http://www.dump.com/nxub/qtnews2-28-1-06
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/150509
Independent Media Transcript 28 January 2006
Femantle forum - West Papuan refugees and their reasons for asylum
by Safecom-AWPA-Greens Perth IMC 26/1/06
From the newswire... Kulcha Multicultural Arts of WA, The Australian Greens and Project SafeCom present:
Free West Papua - Let Them Stay!
A forum about West Papuan asylum seekers and their reasons for the trip from Merauke to Weipa in Queensland with: Senator Kerry Nettle, Greens spokesperson for refugees; Mandurah-based Christmas Island refugee advocate Kaye Bernard; Project SafeCom's Jack H Smit who was born in The Netherlands; Australian West Papua Association supporter Ned Byrne...
31 January 2006, 7:00pm to 9:30pm
@ Kulcha Multicultural Arts of WA, South Terrace (above DOME), Fremantle WA (entry by donation)
Many organisations around Australia know that the West Papuans are genuine asylum seekers, that they came to the country nearest to them in accordance with the UN Refugee Convention and that they did not come using people smugglers. They say the asylum seekers should live on Bridging Visas in the community and treated as our neighbours.
Has anything changed since Tampa?
http://perth.indymedia.org/?action=default
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=15962
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West Papuan Refugees jailed on Christmas Island
by Red One Perth IMC 20/1/06
The Howard Government has sent 43 West Papuan refugees, to a remote Immigration Detention Centre on Christmas Island, 2600km north-west of Perth.
DIMIA officials have denied access to the Australian media and kept them under close guard.
The refugees spent four days at sea in a 25-metre wooden outrigger canoe travelling the 425km from Merauke, in the disputed territory of West Papua.
http://perth.indymedia.org/index.php?action=newswire&parentview=15917
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Visa Doubts for Guest Speakers at Penal Abolition Conference
by Rick Wallace
MELB IMC 23/1/06
Prison abolition Conference organisers Justice Action, an Australian prisoners' support group, has accused the Government of dragging its heels on visa applications for two Irish republican activists and a Canadian professor who are guest speakers at the International Conference on Penal Abolition to be held in Hobart, Tasmania. 7-11th of February 2006.
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/
http://www.melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2006/01/104525.php
Justice Action
http://www.justiceaction.org.au/
No More Prisons
UK Prison population
89,092
(January 2006)
Prison Abolition Seminar
Saturday 28th January 2006 London
Can we resist prison building?
What are the alternatives to prison?
Abolitionist theory past and present
An intial planning meeting for the relaunch of Radical Alternatives to Prison is being held on the 28th Jan 2006 before the Prison Abolition Seminar.
http://www.alternatives2prison.ik.com/
PRISON ABOLITION & ALTERNATIVES
http://www.prisonjustice.ca/politics/abolition_alternatives.html
Notebook of a Prison Abolitionist
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=41&ItemID=3831
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DANIEL BURNS SENTENCED IN FEDERAL COURT
US IMC 24/1/06
by Katie Quinn-Jacobs
Binghamton IMC
24 Jan 2006
Daniel Burns, 44, was sentenced to six months of federal prison in Binghamton federal court today by Judge Thomas J. McAvoy for each of his misdemeanor convictions last fall. The two six month terms are to be served concurrently. Burns was also fined $250.00 for a contempt of court charge and was ordered to pay his share of the $958.00 restitution for damages imposed by the court.
Burns is one of the four non-violent peace activists known as the St. Patrick's Four. The convictions stem from Burns' participation in a non-violent protest at a military recruiting station outside of Ithaca, NY on March 17th, 2003, where the four carefully poured their own blood on the posters, flag and walls of the recruiting station. Burns was the first of the St. Patrick's Four to appear this week for sentencing in Binghamton, NY. Peter DeMott, Clare Grady and Teresa Grady will also be sentenced individually this week.
http://www.binghamtonpmc.org/feature/display/1300/index.php
Vietnam Vet and Civil Resister, Peter DeMott, Sentenced in Federal Court
http://www.binghamtonpmc.org/feature/display/1303/index.php
Mother and Activist, Clare Grady, Sentenced in Federal Court
http://www.binghamtonpmc.org/feature/display/1307/index.php
http://indymedia.us/en/index.shtml
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Legal Update Mumia Abu-Jamal
By Pilar Maschi pilar CR 24/1/06
Mumia Abu-Jamal v. Martin Horn, Pennsylvania Director of Corrections U.S. Court of Appeals Nos. 01-9014, 02-9001 (death penalty)
Last month the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit,
Philadelphia, issued the most important deci-sion affecting my client, Mumia Abu-Jamal, since his arrest nearly a quarter of a century ago.
This is the first time any court has made a ruling that could lead to anew trial and his freedom. The court has accepted for review the following issues raised on federal habeas corpus and in the subsequent appeal, all of which are of great constitu-tional significance concerning the right to a fair trial, due process of law, and equal protection of the law under the Fifth, Sixth and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution:
Claim 14, Whether appellant was denied his constitutional rights due to the prosecution's trial summation?
Claim 16, Whether the Commonwealth's use of peremptory challenges at trial violated appellant's constitu-tional rights under Batson v.Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986)?
Claim 29, Whether appellant was denied due process during post-conviction proceedings as a result of alleged judicial bias?
Claim 14 relates to the prosecutor's prejudicial argument to the jury including the comment that if convicted Mumia would have "appeal after appeal." That reduced the burden of the jurors, and turned the concept of reasonable doubt and presumption of innocence on its head. Claim 16 concerns the prosecutorial use of peremptory challenges to remove African-Americans from the jury. The record establishes that race is a major thread that has run through-out this case since Mumia's 1981 arrest. Claim 29 is about the bias and racism of the trial judge, Albert Sabo. Evi-dence was discovered in recent years through a courageous court stenographer, who overheard the judge say during a trial recess that he was going to help'em fry the n****r.
Another issue under consideration by the federal court, Claim 25, pertains to the death penalty. It addresses whether the death judgment can stand due to an unfair jury instruction. Mills v. Maryland, 486 U.S. 367 (1988).
The case is now moving rapidly. The court has issued a schedule for extensive briefing, with the first brief to be filed by the prosecution.
The District Attorney made a 30-day extension-of-time request which has been granted, so its initial brief is now due on February 16. The complicated briefing process will go through the spring. Then we will present oral argument before a three-judge panel in the U.S. Court of Appeals.
This is a giant step in our effort to secure a new and fair trial for
Mumia. Our goal is to win in this life-and-death struggle and see him walk out of jail a free person. However, we must not forget that Mumia remains in enormous danger. If the case is lost, he will die in the execution chamber.
Thank you for your concern and support in this campaign for justice.
Cordially yours,
Robert R. Bryan
Lead counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal
RobertRBryan@aol.com
*************************
MEMBERSHIP IS POWER
Help us meet the challenge -- an anonymous donor has pledged to match, dollar for dollar, all gifts made to Critical Resistance (up to $15,000) that come in for our winter membership push.
Help us get to victory that much quicker by asking your friends and family members to support CR in the next few weeks. Your loved ones can donate online at https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=6817 - send them an email or card asking that they give to this movement this year in your name... and have their donation go twice as far. They can also send a check to Critical Resistance/ Justice Now, 1904 Franklin Street, Suite 504, Oakland, CA 94612. And if you haven't yet signed up to be a monthly member... now's the time!
Every donation -big and "small" - is vital to sustaining CR's fight to end the prison industrial complex. Thank you for your contributions to this struggle.
============================
Special Event
ICOPA X1: 11th International Penal Conference
On Penal Abolition
Hobart Tasmania
7-11 February 2006
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8531749621264607990
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/138921
http://www.dump.com/yuqo/icopax1
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Related: Movie List Archive
============================
The QUICKTIME REPORT 26/1/06 - SEE and LISTEN GLOBALLY!
See the movie trailer
http://www.dump.com/fozw/qtnews-26-1-06
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/148898
The QUICKTIME REPORT 23/1/06 - SEE and LISTEN GLOBALLY!
See the movie trailer
http://www.dump.com/vbkj/qtnews-23-1-06
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/146937
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8716561766048059918
The QUICKTIME REPORT 19/1/06 - SEE and LISTEN GLOBALLY!
See the movie trailer
http://www.dump.com/bljw/qtnews-19-1-06
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/143276
The QUICKTIME REPORT 17/1/06 - SEE and LISTEN GLOBALLY!
See the movie trailer
http://www.dump.com/ykpk/qtnews-17-1-06
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/141422
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8341850495842519116
The QUICKTIME REPORT 15/1/06 - SEE and LISTEN GLOBALLY!
See the movie trailer
http://www.dump.com/oxwy/qtnews-15-1-06
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/140032
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-750373683599839330
The QUICKTIME REPORT 13/1/06 - SEE and LISTEN GLOBALLY!
See the movie trailer
http://www.dump.com/yrho/qtnews-13-1-06
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/138185
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5868806226707554278
The QUICKTIME REPORT 11 January 2006
See the movie trailer
http://www.dump.com/yckg/qtnews-11-1-06
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/136681
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6372223803798723029
The QUICKTIME REPORT 8 January 2006
See the move trailer
http://www.dump.com/qdat/qtnews-8-1-06
http://www.ourmedia.org/node/133839
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7262042707594619810
***************************
Comments
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US plans to 'fight the net' revealed By Adam Brookes Pentagon netwar
29.01.2006 19:53
US plans to 'fight the net' revealed
By Adam Brookes
BBC Pentagon correspondent
A newly declassified document gives a fascinating glimpse into the US military's plans for "information operations" - from psychological operations, to attacks on hostile computer networks.
Internet cafe in Iraq
The document says information is "critical to military success"
Bloggers beware.
As the world turns networked, the Pentagon is calculating the military opportunities that computer networks, wireless technologies and the modern media offer.
From influencing public opinion through new media to designing "computer network attack" weapons, the US military is learning to fight an electronic war.
The declassified document is called "Information Operations Roadmap". It was obtained by the National Security Archive at George Washington University using the Freedom of Information Act.
Officials in the Pentagon wrote it in 2003. The Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld, signed it.
Information Operations Roadmap
Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Download the reader here
The "roadmap" calls for a far-reaching overhaul of the military's ability to conduct information operations and electronic warfare. And, in some detail, it makes recommendations for how the US armed forces should think about this new, virtual warfare.
The document says that information is "critical to military success". Computer and telecommunications networks are of vital operational importance.
Propaganda
The operations described in the document include a surprising range of military activities: public affairs officers who brief journalists, psychological operations troops who try to manipulate the thoughts and beliefs of an enemy, computer network attack specialists who seek to destroy enemy networks.
All these are engaged in information operations.
US Defense Secretary at the Pentagon
The wide-reaching document was signed off by Donald Rumsfeld
Perhaps the most startling aspect of the roadmap is its acknowledgement that information put out as part of the military's psychological operations, or Psyops, is finding its way onto the computer and television screens of ordinary Americans.
"Information intended for foreign audiences, including public diplomacy and Psyops, is increasingly consumed by our domestic audience," it reads.
"Psyops messages will often be replayed by the news media for much larger audiences, including the American public," it goes on.
The document's authors acknowledge that American news media should not unwittingly broadcast military propaganda. "Specific boundaries should be established," they write. But they don't seem to explain how.
"In this day and age it is impossible to prevent stories that are fed abroad as part of psychological operations propaganda from blowing back into the United States - even though they were directed abroad," says Kristin Adair of the National Security Archive.
Credibility problem
Public awareness of the US military's information operations is low, but it's growing - thanks to some operational clumsiness.
When it describes plans for electronic warfare, or EW, the document takes on an extraordinary tone. It seems to see the internet as being equivalent to an enemy weapons system
Late last year, it emerged that the Pentagon had paid a private company, the Lincoln Group, to plant hundreds of stories in Iraqi newspapers. The stories - all supportive of US policy - were written by military personnel and then placed in Iraqi publications.
And websites that appeared to be information sites on the politics of Africa and the Balkans were found to be run by the Pentagon.
But the true extent of the Pentagon's information operations, how they work, who they're aimed at, and at what point they turn from informing the public to influencing populations, is far from clear.
The roadmap, however, gives a flavour of what the US military is up to - and the grand scale on which it's thinking.
It reveals that Psyops personnel "support" the American government's international broadcasting. It singles out TV Marti - a station which broadcasts to Cuba - as receiving such support.
It recommends that a global website be established that supports America's strategic objectives. But no American diplomats here, thank you. The website would use content from "third parties with greater credibility to foreign audiences than US officials".
It also recommends that Psyops personnel should consider a range of technologies to disseminate propaganda in enemy territory: unmanned aerial vehicles, "miniaturized, scatterable public address systems", wireless devices, cellular phones and the internet.
'Fight the net'
When it describes plans for electronic warfare, or EW, the document takes on an extraordinary tone.
It seems to see the internet as being equivalent to an enemy weapons system.
"Strategy should be based on the premise that the Department [of Defense] will 'fight the net' as it would an enemy weapons system," it reads.
The slogan "fight the net" appears several times throughout the roadmap.
The authors warn that US networks are very vulnerable to attack by hackers, enemies seeking to disable them, or spies looking for intelligence.
"Networks are growing faster than we can defend them... Attack sophistication is increasing... Number of events is increasing."
US digital ambition
And, in a grand finale, the document recommends that the United States should seek the ability to "provide maximum control of the entire electromagnetic spectrum".
US forces should be able to "disrupt or destroy the full spectrum of globally emerging communications systems, sensors, and weapons systems dependent on the electromagnetic spectrum".
Consider that for a moment.
The US military seeks the capability to knock out every telephone, every networked computer, every radar system on the planet.
Are these plans the pipe dreams of self-aggrandising bureaucrats? Or are they real?
The fact that the "Information Operations Roadmap" is approved by the Secretary of Defense suggests that these plans are taken very seriously indeed in the Pentagon.
And that the scale and grandeur of the digital revolution is matched only by the US military's ambitions for it.
squig