Activism

Frances Moore Lappé in Madison Wednesday November 16

Come hear from and speak to this long-time food and democracy activist and author or co-author of fifteen books, including the groundbreaking Diet for a Small Planet.

Handbook for Cyber-Dissidents

by Sheldon Rampton — October 28, 2005 - 11:42am

Reporters Without Borders has published a "Handbook for Bloggers and Cyber-Dissidents," with technical instructions and advice for people who want to use the internet as a means of expression in repressive societies.

Main Source: 
Reporters Without Borders

One Step Forward (But Two Back) in the Fight Against Fake News

by Diane Farsetta — October 21, 2005 - 6:30pm
  • Topics: Activism, Video News Releases, Politics, U.S. Government

    • "Myself and others felt violated by the first bill," said Doug Simon, the founder, president and CEO of D S Simon Productions, a major producer of the faux television news reports known as video news releases (VNRs).

    Simon was referring to the Truth in Broadcasting Act (S 967). In its original incarnation, this bill would have required a "conspicuous" disclosure to accompany any government-produced or -funded prepackaged VNR or the radio equivalent, an audio news release (ANR).

    Pesticides and Forest Service Fires

    by Diane Farsetta — October 7, 2005 - 10:03am
    U.S. Forest Service logo

    "A U.S. Forest Service official who voiced concerns about alleged pesticide misuse in forests across the Southwest has been fired," reports Associated Press.

    Main Source: 
    Associated Press, October 6, 2005

    What's Your Poison?

    by Bob Burton — September 23, 2005 - 4:26am

    The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has back-tracked on a decision to prevent No Free Lunch - a group dedicated to curbing drug industry marketing to doctors - from hiring booth space at its annual scientific assembly.

    Main Source: 
    Brandweek, September 21, 2005

    Spooks Spin at The Oz

    by Bob Burton — September 22, 2005 - 6:53am

    After being deported by the Australian government, U.S. peace activist Scott Parkin has ridiculed claims against him in The Australian. "If I am such a threat, why have the FBI not even phoned me since my return from Australia to follow up [Australian intelligence]'s silly allegations? ...

    Main Source: 
    Sydney Morning Herald, September 22, 2005

    Never Whoosh A Spook!

    by Bob Burton — September 16, 2005 - 3:20pm
  • Topics: Activism, International, War / Peace

    • Non-violence training workshops I attended in the 1980s often featured, as a tension-breaker or wind-down game, a little exercise known as the whoosh.

    For the uninitiated, a whoosh consists of one person standing in the centre of a circle of people holding hands. Starting from a low crouch, the circle slowly moves in with the pronunciation of whooooooosh building to a crescendo as the group converges, culminating with an enthusiastic jump. The person in the centre is then considered to have been whooshed.

    If such exercises are still in non-violence training workshop manuals, maybe it's time a warning label was added: Never whoosh a spook!

    Why? This week the Australian government deported Houston-based peace and environmental activist Scott Parkin, after revoking his six-month visitor visa. No reason was given; for all we know, Scott whooshed some hapless, wet-behind-the-ears Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) spook sent to spy on one of the non-violence training sessions he was attending.

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