Top 10 Events of 2010

 There can never be a definitive list of the ten biggest events of a year, especially one as mad(dening) and as filled with newsmaking events as this year. Nor is this list meant to in any way diminish any of the other big events of the year that are not mentioned. Below are ten of those events that I believed shaped 2010, some of which will resonate for years to come:

1.  Wikileaks cables: Because they scared the hell out of those that have too much sinister power behind the scenes and too much leverage over our lives. Because we all have a right to know what is going on. Because state secrecy is not absolute, nor should it ever be. Because the too-powerful Establishment needs to be jolted sometimes
2. Global warming/ climate change/ deforestation/ biodiversity loss, etc: Because these issues will not go away, nor should they as long as the eco-carnage continues. Because many love to speak 'sustainability' in breathless tones, but don't have a blinking clue of what it actually means. Because we're humans and remain lousy stewards of this planet 
3. Chilean miners: Because all 33 Chilean miners stuck underground made it up alive after more than 60 days. Because this event made me wish with all my heart that total strangers would be alive and well. Because amongst all the doom and gloom in these scary and sinister times, wonderful miracles still do happen.
4. International financial terrorism: Because it showed, time and time again, what blood-sucking scheisters international finance and banking can be. Because it proved just how speculative the world capital economy has become, and how speculators are at war against savers and governments. Because it showed that most top bankers and banks are not geniuses but a bunch of lying, conniving vampires who are sucking nations (and us) dry  
5. Eurozone crisis, Greece & Ireland: Because it showed us just how dangerous this little thing called 'soverign debt' can actually be when hijacked by international banking terrorism. Because it shows what big bullies the likes of Germany, France and the IMF actually are. Because it shows how uncompromising, unfair (to poorer EU countries) and doomed the Euro project actually is. Because the citizens of Greece and Ireland deserved better 
6. Iceland - the financial meltdown and volcano: Because Iceland and its citizens had the bravery to be bankrupt rather than be indentured slaves to international financial terrorists. Because Icelandic citizens voted against being hostage to the monstrous risk-taking of a few bankers. Because the Icelandic volcanic ash was the sweetest and most ironic gift that Iceland could send to disrupt one of its chief hostage-takers, the UK   
7. Ascendancy of China: Because the decline of the American Empire is happening faster than we thought. Because China is definitely on the ascendancy on the world stage, and that's not a good thing either. Because the West has only itself to blame for destroying its own industries and selling itself out like a whore to the cheap labour, cheap (and badly made) products and human rights abuses of China
8. Haiti earthquake: Because this was the one nation on Earth that did not deserve, nor cope with, such a devastating natural disaster. Because it showed (along with many other events this year) that Mother Nature can be one blindly vindictive, nasty lady. Because subsequent events proved that Haiti really needs to get its act together, once and for all. 
9. Gulf of Mexico oil spill: Because this proved, yet again and for the umpteenth time, that our addiction to oil is not sustainable. Because this proved, yet again and for the umpteenth time, that offshore oil drilling is ludicrous in its environmental and social risks. Because this proved, yet again and for the umpteenth time, that multinational oil companies are amongst the biggest lying, greenwashing environmental pillagers on the planet. 
10. Ascendancy of alternative media: Because most traditional media has been asleep at the wheel (or worse) for far too long. Because the 'news' is more subjective than ever (wasn't it always?), and the alternative media is doing it so much better. Because the Internet, for all its pitfalls and inherent dangers, remains a powerful tool for necessary change

2010 Organization of the Year: WIKILEAKS

In a year as tumultuous as this one, it was still an easy pick for me: Wikileaks is my organization for 2010. Below are just a few of the reasons why they were the organization that defined a year:

• Because they seek to expose the truth, ugly as it often is
• Because they are a bulwark for democracy, not those who vilify them
• Because they showed up the established p(r)op media for the weak corporate hacks they are
• Because they leaked that which is in the interest of all citizens everywhere
• Because they proved, yet again, how very wrong the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are
• Because they made us think about the power that governments have...and shouldn't have
• Because they re-iterated how dangerous excessive power can be
• Because they re-iterated how power does indeed corrupt 
• Because they go after large corporations and banks as well
• Because they inadvertently showed up the likes of PayPal, Visa and Mastercard for the hypocritical corporate swine they are
• Because they gave a middle finger to the American political-corporate-military complex
• Because, contrary to American propaganda, they go after everyone anywhere
• Because they chose to be brave in this increasingly Brave New World

George Orwell once said, "To see what is in front of one's nose requires a constant struggle." Wikileaks has taken up that struggle on all our behalf.

Wikileaks, may you go from strength to strength in 2011 and well beyond. Thank you so much.

RANT: Old News...And The Gulf Keeps Dying

The Gulf oil spill is dying in the news. What made headline news every single day just a month ago is now less and less in all the media.

BP should be breathing a little easier these days. Goody for them.

It may have 'died' somewhat as a news item, but the animal species keep on dying in the Gulf. For a sobering and depressing daily tally on the amount of species that have died or could die due to being drenched in oil, visit the excellent website: http://dailydeadbirds.com/. It's a one-page website that just gives the tallies. As of yesterday, the death toll for seabirds was 1 682, dead sea turtles numbered 452 and dead mammals (dolphins, porpoises, etc) was at 57.

One can only shudder at just what the numbers must be for dead fish.

82 days since the spill and the creatures keep dying.

Creatures at our mercy. Can you imagine being that much at our mercy?

The oil keeps spilling and spilling and the excuses by BP become more and more insufferable, more corporate greenwash. Even if now it's considered less newsworthy.

And that's the paradox of our modern media-saturated information age. Yes, we know more and we know it quicker and in so much greater detail. But it too can slip from our collective memory as quickly as it assaulted us when it first 'broke' as a news item.

Is it precisely because we get so bombarded by the 24/7/365 media,  like some endless News Item Loop From Hell, that we seem to get so switched off so suddenly? Moving on like herds of restless antelope to greener fields of breaking news heaped on the lives, fortunes and misfortunes of others? It certainly seems that way.

Perhaps we just don't want to keep hearing the same old, bad news. Perhaps we need our bad news to be as fresh and as unique as possible, before that too becomes stale and, well, boring? Because heaven knows good news just doesn't sell as well as the bad, the ugly and the horrific. Maybe it's always been that way.

But there's something very unsettling about the way we are in this regard.

Not to mention fickle. This fickle species called humanity that (thinks it) rules the world as it spews pollution and toxicity wherever it goes. And decides what makes news on a whim based on its own sense of self-importance. And this is replicated again and again after every single 'environmental disaster'. Which, by the way, is inevitably because of our own short-sighted greed or stupidity.

All I can say is thank goodness that the sea turtles and dolphins and seabirds of the Gulf of Mexico don't get to watch just how unimportant a news item they've become on TV.

Do you get my point?

RANT: The Murdoch Media Massage

Today's UK election IS the 'Murdoch Election'...

My rant for today is a continuation of my assessment of the UK election, which is being held today. I use the word 'assessment' most tentatively, given that other peoples' 'assessments' tend to be quite different to mine with regard to this UK election. Now we're all entitled to our opinions, of course, but it's when the opinions being 'assessed' are those of the 'voter' by pollsters for 'political analysis' that we enter very murky waters indeed.

The assessments in question here are those notorious political opinion polls. And this UK election has been rife with them. And I have found them to be suspect...at best. Polls have come out almost every day since this election was announced about a month ago. Not to mention months before that. And they seem to be coming out by the hour in the last few days. It's a veritable torrent of polls.

At first I took very little notice of these polls, even into the election period. Polls are dicey, polls can change as the end nears, we know how often polls have been quite mistaken in the past, etc. I also have a problem with them in a democratic state, but I'll touch on that later.

But it's been in the last week that I have taken more and more notice of these polls. And, oh my, how interesting they have been. What I found most peculiar is how the polls immediately declared Cameron for the Tories as the 'winner' of the third and last debate. Really? Based on what? I happened to see that last debate on TV for two reasons: (1) I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and (2) it was taking place in the Grand Hall at the University of Birmingham, my alma mater and a place in which I spent three really good, enjoyable years filled with good varsity memories. I was quite proud watching the debate take place in a grand hall and a setting with which I was so familiar.

But, quite frankly, I could hardly have judged David Cameron the 'winner' based on his performance that night. If anything, I though Gordon Brown availed himself rather well and with quite a lot of aplomb. He did far better than expected. Nick Clegg came across well, although somewhat the petulant 'schoolboy debater' at times, even if he seemed the most sincere, and Cameron came across...well, flat, really. Yet. he was quite distinctly the 'winner' of that debate. Based on what?

Aaahh, yes, those polls. For us here outside the UK the TV station that has given the most coverage on this election has undoubtedly been the pappy tabloidesque Sky News. But it has made for interesting TV from afar. In giving us more coverage, they've also deluged us with polls. The interesting thing is that Sky News is owned by News Corp. The Fuhrer...ahem...founder of News Corp? Rupert Murdoch. And the most pollster that most consistently gave the best 'findings' to the Conservatives was yougov, the polling arm of that outstanding daily newspaper of such high repute, The Sun. If one looked up the words 'tabloid gutter press' in the dictionary, there would be a picture of The Sun newspaper. Who does The Sun belong to? Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. And what party did the Sun endorse just a few days before this election? The Conservatives, but of course.

Other polls somehow tended to follow similar, if less 'Tory-favourable', trends in their polling. But who's to say what political interests are behind the others, besides the likes of yougov? Am I to believe that pollsters these days are objective, fair and unbiased in whom they poll? Call me cynical, but I'll take a rain check on that.

Even more disturbing, even galling to me, is how the Lib Dems are being discussed as being 'in trouble' in certain of their marginal seats. And who would be their biggest opposition in most of these seats? The Tories, of course. And who reported this 'disturbing trend' for the Lib Dems, just two days before the actual election/ Sky News, of course.

As for Gordon Brown - well, his Labour Party can't seem to break through the 30% barrier in these 'opinion polls'. It's known as a psychological barrier. Interesting word that - psychological.

Subtly, subtly, the opinions of people are formed. And how are they formed? By the perception of what is, rather than what could be. And it is that mis-perception that can make the difference in the minds of certain of those critical, key 'swing' voters. Why vote for the 'underdog' or the 'loser' when the polls keep telling you that the other party is looking 'certain' to win, right?

I don't see a conspiracy. That's why I didn't go as far as to title this post the 'Murdoch Media Manipulation', which would have had as good alliteration! I opted for the word 'massage', because that is what I have been sensing in the days leading up to this election. It's the gentle massage of public opinion and the collective subconscious of that public by pollsters and news media of which a significant part are under the control of Rupert Murdoch, a notorious little rightwing neo-conservative when it comes to journalism and an avowed supporter of the Tories.


Opinion polls are undemocratic. They totally undermine the democratic process b creating certain misconceptions and preconceived ideas about 'where the election is going'. I really do not believe that voters have 'the right' to know what other voters may or may not vote, even if those being polled remain anonymous and could change their minds. That is of no consequence in this debate. Opinions are formed based on perceptions and perceived notions of a given situation - that is human nature.

These highly suspect pollsters, in collusion with media, are milking perception and opinion for all that it's worth. It is their possible agenda, however subtle, however 'massaged', that unnerves me no end.

The UK, like any other nation, should do as France does and ban opinion polls during an election process. That would certainly go some way to salving the uneasiness which some may feel that this is nothing more than 'A Murdoch Election'. Nothing less than a better democracy could be at stake.

The French have the right idea, ne c'est pas?

Do you get my point?

SITE OF THE DAY: WikiLeaks

It was inevitable for to me to make Wikileaks the site for today. My last post on this blog was on a huge scandal that erupted yesterday regarding American soldiers firing on to Iraqi civilians from their Apache helicopter back in July 2007 . The massive news story was broken due to the sheer tenacity and bravado of just one site:

WikiLeaks.

I've often heard of this site, but for whatever (stupid) reason have never really taken the time to have a look at what WikiLeaks had to offer (at http://www.wikileaks.com/). That is to my discredit. After hearing about the breaking news on the 2007 massacre of Iraqi civilians by airborne American soldiers, I just had to take a look at the site that had been so instrumental in breaking the story.

Their lead expose on the 2007 Iraq massacre from the air is brilliantly entitled "Collateral Murder".

It's quite a site. It is just one leak after another on some of the biggest news stories and scandals of the last few months. They include leaked documents regarding different aspects of the recent Icelandic financial and banking crisis, as well as a stunning expose by a well-known anti-secrecy online site that was forcibly shut down after exposing a secret manual being used by police and intelligence services regarding user online activities (read: snooping of what people do online), a manual put together by none other than the corporate giant...Microsoft. I'd never even heard of this until I took the time to look at this site today.

There's even an investigation as to what lengths the US Intelligence Service had tried hard to shut down WikiLeaks itself. And that's just on their home page!

Talk about indefatigable journalism - you know, the kind that was once the mainstay of the serious printed media, but which is now long dead due to the corporate takeover of world-renowned newspapers over the past 20 years.

But it's quite shocking to me to read that this invaluable site nearly shut down entirely towards the end of last year owing to a lack of funds. You can see it on the site - it looks so pared down, owing to the site's inability last year to save all its articles and links. The site looks clearly very scaled down - but, thankfully, not out.

And there are quite a few mirror sites that allow one to access some of the older articles and leaks that are currently not available on the official site. One such mirror site is mirror.wikileaks.info - thank goodness for the ongoing spirit of open source and keeping dissent and the truth alive at all costs in the online community.

The good news is that they have raised over 300 000 US dollars to date, which is keeping them afloat - at least for now. They still need to raise more funds. Which is why I too must try to ensure that this site gets as much financial support as possible, even if I do so primarily by spreading the word about what this site does (and means) to other people and potential financial supporters I might know.

It is the least one can do to ensure that a group of people who are trying so hard and so valiantly to do the type of investigative, expose journalism  that is so desperately needed in the world today. As we are fed more and more disgusting corporate hogwash masquerading as news by much of the world's media, so the importance of fact-finding online sites like WikiLeaks, warts and all, must keep growing. Otherwize we will be all the poorer for it.

If knowledge is power, then a site like WikiLeaks is our means to ensure and to harness that power.

Ignorance is not always bliss.