tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-276494992024-03-06T00:06:34.202+00:00Undercurrents reportson social change movies, video activism & alternative news
Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.comBlogger2812125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-64388983419918820682022-05-27T13:44:00.001+01:002022-05-27T13:44:47.410+01:00 Sol Cinema gives Wales the Royal Treatment <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy9_dWSlKmASyI-yKbZzpeEMsXJ2_pRRytt9AjMlSiS2MFqOUA0J9555rHn4oaQxqNlXGtYV3noeCc4uFp3Hpu7Z_QnIVRaer7raTZi71jPiQby-9VYzxPh_PzL7DCKMT62O69sDyREXtT2UDeSjsvfPTkebXwVRW0NG9FTkrpNtVd9fmOcU/s960/smile%20sol%20cinema.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijy9_dWSlKmASyI-yKbZzpeEMsXJ2_pRRytt9AjMlSiS2MFqOUA0J9555rHn4oaQxqNlXGtYV3noeCc4uFp3Hpu7Z_QnIVRaer7raTZi71jPiQby-9VYzxPh_PzL7DCKMT62O69sDyREXtT2UDeSjsvfPTkebXwVRW0NG9FTkrpNtVd9fmOcU/s320/smile%20sol%20cinema.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /><br />Sol Cinema gives Wales the Royal Treatment <br /><br />An award-winning Swansea mobile cinema will be performing again for the first time in 2 years. Sol Cinema has been booked to perform in North Wales as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebratory weekend.<br /><br />Royal Rhyl will be held on Saturday, June 4 on the town’s high street and includes a first-time visit from an historical regal guest, royal-themed crafts and activities, and traditional seaside activities. The highlight of the day-long event will be a visit from the Sol Cinema, the world’s smallest picture house, powered entirely by the sun.<br /><br />A Glastonbury Festival favourite, the Sol Cinema draws big crowds wherever it goes. The tiny picture house was hired by the band Madness last year to premiere their new film.<br /><br />Town Council clerk Gareth Nickels said: <br />“There are lots of laughs in store with old-fashioned funfair stalls, a bubbleologist, the charming Sol Cinema with its quirky films, and a visit from a regal figure from way back just some things residents and visitors can look forward to.”<br /><br />People who come dressed as a prince or princess will be given a prize.<br /><br />Paul O’Connor, co-founder of the Sol Cinema, said: “We love coming to North Wales and are always made to feel very welcome. Sol Cinema is delighted to give the people of Rhyl the Royal treatment with our red carpet, usherettes and popcorn”<br /><br />Royal Rhyl will be held on the town’s high street between 11am-4pm on Saturday, June 4.<br /><br />Ends<br /><br /><a href="http://www.thesolcinema.org">http://www.thesolcinema.org</a></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p>Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.org</p>Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-62784837773534850442022-04-06T11:39:00.002+01:002022-04-06T11:39:29.691+01:00Free radical counter culture videos to good home<p>Free to good home- Undercurrents alternative News VHS and other videos
like Operation Solstice and Reclaim the Streets. Contact Alan Dearling
on <a href="mailto:adearling@aol.com">adearling@aol.com</a> <br /></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBAGY0c6YYkXjzFqjOtG6y3Loa7L_rMbCCRzGDdD6-lKWFBYSgM1caarod02hFW-_2QiIPYUmgZEVPaCbvZl0pVz0iTddciJF6Tu-3RDjmnXn0rqWu3HtDCUlrn_1GRxfRcdViNEEXabmv_wmuAt-9TkCRyfL5YuTF-bPcThuduvtf33CDKY/s2048/undercurrentsfilms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtBAGY0c6YYkXjzFqjOtG6y3Loa7L_rMbCCRzGDdD6-lKWFBYSgM1caarod02hFW-_2QiIPYUmgZEVPaCbvZl0pVz0iTddciJF6Tu-3RDjmnXn0rqWu3HtDCUlrn_1GRxfRcdViNEEXabmv_wmuAt-9TkCRyfL5YuTF-bPcThuduvtf33CDKY/s320/undercurrentsfilms.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> </p><p>Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.org</p>Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-38863394335847580392021-12-30T08:08:00.002+00:002021-12-30T08:09:13.937+00:00Majority of Government press meetings are with right wingers<h1 class="fhb wp-block-fabrica-headline is-style-sans-serif"><span class="fhb__line fhb-bold fhb-fs-default fhb-lh-xxs">81% of Downing Street Media Meetings</span><span class="fhb__line fhb-fs-default fhb-lh-xxs">Held with Right-Wing Newspapers</span></h1><div class="byline"><a class="byline__link" href="https://bylinetimes.com/author/sambright/">Sam Bright</a></div><div class="date marginBottom">14 December 2021</div> <img class="responsive ls-is-cached lazyloaded" data-src="https://bylinetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RUPERT-MURDOCH-scaled-910x0-c-default.jpg" src="https://bylinetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/RUPERT-MURDOCH-scaled-910x0-c-default.jpg" /><p class="has-drop-cap">The overwhelming majority of official Downing
Street and Cabinet Office ministerial meetings conducted with
journalists have been with members of right-wing newspapers, <i>Byline Times</i> can reveal.</p><p>From
the beginning of 2020 to June 2021, ministers in Downing Street and the
Cabinet Office have held 86 official meetings with members of the media
– 70 of which have been with journalists or executives at right-wing
newspapers. A further 12 of these meetings have been with members of the
broadcast media, while only two meetings have been with liberal or
left-leaning titles.</p><p> read more<br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.org</p>Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-23663517613133616162021-11-01T17:38:00.003+00:002021-11-01T17:38:43.694+00:00Watch LIVE reports from COP climate talks & resistance in Glasgow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="384" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ELt8PNSLpBM" width="463" youtube-src-id="ELt8PNSLpBM"></iframe></div><br />Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-8517657799843921572021-09-30T12:26:00.005+01:002021-09-30T12:26:50.298+01:00 Court rules undercover policing operation against protest movements were 'unlawful and sexist' <p><br /><span style="font-size: 36px;"><span style="color: red;"><strong><span style="font-family: helvetica neue,helvetica,arial,verdana,sans-serif;"></span></strong></span></span>
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Kate Wilson with her legal team outside Royal Courts of Justice
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The Investigatory Powers Tribunal today
handed down its ruling in Kate Wilson's epic ten-year legal battle over
the use of undercover police against protest movements<a href="https://cube.greennet.org.uk/8Ww4wXdPrdkcYDh7/?_task=mail&_framed=1&_caps=pdf%3D1%2Cflash%3D0%2Ctiff%3D0%2Cwebp%3D1&_uid=282317&_mbox=INBOX&_safe=1&_action=preview#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;">[i]</a> The detailed, ground-breaking, 156-page ruling<a href="https://cube.greennet.org.uk/8Ww4wXdPrdkcYDh7/?_task=mail&_framed=1&_caps=pdf%3D1%2Cflash%3D0%2Ctiff%3D0%2Cwebp%3D1&_uid=282317&_mbox=INBOX&_safe=1&_action=preview#_edn2" name="_ednref2" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;">[ii]</a> identified a "<em>formidable list</em>" of breaches of fundamental human rights by the Metropolitan Police without lawful justification in a democratic society<a href="https://cube.greennet.org.uk/8Ww4wXdPrdkcYDh7/?_task=mail&_framed=1&_caps=pdf%3D1%2Cflash%3D0%2Ctiff%3D0%2Cwebp%3D1&_uid=282317&_mbox=INBOX&_safe=1&_action=preview#_edn3" name="_ednref3" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;">[iii]</a>.
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<h1 align="center" class="v1mc-toc-title" style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 40px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;"><em><strong>Spy Cops slammed in court<br /></strong></em></h1>
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<p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 150%; margin: 10px 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0; text-align: left;">The
Tribunal looked at evidence relating to the sexual relationships UCO
Mark Kennedy had with Ms Wilson and a number of other women, and at the
widespread practice of undercover officers (UCOs) deceiving women into
intimate relationships, concluding that the police violated her Article 3
right to live free from inhumane and degrading treatment, as well as
her Article 8 right to private and family life, and that they were
guilty of sexist discrimination in their handling of her human rights.<br />
<br />
The findings stressed that the police failed to put in place systems,
safeguards or protections: training of UCOs in relation to sexual
relationships was grossly inadequate, and there was a widespread failure
of supervision of Mark Kennedy in his undercover role. The Tribunal
ruled that the failure to prevent undercover officers entering into
sexual relationships primarily impacted women<a href="https://cube.greennet.org.uk/8Ww4wXdPrdkcYDh7/?_task=mail&_framed=1&_caps=pdf%3D1%2Cflash%3D0%2Ctiff%3D0%2Cwebp%3D1&_uid=282317&_mbox=INBOX&_safe=1&_action=preview#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;">[iv]</a>, to the extent that it amounted to sexist discrimination under Article 14.</p>
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<h1 class="v1null" style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 40px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;"><strong><em>"Don't ask, don't tell"</em></strong></h1>
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The Tribunal noted that the evidence showed a
disturbing lack of concern on the part of the police about the impact
on women of introducing undercover officers into their lives, and the
likelihood that those officers would seek to have sex. The ruling
stressed that the sexual relationship Ms Wilson was deceived into by
Mark Kennedy was conducted with the knowledge of his principal cover
officer, and that his deployment manager<a href="https://cube.greennet.org.uk/8Ww4wXdPrdkcYDh7/?_task=mail&_framed=1&_caps=pdf%3D1%2Cflash%3D0%2Ctiff%3D0%2Cwebp%3D1&_uid=282317&_mbox=INBOX&_safe=1&_action=preview#_edn1" name="_ednref1" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;">[v]</a>,
and other senior officers of Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) level and
above knew (or chose not to know) about the sexual relationship,
concluding that the National Public Order Policing Unit's approach to
its officers having sex while undercover was one of "<em>don't ask, don't tell"</em>.
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<span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: black;">Kate
was spied on by 6 undercover officers. From left to right: Jim Boyling,
Jason Bishop, Rod Richardson, Mark Kennedy, Lynne Watson & Marco
Jacobs.</span></span>
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<td class="v1mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 150%; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; padding-bottom: 9px; padding-left: 18px; padding-right: 18px; padding-top: 0; text-align: left; word-break: break-word;" valign="top">
<p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 150%; margin: 10px 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0; text-align: left;">The
ruling did not stop at the sexual relationships, as the Tribunal found
that police took steps to interfere with Ms Wilson's political rights to
hold opinions and with her Article 10 and 11 rights to freedom of
expression and association; as well as violating her right to a private
and family life.</p>
<p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 150%; margin: 10px 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0; text-align: left;"> </p>
<p style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 150%; margin: 10px 0; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; padding: 0; text-align: left;">The
ruling stressed that the police had failed to give any proper
consideration or put structures in place to limit collateral intrusion
into the private lives of Ms Wilson or anyone else coming into contact
with the operations. They described the breadth and open-ended quality
of the authorisations for Mark Kennedy's operation, which were virtually
meaningless as any kind of protection, calling the operation a "<em>fishing expedition</em>".<br />
<br />
<br />
They ruled that the right to hold opinions and exchange information and
ideas must include the right to do so without attracting the attention
of the police, and being monitored and placed under surveillance. They
concluded that in this case the claimant's political views were the
reason why she was subject to surveillance.</p>
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<td class="v1mcnTextContent" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #757575; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; line-height: 150%; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; padding-bottom: 9px; padding-left: 18px; padding-right: 18px; padding-top: 0; text-align: left; word-break: break-word;" valign="top">
<h2 align="center" class="v1null" style="color: #222222; display: block; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 34px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 150%; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-align: left;"><strong><em>"disturbing and lamentable failings at the most fundamental levels."</em></strong></h2>
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The judgment also criticised the
Metropolitan Police conduct of the case, stating that many
contemporaneous documents "<em>crie[d] out for an explanation</em>", and that there was "<em>no reason that we can see why we were not provided with a statement from a witness with direct knowledge of these matters</em>". The factual evidence provided by the police was deemed "<em>unsatisfactory</em>", and the ruling noted that, were it not for Ms Wilson's tenacity and perseverance, "<em>much of what this case has revealed would not have come to light</em>".<br />
The ruling concludes:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><em>"This is a formidable list of
Convention violations, the severity of which is underscored in
particular by the violations of Arts 3 and 14. This is not just a case
about a renegade police officer who took advantage of his undercover
deployment to indulge his sexual proclivities, serious though this
aspect of the case unquestionably is. Our findings that the
authorisations under RIPA were fatally flawed and the undercover
operation could not be justified as "necessary in a democratic society",
as required by the ECHR, reveal disturbing and lamentable failings at
the most fundamental levels."</em></span><br />
<br />
Ms Wilson commented<br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><em>"This has been a long and emotional
journey, and I am happy to receive this ruling today. The events in my
case happened years ago, however the failure of the police to protect
women from sexual predators within their own ranks, and police attempts
to criminalise protestors are both still very live issues today. The
Tribunal has gone some way towards recognising how deep the abuses run.
We need to tackle the misogyny and institutional sexism of the police
and there needs to be a fundamental rethink of the powers they are given
for the policing of demonstrations and the surveillance of those who
take part."</em><br />
<br />
Harriet Wistrich, Director of the Centre for Women's Justice who acted
as a layer for Ms Wilson in the early stages and as a witness in the
case commented:<br />
<br />
<em> "This excoriating judgement could not have come at a more
significant moment when we hear the details of the horrendous murder of
Sarah Everard by a serving Met police officer who used deceit with the
opportunities of his job to entrap her. What is it going to take to
transform the culture of policing so that resources are used to protect
women from abuse from violence, not to abuse them?"</em></span>
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<div id="v1edn1"><a href="https://cube.greennet.org.uk/8Ww4wXdPrdkcYDh7/?_task=mail&_framed=1&_caps=pdf%3D1%2Cflash%3D0%2Ctiff%3D0%2Cwebp%3D1&_uid=282317&_mbox=INBOX&_safe=1&_action=preview#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;">[i]</a>The
case was part of a marathon 10 year battle for justice by Ms Wilson and
other women, following revelations that they had been deceived into
relationships by undercover police. Having exhausted other routes, she
took her fight for answers to the Investigatory Powers Tribunal. This is
a secretive court set up to examine human rights abuses by state
agencies carrying out surveillance. It's rules are quite different from
open court and it has the ability to exclude claimants from taking part
in proceedings. Despite the restrictions, Ms Wilson was able to secure
significant disclosure which throws a rare spotlight on the undercover
policing units.<br />
</div>
<div id="v1edn2"><a href="https://cube.greennet.org.uk/8Ww4wXdPrdkcYDh7/?_task=mail&_framed=1&_caps=pdf%3D1%2Cflash%3D0%2Ctiff%3D0%2Cwebp%3D1&_uid=282317&_mbox=INBOX&_safe=1&_action=preview#_ednref2" name="_edn2" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;">[ii]</a>A link to the full judgement is here: <br />
https://www.ipt-uk.com/judgments.asp?id=61<br />
<br />
And this is a helpful summary by Ms Wilson's legal team:<br />
https://sustainability.freshfields.com/post/102h7l7/specialist-human-rights-tribunal-gives-landmark-undercover-policing-judgment<br />
</div>
<a href="https://cube.greennet.org.uk/8Ww4wXdPrdkcYDh7/?_task=mail&_framed=1&_caps=pdf%3D1%2Cflash%3D0%2Ctiff%3D0%2Cwebp%3D1&_uid=282317&_mbox=INBOX&_safe=1&_action=preview#_ednref3" name="_edn3" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;">[iii]</a>The
police had already admitted a number of violations including breaches
of Articles 3 (degrading and inhumane treatment) and Article 8 (private
and family life) and Article 10 (freedom of expression) as a result of
being deceived into relationship by undercover police officer Mark
Kennedy. However, Ms Wilson's case went further, arguing, among other
issues, that 5 other undercover operations had interfered with her
rights to privacy, free speech and assembly (Article 8 and Articles 10
and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, often combined as
'the right to protest'); and that the systematic use of sexual
relationships with women by male undercover officers amounted to sexist
discrimination under Article 14. The IPT ruled in her favour on all
these points. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://cube.greennet.org.uk/8Ww4wXdPrdkcYDh7/?_task=mail&_framed=1&_caps=pdf%3D1%2Cflash%3D0%2Ctiff%3D0%2Cwebp%3D1&_uid=282317&_mbox=INBOX&_safe=1&_action=preview#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;">[iv]</a>By
reason of (a) the numbers of women affected and (b) the greater adverse
impact on women's lives through either risk of pregnancy or
interference with their child-bearing years.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://cube.greennet.org.uk/8Ww4wXdPrdkcYDh7/?_task=mail&_framed=1&_caps=pdf%3D1%2Cflash%3D0%2Ctiff%3D0%2Cwebp%3D1&_uid=282317&_mbox=INBOX&_safe=1&_action=preview#_ednref1" name="_edn1" style="-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; mso-line-height-rule: exactly; text-decoration: underline;">[v]</a>Known only as "Detective Chief Inspector O-24" throughout the proceedingsPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-48851866757454588022021-09-26T18:44:00.003+01:002021-09-26T18:45:50.350+01:00Exploding Cinema- video art in the 1990s- new book out<p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4v_JRIv5MHy2B8fe86tIgjKLxzq307oyK7B9o4nf0mW1ULnqOnDPHedwy1nkJsuZQO9jJOdGmFmfCc_tsE0ykWrOS42cmsqWqnAXZgsdH17tB99Xka6XiSP4G4faGrfvmx4UbQ/s640/ExC+cover+ebook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="451" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4v_JRIv5MHy2B8fe86tIgjKLxzq307oyK7B9o4nf0mW1ULnqOnDPHedwy1nkJsuZQO9jJOdGmFmfCc_tsE0ykWrOS42cmsqWqnAXZgsdH17tB99Xka6XiSP4G4faGrfvmx4UbQ/s320/ExC+cover+ebook.jpg" width="226" /></a><br /></div><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 30px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">Exploding Cinema 1991 - 1997<span style="font-size: 26px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">culture and democracy</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">a thesis by Stefan Szczelkun <br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"> <br />Undercurrents is featured in this new book- A
history of the first seven to nine years, of Exploding Cinema. <span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Exploding Cinema are an open access film showing collective still active in London<br /><br /></span> It is also
a critical evaluation of an open-artists collective as a form that, it
is argued, is of fundamentally more value as a cultural force than the
establishment's art institutions. How do we render these oppositional
formations as ‘knowledge’? How do we argue for the importance of their,
sometimes anarchic, vitality to an
alienated world? <br /><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">6 x 9 inches paperback</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">188 pages c47 b/w illustrations</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">index of about 400 names from body text</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><u>Publishing date 10th of October 2021</u></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;">£9.95 or $15, €15</p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px; text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p style="background-color: white; color: #42484f; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b>ISBN - 9781870736336</b></p><p style="text-align: left;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="337" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/02a1QUdN8e0" width="535" youtube-src-id="02a1QUdN8e0"></iframe></div><p></p><p> </p><p>Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.org</p>Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-20461027586787053302021-06-15T10:35:00.018+01:002021-06-16T15:18:06.555+01:00Crane protest in support of Palestine at Vauxhall, London<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><a href="http://undecurrents.org"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Exactly 48 hours after the 69 year old climbed a crane and dropped a Palestine flag, Nick Georges will descend to earth again. After a cold night and scorching sunshine, he will face arrest. His supporters are urging people to visit and welcome him down at 5pm today (Weds) from his perch near Vauxhall station, London. Elm street nearby is the closest point.<br /></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="325" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OPcTKTkBJ5o" width="495" youtube-src-id="OPcTKTkBJ5o"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Undercurrents reports that a pensioner has climbed a tall crane amongst the skyscrapers of
Vauxhall, London to fly the Palestine flag. Nick Georges (69) plans to
stay for days to raise the awareness of the Israeli bombing of Gaza in
May which has killed at least 230 and injured thousands of innocents,
many of them children. Entire roads and power networks were
destroyed, and high-rise buildings were flattened to the ground during
the Israeli airstrikes.<br /><p></p><p>Construction site shut down by Palestine campaigner. Costs expected at thousands as cranes and machinery stand idle at the billion pound Vauxhall skyscraper construction site. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XDjDkS8k6pk" width="429" youtube-src-id="XDjDkS8k6pk"></iframe><br /><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cggQMxXYHbg" width="409" youtube-src-id="cggQMxXYHbg"></iframe></div><p><br />Nick Georges was arrested recently for destroying the premises of British based Israeli Drone company Elbit. A spokesperson at the base of the crane said 'Hundreds of people are asking and bringing us food and tents'<br /><br />News coverage has been wide with reports <a href="https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/15/london-69-year-old-palestine-protester-scales-650ft-crane-near-us-embassy-14774393/" target="_blank">here,</a> <a href="https://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/news/19372549.wandsworth-police-scene-man-climbs-top-crane/" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="https://uknip.co.uk/breaking/news-266008/a-69-year-old-protester-has-mounted-a-crane-at-a-nine-elms-building-site-and-unfurled-a-palestinian-flag-as-police-try-to-talk-him-down/" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-london-news/live-updates-man-mounts-crane-20816709?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar" target="_blank">here</a><br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHBo0wz2dwUJ_V-NvoOGd8TeB8XdZT8bIJmuG1I7udaGAskfMggGGrFhX5fLMJ6Njg3mrpRjp4EQNMTkR_N65SwJiOawZA9rTPbhVPRhgq1lhTQZMREKa7zC0UadtZcTm_vgsHw/s2048/nickcameras.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHBo0wz2dwUJ_V-NvoOGd8TeB8XdZT8bIJmuG1I7udaGAskfMggGGrFhX5fLMJ6Njg3mrpRjp4EQNMTkR_N65SwJiOawZA9rTPbhVPRhgq1lhTQZMREKa7zC0UadtZcTm_vgsHw/w407-h240/nickcameras.jpg" width="407" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick Georges interviewed before his assent<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eugRiBW4N5w" width="466" youtube-src-id="eugRiBW4N5w"></iframe></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dQTDsHySAVE" width="447" youtube-src-id="dQTDsHySAVE"></iframe><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><p></p><p>Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
<a href="http://undecurrents.org">http://www.undercurrents.org</a></p><br /><br /><br /></div>Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com1Vauxhall, London, UK51.4861671 -0.1217229.363582069857632 -35.277969999999989 73.608752130142378 35.034529999999982tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-49981763396088021702021-05-28T20:01:00.006+01:002021-05-28T23:01:56.948+01:00Rich man V skateboarders of Mumbles (beep beep)<p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">People in Swansea are protesting outside a rich man's McMansion by beeping their horns. The used car salesman is trying to stop young people from having a better skatepark opposite his mansion.</span></p><p><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">People beep their car horns when they pass his mansion. This has upset him so he made a video to show how it is for him. Watch below.<br /></span></p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VE2Geg-4c1o" width="320" youtube-src-id="VE2Geg-4c1o"></iframe></p><br /><p></p><p>Trade Centre Wales Boss Mark Bailey is trying to stop a children’s
skatepark opposite his McMansion on Mumbles road, Swansea.
In protest against him, the people of Swansea beep their horn as they go
by his house. The campaign used the hashtag <a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto" href="https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/beepforthebellend" spellcheck="false">#beepforthebellend</a> to promote the beeping.<br /></p><p>The used car salesman in South Wales known is livid that a
skatepark opposite his Swansea house is to be redeveloped.
Bailey has been caught on mobile phone footage challenging and
<a href=" https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/full-story-clip-trade-centre-20691112" target="_blank">threatening children whilst on their skateboards</a>. The <a href="http://mumblesskateparkassociation.org/about-us/" target="_blank">skate park design </a>is here <br /></p><p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b1dSx1nrMxg" width="320" youtube-src-id="b1dSx1nrMxg"></iframe></div><br /> <p></p><p><span><span class="nc684nl6"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gmql0nx0 gpro0wi8" href="https://www.facebook.com/louise.adamson.92?__cft__[0]=AZXDiCC7CaSrvt-ZpCtNZBxHS31gKJKTNMpQK1wmy1Sd9AP4uxzs4lpAVhXNcrNmube0NcOnEBlBCYvejfq9EFkV0eAwZjYxFnT-V6EG8Oae0rkDRdgaiPxX4Ug0q0sVx402kCJThDn7SQRvetZ0_k_NX6KOyxwdSa3cd0l16MmKneQuRJ3rEMcDyYcubHcnNGg&__tn__=R]-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="pq6dq46d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb mdeji52x e9vueds3 j5wam9gi lrazzd5p oo9gr5id" dir="auto">Louise Adamson</span></span></a> a local commented</span></span> '<span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto" lang="en">He's
attempted to use his money to buy the removal of the skate park down
the road outside someone else's house .Hes a bully and beeping the horns
was the only way people felt they could make their protest against him
and him alone .He has no concern where its moved to just not by his
house .This is why the community has no respect for him'</span></p><p><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto" lang="en"><span><span class="nc684nl6"><a class="oajrlxb2 g5ia77u1 qu0x051f esr5mh6w e9989ue4 r7d6kgcz rq0escxv nhd2j8a9 nc684nl6 p7hjln8o kvgmc6g5 cxmmr5t8 oygrvhab hcukyx3x jb3vyjys rz4wbd8a qt6c0cv9 a8nywdso i1ao9s8h esuyzwwr f1sip0of lzcic4wl gmql0nx0 gpro0wi8" href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005882562425&__cft__[0]=AZXDiCC7CaSrvt-ZpCtNZBxHS31gKJKTNMpQK1wmy1Sd9AP4uxzs4lpAVhXNcrNmube0NcOnEBlBCYvejfq9EFkV0eAwZjYxFnT-V6EG8Oae0rkDRdgaiPxX4Ug0q0sVx402kCJThDn7SQRvetZ0_k_NX6KOyxwdSa3cd0l16MmKneQuRJ3rEMcDyYcubHcnNGg&__tn__=R]-R" role="link" tabindex="0"><span class="pq6dq46d"><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d9wwppkn fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb mdeji52x e9vueds3 j5wam9gi lrazzd5p oo9gr5id" dir="auto">Carley Sullivan</span></span></a> added '</span></span>just shows how many people are unhappy about him trying to use money as a way to bully his way into getting what he wants'</span><br /><span class="d2edcug0 hpfvmrgz qv66sw1b c1et5uql oi732d6d ik7dh3pa ht8s03o8 a8c37x1j keod5gw0 nxhoafnm aigsh9s9 d3f4x2em fe6kdd0r mau55g9w c8b282yb iv3no6db jq4qci2q a3bd9o3v knj5qynh oo9gr5id" dir="auto" lang="en"></span></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeLYKd3z7AFdS4oNO69bNOL7fE7TVaiIc97QjD726Hnr_snCTBnrulTUmPMH8GOWnhV7TyF-eMbLncQyLpYMx95ujwOKb9Tm0SgVQnD5rAWk5TtbiZwp0AXYtQYXn2t2M2krx1Q/s1230/Aerial-view-of-the-site.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLeLYKd3z7AFdS4oNO69bNOL7fE7TVaiIc97QjD726Hnr_snCTBnrulTUmPMH8GOWnhV7TyF-eMbLncQyLpYMx95ujwOKb9Tm0SgVQnD5rAWk5TtbiZwp0AXYtQYXn2t2M2krx1Q/s320/Aerial-view-of-the-site.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>In a sudden U-TURN Trade Centre Wales owner Mark Bailey has withdrawn his objections to the development of a skatepark along Swansea's seafront. The video footage of him threatening violence on a child skater probably was having repercussions on his business. <br /><br />A day long skate celebration is planned for Saturday 29th May<br /> </p><p>Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.org</p>Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-69468192878533472222021-05-19T10:02:00.004+01:002021-05-19T10:02:44.810+01:00Solar powered Cinema accepts first cryptocurrency payment<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZCfPp8MKqiHiy46sZo67-gIseLBWxtIMk1HxIe3K9eK3qKY9g3iLOausHacK2wLprhuLeZap2ZQ98IJoe80dTRNTtJgqCeHFmc4OggjFIrKJ0I1eEY-avlD_U0z0OsEBz7_dhA/s402/solADA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="152" data-original-width="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZCfPp8MKqiHiy46sZo67-gIseLBWxtIMk1HxIe3K9eK3qKY9g3iLOausHacK2wLprhuLeZap2ZQ98IJoe80dTRNTtJgqCeHFmc4OggjFIrKJ0I1eEY-avlD_U0z0OsEBz7_dhA/s320/solADA.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div>The award-winning <a href="http://www.thesolcinema.org/" target="_blank">Sol Cinema</a> accepted their first payment in cryptocurrency this week.<br />The
vintage mobile cinema has been hired to celebrate the 20th anniversary
of one of Wales’ best digital media company. Sol Cinema requested to be
paid in Cryptocurrency rather than in regular Sterling. Luckily the
director of<a href="https://tantrwm.co.uk/" target="_blank"> Tantrwm productions</a> was willing, and now both companies are excited by the possibilities of this new form of currency,<br /><br />Co-founder of <a href="http://www.thesolcinema.org" target="_blank">Sol Cinema Paul</a> O’Connor stated;<br /><em>‘We
decided to begin accepting cryptocurrency payments in 2021 because we
pride ourselves upon being pioneers. So we were delighted when <a href="https://tantrwm.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tantrwm Productions</a> agreed to become our first customer willing to hire us in cryptocurrency”</em><br /><br />Paul, who is also the Sol Cinema projectionist, added;<br /><em>‘‘Sol
Cinema loves embracing new technology, demonstrated by the fact that
our vintage cinema has been 100% solar powered for more than a decade.
We can be placed anywhere and perform without having to plug in.’</em><br /><br />But
the environment friendly cinema was careful in their decision on which
cryptocurrency they would accept. One of the Worlds’ richest men, Elon
Musk announced he would stop accepting Bitcoin payment for his TESLA
electric cars. He <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1392602041025843203?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1392602041025843203%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Ftechnology%2F2021%2Fmay%2F12%2Felon-musk-tesla-bitcoin" target="_blank">tweeted recently</a><em>
“We are concerned about rapidly increasing use of fossil fuels for
Bitcoin mining and transactions, especially coal, which has the worst
emissions of any fuel”</em><br /><br />Sol Cinema uses renewable energy to
educate the public about caring for the environment so it was vitally
important they could find a more planet friendly alternative for payment.<br /><br />Co-founder of <a href="http://www.thesolcinema.org" target="_blank">Sol Cinema</a> projectionist Paul O’Connor stated;<br /><em>‘Rather
than using BITCOIN’s old method of energy intensive computing to
generate funds, we discovered a newer cryptocurrency which uses an
entirely different method. We chose CARDANO once we learned that it is
1.6 million times more energy-efficient than the 12 year old BITCOIN
technology.’</em><br /><br />The CARDANO blockchain relies on ‘Stake Pools’
across the World to share production costs by using their home computers
to create the online Blockchain technology. Sol Cinema delegated their
first digital payment to a ‘Stake Pool’ who earlier this year became the
first people based in Wales to build blocks for the £50 Billion CARDANO
decentralised network.<br /><br />A spokesperson for the South Wales based <a href="https://twitter.com/OystrPool" target="_blank">‘Oyster Pool’ said</a>;<br /><em>‘We
were delighted to launch the first CARDANO Stake Pool in Wales and we
welcome Sol Cinema. Oyster Pool is now open to all CARDANO holders who
would like to earn rewards while supporting decentralisation and
sustainable technologies of the future.’<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJz0dvfAREOaQJ-5UfGkfTIs1kR5BaL5tSwAtFzcnDmmdJ4qmde4oaZ_NLWog_K20ouqxElxHxxzHNdYJVxidRsoTp4n8Jc7hDxf9FdbQGDIWZn1amPhbWIjz2wsuAvcthdMDtg/s2048/megaphone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJz0dvfAREOaQJ-5UfGkfTIs1kR5BaL5tSwAtFzcnDmmdJ4qmde4oaZ_NLWog_K20ouqxElxHxxzHNdYJVxidRsoTp4n8Jc7hDxf9FdbQGDIWZn1amPhbWIjz2wsuAvcthdMDtg/s320/megaphone.jpg" /></a></div></em><br /><br />Since 2010, the
diminutive cinema has entertained more than 80,000 people at music and
film festivals or community events in Britain and across the E.U. In May
2021 the Sol Cinema was hired by iconic British band Madness to host the
World premiere of their new film. Sol Cinema has performed in fields,
factories, schools, city centres, on a farm and even in a Zoo. Being
mobile, it can squeeze into the smallest spots and entertain with short
films, popcorn and usherettes.<br /><br />Andrew Chainey, Director of Tantrwm productions explained his reasons for hiring Sol Cinema with payment in cryptocurrency;<br /><em>“Tantrwm
productions has been at the forefront of technology in Wales for two
decades now so we were delighted to avail of paying the Sol Cinema in
CARDANO. We believe in Open-Source, and peer to peer technology. If more
organisations in Wales embraced the emerging technologies then there is
a real possibility to create ’silicon-valleys’ where once there was
only coal”</em><br /><br />The Sol Cinema was created from a 1972 caravan by
artist Jo Furlong. He added plush seating, LED lighting and surround
sound to create a unique mobile venue. All the technology in the cinema,
from digital video projector to a computer, lights and the sound system
is powered solely by solar energy. The Sol Cinema won a Digital Hero
award for best use of sustainable technology. It also won a Network
Wales award for best communication project. Sol Cinema will be
performing at <a href="http://www.thesolcinema.org/events-2021.html">Camp Bestival </a>in July.<br /><br />This is one small cinema that thinks big.<br /><br />Sol Cinema VIP gallery: <a href="http://www.thesolcinema.org/vip-gallery.html">thesolcinema.org/vip-gallery</a><p></p><br /><p> </p><p> </p><p>Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.org</p>Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-62292632758972658732021-04-30T10:34:00.001+01:002021-04-30T10:38:52.491+01:00How i helped stage a Leicester Square cinema premiere for iconic band Madness during lockdown<p><span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The infamous
ska band Madness asked if we could help premiere its new three-part
documentary TV series, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Before We Was We</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.
Since all the regular size cinemas were closed, the band thought it’d
be fun to do its launch in the world’s smallest mobile picture house. So we dusted off the <a href="http://www.thesolcinema.org/madness.html" target="_blank">Sol Cinema </a>and went to London and today we can reveal the wonderful results. Read the full story here in my article for <a href="https://whynow.co.uk/read/how-i-helped-madness-stage-a-world-premiere/">WHY NOW</a><br /><br />You can <a href="http://www.thesolcinema.org/madness.html" target="_blank">watch it here </a>from 2pm on April 30th<br /></span></span></p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxHQqptVHm-C_FnK62aQp-GpJoBA_Nc2aqkpWsTUJ3UJcC1ux_OOmZn2gPJYO7tXjmTv2ZeNOosgcJIo3_AhneGJebS4bwY8arFybUReb4wjK2UUnkxZuxySiDNbdGOL0Wgy47w/s2048/madness+solcinema.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVxHQqptVHm-C_FnK62aQp-GpJoBA_Nc2aqkpWsTUJ3UJcC1ux_OOmZn2gPJYO7tXjmTv2ZeNOosgcJIo3_AhneGJebS4bwY8arFybUReb4wjK2UUnkxZuxySiDNbdGOL0Wgy47w/s320/madness+solcinema.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMd3YUgBKf8bRdlFzQ88BGUxt2Ho3Qj8vEnmYjSSbcxexLDmm2gVOZpqcZfUCfKDbe7Jyyk_T6ijL5ka1UK7k8rWtZNyqViT8Aeb4iNPw20Zl_wgwab__4T0BdeDXt2p-4uFZRA/s2048/odeon+solcinema.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMd3YUgBKf8bRdlFzQ88BGUxt2Ho3Qj8vEnmYjSSbcxexLDmm2gVOZpqcZfUCfKDbe7Jyyk_T6ijL5ka1UK7k8rWtZNyqViT8Aeb4iNPw20Zl_wgwab__4T0BdeDXt2p-4uFZRA/s320/odeon+solcinema.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwhrUbr8gmgo1LFQf-YfCm3-iLsumjFPqX119FW2iFCGExdG74X24GKKrtantJhbOg4zXHQvy6iGEwqqEpdaOXK_9lOC2St8Kdw2eWBisggHNea6DGJDM2DLFgOgUqN30UMmL9g/s2048/sol+to+mad+sign.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwhrUbr8gmgo1LFQf-YfCm3-iLsumjFPqX119FW2iFCGExdG74X24GKKrtantJhbOg4zXHQvy6iGEwqqEpdaOXK_9lOC2St8Kdw2eWBisggHNea6DGJDM2DLFgOgUqN30UMmL9g/s320/sol+to+mad+sign.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.org</p>Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-21568016637662653562021-03-26T23:23:00.005+00:002021-04-30T10:34:45.144+01:00Did Police manipulate the media?Avon and Somerset police quietly admitted that no officers suffered broken bones during <a href="https://freedomnews.org.uk/reflections-on-the-riot-in-bristol/">Sunday’s Kill The Bill protest</a>. In a <a href="https://www.avonandsomerset.police.uk/news/2021/03/clear-progress-being-made-in-investigation-into-violent-disorder-in-bristol/?fbclid=IwAR2uz6pJEJoPsdAW3T0rViUvlYURfHbjeFG-H5k0E2WZSXlYshuT9xInvVI">statement</a>
posted to their website, the force said: “Thankfully following a full
medical assessment of the two officers taken to hospital, neither were
found to have suffered confirmed broken bones.”
<p>This is quite an admission given that, in the hours following the
riot, the force was telling all and sundry that an officer had been
rushed to hospital with a <i>punctured lung</i> after being stamped on by a baying mob, claims that were, of course, uncritically repeated by the likes of <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/22/bristol-riots-protests-kill-bill-police-station-mayor/">the Telegraph</a> and <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/03/22/bristol-riots-protests-kill-bill-police-station-mayor/">the Times</a>. <br /><br /><a href="https://freedomnews.org.uk/bristol-cops-quietly-admit-no-officers-suffered-broken-bones-at-sundays-kill-the-bill-protest/">https://freedomnews.org.uk/bristol-cops-quietly-admit-no-officers-suffered-broken-bones-at-sundays-kill-the-bill-protest/</a><br /></p><p>Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.org</p>Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-72140220915299005802021-03-26T23:18:00.001+00:002021-03-26T23:18:19.741+00:00Interfaith for Palestine UK release a video of support for member now facing 10 years in prison.<p>I produced a short video for Interfaith for Palestine UK today</p><p><br />PRESS RELEASE<br />Date: Friday 26th March 202<br />A network of faith based people from across Wales have released a video in support of one their members who took part in a roof-top protest against the Israeli owned arms factory. Elbit is an Israeli firm that produces 85% of the drones used by the Israeli military in daily surveillance operations and attacks in Gaza. <br />Nick Georges is a member of the Swansea-based Interfaith for Palestine group. Motivated by his Christian belief to end the Genocide of the Palestinian people, Nick risked his life to climb over razor wire in February 2021 at the factory to make a dramatic protest. Windows were smashed and red paint was sprayed over the building. The 69 year old pensioner now faces a potential 10-year prison sentence for standing up for peace.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IlLZJtgGJbo" width="320" youtube-src-id="IlLZJtgGJbo"></iframe></div><br /><p> Joseph O’Neill, chairman of Interfaith for Palestine said today.<br />"Nick's action will have saved Palestinian children from murder by Israeli regime drones. Nick's Christian witness against one of the ten Elbit factories of Death in the UK is an example to us all. We cannot rest till these moral blots on the landscape of Albion are removed." </p><p>He continued to say<br />“ We have released this video today to help raise awareness of Nick’s protest and offer our support to him and to Palestine”</p><p> Those who wish to support Nick, may join Christians and moderate Jews outside Shenstone Court for the pre-trial hearing. Stafford, ST16 2QQ at 9.30 am on Monday 29th March from 9.30 am. We ask that people join us in our peaceful interfaith demonstration of support. </p><p> Palestine UK a group of Christians, Muslims, moderate Jews, and others,
working towards the common goal of ending the Genocide of the
Palestinians by the Jewish State.<br /></p><br /><p> </p><p>Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.org</p>Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-77867015543554104882021-01-22T15:48:00.000+00:002021-01-22T15:48:04.439+00:00 Performers fear loss of another entire season following the announcement of Glastonbury cancellation.<p>I operate and tour the S<span style="white-space: nowrap;">ol Cinema, </span><span style="white-space: nowrap;">World’s smallest solar powered movie theatre. Following Brexit and COVID we issued this press release</span><br />
<br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">PRESS RELEASE</span><br />
<br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">January 21 2021</span><br />
<br />
Performers fear loss of another entire season following the announcement of Glastonbury cancellation.<br />
<br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">The award-winning mobile film theatre, Sol Cinema is based in Swansea.</span><br />
Following today’s announcement of the cancellation of Glastonbury
festival due to COIVD, the performers now fear that their entire work
will be once again wiped out for another year.<br />
<br />
Booked to perform at Glastonbury festival and many other events in 2020,
the Sol Cinema had to lie dormant all year. Today's’s news is a
terrible blow, and they now fear that their 2021 season will also be
wiped out with a total loss of income.<br />
<br />
The Sol Cinema marked it’s 10th anniversary this year, but no celebrations were to had due to COVID.<br />
<br />
Since 2010, the diminutive cinema has entertained more than 80,000
people at music and film festivals or community events in Britain and
the E.U<br />
<br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpLbCHOeMCV7VEEbOSg8Wq7wOga4bQt2VlFWVTdkXRKpn1UdUJX6cvhlX2SC2Pdw99-7IvHtrvHC-XhDzFfcDUqhD3AclPl9Ms28oVYemzkygNA02bBEKc7IO4DLB5RI5aruTrw/s960/donletts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpLbCHOeMCV7VEEbOSg8Wq7wOga4bQt2VlFWVTdkXRKpn1UdUJX6cvhlX2SC2Pdw99-7IvHtrvHC-XhDzFfcDUqhD3AclPl9Ms28oVYemzkygNA02bBEKc7IO4DLB5RI5aruTrw/s320/donletts.jpg" /></a></div>Co-founder and Sol Cinema projectionist Paul O’Connor stated;<br />
<br />
‘Sol Cinema has performed in fields, factories, schools, city centres,
on a farm and even in a Zoo. Being mobile, we can squeeze into the
smallest spots and entertain with short films and our smartly dressed
experienced street performers. COVID devastated all events and
festivals last year, and now we have to be realistic and accept that
2021 will be the same. Brexit has also made it much more difficult to
tour the EU for us. The increased paperwork and finance has resulted in
not being able to tour European events too.’<br />
<br />
The Sol Cinema has created from a 1972 caravan which was being used to
house chickens on a small holding. Artist Jo Furlong added plush
seating, LED lighting and a projector combined with surround sound to
create the unique mobile venue. To boost its environmental credentials
further the cinema is powered entirely by solar energy. Power is stored
in a bank of Solar Panels from 120W panel.<br />
<br />
The Sol Cinema won a Digital Hero award for best use of sustainable
technology in 2014. It also won a Network Wales award for best
communication project in 2010.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">END NOTES TO EDITORS:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">To arrange interviews contact; Paul O’Connor 07973 298359</span><br />
<br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">E: <a href="mailto:solcinema@undercurrents.org">solcinema@undercurrents.org</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;">W: <a href="http://www.thesolcinema.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thesolcinema.org</a></span><br />
<span style="white-space: nowrap;"> Photographs available : thesolcinema.org/press</span><p></p><p> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYCCdts1_MpK5j57BfHWnOm42AkW5US2TwzaAWGL1qRHrwfBLSS2tZyyYr5Q1W08pC3cPjNMubLvDHBn6Wfruvdj2qyuANJgcDnkyDRwuTZF_LxB_lF7G_WdbnNytUjBzlc9wnA/s2048/Bournemouth+Arts+Festival+2017+sol+cinema+by+sebastianschofield+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEYCCdts1_MpK5j57BfHWnOm42AkW5US2TwzaAWGL1qRHrwfBLSS2tZyyYr5Q1W08pC3cPjNMubLvDHBn6Wfruvdj2qyuANJgcDnkyDRwuTZF_LxB_lF7G_WdbnNytUjBzlc9wnA/s320/Bournemouth+Arts+Festival+2017+sol+cinema+by+sebastianschofield+%25283%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> </p><p>Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.org</p>Paul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-87899505951041921792020-09-29T07:39:00.003+01:002020-09-29T07:39:39.130+01:00Reflecting on the journey of independent grassroots media<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/txCLtKpDwNE" width="320" youtube-src-id="txCLtKpDwNE"></iframe></div><br />Hamish Campbell has worked in video activism for decades.<br /><br /><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">Based on the </span><a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto" href="https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%23OMN" spellcheck="false">#OMN</a><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">
This is the archive site that we use as an example </span><a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Foxford.indymedia.org.uk&v=txCLtKpDwNE&event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbG84RUNGNFN2anlxYjhibUFSaHp2MWs0Y05KUXxBQ3Jtc0tuRTl0U2R0OHQzZkhlbG80WHJDY1FweUI5YTZsdWNKbFI3czZORlRLdXdiLUJLYVZfZTJaOU1ibGw2U1l1RzhQX0M4V1lGbExBMGotRjNtMnc0bW5vNnNlOG9VQjdvQjdNQVhwVXEyX0JsNEoyQ18zZw%3D%3D" rel="nofollow" spellcheck="false" target="_blank">https://oxford.indymedia.org.uk</a><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">
"It easy to keep crossing wires with "media" vs. personal. Media _should_ be open, with clear sources, except when protecting them. Whereas personal data should default to private"
<br /><br />My blog for more reading </span><a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=http%3A%2F%2Fhamishcampbell.com&v=txCLtKpDwNE&event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmpWMkdlT0Z5LTB5emxjZzJ5Y0FtNFF6cmRrQXxBQ3Jtc0tsemtGZ2xDakN4OTNQTlN0aWJvdTg2SVNWRkVWUUpjZTJPclEyZ1BTNHNlXzMwTmtQbUQ5dFlQTEV1ckdLU3hQdmItYy1hNUMzQ3FXVnZ4VW8yaTJBVVRvbWdsb3owdzAwV0FWenhwd0Jnei1TNFdZcw%3D%3D" rel="nofollow" spellcheck="false" target="_blank">http://hamishcampbell.com</a><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">
A view of the political technology behind the indymedia project </span><a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fmako.cc%2Facademic%2Fcollablit%2Fwriting%2FBenjMakoHill-CollabLit_and_Control%2Fa2915.html&v=txCLtKpDwNE&event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2FMVFF6TDFwMFltR0ZoS19rSkJ0RFVXNmZLZ3xBQ3Jtc0trY2c1Tk9xUkEtalBqSlJ2WmtHcmpKbkdTWGFMRHQtMlNEN1pxZzlBMHhGSUVkTDVScDJJbnN6QjZvcVREYVdJSjI2am0zS0ZnVjJ1OHF2cGVrWjdYSkpEMEd2WW82ZHg0RVQ5UjJqYnFXYm9xOThjQQ%3D%3D" rel="nofollow" spellcheck="false" target="_blank">https://mako.cc/academic/collablit/wr...</a><span class="style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto">
<br /><br />This was the UK main site </span><a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" dir="auto" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwebarchive.loc.gov%2Flegacy%2F20020913011209%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fuk.indymedia.org%2F&v=txCLtKpDwNE&event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazNrREJUQkVhZ21pNzNTeHJRVnA4VHR1VWlvQXxBQ3Jtc0tuLTZlMjdtblU4M1F3QzdsNmctRDF4aW1wVjRFa3NDb3pVMzJtanFodGxtY3JETjZDVVhEQ3dHdktvVzBBRHhhYXF0Z0RmOWVBSGZtUkxzVTlkakRfbUN0RS1aZV90MmhfNzNYX0l4S0p4OVZidGo2RQ%3D%3D" rel="nofollow" spellcheck="false" target="_blank">https://webarchive.loc.gov/legacy/200...</a><br /><br /><br />Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-21804523266190866482020-08-07T17:03:00.001+01:002020-08-07T17:03:06.172+01:00How news is reported.Spot the difference<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTyxHfZ0k70fOFqbCHOvtCPulxa5-pP5sZ0K8V4IoGC27PylqGWTN5w5_e7zaimFr8jB8bdGzILx70bC0uJ6YTQ-1AkxpV9RVXCXESWikOus12ENjOUtFjN3YCElCOX98YwfqyQ/s1065/bbc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="855" data-original-width="1065" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTTyxHfZ0k70fOFqbCHOvtCPulxa5-pP5sZ0K8V4IoGC27PylqGWTN5w5_e7zaimFr8jB8bdGzILx70bC0uJ6YTQ-1AkxpV9RVXCXESWikOus12ENjOUtFjN3YCElCOX98YwfqyQ/s640/bbc.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span dir="ltr"><span class="_3l3x"><span>There is cctv footage from inside the mosque. Everyone
was a tleast a metre apart, adhering to social distancing rules. BBC ignore this and
the only photo they used is of the building itself.<br />We need a new media<br /></span></span></span><br /><br /><br />Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-72673243237821952012020-07-18T20:36:00.003+01:002020-07-18T20:36:35.611+01:00Police V our video cameras Police moaning that their version of assaults is being challenged by eye witness video.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/15/police-treated-unfairly-over-incidents-caught-on-video-says-senior-officer?CMP=share_btn_fb">https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jul/15/police-treated-unfairly-over-incidents-caught-on-video-says-senior-officer?CMP=share_btn_fb</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-5264619684849564732020-07-13T08:42:00.001+01:002020-07-13T08:42:40.246+01:00Howard Marks and CannabisUndercurrents has reported on Cannabis protests for decades. A report from <a href="https://freedomseeds.com/blog/">Freedom Seeds</a><br /><br />The first time I met Howard Marks was the summer of 1997, he had come
to Portsmouth for the annual Smokey Bears Picnic on Southsea Common.<br />
We had arranged for him to drop in at my house to chat to a reporter from a local magazine before heading on to the picnic. Howard was smoking some black Nepalese hash.<br />
<br />
I
asked him if he would be taking any dope to the picnic, “Oh sure” he
said in his Welsh accent, “I always have a bit with me, I’m bustable
100% of the time”.<br />
The previous day Howard had been quoted in the
local paper as being prepared to smoke cannabis at the picnic. So when
we got there a police inspector asked him who he was. “I’m Howard Marks”
he said with a big grin. “In that case” said the inspector, “because of
statements attributed to you in the press, I am arresting you on
suspicion of being in possession of a controlled substance”.<br />
Another
copper grabbed Howard’s other arm and they started to march him off the
common. This was the first time he had been in custody since being
released from his 25 year sentence in a federal penitentiary a couple of
years earlier.<br />
On
seeing Howard being dragged off, some of the hundreds at the picnic ran
forward and surrounded him and his escort. A police helmet flew through
the air as Howard was pulled away from the overwhelmed cops and
de-arrested. All of this time Howard had not stopped grinning, he loved
every minute of it.<br />
Soon more cops arrived and Howard was back in
custody. They took him to a van, searched him, didn’t find the hash and
released him shortly afterwards.<br />
Next day it was all over the
press. Good news for the picnic and good news for sales of Howard’s
autobiography Mr Nice, which had been in the bestselling lists since
being published the previous year.<br />
There is a nice sequence of the 1997 picnic, including Howard’s arrest, in the Undercurrents film Grassroots. <br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PyciN7ENGyo" width="560"></iframe><br />
When
the book first came out Howard’s publisher sent him on the road to
promote it, something Howard was more than a little apprehensive about.The usual format was Howard reading some excerpts from the book, a Q&A then queue up to get him to sign your book.. As
he got more confident it turned into his one man show ‘An Audience with
Mr Nice’, an evening of readings, random reminiscences, one liners and
rabble rousing rebellion, oh, and live dope smoking on stage, always a
massive crowd pleaser.<br /><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rL8FOppYXgc" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />
It got to the point when you couldn’t help bumping into the guy at one event or another.<br />
I
remember sitting on the hill overlooking the Pyramid stage at
Glastonbury one sunny afternoon and not noticing a figure shuffling onto
the stage in the distance.<br />
Suddenly a deep toned and very Welsh “Hello” came over the PA<br />
Howard
had famously been described as sounding like Richard Burton and looking
like a Rolling Stone – “I wish it was the other way round” he’d say.<br />
The
voice continued, “I have been asked to come out here to ask you not to
piss in the hedge. You see, it all drains into the stream and kills the
fishes, and we haven’t come here to kill the fishes”.<br />
The crowd
turned their heads. ‘That’s Howard Marks’, ‘Where?’, ‘There, on the
stage’. People stood up to get a better look, at Glastonbury he was a
man who needed no introduction.<br />
I’m sure there are fishes in Somerset who owe their lives to Howard.<br />
<br />
In 2009 they made a film of Mr Nice staring Howard’s mate and fellow Welshman Rhys Ifans.<br />
By
December the film was in the can and due for release in the New Year.
Howard was booked at The Cellars in Eastney to do a small warm up gig
before his upcoming tour. We booked the front two rows for our firms
Christmas do.<br />
At one point during the evening Howard showed us an
unauthorised trailer for the film, it was cut to the Rolling Stones and
Jimi Hendrix – music they would never get the rights to use but it was
bloody brilliant and raised a huge cheer.<br />
I spoke to him that
night about how he would be remembered. I suggested that when this is
all over, and the dust has settled, his legacy would be the
autobiography Mr Nice and this movie. “I’m happy with that” he said.<br />
Smuggler, scholar, stoner, cultural icon, legend, to me he was all these but I just knew him as Howard, and I will miss him.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-29250934748869166942020-06-04T10:20:00.000+01:002020-06-04T10:21:40.348+01:00Black Lives Matter<br />
<div data-contents="true">
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8ucip" data-offset-key="8v09q-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8v09q-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8v09q-0-0"><span data-text="true">What is happening in the US is the same struggle for justice that black people have in the UK.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8ucip" data-offset-key="anh01-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="anh01-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="anh01-0-0"><span data-text="true">This is a video we made in 1996. Many more black people have died at the hands of the British police since.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8ucip" data-offset-key="3t70e-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="3t70e-0-0">
<br data-text="true" /><span data-offset-key="3t70e-0-0">In 1996 the police were criticised for lacking training in the use of
the new, long batons, after an inquest decided that Brian Douglas, a
black man died after being struck over the head with the weapon had been
lawfully killed.
The comments follow a verdict of "misadventure" by nine of the 11 jury
members at the inquest of Brian Douglas, 33, who died in police custody
Police said Douglas's death was a tragedy, but added that the
introduction of the baton had helped to reduce serious injuries.... to
Police officers.<br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8ucip" data-offset-key="55ofa-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="55ofa-0-0">
<span class="_5zk7" data-offset-key="55ofa-0-0" spellcheck="false" start="0"><span data-offset-key="55ofa-0-0"><span data-text="true">#blacklivesmatter</span></span></span><span data-offset-key="55ofa-1-0"><span data-text="true"> </span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8ucip" data-offset-key="bpm15-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="bpm15-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="bpm15-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="8ucip" data-offset-key="cjn9p-0-0">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oPbeCrlmMwY/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oPbeCrlmMwY?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="cjn9p-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="cjn9p-0-0"><span data-text="true"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
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<br />
<br />
Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-70852073861060045722020-06-03T09:36:00.000+01:002020-06-03T09:36:12.928+01:00 Media and the Spectacular Society by Gillian McIver<a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety5.html"> Media and the Spectacular Society by Gillian McIver</a>
<br />
<div class="sub">
Activism and the Media</div>
<b>DIY Culture</b><br />
<b> </b>
<br />
"The struggle against mass culture can consist only in pointing out
its connection with the persistence of social injustice." Max Horkheimer
<a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#48" title="Link: Footnote # 48">[48]</a>
<br />
"To be radical is to grasp something at its roots. But for man the root is man himself." Karl Marx<br />
According to Jon Dovey, the use of a technology is only as good as
who is using it: the 1970's Utopian project of community video failed
"because the political movements in which it was embedded failed." <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#49" title="Link: Footnote # 49">[49]</a>
In the mid-1990's there are new radical movements, which use video and
computer technology, to doubly challenge the social and political status
quo, and to offer a participatory alternative to the mainstream media
itself. They reject what they see as an "official" culture sanctioned by
the partnership of government, corporations and the media elite as
being appropriate for public consumption. Further, they reject politics,
believing that popular participation in the official political prcess
is possible but pointless. <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#50" title="Link: Footnote # 50">[50]</a> They use the tactics of direct action, and many were first influenced by the environmental movement. <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#51" title="Link: Footnote # 51">[51]</a>
<br />
Direct action does work in the West to the extent that, since we
don't live under the sort of oppressive regimes that exist elsewhere,
propped up by Western-armed dictators and Western-owned multinationals,
the activist is unlikely to be found headless and mutilated in a ditch.
In the end, the main threat Western states can offer the activist is
prison. According to activist Lotte Kronhild of Project Ploughshares,
fear of prison keeps us inactive; by openly doing action which will send
us to prison we break the power of the state. <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#52" title="Link: Footnote # 52">[52]</a>
In the eighteenth century, when the death penalty was laid down for
crimes of property, particularly poaching, juries were reluctant to
convict. Challenging the dominance of the State is not risk-free but it
is not a life-or-death situation. However, the price of challenging the
corporations can be high, for example, the gargantuan two-year libel
suit McDonald's has brought against pro-vegetarian activists. <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#53" title="Link: Footnote # 53">[53]</a>
The main weapon Western regimes have toward activists is the weapon of
silence, isolation. This doesn't always work., as activists have
learned the skills of networking (e.g. persuading a popular music group
to openly support them) and guerrilla publicity (e.g. AIDS awareness
group ACT-UP).<br />
Since the 1960s, the underground press, community television and
radio, in small self-managed groups, usually co-operatives, have waxed
and waned in the alternative scene. They have never entirely gone away.
The underground press continues, especially in the USA, to thrive and
produce interesting material. The promise of cable-access local
television comes and goes; in parts of the US, several years ago, cable
access was certainly serving the alternative movement, but the neo-Nazi
alternative. Lately, however, the price of video equipment has dropped
so dramatically that for the first time, real community and/or activist
television is possible in the same way that pirate radio is possible.
And alternative groups are making videos, setting up websites. Examples
of current alternative campaigns are too numerous to describe fully, but
instead of a single movement (e.g.socialist struggle) there are many,
which together make up a sort of counterculture. The fact that there is
no great plan or scheme is both a strength and a weakness. The
Situationist ideas of direct democracy and reclamation of everyday life
from consumer culture, are a large part of alternative practice.
Do-It-Yourself culture is the expression of a generation which grew up
into an adulthood of shrinking job opportunities, lowered expectations
and a deep distrust of the political system, in which parties offer
variations on the single theme of conservatism and the reign of "free
market" economics at the expense of the environment, people and the
future. "You don't sit around wait for something to be handed to you on
a plate," says one woman involved in creating free festivals. However,
rejecting the yuppie idea of "go and get it," the DIY culture attempts
to provide as much as possible for free, funded by donations, or through
co-operative means. They "create situations" rather than sloganeer and
demonstrate (e.g. Reclaim the Streets festive urban street parties; the
anti-roads campaign inhabiting Claremont Road and throwing vast free
parties every week; Earth First proclaiming the "Cascadia Free State" in
the Oregon forest, and so on). With the same sort of enthusiasm, the
activist's disgust at the media's portrayal of them has led them to try
and make an alternative media. How successful this will be remains to be
seen.<br />
<b>The New Radicalism</b>
<br />
In the past, governments relied on class divisions and the power of
the state to crush popular radicalism, while at the same time it was
buying allegiance with material goodies. Now, children of the middle
classes reject as unattainable the certainties that their parents built
their lives upon: career, marriage, nice home etc. since the reality
they see is divorce, unemployment, underemployment, debt, environmental
damage, corporate greed, homelessness and so on.<br />
Alternative culture tries to counter the globalism of the media by
forging grassroots global links with other groups around the world.<br />
Alternative culture is carnivalesque. The whole ethos of DIY is to
cast off passivity and embrace life, action, decision, in everyday life.
According to Mikhail Bakhtin, the great theorist of carnival, carnival
is oppositional. It is not simply a "break" from labour or everyday
life, not a leisure or entertainment. It has no utilitarian motive. It
is not to be observed, but to be lived. The point of the DIY culture as
it exists in free festivals, squat centres and activist campaigns, is to
live in a carnivalesque manner. Use of costume, mask and theatrical
devices, which are "connected with the joy of change an reincarnation,
with gay relativity and with the merry negation of uniformity and
similarity," are common. <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#54" title="Link: Footnote # 54">[54]</a> Gone is the sacrificial radicalism derided by Vaneigem:<br />
Violence has changed its meaning. Not that the rebel has grown weary
of fighting exploitation, boredom, poverty and death: the rebel has
simply resolved no longer to fight them with the weapons of
exploitation, boredom, poverty and death. For the first victim of any
such struggle is anyone who engages in it full of contempt for their own
life... If the ancient cry of "Death to the Exploiters" no longer
echoes through the streets, it is because it has given way to another
cry, one harking back to childhood and issuing from a passion which,
though more serene is no less tenacious. That cry is "Life First!". <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#55" title="Link: Footnote # 55">[55]</a>
<br />
Replacing the revolutionary tactics of the past, Vaneigem sees the
activists of the present as "groups whose collective decision-making
admits of no intrusion by political representation, shuns all organisers
or leaders and combats all hierarchy."<br />
One recurring theme in radical culture and the emphasis of many of
the actions which are carried out, is a call for love and respect for
the natural world. While there are echoes of a "golden age" mythology at
work here, a hearkening after a lost state of innocence, it cannot be
ignored that modern global capitalist practices are causing rapid
depredation of both the natural environment and the cultivated/inhabited
environment. Whether it is forced monoculture dependent on harsh
pesticides, chemical-based animal-rearing practices, opencast mining,
clearcut logging or pro-roads/pro-automobile policies, all of these
practices are factored inot the global economy now. Short term profit
there may be, but activists realise that the long term consequences are
ones which we have to live with, in terms of health and quality of life,
and these have the potential to be very dangerous. Instead of
nostalgia, the activists of today seek to recoup that which we have lost
and are losing by an insistence on direct democracy and radical action.<br />
Anarchism is the one romantic idea that has not yet been tainted by
corrupt practice, and so many people involved in creating alternative
culture are self-confessed anarchists. Like the hippies of the late
60's, some glory in the fact that mainstream consumer culture recoils at
their style and behaviour: a song accompanying an Earth First video of
an action to protest Clinton allowing logging of old-growth forests had
these lyrics:<br />
"Hurrah for the riffraff. Come join our circle of jolly fools
Squatters and crusties who make their own rules. Rebels and beggars,
carousers and thieves. Our only motto: Anarchy!"<br />
and has other references to Luddites and Diggers, and ends with "go ahead and stare, we're everywhere!" <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#56" title="Link: Footnote # 56">[56]</a>
<br />
Rejection of the mainstream is more than just about wearing
dreadlocks and mohawk hairstyles, or adopting veganism. One anti-logging
protester says from his camp in the Oregon wilderness "the collective
spirit that's evolved up here is nothing like anything that exists down
below. It's truly the Cascadia Free State, nothing to do with the
Babylonian US principles of individuality and everyone for themselves
and greed." <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#57" title="Link: Footnote # 57">[57]</a>
As stated earlier, the rebels of the 1990's differ from those of the
1960's and early 70's in that they have much less to lose by rebelling.
They know that most of the old hippies became yuppies, as Vaneigem
notes, "became career bureaucrats and covered themselves with glory as
cogs in the apparat of State and marketplace." <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#58" title="Link: Footnote # 58">[58]</a>
<br />
Alternative culture is not afraid to use the mainstream.
Undercurrents (of which more later) sells camcorder footage to
television to help finance its activist video projects. The band Zion
Train, interviewed at a free rave, acknowledges that the label they have
signed to, Time-Warner, are "arms manufacturing completely cold-hearted
capitalist pigs." Zion Train defend their decision to sign however, by
saying that Time Warner can now "spread the message much further than
we ever could, and that way we are able to provide an alternative to
Quentin Tarantino, Ice T, the Fugees, glorifying sex, death and money,
coz that's not what we're about! We've had chart entries and as a result
we've had people come up to us who've never heard of Newbury or RTS
[Reclaim the Streets] or anything like that and say "I've joined the
animal rights movement," or "I was down at Newbury..." We do what we
can." <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#59" title="Link: Footnote # 59">[59]</a>
In the summer of 1996, the activists opposing the Newbury bypass joined
forces with mainstream group Friends of the Earth (prominently
sponsored by Tory-supporter Andrew Lloyd-Webber) and a number of artists
to create a huge one-day art festival on the land immediately adjacent
to the bypass site, and spilling over into the site. The event was
well-attended, as genteel Guardian readers mixed with dreadlocked
stewards for a day of performance and visual art with an
anti-automobile theme.<br />
The representation of activists in the mainstream media has long been
one of "shiftless, lazy hippies." This dates back to the 1960s when
many in the counterculture adopted a distinctive aesthetic style which
made them very easy to identify. Creating a common bond using
subcultural style has its assets and its drawbacks. It can help to
create a sense of an identifiable community, but it can also serve as a
"uniform" which excludes as much as it includes. What is interesting in
the contemporary scene is that increasingly people who might once have
been identified as "straight" or mainstream are starting sympathise with
alternative culture. <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#60" title="Link: Footnote # 60">[60]</a>
<br />
In the video "Celtic Enemy" the dispute is between local people in
rural Wales and Celtic Energy over open-cast mining in their area,
documented on video and distributed by Undercurrents <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#52" title="Link: Footnote # 52">[52]</a>.
The locals, mainly elderly and middle aged, describe how they tried
"all conventional routes as far as campaigning is concerned" but "for
three years we tried all the legal channels and got nowhere." As news
of their protest filtered outside of the community, numbers of activists
arrived in the village. At first they shocked the locals by their
appearance ("some of them had dreadlocks...") but soon the locals
realised that "somebody cared" about what was happening, and together
they embarked on a fierce protest. The vile images of environmental ruin
wreaked in the end by the mine contrasts with the beauty of the
countryside in its original state, but the locals state that they feel
that the struggle has given them the courage to continue the fight. The
video shows clearly the brutality of the police, directed by
big-business interests and the government, and the equally-brutal
destruction of the landscape; the vaunted "reconstruction" of the
countryside after the mining companies have gorged their fill, is shown
to be a surreal joke: the the new landscape is hideous and artificial
and nothing like what was there before.<br />
By making a video like Celtic Enemy, the activist video-makers and
Undercurrents want to provide information about the struggle of the
Welsh villagers against the Establishment of big business and the
government, but also, and more subversively, they want to show the
gradual alliance of the villagers with the counterculture activists.<br />
Today the ennui of the assembly-line has been replaced by the ennui of the dole queue and the McJob. <a href="http://www.hrc.wmin.ac.uk/theory-mediaandspectacularsociety-foot.html#61" title="Link: Footnote # 61">[61]</a>
Unless things change drastically, there is no real reason not to put
energies into creating a viable radical critique and an alternative way
of life.<br />
<br />
<br />
Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-88121132281232344632020-06-03T09:32:00.001+01:002020-06-03T09:32:31.564+01:00Alternative Media, Undercurrents and Indy Media Centres<br />
<b>Alternative Media, Undercurrents and Indy Media Centres</b><br />
<b><br /><a href="https://www.tni.org/en/article/alternative-media-undercurrents-and-imcs#paul">Paul O' Connor<br /></a></b><br />
<div align="justify">
Technology will cure cancer, America is the land of
freedom, violence is natural, there is no life on Mars, the planet can
not feed this many people, too much sun causes cancer, women are a
minority, genetically engineered food is safe, nuclear power is not
safe, Mars has life on it, global warming is happening, global warming
is not happening, governments wants to end poverty, technology causes
cancer .....</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
And on and on it goes every day we are assaulted by
the media with opinions and facts from so called experts stating one
point of view or the other. However, in the last twenty years, the flow
of information worldwide has been controlled by an ever-shrinking number
of transnational media corporations led by a handful of giants
-Telecommunications, Time Warner, Disney, General Electric, Viacom and
Rupert Murdochs News Corporation. The power of these organisations lies
in the fact that they can produce a movie and distribute it through
their cinema chain, promote it through their own TV networks, play the
soundtrack on their own radio stations, and sell merchandising spin offs
at their own amusement parks. A movie becomes a book, a music CD, a
Broadway show then a TV series, a video game, an amusement ride.... what
does freedom of speech mean in this kind of mental environment?</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
<a href="http://www.undercurrents.org/">Undercurrents is a an alternative news organisation</a>
set up to educate and inspire people to take direct action as a way to
bring about personal and global change. In 1993 direct action was making
a radical return to the streets of Britain. The conservative government
had embarked on a massively destructive road building scheme as well as
bringing in laws aimed at making any effective protest tactic a
criminal offense. The mainstream television news was largely ignoring
environmental protests or relegated the concern of campaigners to
lifestyle features. Television features would concentrate more on
people's hairstyles than how many trees would be cut down. Anyone who
went against the establishment's view of progress were routinely classed
as NIMBYS (not in my back yard) or outsiders, troublemakers or depicted
as a strange breed of human called eco-warriors. Local news was never
put into a national context. Undercurrents set out to put local politics
into an international context. Villagers trying to stop a multi
national company from destroying their nature reserve are linked with
similar campaigns worldwide via our videocassettes.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
So what exactly is alternative media? Views are
varied but generally have the same aspects of being non-profit making,
against capitalism, against consumerism, and being pro environment, pro
movement for change, pro action and pro community.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_Q7YtjJCxFWQh0sSKSdq5_sYGwivzrEZXUebg4N0Gk3MnMK47j72ZI_RXUs9ORwJJR0fZBFkdY7SK9WUwAopsUtvpQEVUT-pQVXPjp0NQdl2diPTOZEm6qUYtEBreaR7TX7fZA/s1600/paulofilmingbrexit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_Q7YtjJCxFWQh0sSKSdq5_sYGwivzrEZXUebg4N0Gk3MnMK47j72ZI_RXUs9ORwJJR0fZBFkdY7SK9WUwAopsUtvpQEVUT-pQVXPjp0NQdl2diPTOZEm6qUYtEBreaR7TX7fZA/s320/paulofilmingbrexit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="justify">
Two frustrated television producers who could not get
their environmental programs accepted and two environmental activists
who had picked up video cameras to highlight police abuse on protests
created the organisation. We teamed up and released Undercurrents, an
alternative news video distributed on VHS. The plan was to train
activists to use domestic Hi8 camcorders to record edit, distribute and
screen their own news. We coined the term Video activist to describe
this new form of social activism.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
In April 1994 we released the first 85minute edition
VHS tape that included one 35min traditional documentary and a series of
short features. While we edited much of the first issue, most of the
Images came from activists who had had only basic video training. While
the footage was shaky and wobbly, it was also very dynamic and very
immediate. It was years ahead of its time when shaky angles from
handheld camcorders would be used extensively for reality programs on
television. Undercurrents succeeded in presenting a grassroots viewpoint
of social change, which captured the publics' imagination.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<b>What have we learnt?</b><br />
<div align="justify">
1. We wanted to re educate video makers on how video
could be used. Having viewed a number of lengthy, and very worthy videos
made by people who classed themselves as 'community video and
filmmakers" we figured that video could be exploited much more
successfully. We wanted activists themselves to make and use the videos,
rather than have the so-called "experts" do it for them.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
2.While gaining an audience is very important, we
focus more on how video can be used as a tool in itself rather than only
concentrating on the final product of the videocassette. We train
people to treat each and every time they go out with a camera as a
direct action seeking a direct result. We found too many video makers
focus on getting their documentaries transmitted on TV, which normally
meant a broadcast at 3 in the morning rather than thinking whom the most
effective audience would actually be. A good example of targeting a
particular audience was when a community contacted us about noise
pollution in their area. A local metal factory was working through the
night and disturbing people's sleep. While the factory was in Britain,
the owner actually lived in New York. This was the person who had the
power to change the situation. So producing a video for local television
would have proven useless, as he would never have seen it. Instead we
worked with the 25 people from the local community to produce a video
letter displaying their concerns. Two elderly people hand-delivered the
tape to the owner in New York. The visit was broadcast on New York TV
cable news and reported in the newspapers and embarrassed the owner into
dismissing the manager and stopping working at night. The factory was
also fined $60,000 for pollution due to our video evidence.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
3.Length of video features is an important lesson we
have learnt. While our first 35minute feature won an international
documentary award for its unique use of camcorders, activists found it
difficult to use in their campaigning. A five to ten minute video
feature proved to more useful to a campaign than a lengthy documentary.
Activists tend to use video to focus an audience before a debate or a
presentation so humour and music and short cuts work very well and have
become prominent in the undercurrents style. We have trained hundreds of
video activists now and training people how to tell a story in 5
minutes is a very good skill for people to learn. With the rise of
streaming video on the Internet, this skill will become invaluable.</div>
<br />
<b>How do we fund ourselves?</b><br />
<div align="justify">
Funding any alternative media organisation is
difficult and undercurrents recognised this from early on. Our funds are
still erratic. Our current funds come from</div>
<ul type="square">
<li>25% come from selling archive material to television networks worldwide
</li>
<li>30% from grants for training video activists
</li>
<li>20% from selling videocassettes
</li>
<li>25% from commissioned productions, awards, and donations and benefit parties
</li>
</ul>
<div align="justify">
We rely hugely on a broad range of voluntary skills
and the "Do it your self" culture of the activist movement. Our video
distribution has grown organically. While only 1000 copies of each news
videocassette were ever made, we figure that over 10,000 copies exist
worldwide. Activists continue to copy them and translate them as well as
taking images off them and using in their own productions. With limited
resources and a lot of energy, undercurrents videos are being screened
in music festivals, music clubs, in the open air at many protest sites,
in abandoned churches, local cinemas and student unions as well as in
hundreds of thousands of individual houses.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2eRaGDIBD0taayh_f-A4ieNM17anE6M4AxvV0Mwgho10cZkcNDqlWX6IlMyM-LcnULZqcUSkunj_D5cpwkn6K6A3sMUjC4d5e81h1HHg1jo6A3zVe6ZinsLhd9oTwdGfUgTJkg/s1600/paulofilmcops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="430" data-original-width="604" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2eRaGDIBD0taayh_f-A4ieNM17anE6M4AxvV0Mwgho10cZkcNDqlWX6IlMyM-LcnULZqcUSkunj_D5cpwkn6K6A3sMUjC4d5e81h1HHg1jo6A3zVe6ZinsLhd9oTwdGfUgTJkg/s320/paulofilmcops.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author filming a cannabis protest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="justify">
What does undercurrents set out to achieve?<br />We
want to challenge what television broadcasters were defining as news so
we would take our video images to the newsrooms and say ' your reporters
were not at this dynamic direct action but we were, so why not show
this?</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
In the beginning we had two main obstacles with this
approach- one was the response of ' Hi8 images are not good enough to
broadcast on TV'. A decade of camcorder images being associated only
with badly recorded home movies took a while to over come we guessed
.The argument we used was that the quality of our images matched the
images BBC regularly screened of reports recorded on Hi8 from their
foreign correspondents series.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
The other obstacle that was put in out way was that
we were viewed as protesters rather than reporters. Our argument was
that while we didn't believe in hiding behind the myth of objectivity,
we could still be independent reporters similar to the many openly
biased mainstream political journalists. The difference would be that we
would be reporting from the grassroots movement for democracy and
social change rather than the establishment's viewpoint. Many of the
broadcasters saw the invaluable potential of our contacts and now our
exclusive images of protesters locking themselves underground in tunnels
or battling with chainsaws in trees are regularly used in hundreds of
documentary and news programs.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhYBJLW5o6L-8MLKdJG_uZdgKhLI6cBCXs_bHbAI5jC3gJVRDYKhtoPfRs2wOchNZ9FVyg7T0dlo_j5fpZ90b0voChB66_hB5OmtiTgE-BGJEydmsksR6ZOrk4uH3qgC7WWZvnQ/s1600/visionontvfilming.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1484" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhYBJLW5o6L-8MLKdJG_uZdgKhLI6cBCXs_bHbAI5jC3gJVRDYKhtoPfRs2wOchNZ9FVyg7T0dlo_j5fpZ90b0voChB66_hB5OmtiTgE-BGJEydmsksR6ZOrk4uH3qgC7WWZvnQ/s320/visionontvfilming.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div align="justify">
We feel our work with mainstream TV is important. The
first few days of any large protest are the most important in guiding
all the following news coverage. News presenters would either take the
time to get to know the campaigners and file informative and fairly
balanced reports or they would ignore any view other than the
establishments and issue a hostile and ill informed report giving the
airtime to the perpetrators rather than the victims. Once the first
report is broadcast, the TV network then feels that they have taken a
particular stance on the subject and this is what future programs will
continue to base their reports upon. Thus campaigners are either classed
for the public as terrorists, brave heroes, warriors, a violent mob,
concerned citizens, or troublemakers depending on the mood or values or
access of one presenter in the first days of a campaign.</div>
<div align="justify">
<br /></div>
<div align="justify">
Six years on and undercurrents has produced 10
editions of our alternative news video, inspired many others to set up
in Germany, Netherlands, Australia, USA, Poland, Britain and Israel. We
have also set up Britain's first training workshop for video activism,
which even mainstream reporters now attend to find a new way of
reporting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RR6Jt6nIDrGpJVFO8Ybmzybv52vo2EShZ8eE04714wH931S3rjhv5ZV-rrQUJj8MwwCYtlXKO6atgsALDF_am0bFYlPn1Myh9sAJELUpYkOTEtKP2u0IGP0kV67a2gkYjRoFdw/s1600/Paulofilmingclimatecamp2008.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1542" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RR6Jt6nIDrGpJVFO8Ybmzybv52vo2EShZ8eE04714wH931S3rjhv5ZV-rrQUJj8MwwCYtlXKO6atgsALDF_am0bFYlPn1Myh9sAJELUpYkOTEtKP2u0IGP0kV67a2gkYjRoFdw/s320/Paulofilmingclimatecamp2008.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Undercurrents role in the growing anti capitalism movement worldwide</b><br />
<div align="justify">
The media constantly tell us how many people were
killed by fascism and communism but never how many people capitalism has
killed and is still killing. Perhaps when capitalism has been replaced
by another system we will find out.</div>
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<div align="justify">
In the meantime, alternative media is playing a
strong role in bringing together the various worldwide groups battling
against the World Bank, Intentional monetary fund, the World trade
organisations and the spreading culturally destructive fast food chains.
Undercurrents has played a major part in the inspiration for setting up
of new outlets for independent reporters. At most of the recent
protests in America, Australia, and Europe an independent media center
has been set up as a coordinating point for media activists to
distribute their written reports, photographs and video images. Using
the Internet and a new open access website designed by activists in
Australia in June 1999 and built upon ever since, the indymedia.org
network is growing rapidly.</div>
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At the recent protests against the World bank and IMF
meeting in the Czech republic, Undercurrents and the Indymedia crew put
the news on the website throughout the day. People from 45 cities in 20
countries also logged on to the site and freely published their own
reports of solidarity actions occurring in their own countries. The
international story grew in front of our eyes presenting the wider
picture of the grassroots movement for change.</div>
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Where video activism and the Internet takes us next
in the movement for changes is largely unknown and who knows what else
will be invented to be used by media activists. But what ever happens it
is vital that we have some alternative outlets to challenge the
mainstream definition of news and to continue to offer a message of hope
and inspiration to the world.</div>
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Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-67475437544655874862020-06-01T23:41:00.001+01:002020-06-01T23:41:31.977+01:00Orwell fits the news today<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">George Orwell quote from 1984 fits these Sun front pages</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPnJ8V7VUWAVLxq6DnXsyQEwWLhGSxTuY6SsK7mRafiDPBmGTqOzzSNrEXhRQCSh-MihBSnzfRsqwNaHanIu1TvDjb7dOOtWUcVNI5rLR3Ay1QyUGZBsPPius9fvU1aICR5tZXA/s1600/orwell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="1000" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPnJ8V7VUWAVLxq6DnXsyQEwWLhGSxTuY6SsK7mRafiDPBmGTqOzzSNrEXhRQCSh-MihBSnzfRsqwNaHanIu1TvDjb7dOOtWUcVNI5rLR3Ay1QyUGZBsPPius9fvU1aICR5tZXA/s640/orwell.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"> </span><br /><br />Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-22698294421730749502020-05-31T14:12:00.000+01:002020-05-31T14:15:10.445+01:00TV crew shot LIVE on air by Police<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6O5ZkV36va2CVBylwIHT2m4jonOvrdlFHG41Do6bEekvrEX6HFAJwaPV66hyoyRhq34uBfjjsN0SlXFRItbY2ASKoLTsDzGOoxjyg_OUXox5hOBnPEVWXoSodeipjMSuPP90uw/s1600/crew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6O5ZkV36va2CVBylwIHT2m4jonOvrdlFHG41Do6bEekvrEX6HFAJwaPV66hyoyRhq34uBfjjsN0SlXFRItbY2ASKoLTsDzGOoxjyg_OUXox5hOBnPEVWXoSodeipjMSuPP90uw/s320/crew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
A TV <span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">crew were shot with pepper bullets by an LMPD police officer LIVE on air during Louisville protests. Photojournalist James Dobson and reporter Kaitlin Rust. A 'little bruised' they said.</span><br />
This is the result of Trump's repeated attacks on the media.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2uc4NYlKToRPqdas0USW-f0pSY0OinP8vToLYAPy1r8k1jtEiFn-sq4WeaDFqXCUToPWIEIJg2DXZphvKUTda6DhUBonKzzRCjOCJnSvhJ27VHocqsJV1kje8uez4AzFLqEmog/s1600/Screen+Shot+2020-05-31+at+14.14.44.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="1002" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2uc4NYlKToRPqdas0USW-f0pSY0OinP8vToLYAPy1r8k1jtEiFn-sq4WeaDFqXCUToPWIEIJg2DXZphvKUTda6DhUBonKzzRCjOCJnSvhJ27VHocqsJV1kje8uez4AzFLqEmog/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-05-31+at+14.14.44.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Watch is here<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisBishopL1C4/status/1266546753182056453"> https://twitter.com/ChrisBishopL1C4/status/1266546753182056453</a><br />
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Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-40057718536113602802020-05-09T08:28:00.003+01:002020-05-09T08:28:44.374+01:00'Propaganda' what does it mean?<br />
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<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e7opp" data-offset-key="6v0qa-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="6v0qa-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="6v0qa-0-0"><span data-text="true"> 'Propaganda' derives from a committee of Catholic cardinals set up in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV, the Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide (the Sacred College for Propagating the Faith), called Propaganda for short.</span></span></div>
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<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e7opp" data-offset-key="8ue6e-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="8ue6e-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="8ue6e-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e7opp" data-offset-key="1tkgj-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1tkgj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="1tkgj-0-0"><span data-text="true">It's aim was to spread the Catholic faith in non-Catholic countries.</span></span></div>
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<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e7opp" data-offset-key="ajnmj-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="ajnmj-0-0">
<span data-offset-key="ajnmj-0-0"><br data-text="true" /></span></div>
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<div class="" data-block="true" data-editor="e7opp" data-offset-key="1i9bh-0-0">
<div class="_1mf _1mj" data-offset-key="1i9bh-0-0">
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda"><span data-offset-key="1i9bh-0-0"><span data-text="true">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda</span></span></a></div>
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Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-69890444671058683562020-05-05T18:10:00.003+01:002020-05-05T18:10:28.400+01:00Mainstream or Alternative Media<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Vg6L0eAckCGdl_JsRasNwFPpcwtpqVEtkEKXkulb0Bzm_TYO1Gzwz2vWaji9WSYiDX0__HOuRxu6VohyphenhyphenzZtcdAECpWq89zEDHnkGqTlAewWcANfOjJkQ2kza-C0RmpW3_55-Bg/s1600/paulofilmsMayday2000.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1110" data-original-width="1260" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Vg6L0eAckCGdl_JsRasNwFPpcwtpqVEtkEKXkulb0Bzm_TYO1Gzwz2vWaji9WSYiDX0__HOuRxu6VohyphenhyphenzZtcdAECpWq89zEDHnkGqTlAewWcANfOjJkQ2kza-C0RmpW3_55-Bg/s320/paulofilmsMayday2000.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me filming Police surveilance squad on a protest. Photo: The Telegraph</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I began reporting on environmental and social justice issues, i was proud to be supplying an alternative narrative to the mainstream news. While BBC news was highly supportive of the Governments road building plans or arms deals or GM food production, I was helping to present a different viewpoint. We established an alternative video news organisation called <a href="http://Swedes are getting implants">Undercurrents </a>in 1994. We trained people to make their own news about events or issues. It captured the imagination and in the time before the internet (ar at least video on the internet) we had to rely upon posting VHS tapes out with 10 micro documentaries on each one. The tapes were boot legged and subtitled into different languages and sent on to groups worldwide. Completely independent of us. <br /><br />We ridiculed the mainstream reporting of issues and showed what they left out. I never thought that 20 years later I would be hearing the President of the USA demonising the media. I was more used to seeing the media being used by the Government to spin lies and falsehoods to shape public opinion. <br />So when a President dismissses all media as 'Fake' it sets up a very worrying time.<br />
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Who do we believe anymore?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXdko5CNPfl-dwb8U3wv8N3uaJhMm7HMZWoAHkT7R-ELkIS8Kb2etNkEVPYwRH3w9ryS__n9RtctJm6MiIjmZ4ukzd7WYR-GWveGddrrt5lUlBrQj36lsY32lchz1TjJJbZrt2w/s1600/mediatrump.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1234" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXdko5CNPfl-dwb8U3wv8N3uaJhMm7HMZWoAHkT7R-ELkIS8Kb2etNkEVPYwRH3w9ryS__n9RtctJm6MiIjmZ4ukzd7WYR-GWveGddrrt5lUlBrQj36lsY32lchz1TjJJbZrt2w/s400/mediatrump.png" width="392" /></a></div>
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Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27649499.post-574088263383855222020-05-02T13:32:00.001+01:002020-05-02T13:32:30.357+01:00Why it is important to film Police <br />
I have filmed protests for more than 25 years. I have seen numerous abuses by police on people including children . I have see and recorded police attacking or arresting journalists with no evidence.<br />
During the COVID 19 lockdown, some Police officers think they are Judge Dredd and can do whatever they want. This is why organisations such as<a href="https://netpol.org/"> Netpol</a> are so important. <br />
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Last week cops grab an innocent black cyclist who is on his own bike
(cops thought it was stolen). The lesson is to always film any
interaction with cops.<br />
<br />Read the shocking account and <a href="https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/watch-innocent-cyclist-repeatedly-punched-18188448">watch video here. </a><br />
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Undercurrents is an award winning alternative news service producing videos of people taking inspiring actions.
http://www.undercurrents.orgPaul O' Connorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11473734794967933175noreply@blogger.com1