I set off for New Orleans early on Friday morning, and I have to say I am slightly apprehensive about it. On one hand, I cant wait to get there an talk to the people who are making a huge difference, the people who are fighting for the right of ALL New Orleans residents to return to the city, despite the efforts of some to keep some people out.
On the other hand, I may be reminded of how heartbroken, and how angry I was last year when the Government abandoned the citizens. I almost got that angry the day after watching Spike Lee's documentary, when the very well meaning New Orleans Citizen Rockey Vaccarella met with George Bush. Call me cynical, but that was exactly the kind of PR that George Bush was begging for. But it wont help him deal with the heat he will no doubt get this week, as people are reminded about what Brownie, Bush et al didnt do.
Friday, August 25, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
The Heavies and NOLA Levees.
No, I have nothing clever to say, just two things:
The first being - This summer, The Brand New Heavies are back with a new album, called Get Used to It. Go and check it out - it's worth it. It's been a long time, and N'Dea Davenport is back in the mix after several years away - which is just a wonderful thing. Now, while we love Carleen Anderson (come on, sing along, 'Apparently Nothing, nothing apparently...' hmmm, is the GB officially Old Skool now?? Guess so...), and yes - their stint with Siedah Garrett on 1997's Shelter was pretty darned good too, things just seem a little better with The Heavies and N'Dea.
In other news, Spike Lee's latest documentary, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts premiered on HBO in the US tonight. It was powerful and sobering. If you can watch it, do. And you should check out the documentary film by Royce Osborn (he is also a New Orleans Native and Katrina survivor) called All on a Mardi Gras Day. The GB will be heading to New Orleans on Friday, August 25 for a few days. Look out for some reports from the area - as well and an interview with Royce Osborn on the September edition of My Lens.
The first being - This summer, The Brand New Heavies are back with a new album, called Get Used to It. Go and check it out - it's worth it. It's been a long time, and N'Dea Davenport is back in the mix after several years away - which is just a wonderful thing. Now, while we love Carleen Anderson (come on, sing along, 'Apparently Nothing, nothing apparently...' hmmm, is the GB officially Old Skool now?? Guess so...), and yes - their stint with Siedah Garrett on 1997's Shelter was pretty darned good too, things just seem a little better with The Heavies and N'Dea.
In other news, Spike Lee's latest documentary, When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts premiered on HBO in the US tonight. It was powerful and sobering. If you can watch it, do. And you should check out the documentary film by Royce Osborn (he is also a New Orleans Native and Katrina survivor) called All on a Mardi Gras Day. The GB will be heading to New Orleans on Friday, August 25 for a few days. Look out for some reports from the area - as well and an interview with Royce Osborn on the September edition of My Lens.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Watch this: 'Terrorism isnt the issue, the Issue is Power': A short PSA from Electronic Lebanon
'In the weeks after Israel launched its attack on Lebanon, a team of New York-based artists, designers, and multimedia producers converged on a warehouse location in Brooklyn to create a Public Service Announcement for Electronic Lebanon'. The PSA features Suheir Hammad, Danny Hoch and others. It was apparently projected onto buildings on Saturday night in Brooklyn and Detroit. It's short, to the point and poignant: http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article5473.shtml
Want to know what is happening on the ground in Lebanon? Read on...
It was reported this afternoon that Lebanon and Hezbollah agreed on the UN resolution. Just minutes before, I received this report from Judith LeBlanc, the National Co chair for progressive coalition, United For Peace and Justice. She is in Beirut right now, with a small US peace delegation. I wonder what the people on the ground think about the decisions made 'upon high'.
--------------
Eyewitness Report
Beirut on Day 29 of the War
By Judith Le Blanc
United For Peace and Justice National Co chair
On day 29 of the war, Beirut is a blend of many realities. The facts are that 1,000 have died, over 3,000 have been injured in Lebanon. Most are children. Whole villages and sections of cities have been evacuated, and life continues.
Every night there are new bombings of apartment buildings in Beirut and homes in southern Lebanon. Tyre has been blockaded and every major highway has been bombed. The United Nations says their humanitarian aid programs are paralyzed now.
Some Lebanese feel that the world has abandoned them. Many believe that Lebanon will survive as it has in the wars of the past. Time is not standing still. With every day the situation becomes more dire.
The spiral of continued war and failed diplomatic initiatives leaves the Lebanese government unable to make a full accounting of the extend of the damage to the infrastructure or the impact on the economy.
Families are trying to survive together and when possible they have sent their relatives to Syria or other countries even further away. One man who waited in line behind me to use the pay phone told me he sent his wife and children to another country. He stayed behind because his 90 year old mother refused to leave her apartment. He said
There are the families crowed into apartments waiting for the war to end. The families from the south of Lebanon sit under tarps for another day in Beirut's parks while others sit in public schools.
Cars form long lines at the few gas stations open while their drivers periodically erupt. into arguments.
Not too far off shore oil tankers are wait behind the Israeli Naval blockade while the hospitals report that they only have two days of fuel left. The tankers won’t move with out written permission from the Israelis.
While the banks are the only business running on regular business hours, they fear that many loans will not repaid.
Small clothing stores are having sales for no shoppers. A French owned store laid off 200 workers. At the protest outside the store, the workers said why do you lay us off in a time of need? Most workers are on half days if at all. Others are being forced to take their vacation time.
In the Hamra neighborhood where Muslim, Christian and Druze live together small shops stay open while periodic power outages compel the use of small generators. It is less than 2 miles away from the southern neighborhoods bombed in the last few days.
Haret Hraik, a neighborhood in southern Beirut, has been bombed for three nights in a row. Almost all the small shops are closed except for an occasional tire repair shop. We went to photograph the damage. When we got out of the car there were many press photographers who asked where we were from. We went on to another block where a group of men were watching the bulldozing of buildings bombed two nights ago. They asked where we were from, of course, and then they offered us chocolates!
We talked of the war and its impact. At one point, a man came up and asked what media we represented. He was from Hezbollah. They have set up guards and street patrols. He told us where to go to register to get an inside tour. The second time we were stopped, a man on a scooter pulled the car over.he told us not to photograph at all and gave us the address to register for permission.
Amongst the rubble of a bombed out building, I spoke with a man named Idriss. We were watching the bull dozing of a building that had been bombed two night s before. He had lived in New York City before Sept 11. When he was deported from the US, the immigration officials told him they were sorry, but because he is Arab and Muslim he would have to leave.
We chatted about New York City and he asked where I lived. When I told him that I can see Yankee Stadium from my bathroom window, he wanted me to go see his good friend Sami at his corner store at 161 Street in the Bronx.
He spoke of the senselessness of the bombing, but also reminded me that the bombs were sold to Israel by the US. I took his picture and promised to go to see his friend.
Over the past three days, many have said that Hezbollah is not the issue now. It’s the war. Some have said that Bush and the Israelis began this war to split the people along religious lines. More than one person said they believed this war was planned long ago. Some also believed the bombing was to force the people to decide to be for or against Hezbollah.
At noon time, as we photographed the clean up of one bombed out neighborhood, we were told by the press that another Israeli air raid had happened.
We thought we saw leaflets falling outside our window. Now they are reporting on CNN that yes, leaflets are being dropped in central Beirut. That has been the practice before a bombing. CNN is reporting that the Israeli government has decided to bomb closer to the center of the city.
There are many realities that are going on here. There is hope and there is fear. There is also a struggle to bring people together and lay the basis for a better future even while the end of this war is not in sight.
--------------
Eyewitness Report
Beirut on Day 29 of the War
By Judith Le Blanc
United For Peace and Justice National Co chair
On day 29 of the war, Beirut is a blend of many realities. The facts are that 1,000 have died, over 3,000 have been injured in Lebanon. Most are children. Whole villages and sections of cities have been evacuated, and life continues.
Every night there are new bombings of apartment buildings in Beirut and homes in southern Lebanon. Tyre has been blockaded and every major highway has been bombed. The United Nations says their humanitarian aid programs are paralyzed now.
Some Lebanese feel that the world has abandoned them. Many believe that Lebanon will survive as it has in the wars of the past. Time is not standing still. With every day the situation becomes more dire.
The spiral of continued war and failed diplomatic initiatives leaves the Lebanese government unable to make a full accounting of the extend of the damage to the infrastructure or the impact on the economy.
Families are trying to survive together and when possible they have sent their relatives to Syria or other countries even further away. One man who waited in line behind me to use the pay phone told me he sent his wife and children to another country. He stayed behind because his 90 year old mother refused to leave her apartment. He said
There are the families crowed into apartments waiting for the war to end. The families from the south of Lebanon sit under tarps for another day in Beirut's parks while others sit in public schools.
Cars form long lines at the few gas stations open while their drivers periodically erupt. into arguments.
Not too far off shore oil tankers are wait behind the Israeli Naval blockade while the hospitals report that they only have two days of fuel left. The tankers won’t move with out written permission from the Israelis.
While the banks are the only business running on regular business hours, they fear that many loans will not repaid.
Small clothing stores are having sales for no shoppers. A French owned store laid off 200 workers. At the protest outside the store, the workers said why do you lay us off in a time of need? Most workers are on half days if at all. Others are being forced to take their vacation time.
In the Hamra neighborhood where Muslim, Christian and Druze live together small shops stay open while periodic power outages compel the use of small generators. It is less than 2 miles away from the southern neighborhoods bombed in the last few days.
Haret Hraik, a neighborhood in southern Beirut, has been bombed for three nights in a row. Almost all the small shops are closed except for an occasional tire repair shop. We went to photograph the damage. When we got out of the car there were many press photographers who asked where we were from. We went on to another block where a group of men were watching the bulldozing of buildings bombed two nights ago. They asked where we were from, of course, and then they offered us chocolates!
We talked of the war and its impact. At one point, a man came up and asked what media we represented. He was from Hezbollah. They have set up guards and street patrols. He told us where to go to register to get an inside tour. The second time we were stopped, a man on a scooter pulled the car over.he told us not to photograph at all and gave us the address to register for permission.
Amongst the rubble of a bombed out building, I spoke with a man named Idriss. We were watching the bull dozing of a building that had been bombed two night s before. He had lived in New York City before Sept 11. When he was deported from the US, the immigration officials told him they were sorry, but because he is Arab and Muslim he would have to leave.
We chatted about New York City and he asked where I lived. When I told him that I can see Yankee Stadium from my bathroom window, he wanted me to go see his good friend Sami at his corner store at 161 Street in the Bronx.
He spoke of the senselessness of the bombing, but also reminded me that the bombs were sold to Israel by the US. I took his picture and promised to go to see his friend.
Over the past three days, many have said that Hezbollah is not the issue now. It’s the war. Some have said that Bush and the Israelis began this war to split the people along religious lines. More than one person said they believed this war was planned long ago. Some also believed the bombing was to force the people to decide to be for or against Hezbollah.
At noon time, as we photographed the clean up of one bombed out neighborhood, we were told by the press that another Israeli air raid had happened.
We thought we saw leaflets falling outside our window. Now they are reporting on CNN that yes, leaflets are being dropped in central Beirut. That has been the practice before a bombing. CNN is reporting that the Israeli government has decided to bomb closer to the center of the city.
There are many realities that are going on here. There is hope and there is fear. There is also a struggle to bring people together and lay the basis for a better future even while the end of this war is not in sight.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Filed UK Bomb plots - Who is a real terrorist, part three
This is what the CNN ticker said during its coverage on Friday, August 11:
'ITV: One suspect may have worked at Heathrow Airport'.
Many, many South Asians who were born, went to school and live in and around West London have jobs at Heathrow (five terminals yo, that's a lot of jobs). One can only imagine how they are feeling right now, afterall, in this climate of fear, people are increasingly becoming less trusting of each other. So, not only are South Asian men (who may not even be Muslim to start of with, but hey, who is asking? Certainy not the people attacking them) increasingly feeling under suspicion from the rest of the community because of the actions of a few; those who work in Heathrow Airport are now probably in fear of their job security. I am sure they certainly don't feel comfortable right now.
Meanwhile the politicians are trying to get as much political capital out of it. And its not like people around the world aren't skeptical about what happened this week. Read this, for example http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=8/12/2006&Cat=2&Num=017
It feels like we're in a 'Superman' film or something. It's bad enough when you can't trust your politicians to tell us the truth, but when so many people actually suspect that their politicians are cooking up something serious up for political gain - you know we're in deep doo doo.
Many, many South Asians who were born, went to school and live in and around West London have jobs at Heathrow (five terminals yo, that's a lot of jobs). One can only imagine how they are feeling right now, afterall, in this climate of fear, people are increasingly becoming less trusting of each other. So, not only are South Asian men (who may not even be Muslim to start of with, but hey, who is asking? Certainy not the people attacking them) increasingly feeling under suspicion from the rest of the community because of the actions of a few; those who work in Heathrow Airport are now probably in fear of their job security. I am sure they certainly don't feel comfortable right now.
Meanwhile the politicians are trying to get as much political capital out of it. And its not like people around the world aren't skeptical about what happened this week. Read this, for example http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=8/12/2006&Cat=2&Num=017
It feels like we're in a 'Superman' film or something. It's bad enough when you can't trust your politicians to tell us the truth, but when so many people actually suspect that their politicians are cooking up something serious up for political gain - you know we're in deep doo doo.
Its official, Africans are in fashion.
OK, OK, OK. So, you have probably heard about the Keep A Child Alive Campaign featuring Gwyneth Paltrow, Liv Tyler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Iman et al. If not, let The GB break it down for you. It's a campaign featuring pictures of these stars, with some African....er... accessories and stuff...with the caption, 'I Am African'. And its caused a stir in many quarters. First off, let's point positive. The Keep A Child Alive Campaign is one that people really should probably check out. The goal is a good one, as explained in it's title...And the people involved in the campaign to eradicate AIDS in the continent of Africa have had much success and obviously figured that, as we are living in the era of celebrity culture, the only way to get people's attention is to get some celebs to endorse the cause, right? Right! No one would disagree that celebrity endorsements can help - and if the celebs want to help out a cause they care about, great!...So, what's wrong with this picture??:
Now, here is the thing. When The GB was sent the message, (by someone who knew that this would provoke a reaction...!), it caused some confusion - and amusement. Here is an (edited) snippet of The GB's response back:
'Isht. I don’t even know where to start... on the face of it, I thought it was a move to say that human kind started in Africa, and that we all come from the same place - which I thought was bold, even though Gwyneth doesnt look like any African I know. Then I read the words on the ad and my head nearly blew off... What are they trying to say? Really?! Are they saying that if AIDS affects one of us, it affects all of us? I think that is what they THINK they are saying, but that isnt the message anyone is getting. I DO think that they are saying, Gwyneth likes Africans, and you should too... And what is with the stripes on her face??...Oh, they are 'African' tribal paint marks, I seeeeeeeee...and is that necklace supposed to be from Africa?...Whoo, I need to go, I need to laugh some more.
And it seems that The GB wasn't alone in feeling like well meaning liberals got it WRONG AGAIN. If people stopped talking ABOUT and started talking TO each other, I bet we wouldnt have this mess. Did anyone from the Keep A Child Alive Campaign talk to people of African descent - other than the superstars involved in the campaign - about their thoughts on the campaign, and its message, given the longstanding problems of negative portrayals of Africans in the Western media (think: flies and swollen bellies, dancing in the streets after a coup/sporting event...hacking some kind of tree... arrid desert, get the picture??!!) Looking at the response to the campaign, it doesn't feel like it. Can anyone say FOCUS GROUP??! The picture below, comes from Gawker.com. Read and laugh until you weep:
Now, here is the thing. When The GB was sent the message, (by someone who knew that this would provoke a reaction...!), it caused some confusion - and amusement. Here is an (edited) snippet of The GB's response back:
'Isht. I don’t even know where to start... on the face of it, I thought it was a move to say that human kind started in Africa, and that we all come from the same place - which I thought was bold, even though Gwyneth doesnt look like any African I know. Then I read the words on the ad and my head nearly blew off... What are they trying to say? Really?! Are they saying that if AIDS affects one of us, it affects all of us? I think that is what they THINK they are saying, but that isnt the message anyone is getting. I DO think that they are saying, Gwyneth likes Africans, and you should too... And what is with the stripes on her face??...Oh, they are 'African' tribal paint marks, I seeeeeeeee...and is that necklace supposed to be from Africa?...Whoo, I need to go, I need to laugh some more.
And it seems that The GB wasn't alone in feeling like well meaning liberals got it WRONG AGAIN. If people stopped talking ABOUT and started talking TO each other, I bet we wouldnt have this mess. Did anyone from the Keep A Child Alive Campaign talk to people of African descent - other than the superstars involved in the campaign - about their thoughts on the campaign, and its message, given the longstanding problems of negative portrayals of Africans in the Western media (think: flies and swollen bellies, dancing in the streets after a coup/sporting event...hacking some kind of tree... arrid desert, get the picture??!!) Looking at the response to the campaign, it doesn't feel like it. Can anyone say FOCUS GROUP??! The picture below, comes from Gawker.com. Read and laugh until you weep:
Note to all men...
So, tonight: I am returning home (alone) from an excellent night out with my friend. As I am walking home, I stop to adjust something and some young bratty man-boy (he is also on his own), half my size starts to holla at me. I ignored him. I turned around to make sure he was gone, and guess what? He was following me! My instinct told me not to walk home, because, if he worked out where I lived, there could be problems (I have been in this situation before, this move worked last time). So, I stopped, thinking of how I could make him go away. He asked me my name. I asked why. He said he just wanted to know. He asked if he could walk me home, I said no. Then (and take note MEN), he asked me if I want sex.... I told him where to go (in no uncertain terms) and continued my journey home, only this time, I speed walked, and spent my time looking behind my shoulder, to make sure that New Jack Virgin wasnt following me home. This is not the first time I have been in this situation. And I know I am not the only woman who has been subjected to this madness. A few years ago, some dude purposely got on my train (he was originally going in the other direction, he told me) , proceeded to stare at me throughout the 30 minute journey, then (almost) followed me home. I say almost because when I realised that there was no stopping this individual, I decided to stop and ask him what he thought he was doing (it was daylight, I felt that I could get away with it). So, I asked him if he had a sister. He said yes, and I asked him if he would appreciate his sister telling him that she went out on a date with some guy who followed her on the subway. He said no, the conversation ended there, and he thankfully took his ass back on the subway into the city.
Men, talk to your brothers. The ones, who think they are fresh or just need to get some; the ones who feel that they can ask a random woman to give them what they want. Enough already. Tell them there are ways to get a woman's attention, and asking for sex, two minutes after asking a woman her name, just isnt cool. Neither is following them. Tell them they could get in trouble for that - if not with the police, with the woman's family/man, or worse/better yet, the woman herself (when her foot connects with his groin). And tell them that crass talk like that doesn't make the ladies feel nice. I realise things really aren't good on the equality front (dont give me that, 'but women have great jobs' line, we still dont have equal access to power...), but this is taking the piss. The irony is I had just finished reading a great book by Jill Nelson, which made me feel empowered, but this situation left me feeling vulnerable, and on the defensive again.
If I see the brat again I am kicking him in the goolies (nuts to the rest of the world).
Men, talk to your brothers. The ones, who think they are fresh or just need to get some; the ones who feel that they can ask a random woman to give them what they want. Enough already. Tell them there are ways to get a woman's attention, and asking for sex, two minutes after asking a woman her name, just isnt cool. Neither is following them. Tell them they could get in trouble for that - if not with the police, with the woman's family/man, or worse/better yet, the woman herself (when her foot connects with his groin). And tell them that crass talk like that doesn't make the ladies feel nice. I realise things really aren't good on the equality front (dont give me that, 'but women have great jobs' line, we still dont have equal access to power...), but this is taking the piss. The irony is I had just finished reading a great book by Jill Nelson, which made me feel empowered, but this situation left me feeling vulnerable, and on the defensive again.
If I see the brat again I am kicking him in the goolies (nuts to the rest of the world).
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
LISTEN My Lens: Hip Hop and Politics. Who is the Monkey...?!
Well, you will have to listen right to the end of this show to know what I am talking about! First off, thank you for the positive feedback on My Lens. Hope you enjoy this months show as much as you enjoyed the last one (if not more). On this months show, we look at the ways that Hip Hop has enacted political change, and present a report from the National Hip Hop 'Political Convention, featuring voices from The Pioneers and Powerbrokers of Hip Hop Culture'. Voices featured include: DJ Paradise, formerly of the X Clan (remember the African pendants that everyone wore back in the day? He is one of the people responsible for making us think they were smart and cool - which they were...), King Kamonzi of the Universal Zulu Nation, David Nelson, one of the founding members of The Last Poets - the group that many cite as a bedrock of modern conscious Hip Hop Culture - and the first group to freestyle and Davey D, Hip Hop journalist. In the second part of the show, we touch base with WANLOV, the Romanian-born, Ghanaian-bred rapper about the influence US Hip Hop had on his career, his politics and much more. Check it out, its a good 'un - but please note, that ONE of the songs uses language that might cause offense. Hey - its better that we let you know, right??!
MP3 File
MP3 File
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