 2008.)
.
Here was a man who felt and witnessed tragedy, who continued to act and think consciously, be a defiant thorn in the side of authority who refused to be shut up or let his independent voice be drowned out. It is people like him that for me makes me believe in humanity. With his soft spoken voice his words resonated, and echoed with wisdom, using words as weapons of survival. He also said when he was younger "he fought for a revolution that he believed would lead to freedom. " Well throughout his life he continued to do so, fighting against injustice, racism . he has burnt his nations flag, this dissenting troubadour waged his war, remained human, and free.
It is sad to have to say goodbye to this charismatic outspoken voice of passion and integrity.
So long brother, safe journey, humanity is strong because of voices like John's.
" No matter what they ever do to us, we must always act for the love of our people and the earth. We must not react out of hatred against those who have no sense. "- John Trudell
My partner has been stuck in Glangwili General hospital for last 5 months, looked after by an amazing compassionate dedicated staff. That help deliver a personal touch, that doctors have not the time to. It saddens me though that our cruel Tory Government are planning to force nurses into debt of at least £51,000 by making them pay the entire bill for their training, even though nurses at the moment spend 50% of their training time working for the N.H.S on clinical placements and their starting salary is £22,799 as spelled out in George Osborne's spending review last September. Ask your MP to stand up for the N.H.S and its nurses. This plan will make recruitment even harder for the N.H.S, and putting the N.H.S workforce under increased pressure, but that is probably the Tory's big plan. Already there is a crisis with more patients and less staff, with the service stretched to breaking point and running out of cash. Nurses are already underpaid for the life-saving work they do and now the Tory's want to allow them to start their career in debt, if they are not put of training altogether. These bursaries offer a lifeline, allowing individuals to attend university and meet their extensive and demanding clinical placement hours. It allows nurses to devote their ability to care, the plans will mean that many people from poorer backgrounds will be unable to fulfill their dreams. The Tory's are trying to destroy our beloved health service, their plans are simply unfair and wrong, we cannot allow them to achieve their aims, working with health workers and the unions we must fight together to stop this from happening. Their plans are simply unfair and wrong and disgraceful. Nurses are the N.H.S's pride, our lions, I am extremely grateful for all that they do.
Theresa
May is preparing to abandon plans for a British Bill of Rights after
Britain leaves the European Union, Government sources have suggested.
Ministers have confirmed that the Government's plans to scrap the Human Rights Act have been shelved until after Brexit. However sources say that the plans may
now be abandoned entirely because Brexit will significantly strengthen
the sovereignty of British courts. This could have huge implications for rights protections in the UK and across Europe, Theresa May plans to take the UK out of the European Convention on Human Rights.The Prime Minister plans to fight the 2020
election on a platform of leaving the European Convention on Human
Rights (ECHR). The PM plans to “lift and shift” rights protections so
people in the UK can only seek rights protections in UK courts. If
correct, this would be the first time that any major party has promised
to take the UK out of the ECHR altogether. The ECHR is an international treaty which the United Kingdom signed
up to after World War II. It contains a list of human rights and
fundamental freedoms necessary to live a dignified life. The UK was instrumental in drafting the treaty and was amongst the first signatories in 1950. It came into force in 1953. The government had promised to replace the Human Rights Act with a
“British Bill of Rights”, but those plans appear to have been put on the
back burner since the UK voted to leave the European Union earlier this
year. The Telegraph reports that May “has decided that she cannot start
that fight with the prospect of negotiating Britain’s exit from the
European Union set to dominate Parliament over the next few years.” The report goes on: A senior Government source said: “We would have been
looking at having a huge row with a Parliament to get through the
Cameron plan and we might even have failed. A clean break is by far the
best option and, if we put it in the manifesto, even those Tory MPs who
are squeamish about the idea will have to get behind it. A manifesto
pledge also means the Lords will have to let it through eventually. All
the signs are that the Prime Minister is up for this.”
The 2020 Election is still just
under four years away, and much could happen between now and then –
particularly given the uncertain politics of Brexit. This report could
be no more than a “balloon” being raised to see how people react. It
could also be no more than an attempt to address concerns to the right
of the Tory Party that the Bill of Rights plans seem likely to be
seriously delayed.
However, May has advocated ECHR-withdrawal before,
so this would be a consistent move. If it is true, then it could signal
a very significant change to UK human rights protections, as well as a
potential major blow to the Convention system which the UK helped
create.
Human rights do exactly what they say, they are rights that belong to all people by virtue of being human. We must continue to stand together for the protection of human rights, for the protection of all.
On December 8, 1987, 16 year old Palestinian schoolboy protestor,Hatem Abu Sissah is killed by Israeli soldiers, he had simply gone to join with hundreds of others, demonstrating against their ongoing occupation. On December 9th an Israeli truck crashed into two vans carrying Palestinian workers, killing 4 inhabitants. It would act as a final straw and catalyst for the days of rage that were to follow. It would ignite the first intifada in Israeli-occupied Palestine, a popular uprising that would see many Palestinians uniting in a campaign of resistance against the Israeli occupation. Spreading initially from the Jabaila refugee camp, throughout the occupied territories, the Gaza strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It would lead to a general strike, refusal to pay taxes, a boycott of Israeli institutions and riots which lasted until the early 1990s. In Arabic intifada means to rise up or to shake off. It would embody the struggle of the Palestinians to win basic freedoms long denied by Israel, against policies of exclusion and domination, against a background of oppression.and the denial of basic freedoms. In the days and years that followed, almost daily clashes with Israeli soldiers would occur and would catapult the Palestinian cause onto the international stage and into the hearts of millions of television viewers across the globe as they resisted a colonial military power that had been occupying their land by force since 1967. While the First Intifada is largely reduced to images of Palestinian boys throwing stones at Israeli tanks, women were at the helm of resistance. It would result in a total of 1,489 Palestinian lives being lost along with 185 Israelis. Some years later on September 13, 1993, the uprising would end with the Oslo Peace agreement between the PLO and Israel, that would bring the Palestinians dream of Independence in the West Bank, and Gaza one step closer, but was followed again in September 2000, with a second intifada.
The intifada transformed relations between occupiers and occupied. As the resistance went on month after month . year after year, the Israelis came to realise that they could neither dominate nor expel the Palestinians.
This was not the first time that Palestinians rose up in protest, In 1935, when Palestine was still under British colonial rule, it was British forces that killed, injured and arrested thousands of Palestinians fed up with colonialism and occupation. And it was British colonial lawmakers who instituted practices such as administrative detention, detaining people without charge or trial a practice which was then adopted Israeli policy, that is still being used against Palestinians today.
Palestinians still have to take principled methods of non-violent civil disobedience, that includes general strikes, boycotts of Israeli products, refusal to pay taxes, hunger strikes, along with graffiti, and spontaneous demonstrations to allow their plight to be recognised by the world.
Many believe that it wont be long until a third intifada comes to call. How many more intifada's must be fought until real justice for the Palestinian people prevails and the world finally witnesses an end of illegal Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian territories.?
Datblygu a favourite band of mine , seminal Welsh post-punk legends, have just released their latest album. It is called Porwr Trallford ( Tribulation Browser) A continuing journey of the magical force that is Pat Morgan and David Rupert Edwards, delivering again a smouldering sound of truth. Dave like a lot of us has unfortunatley has over the years had to battle and endure mental illness, but despite it all, with this record, he keeps delivering a poetical depth of beauty and raw honesty. I confess now that I personally know Dave,and over the years and so have witnessed his strength, his friendship and love, that has carried and lifted me, kept me afloat in my own periods of darkness. But at the end of the day, if you want hear some truth. switch off the mainstream news, seek out this record full of lyrical beauty, of musical depth, and emotion, carried in the medium of the Welsh ,a message that will also enable you to fall in love with this rich language. When the lights continue to go on and off, here is a light that delivers truth and soul. So if your into christmas, I can think of nothing better to send than this wonderful record, that truly deserves a much wider audience, with messages of hope, taking in Jack Kerouac, Richard Burton, broken britain, alcohol ,lust, life and loss, a passionate voice from here in West Wales, a clear ember from the soul, that will leave you blinded with beauty as the world's dark shadows drift. All in the beautiful medium of the Welsh language. This is truly a beautiful gift of a much needed poetical genius. So diolch yn fawr, thank you very much Pat and Dave, I continue to love your journey and gift immensely, I will end with a quote from Mr Edwards - "there's no need to analyse, feelings so pure." Seek this record out I guarantee it will not offer you any disappointment. I for one will continue to love Datblygu's music ureservedly. a band that almost stopped me going completely insane.
Some musical respite among the darkness. Full of cold at moment, but I keep looking, and at the end of the day another world is possible, we should not allow fear to rob us of this potential. Politicians are leading us currently in the wrong direction, they can be averted though by building on the struggle for a different kind of world. Lets not be puppets attached to their strings, seek new possibilities, keep on longing for a more beautiful world, abandon their shackles, their greed and need for war, overcome their barriers, yes truly another world is possible. All the best heddwch/peace
On this day December 4, 1969, Chicago Black Panther Party Chairman, revolutionary and activist was assasinated by the Chicago Ploice Department in collusion with the F.B.I.
Just 21 years old Hampton was a dynamic young activist and one of the founders of the Chicago Rainbow Coalition, that sought to unite the Black Panthers, and the American Indian Movement in one common struggle.
Many saw him as the next possible Martin Luther King or the next Malcolm X, or perhaps the next great leader of Black Americans.
Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs of Maywood, Illinois, he became involved in the civil rights movement, joining his local branch of the National Association For the Advancement of Coloured People. (NAAP ). His dynamic leadership and organisational skills led him to rise to the position of Youth Council President.
He sought to unite people through socialism, against the capitalist system, fighting against racism and discrimination through practice and deeds, seeking to find solutions that would improve poor and working peoples lives, through struggle, without getting bogged down in watered down reformity. He sought to do this through observation and practice. A dangerous message then, still is today I guess.
His organisation provided breakfasts for poor school children and a free medical clinic for those that needed it. Hampton himself also taught political education classes. He also managed to persuade two of Chicago's most powerful street gangs to stop fighting one another.
His attempt at unification of different peoples struggles bought him to the attention of J.Edgar Hover and the F.B.I. During an early morning police raid, he and fellow Black Panther Mark Clark were shot down dead in a hail of bullets. Hampton was sleeping in his bed. This was seen by many at the time as a serious attempt to undermine the Black Panthers powerful message.
Although many years have since gone since his passing, the peoples love for this man remains strong. His powerful message remains strong. People still fighting discrimination and ongoing racism.
In 2004 the Chicago City Council passed a resolution commemorating December 4 as Fred Hampton Day.
" We got to face some facts. That the masses are poor, that the masses belong to what you call the lower classes, and I talk about the masses, I'm talking about the white masses, I'm talking about the black masses, and the brown masses, and the yellow masses.
We've got to face the fact that some people say you fight fire best with fire, but we say you put fire out best with water. We say you don't fight racism with racism. We're going to fight racism with solidarity.
We say don't fight capitalism with no black capitalism, you fight capitalism with socialism. "
- Fred Hampton.
A brother who fought the oppressor,
who attacked the suppressor,
people continue his fight,
discrimination has not ended,
nor has the struggle.
the dream of freedom is kept alive,
some people pay the price,
when they try to fight back,
you can kill a revolutionary,
but you cant kill the revolution.
the spirit, lives on. I am a revolutionary - Fred Hampton
Yesterday in a mad rush for war, we saw reason crushed, after a peacemakers son, ** made the case for air-strikes in Syria, saw the house of commons applauding, exploiting issues of terror for political gain, deciding to send hawks of war, instead of peaceful wings of doves. Men and women in London, once again drawing maps, to serve their own interests, instead of yours and mine, actions that can't be unmade, allowing the odour of death, to be cast upon foreign land. Not in our names people cry, they dont support this government, and are not sympathetic to terrorists, simply don't want more bad news, in the coming months after December, will continue to work for peace's endurance, for friendly shadows to be shared among us all.
David Cameron recently said that those who oppose bombing in Syria as terrorist sympathisers, he has since refused to apologise. Power has simply gone to the head of this Typical Eton bully boy, he shows utter contempt for many people in Britain who simply do not want the bloodshed of innocents to be shed. It seems that he is incapable of listening to those that do not share his illogical point of view. He is clearly a laughing stock, worrying though with such a dangerous level of power. It makes him out as contemptible and desperate as he makes this awful slur on those trying to deliver peace. We should not be enslaved by this horrible hypocrite, we should carry on being human, and working for peace, if they ignore us later as I fear M.Ps will, we must strive to beat them with a more reasoned response. In this present time his marks unhelpful and deeply offensive. Follow people of principle instead of those who continue to unleash their arrogance and wilful disdain for others opinion. Does he not realize or has he just turned blind, started listening to outside agendas, that the bombing of innocents is what most reasonable people would consider to be acts of terrorism. Scapegoating people is not a way to win an argument, it is simply name calling of the worst order, he should be treated with all the contempt that he deserves. Please tell me what is so wrong about standing up for the values of peace and justice? What about the terror Mr Cameron that you have unleashed on the poor, homeless, diadvantaged here in Great Britain?
